Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

Akron News

Middlebury Academy Charter School Akron

The Middlebury Movement – Molding Students Into Leaders

Middlebury Academy is under new management, and there are exciting initiatives on the horizon. The future is very bright for this kindergarten through eighth grade school located in East Akron, OH. The school recently partnered with the Educational Empowerment Group, and dynamic upgrades are underway. Middlebury Academy will have additional curricular resources to enhance classroom instruction, 21st Century technology, such as new, interactive SMART boards in each classroom, wrap-around services to support students and families, and energetic school programs to provide a fun, well-rounded experience for the students.

The students of Middlebury Academy will engage in an elevated experience through positive motivation, encouragement and high expectations. Since its partnership with the Educational Empowerment Group, the school has increased community partnerships to include Beech Brook Counseling Services, Families First Health Services and the Minority Behavioral Support Group. These additions are fostering a positive school culture which can promote an increase in overall student achievement. The school endeavors to continue to increase community programs and partnerships to support the social and emotional needs of the students.

The new principal, Michael Zografos, has a mission for the school which will raise the standard of excellence among the students and staff. Principal Zografos is actively working to cultivate leadership, scholarship and citizenship among students. Middlebury Academy is taking the shape of a distinctive school that will positively change the lives of its students and become a beacon in the Akron community. Middlebury Academy is molding leaders!

For more information, call 330-752-2766 or click here to submit a request for more information.  Middlebury Academy is currently accepting applications for enrollment. Reserve a place for your student today.

To learn more or to get registered, visit MiddleburyAcademyedu.org.

About Middlebury Academy: Middlebury Academy is a tuition-free charter school serving kindergarten through eighth-grade families in Akron, Ohio.

7 Ways to Make Today GR8TR

The only way to make a lasting change for the better in your life is by doing little things better every day.  Even if you quit something cold turkey (all at once, for my non-US readers), you still must commit to maintaining that change day in and day out.

Here are seven things you can do today that will have an impact on you and the world in a positive way and make everything GR8TR.  They take very little, or no, time but can be a big change in your life if done regularly.

Be More Present

The biggest single change is an ancient one:  to be more present in the moment.  This means look around, pay attention to what is happening around you and engage with the world on purpose, not on the side.  So, a little less mobile phone screen time is going to be needed.

Smile More

Smile more and look at people.  Say hi.  Force yourself to engage a bit more with people you do not have to around you.  Even forcing a smile has been shown to make people actually happier.

Help Someone

Slightly more than hold the door and not as much as give someone money.  Just find a way to be helpful to someone throughout the day.  Think of that “act of kindness” sort of attitude.  This has maximum effect when the person is not actively looking or asking for help.

Boost Health

Today do one small thing that improves your health.  This could be skipping a sweet or could be going for a walk.  Does one day only make a different?  Maybe not.  But a journey starts with the first step.  Also, it is worth noting that when you are being healthier you are not only helping yourself, you are also helping the world.  You are consuming less resources in many areas, such as food, food processing and health care resources.

Add to Savings or Investment

Unless you have already set this up, today would make your future life GR8TR by setting it up now.  Set up automatically saving money each month.  Have a monthly amount moved to another account for saving, investment and retirement.  If you do not want to get involved in how to invest, you can use automated systems like Wealthfront or Betterment to do it for you.

Cut Something Bad Out

Breaking a bad habit can start today.  And you do not always need to completely stop doing something.  Maybe setting strict limits, such as only drinking on weekends or only buying shoes once a quarter.  Maybe it is changing from expensive coffee drinks to a simple black coffee.  Or maybe it is something that can help the environment such as not using plastic utensils and straws.  Cut one thing out today and keep it up, and lots of things get better.

No one can make wholesale changes in one day.  Instead, you can start today and make small changes that build up over time.  It all starts with a higher level of consciousness and effort day in and day out.  GR8TR is our effort to help people daily think about their activities and the impact their lives have on everyone else, and become better, and GR8TR.  To find out more about GR8TR visit www.GR8TR.us and join our email list if you are committed to improvement and planning for the future.

 

 

Men and Depression

According to the American Psychiatric Association, the number of women diagnosed with depression is two to four times higher than the number for men, yet in 2012, of the thousands of people that committed suicide, 78.3% were men.  The disparity is alarming, and there are many reasons why treatment is not sought by men and why the rate of suicide is so high among them.

According to researchers, the view of depression as a “feminine” illness is one of the many reasons men oftentimes do not seek treatment and instead find other methods to cope with depression, among them but not limited to:

  1. Anger
  2. Short temper
  3. Use of drugs, alcohol, and sexual dysfunction
  4. Overwork
  5. Excessive weight gain or loss and insomnia

For men, these are some of the non-traditional symptoms they experience without admitting they are suffering from depression, or oftentimes without even realizing it. Seeking professional help to hep diagnosed and find treatment for their depression is paramount. Many of them turn to alcohol and drugs instead of looking for professional help. Some of them believe they can get through their depression by themselves.

If you need help and are reluctant to seek it, reach to a friend, or a loved one for help first. They may be able to help you reach a professional and start the process of healing.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the suicide rates in the United States have increased since 1999 for every state in the country except Nevada which has seen a decrease of 1%. In Ohio, on the other hand, the state has a  suicide rate increase of 36% since 1999.  And although depression is a mental illness and one of the causes of suicide, it can be preventable and treatable.

If you have a loved one that is suffering from depression or has suicidal thoughts, you should seek help right away.  Depression is serious and help is available through many government agencies.  Calling 911 or the suicide prevention Lifeline 1-800-273 TALK (8255) can get you on the way to health.

 

 

 

Interesting Facts About Akron

Akron, Ohio is known for putting out some of the greatest professionals we’ve seen today. LeBron James, the king of basketball, was born here and has since remained active in the community. The LeBron James Family Foundation has helped rebuild homes, educate children and will open a school in Akron this summer. It plans to house first through eighth graders by 2022.

Akron also has a history in the Civil Rights Movement. The famous abolitionist John Brown lived in the city and worked in the area as a wool expert until vowing to destroy slavery after the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, a journalist, and fellow abolitionist. The John Brown House still stands in Akron today owned by the Summit County Historical Society of Akron, Ohio.

In 1851 Akron hosted the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention, where Sojourner Truth, an escaped slave, delivered the improvised speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” With she spoke on rights for all women, even those of color, and slammed the civil rights movement for not seeking black women’s rights like men’s. A line from this incredible speech is, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!”

The National Museum of Psychology calls Akron home and strives to show what it means to be human. The museum features documents, videos and artifacts from history’s leading psychologists, like Freud and Skinner. Thought provoking and full of information, this museum is a must-see for anyone. The material displayed is well explained and features interactive exhibits. The exhibits take you through the beginning of the profession, the science of it and the social changes that have progressed from psychology.

The Akron Zoo is home to one of the rarest big cats in the world, the snow leopard. There are between 3,000 and 7,000 snow leopards left in the wild, but the zoo has been welcoming snow leopard cubs since 2014. In March 2016 the first set of triplets were born at the Akron Zoo and have been winning the hearts of zoo-goers since.

Demonstration Night For SCOPE Academy

Greater Summit County Early Learning Center, locally known as SCOPE Academy, is a K-4 elementary school in Akron.

Last week, the learners hosted a Demonstration Night for families. This event showcased various outdoor projects students were working on within their multi-age learning hubs. Under the guidance of their teachers, SCOPE learners seek to identify challenges within their communities and develop solutions for those problems.

One hub of learners noticed that a portion of their outdoor environment was too muddy. By re-purposing rocks that were scattered nearby, they were able to divert rainwater to a drain. Another group noticed a Killdeer bird had built her nest where many of the children played. By contacting a local ornithologist from Summit Metro Parks, this group was able to construct a safe zone for the bird family and learned much about this species of bird in the process. SCOPE learners believe that the outdoors are a place that everyone should respect, observe, wonder about, explore, and understand.

SCOPE’s staff of talented teachers incorporate science, technology, engineering, art, and math principles into each child’s instruction. If you are interested in learning more or have a kindergarten student you would like to enroll, please contact SCOPE’s administrative assistant, Jennifer Huffman at 234-718-2626.

Beginners Guide to Yoga Types

The practice of yoga has been developed for thousands of years and is more attainable than ever before. Yoga studios are in every town, and Youtube channels like Yoga with Adriene ensure than there’s a practice for everyone out there. Yoga is about challenging yourself to become better and it’s an exciting journey. Here are seven common types of yoga with the benefits and differences to help you get started.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar Yoga is a branch of yoga that focuses heavily on proper alignment and relaxation. This style of practice is heavily modified with props such as straps, blocks and chairs. This method is perfect for those with aching bodies or handicaps and beginners. The tempo in this practice is slow and gentle, allowing you to reach full relaxation, with proper alignment in a number of poses. Iyengar increases stamina, flexibility and strength while promoting inward reflection and developing focus. By focusing on alignment, this practice will bring new strength to less used areas of the body.

Hatha Yoga

This is a more traditional practice of yogic poses and breath work meant to cultivate the body, mind and spirit. Any yoga practice that leads one through poses is considered Hatha and has been used to describe many Western practices of yoga. A typical Hatha practice will guide you through an asana, yoga postures and sequences, and pranayama, breathing techniques. A class described as Hatha won’t leave you feeling sore, but more flexible and calm.

Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is a practice containing 26 postures that are performed in a studio that is heated to temperatures over 90°F. This yoga practice has become the basis for hot yoga classes, which differ through postures taught during practices. These special poses are shown to work every part of the body and give attention to the internal organs, muscles and ligaments. These positions are meant to work together with the heat to release every benefit possible from the practice.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga’s purpose is to release tension in the body to allow energy to flow more freely. Poses are held for 45 seconds to 3 minutes typically, soothing joints and allowing moments of deep focus and meditation. This branch of yoga is slow paced, and deeply relaxing. Beginners, those with limited mobility and highly stressed persons will appreciate this class that promotes patience and is a great way to get started on a yoga journey.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini is a practice for those who are looking for a deeper, more spiritual connection through yoga. Besides yoga poses and flows, Kundalini incorporates chanting and meditation throughout the routine. This style’s purpose is to awaken the energy at the base of the spine to flow into all seven chakras. The yogic devotion allows the mind to become clear and feel more in tune with oneself. Some yogis describe having a sort of awakening through this style of practice that allows them to see their potential and purpose in life.

Vinyasa Yoga

This is one of the more common types of practice, especially in the West. Vinyasa flows yoga postures together, by moving with the breath. The practices are usually never the same and move through asanas at a faster pace than Yin yoga. Breath is the driving force of this practice and leads you to your intentions and movements. While moving through a flow, you might find yourself beginning on your hands and knees and then transitioning into down dog. Ujjayi breath is encouraged during this practice, a rhythmic breath through the nose, which increases relaxation.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda is another style for those looking to grow a deeper connection through yoga. This practice follows five principles, designed to improve mind, body and spirit. Sivananda uses exercise, breath work, relaxation, a vegetarian diet and meditation as a way to live a more full, healthy life. Beginning in this practice is fairly easy, as it begins with 12 basic poses to master before moving on. This is slow, mindful work that will promote a balanced way of living.  

Yoga is meant to create discipline and higher relaxation in life and has numerous benefits for mental and physical health. Connecting to the breath is an important step, and accepting your body where it’s at that day is vital. Some days might be more difficult than others, or some styles of yoga might not be for you, but don’t give up on the process.

LynAnne Vucovich is a journalist who studied at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University. She has a passion for culture, community and cats.

Home Renovation Priority List

When it comes to renovating your home, you probably have a long list of things that can be updated, fixed or improved.  Chances are, like many people, you do projects one or two at a time, and do not fully gut your home and renovate it all at once like on those great home shows. 

We want to help you prioritize your list of projects which will help you be safer, save money and get more bang for your buck.

Address Safety Issues First – The last thing you want to do is not address serious safety concerns.  This could be safety for you and your family’s health, or it could be safety of the home.  It might not be sexy, but if your fuse box needs updated, do that before you have a fire.  If your basement is flooding and your basement walls are bowed, get a basement waterproofing company in there.  A new roof can prevent water damage to parts of the home as well.  If these things need done, do not put them off to do less important projects.

Some safety issues are expensive, and some are much cheaper.  Tree trimming can protect your home from damage and maybe you from injury.  Also, having outdoor heated mats that melt ice and reduce the danger of slipping can be an inexpensive safety fix.

Once your safety projects are done, you can move to the more cosmetic renovations that still make sense.  Investing in updates should add value to your home and add joy to your life.

Things like windows, a new kitchen or adding a garage can all make your home more enjoyable, add value to the home (assuming you are not pricing yourself out of your neighborhood) and make it easier to sell your home.  I have heard the same story many times, that people trying to sell their home do updates like a new kitchen right when they were going to put it on the market, and they regret not having done it sooner when they would have been able to enjoy the kitchen more themselves.

With that said, do not believe someone selling you an update or renovation when they tell you it will increase the value of your home or save you a lot in utilities and pay for itself.  These things might be true but do your homework and get information from independent sources.  Updates might make it easier to sell your home, but you will not always get the full investment back.

Lastly, be careful when considering non-traditional items.  For example, it is well documented that a pool makes it harder to sell a home in many parts of the country.  If you are going to use it every day for years, maybe it is a good investment for you. This might also be true for a basement theater, multiple garages and other things that will appeal to some but will be a negative for someone looking to buy a home and not needing that feature.  Again, if it brings you joy for many years, and selling your home is a long way off, maybe it is fine.  But consider those purchases carefully.

Akron Jobs


Make Your Basement a Sports Bar

Your Akron home probably has a boring basement with a bit of mildew and a bunch of boxes and dusty things you are not using. However, it does not have to be that way. You can transform your Akron basement into a sports bar and have friends over all the time. The first thing you want to do is check the foundation and dampness of the basement before you start doing any Akron basement finishing work.

If you notice water in your basement, contact an Akron basement waterproofing company to have them look at it. Likewise, if your basement wall is deteriorating or you notice cracks or bowed basement walls, contact a professional to repair your Akron basement foundation. You do not want to invest time and money into finishing the basement until that is done.

When setting up a basement bar there are some must-have items you must have around or your basement bar won’t really be a bar but just a basement pretending to be. Of course, there are some extras like a jukebox and pool table that will really set the bar off. However, consider the following 5 must-haves in order to set up your very own basement bar to enjoy a night with your friends, parties, game days, and then add the extras when you can afford to.

Must-Have #1 – A Basement

This might seem obvious, but to have the best basement bar ever you really need a traditional basement. There are many benefits to this that include being on a completely different level than the rest of the house so noise wont be transmitted and bother those above you. Of course, you can make a basement bar in whatever space you call the basement, but a true basement bar needs a basement.

Must-Have #2 – A Bar

Ok, obvious requirement number two is a bar. A basement bar (see images there) needs a bar that is set up to serve beer and give the appearance that your basement bar is really authentic. You can buy a ready-made bar, hire a carpenter to build you one, or give it a go yourself by buying the lumber and downloading step-by-step instructions from the Internet. As long as you have a basement and a bar your basement bar just needs some accessories.

Must-Have #3 – A Kegerator

A kegerator is a refrigerated keg that will keep your beer cold at all times and be ready to serve anytime the basement bar is open. You don’t want to have to buy six-packs and litter your bar with bottled beer when you can serve beer straight from the keg. Keg beer is special and will make your basement bar even more so.

Must-Have #4 – A Big TV

No, you don’t have to have the biggest screen television on the market, but it will help. Buy the largest screen television you can afford for your basement bar or one that fits the space well if your basement is really small. This will allow for a great game watching like the Superbowl, Basketball National Championship, and other great games.

Must-Have #5 – Comfortable Seating

This might seem generic, but it really is a must-have for your basement bar. If your friends are joining you for a night of poker or Monday night Football they need a place to sit back and relax while drinking some of your keg beer. So, be sure to have some bar stools around the bar as well as comfy couches and chairs surrounding the TV, with your poker table nearby so there is plenty of seating wherever the action is taking place.

Choosing the Right Kind of Deck for Your Backyard

Backyard decks are an amazing space for grilling during the summer, and they enhance the appearance of your yard. However, there are different materials that are used to create decks, and thus, you should determine the best material for you. Choosing the most suitable material for your deck is more significant than the shape itself. In addition to different kinds of materials, the decks that are available differ in color, texture, installation, and cost. Below are the most common categories of materials used to make decks that you can choose from.

  1. Wood decks

Decks created from wood are strong and comfortable; however, you will have to put a lot of effort into maintaining it compared to other kinds of deck materials. Wood decks require annual cleaning and also re-cleaning some years. Despite these maintenance and cleaning activities, your wood deck is likely to experience breakdowns as a result of rotting, warping and splintering, especially older decks. Therefore, you should apply a colored protectant to your old deck so that it can last for more years.

There are three common types of wood that you can select from:

a) Pressure Treated wood

These are the least expensive deck woods; however, you should perform the installation process carefully because they contain dangerous chemicals. You can choose from many shades, and they last for a very long period of time.

b) Redwood and Cedar

These kinds of decks are very common because they contain a good visual appeal and resistance to bugs. Whereas they are soft and wear out quickly, they can last for many years with suitable maintenance.

c) IPE hardwood

This kind of deck wood is found in South America and does not wear out easily. It is costly, but it can last for more than 25 years.

While wood material for your deck is a good choice as you will save a lot of money, in the long run, it requires a lot of maintenance. Also, you will spend some money after a couple of years to clean your deck so that it can remain in good condition. You will find a lot of information that is available in the various ways to clean your wood deck.

Similarly, it is simple to build a wood deck using simple tools and hardware compared to composite and PVC decks that need advanced tools. Ensure that you choose certified wood for your deck so that you can be certain of high quality and durable deck for your backyard.  Also remember you are most likely required to have a building permit to add a deck to your [city1] home.

  1. Composite Decks

These types of decks are built using a combination of plastic and waste woods fibers that increase its resistance to rot. They have the same appearance as the wood decks, and you will simply choose your most preferred color. Generally, composite decks are more costly compared to wood decks but the advantage is they require little maintenance.

  1. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Decks

PVC decks are completely recyclable, and they do not rot. They are more expensive but resist fading. They are available in a wide range of colors.

When searching for the right deck, you should take into consideration the appearance and materials that you want. If you are interested in the appearance of a wood deck but still desire a low maintenance deck, then you should choose the composite deck. Composite decks do not shrink or split, and if you are interested in a colorful and durable deck, then your best choice is the vinyl deck.

Determine your purpose of the deck that you want so that you can easily pick the right material that will enhance the value of your home.

An outdoor deck is a big investment, and thus, you should begin by determining your budget and do your homework on the different types of decks that are available. Choose a deck material on the grounds of quality and affordability.

Additionally, make sure that you ask for a warranty for the materials that you will buy. In the case of maintenance, it is important that you read the specifications provided by your deck manufacturer so that you can determine if you can manage and be sure to pick a reliable builder.