Join us on the corner of Main and Exchange Street (in Akron) from noon to 1 p.m. today (Oct. 14). Learn how YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by helping the County of Summit DD RENEW ISSUE 25 (on the Nov. 8 ballot), which is not a new tax. Unaware of what Issue 25 can do for people who have developmental disabilities?  Find out ... information will be handed out at this site.

Summa Health System has appointed Dr. Steven P. Schmidt as chief operating officer of the Summa Foundation.

Schmidt has been the interim leader of the Summa Foundation since October 2010 and also is the vice president of Clinical Research and Innovation for Summa Health System. In his Summa Foundation role, Schmidt will specifically lead efforts in community benefit and diversity, government relations and health policy, and research.

"Steve has done a tremendous job as interim leader of the Summa Foundation throughout the past several months," said Summa Health System President and CEO Thomas J. Strauss. "With his background in research, his deep understanding of community benefit and health policy and his knowledge of the greater Akron community, he is the best person to serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Summa Foundation and help move our System's priorities forward."

Mayor Don Plusquellic recently accepted a check representing a $1.86 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant to be used by Akron to carry out its Healthy Homes Production Coalition Program. The Healthy Homes program, administered by Akron’s Department of Planning and Urban Development, is designed to develop, demonstrate and promote cost-effective, preventative measures to correct multiple safety hazards in the home.

The Healthy Homes Program funds will be used to assist 250 low income Akron households including families with children and elderly. The program’s three goals are: “Keep it Dry,” “Keep it Safe” and “Keep it Clean.” An average of $4,000 in Healthy Homes grant funds will be allocated per qualifying household.

“The Akron community will be able to use these much needed funds to remediate certain health and safety hazards in their homes,” said Plusquellic. “These residents will be able to sleep better at night knowing that their homes are healthier and safer for their families. I especially appreciate the work that was done in Washington by our congressional representatives Betty Sutton and Tim Ryan that allowed us to receive these funds.”

Many thought a restaurant of this type in Akron was too good to be true, and perhaps it was, as VegiTerranean, the city's upscale vegan restaurant, has closed its doors for the last time. The restaurant, owned by well known rocker and Akron native Chrissy Hynde, was a Rust Belt anomaly.

"This has been a labour of love for me for the last four years," stated Hynde on the restaurant's website. "We tried everything we could to keep the restaurant going but unfortunately due to the current economic climate this has not been possible."

The restaurant gained local and national accolades, being named among the top five vegan restaurants in the country by Business Week, according to Hynde, who added, "I'd like to thank everybody who helped me try to fulfill my dream. I discovered that vegan cuisine in Ohio has become more appreciated than I imagined."