The Akron Civic Theatre will become a 1920s speakeasy on May 13. Puttin’ on the Ritz, a themed 1920s party fundraiser, will feature moonshiners, gangsters, a casino gaming hall and attendees dressed for the occasion.

The party begins at 6:30 p.m. May 13 with appetizers and "hooch" as guests are entertained by the music of Helen Welch. Verb Ballets will perform a dance on the Grand Staircase, and the Keystone Cops plan to “bust the joint open."

At 8 p.m., Al Capone and his gang will escort everyone into the auditorium for a silent movie accompanied by the Civic's Wurlitzer organ. After a live auction, the stage will transform into a casino gaming hall, with entertainment by Jack Shawnz. Desserts and coffee will round out the night.

Main Street Gourmet will do its part to help end hunger by offering discount treats this Saturday at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

The No Muffin Left Behind Sale, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Foodbank, will feature such items as “French Toast” muffins, brownies, cookie dough, granola, baked muffins and muffin batters with some food priced at $1.25 per pound. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank.

The Manchester Road bridge over Kenmore Boulevard will be closed all week beginning today.

The bridge will close each day at 8:30 a.m. and reopen at 3:30 p.m., according to a city of Akron news release, which adds the work includes patching concrete on parapet walls and bridge maintenance.

The traffic on southbound Manchester Road will be detoured to the Fourth Street ramp, then across Kenmore and back to Manchester Road.

Modern healthcare is admittedly effective in combating sickness and disease. But is there merit to a painting or a piece of classical music to assist in a patient’s healing?

The Summa Health System thinks so. The organization founded the HealingArt program, in which visual, performing and literary arts assist the traditional methods of medicine, surgery and rehab to provide a well-rounded healing experience.

Physicians and researchers believe in the healing potential of the arts, said Brenda Cummins, director of community engagement for the Summa Foundation, who adds that visual art and music can alter the body’s cells and brainwaves, improving the immune system and blood flow. At its simplest, the arts can improve a person’s attitude and perception of the world, she said.