The International Institute of Akron’s entryway was filled with at least seven people, some sitting on the bench attached to the wall. I squeezed past the families, nodding hello, and entered the old building on Tallmadge Avenue.

The father on the couch over from me spoke English and mentioned to an employee he needed to sign his wife up for the citizenship test. His daughter, who looked about 4, wore Dora the Explorer sneakers and pink leggings.

I was told this was a very slow day for the office. “We have more than 400 individuals who come to us in a year looking for help,” said Debbie May-Johnson, executive director of the International Institute of Akron (IIA). “On our class days, we often don’t have enough seats for everyone.”

As a child, I had to go to the Mathews Barber Shop every two weeks to get a haircut. I never understood why it was called a haircut; my head was full of nappy unmanageable hair, and I didn’t want anyone putting anything on, or in my hair because it hurt.

In my opinion, this was punishment. On the other hand, it was always good to go to the barber shop, because this was the only time I could go anywhere on my own. My mother didn't allow us to associate with other people.

The Hotel Matthews was even better, especially during Christmas week. I would always get busted by my father, who would be with people like Ruby, of Ruby and the Romantics, Count Basie and the likes, and he was proud when I showed up, because he wanted to show off his baby boy, but I wanted to go downtown.

The act of giving for the Community Outreach Resources Exchange (CORE) began in 1998 with a truck filled with furniture.

Now, tucked behind the Marc’s building on State Road is an attached, adjacent full warehouse. Every Saturday morning, 20 to 25 families sit in a waiting room, ready to pick out items for their homes for free.

“We get people coming from all different situations—horrible situations like a fire or a foreclosure,” said Jodie Macchione, Director of Advertising and Furniture Acquisition for the CORE Furniture Bank.

Brandy Cooper knows that Pregnancy Care of Summit County cares about her and her three children. Since coming to the agency five years ago for help, people still remember her, and she hopes that others in community can see everything they do for pregnant woman in need.

Pregnancy Care of Summit County has served families since 1971. The agency’s mission is the belief that every woman has the right to give birth and raise her child with dignity. The organizarion has a number of programs that are offered free of charge to support woman and men who are faced with unexpected pregnancies.

“We needed the help,” said Cooper. “It’s hard when you don’t have anyone. They (Pregnancy Care of Summit County) never judge, they never look down on you. That’s why I come.”

A Halloween event this weekend at the Akron Dog Park will offer games, prizes and a costume contest for canines.

The Howl-O-Ween festival and fundraiser takes place Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Akron Dog Park, 499 Memorial Parkway, and is free and open to the public. Along with baked goods and raffle prizes, the event also features games and contests for humans and their four-legged companions, like a costume contest category for "Best Human and Dog Combo."

Other dog costume categories include "Most Scary, Most Funny" and "Best Overall." Vendors also will be on-hand, as well as the Akron Police Department's K9 Unit.

A number of medical advances have arisen from clinical trials. Sometimes, they can even revolutionize medicine. For example, a clinical study in Pittsburgh determined that the lumpectomy (known as a “breast-conserving” procedure) is as effective in breast cancer treatment as a mastectomy, or full breast removal, said Karen Snyder, a manager at Akron’s Austen BioInnovation Institute.

A series of informational meetings about the benefits of medical health research kicked off last week at the Akron-Summit County Public Library’s main library in downtown Akron.

Although there sometimes are risks involved with medical studies, it’s a chance to make a difference and help discover new treatments. “We want to increase the amount of research in the area, but to do that we need volunteers, and we need informed volunteers,” she added.

In the early 1980s, Gary Saus planted an acorn on his North Main Street property with the hope that it would represent the foundation of his new business. For the following decades, he operated The Acorn Grows, a metaphysical shop that was an anchor for many Akron residents seeking more knowledge about their ideologies.

Although the Acorn Grows closed in 2001, the storefront has been revamped and re-imagined by Lisa Marie, the new proprietor who describes herself as a “Sea Otter of the Universe” on her business card.

The new shop sells books, stones, candles, artwork and clothing, among other items. The business also hosts regular events such as astrology study groups, candle magic and spiritual development.

Putting fresh, local, sustainably grown vegetables on the table of everyone in our community is the aim of an organization called City Fresh.

City Fresh is a Cuyahoga County nonprofit program of the New Agrarian Center that supports the creation of a sustainable local food system in Northeast Ohio. Founded by Brad Masi, the program was meant to address the needs of those who are most at-risk within our community.

The New Agrarian Center is committed to building a stronger and more sustainable regional food system in Northeast Ohio: a food system that promotes health in the broadest sense of the word -- healthy land, healthy communities, healthy individuals and a healthy economy.

There are plenty of days when some odd something or another will trigger thoughts of places or foods from my distant past. The other day during a particularly bad morning, I made an off-the-wall comment about looking forward to a two martini lunch and somehow the conversation took a turn toward the past. Our conversation turned almost immediately to old Akron restaurants where you were likely to find business men sitting at a bar sipping their lunches. These places are nearly gone now, but those that came to mind were Nick Anthe's (still an icon on North Main) and Iacomini's on West Market.

The other name to come to mind was Sanginiti's on East Market Street. In the 1980s, while working in downtown Akron, Sanginiti's was a rite of passage. As a young girl never exposed to anyone sitting at a bar at anytime, much less at lunchtime, walking into the place gave me quite a sense of sophistication.

Little infielders, outfielders, pitchers and catchers will be lined up on South Main Street this Saturday for the annual All American Baseball and Softball Parade in downtown Akron.

Leagues from around the city -- Goodyear Heights, North Akron, Ellet, Kenmore, West Akron Little League and West Akron Baseball League -- will send a total of 1,200 youngsters to parade down Main Street and be cheered on by family and fans Saturday morning beginning at 11 a.m..

The route begins at Cedar and Main streets, heads north on Main to Bowery and then west on Bowery to finish at Lock 4.