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.

Neighbors who know one another better tend to build safer overall neighborhoods, according to the city of Akron, which encourages each area to promote their own event for the fifth annual Neighbors Day. The celebration takes place May 28, Memorial Day weekend, and centers around residents getting to know their neighbors better.

This year's theme is Living Together Better: 5 Years of Strengthening Neighborhoods. Once residents decide their preferred activity,  city officials encourage organizers to choose a location, adding they may want to host it on their porch, front yard or driveway. Neighbors Day Akron is designed to help residents get to know one another, especially those in closest proximity.

(Interesting Akron is a bi-weekly blog by Rob Lucas about the fun, quirky, unique and historical places in and around the Akron area. Find more at http://interestingakron.wordpress.com.)

Gus’ Chalet is one of those places that your grandparents would drag you to as a kid, but you would later gravitate to as an adult. It’s a true meat ‘n taters place that has more on the menu than just American fare. It’s the place where Akron’s heavyweights and politicos used to and still meet and has a Greek side of the menu that truly needs to be explored.

This atmosphere hasn’t changed since the 1970s, whether it’s the menu or the decor. It’s dark and mysterious with tiny gold-speckled mirrors on the walls and a mystique all to its own.

Finding local, healthy and affordable food is but one of many problems facing the inner city. So to address this challenge, community gardens have sprung up so residents can use a dedicated plot of land to grow their own food.

But are urban gardens always the answer? In order for community gardens to be a success, the “community element” must be firmly in place, said Denise Ellsworth, educator for The Ohio State University Extension in Summit County.

Learning a foreign language is a challenge in any situation, but imagine learning it while beginning a new life halfway across the world. That is exactly what Akron resident Wafaa Borros did when she moved to Ohio from Egypt in January 2000.

While the city focuses on job growth and creation, a recent study asserts that attention should be given to passion and love of place instead.

Social offerings, aesthetics and openness are more critical to residents than basic services and economy, according to a three-year Gallup study of Akron in coordination with the Knight Foundation.

As northeast Ohioans experience yet another winter-driving season, safety is of the utmost importance. Drivers, especially those with small children, take every precaution to avoid accidents. But one area agency recognizes that not all drivers have the knowledge or the means to fully protect children, and it is working hard to change that. Summit County Safe Kids Coalition, one of 280 Safe Kids programs nationally, works with local agencies to protect children from preventable, unintentional injuries.

“When owners drop off their dogs during the day or for overnight boarding, they leave knowing their pets are in good hands. At the same time, they are supporting the development of jobs for people with disabilities.”