United Way of Summit County announced a raffle to win a trip to Los Angeles to visit the set of the hit CBS-TV show CSI:NY. 

Four council members were sworn in just before the Jan. 4 regular meeting. The members were re-elected councilperson Tammy Coontz and three newly-elected members, Troy Bradfield, Kevin Owens and Tom Wolfe.

Resident Bobby Dinkins recently was hired as the new director of the Springfield Township Senior/
Community Center. Dinkins is a graduate of the University of Akron and has 23 years of journalism, public relations, marketing and business experience.
 

About $100 in cash and a necklace valued at $500 were reported stolen Jan. 2 from a home on Laburnum Drive.
 

Students earn national awards.

An Akron woman reported her wallet was stolen from the top of her purse while she was shopping at a supermarket on Corporate Woods Parkway Dec. 17. The wallet contained $100 in cash, a credit card and other items.
 

Acting Fire Chief Barry Saley presented a check from the Lakemore Firefighters Association to the Village of Lakemore in the amount of $4,717 at the Dec. 21 meeting. The check was to pay for equipment for fire engine 2113 and was raised by the firefighters. 
 

The retirement resignation of Treasurer Donald Gambal was accepted by the Financial Planning and Supervision Commission for the Springfield Local School District at its Dec. 15 meeting.
 

The board of education held a special meeting Dec. 18 to approve hire Chris Adams as interim treasurer to replace Donald Gambal.

As word spread that House Bill 318 may be stalled in the Ohio Senate, shock waves rocked school districts. Public education funding would be cut drastically without HB 318, according to financial impact statements. The bill provided a way for the state to make up for  revenue lost when the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against placing video lottery terminals at race tracks. The court decided that such a move needed to be subject to a voter referendum.

Meanwhile, school districts, already facing funding cuts from the state earlier this year of 1 and 2 percent, were alarmed at additional cuts if HB 318 failed.
 

Every day, millions of working women get dressed for a day at work. While awaking, each of these women are faced with the same question: What should I wear?

Deputies investigated burglaries reported at two homes under construction Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Suspects kicked in the front door of a home on East Park Drive and stole the refrigerator and electric range. Total loss in damage and property was over $5,000. In the second incident at a home on Fifth Avenue, suspects took ceiling fans, light fixtures, tools and a water heater from the garage.

Residents spoke out about proposed amendments to the zoning map during a public hearing. 
No one spoke in opposition to the change. Council approved the zoning change for 12 parcels on the north side of Lakeside Drive to be changed from R-4 to PRD-1.
 

The board of education accepted the retirement-resignation of District Treasurer Donald Gambal at its Dec. 8 meeting. Gambal has been with the school system for nine years. The resignation will be effective Jan. 1. Gambal has accepted a position with the Warrensville Heights City Schools.
 

We are all aware that Santa has a very busy schedule at this time of year. But, owners of the Sawyerwood School have convinced Santa to stop by for dinner and you are invited.