The congregation of Crosspoint United Methodist Church (CUMC), 9687 Portage Street NW, Massillon, 44648, is planning a celebration of its recent chartering and the purchase of its first church building and is inviting the local community to join in. Some of the planned festivities for May 19 and May 20 include a performance by Mark Lee Townsend, Sunday worship, a cookout, and several children’s activities.

The public is invited to the Massillon Public Library for a free showing of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” at 6 p.m. May 14 as part of The Big Read 2012

The greatest coach in Green High School sports history?

A strong case could be made for Dan Drake, who, in an 18-year career (1971-88), guided the football team to eight Suburban League championships, including five in a row from 1973-77 that completed a run in which the school captured eight titles in 10 seasons.

Rain or shine, area youth can spend a Saturday morning casting into freshly stocked waters to see what fish they catch. Each will have to bring along a rod, reel and bait, but may also catch a prize from among those awarded in various age categories at the upcoming events.

“Fish bite, even when it’s raining,” said David Ruwadi, park division foreman of Jackson Township Public Works.

The Green Veteran's Memorial Park received the highest awards given out by the state of Ohio for public projects.

It received the Award of Excellence and the Governor's Award against other projects from around the state.

This week’s “Page Stage and Screen” picks – all available at your local Stark and Summit County library branches – are dedicated to the very spring-ly message of rebirth and trying something new.  Like, say, entering a poetry contest, or exploring rock music played on cellos, or maybe even getting political by writing your favorite book publisher and urging them not to put a cramp in your Kindle by discontinuing the practice of allowing libraries to purchase titles in the e-book format – which, as you’ll see, some book publishing heavies are beginning to do.

Campers can shop for bargains and sell their own gently used gear during a special garage sale campout scheduled for April 20, 21 and 22 at the Portage Lakes State Park campgrounds.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will headline a concert at Kent State University on Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. at Dix Stadium in Kent. The “Centennial Campaign” concert to benefit the Campaign for Change Scholarship Fund serves as a celebration of the conclusion of Kent State’s Centennial Campaign, a $250-million fundraising effort timed around university’s 100th anniversary in 2010 and the largest campaign in Kent State’s history.

Students at Springfield's Young Elementary school went to school on Saturday March 24.

It was not a day of learning, but a day filled with fun games at the annual Young School Carnival.

The Friends of the Portage Lakes Library will sponsor its Spring 2012 Book Sale Saturday, April 21, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Library, 4261 Manchester Road, New Franklin.  Proceeds benefit library programs. 

“Just Another Day” Student Video Contest will be put on by the Akron Art Museum. The goal is to make a short film in two weeks. It is for ages 13-19 and all entries shown at Akron Art Museum.

The Dragon Dream Team, Ohio’s first and only all breast cancer survivor dragon boat team, is having its third annual Breast of Friends fundraiser on Saturday, April 14.  The event, Black White and Pink All Over, is going to be held at St. Joseph’s Family Center, 610 West Exchange Street, Akron.  The evening will include over 250 silent and live auction items including sports packages, vacation getaways and a "Design Your Own Dragon Boat Adventure Party."

The Easter Bunny made back-to-back visits to Schrop School and Lakemore's Upper Water Works Park. At Springfield, he arrived by police cruiser chauffeured by Sgt. Eric East. In Lakemore he came aboard a shinny red fire truck driven by firefighter Nick Alhassani and was greeted by Mayor Rick Justice.

With the weather getting better and more people looking to get outdoors, The Portage Lakes Disc Golf Association is starting a disc golf league.

League president Steve Godar says that interest has grown with more people playing the course and looking to join the league.

John Woodside was elected to the position of district governor.  District 13D is comprised of 53 clubs located in the Northeastern Ohio counties of Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark and Trumbull at the Lions Clubs International District 13D Convention at the McKinley Grande Hotel in Canton, Jackson Township Lions Club. 

Here are some events to celebrate Easter in the Greater Akron area in the coming weeks.

UPDATE: Springfield's Easter Egg Hunt is March 31.

   For Eric Coblentz, a Malone University guard, who also is a married father and a business major. every day is a balancing act between class, basketball and taking care of his family.
   For him there are no late night fast food runs, video games or crazy adventures, only life with his family. When the 6-foot-2 guard isn't making game-winning 3-pointers, putting up 20 point-plus games or doing his homework, Coblentz is at home spending time with his 1-and-a-half year-old son, Cohen, newborn Conrad and wife, Briana Coblentz, also a Lake graduate.

Since Terry Bowden took the head coaching job at the University of Akron, he said one of his objectives is being a part of the fabric of the community, in addition to fielding a consistently competitive football team.

Bowden spoke to a group of World War II veterans who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima at O'Charley's Restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls recently on the anniversary of the Raising of the Flag.

A benovelent account has been set up for Justin George Wigington at area First Merit banks.

Wigington, 19, was seriously injured March 15 in a car crash on Center Road in New Franklin.

The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission announced athlete and team registration is now open to compete in the 2012 Ohio Senior Olympics State Games. The Ohio Senior Olympics is a qualifying event for the 2013 Summer National Senior Games and is open to men and women ages 50 and older. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to participate in the tournaments rom July 26-29 in various venues across Northeast Ohio resulting in an estimated economic impact of more than $550,000.