Sharing the love to hate the Yankees brought friends together April 27 at the Canton Road Firehouse Grill. These friends were gathering to benefit the Friends of the Springfield/Lakemore Library.

The “Love to Hate Those Yankees” fundraiser yielded $3,700.

“It was wonderful,” said Springfield Trustee Dean Young.

There were more than 100 people in attendance. Besides local dignitaries, Summit County Executive Russ Pry and County Councilwoman Paula Prentice were in attendance. Pry congratulated those in attendance and promised to work toward making a library for the community a reality. Young stated Pry was really encouraging and got people pumped up about it.

“We need to get the commitment necessary here and we can see it happen,” said Young. “He (Pry) is encouraging and would like to see it happen for us.”  

He stated the fundraiser focused community interest and demonstrated there is still  momentum for the project.

“I thought it was very important to have such an event,” said Young.

Trustees of the “Friends” organization, Marlene Hill, Karla Shackelford, Denise Hobart, William Stauffer and Dean Young thanked all participants. They extended special thanks to Tony Jaber, proprietor of the Springfield Firehouse Grill. Jaber supplied all food and beverages at cost as his contribution to the library effort.

Russ Dean and Bob Large, both of Springfield Township, won prizes at the event. Dean won two tickets to an Indians game. Large won an Indians Jersey signed by Andre Thornton. 

Hill said it was a huge success.