Hope your week is off to a strong start. Here’s what’s happening around Akron–Canton today, plus a few things worth putting on your calendar and one local spot worth checking out.
~ We are opening Advertising back up for everyone starting with our subs here!
We have limited spots for this, we have different advertisement options with banners, full spots (with descriptions), and little promotionals!
~Let us know on promotions on a gift basket full of tons of gifts, would love to hear ideas and ways to continue to grow our community!
• Akron Public schools shine in Academic Contests!
• McKinley Monument Area revamp
• Akron Canton Airport Growth + New Flights this Year!
-Youth Shine on MLK Day!
-Tons of upcoming events!
Have a great day everyone!
-JJ
Akron Public Schools Students Shine at DECA District 10, Dozens Advance to State Championship
AKRON, Ohio — Students from Akron Public Schools delivered an impressive showing at the DECA District 10 Competition, earning dozens of top finishes and sending more than 50 qualifiers to the Ohio State Career Development Conference.
The competition was held January 9, 2026, at the University of Akron and featured rigorous business simulations and role-play scenarios in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Students from North High School, Firestone CLC, Buchtel CLC, and East CLC all placed across multiple categories.
DECA is an international career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs by challenging students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world business problems. Events emphasize critical thinking, communication, professionalism, and ethical decision-making.
“Our students continue to prove that Akron is a powerhouse for future business leaders,” said Eric Mathews, Entrepreneurship & Marketing Instructor and DECA Advisor at North High School, noting the district’s depth of first- through fourth-place finishes across multiple schools.
Marcie Ebright, Director of College & Career Academies for Akron Public Schools, said the results reflect the district’s long-term strategy.
“By bridging the gap between classroom instruction and industry-standard competition, we’re ensuring graduates leave with more than a diploma—they leave with real professional confidence,” Ebright said.
Big Wins Across the District
APS students secured 10 first-place finishes, sweeping categories in Entrepreneurship, Marketing Management, Personal Financial Literacy, and Hospitality, followed by 10 second-place, 12 third-place, and numerous fourth-place finishes—each qualifying students for the state level.
The top four finishers in each category now advance to the Ohio State Career Development Conference, scheduled for February 24–25 in Columbus, where they’ll compete for a chance to qualify for the International Career Development Conference in Atlanta.
District leaders say the strong DECA performance underscores APS’s mission to produce career-ready graduates prepared to contribute to Akron’s growing business and professional economy.
McKinley Presidential Library & Museum Revamps Programming to Attract New Visitors
CANTON, Ohio — The McKinley Presidential Library & Museum is refreshing its programming lineup in an effort to draw in new audiences while continuing to tell the story of President William McKinley and Stark County’s broader history.
Long a fixture in Canton, the museum blends artifacts from McKinley’s presidency with regional history, hands-on science exhibits in Discovery World, and a full planetarium experience. Now, museum leaders are expanding beyond traditional offerings by introducing rotating and pop-culture-friendly exhibits designed to appeal to a wider range of visitors.
A Charlie Brown exhibit, currently on display through the end of January, has been one of the first steps in that effort. Up next is an exhibit focused on Francis Benjamin Johnston, a pioneering female photographer best known for taking the final photographs of President McKinley before his assassination.
The museum will also host McKinley Day on January 31, celebrating the former president’s birthday with special programming tied to his legacy and impact on the region.
Museum officials say the goal is to create more reasons for repeat visits while keeping the institution relevant to families, students, and history enthusiasts alike.
Akron-Canton Airport Caps Off 2025 With Strong Passenger Growth, New Routes, and Community Wins
Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) closed out 2025 with 938,814 total commercial passengers, exceeding its original forecast of 925,000 and marking one of its strongest years since 2017.
Passenger traffic rose 23.54% over 2024 and finished 12.52% above pre-pandemic 2019 levels, signaling sustained demand for air travel in Northeast Ohio and continued confidence from both airlines and travelers.
“This exciting growth reflects the confidence airlines and travelers continue to place in the Akron-Canton Airport,” said Ren Camacho, CAK President and CEO. “Our community has shown up in a big way, and our airline partners responded with expanded service that gives travelers more nonstop options than ever before.”
What Drove the Growth
Much of CAK’s momentum came from major airline expansions and new nonstop routes in 2025:
Breeze Airways selected CAK as its first Midwest crew base, stationing three Airbus A220 aircraft at the airport
Seven new nonstop routes launched:
Allegiant Air: Jacksonville (JAX), Destin/Fort Walton Beach (VPS)
American Airlines: Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
Breeze Airways: Wilmington (ILM), Palm Beach (PBI), Jacksonville (JAX), Daytona Beach (DAB), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
United Airlines added a fourth daily flight to Chicago O’Hare, strengthening access to a major global hub
Looking Ahead to 2026
That momentum is continuing into the new year, with additional service already confirmed:
Breeze Airways launching nonstop flights to Savannah (SAV) in May 2026
American Airlines adding a fifth daily flight to Charlotte (CLT) in June 2026
“These additions strengthen CAK’s role as Northeast Ohio’s preferred airport,” Camacho said, citing the airport’s convenience, accessibility, and growing list of leisure and business destinations.
Beyond Flights: Community and Accessibility Milestones
In addition to air service growth, CAK hit several key milestones in 2025:
Unveiled a modernized Sensory Room in partnership with the Wolff & Phan Autism Center
Celebrated Breeze Kindness Week with a $10,000 contribution to TomTod Ideas
Launched a Strategic Three-Year Plan focused on long-term development and customer experience
Partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Stark County to gift free books to traveling children
Opened Aultman Health System’s AultWorks Occupational Medicine Center on-site
Maintained top safety and compliance standards, including:
Zero discrepancies on Airport Operating Certificate
TSA inspection with no civil penalties
Perfect score on FAA Part 139 certification inspection
Youth Day of Doing, Brings Akron Together on MLK Day
Young people across Akron stepped up on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, volunteering at nearly 10 locations citywide as part of the annual Youth Day of Doing, a service-focused event honoring Dr. King’s legacy through action.
Organized by Jerome Moss, executive director of Guys & Gals Community Partnership, the day put youth to work cleaning community spaces, packing food, reading to children, and participating in open conversations about safety, leadership, and community responsibility.
At several locations, volunteers could be found scrubbing floors, organizing supplies, stacking chairs, and preparing household essentials for families in need. The smell of cleaning supplies filled the air as students, mentors, and community leaders worked side by side.
The Youth Day of Doing was part of Akron’s broader Power | Love | Justice Weekend, a series of events held across the city over the MLK holiday weekend focused on civic engagement, service, and community dialogue.
Organizations involved included the Akron NAACP and its youth council, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, local schools, and community centers. At Sarah’s House Inc., volunteers sorted and bagged food and household items, while students at Joy Park Community Center cleaned facilities and took part in small-group discussions.
Students also volunteered at the Akron Children's Museum, reading to kids and engaging younger residents in creative learning activities.
Akron NAACP President Judi Hill described the effort as “intergenerational,” highlighting the importance of young people working alongside adult mentors to strengthen the community.
Breakdown
📍 What: Youth Day of Doing
📅 When: Monday, Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
🏙️ Where: Multiple locations across Akron
👥 Who Participated: Local students, community volunteers, fraternities/sororities, nonprofits
🧹 Activities Included:
Cleaning and organizing community spaces
Packing food and household essentials
Reading to children
Youth-led community conversations
💡 Why It Matters:
The event emphasized Dr. King’s message that service is a powerful form of leadership—especially when driven by youth. By spreading out across the city, volunteers made a visible, hands-on impact while building connections across generations and neighborhoods.
Free Jazz Performance: Tommy Lehman feat. Theron Brown & George Delancy
Date and time: January 22, 2026 (7:30 – 9:00 pm)
Location: Akron Art Museum at 1 South High Street Akron, OH 44308 United States
Come vibe with Tommy Lehman feat. Theron Brown & George Delancy live and in person. It’s an awesome chance to enjoy some cool jazz tunes and experience their unique sound up close.
4 Seasons Trees Crushed Glass & Paint on Frame Paint Art Sip Class
Date and time: January 21, 2026 (6pm to 8pm)
Location: Nauti Vine Winery at 3950 South Main Street Akron, OH 44319 United States
Create this 4 seasons tree scene created with paint and crushed glass.
The Wilderness Center programs – The The Wilderness Center is hosting a New Moon Night Hike (Jan. 16, $10), plus a free Guided Hike and Creature Feature on Jan. 17.
Stark Parks activities – Stark Parks will offer Beginner Bee School (Jan. 24) at Sippo Lake Park and Youth Archery for ages 10–17 on Jan. 22 at the park’s Exploration Gateway.
These events offer a mix of creativity, music, outdoor exploration, and hands-on learning for kids and families across the area.
-An indoor farmers market will run 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on each third Saturday of each month: Feb. 21, March 21, April 18, and May 16.
As always, make sure to check out all of our socials! We look forward to continuing to connect with all of you out in public as we continue to grow the group!