Sunday, November 23, 2008

Studio M

"Next" will soon be the new now at the Massillon Museum's Studio M.

Canton resident Michelle Waalkes of Canton will be showcasing her work in an exhibit-titled "Next" which will open Dec. 13 in the Fred F. Silk Community Room. The entire community is invited to the opening night reception from 7-9 p.m.

Her work is a magnificent fusion of mediums and textiles all designed to create beautiful moods that both represent and mimic life.

“I seek to fuse my love of photography, graphics, and fibers into conceptual pieces for the viewer to discover and contemplate,” Waalkes says. “Recurring themes in my predominately fibers/mixed media works include the transience of life in time, as well as the feelings evoked by diverse natural, cultural, and architectural spaces.”

Waalkes, a Malone University graduate, currently serves as curator for the 2nd April Galerie in downtown Canton. Her work was also selected by a panel of jurors to be a part of the Massillon Museum's Stark County Artists Exhibition in 2007."Indecisive" by Michele Waalkes"Unmoored" by Michelle Waalkes

Thanks and giving

Giving isn't always the easy thing to do. It is, however, always the most rewarding.

Massillon area families can sit down to healthy, hearty holiday meals this Thanksgiving and Christmas, in part because of the generosity of children they have never met.

The students at Hope Academy in Canton collected canned goods and non-perishable items that were boxed up and donated to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank and the Massillon-Walnut Hills food cupboard.

Heather Brewer, a Massillon resident and teacher at Hope Academy, noted that the generosity of the students was over-whelming. After only four days of collecting the 350 students at the school had donated more than 2,000 cans of food during the week-long drive.

"I got teary-eyed when I called the PTO president to tell them how well (the donation drive) was going," Brewer said.

It was the Williams family, though, that showed the greatest dedication to the cause. The children – Joy, Jackquelin and Jason Williams and Jemini Turner – donated approximately 650 cans of food combined.

"One little boy brought in 166 cans of food by himself," Brewer said. "His brothers and sisters also brought in more than 100 each."

What makes the Hope Academy students' donations so special is the fact that many of the students' families don't have much to give to begin with. According to Brewer, more than 80 percent of the students who attend Hope Academy receive free and reduced lunches, due to limited family income. To see the students and their families give out of love and kindness - even when it seems difficult to do - is truly inspiring, Brewer said.

"I am so proud of all of them," Brewer said. "They all understand that they are doing something really nice for the community. This is the second fundraiser we have done and this one turned out to be really successful."

The two classes who donated the most cans will get to celebrate their generosity with a pizza parties, Brewer noted.

"They have brought in boxes and bags of food every day," Brewer said. "It's just a little prize, but it's something they really deserve."

Photo captions:

Above center: Hope Academy students (front from left ) Kielee Showalter, Graham Moore, Jemini Turner, Jason williams, (back row) Bionca Burton, Shyloe Mayle, Sterling Moore, Joy Williams, and Jackquelin Williams show off some of the food they donated.


Above left: Hope Academy students pack up cans of food to distribute.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hearts of gold

Treasures aren't really all they are cracked up to be.

Sharing those treasures, that's where the real joy is found.

Children at St. Barbara Catholic School are finding the more they give from their allowance and, ultimately, from their hearts, they are getting far more in return.

Every other Thursday, the children have the chance to toss some coins and dollar bills into the offering during a collection that is taken at Mass. The school's student council decides which charitable group or organization will receive the monetarary gifts.

Gifts that they are learning make a huge difference in the world around them. Yes, Jesus took two fish and five loaves to feed multitudes of people. Imagine what God can do with a couple hundred dollars.

So far, St. Barbara students have donated more than $300 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund. This time, they collected just more than $100. That money, according to school principal Bob Otte, will be given to the Diabetes Foundation.

The school year has really just started. Imagine what the kids can do with all that they have to give in seven months to come.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Great Scott!

Art Bomb tattoos is taking a trip back in time with this month's Midnight Movie Showing Nov. 22 at the Lions Lincoln Theatre.

They're starting on Oct. 26, 1985 and careening back to the 1950s with Marty McFly and Doc Brown with Steven Speilberg's "Back to the Future"



Those in attendance may even have the chance to check out one of the famous, though rare, Deloreans like the one featured in the film. Weather permitting, the car will be on display.

The tattoo parlor is asking die-hard McFly fans to don their best "Back to the Future" duds for a costume contest. The winner could win a movie-inspired tattoo valued at $250.

Tickets are $5 at the door and the stubs can be used later as a coupon for $5 off any tattoo or piercing.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Class of his own

Maybe the greatest lessons Dave Harding teaches aren't the ones penciled into his planner.

In fact, I'm sure of it.

Thirty nine years after taking the helm of his own classroom, Mr. Harding is in a class all his own. Recently, Mr. Harding was chosen as Teacher for Year for Stark County - it's an award he truly deserves.





Ask nearly anyone at Washington High and I am certain they will tell you the same thing. Mr. Harding is the heart and soul of Washington High School. He has spent each of 39 years at the school and he isn't planning on walking away any time soon.

He couldn't do that. He cares too much.

Before the sun comes up, Mr. Harding is there. He's meeting with kids, preparing them for Academic Challenge meets, helping them develop community service projects and encouraging them to be active leaders in the world around them.

When I spoke with Mr. Harding today about the award he received, he seemed uncomfortable. It's not in his nature to talk about himself. He was eager, instead, to talk about the students. He wanted to tell me about the things that they were learning, the talents they have and the strengths they have fostered - all things he said will allow them to do and be whatever they can dream.

He smiled and said he only opens the door opportunity for them to walk through.

I believe he does much more.

It is true that Massillon students are destined to do great things. The plaques that line the lobby at Washington High detailing the accomplishments of the school's Distinguished Citizens are proof of that. But those alumni accomplishments aren't possible because of anything they have done on their own. When they come back to Massillon, each and every one of them points to a teacher, a community member a friend who inspired them and taught them to believe in themselves and, more importantly, in their dreams.

That's what Mr. Harding does best. And it's what teaching is all about.

Yes, Mr. Harding's class is about learning to appreciate literature, stories and language but what he teaches is faithfulness, sacrifice and humility.

He teaches faithfulness every morning when he arrives at school before the sun comes up to prepare students for Academic Challenge meets or help them develop community service projects. He teaches sacrifice when he gives up his lunch hours or planning periods to meet with students. He teaches humility, simply because he is humble.

I believe whole-heartedly that Mr. Harding is Stark County's Teacher of the Year. His passion for his job and his students is nearly unmatchable. Mr. Harding is truly in his element, when he is surrounded by his students, when he is teaching and changing lives.

The smile on his face says it all.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Gigana Hugana

Malone University students dressed in their best costumes and pulled out their best dance moves for the annual Gigana Hugana Banana Splits.

Young voices

Malone University students recently took the chance to sound off on their opportunity to be a part of 2008's historic Presidential election.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Obie comes home

Live from New York … but it’s not what you think.

Washington High School graduate Richard Paul Fink (1973) is making a Stark County debut on Saturday when The Metropolitan Opera’s series “The Met: Live in HD” broadcasts a live performance of John Adams’ acclaimed opera “Dr. Atomic” to theatre screens nationwide. With behind the scenes looks and a full broadcast of the matinee performance, the famed opera house is making the fine art of opera accessible to everyone.


And Fink (shown at right in the photo) will be a part of it. He stars in the show, playing scientist Edward Teller who helped J. Robert Oppenheimer (left, portrayed by Gerald Finley) build the atom bomb during the now infamous “Manhatten Project” during WWII.

“To portray a Edward Teller is quite interesting,” Fink said. “It’s kind of interesting to portray a real character as opposed to a fictional character.”

Until Saturday, Fink’s biggest Stark County role was that of Massillon’s beloved Obie. During his time at Washington High School, Fink donned the old, familiar tiger skin suit and fired up the fans at football games.

It’s the role he’s loved the most, despite singing and performing around the nation and around the world. His passion for playing Obie took him to the biggest stages in the world.
Now, that passion is carrying him to the silver screen.

Sharing music and theatre with movie-goers, making opera more accessible to the masses is something that Fink is proud to be a part of.

“People have always said it is an elitist art form, but my question is has the art form gotten more elitist or have we had a lack of understanding of it,” Fink said. Giving everybody the chance to see a contemporary opera could change their views on the art itself, he added.

“We are still telling fantastic tales and stories, but trying to make it more accessible to the public,” Fink said of his craft. “As a society, we have gotten away from the arts and the idea of bringing live theatre to more people. It’s ability to transport us to another location both mentally and physically is one of the greatest things about theatre.”

Fink said he performances have been taped and shown before, but he has never been a part of a live broadcast like this one. Being a movie star is something completely new to him.

“I don’t feel like a movie star, not yet,” Fink says with a hearty laugh. “Any time my ego gets puffed up, I turn around and start remembering where I came from. …My whole family tends to keep me humble. You just have to remember your roots – putting on that old Tiger skin.”
=========
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Tinseltown USA, 4720 Mega St. N.W.
Tickets: are available at the theatre box office or online at Fandango. The cost is $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $16 for children.
Additional information:

Be their guest

Some tales - even those as old as time - never go stale. Especially when there is magic, music, laughs adventure and true love folded in.

Jackson High School will be bringing Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to life this weekend when they let the imagination of theatre transform the auditorium.

Amanda Jacobson will take Belle from the silver screen to the main stage this weekend, while W. Bryant Campbell plays the Beast. The fun-loving Lumiere is portrayed by Brett Parr while Kyle Longworth portrays the candlestick’s foil, Cogsworth the clock and Megan Moody brings the gentle Mrs. Potts to life.

Showtimes are set for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets still remain and can be purchased in advance for $8 each at the concession stand in the commons area at the high school. Any remaining tickets will be on sale at the door prior to each show.

For more information or to be sure to reserve seats call Debbie Gray at 330-830-8100 extension 8220.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

It's offical. Well, unofficially.

Kids came first for Massillon voters on Tuesday.

According to unofficial final results posted Wednesday night by the Stark County Board of Elections, Massillon residents soundly passed the city school district’s renewal levy request by a vote of 6,789 (58.5 percent) to 4,826 (41.5 percent).

The margin by which the vote passed impressed at least one board member.
“These are really tough times and (residents) stood up. They didn’t back down,” board member Marshall Weinberg said. “People should be proud of that.”

Pencil in your friends

Go ahead and tell your girlfriends you can meet them for dinner and drinks, but don't stray too far from the Massillon Museum. You may still be able to catch a great show.

Kristine Jackson recently notified the Massillon Museum that she would have to cancel her Nov. 29 Rhythms concert. It's unclear if another performer will take over the time slot or if the museum will postpone Jackson's concert.

Stay on top of all the MassMu events by visiting the Museum's Web site.

One of the good guys

Massillon City Schools has one of the finest crime fighters in the area. Just ask Stark County Prosecuting Attorney John D. Ferrero.

Chuck Maier, the Massillon City Schools securities chief, and his wife Ruthanne were recognized by Ferrero for their efforts to prevent crime and promote healthy, safe communities. The biggest representation of that committment has been the family Safety Day they organized this summer at Clay’s Park. The event included fire trucks, police cars, helicopters and emergency squads, along with and information on self defense, bike safety, Internet safety, banking security, identity theft prevention, Neighborhood Crime Watch, auto safety and more.

Andrew Jackson: Maverick


Maverick. We've heard a lot about it over the last few months. Maybe it's time to meet one of America's original Mavericks.

Sure Jackson's on your $20 bill, but what do you really know about him?

This week's issue of Newsweek offers an interesting perspective on the social climates of American Culture today and how our ideals, beliefs, strengths and weaknesses are linked directly to Jackson and a history that is nearly 150 years old. As progressive as we like to think we are, we are, in the end, only human. And as humans, we tend to find ourselves reliving history.

Yes, America did make history on Tuesday. We elected this nation's first black President. But that selection didn't come easy. It was 150 years in the making.

For a better perspective on Jackson - first President to define the modern Presidency - and how he influenced one of the greatest Presidents of all time check out The Change Agent on the Newsweek Web site.

Moving in the right direction

The Massillon City School District continues to roll closer to keeping $3.4 million at the heart of its budget.

As results continue to come in, the district’s request for a 7 mill, $3.4 million levy appears to be sitting well with area residents. With nearly 40 percent of the results tabulated, the issue is passing 4,330 votes (60 percent) to 2,911 votes (40 percent.)

School district officials watched the results at the Massillon Club Tuesday. Dr. John McGrath, district Superintendent, noted that the first numbers were encouraging.

“We were delighted to see we were moving in the right direction,” McGrath said. “As we were gathered around waiting for the results, we weren’t sure about what was going to happen.”

As the results continued to slowly roll in, McGrath said he became more and more sure that the issue would pass. It reaffirmed for him, that this community truly values education and is more than willing to invest in its schools.

“Massillon is on the verge to take off and become an excellent school district,” McGrath said. “With the support of the public we will move in that direction very rapidly.”

To ensure that Massillon is on the path to excellence, the district must be sure that it is doing everything it can to provide the best possible education in the classroom, McGrath said. This levy – the renewal of the 1999 emergency levy – is critical for ensuring educational excellence by providing $3.4 million to programs and innitiatives.

“It’s very important,” McGrath said of the levy funds. “If you take $3.4 million out of your budget, that’s a big chunk.”

For Massillon, as with many school districts, 80 to 85 percent of the budget is used to fund programs and support those things that directly affect students and what they learn in the classroom.

When the levy was first passed in 1999, the Massillon City Schools had been operating under fiscal emergency. Pay-to-participate fees had been instated, cuts had been made in regard to busing and Massillon was facing additional cuts – likely with personnel – if the levy had failed.

The picture looked very different Tuesday when voters hit the polls. Having made more than $1.5 million worth of voluntary budget cuts, the Massillon school system was operating in the black with a carry over of $8 million carryover to this fiscal year.

Deficits, though, are still projected. The district is expecting a $750,000 deficit in two years and $14 million deficit by 2011. The reasons for that projection lie in rising costs of operations – specifically with the costs for utility bills and diesel fuel for buses. The Massillon schools, on a monthly basis, spending more than they are taking in. The $3.4 million generated by the emergency levy passed in 1999 will help, McGrath said, to keep the district afloat for a while.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Stark County's finest

Nobody compares with Washington High School English teacher Dave Harding.

Nobody.

Last week, Harding, who serves as Activities Coordinator and English Department Head at WHS, was selected as the 2008 Education Celebration Teacher of the Year.

In a recommendation letter sent this summer, WHS principal Mike Babics noted that Harding is certainly deserving of the recognition.

"Mr. Harding is a true professional in every sense of the word," Babics wrote. "He is an outstanding classroom teacher. He challenges his students to reach their potential and beyond.

Harding's passion for teaching extends well beyond the school day. From before-school Academic Challenge practices to after school extra curriculars including Teen Institute, National Honor Society and Academic Challenge matches Harding is spending much of time making sure that Washington High School students receive a well-rounded education through involvement in clubs and organizations.

College seems a more like a dream to be realized for many WHS students, not only because of their involvement in extra curricular programs that Harding helps to run, but also because he preparing them for the college classroom. Last year, in addition to his regular work load, Harding taught a dual credit English class that earned students college credit through Walsh University.

Harding, Babics said, is a rare kind of teacher with all of the best qualities.

"He is very enthusiastic, motivated, and dedicated to the teaching profession and towards his students," according to Babics.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Change in Cleveland

Just to be fair, I thought everyone should be aware.



Sarah Palin is taking over the Canton Memorial Field House on Sunday, but Barack Obama is taking over the Cleveland Brown Stadium. Following the Browns game on Sunday, Sen. Obama, his wife Michelle and The Boss, Mr. Bruce Springsteen will rocking downtown Cleveland.



Information about the event is available at http://www.barackobama.com/.