WORTH NOTING
Fair Fare
Salty, Sticky & Sumptuous
Step aside deep-fried Oreos, cheesy corn dogs and blooming onions; you’re so last year.
Next up: chocolate deviled eggs, gelato tacos and crawfish bowls. They’re debuting at the Ohio State Fair (July 24-Aug. 4), and likely headed to other festivals this summer and fall. Tasty? We’ll see. It’s tough to beat an elephant-ear-pork-chop-on-a-stick dinner.
The next two months are festival and fair season in Ohio. Aside from the big one in Columbus, a few of our favorites are Fairview Park Summerfest July 25-28, the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea Aug. 6-11 and The Great Geauga County Fair Aug. 29-Sept. 2.
Grab a milkshake near the cow barn, unwrap a steaming sausage sandwich, and celebrate the sights, sounds and tastes of summer.
Golf Outing
Benefits Veterans’ Children
In a world filled with worthy causes, this has to be one of the worthiest: the Independence Kiwanis Club Annual Golf Outing to raise scholarship money for Children of Fallen Patriots.
The annual event is Aug. 16 at Briarwood Golf Club.
Now in its fourth year, the outing includes gift baskets, a raffle, breakfast, lunch and dinner along with 18 holes of golf. Packages are available for non-golfers and businesses.
Proceeds provide scholarships and counseling to military children from all branches of the armed forces who have died as a result of combat casualties, military training accidents, service-related illnesses, suicide, and other duty-related deaths as determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
For ticket and donation information, call chairperson Jackie Horn at 216-524-6297 or email [email protected].
Now THAT’S Music!
Polka Turns 35 at WZIP
Polka music has a long history in Cleveland. Remember “Polka Varieties” on WEWS when we were kids? You can still catch the familiar, upbeat music from 8 a.m. to noon on The Saturday Morning Polka Show on WZIP, The University of Akron’s radio station.
Why are we talking about polka music? The show—run by Matt Schafer, Fred Carty, Tracy Stevanov and John Snelick—celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The first hour is offered as a podcast and has 26,000 downloads reaching all 50 states and more than 50 countries.
“A lot of people enjoy polka music. We play a variety of polka music…Polish, Slovakian, Italian,
German. Our listeners have these backgrounds, and we try to serve that need. Some of the lyrics are even in the ethnic tongue and people relate to that,” says Schafer.
“There are people who appreciate us showcasing ethnic backgrounds and the various styles of polka music. There was one caller who called to tell us we are her ‘entertainment lifeline’ every time she listens to the radio. There’s a real need for it and we do have quite a following.”
“We will continue to be on the air as long as the University will have us,” he says.
Paw Fest 2024
Doggone It, That Sounds Fun
Get your leashes ready! The 17th annual Paw Fest is Sunday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Stow’s Bow Wow Beach Dog Park, sponsored by the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club.
Hundreds of dogs and their owners are expected for a day filled with contests, speakers, rescue group events, food trucks and more. The cost is $1 per car OR a pair(s) of used eyeglasses donated to the Lions Club. They’re also collecting non-perishable foods for local schoolchildren.
Groups that want to participate should contact chairman Marty Dennis at [email protected].
