Community Voice Mail Summit Hosts Kickoff Event

Akron, March 26 Community Voice Mail Summit officially launched its program by holding a kickoff event at H.M. Life Opportunity Services. Homeless individuals, Service Providers and Community Advocates gathered to hear Connie Krauss, Director of Community and Economic Development for Summit County Executive Russ Pry leave the first official voice mail message. Tara Strickland, the first CVMS recipient, said "without CVMS I wouldn't have a telephone number at all. I am looking for new housing and need a way for potential landlords to get a hold of me."

The event did wonders for raising awareness of communication barriers that our clients face everyday. Ohio.net which is the local vendor for CVMS was in attendance and was pleasantly surprised at how receptive the community was in utilizing this vital resource. Please keep a look out for continued press in the Akron Beacon Journal and Akron News Now.

Community Conversations

Join us for a discussion on the long-term direction of vocational rehabilitation!

We Need Your Valuable Input, Experience and Ideas

April 2, 2009
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Akron-Summit Library
183 East Cuyahoga Falls Avenue
Akron, Ohio 44310

unable to attend? e-mail us at RSC.MyTwoCents@rsc.state.oh.us

Cheese Recall Hits Several States

Torres Hillsdale Country Cheese LLC is recalling its Asadero and Oaxaca soft Mexican-style cheeses due to possible listeria contamination.

The products were distributed to retailers and delis in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

The recalled cheeses were sold in 10-pound balls and 16- and 12-ounce plastic packages under the name "Aguas Calientes" and in 6-pound blocks shrink-wrapped in clear plastic under the name "El Jaliciense."

Their expiration dates range from Oct. 29 through May 10.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

Eating food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a potentially fatal disease.

On the Web: AP www.ap.org

FREE Skin Cancer Screening

Akron area dermatologists, in conjunction with
the Cleveland Dermatological Society, will provide
free skin cancer screenings.

Information on skin cancer and sunscreen
samples will also be available from the
American Cancer Society.

Saturday, May 2, 2009
8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

1st Floor
Ambulatory Care Center
Akron General Medical Center
400 Wabash Avenue, Akron

Make your appointment today by calling
330-344-2462.

Your SNAP Benefits Are Going Up!

Why are my benefits going up?

• There is a new law called the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009. You might have heard it called the
stimulus package.

• Because of the law, you get more Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. SNAP is the new name
for the Food Stamp Program. SNAP may have a different name
where you live.

How can I use the extra benefits?

• Use your extra benefits to buy food at your grocery store.

• In some places, SNAP also offers nutrition education to help you
and your family learn to choose healthy food on a budget and be
more active.

How do I get the extra benefits?

• You get the extra benefits starting April 2009.

• The extra benefits will be added automatically to your EBT card.

You do not have to do anything.

How much extra do I get?

• Some households with 1 or 2 people who get the minimum benefit
of $14 a month may get $16 a month starting in April. Others may
get more.

• Look at the table below to see how much more you may get each
month.

• For example: If there are 3 people in your household and right now
you get $250 each month. In April, you will get $313 each month.
($250 + $63 = $313)

Severe Weather Awareness Week Kicks Off

Tornado season is right around the corner in Ohio and state officials want to make sure residents are prepared.

Governor Ted Strickland proclaimed March 22-28 as Severe Weather Awareness week.
As part of the week, state officials will test the Emergency Alert System and tornado sirens Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. Schools and businesses are also encouraged to practice their emergency plans and tornado drills.

The Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness says the best defense in any tornado warning is preparedness. Understand tornado terms and situations, have a disaster plan and practice that plan.

Akron's American Red Cross office on West Market St. is holding a class today to train tornado spotters.

KNOW YOUR TORNADO TERMS:

A tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for developing a tornado. So keep an eye on the sky and pay attention to any further storm developments.

A tornado warning is issued when a tornado is detected by Doppler radar or seen by tornado spotters. If a tornado warning is issued for your area, go to a safe location, preferably a sturdy building, immediately.

If you are in your car or a mobile home when a tornado warning is issued, leave immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy structure near by.

Tornado warnings are usually issued for 30 minutes at a time.

To be as safe as possible during a tornado, go to the lowest level of the building, put as many walls in between yourself and the outdoors, cover your head and body, and stay inside until the storn has passed.

April through July are the most common months for tornadoes to form in Ohio. Ohio averages 13 tornadoes a year.

Please Help the American Red Cross and Your Community

The people in our community need your help! Blood drives supply approximately 15-20% of the blood needed to help patients in hospitals served by the Northern Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. Blood donations are used to treat victims of accidents, cancer patients, newborn babies, Sickle Cell Anemia patients, burn victims and surgery patients.

Please Join The American Red Cross and the Adult Students of Portage Lakes Career Center Blood Drive on

Monday March 23, 2009 5:00-9:00pm

Our adult students earn scholarship money for the number of pints donated this day.

Call for further information or to register.

Becky Tisevich 330-896-8256
Workforce Training Specialist
Corporate Training Division of Portage Lakes Career Center

Summit County Task Force Hosts Foreclosure Prevention Clinic

The Summit County Task Force for Vacant and Abandoned Property will be hosting a foreclosure prevention clinic on March 31. The event will have several counselors available to assist distressed homeowners with solutions to their mortgage issues that may include loan modifications/ workouts and possible rescue loans for those that qualify.

The event will be held on March 31, 2009 from 3pm-7pm at the Summit County Job Center, 1040 East Tallmadge Ave. Akron, 44310. There will be a limited number of gas cards available on a first-come first-serve basis. Participants are encouraged to register and receive a complete list of documents needed to assist with counseling efforts at www.ndsohio.org or contact Andrea at 330.297.6400 ext. 214.

North Street Closure March 11, 2009 through July 1, 2009

The Liberta Construction Company will close North Street between Howard and Furnace Streets on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 9 a.m. for the continuation of the reconstruction of the street that began in the fall of 2008.

Traffic will be detoured around the closure via Dan Street, Glenwood Avenue and Howard Street with detour signs posted. The road will remain closed until July 1, 2009. Local and emergency access will be maintained.

Ohio RIDESHARE

Carpooling Assistance for Northeast Ohio

Now Carplooling is as easy as Point, Click, Ride!

OhioRideshare is a free online service to help you find carpool partners for your work trip anywhere within a 13 county area.

Convenient: Accessible 24/7 from home, work or wherever you have internet access.

Fast: Find potential matches in minutes.

Secure: You decide what personal information you what to share.

To create your free account, visit
WWW.OHIORIDESHARE.COM

OhioRideshare is a publis service offered by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency.

Akron Man Reportedly Missing

A Missing Adult Alert has been issued for an Akron man who is diabetic and requires medication.
77-year-old Charles McFalls was last in contact with his son at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. According to police, the son said his father was lost and sounded confused.

McFalls is white and weighs 230 pounds. He's 5' 7" tall with and described as having no hair and blue eyes. He was last known to be wearing a dark blue jacket, dark blue pants, red suspenders and a khaki Cleveland Indians baseball cap. He's also wearing glasses and false teeth.

McFalls is believed to be driving a 1993 white and maroon Chevrolet Lumina with Ohio tags AKE9855.

Anybody with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department at 330-375-2181.

The Missing Adult Alert for McFalls is issued for the Northeast Ohio region, which includes the following counties: Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina, Wayne, Erie, Huron, Richland, Lorain, Ashland, Cuyahoga, Holmes, Coshocton, Lake, Geauga, Tuscarawas, Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana, Carroll, Harrison and Jefferson.

Free Resume Printing at FedEx on Tuesday, March 10

"Tuesday, March 10 is the official "FedEx Office Free Resume Printing Day".

Visit any FedEx Print and Ship sotre during regular business hours to take advantage of this offer. You can get up to 25 black and white resume copies when you place and pick up your order in-store. You can bring a printed cipy of your resume, or you can bring it in digital format. Your resumes will be printed single-sided on resume-quality paper.

To find a list FedEd Print and Ship stores, call FedEx at 1-800-453-3339.
Again, this free offer is only available TOMORROW, March 10 si if you have a resume you'd like to print, go to FedEx!

Here is a list of stores close by:


FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center
322 E Exchange St
Akron, OH 44304
(330) 376-2679

FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center
3757 W Market St
Unit B
Fairlawn, OH 44333
(330) 666-3800

FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center
427 E Main St
Kent, OH 44240
(330) 678-9047

FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center
65 S Main St
Hudson, OH 44236
(330) 342-3300

FedEx Kinko's Office & Print Center
5134 Whipple Ave NW
Canton, OH 44718
(330) 492-2679

Make Your Move!

Teleperormance is always looking for comuter-savvy, customer service-oriented individuals. Our full and part-time positions are never seasonal and never telemarketing!

Paid Training
Casual & Fun
Competitive Pay
Great Benefits
Referral Bonuses (Ask your recruiting rep for details)

Open Interviewing at

The Job Center
Room 124
Thursday, March 19
2:30-4:30 p.m.

Or apply in person Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
150 East Market Street, Akron

For more info, call 330-252-2602
www.TeleperformanceUSA.com/careers

March to a New Job

Greater Cleveland Job Fair
Date:March 10, 2009
Time:9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Facility: Holiday Inn - Independence
6001 Rockside Road
(Just off I-77)
Independence, OH 44131
E-mail Contact: terri.wynne@employmentguide.com
Contact Phone # (440) 863-2334
Description: General Job Fair for all types of Industry

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence

When: April 18th
Registration from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Kickoff starts at 11:00 a.m.

Where: 1st floor of the Polsky Building at the University of Akron


For information or registration forms contact:

Call or Email DeniseH@scmcbws.org
(330)374-0740 ext. 124

Northeast Ohio Loses a Truly Great Advocate for the Homeless

David N. Westcott
DAVID N. WESTCOTT, age 82, cherished husband of Gloria E.; beloved father of Susan G., and Beth C. Rowland (John); loving grandfather of Matthew and Ian; brother of Rev. Edward (deceased) and Eunice McKie (deceased), Ruth Eggert and Lois Junjkuntz. Passed away on Friday, Feb. 26, 2009. Memorial contributions may be forwarded to International Partner in Mission, 3091 Mayfield Rd., Suite 320, Cleveland Hts., 44118 or Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), 3631 Perkins Ave., Suite 3A-3, Cleveland, 44114. Memorial service Tuesday, March 3 at 11 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 8235 Memphis Ave., Brooklyn