In defense of 91.3 The Summit
To support 91.3 FM
With all due respect to Harry K. Robinson (“Sell the Radio Station,” June 16), he should have done a little research on Akron’s public radio station WAPS (91.3 FM) before declaring that the station should be sold by Akron Public Schools to avoid layoffs of teachers and other staff.
As a career educator with nearly 50 years of experience, I am naturally one of those who argue that teaching staff should be the last thing to be laid off in order to balance a school district’s budget. However, selling the rights to WAPS would actually bring NO additional money to Akron Public Schools. The station has been financially independent of APS since 2010.
More than half of The Summit FM’s operating budget comes from funding its on-air business, with the remainder coming from listener memberships, matching donations from members’ employers and an endowment fund from the Friends of The Summit.
An integral part of Ellet CLC, The Summit offers interested students hands-on internships and real broadcasting experience. The HD channel, “The 330,” is hosted by students who interview other students and local artists.
Other community offerings include the annual free 330 Days Concert showcasing local talent; the Summit Wellness program promoting mindfulness and well-being; a collaboration with the Kenmore branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library to provide 10 ukuleles for loan; the Marilyn Stroud Music Alive program, which has provided more than 600 instruments to music programs in Akron, Canton, Youngstown and Athens through a partnership with Taylor Music; and other benefits too numerous to mention.
I agree that most, but not all, of the DJs are “middle aged,” but the focus of the music they play is not just “rock ‘n’ roll,” but promoting dozens of local artists from Summit County and across Ohio that you can’t hear on most other stations.
Brad Savage’s show “Cruisin’ Through the Decades” plays a song from each decade since 1900 and can be heard all over the world.
In short, WAPS reaches a broad audience and provides many positive benefits to the community at no cost to Akron Public Schools. Check it out.
William J. Hazlett, Akron
A fantastic celebration
My husband Henry and I attended the Juneteenth celebration at the John S. Knight Center in Akron on June 19th. We would like to thank Mayor Shammas Malik, the City Council, and the Urban League for a fantastic celebration. We had not planned to go to any neighborhood celebrations because we felt so threatened since the mass shooting in Akron. We were afraid for our safety.
There were food trucks, a huge tent with dining tables, individual tables with umbrellas, cool down areas with mist, and an outdoor stage. There were lots of booths, blood pressure checks, a fantastic band called Hosea’s State of Mind, a wonderful Kid Zone, and games for children.
Since everyone had to go through a metal detector and all purses and bags were checked, we didn’t have to worry about anyone possibly having a weapon. There was a large police and fire department presence both inside and outside. We felt very safe at this event.
We thank Mayor Malik for making the extremely difficult decision to ensure the safety of Akron residents during Juneteenth. The event was well supported by the Akron community.
Helen Sanders, Akron
Listen to your body
I volunteer at a local hospital’s cancer center. I do this because I am an ovarian cancer survivor. I want to share what I hear.
As an advocate for fighting ovarian cancer, it is my mission to educate as many women as possible about this disease. Ovarian cancer is also called the silent killer because its symptoms are similar to those of other health conditions. It is very common for ovarian cancer to mimic colon disease. That is exactly what happened to me.
I talk to a lot of patients and hear the same stories from women who have ovarian cancer. They were bloated and thought it was from menopause, they thought it was from constipation, they thought it was from weight gain.
A few women told me they had tumors the size of volleyballs in their stomachs. Yes, you read that right, a volleyball. And they thought it was menopause. Ovarian cancer is very insidious. And it is a cancer that grows quickly.
If a woman notices a change in her abdomen or bowel habits, she should think about this type of cancer. Below is a list of symptoms of ovarian cancer:
Bloating. Problems eating. Back pain. Feeling full quickly. Pain/cramps in the pelvic and stomach area. Extreme tiredness. Constipation. Painful sex. Urge/need to urinate, frequent urination. Menstrual irregularities.
And last but not least, pay attention to your body and listen to it! Know what is normal for you. If you notice any unusual symptoms and they last longer than 10 to 14 days, go see your doctor. We need to be proactive. We are our own best advocates.
Tina Vlahos, Akron
Supreme Court Ethics
It’s funny to watch former opinion editor Michael Douglas railing against the conservative Supreme Court justices for being not only stupid but unethical (“The Supreme Court has little regard for the record or the facts,” June 23). The liberal justices are, of course, wiser and more ethical for agreeing with Douglas.
But isn’t it unethical to ignore the unethical behavior of those you favor? Congressional investigators have proven beyond a doubt that the Biden family is a corrupt enterprise. Bank records, whistleblowers, emails, and of course Hunter Biden’s laptop are compelling evidence of the corruption.
Even Joe’s grandchildren got money from China, funneled through shell companies! Then where are the comments from Douglas denouncing all this corruption of our president and his family?
Robert Umbarger, Munroe Falls
How we treat others
Thank you, Michael Douglas. You have said what needs to be widely known.
Our form of government is clearly in danger, and it is precisely the (supposed) conservatives who are leading the attack.
How can God fearing people treat “other” people the way they do? From the oppressed to immigrants, women, workers, minorities, and the list goes on.
Refer to Jesus in Matthew 25:42-45: “For I was hungry and you would not feed me; thirsty and you would not give me drink; a stranger and you would not show me hospitality; naked and you would not clothe me; sick and in prison and you did not visit me.”
“Then they will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not heal you?’
“And I will answer, ‘When you refused to help one of the least of these my brothers, you refused to help me.’” (The Living Bible)
Philip Kroll, Akron
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