There's a new logo and brand strategy at Summa Health System to go along with recent plans to spend about $350 million on local facilities.

Summa President and CEO Thomas Malone says they decided on a new image for the health system to coincide with their plans to "transform the way healthcare is delivered" in the community.

No name change, but Summa officials say they will begin a new advertising campaign next week and will introduce new signage over the next several months.

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AUDIO: Dr. Thomas Malone Announces Summa Health Investment

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(Summa Health Press Release) – Summa Health revealed its new brand strategy and logo today to employees throughout the health system.

"Much positive change is occurring at Summa Health as we continue to transform the way healthcare is delivered in our community. In recent months, we've seen our accountable care organization recognized as a national leader, our nursing staff again achieve Magnet status, and, most recently, the announcement of our $350 million facilities plan," said Thomas A. Malone, MD, president and CEO of Summa Health. "Through the new brand, we are sending a clear message to the community and to our own employees that something special and unique is happening at Summa."

Summa Health will not change its name, due to its strong connection with the community. However, the new brand strategy is designed to support its strategic direction, and the new Summa Health logo – the most visible representation of the brand – symbolizes that change.

The new logo is powerful and dynamic, representing the unique coordinated continuum of care provided by Summa Health at each stage of life. The elements of the logo move together to illustrate the organization's forward momentum amid the changing landscape of healthcare. The individual pieces and vibrant colors represent the diversity of our employees and the communities we serve.

"The brand is more than a logo; it is what our patients and the community experience when they interact with Summa Health and our 9,000 employees," said Dr. Malone. "Our new brand represents a promise that we are ready to partner with you on your journey toward better total health."

Rob Whitehouse, senior vice president of Marketing and Community Relations, said it has been 15 years since Summa Health updated its brand. Over the past year, Summa Health has conducted studies and focus groups to better understand how the health system is perceived in the community. Building on those strengths and aligning with Summa Health's population health strategy, leadership developed a new brand strategy and a logo.

"There were many iterations," said Whitehouse. "But in the end, we found something that resonated strongly with our internal and external focus groups. They saw it as reflective of who we are, yet still aspirational – a sign of where we want to go in serving this community."

The brand change will occur gradually, beginning with a new and distinctive advertising campaign next week and the changing of marketing materials and websites. Over several months, new signage will begin appearing at all Summa Health locations.

Tuesday, 07 June 2016 11:01

Vote For New C. Falls Logo

The city of Cuyahoga Falls is looking for a new city logo -- and they're asking community members to help pick it out.

The city teamed up with a design company to develop the new logo, along with local art and graphic design students from Woodridge and Cuyahoga Falls high schools. City officials even enlisted the help of longtime residents to find out what Cuyahoga Falls means to them.

"I think the important part is the process," said Mayor Don Walters. "It's not my logo. I'm one vote. But it's the logo of the city and the residents actually get to pick that."

They've narrowed it down to three possible logos and have now put it in the hands of community members to pick out the favorite. The logo with the majority of votes wins, but officials say it will not replace the city seal.

"The city seal will still appear on a lot of the governemetn documents, however, the logo can still appear on the website, it can appear on letterheads and a lot of things that we do," said Walters. "So we'll deplete our existing supplies on some of the materials and then add the new logo when it's finalized."

Residents have until June 29th to vote. The new city logo will be unveiled on Friday, July 1, during the Riverfront Concert Series.

On the web: http://www.cityofcf.com/mycflogo

Monday, 06 June 2016 13:09

APD Looking For Alleged Dog Killer

Akron police are looking for a 26-year-old Akron man who is accused of fatally shooting a dog late Sunday morning.

A 35-year-old man told police that he was walking the golden retriever mix in the 400 block of West Waterloo Road when a man standing in a driveway pulled out a handgun from his car and shot the dog in the chest.

Police say the suspect, later identified as Kenneth P. Walker, 26, of West Waterloo Road, jumped into his car and fled.

Police have signed a warrant for Walker for discharging a firearm, weapons under disability and cruelty to animals.

According to police, Walker should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Akron Police Department at (330) 375-2490.

Friday, 03 June 2016 11:34

New Home For The Olive Jar?

The $556 decorative olive jar that sits in the University of Akron-owned home of now-former President Dr. Scott Scarborough became a symbol of the challenges and criticism the university faced over the past year. 
 
So - is it time for a next chapter for the infamous olive jar?
 
The public learned about the expensive olive jar when documents revealed how much was spent on renovations to the president's home. Nearly a million dollars was spent on the renovations, which included the $556 olive jar.
 
A poem read at one protest in August was an example as to what the olive jar represented to some.

 

It became the image of the budget cuts and layoffs at the university and the frustration over the lack of communication between the administration and students, alumni, faculty and staff. The olive jar was the center of attention during the controversy that was brewing on campus. The olive jar even attracted its own Facebook and Twitter pages. 
 
After this week's announcement from the board of trustees that they reached a mutual agreement with Scarborough to step down, talk of what happens to the infamous olive jar is beginning to surface. 
 
There's now a petition on Change.org to move the jar to a new home -- inside the Student Union on campus. The petition said it's a way for people to see it, touch it and "identify with its symbolic role."
 

As of late Friday morning, just a few dozen people had signed the petition.

 
Tuesday, 31 May 2016 07:28

UA: Scarborough Is Out

After months of heavy criticism, members of the board of trustees at The University of Akron and President Scott Scarborough have reached a mutual agreement for Scarborough's resignation.

UA held a special meeting Tuesday where the board announced President Scarborough's expected resignation after months of criticism from faculty and students for the way the university handled budget cuts and layoffs. 

The news also comes after UA decided to terminate its contract with a success coaching program, about a year after it that was put in place as the university was dealing with budget issues. Board of Trustees Chairman Jonathon Pavloff said the board determined that "new leadership is needed for the University to move forward and achieve sustained success in the future."

Scarborough, whose base pay is $450,000 a year, has the option to either take a buyout of about a year's salary or become a professor in the college of business admistration. The university will also reimburse Scarborough for the "necessary and reasonable moving expenses from the University's presidential residence up to $15,000." Scarborough must vacate the residence on or before September 27, 2016. 

Dr. Rex Ramsier, interim senior vice provost, has been named acting president until an interim president is named.

 
Statement of Board of Trustees Chairman Jonathan T. Pavloff: 
 
At its meeting today, The University of Akron's Board of Trustees and President Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D. mutually agreed that Dr. Scarborough will step down as President of The University of Akron, effective May 31, 2016.
 
The Board is charged with ensuring the effective governance, leadership and management of the University and, along with Dr. Scarborough, determined that new leadership is needed for the University to move forward and achieve sustained success in the future. The Board will conduct a rigorous and thorough search for a permanent president with the experience and qualities it believes are necessary to lead The University of Akron.
 
An interim president will be named in the near future. Until that appointment is made, the duties of the presidency will be fulfilled by Interim Senior Vice President and Provost Rex Ramsier, Ph.D., the University's Chief Academic Officer.
 
When the Board selected Dr. Scarborough to serve as President, our top priorities for him were to address the financial and enrollment challenges the University faced and to work with our faculty and staff to enhance the quality of the educational experience our students receive.
 
The Board is grateful to him for his effort and recognizes that addressing those challenges required courage and the willingness to consider, and in some cases, implement needed changes in the way the University operates. We wish Dr. Scarborough and his family the best as they move forward.
 
The University of Akron offers so much to so many people, and although a number of challenges remain, the opportunities in front of us are many. Now is truly the time for all of us who care for the University to come together in a united effort to support the University and help ensure its success in the months and years ahead.

 

Letter from President Scarborough to Faculty, Staff and Students

The University's Board of Trustees and I have mutually agreed that, effective May 31st, I will step down as President of The University of Akron. It is our belief that new leadership is needed for the University to move forward and achieve sustained success in the future.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve this great University and work not only to address the challenges that were before it when I arrived, but also to begin the process of change that is necessary for the University to succeed in the rapidly changing environment of higher education.

I am grateful to the Board of Trustees for giving me the opportunity to serve. As I look forward to the next chapter in my life, I hope that our faculty and staff, our passionate alumni, generous donors and committed and sincere members of the Akron community come together to advance the process of change and continuous improvement necessary for The University of Akron to realize its vast potential.

Sincerely,

Scott L. Scarborough, Ph.D.

 
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Time matters. Just ask the Akron Fire Department who was just awarded the 2016 Gold Mission Lifeline Award from the American Heart Association for their quality of care and response time related to cardiac care.

"For them to be recognized by an organization that is national, that hits home very well," said AFD District Chief Joe Natko.

The fire department follows guidelines from the American Heart Association to alert hospitals before the patients arrive in order to quickly provide care. EMS contacts the hospital as soon as they realize they are dealing with STEMI heart attacks which can be fatal.

"Part of our training deals with how to recognize it, how to treat it and how to get someone to the hospital very quickly, even quicker than we normally do," said Natko. "They have to set up the Cath lab and they have to get things going ahead of time before we even get there," said Natko. "So when we walk in the door they're ready to receive that patient and treat that patient in a timely fashion."

According to the American Heart Association, the Akron Fire Department joins only 565 other EMS agencies in the U.S. and is only 1 of 57 in Ohio that have received the award.

The Akron Police Department is presenting a gift to the humane society officer who was attacked in late March.

Officers and employees have collected and raised more than $700 for officer Timothy Harland who was attacked by a man with a shovel and knife.

Harland was pulled off to the side of the road on 18th Street while talking on the phone. Police say McCullen Webb approached the vehicle and struck Harland in the head and used a knife to cut the officer several times in the head, face, and arms.

Webb also shattered the officer's windshield with a barbell. Harland spent several days at the hospital due to his injuries.

Akron police officers responded to the scene where Webb was tased. It didn't have any effect on him so officers fired shots, striking Webb. He was taken to the hospital and was later charged.

Saturday, 21 May 2016 10:29

VIDEO Front Porch Cafe Offers Help, Hope

It's not your ordinary location for a local cafe. A look through the window on the top floor of the Front Porch Cafe on Grant Street -- and you'll find it's surrounding neighbors: the county jail, a correctional facility, and a rehabilitation center.

But when you take a closer look. It's clear to see the cafe's mission is to welcome people of all backgrounds to share a meal, connect and transform a life.

At this cafe, it's more than just about good food.

"The Front Porch Cafe is South Akron's hub for community connections. We do recovery meetings here, reentry meetings, and we also run a full fledge community cafe," said South Street Ministries executive director Joe Tucker. "We wanted a place for neighbors and people from a variety of backgrounds to come together."

When South Street Ministries launched the Front Porch Cafe back in 2011, they had a vision of creating jobs and training the unemployed and ex-offenders in the Akron area. While it's still part of their mission, the focus has transitioned into offering a place to create connections within the community, with a helping hand extended.

 

A fire reported at a Copley Township hotel early this morning left one person dead and another injured.

Copley firefighters and police were called out to Hawthorn Suites on Montrose West Avenue where an active fire was found and extinguished.

One person died at the scene and another person was taken to Akron General Hospital with serious burns. The names of the victims are being withheld pending family notification.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze. Further details were not released.

One person was arrested for OVI and just under a dozen others were arrested on other charges during Friday's sobriety checkpoints in Barberton.

The Summit County OVI Task Force reports one person was busted for OVI, but eight others were arrested for driving under suspension and another is facing a meth charge.

More than 400 vehicles passed through the checkpoints on 31st Street and Wooster Road.

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(Summit County OVI Task Force - News Release) On Friday May 20th 2016, the Summit County OVI Task Force conducted two sobriety checkpoints in the City of Barberton.

The first checkpoint was conducted at 98 31st Street:

262- Vehicles passed through the checkpoint in total

15- Vehicles were directed into the diversion area for further investigation or violations

01- Person was arrested for OVI

02- People were arrested for driving under suspension

02- Vehicles were impounded

The second checkpoint was conducted at 939 Wooster Road North:

149- Vehicles passed through the checkpoint in total

18- Vehicles were directed into the diversion area for further investigation or violations

06- People were arrested for driving under suspension

01- Person was arrested for misdemeanor possession of drugs

01- Person was arrested on a felony warrant

01- Person was arrested for felony possession of Methamphetamine

03- Vehicles were impounded

The BAC result for the sole individual who provided a breath sample was .096.

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