Good morning, Akron.

Spark by Hilton opened the first Greater Akron budget hotel at 4073 Medina Road on Sept.

17, 2026. The renovated hotel (formerly a Holiday Inn) offers pet-friendly stays, a bagel bar breakfast, 24-hour coffee, and supports University of Akron athletics.

Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad announced the North Pole Adventure, presented by Meijer, from Nov.

13 through Dec. 22. Departing from its Rockside Depot in Independence at 5 p.m. and 7:55 p.m., families can enjoy a festive ride with holiday treats + a special visit from Santa.

The Akron Art Museum will reopen its historic 1899 building on Sept.

23 after a $12.5 million renovation added new gallery space, a classroom, and interactive exhibits + expanded visitor amenities. Reopening events include a member preview on opening day and a free community celebration on Sept. 24.

Don Drumm Studios and Gallery in Akron is celebrating 55 years with a free exhibition Reflections: A Drumm Retrospective running Sept.

26 through Oct. 24 (opening reception 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at 437 Crouse St.

CVNP and chef Vinnie Cimino have partnered for Exploration, a fundraising event supporting the CVEEC.

The event is set for Sept. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at 3675 Oak Hill Road, where guests will sample farm-fresh hors-d'oeuvres and dinner while exploring outdoor learning.

At the Sept. 10 board meeting in Springfield Township, police introduced Ruby, a 2-year-old lab mix trained as a therapy dog to support students at Schrop Intermediate School plus aid officers during critical incidents.

Ruby spent a year in training after being acquired through K-9s for Warriors.

At its Sept. 14 meeting, the APS Board debated a 13,000 dollar contract with Shared Services Alliance for enrollment analysis amid budget cuts, referring it to the Finance Committee, and approved termination of three staff for separate violations while also accepting restored musical instruments for district schools.

Pints & Pies will be held at Akron Civic Theatre on Friday, Oct.

9 at 7 p.m., featuring nearly 100 beers paired with savory and sweet pies and unlimited pizza samples for $56.55 (including 25 drink tickets, with tickets available online and at the box office).

Hoff and Leigh announced that the historic Akron-Fulton Airport Terminal at 1800 Triplett Blvd is for sale at $4 million; built in 1931 and restored into Class A office space with direct airport access, it includes preserved Art Deco details and award-winning renovations.

The historic CitiCenter building in downtown Akron had its kickoff event on Sept.

10, marking the start of its $37 million transformation into 115 market-rate apartments with amenities (gym, rooftop dog park, and preserved pool) while demolition begins immediately and completion is planned for January with move-in set for spring.

Greater Akron's high school football rankings were updated for Week 5 on Sept.

17, showing Walsh Jesuit in first place at 4-0 while teams like Wadsworth and Hudson shift positions ahead of upcoming home and road games. The revised list highlights key match-ups for local schools.

Revere girls golf team built a strong season starting last fall as Coach Michael Clark’s seven seniors led the team to win all three league tournaments so far.

The team aims to be the first in school history to reach Columbus and join the state tournament later.

Akron Marathon Charitable Corp will honor Olympian Jeff Galloway with the 2026 Ambassador Award on Sept.

22 during the Akron Marathon Kickoff Event and VIP Party presented by Sequoia Financial Group. Galloway's Run-Walk-Run method has transformed marathon training and inspired many runners and walkers across the community.

St. Vincent-St. Mary beat Manchester 6-1 on Sept.

14 in New Franklin during a high school girls soccer match, with coach Kathleen Vass praising the team for overcoming early injuries amid a move to Division IV (their new level). Freshmen played a key role in the win.