Nov. 6, 2023

Winterblast Details!

Cedar Point and Six Flags Merge

Cedar Fair, the parent company of Cedar Point and Kings Island, is merging with Six Flags Entertainment, the world's largest regional theme park operator. The goal is to create a stronger operating model and enhance revenue and cash flow. The combined company will have a diverse portfolio of assets and intellectual property, providing a wide range of entertainment experiences across 27 parks in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The merged entity will operate under the name Six Flags, with headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, and significant operations in Sandusky, Ohio. Richard Zimmerman, Cedar Fair's CEO, will lead the combined company, while Selim Bassoul of Six Flags will serve as executive chairman of the board.

Spectrum To Spend 1.25 Billion to Update Services.

Spectrum, the cable and internet company, announced a $1.25 billion investment to expand and accelerate services in Ohio. Nearly $750 million will expand Spectrum's fiberoptic network, bringing broadband to over 60 Ohio counties, including unserved areas. The investment, supplemented by nearly $200 million in federal, state, and local grants, aims to provide broadband to approximately 140,000 previously unserved homes and small businesses. Spectrum has already extended broadband to thousands of underserved locations in counties like Tuscarawas, Vinton, Muskingum, and Clinton since June. Despite this initiative, Spectrum has filed a complaint against AEP Ohio, accusing the power company of delaying applications for access to AEP poles for Spectrum wires.

Akron Winterblast Details

Downtown Akron is set to host the WinterBlast festival, featuring the state's largest outdoor ice skating rink. The festival kicks off with the Welcome Santa Holiday Parade on November 24, followed by the Downtown Akron Partnership Tree Lighting Celebration and fireworks. The Huntington Ice Skating Rink will offer ice skating, ice bumper cars, and ice bikes from November 24 through February 19. Skating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The rink, temporarily relocated between the State Street bridge and Canal Park Stadium due to construction at Lock 3 park, will charge $3 for those with their own skates and $5 for skate rentals. Rentals for heated igloos and fire pits are also available for a fee.

A live Rendition of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is coming to the Civic

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is coming to the Akron Civic Theatre on December 13th at 7:30 PM. Don’t miss this holiday classic live on stage! Ticket information .

City of Akron Launches Updated Website

The city of Akron has launched its redesigned website at www.AkronOhio.gov . The updated site includes interactive search functionality, quick links to popular pages, translation options in multiple languages, and an accessibility menu. A new 311 platform powered by Rock Solid is introduced for citizen service requests. Mayor Dan Horrigan emphasized the user-friendly interface, enhanced functionality, and modern design to improve resident interaction and provide a streamlined platform.

Feedback on the site is welcomed and can be sent to press@akronohio.gov . The site will be continuously improved as feedback comes in.

Check the Battery In Your Smoke Detector

With daylight savings time being last weekend, it's time to check your smoke detector batteries. Don't have a smoke detector? Check out these detectors on Amazon . As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

New Housing Site Coming in January

Akron is set to launch a new mobile-friendly website in collaboration with United Way of Summit & Medina and the Knight Foundation. Developed as part of The Opportunity Project for Cities, the site aims to assist residents in their housing search by providing information on unresolved repair orders and other property-related details. The platform will offer searchable data, including open repair orders, records of neglect by property owners, and resources to help resolve violations. The initiative also aims to inform tenants about their rights and responsibilities. The website is expected to go live in January, coinciding with a local housing search website update. The goal is to simplify finding safe, livable, and affordable housing in Akron.

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