The University of Akron stepped up and played great basketball in their first NCAA Tournament game against Gonzaga last night; at least for the first 28 minutes.  The Zips led at halftime 38 - 35 in a game that had upset written all over it.  However, Gonzaga had different thoughts and came out fired up for the second half. Akron led 52 - 51 with 9:43 left in the game but then Gonzaga burst their bubble with a 26 - 12 run from that point to the final buzzer. The results did not surprise many people around the country who fully expected Gonzaga to win this game.  I'm not sure it even surprised many Zip fans who knew they were facing a huge challenge against a powerful and talented Gonzaga team.  Hope did rise to a high level as both teams went into the locker rooms at half time; the Zip... 03/20/2009

 It's a beautiful day here in Akron Ohio! There are plenty of activities going on in Akron and Summit County, Ohio. Please remember to check out Heaven Can Wait if you are looking for a new pet. You will get a great one and save their lives at the same time.   Arts / Theatre / Music 3/17/2009 Artist's Wanted City of Akron Recreation Bureau 3/17/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 3/17/2009 Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 3/18/2009 Artist's Wanted City of Akron Recreation Bureau 3/18/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 3/18/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 3/18/2009 Friedlander's Factory Valley Akron Art Museum 3/18/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 3/18/2009 Weekly Dance and L... 03/17/2009

I don't know why this website is still active, but it is, for now. Always use caution when surfing the web for advice or services. Just because they put gov in their web address, you should notice that it is .us which is a domain anyone can buy. Did you notice how offical anyone can make a website appear? Please be careful! FRAUD ALERT - The Summit County Consumer Affairs Office sent out the following fraud alert: There is a deceptive website posing as HUD. This website is deliberately deceiving by public by using the HUD name in the web address as well as on the website. The website tries to dupe people into giving out personal information (known as "phishing") - and because they've made their site appear to be an "official U.S. Government website", some people may fall prey to this sc... 03/16/2009

The University of Akron has made the NCAA tournament by virtue of winning the Mid American Conference (MAC) championship.  They were ranked fifth in the tournament and had to go through number 1 seed Bowling Green and number 2 seed Buffalo to earn the championship.  Bowling Green and Buffalo were co-champions of the MAC regular season. They accomplished this task by playing five games in seven days; but that's the stress teams play under in tournament competition. They are going to the NCAA tournament for the fist time since 1986.  The coach of the 1986 team was Bob Huggins.  Yes, the same Bob Huggins that brought Cincinnati to the tournament several times and is now coaching West Virginia. In my view, Bob Huggins is an outstanding basketball coach.  During his years at Akron they cons... 03/16/2009

March is American Red Cross month!!MAKE A KIT. Be sure you have a First Aid Kit in your house, car, and in your desk at work. Make sure it is complete. Have a Disaster Kit in your home that can take care of you, your family, and your pets for 72 hours. Call the Red Cross for information on First Aid and Disaster Kits. Here is what's happening this week in Akron and Summit County Ohio.     Arts / Theatre / Music 3/10/2009 Artist's Wanted City of Akron Recreation Bureau 3/10/2009 Twini Mini Film Festival Twinsburg Public Library 3/10/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 3/10/2009 Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 3/11/2009 Artist's Wanted City of Akron Recreation Bureau 3/11/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 3/... 03/10/2009

As we go into Spring I am reminded of my ride on the merry-go-round! Real estate heats up and buyers get their income tax checks back from the IRS. We get calls, we make appointments, we write offers, we get counteroffers and lo and behold we sell homes!! For all of my years in business I long for Spring when I can get on the merry-go-round and do what I do best, sell happy buyers their new home with all of the wonder of great expectation and memories to be made! Yes we sell happiness! Get out there and sell some happiness! 03/09/2009

This mornings sunrise was all golden and reflected on the thin sheet of ice over Long Lake! It made me happy to think that soon the ice will melt as we are expecting 50 and 60 degree temperatures this week. Can spring be far behind! Only time will tell Ohio! I am looking forward to a great year in real estate and this picture gives me the hope I need that someone up there is looking over us and contemplating how to help us move forward and survive the trials that have been laid in front of us! Realtors survive with positive thinking!!! 03/05/2009

Here are all the events you can visit and participate in this week in Akron Ohio and Summit County Ohio. Keep in mind, they are calling for 50 plus degrees this week end!  Woo Hoo... Arts / Theatre / Music 3/3/2009 Artist's Wanted City of Akron Recreation Bureau 3/3/2009 Middle School Bands-in-Round Akron Public Schools - Firestone High School 3/3/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 3/3/2009 Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 3/4/2009 Friedlander's Factory Valleys Akron Art Museum 3/4/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 3/4/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 3/4/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 3/4/2009 Weekly Dance and Lessons Ohio's North Coast Jitterbug Connection 3/4/2009 Midd... 03/03/2009

We are in historic low times for interest rates. There have been few if any markets that were this attractive to buyers in terms of both selection and housing prices. Warren Buffett says “the rear view mirror is always clearer than the windshield.”. And if you are a first time buyer add together great selection, low interest rates, lower housing prices, and the new $8,000 tax credit available for homes purchased after Jan 1st, 2009 and before Dec 1st, 2009 it all adds up to a great time to get off the sidelines and see if its your time to buy! If you are buying a home in the next 6 months and want to learn more about the process from an Exclusive Buyer Agent. Call HomeBuyer Experts at 330-328-3170 or you can email us. Follow us on Twitter 03/01/2009

 Don’t spend money on any “Big Purchases,” (over a couple of hundred dollars), while you are trying to buy a home!!    This is a big no-no! The reason for this is that if you are getting a loan, at the last minute before the lender funds your loan they may pull your credit again and if your credit score has changed because you have more debt or the ratios that you originally qualified under are different, you could lose the house! So don’t buy furniture, appliances, cars, Harley’s, clothes or anything of the sort! Even if you are paying cash because your approval may be based on "reserve" money that you have in the bank. Wait until your loan has funded, the property is closed and you have the keys and then go shopping!   Also, don’t change jobs while going from approval to closing. This... 03/01/2009

Spring is coming and there are still plenty of events to keep us busy until then. Then we can move to the outdoors, yippie!  Arts / Theatre / Music 2/24/2009 Spinning w/Cris Welch Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 2/24/2009 High School Bands-in-Round Akron Public Schools - North High School 2/24/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 2/24/2009 The Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 2/25/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 2/25/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 2/25/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 2/25/2009 Lowery Cuyahoga Falls Library 2/25/2009 High School Choirs-in-Round Akron Public Schools - Kenmore High School 2/25/2009 Weekly Dance and Lessons Ohio's North Coast Jitterb... 02/27/2009

Living in a free country that allows me to think freely, speak freely, act freely, love freely, spend freely, laugh freely and blog freely! We sometimes forget how our inherent freedoms provided to us by our great country. If you have ever traveled to a foreign country you will be immediately aware of how our country protects us. On a trip to Guatemala last year I was surprised that there were guards with machine guns at the door of the local McDonalds and all of the banks! How would you like to face that scene every day of your life? I am grateful and proud to be an AMERICAN!!! 02/26/2009

Everytime I pass the newly installed extra-large American Flag on Rt. 77 at Wooster Rd. , I feel like I have to salute "Old Glory" !!! We can thank the newly opened VanDevere Chevrolet for the bright spot on a dreary winter landscape along the highway! This is their signature, they also have one on Rt. 77 south at the Arlington Rd. exit. It is at their used car lot there. They are truly a patriotic organization and it makes my heart proud to know that they are an organization that is growing in the Akron/Canton Ohio area! Thank you to the VanDevere Family!!! I salute you! 02/24/2009

Are you downsized, looking for something new or wanting to be your own boss, then contact Pappas Realty Co., to discuss some current business opportunities we have available today. 330-762-0535   Currently, we have an upscale restaurant, a laundromat, a full service restaurant and banquet facility.     Are you one of America's recently downsized? Are you looking at your "options"? Should you be going down the traditional career path? You know, the one that includes a resume re-do, online job searching, and mega-trips to your local dry cleaner to get your business attire cleaned and pressed? Or, are you one of America's recently downsized, who is looking to gain some career control, and become your own boss? Whatever path you are on, do you remember how this all started? visit : http://p... 02/23/2009

Emotions can cost a Buyer tons of money! Here in the Northeast Ohio real estate market we sometimes see buyers and sellers getting together either on-purpose or by accident before there is a ratified sales contract. This is VERY dangerous. It can affect the whole negotiation process. If you are the buyer and you get all excited about the property in front of the seller, it is equivalent to playing poker with your cards on the table. “You’re never going to win!”. So keep your emotions and your tongue in check. If you know you are the kind of person that just can’t do it, then talk to your Realtor and ask them to make sure they only show you homes when the seller is not there. Trust us on this one, the Realtor will be happy do so because it will make the negotiation process go MUCH smooth... 02/18/2009

On February 20th, 1962 John Glenn became the first Astronaut to orbit the earth as he flew on board the Friendship 7 Mercury Capsule. John Glenn was born in a small town in Mid-Ohio, New Concord. It is also the home of Muskingum College and is really beautiful country. Spring is around the corner and there is plenty to keep you active until then, in Akron and Summit County Ohio   Arts / Theatre / Music 2/17/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 2/17/2009 The Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 2/18/2009 Dreamland: By Neil MacDonald Akron Art Museum 2/18/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 2/18/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 2/18/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 2/18/2009 Heresies... 02/17/2009

Are you renting? Thinking of moving to a larger/smaller home? This may be the best time to make that move Read today's Realty Times   With the new stimulus package renters have more reason to buy soon!See what benefits the new package has for you here     02/15/2009

If eating out is a must in your life, time your dining. Many restaurants have less expensive lunch prices on meals from 11am - 3pm. You can make a meal of ½ price appetizers during happy hour and many restaurants have daily special offers like ½ price hamburgers on Mondays. Click here to customize the events you receive Arts / Theatre / Music 2/10/2009 Heresies: A Retrospective Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Dreamland: By Neil MacDonald Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Tuesday Musical Concert Akron Art Museum 2/10/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 2/10/2009 The Bedtime Snack Show (featured event... 02/10/2009

There are plenty of Akron Ohio events and Summit County Ohio events to beat these winter blues. Spring seems so far away after an almost record snowfall for January. (Last one 1978!) Arts / Theatre / Music 2/3/2009 Edward Weston: Life Work Akron Art Museum 2/3/2009 Works by Miller South Students Akron Art Museum 2/3/2009 Heresies: A Retrospective Akron Art Museum 2/3/2009 Dreamland: By Neil MacDonald Akron Art Museum 2/3/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 2/3/2009 Folk Rock with Barry Be Cuyahoga Falls Library 2/3/2009 Enameling with Carol Adams Fine Art Services/Peninsula Art Academy 2/3/2009 The Bedtime Snack Show (featured event) Mountain Rose Concerts 2/4/2009 Along Water Street: By Aminah Akron Art Museum 2/4/2009 Dreamland: By Neil MacDonald Akron Art Museum 2/4/2... 02/03/2009

   When is the last time most of us have used a paper phone book? If you do, fine, but for those of us that do not, we should not be forced to take a new one every few months. I just put them in the recycle bin, but the energy to make these books need never have been used up and wasted in the first place! Here is a great question. "Why do we get three to four pounds of paper dropped on our front door, four to six times per year, by various telephone directory companies and how are we are supposed to dispose of them?"  Stop the nonsense and the cost placed on the consumer.  If we want a book, we will request one.  If we do not want a book delivered, stop delivering them! Pretty simple stuff, really. Just another case of greed by big business. Just google "yellow pages" and look at the nu... 01/31/2009