Kingston Williamson, 6, smiles big after his mom, Alonda Williamson, put his “I Voted” sticker on his shirt after coming out to the polls at Arlington Church of God with her during Election Day Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)
Kingston Williamson, 6, smiles big after his mom, Alonda Williamson, put his “I Voted” sticker on his shirt after coming out to the polls at Arlington Church of God on Election Day Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

What a whirlwind week it’s been. Election nights are always jam packed for newsrooms, even one like ours that is just getting started. 

New mayor, results glitch, Board of Education race

If you missed it, here’s a link to our election newsletter, with results from the Akron Board of Education race, Shammas Malik’s inaugural address as he officially became mayor-elect, and information about a computer glitch at the Summit County Board of Elections that delayed the results displayed to the public.

You can also view an Instagram photo gallery from me and our new multimedia reporter/photographer, Kassi Filkins. Welcome to Signal, Kassi!

Signal Akron’s Doug Brown has more information in this story about what caused the delay, including some issues with the unwieldy (I thought as I was voting) two-page ballot. 

Education reporter Arielle Kass caught up with Barbara Sykes, Summer Hall and Rene Molenaur, all winners in the race for three open seats on the Akron Board of Education. Read her story here.

Akron Veterans Day observance

A Witness Tree ceremony outside the Summit County Courthouse Wednesday was held to help promote awareness around the 22 veterans on average who die by suicide each day.

You can attend another ceremony at 9 a.m. Friday for Veterans Day and again on Saturday in the courtyard outside of the Summit County Courthouse at 209 S. High St. downtown.

Signal Akron’s Kassi Filkins took photographs from Wednesday’s ceremony.

If you or a loved one is struggling, please call 988 for help and support.

LeBron James Museum to launch at House Three Thirty

A museum dedicated to LeBron James’ life, called LeBron James’ Home Court, will open Nov. 25 inside House Three Thirty in Akron’s West Hill neighborhood. 

A press release from the LeBron James Family Foundation described the museum as “a multimedia storytelling experience that offers a look at LeBron’s life with never-before-seen items along his journey from Akron to the NBA, Olympics, business, philanthropy and beyond.”

Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support House Three Thirty’s job training model, which employs I PROMISE students, parents, educators and family members. 

Reservations are available for presale, with general admission tickets priced at $23. 

Documenters lift off

Members of the first Documenters orientation class gather for a group portrait inside the Akron-Summit County main library Wednesday.

We connected with 14 Akronites at our first-ever Documenters orientation at the Akron-Summit County main library on Wednesday. Our inaugural group of Documenters featured  people from several Akron neighborhoods, including Goodyear Heights, Wallhaven, Kenmore, West Hill and Firestone Park. The conversation was lively – clearly this group is ready to get going. 

We anticipate that Documenters will begin attending public meetings as early as next week. 

There is still time to get involved. We have two more open houses, including one Saturday, Nov. 11, via Google Meet, and another in-person on Monday, Nov. 13, at the Akron-Summit County main library. 

There are three Documenter orientations scheduled, including a virtual option. Go here to learn more: 

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.