Information on First Energy Assitance Programs

 

FirstEnergy Ohio Utilities Encourage Customers to Arrange Payment Plans and Apply for Bill Assistance Programs. Programs can help alleviate growing balances for customers having financial difficulty. 

Residential customers of Ohio Edison, who are having difficulty making ends meet are encouraged to contact their utility now to enroll in payment plans or to receive referrals for bill assistance programs. 

From Patricia Mullin

“Many of our customers continue to face financial challenges due to ongoing economic uncertainty,” said Mullin, acting president of Ohio Operations for FirstEnergy. “With winter in full swing, I encourage customers who have fallen behind on their bills to contact us as soon as possible so that a member of our team can review their options with them.” 

Programs

Some of the programs customers may be eligible to participate in include: 

• The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): Allows customers to pay a set percentage of their income toward their electric bill, regardless of the balance. Customers who maintain their payment plans may be eligible for debt forgiveness. Eligible customers should have income at or below 175 percent of federal poverty guidelines. To apply, call 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. 

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Provides eligible customers with cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies. Customers must have gross income at or below 175 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Call the Ohio Department of Development at 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov for more information. 

• 2-1-1 Helpline: This nationwide resource and information helpline identifies locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills or other needs. For more information, dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211 or visit the 211 website. 

• Save the Dream Ohio – Utility Assistance Plus (UAP): This program provides Ohio homeowners facing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with assistance paying mortgages, utility bills, non-escrowed property taxes and other qualified housing costs. A household may receive up to $10,000 in utility and/or housing cost assistance. This part of the Save the Dream Ohio program is administered by participating local nonprofit agencies including the Community Action Agency and the Area Agency on Aging. A list of participating organizations can be found at https://savethedream.ohiohome.org. 

• Emergency Rental Assistance: Customers who are having difficulty paying utilities, rent or mortgage due to the COVID-19 pandemic may apply for a Home Relief Grant. Visit COHHIO – Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio – at https://cohhio.org/, to find an agency near you. 

• Emergency Hardship Funds: These funds may be available to residential customers who have suffered a recent financial hardship and need temporary assistance to pay their electric bill. Ohio Edison customers can apply for Project Reach at any participating Salvation Army location. 

Additionally, the $175 Winter Reconnect Option allows residential customers who are disconnected or at risk of disconnection the opportunity to pay $175 to have their service restored or maintained. There is no income eligibility requirement. PIPP customers who use this option may be eligible to have a reset of their past due amount. 

More information

For a complete list of assistance programs for which customers may be eligible, including installment payment plans and budget billing, please visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist or call customer service: Ohio Edison 1-800-633-4766. 

Springfield Police Chief explains about Sawyerwood Coalition

 

Some local residents have asked what the Reclaim Sawyerwood Coalition and Police Chief Jack Simone explains. 

The coalition is an opportunity to bring together Sawyerwood residents that have a desire to improve their community. 

The Reclaim Sawyerwood Coalition is a group of residents banding together to create a better neighborhood. Research shows that small changes can reduce crime, create a better sense of community, and increase overall safety. 

Community gatherings are one of the most effective tools in creating a safer neighborhood. 

 Reclaim Sawyerwood Coalition meets the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Sawyerwood United Methodist Church, to discuss strategies and sharing information such as, scheduling a cleanup event to address any vacant spaces, since the abandon structures invite crime, house rodents and other pests in addition lower neighborhood real estate values. 

 

Simone explained, "Also, we can respectfully help members of the Sawyerwood Community. One of the programs resulted from our meetings was an Earth Day Event on Saturday April 23, 2022, to clean up litter, trash, and debris in the Sawyerwood community."    

To learn more on volunteer to help by visiting the department at 2465 Canfield Road or call 330-784-1609.

 

Staying Safe for the New Year! Be Safe!! POLICE BEAT DECEMBER 28, 2022

Be safe in the new year

Plan a ride in advance

On average, driving accidents rise during the holidays, so it's crucial to have a safe ride on a night when so many
people are out and about. Don't assume you'll be able to hail a cab. Know your options in advance and decide whether you'll take public transportation, use a ridesharing service or carpool with your friends.

Plan for guests' safety

If you're hosting a party, you'll want to be sure your guests get home safely. One option might be to hire a driver for the evening to provide people a way to get home.

Make a plan with your kids

Set a reasonable curfew with your kids for their New Year's Eve festivities. If they're old enough to drive, be sure they understand the dangers of driving on the holiday. Encourage them to stay in one location instead of hopping from party to party. 

What to avoid on New Year's Eve

Avoid leaving your car overnight.

New Year's Day is the most active holiday for car thefts. If you must leave your car somewhere overnight, be sure it's locked and try to pick it up as early as possible the next day.

Don't use fireworks or firearms

Both guns and fireworks frequently make "celebratory" appearances at New Year's Eve parties. But it might not be a good idea with the holiday crowds.

Here is a link to some more good tips!

https://blog.americansafetycouncil.com/new-years-eve-safety-tips/

 

Here are some tips for New Year's Eve.  The last line is a site with good tips as well.

Let me know if you need any additional information for New Year's Eve.

Ride Shares

There are ride share codes for free rides New Years Eve night. Watch for more info from the police department and the Summit County Prosecutor's Office. 

 

 

A serious talk with Santa!

These two lake communities had festivities, lights, music and more throughout the holiday season.  The Village of Lakemore held its Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Santa arrived at the event on a fire truck and was greeted by a very excited and enthusiastic crowd that had endured the cold night air to see the jolly man in person. He waved his hand in a magical way that lit the huge tree located outside the Municipal Building. At the event there were horse drawn wagon rides, lots of cookies and hot cocoa and Santa listened to the wishes of all the children.

Springfield Township also received a visit from the red suited man the first Friday in December. 

Santa also waved his hands and lit the township tree located in the gazebo along the lake. With the lighting of the tree came the lighting of other animated decorations located along Canfield Road. The lights are beautiful as they reflect off the lake. There was music, snacks and a visit with Santa for all. 

A big part of Christmas for these two communities is giving and helping those in need. This year, both police departments held Fill A Cruiser days at Dollar General and Walmart. They collected new toys, clothes and non-perishable food items for Springfield Cares to pass out to families in need in the communities. 

Springfield Fire Department held a pancake breakfast, and the admission was canned goods which went to Springfield Cares. The schools also collected canned goods. 

Springfield held Shop With a Cop and Lakemore was one of the communities participating. Kids loved spending the day with officers and volunteers as they began with breakfast at the high school and then shopping at Walmart. Then after sirens blaring and lights flashing during the ride back to the high school the kids enjoyed Santa, lunch and time together as the elves wrapped their packages to take home.

Boxes ready, Springfield Cares

Springfield Cares was able to help 63 families in Lakemore and Springfield. The Springfield Police and Fire Departments, Lakemore Fire and Police Departments, Lakemore Council, Mayor Rich Cole, Springfield Local School District students and staff, Nativity Church, Springfield Baptist, Act Now Inc., Grace Community Fellowship, and all community members involved of Lakemore and Springfield participated in making this happen. 

It was a great season for the communities thanks to the kind people of the village and the township there was Christmas for some that needed a helping hand. Also, a special thank you to those that made the events special such as Lakemore Council and the Parks Department of Springfield and to the volunteers of Springfield Cares.

Get those walking shoes out of the closet!

 

People in the Village of Lakemore and Springfield Township may soon find it easier to walk from place to place in their communities. The Connecting Communities Program of the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) today awarded a $52,000 planning grant Lakemore and Springfield for a unique livability study. 

AMATS offers grants through its Connecting Communities Program to assist in the development of plans that promote vibrant, livable communities. The program promotes active transportation solutions such as walking and cycling in land use planning rather than motor vehicle use. Since its launch in 2010, the program has funded studies by Akron, Barberton, Boston Heights, Green, Hudson, Kent, METRO of Summit County, Montrose-area communities, the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA), Ravenna, Richfield, Stow, and Twinsburg. 

The Living in Lakemore/Spartan Trail Extension study will allow the village to identify connectivity improvements between its residential neighborhoods and commercial and recreational areas. New sidewalks throughout Lakemore are already being touted as the most likely strategy to be pursued under the study while dedicated bike lanes and improved transit access are other possibilities. AMATS Mobility Planner Heather Davis Reidl notes that – other than the west end of Sanitarium Road - there is a general lack of sidewalks in the village, which limits residents’ access to the Spartan Trail. The trail provides access to key destinations throughout the village including Springfield Lake Park and the Lakemore Plaza on Canton Road. However, access to the Spartan Trail is impossible in some places and it does not connect to the Springfield Middle and High schools.

Large portions of the trail are also without lighting and pavement. The study will identify potential sidewalk locations to provide safe access not only to the trail and schools, but nearby METRO bus stops, shopping, and parks. Because the village and township share the Springfield Local Schools system, both communities will use the study to identify sections of the Spartan Trail suitable for development as neighborhood access points to the middle and high schools. “Many of these students walk to school along Canton and Sanitarium roads with no protection from nearby traffic,” Reidl continues, “Creating a safe route to schools is likely welcome news to a community that lacks school-based transportation for its middle and high schoolers.” For more information, call AMATS at 330-375-2436 or visit the website at amatsplanning.org. AMATS is the regional transportation planning agency serving the Greater Akron area of Portage and Summit counties. Visit the website amatsplanning.org.

First Energy holds photo contest--holiday safety tips for lighting!

 FirstEnergy’s utilities are once again holding their “Merry & Bright” Holiday Lights Facebook Photo Contest. Customers can submit a photo or video of their outdoor lighting displays on their respective electric company's Facebook page until Friday, Dec. 16, for the chance to win a weekly prize. The company is also offering tips for safe holiday decorating. One entry from each of

FirstEnergy's 10 utility companies will be randomly selected each week to receive a $100 Amazon® gift card. The winning entries will be shared on Facebook. For more information visit FirstEnergy Utilities on Facebook.

PRESS RELEASE AND HOLIDAY SAFETY TIPS FROM FIRST ENERGY

Participants must be 18 years old and current FirstEnergy customers. Additional information and complete contest rules are available on each utility's Facebook page. 

Decorate for the Holidays Safely Whether customers adorn their homes for a chance to become a "Merry & Bright" winner or simply to spread holiday cheer, 

FirstEnergy reminds customers to take the time to ensure all decorations are installed safely and functioning properly. These tips can help safeguard your home throughout the holiday season: 

• Be aware of overhead hazards if you are using a ladder or lift to hang outdoor lights. Ladders should always be carried parallel to the ground! 

• Never throw lights into trees or other outdoor structures as a means of decorating. 

• Do not hammer tacks or nails into the electrical cord when hanging lights. Instead, use clips to safely attach lights to the house.

 • Use only extension cords that are approved for outdoor use. These cords must meet rigorous safety standards that indoor cords may not meet. 

• Outdoor lights, inflatables and other decorations should be plugged into outlets protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). 

• Place outdoor lights on a timer or turn them off before going to bed to reduce the possibility of electrical hazards overnight. 

• Decorative lights should be approved by Underwriter's Laboratory and carry a UL seal on the tag. Red UL marks indicate the lights are approved for indoor or outdoor use, while green UL tags indicate approval for indoor use only. 

• Check lights for frayed wires and broken bulbs. Discard and replace any damaged strings or bulbs.

 • When possible, keep lights and extension cords out of puddles, damp soil, snow or ice. It’s also important to be aware of potential electrical hazards when decorating outdoors. Do not install outdoor lights, inflatables or other decorations under or near any power lines or utility electrical equipment. Keep these three words in mind while decorating your home, especially when using equipment, such as a ladder, that extends your reach.

• Stop. Stop what you’re doing to consider your personal safety before attempting to install lights or decorations around power lines or electrical equipment. 

• Look. Look around for potential hazards and ways you might come into contact with electrical equipment and identify a way to avoid the hazard. 

• Live. Prevent serious injury or death by taking precautions to avoid accidental contact with electrical equipment. If an object gets caught in a power line or contacts electrical equipment, do not attempt to remove it. Call 888-LIGHTSS (888-544-4877) so that a FirstEnergy crew can retrieve it safely. 

Indoor Lighting Safety As you deck your home with twinkling lights, trees, wreaths and more, take the appropriate steps to ensure your decorations are hung with care:

 • Indoor lights should not touch window treatments, carpet, furniture or drapes. 

• Keep flammable decorations far away from any open flames or heat sources, such as candles, heaters and light bulbs. 

• Live trees should be kept well-watered. 

• Avoid overloading extension cords by using no more than three sets of standard lights per cord. 

• Prevent tripping by placing cords and decorations in low-traffic areas where they won’t be walked on. Avoid twisting, kinking or crushing cords. For more holiday safety tips and to enter the "Merry & Bright" Holiday Lights Sweepstakes, connect with a FirstEnergy utility company on Facebook.

Where our beautiful photos come from!

Jon Strittmatter

At Springfield Lakemore Channel 1023 we do not use stock photos for our background pictures as many sites do. Thanks to a village resident, we have beautiful pictures.

Longtime Village of Lakemore Resident Jon Strittmatter has been providing Springfield Lakemore Channel1023 with our background photographs for some time now. His spectacular sunset photos and up-close shots of our local Bald Eagles has caught the attention of many area residents and beyond. 

Jon Strittmatter

Strittmatter, at one time, was a Captain for the Village of Lakemore Fire Department. Although he still flips pancakes at the fire department pancake breakfasts, he has gone on to do other things in life but picked up photography along the way as a hobby.

He said, for him, photography was a way for him to deal with depression. He would walk in the parks and just start shooting pictures of what he saw with what he described as a "cheap point and shoot" camera. 

He grew up on the lake and just started shooting pictures there. He has shot so many sunsets.

Jon Strittmatter

He said when the eagles first came to town, he began shooting pictures of them. It was then he upgraded his point and shoot to a better camera with a lens he could get up close pictures of the majestic birds. 

Strittmatter is a councilman for the village and continues to shoot pictures many days of the week. When you see him out and about say hi and ask what he is shooting with his lens that day.