Boy, it’s nice to get away on vacation now and then. I returned rejuvenated.
Looking at the paper to see what I had missed, I read about Akron’s own Black Keys — very cool. I saw that employees at Park Auto Group in Green collected around $6,000 and donated hours of their time to buy a used SUV for a family in need — awesome. And then there was those darn Steelers.
They were all bright stories and I felt rested. But as I read on, I could feel some of the tension sneaking back.
Apparently, some punks north of here in Bay Village thought it would be entertaining to douse an autistic teen with a bucket filled with human urine. Investigators connected a local school board president to nearly 70 incidents of child porn, a 7-week-old baby died because of trauma to her little head and a young teenager in Cuyahoga Falls came home from school to discover her mother dead in the driveway of their home.
So, now I’m peeved.
Starting with the bucket incident. A boy, thinking he was participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, was instead defiled. While there certainly are exceptions, a child who is raised in a home in which there is sensitivity toward those with disabilities, is logically less likely to engage in bullying those with special needs. So, dear parents, please teach by example by showing compassion for others.
On to the child pornography. The Internet has made it much easier for creeps to share child porn with other creeps.
When I was in high school, many eons ago, there was a teacher who students knew had a thing for teenage girls. But we didn’t have the guts to squeal on him — partly because our parents might think it was teenage hysteria. And God forbid we embarrass the jerk.
Seventeen years later, I was sitting at my desk and reading about that same teacher. He had been arrested for having a sexual encounter with a student. I often think what he may have done if the Internet had been at his disposal.
Though everyone is innocent until proven guilty, if you have a problem — and you know if you do — get help and stay the heck away from kids.
And that goes for baby sitters. A woman sitter in Akron is charged with felonious assault and child endangering — a charge that could be elevated to murder for something that happened when she was caring for 7-week-old Emily Cortes.
If you are pushed to the edge of abuse by a fussy, screaming infant, then, again — stay the heck away from kids.
And to the girl who found her lifeless mommy when she came home from school, I shed a tear with you.
It’s one thing when adults are suffering such travesties, it’s a whole ‘nother thing when our babies are the helpless victims.
If you, or someone you know, needs help with mental health or other issues, call Info Line Inc., at 211 or 330-376-6660, a toll-free, 24-hour information and referral service that can provide you with the numbers of various social service agencies.
End of rant.
Lighting the way
We all have special people in our lives who have illuminated our hearts with their friendship, love or simple acts of kindness. At this year’s Hope Lights the Way event, which begins at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 7, you can pay special tribute to a friend or loved one, living or deceased, by having a luminaria dedicated in his or her honor.
This celebration of family and friendship will be held, rain or shine, in the courtyard behind the Akron Children’s Hospital Considine Professional Building, 215 W. Bowery St., Akron.
Luminaria dedications are free and there is no limit to the number of requests that can be made by each individual. Forms are available at hospital’s Human Resources department, on the web at www.akronchildrens.org/hope or by calling 330-543-8335 with the information you would like to be placed on the dedication. For more information visit www.akronchildrens.org/hope.
Kim Hone-McMahan can be reached at 330-996-3742 or kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com. Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kim.honemcmahan.