Magic City Neighbors on the Mic

Meet Barberton's Mr. Do-It-All, Tom Harnden! This week on Magic City Neighbors on the Mic, we have the pleasure of chatting with Tom Harnden, a true pillar of the Barberton community. From pilot and legal counsel to executive director and volunteer extraordinaire, Tom's involvement with so many projects has given him a unique perspective on our city.  Join us as we delve into: *Tom'...

Are you ready to dive into the world of financial literacy and discover how New Horizon Federal Credit Union is revolutionizing the way students learn about money? Then buckle up for an exciting episode of the Magic City Neighbors on the Mic podcast, where we sit down with Olivia Blanton, the school liaison for the credit union, to uncover the secrets behind their student-run, fully functional bra...

Nestled in the heart of Barberton, Ohio, lies Common Threads Closet, a non-profit organization that has been quietly weaving a tapestry of hope and compassion for those in need for over a decade. This remarkable group, run by a dedicated team of volunteers, provides essential clothing, household items, and toiletries to those in need, as well as meals and a pantry full of great food, transforming...

Get ready for a flavor-packed adventure as Josh and Jack talk with Brian Canale, a third-generation restaurateur and a man who's part of what Barberton is famous for with his delectable chicken! Our conversation with Brian traces the rich history of Hopocan Gardens, a legendary restaurant that's been tantalizing taste buds for nearly eight decades. Part of that is Brian's unwavering...

Join your hosts, Josh and Jack, as they bring you an exclusive interview with the  Barberton Police Chief, Vince Morber. In this episode, Chief Morber shares insights into his life, from his humble beginnings in Barberton to his inspiring journey in law enforcement. There's great stories of service, community building, and camaraderie that make the Barberton Police Department stand out from o...

Welcome back to the Magic City Neighbors on the Mic podcast, episode 11! In this exciting episode, we have a special guest, Tiffany Peters. Tiffany is the Interim Executive Director and the Director of Finance at the Barberton Community Foundation. Her impressive job title is just the tip of the iceberg, as she shares her incredible journey from being a "boomerang" to her career in corpo...

Hey everyone, welcome back to another electrifying episode of Magic City Neighbors on the mic! We're in for a rollercoaster ride of stories and laughter because we have Mr. Joseph Vernacotola, the legendary GOAT of Barberton High! If you're questioning this, you have to hear the very last thing he says in the podcast...because it's a doozy.  Imagine unearthing a photograph from 1907...

This week, guest Denny Liddle talks about the Barberton BBQ Rib and Music Festival that happens Labor Day weekend. Denny sheds light on its evolution, purpose, and local charity contributions. Discover the behind-the-scenes magic that goes into gathering mouthwatering rib vendors and top-notch bands. From its humble beginnings as a single-day event, the festival has blossomed into a multi-day extr...

As we look to the future, it's tough to find someone that sees more of the future than the school superintendent, Jeff Ramnytz.   We talk with Jeff about his philosophy of doing what's best for kids and providing them with opportunities and experiences to find what they're good at as part of the "Do Your Job" curriculum.  "Do Your Job" focuses on soft skills and...

We had the chance to talk with Melanie Black-Amato as she is the newly appointed director of the newly formed Main Street Barberton program.   Main Street Barberton is a 501c3 that is setup to help reinvigorate downtown Barberton on Tusc and 2nd street.  She explains that the Main Street program is a template that's been proven successful by having been used in over 2,000 cities throughout th...

We sat down with Ann Hutchison of the Barberton Public Library to really find out what a gem we have right downtown, right on the lake. Ann truly has changed the role of the Barberton library from a place for books into a community hub and trusted resource. The library offers so much more than just books and constantly reinvents itself to serve the community. They collaborate with schools and orga...

This South Carolina boy somehow ended up head over heels for a Barberton girl, and then the city itself.  Josh Gordon has been involved with anything from school levies to the Barberton Community Foundation and now, the Main Street project. He's excited about the future of Barberton because he has seen the work that's gone into changing things for the better in the long term.  We were re...

Not only is Dorothy the Executive Director of BACM, but she has a whole slew of other things that she somehow finds time to take care of at a high level. We took a few minutes to talk to woman of the year and find out what she does, what drives her, and if she has any time to sleep!   This is definitely not a podcast that you want to miss!

John Cominsky graduated from Barberton High school and has gone on to become a defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions.  In this, we take the time to talk to him about how Barberton helped him to not only live his dream, but also how he's able to help give back to the community through the Cominsky Family Foundation. John definitely exemplifies the "Barberton Strong" mantra and we d...

Welcome to the Magic City Neighbors on the Mic Episode 2. When he heard about the podcast, Barberton Mayor William Judge instantly called us wanting to have the chance to sit down and talk.  So, we took him up on it.  As lifelong resident and the mayor, he's got an interesting perspective and love for the city. We talked about everything from roads to bowling balls and had a lot of laughs in...

Welcome to the Magic City Neighbors on the Mic Episode 1. For our first podcast, we invited Dave Polacek into the studio to tell us a little about his unique perspective on Barberton though his jobs as a Fire Marshall Captain and as Vice President of the Barberton City Schools School board.  We talk about some of the past of Barberton and finish up with where Dave sees things heading in the near a...