AKRONDrug charges filedAKRON: An Akron man is accused of smuggling drug paraphernalia into the United States after accepting two shipments of glass pipes from a Nepal company.Jeremy D. Bricker, 29, was indicted on federal charges Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland.Federal prosecutors said Bricker received two shipments with a total of 2,105 glass pipes in April 2011 from Kathmandu, Nepal, through a private delivery service.Prosecutors said Bricker owns a Kenmore business. In the indictment, prosecutors contend the pipes were to be sold and used to ingest controlled substances.An attorney for Bricker was not yet listed on court records. Award presentedAKRON: Dan Rice of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition is the winner of a top national award from the Garden Club of America.Rice, president and chief executive officer of the Akron grass-roots group, received the garden club’s Historic Preservation Commendation.He was nominated for the award from the Akron Garden Club. The award goes to individuals and groups that boost historic preservation in their communities.AURORAFire victim diesAURORA: An Aurora woman died Thursday from injuries in a Wednesday morning fire.The state fire marshal investigating the case did not release the woman’s name, but said she was in her 50s and suffered smoke inhalation and burns.“The fire has been ruled accidental and is the result of the careless use of smoking materials,” a news release said.An off-duty Bainbridge firefighter who lives nearby and an Aurora police officer on patrol tried to enter the house to assist the injured woman.Both suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at hospitals and released, the fire marshal reported.Smoke alarms were present and did activate, but the other two occupants in the home were alerted to the fire by the injured woman. The fire was contained to the victim and her bed. CUYAHOGA FALLSGrant to aid infantsCUYAHOGA FALLS: A Cuyahoga Falls organization is among 20 nonprofit groups and schools around the country sharing in $75,000 worth of grants from Cincinnati paper distributor xpedx through its International Paper Foundation.SID Network of Ohio, based in Cuyahoga Falls, was awarded $4,823 to help provide safe sleep T-shirts to newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.“These IP Foundation grants represent one way our xpedx business can give back to communities where we operate and be a great neighbor,” spokesman Rick Ouellette said.LAKE TOWNSHIPSchool open houseLAKE TWP.: Lake Center Christian School will host an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday.Visitors can meet administrators, teachers and group advisers.Enrollment is open for children in all grades from pre-kindergarten through high school.For more information, go to www.lakecenterchristian.org or call 330-877-2049.MEDINA COUNTYClinic adds hoursWADSWORTH: The Medina County Health Department is adding morning hours to the child and adolescent immunization clinic at Summa Wadsworth Rittman Hospital Founder’s Hall.The clinic is open the fourth Wednesday of the month from 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.Appointments for immunizations are recommended. As a result of the extended hours, the immunization clinic at the Knights of Columbus Hall the first Wednesday of each month will end.For an appointment, call 330-723-9688 or 888-723-9688.A select number of adult vaccines are also available. The clinic accepts Medicaid, Care Source, Well Care, and Buckeye Community insurance.The non-Medicaid vaccine administration fee is $10 per vaccine for Medina County children and adolescents and $14.50 for those living outside the county. No child will be denied due to inability to pay. Services are partially supported through a property tax health levy.NORTHEAST OHIOChairman selectedAKRON: Jason Segedy will chair the board of trustees of the Northeast Ohio Sustainable Communities Consortium in 2012.Segedy is director of the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study that oversees transportation grants in Summit and Portage counties plus Chippewa Township in Wayne County.The consortium was established in early 2011 with a grant from three federal agencies. It has 31 members ranging from individual communities to government agencies to civic-oriented groups.It covers 12 counties in Northeast Ohio including Summit, Stark, Portage, Medina and Wayne.PLAIN SCHOOLSNew board memberPLAIN TWP.: Ambrose Perduk Jr. was sworn in as a member of the Plain Local Board of Education at its joint meeting with Plain Township trustees Wednesday evening.Perduk will fill the term of Chris Cugini, who the board recently dismissed for missing meetings over a four-month period.Superintendent Brent May gave an update on plans for the GlenOak High School campus, including a proposed community center with a swimming pool, and expanded health-care facilities.May said students will participate in a Community Service Day on May 19.PORTAGE COUNTYForum on opiatesMANTUA: Citing national, state and Portage County trends showing an increase in the use of opiates, such as heroin, Crestwood Local Schools is inviting the community to learn more about the issue.Superintendent Joe Iacano and other district staff will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Crestwood High School library at 10919 Main St.Participants include representatives from the Portage County Drug Task Force, Mantua Police, Crestwood Local Schools and the Kent counseling center Town Hall II.“Societal trends show that heroin is becoming more and more prevalent.“While our random drug searches have turned up no evidence of opiates in our schools, my hope is to engage the community in a discussion about the dangers of opiates and how we can work together to protect our students and families,” Iacano said.SUMMIT COUNTYSenator sets hoursState Sen. Frank LaRose, R-Copley Twp., will hold office hours throughout his district Saturday. No appointment is necessary.Hours are: • 8 to 10 a.m., Barberton City Hall, 576 W. Park Ave. • 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cuyahoga Falls Public Library, Graefe Room, 2015 Third St.• 2 to 4 p.m., Twinsburg City Hall, 10075 Ravenna Road.Donate to basketsAKRON: Summit County Children Services is accepting donations to help deliver Easter baskets to children in agency custody.Monetary donations are welcome, but people also can donate completed baskets. The agency is especially in need of baskets for boys.Children Services recommended that boys baskets include small sports balls or outdoor toys, cars and trucks, coloring/activity books, markers, books, candy, chocolate bunnies, hand-held games, action figures, gadgets or small games/puzzles.Filled, wrapped baskets should be labeled with the child’s age and gender and delivered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 23-26 to the agency, 264. S. Arlington St., Akron.For more information, call 330-379-2055 or go to www.summitkids.org.Court task forceAKRON: Summit County Clerk of Courts Daniel Horrigan has been appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court to the Task Force on the Funding for Ohio Courts.The task force was created by Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to pursue systemic changes to the way Ohio courts are funded and to strengthen the financial position of Ohio courts.“It’s an honor to have been selected and I look forward to working with all of the stakeholders across the state to fashion a better long-term solution to such a critical part of the courts and the state’s future,” Horrigan said in a prepared statement.