Big time in the big city
When I was a very young boy growing up in the very small town of Mineral City, going “up to Canton” was like going to Oz. I have great memories of going to Kresges with my Mom. Sometimes after she finished shopping, we would get a banana split at the soda fountain or go over to The Palace for a matinee. Back in the day, there was a little diner across the street from the theatre that we would stop in to have homemade pie with vanilla ice cream. These were big times for a five year old.
Well, at 55 and a Canton resident, I still get excited about going downtown. And what’s even more exciting is that I have the pleasure of being involved in the rejuvenation of our wonderful city. The company I work for has been a part of the renovation of many of our classic downtown buildings. We have worked with Coon Restoration on the Northmark Building, the new American Red Cross, Little Chicago, and a city treasure, the Canton Club. As you can see, I am a big fan of bringing our downtown back to life. This is a great time in Canton history for those that want to participate in this effort. The Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce is a very energetic and active group of people. They encourage the people of Stark County to get involved in the many events that they coordinate and sponsor. I have personally been involved with Zing in the City and I have been a member of the Canton Blues Festival committee for the past five years.
So, join in Canton. It is in all of our best interests to have a strong core. Come downtown and experience your city. I think some of you will be pleasantly surprised. The rest of you already know what I’m talking about!
By Floyd E. Oryszak Operations Manager, Roricks, Inc.
