The Kent Environmental Council (KEC) invites the community to a celebration of the life of Dr. Walter “Walt” Church Adams Jr. on Saturday April 25th, 2026 at 10:30am at Hobbs Hall in Kent, Ohio.

Walt was a key figure during a pivotal time in Kent’s History. He joined the Kent State faculty in 1967 as an associate professor of Biology. Walt and Nancy Adams were founding members of the Kent Environmental Council in 1970, with Walt serving as its first president. He was the faculty marshal, and witness to the tragic shootings in May of 1970, then was elected to Kent City Council a year later in May of 1971, serving two terms and eventually serving as mayor. (see article below)

Walt and Nancy were very active in Kent environmental issues and local politics until retirement, when they moved to the Philadelphia area to be close to their children and grandchildren. They have kept in touch with KEC.

The celebration will include remembrances from Walt’s academic, environmental, political, and personal life. A reception with light lunch will follow the service where loved ones, friends, and colleagues can celebrate a life well-lived during an era of hope and possibility.

Details:

Saturday, April 25, 2026
Celebration of Life: 10:30am
Reception: 11:30am

Hobbs Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Kent

• Directions and Parking Map
• Main Parking  300 Gougler Avenue, Kent, Ohio 44240 (The Portage Bike & Hike Trail) and along Gougler Ave.
• Hobbs Hall Close Parking (reserve for those needing accessible parking only, please) 217 N. Mantua Street, Kent, OH 44240

Walt’s Time as Mayor of Kent

(from the Record Courier)

Make your voice be known. Join us in supporting Portage County Farmers and the environment! Note: This time and date is correct and has been verified by the Commissioners.

We hope you will join us this month at 6:30 PM as we learn about Radon, the number one cause of environmental cancer. Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas. You can1t see radon. And you can1t smell it or taste it. But it may be a problem in your home. We will hear from:

Andrew Deikun, an Environmental Health Specialist at the Summit County Public Health Department since 1998. Andrew has a BS in Biology from the University of Akron, an MS in Environmental Management, and a MBA from the University of Findlay. He is a certified Radon Tester from the state of Ohio. Andrew will cover the basics: where radon comes from, its effects on health, how you can test for it and what test results mean.

KEC Members will and friends will review and discuss data from recent Radon testing in their homes.

We hope to see you at this exciting meeting.
Click here for the full KEC March Program Flyer

This Hearing is Thursday, March 26th at 6:30 PM

Take Action To Protect Local Solar Growth!

The Portage County Commissioners are holding a hearing on March 26, 2026 at 6:30pm to consider a proposal to ban large solar installations on farmland in all Portage County townships. The hearings will be at the Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Operations Center, 2978 State Route 59. Ravenna.

Plan to be at the hearing to let them know that you oppose the proposal. Shouldn’t farmers be allowed to use their land as they wish? The only one who benefits from this ban is Ohio Edison, who is in the process of raising their rates. To read a recent Portager article, see additional resources below. Here is the Portage County Commissioners Facebook post.

If you can’t attend the hearing, contact the commissioners to let them know what you think. Phone for all three is 330-292-3600 from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, or email them:

• Mike Tinlin, President, mtinlin@portageco.com
• Sabrina Christian-Bennett, Vice President, schristianbennett@portageco.com
• Jill Crawford, jcrawford@portageco.com

We hope you will join us this month at 6:30 PM as we celebrate this sustainable transportation and the cycling community of Kent Ohio. We will hear from:

Richard “Rick” Feinberg is an American anthropologist, writer, educator, and Emeritus Professor, Kent State University, focusing on sociocultural anthropology. Rick will discuss his experience of bicycle riding, what led him to become a serious cyclist, and the challenges riders face.

Matt Stewart, Transportation Planning Administrator for the Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS). Matt will provide a regional perspective of bicycle safety.

Plus – A Special Announcement about Credentialed Cycling in Kent.

We hope to see you at this exciting meeting.
Click here for the full KEC February Program Flyer

Kent Free Library – 312 W. Main St, 2nd Floor
Thursday,January 22 • 6:30-8:00

6:30 PM – Business Meeting:

• Election of 2026 Board Officers
• Budget Review and Approval
• 2025 Review – Highlights & Accomplishments
• 2026 Ahead – Goals, Direction – we want to hear from you!
• Announcing Legacy for the Environment Grant Recipients

7:00 PM – Guest Speaker

Environmental Justice with Addison Caruso,
a Staff Attorney for Fair Shake Environmental
Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm that
represents both individuals and organizations
on a sliding scale. Fair Shake also provides
free organizing support for communities
facing environmental challenges through
our community democracy program.
Addison will talk about recent environmental
legal changes in Ohio and general trends
across the state.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

We hope to see you at this renewing evening!
Click here for KEC January 2026 Program Flyer.

We hope you will join us this month as we give thanks and proclaim hope! We will hear from:

• Brian Adkins of Brian’s Birds Unlimited, an inspirational and incredible young birder embracing the beauty of autumn.
• An open community discussion to share the ways we give thanks to Mother Earth, and
• More community sharing as we discuss the environmental heroes who inspire us.

We hope to see you at this renewing evening!
Click here for KEC November Monthly Program Flyer.

Join us for this family-friendly event celebrating October 2025 as Sustainability Month and the wonders of our night skies. Join us as we partner with many great local organizations including:

• City of Kent Sustainability Commission,
• City of Kent Parks and Recreation,
• Kent Environmental Council,
• Discover Bats Ohio, and
• Portage Park District

Darkness is something not a lot of people are comfortable with. But for our nocturnal native animals, it is essential for survival. Encroaching light pollution into their habitats creates challenges for them. Join us as we discuss bats, migratory birds, and other creatures of the night that would greatly benefit from our willingness to flip the switch and turn out the lights.

We hope you will join us for this special event.

Click here for official event flyer.

Click here of information and directions to Plum Creek Park.

As a proud citizens and partner of the City of Kent for over 55 years, we, the Kent Environmental Council would like to congratulate the City of Kent, and the Sustainability Commission in the official proclamation of October 2025 as Sustainability Month. We are honored to share these core values with our great city. Click here to for the Official Proclamation or here for events celebrating this month. We hope you will join us in the celebration.