News roundup for May 2

Buckeye High School student of the month Kai Knaub is the Buckeye High School student of the month for April. He is a tri-enrolled student at Buckeye High School, Cuyahoga Community College and the Medina County Career Center. He takes advanced placement, College Credit Plus and industry-credentialed classes. He is considered an advanced placement scholar with honor since he received an average score of at least 3.25 on all advanced placement exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. Knaub is part of the Career Center's automotive technology program. He also served as the auto tech program president for his junior and senior years. He is an Eagle Scout and the patrol leader for Boy Scout Troop 500 of York Township. His Eagle Scout project comprised constructing bird towers for the Medina County Park District to provide eco-friendly homes for native avian species. Knaub has served as Buckeye's Academic Challenge team captain for both his junior and senior year. He has also been a mock trial attorney for the past four years and was recognized his junior year by the mock trial panel to receive the judge's award for best attorney. He led the group to regionals in 2024. He works at Castle Noel and runs a landscaping business. He is continuing his education at the University of Akron next year. Medina Community Band Association spring concert Medina Community Band will have its upcoming spring concert at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Western Reserve Masonic Community. The band will be conducted by Darren LeBeau and Amy Muhl. The concert is free, open to the public and has ample parking. For more information about the organization, concert schedules or to join the band, visit the band's website medinacommunityband.org. Medina hydrant flushing schedule The Medina Water Department has begun hydrant flushing for 2026. The schedule may vary depending on the weather and available personnel. Signs will be set to indicate the flushing area. Check medinaoh.org to see if the schedule has been updated. The following roads are scheduled to be flushed next week: Lafayette Road southside from Fair Road to South Elmwood Avenue Oak Street Pine Street Maple Street Spruce Street Cedar Street West Park Boulevard Circle Drive Cardinal Drive Koons Avenue Wren Way Lawrence Street Countryside Drive Essex Lane Montview Drive, west of South Court Street Potomac Court South Court Street, south from West Park Boulevard to Sturbridge Drive Applications now being accepted for 2026 fix-it funds home improvement loans Starting in May, Medina County Treasurer John Burke and First Financial Bank will offer fix-it funds, which are low-interest, fixed-rate home improvement loans to Medina County homeowners. First Financial Bank is continuing to offer the fixed-rate loans at up to 2 percent below the bank's current rate. Fix-it fund loans can range from $5,000 to $50,000 and are given on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are depleted. Almost all types of interior and exterior home improvements are eligible, including painting, wallpaper, lighting, flooring, plumbing, carpeting, furnaces, air conditioners, remodeling, additions, decks, window and door replacements, roofing, siding, gutters, driveways, patios and sidewalks. There are only a few ineligible improvements such as swimming pools, satellite dishes or hot tubs. Manufactured homes are not eligible for the loan. Applicants must: Be a Medina County resident. The home (a one- to four-family unit dwelling) must have a tax-appraised value of $350,000 or less, excluding land, according to the Medina County auditor's appraised value. Not be delinquent on real estate taxes. Homeowners have up to 18 months to complete the work for which the loan was granted. There is no income limit to qualify for the loans.