AKRONRailroad wine tourAKRON: The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is offering a wine-tasting tour Friday and three excursions Saturday with a steam-powered locomotive.The engine was built in 1944 and is the largest surviving steam locomotive in the East. It is 15 feet tall, weighs 404 tons and can travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. It is owned by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society.The wine train will depart at 7:15 p.m. from Akron’s Northside Station.Tickets range from $85 to $120 a person.On Saturday, the two-hour trips into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park depart at 8 and 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. from the Northside Station.Adult tickets range from $27 to $82. Tickets for children range from $22 to $72.There will be additional steam trips in September.For reservations and information, call 800-468-4070 or go to . Ward 6 meetingAKRON: Bob Otterman, the Ward 6 councilman, will have a meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Ellet Community Center, 2449 Wedgewood Drive.Speakers will be Ralph Sinistro and George Baker, directors of the Job Center; and Adele Roth, the city’s development manager.Roth will discuss the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s headquarters project.Bank robbedAKRON: Akron police are looking for three men who fired two shots during a bank robbery Tuesday afternoon.There were no injuries reported during the heist shortly after 1 p.m. at the Ohio Savings branch at 1835 Brittain Road.Police Lt. Rick Edwards said the men, wearing what appeared to be paintball masks and hooded sweatshirts, went into the branch, fired a single shot and ordered everyone to the floor. A second shot was fired before the men took an undisclosed amount of cash and left.Police are investigating whether the three are the same men who robbed a PNC Bank branch on Buchholzer Boulevard on Aug. 2. In that case, a man fired a shot while another jumped the counter during a robbery. There were no injuries.Anyone with information is asked to call Akron police at 330-375-2490. Anonymous tips may be left at http://akronohio.gov/asp/tip.html.CAMPAIGN TRAILEvents for WilliamsAKRON: Akron Councilman Mike Williams, who is running for mayor, is inviting his supporters to cast absentee ballots with him at noon today at the Summit County Board of Elections, 470 Grant St.His supporters then are invited to his headquarters, at 1543 S. Hawkins Blvd., for a free lunch and cake to celebrate Mike and Annalisa Williams’ 26th wedding anniversary. This event will be from 1 to 4 p.m.Williams also will have a rally from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Vicki’s Place, 1955 Triplett Blvd. The free event will include food and music.This is the final week before Tuesday’s primary, in which Williams and political newcomer Janice Davis are challenging Don Plusquellic, Akron’s longest-serving mayor.For more information on the events, call 330-431-4816 or go to .Falls fundraiserCUYAHOGA FALLS: The Mary Nichols-Rhodes for Cuyahoga Falls School Board Committee will hold a fundraiser Thursday at the Funny Stop Comedy Club, 1757 State Road.Doors open 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8:30.Tickets are $10 and must be ordered before the show by email at mac40oh@gmail.com or by calling 330-928-5347.Judicial candidatesThe Summit County Republican Party has sent Gov. John Kasich the names of three candidates to replace retired Probate Court Judge Bill Spicer.Akron attorney Candace Kim-Knox; state Rep. Todd McKenney, R-New Franklin; and Akron attorney Scot Stevenson were selected by the party’s screening committee Saturday.Kasich’s selection would replace Spicer until an election in 2012 to complete his term. The election for the next full six-year term would be in 2014.COLUMBUSInfrastructure grantRAVENNA: The city of Ravenna was among 10 Ohio communities to receive state grants for infrastructure improvements Tuesday.Ravenna received $300,000 to replace sidewalks and curbs, make street repairs, install 23 light fixtures and put in nine flood and drainage catch basins. The work also includes installing a sanitary sewer lift station, 1,000 linear feet of sewer lines, 12 sewer system tap-ins and seven fire hydrants. The project will leverage $157,000 in additional funds.The Ohio Department of Development’s Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Program awarded $3 million in grants through its Office of Housing and Community Partnerships.FAIRLAWNMedicare helpFAIRLAWN: The Ohio Department of Insurance will present a seminar at 10 a.m. Thursday at Fairlawn Community Center, 3486 S. Smith Road, for soon-to-be beneficiaries and current participants to learn about Medicare A, B & D, Medicaid and supplemental insurance plans.A PowerPoint presentation will cover current Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug coverage.There is no charge for the seminar, but seating is limited.For information, call 330-666-5582.greenHours shortenedGREEN: The Farmer’s Market held each Tuesday in the Summa Health System/YMCA parking lot, 3838 Massillon Road, will close an hour earlier, at 6 p.m., through Oct. 11.“The time change was at the request of the farmers,” said Kim Goodhart, market manager. “After school began, we saw a significant decrease in shoppers after 6 p.m.”In addition to more than 20 farmers and miscellaneous food vendors, the market has live music from 4 to 6 p.m.For a list of entertainers and vendors, go to .For information, call Green’s Parks and Recreation Division at 330 896-6621 or go to .NORTHEAST OHIOGuard send-offMEDINA: A send-off for about 100 soldiers with Ohio Army National Guard’s Company G, 237th Brigade Support Battalion, will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Medina Performing Arts Center, 855 Weymouth Road.The soldiers are part of a group of 800 National Guard soldiers with the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team that is being sent to Afghanistan. Other ceremonies also be held in Marion, Sandusky, Bowling Green, Piqua and Columbus.The soldiers will train at Camp Shelby, Miss. before going overseas.