Cleveland’s beloved German-inspired restaurant, Der Braumeister, is serving up a mouthwatering Lenten menu once again! Beginning on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and running through the Lenten season, the restaurant is offering a delicious selection of seafood dishes perfect for Friday fish fry traditions.

Located at 13046 Lorain Ave, Der Braumeister has long been a local favorite for its authentic German cuisine and impressive beer selection. This year’s Lenten specials include a mix of classic and creative offerings:

• Battered Shrimp with Hush Puppies & Fries – $15
  Hand-battered shrimp served with your choice of any $4 side. Looking for the perfect pairing? Try a Spring Maibock Beer from Ayinger—a light amber-colored bock with a smooth, slightly sweet, and malty finish.
• Salmon & Spargel – $20
  Roasted salmon topped with a German mustard glaze, paired with white asparagus, salt & vinegar roasted Yukon potatoes, and finished with a rich Mornay sauce.
• More seafood favorites including walleye, salmon, and shrimp will be available as part of the Lenten menu.

Reservations are highly recommended as the Lenten season tends to draw a crowd. Whether you’re observing Lent or just looking for a fantastic Friday night meal, Der Braumeister’s fish fry is a must-try.

To view the full menu or make a reservation, visit the Der Braumeister website or follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

Don’t miss out on this seasonal tradition—gather your friends and family and head to Der Braumeister for a taste of Lent done right!

SUBMITTED

 Fourteen promising entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds have been selected to participate in an innovative new real estate development program with a clear mission: to break down historical barriers and empower these individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to shape the future of Cleveland’s communities.

The Cleveland Equitable Development Initiative, or CLE-EDI, will bolster the ranks of successful minority real estate developers in the region and to stimulate economic growth in the communities from which these entrepreneurs hail.

Yvette Ittu, president and CEO of Cleveland Development Advisors, underscores the significance of this initiative, stating: “These entrepreneurs possess a range of business experiences, but the intensive real estate development training and mentorship this program provides will significantly enhance their chances of success.  By nurturing these motivated individuals, we will not only foster greater diversity and inclusion in our real estate community, but will elevate their capabilities in development.

CLE-EDI is a joint effort by Cleveland Development Advisors (CDA), which provides expertise and financing to real estate projects that advance economic and community development; Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, a local community development intermediary that invests in community revitalization work in Greater Cleveland; and Capital Impact Partners, a mission-driven nonprofit lender based in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.

“This program is imperative due to the profound disparities in the industry stemming from limited access to capital and training, the persistent wealth gap, and the absence of a cohesive network of service providers and mentors to empower these individuals to enable them to play a meaningful role in shaping our collective future,” Ittu added.

One of the CLE-EDI program cohorts is Hosanna Mahaley, founder and CEO of Legacy RED (Real Estate Development) Group, a woman and minority owned general contracting and construction management firm. Legacy has provided professional services on 200 real estate projects, including with public entities in Northeast Ohio, Chicago and Dallas. She is a former teacher and public education leader, eventually serving as the State Superintendent of Education for the District of Columbia.

“I’m deeply committed to the revitalization of Cleveland,” said Mahaley, a native of Hough. “Returning to this city was driven by my desire to give back to the community that has given me so much.  The east  side is Cleveland’s Cinderella and it is time for it to gain its rightful place in our city’s past, present and future.  My vision is to offer world class senior housing in an area that is often overlooked.  This program will provide extra support to help me cross the finish line.  A recurring challenge for developers of color is the scarcity of financial resources.  This program will provide invaluable insights into overcoming this obstacle and turn my plans and ideas into reality.” 

The other 13 entrepreneurs selected for the program are:

April Bebee, CEO of Phoenix Development Group, LLC, has a passion for transforming neighborhoods.  The Cleveland native is very deliberate in their engagement of local residents and stakeholders.  She is also a licensed financial services professional and a long time employee in clinical research at the Cleveland Clinic. Her extensive community outreach includes working with underserved youth in the real estate development space.

Andre Bryan, managing partner for BridgePort Group LLC, a minority and veteran-owned small business that provides innovative solutions for global supply chain, logistics, warehousing and distribution services.  Andre’s firm has been recognized as the Small Business of the Year by the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council.

Jermaine Brooks, realtor and managing member of WRJ Developers LLC, a minority developer in Cleveland. Recent WRJ work includes ArkiTainer, a 64-unit apartment building being built from shipping containers on 72nd Street in Cleveland. He has been a licensed Realtor for 10 years with Keller Williams Greater Metropolitan, and is an active member of the City of Cleveland Airport Minority Advisory Council.

Akil Hameed, founder and CEO of FASS Real Estate Services, which manages more than 500,000 square feet of commercial and residential properties in Northeast Ohio. As an experienced broker, property manager and business professional, Hameed has an established record of success with diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout many of his corporate dealings.

Jimmie Hicks III, a board member and project director for housing rehab for Start Right Community Development Corporation, a family operated non-profit in the Caledonia neighborhood of Cleveland Heights.In September 2022, he was named Deputy Director for Responsible Gambling for The Ohio Lottery Commission.

Tiffany L. Hollinger, owner of Hollinger Financial LLC. She is a entrepreneur, Realtor, real estate investor and financial advisor. She has more than 25 years of financial service and 10 years of real estate experience.

Ariane Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the AKA Team, a commercial construction and facilities company. Ariane is an experienced contractor providing collaborative management and construction services. AKA’s larger projects include work for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Cleveland Museum of Art, Horseshoe Casino and Cuyahoga Community College. Kirkpatrick is also CEO of companies with provisional large-scale medical cannabis cultivation, dispensary and process licenses in Ohio.

Jimi Oluwabiyi, a real estate developer with Lael, LLC. He began his real estate development career in 2002. His residential work has expanded to multi-family development and has also worked on property management, contractor management risk assessments, financial analysis and stakeholder management. His civic work has included being appointed to the New African Immigrants Commission of Ohio.

Dominic Ozanne II, project manager for Ozanne Construction Company. He manages multiple projects throughout Northeast Ohio. He first worked for the company’s team in New Orleans as a member of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Recovery Program following Hurricane Katrina.

Evin Peavy, a real estate developer with DC Kelly Investments in Cleveland who focuses on transforming communities through inclusive projects. He has a passion for revitalizing urban landscapes and promoting inclusiveness within neighborhoods. He has experience in multi-family and commercial mixed use project development.

Christopher D. Roberts, a CPA who has worked for a number of Fortune 500 companies and now leads financial strategy for global procurement and supplier diversity & inclusion at Amazon. He has been involved in various aspects of real estate, including serving on a non-profit board providing low-income housing for senior citizens and the acquisition and development of multiple mixed-use buildings.

Dontez Sanders, founder of DS Group Real Estate Investments, a property management group that has managed more than 1,000 units in Northeast Ohio. Sanders, a former Cleveland Browns and University of Wisconsin football player, went into real estate after his career with the Browns.

Khrystalynn Shefton, chief of growth and expansion at Birthing Beautiful Communities, which is working to build the first Black-led free-standing birth center in Northeast Ohio. Her desire to impact Cleveland and its neighborhoods led to urban planning and development education, and she has served as director of real estate and development planning for the Famicos Foundation.

The program, which begins this week, will pair experienced developers with emerging developers to help launch their projects.  The list of developer mentors has also expanded and can be found here.

PHOTOS BY KATE RYBAK

BY JESSIE SCHOONOVER

It doesn’t get more delicious than the Kamm’s Corners Greek Festival! This year has been well attended so far, with anxious eaters filling their plates or to-go containers with favorites like moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita, gyros, Greek fries, and more.

The Kamm’s Corners Greek Festival began Friday, Sept. 1, and runs through Monday, Sept. 4, ending at 9 p.m., at the George Varouh Cretan Club of Cleveland, 3853 W 168th St, Cleveland, OH 44111.

MEDIA RELEASE

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Justin M. Bibb, KeyCorp CEO Chris Gorman, Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin and leaders from CHN Housing Partners and LISC Cleveland celebrated a $2.5 million philanthropic grant from KeyBank to amplify the city’s recent $15 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investment to support new home repair programs.  

“This incredible investment from KeyBank is helping us make our ARPA dollars go further, particularly in neighborhoods that have experienced disproportional disinvestment,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “I know I speak for all of us when I say thank you to the KeyBank Foundation for their commitment to Cleveland and to this important work. Funding for home repair is a critical component of the work being done to revitalize the Southeast side and our city as a whole.”  

KeyBank Foundation grants will be awarded to CHN Housing Partners and LISC Cleveland, who will work with the City of Cleveland to distribute funds to qualifying residents. 

“KeyBank’s significant investment is a testament to our enduring commitment to both our hometown and to our purpose…to help our clients and communities thrive,” said Chris Gorman, Chairman and CEO of KeyCorp. “We are pleased to be part of this landmark partnership with the City of Cleveland, LISC and CHN Housing Partners, helping homeowners access funding to build and revitalize our neighborhoods, home by home and block by block. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact this investment will have in communities across Cleveland for years to come.” 

Affordable housing and home ownership are part of the KeyBank Foundation’s core mission, both building generational wealth through homeownership and revitalizing and improving the homes in under-resourced communities.   

“We are incredibly grateful to KeyBank Foundation for this investment in Cleveland’s families and neighborhoods,” said Kevin J. Nowak, president and CEO of CHN Housing Partners. “This investment will ultimately have a triple bottom line for residents—making them more housing stable, helping them live in a healthier environment, and improving their property values which will create generational wealth.” 

Following yesterday’s announcement, the partners will convene to finalize the grantmaking process and discuss how to best align with the work already being done by Cleveland’s Department of Community Development and community partners to make a transformative difference. 

“LISC is honored to partner with the City of Cleveland and KeyBank to bring a home repair program to Cleveland,” said Kandis Williams, LISC Cleveland Executive Director. “This program’s impact will be far reaching in that it will support the stabilization of neighborhoods through improved housing stock while also supporting the building of assets and intergenerational wealth for individual Cleveland homeowners.” 

The initial $15 million pot of ARPA funding for City of Cleveland home maintenance and repair programs was approved by City Council earlier this month. Through this investment, four nonprofits—CHN, LISC, Habitat for Humanity and Cleveland Restoration Society—will receive funding to administer loans and grants to assist low-income residents. 

“Residents want to know that Council’s ARPA investments are directly benefiting them. Our initial $15 million investments in home repair loans – and Key Bank’s $2.5 million match will allow us to help more owners invest in their homes, especially in neighborhoods often overlooked by traditional lenders,” said City Council President Blaine A. Griffin. “This is a win for Clevelanders. We’ll continue the fight for residents by seeking additional external partners to support this work.” 

PHOTOS BY KATE RYBAK

St. Mary’s proudly holds the title of the oldest Romanian Orthodox parish in the United States and was founded in 1904. From its early beginnings on Detroit Avenue in Cleveland’s historic Romanian neighborhood, the church has been in Kamm’s Corners at 3256 Warren Road since 1960.

Montrose Avenue, Riveredge Road, Old Lorain Road, West 183rd Street (Ward 17)

MEDIA RELEASE

Beginning August 22, 2023, weather permitting, the City of Cleveland’s Back to Basics Street Improvement Program, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will begin in Ward 17. Advance notice signs will be posted to advise the public of road improvements. The following streets are expected to be completed in mid-October:

•   Montrose Avenue (Glencliffe Road to Warren Road)
•   Riveredge Road (Larchwood Avenue to End)
•   Old Lorain Road (Lorain Avenue to Valley Parkway)
•   West 183th Street (Puritas Avenue to Ponciana Avenue)

One lane of traffic will be maintained for local traffic for the duration of each project. No detours are expected. Access to all businesses, residences and side streets will be maintained during construction. On-street parking will not be allowed during construction. The work will take place during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.For questions, contact the City of Cleveland’s Inspector, Eric Faehner at 216-857-3028.

Editor’s Note: Road construction invariably presents hazards to the public. All travelers are urged to use caution in construction zones. Public safety and the safety of workers is a top priority.

About the City of Cleveland The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life for its residents by strengthening neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing diversity and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, play, and do business. For more information on the City of Cleveland, visit online at clevelandohio.gov, Twitter at @cityofcleveland or Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofcleveland

PHOTOS BY KATE RYBAK

Cloudy skies didn’t stop area residents from coming out to the Resource Fair and Pop-Up in the Park held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 10.

Check out some of the images from that event below.

Retiree Jerry Masek, a volunteer at The West Park Times, has been asked to serve as President of the Cleveland Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) for the 2023-24 program year.
A journalist since 1969, and a member since 1976, Masek has been recognized for service to journalism on the local, regional and national levels.
SPJ represents all journalists, whether they are members of the Society or not, in all modes of journalism — print, broadcast, freelance and online. The SPJ Code of Ethics is considered the industry standard. All Chapter programs and Board meetings are open to the public.
To learn more, go to the national or local Facebook pages, or www.spj.org, or www.clevelandSPJpro.com. The Pro Chapter works with student chapters at Cleveland State University and John Carroll University.

MEDIA RELEASE

Today, Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced that Holly Trifiro will step down from her role as Chief of Education effective Aug. 25, 2023. 

Stepping into the role is Michele Pomerantz, a veteran Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) educator and advocate with decades of experience in regional collaboration, policy development and education management. Pomerantz’s first official day as Chief of Education will be Aug. 28.  

“I am proud of the work we have done in the education space during the first 18 months of my administration,” Mayor Bibb said. “From Cleveland Reads and ARPA investments, to strong selections for the Board of Education and an inclusive search for CMSD’s next CEO, we have accomplished a lot and I am deeply grateful to Chief Trifiro for leading these efforts. As we begin a new school year with new leadership, it is an optimal time to bring in the next Chief of Education and I wish Chief Trifiro all the best as she embarks on this next chapter of her career.”  

Although she is leaving the administration, Chief Trifiro will remain very much involved in working directly with students, educators, families and partners across Cleveland to continue this progress from a new vantage point.  

“My experience in the Mayor’s Office has deepened my understanding of the value of community organizations and creative educators working directly with students to reimagine learning in a post-pandemic context,” Chief Trifiro said. “With this insight, I will be working on strategies to grow high-quality engaging learning experiences in our city. The mayor’s commitment to a youth agenda paired with Dr. Morgan’s experience leading meaningful academic progress signal a phase of incredible opportunity for Cleveland’s young people, and I am excited to continue to play a role in that work.”  

Chief Trifiro and Pomerantz will work together on the transition and onboarding process to ensure there is no disruption to the work of the office.  

“We are excited to welcome Michele to City Hall and to continue building on our progress,” Mayor Bibb said. “Given her experience in education, local government, advocacy and policy, she is well prepared to take on this critical role.” 

Michele Pomerantz began her career in education as a first-grade teacher for CMSD in the early 1990s. During her 21-year tenure as an educator, Pomerantz was focused on improving the system for teachers and for students. From 2008 to 2012, she served as director of political action for the Cleveland Teachers Union, where she led advocacy efforts for the 2011 Ohio Collective Bargaining Limit Repeal and played a major role in the formation and establishment of The Cleveland Plan.  

Pomerantz then spent a year at D.C.-based American Federation of Teachers (AFT), serving as the deputy director of the office of the president, before returning to Cleveland as a senior advisor to then CMSD CEO Eric Gordon.  

In 2018 Pomerantz was selected by former Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish to serve as Director of Regional Collaboration, a role she held for four years before joining the MetroHealth system’s government relations team.  

“I am both humbled and excited to be named Cleveland’s next Chief of Education,” Pomerantz said. “This role draws on every facet of my 30 plus year career in education and government, and I am ready to hit the ground running. It is an honor to be selected to serve our young scholars, families, educators, administrators and citywide stakeholders. Together, I believe we will achieve great things for and with the young people in this city.”