The Justice Center Complex will reopen to the public today, June 24. With the exception of jury trials, normal operations will resume. Individuals selected for jury duty should call the Court at the number on their summons for further instruction. On June 23, the complex was closed to the public due to power and water system issues. Preliminary reports indicate that a ruptured water line in the Courts Tower has caused significant flooding and triggered power outages in parts of the facility. County building and maintenance staff continue to assess damages and make necessary repairs.

Due to issues with the power and water systems, the Justice Center Complex will be closed to the public today, Tuesday, June 23. The issues are affecting both the Court Towers and Corrections Center. The buildings will remain closed to the public until further notice. In-person visitation is currently unavailable for Corrections Center residents.

Justice and Corrections Center officials are assessing the situation and monitoring conditions within the Corrections Center facility and will make adjustments as needed to ensure the safety of all staff and residents.

Building and maintenance staff are assessing the situation and working to determine the scope of necessary repairs. At this time, a timeline for restoration of services and reopening is unknown.

The Cleveland Division of Police portion of the Justice Center Complex remains operational.

The Cuyahoga County Auto Title’s North Olmsted office, located at 27029 Brookpark Road, is relocating. In order to continue to serve customers, the office will move across the street and operate out of the North Olmsted License Bureau at 26642 Brookpark Road beginning Monday, April 27. 
The new permanent location at 28895 Lorain Road in North Olmsted will open to the public in September.
The North Olmsted Auto Title office will also be closed to the public on Friday, April 24, to allow staff to prepare for the move.

SUBMITTED

Take a Hike®, Cleveland’s premier guided walking tour program, returns for its 2026 season with its most dynamic and expansive lineup to date—introducing five distinct tour seasons, an enhanced Summer Series, and new ways for locals and visitors alike to experience the city’s history, culture, and architecture.

Building on the momentum of a record-setting 2025 season that welcomed more than 6,500 participants across 200+ tours and 35 unique experiences, Take a Hike continues to grow its impact—connecting people to Cleveland’s past while showcasing its ongoing transformation.

“Take a Hike is about more than its tours—it’s about bringing Cleveland’s history to life in ways that are engaging, accessible, and memorable,” said Eileen Cassidy, Executive Director of Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation. “With five distinct seasons and new ways to experience the program, we’re continuing to grow and evolve while staying rooted in our mission to celebrate and preserve the city’s rich heritage.”

The 2026 season is organized into five curated tour seasons, offering year-round opportunities to explore Cleveland through different lenses:

• Spring Series (May) – Celebrating Historic Preservation Month with tours focused on adaptive reuse, neighborhood revitalization, and the power of place
• Summer Series (June–September) – The program’s signature season, featuring the widest variety of tours across Cleveland’s historic districts
• Fall Series – Highlighting neighborhood cultural heritage and new indoor tours
• Holiday Series – Festive tours showcasing Cleveland’s seasonal traditions and historic destinations
• Winter Offerings –Select self-guided and indoor tours developed in response to strong guest demand

Summer Series: The Signature Experience

At the heart of the 2026 season is the Summer Series, offering a robust lineup of free, 60 and 90-minute guided walking tours designed to engage, educate, and entertain. Tours take place throughout the week across Downtown Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods, with multiple routes offered each day.

Guests can explore iconic districts like the Playhouse Square, Ohio City, AsiaTown, and beyond—experiencing Cleveland’s architecture, cultural heritage, and stories of transformation firsthand.

New for 2026: Solo Adventurer & Slow Roll Tours

This year introduces two new monthly tour offerings within the Summer Series:

• Solo Adventurer Tours – Designed for independent explorers, these tours create a welcoming environment for guests attending on their own, with optional opportunities to connect before or after the tour
• Slow Roll Tours – Offering a more relaxed pace, these tours are thoughtfully designed for guests seeking added comfort and accessibility, while still delivering the same rich storytelling experience

Passport Program Returns to Reward Exploration

Back by popular demand, the Take a Hike Tour Passport Program continues in 2026—encouraging guests to explore more and engage deeper.

Participants can pick up a passport at any tour and collect a sticker for each experience attended. Completed passports (8 stickers) can be submitted for entry into prize drawings held twice monthly. Prizes include hotel stays, sports tickets, and local dining experiences.

Returning participants can continue adding stickers to existing passports or start a new one, with completed entries remaining eligible for drawings for one year.

Spring Series tours are now open for registration. Summer Series registration opens May 1, with tours running June through September.

For a full schedule and to register, visit TakeAHikeCLE.com.

About Take a Hike®
Take a Hike® is a program of Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation, with support from Historic Warehouse District Development Corporation. Through guided tours and public programs, it brings Cleveland’s historic neighborhoods, architecture, and cultural heritage to life—advancing the organizations’ mission to promote preservation through education, advocacy, and engagement.

By Tonya Sams of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

Today, people are facing a new and complicated set of challenges. Some are worried about where their next meal is coming from while others fear that they will not be able to pay their rent. Legal Aid, which offers free civil legal representation for those with low incomes, may be able to help you in those areas and more.

Legal Aid has been working to gain access to justice for those in our client communities since 1905.  It’s the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States. Legal Aid serves residents in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties. 

Many of those who seek legal representation from Legal Aid get positive results. In 2025, 82% of clients represented by Legal Aid found solutions to their problems and achieved their goals. Last year, Legal Aid was also able to achieve the following outcomes for our clients:

• 96% safety secured
• 79% evictions or involuntary moves prevented
• 97% assets secured
• 96% barriers to education
• 86% debt reduced

Attorneys at Legal Aid help clients who need help in several areas including: 

• Housing: foreclosure; eviction; landlord/tenant issues; utilities; public housing 
• Work: unemployment compensation; IRS tax issues; sealing criminal records; securing a valid ID or professional license 
• Money: loans (school, payday, auto, debt); public benefits (SNAP, energy assistance, cash assistance, supplemental security income); bankruptcy; estate planning 
• Family: domestic violence; divorce; custody; education 
• Health: medical bill collection; access to medical records; Medicare and Medicaid; marketplace tax credits and penalties  
  

More detailed information on these topics is available on Legal Aid’s website: lasclev.org, click “Services & Resources” then “Legal Resources”   

Legal Aid attorneys represent and advise clients and go into the community to educate residents regarding their rights and services that are available to prospective clients.  One such initiative is Legal Aid Brief Advice Clinics. Attendees receive brief advice from attorneys regarding their legal matter. These clinics are held in libraries, community centers and other trusted sites. Some are on a first-come, first-serve basis while some are by appointment only.  For a full schedule of brief advice clinics, visit lasclev.org/clinics. 

If you have quick questions regarding tenants’ rights and rental housing, call the Tenant Info Line at 440-210-4533 or 216-861-5955. For quick questions regarding employment, unemployment and student loans, call the Economic Justice Info Line at 440-210-4532 or 216-861-5899. 

Request Legal Aid’s help by calling 888-817-3777 during normal business hours or by applying online at lasclev.org/apply. When speaking with a Legal Aid intake specialist be sure to have income information and necessary documentation related to your legal issue on hand. 

To invite Legal Aid to an outreach/education event: lasclev.org/OutreachRequest

To request materials for your community group: lasclev.org/BrochureRequest

Tonya Sams is a Development & Communications Manager with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

West Park residents are invited to attend these events at Blessed Trinity Church, 14040 Puritas Ave. All are welcome.

Jan. 7, Mobile Pantry fresh food giveaway, 5:30-6:30 pm

Jan. 11, Community Meal, food and fellowship, noon-1 pm

On-going

Tuesdays, Bountiful Basement, 9:30 am-noon

Wednesdays, Bountiful Basement, 5:30-6:45 pm

Wednesdays, Tai Chi, 5:30-6:30 pm

We are providing notification of an increase in Influenza viral levels in the untreated wastewater at NEORSD Southerly WWTC. See figure below.

For SARS-CoV-2, notifications are sent when the most recent sample collected shows a 500% (250% for sites with populations greater than 100,000) increase in million gene copies per day (MGC/D) over the average of the previous month’s samples. SARS-CoV-2 notifications may also be sent after two consecutive detections above 70 MGC/D per person (a very high level) as needed. For influenza and RSV, notifications are issued upon two consecutive detections above the level of quantification (LOQ) of 13,000 gene copies per liter. Notifications are typically shared early in the respiratory season to alert the beginning of high seasonal activity. Additional notifications may be issued after a period of 45 days if viral levels are still very high and/or increasing. Summary of monitored targets in NEORSD Southerly WWTC influent:

Increasing viral concentration in wastewater is often a leading indicator of higher transmission, case counts, and hospitalizations in the community. Action steps local officials may consider include encouraging vaccination and notifying stakeholders (long-term care facilities, healthcare facilities, schools, etc.) of the increasing viral concentrations in wastewater so they can consider prevention measures they deem appropriate. Respiratory viral levels in wastewater throughout the season can be viewed on the Ohio Wastewater Monitoring Network Dashboard.

College Club West invites the community to its annual Games and Cards Afternoon on Wednesday, January 12, 2026, at noon. The event will be held at the Don Umerley Civic Center, located at 21016 Hilliard Boulevard in Rocky River.

Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite games or card decks and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of socializing, learning new games, and reconnecting with fellow members. A light lunch will be provided by the Hospitality Committee. All are welcome.

College Club West is a nonprofit organization serving women on Cleveland’s west side who hold college degrees or are registered nurses.

For more information, visit: http://www.collegeclubwest.org

Blessed Trinity Church, 14040 Puritas Ave., offers many free holiday events during December. All are welcome.

Dec. 3, 5:30-6:30 pm, Mobile Pantry fresh food giveaway.

Dec. 14, Noon-1 pm, Community meal, food & fellowship.

Dec. 24,  4-5 pm., Mass on Christmas Eve.

Dec. 25, 10-11 am, Mass on Christmas Day.

Dec. 31, 7-8:30 pm, Peace Vigil, New Year’s Eve.

Tuesdays, 9:30 am-noon, Bountiful Basement.

Wednesdays, 5-6:45 pm, Bountiful Basement.

• Dec. 6-7, Members of the Christ Child Society will distribute free religious books after all Masses, 4 pm, 9 & 11 am, for children age pre-school to junior high.

Interest earned on EasyPay accounts can help reduce the taxes property owners owe

 Marking the largest return in the program’s history, the Cuyahoga County Treasurer’s Office is returning over $400K in interest to taxpayers participating in the EasyPay program, providing a modest decrease in what they’ll owe when February tax bills arrive.  

EasyPay is a pre-payment (or escrow) program that allows taxpayers to divide payments into installments (monthly, biannual or annual). Payments are then held by the Treasurer’s Office and applied when taxes are due. When taxpayers sign up to have those payments made automatically through their banks, the Treasurer’s Office applies the interest earned on their payments to their tax bills. 

“We’re proud to continue to find innovative ways to support taxpayers,” said Cuyahoga County Treasurer Brad Cromes. “The EasyPay program helps residents stay current on their bills, avoid costly penalties, and save money while simplifying the payment process.” 

Property owners can use their property tax account number to check their earned EasyPay interest credit here.

Enrollment in EasyPay is as Easy as 1-2-3 and can be done online.

1. Choose an EasyPay option: You can choose automatic deductions through your bank (required for interest earned credit) or pre-payment coupons.
2. Pick a payment schedule: Options include monthly, twice per year (January and July), or once per year.
3. Submit an application.

Important Dates:

• Early January 2026: Physical copies of tax bills will be mailed
• February 19, 2026: Property tax bills are due. Payments must be paid online, in-person, via phone, or postmarked by this date. 

For more information about EasyPay, click here.