Author: West Park Times

CARTOON BY DEAN NORMAN

A lucky winner scored $65,000 playing the Rolling Cash 5 jackpot on March 7, 2024, at Brothers Grocery, located at 4050 W 140th St, Cleveland, OH 44135!

View the full list of lottery winners and see how luck is shining in Cleveland!

MEDIA RELEASE

Mike Cloud and his business partner, Justin Stahler own and operate  North Coast Design Build and enjoy success providing construction and development solutions for  commercial projects throughout the Midwest. Mike and Justin have made charitable initiatives an  important part of their business philosophy – especially at Thanksgiving. What started in 2021 as a  simple idea of delivering a turkey dinner to a family in need has grown into a much larger initiative.  

“We started four years ago by delivering just one Thanksgiving meal kit to a family in Lorain that was  supported by my neighbors’ church group,” Cloud explains. “My son, who was 5 years old at the time,  and I, went shopping and dropped it off together so he could learn firsthand about helping others in need.” 

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, other local businesses are coming together to help North  Coast Design Build make an even bigger impact. This year the group is on track to double the 2023  initiative by providing 1,000 Thanksgiving meal kits to families in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. This  significant community effort will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, feeding over 5,000 people this  Thanksgiving. “If you take a moment to stop and think about the people you know and those who you  encounter each day, you’ll discover that one never has to search for someone in need,” said Mike Cloud.  When they were planning for this year, they looked through their list of non-profit contacts and  discovered that with just seven non-profit partners, there were 1,000 families they could help this  Thanksgiving.  

Please join us for interviews on Tuesday, Nov. 26^th from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. as boxes are being packed at the  Warehouse of North Coast Design Build located at 335 Rice Industrial Parkway in Amherst, or at a  Horizon Education Centers location for distribution to Horizon families: 

Cuyahoga County: 

Horizon Education Centers Market Square 2500 West 25^th Street, Cleveland  

Horizon Education Centers Triskett Station 13850 Triskett Road, Cleveland  

Horizon Education Centers Shoreway Center 8701 Detroit Ave, Cleveland – 

Lorain County: 

Horizon Education Centers Cascade Center 233 Bond Street, Elyria  

Horizon Education Centers Elyria Center 10347 Dewhurst Road, Elyria  

Horizon Education Centers South Elyria 109 Louden Court, Elyria  

Horizon Education Centers South Lorain Center 4911 Grove Ave, Lorain  

Those interested in volunteering or participating financially or for more information or to arrange an  interview, please contact: Renee Theriot-Shells at 440-779-1930 or rshells-theriot@horizonohio.org 

PHOTO CREDIT: Renee Shells-Theriot

CAPTION: Justin Stahler and Mike Cloud owners of North Coast Design Build Company will  share their success with 1,000 struggling families this Thanksgiving.

Reminder: District Policing Committee Meeting

Date: Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Location: St. Ignatius of Antioch Cafeteria, 10205 Lorain Ave.

By Tonya Sams with Legal Aid

Civil rights icon, activist and author Ruby Bridges will be the featured keynote speaker at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s 119^th Annual Meeting on Nov. 25.  The afternoon program and reception will be held at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown at 2 p.m.  

Ms. Bridges will be delivering her keynote remarks via a conversation with award-winning American broadcast journalist and Legal Aid supporter, Lori Stokes. Ms. Bridges will also receive Legal Aid’s highest honor, the Louis Stokes Paragon Award.  

This year’s theme is centered around the words of Legal Aid’s 2011 annual meeting keynote speaker, the late Congressman John Lewis: “Freedom is not a state; it is an act. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take…to create an even more fair, more just society.”

Legal Aid will also honor some of the many staff members that make an impact on its client community.

Staff honorees are:

Maria Smith – C. Lyonel Jones Lifetime Achievement Award

Katherine Hollingsworth, Leadership Award

Kimberly Barnett-Mills – Claude E. Clarke Award

Julia Lauritzen – Claude E. Clarke Award

Olivia Pollack – Claude E. Clarke Award

Anna Seballos – Claude E. Clarke Award

Legal Aid depends upon the many volunteers that help provide free, high quality legal services to those with low incomes through its Volunteers Lawyers Program. About 20% of people each year that are helped by Legal Aid are assisted by a pro bono attorney.

This year’s volunteer award recipients are:

David Kutik – Legacy of Justice Award

Lynn Rowe Larsen – Access to Justice Award

Daniel Leizerman – Access to Justice Award

Delores Gray – Community Impact Award

Judge Terri Stupica – Community Impact Award

For information on Legal Aid’s 119^th Annual Meeting, go to:

lasclev.org/legalaid119annualmeeting and lasclev.org/2024event

Founded in 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States. Serving residents of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties, Legal Aid staff and volunteers secure justice, equity, and access to opportunity for and with people who have low incomes through passionate legal representation and advocacy for systemic change. In 2023, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland handled more than 9,000 cases, helping more than 24,000 people.

Do you need assistance with a legal civil matter? Legal Aid may be able to help. Call 888-817-3777 or visit lasclev.org/contact for more information.  

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

PRESS RELEASE

In a new report, Policy Matters explains state funding for Ohio’s 27 urban and 38 rural public transit systems. The report compares funding streams for Ohio’s public transportation systems to that of four similar states (Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Illinois), all of which invest significantly more state resources in their systems, with significant benefits for riders, whether they use public transit based on necessity or personal preference.

“After decades of underinvestment, the state legislature has a responsibility to do better by the people who depend on public transit in Ohio — and those who would like to use it, if only they could access the safe, reliable services we deserve,” said report co-author, Policy Matters researcher Molly Bryden.

“More funding from the state wouldn’t just make for better transit service,” said Bryden. “It would lead to lower emissions from personal vehicles, mitigating some of the disproportionate health impacts that are among the many legacies of racial redlining — as are disproportionate transportation burdens, which reliable public transit would also alleviate.”

The report’s recommendations include a renewed commitment to ODOT’s 2015 goal of funding 10% of statewide public transit spending with state budget appropriations by next year. (As of 2022, the most recent data available, that figure stood at just 4%.)

“Ohio has the resources to meet that commitment,” Bryden said. “For example, the legislature can generate billions by closing some of the state’s poorly targeted tax breaks that primarily benefit the wealthiest Ohioans and cost the state more than $11 billion each year in FY 2024-25.”

The report, co-authored with Policy Matters interns Lila Wright and Joseph Liang, lays the groundwork for advocates to advance transportation funding priorities in next year’s state budget negotiations. “Only a small fraction of ODOT’s budget goes to public transportation,” Bryden said. “There’s so much room to grow our transit systems — if state legislators choose to do their part.”

CONTENT SUBMITTED

By Tonya Sams

Most consumers know that credit scores and bankruptcies can impact their financial well-being but don’t understand how. Credit scores can determine whether someone can get a loan and if their interest rates will be low or exponentially high.  There are things that consumers should be aware of to keep their finances stable. 

One area that causes confusion for consumers is how to dispute discrepancies on their credit report.

“You can write a letter to the three credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion- that includes documentation to show the bureaus that their reports are incorrect,” said Matt Alden, a Senior Attorney in the Economic Justice Group at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. “The credit bureaus would then have 30 days to investigate the inquiry and write a response to the consumer stating that they will delete, keep, or change the error on the report. If the credit bureaus will not change the incorrect information, the consumer can hire an attorney and respond to the bureaus according to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.”

Credit pulls can also impact your credit score.  Hard pulls are made when you want to borrow money from a lender for car and home loans or when applying for new credit cards. Too many hard pulls can decrease your credit score. Soft pulls are made when a company pulls your credit to verify your name, address, work history, payment history, if you filed for bankruptcy and more.  Some soft pulls are made without the consumer’s permission. An example of this is when you receive mail from auto and home insurance, credit card and loan companies.  These companies have already pulled your credit to determine that you pre-qualify for their offers. Soft pulls don’t affect your credit score.  

Another area that consumers struggle with is bankruptcy.

“You should file for bankruptcy if your wages are about to be garnished, you’re facing repossession or foreclosure, or you can no longer afford to make the payment,” said Matt.  “You should also file if you have more than $10,000 of unsecured debt that you can’t realistically pay off, facing an IRS collection or if the Department of Education is coming after you for student loans.”

One myth about bankruptcies is that it will ruin someone’s credit forever.  

“Bankruptcy does not kill credit because your credit is already tanked. Not making the payments is not going to make your situation any worse,” Matt said.  “Most people still have an income, and they can get secured credit cards.  Most secured credit cards require at least $300 on them and must be paid in full.  You can use it to buy groceries, gas, and car repairs.  They can help to reestablish credit.”

If you have brief questions about money issues including debt and bankruptcies call the Legal Aid Economic Justice Info Line at 216-861-5899.  Need further assistance? Legal Aid may be able to help! To apply for assistance, call 888-817-3777, or complete an online intake 24/7 at lasclev.org.  

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

West Park is gearing up for an exhilarating St. Patrick’s Day celebration, filled with music, food, and Irish cultural festivities.

Here’s what’s happening around the neighborhood.

5 Points Coffee & Tea Music & Food

At 5 Points Coffee and Tea, immerse yourself in a cultural musical experience with Andy McManus , a talented artist with a rich background in music. Having been part of the South Ulster Youth Orchestra and performed in various venues across Ireland and England, Andrew brings his solo acoustic talents to Cleveland. Join this event to enjoy a blend of traditional and contemporary tunes that resonate with St. Patrick’s Day’s spirit. They’re also currently serving a corned beef sandwich wrapped in a pastry made in-house.

• Date & Time: March 17 from 10 a.m. until noon.
• Location: 5 Points Coffee and Tea, 3600 W. Park Rd.

P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub Celebrations

P.J. McIntyre’s Irish Pub is your St. Patrick’s Day headquarters with a lineup of events leading up to and including the big day. Enjoy the Green Mile Bar Crawl, musical performances by Crawley & Sofranko, and the vibrant atmosphere of St. Practice Day with Half Craic’d. On St. Patrick’s Day, the doors open early with music, Irish dancers, and bagpipers to entertain you throughout the day.

• Green Mile Bar Crawl: March 9th, 2 to 6 p.m.
• Crawley & Sofranko: March 14th
• St. Practice Day: March 16th
• St. Patrick’s Day: Doors open at 7 a.m., music by Marys Lane at 2pm
• Location: P.J. McIntyre’s 17119 Lorain Ave.

The Survivor’s Party at Public House

With Matt Szucs and Rod Torres at Public House, The Survivor’s Party promises great Irish food and sing-alongs to Irish songs. This event is a perfect wrap-up to the St. Patrick’s festivities, inviting everyone to relish in the communal joy and cultural heritage.

• Date & Time: March 18 from 4 to 7 p.m.
• Location: Public House, Cleveland, OH. Contact the venue for the exact address.

West Park Station’s 7th Annual Green Mile Crawl

Join the largest St. Patrick’s themed bar crawl in Cleveland at West Park Station. With hundreds of participants each year, enjoy exclusive drink specials, live music, and the energetic performances of the Westside Irish American Pipe band. Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of this organized and fun crawl that brings the community together.

• Registration Party: March 9, Saturday noon to 2 p.m. at West Park Station
• After Party: March 9th, Saturday 6 to 8 p.m. at West Park Station
• Location: 17015 Lorain Ave.

Each of these events encapsulates the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, offering a mix of cultural appreciation, entertainment, and community engagement. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional Irish music experience, looking to partake in a lively bar crawl, or just want to enjoy good food and company, West Park has something for everyone this St. Patrick’s Day.

Dozens of residents gathered this evening at West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development Building (17407 Lorain Ave.) to discuss plans for Fairview Hospital to demolish a number of properties on W. 179 St. 

According to Executive Director of Buildings and Properties at Cleveland Clinic Pat Rios, the first step was securing the properties and they are now looking to plan the demolition, which is expected to begin on Jan. 22. First, Rios says a six-foot-perimeter fence will be put up around the site, followed by securing the site. Demolition is expected to happen within 2 to 3 weeks following this, Rios says. For the next 3 to 6 months, officials will be reviewing options for the building layout.

There are additional upcoming quarterly meetings scheduled for April 10, July 10, and Oct. 9. Those who would like more information on the project or who might have questions are encouraged to attend. 

Background on the Project 

“…The reason this is all taking place is we have three buildings at Fairview Hospital there at end of life,” says the President of Fairview Hospital Dr. Neil Smith. “We have a seven-story parking garage that’s end of life; we have a medical office building that’s attached to the parking garage, that also has to come down when the medical office building comes down, and then across the street on what we call the north campus is our Moll Center which is also end of life. And this is a replacement project to replace these three structures and we’re going to need a little bit bigger footprint than we actually have right now…”