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Photo by Jerry Masek

A 300mm telephoto lens was used to capture rush hour at a backyard bird feeder on Fairville Avenue in West Park.

CONTENT AND PHOTO CREDIT: CITY FRESH

For 15 years, City Fresh’s mission has been to improve the resilience of our community in the face of crisis.

The swift spread of COVID-19 has us all on edge. Our reliance on global systems of rapid delivery is and will continue to be tested. Cooking at home, eating well, and getting plenty of rest is going to be more important this year than ever. We sincerely hope you are well and taking good care of yourselves.

On our end, we are exploring ways to alter our distribution model to ensure your health and safety as well as that of our volunteers, hosts, farmers, and staff. Details will be forthcoming as we approach June, but at this time, we’re sprouting seeds in the high tunnels, pruning the orchards, and planning for a busy summer ensuring everyone is able to eat local and enjoy the bounty of fresh, healthy, delicious foods.

Remember that participating in City Fresh is an excellent way to:

• ensure that you are eating your allotment of fresh veggies
• bolster access to fresh local food for all thanks to tiered pricing and participation in SNAP
• support small farmers in sustainable agriculture

We hope to see you this season.

CONTENT AND PHOTOS CREDIT OF CITY FRESH

There’s just 6 more days left in our Early Bird sale! Order your veggie shares today and you’ll enjoy 2019 prices! This sale ends March 15.

Joining City Fresh is a great way to put your money where your values are. Eat well, support small farmers, combat climate crisis, offset the effects of income inequality, and build community – all for the price of dinner!

Eating locally and seasonally is a long term strategy for social and environmental change. Seasonal foods pack intense nutrition. Sustainable growing practices support the environment, improving the quality of soil, water, and air. Vegetables are good for your body: your heart, brain, and immune system depend on powerful nutrients. Getting your fresh local foods from folks in your neighborhood who love good eating helps connect you to others. Food is at the basis of all cultural traditions. It’s collaborative. It’s a way to exchange ideas and show love.

Join us in our efforts: connect, volunteer, eat well! Get all the good things we’ve got growing this season. Tag us on social media and let your communities know that you stand up for change! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Support sustainable agriculture and access to fresh food for all!

1.) Early in the morning, VOTE! March 17 is also Ohio’s Presidential Primary. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. First the ballot, then the booze.
2.) Worship with fellow Irishmen at a 9:30 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, 4427 Rocky River Dr. at Puritas Ave. March 17 is the 172nd anniversary of the church. After Mass, attend a reception with food and fellowship in the Lower Church.
3.) At 11:30 a.m., Lolly the Trolley leaves the St. Patrick Church parking lot, to be part of the Downtown parade. You can walk in the parade or stay in the trolley. To reserve your seat and pay $15, stop at the Rectory office during regular business hours. The parade starts at 1:05 p.m. on Superior Ave., from East 18th Street to Public Square.
4.) For more flexibility, join the thousands of people who ride RTA to the parade. March 17 is usually RTA’s heaviest ridership day of the year.
5.) Leave early, and give yourself lots of time. RTA operates extra rail service all day, but you may have to wait a bit.
6.) Be sure to park legally at an RTA station at Brookpark, Puritas-W. 150, West Park and Triskett. Transit Police may ticket and tow cars that block the smooth flow of traffic.
7.) Problems finding a parking place? For updated information, listen to radio traffic reports, or follow RTA on Twitter or Facebook, or visit rideRTA.com.
8.) Dispose of open beverages before riding RTA. Transit Police will enforce regulations.
9.) Leave your bike at home. With most trains filled to capacity, RTA will not allow customers to board with their bikes.
10.) After the parade, the celebration continues at many West Park night spots, especially those at Kamm’s Corners. Be sure to park legally.

These tips should help keep your Irish eyes smiling all day.

It’s here! The #CIFF44 program line-up is now live at www.clevelandfilm.org! Look for Program Guides to hit the streets beginning March 2. Find them at Cleveland Cinemas locations, most libraries, Dollar Bank branches, and coffee houses throughout the area.

Horizon Education has announced that they have acquired in a purchase from Ohio Guidestone, two Family Life Child Care Centers (Berea and Lakewood Facilities).
Horizon Education Centers is a leader in quality early care and education, preparing children and families for life for over 40 years. Horizon is a mission driven nonprofit making sure all families have access to high-quality programs, regardless of income or where they live.
Horizon is proud to be part of Cuyahoga Counties’ top-rated program. All ten of Horizon Education Centers are rated high-quality under Ohio’s Step Up To Quality Rating System. This rating ensures that your child will experience the following: qualified teachers, proven curriculum, family engagement, developmental screenings and electronic access to your child’s individual learning.
Horizon has formed partnerships and collaborations that have flourished with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), Pre4Cle, Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK), PNC Bank, Starting Point, Art House, Music Settlement, Cleveland Public Library (CPL) and the Cleveland Food Pantry. These programs focus on Horizon’s core mission, and bring in many other organizations in a united effort for children and youth. We thank all our supporters and funders for their faith and investment in Horizon. We also appreciate the thousands of parents that choose us for their children; there is no stronger endorsement. Horizon Education Centers also has afterschool programming in two local Cleveland schools for the 2019-20 school year: Global Ambassadors Language Academy, and Louis Agassiz Elementary School.
Horizon Education Centers are open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for care and education.
For more information on any of our 10 centers, please give our Administration office a call at (440) 779-1930. Please visit our website at www.HorizonOhio.org.

SUBMITTED — The association representing city leaders throughout Cuyahoga County has endorsed the county’s Health and Human Services Levy, which will appear on March ballots as Issue 33. The vote to support the levy was unanimous.

Richard Bain, secretary of the Cuyahoga County Mayors & City Managers Association and mayor of Pepper Pike, said: “The Health and Human Services levy will provide the critical funds necessary to support vital services for our county’s kids, seniors, healthcare and family services. Supporting the levy will address the gap in funding caused by growing needs and expenses. This is an essential levy we can – and the county mayors have – all agreed upon.”

Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter encouraged residents to “please vote for Issue 33” on the March 17^th ballot.

“There’s a social obligation to help those in need but there’s also compelling economic reasons to do so,” Mayor DeGeeter said. “If we don’t invest now in the county’s wide-ranging services paid for by this levy, then we’re going to pay for it later in higher public expenses related to the court system, first responders, opioids epidemic, and much more.”

Lakewood Mayor Meghan F. George agreed, saying “I see the need for this funding every day in our city. It makes good sense to help people who are the most vulnerable. By doing so, we help elevate the economic health of our entire community.’’

 Levy leaders attribute the need for additional health and human services funding to four primary factors:

•  Protracted Poverty: One out of five Cuyahoga County residents live in poverty, which for a family of three is an annual income of $21,330 or less.

•  The Opioid Epidemic: The rate of opioid-induced deaths in the county is 2.5 times the national average. Opioid addiction among parents has caused the number of children in Cuyahoga County who are in foster care or under protective supervision to grow by nearly 70% since 2016.

•  Demographic Challenges and Needs: Several age groups of county residents—including infants, working-age adults and older adults 65-74—have mortality rates higher than the state average. In 2017, neonatal infant mortality for all children born in Cuyahoga County was worse than it was in many impoverished countries.

•  Insufficient Federal and State Support: Successive federal and state administrations have reduced their contributions to the Health and Human Services safety net.

Cuyahoga County’s Health and Human Services system provides vital lifelines for more than 400,000 residents facing critical needs.  It’s a small cost that has a huge impact, costing property owners less than $3.50 per month more (about $1 a year more) for every $100,000 in property value.  It would generate an additional $35 million in annual health and human services funding.

Brad Sellers, Mayor of Warrensville Heights said: “Issue 33 is needed to help our community’s most vulnerable through programs including care for abused and neglected children and home services so that our seniors can live independently at home. In light of recent cuts in state and federal support, we need to protect our safety net system for tens of thousands of citizens in every community in the county.”

Submitted by the Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation

It’s time to start thinking about summer jobs.
Local agencies seek young adults, ages 14 through 20, adult volunteers to help them with mock interviews, and companies that offer jobs.
It all comes together at the West Park Youth Job Jam, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., Saturday March 14, at the Gunning Recreation Center, 16700 Puritas Ave. Check-in at 9:30 a.m. Lunch is provided.
The annual event is hosted by the Bellaire Puritas Development Corporation, the lead-agency for West Park’s MyCom youth development initiative. Businesses with locations in West Park, nearby neighborhoods, or on major public transit routes, will attend to talk with applicants and take resumes and applications. A variety of positions in food service, retail, and customer service will be available.
During the morning, young adults will practice their interview skills with volunteers and learn how to make the best possible impression on potential employers.
Later, youths age 14 to 15 will practice speaking with employers and sign up for summer activities and volunteer opportunities.
Those age 16 through 20 should come “dressed to impress” with copies of their resume to talk with employers, submit applications, and potentially land a job.

Y.O.U.

    The event is co-sponsored by Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), a non-profit workforce development organization that serves persons age 14 to 24. Their Summer Youth Employment Program, open to youths age 14 to 18, provides six weeks of paid-work experience. Registration opens Feb. 1 at youthopportunities.org. Y.O.U. will be on-site at the Job Jam to help youths register and  answer questions.

Register for the Job Jam
Young adults can register today. Send your name, age, school, phone number and e-mail address to Vanessa Lange.
E: v.lange@bpdc.org
T: 216-671-2710
Adult volunteers and employers who have jobs should also contact Lange.
Read more at westparktimes.com.

CONTENT SUBMITTED

The theme is a nod to exploring new and different places, ideas, and conventions. The Festival enthusiastically challenges its audience to do this through the remarkable on-screen stories brought to Cleveland each year by exceptionally talented filmmakers from around the world. 
The theme, designed by the team at Type Twenty Seven is also a celebration of the Festival’s home in Tower City Cinemas for the last 30 years. During that time, the Festival’s growth exceeded all expectations by screening more than 7,000 films and welcoming over 1.6 million film fans.  

“See Beyond resonated with our design team as a way to showcase elements of Tower City Center that are not normally recognized,” said Brittyn DeWerth, Creative Director and Owner of Type Twenty Seven. “By looking beyond the basics, our goal was to illustrate the exquisite architectural details—revealing the beauty it holds. In addition, the choice of color allows for a visual pop of information, and subtle tone-on-tone in the background begs to be explored.” 

The Festival is once again working with Fusion Filmworks to produce the CIFF trailer, which will be released on Opening Night at Playhouse Square on Wednesday, March 25, 2020.   

The 44th Cleveland International Film Festival will be held March 25 – April 5, 2020 at Tower City Cinemas. More than 600 screenings will take place during the 12 days of the Festival, with over 400 guest filmmakers from around the world who will be on-hand for Q&As. CIFF44 program details will be available at clevelandfilm.org on Friday, February 28, with Program Guides hitting the streets the week of March 2. Tickets will go on sale to CIFF Members on Friday, March 6th and to the general public on Friday, March 13. For more information, please visit clevelandfilm.org. 

PHOTOS AND CONTENT SUBMITTED

Voting FOR Issue 33 Will Help Save Lives, Protect Children, Treat Addictions and Illnesses, and Support Seniors

CLEVELAND, JANUARY 29, 2020—Cuyahoga County’s Health and Human Services system, which provides vital lifelines for more than 400,000 residents facing critical needs, is itself in critical need of more funding, and today community leaders kicked off their campaign to pass Issue 33, the Health and Human Services Levy.
“Health and Human Services help keep people alive, healthy and functioning, and are the most critical and direct local investment that we make in each other,” said Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish. “More than one out of three Cuyahoga County residents rely on our Health and Human Services system every year, and the need for these services is growing.”
“Issue 33 is a small increase that will have a HUGE impact,” said Cuyahoga County Council President Dan Brady. “Issue 33 will help save lives, protect children, treat illnesses and addictions, and protect seniors. It is VITAL to our future.”
Voters are being asked to consider Issue 33, a replacement Health and Human Services property tax levy of 4.7 mills that will appear on the 2020 Primary Election ballot. If passed, Issue 33 would increase the current millage rate of 3.9 mills by 0.8 mill and would be effective from 2021-2028. Under Issue 33, property owners would pay an additional $41 a year for every $100,000 in property value— a little less than $3.50 per month.
Issue 33’s leaders attributed the need for additional health and human services funding to four primary factors:

• Protracted Poverty: Cleveland is now the second-poorest major city in the country, and one out of five Cuyahoga County residents live in poverty, which for a family of three is an annual income of $21,330 or less. And unlike much of the U.S., poverty in Cuyahoga County has increased since the Great Recession.
• The Opioid Epidemic: The rate of opioid-induced deaths in the county is 2.5 times the national average; in the City of Cleveland, it is five times the national average. Since 2016, opioid addiction among parents has caused the number of children in Cuyahoga County who are in foster care or under protective supervision to grow by nearly 70%—nearly 1,500 additional children.
• Demographic Challenges and Needs: Cuyahoga County is now home to more residents who are over 60 than are under 20. Several age groups of county residents—including infants, working-age adults and older adults 65-74—have mortality rates higher than the state average. In 2017, neonatal infant mortality for all children born in Cuyahoga County was worse than it was in many impoverished countries.
• Insufficient Federal and State Support: Successive federal and state administrations have reduced their contributions to the Health and Human Services safety net. Ohio’s funding for children’s services remains the lowest in the nation, even as the number of children in government custody has skyrocketed.

Five goals for Issue 33 that campaign leaders outlined included:

• Ensuring current critical HHS services continue
• Reducing infant mortality and saving babies’ lives
• Protecting thousands of children whose families have been destroyed by the opioid crisis
• Getting more people into mental health and addiction treatment
• Helping older residents stay strong, independent and in their homes

A complete list of proposed investments from Issue 33 is available at https://voteforhhs.org/.  

 The Rev. Dr. Larry Macon Sr., Pastor of the Mt. Zion Church of Oakwood Village, and President of United Pastors in Mission, called on members of faith communities throughout Cuyahoga County to support the levy.
“The Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services levy makes manifest an ancient tradition that affirms we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves,” Macon said. “HHS means certainty to provide for those in need, it means safer neighborhoods, stronger families and an abundance of joy for our children.  We must support this effort to build a more perfect community.”
Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson summed up why passing Issue 33 is so urgent.
“Diseases don’t discriminate. Traumatic injuries and economic setbacks can happen to anyone. Issue 33 is an investment in helping people bounce back from these challenges and build better lives for themselves and their families.” Jackson said.
Semanthie Brooks, long-time advocate for seniors in Cuyahoga County and throughout Ohio, said passage of the levy is very much needed.
“This levy is critical because county dollars have been impacted by cuts from both state and federal funding that supports safety net programs,’’ said Brooks. “While we are appreciative of state and federal allocated dollars, current funding does not address food insecurity among older adults age 60 and over, which is a problem because in Ohio more than 1 in 6 older adults face the threat of hunger. HHS dollars help to fight social isolation of seniors, offer support for victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation and help support older and disabled adults with homemaking services and transportation, ultimately saving millions of public dollars because it helps keep these people in their own homes.’’

Dr. Akram Boutros, CEO of the MetroHealth System, pledged to work with the Center for Community Solutions to develop metrics that will track the effectiveness of HHS expenditures. 
“We see a growing demand for numerous types of vital health and human services at MetroHealth,” Boutros said. “I’m looking forward to working with Cuyahoga County, the Center for Community Solutions, and other stakeholders to ensure investments from Issue 33 have the broadest possible impact.”