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The City of Cleveland Department of Public Works has extended the hours of several recreation centers to serve as cooling centers for Cleveland residents that are seeking shelter during these next few days of 90 degree plus temperatures. These sites operational hours will be from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Normally scheduled recreation programming will continue however each site will have areas in the facility where people can relax and cool off.  

Dates of service are:  

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 

Wednesday, June 15, 2022 

Thursday, June 16, 2022  

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Each date) 

The sites include:  
 

Zelma George Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 3155 Martin L. King Blvd. 

Collinwood Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 16300 Lakeshore Blvd.  

Halloran Skating Rink: 3550 W. 117^th  

Kovacic Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6250 St. Clair Ave.  

Michael Zone Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 6301 Lorain Ave.  

Sterling Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 1380 E. 32^nd Street  

Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 15401 Miles Ave.  

Glenville Neighborhood Resource & Recreation Center: 680 E. 113^th

By Tonya Sams

When housing conditions are endangering your family, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by worry and fear.

One common problem is the presence of lead in older homes. Most homes built prior to 1978 used paint that contained lead. 

Children exposed to lead poisoning may suffer from learning and behavioral issues and may have trouble paying attention. 

If you are a homeowner concerned about lead, learn about assistance programs by contacting your  public health department. 

If you are a renter and your rental property was built before 1978, contact your landlord to find out if they have ever conducted a lead check. If you notice peeling paint or large areas of bare dirt near your home, or if your child has tested positive for lead poisoning, send a dated letter to your landlord requesting repairs. Keep a copy of that letter for yourself. 

If your landlord has not made the repairs within 30 days, you can file a request in housing court to order the landlord to do so as soon as possible. Another option is “rent deposit” or “rent escrow”. You cannot legally withhold rent because repairs have not been completed, but rent escrow is a way to put financial pressure on your landlord. This process allows you to pay your rent to the court and protects you from eviction.

To use the rent deposit option, you have to be current on your rent. A landlord cannot retaliate against you (for example, by evicting you) if you have properly deposited your rent payments with the court. One important thing to note is that you could lose the right to sue your landlord for damages caused by lead poisoning if you use rent deposit. 

Once you start to deposit your rent in court, you may continue to do so until an agreement is made between you, your landlord, and the court about when and how the funds can be released. Landlords can request the funds be released to them if their tenant did not tell them repairs were needed OR if the landlord was not given enough time to complete the repairs. 

Once the landlord files an application to release the funds, the application becomes a complaint, which starts the process of a civil lawsuit against the tenant. The landlord is required to send a copy of the complaint to the tenant.

If a civil lawsuit has been filed against you, you can file an “answer and counterclaim” against the landlord. An “answer and counterclaim” is your response to the landlord’s civil lawsuit. You have 28 days after the landlord filed the complaint to respond. 

Within 60 days of the initial filing of the landlord’s civil lawsuit, both parties must appear in court for trial. The court will then decide what happens to the funds. 

More information is available in Legal Aid’s “Lead Poisoning: Know Your Rights, Remedies & Resources” and “How to Rent Deposit when Housing Conditions are a Problems” brochures at www.lasclev.org: go to the “Get Help” tab, then click on “Legal Information and Resources.” From here, click on “Housing” and then “Repairs.”

Legal Aid may be able to help you if you are facing unsafe housing conditions or have questions about rent deposit. Call 888-817-3777 or visit lasclev.org/contact for more information.

Tonya Sams is the Development and Communications Assistant at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

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Along with provided a full range of primary care services for women of all ages and stages of life from adolescence through menopause, the certified nurse midwives of Neighborhood Family Practice have been focusing some of their efforts on improving the breastfeeding rates among their patients, with added focus on minority patients.

 

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of babies born in the U.S. for whom breastfeeding was initiated in 2019 was just over 80%. It was 73.5% in Black women, and even lower in Black women in Ohio, at 68.8%,” says Lauren Lasko, APRN, CNP, IBCLC, an NFP nurse who is also a certified lactation consultant. “At NFP, our breastfeeding initiation rate – meaning a newborn is put to the breast within one hour of birth – among Black patients in 2021 was 92%.”

 

Lauren works with the NFP midwives to promote breastfeeding by educating expectant and new parents about its benefits which include reduced risk of things like asthma, obesity and Type 1 diabetes in babies and reduced risk of high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and different cancers in mothers. Lasko also helps with issues like milk supply, sore nipples and breastfeeding positions.

 

“We want the best for our all of our patients, and with the proven benefits of breastfeeding, one of our goals has been to increase the number of them who attempt to breastfeed their baby,” says Katy Maistros, APRN, CNM, NFP’s associate medical director of midwifery services. “Because the number of Black mothers who initiate breastfeeding is even lower in Ohio and nationally, we’ve focused even more effort on them. While there is still much work to be done to support our patients in this area, the results we’ve achieved are remarkable and are giving us added incentive to keep doing what we’re doing.”

 

About Neighborhood Family Practice

 

Founded in 1980 in response to a concern that residents of Cleveland’s near west side lacked access to primary health care, Neighborhood Family Practice focuses on providing high quality primary care in the patient’s neighborhood setting. Today, its seven public-transit friendly locations offer same-day appointments to a service area that spans twelve neighborhoods across Cleveland’s west side and Lakewood.  Neighborhood Family Practice serves a highly diverse mix of residents with a mission of partnering with the community for everyone’s best health. Accredited by The Joint Commission and designated as a Primary Care Medical Home, Neighborhood Family Practice provides primary care, women’s health and midwifery services, behavioral health, pharmacy, dental and case management appointments to more than 22,000 patients at its combined locations. For more information, visit nfpmedcenter.org.

 

About OCHIN

 

OCHIN’s HCCN is a growing learning health system of 96 community health centers serving more than 5 million patients across 12 states. Participating health centers benefit from OCHIN’s years of health IT expertise through customized training and technical assistance to optimize clinical care, operations, financial stability, and workforce satisfaction. Together, OCHIN’s HCCN works to advance health equity so that all people have access to quality affordable health care.

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Grassroots coalition PB CLE (Participatory Budgeting Cleveland)l hosted an interactive event, “PB In Action,” at ThirdSpace Action Lab in Glenville (1464 E 105th St, Cleveland, OH 44106) on Sunday, May 15 at 2:30 p.m.

It was held to share the latest from its campaign, demonstrate the steps of the PB process, and encourage residents to take action towards winning the support we need from City Hall. 

PB CLE is a group of Cleveland residents and grassroots coalitions that have asked the City of Cleveland to incorporate residents’ voices, visions, and decisions in determining how to spend $30.8 million of the city’s $512 million in American Rescue Plan funds through participatory budgeting. That number represents the percentage of Cleveland residents living in poverty – the residents PB CLE believes need to be fully centered for a just recovery. 

The coalition consists of more than 300 people living in Cleveland and is endorsed by more than 60 local organizations and coalitions. PB CLE is actively working to win a people’s budget in Cleveland by building a strong coalition of support on City Council, within the Bibb administration, and across Cleveland through education and engagement events to center the voices of everyday people, especially under-recognized voices in spending decisions at the local level. PB CLE believes that Cleveland residents are the experts in what they need.

Cleveland will receive the second half of the ARPA money in May; now is the moment for PB CLE supporters to make their voices heard, as city officials are making decisions about the funding allocation.

A list of organizations and coalitions endorsing PB CLE can be found here, and past earned media can be found at www.pbcle.com/media.

Kamm’s Corners Ice Cream Co. in Kamm’s Plaza, 3764 Rocky River Dr., will be re-opening for the season this weekend. 

They officially open on Friday, April 29, and the shop’s hours will be from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m., Friday through Sunday. 

“We will extend our hours and days as the warmer weather and summer approaches,” says owner Lisa Kay. “We are super excited to see everyone back at the shop!”

Keep an eye on their social media for daily updates and the new summer ice cream flavors! 

“We have a few great ideas up our sleeves,” says Kay.

Kamm’s Corners Ice Cream Co. opened in the summer of 2017.

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OHIO811 Enhances the Safety of 11.8 Million Ohioans and 
Protects State’s Critical Underground Utilities

With Spring’s warmer weather, homeowners and contractors across Ohio are anxious to begin their outdoor improvement projects. Once again, April has been designated “National Safe Digging Month,” providing an opportunity to promote safe digging practices and the mandatory contacting of OHIO811, a minimum of 48 hours prior to commencing any excavation activities. Governor Mike DeWine has also issued a proclamation for the State of Ohio (attached). 

“Statistics show that every six minutes across the nation, an underground utility line is damaged because someone decides to dig without first contacting their state’s 811 notification center,” said Roger Lipscomb, Executive Director of OHIO811. “Having the location of gas lines, electric facilities, fiber optic telecommunications cables, water and sewer infrastructure marked before you dig will help avoid unnecessary risks of serious injury, property damage, and costly utility repairs. Supported by our utility and excavation industry membership, OHIO811 is available by calling 8-1-1 or using our online utility locate request process at www.OHIO811.org.”

According to a national survey by the Common Ground Alliance, some of the most popular planned outdoor projects cited among surveyed homeowners include: planting a tree or shrub, building a patio or deck, building a fence or installing a mailbox. Unfortunately, 42% of those homeowners surveyed, more than 50 million Americans, stated that they were unlikely to call 8-1-1 beforehand and by doing so, are placing themselves and their communities at grave risk. Knowing where gas, electric and other utilities cross your property will help protect your life, your property and your wallet. Please take just a few minutes to call 8-1-1 or visit www.OHIO811.org to start the safe excavation process.

Here are the main things to remember if you plan to dig:

1.     Plan your outdoor digging projects in advance.

2.     Ohio law requires that you call 8-1-1 or go online to OHIO811.org at least 48 hours and no more than ten days before you plan to dig. The call and online services are free. Providing an accurate address, general location and details of your project provides member utility companies with the information they need to mark their underground infrastructure.

3.     Once your property has been marked with flags and / or colored paint, make sure to dig with extra care in and around the utility markings to prevent potentially harmful and costly utility damages from occurring.

4.     Be cautious when you are removing soil. Utility lines can be damaged by shovels just as easily as with powered equipment. Where practical, use hand tools while digging within 18 inches of the outer edge of the underground utility line markings.

5.     Pay close attention for any signs of a natural gas leak. If you smell something similar to rotten eggs, or hear hissing, whistling, or roaring, immediately, leave the area and call 9-1-1.  Take the same action if you see sparking or hear crackling or otherwise think you may have damaged an electric line.

6.     If you accidentally damage any utility lines, call 8-1-1 along with any other appropriate entities.

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The health fair is free and will be held on April 28 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at three of MetroHealth’s locations: Main Campus Outpatient Pavilion, Cleveland Heights Health Center and Broadway Health Center.

The Minority Men’s Health Fair, a long-standing event for health screenings and education, is making its new home at The MetroHealth System in spring 2022. 

Dr. Charles Modlin created the free health fair more than 17 years ago to address disproportionate disease rates in African American men. Research clearly shows fatality rates decrease with early detection of preventable diseases.  

“Early detection and prevention of many of these conditions will translate into saving and improving the quality of life for those most commonly burdened by health disparities,” said Dr. Modlin, founder and director of the Minority Men’s Health Fair.

“Our goal at MetroHealth is to not simply engage minority populations to attend the health fair; rather, our goal is to provide them and their families ongoing facilitated access to quality and culturally competent health care because minorities represent those groups most commonly afflicted and burdened by a multitude of health disparities.” 

This year’s fair will offer education and health screenings on topics prevalent in minorities like prostate cancer, diabetes, kidney, heart disease and vascular disease, high blood pressure, skin cancer, mental health concerns, lung and colorectal cancer, hepatitis, vitamin D deficiency, stroke and many other conditions. 

The fair started from humble beginnings but overall, more than 16,000 men have attended and received knowledge to better care for themselves and their loved ones.

This year, MetroHealth will have physicians and specialists available to answer questions, and attendees will be able to take advantage of more than 30 different free screenings. 

The health fair is free and will be held on April 28 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at three of MetroHealth’s locations: Main Campus Outpatient Pavilion, Cleveland Heights Health Center and Broadway Health Center.

Reservations are not required, but online registration is strongly encouraged. 

Though the health fair is geared toward men and minority health concerns, MetroHealth welcomes anyone to attend. For more information, please visit wwww.metrohealth.org/mmhf.

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Lack of access to technology emerging as top concern; high schoolers remain concerned about rising higher education costs

After two uncertain and often stressful years, high school students are worried about their financial futures, prompting more than half (54%) of teens to say they feel unprepared to finance their futures according to new research from Junior Achievement and Citizens. The findings of the fifth annual JA Teens & Personal Finance Survey indicate wide-ranging concern among teens regarding financial anxiety and the future, highlighting the need for additional resources to assist them in making financial decisions that impact them over the long term. 

• More than two-thirds of teens (69%) say that rising education costs have affected their plans for additional education after high school.  

• While nearly a third of teens (31%) don’t expect their plans to be impacted, almost as many (28%) say they are now only considering in-state schools, while around a fifth (22%) plan to live at home and commute to college, and one-in-ten (10%) are considering getting a two-year degree versus a four-year degree.

 “Empowering students and families financially can help them for the rest of their lives,” said Peter Camilleri, Retail District Branch Manager, Ohio, Citizens. “In order to ease uncertainly  and ensure that teens have the confidence to make sound financial decisions, it’s critical to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need through increasing access to educational resources and providing hands-on training.” Teens said some of these concerns could be addressed with a better understanding of how student loans work (39%), knowing how education ties to jobs (38%), or having access to lower-cost alternatives (32%). A significant portion of respondents (41%) said they have had no financial literacy classes in school, further highlighting the need for educational resources that would address these concerns.  

The digital divide became even more apparent at the outset of the pandemic, exacerbating digital literacy and technology equipment gaps. Of those teens planning to pursue a four-year degree, two-thirds (66%) expressed some level of concern about having the technology needed to complete a degree. Factors that contribute to this concern include the cost of devices (52%) and poor Wi-Fi access/connectivity (28%). This lack of access becomes an inhibitor to young people to learn, work and even go to college.  “Based on the survey results, it appears the rising cost of higher education is having an impact on the way teens plan to pursue higher education,” said Joe Faulhaber, President of Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland.

“The data also suggest teens find it important to develop a deeper understanding of how to finance higher education through student loans.That’s why Junior Achievement works with partners like Citizens to provide this type of information through our learning experiences for middle and high school students.”

Cecil Fidram says college costs are prohibitive, so the Austintown Fitch High School junior is thinking of staying at home and commuting to Youngstown State University. While he has spoken with his parents a lot about finances, he doesn’t think all of his classmates are financially prepared for the future.  “My advice to people who are worried about finances is to look at your goal of going to college,’’ said Cecil. “Think about what you want to do. Maybe you could consider going to a trade school or getting a two-year degree.’’ Both Junior Achievement and Citizens have prioritized the issue in their community outreach work and remain committed to supporting underserved communities through technology, education, and digital literacy initiatives to ensure that all have an opportunity to be part of the workforce of the future. Citizens’ commitment to financial literacy has included partnering with Junior Achievement to support the implementation of financial literacy programs in communities where Citizens has a presence. Citizens also helped Junior Achievement enhance different implementation models, such as virtual volunteering and remote learning, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Additional interesting findings from the survey include:

• 62 percent of teens use mobile or online applications to assist with money management, compared to 48 percent from a similar survey in 2019.
• 38 percent of teens say cash is still their preferred payment method, compared to 2 percent who prefer apps.
• 57 percent of teens say their parents use cash when giving them money, down from 71 percent in 2019, while 20 percent say their parents use apps, compared to 9 percent in 2019.
• There has been a decline in the use of traditional financial tools by teens, specifically debit cards (59% today vs. 62% in 2019), credit cards (24% today vs. 30% in 2019), and checkbooks (9% today vs. 18% in 2019), over the same period.

 More information and an executive summary of the survey are available at this link. 

Today the City of Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability announced the lineup of events and activities to celebrate Earth Month throughout April. The city will host and participate in several in-person and virtual events that focus on the urgent need for sustainability, environmental justice, and climate solutions by highlighting the local organizations, businesses, artists, and initiatives that support the acceleration of climate progress in our region. 

“The City of Cleveland is committed to advancing climate action in our community,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “I encourage all of our residents to take part in the activities and resources available not only throughout the month of April, but year-round.” 

The city celebrates the environmental successes over the past year, including the launch of the Circular Cleveland initiative, a comprehensive plan to transition Cleveland to a more sustainable economy, The Cleveland Tree Plan Equity Focused-Approach and Cleveland’s Clean and Equitable Energy Future that provides pathways to achieving 100% clean and renewable energy while generating millions of dollars in public benefits, green jobs, and reducing energy burden for residents. 
 

On a regional level, Mayor Bibb recently joined The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative–a binational coalition of 128 U.S. and Canadian mayors and local officials working to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. Adding Cleveland to the membership means that the large cities in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Basin are all active members of the organization.   

In conjunction, the City of Cleveland and partners (Sustainable Cleveland & Cleveland Water) are participating in the 2022 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation from April 1-30. The challenge is to promote the development of positive water conservation behavior in our residents. Clevelanders are encouraged to challenge themselves by making water-friendly lifestyle changes for a chance to win prizes including $3,000 towards household utility bills.  

Learn more at SustainableCleveland.org/Earth Month 

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Mayor Justin M. Bibb has appointed Delanté Spencer Thomas, Esq. as the City’s Chief Ethics Officer and Assistant Director of Law, Tyson T. Mitchell, JD/LL.M as Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) and Karen Dettmer as Senior Strategist for Lead.  

As the City’s first-ever Chief Ethics Officer, Delanté Spencer Thomas will be responsible for actively promoting and maintaining a strong culture of ethics awareness and compliance within the Executive Branch of city government and will serve as chief ethics advisor to the Mayor and the Law Director.  

He will also guide all employees and members of boards and commissions that report to the Mayor on ethics and conflicts of interest, serve as the liaison between the City and the Ohio Ethics Commission and develop and proactively train elected City officials and City employees on compliance with ethics laws and ethical conduct. 

“I welcome the appointment of the city’s first Chief Ethics Officer,” said Mayor Justin M. Bibb. “This role is key to advancing our mission of a modern, responsive and transparent City Hall. Delanté’s leadership and expertise will help us make sure we are working at the highest standards of accountability and integrity.”  

The City’s new OEO Director, Tyson Mitchell, is responsible for administering, monitoring, and enforcing overall contract compliance goals and requirements and serves as an advocate for business inclusion and resident employment within the community. Reporting to the Mayor and the Chief Legal Officer, Tyson will develop and implement programs that increase opportunities for equity and inclusion in City contracting and providing wealth-building opportunities to residents. 

As the new Senior Strategist for the Lead Safe Program, Karen Dettmer will work with city departments, external partners, and community members to prevent lead exposure and address the impact of such exposure with a particular focus on children, including programming, services, and investments related to primary prevention and early intervention of lead exposure. Karen has an interdepartmental purview and will convene and coordinate leadership from departments of Building and Housing, Public Health, Community Development, and other entities and personnel within the City on matters related to lead exposure. 

“We continue to focus on filling key positions to reimagine how city hall operates, break down silos and better connect departments,” Mayor Bibb said. “We have great new talent in both Tyson and Karen and I am looking forward to working with them toward our vision for a more equitable and healthier Cleveland.” 

By Tonya Sams 

Once someone has been incarcerated and paid their debt to society, they should not be repeatedly punished for their past actions. Unfortunately, many reentrants feel as if they are still being punished because they lack access to the medical care that they received for chronic illnesses while they were incarcerated. 

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s Health Equity for Reentering Ohioans (HERO) project is addressing this issue and analyzing how systemic racism within the criminal justice system plays a role.

“Reentrants feel like this is a part of their never- ending sentence; they can’t find homes, jobs or healthcare,” says Jennifer Kinsley Smith, Senior Attorney for Health & Opportunity at Legal Aid and the HERO project manager. Correctional facilities are supposed to provide reentrants information about accessing a number of critical resources, including healthcare, to prepare them for life outside of prison.

For example, Ohio policy states that Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction facilities are required to educate Medicaid-eligible inmates on how to connect with Medicaid benefits and programming prior to release (either for first-time coverage or to reinstate suspended benefits). Unfortunately, Jennifer says, many reentrants are not being provided access to this programming. Additionally, many Medicare-eligible individuals miss deadlines to receive these benefits because correctional facilities do not provide the necessary information and/or the internet or telephone access necessary to complete the application process. Furthermore, when some reentrants who have chronic illnesses leave prison, they are also leaving behind steady medical care – and they cannot afford to pay the large premiums or penalties for missing enrollment windows. 

State guidelines require that facilities work with Medicaid to teach inmates about pre-enrollment, and help those scheduled for imminent release choose their managed care plan. Facilities are required to establish a plan for reentrants with chronic illnesses to continue to manage their healthcare upon release. This plan should be created by their managed care plan. 

“Even with all of these guidelines in place, what we’re seeing in the community – people who come to legal aid or local hospitals – what we’re seeing is that the health care needs of reentrants are regularly not being met,” Jennifer says.

With no access to healthcare, jobs, or transportation established prior to release, many reentrants have struggled to successfully return to the community. According to a 2007 article in The New England Journal of Medicine, during the two weeks following release from prison, the mortality rate among released prisoners is 12.7 times the rate of the general population. 

Legal Aid’s HERO project (a collaborative effort among attorneys, doctors, and researchers) hopes to encourage a post-release health care option in Northeast Ohio modeled after the program created in Franklin County. Franklin County partnered with community organizations to create a safety net for reentrants. Immediately upon release, reentrants are provided with information and brochures to help guide them towards a true fresh start. They can apply for Medicaid, set up appointments, and get referrals to organizations that provide comprehensive supports for reentrants. They also receive bus passes to help them get to medical appointments, fill medical prescriptions, and go to job interviews. 

If you are a reentrant and want to know more about your health care rights, please call Jennifer at 216-861-5443.

To apply for free legal assistance, call Legal Aid at 216-687-1900 or visit www.lasclev.org.

Tonya Sams is the Development and Communications Assistant at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

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The City of Cleveland has launched a targeted campaign in partnership with Enterprise Community Partners and The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition to help eligible residents claim the expanded 2021 Child Tax Credit.  

The expanded Child Tax Credit provides $3,600 for each eligible child 5 and under and $3,000 per child aged 6-17. Individuals and families who earn less than $58,000 are eligible to receive free tax preparation services and support filing through the EITC Coalition. 

Families who filed 2019 or 2020 tax returns (or non-filers who received IRS stimulus payments) receive this credit automatically, but recent data suggests there are approximately 3,450 eligible families in Cleveland that may not be receiving this benefit. This could translate to approximately $13 million in tax credits going directly to the families who need it most.    

“There are millions of dollars on the table for families and children in Cleveland and it’s our job as a City to highlight what resources are available to residents. We’re launching a targeted campaign and outreach to make sure residents claim their benefits, giving low-income families a cash boost at tax time,” Mayor Justin M. Bibb said. “It helped my family growing up with household expenses and unexpected costs. It won’t end poverty overnight, but it can make a difference.”  

  

As the poorest big city in America, with more than half the city’s children living in poverty, the City of Cleveland is committed to assisting residents to claim the Child Tax Credit to get the support they deserve.   

“These tax credits help families establish greater financial stability, offset high housing costs, pay for medical care and help fund education,” said Ayonna Blue Donald, vice president, Ohio market for Enterprise Community Partners. “Families can use these dollars however they are most needed, and we are pleased to partner with the City of Cleveland to get the word out about the credits and the services we provide throughout Cuyahoga County.” 

Eligible residents are encouraged to make an appointment for free tax preparation services or get help claiming the Child Tax Credit at refundohio.org or by calling 211 and dialing 2 for information on free tax preparation. Services are available at 14 tax sites located throughout Cuyahoga County through April 18, 2022. 

  

Mayor Bibb is encouraging residents to consider if they are eligible to claim the Child Tax Credit and make an appointment at the nearest tax site today. 

About the Child Tax Credit:  

Part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the expanded Child Tax Credit has already provided payments to the families of over 61 million children. The credit amount for children 5 and under is $3,600 per child and fully refundable (previously $2,000 per child / $1,400 refundable). The expanded credit also increases the age for a qualifying child to 17 and no income is needed to qualify. Those not required to file taxes may register with the IRS to receive payment. Additionally, the Earned Income Tax Credit has also expanded for the 2021 tax year and will reach as many as 17 million more workers this year.  

About The Cuyahoga EITC Coalition: 

Formed in 2005, and with ongoing support from Cuyahoga County and other funders, the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition is part of the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. With hundreds of volunteers and in partnership with many community-based organizations, the Coalition has been helping hardworking families and individuals in Cuyahoga County make use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC) and other asset-building programs. The EITC is the largest, most effective anti-poverty program in the country designed to supplement the income of people who are struggling to make ends meet. Individuals or families earning less than $58,000 a year qualify for free tax preparation. Translation services are available in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and American Sign Language. Learn more at refundohio.org. 

By Jerry Masek

Ukraine is more than 3,700 miles from West Park, but for Jonathan Hejnal, it’s as close as his computer.   

Hejnal, a third-generation American who lived in Ukraine for about a year (2018-19), has not slept much since the Russian invasion began.

He wakes up 3-4 times each night to check various Internet news sites and social media, to see if his cousins and “very close” friends are still safe.

He shares news quickly with his family. He returned to that nation in July 2021 for a visit.   

So far, his friends and relatives are safe, but that could change quickly. They have moved to safer areas in Western Ukraine, or into Poland, but they are all working to support the resistance.   

One cousin helps direct and care for refugees in Poland, and two others work to keep Ukrainian fighters supplied with essentials. Many male friends have stayed and are fighting.

One friend has gone from dancing to learning how to shoot a gun   

TV news reports “are incredibly hard to watch,” Hejnal said. “But I have to. It’s on my mind 24/7.”    

“What Russia is doing is absolutely horrendous. They are demolishing the country, and raping and erasing the Ukrainian culture. There is no rhyme or reason to where they are bombing, or how they are bombing. The US has not done enough to help them.”    

On the other hand, he noted, “Social media has been a huge asset to relief efforts.”   

Hejnal, 35, is a teacher and American citizen, but notes “I have been part of the Ukrainian community since birth, as a singer and a dancer. I have extremely close ties to Ukraine. Using Instagram and Facebook, I am in daily contact with them.”    Getting through with a cellphone is “challenging,” for several reasons. “They are all incredibly busy. They are committed to staying there and protecting their homeland.”     

“My friends are willing to fight and die for their homeland. It is an overwhelming fear of mine that I will wake up one day and learn that they are no longer with us. It’s a very hard time for us.”   

“I despise Putin on a new level. He is an absolute maniac. He created a war, and we never asked for war. He is upset that we are a democracy.”   

A lifetime resident of West Park, Hejnal now lives in the same house where his grandmother lived for 50 years.   

“I ask people in West Park to stand with us. Don’t put the war on the back burner. We appreciate their support.”

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Parade steps off at 1:04 p.m.

Tomorrow the Cleveland St. Patrick’s Day Parade will return downtown following a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The parade begins on Superior Avenue at East 18^th Street and travels west into downtown. The City of Cleveland is excited to welcome parade participants and thousands of spectators back to the city for the festivities!

Things to know:

Road Closures and Traffic

Parking restrictions will go into effect at 9:00 a.m. and run through 5:00 p.m. Traffic is expected to be heavy prior to and following the parade. The Division of Police will supplement their customary allotment of traffic officers with additional staff. Officers from both the Division of Police and partnering law enforcement agencies will be detailed to the event for added security.

Parking

As this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade occurs on a week day, those intending to attend the parade or enjoy the day at a downtown restaurant or establishment are reminded that parking will be at a premium and many lots and garages may be full early on. Attendees are encouraged to consider riding RTA. Bus and rail services and routes can be viewed here.  Be mindful of signage indicating road closures as violators will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Towed vehicles may be retrieved from the City of Cleveland’s Impound Unit at 3040 Quigley Road.

Parade Route

The Parade Route for the 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at Superior Avenue at East 18^th Street. The parade travels west on Superior Avenue to Public Square, north on West Roadway and east on Rockwell Avenue, ending at Rockwell Avenue and Ontario Street. Roads crossing Superior Avenue throughout the route will be closed at Superior Avenue before and throughout the parade. The entire parade route is closed, meaning that observers are not to enter the parade route at any time.

Safety

Parade goers who bring small children are reminded to be mindful of children’s whereabouts at all times. Small children can disappear into a crowd quickly and become lost. Attendees should remind children to find someone in a uniform if they become separated from parents or caregivers. There will be many uniformed safety personnel on site, as well as members of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance who can keep children safe and help to reunite them with loved ones in the event of a separation incident. The Child Reunification Center will be located at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Tower at 1360 West Mall Drive. Members of the Bureau of Community Policing will care for lost children until reunification is established. Members of the Cleveland Division of Fire and Emergency Medical Service will be on hand for emergencies.

Impaired Driving

The Cleveland Division of Police will have an overall heightened awareness for offenses involving OVI offenses both on city streets and on highways. Persons found to be driving impaired will be arrested and their vehicles impounded. Celebrators who intend to consume alcohol are urged to plan ahead by utilizing RTA or ride share services.

Additional Tips

·         Arrive early to your destination.  Leave home early enough to allow for ample travel time and parking.

·         Become familiarized with downtown parking garages and surface lots – understand that the lots closest to the parade route will fill up first.

·         Be aware of increased pedestrian traffic in downtown Cleveland.

·         Plan for the weather.  At this time, the forecast does not call for inclement weather, however, remember, this is Cleveland.  

·         If you see something, say something!  Report suspicious or criminal activity to law enforcement.  Call 216-621-1234 for non-emergencies.  Call 9-1-1 for emergencies.  Anonymous information can be provided by calling Crimestoppers at 216-25-CRIME.