Currents Jan. 22, 2026 issue

Northeast Ohio’s First Social Network

Even in the bleak midwinter on the North Coast, enjoy some time in the great outdoors, in one of the Metroparks reservations or a regional park nearby, and you might be fortunate enough to spot or hear the call of a majestic owl, such as this magnificent Barred Owl, sheltering nearby in a tree. Next month, Currents publishes February 19, when we’ll all begin thinking “spring’s just on the horizon! Enjoy this issue, with coverage of the Recreation League’s 88th Assembly Ball, held December 28 at the Union Club, on pages A10-11.

FOOD

Soul-satisfying foods for your winter table

By Cynthia Schuster Eakin

HEALTH & WELLNESS

“Wintering” your way to wellness for 2026

By Beth Schreibman

Gehring

WEDDING BELLES

Payton Fricke marries

Mark Elliott Sept. 6, 2025

By Rita Kueber

Kueber

BENEFIT BEAT

Submit nonprofit benefit events to editor@currentsnews.com.

2026

Saturday, Feb. 7...Haute for the House, to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at InterContinental Hotel Cleveland, 9801 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland. Enjoy an unforgettable afternoon featuring fashion, raffl es, auctions, shopping, and more. Experience an exclusive runway show spotlighting the creativity of students, faculty, and alumni from Kent State University’s School of Fashion. Student designers will compete for a $1,000 scholarship — and you’ll help choose the winner! A day where fashion meets compassion to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Ohio. Every ticket, every raffle, every bid helps families stay close to their children receiving medical care. For more information, contact kspring@ RMHCneo.org. Saturday, Feb. 7...”Just Gotta Laugh,” a comedy show benefit for MedWish Medworks and Honduran Children’s Rescue Fund, at 6 p.m. at Windows on the River, includes parking, heavy hors d’oeuvres and open bar. Mike Polk Jr. headlines the show. Tickets start at $100. Go to www.zeffy.com. Thursday, Feb. 26...Rock the Foundation 20: A Toast to the Twenties, to benefit Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, 6 to 10:30 p.m. at Gordon Green, 5400 Detroit Ave., Cleveland. Step into a Roaring Twenties inspired night where vintage glamour meets a powerful purpose. Rock the Foundation returns in 2026 with an Art Deco infused celebration that brings together Cleveland’s bench, bar, and business community to support the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation and its life changing programs. Tickets are available now at www.CleMetroBar.org. com/RockTheFoundation.

Saturday, March 14...Spring Together Gala and inaugural Women of Impact Awards, to benefit Junior League of Cleveland’s mission-driven programs that promote public health, foster civic engagement and emapower women to lead lasting community change, 6 to 10 p.m. at St. Clair Ballroom at Key Tower. Black-tie gala to feature a seated dinner, open bar, live entertainment, silent auction, sine pull, 50/50 raffle and other activities. The Women of Impact Awards will honor six women whose work uplifts others, champions equity and creates meaningful progress within the communities they serve. Nominations through Jan. 15, 2026 can be submitted online at https://cleveland.jl.org/springtogether. Event to also include presentation of 2026 Junior Leaguie of Cleveland Scholarships. Tickets available at https://cleveland. jl.org/spring-together.

Saturday, April 18, 2026...25th Anniversary Gala Celebration, to benefit The Gathering Place, 7 p.m. at InterContinental Hotel, Cleveland. Festive evening featuring dinner, live entertainment, and stories of impact –past, present and future. Cocktail attire. Visit touchedbycancer.org/25 years.

The primary mission of Currents is to feature and spotlight the nonprofit, arts, educational and cultural organizations so vital to Northeast Ohio, as well as the volunteers and philanthropists who guide, support and sustain them. P.O. Box 150 • Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 • 525 E. Washington Street • 440-247-5335 / Fax: 440-247-1606 www.currentsneo.com

Published monthly by the Chagrin Valley Publishing Company

H. KENNETH DOUTHIT III Publisher KELLI COTESWORTH MCLELLAN Editor

DECEMBER EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Margaret Cibik, Linda Feagler, Cynthia Schuster Eakin, Rita Kueber, Anastasia Nicholas, Andrea C. Turner, Jeannie Emser Schultz, Beth Schreibman Gehring LAYOUT: Christine Hahn

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE S: Shari Silk

AD DESIGNERS: Connie Gabor, Ashley Gier

Please call 440.247.5335 for editorial, advertising and deadline information. Currents is distributed in: Auburn, Avon Lake, Bainbridge, Bath, Bay Village, Beachwood, Bentleyville, Bratenahl, Brecksville, Chagrin Falls, Chesterland, Cleveland Heights, Fairview Park, Gates Mills, Hudson, Hunting Valley, Kirtland Hills, Lakewood, Lyndhurst, Moreland Hills, North Royalton, Orange Village, Pepper Pike, Rocky River, Russell, Shaker Heights, Solon, South Russell, Strongsville, University Heights, Waite Hill, Westlake, Akron, Copley, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Hinckley, Montrose, Peninsula, Richfield and Silver Lake.

Dobama Theatre presents Cleveland premiere of ‘The Heart Sellers’

Dobama Theatre kicks off 2026 with the Cleveland premiere of “The Heart Sellers” by celebrated American playwright Lloyd Suh. A heartfelt comedy about finding friendship in the land of opportunity, this extraordinary production is directed by Julia Rosa Sosa Chaparro and runs January 29 - February 22, 2026. Starring Nova Gomez and Kat Shy, this extraordinary play has been one of the top ten plays produced in the United States the past two seasons, establishing itself as one of the American theatre’s most important new plays.

The play takes place on Thanksgiving Day 1973 when Jane and Luna run into each other at the grocery store. They spend the holiday together at Luna’s small apartment and soon discover that they have much in common. They are both 23, recent Asian immigrants, and each have hardworking absentee husbands. Homesick and lonely, they are adjusting to a new country, filled with as much uncertainty as the places they’ve left. Over a bottle of wine (or two) and a questionable frozen turkey, they dream of Disneyland, learning to drive, and an unknowable future as they share their hopes and fears of making a new reality a home.

Playwright Lloyd Suh is a Pulitzer Prize finalist and one of the most produced playwrights in America over the past decade. His remarkable play “The Heart Sellers” received the 2024 Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, honoring the most outstanding play that premiered professionally outside of New

York City in the previous year.

The New York Times called Suh’s play “Beautiful… THE HEART SELLERS is about intelligent, curious, creative women who find themselves bereft in a new country — where they recognize something in each other, and cheer each other on.”

Performances are Thursdays through Sunday from January 29 - February 22, 2026. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2:30 p.m. For a complete performance schedule, ticket prices and reservations, call the Dobama Theatre box office at 216-932-3396. Ask about the “pay-what-you-can” performances and opportunities.

Dobama is committed to making live professional theatre accessible to everyone. Pay-What-You-Can tickets are available for anyone that cannot afford a full price ticket. Any available seat can be purchased at a pay-what-you-can price beginning one hour prior to every performance. Simply visit the Box Office to purchase, email boxoffice@ dobama.org or call 216-932-3396.

For more information on the production, visit: https://www.dobama.org/heart-sellers

The Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland are leveraging several special events to mark their 175th anniversary in Northeast Ohio. One such event was an enjoyable meal and presentation held November 2 at the InterContinental. Dubbed a ‘Luncheon of Gratitude,’ the event celebrated the Ursuline’s long-standing commitment to education, social justice, and compassionate service.

The Ursulines first came to Cleveland in 1850, 10 years before the start of the US Civil War, when Millard Fillmore was the country’s 13th US President. Cleveland itself was only 54 years old. The city’s first bishop, Louis Amadeus Rappe, built the Cathedral of St. John, and recruited clergy from throughout Europe. The bishop asked four sisters and one lay woman to travel from France to Ohio. Here they established a school for girls, the Ursuline Academy of Cleveland, at a time when education for women was not universally

Ursuline Sisters “175th Anniversary Recognition Luncheon”

supported. The Ursuline order itself is much older, founded in Brescia, Italy in 1535 by St. Angela Merici. It was her vision that blended ministry and service with religious consecration.

The luncheon attracted nearly 300 patrons who were treated to opening remarks by Sister Laura Bregar, OSU, President, Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland. The host was James Connell, and the blessing was given by Reverend Thomas M. Dragga. “I have a shortcoming,” he confessed.

“I am not a product of an Ursuline education,” he said to the guests’ amusement.

A half dozen religious orders were present in celebration and support, as well as over 70 Ursuline sisters, all wearing a celebratory corsage.

The remaining guests are all friends, relatives and maybe even “fans,” of the Ursulines, since the order has taught generations of students in the Cleveland-area, from dozens of grade schools

to high schools Beaumont School (previously Ursuline Academy), and Villa-Angela-St. Joseph, but also to the college level at Ursuline College.

The crowd mingled in the lobby and ballroom, with background music provided by pianist Cliff Habian. A guestbook was available, and more, guests were encouraged to record a personal memory or comment with the assistance of a professional video production team from Goldfarb Weber Creative Media. This same company produced a heart-felt video offering a brief glimpse into the order’s history but also a snapshot of how the Ursuline community lives and works today.

Carefully placed at a side table was a modest display of historic items from important paperwork to carefully preserved photographs, artwork and more. Over the years the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland have created and worked in over four hundred ministries from education to pastoral and prison ministries, chaplaincy and care for the elderly and sick, always responding to the evolving needs of the community.

Many of the displayed items are also featured in a published comprehensive history of the Ursulines in Cleveland, a soft-bound coffee table book called “Bonds of Charity” by Richard Osborne with Sister Cynthia Glava, OSU, Editor and Archivist. “I speak Ursuline,” the author quipped during his brief remarks. Guests were offered an advance copy of the publication, which had a book launch at Loganberry Books a few weeks after the luncheon. “Fans” of the Ursulines can obtain a copy from Loganberry Books or directly from the Ursuline Sisters. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY RITA KUEBER

Sister Laura Bregar, Mary Jo Tourmert and Sister Rita Mary Welsh

Molly Vanek, Sister Kathleen Foster and Mary Foster Morton

Anne Peters and Sister Kathryn O’Brien with Deb and Gary Kozub

John Simon and Sister Carol Anne Smith, HM

Peter and Rita Carfagna, Karen Maher and Daniel Cavolo

Vocational Guidance Services

“Sunbeam Holiday Boutique Opening Night Party”

Hundreds of shoppers attended the 114th Sunbeam Holiday Boutique, a shopping experience held at The Country Club in Pepper Pike. The event, held Wednesday, November 12 through Friday, November 14, 2025, raised over $240,000 to provide services and support for local individuals with disabilities.

In 1890, a group of women known as the Sunbeam Circle came together to sell handmade items to help brighten the lives of bedridden children at Cleveland’s Lakeside hospital. Today, Vocational Guidance Services and the Sunbeam Board continue that mission, serving more than 700 individuals each year.

More than 30 unique vendors – including returning favorites as well as new merchants

– from across the country brought clothing, home goods, toys, holiday gifts, and more. Vendors donated a portion of their proceeds to Vocational Guidance Services.

The three-day event began with an Opening Night Party, where guests got a first look at selections while enjoying an open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres. It also includes Ladies’ Night and general shopping hours.

Presenting sponsors were Swagelok, Trish and John Dorsey, Carran and Russ Gannaway, Ruth and Bob Kanner, Annie and Patrick Mitchell, and Kylie and Ben Volpe. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANASTASIA NICHOLAS

Aditi Bhatt, Macy Stein, Molly Panzica, and Kara Doyle, Sunbeam Board members

Jennifer Stull, VGS Board of Directors, Phil Carino, VGS Board of Directors, and Elizabeth Shaver

2025 Sunbeam Holiday Boutique Co-chairs Julie Cox and Lisa Lane

Sarah and Grant Guyuron

Honorary Chair Tiffany Kaplan and VGS President and CEO Susie Barragate

Jane Marquard shares ideas for creating charming interiors for winter months in NE Ohio

By RITA KUEBER

Winter. Great. Freezing temperatures, buckets of snow, icy streets and sidewalks, plus gray, sleety drizzle or drizzly sleet. Whatever, right? Even if you’re a skier or love cold temperatures, it’s hard to remain cheerful when faced with weeks of battleship gray skies and frigid breezes.

Maybe the way to go is not to try and beat it, but to live with it, maybe even befriend it. “January isn’t the time for new beginnings. It’s winter. It’s dark. We’re not in Florida, we’re in Cleveland, and in Cleveland it’s not the time for bright, shiny and new. It’s the time to embrace the darkness – do the warm and cozy. We’re stuck in it for three months, so light a lot of candles,” says Jane Marquard, owner and founder of Maison Maison in Rocky River.

“My take is to work with the senses – all the senses, and let’s get through this,” she says. “Over the holidays we had a dinner and my napkin rings included a star anise, cinnamon sticks, orange and rosemary. These scented the napkin. But then afterwards, I threw all of it into a pot with some lemons and simmered everything together. There’s nothing fresher

than the warmth of citrus. And rosemary is like pine, but more subtle. Letting the entire mixture fill up the house with this delicious scent is easy, inexpensive, and just yummy.”

The next sense is touch. “You want to find

a beautiful throw for your chair or sofa – not the bed – it’s not used on the bed,” she says. “Go somewhere – even Home Goods – my co-workers are looking at me,” she chuckles. “We have lovely throws, but some families are on a budget, so go where you can, to get that added texture into your room.”

Similarly, she talks about the tactile element on the floor. “I had a client with a lovely pair of chairs in a nook, but they were like an island. We added a modest square rug under them – soft on the feet, and it grounded the chairs in the room. It’s a cute but inexpensive solution to pull a room together,” she adds.

“Lights. Lighting is important. I’ve been in houses with gray walls and cold LED lights so the room has all the charm of a surgical suite. Don’t do that to your living space. There are even bulbs now that have a switch on the base itself so you can toggle between warm or cool light.” Clearly Jane’s preference is for the most glowing, warmest lighting available.

Several weeks ago, many families rearranged furniture to allow for special holiday decorations and more seating. But by January it’s time to remove these items. Jane sees this as the perfect opportunity to shake up interior spaces. “Reimagine your living room or den

– wherever you had the tree or the extended table. Don’t put everything back the way it was – take everything out, dust and clean, and put things back with intention. You’re better off if you rethink your space and shop your house. Move the lamp from the guest bedroom into the den. If you see a hole, you can balance and enhance your room with things you already have. I was working with a client and said we need a square blue ashtray right here. Just a minute they said and came back into the room with the exact piece we needed. Using what you already have is a really smart way to go about things.”

Another way to approach – well, re-approach a room is to consider color. “Gray is so gone,” Jane says happily. “Add color with dark forest green, cinnamon, and aubergine, even it’s with the throw or pillows. (Men hate pillows while women love them,” she comments.) “But remember, we’re fighting the temperatures and the cold light. Embrace the darkness; hold hands with it and bring color into the mix,” she says.

Similarly, she declares the farmhouse style of décor is giving way to a warmer, slightly more eclectic take with cottage core. “Cottage is warmer, less formal and less structured with lighter woods, more color, a few ruffles – to the extent you like them. Cozy is the big word for this winter. Your house should smell good, look good, and you should eat good – make soup to feed your soul a bit.”

Like any experienced retailer, Jane refers to a potential sidewalk sale in early spring, when a fresh start will be welcome, not to mention a possible anniversary sale, as the business will celebrate 41 years this year. January breezes feel warmer already.

Maison Maison

19126 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River maisonmaisoninteriors.com

Radio on the Lake Theatre

Northeast Ohio’s only professional theater company exclusively dedicated to the audio arts, announces the first plays to be presented in 2026 as part of the Audio Gallery Series. This series is now being presented at the Dunham Tavern Museum , located at 6709 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland.

January 31 - “1984”

Since George Orwell published his landmark political fable, each generation has found ample reason to make reference to the grim near-future envisioned by the novel. His book set the tone for the next 70plus years of dystopian fiction and film. The story follows Winston Smith, who works for the Ministry of Truth, altering historical records. Discontent with the regime, Winston begins a forbidden relationship with Julia –with terrifying consequences.

February 28 - “The African Queen”

This beloved romantic comedy-drama tells the story of a female missionary who persuades a boat captain to use his boat as a torpedo, and destroy a German war ship, at the onset of World War 1.

Each performance starts at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion with the cast and crew. The shows will also be recorded for broadcast on WBWC 88.3 The Sting at a later date as part of ROTLT’s ongoing series Radio on the Lake Theatre Presents... Sunday evenings at 5.

Tickets for the Audio Gallery Series are $15, and are on sale now at Eventbrite. Members of Radio on the Lake Theatre’s Stakeholders Club receive a $5 discount on each ticket purchase, as well as other benefits. For more information about The Audio Gallery Series, The Stakeholders Club or any other Radio on the Lake Theatre programs, send an email to info@radioonthelaketheatre.org.

Photo courtesy of www.maisonmaisoninteriors.com

Jane Marquard

On November 7, Inlet Dance Theatre gathered with 102 supporters to celebrate its 25th Anniversary Season at its annual benefit, Big Bash 2025: Community. The event took place in the dance studios of the Pivot Center for Art, Dance & Expression in Cleveland’s Clark/Fulton neighborhood.

Founded in 2001 by Executive/Artistic Director Bill Wade, Inlet has impacted thousands in the community with free performances, educational initiatives, outreach partnerships, and dance training through its motto of “using dance to further people.”

Inlet Dance Theatre “25th Anniversary Big Bash”

The event raised $20,850 to support the professional dance company.

Erin Cameron Miller, Director of the Stocker Arts Center of Lorain County Community College, and former General Manager of Cain Park in Cleveland Heights, was honored for her contributions to the arts in our communities. Wade and Miller have known each other since the 1990’s when she first booked Wade’s company, The Yard. Her career in the arts included touring nationally and internationally as production stage manager for renowned magician David Copperfield from 1998-2002.

“Community is the heartbeat of the arts. And Inlet builds bridges within it, making space for all voices,” said Miller. “Their sense of wonder and play fuels the best kind of collaboration.”

The company presented two dance works: “Carl & Ellie” commissioned for them by The Cleveland Orchestra to accompany music from the Disney/Pixar film, “Up,” as well as selections from “Hotu Matua and 3 (Women) from its Easter Island Memoirs.” Inlet is believed to be the first American modern dance company to perform on this remote Polynesian island,

natively known as Rapa Nui. Bill Wade, Libby Koba, Erin Leigh, and board president Andrea Villalón made up the event’s planning committee. Joshua Brown serves as Assistant Artistic Director. The event featured a buffet dinner provided by Jim Alesci’s Place and Sip Social’s mobile bar stocked with specialty drinks. Guests bid on silent auction items, raffle packages and a 50/50 raffle. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER

Natalie Cordone, Erin Cameron Miller and Jessica Rosenblatt

Dave Klima, Lori and William Forester, Andrea Villalón, Valeria Flores and Maxwell Swanson

Bill Wade and Joshua Brown Aaron McPeck and Dora Rae Vactor

Inlet dancers perform Hotu Matua and 3 from Easter Island Memoirs

Inlet dancers perform Hotu Matua and 3 from Easter Island Memoirs

Recreation League of Cleveland hosts

Stephanie Stoesser Schloss with Heather and John Schloss

Beatrice Paine Stewart with Heather and William Stewart

Eliza Hardy Emmet with Caroline and Robert Emmet

Daniel Marel Lust with Svetlana Pundik and David Lust

Colin Francis Southworth with Shannon and John “Duke” Patton

Pierson Chase Cerar with Jacqueline and John Cerar

Claire Elizabeth Sheeler with Timothy and Elizabeth Sheeler

Dawson William Steffee with Laura and David Steffee

Michael Atkinson Ciano with Amy and Phillip Ciano

Cooper Anthony Rehak with Laura Rehak

Suzanna Mae Sleeth with Erin and Jay Sleeth

Julia Rose Kubic with Jennifer and Joseph Kubic

Blake Lindemann Cody and Sara Sterling Cody with Regina and William Cody

Bachelors, back row: William Edward Monaghan (Head Usher), Chase Chandler Greppin (Head Usher), Daniel Marel Lust, Pierson Chase Cerar, Dawson William Steffee, Colin Francis Southworth, Michael Atkinson Ciano, and Cooper Anthony Rehak Debutantes: Eliza Hardy Emmet, Claire Elizabeth Sheeler, Beatrice Paine Stewart, Suzanna Mae Sleeth, and Sara Sterling Cody Debutantes Front: Blake Lindemann Cody, Stephanie Stoesser Schloss, and Julia Rose Kubic

88th Assembly Ball at Union Club

The Recreation League of Cleveland’s 88th Assembly Ball was held at the Union Club on December 28, 2025. When the threatened winter storms dissipated, families breathed a collective sigh of relief and could focus on welcoming guests to town and the festivities.

What splendid — and fun — festivities they were! The eight debutantes and six bachelors who were presented join their predecessors in a tradition of learning community responsibility and engagement along with skills to thrive in their adult lives.

The hallmark moment among many special moments is the Grand March. Ball co-chairs Mrs Caroline Hardy Emmet and Mrs Heather Gordon Schloss sought a classical yet dramatic look, and HeatherLily, Inc. achieved just that.

The grand staircase was resplendent with flowers in a vibrant palette of dark berry tones, coral, blush, and lavender with pops of fuchsia and tangerine set between stately candelabra.

The bachelors wore boutonnières of deep purple ranunculus with textured blue thistle, echoed in the debutantes’ hand-tied bouquets.

Master of Ceremonies Mr Samuel Shattuck Hartwell first announced head ushers Chase Chandler Greppin and William Edward Monaghan who descended the grand staircase to light the ceremonial candles.

With all names shown on the traditional boards in hand calligraphy as well as announced, the 2025 bachelors followed in the customary bold, red sashes: Pierson Chase Cerar, Michael Atkinson Ciano, Daniel Marel Lust, Cooper Anthony Rehak, Colin Francis Southworth, and Dawson William Steffee.

The Grand March culminated with the presentation of debutantes: Blake Lindemann Cody presented by Mr. William Frederick Cody, Sara Sterling Cody presented by Mr. William Frederick Cody, III, Eliza Hardy Emmet presented by Mr. Robert Putnam Emmet, Julia Rose Kubic presented by Mr. Joseph Todd Kubic, Claire Elizabeth Sheeler presented by Mr. Timothy David Sheeler, Suzanna Mae (May) Sleeth presented by Mr. Jay Nelson Sleeth, Stephanie Stoesser Schloss presented by Mr. John Philip Schloss, and Beatrice Paine Stewart presented by Mr. William Ross Stewart, Jr.

The stately and elegant music of the Hal Lynn Agency Orchestra played not only for the Grand March but also during the receiving line and for the reception’s family dancing. The Orchestra has been a staple of the Ball for more than 40 years. A newer tradition, the Promenade, brought the debutantes and bachelors down the stairs to the main floor for dinner. Dinner guests crowded the base of the stairs to watch this light-hearted celebration, and all sat for dinner. At last it was time for the party! Couples and groups danced the night away to the sounds of the Cleveland Music Group.

Although the Assembly Ball is the marquee event of the Recreation League, the organization means so much more for its member families and does so much for our shared community. Member children volunteer together at community partners such as Fostering Hope, University Hospitals, Humble Design, Kids Book Bank and Rescue Village. Also available to members are educational opportunities such as self-defense classes, personal finance, networking, and etiquette for business and social occasions.

Eliza Hardy Emmet, Assembly Ball Co-Chairs Mrs. Caroline Hardy Emmet and Mrs. Heather Gordon Schloss, and Stephanie Stoesser Schloss

Debs and guests enjoy the party!

All photographs by New Image Photography

“Retirement”…a word not in celebrated architect Thomas Zung’s lexicon

By JEANNIE EMSER SCHULTZ

Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (in the news for its annual honors and recent building name change) shares its birth with one of our local and nationally recognized landmarks … the impressive geodesic dome in Novelty that headquarters ASM International. Both the Kennedy Center and ASM dome are the end products of architect Thomas K. Zung. While his talents have been recognized worldwide, Cleveland has been the city to claim him as an adopted son for 50-plus years.

Zung (who has the energy and countenance of a man decades younger, but who turns 93 on Feb. 8) has left his mark on our area’s physical, economic and environmental landscape. His initial call to Cleveland came via the worldrenowned inventor and visionary, Buckminster Fuller, famous for patenting the geodesic dome design. Fuller convinced Zung (Fuller’s former student, but by then well established at the firm of famed modernist architect Edward Durell Stone) to travel here in the late ’50s from New York to oversee construction of ASM’s dome.

At project’s end, Zung planned to return to New York City, but a commission to design downtown’s Carl B. Stokes Cleveland Public Utilities Building extended his stay. Noted Zung, “Working in Cleveland allowed me to focus on drawing, which would have eluded me had I rejoined Stone. I also realized the people and Lake Erie are the best parts of Cleveland. I learned to sail here, whereas in New York, few people think about its location on the water.”

And, speaking of “water,” the Great Lakes area has Zung to thank for making Lake Erie more pristine because of his award-winning device which traps and contains stormwater objects --like hypodermic needles and plastic bags--from flowing into the Lake. That device won the $40,000 prize in the Cleveland Water Alliance’s Erie Hack Competition, designed to find solutions for the region’s water issues

Thomas Zung’s circuitous journey began in 1933 Shanghai, China as Tse Kwai Zung. When WW II loomed, his banker father judiciously emigrated alone to New York City, electing to subsist on day-old bread and mustard to save enough to afford “first class” passage for his wife and four children to join him. (In those days “first class” passengers were more easily passed through Ellis Island’s immigration.) Although Zung was only four during his ocean passage, he vividly recalls eating the same meal all 44 days —pork chops and rice—because it was the only menu item his older brother could translate to English.

A Columbia University academic testing at age six revealed Zung possessed mathematical and spatial abilities far beyond his years. Finishing school as Class President, he then began studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, only to be interrupted by the Korean War where he served

in the Signal Corps (valued for his knowledge of Chinese dialects). Honorably discharged, he returned to college at Columbia University and, later, the University of Michigan. Eventually, Zung’s former professor, Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller, would become: his mentor, friend, godfather to his son and business partner in the architectural firm of Buckminster Fuller, Sadao & Zung. Today finds Zung continuing as president of that firm and as a senior fellow to Stanford University Libraries (home to Buckminster Fuller’s papers). His Stanford duties include lectures on Fuller’s innovative ideas. He is also the author/editor of two anthologies on the visionary Fuller: Buckminster Fuller: Anthology for the New Millennium and the concise illustrated hard/ softcover book Call Me Trim Tab…Navigating Spaceship Earth with R. Buckminster Fuller. Zung is now famous for his building designs around the country (New Orleans International Trade Mart; U.S. Naval Academy Master Plan at Annapolis; NYC General Motors Headquarters and, of course the Kennedy Center, on which he worked with former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to incorporate her wishes into the building’s design). Closer to home, Zung’s design

In Cleveland Zung became involved in a range of civic engagements: joining the first class of Leadership Cleveland, serving on boards including the City Club, Cleveland Institute of Music, Rotary International, Karamu House and Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission. Following a 16-year residence in Gates Mills (where he was a Cubmaster and served on the Vestry at St. Christopher by the River Church), he moved to Bratenahl Village 39 years ago. Zung continuing his civil engagement by establishing the Bratenahl 100 (a financial and scholarship auxiliary support organization for the Village’s police and service departments).

Visiting Zung and his wife Joyce BurkeJones, an architectural planner and longtime Bratenahl Councilperson, at their Bratenahl high-rise presents a visual barrage of fascinating collections--from the many scaled-down versions of his iconic geodesic domes to collectible Chinese art and sculptures from the Ming and Han dynasties, each with its own story to tell. On entering, visitors are met with an impressive

of portraits by celebrated photographer Yousuf Karsh. Each portrait is of a famous person who has touched Zung’s life, including three Nobel Prize winners, Winston Churchill, Einstein, President John F. Kennedy and—of course-- “Bucky” Fuller.

Another portrait is of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck ( The Good Earth ). Renowned for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption, Zung’s affiliation with Pearl prompted his adoption of Asian-born daughter, Yoko, who resides in Japan.

Still discovering new uses for his famous geodesic domes, he’s patented seven since he turned 80, with one of Zung’s most aggressive designs a dome which can rapidly expand around an ocean drilling rig, halting oil spills and siphoning any oil via a sump pump. His design accomplishes dual “saves”—saving oil companies billions in liability from a spill, and—more importantly--saving the environment. Zung subscribes to the teachings of his friend Fuller who chartered a course for new generations “to provide advance standards of living in the shortest time possible without ecological harm to anyone.” To that effect, he has been experimenting with materials to replace one of the world’s most-pressing challenges… singleuse plastics. One of those examples is a small thermos for cold liquids made of…cornstarch! Home cooks may ask, “How can a cornstarch thermos hold liquid without dissolving?” “This,” explains Zung, “is where chemistry and design align. Cornstarch doesn’t dissolve under 130F degrees!”

Most recently Zung was invited as keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the prestigious Royal Architects Institute of Canada in Montreal (where the famous World Expo 67’s geodesic dome resides). The man listed in several Who’s Who, remains a world traveler, not solely for his demand as a lecturer, but because his daughter Yoko is in Japan, his grandson Kaikoa in Europe and son Tommy in NYC. (Citing the proverbial “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree”—Zung’s’ son is also a talented designer with his NYC-based Zung Studio described as “where holistic architecture and interiors merge for a sensuous storytelling of architecture and design.”)

Zung wisely considers his upcoming 93rd birthday “just another number.” When asked his formula for successful aging, he quotes another legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright…”I picked my ancestors with the greatest of care.” But Zung adds, “In all seriousness, love is omnidirectional and the greatest way to keep going. That’s my way.” Thus, he continues with his architecture and community involvement, with one word absent from the Zung dictionary… “retirement.”

talents are seen in the Carl B. Stokes Public Utilities Building, Cleveland State University geodesic dome sports center and Geauga County’s ASM International Headquarters dome.

gallery

Thomas Zung holds a miniature of the iconic Geodesic Dome.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio “Dare to Dream”

More than 120 guests gathered at Michael Angelo’s Winery in Richfield for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio’s inaugural “Dare to Dream” gala – an inspiring evening celebrating community, generosity and opportunity for local youth.

The event was emceed by comedian and WKYC personality Mike Polk Jr. and chaired by Dave and Joanie Hastings. Guests were moved by heartfelt remarks from Lisa Aurilio, BGCNEO Board Chair and COO of Presenting Sponsor Akron Children’s Hospital, BGCNEO CEO Allen Smith, Dave Hastings, as well as a touching personal story shared by Club alum Jayla Vanhorn, who reflected on the impact of caring mentors and safe spaces to grow.

kept the energy high throughout the evening. Guests enjoyed fine wine, elegant fare and the chance to connect with others who share a belief in the power of afterschool programs to change lives and help youth build a vision for their future.

A lively Fund-a-Need and a silent auction featuring artwork created by Club members

The event exceeded expectations, raising more than $120,000 to support critical programs that build academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership and workforce readiness. STORY BY KEN WOOD/PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREGORY WILSON.

BGCNEO operates 30 Clubs in six Northeast Ohio counties, providing thousands of youth ages 6-18 with a safe place to learn, play, and belong. Members receive free daily meals, academic support, and help from caring adult mentors – all at no cost to families.

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Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary “Sunday Brunch With A Purr-Pose”

Approximately 160 people attended the Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary’s “Sunday Brunch with a PURR-pose” benefit, which netted about $9,000 for the nonprofit, mostly cage-less, no-kill facility headquartered in Newbury Township. The organization also has a number of foster homes. The event, which featured a wide variety of breakfast and lunch items via a spacious buffet set-up, was held at the Banquet Center at St. Noel in Willoughby Hills. There were a large number of silent and Chinese auction items, along with a 50-50 raffle. Laura Blair, the owner of Pure Image Photo Booth, took free photos of any attendees who wanted them and almost instantly printed out the photo booth-style pictures to give them. Victoria’s

Bakery in Chesterland provided refreshments for volunteers who set up the auction items before the event began, and real maple syrup for the brunch was donated by Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland, Pleasant Valley View Farm in Montville, and Richard’s Maple Products in Chardon. Other event sponsors were Delight Cleversy, James and Doreen Harris, Gail Linda Kopp, Toby and Elaine Mintz, and Mary Treanor. The next Happy Tails Cat Sanctuary event will be a Sunday afternoon dinner on May 3. Call or text Doreen at 440.7590076 for more details. STORY PROVIDED BY HAPPY TAILS CAT SANCTUARY/ PHOTOGRAPHS BY VIRGINIA SEXTON AND ANITA SILVERMAN

Discover 5301 Charlotte Way, a vibrant 55+ Community with 63 lots, 53 still available! More than just a neighborhood; enjoy amenities like club house, fitness center, bocce and pickleball courts, swimming pool, fire pit and serene lake. Luxury single-family ranches with private court yards await. Snowbirds look for their preferred summer retreat!

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Perrino

Dave and Joanie Hastings, Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Polk

Allen Smith, Dr. Warren Morgan and Mark Ballard

Rich Wallack, Carol Bachmann and Mark Bachmann

Seated, from left, Dolly Gundersen and Jeanie Hornick; Standing, from left, Jim Hornick, Pat Grecar, Jennifer Matis, and Chris Hornick.

Seated, from left, Gary Gugliotta and Andy Osredkar; Standing, from left: Tina Gugliotta, Cindy Osredkar and Miriam Troyan.

Add soul-satisfying comfort foods to your winter table

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

Warm up with some comfort food this winter. These soul-satisfying treats can be both delicious and economical.

Local farmers and growers provide the most nutritious, sustainable food available.

Dragonfly Farm and Provisions offers jams and fruit butters, as well as top tier winter greens. “My jams are made with the best fruit available. They are homemade and fresh with no pectin. I use fresh orange or lemon juice instead,” Carol Kovacs of Dragonfly Farm noted.

“These are nice, old-fashioned jams. My customers tell me that, after tasting my jams, they don’t like store bought alternatives. Our customers come to us because they know that they are getting a quality product at a fair price.” The jams are priced at $7 each.

“You can serve the jam with charcuterie. I have used it to make salad dressing, as a sweet element. It can be thinned to use as a syrup for pancakes and waffles,” she said. “The apple butter jam is really good on pork roast. I make a winterberry jam with cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, fresh orange juice and zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. It is excellent served with beef roast. In the summer, I make strawberry rhubarb and blueberry rhubarb jams, using rhubarb from our own rhubarb patch.”

“We offer different types of aquaponic lettuces all winter long. We grow them in our barn and, because it is cold, we heat the water slightly to help them along,” Kovacs added.

Call Dragonfly Farm and Provisions at 330.324.2720.

Elm Run Farms, owned by Ken and Sandy Ressler, has been family-owned for five generations spanning 125 years. The Resslers practice sustainable farming for the generations to come. They believe that food should by grown as naturally as possible and that all created things, especially plants and animals raised for food, should be handled responsibly and respectfully.

Elm Run Farms’ cattle, pork, chicken and turkeys are steroid-free and hormone-free. Beef is one hundred percent grass fed and grass finished. Pastured, free-range chickens and turkeys are raised in open-air shelters. All products are nitrite and nitrate-free, MSG-free and gluten-free. In addition to meats, Elm Run Farms sells maple syrup, eggs, sausage gravy and bone broth.

‘Our sausage gravy is made with free-range, pasture-raised pork with no preservatives or fillers,” Sandy Ressler noted. “The bone broth is great for winter soups or stews.”

“We offer a comfort food bundle with a beef chuck roast, a tip roast, pork shoulder roast, a whole chicken, two packages of ground beef, two packages of bulk sausage, and two packages of our 50/50 mix, which is half sausage and half ground beef with added seasoning,” she said. “Popular ready-to-eat items are chicken Italian meatballs, beef sticks, beef summer sausage and chicken patties.”

Elm Run Farms’ website is a treasure trove of comfort food recipes and economical meal tips, including how to get four meals from a four-pound chicken, and 21 ways to use pork sausage.

Elm Run Farms can be reached at 330.317.7283, or visit www.elmrunfarms.com

Amy and Brandon Barski own That Farm, where their passion for sourdough baking takes center stage. Their first-generation family farm is dedicated to raising, making and sharing clean, nutritious food with the community. Amy Barski said that at the heart of their mission is the understanding that deep nutrition is essential for a healthy life. In addition to farm operations, they run

a micro bakery from their home, where they craft wonderful sourdough bread using only the finest ingredients. Phone 216-322-2676.

All three of these farm vendors can be found at the Frostville Winter Farmers Market,

Cheesy Ham Chowder

Recipe by Sandra Ressler

Elm Run Farms

Place a thawed ham hock in a Dutch oven, stock pot or a baking dish with a lid. Add a couple of inches of water to the pot, cover and bake at 275 degrees for five to six hours. The meat will be falling off the bone. Remove the meat to a plate and allow it to cool until you can handle it. Then, simply separate out the bones and the fat. It is not difficult as the meat will be very soft. You can now dice or shred the meat.

24301 Cedar Point Rd. in North Olmsted, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. now through April. Contact Market Manager Angela Obbish at 330-592-6518 or visit www. frostvillefarmersmarket.com.

In a three-to- four-quart pot, place four to five medium potatoes, peeled and diced. Add enough of the broth from cooking the ham hock to almost cover the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are soft. You can add a little diced onion here, or a bit of onion powder. Reduce the heat to low and add about three cups of milk and approximately two cups each of the ham and shredded Colby or Cheddar cheese. You can adjust the amounts of milk, ham and cheese, depending on how thick, meaty or cheesy you like it. There should not be a need for more salt, but you can add other seasonings you like, such as parsley, basil or sage. Heat on low until the cheese melts. It is ready to serve.

Your next move starts with a

Maddie Clegg, Kelsey Wolf, Jane Shami, Karen Eagle Not pictured: Liz Murphy, Cheryl Clegg

That Farm sourdough

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your way toward wellness

By BETH SCHREIBMAN GEHRING

Let’s Talk Wintering.

disoriented, still finding its way back to itself.

more than intensity.

Not the aesthetic version, but the physiological one. The part of the year when bodies are meant to slow and conserve, while the marketing world keeps insisting it’s time to start fresh.

Many of you know me from my years at Schreibman Jewelers, my family’s gift and jewelry store. It was a beautiful business, rooted in helping people mark what mattered: celebrations, transitions, love, remembrance. The work was about noticing meaning and helping people create lives they genuinely loved, one object, one moment at a time.

What’s less visible is how that work evolved after the store closed. My attention shifted from objects to systems, from milestones to rhythm. I trained as an integrative nutrition coach, became an herbalist, and I’m currently completing my functional medicine nutrition certification. The materials changed, but the intention didn’t. I still work in service of steadiness, beauty, and lives that feel inhabitable from the inside. I just don’t do it from a brick-and-mortar storefront anymore.

What I share here isn’t medicine or diagnosis. It’s perspective, shaped by study, practice, and years of listening closely to how real people move through stress, seasons, and change.

Inside this seasonal tension lives something simple and often misunderstood: a hormone called cortisol.

Over years of working with clients, I’ve come to recognize something quietly important. This mismatch is why so many “fresh start” programs launched in January never really take hold. Not because people lack willpower. Not because they didn’t want it badly enough. But because asking for reinvention at the deepest point of winter runs against the body’s natural timing.

January is not when the system is primed for expansion.

It’s when it’s trying to recover.

By the time the calendar turns, most of us are already carrying more than the season expects. The holidays load the system in subtle ways: disrupted sleep, extra stimulation, emotional intensity, irregular meals, travel, late nights, bright lights. Even when it’s joyful, it’s a lot. The body enters the new year slightly

These are just two simple, warming ways I like to start a winter’s day. Nothing complicated, nothing meant to fix anything. They’re small gestures of steadiness that help the body ease into the morning rather than rush toward it. I really hope you enjoy them.

My Morning Grounding Tea

A gentle way to greet the day

This is the kind of tea that won’t wake you up as much as it will let your body know it’s safe to arrive. I think of it as easing into the morning, especially in winter, when the system wants a little warmth and reassurance before it engages.

You’ll need:

• 1 teaspoon dried tulsi (holy basil)

• 1 teaspoon dried chamomile

• A few small pieces of crystallized ginger, or a few thin slices of fresh ginger

• A pinch of cinnamon

• A pinch of cardamom

• A strip of orange peel

• Optional: a little honey or maple syrup, to taste How to make it:

Place everything in a mug or small teapot.

One thing that’s always struck me is how many of us begin January with colds or the flu. Yes, there are plenty of viruses circulating, but there’s often more going on than exposure alone. By the time the holidays end, many bodies are simply worn thin. The excitement, the late nights, the travel, the sugar and alcohol and caffeine, the foods we don’t usually eat, the rhythms we abandon for a few weeks. Even when it’s joyful, it’s demanding. And at a certain point, the body responds the way it often does when it’s been stretched past its comfort. It asks to slow things down. Getting sick can be less a failure of immunity and more a kind of enforced rest, a clear signal that the system has reached its limit and needs a quieter stretch to recover.

Then winter deepens. Light grows scarce. Mornings are darker. Evenings stretch longer than the nervous system would choose. Biology is gently nudging us toward steadiness and repair just as culture asks for momentum and change.

You don’t need to know the name cortisol to recognize its work. It’s the hormone that helps you wake up, respond to what’s in front of you, and find energy when something is required. And when things are going well, it steps aside so rest can happen.

Despite how it’s often framed in the wellness world, cortisol isn’t a problem to solve. It’s better understood as a natural rhythm to support.

Under steady conditions, cortisol rises in the morning, helping you meet the day, then gradually recedes so sleep can take over at night. It’s a daily tide, shaped by light, food, movement, and a sense of safety.

Winter, and especially winter after the holidays, can blur that tide.

You might feel tired but wired. Slow to start the day, alert late at night. Foggy, flat, or oddly dependent on caffeine. This isn’t a lack of discipline or a personal failure. It’s a system doing its best to adapt when things feel unpredictable.

Cortisol responds less to effort than it does to trust. When the body has a sense of what comes next, it relaxes. When timing, fuel, rest, and stimulation feel erratic, it stays on duty a little longer than we’d like.

This is where wintering becomes practical.

In this cold season, consistency matters

Pour boiling water over it and let steep for 7–10 minutes. Strain if needed. Add a bit of honey or maple syrup if you like. Drink it warm, ideally with some morning light. Why it works:

Tulsi supports stress resilience without stimulation. Chamomile softens the nervous system and digestion. Ginger brings warmth and circulation. Cinnamon and cardamom

Consistent sleep and wake times matter more now than how much you accomplish or how early you rise. The body listens for pattern, not performance. Repeating the same timing day after day helps restore a sense of internal order when the external world offers few cues.

Morning light matters more than morning willpower. Before motivation or intention, the nervous system wants reassurance. Light reaching the eyes early in the day tells the brain that the world is still running on a predictable schedule. It’s not about forcing alertness, but about letting biology lead.

Eating enough matters more than eating perfectly, especially earlier in the day. Winter quietly raises the body’s baseline energy needs. Simply staying warm and regulated costs more now. Skipping or delaying meals can signal scarcity even when food is abundant. Regular nourishment tells the system there’s no emergency, no need to stay vigilant.

Food plays a quiet but powerful role in this rhythm. Cortisol steadies when meals are regular, grounding, and sufficiently nourishing, especially earlier in the day. Protein at breakfast or lunch, carbohydrates that come from real food rather than urgency, fats that slow things down just enough for the body to feel held. What tends to disrupt the rhythm isn’t any single ingredient so much as substitution: caffeine used to replace fuel, alcohol used to manufacture relaxation, sugar used to offer quick comfort when the system is already depleted. None of these are moral failures, especially during the holidays, when sweetness is woven into connection and celebration. The trouble comes when sugar arrives alone, late, or as a stand-in for nourishment rather than part of it.

In winter, the body responds best to food that’s predictable and warm. Food that says energy is available now, not later, not if you earn it. When that message is consistent, cortisol doesn’t have to stay on call.

The body still needs to move, but what helps now isn’t intensity or depletion. Movement doesn’t disappear in winter. It simply changes its role. Movement works best when it warms rather than drains, strengthens rather than exhausts. Walking, gentle strength, mobility, stretching. Movement that leaves you more settled than when you began. This isn’t about

add gentle digestive support and comfort. Orange peel lifts the blend just enough to keep it from feeling heavy. A touch of sweetness can help the body feel resourced as the day begins, supporting a steadier morning rhythm. If you still love your morning coffee, this tea can come first.

Winter Breakfast Bowl

Steady fuel for cold mornings

This is the kind of breakfast that doesn’t rush you into the day. It lets your body know there will be enough, and that the morning doesn’t need to be met with effort alone.

You’ll need:

• Cooked steel-cut oats, buckwheat, or quinoa

• A spoonful of ghee, butter, or coconut oil

• 1–2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

• Stewed fruit (apples or pears gently cooked with cinnamon)

• A small handful of nuts or seeds (walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds)

• A drizzle of real maple syrup

• Optional: a large spoonful of ricotta cheese,

doing less. It’s about choosing movement that lets the nervous system know it’s safe to participate.

Wintering sometimes speaks through the joints. Extra stiffness in the morning. A deeper ache that takes longer to fade. A sense that the body needs more time to warm itself into motion. This isn’t always a sign that something is wrong or wearing out. Often it’s connective tissue responding to cold, reduced circulation, quieter movement, and a stress system still finding its way back to balance. At the same time, the body isn’t asking to be ignored. If pain is persistent, worsening, or not improving with warmth, rest, and gentle movement, it’s important to pay attention and seek care. Most of the time, though, what helps isn’t force, but warmth and consistency, movement that lubricates rather than strains, nourishment that supports repair, and sleep that steadies inflammation. When the body feels predictable again, even the joints tend to soften their watchfulness.

Evenings, perhaps most of all, carry weight. An evening that softens, with lights dimmed, stimulation reduced, and demands allowed to fall away, gives cortisol permission to step back. Keeping the day bright, loud, and urgent deep into the night tells the body to remain on watch. Letting it quiet restores the rhythm. These aren’t wellness rules.

They’re signals.

Each one tells the body the same thing in a different language: time is reliable, resources are available, rest is coming. When the system receives those signals consistently, cortisol does exactly what it’s meant to do, rising when useful and receding when not.

Wintering isn’t about withdrawal or stagnation.

It’s about maintenance, and about staying intact through the low-light months so that growth, when it returns, doesn’t come at the cost of collapse.

January doesn’t ask for reinvention. It asks for steadiness.

Cortisol doesn’t need to be fixed. It needs to know the season has been acknowledged, and winter, when we stop fighting it, teaches the body how to wait without panic, how to hold rhythm until the light returns. Have a warm, wonderful and relaxing month!

yogurt, or cottage cheese

How to make it:

Warm your grains until they’re soft and steaming. Stir in the fat first, then the ground flaxseed. Add the stewed fruit and nuts or seeds. Finish with a small drizzle of maple syrup and a spoonful of ricotta, yogurt, or cottage cheese if you like. Eat it warm, seated, and without rushing.

Why it works:

Steel-cut oats, buckwheat, and quinoa are grounding and easy to digest in winter. Flaxseed supports digestion and helps steady blood sugar. Fat slows absorption and signals safety to the nervous system. Ricotta, yogurt, or cottage cheese adds gentle protein without heaviness. Maple syrup offers a soft sweetness and trace minerals that the body often experiences as comforting rather than alarming. Together, this kind of breakfast supports the morning rise of cortisol without overstimulation and helps energy unfold more evenly through the day.

Grab your sisters and head to Playhouse Square to see ‘Suffs’

By LINDA FEAGLER

As David Greene, senior vice president of programming at Playhouse Square, settled into his seat at Broadway’s Music Box Theatre in May 2024 and waited for the curtain to rise, he pondered the show he was about to see.

“SUFFS,” a musical about the women’s suffragist movement in the early 20th-century, had opened at the New York theater two months before.

“I try not to read reviews and learn too much about a production before I see it,” Greene says. “I like to put myself in the audiences’ shoes and experience the show the way they’re going to.”

A Tony Award voter, Greene frequently travels to New York to see what’s playing on The Great White Way, and takes the lead in selecting shows for the KeyBank Broadway Series.

“I went in expecting to like the show, but not knowing a whole lot about it,” he adds. “I came out absolutely loving it, and knew it would be a good fit for Cleveland audiences.”

“SUFFS” will take center stage in Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace February 3 through 22.

Created by songwriter and performer Shaina Taub, the story centers on the suffragists — who called themselves Suffs for short — and their relentless pursuit to have equality with men at the ballot box. That tireless dedication ultimately led to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, granting women the right to vote and prohibiting the denial of suffrage based on sex.

“I started thinking about all the women I was

Ohio’s Connection to the Cause

close to — starting with my grandmother, who was born a year before the 19th amendment was ratified — and my mom, my wife and two daughters,” Greene says. “I felt goosebumps as I wondered how it was possible that it took until my grandmother was born to give women the right to vote, which is something we all take for granted.

“It seems as if passing the amendment should have been such an easy process,” he adds. “But it was a source of conflict between the different

By LINDA FEAGLER

It’s safe to say that were it not for Harriet Taylor Upton, more than half of us wouldn’t be where we are today. For it was Upton — one of Ohio’s most revered daughters — who helped lead the fight to give women the right to vote. The fruits of those labors were rewarded with ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920.

“People who knew her described Harriet

groups of women who were fighting for the same thing, but thought the strategies should be different — tension that continues in many forms today.”

A Vermont native, “SUFFS” playwright Taub launched her career performing in the original Off-Broadway casts of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” and “Hadestown.” She was intrigued by the story of the suffragists and convinced it would lend itself well to the stage.

“I learned a lot about history through musicals

as a very gentle and kind person — but very determined,” says Ken Conklin, past president of the Upton Association, an organization dedicated to preserving its namesake’s memory and sharing her story. “Harriet had a way,” he adds, “of pulling people to her way of thinking and doing what was right.”

Her former home at 380 Mahoning Ave. NW in Warren is now a National Historic

like “Cabaret” in high school and listening to the “Ragtime” cast album,” Taub explains during a 2024 interview with Vermont Public Radio. “It was my pathway to learning about history through the songs and the humanization of these characters as three-dimensional people.

“It struck me in my research how theatrical the Suffs social movement was,” she adds. “They really pioneered the use of visual rhetoric in social movements in terms of pageantry, design and literal choreography song and dance. It was exciting to me to think about how I could create a piece to tell the story to the next generation.”

“Suffs” went on to win a litany of Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards — and Taub became the first woman to ever independently win Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in the same season.

News outlets were generous in their praise of the musical: Variety proclaimed it to be “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining.” Deadline described it as “an enthralling, funny and beautifully sung musical.” Chicago Tribune declared that like “all the best Broadway musicals, SUFFS humanizes, empowers, moves and entertains.”

Greene agrees.

“First and foremost, I hope audiences are entertained and learn something new about our nation’s history,” he says.

“And,” he adds, “I hope they see how people just like themselves can be agents of change, regardless of what they’re fighting for. That you, as an ordinary person, can make a difference.” For ticket information visit playhousesquare.org

Landmark and education center. Each year, more than 1,500 students and 750 tourists visit the house where Upton lived from 1873 until the early 1930s. Because it’s not designated as a museum, the former dwelling can also be rented to the public for special events.

“Guests come in the front door, sit on the furniture and can use the dining room,”

Turn to Cause on Page 5

“Suffs” runs at Playhouse Square through Feb. 22.

Conklin says. “It’s their home for the day.”

In the parlor, surrounded by furnishings from the Victorian era, Conklin paints a verbal portrait of what life held for women over much of the last two centuries: How Abigail Adams, wife of second President John Adams, unsuccessfully lobbied for a Constitutional amendment to grant women the right to vote. And how, during the Civil War, they plowed fields, provided food for troops, tended the wounded and buried the dead.

They also kept a sharp eye on the passage of the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, the 14th Amendment granting citizenship to former slaves and the 15th Amendment granting all men the right to vote.

Their time for serious action was at hand.

Born in Ravenna in 1854, Upton came of age as American women began organizing to fight for their rights.

“As a very young girl, I first realized the difference in the positions of men and women,” she noted in her memoir, “Random Reflections,” most recently published in 2004. “Of course, I did not get it that clearly nor in that language. My grandmother used to work all day. I have heard my father say that he never remembered getting up in the morning when she was not ahead of him, or going to bed at night when she was not still working at something. … One day, after dinner when [my grandfather] was thus getting ready for a nap, I called grandmother onto the side porch and made her lie down on a settee. … I issued an order: ‘After this, when grandfather rests, you rest. ’Taint fair.’ She turned her face partly away from me, but soon I saw a tear roll down her cheek.”

When Upton’s widowed father, Judge Ezra Taylor, was appointed to Congress in 1880, she accompanied him to Washington, serving as hostess and companion. Upon meeting noted women’s activist Susan B. Anthony — and with support from her husband George, a prominent attorney — Upton dedicated herself to the cause.

“She spent the next 30 years fighting for women’s rights,” Conklin says.

Upton would go on to serve 18 years as president of the Ohio Women’s Suffrage Association, 15 years as treasurer of the National Women’s Suffrage Association and was a founding member of the National League of Women Voters.

The Washington Post commended her commitment, proclaiming “Mrs. Upton is without a doubt the best liked and wisest suffrage worker in the country. Always in times of stress, the other state leaders have to call on Mrs. Upton.”

Upton’s enthusiasm to the endeavor is spotlighted throughout the Upton House — from china emblazoned with “Votes for Women” to laudatory letters from Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding. “I have no doubt,” then-Senator Harding wrote in 1916, “that the time is reasonably near at hand when your fondest dream will be realized.”

As Conklin pauses in the dining room in which the suffragist entertained presidents that included James A. Garfield, William McKinley and Benjamin Harrison, he reflects on what Upton’s legacy has meant — and continues to mean — for the generations that followed.

“She and the suffragists changed the United States,” he says, “and everything they stood for was correct.”

With 19th Amendment success secured, Upton devoted herself to serving her hometown, which included founding and presiding over the Warren Chapter of the American Red Cross, and being the first women elected to the Warren Board of Education, for which she served for 15 years. Following her husband’s death in 1923 and with the onset of the Great Depression, Upton fell on hard times and relocated to California to live with a cousin until she died in 1945 at age 90. Her remains

were cremated and buried in a pauper’s grave in Pasadena’s Mount View Cemetery.

“Harriet never wanted to leave Ohio,” Conklin says, “so in 2010, we decided it was time to bring her home.”

Conklin and the Upton Association team petitioned the California courts and Mount View Cemetery to receive permission to do so.

After countless paperwork and emails Judge Mary Thornton House, presiding over the Los Angeles Superior Court, granted permission for Upton’s remains, along with the original headstone, to be delivered to Warren.

“The judge explained that if it were not for women like Harriet, she would not be sitting on the bench,” Conklin explains.

proclaims

In 2011, following a memorial service at Upton House, she was laid to rest among the pastoral ambiance of the backyard garden.

“The memory,” Conklin adds, “of what Harriet, along with a zillion other women fought for, should never die.” For information about tours and house rentals, visit uptonhouse.org.

Harriet Taylor Upton

The Upton House at 380 Mahoning Ave. NW in Warren is now a National Registered Historic Landmark and education center.

China

Upton’s dedication to her beliefs.

Ohio’s First Ladies portrayed by local women

By ANDREA C. TURNER

In February, we honor the nation’s presidents for President’s Day, but we do a lackluster job of honoring the women who have served as our country’s First Ladies – of which the state of Ohio boasts eight wives of U.S. presidents.

A local group of 15 women, many former educators, led by Jan Traxler formed a group to present an hour-long educational, yet entertaining program to share the little known facts about the lives and times of each of the individual First Ladies of the Ohio Presidents.

On December 10, about 100 people gathered for the “Ohio’s Presidents’ Wives” presentation at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Rocky River. Eight women portrayed First Ladies Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison, Julia Dent Grant, Lucy Webb Hayes, Lucretia Rudolph Garfield, Caroline Scott Harrison, Ida Saxton McKinley, Helen Herron Taft and Florence Kling Harding. Each told their story in the first person point of view and was dressed in period attire costumes.

Interestingly, Anna Harrison – wife of William Henry Harrison – was the only First Lady from Ohio who didn’t live in the White House. She remained in Ohio due to illness and her husband died just a month into his term before she could travel to Washington.

The hour-long presentation includes bits of info about many of the other first ladies too. For example, did you know that Dolly Madison was fond of using snuff? Or that Eleanor Roosevelt carried a pistol in her car

for security? Or that Jacqueline Kennedy spent more money on her wardrobe in the first year than her husband John earned as president?

Patricia Nixon once said that being the First Lady was, “the hardest unpaid job in the world.”

President James Buchanan was the only U.S. president who remained a bachelor. Considered unpopular during and after his presidency, it remains to be seen if he’s considered the worst U.S. president in history.

The group has presented programs to

audiences at churches, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and philanthropic educational organizations since 2007. They also offer a program titled, “Indomitable Women” highlighting women born in the 1800’s who have made significant contributions throughout history. Programs are provided free of charge from May 1 through December 1, but donations are welcome and are distributed to local and international charities.

To learn more information or to schedule a program for your group, contact Jan Traxler at jantraxler41@gmail.com or 440.773.9467.

“Death by Lightning,” a four-part miniseries on Netflix, documents the rise of Orange Township (now Moreland Hills) native James Garfield – the 20th U.S. president – who is buried alongside his wife “Crete” at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland. He was the last U.S. president to be born in a log cabin, and rose from humble beginnings to serve the nation. The mini-series is worth watching for Northeast Ohio’s role in U.S. presidential history and politics.

Jan Traxler and the Ohio’s Presidents’ Wives.

Photography by Andrea C. Turner

Actor Michael Shannon portrays President James Garfield and actress Betty Gilpin plays First Lady Lucretia “Crete” Garfield in Netflix’s “Death By Lightning.”

Photograph courtesy of Larry Horricks/Netflix

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

There is a milestone birthday celebration coming up and you are all invited.

In 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone, America 250, is an opportunity to reflect on our country’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead to the future we want to create for the next generation.

Museums and organizations throughout the country are inviting the American public to assist them in the celebration of this historic occasion. In Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Inter-Museum Council (NEOIMC) serves more than 140 member institutions in Cuyahoga and six adjacent counties. Catherine Burke Flament is vice president of the NEOIMC and director of the Bay Village Historical society. So far, she has compiled 51 ideas for the celebration, almost as many program ideas as there are weeks in the year.

Flament is looking for individuals or organizations with knowledge or expertise about subjects, collections or crafts related to that early period in our country’s history. She hopes to have weekly, informal presentations

about related subjects at the Bay Village Historical Society’s Rose Hill Museum.

The nearby Reuben Osborn Learning Center will be set up with historical displays including an Ohio quilt, Revolutionary War commemorative uniforms and the society’s collection of arrowheads. Each of the historical society’s four annual member meetings will feature speakers on topics related to the Revolutionary War period.

The public is invited to attend. Flament is also the author of an awardwinning book, “Retracing Footsteps: The History of Lakeside Cemetery.” It is a complete history of Dover Township’s first burying ground. A cemetery tour of the graves of Revolutionary War and soldiers of the War of 1812 is being planned for

this fall. Area boy and girl scouts are being recruited to assist with America 250 projects. One scout is researching a project that includes a cemetery plaque with a QR Code that would provide information about some of the inhabitants. Another scout is researching information about the Native Americans who lived in Dover Township at the time of the American Revolution.

The Bay Village Historical Society’s America 250 plans will be updated throughout the upcoming months at www.bayhistorical.com. If you have expertise that you would like to share on topics related to America 250, contact info@bayhistocical.com

Kelly Falcone Hall, president and CEO of the Western Reserve Historical Society

(WRHS) is a member of the America 250-Ohio Commission. In 2026, WRHS is offering a year of programs, exhibits and signature events and is curating a list of state-wide and national America 250 initiatives. For example, this year, WRHS is opening the Cranz Farm Inn in Bath Township for overnight stays, events and meeting, as a new way to engage both local and out-of-town guests in Northeast Ohio. At neighboring Hall Farm and Village, the past comes to life through Hale’s one-of-a-kind events and experiences for people of every age. At the Cleveland History Center, the vision is to create an International Heritage Gallery in late 2026. More announcements will be made at www.wrhs.org

Start your search for fashionable honeymoon attire at BASE BOUTIQUE, Chagrin Falls, 440.862.1389 or shopbaseboutique.com.

A beautiful 14KT yellow gold, pear shaped diamond, solitaire style engagement ring from ROBERT & GABRIEL JEWELERS. This classic, elegant ring can feature any shape diamond (natural or lab created) - round, oval, cushion, princess or emerald cut. We’ll make it especially for you, just as you wish. Lyndhurst, Robertandgabriel.com

Say yes to couture with the newly arrived Hayley Paige collection—think sculptural silhouettes, artful detail and eandless charm, exclusively at RADIANT BRIDE, Rocky River

Say “I do” to a one-of-a-kind gift. Engraved with an image of your wedding invitation, the Weston Vase commemorates the big day. MULHOLLAND & SACHS, Eton Chagrin Boulevard, Woodmere.

Win a dream wedding for free, courtesy of the new Honey Hill

Honey Hill, the new 400+guest event venue primarily designed for weddings and largescale events, plus smaller, more intimate gatherings, is donating a dream wedding for one deserving couple. This initiative is designed to recognize a couple whose story embodies authenticity, love and a deep appreciation for this next chapter of their story.

To bring this experience to life, Honey Hill has partnered with an outstanding group of local vendors. Together, they will award the winning couple a wedding package valued at more than $33,000 that includes:

Honey Hill will provide exclusive use of space including ceremony space, room rental and a full food and beverage package for up to 150 guests. Estimated value: $23,835

Lauren & Co Events will deliver full wedding management and coordination services, including florals and decor. Estimated value: $3,600

3 Little Birds Photography will capture the celebration with eight hours of wedding day coverage provided by two professional photographers. Estimated value: $4,000

Synapse Entertainment will supply DJ services for both the ceremony and reception, including uplighting and extended coverage. Estimated value: $2,500

To enter, submit a short video (must be under two minutes) along with a brief written explanation (3–5 sentences max) about why you and your partner deserve to win. Include how you met, what makes your relationship special and why this moment matters. Once materials are ready, submit to sweepstakes@ honeyhill.events

Once submissions close, a panel of judges will select 3–5 finalists to advance to the public voting phase, where finalists can rally community support during the first two weeks of March. Public voting will take place on Honey Hill’s website, where each couple’s story will live. The winning couple will then be announced ahead of The Hive and Honey’s grand opening weekend.

Key Dates:

Contest opened: January 12

Entry period: Through February 28

Voting opens: March 1

Voting closes: March 15

Winner announced: Between March 25-27

Wedding date: Friday between March 12, 2027 – May 14, 2027 (excluding April 2)

“Chagrin Valley has supported, inspired and trusted our business ventures throughout the years,” say Kimberly McCune Gibson and Jimmy Gibson, the husband-and-wife visionaries behind Honey Hill. “So many people have helped us along the way, and this wedding is one small way we want to pay it forward and help celebrate someone’s new beginning together is the most beautiful and magical way we know how. We’re excited to celebrate love while honoring the people and community that have always felt like home.”

Honey Hill is a 400+ guest event venue

where rustic charm meets modern elegance, designed to host everything from weddings and large-scale celebrations to intimate gatherings such as showers, graduations, milestone events and celebrations of life. Just minutes from the town’s historic downtown – known for its scenic waterfalls, charming shops and timeless architecture – Honey Hill offers a picture-perfect setting for any occasion.

Honey Hill is part of The Hive, the multiexperiential destination located inside the former Chagrin Cinema featuring restaurants, live music, gourmet to-go food, shopping, movies and more.

Honey Hill’s Wedding Sweepstakes official rules can be found at honeyhill.events/ honey-hill-sweepstakes-official-rules.

Honey Hill at a glance:

Location

Honey Hill is located in Chagrin Falls offering an idyllic setting for weddings and special events. Just minutes from the charming downtown, this premier venue provides a stunning backdrop for unforgettable celebrations. Not only will guests be captivated by the venue’s picturesque setting, but they’ll be conveniently located to enjoy all that both

Chagrin Falls and the city of Cleveland has to offer.

Capacity

Honey Hill is designed to comfortably host up to 400 guests for weddings and community events. This space can also artfully be arranged for intimate gatherings.

Catering

Guests will have access to an in-house gourmet eatery offering a delightful culinary experience, as well as a variety of connected cuisine and entertainment establishments that provide a diverse range of dining options. In addition, the venue is partnered with an extensive network of exceptional local vendors, ensuring top-tier services and unique offerings for any event.

Spaces

The event center offers a versatile layout that can be customized to suit a variety of occasions. The main center serves as a spacious gathering area, perfect for large celebrations, while smaller, more intimate spaces are available for private gatherings, cocktail hours, or breakout sessions. Honey Hill also features a one-of-a-kind Conservatory with panoramic views of the night sky, expansive windows,

and a flexible floorplan designed to host up to 300 guests.

Additionally, both indoor and outdoor areas are available, allowing guests to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings while providing flexibility for different event styles and preferences.

Amenities

Reservations include tables, chairs, and elegant floor-length linens, ensuring a sophisticated setting for your event. Additionally, all dinnerware, glassware, and flatware are provided for a seamless dining experience. Guests will also have access to a beautifully appointed bridal suite and a comfortable groom’s lounge, both designed for relaxation and convenience.

Booking

Honey Hill is now accepting bookings for spring 2026 and beyond.

About

Us

Honey Hill will open April 1, 2026 at 8200 East Washington in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Please visit HoneyHill.events to stay updated on progress and to learn more. Or follow Honey Hill on Instagram and Facebook at @honeyhill.events.

Rocky River

Perfect Bliss …

Payton Fricke and Mark Elliott share wedding memories, advice

Payton Fricke and Mark Elliott met through mutual friends in 2018 when they were both living in Atlanta. Mark is originally from Florida and works in private banking. Payton is from Chagrin Falls, where as a senior in high school she shadowed a speech pathologist. The experience left quite an impression, and Payton switched from a career in advertising to get a master’s at UVA, ending up in Charlottesville. The couple dated and did the long-distance relationship thing until Mark decided to join her in Virginia. By summer of

2024 the couple adopted a dog together. By October 2024, Mark flew to Cleveland alone to ask Payton’s parents, Laura and Wade, for permission to marry her.

“I’m the worst liar,” Mark says. “She asked me ‘where are you going?’ and I was just… huh… um… you know… I’ll be right back… When I proposed we were at a winery in Charlottesville, and we had forty people there.”

“This area has tons of wineries, breweries, cideries, they’re everywhere,” Payton says. “I like to think that I surprised her,” Mark

says. “At least I fool myself into thinking I did,” he adds.

Surprise or not, the wedding wheels were set in motion with the date of September 6, 2025. Payton says she and her mother did the planning and gives her mom most of the credit. “My mom had boots on the ground,” Payton says. “She knew the Cleveland scene, and this wouldn’t have happened without her. We tag-teamed it early on, and then we got Kirkbride’s involved for the last stage of planning. Ashley was a rock star. (Associate Planner Ashley Kitzberger.) “She took over vendor communication and handled everything the day of our event. To this day I don’t have any idea if something went wrong. I still don’t – my mom doesn’t either and I love that it stays that way, because that’s the last day you want to stress over things,” she says.

From their description now, months after the wedding, theirs seems to be the perfect blend of traditional and individual choices, with many nods to the past and family history, but also creating new customs that suited them as a couple, as well.

The colors Payton chose centered around hydrangea blue. Then she added a soft sage green for her bridesmaids’ gowns, and of course white. Dress shopping brought them to Radiant Bride in Rocky River. There, Payton discovered a dress recommended by her mother and sister – one she thought she wouldn’t like. She changed her mind, especially when the consultant found something similar that Payton loved. “But I wanted a bow on the back,” she says. “I asked about it, and they messaged the designer, Martina Liana, in Australia. And yes, I could have a custom bow in the exact same fabric. I listened to the consultant and asked about the addition – I wanted to be an easy customer. Nothing too crazy, but you never know until you ask.”

The couple’s rings were from Kleinhenz Jewelers, in Westlake. “They were my grandparents’ jeweler on my dad’s side,” Payton explains. “We only have one grandparent left between us, but they took good care of my grandparents, and they took good care of us.”

The wedding party included nine bridesmaids and six groomsmen. The couple got married at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. “I was a Sunday school teacher there,” Payton says. “I grew up there, attending with my family, so it was a full circle.”

The couple’s reception was held at The Country Club with a sit-down dinner for 150 guests. Again, Payton and Mark were delighted with their choice. “We decided on a duet plate – a small filet and sea bass with miso. Everyone got the same thing. If someone had some dietary issue, we made plans for that, but it was a lot easier for the kitchen – and us. Chef Ryan was a rock star. We had an idea for a pretzel bar for the cocktail hour, something with some cheese and mustard,

but he just ran with it. He invented this bar with different sized pretzels, and all these toppings – the guests loved it. I can’t sing his praises enough. They were a great partner.”

In one more creative twist, Payton and Mark decided against the traditional wedding cake for 150 guests. Instead, just after the cocktail hour, as people were finding their seats, the couple slipped away to a secluded room to enjoy a few of the hors d’oeuvres, a glass of champagne and their own private wedding cake – just for two. “I thought about the traditional: you have to have a cake,” Payton says. “But I realized I didn’t want to.”

Instead, the couple chose four desserts to represent four grandparents. They served lemon bars, a brownie/mousse shooter, a cookie skillet with ice cream and crème brulé, all with a sign indicating treats were ‘from the sweetest people we knew.’

As it turns out, 150 was just the right number of guests. “We had a chance to talk with everybody,” Mark says. “We didn’t feel rushed; it was a great number.”

A couple of take aways from their experience:

“I got this advice from a cousin who got it from his dad,” Mark says. “Pace yourself with alcohol. He said this is one of the most incredible days to remember – one of the few times you’ll have your friends and family together in the same room.”

“Take the dance lessons,” Payton says. “If you had told me we would be taking lessons, I would have said, well, we’ll just throw a couple of moves in. But once I thought about it, that people would be looking at us and taking photos and videos, I thought time would move too slowly. Even though it felt silly at the time, we took a few lessons, just so we could feel confident. It was nothing extravagant, but thank goodness we did,” she confides.

“And this is a bit cliché, but don’t get too bogged down in details. I’m Type A, and I spent too much time over details that didn’t matter – this shade of blue napkin or that shade – just pick. Don’t take three days to decide – save yourself some stress. No one is going to be talking about the napkins, only they love they saw.”

Finally, Payton describes one of her best memories – the chance to dance with her grandfather, John H. (“Jack”) Wilharm, Jr. “He’s the only grandparent we have left. I call him my Papa. He’s 93,” she says. “I got a ‘first look’ with him, and I was able to dance with him. We were so lucky he was able to be there.”

Payton Fricke Elliott and Mark Elliott are at home in Charlottesville, Virginia where they live with Brewster, their 90-pound Bernadoodle. The top layer of their wedding cake is carefully stored in the freezer and will be served on the couple’s anniversary in September this year.

Vendors:

• Venue @country_1889

• Church @fpccle

• Coordination @kirkbrides @ ashley_kirkbrides

• Floral Decor @avalongardens.farmerflorist

• Photography @genevievenislyphoto

• Dress @radiantbridecle

• Dress designer @martinalianabridal

• Bridesmaid Dresses @anthropologie

• Groom attire @theblacktux

• Jewelry @kleinhenzjewelers

• Cake @lizziesbakerynutfree

• Music @bluewaterkingsband

• Hair @kellysuplerhair

• Makeup @lindsaylondonbeautycle

• Stationary @cmaderstudio

• Shoes: @dolcevita

• Video @eventidecinema

Payton dances with her “Papa,” John H. (“Jack”) Wilharm, Jr.

Mark Elliott and Payton Fricke Elliot on their wedding day.

The refreshed and revitalized

Two Foundation

Two Foundation, dba Two & Company, exists to create opportunities for people of every ability to connect, work, grow and thrive. We are excited to share all there is to experience while you visit us. Our amazing community of stakeholders, including donors, schools, businesses, exceptional trainees, and customers, has helped create our unique model.

Shop at Two for beautiful gifts, clothing, toys, and home goods for everyone. Brands include Kut from the Kloth, DIFF Eyewear, Travis Mathew, Gentle Fawn, Thistle Farms, Arcona Skincare, and candles by Two graduates.

Try our seasonal drinks and pastries. Relax by our fireplace and enjoy memorabilia from Higbee’s, Terminal Tower, and the Silver Grille restaurant. Choose Two for your event and catering needs. Rent the venue or order from our menu of appetizers, salads, wraps, pastries, and more. View our

We love Catherine Regehr for WEDDINGS! Style, grace, color sense, lovely fabrics and the pizazz that our clients expect.  CINDY HALLE! Gates Mills.

catering menu online or design a custom menu. Call 440-384-3236 option 6 for questions.

Book The Twogather Inn, a charming 1853 house that sleeps 6, with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen, dining room, and living room. Reserve at twoandcompany.org/stay/

Our 60-person team delivers job training, placement, follow-along support, transportation, summer camps, fitness, and The Two16 Show. When you eat or shop, you help provide real-life training for job seekers. Over 130 businesses have hired Two graduates. Our graduates are the magic behind the Two and are opening eyes and hearts to all that is possible.

Two Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit. Please consider donating or attending our Harvest Moon event on September 26, 2026. Your support changes lives. Donate at twoandcompany.org/ donate

You may not need to call off the wedding because the prenup isn’t done

By Andrew Zashin

Wedding planning often comes with tight timelines and high emotions. For many couples, one of the most stressful last-minute issues is finalizing a prenuptial agreement before the ceremony. Until recently, that pressure carried real legal consequences in Ohio. If a prenuptial agreement was not completed before the wedding, couples often had limited options once married, which in some cases led to difficult decisions about whether to proceed with the ceremony as scheduled.

That changed on March 23, 2023, when Ohio Senate Bill 210 was signed into law. This legislation expressly permits married couples to enter into postnuptial agreements and allows spouses to modify or revoke existing prenuptial agreements. The enactment of this law represents a clear reversal of Ohio’s prior public policy, which had long disfavored agreements entered into after marriage.

A Reversal of Ohio Public Policy

Historically, Ohio was among a small number of states that did not recognize postnuptial agreements. The prior policy was based on concerns that agreements between spouses after marriage could encourage divorce or reflect unequal bargaining power. As a result, spouses generally could not redefine their financial rights after marriage except through separation or divorce proceedings.

Senate Bill 210 marks a significant departure from that approach. The new law recognizes that married couples should be able to define, update, and refine their financial arrangements as their lives evolve, provided appropriate safeguards are met. This shift brings Ohio in line with the majority of states and reflects a more modern understanding of marriage as

both a personal and economic partnership that may change over time. What Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements Can Do

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements allow couples to define their financial rights and obligations during marriage and in the event of divorce or death. These agreements can determine how marital assets or income accumulated during the marriage will be allocated if the marriage ends. They may also govern how assets are distributed upon the death of one spouse.

Do These Agreements Encourage Divorce?

Some believe that prenuptial or postnuptial agreements promote divorce because they contemplate its possibility. In practice, that concern is often misplaced. These agreements require couples to have open and candid discussions about finances, expectations, and long-term goals. By addressing these issues directly, couples develop a mutual understanding of the stakes and a shared framework for planning their lives together.

Rather than undermining marriage, this process can reduce uncertainty and conflict. When expectations are clearly defined, couples are often better positioned to navigate challenges and maintain stability within the marriage.

The Takeaway

If your wedding is approaching and your prenuptial agreement is not yet complete, you may not need to delay your plans. Ohio’s recognition of postnuptial agreements provides couples with flexibility while still encouraging thoughtful and responsible planning. Consulting with experienced family law counsel can help ensure that any agreement is properly drafted and aligned with your long-term goals.

Tanglewood Golf Club - a public club showcasing private club amenities.

Area boutiques carry extra-special items for new babies, families

By MARGARET CIBIK

For some, a new year brings a new baby. Moms and dads do their best preparing to welcome the latest addition to the family by reading parenting books, watching how-to YouTube videos and frantically trying to put nursery furniture together. With the stress of it all, it can be hard to stop, breathe and take a moment to realize how fun and special it can be too. That’s why three Chagrin Falls boutiques spill the milk on popular baby gifts that new parents will appreciate and use.

Little Babet in the shopping plaza is a onestop shop for all things babies with the latest must-haves that everyone is talking about. They have everything from clothes and accessories, like Lou Lou & Company two-piece sets and swaddles to nursery necessities and trending baby gear, such as the Hatch Rest, a light and sound machine that can be adjusted by the tap of a finger and controlled from an app. This popular gadget helps promote newborn rest as well as a calming environment for midnight feeds.

“We love the Hatch!” says store owner Samantha Probst. “I’ve tried so many different sound machines and these really do have a pleasant white noise maker. I know they make one for adults as well and they’ve done a lot of research into it. When this would be in our room with a newborn, we would sleep better.”

Car seats and strollers are another crucial gift on parents’ most-wanted lists. Little Babet has the best brands, like the Nuna PIPA which is lightweight and folds up easily, making it the perfect stroller for traveling.

Hedges on Franklin Street in Chagrin Falls has a cute little baby corner in-store with fun toys, books and outfits. Plus, they carry Jellycat, the TikTok craze stuffed animals and key chains that are only sold in select stores. “Any stuffed animal that you see in the store is Jellycat.” says store owner Sharon Tortola. “That’s all we carry. They’re cute, cuddly and whimsical.”

They also have a great selection of children’s books that can be paired with a Jellycat stuffy

and other awesome books from the Don’t Tickle Touchy Feely Sound Books series and 50 Things To Do Before You’re 5, a sweet activity book that opens kids’ minds and curiosity, getting them ready for that first, big kid, birthday milestone.

SHED Boutique and Wellness, owned by Michelle Kalinyak-Adams and Halle Bargar has a baby corner with sweet and classic keepsakes from quality brands. Look for Mon Ami plushy security blankets that come in a charming variety of cuddly animals from snuggly dinosaurs to silly bunnies and teddy bears. “People love these because they are so soft, easy and nice.” says sales associate Jana Berry. “I’ve given these! I think it’s a great gift.”

Not only do they have a fabulous Mon Ami selection, but they also have other revered brands like Comfort Silkie and Saranoni. SHED carries adorable baby clothes from popular lines like Barefoot Dreams and The Blueberry Hill for both boys and girls, as well as neutral items for parents who are waiting to be surprised on delivery day.

Little Babet is in the Chagrin Falls Shopping Plaza at 48 Plaza Dr, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022. Hedges can be found at 21 N.Franklin Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022. And SHED Boutique

and Wellness is at 27 N Franklin Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, 44022. For more information check out their websites at: littlebabet.com, hedgeschagrinfalls.com and shedchagrin.com

Hedges

Little Babet Shed

Wedding planning show to be held this weekend at I-X Center

Today’s Bride Magazine & Shows will host Ohio’s largest wedding planning event when the Today’s Bride Wedding Show returns to the I-X Center on January 24–25, 2026. In its 20th year at the iconic Cleveland venue, the two-day event brings together more than 200 of Northeast Ohio’s top wedding professionals, along with inspiration features, live fashion shows, and exclusive show-only offers.

The timing is relevant, as December remains one of the most popular months for engagements nationwide. With the average engagement lasting about 15 months in Northeast Ohio, the January show serves couples at every stage of planning, from newly engaged to those finalizing details.

“January is when many couples refocus on wedding planning, whether they just got engaged over the holidays or have been planning for months,” said Jennifer Judy, President of Today’s Bride. “Our I-X Center show helps couples connect with trusted local vendors, compare options side-by-side, and move their planning forward with confidence.”

The Today’s Bride Wedding Show draws thousands of attendees each year and showcases the latest trends in venues, florals, catering, photography, fashion, entertainment, travel, and more. Attendees can meet vendors face-to-face, enjoy live runway fashion shows both days, sample food from caterers and bakeries, and enter giveaways and prize drawings.

“I have attended several Today’s Bride Shows, and they never disappoint,” said Danielle J., a bride-to-be. “The variety of vendors is amazing, and the shows make wedding planning so much easier.”

Event Details

Today’s Bride Wedding Show Saturday, January 24, 2026,11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, January 25, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m I-X Center, One I-X Center Drive,

About Today’s Bride

For more than 36 years, Today’s Bride has been a trusted connection between Northeast Ohio couples

and local wedding professionals. Locally owned and operated in Akron, Ohio, Today’s Bride hosts multiple wedding shows annually, publishes a regional wedding magazine, and provides planning resources at TodaysBride.com

Cleveland, OH 44135 Tickets are $15 at the door. More information available at TodaysBride.com/ January

Beautiful Beachwood home for sale on one-acre lot

By RITA KUEBER

From the outside, this 1958 Colonial has a classic brick and wood façade that blends in beautifully with its neighbors on the westbound side of Shaker, just east of Richmond Road. Set back from the street, the acre lot offers a lovely side and back yard, blending with the adjoining back yards of the street behind. There’s a side driveway and attached garage. In the front, a curving outdoor bluestone walkway leads past the kitchen to the front door and a cozy front porch with a redwood ceiling. From the driveway and garage the visitor enters the large, well-designed kitchen that was updated in 2021. It has a beautiful maple hard wood floor, breakfast bar/prep island, quartz countertops, high-end appliances, and loads of built-ins for convenient storage. There’s under-cabinet lighting too. Half the kitchen is squared off for the work area, but this flows effortlessly to the other half that accommodates an eat-in area, and the staircase to the second floor.

Just beyond the kitchen is a short, formal foyer. This leads to what’s technically the dining room, but given the cleverly crafted expansion, the possibilities for this space are numerous and varied. There is a wood-burning fireplace on the wall closest to the kitchen. The room itself is curved, which allows for a round table for eating in front of the fireplace, or a smaller table with a sitting area. To the left is a welcoming little nook that could be used for a cocktail corner or a second entry.

A large door here allows access to the side paver patio.

Originally this is where the house ended. But renovations in 2005 opened up the back of the house to add an airy 24 x 21 living room that has a corner brick fireplace and mantel, built-in cherry cabinets and a wet bar. Here the floors are oak, and custom built-in bookcases line the wall. The vaulted ceiling

has accent lighting high in the eaves, giving the room a warm glow. The living room has plenty of natural light as well, since the far wall is all windows.

The two original bedrooms are on the second floor each with its own full bath. But on the first floor, the owners pushed out more walls and added on, so now the primary suite includes a large bedroom adjacent to a

primary bath that has twin sinks, oversized tile shower and private loo. The suite also has walk-in closets and a long wall filled with built-in drawers and cabinets.

Next to this suite is a second suite, accessed by a short hall lined with built-in bookshelves. Here, to the left is a laundry room, to the right a small office or nursery, and ahead, another spacious bedroom with its own full bath, the walls trimmed in beautiful dark blue tile.

The lower level has scads of storage and enough room to fit in an exercise area or playroom. There’s a wood-working room on this level, as well as a mechanical room. With the expansion, the house now has two furnaces and two air conditioning systems, and all four were recently replaced.

The charm of this house isn’t in its size or grandeur, although it is comfortably roomy and has a mid-century modern dignity about it. But the true appeal of this house is twofold – it’s livability and the attention to detail throughout – and these came with the renovations. The dining room could be set for two or twenty. Rearranging the furniture would result in an intimate reading nook before the fireplace or a lively game area. And everywhere are examples of intelligent design – from the walls filled with bookshelves to the additional accent and ambient lighting everywhere, not to mention the detailed crown molding and

tray ceilings in most of the rooms. This is a house designed with exquisite taste, just waiting for the next owner to come along and make it their own.

The house at 26161 Shaker Blvd. has 4,352 square feet over two floors plus a lower level. Four bedrooms – two on the main floor – and four full baths. One acre lot. The attached garage has two large bays. Invisible Fence in the back yard. Public water and sewer. Beachwood School District. Represented by Sharon Friedman, Berkshire Hathaway HomseServices Professional Realty. At press time the property is listed at $995,000 with annual taxes of $8,147. Contact Sharon Friedman at 216-338-3233 or sfriedman@ bhhspro.com