Currents May 15, 2025 issue

Thanks to the Toledo Museum of Art for our May cover photograph, painted in the early 1700s by Dutch artist Rachel Ruysch. You can see more of this trailblazing artist’s work in a retrospective of more than 50 of her paintings at the Toledo Museum of Art through July 27. Entitled, “Rachel Ruysch: Nature Into Art,” this is the first solo showcase of Ruysch’s beautiful work. Read more about the artist and the exhibit on page C6.

INSIDE

A 6

A 13 B

SUMMER IN NEO

Visit beautiful Lake View Cemetery this season

By Andrea C. Turner

IN THE CLE

Magnificent, one-of-a-kind 24-acre Estate for sale in Hunting Valley

By Rita Kueber

HOME & GARDEN

Shop upscale vintage shops for unique fashion treasures

By Maggie Cibik

BENEFIT BEAT

Visit currentsneo.com to submit your events or wedding.

Saturday, May 31...Nature at Night: Metamorphosis, to benefit Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. This event will celebrate the beauty and transformation of metamorphosis. From the subtle shifts of twilight to the dramatic unveiling of nocturnal wonders, the evening promises an immersive experience celebrating nature’s power to adapt, reform, and thrive. Guests will experience an evolutionary event with delicious food from Cleveland’s top chefs, including James Beard nominees Douglas Katz and Vinnie Cimino, with captivating performances symbolizing the everchanging rhythm of the natural world.

Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1...Warehouse Sale, to benefit Hospice of the Western Reserve, at Hospice Headquarters, 17876 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. Find gently used home furnishings, accents and accessories, all priced at a fraction of their original prices. This sale only – 50 percent off all purses, necklaces and pillows. Sale often includes sets of fine china, glassware, antiques, jewelry, collectibles and one-of-a-kind treasures. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call 216.255.9090.

Friday, June 6...Bash for the Brook, to benefit Beech Brook, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Topgolf, 5280 Rockside Woods Blvd., Independence, 44131. Cocktails, food, fun activities, live music and more.

Saturday, June 7 … Prom Rewind, to benefit Children’s Museum of Cleveland’s Wonder Fund, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Museum. Revisit the magic of prom as the Museum will be transformed into an unforgettable prom-night experience. Guests are encouraged to don their best formal wear and enjoy an evening filled with music, dancing, games, and nostalgic fun. From a lively dance floor and a karaoke lounge to lawn games and DIY craft stations for corsages and photo frames, Prom Rewind promises a night of joy and creativity. Light snacks and two drink tickets (beer and wine) are included with admission, and a keepsake prom photo will ensure the memories last long after the night ends. Tickets are $50 per person and are available now at https://cmcleveland.org/events/. This event is open to guests ages 18 and older. Proceeds from Prom Rewind benefit CMC’s Wonder Fund, which provides free and reduced admission to ensure that all children in our community have access to the power of play and learning. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://cmcleveland.org/events/.

Thursday, June 12...”Duets,” to benefit Our Lady of the Wayside, at Gordon Green beginning at 5 p.m. The evening features live music, with food and drink provided by Spice Catering. Visit http://www.thewayside.org for ticket information.

C10

FASHION

Evolution of women’s swimwear … from bloomers to bikinis

By Jeannie Emser Schultz

Northeast Ohio’s First Social Network

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

APRIL EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS: Maggie B. Cibik, Cynthia Schuster Eakin, Rita Kueber, Anastasia Nicholas, Andrea C. Turner, Jeannie Emser Schultz

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.

More than 370 guests attended Leadership Geauga’s annual Emerald Ball held at Landerhaven in early March, raising a profit of more than $110,000. Celebrated at the event was the organization’s 30th anniversary as well as this year’s Emerald Leaders, past executive directors Alice Sems, Dr. Bob Faehnle, and Melanie Scanlon.

Sems, appointed Leadership Geauga’s first executive director in 1997, reflected on the

Leadership Geauga “Emerald Ball”

organization’s early days and her wonderful memories, concluding, “I want to thank you, Leadership Geauga, for making my life and this county a better place.”

During 13 years as executive director, beginning in 2004, Dr. Faehnle said he tried to define leadership. Under his leadership, a $20,000 Cleveland Foundation grant in 2008 funded the creation of the Youth Leadership Institute, a summer program to help high

school juniors and seniors grow.

A lifelong Geauga County resident, Scanlon a few years ago during her time as executive director started the annual “Call to the Heart” tradition of raising funds for the Emerald Leader’s chosen nonprofit during the Emerald Ball, the nonprofit’s largest annual fundraiser. She also secured $120,000 from the Cleveland Foundation to launch the Heritage Program for Retirees in 2020.

Gue sts enjoyed games, a selfie station, and silent and live auctions with prizes like a maple-themed dinner at Hanley Sugar House, a weeklong stay at the Blue Ridge Mountains, and a five-night, all-inclusive stay for two in Punta Cana or Cancun. After a chicken and beef dinner, guests danced the night away to a DJ at the first-ever Emerald Afterball.

AND

of Mind

At Senior Solutions, we understand the unique needs of our

You’ve noticed the changes—mom forgetting her medications, dad struggling to keep the house in order, or a loved one feeling isolated and overwhelmed. You want the best for them, but life’s demands make it hard to give the care and attention they deserve. The worry keeps you up at night: Are they safe? Are they eating well? Are they lonely?

and attention they deserve. The worry keeps you up at night: Are they safe? Are they eating well? Are they lonely?

You’ve noticed the changes—mom forgetting her medications, dad struggling to keep the house in order, or a loved one feeling isolated and overwhelmed. You want the best for them, but life’s demands make it hard to give the care and attention they deserve. The worry keeps you up at night: Are they safe? Are they eating well? Are they lonely?

dedicated owner, Jamie Berns, to find the perfect care solution.

and their families. That’s why you’ll always connect with our dedicated owner, Jamie Berns, to find the perfect care solution.

At Senior Solutions, we bring families peace of mind by providing personalized, compassionate care around the clock. Whether your loved one needs help with daily tasks, companionship to lift their spirits, or full 24/7 support, we’re here to make their life—and yours—easier.

At Senior Solutions, we bring families peace of mind by providing personalized, compassionate care around the clock. Whether your loved one needs help with daily tasks, companionship to lift their spirits, or full 24/7 support, we’re here to make their life—and yours—easier.

At Senior Solutions, we bring families peace of mind by providing personalized, compassionate care around the clock. Whether your loved one needs help with daily tasks, companionship to lift their spirits, or full 24/7 support, we’re here to make their life—and yours—easier.

Let us handle the care, so you can focus on making memories.

to learn how we can help. Because every

Call Jamie Berns at 216-925-3042 or email jberns@seniorsolutions.site Visit seniorsolutions.site to learn how we can help. Because every family deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved one is in caring hands.

to learn how we can help. Because every family deserves the peace of mind that with knowing their loved one is in caring hands.

deserves the peace of mind that

STORY

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANASTASIA NICHOLAS

Marcia Owen, Paige Orvis, and Mary Beth O’Neill, 2023 Emerald Leader

Pam and Dr. Bob Faehnle

Alice Sems and Susan Calzada

Jimmy and Kimberly Gibson

Executive Director Meredith Ashkettle and Outreach Manager Amy Murfello

By ANDREA C. TURNER

A visit to Daffodil Hill at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland is a rite of passage in springtime. But, did you know that Lake View is now a certified Level 2 Arboretum by ArbNet, a global initiative that provides accreditation through their Arboretum Accreditation Program? For this accreditation, Lake View met specific requirements, such as having an arboretum plan, a collections policy, a governance group, more than 100 different species of woody plants, volunteers, a paid horticulture staff, public access, special events, educational programs, as well as proof of its long-term commitment to maintaining the arboretum.

Lake View offers a bounty of programs this summer so, on your next visit, make sure to take time to admire the diversity of trees and shrubs in this park-like community landmark.

Saturday, May 17 and Saturday, August 16, 10:30-11:45 a.m., $25

Guided Mindfulness Meditation and Soundbath: Join Lindsay Stefans of Selfspace Meditation Studio in the Wade Memorial Chapel. A cushion for the bench and water bottle are optional for attendees.

May 22, May 23 & May 24

Memorial Day Flag Placement: More than 9,000 veterans are buried at Lake View Cemetery. Honor their memory by joining other volunteers to place flags at their graves. All are welcome – corporations, scouts, families, and groups encouraged. Contact Greta Rothman, Director of Development at grothman@ lakeviewcemetery.com or 216.453.0990 to register yourself or a group.

Monday, May 26, 10:30 a.m.

Memorial Day Observance: Gather at the James A. Garfield Memorial for a special program honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the US Armed Forces. Lawn chairs are encouraged. The event will be held rain or shine. Rain location will be the Community Mausoleum inside the Mayfield

Road gate. Sponsored by the Leonard C. Horvitz Family in his memory, and to honor all the veterans who served our country.

June 8, June 22, July 13, August 10, and August 24

Summer Trolley Tours, $35

Board the trolley on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m to enjoy the journey through the breathtaking landscape and captivating stories of the cemetery’s most notable residents. Bring a picnic and stay for the free Summer Band Concert at Daffodil Hill. This tour will start at the Euclid Avenue office and last approximately 75 minutes. Boarding the trolley requires five steps. Since this tour is offered on multiple dates and times, please select your preferred time slot carefully. If the event is sold out and you would like to be added to the wait list, contact Kim Bihler, Director of Donor Services at kbihler@lakeviewcemetery.com .Water bottles are welcome on the trolley, but no food or other beverages. Visit lakeviewcemetery. com/events to reserve a spot.

Summer Band Concerts at Daffodil Hill, Free

Sunday, June 8: 4-6 p.m. Blue Lunch is a nine-piece band blending Blues, Soul, New Orleans R&B, and Jazz for 39 years. They’ve performed at the Tri-C JazzFest and Pittsburgh Blues Festival, as well as venues like Nighttown and Bop Stop.

Sunday, June 22: 4-6 p.m. Summer Band Concert: Cats On Holiday is a Cleveland-based Swamp Pop band that has been pleasing audiences for 20 years with their own special blend of Louisiana inspired rock/roots/Zydeco.

Thursday, June 19, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., $20 Network to Freedom Walking Tour: In celebration of Juneteenth, join Lake View guides on a tour highlighting individuals who were descendants of freedom seekers, those who assisted freedom seekers in their escape, and those who were influential in the larger fight to abolish slavery. This tour will start at the James A. Garfield Memorial and will be approximately 2 miles, on paved roads and

grassy terrain that may be hilly or uneven at points and will last roughly 90 minutes.

Thursday, June 19-29

Cleveland History Days: Lake View joins more than 40 community organizations to present 10 days of programs and events celebrating Cleveland ‘s rich history. Check website for updates.

Wednesday, June 25, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., $20

Landscapes, Landmarks, & Legacies, Sections 1, 14, 11, 6: A guided walking tour featuring a few of the cemetery’s oldest but storied sections. This tour will start at Wade Memorial Chapel and will be approximately 1.5 miles, on paved roads and grassy terrain that may be hilly or uneven at points and will last roughly 90 minutes.

Friday, June 27, 7-9:30 p.m., Children: $10, Adults: $25

Summer Firefly Spotting: Join naturalists from Cleveland Metroparks as they shine a light on the more than 20 species of fireflies that call Northeast Ohio home. This event will take place at the Sod Field, directly next to the Garden Crypts. Picnics, blankets and camp chairs are encouraged for this familyfriendly event.

Friday, July 11, 10-11:30 a.m., $20

Landscapes, Landmarks, & Legacies, Sections 2, 7,13: Venture onto the path less taken with a guided walking tour of those laid to rest on Lake View’s Nature Trail, and historic mausoleums at the base of the dam. This tour will start at Daffodil Hill and will be approximately 1.5 miles, on paved roads and grassy terrain that may be hilly or uneven at points and will last roughly 90 minutes.

Sunday, July 13, 6-7:30 p.m., Free Classically Lake View: BlueWater Chamber Orchestra. This family-friendly summer program of American and European classics takes place outdoors at Daffodil Hill. BlueWater, Cleveland’s premier Chamber Orchestra, will partner with soloists from The Turn to Lakeview on Page 8

Blue Water Chamber Orchestra performs June 8.

The Littlest Heroes “Mardi Gras, German Fasching”

Krampus’ alter-ego wins the men’s stein-holding completion.

Hofbräuhaus Cleveland was the setting for The Littlest Heroes Pediatric Cancer Foundation event on Fat Tuesday, March 4, celebrating Mardi Gras. Approximately 65 attendees came out to enjoy a masquerade ball with costumes, masks, and culture to raise nearly $5,000 for the nonprofit organization.

The Littlest Heroes serves as a safety net to families who have a child living with cancer, regardless of income level. It provides emergency financial and emotional support to keep families in their homes, keep the lights on, and keep food on the table.

The experience of Pediatric and Adolescent Young Adult Cancer is different from that of adult cancer because the entire family is usually completely involved in the illness. When parents receive their child’s cancer diagnosis, their first thoughts immediately turn to the health and well-being of their child. Unfortunately, cancer also creates unforeseen financial crises, especially when one parent is forced to take a leave from their job to care for the child.

German band North Coast Prost entertained the crowd with traditional, danceable tunes as patrons polka’d in the restaurant’s aisles. Guests

North Coast Prost entertained the crowd.

enjoyed heavy appetizers, raffles, shot-skis, and plenty of steins of beer. Men and women participated in stein holding competitions to see who could hold up a pint the longest.

Volunteers from Baldwin Wallace University helped out at the event; these students are enrolled in its grant-writing class so were getting some real-world experience in fundraising for a worthy cause. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY

ANDREA C. TURNER

cont’d from Page 6

Cleveland Orchestra. This exciting evening will be led by Artistic Director Daniel Meyer. It is sponsored by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.

Thursday, July 17, 10:30 am-12 p.m., $20

Nature Walk - Summer Flowers: Take a stroll with horticulturists to observe the seasonal wonders of Lake View. This tour will start at Daffodil Hill and be less than 1.5 miles, on paved roads and grassy terrain that may be hilly or uneven at points and will last roughly 90 minutes.

Tuesday, July 22, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m., $20 Landscapes, Landmarks, & Legacies –Cleveland Greats: Dating back more than 150 years, dozens of Cleveland’s most influential figures have chosen Lake View as their final resting place. Embark on a journey through the lives and legacies of these storied leaders with one of Lake View’s expert guides. This tour starts at the James A. Garfield Memorial and will be approximately two miles, on paved roads and grassy terrain that may be hilly or uneven at points and will last roughly 90 minutes.

Saturday, August 9, 7 p.m. Bat Night: Learn about the amazing lives of bats, the only mammal capable of flight, with naturalists from Cleveland Metroparks. Naturalists will lead a hike to spot bats as they fill the night sky.

Friday, September 19, 6 p.m. Coppers, Robbers, and Mobsters: Investigate the lives of notable law enforcement personalities and the crimes they helped to solve.

Sunday, September 21, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 14th Annual Run Through History: this fun-filled morning of activities includes a 5K Race (8:50 a.m.) and a 2-mile Walk/Run (9 a.m.) Each course takes participants through the picturesque garden cemetery, with its challenging hills and winding roads. For more details and to register, visit the website. Proceeds from all programming benefits the Lake View Cemetery Foundation’s mission to preserve the arboretum and historic landscape and to fund educational programs. Tours and programs will go on regardless of rain, with refunds only if canceled and not rescheduled. All sales are final.

Lakeview

A party-going king hands out Mardi Gras coins to kids.

A young participant enjoys the festivities.

Arts

By ANDREA C. TURNER

Arts Impact presents “Creating Impact,” a new student art exhibit showcasing 250+ works created by Cleveland Metropolitan School District students participating in Arts Impact’s innovative arts-integrated programs. The exhibit opens May 16 at the Cleveland Public Library 2nd Floor Learning Commons, Louis Stokes Wing, 525 Superior Avenue. The public is invited to the opening reception with artists, students and families on Saturday, May 17, from 12-2 p.m. Rick Grahovac, Arts Impact’s Executive Director, will make brief remarks at 1 p.m.

All artwork was originally created during a residency with a professional artist from Arts Impact. Each piece is the result of dynamic classroom experiences where visual art, dance, sculpture, printmaking, and more were woven into core academic subjects like science, math, English language arts, social studies, and social-emotional learning. Through these projects, students learned through discovery, expression, and connection.

From geometric installations that explore math concepts to expressive drawings that reflect personal growth and empathy, each piece on display tells a story of how creativity can deepen understanding and ignite curiosity. These vibrant pieces represent the voices and visions of students in grades K–8, capturing their interpretations of classroom content

through an artistic lens. The collection is a celebration of student achievement and a powerful testament to the transformative impact of integrating the arts into education.

The event is free and has a drop-in format, but RSVP’s are encouraged. Please e-mail info@artsimpact.org to RSVP. Exhibit dates are Friday, May 16, through Thursday, May 22. Exhibit is open during library hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Sundays. Personalized tours are available with advance notice.

For more info, visit https://artsimpact.org/creatingimpact-opening-reception/

Explore Cleveland with guided tour from Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corp.

Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation (HGNC) is excited to announce the official launch of the 2025 Take a Hike® season, offering more opportunities than ever to experience Cleveland’s rich history, culture, and architecture through immersive guided tours.

The flagship Summer Series returns from June 1 through September 30 with FREE 90-minute guided walking tours across Cleveland’s historic and landmark neighborhoods. This year’s schedule features 17 distinct tours with over 140 tour dates offered—crowd favorites like Playhouse Square, University Circle, Ohio City, and Veterans Memorial Bridge, as well as new additions like the Monroe Street Cemetery Tour and Look Up! Architecture Tour. Guided by expert storytellers, guests will explore fascinating stories and architectural gems that have shaped the city’s past and present.

New this year, the Stroll Series brings a fresh way to explore Cleveland with shorter themed tours offered every Tuesday from May through November. There are 16 engaging strolls in the works – including heritage-focused experiences such as Slovenian and Ukrainian Heritage tours in May – offering a deeper dive into the diverse communities that make up the fabric of Cleveland. Strolls are also different in that they may include stops inside churches and/or museums, or food tastings. Registration is available now at TakeAHikeCLE.com. While most tours are free, selected tours require advance ticket reservations due to their popularity or amenities provided on the tour. For more information please visit TakeAHikeCLE.com or follow @TakeAHikeCLE across social platforms.

Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation is a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to promoting historic, cultural, and heritage preservation through advocacy, education, and programs that support the ongoing revitalization of Cleveland’s unique historic district

Lessons From The Tree of Life: Lighting the Path Forward

The Tree of Life’s traveling installation about what happened on October 27, 2018, the community’s response to the deadliest antisemitic attack in the United States, the reimagining of The Tree of Life, and the history of antisemitism in America.

Created in partnership with the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives at the Heinz History Center, the installation features curated items gifted to the Pittsburgh Jewish community in the aftermath of the attack. It challenges visitors to reflect on the impact of antisemitism in America and seeks to inspire action to build a future rooted in resilience and understanding.

Produced by

2 Color Poses - Plexiglass

Electric Car – wood, acrylic, motor

Sting Ray – collage

Spring Cleaning, Fairy Dust, and the Magic of Appraisals

By Tim Luke, CAI, BAS, MPPA, ISA-AM

Ah, spring! The season of sunshine, blooming flowers, and the sudden, overwhelming urge to purge your home of everything dusty and cluttered. It’s a time for fresh starts, open windows, and discovering treasures (and maybe a few dust bunnies the size of small pets) lurking in the forgotten corners of your attic. But a curious thing often happens amidst the joyful chaos of sorting through old sweaters and forgotten knick-knacks. You stumble upon something…special. Grandma’s antique brooch, perhaps, or that painting you inherited hanging in the spare bedroom for years. Suddenly, the spring-cleaning project takes a turn. Is this just a pretty trinket, or could it be something more? This, my friends, is where the magic of appraisals comes in. Think of appraisers as the fairy godparents of your possessions. They possess the knowledge and expertise to transform the mundane into the magnificent (or sometimes confirm that your “priceless” porcelain cat collection is, in fact, just a collection of porcelain cats).

Imagine this: you’re wielding a feather duster like a valiant knight battling dust dragons, and you unearth a dusty old box. Inside is a peculiar-looking vase, nestled amongst faded photographs and love letters. Is it a priceless Ming Dynasty heirloom or something you picked up at a garage sale for five bucks? Only a qualified appraiser can tell you for sure!

An appraisal isn’t just about putting a price tag on your stuff; it’s about uncovering the story behind it. It’s like a mini-history lesson, revealing the object’s origins, journey through time, and the craftsmanship that went into its creation. Suddenly, that dusty vase isn’t just an object; it’s a piece of history, a connection to the past. And let’s be honest: knowing the value of your possessions is also incredibly practical. Whether insuring your valuables, planning your estate, or satisfying your curiosity, an appraisal provides the information needed to make informed decisions. No more guessing games! No more wondering if that “art” your child created with finger paints and glitter is worth millions (spoiler alert: probably not, but it’s priceless to you, and that’s what truly matters).

So, as you embark on your decluttering adventure this spring, remember the magic of appraisals. They can add a touch of wonder to your spring cleaning, transforming ordinary objects into extraordinary stories. And who knows, maybe you’ll discover that the real treasure wasn’t the stuff you were getting rid of but the hidden gems you already owned.

For more information on appraisals, contact timluke@hindmanappraisals.com

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation “Chef’s Fantasy”

About 150 guests attended this year’s Chef’s Fantasy, one of Northeast Ohio’s best food, wine and auction events, held at the Ritz-Carlton Cleveland.

This year’s event included interactive tasting stations, followed by additional seated courses in the ballroom. Each course was prepared by a different stand-out local chef and perfectly paired with wine.

Chef ’s Fantasy live and silent auctions included oneof-a- kind travel and culinary packages.

The mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and to provide all people with cystic fibrosis the opportunity to lead long, fulfilled lives by funding

research and drug development, partnering with the cystic fibrosis community and advanced, high-quality, specialized care. Through improvements in treatment and care, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is adding tomorrows for people with the disease. A few decades ago, most people with the disease did not live long enough to attend elementary school. Today, people with the disease are graduating from high school and college, pursuing careers, getting married and starting families of their own. The Chef’s Fantasy event helped to raise more than $150,000 to support this mission.

STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN/ PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN

Joe Heider and Terry Johnson with Cyndi and Bob Troop

Emily, Kenneth, Erin and Kyle Hennessy

Ron and Janet Hess, Rick and Jana Parker, and Jackiie and Jason Hess

John Banks, and Allison and Nolan James

Kilgore Trout is Cleveland’s home to a curate collection of luxury clothing brands for men and women, enhanced by style advisers who can assist in capturing your personal style.

KILGORE TROUT, Eton Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere, 216.831.0488 or kilgoretrout.com.

It can be a challenge to find that perfect Father’s Day gift for the favorite dad ‘who has everything’ in your life, so consider framing something special to surprise him! From creating a shadowbox to framing favorite family photographs, grandchildren in action, beautiful vacation spots and more, Wood Trader specializes in framing memory-making moments. Consult with the experts on staff at Wood Trader and allow us to create something he will treasure forever. WOOD TRADER, 13429 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216.397.7671, woodtraderframing.com.

1501 Chagrin River Rd, Gates Mills, OH, 44040 440-423-0300

www.cindyhalle.com

Our wellness-based body care products make great gifts for grads - featuring a variety of products in three scents that they can use to spice up their college dorms.

BASE BOUTIQUE, 100 N. Main St., Suite 220, Chagrin Falls, 440.318.1012 or shopbaseboutique.com.

We love celebrating Father’s Day at CINDY HALLE! with our wonderful collection of Men’s cashmere sweaters! Everything from a pull over to a zip to a divine cashmere shirt that doubles as a jacket.... Great colors, lots of sizes and we have a perfect way to wrap it up so that all our Dads know we adore them! Cindy Halle! 1501 Chagrin River Rd., 440.423.0300 or visit cindyhalle.com

Easter Monday is the day Cleveland’s Polish community celebrates Dyngus Day or Wet Monday (Smigus-Dingus or lany poniedzialek in Polish) – observing the end of Lent and the joy of Easter. This year’s all-day event, filled with Polish culture and traditions, took place on April 21, and spanned several blocks of Detroit Avenue in the Gordon Square Arts District.

The day began with a mass at St. Stanislaus Church on East 65th Street. A street stage featured live music, as well as a separate stage located behind Gordon Green with music by the likes of Chardon’s Polka Band, Bob Earl and the Polish All Stars, Die Ünprönöüncëäblës, Fred Ziwich, Ed Rodick, and Da Land Brass Band. The party included polka, paczki and piwo, and was packed with authentic ethnic food, merchandise, bier, dancing and a pierogi eating contest.

Karen Colwell of Parma was crowned Miss Dyngus Day 2025, and was paraded down the street dressed in traditional red and white attire, spring flowers, and pussy willows while surrounded by beer-toting fans. DJ Kishka, known for his fake beard, kookiness, and polka parties at The Happy Dog Tavern, served as the event emcee. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER

DADS & GRADS

Miss Dyngus Day 2025 Karen Colwell (right) and husband Vince Colwell

Miss Dyngus Day 2020 and friend prepare to soak the crowd

Revelers enjoying traditional Polish foods of kielbasa and “bier-ogies”

DJ Kishka and Da Land Brass Band

Miss Dyngus Day runner-up Christine Tyburski Deidrick (in traditional costume) with her family

Public Square monument showcases Northeast Ohio’s past

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKINW

There is a door to Northeast Ohio’s historic past on Cleveland’s Public Square.

The Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument stands in silent witness to the sacrifices of more than 9,000 individuals from the county who served in the American Civil War.

The monument, built in 1894, is a unique combination of two common Civil War memorial styles: a tablet room and an obelisk. The tablet room contains the names of soldiers and sailors from the county, while the obelisk, one of the tallest structures in the city, lists major battles of the war. The figure on top is an allegorical representation of liberty.

The architect and sculptor was Levi T. Scofield. He served as a captain in the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. As an architect, he designed the Schofield Building on E. 9th St. and Euclid, the Mansfield Reformatory and the Athens Lunatic Asylum. He refused any compensation for his work on the monument. His name is listed on tablet 14 inside the structure and he is interred at Lake View Cemetery. During his career, Scofield dropped the “h” from his name, but it is retained in the name of his building as well as on his mausoleum.

The most symbolic panel of the monument shows the emancipation of the enslaved, rep-

resented by the open shackles in Abraham Lincoln’s right hand. This panel also depicts the establishment of the United States Colored Troops, represented by Lincoln handing a weapon to the newly emancipated man. The man kneeling, Dan R. Field, was born in the slave state of Louisiana. He fled to Ohio where he later participated in the construction of the monument.

Another panel depicts Lincoln discussing the end of the war with Generals Grant and Sherman at his headquarters at City Point, VA in Mar., 1865. While a meeting of these figures never actually took place, it shows the importance of the final days of the Civil War.

The first panel visitors encounter when entering the south doors of the monument shows the women of the Northern Ohio Sanitary Commission and the Soldiers’ Aid Society. Forerunners of the American Red Cross, these women sent over a million dollars’ worth of resources, equal to $9.8 million in 2023, to the soldiers on the front lines.

Although the walls of the monument appear to be made of different types of stone, they are made only of Carrera marble from Italy. The four bronze doors on the north and south sides of the building are cast entirely of bronze and weigh 1,800 pounds each. They depict military imagery.

In 2008, a $2 million renovation was undertaken to restore the monument to its original condition. This included refinishing floors, and restoring the stained glass windows and marble. Additional improvements included the installation of air conditioning, new lighting fixtures and a wheelchair lift.

Admission to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument at 3 Pubic Square is free. Interior hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and Tuesday through Saturday the rest of the year. Visit www.soldiersandsailors.com or call 216.621.3710.

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument will host a Memorial Day service on the traditional Decoration Day, Friday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to noon. Remarks will be made by a local veteran on the monument’s northwest steps, and the monument will be open until 5: 30 p.m. for tours of the Memorial Room. This event is also free and open to the public.

The monument is a unique combination of two common Civil War memorial styles: a tablet room and an obelisk.

and Sherman.

• DADS & GRADS

•

The most Symbolic panel shows the emancipation of the enslaved, represented by the open shackles in Abraham Lincoln’s right hand.

Photographs by Eric Eakin

A panel depicts Abraham Lincoln discussing the end of the war with Generals Grant

Dragons inhabit the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this summer

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

Doz ens of dragons have landed at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo ahead of summer.

Beginning in May, zoo visitors can experience the all-new Dragons Landing with animatronic mythical creatures along the zoo’s Waterfowl Lake. Guests can get up close to the giant dragons that span up to 30 feet long and 15 feet tall, watching as they roar and breathe smoke during this limited-time adventure.

“Dragons Landing brings an entirely new adventure to the zoo, offering guests an up-close, otherworldly experience into the mythical land of dragons,” Dr. Chris Kuhar, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo executive director said. “The immersive experience, along with the return of Swan Voyage, offers families more ways to explore the heart of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.”

Swan Voyage offers visitors the opportunity to paddle on the picturesque Waterfowl Lake aboard Trumpeter Swan paddle boats. Perfect for families and groups, these five-passenger boats provide a peaceful way to experience the zoo.

Both Dragons Landing and Swan Voyage are add-on experiences at the zoo. Tickets may be purchased at several locations throughout the zoo, including at the Guest Resource Center and three other ticket stations.

Admission to Dragons Landing is $3 for members and $4 for non-members. General zoo admission is also required. Dragons Landing is included in the Wild Savings Pass, which gives guests access to Dragons Landing, and one-day unlimited rides on the Circle of Wildlife Carousel, Boomerang Line train rides and 4-D Theater. Wild Savings Pass holders save a dollar off of Swan Voyage, Eagle Zip

Adventure and the giraffe and bird feeding experiences. Swan Voyage boat rentals are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. The Wild Savings Pass also includes a keepsake KeyBank Adventure Key to explore more than a dozen new interactive learning stations throughout the zoo.

Long Term Care Solutions

The new Calming Cove Sensory Room at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was designed to include a variety of sensory experiences that can help individuals feel calm and comfortable during their zoo visit. Located at the entrance to the zoo’s Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building, guests have the option to enter and calm their nervous system before returning to and enjoying the zoo. The new room was funded by the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Golf season is in full swing at all nine Cleveland Metroparks golf courses. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Little Met course.

Join in the Little Met Centennial Celebration with a round of golf on May 17. The unique event will be a step back in time to when Little Met opened in 1925. Guests are encouraged to wear vintage golf attire that was common in the early 1900s. Golfers will also follow golf rules that were relevant for the time period. They will also have an opportunity to hit multiple shots with wooden/hickory golf clubs. Prizes will be awarded for best dressed, most spirited and best score. In addition to a fun golf event, guests will be treated to a light breakfast and lunch at the conclusion of the round. Participants will receive Little Met Centennial gear.

Visit www.clevelandmetroparks.com for more information about specific Cleveland Metroparks’ events.

BENEFIT BEAT

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Friday, June 13...Celebrating May in June, to benefit May Dugan Center, at Windows on the River from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets start at $135 a person. Visit Home | May Dugan Center

Saturday, June 14...Garden Gala: Cultivating a Better Tomorrow, to benefit Community Life Collaborative, 6 to 10 p.m. at Family Life Center, 16349 Chillicothe Rd, Bainbridge. Join us for a delightful summer evening of dining, dancing to the music by UpTil4, specialty drink, lively games, unique raffle baskets, silent auction and fun. Proceeds to support the CLC’s mission: to raise awareness, amplify voices and inspire shared action toward a just and sustainable world. Together. For ticket and sponsorship information contact gala@communitylifecollaborative.org or call 440.708.1961 or go to our website communitylifecollaborative.org.

Friday, June 20….Summer Solstice, to benefit Hopewell Therapeutic Farm Community, at Chagrin Valley Hunt Club in Gates Mills. Call 440.247.0912

Dragons Landing features animatronic mythical creatures along the zoo’s Waterfowl Lake.

Magnificent Hunting Valley estate on 24 private acres for sale

By RITA KUEBER

First, there was Apple Meadow Farm, a modest home set on gorgeous rolling acres just east of the Chagrin River. In the 1930s the owners added two buildings, a schoolhouse and a carriage house “rescued” from other sites, both built circa 1900. By 1989, the owners decided on something a bit grander and constructed a five-bedroom main house inspired by European hunting lodges. Then in 2000, the current owners partnered with architect Tony Paskevich, investing over three years, adding on, enhancing finishes, updating every mechanical system, and augmenting the project with every convenience.

Readers of At Home have ‘toured’ mesmerizing single-family residences and astonishing complexes with outbuildings both practical and inviting. But folks, At Home has never seen a property quite like this one! Flat out, this estate is nothing short of awe-inspiring. The current owners have done an amazing job of creating a self-contained resort-like complex with more activities and features than many vacation destinations. These include three stocked ponds, tennis courts/pickleball and basketball courts, a sledding hill (lit at night) and an adjacent fire pit.

A private, illuminated allée brings the visitor to the 11,000-square-foot main house with a gambrel roof made of slate. The updates in 2000 turned the house sideways. The original doorways and frames are still in place, but they are now side doors. The current grand entrance features a turreted foyer that has a fireplace and a curved staircase.

The layout of the house is eclectic, with well-scaled rooms flowing organically one into the next. Additionally, there is a fireplace in nearly every room (wood-burning with gas available.) The Great Room has a beamed cathedral ceiling, palladium windows with French doors that open to a patio. There’s also a four-season room/solarium leading to the outdoor patio and indoor pool. A family room is a great entertaining space with a wet bar/mini kitchen. The library/study has a coffered ceiling and is nestled into an alcove with space-saving built-ins. There’s a spacious formal dining room (with fireplace) adjacent to the cozy farmhouse kitchen. This has its own eat-in area as well as a large island, topof-the-line appliances, plus a butler’s pantry.

A mud room and laundry room are behind the kitchen and lead to the main garage.

For the family and guests’ enjoyment, there’s also a game room and a wine room that has a tin ceiling. The indoor pool includes changing rooms and a gathering area with a fireplace. In summer, the wall of windows can slide open to connect this space and the pool to the outdoor patio. Above the pool is a full bath with a sauna, and, on-trend, an exercise room with a view that overlooks the woods and a pond. A gallery above the pool leads to several bonus rooms, a back staircase, and five bedrooms, each with a full bath en suite.

The primary bedroom is a complete sanctuary featuring a large fireplace, beamed ceiling, a sitting area, and his and her dressing areas.

Nearby, a darling guest house with farmhouse chic décor has a beautifully modern interior with a roomy kitchen, large dining area, and an upstairs bedroom plus an airy, updated bath. And surprise! Down a spiral staircase, and also accessible from a back entrance, this building houses an incredible British-style pub that has a long wood bar, banquets, pressed metal ceiling, stone floor, and fireplace. It’s as if one’s been transported to London or Edinburgh. Outside, the guest house has a charming outdoor terrace – the herringbone brick flooring is heated geothermically. The terrace also offers a pizza oven and an outdoor kitchen.

Then, close by – but not too close – is the cluster of additional buildings. These include an equestrian center with four stalls and a paddock, several garages (one has lifts), a potting shed, and another barn with a simple apartment/bath on the upper floor for overflow guests. The one-room schoolhouse is currently used as an office, as the property is a working alpaca farm. The original farmhouse has a full kitchen, parlor, and dining areas, plus three bedrooms on the second floor. This building has been ‘nipped and tucked,’ raised, refurbished, and renovated to a pristine condition, and has a wrap-around porch as well.

At Home rarely mentions landscaping, as much of it is up to the current owner, but this property takes full advantage of Ohio’s rolling hills and stunning vistas. Formal gardens are in place to complement the tree-filled panorama. The areas closest to the house/guest house are uplit at night.

The main house is spectacular, of course, as are the abundant creature comforts. But what elevates this home to an unparalleled living experience are the extras – the opportunities, the flexibility to create a life lived in comfort and style. Every building, pathway, and amenity on this property is flawless. The attention to detail is otherworldly – the caps on the garden lights are all copper. The floors are all hardwood. From the coving and molding to the upstairs bathroom tiles with unique mosaic designs, even with a thousand small details, there is a sense of order, but also a sense of a family living their best life here.

45125 Fairmount includes 24 acres of private land. The main house has 11,000 square feet of space with five bedrooms and nine bathrooms (seven full and two half baths) and nine fireplaces. Built in 1989, the entire house was upgraded and renovated in 2000. Well water and septic. Zoned heating and cooling. AC throughout. Three-car garage attached to the main house with additional garages available. West Geauga School District. Represented by Cici Riley of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, this house is listed at $14,000,000 at press time with annual taxes of $44,920. Contact Cici Riley at 216.410.3114 or ciciriley@howardhanna.com.

Spring’s in full swing in northeast ohio!

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Transform Your Outdoor Space with Hardscaping by J&D Landscapes

When it comes to enhancing your home’s exterior, few investments offer the long-term benefits of hardscaping. More than just a visual upgrade, features like patios, seat walls, firepits, walkways, and thoughtfully integrated plantings can dramatically increase the usefulness, enjoyment, and value of your property.

A professionally designed patio becomes an extension of your living space—ideal for dining, entertaining, or simply relaxing outdoors. With durable materials and expert craftsmanship, patios can handle all seasons while maintaining their beauty and function for years to come.

Seat walls add both style and practicality to any outdoor setting. They offer built-in seating without cluttering the space, defining areas within your yard while maintaining a clean, cohesive look. Pairing a seat wall with a cusakes your backyard to the next level. A firepit becomes a natural gathering spot, perfect for family nights, social events, or peaceful solo moments under the stars.

connect the elements of your yard with purpose and elegance. Whether leading guests from the driveway to your front door or guiding them through a backyard garden, a well-designed path enhances flow and safety while complementing the overall landscape.

To soften and enrich the hardscape eleare essential. The right mix of shrubs, flowers, and ornamental grasses can bring year-round color and texture, seamlessly tying your landscape together and improving

J&D Landscapes, we specialize in turning ordinary outdoor areas into beautiful, functional retreats. With years of experience and a passion for detail, our team works closely with each client to design and install hardscaping features that reflect their vision and lifestyle.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance your existing yard, J&D Landscapes brings creativity, quality, and reliability to every project. Our craftsmanship not only improves your outdoor living experience but also adds real value to your home—an investment that pays off in both comfort and resale potential. Don’t let your outdoor space go to waste. Trust the experts at J&D Landscapes to bring it to life with custom hardscaping that’s built to last. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can help you love your landscape.

The Literacy Cooperative (TLC) held its 2025 Read Across America Celebration at Cuyahoga Community College’s Jerry Sue Thornton Center on April 16. Approximately 175 guests gathered for cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres at the non profit’s spring fundraiser, which raised nearly $45,000 to fund its mission of growing life-long learners.

Dr. Amy Acton, physician and community leader who gained notoriety as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health during the early days of the COVID pandemic, served as Keynote Speaker. Acton stated that human development “never stops” even in our later years, so older adults should also be encouraged to build literacy skills. She discussed the surgeon general’s advisory that our current epidemic involves disconnection and loneliness – thus when a child sits still nestled in a parent’s lap to hear a book read aloud, it feeds that hard-wired need for human connection. Margaret Bernstein, literacy advocate, journalist and children’s book author, emceed, and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne expressed his support for funding social policy budgets and public libraries.

The National Education Association created Read Across America Day as a way of motivating children and teens to read – through events, partnerships, and providing reading resources with a unique theme each year. This year’s theme, “Create & Celebrate a Nation of Diverse Readers,” raises awareness of the importance, value, and fun of reading and sharing diverse books.

TLC is the lead affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Cuyahoga County. By providing free, monthly, age-appropriate books to children under the age of five, the program is pivotal to laying the foundation for early literacy success. Parton began the program because her own father was illiterate. Currently, over 39,000 of 66,000 eligible children are enrolled. Interestingly, Ohio has more children enrolled in this program than any other state. Through this program, TLC has distributed more than two million books to 75,000 children.

Tri-C and the Karakul Family served as Gold Sponsors for the event and Huntington Bank as Silver Sponsor. With a gift from The Third Federal Foundation, TLC created the Kurt Karakul Literacy Award to recognize an organization doing exemplary work to advance literacy in the community. TLC awards $20,000 annually to a nonprofit or public serve organization in Cuyahoga County that embodies Karakul’s passion for literacy. He served as the former President and Executive Director of the Third Federal Foundation. This year’s award was presented to the Kids Book Bank, which collaborates with 1,700 community partners, 12,000 volunteers, and distributes 45,000 books each month to help children develop strong literacy skills, fuel their imaginations, and strengthen bonds with caregivers.

TLC also launched its new branding campaign which incorporates more color and is brighter, friendlier and approachable. Its new logo incorporates a book, pencil and diploma. CLE Bee, TLC’s popular adult spelling bee fundraiser, takes place on September 24, at 5:30 p.m. at Windows on the River. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER

BENEFIT BEAT

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Saturday, June 28...Up! A Creek, to benefit West Creek Conservancy, 6 to 10 p.m. at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland. Up! A Creek brings together more than 500 supporters for an evening dedicated to celebrating and advancing local conservation efforts. Attendees will enjoy an array of activities, including: gourmet small bites and drinks, a selection of delectable appetizers and beverages. Live entertainment from local artists throughout the evening. Opportunities to win exclusive items and experiences with raffles and auctions. This year, guests will also have early access to the renowned Asian Lantern Festival and the zoo’s zipline attraction, providing unique experiences in support of a great cause. West Creek Conservancy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Northeast Ohio residents by conserving natural habitats, restoring the ecological value of the region’s lands and waters, and expanding opportunities for people from all cultures to connect with nature. Tickets for “Up! A Creek 2025” are now available for purchase at $150 per person. To secure your spot, please visit our Eventbrite page.

Saturday, July 12...Sunflower Wine Festival, to benefit Prayers from Maria, takes place from 4 p.. to 11 p.m. Pre-sale general admission is $60, or $75 the day of the event. VIP admission is $250. Go to http://www.prayersfrommaria.org.

The Literacy

Cooperative “2025 Read Across America Celebration”

Dr. Amy Acton and Margaret Bernstein flank a life-size Dolly Parton cutout.

Julie Crocker, TLC’s Board Chair with Robert Paponetti, TLC’s President and CEO.

Natalie Friedl accepts the $20,000 award on behalf of Kids’ Book Bank from Kurt Karakul

Judy Payne, Co-Founder and retired Executive Director, Natalie Friedl, current Executive Director, and Judi Kovach, Co-Founder & Board Chair –all of the Kids’ Book Bank

Beth Darmstadter, Brontie BennPhillips, and Stephanie Hall

Veneer Tree Service: Advanced Tree Care Rooted in Real Experience

For over 40 years, Veneer Tree Service has served Northeast Ohio with one clear mission: provide the kind of expert, technical tree removal that only comes from timetested, field-trained knowledge.

At the center of thi s legacy is Mark Gamiere, a man whose tree experience can’t be found in textbooks. Mark’s career began not just on Ohio soil, but in the most unforgiving terrains of North America-posthurricane coastal communities, tornadodevastated towns, and California forests decimated by wildfires. He didn’t just witness the destruction-he climbed into it, cleared it, and helped restore balance in environments where every cut mattered and every decision could be the difference between safety and disaster.

Back in Ohio, that same level of precision, guts, and respect for nature shaped Veneer Tree Service into what it is today: the go-to choice for high-risk, high-skill removals. From tight urban backyards to remote forested properties, Veneer Tree Service is equipped with modern rigging, bucket trucks, and the kind of deep judgment only earned through decades of dangerous work.

Unlike many services that lean on certifications alone, Veneer’s strength is real-world experience. Though not certified arborists, they are trusted by homeowners, contractors, and municipalities for one reason-they get the job done right when others won’t even try.

Veneer Tree Service

11260 Kinsman Rd., Newbury, OH 44065

Call/Text: Mark Gamiere - 216-956-8149

Email: renee@veneertreeservice.com

Web: www.veneertreeservice.com

Serving: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Portage Counties - including Chagrin Falls, Gates Mills, Moreland Hills, and Hunting Valley.

Cinemateque partners with area arts organizations for two special screenings

For May and June at Cinematheque, there will be two special screenings happening in partnership with fellow arts organizations. On May 17, we’ll be joining The Cleveland Orchestra’s Mandel Opera and Humanities Festival under the theme of “Reconciliation” with a 35mm screening of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), a film that beautifully explores this concept and serves as a nod to the legacy of the great Gene Hackman. Later, on June 7, in collaboration with ChamberFest Cleveland and under their “Lost & Found” theme, we’ll present Stanley Kramer’s fast and furious Technicolor comedy epic It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), a crazy pursuit of the lost treasure of a suitcase full of stolen cash. Live music by percussionist Tanner Tanyeri will precede the screening. For more information, and to see the full Cinematheque schedule, visit cinematheque. cia.edu/coming-soon. All films will show in the Peter B. Lewis Theater of the Cleveland Institute of Art, 11610 Euclid Avenue. Unless noted, admission to each program is $12 ($9 for Cinematheque members, CIA and CSU I.D. holders, and those age 25 & under). Free parking for filmgoers is available in the Institute’s Lot 73 and annex lot, both located off of E. 117th Street south of Euclid Avenue. Entrance to the building is through Entrance C, off Lot 73. For further information or film images, call 216.421.7450 or visit cinematheque.cia.edu

The thirtieth annual Market at the Food Bank featured dinner by the bite from some of Cleveland’s top dining destinations.

The signature event benefits the annual Harvest for Hunger campaign, a 21-county food and funds drive. Market at the Food Bank, presented by the Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Cavaliers, was attended by a record crowd of more than a thousand guests. The evening included culinary offerings from dozens of restaurants and beverage purveyors, musical entertainment, a silent auction and raffles. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s 197.000 square-foot Partner Distribution Hub.

“The need for food assistance is even greater now than before,” Karen Pozna, director of

Greater Cleveland Food Bank “Market at the Food Bank”

communications and events for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank said. “There was assistance available during the pandemic. That assistance is no longer there, but the need is. We are experiencing record food prices that aren’t going down.”

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in Northeast Ohio, having served more that 424,000 individuals in 2024 in Cuyahoga, Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Ashland and Richland counties. Its mission is to work together to ensure that everyone in our communities has the nutritious food they need every day through food distribution and SNAP outreach efforts. STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN/PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN

• HOME & GARDEN •

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Mark Schmidt, Loree Vick and Mike Petrone

Kristin Warzocha, and Roon and Marleen Rydzewski

Michele Gaw, Juanita Brent, Jada Hutchins and Amanda Murray

Nick Barlage, and John and Mary Sarrouh

Memorial Day celebrations honor our fallen veterans

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

Memorial Day is so much more than a day off, a three-day weekend, a chance to catch up on chores. It is the hallowed day we honor the men and women who lost their lives while serving our country. Below is a list of some of the top Memorial Day events and more things to do on Memorial Day weekend. Whether it be a parade, observance, ceremony or wreath laying, there are many ways to observe and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church Festival: This festival features live Greek bands, shopping for Greek imports, and tours of the historic Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The event runs from Thur., May 23, to Mon., May 26. 2187 W. 14th St., Cleveland.

Bay Village Memorial Day Parade and Observance: The parade kicks off at 9 a.m. from the Huntington Beach parking lot to Lakeside Cemetery on Mon., May 26.

Bedford Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies: A parade begins at 10:15 a.m. at Bedford City Hall and ends at the Bedford Commons. Mon., May 26.

Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off and Beer

Fest: This celebration features area and national rib teams competing for prizes in a variety of areas: best ribs, best Sauce and other awards. The festival also includes live music, food trucks, craft beer, and wine. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. May 23-26.

Brecksville Memorial Day Parade: Parade marches at 9 a.m. from City Hall, 9069 Brecksville Rd., to Highland Drive Cemetery, 9012 Highland Dr. Mon., May 26.

Broadview Heights Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony: The parade starts at 11 a.m. and ends at the Broadview Heights Community Amphitheater, 9543 Broadview Rd. Mon., May 26.

Chagrin Falls Blossom Time in the Valley:

This four-day event runs Thur., May 22, to Sun., May 25. The parade steps off from Chagrin Falls High School, heading down E. Washington St. and into the heart of the village, at 2 p.m. on Sun., May 25.

Cleveland Police Memorial Commemoration: The parade marches from Lakeside Avenue and E. 12th St. and ends at the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial. Fri., May 16.

Euclid Memorial Day Parade: Graveside services begin at 7:45 a.m. Mon., May 26, at Euclid Cemetery and 8:15 a.m. at St. Paul’s Cemetery. A parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Lakeshore Boulevard and E. 228 St., proceeds west on Lakeshore Boulevard to E. 222nd Street,

HOME & GARDEN

south on E. 222nd Street and ends at the Veterans Memorial next to Euclid City Hall, located at 585 E. 222nd St.

Mayfield Village Memorial Day Celebration: Whitehaven Memorial Park, 620 SOM Center Rd. 1 p.m., Sun., May 25.

Port Clinton Street Walleye Festival: Located at Waterworks Park, this four-day festival (May 22-26) includes free live concerts, a kids’ fishing derby, a parade, educational programs, carnival rides, and more than 100 vendors. A Memorial Day ceremony is held at Veterans Park on May 26. Shaker Heights Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade: The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Shaker Heights City Hall, 3400 Lee Rd. The parade proceeds to the Van Aken District. Mon., May 26.

South Euclid Memorial Day Parade: The parade marches at 9 a.m. from Notre Dame along South Green Road and ends at the War Memorial. Mon., May 26.

University Heights Memorial Day Parade: The parade will step off at 11 a.m. on Silsby Road, between Ashurst Road and Canterbury Road, and terminate at Gearity Professional Development School. Mon., May 26.

River Gallery presents ‘Bloom,’ works by Taylor Robenalt and Zoe Hawk

Rocky River ’s River Gallery is proud to announce its summer exhibition, “Bloom,” opening Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 3 to 6 p.m. This bright and fanciful show features ceramics by Taylor Robenalt and paintings by Zoe Hawk, highlighting themes of feminine identity and growth.

Zoe Hawk’s work delves into the complexity of girlhood, exploring adolescent anxiety, feminine identity, and the search for belonging. Her evocative paintings create poignant, visual narratives that resonate with both vulnerability and strength.

Taylor Robenalt’s colorful ceramic sculptures offer a symbolic and emotional journey. Her use of bold color motifs and gold luster accents reflect life’s cycles of growth, death, and rebirth. Flowers, recurring throughout her work, symbolize purity, transformation, and the blossoming of life. Repeated animal imagery—including rabbits, birds, and dogs—carry deeper emotional meaning: loyalty, freedom, shyness, and unconditional love.

“My work is a metaphor for how life is always transforming,” says Robenalt. “These pieces express all of the emotions I experience daily.”

“Bloom” is a celebration of emotional complexity and personal evolution, seen through the eyes of two distinct yet complementary female artists. The exhibition is free and open to the public through August 2, 2025.

Exhibition Dates: June 14, 2025 –August 2, 2025

Opening Reception: Saturday, June 14, 2025 | 3 to 6 p.m.

Location: River Gallery, 19046 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River, OH 44116

Gallery Hours: Tuesday–Friday: 11 am – 6 pm, Saturday: 11 am – 5 pm, Closed Sunday & Monday

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Free Produce Giveaways

The Salvation Army in Cleveland’s West Park Neighborhood partners with Greater Cleveland Food Bank to host monthly Free Produce Giveaways

The Salvation Army in Cleveland’s West Park area is continuing an annual partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to distribute 12,000 pounds of fresh produce a month to local residents. Residents will need to provide proof of residence to participate in the distribution and are encouraged to bring their own bags to take home their produce. Each distribution will happen monthly on the third Friday throughout 2025.

The Salvation Army in Cleveland’s West Park area served over 600 individuals and 250 families at each of their seven monthly produce giveaways, individuals took home a box filled with a week’s worth of fresh produce.

When/Where: The Salvation Army West Park Corps, 12645 Lorain Ave, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while supplies last.

Future Dates:

• Friday, May 16th, 2025

• Friday, June 20th, 2025

• Friday, July 18th, 2025

• Friday, August 15th, 2025

• Friday, September 19th, 2025

• Friday, October 17th, 2025

• Friday, November 21st,2025

For more information, visit SalvationArmyCleveland.org or call 216.252.3593

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VNTG has a different take on downsizing, houses, and home goods

By RITA KUEBER

How many articles have we read about getting rid of excess stuff? Probably about as many articles as we’ve read about dieting and losing weight, until frustrated, we’re simply done with the entire topic. Minimalism is in, we’re told, and while many of us may want to walk that path, our homes are still filled with things that we find are not so easy to give away or trash.

Megan Featherston, founder and CEO of the VNTG companies has a fresh, new perspective on this predicament. “In many ways, people are more emotionally attached to the things in their house compared to the house itself,” she states. “This often keeps people from making the most money they could when downsizing before a move. It hinders their success in selling.”

Megan moved from New York to Cleveland in 2014 to take a marketing position with Joann Fabrics. “I already had 30 years of C-suite leadership experience. I have all those t-shirts,” she comments. In 2017 she decided to open her own business. “I was inspired by the markets in the South of France, filled with wonderful, high-end, vintage pieces, and thought it would be fun to do something like that in America.” She also realized that thanks to the Boomer generation, there are “billions (dollars) trapped in downsizer’s homes. The Boomers have had the most successful life of all of the cohorts. They saw the stock market flourish, and an economy based on having stuff – look at Midnight Madness sales. Most people’s houses are full.”

She experienced the downsizing dilemma when she moved from a suburban house near Chicago to a shoebox apartment in New York City. She offered furniture to friends with little success and thought there should be a way to make moving a happy process. “People deserve stress-free, stylish solutions when it comes to interior design and home transitions,” she says. “Whether you’re downsizing, renovating, or settling into your dream home, it shouldn’t feel overwhelming—it should feel exciting.

“Initially, we started as a boutique consignment and design concept, but we soon realized families needed more than just one service. They needed a seamless start-to-finish solution to help them with

the whole house, not just the things in the house.”

With her clients needing action as well as advice, the original business quickly expanded to include VNTG Place (design and construction) VNTG Home (retail and consignment) and VNTG Real Estate. Together, the companies work to provide affordable solutions, but also to produce solid financial returns for their clients.

“At first we were helping realtors help their clients,” Megan recalls. “But then we started making offers of our own, buying the houses ourselves, and it helps to have a construction business to serve clients, investors, and to work on our own properties. It’s a very robust secondary business.” She quickly points out that she is not a broker or a realtor, but works closely with “a boutique brokerage,” Serenity Realty, to make offers and purchase properties. “I liked the name,” she says. “It’s what we offer.”

All of the VNTG iterations require Megan’s firm hand on the tiller. “These businesses require leadership and commitment. It’s not a dawdle. We’re making a difference one house at a time.”

Of course, not every client needs every service, so VNTG offers customized packages that depend on the goal and vision of the homeowner.

When she started VNTG Homes, Megan purchased a 60,000-square-foot warehouse in MidTown to use as a retail space. As the businesses expanded she had enough room to house the additional offices needed. The building painted in

VTNG’s signature pink and green stands today as a renovated retail space, that she describes as “filled with old soul furnishings, upcycled treasures, bespoke furniture, and décor that tells a story.”

When asked what advice she would give to people, in general, she does not hesitate. “Older people need to make their home relatable to younger buyers, who have a more casual lifestyle. Nothing is formal anymore. Boomers needed matching furniture and China cabinets – the next generation doesn’t even have China. They’re less materialistic, putting their money toward travel and adventure.”

To accommodate the younger buyers she explains that realtors and stagers often suggest simply getting rid of things. “But emotionally, many people can’t do it,” Megan says. “That China cabinet might have cost $10,000, but now won’t sell for half of that. We help people unlock the value of their home – the money is in the dwelling. But we do it in a way that makes people feel supported to survive the life change that creates so much stress.”

Additional advice Megan, her consignment and design teams provide regularly includes having the mentality to edit belongings. “One of our mantras is ‘edit your space like it’s your wardrobe,’” she says. “Keep what you love, let go of what doesn’t serve you, create continuity in your home. It makes it feel bigger and more Zen. And always add an element of surprise or a little sparkle! Most homeowners either overcrowd their spaces or play it too safe. We encourage clients to think aspirationally. Your home should reflect where you’re going, not just where you’ve been. Lighten it up, let it breathe, add organics and don’t be afraid to mix vintage with modern. And yes—lighting is the jewelry of your home. Never underestimate a fabulous fixture.

“At VNTG, we believe in Beautiful. Live Beautifully, Build Beautifully, and Sell Beautifully. We are passionate about giving furniture –and homes – a second story to tell. We don’t just renovate or sell, we transform.”

vntghome.com

216.505.4322

Warehouse (Thursday – Sunday) 1235 Marquette St. Cleveland 44114

Pick a topic, and most likely there’s a musical that’s made it to Broadway – and half a dozen others that haven’t – addressing said topic. Passion, romance, desire? Crime, war, despair? Ambition, alienation, prejudice? Check, check, and check. From Mary Poppins to Sweeney Todd, the list of deep and important emotions and impulses we feel as human beings, has not escaped the attention of a talented composer and/or lyricist. And in the vast canon of Broadway musical history, the topic you raise has been brought up by a creative who has something to say about it.

Trying to examine and explain all of the above in a crafted and entertaining manner regularly is like trying to “hold a moonbeam in your hand.” Yet some, like Bill Rudman, founding artistic director of the The Musical Theater Project (TMTP) have been working at this for over 25 years. TMTP facets include internationally syndicated radio programs, “Footlight Parade,” heard on over 100 public and community radio stations, including locally on Ideastream/WCLV 99.5 FM. There’s also “On the Aisle,” heard twice a week on Sirius Radio XM. The organization also produces a series of local concerts and offers the “Kids Love Musicals” program to schools for students K-4.

This year the organization’s benefit was held at the venerable Union Club, conveniently accommodating about 150 guests in its elegant third-floor parlor and adjoining dining room. The first hour included cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to bid on silent auction items heavily laden with theater and concert tickets. (Know your audience, right?) Guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner, professionally served, augmented with large centerpieces filled with fresh tulips. After the meal, the

room was transformed into an intimate cabaret, with a knockout performance by Helen Welch.

Ms. Welch, a native of England, has appeared on Broadway and performed starring roles in “Hello, Dolly!,” “Carousel,” “42nd Street,” and more. She is a fronting vocalist for The Cleveland Orchestra, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and many other orchestras, jazz ensembles, and Big Bands. Her 2016 recording “Spellbound” was considered for a Grammy in the Traditional Pop Category.

For this event, she was skillfully accompanied by Joe Leaman on piano, Stephen Renko on drums, and Bryan Thomas on bass. Inventive and playful she treated guests to over an hour of classic Broadway tunes, giving many of the songs her own personal spin. “My mother sang light opera, and my father was a flamenco and jazz guitarist,” she said. “Put them together, and you get me.”

This explains how “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face” from “My Fair Lady” took on a bossa nova vibe. “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” became a vamp’s song, and “On the Street Where You Live” was suddenly a swing tune, complete with scat vocals. In true cabaret style, pretty much “anything goes,” as long as the audience is digging it. And they did.

Maybe it was the lively description of the two-day immersive student workshops given by TMTP’s teaching assistant Andrea Belser. Maybe it was the Raise the Paddle segment well conducted by local actor Greg Violand, but those attending rose to the occasion, coming into the evening as guests and leaving as champions of musical theater in Cleveland and beyond. For more information, visit helenwelch.com and musicaltheaterproject. org. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY RITA KUEBER

Bill Rudman, Andrea Belser, Lin Bartel and Greg Violand

Hannah, Suzanne, Sophie and David Gilson

Lloyd Owens, Tony Bianchi and Lloyd Max Bunker with Maura and John Finley

Mebby Brown and Kathy Coleman

• HOME & GARDEN •

Chagrin History Center to host Home & Garden Tour on May 31

By RITA KUEBER

If you’re looking for something fun to do this month, consider the Chagrin Falls Historic Home and Garden Tour. Now in its 36th year, the tour is presented by the Chagrin History Center on Saturday, May 31 from 10 am to 5 pm.

“We are super excited with the homes and businesses on our tour this year,” says Ruth Zeager, executive director of the History Center. “We have five homes, including a

top floor apartment on North Main Street above Evergreen Bakery. There are two businesses on the tour as well as the History Center, there’s a very special garden to tour, and a house west of the Village that’s been under renovation for two years. The owners worked with Pantuso Architecture, one of our sponsors this year, and we’re excited for people to see it, the attention to detail… It’s just beautiful inside.”

Organizers are hoping to meet or beat last

year’s attendance, which was 700 visitors. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a big fundraiser for us, and with all the people coming into town it’s good for the restaurants and the shops, and it’s a great event to show off our little town.” Zeager adds.

The Inn of Chagrin Falls will be open for the tour. “They are opening up a couple of the guest rooms for us.” Zeager also explains that their lunch partner Two & Company will have a historic display of their own

with artifacts from Higbee’s and Cleveland’s Public Square. Boxed lunches should be ordered in advance and picked up from the business at 177 E. Washington Street. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the tour. A boxed lunch price is $20. Tickets are available online and at the Chagrin History Center. (No local stores are selling tickets this year.) The program with a map and wristbands must be picked up at the History Center the week of the

This beautiful Italianate home in the heart of Village was originally built by Dr. W. D. Stannard in the 1870s and is a contributing structure to the National Register West Side Historic District. Dr. Stannard was a prominent physician in the Village for many years.

Arthur and Stella Trippeer built this beautiful center hall Colonial style home in 1920. Arthur was a successful engineer and contractor. The home has many beautiful features. Hardwood floors throughout, a beautiful staircase, crown moldings and original millwork accents most of the rooms. The home also features fireplaces, a screened in porch and an all season room.

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tour. There is no admittance to the tour’s features without a wristband. The History Center itself will be open with refreshments and open exhibits.

A little bit of fine print: There is no shuttle service this year. Visitors can walk or drive – their preference. The map indicates available parking. The features on tour are not wheelchair accessible. No strollers. No

children under six, though babies may be held. No photographs are permitted.

“The last weekend of May is graduation weekend for the high school, Zeager says.

“That’s on Sunday, so if someone has family in town, maybe they’d like to take the tour.”

Chagrin History Center

440.247.4695 or info@chagrinhistory.org chagrinhistorical.org

In June: the Hudson Home & Garden Tour

The Hudson Garden Club presents The Hudson Home & Garden Tour Friday, June 13 from 10 am to 7 pm and Saturday, June 14 from 10 am to 4 pm. The tour, a nearly 80-year tradition, showcases beautiful homes, lovely gardens and unique outdoor living spaces. Pre-paid tickets are $35 with a credit card surcharge of $1.35. Tickets and programs must be picked up from East Woods School, 120 N. Hayden Parkway.

Hudson also offers a preview party on Thursday, June 12 from 5 pm to 9 pm. A limited number of tickets are available at $95 plus a $3.15 processing fee. One of the homes on tour is the party’s location, with additional floors and rooms open to visitors. Only the main floor of this home will be open on Friday and Saturday. The preview party ticket includes access to only the outdoor living/garden properties during the regular tour. Must be 21 or older to attend the preview. Festive summer attire is encouraged. Proceeds from the Tour fund the club’s grants to nonprofits within the greater Hudson area, scholarships, tree plantings, library book donations and much more. In addition to enjoying a day in Historic Hudson, you are helping Hudson Garden Club give back to the community. hudsonhomeandgardentour.org

In July – The Aurora Historical Home Tour

This self-guided tour takes place Saturday, July 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. Four distinctive, historic homes are on the tour. Docents will share hidden gems about homes and their former inhabitants. Presale tickets are $25, and $30 on the day of the event. The tour begins and ends at the Aurora Historical Society located at 115 East Pioneer Trail, Aurora, the lower level of the Aurora Memorial Library. Well-supervised children are welcome. Some parts of these historic homes cannot accommodate wheelchairs. Photography is not permitted. All attendees will need a tour bracelet for access to the historic homes. Aurorahistorical.org

Register now for Alzheimer’s Association’s regional Walks to End Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer ’s Association invites Northeast Ohioans to register for 2025 Walks to End Alzheimer’s®, taking place across the region this fall.

The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease. All money raised through Walk to End Alzheimer’s benefits the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association.

“Now is the moment we’ve been waiting for. With new treatments emerging in the fight against Alzheimer ’s and all other dementia, now is the time for hope,” said Melissa Zapanta Shelton, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland and Greater East Ohio Area chapters. “Every step takes us closer to a cure and to achieving our mission of a world without Alzheimer’s and dementia. We hope Ohioans will register their team and walk to honor our friends and neighbors facing this disease.”

The 2025 Walks to End Alzheimer’s across Northeast Ohio include:

• Medina - September 13

• Ashtabula - September 20

• Wayne and Holmes County - September 20

• Lake/Geauga - September 27

• Stark County - September 27

• Lorain County - October 4

• Mahoning Valley - October 11

• Akron - October 12

• Cleveland - October 18

To register as a team or an individual and receive the latest updates on this year’s Walks, visit alz.org/walk

Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, including 236,200 in Ohio. A total of 414,000 Ohio caregivers provide 624 million hours of unpaid care each year, valued at more than $11.4 billion. To learn more about Alzheimer’s or other dementia and to access free support and resources, visit alz.org/cleveland or call the chapter at 216.342.5556.

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Bloom Where You’re Planted … book recommendations for today’s gardeners

By MAGGIE B. CIBIK

Everybody knows that April showers bring May flowers and as springtime blossoms all around us, it is finally time to put away the parkas and bring out the pruning shears. Gardening season is here! Maybe you are a plant whisperer and are looking for new ideas to bring to the soil or maybe you don’t know the difference between thyme and basil. Whether you are a gardening connoisseur or a green novice, Fireside Books has some great reads both literally and figuratively that will help you and your garden thrive during this seed time season. With DIY kitchen gardens continuing to grow in popularity, The Fireside staff has some great picks for those looking to produce their own food, offering tips and guidelines for starting a sustainable homegrown garden that looks as good as it tastes.

“Indoor Kitchen Gardening for Beginners: Turn Your Home into a Year-Round Vegetable Garden” by Elzabeth Millard lays out the groundwork for beginners looking to grow produce inside their homes, basements, apartments, businesses or wherever their heart desires. Miller provides user-friendly instructions along with innovative project ideas and preferable

crop suggestions for indoor growing. She walks you through the process from finding the right place to grow to harvesting crops. This book is a great way to dip your toe in the soil of growing your own food no matter where you are and whatever the season.

“The Food Forward Garden: A Complete Guide to Designing and Growing Edible Landscapes” by Christian Douglas, foreword by Tyler Florence was written by a trusted and award-winning landscaper who reconsiders the conventional edible garden by bringing it front and center, incorporating fruits and veggies within the ornamental landscape of your home. This book offers both inspiration and instruction, guiding you toward the luscious botanical landscape of your dreams that is both sustainable and delectable.

Or maybe instead of food, you are looking to grow something a little more environmentally conscious by cultivating a cohesive eco-friendly garden that does good as much as it looks good.

“The Midwest Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden” by Alan Branhagen is a resourceful guidebook taking you through the vast beauty of plants that are native to the midwestern region. Not only does it emphasize the important roles these indigenous botanicals play to the environment but is an exceptional asset for creating a beautiful garden that gives back to the land it came from.

“The Permaculture Garden: A Practical

Approach to Year-Round Harvests” by Huw Richards will teach you how to plant more sustainably and efficiently, helping you level up from growing the basics like cabbage or radishes to something a little more ambitious like strawberries or lemon trees. Utilizing the concept of permaculture, Richards unlocks regenerative methods that help make gardening less daunting and more fruitful (pun intended) for a more self-sufficient garden.

“The Flower Garden for Pollinators” by Rachel de Thame celebrates the importance of pollinators. Insects like bees and butterflies to birds and other animals may be small but their contributions to plant life is enormous. In this book, de Thame teaches you how to garden for these pollinators through the changing seasons with beneficial advice and gorgeous illustrations that will help you create a wondrous and thriving eco-system in your own backyard.

“The Money-Saving Garden Year: A month-by-month guide to a great garden that costs less” by Anya Lautenbash is a great pick for those who don’t mind spending their time gardening but do mind spending their money. With the “ MoneySaving Garden” you can learn how to dig in the dirt without digging into your wallet. Lautenbach gives you month-to-month tips from cost-efficiency to charts and schedules that will help you get the best out of your garden even in the dead of winter.

Fireside also has some great fiction picks to accompany you on your gardening journey with stories about fantastical gardens and some suspicious ones as well.

“Murder in an Irish Garden” by Carlene O’Conner has a garden contest

continued from Page B14

and scandalous reputations backdropped in the delightfully quant Irish village of Kilbane, County Cork. What more could you want for your next cozy, springtime mystery? “This Irish Village Mystery” is book 11 in the series following Siobhán O’Sullivan and the rest of her family as they take part in a local gardening competition to help promote her brother’s restaurant. But more than roses come up when a murder is discovered, and it is up to Siobhán to find the killer.

“The Gar den” by Nick Newman is a great find if you are looking for something a little more spectral or dark. “ The Garden” tells the peculiar story of two elderly sisters that have lived their whole lives inside the confines of an enclosed garden, never having stepped foot outside. Their own secluded world comes crashing down when a mysterious boy appears, and nothing will ever be the same again.

“The Twilight Garden” by Sara Nisha Adams is a feel-good novel that takes place in London and centers around two squabbling neighbors who come together to tend to a long-forgotten garden that separates their homes. Though Winston and Bernice rarely ever see eye-to-eye, they bring this once thriving garden back to its glory days not only breathing life back into the plot but also into their community as well.

Fireside also knows that it is never too early for kiddos to start immersing themselves into other worlds beyond the one they know and has some entertaining and classic recommendations for them to get lost in a garden of their own.

“Poison Garden” by Christy Mandin is a charming picture book following Millie Fleur La Fae as she transforms her drab new neighborhood of Garden Glen by creating her own special and very curious garden. Millie Fleur’s brilliant tenacity and vibrant spirit helps her to overcome grumpy naysayers by finding those who appreciate the way she beats to her own drum.

“The Night Gardener” by The Fan Brothers discovers a beautiful story that turns a boy named William’s gray world into a colorful one. Every day, William discovers a new sculpted topiary that seems to appear overnight though no one knows by whom, this secret midnight landscaper changes the life of William and his town forever.

And of course, “The Secret Garden” by Frances Burnett (Illustrated by Kate Lewis). You cannot talk about garden books without talking about The Secret Garden! This classic children’s novel has been beloved for over a century, captivating readers of all ages with an array of new editions and adaptions throughout the years. In this brilliant 2024 edition illustrated by Kate Lewis, be transported back to the wondrously lush garden with Mary, Dickon and Colin as they navigate friendship, healing and growing from adversity.

Whatever you are looking for, Fireside has the right book for you to start, sustain or dream up your perfect garden.

Books

45125 Fairmount, Hunting Valley

Set on 24 scenic acres of sweeping lawns & woodlands with 3 stocked fishponds, this magnificent English country estate, reimagined by renowned Cleveland architect Anthony Paskevich, offers an unparalleled living experience. A long, illuminated drive winds past original farmhouse & barn complex, leading through a tree-lined allée flanked by stunning gardens to the impressive main residence. The estate also has a Guest House, a fully restored, authentic barn complex - 4 frame buildings connected by a covered walkway: barn with 4 stalls & hayloft, greenhouse/studio, and detached 2-car and 4-car garages. Open fenced pastures with loafing sheds have ample space for horses, alpacas, or sheep to graze freely.

34000 Fairmount Blvd, Hunting Valley $2,600,000

Nestled in the serene landscape of Hunting Valley, this exceptional property spans just over 5 acres and boasts striking architectural design that seamlessly blends natural elements like natural cedar and dry stack stone. The residence features soaring ceilings and walls of windows that frame breathtaking views of the rear pond, creating an ambiance of tranquility and connection to nature. The open and expansive floor plan is perfect for both everyday living and entertainment. Situated down a path and surrounded by a pond is a custom built authentic log cabin guest house.

32500 Chestnut Ln, Pepper Pike $3,895,000

Offering a rare blend of elegance and comfort, this property strikes a perfect balance between modern amenities and timeless design. Experience a true resort feel with one of the most impressive pool house pavilions, featuring a wall of glass that provide stunning views. Additional amendities include a three-stall barn and utility garage.

Prayers From Maria

What can you say about a seven-year-old girl who never stopped praying for others while she battled terminal brain cancer? That she inspired a movement. Maria McNamara was taking dance lessons and playing with her brothers when she was diagnosed with one of the deadliest and least understood childhood brain tumors. During this, Maria never thought of herself, but rather, she prayed for her friends she met while receiving treatment at St. Jude. After witnessing firsthand their daughter’s 14-month-long battle and learning that little was being done for children like her, Ed and Megan knew more needed to be done.

The Prayers From Maria Foundation honors Maria’s prayers by providing childhood cancer patients with the support they desperately need. We are planting Hope by reversing the tragic lack of funding and promoting the most meaningful cancer research for kids.

We have been able to make a tangible impact by funding numerous promising research studies across the United States that have led to new clinical trials and breakthroughs for these kids. Our efforts have resulted in over $12M going to the fight against childhood brain cancer.

Maria’s Sunflower Fields of Hope became the foundation’s ground zero, spreading awareness and shining a light on the work that needs to be done. The field blooms once a year with acres of sunflowers that serve as both a place of reflection on the lives lost and a reminder of our commitment to ending childhood cancer.

Our popular annual fundraisers, the Sunflower Wine Festival and Sunflower Soiree, allow citizens of Northeast Ohio to come together with our mission in mind. These events celebrate the progress made and energize the community’s participation in the foundation.

Among the many ways to make a meaningful impact on the lives of these children, the Grow the Movement Club is a great way to provide sustainable, long-term support to help us achieve our goal of having a world free of cancer. By joining in our fight, you’re helping us light a path in the new year, spreading Hope to children and families who need it most. Together, we can bring awareness and essential funding to the most promising childhood cancer research to honor the courage of young patients like Maria.

Five Star Sensation 2025 co-chairs (from left): Kevin and Lisa Chernikoff, Margaret Singerman and Ida Haber. Five Star Sensation, to benefit UH Seidman Cancer Center, will be held Saturday, June 28 at Cuyahoga Community College. For more information, visit fivestarsensation. org.

Find Your Voice Now

Annie and Mary Ellen, meeting serendipitously on flights to and from Seattle, bonded over their experiences with toxic relationships and subsequent healthy marriages. Annie, a wellness coach, dreamt of creating support for women facing similar struggles. Mary Ellen enthusiastically partnered with her. Together, they launched “Find Your Voice Now,” establishing both in-person chapters (Cleveland & Detroit) and a thriving online community. This safe space offers peer support and discussion, focusing on building inner strength and self-belief to navigate unhealthy relationships and establish healthier boundaries. The group arose from Annie’s personal need for such support, which was unavailable or unaffordable to her during a difficult time. The initiative emphasizes self-love and empowerment, offering a crucial resource for women lacking access to affordable therapy or readily available guidance. Findyourvoicenow.org.

By the Dawn’s Early Light’s

in July

Join us for a fun-filled evening on: Saturday, July 19th • 4pm ~ 9pm DTJ Taborville 9850 North Blvd • Auburn Twp., 44023

Catered By: Maple Hts Catering

Featuring: Hollywood DJ Reverse Raffle (adult tickets only) ~ 50/50 ~ Basket Raffles ~ Silent Auction

Dinner $50 16 yrs and older

Dinner $25 15 yrs and younger Price includes:

Dinner ~ Entry into Reverse Raffle

A night full of fun and laughter

Tickets must be purchased by 7/7/25

Simply scan this QR code using your smartphone’s camera or QR code scanner app, and it will direct you to the page where you can purchase tickets or learn more about sponsorship opportunities. Thank you for your support!

By the Dawn’s Early Light’s vision is to create a community where Ohio foster children receive the support, care and opportunities they need to thrive.

Legal Aid celebrates 120 years, honors Giving Society donors

In late spring 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland was established to “render legal assistance gratuitously to deserving persons not otherwise able to obtain the services of competent attorneys.”

For 120 years, Legal Aid has provided free, high-quality legal services for people who cannot afford an attorney when

they face civil issues like eviction, foreclosure, domestic violence, employment discrimination, or education barriers.

The need is great – nearly three out of every four U.S. households with low incomes have at least one civil legal problem according to the Legal Services Corporation. But only 8% of these households get all the legal help they need. Legal Aid is working to bridge this immense justice gap.

At the close of Legal Aid’s first year, the organization helped 456 people. Last year the organization impacted more than 25,700 people through 9,700 cases and supported thousands more through community legal education and outreach efforts.

In addition to its dedicated staff, Legal Aid depends upon the many volunteers, community partners and donors that help to fulfill its mission. Later this spring, Legal Aid will celebrate its 120th anniversary by honoring members of its loyal Giving Societies that have demonstrated consecutive years of support. These donors will be recognized at Legal

Aid’s Founders’ Day Celebration on June 12 at the St. Clair Ballroom in Downtown Cleveland.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States, serving residents of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties. Legal Aid supporters continue the legacy began in 1905, and Founders’ Day recognizes the diverse community who invest in Legal Aid’s continued work to extend justice.

“As a litigator and trial attorney, I know first-hand how good representation can change the outcome of a case. My volunteer work for Legal Aid and my service on its Board taught me that good representation can also change lives,” said Rita A. Maimbourg, Esq., former Legal Aid board president and retired Partner at Tucker Ellis. Rita and her husband Chuck have donated consecutively for 20 years. “When choosing how to spend my philanthropic dollars, I choose to change lives, and that is why I support Legal Aid.”

Learn more and get involved at lasclev.org.

MAKE ROOM FOR LOVE

Imagine what 40,000 pounds of food looks like. It’s the amount of produce, frozen meats, and canned goods Rise in Love provides to the underserved every month. For 10 years, this all-volunteer, nonprofit organization has been providing a free monthly Food Distribution to over 400 families suffering from food insecurity in our suburbs. It’s just one of the many services the nonprofit provides to assist those in need, to help them move from struggling to thriving. In 2023, they distributed their one millionth pound of food. President and Founder, Barbara Sternberg, said, “We didn’t stop to celebrate. We just smiled, thanked God, and kept loading cars with food.”

Donate Meet Up

Suburban poverty is a real thing, and as they reflect on their many successes, Rise in Love also acknowledges that the journey is far from over. They have big goals on the horizon that need continued support and dedication. They have earned a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making Rise in Love a “Give with Confidence” Charity. No one receives a salary at Rise in Love – 100% of every public donation goes to programming.

With suburban poverty on the rise, the need for support is ever-increasing. Rise in Love’s greatest impact is their Love Saves – Emergency Relief Services program and the F.I.T. – Families in Transition program. Love Saves provides emergency relief to avoid utility shut-offs and evictions, and provides transitional housing and hotel rooms to keep families together and safe. The F.I.T. program is an intense dive into a family’s financial situation, creating a plan for them to rise above poverty, which can include child care, job search assistance, and acquiring a car or housing.

Plans for 2025 include a Disaster Response program that will support families during power outages, ensuring they have the resources they need to get through the hardships. Also slated for 2025 is Phase One of their Childcare program. Rising childcare costs can sometimes consume well over 40-60% of a family’s income. This new program aims to provide quality daycare services at no cost, or no greater than 7% of a family’s income, paving the way for more affordable childcare.

The programs of Rise in Love are not just goals or initiatives; they are lifelines for families trying to make ends meet and a testament to their commitment to nurturing the growth of strong families and future generations.

Trailblazer Rachel Ruysch’s art exhibited at Toledo Museum of Art

By LINDA FEAGLER

In an era dominated by the creativity of male artists — ranging from Rembrandt to Peter Paul Rubens — Rachel Ruysch proved to be an exceptional trailblazer.

During the Baroque Age, spanning 1600 to 1750, when women’s access to careers as professional artists was severely restricted, the Dutch artist forged ahead to become a highly renowned still-life painter, specializing in flowers, honing a style all her own and achieving international fame.

Through July 27, the Toledo Museum of Art is presenting “Rachel Ruysch: Nature Into Art,” a retrospective consisting of more than 50 paintings the married mother of 11 created between the 1680s and 1740s.

Organized by the Toledo Museum of Art, the Alte Pinakothek museum in Munich and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, it has the distinction of being the first solo showcase of Ruysch’s work.

The idea for the exhibition was sparked in 2017 when Robert Schindler, the Toledo Museum of Art’s William Hutton Curator of European Art, saw a painting by Ruysch’s sister Anna, and began researching the family’s background.

“I knew about Rachel, of course, but had never heard of her younger sister, Anna, who was also as talented a flower still-life painter but is barely known today. Rachel is certainly more acclaimed and may have been teaching Anna, as well,” Schindler says.

“Much to my amazement, the curator adds, “I learned that there had never been an exhibition focused solely on Rachel.”

Born in 1664 in The Hague to Frederik Ruysch, a professor of botany and anatomy, and Maria Post, the daughter of architect Peter Post, Ruysch showed a talent for drawing at an early age. The budding artist meticulously practiced her burgeoning skills by painting animals and plants, likely using

her father’s specimens as models.

In the late 1670s, she was apprenticed to prominent flower painter Willem van Aelst, considered the best still-life painter in Amsterdam.

For an artist-in-training in the 17thcentury, Schindler explains, Dutch painting was very hierarchical with subjects relegated to history, landscape, portrait and still life.

“At the time, in order to paint the human figure, artists needed to study by way of drawing nude models,” the curator says. “And because women were often not permitted to do so, they were excluded from the genre. Botanical illustration was one of the few subjects considered appropriate for women.”

Ruysch’s paintings are representative of the period in which she lived, filled with dramatic composition, vivid colors and meticulous attention to detail.

“Technically, Rachel is incredibly accomplished,” Schindler says. “We’re just beginning to understand how she layered paints and glazes to give three-dimensionality to her bouquets. I’m fascinated by the wonderful lighting effects in her paintings, and the way her bouquets seem to live on the surface of the canvas as if they were real.

“It’s a wonderful experience,” he adds, “for visitors to really see how science, nature and art came together at this moment in time.”

The exhibition also includes an impressive assortment of dried plants, insects, butterflies, and preserved wet specimens the artist depicted, as well as six floral still-life paintings by Anna Ruysch.

“Museums far and wide are counteracting the fact that women artists have not been given their due historically,” Schindler says.

“We’re really pleased, he adds, “that we can give Rachel Ruysch the limelight she deserves.”

Rachel Ruysch (1692)

A recently discovered portrait of Ruysch painted by Dutch Golden Age artist Michiel van Musscher is not only evidence of the esteem she experienced at the height of her career but also provides insights into the way she worked.

“The painting is not only a fascinating record of her appearance, but it’s also a fascinating record of her process,” Schindler explains. “Not only does the detailed image depict the artist holding a brush and palette in one hand as she completes the final stages of arranging the bouquet that she will soon begin painting, but it includes a ledge with a drawing and books — likely illustrated books or collections of drawings that she referenced. The Admiral butterfly perched on the cut flower indicates she also used live insects as models.”

CIFF 49 breaks single-screening attendance records, draws new audiences

By SARAH JAQUAY

“The beauty [of the Playhouse Square theaters] is unparalleled,” one filmmaker gushed online about Cleveland’s recent annual international film festival (CIFF), held March 27-April 5 in-person and April 6-13 for CIFF Streams. “Another posted: ‘Our film will never show in a more beautiful venue!’” CIFF Executive Director Hermione Malone stated in a phone interview. How much filmmakers enjoy and respect CIFF was a delightful surprise to Malone in her first year at the helm of managing this complicated festival with so many moving parts: screenings, programming such as the student film slam, managing logistics to bring in filmmakers and actors, plus Q &A sessions after some movies.

Overall, Malone thought CIFF 49 went well despite some of the challenges. “I just started [this job] last June.” Although CIFF’s long-time artistic selection team remained in place, many members of the executive team were new. “I’m super proud of the staff’s can-do attitude and I greatly appreciated the contributions of the seasonal staff, who have been around for years. We had a short window to get to know each other, but we pulled it off.”

CIFF 49 had some record-breaking

The CIFF49 showing of “Lost & Found in Cleveland” at the KeyBank State Theater had more than 2,500 viewers and set attendance records for CIFF and movie-watching at Playhouse Square. Photograph by Kevin Inthavong for CIFF.

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moments, including massive attendance at the screening of “Lost & Found in Cleveland” on Sunday, March 30. Malone says she could hear the chatter over their walkie-talkies about moving so many people into the KeyBank State Theater and was ecstatic that “We got everyone in, even those with standby tickets.” This reporter attended the screening and has never seen so many people in a PH Square theater except for the musical “Hamilton.” The official attendance was 2,578. “Not only was that the largest for a single screening in CIFF history, it was the largest cinematic screening in PH Square history,” notes Malone. Indeed, after the era of vaudeville and other live acts at Playhouse Square ended, some of the theaters showed movies before being closed in the late 1960s. Why was this sendup of the television show “Antiques Road Show” so popular? It was co-directed by native Clevelander, Keith Gerchak. Our row was brimming with people who had a personal connection to the film: One went to Padua High School with Gerchak; the person who invited me has a son whose friend in Los Angeles, Sven Faulconer, wrote the musical score; another had a connection to one of the producers. Perhaps most importantly, the script attracted some first-rate Hollywood talent, including Dennis Haysbert, John Lovitz, Stacy Keach and Martin Sheen. And while the pace started slowly, when the scenes filmed at PH Square appeared on the big screen, it was a total kick to be in the same venue as “Lost & Found’s” denouement. In this reporter’s opinion, the child actor, Benjamin Steinhauser, who plays the President McKinley geek, is someone to watch for. I haven’t seen such a witty, precocious adolescent character since actor Rico Rodriguez played Manny Delgado on “Modern Family.”

A personal highlight for Malone involved using new technology at the Q&A session where actress Marlee Matlin and producer/ director Shoshanna Stern, discussed the documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.” The movie was well received and provided an opportunity to use brand new captioning technology for panel speakers.

“You [including hearing-impaired] can actually tell which person is speaking,” she notes. Malone was also pleased with the results of Family Day on the last Saturday of the festival. There were screenings for families, including family-friendly shorts. Those movies were only $10 per ticket, more affordable than regular prices. “We had arts and crafts plus a cereal bar in the morning the kids loved.” She noted there was 33% increased participation for this year’s family activities and programming.

The CIFF staff is already gearing up for the big half-century mark at next year’s CIFF 50. They had to decide whether they would host

Director Shoshannah Stern and Actor Marlee Matlin were downtown for the CIFF 49 showing of the documentary “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore.” The audience loved it and the new captioning technology for following the panel discussion after. Photograph by Danny Murtaugh for CIFF.

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extra events and programs that culminated in the festival or start with the festival continue the celebration. They decided on the former. “We’ll activate events and partners that will lead up to the festival.” The dates for next year are: April 9-18, 2026, for CIFF 50 in-person. Malone indicated there may be a different approach to CIFF Streams as distributors cut down on what’s available to stream after festival showings nationwide. Most likely as we get farther from the pandemic there will be fewer options to view from home. Tweaking things that need to be improved, more profitable or user-friendly appeals to Malone. She noted there was a 7% rise in revenue this year due to higher sales of single-day passes and fewer complimentary tickets. “We also used one less theater [nothing was shown in the Palace] and we shaved a day off, beginning on a Thursday night instead of Wednesday.” That was so the first full day would feel more dynamic and draw more robust attendance. Most long-time CIFF-goers know that first Thursday could be pretty quiet compared to the first Friday, where buffs often started their weekends early and settled in for their armchair trip around the world.

When asked about next year’s anniversary celebration, Malone encourages people to think of CIFF not as a static monument, but more like a museum: “It has a permanent collection and new acquisitions.” She believes the festival will continue to change in response to industry demands and audience preferences. And the CIFF staff will continue to develop strategies to attract younger audiences. Malone was pleased that “16% of CIFF survey respondents were first-time attendees.” And while she expressed gratitude for long-time attendees, she found it “refreshing” to meet first timers.

So mark your calendars now for what’s coming next year to honor CIFF’s first halfcentury and to look forward to its next 50 years, especially for the culmination celebration at Playhouse Square from April 9-18, 2026.

For more information, see www.clevelandfilm.org

City Stages, free summer concert series set to take place in Hingetown

City Stages, the Cleveland Museum of Art’s (CMA) FREE summer concert series, is back with the best of global music on Wednesdays, July 9 and 23, 2025, taking place outside Transformer Station in Ohio City’s Hingetown neighborhood. This year, acts from two different countries are bringing amazing beats to the neighborhood for unforgettable evenings. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to arrive early and grab dinner and a drink at one of Ohio City’s bars or restaurants or visit one of the local shops. Seating is limited—bring camp chairs and enjoy an evening of music and dancing in the street.

Wednesday, July 9

Latin Grammy–nominated musician Yeison Landero was born in San Jacinto (Bolívar) in the very heart of the Montes de María region of the Colombian Caribbean. He carries in his soul a cumbiambero heart inherited from his grandfather Andrés Landero: a musician recognized as the king of cumbia nationally and internationally. Yeison blends the rich, folkloric sounds of the accordion with propulsive rhythms, delivering a soulful homage to his family’s cumbia legacy while infusing it with new energy for the 21st century.

Wednesday, July 23

Founded in the midst of the bustling streets of Barcelona, Las Karamba consists of six women musicians who are mestizas and migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Catalonia, France, and Argentina. Together, they create new, timeless, danceable music that includes traditional styles—including son, cha-cha-cha, salsa, and timba—influenced by rap and urban music, as well as a touch of samba and rumba. With the band’s formation, six life stories converged, each individually shaped by migration and musical heritage. Together, the band members have created a powerful electrifying show with danceable songs, wonderful arrangements, and catchy melodies.

Free parking is available in the Lutheran Hospital lot at West 28th Street and Franklin Boulevard.

Transformer Station is located at 1460 West 29th Street (at the corner of Church Avenue), Cleveland, OH 44113. Normal hours are Thursday to Sunday, 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., but Transformer Station opens on Wednesday evenings until 9:00 p.m. during City Stages. For more information on Transformer Station, visit www.clevelandart.org/transformer-station

From bloomers to bikinis … a swimsuit evolution

By JEANNIE EMSER SCHULTZ

With summer around the corner comes the moment most women dread: trying on swimsuits. The one-too-many-pieces of pizza over the winter is one determinant of the swimsuit you’ll choose, but other choices depend on whether you’ll be wearing it only to catch rays, actually swim, compete or water ski.

There are bikini and thong suits that perhaps reveal a bit more than most of us would opt for…sturdier tankinis…one-piece suits that stand up to competitive swimming or athletic water-skiing…and blouson, tummy-tamer or skirt-attached styles that are more forgiving. (SPANX has even incorporated swimsuits into its line!)

Yet no matter our style selection, we can all be happy we’re wearing swimwear in the summer of 20 25 and not 19 25. In the 1880s beach-going American and Western European women were expected to wear “bathing dresses”—thick, colorful, knee-length garments made of wool (not to mention bathing “corsets” and bloomers under the garment). Too heavy, restrictive, itchy and pungent (think wet sheep), their design restricted regular movement let alone actually swimming. By the Roaring Twenties swimsuits became less restrictive, yet social norms still insisted on decorum for the ladies with many beaches hiring bathing beach “cops” to measure the length of ladies bathing dresses, making certain the skirts were no more than six inches above the knee!

And while the shirtless beach look is now standard for men, being topless in public — for anyone of any gender — was considered controversial in many U.S. states during the first half of the 20th century… even illegal in parts of the country! In 1935 police arrested and fined 42 men who swam topless in Atlantic City, where “bareback swimming,” as it was

known, was forbidden. There had been plenty of individual dalliances with shirtless swimming before, but this group arrest was intended as a protest against the restrictive rules. New Jersey overturned the law in 1937, with other states following suit. Men were eventually free to abandon one-piece “swimming costumes” in favor of today’s modern “trunks.” By 1946, however, norms were beginning to change. Enter Louis Réard, a French automotive engineer who surprisingly turned…fashion designer! Louis is credited with the design of the first string bikini. It featured four triangles

of fabric—two for the bottom, two for the top—connected by spaghetti straps. Because he expected an “explosive” reaction to this daring new design, Louis named his suit after the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific islands, where the U.S. conducted 1940s atomic bomb testing. Louis couldn’t convince any of the high fashion runway models of the day to pose in his revealing bikini, so a Casino de Paris nude dancer named Micheline Bernardini was tapped to debut the provocative swimwear. Within the decade that followed, however, the bikini became ubiquitous, thanks to post-war changing social norms and film stars like Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe who popularized the style. By 1960 bikinis were suddenly everywhere as Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” song topped the charts and boosted sales. Cinematic history was made in 1962 as a tanned Ursula Andress emerged from the ocean wearing a white bikini in the James Bond film “Dr. No.” (It was a scene so iconic it would be recreated 40 years later by Halle Berry in another Bond film, “ Die Another Day”.) Publication history followed “Dr. No” as “Sports Illustrated” launched its annual Swimsuit Issue in ‘64 with model Babette March sporting the same white Ursula Andress bikini. (“Sports Illustrated’s” Swimsuit Issue would become its best-selling issue year after year.)

In 2001 Ursula Andress (then age 64) rediscovered that same white bikini in her home attic and was reported to have said, “This bikini made me into a success.” She then proceeded to auction the suit via Christie’s in London, where it fetched more than £41,000 (around $60,000 in 2001). Its value to Andress’ career however? Priceless!

Though the modern bikini didn’t come along until the 20th century, two-piece suits date back as far as ancient Rome. An ancient

Andress’

mosaic found on the walls of a Sicilian villa depicts images of women (now referred to as the “Bikini Girls”) shown dancing, running and playing in almost contemporary looking beachwear. Historians are undecided if the suits were worn for water activities or were just standard summer exercise togs for hot Sicilian summers since in cultural antiquity both men and women were shown swimming nude. In addition to the Ursula Andress “Dr. No” white bikini, a number of bathing suits have become iconic…canonical bits of popular culture. Consider the famous Farrah Fawcett poster showing her in a low-cut, sexy red one-piece; ditto for Pamela Anderson and the rest of the “Baywatch” babes running down

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A nude dancer had to model the first bikini when other models turned down the job.

Beach police once measured so no bathing skirt was more than six inches above the knee.

Ursula

iconic bikini scene from James Bond’s “Dr. No”

Science Center launches an exhibit on Great Lakes shipping

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

E xplore the past, present and future of Great Lakes freighters through the exhibit, “Steam and Steel: Propelling the Future of the Great Lakes” at the Great Lakes Science Center.

The new exhibit, which opens on May 23, is the centerpiece of a summer centennial celebration of the historic Steamship William G. Mather, which launched 100 years ago on May 23, 1925. Once the working flagship of Cleveland Cliffs, Inc., the Steamship Mather is now a maritime museum.

The Steam and Steel exhibit will allow guests to experience what it was like to steer the mighty Mather, load and unload cargo, and explore that is happening right now on the Great Lakes via the AIS (automatic identification system). Interactive displays will allow attendees to discover the Mather’s innovations and historic firsts that made it a unique leader among Great Lakes freighters. Guests can try their hand at Mather’s innovations like the early addition of radar on the Great Lakes, dual propeller bow thrusters and automated boiler systems.

The exhibit will provide plenty of photo opportunities. As guests enter the exhibit, they will encounter a 4-by-10-foot replica of the front hull of the ship, providing a great place to snap a selfie before embarking on a journey into the history of the Mather and the world of Great Lakes shipping. Displays of artifacts from the Mather and historic photos chronicling Cleveland’s shipping history will showcase how Lake Erie, and access to the other four Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Atlantic Ocean, helped shape the growth of Cleveland as a hub for commerce, industry and innovation.

The Mather typically made the round trip between Cleveland and Duluth, Mn. 35 times a year, bringing in raw materials for steel production, which earned it the nickname,

“the ship that built Cleveland.” The first commercial Great Lakes vessel equipped

with radar and the first American vessel to use automated boiler systems, the cargo ship combined state-of-the-art technology with luxury as its guest quarters allowed Cleveland Cliff’s executives and guests to travel in style.

The Great Lakes Historical Society acquired the Mather in 1987 after it was retired from commercial duty, and started renovating the ship to serve as a museum. In 1994, the Great Lakes Historical Society turned the vessel over to the Harbor Heritage Society, which continued restoration work and opened the ship to the public. In 2006, the Harbor Heritage Society donated the Mather to the Great Lakes Science Center, where it remains open from May through September, allowing guests to walk the decks and marvel at the engineering firsts. Visitors can explore the ship and see its huge cargo holds, brass and oak pilot hose,

elegant guest quarters and four-story engine room.

The Steamship William G. Mather is open on weekends through the month of May, extending to a six-days-a-week summer schedule on June 3. Admission to the Steam and Steel exhibit, running May 23 through Sept. 1, is included in general admission to the Science Center. Tickets to tour the Steamship Mather are an additional charge. Visit www.greatscience. com for details.

The G reat Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., is one of the top 10 museums in the nation as celebrated by the 2025 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice travel award for Best Science Museum. The Science Center makes science, technology, engineering and math come alive for more than 300,000 visitors a year.

Once the working flagship of Cleveland Cliffs, Inc., the Steamship Mather is now a maritime museum.

The “Steam and Steel” exhibit is the centerpiece of a summer centennial celebration of the Steamship William G. Mather. The exhibit will allow guests to experience what it was like to steer the mighty Mather.

Photographs provided by the Great Lakes Science Center