Empower Sports was founded on the belief that every child should have the opportunity to play sports. It’s a goal shared both by founder Tom Heines and the nonprofit’s biggest financial backer, Matt Kaulig.
RAY AND FRANCIE SORACE sit in the metal stands at a community gym in Independence. They’re watching their son, Joey, as he dribbles down the court and launches a shot.
It’s a moment they don’t take for granted.
“My husband never thought he’d watch his son play sports,” Francie says, her voice trembling as she recalls being told her baby had Downs syndrome. “When he was born the doctor came into the room and flat out told us not to expect too much.”
Tom Heines had the exact opposite belief when he founded Empower Sports, the nonprofit behind tonight’s event, in 2012. “I always had a heart for people who are left out,” he says.
Between the players and the fans, there are over 100 people in the gym. The court is filled with a mix of all ages, sizes, shapes and abilities, including a group of lawyers who came to help out and a dozen or so participants who are here for the very first time.
You’d think it would be a bit of a mess, but somehow it all works. Heines kicks things off with a pep talk and some group stretching while 22-year-old Joey — who calls himself a hype coach — welcomes newcomers. Once the game gets started, everyone seems to know when to back off and let someone take a shot and when to step up their defense.
The result is, as Heines puts it, “a beautifully diverse group of players and volunteers enjoying time together in the gym.”
Empower Sports has grown to include more than 400 families and now hosts fitness activities and games — including baseball, football, soccer and pickleball — in five counties. That’s a credit to Heines and his hard work, which attracted supporters like Matt Kaulig, the executive chairman of Kaulig Companies. “Tom dedicates his life to these kids and Empower Sports,” Kaulig says. “It’s inspiring to us. That’s why we hook our wagon to guys like Tom.”
The bond between these three men is obvious — and it’s based on their love of sports and shared belief that you feel good when you do good.Empower Sports founder Tom Heines with youth coach Joey Sorace and supporter Matt Kaulig
As the vice president of philanthropy for Kaulig Companies, Stacey Langal thoroughly vets each nonprofit before money is given. “We really wrap our arms around this organization,” she says. “It really is one that is joyful and uplifting.”
It’s an energy that Kaulig, a former quarterback for the Akron Zips, loves to be a part of. The photo on this page was part of a shoot that was only scheduled to take 15 minutes out of Kaulig’s packed day.
But then the three men started tossing the football and chatting.
“The funds that you have provided have completely changed our organization,” Heines tells Kaulig. “And it’s not just that. It’s fun things like this that we get to do.”
“You guys are special,” Kaulig says as he coils for a pass. “The program you have created is amazing and you are impacting others. You do it better than anybody.”
Heines catches a spiral from Joey. “This guy can throw it around,” he says.
The bond between these three men is obvious — and it’s based on their love of sports and shared belief that you feel good when you do good. Now, as a youth coach for Empower Sports, Joey gets to experience that side of events as well.
Back at the gym, he’s always cheering, high fiving, finding the person who looks a bit lost and drawing them into the fun. “For me, I really want to help the little kids and show other kids how to be nice to one another,” he says. “That’s why we’re here.”
Hope Diver, 29, is the only other participant who has been a part of Empower Sports as long as Joey. She invited an old teacher to come tonight and proudly points out the jerseys she helped design.
Back when the group first started, there were far less events and they were way more spread out, but Hope was determined to attend as many as possible.
“Every day of the week she had me going somewhere,” her dad, Scott Diver, says, pretending to be put out but not really pulling it off. “One night it was Medina; the next it was Fairview Park.”
You can see it in his eyes. He’s watched his daughter grow from a shy teen to a true leader. He would have driven anywhere for his little girl to have had these opportunities.
Like Heines, Kaulig believes in equal access to opportunities, especially in business. Joey met Kaulig and his media team while filming WKYC’s Power of Inspiration feature with Jay Crawford.
“My team and I were instantly drawn to Joey’s personality and his ability to motivate others,” Kaulig says. “After the shoot, my VP of PR/Media, Kim DeCredico, asked about Joey interning. We think differently here at Kaulig Companies. We look for that ‘it’ factor and people who lead with positivity. Joey is celebrating his third summer with Kaulig Media as my PR intern — he has been a great addition to the team, and we are better people because of him.”
Joey walks out of the gym with his parents and, while it was hectic, thinks the night went well for everybody. He’s a busy guy these days, working as a PR intern for Kaulig’s media team and as a coaching assistant for the football team at Independence High School, which he graduated from in 2020.
“We see the change in him, the confidence,” Francie says. “It’s magic to know there are people who support and foster that.”
Learn more about Empower Sports, including how to donate or volunteer, at empowersports.org.
Joey in studio prepping cue cards for Kaulig Companies Championship commercials airing nationally on NBC Golf Channel.
Joey in studio with Kaulig and WJW’s Stefani Schaefer. Each month, Kaulig films WJW’s Cleveland’s Own feature, which highlights nonprofits making a difference in the community.
Kaulig interviewing Joey in 2021 for WKYC’s Power of Inspiration news feature.
34 DARE TO DREAM What makes up a dream home? From a sprawling mansion to a first-time home, our annual Home Issue offers the tips, tricks and trends you need to create the decor of your dreams. Edited by Ron Ledgard
Photographed by Amy Carruthers
Courtesy Laura Yeager Smith
FEATURED
48 CLIMBING KILIMANJARO Journey with a Clevelander and his family as they summit Mount Kilimanjaro — and grow closer in the process. By Marla Ridenour
8 FROM THE EDITOR
10 CONVERSATION
LAY OF THE LAND
13 LIP SMACKER LOVE One local collector has spent years stocking up on the brand, which has roots in Northeast Ohio.
18 MORE MONET With an upcoming Monet exhibition, the Cleveland Museum of Art explores the legacy of one of its premier pieces, "Water Lilies (Agapanthus)."
22 WEED SUSTAINABILITY How some cannabis growers are being more eco-friendly.
FOOD & DRINK
25 MALLEY'S LEGACY The local chocolate maker opens up ahead of Easter.
28 MAPLE MADNESS Hear from two maple syrup makers based in Montville, and what drew them to the industry.
30 DINING GUIDE "Buon appetito" at Northeast Ohio's best Italian restaurants.
HOME & GARDEN
99 UPCYCLED HOME DECOR Head inside this funky, DIY Detroit-Shoreway home.
104 LOOK BACK A glimpse back at a Cleveland St. Patrick's Day parade of the past.
SPECIAL SECTIONS
53 GUIDE TO EDUCATION COVID changed things for young learners. Also, music education helps students.
71
See how Cuyahoga DD helps individuals with developmental disabilities make community connections and live their best lives.
75
Plan your next home project as you shop, compare and save with more than 200 exhibitors ready to answer your renovation questions at this year’s Cleveland Home + Remodeling Expo.
art
Denise
ON THE SURFACE, this month’s features — a story about a family bonding while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on page 48 and our cover package on page 34, which offers inspiration you can apply to your own home while strolling through a sprawling mansion in Chagrin Falls — might not seem to have anything in common.
But for many, designing a stylish home also seems like an expensive, mysterious mountain to climb.
Heck, if you’re anything like me, that hike might seem more possible than a redesign. When you have a one-anda-half-year-old running around the house, elegant or chic isn’t really on your mind. Every time my wife and I think we’ve baby-proofed, something breaks or we have a fall. We can barely put the books and toys away before the little gremlin wakes up from a nap, ready to search and destroy.
But then again, it can’t be that hard, right? Maybe I’m overthinking it.
After all, when we’re coming up with ideas each year for our Home Issue and every month in our Home & Garden section, I think about my favorite homes, those of family members and friends. In fact, always looking for great story ideas, I now pay closer attention to decor than I ever have before (or ever thought I would). In my searching, I’ve learned that the old saying is true: You can buy fashion but you can’t buy style.
After all, the most memorable homes ooze personality. Prominently displayed books and albums define their occupants. Pieces of art that spark joy or contemplation adorn the walls. Family photos act as reminders of joyous sand-covered family vacations or late nights with friends. Heirlooms and trinkets fill the nooks and crannies left by loved ones lost. These are not model homes. These spaces are lived in and loved.
Maybe that’s why I gravitate to the profile of Claire Billingsley on page 99. Instagram’s @odetoanabode exudes personal style, both in clothing and decor. She renovated her Detroit-Shoreway home to look like a coloring book exploded (or maybe that four-foot Crayon statue in the corner developed a mind of its own). The bedspread is Rugrats ‘90s kitsch and the art is inspired by Little Tykes and Star Wars.
Now, would I decorate my house that way. Absolutely not! But I’m not her. I wouldn’t find any more joy
in that space than I would in a cavernous mansion decorated like a museum (OK, maybe a little bit more).
“My house is really out there, but you don’t have to go all in,” she says. “Experiment and have fun at whatever scale you feel comfortable with. Take small risks that are impermanent and don’t cost lots of money, like paint, throw pillows and secondhand decor.”
So, one weekend in February, I gave that a try. I reworked a shelf to display my favorite vinyl records and a vintage guitar amp. I hung a Bruce Springsteen poster (Live at the Agora ‘78) and my favorite piece of art, a faux cover of this magazine featuring my daughter, a gift from our art director, Erin Stinard.
Am I ready for my magazine feature? No. But my home now feels a little more like me — at least until the toddler wakes up. Then, it’s hers again.
Dillon Stewart, editor
Friday Mar 8th 7:00 pm CSU/Drinko Hall
Saturday Mar 9th 7:00 pm The Bop Stop
Friday Mar 15th 7:00 pm KSU/Ludwig Hall
Saturday Mar 16th 7:00 pm Heights Arts
In our February cover story, “Free Cleveland,” we created a guide of free things to do all year long in Cleveland, from this month’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade to the Chagrin Falls Pumpkin Toss in October. Here’s what readers had to say.
From the readers:
@notannieoakley: The fossilized log every west side kid has climbed through ❤ @universitycircle: Always something fun to do in the Circle!
@litcleveland: Thanks to @clevelandmag for including Cleveland Book Week and our Inkubator Writing Conference in the list of 100 free things to do this year!
As the calendar flips to March, we’re more than a couple of weeks into Fish Fry season. Visit clevelandmagazine.com/fishfry to use our interactive map to plan this Lenten season’s dining schedule. Some of our favorites include Prosperity Social Club in Cleveland, Bearden’s in Rocky River and St. Charles Borromeo Church in Parma.
The Greater Cleveland Sports Awards is the premier annual sports fundraiser that supports the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and celebrates a year of athletic achievements, from local high school stars to professional athletes.
Since 2000, the GCSC has attracted over 222 sporting events and more than $917 million in economic activity to Northeast Ohio. GCSC serves to improve the local economy and enrich the community by attracting, creating and managing significant sporting and competitive events.
1) Tony Longino, Lutul Farrow, Robert Hester
2) Brittany Long, LeAirra Lacey, Hannah Hammon
3) Dave Gatian, Donna Rios
4) Mike Ostriwski, Ben Adams
ERIN
the first time she visited the Bonne Bell store in Lakewood, in the late 1970s. By then, it was a mainstay in the community. Founded a halfcentury earlier by cosmetics salesman Jesse Bell and named for his daughter, the company had initially distinguished itself with its Ten-O-Six line of skin care products (named for its chemical formula) and then with its Lip Smacker line of flavored lip balms. “I just fell in love,” says Flynn, now 54. “I was hooked.” Flynn’s family (her father was a vice president with American Greetings) moved around a lot during her childhood, and she was only in Northeast Ohio for third grade before the family moved to California. But her love for Lip Smacker and the company’s roots being in Northeast Ohio continued.
Three years later, the Flynn family moved back to the Cleveland area, and Erin’s affection for Lip Smacker inten sified during a school field trip to the Westlake factory, where her class saw the production process firsthand.
In the late 1960s, Bonne Bell expand ed into fashion, making outerwear and skiwear with its Liberty Bell line. The company added flavors to the lip balm it manufactured for outdoor activities, and in 1973, Lip Smacker debuted in three flavors: strawberry, green apple and lemon.
Two years after Lip Smacker de buted, the company signed a partner ship deal with Dr Pepper. “It had a lit tle tint of red, so it was like you were wearing lipstick and getting away with it,” Flynn says. That opened the flood gates. Soon there were partnerships with other pop and candy companies, such as Hires Root Beer, Orange Crush, Good ‘n’ Plenty and Tootsie Roll. The company introduced an estimated 20 flavors per year and, by 2012, had more than 400. For decades, pre-teen and teen girls were devoted to the product, first in its 0.6-ounce Biggy size and then in its more standard 0.14-ounce Smackeroos. But in 2015, Bonne Bell was sold to an international company, which ceased Northeast Ohio opera tions and laid off 91 employees.
A decade ago, Flynn moved into a home in Avon Lake and resumed collecting Lip Smacker. Her collection has expanded to more than 3,000 pieces, from the company’s earliest products to prototypes and marketing materials.
“I started buying back my childhood,” she says. “I moved around a ton as a child, and I think that’s why I started collecting this stuff.”
Flynn now has a whole room devoted to her wide-ranging Bonne Bell collection at home. There are ashtrays and matchbooks from the employee commissary. There are prototypes for a Lydia Lip Smacker line of dolls that was considered but never produced.
And there are rows and rows of Lip Smackers. Some are variations — like a pair of 7UP Lip Smacker, one with
the “bikini girl” that decorated the bottle for years and one without. (She can tell what year a particular product was released from the font on the packaging.) And some are for causes and characters. There are Herself the Elf Lip Smackers, particularly sentimental because her father worked for American Greetings, which created the character.
When Flynn started buying the products again in 2014, the company had massive warehouse sales — and then once they halted operations in Northeast Ohio, liquidation sales.
“I started collecting before a lot of other people did,” she says. “It’s almost impossible now. If you look on eBay, you can see some items go for upwards
of $1,000. For most of my items, I spent like $10, or bought them at a warehouse sale for 10 cents apiece. I had boxes and boxes, and I finally decided to display them.”
Flynn shares her collection on Instagram and has the pink room at home.
“It’s a weird collection to have, but I don’t know anyone who’s seen it who hasn’t been blown away,” she says. “They want to see it and smell them all.”
The bug hatches in the spring and starts small, about the size of a tick, and grows to an inch long with spotted wings. When it matures in late summer, its hind wing is bright red with a white and a black bar. As the population increases, Shields says, “it’s just kind of getting up to a level now where it’s harder to avoid seeing them.”
Destructo-Bug
Spotted lanternflies feed on certain plants’ sap and can cause secondary infections from their sugary waste, which in turn creates sooty mold. They also feast on agriculturally important crops like grapes. “In Ohio, we have an $8 billion grape industry, so there’s a lot of potential economic impact from these feeding on grape vines,” Shields says.
YHere are four things to know about spotted lanternflies.
ou might have seen one, or 100, spotted lanternflies swarming parts of Cleveland this past summer and autumn. And, unfortunately, you can probably expect to see even more this year. The invasive insect, native to Asia, was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014, says Jonathan Shields, inspection manager for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. It was then spotted in Ohio in 2020, first in Jefferson County and then in Downtown Cleveland in 2021 — but it had likely been here for a few years at that point. Now, the spotted lanternfly can be found all along the north coast of Ohio, in between Cleveland and Toledo. “It definitely seems to follow transportation corridors, so we do see it in a lot of urban areas where you get a lot of railroads and highways that come together,” Shields says. “Throughout Cleveland, you have a lot of railroad lines that come through and crisscross in the city. That’s our leading suspect for how it got here; it was riding the rails from further east.” Here are four things to know about the bad bug, and what to do if you see one.
Shields cited two other invasive pests in Ohio: the box tree moth and the Asian longhorn beetle. Thanks to ODA programs, the Asian longhorn beetle is moving toward eradication. “We have a number of these pests, and it’s really a product of a global economy with materials moving all around the world,” Shields says.
Slow the Spread
Anyone who lives in a city with infestations of this critter should check themselves and their vehicles before travel, to avoid bringing hitchhiking spotted lanternflies along with them. Beyond that, squish the bugs. The goal is to slow spotted lanternflies’ travel, to allow more time for scientific research on control methods, Shields says.
Popularity of “Water Lilies (Agapanthus)” attracts more of Monet’s work in a new CMA exhibit.
THE SPRAWLING “WATER LILIES (AGAPANTHUS)” painting at the Cleveland Museum of Art is a crowd favorite. With its white flowers and clouds floating across blue, lavender and green reflections in a pond, the approximately 6.5-by-14-foot work of art from French Impressionist Claude Monet has been a major attraction for visitors since its acquisition in 1960.
“It’s really a pilgrimage destination,” says Heather Lemonedes Brown, deputy director and chief curator at CMA. “It’s very rare you go into the gallery and no one is looking at it.”
The painting was the catalyst for a new exhibit at CMA called Monet in Focus, which sheds new light on his later works through three paintings on loan from the Musee Marmottan Monet, a Parisian museum devoted to the painter’s art, and two paintings from CMA’s permanent collections.
In 2022, CMA loaned “Water Lilies (Agapanthus)” to the Fondation Louis Vuitton Museum’s Monet-Mitchell exhibit in Paris. In exchange, the Musee Marmottan lent CMA three paintings that became the foundation for the new exhibit, running March 31–Aug. 11.
“We knew we wanted to show Monet and his late work, because that’s the great strength of the Marmottan’s collection,” says Brown. “So, we chose three very different pictures that could tell a story about how Monet uses light and atmosphere in his paintings in three really different ways.”
For example, “The Japanese Bridge, 1918” depicts the rough shape of an arching footbridge emerging from shadows. In “Rouen Cathedral at the End of the Day, Sunlight Effect, 1892,” Monet chose to paint the historic Gothic cathedral as part of a series on several canvases at different times of the day
over six months. The painting “Monet in Focus” shows the upper portion of the cathedral bathed in late-afternoon light, and the lower third is in shadows. It’s contrasted with CMA’s own “Gardener’s House at Antibes,” depicting a warmer light on a sloped building.
This morphing of his work is shown through the contrasting of the third painting on loan from the Musee Marmottan, “Water Lilies, 1907,” with “Water Lilies (Agapanthus).”
“Water Lilies (Agapanthus)” is part of a bigger Monet exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Not only has “Water Lilies (Agapanthus)” inspired Monet in Focus, but it’s played a role in shaping CMA itself. During the 2015 exhibit Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse, the piece, which is the left panel of a roomsized, three-piece triptych, was reunited with its other panels.
“That just goes to show how special it is to have one here,” says Brown. “I think owning the painting inspired us to develop the strength of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in our collection.”
After hosting multiple NBA Finals, a World Series, and NBA and MLB All-Star games in the past decade, Cleveland is a hotspot for big sports events.
IN APRIL, THE NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR descends upon Cleveland for the first time since 2007. Since then, women’s college basketball’s popularity has exploded, and the City of Cleveland has hosted a significant number of major events. Ahead of next month’s contest, David Gilbert, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, discusses what it takes to plan for the big games.
Q
HOW DOES AN EVENT LIKE THE NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR END UP IN CLEVELAND?
A It’s a pretty long, competitive process. Every event that we go after, in one way, shape or form, we are competing against other cities in the United States and occasionally around the world to host. The Women’s Final Four, the NCAA has a process and we were awarded the event about five years ago, it was about a year-long process. So it gives you an idea of sometimes events have been quite far out.
QDavid GilbertCLEVELAND HAS DONE WELL WITH BIG EVENTS IN THE PAST. HOW DOES THAT HELP TO LAND SOMETHING LIKE THE NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR?
ACleveland has earned a reputation for being one of the top cities in America for hosting events, and it took us a long time to get there. I think that we’ve hosted a lot of great events, including a Women’s Final Four back in ‘07. I really think we’re absolutely one of, if not the leading city in the country, at least we believe so, in what we do with these events to engage the community and make them better and more successful for that event.
Q
WHAT TYPE OF ECONOMIC IMPACT DO YOU BELIEVE THE WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR WILL HAVE ON CLEVELAND?
A
We expected when we bid on the event from some past Final Fours somewhere between $25 million and $30 million. There’s a real chance it will be a good amount higher because the event has gotten so much bigger.
QWHAT IS ONE EVENT CLEVELAND HASN’T HAD THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE?
A
It’s a good question. I would tell you I don’t view our success as a community in terms of, ‘Hey, we’ve made it because we got X.’ I think the biggest challenge is how do we keep Cleveland positioned as one of the top cities in America for the hosting of these major events? And it’s not easy because it’s so highly competitive.
As Ohio moves toward launching its recreational cannabis market, some marijuana businesses are striving for greater sustainability.
Galenas’ vertically tiered, LED-lit, indoor cannabis plants sprout from soil locally produced from compost. After harvest, the Akron business ships the used soil to Michigan, where it recycles it multiple times in outdoor and greenhouse grow cycles.
Galenas’ grow rooms encompass about 3,000 square feet of its roughly 11,000-square-foot facility. The cultivator cools rooms and dims and turns off lights as needed to keep plant flowers, or buds, compact to meet patient preferences — and it saves energy in the process. The team does not use pesticides on plants but feeds them with organic nutrients and amendments.
“We really intentionally went into what we are doing here in the state trying to be as thoughtful about what, not just our energy demand was going to be but, what our waste footprint was going to look like,” says Geoff Korff, Galenas founder and CEO.
Ohio’s marijuana industry is primed to expand beyond strictly medical operations to serve a ballooning consumer base, following voters’ decision to legalize weed in November 2023.
However, the industry — legalizing state by state and country by country — has riled some, including the climateconscious.
Estimates vary, but the industry
likely produces somewhere between 0.07% and 0.1% of the nation’s total carbon footprint — the higher end being comparable to three million average cars, with CO2 emissions of 15 million tons. A 2021 study from Colorado State University found that Colorado’s cannabis industry contributes emissions comparable to trash collection and coal mining. The CO2 production of Oregon and Colorado’s cannabis industries have been estimated at 6% and 3%, respectively, of the state’s total emissions.
With four new states ready to launch recreational programs and at least 11 states considering it on the 2024 ballot, the industry is expected to grow from about $57 billion in 2023 to $444 billion in 2030. One can only assume that emissions will grow from here.
The biggest issue is indoor cultivation, which requires lighting, HVAC, dehumidification and other energy-
sucking tools that run 24 hours a day. Under Ohio’s medical marijuana program, all cultivation must take place in enclosed areas, like greenhouses. The same plan currently stands for the state’s to-come recreational industry, as outlined in Issue 2, the marijuana legalization initiated statute passed by Ohio voters on Nov. 7.
More than just crime prevention, there is a history with these protected grows, says Ari Seaman, managing partner of Off-Grid Agricultural Technologies and chief operating officer of C4 Holdings, a cannabis greenhouse in California City, California.
“Cannabis was illegal for so long that it was founded indoors,” he says. “It was founded in an attic, in a garage, in a closet.”
C4 Holdings’ operable, prototype greenhouse in California City separates itself from the energy grid by utilizing renewable energy sources — solar, wind, batteries and generators. Seaman rattles off several energy-saving processes at C4: induction lights that he invented, nutrient injection systems that measure soil humidity and a patentpending system called Programmable Load Management Logic that uses artificial intelligence to read weather patterns and adjust which power sources are used for various equipment.
That amounts to less energy and labor, Seaman says. C4 has reduced the carbon footprint of its 30,000-squarefoot facility by about 90%.
Through OG AGtech, Seaman also works with a 300-acre Ohio field and greenhouse vegetable producer, The Chef’s Garden in Huron. Farmer Lee Jones, of The Chef’s Garden and Food Network fame, has chosen to use OG AG Tech’s AI weather-based system in his quest to increase efficiency.
Jeff McCourt, founder and CEO of Ohio medical marijuana company Firelands Scientific, says being located in Huron on the Lake Erie shore has proven to be ideal. About two-thirds of the light energy that the business’s plants use comes from the sun beaming through its greenhouse near the water.
“Weather patterns that create the
lake effect snow in the eastern part of Lake Erie really clear up a lot of the cloud cover that exists otherwise in Ohio and Canada,” McCourt says.
Firelands Scientific’s 25,000 square feet of cultivation also uses a closedloop hydroponic irrigation system.
The business employs sustainable packaging, such as glass and paper. It also obtains labels from Label Aid in Huron, and works with Huron’s Barnes Nursery to use plant material and growing media for compost.
McCourt plans to achieve a net-zero footprint for energy, waste and water by 2030, and with customers’ support of sustainability.
Government regulations can also influence operations’ energy use, with subsidies for using LED light bulbs.
In the meantime, Galenas will continue to follow sustainable approaches, such as partnering with local businesses like Tilth Soil in Cleveland and Ohio Earth Food in Hartville, which keeps distribution carbon emissions in check.
As for its used soil in Akron, Galenas aims to find a way to keep it in Ohio in the future. “It has to be sterilized to a certain extent in order to reuse it, and then reamended so that the fertility level is where it needs to be,” he says. “That’s all a bit beyond what our current building allows us to do. But eventually, I think we’ll get there.”
Nov. 7, 2023: Ohio’s Issue 2 passes with 57.19% of the vote, allowing adults ages 21 and older to possess and consume marijuana upon the law taking effect and subsequently permitting its eventual sale by and purchase from licensed businesses.
Dec. 6, 2023: Ohio’s Senate passes Senate Bill 86, which would raise the state’s point-of-sale tax from 10% to 15%, allow additional local taxes, change distribution of tax revenue and permit medical marijuana dispensaries to immediately begin selling weed. Gov. Mike DeWine urges the House to pass the bill to protect consumers from the illicit market.
Dec. 7, 2023: Issue 2 takes effect in the form by which it was passed by voters, making adult possession and use of marijuana legal.
Jan. 17, 2024: Gov. Mike DeWine calls on Ohio lawmakers to ban or regulate hemp-sourced, psychoactive delta-8 THC products.
Sept. 7, 2024: The Division of Cannabis Control is required to issue recreational marijuana cultivation, processing, testing and dispensary licenses to existing medical marijuana operators.
IN NORTHEAST OHIO, few things are as synonymous with holidays as Malley’s Chocolates. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter and Mother’s Day delight the sweet tooth with decadence from Malley’s. Headquartered in Brook Park, the third-generation Clevelandarea staple has delighted customers since 1935. “I think what we do is, we sell chocolate, but I think our brand stands for fond memories, good times, happiness, and chocolate is, sort of, the medium that makes that happen,” says Mike Malley, president of Malley’s Chocolates. Everyone has a Malley’s favorite. Whether it’s the chocolate-covered pretzels, Bordeaux or another indulgent confection, it’s all made here. And, no area Easter basket is complete without a legendary chocolate bunny.
AQWHAT IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR MALLEY’S?
It’s definitely the Christmas season. If you had to look at the main seasonal holidays, Christmas is by far the biggest. But Valentine’s Day, and the day before — the 13th and 14th. Those two days alone are the biggest single-day revenue days for the company. But the Christmas season is by far the biggest one, then followed by Easter.
AQHOW POPULAR ARE THE CHOCOLATECOVERED STRAWBERRIES?
It’s huge. We do chocolate-covered strawberries only a few times a year. We do them around Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and then Sweetest Day, so we kind of limited-time
Northeast Ohioans get their sweet fix at Malley’s Chocolates’ 19 locations. We sat down with President Mike Malley to learn more about the local company.
offer four times a year. You can’t make those in advance. With Valentine’s Day, we’ll start production on those around midnight on Feb. 12. Because they have about a 48hour shelf life for optimum taste.
QWHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING MALLEY’S DOES?
A We hear a lot of times people telling us about the memories they have growing up selling Malley bars for their school fundraisers, and now their kids are selling Malley bars. Or the stories about how their grandfather just has to absolutely have BillyBobs. So it’s just a part of the fabric of the community. I think it’s really about building memories and being a part of the fabric of the community.
Victor Searcy thought he’d become a therapist. Instead, he prescribes house-made sauces and Cleveland Hot Chicken at Sauce the City, in University Heights and at an outpost at Re:Bar in Downtown Cleveland. But he still loves helping others, which is why he supports his favorite Cleveland chefs and these local joints.
–JULIA LOMBARDO
“Acqua di Luca doesn’t set out to transform. Instead, it elevates - simple ingredients into elegant shrines of decadence and a mid-sized city 500 miles from the sea into a downtown deserving of an ocean of grandeur.”
-Dillon Stewart Cleveland MagazineCOCKTAIL Re:Bar. They batch everything fresh. All the drinks are unique and refreshing. My favorite is a seasonal one – the smoked apple with Patrón Reposado. You’ve got to do smoked the right way. This one has just a hint.
LATIN Mofongo [Latin Grill] has some of the best rice and beans in the city, and their margaritas are fire. The staff is like family, and you can see the teamwork in what they do.
PIZZA “Ohio City Pizzeria. I love their cheese. It tastes authentic and heavy, and they don’t skimp on the sauce or the toppings. And it’s a classic crust. They have one style, and they rock out with it.”
DESSERT Chef Karen [Gordon] of KG Home Baked Goodness. What drives people crazy is the sweet potato pie. And the cakes: red velvet, cassata, German chocolate. She’s on-the-go, so she’s great for personal parties.
ONE DISH YOU COULD EAT FOREVER I’m Nigerian, so I grew up with egusi soup. It’s a bunch of meat, fish, vegetables and spices mixed together. You eat it with fufu, which is a starchy dough, like a dip. It looks terrible. It took me a while. It smells like a lot of flavor, though. Just don’t look at it! Primo’s [African Quisine, now closed] egusi soup reminded me of my aunties’.
LUCA
Miles and miles of plastic tubes crisscross in Tom Salo’s backyard woods. He walks alongside them, footsteps crunching in the snow. Here, the sap will soon flow. It will trickle from trees and across these zigzags, gather in a pump house and then stream into the sugar house, where it will boil and transform.
This is modern maple syrup production, right here in Northeast Ohio.
Geauga County is a hub for makers of one of Northeast Ohio's ultimate local products: maple syrup. Montville maple syrup makers Tom Salo and Kevin Holy bonded over the hobby.
Interest in maple syrup itself has grown in recent years, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic. Buyers want to know what they’re consuming, and many are interested in knowing where their food comes from, Salo says. That bodes well for local producers, who pride themselves on ingredients found in their own backyards.
“You look at Aunt Jemima syrup, or the processed syrup — you look at some of the ingredients in there and you certainly question that,” Salo says. “Then you look at a one ingredient product, where it’s maple sap turned into maple syrup."
Salo’s fallen in love with that product. He built the small sugar house himself using his years of construction experience and reclaimed materials. It started as one room, and then he built additions — more space for firewood, for larger amounts of collected tree sap. It’s like an addiction, he tells us, glancing at the dusty metal buckets he first started with, near the wood-fired stove that furiously boils all 45 gallons of sap into singular gallons of maple syrup. A row of maple leaf-shaped award plaques
are neatly tacked to a beam.
Last season was Salo’s most productive, and most acclaimed, year of maple syrup-making yet. He broke his production record with about 385 gallons of syrup, and he also took home the prestigious grand champion award, producer class, at the Geauga County Maple Festival.
Out here, in the snow and quiet of the woods, as he scans the lines for squirrel chews (or even, an occasional bear chew), Salo is in his element.
He’s spent much of his life outside, during his work in construction and as a park ranger for Lake Metroparks and Geauga Park District, where he was first introduced to maple syrup making through park programs. Inspired, he started his home system of 55 maple tree taps, and the operation has grown to more than 1,000 taps today (800 on his property, and 300 at nearby Hershey Montessori school).
He joins a thriving community of maple producers in Geauga County, including nearby friend Kevin Holy, who runs Seldom Seen Farms.
A few years ago, Holy stepped away from his former job as a county equipment operator and make maple syrup full time. “I had a good government job, and I didn’t have time for the government job and the hobby, so I quit the government job, like any responsible person would do,” Holy says, laughing. “I figured that I would have to give it a run because I didn’t want to be old and retired and wonder if this ever worked.”
He won’t have to wonder. Holy’s taken his operation from a hobby, first using a turkey fryer boil syrup in his early seasons, and turned it into a whole business, producing a couple thousand gallons of both traditional and bourbon
barrel-aged syrup each year, available to purchase on his website. A rack of bourbon barrels in his small warehouse features a few blue ribbons and awards, marking Holy’s achievements in maple syrup and barbecue sauce.
In early 2020, Holy’s robust production systems allowed him to lend a helping hand to Salo, who underwent cancer treatment around the same time that coronavirus touched Ohio.
“2020, the week of the shutdown, was my first week of chemo,” Salo says, “and Kevin stepped up. He was here with me when I got the call, and he was the one to say, ‘If you can get it to me, I can boil it.’ So that essentially saved my season.”
“I think all sugar makers are always looking out for each other,” Holy says. “When Tom got sick, he just couldn’t do it that year. He got his trees tapped, and then me and another local guy helped him boil. And it was just kind of like, whatever you need help with, bring it over, and we’ll make it work. We’ll do something to get your syrup done. And he made it through that year. And here, we are still helping each other out. That’s where we really became friends, and that’s where we really bonded.”
Here in Montville, a handful of maple syrup producers work in tandem, part of Geauga County’s 20 or so that are recognized by Ohio Maple Producers Association (which includes about 100 sugar houses in Ohio). The state was once the largest producer of maple syrup in the country in the 1800s. Since then, it’s fallen behind places like Vermont and Wisconsin, Holy says.
It’s no surprise seeing the county’s flag, emblazoned with a maple leaf and stars: Geauga is the heart of Northeast Ohio’s maple syrup industry. That pride is on full view at the county Maple Syrup Festival, held every April (this year, April 25-28). Holy serves as the festival’s contest chairman, helping to judge about 150 entries from maple syrup makers across the country — many of which are from Greater Cleveland.
Maple syrup: in Northeast Ohio, it’s the ultimate local product.
WHY WE LOVE IT: This Little Italy homestyle staple features outdoor seating, live music and a cozy up-lit stoneembellished bar. It serves up authentic Italian dishes — and if you’re lucky, Angelo himself may greet you at the door. The white tableclothed spot also whips up calzones, sandwiches and desserts, and has robust catering options. TRY THIS: Go all out with the decadent sauteed large jumbo shrimp with tomatoes, garlic and olive oil (or basil and cream sauce), tossed with linguine, served with a salad. 12020 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216421-0221, nidoitalia.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: From the team beyond longtime restaurant Heck’s, this newer modern Italian go-to delivers inventive takes on timeless recipes. With an upscale modern ambiance, including an extra large bar that opens into the patio for al fresco dining, you’ll take your pick from antipasti, pizza, pastas, seafood or hearty Italian specialties.
TRY THIS: Instagrammers and foodies love the one-of-a-kind giant chicken parmesan pizza ($36) made with house dough, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and parmesan, topped with a fresh arugula salad. 35568 Detroit Road, Avon, 440-517-0096, anticacleveland.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Modeled after New York bistros, Bar Italia is a vibe, bringing house-made sauces and harder to find fresh pastas varieties to the table. Enjoy the minimalistic classy ambiance featuring large Italian art and mirror pieces and a center bar fixture at this trendy spot with a seasonally open front. TRY THIS: The homemade Bolognese is the star menu item “due to its use of fresh ingredients, the unique choice of low acid New Jersey tomatoes, its rich and hearty flavor” and its role as the foundation of the restaurant’s concept, says director of operations Tim Davin. Try it in Chef Andy’s Bucatini Bolognese ($17), a classic fresh bucatini with house-made special meat sauce. 15625 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-303-9699, baritalia.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Bruno’s is the kind of place your grandparents would have gone for a charming Italian date night. Hidden in plain sight in Ohio City, you’ll find a wooden bar, gold fixtures and a simple no frills dining room, owned by a former head chef for the Browns, Bruno DiSiena, who took the team leaving as a chance to open a restaurant using his mother’s Old World recipes in 1996. TRY THIS: Longtime customers come for the hefty portion of homemade lasagna ($23), a fixture of multiple best lasagna lists in Cleveland, crafted with layers of thick house-made noodles, seasoned ricotta, grated Romano, ground beef and balanced marinara spilling all the way to the edge of the plate, covered with melted provolone. You’ll also find calzones, paninis, pizza and familystyle house specialties. 2644 W. 41st St., Cleveland, 216-961-7087, brunosristorante.net
WHY WE LOVE IT: Family-size platters of traditional Italian dishes at this longrunning basic strip plaza eatery keep those in the know coming back through the door of the low-key spot with casual booths, exposed bricks and low-key vibes. TRY THIS: The veal parmesan ($27) comes on a giant platter showcasing the massive crispy veal cutlet, doused in house-made tomato sauce and smothered in melted provolone cheese dripping to the edge of the plate. 19373 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, 440-331-5157, buccispizzarestaurant.business.site
WHY WE LOVE IT: On a corner lot inside what appears to be an old home in Little Italy, guests are welcomed into a quaint space that has evolved into a refined dining hot spot with unique vintage objects and art on display as part of the charm. Drink at the wooden bar with Tiffany-style lamps hanging above. TRY THIS: Sicilianborn chef and owner Peppe Pilumeli knows his way around Italian specialties like the shrimp scampi ($22) showcasing large juicy shrimp surrounded by penne pasta, sauteed with olive oil garlic, cremini mushrooms, tomato sauce and a touch of cream. 11919 Mayfield Road, 216-791-7670, etnalittleitaly.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Avon Lakers rave about this old school, traditional Italian restaurant. Despite the relatively small size of the dining room and bar area, this unpretentious white tablecloth mainstay is always packed, bringing seafood specialties and other Italian dishes curated by the chef’s familiar interpretations of different regional cuisines. TRY THIS: The Chicken Fratello ($23), with sauteed chicken breasts covered in Fratello’s lemon butter sauce and fresh marsala mushrooms. 32085 Electric Blvd., Avon Lake, 440-933-3380, fratellos.net
WHY WE LOVE IT: “Unlike a lot of other Italian restaurants in the city, the vibe and energy at Lago can be very different based on the time of day that you come to join us and the day of the week you come to join us,” says chief operating officer Alex Di Iorio. “It’s a
beautifully decorated restaurant, with rich dark woods, leather,” and low lighting that spotlights the food on each table for an intimate experience at this family-run restaurant with Sicilian roots in the Flats. TRY THIS: Chef Fabio Salerno is famous for his meatballs, Di Iorio says. The Salerno family meatballs ($18) are a flavorful union of beef, pork and veal, marinara, parmesan and basil. 1091 W 10th. Street, Cleveland, 216-862-8065, lagoeastbank.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Featuring one of the most awe-inspiring views of the city, perched overlooking the Cuyahoga River, Luca features swanky decor and art, inventive takes on upscale Northern Italian cuisine and a vast wine list, making it a popular date night choice. TRY THIS: The vitello tortellini ($32), showcasing fresh veal-stuffed tortellini in a cream sauce mixed with prosciutto and peas, resembling a kind of high-end comfort food. 2100 Superior Viaduct, Cleveland, 216-862-2761, lucacleveland.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Enter the bright, romantic dining room, channeling country Tuscany with rustic elements like exposed ceiling beams and a distinctive statue collection. In the summer, dine in the grand statue-filled courtyard featuring an outdoor bar and with sizable menu of upscale Italian dishes spanning fish, meats, pasta and a 200-bottle wine list. TRY THIS: The fresh branzino ($43), fileted tableside, served with brown butter citrus sauce at Luca Italian Cuisine’s sister restaurant. 24600 Detroit Road, Westlake, 216-201-9600, LucaWest.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This unassuming locale is a must for fresh pasta, veal, chicken, steaks and chops, and of course, wine (enjoy happy hour in the lounge area or at the traditional wooden bar). Owner Pete Bosinger opened it as a small Italian American cafe specializing in pizza in 1995 that has slowly transitioned toward fine dining through the years. TRY THIS: The seafood selection shines at this one. Try the Calabrese ($39) crab meat stuffed scampi with artichokes, grape tomatoes and spinach, tossed in spicy fresh pappardelle with olive oil and garlic. 5669 Broadview Road, Parma, 216-741-0220, corleonescleveland.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Gorgeous marble floors, Murano glass chandeliers, ceiling-tofloor drapes and an overall dramatic luxe decor brings Downtown Cleveland to this restaurant. Come for the house-made bread, pastas, dessert, fresh seafood, steak and other Italian dishes. TRY THIS: The Veal Agnolotti ($28), a family recipe from executive chef Alberto Leandri, known as “The Venetian,” is made with house-made pasta stuffed with parmesan cheese and braised veal, in a simple Sicilian pistachio sauce made with chicken stock, butter and pistachios, with 16-month-aged parmesan on top. 100 St. Clair NE, Cleveland, 216-241-4800, ilvenetian.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: The Catena family set out with a goal to celebrate life when it opened its eatery in 1989 with basic modern Italian food and a wine-centric menu. Stop by for Old-World Italian favorites in a warmly lit trattoria with showstopping calzones, pizza, focaccia stuffed sandwiches, seafood and other dishes made with pasta cooked to a perfect al dente. TRY THIS: Start off and order bruschetta ($15) for the table made with fresh chopped tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and grated pecorino, sitting atop signature house-prepared bread. 711 Babbitt Road, Euclid, 216-261-1168, mamacatenas.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Enter the dining area, which features an eclectic mix of decor, including a beautiful tile seaside mural scene and black and white checkered floors, of this gem focused on bringing family-style Italian dishes and thin crust pizza to customers for almost 50 years. TRY THIS: Start out with a comforting warm bowl of house-made Italian wedding soup ($10), crafted in large pots of chicken
stock each morning, with celery, carrots, onions and parsley root, starring shredded chicken, mini beef meatballs and pastina noodles. 34400 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, 440-585-3883, mariofazios.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Look for the vibrant neon sign on the window and step inside the friendly atmosphere of Maxi’s for an extensive Italian American menu and cocktails in walkable Little Italy. Stop by the lively back patio during summers. TRY THIS: There’s a pizza in Little Italy that’s so good it’s named after it. Share a Little Italy Pizza ($20), basic but full of flavor, with fresh tomato basil sauce, parmesan cheese, black pepper and hot crushed red pepper, at this charming European-style bistro. 12113 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-4211500, maxisbistro.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: In the upscale downtown of small shops walking distance from the iconic waterfall, Chagrin Falls is also the epicenter of charming small eateries like M Italian, featuring rustic chic details like exposed wooden beams and crystal chandeliers. An open kitchen coupled with a warm, spacious dining area makes for the perfect urban Italian farmhouse setting to enjoy wood-fired pizzas, salads, pasta (including gluten free and zucchini noodle options) and other land and seafare. Where else can you get a homemade limoncello drop ($8) for happy hour? TRY THIS: The savory beef carpaccio ($14) with arugula, caper berries, shallots and lemon aioli is a favorite starter for regulars. 22 W. Orange St., Chagrin Falls, 440-247-747 mitalian.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: This joint doesn’t sport any major frills — the quality and taste of the top-notch recipes are the star of the show at this corner restaurant in Little Italy. Enjoy Italian fare and Mediterranean dishes alongside a curated wine list in a quaint muraled setting. Chef and owner Gerti Memeti grew up on the shores of the Adriatic Sea in Albania and trained in Italy. Pro tip: Grab a reservation in advance during festivals and summertime. TRY THIS: The award-winning spicy cheese tortellini ($22.95) is all it’s cracked up to be and more. The rich blush tomato cream sauce is the perfect contrast to the green peas, prosciutto and fresh herbs in the cheesy dish. 12200 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-795-2355, mblittleitaly.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: On the outskirts of Little Italy, discover this cozy treasure inside a brick carriage house offering 2023 James Beard Award-semifinalist chef Michael Annandono’s upscale Piedmontese cuisine. If you’re lucky, grab a spot by the fireplace and order your favorite glass from the wine racks. TRY THIS: The piled-high ossobuco con risotto e spinaci fritti ($54) spotlights slow roasted veal shank in a natural veal reduction, nestled lovingly into a parmesan risotto and frizzled spinach. 2198 Murray Hill Road, Cleveland, 216-721-0300, mangelos.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: When you walk through, “it has a Mad Men feel to the bar.” An open kitchen “brings back the nostalgic feeling” of hearing the familiar sounds of the pots and pans and pounding of the meat in the kitchen from family cooking, at this sophisticated intimate restaurant with a nod to the 1950s in the heart of downtown, says restaurateur Raquel Eatmon. TRY THIS: Order the orecchiette pasta ($32) in the tomato basil cream sauce, with bold Italian sausage, Eatmon suggests. “You can smell it before you bite it,” she says. 1801 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, 216685-9490 osteriacle.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Chef Rafael Zaloshnja brings the culinary skills he acquired in Verona, Italy, to the Cleveland culinary scene, continuing his grandmother’s legacy of home-cooked Italian dishes. Dine in one of the traditional upscale dining areas, with a simple wooden bar and wine racks on display, or the charming black wrought iron enclosed patio. TRY THIS: There’s more to Italian food than pizza and pasta. Indulge in the carne (meat) to the fullest extent. Enjoy the gambo di agnello ($38), slow braised lamb shank, served with tagliatelle pasta. 10031 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, 216-417-7005, palazzocleveland.com
PEPPER’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
WHY WE LOVE IT: If you’re in the mood for Italian cuisine you don’t have to
dress up for, step into the remodeled Lakewood staple offering grandmastyle Italian favorites including traditional pizza and pasta. You’ll find basic booths with Italian murals, open windows to Detroit Road and a seasonal outdoor dining area. TRY THIS: Pepper’s rendition of an “alfredo meets chicken parmesan” dish stands out. The Chicken Romano ($22) features flash-fried breaded chicken covered with a generous helping of alfredo, melted mozzarella and provolone, served with pasta covered in the same creamy concoction. 21470 Lakeside Ave., 216-417-8588, peppersitalian.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Tucked away in an unassuming strip in the Old River Shopping Area, you’ll uncover a small eatery that started out with owner and chef Agostino Iacullo’s immigration to America in 1979 with a sum of $300 and a dream to open a restaurant serving the Cleveland community. This longtime favorite is known for its savory rich house-made sauces, sold at local stores. Come for modern decor and traditional dishes inspired by Napoli, made the old-fashioned way.
TRY THIS: For a delicate specialty, try the gnocchi alla Napoletana ($22), handmade potato dumplings baked with a light tomato sauce, mozzarella, ricotta and parmigiano cheeses.
19070 Old Detroit Road, Rocky River, 440-3313944, stinodanapoli.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Born in Southern Italy, Florence-trained chef and owner
Valerio Iorio brought his culinary expertise to Cleveland when he immigrated from Florence in 1995 with his wife, Stella, before opening Valerio’s in Little Italy a year later. He credits quality ingredients that bring out the natural flavor, along with highquality olive oil used in his classic dishes. “I always go out and look for the best product, the freshest and most authentic one,” he says. The cozy spot sports a welcoming wooden bar, rows of wine displayed on the rack and a friendly "Mona Lisa" on the wall, in addition to a banquet hall, all a short walk from nearby Severance Hall. TRY THIS: Valerio himself says one of the best dishes is the sausage orecchiette ($19.95). The pasta is sauteed in its own tomato cream sauce, starring the restaurant’s proprietary blend of mild Italian sausage made by the same provider for 28 years and counting. 12405 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, 216-421-8049, valeriosristorante.com
WHY WE LOVE IT: Whipping up Old World Italian cuisine showcasing all the flavors of Italy through original family recipes for 36 years and counting. The good oldfashioned, colorful mom-and-pop shop prepares traditional dishes, including homemade pizza, pasta and specialty dishes made with the fan-favorite house sauce. TRY THIS: Scratch-made potato gnocchi ($18.50) is a must. 9570 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-352-1185, zappitellismentor.com
Check out more recommendations at clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink
WHY WE LOVE IT: “One of the first things you notice is that it’s inside a house,” says manager Kevin Patino, son of the owners. With an intimate space for a few dozen inside, this cute Italian restaurant offers fresh modern mains and fun cocktails in a modern bright simple space. The team makes its own gelato, displayed in the traditional case for your pick of flavors, crafted with the same recipe they formerly sold under their original award-winning GelatoStar brand. TRY THIS: Patino’s favorite sachetti panna e prosciutto ($25) stars fourcheese purse pasta topped with alfredo style creamy pink sauce and prosciutto. “It’s everything that you really like: creamy pasta, and good texture with the crispy prosciutto,” Patino says. 18401 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-273-7333, eatmoltobene.com
DREAM HOMES TRANSCEND CONFORMITY. INDIVIDUAL VISIONS SPARK DIVERSE ARCHITECTURAL MARVELS, FROM LAVISH MANSIONS TO MODERN HAVENS. IN CLEVELAND, A DREAM HOME REFLECTS INDIVIDUALITY, WEAVING THE ESSENCE OF DIVERSE DESIRES.
The driveway winds through Dennis and Dawn Swit’s 19 wooded acres on the Chagrin River, over a bridge and under a freestanding porte cochere to their English country manor-style residence. The structure, a right angle of gabled limestone and quarry stone built on the property’s highest point, is imposing. An antique French fountain punctuates the granite-cobblestone motor court. Snowscuppers and lighting rods rise from the slate and copper roof, the latter threatening to pierce the low-hanging clouds.
Visitors enter the home through doors framed by a massive arched transom and skylights. Inside is a cavernous hall boasting a vaulted beamed ceiling, limestone and graypaneled walls and white-oak floors laid in a herringbone pattern highlighted by brass inlays. At the other end, another pair of arched glass doors, contemporary mirror images of the front counterparts, open onto a balcony overlooking one of three bluestone, brick paver and limestone terraces, along with a pond. Dennis explains that Chagrin Falls landscape designer David Thorn added the pond to transform a perpetual wet spot into a water feature. A waterfall spills into a stream that feeds a lower pond.
“We have a blue heron that comes and visits and eats all the fish,” Dennis says — a visitor that adds another touch of
Looking to make a dream — or part of one — a reality? Local contractors suggest factors to consider.
Cost for the main component: $8,500 to $10,000 for a dedicated ducted climate-control system (including installation), says Bill Henderson, co-owner of the Brookes & Henderson Building Co. in Bainbridge. He typically installs that system in a room insulated with a 2-pound, closed-cell spray foam that acts as a “vapor barrier” to maintain the cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels. Laura Yeager Smith of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design says some people rely on the inherent coolness of a basement room. “[But] if you care about your wine, you’re going to put in a climate-control system,” Henderson says.
Size: Smith suggests clients who waffle on the number of bottles to be stored allow enough square footage for at least 300. Amenities such as storage also factor into the sizing. “Some people want to do the tasting in the room,” she adds. “But more often than not, it’s [done] outside of the room. It’s chilly in the wine room.”
Storage: “Most of the wine-room racks are built so that the bottom goes in first [horizontally] at a slightly lifted angle so the wine is … against the cork,” Henderson says. “What you’re trying to prevent is the cork drying out.” Smith combines open and closed storage that can be used for other purposes, particularly in rooms housing budding collections or serving as more of a focal point.
Light: “You shouldn’t have a lot of direct light — or natural light at all — on the wine bottles,” Smith says. “So you wouldn’t want a window directly to the outside in a wine room” — unless, of course, it’s shuttered or curtained. She’s used low-voltage LED tape lighting under shelves to showcase bottles and supply enough illumination to read their labels.
charm to River Bend.
The estate is the realization of a dream for the Swits, former owners of Loan Protector, a Solon-based provider of lender-placed insurance. “Dennis really wanted to build a house,” Dawn recalls as they sit in the breakfast nook of their spacious kitchen. That desire intensified during the renovation of a fixer-upper — a project that taught them not every design flaw can be corrected — and home search that followed. In January 2020, just as they were considering building in another East Side community, the Swits toured a colonial located just steps south of the motor court. The floor plan and decor were hopelessly out of date, but the surrounding acreage’s rustic beauty sold the couple on the property.
In June 2021, after 14 months of interviewing architects, builders and interior designers, reviewing elevations and submitting plans to the local architectural review board, contractors demolished the colonial. Over the next two-plus years, the Brookes & Henderson Building Co. of Bainbridge built a house designed by Chagrin Falls architect Richard Siegfried, one endowed with every amenity the Swits deemed necessary to host large gatherings with event-venue ease, accommodate overnight guests in five-star luxury, and pursue their own varied interests. Dawn is an avid golfer who qualified for the U.S. Golf Association Senior Women’s Amateur in 2022
and won the 2023 Cleveland Women’s Golf Association Championship. Dennis loves to cook and collects bourbon and cars.
“We needed to make it this size to fit in everything that we wanted,” Dennis explains. Size, he adds, wasn’t everything. They wanted the place to exude stately old-world permanence, yet invite visitors to sit down and “put [their] feet up.”
“We really wanted it to feel alive,” Dawn adds.
To create that sense of permanence, Laura Yeager Smith of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design in Hudson employed architectural details and finishes found in grand homes of another time: tongue-and-groove ceilings; wirebrushed, stained-pine beams; caststone window casings; walnut woodwork; bathroom tile laid in intricate patterns; updated renderings of traditional lighting fixtures; the aforementioned white oak floors; and paneled and limestone-covered walls. She developed a palette of neutrals accented by shades of blue, drawing inspiration from images the Swits provided.
About 75% of the furniture is custom sized – the pieces from the Swits’ previous home simply weren’t large enough to suit River Bend’s spaces. Dawn points to the great room, where two 112-inch-long sofas upholstered in a herringbone-textured oatmeal fabric and two sapphire blue velvet armchairs gather around an enormous saddle-colored leather cocktail ottoman, as an example. A metal and glass chandelier that looks like a wired version of something that could have hung over the Knights of the Round Table illuminates the arrangement.
“We were very careful to make the scale of the lighting impactful in the home, to make the overall space not feel too big,” Laura says. Like the lighting, the oversized furnishings reduce the room to a human scale. And their updated traditional style, together with rustic touches like the stainedalder ceiling and limestone fireplace,
contribute to the room’s relaxed vibe.
The great room opens to the kitchen, where a brilliant blue La Cornue range competes with a paneled-and-fluted walnut island topped in honed marble for focal-point status. A walnut-cased arch with panel detail leads to a prep kitchen where the ceiling, cabinetry, including the appliance-concealing panels, and walls were painted with Sherwin-Williams Seaworthy.
“This room is more compartmentalized,” Laura says. “So it’s an area where you can do something unexpected.”
The covered terrace off the kitchen houses another culinary venue: an outdoor kitchen with a hybrid gas and wood-burning pizza oven, gas griddle and two burners, warming drawer and grill with infrared rotisserie and charcoal smoker tray. The terrace is
actually a four-season room thanks to its fireplace, heated bluestone floor, ceiling-mounted infrared heaters and clear acrylic panels that replace screens in cold weather. Its turret is occupied by a custom round table for eight. Dennis points out the lazy Susan in the center of the outdoor-safe Dekton tabletop, a feature that facilitates serving.
“We realized you would not be able to pass the food — or barely reach the middle,” Laura says of its development.
A hallway and trio of arches separate the great room from the dining room, distinguished by a groin-vaulted ceiling and walls finished in the same off-white lime paint that adds layered texture to the other first-floor living areas. Dennis opens two sets of walnut doors, one pair on either side of the carved-
From top to bottom: the dining room; outside view of the coveredterrace turret; the covered terrace; and adjoining morning porch with swing. of one – a reality? Local contractors suggest factors to consider.
limestone fireplace. One reveals a service bar — actually a length of the wet bar that stretches across the other side of the wall — where guests can order drinks during large functions.
The other pair of doors provides access to the wet bar, the prep kitchen beyond, and a hall that extends to a mudroom and one of two, two-car garages. Doors along the way open to a pantry, powder room, small laundry for washing table linens and dish towels and an elevator.
The floor above this service wing houses a one-bedroom guest suite, second owners’ suite, two guest rooms with en suite baths and main laundry room. Dawn explains the placement of the “grand stair” in this part of the home rather than the entry hall. “We wanted the owners’ wing separated from the rest of the house,” she says.
The owners’ wing is accessed via a hall off the entry that passes a powder room and closet big enough to serve as a coat check before ending in a vestibule. To the left is another small laundry room. To the right is the entrance to the grayish-blue, grass-papered bedroom, cleverly outfitted with a coffee bar concealed in gray-painted cabinetry. Dennis picks up a remote and demonstrates how the landscape painting over the fireplace lifts to reveal a television. But the standout is the Calacatta marble bathroom
A chandelier of hand-blown glass globes resembling soap bubbles hangs over a floor inset of marble tile laid in an oval mosaic pattern. On one side is a makeup table built between banks of gray-painted cabinetry. On the other are his-and-hers vanities separated by arched glass doors. Inside is a bathing room featuring a freestanding oval tub and heated chaise lounge constructed of cast stone and glass mosaic tile. Dawn uses them to warm up after a cold day on the golf course. Another glass door opens to a steam shower with a heated bench, his-andhers shower heads, and a chromotherapy rain head integrated into the AV
Looking to make a dream – or part of one – a reality? Local contractors suggest factors to consider.
Cost: Starting at $11,000 for a 4-by-5-foot tile shower, says Bill Henderson, co-owner of the Brookes & Henderson Building Co. in Bainbridge. The steam generator alone starts at $3,500 (including installation), depending on the unit required for the space in which it is installed.
New or retrofit: Henderson’s cost estimate dispels the notion that a steam shower has to be bigger than the average stall “as long as you’ve got room to sit down.” he adds. But he describes an extra step to installation that goes beyond waterproofing to sealing so the steam won’t escape and damage the walls. “So it’s not usually a good idea to just retrofit an existing shower, even if it’s a tile one,” he says. “That step might not have been taken.” The steam shower, he adds, is completely enclosed by a tightly sealed door that reaches the ceiling with a transom-like glass panel that can be opened to vent steam after use. And the ceiling is finished in tile or another waterproof material and slanted so condensation runs down the ceiling, then a wall, instead of dripping on the user.
Materials: Laura Yeager Smith of Laura Yeager Smith Home & Design in Hudson notes that less-porous materials are best for finishing. “You can use natural stone,” she says. “But, like, a bright white marble probably wouldn’t be the best choice. It could absorb water over time and, if your water isn’t treated … you might end up with some rust lines in your stone.”
Ventilation: Henderson recommends installing an exhaust fan with a higher CFM – that’s cubic feet (of air, in this case) per minute — than the typical builder-grade bathroom unit to remove steam more efficiently. He notes that some people opt to install the fan inside the shower. “The problem with that is, the parts can rust,” he says. “So typically, we still put the fan outside of the shower.”
speaker system.
A door opposite the bathroom entry from the bedroom leads to his and hers dressing rooms — hers sleek and gray, his lined in walnut cabinetry with green-suedewrapped drawer fronts. A stairwell walled in white shiplap leads to Dawn’s white office and sitting area. Dennis’s gray-paneled office, accented with insets of gray flannel wallcovering, is located off the entry hall. Although the Swits are retired, they remain involved in philanthropic organizations. He sits on the board of The Turn, which helps the physically-challenged return to the game of golf, while Dawn holds seats on the boards of the Northern Ohio Golf Association, Cleveland Animal Protective League and First Tee of Cleveland, a nonprofit that exposes local high schoolers to golf and the values it promotes.
The lower-level entertainment area is accessed by elevator or stairs. The elevator opens to a hall next to a gray-paneled powder room modeled after a 1920s speakeasy bathroom and subway-tiled cat room for the Swits’ three cats. (Dennis calls the tiled area for bathing dogs “future-proofing” that’s currently used for cleaning litter boxes.) At one end of the hall is another pantry, an audio-visual room and one of the geothermally-heated house’s three mechanical rooms. The other terminates
The bathing room’s electrochromic-glass windows “fog up” at the touch of a button to provide privacy; (left) the steam shower.
at a bourbon bar, where Dennis’s 300-bottle collection is displayed in walnut-and-brass cabinetry and sitting area. Shatterproof and soundproof windows in one brick wall frame views of a three-hole indoor putting green and Full Swing golf simulator. I have a couple of girlfriends coming over tomorrow,” Dawn says. “We’re playing Pebble Beach.”
Next to the bourbon bar is a barrelvaulted oak-ceilinged wine room with storage and display for 300 bottles. A rift-cut white oak table engraved with the River Bend logo on one side serves as a counter-height spot for unpacking crates and decanting bottles. Dennis opens a drawer outfitted as a mini-
humidor for storing cigars. The couple and their guests do their tasting at a table just outside a wall of windows that separate the brick-walled room from the hall — the room is maintained at a constant 55 degrees.
The barrel-vaulted hall continues to walnut double doors inset with forest green chevron-patterned leather. Beyond are a rubber-floored exercise room and green marble mosaic-tile spa featuring an infrared sauna, cold plunge pool and tile shower.
An adjoining lounge, together with the spa, double as a de facto pool house for the outdoor pool visible through a glass wall.
Outbuildings include a renovated two-bedroom, two-bath guest cottage and a car barn under construction where the property’s original house once stood. The first floor will have a workshop, wash bay and square footage to display at least eight cars. A lift is being installed to raise one car
up above the others so it can be easily viewed through a glassed-walled second-floor poker room.
“When he [said], ‘Honey, can I have guys over for poker?’ at our old house, I would say, ‘No, I don’t want to deal with it,’” Dawn says. “Now he can just go to his man cave, and I don’t even have to know about it.”
Big as the house is, every room has been used since the Swits took up residence in September. Seventeen relatives, some of whom live in the area, stayed in the guest rooms and guest cottage over Thanksgiving weekend. And 150 people filled the first and ground floors for a holiday party. The couple envisions hosting fundraisers for the various nonprofits they support. They’ve discovered only one disadvantage to living large.
“You better remember where you put your phone,” Dennis says with amusement, “because now there’s a lot of places to look for your phone.”
Looking to make a dream — or part of one — a reality? Local contractors suggest factors to consider.
Cost: Starting at $150,000 for a 15-by-30-foot concrete pool, including extending and connecting utilities, installing landscaping, etc., says Evan Smith, co-owner of Highland Construction Cleveland, a swimming pool contractor in Richfield.
Local zoning codes: Municipalities and townships have varying codes governing everything from pool size and placement to construction and design, right down to pool-surface color and lighting. Smith notes, for example, that most communities stipulate pools be located behind homes.
Access to property: “A lot of times, we’re putting in an access road to the backyard,” Smith says. “So just right off the rip, someone could be spending $5,000 to be able to get big dump trucks in the backyard to take the dirt out.”
Seasonal or year-round use: Components for pools used year-round should be located indoors. “If you have a power loss and all that equipment is outside, within an hour everything could be frozen up,” Smith warns.
Maintenance: Smith rattles off tasks such as brushing walls, vacuuming, emptying skimmers, washing and changing filters, and checking and balancing water chemistry. He describes the last job, completed at least weekly, as essential to the pool’s health and the people using it. “If you let the water chemistry get off, you can really start to harm not only the pool finish itself but your pool components — your pool filter, your pool heater, your sanitizer and really, your decking and everything around it.” Winterization includes draining about a foot of water out of the pool, blowing water out of pipes, heaters, filters, pumps, etc., and installing winterization plugs. Those who don’t want the hassle of doing that work should budget for a contractor to do it. Smith gives an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000 for his company to open a pool, service it for five months, and close it for the winter.
fter years of post-college living with friends and renting on his own in North Royalton — no real plans to purchase, yet frustrated about frequent lease hikes — Anthony Perrin’s mindset about home ownership moved more toward, “Maybe.”
“I’m 29, so I figured maybe it was a good time to start looking, and I was getting to the point where I felt like I was throwing money away on rent,” says Perrin, who works as a project manager in his family’s business, Artistic Renovations, based in North Royalton.
Driving up his parents’ street one afternoon in December 2022, he spotted a for-sale sign pitched in a somewhat overgrown front yard of an ample-sized ranch that “was a good price and needed some TLC.” Perrin’s uncle, a relator, helped him game plan a bid, which he won without too much competition.
“I didn’t necessarily have a vision for what the house could be at first,” Perrin says. The spit-balling with family and inspiration gained from exposure to remodeling projects throughout Northeast Ohio provided Perrin with a priority punch list he could tackle on
By Kristen Hampshirebudget as a first-time buyer, with his elbow grease and help from longtime contractors who showed him the ropes.
The 1,800-square-foot home had all the trappings of a 1960s ranch that had been slightly updated over time. From an aesthetic standpoint, the interior felt like a real blast to a kinda-sorta retro past — but in a gut-it way. However, with experience in the remodeling industry working under his father, Perrin overlooked trivial surface issues such as mauve walls, wintergreen carpeting, cracked linoleum, knotty pine and antiquated fixtures. The exterior needed some love, too. “It was all old, white siding that was falling apart,” Perrin says.
Not anymore.
Perrin describes his taste as modern, leaning toward cool grays and crisp white, with a preference for open-floor plan living. “In my line of work as a project manager, I get to see bits and pieces of projects, but not the evolution from the second the first hammer gets knocked into a wall until you’re all done,” Perrin says.
The first order of business: Address the compartmentalized floor plan and cramped entry, expanding the main living area and literally raising the roof.
Finding affordable real estate that requires no work is a pipedream in most cases. Most firsttime buyers want to put their mark on the property. Ken Perrin, owner, Artistic Renovations, offers advice for making the most of a remodeling budget when you’ve just spent a chunk on that first-ever down payment.
Play with paint. It’s probably the least expensive and most impactful project you can do yourself. “In general, you can save by doing your own paint, flooring, new doors and basic trim work,” he says, adding more ideas to the list.
Ask for remnants. Maybe this is not the year to replace kitchen cabinets — just add paint. Find out about suppliers’ remnants. Granite pieces that are mismatched or just didn’t
work for another client. Those come at a discount.
Dress up old cabinets. “Update older cabinets with vinyl sides by adding one-by-one trim to make shaker-style cabinets — dress them up to look more like furniture,” Perrin says.
Switch hardware. All you need is a screwdriver to remove outdated hardware and replace cabinet and drawer pulls with new ones.
Other projects included a kitchen remodel with new cabinets, flooring and countertops, and fresh paint throughout the home.
A powder room was transformed into a full bathroom, borrowing space from an awkwardly positioned laundry room off the kitchen.
“We knocked down a wall in the entryway to make way for an open kitchen, and the biggest changes were vaulting the ceilings in the front living space and kitchen,” Perrin says. Mechanicals were relocated — the HVAC system was relatively new. “But we had to get more heat everywhere,” Perrin says of placement.
Vaulted ceilings provide more headspace, creating an illusion of grandeur in the most-used areas of the home.
Knob-and-tube wiring was changed out, and recessed lighting installed in main living spaces. Perrin found salvage granite slabs from a supplier at a better price and opted for stainless steel appliances throughout, adopting a trend of mixing metals by selecting matte black cabinet hardware.
Painting wood-paneled living room walls Thunder Gray by Sherwin-
Williams allowed for enough pigment to mask aging planks.
Bathroom updates include quartz countertops, paint in Warmer Gray — also used throughout the home in hallways and bedrooms — and a refreshed vanity.
The home’s exterior won a significant curb appeal pick-me-up with a coat of navy and a new covered porch with A-lines that complement the interior’s vaulted ceilings.
Crisp trim around the windows and some light landscaping work — removing overgrown shrubs and trimming others — delivered an updated exterior that pops from the street.
“Having a place of my own that I can build equity in is exciting,” says Perrin, adding that his aunt happens to live behind him, so the neighborhood has become an unexpected family affair. He laughs, adding that homeownership wasn’t necessarily on his “2022-23 bingo card,” and after about seven months of renovations and a space with plenty of room to grow. “Everything fell into place.”
Four men from one family carefully worked their way to the top, including Rafa Hernandez-Brito, the Spanish voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The tallest free-standing mountain in the world juts from the Tanzania savannah. Six days into the climb, a group of 28, including 24 guides, porters and cooks, has battled altitude sickness and fatigue. All have sweated and frozen on the trek through a rainforest and an arctic zone. They now face Uhuru Peak, Africa’s tallest at 19,340 feet above sea level, and must set out before midnight to conquer it.
An unforgettable sunrise above the clouds awaits — if they can make it.
Four men carefully begin their summit, the darkness pierced only by stars, satellites and hikers’ headlamps.
Benji Moreira is at least 25 years younger than his three uncles, including Rafa Hernandez-Brito, the Spanish voice of the Cleveland Cavaliers. With the temperature below zero, Moreira fears he is going to lose two toes because his sweat-soaked socks and liners have encased his feet in ice. But he is also struck by the excitement of the feat he is about to accomplish. He can’t hold back the intense, conflicting emotions as he wills himself to push forward.
“I started to cry a little bit,” Moreira says. “My tears, as soon as they started to fall, they just froze on my face.”
Mount Kilimanjaro. The bilingual announcer, who also works games for the Guardians and Browns, is
dedicated to his career. Known as Rafa “El Alcalde,” or “The Mayor,” Hernandez-Brito is the first to call each of the three major American sports in Spanish, as well as the NCAA Men’s Final Four. His high-energy play-by-play has defined the Cavs’ Spanish broadcast for 10 seasons. He made the pivot to his “American dream” after working for Coors Brewing Co. as a mechanical engineer.
An avid cyclist? Yes. Adventurous? Yes. But a mountain climber? Hernandez-Brito wasn’t so sure.
“I always had the desire to do it, but there’s always the doubt in your head, ‘What if your body, the altitude, if one can’t do it, we all have to go down?’” he says.
The challenge was on the bucket list of his brother Carlos Hernandez, 62, who recently retired after 37 years at JPMorgan Chase. Hernandez’s wife and two friends had originally planned to join him, but his wife couldn’t climb due to a detached retina. That prompted calls to brothers Hernandez-Brito, 56, Benjamin Hernandez, 58, and Moreira, 31, the son of their sister Ana.
All were eager replacements, even though Hernandez-Brito had only three weeks’ notice. More than just a grand adventure, the September trip marked the first time since 1980, when Carlos Hernandez was the first of the siblings to leave war-torn El Salvador for the United States, that the brothers had been together for anything other than family events.
Ahead of the climb, Hernandez-Brito and Moreira enjoyed a three-day African safari before they were
joined by the other two. After a three-hour drive to the park entrance on Sept. 18, they started at the Lemosho gate, 2,500 feet high.
All thought they were ready to scale Kilimanjaro. Benjamin Hernandez, service manager for the Americas for shipping giant Maersk, is based in Sacramento, California, and has climbed Mount Shasta (3,586 feet). Carlos Hernandez, who lives in Greenwich, Connecticut, trained in Aspen, Colorado (8,000 feet). Hernandez-Brito was biking the Col du Tourmalet, a Tour de France hill in the French Pyrenees, when this opportunity arose. Moreira, a technology program manager in Dallas, says he wasn’t physically challenged over the first few days.
Wakeups were at 6 a.m., with climbs typically starting at 7 a.m., when the sun was not so strong and lasting no later than 3 p.m. The crew went to bed at 8:30 p.m., challenging for a night owl like Hernandez-Brito. After a day and a half in the forest surrounded by monkeys and flowers, the terrain became rocky, more strenuous and colder by the hour. Using poles for the last few days, HernandezBrito found himself putting his feet where the guide had stepped.
Spectacular views were part of the trade-off.
“There was a day that we got to camp, and I swear to you I could jump and touch the clouds,” HernandezBrito says. “It was literally like cotton candy you could grab.”
One night they slept above those cotton candy clouds, gazing at a sky one can only see in the most remote locations.
“You can see the satellites move,” Hernandez-Brito says. “The stars look so big they all look like planets.”
Hernandez says the sight was like being in a plane as it breaks through the clouds. Mount Kilimanjaro proved to be everything he’d expected.
“It was amazing to be above the clouds,” Hernandez-Brito says. “I think that’s something that everybody should experience because it’s unreal. It’s very humbling to see. I’d never done anything like it.”
The downtime brought to life stories about the brothers Moreira had heard as a child when he visited Uncle Rafa in upstate New York.
“I saw them interacting in a way that was very much in line with how they were growing up. They were always hanging out together, teasing each other, always like a little gang,” Moreira says. “It was really sweet to see that.”
But the journey tested their resolve.
One woman stopped in fear in the steep, narrow paths of the Barranco Wall, causing a long backup. On their way down, they learned that someone in a group ahead had died. They saw members of a Spanish group descending with oxygen masks and on stretchers: one-wheeled contraptions pushed by running porters. Some groups had to be helicoptered out.
It’s estimated that 65% of people reach the
Kilimanjaro summit. Most who fail are stricken with altitude sickness.
In an attempt to acclimate and avoid that, Hernandez-Brito and his group often climbed 2,000 to 3,000 feet higher than needed each day, then came back down to sleep.
“It was challenging mentally. A couple times I was like, What the hell am I doing here?” Hernandez-Brito says. “But it was great. I don’t think I was in any danger of quitting or my life, but it was hard. I think anybody can do it, but I don’t think it’s for everybody. Nine days, sleeping in a tent in the cold, not eating well, a shower was a bucket of hot water. Physically it’s challenging, but the altitude more than the walking.”
THE DARKNESS BORDERS on exhilarating during the final climb to the summit, which starts at 11:30 p.m. Moreira sees little dots, headlamps of groups in front of them. He looks back and spies perhaps 200 more dots. Encouraging words emerge from the blackness.
“It’s totally dark, but you have so many people around you that are kind of like cheering you on,” Moreira says. “If we passed a group, everyone would say, ‘Keep going. Keep going.’ It was kind of a nice little community of people for that night.”
THE FOUR REACHED the Kilimanjaro summit at 5:55 a.m. and stayed for 15 to 20 minutes. Hernandez-Brito promptly pulled a Cavs flag, the first thing he’d packed, out of a backpack that had become an ice belt frozen from his sweat. Then he retrieved his phone, wrapped in a pair of socks to protect its battery.
“It was amazing to be there and see the world, but it was cold as hell,” Hernandez-Brito says. “I took the gloves off to take pictures and my fingers were frozen instantly. But I had to take my picture with the Cavs flag. We’re big about representing our colors and our family.”
Their arrival at the summit was not a coincidence, Hernandez-Brito believes, since 555 is a lucky number for him and his wife, Lily Martin.
“For some reason, I looked at my watch and thought, I was meant to be here,” he says. “We always think it’s a good sign; whenever we see the clock and it’s 5:55 we text each other. We summited at 5:55 a.m. on my grandmother’s birthday, and that wasn’t planned.”
Hernandez tried to capture the emotions of the feat.
“It was physically, mentally, emotionally invigorating, energizing,” Hernandez says. “We did a video interview, a guy was filming us, ‘How do you feel?’ I think Rafa said, ‘Oh my God, I think I saw God a few times, but I feel great.’”
The breathtaking scene and the sense of accomplishment touched them all.
“The best was the bonding experience with my brothers, being back like we were teenagers,” says Hernandez-Brito.
Now Hernandez-Brito is such a convert that he wants to tackle Mount Everest base camp in Nepal, generally a 14-day climb to 17,598 feet. Hernandez and Moreira might join him.
“Sunrise is coming, the sun is above the clouds, it’s so beautiful,” Hernandez says. “You see that in the video, people got emotional, including Rafa. I’m sure everybody had in the back of their minds, ‘Can I do it?’ We all did it. You’ve been laboring the whole time. By that time, it’s so cold all you want to do is to get to a bed and take a nice hot shower.”
The four know they prevailed with the help of the Swahili word that was their guide’s mantra. They carried it with them, even after the day and a half it took to get down.
“The guide would always say ‘Pole, pole,’ that means slow, step by step,” Hernandez-Brito says. “They would say, ‘Don’t worry about it, the summit will come. Just worry about today.’ In the mountains, everything is pole, pole.”
Zoomed-out, closed-in, digitally overdosed students during the pandemic needed a booster shot of academic and social-emotional oomph from schools. And now we’re catching up. By Kristen Hampshire
fter a few months of crash-and-burn pandemic Zoom school, the Kecks decided to go “school shopping” before their daughter’s sixth-grade year to find out how other institutions were managing through abrupt change. Every place was facing a pandemic blitz.
They “pulled the trigger” after considering Laurel School for some time, and she started in-person in the fall 2020. Brian Keck, the father, says following the shutdown and through seventh grade was rough waters.
“She is a good student, but it’s easy for her to get disheartened if she doesn’t see the payoff for having to put in some extra work,” says Keck, relating that Laurel connected the family to one of its learning strategists, a newly added position to provide a range of academic and organizational supports.
Many schools have added these newfound academic, social and intervention specialists.
“We’re focused on a growth mindset and changing messages like, ‘This is too hard,’ and, ‘I can’t do that,’ to, ‘I can and will do that,’” says Elana Glasner, middle school learning strategist and math teacher.
Last year, Laurel formed its Learning Strategies department of middle and upper school educators and a school psychologist. They operate out of the HUB center within the library. This recently designated area is where students can access a helping hand. Keck’s daughter became a regular and
appreciated how the HUB basically normalized seeking support.
Keck says, “By the time we got to the middle of eighth grade, things really turned around. Now, she has more confidence. The school makes it known that students are supposed to use that time to engage teachers and schedule office hours.”
Schools across Northeast Ohio have been bolstering support for academics, executive functioning, socialemotional needs and mental health concerns following shuttered pan-
demic teaching and marked learning lags across the nation.
“While a lot of [the HUB] was implemented after COVID-19, it has shown to bridge gaps whether from hybrid or Zoom learning or other reasons like learning differences, whatever the case may be,” Glasner points out.
Well, thank you, COVID. We mean it.
But, across the board we’re all feeling a sense of COVID fatigue with assigning losses to the pandemic. Do we have to keep talking about it?
Actually, yes.
“Right now as adults, when we hear ‘COVID,’ it’s easy for our eyes to roll because you get so sick of hearing the word, but it is very real, and it is impacting the majority of kids in our school district,” says Bailey Morres, house principal, pre-K and kindergarten, Westlake City School District.
According to a School Pulse Panel study by the National Center for Education Statistics that asked public school administrators to report par-
ent and student concerns expressed during the 2021-22 school year, academic slide was one of many challenges. While 81% said students’ academic needs were not being met, 79% chimed in regarding social, emotional and mental health, with 62% noting isolation from missing out on social activities or events. In April 2022, 69% of public schools reported an increase in students who sought mental health services since the start of the pandemic.
“It’s important that we continue to keep our eyes on what the whole child needs,” Morres emphasizes. “We need to understand that what they went through is having a profound impact and we need to continue monitoring that and providing additional supports.”
While every age and stage can relate to forced change and some level of isolation from pandemic learning, some grades were more markedly impacted. Young learners entering kindergarten in 2022 likely did not attend preschool, where formative social skills like turn-taking and sharing are emphasized. They missed early literacy experiences like playing at the park, visiting the zoo, play dates and outings. All this triggers language growth, Morres points out.
Students in grades 1 to 4 during the pandemic shutdown perhaps suffered the most, suggests Westlake Schools Associate Superintendent Amanda Musselman. “Our upper elementary kids had to relearn social norms like how to act in a group,” she says.
“We made a gain by 5% from 2022 to 2023,” Musselman says.
The trend follows suit in fifth and sixth grades, which were offered after-school math and reading tutoring. Grade five scores increased by 4% from 2022 to 2023 and grade six math scores elevated by 5%. “We’re seeing it come back,” Musselman says.
Hawken School reports similar agegroup struggles. “Those years in first through third grade are so formative in terms of learning basic math and reading, and we’re seeing that impact in current fifth through seventh graders,” says Elyse Wilson, middle school learning specialist and academic support coordinator.
“We need to understand that what they went through is having a profound impact and we need to continue monitoring that and providing additional supports.”
– Bailey Morres HOUSE PRINCIPAL, PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN, WESTLAKE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Behavioral upsets were more frequent. This included impulsivity, talking out of turn, and even territorialism after months of observing the six-foot distancing rule, Morres says. So, the district rushed in with teacher support so they could better manage a different flavor in classrooms compared to pre-pandemic.
Administration introduced a new Universal Screener for all students to benchmark academics, followed by diagnostics to determine where students fall on the academic continuum and necessary support. The sentiment rings true across learning environments, public and private.
At Westlake, federal funding was filtered into summer programming for any student displaying academic or social need. “We had our eyes on them. We had counselors with us,” Musselman says. “We ran social groups and made sure we continued support for the whole child.”
It’s paying off. Like most districts, math scores dipped during the past couple of years, but comparing 2022 to 2023, grade three mathematics standardized testing indicated an 88% passage rate compared to the state average of 62%.
Hawken sixth graders usually start the year in math with pre-algebra. “We had to adjust the curriculum to start with basic computation — so reviewing multiplication, division, subtraction, decimals, which we didn’t have to do in previous years,” Wilson says.
A focus at Hawken and other schools including Shaker Heights’ Boulevard Elementary School has been multimodal teaching with visual, auditory and hands-on lessons that allow kids to connect to concepts in different ways. Boulevard Elementary following the pandemic adopted the Bridges in Mathematics program with its diverse approach to teaching problem solving, says Principal Neal Robinson.
On the literacy side, Robinson says the district added literacy specialists to each pre-K to fourth-grade building. They work in tandem with classroom teachers. Because of this, he reports. “We are seeing gains.”
At Shaker Schools, hosting a family literacy night to support the homeschool connection included advising parents to carve just 20 minutes of time to read every day with early learners. Robinson acknowledges that it can be a big ask. “But it’s huge,” he says, relating that simply setting aside time to review the alphabet with a kindergartner can go a long way.
Regarding family support, Shaker Schools added a position to its staff —
a trend across districts and independent educational institutions in recognizing a need for increased academic and social interventions.
A Family and Community Engagement liaison addresses families’ challenges ranging from food insecurity to paying rent.
“The job as a FACE liaison is to make sure we are being inclusive so families have a comfort level so if there is a support they need, they will trust us and reach out so we can meet them where they are,” Robinson says. “We have found this has been a real benefit, and it also helps improve mental health in students.”
Mornings at Boulevard Elementary School begin with a “meeting” where
students make eye contact with peers and greet each other before a socialemotional lesson such as how to act on a field trip or how to agreeably disagree with a peer. It’s part of the Caring School Community curriculum Shaker Schools implemented following the pandemic. The district had been planning to expand the program beyond the elementary school, recognizing a social lag across the board.
“It has a lot to do with the rise of using devices all the time and less interacting with other people,” Robinson says, relating that the pandemic exacerbated mounting life skills deficits, the basics “we used to take for granted.”
Jason Friedman, Ph.D., school psychologist and leader in socioemotional learning and support at Hawken School points to the “undeniable latitude” students experienced with hybrid-learning models during the pandemic to increased overstimulation and lack of focus.
“From an emotional standpoint, the national numbers reporting an increase in depression, anxiety, isolation and loneliness are consistent as far as an increase in those noted concerns from parents, students and faculty,” Friedman says.
Among a battery of social-emotional support additions including in-house counseling, Hawken School initiates parent coffee talks on topics like setting screen time boundaries, study skills, and warning signs of mental health struggles. “We’re making sure that we are recognizing signs early,” Friedman says.
The no-homework policy at Hawken Lower School has indefinitely expired. Not because of academic lag. “Since COVID, we brought homework back to practice the skills of executive functioning, bringing an assignment home, working on it, bring it back,” Wilson says.
Kids need to relearn or develop personal responsibility. And they’re
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graded for it, but first they’re taught.
Wilson emphasizes how best practices for learning differences are effective for every child: “economy of language for directions, showing visual examples,” she explains.
Time management, meeting deadlines and creating study plans have always been expected tasks for middleschoolers, along with self-advocacy and outreach for review and support.
Laurel’s HUB is designed to address these skill gaps. For example, Glasner helped an overwhelmed student streamline lessons and notes that were duplicated across platforms: Google Classroom, a handwritten assignment book, folders.
Also, the school hoisted a “no loose papers” challenge in January.
Parents who get the loose, crumpled permission slips jammed in the
bottom of book bags understand.
“The goal is to build organizational skills and habits,” Glasner says.
By the way, you can color-code Google Drive folders.
All of these habits contribute to school success and engaging in the content. That’s what Keck saw with his daughter.
In the inclusive way supports are integrated into the school day that emphasize, “Hey, this is what we do to learn better.” The message empowers students to stand up, build skills and close the gap.
All grades and ages can come together on a common ground that COVID made life and school different. But Robinson adds a crucial point.
“Kids are resilient,” he says. “They can bounce back.” And day by day, they are.
Read, read, read. Studies by Scholastic suggest 20 minutes per day to build a stronger student.
Recruit AI. In our tech-emersed world, there’s a role for ChatGPT or Google Bard to create study guides. “Say a child is working on fractions,” says Elyse Wilson, middle school learning specialist and academic support coordinator. “Type in, ‘Sixthgrade study guide for fractions,’ and you get a running list of prep work for a child to use for practice. This is one way we haven’t thought of using AI, but it works.”
Supplement for free. Wilson now points all parents to free apps and tools for match and language arts. Those include: DeltaMath, Khan Academy, Newsela and CommonLit for all grades.
Let’s hear it for music — for developing a whole child with academic, social, emotional and creative edge that orchestrates, naturally. By Kristen Hampshire
aahil Shammin has discovered a lot about who he is through music and several things he didn’t really expect. For one, he’s a math brain but unlocked a creative-emotional side that opened up a level of expression he credits to playing viola and performance.
“Arts in school allow you to really put yourself into academics,” explains the 18-year-old senior at North
Ridgeville’s Lake Ridge Academy. He started taking cello lessons for a couple of years before switching to the versatile viola.
“It’s not just me writing down equations or facts,” he says. “The music I’m creating is part of myself that I’m showing the world.”
Shammin thanks his sharp presentation and communication skills for music education. The same goes for humble losses, accepting critique, and graciously receiving compliments.
“I’m way more comfortable in front of people because of playing in front of audiences,” he says. “And I have a lot of friends through music because it’s a collaborative thing, especially in orchestras with all the different sections of instruments communicating with each other.”
Beyond school-based performance groups, Shammin also plays in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra and Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra. Winning a seat in these top-shelf groups requires auditions. That calls for practicing, polishing, commitment, time management and, of course, the goal-setting aspect of deciding you’re going to go for it.
Music promotes personal, academic, social and emotional growth.
“There is a lot of research related to music and student success — and
I see it in front of me,” says Mark Mauldin, director of bands at Solon High School, which is consistently recognized as a Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, acknowledging districts that
provide music access and education to all students.
Mauldin says students in music “build confidence and have the ability to function in a wide range of social situations.” Plus, learning the language of music—a universal way of
communicating — establishes connections socially and academically.
“The idea of note reading and rhythm reading activates a part of the brain that might not otherwise be activated,” he says.
The numbers prove it.
“When music is being played, performed and listened to, it fires off both sides of the brain.”
- Mark Mauldin DIRECTOR OF BANDS AT SOLON HIGH SCHOOL
A study conducted by the University of British Columbia including 100,000 students showed those who participate in school music outperform those who don’t in math, science and language arts. Findings also uncovered — not for the first time — that music education benefits traverse gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. By high school, those with multiple years of instrumental music class were one year ahead of their peers.
And you don’t have to play to win. You can listen, too.
According to a OnePoll market research study on behalf of Colorado State University Global that surveyed 2,000 Americans about music and their study habits. Those who turned on tunes showed it on report cards with higher GPAs.
Music is universal. It’s the founding mission of The Music Settlement, established in 1912 for transitioning immigrants as a community common ground. “There are no language barriers that prevent people from sitting together to play their instruments,” points out Matthew Charboneau, chair for the Center for Music.
Right brain, left brain. Music engages the whole brain.
“When music is being played, performed and listened to, it fires off both sides of the brain,” Mauldin says.
Take Shammin. Music has redesigned his otherwise analytical mind.
“I’m naturally a mathematical thinker,” says Shammin, who expects
to major in math when he goes away to college next year. At the same time, he’s submitting arts portfolios and plans to continue studying music theory and composition. “I want them to see that I’m just as much of an artist as I am a mathematician.”
He adds, “The balance between logic and emotion and combining those two worldviews can create a really well-balanced way of thinking, and it’s refreshing to rely on logic and emotion and not be ‘too brain’ or ‘too heart.’”
Ruth Cavano is Lake Ridge Academy’s orchestra teacher, and she likes to musically warm up the group with some stretching exercises. “There is a big overlap between music and sports,” she says, introducing yet another yin-yang that might be overlooked. Consider the bow hold,
the movement, posture, intentional breathing. Add in teamwork, leadership and practice.
“Thinking of music as a sport can really illuminate what goes on in our classroom,” Cavano says. “Having that awareness of their own body with their instruments gives students confidence and helps them think about how their body works.”
Social awareness also sharpens when learning an instrument and with exposure to music. It’s a common ground. Cavano dials back to her middle school days, noting how playing string bass carved a niche of belonging for her during what are typically awkward years for most students.
“I could go to the music room and practice,” she says. “It helped my confidence, and I had an awesome
teacher who pushed me forward.”
Music is community. It connects students, families and neighbors across generations. It’s a place to come together.
In Solon, the first “unofficial” performance of the school year is when the high school marching band arrives back from band camp and performs a show in the stadium.
“District families, alumni parents and other community members often purchase reserved seats for football games more to see the halftime shows than the actual athletic competition,” says Tamara Strom, administrator at the Solon Board of Education.
As for spilling into academics, beyond performance groups and classes, music at Solon High School includes academic offerings like AP
Music Theory and a new offering for next year, World Music. It’s all part of developing the whole child, Mauldin and Strom say.
Music rounds out and enhances education. Mauldin says, “After more than 30 years in music education, I see how students are more well-rounded, confident, work better in groups and are great peer leaders.”
Results from a Gallup Survey, American Attitudes Toward Music, report that 95% of Americans believe that music is an activity a child can enjoy for a lifetime, and 96% say it’s a way for young people to develop teamwork skills. Not only does it instill an appreciation of arts and culture, music gives children a sense
of accomplishment and 90% said it brings family together.
For our earliest learners, music note reading is much like learning the ABCs. Charboneau attributes instrumental music to enhanced cognitive functioning. Dalcroze Eurhythmics for the preschool set teaches children how to use the body as an instrument, moving to sounds and rhythms, building a foundation for instrumental music once age-appropriate. It stimulates motor function and teaches pattern and form.
“When you start strings as a young student,” Cavano adds, “learning an instrument helps build fine motor skills in ways that can be challenging to start off.”
In fact, a far-reaching menu of skills that benefit a whole life transfer from the musical experience.
Cramming last minute for a test generally doesn’t produce the results that consistent study habits deliver, and music teaches this time management and routine skill, too. Setting a goal, then working a little bit each day toward the “big picture” also fosters resiliency, a “keep on keepin’ on” mindset.
“In my professional experience, I see students start to take lessons and set up a schedule of practicing even just 15 minutes a day, and even that modest amount builds up over time,” Charboneau says, adding that he’s noticed the same success at home with musical and academic development.
Discipline gained from practice and performance builds skills like good, oldfashioned gumption.
“You have to persevere and stick with it during tough pieces or practice times to get to the next level,” Cavano points out. This feeds self-motivation and connects to resiliency — one skill sharpens another and flows beyond music into studies and life in general.
Shammin relates how auditions have prepared him for high-pressure situations. “Music has helped me get more practice with times when everything is dependent on that one moment,” he says.
“Music is very social in a way I didn’t expect it to be,” Shammin says, noting how some of his closest friends are also music makers. “I’m working alongside people who really care about music and it’s such a bonding experience.”
Practicing for a performance and pulling it off successfully grows confidence. “I’ve seen positive self-esteem changes in my daughter during the past few years that I feel is attributable to music,” Charboneau says. “After participating in concerts and recitals, and interacting with other ensemble members, she has tackled challenges and really grown.”
Just as inquiry-based learning in the classroom emphasizes there are many ways to solve a problem, music also underscores this skill. Music teaches a child: I can do hard things. Charboneau talks about how his daughter is instructed to break complex works of music into “practice pods.” Those sections a few measures long that she can digest and polish, eventually piecing together pods to play the complete piece. “It’s a successful way of tackling a bigger piece without getting intimidated,” he says. “You’re building muscle memory and familiarity.”
You don’t get better without doing your best — and owning the hard truth that someone else will always be better than your best. So you learn to lose, improve, excel and repeat.
“One of the things I emphasize especially around the time students are auditioning for seat placement or go to a competition, they feel they are ‘the best,’ and get beat because a judge didn’t feel the same way is the importance of losing gracefully,” Mauldin says.
He often shares his personal performance experiences. “I get to play in bands with musicians who are better than me, and I can learn from them,” he tells students. “If they beat me, ‘How did you beat me? Let me learn how to do that!’”
Across the board, failure can be more enlightening than success. Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school’s varsity basketball team one year. His mom told him to “get to the gym and work harder.” Before Thomas Edison got the lightbulb right, he failed 1,000 times. Didn’t stop him from trying.
“I try to help my students understand they are going to face a sense of rejection at some point, and music can be a way to help you through that, too — it’s an outlet,” Cavano says. “If you feel emotions in a big way, work through it with your instrument. Music is a safe space for expression.”
Small acts of kindness can have a big impact in making people feel welcome. When we reach out and connect with others, we can build a stronger community where everyone – regardless of their background – feels like they belong.
welcome. community Small When where LEARN
• Building Connections
• Making A Difference
• Big Opportunities
Cuyahoga DD connects individuals with developmental disabilities and their families with resources to help them live their best lives.
Cuyahoga DD creates community connections and opportunities for independence.
The Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities has supported and empowered people with developmental disabilities (DD) to live, learn, work and play in the community since 1967. Primarily funded by a continuous levy last passed by Cuyahoga County voters in 2005, Cuyahoga DD supports people with disabilities of all ages to pursue the things that will help them live their best lives. With a focus on making Cuyahoga County inclusive and welcoming for people of all abilities, Cuyahoga DD strives to help the people it serves build meaningful connections in their community and live as independently as they want.
2024
Saturday, May 18
Saturday, June 8
Sunday, July 28
Sunday, October 20
Connecting young families to Cuyahoga DD and each other.
Navigating life as a parent of a child with developmental disabilities can be overwhelming. Cuyahoga DD offers a variety of supports and services to families, but often, parents do not know where to go once they get started. To help families navigate their experience with Cuyahoga DD and also help them create a community of their own, Cuyahoga DD hosts Family Fun Fairs every summer.
The Family Fun Fairs are held outdoors at Cuyahoga DD buildings and include a variety of engaging activities for children ages 0 to 14 to enjoy, such as music therapy, petting zoos, magic shows, inclusive story time and more. Family Fun Fairs are designed to provide a supportive space where parents can let their kids be who they are and can also make connections with other families. Representatives from Cuyahoga DD departments that support children are also available to help connect families to services or provide information about supports that might be helpful in the future.
Family Fun Fairs are open to children ages 0 to 14 (and their families) who receive services from Cuyahoga DD.
“ The fact that he’s able to do this, out in the community, with other people, and has acclimated to that, is amazing. I’m very proud.”– Stacey Renzenbrink
Volunteering has helped Mike Renzenbrink build confidence — and meaningful connections — in the community.
Mickael (Mike) Renzenbrink does not like to sit at home. He prefers to be out in the community. He likes to spend his time outside, taking walks, riding the water slides at the Westlake Aquatic Center, building with Legos (he’s what you might consider a “master builder”), spending time at Lake Erie and volunteering.
Mike and peers from his day program at Welcome House participated in Cuyahoga DD’s first-ever day of service in October 2022. During the day of service, Cuyahoga DD staff volunteer alongside people with disabilities at organizations across Cuyahoga County. Mike and his direct support professional, Felisha Reeves from Welcome House, spent the day at the Lutheran Men’s Shelter downtown, where they served food to residents.
After they left, Mike told Felisha he wanted to go back, so she reconnected with the shelter and set up a time for him to volunteer once a month. Soon, that turned into twice a month, and now, Mike volunteers at the shelter once a week. He serves bread and cookies to the residents, he helps with garbage and sweeping the floors, and he recently learned how to help with the dishes.
Since he began volunteering, Mike’s mother, Stacey Renzenbrink, has seen a change in him. “He seems a little more independent, a little less hesitant to do things. Now, he just does them,” she says.
Felisha, who has worked with Mike since he began at Welcome House in 2020, agrees. “When he first started, he was not sure of himself. He always had to ask me, ‘What do I do?’ Now, he goes off with some of the others, and I go into the back, trying to see how far we can take him,” she says. “He now has confidence to try new things without asking if it’s OK.”
Mike says that volunteering makes him feel happy. He likes to be helpful and meet new people. He likes to get out into the community. “I like to go places,” he says. According to Felisha, he knows the days when he’s supposed to volunteer, and he knows the route they take to the shelter, one that takes them past a landmark that is special to Mike: Progressive Field. “He enjoys it so much,” she says. “He’s out of sorts if he doesn’t get to go.”
Lydia Bailey, coordinator of volunteers for Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Men’s Shelter, says, “When he arrives, I see how he loves coming into the kitchen. His smile and his body language show he is so eager to see the kitchen staff, and he gives a fist bump to everyone.”
For Stacey, seeing the connections Mike has made has been remarkable. “As a parent, I never thought that we would get there,” she says. “The fact that he’s able to do this, out in the community, with other people, and has acclimated to that, is amazing. I’m very proud.”
“Dad, too,” Mike adds.
“Dad, too,” she affirms.
Participating in Cuyahoga DD’s day of service helped Mike create connections in the community. In addition to the men’s shelter, Mike volunteers at the Children’s Book Bank and the Goods Bank NEO. He’s influenced his peers at Welcome House to become more engaged in the community through volunteering as well.
Stacey and Felisha believe his experience volunteering will help him in other ways, too, like finding a job where he earns his own money. “The idea that at one point in time he might be able to hold a job far exceeds what I thought was possible,” Stacey says.
“ Tiny homes could be a big game-changer for people with DD.”– Melanie Rak, chief program officer
“When most people think about tiny homes, they envision an affordable housing option for those who no longer need a large home and are looking to downsize or those who are making a conscious choice to reduce their footprint,” says Melanie Rak, chief program officer at Cuyahoga DD. “But after visiting Madison, Wisconsin, where they were being used to support people with housing challenges, we saw an opportunity to use tiny homes as an innovative housing opportunity for people with developmental disabilities.”
Cuyahoga DD’s pilot tiny home, expected to open in 2024, will be situated in the backyard of a community rental home owned by North Coast Community Homes, Cuyahoga DD’s longtime housing partner. Developed using local levy dollars, it is an affordable housing option for individuals with DD who want to live more independently.
Located in Maple Heights, a Cuyahoga County community that has embraced tiny living, the pilot home is being built by Tiny Home Living, a builder that committed to customizing the layout to accommodate people with disabilities. For example, traditionally, tiny homes have lofted bedrooms. The bedroom in the Cuyahoga DD tiny home will be on the ground floor. Other features to support people with DD include an
accessible main entrance and bathroom doors, a roll-in shower, kitchen and bathroom sinks that allow space for a wheelchair, and an all-in-one washer and dryer as opposed to the stacked units commonly seen in tiny homes.
With its location on the property of an existing community home for people with disabilities that is staffed by an agency provider, Cuyahoga DD’s tiny home is an opportunity for people with DD to test the waters of independence. They get the benefit of living in their own home, but the peace of mind knowing that staff is nearby should they need help or that there are friends just across the yard if they want to socialize.
Tiny homes for people with DD could also be one way to help alleviate staffing pressure agency providers face. Many providers have been operating with staffing shortages for years, a situation that became more pronounced with the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this model, people who can live mostly independently can live in the tiny home, accessing staff as needed, and people with greater support needs can live in the main home, with more consistent access to staff.
In addition to locating tiny homes on the property of existing community homes, there are several other ways these small residences could be used to support people with DD. A tiny home could be on the property of a person’s family home, where they rely on natural supports like family members instead of paid staff. Still another application could be a cluster of tiny homes within a larger neighborhood.
“There are many people we serve in Cuyahoga County who are looking for a housing option that allows them to balance independence with the comfort of a community,” Rak says. “Tiny homes could be a big game-changer for people with DD.”
Celebrating 25 years
Discerning homeowners throughout Northeast Ohio trust Hurst Design Build Remodel to make their remodeling dreams come true. Hurst’s detailed process, innovative design, and fine craftsmanship combine to create an extraordinary remodeling experience. Learn more about our award-winning work by scheduling a consultation or stop in to visit our Design Center in Westlake, Ohio.
SHOW TEAM FROM THE
With hundreds of experts under one roof, the Cleveland Home + Remodeling Expo is your source to discover fresh inspiration, helpful renovation tips, innovative products and fantastic deals in remodeling, home improvement, decor and outdoor spaces. Plan your next home project as you shop, compare and save with more than 250 exhibitors ready to answer your renovation questions. We hope you enjoy the show!
SHOW DATES & TIMES
FRIDAY, MARCH 22 NOON – 9 P.M.
SATURDAY, MARCH 23
1O A.M. – 9 P.M.
SUNDAY, MARCH 24
1O A.M. – 6 P.M.
THEME DAY:
HERO DAY: FRIDAY, MARCH 22
Active and retired members of the military, as well as first responders, receive free admission to the show with a valid ID.
LOCATION
CLEVELAND I-X CENTER
1 I-X Center Drive, Cleveland, OH 44135
TICKET INFORMATION
$10 Box Office (Adult Admission)
$8 Online at homeandremodelingexpo.com (Adult Admission)
$7 Seniors 65+ with ID (tickets must be purchased at show box office)
$5 Children ages 6-12 years
Jimmy Malone Scholarship Fund
Help send a deserving local student to the college of their choice for four years by supporting the Jimmy Malone Scholarship Fund of the Cleveland Scholarship Program. When purchasing tickets online, visitors to the site will have the opportunity to donate to this deserving charity. For more information on the charity, visit jimmymalone.com or call 440-520-3039.
The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity
The Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity builds homes to strengthen neighborhoods and bring urban and suburban communities together.
The most up-to-date show details and discounted tickets are available online at homeandremodelingexpo.com. USE THE PROMO CODE “GUIDE” when purchasing online to receive $3 off.
CONNECT WITH US!
Millersburg, 330-893-3674, jdmcustombuilders.com
INTRODUCING THE SIERRA CABIN, a brand-new modular cabin designed and built by JDM. Nestled within a compact footprint, this one-bedroom and one-bath cabin is an ideal retreat for those seeking a cozy, yet stylish living space.
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Sierra Cabin is more than just a structure; it’s a haven of tranquility. Its exterior, a harmonious blend of rustic charm and contemporary design, invites you into a world where every inch is optimized for comfort and functionality.
Step inside, and you’re greeted by an open-plan living area that flows seamlessly into a fully equipped kitchen, creating an inviting atmosphere for relaxation and socializing. The bedroom, a cozy sanctuary, promises a peaceful night’s sleep after a day of adventure
or relaxation. Adjacent to it, the bathroom combines functionality with style, featuring modern fixtures and a sense of serenity.
Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a hunter’s lair, or a permanent residence close to nature, the Sierra Cabin offers the perfect blend of efficiency, adventure and harmony with the natural world. Embrace the beauty of modular living with the Sierra Cabin — your gateway to a life well-lived.
JDM Custom Builders is a family-owned business with a reputation for innovation, craftsmanship and excellence. JDM’s team is highly experienced and motivated to help you build the house of your dreams. From cabins to custom structures, JDM can help you design and build an efficient, affordable and exciting home for your family.
Array Design Studio
Cleveland, lauramineff.com
WALK INSIDE the Tiny Home Interior Design Mini Showroom by Array Design Studio to visualize the ideal layout and look of your tiny home’s living space. Explore multiple small-space living vignettes while you touch and feel home design products and materials meant to maximize space and bring beauty to your home. Array Design Studio offers more than 20 years of experience in lifestyle consultation, building and designing concepts for individuals and commercial projects. Through the Universal Design Method created by Laura Mineff, design goes beyond functionality. It invites a sense of enjoyment into your home, work and social environments.
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Whether you’re looking for a cabin in the woods or the freedom to bring your living space with you, there’s five tiny home options on the Street of Tiny Home Living that will have you thinking about the benefits of a smaller home.
Tuff Shed Showroom and Factory Mayfield Village, 1-800-BUY-TUFF, tuffshed.com
IMAGINE SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH of this weekend retreat as you immerse yourself in the tranquil sounds of the great outdoors. A weekend series building from Tuff Shed is perfect for a couple’s weekend retreat. Available in sizes up to 20 feet by 40 feet and with two-story options, each retreat is built-to-order and assembled on-site with in-house engineers available to make sure it is done right. Tuff Shed building shells are perfect for those who are ready to put their own finishing touches on the inside of their retreat. Special thanks to Small Spaces CLE for their help with the interior finish on this getaway cabin.
Tuff Shed is a true American original, beginning in the West in 1981 with one man’s dream of designing, fabricating and installing quality backyard buildings for customers. Four decades later, Tuff Shed is an industry leader, now serving customers throughout much of the U.S. Their dedication to quality, helpful design consultants, as well as a network of local factories and installers, make it easy for their customers to get the Tuff Shed building that’s best for their needs.
Tuff Shed factory-direct retail locations offer a variety of building types, including sheds, studios, recreational buildings and garages. Their shed lineup consists of a good-better-best selection to accommodate different needs and budgets. All of these buildings can be designed using their online configurator. They also have local, expert sales and design consultants who can help you select the best building for your needs.
Tiny Homes of Ohio Sugarcreek, 330-852-2466, tinyhomesofohio.com
TINY HOMES OF OHIO brings self-sustained living to the tiny home industry. The 32-foot standard unit features a partial loft, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and living area with a one-of-a-kind bump-out for extra space. Integrated solar panels, a backup generator, composting toilet and rainwater gathering system with 500-gallon storage make this tiny
Luke Bender & Kelsey Keserich
Instagram: @BenderAndTheBeauty
SELF-CONVERTED AND OFF-GRID CAPABLE, the Mini School Bus by Bender and the Beauty provides the ultimate freedom to choose where you live. Fitting into a regular parking space at 24 feet long, 8.5 feet wide and 10.5 feet tall, the Mini School Bus is perfect for both big-city and open-country travel. Equipped with heating, plumbing and electric, the Mini School Bus has an open floor plan complete with an outdoor swing and a rooftop patio, making it the ideal cozy cottage on wheels.
home self-contained and perfect for on-the-go living.
Tiny Homes of Ohio is a registered manufacturer of tiny home travel trailers. This means each unit comes with a vehicle title and license for ease of financing and mobility. Tiny Homes of Ohio is located in Tuscarawas County in the heart of Amish country.
Element, Design Build Remodel is a full-service residential design firm. With history dating back to 2014, our core mission revolves around crafting one-of-a-kind, thoughtfully curated living spaces. Our process includes detailed estimates, design consultation, on-site measures, and installation of materials. From small space upgrades, to multiple room renovations, we are committed to collaborating with our clients to create a space completely custom and personalized with a stress-free process.
Spring has sprung in the lobby. Huron-based florist Sweet Pea Flower Truck (sweetpeaflowertruck.com) will be selling fresh flowers, houseplants, eucalyptus bundles and more from their pop-up pedal shop to get you and your home ready for spring.
Presented by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Greater Cleveland Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will compete in a contest where they can put their construction skills and creativity to the test. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each session.
For more informoation, call the HBA’s office at 216-447-8700.
CONTEST DATES AND TIMES:
Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. (Grades K-3)
Saturday, March 23, 1 p.m. (Grades 4-6)
Sunday, March 24, 11 a.m. (Grades K-3)
Sunday, March 24, 1 p.m. (Grades 4-6)
Ready to take your table settings to the next level? Get inspired by the latest spring tablescape designs in this feature created by designers from the American Society of Interior Designers (asid.org), a prestigious organization representing the interests and expertise of interior design professionals.
Hop on over to vote for your favorite local celebrity-designed ceramic bunny and bid on a chance to take one home. Bunnies courtesy of Artist For A Day (artistforaday.com), a premier paint-it-yourself pottery studio located in North Olmsted. At Artist For A Day, the possibilities are as vast as your imagination. With a selection of over 1,600 pottery pieces, you can pick the perfect ceramic item for your decor or gifting needs. Proceeds to benefit the North Olmsted Schools Art Department.
Who doesn’t like a little shopping?
The Marketplace offers unique home products and goods for purchase.
See the works of the top 10 finalists of the Student Model Home Design Contest featuring the theme Return to the Ranch. Participants are students in grades 10 to 12 who are taking classes in engineering, architecture, design and building trades at schools across Northeast Ohio.
Our showrooms are designed to inspire, with bath, kitchen and lighting choices from top brands curated in beautiful, hands-on displays. From product selection to delivery coordination, an industry expert will be there to support your project every step of the way.
fergusonshowrooms.com
KNOWN FOR HIS SHOW ON HGTV AND DISCOVERY+, Patric Richardson, aka “The Laundry Guy,” has been teaching people for years new and better ways to care for their apparel and textiles. Patric is now talking about tidying up and turning a house into a home in his new book, “House Love.” Here, get a sneak peek of his favorite home gadgets, design trends and more before seeing him on the Main Stage, thanks to Spectrum, on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23.
Q: WHAT HOME GADGET OR TOOL SHOULD EVERY HOMEOWNER HAVE?
A: I couldn’t do laundry without a horsehair brush. They get softer when they are wet, so they are safe enough to scrub cashmere and silk, but strong enough to take out serious stains.
Q: BEST HOME PURCHASE FOR UNDER $100?
A: A steamer, but an all-purpose one, you can use it to clean the house, and it will have an adapter to steam clothes. So all purpose.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PAINT COLOR?
A: I am so boring here, I love French Grey. I surround myself with wildly colorful clothes so a neutral backdrop is best. There can only be one centerpiece at the party after all.
Q: FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOME?
A: I love my whole house, we did a total reno when we moved in (it was last updated in the 70s) and I love every room, but besides the laundry, I would have to say my tiny efficient kitchen, I feel like I could cook for anyone there, but everything is close at hand.
Q: WHAT’S YOUR NEXT HOME PROJECT?
A: I am obsessed with making my little deck into an oasis, so when spring comes, I will be busy for sure.
Q: WHAT HOME TRENDS ARE YOU LOVING? WHAT STYLES DO YOU THINK WILL EMERGE?
I love that we are embracing individuality in decor, I think we are redefining how we use our home and we can make it personal. I also think we will see a lot more pattern and collections ahead.
Q: WHAT IS AN OUTDATED TREND YOU HOPE DOESN’T RETURN?
A: Oh gosh, those rooms that weren’t for using, remember those? I want to use every space in my house, even if it is to sit in the quiet and look at the fireplace. With all the great fabrics and surfaces out there, there doesn’t need to be any space that is hands off.
Q: WHEN YOU DESIGN A SPACE, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE YOU GIVE?
A: Make it yours, if you love orange, go for it, it will work even in the most formal of spaces. I designed my house 14 years ago and I still love it, I have only added artwork and a couple of pillows since then, I still look forward to coming home.
Q: WHAT IS ONE DESIGN TIP FOR BIG IMPACT IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM?
A: I am famous for saying you should hang a disco ball in the laundry room, but after that, get a great light fixture and some paint. You can make a fun room that you love to work in, it can just take an afternoon.
Array Design Studio Cleveland, lauramineff.com
The Main Stage features home improvement celebrity appearances and local experts sharing tips and tricks to improve your home and life. It is furnished and designed by Array Design Studio.
Array Design Studio offers more than 20 years of experience in lifestyle consultation, building and designing concepts for individuals and commercial projects. Through the Universal Design Method created by Laura Mineff, design goes beyond functionality. It invites a sense of enjoyment into your home, work and social environments.
A show favorite, Matt Fox returns as this year’s main stage emcee, where he will delight show visitors with his quick wit, home improvement knowledge and special educational presentations. Matt is best known for creating and co-hosting the first and longest-running show to air on HGTV, “Room by Room,” as well as hosting and producing the public television series, “Around the House with Matt and Shari.” Learn more from his website, mattandshari.com
APPEARANCE SPONSORED BY SPECTRUM
When Patric Richardson was 3 years old, Santa brought him a toy washing machine, fueling a passion that already presented itself whenever he helped his Granny Dude with her laundry. He studied merchandising apparel and textiles at the University of Kentucky and then left for a career in luxury fashion at McAlpins, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom.
Time spent in these legendary stores taught him that all clothing, regardless of price, can be cared for at home. Patric opened his designer vintage store, Mona Williams, in 2013 at Mall of America. The store carried a small, curated collection of fine laundry products, completely changing his direction into the world of laundry and clothing care.
Patric started sharing his expertise at his often soldout Laundry Camps, where he taught people new and better ways to care for their apparel and home textiles. These camps sparked a revolution, prompting the book, “Laundry Love,” now in its fourth printing, and a television show, “The Laundry Guy,” on HGTV and Discovery+. He also recently published the book, “House Love,” a cheery and thoughtful guide to tidying up and turning your house into a home.
Patric will be appearing on the Main Stage on Friday, March 22, and Saturday, March 23. Learn more about Patric at laundryevangelist.com.
Luke Bender grew up on a farm in Nebraska working for his father’s construction company before moving to Denver in 2015. Kelsey was raised in Northeast Ohio where she worked as a professional dancer for the Cleveland Cavaliers before moving out West. They both lived separately in Denver for several years before meeting at Mercedes-Benz in 2019. After taking a road trip down the coast of Oregon, they decided to pursue a life on the road creating memories with their two matching pups, Sadie and Sally. In 2021, they sold their home in Colorado and began building a new one inside of a retired miniature school bus. They hit the road in 2022 and have been on a full-time field trip ever since. Luke and Kelsey will be appearing on the Main Stage talking about living a nomadic lifestyle, on Friday, March 22, Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24. Follow their journey on Instagram: @BenderandtheBeauty.
Main Stage Furnished & Decorated by Array Design Studio
Friday, March 22
Noon Student Model Home Design
1 p.m. Luke & Kelsey, Living a Nomadic Lifestyle
2 p.m. Patric Richardson, Let’s Make Laundry Easy, Green and Fun Sponsored by Spectrum
3 p.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
4 p.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Remodeling Your House Without Killing Your Spouse
5 p.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
6 p.m. Adam & Lori Bryant of HTZ Construction, Design & Plan for a Successful Kitchen Renovation
7 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
Saturday, March 23
11 a.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
Noon Adam & Lori Bryant of HTZ Construction, Design & Plan for a Successful Kitchen Renovation
1 p.m. Luke & Kelsey, Living a Nomadic Lifestyle
3 p.m. Patric Richardson, Let’s Make Laundry Easy, Green and Fun Sponsored by Spectrum
4 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
5 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
6 p.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Remodeling Your House Without Killing Your Spouse
7 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
Sunday, March 24
11 a.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Tips for Taking Your Space from Rut to Strut
Noon Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
1 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
2 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
3 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
All stage appearance times are subject to change. Please check our website for the most up-to-date schedule: HOMEANDREMODELINGEXPO.COM
CONNECT WITH US FOR MORE UPDATES!
@ohiohomeshows
@ohiohomeshows
Main Stage Furnished & Decorated by Array Design Studio
Friday, March 22
Noon Student Model Home Design
1 p.m. Luke & Kelsey, Living a Nomadic Lifestyle
2 p.m. Patric Richardson, Let’s Make Laundry Easy, Green and Fun Sponsored by Spectrum
3 p.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
4 p.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Remodeling Your House Without Killing Your Spouse
5 p.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
6 p.m. Adam & Lori Bryant of HTZ Construction, Design & Plan for a Successful Kitchen Renovation
7 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
Saturday, March 23
11 a.m. Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
Noon Adam & Lori Bryant of HTZ Construction, Design & Plan for a Successful Kitchen Renovation
1 p.m. Luke & Kelsey, Living a Nomadic Lifestyle
3 p.m. Patric Richardson, Let’s Make Laundry Easy, Green and Fun Sponsored by Spectrum
4 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
5 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
6 p.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Remodeling Your House Without Killing Your Spouse
7 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
Sunday, March 24
11 a.m. Leslie Hart-Davidson, Tips for Taking Your Space from Rut to Strut
Noon Laura Mineff, How to Create Your Dream Expectations
1 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
2 p.m. Brenda Love, RESTV - The Mortgage Chef
3 p.m. Matt Fox, Great Weekend Projects
All stage appearance times are subject to change. Please check our website for the most up-to-date schedule: HOMEANDREMODELINGEXPO.COM
CONNECT WITH US FOR MORE UPDATES!
@ohiohomeshows
@ohiohomeshows
Good Health Saunas specializes in medical grade, high-quality infrared saunas designed for maximum comfort, health benefits and durability. The health benefits include improved circulation, pain relief and weight loss. Good Health Saunas are made with quality in mind and backed by an industry leading lifetime warranty.
Good Health Saunas has advanced infrared heating technology to ensure even and efficient heat distribution, maximizing the therapeutic benefits of the infrared sauna. The saunas are easy to assemble, energy efficient and offer a wide range of sizes to fit any space. For more information, visit goodhealthsaunas.com or booths 324 and 330.
Ohio State Waterproofing has provided quality waterproofing and foundation repair services since 1978. We are committed to providing honest, courteous and guaranteed service to every customer. We are members of the National Association of Waterproofing Contractors, and work alongside NARI, NAHB, NHIA, the BIA and the FHA, and a number of consumer advocacy groups. Our patented processes and our stellar reputation make us the clear choice for all your waterproofing needs. For more information, visit ohiostatewaterproofing.com or booths 540 and 674.
Spectrum
Spectrum is a leading internet, mobile, TV and voice provider and is committed to delivering the highest quality products and services. Work, stream and stay connected with fast, reliable internet, customized entertainment packages and nationwide 5G. For more information, visit spectrum.com/now or visit booth 836.
groutdoctorcleveland.com
Universal Windows Direct
Universal Windows Direct is Cleveland’s top source of quality replacement windows, vinyl siding, entry doors, roofing, gutter protection and attic insulation. Established in 2002 by William Barr and Michael Strmac, UWD holds an A+ rating with the BBB, #4 spot on Qualified Remodeler Top 500, #6 on Remodeling 550, and is an Angie’s List Super Service Award recipient. The company is one of cleveland.com’s Top Workplaces in Northeast Ohio. Universal Windows Direct is committed to offering outstanding products at an incredible value, and satisfied recurring and referral customers are the main component to their success. For more information, visit universalwindowsdirect.com or visit booths 112 and 1423.
Westminster Technologies LLC
Westminster Technologies LLC is Northeast Ohio’s leading supplier of event technology support and audiovisual services. We provide services for corporate events, expos, trainings, product launches and more. You will like the way you look and sound. You get access to the newest, cutting-edge AV and event technologies and more than 50 years of experience in event management. You might be managing the experience of 1,500+ attendees or speakers or a microphone for a small group presentation. Whatever your needs, when you receive applause and recognition for a memorable and flawless event, our job is done. You will have an event to remember, coordinated within budget and with no worries. Our process makes you look good. For more information, visit westminsterav.com or call 216-310-9712.
Bradley Stone features an extensive array of stone and tile for floors, walls and countertops.
Good Health Saunas specializes in medical grade, high-quality infrared saunas designed for maximum comfort, health benefits and durability. The health benefits include improved circulation, pain relief and weight loss. Good Health Saunas are made with quality in mind and backed by an industry leading lifetime warranty.
Good Health Saunas has advanced infrared heating technology to ensure even and efficient heat distribution, maximizing the therapeutic benefits of the infrared sauna. The saunas are easy to assemble, energy efficient and offer a wide range of sizes to fit any space. For more information, visit goodhealthsaunas.com or booths 324 and 330.
Ohio State Waterproofing has provided quality waterproofing and foundation repair services since 1978. We are committed to providing honest, courteous and guaranteed service to every customer. We are members of the National Association of Waterproofing Contractors, and work alongside NARI, NAHB, NHIA, the BIA and the FHA, and a number of consumer advocacy groups. Our patented processes and our stellar reputation make us the clear choice for all your waterproofing needs. For more information, visit ohiostatewaterproofing.com or booths 540 and 674.
Spectrum
Spectrum is a leading internet, mobile, TV and voice provider and is committed to delivering the highest quality products and services. Work, stream and stay connected with fast, reliable internet, customized entertainment packages and nationwide 5G. For more information, visit spectrum.com/now or visit booth 836.
groutdoctorcleveland.com
Universal Windows Direct
Universal Windows Direct is Cleveland’s top source of quality replacement windows, vinyl siding, entry doors, roofing, gutter protection and attic insulation. Established in 2002 by William Barr and Michael Strmac, UWD holds an A+ rating with the BBB, #4 spot on Qualified Remodeler Top 500, #6 on Remodeling 550, and is an Angie’s List Super Service Award recipient. The company is one of cleveland.com’s Top Workplaces in Northeast Ohio. Universal Windows Direct is committed to offering outstanding products at an incredible value, and satisfied recurring and referral customers are the main component to their success. For more information, visit universalwindowsdirect.com or visit booths 112 and 1423.
Westminster Technologies LLC
Westminster Technologies LLC is Northeast Ohio’s leading supplier of event technology support and audiovisual services. We provide services for corporate events, expos, trainings, product launches and more. You will like the way you look and sound. You get access to the newest, cutting-edge AV and event technologies and more than 50 years of experience in event management. You might be managing the experience of 1,500+ attendees or speakers or a microphone for a small group presentation. Whatever your needs, when you receive applause and recognition for a memorable and flawless event, our job is done. You will have an event to remember, coordinated within budget and with no worries. Our process makes you look good. For more information, visit westminsterav.com or call 216-310-9712.
Bradley Stone features an extensive array of stone and tile for floors, walls and countertops.
A Detroit-Shoreway resident fills her home with energy from unique and novel items for DIY projects.
Most people don’t have a 6-foot papier-mache camel in their living room. Or a wiener dog-shaped bench in their entryway.
Then again, most people aren’t Claire Billingsley.
“I’ve always been drawn to unique, eccentric spaces,” says Billingsley, a Detroit-Shoreway resident. In January 2023, she started documenting her decor and interior design journey on the Instagram page @odetoanabode. More than 32,000 people now follow along with her DIY projects, which often fea-
ture rainbow hues, bold patterns and squiggly shapes.
As a hobby artist and daughter of a home builder, Billingsley has always had a keen eye for design, and she loves to rescue and repurpose novelty items. Her living room table features a corn cob stool and her kitchen table is an arcade cabinet that has been coded to play classic arcade games like Frogger and Tetris. She converted two twin bed frames into a sectional couch and turned her husband’s childhood skateboard into a shelf by mounting it to a wall.
The list goes on and on with something to gawk at in every corner of her home. But it wasn’t always like this. After college, Billingsley felt pressure to abandon her penchant for bright colors and patterns to instead adopt a more toned-down aesthetic, both in terms of her wardrobe and her home decor.
“The pandemic helped me reset and realize that the space I spend the majority of my time in should be a true reflection of who I am,” she says. She’s been repurposing and creating ever since, giving wacky upgrades to even the most functional of items.
Billingsley’s favorite way to change her space is through paint, which has led some online commenters to complain that her many off-the-wall projects will make her home impossible to sell, whenever the time comes. But she’s not particularly worried about it, in part because she’s put in so much
work just to make the house livable.
When Billingsley first bought the 120-year-old house in 2018, a contractor recommended tearing it down. A long-vacant foreclosure, it came with plumbing problems, water damage, a crumbling foundation and a partially cavedin ceiling. Fortunately, she landed a rehab loan and was able to wrap the cost of the renovations into her mortgage, which enabled her to make all the necessary code-related repairs within her budget. The house still needs work, but Billingsley finds solace in personalizing the space however she can.
After repairing her Detroit-Shoreway home, Billingsley added personal touches.
To avoid waste and to keep costs low, Billingsley mostly decorates with secondhand and upcycled materials.
This also allows her to experiment and sometimes to fail, like when she tried to turn a bunch of terracotta plant pots and scrap wood into a TV stand. “When things go south, there’s not a huge sunk cost or excess waste,” she says.
For Billingsley, one of the best parts of being a content creator is getting
feedback from followers — not just about her home but about their own. She knows that her aesthetic isn’t for everyone, but she loves hearing that her courageous approach to DIY projects has inspired others to take risks, too.
“My house is really out there, but you don’t have to go all in like I have,”
she says. “Experiment and have fun at whatever scale you feel comfortable with. Take small risks that are impermanent and don’t cost lots of money, like paint, throw pillows and secondhand decor. These are things you can do even if you’re renting or on a tight budget.”
They’re all projects she’s done herself and encourages others to try when they’re itching for a new look. What’s the worst that can happen? That you’ll have to paint over it?
“On the other hand, if you don’t try, you risk living in a space that never feels quite right, and that can directly impact your day-to-day experience. Live a little!”
BRECKSVILLE
Outstanding one floor living. Every inch updated, including all mechanicals. Open great room concept with FABULOUS new kitchen. Fresh. Bright. Neutral. Luxury vinyl flooring throughout. Attention to detail. Sliders open to the patio. A+ rated Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools. Excellent location.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
LAKEWOOD
Winton Place. This hard to find North East corner unit provides exceptional views of Lake Erie and the downtown skyline. The spacious living area and gracious dining room feature ceramic tile flooring and elaborate trims complimenting the panoramic views. Updated kitchen. Exceptional built-ins & storage throughout.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
CLIFTON LAGOONS. Double lot. A very rare and special property. Spectacular yacht club, river, and Lake Erie views and your very own (80x18) boathouse. Artist’s home with unexpected “quirks.” Built on land (not water). The large 80 x18 deck overlooks the lagoon & Lake. Clifton Beach privileges. Tennis. Playground.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
FIRST FLOOR OWNER’S SUITE. Nearly 4000 sq. ft. of living space. Incredible lowmaintenance cluster w/1st floor master & office. Loads of light. One floor living with exceptional 2nd floor guest space. Gleaning new hardwood floors throughout the 1st level. The 2-story entry is open to a bright vaulted great room w/gas fireplace.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
BRECKSVILLE
Wonderful private master suite with gas fireplace, sitting area and stunning new bath with walk-in shower and private outdoor access. Three additional bedrooms and a full bath comprise a separate ‘wing.’ New lighting and fixtures. Lower level storage. Deeply set-back from the street. Wooded lot. 2 car semi-attached garage.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
Winton Place. In-suite laundry.1842 sq. ft. w/ generous bedroom sizes. Neutral carpeting. 2 full updated baths (including private master bath). Master includes a well-organized walk-in closet. Full amenity building: concierge, fitness center, heated indoor pool, sauna, party room, courtyard. Near Pier W & Summer Place.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
Mayfair Village. Tastefully redone ranch condo with lovely finishes throughout. Bright neutral décor. 2 bedrooms. 1.5 baths. Everything new and newer. Movein ready. In-ground pool. Great location. Near every amenity and easy freeway access. Great value. Excellent Rocky River Schools & City services. 1 car garage.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
Gorgeous formal dining room. Walls of windows open to a private courtyard. Family room w/ a 2nd gas fireplace and built-ins. Casual dining area open to the kitchen. Prime location in Shoreby’s gated community. Steps to Lake Erie & the Club. Fresh. Neutral. Recent updates. Finished lower level. Private patio. 2 car attached garage.
RE/MAX REG | LOU BARBEE (440) 899-0000
THE LEGIONS OF BANDS, dancers and other organizations participating in Cleveland’s St. Patrick’s Day parade got an extra week to prepare in 1959.
Around noon — right as the celebratory Mass at St. John’s Cathedral was finishing and American and Irish flags were being raised in Public Square — a blizzard blew in, ultimately dumping four inches of snow in the area. Wind gusts were reported between 50 and 60 mph, limiting visibility to the point where Cleveland police had to shut down the Shoreway for an hour.
Shortly before the scheduled start from Chester Avenue and East 13th Street at 2 p.m., organizers postponed the parade until the next Sunday, saying it was impossible to march in the current conditions.
The delay in the parade also allowed additional groups to join. The parade was led off by the Akron St. Vincent High School band (the merger with St. Mary would
come 13 years later), which had marched in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade the previous week.
Also among the participants was a relatively new band, but one that had already proven its excellence. The Shamrock Pipe Band was founded in 1951, and it had won the All-American Pipe Band Award in 1957 at Iona College. The Shamrock Pipe Band still had its annual St. Patrick’s Dance the week before and would host another the night of the parade.
Also present were local politicians, John Carroll University’s band and a new Nike Hercules missile, which would replace the Ajax missile in local military installations.
A total of 75,000 people were estimated to watch the parade, which proceeded quickly due to cold temperatures. The Plain Dealer said it was about 24 degrees that day, but the sun shone, making it a little more tolerable.
