AG Yost warns of scammers after severe weather hit northeast Ohio

Published

3 hours ago

August 9, 2024

AG Yost warns of scammers after severe weather hit northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND — As residents recover from the strong storms and tornadoes that hit northeast Ohio on Tuesday, Attorney General Dave Yost is warning Ohioans to watch out for scammers.

Yost said these scammers could present themselves as home-repair experts or fake charities soliciting donations.

“Bad actors thrive on others bad fortune,” Yost said in a release. “Protect yourself from scammers – verify before you trust.”

Yost provided these tips for residents to protect themselves:

“Research the business. Ask for identification from the company representative; note the person’s name, address and phone number; and be cautious of any contractor who won’t provide this information. Check out the company’s reputation with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau and ask for references. You can also search for possible previous lawsuits filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section.
Get multiple written estimates. Obtaining at least three written estimates from three distinct contractors could help you weed out bad apples.
Don’t make large payments in advance. Instead, pay in increments – for example, a third at the beginning of the job, a third after half of the work is completed to your satisfaction, and the final third when the job is completed.
Get all promises in writing. Insist on a written contract detailing the costs, the work to be done, the starting and end dates, and any verbal promises made by the contractor. The contract should also note whether subcontractors will be used and whether the contractor has or will obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Insist on being provided a copy of every document you sign or initial.
Understand your cancellation rights. If the contract resulted from a door-to-door sale, you generally have three days to cancel the contract, according to Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act. The seller should give you written notice of these rights.
Consider paying with a credit card. Paying with a credit card, as opposed to paying in cash or by check, generally gives you greater protection to dispute unauthorized charges.”

As for fake charities, residents can check the Research Charities webpage to see if charities have gone through registration requirements, see what others say about the groups and more.

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City of Cleveland extends hours at rec centers as power outages continue

Published

10 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

City of Cleveland extends hours at rec centers as power outages continue

CLEVELAND — The City of Cleveland announced it’s extending hours at four recreation centers Friday afternoon.

Starting at 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., the following centers will be open:

Collinwood 16300 Lake Shore Blvd. – WiFi, no air conditioning
Zelma George 3155 MLK Jr Blvd. – WiFi, air conditioning
Cudell 1910 West Blvd. – WiFi, partial air conditioning
Michael Zone 6301 Lorain Ave. – WiFi, air conditioning

The city noted outlets for charging devices at the centers are limited. Other options for charging, cooling and WiFi include:

J Glen Smith Health Center at 11100 St. Clair Ave.
McCafferty Health Center at 4242 Lorain Ave.
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) branches
Cuyahoga County Public Library branches
Cleveland Liberation Center at 9801 Denison Ave.

The city asked residents to check hours and availability for library branches, however, all CPL branches are closed Friday.

Additionally, the city gave these “numbers to know” as the city continues to clean up from Tuesday’s storms:

If residents are experiencing a medical emergency, life-threatening situation, or encounter a downed power line, call 911
Residents with non-emergency questions or concerns should call 311
Call the United Way Help Center at 211 for resource information for food, clothing, housing, health care and more

Cleveland said it’s embracing an all-hands-on-deck approach to the storm response, calling it “Operation Storm Recovery CLE.”

“I want to assure Clevelanders that our emergency teams are working around the clock to restore service and clear debris,” said Mayor Justin Bibb in a statement. “We understand the challenges that come from being without power and are working closely with utility companies to expedite restoration. Due to the extent of the damage, this will take some time. As the recovery continues, we are asking residents to prioritize safety and look out for each other.”

For more information, the city is offering a Operation Storm Recovery CLE Resources At-a-Glance Guide. The guide will also be posted at areas around the city, including recreation centers.

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Cleveland, OH

Diane Marie Strempel

Published

18 hours ago

August 9, 2024

Press Room

Diane Marie Strempel

OBITUARY

Diane Marie Strempel (née Eckhardt), born on December 29, 1946, in Elyria, Ohio, passed away peacefully on August 5, 2024, at the age of 77, from her battle against Vascular Dementia. A beloved mother and grandmother, Diane’s life was marked by her profound kindness and enduring compassion.Diane is survived by her loving daughters, Tracy Ricchiuto(Robert)and Kathy Dunbar Leone; and grandchildren, Rachel Ricchiuto and her fiancé Spencer Hovanetz, Dominic Ricchiuto, Jacob Dunbar, and Sophia Dunbar. She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Abigail Dunbar, and her parents, Georgia and Junior Eckhardt. Diane’s greatest accomplishment in life was raising her daughters. Diane spent countless hours with her grandchildren, offering them her unconditional love. She enjoyed conversation with her girlfriends over coffee, especially with her best friend, Jean.Honored in 2014 as the Grandmother of the Year by the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies, for her heartfelt contributions of crocheted baby blankets, a tribute to her late granddaughter, Abigail.A private family memorial service will be held in Madison, Ohio, where Diane raised her daughters.

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Cleveland, OH

Will the Columbus Crew play Lionel Messi in Cleveland? A breakdown of what we know

Published

1 day ago

August 8, 2024

Press Room

Will the Columbus Crew play Lionel Messi in Cleveland? A breakdown of what we know

When Crew season-ticket renewals opened up for the 2025 season on July 5, the fine print stated the team could play home matches outside of Columbus, “including but not limited to a stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio.”

Many interpreted this to mean that the Crew are planning to play a home match at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the 2025 season. Crew owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam also own the Browns.

The Crew have already come close to playing up the road. Near the end of June, it was reported the club was in talks about moving their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals home leg to the Northeast Ohio venue if their opponent was Inter Miami, rather than CF Monterrey.

Related Columbus Crew article: Crew playing in Cleveland? Browns making a move? Inside the Haslams’ stadium games | Arace

At the time, Josh Glessing, chief of strategy and development at Haslam Sports Group told television network News 5 that the Crew were looking into playing in Cleveland because this would be an opportunity “to put Lionel Messi, one of the most famous, if not the most famous people in the world – arguably the greatest soccer player in history – on the biggest stage possible.”

Champions Cup games were excluded from the 2024 season ticket packages. Season ticket holders were guaranteed the option of purchasing them for an additional cost, but it was only an option. It was possible to decline tickets that would have required travel 145 miles away from the Crew’s home venue of Lower.com Field.

More: Crew playing in Cleveland? Browns making a move? Inside the Haslams’ stadium games | Arace

The Crew did not end up playing in Cleveland this year because Monterrey advanced over Miami. But the door is still open for a 2025 regular-season home match.

“The Crew are dedicated to sharing and expanding our club’s and supporters’ passion for soccer,” Crew spokesperson Rob McBurnett said in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch. “And we identified a special opportunity to advance that goal by hosting a potential semifinals match in Cleveland.

“While we won’t hold a 2024 match in Northeast Ohio, we will continue to explore the possibility in future years, especially given our familiarity with Cleveland Browns Stadium and ability to host substantially more supporters while creating a memorable matchday experience that reflects and benefits our incredible fan base.”

Once season ticket holders were made aware of the new addition to the 2025 terms and conditions, a number took to social media and shared their dismay.

The Crew’s supporter group, The Nordecke, made a statement saying the organization strongly opposes “playing meaningful matches in Cleveland or elsewhere outside of the Columbus Metro Area.”

In May, Dee Haslam expressed a desire for the Crew to play in front of larger crowds. Addressing Lower.com Field she told a forum: “We didn’t build it big enough. We learned that pretty quickly because we have a tremendous fan base.”

The capacity at Lower.com Field is 20,371, while Browns Stadium can seat 67,431.

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15