Cleveland, OH
From dancing in middle school to dancing to share their culture
CLEVELAND — This summer, there will be many events across Cleveland that will bring multiple cultures together.
One event celebrated African culture Saturday at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, the first of a series of events that will celebrate the diversity of the region.
Black Beanz is a dance team that performed at the event. Chomba Olega is Congolese, and he was one of the dancers. He said dancing to represent his culture means so much to him.
“It’s kind of like a cultural day and we are here to show people our culture and to people see what cultures we have in Africa,” he said.
The Black Beanz dance group comprises teenagers whose families are from Africa. They went to school together in Akron and were discovered three years ago by a substitute teacher who recognized their potential.
Tom Craine said it was an honor for him to discover such talented boys.
“I noticed even after the bell rang, they were playing music and dancing, you know, it’s like, guys, the bell rang, we got to start class, I know you are excited about all of this, so lets see after school what you are up to,” he said.
Eventually, they became a full-on travel dance team, now having the opportunity to represent their culture. It’s something Johnny Wu, the producer of the Cultural Gardens’ World on Stage events, said is a joy for him to see.
“It’s very exciting dance music and you feel like you want to dance with them too, but I don’t know how to dance,” he said.
But what Wu does know how to do is facilitate the togetherness of these events.
“It’s one of the days we celebrate diversity here in Cleveland, Ohio, and one way to celebrate that is to promote the cultural ethnic groups and today is specifically about Africa,” he said.
The series continues this summer as the Cultural Gardens will host many more events, including Middle East Day on July 22, Latin America Day on Aug. 12 and Asian Day on Sept. 9.
CLEVELAND — Not many movies stand the test of time, but “A Christmas Story” is a genuine classic.
The 1983 film only lasted a month in the box office but has since become a cult classic, drawing fans to the Cleveland home where it was shot all year long. One northeast Ohio native had a small but memorable part in the film and made lifelong friendships.
Drew Hocevar may be remembered for playing the “mean elf” in the film, but he’s anything but.
Known as the “male elf” in the credits, it’s the only acting role Hocevar has ever auditioned for. He was working at Higbees department store when he got the part.
“They just called me, and I got the elf part!” he said.
He said it was just something fun to do. Being a teacher is what really paid the bills. Hocevar is a former special education teacher and now volunteers as a mechanic working on the merry-go-round at the Western Reserve Historical Society.
Some of the artifacts he saved from the movie are on display at the museum.
“I snagged my hat and ran,” he said.
He said the rest of the costume was thrown away.
Hocevar’s cast-signed poster and bb-gun are on display at the museum
The museum has a few other special “A Christmas Story” displays, including Lego sculptures depicting memorable scenes from the movie including Hocevar’s scene of him pushing kids down a slide on a fake snow-topped mountain.
Over 40 years later he remains friends with some of the cast including his elf counterpart and recently had lunch with her.
The movie plays numerous times throughout the holiday season, but Hocevar said he tends not to watch. His friends, however, have a special name for Christmas Day.
“24 hours of Drew!” he said.
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Cleveland, OH – Warmer weather is set to move into Northeast Ohio just in time for Christmas, with rain chances remaining low this week. After a cloudy and drizzly start today, temperatures will gradually rise, offering a mild holiday season for residents.
According to the National Weather Service, Cleveland will see highs in the upper 30s today with patchy drizzle tapering off by the afternoon. Tonight, skies will remain cloudy with lows near 33°F. By Wednesday, Christmas Day, conditions improve with mostly cloudy skies and highs reaching a pleasant 40°F.
Looking ahead, Thursday will bring partly sunny skies and warmer temperatures, peaking near 48°F. Winds from the southeast will keep conditions calm, making it an ideal day for holiday outings. However, by Friday, a 30% chance of rain returns as temperatures climb into the upper 40s.
The warm-up continues into Saturday, with highs expected to reach the mid-50s. Showers are likely Saturday night into Sunday, so residents should prepare for wet conditions over the weekend.
Motorists should remain cautious today as morning drizzle could create slick spots on roads, including I-90 and I-71. While precipitation chances remain low, lingering fog and mist may reduce visibility early in the day.
Stay tuned for updated forecasts as Christmas approaches, and plan your holiday travels with these warming conditions in mind.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man was shot dead in Downtown Cleveland early Christmas Eve morning, police confirmed.
The Cleveland Division of Police said officers were called to East 13th Street and Superior Avenue for a gunshot victim.
The call came in at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 24, according to police.
Officers arrived to find a 42-year-old man who was shot lying unconscious in the street, said police.
Police said officers quickly rendered first aid until Cleveland EMS arrived.
Cleveland EMS said he was in critical condition as they took him to MetroHealth Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
He has yet to be identified.
Police said no further information is being released at this time in the ongoing investigation.
Call the Cleveland Division of Police at 216-623-5000 and reference report #2024-370349 if you have any information on this incident.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2024 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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