Cleveland, OH

Ohio Capital Budget’s Cuyahoga County projects

Published

6 months ago

June 30, 2024

Ohio Capital Budget’s Cuyahoga County projects

Cuyahoga County’s biggest winner dollar-wise in the Ohio capital budget was the North Coast Connector land bridge. It got a $20 million boost for the $230 million project that could improve linkages between Downtown Cleveland, its Lake Erie waterfront, a future multimodal transportation hub and possibly a renovated stadium (FO). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.

A list of the many projects countywide

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he is eager to sign the largest capital budget in the state’s history. This $4.2 billion goody bag of Senators’ and Representatives’ gifts to their constituents was passed yesterday, resulting from a strong economy and robust tax revenues that fed a record budget surplus. In that goody bag are things ranging in size from $2,250 for the Solon Innovation Center to $20 million for Downtown Cleveland’s North Coast Connector land bridge.

The amount of construction due from this two-year capital program could be substantial, if construction companies can increase their hiring and fix their supply issues. Ever since the pandemic, material supply problems have plagued the construction industry, delaying many projects. That could be the biggest downside in this state capital program which, if not addressed, could see unspent appropriations pulled back in two years if the economy dips.

In government, just because a law has an appropriation with your project’s name on it, doesn’t mean you get the money. It still has to be administered by the designated department or agency before June 30, 2026. And with most of the appropriations in this capital budget, it is being backed by bonds from the state which still have to be issued and sold.

Ohio’s capital projects goody bag was itemized in a 343-page Senate bill 292 that was not organized by city or county but by departments and fund type. So finding all of the amounts applicable to Cuyahoga County wasn’t simple. But NEOtrans sifted through that bill and pulled out most of the budgeted amounts, called appropriations.

Another Downtown Cleveland waterfront got $10 million worth of love from the state’s capital budget, with two budgeted amounts for Bedrock’s Tower City-Riverfront development (Adjaye Associates).

This article is actually more of a list of what amounts we’ve found in Cuyahoga County, minus some small stuff. And it should be noted that the amounts shown here aren’t necessarily the total cost of each project. Rather, it is how much funding the state is directing to each project. For example, the North Coast Connector land bridge is estimated to be a $230 million project, so the state’s contribution, however large, will still fund less than 10 percent of it.

Higher Education Improvement Fund-1

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY (reappropriations from the 2023-24 capital budget)

Basic Renovations $700,000
Science Research Building Renovation and Expansion $21,000,000
IT Security Upgrade and Data Center Restructuring $451,106
Tower City/City Block $2,000,000
Anatomy Laboratory Renovation $3,000,000
Rhodes Tower Renewal Phase I $3,195,697
MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center $450,000
MacDonald Women’s Hospital Healthy Women Initiative $200,000
United Way of Greater Cleveland Building Renovations $150,000
Kenmore Commons Improvements $150,000
Goodwill Industries Training Center $50,000
UH Perrico Health Center Rainbow Babies $750,000

CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY (new appropriations)

Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing Improvements $10,500,000
Campus-Wide Building Envelopes Rehabilitation and Stabilization $4,000,000
Life Safety, IT, and Security Projects $1,279,731
Bellefaire Child and Youth Services Center $750,000

The building with the green roof along Euclid Avenue is Cleveland State University’s planned $21 million Corporate Connector building which fronts the science building that will be renovated (Sasaki).

CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Basic Renovations $7,465,941
Wayfinding Signage Upgrades $1,500,000
Enrollment, Financial Aid, Advising Center Renovations $3,500,000
Corporate College Renovations $1,200,000

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Cleveland Christian Home – Child Wellness Campus $1,500,000
Applewood Centers Inc. $425,000
May Dugan Center Renovation $400,000

Higher Education Improvement Fund-2

Ohio University
CWRU Dental Clinic Relocation $200,000

Cleveland State University
MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center $450,000
MacDonald Women’s Hospital Healthy Women Initiative $200,000
United Way of Greater Cleveland Building Renovations $150,000
Kenmore Commons Improvements $150,000

At lower right is the 5115 The Rising development on Broadway Avenue in Cleveland’s Slavic Village with Downtown Cleveland in the distance. The University Settlement, a neighborhood social services center, is raising capital to relocate into The Rising from its nearby, decrepit home of the past 36 years (RDL).

Kent State University
Severance Music Center $500,000
Kulas Hall Renovation – Cleveland Institute of Music $500,000

Cuyahoga Community College
University Settlement Broadway Rising Project $150,000
The Lyric Center $75,000
Greater Cleveland Foodbank $750,000
Shoes 4Kids $175,000
West Side Catholic Center – Housing Self-Sufficiency Program $150,000
The Cleveland Institute of Art $550,000
Construction Based Trades Academy $200,000

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Cleveland Tower City and Bedrock Development Activities $2,000,000
Downtown Cleveland Lakefront Access Project $5,000,000
Irishtown Bend and Canal Basin Park $850,000
Scranton Trail Project (Cleveland) $750,000
Solon to Chagrin Falls Multi-Purpose Trail $400,000
Solon-Chagrin Falls Multi-Purpose Trail $300,000
Chagrin River Trail $300,000
Mandel Jewish Community Center Preston’s H.O.P.E Playground $210,000
Bradstreet’s Landing Pier, Lakefront Access and Resiliency Improvements $200,000
Center Gateway Improvement Project – Rocky River $200,000
Restore Rockefeller (Park) $150,000

In Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, the city-owned but independently managed West Side Market is eligible to receive up to $2.9 million from the state for continued renovations of the 112-year-old market house at Lorain Avenue and West 25th Street (Google).

Cultural and Sports Facilities Building Fund

Variety Theater $85,000
Cleveland Music Hall $400,000
Variety Theatre $250,000
West Side Market Renovation $500,000 (more funding noted later)

Cultural and Sports Facilities Projects

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Great Lakes Science Center $1,750,000
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Expansion $1,000,000
Playhouse Square $1,000,000
Cleveland Museum of Art Horace Kelley Art Foundation Lobby Renovation Phase II $900,000
Cleveland Museum of Art $750,000
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center Wildlife Gardens Education Project $450,000
Cleveland Center for Arts and Technology $325,000
Children’s Museum of Cleveland $307,500
Beck Center $200,000
Cleveland Majestic Hall $100,000
Chagrin Falls Historical Society $100,000
Levi Scofield Mansion Transformation $100,000

Cleveland Museum of Art $1,000,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History $1,000,000
Playhouse Square – Transformational Greyhound Project $1,000,000
Severance Music Center $1,000,000
Cleveland Institute of Music – Kulas Hall $500,000
Cleveland Public Theatre Improvements $500,000
Great Lakes Science Center – Water Technology Exhibition $500,000
Karamu House Capstone Capital Improvements $500,000
Museum of Contemporary Art Improvements $500,000
Western Reserve Historical Society – Saving American History $500,000
Lakeview Cemetery – James Garfield Memorial $300,000
Beck Center for the Arts $250,000

Funds from the current fiscal year unspent by June 30, 2024 for Local Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Projects are earmarked to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Fitzwater Train Yard Operations Building renovation project. The amount is unknown.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s Fitzwater Yards and Shop complex in Independence is due to receive capital improvement funding from the state. But the amount won’t be known until after the current state fiscal year ends on June 30 (Fred Stuckmann).

One-Time Strategic Community Investments

Cuyahoga County Northcoast Connector $20,000,000
Bedrock Riverfront Development $8,000,000
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Expansion and Renovation Project $7,000,000
Cleveland Port Bulk Terminal Modernization $5,000,000
Flats River Development $3,500,000
West Side Market in Cleveland $2,400,000
Cahoon Park $2,000,000
Cleveland Zoo Primate Forest $2,000,000
Irishtown Bend Park $2,000,000
Valor Acres Brecksville Veterans Affairs Hospital Site Redevelopment $2,000,000
Blue Abyss (Brook Park) $1,800,000
Two Foundation Building Purchase and Renovation $1,625,000

Park Synagogue $1,500,000
The Music Settlement – Gries House Redevelopment $1,500,000
Brook Park Community Center Restoration $1,000,000
Cleveland Women’s Soccer Stadium $1,000,000
Electric Building Renovation $1,000,000
Independence Selig Drive Emergency Access $1,000,000
Shaker Heights Doan Brook Park $1,000,000
YMCA of Greater Cleveland – New Facility Construction $1,000,000
Argonaut Project – Advancing Aviation and Maritime Pipeline $800,000
Birthing Beautiful Communities Birth Center $800,000
Connecting the Circle $800,000
Glenville YMCA $800,000

Saint Edwards High School Sustainable Urban Agriculture $800,000
Cleveland Public Square Improvements $750,000
University Heights Municipal Sewer Project $700,000
University Hospitals Breast Center – Parma $700,000
Cleveland Habitat Building Project $507,500
Cleveland Airport NEOFIX $500,000
Euclid Public Library Green Branch Improvements $500,000
Hospice of the Western Reserve Center for Community Engagement and Hospice Care $500,000
JumpStart Northern Ohio Operations $500,000
Ohio Aerospace Institute Sensitive Information Research Facility $500,000
Rocky River Fire Station Improvements $500,000
Saint Casimir Parish Improvements $500,000

Blue Abyss Diving Ltd., a Cornwall, UK-based company, plans a $250 million commercial astronaut training facility and hotel on land it acquired in late-December 2023 in Brook Park. The site is next to the NASA Glenn Research Center (Blue Abyss).

Seven Hills Fire Department $500,000
Vocational Guidance Services Renovation Cleveland Facility $500,000
YWCA of Greater Cleveland $500,000
Boys and Girls Club of Broadway in Cuyahoga County $485,005
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage $480,000
Richmond Heights Salt Bin $450,000
Magnolia Clubhouse $400,000
Middleburg Heights Central Park Phase 1 $400,000
Cleveland Institute of Art – Interactive Media Lab $365,000
Greenstone Lifeline Connection Improvements $327,867
Chagrin Valley Volunteer Fire Station $300,000
Berea City Hall and Police Station Upgrades $250,000

Jenning’s Center for Older Adults $250,000
Journey Center for Safety and Healing/Domestic Violence Shelter $200,000
Lyndhurst Community Center Audio Visual Project $200,000
MetroHealth Emergency Department Refresh $200,000
Northeast Ohio Music Arts Development Hub $200,000
Olmsted Falls Visibility Project $200,000

Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

Vocational Guidance Services Workforce Center $300,000
Christine’s Hope $100,000

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Cleveland Zoo Primate Rainforest $1,700,000
Euclid Waterfront Improvement Plan – Phase III $1,000,000
Irishtown Bend and Canal Basin Park $850,000
Strongsville Town Center Enhancement and Walkability Initiative $725,000
The Foundry $500,000
Chagrin Meadows Preserve $400,000
Solon to Chagrin Falls Multi-Purpose Trail $400,000
Olmsted Township Nature Trail and Bark Park $300,000
Center Gateway Improvement Project – Rocky River $200,000
Memorial Park All-Purpose Trail – North Royalton $200,000
MAGNET’s Manufacturing Innovation, Technology and Job Center Park $150,000
North Olmsted Community Park Improvements $150,000

A 140,000-square-foot transformation and expansion of The RainForest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is planned to create the Primate Forest, a new home for some of the most endangered primate species including gorillas, orangutans as well as hundreds of other animal and plant species from around the globe (Van Auken Akins).

Olmsted Falls East River Road Park $150,000
Restore Rockefeller $150,000
Seven Hills Calvin Park Drainage Improvements $150,000
Middleburg Heights Memorial Hall Courtyard $104,000
Bay Village Green Improvements $100,000
Brecksville Field House $100,000
Highland Heights Park Connector $100,000
Police and Fire Dedication Playground – Lyndhurst $100,000
Village of Bentleyville Riverview Community Park $100,000
Parma Park Improvements $90,000
Brook Park Central Park $75,000
Cuyahoga Heights Willowbrook Connector Trail $75,000

Fairview Park Bain Park $75,000
Independence Pool Facility Improvements $75,000
Cleveland Botanical Garden Public Accessible Garden Path $50,000
Richmond Heights Community Park Gazebo $50,000
Tinker’s Creek Trail $50,000
Walton Hills Thomas Young Park $48,000
Gates Mills Community House Improvements $40,000

Ohio Facilities Construction Commission

Eric Mendelsohn Park Synagogue Campus Restoration $1,000,000
Playhouse Square $1,000,000
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Expansion $1,000,000
Cleveland Museum of Art Horace Kelley Art Foundation Lobby Renovation Phase II $900,000
Cleveland Museum of Natural History $900,000
James A. Garfield Memorial Preservation $750,000
Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum $500,000
Ohio Aerospace Institute Building Repair Project $500,000

The signature dome of the Eric Mendelsohn Park Synagogue and its 28-acre campus in Cleveland Heights were designated in the state’s capital budget to receive up to $2.5 million in separate line items. Developer Sustainable Community Associates is seeking to redevelop the site in a $143 million project with a mix of uses (SCA-Ardon Bar-Hama).

Cleveland Center for Arts and Technology $325,000
Beck Center $200,000
Complete Cozad – Health Hospitality Campus $200,000
Karamu House Educational Wing Renovations $175,000
Chagrin Falls Historical Society $100,000
Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust Memorial $100,000
Lilly Weston House $100,000

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Cuyahoga Commission Restoration of Mental Health Diversion Center $1,000,000
Bellefaire Jewish Children’s Bureau Child and Youth Service Center $1,000,000
Cleveland Christian Home $700,000
Providence House East Side Campus Community Hub $700,000
May Dugan Building Renovation and Expansion $350,000
Sisters of Charity Health System and Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland $250,000
Walt Collins Veterans Housing Facility $200,000
Comprehensive Health Care at the Centers, Gordon Square $100,000
Y Haven $100,000
Cornerstone of Hope $50,000

Note that this is not a complete list and that some small-project amounts were omitted for brevity. And, again, the the amounts shown here aren’t the total cost of each project but the amount of money the state capital budget has dedicated to each. In many cases, it is interesting to see what projects are being considered and how much funding they attracted.

END

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland police announce 6 more arrests in connection to September street takeovers

Published

25 minutes ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Cleveland police announce 6 more arrests in connection to September street takeovers

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police announced six more arrested in connection to the Sept. 28 and Sept. 29 street takeovers in a release Friday.

Cleveland police make arrests in Columbus in connection to September street takeovers

Cleveland Police said the six were arrested on Tuesday and the charges for them all range from aggravated riot, tampering with evidence, disruption of public service and possession of criminal tools to obstruction of official business.

Cleveland Police arrested the following individuals:

Duane Thomas Sanders, Jr. age 22, of Cleveland
Noah Scott Painting, age 20, of Brunswick
Robert Hezekiah Polk, age 18, of Strongsville
Imari Tylonic Cross, age 22, of North Canton

Below are the mugshots of the individuals arrested by Cleveland Police:

Cleveland police announce 6 more arrests in connection to September street takeovers(Cleveland Police)

Troopers arrest 2 people in connection to Cleveland street takeovers

Parma Police arrested 23-year-old David Goldwin of Independence.

Linndale Police arrested 19-year-old Ali Zahid Jumma Al Jubainawi of Akron.

Below are the mug shots of Jubainawi (left) and Goldwin (right):

PREVIOUS: Cleveland City Council closer to enacting law that crackdowns down on street takeovers

Cleveland Police said this brings the total arrests to 15.

4 Columbus men accused in Cleveland street takeovers face judge

According to the release, there is an active warrant for 20-year-old Ethan James Yovann of Parma Heights.

The Street Takeover Task Force Tip Line is also still active.

PREVIOUS: Cleveland Police and the city plan pilot program to deter street takeovers

Anyone with information can call: 216-623-5474 or email to police@clevelandohio.gov.

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Cleveland, OH

6 must-see home holiday displays lighting up Northeast Ohio neighborhoods (photos)

Published

8 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

6 must-see home holiday displays lighting up Northeast Ohio neighborhoods (photos)

A neighborhood display at 21869 Seabury Ave., Fairview Park. Donations collected benefit Fairview Park Hunger Center, Fairview Park Meals on Wheels and the Fairview Park Senior Center.Jones Drones Cleveland

In neighborhoods across Northeast Ohio, homes are glowing with twinkling lights, oversized decorations and holiday cheer. But these dazzling displays aren’t always just for show. For many local families, lighting up the season is also a way to give back to those in need.

From Brunswick to Medina, these festive homes offer more than just a photo opportunity. They inspire generosity, bringing communities together to support charities that make a real difference. Here’s a look at some of the standout displays and the stories behind them.

Wadsworth Griswold House – Wadsworth

Photo of holiday light display — Wadsworth Griswold House

For Greg Osterland, 44, and his wife, turning his home on Duane Lane in Wadsworth into a scene from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was a way to honor a family tradition. Inspired by the movie his family watched every Christmas Eve, Osterland’s display features 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights, an RV like the one seen in the movie and even mannequins dressed as Cousin Eddie and Clark Griswold.

“It (The Griswold house from the movie) didn’t really exist, but I was able to create something that made it exist and put something that brings smiles to kids’ faces,” Osterland said. “That’s what’s kept me coming back.”

Through his Hollywood-inspired display, Osterland raises funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Great Strides event, which works to support people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive genetic disease that affects the lungs, pancreas, and other organs, according to the organization’s website.

Diagnosed with CF himself at age six, Osterland said not many were aware of what it’s like to live with the condition, but the prognosis for those living with the disease has drastically improved over time due to advancements in research and technology.

“When I was diagnosed, the average lifespan was 30. Now, because of all the advancements we’ve had, that number has bumped up well into the 60s and even the 70s,” Osterland said. “I’m well past 30 years old and I’ve never felt better.”

His journey with CF has given Osterland a positive outlook that he hopes to give to others during the holidays through his display and by collecting donations for the Great Strides event.

Over 11 years of collecting donations, the house has raised about $50,000 for the organization, Osterland said.

Where: 173 Duane Lane, Wadsworth

Highlights: Plenty custom-made visual references to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” including the home’s holiday Italian lights. Interactive games for kids.

When to visit: Lights are on every day until 11 p.m., with extra time during the week of Christmas. The display typically comes down the first week of January.

How to Help: You’ll find a lock box lit up in the front yard with QR Code for donations or you can visit their donation link here. This year’s goal is $12,000.

A Licursi Creations Christmas Story – Medina

For the past six years, Justin Licursi, 37, and his wife have transformed their cul-de-sac into a winter wonderland with holiday lights, attracting lines of visitors eager to enjoy the display.

Licursi says he was inspired to support holiday cheer this way after visiting the residential lighting displays in Crown Point Parkway (also on this list) during his teenage years.

“I remember going there when I was a teenager with friends. It was like ‘Oh, this is magical, this is great,’ and I just always remembered that,” he said. “It was always just a positive feeling around Christmas time.”

When people began donating, the Licursis had to figure out what to do with the money, so they decided to find a family in need who they could support. In 2023, they raised about $10,000 for a local family with a husband who had pancreatic cancer, Licursi said.

This year, donations will support the Kranek family, who have a daughter diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer at just 22 months old.

Where: 6321 Shadow Creek Drive, Medina

Highlights: Large “Merry Christmas” sign. 18 community-donated trees lit up. Yearly Grinch photo opportunity.

When: Lights are up 5-11 p.m. every night.

How to help: Visit the display’s Facebook page for more options to support this year’s family.

Crown Point Parkway Festival of Lights – Strongsville

What began as a neighborhood holiday lighting contest in 1988 has grown into a dazzling tradition at Crown Point Parkway in Strongsville, attracting thousands of visitors each season.

Dan Hoag, 68, and his wife, alongside their neighbors, have built a collaborative display featuring coordinated light arches, themed areas like Frostyville and Candyland and more intricate decorations.

The project started small, with Dan determined to win a neighborhood lighting contest in 1988. By 1994, nearly every house on the street participated, and Crown Point Parkway gained local fame after appearing on multiple new channels and TV shows, including ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2015.

Hoag, a home improvement contractor, dedicates months to setting up.

“It’s a six-to-nine-month project,” Hoag said, explaining the effort that goes into ensuring every light and decoration is perfectly aligned. “Seeing the joy it brings makes it worth the effort,” he said. “Walking away is hard when you see how much good this does.”

Donations began when visitors insisted on giving back, and the neighborhood eventually started donating to organizations and families in need. The tradition has since raised nearly $250,000 for charitable causes over the years, Hoag said.

This year, donations will support the Wish Foundation of Northeast Ohio and the Berea Animal Shelter.

Where: 14335 Crown Point Parkway, Strongsville

Highlights: Santa visits on the weekend. Meticulously placed and cared for lights. Themed display areas. Holiday light arches between homes. Widespread neighborhood participation.

When to visit: Lights on around 5:30-10 p.m., Monday– Thursday, 5:30–11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 6–9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

How to help: Collection box on site. Or, support the A Special Wish Northeast Ohio Chapter and Bera Animal Rescue online.

Naelitz Holiday Displays – Brunswick

Nestled on Crestway Oval in Brunswick, the Naelitz family’s display boasts plenty of inflatables, animatronic holiday figures, and over 50,000 lights, according to Scott Naelitz, 54.

He grew up in a household that went all out for the holidays in the Old Brooklyn area of Cleveland. With his wife, he decided to carry on the tradition when starting his own family in Brunswick, he said.

When the Naelitzs noticed the amount of attention the display started to attract, they knew they had to make the most of it. Both longtime volunteers at the Brunswick Food Pantry, the couple began to collect nonperishable food items and monetary donations from visitors for the pantry.

“We just decided if we ever had the opportunity to be able to do something to help… as opposed to just being out there passing food, we’d take the opportunity to help them,” Naelitz said.

Where: 369 Crestway Oval, Brunswick

Highlights: Large “Joy” sign shining bright on the roof, blow molds.

When to visit: Their lights shine nightly from 5:30 to 11 p.m. through January 1.

How to help: In the yard is a donation box accepting non-perishable donations for the Brunswick Food Pantry.

Fairview Park Holiday Lights – Seabury Avenue

Fairview Park’s Seabury Avenue has become a well-known destination for holiday cheer and dazzling lights, thanks to Bill and Diane McVicker, who started their community’s extravagant neighborhood lighting tradition in 2012.

To get to the point where the neighborhood’s lighting festival is today, Bill, who inherited the habit of taking on holiday projects from his grandfather, worked that habit into his home’s lighting display and encouraged neighbors to do the same.

Now, through the neighborhood’s holiday display and fun attractions like the McVickers’ “Elf Tent” which offers hot chocolate, “magical” reindeer food, and more, they collect donations for three organizations: the Fairview Park Hunger Center, Fairview Park Meals on Wheels and the Fairview Park Senior Center.

“Kids will have a handful of coins for the drop box. It’s nice to see kids learning to give back at an early age,” Bill McVicker said.

The McVicker said it feels good to see families returning year after year and hearing stories about how their display has become part of other families’ traditions.

Since 2018, the family has raised over $23,000 for the three charities, according to the McVickers. They expect donations to be down this year due to increased enforcement of rules by the city of Fairview Park that aim to reduce unruly visitors and traffic issues.

Where: 21869 Seabury Ave., Fairview Park

Highlights: Elf tent with treats, merry-go-round for kids. Widespread neighborhood participation.

When to visit: Lights are on all the time. This year, community festivities run from December 20 to 25, with the Elf Tent open nightly from 6 to 9 p.m.

How to help: Donations collected on site, particularly in the Elf tent. Or, visit the charitable organizations online: Fairview Park Hunger Center, Fairview Park Meals on Wheels and the Fairview Park Senior Center.

Petkovsek Family Christmas Lights – North Royalton

On a corner lot in North Royalton, the Petkovsek family’s vibrant display has been a staple in the neighborhood since 2016. Thousands of lights illuminate the home, delighting visitors who often stop to snap photos or enjoy the festive atmosphere.

For Joe Petkovsek, 45, the tradition dates back to his childhood, helping his father decorate their family home every holiday season.

“As a kid, I remember having my eyes wide open helping my dad decorate the roof. I always enjoyed it.”

Now, he and his wife try to carry that tradition forward to the next generation. Their three kids — ages 10, 7, and 5 — are just as invested in helping build the display as he once was.

But for the Petkovseks, it’s not just about experiencing the fun themselves; it’s also about doing something good.

“We wanted to show the kids that the lights aren’t just for our joy, we’re doing something for the needy,” Petkovsek said.

Being an animal-loving household, the display collects donations for Stearns Homestead, an educational farm in Parma that takes care of various animals.

Where: 10020 Applewood Drive, North Royalton

Highlights: Lights everywhere, fun figures expanding the large property.

When to visit: Lights are on 5 p.m.–11 p.m. every night. Extended hours closer to Christmas. Open all night on Christmas Eve.

How to help: Collection box on the property. Or visit the farm’s website to support the cause.

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Cleveland, OH

Cleveland Browns Foundation and United Airlines surprise Stay in the Game! educator with a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans

Published

16 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Cleveland Browns Foundation and United Airlines surprise Stay in the Game! educator with a trip to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans

CLEVELAND, OH – On Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Cleveland Browns Foundation surprised Ann Pesta, an educator from Stay in the Game! partner school Lakewood High School, with a surprise gift and recognition: tickets to Super Bowl LIX, round-trip flights courtesy of United Airlines, and accommodations for her and a guest.

The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, launched in 2019, provides support and resources to Ohio school districts with the goal of increasing school attendance and decreasing chronic absenteeism. The Network supports 161 districts throughout the state of Ohio, with 108 of those districts within the Browns region, including Lakewood City School District.

Pesta, a Lakewood science teacher, received the news in front of her students and colleagues during a catered holiday luncheon, courtesy of the Browns. Browns players – guard Wyatt Teller, wide receiver David Bell, defensive back Tony Browns II and Chomps – were in attendance to present the tickets and commend Pesta for her impact on students throughout her 30-year career.

“It is a huge honor to be able to surprise Ms. Pesta today and show her that her job matters a lot to the Browns organization, Stay in the Game! and to me personally as my mother, father and older sister are educators,” said Browns defensive back Tony Brown II. “They can positively affect a young adult’s life by encouraging them to come to school. So hopefully something like this can show teachers that they are seen and appreciated.”

In November, the Browns called for nominations of educators who inspire students to show up for school. Receiving a large number of nominations, Pesta was selected for her contribution to education by creating an engaging learning environment that encourages regular student attendance. She was nominated by both current and former students, parents, and colleagues, which shows the impact she has had on her community throughout her career.

“We are so excited to be part of Stay in the Game! because it gives us another way to really reinforce the great things that so many of our Lakewood teachers are doing,” said Lakewood City School Coordinator of Student Wellness, Dr. Merritt Waters. “To partner with an organization like the Cleveland Browns to help show Ms. Pesta just how much we appreciate her is fantastic.”

In addition to the Super Bowl surprise, the Cleveland Browns Foundation and United Airlines invited Pesta and four other educators from Stay in the Game! partner districts across NE Ohio to be celebrated at the last Browns home game of the season against the Miami Dolphins on December 29th. Each educator will have the opportunity to bring three guests with them to enjoy the game.

One of United Airlines’ key areas of focus in the community is youth education, which aligns with the efforts of the Browns Foundation and Stay in the Game! Attendance Network. As a part of that focus, United Airlines wanted to help celebrate Pesta by providing the flights and recognizing four other educators who are making a huge impact on their students.

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