CLEVELAND — Ohio native and current Princeton student Elise Taylor is spending part of her summer helping the Port of Cleveland. 

“Twice a year Lake Erie gets dredged by the Port of Cleveland, and that material gets deposited into the facility,” Taylor said. 

As part of her internship with Baldwin-Wallace University, she’s helping build and deploy turbidity sensors that can be used in that facility.

These sensors will provide staff with real-time data about how many particles are in the water they’re releasing back into Lake Erie. 

It’s allowing her to practice some of what she’s learned as a civil and environmental engineering student. 

“Everyone deserves access to clean water, so it’s really important to me,” Taylor said. 

Taylor is looking to work in water quality when she graduates and is getting her feet wet with this internship that allows her to meet and study with people currently working in the field. 

“Seeing all of these organizations being able to collaborate and make small changes in our area makes me really optimistic about the future,” Taylor said. 

Cuyahoga County’s Fresh Water Institute and the Student Conservation Association help pair students with local organizations that complete work related to Ohio’s waterways. Giving the next generation of environmental scientists hands-on experience. 

“One of my AP research projects in high school was actually about the Cuyahoga River fire in 1969 and how these grassroots movements kind of built up the momentum to get the Clean Water Act of 1970,” said Samantha Holtz. 

Ohio’s history and connection to the Great Lakes is part of what made the Harvard student interested in environmental science.

Back home for the summer, she’s now interning with the Ohio Sea Grant where she helps educate people about our freshwater environment. 

“One parting message that I always leave with my outreach events is: your actions matter. What you do on the land matters, what you do on the waters matter. You have more impact than you think.”

With uncertainty around our environment brought on by development, extraction industries and climate change, Holtz says one of the best lessons she’s learned is that positive change can start out with the conviction of just a few people.

“Interacting with people and finding that spark within them to kind of go into conservation and go into stewardship is really beautiful, because I know that has a domino effect down the line with our communities,” Holtz said. 

The next generation of scientists, learning from their surroundings right here in Ohio.

“If we can make small changes where we’re from and really meet people and share ideas about the environment, we can move in the right direction,” Taylor said.

RUSSELL F. BOJACK

OBITUARY

RUSSELL F. BOJACK age 78, beloved husband for 54 years of Annette (nee Vandetti); loving father of Michelle Hribar (husband Mark) and the late Melanie; devoted grandfather of Mark Jr, Melanie, and Matt; cherished son of the late Kaye (nee Zorich) and the late Frank; dear brother of the late Richard and Allen. Russell was born on January 5, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, where he lived most of his life before moving to Thompson. Growing up in the Cleveland area, he graduated from Collinwood High School before proudly serving in the United States Navy. Russ dedicated many years serving as a mail carrier for the USPS. He enjoyed being able to deliver his mom’s mail and relax with friends after a long day, whether it was for a few drinks or a round of golf on the weekend. Russ’s ability to tell a good story allowed him to get lost in hours of conversation with both friends and family. He relished the time he was able to spend with his grandchildren around a bonfire or while watching Cleveland sports. On July 9, 2026, Russell passed away. Though his family will no longer hear the humming of the tractor approaching, as Sophie barks in greeting, his stories and memories will leave an endless echo. Please meet for a Mass of Christian Burial Monday, July 20, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 16550 Rock Creek Rd, Thompson, OH 44086, at 11 AM. Burial following at All Souls Cemetery. Arrangements and cremation entrusted to THE DeJOHN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY OF CHARDON (formerly Ritondaro). Online obituary and guestbook at www.DeJohnCares.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner released the cause of death for the two little Cleveland half-sisters who were found buried in suitcases in a shallow grave at Ginn Academy on Cleveland’s East Side.

The listed cause of death for both 8-year-old Mila Chatman and 10 -year-old Amor Wilson was homicide by unspecified means with malnutrition.

Their 28-year-old mother is accused of murdering the two has a hearing in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas on Tuesday.

Aliyah Henderson has already pleaded not guilty to charges, including murder for the deaths

The bodies of the two young girls were discovered on March 2 by a man walking his dog near E. 162nd Street and Midland Avenue.

His dog detected the scent, and the man immediately called 911.

Officers found the second body nearby when they arrived.

PREVIOUS: Cleveland woman arrested for murder as investigation into deaths of 2 girls found in suitcases continues

A six-year-old son was found by Cleveland police when Henderson was arrested at her home on East 162nd St. on March 4.

Police said he appeared to be in good health and is now in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services.

PREVIOUS: $2M bond set for Cleveland mother accused of killing 2 young daughters, burying bodies in suitcases

Henderson is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on a $2 million bond.

She is charged with six counts of aggravated murder, four counts of murder, six counts of kidnapping, four counts of felonious assault, three counts of child endangering, one count of tampering with evidence and two counts of gross abuse of a corpse.

PREVIOUS: Man who claims girl found in suitcase is his daughter says he begged courts and CPS for help