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Karin Connelly Rice

Stories by: Karin Connelly Rice

Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 20 years she has reported on the local business community for publications such as Inside Business and Cleveland Magazine. She was editor of the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood and was a reporter and photographer for the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water she enjoys telling the stories of Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing the business and research climate in Cleveland.
Charged up: Garden Valley Neighborhood House goes green with solar power
Garden Valley Neighborhood House last week celebrated a 40-panel rooftop solar array that will save the nonprofit, and largest food pantry in Northeast Ohio, $64,000 in electric bills over five years.
From steam powered to Space Age: IngenuityFest is back in full force
IngenuityFest 2022 returns this weekend, bigger and better than ever with an expanded footprint. The annual festival this year brings returning favorites and new exhibits, as well as shows off the community partnerships that have been forged in the past two years. 
Tree symposium will explore how to improve Northeast Ohio’s tree canopy
The upcoming Cuyahoga Tree Symposium at the Beachwood Community Center will explore nature-based means for improving the region’s tree canopy and using science-based means to improve the tree-related health of county residents.
Preserving our cultural heritage: Cleveland Restoration Society gets $50,000 planning grant
The Cleveland Restoration Society just received $50,000 for a planning study to create a brick-and-mortar fund to preserve Cleveland's Black churches.
Applications are now open for season five of Chain Reaction small business competition
Fox 8's Kenny Crumpton announced this morning on "Kickin' it with Kenny" that applications are now open for season five of Cleveland Chain Reaction—the small business pitch competition that connects entrepreneurs to capital and mentors and creates new businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods to stimulate job growth and prosperity. 
Officials break ground on new senior apartments in Maple Heights
Maple Heights officials broke ground last week on a 50,800-square foot apartment building that will provide below-market rate apartments for the city's seniors who are looking to downsize from their homes. 
Help decide the future of Horseshoe Lake Park
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District will host a virtual meeting and host an open house at Horseshoe Lake Park in Shaker Heights to present the Doan Brook restoration goals and gather public input on what the park should look like after the restoration.   
Where science and imagination meet: CMNH on target with its museum transformation
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is well into its transformation project to create more lovers of science, encourage questions and curiosity, and create an inviting destination for everyone. A new $300,000 grant from the Jones Day Foundation is going to help make the vision a reality.
Delicious traditions: SoCo Tahini brings bold flavors to CLE
Dana Harary always searched for the tahini she loved when she came from Israel to Cleveland visit her mother. Now living in Northeast Ohio, she and her partners founded SoCo Tahini—with flavors so good, even chef Doug Katz uses it at Zhug.
A man with a mission: Rev. Stephen Blonder Adams has big plans for the Old Stone Church
The Rev. Stephen C. Blonder Adams has a history with the Old Stone Church. Now, as the new head pastor, he wants to make sure everyone knows the church is open and welcoming to all, and is the heart of the Cleveland community.
Completed! First house purchased in LMM’s Breaking New Ground project ready for tenants
After nearly three years, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry last week celebrated the completion of renovations on the very first house purchased in its Breaking New Ground Campaign—a $4 million-plus initiative to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Cleveland.
Oh, Gods of Dust and Rainbows: FRONT Triennial drawing intrigue in NEO
The 2022 FRONT International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art is in full swing, with 100 world renowned artists at 30 sites in three NEO cities. Here are some don't miss highlights to check out when attending FRONT.
Keep on trucking: Meet the machines at Legacy Village this weekend
Kids and adults alike can get close and personal with vehicles and machines of all makes and sizes at Meet the Machines at Legacy Village this weekend.
Castles in the sand: Annual American Institute of Architects Sand Festival returns to Edgewater
After a two-year hiatus, the popular Sand Festival—with architects and designers executing their designs in sand at Edgewater Beach—returns this weekend. In addition to a volleyball tournament, there's even a sand pile this year for the amateurs to get involved.
Hip-hop hits Severance Hall this weekend when Lords of the Land take to the streets
Lords of the Land II Hip-Hop and Street Dance Festival returns for the second year, this time at Severance Hall, to elevate the culture, comradery, and history of street dance.
Painting the Town: Shaker Arts Council adds seven artist-designed utility boxes to its tour
Shaker Arts Council has selected seven new artists' designs to wrap utility boxes around its Rapid Green Line public art tour in Shaker Heights. 
Making it pop: International artist arrives in Cleveland to paint Stella Maris mural
International mural artist Birdcap is in Cleveland this week, painting one of his unique murals on the side of the Stella Maris building in the Flats. 
Standout performance: New murals get convergence-continuum Theater noticed
For 20 years convergence-continuum Theater Company has staged timely productions in a nondescript building on Scranton Road in Tremont. This week, the little theater comes to life with two new murals by Graffiti HeArt artist Miguel Garcia, aka Fade ResistantArtist.
Bouncing back through Arts & Culture: CAC annual report highlights resilience in the arts
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture in July released its 2021 annual report, showing resilience, support, and hope for arts and cultural organizations in Cuyahoga County—despite the struggles during the ongoing pandemic. 
BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival has returned to Cleveland
BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival, with performances and entrainments for all tastes and age groups, is now live in downtown Cleveland through Sunday.