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Over the past year, more than $48,000 has been invested in energy audits and "green" retrofits for merchants along Buckeye Road on Cleveland's East Side.
According to Deepa Vedavyas, Associate Director for Development at Buckeye Area Development Corporation (BADC), this is just the beginning. She hopes to see Buckeye Road merchants become the first "green-certified retail district" in Cleveland.
"We're using this as a learning opportunity, and encouraging them not to stop after the audit and retrofit," she says. "Energy-efficient businesses save on utility bills, which gives them an extra dollar to use towards marketing or expansion."
In all, 20 Buckeye Road merchants received energy audits, which assess the energy-efficiency of storefronts and determine cost-effective ways to help them save on their energy bills. Ten of these also received a $3,000 retrofit grant and participated in the Green Plus educational program. Green Plus is a national organization that is based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and provides technical assistance and certification for retailers that go green.
The energy audits and retrofits were supported by a partnership with the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and funding from the Ohio Department of Energy (ODE). The Generation Foundation provided funding for the Green Plus program.
Buckeye businesses that completed audits also received $150 energy saver kits that included such items as LED exit lights, spray-in foam insulation and water-saving faucet aerators. Those that did retrofits have completed such tasks as adding insulation and sealing up air leakages at windows and doors.
Vedavyas plans to work with merchants to monitor their progress, evaluate their energy usage and see how much they save on utility bills over the next year.
Source: Deepa Vedavyas
Writer: Lee Chilcote
According to Deepa Vedavyas, Associate Director for Development at Buckeye Area Development Corporation (BADC), this is just the beginning. She hopes to see Buckeye Road merchants become the first "green-certified retail district" in Cleveland.
"We're using this as a learning opportunity, and encouraging them not to stop after the audit and retrofit," she says. "Energy-efficient businesses save on utility bills, which gives them an extra dollar to use towards marketing or expansion."
In all, 20 Buckeye Road merchants received energy audits, which assess the energy-efficiency of storefronts and determine cost-effective ways to help them save on their energy bills. Ten of these also received a $3,000 retrofit grant and participated in the Green Plus educational program. Green Plus is a national organization that is based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and provides technical assistance and certification for retailers that go green.
The energy audits and retrofits were supported by a partnership with the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) and funding from the Ohio Department of Energy (ODE). The Generation Foundation provided funding for the Green Plus program.
Buckeye businesses that completed audits also received $150 energy saver kits that included such items as LED exit lights, spray-in foam insulation and water-saving faucet aerators. Those that did retrofits have completed such tasks as adding insulation and sealing up air leakages at windows and doors.
Vedavyas plans to work with merchants to monitor their progress, evaluate their energy usage and see how much they save on utility bills over the next year.
Source: Deepa Vedavyas
Writer: Lee Chilcote
January of last year, a natural gas explosion ripped through a vacant house on W. 83rd Street in Cleveland, destroying the home, damaging 57 others, and displacing at least 15 families.
Ultimately, investigators determined that the devastating eruption was caused by a gas main that hadn't been shut off at the street. This prompted neighbors and city officials to wonder if many of Cleveland's vacant and abandoned homes aren't ticking time bombs, waiting to explode under the right conditions.
In the weeks and months following the incident, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) found homes for the displaced families and co-hosted a benefit that raised over $30,000. Yet the hazard of potential gas explosions and arson continue to loom large in Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Next Thursday, July 28th, a new art and architecture installation will be unveiled that is intended to be a creative, healing response to the incident. Dubbing it "urban therapy," area residents Richey Piiparinen and Melissa Daubert will create an art installation at a vacant home on W. 83rd, then deconstruct it and reuse parts of it to create a nearby community park and reading garden.
Piiparinen and Daubert, who have volunteered their time on this project, spent the past year raising funds, gathering neighbors' ideas about what "home" means to them, and tracing residents' silhouettes. During the 10-day installation, these ideas and silhouettes will be projected onto the windows of the home at 2040 W. 83rd, just a few doors down from the lot where the explosion occurred.
"There's a therapy component and an intervention component," explains Piiparinen. "We're transforming the dead symbol of this house into a sign of rebirth, and we're also creating a neighborhood asset inspired by the explosion."
Piiparinen and Daubert led a team of volunteer residents that included designer Jim Fish, architect Robert Donaldson, contractor Chris Shimp and electrician Julie Lindstrom. The new community park was funded by the West End Urbanteers Block Club, DSCDO, the city of Cleveland and Neighborhood Connections.
A public reception for the West 83rd Street Project will be held on July 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Richey Piiparinen
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Ultimately, investigators determined that the devastating eruption was caused by a gas main that hadn't been shut off at the street. This prompted neighbors and city officials to wonder if many of Cleveland's vacant and abandoned homes aren't ticking time bombs, waiting to explode under the right conditions.
In the weeks and months following the incident, the Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) found homes for the displaced families and co-hosted a benefit that raised over $30,000. Yet the hazard of potential gas explosions and arson continue to loom large in Cleveland's neighborhoods.
Next Thursday, July 28th, a new art and architecture installation will be unveiled that is intended to be a creative, healing response to the incident. Dubbing it "urban therapy," area residents Richey Piiparinen and Melissa Daubert will create an art installation at a vacant home on W. 83rd, then deconstruct it and reuse parts of it to create a nearby community park and reading garden.
Piiparinen and Daubert, who have volunteered their time on this project, spent the past year raising funds, gathering neighbors' ideas about what "home" means to them, and tracing residents' silhouettes. During the 10-day installation, these ideas and silhouettes will be projected onto the windows of the home at 2040 W. 83rd, just a few doors down from the lot where the explosion occurred.
"There's a therapy component and an intervention component," explains Piiparinen. "We're transforming the dead symbol of this house into a sign of rebirth, and we're also creating a neighborhood asset inspired by the explosion."
Piiparinen and Daubert led a team of volunteer residents that included designer Jim Fish, architect Robert Donaldson, contractor Chris Shimp and electrician Julie Lindstrom. The new community park was funded by the West End Urbanteers Block Club, DSCDO, the city of Cleveland and Neighborhood Connections.
A public reception for the West 83rd Street Project will be held on July 28 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Richey Piiparinen
Writer: Lee Chilcote
It's been several years since I relocated from Florida to Cleveland. And truth is, I was hesitant to claim myself a queer in the Midwest, especially in Ohio, which earned a reputation for its lack of acceptance. What I discovered, however, was a gay oasis on the North Coast. Here, I have the option of frequenting the large variety of LGBT-owned businesses exclusively -- but I don't have to. To me, that's the most accurate meaning of the phrase "queer-friendly."
hollywood is headed to space – in sandusky
Multiple sources are reporting that key scenes in director Joss Whedon's film "The Avengers" will be shot at NASA's Plum Brook Station. The 6,400-acre test facility near Sandusky boasts the Space Power Facility, the world's largest space environment simulation chamber. The massive chamber can simulate a low-earth orbiting environment.
Shooting is scheduled to begin next month and will include Earth-bound stars Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans.
Other principal scenes for the Marvel Comics-based flick are being shot in and around Cleveland throughout the summer. Countless residents have enlisted their services to act as extras in the film in the hopes of snagging a frame of screen time.
Shooting is scheduled to begin next month and will include Earth-bound stars Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Evans.
Other principal scenes for the Marvel Comics-based flick are being shot in and around Cleveland throughout the summer. Countless residents have enlisted their services to act as extras in the film in the hopes of snagging a frame of screen time.
Some 300 young professionals and interns from 26 local businesses and organizations volunteered their time at this year's Business Volunteers Unlimited's (BVU) Summer of Service event on July 20. The number is a large increase from last year, when 199 volunteered. The volunteers planted urban gardens, organized medical donations for humanitarian aid shipments, painted shelters, interacted with seniors and more at 17 local nonprofit organizations.
BVU's mission is to link businesses and nonprofits to foster excellence in the nonprofit sector. Since 1993, BVU has connected 228 businesses to 439 nonprofits to complete over 1,600 service projects.
The idea is to help out the non-profits while also providing a social event.
"The event is great in different ways," says Nick Borchers, an intern at BVU's Volunteer Center. "Some of the things we were hearing from businesses is interns and young professionals really want to get involved in the community. A lot of the volunteer projects are geared toward leadership functions and team building skills."
The 2011 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey reports that more than 60 percent of young professionals factor a company's commitment to the community in making a choice between similar jobs.
The summer of service also provides a great networking opportunity. "It's an opportunity to meet with other people," Borchers says. "It's another way to connect with more people -- the organizations are looking at the interns and the interns get to see what the organization is really about."
Source: Nick Borchers
Writer: Karin Connelly
BVU's mission is to link businesses and nonprofits to foster excellence in the nonprofit sector. Since 1993, BVU has connected 228 businesses to 439 nonprofits to complete over 1,600 service projects.
The idea is to help out the non-profits while also providing a social event.
"The event is great in different ways," says Nick Borchers, an intern at BVU's Volunteer Center. "Some of the things we were hearing from businesses is interns and young professionals really want to get involved in the community. A lot of the volunteer projects are geared toward leadership functions and team building skills."
The 2011 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey reports that more than 60 percent of young professionals factor a company's commitment to the community in making a choice between similar jobs.
The summer of service also provides a great networking opportunity. "It's an opportunity to meet with other people," Borchers says. "It's another way to connect with more people -- the organizations are looking at the interns and the interns get to see what the organization is really about."
Source: Nick Borchers
Writer: Karin Connelly
the always-progressive cleveland public library to offer patrons free music downloads
Cleveland Public Library has partnered with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to offer its patrons free weekly music downloads.
"CPL knows how passionate Clevelanders are about music, and the importance of music in our community, its history, and its future," CPL director Felton Thomas explained. "CPL has a history of providing our patrons with access to music -- starting as far back as sheet music and records and evolving to CDs. In today's digital world, providing free downloads is the logical next step to give our patrons a way to experience their favorite music."
The music download service launched this week. Library patrons access the available music through a new MyTunes page on the library's website. Cardholders can download up to three songs a week and over 150 per year from Sony's entire catalogue. Patrons get to keep the songs they download forever, legally, and at no cost to them.
To learn more about the service click here.
"CPL knows how passionate Clevelanders are about music, and the importance of music in our community, its history, and its future," CPL director Felton Thomas explained. "CPL has a history of providing our patrons with access to music -- starting as far back as sheet music and records and evolving to CDs. In today's digital world, providing free downloads is the logical next step to give our patrons a way to experience their favorite music."
The music download service launched this week. Library patrons access the available music through a new MyTunes page on the library's website. Cardholders can download up to three songs a week and over 150 per year from Sony's entire catalogue. Patrons get to keep the songs they download forever, legally, and at no cost to them.
To learn more about the service click here.
Cleveland Kings and Girls, a six-year-old outfit that performs regularly at Bounce Nightclub, features an eclectic troupe of performers that includes drag kings, drag queens, trans kings and bio-boys and girls. Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski takes us on a risk-free sneak peek. Consider your two-drink minimum waived.
cle clinic cleans up in u.s. news 'best hospitals' list
For its latest ranking of the Best Hospitals in the Unites States, U.S. News studied nearly 10,000 specialists and almost 5,000 hospitals to rank the best in 16 adult specialties, from cancer to urology. Among the factors considered in evaluation are death rates, patient safety and hospital reputation.
Out of those 5,000 hospitals, only 140 were nationally ranked in one or more specialties. The Cleveland Clinic was ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties, landing it once again on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll.
For the 17th consecutive year, the Clinic was ranked #1 in cardiology & heart surgery, a spot it has owned since 1994. Other adult specialties rankings include #2 in gastroenterology, #2 in nephrology and #2 in urology. The Clinic also ranked favorably in among pediatric specialties.
Examine the full report here.
Out of those 5,000 hospitals, only 140 were nationally ranked in one or more specialties. The Cleveland Clinic was ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties, landing it once again on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll.
For the 17th consecutive year, the Clinic was ranked #1 in cardiology & heart surgery, a spot it has owned since 1994. Other adult specialties rankings include #2 in gastroenterology, #2 in nephrology and #2 in urology. The Clinic also ranked favorably in among pediatric specialties.
Examine the full report here.
Students from St. Martin dePorres High School in Cleveland are sprucing up their neighborhood. Thirty three students created 11 murals based on the cultural background and institutions in the St. Clair Superior neighborhood.
The murals were installed on Tuesday into vacant storefronts between East 60th and East 64th Streets as a way to liven up that section of St. Clair Avenue near the school, eliminating blight and creating interest in the corridor.
"It really came together well because the students really learned about the culture of the area, and that is reflected in the art," says Jamar Doyle, project and commercial development director for the St. Clair Superior Development Corporation. "We wanted to brighten up the area so it wouldn't look so drab."
The project was organized by St. Martin dePorres service coordinator Mary Grasla and art teacher Michelle Brickner. Funding came from a Cleveland Cityworks grant and support from DayGlo Color, which is based in the neighborhood.
The murals are portable, so they can move from one storefront to another as the vacancies are filled. At least one vacant storefront in the project has already been filled by a sandwich shop. Placement of the murals is up to the building owners.
The project was such a hit, the school is considering making it a yearly thing. "We may continue the project as a learning piece," says Doyle. "It was a lot of fun."
Source: Jamar Doyle
Writer: Karin Connelly
The renewal of an urban core usually involves, at some point, a grand, sweeping plan that calls for huge development projects costing millions, or billions, of dollars: a new convention center, a mass transit system, a comprehensive waterfront plan. But as cities realize the importance of attracting and retaining talent, it's the smaller development projects and neighborhood investment that are driving real and sustainable change.
Benjamin Parris sees an innovative, cost effective way to get around town. He's promoting and selling electric bicycles through his company, F&E Electric Bikes. The bikes, which hit up to 18.6 miles per hour, are a step away from mopeds, but are classified as bicycles rather than motorized vehicles.
Parris got the idea to produce the bikes after spending some time in China, where the bikes are commonplace.
"They've been very popular in the past five to 10 years in China with the local farmers who need to get from village to village and transport food," explains Parris. "It's an ideal thing for them to use and affordable. When I came back to Cleveland, I said, 'Let's get rid of the parking problem and gas problem and learn something from the largest industrial nation in the world.'"
The bikes initially take five to six hours to charge using just a standard outlet, and then take about an hour to recharge. They go more than 20 miles on a single charge.
Parris has produced 10 bikes thus far and sold two at around $750 apiece. Additionally, he is donating two bikes to cancer charities. Currently the bikes are manufactured oversees. He hopes to start producing them in Ohio next year.
"By far they are the cheapest and only electric bikes that are around Cleveland," he says.
Source: Benjamin Parris
Writer: Karin Connelly
Parris got the idea to produce the bikes after spending some time in China, where the bikes are commonplace.
"They've been very popular in the past five to 10 years in China with the local farmers who need to get from village to village and transport food," explains Parris. "It's an ideal thing for them to use and affordable. When I came back to Cleveland, I said, 'Let's get rid of the parking problem and gas problem and learn something from the largest industrial nation in the world.'"
The bikes initially take five to six hours to charge using just a standard outlet, and then take about an hour to recharge. They go more than 20 miles on a single charge.
Parris has produced 10 bikes thus far and sold two at around $750 apiece. Additionally, he is donating two bikes to cancer charities. Currently the bikes are manufactured oversees. He hopes to start producing them in Ohio next year.
"By far they are the cheapest and only electric bikes that are around Cleveland," he says.
Source: Benjamin Parris
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) announced Tuesday that it has selected North Collinwood for its Artists in Residence Program, an effort to use artist-based development to help revitalize one urban neighborhood.
The two-year, $500,000 pilot program will provide a small loan program for artists buying or rehabbing homes in the target area, a small grant program to support artists' work in carrying out community-based projects, and artist home ownership services such as credit counseling and saving programs.
A panel of arts, community development and planning experts selected the target neighborhood through a competitive process. Seth Beattie, Strategic Initiative Director for CPAC, said the panel was impressed by the grassroots, arts-based approach of Northeast Shores Development Corporation, the nonprofit that serves the neighborhood. A total of 13 community development corporations from various Cleveland neighborhoods applied to the program.
"We wanted to work with someone that got it, and Northeast Shores made a compelling case," says Beattie. "They've done a great job of giving artists license to use the neighborhood as their canvas, yet they've followed behind and supported them, resulting in organic, grassroots redevelopment of the neighborhood." He cited the arts-based businesses on Waterloo Road as one example.
Although the details of the program have yet to be worked out, Beattie mentioned several possibilities, including $2,500-$10,000 grants to artists for community-based projects, arts-based community dialogues, and integrating arts-based development into current redevelopment projects in a deeper way.
The program is being funded in part through a $250,000 grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity's Creative Communities Challenge Grant Program, a one-time competitive grant program made possible through the support of the Kresge Foundation.
CPAC is a nonprofit arts and culture service organization that works to strengthen Greater Cleveland's arts and culture sector. Some of its programs include the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, a business training course addressing the needs of working artists, and From Rust Belt to Artist Belt, a conference series that examines the role of artists in the redevelopment of industrial cities.
Source: Seth Beattie
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The two-year, $500,000 pilot program will provide a small loan program for artists buying or rehabbing homes in the target area, a small grant program to support artists' work in carrying out community-based projects, and artist home ownership services such as credit counseling and saving programs.
A panel of arts, community development and planning experts selected the target neighborhood through a competitive process. Seth Beattie, Strategic Initiative Director for CPAC, said the panel was impressed by the grassroots, arts-based approach of Northeast Shores Development Corporation, the nonprofit that serves the neighborhood. A total of 13 community development corporations from various Cleveland neighborhoods applied to the program.
"We wanted to work with someone that got it, and Northeast Shores made a compelling case," says Beattie. "They've done a great job of giving artists license to use the neighborhood as their canvas, yet they've followed behind and supported them, resulting in organic, grassroots redevelopment of the neighborhood." He cited the arts-based businesses on Waterloo Road as one example.
Although the details of the program have yet to be worked out, Beattie mentioned several possibilities, including $2,500-$10,000 grants to artists for community-based projects, arts-based community dialogues, and integrating arts-based development into current redevelopment projects in a deeper way.
The program is being funded in part through a $250,000 grant from Leveraging Investments in Creativity's Creative Communities Challenge Grant Program, a one-time competitive grant program made possible through the support of the Kresge Foundation.
CPAC is a nonprofit arts and culture service organization that works to strengthen Greater Cleveland's arts and culture sector. Some of its programs include the Artist as an Entrepreneur Institute, a business training course addressing the needs of working artists, and From Rust Belt to Artist Belt, a conference series that examines the role of artists in the redevelopment of industrial cities.
Source: Seth Beattie
Writer: Lee Chilcote
magnet program to train and place 50 veterans by year's end in manufacturing jobs
The Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET) is launching a pilot project that matches returning veterans with specific training for key manufacturing jobs available in Northeast Ohio such as machinists, inspection/quality technicians and equipment maintenance personnel.
"Even in this recession there are so many manufacturing jobs that are going unfilled," says Mary Ann Pacelli, project manager for MAGNET. "There's a need for training and people who have an aptitude on the technical side. People may not realize the technical skills learned in the military transfer into manufacturing."
Enthusiasm for the program has been high. "Companies are very interested because they have jobs that have to be filled, and it provides a sense of community spirit," says Pacelli. "Employers are willing to commit."
The project has been two years in the making. MAGNET will be meeting with interested companies through August, and will begin assessing veterans in late August. Pacelli says they plan to have eight to 12 veterans placed by September. "We set a minimum goal to assess at least 100 veterans," she says. "At least 50 will be in some sort of job by the end of the year."
Funding for employers is available through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. "Companies that are willing to hire and do on-the-job training are eligible for some funding for salaries and training," says Pacelli. "The work behavior piece has already been taken care of by the military. The training may take some time, but it's worth it."
Source: Mary Ann Pacelli
Writer: Karin Connelly
"Even in this recession there are so many manufacturing jobs that are going unfilled," says Mary Ann Pacelli, project manager for MAGNET. "There's a need for training and people who have an aptitude on the technical side. People may not realize the technical skills learned in the military transfer into manufacturing."
Enthusiasm for the program has been high. "Companies are very interested because they have jobs that have to be filled, and it provides a sense of community spirit," says Pacelli. "Employers are willing to commit."
The project has been two years in the making. MAGNET will be meeting with interested companies through August, and will begin assessing veterans in late August. Pacelli says they plan to have eight to 12 veterans placed by September. "We set a minimum goal to assess at least 100 veterans," she says. "At least 50 will be in some sort of job by the end of the year."
Funding for employers is available through the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services. "Companies that are willing to hire and do on-the-job training are eligible for some funding for salaries and training," says Pacelli. "The work behavior piece has already been taken care of by the military. The training may take some time, but it's worth it."
Source: Mary Ann Pacelli
Writer: Karin Connelly
As is the case everywhere else on the planet, Cleveland is graced with more than its fair share of bloggers. From politics and sports to dining and social life, nothing here escapes the scrutiny of at least a handful of online scribes. When the traditional media fails to provide that unique perspective on, say, a teenager's long-held crush on Bernie Kosar, to whom will we turn? These bloggers, for a start.
You think you have a lot of balls in the air. As owner of Cleveland Plays, this city's premier sport and social club, John Teel manages a dizzying assortment of moving parts. The organization maintains an active database of roughly 20,000 members who play a dozen different co-ed sports in 40 separate leagues at eight different locations on any given day or night of the year. In addition to providing some much-needed fun and exercise, Cleveland Plays may be the best unofficial dating enterprise in town.
Four years ago, Susan Borison and Stephanie Silverman were regular moms who were struggling to make the right choices while raising their children. Though they found plenty of resources addressing issues regarding young children, they found a void as their children reached adolescence. So the Beachwood-based moms started their own magazine, Your Teen.
"I have five kids and parenting magazines started to be irrelevant when they hit age eight," explains Borison. "I used to say to my husband, 'I want the next magazine,' and he said, 'Just do it.'"
So, with no background in journalism or publishing, the two women set out and launched Your Teen in 2008. The goal was to address the daily struggles of raising a teenager. Today, the magazine is published quarterly and goes out to 20,000 homes and is available at Barnes and Noble bookstores in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The magazine has a staff of five, plus interns.
"We want to empower parents to feel knowledgeable and raise their kids in a way they feel comfortable," says Borison. The mag covers everything from substance abuse and sexuality to driving and mental health. They tap experts such as Ellen Rome, head of adolescent medicine and the Cleveland Clinic, and Judy Stenta of Bellfaire JCB, for insight and advice, and host panel discussions three times a year.
"We kept falling on people who wanted to help us," says Borison of the resources they have. "The generosity of sharing their time and knowledge is incredible. We just get 'yes' over and over."
Source: Susan Borison
Writer: Karin Connelly
cleveland restaurant opening makes news -- in new york
Grub Street, the New York Magazine food blog, posted a recent mention of Jonathon Sawyer's soon-to-open Cleveland restaurant, Noodlecat.
Titled, "Ex-Parea Chef Opens NYC-Inspired Noodlecat Next Week ... in Cleveland," the article reminds readers that Sawyer once led Michael Symon's short-lived Parea restaurant in New York City. (It also reminds readers that he accidentally poisoned himself with a false chanterelle.)
"Last year, Food & Wine named Sawyer Best New Chef for his work at Cleveland's Greenhouse Tavern. Noodlecat's menu, inspired in part by Sawyer's after-work trawls through New York's subterranean noodle houses, will feature ramen, soba, and udon. The chef told the Daily Meal that David Chang makes New York's best ramen, but that he also looked to Hung Ry, Rai Rai Ken, and Yakitori Taisho while researching the menu for Noodlecat. Menu research also took Sawyer to Japan, Canada, and even Australia."
Read the rest of the scoop here.
Titled, "Ex-Parea Chef Opens NYC-Inspired Noodlecat Next Week ... in Cleveland," the article reminds readers that Sawyer once led Michael Symon's short-lived Parea restaurant in New York City. (It also reminds readers that he accidentally poisoned himself with a false chanterelle.)
"Last year, Food & Wine named Sawyer Best New Chef for his work at Cleveland's Greenhouse Tavern. Noodlecat's menu, inspired in part by Sawyer's after-work trawls through New York's subterranean noodle houses, will feature ramen, soba, and udon. The chef told the Daily Meal that David Chang makes New York's best ramen, but that he also looked to Hung Ry, Rai Rai Ken, and Yakitori Taisho while researching the menu for Noodlecat. Menu research also took Sawyer to Japan, Canada, and even Australia."
Read the rest of the scoop here.
cleveland is city most resilient to climate change, says grist
According to a ranking produced by Grist, an environmental news magazine, Cleveland is the best-suited U.S. city to stand up to climate change. Writer Jeff Opperman compiled his list based on readily available information, such as risk for climate-related disasters, water-supply disruption, and heat-stress rankings.
The top five cities that are most resilient and least vulnerable to climate change are Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
"Why do Rust Belt cities do so well in my rankings?" asks Opperman. "Because they have a sustainable water supply (in four of the cities, the Great Lakes); their heat stress rankings are relatively low; and they are less vulnerable to natural disasters that will be exacerbated by climate change, such as floods, landslides, and wildfires."
Looking at the bottom five -- Phoenix, Houston, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Miami -- Opperman states:
"One obvious observation is that the most climate-vulnerable cities include some of the fastest growing regions of the country, while the most climate-resilient include several cities with flat or even declining populations. So the country's population is shifting away from places that are better-equipped to deal with climate change and toward areas that may face the greatest disruptions from climate change. Many of the most resilient cities are former industrial giants in need of new economic drivers. Transforming our economy to one that runs on much cleaner energy will require significant expansion of "green industries" with associated job growth. So, despite the relatively lower vulnerability of the Clevelands and Milwaukees and Detroits of the world, these cities should still pursue the investments required to prevent climate change. Those investments could provide an important spark for economic revitalization."
Read the rest here.
The top five cities that are most resilient and least vulnerable to climate change are Cleveland, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis.
"Why do Rust Belt cities do so well in my rankings?" asks Opperman. "Because they have a sustainable water supply (in four of the cities, the Great Lakes); their heat stress rankings are relatively low; and they are less vulnerable to natural disasters that will be exacerbated by climate change, such as floods, landslides, and wildfires."
Looking at the bottom five -- Phoenix, Houston, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Miami -- Opperman states:
"One obvious observation is that the most climate-vulnerable cities include some of the fastest growing regions of the country, while the most climate-resilient include several cities with flat or even declining populations. So the country's population is shifting away from places that are better-equipped to deal with climate change and toward areas that may face the greatest disruptions from climate change. Many of the most resilient cities are former industrial giants in need of new economic drivers. Transforming our economy to one that runs on much cleaner energy will require significant expansion of "green industries" with associated job growth. So, despite the relatively lower vulnerability of the Clevelands and Milwaukees and Detroits of the world, these cities should still pursue the investments required to prevent climate change. Those investments could provide an important spark for economic revitalization."
Read the rest here.
Situated on the edges of Cleveland and Shaker Heights, and home to a diverse, international community of residents, Shaker Square has long been a community gathering place for people of different backgrounds.
So it only makes sense, in a way, that Bruce Altchouler (a Clevelander and electrical contractor with a knack for project management) and Ziv Sarig (an Israeli businessman with a finance background) would meet and discover they shared a passion for historic Shaker Square and fixing up older buildings.
Together, the two entrepreneurs, who are neighbors in Cleveland Heights, have formed BruZiv Partners. The nascent development company recently wrapped up renovations on an historic, nine-suite apartment building located at 2646 N. Moreland Boulevard, just off Shaker Square. It is the first multi-family building in Cleveland to meet the Enterprise Foundation's Green Community Standards.
"We saw an opportunity to take an older property that had declined over the years and do something positive for us and the community," says Altchouler. "Once we'd purchased it, we decided to step it up and do a green rehab."
Within the preserved shell of the historic building, the developers installed high-efficiency windows, insulation, a new boiler and Energy Star appliances. The units also feature high-end maple cabinetry and granite countertops.
"We wanted to attract high-quality tenants to the area, and you do that by showing a good product," says Altchouler. "Renters are also becoming more aware of 'green,' and appreciate the fact that we use healthy, low-VOC paints."
Getting to this point wasn't easy, but it was worth it, Altchouler says. To meet the Green Community Standards, BruZiv had to adhere to lengthy guidelines and hire an independent rater to assess the project.
In exchange, the City of Cleveland granted a tax abatement on the improved value of the building. The developers also obtained low-interest financing from Dollar Bank through Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), a nonprofit whose mission is to revitalize urban neighborhoods through rehabilitation lending.
Source: Bruce Altchouler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
So it only makes sense, in a way, that Bruce Altchouler (a Clevelander and electrical contractor with a knack for project management) and Ziv Sarig (an Israeli businessman with a finance background) would meet and discover they shared a passion for historic Shaker Square and fixing up older buildings.
Together, the two entrepreneurs, who are neighbors in Cleveland Heights, have formed BruZiv Partners. The nascent development company recently wrapped up renovations on an historic, nine-suite apartment building located at 2646 N. Moreland Boulevard, just off Shaker Square. It is the first multi-family building in Cleveland to meet the Enterprise Foundation's Green Community Standards.
"We saw an opportunity to take an older property that had declined over the years and do something positive for us and the community," says Altchouler. "Once we'd purchased it, we decided to step it up and do a green rehab."
Within the preserved shell of the historic building, the developers installed high-efficiency windows, insulation, a new boiler and Energy Star appliances. The units also feature high-end maple cabinetry and granite countertops.
"We wanted to attract high-quality tenants to the area, and you do that by showing a good product," says Altchouler. "Renters are also becoming more aware of 'green,' and appreciate the fact that we use healthy, low-VOC paints."
Getting to this point wasn't easy, but it was worth it, Altchouler says. To meet the Green Community Standards, BruZiv had to adhere to lengthy guidelines and hire an independent rater to assess the project.
In exchange, the City of Cleveland granted a tax abatement on the improved value of the building. The developers also obtained low-interest financing from Dollar Bank through Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), a nonprofit whose mission is to revitalize urban neighborhoods through rehabilitation lending.
Source: Bruce Altchouler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Local entrepreneur and Cleveland State University alumnus, Monte Ahuja, has donated $10 million to his alma mater to fund scholarships and an endowed professorship in business. The announcement was made during a special celebration on June 24 in the university's student center, marking the largest gift in the university's 47-year history.
The founder of Transtar Industries, a $600 million a year global leader in transmission replacement parts, Ahuja got his start at CSU in the 1970s with his business plan for a marketing class. He got an A for the plan that launched his career. He's been an active alumnus ever since, serving as chairman of the board of trustees from 1992 to 1998.
"Monte Ahuja has been a strong supporter of the school for a long time," says spokesperson Joe Mosbrook. "In support of CSU president Ronald M. Berkman's transformation plan, it seemed a good time to step up with this gift."
The majority of the money will be earmarked for scholarships in business, with a portion dedicated for scholarships in engineering. The gift will also fund an endowed professorship in business, the Monte Ahuja Endowed Chair of Global Business.
"The endowed chair will allow Cleveland State to bring in heavy hitters in global business," says Mosbrook. "The business school has a particular focus on global business, more so than any other school in the area."
Before the event, the board of trustees unanimously voted to re-name the college of business the Monte Ahuja College of Business.
Source: Joe Mosbrook
Writer: Karin Connelly