Three FreshWater Cleveland writers and managing photographer Bob Perkoski were honored last week at the Press Club of Cleveland's annual All Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards at House of Blues Cleveland. Read about the stories and Perkoski's photo essay here.

Applications are now open for the seventh season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, the small business pitch competition to help entrepreneurs build their businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods, hosted by Greater Cleveland Partnership’s COSE. Freshwater talks to last year's winner, Saidah Farrell, who shares her tips for pitching Marshmallow of the Month Club. Find out how you can apply and take your small business to the next level!

At age 16, Ronnie Cannon was an average kid who made some bad decisions and served nearly 20 years in prison before turning his life around. Upon his release, he found Towards Employment, which helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and a career path to success. Cannon and two others will share their stories of personal and career transformation at Towards Employment's fundraiser A Chance to Advance this Friday, June 14 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center on the Case Western Reserve University campus.

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski provides a peek into the everyday lives of Clevelanders going about their business in the neighborhoods and on the streets of Cleveland.

Ralph Horner writes about growing up near St. James Church in Goodrich-Kirtland Park, how he met Father Pete and became an altar boy and “a high Anglo Catholic, but not under the Pope Pius XII,” and how his little sister humiliated him one day during mass.

The Cleveland Museum of Art's 32nd annual Parade the Circle happens this weekend, expressing "Visions of Harmony" on Wade Oval in University Circle. Excitement and energy are palpable in the parade tent as lead artist Héctor Castellanos Lara and a team of creatives see to the last-minute details. Check out these photos.

The Saint Luke's Foundation announced this week that it has granted more the $1.4 million in grants to 11 area organizations that are working toward strengthening Cleveland neighborhoods.

Architectural photographer and Shaker Heights resident Lauren Pacini this week published “Empire Builders: An Illustrated History of the Rise and Fall of Cleveland's Van Sweringen Brothers,” the story of the eccentric Van Sweringen brothers' successes and failures in developing Shaker Heights as an exclusive residential garden community and their eventual demise during the Great Depression.

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History will be partying like it's 1974 on Thursday, June 20 with a retro version of its Think & Drink (with the Extinct) event: Get Groovy With Lucy. The museum will celebrate the discovery of Australopithecus Lucy, along with partners from Kent State University and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in this adult cocktail, 70s themed event. Costumes welcome!

Clean and Beautiful Cleveland Block 2 Block will hold its second annual Beautify Mt. Pleasant event this weekend, when volunteers will pick up litter, clean up the neighborhood, and tend to the flower beds that were installed last year on tree lawns along Kinsman Road between E. 131st and E. 154th Streets.

Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students who are interested in maritime careers were on the Cuyahoga River and Inner Harbor last week, helping the Port of Cleveland and Argonaut clean debris out of the Cuyahoga River and the Inner Harbor.

This Friday, June 7, the Cleveland Museum of Art will celebrate Pride Month in Cleveland during its monthly MIX: All Out, featuring Cleveland performers DJ Navy Jayde and Dakota Cox, for a night of rainbow light displays, dancing, food and drinks, and drag.

Cleveland Shops, a group of locally owned, independent retailers united to educate the public about the unique retailers in Northeast Ohio, has just launched its BOOM! Promotion for those who subscribe to the Cleveland Shops newsletter.

People came by the thousands to celebrate Pride in the CLE on Saturday, June 1, hosted by the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland. FreshWater managing photographer caught the events of the day to share with our readers.

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski provides a peek into the everyday lives of Clevelanders going about their business in the neighborhoods and on the streets of Cleveland.

Ralph Horner writes about growing up near St. James Church in Goodrich-Kirtland Park, how he met Father Pete and became an altar boy and “a high Anglo Catholic, but not under the Pope Pius XII,” and incident during one Mass where the accidentally spilled the incense.

Cleveland Asian Festival set some new records last weekend. FreshWater Cleveland was there too, raffling off goodies and gifts provided by Cleveland Museum of Art, MAGNET, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, Ponsky Facial Plastic Surgery, and Kimpton Schofield Hotel.

The South Euclid Truck Park will open in June for its second summer season—serving up an ever-changing lineup of food trucks, live music, and nonprofit support each weekend. The park was a vision of the City of Euclid and One South Euclid CDC to create an in-demand downtown destination.

Literary Cleveland has opened applications for its yearlong Breakthrough Writing Residency program to support emerging writers in Greater Cleveland who have a passion for writing and a commitment to their manuscripts, but who have not yet published a book. This year, the six residents will receive monthly stipends of $200 over the course of the year.

The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will soon launch its fourth annual Rhythm on the River—a free summer concert series in Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Howe Meadow, featuring food trucks, vendors, popular local and national musicians, and plenty of natural beauty. The series opens on Sunday, June 9 with Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band and the Shaw High School Marching Band.