Stories

Arts approval: Cuyahoga County voters pass Issue 55 to fund Cuyahoga County Arts & Culture
Cuyahoga County voters this week approved Issue 55, expanding the cigarette tax that funds Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. The new tax will generate $160 million over 10 years for hundreds of local artists and nonprofit arts and culture organizations.
Things to Ponder: Santa’s ways, local tv in the 50s, and Euclid Beach
FreshWater columnist Ralph Horner goes back through 1950s and 1960s Cleveland, when he was in his childhood quest to understand the world. Horner explores local television, holiday traditions, and the beloved Euclid Beach amusement park, among other musings.
Hitting a high note: Cleveland musician uses trumpet talents to produce popular national hits
Trumpet player turned music produce Sammy Haig has made significant strides in the music industry by blending classical training with modern production techniques. His talents have led to collaborations with major artists like DJ Drama, Tyler, The Creator, and Meghan Trainor.
Random Acts of Brightness: Bike Cleveland equips cyclists with front, rear lights
Since 2012, Bike Cleveland's Random Acts of Brightness program had ensured cyclists riding after dark are visible by distributing free rechargeable light sets to riders across the city—giving out more than 5,000 light sets in 12 years.
Photos: Cleveland Public Theatre celebrates 20 years of Día de Muertos
The 20th Annual Día de Muertos Festival on Saturday brought thousands to Cleveland Public Theatre and the Detroit Shoreway. Curated by Artistic director Héctor Castellanos Lara, the event featured a colorful procession, traditional music and dance, ofrendas created by local artists, and Mexican cultural traditions to honor ancestors and lost loved ones.
Turn your gourd green: Cuyahoga County offers pumpkin compost program
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District offers an eco-friendly way to dispose of Halloween pumpkins with its Pumpkin Composting program. The program aims to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions by turning pumpkins into compost.
Boo! Get your supernatural on at Art Museum’s Halloween MIX dance party
Cleveland Museum of Art's MIX: Supernatural will combine Halloween spirit with art and music this Friday night, with DJ Fabrizio, themed food and drinks, dancing, and, of course, costumes!
Spiders, skeletons, and candy! Enjoy kid-friendly spooky, silly crafts at the Nature Center
The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes will be celebrating Halloween today, and all weekend long, with plenty of spooky kid fun at the welcome desk. Stop in wearing your favorite costume and celebrate the season!
Seasoned startups: MAGNET Mspire pitch competition puts mature companies in spotlight
MAGNET's ninth annual Mspire pitch competition awarded $85,000 to seven innovative manufacturing startups in a diverse range of concepts and industries, from sustainable energy solutions with Accelerate Wind's turbines to cake pop molds made by Daisy Makes, to health technology developed by Auxilium Health.
Games on! Cavs, Monsters home openers celebrate Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse's 30th Anniversary
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is set for an exciting weekend with back-to-back home openers for the Cavs and Monsters—featuring fan giveaways, new food options, and special season-long celebrations for the venue's 30th anniversary.
Halloween Feast: South Euclid's Fall annual festival has music, games, food, and free pumpkins
The City of South Euclid will host its  Halloween Feast at Bexley Park this weekend, packed with activities, cash prizes, food, and live music.
Assembly for the Arts Awards $170,000 to 17 Artists through the 2024 Creative Impact Fund
Assembly for the Arts, the nonprofit focused on increasing equity in the arts and culture community, has awarded $10,000 to each of the 17 Cuyahoga County artists chosen for the 2024 Creative Impact Fund, funded through Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. FreshWater highlights three recipients: Humble G tha Fiddla; Hanji expert Aimee Lee; and spoken word poet and storyteller Chris Webb.
Double Decker: Padua High school steps into the 70s this weekend with Halloween Dance
Padua Franciscan High School in Parma is flashing back to the '70s this weekend with a Double Decker Halloween Dance and costume party, featuring local bands Bob Gatewood & the Calabash Band and Cleveland's Breakfast Club.
Easy riders: Cycling group Slow Roll Cleveland to close out touring season with Halloween ride
Slow Roll Cleveland, a community cycling group that takes leisurely 10-mile bike rides each week through various Cleveland neighborhoods, concludes its 2024 season next week with a Halloween ride—costumes and bike decorations encouraged.
Success stories: Five inspiring stories and live jazz at free Towards Employment event
Towards Employment will celebrate the power of Cleveland’s people next week with a free evening of jazz and storytelling at “A Work & Reentry Experience” at the Fatima Center and the Hough branch of Cleveland Public Library.
Two million books: Literacy Cooperative, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library hit literacy milestone
Since 2017, The Literacy Cooperative has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to send free books each month to local children. Working with local groups like Heights Family Foundation, United Way, and the Bruening Foundation, the groups have now distributed two million books.
#StreetsofCLE: Snapshot in Forest Hills
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.
The sweetest thing: Malley’s Chocolates celebrates tradition of Sweetest Day
Malley's Chocolates' Mike Malley shares the Cleveland history and significance of Sweetest Day, a celebration of kindness and community—and chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate-covered grapes.
Autumn adventures: Cuyahoga Arts & Culture funds programs to color Northeast Ohio’s fall
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture supports a diverse array of fall events across Cuyahoga County—funding programs like historical readings at Dunham Tavern to family-friendly festivals at BAYarts and University Circle, Inc., to sustainable crafting at Upcycle Parts Shop.
Little food truck that could: Grippy’s Sauce sizzles at National Fried Chicken Festival
Grippy's Sauce Co., a food truck that travels to spots all over Cleveland, was a finalist at the 2024 National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans earlier this month. Read about founder Khalid Ali and how his business competed against over 40 vendors as the only Midwest representative.