The Shore Cultural Centre and the City of Euclid extends a grateful thank you to the sponsors of the 2019 Euclid Holiday Celebration. They were instrumental in making this event another success for thousands of Euclid residents!
It’s not exactly common for grocery store owners to be on a first-name basis with their customers, but Simon Hussain isn’t just any store owner.
In 2017, Hussain opened Simon’s Supermarket on Euclid Avenue near East 260th Street—the third location in his growing chain that now also includes locations in Buckeye and (as of 2020) Bedford for a total of five stores. The vision behind the concept is to bring healthier food options into lower-income neighborhoods and known food deserts. To that end, the Euclid project received $650,000 in grants and loans from the Healthy Food for Ohio program, along with active collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health’s “Creating Healthy Communities” program.
“[We believe] access to healthier food options should be an inherent right,” explains Michelle Benko, program manager for the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
Once each month, Meal to Remember brings a different Cleveland-area restaurant to Hospice of the Western Reserve’s in-patient care center, David Simpson Hospice House on E. 185th St. Residents of the hospice house and their families are treated to a restaurant dining experience, complete with fine china and linens, wine and live musical entertainment. All of the food, time and talent are donated by the restaurant. Photography, centerpieces and live musical entertainment for the dinners are provided by Hospice of the Western Reserve volunteers, who also assist the culinary teams with serving.
The new year is a great time to save some money on a new set of wheels.
Happy New Year Euclid Observer readers. I wish you all a safe and healthy new year. For my first column in 2020, I wanted to raise an issue that could become a major debate during the final 12 months of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly – Guns.
In the early morning hours of August 4, 2019, a gunman, using an AR-15 style weapon, opened fire on a Dayton street and 26 people were shot in 32 seconds. Nine of those twenty-six would die that night.
That tragedy jarred a weary nation (again) and sparked renewed debate in Columbus if firearms should be less regulated or new gun safety measures should be enacted. As of this date (12-10-2019), no fewer than 36 pieces of legislation on gun rights / gun safety have been introduced in both chambers.
An explanation of all 36 bills would stretch far beyond 36 Euclid Observer pages, so let me focus on what I believe should be the best, first step – background checks.
While 90 percent of Americans support background checks for all gun sales, a dangerous loophole in federal law still exempts unlicensed sellers from having to perform a background check before selling a firearm. We should close this loophole in Ohio.
Connecting for Kids, a local nonprofit that provides education and support to families with concerns about their child, will be expanding to Euclid in 2020 offering its popular Music Therapy & MoreSM and Coffee and Chat programs in partnership with Euclid Public Library starting in January.
The Greater Euclid Kiwanis ended 2019 on a high note with events and activities which benefited the Euclid community.
At this time of year, you see physical signs of natural renewal. The recent winter solstice marks a seasonal shift in the tilt of the Earth. You can witness manifestations of the Earth’s transition with earlier sunrises. Daylight time is inching longer. More sunlight and earlier sunrises can inspire you to feel invigorated, motivated. Some people claim health changes due to the shift in the physical environment. Surely, these natural adjustments give an expectation for new beginnings. Even in your cultural groups you see signs of change and the celebration of it -- religious and secular.
On December 6, 2019, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Shore Cultural Centre/Triangle Park held a community and family focuse event, filled with fun and exciting activities as follows:
What are you looking for in 2020? A new job? A promotion? More responsibility? Perhaps you just want to improve your ability to communicate, either to your boss, your loved ones, a small crowd or a large audience. Then joining a Toastmasters Club may be the thing for you, because Toastmasters, a worldwide nonprofit educational organization, empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. “Bailey Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills,” says Cathy Gerland, Club Treasurer for Bailey Toastmasters.
Gretchen Harnick is a global business strategist specializing in fashion, beauty and wellness. She spent the past 15 years living in New York City, Pittsburgh, Pa. and Paris. In New York, Gretchen worked as a full-time Assistant Professor of Fashion Marketing at Parsons School of Design. She launched the school’s social media and managed external partnership competitions with well-known luxury brands. She taught internationally in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Paris and presented her research globally in Amsterdam and London. Prior to academia, she worked in fashion and retail for companies in Northeast Ohio, owned a clothing boutique in Tremont and a wholesale showroom in Chicago. She also worked in the corporate world while earning an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Gretchen attended Wittenberg University and earned a BA in Psychology with a Minor in Business Administration. She is a certified yoga teacher, and currently works for a number of clients in Northeast Ohio, New York City and internationally conducting marketing communications and project management.
Often, we hear about how important it is to have your vote counted and indeed it is. There is another important way to be counted. In 2020, America comes together to count every person living in the United States. This count is done through the Census.
With the holiday season upon us, consumers are often unprepared for all the additional expenses and exit the holiday season with debt - a gift that unfortunately keeps on giving.
PetFix Northeast Ohio, a non-profit spay and neuter clinic in Euclid is once again selling their “Firefighters and Furry Friends 2020 Calendar” to raise money to provide affordable services and prevent pet homelessness. The calendar features our local heroes with owned and adoptable cats and dogs and makes a great holiday gift for animal-loving friends and family. The photographs in the calendar were taken by local Pulitzer prize-winning photographer Amy Sancetta. You can show your support for our local firefighters and help PetFix create a world in which every pet has a loving home, by purchasing your calendar today for $20. Calendars are available online at petfixnortheastohio.org or stop by the PetFix clinic any weekday. PetFix Northeast Ohio is located at 885 E. 222nd Street in Euclid.
If you are 65 or over, would you be willing to admit it :>) to be able to enjoy a wonderful free delicious Thanksgiving dinner & program?
Well many were, as we at Bible Baptist Temple @ 1565 Chardon Rd. Had a packed room of appreciative seniors. Pastor Andy Rusnacko- our only pastor for over 40 years, has never waivered in his doctrine- stressing repentance and the Lordship of our Lord & Saviour- Jesus Christ. We don’t practice “easy believism” either. We don’t mix the doctrinally correct ancient hymns with rock and roll 🎸 music. Nope! Pastor Andy runs the STILL CHURCH! I have witnessed this first hand, having been an enthusiastic, faithfully serving & (hopefully sufficiently humble :)) member for over 33 years.
Although our Thanksgiving program is over, the welcome mat at Bible Baptist Temple is always open - www.biblebaptisteuclid.com.
Lakeland Civic Association will hold is annual holiday celebrations beginning Thursday December 12. LCA will host a party at the Early Learning Village on Elinore Avenue. Members will provide ample and delicious refreshments between 7:00 & 9:00 PM. Those residents with even-numbered addresses are encouraged to bring savory items and those with odd addresses should bring sweets. Partiers who have attended in the past know what a fabulous array of food awaits them.
A new car dealership was located in downtown Euclid. What was its name? What brand did it sell? Where was it located? What is there now?
I just had my first opportunity to meet a Centenarian, Mrs. Mary Vinciguerra Guhde, who turned 100 years old on November 1st. Happy Birthday Mary! Mary graduated from Euclid Central High School in 1937 and grew up on Miller Avenue, between E. 200th and E. 222nd Streets. Before attending Central, she was a student at Roosevelt Elementary School. Mary married Robert Guhde in 1939 and they had four children, Robert, Gail, Margaret and Gary. Her husband Robert passed away in 2002.
Sometimes, a reliable set of wheels is all that stands between a veteran and their dreams. Just before Veterans Day, more than 100 veterans and their families across the country received the keys to newly refurbished vehicles as part of Progressive's seventh annual "Keys to Progress" event. Vehicle giveaways occurred on November 7 at more than 60 locations across the country.
At Euclid Senior High School, Kathy earned a letter "E" for all three years in Cross Country, Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. Not just an athlete, she was President of her Senior Class and planned the Class of 1979's five, 10, 20 and 25 year reunions. After Euclid, Kathleen graduated from Kent State University with a major in Criminal Justice, where she was a "walk on" freshman to the Cross Country and Track teams, and was awarded a varsity jacket. While at Kent, she served on the Student Conduct Advisory Board and the Intramural Student Board, was awarded Outstanding Leader of the Month in October 1983 and the Senior Service Award in 1984. She later earned a Master of Public Administration at Cleveland State University and is a graduate of the Cleveland State Leadership Academy, Class XXIV.
Kathy completed 34 years of public service and was Director of Special Projects for the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer when she retired in 2016. Currently, she is serving her fifth term as a Rocky River School Board Member, where she was elected to her first term in 2001. Kathleen is a member the Rocky River Recreation Commission (2008-Present), and served on the Rocky River Education Foundation (2008-2010), the Rocky River City Economic and Development Advisory Board (2003-2005), and was a PSR Teacher at St. Christopher’s Church (2003-2010).
Kathy has been married to Tom Goepfert for 30 years and they have been Rocky River residents for 22 years. They have two children, Jessica and Matthew. Matthew was a place kicker for the Rocky River High School football team and he and Kathy raised more than $7,000 for Kick-It for Kids Cancer.
Where did you grow up?
D-I-Y (Do It Yourself) is a popular system for renovating things. Whether for your home, office or some object you own, you can follow a process to take what is and make it better. Likewise, with your thinking, actions and choices of speech, you can take steps to improve how you react. You can experience change in your relationships and outcomes. You can adjust how you respond. By selecting different responses, you can experience different outcomes. Be encouraged. You really do get to choose how you experience your life.
For the last 19 years, Mike Ficzner has been serving the country as a member of the U.S. Army—first on active duty, now in the U.S. Army Reserve. With plans to retire from the Army next year, he's found a way to be of service locally in a whole new realm: helping Euclidians become first-time homeowners.
“Our business model is based on turning renters into owners, and it's based on educational selling,” says Ficzner, who has co-owned Ficzner Real Estate Group with his wife, Sarah, since 2014. “We educate people on the whole home-buying process—from financing to credit repair to home inspection to title and appraisal.”
He estimates that Ficzner Group does about 80 to 90% of its business in Euclid, which could be a game changer for the city, considering that less than half of Euclid’s residents own their homes (with an owner-occupancy rate of 47.9% as of 2017, according to the U.S. Census).
Our new Anniversary CD "All Are Welcome" Songs from the Liturgical Year will be released soon!
November 14, 2019 was a day full of energy at The Shore Cultural Centre. Planned and organized by Chris Cipriani. "The Play On Words day was such fun. It was wonderful to see families making poetry, writing stories, making art and books together. From the storytelling, to the Graffiti selfies, everyone learned about ways to tell their own story, "said Chris Cipriani, Director of Programming for Shore Cultural Centre.
Bible Baptist Temple- “Trunk or Treat” by Euclids Clifford E Orr Ice Arena 10/26/19 . Nancy Mihalick, Visitor Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, James Ciomek along with Nancy- long time members - serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ-at Bible Baptist Temple under the direction of our Pastor Andrew Rusnacko - who has pastored our church for 40 years!
The holidays are fast approaching, which means the Hunger Center is gearing up for a busy time of year. With the number of visitors to our center at an all-time high the last several months, we are expecting record numbers to continue through the end of the year. In order to keep the shelves stocked well into the new year, EHC is counting on our community's support. We have always been fortunate that many schools, organizations and businesses in Euclid sponsor fundraising and food drives at this time of year, and we are hopeful that the tradition will continue.
Euclid High School Alumni, Brent M. Buckley ('71), has been honored by Cleveland State University as the 2019 Cleveland-Marshall College of Law DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI OF THE YEAR.
Downtown Euclid welcomes its newest establishment with the opening of the ‘Omni Board Game Parlor’ on Lakeshore Blvd. The new business, owned and operated by Jason Gardner “Omni gaming” hopes to become a gathering place for both dedicated tabletop gamers, as well as families looking to have a great night playing their old favorites or trying out the newest and latest games.
I recently had a chance to sit down with Jason to talk about his shop, and his love for everything board games. It quickly became clear that this business is a passion project; when asked how he came to be the owner of Euclid’s first board game parlor Jason explained that “I had always found joy playing board games and introducing my friends to new games ever since I was a kid. At first I wanted to open a board game store, over time this developed into a cafe and gaming parlor”. The idea for Omni Gaming had been in development for many years, but it all started with a genuine love for the communal aspect of friends sitting around a table playing a game.
The Omni Board Game Parlor seeks to attract gamers of all skill levels and interests; his shelves are stocked with more games than you could count at first glance. With classics like ‘Monopoly’ and ‘Clue” to modern games that immerse the player in a world of adventure like “Fortune and Glory” or “Vast“, Omni Gaming has a game for every level of skill and experience. And just in case you’re worried you might be too new to the world of board games, the staff at Omni Gaming want you to know they’re more than happy to help find the perfect game for you.
Omni Board Game Parlor wants to become an exciting and engaged part of the community; in addition to acting as a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy a night of gaming. Each month special events will be held offering a fun unique experience. Whether you come for an event or just to enjoy a night of gaming with friends, Omni offers a selection of snacks and soft drinks to enjoy while you’re having fun. Perhaps the best thing on the menu is the homebrewed “Omni Health Potion” a delicious mix of fruit juices, and secret ingredients sure to give any gamer the energy needed for another round. A glass of Omni potion by itself is worth the price of admission.
If you want to come by and play, or just stop in and say “Hi” Jason and the staff of Omni Board Game Parlor will be happy to see you. They are open Tuesday - Sunday from 5:00-10.00pm. For a very reasonable five dollars an entire evening of gaming and events are open to you. If you have any questions please feel free to send us an email or check out our new Facebook page just search for “Omni Board Game Parlor” you’ll be part of a growing gaming community, see weekly featured games, and learn a new “Board Game Fact of the Day”. We hope to see you soon.
By day, Renée DeLuca Dolan is usually found amongst Cleveland’s top CEOs and business leaders. By night, she’s hiking or walking with her dogs or watching her son play sports. Renée is proud to say she also makes dinner for her family most nights—she’s a closet chef! As the founder of Contempo, a marketing and branding design firm, she has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a heart for helping women succeed in business which prompted her to create the Female Entrepreneur Summit, an annual day of learning for Northeast Ohio business women. Renée also enjoys networking and special events, so she developed and published Cleveland Business Connects Magazine for 10 years and created the CBC Magazine Connectors Choice Awards to honor Clevelanders in the special events profession. She’s a distinguished alumna of Kent State University, where she serves on the Business Advisory Board, and was just recognized with a Spirit of Women in Business Award. She’s a hiker, an oenophile, a devoted volunteer for Northeast Ohio Adoption Services and she tells us she was a competitive drill team ice skater at Euclid's C.E. Orr Ice Arena in her youth.
On a quiet Saturday afternoon, 60-70 Euclid residents came to Shore Cultural Center to talk about and be heard regarding common problems and challenges facing the community at a forum sponsored by husband and wife activists Victor Goodman and Audrey Kaplan. As a panel of Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail, Police Chief Scott Meyer, Captain Jeff Cutwright and Euclid City Schools Interim superintendent Christopher Papouras listened to residents’ concerns, several themes bubbled to the surface.
Ohioans annually spend a significant portion of their income on household energy costs yet most don’t look for savings opportunities available to them.
The Euclid Public Schools Alumni Lunch Table has resumed at the Euclid Culinary Bistro at Shore Cultural Centre every Wednesday (when school is in session), 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet fellow alumni and friends from the Euclid Schools and have a good, inexpensive meal while supporting Euclid High School's award-winning culinary arts program led by Chef Daniel Esquivel. Chef Dan runs a tight kitchen and the students really work hard to provide a restaurant-like atmosphere.
For the past seven years big name entertainment acts, like Cedric the Entertainer and the Temptations have been performing right here in the heart of Euclid. Mitchell’s Ultra Lounge has a very spacious and beautiful ballroom on the second floor for the big shows.
There is also a highly rated bar and restaurant on the first floor. Open Thursday to Sunday, be sure to check out their Facebook page for the many specials and listing of the live jazz bands which usually play the first and second Fridays.
Mitchell's is the best place to be on Thursday Night! There is Line Dancing, Drink Specials, Outstanding Wings Specials, and an Awesome Atmosphere! Line Dance hosted by Brenda.
There are many sizes of unique rooms to have the perfect Holiday Party for your company or your family. Located at 24900 Euclid Ave. in Euclid, Mitchell’s is open Thursday through Sunday and sometimes on Monday for Karaoke.
The October Savers Clothing FUNDrive was a success. Thank you to all that donated and gave your time towards the event!
This October, Urban Renaissance Farms has been alive with visitors eager to find the perfect fall pumpkin, as well as others curious to learn more about this small urban oasis—which sits tucked away on East 279th Street in a neighborhood populated by multi-family housing, not far from Interstate 90.
Held over two weekends in October, the recent pumpkin patch events have been a coming-out party of sorts for Urban Renaissance Farms to the Euclid community at large. Though the farm has been up and running since 2015, this is the first year they’ve been able to sell produce such as pumpkins, winter squash, and red raspberry jam and promote the farm as a destination.
It’s an exciting development for Josh Stephens and Jamie Smialek, the married couple that operates the farm alongside their five adopted children. The Euclid residents are leasing nearly three acres of previously vacant green space from the city to develop Urban Renaissance Farms, a concept that is aligned with their desire to cultivate an urban farm culture in Euclid and help urban dwellers get back to their roots, literally.
Regarding a proposed change of language in current Ohio animal abuse law, Goddards Law, ORC 959.131. It is Senate Bill 205 sponsored by Sen. Jay Hottinger and Sen. Sean J. O'Brien.
We already have companion animal abuse/murder laws known as Goddards Law, ORC 959.131 in Ohio. It states those quilty of 1st through 5th degree misdemeanor are eligible for 6 months incarceration and those guilty of 1st through 5th degree felony are eligible up to 1 year incarceration. Senate Bill 205 would only raise the certain degrees of classification for torturing or killing companion animals in each category: misdemeanor and felony.
The problem is not the written law as it stands. The problem is lenient judges and advising prosecutors who refuse to uphold the present laws of punishment for animal abuse, torture and slaughter. The reasons are many but are unknown.
Consider outcomes of cases in this area in the last 10 months:
You are probably familiar with the concept that words carry meaning. At an early age you probably learned a nursery rhyme reciting, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”. The reality is words are powerful. They carry more than just a message. They carry emotion. Think of them as bubbles filled with emotion. When emotion penetrates the atmosphere, other factors such as perception, understanding, attitudes and behaviors acclimate. You could go so far as to say words are a predictor of one’s state of mind. For my purposes, words are a bell weather. They act as a signpost to signal how people feel about themselves, regardless of the situation at-hand.
Regarding a proposed change of language in current Ohio animal abuse law, Goddards Law, ORC 959.131. It is Senate Bill 205 sponsored by Sen. Jay Hottinger and Sen. Sean J. O'Brien.
We already have companion animal abuse/murder laws known as Goddards Law, ORC 959.131 in Ohio. It states those that are quilty of 1st through 5th degree misdemeanor are eligible for 6 months incarceration and those guilty of 1st through 5th degree felony are eligible up to 1 year incarceration. Senate Bill 205 would only raise the certain degrees of classification for torturing or killing companion animals in each category: misdemeanor and felony.
The problem is not the written law as it stands. The problem is lenient judges and prosecutors who refuse to uphold present laws of punishment for animal abuse, torture, slaughter. Reasons are many but unknown.
Consider cases in this area in the last 10 months:
Because insurance prices and policy options fluctuate constantly, it’s a good idea to shop for the best value every few years, the Ohio Credit Union League recommends.