A listing of a variety of free activities and resources for the Near West Side.

ADULT EDUCATION

ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES is sponsored by Parma City Schools Adult Education Services. FREE.  Students must attend orientation to register for class.  Orientations begin promptly at the time listed, and students must attend the entire session.  Cleveland Public Library (CPL) Fulton Library Branch (3545 Fulton Rd.) Orientation will be held October 1 from 1 – 3:30 pm, then classes meet T/Th from 1 – 3:30 p.m.  CMSD Multilingual Welcome Center at Thomas Jefferson (3145 West 46^th St.) Orientation will be held October 6 from 9 –11:30 am, then classes meet T/Th from 9 – 11:30 a.m.  Spanish American Committee (4407 Lorain Ave.) Orientation will be held October 12 from 10 am – 12:30 pm, then classes meet M/W from 10 am -12:30 pm, another orientation session will be held October 12 from 5 – 7:30 pm, then classes meet M/W from 5:30 – 7:30 pm.  Visit Parmacityschools.org.   Call 440-885-8797 to confirm days and times. 

GED/SKILLS ENRICHMENT CLASSES are available from Parma City Schools Adult Education Services. FREE. Students must attend orientation to register for class.  Orientations begin promptly at the time listed, and students must attend the entire session. CPL Fulton Library Branch (3545 Fulton Rd.) Orientation will be held October 6 from 10 am – 12:30 pm, then classes meet T/Th from 10 am – 12:30 pm.  CPL Walz Branch  (7910 Detroit Ave.) Orientation is scheduled for October 12 from 10 am – 12:30 pm and then classes meet on M/Th from 10 am – 2 pm. Merrick House  (1050 Starkweather Ave.) in Tremont.  Orientation is at 9 am on the first Friday of each month – October 2, November 6 and December 4 – and then classes meet on M/Th from 9 am – 12 pm, or 12 pm – 3 pm, or T/Th  6 pm – 8 pm).  Seeds of Literacy (3104 West 25^th St. 3^rd floor.)  Orientation is every Monday and Tuesday at 12:30 or 4:30 p.m. and classes are every M/Th at 9 am – 11 am, 1 pm – 3 pm or 6 – 8 pm.  Visit Parmacityschools.org.   Call 440-885-8797 to confirm days and times. 

AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY

COLORED BOY BLUES, a dramatic reading by William Clarence Marshall, will be presented at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church at 20401 Hilliard Blvd in Rocky River on Sunday, October 11^th at 11:30 am.  Three young men, a warrior-spiritual mother and an off-again-on-again incarcerated father in a coming of age saga in the face of unsettling tragedy.

ARTS

TRANSFORMER STATION presents Choice: Contemporary Art from the Akron Art Museum through 12/6 at 1460 West 29^th.  Free. Call 216/938-5429 or visit http://www.transformerstation.org/ for hours.

CHILDREN

MOMMY AND ME PLAYGROUP starts in October at The Salvation Army West Park, 12645 Lorain Ave. on Fridays at 10 am.  Play, learn and grow together.  Sign-up ASAP:  spots are limited.  Call Captain Candy Fritsch at 216/252-3593.

See FISHING below.

CAREGIVERS

CAREGIVER’S SUPPORT GROUP is held every 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday Monthly from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in Room T-65 at MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Health Center at  4229 Pearl Rd.  Join the free, open group at any time.  Peer support and information and resources for individuals providing care for a friend or loved one. Topics will rotate on a 12-week cycle. For more information, call 216/778-5779 or visit metrohealth.org.

CUYAHOGA VALLEY

NATIONAL PARK (CVNP)

VOLUNTEER opportunities.  To learn about CVNP’s diverse seasonal and long-term positions, visit nps.gov/cuva and click on Volunteer, or call 330/657-2299. A Volunteer Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, October 31 from 10 am – noon.  Register online under Volunteer/Training and Enrichment.

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

TO PREPARE FOR DISASTER, visit “Make a plan” at http://www.ready.gov/family-communications, a website sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

EMPLOYMENT

CAREER training available at El Barrio.  Four weeks.  They will connect you with top hiring companies in banking, construction, healthcare, hospitality, international call centers, and logistics and transportation.  Call 216/651-2037.

FISHING

FALL FAMILY FISHING FEST will be on Saturday, October 10 from 9 am to 1 pm at the Ohio and Erie Canal Reservation.  Children and families can catch rainbow trout and catfish while learning fishing skills. Call 216/206-1010.

STEELHEAD EXPO is scheduled for Saturday, October 3 from 9 am to 4 pm at Rocky River Nature Center in the Rocky River Reservation. Learn about this sport fish, how to read the river, new fly casting techniques, and about the latest gear.  Call 440/734-6660.

GORDON SQUARE

FALL FEST:FLIGHT TEST  will be held on Saturday, October 17 from 4-9 pm to celebrate the  arts and culture of the near west side, with local artists infusing area storefronts, live music and performance, ticketed shows at the theaters, and a late-night after party.  FREE

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

ORGANIZERS AND ALLIES:  ROLLING AND RESPONSIVE GRANT OPPORTUNITY can give support if you have a community project that needs an extra push.  Please contact Keisha for more information at 216/961-9073 x204 or KGonzalez@dscdo.org.

HALLOWEEN

STOCKYARDS  CONNECTIONS HAUNTED GARDEN, TRUNK OR TREAT & HAUNTED HAYRIDE: October 31 at 7 p.m. at POPCE Community Garden, 54^th & Storer Ave. Please join us for Haunted Garden Paint Balloon Arena (ages 11 up) , Haunted Hayride, and Trunk or Treat, plus Hotel Transylvania Movie! Volunteers needed for: Trunk or Treat Participation, Scare Actors for Haunted Hayride, Paint Balloon Officiates and Create a Monster days, October 18 & 25. RSVP and Volunteer Contact: Mia Gregg at 216-278-5515.

 

HEALTH 

GROCERY STORE TOUR: Join Neighborhood Family Practice for a tour through the Dave’s Mercado grocery store! Explore reading read food labels, simple nutrition tips you can use every day and shopping healthy on a budget. All participants will receive a free goody bag and information to take home! Participate in the Healthy Shopping Challenge for a great prize! Friday, October 2, 2015, 1 – 2 p.m. Meet at: The Education Center at Neighborhood Family Practice – 3569 Ridge Rd., Cleveland, OH 44102

LEARN ABOUT MIDWIFERY: Celebrate National Midwifery Week with NFP on Wednesday, October 7^th from 6-8pm at The Education Center at Neighborhood Family Practice – 3569 Ridge Rd., Cleveland, OH 44102. View the documentary, The Mama Sherpas, which follows nurse midwives, the doctors they work with, and their patients. The documentary provides an intimate glance into what midwives can bring into the birthing process in the hospital system. THIS FREE EVENT INCLUDES:  Screening of The Mama Sherpas documentary; Q & A with the nurse midwives from Neighborhood Family Practice (following the screening) and refreshments.

KIDNEY DISEASE: The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. is bringing patients and their caregivers together to empower kidney patients from early stages of kidney disease to dialysis or transplantation. The symposium will offer topics of interest for patients learning to deal with a chronic disease. The event will also provide effective strategies of wellness care for caregivers. This FREE event will take place on Sunday, October 18th at MetroHealth Main Campus from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Each guest will receive lunch and complimentary parking. Space is limited so please call 440-933-4909 to reserve a spot or email amy.solmoswayne@kidney.org.

KNITTING GROUP

LOOKING FOR KNITTERS to volunteer to knit hats and scarves for neighborhood children?  All materials are provided, and beginners are welcome. All items will be given to neighborhood children at a holiday celebration on December 3rd.  The materials were secured thanks to a grant from Neighborhood Connections and generous donations from neighborhood stakeholders.  Email Birgit at birgit@midwestsafety.usto express interest.  Or leave your contact info with Linda at Cudell Improvement at 216/228-4383.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Neighborhood Clean-up organized by KEEP CLEvelANd CLEAN, Love thy Neighb-hood, and LITTERarture on September 28, 29 and 30 from 3 pm until 8 pm at 7801 Lorain Ave.  Donations and volunteers welcome.  Questions may be directed to Jason Pawlus at 216/609-6621.

OHIO MLK COMMISSION

Nominations are being sought for awards honoring Ohioans who carry on the LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.  Awards honoring such individuals and organizations will be given at the 2016 Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Celebration being held Jan. 14, 2016, at Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Columbus. Nominations are due to the commission by Oct. 7. For more information on the various awards and a nomination form, visit das.ohio.gov/mlk or contact Bobbi Bell of the DAS Equal Opportunity Division at 614-466-8380 or bobbi.bell@das.ohio.gov.

POLICING

MEET THE SECOND DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, Supervisors and Officers who patrol area streets, as well as neighbors that share concerns about safety.  Learn about important  resources in the community.  Second District meetings are held at the Applewood Centers at 3518 West 25^th St. (in the gym on Daisy Ave.) on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 PM.  For more information, call 216/664-3293 or email mmcdonald2@city.cleveland.oh.us

TEENS

O.A.S.I.S. stands for Open Art Studio Inspiration Station. It is an After School art program for Jr. and Sr. High students on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 6415 W. Clinton Ave. Contact the Bethany Presbyterian Church office to register at 216-651-0040. (Late registrations accepted.) The program will begin on September 16th and will run for 8 weeks. There is a nominal registration fee of $5 per student, which will cover some of the cost of supplies. Scholarships are available.  O.A.S.I.S. is open to all youth in the community, you need not be a member of Bethany to attend! O.A.S.I.S. will be lead by professional educators, pastors, and artists! Youth will be introduced to a variety of art forms and media, while utilizing scripture or spiritual concepts as jumping off point for the creative process.

UTILITIES

SHUTOFF OF ELECTRICITY BY CLEVELAND PUBLIC POWER: Have you be a victim of a shutoff or know someone else who has been a victim of a shutoff of your electricity by Cleveland Public Power?  United Clevelanders Against Poverty (UCAP) has found that many of these CPP shutoffs have been improper or illegal.  UCAP is holding a public hearing to hear your stories of CPP shutoffs. The public hearing will be held Wednesday, October 14, from 6:00-8:00 pm at St. John’s Church, 2600 Church Avenue (one block south of Detroit Avenue).  Everyone is invited, but we urge you to contact Thenessa Savitsky at 216-651-2606 or at tsavitsky@organizeohio.org, beforehand if you intend to tell your story.  We can make changes in the high number of CPP shutoffs.

WARD 14

Ward 14 Democratic Club Monthly Meeting on October 19th will have a guest speaker from Responsible Ohio.  The meeting location: Sachsenhiem Hall at 7001 Denison Ave. Cleveland, OH 44102. Time 6 pm.  For more information contact: Diane Morgan Ward 14 Democratic Club President at 216-324-5036.