December 2020 Community Board

The Plain Press Community Board is a listing of a variety of free activities and resources for neighborhoods served by the Plain Press. The cost of printing the Community Board is sponsored by Organize! Ohio through donations from readers and supporters.

ADVOCACY

UTILITIES FOR ALL fights for accountable and equitable utilities in Northeast Ohio, because we believe in protecting utilities as a human right. Open Public Meetings Thurs. Dec. 3, 2020, 11:00 am or 7:00 pm. Register for zoom meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErdemrpj0sGNU5sivQXRmHr00IBofkEAbn?fbclid=IwAR1FwvWCRHuzY580604vi1YbXsxDmgQQtTlIZQi-OtYypvUnBkxQy4lW34c

We envision a region where every household has access to its right to utilities. To learn more about the current state of shutoffs and reconnections, available financial assistance, and how we can fight for affordable, transparent and accountable utilities in Northeast Ohio, visit:  http://organizeohio.org/utilitiesforallEmail: utilitiesforall@organizeohio.org , Facebook.com @Utilities4All.NEOH, Twitter: @Utilities_4_All.

ASSISTANCE

MERRICK HOUSE has Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) funding available to assist anyone with rent or utility payments. Payments are limited to $125.00 per household and will be paid directly to the vendor. Interested parties should call Merrick House at 216-771-5077 for an application.

BUSINESSES

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS: The City of Cleveland’s Emergency Working Capital program is designed to assist businesses whose operations are specifically impacted by COVID and have had to take exceptional measures to maintain operations throughout the pandemic. Businesses may receive a $10,000 loan for working capital and operations costs and a $10,000 grant to offset costs of PPE and other safety measures. Applicants must complete the Emergency Capital Working Fund Loan Application and the 1-page supplemental questionnaire. Both are available at: clecityhall.files.wordpress.com. Completed applications should be submitted electronically to economicdevelopment@clevelandohio.gov.

COVID-19

DETROIT SHOREWAY RESOURCES DURING CORONAVIRUS: Contact DSCDO specialist for help finding and applying for rental assistance, food, health, or utility reesources. Call 216-961-4242 x243 or email intern@dscdo.org.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY STAY AT HOME ADVISORY encourages residents to stay home to the greatest extent possible due to the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state. Residents are advised to only leave their home to go to work or school, or for essential needs such as seeking medical care, purchasing essential items from a grocery store or pharmacy, picking up prepared food, or receiving deliveries. Additionally, residents are strongly advised to avoid traveling in and out of the State of Ohio and to forgo having guests in their homes or residences during the upcoming holiday.

WEBSITES WITH INFORMATION ON COVID-19: CDC: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.Ohio Department of Health: https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/Cleveland Health Department: http://www.clevelandhealth.org/

COVID-19 TESTING SITE: Testing for those with COVID-19 symptoms or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 is available at Neighborhood Family Practice: W. 117 Community Health Center – 11709 Lorain Ave. By appointment only. Tests are available regardless of one’s ability to pay. Call (216) 281-0872 for information or to schedule an appointment. Results are back in one to three days.

DRIVE-THRU AND WALK-UP COVID-19 TESTING will be offered at Cuyahoga Community College from December through April as part of a partnership with Care Alliance Health Center. Testing will take place Thursdays beginning December third—rotating between 4 college sites. Testing is available to Tri-C students, faculty and staff as well as community residents. The program offers testing to individuals regardless of their symptom status, insurance status or ability to pay. Individuals will not be charged for the test. An ID with name and address — plus an insurance card, if applicable — is required for testing. At the Metropolitan Campus, 2900 Community Collage testing will take place in the Lot 4 underground garage off Community College Avenue – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11 and April 8. At the Western Campus, 11999 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma, testing will take place in the circular drive fronting the theater off Pleasant Valley Road, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Dec 10, Jan. 28, Feb. 25 , March 25 and April 22. Additionally, testing will be offered at Metro Campus by Care Alliance on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the remainder of November and throughout December (except for Dec. 25). No appointment is necessary on any of the testing days. Testing will be done on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit tri-c.edu/covidtest or call 216-317-1250 for more information.

CODE RED: Sign up for CodeRED alerts to receive calls and emails with important info regarding the coronavirus. To sign up online, visit https://bit.ly/CLECodeRED, get mobile alerts by downloading the CodeRED app via the Apple or Google Play stores. Seniors who need assistance signing up are welcome to call the Department of Aging at (216) 664-4383 for periodic phone call messaging.

CLEVELAND MANDATES: Cleveland City Council approved the mandatory use of masks in public spaces as well as certain penalties for individuals and businesses that do not comply. On July 3, Mayor Jackson signed an amended order mandating the use of masks in public in the City of Cleveland to slow the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus. This includes mandatory use in bars, restaurants, shared office settings, rideshares and other shared spaces. Any business or person violating the mask or safe-seating order (which maintains social distancing of at least six feet between patrons) is subject to civil penalties. Any business in the City of Cleveland with an employee who becomes ill with the coronavirus is required to immediately disinfect and sanitize the premises. Business complaints: CDPH hotline at (216) 857-7165. Individual or private residence complaints: Cleveland Police non-emergency line at (216) 621-1234

DONATIONS

CLEVELAND POLICE ANNUAL SECOND DISTRICT HOLIDAY SOCK AND UNDERWARE DRIVE from now until December 25^th to support our homeless community with socks and underwear for the cold months. Please donate new socks and underwear for adult men and women. Any questions call 216-623-5209 and ask for Lt. Maffo-Judd. Drop off donations at the Second District or request a pick up.

EDUCATION

CLEVELAND BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING is scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 6:30pm and will be conducted exclusively via video conference, pursuant to Substitute House Bill 404.  The public can access this Board Business Meeting through a link that will be posted prior to the start of the meeting on the School District website home page at www.clevelandmetroschools.org  Persons wishing to publicly share a comment with the Board at this Board Business Meeting can access a public comment form that will be posted on the School District website home page on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 from 5:45pm until the start of the Board Business Meeting at 6:30pm.

ENVIRONMENT

TREE CANOPY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM: The City of Cleveland is now accepting requests from property owners for a free tree installation during the spring and fall planting seasons. Property owners can complete an online request form at City of Cleveland Department of Public Works at www.city.cleveland.oh.us to have a tree planted on their tree lawn, in front of occupied structures or sidewalk cut-outs typically found in commercial areas in front of businesses. Each location will be surveyed in person by a Field Operations Forester to ensure there are no conflicts with the surrounding infrastructure and that the site is suitable. Approved sites are then added to a list for a tree to be planted during the next available planting season. All requests are handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

CUYAHOGA COUNTY SOLAR CO-OP INFORMATION SESSION: Thursday, December 3, 2020, 6 pm. The Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability and the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors of Ohio will explain the solar co-op program and how you can save money going solar. This is a great opportunity to learn about the financial incentives and savings offered by this environmentally friendly emerging technology without having to deal with a high pressure sales pitch. Sign up by going to

https://coops.solarunitedneighbors.org/coops/cuyahoga-county-2021-solar-co-op/events/

FOOD

GRAB AND GO MEALS FOR YOUTH: Available at all Cleveland Public Library branches M-F from 3-4 p.m.

FESTIVAL

WINTERTIDE at Gordon Square, an arts-infused holiday experience in the Gordon Square Arts District and online. Saturday, December 12, join us for merriment and performances in-person (12pm-6pm ET) and live-streamed (1pm ET). WINTERTIDE at Gordon Square is a free, all-ages, arts-infused festival, presented virtually and in-person this year. This event is presented by Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DSCDO) in collaboration with Cleveland Public Theatre and features wandering performers, pop-up murals, and seven local businesses paired with neighborhood artists and arts organizations presenting online performances. WINTERTIDE at Gordon Square mixes holiday merriment with artistic wonder like nowhere else in Cleveland and supports our vibrant neighborhood businesses, celebrates the arts, and brings a moment of light and joy amidst the growing dark of winter.

HEALTH CARE

OPEN ENROLLMENT in the HealthCare Market ends December 15^th. To see if you qualify for a health care insurance subsidy visit: HealthCare.gov.

LIBRARIES

CLEVELAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES: Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the county all Library buildings will close to the public. Curbside and walk-up services will still be available on Monday through Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For more information on how curbside pickup works visit cpl.org.

OHIO

OHIO HOUSE BILL 404 extends the expiration date of driver licenses (DL), identification cards (ID), and vehicle registrations beyond December 1, 2020. Now, if a customer’s expiration date on their DL, ID, or vehicle registration is March 9, 2020, to April 1, 2021, the expiration date has been automatically extended and will remain valid until July 1, 2021. Many of the services Ohioans rely on at the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) can be accomplished online at www.OPlates.com.

UTILITIES

CLEVELAND PUBLIC UTILITIES TO RESUME DISCONNECTIONS: On December 1, 2020, the City of Cleveland Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) will lift the moratorium on shutoffs and reconnections. DPU will resume the regular process for collections and disconnection of service for delinquent water and/or electric accounts. Financial relief tools are in place to assist customers in need. In addition to current affordability programs, the city utilities are offering extended payment plan options as well as coordinating with outside agencies to refer customers for additional services. The Division of Water and Cleveland Public Power will notify customers with past due accounts, so they receive notice in addition to the regular multi-notice procedures. Customers who need assistance are encouraged to contact Cleveland Water at (216) 664-3130 or Cleveland Public Power at (216) 664-4600 to discuss their payment options as soon as possible.

TEENS

ESSAY CONTEST: Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) is asking Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? An essay contest based upon that question opens today for high school students in a seven-county area. The contest is part of Tri-C’s Stand for Racial Justice, which seeks to advance racial equity and healing in the community. Essays cannot exceed 500 words and are due by midnight on Friday, Dec. 18. Submit entries at tri-c.edu/essaycontest. Submissions will be judged in two groups assigned by grade levels. One category is for seniors and juniors, while the other is for sophomores and freshmen. Students in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties are eligible. Winners will be announced in January as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day observances. Cash prizes will be awarded as follows in each category: $1,000 for first place, $500 for second place; and $250 for third place. 
In addition, authors of the top five senior/junior submissions will be guaranteed entry into Tri-C’s Mandel Scholars Academy if they enroll at the College. Admission into the academy includes a scholarship valued at more than $10,000.

JASON FOUNDATION: is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth. For more information please visit www.jasonfoundation.com on how you can get involved. If you or someone you love is struggling with depression or thinking about suicide, get help now. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), is a free resource that is available 24 hours a day for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Crisis Text Line is a free 24/7 text line where trained crisis counselors support individuals in crisis. Text “Jason” to 741741 to speak with a compassionate, trained Crisis Counselor. Confidential support 24/7, for free.