(Plain Press March 2024)

ARTS

THE CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION is accepting submissions now through Friday, April 5.The competition is open to all high school students living in the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio, which encompasses all of Cleveland and much of Cuyahoga County. Winners from each district will be honored at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., as well as in their home districts. The winning art pieces will be displayed inside the U.S. Capitol for one year for all Members, staff, and visitors to view and admire. Please visit shontelbrown.house.gov/services/art-competition for more information or to submit your artwork. If you have questions, please email OH11artcomp@mail.house.gov

FREE CONCERT: Presented by Art Renaissance Tremont,  cellist Mark Kosower will perform Sunday, March 24 at 4 pm at St. Wendelin Church (2281 Columbus Rd.) For more information, visit artconcerts.org. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

FREE POETRY GROUP: Join Literary Cleveland and instructor Stephanie Ginese at the Cleveland Public Library South Branch (3096 Scranton Rd.) the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 am-12 pm for poetry writing and community in this free monthly writing group. Each month we will read samples of published poems for inspiration, discuss craft and form, draft our own fiction writing in response to in-class exercises, and build community among fellow writers. Join us every month or stop by for a single session—this group is great for making progress on an ongoing project or for starting something new. This month’s group is on Saturday, March 16.

JULIA DE BURGOS BOOK CLUB: Join us for our bi-monthly in-person book discussion for adults presented in partnership with Literary Cleveland and led by Nahomy Ortiz. This month we will meet Friday, March 29 at 6:30 pm to discuss Solito byJavier Zamora, the true story of Zamora’s journey as an unaccompanied minor from El Salvador to reunite with his family in Arizona. The discussion will be held at Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center – Arts House/Artist Residence at 2804 Archwood Ave. (Park in the lot next to the white house; enter the white house through the front or back door). Questions? Contact us at info@juliadeburgos.org or 216-894-5664.

KIDS’ COMIC CON: This year, Lake Erie Ink’s 12th edition of its Kids’ Comic Con will be hosted at the Pivot Center (2937 W 25 St.) on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Attend workshops, visit the artists’ alley, learn new skills, ignite your imagination, and learn more about what it takes to work in the comics industry. Check out the trading station to trade zines and art with other participants and guest artists. Cosplay is encouraged. Visit lakeerieink.org/comiccon24 for more information and to register.

ST. PAUL’S STREET STUDIO: Missing a chance to play live music or share poetry in person? Check out the St. Paul’s Street Studio and join us to share music/spoken word in a peaceful atmosphere of respect. We provide a piano, drums, acoustic guitars, and microphones…and an encouraging circle of listeners. All are welcome! The event is held at St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin Blvd from 1 pm – 2:30 pm in the sanctuary. This month’s session is on Saturday, March 9. For more information, contact Ian Heisey at 216-973-1486 or heisey2140@sbcglobal.net.

WRITERS UNPLUGGED: Come hear bestselling author Lisa Unger discuss her newest book, The New Couple in 5B, Friday, March 8 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm at the Louis Stokes Wing of the Main Library downtown (525 Superior Ave. NE). Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit cpl.org/eventsclasses/upcoming-authors/writers-unplugged to register.

CAREERS

RECREATION SUMMER JOBS HIRING EVENT: The City of Cleveland will be doing open interviews to fill a variety of seasonal positions at its pools, rec centers, and camp at a hiring event on Saturday, March 16 from 12 pm to 3 pm at Michael Zone Rec Center (6301 Lorain Ave). Please bring a form of ID and your social security card or birth certificate. Questions? Contact Latashia Miller at 216-664-2325 or Lmiller3@clevelandohio.gov.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS provided by the West Side Catholic Center offer individualized employment services and job readiness training. Classes run from four to fifteen weeks depending on the career track. We offer Culinary and Environmental Services Career tracks along with many other good job opportunities with supportive employers. The program includes a stipend allowance, free transportation and meals, a job acceptance bonus, a 90 day on the job bonus, one-on-one guidance, and computer lab assistance. The remaining start dates are February 28 and March 27. For more information, call Ellen Saracina at 216-631-4741 (ext. 143).

EDUCATION

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN: Cleveland-area women aged 25 and up who are currently enrolled in a four-year or graduate degree program are encouraged to apply for $2,000 or more in financial aid from College Club West for the 2024-25 school year, at collegeclubwest.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 15. Scholarships will be awarded based on educational goals, financial need, and academic record.

ELECTION

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING: There’s still time to vote early in person at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (2925 Euclid Ave.) ahead of the March 19 primary election. The Board of Elections will be open every day for voting until Sunday, March 17. For a full list of hours, visit boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/voters/vote-early-in-person. Don’t forget to bring a valid photo ID!

PRIMARY ELECTION: Ohio’s primaries will be held on Tuesday, March 19. Polls will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm on election day. To check if you are registered to vote, find your polling location, and preview what’s on your ballot, visit boe.cuyahogacounty.gov. Please remember that you must now bring a valid photo ID in order to vote.

VOTE-BY-MAIL APPLICATIONS are available at boe.cuyahogacounty.gov or by calling 216-443-8683 (VOTE). Applications must be received at the Board of Elections by Tuesday, March 12 at 8:30 pm.  Once you receive your ballot in the mail, fill it out and mail it to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at 2925 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, OH 44115. Ballots must be postmarked by Monday, March 18 to count.

HEALTH

THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CLEVELAND AREA CHAPTER regularly offers a free education program, Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body: Tips from the Latest Research, in various locations throughout the year. To find upcoming programs near you, visit alz.org/crf and search by your zip code. Those concerned about themselves, or a loved one, can contact the Alzheimer’s Association Cleveland Area Chapter office at 216-342-5556 to schedule a care consultation and be connected to local resources that can help. The Alzheimer’s Association’s Helpline can be reached 24/7 at 800-272-3900.

HEALTH FAIR: Harbor and Bridge Community Center (4321 Bridge Ave.) will host a health fair with the help of students from Case Western on Saturday, March 9 from 9 am to 11 am. Guests can get blood pressure checks, health advice, and some free dental items as a thank you. Coffee and snacks included! For more information, contact Matt Whisenhunt at 216-417-3444 or mattw@harborandbridge.com.

MOMSFIRST: Are you pregnant? Do you live in the city of Cleveland? The MomsFirst program can help you learn how to deal with the stress that comes with being a parent; connect you to resources for housing, education, and healthcare; teach you how to keep your baby safe; and find birth control options that work for you. To enroll, visit momsfirst.org or call 216-664-4194

QUESTIONS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER? Join us Thursday, March 28 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm in the Glick Meditation Room (1st floor) at MetroHealth Main Campus (2500 Metrohealth Dr.) to explore useful topics related to prostate cancer, discuss tips and tools on how to navigate your diagnosis and ask questions of a prostate cancer survivor. Partner/spouse or adult loved one welcome to join! Parking for attendees will be validated, and snacks will be provided. Visit touchedbycancer.org  to register. Questions? Contact Brittani Davis at davis@touchedbycancer.org or 216-455-1528.

QUIT SMOKING: For free help with quitting smoking, dial 211 or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (that’s 1-800-784-8669). For text-based assistance, text QUITNOW to 333888 or visit smokefree.gov/smokefreetxt.

LIBRARIES

LEGO AIR SENSOR WORKSHOP: Join us at the Lorain Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (8216 Lorain Ave.) for a free workshop where we will build an air-quality sensor out of Legos on Saturday, March 9 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. For more information, contact David Taylor at 216-664-2147 or dtaylor6@clevelandohio.gov.

STREAM MOVIES FOR FREE: Using your Cleveland Public Library card, stream up to 20 movies per month on the Kanopy streaming service. The service’s catalog includes many classic films, international films, and indie darlings. Just go to kanopy.com  to sign up. Select Cleveland Public Library as your library. Type in your library card number. Then type in the last four digits of the library card number when asked for a pin.

WORDS ON WHEELS:  Cleveland residents can get books, movies, and more by mail. All you need is a Cleveland Public Library card. Sign up for a library card or to find out if this program is right for you, call your neighborhood Cleveland Public Library branch. For more information visit cpl.org/services/at-home.

RECREATION

FREE MONDAYS AT THE ZOO: On Mondays, the zoo is FREE for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. To confirm your residency, bring your driver’s license or state I.D. or a current utility bill with your Cuyahoga Cty. or Hinckley Twp. address along with a photo ID.

FREE SUNDAYS at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History for all residents of Cleveland or East Cleveland. Please reserve your tickets in advance at cmnh.org/visit. Proof of residency is required upon arrival.  

RESOURCES

FREE STATE IDS: Ohioans 17 and older are now eligible for a free state ID if they don’t have a valid driver’s license. To obtain a new ID, visit your local BMV and bring along documents that confirm your basic information, like name, address, date of birth and social security number. When it’s time to renew your free state ID, you can either visit the BMV or do it online. To renew your ID or to see a full list of documents you’ll need to bring, visit bmv.ohio.gov.

THE HOPE CENTER FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS (15135 Triskett Rd.)offers a variety of resources for recent arrivals to the United States, including ESL and citizenship classes, immigration and legal services, job placement and career services, after-school tutoring, child care, and transportation assistance. Visit buildinghopeinthecity.org for more information.

LEGAL AID SOCIETY BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC: Have a legal question?  Legal Aid has answers!

Visit this Brief Advice Clinic at the Eastman Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (11602 Lorain Ave.) on Saturday, March 9 to chat with an attorney about a problem related to money, housing, family, employment or other issues. This clinic is first come, first served, no appointments needed. (Only questions on civil legal issues, not criminal problems). Please bring all important paperwork with you. Intake hour is from 10 am to 11 am. In the meantime, Legal Aid is open 24/7 online at lasclev.org, or you can call Legal Aid for help during most business hours at 888-817-3777.

ONLINE CRIME REPORTING: The Cleveland Police Department now has an online tool that allows residents to file a police report for some crimes online. This includes property damage, misdemeanor theft, lost property, and bicycle theft. To use this tool, call 833-461-0144. This will prompt you to enter your phone number followed by the pound symbol (#). A text message with a direct link to the website will then be sent to your cell phone, allowing you to submit a report. More serious crimes, such as car accidents and crimes with a named suspect, should be reported via CPD’s non-emergency phone number, 216-621-1234.

TAXES

AARP TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE: Volunteers from AARP will be on hand to help seniors and most other individuals file federal and state tax forms for free, every Friday until April 12 at the West Park Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (3805 W 157th St). Registration required. Call 216-623-7102 to check eligibility and schedule an appointment. Visit aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide to find additional locations and to review the list of documents you will need to bring to your appointment in order to complete your tax return.

FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE is also available at various Cuyahoga EITC Coalition community locations, including the Clark Branch of Dollar Bank (3115 W. 25 St.), the Gordon Square Arcade (6516 Detroit Ave.) and The Centers’ Gordon Square location (5209 Detroit Ave). By appointment only! For additional locations or to schedule an appointment, visit refundohio.org or call 2-1-1.

TRANSPORTATION

FREE BUS PASSES: Pregnant or a new parent? RTA is now offering free weekly bus passes to pregnant mothers and to parents of children under one year old through its Baby on Board program. Call 216-658-1355 for more information and to sign up.

VOLUNTEERING

BENJAMIN ROSE INSTITUTE ON AGING is seeking volunteers to help address food insecurity and reduce social isolation in older adults. Opportunities include: Meal Delivery, either in your own car or riding in one of our trucks; Meal Delivery Assistants, who greet drivers and help load their cars with meals; and Wellness Callers, who offer companionship to older adults. Visit our website, benrose.org, to fill out an application. For more information, contact volunteering@benrose.org or 216-373-1932.

CLEVELAND PUBLIC THEATRE is seeking volunteer ushers and assistants to help out at their upcoming shows and special events. Most performances are held at the main CPT campus (6415 Detroit Ave.), in the evening hours. When volunteering at a performance, volunteers are welcome to watch the performance after they’ve finished their duties. For more information, visit cptonline.org/support/volunteer or contact Jabri Johnson at jjohnson@cptonline.org or 216-631-2727 (ext. 215).

THE OHIO CITY STREET FESTIVAL is returning in September 2024, and we are currently looking for community members and business owners to join us in helping to plan this year’s event. If you’d like to be on the planning committee, please visit tinyurl.com/fpmajb7u and enter your contact information. Then we’ll reach out to you about ways to get involved.