• Barnes Wendling CPAs supports art programs at Urban Community School

    PHOTO COURTESY BARNES WENDLING CPAs November 15, 2022, Urban Community School, 4909 Lorain Avenue: (L-R) Art Teacher Molly Geib, students: Julian Mendez, Maise McPartland, and Ilinca Rodriguez, with Principal Nora French  Elementary students participate in art contest; schools receive program funds       (Plain Press, December 2022) Barnes Wendling CPAs, a Northeast Ohio accounting and business…


  • Cleveland Metropolitan School District receives $20 million grant from MacKenzie Scott

    by Chuck Hoven      (Plain Press, December 2022) At the November 22, 2022 meeting of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) Board of Education, Chief Executive Officer Eric Gordon announced CMSD had received a $20 million dollar donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Gordon said the funds from the donation are unrestricted, meaning that the school…


  • Northeast Ohioans for Budget Legislation Equality prepares to lobby for its State of Ohio budget priorities

    by Chuck Hoven      (Plain Press, December 2022) The State of Ohio must complete its next two-year budget by June 30th of 2023. The budget will govern State of Ohio spending from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025.      Hoping to influence State of Ohio lawmakers in the decision-making process leading up to the…


  • Cleveland Schools’ Segment 8 taking shape

    by Erik Ault    (Plain Press, November 2022) Plans for renovation and new construction of several schools on Cleveland’s west side are finalizing. The Segment 8 construction program affects the Marion C. Seltzer, Clark, Joseph M. Gallager and Lincoln West schools. Several community meetings have been presented to give updates about the progress of this…


  • Who pays property taxes to support services when the economy is dominated by nonprofits?

    by Stephanie Czekalinski  This is part three of a series examining the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals in Northeast Ohio and how the loss of tax dollars impacts communities. (Plain Press, September 2022)           Fifty years ago, when Clevelanders needed to fund schools, pay for parks, or expand libraries, they relied on booming tax revenue from large…


  • American Institute of Architects Cleveland hosts 2022 Sandfest at Edgewater Beach – raises funds for scholarships

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Saturday, August 6, 2022, American Institute of Architects (AIA) Cleveland Sandfest, Edgewater Beach: Ten teams competed in a sandcastle and sand sculpture contest. This Route 66 sign was a part of Vocon’s entry in the contest titled “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” which won the prize for Best Sculpture. The…



  • Debate over tax breaks for nonprofit Cleveland area hospitals is also about racism and redlining

    Debate over tax breaks for nonprofit Cleveland area hospitals is also about racism and redlining by Stephanie Czekalinski & Michael Indriolo  This is part two of a series examining the tax-exempt status of nonprofit hospitals in Northeast Ohio and how the loss of tax dollars impacts communities. Plain Press, August 2022        Nonprofit hospitals like the Cleveland Clinic receive…


  • Books, buses and the unexpected – tips for the new school year

    Books, buses and the unexpected – tips for the new school year by Tonya Sams Plain Press, August 2022        August is here and we will soon hear the ringing of school bells. But preparing for the new year is more than just buying clothes and supplies – it is also about preparing for new situations…


  • School Board renames two area schools

    Plain Press, August 2022        At its June 28th meeting, the Cleveland Municipal School District Board of Education voted to change the names of two schools in the Plain Press service area. Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy will be renamed Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy. Louis Agassiz School will be renamed Mary Church Terrell School. The…