A listing of a variety of free activities and resources for the Near West Side.
ARTS
A CHRISTMAS ART SHOW will be held at the Bruno Casiano Gallery at 5304 Detroit Ave. through December 31. The gallery is open Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm or by appointment. For more information, call Bruno Casiano at 216/346-6562 or email him at [email protected]
THIRD FRIDAYS of the month from 5 to 9 pm at the 78th Street Studios, at the west end of the Gordon Square Arts District in Cleveland. Also, every Friday from 11 am to 4 pm there is a smaller open house at the Studios. Visit http://78thstreetstudios.com/about.
TREMONT ART WALK is held on the second Friday of the month from 6 to 10 pm. For more information, log onto http://tremontartwalk.com
CLEAN FUELS
CLEAN FUELS OHIO is a nonprofit with the mission to improve air quality and health, reduce environmental pollution and strengthen Ohio’s economy by increasing the use of cleaner, domestic fuels and energy-saving vehicles. Clean Cities advances the nation’s environmental, economic, and energy security by supporting local actions to cut petroleum use in transportation. A national network of Clean Cities coalitions brings together stakeholders in the public and private sectors to deploy alternative and renewable fuels, idle-reduction measures, fuel economy improvements, and new transportation technologies as they emerge. Learn more about Clean Cities at cleancities.energy.gov, find out how to get involved with the Clean Fuels Ohio at cleanfuelsohio.org, or contact Tia Garcia/Clean Fuels Ohio at 614-884-7336 or [email protected]
COMPUTER TRAINING
FREE BEGINNER COMPUTER TRAINING for neighborhood residents is offered at the Connect Your Community Center at 3800 Pearl Road. 12-hour FREE training on basic computer and Internet use from 2-4 pm Tuesday and Thursday or 2-4 pm Wednesday and Friday. Learn to use email, Web browser, Google, You Tube, Yahoo etc. Low-cost refurbished computers are available for Center students. Call 216/202-4292 and leave a message. They will call you back within 24 hours.
EDGEWATER PARK
CLEVELAND METROPARKS is working on a multi-year strategic plan for the lakefront parks and is enlisting input from the community. The meeting about Edgewater Park, including plans for a new beach house, will be held from 5-7 pm with special presentations at 5:15 and 6 pm, on Tuesday, December 2 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in the gym at 1355 West 70th St. For more information, visit clevelandmetroparks.com or call 216/635-3200.
FLU SHOTS
FLU SHOTS are available at McCafferty Health Center at 4242 Lorain Ave. every Friday from 8:30 am-11:30 am. Bring your card if you have health insurance. If you don’t have insurance, no problem! No one will be turned away. Call 216/651-5005 with questions.
HEALTH INSURANCE
FOR HEALTH INSURANCE under the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”), visit healthcare.gov or call 800/318-2596. Or for an in-person appointment, call Neighborhood Family Practice at 216/281-0872, at 3569 Ridge Rd. or call 211 for referrals to other counseling sites. Deadlines are December 15, 2014: The last date to enroll for coverage that starts January 1, 2015. December 31, 2014: Date when all 2014 Marketplace coverage ends, no matter when you enrolled. January 1, 2015: The date 2015 coverage can start if you apply by December 15, 2014, or if you accept automatic enrollment in your 2014 plan or a similar plan. February 15, 2015: The last day to enroll in 2015 coverage. If you miss this deadline, you can’t sign up for a health plan inside or outside the Marketplace for the rest of 2015. The only exception is if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
MEDICAID is available for low income Ohioans. Apply online at https://benefits.ohio.gov/ or call 1-800/324-8680. Adults with income up to 138 percent of poverty level may now apply.
MEDICARE open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7 and the State’s nonprofit Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) is available to assist Medicare recipients review their options and select Medicare coverage for 2015. Plan costs and benefits can change from year to year. A Check-up Days schedule and other Medicare information is available at www.insurance.ohio.gov, or by calling the OSHIIP hotline at 800/686-1578 or Medicare at 800/633-4227
HEATING ASSISTANCE
VARIOUS HOLIDAY ACTIVITES are listed at Tremont West’s website http://tremontwest.org/index/news-app?story=87
PETS
FREE SPAY AND NEUTER SERVICES, as well as vaccinations, are available on December 11 at the Cleveland Animal Protective League at 1729 Willey Ave. for residents of 44102 and 44109 zip codes. A limited number of appointments are available. To register, call 216/377-1624.
POLICE
POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE for the second district is held every second Tuesday of the month at 7 pm at the Applewood Center at the corner of West 25th and Daisy. Call 216/623-5220 with questions.
STOCKYARD CLARK FULTON BROOKLYN CENTRE
PROVIDE YOUR INPUT ON THE FUTURE OF CLARK AVE. Complete the survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ClarkAveSurvey or attend the next public meeting on the Clark Avenue Corridor plan on December 11th at 6 p.m. at Clark Recreation Center.
TAX PREPARATION
LEARN TO BE A TAX PREPARATION VOLUNTEER. The Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition provides free training to help greet clients and prepare taxes, helping low income families get tax refunds. Over 25 Cuyahoga County locations. No experience necessary. Sign up by logging onto www.refundohio.org. For more information, contact Keely Andrews at [email protected]
TUTORS
HIGH SCHOOL TUTORS are needed to volunteer in math, science, English, and social studies at the Magic Johhnson Bridgescape Academy in the Fulton/Clark Ave. neighborhood for 4-8 hours weekly Monday- Friday between 8 am and 3 pm. Call Ms. Mason at 216/961-5631 if you are interested.
