On both August 8th and 9th, Cleveland Browns player, Myles Garrett, spent time filling book backpacks for over 200 local kids at his annual, “Back to School Kick-Off”. The funfest took place at the headquarters of The United Way of Greater Cleveland at 1331 Euclid Ave.
The FBI New York, along with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York and the IRS Criminal Investigation Newark Field Office, named Ruja Ignatova (a.k.a. “Cryptoqueen”) to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list for allegedly defrauding investors of billions of dollars. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to her arrest.
Rep. Shontel M. Brown (OH-11) recently released the following statement on the passage of H.R. 8373, the Right to Contraception Act, to protect against state laws that would restrict access to contraceptives for Americans and healthcare providers.
“Stripping women of access to contraception is unjust and further exploits the attacks far-right extremists have begun on women’s fundamental reproductive healthcare rights,” said Rep. Brown. “This reason alone is why I cosponsored and voted for the Right to Contraception Act. Continue reading “Rep. Brown Commends Passage of the Right to Contraception Act”
Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise across the country again after initially spiking during the pandemic. July is National Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and AAA East Central is reminding motorists to take steps to protect their vehicles and catalytic converters.
Catalytic converters change harmful substances in a car’s exhaust gasses (carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons) into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water vapor by means of chemical reactions. The earning potential for catalytic converters is high when they are sold to metal scrappers. Sales may not always be tracked by law enforcement. Two of the three rare earth metals used in catalytic converters, rhodium and palladium, are worth more per ounce than gold.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), the City of Cleveland, and The Community Builders (TCB) are pleased to announce the financial closing and start of construction for Woodhill
Homes, Woodhill Station West, a $46.4 million development representing the first phase of the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Neighborhoods Implementation in Cleveland, Ohio. Located at 9511 Buckeye Rd., this phase of the Buckeye-Woodhill Transformation Plan will convert an empty lot into 120 quality affordable apartments for families and revitalize the Buckeye-Woodhill community. Marous Brothers Construction moved equipment onto the site and construction began last week and the new project website went live on Friday.
Are you struggling to manage your household budget due to high electric bills from summer’s hot, humid days? If so, help is available through September.
For income-eligible residents, a federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps offset the cost with a one-time benefit applied directly to your utility bill. This program runs until the end of September.
The benefits are up to $800 applied directly to your electric bill. For the first time, applicants can receive $500 for central air conditioning repair, $350 for air-conditioner units, or $100 per fan (maximum two fans).
To receive the benefit, you must complete the Energy Assistance Application (English or Spanish) and submit a copy of the required income documents. Applications are also available at your Local Energy Assistance Provider and local libraries.
You can also call 216-350-8008 to schedule an appointment.
The high school portion of the CMSD Summer Learning Experience wrapped up Friday with students presenting and getting judges’ feedback on projects they chose and researched.
Student teams from different schools gathered at the Garrett Morgan Campus for “demonstrations of learning.” Among the topics were freedom of speech, the Underground Railroad, crime scene investigation, developing a guide for travel to Japan and starting a gym.
Demonstrations of learning are just one part of CMSD’s new Vision of Learning, a style designed to more deeply engage students and give them more voice in what they study. Students in grades 1-8 will give demonstrations when their portion of the Summer Learning Experience ends July 29.
Craig Ferguson is a multiple Grammy nominated, Peabody and Emmy Award-winning actor, writer, producer, director and comedian with a diverse career that encompasses film, television and the stage. He is a New York Times bestselling author and has recorded numerous standup specials for Netflix, Epix, Comedy Central and Amazon, and will be bringing his Fancy Rascal Tour to Playhouse Square Sunday, September 18.
The wildly popular Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson ran on CBS for ten years and remains a cult favorite on YouTube racking up millions of views every year on fan posted bootleg clips.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Ferguson got his start in the entertainment industry as a drummer for some of the worst punk bands in the U.K. Following his musical stint, he began bartending in a local pub in Glasgow where he was introduced to Sir Michael Boyd, the artistic director of The Tron Theatre in Glasgow, who persuaded Ferguson to try acting. After several low paying acting gigs, Ferguson discovered he had a knack for comedy and was soon the star of his own BBC television show, “The Ferguson Theory.” After several stints on the UK comedy circuit, Ferguson brought his act to America in 1995 to star with Betty White and Marie Osmond in the short-lived ABC comedy, “Maybe This Time.” After the show ended, ABC decided to add the talented Scotsman to “The Drew Carey Show,” playing Drew Carey’s boss, ‘Nigel Wick,’ from 1996-2003. In 2016, Ferguson debuted his original History Channel show, “Join or Die,” which featured him and his celebrity friends debating provocative topics with history experts. He also hosted Celebrity Name Game in syndication where he won the Emmy for best host two years in a row and The Hustler for ABC/Disney.
Ferguson has written the feature films “The Big Tease” and “Saving Grace”. In 2003, he made his directorial debut with “I’ll Be There,” which he also wrote and starred in. “I’ll Be There” went on to receive the Audience Award for Best Film at the Aspen, Dallas, and Valencia film festivals. Craig was also named “best new director” at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Ferguson’s other film credits include, “Niagra Motel,” “Lenny the Wonder Dog,” “Prendimi l’anima,” “Life Without Dick,” “Chain of Fools” and “Born Romantic.” In 2011, Ferguson portrayed ‘Owl’ in the Disney classic “Winnie the Pooh,” and in 2012 he portrayed ‘Lord Macintosh’ in Disney’s Oscar winning animated feature “Brave.” He also voices Gobber in the hugely successful How To Train Your Dragon movies.
Ferguson has achieved notable success on the North American comedy circuit and has performed to sold-out theaters all across the country, including Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. He has five widely acclaimed stand-up comedy specials: “A Wee Bit O’ Revolution” which premiere in 2009 on Comedy Central; “Does This Need to Be Said” in 2011 on EPIX and Comedy Central; “I’m Here to Help” in 2013 on Netflix, which earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album; “Just Being Honest” in 2015 on EPIX, which earned him a second Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album; and “Tickle Fight” in 2017 on Netflix and the six part stand up/docu-series “Hobo Fabulous” on Amazon in 2020.
In 2006, Ferguson debuted his first novel entitled Between the Bridge and the River, which made it onto the bestseller list. In 2008, Ferguson succeeded in becoming a US Citizen. His first gig as a new American was hosting the White House Correspondence Dinner in the company of President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Critics raved of his witty and comical deliverance speech to the 3,000 attendees who included political journalists, celebrities, and Washington’s power players. In 2009, Harper Collins published Ferguson’s memoir American on Purpose – a book about why and how late night funnyman Craig Ferguson became an American. The book was listed on the New York Times bestseller list. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word.
His most recent book Riding the Elephant- a series of linked biographical stories- is available from Penguin books.
The Akron Civic Theatre will celebrate Spirits of the Civic: The Venetian Ball, presented by the Akron Civic Theatre Women’s Guild and PNC Bank, on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. The theater’s annual gala, this year with a Venetian masquerade theme, begins with a private cocktail reception at 5:30 PM, followed by a delightfully immersive gala for all guests, including dinner and entertainment, beginning at 6:30 PM. Tickets are on sale now at www.AkronCivic.com or by calling the Civic at 330-535-3179 ext. 212.
Tickets are $250 for the 5:30 PM VIP Reception and 6:30 PM Immersive Gala or $150 for the Immersive Gala only. Proceeds from the event support the theater’s Access for All noncommercial programming and free ticket distribution to economically challenged families and seniors. Guests are invited to step back in time to Venice, where the masquerade was born. An elegant, enchanting and mysteriously magical evening awaits, full of ancient traditions and delights for all of the senses.
“Your transformation begins!” Guests don their masks, assume their anonymity and enter a magical and mysterious world of wandering performers and intriguing happenings. During Act I, they’ll sip on signature cocktails (The Illusion and The Wingéd Lion) and enjoy hors d’oeuvres. In the Grand Lobby, it’s Italian arias. In the Knight Stage, Alla Boara plays ancient Italian folk songs. In the Arcade, the auction invites guests to indulge in pleasures of all kind. This year’s auction items include opportunities for travel, unique local experiences and guitars signed by Aaron Lewis, Clint Black, Dream Theater, Little Feat, Tedeschi Trucks, Tom Keifer and more !
Act II opens with an elegant strolling dinner inspired by the Italian cuisine of D’Agnese’s Trattoria. During Act III, guests will dance the night away under the stars on the Civic stage or partake in karaoke in the Knight Stage. A decadent array of desserts and delicious coffees and a perfect ending to an amazing evening!
This year’s Spirits of the Civic: The Venetian Ball is sponsored by the following: DIAMOND: Akron Civic Theatre Women’s Guild and PNC RUBY: Akron Children’s Hospital; GPD Group; Knox Marketing; Maynard Family Foundation; Roetzel; and Thomarios Inc.
EMERALD: Lisa Zeno Carano; Great Lakes Honda; Greater Akron Chamber; Leaf; Metis Construction Services; Joe & Kirby Palmisano; State & Federal Communications, Inc.; Synthomer; United Way of Summit & Medina; and The University of Akron
PEARL: Harwick Standard; Huntington National Bank; Nick Nicholis & Jennifer Schuster; Ralph &Barb Palmisano; STEERE Enterprises; and Welty Building Company
CRYSTAL: Akron Community Foundation; Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau; The Berroteran Group; Fifth Third Bank; Lake Erie Electric, Inc.; SRT; and Roger Stevenson
The full schedule is available at www.akroncivic.com . Tickets and information are available in person at The Civic Box Office Monday thru Friday from 10 am – 4 pm.
