Karin Connelly Rice
Stories by: Karin Connelly Rice
Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 30 years she has reported on local community members and businesses for publications such as Inside Business, Cleveland Magazine, the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood, and the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water Rice focuses on Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing Cleveland—especially those making positive changes in the city's underserved neighborhoods.
Cleveland Public Theatre’s 22nd annual Dia De Muertos ce lebration returns to the Gordon Square Arts Districtwith traditional altars honoring loved ones, Aztec dancers, performances, and a parade. This year’s gathering also brings Jewish and Palestinian communities together through new altars that reflect the universal power of remembrance and the hope for peace.
More than 200 paintings, drawings, photographs, and archival objects at the Maltz Museum reveal how artist and Holocaust survivor Boris Lurie confronted the trauma of imprisonment and the murder of his family through art. The exhibit features deeply personal works, many never publicly seen in his lifetime, and traces his efforts to preserve the memory of the Holocaust.
Three of the youngest Holocaust survivors will share their stories of survival and resilience at a sold-out Cuyahoga County Public Library event moderated by author Wendy Holden. CCPL Board of Trustees President Patty Shlonsky explains how hearing their firsthand accounts can deepen understanding, build empathy, and connect communities through history.
Cleveland’s historic cemeteries preserve stories of baseball history, civil rights, and the workers who built the Ohio & Erie Canal. Canalway’s third annual Buried History Days, Oct. 22-25, features cemetery tours, hikes, and a presentation exploring the lives and fates of canal workers.
Fall and winter weather can reveal problems around a home that are harder to spot during warmer months—and homeowners don't necessarily have to wait until spring to address them. Experts from Great Day Improvements brands Universal Windows Direct and Leafguard offer tips for spotting window, gutter, and water-management issues and explain why colder weather can be a good time to tackle some exterior home improvement projects.
University Circle Inc. is now University Circle Alliance, reflecting the nonprofit’s evolution from a focus on land development to a broader role connecting the institutions, businesses, civic partners, and residents that shape the district. The new name reinforces the organization’s commitment to collaboration, community engagement, and improving connections throughout University Circle.
Free pumpkins, polka music, costume contests with cash prizes, food trucks, and Jimmy Buffett tribute band Cheeseburger in Paradise are just part of the City of South Euclid’s October Feast on Oct. 24. The free family-friendly festival moves to the South Euclid Food Truck Park this year, with local vendors, kids’ activities, One South Euclid's costume contests, and plenty of fall fun.
Danielle Sydnor grew up in her family’s printing business, while business partner Quentin James watched his father build a courier company from a pickup truck into a thriving business. Now, the two are bringing their families’ entrepreneurial legacies together with Minuteman Press Cleveland, a new downtown printing business that is carrying the tradition into the next generation.
Andrew Wyeth may be best known for his tempera paintings, but watercolor was a constant throughout his career. “Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern American Watercolor” at the Cleveland Museum of Art explores Wyeth's lifelong relationship with watercolor through nearly 75 works, including pieces rarely or never seen by the public.
Since 1976, Towards Employment has helped Clevelanders overcome barriers, build skills, and pursue careers. As the organization celebrates its golden anniversary, it’s looking back at the people and partnerships that shaped its legacy—and looking ahead to the next 50 years of opportunity.
A 1970s disco prom at Cuyahoga County Public Library’s South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch shows how the Memory Cafe uses music, movement, and social connection to engage older adults—including those experiencing memory loss. The monthly program, a partnership between CCPL and the Cleveland Clinic, offers activities for participants, caregivers, and anyone looking to stay active and connected.
The new 2.7-mile Mandel Community Trail gives Cleveland cyclists and pedestrians an off-road connection between downtown and the city’s east side lakefront. The trail fills a decade-old gap in the regional bike network, linking neighborhoods like St. Clair-Superior and Glenville to lakefront parks, marinas, cultural destinations, and trails extending toward University Circle and the Heights.
When Jon Kozesky and Amber Toth say “I do” at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this Saturday, they’ll also be celebrating the nonprofit they work together to support. Instead of a traditional wedding registry, the Fairview Park couple is asking friends, family, and the community to support The Littlest Heroes Pediatric Cancer Foundation, with a goal of raising more than $100,000 for Northeast Ohio families battling childhood cancer.
EDWINS owner Brandon Chrostowski will make his fifth humanitarian mission to Ukraine Oct. 5, joining an ambulance convoy before continuing his hands-on work. His Sept. 30 fundraiser at EDWINS has already raised $18,000 toward a $25,000 goal.
Afro hair is beautiful, diverse, and, according to Cleveland Heights cosmetologist Ladosha Wright, often misunderstood. World Afro Day Cleveland returns Saturday, Sept. 19 with hands-on hair-care demonstrations, practical tips, giveaways, music, dancing, and a Biggest Afro Contest, all built around one message: “Your Hair Is KNOT the Problem.”
It survived a century, a devastating Akron church fire and a painstaking restoration. Now, a 109-year-old Tiffany stained-glass window is the centerpiece of “Higher Ground,” a new Peg’s Gallery exhibit in Hudson that explores resilience, recovery, transformation, and new beginnings.
Strongsville native Wilbert L. Cooper’s book, “The Black Shield,” combines memoir, history and journalism to explore three generations of Black police officers in his family and the history of race, policing. and power in Cleveland. Cooper will discuss the book at Cuyahoga County Public Library’s South Euclid-Lyndhurst Branch on Sept. 17 and at Visible Voice Books on Sept. 18.
Dress designer Kori Brightharp turned a passion for sewing into a growing dress design business with help from the Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Warrensville Heights Innovation Center. From mentors and fellow creators to access to equipment and customers, the Innovation Center has helped Brightharp build her skills, expand her business, and inspire the next generation of young designers.
Cleveland Oktoberfest returns to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Friday for six days over two weekends. The popular event offers German traditions, beer, food, live music, and plenty of new attractions.
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s annual Exploration fundraiser invites guests to rediscover the magic of camp while supporting the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center. The Sept. 26 event features outdoor experiences, a family-style dinner by Chef Vinnie Cimino and opportunities to support immersive nature-based education for thousands of Northeast Ohio students.