FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.

The Maltz Museum In April hosted its 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out contest winners at the Cuyahoga Community College. FreshWater is publishing the essays and poems of six selected winners who stand up to hate and discrimination.

FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.

FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.

Lake Erie Ink's ninth annual teen anthology, "Hide & Seek," celebrates the creative works of Northeast Ohio students and curated and produced by a team of teen editors. The anthology features a diverse range of genres including fiction, poetry, and visual art.

Cleveland Chain Reaction, the annual pitch competition organized by the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Council of Smaller Enterprises, is now accepting applications for its eighth season.

City Fresh, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making fresh, local produce more accessible, is hosting its second annual Open House and Plant Sale at the George Jones Memorial Farm in Oberlin. The event offers visitors the opportunity to tour the farm, meet new farmers, and purchase garden-ready plants while learning about City Fresh's community-supported agriculture program and mission to improve food access in Northeast Ohio.

The Teen Writers' Symposium, organized by Lake Erie Ink and Cleveland State University's English Department, is designed to inspire young writers with interactive workshops, panel discussions, and meet-and-greets with acclaimed local and regional authors. The event will cover various genres including poetry, fiction, fantasy, and graphic novels, and a chance to connect with like-minded peers.

The steel steamer Western Reserve, which sank in 1892 , was recently discovered in Lake Superior by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, using side-scan sonar technology. Cleveland Masterworks writer Tom Matowitz shared the story of the ill-fated Western Reserve and its sister ship the W. H. Gilcher in 2023.

The eighth annual The Big Clean event in April 26 will pit Euclid against Collinwood in a friendly competition to collect the most bags of trash. About 200 volunteers are expected to participate in the cleanup and an eco-fair to foster community spirit, promote environmental awareness, contribute to cleaner neighborhoods, and a healthier Lake Erie.

The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) Library will reopen this Thursday after an 18-month closure from a September 2023 fire. Swift action by WRHS staff and collaboration with restoration experts Belfor Property Restoration and The Conservation Center allowed for a total restoration.

FreshWater Cleveland thought we’d remind our readers of the 1917 colonial revival home and 100-acre estate of Frances Payne Bolton—known as Franchester—which has become a source for much speculation in recent years, as portions of the original property have been sold, demolished, or put on the market. Tom Matowitz wrote about Bolton in his March 2022 Masterworks article “Frances Payne Bolton: Nursing advocate, Congresswoman, Franchester Estate owner,” and we think it deserves another look.

The Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, joining an elite group of only 3% of U.S. museums to receive this recognition. The rigorous accreditation process highlights WRHS' commitment to excellence in education, collection stewardship, and community engagement.

A group of 10 teenage designers recently participated in a graphic design clinic as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers' "Bigger than Basketball" initiative. The students designed warm-up shirts worn by the Cleveland Charge, the NBA G League affiliate of the Cavs, during their final home game of the season.

Broadband connectivity company and cable operator Spectrum, has donated $15,000 to five organizations in Northeast Ohio through its Spectrum Employee Community Grants program. The grants, ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, will support various community initiatives including food distribution, veteran assistance, and clothing provision for low-income individuals.

The Soldiers' & Sailors' Monument in Public Square has announced its spring calendar of events, featuring both new and returning activities. Highlights include the popular Tunnel Tours in April, a Veterans' Mental Health Fair in May, and the dedication of the new Harvey the Civil War Dog statue—culminating in a Memorial Day observance at the end of May.

The City of South Euclid will host its inaugural Career Fair this Thursday, March 20, featuring more than 15 local businesses and city departments. The free event, held at South Euclid City Hall, aims to connect job seekers with potential employers and provide professional resources.

Just in time for Easter, Malley's Chocolates and Heinen's Grocery Stores have partnered to offer a selection of Malley's products in Heinen's stores. The collaboration brings together two family-owned brands with a combined 186 years of history in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Foundation announced the finalists in the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards for the first time in its 90-year history. Ten books addressing racism and cultural diversity have been selected in four categories. The winners will be revealed in April, with additional celebrations planned for Cleveland Book Week in the fall.

The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes and Shaker Historical Society are hosting a Historic Homes Tour, showcasing four homes along the Shaker Parklands. The event celebrates the preservation of green space following the successful "Freeway Fighters" campaign in the 1960s that prevented the construction of highways through Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights.