Lakewood

Online boutique Mapachas focuses on eco-friendly goods
From baby clothes to candles and handmade homewares, Mapachas focuses on conscious consumerism with local, eco-friendly products. 
Thinking outside of the (cookie) box: Girl Scouts get innovative during pandemic

Cleveland-area Girl Scout troops are getting creative in making socially distanced cookie sales this yearsetting up drive-through booths, printing door hangers with online QR codes, and even selling online.

A major transportation makeover for West 25th Street is taking shape
RTA is leading the final stage of 25 Connects—a plan to redevelop West 25th Street between the West Side Market and the MetroHealth campus for a more transit-oriented district.
On the rise: Mapleside Farms owner Greg Clement launches outRise app for adventures near and far
Greg Clement's outRise app invites users to find, create, and share life's experiences—whether they're in one's own backyard or on the other side of the world. 
Food withdrawal: GO Buddha makes plant-based eating as easy as going to the ATM
Joshua Ingraham is blending his background in functional medicine and his culinary skills to serve vegan snacks and meals 24/7 at a self-serve  kiosk in his GO Buddha restaurant. 
Geiger’s calling it quits downtown, for now
The Geiger's Stores family yesterday announced they will officially close the doors on its downtown Cleveland location—unable to continue with the lack of downtown activity because of COVID-19. 
Building Bridges: Local professionals fill the gaps in community leadership
Designed for enthusiastic individuals who are not content with sitting on the sidelines, Bridge Builders is a group of professionals who are keen on becoming community leaders.
2020 in review: A strange and difficult year, but also a year of hope and progress
Most people would agree, 2020 has been a difficult year. But Northeast Ohio has also witnessed some bright spots amid the darkness. Here's a look back at FreshWater Cleveland's most-read stories of 2020.
Suburban minority restaurant owners look to funding to keep doors open
The pandemic has hit the restaurant industry particularly hard, and even with $7.5 million in Cuyahoga County CARES act funding set aside for small business, many minority-owned suburban eateries are struggling to stay in their communities.  
Going with their Gut: HGTV's newest stars are from right here in Cleveland
The Wall Street Journal christened Cleveland a "house-flipping hotspot" this summer, but that wasn’t exactly news for Relief Properties' Darren and Kate Mancuso. As stars of the new HGTV show “Gut Job,” they’ve been in the local real estate game for more than a decade.
Access to adventure: Lakewood couple launches store with secondhand outdoor retail, nature workshops
The Cleveland Outpost's mission is to make outdoor adventure attainable for everyone. The new store offers used equipment, workshops, and other programs to eliminate the barriers to enjoying everything Cleveland's trails and shores have to offer.
Changing course: Newly minted suburban mayors chart new territory during pandemic
Fairview Park Mayor Patrick Cooney and Lakewood Mayor Meghan George took their oaths to office on the first day of 2020, only to face the onset of the coronavirus. The two rookies have weathered the storm and proven themselves worthy, even in the worst of times. 
Two suburban school districts finalize facilities master plans during uncertain times
With shrinking populations and more community need, Lakewood and Shaker Heights School Districts are completing facilities master plans to accommodate students and residents—just in time to ponder the reopening of the schools during a pandemic.
Crunching for a cause: A mother launches granola business to keep her family healthy
In an effort to find a healthy snack for her three children, Amy Witzigreuter mastered the art of making a tasty, easy-to-digest granola. Two years after launching Witzi's Raw Granola, customers throughout Ohio can't stop eating the five varieties she cranks out of her St. Clair Superior neighborhood kitchen.
Welcome to the Gayborhood: A 100,000-sq-ft LGBT hub is taking shape on the edge of Lakewood
Developers Daniel Budish and Betsy Figgie plan to open an enormous LGBTQ ecosystem that will house everything from apartments and an athletic complex to a multi-faceted entertainment and retail hub.
Lakewood High School students and grads raise their voices against racism
Lakewood High School students came together last week to raise awareness of the issues surrounding race and racism in their community.
Taking it to the street: Cleveland Heights considers loosening outdoor dining and entertainment laws
As restaurants and bars re-open, Cleveland Heights business owners and city officials are working together to come up with new ways to social distance while mingling outside. 
Bottoms up! Couple starts nonprofit cocktail delivery business to aid frontline workers
Dave Ocker and Kyah Fernandez lost their restaurant jobs after COVID-19 hit. But saw it as an opportunity to start a nonprofit cocktail delivery company that benefits first responders on the frontline.
'Essential care' providers needed as Cuyahoga County group home residents stay in#COVID-19
The coronavirus crisis is shutting programs and jobs down. So people are spending more time at home, including at Welcome House's 48 residential group homes, where they need to hire 40 to 60 temporary positions to meet the sudden demand.
Beck Center raises the roof on renovations to 100-year-old Lakewood campus
Improving accessibility and energy efficiency are the main reasons that Lakewood's Beck Center for the Arts is working to raise $5.7 million.