The newest addition to downtown Euclid is the first board game parlor on Cleveland's east side.

Meet three Euclidians helping to shift the narrative for a city in transition.

With ambitious waterfront improvements, the opening of the Amazon fulfillment center, and five opportunity zones in flux, all eyes seem to be on Euclid as it charts its next steps in reclaiming its status as a thriving inner-ring suburb.

Money and time are running out to renovate or demolish blighted homes in Cleveland and its inner suburbs, but thousands remain.

If she could afford a car, Antaneshia Fletcher could drive to her job at Bloom Bakery in less than 20 minutes. Instead, she rises at 4:30 am every day so she can spend two hours taking the two bus routes necessary to travel from her home in Euclid to the store near the Cleveland State University campus by 6:30 am.

Fresh Water's monthly "Free Stamp" feature rounds up the freshest free events in Cleveland. Check out the May lineup here!

As part of our editorial calendar for FreshWater, we select a different theme to highlight each month in line with our 15 focus areas (which range from social change to technology). For March, we're turning our lens on Design + Build—find out what's on the FreshWater team's radar right now.

Since the first event was held in 2015, the Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition has definitely made an indelible mark on Cleveland—from "give boxes" in the North Collinwood and Central neighborhoods to special needs toy libraries at Lake County libraries to a vibrant new mural in Slavic Village.
 

Anyone who set foot in the Beachland Ballroom last Saturday might have thought the rumors of print media's demise have been greatly exaggerated. At the sold-out Concert for Truth, more than 450 people gathered to show their support for local journalism and those who bring us the news every day. The event featured 11 local musicians who volunteered their time and talents to raise about $5,000 for the 24 Plain Dealer employees who are being laid off after March.

For many Clevelanders, memories of bygone E. 185th St. conjure up visions of its epic annual street festival, movies at the La Salle, and bike rides down to the lake. Debra Drobnick is no exception. Born and raised in Euclid, Drobnick has fond recollections of growing up just one street away, so it's rather poetic that she's now a vital part of the street's renaissance as one of the forces behind uber-popular Irie Jamaican Kitchen.

It's easy to assume that with fewer bicyclists on the roads Bike Cleveland might slow down when the temperature drops. In fact, the cycling advocacy group is in the midst of a busy month with its 2018 Strategic Summit and Cranksgiving Cleveland events.

For Euclid residents, Lake Erie has always been something of a shimmering mirage: a beautiful resource always within sight, but perpetually just out of reach. After all, Euclid—one of six lakefront communities in Cuyahoga County—has four miles of shoreline, but 94 percent of that number is privately held by homeowners.

However, that elusive status is about to change after the Euclid City Council’s vote to move forward with Phase II of its Waterfront Improvement Plan.

Just a few months ago, Give Box CLE was an idea. Now, six of the Little Free Library-style boxes are painted and ready to be installed throughout Cleveland’s East Side neighborhoods—but instead of books, they offer non-perishable goods, personal care items, toiletries, and other daily necessities.

More than 100 gatherings took place yesterday as part of Cleveland Foundation’s second annual Common Ground event—a series of meaningful community conversations across Cuyahoga, Lake, and Geauga counties. FreshWater Cleveland was honored to host its own installment: “Who are the people in your neighborhood?” Hosted at the Baseball Heritage Museum, the conversation was geared at connecting with neighborhood changemakers and helping bring their stories to the forefront.

Ahhh, to be a kid again—if only to experience the ridiculously cool summer camps available around Cleveland. From golf games to wizardly fun, these six camps go well beyond the traditional to offer unique and unforgettable experiences for local youth.

For many people, the question “Where do you see yourself in five years?” can be a real brainteaser. But Bike Euclid president Kath Sonnhalter knows exactly what she wants—especially as it pertains to creating a safer and more inviting environment for local biking enthusiasts.
 

From Brownie cameras to vintage typewriters, it’s a veritable treasure trove of unique finds and period pieces at the Cleveland Prop Shop—a 1,200-square-foot warehouse space located near I-90 in Euclid. Local prop master Monica Plunkett opened the appointment-only shop last fall to accommodate the city’s theatre scene and what she calls a “growing film presence in Cleveland.”