Featured Stories

The urban landscape: A photo essay of Cleveland neighborhoods
The City of Cleveland celebrated its 225th birthday earlier this year, marking changes to the city skyline and the overall landscape. Managing photographer Bob Perkoski captures the art in Cleveland's urban scenery. 
Reforestation run: Holden Forests & Gardens wraps up a busy season of planting trees
In February, Holden Forests & Gardens launched the People for Trees campaign with the goal of planting 15,000 trees by 2025 to save Northeast Ohio’s dwindling tree canopy. As planting season comes to a close, Holden is on the fast track to reaching that goal.
Healing the wounds: Garden of Eleven Angels brings hope to a deeply scarred neighborhood
It has been 12 years since the discovery of the remains of 11 women who were murdered by Anthony Sowell. Last weekend, hundreds of people came together to celebrate a peaceful, beautiful space that honors the 11 angels and signifies a hopeful future for the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.
Voices from the Edge: Literary Cleveland publishes writings of essential workers during pandemic
Earlier this year Literary Cleveland held writing workshops with 60 essential workers so they could bond and share in writing their feelings and experiences about the pandemic. "Voices from the Edge" launches today.
Leading the way: Cleveland Clinic focuses research on both current and future pandemics
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for extensive research and innovation to treat both the current and future health pandemics. With its Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, Cleveland Clinic is at the forefront to find treatments and cures for infectious diseases.
Rock Hall induction: Brushes with music legends from behind the scenes
From the media room in the underbelly of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, writer Erin O'Brien and FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski share some behind the scenes moments from the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony last Saturday, Oct. 30.
Past due: Cleveland mayoral candidates asked to take a stand on renters’ rights on Day One
A coalition of housing advocates and area organizations is asking Cleveland mayoral candidates Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley to support renter protection legislation. 
Building community: University Settlement continues its Broadway Rising vision
From a new home for University Settlement and lots of affordable housing, to lead abatement and removal of asthma triggers, the Broadway Rising project in Slavic Village is on the move to improving one of Cleveland's poorest neighborhoods.
Photos: Rounding out the Towpath Trilogy with a marathon on the Towpath Trail
More than 650 runners came out for the 29th annual Towpath Marathon on Saturday, Oct. 9. FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski caught all the action along the course. Check out his photos here. 
Deeply engaged: How CDCs are knocking down barriers to voting on Tuesday
With less than one week until election day, Community Development Corporations  are pulling out all the stops to get voters to the polls—from translating voting guides and hosting candidates forums, to voter registration and education drives and even free rides to the polls.
Growing up green: Rid-All to start urban nursery in effort to preserve tree canopy
With Northeast Ohio's tree canopy diminishing, the Cleveland Tree Coalition aims to rebuild the canopy to 30% by 2040 by planting up to 30,000 trees a year. Rid-All Green Partnership has joined the fight by starting an urban tree nursery that will ultimately produce 7,000 container trees annually.

 
Unpacked bags: Darius Steward paints city with messages of love, family, acceptance
Artist and teacher Darius Steward spent his summer creating art in a variety of media across the city. Now he has his sights set on opening a student creation hub in his native East Cleveland.
Unidos por el Arte shines light on local Latinx artists
Now in its third year, Julia de Burgos' Unidos por el Arte program uses Cuyahoga Arts & Culture grant money to funds projects by local Latinx artists.
CONVERGE: the LGBTQ arts event in photos
The CONVERGE visual arts exhibition is drawing to a close Saturday. FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski documented the massive arts event dedicated to LGBTQ art and artists. 
Caring for the vulnerable: The impact of COVID-19 on mental health in teens and seniors
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a widespread impact on everyone's mental health, but children and seniors are especially vulnerable to anxiety, isolation, and depression during this time. Cleveland Clinic doctors provide some advice on how to protect our loved ones.
Lights up on Cleveland Play House: Theater is ready to raise the curtain after a long, dark period
Eighteen months after going dark because of the pandemic, the Cleveland Play House is getting ready to raise the curtain this month. Read about what theater life was like while the curtain was down.
Making connections: Cleveland takes aim at digital divide
We're living in a digital age, but there continues to be a growing divergence between the haves and have-nots, with those who have internet access those who do not. DigitalC is trying to close that digital divide.
Rolling on the river: Head of the Cuyahoga photo essay
More than 1,400 rowers came out for the Cleveland Rowing Foundation’s 25th annual Head of Cuyahoga in the Flats on Saturday, Sep. 18. FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski shares the event in this photo essay.
Bringing home the gold: Cleveland Metroparks honored as nation's top park system
This week the Cleveland Metroparks celebrated its recognition as the nation’s best park system when it was awarded the 2021 National Gold Medal “Best in Nation” Award for Excellence in Parks and Recreation Management at the National Recreation and Park Association conference.
Starving artists: COVID-19 continues to impact arts and culture as we try to return to normal
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate the creative community and they aren’t making up lost ground. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is doing its best to help its grant recipients regain their footing and adapt to new programming tactics.