Stories
Theravasc, a Cleveland based research and development company that focuses on repurposing existing drugs for other uses, has just completed a phase I clinical trial on reversing the effects of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in diabetic patients.
Patients with PAD have in the past had little hope for treatment, let alone a cure – until Theravasc started researching the effect of a drug used to treat cyanide poisoning. The drug, called TV1001, showed promise in the trial, which included 12 diabetic patients.
“People with PAD can’t walk and are in pain, and there’s nothing doctors can do,” explains Tony Giordano, Theravasc president and CEO. “This drug causes new blood vessels to grow in that leg, and only that leg. In animal studies it was doing exactly what we wanted it to do.”
The next step is a IIA trial followed by a third trial, to test the effects of giving the drug chronically. Giordano says if all goes well, TV1001 would hit the market in 2015. He thinks about his father-in-law and a 84-year old Shreveport, LA woman who was ranked seven on the tennis circuit – both affected by PAD – when he thinks about the positive possibilities of the drug.
“I think there’s a high likelihood that we’re going to see success in humans,” Giordano says. “I think this is going to work, and I know this is not going to hurt them. It will give them an opportunity to lead a better life and start walking again. I’m excited about that.”
Source: Tony Giordano
Writer: Karin Connelly
Patients with PAD have in the past had little hope for treatment, let alone a cure – until Theravasc started researching the effect of a drug used to treat cyanide poisoning. The drug, called TV1001, showed promise in the trial, which included 12 diabetic patients.
“People with PAD can’t walk and are in pain, and there’s nothing doctors can do,” explains Tony Giordano, Theravasc president and CEO. “This drug causes new blood vessels to grow in that leg, and only that leg. In animal studies it was doing exactly what we wanted it to do.”
The next step is a IIA trial followed by a third trial, to test the effects of giving the drug chronically. Giordano says if all goes well, TV1001 would hit the market in 2015. He thinks about his father-in-law and a 84-year old Shreveport, LA woman who was ranked seven on the tennis circuit – both affected by PAD – when he thinks about the positive possibilities of the drug.
“I think there’s a high likelihood that we’re going to see success in humans,” Giordano says. “I think this is going to work, and I know this is not going to hurt them. It will give them an opportunity to lead a better life and start walking again. I’m excited about that.”
Source: Tony Giordano
Writer: Karin Connelly
Quality Electrodynamics (QED) was one of the local recipients of Ohio Third Frontier funding for the development of an imaging system that will improve the way doctors evaluate whether a kidney is viable for donation.
The Cleveland-based company, working with the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological Institute, CWRU, Toshiba Medical Systems and Canon, received $1 million for the development of specialty MRI coils for imaging donor kidneys before transplant to determine viability.
Currently, potentially viable kidneys are sometimes rejected for transplant, or there are complications after transplant. This technology will improve the chances of success as well as reduce the number of kidneys that are thrown away.
“The program will result in a turnkey system of equipment, analysis software and clinical protocols which will be marketed to transplant centers on a worldwide basis,” says John L. Patrick, chief technical marketing officer for QED.
“Recipients of kidneys from deceased donors would benefit in several ways: Higher confidence level that the transplanted kidney can be viable and better knowledge of its condition; increase of transplanted kidneys by reducing the number of viable kidneys discarded will increase the number of patients able to benefit from transplantation.”
Patrick says the technology should be on the market in less than two years, depending on how clinical trials go. QED expects to begin hiring additional people for development of the technology in the next few months.
“In the proposal we stated that 38 jobs would be created at QED within 3 years,” says Patrick. “In fact, we believe that number to be quite conservative.”
Source: John L. Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
The Cleveland-based company, working with the Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological Institute, CWRU, Toshiba Medical Systems and Canon, received $1 million for the development of specialty MRI coils for imaging donor kidneys before transplant to determine viability.
Currently, potentially viable kidneys are sometimes rejected for transplant, or there are complications after transplant. This technology will improve the chances of success as well as reduce the number of kidneys that are thrown away.
“The program will result in a turnkey system of equipment, analysis software and clinical protocols which will be marketed to transplant centers on a worldwide basis,” says John L. Patrick, chief technical marketing officer for QED.
“Recipients of kidneys from deceased donors would benefit in several ways: Higher confidence level that the transplanted kidney can be viable and better knowledge of its condition; increase of transplanted kidneys by reducing the number of viable kidneys discarded will increase the number of patients able to benefit from transplantation.”
Patrick says the technology should be on the market in less than two years, depending on how clinical trials go. QED expects to begin hiring additional people for development of the technology in the next few months.
“In the proposal we stated that 38 jobs would be created at QED within 3 years,” says Patrick. “In fact, we believe that number to be quite conservative.”
Source: John L. Patrick
Writer: Karin Connelly
in preparation for sale, contents of pnc smarthome up for bid
For the past four months, visitors to the PNC SmartHome exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History enjoyed a prototype of an ultra energy-efficient abode that stays comfy year-round without need of a furnace. In Cleveland.
In preparation for the home's move and eventual sale, many of the interior artwork and furnishings -- much of it sustainably produced -- will be offered for sale to the public. Designed by Cleveland-based Doty & Miller Architects, the house was as attractive inside and out as it is green.
Items include work by artists such as Susie Frazier, Judith Brandon, Nicole McGee, Liz Maugans and Charlotte Lees.
The sale will be help Sunday, October 9, noon to 4 p.m.
For a more info, including a list of items up for sale, visit here.
In preparation for the home's move and eventual sale, many of the interior artwork and furnishings -- much of it sustainably produced -- will be offered for sale to the public. Designed by Cleveland-based Doty & Miller Architects, the house was as attractive inside and out as it is green.
Items include work by artists such as Susie Frazier, Judith Brandon, Nicole McGee, Liz Maugans and Charlotte Lees.
The sale will be help Sunday, October 9, noon to 4 p.m.
For a more info, including a list of items up for sale, visit here.
cleveland's chris hodgson classy to the very end, says usa today
Each week for the past two months, Cleveland food truck fans -- and even those who aren't -- ardently followed Chris Hodgson on the Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race." During the show, the local chef competed against other national food truck operators for the grand prize of $100,000.
Hodgson, as we all know by now, made it all the way to the final episode. His truck, Hodge Podge, as we also know by now, was bested by Lime Truck.
In this item on the USA Today blog Pop Candy, writer Whitney Matheson says that she was particularly moved by Hodgson's class up to and including the very end.
"I thought it was particularly moving when chef Chris Hodge (sic) noted that, because of the competition,'Me and my sister got closer, me and my girlfriend got closer -- (and that's) the greatest win of my life.'"
Read it all here.
Hodgson, as we all know by now, made it all the way to the final episode. His truck, Hodge Podge, as we also know by now, was bested by Lime Truck.
In this item on the USA Today blog Pop Candy, writer Whitney Matheson says that she was particularly moved by Hodgson's class up to and including the very end.
"I thought it was particularly moving when chef Chris Hodge (sic) noted that, because of the competition,'Me and my sister got closer, me and my girlfriend got closer -- (and that's) the greatest win of my life.'"
Read it all here.
rust belt edging out sun belt in recovery, says ny times
"Unemployment in the South is now higher than it is in the Northeast and the Midwest, which include Rust Belt states that were struggling even before the recession," announces a recent article in the New York Times.
While unemployment figures are high nationwide, the finding is surprising given the fact that the South entered the recession with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. It now struggles with some of the highest rates according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Highlighting the fact that regions are recovering at different speeds, the Rust Belt is outpacing the Sun Belt in reducing joblessness.
Whether or not the trend is going to continue is unknown, of course.
“Because the recovery is so painfully slow, people may begin to think of the trends established during the recovery as normal,” Howard Wial, a Brookings fellow is quoted in the article. “Will people think of Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona as more or less permanently depressed? Think of the Great Lakes as being a renaissance region? I don’t know. It’s possible.”
Read the rest here.
While unemployment figures are high nationwide, the finding is surprising given the fact that the South entered the recession with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation. It now struggles with some of the highest rates according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Highlighting the fact that regions are recovering at different speeds, the Rust Belt is outpacing the Sun Belt in reducing joblessness.
Whether or not the trend is going to continue is unknown, of course.
“Because the recovery is so painfully slow, people may begin to think of the trends established during the recovery as normal,” Howard Wial, a Brookings fellow is quoted in the article. “Will people think of Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona as more or less permanently depressed? Think of the Great Lakes as being a renaissance region? I don’t know. It’s possible.”
Read the rest here.
OnShift has found its groove. The Cleveland company continues to build success as a software developer for the senior living market.
“We specialize in healthcare organizations who want to manage their staffing and labor costs,” says CEO Mark Woodka.
Tapping into the senior living market happened by accident for the company, which was founded in 2007.
“Our founder (Gene Groys) was building a communications platform and was hosting a dinner party when an administrator of the nursing home expressed an interest in it,” says Woodka.
OnShift launched their first product in 2009 and has been building momentum ever since. “Our business is growing,” says Woodka. “The market we sell to is under-served. Historically, our customers haven’t had the technology to manage their staffs. We were in the right place and the right time.”
OnShift had 175 customers by the end of 2010, and expects to grow to 600 by the end of this year. They just hired four people to their 32-person staff, still have six open positions in a range of fields, and expect to grow to 55 to 60 total by the end of 2012.
“We’re growing like gangbusters here,” says Woodka. “And we’re an incredibly fun place to work.”
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We specialize in healthcare organizations who want to manage their staffing and labor costs,” says CEO Mark Woodka.
Tapping into the senior living market happened by accident for the company, which was founded in 2007.
“Our founder (Gene Groys) was building a communications platform and was hosting a dinner party when an administrator of the nursing home expressed an interest in it,” says Woodka.
OnShift launched their first product in 2009 and has been building momentum ever since. “Our business is growing,” says Woodka. “The market we sell to is under-served. Historically, our customers haven’t had the technology to manage their staffs. We were in the right place and the right time.”
OnShift had 175 customers by the end of 2010, and expects to grow to 600 by the end of this year. They just hired four people to their 32-person staff, still have six open positions in a range of fields, and expect to grow to 55 to 60 total by the end of 2012.
“We’re growing like gangbusters here,” says Woodka. “And we’re an incredibly fun place to work.”
Source: Mark Woodka
Writer: Karin Connelly
Four Northeast Ohio organizations are one group of just 20 national winners of the Obama administration's $37 million Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge, a multi-agency competition to support the advancement of high-growth industry clusters across the country.
NorTech, JumpStart, MAGNET and Lorain County Community College came together to cooperatively apply for the $2 million grant that will help create jobs in the region. The program, the Northeast Ohio Speed-To-Market Accelerator (STMA), is designed to accelerate the speed-to-market for near-production or pilot-production prototypes in the advanced energy and flexible electronics industry clusters in Northeast Ohio.
The fact that the groups collaborated on the project is no surprise.
“There’s a history of organization in this region -- we work together collaboratively all the time,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “The fact that we already knew each other made it easy to identify the needs and work together on the proposal.”
Each organization will assist in its area of expertise, from company advising to workforce development. The STMA consists of three components, explains Byron Clayton, vice president of NorTech. “The first step is holding outreach workshops to let companies know the service areas we are targeting. The second step is one-on-one counseling and a path-to-market analysis. The third step is to deliver the services.”
Aside from offering expertise and guidance, the four groups plan to speed up the jobs creation process within new companies. “We are asking what can we do to help you to speed this process up,” says Clayton. “We’re working together as a region, as a network of nationally-recognized organizations.”
Sources: Cathy Belk, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
NorTech, JumpStart, MAGNET and Lorain County Community College came together to cooperatively apply for the $2 million grant that will help create jobs in the region. The program, the Northeast Ohio Speed-To-Market Accelerator (STMA), is designed to accelerate the speed-to-market for near-production or pilot-production prototypes in the advanced energy and flexible electronics industry clusters in Northeast Ohio.
The fact that the groups collaborated on the project is no surprise.
“There’s a history of organization in this region -- we work together collaboratively all the time,” says Cathy Belk, chief relationship officer with JumpStart. “The fact that we already knew each other made it easy to identify the needs and work together on the proposal.”
Each organization will assist in its area of expertise, from company advising to workforce development. The STMA consists of three components, explains Byron Clayton, vice president of NorTech. “The first step is holding outreach workshops to let companies know the service areas we are targeting. The second step is one-on-one counseling and a path-to-market analysis. The third step is to deliver the services.”
Aside from offering expertise and guidance, the four groups plan to speed up the jobs creation process within new companies. “We are asking what can we do to help you to speed this process up,” says Clayton. “We’re working together as a region, as a network of nationally-recognized organizations.”
Sources: Cathy Belk, Byron Clayton
Writer: Karin Connelly
china-based investment of $100m will go to american and cleveland biomeds
A new partnership between a leading China-based biomedical development company and the Cleveland Bio Fund (CbF) will result in a $100 million fund to invest in U.S companies, including those in Cleveland. The Cleveland Bio Fund will help identify and invest in small- to mid-size medical device companies looking to enter the Chinese market.
“[Cleveland Bio Fund] will provide both capital and know-how for device companies looking to expand their products into China. It is a unique boutique style investment strategy needed for that market,” explains Eddy Zai, CEO of CbF
Executives are traveling to Cleveland this week to meet local officials, tour the Health Tech Corridor, and meet with companies that could take advantage of this unique business model.
Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson welcomes the investment in Cleveland from China.
"Investments in the City of Cleveland are good, whether they are made locally or by foreign investors. We welcome the opportunity to partner with the Cleveland Bio Fund as it will better connect Cleveland to the global economy," said Mayor Frank Jackson.
Read the rest here.
“[Cleveland Bio Fund] will provide both capital and know-how for device companies looking to expand their products into China. It is a unique boutique style investment strategy needed for that market,” explains Eddy Zai, CEO of CbF
Executives are traveling to Cleveland this week to meet local officials, tour the Health Tech Corridor, and meet with companies that could take advantage of this unique business model.
Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson welcomes the investment in Cleveland from China.
"Investments in the City of Cleveland are good, whether they are made locally or by foreign investors. We welcome the opportunity to partner with the Cleveland Bio Fund as it will better connect Cleveland to the global economy," said Mayor Frank Jackson.
Read the rest here.
This week marks the first anniversary for Fresh Water. It feels like just yesterday that we sat down to map out what the first few weeks and months of our new publication would look like. From the start, Fresh Water wanted to highlight the game changers in our city who are striving to make Cleveland a better place to live, work and play. We feel we are doing that.
Thanks to the volunteers at this year's Cleveland GiveCamp, there is now a downloadable app for local foods information in Northeast Ohio. The free app brings together information on community gardens, orchards, farms, community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, U-pick locations, and farmers markets and stands into a single, easy-to-browse format.
Nicole Wright of the Ohio State University Extension Urban Agriculture Program says the Harvest NEO app is available on iTunes and will soon be available to Android users, too.
"It's a simple tool that brings together information on different types of local food locations," she says. "It generates a map based on your current location when it opens, and you can search either using the map or by an alphabetical listing."
The OSU Extension submitted an application for the Harvest NEO app to Cleveland GiveCamp earlier this year. The annual weekend event, whose tag line is "geeks in the home of rock and roll coding for charity," is part of a national effort to connect technology professionals with the needs of local nonprofits.
This year, Cleveland GiveCamp was held on July 29th at the offices of LeanDog and Arras, technology and marketing companies that are investing over $500,000 to renovate the former Hornblower's floating barge into state-of-the-art offices.
Wright says that OSU Extension will soon export a local foods map to its website so that the information is available in one place for web users, too. The nonprofit is also committed to improving the Harvest NEO app's functionality over time. Ideas for improvement include adding the ability to search by category.
"Hopefully, it is a tool that can help people become more involved and engaged with local foods, either by growing it or purchasing it," says Wright.
Source: Nicole Wright
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Nicole Wright of the Ohio State University Extension Urban Agriculture Program says the Harvest NEO app is available on iTunes and will soon be available to Android users, too.
"It's a simple tool that brings together information on different types of local food locations," she says. "It generates a map based on your current location when it opens, and you can search either using the map or by an alphabetical listing."
The OSU Extension submitted an application for the Harvest NEO app to Cleveland GiveCamp earlier this year. The annual weekend event, whose tag line is "geeks in the home of rock and roll coding for charity," is part of a national effort to connect technology professionals with the needs of local nonprofits.
This year, Cleveland GiveCamp was held on July 29th at the offices of LeanDog and Arras, technology and marketing companies that are investing over $500,000 to renovate the former Hornblower's floating barge into state-of-the-art offices.
Wright says that OSU Extension will soon export a local foods map to its website so that the information is available in one place for web users, too. The nonprofit is also committed to improving the Harvest NEO app's functionality over time. Ideas for improvement include adding the ability to search by category.
"Hopefully, it is a tool that can help people become more involved and engaged with local foods, either by growing it or purchasing it," says Wright.
Source: Nicole Wright
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Bizdom U, a business accelerator that trains, mentors and funds innovative, growth-oriented startup companies, kicks off its inaugural class in less than two weeks. Based on a similar program in Detroit that was launched three years ago by Quicken Loans owner Dan Gilbert, Bizdom U hopes to kindle a new wave of entrepreneurial spirit in Cleveland.
Despite dire news to the contrary, the indie bookstore is not dead -- especially in Cleveland, one of the most literate cities in the nation. But that doesn't mean booksellers can coast on sales of Woolf, Pynchon and Roth. More than simply literary vending machines, the best indie bookstores have learned to adapt by offering poetry readings, book signings, live music, and even glasses of Australian chardonnay.
Aeroscena is tapping into the world of aromatherapy with Ascents -- little sachets of essential oils that creators say not only smell nice, but help with everything from weight loss and insomnia to energy and relaxation. Aeroscena CEO Mark Kohoot says the idea was inspired by the 18th and 19th century trend of women wearing their own personal scents around their necks.
“Ascents are an innovative way to experience aromatherapy in a portable diffuser,” explains Shannon Gibb, product manager. “They are all natural, made with essential oils."
There are five different scents, each of which comes in a little packet. Unseal the packet and inhale the scent up to 500 times. The five signature blends are: Sleep, Energize, Calm, Focus, and Curb for weight loss.
Founded a little over a year ago, Aeroscena employees telecommuted from home until June of this year, when the company opened offices in the Leader Building downtown. Ana Sorel was just hired as marketing manager and Aaron Cornell was brought on as the new CFO. Gibb says the next step is to build a solid sales rep staff.
Ascents are available on the company’s website, at Nature’s Bin in Lakewood and at 360-5 Wellness Store at the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also gives Ascents to participants in their online sleep program, Go! to Sleep.
Source: Shannon Gibb
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Ascents are an innovative way to experience aromatherapy in a portable diffuser,” explains Shannon Gibb, product manager. “They are all natural, made with essential oils."
There are five different scents, each of which comes in a little packet. Unseal the packet and inhale the scent up to 500 times. The five signature blends are: Sleep, Energize, Calm, Focus, and Curb for weight loss.
Founded a little over a year ago, Aeroscena employees telecommuted from home until June of this year, when the company opened offices in the Leader Building downtown. Ana Sorel was just hired as marketing manager and Aaron Cornell was brought on as the new CFO. Gibb says the next step is to build a solid sales rep staff.
Ascents are available on the company’s website, at Nature’s Bin in Lakewood and at 360-5 Wellness Store at the Cleveland Clinic. The Clinic also gives Ascents to participants in their online sleep program, Go! to Sleep.
Source: Shannon Gibb
Writer: Karin Connelly
as 'the chew' debut approaches, symon's exposure escalates
With the highly publicized debut of "The Chew" hitting the airwaves next week (September 26 at 1 p.m. on ABC), the hosts are popping up everywhere. That includes Cleveland's Michael Symon, who along with the show's other personalities, is featured in a New York Times article titled, "Throwing Out the Recipe for Daytime TV."
"The Chew," as writer Julia Moskin points out, is the first new daytime show on ABC since the “The View” went on the air in 1997. The show, as we have heard loudly and clearly from diehard soaps fans, is filling the spot of the long-running “All My Children,” which was canceled after one million years.
"As of Monday, Susan Lucci’s cheekbones will be out, bone-in chicken will be in," pens Moskin. "'The Chew' has five full-time hosts: Mr. Batali; Ms. Hall; Michael Symon, the 'Iron Chef' stalwart and Cleveland native; Clinton Kelly, who is also a co-host of the fashion show “What Not to Wear”; and Daphne Oz, the 25-year-old daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz (yes, that Dr. Oz), who plays her role of wide-eyed cooking apprentice beautifully. Together, they will cook, chat, taste and — if rehearsals are any indication -- refer frequently to their own lives and stories.”
Moskin interestingly points out that much of an original cast was discarded in favor of the present one, which apparently sat better with test audiences.
“'The Chew' is not a celebrity gabfest with a food hook, like Rachael Ray’s," adds Moskin. Nor is it the typical “dump and stir” half-hour cooking show, which relies on "precut, premeasured ingredients and swaps – the usual tricks that speed up the cooking process on camera." Rather, she writes, "it’s an attempt to engage daily with Americans about home cooking."
Read the rest of the article here.
With the highly publicized debut of "The Chew" hitting the airwaves next week (September 26 at 1 p.m. on ABC), the hosts are popping up everywhere. That includes Cleveland's Michael Symon, who along with the show's other personalities, is featured in a New York Times article titled, "Throwing Out the Recipe for Daytime TV."
"The Chew," as writer Julia Moskin points out, is the first new daytime show on ABC since the “The View” went on the air in 1997. The show, as we have heard loudly and clearly from diehard soaps fans, is filling the spot of the long-running “All My Children,” which was canceled after one million years.
"As of Monday, Susan Lucci’s cheekbones will be out, bone-in chicken will be in," pens Moskin. "'The Chew' has five full-time hosts: Mr. Batali; Ms. Hall; Michael Symon, the 'Iron Chef' stalwart and Cleveland native; Clinton Kelly, who is also a co-host of the fashion show “What Not to Wear”; and Daphne Oz, the 25-year-old daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz (yes, that Dr. Oz), who plays her role of wide-eyed cooking apprentice beautifully. Together, they will cook, chat, taste and — if rehearsals are any indication -- refer frequently to their own lives and stories.”
Moskin interestingly points out that much of an original cast was discarded in favor of the present one, which apparently sat better with test audiences.
“'The Chew' is not a celebrity gabfest with a food hook, like Rachael Ray’s," adds Moskin. Nor is it the typical “dump and stir” half-hour cooking show, which relies on "precut, premeasured ingredients and swaps – the usual tricks that speed up the cooking process on camera." Rather, she writes, "it’s an attempt to engage daily with Americans about home cooking."
Read the rest of the article here.
Fashions by Fowler, a popular women's clothing boutique run by sisters Renay and Tracy Fowler, has relocated to a Shaker Square storefront that has been sitting empty for years. Previously home to Metropolitan Galleries and Ann Taylor Loft, the 5,200-square-foot space is considerably larger than the boutique's old home on Mayfield Road.
"It's been very exciting," says Renay Fowler of the new space. "Shaker Square is so diverse in terms of nationalities and cultures, which I love. We're also positioned right between a bank and a Subway store, so we get a lot more walk-in traffic."
Fowler says that she has had little trouble filling her larger digs with both merchandise and customers. "We have a very diverse inventory, and we specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind items," she says. Some of the items the store carries include costume jewelry, furs and cowhide boots inlaid with rhinestones.
"If you're looking for something fun, glitzy and one-of-a-kind, that's what we do," says Fowler. "People assume our inventory is more expensive than it actually is -- you can get an entire outfit in our store for under one hundred dollars."
Fashions by Fowler features work by local clothing designers as well as smaller companies that are based in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta. In addition to its unique clothing inventory, the store employs an in-house milliner and a staff person that repairs costume jewelry.
"That's very hard to find these days," says Fowler. "People can bring a drawing in and get a hat or costume jewelry made for them."
Source: Renay Fowler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"It's been very exciting," says Renay Fowler of the new space. "Shaker Square is so diverse in terms of nationalities and cultures, which I love. We're also positioned right between a bank and a Subway store, so we get a lot more walk-in traffic."
Fowler says that she has had little trouble filling her larger digs with both merchandise and customers. "We have a very diverse inventory, and we specialize in unique, one-of-a-kind items," she says. Some of the items the store carries include costume jewelry, furs and cowhide boots inlaid with rhinestones.
"If you're looking for something fun, glitzy and one-of-a-kind, that's what we do," says Fowler. "People assume our inventory is more expensive than it actually is -- you can get an entire outfit in our store for under one hundred dollars."
Fashions by Fowler features work by local clothing designers as well as smaller companies that are based in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Atlanta. In addition to its unique clothing inventory, the store employs an in-house milliner and a staff person that repairs costume jewelry.
"That's very hard to find these days," says Fowler. "People can bring a drawing in and get a hat or costume jewelry made for them."
Source: Renay Fowler
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Ben Faller and Jesse Honsky's aim was to restore their home on E. 128th Street between Larchmere and Shaker boulevards to its original character based upon photographs they'd uncovered. Vinyl siding, noxious and non-recyclable, was an unfortunate side effect. Painstakingly removing the siding from their home, they knew, regrettably, that the chemical-laden strips likely would end up in a landfill.
Was there another option?
That's when one of their neighbors came up with the idea of turning it into a work of art. Katharyne Starinsky, founder and co-chair of the Neighborhoods of Shaker Square Home Tour, contacted a local artist and got the ball rolling.
"We wanted to find a way to celebrate what they were doing while also promoting green living," says Starinsky.
She contacted Tremont artist Ian Petroni, who was immediately intrigued by the proposal. "I told her that I loved the opportunity but that I hated vinyl siding, and she said, 'That's exactly the point,'" recalls Petroni.
The artist's provocative sculpture, entitled 'Invasive Species,' refashions the strips of yellow siding into a bountiful and oddly beautiful vinyl jungle that shoots up from Faller's and Honsky's front lawn like a rapacious, fast-growing plant.
"I decided to call it 'invasive species' because it doesn't fit into the historic environment and because it chokes out other species," explains Petroni. "I wanted to get people to start thinking about the drawbacks of vinyl siding."
Petroni was not only concerned with the impact of vinyl siding on the character of historic neighborhoods, but also with its toxic effect on the environment. "The production of vinyl is dangerous to people and ecosystems," he says.
Since its installation, the sculpture has been a conversation starter as well as a popular draw during the home tour. "It's like a Christmas lighting display, the way the cars slow down as they drive along 128th," says Starinsky with a laugh.
Neighbors on the street have begun to approach the homeowners about buying portions of the sculpture to install in their yards. Starinsky says she hopes to eventually sell the sculpture as a fundraiser for the home tour.
Within the next 7 to 10 days, Petroni plans to move the sculpture to the side yard of Felice, a popular restaurant in the neighborhood. There, spectators will be able to gawk at it throughout fall. (Hopefully it won't cause accidents.)
Source: Ian Petroni, Katharyne Starinsky
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Was there another option?
That's when one of their neighbors came up with the idea of turning it into a work of art. Katharyne Starinsky, founder and co-chair of the Neighborhoods of Shaker Square Home Tour, contacted a local artist and got the ball rolling.
"We wanted to find a way to celebrate what they were doing while also promoting green living," says Starinsky.
She contacted Tremont artist Ian Petroni, who was immediately intrigued by the proposal. "I told her that I loved the opportunity but that I hated vinyl siding, and she said, 'That's exactly the point,'" recalls Petroni.
The artist's provocative sculpture, entitled 'Invasive Species,' refashions the strips of yellow siding into a bountiful and oddly beautiful vinyl jungle that shoots up from Faller's and Honsky's front lawn like a rapacious, fast-growing plant.
"I decided to call it 'invasive species' because it doesn't fit into the historic environment and because it chokes out other species," explains Petroni. "I wanted to get people to start thinking about the drawbacks of vinyl siding."
Petroni was not only concerned with the impact of vinyl siding on the character of historic neighborhoods, but also with its toxic effect on the environment. "The production of vinyl is dangerous to people and ecosystems," he says.
Since its installation, the sculpture has been a conversation starter as well as a popular draw during the home tour. "It's like a Christmas lighting display, the way the cars slow down as they drive along 128th," says Starinsky with a laugh.
Neighbors on the street have begun to approach the homeowners about buying portions of the sculpture to install in their yards. Starinsky says she hopes to eventually sell the sculpture as a fundraiser for the home tour.
Within the next 7 to 10 days, Petroni plans to move the sculpture to the side yard of Felice, a popular restaurant in the neighborhood. There, spectators will be able to gawk at it throughout fall. (Hopefully it won't cause accidents.)
Source: Ian Petroni, Katharyne Starinsky
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The growing number of urban gardens in the city of East Cleveland prompted the second annual Urban Gardens and Farmers Market Open House. Held last Saturday, the event highlighted the blossoming of urban farms and gardens in a community that lacks even a single major grocery store, says Nicole Wright, Program Coordinator with the Ohio State University Cuyahoga County Extension office, who helped to organize the event in collaboration with local residents.
Wright says the proliferation of local gardens is helping local residents to grow and eat healthier food, save money on food expenses, reuse and beautify vacant land, improve community health outcomes and potentially earn money by selling locally grown produce at the Coit Road Farmers Market.
"We're definitely making an impact," says Wright, citing the presence of nine community gardens in the city. "East Cleveland has an unusually high concentration of gardens for a small city. When you look at Cuyahoga County as a whole, it actually has the second highest number of gardens."
Three years ago, OSU Extension, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission applied for and were awarded a grant from the Center for Disease Control. The resulting program, Creating Healthy Communities, helps to address public health issues in East Cleveland and Euclid by providing better food choices and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
"We chose East Cleveland because it has low access to fresh foods and high rates of chronic, preventable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity," says Wright. "We want to help people to become more self-reliant."
East Cleveland was also selected because of its Coit Road Farmers Market, a local institution that is not frequented often enough by local residents, says Wright. One of the goals of Creating Healthy Communities is to turn that trend around.
In recent years, the farmers market has been encouraging local residents to grow and sell their produce at the market. This fruitful partnership is helping to reengage local residents with this fresh food venue. "This is about promoting the market that's right there in the community," says Wright.
Source: Nicole Wright
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Wright says the proliferation of local gardens is helping local residents to grow and eat healthier food, save money on food expenses, reuse and beautify vacant land, improve community health outcomes and potentially earn money by selling locally grown produce at the Coit Road Farmers Market.
"We're definitely making an impact," says Wright, citing the presence of nine community gardens in the city. "East Cleveland has an unusually high concentration of gardens for a small city. When you look at Cuyahoga County as a whole, it actually has the second highest number of gardens."
Three years ago, OSU Extension, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission applied for and were awarded a grant from the Center for Disease Control. The resulting program, Creating Healthy Communities, helps to address public health issues in East Cleveland and Euclid by providing better food choices and encouraging healthier lifestyles.
"We chose East Cleveland because it has low access to fresh foods and high rates of chronic, preventable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity," says Wright. "We want to help people to become more self-reliant."
East Cleveland was also selected because of its Coit Road Farmers Market, a local institution that is not frequented often enough by local residents, says Wright. One of the goals of Creating Healthy Communities is to turn that trend around.
In recent years, the farmers market has been encouraging local residents to grow and sell their produce at the market. This fruitful partnership is helping to reengage local residents with this fresh food venue. "This is about promoting the market that's right there in the community," says Wright.
Source: Nicole Wright
Writer: Lee Chilcote
cleveland's new generation of entrepreneurs featured on 'state of the re:union'
Launched in 2009, "State of the Re:Union" is a public radio program that sets out to explore what American cities are doing to create community in light of challenging circumstances. In this episode on Cleveland, the hosts delve into how a new generation of entrepreneurs is helping to transform the city.
"Cleveland, Ohio is a city that was made by entrepreneurs, but for decades, it’s been known as a city that’s a shell of its former manufacturing-era glorious self. However, Cleveland is being embraced by a new generation of entrepreneurs as a place to put their dreams in motion."
In large because it is an affordable city, argues observers, Cleveland is birthing a new wave of entrepreneurs who have less to risk than they would in pricier metros.
"Cleveland is a city of second chances," says Councilman Jay Westbrook.
This engaging broadcast includes Ray Petro of Ray MTB, Jennifer Coleman of CityProwl, Ray Leach of JumpStart, Evergreen Cooperatives, plus many others
Listen to the whole thing here.
"Cleveland, Ohio is a city that was made by entrepreneurs, but for decades, it’s been known as a city that’s a shell of its former manufacturing-era glorious self. However, Cleveland is being embraced by a new generation of entrepreneurs as a place to put their dreams in motion."
In large because it is an affordable city, argues observers, Cleveland is birthing a new wave of entrepreneurs who have less to risk than they would in pricier metros.
"Cleveland is a city of second chances," says Councilman Jay Westbrook.
This engaging broadcast includes Ray Petro of Ray MTB, Jennifer Coleman of CityProwl, Ray Leach of JumpStart, Evergreen Cooperatives, plus many others
Listen to the whole thing here.
JumpStart will celebrate the region’s entrepreneurs at the Northeast Ohio Entrepreneur Expo and JumpStart Community Meeting on Tuesday, October 25 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron. The event will feature high-growth entrepreneurs, student entrepreneurs and investors.
Organizers have signed up 20 entrepreneurs to exhibit their companies, and expect almost 80 by the time of the event. Three hundred people have already signed up to attend the event.
Entrepreneurs attracted $237 million in angel and investor capital to the area in 2010 and created or retained more than 8,500 jobs since 2005. Officials at JumpStart think those numbers are reason to celebrate and continue to encourage people to follow their ideas and dreams.
“We believe entrepreneurship is the key to creating jobs in the community,” says JumpStart director of communications Samantha Fryberger. “By having people involved in one place at one time creates a sort of synergistic celebration of what’s been done and what’s coming ahead.”
New this year is an educational component to the expo, focused on three main areas: capital, talent and public relations. Community leaders will speak on these three areas of entrepreneurship to help advise participants in how to raise capital in both traditional and non-traditional ways, how to attract good talent on a budget, and the importance of good PR to promote a business on a budget.
Student entrepreneurs will also get a chance to showcase their ideas, network and get feedback on things like elevator speeches and developing their ideas.
The expo is free to the public. Exhibitor booths are $85.
Source: Samantha Fryberger
Writer: Karin Connelly
Organizers have signed up 20 entrepreneurs to exhibit their companies, and expect almost 80 by the time of the event. Three hundred people have already signed up to attend the event.
Entrepreneurs attracted $237 million in angel and investor capital to the area in 2010 and created or retained more than 8,500 jobs since 2005. Officials at JumpStart think those numbers are reason to celebrate and continue to encourage people to follow their ideas and dreams.
“We believe entrepreneurship is the key to creating jobs in the community,” says JumpStart director of communications Samantha Fryberger. “By having people involved in one place at one time creates a sort of synergistic celebration of what’s been done and what’s coming ahead.”
New this year is an educational component to the expo, focused on three main areas: capital, talent and public relations. Community leaders will speak on these three areas of entrepreneurship to help advise participants in how to raise capital in both traditional and non-traditional ways, how to attract good talent on a budget, and the importance of good PR to promote a business on a budget.
Student entrepreneurs will also get a chance to showcase their ideas, network and get feedback on things like elevator speeches and developing their ideas.
The expo is free to the public. Exhibitor booths are $85.
Source: Samantha Fryberger
Writer: Karin Connelly
Ryan Clark and Nathan Lambert know how to sell advertising. They also figured out a way to help libraries offset printing costs. The co-founders of Knowta, a Shaker LaunchHouse portfolio company, have created a unique print ad system that runs ads at the bottom of a page that users print out at the library.
The concept is brilliantly simple: Users elect to receive the advertising in exchange for free or discounted printing. Instead of receiving documents on typical 8.5" x 11" paper, they are printed on 8.5" x 14" paper, with the bottom three inches featuring a perforated section of full-color ads. Advertisers are able to tailor or change their ads at will to fit the time of day, content or location of the user’s document.
“Libraries are really challenged by economic models,” says Lambert. “Knowta meets those challenges with sustainable printing.” A portion of the revenue collected from the ads goes back to the library to offset printing costs and other expenses. Lambert and Clark have already secured contracts with local merchants around the Case campus.
Knowta will launch its product in CWRU’s Kelvin Smith Library in October, followed by a launch in the Cuyahoga County Public Library system later this fall. While Lambert and Clark plan to expand in Northeast Ohio, they also have plans to sell their product outside of the region.
“As we grow we’ll be growing within the region with additional locations within the Cuyahoga County Library system and the higher education market within Northeast Ohio, with a few target markets outside Northeast Ohio,” says Clark.
The company has one full-time employee, with plans to hire regional sales reps as they continue to expand.
Source: Ryan Clark and Nathan Lambert
Writer: Karin Connelly
The concept is brilliantly simple: Users elect to receive the advertising in exchange for free or discounted printing. Instead of receiving documents on typical 8.5" x 11" paper, they are printed on 8.5" x 14" paper, with the bottom three inches featuring a perforated section of full-color ads. Advertisers are able to tailor or change their ads at will to fit the time of day, content or location of the user’s document.
“Libraries are really challenged by economic models,” says Lambert. “Knowta meets those challenges with sustainable printing.” A portion of the revenue collected from the ads goes back to the library to offset printing costs and other expenses. Lambert and Clark have already secured contracts with local merchants around the Case campus.
Knowta will launch its product in CWRU’s Kelvin Smith Library in October, followed by a launch in the Cuyahoga County Public Library system later this fall. While Lambert and Clark plan to expand in Northeast Ohio, they also have plans to sell their product outside of the region.
“As we grow we’ll be growing within the region with additional locations within the Cuyahoga County Library system and the higher education market within Northeast Ohio, with a few target markets outside Northeast Ohio,” says Clark.
The company has one full-time employee, with plans to hire regional sales reps as they continue to expand.
Source: Ryan Clark and Nathan Lambert
Writer: Karin Connelly