Little Italy is one skinny square mile, squeezed between University Circle, Case Western Reserve University and Lakeview Cemetery of Cleveland Heights, crowding steep Mayfield Road with delectable restaurants and bakeries, art galleries and wine shops, Holy Rosary Church and now, new in the neighborhood, million-dollar homes. It feels impossible to find parking, especially during the four-day party that is the Feast of the Assumption. But it continues to draw visitors from around Northeast Ohio because of its authentic Italian flavor. Also known as Murray Hill, the neighborhood was established in 1885 as an Italian enclave and by 1911, 96% of its inhabitants were born in Italy, according to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Today, Steven Litt writes, Little Italy is a kaleidoscope of old and new. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
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The intersection of Mayfield and Murray Hill roads in Little Italy is the heart of the historic Cleveland neighborhood. (Steven Litt, cleveland.com) |
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Little Italy: Like Tremont, Ohio City and other high-demand neighborhoods, Little Italy is hot. But does Little Italy’s popularity mean it’s in danger of being loved to death by newcomers with deep pockets? Is a revered ethnic enclave losing its Italian-ness, its italianità? Steven Litt writes that the square-mile neighborhood is still largely intact, physically and socially, as a haven of Italian immigrant families and heritage. Right to Life: The CEO of Ohio Right to Life, the state’s most influential anti-abortion organization, announced he is resigning after about two years, reports Laura Hancock. Peter Range described the work as his dream job and characterized his departure as “walking away,” but declined to share more details about why he has left. Today in Ohio: Since his anointment as Donald Trump’s GOP running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance has been put under a microscope for past policy reversals and contentious remarks. On Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast, we’re talking about Vance’s vice presidential candidacy and whether it sticks. |
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Flag legislation: President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown that requires the federal government to buy only American flags completely produced and manufactured in the United States, reports Sabrina Eaton. Online safety: U.S. Sen. JD Vance felt strongly enough about the internet protections offered by the Kids Online Safety Act that he cosponsored the legislation in February. But he wasn’t there to cast a vote for it when the U.S. Senate adopted the legislation in a 91 to 3 vote on Tuesday as part of a children and teens’ online privacy package, Sabrina Eaton reports. Redistricting: Gov. Mike DeWine will share his thoughts today about a redistricting amendment that will appear on the November ballot. But will he propose an alternative? Andrew Tobias reports the governor’s office said DeWine will “discuss the issue of congressional and legislative redistricting and the proposed constitutional amendment on the fall ballot.” |
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Bedrock development: Community benefits were the main topic Tuesday when City Council got its chance to publicly vet Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposed incentive package for Bedrock, Courtney Astolfi reports. In other words, what will the community get in return for providing Bedrock with 45 years’ worth of city subsidies amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars to finance its waterfront development project? Parking lots: Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne is proposing spending $4.75 million on parking lots adjacent to the Virgil E. Brown building and two blocks from what’s to be the county’s new Board of Elections office. Kaitlin Durbin reports the lots will provide “improved and controllable parking space” for various health and human services offices, county documents say. Eagle bridge: The 93-year-old Eagle Avenue lift bridge is entering its last year of life and crews tasked with dismantling the historic structure will start work in early August, reports Sean McDonnell. Cleveland City Council approved plans to tear down the bridge in November. CSU dorm: Cleveland State University’s Fenn Tower dorm is closed pending assessment, reports Megan Sims. The 22-story dorm, which could usually house over 400 students, is currently being evaluated for needed repairs. Deer fences: Northeast Ohio has some exquisite private and public gardens, and although the plants themselves have been wildly different, many have one element in common: a sturdy deer fence. Susan Brownstein reports rolled deer fence material made of black polypropylene — common trade names include Tenax and Trident— is attached to the posts with galvanized staples or zip ties and anchored to the ground with curved rebar or galvanized stakes. Joyce Award: Chicago-based artist Edra Soto has won a prestigious $100,000 Joyce Award to work with The Sculpture Center of Cleveland on a new project. Steven Litt reports the awards, given annually for 20 years, are the flagship artist grant program of the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation. |
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Melt: With grilled cheese and the growing trend of craft beer, Melt, at its height, totaled 14 restaurants throughout the state, most in Northeast Ohio. Then it crashed. Marc Bona talks to owner Matt Fish about the crash. The post-pandemic punch on restaurants is well-documented, but the past several years have been especially tough on Melt. Food inspections: More than 200 Kent restaurants and food stores were cited during the most recent inspection year, but less than a third of them received 10 or more citations. Zachary Smith reports the 13 places listed below had the most violations, with the top spot cited 53 times. MediCLE: This week in Cleveland and Ohio medical news, Gretchen Cuda Kroen and Julie Washington report on the impact the Zika virus has on the developing immune system, a new scar-preventing stent, and what standing from sitting tells us about our health. |
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Suspects arrested: Two people are in custody and a murder warrant has been issued for a third person in connection with the fatal shooting of 10-year-old girl Gracie Griffin earlier this month on Cleveland's West Side, Cliff Pinckard reports. Murder charge: An Akron woman was arrested Tuesday and accused of aggravated murder in the slaying of a resident Sunday morning. Corvette Pope, 25, was charged in Akron Municipal Court in the death of Paige Calich, who was shot multiple times in the doorway of a home in the 1400 block of Socrates Place, according to police and court records. Sentencing: A Cleveland man accused in two sexual assault cases is headed to prison for three decades. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge William McGinty on Tuesday sentenced Damaine Bringht, 34, to a minimum 30 years behind bars and ordered him to register as a sex offender. Snorkeling death: The family of a Euclid man who died on a snorkeling expedition in the Caribbean Sea has sued a hotel chain over the man’s death. Adam Ferrise reports that Dennis Welz Jr., 53, drowned on June 10, 2022, while on a catamaran tour from Montego Bay to Negril, Jamaica. Convenience store crime: On the afternoon of July 6 at a BP convenience store on Monticello Boulevard in Cleveland, police say a man approached a shopper at the beverage cooler, stuck a gun in the man’s stomach, fished the victim’s keys out of his pocket and headed toward the entrance. But the victim tried to rip the gun from his attacker’s hands, launching a brawl caught on camera, reports John Tucker. Counterfeit ring: A grand jury has indicted six people, accusing them of participating in a fraud and counterfeit money ring that sought to steal checks and spread fake $20 bills in rural Northwest Ohio, reports Lucas Daprile. 15-year-old shot: A 15-year-old Euclid teen was fatally shot at a gas station Sunday in Cleveland’s Collinwood-Nottingham neighborhood, reports Olivia Mitchell. Mendrell Johnson was wounded about 8:45 p.m. at the Shell Gas Station at East 140th Street and Rugby Road. |
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Ask Yadi: How do I get my family member to stop inviting other people to social events? Yadi Rodriguez writes that you have every right to let your sister-in-law know when you extend an invitation that it is just for her. You shouldn’t feel bad about it. Karamu season: Karamu House will return to the stage this fall, starting with Ossie Davis’ “Purlie Victorious” in September. Joey Morona reports the play kicks off the theater’s four-show 2024-25 theatrical season. Taste: More than two-dozen eateries are slated to participate in A Taste of Black CLE: The Food Showcase 6.0 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, reports Marc Bona. The annual food event allows attendees a chance to try dishes from underrated chefs in the region. Proceeds benefit participating chefs, Cleveland NAACP and The Cavaliers Foundation. Rose wine: Rose wines come in a wide range of styles depending on the grape varietal and the winemaker, reports Paris Wolfe. To help wine lovers find the rose expression they prefer, Darkroom Brewing Co. in Geneva and wine consultant Lauren Fiala are hosting a Summer Rose Soiree from 6 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 7. Fruit ice cream: Quarry Hill Orchards and Winery is offering fruit ice creams in its scoop shop throughout the summer. Paris Wolfe reports the fruit ice creams came about as a way to use imperfect and overripe fruit that consumers don’t want. Hawk Tuah: The “Hawk Tuah” girl’s 15 minutes of fame are bringing her to Cleveland this weekend. Joey Morona reports that Haliey Welch will be making a personal appearance at Welcome to the Farm on Saturday, Aug. 3, hosting a party at the country music bar on the East Bank of the Flats. Feast: Cleveland’s biggest Italian-Catholic celebration of the summer is fast approaching with the upcoming Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy, reports Alex Darus. Commonly known as “The Feast,” Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood becomes a four-day party in the streets with plenty of food, entertainment and celebration for locals and visitors alike. Cedar Point: Cedar Point season passholders will soon be able to purchase an optional add-on that provides access to all Six Flags parks in 2025, Susan Glaser reports. It’s unclear what the new All Park Passport will cost. Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark said the price will be announced when the passes go on sale in the coming weeks. |
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Avon Lake Power Plant implosion scheduled for tomorrow morning Read more Summit Metro Parks unveils new amenities at Cascade Valley’s Valley View Area (photos) Read more Rocky River native takes macaron-based baking origin story to Netflix competition Read more Take 5 Oil Change plans to build shop on Pearl Road near Whitney Road in Strongsville Read more Art in the Park returns to Painesville for day of creativity and community Read more Akron dedicates Phase 1 of Rubber City Heritage Trail, which eventually will link 7 neighborhoods Read more |
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