Copyright cleveland.com
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- John Carroll University will host “Modern Warrior LIVE,” an emotional musical performance that features the harrowing personal story of U.S. combat veteran Jaymes Poling. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 in Saint Ignatius Hall’s Kulas Auditorium, on the JCU campus. The event is free and open to the public and is made possible, in part, through a grant awarded to the university by the Cleveland Guardians. Created by internationally acclaimed musician Dominick Farinacci, and featuring U.S. Army veteran and John Carroll alumnus Jaymes Poling, Class of ’18, Modern Warrior LIVE is narrated by Poling, who served three tours in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. His story is brought to life through a moving collaboration with a cast of renowned musicians led by Farinacci, tracing the path from the battlefield to civilian life, and highlighting the challenges of reintegration into society, and the search for renewed purpose. “The musical score I wrote seamlessly weaves throughout Jaymes’ story, evolving with his journey,” said Farinacci, in a JCU release. “I wanted to present this deeply personal story of trauma and resilience in a unique way that can empower those who need to hear that growth is possible. “It’s an inspiring message for anyone who has experienced trauma in their lives.” “We are thrilled to bring Modern Warrior LIVE to John Carroll’s campus,” said JCU Vice President for Student Experience and Campus Belonging Naomi Sigg. “This nationally recognized production offers a deeply human experience that invites reflection, empathy and connection. “This event will not only reinforce our commitment to supporting veteran and military-connected students, but its themes of overcoming adversity and finding strength through community are powerful messages that are beneficial for our entire campus.” Since its debut, Modern Warrior LIVE has been performed nationwide more than 150 times and has partnered with leading mental health organizations to foster national dialogue on the impact of trauma, while building hope and personal growth. Through these collaborations, the program connects individuals and communities with vital mental health resources and increases the likelihood those in need will seek support when they need it. “This performance deepens awareness of the psychological toll of war, the challenges veterans face upon returning home, and the potential for healing and growth,” Poling said. “We hope the audience leaves inspired to advocate for increased resources for our veterans.” For more information and to register for the event, click here. Beachwood-Solon A.I. Summit: The Beachwood and Solon Chambers of Commerce hosted on Oct. 23 at Tri-C’s Eastern Campus Mandel Theater their highly anticipated Artificial Intelligence Summit, which brought together Northeast Ohio’s business and tech leaders for a day of innovation, insight, and collaboration. The half-day event explored practical applications of A.I. in business and operations with actionable strategies to integrate A.I. into workflows for improved efficiency and growth. “We were thrilled to collaborate with the Solon Chamber and bring together top-tier talent and innovative leadership in the A.I. space,” said Beachwood Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David Lapierre, in a release. “This summit went beyond theory -- approximately 150 participants left with practical tools and strategies they can immediately apply in their organizations. “We sincerely appreciate the business community’s support and enthusiasm for the event.” The summit featured a keynote address from Chris Berry, president and CEO of OhioX, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing Ohio as a leading tech hub. Berry shared his expertise, including the transformative impact of A.I. on the regional business economy, as well as local schools and colleges aligning with A.I. for today’s workforce development needs. Other event highlights included presentations and panels featuring: • Rob Buchwald, founder & CEO of Akron Innovations, who delivered a TED-style talk on people-first approaches to A.I. adoption. • Paul Franke and Christofer Karltorp, of Moreland Connect, showing how simple A.I. integration can be, and tips for getting started. • A panel moderated by Jessica Columbi, executive director for public policy and economic advancement at Tri-C, that explored real-world A.I. applications across industries. Panelists included Alfred Cowger, Jeff Dennis, Rocco Cuffari, and Travis Grundke. “The city of Beachwood is committed to fostering innovation and supporting local businesses through events like the A.I. Summit,” said Beachwood Economic Development Director Catherine Bieterman. “This summit provided a critical opportunity for Northeast Ohio businesses to stay competitive and forward-thinking in an era of rapidly evolving technology.” The summit was made possible thanks to support from presenting sponsors Moreland Connect, Verizon, and Crown Castle. Additional support and sponsorship was provided by the cities of Beachwood and Solon, AgileBlue, ECMSI, MAGNET, Aidan, Tri-C Corporate College, EyeOTmonitor, Kloud9, and Mamsys. Also, 20 vendors supported the event in the exhibit hall by connecting with attendees. Cleveland Heights Toy Drive: A toy drive is now taking place in Cleveland Heights. Through Dec, 5, donations can be dropped off at Cleveland Heights City Hall, 40 Severance Circle, and at the Cleveland Heights Community Center, 1 Monticello Blvd. Weclomed are donations of hats, scarves, gloves, coats and toys for children of all ages. If you have a question about the drive, send an email to abenson@clevelandheights.gov. Cleveland Heights food drive: Also, if you want to help those who don’t have enough to eat, make sure to donate to the Cleveland Heights Firefighters Local 402 Food Drive, to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 outside Dave’s Supermarket, 1940 Lee Road. Firefighters are asking residents to “fill the ambulance” with canned goods and non-perishables. Both kosher and non-kosher food items will be accepted and then donated to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the Cleveland Kosher Food Pantry. ‘Les Miserables’ at Heights High: Cleveland Heights High School students will perform the play “Les Miserables: School Edition” over the course of two weekends. Perfrmances wiull be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 and 8, and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 and 9 in the school’s Dina Reeves Evans Performing Arts Center. For ticket information, call 216-320-3069. Tickets are only available online, but can be purchased right up to showtime. Friends book sale: The Friends of the Heights Libraries will be holding its book sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Bookshop, located on the second floor of the Lee Road Library branch, 2345 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. The first Friday Fill-a-Bag Sale offers bags of books for $5. Helping out with SNAP loss: A coalition of Cuyahoga County’s civic, corporate, and philanthropic leaders has come together to raise more than $600,000 in emergency funding to support local residents who will be affected by the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The rapid response initiative aims to help bridge the immediate food security gap that the anticipated halt of SNAP support would create. Key community partners with long commitments to the well-being of Clevelanders stepped up with contributions. These partners include: Cuyahoga County, city of Cleveland, The Cleveland Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, and The Word Church. The funds are being directed immediately to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to ensure people continue to have access to healthy food during the SNAP benefit shutdown. The funds will also support a range of food security initiatives, including expanded mobile pantry operations and increased capacity at neighborhood pantries. “No food bank can make up for a lack of SNAP benefits -- for every meal distributed by a food bank, SNAP provides 9 -- but we will do our very best to be a steady source of nutritious food for our community,” said Greater Cleveland Food Bank President and CEO Kristin Warzocha, in a county release. “These funds allow us to secure more food, so our community partners can be ready to meet the need. “Knowing that our community leaders are standing beside us in this effort means the world to us -- and our struggling neighbors. Your help will make a difference.“ Anyone in need of food assistance or other resources can visit the Greater Cleveland Food Bank or call 2-1-1. Support for businesses that recycle: The city of Cleveland Heights is supporting businesses who want to recycle with the launch of a pilot business recycling program in which recycling bins located in four of the city’s commercial districts will be available for use by any business located within the city limits. Bins will be located in the Coventry, Noble, Cedar-Fairmount and Cedar-Lee business districts. Specifically, those location are: 2175 Grandview Ave. (behind Firestone, in the Cedar-Fairmount District); City Lot 17 at Meadowbrook and Silsby roads (in the Cedar-Lee District); Lot 15 at 1817 Coventry Road (behind the Coventry Road parking garage); and 2227 Noble Road (at the Sav-A-Lot store). The program responds to the needs of small businesses operating in the city’s commercial districts where space for locating recycling bins can pose a challenge. The program will help determine if there’s sufficient demand and a cost-sharing model to establish a permanent program. The program also helps the city reach one of the goals of the Cleveland Heights Climate Action and Resilience Plan from 2024. Removing cardboard and paper from the waste stream and recycling contributes to a reduction in natural resource use and reduces carbon emissions associated with transporting waste and its decomposition in a landfill. At an Oct. 24 city of Cleveland Heights event celebrating International Climate Action Day, the city’s Sustainability and Resiliency Coordinator, Andy Boateng, said, “Urban areas account for 70 percent of emissions, with solid waste creating methane, which gets trapped in the atmosphere. Every action contributes to the solution. Our business recycling program is a way for businesses to contribute to the solution.” Businesses interested in signing up to use the business recycling program free of charge can fill out an application form on the city’s website. Shaker cemetery tour: Did you know that Warrensville West Cemetery is the final resting place of veterans of five wars? Whether you did or not, you’re invited to join the Shaker Historical Society, Shaker Heights Public Library, and city of Shaker Heights from 10:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 18 for a free guided tour honoring local veterans who were laid to rest in the second-oldest cemetery in Cuyahoga County. Participants will hear the remarkable stories of Warrensville Township veterans who served in the Civil War and learn about the Warrensville West Cemetery Historic Preservation Master Plan, a collaborative effort to protect, restore and interpret this community landmark. The tour will take place at Warrensville West Cemetery, 3451 Lee Road in Shaker Heights. All participants must register separately at bit.ly/WWC-tour-2025. Parking will be available in the Heinen’s parking lot, 16611 Chagrin Blvd., or across the street at the Shaker Heights Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd. Attendees are encouraged to wear weather-appropriate clothes and sturdy footwear due to uneven terrain. This event will be held rain or shine and will only be cancelled in the event of extreme weather. Reis receives prestigious Jewish Federation award: Susan Reis has been named the recipient of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s 2025 Irene Zehman Volunteer Award. Each year, the Federation recognizes a Jewish woman or group of women who demonstrate the highest ideals and practices of volunteer service on behalf of the Jewish and/or general community. Reis, a community volunteer with NCJW/CLE, Greater Cleveland Congregations, and Rekindle, was honored at the Federation’s Women IN Philanthropy MaIN Event held Oct. 22. Reis began volunteering in the 1980s, later dedicating herself full-time to advocacy work rooted in Jewish values. Through her leadership with NCJW/CLE, the Federation’s Community Relations Committee, and Greater Cleveland Congregations, she has advanced causes including gun violence prevention, Medicaid expansion, and public education funding. Today, she continues her bridge-building work as tri-chair of GCC’s Strategy Team and co-chair of alumni engagement for Rekindle, which strengthens Black–Jewish relations. “My parents chose to live in a community that valued diversity, and that has always stayed with me,” Reis said, in a release. “All forms of volunteering matter. Supporting those without the power to make change isn’t about us -- it’s about strengthening the community we share. None of this work can be done alone; it takes relationships, trust, and a true sense of community.” The Irene Zehman Volunteer Award was established in 1980 by the late Roslyn Z. Wolf and Judith Z. Sherman in memory of their mother, Irene Zehman, who devoted much of her life to giving back to the community through volunteering. Temple to highlight issues in Israel Nov. 7-9: Temple Israel Ner Tamid will focus on current issues in Israel during the weekend of Nov. 7-9 with a sermon and a visit by a delegation of wounded Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. Both events will be held at the temple, 1732 Lander Road in Mayfield Heights, and are open to the public. Nov. 9’s presentation is for those in high school and older. RSVPs are not required for either. At the 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 Shabbat service, Rabbi Matt Eisenberg will give a first-person account of his trip to Israel as part of the Israel Bonds 33rd Rabbinical Delegation. He is one of 23 North American rabbis traveling this week to Israel in support of Israel Bonds. For nearly 75 years, Israel Bonds have been a way to financially support the State of Israel. Learn more about Israel Bonds here. “This is a special trip, hosted by Israel Bonds for rabbis to get eyes and ears on the current situation in Israel,” said Rabbi Eisenberg, in a release. “We will be meeting with government officials, going to the Nova music festival memorial site to remember the 378 people murdered by Hamas militants on Oct. 7 2023, Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, and other important sites. “Back in Cleveland, on Friday (Nov. 7) night I will share what I saw and heard in Israel.” Then, from 10:45-11:45 a.m. Nov. 9, the temple will welcome a delegation of four wounded IDF soldiers with a presentation titled, “Together for Them.” The goal of the program is to strengthen the bonds between the Jewish communities and the State of Israel through activities with IDF wounded soldiers serving as the program’s ambassadors. The program is for those in high school and older; some content may not be appropriate for younger children. Together for Them is a project of the El Ami -- El Atzmi nonprofit organization. It brings wounded IDF combat veterans to schools and Jewish communities, enabling them to tell their inspiring stories. The purpose is to raise awareness towards the wounded IDF veterans and their heroic stories; to acknowledge and be inspired by the process of overcoming difficulties and disabilities, and succeeding in life despite injuries; and to strengthen the bonds with the diaspora by establishing a long-term program that deepens the understanding of Jewish values and heritage, as well as the importance of defending Israel. Also, Temple Emanu El’s Advocacy Committee will host speaker Jennifer Arenschield, Development Manager of Humble Design, at Shabbat services on Friday, November 14 at 6:15pm. Ms. Arenschield will give an overview of Humble Design’s mission and the impact they are able to have with the support of their incredible community. She will also discuss ways people can get involved. A Q&A will follow. Temple Emanu El is located at 4545 Brainard Road in Orange Village. If you would like your item to appear in Press Run, send me an email, at least 12 days prior to an event, at jeff.piorkowski@att.net.
