Luke_S

Eddy's Bike Shop announces new Peninsula location after devastating February fire Craig Webb Akron Beacon Journal Published April 8, 2025 Eddy's Bike Shop announced late Monday that it will reopen for rentals on Friday. "While the old location was unable to be saved the amazing people in Peninsula helped us find a location we believe will be perfect for the cyclists in this area," the bike shop announced on social media. The new shop is situated at 1655 Mill Street West in Peninsula near its previous location. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2025/04/08/eddys-bike-shop-opening-new-peninsula-location-friday-after-fire/82985531007/

While pay-to-play shouldn't be surprising to anyone its still worth calling it out as wrong and maintaining our outrage.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park closes 3 restrooms until further notice amid federal cuts The Cuyahoga Valley National Park announced Wednesday that three restrooms will be closed until further notice. A notice is posted on the door of each restroom with the address of the nearest open restroom. The closed restrooms and the nearest open ones are: - Boston Store trailhead. Use the Boston Mill Visitor Center restroom one-tenth of a mile away. - Horseshoe Pond trailhead. Use the Oak Hill trailhead restroom 2 miles away. -Pine Lane trailhead. Use the Lock 29 trailhead restroom 1 mile away. https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2025/04/03/cuyahoga-valley-national-park-closes-restrooms-summit-county-federal-budget-cuts/82783834007/

This will hopefully help, but this isn't enough. I would like to see Lakewood eliminate right-on-red throughout the city, start making cross walks speed humps, and add curb bump outs. The bike lanes at least need bollards, but on streets with street parking the bike lane should be between the parking and sidewalk, not between traffic and parking. Traffic signaling generally could also be improved through the city... Lakewood seeks solutions at dangerous intersection near park Published: Apr. 02, 2025 By John Benson, special to cleveland.com LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Safety at the Hilliard Road and Madison Avenue intersection near Wagar Park has come into question after two high-profile incidents. ... [Short-term measures] includes marking the area’s four crosswalks with high-visibility striping, along with adding green paint and bollards to sections of the bike lanes approaching the intersection. ... Incorporated into Lakewood’s annual road program, the permanent striping requires a warmer temperature, with the city planning to add them once the weather breaks. https://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/2024/12/council-to-consider-tax-incentives-for-developer-of-lakewood-school-board-buildings.html

Rail to trail: Agreement paves way for 7-mile greenway across three Ohio counties Published: Apr. 02, 2025 By Maura Zurick, cleveland.com SOLON, Ohio -- A proposed 7-mile greenway trail connecting parts of Cuyahoga, Portage and Geauga counties took a major step forward this week. The Open Space Institute (OSI), a national land conservation nonprofit, announced Tuesday (April 1) that it has reached a conditional agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway to purchase a dormant stretch of rail corridor. The deal lays the groundwork for the future Headwaters Connector Trail, a multi-use, universally accessible greenway intended to link the Cleveland Metroparks Emerald Necklace Trail to the eastern Cuyahoga County suburbs. https://www.cleveland.com/sunnews/2025/04/rail-to-trail-agreement-paves-way-for-seven-mile-greenway-across-three-ohio-counties.html

Here's a non-pay walled article from Cleveland Signal: Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration floats new tax for Cleveland parks. City Council is skeptical by Nick Castele March 31, 2025

Cleveland’s plan to close rec centers, raise taxes through levy faces immediate opposition from council Published: Mar. 31, 2025 By Sean McDonnell, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland unveiled a Parks and Recreation masterplan Monday that proposes closing some recreation centers on the city’s east side and placing a levy on the 2028 ballot – both of which faced immediate pushback from City Council members. The plan calls for increasing spending on parks and recreation, investing in a dozen facilities and eventually building a new recreation center in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. But it also suggests closing Cory Recreation Center and considering whether to close Woodland Recreation Center in the next few years. ... Cleveland’s masterplan includes raising the operating budget for Parks and Recreation from $26 million to $43.5 million by 2032, mainly through a Parks and Rec levy on the 2028 ballot, along with some other revenue-increasing strategies. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/03/clevelands-plan-to-close-rec-centers-raise-taxes-through-levy-faces-immediate-opposition-from-council.html

Saw this on LinkedIn this morning and was amused. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/derek-schafer-8472ab70_irishtownbend-activity-7311149461093732352-nQX0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABLLMyoBJXMo_Yt4OmNz9ywxfR-3VpN998Y

Mill Creek Watershed Partnership was absorbed by West Creek Conservancy some years back. The Mill Creek Watershed remains a strategic project area for West Creek, though most of the active projects are up stream. That said, I'm sure they're keeping an eye out for pieces they could connect to expand the park.

Metroparks forecast: fewer federal dollars? by Frank W. Lewis and Cleveland Documenters March 27, 2025 Cleveland Metroparks have already lost at least one federal grant, and officials are worried about the status of another, according to CEO Brian Zimmerman’s presentation at the March 20 Board of Park Commissioners meeting. ... The board agreed to apply for a grant from a federal agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), for the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy (CHEERS). ... In 2024, ILMS awarded Metroparks $237,120 for the Euclid Beach STEM Adventure Program Expansion. Metroparks signed a contract for the funds, “but there’s no agency to administer it,” Zimmerman said. https://signalcleveland.org/cleveland-metroparks-forecast-more-golfers-fewer-dollars-march-board-meeting/

Akron’s METRO transit projects on hold as federal monies, priorities ‘not predictable right now’ by Arielle Kass March 26, 2025 METRO Regional Transit Authority leaders are worried $41.9 million of federal funding for a maintenance and operations facility that is already under construction could be pulled back by government officials. It’s leading them to delay projects that would expand transit service and build affordable apartments near an Akron transit center. Officials are wary of spending money on the new proposals until they know the maintenance and operations facility, which has a total price tag of $59 million, will be completed. The facility, which has a scheduled grand opening on Nov. 13, is largely paid for with funds from the Federal Transit Administration. Construction on the maintenance and operations facility at 348 Kenmore Blvd. in Akron is well underway, and its completion is necessary to the successful implementation of a bus rapid transit proposal, said Gert Wilms, METRO’s legal and government affairs officer. https://signalakron.org/metro-transit-projects-on-hold-as-federal-monies-priorities-not-predictable-right-now/

Bobby George attempted murder, rape, kidnapping case advances to grand jury after speculation that charges would be dropped Author: Stephanie Haney (WKYC) Published: March 25, 2025 CLEVELAND — Legal analysis: The attempted murder, rape and kidnapping case against Cleveland's Bobby George will go before a grand jury, 3News can exclusively confirm now more than seven months after allegations were first reported. ... 3News spoke with the special prosecutor assigned to the case, Jane Hanlin, and she said that a date for empaneling the grand jury hasn't been set yet because she's still sorting through the evidence. George, who was recently seen sitting courtside at a Cavaliers game with pro wrestling star Hulk Hogan, is accused of violently attacking a woman he shared a home with, raping her, holding her at gunpoint, and more between November 2023 and July 2024. ... Since then, he has maintained his innocence and his attorneys have taken the necessary steps to later sue the city of Cleveland related to the filing of charges against George. https://www.wkyc.com/article/life/legally-speaking/bobby-george-case-attempted-murder-rape-kidnapping-go-before-grand-jury-will-not-be-dropped-legally-speaking/95-f26c8abc-5615-428c-bc3f-9f2d4bcf3a99

I'm pretty sure I've seen other renderings that have the CPD badge on the water tower, hope I'm not making that up. Also, this is Superman's turf. Can't be putting up any bat-signals.

Did they provide specifics of why Acton was discouraging? I have friends down in Columbus were not a fan of her involvement in the RAPID5 non-profit. I admittedly have not followed that organization all that closely so Columbus folks correct the record here, but they have not been impressed with RAPID5 and saw Acton's appointment as CEO as political since she doesn't have a background in land or water conservation, parks, or trail development.

Sherrod Brown, Weighing a 2026 Senate Bid, Starts a Workers’ Group By Reid J. Epstein March 24, 2025 Mr. Brown, the Ohio Democrat who lost his bid for a fourth Senate term last year, announced on Monday that he was forming a nonprofit group called the Dignity of Work Institute. The group, he said in an interview, will aim to illustrate the plight of workers in a country where both major parties have forgotten their concerns. ... His new organization will function as a nonpartisan think tank, conducting research about American workers and aiming to illuminate challenges they face in an effort to persuade politicians and the public to pay attention to workers’ needs. ... The famously frumpy Ohioan said he was weighing running for either Senate or governor in his home state next year. Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, is barred from seeking re-election by term limits, and Senator Jon Husted, a Republican whom Mr. DeWine appointed to fill the seat vacated by Vice President JD Vance, will face voters for the chance to serve the remaining two years of Mr. Vance’s term. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/us/politics/sherrod-brown-2026-senate-ohio.html?smid=nytcore-android-share

It's interesting, and should be very telling to anyone who is actually paying attention with any sort of scepticism, is that the Haslam response amounts to "nuh uh!" Ronayne went point-by-point through HSG's economic analysis and explained clearly why he had concerns. The way to respond to that isn't to say, "no, that's wrong", it's to respond point-by-point and explain how they did their analysis, came to their conclusions, and why those conclusions are reasonable. Whether it's my perception or reality, it's becoming more apparent that Jimmy is little more than a toddler throwing a tantrum because he's used to getting his way and always told he's right because he's the smartest boy in the room.

My point is that someone that is relatively unknown or not thought of as a politician could run an win as a Democrat. I don't think in the spring of 2021 I would have predicted JD Vance would win Republican Senate nomination then go on to win in the general election.

I know Ohio has been turning a progressively darker shade of red over the last few election cycles, but on the other side JD and Bernie were not part of the Republican bench. Bernie had run for office before, but neither had held elected office previously. I've expressed this before, but I do not think Tim Ryan is a strong Democratic candidate. It's possible there is a newcomer to the Democratic field that is able to be competitive statewide.

This isn't even a serious subject. This is a vacuous statement from a politically vacuous candidate.

Ohio's biggest biz leaders join push to bring NASA HQ to Cleveland March 17, 2025 Kim Palmer A bipartisan congressional delegation, state and regional business chambers, economic development organizations, and a growing list of private-sector companies have united to call for NASA to move its headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Glenn Research Center. In a letter released on Monday, March 17, a group of 26 business-related co-signers urged the White House and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman “to relocate NASA Headquarters from the D.C. Beltway to the Buckeye State — the heart of the American Midwest and the birthplace of aviation.” Signatories of the letter include the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), JobsOhio, Team NEO, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and organizations representing the state's biggest cities, including Columbus, Cincinnati, Sandusky, Canton and Dayton. https://www.crainscleveland.com/politics-policy/ohio-wants-nasa-hq-move-nasa-glenn

These aren't serious people. Either this is a joke that is mildly amusing at best or he's serious, either way it doesn't do anything to address the issues facing Ohioans. ‘Lake Ohio’? Vivek Ramaswamy suggests Lake Erie name change Published: Mar. 17, 2025 By Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com COLUMBUS, Ohio—Just as President Donald Trump has unilaterally renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy on Friday floated the idea of renaming another major body of water. “Anybody think if there’s a Lake Michigan, maybe there should be a Lake Ohio around here?” Ramaswamy, a Columbus-area Republican, said Friday during a local GOP fundraiser in suburban Toledo, about 13 miles away from the shores of Lake Erie. “I’m feeling that. We’ll talk about that a little bit more as this campaign progresses.” A campaign spokesperson said Ramaswamy was making a joke. Ramaswamy smiled broadly after making the comments, which attracted applause and scattered shouts of approval from the crowd. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/03/lake-ohio-vivek-ramaswamy-suggests-lake-erie-name-change.html

Cuyahoga River dam removal at the Gorge delayed by federal spending freeze Phil Keren March 17, 2025 Local leaders say the anticipated removal of the Gorge Metro Park Dam is another step in a years-long process to restore the Cuyahoga River to its natural state, as well as make it cleaner and friendlier to aquatic life. When this project will go forward recently became less clear following the Unleashing American Energy Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20. In a statement released Jan. 31, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it “has paused all funding actions related to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at this time.” The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was providing a substantial amount of the funding for a sediment removal project that must happen in the river prior to the removal of the dam. While the U.S. EPA is in charge of the sediment removal work, the city of Akron is leading the project to take down the dam. An Akron official said their work has been paused. https://theportager.com/cuyahoga-river-dam-removal-at-the-gorge-delayed-by-federal-spending-freeze/

If your point is only that we should extend the line north to Cleveland and south to Canton and if people end up using it to get between Canton and Cleveland, then sure, I'm with you. But it originally sounded like you wanted a different commuter services during week days and that just doesn't make sense. Including a stop at CAK doesn't make sense. You ignored basically all of the reasons why this isn't even worth considering as a commuter rail route. You'd degrade the scenic rail service to provide subpar commuter service and both would likely fail.

It already extends to Akron. I'm not an expert, but looking at much of the route it is between the river and roadways meaning there are not a lot of opportunities for bypasses which I would think you would want for an effective commuter train. Also, thinking of the alternate route, which I believe would run closer to Hudson, it hits more population centers that would support a commuter rail line. CVSR very much does not hit population centers along it's existing route. Look, I'm for extending north to Cleveland and south to Canton, but we shouldn't promise more than what this route will ever be. Failure of this line to be an effective commuter route could very effectively be weaponized against CVSR and commuter rail more generally.

Great Lakes shipping season to open early to ease vessel traffic Joe Boomgaard, Crain's Grand Rapids Business Mar 14th, 2025 The 2025 Great Lakes shipping season will kick off four days earlier than expected. That’s because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to open the Soo Locks to shipping traffic on the morning of March 21 in response to a request from the Great Lakes shipping industry. The early opening of the 1,200-foot-long Poe Lock in Sault Ste. Marie is intended to help ease anticipated vessel traffic later this season, according to a statement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District. https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/great-lakes-shipping-season-open-early