Debbie Hanson introduces Dr. Maria Pujana

Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Dr. Maria Pujana to induct Carolyn Balogh into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  Dr. Pujana was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame in 2014.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/hungarian/hungarian.htm

Cleveland Director Blaine Griffin inducts Khalid Samad

City of Cleveland Community Relations Board Director Blaine Griffin inducted El Hajj Amir Khalid A. Samad into the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. Blaine said that Khalid was the second African-American and first Muslim to be inducted.


 http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/africanamerican/africanamerican.htm and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/muslim/muslim.htm

Dan Hanson introduces Cleveland Director Blaine Griffin

Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced City of Cleveland Community Relations Board Director Blaine Griffin at the induction ceremony for the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. Blaine would induct El Hajj Amir Khalid A. Samad. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/africanamerican/africanamerican.htm

Arnie de la Porte inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Honorary Consul of the Netherlands Arnie de la Porte was inducted posthumously into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  His son Peter accepted the honor and gave this acceptance speech stressing his father’s motto that ‘Trading nations seldom go to wat.”

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/dutch/dutch.htm

Lithuanian Consul Ingrida Bublys inducts Arnie de la Porte

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys inducts Arnie de la Porte into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  Sadly Arnie passed away but his son Peter accepted the honor.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm

Debbie Hanson introduces Lithuanian Consul Ingrida Bublys

Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys to induct Arnie de la Porte into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/lithuanian/lithuanian.htm

Eugenia Stolarczyk inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Eugenia Stolarczyk was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for her many contributions to the Polish community including 55 years and counting on Polish radio. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek inducts Eugenia Stolarczyk

Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek came in from New York to induct Eugenia Stolarczyk into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  This was the Consul’s first visit to Cleveland.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek inducts Eugenia Stolarczyk

Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek came in from New York to induct Eugenia Stolarczyk into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  This was the Consul’s first visit to Cleveland.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Debbie Hanson introduces Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek

Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Polish Consul General Urszula Gacek who came in from New York to induct Eugenia Stolarczyk into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Olivia Gutowski plays the Hejnal at Hall of Fame

MC Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.com told the story of the legendary Polish song the Hejnal before the induction of Eugenia Stolarczyk at the induction ceremony of the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.  Then 12 year old Olivia Gutowski, dressed in traditional Polish costume, played the Hejnal on her trumpet.

 http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/polish/polish.htm

Olivia Gutowski plays America the Beautiful

12 year old Olivia Gutowski, dressed in traditional Polish costume, played America the Beautiful on her trumpet at the induction ceremony of the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.
http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com

Toast to 2016 Cleveland International Hall of Fame Class

MC Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com led the crowd in a toast to the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame consisting of Dr. Mohan Bafna, Carolyn Balogh, Charles A. Andre de la Porte, Jack Kahl, The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail Edward Mikhail, El Hajj Amir Khalid A. Samad and Eugenia Stolarczyk.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com

Dr Mohan Bafna inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Suresh Bafna read the acceptance speech for his father Dr. Mohan Bafna who was just inducted into the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Suresh Bafna inducts Dr Mohan Bafna into Hall of Fame

Suresh Bafna inducted his father Dr. Mohan Bafna into the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Debbie Hanson introduces Suresh Bafna

Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Suresh Bafna at the induction ceremony for the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. Suresh was about to induct his father Mohan Bafna. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Song for Fr. Mikhail at Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail Edward Mikhail, D. Min. of St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the Coptic Church and Egyptian community of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

MC Dan Hanson from ClevelandPeople.Com read part of a proclamation from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington DC.

Then members of his parish sang a song in tribute to Fr. Mikhail.


http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/egyptian/egyptian.htm

Rev. Fr. Mikhail inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail Edward Mikhail, D. Min. of St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the Coptic Church and Egyptian community of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/egyptian/egyptian.htm

Seven Hills Mayor Dell’Aquila inducts Rev. Mikhail

Seven Hills Mayor Richard Dell’Aquila introduced and inducted The Very Rev. Fr. Mikhail Edward Mikhail, D. Min. into the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/egyptian/egyptian.htm

Dan Hanson introduces Seven Hills Mayor Dell’Aquila

Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Seven Hills Mayor Richard Dell’Aquila at the induction ceremony for the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame.

 Dan told of the beautiful St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Seven Hills and their annual Egyptian Festival before introducing the Mayor.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/egyptian/egyptian.htm

Jack Kahl inducted in Cleveland International Hall of Fame

Jack Kahl, former Manco CEO, was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the Irish community including support for the Irish Cultural Garden and Johnny Kilbane statue.

 Jack tore up his prepared remarks and spoke from the heart as he accepted this honor. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/irish/irish.htm

Dan Coughlin inducts Jack Kahl into Hall of Fame

Cleveland sportswriter and TV personality Dan Coughlin introduced and inducted Jack Kahl, former Manco CEO, at the induction ceremony for the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/irish/irish.htm

Dan Hanson introduces sportswriter Dan Coughlin

Dan Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com introduced Cleveland sportswriter and TV personality Dan Coughlin at the induction ceremony for the 2016 class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. He told of Dan’s Emmy and other awards and his 3 books.  Then he introduced Dan with a joke.

http://clevelandinternationalhalloffame.com/ and http://www.clevelandpeople.com/

7th class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame

7^th class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame will be inducted Tuesday April 26 

Bios and photos of7th class of the Cleveland International Hall of Fame 

The 2016 Class was chosen unanimously by the committee from over 150 nominations. In alphabetical order:

1. Dr. Mohan Bafna
2. Carolyn Balogh
3. Arnie de la Porte (posthumous)
4. Jack Kahl
5. Rev. Mikhail Mikhail
6. Khalid Samad
7. Eugenia Stolarczyk

Joe meets 12 new people in Australia by Joseph Meissner

We love traveling, but not just to see the tourist sites. You could simply sit on your plush living room couch at home and eye Rick Steves travels, if your only goal was see the sights. No, we like to meet real people and dialogue with them. In Australia we met many people and made many new friends. This article is dedicated to twelve of the wonderful people we chanced upon.

Read the rest of Joe's travel experience

Grandson's Senior Recital by Amy Kenneley

The huge auditorium, filled to capacity the previous evening for a performance, echoed this morning with the smaller sounds of pre-recital tunings and directions. This was my grandson's Senior recital, one that tested his four years of work at Belmont University's School of Music. He would be presenting five pieces, all reflecting the aspects of playing, composing and arranging music.

Amy Kenneley and grandson Patrick

Read the rest of Amy's story

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University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 4

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is the conclusion (part 4) of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 3

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 3 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 2

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 2 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.   and Chris presents a check to CCGF president Sheila Crawford.

Senator Sherrod Brown and Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sent this video message to show his support for the Gardens on their 100th anniversary and for their message of ‘Peace through Mutual Understanding.’

Senator Rob Portman and Cleveland Cultural Gardens

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  US Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) sent this video message to show his support for the Gardens on their 100th anniversary and for their message of ‘Peace through Mutual Understanding.’

University Circle’s Chris Ronayne keynote at Gardens Gala - 1

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  This is part 1 of the keynote speech by Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

Dick Russ introduces keynote speaker Chris Ronayne

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ introduce keynote speaker Chris Ronayne of University Circle Inc.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th Gala – Dan Hanson

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)

CCGF Executive Board member Dan Hanson presented some of the proclamations received including from Mayor Frank Jackson, State Senator Tom Patton and Governor John Kasich.  He then showed video tributes from Senator Rob Portman and Senator Sherrod Brown.  Then a special letter from President Barack Obama from the White House was read and displayed.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th Gala - Dignitaries

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford introduced Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ who acknowledged some of the dignitaries in attendance such as Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Consul of Ireland from Chicago Orla McBreen.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th – Rev Caviness

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ introduce Pastor Caviness for the invocation.  Since 1961, Reverend Emmitt Theophilus Caviness has served as Pastor of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland.

Toast to Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.) CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford called up the CCGF Executive Board and asked the audience to join them in a toast to the 100th anniversary of the gardens – in their native language.

 

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th – Sheila Crawford

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  CCGF Sheila Murphy Crawford welcomed the crowd and gave some updates on the Gardens.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th – Ken Kovach anthem

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ introduce Ken Kovach who led the National Anthem.

Cleveland Cultural Gardens 100th - Dick Russ welcome

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation (CCGF) hosted a gala event at the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate the Centennial of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. (The first Garden was established in April 1916.)  A packed house of 325 watched Master of Ceremonies Dick Russ welcome the crowd and tell his own personal stories about growing up near the Gardens.

Cleveland Rotary makes Mayor Jackson honorary member

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  Rotary Club President Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski announced that Mayor Jackson would be one of the few who are made honorary Rotary members and the Mayor was then pinned.

Cleveland Mayor Jackson’s strategy on refugees

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  After his speech Mayor Jackson was asked about refugees.  

He told a story of how he learned a lesson from meeting with people who recently came from a refugee camp in Africa.  He said there used to be an infrastructure to support immigrants and refugees.  That doesn’t exist like it used to so we have to create that infrastructure. Programs are just programs – we believe in doing substantive things. What’s relevant is what we do for people.

Cleveland and the challenges of the RNC

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  After his speech Mayor Jackson was asked how the challenges of hosting the Republican National Convention RNC.

He said we are not afraid of the challenge.  We will step up our game to meet whatever challenge is before us and put Cleveland in the best light. This is about who we are.  How you deal with adversity is how you are defined.

How does national immigration climate affect Cleveland?

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  After his speech Mayor Jackson was asked how the national immigration climate affects Cleveland and what are the relationships with the sister cities?

ClevelandPeople honors Major Jackson at Rotary

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.

Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys (also past president of Cleveland Rotary) introduced Dan and Debbie Hanson of ClevelandPeople.Com and they presented a proclamation to Mayor Jackson and told of his efforts in the ethnic communities.

Honors for Major Jackson at Cleveland Rotary

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys (also past president of Cleveland Rotary) introduced some of the dignitaries who had proclamations for the Mayor.

Consul Bublys and Rotary International Service Award

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys (also past president of Cleveland Rotary) announced the award and presented it to Mayor Jackson.

Cleveland Rotary and Rotary International updates

The Rotary Club of Cleveland President Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski gave a brief history of the Club and told of some of the work and accomplishments such as the near eradication of polio from the earth.

Old Stone Church Pastor at Cleveland Rotary

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  Rev. Dr. R. Mark Giuliano, Pastor of the Old Stone Church in Cleveland, gave a Cleveland focused invocation.

Cleveland Rotary and Mayor Jackson national anthem

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award.  Rotary Club President Beverly Ghent-Skrzynski welcomed the crowd and began the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.

Mayor Frank Jackson accepts Rotary Award

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award. This is the Mayor’s acceptance speech.

Mayor Frank Jackson accepts Rotary Award

The Rotary Club of Cleveland honored The Honorable Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland, with the 2016 International Service Award. This is the Mayor’s acceptance speech.

Cleveland Asian Festival benefits AsiaTown

Cleveland Asian Festival benefits AsiaTown

For Immediate Release

April 1, 2016

Cleveland, OH – The Cleveland Asian Festival is a grassroots effort to highlight AsiaTown while celebrating diversity and Asian culture in Northeast Ohio. It is a major reason for the resurgence of and growth in Cleveland’s AsiaTown community.

When the volunteer founders of the Cleveland Asian Festival created the event seven years ago their main goals were to showcase Asian culture and promote the AsiaTown neighborhood of Cleveland.  The Cleveland Asian Festival is still run entirely by volunteers as a labor of love for their culture, neighborhood and city. 

May 21 and 22, 2016 will be the 7^th annual Cleveland Asian Festival and the results have been dramatic.  In 2015 for example, over 45,000 people attended the event and spent over $2 million in the neighborhood.  For many it was their first visit to Cleveland’s AsiaTown and visitor surveys showed that a large majority planned on returning to shop and eat in the neighborhood throughout the year.

This success has also led to many businesses opening or growing in the neighborhood.  Johnny Wu, one of the founders of the Cleveland Asian Festival, said, “We are all volunteers who work to build and grow AsiaTown.  We wanted to bring the community together and provide an economic growth engine for the AsiaTown neighborhood and the first six years have done just that.  We are excited about continued success this year and beyond.”

The grassroots efforts of the all-volunteer Cleveland Asian Festival team, along with area business and organization partners, have helped uncover a hidden treasure.   Co-founder Lisa Wong says “Due to the notoriety that the Festival has brought to the neighborhood, small business owners and restaurants have filled many of the vacant storefronts and others have remodeled and expanded.”

By bringing together the diverse Asian community and working together with local Asian non-profits, the annual Cleveland Asian Festival has provided an economic boost to AsiaTown and led to bustling stores, restaurants and community resources. 

‘We look forward to introducing even more people to AsiaTown at the Cleveland Asian Festival on May 21 and 22.” said Johnny Wu.

About the 2016 Cleveland Asian Festival

The Cleveland Asian Festival is an annual celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month in May in Cleveland’s Asiatown neighborhood. The Cleveland Asian Festival is a landmark undertaking to unite the community through collaboration and recognition of its culture, diversity, and people. A record crowd of 45,018 attended the 6^th annual Cleveland Asian Festival in 2015.

The 2016 Cleveland Asian festival will be held May 21 and 22, 2016 from 11am to 7pm on Payne Ave. between E. 30th St & E. 27th S.  Admission and parking are free.

Contact

Johnny Wu, johnny@mdifilm.com

1419 East 40th Street Cleveland, OH 44103

Office: 216.539.4634

www.ClevelandAsianFestival.org

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