Saturday, March 18, 2017

Red Hat Society of Ohio greetings for St. Patrick’s Day

Ladies from the Red Hat Society Ohio Chapter wished everyone a Happy St Patrick’s Day before the 175th St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Cleveland.

Irish in Cleveland


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Why Open Data is important to public and private sectors

Jill Miller Zimon is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of OpenNEO, a not for profit organization dedicated to opening data in our region, i.e. making it publicly available, easily accessible, and readily downloadable.  

She spoke at Data Days CLE, a 3-day event bringing together experts and users in the fields of civic technology and data.    

This snippet of the presentation shows how Open Data can be used to solve real problems (like rat colonies) and why Open Data is important to both the private and public sectors. 


Microsoft Excel and Big Data Session at Data Days CLE

Adam J. Hecktman, Microsoft’s Director of Technology & Civic Innovation for Chicago, presented at Data Days CLE, a 3-day event bringing together experts and users in the fields of civic technology and data.   

This snippet of the presentation shows some of the Quick Analysis tools (Data Bars in the cells themselves, Sparklines, etc.) which give an easy way to show trends with lots of data. 



Cleveland Housing Hackathon Session at Data Days CLE

For 24 hours on April 7th to 8th, 2017 CLE Housing Hackathon will bring together more than 200 tech enthusiasts, critical thinkers, civic leaders, and residents from across the county to brainstorm, ideate, and develop innovative solutions around a central question: How can we help Clevelanders in the Housing Choice Voucher program better select well-resourced neighborhoods that meet their needs? 

Here is a snippet from the session where representatives spoke at Data Days CLE, a 3-day event bringing together experts and users in the fields of civic technology and data.    




Lead exposure link to kindergarten readiness

Robert L. Fischer, PhD CWRU Research Professor and Program Director, Master of Nonprofit Organizations, Co-Director, Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development has led the Center’s research on Invest in Children, a county-wide early childhood initiative that includes home visiting, children’s health, and childcare components since 2001.

 He spoke at the Data Days Cleveland event about how the house matters in a child’s preparedness for school.

 Data Days CLE was a 3-day event bringing together experts and users in the fields of civic technology and data.  

More from Data Days Cleveland


Friday, March 10, 2017

Babushka Contest at 2017 Maslenitsa

The Russian Cultural Garden in Cleveland hosted their annual Maslenitsa celebration at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.  Ladies showed off their best babushkas in the annual Babushka Contest.

Maslenitsa in Cleveland


Greater Cleveland Russian Chorus at 2017 Maslenitsa

The Russian Cultural Garden in Cleveland hosted their annual Maslenitsa celebration at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.  The Greater Cleveland Russian Chorus aka the Cuyahoga Cossacks performed in the Greenhouse.

Wait till you hear the ending!





Dancing at 2017 Maslenitsa in Cleveland

The Russian Cultural Garden in Cleveland hosted their annual Maslenitsa celebration at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.  The attendees had fun dancing throughout the day.


Maslenitsa 2017 in Cleveland


Kid’s Game at 2017 Maslenitsa in Cleveland

The Russian Cultural Garden in Cleveland hosted their annual Maslenitsa celebration at the Rockefeller Greenhouse.  The youngsters had fun playing various games such as this one.  






Thursday, March 09, 2017

16 year old sings Santa Lucia at Maslenitsa in Cleveland

16 year old Caprice Trifiro performed the Neapolitanian folk song Santa Lucia in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.

Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio. She is the winner: American Protege 1st place, AAGDT 3rd place, eMuse 3rd place.


More of the young singers at Russian Maslenitsa in Cleveland


13 year old sings Funiculi-Funicula by Denza at Maslenitsa in Cleveland

13 year old Nicholas Oita performed Funiculi-Funicula by Denza in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.  Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio.
Nicholas has been Olga’s student for student for about 1.5 years. He is the winner: Grand Prize Virtuoso London 1st place and Young Talent Special prize; American Protege 1st place; Little Mozart 2nd place.

Russian Maslenitsa in Cleveland


11 year old sings Maslyana by Zlotnik at Maslenitsa in Cleveland

11 year old Polina Kornyushenko performed Maslyana by Zlotnik   in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden. 

Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio. Polina has been Olga’s student for student for about 2.5 years. She is the winner: Grand Prize Virtuoso London Absolute winner 100/100; American Protege 1st prices   and Jury Favorite Award; Little Mozart 1st place, eMuse (Greece) 3rd place.






Wednesday, March 08, 2017

7 year old sings Bibbidi, Bobbidy at Maslenitsa in Cleveland

7 year old Olivia Giancola performed Bibbidi, Bobbidy by David   in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.  Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio.


More from the Maslenitsa Kid's Concert


6 year old sings La Bella Bimba by Giardina at Maslenitsa in Cleveland

6 year old Aiden Malka performed La Bella Bimba by Giardina in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.  Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio.

More from the Kid's concert at Maslenitsa



Sartori’s Time to say Goodbye at Russian Maslenitsa in Cleveland

11 year old Polina Kornyushenko and 13 year old Nicholas Oita performed Time to say Goodbye by Francesco Sartori in the Rockefeller Greenhouse in Cleveland during the annual Maslenitsa celebration hosted by the Russian Cultural Garden.  Pianist and instructor is Olga Druzhinina from Olga’s Music Studio.


More of Cleveland Russians



Tuesday, March 07, 2017

Cleveland ethnic leaders meet with Mayor Frank Jackson and others

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, City Council president Kevin Kelley, Global Cleveland President Joe Cimperman and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams met with about 120 leaders of Cleveland's ethnic communities. The purpose was to have a dialog, answer their concerns and have a conversation about Cleveland’s local response to international relations in our community.

The meeting was closed to the media so the people could speak freely. Afterwards, a summary for the media was presented and Q&A session was held.



Mayor Jackson assured the leaders that Cleveland always has been, is and will remain a Welcoming City.




Monday, March 06, 2017

Snowrators from Pirc Landscaping at Kurentovanje

Pirc Company Landscaping & Snowplowing LLC is located in Wickliffe, Ohio.  Before the 5th annual Kurentovanje Parade in Cleveland they gathered in the parking lot and explained their Snowrator machines and introduced the company’s unofficial mascot, the miniature golden-doodle Hurley.  Cleveland City Councilman Mike Polensek stopped by to take a look too.


Kurents and other creatures at Kurentovanje

Kurents and other creatures hung around the Slovenian Heritage Museum in Cleveland at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival.


Slovenians in Cleveland



Posing with scary monsters at Kurentovanje

Kids (of all ages) wanted to pose with the scary monsters at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.





In Heaven there is no beer polka at Kurentovanje

The Joey Tomsick Orchestra played the ‘In Heaven there is no beer’ polka at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.





Slovenians in Cleveland

University of Akron Ice Carving Team at Kurentovanje

Tell the truth.  Did you know that the University of Akron had an Ice Carving Team?

Not me.

The University of Akron Ice Carving Team performed at the 5th annual Slovenian Kurentovanje Festival in Cleveland.   They carved a swan, an elephant and a dolphin.


Pokemon Pikachu vs Pikachu – The Thriller at Sterle’s

Before the 2017 Kurentovanje Parade stepped off in Cleveland two Pikachus from Pokemon engaged in a fun battle – the Thriller at Sterle’s.


Watkins Glen visitors at Cleveland Kurentovanje

A couple from Watkins Glen, New York travelled over 5 hours to attend the annual Kurentovanje Parade and Festival in Cleveland Ohio.





Pokemon Pikachu dances a Polka

Before the 2017 Kurentovanje Parade stepped off in Cleveland a polka was played, we met the Prince and Princess of Kurentovanje and Pikachu from Pokemon danced a Polka!




PIAST Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble at Kurentovanje

The PIAST Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America performed at the 2017 Kurentovanje Festival at the Slovenian National Home. The dancers performed a Pysanky Dance where the young ladies dressed as Easter Eggs - pysanky - and the young men dressed as roosters. They also danced some old Warsaw polkas.


 


Folklorna Skupina Kres

The Folklorna Skupina Kres was established in 1954 and the current group of Kres Slovenian Folklore Dancers performed at the 5th annual Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival.







Kurentovanje Festival

After the Parade, the Kurentovanje celebration continued at the Slovenian National Home. Music, dancing, food and fun.

Everyone wanted to pose with a Kurent or other monster.







Kurentovanje in Cleveland

Kurentovanje is a cultural event which connects ethnology, culture, arts, and people from all over Europe. It has been celebrated in Slovenia for the past 50 years. The central figure of the carnival, the Kurent, is believed to chase away winter and usher in spring with its supernatural powers. Kurentovanje has a Mardi Gras feel so many participants wore masks to help scare away winter.

Did you know that there are more Slovenians in Cleveland Ohio than anywhere in the world except for Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia?

The 5th annual Cleveland version of the most popular carnival in Slovenia - Kurentovanje - began with a parade. The units gathered at Sterle's on East 55th and marched up St Clair to the Slovenian National Home.

This video is highlights of the Parade.