Firestone's Finale, Things to Do This Week: CLE Daily

☀️ 84°; Sunny
🥵 Stay Cool: Get ready for another sweltering week, with "real feel" and actual temperatures in the 90s all week.
🚂 Big Boy: Train No. 4014, aka Big Boy, returns to Northeast Ohio today as it heads home to Cheyenne, Wyoming, from its East Coast tour. Track it here.
🥾Taking a Hike: A 79-year-old became the oldest woman to complete the 1,444-mile Buckeye Trail yesterday. She's also one of only 215 people to complete trek, which she did over three years.
🗳️ Last Call: Best of Cleveland nominations close Wednesday — get your favorite shops, spas and salons on the ballot before final voting starts July 20.

ICYMI: As traditional opera companies have disappeared, a network of performers, teachers and small organizations is keeping the art form alive in Northeast Ohio.

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Today's Trivia

This Cleveland native and Baldwin Wallace alumnus won four Olympic track gold medals.

Sports: Zach Johnson wins Firestone Finale. 

By Vince Guerrieri 

Zach Johnson cruised to a six-shot victory to become the winner of the final Kaulig Companies Championship — and the final professional golf tournament at Firestone Country Club, at least for now. The tournament went out with a bang, thanks to live music performances and top-notch PGA Champions Tour action.

Easy Drive: After shooting a bogey-free 63 on Saturday, Johnson hung on to his lead to win the tournament, shooting 68 on the par-70 course to finish 15-under, six strokes ahead of runner-up Boo Weekley. The win is his third on the PGA Tour Champions since turning 50 in February.

• “You can’t fake it here,” Johnson says. “This course required every element of my game here.”

Worth noting: John Daly withdrew after the third round, while Justin Leonard was disqualified after self-reporting an incorrect scorecard.

The Bigger Picture: Next year, the PGA Tour Champions’ fifth major heads to Newport Beach, California. It will be the first time Firestone doesn’t host a PGA golf tournament since 1954.

• More than 540 volunteers helped run the tournament, including some families who have worked the event for generations. One volunteer received recognition for 60 years of service. 

“It’s a family reunion for the volunteers,” says Nick Adolph, one of the event’s volunteer chairmen, whose family has more than 100 years of combined volunteer service at Firestone. “It’s a lot of fun on a beautiful golf course.” 

Read the full story.

Talk of the Town

Ohio is No. 1 for business, according to CNBC's annual state rankings — the first time the Buckeye State has topped the list after debuting at No. 30 in 2007 and cracking the top five last year.

A Cleveland crisis nursery was caught in gunfire twice in two days over the July 4 weekend. Staff at Providence House's East Campus near East 118th and Buckeye — where no one was injured — are demanding action after what they describe as an out-of-control street takeover.

Whiplash at the pump: Ohio gas prices have seesawed wildly this year, plunging as low as $2.79 in January before peaking at $4.56 in May — and experts say the volatility isn't over.

The county's levy plans took concrete steps this week. Cuyahoga County Council gave final approval to place the Board of Developmental Disabilities levy before November voters and a first reading to a renewal-with-increase for Health and Human Services.

Fourteen- and 15-year-olds can now work later hours on school nights, thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday. Among other things, House Bill 455 expanded teens' cut off time to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with the signed permission of a parent. It's a compromise from a bill DeWine vetoed that would have allowed students to work until 9 p.m. every day. 

Photo of the Day: Border Light Festival brings a new mural to Playhouse Square. 

Artist Guice Mann, aka Charlie Malta, added his geometric, pop-folk style of art to the tapestry of Playhouse Square. Painted on the backside of Something Good Social Kitchen, the mural was completed live Saturday evening as part of event programming for BorderLight Theater Festival, which used the artist's work throughout its branding. BorderLight hosted more than 100 theater and other performances over seven venues from Thursday to Sunday.

Things To Do This Week

Derek Hough’s Symphony of Dance: Encore at Akron Civic Theatre (July 15): Following the success of his Symphony of Dance tour, Derek Hough is coming to Akron for an Encore. From ballroom to tap to salsa, this high-energy choreography from the Emmy Award-winning mind of Hough is sure to blow audiences away. 8 p.m., $60-$417, 182 South Main St., Akron, akroncivic.com

Asian Lantern Festival Drive Through Experience at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (July 15): After opening for the summer last week, the Asian Lantern Festival at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is back and better than ever. This year, it features more interactive experiences and themed areas like RainForest Path. While the walk-through option remains open Thursdays through Sundays, the Zoo has announced the return of the drive through experience only on select nights. This way, guests can experience the beautifully illuminated Zoo from the comfort of their own vehicles. 6:30-10:30 p.m., $50-$60 per vehicle, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com

A Taste of Black Cleveland 8.0 at Rocket Arena (July 16): Rocket Area hosts The Food Showcase this Thursday, welcoming the public to a celebration of Cleveland’s Black-owned culinary scene. Chefs prepare their signature dishes for guests to taste during the beginning of the event. Guests will vote for their favorites, stick around and enjoy the company while they wait for the votes to be tallied and the Taste of Black Cleveland 8.0 winners to be named. All proceeds from the event will benefit the participating businesses, the Cavaliers Community Foundation HBCU Scholarship Program and the Cleveland NAACP. 6-10 p.m., $100-$200, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, wwsgroup.biz

Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Progressive Field (July 17): Head out to Progressive Field for a perfect summer night at the ballpark. Enjoy $2 Pregame in the District sponsored by Coors Light, Sugardale Dollar Dog Night and Phantom Fireworks at the end of the game. Progressive Field will also be celebrating O.A.R. Day, meaning the popular American Rock band with Ohio roots will be making multiple appearances throughout the night. 7:10 p.m., $25-$155, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, mlb.tickets.com

Friday's Trivia Answer 

Finish this lyric from a Cleveland Browns Christmas carol: “On the first day of Christmas, Art Modell gave to me…” A Rutigliano Super Bowl team.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question.

From the Editor

Big events and star players capture headlines, but some of the most fascinating and heartwarming moments of my job are found in the unsung heroes. Behind all the big moments and sponsors at Firestone Country Club were legions of volunteers who simply loved the sport or were so proud of their city's involvement in professional golf that they wanted to help Firestone put its best foot forward. They are a big reason that course is so revered by the golf community. For them and for the region, we hope to see PGA golf one day return to this iconic course. -Dillon Stewart, Editor