Skrtic's Pics: Bruno's Ristorante, Tim Misny, Jamar Rahming 

John Skrtic has been with the Cleveland Public Library for over 30 years. He now serves as the chief of special projects and collections, which makes him responsible for overseeing the 11 million items in the Library Collection. He holds a master's of library and information science from Kent State University and a master's of public administration from Cleveland State University. Skrtic grew up on East 41st Street in Downtown Cleveland and has lived in the city his entire life. He is father of two children and spends his free time archiving the people and places of Cleveland.

Bruno's Ristorante

I stopped by 2644 W. 41st St. in Cleveland to have dinner and meet one of the city’s long-time favorite chefs, Bruno DiSiena. The spot had once been known as Luther’s, but in 1996, DiSiena opened his own restaurant here, bringing the flavors of his family’s Lazio roots to the neighborhood. The place is small and warm, the kind of restaurant where the pasta tastes like it came from someone’s family kitchen. DiSiena makes everything by hand, from gnocchi to cavatelli to ravioli, and the lasagna portions are generous and satisfying.

DiSiena honed his skills as executive chef at the Cleveland Browns’ training facility in Berea before deciding to open his own place. He brings that precision and care to every dish, but he is also a storyteller, a warm presence who knows the regulars by name. Over the years, Bruno’s Ristorante has become more than a restaurant; it is a community anchor in this part of Cleveland. Talking with him, you realize the secret to his food is not just technique, it is heritage and a genuine love for Clevelanders.

Car Bae

Stopped by 8820 St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland to meet Teshome O. S. Helmey, known around the city as Car Bae. She has been running her automotive shop here for the past five months.

Car Bae grew up in the Wade Park neighborhood and still calls it home. She told me she is a proud graduate of Ohio Technical College. She first worked at a tire shop, then became the only female roadside technician in the city that she knew of. She opened her first shop five years ago and recently moved into this new location.

She said she specializes in brakes, suspensions, tune-ups, oil work, and much more. She also said she hopes to hire another woman to join her team, though finding female mechanics has not been easy.

If you are looking for a reliable automotive shop, follow Car Bae on Instagram @carbae72 and support a strong, woman-owned business in Cleveland.

Jamar Rahming

Jamar Rahming, the new director and CEO of the Cuyahoga County Public Library, visited the main library for the Cleveland Public Library’s annual fundraiser. He brings nearly twenty years of experience in public libraries and began his role at CCPL in August 2025.

Before joining Cuyahoga County, he led the Wilmington Institute Free Library in Delaware and previously worked in library systems in Oregon, Texas, and South Carolina. He earned his master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and his bachelor’s degree in history and African studies from the University of Northern Colorado.

It was great speaking with the friendly and funny new director as he met with everyone and was greeted with many compliments about his fantastic fashion sense. Rahming is already setting a high standard for innovation, community engagement and expanding access to library resources across the county.

Kasumi

I had the opportunity to experience Kasumi’s latest video installation at the Power Portal in Rocket Arena, and it is a must-see. Words can hardly capture the full impact of the piece, which transforms the arena into an immersive visual experience. If you're in Downtown Cleveland, this is one of those rare artworks that truly must be seen in person.

Kasumi is a Cleveland-based digital media artist whose work seamlessly blends technology with traditional artistic forms. She creates video, film, immersive installations, prints, and collages that explore memory, perception, and cultural storytelling. Drawing inspiration from mid-20th-century mass media and early 1980s Japanese popular culture, her work feels both nostalgic and strikingly contemporary.

Recognized worldwide, Kasumi was awarded a 2011 Guggenheim Fellowship for her experimental feature film Shockwaves and is also a Cleveland Arts Prize winner. Her work has been featured in exhibitions such as Persistence of Vision at Summit Artspace in Akron. Kasumi's commitment to integrating art into public spaces and creating experiences that resonate deeply with audiences has earned her a reputation as a vital force in the national arts community.

Kim's Wings

I stopped by the legendary Kim's Wings at 14909 Saint Clair Ave. in Cleveland. Inside, Diane Cooper has been working here for 16 years. Angela Dixon has been part of the team for 11. They talked about the customers who keep coming back and the sauce that people love.

They shared stories about the neighborhood, the rhythm of the shop, and the ways the community gathers here. Kim's Wings is more than wings, catfish, or a Polish Boy. It is a corner of Cleveland that stays steady even as the city changes around it.

Every day, Cooper and Dixon work with care, keeping the delicious flavors of Kim's consistent, keeping the shop alive, keeping this area of Cleveland busy and connected.

Reading Room

I have known L.S. Quinn for years, but until I spent time at The Reading Room at 17021 Lorain Ave. in West Park, I had no idea of the fire behind this place. Walking in, you can feel the thought, the care, and the insistence that literature should be for everyone. Quinn has built more than a bookstore; she has built a space where ideas live and move, where stories reach out and pull you in. Listening to her, you see the years of work, the programs, and the ways she gathers books and sends them into the hands of readers who might never have found them.

Quinn is humble, always talking about the board, the members, the volunteers, and the community, yet you can feel why she is executive director. She is confident, clear on the vision, and so seldom is that kind of direction so well articulated. Her humor, distinctly Cleveland, lights the room, and every word carries purpose. The shop itself is alive with small discoveries: staff picks are arranged by theme, books are wrapped in brown paper with just enough to hint at what is inside, and there are tables for writers to meet readers and corners for quiet thought. She has made it a place where community matters, where equity matters, and where the future of young readers is part of every decision.

Visiting Quinn and The Reading Room, you understand why this is important. It is not just a shop. It is a home, a calling. To learn more about the programs, the books, and how to support or get involved, visit https://readingroomcle.org

Royal Cleaners

I visited Royal Dry Cleaners at 865 E. 152nd St. in Collinwood and met the owner, Myung Kang. Born in South Korea, she eventually made her way to Cleveland. In 1990, she and her husband opened this dry cleaning business in the neighborhood.

Kang spoke about how the area has changed over the last 35 years and how many of her regulars still return because of the care and service she provides. We talked about her two children, who grew up here and have since moved away. She proudly showed me a picture of her daughter featured in a magazine profile and talked about the challenges of putting her children through school.

We also talked about the building itself, a former red barn, and she told me that people often comment on its history when they visit. I thanked her for sharing her story, showing me around the shop, and for keeping this corner of Collinwood, across from our historic Collinwood Library branch alive and thriving with loyal customers.

Tim Misny

Sitting next to Tim Misny at a wedding, we got to talking about Cleveland. Misny has a presence that fills a room, the kind of figure you notice instantly. He may be the most recognized face in the city, thanks to years of billboards boldly declaring, "You know what I do." I even captured a photo of him over the city, a view familiar to anyone who has seen his ever-present Misny billboards watching over us.

Misny grew up in the Cleveland area and built his reputation as a trial lawyer taking on high-stakes personal injury cases. A fixture on local radio and TV, he blends legal precision with showmanship, representing clients in cases ranging from catastrophic injuries to class actions. His name, his voice, and those billboards have made him as recognizable in the city as the skyline or its bridges.

Talking with him, I learned about his charitable work and what drives him. Beyond the billboards and TV spots, Misny embodies the energy and determination of Cleveland itself. He speaks about the law like it’s a craft and treats every case like a story, leaving no doubt why he has become one of the city’s most influential and enduring figures.

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