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.
Floral & Fruit Paradise
It was wonderful talking with Maria Bernudez, owner Floral & Fruit Paradise at 2704 Bridge Ave. in Cleveland, as well as with her sister, Zoila Schroeder, who also works at the shop.
Maria shared that she ran a location in Lakewood for 16 years before opening her beautiful Ohio City shop 8 years ago. Both sisters are originally from Colombia and spoke warmly about raising their families in the area and being part of the local community.
Maria also proudly told me about her entrepreneurial son, Mario Montoya, who runs the fantastic Lulo Kitchen. Big thanks to the family for taking the time to chat and show me around their place.
Angela Mia Pizza
I recently stopped in at the ever-popular Angela Mia Pizza at 15811 Euclid Ave. in East Cleveland. Despite juggling many tasks during a hot and hectic day, district manager Meech Clark took a moment to chat about this popular, locally-owned pizzeria. In business since 1968, Angela Mia has been a staple for generations of loyal customers. It was great talking to some of them as they stopped in — from near and far — to pick up their pies. Many expressed how much Angela Mia meant to them growing up. This place isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a tradition. angelamiapizza.com
David C. Barnett
I had the pleasure of catching up with venerable broadcaster David C. Barnett, though in these parts, folks just call him DCB. We snapped this photo in the Eastman Reading Garden at the Main Cleveland Public Library. To DCB, this isn’t just any patch of green Downtown; it holds special meaning as he worked for CPL in his youth, dreaming big dreams of the life ahead. In choosing this place for a photo, we both felt that he had come full circle.
Born in Chicago, DCB moved to Cleveland with his family at age 11. He studied communications at Cleveland State University, then went further by earning double master’s degrees from Kent State University: education and telecommunications, tools of the trade for a guy who believes that stories matter.
DCB’s distinctive voice has long been a part of Cleveland’s soundscape. For nearly 30 years, he told Cleveland’s stories. And not just stories that grab the headlines, but stories with soul — of art, culture, neighborhood characters, the little guy and everything in between.
He joined Ideastream back in 1995. Before long, his voice was everywhere: on WVIZ, WCPN, NPR and PBS NewsHour; in documentaries, profiles and radio pieces. He gave Cleveland’s creative spirit a place to breathe. In 2022, after 27 years, he hung up his mic. But the stories? They’re still out there, echoing through the city. For his part, DCB helped Cleveland see itself more clearly each day and maybe even like what it saw.
Jean-Marie Papoi
I ran into Jean-Marie Papoi under the Veterans Memorial Bridge recently during a streetcar tunnel tour. Camera in hand, steady and sure, she worked the scene like she always does: quiet, focused, observing all the details so she can paint a vivid portrait in her reporting. Cuyahoga County had opened the tunnel for a brief viewing, letting Clevelanders walk through that long concrete spine, imagining the steady hum of the voices of the past while dreaming of whatever comes next for this magisterial space.
Jean-Marie’s not looking for the spotlight, but her work always shows up where it matters. She's a digital producer at Ideastream Public Media — WVIZ’s Applause — and she’s stacked up awards for telling stories that tell our city’s story, in authentic, human terms.
I snapped her photo standing in front an old streetcar, the symbolism of which seemed fitting. Like the reliable, workaday streetcars of the past, Jean-Marie is an old-school reporter you can trust — someone who listens more than talks, who digs deep beneath the surface, and who gives voice to the everyday moments that make Cleveland what it is today.
Little Cloud Sandwiches
Laura Ashton is the creative force behind Little Cloud Sandwiches, a new sandwich shop located at 1512 W. 25th St. in Cleveland. Since opening on April 3, Little Cloud has emanated positive energy as a beloved neighborhood spot. After becoming a licensed architect in 2019, Laura worked for some of the city’s stop firms. But something inside her said that architecture was not her true calling. She soon stepped out of the drafting chair, picked up a spatula and rolled the dice on something she could call hers. Little Cloud isn’t just delicious — it’s considered: the layout, the feel, the flavors. Every corner of the place carries out her architectural vision. Laura is the captain of her own ship, a Clevelander seeing the future and shaping it, one sandwich at a time. Check the menu and experience it for yourself. littlecloudsandwiches.com
Sister Rita Mary Harwood
If you know Cleveland, you know Sister Rita Mary Harwood, who was born and raised on the city’s West Side in the heart of St. Colman Parish. I had the honor of being invited by Sister Rita to visit the St. Colman Refugee Resource Center on West 65th Street. She joined the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1959 and served as a teacher, principal and provincial superior.
From 1995 until 2021, Sister Rita led the Diocese of Cleveland's Secretariat for Parish Life and Development. Her work focused on strengthening parish life and building bridges for those on the margins, especially immigrants and refugees. She spent a lifetime committed to service, guided by scripture and a deep, human-centered compassion.
In 2022, working alongside Father Robert Reidy, Sister Rita helped launch the St. Colman Refugee Resource Center. It’s become a true neighborhood anchor, quietly serving over 450 refugee and immigrant families, many of whom are working to build better lives, far from home, right here in Cleveland.
The center is open every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, offering free support to families in need. That includes things such as hygiene products, baby supplies, kitchenware, clothing, bedding and anything needed to provide comfort and stability to vulnerable people. If you're in a position to help, the center welcomes donations of everyday essentials, kitchenware, toiletries and gently loved stuffed animals for the little ones. Small acts of kindness go a long way here.
Walking through the space with Sister Rita, one is reminded what true service looks like. It isn’t showy; it’s steady, rooted in care, and built on the belief that everyone deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported.
Wedding Party
It was one of those late, warm nights in Lakewood, the kind with a stubborn heat that refuses to let the day die easily. I found myself near closing time at O’Donnell’s Pub, a great bar hidden in plain sight at 16204 Madison Ave. That’s when they came in. Not just the bride and groom, but the whole story.
A pack of sharply dressed friends was already gathered at the bar, laughter echoing through the room, the kind of joy that cannot be faked. The energy shifted when the doors swung open and in came Marlee Alt and Daniel Wenzel, newly married and aglow. The place erupted in cheers — the kind you usually only hear at this spot after a Guardians win.
Marlee and Daniel had tied the knot earlier that night in a backyard on Atkins, right in the neighborhood. Daniel told me he proposed during the solar eclipse not long after they met at a local monthly group run called "Runs on Tap."
They posed for a photo with their friends, those who stayed late and made it later still. Everyone has been to that kind of wedding. The kind where you try to stretch the night, bend the clock, and hold onto the feeling for just a few more minutes.
Yvette and Lamont
I met Yvette Andrews and Lamont Blake at Edgewater on a recent weekend. They were relaxing and enjoying music — including Journey, which they told me is still one of their all-time favorites.
I told them that no one in the large crowd on the beach, all of whom seemed to be having a great time, matched their energy and enthusiasm. It was such a pleasure talking with these proud East Clevelanders about Cleveland music, Tucker’s Casino and Angela Mia Pizza. I really hope to run into them again soon.
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