January 2011 • neighborhood-voice.com HUGLANGSTON H{ FEBRUARYES 1, 1902 – MAY 22, 1967 } A R E T R os PEC T IVE Want a proven path to a good career? Try NewBridge. Looking for a good career? New job skills? A way to a brighter future that really works? NewBridge may be your answer. NewBridge offers job training programs for adults and arts classes for youth at no cost. Adults are trained for medical careers as pharmacy technicians or phlebotomists (professionals who collect blood samples). High school students learn skills needed for college and careers through after-school classes in digital arts, including multimedia entertainment and digital photography, and ceramics/sculpture. The program gives you everything you need to succeed … including bus passes to get there! NewBridge is based on the successful approach of Manchester Bidwell in Pittsburgh, and is supported by the Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland’s largest grantmaking organization. Learn more by visiting newbridgecleveland.org or calling 216 867 9775. Class sizes are limited and classes begin soon. Register today! NewBridge Cleveland Center for Arts & Technology admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. Printed on recycled paper TABLE OF CONTENTS Buckeye-Shaker 3 & 4 Bigger Books on Larchmere Central 5 & 6 Art Attack East Cleveland 7 & 8 Bringing Down the Houses Fairfax 9 & 10 Soul of a City: A Photo Essay Arts 11 & 12 Staff Picks of 2010, Plus Bobby Womack?! Glenville 13 & 14 My Voice: Twelve and in Jail Landscape of Greater University Circle atop the W.O. Walker Building at 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH. PHOTO BY STEPHEN TRAVARCA Cover Story 15 & 16 Langston Hughes: A Retrospective Editor and Publisher Josette D. Compton A d d r e s s M i s s i o n 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 1510 To inform, inspire and provide a forum for Cleveland, OH 44115 Hough 17 & 18 Online Editor all residents, organizations and businesses Robert Banks… Sam Allard Don’t Pretend You Know Him Phone in Greater University Circle through Graphic Designer (216) 925-4900 relevant, quality print and online media. Little Italy 19 & 20 Ami Rizek Book Reviews and Email V i s i o n Graphic Design Consultant [email protected] New Grocery Store Julie Heckman To create educational opportunities for local journalism students and resident University Circle 21 & 22 General Assignment Reporter Advertising writers by cultivating their editorial and Sound Theory: Using Music to Heal Angel Moss-Parkham [email protected] entrepreneurial skills. Submit Letters to the Editor at www.neighborhood-voice.com Contributors M. LaVora Perry C. Victoria Trotter Dairian Heard Justin Rutledge East Cleveland-based editor Glenville resident and CEO Is a senior at John Hay Buckeye-Shaker-based and writer is a regular con- of Trotter’s Dry Cleaners. Early College High School graduate of Bowling Green tributor to NV (page 8). She contributes a “My in University Circle. She is State University, who works Voice” essay in this issue now a regular contributor in the Glenville area at City (page 14). to NV (page 13). Year (page 13). Allyson L. Chanda S. Bynum Courtney L. Green Marita Sanders Robichaud, Ph.D. Attends the Cleveland Lives in Glenville, and Is a Buckeye-Shaker-based Is an Associate Professor School of the Arts and works as a paraprofes- hairstylist who offers tips on of philosophy at Cleveland studies creative writing. sional in Cleveland. She is maintaining beautiful hair State University and serves She hopes to become a a regular contributor to NV during and after aerobic as the treasurer for the journalist (page 18). (page 7). exercise (page 3). Cleveland Food Co-op in University Circle (page 21). Cover inspired by Shepard Fairey’s 2008 “Hope” poster for President Barack Obama. www.neighborhood-voice.com January 2011 2 Buckeye-Shaker NEIGHBORHOOD VOICE Business: Money Matters The Advantage could receive $457. Married taxpayers who file leaving free money on the table. Therefore, if jointly, and who earn less than $48,362 with you’re eligible, be sure to claim this injection of Claim the Earned Income three or more qualifying children would land cash and make tax season brighter this year. somewhere in the middle of this scale. Tax Credit by April 15th However, your child only qualifies if he or No matter where you decide to By Stephanie Turner she meets four tests, which are based on the have your taxes prepared, be sure NV contributing writer following: to bring these important For many Americans, tax time arouses a sense 1. Their relationship to you documents with you: of fear. This is often caused when people do not 2. Their age • W-2 Forms know whether they will owe the IRS or receive 3. Where they live (reporting full-time wages) 4. If parents file a joint return or not. a refund. But knowing that they are eligible • 1099 Forms for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can A tax preparer can help you understand these (reporting part-time work alleviate such anxiety. requirements and determine if your child is and interest income) considered a “qualifiying child.” The EITC is a federal income tax credit, which • Unemployment forms returns money to hardworking Americans But to claim the EITC, you must first file an who earn low or moderate incomes. Although income tax return. The good news is that, • Proof of child care payments annually, up to 25 percent of eligible households in many communities, you can obtain free • Social Security card for yourself forego EITC benefits, to which they are entitled, assistance in filing your tax return and learn if and each dependent possibly because they are unaware of this law. you are eligible for the EITC. • Other IRS forms as appropriate If you qualify for the EITC for tax year 2010, On Saturday, Feb. 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 • Bank account information you may be eligible to receive between $457 p.m., KeyBank will offer its “Super Refund • Valid photo ID and $5,666. Saturday,” a free tax preparation event in • Previous year’s tax return The tax credit is calculated according to conjunction with Cleveland Housing Network, the number of qualifying children you have, the United Way, the federal government’s EITC coalition and St. Ignatius High School. To make a Super Refund compared to your “earned income.” That Saturday appointment call means, at the low end, single taxpayers earning To miss an opportunity to receive EITC benefits, less than $13,460 with no qualifying children which you are entitled to receive, is similar to (216) 881-8443. Community News “Gene is envisioning a ‘my favorite book’ A built-in budget of $14,000 is at Epstein’s nomination process where local merchants, disposal for materials and installation. The residents and students can submit their favorite mural is expected to be completed no later than you ARE what Bigger Books on books for consideration,” said Chilcote. “We August, 2011. want these books to represent the community, Loganberry Books owner Harriett Logan is happy you READ. Larchmere and people are really excited by that idea.” to see the mural go up on the east side of her Mural competition aimed at According to Chilcote, the mural will be printed establishment, but she doesn’t get any special Reading creates (instead of painted). “It’s the same high-quality, treatment in terms of title selection. community involvement vivid look that you see on the Cleveland Museum “I get the same say as any other resident,” she knowledge. of Art’s banners for new exhibits,” he said. By Sam Allard said. “I just hope there’s a nice mix of genre, a NV online editor Each book’s print will be constructed individually mix of ages, and some new and some out of Knowledge is and then mounted on a substrate platform, print titles.” By the summer of 2011, the eastern wall of which will then be mounted on Loganberry’s The mural project follows a series of wisdom – the Loganberry Books will become Cleveland’s wall. The medium guarantees that the design beautification efforts in the Shaker Square tallest and fattest bookshelf. won’t fade for at least seven to 10 years. ability to consider area. Last year, the Knitscape project and tree Well, sort of, though you won’t be able to read planting along Larchmere started the trend. and evaluate new the giant books which comprise Gene Epstein’s The mural is yet another way, according to the winning proposal in the Larchmere Boulevard sponsoring organizations, to enhance the district information relative Mural Project. That’s not the point. by celebrating its vitality. “It’s going to symbolize this unique district to what is already and, in particular, Loganberry books,” said Lee known. Chilcote, of Shaker Square Area Development Corporation (SHAD). “This business has been a mainstay on Larchmere for a long time and has Reading enhances really contributed to the success of the area. The mural is going to be very dramatic and iconic.” vocabulary and Epstein is a musician, visual artist and exhibit increases ability to designer whose mural concept was selected from a pool of 13 other local artists’ applications. communicate. Her proposal was distinguished for its bold interpretation of the project’s theme – “reading, books and literacy” – and for its involvement of community members and area youth. Image courtesy of Gene Epstein 3 www.neighborhood-voice.com January 2011 Buckeye-Shaker NEIGHBORHOOD VOICE Health & Beauty PIXIE CUT require less maintenance and are long lasting. Did You Know? If you are wearing a short pixie cut, mold your When exercising, use a hair-band to pull your hair flat to your head.