December 2015 FINAL.Qxd
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Old Brooklyn wins Neighborhood Progress Grant; only CDC to win two years in a row intend to give people a chance to see, taste by Jason A Powers gym capture and express the dynamics of a and experience Old Brooklyn,” said Jeffrey [email protected] community. T. Verespej, Executive Director. Snapchat will be one platform used, The Old Brooklyn Community The ambassadors will attend each event along with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Development Corporation (OBCDC) is one along with guests ranging from a small group traditional promotion channels. OBCDC of nearly two dozen Community to dozens of people depending on the loca- will be using every possible means to pro- Development Corporations (CDC) which tion and focus of each program. Using social mote and market our community. applied for a Neighborhood Solutions Award media and a diverse audience of followers, The award is intended to support activi- (NSA) from Cleveland Neighborhood OBCDC expects these events to uniquely ties which promote organization, something Progress (CNP). Following a review of promote the neighborhood. Old Brooklyn CDC is well positioned to do. Old Brooklyn is something different to applications OBCDC was invited to present One such unique opportunity is in tak- In 2014 OBCDC formed a special Marketing everyone, a reality the organization has their proposal at CNP on Friday, November ing advantage of Snapchat, one of the newest Committee to discuss the neighborhood and learned from interviews, surveys and casual 6th. social media platforms. OBCDC is develop- its brand. The results formed our neighbor- conversations. As a comfortable and family- The Neighborhood Solutions Award is a ing a partnership with Snapchat which would hoods brand promise: friendly neighborhood, it invites everyone to unique opportunity for CDCs to apply for make Old Brooklyn the only community in We are the accessible, family-friendly come and develop his/her own story. support which can be used more broadly than Cleveland with its own story feature. Cleveland neighborhood where business and It is in these stories that a neighbor- most grant funds. Each year a theme or cat- A Snapchat story is a collection of the people come to grow. hood’s brand and promise are born. egory is determined by CNP and presented to pictures and videos by anyone in the commu- In promoting the neighborhood The proposal calls for a group of ambas- the industry. Last year Old Brooklyn CDC nity. Strung together these media files create OBCDC will use this promise as its launch- sadors to be selected and trained in social won the NSA for economic development and a story which can be watched by anyone. ing point for all ideas. Old Brooklyn is a media this winter. These neighborhood has used the funds in partnership with the Images of Browns fans at Dina’s on Sunday great place to grow and as such our guests ambassadors will act as “super fans”, com- South Brooklyn branch to bring a café to the followed by students playing on a jungle will be able to see it for themselves. municating, largely through social media, library. This year’s Neighborhood Solutions their experiences in Old Brooklyn. A compe- Award focused on neighborhood marketing tition will be announced within the next few and placemaking. Short and Sweet Holiday Shop returns months detailing how to apply. Traditionally there are very limited The ambassadors, however, are only resources for CDCs to use for promotion of a one component of the plan. Next year by Gloria Ferris community. Dollars typically go to pro- OBCDC will create a calendar of special Brooklyn Centre Naturalists grams and specific initiatives and as such “What’s Your Old Brooklyn?” events aimed this was a particularly appealing opportunity at highlighting the various ways in which for OBCDC. This year’s award to Old The Short and Sweet Holiday Shop, people call Old Brooklyn home. Local Brooklyn CDC brings $25,000 to the com- brought to you by Brooklyn Centre restaurants, businesses and neighborhoods munity. Naturalists (BCN) and Art House, is just will be the focus and promoted to guests of The organization put together a propos- around the corner. The days and hours for our community. al based around a campaign of asking resi- this year’s event are: Friday, December 4th “The idea is to use these events as test- dents and guests the question: “What’s your from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, December drives of the neighborhood. You wouldn’t Old Brooklyn?” 5th and Sunday, December 6th from 11 a.m. buy a car without driving it first, so we to 4 p.m.; Friday, December 11th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 12th and Sunday, December 13th from 11 a.m. to OBCDC Holiday Lighting Contest 4 p.m. Michelle Behal of Bear Tracks Art created Art House is a nonprofit visual arts this cardinal ornament exclusively for center which makes art accessible to Short and Sweet. Brooklyn Centre, Old Brooklyn and the Greater Cleveland community by providing wildlife- and people-friendly habitat in an the facilities, instruction, and encourage- urban setting while simultaneously making ment for free or low-cost, high-quality art zip code 44109 a certified Wildlife programs throughout the year. Federation Community habitat. BCN is a dedicated group of neighbors and business people working to educate and See Short & Sweet Holiday Shop Old Brooklyn Lighting/Decorations contest involve the community in creating a page 4 for residents and businesses. Sponsored by: Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation One winner in each category will receive Cookies and Cocoa with Santa $50 in gift certificates from area merchants Saturday, December 5th 12 - 3 p.m. To enter to have your home or business judged please complete the Presented by: Refreshments application below and get it to us no later than Wednesday, December 16th. Art House, Inc. Cookies & Cocoa Speed Exterminating Mail or drop it off to OBCDC at 2339 Broadview Rd., Cleveland, OH 44109, $ or send via fax at 216-459-1741 or email to [email protected] Kehoe Brothers Printing Photo with Santa 2 Senior Citizen Resources Cleveland Mediation Center Goodie bag for the first 500 kids Judging will take place by Sunday, December 20th. Roger Bundy, Attorney at Law (10 years and under) Winners’ photos will be in the Old Brooklyn News. Deaconess-Krafft & Zane Centers Kiwanis Club of Brooklyn-Cleveland Make a craft to take home The MetroHealth’s Senior Health & Wellness Center The Old Brooklyn Health Center Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation 4229 Pearl Rd., at Devonshire OBCDC With support from: Ameriflag, Inc.& St. James Lutheran Church (Fee for parking in garage) Holiday lighting contest Inside The December Ob News entry form Executive Director; Community Family Fun; Theater Notes 9 Spotlight 2 Church & Senior Notes 10 News & Events 3 Complete the application below and mail to: OBCDC, 2339 Broadview Rd., Service Directory & Classified; Cleveland, OH 44109, fax 216-459-1741 or email: [email protected] Community Meetings 11 Submission must be returned by Wednesday, December 16th, 5 p.m. Cyber Strategies; BFG 4 Judging will take place by Sunday, December 20th The Town Crier; OB Families Name: _______________________________________ Group 5 Address: _____________________________________ Shopping Local 6 E-mail: ______________________________________ Tool Box 7 Phone: ______________________________________ SCR Volunteer; Family Fun 8 PAGE 2 OLD BROOKLYN NEWS NOVEMBER 2015 From the desk of the executive director by Jeffrey T. Verespej in another per- [email protected] son’s shoes, breaking bread, Luigi Russo These months are a magical time of the or after sharing a year. Our days are filled with family gather- new tradition. by Jason Powers ings, lighting displays, traditional music, Each culture [email protected] heart-warming movies, good food and the and family has joys of gift-giving and giving thanks. Sitting in the meeting room of the South special traditions This time of the year allows us to slow Brooklyn branch of the Cleveland Public Photo courtesy of Luigi Russo which make it down and use these vignettes to reminisce Library system you get a feel for how the unique – from Luigi Russo about the simpler times, celebrate the eternal community itself is reflected in its library. knishes to kolack- Manager, South Brooklyn Branch, wishes for the future, and remember those The no frills room hosts tables, chairs and a ys, from pierogis to pupusas. Share those Cleveland Public Library and who are no longer with us. chalk board and is often the site of commu- celebrations with others and be open to District Manager, Rooted in religious holidays and cultur- nity meetings and a triannual course for high receiving. A friendly smile might start the Cleveland Public Library al traditions, a river of peace, joy and hope school students taking the ACT. conversation which ends in a kitchen, look- flows through our lives in these moments. It’s not about the building or flash, but During this time Luigi worked as a page ing at the photo album from each family’s Peace. Joy. Hope. the quality of the people in it; this branch’s at the library and worked his way up as a immigrant story. Once we have built that What beautiful, and incredibly needed, manager is one such person. clerk in the general reference department. connection, we have built a better world. sentiments in today’s world. Luigi Russo grew on the west side of Having completed his Master’s and begun a This is not to say that neighborly activ- The global realities of terror, hatred, Cleveland near W. 69th St. (today’s Gordon career at the library he turned his attention to ity would solve the global geopolitical chal- division and violence are the antithesis of the Square area) in a community centered yet another degree: a Master’s in Library and lenges of strife which stem from religious, holiday seasons we celebrate this time of around Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.