The chilly, 45-degree Saturday night (the last night of Daylight Savings Time) came as a shock after being spoiled by the warm beginning to March, but that didn’t seem to deter a large turnout for the 2024 Towpath Trail Lantern Parade.
The annual event is produced by Canalway Partners, and according to their director of communications, Meghan Tinker Paynter, this year’s turnout was a record-breaker.
“This was our third year putting on this event, and we were so excited to see our largest crowd yet. We estimate that about 350 people walked along the trail with us this year,” said Meghan.
The group made for a spectacular sight as they illuminated their way with their handmade lanterns of all shapes and sizes at dusk, winding along the already beautifully lit Towpath Trail.
2023 Tremont West Membership Meeting and Board Elections May 18
This year’s meeting will be held Thursday,May 18th 2023 at Scranton Road Bible Church (3095 Scranton Road) at 6 pm. Please join us for a light dinner followed by the Annual Meeting. If you cannot join us we will be streaming the meeting at facebook.com/tremontwest. Additionally, in order to get an accurate count of who will be attending the meeting, if possible, please register for the meeting at the following: https://bit.ly/2023twdc.
Per a change to the Code of Regulations in 2021, Tremont West is now able to have early voting. Early voting is available Monday May 8th (9 am) through Thursday May 18th, 2023 (2 pm) at the offices of Tremont West Development Corporation, 2406 Professor Avenue.
If you are interested in signing up for an ASL Tremont Brainery workshop with Keri November there is still time! Go to TremontBrainery.com, click on “events,” then select your class.
by Keri November
Some of you may wonder what day-to-day life is like for a Deaf person. Well, here it goes!
I was born Deaf. I did not learn American Sign Language (ASL) until I was 15. I had hearing aids which were not helpful. It was not until I was 17 years old that I received a Cochlear Implant and learned how to recognize sounds and words. I can read lips, but it is challenging to have a conversation without the Cochlear Implant if an individual does not know ASL.
It was difficult to meet and connect with new people in NYC/Long Island as the mentality is different. People are always in a rush and usually stressed out. It was uncommon for me to meet someone willing to take the time to communicate with me.
You may be wondering how did I end up in Cleveland?
In every community, there are amazing varieties of unknown talents. People have talents in things like cooking, gardening, languages, technology, repairs, writing, speaking, leadership, startups, parenting, grandparenting, exercise, nutrition, wellness, sports, games, arts, crafts, travel.
Tremont Brainery is a volunteer effort hosting Tremont neighbors teaching neighbors in any area of interest you can imagine.
Neighbors include anyone who lives, who works, or who is friends with people in Tremont.
Free classes are available – some virtual and some in person. Sign up to be a teacher or learner.
Background
During 2020, we all did our best to distance ourselves from those we care about for their health and our own until things started to look up. It was incredible to see how the community of Tremont came together during such a difficult time.
Now that we’re gaining some semblance of normalcy, we wanted to discuss ideas to keep that sense of community going.
Benefit to Support Metanoia Project for the Unsheltered Homeless
Musicians for Metanoia is a benefit concert at CODA Tremont raising funds to support the work of the Metanoia Project, an overnight hospitality center for unsheltered homeless men and women that is dedicated to building relationships & responding to systemic gaps personally & creatively. Continue reading
Drop by Prosperity Social Club Sun, Nov 25 between 11 am and 2 pm for brunch and drink specials while you meet author Laura DeMarco and get the first look at (or copies of) her take on this ever-changing all-American city in the brand new book CLEVELAND THEN AND NOW.
Jean Brandt, longtime Tremonster, shared many of her own songs during a music-filled evening at Visible Voice Books (2258 Professor Avenue) during the October 12th Walkabout Tremont. Brandt played a set with John McGrail from 7:30 pm to about 8:00 pm for a large crowd in Visible Voice Books rear event/café area. She was followed by McGrail and his band members, Jay Bentoff and Carl Holt, for a set of McGrail’s material.
Brandt has known McGrail for many years, first meeting at the Barking Spider in the late 1980s. “I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with him,” Brandt wrote in an event invitation.
The Visible Voice Books event listed Brandt as a lifelong Clevelander, a musician, a poet, an experimental music artist, and a dedicated advocate of the arts. Her creations span the gamut from singer-songwriter to experimental composer as a guitarist and poet. According to Brandt’s artistic statement, “The underlying structure both unique and innate to music and language is but part of what excites and drives Jean when she composes as well as performs.”
Brandt also expressed her firm belief that “Art is all around us and each of us in fact engages in creation simply living each day.”
Brandt, beginning in 1990, organized over 200 art showings at her law office, a storefront she rented in Tremont until 2015. She also provided primary support to the monthly Tremont ArtWalk promotion for the Tremont neighborhood from 1993 through 2015. Today Brandt is in the studio or playing guitar when not practicing law.
McGrail, categorized as a folk musician, “accepts that [categorization]—and on some level even agrees—but his influences range far beyond that.” The confluence contributes to the music he creates. A musician’s musician, McGrail’s music offers odd meters, “Floydian textures,” and masterful, imaginative guitar solos. According to McGrail’s artistic statement, “There are those who have described him as the Dark Prince of Cleveland Folk.” When in the studio, he grasps for whatever medium will best bring each song to life—whether loops, programs, virtual sound, or more traditional instruments, McGrail enjoys tying in a wide variety of sound sources to create his own unique form of musical art. “Boundaries are for breaking,” McGrail’s listing stated.
Brandt and McGrail were glad for the opportunity to share their music at a well-attended event and are thankful to Visible Voice Books for hosting their event.
