Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2025 Inductions
Cleveland International Hall of Fame 2025 Inductions
What a Night! Lots of pictures and video soon. Congratulations to the 2025 Class
Raj Aggarwal, PhD (Indian community)
David Gilbert (Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission)
Frank G. Jackson (56th Mayor of Cleveland)
Beverly Kerecman (Japanese community)
Branka Malinar (Croatian community)
Svetlana Stolyarova (Russian community)
A Tribute to Pope Francis by Basil M. Russo
A Tribute to Pope Francis by Basil M. Russo, President, COPOMIAO
Pope Francis was elected as the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. He passed away April 21 at 88 in Vatican City. With a grin and quiet optimism, Pope Francis broke through to the world. Pope Francis led the Church with humility, compassion and a moral conscience deeply attuned to the struggles of everyday people.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he never lost touch with his Italian immigrant roots — serving as a voice for both the forgotten and the faithful across the globe. His papacy reminded us that joy and grace can be found even in life’s most difficult moments; he inspired millions and renewed the spirit of the Church.
As leaders of the Italian American community, we were deeply humbled by his presence, his soft-spoken wisdom and his ability to break through to the world.
-The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO)
Formed in NYC in 1975, the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) — a national coalition of 71 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups — seeks to promote our history and traditions for today’s generations, and tomorrow’s.
Basil Russo was fortunate enough to be afforded two private audiences with Pope Francis, the last of which was with his family in January of this year.
Pope Francis and Basil Russo
Good Friday Procession
Good Friday Procession
A Good Friday Procession marched in the streets and visited 3 churches in Cleveland on Good Friday 2025. It began at St. Michael the Archangel Church at Scranton and Clark on Cleveland's West Side. People gathered at the Church and then began the Procession traveling to Colman Church where they processed in for a service. They then processed to La Sagrada Familia Church at 7719 Detroit Ave. where they marched over the colorful, sawdust carpets, known as the Carpets of Holy Week or Alfombras de Semana Santa in Spanish. The procession included priests, men carrying a large statue of the body of Jesus, people carrying a statue of the Sorrowful Mother, a man dressed as Jesus carrying a cross, Roman Centurions, Saint Veronica and more. Watch a video
Since Palm Sunday, people have visited the gymnasium at La Sagrada Familia Parish which was filled with dozens of colorful, sawdust carpets, known as the Carpets of Holy Week. In Spanish, they are called Alfombras de Semana Santa. The handiwork was done by individuals, families, parish organizations and other groups. This Church is home to worshippers from over 15 different Hispanic countries. Anna Santiago told us how the Alfombras de Semana Santa began as an Eagle Scout project with her brother 12 years ago. They are made from sawdust, salt, flour and sand just for Holy Week! Later, the Good Friday procession walked over the carpets. Watch the video.
ClevelandPeople.com and Cleveland International Hall of Fame co-founder Debbie Hanson passed away April 12, 2025 after a long illness. More about Debbie will be posted soon.
She will be greatly missed by family, friends and the community.
Scottish Tartan Day at Cleveland Public Library
Scottish Tartan Day at Cleveland Public Library
In 2024, the local Scottish communities gathered in the Scottish Cultural Garden to celebrate Scottish Tartan Day. In 2025 they celebrated at a different venue. Wade Mitchell reports, "On April 5 members of the Scottish Heritage Association of NE Ohio, the Ohio Scottish American Society, and the Scottish Cultural Garden Society gathered at the Cleveland Public Library to celebrate National Tartan Day with a tour of the Library's extensive collection of books, objects, and artifacts related to Scotland and things Scottish.
Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization 55th Anniversary
Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization 55th Anniversary
The Cleveland American Middle Eastern Organization (CAMEO) has been in existence for 55 years. C.A.M.E.O. is designed to articulate the political interest of more than 275,000 Northeastern Ohio residents of Middle Eastern Heritage, Arab Americans.
CAMEO celebrated their 55th anniversary as well as Arab American Heritage Month at a gala event on April 5, 2025.
CAMEO Board members with proclamations from Dale Miller, Patrick Kelly and Chris Ronayne
The Padraic Pearse Center Speaker Series of the Irish American Club East Side held a Stories and Signatures event on Sunday March 30, 2025 that featured Karen Vuranch as Grace O'Malley. Grace O'Malley, known as Granuaile in Irish Folklore, was a 16th century Irish historical figure often referred to as "The Pirate Queen".
Broadcast journalist Danita Harris founded the organization S.H.I.N.E. in 2016 "to help women visualize and achieve personal and spiritual goals by giving them information that will inspire them to overcome life’s challenges, position them for success and empower them to discover their divine purpose." In April of 2023, Harris launched S.H.I.N.E. Men of Integrity. On March 22, 2025 dads and kids gathered at the remodeled Woodland branch of the Cleveland Public Library for a special event.
Derrick Smith Jr., Josh Cribbs, Margaret Bernstein and Danita Harris
St. Patrick's Day Parade - Cosgrove Steps Ceremony
St. Patrick's Day Parade - Cosgrove Steps Ceremony
The 183rd St Patrick's Day Parade in Cleveland was held on Monday March 17, 2025. It began with a gathering of the honorees and dignitaries on the steps of the Cosgrove Center on Superior Ave. This included Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin, Bishops Edward Malesic and Michael Woost and more.
The start of the Parade featured the Honorees, Guarantors and Public Officials. It also included units from the Cleveland Police and Fire Departments, Ancient Orders of Hibernians and more.
Cleveland's large Irish community has many masses on St. Patrick's Day. The largest are at St. Colman's on the West side and hosted by the West Side Irish American Club and at Saints Robert and William Church on the East side hosted by the Irish American Club East Side (IACES).
This video is the Processional beginning with the IACES units including the Jack McDonough Fife & Drum Corp, followed by Bruce Grieg on the bagpipes, the IACES officers and Members of the Year Anna Marie Turk and Michael P. Stanton, Irish Mother of the Year Mary Joyce, Outside Co-Chair Michael Conkey and Inside Co-Chair Katie Schmitt. Then the Ancient Order of Hibernians Bluestone Division matched in. Then a number of priests and clergy processed in followed by Cleveland Bishop Edward Malesic.
Fun with Maps - Liechtenstein
Fun with Maps - Liechtenstein
In this episode of Fun with Maps we look at the very small (area and population) Alpine country of Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein is one of only two double-landlocked countries (along with Uzbekistan) in the world. The Rhine River forms its natural border with Switzerland to the West and the other border country is Austria to the East. Despite its small area, population and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein is one of the few countries in the world with more registered companies than citizens. It is one of the few countries in the world with no debt.
The history is interesting. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied first to the Austrian Empire and later to Austria-Hungary, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Liechtenstein remained neutral in World War II. They needed money so they often resorted to selling family artistic treasures including what was then the most expensive painting in the world (a Da Vinci portrait).
We look at the map to explain double-landlocked and show a map of the US with its landlocked, double-landlocked and one triple land-locked states. There are interesting stories about free beer to the citizens and how they handled invasions with "a case of white wine. Low business taxes and easy incorporation rules have induced many companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing significant state revenues. We also tell an interesting story about their flag to distinguish it from the flag of Haiti. For such a small country it sure has some interesting features.
We always get asked what are the best ethnic events each year. While "best" is a subjective term we decided to put together a list of annual ethnic events that we have experienced and think that every Clevelander should attend at least once. There are a lot of one-time or every few years' events that you should attend as well (like the Lithuanian Song Festival in June or the Convencion Hispana every 3 years). But this initial list will be annual events.
We want your input. What does every resident of, and visitor to, The Land need to witness? We will be collecting your input and merging with our long list and then narrowing down to a definitive (in our opinion) checklist. Let us know how many of these you have already experienced. You can email us with your suggestions.
Here's a short alphabetical list of "must-do's" to get started. Don't be offended or worry if your favorite is not listed. This is just the start.
Cleveland Asian Festival (AsiaTown - 30th and Payne)
Columbus Day Parade (Little Italy)
Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductions (Windows on the River)
Feast of the Assumption (Little Italy)
Greek Independence Day Parade (West 14th)
India Republic Day (various)
Juneteenth Celebration (African American Cultural Garden)
Liszt Concert (Hungarian Cultural Garden)
Lunar New Year (AsiaPlaza and other)
Mexican Day of the Dead (Gordon Square)
Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival (County Fairgrounds)
Oktoberfest (County Fair Grounds)
One World Day (Cleveland Cultural Gardens)
Opera in the Italian Garden
Polish Constitution Day Parade (Polish Village in Parma)
Puerto Rican Day Parade (West 25th by Metro)
Romanian Festival (St Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral)
Slovenian Kurentovaje (62nd and St. Clair)
St. Patrick's Day Parade (Superior Ave downtown)
Ukrainian Independence Day Parade (Ukrainian Village in Parma)
Jim (Imre) Balogh shot in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
Jim (Imre) Balogh shot in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
I always call him the 56er. In Hungary they call him Imre. But here in the United States he is Jim Balogh and he has a fascinating story. I had heard bits and pieces of his story over the years and finally got to sit down with him and hear him tell it. You can read some of the highlights and see a few pictures but be sure to watch the video below to hear Jim tell the story in his own words.
They're Baaaaack - in AsiaTown
They're Baaaaack - in AsiaTown
The three young unintentional heroes who solved a series of murders in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens find themselves in the middle of another mystery.
In Murder in AsiaTown DJ, Ren and Peggy, called a modern Mod Squad, discover a decades old murder case from Cleveland’s Chinatown. While working to showcase and document the history of the Chinese community and neighborhood they stumble upon some disturbing news. Their efforts take them all over the Chinatown and AsiaTown neighborhoods of Cleveland Ohio and includes numerous historic facts and stories. When it looks like they have the case solved, a surprising twist emerges.
This is Cleveland author Dan Hanson's second book. The first book, Murder in the Cultural Gardens, is a “whodunit” murder mystery set in the real world Cleveland Cultural Gardens. An unlikely new “Mod Squad” stumbles upon a series of murders in their beloved Gardens and assist in solving the crimes. All 30+ of the Cultural Gardens are covered in the book so readers learn about this treasure while trying to figure out the mystery.
You can find them on Amazon and in local bookstores like Mac'sBacks on Coventry. Or email for autogaphed copies. They make great Christmas gifts!
Murder in the Cultural Gardens
Murder in the Cultural Gardens
"It just didn't seem right to DJ. A body found bludgeoned in a place known for "Peace through Mutual Understanding." But there she was, crumpled behind a bust of composer Franz Liszt in the Hungarian Cultural Garden. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. "What is the nature of your emergency?" the dispatcher queried. With a suddenly very dry mouth DJ managed to get out, "There's been a murder in the Cultural Gardens."
That's the beginning of the recently published first novel by Dan Hanson.
The whodunit, titled Murder in the Cultural Gardens, takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and all 30+ gardens are featured during the mystery. You may even recognize some of the characters.
Click the link above to learn more or to purchase in paperback or Kindle version from Amazon. Or contact Dan via the Murder in the Cultural Gardens webpage to have a signed book delivered.
Cleveland is a diverse city with about 120 distinct ethnic heritages represented. We at ClevelandPeople.com and the Cleveland International Hall of Fame believe that this ethnic diversity makes us a much richer city and that we should all celebrate this fact.
We asked people from various ethnic groups to create a tile representing their heritage. These 3 quilts are a product of that effort. We hope that other ethnic groups will want to add their own tile to these patchworks showcasing our ethnic diversity.
This DVD is a Living Rosary in the sense that over 200 people participated in saying a prayer. 3 bishops, numerous priests and sisters and a variety of lay people all said a prayer (Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary or Glory Be) that when put together combine to form the complete Rosary.
We hope that you will pray along with the diverse group of people on this DVD. They are young and old, different races and ethnicities, in Church and outside, alone and in groups. The prayers are said in English, but occasionally there is a prayer in another language. You may not know the language but will understand, and be able to pray along, because of the context.
We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Please note that some of the links on this website are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
If you want your group's events listed in our Calendar, please send an e-mail to events@clevelandpeople.com with the details. Please allow at least 2 weeks lead time.
Do you need a Hungarian Flag? A shirt that says "I love Slovenian girls"? How about a sign that says No Parking except for Irish Grandmother?
These and hundreds of other items for your particular ethnic group are available for browsing at our on-line store. It's safe, fast, easy and fun. And there is a wide selection you will never find in the stores!
