A Letter from Our Assistant Director
Greetings, St. Clair Superior friends, and neighbors! I’m two months into my role here at SCSDC and I have enjoyed getting to know the community!
The warm welcome I have received has not gone unnoticed. If you are interested in welcoming a new neighbor in the community, please reach out to our Community Engagement Specialist, Maeve Kozak, she has running list of welcome baskets to deliver as soon as they are ready! This is your chance to give a warm welcome to your new neighbor, and to share all the wonderful things about St. Clair Superior!
Thanksgiving is upon us, and I have many things to be thankful about as an employee of SCSDC. Our strategic plan has been arranged in the three categories: People, Place and Performance.
Performance! Being a new staff in an established organization, we tell people we are in Chapter 1. We inherited an organization with a long and winding legacy that we get to move forward with you. I look forward to meeting more residents and stakeholders while I continue to explore our streets, small business community, parks and lakefront.
As I conclude my first spotlight letter, I ask for your help in gratitude. If you have a property for sale or for lease in the neighborhood, please call or email me with the address and details. I’m trying to create a list of available spaces, whether it be warehouse, back of the house or storefront, people are looking. I’d love to be able to connect them to you.
Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Take care,
Michelle Davis, SCSDC Assistant Director for Stakeholder and Real Estate Development
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In Our Neighborhood... Angela's Family Restaurant
Angela’s Family Restaurant has been a staple in the St. Clair Superior community for the past 37 years. This family owned and operated restaurant is a place you can go and immediately feel like family. Once you step foot in their cozy restaurant, you will most likely be greeted by the proud owners: Mike or Angela Kontos.
Open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch, you will almost always find the restaurant filled with customers. Mike Kontos will tell you these customers are his family. He will proudly show you the TV that sits on top of their cooler and displays the hundreds of various pictures of Mike and his customers. If Mike is not out delivering food to the post office workers downtown, schools, or other community organizations, you can find him chatting with the different customers. And you can see, he is truly genuine when he says the customers are his family.
After his career in construction abruptly ended with an injury, Mike began venturing into the restaurant business. Since first opening their doors in 1986, Mike has noticed a significant change in the community, especially in the past 10 years. He has watched abandoned buildings around him fill with businesses and has even remodeled his own building, which he says brought life back into it. Mike has watched the community grow and become more vibrant and he knows this is just the beginning. Mike Kontos is proud to own his family restaurant in St. Clair Superior.
Next time you are in the neighborhood, make sure to stop by Angela’s Family Restaurant on the corner of St. Clair and E. 72nd!
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In Our Neighborhood... Dayz Whun
Dayz Whun is an artist, visionary, and active community member in St. Clair Superior. Beyond the fact that he currently owns and operates the only tattoo shop in the neighborhood, Red Lion Tattoo, Dayz has installed many murals and works of art within the neighborhood. Dayz’ work can be seen on the St. Clair Plaza shipping containers, and on the side of Angela’s Family Restaurant, among other spots throughout the city. We interviewed Dayz because he is committed to brightening up our neighborhood, and activating the community through art.
What is your favorite memory of the neighborhood?
Dayz: Creating the Welcome to St. Clair Superior Mural is one of my favorite memories of this neighborhood. Bringing in all of the colors and creating something bright and positive for the neighborhood was really special.
What is your favorite restaurant in the neighborhood?
Dayz: Siam Café, for sure. I recommend the hot basil chicken and fried rice.
What is your vision for the neighborhood?
Dayz: More art! If we attract more art into the neighborhood, businesses will flourish. We need more colorful buildings, more diverse businesses that align with our neighborhood's history, and culturally-based institutions. St Clair Superior has so much potential with its inhabitants. It's St. Clair! Being part of it, I treat it like my baby, I have my business here, I support other businesses, and I’d love to see more growth. There are so many artists here and so much talent here and I’d like to see more of them come out of their studios and into the streets and show off what we have here. It could be beautiful. I love being the tattoo artist over here, every time I walk outside, I’m inspired. We attract all kinds of people and diversity and I love being a part of it.
What else would you like to see in the neighborhood?
Dayz: I would like to see more trees in St. Clair Superior. I would like to see the neighborhood respect itself again. There needs to be more care, and less littering. Maybe ten years from now we can look back and see the seeds we planted and see how they blossomed.
Thank you for being this month's feature, Dayz, and for being our neighbor in St. Clair Superior!
If you or someone you know lives in St. Clair Superior, contact Maeve Kozak at mkozak@stclairsuperior.org to share your story with the neighborhood!
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"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny."
-Lao Tzu-
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Care Alliance is hosting a food giveaway for the Thanksgiving season!
When: Saturday, November 19th, 2-5pm
Where: Care Alliance Community Center, 7300 St. Clair Ave.
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Share your voice with us! Let your vision for our neighborhood be seen by joining us at our Community Meeting early next month.
When: Thursday, December 1st, 6pm
Where: Kovacic Rec Center, 6250 St. Clair Ave.
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In response to the increased rise in anti-Asian/American, xenophobic harassment, and anti-hate towards marginalized communities of color, OCA is providing educational and awareness tools to combat these types of systemic oppression. The workshops are free, 1.5-hour, interactive trainings to teach people on how to be a confident and effective bystander against racism and discrimination.
When: Monthly on third Tuesdays at 6pm CT (7pm EST)
Where: Virtual (details provided upon registration)
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Join Ms. Cookie at her WEEKLY Saturday art class! Every Saturday from 1pm to 5pm kids in the neighborhood are welcome to join for arts and crafts, including paint by numbers, coloring and drawing.
When: Saturdays, 1-5pm
Where: 9380 St. Clair Ave. (first floor, lobby)
Call 216-804-9262 with questions.
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Are you hosting an event in the neighborhood? Do you have news or resources you would like to share with the community? Contact Julia at jferra@stclairsuperior.org to be included in the next Spotlight!
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REMINDER: The City of Cleveland Curbside Recycling Program began this year! Residents can still opt-in to receive curbside recycling services. To enroll, complete the online form at clerecycles.com or call 216.664.3030.
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Upcoming Food Distributions & Pantries...
Care Alliance — Thanksgiving Food Giveaway
Where: Care Alliance Community Center, 7300 St. Clair Ave.
When: Saturday, November 19th, 2-5pm
St. Martin de Porres — Monthly Food Pantry
Where: Saint Martin de Porres High School, 6202 St. Clair Ave
When: Every 3rd Friday, 2-3pm
Where: 6321 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103
When: Second and fourth Sunday of every month from 3:00-4:00pm
Asian Services in Action (ASIA) — Food Pantry
Where: ASIA Cleveland, 3631 Perkins Ave. Cleveland, OH 44114
When: Fourth Friday of every month
Where: NORA, 1400 E. 55th St. Cleveland, OH 44103
When: Third Monday of every month from 10am-12pm
Details: No residency or income requirements. Call 216-391-6672 for the emergency pantry, which is available Mon. through Fri. from 10am-3pm. Click here for more information.
Famicos Food Distribution — Food Pantry
Where: Hough Multipurpose Center, 8555 Hough Ave. Cleveland, OH 44106
When: The last Thursday of every month from 10am-1pm
Details: Open to all residents of Wards 7, 9, or 10. Please bring photo ID and your own bags or boxes. Fresh produce, canned goods, boxed items. Click here for more information.
Greater Cleveland Food Bank — Food Locator Tool
Details: Use this tool to enter your address and find information for food distributions near you.
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Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate Pitch Competition Now Open!
Accelerate is a pitch competition which gives individuals across Greater Cleveland the chance to win seed money to help launch their idea to make the region a better place. Every year, dozens of individuals pitch their ideas to make our community a better place. Applicants are selected to pitch in one of six categories and a panel of judges drawn from community leaders select one finalist in each category. The six finalists pitch again to the full audience, which votes on the winner.
The winner receives $5,000 and the remaining five finalists each receive $2,000 to help bring their ideas to life. The Technovation competition will award $3,500 to the most innovative technology-based idea.
View the Application Guidebook to learn all about the application process, how to craft your best application, and what to expect if you’re selected!
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This map shows a combination of COVID-19 testing sites throughout Ohio at private companies and retail sites, community health centers, libraries and other local partners. Make sure to call in advance to ensure tests are available and to determine how to access tests when you find a testing site. If testing is not available for any reason, many partners can direct you to an alternate location. Click here for more information.
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As of January 19, every home in the U.S. is now eligible to order four at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost. The U.S. Government is providing these tests to be shipped through the U.S. Postal Service at no cost to purchase or ship. Click here for more information and to order your at-home tests.
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Click here to check vaccine eligibility, book your appointment and to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccines. Don't forget to schedule an appointment to receive your booster shot!
- Call the Cleveland Department of Public Health helpline: 216-664-2222. Staff are available Monday-Friday, 9 to 5 p.m.
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View the COVID-19 Booster Shot fact sheet.
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Cleveland's North Coast Connector: Imagine a Lakefront for Everyone
The North Coast is Cleveland’s most stunning natural feature. But for years, residents have struggled to get there. Highways, railroads and a 65-foot bluff separate the city from the lakefront, making it nearly impossible to walk and bike to Lake Erie’s shore safely.
The North Coast Connector is a proposed land bridge connecting the grassy lawns of Mall C and City Hall to the lakefront. It would span over the railroad tracks and the Shoreway to restore access and repair more than a century-old divide. It would open up new land for community gatherings and future economic development.
Attend a listening session to imagine what the connector could look like and what it should connect to. All meetings will have the same presentation and discussion exercises.
Listening Session in St. Clair Superior:
November 29, 2022
Church of Christ at the Blvd.
8837 St. Clair Ave
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Not sure what you're looking for? Take a look at our Business Directory to find businesses in our neighborhood that may be looking for new employees!
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Upcoming Programs at the Addison Branch
After School Tutoring and Homework Help — Weekly, Mon.-Thurs. | 4pm
FREE after school tutoring and homework help for students in grades K – 12. Monday–Thursday, 4–6pm at 14 branch locations: Addison, East 131st St., Fleet, Garden Valley, Glenville, Harvard-Lee, Hough, Langston Hughes, Memorial-Nottingham, Mt. Pleasant, Rice, Rockport, South Brooklyn, South. No registration or appointments are needed.
Preschool Storytime (ages 3–5) — Wed., November 23 | 10:30am
Storytimes for preschoolers ages 3–5 include stories, songs, activities, and rhymes specially designed to support reading readiness and foster the social and emotional skills that kids need to succeed as they enter Kindergarten.
Young Scholars’ Academy-Beginner — Tues., November 29 | 10:30am
The Beginner Academy is for scholars ages 3–4 (not entering Kindergarten in the Fall 2023) and their parent or other caring adult. The scholar must be 3 years old by the start of the academy. Together, enjoy a literacy based program which is engaging for scholars while providing parents with researched based tips. Then, continue to explore learning through activities including unstructured play. Free take home materials and books are provided to extend learning into the home!
Preschool Storytime (ages 3–5) — Wed., November 30 | 10:30am
Storytimes for preschoolers ages 3–5 include stories, songs, activities, and rhymes specially designed to support reading readiness and foster the social and emotional skills that kids need to succeed as they enter Kindergarten.
Landscapes with Yarn — Wed., November 30 | 4pm
Express your creativity at this yarn art program. Learn about some famous landscape artists and then draw a landscape scene and fill it in with colorful yarn.
Early Learning @ Home: Gross Motor Skills — Wed., December 7
Parents and caregivers: learn simple things you can do to help your young children learn early literacy and early numeracy skills. Pick up your free learning kit available at the Addison Branch all month long (while supplies last.)
Preschool Storytime (ages 3–5) — Wed., December 7 | 10:30am
Story times for preschoolers ages 3 to 5 include stories, songs, activities, and rhymes specially designed to support reading readiness and foster the social and emotional skills that kids need to succeed as they enter Kindergarten.
Childcare Provider Lunch ‘n Learn (Online) — Wed., December 7 | 1pm
Join library staff and a community guest each month for a brief Zoom chat to learn about library and community resources. This month's guest is the Healthy Fathering Collaborative.
Contact the library:
6901 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44103
Phone: 216-623-6906
Library hours:
Mon-Sat: 10am–6pm
Sun: Closed
For more information on events and programs at the Addison branch, click here.
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