Money, health, family, past relationships and sex: too much of some—not enough of the other—complicate dating as an older adult. ...

The Cleveland Orchestra and flutist, composer and producer Allison Loggins-Hull are hosting free concerts inspired by the missions and histories of several local organizations. ...

Dating is tough at any age. We want to help make it a bit easier. Go ahead, send us an email (and photos, if you've met someone special) so we know what it's like out there. This next stage in life promises to be interesting. Dating for people 55 and older: that can be fun, too. ...

What do Tuskegee Airmen, rage rooms, Dry January and stamp collecting all have in common? They're in this issue's Worth Noting. Read all about it! ...

Humor gets a bad rap and little encouragement. Giggles, goofiness and guffaws are likely to earn admonishment, annoyance and antipathy rather than appreciation. We (most of us) learned that lesson early and carry it like an overstuffed bag, tamping back our inclinations and hoping no one notices our lousy packing job. ...

The Root family has piloted and expanded the company from its earliest days of beekeeping innovation, beeswax production, and beekeeping supplies and honey sales. Today, after nearly 155 years, there’s still a Root family member at the top—Brad Root—but the company focuses solely on candlemaking and retail sales throughout the United States. ...

Messing with holiday menus is not on the table with our crowd. A few of us give lip service to change, but when the “Who’s bringing what?” text circulates, we fall back to the reliable standbys. ...

WORTH NOTING

Watch & Create
Free Library Lessons

Interested in finding a new hobby or want to get better at one? Then head to your local library. 

Many have started offering free, online lessons on everything from knitting to painting to wreath-making and more.

One place to start is with Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Creativebug (cuyahogalibrary.org). You can apply for a card online to access Creativebug, and then create a separate account with a password. It takes a couple of minutes. If you get stuck, stop in or call your local CCPL branch and someone will help you.

Many library systems have similar free, online classes. Go to their websites, look for a class and start creating.

 

Cold-Weather
Utility Help

Just a reminder: if you’re having difficulty paying your energy bill or know you won’t be able to cover heating costs this winter, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply for assistance.

Income guidelines are $25,525 for a single-person household and $34,520 for two people. Last year, the Winter Crisis Program assisted more than 67,000 Ohio households, paying $19 million in benefits.

 

One-Stop Shop
Food Bank Resource Center

Now here’s a good idea: Greater Cleveland Food Bank has opened a Community Resource Center to provide food and social services (legal, education, employment and others) to Northeast Ohio residents.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center is at 15500 South Waterloo Road in Cleveland. Its hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m.-noon.

If you need food, call the Food Bank’s Help Center at 216-738-2067.

 

No Coats;
Just Money, Please
A popular, long-time charity—Coats for Kids-Cleveland—will no longer collect used coats to give away. Instead, they’re collecting cash donations this year to buy new coats. Working with teachers, school counselors and social service agencies in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit counties, they’ll provide coats for low-income students through eighth grade.

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