WORTH NOTING
Best Buds
Can’t-Miss Gardens
Unless you’ve lived somewhere that’s nice all year-round, you may not appreciate the novelty of four distinct seasons. We can quibble about the unfairness of snow-to-sizzling weather, but almost nothing is better than spring’s brilliant outburst.
Here’s our list of under-the-radar places to catch the season at its blooming best.
- Woodlawn Cemetery, Lodi. Century-old rhododendrons blanket the bucolic burial grounds at 409 Medina St. When the rhodies are blooming near your house, they’re probably blooming down in Lodi, and they’re spectacular.
- Wolcott Lilac Gardens. Started 106 years ago, Wolcott Lilac Gardens, 450 W. Main St., Kent, is open to the public on select dates for a small donation. Go to its Facebook page or call 330-678-7234 for dates and times.
- Lantern Court Estate of Red Oak Camp (part of Holden Arboretum), 9203 Kirtland Chardon Road, Kirtland. The historic estate hosts garden tours. Go to lanterncourt.org for details.
- The Gardens at Hippley Village. This privately owned, three-acre garden, just outside of Columbiana, is open to the public. It boasts water features, a garden train, and a tiny village. Call 330-301-5044 or go to hippleygardens.com.
- Secret Garden Hostas of Chagrin Falls. Some of the friendliest people you’ll meet own this sprawling and immaculately kept garden of hostas, many of them for sale. Their property is open on select days throughout the spring and summer. Go to their Secret Garden Hostas of Chagrin Falls Facebook page for dates and details.
Celebrating 50 Years
Cleveland International Film Fest
Film fans, your time has come.
The 50th annual Cleveland International Film Festival returns April 9-18 with 90 features and 236 shorts (and counting).
The lineup represents 57 countries; 108 filmmakers are expected to attend. Festival locations are at Playhouse Square, Cleveland State University School of Film & Media Arts and Cedar Lee Theatre.
The festival has long been a popular home for the world’s most innovative filmmakers. Launched in 1977 at Cedar Lee Theatre with eight movies, it’s grown exponentially over the past five decades, recognized as one of the nation’s top film festivals.
Find the schedule and tickets at clevelandfilm.org.
Cancer Care,
Inside & Out
After the shock of a cancer diagnosis and a daunting treatment plan, who has time to think about finances, mental health, exercise or wig shopping?
Two places in Northeast Ohio have those parts covered: Stewart’s Caring Place near Akron (Fairlawn), and The Gathering Place in Beachwood and Westlake. Each offers support groups, services that treat both the mind and body, classes and more.
Visit stewartscaringplace.org or The Gathering Place touchedbycancer.org.
This Competition
is No Trivial Pursuit
In the eight years since Art Greenberg and Phil Levine launched their senior-center-based trivia competition for active older adults, they’ve seen it grow from a handful of cities to more than 70 throughout Northeast Ohio.
Mind Challenge for the New Majority is set for April 13-May 27, with more than 100 teams and 800 players. Teams of four to six players, age 50 and older, compete to win money for their sponsoring recreation or senior center.
To learn more, go to themindchallenge.com.
And the Winners Are…
People Who Vote
There’s a lot of attention on elections and voting rights this year. To see if you’re registered to vote, contact your county board of elections. Use the Ohio Secretary of State’s website, ohiosos.gov, for more information.
Important dates:
April 6: Voter registration deadline
April 7: Early in-person and absentee voting starts
April 28: Vote-by-mail ballot applications deadline
May 4: Vote-by-mail ballot postmark deadline
May 5: Election Day. Polls open 6:30 a.m.- 7:30 p.m.
I.D. Requirements to Vote in Person (one):
- An Ohio driver’s license
- An Ohio state ID card
- An interim identification form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card (that includes the voter’s name and photograph)
The Power of a Flower
BigHearted Blooms
An unexpected bouquet can take the sting out of a hospital or care facility stay. No one knows that better than the folks at BigHearted Blooms, a Cleveland-based nonprofit. The organization collects and then gives away donated flowers to patients and their families: It’s the best kind of recycling.
Last year, volunteers collected more than 522 loads of flowers from florists, events, funerals and stores. They then recycled the arrangements to 141 senior care facilities (the largest portion), hospitals, hospices and community groups. In all, 20 tons of flowers were reused or composted.
To donate money or vases, or to volunteer, go to bigheartedblooms.org.
