🐻 Bear about town

🐻 Black bear strolls through Ohio neighborhood, surprising residents. A video captured the unexpected visitor walking along North Shore Drive in Painesville Township, with city officials noting black bears have become increasingly common in the area. While authorities say there's no cause for alarm, they advise residents to be mindful of outdoor pets as these bears typically flee when encountered. The Painesville City Fire Department shared safety tips including respecting the bear's space, removing bird feeders during sightings, and properly storing garbage to minimize attractions.

Read more

🎮 Cleveland Institute of Art unveils futuristic Interactive Media Lab. The cutting-edge facility features a 36-foot video wall with floor LEDs and motion tracking technology that creates immersive digital environments. Spanning 14,000 square feet, the lab includes multiple creative spaces like an arcade, screening room, and rapid prototyping lab where students can explore augmented, virtual, and extended reality. Located in the new MidTown Collaboration Center, the lab aims to prepare students for emerging careers while fostering partnerships with industry and community. CIA leadership believes the facility will build a talent pipeline for northeast Ohio's growing creative and technological industries.

Read more

🧸 Beloved toy store owner hosts nostalgic 'Big Fun' garage sale. Steve Presser, who closed his iconic Cleveland Heights toy store in 2018 after 27 years, welcomed over 1,000 former customers to his home for one final weekend of "Big Fun." The massive vintage sale featured pedal cars, old bikes, and collectibles from Presser's 40+ years of gathering "funk and junk." For both shoppers and Presser himself, the event was less about selling items and more about rekindling community connections. As his longtime friend noted, seeing Presser "in his element" sharing stories and bringing joy was the true highlight of the weekend.

Read more