Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland Volume 6 Issue 3 2018 by Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

FineLifestyles 2018 VOLUME 6 ISSUE 3 PRICELESS

Exscape Designsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bill Dysert:

Delivering an Elegant Landscape Aesthetic to a Historic Property

Ride Through History on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad Searching for Giants in Copenhagen Featuring The Best Local Shops & Services

CLEVELAND

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FIRST WORD

FineLifestyles

CLEVELAND

With Fine Lifestyles editor PATTI LONDON

Fine Lifestyles Magazine 2018 Volume 6 Issue 3 Publisher Marc London marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com Editor Patti London

s this issue goes to print, the chill of fall is in the air. We’ve had an amazing summer and now we’re looking around the house we’ve neglected while living outside for the past few months. This issue should give you lots of ideas for making your home cozy and inviting as you settle in for winter. The local businesses we’ve designated as Cleveland’s Best of the Best will get you started. Browse through Chestnut Hill Home in Chagrin Falls for ideas to freshen your interior design before hosting your holiday parties. For those larger home projects you may have been fantasizing about, visit the new studio at JP Compass and the showrooms at Marshall Carpet and O’Brien Cut Stone. If you want to get a jump on your outside renovation project read our cover story about one of the companies we’ve enjoyed watching grow over the last few years, Exscape Designs. You’ll find plenty of inspiration from their landscaping projects. Start planning now to get the most out of next summer. Even with the cosiest of homes you’ll want to get out occasionally and experience Cleveland in all her winter glory. Check out my piece on Karamu’s wonderful progress as it transitions into its second century. We look forward to plenty of evenings of entertainment in that joyful gathering place. We’ve also listed a few fun holiday happenings in our calendar of events. We’re looking forward to spending these upcoming holidays with our friends and family. We wish the same for all our readers and are grateful to be a part of your community.

Staff Writers Jordan Klammer Mike Cabrerra Kristal Pettit Graphic Design and Layout Marlon Tussel Cover Art Vincent Pearson Photography Photography Vincent Pearson Photography Aaron Leyser Advertising Consultants Marlon Tussel 216.548.6292 marlon@finelifestylesmagazine.com Marc London 216.926.3449 marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com

Distribution: marc@finelifestylesmagazine.com Cover: Bill Dysert - Exscape Designs

Fine Lifestyles Cleveland ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Marlon Tussel 216-548-6292

Marc London 216-926-3449

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

@FLScle

We reserve the right to edit any materials chosen for publication including photographs. We reserve the right to reject or accept any article, photograph, image or advertisement. All contents of FineLifestyles Inc, publications are copyrighted 2018 with all rights reserved, except for original articles submitted to FineLifestyles Inc., where copyright resides with the author. No other part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of FineLifestyles Inc. or its writers. The name FineLifestyles Cleveland, its logo and material cannot be reproduced without the written consent of the publishers. The views and opinions expressed in the expert advice columns herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of FineLifestyles Inc. or the companies it represents. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavour to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act upon such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS STYLE..................................................... 12 HEALTH & WELLNESS....................... 20 ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT..... 26 HOUSE & HOME.................................. 34 RECREATION & TRAVEL................... 50 BUSINESS............................................. 62

FEATURES

Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad.......................8 Eat for Peak Performance.....................20 Cleveland Book Week.............................26 Karamu: A Joyful Gathering Place....30 COVER STORY:

EXSCAPE DESIGNS........................34 College Now...............................................38 Travel: Copenhagen.................................50 Calendar of Events.................................. 60

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad:

Keeping the Era of Train Travel Alive by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

rain enthusiasts are a passionate group, eagerly reciting the history of the Pennsylvania Railroad or debating the aesthetics of steam versus diesel. We rode with a number of these “railfans” recently on an excursion through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. You certainly don’t need to be well-versed in railroad lore, however, to enjoy the experiences offered by our hometown train preservationist, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. The CVSR, as the Railroad is known, offers

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scenic train rides through the Cuyahoga Valley National Park throughout the year. The particular excursion we enjoyed is offered for two weekends, usually in September, when the CVSR borrows an historic steam engine from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Nickel Plate Road’s No. 765 is a rare opportunity to see a steam locomotive in action. Not only were train enthusiasts riding in the coach, dining and luxury cars, but they were waiting for a glimpse of the engine at every intersection we crossed, cameras perched on their tripods.

Once the No. 765 returns to Indiana, the CVSR continues to offer excursions on its fleet of historic cars, powered by diesel engines instead of steam. The CVSR’s fleet includes ten coach cars, most built in 1949 for the Pennsylvania Railroad as sleeper cars, but rebuilt in the 1960’s as 76-seat coaches. These coaches feature classic stainless steel bodies with the burgundy and yellow colored striping of the CVSR on their exteriors. Most of the CVSR’s six diesel locomotives were built in the late 1950’s. Locomotive #365 was originally built in 1965 but in

2012, with funding through the National Park Service, #365 was converted to Green Technology which reduced its exhaust emissions by 90%, reduced fuel consumption by 60%, eliminated oil waste, and reduced the visual and noise pollution for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The CVSR anticipates the technological upgrade to extend the life of the engine for another 25-30 years. The fleet was recently enhanced by the addition of four more zephyr cars, built for the California Zephyr line, a pioneer in luxury passenger train travel. These beautiful trains were revolutionary in their time, sporting streamlined construction and world-record breaking speeds. The cost of operating these diesel engines was 6.7% of the cost of running a steam engine, effectively signaling the end of that technology. Sadly, after decades of luxurious travels with sophisticated dining cars and well-appointed staterooms, most of these cars have been scrapped, sold to foreign countries, or fallen into complete disrepair. This recent acquisition by the CVSR will preserve a vital piece of train travel history and allow riders to relive a significant slice of Americana. Three of the California Zephyr cars, elegantly named the Silver Solarium, Silver Lariat and Silver Bronco, feature Vista Domes and observation lounges. These seats will be in demand for the CVSR’s scenic fall foliage excursions, but the views of the National Park from the dome and observation lounge are spectacular in all seasons.

The CVSR provides many themed excursions, from murder mystery dinners to wine and ale tastings, to family friendly excursions like the ever-popular Polar Express during the holidays.

The CVSR provides many themed excursions, from murder mystery dinners to wine and ale tastings, to family friendly excursions like the ever-popular Polar Express during the holidays. For example, coming up on November 3rd the CVSR is hosting a two-hour Holiday Brews excursion as part of their Ales on Rails series. On October 27th you can sample a variety of Autumn Reds and learn about each wine’s body, aroma, bouquet and finish during a two-hour wine tasting excursion, part of the CVSR’s Grape Escape series. For train enthusiasts who are also biking enthusiasts, the CVSR offers the Bike Aboard program, with support from Century Cycles. Twenty-six miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail

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runs parallel to the tracks, from the train station at Rockside Road to the CVSR’s southernmost stop at the Akron Northside station. Ride your bike the entire 26 miles or any of the shorter distances between the nine train stations, and, for $5, put your bike on one of the historic baggage cars and ride back to your starting point. The schedule of trains can be found on the CVSR’s website, www.cvsr.com. The schedules are also posted at the stations, or you can download the CVSR Train Tracker App to find the location of the train on your phone. Just flag the train down at the boarding station by waving both of your arms over your head, then give your tired

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legs a break while you enjoy the historic ambience of the train. Check out the full schedule of excursions on the CVSR’s website. Even if you’re just a biker or a beer aficionado, your ride on the rails is bound to kindle further interest in these beautiful machines and their unique place in our country’s history. Soon you’ll also call yourself a “railfan.”

CVSR.com 800.468.4070 Tilden House 2325 Stine Road Peninsula, Ohio

Portrait Photographer

Portrait Art Photography with a Dose of Awesome by Jordan Klammer photos Vincent Pearson Photography

incent remembers the day that photography entered his life. When he was twelve years old, his cousin, an experienced photographer, placed a camera in his hands. He recalls the inspiration that camera transferred to him, as they would sometimes stay up all night long developing photos in the darkroom era of photo processing by hand. Later in college he was able to do what he loved he shot photos for the school newspaper, everything from sports, events, weddings and portraits.

Art has been a constant in his life. As a child, drawing was something he simply liked to do. In elementary school, he drew for teachers and was asked to â&#x20AC;&#x153;illustrateâ&#x20AC;? theÂ Mayor of Cleveland, Carl B. Stokes. When it was time to develop an occupation he followed his love of fashion into a major in Fashion Design at the University of Cincinnati. A long, successful career followed in visual merchandising, store planning and store design. Some of these designs are still around today.

Vincent is the staff photographer for a number of Northern Ohio publications, including Fine Lifestyles. His business includes commercial product shots, commercial and private portraiture and fine art photography.

When his first grandson was born, his daughter asked him to shoot photos of the baby. When her friends saw the pictures, they wanted to get photos of their children, too. He realized a career in photography was feasible.

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He loves creating portraits and has a special sense for being able to capture a person at that moment in their life. Talking to him, you get a sense of the authentic connection he feels with history, people, and creating art that is really not about words. To fuel the fine art side of his work, Vincent travels internationally every other year to build his portfolio. Currently this body of work is energized by architecture - buildings, structure, landmarks. The photo of Paris accompanying this article demonstrates his mastery of composition. The dramatic statue, the fountain in the far middle distance, and the Eiffel Tower in the upper left distance assemble three triangular areas of focus that pull the eye through the picture. Meanwhile each horizontal third has a lush field of interest

– the near range garden, the middle range garden and bridge and finally the upper third with the remaining city scape and iconic tower. If you like this kind of thing, it can almost make your brain dance. Or simply make you sigh. In between travel, he participates in about six juried art shows each year. These events expose his work to people who share his passion. Through Vincent’s skill you can vicariously enjoy distant places or commemorate a trip you have taken with a stunning memento. For some lucky Clevelanders in 2019 he plans to offer the Vincent Pearson Photo Workshop to teach and inspire beginning camera buffs and lead them into the adventure he’s enjoyed for a lifetime. The

aim of the course is to introduce basic technical tools and artistry so that folks will feel comfortable switching to manual mode to get the pictures they want to create, as opposed to the pictures the camera wants to take in automatic mode. Awesome is a common word in conversation today. If you want an uncommon experience of awesome, visit the website of Vincent Pearson Photography. If you’d like to bring some of this awesome to your next occasion or family portrait, give him a call.

Vincent Pearson

Vincent Pearson Photography 800.877.9845 vincent@vincentpearsonphotography.com www.pearsonportraitdesign.com

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Florist

Beautifully Creative Floral Designs to Express How Your Really Feel by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy PF Designs

lowers have the ability to speak for us even when we don’t know exactly what to say. The receipt of a bouquet from a new admirer or an old friend can express feelings that really go beyond words. But to be truly effective, a floral arrangement should be created with attention to the occasion and the parties involved. A skilled florist also has a deep familiarity with the elements of design and uses the best natural materials available.

Toni Pilla Byrne

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So many flower arrangements have the same look, but given the abundant variety of floral material to work with, they shouldn’t. Floral designer Toni Pilla Byrne

at PF Designs takes the time to listen to her customers and ask the right questions to ascertain the appropriate style for the occasion based on her customers’ personal preferences. Toni has been working as a florist since she was 18 years old. She began at Palermo’s in the mid-1980’s. Toni branched out on her own for several years under Pilla Floral, then bought Palermo’s when the prior owner retired. She does more than just the floral design, Toni’s there from start to finish, whether she’s preparing the floralscape for an entire wedding or a small birthday bouquet.

PF Designs maintains a standard inventory of flowers. Unlike many florists, they have no incentive to use their previously purchased flowers for your floral arrangement. PF Designs buys flowers based on the unique needs of their customers. “I provide you with the flowers you want, rather than trying to sell you on the ones I have,” Toni says. “It’s common practice now to look at bouquets on a website. I’d rather talk to people and let them know this is what is in season and beautiful right now.” Toni appreciates the creative aspects of designing one-ofa-kind arrangements, rather than simply mimicking a floral design from a photo. If you find an arrangement which really speaks to you, however, PF Designs is perfectly capable of recreating that piece for your occasion. A gallery of photos on PF Designs’ website illustrates the way Toni’s floral designs have enhanced many important life events. She believes that a wedding ceremony celebrates a special, one-of-akind relationship, and your wedding décor should reflect that uniqueness. From table settings to the bouquet held by the bride, personality and personal taste inform the design which results in a distinctive setting unlike any other wedding. PF Designs also prepares the floral décor for many other important celebrations like birthdays and anniversary parties. A bouquet or centerpiece should capture the essence of what you’re trying to communicate, whether it’s “thank you” or “congratulations on your promotion.” Your personal taste is an important element, just as the personality of the recipient is a key factor. Toni will take both into account when selecting the color scheme, shape and other aspects of the design. At the end of the process, you’ll be sending a unique floral message which will be appreciated that much more for its distinctive style. Call PF Designs to help you express yourself with flair.

PF Designs 216.381.8050 4595 Mayfield Rd, South Euclid pfdesigns.com

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One Shop

Jeweler

for the Discerning Jewelry Collector by Mike Cabrerra photos Agape Photopgraphy and Aaron Leyser

our style is unique, but finding ways of expressing your individual style isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy when most clothes jewelry are massproduced. Accessorizing with pieces which speak to you isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t difficult at Jackson Grey Jewelers, the source for custom designed jewelry and distinctive lines, not carried elsewhere. Chad Verhoff, a master goldsmith, is enthusiastic about both the art and craft of custom jewelry design. He opened Jackson Grey Jewelers in Chagrin Falls four years ago, offering high quality, custom jewelry to the northeast Ohio community. 16

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our clients feel as though they are more than just a customer,” Chad continues. “When they come to purchase jewelry, inquire about a repair or have a new piece designed, they work directly with the craftsman who is doing the work.” Verhoff has the ability to redesign existing pieces of jewelry to better reflect the current taste of the owner. He can take client-owned gemstones and create designs to showcase them, or work with the client’s ideas and obtain the necessary materials to fit the design. Verhoff has found a 3D printer to be a useful tool for making custom molds of his designs, although no modern technology can replace his 31 years of education, apprenticeships and experience. Recently Verhoff recognized a developing trend in leather jewelry and saw the opportunity to create pieces using quality components and more distinctive design. “Leather lends itself as the perfect complement to metals like silver and bronze. I also like to incorporate recycled materials into the design for truly unique pieces,” Chad notes. “There really isn’t a particular season for leather jewelry - you can pair it with sweaters or sundresses equally well.” Jackson Grey Jewelers also offers designer jewelry in a variety of price ranges and styles, from bridal to casual, as well as loose diamonds. Jackson Grey showcases their own pieces as well as other local and national artists, whose work he admires. Customers will not find identical pieces elsewhere.

Verhoff deliberately arranged the intimate showroom to showcase his creations, while also giving customers a clear view of his workshop. Upon entering the shop, visitors are likely to find him at the bench, apron on, hard at work. “We do all of our work on-site, “ Chad explains, “we don’t have any reason to ship our clients’ items out. The design, creation and repair is done by me, right here in my workshop. I want people to see that as it sets us apart from other jewelry stores.”

Jackson Grey Jewelers is conveniently located at 516 East Washington Street, Chagrin Falls. Store hours are Monday and Friday 10 until 5; Tuesday and Wednesday 10 until 5:30; Thursday 10 until 7; Saturday 10 until 4. Like Jackson Grey Jewelers on Facebook for special events and to see interesting pieces Chad Verhoff is creating. Stop in or call for a private consultation.

Jackson Grey Jewelers 516 East Washington Street Chagrin Falls 440.247.5600 jacksongreyjewelers.com

“Because we’re a small shop we take extreme measures to make sure all of Chad Verhoff Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Dry Cleaning

Safely Store Your Clothes for the Season and Protect Your Investment by Jordan Klammer photos Vincent Pearson Photography

all is just around the corner, meaning it’s time to put away your spring and summer clothes and unpack your sweaters. Before storing your clothes until the warm weather returns, have London Cleaners pick them up and dry-clean them. Alex Shvartshteyn is a third-generation custom tailor, who spent years making and altering garments. Thirty years ago, he decided to channel his thorough understanding of fabrics and clothing into the processes that keep them clean. Alex purchased London Cleaners in 1984 and transformed it into a 100 percent door-todoor dry-cleaning service that can handle any type of clothing and serves Northeast Ohio, from Chardon to Avon Lake and into northern Akron and Medina.

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Terri, the plant manager at London Cleaners, spoke with us about the best methods of cleaning our garments before putting them away for the season. Dust and dirt that is not cleaned out will settle in and can ruin the fabric. Terri explains that some stains deoxidize, similar to what happens after taking a bite out of an apple. You set the apple down and it turns brown. It’s the same process with your clothing pieces which have not been properly cleaned. Fabrics stained by sugars or milk-based products can attract moths putting all of your clothing at risk. Perfumes can also cause discoloration if not cleaned out of the fabric and colors can not be put back into our clothes. During the winter months, let London

Cleaners handle any salt your clothing may have been exposed to. Even a little bit of salt left on a garment can ruin the fabric’s color. It’s difficult to wash salt out thoroughly with water. Dry cleaning is the only way to safely remove salt without leaving a damaging residue on the fabric. Another storage nightmare Terri warns us about is using plastic bags or containers to store clothing items. When your drycleaned garments are delivered to your house they should be taken out of the plastic bags. Proper care both during and between seasons will maintain the investment you’ve made in your clothing. “We’ll Take It From Here” is the London Cleaners’ motto — and these full-service dry cleaners stick to it. “We’re the only company that does exclusively door-to-

door, and we’ve perfected the service,” Alex says. “It’s more efficient. There’s no minimum. There’s no extra charge, just regular dry-cleaning charges.” Customers can schedule regular service to have London Cleaners routinely stop by their homes or offices, or they can simply call, or email, on an as-needed basis. Nobody needs to be home, so the service is completely hands-off and convenient. Beyond convenience, though, London Cleaners maintains a level of dry-cleaning service attainable only through decades of experience.

From cleaning to preservation and storage, let the experts at London Cleaners take the guesswork out of garment care. Visit londoncleaners. com to explore the services offered, and call 800.832.1222 or local number 440.283.0200 to get started today.

London Cleaners 800.832.1222 440.283.0200 londoncleaners.com

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omeone who would know about inflammation is Tom Brady. The body’s response to the kind of injury and athletic exertion he endures is an inflammatory healing process that results in the repair of wounds and stronger muscles. Does this make him an expert on anti-inflammatory eating? Probably not. But his diet book, The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance, does make some valid points about the relationship between a healthy diet and maintaining our own peak performance — even if we never have to worry about being sacked. Inflammation is certainly not all bad. In fact, the body uses inflammation to fight infection. Ideally, inflammation should be a part of a temporary healing process. But when the body’s normally protective response is triggered and there are no foreign invaders to fight off, the body can start attacking its own tissue. This chronic state of inflammation is what researchers have linked to illnesses like heart disease, cancer, obesity, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and painful autoimmune conditions such as arthritis.

EAT E for Your Peak Performance

Symptoms of inflammation can include redness, swelling, stiffness or pain in the joints. Where inflammation is affecting internal organs like the heart, lungs or kidneys, the body won’t register pain but more specific symptoms related to the affected organs like shortness of breath or high blood pressure. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen or ibuprofen can be taken to alleviate the pain caused by inflammation, but taking those over time will increase one’s risk of stomach ulcers and

by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

kidney damage. Tom Brady’s anti-inflammatory diet doesn’t have any dangerous side effects and may actually have benefits beyond reducing the chronic inflammation. Eliminating some of the staples of the typical American diet like refined carbs, processed foods, added sugars, foods high in saturated and trans fats is a first step toward calming the body’s defensive response. Brady’s diet includes lots of organic vegetables and fruits, nuts, grains, and healthy fats and oils. It looks very similar to the popular Mediterranean diet. This common sense approach to eating leads to many health benefits, but eliminating the pain many experience due to chronic inflammation, without the use of medication, might seem miraculous. Recent studies are very promising, even if not conclusive. The National Institute of Health cites the findings of these studies which look at the effects of the traditional Mediterranean diet, which typically has a high ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fats and an abundance of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. These studies have shown anti-inflammatory effects when comparing the Mediterranean diet with typical North American and Northern European diets. The National Institute of Health indicates that this may become the diet of choice for diminishing chronic inflammation in clinical practice. So whether you believe a celebrity athlete or scientific researchers, their conclusions are the same: eliminate foods that cause your body to think it’s under attack and eat foods that provide the nutrition your body needs to regain its composure and remain calm and cool.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Chiropractor

Before Scheduling Surgery or Filling That Prescription, Talk With Dr. Livingston by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography

levelanders traditionally call Fall their favorite season as the temperature starts to cool and the foliage takes on a vibrant array of colors. These are easy seasonal adjustments, but Fall also brings a lot of aches and pains that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as enjoyable. .

If you strain your back raking leaves or slip on the ice, be sure to call Dr. John Livingston to heal your problems quickly and effectively

Dr. John Livingston

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Dr. Livingston has been a chiropractic physician for over 25 years. He is a third generation chiropractor after his father, who practiced 44 years, and his grandfather, who practiced 50 years.

Since 1993, Dr. Livingston has been serving patients effectively while taking the necessary time with each and every patient. In this day of ever-shortening patient encounters with doctors and long wait lists to get in to medical offices, Dr. Livingston continues to put patients first and treat patients with empathy toward their conditions. His education, his caring bedside manner, and his ability to interact and communicate well with patients are the tools that set Dr. Livingston apart from other physicians. Dr. Livingston sees many causes of pain in his practice. Taking the necessary time with each patient allows him to diagnose more accurately and treat more

effectively. Many patients are presenting with symptoms of pain, numbness, or weakness in their back or neck, or pain traveling down their arms or legs. Nearly a decade ago, Dr. Livingston began using spinal decompression therapy for his patients with spinal disc problems. It proved so successful that Dr. Livingston continues to use it to treat a variety of spinal issues in the back and neck, such as disc protrusions, herniations, and bulges, and conditions including pinched nerves and sciatica. Decompression therapy is simple, easy, and even relaxing. The gentle traction of the decompression table creates a vacuum-like effect that draws the protruded disc away from the spinal nerve and back where it belongs. “It’s quick and easy,” Dr. Livingston says. “A lot of people actually fall asleep.” Spinal decompression therapy doesn’t involve

cortisone injections or any addictive medications. Patients also experience significantly shorter recovery times than those following surgery. Consistent with Dr. Livingston’s philosophy of helping his patients avoid prescription medications and surgery, is his embrace of nutrition as a source of healing. Rather than sending his patients to the pharmacy, Dr. Livingston sends patients to the farmers’ markets. Dr. Livingston has diagnosed inflammation, caused by the immune system’s adverse reaction to certain foods, as the source of some of his patients’ complaints. Chronic inflammation has also been linked to a number of major diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s. Determining the dietary culprit, whether gluten, fried foods, dairy, processed foods or refined sugar, is an important step to enhancing

the health of the immune system. Dr. Livingston advises adding antiinflammatory foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, Vitamin D, turmeric, fish oil, magnesium and good hydration, to speed his patients’ recoveries and increase their overall health. During this upcoming season, if you have an accident or think you may be suffering from the effects of chronic inflammation, fall into the caring, well-trained hands of Dr. Livingston. For more information call or email Dr. Livingston, visit his website at livingstonchirogroup.com or visit his office near the intersection of Miles and Richmond Roads. Livingston Chiropractic Center 440.528.0005 25111 Miles Road, Suite D drjklii@hotmail.com livingstonchirogroup.com

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Regain Control of Your Life, Neurofeedback

Without Medication

by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

ttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic brain disorder, the symptoms of which include inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity which interfere with daily functioning or development, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Typically the image that pops to mind when one thinks of ADHD is that of a hyperactive young boy. Adults, however, can also suffer from ADHD. Statistically about 4-5% of adults in the U.S. suffer from ADHD. There is debate about whether ADHD can manifest itself at a later age. Some experts claim that every adult with ADHD had it as a child, but

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maybe it simply wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t diagnosed at the time, while other studies indicate that, especially in women, ADHD can manifest itself after puberty. Regardless of when the symptoms begin causing difficulty, the effects on adult sufferers can be devastating both at work and at home. ADHD affects concentration, memory and organization and the ability to follow directions. It can lead to anxiety, depression, low selfesteem and substance abuse or even addiction. Adults who are experiencing these symptoms are unlikely to experience job satisfaction or stability in their relationships.

Once diagnosed with ADHD, many adults are treated similarly to the way children have typically been treated - with prescription stimulant medications. But there are serious side effects to taking stimulants. They can be addictive and raise the heart rate and blood pressure. Fortunately there is a safer but effective treatment. Dr. David Granoff has helped many patients, adults and children, experience relief from the symptoms of ADHD without the use of stimulant medications. Trained as a psychotherapist, including post- doctoral training in Gestalt and CognitiveBehavioral Psychology, Dr. Granoff became interested in neurofeedback

seventeen years ago as a nonpharmacological treatment for ADHD. “My research led me to NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback,” Dr. Granoff explains. “This is a non- invasive brain training system developed by the Zengar Institute in Canada. The results I began to see in my clients were noticeable and often significant and sometimes profound using NeurOptimal® neurofeedback.” His experience in his practice has further solidified his conviction that NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback is as effective as medication, without the side effects. Dr. Granoff points out that the American Pediatric Academy has equated neurofeedback with medication in terms of efficacy for resolving ADHD in children. NeurOptimal® neurofeedback is extremely safe. Basically, Dynamical Neurofeedback® provides the brain

with the information it needs to correct itself and function at its most optimal. NeurOptimal® simply enables the brain’s natural process of self-correction and requires no effort on the user’s part. Some brain training systems require the user to “interact” by playing games or solve puzzles during sessions. This additional level of interaction is unnecessary with the NeurOptimal® neurofeedback system. During a training session, you can simply relax and enjoy.

have concerns about the side effects of stimulants, contact Dr. Granoff’s office to schedule an appointment to discuss how you might benefit from neurofeedback.

Chagrin Brain Training 21403 Chagrin Blvd, Suite 210 216.752.5346 ChagrinBrainTraining.com

Visit Dr. Granoff’s website to read about the experiences of those who have seen such marked progress in the treatment of ADD/ADHD that they have been able to eliminate or significantly reduce their reliance on medication. If you are struggling with a lack of concentration or a feeling of disorganization which is negatively impacting your functioning, and you Dr. David Granoff

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Be Ready for Cleveland Book Week 2019 by Patti London Photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles and Fred Viebahn

he third annual Cleveland Book Week took place the last week of September. I’m telling you now so you can be ready for the fourth installment of this increasingly popular occasion. Of the eleven events which celebrated Cleveland Book Week, three were sold out and the others were extremely well-attended. The week drew some of the biggest literary stars to Cleveland, including one celebrity I had the immense pleasure of speaking with again after 34 years. The climax of Book Week is the Anisfield-Wolf Awards ceremony, which sold out in a few days. Luckily, you can watch the ceremony in its entirety on WVIZ’s Ideastream. Edith Anisfield Wolf, a Cleveland poet and civic activist, established the prize in 1935 to commend books dealing with issues of social justice. Ms. Anisfield Wolf believed that literature was a means to explore racial prejudice and celebrate diversity. She was a woman well ahead of her time. The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards remain the only American book prize which focuses on literary works that address racism and diversity. The Cleveland Foundation has administered the Anisfield-Wolf prize since Ms. Anisfield Wolf’s death in 1963. This year’s winners in the four categories of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and lifetime achievement are Jesmyn Ward, Kevin Young, Shane McCrae and N. Scott Momaday. The award ceremony was hosted by the chair of the jury panel since 1996, the esteemed Henry Louis Gates, Jr. While Edith Anisfield Wolf never selected any of the award

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Jesmy n War d

Steven Pinker and Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

winners during her lifetime, she made certain that the panel was composed of highly respected literary figures. That tradition continues to this day. In addition to Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this year’s panel included Steven Pinker, Rita Dove, Joyce Carol Oates and Simon Schama.

ung

Yo Kevin

Highlights of Cleveland Book Week, in addition to the awards ceremony, included a sold out reading by this year’s poetry winner, Shane McCrae, at Karamu and an appearance at the Cleveland Public Library’s Main Library by Booker Prize winner Paul Beatty. I enjoyed the sold out appearance of Judy Blume and Daniel Handler, also known as Lemony Snickett, at the Maltz Performing Arts Center, sponsored in conjunction with the Skirball Writers Center Stage and the Cuyahoga County Library. The conversation hosted at the Cleveland Museum of Art between Steven Pinker, author of Enlightenment Now and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., was very well-attended and entertaining.

Shane

Before Pinker and Louis Gates took the stage, the names of the literary celebrities in the audience were announced including Jesmyn West and Anisfield-Wolf jurist Rita Dove. Ms. Dove, born in Akron, was the poet laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. Her book of poetry Thomas and Beulah won the Pulitzer prize for poetry in 1987. She’s been awarded too many honors to mention, but in the mid-80’s she was my academic advisor in the English Department at Arizona State University. I’ve spent my adult life following her career and with each

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recognition telling everyone who would listen that she was my advisor. As I was validating my parking at the art museum, I turned around and saw her. She hasn’t changed at all in 34 years. Cleveland Book Week was fun but sharing a few minutes with Rita Dove was just wondrous. Watch for the schedule of events for next year’s Cleveland Book Week in early August so you don’t miss out. You never know who you’ll run into. Rita Dove and Patti London Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Restaurant

The Place for

Happy, Healthy Comfort Food

by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser and Vince Pearson Photography

egular connoisseurs of Thai food are looking for dishes that prioritize balance, nothing too sweet or too spicy - just a perfect blend of flavors. The owners of Peppermint Thai Cuisine in Pepper Pike understand the fundamental components of Thai cuisine: hot, sour, bitter, sweet and salty. The fine balance of these components in their signature entrees is what sets the Kanegkasikorns’ restaurant apart from others. Sunny and Matt Kanegkasikorn have been creating and serving aromatic noodle

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dishes, flavorful curry meals and seafood selections together for the past eleven years. They met in a Thai restaurant in Boston where they were working at the time, although both are originally from Thailand. After marrying and moving to Cleveland, they opened Peppermint Thai Cuisine in 2007. Sunny runs the front of the house, while Matt creates the menu and specials. Sunny and Matt have enhanced the experience of dining in with a sumptuous wood decor and traditional Thai art. “We’ve created a cozy atmosphere,”

Sunny says. “It’s comfortable for families, too.” Dining in Peppermint Thai’s new light-filled addition is especially pleasant. The skylight and large windows create an airy ambiance for enjoying the outdoors from the comfort of indoors. Peppermint Thai is popular with the lunch crowd and groups of four should consider making reservations. If you’re new to Thai food the servers are adept at answering questions and making recommendations. “Several of our servers have worked with us for eleven years,” Sunny explains. “They’re all very familiar with the

ingredients and understand customers’ special tastes and dietary needs.” The menu selections are made with crisp produce and fresh ingredients, including the leanest cuts of meat. MSG is never used. Every dish can be made vegetarian and spice levels can be adjusted to the diner’s preference. “We encourage diners to select their spice levels,” Sunny adds. An array of appetizers could easily serve as dinner. The options range from potsticker dumplings, stuffed with chicken and vegetables, to steamed or fried shumai dumplings, with shrimp and vegetables. Or one can order a deep fried soft-shell crab tempura with a side of summer rolls, made of shrimp, vermicelli and a baby greens salad wrapped in rice paper rolls. Add a cup of hot and sour Tom

Yum Goong soup for a complete meal. “We try to adapt the dishes to American tastes while remaining true to the Thai classics,” Sunny says in describing the way Matt creates their menu. “Our dishes don’t focus on a particular region of Thailand, but cover all the traditional cuisines.” Entrees fall into six primary categories: noodles and fried rice dishes, jasmine or brown rice dishes, vegetarian entrees, choice curry selections, main courses from the grill, and a list of signature entrees. In nearly every category the seafood options are plentiful. Freshness is the most important factor for Matt and Sunny. “We have deliveries and pick up fresh ingredients every day,” she explains.

Peppermint Thai has a full bar, including cocktails and popular imported Thai beer, like Singha and Chang. They also serve Thai iced tea, bubble tea, and smoothies. Peppermint Thai is in Pepper Pike, centrally located in the Landerwood Plaza. Call 216.464.5432 or view the menu at peppermintthaicuisine.com. Reservations are suggested for parties of four or more. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. weekdays. Dinner hours are 5-9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 5-10:00 p.m. Friday, 4-10:00 p.m. Saturday, and 4-9:00 p.m. Sunday. Peppermint Thai Cuisine 216.464.5432 30769 Pinetree Rd, Pepper Pike peppermintthaicuisine.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Samantha Coco and India Pierre-Ingram in The Adventures of the Black Girl in Her Search for God

Karamu: A Joyful Gathering Place

by Patti London photos Michelle Berki, Vince Robin and Your Influence Media

f the many reasons to relish living in Cleveland, its theatre scene is high on our list. Our calendar has to be carefully coordinated to accommodate all the shows we simply can’t miss. This year we’ve added the Karamu season to the calendar, too. After the last two performances, we won’t be missing another. The productions of Simply Simone and August Wilson’s Fences had us talking for weeks about the Karamu experience. The caliber of acting and well crafted stage sets were reason enough to sign up for season tickets. But what struck

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

us immediately about Karamu was the welcoming energy of the place. It isn’t called Karamu - Swahili for a joyful gathering place - for nothing. From the moment you enter, you’re made to feel like you’ve arrived. Standing next to a table of August Wilson’s plays and other memorabilia for Fences, an elegantly dressed greeter told us that we were standing in what will soon be the gift shop, opening in December. It felt like she was imparting inside information and she was letting us in on the news because we were special. However, we’d already heard about the transformation Karamu is undergoing as it moves into its second century.

We were lucky enough to attend the grand reopening of the Jelliffe Theatre this past summer. The gala was a grand celebration of both Karamu’s distinctive history and its future. The beautiful restoration of the theatre by the Robert P. Madison architecture firm is only part of the bold vision for Karamu’s next century. Tony Sias, CEO and President of Karamu, has embraced this challenge. “We’ve really been working to align with professional theater standards,” Tony explains. “Our actors, both union and non-union, have the skills and experience to achieve the professional standards we’ve set. We’re able to attract actors with serious bodies of credible work, actors who have

performed in a variety of venues, such that they bring to Karamu a breadth and depth of understanding of the world of theater.” During auditions Tony and his creative team have been able to identify burgeoning young talent, too. These actors can hone their skills and build their professional standards at Karamu because of the opportunity to work with experienced professionals, both on stage and behind the scenes.

“We’ve incorporated high quality production values, from lighting, sound, and costuming to set creation,” Tony points out. This backstage operation has created yet another opportunity for Karamu’s future: a Technical Theatre Program. Tony hopes to fill a very real need in the theater-rich community of Cleveland by training professional theater technicians. “Our plan is to use the Karamu scene shop and theater as

Rebecca Morris and Kimberly Sias in Sassy Mamas

a classroom for young people, aged 1826, to become stage managers, lighting and sound designers, and technical directors,” says Tony. “There’s a shortage of technicians and this program will allow us to partner with other theaters and become a resource for the entire theater community.” Arts and culture are a driving force in Cleveland’s economy and Karamu

Treva Offutt and Mary Alice Beck in Rasheeda Speaking

The cast of the 2018 regional premiere of Passing Strange Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

is poised to contribute even more to workforce development. Karamu is an anchor institution in the Fairfax neighborhood of East 89th and Quincy and Sias takes that role seriously when undertaking new endeavors like the gift shop and the Technical Theatre Program. Karamu will be expanding job opportunities in the community when it opens a bistro in the coming year, in addition to expanding opportunities for future joyful gatherings. “The investment in Karamu generates more to offer this community. We’re excited to continue to build on Karamu’s history.” “We’re located in the heart of the city,” Tony continues, “but we’re a theater for everyone. There’s a point of entry for most human beings in the universal stories we choose to tell at Karamu. We honor the African American experience, but it’s an integrating experience based on our historical trajectory in this country.” Based on our experiences at Karamu, Tony Sias’s observations are totally on point. The moving stories produced on Karamu’s stage are not limited by race, gender or sexual orientation. Humans, in all the rich diversity of their experiences, will appreciate these stage productions. All are welcome at Karamu as you’ll discover as you move through the gift shop, to the bar, and are ushered to your seats by cheerful, enthusiastic greeters along the way. Even when the plays tell hard truths, the vibe is truly joyful. Karamu 216.795.7070 2355 E. 89th Street karamuhouse.org Ammen Suleiman and Natalie El Dabh in The Lake Effect

Vanessa Bell Calloway in Letters From Zora

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A student performer in Boundless Grace

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Landscape and Design

A Strategic Vision Based on Core Values

Produces High Quality Results and Delighted Clients by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

reating a thriving company is much like constructing a beautifully designed outdoor living space. Bill Dysert, President and owner of Exscape Designs, utilizes a strategic vision based on core values to both grow his business and deliver exceptional results to his clients. “Our company culture and core values define us. We’re able to produce repeatable results because we’ve invested time in refining our systems and processes to guide the client through a successful experience,” Bill explains. “Excellent customer service requires a thoughtful approach and we’ve developed a creative and collaborative process which is thoroughly client-driven.” Exscape Designs encourages clients to start thinking now about their landscape design projects. An inspired plan can be developed and refined over the next three months allowing for more time to enjoy the completed renovation or addition to your outdoor space next year.

The long summer of 2018 allowed us to spend plenty of well-deserved time in our outdoor spaces. If 2019 yields a lengthy season of sunshine, is there a way your family might enjoy the summer even more next year? For instance, does your yard need a landscape design upgrade? Would you be able to entertain more with an outdoor kitchen? Maybe you’re imagining the peace a water feature would bring each evening after the work day’s done. Exscape Designs will work with you to create an outdoor oasis that will provide a maximum return in value and enjoyment. Exscape Designs’ staff of certified landscape professionals fields 100+ years of combined experience. Through recruiting the right team members and focusing on education, Exscape Designs has developed a dedicated workforce which, in turn, leads to happier customers. Bill, himself, embraces an educational approach to managing his company, thereby setting the example. Bill’s commitment to continuing education and leadership development includes

maintaining his own certifications and memberships in national networks of his peers. Exscape Designs invests in highquality training which fosters a culture of safety, productivity, and professionalism among its team. Maintaining a safe work environment for the employees and clients is a central priority. Whether you’re seeking a beautiful garden waterscape, a renovated perennial bed, or an outdoor kitchen, Exscape Designs will take the time during the beginning stages of the design process to fully understand your vision and assess your property. The company uses a four-phase Design/Build method to successfully partner with home owners, property managers, knowledgeable home builders and architects. The benefit of using the Design/Build method developed by Exscape Designs, Bill says, is that “our operation has become streamlined in such a way that its scale is designed to deliver high quality at a very good value.”

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Anya Rudd

In the initial design phase, talented landscape designers will work closely with the homeowner or their builder or architect to determine the vision and goals of the landscape design. The client’s needs and budget are discussed in detail at this phase, so that the plan is consistent with the client’s style preferences and produces the desired functionality, within the designated budget. “Exscape’s designs don’t fall into the usual traditional or modern categories,” Bill notes. “Our landscape designers take important cues from both the exterior and interior of the home, the color palettes and the design selections, to develop the composition of the new project.” Once these design blueprints are finalized, the second phase of the Design/ Build process begins. The designers and craftspeople fine tune the details while the homeowner is guided through the election of materials. This stage is essential for a smooth and efficient transition to stage three, the build phase. This is the stage where a client begins to see the design vision brought to life by Exscape’s skilled team. Most importantly, the project manager maintains

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communication with the client through regular progress updates and site visits. When Anya and John Rudd undertook the renovation of Harcourt Manor in Cleveland Heights, they needed a landscape design firm which could deliver high quality results at a good value. The property had sat empty for years and required a meticulous attention to detail in order to preserve its historical character. “This is the kind of opportunity which comes along maybe once in a lifetime,” Bill explains. To give them the best value proposition while recognizing the property’s historical significance, Bill brought in David Thorn to create the concept and design. Although Exscape Designs has talented landscape architects on staff, Bill knew after speaking with Anya, an interior designer herself, that she needed someone who shared her particular bold vision. Always bearing in mind what is best for the client, and having familiarity with David Thorn’s work, Bill knew it would be a perfect fit. Thorn worked with the Exscape Design team on a daily basis. The results are spectacular, as the participants of the Heights Heritage Home & Garden Tour appreciated in September.

Exscape Designs provides the same level of quality to all of its clients, whether they are installing a new patio or restoring the grounds of a 12,000 square-foot Elizabethan manor. Exscape Design continues to serve as a resource after the project is completed. They offer clients ongoing landscape maintenance plans and services. “Our promise is no customer left behind. We offer full property care and service, 12 months a year,” Bill says. “Although a small portion of our business is high-end boutique commercial work, 95% of our operation is devoted to residential clients. Exscape Designs functions as their personal property manager.” The aim at Exscape Designs is to “enhance people’s lives through positive interaction.” The dozens of testimonials on the Houzz site suggests they are achieving that aim. Their clients’ experiences reflect Exscape Designs’ success in building relationships of trust and delivering more than what’s expected. Exscape Designs has won “Best of Houzz” Service awards for the past four years in a row in recognition of their high standards and an unfailing commitment to their customers. Clearly the emphasis on core values and development of a skilled team of highlytrained professionals has paid off for this customer-focused company. The care and attention given to growing this company through implementing its core values in training, education, hiring and promotion is the same care and attention given to Exscape Designs’ clients throughout the streamlined Design/Build process. Contact them by phone or through their website to begin a relationship that will increase the beauty and value of your home and enhance the quality of your life for many years to come.

Exscape Designs 10121 Kinsman Road, Novelty 440.729.0011 exscapedesigns.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Making College Accessible

and Our Community Economically Stronger by Patti London photos courtesy College Now

n a very practical sense, children of college graduates are exposed to certain truths related to the experience of preparing for college, being in college and staying in college, thanks to their parents. In my own experience, I heard many stories about how difficult it was for my mother to achieve her college aspirations in the 1960’s. My mother and her sister were not only the first generation to go to college, but in that time period they experienced challenges based on their gender, as well. My mother obtained a bachelor’s degree in life sciences in a time when very few women studied science. She became pregnant with me in 1964 when she was in medical school. She chose to transfer to a graduate program in microbiology rather than continue on a path to become a physician while trying to care for a child. She’d already been pressured to leave medical school by a professor who told her that she was taking up the place of a man who needed to support a family. Hearing these stories while growing up made me very much aware of the sacrifices necessary to obtain a college degree. I was prepared to work hard and compete academically because my mother had instilled this expectation in me from a young age. But where had she gotten the drive to pursue her education, even in the face of blatant discrimination? I believe that my grandmother had always wished she could have gone to college and she promoted the value of education while raising both of her daughters to succeed. Many families even today value education but without the college experience they struggle to prepare their children for the practical realities of college. A 2017 report from the Institute of Education Sciences found that about 17 percent of first-generation college students obtained a four-year degree 10 years after their sophomore year of high school, compared to 42 percent of continuing-generation students. And 59 percent of the students whose parents had a graduate degree had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher within that same time frame. As would be expected, a much higher percentage of first-generation students come from lower income households. To sustain Cleveland’s economic development, it’s necessary to develop the talents and skills of an educated workforce. We have the human capital right here, and College Now is an agency with an impressive 50 year history of providing the support and practical information to first-generation college students, effectively crushing those pessimistic statistics. College Now offers services and scholarships to students who should be considering college and career access advice to those in need of a map to financial success. College Now also provides financial aid counseling and mentoring to students in its program. College Now was founded by Robert Coplan, one of the founders of the Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan, and Aronoff law firm, a little more than 50 years ago. College Now was the first organization in the country to promote collegiate level academic success to first-generation students. Over the past 50 years, College Now has become a national leader and served as a model for other likeminded organizations around the country.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The agency reaches over 29,000 middle school and high school students and adult learners each year. College Now works with middle and high school students in schools and community-based settings across five Northeast Ohio counties and their advisors create a “collegegoing” culture in the schools by engaging students and their families individually and in group sessions. College Now’s focus on adult learners is critical to the success of developing Greater Cleveland’s talent. The College Now Resource Center is a primary point of contact with adult learners, including dislocated workers, unemployed individuals, displaced homemakers and veterans.

Since its founding College Now has awarded $76 million in scholarships to Greater Cleveland students. College Now recognizes, however, that it takes more than money to help students understand what it takes to get into college and to thrive while there. In 2011 College Now began pairing students who had received scholarships from the program with mentors to ensure that their transition to college was accompanied by advice, support and guidance. Today there are 1,100 mentor/mentee pairs to ensure that all questions regarding the college journey are resolved, from where to buy books

to roommate problems. The mentorship program has the additional benefit of providing an entry point to internships and job shadowing opportunities. Essentially, this relationship provides the kind of encouragement and assistance that the students from more prosperous families have always had. The results speak for themselves. As of the 2016-2017 academic year, a total of 1,537 College Now scholarship recipients have participated in the Mentoring Program, and these students have a 93 percent first- to second-year average retention rate, compared to the national average rate of 73 percent for students

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

from similar low-income backgrounds. The personal stories of those who have achieved success thanks to mentors, scholarships and the general support of College Now makes it clear just how much our community’s success is dependent on agencies like this. Chaundrea Simmons said her mentor helped her through her rocky start at Ohio University. A graduate of Glenville High School, Chaundrea had never been outside of Cleveland and found it difficult to be so far from friends and family. Luckily, she had the support of her College Now mentor. “I didn’t know my next steps,” Chaundrea said. “My mentor helped so much.” After college and graduate school Chaundrea was fortunate to land a job with the company where her mentor works. She has since transitioned to working for College Now as part of the

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organization’s advising team, and is also a mentor in the program herself!

have someone who understands their circumstances.”

Larissa Malcolm is a graduate of the now-closed Cleveland School of Science, a Cleveland Metropolitan School District high school. The school had a high graduation rate, and most of Larissa’s classmates continued to college. As a first-generation college student, however, Larissa faced unique challenges embarking on her postsecondary journey without insight from family members’ or friends’ experiences. With College Now’s services and financial help, she was able to attend college and earn a degree in social work from Cleveland State University. A mentor in College Now’s Mentoring Program, Larissa said that College Now alumni who received services first-hand are in a unique position to help the organization and students: “It’s important for students to

College Now’s continued success into the next 50 years depends on the contributions of the many Clevelanders who will benefit from the cultivation of the next generation’s skills and talents - which means all of us. Monetary donations support the much needed scholarships to offset rising tuition costs. A donation of time and the sharing of wisdom and experience is invaluable and could make the difference between academic success and failure. College Now is vital to our success as a community. Contact them to see how you can help. College Now Greater Cleveland 216.241.5587 50 Public Square, Suite 1800 info@collegenowgc.org collegenowgc.org

Garage Door Installation & Repair

Don’t Wait for Your Garage Door to Break,

Call for an Inspection

by Jordan Klammer photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy Action Door

hen your kid gets sick, you call the doctor. When your garage door breaks, you call Action Door. With 70 trucks on the road daily and a 24hour service department that runs 365 days per year, Action Door is the largest and most reliable garage door company in Northeast Ohio. Action Door guarantees only the highest quality of garage-door service, including routine inspections and maintenance. Their accreditation through the Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation (IDEA) affirms that Action Door’s technicians are tested and certified in overhead door service and installation. “Our technicians are tested and approved to be working on whatever equipment they are servicing at your house,” assures Action Door manager Joe Lorello.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

The same standard applies to Action Door’s work beyond its residential jobs. “We are also the most dominant player commercially in Northeast Ohio. Whether it’s new construction or retrofit, Action Door installs doors at schools, fire stations, hospitals, and large-scale industrial sites,” Joe adds. As Northeast Ohio’s most trusted name in garage door installation and maintenance for the past 50 years, Action Door installs only high-quality garage doors that safeguard against many potential dangers associated with them, such as crushing objects beneath them as they close. Nevertheless, as the largest moving object in your home, the garage door may pose many dangers if not routinely inspected. Consider photo eyes, for example. These are safety sensors positioned

along the bottom of garage doors that detect objects beneath the doors. When functioning properly, photo eyes cause the door to automatically stop and go back up the instant something (or someone) breaks the beams. Action Door recommends annual inspections and maintenance of your garage door. “If the safety devices aren’t working properly, there’s a potential that the door could damage property or even people,” Joe explains. Routine maintenance doesn’t cover just the safety devices but every component of the garage doors, such as its springs, cables, drums, hinges and hardware. Considering purchasing a new garage door? Action Door offers a variety of colors, styles, and windows from which to choose —the most popular being the jack shaft operator which is installed on the side of the garage and not along the

top of the ceiling. This style allows for more room above the car and also presents a clean, open look in comparison to the typical overhead garage door operator. With a stylish and properly functioning garage door, you can also enjoy the many high-tech gadgets that Action Door has to offer. For instance, do you forget to close the garage door? No problem —you can operate your door from anywhere with your smart phone. And, if you’re the type who frequently runs into the back of the garage as you pull in, laser parking assistance might be for you. With this, the motor operator lets you know when to stop. Not sure if you closed your door at night? The garage door monitor sits on your nightstand and lights up if your door is still open. A button on the monitor can be pressed to shut the door as well. Check out the workable doors and motor operators at Action Door’s showroom at 201 East Granger Road, right off of 480, in Brooklyn Heights. Visit action-door.com for more information. Email joe@action-door.com with questions. Call for more information or to schedule a free in-home estimate today.

“Northeast Ohio’s most trusted name in garage door installation and maintenance for the past 50 years”

Action Door 201 East Granger Road Brooklyn Heights 216.739.DOOR (3667) dino@action-door.com action-door.com 3878 Hudson Drive Stow 330.928.2727 jerry@action-door.com 5983 Andrews Road Mentor 440.255.1250 seth@action-door.com

Joe Lorello and Samantha Zippay Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Residential Architecture and Build

Start in the Studio to Make Your Home Uniquely Yours

by Kristal Pettit photos Aaron Leyser and courtesy JP Compass

uilding or remodeling a home can be confusing and intimidating but it doesn’t need to be. Utilizing a creative company which has perfected the design-build process, is the key step. John Park began JP Compass out of his basement in 2006 - to use his 29 years of construction experience to build a company with integrity and quality craftsmanship. Thanks to the contributions of his four sons, JP Compass has been all of that - and much more. Jacob started the company with his father. His brother Joseph, a licensed architect, left a west coast firm to join JP Compass as head of the design team. James, a

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graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art, then joined the family business in design and marketing and Jonathan Park, came on board as the business manager. “We’ve been around for many years and now we’ll be around for generations to come so we can be there for our clients now and in the future,” John assures. Having design and construction professionals simultaneously working with clients to develop their vision adds to the overall efficiency of the projects and sets JP Compass apart from other design or construction companies. “Having design and construction under one roof gives you the benefits of form and function, hitting the sweet spot between beauty and the budget,” John says.

JP Compass invites clients to visit the new design studio where the collaboration and brainstorming happen. Materials and fixtures are available for hands-on comparison. You might grab a tile, a swatch of fabric, and a color sample to work on the way the space is going to look and feel in the real world. “Millions of options are available, but we’re not a showroom. We’ve curated specific items for costumers to review,” Jonathan explains. Idea books and 3D imaging are utilized in the design studio to make the process a pleasure. “Transforming your living space is exciting and fun,” business manager Jonathan explains. “Our goal is to work closely with the homeowners to create a space that is uniquely theirs, not a cookie cutter home. The homeowners’ budget sets a parameter to work within, but our team can exercise a great deal of

creativity within that limit.” Clients will begin in the studio by taking a proprietary survey to help the design team determine the clients’ style. That information, coupled with the early utilization of 3D visualization and project budgeting, allows the designers to cater to the clients’ unique tastes. “One of the most exciting aspects of our job is the opportunity to work with clients with such different personal styles and functional requirements. Their creative influence impacts each design and, with our guidance, leads to some really beautiful, one-of-a-kind work,” says Joseph. JP Compass frequently constructs multi-room additions and multi-floor renovations. The customer deals exclusively with JP Compass from start to finish — your architect, your designer

and contractor are all on the same team. For larger projects the design-build process as developed by JP Compass will eliminate many obstacles and surprises, which are the primary culprits for running over-budget. Obviously, this convergence of design and construction is working for the clients of JP Compass. “Our customers would be our best sales people,” John agrees. The number of testimonials on the JP Compass website are a testament to the success of their design-build process, the artistry of their design and the quality of their construction. JP Compass 7948 Mayfield Rd, Chesterland, Ohio 440.635.0500 jpcompass.com

Audrey Smosarski, Jordan Williams, James Park Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Stone Designers

Solid

Surfaces

for

from

Superior

Clevelanders

Company

by Mike Cabrerra photos Aaron Leyser

hen the Cleveland Cavaliers wanted to replace the iconic banner of LeBron James on the Sherwin Williams building across from the stadium, they chose one of Cleveland’s most recognizable landmarks - the Guardian of Transportation statue from the Hope Memorial Bridge. The new banner was created using thousands of fan submitted photographs as a mosaic in the statue’s image.”Our goal was to create a meaningful offering of public art to celebrate The Land and all those who support and love this city and region,” Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski said in a statement.

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Jayme O’Brien and Michelle Zupancic

The fourth generation of O’Briens at O’Brien Cut Stone feel a strong sense of pride, not just as Clevelanders but because the Guardian of Transportation was constructed by an earlier generation of O’Briens. The master stone craftsmen of their family were responsible for a number of Cleveland landmarks, including Terminal Tower, and the craftsmanship lives on at O’Brien Cut Stone. Their skillful artisans work on interior projects as well as exterior landscape concepts, for both residential and commercial undertakings. At O’Brien they work with the stone by hand, rare in the industry, but which results in tighter, more precise, cuts and finer finishes. The Old World quality is apparent when contrasted with any similar project using basic, massproduced stone. Customers select their own slabs of stone after viewing them personally, sometimes in the outside yard, where the natural light reveals intricate graining and the unique patterns that make stone so appealing. When selecting interior products, such as stone

countertops, backsplashes or fireplace surrounds, the team at O’Brien works closely with its customers to assess their goals, plan the project, create a budget and a timeline. O’Brien’s pricing is allinclusive, incorporating the planning, cutting, finishing and installation. The emphasis on natural materials allows nature to become an understated design theme, easily blending the interior and exterior. Using plants and natural stone materials such as quartz, marble, soapstone and travertine easily emulates nature, and creates a serene space. Recent trends in kitchen design include lighter-toned neutral countertops to allow for the more dramatic options in contemporary cabinets, flooring and tile. The staff at O’Brien will help their customers find the best match between functionality and aesthetics. Just as using natural materials brings the outdoors inside, using exterior materials like limestone, sandstone, flagstone and blue stone can create an outdoor living

space, effectively forming an easy flow from the inside to the outside of your home and dissolving boundaries in your living space. Outdoor projects might include walkways and steps, patios, retaining walls or outdoor kitchens. Stop in today and explore the many natural stone options available at O’Brien Cut Stone. O’Brien Cut Stone is conveniently located at 19100 Miles Road in Cleveland. Showroom hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Visit the website for more information: obriencutstone.com. O’Brien is proud of its “Angie’s List Super Service Award” and is an A+ member of the Better Business Bureau.

O’Brien Cut Stone 19100 Miles Road, Cleveland 216.663.7800 obriencutstone.com

Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Flooring

Fine Flooring:

Personalized Service at a Competitive Price

by Jordan Klammer photos Aaron Leyser

he name says “carpet,” but when it comes to flooring, they do it all. Marshall Carpet One & Rug Gallery on SOM Center Road in Mayfield Heights is a local, family-owned company that focuses exclusively on providing the finest flooring services at the best prices in the area. Marshall Carpet has been in the Wien family for three generations since Marshall Wien opened its doors in 1966. The store has been passed down through two generations to grandsons, Ryan, Nate and Matt.

The 17,000-square-foot Marshall Carpet showroom is filled with a seemingly endless selection of flooring materials, such as hardwood, tile, carpet and area rugs. The store’s exclusive focus on flooring gives its employees expertise that you won’t find at larger, more generalized home-goods stores that sell everything from flooring to lawn ornaments and windows. One of the top 100 Karastan dealers in the

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country, Marshall Carpet carries all the name brands of flooring and the smaller, boutique brands you won’t find in other places. You’ll find flooring from more than twelve different manufacturers and Marshall Carpet is the only place north of Columbus where you can find Provenza wood floors. To add color, design and protection to your wood flooring, browse through the more than 1,000 area rugs in stock, with customization available for unique shapes and sizes.

“Our specialization is what’s made us a leader in Northeast Ohio — we’ve never expanded,” Ryan says. “We concentrate on flooring.” The showroom has a family-centered atmosphere. Employees who aren’t part of the Wien family are like an extension of it. And, just as if customers were walking into their own homes, they are greeted by another member of the family, Omar Jr., a very friendly black lab.

Ryan, Marc, Nate, Matt & Omar Jr.

The personal touch doesn’t end once you pick out the perfect flooring, as Marshall Carpet’s flooring experts see the job through to completion. Each of the shop’s floor installers is employed by the company, not a sub-contractor. “Where we definitely stand out is the service we offer here,” Ryan says. “If you did have an issue, you could come in and see a familiar face. You don’t get that if you go to the corporate, big-box stores.” “Customers love to share photos with us after their new flooring is installed,” Ryan admits. “Maybe they’ve had this basement room which was unusable for years. Now it’s a comfortable living space

which is like having a new addition. We’re running a promotion to encourage our customers to share their before and after photos on our Facebook page so others can be inspired, too.” Once Marshall Carpet transforms your space, send them your before and after photos and you could win a $300 Visa gift card. One might suspect that Marshall Carpet’s superior flooring expertise and personalized customer service would come at a cost. The reality, however, is that the prices you’ll find at this shop rival those at the giant, impersonal chain superstores. “Our grandfather’s name is on the business, so for our family, success

is measured by customer satisfaction,” Ryan explains. Call or visit them online for more information.

Marshall Carpet One 1451 SOM Center Road, Mayfield Heights 440.449.4977 marshallcarpet.com

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he last stop on our tour of European capitals last year was Denmark. We’d just left Berlin with beer hangovers, but I’d decided that’s where I wanted to spend my ex-pat retirement - maybe because of the beer. Then we arrived in Copenhagen and I changed my mind.

Copenhagen:

City of Bikes, Marijuana and Trolls by Patti London photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

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The streets were filled with bikes. People in suits and parents with kids in tow, students and grocery shoppers, all riding past our Airbnb. How well could you age here, commuting and running your errands on two wheels? And then there were the six flights of stairs up to our quaint apartment in the Fredericksburg neighborhood - that kind of daily exercise would keep us fit well into our nineties. Copenhagen doesn’t know about the obesity epidemic. Besides looking fit and healthy on their bikes, the Danish eat well, too. Copenhagen has a great food scene and embraces the seasonal farm-to-table style menu. Lucky for our wallets, Noma, René Redzepi’s restaurant and one of the highest-reviewed in the world, was in the process of remodeling its new space while we were there. It has since opened and looks truly amazing on Instagram. Noma’s menu features ingredients like foraged mushrooms and unusual sea creatures. They recently published a book

on fermenting, too. That gives you an idea of the Nordic approach to fine dining, but we chose to frequent the hole-in-the-wall kebab mecca and a neighborhood pizza shop with picnic tables and cozy heaters on the front patio. After each day of rigorous sightseeing, those meals tasted heavenly. We found that the hop-on-hop-off tour buses provide the most efficient way of exploring Copenhagen. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how we began our first day in my new favorite city. The first excursion took us to the second oldest amusement park in the world the one which inspired Walt Disney to design Disneyland. The Tivoli Gardens amusement park is just as much garden as rides so it has an elegant, old-world style. The park was lush with flowers and plantings everywhere. The rides were themed by international destinations like an Asian dragon ride in the Asian inspired shopping and dining section. Islamic bumper cars were caroming off each other in a mosque-like building. There was even a mini-Taj Mahal on the grounds with its own amusement ride. From the Tivoli Gardens we caught the tour bus into the city center where we toured the harbor and canals by boat. Copenhagen is a wonderful mix of old and new architecture - all very design conscious. We saw palaces and spires, million-dollar apartments and a canal neighborhood reminiscent of Amsterdam. We also saw the very underwhelming Little Mermaid statue as part of our boat tour. The iconic symbol of Copenhagen is actually very small and surrounded by camera-toting tourists. Of course we took a picture from the boat. We took a lunch break at the amazing Torvehallerne Market featuring fresh produce, flowers, and all things Danish to eat and drink. The people watching was especially fun and I bought a large woven market bag to do my Shaker Square farmers market shopping as a souvenir. After a Carlsberg or two, we walked to the public Botanical Gardens nearby where an incredible greenhouse welcomed visitors to learn about literally thousands of plants. It was sectioned into three greenhouses, one for succulents, another for palms and the third for ferns and other plants preferring a cooler atmosphere. I could have spent hours there, soaking up

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the humid, earthy aroma. But we were off to Nyhavn, a 17th century neighborhood along the canal where apparently everyone in Copenhagen meets on Friday after work for beer. We met friends of our kids in Nyhavn and after soaking up the beautiful evening and a couple beers, we left the crowds to check out Christiania. I’m tempted to say that what happens in Christiania, stays in Christiania, but I have an obligation to at least give our readers a brief history. The New York Times recently labeled Christiania one of “Europe’s longest-running utopian experiments.” In the 1970’s squatters took over the 84 acre island to create a self-governing community for artists and other free-thinkers. A testament to Danish tolerance, Christiania is a very popular tourist destination where hashish and marijuana are available for sale in kiosks lining the streets. Periodically the police invade and the dealers disappear but the government has made no move to shut the commune down nor move the 900 or so permanent residents off of the

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property. The “business owners” frown on photographs so you’ll have to use your imagination. We took the ferry to Sweden for breakfast the following morning, not because we had the munchies, but because it was too easy to drop by Malmö to add another country to our vacation. On our return to Denmark we had a magical afternoon visiting the Louisiana modern art museum and hiking the countryside to find giant wooden trolls. Yes, giant hunting in the suburbs of Copenhagen is a thing you can do. The Louisiana is an architectural wonder, located on a cliff above the shore of the sound that separates Denmark and Sweden. The modern art museum boasts a large collection of Danish art but also a permanent Yayoi Kusama infinity room and while we were there the museum was hosting a Marina Abramovic retrospective and a literary festival. Colson Whitehead and Zadie Smith were both speaking the day we were there. I didn’t feel sorry for authors having to attend readings and

book signings anymore after seeing what a nice gig they had at the Louisiana. Before we lost daylight, we left the Louisiana to find three of the six giant wooden trolls hidden by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. Built from recycled wood, these expressive sculptures were such a wonder to come across, kneeling by a brook, peering between trees and reclining at the top of a hill. Dambo had provided maps to his fairytale beings but it still took some work to follow the trails and find them. Luckily, Dambo has been busy this year building more such creatures in the Morton Arboretum in Chicago. If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to Copenhagen to go troll hunting, you can certainly make it to Illinois. Maybe Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ride there on my bike.

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Interior Designer

Revitalize Your Home for Entertaining and Post-Holiday Hibernation

by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography and Aaron Leyser

t’s time to think about spending the next few months inside. Could a few easy changes revive your home’s interior and make the winter season more enjoyable? To prepare your home for holiday entertaining and post-holiday hibernating, stroll through downtown Chagrin Falls. You’ll find Chestnut Hill Home, by Janna Lutz Interiors, located in the heart of the picturesque shopping district. Their remodeled showroom showcases the latest trends in design, including an array of furnishings, lighting, drapery, local art and tabletop accessories for all tastes and budgets. Chestnut Hill Home was founded eleven years ago by owner Janna Lutz, building on her 25 years as a designer. Janna

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emphasizes the unique nature of her business, “Our inventory is best described as boutique couture at an affordable price point.”

plan an entire home remodel. They are up-to-date with the current trends and conversant with the most traditional styles.

The store carries many accessory and furnishing lines which are exclusive to Chestnut Hill, including the modern masterpieces of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and the private label upholstery line, Larren Grey.

Chestnut Hill’s designers will work closely with you, your architect or your interior designer. The staff will happily share their exclusive lines and collaborate with you or your design team to augment your design objective. Janna is experienced in translating your ideas into a living space that reflects your personal taste and lifestyle. In creating a custom kitchen or bath, home office or theatre, fireplace or patio, you can trust the experience and knowledge of Chestnut Hill’s designers. Their familiarity with all facets of the design process will alleviate any anxiety

Chestnut Hill’s new space is beautiful but very functional, with plenty of room to view the inventory and compare the expansive variety of fabric samples. The professional designers on staff are there to assist you with the selection process, whether it’s to find that special gift or to

you may harbor about taking on these projects. To create a visually appealing setting in your home, Chestnut Hill carries an inventory of furnishings and décor to suit every style. Furnishings you’ll find include the distinctive pieces of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, which aren’t available anywhere else in Greater Cleveland. Also included in Chestnut Hill’s exclusive inventory is the high-end styling of Larren Grey, a private label upholstery line sporting 400 different fabrics and buildyour-own customized chairs, sleeper sofas, and other pieces of nearly infinite variety.

Janna welcomes browsers, so come in even if you don’t have a specific item in mind or a design dilemma; it’s worth a trip just to get ideas. Experience autumn in beautiful Chagrin Falls and stop by Chestnut Hill Home, from 10-6 Monday through Saturday.

For the environmentally conscious, Chestnut Hill Home carries Cisco Brothers, a line out of Los Angeles, which utilizes beautifully styled, renewable fabrics. Every piece of furniture is made by local craftspeople, using sustainable materials and building methods to create furniture which is as healthy for you as it is for the planet. In addition to furnishings, Chestnut Hill features many exclusive accessory lines. Don’t overlook the importance of accessorizing your interiors. Window treatments or lighting can completely alter the character of a room. If you happen to see an item in a design magazine or online, bring it in to Chestnut Hill Home and they’ll find it for you.

Chestnut Hill Home 25 North Franklin Street 440.247.6858 chestnuthillhomechagrin.com

Janna Lutz and Hank Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Best Garage Floor & Garage Remodeling

Repair, Beautify & Protect Your Garage Floor in 1 Day -Installations Year Roundby Jordan Klammer photos courtesy Garage Finisher

any people have tried to paint their garage floor with store-bought kits or hired a professional to install epoxy flooring only to have a peeling mess a couple years or even months later. After 20 years as an owner of a large painting company, Mario FX Salwan set out to find a better solution. He did just that, with technology invented by Bayer Material Sciences called Polyaspartic. “Polyaspartic is a higher-grade version of a Polyurea coating similar to what is used as a spray-on bedliner for pick-up trucks,” explains Mario. “The difference is Polyaspartic can be rolled on and has improved properties including being harder, non-yellowing and non-peeling due to hot tires from a car, truck

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or plane.” Using decades of installation experience, Mario worked with a chemist to formulate this resin into the perfect garage and commercial flooring system named the Forever Floor and installed by Garage Finisher around the Cleveland area. Garage Finisher also sells this revolutionary coating system to other professional flooring installers throughout the United States and Canada who are amazed at how great their floors now look, how easy they are to clean and how long they last. The Polyaspartic resin can be applied down to negative 30 degrees and dries in one hour. Due to this innovation, Garage Finisher can install floors year round in residential garages, car dealerships and commercial buildings. “The installation process involves hundreds of steps and a lot

of equipment, but the floor of a normal two car garage can be installed in one day and you can drive on the floor the next day,” says Mario. All the items in your garage are removed by Garage Finisher’s crew and put in a Garage Finisher storage trailer on your driveway while the work is being completed, so you don’t have to lift a finger. Then, Garage Finisher uses concrete grinding equipment connected to specialized vacuums to remove the top layer of your concrete, including any coatings, oil, dirt and contaminants. A two-part liquid Polyurea filler that dries in eight minutes is used to fill all the cracks, pitting and control joints, effectively providing a seamless floor so there is no place for dirt to hide. Garage Finisher

applies five separate layers of flooring to your garage floor, each layer drying in one hour. The result is a decorative, nonporous flooring system that is easy to clean and unfazed by hot tires, salt, oil, gasoline and household chemicals.

Finisher can provide. Watch their Garage Makeover video online at garagefinisher. com and request a free estimate on their website or you can call their office at 216.831.4500.

Garage Finisher is so confident in its floor, that after they put away all your belongings, the company provides you with a Lifetime Warranty. All you need to do to maintain the Forever Floor is hose it down and dry it with the complimentary Garage Finisher squeegee, no additional sealing or expense is needed.

Garage Finisher 216.831.4500 4530 Renaissance Parkway Warrensville Heights, Ohio garagefinisher.com

Once the floor is looking perfect, you may want additional services for your garage like painting, cabinets, slatwall or accessories — all of which Garage

Mario Salwan Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Fencing Installation

Fall’s the Perfect Time to Install a Fence by Jordan Klammer photos courtesy Fine Lifestyles

t is a common misconception that summer is the only time to put up a fence. In fact, fall and winter are great times to put up a new fence because “we have minimal impact on your garden and we will have your fence ready before springtime,” explains Dave Schwalm, owner of Truline Fence, Inc. Dave and his expert crews work year round. “We can easily fence off your garden or farm to keep animals out before your plants start growing again.” Dave, a Shaker Heights native, has worked in the trade since 1977. In 1989, Dave started Truline Fence, Inc. as a reliable purveyor and servicer of fences and decks, both residential and commercial. Twenty-eight years later, Dave continues to personally handle every facet of the

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business, from initial consultations to fence and deck installations and maintenance. “I vowed to stay small, give personal service, and make sure I’m on every job site so everything is done perfectly,” Dave says. Truline Fence supplies, installs, and repairs the full spectrum of fencing materials, such as chain-link, split rail, ornamental aluminum, ornamental iron, and ornamental vinyl, as well as power and non-power estate gates. Dave can even install custom-built cantilever roller gates and aluminum slide-track gates equipped with electronic gate operators. Whether you need to keep things in, keep things out, or block the view of unsightly lots, Dave can build a fence for it.

Dave Schwalm

For instance, with an elegant hardwood or ornamental iron fence around your backyard, letting your dog out to run around and take care of business is as easy as opening the back door. Walking your dog is the responsible thing to do, of course. But if past winters have taught us anything, it’s that sometimes it’s just too cold to bundle up and trudge around the icy, snow-covered block with your pooch. If you like your deck but it’s a little worn down, Dave can give it a thorough update to keep it structurally sound, functional, and beautiful in time for next year’s nice weather. He can repair, rebuild, expand, and reduce existing decks, and he recycles all old wood and metals, never putting any recyclables into a landfill.

Truline Fence serves all of northern Ohio. Dave handles jobs both residentially and commercially, at sites such as farms, factories, and scrap yards. Give Dave a call at 440.479.8342 for an appointment, and he will come out to give you a free, fair, and honest estimate. When you call, be sure to ask about the winter discounts. No job is too big or too small for Truline Fence.

Truline Fence 440.479.8342

Three- to five-year workmanship guarantees are standard on Truline Fence installations — so if anything goes wrong, Dave will be back to fix it.

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events

CLEVELAND

NOVEMBER - JANUARY

NOV 8 Think & Drink Planetarium Show Cleveland Museum of Natural History

NOVEMBER 16 - 17 The Vivacious Viola PNC Music Explorers Concert Severance Hall

OPENING NOV 23 Georgia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Keefe: Living Modern Cleveland Museum of Art

NOV 23 - DEC 31 Glow Cleveland Botanical Museum

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NOV 24 - DEC 23 A Christmas Story Allen Theater Cleveland Play House

NOV 29 - DEC 30 Black Nativity Karamu

DECEMBER 1 - 23 Holiday Lantern Tour Hale Farm Western Reserve Historical Society

JAN 12 - FEB 10 An Iliad Cleveland Play House

Now you can create something truly personalized that no one else will have. Work with one of our designers and select from six high-quality base fabrics and 1500 stunning patterns. Simply choose a design you like and change the color, scale and type of fabric until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just right for you! The possibilities are endless!

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440-268-9390

Accounting

Proactive Planning for

Good End-of-Year Tax Results

by Kristal Pettit photos Vincent Pearson Photography and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

hroughout the year Newman & Company likes to check in with their clients to see how their financial plan is working. This is especially important in the beginning of the fourth quarter. It is important to plan for the end of the year, rather than finding out how the year ended after it’s over - when it’s too late to do anything about it. As Steve Newman and Nick Fanous, partners at Newman & Company CPAs, have said in the past, a proactive

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approach to tax planning can save a lot of tax money and aggravation. “We partner with our clients to finish every year in a planned and favorable manner,” Steve says. “The interim review process might tell you that you’re on a path to flourish or it might tell you that you’re on a path to fail, unless adjustments are made.” If you know early enough you can adjust items such as timing of product inventory purchases, equipment

purchases, or timing of revenues and expenses, to allow for a successful finish to the year. Planning ahead can help you prepare for good tax outcomes. “No one likes surprises unless they’re good ones,” Steve likes to say. “Clients like to have control and when we can assist them, they appreciate having some predictability in their financial outcomes.” Newman & Company like to assess each client’s financial situation with respect to

client goals and potential tax outcomes. “We often do a dry run calculation to determine what the tax consequences are going to be, based on their current business trajectory. If you tell a client that they’re going to owe a lot of taxes because they’ve been very successful, you can help them to prepare to pay for it.” Clients can feel blindsided if estimated taxes are underpaid and there is a large tax bill due in April. The large, unplanned tax bill may adversely affect the household budget and could even result in penalties for underpaying of estimated taxes. Newman & Company make every effort to engage their clients in the process before it gets to that point. “Generally speaking, the planning

will more than pay for itself in terms of keeping clients safe from penalties and knowing what their resources are,” Steve explains. “They might spend more money than they should without understanding how much of what they’ve earned belongs to the government.” An additional layer of complexity has been added this year with the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 that came into effect in January 2018 for both businesses and individuals. Business owners that have not reviewed the full impact of the Tax Act on their businesses could be missing opportunities to reduce their overall tax bill by changing their entity type, making equipment purchases or properly accounting for

meals and entertainment expenses. Individual tax payers may also be missing opportunities by reviewing the timing of charitable contributions and reviewing tax withholding rates. Making solid business and personal decisions requires having the proper information necessary to make those decisions. Newman & Co. assists their clients to evaluate their annual financial goals, by providing information and educating as to the various options available. Steve and Nick invite you to take advantage of the planning services available at Newman & Company and begin 2019 with a sound financial strategy. Appointments are available and can be made by calling Steve or Nick at 216.781.6106. Newman & Company 1801 East 9th Street 216.781.6106 newmancpas.com Nick Fanous and Steve Newman Fine Lifestyles Magazine Cleveland

Estate Planning

We Are Family:

Planning for Your Parents, Your Children, and Yourself by Jordan Klammer photos White Sands Studio and courtesy Fine Lifestyles

sk anyone what is most important in life, and family tops the list. We spend our lives taking care of our families: emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually. One major component of caring for family that is often avoided or overlooked is estate planning. “It is uncomfortable to think about dying or becoming disabled, but once my clients put their discomfort aside, the feeling of relief and satisfaction when their planning is completed is priceless,” says Meg Pauken, an Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney in Chagrin Falls. “My client meetings end with hugs and happy tears because a major worry has been eliminated.”

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“Often, one of the

hardest decisions couples make, is who will raise their children if something happens to them”

According to Ms. Pauken, estate planning should not be considered “once and done.” Instead, there should be regular check-ups to ensure that changing circumstances are addressed. “In the financial planning world, it is expected that as a client’s life situation changes, their investment strategy will change. That may mean adding a college savings account, or re-calibrating the investment mix toward more or less risk. In a similar way, estate planning strategies evolve over a lifetime,” Meg explains. For young couples, planning for the care of young children is the major concern. “Often, one of the hardest decisions couples make, is who will raise their children if something happens to them. It is important that they think through their options and commit them to writing,

in order to avoid intra-family battles,” Meg advises. As their children become young adults, and head off to college, they will need their own basic planning documents, such as powers of attorney and health care directives. Middle-aged couples need to look toward their own retirement and eventual need for long-term care. Revisiting the plans they created when their children were young often reveals that the people who they named as Executors are no longer suitable. Do they have a child or children who can manage their finances when (not if!) they become unable to do so? Would it be better to entrust that responsibility to someone else? At this stage of life, grandchildren are often a consideration. Once family members have passed from middle-age into “senior” status, reviewing the estate plan is essential. Issues of

incapacity take center-stage. Who will manage their finances? How will they pay for long-term care? Do they have health issues that will complicate their situation? These can be difficult discussions, as the loss of independence looms. Having the guidance of a trusted advisor can make the process smoother. Families that include a person with Special Needs should be especially forthcoming with their attorney. “Special Needs individuals bring both great challenges and great opportunities for planning,” Meg suggests. “In order to maximize benefits that are available and to ensure the best possible quality of life, careful planning is essential.” When families include members from prior relationships, ensuring fairness and equity can be a challenge. “Blended family

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Meg Pauken

situations can be very complicated,” Meg notes. “Often the issues can be addressed with the use of trusts to protect wealth that is aligned with one or more, but not all, of the children in a family.” It is always best to be honest with your attorney about your concerns. Perhaps there are family members with substance abuse or credit problems. Often there is a divorce on the horizon that will affect planning. These are all issues that a skilled estate planning attorney can help a family address, so that it does not become a problem later. “I describe myself as the worst-case-

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scenario lady. My job is to think of every awful thing that could happen, and then help my clients plan for how it will be handled. They don’t want to think about these things, so I do it for them,” Meg says. “I encourage my clients to assemble their own “Board of Directors,” and empower them to communicate with each other,” Meg advises. “This should include the family lawyer, financial advisor, insurance agent and sometimes, the physician or CPA.” In this way, planning can be integrated to work together to achieve the clients’ goals.

Contact Attorney Meg Pauken at her office in Chagrin Falls for a review of your current estate plan, or for a consultation to get your planning started. You can reach her at 440.571.7542.

Meg Pauken, Esq. The Gertsburg Law Firm 100 N. Main St., Suite 300 Chagrin Falls 440.571.7542 mp@gertsburglaw.com gertsburglaw.com

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