Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: The Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy

Today kicks off the 110th anniversary of The Feast of the Assumption on Murray Hill in Cleveland's Little Italy District!

Church stands open up at 6pm and the great festival runs through Midnight Sunday evening.

The 'Feast' showcases multiple platforms without even trying.

First and foremost, the Feast of the Assumption (August 15th) celebrates Mary being 'assumed' into Heaven by God. This is a holy day of obligation. Mary has fully assumed her place in Heaven a total being --mind, spirit, and body --which continues to fulfill God's plan.

Next, Clevelanders of Italian descent gather to share their heritage, their religious beliefs, and family traditions!

A neighborhood comes together (the Little Italy residents as well as Holy Rosary Parish) to showcase to the city what they have to offer, to celebrate their roots, and to throw one of THE biggest parties in Cleveland!

If you have never been, you are missing out on a memorable experience!

This 4-day feast serves up the very best Italian food around--all homemade! Whatever you like, they have --cannoli, pizza, cavatelli, Italian sausage, fried dough, clams, pasta, Italian ice....the list is endless.......

The street fair closes down Mayfield Road so vendors and shop owners can showcase their fine wares while patrons walk around getting a flavor of the neighborhood.

There are games for the kids, games of chance, rides, live music each night, and souvenir stands.

The area just next to Holy Rosary Catholic Church is set up for folks to pray, to light candles for special intentions, and to buy authentic religious items.

Holy Rosary says this festival is their main fundraiser besides weekend collections which help Catholic school kids as well as maintaining the Church and Parish grounds.

Two of the highlights include the Solemn Mass on the Feast of the Assumption and then the procession around town...and on the final day, there is a candlelight procession and devotions followed by a spectacular fireworks show!

Cleveland's wonderful ethnic mix brings dozens of nationalities together ushering in a different festival each weekend!

However, this is one "Feast" you won't want to miss! Make your way down to Cleveland's Little Italy and you, too, will see why The Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy is this week's Hidden Gem!

My head is spinning

This is a great time to be on the news assignment desk (if you like multi-tasking and working hard!!!)...

I've told you before, never a dull moment and always busy!

But now, there is so much happening, my head is spinning--in a good way!

We are fortunate to have the 2008 Beijing Olympics on NBC through August 24th. We are only 3 days in and have seen some extraordinary competition! It's just riveting! The schedules for some of our staff have been changed to accomodate our late newscast. That's always a crap shoot. If a reporter comes in later to stay later, they may miss the 'meat' of their story or they may miss the 'window of opportunity' for obtaining an interview.

We are in the midst of Cleveland Browns season. Every day we have to send at least 1 crew out to Browns Camp for their practice sessions...and more if we are actually going live for our broadcasts.

I know many of you have given up on the Cleveland Indians. I have not. And we still have almost 2 months of baseball left to play. The Indians are home for about a week and a half which makes for an even busier news assignment desk and hectic sports department!

If that was not enough, we are less than 2 weeks away from Friday Night Fever. We also have our new project kicking off in conjunction with Friday Night Fever: HighSchoolSports.net. Find your favorite high school team and get the latest updates!


I have not even mentioned getting ready for all the politics over the coming months and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We have been and are very involved with the race....as well as the day in and day out news coverage to give our viewer the top news of the day!


What can I say, never a dull moment and that is the way I LIKE IT!

Beijing 2008

They are finally upon us!



Sit back, relax, and enjoy the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics XXIX!



Expectations soar high for a colorful, imaginative, and unforgettable opening ceremony for the kickoff of the Beijing Olympics.



Channel 3 News will be carrying the Opening Ceremonies, as presented by NBC, beginning at 730pm.



Throughout the 16 days, we will have a full schedule of Olympic events.



Be sure to check out wkyc.com, nbc.com, as well as the official website of the Olympics for the daily schedule of events.

Go Team USA!

It's Friday and we're 'Live on Lakeside'

Let's catch you up on a few bands we've showcased during our Friday 'Live on Lakeside' segments on Channel 3 News Today.

We've had Crookneck Chandler & The Tibbee Bottom Boys! Come on, admit it, you are hankering to hear the kind of music this band plays and see if there is a cool story behind their name!!

And we've listened to the homegrown band, Rainy Day Saints!

Our 'Live on Lakeside' segments have been cruising along! We've had a great mix of music and entertainment featured on Channel 3 News Today. What a great way to learn about new bands and get a sampling of the music around town!

Have a great weekend. Enjoy the kick-off of the Olympics.

And, as always, Keep Rockin'!

Weekly Feature: Hidden Gems

Today's Hidden Gem: The Dawg Pound

Though just the beginning of August and baseball season still in full swing, tonight ushers in the Browns first Pre-Season game. No other team has anything that even comes close to The Dawg Pound.

Trust me, I know. I sit there each week, first row, in the midst of all the craziness & experience the phenomenon.

Cleveland, bar none, has the best fans in the world for ANY sport --football, baseball, basketball, and even hockey...and how we love our Ohio State Buckeyes and high school sports!

Hanford Dixon (along with Frank Minnifield) pride themselves in 'coining' the idea and the phrase 'Dawg Pound.'

Geographically, it depicts the fans in either end zone. The main Dawg Pound is as you enter the National City Gate on the east end.

However, the 'concept' of Dawg Pound encompasses the spirit of the dedicated fan who stays until the last second in a blizzard with subzero temperatures, who will wear anything, paint any body part, tailgate in the Muny lot from 6am 'til game time grilling dogs/burgers/ribs and then go back after the game, and bark like a dawg until their voice is raw and hoarse!

Everyone world-wide knows the Dawg Pound and their fearless leader, Big Dawg. John Thompson sits in the first row in the center of the Dawg Pound wearing his dog mask, jersey #98, signing autographs and taking pictures with his adoring fans. Every out-of-town media representative on the field snaps at least one shot of Big Dawg!

The players know who to turn to when they need to get the fans back into the game. They come over to the Dawg Pound and light the spark that ignites the entire stadium.

Dawg Pounders love when the Browns have the ball coming toward the Dawg Pound area...in hopes that the beloved Brownies will score and jump into the front row! Though not a huge fan of his, that happened to us the game Jeff Garcia ran into the end zone, scored a touch down and jumped right into our arms!!

There is no other place to be on a Sunday during Football Season than surrounded by hundreds of other Dawg Pound comrades cheering on the football team with the greatest heart, soul, and spirit!

You should try the Dawg Pound experience once in your lifetime and then you, too, will see why the Cleveland Browns' Dawg Pound is this week's Hidden Gem!

A small 'souvenir' from Cleveland Municipal Stadium --our Dawg Pound seat! Memories!!!!!

What's coming up on Channel 3 News

You all may be well aware of a great new feature which we began about a week ago, but I'd like to share....


Each day, our 6pm, 7pm, and 11pm producers have been making on camera appearances to share details about upcoming stories for their shows...in the 'Producer's Line.'


You can certainly log onto wkyc.com for these teases.


If you are on social media, such as Facebook, take a gander at the wkyc-tv page and get a flavor of the stories we are covering every day.


We post them around 4pm for the early shows and then again sometime between 6pm and 9pm for the late show.


We'd love your feedback! Comments, suggestions!

Keep watching Channel 3 News! And thanks for logging onto wkyc.com!!!!

She will be missed

Unfortunately, I must first report a bit of sad news as I return from a week away from the news assignment desk.

The Channel 3 family lost a long-time employee and one of the nicest people in the building.

Anjanelle Carter passed away at her home last week after a long bout with Cancer.

However, the cancer never kept her down. She always had a sunny disposition and was determined to enjoy life to the fullest!

Anjanelle worked in our engineering department and kept the 'guys' in line! She was a hard-working employee who definitely knew her craft!

I'll miss seeing her come in as I leave for the day....always had such nice things to say to me.

One fellow employee who gave her eulogy was not surprised at the turnout. He said there had to be over 1000 people at her funeral mass which showed the love everyone had for Anjanelle.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Anjanelle's family, friends, and fellow co-workers who are mourning the loss of one great lady.