Here’s the slideshow that we displayed during the Bridgeport Cafe & CornUcopia Place grand opening last week. It shows the progress of the project over the last year.  Enjoy!

The Bridgeport Cafe website is live!

Visit bridgeportcafe.com for the menu, news, and more.

October 11, 2012 may have been the day that the Kinsman food desert was permanently abolished.

Over 150 people celebrated the grand opening of Bridgeport Café and Cornucopia Place on that day.  Both projects are cornerstones of Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.’s Healthy Food Access Initiative, which aims to drastically change how low-income inner-city residents think and act when it comes to healthy food.

In addition to touring the spaces during the grand opening, visitors were able to see Chef Eric Wells prepare some culinary delights, watch a slideshow depicting the history and progress of the project, peruse the Bridgeport Café menu, and speak with BBC staff about facets of the project.  The Bridgeport Mobile Market, a refrigerated food truck that will deliver fresh produce to residents throughout the Cleveland’s east side, was also open for tours.

The program featured remarks by Mayor Frank Jackson and Ward 5 Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland.  Ronn Richard of the Cleveland Foundation, Susanna Krey from Sisters of Charity Foundation, and Maria Thompson of the Third Federal Foundation spoke about why their organizations supported the project and how they view it as a major catalyst for improving the wellness of those living in the inner-city.  Resident Priscilla Fayne offered another perspective of the project, proclaiming her excitement for the healthy food options of which her neighborhood has been devoid for decades.

Following the program, attendees were invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments, including wraps and cookies prepared by the staff of Bridgeport Café.

Bridgeport Café is open weekdays from 7am to 6pm and Saturdays from 10am until 6pm.  To learn more about Bridgeport Café, please visit bridgeportcafe.com. For more information about CornUcopia Place, including upcoming cooking and nutrition classes, please visit bbcdevelopment.org/cornucopia-bbcd.

Cleveland.com has an excellent piece about Rid-All Green Partnership in the Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone, listing the group’s many accomplishments over the last year.

Check out the article and video here.

Voters in all of Cuyahoga County’s municipalities will cast ballots for President, U.S. Senate and Members of Congress, Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, County Prosecutor and County Council members, judicial candidates, State Board of Education seats, the Brook Park Charter Review Commission, as well as local and state issues.

It is important for voters to be prepared to cast their ballots.  The voter registration deadline is October 9th.  Voters who have moved or changed their name since they last voted need to complete and return a new Voter Registration Card. After a voter has registered they will receive a post card that lists their ward, precinct, and voting location.

To avoid lines on Election Day and to allow extra time to study the ballot, all registered voters may Vote by Mail. Vote by Mail ballot applications are available at the Board of Elections website: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us, by calling the Board of Elections at 216-443-3298, and at all public libraries.

Voters who are interested in serving as poll workers may call 216-443-3277 or apply on-line at: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us.

Change in Vote by Mail for the November 6th Presidential General Election:

• The Ohio Secretary of State will automatically mail all voters a Vote by Mail Ballot Application for this election. 

• Ballot applications are also available on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us, all public libraries, or by calling the Board of Elections at 216-443-3298.

October 2, 2012 – Vote by Mail Opens:

• The Board of Elections will begin mailing ballots to voters who have requested a ballot and voters may begin to vote early at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, 2925 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

October 9, 2012 – Close of Registration:

• Voter registration and change of address deadline for the November 6th General Election is at 9:00 p.m.  Voters who have not registered, have moved, or have changed their name and have not updated their registration, must do so by this date. Registration cards are available at all public libraries and at the Board of Elections website: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us.

November 2, 2012 – Last Day to Vote Early at the Board of Elections:

• 6:00 p.m. is the deadline to hand deliver Vote by Mail ballot applications to the Board of Elections and the close of early voting.

November 3, 2012 – Mailed Vote by Mail Ballot Application Deadline:

• The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections must receive mailed ballot application requests by noon on November 3rd for voters to be eligible to Vote by Mail.

November 5, 2012 - Ballots Mailed in the U.S. Must be Postmarked on or Before this Date:

• Put a stamp on your ballot return envelope.  Ballot envelopes are not postage-paid.

November 6, 2012 - Election Day – Polls Open at 6:30 a.m. and Close at 7:30 p.m.

• Bring proper identification when voting:  a current and valid photo identification card, driver’s license or state issued identification, military identification, a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter’s name and current address.

• Voters need to know their ward, precinct, and voting location.  Voters may check at: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us or call the Voter Information Hotline at 216-443-3298.

• Voted Absentee/Vote by Mail ballots returned in person must be received at the Board of Elections by 7:30 p.m.

• Voted Absentee/Vote by Mail ballots CANNOT be dropped off at a voting location.

For additional election information visit: www.boe.cuyahogacounty.us or call 216-443-3298.