Up close with nature

The unusually late spring snowstorm Saturday kept attendance down at the North Coast Nature Festival held this past weekend at the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted. However, indoor events went on as planned. Left, Clare Heywood of Cleveland, 9, has concern for an American Kestrell bird. Right, Ralph Holtzhauser, 11, of Rocky River, holds his first snake while wildlife handler Alice Fowler imitates a snake's tongue. (Photos by Larry Bennet)

Levy passage important to River’s quality of life,
supporters say
ROCKY RIVER — The school district is offering 20 reasons to residents to vote for Issue 20, the 4.9-mills continuing levy on the one-issue, special election May 3. Many of them have to do with maintaining the community's high quality of life

RTA proposing multiple changes in Westshore area
WESTSHORE — The bus system intends to make greater use of I-90 and provide more service to Crocker Park, the new retail neighborhood in Westlake.

Kasler resigning from at-large council post
NORTH OLMSTED — The popular councilwoman, who served as the city's safety director from 1994 to 1997, will resign when she and her husband move out of the city.

Upcoming rock shows at IX
and Berea Fairgrounds really shine
Charles Cassady profiles two upcoming popular gem and mineral shows which will bring splendid examples of polished and rough stones, crystals, fossils and pearls. The show at the Berea Fairgrounds is organized by volunteers. But the extrava-gemza at the I-X Center is national in scope, featuring touring dealers with everything from diamonds to coral trilobites.