Valentine's Day isn't all roses and hearts and sweetness. For some, it's a whole box of not fun. But that's okay. There are several ways you can vent about your former flame without landing in jail. An animal shelter in Hamilton will let you place your ex's name on a sheet of paper that will be placed in a litter box for the resident cats to use. The Animal Friends Humane Society will post a Facebook video on Valentine's Day as proof (or is that "poop") positive.

Here's the LINK if you want more info. Crappy Valentine's Day!

A man from Maple Heights is doing Northeast Ohio proud. History teacher and track coach Corwyn Collier is on the cover of the January/February issue of Men's Health magazine. And on top of that, he's been named Men's Health Ultimate Guy 2023.

His story is absolutely amazing. The 41-year-old was nearly killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq with the US military. His hand and leg were severely injured, and he didn't know how he was going to move forward or what his life would be like. His wife encouraged him to get counseling. He did. And then he got his Master's degree in education. He started teaching at his alma mater, Maple Heights High School, in 2013. 

The father of 3 shares this mindset with his children and his students: “You’ve got one body; one mind; and one lifetime. What you do with the first two, influences the last.”

Read more about this ultimate inspiration HERE.

The world of Rock and Roll, and the world beyond, has lost a legend - Jeff Beck, the Maestro, the Six-String Warrior, and one of the greatest to ever do it. 

I could use the space to rattle off the resume - replacing Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds, the Stones and Floyd courting the man to fill in for departed members, leading the super group that was The Jeff Beck Group, and so on and so on... But I won't. You don't need me to do that - you already know that. 

Instead, I'll tell you how Jeff Beck's music makes me feel.

Listening to music is a multi-sense experience. You hear it, obviously. But you also feel it. You are moved by it... Physically moved. Over the past 24 hours since his passing, I've watched a lot of Jeff Beck performances that have been shared across social media, and his music has moved me. Every single time it has moved me. It's like a reflex that I can't control.

I like to close my eyes when I listen to music, especially music I haven't heard before. I've been doing that with Beck's catalogue and it's been an immersive experience. A friend shared "Beck's Bolero" from the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 and it took me away. Click the video below, listen, close your eyes, and let it do the same for you.  

This is his gift and our treasure - Jeff Beck's music. His mastery. It remains here for us. How lucky are we that he decided one day long ago to pick up a guitar and see what happened? Twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - once in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds and again in 2009 as a solo artist - Jeff Beck will live on forever in the rock annals in Cleveland and in our headphones and on our speakers.   

Here's another favorite and Thursday's "Classic Cut of the Day" on 97.5 WONE: 

It's hard to say, but it's possible (maybe even likely) that we've never seen nor will we ever see a talent like Jeff Beck. May he rest in peace. 

Cell phones have made pay phones obsolete. Seriously, when and where was the last time you saw a pay phone-- and did it actually work? Well, pay phones are making a comeback. At least they are in Philly. PhilTel, an "amateur phone collective" is building a network of public phones in the city that will allow anyone to make free calls within North America. The phones are powered by Linux and open source software. A similar project in Portland inspired the Philly deal. But why?

Because some people don't have cell phones, be it an issue or cost or privacy. 

The phones will work like they did back in the day-- without the need to deposit coins. Just pick up the receiver, dial your number, and chat away! But the thrill of finding a quarter in the coin return can't be replicated...

There's this one house that sits at the corner of High Mill and Strausser that always has some kind of lawn decorations going on-- especially when whatever holiday rolls around. But this year for Christmas, they've outdone themselves. You can barely see there's a house here!

This picture doesn't really do it justice. You must go see it for yourself!

Smile! This sounds a like a fun idea anytime-- great for a date night, for the family, for friends. Jessica Volke and Chase Christie recently opened up the "Treat Yo Selfie" selfie studio at the Ohio Station Outlets in Lodi. For $25, you can snap your selfies (or have a photographer) immersed in one of the dozen or so backdrops/settings that the couple created. The studio is opened Friday-Sundays.

Click HERE to learn more.

Enjoy!

The air is crisp; Halloween is over; and people are setting their sights on Thanksgiving and Christmas. One place has been in a permanent state of Christmas bliss 365 days of the year-- A Christmas Story house and museum in Cleveland. In fact, the exact address is: 3159 West 11th Street. The parcels that surround this little piece of history are for sale. The property is 1.3 acres including five buildings on seven parcels. Additionally, there are two public and one private parking lots, and two empty lots. If you got the cash...

Meanwhile, owner Brian Jones posted this on FB for people freaked out about the sale:

Hey fellow fans,
I'm seeing a lot of concerns out there about the future of A Christmas Story House & Museum. I want to make a couple things clear.

1. We are NOT closing. We are open and will remain so now and into the future. It's business as usual. Come see us. All reservations for overnights and pre-purchased tickets are valid and will be honored.

2. A Christmas Story House & Museum will always be an experience and attraction for fans to visit. Several years ago we had it designated a lankmark to make sure it would be protected no matter who owns it. In fact, once we listed it for sale we received the following reminder from The City of Cleveland:

"The actual home at 3159 West 11th Street is a designated Cleveland Landmark (see attached ordinance) which should be included in the listing. Exterior alterations to the structure and site need to go through Cleveland Landmarks Commission for a Certificate of Appropriateness. Changes can include replacing doors, windows, roof, painting, porch, etc."

3. I am selling because it is simply time for me to move on to a new adventure in life after 20 years in this endeavor. It has been an honor to be the steward of such an amazing piece of Americana. All founders need to eventually move on so that their creation can reach it's full potential. There are so many more great opportunities to make A Christmas Story House & Museum an even greater experience for everyone. The future of A Christmas Story House & Museum will be amazing.

Brian Jones
Current Owner
A Christmas Story House & Museum

Maybe going to a Halloween party, or checking out a haunted attraction isn't your thing-- but you like spooky stuff. Why not visit one of several haunted places in Ohio, some of which are right in our backyard! Some of those places include the Canton Palace Theatre, where it's believed spirits are always hanging out in the concert hall, in the dressing rooms-- wherever! The next time you catch a show there, check to see who's sitting near you! Meanwhile, Lock 4 Park is another believed haunted place. Legend has it that something bad happened back in the 1880s with a container of acid, a crazy dude, and a crew on a canal boat. It's believed that the ghosts of those men roam in the area by the tender's building. The Kent Stage is another location for the paranormal. Theater guardian, nicknamed Woody, is often felt lurking at the front of the stage and in the green room. He's been known to tease performers and roll apples uphill. 

To discover other Ohio haunts, click HERE.

DJ Cummberbund is masterful at mashing up. He's dropped yet another fab video, mixing three classic tunes into one called "Can't Stop the Distance." The video is primarily Cake's "Going the Distance" and Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Can't Stop". There's also a section with R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the world as We Know It." But perhaps the nod to Randy "Macho Man" Savage is the gem. Check it out!

For you musicians out there, this would be totally cool for you-- making your own vinyl records. Teenage Engineering has dropped the PO-80 Record Factory. You can cut your own vinyl and play it back. The sound is mono-only. But you can record a single with a B-side. Included with the player/recorder are a couple of 5-inch blank records with sleeves. You can record around 4-minutes of audio per side at 33RPM, or 3-minutes at 45RPM. There's even an adapter for playing 7-inch records.

The kit will set you back $149. That's not too bad. Learn more HERE.