Congratulations to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church for another successful Oktoberfest. And thanks to the Oktoberfest band for letting me join in a toast to celebrate friendship and community.

The weather outside may have been gloomy but Strongfest was shining inside the community center where craft brewers proudly presented beer for every taste. #strongsvilleohio

Witnessed one of the great moments in Cleveland sports history when Lane Thomas hit a grand slam home run to give the Guardians the lead which propelled them into the American League Championship Series. What a moment it was. Unforgettable and further demonstrated the Guardians are on the move.

Why travel to Munich for Oktoberfest when you can go to the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, right here in the Cleveland area! At least four bands were playing at all times. Plenty of beer, toasts, Ein Prosit! and food for all palates. The Glockenspiel at Oktoberfest, like the one in Munich, is sight to behold with beautiful staging, wonderful characters enacting on an elevated platform high above an audience which often reached over 10,000 celebrants participating in music, song and celebrating German culture and Cleveland. You have to see to believe it.

North Royalton puts more festive activities into every square foot of its City Green than any park anywhere. Celebration of community and civic strength at every turn.

This year’s celebration was especially meaningful because it began with a Golden Jubilee Liturgy recognizing Abouna Mikhail’s 50 blessed years of service to an extraordinary ministry of faith.

Strongsville VFW Post 3345: This open-air summer afternoon concert, part of a series, drew people from throughout Cuyahoga County. The atmosphere was festive and very supportive of veterans

St. Mary’s Romanian Festival: The Romanian Community has deep roots in Cleveland and St. Mary’s Parish is the spiritual and cultural center, with a beautiful museum, a glorious church, and authentic Romanian cooking and Romanian music and singers dressed in the beautiful dresses of the old country.

St. Maron’s Middle Eastern food festival: St. Maron is the Patron Saint of Lebanon and families who came to Cleveland from Lebanon and Syria celebrate shared language, community, faith and custom at this Middle Eastern food festival in Independence. Even a torrential downpour did not discourage attendance at Mass, or in the tents where food was served.

Amazing Hungarian cuisine, up-tempo violin music add to wonderful picnic celebration at St. Emeric Hungarian Church of the Cleveland Diocese.

Can there be a lovelier, more relaxing evening in any small town, anywhere, then to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of music in a beautiful park, in a small forest? Olmsted Falls Music in the Park program is lively, with people getting up from their lawn chairs to dance as the music moves them. #olmstedfalls

The greater Cleveland German community and its many supporters flocked to participate in one of the largest Oktoberfest celebrations between here and Munich, Germany. The music, dancing, the food and German beer attracted large crowds from all over northern Ohio and made for a spirited, joyful, event.

St. John Bosco 19th Annual International Festival: A large turnout of parishioners and visitors from across western Cuyahoga County flocked to a sprawling event in Parma Heights, at St. John Bosco Roman Catholic Church, which had so many events going on at the same time, it was easy to spend hours eating, drinking, enjoying performances, games and taking a chance at various raffles.

Holmes County Fair celebrated prize farm animals, Ohio agriculture and small town America in one of the most diverse and heart-felt county fairs anywhere. Holmes County Fair

The massive Cuyahoga County Fair rewarded fairgoers who turned out in droves to stroll the festive midway, visit agricultural exhibits, bring children to carnival rides and attend exciting events like the Demolition Derby.

The restaurant and bar crawl “Tacos and Tequila,” drew a very happy crowd from across Wayne County to beautiful downtown Wooster. #Woosterohio

I enjoyed visiting the South Town Arts & Music Festival. Medina Town Square area is the beating heart of a vibrant community with art, crafts, music and great food. #medinaohio

Wadsworth has one of the finest Hot Air Balloon festivals anywhere. The weather didn’t cooperate with a launch but that did not temper the enthusiasm of the thousands of northern Ohioans who came for the music and the moment when dark fell and the colorful balloons lit up. #wadsworthohio

The Amish prepared for their 1st Annual Amish Country powered paraglider fly-In and I was delighted to attend.

Congrats to organizers of the Medina County Fair for another successful year celebrating Medina’s rural and agricultural strengths. I was present at the judging of some magnificent steers and had a chance to hear the concerns of small family farmers.

This is a magnificent annual event and a celebration of spirit and joy and Christian action. The theme this year bids all of us to be instruments of peace. This is a commitment I hold strongly.

The Medina County beer scene is inspiring to watch: It represents small town entrepreneurship at it’s finest. Local breweries here in Medina County make up the social fabric of our district and are emblematic of the spirit of the founders of this country like Thomas Jefferson, who valued keeping things small, locally owned and close to the land.

Congratulations to Mayor Kurtz and the council and community leaders on the 2024 Home Days parade and festival. So much of my visit here felt like a reunion. #indpendenceohio #indepedenceoh

Dozens of individual craft brewers made the Broadview Heights Beerfest a real hit. Craft brewers are independent business owners who need help fighting monopoly practices and I intend to be there for them. #BroadviewHeightsOhio

Mapleside Farms in Brunswick, Ohio is the place to be Right Now for the Van Halen tribute band. A beautiful setting for celebrating one of the icons of hard rock. The energetic performers caught the vibe of the originals and the crowd loved it. #brunswickohio

St. Charles Borromeo Parish is the one of the social and spiritual hubs of Parma and they sure know how to put on a Summer Carnival: https://stcharlesonline.org/.../st-charles-summer-carnival #parmaohio

The City of Berea, Ohioalways puts on a great concert. Everything was perfect at Coe Lake, the weather, the music, everyone seemed very happy and once again, Coe Lake was rocking.

Another beautiful day with beautiful people at Mapleside Farms. The ABBA tribute was superb and there were multiple generations loving the music and some children even lip syncing with the band.

Big crowds on a hot day in Brunswick this past Sunday. Everyone received a warm welcome in this parade. Lots of familiar faces. Always great to be in Brunswick, to feel the positive patriotic spirit. #brunswickohio

The Grindstone Festival in Berea was rockin’ Friday night with the Elton John and Billy Joel tribute band: Face to Face. A perfect night on Coe Lake. No one wanted to leave. People were having so much fun, the concert could have gone ‘til morning! #bereaohio

Fireworks at the Strongsville Commons were a happy family event with lots of young children, standing in line for facepainting and balloon art. Had a chance to sample some great popcorn from the Cleveland Caramel Corn Company.

There is a deeply spiritual commitment of people to one another at St. Ambrose Catholic Parish here in #brunswickohio. This is a very welcoming community and people who are led by a very joyful and hardworking spiritual leader, Fr. Bob. #BrunswickOH

Great vitality and amazing people at the annual Blue Tip Festival in #WadsworthOH. The community strength includes many organizations who have a strong civic commitment. Wonderful seeing old friends and making new ones.

Had a wonderful couple of days at St. Demetrios Greek Festival. Thank you, Father Andrew, for being so welcoming! This is an extraordinary annual festival drawing thousands of people in the celebration of faith and friendship.

In depth discussion of U.S. priorities at my meet and greet in Chagrin Falls. Thanks to former Ohio State Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill for hosting and all who attended and donated. #chagrinfallsohio

Middleburg Heights, what a wonderful community and involved citizenry, lots of love out here today at the annual Summer in the City Festival parade. #middleburgheightsoh

This past weekend I visited Shreve's annual SwampFest, with inspiring community spirit and great music by Hard Hat Band. This jewel of a town has it all: Committed community activists in support of firefighters, EMS, police, veterans, local creators, families and farmers; people here care deeply and love their community. I love this town. #shreveoh

We went to all three days of Parma Rib 'N' Rock Presented by Parma Area Chamber of Commerce & Cuyahoga Community College and had the most wonderful time meeting friends old and new. Here are some photos from Saturday and Sunday.

So many friends old and new at the St. Columbkille picnic in Parma, Ohio yesterday. A Knight is Kind, Respectful and Responsible. Something for us all to live by.

Fabulous time celebrating St. Anthony of Padua Parishes 65th! Such a glorious day and beautiful community. Thank you for your stories, your care and your support.

We had such a warm welcome and wonderful time today St. Basil the Great Parish Picnic. This entirely free event is such a gift to the community. Thank you for your service and your care. Elizabeth Kucinich and I look forward to visiting you again soon!

Children in need have found a place of great care at the Christian Children's Home of Ohio here in Wooster.

Memorial Day Open House at Strongsville historical village yields many wonderful surprises: A tribute showcase to our veterans, an old fashioned general store, a log cabin replica and a model railroad where the trains always run on time.

Blossomfest: One of the largest festivals in one of the most beautiful places in Ohio. Wonderful to say hello to so many people and I’ll be back.

No yarn every spun by a politician can touch the beauty of the fiber art at the Great Lakes Fiber Show here in Wayne County.

Dragway 42 a great mid America tradition. #OH7