Together With Ronald P. Kolodziej, D.M.D., M.S.

Lakewood’s Hometown Orthodontist

The Westside Buzz is thrilled to partner with Dr. Ron Kolodziej, Board-Certified Orthodontist. For over 25 years, Dr. K and his family have been proud Lakewood residents, where he has grown a reputable practice and enjoys being involved in the community.

Dr. K is an independent owner of his practice and is not affiliated with any corporate chains. He attributes much of his success to this because it allows him to deliver exceptional results with a very personal touch. It also means that patients get to see the same doctor at every appointment throughout their treatment, which fosters consistent, attentive care from start to finish.

Why so many Westside families choose Dr. Kolodziej:

• Convenient Scheduling - Early morning & evening appointments available

• Experienced Team - Staff tenure of 3-20 years means familiar faces throughout treatment

• Reasonable Prices - No gimmicky coupons or specials because treatment fees are always priced for exceptional value. Even former patients receive lifetime minimum pricing for replacement retainers.

If you’re curious and want to learn more, an in-office visit is the best first step for you or your child.

Call to set up a complimentary consultation

Mutt Madness

The Elite Eight My Homework

They might want to go for a walk in the rain, shed all over the sofa, or bark at absolutely nothing in the middle of the night. But we let all of that slide for these 8 pups!

Your final matchups are:

Voting is now open on our website:

Want to double your vote?

Instagram votes count too! 👀 Keep an eye out on our Instagram stories around 11 AM.

Community Blend

Opening Day In The Land

There are only a few days a year when Clevelanders collectively agree to take a “lightly productive” day. So for all the bosses and managers out there, if you get anyone calling with a suspicious sudden sickness…let it slide.

Guardians Opening Day is back!

And this year? No gloves, no hand warmers, no questioning your decision to sit in the bleachers instead of on your couch. The forecast is actually…nice.

Whether you’re heading downtown or watching from the couch, here’s what to know so you sound like you’ve been planning this all week:

The warm-up (before first pitch)

Ohio City is getting in on the action early.

• Market Square Park | 10 AM – 2:30 PM

• Free, all-ages pregame party (yes, really free)

• Cookout + local vendors

• Live music, yard games, craft beer

• 50/50 raffle + Guardians mascots

The highlight: Slider leading a full-on parade across the Hope Memorial Bridge toward Progressive Field. It’s chaotic in the best way.

Where the party actually is

If you’re going downtown, aim for East 9th & Prospect—that’s ground zero.

Within a few steps:

• Wild Eagle Saloon

• Johnny’s Little Bar

• The Clevelander

• Thirsty Parrot

• The Whistle

This is many a Clevelander’s Super Bowl/St. Patty’s Day all in one so expect it to be packed by late morning.

Roads will be closed, so park a few blocks out and walk in (trust me, you’ll move faster than traffic anyway).

Bonus Points: Wear your most vintage Indians gear if you want to make some fast friends. Jim Thome, Omar, Kenny Lofton. Anything from this era is gold!

First pitch moment worth knowing

Today’s ceremonial first pitch isn’t just a toss—it’s a hometown, full-blown story.

Laila Edwards, a Cleveland native and 2026 Olympic gold medalist in women’s hockey, gets the honor.

• First Black woman to play for Team USA Olympic hockey

• Started right here in Cleveland youth leagues

• Now representing the city on a global stage

If you’re going to the game, make sure you get in the gates with plenty of time to spare.

Bottom line: it’s one of the best days of the year to be downtown. Good weather, packed bars, and 30,000+ people still trying to get over 2016 and convincing themselves this is the year.

Swing and a bat!

Clifton Connector Project Breaks Ground 📍 Rocky River & Lakewood

One of the more dangerous stretches along the Westside shoreway road is undergoing a major renovation that will improve our public access for decades to come.

The $11 million Clifton Connector project officially broke ground to calm traffic on the four lane road that extends from Webb in Lakewood to the other side of the Rocky River, and make it more pedestrian and biker friendly.

It’s going to be a bit of a headache for those who regularly use the area, like Jodie and me, but by the expected completion date of Fall of 2027, it should be more than worth it.

Arts & Culture

14-Year-Old Is a Quarterfinalist in National Art Contest 📍 North Ridgeville

Jonah Deamon of North Ridgeville is representing our region in the national Bob Ross Presents: America's Most Artistic Kid contest, where public voting runs through April 9 — his parents told Fox 8 he is thrilled to compete and his artwork already has people talking. The top People's Choice prize includes $20,000 and a feature on a special episode of The Joy of Painting with Nicholas Hankins. Westsiders, this kid needs our votes — vote once a day to help push him to the semifinals!

Mark Your Calendar

Mutt Meetup SUNDAY April 12 at Noon 📍 Terrestrial Brewing, Battery Bark

For as much love as we have for all things Westside, we have no love for being correct about dates. Apologies for throwing a curveball last newsletter. Thank you for those who pointed out our mistake.

📢 SUNDAY APRIL 12 at noon at Terrestrial Brewing we want to meet you and your mutt!

Bring your pup and come hang out up at the Terrestrial patio with us. We will be down to our final 2 mutts in the contest, but we would love to meet all of the contestants who made this year’s Mutt Madness a huge success!

Buzzstrip

Pat Geyser, the immensely talented artist who makes the weekly Buzzstrips, does incredible watercolor paintings. He is doing a 1 of 1 painting for the winning pup of Mutt Madness! Check out his work.

🍽️ Business & Restaurant News

Vinyl Listening Bar Opening This Spring 📍 Ohio City

This one’s for that friend who has more unopened vinyl than unread emails. (Email back if you have more than 38,000 unread emails 🙋‍♀️)

A new vinyl listening bar, Harmony Hi-Fi, is taking over the former Kyuu-juu space (which lasted just six months). Downstairs gets the new concept, while Sushi Kuwahata is reopening upstairs.

Here’s the quick spin:

• Who: Christine Somrak (career pivot after 40 years) + Danny Chedid, with music help from Brian Gresham

• The vibe: Vinyl-first, conversation-friendly—no DJ chaos

• The sound: High-end McIntosh system (audiophile-level)

• What to expect: Led Zeppelin to Coltrane, plus possible BYOV nights

• Food & drink: Small plates + craft cocktails (but music is the star)

Read the full scoop from the Cleveland Scene.