After years of a massive expansion and renovation project, the world renowned Cleveland Museum of Art in University Circle is starting to look a bit more like normal.

WJCU’s Uncle Fred of Arts on the Heights takes us on a tour of this mighty facility and says why stopping by during construction has its own special benefits including free admission and sale prices in the Museum Store.

Inside this huge cathedral of the arts there are now 19 art galleries open showcasing over 900 masterpieces. And though construction continues, you’ll get to see a behind-the-scenes look at what the final product (coming Summer 2009) will be like; truly a work of art in itself!

To find out more information about the Cleveland Museum of Art’s building project and vision, click here.

 Arts on the Heights Episode 31 (Great Art Takes Time!) [1:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Join our friends at Ursuline College this Thursday August 28th for the Student Nurses of Ursuline College and the American Red Cross Blood Drive from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Go online to register at givelife.org using the sponsor code “Ursuline” to make your appointment today.

Our community is known for its outstanding healthcare resources. The Cleveland Clinic alone is the second largest user of blood products in the country, and hospitals in Northeast Ohio need 900-1,000 units of blood every day! You can help make a difference! Every one unit of donated blood can save three lives.

The Blood Drive will take place in Ursuline’s Mullen Commuter Lounge at 2550 Lander Road in Pepper Pike. Every donor gets a chance to win one of two $50 gas cards!

For more information or contact listings watch the brief promotional video here, or check out our public service announcement below.

And as always, THANK YOU for helping our community!

 Blood Drive PSA [0:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Roth Cedar-Fairmount Pharmacy has seen the business change over its 20 years in operation. But now it is closing its doors forever. Find out why and what’s happening to its customers in Episode Two of Heights Now.

Heights Now is a WJCU production in partnership with HeightsObserver.org. For more information, check out The Heights Observer.

 Heights Now Episode 2 (Heights Pharmacy Closing) [1:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Uncle Fred is back with a brand new episode of Arts on the Heights taking us on a quick whirlwind tour of some of the biggest projects slated for Cleveland this year.

In 2008 University Circle, Cleveland’s cultural capital, will be conveniently connected to the main downtown neighborhoods with the much anticipated Euclid Corridor Project.

This massive transportation construction project will move over one million people every year. And while these daily commuters are riding the state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly Silver Line transit vehicles, they will be treated to a eye pleasing array of public art statues, sculptures, and designs.

Taking the arts into consideration is notably present throughout every stage of RTA’s designs. You can see examples, ideas, and photos of what’s to come for yourself in the Public Art Master Plan. RTA is not overlooking anything, incorporating the arts and trendy designs into every stage of construction down to the trash cans!

 Arts on the Heights Episode 30 (Connecting Cleveland's Transit to the Arts) [1:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

August 18th is a landmark day here at WJCU because it marks the launch of Heights Now, a weekly community news segment produced in partnership with HeightsObserver.org, a non-profit citizen-driven print and online news publication serving the cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Each week, Heights Now will present a look at a story or issue of interest to the Heights community, drawing on the citizen reporting resources of HeightsObserver.org, and produced for broadcast/podcast by JCU alum Nate Marinchick. Those of you that listen to commercial radio in Cleveland may recognize Nate from his day job, but may not know that he served with distinction as a WJCU student director over eight years ago, and we’re delighted to have him rejoin the ranks as executive producer of Heights Now.

Each weekly installment of Heights Now will be presented once daily Monday through Friday during The Heights 88.7. But better still, each segment will be archived and available as a podcast, both on wjcu.org and the HeightsObserver.org website - which we strongly recommend visiting!

We at WJCU believe that Heights Now is just the first step in building a new relationship with our community. Let us know what you think at wjcuinfo(@)gmail.com.

Heights Now Air Schedule

In our first episode, we’ll introduce you to The Heights Observer, give you an idea of what this program will strive to accomplish, and how you can look forward to finding out what is going on in our community every week.

 Heights Now - Episode 1 (Welcome to Heights Now) [2:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The 2008 Waterloo Arts Festival continues to grow and WJCU is proud to be part of this great community event. At this year’s festival our outstanding veteran crew made up of DJs Greg Priddy, Uncle Fred, and John Roddy teamed up with youngins Joe Madigan, Ashley Ortiz, Danielle Sills, and Gene Natale. The WJCU team manned our 88.7FM tent, caught up with event organizers and notable people with roving interviews heard throughout the day, and kicked back and relaxed enjoying the festival with 88.7FM listeners.

WJCU is proud of the community we serve and will continue to help out great local events like the Waterloo Arts Festival. Keep listening!

Breaking 88.7FM News! Now you can check out our staff bios for all your favorite Heights DJs by clicking here.