LeBRON: In response to Steph Curry's toilet, our open letter to LeBron James

Dear LeBron James:

You will always be number 1 to Cleveland. Which is why your number 2 is so important to us.

Your contributions to the game of basketball, Cleveland, Ohio and the entire sports world are well documented and your acclaim is well deserved.

We are sure you are aware of Golden State Warrior Steph Curry recently acknowledged his game performance has improved since getting a new toilet, and from a sanitary and health perspective, we can understand how such a a change can affect one's performance.

But we believe true and lasting greatness goes much further than a toilet. This is not about Steph Curry's toilet. It's about Cleveland basketball's run for the throne.

You are a man who understands the value of community, of family, of pride, and we hold those same values dear as a public utility. Which is why we take any steps necessary — all. steps. necessary. — to ensure you have the best throne experience and the cleanest water any king could have. We pride ourselves on it.

We already offer award-winning and nationally renown wastewater treatment service and customer education, and we understand properly treating the flow of water coming from Cleveland only furthers your drive towards a championship. We stand (well, sitting may be more appropriate in this case) behind you.

LeBron, I assure you the service we offer Northeast Ohio meets the highest water-quality and sanitation standards in order to ensure optimum game-time performance well into June. Which is why you have no need to concern yourself with your toilet. We'll take care of that, while you keep your sights set on the real throne.

Go Cavs, and go LeBron.

Julius Ciaccia
Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

NEWS: Green commitment in Cleveland's Public Square renovation improves drainage, manages stormwater

UPDATE 2015 03/09: It all begins today. Roads closed officially at 6:00 a.m. this morning. This story took a closer look at some of the green-infrastructure components of the work that will take shape under and on the surface of the Cleveland Public Square renovation scheduled for completion in 2016.

On October 2, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District Trustees approved a $3 million installment grant for the Public Square Renovation Project, a contribution that will increase the square's greenspace and sustainability.

"Public Square is the heart of Downtown Cleveland," said Julius Ciaccia, Executive Director of the Sewer District. "We’re excited to be able to connect our clean water work to the makeover of this historic, popular and heavily traveled area."

HISTORY: How a dying river saved our lives.

Two men wearing life jackets on a small boat on Lake Erie, 1976. Both the boat and the men are covered in oil polluting Lake Erie. Image courtesy of Cleveland State University Library Division of Special Collections.

When the oozing Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, consider that it might not have even made the "Top 10" list of Cleveland river fires at the time.

A spark ignited pollution on the Crooked River on June 22, 1969—but few today realize that it actually was the thirteenth time it had happened.

Thirteen times. Take that in for a moment. The river had once been so polluted and abused since the 1860s that tar-black layers of filth burned on its surface on at least 13 other occasions.

NEWS: Banner and Lombardi out, ...wait, what's that gotta do with clean water?

Cleveland is a football town. So when shake-ups like today's make things look messy, fans keep hope in a better future, right?

We guess something similar could be said for our work: The efforts to clean wastewater and release it safely to the environment can be messy, misunderstood, or simply overlooked, but we know the results are worth it—a great Great Lake, and a better future for our water resources.

Many of us are Cleveland fans, and we serve teams' stadium, ballpark, and arena guests by treating the thousands of gallons of wastewater that flow during every game. But whatever team you root for, whatever game you play, clean water is a victory we can all celebrate.

Go. Fight. Win.

EVENTS: New #LunchByTheLake series kicks off Thursday

A Great Lake venue is about to get greater starting this Thursday.

We are proud to partner with Downtown Cleveland Alliance and 107.3 The Wave on a new weekly lunchtime event at a great lakefront venue filled live music and even a peek into the inner-workings of some of Cleveland's famous food trucks.

Lunch By The Lake will be held on the E. 9th Street Pier every Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. through September starting July 11.

LIST: 7 reasons Captain America and Hollywood would love seeing a wastewater treatment plant, you know, like ours

If Captain America and Nick Fury need to adjust their Cleveland filming schedules anticipating rain this week and are suddenly faced with time to kill—I mean geez how much time can one spend in a commissary tent?—I'm just going to put this out there:

We'd be happy to welcome them on a plant tour.

I know, I know, these guys are busy, but hey, Hollywood might even find inspiration for a future flick around facilities like ours. With three treatment plants a short drive from downtown Cleveland, there's plenty to see. Afterall, this work is what keeps our Great Lake ready for its cameo, right?

Here are seven superhero-worthy attractions our clean-water infrastructure and employees would have to offer.

LIST: Wait, people thought Cleveland was bad?

"16 reasons Cleveland is not as bad as you think"? We guess 16 is a fine place to start, but the list could go on and on, and there are a few glaring omissions.

This week, Buzzfeed posted a fun piece with that title, noting examples like Charles Ramsey's heroics, our Millionaire's Row past, homegrown celebs, and 21,000 acres of glorious Cleveland Metroparks.

Plus the Hollywood attention we're getting over the next two months.

All great examples, believe us, but there could have been at least these three others.

SUPER: Who are your heroes? (Cape not required)

It's a week of heroes, across America and here in Northeast Ohio.

Sure, today marks Superman's 75th birthday, and Cleveland—where co-creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave life to the Man of Steel—has marked the week with #SuperCle photos and stories from across the region and an official Superman Day commemoration this afternoon. Cleveland is also preparing for the return of Captain America as filming details emerged yesterday.

But most importantly, in countless acts amidst tragedies this week, some of the biggest heroes are those without capes or costumes. From Boston to Texas, first-responders continue to exhibit the best of humanity no comic book or silver screen could ever capture. Most of them may never even have their stories told at all, instead remaining known only by the lives they touched.

Everyone loves heroes. From saving animals to preventing disaster, we love sharing inspiring acts performed by our own employees and they resonate with us. All stories of heroism do. Our hats are off to the heroes sung and unsung this week from all across our country.

At home, at work, in your family or neighborhood, who have been your heroes?

UPDATE: Sewer maintenance crew at work

Water flows downhill, but sometimes gravity needs a little help.