Skrtic's Pics: Ricky Smith, Lori Stokes, Bernie Naworski

John Skrtic has been with the Cleveland Public Library for over 30 years. He now serves as the chief of special projects and collections, which makes him responsible for overseeing the 11 million items in the Library Collection. He holds a master's of library and information science from Kent State University and a master's of public administration from Cleveland State University. Skrtic grew up on East 41st Street in Downtown Cleveland and has lived in the city his entire life. He is father of two children and spends his free time archiving the people and places of Cleveland.

Ricky Smith

Ricky Smith has carved a unique place in Cleveland’s story by combining food, kindness and community service. I met him at his restaurant, Something Good Social Kitchen in Playhouse Square Plaza, just weeks before he became a father, a moment that reflected the care and generosity he brings to his work. Smith is best known as the founder of Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere (R.A.K.E.), a nonprofit that encourages giving, paying it forward and connecting with neighbors through intentional acts of goodwill.

Something Good Social Kitchen opened in a long-vacant Playhouse Square kiosk and quickly became more than a place to eat. Every meal sold helps feed someone, whether delivered to a shelter or shared directly. Through R.A.K.E., Smith also organizes monthly food distribution events that have fed thousands of Clevelanders and brought volunteers together.

What sets Smith apart is not just his food or charity, but the way he talks about kindness itself. Whether leading volunteers or chatting with the Downtown lunch crowd, he emphasizes that generosity is something anyone can practice. His projects reflect a belief that shared meals, joy, and service strengthen the social bonds of the region. I always enjoy seeing Smith because I leave with a dose of optimism.

Lori Stokes

Lori Stokes, a native of Cleveland, has been a voice that people have trusted for more than forty years. It was wonderful to see her recently at the new Martin Luther King Jr. Branch of the Cleveland Public Library. She moved through the space with the calm authority she brought to newsrooms and the care she gave to stories that mattered. In her work, Stokes has always had an eye for clarity, a commitment to fairness and a steadiness that made viewers feel seen and informed.

Her career began in the 1980s in local television and took her through markets across the country, each stop shaping her approach, sharpening her questions and deepening her reporting. She became one of the original anchors on MSNBC and later co-anchored Eyewitness News This Morning at WABC-TV in New York from 2000 to 2017, helping the broadcast rise to No. 1 in the ratings. She went on to co-host Good Day New York and anchor the evening news at WNYW before retiring in 2022. Over her time on the air, she covered major national events, civic stories and the everyday lives of people across communities, always bringing insight and integrity into homes.

Stokes carries a legacy that runs deep in Cleveland and beyond. She is the daughter of the late Louis Stokes, a pioneering civil rights leader and longtime U.S. congressman, and the niece of Carl Stokes, the first African American mayor of a major U.S. city. Today she lives in Northeast Ohio, continuing to use her voice through public speaking, advocacy, and mentorship. Photographing her at the MLK Library felt like more than a snapshot. It was a moment that connected past and present, journalism and civic life, and the legacy of a family that helped shape a city.

Virgil Dominic

Virgil Dominic walked through the doors of the Hough Branch of the Cleveland Public Library the way a familiar voice enters a room. For generations of Clevelanders, Dominic’s name carries the weight of decades spent shaping how the community sees and understands its own stories. I was fortunate to speak with him during his visit and loved learning about the city’s broadcast history.

Dominic’s journey in journalism began as a teenager on Oklahoma radio and continued while he studied radio and television journalism at the University of Tulsa. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as a public information officer, he moved into television in Oklahoma City before being recruited to Cleveland in 1965 as lead anchor at WKYC-TV. There, he anchored the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts and contributed to NBC network coverage. In 1972, he took a position in Atlanta as news director and anchor at WXIA-TV, helping the station rise in the ratings. In 1977, he returned to Cleveland to lead WJW-TV as news director and later general manager, guiding the station’s broadcasts to top local ratings. Later in his career, Dominic also served as a mentor and consultant at WKYC-TV and lent his expertise through teaching and guest lectures. His contributions earned him induction into multiple halls of fame, including the Cleveland Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Today, he lives in Bath, though his professional story remains deeply tied to Cleveland.

Standing inside the Hough Branch with camera in hand, it was clear how journalism and civic life intersect. Libraries preserve the stories of a city, and journalists bring them to life in real time. Dominic’s thousands of broadcasts carried his voice into homes across Northeast Ohio and helped shape the region’s sense of itself. It was an honor to photograph a legendary newsman whose work captured the life of this city and whose presence remains part of its living memory.

Paul Orlousky

Paul Orlousky spent nearly five decades working in television news, becoming one of the most familiar investigative reporters on Cleveland television. Viewers across Northeast Ohio saw his work on stations including WEWS-TV, WKYC-TV, and WOIO-TV. During his career, he built a reputation for persistent reporting, covering crime, public corruption, and the kinds of difficult stories that require patience, courage and a willingness to keep asking questions. His work placed him at the center of many of the region’s most dramatic moments, earning him the respect of viewers who came to trust his steady presence on the nightly news.

Later in his career, Orlousky reflected on those years in broadcasting through his memoir, Punched, Kicked, Spat On, and Sometimes Thanked. The title captures the unpredictable life of a television reporter, in which difficult confrontations were sometimes followed by unexpected gratitude from the people whose stories he helped tell. The book offers a window into the demanding world of investigative journalism and years documenting the city’s public life.

Today, Orlousky lives in Avon Lake and remains connected to the community through broadcasting. He hosts the program God Calling on The Rock Catholic Radio, where he explores the deeper stories of vocation. Each week, he speaks with priests, deacons, and Catholics, both married and single, about the many ways people discover their calling in life. The program airs every Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Dean Rufus

Dean Rufus has been part of Cleveland’s cultural fabric for many years, first making his mark on the city through radio. His voice carried across the airwaves at stations like Jammin’ 92.3 and FM Power 108 WDMT, where he became known for his energy, deep knowledge of music, and ability to connect with listeners. Over time, he served as both program and music director, shaping playlists, curating hits and helping define the sound of the city’s nightlife. Rufus’s presence behind the mic was steady, creative and influential, leaving an imprint on music lovers and radio fans. His radio career not only entertained but also helped set trends, shape Cleveland’s club scene, and inspire countless DJs who followed in his footsteps.

After years in broadcasting, Rufus took his creativity to the streets of Ohio City, opening The Dean Rufus House of Fun, an LGBTQ+ retail and novelty boutique at 1422 W. 29th St., . I was grateful to photograph him in front of the shop, a lively space that reflects his personality and eclectic taste. The store is more than a boutique; it is a celebration of music, culture, and community, with vinyl, apparel, novelty gifts and curiosities that draw people in. I loved that he was here before the explosion of new shops and galleries in the neighborhood. He rolled the dice early, building something special that became part of the neighborhood’s character and is now recognized as one of the best in the city.

Rufus is a wonderful fountain of knowledge, and I loved talking with him about the history of Cleveland clubs, from Traxx to Exedra to Mad Hatter and many more, where he spun incredible music. His career, from radio personality and music director to entrepreneur, is a testament to his vision, energy and connection to Cleveland. The House of Fun stands as a living record of someone who has always cared about bringing people together, whether through music on the airwaves or the warmth of a local storefront. Meeting him there and capturing his image felt like a small way to honor the impact he has had on the city’s creative scene and the Clevelanders who have followed him through music, community and culture.

Bernie Naworski

Bernie Naworski, owner of Play It Again Sam in Lakewood at 14311 Madison Ave., is part of a rare breed of craftsmen who keep the legacy of analog audio alive. Growing up on East 131st and Miles in Cleveland, he attended high school on the city’s South Side before joining the Air Force, where he worked on radar systems. That early technical training became the foundation for a lifetime spent understanding the inner workings of audio equipment, especially the classic two-channel systems from the 1960s and even older pieces that demand a careful, experienced hand.

Frustrated by the lack of local repair options, Naworski opened his shop on January 1, 1979, despite warnings that it might not last six months. Over the course of his career, he has built a small, dedicated team of troubleshooters, teaching them the ultra-specialized skills needed to restore pre-owned audio equipment to its original glory. Every piece that comes through the door carries its own challenge, and Naworski is upfront with customers about what he can take on, and most of the time he succeeds, breathing new life into equipment that many thought was beyond repair.

For years, I have seen Naworski at work, carefully examining every circuit and dial, always focused on preserving the beauty and character of sound. His shop is more than a business; it is proof of Cleveland’s commitment to craft, curiosity and community. Play It Again Sam is one of the rarest and coolest shops in America, and Naworski's expertise ensures that the city remains a home for those who love the warmth, detail, and soul of audio built to last. Here’s to Naworski staying healthy so that Clevelanders and anyone who treasures sound can keep returning for years to come.

Loren Naji

Loren Naji is a Cleveland artist who has been part of the region’s landscape for decades. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Gates Mills, Ohio, attending Mayfield High School before studying graphic design at Kent State University from 1975 to 1981, where he also drew portraits at Geauga Lake. He later earned a B.F.A. in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art, and his work has appeared in exhibitions across Northeast Ohio and beyond. Naji’s practice is broad in scope, embracing painting, sculpture, installations, conceptual work, and mixed media that often explore community, identity, the environment and the boundaries of artistic expression.

It was great meeting Naji at his St. Clair Avenue studio, a space that reflects his curiosity and creative energy. For many years, he hosted exhibitions and community events at his Loren Naji Studio Gallery in Ohio City, where art and people came together in lively conversations and hands-on encounters. The gallery became known for its welcoming atmosphere and social openings. It also drew citywide attention in 2014 when police and Ohio liquor control agents raided an event for serving alcohol without a permit. Naji worked through the situation with local officials while continuing to support artists and community engagement.

Beyond his visual art, Naji is a drummer and has recently developed a love of stand-up comedy, bringing sharp wit and performance into his creative expression. Discussing his art in his studio reminded me of how deeply he engages with his craft and how his work invites others to see and think in new ways. Whether he is building sculptures, creating installations, performing on stage, or adding humor to his work, Naji continues to inspire curiosity, creativity and connection.

Harriet Logan

Harriet Logan stands at the heart of one of Cleveland’s quiet, enduring success stories. When she opened Loganberry Books on Larchmere Boulevard in 1994, she did more than open a store. She created a space for readers, thinkers, and curious wanderers to gather, explore, and connect through books old and new. Through her hard work, Loganberry’s shelves have grown thick with new, used, and rare volumes, each one reinforcing Logan’s belief in the power of literature and the simple human act of turning a page.

I had to convince the amazing Harriet to pose, but I wanted her photo to capture the incredible impact she has made on Cleveland through her bookstore. Loganberry is not just a place to buy a book. It has become a hub for conversation and connection, where book clubs meet, authors read and neighbors gather for themed fairs and community events. So many readers have walked through its doors to discover new ideas, revisit old favorites and find just the right book at the right moment.

As someone who oversees Cleveland Public Library’s vast book holdings, I know the magnitude of the job Logan has undertaken. She credits her staff for keeping Loganberry running smoothly, just as we are fortunate to have the best staff at our institution. Under Logan’s guidance, the shop remains independent and lively, adapting to the needs of its community while holding fast to its original mission.