🐘 Smashing Pumpkins Elephant Style + WWII War Vet's Funeral Fiasco Exposed

We're having a lovely fall week, joyful to both people and zoo elephants. Check out the video of an elephant smashing a giant pumpkin at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. That'll start your Thursday with a smile.

• Who would pull the funeral contract out from under a 96-year-old World War 2 vet?
• A Greek chef who's never opened a Greek restaurant? That can't be possible.
• Get the inside scoop on how a fortune teller duped people for millions.

Wondering how to watch the Guardians postseason games? We've got you covered. Plus, we've got 12 things to do today, tomorrow and beyond.

☁️☀️☁️☀️☁️☀️ Clouds, sun, clouds, sun, clouds ... High: 72, Low: 51

Week Ahead Forecast | Live Weather Radar

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Trick-or-Treat Fest Begins This Weekend

1) A 13,000-pound African elephant smooshed a 1,500 pound pumpkin at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo on Wednesday. After crushing the pumpkin, the elephants dined on the gourd in an event called Pumpkin Feast, which serves as the official kickoff for Trick-or-Treat Fest this Friday. “I think as the years go by, they are becoming accustomed to this and they’ve honed their skills to crack it open faster than ever before," said Jacqueline Gerling, director of communications for Cleveland Metroparks.

Watch the zoo video | Learn more about Trick-or-Treat Fest

2) Myron Stern fought in World War 2. He's 96 years old. To avoid burdening his family, he prepaid Shapiro Funeral Services in Orange Village for his cremation and funeral 23 years ago. For years, Shapiro Funeral Services reassured the Sterns their contract would be honored forever. Recently, however, the funeral was bought out and the new owner refused to honor Stern's contract, telling him he'd need to fork over another $600. When 3News WKYC went to ask the new owner, Jason Jardine, to explain, he ran away from the TV cameras.

3News WKYC Investigates

3) The family of David Sollars, a husband and father of three who was working on a road project when he was struck and killed in 2019, was awarded $17 million by a Cuyahoga County jury this week. The contractor, Perk Co. was found liable for the death because it failed to block the area where Sollars was working from oncoming motorists. The orange barrels that should have blocked traffic were found on the sidewalk.

Cleveland.com

4) Demetrios Atheneos has been cooking and serving food in Cleveland for 22 years but he's never opened a Greek restaurant. That ends this winter when he and his brother Niko open Zina Greek Street Food at 13898 Cedar Road in University Heights. The duo opened Chicken Ranch two years ago nearby. "I’m Italian and Greek and I’ve never done an Italian or Greek restaurant. Me and my brother Niko are so excited about this project," he told Douglas Trattner, dining correspondent for Cleveland Scene. "We’ve been trying to get it off the ground for some time."

Cleveland Scene

5) Police believe Gina Miller, a self-proclaimed psychic and fortune teller in Mentor, swindled more than $5 million in cash, jewels, cars, gift cards, open lines of credit and other goods from at least a dozen people. Five years ago, she was sentenced to eight years in prison. How did she pull off these big scams? 19 News reporter Jen Picciano shares the secret audio recordings of Miller with an undercover officer from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a detective and a private investigator in a new episode of the Dark Side of The Land true-crime podcast.

Cleveland 19 News

Cleveland Guardians Wildcard Series Game Times

• The Guardians face the Tampa Bay Rays in a best-of-three series at Progressive Field.
• Postseason games will be nationally televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or TBS. Here's more to know about TV coverage.
• The Guardians closed out the regular season with a 9-2 win over the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, finishing with 92-70 record.

⚾ Friday, Game 1: 12:07 p.m.

⚾ Saturday, Game 2: 12:07 p.m.

⚾ Sunday, Game 3 (if necessary): 4:07 p.m.

• Cleveland Guardians opening playoff starter Shane Bieber has defied the odds: Terry Pluto

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5 More Stories You Need To See Today

• Officer Shane Bartek's killer going back to court for new sentence (Fox 8 News)
• MetroHealth pushes backs opening of new Glick hospital to Nov. 5 (Cleveland.com)
• Video sheds light on corruption indictments against East Cleveland officers (Fox 8 News)
• High School Rock Off returns to Rock Hall in January (Cleveland Scene)
• Legendary Cleveland Guardians broadcaster Tom Hamilton named finalist for Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award (3News WKYC)

12 Things To Do

• Dan Soder, Hilarities, Cleveland, Oct. 6 | Details
• Danjo Jazz Orchestra, Jilly's Music Room, Akron, Oct. 6 | Details
• Chagrin Documentary Festival, Chagrin Falls, Through 9 | Details
• American Mariachi, Allen Theatre, Through Oct. 9 | Details
• The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time, Beck Center for the Arts, Lakewood, Through Oct. 16 | Details
• Brewhouse Haunts: Haunted History Tours, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Through Oct. 26 | Details
• Blackberry Smoke, Cleveland Masonic, Oct. 7 | Details
• Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony by the Cleveland Orchestra, Mandel Concert Hall, Cleveland, Oct. 7-8 | Details
• Jurassic World, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Oct. 7-10 | Details
• Les Miserables, State Theatre, Cleveland, Oct. 7-Oct. 29 | Details
• Antoine and Colette, Cleveland Cinematheque, Oct. 8 | Details
• Battle of the Land Finals, Tower City Center, Cleveland, Oct. 8 | Details

Find more on our calendar | Add your event

Today In Cleveland

• Spoken Word: Poetry Open Mic Nights (7:00 AM)
• Historic Haunts Walking Tours (6:30 PM)
• V Volleyball @ Wickliffe - Cuyahoga Heights Local (6:00 PM)
• Meet Your Police - City of Cleveland Heights (6:00 PM)
• West Clinton Historic Haunts presented by Bank of America (6:30 PM)
• Girls Varsity Soccer vs Willoughby South High School (7:00 PM)
• Boys Varsity Soccer @ Willoughby South High School (7:00 PM)
• Girls Soccer vs Trinity (Senior Night) (7:00 PM)
• Architectural Board of Review - City of Cleveland Heights (7:00 PM)

Cleveland Chatter

• Handsome boy: "Regal Leon is a real gentleman! This uber handsome guy is well-mannered, low-key, and smart. Leon may come across as a little reserved at first, but he takes just a moment to warm up and becomes more and more affectionate as he gets to know you. Just like a fine wine, he gets better and better with time! Leon makes for a pleasant companion on walks; he enjoys exploring and sniffing around but also tends to be tuned into his person's pace. He can sit on command, takes treats nicely, and seems to be housebroken. This dapper gent is a catch! He's estimated to be around 5 years old and weighs 64 lbs." (City Dogs Cleveland via Facebook)
• Rock your red: "With game times now official, be ready to “Rock Your Red” at Progressive Field this weekend! atmlb.com/3RCfs3h #ForTheLand" (Cleveland Guardians via Facebook)
• Trick or Treat Fest tickets: "Go big or gourd home! #TrickorTreatFest presented by Citizens starts Friday! Get your tickets now at futureforwildlife.org/trickortreatfest 🎃🐘" (Cleveland Metroparks Zoo via Facebook)
• Packing pix: "Do you already miss seeing Monet's Water Lilies (Agapanthus) in our galleries? 👀 Do you already miss seeing Monet's Water Lilies (Agapanthus) in our galleries? 👀 Last week we featured #CMAConservation preparing the painting to go out on loan, and we thought you might enjoy another sneak peek of what it took to get it ready to travel. #CMACollectionsManagement is responsible for coordinating all packing and shipping arrangements to ensure a safe journey from Cleveland to Paris." (Cleveland Museum of Art via Instagram)
• A new host for Cavs season: "Cayleigh Griffin is replacing Jeff Phelps as the host of "Cavaliers Live" pre- and postgame shows. The Connecticut native spent the 2018-19 season in Cleveland, performing a variety of broadcasting roles. " (Crain's Cleveland Business via Facebook)
• Need some old newspapers in Wilson Mills/Lander: "Does anyone know where I can get old newspapers to wrap stuff for storage? - I've tried libraries, grocery stores and convenience stores. Thanks." (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Opening Reception of Leigh Brooklyn: All of Me (October 7)
• Boundless: A Fundraiser and Silent Auction to Benefit The Intergenerational Schools (October 7)
• 2022 Solon Fall Festival (October 8)
• Women's March Cleveland's Women's Wave Oct 8, 2022, 1:30pm Rally & March (October 8)
• 6th Annual Wizard Pub Crawl: CLE (October 8)
• Trivia Paint Night | Harry Potter-inspired (October 8)
• Goldfish Swim School - Cleveland East Side Hiring Event (October 12)
• Add your event

See you Friday! Miss yesterday's news? Just click here: 🚨 Deceptive Fishing Isn't All Jacob Runyan Is Accused Of + Bus Panic