In Boston, Kaitlyn Locke notes former "E! News" anchor Maria Menounos today "opened her healthy-eating concession stand, Maria's Greek Kitchen," located outside Fenway Park. The stand offers "four different Greek foods, all inspired by Menounos's mother's recipes." There is "no cheese on the menu, part of Menounos’s and Fenway’s food and beverage partner, Aramark’s, effort to create options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with allergies and dietary restrictions" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/5).
BACK ON AGAIN: The AP's Tom Withers noted a group opposing a $140M renovation to the Cavaliers' Quicken Loans Arena has "dropped its petitions for a city referendum, clearing the way for the project to be approved." Cavs Owner Dan Gilbert "pulled out of paying for half of the makeover to his team’s 20,000-seat downtown arena." However, Greater Cleveland Congregations, which "didn’t want tax dollars going toward the project’s funding, withdrew petitions Thursday challenging the deal" (AP, 9/1).
PLAY BALL: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker noted the state of Florida last week approved a $20M grant for the Braves’ "planned new spring-training facility, the final piece of funding for the long-in-the-works project." The facility is "slated to be built in the city of North Port." The state funding brings the total amount of taxpayer money in the project to $46M, which includes "previously committed contributions" of $21.3M from Sarasota County and $4.7M from North Port. The Braves and a private developer are "responsible for the rest" of the $75M cost of the facility (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 9/2).
