Ward 11 Polensek Winter10-11.Qxp
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The WarWINTERd 2010-201111 Citizen Keeping you informed about our neighborhood! A Message from your Councilman Michael D. Polensek Dear Friends: Neff Road for their recommitment to the com- are having difficulty Councilman, Ward 11 I would like to update all of you on some munity with the expansion of their skilled making your mortgage very special projects that I have been working nursing facility. They currently boast of over payments and think you are in danger of on. First, the Collinwood Recreation Center 260 diversified, skilled and professional losing your home, please call 211- First Call at 16300 Lakeshore Boulevard is well under employees with additional job opportunities for Help. If there is an abandoned home on construction as you can see. The project is coming. The project, which will expand their your street, please keep an eye on it. Report coming along well and what an awesome footprint in the community, includes the con- any suspicious activity to the police and to my sight. We are anticipating a grand opening struction of a new entranceway and enhanced office at 664-4236. for the new center in late Autumn 2011. parking facilities, and in Phase II expanded Violent crime is down in the city. (See article below). In addition, I am honored skilled nursing facilities. This represents near- However, home burglaries and break- ins, to announce that the Hospice of the Western ly $7 million worth of capital improvements especially this time of the year, are up. Please Reserve has taken possession of the former to our neighborhood. pay special attention to your own home and Brush Engineered Products World The Slovene Home for the Aged and the that of your neighbors. Anything suspicious Headquarters at 17876 St Clair Avenue, for Hospice, as the old saying goes, have “put should be immediately reported to 911. their new and expanded Corporate their money where their mouth is.” A heartfelt Burglaries and break ins are crimes of oppor- Headquarters in the historic Nottingham “Thanks” goes out to Mr. David Simpson, tunity. Lets deny criminals that chance. neighborhood. The 18-acre site has a state-of- CEO of Hospice, and his Board of Directors, Finally I’d like to wish everyone in the the-art office building with three (3) addition- as well as Mr. Jeff Sass, Chief Administrator Ward 11 family a joyous, safe and prosperous al out buildings for future development oppor- of the Slovene Home, and his Board, for their new year. May God bless you and your tunities. See the enclosed article. There are continued commitment to the Ward 11 com- family. more exciting developments coming to the munity. We wish these two outstanding Sincerely yours, neighborhood come spring 2011 —so watch neighbors all the very best! for future announcements. On a much more somber note, we continue Furthermore, we wish to thank and con- to see families county wide losing their homes gratulate the Slovene Home for the Aged on to foreclosure and predatory lending. If you Collinwood Recreation Center construction update Are you ready for a Recreation Center? It seems we in Collinwood have been ready for one since 1929. However, are you ready for a state-of-the-art eco- friendly recreation center unlike any other in the City? If it weren’t exciting enough to be able to watch on a daily basis the changes taking place on the recre- ation site, having the opportunity to tour the site adds another level of apprecia- tion for what is going on there. As you can see in the photos, the structural steel for the pool area and the gymnasium area are in place. The rest of the building utilizes the structural steel and concrete flooring of the original building where construction is moving along quite well. We are also taking a hard look at the art possibilities which will be a part of the project as well as working on the unique design of the “Main Street” of the Recreation Center which will highlight the community, its history and its citizens. We are told that the new recreation center should be completed for our com- munity to use sometime in late Fall 2011. SENIOR NEWS UPDATE Doris Jones is Ward 11’s Senior of the Year! Councilman Polensek proudly nominated Doris Jones as Ward 11’s Senior of the Year for 2010. Ms. Jones was born in Anderson, South Carolina and moved to Cleveland in 1940. She has been a resident of the Collinwood neighborhood for close to 70 years. She is widowed and is a devoted mother and grandmother of one. Doris states that she was blessed to have parents who loved and led her by example. She credits them with helping her become the strong and caring woman that she is today. Ms. Jones is celebrated as a phenomenal volunteer and community activist by residents in her community. She is genuinely concerned about her neighborhood and has always been involved in empowering and helping others. Doris represents Ward 11 on the City of Cleveland Department of Aging Advisory Council and is a Resident Commissioner for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). Doris is passionate about educating herself on current senior issues so that she can share the information Ms. Doris Jones (center) is presented with her 2010 Outstanding Senior certificate by Councilman Polensek with the hope of further strengthening her community and increasing their awareness. Councilman Polensek and Mayor Jackson. thanks Doris for sharing with the Ward 11 community her many talents and precious time. Reduced Waste collection fees for seniors Have fun at the Lake Shore Golden Age Center Residential property owned and occupied by senior citizens age 65 or older Seniors age 60 and older can enjoy great activities this winter at the Lake and/or disabled homeowners who meet income guidelines may be eligible to Shore Golden Age Center, located at 16600 Lakeshore Avenue in Ward 11. receive a discounted rate of 50%. Councilman Polensek urges Ward 11 seniors The Center is open Mondays - Thursdays from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and to take advantage of this discount. For details, call the Division of Waste seniors can receive limited van transportation to and from home. Seniors are Collection at 664-3711. provided a hot nutritious lunchtime meal (a $1.00 donation is appreciated but NOT required). Attention seniors interested in a property After lunch, recreational and educational programs are offered including: tax reduction guest speakers, prizes and cash bingo, arts programming and performances, Bible study, card games, line dancing, day trips around and outside of the city, Homestead Exemption applications are available beginning January 1, 2011 computer classes, festive gatherings and lots more! A social worker on site through June 6, 2011. Cuyahoga County owner occupants who are at least 65 who can provide assistance with numerous matters. or permanently disabled are eligible. The program reduces real property Councilman Polensek encourages Ward 11’s “golden” residents to stay taxes for seniors and disabled homeowners regardless of their income. active, socialize and enjoy the all the great people and activities at the Councilman Polensek encourages all who qualify to call 443-7050 for more Lake Shore Golden Age Center. For more information about all of their information on how to apply. programs, please call 481-0631. Home protection plans Euclid Creek receives Great Lakes Restoration Funds from the Division The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District Watershed and equally thrilled to have learned of this is thrilled to announce that they were awarded award. of Water $1,396,050 from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative This project is also known as the Lacustrine Refuge The City of Cleveland Division of Water and (GLRI) to fund a project that will create a fish and Project which will restore 5 acres of coastal wetlands wildlife refuge in the lower Euclid Creek area. and 1,500 linear feet of shoreline habitat in the Lower Water Pollution Control now offers customers “We in Ward 11, who lobbied for years for the Euclid Creek to serve as a fish habitat and nursery for home protection plans for customer owned restoration of our Lakefront and Euclid Creek, look the coastal estuary zone. The area in question has his- external water lines, external sewer lines and forward to seeing these projects begin.” says torically been referred to as “Duck Island” and begins in-home plumbing systems. Councilman Mike Polensek who has been a longtime at the western end of Hoover Road off of Neff Road. advocate for the restoration of the Euclid Creek We look forward to Euclid Creek being restored. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: Water Line Replacement $3.25/month Hospice of the Western Reserve relocates its headquarters to Unlimited replacement coverage for external St. Clair Avenue in the Nottingham neighborhood water lines from street to home due to leaks and Hospice of the Western Reserve plans to open a “I am pleased to have learned that Brush failures resulting from normal wear and new headquarters at 17876 St. Clair Avenue, a prop- Engineered Materials has transferred its former cor- tear and/or freezing; Basic site restoration, erty donated to the non-profit agency by Brush porate headquarters on St. Clair Avenue to Hospice including seed and straw Engineered Materials Inc. Hospice of the Western of the Western Reserve,” said Councilman Polensek. Reserve took possession of the building on October “I have been involved in discussions with Hospice of Sewer Line Repair $4.75/month 28, 2010. Approximately 200 employees will be relo- the Western Reserve and Brush on this transfer. Up to $7,500 per year for repairs to external cated to the building during the first quarter of 2011.