FREE Volume 8 Number 8 TAKE ONAugustE 1, 2015 HEIGHTS OBSERVER READ LOCAL. SHOP LOCAL. Published by Written by volunteers for Cleveland Heights and University Heights • Read more at www.heightsobserver.org INSIDE Harvey Pekar honored with Coventry park 9 City honors James Henke Jim Brennan with ball field More than 100 people attended the dedication dedication of Pekar Park on Saturday, July 25. The newly named park— previously the Coventry Outdoor Courtyard—is at the intersection of Coventry Road and Euclid Heights 11 Boulevard, near the Grog Shop and Venues set for the Inn on Coventry. 2015 Heights Harvey Pekar, well-known au- Music Hop thor, music critic and media person- ality, lived in Cleveland Heights for many years, until his death in 2010. KE He frequently hung out on Coventry, N E and loved the neighborhood. H Pekar is probably best known JAMES 23 Joyce Brabner, Steve Presser and Suzanne DeGaetano in front of the new Pekar Park sign. Jamey for his graphic novels, including the Christoph autobiographical American Splendor, Village Special Improvement District Harvey Pekar banners, commis- wins illustra- which was released as a film in 2003; (CVSID) to get the park re-named. sioned by Brabner, and illustrated tion award it starred Paul Giamatti as Pekar and “My purpose was to bring this corner by Joseph Remnant, now hang on Hope Davis as his wife, Joyce Brabner. back to the kids,” she said. “I saw an lampposts in front of the park, and Brabner worked with the City of opportunity to return the corner to a sign engraved with Pekar’s name is Cleveland Heights and the Coventry a youth- and arts-friendly state.” continued on page 6 28 Last chance CH’s Ewing at the helm as Cinematheque Forum to address to vote for moves to new space Best of the potential future of Heights James Henke Severance Center The Cleveland Institute of Art Cin- ematheque, which The New York Vince Reddy Times called “one of the country’s best repertory movie theaters,” has FutureHeights will host a forum on moved to a new location. On July the future of Severance Town Cen- 30, the Cinemateque screened its ter—Reimagining Severance—on final film, “The Last Picture Show,” Oct. 21. The focus of the meeting will at the Cleveland Institute of Art’s KE be on the future of the shopping cen- N E (CIA) Aitken Auditorium, its home H ter located within Severance Circle, since 1986. As of Aug. 1, the Cinema- JAMES but its relationship with surrounding theque’s new home is CIA’s Peter B. Cleveland Heights resident John Ewing, director properties and neighborhoods will of CIA’s Cinematheque. Lewis Theater, at 11610 Euclid Ave. also be considered. The forum will John Ewing, a Cleveland Heights Cinematheque currently offers. “We take place at 7 p.m. at the Cleveland resident, was one of the founders of will show new films that otherwise Heights Community Center, 1 Mon- the Cinematheque in 1984, and still wouldn’t come to this city, and we’ll ticello Blvd. serves as its director. show classic films,” he said. “In ad- At the event, presentations on The new theater is a state-of-the- dition, we will continue to show the history of Severance and the art venue, featuring a 15-by-36-foot second-run films that didn’t get a current status of the foreclosure screen, and equipped with both a digital fair shake at the box office, and we’ll proceedings on the retail center will cinema projector and an HD projec- also show different film series that provide context for the discussion, tor. It offers a much-improved sound are touring around the country.” and information regarding how other system and better acoustics. The new The one new addition will be digital communities have rethought and, in theater also features cushioned seats, restorations of old classic films. The some cases, redeveloped or partially which the old theater did not have. Cinematheque will continue to bring redeveloped troubled properties like FutureHeights FutureHeights Blvd. #105 Washington 2843 Heights, OH 44118 Cleveland Ewing said the programming will filmmakers, directors, producers and Severance will be provided. not be much different from what the continued on page 5 At the June 15 meeting of the Cleveland Heights City Council, Cleveland Heights residents monitor city’s search for water solutions Mayor Dennis Wilcox noted that the city has been working closely with Deborah Van Kleef Wilcox, Vice Mayor Cheryl Stephens, structure. the court-appointed receiver for the and council members Jeff Coryell, The city is attempting to trim center toward maintaining the value Approximately 40 Cleveland Heights Kahlil Seren and Melissa Yasinow. costs and raise income by auditing its of Severance and finding solutions for residents crowded into city council Council members Mary Dunbar and billing system, reviewing delinquent its problems. “One of the things that chambers on July 13, as City Manager Jason Stein were out of town. Flank- accounts, conducting its annual leak we discovered is that the note and Tanisha Briley presented a detailed ing Briley were Utilities Commis- survey and making repairs, reducing mortgage on the center have restric- update on the city’s troubled water sioner Colette Clinkscale and other overtime and seeking ways to save tions on the type of business that can department. Most in the audience city staff members. on purchasing and inventory. The go in there—very structured restric- sported stickers reading, “Public wa- In a presentation that lasted department also may begin to repair tions on the type of retail business ter? Yes!” created by writer and activ- more than one-and-a-half hours, and resell older water meters, which that can go in there,” said Wilcox. ist Joyce Brabner, and distributed by Briley reported on both short-term would reduce purchasing costs while “So, through the foreclosure process, Cleveland Heights Citizens for Safe, measures to curb financial losses, and enabling homeowners to save money. which is going on now, that note and Affordable Water. the city’s efforts to find long-term Briley indicated, however, mortgage will be sold, and it will al- Present at the Committee of the solutions to the water department’s that there was no way to stop the low a new buyer to maybe try and do Whole meeting were Mayor Dennis looming deficit and decaying infra- continued on page 8 continued on page 7 Heights Observer August 1, 2015 1 www.heightsobserver.org OPINION Letters Policy The Heights Observer welcomes Nominate your neighborhood’s businesses letters to the editor. They must be submitted electronically, along with the writer’s name, phone number and e-mail address, to: www.heightsobserver.org/members or e-mail: for Best of the Heights [email protected] ways to strengthen the commercial to promote it to their customers. HEIGHTS OBSERVER OPEnInG The Heights Observer is a citizen-based news districts that lay between them. While Businesses can make copies of the source published monthly by FutureHeights, a THE OBSERvER other communities may have places ballot to display at their stores. nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to civic engagement and quality of life. where one can walk, our pedestrian- The ballot can also be accessed 2843 Washington Blvd. #105, scale, neighborhood-serving business online at www.futureheights.org by Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 districts—with restaurants, grocery clicking the Best of the Heights 216-320-1423 Copyright 2015 FutureHeights, All rights reserved. Deanna Bremer Fisher stores, coffee shops, bookstores, icon on the right-hand side. Future- Reproduction is forbidden without written permission. hardware stores, barber shops and sa- Heights can also send businesses PUBLISHER As I read through this issue of the lons—is one of the things that makes a link to use in electronic media Deanna Bremer Fisher [email protected] Heights Observer, I’m excited by living in the Heights so enjoyable. (it is important that we send the Editor-IN-CHIEF how many residents are working One way to support these districts business the correct link because Kim Sergio Inglis to build community in their neigh- is to recognize the businesses that are there are safeguards that prevent [email protected] borhoods. On page 5, Susie Kaeser located in them and the contribu- residents from voting more than E-NEWS EDITOR Andrea Turner writes about the July 4 parade that tion they make to our local economy. once). Contact us at 216-320-1423 [email protected] she and her neighbors on Compton To that end, I would like to remind or [email protected]. ADVERTISING Road organized. On page 6, Brenda Heights residents to nominate their Business owners can purchase Bob Rosenbaum 216-401-9342 May writes about an impromptu favorite neighborhood businesses for additional tickets for $20 in ad- [email protected] public arts project that appeared in the Best of the Heights. vance, or $25 at the door, and resi- advisorY coMMITTEE her neighborhood just prior to the From now until Aug. 31, residents dents can purchase tickets to join Deanna Bremer Fisher, David Budin, Patti Carlisle, Susan Noble Neighbors Community-Wide can cast their votes for businesses in in the fun, too. This year’s party Christopher Riethmiller, Greg Donley, James Henke, Eleanor Mallet, Jewel Moulthrop, Vince Reddy, Bob Rosenbaum, Kim Open House last spring. On page 7, various categories—so you are sure will be held on Wednesday, Oct. Sergio Inglis, Richard Stewart Art Roby writes about an initiative to find a category that is appropriate 7, 6:30–9 p.m. at Tucker Hall, at Editors to support senior residents aging for each of your favorites.