Hundreds March for a Safer Heights

FREE Volume 13 Number 7 take one July 1, 2020 HEIGHTS OBSERVER read local. shop local. Published by

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Free parking Hundreds march for a safer heights at all Cleve- Sarah Wolf land Heights meters On Sunday, June 14, another peaceful and powerful rally brought hundreds of Heights residents together in unity with the Black Lives Matter movement. INSIDE Organized by Safer Heights, a grass- 7 roots activist group, the event began CH council with speakers at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. member to Park who then led leagues of chanting host third and sign-carrying participants through town hall Coventry Village, down Mayfield Road forum July 11 to Superior Road. The march paused outside of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church, where participants took a knee for a moment of silence. Then 8 several speakers shared stories about City and de- their experiences as black members of veloper break the Cleveland Heights community, and called for systemic changes in policing. wolf sarah ground on Top Participants marched through the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Arch at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Park. of the Hill The march then continued down Superior Road, looping back to Coven- Everyone was invited to stay for a e-mail them to [email protected]. try P.E.A.C.E. Park, where organizers picnic, with food provided by partici- addressed the large and enthusiastic pants and local eateries. Sarah Wolf is a marketing VISTA at Future- crowd, thanking community partners Via Facebook, Safer Heights has Heights, a resident of Cleveland Heights, and 14 and volunteers who helped make the day asked that anyone who would be willing a graduate-level community practice student Heights Arts a success. to share pictures or videos of the rally at MSASS/Case Western Reserve University. exhibition shows evolution Game encourages of local artists Lee Road gym hosts ‘I Can’t Breathe’ tribute-fundraiser shopping in CH

Nicole Tugeau Jessica Schantz

On Saturday, June 13, CrossFit I/O As Heights businesses reopen to in- on Lee Road in Cleveland Heights person customers, the city of Cleve- hosted a fundraiser and tribute land Heights has devised a game to workout dedicated to George Floyd encourage local shopping—Shop and his family. More than 75 all-ages Local Bingo. athletes participated in the socially Featured businesses are selected distanced event, held in the gym’s randomly, said Mary Trupo, director parking lot. of communications and public engage- The more than $1,700 raised will ment for Cleveland Heights, “with em- Gabe S chaffer Gabe be matched by a corporate sponsor Jewell Johnson runs in the “I Can’t Breathe” phasis put on diversity of locations.” and distributed equally to these workout. The first round featured restaurants, nonprofits dedicated to racial equity: us still face today.” bars and grocers, with other types of Audre Lorde Project Inc., Black The workout went viral when an businesses to be included in future Lives Matter Foundation Fund, Race online platform, WODwell, added rounds, as more reopen. Forward, and the National Urban it to its list of memorial workouts. Each game card, available for League. Michael and Jodi Melistrup, download at www.clevelandheights. Angelo Rogers, a first-responder owners of Crossfit I/O, acted com/1299/Shop-Local-Bingo, features in Norfolk, Va., created the “I Can’t quickly to turn Rogers’ idea into a 24 Cleveland Heights businesses. Breathe” workout “as a positive way Heights community event. The aim is to fill in any line on the to channel the pain and emotions so CrossFit I/O members, along card—horizontal, vertical, or diago- many of us are feeling as we witness with their friends and family, were nal—just as in the classic game. To do FutureHeights FutureHeights Blvd. #105 Washington 2843 Heights, OH 44118 Cleveland the continued injustice so many of continued on page 2 so, participants purchase goods from listed businesses (online or in-store), then take pictures of themselves hold- University Heights enacts anti-discrimination law ing both their purchases and receipts. Per the city’s instructions, “Once you Mike Cook have a Bingo, send all of your pictures in one e-mail to [email protected], or For members of University Heights City send a direct message to Instagram (@ Council and Mayor Michael Dylan Bren- clvhts), or our Facebook (@cleveland- nan, enacting an anti-discrimination law heightsoh) with all your pics. Be sure pertaining to sexual orientation wasn’t to attach your marked card as well!” just important. It was personal. Submissions will be entered into At the June 1 council meeting, weekly drawings for what the city de- Council Member John Rach said he scribes as “a Cleveland Heights dinner/ hopes to see other cities follow the lead dessert/beverage/groceries experience of University Heights. “I hope this reso- on us—a $50 value to your choice of nates across the country,” Rach said, “so featured business—two $25 gift cards.”

that I, too, one day can work anywhere uh city hall courtesy The city is purchasing the gift cards. in the country and not feel the pressure For the second year in a row, the rainbow flag flew outside University Heights for the entire month of June. “This is the city’s effort to further of one day losing my job because of who continued on page 10 continued on page 15

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 1 www.heightsobserver.org Opinion Letters Policy How we move forward together gym continued from page 1 The Heights Observer welcomes letters to in attendance, as were members of the editor. They must be submitted electroni- cally, along with the writer’s name, phone Michael Dylan Brennan started and underway. other local gyms, and drop-ins who’d number and e-mail address, to: www.height- As mayor, I have signed the heard about the event online. sobserver.org/members. Four hundred and one years ago, the pledge to review the police depart- Marques Evans, a certified Cross- first Africans arrived to this conti- ment’s Use of Force policies. Council Fit I/O coach, and a pastor, led with HEIGHTS OBSERVER nent. Brought here in chains. Member and Safety Committee moving remarks about George Floyd’s As children we are taught the Chair Saundra Berry and I have cre- death and the universal message that The Heights Observer is a citizen-based news mythology that the Pilgrims, Puritan, ated a citizen’s advisory council. This we all want to be “treated the same.” source published monthly by FutureHeights, a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to English and other colonists came to advisory council will collect public Evans urged the diverse crowd to civic engagement and quality of life. America for freedom. But that is far input and review our city police work hard and perform the exercise, 2843 Washington Blvd. #105, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 from the whole story. The freedom department’s Use of Force policies. not just as an action toward per- 216-320-1423 of the colonists was made possible The committee will meet over the sonal health, but in tribute to George Copyright 2020 FutureHeights, All rights reserved. by the labor of the enslaved. summer, make a report of its find- Floyd and his family. He asked them Reproduction is forbidden without written permission. This nation was founded claim- ings, and suggest reforms. to “feel just a little bit the angst and PUBLISHER Deanna Bremer Fisher ing certain self-evident truths, that There is a lot of talk these days the pain that he [George Floyd] felt [email protected] we are all created equal, and endowed about people trying to erase history, when his life was leaving him.” Editor-in-Chief by our creator with unalienable usually in connection with taking After the warmup, the par- Kim Sergio Inglis [email protected] rights: life, liberty, the pursuit of down the statues of Confederates ticipants—many of them wearing “I E-NEWS Editor happiness. Lofty words written by a and other white supremacists, or Can’t Breathe” T-shirts and tanks— Jessica Schantz man who owned 609 slaves over the discontinuing racist marketing and shared a moment of silence, and then [email protected] course of his life. The paradox of brands. But we know better than flooded onto E. Overlook Road to ADVERTISING Bob Rosenbaum this equality was that it was not for to think history can be changed. begin their run. 216-401-9342 everyone. There is no changing the history of The “I Can’t Breathe” workout [email protected] That has changed over time, but what white colonists and the first comprises the following, and can be advisory committee Deanna Bremer Fisher, David Budin, Greg Donley, not enough. Slavery was ended, civil generations of white Americans did scaled as needed: 1,600-meter run, Judith Eugene, Jewel Moulthrop, Vince Reddy, Bob rights acts were enacted, but this to people of color, to indigenous 30 burpees (full-body squat thrusts), Rosenbaum, Jessica Schantz, Kim Sergio Inglis country has yet to extend the full people, to Asian people, and to Black 800-meter run, 20 burpees, 400-me- Editors benefits of American citizenship and people, especially. ter run, 10 burpees, 400-meter run, Jamison Babb, Maryann Barnes, Deanna Bremer Fisher, Christine Brucker, David Budin, Fred D’Ambrosi, society to all of its people. But how we move forward to- 20 burpees, 800-meter run, 30 bur- Greg Donley, Jewel Moulthrop, Vince Reddy, Bob Rosen- On June 23, local students orga- gether—that is in our hands. pees, 1,600-meter run. baum, Jessica Schantz, Kim Sergio Inglis, Clare Taft. nized a rally in University Heights. Let us move forward, together, After months of quarantine and design and PRODUCTION Temma Collins, Diane Roberto The stated purpose of the event was seeking fairness, equity, mutual un- weeks of protest and unrest, the com- DISTRIBUTION to honor the Black lives lost to police derstanding, all with a relentless pur- munity action for a just cause lifted Sruti Basu brutality and white supremacy. The suit of justice. Let us work together many beleaguered spirits. As one The views and opinions expressed in this publiction young activists aimed to start a con- for a better and equitable country. athlete remarked, “Today felt right . do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Heights Observer, its publisher and staff, or versation between the citizens and Let us fulfill the promise, and be the . . for the first time in a long time.” of FutureHeights, its staff and board of directors. elected officials of University Heights best this country claimed to be at its Seed funding for the Heights Observer gener- ously provided by the Cyrus Eaton Foundation, the about policy reform and the creation founding—now—for people of color Nicole Tugeau is a Cleveland Heights Dominion Foundation, and the Katherine and Lee of initiatives that will create a more and for Black Americans especially. resident and has been a Crossfit I/O Chilcote Foundation. Powered by the 9th Estate. anti-racist and equitable community. member since 2016. She participated in Here in University Heights— Michael Dylan Brennan is the mayor of the “I Can’t Breathe” workout alongside About the Observer you may consider this conversation Univerity Heights. her sister, Genevieve. The Heights Observer is not an ordinary newspaper; it is a nonprofit publication for residents of Cleveland Heights and University Heights. Resident recalls interactions with CH police The Observer has no writing staff; Lee Batdorff pedestrians moved around them. were driving across the U.S. it is written by you—the readers. I recall a man on the roof of a Munchkin took them in for two Individuals throughout the com- in 2014, my partner and I were headed building at the corner of Lancashire nights. I decided to wait until they munity decide what stories they want home on the East Shoreway when two and Coventry roads, watching people were gone to tell Munchkin that to write, then submit them for publi- packs of Cleveland Police cruisers on the street with binoculars. Cops the police were on to his marijuana cation. Anyone in University Heights zipped by us at frightening speed. often issued jaywalking tickets. dealing. The visitors were quite ac- or Cleveland Heights is welcome to The following morning’s radio In those days, about everyone tive—when I needed protestors to contribute regularly, occasionally or news told of more than 20 police was stressed out, including hippies walk a picket line in front of the old even just once. cruisers chasing a speeding car into and cops. Unpleasant altercations Pick-n-Pay, now Marc’s on Coventry, Is there something you think East Cleveland, ending up in a middle between young people, mostly white, they enlisted! should be covered in the Heights Observ- school parking lot, with an unarmed and police, did occur on Coventry. The following morning, they were er? If so, please write it on your own, or couple inside the car killed by 137 bul- Between 1969 and 1978, some- gone. Munchkin came to my apart- with friends, neighbors or colleagues. lets. A newspaper photo of the wind- thing about Cleveland Heights police ment and sadly told me they’d taken Our volunteer editors will make sure shield, with dozens of bullet holes in it, changed. all his money and his pot. it’s ready to publish and contact you tagged with numbers, still haunts me. In 1978, a two-family house on I thought, “Two problems solved.” with any questions. Later, I read a newspaper story the last unimproved road in Cleve- Munchkin could not stay any longer, If you’re writing a news article, about Cleveland Heights police chas- land Heights, Rock Court, was my and the two artists returned. it should be clear and factual. If you ing a speeder far enough to record his home. The city of Cleveland Heights Cleveland Heights is one of a very want to express an opinion, submit it license plate number. They arrested Building Department condemned few small- and medium-sized cities in as a letter to the editor or an opinion the speeder at his home. What a our homes. I became a leader of Save the U.S. with its own police academy. piece. Either way, make sure it’s about marked difference between the behav- Rock Court. We were artists, so the I think this makes a difference. something specific to our two cities. iors of the two police departments! houses were decorated, attracting While not perfect, Cleveland • To make a submission of any kind, go (A proviso to what follows: I am visitors. Heights police remind me of the to www.heightsobserver.org and click on white. I don’t experience what a black We had good relations with the gentlemanly police of Amsterdam in “Member Center” at the left. person may experience with a CH beat cop, Mark Lovequist. In the 1973, when I saw a confrontation. A • For information about writing style, police officer.) summer of 1978, Lovequist came up similar incident might have spun out article length, etc., click on “Become I’ve had a variety of dealings with to me on the sidewalk and said, “Lee, of control if it occurred in the U.S. an Observer” at the left. For questions the Cleveland Heights Police Depart- we know Munchkin is dealing,” then Police training could use much that aren’t answered there, call the ment, over 54 years. walked away. attention across this nation. It is the FutureHeights office at 216-320-1423 In the late 1960s, hippies and Munchkin, the late David Har- well-trained police officers in places or e-mail [email protected]. Hell’s Angels moved into Coventry ris, had sublet a suite from two art- like Canada, the Netherlands, the Articles to be considered for the Village, to the dismay of my parents ists who wanted to stay in a nearby U.K., and Cleveland Heights who August issue must be submitted by July and many Cleveland Heights parents, single-family sublet for the summer. need to lead the way through profes- 13. We publish some articles online as city council members, and the police I was going to tell Munchkin what sional vigilance. they come in—and still consider them department. Lovequist had said, right away. When for the next print issue. We also publish In 1969, I worked on the street. Beat I saw him next, he was with a group of Lee Batdorff has been a Cleveland Heights an e-newsletter each Tuesday. officers patrolled sidewalks two abreast; young travelers from Montreal, who resident since 1966.

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 2 www.heightsobserver.org Opinion

CH demonstrates inequitable Apple Construction Residential Contractor attention to housing problems Serving Greater Cleveland since 1980 Kitchens, bathrooms, additions and more 216-321-6639 Heights of Democracy lives in Pepper Pike. www.apple-construction.com • email: [email protected] The 15-room dwelling at 2540 Arlington Road, off Fairmount Boulevard, was at one point Deborah Van Kleef and Carla Rautenberg illegally rented to a group of medical students who trashed it. In San Francisco or New York, Vacant for the next six years, it CARE-A-VAN AND CAST IRON VENDORS: SATURDAY, JULY 18 a $480,000 teardown replaced was purchased at a sheriff’s sale by a more up-to-date home in a in 2017. The new owner’s ambi- gentrifying area would not be un- tious renovation project dragged usual. That barely buys a run-down on for nearly two years. Finally, bungalow in those markets. But in some frustrated neighbors com- Cleveland Heights, many residents plained to CH City Council. A were dismayed when the meticu- dumpster and a portable outhouse lously well-maintained 6-bedroom, defaced their block, they said, 5-bath, 4,743-square-foot century and rainwater from the gutterless home at 2224 Devonshire Drive in structure threatened to swamp the Ambler Heights Historic Dis- their properties. They feared an trict, which sold at that price, was outsize addition and mismatched demolished less than a year later. roof shingles would produce an The city’s Architectural Board eyesore. In response, the city of Review has approved plans for created a staff team which meets a large contemporary house to re- weekly, working with the owner place it. Residents are still scratch- and contractor to ensure that they ing their heads at how Cleveland meet deadlines. Heights could have crowed about As longtime council-watch- finally passing a landmark ordi- ers, we have never before seen nance last year, then approved the a task force created to handle a demolition of a unique, historic single problem property. structure. We have to wonder: why is At the other end of the city, the seemingly endless battle to members of Noble Neighbors have save the housing stock in Noble— been fighting a different kind of one-fifth of the city—heavily losing battle to save homes from dependent on volunteers, while a the wrecking ball. As the epicenter special city team deals with one of the city’s foreclosure crisis, the problem property in a mansion area has suffered disinvestment for district? Why does it take a de- well over a decade. cade of complaints from middle- One case in point: In 2009, class residents to get action on a a lovely home at 3804 Kirkwood single blighted home? Does the Road fell into vacancy and blight. landmark ordinance simply not In 2016, volunteers from Greater apply to wealthy property owners, Cleveland Congregations joined who can tear down and replace with Noble Neighbors to preserve any house they choose? And does and revitalize the housing stock in crime actually pay? the neighborhood; 3804 Kirkwood The famous diversity of made their priority list. Despite Cleveland Heights is not just ra- their best efforts, the house con- cial or ethnic, but also economic. tinued to deteriorate during years As in the country at large, that can of court battles over a clouded threaten democratic governance. title. Its demolition in late 2019 saw a decade of activist effort Deborah Van Kleef and Carla capped off with, not sorely needed Rautenberg are longtime residents new investment, but with about of Cleveland Heights. Contact them 100 vacant lots in Noble alone. at [email protected]. In another part of the city, the decline of 3158 Berkshire Road, a classic front-porch colonial, began The Heights’ #1 choice in 2008, when its owner went to for interior and exterior prison for money laundering on painting behalf of a convicted foreclosure fraud perpetrator, and stopped paying property taxes. Briefly rented, it had 14 occupants at one point, then sat vacant for approxi- mately a decade. Neighbors kept Serving Northeast it looking occupied—landscaping Ohio Homeowners the yard, picking up mail, and since 1975 parking cars in the driveway— while begging the city to help. By Quality Painting. 2019, when Cleveland Heights ac- THAT’S ALL WE DO! quired it through tax foreclosure, the unpaid taxes totaled almost Call us at $135,000. The house is now being 216-529-0360 rehabbed by Future Heights. The for a Free Consultation! former owner, long out of prison, neubertpainting.com

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 3 www.heightsobserver.org Opinion Teachers union election SCOTT HAIGH Website: ScottHaigh.Howardhanna.com brings leadership change Email: [email protected] Direct: 216-272-6889 better salary, an enhanced IRA, and A Teacher’s other perks; not so for teachers. Just sold! 24099 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights Voice Moving to a new school district may mean a shorter commute, but it usually means a financial loss. The result is that teachers with more than Ari Klein five years of experience usually stay with the same district for their entire Cleveland Heights Teachers careers. Administrators move freely Union’s spring election of officers from district to district without resulted in Karen Rego, first vice having to make the same long-term president for the past four years, commitment. and I changing places. Rego was Two of our union officers retired elected president, and I will serve this year. One of them is Brian Scha- as first vice president beginning ner, a high school science teacher who July 1. Rego will be the fourth served as [the union’s] high school Helping display and president of our local since 1970. vice president. He started his teach- Glenn Altschuld, who died earlier ing career in parochial schools, then preserve your this school year, served from 1970 left the profession to work as a lawyer art and memories to 1990; Tom Schmida served from for 15 years before returning to the since 1973 1990 to 2012. I was president for classroom in 2001. Carolyn Pavel, high the last eight years. school French and Spanish teacher, will Rego has been teaching in become the high school vice president. We're back our district for 18 years. She has Beth Rae, Noble Title 1 teacher and looking forward limitless energy and has forged and union elementary schools vice to working with you close relationships with our mem- president, also retired. Rae spent • By appointment only - call or email bers. Most of her career was as a • Ask about parking lot pickups and most of her career at Coventry El- kindergarten teacher at Oxford, ementary School, then Roxboro and Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5 deliveries • Please remember your masks and though she taught many other Noble. Darrell Lausche, Title 1 lead 13429 Cedar Rd. gloves grades as well. Rego began her CH- at Gearity, was elected to fill Rae’s Cleveland Hts. UH career at Wiley, and is now at spot. Lausche had been serving as Monticello. She served as building union secretary. Tiffany Underhile, steward at Oxford for many years. science teacher at Monticello, was 216-397-7671 woodtraderframing.com She is dependable, hard-working, elected union secretary. and leads by example. In another big change for our Stability in leadership is im- local, Monica Carter, our longtime portant to our members, as many office manager, will retire on July 1. teachers spend their entire careers Carter was the knowledgeable voice in our district. Since I was hired in at the other end of the phone for One step away from an amazing smile CH-UH, 32 years ago, I believe that anyone calling our office, and she did there has been a new superinten- that, and much more, for 26 years. FAIRMOUNT CIRCLE DENTISTRY dent, on average, about every three Carter is like family for many of our Robert E. Schneider, DDS years. I have worked under more members. Her late husband, Michael, principals than I can remember. worked as a security monitor and FREE SNORING & SLEEP SCREENINGS Although there are some admin- coach in the district, and served for • Home Sleep Testing istrators who spend their entire many years as an officer and negotia- • Oral Sleep Appliances careers in our district, most do not. tor for our union. For most of our members, CH- General, Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry Although there are changes in • Clear Correct Braces UH is home, and where they want our local leadership, there is conti- • Digital Dental Technologies to work. but state law contributes nuity. Eight of 10 officers remain as 40+ Google reviews • Tailored to Busy Families to the lack of mobility in the teach- generally elected union officials. The • Comfortable Stress-Free Visits ing profession. If a teacher with 10 10 elected officers are the guiding years of experience wants to take force behind the decisions that are a job in a different school district, made and the direction of our local. Located near 20620 John Carroll Blvd., Suite 220 John Carroll that new district is required to It has been my honor to serve as [email protected] 216.321.2545 acknowledge only five years of ex- president, but I attribute any success Easy free parking www.fairmountcircledentistry.com perience when placing that teacher I had in that role to the support of on its pay scale. my team and colleagues. I have every For teachers in hard-to-staff confidence that Karen Rego will do areas (or those who have sought- a wonderful job leading us into the after coaching experience), the future. hiring district might offer a higher salary step. Ari Klein is a lifelong community member, For most professionals look- math teacher at Cleveland Heights High ing for new work, moving to a new School, and president of the Cleveland MASKS employer usually means getting a Heights Teachers Union. REQUIRED

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Heights Observer July 1, 2020 4 www.heightsobserver.org opinion

Tear-offs • Re-roofs • All repairs Hard times for schools are here Shingles • Slate • Tile • Gutters • Siding • Chimney Work # Metal Roofs Installed Insured • All work guaranteed • Free estimates will be no new funds to solve bud- 1 Flat Roof Experts get problems, and there are plenty the common of them. State policy requires local Roofing Nobody Under Bids Us good school districts to pay private- school tuition for students who ask Residential for a voucher. Before the pandemic, Commercial 216-319-0430 Susie Kaeser the district faced a financial chasm of $7.5 million inflicted by the re- For whatever reason, I weep at lentless increase in voucher costs. parades. Predictably, my tears be- Despite the pandemic, the Ohio gan to flow as a police-led parade Legislature did not stop the growth MJM Window Restoration of public school teachers turned of vouchers, so next year our com- right off of Taylor Road onto Euclid munity’s annual voucher bill will top Preserve the historic look of your home. Heights Boulevard, where I was $10 million. To make things worse, . sticky windows . cracked glass cheering, at an acceptable distance, the loss of state tax revenue caused . broken ropes . weather stripping with seven Monticello Middle the governor to cut $1.4 million in School students who missed their state funding to our district for the (216) 321-7729 • mjmwindowrestoration.com school and missed their teachers. 2020 school year, and at least that It was the last day of an eerie, much for the following year. remote, and separate two months How are we to cope with rising of learning and teaching from costs mandated by state policy and home. The end of a school year is shrinking state funding? For one a moment to celebrate hard work, thing, making schools safer will progress, relationships, trust, free- certainly cost more. dom, and the future. This year was The CARES Act offered some different, more subdued, with an relief. It sent $1.9 million in federal overlay of worry and uncertainty. aid to K–12 education in our com- AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALIST But we did it nonetheless—from munity; more than $700,000 of it the safe distance of automobiles went to 11 private schools located decked out with balloons, signs, within the CH-UH City School Since 1982 pink flamingos, and the Heights District, leaving only $1.2 million Visit our website tiger. for public schools. This was not Honesty, Value and to schedule your Monticello staff created a enough to make whole the $1.4 Communication service online three-block-long car caravan. Each million loss of state funds for 2020. vehicle had the name of the teacher At the time of this writing, the U.S. written on the car, along with words Senate is sitting on the HEROES VOLVO • SUBARU • VW • AUDI • BMW • SAAB • PORSCHE of encouragement, affection, and Act, which would send a desperately good cheer directed to the students needed lifeline to public schools for 1815 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Hts. • 216-371-5100 • swedishsolutions.com they had been teaching and reach- the year ahead. Without it, we are ing, but not in person. Just being toast! visible had to qualify as connection. We have to get back to school. It was both uplifting and devastat- We have to do it in new ways. We ing. It signified just how strange this have to invest more in making it “I love First Baptist Church since it whole thing is, and how important work, but the funds are not there. relationships are! What are we willing to do to stanch is a place where all are welcome” Teachers play a significant role the bleeding, to create real opportu- in the lives of our children and nity, to ensure an inspired solution community, and nothing can stop to a deadly problem? Daniel B. them from finding ways to con- Without a substantial infusion tinue the work that gives their lives of funds, next year’s end-of-school meaning, supports their families, parade of cars carrying Monticello and contributes to the health and staff will be much shorter. Hard development of our young people. times are here. If you are not directly connected to our schools, it’s hard to Susie Kaeser is a 40-year resident of know exactly how far teachers are Cleveland Heights and the former willing to go to serve our children. director of Reaching Heights. She is Fortunately, the kids across the active in the Heights Coalition for street, and the teaching staff that Public Education and the League of I work with to run the Reaching Women Voters. Heights summer music camp, give me valuable evidence. These music educators, like their peers, are Free books mailed passionate about education, willing to go the extra mile to reach to your young child! their students, and determined to inspire their students to make the effort needed to excel—even in a pandemic. We need to stand by our teachers, because they stand by our kids. Our community benefits from First Baptist Church their professionalism and dedica- OF GREATER CLEVELAND tion, despite, at times like this, 3630 Fairmount Blvd., Shaker Hts. overwhelming odds. Their can-do, If your child is 4 years old or younger must-do, how-can-we-make-it-work ﬁ rstbaptistcleveland.org spirit requires us to invest in this and lives in Cuyahoga County Livestream Worship Service Sundays at 10AM cornerstone institution. Please register online at: So where will we go from here? Online Adult Discipleship Hour 11:15AM We are facing a school-funding Online Adult, Youth, and Children’s Groups crisis. The levy defeat means there Imagina5onLibrary.com

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 5 www.heightsobserver.org opinion Local animals show sup- Your plumber, your neighbor port during pandemic Serving the Herb’s Plumbing & Heating Heights since 1989 Michael Bier

Although I wouldn’t consider myself a humorist, I do appreciate a good laugh and often favor satire as a way of adding levity to a heavy situation. This is • Experts in old what prompted me recently to write a homes short story to post on NextDoor. It was a success, with many neighbors appreciat- ing the humor, but creating the piece was • Water tanks & equally satisfying. heating systems After writing a first draft, I started to get a bit of interest from my wife and daughter, but the idea wasn’t grabbing • Eco-friendly them. The story needed the right visual to make it click. I started with the internet, updates hoping to find an image of an animal standing at a podium; no luck. Not being • Fully trained, licensed, a Photoshop expert, I decided to capture my own photo.

bonded & insured I quickly put together a “podium,” Michael B ier A spokesanimal presents the LAPH statement. roughly sizing it to the intended user. My daughter created the podium’s medal- people get annoyed with our behav- • Residential & commercial lion. Setting the prop in our backyard, I iors, and often the feeling is mutual,” loaded it with sunflower seeds, aimed a the squirrel read. “But we think it’s remote-controlled camera, and waited. important for everyone to know After a surprisingly long time, given the that, in these trying times, the local attractiveness of the bait, my subject ar- animal community stands with our rived and became the star of my story. neighbors.” Upon posting it, the reaction was Many area residents were sur- uplifting—lots of laughing emojis and prised but comforted by the unusual 216-691-2300 positive comments. One guy messaged me coalition. “Seeing all of those animals stating he was forwarding the story to standing together behind that po- herbsplumbingandheating.com friends in Europe. Enjoy: dium was a very emotional moment March 23, 2020; Grandview Av- for me. The deer, squirrels, raccoons, enue, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. skunks, even the coyotes were there. In an unprecedented display of I never knew, until this moment, solidarity, Cleveland Heights-area how much they cared about us,” said wildlife today issued a statement in a Queenston Road resident, who response to the COVID-19 pandem- watched the event on YouTube from ic. In part, the statement read,“Our Your family. Our purpose. the safety of her living room. relationship with human life has “There have been many times Together. always been tenuous, but we are here when I have cursed the deer running today to set aside our differences and rampant on my street, but how can I show our support for the people of hold a grudge after such a display of the Heights and all of humanity.” encouragement for people like me? Having officially organized It was beautiful,” stated a Derbyshire themselves as Local Animals for the Road resident. People of the Heights (LAPH), the Garnering the support from all coalition assembled in a Grandview local animal species was said to have Avenue yard for a well-choreo- taken considerable effort. “It was all graphed public statement. Led by the or nothing; I mean, it wouldn’t look nominated “spokesanimal,” a squirrel sincere if everyone but the skunk was from the Forest Hill neighborhood, onboard,” stated a chipmunk, reveal- the statement was read amid a som- ing some of the tension behind the ber atmosphere. historic event. “We understand that sometimes “Look, all I’m saying is, some- Family caregivers consistently tell us, times I get the feeling I’m not wel- “Now that we have experienced come here in the Heights,” a skunk your hospice care, we wish we explained. “But in the end, I admit, would have called sooner.” if it weren’t for human trash on treelawns, I would have a tough time You don’t have to do this alone. making it here, so I eventually voted We focus on improving quality of life for to go along with the idea.” our patients and their loved ones to ensure The LAPH statement concluded that each moment is filled with comfort. with words of optimism and encouragement: “We, too, have seen times Hospice of the Western Reserve is here 24/7. of trial, times of fear and times of delicious Call us today. want; but with every long, cold win- fun ter, comes a nourishing spring, with safe dining vegetable gardens to plunder, trash bags to invade and shrubbery to rav- INSIST “inda heights” ish; have faith, human friends, your days of plenty will return.”

2196 lee road cleveland heights Mike Bier is a graduate of Heights High 800.707.8922 | hospicewr.org/ 216.932.9000 mojocle.com and a member of the FutureHeights Board of Directors.

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 6 www.heightsobserver.org Cleveland Heights News Russell launches ‘You Talk, I Listen’ series Cleveland Heights City Council meeting highlights Barbara Danforth Cain. The first step for each task JUNE 1, 2020 On June 6, Cleveland Heights City force is to gather information from Council members present [remotely] were up the chain of command for early warning Mayor Jason Stein, Vice Mayor Kahlil Seren, Council Member Davida Russell other organizations that are work- of problems. Body-worn cameras have been Mary Dunbar, Melody Joy Hart, Davida Rus- hosted the first in a series of Town ing in the neighborhood and from required for five years, and are reviewed and sell and Michael Ungar. Also present were City Hall listening sessions. Two more tested annually. Mecklenburg presented the the city. Task force chairs want to Manager Tanisha Briley, Clerk of Council Amy police department’s bias-free policy, code meetings are planned, for late June ensure that they are not duplicat- Himmelein, and Law Director William Hanna. of ethics, mission statement, and training in and July. ing efforts already underway by Public comments crisis intervention and de-escalation. Officers The first was with residents other organizations, and identify Twenty-one residents sent 24 e-mails re- receive training in diversity and in working of the Noble and Taylor roads opportunities to collaborate or garding Ordinance 54-2020 on the use of with special-needs populations. community. A group of 10 Zoom public space for wireless structures. Clerk of mecklenburg responded to concerns coordinate plans. Council Himmelein summarized the concerns about a Feb. 27 incident at Marc’s on Cov- participants comprised residents, “I am very excited about the expressed about small cell wireless facilities: entry, in which officers stopped and struggled business owners, and members of energy and enthusiasm of our Town potential health risks, decrease in property val- with an individual who might have been a the faith community. More than Hall participants, and appreciate ues, privacy, and security breaches. Residents suspect in a recent shots-fired incident. As a 100 others listened on Facebook the plans that are in place to move also expressed concerns about the need for result, additional training has been recom- Live. the conversation forward into ac- public comments, dialogue, and government mended for the two officers involved, although The objective of the first Town transparency. Some writers did not want 5G it has been delayed by the pandemic. One of- tion items,” Russell said. wireless to be rolled out. ficer was reprimanded for not having a body Hall was to identify concerns and To join a task force, or leave Executive session limits camera. The chief concluded that improper issues that impact the health and comments and suggestions, go to Council approved an ordinance limiting execu- force is not tolerated. growth of this area of the city, and Russell’s website, www.davidaforch. tive sessions to four per year. Mayor Seren Last Sunday there were threats on social to create a process to develop solu- com, and click on the “You Talk, I commented that limiting executive sessions media concerning a protest on Coventry and tions. vandalism at Severance. All commercial area Listen” drop down tab. beyond what is provided by Ohio law would “I live in this community and I Russell intends for the two support transparency. Council members Dun- merchants were notified, and some closed have my own thoughts about what bar and Ungar voted no. Dunbar noted she out of caution. Officers were called in to pay subsequent Town Hall meetings did not want to take this right away from future extra attention throughout the city; no busi- it needs,” Russell said, “but I feel to be very different from the first. councils. Ungar opined that the ordinance had nesses were compelled to shut, no curfew was it is important to hear what others The audience for these listening declared, and there were no problems. The nothing to do with transparency. think about what would enable sessions are young adults, generally dozen protesters on Coventry were peaceful. the neighborhood [to] grow and Wireless infrastructure on public ways mayor Stein relayed a question from a ages 18–25. Ordinance 54-2020, which would amend citizen about whether Cleveland Heights of- prosper.” Russell participated in a peace- Chapter 943 of the city code, “Use of Public ficers are required to intervene if a colleague Russell began planning this ful protest march over the George Ways for Small Cell Wireless Facilities and is witnessed using excessive force. The chief listening session last December, Floyd killing in early June, and met Wireless Support Structures,” was removed will respond soon by e-mail to the citizen from the consent agenda and presented on shortly after her election to CH young adults who were frustrated and council members. City Manager Briley City Council. She drew from her first reading with no vote, because it requires praised the chief’s responsiveness, and prom- and wanted answers and action. She additional research. ised a virtual meet-your-police event soon. career in labor union administra- invited anyone interested in planning Law Director Hanna provided lengthy tion in landing on the Town Hall Council members’ comments a listening session to join a Zoom context for this legislation, which involves regu- format. When it became apparent meeting. Five thoughtful, concerned lation of small cell facilities for fifth-generation Vice Mayor Seren read a statement express- that a large gathering of residents (5G) technology. Current technology is 4G, ing his sadness for property destruction young adults participated, and made but greater capacity is needed as Internet during protests in downtown Cleveland, but would not be a good option be- plans for the two events. uses expand. Antennas are on public rights- especially for protesters hurt by police or cause of COVID-19, the virtual The first, which took place on other protesters. He urged citizens to turn of-way across the country, but Ohio law had Town Hall concept was explored, June 27, was on the topic of police- “righteous fury” into productive action, use it in constrained municipal regulation. Because the planned and launched. community relations and police state law “tramples” home rule, and violates elections at all levels, take this energy beyond Each Zoom participant came policies and practices. Young-adult the single-subject rule, Cleveland Heights had November, pay attention, report misconduct, joined a successful lawsuit against the state. and join in governing ourselves and making to the session prepared with a list leaders facilitated the discussion. Subsequently, in August 2018, an improved needed changes. of concerns and opportunities. The concerns raised at the June state law gave cities protections and rights re- Council Member Russell has issued From this comprehensive list of 27 event will form the agenda for garding placement and aesthetics. Ordinance a “2020 Census Challenge” to University ideas, the group voted on the top Heights—a competition to see which city can the July 11 meeting, which will take 54 would strengthen the ability of the city to three issues to address first, formed place, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the regulate these installations. There is a need to achieve the highest percentage census partici- a task force for each issue, and update the city’s small cell application form pation. The winning city will earn a tree with a Front Stage Multiplex (formerly to clarify fees, facility types, and consolidated plaque. Currently, University Heights has 69 agreed upon a volunteer chair: Regal Theater, 3492 Mayfield Road) application issues. The state does not permit percent participation, and Cleveland Heights • Task Force 1 – Raising aware- at Severance Town Center. has 62 percent. cities to place moratoria against cell facilities. ness of businesses and servic- Cleveland Heights Police Chief es available in the community. Police chief’s presentation LWV Observers: Blanche Valancy and Gail Annette Mecklenburg and some Chief of Police Annette Mecklenburg gave an Larson. Chairs: Elizabeth VanderLees and of her officers will be present to overview of her department’s policies, prac- Gurne’e Green. respond to the agenda issues. tices, and training, especially [in the context • Task Force 2 – Addressing main- Masks will be required for the of] recent events and protests taking place all Expanded reports are tenance issues of commercial event, and social distancing will be over the nation. available online at Cleveland Heights’ use-of-force policy properties. Chair: Diane Hallum. in place, with only 75 young adults is comprehensive. Every incident is reviewed www.heightsobserver.org. • Task Force 3 – Beautifying the admitted. Anyone interested in at- community. Chair: Pastor Harry tending should indicate so at www. davidaforch.com, to help organizers anticipate audience size. CH council appointee decision tabled until July “I was very impressed with the calm persistence of these young adults in wanting to have their voices Kim Sergio Inglis Committee of the Whole meet- (go to Government-City Council- heard, and to move beyond protests ing, which took place in executive City Council Applicants). and into policies. They are angry After the June 22 Cleveland session, was “[t]o consider the ap- Subsequent interviews be- and frustrated, but understand that Heights City Council meeting, pointment of a public official.” tween council and each finalist peaceful dialogue is the first step to Mayor Jason Stein stated that Stein announced that council were conducted in executive ses- systemic change,” said Russell. council had not yet selected any- had chosen four finalists in a May sion, and therefore not recorded. one to fill the council vacancy. 21 post on his Facebook page, Due to the coronavirus, all in- Barbara Danforth is a 15-year resi- Noting that each of the four www.facebook.com/mayorstein4cleve- terviews have been conducted dent of Cleveland Heights’ Forest Hill finalists, Craig Cobb, Anthony landheights/. remotely. Historical District. Former chief pros- Cuda, Robert Koonce, and An- The four finalists were selected The council seat has been va- ecutor, City of Cleveland; and former thony Mattox Jr., had a good inter- from 22 original applicants, three cant since March 2, when former CEO of YWCA Greater Cleveland, view with the six current council of whom withdrew. The remaining council member Melissa Yasinow she is assisting Russell in facilitating members, Stein said, “We will take 19 provided videos in which they resigned. these Town Hall gatherings. Currently time to reflect and continue the answered questions posed by the an executive coach with a focus on discussion at the July 6th meet- Heights Chapter of the League of Kim Sergio Inglis is editor-in-chief career coaching for emerging leaders, ing.” Women Voters of Greater Cleve- of the Heights Observer, and is a Danforth welcomed the opportunity to The sole agenda item on the land. Those videos can be viewed Cuyahoga County master gardener work with young adults in addressing June 22 Cleveland Heights Council online at www.clevelandheights.com volunteer. the issue of racism in America.

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 7 www.heightsobserver.org Cleveland Heights News TOH breaks ground in June 24 ceremony

Auto • Home • Life • Commercial Insurance For all your personal and business insurance needs ourtesy Mary T rupo Mary ourtesy C An independent agent From left: CH Mayor Jason Stein, Council Member Melody Joy Hart, Economic Development Director Dedicated to your unique needs Tim Boland, City Manager Tanisha Briley, Council Member Davida Russell, Council Member Mike Ungar, school district Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby, Vice Mayor Kahlil Seren. 3109 Mayfield Road, Suite 203 Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 Tim Boland 216-965-0646 taxes and compensation for the CH-UH Call Jared Lavender The city of Cleveland Heights and devel- school district, over a 30-year period. opment partner Flaherty & Collins held “We are excited to move forward a ceremonial groundbreaking event on with this transformative project that has www.KellerNational.com June 24 for the newly underway Ascent at been years in the making,” City Manager the Top of the Hill (TOH), a mixed-use Tanisha Briley noted. “This develop- development. ment represents a major new investment CH City Council members, city for Cleveland Heights and positions the officials, the developer, and representa- city for additional growth and develop- tives from the Cedar Fairmount Special ment in the future. I am pleased that Improvement District and the Cleve- even in the midst of the COVID-19 land Heights-University Heights school pandemic, we have been able to advance district participated in the event. this important development.” The four-acre project site is Ascent at the Top of the Hill is located on Cedar Road and Euclid expected to include 261 market-rate Heights Boulevard, just up the hill luxury apartments, more than 11,000 from University Circle. square feet of first-floor commer- Construction is expected to be cial/retail/restaurant space, close to completed within an 18- to 24-month 25,000 square feet of green space, single-phase construction cycle. The and a structured parking garage. Plans general contractor on the project is include amenities such as first-floor Cleveland Construction. co-working space, a pet spa, a dog Stump grinding is just the ﬁ rst step, Earlier this year, Cleveland Heights park, indoor bicycle parking with a ask us how we can help you repair City Council unanimously approved the bike-wash station, a fitness center, and your lawn and garden spaces final financing for the $83,000,000 proj- a 10th-floor pool, terrace and common ect. The city anticipates significant eco- space for socializing. • New lawn installation and lawn renovations nomic benefits from TOH. It anticipates More information can be found at • Hardscaping including patios, walks and retaining walls receiving a projected $14,300,000 in net www.clevelandheights.com/toh. • New bed and plant installations new revenue over a 32-year time frame. In • Irrigation and drainage systems addition, it projects that the project will Tim Boland is the drector of economic develop- • Low voltage lighting systems generate more than $12,300,000 in new ment for the city of Cleveland Heights. • Landscape management programs • Turf care programs 2020 CH GardenWalk will be virtual tour

Janet Kious Gardeners are invited to share pictures of works in progress, small GardenWalk Cleveland Heights, a free, areas of special creativity within a larger self-guided tour of private and public space, unique plants, water features— gardens in the city, began in 2019. This anything that will show off what they year, due to the coronavirus, the tour will have done, and bring joy to others. be conducted virtually. (If you experience difficulty upload- Throughout the summer and fall, ing to the Facebook page, you can instead gardeners in Cleveland Heights are e-mail your video or photographs to invited to upload videos (five minutes [email protected].) or less) or photographs of their gar- www.lawnlad.com dens, both flower and vegetable, to Jan Kious, a resident of Cleveland Heights the Cleveland Heights Garden Walk since 1974, raised four children here with her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ husband. She is the founder of GardenWalk heightsgardenwalk/). Cleveland Heights.

LL_StumpGrinding_2019.indd 1 4/18/19 9:39 AM

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Heights Observer July 1, 2020 8 www.heightsobserver.org COMMUNITY NEWS COURTESY DEBRA FRANKE COURTESY Some Bradford path volunteers (from left): John Barber, Emma Shook, Eran Shiloh, Donald Vicarel, Deb Franke, Gary Franke. Friends start work to preserve and restore Bradford path

Debra Franke Ohio, and the Bradford path is overrun with it. It grows in a variety of condi- The Bradford Cinder Path is buzzing tions, and crowds out native plants. It with activity. Strollers and dog walkers, is spread by seeds, and can grow as tall joggers and families all share the path. as 20 feet. Its leaves emerge early, and It’s the perfect place to learn to ride a it keeps its leaves longer than other bicycle. During a normal school year, plants in the fall, further crowding it’s a great shortcut to get to school. them out. A group of neighbors, Friends of Buckthorn also is not a source the Bradford Cinder Path, have come of nutrients to native birds, bees and together, united in the desire to pre- other pollinators. For them, a stand of pare the path for its second century. buckthorn is a green desert, and buck- [See the related June 2020 Heights Ob- thorn berries have a laxative effect that server article, “A look back and ahead at can cause death in birds. the Bradford cinder path,” by Marian Cutting the plant back doesn’t Morton and Peggy Spaeth.] help, because it will just vigorously The volunteers plan to partner grow back. Specific techniques have with the city and its neighbors to been developed to remove it. They preserve the path’s mature trees include pulling out small buckthorns, and replace invasive plants with including the roots; using a special carefully selected native trees and tool called a Weed Wrench (one can shrubs. They intend to retain the be borrowed from the Home Repair path’s shady beauty, and create a Resource Center’s tool library); and long-term plan for the maintenance smothering the plant by covering it of this much-loved path. with heavy black plastic, to block all A small, recent change was the light. Removing buckthorn from the removal of invasive plants from around cinder path is going to be a long pro-

3451 Fairmount Blvd. Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 216Ͳ303Ͳ9862 two large red oak trees (Quercus rubra) cess. As it is removed, volunteers will www.eastwoodfurniture.com facebook.com/EastwoodFurniture in the Princeton-Canterbury sec- be planting suitable alternative native tion of the path. Measurements were shrubbery. taken of the circumference of both For more information about the Made in Ohio. trees, and the volunteers confidently Bradford Cinder Path, and to volun- Designed by You. report that these two trees have been teer, contact Friends of the Bradford in place much longer than the path. Cinder Path by e-mail, at friends. The current estimate is that the oak [email protected]. at the Canterbury end of the path is more than 200 years old; based on its Debra Franke is a five-year resident of

diameter, it could be 230 years old. Cleveland Heights. She and her husband Most of the plants removed were selected Cleveland Heights as their retire- buckthorn, brought by Europeans to ment home, and moved here from York, Pa. America as an ornamental shrub. This In retirement, Franke has time to indulge is one of the most-invasive plants in her interest in gardening.

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Heights Observer July 1, 2020 9 www.heightsobserver.org COMMUNITY NEWS

Food pantry serves 300 families weekly UH ANTI-DISCRIMINATION cont. from page 1 I am. Paul Jenkins and Ray Gonzalez “I can tell you as a gay man, in most places across the country, I can be fired Every Tuesday morning for the for who I am, and that will not be the last seven years, dedicated volun- case in University Heights with this teers from Forest Hill Presbyterian ordinance.” Church and the surrounding neigh- UH Ordinance 2020-26 prohibits borhood have gathered at the church discrimination based on sexual ori- to unload trucks and vans full of entation and gender identity when it donations for Abundance Food Pan- comes to equal access to employment, try. For six hours, these hardworking housing, and public accommodations. volunteers pack about 60 pounds of The ordinance complements a similar food per family into bags and boxes, law passed by Cuyahoga County in which currently are distributed to 2019. about 300 households each week. Council approved the ordinance In 2019, these donations pro- 7-0 on June 1, and Brennan signed it vided enough groceries for 420,000 into law. meals. By working with the Greater “This is something very important Cleveland Food Bank, Abundance KERMIT LIND for me,” Brennan said, “because it does Food Pantry has been able to reduce Abundance Food Pantry volunteers loading food into trunks of customers’ cars. affect so many people I do care about. its cost to 4 cents per meal, and This is a testament to our values. I’m offer many healthy choices, with ber of families served each Tuesday Heights, University Heights, South proud of all of council for coming to- more than 35 percent being fresh has increased from an average of 200 Euclid, and Buckeye/Shaker Square, gether to sponsor this.” produce. to as many as 300. The pantry has it will now distribute food to all Before the vote, Council Mem- Getting these groceries to the also increased the amount of grocer- qualified families—even those resid- ber Barbara Blankfeld said that, as a church requires another dedicated ies going to each family, from 50 to ing outside of its original seven-zip- proud mother of a gay son, she was volunteer team, with five pickup 60 pounds, at each visit. code service area. proud to vote for the legislation. “It’s trucks and one van making multiple As the need continues to grow, The pantry continues to evalu- important,” Blankfeld said. “It mirrors trips. pantry organizers ask customers to ate its procedures, to identify better legislation that already exists. But I am Greater Cleveland Food Bank is visit only every other week. ways of serving its neighbors. proud to be in a community that will the primary source of the groceries, While the pantry has tradition- echo it and that will support it. which include meat, dairy products, ally provided a food safety net for Paul Jenkins is a volunteer manager for Brennan told council that things vegetables, fruit, dry goods, bread, residents of Hough, Glenville, Col- Abundance Food Pantry, and Ray Gon- have changed for the better over the and hygiene items. Additional food linwood, East Cleveland, Cleveland zalez is a volunteer. decades. He recalled how the federal donors include Zagara’s Marketplace, government turned its back on the gay Save-a-Lot, Heinen’s, Panera’s, and community when it came to discrimi- Bruegger’s Bagels. Funding comes nation, and in the 1980s in its lack of from Harvest for Hunger, United response to the AIDS crisis. Way, church groups, and individuals CH Senior Center News “My godfather, David, was gay. When the Covid-19 pandemic Amy Jenkins the ceremony with these words, “We are He was like a second father to me. He hit, the pantry’s procedures had here to honor those who served.” enriched my life,” Brennan said. “It’s to change. Pantry customers, who Senior center staff have been work- As the names of the fallen are read not lost on me that when we lost my previously came inside for food, now ing hard to continue to provide aloud, I stand with my head bowed. I Uncle David to complications related must stay in their cars, to reduce services while the building is closed. feel teary, but I don’t stop the tears from to HIV in 1994, if this country had exposure for all, and groceries are Social work outreach and nutri- coming. I begin to sob when I realize that been more vigilant in seeking treat- placed directly in their trunks. The tion support remain a focus, but among the names of our military, are the ment for AIDS, he could be alive today. pantry also asks that customers wear programming is also an important names of doctors, nurses, retail workers, “There isn’t a day that goes by that a mask when they provide their name component of the center’s offerings. truck drivers, postal workers . . . I don’t think of him,” Brennan said. Local news that speaks to you and other information required by Employees are working to develop “These are everyday people,” I think “This is for you, David.” Catch the HeightsNow podcast from WJCU the USDA. online content, knowing that low- to myself. I wish I could have thanked Council Member Justin Gould, All volunteers wear masks and tech programming is important. each one of them personally. who introduced the ordinance, said, gloves, and have their temperatures Hear it live One such effort is the forma- To conclude the ceremony, the tarp “I’m able to serve this community as a Mon – Fri at 9 am and 4 pm checked at the beginning of the day. tion of Stronger Together, an aptly covering the large object is removed, proud gay, black man because of sacri- Hands are washed and sanitized Stream on demand named journaling group. Starting revealing a large marble slab engraved fices made by people who look like me frequently. All touched surfaces are wjcu.org/media/heights-now in May, members received a per- in tall block letters with the words, “We who came before me. I am grateful to disinfected before and after each sonalized journal, pen and topic. are here to honor those who served.” them for this privilege. pantry event. Older and more at-risk Participants meet, via a Webex call, Stronger Together’s next proj- “I am grateful . . . where I am volunteers have decided to stay at on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m., to share ect will be a pen-pal letter-writing joined unanimously by every member home until the pandemic is over. experiences and anything written exchange. Each member will select of this council, our Vice Mayor and Abundance Food Pantry is now during the week. The talk is lively, someone from the senior center and Mayor in presenting this legislation,” the fourth largest food pantry as- and the social connection is appre- write a letter. Letters will be picked Gould continued. “This legislation sociated with the Greater Cleveland ciated The most recent topic was up and delivered using the senior extends the message that you are wel- Food Bank. Since last year, the num- “Memorial Day 2021”, an attempt center van. come in University Heights, no matter to create a vision of what Memorial All of the programming devel- how you worship, or what you look like, Local news that Day will look like next year. One oped during the time of coronavirus or who you love.” speaks to you participant wrote: is intended to offer support to se- The Human Rights Campaign Catch the HeightsNow It’s Memorial Day 2021, and I’m at niors who may feel isolated, and to in Ohio called the new law in Univer- podcast from WJCU the Veterans’ Memorial in Cumberland maintain a connection to the senior sity Heights a “huge milestone.” The Park. I took the bus and arrived a few center community that has played ordinance also received praise from Live: Mon-Fri minutes early. I don’t mind because the a vital part in the lives of so many Equality Ohio. at 9 am and 4 pm weather is beautiful, and I’m content to Cleveland Heights senior residents. Through proclamation, Brennan wait. I glance at the faces of the other If you are a Cleveland Heights declared June to be Pride Month in Stream on demand: senior who wants to connect with University Heights. For the second attendees. I don’t see anyone I know. I wjcu.org/media/heights-now check my watch, and if all goes well, the other seniors living in our area, or if year in a row, the rainbow flag flew over ceremony will start shortly. you need any assistance, give the CH UH City Hall for the entire month. While waiting, I notice a large Office on Aging a call (216-691-7377) “University Heights is a commu- object covered with a tarp. It has been or e-mail [email protected]. nity so many kinds of people can call placed close to the veterans’ memorial, home,” Brennan said. “And they’re all as if deliberately placed in its permanent Amy Jenkins is supervisor at the Cleve- welcome here.” home. land Heights Office on Aging and the My attention is diverted away from Senior Activity Center. She can be Mike Cook is the communications and the object when a veteran dressed in reached at 216-691-7379 or by e-mail at civic engagement coordinator for University uniform steps to the podium and begins [email protected]. Heights.

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 10 www.heightsobserver.org HEIGHTS SCHOOLS

Cleveland Heights - University PATIO NOW OPEN Heights Board of Education reservations required 216-791-0918 Meeting highlights Tuesday-Thursday 4-9PM MAY 29, 2020 Board President Jodi Sourini and board mem- year forecast may be viewed on at www. Friday-Saturday bers James Posch, Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis chuh.org/BoardofEducation.aspx. 5-10PM and Beverly Wright were present, as were Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Superintendent’s report Scott Gainer. (All meetings are virtual and Superintendent Kirby commended the staff streamed on the district’s YouTube channel, on its hard work this past year, quickly www.youtube.com/CHUHSchools.) adapting to online instruction and providing students with social support beyond the vir- Resolution to enter EdChoice lawsuit tual classroom. She expressed appreciation The purpose of this special meeting was to to the community for its support of Heights Interior Painting discuss a resolution to enter a lawsuit chal- High’s graduating class, and to the board lenging the state of Ohio’s EdChoice voucher members for participating in the multiple Power-Washing funding, its administration, and its impact on graduation ceremonies. Concrete Basement the CH-UH community. For the 2020–21 Kirby presented, for first reading, Board & Garage school year, the EdChoice cost to the district Policy 5460, relating to graduation require- is projected to exceed $9 million—about 40 ments. The state has changed graduation re- Floors/Staining percent of the state’s funding to the district. quirements for 2021, and the district is await- All Handyman Board members discussed their reasons ing Ohio Department of Education guidance Repairs for entering and supporting the lawsuit. They on their implementation. Dan Heintz pointed described how the present system is not sus- out that 2020 graduation requirements were Gutter Cleaning tainable, how the board has tried to address also changed, from 2019. Snowplowing financial problems engendered by EdChoice, Board members commended the su- and how the EdChoice funding mechanism perintendent for her published statement on exacerbates the unconstitutionality of Ohio’s the recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and means of funding public schools. Board George Floyd, the growing protests against President Sourini further expressed concern institutional racism, and the importance of that the present system does not allow a equity in education. That statement can be school district to remove itself from the list of viewed at www.chuh.org/protected/Arti- EdChoice-eligible schools. cleView.aspx?iid=6G0PI30&dasi=3Y2I. 216-533-2936 The superintendent and treasurer also expressed their support for the resolution. The LWV Observer: Kathy Petrey. board passed the resolution unanimously. The resolution is on BoardDocs, at www. chuh.org/BoardofEducation.aspx. (Click on BoardDocs in the left frame, select the May 29, 2020 special session, click on View the Agenda, and go to EdChoice Vouchers.) LWV Observer: Robin Koslen. SUITES AVAILABLE JUNE 2, 2020 Board President Jodi Sourini and board mem- Shaker Heights bers James Posch, Dan Heintz, Malia Lewis and Beverly Wright were present, as were Cleveland Heights Superintendent Elizabeth Kirby and Treasurer Scott Gainer. Lakewood Public comments Cleveland Recovery of taxpayer money: Resident Garry Kanter read aloud a Cleveland.com article about a state auditor’s task force recommending the recovery of taxpayer money that the board had used to fund a voter survey relating to the March 17 school levy.

OSBA legislative platform • Large 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms The board unanimously approved the adop- • Walking distance to CWRU, tion of a resolution recommending amend- Shaker Square and RTA ment to the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) 2020 legislative platform by adding • Refinished Kitchens the following language under the public/non- • Hardwood Floors public school funding plank: Parking “OSBA supports legislation that: • • Requires all private non-public schools re- • Laundry Facilities ceiving public tax money to be held to the • Dishwasher and Disposal same accountability standards governing Ohio’s public schools including licensure requirements. • Requires all private non-public schools receiving public tax money to be subject to the same financial reporting, audit require- “All together ments and sunshine laws as Ohio’s public schools.” sunny, spacious, Before voting on the resolution, board members discussed their intent that the reso- superbly lution put pressure on OSBA, the trade association for Ohio boards of education, to step maintained up its advocacy for public schools during this and well time of attack by the Ohio Legislature. The full text of the resolution can be seen on the located board of education web page (www.chuh. org/BoardofEducation.aspx). apartments!”

Five-year forecast The board approved the updated five-year forecast, which Treasurer Gainer presented with related assumptions. He noted that re- vision is likely to continue over the next two months as additional information regarding 12000 Fairhill Road voucher expenditures and projected rev- Cleveland, OH 44120 enues becomes available. Gainer reported that the Lay Finance Committee met on May [email protected] 27 to review the forecast, and submitted re- quests for additional data. The revised five-

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 11 www.heightsobserver.org HEIGHTS SCHOOLS Teacher honors English-language learners MAC’S high school years, serving as their hematologist. teacher, helping them with other Rai, Biswa and Pradhan plan coursework, coordinating their to attend college as well. “We are BACKS schedules, and connecting them to still in the process of learning,” said BOOKSTORE necessary support services. Rai, who will join Esmail at CSU to MACSBACKS.COM 216-321-2665 1820 COVENTRY RD. CLV HTS Anjana Rai, Susmita Biswa and study biotech. AUTHOR TALKS, WRITING WORKSHOPS, Anisha Pradhan came to Cleveland LECTURES, BOOK CLUBS, FREE COMMU- Heights as elementary or middle Krissy Dietrich Gallagher is a longtime NITY MEETING SPACE, LOCAL AUTHORS, OPEN DAILY school students, after living in resident of Cleveland Heights, a POETRY READINGS, SPECIAL EVENTS, refugee camps along the border of graduate of the Heights schools and a GREETING CARDS, 12-6pm JOURNALS, SPECIAL Nepal and Bhutan. former Coventry School teacher. She

ORDERS, AND OVER OR VISIT COURESTY CH-UH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 35,000 NEW AND USED Speaking for her friends, Rai is a freelance journalist under contract BOOKS! macsbacks.com Ola Esmail and Kathleen Scully. said, “When I first came, it was so with the CH-UH City School District. hard and so new. We had to get used Krissy Dietrich Gallagher to the neighborhood and school and society. We didn’t know we would Teacher keeps TRADE IN YOUR BOOKS Ola Esmail learned a new English get to this point where we could word recently: bittersweet, referring speak so freely and casually.” students engaged to leaving high school and a beloved “We are really thankful to teacher. Ms. Scully,” said Pradhan, “and “I felt so happy when Ms. Scully to our EL teachers at Noble and came to visit me at my house,” said Monticello.” the 2020 Heights High graduate, The girls have openly shared who came to the United States as their Nepalese background a refugee from Yemen. “But I also with their classmates, creating 216-371-5944 feel sad because I might not see her Himalayan prayer flags in the again.” MakerSpace, and performing • Slate and tile repairs & replacement • Tear-offs & Shingles Kathleen Scully feels the same a traditional dance in the high • Gutters and downspouts installed way. The Heights High teacher school talent show. The three • Chimney and step tuck-pointing of English Language (EL) was so even volunteer to teach English to • Flat roof specialists impressed by the accomplishments adults at the Noble Neighborhood MASTERCARD/VISA of her four graduating seniors that Library. she drove from Summit County to While Rai, Biswa and Pradhan personally visit their homes, deliver usually speak Nepali to each other, gifts, and express her pride in their Esmail’s native tongue is Arabic. accomplishments. After more than four years in an Scully teaches EL in grades Ethiopian refugee camp with no COURESTY OF SAINTS COMMUNION 9–12. Her students speak as many school, she came to the U.S. at the Adam Cottos with student Gavin Foss. as 14 different languages. She has age of 16 and was placed in ninth www.ustonroof.com worked with the students in a grade. She spoke no English. Liz Fisher variety of capacities during their “I was so nervous,” she said of her first year at Heights. “I Ending the school year with three struggled a lot. Even in 10th grade, months of virtual learning is not I needed to ask my neighbors what any teacher intended. At for help. But I had Ms. Scully all Communion of Saints Catholic along.” School in Cleveland Heights, Adam When times were tough, Esmail Cottos went above and beyond for would remember the years when she his fifth-grade students. had no access to education. “I made Though he was not able to teach a goal to not miss even one day of his class in person, he managed to school,” she said. “I did not want to keep all of his 28 students engaged lose more years than what I have in daily remote learning, through lost in the past.” Facebook presentations and hosting Esmail recently received the weekly Kahoot game nights for the Kathleen G Carvin Heights School Foundation’s fifth-grade families. He even drove Licensed Insurance Agent Career Technical Education to each of the students’ homes and Scholarship for her achievements hand delivered a personalized end- in the Clinical Nursing Program. of-the-school-year gift. 216-375-5902 She plans to attend Cleveland State HealthMarkets Insurance Agency, Inc. is licensed as an insurance agency in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Not all agents are licensed to sell all products. Service and product availability varies by State. University (CSU) in the fall to study Liz Fisher is marketing specialist for HMIA000589 premed. Her dream is to become a Communion of Saints School.

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Heights Observer July 1, 2020 12 www.heightsobserver.org HEIGHTS LIBRARIES Library’s summer reading program moves online and allows kids to track their reading are reading or listening to stories. Heights Libraries began allowing time and participate in prize raffles, “We really felt like, this summer, customers to put books and other just like they’ve always been able to it was especially important to find items on hold for lobby pickup at in the past.” some way to keep our kids connected all four branches: Coventry Village, Prizes include LEGO sets, to us,” said Lapides. “Everyone is feel- Lee Road, Noble Neighborhood, and Sheryl Banks headphones, and gift cards to local ing isolated and disconnected, but University Heights. Families have businesses. especially the kids. After months of been taking full advantage, with hold Due to service restrictions caused by To sign up, participants can go distance learning, and now with so shelves filled with picture books, the COVID-19 pandemic, Heights to Heights Libraries’ website, http:// few activities available for them this chapter books, and teen literature. Libraries has moved its 2020 sum- heightslibrary.org, or directly to the summer, we’re hoping that our sum- “We’re still here for our kids and mer reading program, Spark Your Beanstack portal, http://heightsli- mer reading program can give them families,” said Lapides. Creativity, online. brary.beanstack.org. back a bit of stability and keep their “We know how important sum- Adults can also participate in reading skills sharp.” Sheryl Banks is the communications mer reading is to our community, es- Summer Reading 2020: Spark Your Just in time for the launch of manager for the Cleveland Heights-Uni- pecially the school-age kids, so after Creativity by signing up on the same summer reading, in early June, versity Heights Public Library System. we closed our buildings in March, we Beanstack web page. began looking for alternatives to our Any kind of reading counts, wheth- Library foundation seeks award nominees in-person program,” said Youth Ser- er it’s a bound book with pages, an vices Manager Sam Lapides. “Luckily eBook on a tablet, or an audiobook on Sheryl Banks ful discussion, or through connec- we found an online program called a smartphone—anything is fair game tions with thought-provoking ideas Beanstack that is easy to use, is fun, as long as participating kids, and adults, The Fund for the Future of Heights or individuals. The FFHL welcomes Libraries (FFHL) is currently seek- a diverse array of candidates who Cleveland Heights – University Heights ing nominations for its 2020 Fund have contributed to the cultural and Public Library Board Meeting highlights for the Future of Heights Libraries civic fabric of the community. Honor Roll. Winners will be chosen Past recipients are: Amy Rosen- MAY 18, 2020 by the FFHL board, and celebrated bluth, Charniece Holmes (2019); Board members present were President at a virtual event this fall. Drapaudi Pradhan, Suzanne De- James Roosa, Vice President Dana Fluel- len, Patti Carlyle, Gabe Crenshaw, Annette priation in the amount of $858,000. The honor is a lifetime achieve- Gaetano, and Rachel Wayne Nel- Iwamoto and Vikas Turakhia. Max Gerboc ment award, recognizing those who son (2018); John Jarvey, Marilyn was absent. (Library board meetings are Staff reductions have made a sustained, outstand- McLaughlin (2017). live streamed for the public on YouTube, and The library has offered voluntary furloughs ing contribution to the Cleveland Nominations will be accepted posted the next day at www.facebook.com/ and a voluntary exit plan to staff, and placed heightslibrary.) 2020 staff raises on hold. The director stated Heights-University Heights com- through Friday, Aug. 7, and should that, in addition to the general fund cuts just munity by promoting literacy or by be e-mailed to Chase Klingenstein at Library patrons to wear face coverings approved, further salary cuts will be needed. educating through literacy. [email protected]. The board approved amendments to the li- The board approved staff furloughs due to brary’s Service and Administration Policy to reduced work and budget cuts, and the imple- In the spirit of Heights Libraries’ Each nomination must include require patrons to wear a mask/face covering mentation of the Shared Work Ohio Plan, tagline, “Opening Doors, Opening the name and contact information for as long as there is a public health emergency. If which reduces the number of hours worked, Minds,” the award recognizes both both the nominee and the nominator, a patron objects to doing so for health, disabil- in lieu of layoffs, for staff not furloughed. The “door openers”—those who provide as well as a description of the nominee’s ity, or religious reasons, a reasonable accom- board cut the salaries of managers and the modation will be made, including [offering] fiscal officer by 10 percent, and the director’s access to education, literature, and relevant background and a statement services outside of the library building. Any salary by 14 percent. The salary of the facili- opportunity through literacy—and on why the nominee should be chosen. behavior that is deemed as threatening others ties manager, who has been working full time “mind openers”—those who stimu- For information on joining the with exposure to the coronavirus will result in throughout the library’s closure, was not cut. eviction from the library, and could be subject late the minds of community mem- FFHL board, contact Nancy Levin to charges under Ohio law. Public service report bers through literature and thought- at [email protected]. During the library’s closure in April, staff Procedures with infectious individuals provided a number of services, including The board approved amendments to the library’s the launch of an e-mail reference service at Service and Administration Policy as follows: all four branches, check-in calls to regular “If a potentially infectious individual is customers, virtual knitting programs, a virtual identified, staff is advised to request that the yoga series, virtual storytimes, Facebook live person move into our designated isolation “Appy Hour” for technology needs, and cre- Privileged area, don a mask if not already wearing one, ation of COVID-19 resource guides. and remain there until they can be removed from the library. Emergency Medical Services Summer reading program will be called. Staff will not enter the area. Fol- The summer reading program for children to help. lowing their exit, the area will be cleaned and and adults will be offered virtually using new sanitized. Staff will be notified.” software. The director commented on how impor- Betsy Warner, Agent We’re honored to serve this community for 25 years. Reductions in general fund appropriations tant it is for the library to provide a summer 2491 Lee Blvd My staff and I look forward to many more with you. Due to the pandemic, the library expects reading program in 2020, due to school clo- Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 a 20-percent decrease in the state’s Public sures and pandemic shutdowns. “Spark Your Thank you for your continued support and business. Bus: 216-932-6900 ® Library Fund, which could amount to a rev- Creativity: Summer Reading 2020” will be betsywarner.com Get to a better State . Get State Farm. enue loss of $550,000; and a 20-percent provided through Beanstack, a fun and en- CALL ME TODAY. decrease in property tax collections, which gaging virtual platform on which to log read- could amount to $1,580,000. In [light of ing and complete activities. this] revenue decrease, the board approved a reduction in the 2020 general fund appro- LWV Observer: Elizabeth M. Tracy.

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Heights Observer July 1, 2020 13 www.heightsobserver.org HEIGHTS ARTS Heights Arts hosts virtual opening and offers by-appointment visits COURTESY HEIGHTS ARTS HEIGHTS COURTESY COURTESY HEIGHTS ARTS HEIGHTS COURTESY For GP, 2005, by Matthew Kolodziej. Hokosai, 2020, by Matthew Kolodziej.

Greg Donley Rachel Bernstein. “We continue to be honored to share their work with To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the community.” Heights Arts came up with an A virtual Ekphrastacy, with po- evolutionary idea: artists who had ets reading compositions inspired by previously been included in Heights the art in the show, is scheduled for Arts exhibitions would show one Thursday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. COURTESY NIGHTTOWN COURTESY work from the period during which In music programming, Heights Nighttown will be open for lunch, brunch and dinner starting July 1. they first exhibited, and one from Arts co-developed Random Acts of Art the present, thus showing how their LIVE, a summer-long collaboration work has evolved over time. The with FutureHeights and Classical Nighttown to re-open July 1 resulting exhibition, Evolution, runs Revolution Cleveland, to offer live July 10 through Aug. 23 at its 2175 Lee music across the Heights community Myra Orenstein taining Nighttown’s neighborhood Road gallery. and throughout Northeast Ohio. feel, has taken a lot of thought and A “virtualopening” reception These small-scale, socially distanced Brendan Ring plans to re-open planning and restructuring. And using Zoom is scheduled for Friday, live performances might take place Nighttown on July 1 at 3 p.m. we miss the people. This is such a July 10, at 7 p.m., featuring exhibition on a neighbor’s driveway or sidewalk, Five days before Gov. DeWine’s gathering space. We have so many images and artist comments. Sign up on the lawn of a senior living home, March 15 order that closed all Ohio regulars. We miss having them to get the link for the opening by e- or outdoors at a community facility. restaurants that evening, Ring, with us!” mailing [email protected]. Random Acts of Art LIVE also serves Nighttown’s owner, made the de- For now, Nighttown’s hosting In-person exhibition visits will be by as an open call to musicians—par- cision to shut down. He closed for of music, entertainment, and large appointment only, beginning July 11, ticularly those who have lost income the health of his employees, friends private gatherings remains on hold. with a limited number of visitors per due to the pandemic—to share their and patrons. There was no takeout. Ring wants to get the restaurant time slot. talents during the summer of 2020. There were no deliveries. The music up and running prior to making a Participating artists include: This unique program has been made stopped. determination about those aspects Pam Argentieri (jewelry, metals), possible by generous funding from As of July 2, Nighttown will of the business. Kevin Busta (furniture/lamps), the Angell Foundation. Private book- be open again on Thursday, Friday “Because of the current limi- Tim Callaghan (painting), Stepha- ings are also available. Those who and Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., for tation with the number of guests, nie Craig (ceramics), Sarah Curry would like to host an event, or pro- lunch and dinner. On Saturday and we’ve found it impossible to host (painting and printmaking), Mat- fessional performers who would like Sunday, Nighttown will open at 10 weddings and business meetings,” thew Gallagher (various media and to perform, can register at heightsarts. a.m., with brunch served until 3 explained Ring. painting), Sarah Kabot (cut-paper org/call-for-artists. p.m., and dinner served 3–9 p.m. Nighttown’s re-opening will assemblages), Lori Kella (color pho- Heights Arts will begin welcom- Masks will be required, and comprise its three patios (one is tography of artificial setups), Yuko ing a limited number of visitors, by social-distancing accommodations a dog patio), bar and restaurant. Kimura (paper and fiber art), David appointment only, beginning Satur- have been made. There is also a new 50-space park- King (painting), Matthew Kolodziej day, July 11. For the health and safety Nighttown also will be open on ing lot adjacent to the restaurant. (painting, collage, and other works of all, Heights Arts observes social- July 4, 3–9 p.m. For information, or reserva- on paper), Lynn Lofton (ceramics), distancing protocols. Guests should “The past months have been tions, call 216-795-0550. Doug Meyer (furniture and metals), wear masks while inside. See dates difficult from so many perspec- Brent Kee Young (glass), and Garie and times available for in-person tives,” said Ring. “We’ve had em- Myra Orenstein is a 30-plus-year Cleve- Waltzer (black-and-white photogra- viewing at heightsarts.org, and call ployees with us since I’ve been land Heights resident, and president of phy). 216-371-3457 or e-mail heightsarts@ here. Having to lay them off, even CATV, a marketing/advertising/pr col- “Heights Arts wouldn’t have heightsarts.org to reserve a slot. temporarily, was hard. laborative acting as executive director lasted one year, to say nothing of 20, “Creating a space with the re- of Cedar Fairmount SID, Cleveland without the amazing artists who live Greg Donley is chair of the Heights Arts quired social distancing, and yet re- Independents and Cleveland Shops. among us,” said Executive Director exhibition community team.

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Karen Seremak New zine features pandemic art ND, BCHHP Doctor of Naturopathy Board Certified Holistic Sheryl Banks working on while in quarantine.” Heath Practitioner The community’s artists deliv- In April, ered, and the result is “Quarantine Helping You to Regain Iyengar Yoga it became Zine, Volume 1,” a collection of art Your Health, Naturally. Stability • Vitality • Clarity clear that and comics made by local visual art- EssentialArcadia.com | 216.925.6645 the an- ists during Ohio’s shelter-in-place 2450 Fairmount, Cleveland Heights @EssentialArcadiaNaturalWellness nual Pekar order. (216)382-0592 www.greentarayoga.com Park Com- Atherton, also an artist, col- ics and Art lected the work and created the pub- Fest i va l , lication, a 14-page, black-and-white a sum- zine that can be downloaded from mer tra- Heights Libraries’ website, at www. dition in heightslibrary.org/coronazine-2020-05. Coventry Featured artists are Bryn Ad- V i l l a g e , ams, Kate Atherton, Lindsey Bryan, would have to be canceled or resched- Francis Collins, Jed Collins, Paula uled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Friedman, Craig Lindsley, Sevita Lo- Tree Removal • Yard Expansion While disappointing, the cancelation chan, Noelle Richard, and Christina Fertilization • Cable Support Pruning • Stump Grinding gave Adult Services Librarian John Turner. (440) 463-7379 for free estimate

Piche and Adult Services Associate Atherton hopes to distribute Mention “Observer”and get 20% off

Kate Atherton an idea. hard copies of the publication for Certified Arborist Fully insured “We thought it would be really free sometime in the near future, interesting to see how the shutdown when Heights Libraries’ opening is would be interpreted by our artist further along. “We were so sad we GAME ENCOURAGES SHOPPING continued friends and colleagues,” said Piche, had to cancel the comics festival, who draws a comic strip, “Magne- but out of that disappointment came from page 1 nesses. sium Sisters.” “Let’s see how our local this really beautiful artwork,” said Participants can submit bin- artists are handling this pandemic, Atherton. “Now we have a creative help out our businesses by hope- go entries more than once, and and ask them to tell their quarantine piece that documents this time, and fully driving additional business can continue to work on previous stories in comics form.” can be added to the Library’s zine to them,” said Trupo. cards while beginning new ones. Heights Libraries staff reached out collection—a small, silver lining.” She anticipates that the game to artists who had exhibited at the com- will continue through much of Jessica Schantz is the e-news man- ics and art festival in the past, asking for Sheryl Banks is the communications man- July. ager at the Heights Observer and “a 1–4 page story, comic, illustration or ager for the Cleveland Heights-University Each week, a new card will a longtime resident of Cleveland photo essay of a project you have been Heights Public Library System. be posted, featuring new busi- Heights.

Heights Observer July 1, 2020 15 www.heightsobserver.org HEIGHTS ARTS

I say I saw those groups, because I cer- Black and white summer tainly didn’t hear them. The screaming, one of the two or three Top-40 stations from start to finish, was so loud that you SONGS AND in any American city. Which also meant couldn’t even tell it was screaming. STORIES that along with the Stones, plus the That month, another friend’s Beatles’ “Paperback Writer,” I got Frank father took us to Leo’s Casino, on Eu- Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night.” And clid Avenue and 75th Street, to hear David Budin with the Troggs’ “Wild Thing” and the Stevie Wonder. Leo’s was one of the Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” I country’s premiere R&B nightclubs.

See that apartment building? It’s on got Ray Conniff’s “Somewhere My Love.” Black and white patrons sat together BUDIN DAVID the north side of Overlook Road, But that summer, I also got to hear and got along fine, even as blacks and In summer 1966, I painted every ceiling in this about halfway between Kenilworth Bob Dylan’s “I Want You,” Simon & whites were shooting at each other a Overlook Road apartment building. Road, to the east, and where Over- Garfunkle’s “I Am a Rock,” the Capi- few blocks away. look meets up with Edgehill Road tols’ “Cool Jerk,” the Animals’ “Don’t So, two bad day jobs, a huge and goes down the hill to Little Italy/ Bring Me Down,” Sam & Dave’s’ “Hold concert that I couldn’t hear, a great David Budin is a freelance writer for University Circle, to the west. On, I’m Coming,” the Yardbirds’ “Over, nightclub show I could hear well, and national and local publications, the former It’s big for a Cleveland Heights Under, Sideways, Down,” the Associa- three months’ worth of good summer editor of Cleveland Magazine and Northern apartment building. It’s all one build- tions’ “Along Comes Mary,” the Hollies’ nights, fairly safely ensconced in Cleve- Ohio Live, an author, and a professional musician and comedian. ing, but it has three separate entranc- “Bus Stop,” the Cyrkle’s “Red Rubber land Heights, away from the trouble, OHIO EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARDS es, with a total of 37 apartments. Ball,” Bobby Hebb’s “Sunny,” and about but not that far. It was an eye-opening His writing focuses on 2019 During the summer of 1966, 25 more. The same 40 songs all day. summer. By the end of it, I could see the arts and, especially, when I was between 11th and 12th And every half-hour, more news about black and white. pop-music history. BEST COLUMN grades, I spent some time in every the riots in Cleveland’s inner city. And one of those apartments. It wasn’t in other cities. because I was that popular; it was They would also throw in a few oldies, because I had the job of painting like the Ronnettes’ “Be My Baby.” I saw the every one of their ceilings. I painted Ronnettes, Bobby Hebb and the Cyrkle at them white, standing on a ladder, the end of the summer, performing at the looking straight up all day, getting old Cleveland Municipal Stadium, opening my face and glasses speckled with for the Beatles. My friend, whose mother white paint. And it was hot—no air was the custodian, bought tickets to the conditioning in any of the units. show for herself and me, for $3.50 apiece. But it was still better than the job I started with that summer—riding a Checker Bar Ice Cream bicycle all over Cleveland’s inner city—spe- cifically the Hough neighborhood— starting every morning from its Chester Avenue headquarters, which operated from 1930 to 1990 (and is still open as a store). I rode around, trying to sell frozen treats to people who had no money, on a bike—or tricycle, really—that was made in the A PROUD SUPPORTER OF 1940s, with no gearshift, and with a large, heavy box built onto the front, filled with ice cream and ice. That tricycle-truck contraption Healthcare Heroes. was very difficult to ride. And though the people in the neighborhoods We honor those who are fighting, researching and caring for others. wanted the popsicles, creamsicles, fudge bars, ice cream sandwiches We celebrate the courage and determination our community has shown. and ice cream bars, most had no money. Especially the little kids. I We thank our amazing team and the 5-star rated healthcare they provide wound up giving away more than I our residents all day, every day. In times of crisis and in calm, their strength, sold and I lost money. So after one week, I had to quit. I couldn’t afford support and compassion is always there. to work there. But it wouldn’t have lasted long, anyway. By the middle of July, the Hough neighborhood was engulfed in race riots. We Are Judson Strong. A friend’s mother was the custodian of that big apartment building on Overlook and she offered me the painting job. Each apartment took one day. I worked five days a week. So the job took a little more than seven weeks. And while I was painting it white, all I heard all day was “Paint It Black.” The Rolling Stones single was in the Top 40 that summer, and that was all I could get (that I wanted to hear) on the little portable radio that I moved from room to room and apartment to apartment. Back then, FM was not an option, unless you Bringing Community to Life since 1906 wanted to hear ethnic radio shows, representing various nationalities; or Northeast Ohio’s Premier Not-for-Profit Senior Living Communities so-called “elevator music” (so-called judsonsmartliving.org | (216) 350-0326 because that’s what was played in elevators). The only way to hear rock music on the radio was to listen to

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