ssShakerhakerhaker Centennial 1912-2012 llifeife City of Shaker Heights, Ohio august september 2012 $3.50 Family Issue s Businesses s Grandparents s Integration PLUS Come Back to Shaker Weekend Window Cling Enclosed! shakeronline.com Expert care that’s in reach. And in-network. At University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center, we understand the importance of high quality health care that’s within your network. Which is why we participate in all major medical insurance networks in the region, including: s Medical Mutual of Ohio, including SuperMed s Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield s United Healthcare s Aetna s CIGNA s SummaCare So you can receive the care you deserve, with the insurance coverage you need. To access a complete list of insurance networks, visit UHAhuja.org/insurance or call the Insurance Access Line at 216-963-1500. At University Hospitals, our mission is you. 3999 Richmond Road Beachwood, Ohio 44122 1-866-UH4-CARE 1-866-844-2273 contents AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012 features DOWN TO THE GRANDMA & GRANDPA NUTS & BOLTS 26 ARE HERE 36 Shaker’s two hardware How two Shaker families stores have much in enjoy magic of multi- common, but customer generational living. loyalty is at the top of the list. departments: City News 3 The Shaker Schools Update 11 Real Estate News 15 Library News 16 Out & About 63 Calendar of events. Advertiser Index 75 THE STRAW BUY / LUDLOW: OUR CIVIL Shaker Observer 76 BUILT TO LAST 50 RIGHTS LANDMARK 42 Teach Your A look at the past and future of Shaker’s historic school buildings. The dramatic roles played Children. Well? by two families in the cause of civil rights in Shaker. on the cover: Fifth in Shaker Life’s Centennial cover series. Shaker Middle School students in the late 1980s. Photo courtesy of the Local History Collection, Shaker Heights Public Library. shaker life AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012 VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4 3400 Lee Road Shaker Heights, OH 44120 WEBSITE: shakeronline.com EMAIL: [email protected] VOICE MAIL: (216) 491-1459 FAX: (216) 491-1408 TTY: (216) 491-3161 EDITOR Rory O’Connor [email protected] DESIGN & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jennifer Coiley LIBRARY NEWS EDITOR Margaret Simon SHAKER SCHOOLS EDITORIAL ADVISOR Peggy Caldwell ADVERTISING MANAGER John Moore, (216) 531-4044 [email protected] AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Rebecca Wong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John R. Brandt, Beth Friedman-Romell, Christopher Johnston, Rita Kueber, Jennifer S. Kuhel, Nancy O’Connor, Jennifer Proe, Diana Simeon, Sue Starrett, Julie McGovern Voyzey CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Janet Century, Green Street Studio, Caydie Heller, Kevin G. Reeves, Alejandro Rivera READER COMMENTS: I champion change Please send comments and observations to Letters to the Editor, [email protected] or to Shaker Life, 3400 Lee Road, Shaker Heights, OH 44120. through global Letters may be edited for publication. STORY SUBMISSIONS: understanding. Shaker Life does not accept unsolicited editorial material, but story suggestions from residents are welcome. Send suggestions by email or letter. Please do not call. We cannot respond to every I live in Shaker Heights. suggestion but each will be given consideration. Freelancers: Please email the editor for guidelines. LOUNG UNG SUBSCRIPTIONS: Noted Author & Human Rights Activist Kim Golem, (216) 491-1419 SHAKER LIFE is published six times per year by the City of Shaker Heights, Department of Communications & Outreach, and distributed free to residents of the Shaker Heights City School District. Extra copies are available at area newsstands for $3.50. See shakeronline.com for locations. For general City information, call (216) 491-1400 or EMAIL: [email protected] ADA NOTICE: Upon request, the City can provide published materials in alternative formats to accommodate a person with a visual impairment. The views of the individuals and organizations interviewed in Shaker Life are not necessarily the oflcial views of the City of Shaker Heights. © City of Shaker Heights. All Rights Reserved. Printed on recycled paper. Please recycle this magazine. New Neighbors Welcome. Visit shakeronline.com or call 216.491.1332 to learn more. facebook.com/shakerheights Follow us on Twitter @shakeronline 2 WWW.SHAKERONLINE.COM CITY NEWS 1 pm Lemonade Day Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community 1-5 pm Building, 3450 Lee Road Throughout Shaker Heights To register for this free event: (in conjunction with the Home Tour) bit.ly/Shakerat100 Centennial Activities & Events Lemonade Day is a national organization The Centennial of Shaker Heights is an whose mission is to teach children how to Come Back to Shaker Weekend opportune moment to consider the role start, own and operate their own business of architecture and urban planning in the by running a lemonade stand. Lemonade SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 City’s longevity. Along with its history of stands will be set up at each house on the Shaker Heights Birthday Party & racial integration and strong public edu- home tour and throughout the City us- Home Based Business Fair cation, great design is a bedrock facet of ing the how-to kit provided by Lemonade 11 am-1 pm Shaker’s success. But how will future ur- Day of Northeast Ohio. Kits are limited. Horseshoe Lake Park ban trends put the City to the test? Can Cups and napkins included, lemonade not Shaker last another century? And if so, included. For information contact judith. To register for this free event: what role will architecture and design play [email protected]. bit.ly/ShakerBdayParty in its future? To register your Home Based Business: Movie in the Park bit.ly/ShopHBBizFair or email judith. Home Tour: Honoring the Past, Co-sponsored by [email protected] Celebrating the Future: Architectur- Moreland Community Association (Deadline to register a home based al Aesthetics over the Century 7:30 pm, movie starts at dusk business for the fair is August 10.) 1-5 pm Chelton Park Various homes in Shaker Heights To register for this free event: A free celebration for families with Cost: $15 in advance; $20 day of the tour, bit.ly/MovieCheltonPark refreshments, games, and activities. if available. Tickets are limited. Bring a picnic lunch and browse the To purchase tickets: All of Shaker is invited to attend and en- talents and industry of Shaker’s own bit.ly/ComeBackWeekend joy family friendly games and activities, entrepreneurs while the kids enjoy the Adults over 18, please; rain or shine food and drink concessions, and a family- park. What’s a birthday party without friendly movie. Bring a blanket or lawn cake? Dessert is on us! The house tour addresses the evolution chair to enjoy the fun. All minors must be of Shaker’s residential architecture dur- accompanied by an adult. Rockin’ Party at Thornton Park ing the course of the century. As the needs 7 pm-midnight of the family changed, so did architec- Elegant & Edible Series: Thornton Park ture and interior design. From the early Purchase tickets by August 25 at: Van Sweringen ideals of life, free from the Preserve It: Freezing and bit.ly/ComeBackWeekend burdens of the big city, to today’s LEED Canning Workshop aesthetic, the tour showcases eight homes Sponsored by the Join other adults at a ‘decked out’ in several neighborhoods of Shaker. These Nature Center at Shaker Lakes Thornton Park party with music, danc- homes follow the trends of the times from August 1, 7-9 pm ing, food and fun. Ticket price will the Vans’ concern for quality and detail to Taught by Judi Strauss, include dinner and dessert; cash bar today’s concern for energy efficiency and TheCharmedKitchen.com (beer and wine) will be available. sustainable design. Architects represent- 2600 South Park Boulevard ing Van Sweringen favorites are the focus Call 216-321-5935 to register SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 of the tour: Philip Small; Bloodgood and $8 for members, $10 for non-members. Tuttle; Fox, Duthie and Foose; and James Shaker at 100: The past, present Reese, as well as American Institute of Tons of tomatoes, a zillion zucchini, a raft and future of an American Utopia Architects members Kevin and Kyle Drey- of raspberries….What do you do when A talk by Steven Litt, fuss-Wells. the bumper crop hits? Learn to get the Cleveland Plain Dealer most from your garden and summer pro- SHAKER LIFE AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2012 3 CITY NEWS duce specials. From canning basics to Centennial Trees Grow in Shaker significant event, a historical landmark, or freezing, you’ll learn to safely store many a tree of unusual size, form, age or other fruits and vegetables. You’ll also receive Shaker’s urban forest: a site to behold. quality. The 2012 Centennial winner of recipes using fresh, frozen, and canned From the massive oaks to the delicate the Heritage Tree Award is an enormous produce. Participants will sample some weeping willows, Shaker’s trees are as Cottonwood tree located in front of the of the fruits of their labor in class. noteworthy as its distinguished homes. home of Bill and Andrea Grodin at 19400 To honor this treasured asset and mark South Woodland. Stretching 100 feet tall Canning and Preserving Demonstration the City’s Centennial, the Tree Advisory with a 100 foot spread, the tree towers Sunday, August 26, 2-4 pm Board will mount a photo exhibit at the over the corner of South Woodland and Donita Anderson, speaker, Main Library and bestow the annual Heri- Courtland making it an easy landmark for North Union Farmers Market tage Tree Award upon a particularly sig- friends visiting the Grodins’ house. Plymouth Church, 2860 Coventry Road nificant tree on South Woodland. “We estimate it is approximately 146 Registration: bit.ly/EandECanPres The photography exhibit features pho- years of age…older than Shaker!” wrote tographs by members of the Nature Pho- the Grodins on their nomination form.