shakershaker NORTHEAST OHIO’S PREMIER COMMUNITY lifelife Shaker LaunchHouse Liftoff. Annual Report: State of the Schools april | may 2011 $3.50 shakeronline.com BEFORE BEFORE contents features & departments on the cover: Shaker LaunchHouse executives Lisa Buchan, Dar Caldwell, Paul Allen, and Todd Goldstein, photographed in February outside their new Lee Road headquarters. Photo by Janet Century COUNTDOWN UNDERGROUND GUARDING LIVES 37 TO SHAKER SHAKER 31 Thornton Park’s life- LAUNCHHOUSE 24 The basement. guards, young as they LaunchHouse is ready So very practical. are, are certified gold. to transform economic development in the City. more departments: City News 3 Centennial Committee Floats Idea for Memorial Day Parade. The Shaker Schools Update 8 Real Estate News 11 Library News 13 Out & About 57 GOOD THINGS THE STATE OF FROM THE GARDENS 39 THE SCHOOLS Calendar of events. The Shaker Historical REPORT 2011 43 Advertiser Index 67 Society’s annual garden Shaker schools are tour and The Nature balancing preparation of Shaker Observer 68 Center’s Pestival. all students for a global Sore Backs, Crushed economy with fiscal Daffodils, Singed restraint. Eyebrows: Ah! Spring shaker renters... shakershaker life ready to become a APRIL | MAY 2011 shaker homeowner? VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 3400 Lee Road Shaker Heights, OH 44120 WEBSITE: shakeronline.com EMAIL: [email protected] low-interest VOICE MAIL: (216) 491-1459 FAX: (216) 491-1408 TTY: (216) 491-3161 down payment EDITOR assistance loans Rory O’Connor [email protected] are available in DESIGN & PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jennifer Coiley Dial designated CITY NEWS AND REAL ESTATE NEWS EDITOR Vicki Blank neighborhoods [email protected] LIBRARY NEWS EDITOR Margaret Simon call 491-1457 SHAKER SCHOOLS EDITORIAL ADVISOR Peggy Caldwell for more info ADVERTISING MANAGER fund for the future of shaker heights John Moore, (216) 531-4044 [email protected] enhancing neighborhood diversity since 1986 AD SALES REPRESENTATIVE Rebecca Wong CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Brandt, Beth Friedman-Romell, Christopher Johnston, Rita Kueber, Nancy O’Connor, Jennifer Proe, Diana Simeon, Sue Starrett CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Janet Century, Green Street Studio, I view excellence Caydie Heller, Kevin G. Reeves, Alex Rivera READER COMMENTS: Please send comments and observations to Letters to the Editor, as non-negotiable. [email protected] or to Shaker Life, 3400 Lee Road, Shaker Heights, OH 44120. I live in Shaker Heights. Letters may be edited for publication. STORY SUBMISSIONS: MARGARET WONG Shaker Life does not accept unsolicited editorial material, but story suggestions from residents are welcome. Send suggestions by email America’s Immigration Attorney or letter. Please do not call. We cannot respond to every suggestion Margaret W. Wong & Associates Co., LPA but each will be given consideration. Freelancers: Please email the editor for guidelines. SUBSCRIPTIONS: 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 official 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. Follow us on Twitter @ShakerCom. 2 WWW.SHAKERONLINE.COM city news League members Linda Lalley Centennial Committee have a minimum of 75 signatures and a and Mary Mulligan, who are both Floats Idea for Memorial maximum of 225 signatures. The filing past presidents of the LWV-Shaker Day Parade fee is $30. Heights, jointly lead the initiative. Interested residents must pull their Lalley is also past president of the Memorial Day is just around the cor- own petition at the Cuyahoga County LWV-Ohio, former chair of the bud- ner. The Shaker Centennial committee Board of Elections located at 2925 Eu- get committee for the LWV-United is working to grow the Memorial Day clid Avenue. States, and a former CPA. Mulligan is parade, and they need your help – and a former member of the City’s Eco- your creativity. Show your Shaker pride Get Involved nomic Development Committee and by joining with your neighbors to create is a League observer for the Shaker a float with flair to honor your street in The Shaker Heights Citizens Com- school board. this year’s parade. Which neighborhood mittee is a political action committee The sessions began in January with will have the most streets represented? whose purpose is to seek and encour- a roundtable discussion of the 2010 Which float will be the most creative? age qualified candidates to run for the Mayor’s Financial Task Force re- Come to the 2011 Shaker Heights Me- school board. If you are interested in port. A session in February featured morial Day Parade to find out! To learn learning more about the SHCC process the topic “Exploring Alternatives for more about how to enter your float in or becoming a member, contact Doug Sustaining Shaker during Changing the parade, please e-mail Abbey Green- Wang at [email protected] or Meg Bell at Times” with presentations by Mayor field at [email protected]. [email protected]. Earl Leiken, Planning Director Joyce Braverman, and Economic Develop- Mayoral, Council, and League of Women Voters ment Director Tania Menesse. Board of Education Holds Forums on Shaker’s “The League has a long tradition Elections Slated for Fall Economic Future of presenting fair and impartial in- formation about the issues and the Four-year terms for the Mayor, four The League of Women Voters of Shaker candidates to the citizens of Shaker City Council Members and two School Heights has a long and respected his- Heights,” says Mayor Leiken. “Their Board Members expire on December tory of providing nonpartisan education educational and comprehensive ex- 31. Elections for these seats will be held to voters about political issues and can- amination of local politics is enor- November 8. didates. For example, the LWV-Shaker mously valuable to our community.” City Council members with expiring Heights joined forces with two other Future sessions are slated to cover terms are James Brady, Al Foster, Nancy local chapters last fall to host candidate the marketability of Shaker Heights Moore, and Earl Williams. Residents in- forums for the newly reorganized county for residents and businesses and an terested in running for Mayor or a seat government. League members also regu- examination of the budget issues on City Council must file a petition by larly attend city and county government which impact the Shaker schools. August 10 at 4 pm. Petitions must have a committee meetings in order to provide The sessions are currently open only minimum of 205 and a maximum of 615 objective observer reports. to League members, although anyone signatures. Petitions may be pre-checked They are perhaps best known for the interested in attending may join at for accuracy before August 2. The filing voter’s guide they mail free of charge to the door. Membership forms are also fee is $45. The City Charter does not every household in Shaker prior to ma- available at shakerlwv.org. permit write-in candidates. jor local elections. Membership in the LWV-Shaker School Board members whose terms This spring, the League’s economic Heights is open to everyone, male expire this year are Freda Levenson and development committee is embarking or female. Basic membership dues Peter Robertson. Residents interested in on an initiative called Sustaining Shaker, are $55 per year, of which the local running for a seat on the School Board a series of forums designed to educate its league keeps only about 30 cents, as must file a petition by August 10 at 4 members about economic issues impact- the dues also provide membership in pm. Petitions may be pre-checked for ing the City of Shaker Heights and the the state League and national League. accuracy before August 2. Petitions must Shaker schools. SHAKER LIFE APRIL | MAY 2011 3 city news By joining, members gain access to a wide and processing costs, saving taxpayers native, and virtuosic live performances. variety of forums and studies, and can money. Vieaux began guitar studies at age eight actively participate in education and ad- with Jeremy Sparks in Buffalo, New York, vocacy efforts at the local, state, and na- E-Filing offers: and continued study at the Cleveland In- tional level. • Simple step-by-step calculation of taxes stitute of Music with John Holmquist. “Shaker Leaguers are fervent in their or refunds The Cleveland Institute of Music honored devotion to Shaker Heights, but we’re • Ability to file even if you moved in Vieaux with their Alumni Achievement watchdogs, too,” says Marcia Goldberg, 2011 Award in 1998. president of the Shaker League. “We • Electronic transfer of refunds into He has toured throughout America, want our political leaders to make good checking or savings account Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Far East, decisions based on sound reasoning and • Pay by credit card or ACH (electronic Australia, and New Zealand. To hear sam- public input, and we’re here to help.” debit of checking or savings account) ples of his music, visit jasonvieaux.com. • Delay-payment of taxes (file as early as The cost of the program is $30, or Shaker Heights High School you like and set up payment date for any- $25 for SHAC members, and includes a PTO’s Annual Flower Sale time before April 15) wine and cheese reception and dessert afterward.