november | december 2003 hroughout Shaker Heights, homes with festive fireplace settings,table tops and Tdecorations reflect the celebration of love, spiritual values and human dignity recognized by the diverse cultures of our community during a special time of year. Although they may be commemorated differently, these traditions of peace, hope and joy burn like the brightest of candles, reflecting all that is good around us. In Shaker Heights, different candles burn brightly for the same reasons! Happy Holidays from Smythe, Cramer Co., delighted to call Shaker Heights “home.” Smythe, Cramer Co. ~ Shaker Heights Office 20710 Chagrin Blvd., Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 Phone: 216.751.8550 Equal Housing Opportunity VOLUME 21 NUMBER 6 NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2003 14 20 28 14 In the Spotlight High School theatre plays a starring role BY SUSAN ILER 20 Offerings of the Season Delights abound at North Union Farmers Market BY LINDA TUTHILL 27 The Battle of Shaker Heights! Movie fails to win over teen reviewer BY MATT HERZFELD 28 Bon Appetit! Shaker chefs cook up feasts for the festivities BY AMY GARVEY 34 Homemade for the Holidays Local artists create gifts with a personal touch BY LINDA SASLOW 38 Shaker Journal: Of Mice and Men Shaker man discovers where the wild things are BY JOHN BRANDT 41 Young Photographer Takes to the Road Student turns his focus Southward 42 Neighbor Spotlight: Maxine Teplitz and James Brady BY AMY GARVEY THE COVER: FALL COLORS THE DEPARTMENTS TOWN TOPICS 3 LIBRARY HAPPENINGS 45 Photograph by John Godt OUT & ABOUT 58 SHAKER MOMENTS 72 1 NOVEMBERNOVEMBER | |DECEMBER DECEMBER 2003 2003 1 ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN•ETON•CHAGRIN Albert Furs Cold Stone Creamery Macaroni Smith & Hawken Anthropologie Europa Intl. Salon & Spa Mitchell’s Fish Market Solomon’s Barnes & Noble Fibres Organized Living Stone Oven Bakery Berger & Silver Jewelers Fidelity Investments Park Opticians Sur La Table Block Brothers at Home Fitigues Realty One Taqueria Pancho Villa Bonnie's Goubaud Fleming’s Prime Steak House Ruth's Chris Steak House Trader Joes Bossa Nova & Wine Bar The Sharper Image Tuscany Bravo! Cucina Italiana Gino's Hair Design Shoes by Boris The Writing Room Chico's Kilgore Trout 28699 CHAGRIN BOULEVARD • WOODMERE OHIO • 1/2 MILE EAST OF I-271 TOWN TOPICS Harvest time provides food for thought Election Reminder Now the chilly days are here to stay awhile, our thoughts inevitably turn to Don’t forget to exercise your right to Thanksgiving, America’s harvest festival, and perhaps our most poignant tradition, vote on November 4; polls are open where we all can share in the celebration of autumn’s bounty as we prepare for the from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. winter ahead. Shaker voters will be asked to elect We have a trio of seasonal stories in this issue of Shaker Life. Our writers have the mayor, four members of City found artists who create unique, hand-crafted gifts for the holidays and chefs who Council and two members of the Board help hosts prepare plates for the plenty (and who have kindly provided us with their own of Education. Mayor Judy Rawson is favorite recipes). And, remember, there’s no better place to find fresh produce than running unopposed; candidates for City the North Union Farmers Market at Shaker Square (see page 20). If you haven’t Council are Luiz F. Coelho, LaSondra visited for a while, the market is bigger than ever, selling not only fresh foods but arts, A. Davis, George M. George, Earl M. crafts, wreaths and other timely offerings. Leiken, Dominic J. Liberatore, Chris For those who like to say “Thank You” to their loved ones with special gifts, Litton, Nancy Moore, Brian Parker and don’t forget to shop locally this holiday season. Shaker has an array of eclectic shops Earl Williams, Jr. Candidates for the and boutiques or visit the Duck Pond Gift Shop at the Nature Center and the Shaker School Board are Norman Bliss, Mary Historical Museum’s Spirit Tree store to both buy unique gifts and help support our Johnson and Freda J. Levenson. local institutions. Also on the ballot is a measure that Finally, one of the things that makes me most thankful is the community spirit would allow the City, on the behalf of here in Shaker. What keeps Shaker Life magazine vibrant is being able to write about residents, to purchase gas as part of a people who give to our community as artists, philanthropists and business leaders, bulk buying consortium. If voters approve, who are inspiring teachers and caring doctors, pioneers in science, tireless volunteers the City can either sign up with the gas and involved parents. And we have a workforce second-to-none who provide top-notch aggregation plan offered by the City programs. Our thanks to you! Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) or create its own aggregation Happy Thanksgiving! program to facilitate savings. Felicity Hill For information on polling places and precincts, please visit www.shakeronline.com. Nominees Sought for Preservation Awards The Shaker Heights Landmark Commission • TLC AWARD FOR CONTINUED other property owners. Nominations is accepting nominations for its seventh STEWARDSHIP: For properties that can be submitted for single-family, two- annual Preservation Awards. Awards are have been carefully maintained by family and multiple-family houses, as given in the following categories: their conscientious owners. well as apartment buildings, commercial structures and religious buildings. To • ARCHITECTURALLY APPROPRIATE • RETENTION OF ORIGINAL nominate a property, please call the ADDITION: An addition that comple- MATERIALS: Preserving a struc- Planning Department for a nomination ments the architectural features of the ture’s original slate roof; replacing form, or write a letter explaining why the existing structure and is consistent with deteriorated wood siding with new property is being nominated. Include the Commission’s design guidelines. wood siding, rather than vinyl or your name and telephone number as (Please call the Planning Department aluminum; or other efforts proper- well as the nominee’s name, address and at 491-1430 for a free copy of the ty owners have made to retain or telephone number. A high-quality, color guidelines). restore the structure’s original photograph of the property is also materials and details. required. The deadline to send nomina- • BEFORE AND AFTER: For a dramatic tions is 5 p.m., Friday, December 19, exterior restoration. Property owners, architects or contrac- 2003. tors can nominate themselves and/or For more information, call Stacey Pfau at 491-1433. 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City Will Celebrate MLK’s “Beloved Community” Shaker resident and videographer Peter Gould (pictured) is inviting residents to speak in a short film he’s creating in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, birthday. The film, to be screened at the City’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Celebration, will focus on King’s vision of his “Beloved Community,” a place where unity, community service and genuine intergroup and interpersonal living are achieved. Participants will be asked their perspective on King’s goal, how much of his vision has been achieved here in Shaker Heights, and where we should go from here. Residents from all walks of life in Shaker are invited to respond. If you would like to participate, please visit www.shakeronline.com for time and locations. The free celebration, produced by the Human Relations Commission, is at 7 p.m., Jan. 22 at the Shaker Middle School. Roads and Railways Shaker Towne Centre Streetscaping Update Construction for the narrowing of Chagrin Boulevard at Shaker Towne Centre and the insertion of a road connecting Chagrin and Van Aken boulevards (to be known as Center Street) should begin in the spring. The project will go out to bid this fall. During the redesign, which is part of the $33-million Shaker Towne Centre revital- ization program, Chagrin Boulevard will be reconfigured to three lanes and will feature head-in on-street parking on the south side. Plans for a revitalized shopping center include an array of new stores and an updated façade. The pedestrian-friendly design, which includes new trees, decorative streetlights, benches, functional public art and plantings, will have a four-seasons theme and incorporate a gristmill sculpture created by Stephen Manka (see story page 10). The projected completion date is December 2004. Sussex Courts Streetscaping Completed After a summer of roadwork, the streetscaping adjacent to the Sussex Courts develop- ment on Chagrin Boulevard is receiving its finishing touches: Victorian style streetlamps, brick paving, trees, benches and on-street parking. The traffic lights have been relocated to facilitate flow at the intersection and new road markings are in place. Snow Plow Program Outlined The City’s fleet of snow plows and salt spreaders is well prepared for winter weather.