Shaker Heights
From the reclamation of the Henninger Landfill to saving a Russell Township farm, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy fosters thriving urban centers, green space and more by preserving some 5,000 acres annually.
Whether it's a national design competition, kids making their own space or locals splashing color amid an active greenspace, Shaker Heights' Moreland district is alive with art and community collaboration.
In this special op-ed for Fresh Water, Brandon Chrostowski, founder of EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, gives Clevelanders powerful and sobering reminders on the heels of the city's remarkable summer of 2016.
This series of stories, "Grassroots Success: Awakening the Power of Families and Neighborhoods," explores how meaningful impact on our communities grows from the ground up. Support for "Grassroots Success" is provided by Neighborhood Connections.
Alex Robertson is smart, ambitious, and successful. And after leaving Glenville to attend Ivy League Columbia University in New York City, he returned home to share what he has gleaned and improve his neighborhood by making it more fun.
Robertson threw a birthday party for his entire community when he first formed the pop-up game and event organization Recess Cleveland (recessCLE). Its first event was held on his 31st birthday, August 9, 2015.
“Birthdays are always a good time to get people out to an event,” says Robertson. “I told my friend, for my birthday I want to throw dodge balls at you.”
Approximately 50 people showed up. They divided the group into age 21 and under and age 22 and older.
”The highlight of the day was a 65-year-old grandma pitching to five-year-old kids,” Robertson says. “When she was kicking, she kicked a line-drive to the outfield. So all the kids were like, ‘Granny’s got legs!’ We did get her a designated runner, though.”
Continue reading.
Alex Robertson is smart, ambitious, and successful. And after leaving Glenville to attend Ivy League Columbia University in New York City, he returned home to share what he has gleaned and improve his neighborhood by making it more fun.
Robertson threw a birthday party for his entire community when he first formed the pop-up game and event organization Recess Cleveland (recessCLE). Its first event was held on his 31st birthday, August 9, 2015.
“Birthdays are always a good time to get people out to an event,” says Robertson. “I told my friend, for my birthday I want to throw dodge balls at you.”
Approximately 50 people showed up. They divided the group into age 21 and under and age 22 and older.
”The highlight of the day was a 65-year-old grandma pitching to five-year-old kids,” Robertson says. “When she was kicking, she kicked a line-drive to the outfield. So all the kids were like, ‘Granny’s got legs!’ We did get her a designated runner, though.”
Continue reading.
Cleveland actor Lara Mielcarek's fledgling coalition is bringing Shakespeare – and a new dimension of life – to area inmates.
The City of Shaker Heights turned to its residents for input on how the forthcoming Van Aken District development will take shape and appropriately reflect the rest of the iconic city.
The nationally syndicated columnist chats about the state of feminism in America, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
Dropping that plastic water bottle into a recycling bin is just the beginning of the story. And far too often, we're all making big recycling mistakes.
With affordable housing stock, easy access to amenities and a friendly atmosphere for artists and entrepreneurs, the Moreland district in Shaker Heights is a tiny grid of streets that's poised to take off.
Fresh Water invites readers to enjoy this unique round-up of neighbors that you've likely never met even though they've been around longer than the oldest Clevelander you know.
Three programs in Northeast Ohio that attract high school students from across the globe offer an intense and realistic preview of life in a college arts program.
Rain garden workshop slated for April 2 at Shaker Lakes Nature Center
On Saturday, April 2, from 10 am to noon at the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership and the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes will present "Rain Garden Workshop: How to Earn Stormwater Credits."
The timely workshop comes ahead of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's plan to begin billing for stormwater this summer. Tori Mills from the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will explain how impervious areas are measured, how fees are calculated, and give examples of stormwater credit opportunities. Garrett Ormiston from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will explain where, why and how to construct a rain garden and what native plants work best.
For more information and to register online, visit The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, or call 216-321-5935. The workshop fee is $8 for Nature Center members, $10 for non-members.
Get more details here.
The timely workshop comes ahead of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's plan to begin billing for stormwater this summer. Tori Mills from the Doan Brook Watershed Partnership will explain how impervious areas are measured, how fees are calculated, and give examples of stormwater credit opportunities. Garrett Ormiston from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History will explain where, why and how to construct a rain garden and what native plants work best.
For more information and to register online, visit The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, or call 216-321-5935. The workshop fee is $8 for Nature Center members, $10 for non-members.
Get more details here.
The Jack and Linda Lissauer Gallery at the Shaker Historical Society (SHS), 16740 South Park Blvd., will display the work of Leslye Arian via her show “Pushing Paint,” which will be on display from March 25 through May 15.
The opening reception will be held at SHS on April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Arian will be in attendance. This event is free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to make a reservation by calling 216-921-1201.
Arian currently serves on the Cleveland Institute of Art's alumni board and in 2015, she initiated the Pocket Park Public Art Project and the Shaker Community Gallery Project in Shaker Heights.
Get more details on Arian and the forthcoming show here.
The opening reception will be held at SHS on April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Arian will be in attendance. This event is free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to make a reservation by calling 216-921-1201.
Arian currently serves on the Cleveland Institute of Art's alumni board and in 2015, she initiated the Pocket Park Public Art Project and the Shaker Community Gallery Project in Shaker Heights.
Get more details on Arian and the forthcoming show here.
Joe Calabrese, CEO and General Manager of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) advocated for more transit funding in testimony on Feb. 16 at the Statehouse.
"RTA is the largest public transportation agency in Ohio. My employees, who reside in 16 of Ohio counties, serve approximately 50 million customers each year in Cuyahoga and several neighboring counties," said Calabrese in his address.
"Public transit in Ohio is a $900 million industry that supports many manufacturers, suppliers and jobs.
Public transit gets workers to work, students to school, connects important destinations, drives economic development and provides mobility to many Ohioans who have no other mobility option due to economic realities or disabilities."
Read his comments in their entirety here.
"RTA is the largest public transportation agency in Ohio. My employees, who reside in 16 of Ohio counties, serve approximately 50 million customers each year in Cuyahoga and several neighboring counties," said Calabrese in his address.
"Public transit in Ohio is a $900 million industry that supports many manufacturers, suppliers and jobs.
Public transit gets workers to work, students to school, connects important destinations, drives economic development and provides mobility to many Ohioans who have no other mobility option due to economic realities or disabilities."
Read his comments in their entirety here.
Known for its tree-lined streets, opulent houses and sense of community, Shaker Heights officials are asking people to share their views of the city in a photo.
In honor of National Preservation Month in May, the Shaker Heights Landmark Commission is having its fourth annual Preservation Month Photo Contest.
“We look at it as a fun way to celebrate the community,” says Ann Klavora, principal planner in Shaker’s planning department. “We’re asking for both residents and non-residents – anyone who likes Shaker – to show what makes Shaker a special place to them.”
Photos will be accepted in three categories: architecture/building; landscape/nature; and community. Last year, a “unique perspective” category was created for Shaker resident Peter Miller’s submission of four photos of Horseshoe Lake taken with a drone.
You need not be a pro to submit a photo, Klavora says, or have a drone. “Whatever strikes someone’s fancy,” she says. “We get submissions from folks who are clearly professional photographers and folks who are clearly not professionals. We’ve gotten all sorts of pictures.”
Klavora says communities all around the country hold similar events and projects to celebrate National Preservation Month. “We thought this was a fun way of celebrating,” she says. “You don’t have to go to a meeting, you just have to take the picture.”
The photo contest in free to enter. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on March 31. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges from the Landmark Commission and will be announced on May 1. The winners will receive name credit for their photos, which will appear on Shaker's Facebook page, and the city will use the photos for social media.
In honor of National Preservation Month in May, the Shaker Heights Landmark Commission is having its fourth annual Preservation Month Photo Contest.
“We look at it as a fun way to celebrate the community,” says Ann Klavora, principal planner in Shaker’s planning department. “We’re asking for both residents and non-residents – anyone who likes Shaker – to show what makes Shaker a special place to them.”
Photos will be accepted in three categories: architecture/building; landscape/nature; and community. Last year, a “unique perspective” category was created for Shaker resident Peter Miller’s submission of four photos of Horseshoe Lake taken with a drone.
You need not be a pro to submit a photo, Klavora says, or have a drone. “Whatever strikes someone’s fancy,” she says. “We get submissions from folks who are clearly professional photographers and folks who are clearly not professionals. We’ve gotten all sorts of pictures.”
Klavora says communities all around the country hold similar events and projects to celebrate National Preservation Month. “We thought this was a fun way of celebrating,” she says. “You don’t have to go to a meeting, you just have to take the picture.”
The photo contest in free to enter. Submissions will be accepted until midnight on March 31. The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges from the Landmark Commission and will be announced on May 1. The winners will receive name credit for their photos, which will appear on Shaker's Facebook page, and the city will use the photos for social media.