Friday, April 19, 2024

Indoor Track Team Brings First State Championship in Any Sport to Heights High in Sixteen Years

On March 1, 2024, the Heights High Indoor Track Team defeated 71 other teams to become the 2024 Ohio Indoor Track State Champions. Mayor Kahlil Seren presented the team and its coaches proclamations at the Monday, April 15, 2024, Cleveland Heights City Council meeting congratulating them on their achievement.

CH-UH Athletic Director Joe D'Amato provides an account of the team's victory at Boys Track Wins Indoor State Championship.

The team members and coaches are:

Michael Middleton, Senior
Marquise Davis, Junior
Joziah Wyley, Junior
Jay’vier Kerr, Sophomore
Henry Perrymond, Sophomore
Aiden West, Sophomore
Scott McNulty, Coach
Brandon Biggom, Assistant Coach

Click the image to the left to read the proclamation.

See the Applications and Interviews of City Council Applicants

Seventeen people initially applied to fill the Cleveland Heights City Council seat vacated by Janine Boyd. Six applicants withdrew. The applications and interviews of the remaining eleven candidates are available on the City's website.

Transformed 'Nobility Court' apartments may be on their way to Cleveland Heights' north end

From Cleveland.com

Developers of the proposed “Nobility Court” apartment complex now have their sights set on final approvals from the city.

Coming off of Planning Commission approval earlier this month and eight community meetings prior to that, the proposed development formerly known as “Noble Station” has a new name and a nearly complete transformation since City Council rejected the initial proposal in September.

From there, TWG Development officials requested a six-month extension from council on the project agreement so that the state’s affordable housing tax credits would not expire.

That’s when the real work began, TWG Development Director Alex Frazier told council during an update Monday (April 15).

“After the development agreement got shot down, we were left with two choices,” Frazier said. “We could try to redo this thing or just get out of town.”

Opting for a second chance to head back to the drawing board with tax credits for the $14.7 million project still in play, TWG and local partner Start Right Community Development Corp. brought on board architect, urban planner and outspoken critic of the original project Paul Volpe.

Volpe, in turn, recruited Bialosky Architects and came up with a design that few of the early opponents would even recognize.

“I was one of those 50 people saying that this was a bad project at the start,” Volpe told council.

“And I think that some of the strongest supporters now are the people who were opposed to it in the beginning...”

Cleveland Heights promises action for businesses impacted by construction along Cedar-Lee

From news5Cleveland.com

In the heart of the Cedar Lee District, it rises the $60 million mixed-use development known as the Marquee at Cedar Lee. It brings together 200 luxury apartments and more than 8,500 square feet of commercial retail space. A combination that stands to serve as an anchor of future growth on what was an underutilized piece of land along Lee.

It's a project business owners know is key to their future success, but they have concerns about the present...

Mayor Seren Submits DORA Application for the Cedar Lee District to City Council

The most memorable urban places have figured out how to knit together public and private spaces into a seamless experience that generates a feeling less inhibited by hard barriers. Whether you’re in New York’s Times Square or Barcelona’s La Rambla, a combination of culture, design, and rules are at work, making the experience memorable.

This week, Cleveland Heights introduced rules that would enable its commercial districts to participate in this placemaking revolution, starting with the Cedar-Lee District. Mayor Seren introduced an application for a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) for the City Council's consideration. If approved, the DORA would allow and encourage people to take adult beverages from participating establishments outside and to other district establishments.

“A DORA will enable people to enjoy the outdoor spaces being created by The Marquee, the new development at Cedar-Lee-Meadowbrook, with food and beverages provided by district liquor license holders,” said Destiny Burns, owner of CLE Urban Winery, one of 19 bars and restaurants permitted to serve alcohol in the DORA.

“A DORA also will encourage more people to visit Cedar-Lee for longer periods of time because they will be able to travel from location to location on the street,” Burns said. “It also lends itself to more specific event programming that will be able to capitalize on the attractiveness of the DORA, like the Heights Music Hop, and enable attendees to more easily travel from venue to venue along Lee Road.”

“The merchants in Cedar-Lee work well together and support each other – a DORA will enable that collaboration to be even more robust, direct, and impactful,” Burns added.

Rules of the DORA

You have to be a liquor permit holder in order to sell alcohol in the DORA.
Businesses within the DORA can elect to participate or not participate. That includes non-alcohol serving businesses allowing alcoholic beverages to be brought into their business or not. Liquor permit businesses can also elect to participate in the DORA or not.
Visitors would be able to walk anywhere within the District with an approved DORA cup (provided the businesses they enter are participating in the DORA).
The application specifies the hours for the DORA – Monday-Thursday 4-9 pm; Friday 4-11; Saturday 12-11 pm; and Sunday 12-8 pm.

Join The Alma Club by purchasing tickets to multiple shows in one transaction, and receive discounts, premium seating, and additional benefits.

The 2024 Cain Park Theater Season includes four shows:

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

May 31 – June 9

Big Fish

June 20 – 30

Hype Man

July 12 – 21

A View from the Bridge

September 6 – 15

Alma Club Levels

Debut Level 4 tickets / 2 or more performances – $120

Encore Level 8 tickets / 4 or more performances – $216

Ovation Level 10 or more tickets / 4 or more performances – $250

All tickets must be purchased on one transaction. The purchase must be made over the phone by calling 216-371-3000 or in person at the Cain Park Ticket Office.

Preview and Discount Performances do not apply.

Friends of Cain Park President Gary Lustic organized a native plant garden at the Evans Amphitheater east entrance. Volunteers from several local initiatives planted 15 species of donated plants.

Cleveland Heights to host Climate Action and Resiliency Plan Visioning Workshop

Wednesday, May 8

7:00–8:30 pm

Cleveland Heights Community Center

The City of Cleveland Heights is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to create its very first Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP). In this CARP, we will identify strategies for the city and community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate impacts, while advancing our equity, sustainability, and resilience goals. This is an opportunity to come together, share our ideas, and co-create a vision for a sustainable future that reflects the values and aspirations of every member of our community.

To kick off our community engagement series, we are hosting a Visioning Workshop to gain insights on climate impacts facing Cleveland Heights and understand the community’s priorities for the CARP. And we want to hear from YOU! Whether you're passionate about renewable energy, sustainable transportation, or equitable access to resources, your input will shape the future of Cleveland Heights.

Refreshments and light snacks will be provided. Translation services can be arranged in advance upon request. Child-friendly activities will be available on-site.

RSVP to the event here

Would you like a free tree for your tree lawn?

In the spring and fall, the City of Cleveland Heights plants trees on tree lawns throughout the city.

The City’s supply of spring trees is in and the Division of Forestry is taking requests to plant them. There are three tree species to choose from:

Eastern Redbud
Flowering Dogwood
White Oak

If you would like a free tree planted in your tree lawn, call 216-691-7300.

Offer good while supplies last.

April is Fair Housing Month

Mayoral Appointments to Boards and Commissions

A select few of Cleveland Heights' Boards and Commissions have members who are appointed by the Mayor.

Mayor Seren is looking for qualified, civically interested candidates to fill seats on these important municipal bodies. The Boards and Commissions to which the Mayor appoints are:

If you would like to be considered for appointment by the Mayor to any of these Boards and Commissions, please visit the link below to complete the application form.

Mayoral Boards and Commissions Application

Parks and Recreation Programs

Baseball and Softball

Soccer and Camps

Skating

Adult Fitness

Wellness

Martial Arts

Other Programs

Upcoming Events

HRRC offers free organic lawncare class in honor of Earth Day

Organic Lawncare Workshop

7:00–12:00 am

Monday, April 22, 2024

If you are interested learning about organic lawn care then this workshop is for you! An expert from Good Nature Organic Lawn Care will be on hand to guide you through the process of caring for your lawn in an environmentally safe manner.

HRRC will be covering the following:

Why consider going organic… is it actually better?

How to replace those chemical applications with natural products and practices.

How to make sure it’s truly organic.

Tips to improve your lawn and spend less money.

Fee: Free

Location:

Home Repair Resource Center

2520 Noble Rd

Cleveland Heights, Oh 44121

Senior violin soloist, Sophia Muller, will perform The Lark Ascending by Vaughn Williams at the Friday, April 26 concert.

Lake Erie Ink Teen Program

Grades 6-8

July 8-12 | 1-4pm | $125

Through hands-on activities, work-shops, and group projects, participants will learn the fundamentals of storytelling, script development, and creative content creation. Participants will have the opportunity to bring their ideas to life and share their creativity with the world. Whether it’s scripting a short film, creating engaging social media content, or developing a podcast, this camp empowers young creators to express themselves and explore the exciting world of digital media.

Grades 6-12

Mondays | 6:30-8pm

June 10-July 22 | FREE

Pride Outside is a unique program designed to provide a safe and inclusive space for young individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and allies to explore and express their creative writing talents. Through workshops, group discussions, and public art, teens will have the opportunity to develop their writing skills, hone their storytelling abilities, and contribute to a vibrant collection of LGBTQ+ literature.

Grades 9-12

Mondays & Tuesdays | July 8-30 | 5-8pm | FREE

Calling all podcasters and audio storytellers! In this intensive summer workshop just for teens, you’ll report, write and produce a short nonfiction audio story about your life or community… in just four weeks!

You’ll learn how to gather sound, do interviews, pull tape, write scripts… and get an awesome audio story together. Finished pieces will be shared in a special exhibition at the close of the workshop. Participants who complete the program and share their work at the exhibition will receive a stipend. Click here for more information.

Grades 6-12

Thursdays | 6:30-8pm | June 13-July 18 | FREE

Poetry in the Park is a teen program that invites young poets and poetry enthusiasts to come together and express themselves in the serene setting of a local park. This program provides a platform for teenagers to share their original poems, engage in open mic sessions, and participate in creative writing workshops.

Please join FutureHeights at CC'24 #1: Active Transportation - Living Less Car-Centric in the Heights, their first forum of 2024 on Tuesday, April 30 from 7:00-8:30pm at Made Cleveland (1807 Coventry Road) where they will discuss the first community-selected topic of their four-part series: "Active Transportation - Living Less Car-Centric in the Heights." These forums are in-person only.