Over 130 interested residents braved the cold winter weather to sneak a peek at the LaSalle Theater this past Monday evening. While the LaSalle Theater, which originally opened in the late 1920s, currently has no heat, the lights were on inside and the marquee was lit as people walked through the vacant theater and envisioned what the space could become. You could feel the energy and interest in the air as strangers greeted each other and shared this own recollections of the theater from its heyday and others compared notes on what it might take to return the LaSalle Theater, which originally sat about 800 theater-goers, to its proper grandeur.

On Tuesday, January 5th, 2010, Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Dr. Eugene Sanders unveiled his Academic Transformation Plan and Strategic Development Initiative recommendations. Some news was good and some was extremely troubling.  
The good news first: Collinwood High School and O.H.Perry, which had been rumored to be on the chopping block, have been spared from closing for the immediate future. Memorial K-8 school will be monitored for this year for a year two decision and Hannah Gibbons, the Nottingham K-8 school, has been placed in the “repurpose” category, which means that there will be academic changes and hopefully improvement over the next two years. Collinwood High School is also supposed to be repurposed and the question here is – what does this really mean in the long run? O. H. Perry is defined as a “growth school” which is great news; however, it looks like no additional funds are being recommended to improve the physical building, which as many of you know, I landmarked some years back and is in need of some capital repair.

Happy New Year to "The Collinwood Observer" and all of its readers. 
May this year bring happiness and blessings to all of you!

Dear Collinwood Observer Readers/Writers/Editors/Photographers:

Happy New Year.  I’m writing to let you know that The Collinwood Observer is under new, “all Collinwood” management. As you might have read in the very first paper, I grew up here and came over (from far away, that other “wood” across the river, Lakewood)  to help start the Collinwood Observer because I’m involved in working on the Lakewood Observer and I knew that a community-written paper and Collinwood would be a perfect fit.

The response of the community has been spectacular and the Collinwood Observer started filling up with articles, advice, ideas and recipes from the very first paper. We are entering 2010 with more than 200 members signed up on the Collinwood Observer website, and plans to make sure the paper expands in every way.  The Observation Deck-- a Message Board that runs 24 hours, where anybody can start a topic and get into a discussion or debate-- will be fully functioning this month, as
will the Business Listings section of the website. This section will allow advertisers and business owners to post information, pictures, menus, specials, etc. that will help them get their word out, and help readers figure out where they want to go for services, shopping and dinner.

Neighborhood Connections, the small grants program affiliated with The Cleveland Foundation, will offer workshops to those interested in applying for a grant. Funding is intended to support neighborhood projects done by neighborhood people in the City of Cleveland. Grants range from $500 to $5,000. Neighborhood Connections money is available throughout the City of Cleveland and groups that apply do not need to be incorporated non-profits (501(c)(3)s).

RTA is proposing many changes in service for the new year.  Here are the changes that will affect Collinwood.

If you would like to voice your suggestions or protest any of these changes, RTA asks that public comments be emailed to public-comment@gcrta.org or mail them to RTA Marketing and Communications, 1240 West Sixth St. Cleveland, OH 44113. RTA will be accepting comments until Jan 21. After hearings, some of the proposed changes might be modified further, so let your voices be heard.

Proposed Service Changes

Discontinue routes, segments of routes:

No. 239 Euclid-- on Babbitt between Interstate 90 and Lakeshore Blvd.

The Councilman is making a list and checking it twice. In an age of instant messaging and alerts, Councilman Polensek is creating his own list: an email list, that is.

This list will only be used to get neighborhood news and alerts disseminated out to the community faster. We now have the ability to set up this type of computer program  and enhance the immediacy of communication between the Councilman’s office and the community, and vice versa.  

While most of Collinwood was shopping and preparing to celebrate the holidays, two groups of youth did events raising money for local non-profit organizations they felt strongly needed help. Their efforts were successful in more than just fundraising.

When my husband and I opened our new business, Blue Arrow Records, on Waterloo Road in North Collinwood last March, we were oblivious to the large number of feral homeless cats struggling desperately to survive within a few blocks. It didn’t take long until I noticed kittens and adults roaming the neighborhood looking for food. There was a poorly managed colony near our building, where someone was feeding the cats, but not tending to their other physical needs, which was very upsetting to me since there were several sick kittens. (Feeding cats only keeps them healthy enough to breed rapidly….a pair of cats can produce 2 or more litters per year and the math gets crazy after that.)

SNOWSHOE SAMPLER AT CLEVELAND LAKEFRONT NATURE PRESERVE (DIKE 14)—SUNDAY, JANUARY 17 @ 1PM—3PM  Back in Ohio’s history, snowshoeing was a good way to get around in the winter. Today we have modern inventions that are better forms of transportation. But, snowshoeing is still a great way to explore nature’s winterscape and wildlife. We’ll meet at the park office for instruction from the Cleveland Metroparks IGO
Program and then snowshoe our way down to and out on Dike 14. Snowshoe rental and instruction provided free of charge to you courtesy of Cleveland Lakefront State Park. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited to 20 participants. Open to ages 8 and up. In the event of no snow there will be a winter hike offered.

FRIDAY FAMILY FUN NIGHT: FULL MOON HIKE, FRIDAY, JAN. 29 @ 7PM—8:30PM
Get over your case of the winter blues and join me for a night hike under the almost full wolf moon. While wolves haven’t been wild in Ohio in over 200 years, we’ll keep our eyes open for other animals of the night. We’ll meet at the Wildwood entrance parking lot. Dress for the weather.

 

Each January, Northeast Shores elects one third of its Board of Directors from its membership. This January 19th, Northeast Shores members will elect eight directors from the 12 nominees that entered their name for consideration. Elected nominees will each serve a three-year term on the board.

The holidays are over, our phony tree is stored away in the basement, and the kids are back to school. But like that spoiled kid who can't stop saying more, more, more.. I want more too, so here's my belated health care wish list:  

Two aspects of our health care system need serious improvement, and candidate Obama promised to address them both. First, some forty-plus million Americans lack any form of health insurance. Second, health care is far more expensive in the USA than in most of Western Europe and people in those other countries get care enough to live healthier lives than us and to live longer.

In this article I will tell you of my experience in forty some years of using Kaiser Permanente as the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) for our family and why I believe the low costs of Kaiser and the quality of their service indicate how both of these problems can and are being effectively addressed.

Aspinwall Church of God Mountain Assembly, with the support of other Mountain Assembly churches, again provided Christmas in October. This year it was for families in Haiti. Mountain Assembly has 30 churches and 2 children’s homes in Haiti. Since 1975, Aspinwall Church has sent help to Liberia, India, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Honduras, and Zimbabwe. On October 29, 2009 the 3,000 cubic feet container began the 2000-mile journey from Collinwood to the people of Haiti.  

Haiti shares 1/3 of an island with the Dominican Republic. In the 1700s, it was one of the wealthiest colonies in the world. They exported gold, sugar, indigo, coffee, and tobacco until their resources were exhausted. Haiti now faces soil erosion, an overwhelmed education system, a struggling economy, and extreme poverty. 

Today with so many large churches closing their doors, it is amazing that this small independent church remains open. It is not just another Christian church, it has a rich history dedicated to the principals of Spiritualism and Christianity. The Sunflower New Thought Spiritualist Association was founded in 1917 at 19001 Pawnee. The church itself was built in 1927 at 19204 Pawnee and called The Sunflower New Thought Spiritualist Association Church as a memorial to the students lost in the Collinwood Fire of 1908. The parents of Emma Baldwin were Spiritualists, who with their extended family lived on Pawnee and dedicated the land to build a Spiritualist church to honor those lost in the fire. The main directive of the church was to provide a place to promote new thought principles, religious observance, and charity.

Dear Grandmothers: Do you have any advice on what to do with kids who throw temper tantrums?

Dear Collinwood Observer Reader: Of course we do. We have advice on everything. Tantrums are something we are often asked about, because they are a stage of development parents would like to be able to move their child through as quickly as possible. Tantrums often occur in public places such as supermarket check-out lines and shopping malls. They are characterized by out-of-control screaming and thrashing, and if the parent starts screaming and thrashing herself, matters only get worse.

Best and belated New Year's wishes to all the Observer readers from the Partlow/Slea household! Dave, Marvin and I are rooting for our neighborhood and neighbors! I'm sure there's plenty of us who've resolved to eat better or get healthier in 2010. That's commendable. I'm resolving to pull off some more good grades and write more often! But hey, that's me-- we're talking about YOU. If you were expecting to find some low-fat stuff here in this column, sorry! But read on, I am going in the 'healthy' direction.

Kathy Galgczy, of Bakers Candies, is the epitome of what is good in Collinwood. Bakers Candies originally started in 1921 on Lexington and 55th, moved to Collinwood in 1946, at 1613 Holmes Ave., and has been a Collinwood business ever since. In 1995, they opened up a satellite store in Willoughby Hills on Chardon Rd. The business spans three generations in the Collinwood area, and their main plant still remains on Holmes Ave.

Recently, the family business decided to create a fundraiser for the Cleveland Food Bank, selling solid chocolate hippopotamuses, inspired by the Christmas song, "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas." 

Visual artist Terry Durst, who taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art and Cuyahoga Community College, moved to South Collinwood from Tremont four years ago. The move got him closer to the Waterloo Arts District and to the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, where he loves to see music, mostly country music or anyone that sounds like Neil Young. When he lived in Tremont, his friends knew to look up his home phone number by searching for Neil Young in the phone book, that's how much Durst believes and associates with the power of music.

Arts Collinwood ended 2009 on a high note. For the first time ever, we faced an incredibly generous $5,000 challenge grant -- and thanks to tremendous response from members, neighbors and supporters, successfully raised the funds to make the match. The Weekends on Waterloo Holiday Sale at Arts Collinwood Gallery was up 20% from 2008 -- thanks for shopping locally! We received significant funding from the Cleveland Foundation. And, in spite of a really tough economy, we made it through the year, and didn't cut any of our core programs, including operating our new arts center.The year ahead looks promising: we've reopened the Cafe at Arts Collinwood, with a new look, new art, new menu, new music and more. Check out the jazz nights, movie nights, and much more -- another great way to showcase local artistic talent, while supporting the arts. 

Breathtaking...stunning...unbelievable! No words can describe the beauty of "Avatar" because this movie is in a league of its own, with its wondrous special effects and sensitive script.

Early in December, the gym at St. Mary’s Collinwood School was filled with sixth, seventh and eighth graders but only one voice could be heard. That voice belonged to Father Donald Dunson, of the Saint Kizito Foundation and professor of Moral of Theology at Saint Mary’s Seminary Graduate School of Theology. The typically chatty group of students was transfixed as Father Dunson spoke of kids their own age living a very different existence.  He spoke of children being taken from their homes and being forced to do unthinkable acts. Boys as young as nine, being armed with automatic weapons and forced to use them against friends and neighbors. Girls no older than fourteen, exchanged and swapped like property, not knowing if they will ever see a friendly face again. Father Dunson was sharing a portion of the horror he has seen in the central African country of Uganda.

The first decade of the 20th Century was filled with discovery and invention. Our country was enjoying a decade of relative peace and prosperity. During this period, Collinwood and Nottingham villages were also very prosperous. The railroad, as well as business and industry, were growing and the population of the villages was expanding. The hearty immigrants brought their religion, their work ethics and their family values and built their homes, churches and their gathering places. The Collinwood School Fire of March 4, 1908 nearly devastated the community but the strong-willed immigrants continued on, despite their loss and worked even harder to build a cohesive community able to withstand anything life threw at them. Collinwood petitioned the City of Cleveland to become a part of their growing metropolis and in February 1910, Collinwood officially and legislatively is added to the City of Cleveland, able to receive services from the City while retaining their unique character. (The same happens with Nottingham Village in 1912 – but, that’s another story!)  

If I don't walk away

There will be drama

Someone can get their mamas

Uncles, Cousins, Brothers too

All them against you

Now you on the ground bleeding from the head

Laying up in the hospital bed thinking about today

I think it's better if I Walk Away

Noble Academy Cleveland’s Techno Team proudly displayed their aptitude of talent and skills during the First LEGO League Robotic Competition. On December 12, 2009 NAC’s Techno Team, under the guidance of our math teacher Mr. Emre and peer mentor Kerem Kose, advanced their level of competition and reputation by receiving 1st place in program design and 2nd place for overall score. The FLL Robotic Competition was held at Hathaway Brown School, and over 30 schools (private and public) participated. NAC applauds Steven Funnel (8th), David Chappel (8th), Jacob (6th) and Patricia (4th) Opperman, Kiyla Cooper (6th), and Anastasiya Thomas (4th) for their strong execution of skills in the competition. Along with the distinct awards earned, the team received an invitation to compete at the State level in February. As a community school, NAC continues to pave the way to excellence, and leads a student force that proves the effectiveness of community schools. Noble Academy Cleveland anticipates the State Competition with the prospect of attaining high marks.

A Jubilee Academy announces sponsorship of the USDA funded Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals are available to all enrolled participants without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability and will be served at no separate charge §226.23(d). In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. A Jubilee Academy is located at 15751 and 15875 Lakeshore Blvd. Guidelines for free and reduced price meals are effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The 

Noble Academy Cleveland hosted our 5th International Dinner on November 20th. The International dinner celebrates our diversity and value of education. This year, our celebration included the distinction of receiving an EXCELLENT rating on our Ohio Department of Education report card. Family, supporters, students, and staff spent the evening being entertained by student performances, hearing motivational speeches from our sponsors, and enjoying a diverse range of foods from different cultures. The International Dinner honors education and the dedication in providing a concrete foundation for tomorrow’s leaders. NAC would like to thank our special guests for participating in our celebration. Patricia Hughes and Joe Callinger from The Buckeye Hope Foundation, Ron Adler from Ohio Coalition for Quality Education, Terry Butler from Tri-C Metro Campus, and Lou Dresslar, our biggest fan and supporter, honored NAC by contributing to our night of celebration. Being in the company of our supporters reinforces our strength as a school. Our families, staff, and students are respectfully admired by our supporters and friends for their solid support and commitment to education. Noble Academy Cleveland’s students are competing in various events, and their accomplishments are anticipated. Good luck to our students, and thank you families for the support offered.

Imagine Bella Academy of Excellence, located on Bella Drive just off Neff Road, has recently acquired a Abitibi Paper Retriever as part of their initiative to raise student and community awareness of the importance of recycling. Through this program, Bella Academy will receive funds for each ton of paper recycled. Not only is this a great way to support the world-wide Green Initiative and preserve our planet, but it helps raise money for a new community school. Charter schools do not receive the same amount of funding that public schools do, so these types of programs are extremely important to Bella Academy. Items that can be brought to the paper bin include: newspapers, magazines, shopping catalogs, junk mail, office and school papers and phone books. Just look for the big green and yellow bin located in the parking lot. As we move into a new year, make it your resolution to support your local schools and the planet by recycling your paper! 

Dr. James Watson teaches ninth grade Physical Science and Biology at Collinwood High School. An avid cyclist, Dr. Watson often rides his bike thirteen miles from his home in Lakewood to the school.

The only chartered Little League in the City of Cleveland is located in the North Collinwood neighborhood. Northeast Cleveland Little League (NECLL) has been in operation since 1951. NECLL teams play their games at Grovewood Park in the North Collinwood neighborhood. NECLL is the only league in the city of Cleveland that is part of the National Little League competition out of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

Thank you to all the homeowners of Collinwood who spent countless hours and dollars decorating their homes for the holidays. You brightened our lives and spirits while we drove down your streets.

You’ve likely heard the term “local food” a lot recently. It’s one of those food ideas, like “organic” or “all natural” or “healthy," that comes popping up every few years. Like those other terms, “local food” is open for interpretation. I’ve seen Giant Eagle tout their bakery as “local” because it’s made in the store and I’ve seen Starbucks say that they're your “local” coffee shop because there’s one on every corner. Since these guys have the money to blanket the city with advertising and outlets, trying to figure out what “local food” means can be pretty confusing.

As a trustee on the board of the Coit Road Farmers Market, I’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot about what has become known as the “local food movement.” In recent years there’s been a rise in the demand for locally produced foods, and for good reason. With all of the e-coli outbreaks and other food-borne disease scares, it makes sense to want to know where your food is coming from. And it’s obviously a good idea to give your dollar to the guy down the street for something to eat rather than seeing that dollar go out of state, or even out of the country.