I am sure that you read by now about the proposed relocation of Ginn Academy from the former Margaret Spellacy School on East 162 Street to Glenville High School for the next school year.

Many of you know that I worked diligently with Coach Ted Ginn, Sr. over the last three years to find a permanent suitable location to house “Ted’s dream” of a stand–alone, all boys, single gender, academy; one that placed safety, security and academic excellence as its core values. To hear that Ginn Academy is now being proposed to be relocated into a general high school is a tragic turn of events.

After CMSD put $2.5 million into renovating the present building, their consultant from Boston recommends, in order to shore-up Glenville, that the District should place Ginn Academy in the building with an all-girls academy, as well. This would totally defeat what Ginn was supposed to be about from day one. Time is of the essence. We cannot let them destroy this vision because “Ted’s dream” is working.

I am in the process of organizing parents, concerned citizens and anyone else who believes that the young men in Ginn Academy have a right to succeed and to become somebody. I urge you to contact CMSD Board members at (216) 574-8585 or email them via Kevin Burtzlaff, Board Liaison, at kevin.burtzlaff@cmsdnet.net or mail a letter to them at the Board of Education, Administration Building, 1380 East Sixth Street, Room 152, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, to express your outrage and concerns. Members names are online at www.cmsdnet.net.   

On January 18, 2010, fifty students and thirteen teachers from Collinwood High School chose to honor Dr. Martin Luther King’s memory by participating in a “day ON, not a day off.” Joined by City Year corps members, community volunteers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, the students and staff of Collinwood painted over 25,000 square feet of hallways and helped Collinwood Principal Deborah D. Moore launch the “Be Like Lebron” campaign, a school-wide initiative to foster teamwork and collective responsibility amongst the students.   

The thing that makes this newspaper project unique is that all the articles are written by members of the community. School kids, moms and dads, grandmas - all have contributed. For many the idea of writing for a newspaper was very new, yet they have done a marvelous job.

Hello. My name is Robin Belcher and I am the State Representative for House District 10. On May 27, 2009, I was appointed to the vacated seat by a unanimous vote of the Ohio House Democrats. I am a native of Cleveland, born and raised. As a matter of fact, I have lived in House District 10 for most of my life, outside of the years spent obtaining my education: a B.A. in Political Science from Bowling Green State University; Master’s in Public Administration from The Ohio State University; and Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri-Columbia. I usually boast of my pride and joy at being a graduate of Collinwood High School. As a student, I stayed quite active in sports and organizational activities. 

Where E.156th Street meets Waterloo Road, Gadi and Sarit Zamir are creating a most appropriate intersection of their own. Within the walls of the old Jepson’s Pharmacy and Abby Theatre buildings on the southeast corner, development is merging with sustainability and art to bring a unique new vision to the heart of the neighborhood. 

It's February. By now you've received 2009 tax forms from your employer and any other forms you need to deal with your taxes. If you're feeling confused about filing (Do I need to file some schedule? Can I claim the Earned Income Tax Credit that can bring a refund of several thousand dollars? And how can I get my refund faster?) you might be thinking about taking your taxes to one of the tax preparing businesses that, like winter's slushy piles of snow, are suddenly all over Collinwood. 

To help eligible Ohioans claim tax credits and public benefits, Governor Ted Strickland is supporting an initiative called the Ohio Benefit Bank, www.governor.ohio.gov/obb.

Seasonal Positions are available with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Cleveland Lakefront State Park which includes Euclid Beach, Villa Angela, Wildwood, Edgewater, Gordon and Headlands Beach Parks.  Applicants may express an interest in these positions by visiting: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/hr/jobinterest/job.aspx

Natural Resources Specialist ($7.39/hr.)

Lifeguard (hourly rate varies)

Although it was not a sure bet, I would have wagered the farm on the Health Care Reform bills becoming law.

This past Christmas instead of bonuses 67 Police Officers got pink slips. Due to city budget cuts they lost their jobs, and countless others took demotions or switched departments to stay on the force.

4th grade thoughts:

“Mr. Pla was a very loving and caring principal. We will always keep him in our hearts.”

“Mr. Pla was a great man, he always gave me credit when I told the truth. He made me feel better when I talked to him. He really cared about the students at St. Mary's. We had a personal relationship. I really liked Mr. Pla and I hope he is in heaven looking down on us.”

“Mr. Pla was a hard worker for us. He gave up his time if we needed help from him. I know he is watching over us making sure we do the right thing and making sure we do well in school. He wanted to make sure we all did good in school so we can go to high school and college. So just for him I'm going to do my best in school.

5th Grade thoughts:

"Mr. Pla loved the kids at St Mary Collinwood. He'd do anything he could to help and protect them"

On January 19, the membership of Northeast Shores Development Corporation attended the 2010 Annual Meeting, which always features the election of new board trustees. Members checked in and renewed their annual dues in order to be able to receive their ballot and vote.

The meeting commenced with each of 12 candidates sharing why the membership should elect him (or her) to one of the eight available slots on the Northeast Shores Board of Directors. After hearing from the candidates present, two more members were nominated from the floor. These two additional nominees were Jim Valentino and Miles Kennedy, who shared key details about why they should be elected. Having heard from all interested candidates present, the membership proceeded to complete their ballots.

If you ask most Cleveland Municipal School District students if they have ever been to the Cleveland Museum of Art, chances are the answer would be no. Regrettably, a visit to this jewel in the University Circle cultural crown has become unattainable because field trips are so costly. However, guided tours for groups of fifteen or more are available on a first come, first serve basis and teachers can apply at the CMA Education Department section at www.clevelandart.com. Fortunately, before Christmas break I was able to take five Collinwood High School students on a tour of the newly renovated galleries of CMA, which is ranked as one of America’s top five art museums. Their enthusiasm was a delight to witness. Here are some of their comments:

The Collinwood High School Science Department hosted its 14th Annual Science Fair on January 25th and 26th in the school’s Media Center.

When I look into this mirror

I see a 16 yr old girl

Someone who feels misunderstood

And lost in this world

When I look into this mirror

I see pain and regret

Confusion, broken hearts

And tears I won’t forget

When I look into this mirror

I drift slowly away inside

And I reach for that woman

That for some reason I hide

ok into this mirror

The Collinwood High School Varsity boys’ basketball team has always been good, but this year, 2009-2010, the boys have had one of their best seasons ever. In this wonderful season, Otis Cloud has been our lead scorer, averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. In addition, Otis has been named as Most Valuable Player for the Cleveland Boys’ Senate. Gary Little was our second highest scorer with 18 points per game. Our third highest scorer of this great season is Tiran Goines with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

Villa Angela - St. Joseph High School held their annual Spaghetti Dinner and Tri Match on Sat. Jan. 30th. VASJ hosted North Ridgeville High School and Rhodes High School. 

Now is the time to sign up your son or daughter for the only nationally recognized Little League in the city of Cleveland - right here in North Collinwood!! If you are between the ages of 5-16, you can sign up this coming weekend at the Slovenian Workmen's Home at 15335 Waterloo Road. Sign up days and dates are as follows: Saturday and Sunday, the 13th and 14th of February - from 1-4 PM.

Join Northeast Shores for the annual Taste of the Neighborhood, a chance to sample foods from our neighborhood’s many restaurants and eateries, plus help us honor local residents, block watches and businesses for their accomplishments making this a better community to live in. 6:00 PM - food/drink, 7:00 PM - program. Lithuanian Hall. 877 East 185th St.

AWARDS "Outstanding Residents" Regular folks who go that extra mile. "Amazing Block Watches": Neighborhood groups that have made great achievements throughout the year. "Best Businesses": Celebrate the achievements of your favorite local businesses and their owners.

Our kindergartners began praying for Mr. Pla ever since he went into the hospital in late October. Although they are young children, they firmly believe in the power of prayer. They prayed for improvements in his health, for the comfort of his family and that he would soon be able to return to school. Some of the children even prayed for things only a kindergartner would think of: they prayed that he would not get bitten by a scorpion in the forest and that they would point arrows for him to get away from the monsters.

How would you like to see a movie on a 60 foot movie screen with an all digital computerized presentation, complete with Dolby surround sound? One of the only places left in Northeast Ohio to experience this treat is at the Lakeshore Theatre, a part of the Atlas Cinema family.

On Thursday, January 21, 2010, the School Parent Organization of OH Perry held a Family Literacy Night. About 100 family members came to OH Perry where they participated in various literacy activities planned by the staff. All attendees received two books each for their family home libraries. At the end of the evening, Principal Victoria Mousty and Family Liaison Beverly Chunn served the families and staff members dinner. The families all enjoyed eating together and getting to know one another. Liaison Mrs. Chunn planned the event and has many more events coming to OH Perry, including the Father-Daughter/Mother-Son Dance, Black History Month Program, Carnival Night, and Talent Showcase. We look forward to more great things -- things that happen everyday at OH Perry.

On Thursday, January 28, 2009, OH Perry held their annual Science Fair. Nearly 300 students entered. This year, Science Subject Area Specialist and fourth grade teacher, Karen Shepherd earned a FUSE Grant from Case Western Reserve University. Through the grant, Perry received funds to support the fair. We also had the support of Case engineering students volunteering their time to assist the students with the completion of their individual Science Fair Projects. Various members of the community, including Case students and retired teachers, served as judges. Parents were invited to view the projects on Friday afternoon. Thank you to Ms. Shepherd for all her efforts to plan the fair and to promote the learning of scientific researching skills in our OH Perry students. Bravo to all the OH Perry students who worked very hard to complete a project this year!!

The U.S Congress passed a resolution declaring September 23, 2009: "National Job Corps Day" to acknowledge 45 years of Job Corps training which has helped over three million disadvantaged American youth. The Job Corps delegation heading to Columbus to celebrate included Governor Ted Strickland, State Representative Robin Belcher, Job Corps student Mandisa Black and Congresswoman Marsha L. Fudge. Job Corps is the largest and most successful academic and vocational training program in the U.S. It is administered by the Department of Labor. Their brand new residential 25-acre campus is located in the South Collinwood area.

What can I do?

I've asked that at times. What can I do to help? There is so much need around and my resources are so low: little money, no extra time, my own family to care for!! How can I help lift up the neighborhood when I have so little?

Denise Wright and Mike Clark may help me answer by having so little themselves and yet helping so much. They recently moved to the neighborhood, don't own a car, don't have steady jobs, but give what they can to help out. So they joined the Nottingham Youth Center and now head the tutoring program. About 10 elementary kids twice a week and only 3 or 4 adults at a time. Some of the children need one to one attention but that can be difficult without a couple more helpers. Mike and Denise give what they have but they can only stretch themselves so far. 

While not a real person, Cupid was the God of Love to ancient Romans, and many Italians believed in his powers. Even in the modern world, references to Cupid and his bow and arrows of love are found everywhere on Valentine’s Day.

Arts Collinwood is proud to be sponsoring The Portfolio Project, a collaboration between teenagers and senior citizens, and is now accepting student nominations from teachers and others familiar with student work.

This project is a unique intergenerational experience in which a small group of high school students work with senior citizens to create poetry, oral history, video, still photography and portraiture. The sessions will be led by artists pre-eminent in their fields, who will also teach the young artists how to develop a portfolio, curate an exhibit and participate in the jurying process -- by helping to select a finalist for a mural installation at the Arts Collinwood center. 

A CALL TO ARTISTS

The All-City Art Show, sponsored by the National Arts Program, will be held at the Arts Collinwood gallery March 26 to April 9, with an official opening reception on April 1. Submissions are due by March 22. The exhibit is judged by professional artists and art educators in Amateur, Intermediate, Professional and Youth classifications. Entry is free. Participants must live in or work for the city of Cleveland, or belong to a city employee’s family. All entries must be the artist’s own original work (no kits!). There’s $1800 of prize money for the nine adult classes; $600 for the eight under-eighteen classes; and the possibility of an Honorable Mention, besides a Certificate of Participation for all entrants. For information and registration forms call: 216-664-2562, or visit www.nationalartsprogram.org.

“Dear Grandmothers, Up until recently I have been a stay-at-home mom with several small project-based jobs I could do online for extra money during early morning hours.  In October, I took on a real online part-time job, because our family needs the money, with paycuts (but no cuts in hours) that have been made by my husband’s employer. I now work on my laptop at the kitchen table while I cook, while the kids do homework, etc. and my kid time (I have two, 6 and 8) has been severely cut. My kids are unhappy, “hating mommy’s job,” acting out, making it hard to concentrate when I HAVE to. I feel bad for them, and want things to be better but I have to keep this job. Any advice?” – Samantha R., Lakeshore Blvd. 

Dear Samantha,

Just before receiving my Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1989 as a drawing major, I was introduced to enameling. In my 4th year, a friend showed me pieces of copper she had covered with some sort of colorful, durable coating. She explained that it was enamel, and briefly told me about the class and the process. I’d never heard of this, but was very intrigued and so enrolled in the class at the start of my 5th and final year at CIA, to learn some of the basics of the medium.

Ben Parsons and Mary Zodnik, proprietors of Azure Stained Glass Studio, will soon begin exterior improvements to their 15602 Waterloo location in the Waterloo Arts and Entertainment District. Azure specializes in the restoration of leaded glass windows as well as the design and fabrication of new leaded glass products. The plans for the exterior improvements have been underway for two years with the business receiving technical assistance from the City of Cleveland Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) as sponsored by Northeast Shores Development Corporation, The City of Cleveland, and Councilman Michael D. Polensek. SRP is funded by the City of Cleveland through its federal Community Development Block Grant allocation. 

Azure worked closely with SRP Design Specialist Tim Barrett and Northeast Shores to define the scope of the building improvements, which will include: tuck pointing and masonry repairs; painting of window frames and entrance improvements; comprehensive signage package; new entry door adjacent to the parking lot and glass canopy with associated hardware above the front entrance door.

The Slovenian Workmen's Home located at 15335 Waterloo Road has a very active Auxiliary. These volunteers (a.k.a. "The Kitchen Angels"), under the leadership of June Slapnik, president, hold a popular Fish Fry every Friday during the year, except for a few holidays. Several of the volunteers have been putting on the fish fry for over 25 years. These ladies not only bread the fish; they also scale, debone and soak the fish in a special sauce before breading. 

MESSAGES FROM THE CAFÉ AT ARTS COLLINWOOD

If you’re an artist, film maker, video designer or musician, and would like to show at the cafe, contact Susan at 216-692-9500, 12-5pm Monday thru Friday, or stop in and leave a tape or contact sheet.

And  -- the Café is always looking for volunteers to help with gallery events, classes and other neighborhood projects!

And and – it’s also always looking for couches and easy chairs for its living room theatre, along with video screens, projectors and other artsy things. Don't throw it out! Call first!

Arts Collinwood  15605 Waterloo Road, 216-692-9500, www.artscollinwood.org. Gallery and Café hours: Tuesday –Saturday 11-11; Sunday 11-5.

 

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.