Mayor Earl M. Leiken’s
E-News
March 2018
Dear Resident, 

Shortly after I became mayor, I met a former mayor from Pittsburgh who told me that the mayor’s job is the best and most satisfying one you could have in a lifetime. This has been especially true over the last 10 years in my service as Shaker’s mayor. It’s been a privilege and an honor to be elected three times and to work with our residents, council members, and staff. What we’ve accomplished together has given me the greatest sense of fulfillment of any job I’ve ever had.

I’ve had to recognize that the time is coming when it will be necessary to pass the torch to my successor. Shaker has a strong tradition of rotation in the mayor’s job and mayors are not elected here for a lifetime. Working with Council and staff, my major goals have been achieved. This has included bringing the City through a fiscal crisis involving a national recession and the loss of our estate tax and half our local government fund. We have overcome this and become one of only nine cities in northeast Ohio to have an AAA bond rating, the highest achievable. The Van Aken project — creating a new commercial, retail, and residential downtown for Shaker — has finally become a reality more than 30 years after it was first recommended. We have developed strategic economic development, housing, and infrastructure plans which are all being aggressively and successfully implemented. We consolidated operations and developed regional approaches to providing services.

A remarkable and unexpected opportunity to continue serving in government came my way when County Executive Armond Budish asked me to become his Chief of Staff. This is a continuation of the work I have been doing. The County is a close, working partner with our cities. The County helped fund and took responsibility for the street reconfiguration at Warrensville and Van Aken and provided a critical loan for the new Van Aken project and hundreds of thousands of dollars that allowed us to demolish blighted residential and commercial properties. The County has responsibility for economic development to bring jobs and population to our region which will in turn bring people and dollars to Shaker. Finally, the county provides massive support for health and human services, which Shaker and other cities lack the resources to provide.

I expected and very much wanted to complete my third term as mayor and I would not have considered this opportunity had it arisen earlier in my tenure. However, I am now well into the second half of my final term and transition to a new mayor would have occurred in just over 18 months. This is too short a time to overcome new challenges that will arise. Moreover, this being Shaker Heights, there are candidates to replace me who are extraordinarily bright, highly capable, and experienced in Shaker’s municipal government. The challenge for City Council will not be in finding an able person to serve but in choosing among them. Our community is not dependent on one person but on the quality of our residents as a whole and particularly those who engage in public service in Shaker. I shall do everything I can to make the transition a smooth and successful one.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as mayor these past 10 years. It has been and continues to be a great blessing to me.
City News
City Meetings Temporarily Move to Stephanie Tubbs Jones Building
Stephanie Tubbs Jones Building
Beginning March 1, all public meetings will relocate to the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building (3450 Lee Rd.). This move will ensure access for all attendees while the City installs a new elevator in City Hall.
 
The location change is for all public meetings ordinarily held in City Hall: Council meetings and Council committee, board, and commission meetings. Anticipated duration is March and April.
Get Ready for Summer
Buy Pool Passes and Register for Camps
Shaker Recreation is ready to help you plan your summer in the City:

  • Pool passes. Residents can purchase Thornton Park pool passes for the 2018 season at early-bird rates through April 8, then prices increase. Thornton Park pool officially opens Memorial Day weekend.

  • Summer camp. Registration for Shaker Rec summer camps is underway, including for Day Camp and specialty camps (Outdoor Adventure Camp, Theater Camp, etc.). View the catalog.

Buy passes and/or sign up for camps at Thornton Park (3301 Warrensville Center Rd.) or online using the button below.
Call for Artists
Artists are invited to submit their ideas for gateway treatments and historic markers for the City's Moreland Neighborhood. Deadline is March 30 at 12 pm. Please review the Call for Artists — including submission instructions — at this website:   makeyourmarkmoreland.com.
Shaker Makers — Save the Date & Call for Makers and Entrepreneurs
The 2018 Shaker Makers event will take place April 28, 10-4 pm at The Dealership (3558 Lee Rd.) .  It's our second annual show-and-tell-and-make-and-touch AND build-a-business event for innovators, creators, engineers, and entrepreneurs of all ages. The event is sponsored by the City of Shaker Heights and produced in partnership with  Ingenuity Cleveland

Call for Exhibitors: Are you a maker or entrepreneur? Then consider exhibiting at Shaker Makers. Makers and entrepreneurs age 18-plus and students in 6-12 grade are encouraged to apply.
Shaker Lakes Dams Project
The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) recently held two public meetings to present plans for improvements to the dams on Green Lake, Horseshoe Lake, and Lower Lake. All three projects are sponsored by NEORSD and will start in 2018.


Styrofoam No Longer Recyclable
Styrofoam blocks
Recycling is an ever changing industry. Here comes another big change: Styrofoam is no longer recyclable. No peanuts, no blocks, no Styrofoam in any form. The City used the same vendor as the County for Styrofoam recycling. The vendor no longer takes it and there are no other vendors that do. Sadly, all Styrofoam must now be placed in the trash. Please note: peanuts can be taken to the local UPS Store (16781 Chagrin Blvd.) for reuse.

Use ShakeRecycles to stay in the know about recycling in Shaker Heights. bit.ly/shrecycles.
City Cannot Collect Contaminated Yard Waste Bags
Yard-waste season is around the corner. Reminder: The City will no longer collect yard waste bags contaminated with non-organic materials. That's because yard waste bags are recycled into compost and so only materials that are compostable can go in the bag.

  • Bags should ONLY contain grass clippings, leaves, and other leafy yard waste.

  • Bags should NEVER contain non-organic material, including gardening-related plastic (mulch bags, plant pots, etc.); other plastics, metal, or paper/cardboard; or dog waste in plastic bags.

  • Bags should also NEVER contain brush. While organic, brush is too large to be readily composted. Please place brush directly on the tree lawn for collection.

Public Works crews will place a red sticker on contaminated yard waste bags. Residents may remove the contamination and place it out for collection the following week. Read more about the City's  leaf, grass, and brush collection  policies or  view a video  about what does (and does not) belong in your yard waste bag.
Shaker Arts Council Seeks Artists/Artisans to Teach Fall Classes
Classes can cover any artistic genre and run 4, 6, or 8 sessions. Application deadline is March 30. For more information and to download the application, visit www.shakerartscouncil.org .
Events
Friday Night Skate
March 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30
7:45-9:45 pm
It's a dance party on ice! Skate to a live DJ at Thornton Park Ice Arena (3301 Warrensville Center Rd.). Public skating admission rates apply. Call 216-491-1360 for information.
District Weekends
Thursday, March 8 & Saturday, March 10
Celebrate the historic cool of Shaker’s tallest building and the guaranteed fun that Thornton Park delivers at March's District Weekends events:

Tower East Happy Hour (Thursday, March 8, 5:30-7:30 pm): Mingle with friends, neighbors, and office tenants at Tower East (20600 Chagrin Blvd.), Shaker’s iconic high-rise office building, designed by German architect Walter Gropius (and listed in the National Register of Historic Places). Food and drink specials offered by Saffron Patch, with entertainment by renowned jazz pianist and composer Marshall Griffith, presented by the Cleveland International Piano Competition. Have a drink (cash bar) and head on out or stay for a delicious dinner with your friends.
 
Afternoon at the Ice Arena (Saturday, March 10, 2:30-4:30 pm): Families can gather for an afternoon of ice skating and other fun and games at Thornton’s Ice Arena (3301 Warrensville Center Rd.). Not a skater? No problem! Play broomball in street shoes, watch figure-skating demonstrations or participate in winter-inspired STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) activities. Indulge in snacks from the concession stand.
Senior's Coffee, Cookies & Conversation: Scam Squad
March 7
1-2 pm
The Scam Squad — as seen on WKYC — is coming to Shaker with a program for seniors. Speakers from Cuyahoga Department of Consumer Affairs, Shaker Heights Police Department, and the City's Fair Housing Office. The event will take place during March's Coffee, Cookies & Conversation, a monthly program for seniors offered by Shaker Heights Recreation Department. Location: Stephanie Tubbs Jones Building (3450 Lee Rd.). Free, but please call to reserve a space. 216-491-1360.
Stepping Stones to School Readiness
Wednesday, March 14
6:45-8 pm
Family Connections
The Debra Ann November Speaker Series continues at Family Connections ( 19824 Sussex Rd . ). Rachel Coleman, Principal at Noble Elementary School in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights School District will talk about kindergarten readiness. Free childcare. Reservations required. For more information, visit www.familyconnections1.org or call 216-921-2023.
State of the City
Thursday, March 15
7 pm
The League of Women Voters Shaker Heights Chapter presents a State of the City address by Mayor Earl Leiken. Mayor Leiken will discuss the current state of affairs in Shaker Heights and the work being done to create a thriving, healthy, and inclusive community. Moderated by Steve Litt of the Plain Dealer . Location: Stephanie Tubbs Jones Community Building (3450 Lee Rd.).
From the Schools 
Each issue of this E-News highlights important school-related topics. To stay informed about all the school news and events, sign up for the District's monthly E-News.

State of the Schools is Thursday, March 15
Superintendent Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. will deliver his final State of the Schools address to an audience of Shaker Heights High School freshmen and sophomores at 9 am on Thursday, March 15. Community members also may stream the address on shaker.org or watch a recorded version on the District's YouTube Channel

Tour Your Schools Day is Monday, March 19
Shaker Heights Schools will host Tour Your Schools from 10-11 am for PreK-4 buildings and the Middle School, and from 1-2 pm at Woodbury and the High School on Monday, March 19. All community members are invited to attend. The program will include comments from the building principal and a tour by student ambassadors. Please register to attend .

Register New Students and Kindergartners Online
Parents and guardians can now register new students, including kindergartners, using Shaker Schools new online registration system. Learn more about registering a student at Shaker Schools online
Save the Date
Computer Roundup
Saturday & Sunday, April 7-8 and April 14-15
Bring your old computer equipment to the Shaker Heights Service Center (15600 Chagrin Blvd.) for recycling. Acceptable home computer equipment includes CPU's, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, terminals, modems, cables, software, and ink print cartridges. Cell phones and their accessories are also accepted.
Community Shredding Day
Saturday, April 28
9 am-1 pm
Shaker residents may bring up to three bankers boxes of paper for shredding. Driver's license and proof of residency (current utility bill) required. Staples, clips and other binding devices do not need to be removed. Stay and watch or leave items to be shredded. Free.
Shaker.Life
Read Shaker Life Anywhere, Anytime
Shaker Life is now online. Visit shaker.life to catch up on all things Shaker, including news and features on the City's residents, schools, and the stories behind some of our great homes — all from the pages of Shaker Life . You can also browse an archive of Shaker Life issues from the past 14 years or read the latest issue of the print edition.
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