January 2021
CITY OF FAIRVIEW PARK
MAIN STREET CONNECTION
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MESSAGE FROM MAYOR COONEY
Greetings!
As we say goodbye to 2020, a year of unprecedented challenges and lessons learned, I want to thank and applaud you - the residents and businesses of Fairview Park - for being resilient, resourceful, kind, and caring. I would like to thank all City personnel who continue to provide uninterrupted, high-quality services to our residents and visitors, and members of City Council whose commitment to this community shines through in all we accomplished together in 2020.

Despite ongoing challenges, many achievements were made in 2020. Projects that were successfully completed include the reconstruction of Mastick Road hill, improvements to the Thomas Lane greenspace, renovation of the Police Department locker rooms, installation of a Source Capture Exhaust System at the fire station, replacement of the water main on West 213 Street, and sidewalk repairs on Belvidere, Standford, Eastwood, and Northwood Avenues. In addition, micro-grants were provided to 23 local businesses impacted by the pandemic, a community shredding event was held where 8,718 pounds of hazardous waste was diverted from the landfill and 9,752 pounds of paper was shredded, and our Senior Life Department and volunteers delivered approximately 4,000 meals to Fairview Park senior citizens.

As we begin 2021 with great optimism, we have much to look forward to in respect to upcoming projects and infrastructure improvements in our community. Grant funding has been attained for the relocation and construction of a restroom at Bain Park; the repaving of West 210 Street (from Lorain Road to Mastick Road); the reconstruction of the West 227 culvert over Coe Creek; a planning study to address reocurring flooding issues; and the replacement of water mains on Cromwell Avenue (W. 210 Street to W. 213 Street), Parkwood Avenue (W. 210 Street to W. 213 Street) and Bain Park Drive (North Park to Campus Drive). We have many other exciting initiatives in the works!

Perhaps the greatest accomplishments I witnessesed in 2020 were the acts of kindness exhibited by residents and between neighbors. It is my priviledge to serve as the mayor of such a kind and caring community. I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in 2021, with kindness at the forefront. I wish you and your familiy a very happy, safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year!


Sincerely,
Mayor Patrick J. Cooney
TIPS FOR A POWER OUTAGE
FirstEnergy has tips for managing a power outage and the methods available to report an outage.
WASTE COLLECTION SCHEDULE 
RECYCLE BETTER, RECYCLE RIGHT
DISPOSING OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Refuse cans are outside the Service Department door in the rear of City Hall to collect holiday lights. Last day to drop off lights will be Friday, January 15. The City will deliver the lights to Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District for recycling.
4 WAYS TO RECYCLE RIGHT

  1. Leave recyclables loose – not bagged. Plastic bags do not belong in your recycling bin or cart. Plastic bags get tangled in the sorting machines at the recycling facilities and cause major problems for the recycling process. Plastic shopping bags can be recycled at many retail locations, including Giant Eagle, Lowe's Home Improvement, Marc's, Target and Walmart stores. 
  2. Make sure it’s clean and empty. Rinse residue from cartons, containers, bottles and jars or any other recyclable that may contain food particles. Greasy pizza boxes are not recyclable. 
  3. Keep it dry. When it comes to paper and cardboard, keeping it dry is imperative for the recycling process. Please flatten all cardboard boxes as well. 
  4. Don’t wishcycle. Think you can throw everything into your recycling bin and it will get sorted out at the recycling plant? Think again! Recycling only these five core items is paramount: cans, cartons, glass bottles and jars, paper and boxes along with plastic bottles and jugs.
The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District is offering Recycle Right webinars and Wishcycler Video Series. Learn best practices for recycling and what you can do to make a meaningful difference in your community. Get answers to questions about curbside recycling and discuss what, where, how and when to recycle other items you need to part with.
Recycle Earth
SUPPORT FAIRVIEW PARK BUSINESSES
SHOP LOCAL
Congratulations to the local businesses (listed below) that opened in 2020! We encourage our residents to shop local at our new and existing businesses that call Fairview Park home!



Please click the link below for a list of restaurants in Fairview Park.
HELP FOR OHIOANS
UNITED WAY 2-1-1 HELP CENTER

Serving 4 counties and covering 1.5 million people in Ohio, the United Way 2-1-1 Help Center provides free and confidential 24-hour access to a compassionate professional who will review your options for help, develop a plan and act as your advocate if you are faced with barriers to service. Simply dial 2-1-1 or chat with us for assistance. 

United Way has connected people with a variety of resources, including those related to housing, food, income support, utility assistance, disaster assistance, health care, transportation, and a variety of other essential services.

To talk to a United Way staff member or request additional information, either dial 2-1-1 or click here.
SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
MASTICK ROAD HILL PROJECT
Mastick Road hill has reopened! We would like to thank the Cuyahoga County Public Works Department for completing this essential infrastructure improvement in an efficient and timely manner.

Mastick Road hill will be closing again in the spring for approximately 2 weeks in order to complete the finishing touches of this project (i.e. landscaping restoration, permanant roadeway markings, etc.)

We would also like to thank the Cleveland Metroparks for planning pedestrian trails from Valley Parkway and Mastick Road near Eaton Road. The completion of these trails is subject to a pending grant being pursued by the Cleveland Metroparks and there is no update about the status of that grant application at this time.
WEST 220 STREET DOMINION EAST OHIO GAS PROJECT
The Dominion East Ohio Gas project on West 220 Street continues through the first few months of 2021. Please anticipate delays or use an alternative route. The contractor will be returning in the spring for permanent concrete repairs. 
PARKS & PUBLIC SPACES UPDATE
The first phase of the Thomas Lane / Story Road Greenspace project is now complete! This public space now features benches, a trash receptacle, a fence along Story Road, and a new concrete pathway connecting Thomas Lane to Story Road.

In addition, a very generous family - who wishes to remain anonymous - has donated a bench for Nelson Russ Park. The bench was installed in December near the zipline. We would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to this family for this thoughtful gesture.

In 2020, we were also thankful for the Bock family, who added beautiful lanscaping features to Nelson Russ Park; Cailin Fitzpatrick of Magnificat High School, who stenciled messages to remind us about being careful about what gets into our storm catch basins that lead to our river and lake; the Garden Club, who donated funds for plants installed along Lorain Road and planted them; and the Covia Corporation, who donated sand used at Parkview Early Education Center sand boxes and at Bohlken Park for our baseball diamonds.
Photographs: Thomas Lane Greenspace (top left), Fairview High School parking lot (bottom left), Parkview Early Education Center (top right), & Fairview Park City Hall landscaping by Garden Club (bottom right)
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE
Please take items out of your unoccupied cars and lock the car doors. In the month of December of 2020, the Fairview Park Police took 6 theft from auto reports including 3 guns stolen from an unlocked vehicle. One car was stolen because keys were left inside and the car was unsecure. Please take your valuables out of your cars, including keys, and lock the car doors. Recent trends show vehicles taken in these crimes are driven and used in more serious crimes like robbery and homicide.

As always, if you see something suspicious, please give us a call at 440-333-1234.
FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATE
THANK YOU

Thank you to the Fairview Park Fire Department, Fairview Park Police Department, Fairview Park Auxiliary Police Association, and Fairview Park Youth Association for a successful Santa Patrol this year!

RECREATION AND GEMINI CENTER UPDATES

Thank you to Fairview Park Fine Arts & Theatre Association for getting us in touch with Santa Claus for our Virtual Santa Calls. We know he is a very busy guy this time of the year and it’s nice to have such great organizations in our community with the best connections!
BITS AND PIECES OF FAIRVIEW PARK HISTORY
Elected Official Recalled to Active Duty
Tracing Fairview Park History, Chris H. Gerrett

In 1950, James A. Dunson began his political career, first as a councilman, then later as the Law Director from 1950-1951. Two days after being re-elected for his second term as Law Director, Dunson was recalled to active duty with the armed forces. Dunson left his office to serve as a captain in the U.S. Infantry. He was the second public elected official to be recalled to active duty. After returning from duty, Dunson once again served as the Law Director from January 1956 to December 1957. Dunson didn’t stop there; he went on to serve as Mayor of Fairview Park from January 1, 1958, to December 31, 1967.  

The first elected official to be recalled to active duty was a member of the Board of Education, Harold W. Lasch, who returned as a captain in the Air Force.
SENIOR LIFE DEPARTMENT
The Senior Center is closed for in-person programming but we are thinking of all of you! Please call us at 440-356-4437 with questions or just to stay in touch. We are offering a variety of virtual activities for the month of January such as Chair Exercise, Book Discussion, Virtual Trips, Name that Tune, and of course Bingo! Please see www.fairviewpark.org for our latest Senior Scope newsletter and calendar.

Sandy Milos, the Senior Center’s licensed social worker, is available to assist with a range of Social Service issues, such as Medicare or Medicaid questions, Social Security, Home Health Care or Affordable Housing. Please contact Sandy at 440-356-4463 or at sandra.milos@fairviewpark.org.

Please be aware, scammers are using this pandemic to take advantage of people. The Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs Scam Squad shares information about protecting yourself from common coronavirus scams. Click here for tips to protect yourself and your loved ones, obtain help resources, report a scam, or information on speaking to an investigator.
THANK YOU!

The Senior Life Office would like to thank the following groups for their generous donations to the senior citizens of Fairview Park: Normandy Senior Living, Rocky River Gardens, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Rockport Senior Living, Fairview Park Women's Club, Fairview Park Auxiliary Police Association, Devoted Health, and some very special Fairview residents. Your donations helped make the holidays a little brighter for so many seniors!

A special thank you to Jessica Sassano of Fairview High School for donating hand made masks to our seniors, and Hannah Smiddy of St. Joseph Academy who hand-crafted holiday cards to be included with meal deliveries! Finally, thank you to Tony Santoli who donates his time to make our City Hall landscaping and gardens look so beautiful.
MEAL DELIVERY
The Fairview Park Senior Life Office is delivering three frozen meals, fruit, bread, and milk every Wednesday to Fairview Park seniors who are age 60 and older. Please call the Fairview Park Senior Center at 440-356-4437 to register or for more information.
TRANSPORTATION
Senior van transportation services are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM-1:30 PM for medically necessary appointments and essential services such as grocery shopping, banking, and prescription pick up. Only one rider or family group is permitted at a time. Masks are required. Please call the Senior Center at 440-356-4439 to make your reservation.
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
Are you wondering when a vaccine for Covid-19 will be available? Governor Mike DeWine announced that phase 1B of the vaccine roll-out will make the vaccinations available to all Ohio residents 65 and older who choose to receive it. More information can be found here.
VIRTUAL BOOK DISCUSSION - JANUARY 28

January virtual book discussion will be Thursday, January 28th at 1:00 pm. We’ll be chatting via Google Meet about Connie Schultz’s novel Daughters of Erietown. Participants will receive a copy of the book courtesy of O'Neill Healthcare. Space is limited in this program so please call to reserve your spot today.
SHADE TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The City of Fairview Park would like to thank the Shade Tree Advisory Committee for their valuable contributions to urban forestry in this commmunity. They assisted with park cleanup activities and tree maintenance, facilitated the Most Valuable Tree awards (click here for the list of nominees), supported our community shredding event, and provided invaluable support and assistance for the City's Healthy Urban Tree Canopy grant program projects.

Their many volunteer hours have contributed to the City's status as a Tree City USA community for its 28th consecutive year!
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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