The Heights Observer

Hts Observer Content Submissions Temporarily Disabled

Bob Rosenbaum — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:25:00 EDT

COMING SOON! A NEW HEIGHTS OBSERVER WEBSITE   The Heights Observer team and FutureHeights are excited to announce that a robust new website is coming at the end of this month. You’ll find new features, an easier-to-use format and better connectivity to social media. Change is good!   As part of the transition, the function for submitting content has been temporarily disabled. This ensures that content for the next issue doesn't find its way into the old system before we lose access to it.  If you have content to submit, please wait until the new site is up and running on July 1.    When the new site goes online, it will contain some brief orientation videos to help you sign in and submit your stuff.     What won’t change? Our commitment to providing local viewpoints and being a voice for residents of Cleveland Heights and University Heights.    Questions about the new site? Email us at <a title="mailto:info@futureheights.org" href="mailto:info@futureheights.org">info@futureheights.org</a>.

Heights Observer: The best of the old and new

Lee Chilcote — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:51:15 EDT

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Although it may be hard for many of us to remember (and younger readers will not remember this at all), the digital world was a very different place 20 years ago. At that time, the internet had only really been around for about a decade and social media was barely even a thing. While people had cell phones, they were for talking and texting; they weren’t mini-computers that did everything from helping us navigate directions to helping us finish our sentences.  Now, all that’s changed. These days, the internet is woven into every aspect of our lives, including how we get news and information. Social media is not just how people stay connected to each other, it’s how they absorb information about what’s happening in real time. And we do this mostly through smartphones and laptops, not just huge chunky desktop machines.

FutureHeights benefit to honor three who make a difference

Lee Chilcote — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:17:04 EDT

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At its annual benefit on July 19, FutureHeights will honor three individuals for their civic participation, service, and commitment to the Heights. Jake Orosz, owner of The Fairmount, will receive the Person of the Year Award; Heights resident Rhonda Davis-Lovejoy will receive the Community Service Award; and Heights resident Emily Dahnert will receive the Volunteer of the Year Award.  Orosz has built The Fairmount from a staff of 4–5 people into a 75-person team since he purchased the business in 2011. The business owner grew up mostly on the east side of Cleveland and previously worked at the Mad Greek (where Barrio is currently) and in construction. He said what he loves most about his work is that it’s helped him to grow into a fuller, more mature person. “It’s been a really big springboard and stepping stone that’s taught me a lot about life,” said Orosz.

CH Neighborhood Chatter evolves into a 'real' community

Noah Pereira — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:40:33 EDT

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Eileen Ramerman, like many Heights residents, is an active member of the Facebook group called “Cleveland Heights Neighborhood Chatter.” It’s a space for residents to discuss different issues within Cleveland Heights, often sparking heated discussions and sometimes arguments. Ramerman, who lives in the Forest Hills neighborhood and works in sales at SP Mount Printing Company, took the group a step further and organized in-person meet-ups, hoping to provide more positive interactions “The goal was to get everyone out from behind their keyboards,” said Ramerman. “Let's come together and talk. Let's support local businesses that are still struggling.”

Grocery Outlet's grand opening is July 10

Noah Pereira and Lee Chilcote — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:55:48 EDT

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The new Grocery Outlet store in Cedar-Fairmount is not simply reviving a storefront—it’s aiming to revive a Cleveland Heights tradition. Except for the last few years—after Dave’s Market moved out in October 2022, leaving it empty—the ground-level space at 12438 Cedar Road has a long history of being a grocery store going back to 1939, when it was Russo’s Stop-n-Shop.  Grocery Outlet co-owner Michael Weber said, “I want to build that camaraderie and community sense again around a grocery store being here. I know it's been empty for a few years now. I would love to bring it back to the days when it was a small-town business—when the Russo family owned it.”  The discount supermarket will open July 10. The new owners, Weber and Melissa Walsh, relocated from Big Bear, Calif., after working for years at Vons Supermarket in various departments.

Church's prayer shawl ministry celebrates 20 years

Kevin Louise Schaner — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:45:52 EDT

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On May 25, members of Cleveland Heights’ Church of the Saviour (COS) recognized 20 years of the Methodist church’s Prayer Shawl Ministry. Prayer shawls are meant to symbolize the love and embrace of God. COS member Betty Antolick’s husband had received a shawl from a Michigan church when he was ill. The comfort he experienced from receiving the shawl motivated Antolick to start the Prayer Shawl Ministry at COS. Along with her friend Penny Beldon, Antolick researched the origins of the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which was founded by two seminary graduates in 1998. Beldon and Antolick acquired supplies and taught workshops, teaching participants the pattern of stitching in threes to represent the Christian Trinity. To date, COS volunteers have crocheted or knitted more than 1,000 prayer shawls, and given them to members and friends following surgery, major illness, or for comfort following a loss.

Recall effort aims to restore trust and leadership in CH

Josie Moore — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 11:16:20 EDT

On June 23, I joined fellow Cleveland Heights recall petition organizers Len Friedson, James Bates, and Susan Efroymson in delivering 4,425 signatures to the Cleveland Heights clerk of council, Addie Balester, to place a recall of Mayor Kahlil Seren on the September ballot. These signatures were collected by 54 volunteers over 27 days. On June 26, the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections confirmed that 3,845 signatures were valid—nearly 1,000 more than the 2,900 required.  At the June 30 city council meeting, the clerk of council will formally report that the petition has enough signatures to proceed. At that point, Mayor Seren will have five days to resign. If he does not, council must vote at its July 7 meeting to send the recall to the Sept. 9 ballot.

Checking and balancing executive power

Deborah Van Kleef and Carla Rautenberg — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 11:12:01 EDT

Loss of confidence in Cleveland Heights' first elected mayor began as a slow drip, and over three-and-a-half years has grown to a cascade. Kahlil Seren's numerous failures would have caused setbacks at any time, but cumulatively they represent a particularly grievous missed opportunity to establish a template for a new form of government. Obviously, when government appears to be working well there is little impetus for change. Although mayor/council cities predominate in Northeast Ohio, council/manager governments seem to work well enough elsewhere and may appeal to busy residents disinterested in the mechanics—or machinations—of municipal government. The village of Cleveland Heights became a city in 1921, with a charter specifying a seven-member city council, who together would engage a city manager.

Mayor Seren will not be on the ballot

Kim Sergio Inglis — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:24:41 EDT

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, current Cleveland Heights Mayor Kahlil Seren failed to collect the required number of valid signatures to qualify as a candidate in this September's CH mayoral primary election. In an e-mail sent to city of Cleveland Heights employees, the mayor said he was 39 signatures short. The mayor submitted his signed petitions on June 11, the deadline to file for CH mayoral and city council candidates.

New Heights Observer website coming July 1

Kim Sergio Inglis — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:39:00 EDT

On June 19, the Heights Observer website as we've known it for 17-plus years will close to new submissions of articles, opinions and calendar listings. This is to enable us to transition to an updated website with an all-new look and function. The change means a move to a new platform for publishing the articles and opinions the community writes and submits. To be honest, until the new site is up and running, even Heights Observer staff won't know all of its ins and outs. But we know the change will be good—and provide a more functional online publication platform Here's what to expect:

About the Heights Observer

Kim Sergio Inglis — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 14:26:22 EDT

The Heights Observer is a nonprofit publication for residents of Cleveland Heights and University Heights. It has no writing staff; it is written by you—the readers. Individuals throughout the community decide what stories they want to write, then submit them for publication consideration. Anyone in University Heights or Cleveland Heights is welcome to contribute regularly, occasionally or even just once. Is there something you think should be covered in the Heights Observer? If so, please write it on your own, or with friends, neighbors or colleagues. We'll make sure it's ready to publish, and contact you with any questions. If you’re writing a news article, be clear and factual. If you want to share your point of view, submit an opinion. Either way, make sure it's about something specific to our two cities. And try to keep it under 500 words.

Heights Observer policy on election-related content

Heights Observer staff — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:29:29 EDT

The Heights Observer will review election-related submissions with a goal of providing fair and equitable access for those seeking office, or taking sides on a ballot issue. Candidates for office are expected to identify themselves as such when submitting anything for publication. Candidates' supporters and campaign representatives, and anyone writing about any candidate or election issue, are expected to disclose any personal or professional relationship they may have with any candidate, or with the subject about which they have written. These disclosures are intended to inform Heights Observer review, and will be disclosed to readers when relevant.

PEACE Pops returns with a new location

Brady Dindia — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:35:55 EDT

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After a brief hiatus following the closure of the former Coventry PEACE Campus building, PEACE Pops is back—with a new location. The Coventry PEACE partner organizations are thrilled to announce the return of this beloved community event on Friday, July 18, 5–8 p.m. The gathering will take place at the Cleveland Heights Community Center (1 Monticello Blvd.), thanks to a special partnership with the city of Cleveland Heights’ Recreation Department. The July 18 event will feature a vibrant lineup of activities for all ages, including: <ul> <li>Live music by Yiddishe Cup Klezmer Band</li> <li>A community art project and exhibit led by Artful </li> </ul>

CH food pantry grew out of a garden

David Budin — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:19:46 EDT

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The third-largest food pantry in Northeast Ohio—the Abundance Food Pantry—operates out of Forest Hill Church in Cleveland Heights. Early every Tuesday morning, cars start lining up—or snaking around, really—in the church’s parking lot, off of Forest Hill Boulevard, just past Monticello Boulevard, to receive about 55 pounds of food, which is loaded into their cars, drive-through-style, starting at about 10:30 a.m. Last year, the Abundance Food Pantry distributed 850,000 pounds of food in 13,000 drive-through visits.   Each week, a variety of food items—including meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, bread and bagels, desserts—and other items, such as toilet paper, are given to 250–350 households of people who live in Cleveland Heights, East Cleveland, and parts of Cleveland and other communities.

FutureHeights welcomes two summer interns

Lee Chilcote — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:21:35 EDT

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This summer, FutureHeights welcomes two new interns to assist with its programs. Bowling Green State University student Noah Pereira will be working to help write and edit articles for the Heights Observer, while University of Chicago student Jessica Pierre will be assisting with FutureHeights' community-building programs such as Crowdsourced Conversations and the Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Series.  Pierre, a rising junior who is studying economics, stated, "I am very excited to be working as a Community Building Programs intern at FutureHeights for the summer.

Three Heights residents to speak on building community

Leslie Weaver — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:23:33 EDT

This summer, three Cleveland Heights residents will be guest speakers for a sermon series at Lyndhurst Community of Faith Church: Betsy Tracy of the League of Women Voters Greater Cleveland – Heights Chapter (LWV); Cleveland Heights City Council Member Jim Posch; and Catalina Wagers, co-founder of Cleveland Heights Green Team. Tracy, a professor emerita at Case Western Reserve University, will speak on July 20 about “Getting Involved” in community. Since retirement, Tracy has promoted voter education through the LWV.  Posch, a lifelong resident of Cleveland Heights and believer that "all are welcome," will discuss “Staying Open to Compromise” on July 27.

City-branded bike racks installed across University Heights

Mike Cook — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:10:37 EDT

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Thanks in part to a NOPEC Community Energized Grant, city-branded bicycle racks have been installed in nine locations across University Heights, including Purvis Park, City Hall, Silsby Pocket Park, and Walter Stinson Community Park, and at major intersections. The new racks will increase bicycle parking capacity across University Heights to 75. The successful grant applications were prepared by Chief of Staff Deanna Bremer Fisher.

Maybe these aren't the worst of times

Marian Morton — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:55:36 EDT

For months, Cleveland Heights residents have watched with dismay and sorrow as our city council and Mayor Kahlil Seren did battle, testing our new “strong mayor” government. Residents have enthusiastically joined the fray, battling the mayor, city council, and each other. Ugly accusations of bad faith, incompetence, racism, and antisemitism have followed. So have lawsuits, calls for the mayor to resign, council’s vote of no confidence, and petitions to recall the mayor even as he filed for re-election. Newspapers and TV have weighed in, and all of this has been magnified by social media. It is tempting to throw up our hands in despair and cry, "This is the worst!” But if we put the current conflict into historical context, maybe not so much.

All are responsible

Sheila Friedman — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 10:53:04 EDT

To the Editor: I need to comment on recent opinions published in the Heights Observer and community e-mail reports heaping the blame for mistakes on Cleveland Heights’ first citizen-elected mayor. A musician I know offered a pertinent observation that I hope will be taken seriously: In chamber music if there is a mistake all are 100% responsible, not only the leading player who erred for all to hear.

40 years ago, Cinemateque got its start in Cleveland Heights

John Ewing — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 14:26:37 EDT

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Forty years ago this month—on July 14, 1985—Cleveland Cinematheque showed its very first movie. Ten thousand films later, that first screening will be commemorated this July 14 with a special Cinematheque showing at the Cleveland Institute of Art. The first Cinematheque show took place eight months after the organization was co-founded by me, philanthropist George Gund III, and journalist Ron Holloway. My Cleveland Heights home served as the business address for our fledgling nonprofit—until the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) adopted it as a public program in March 1986, hiring me to run it. In the beginning, the Cinematheque didn’t have its own theater. The inaugural film was shown in Strosacker Auditorium on the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) campus.