Cleveland Heights and University Heights Observatory

Hello All. I'm Mark Majewski...and I am just getting warmed up to participating in the Observatory. I am encouraged by reading your stories and I am proud to know that you are my neighbors.

My wife and I and our 1-year old moved to Cleveland Heights from Mentor 20 years ago. We have been happy with our home, neighborhood, public schools, and community ever since.

Several people told us that we were "moving in the wrong direction", that is, from the outer to the inner suburbs. Sure, there are issues here, but as a consulting community planner, I know that all communities have issues and advantages. My family has chosen this community with its own particular set of issues and advantages. We continue to find that the issues are far outweighed by the benefits..... great old homes, great neighbors, interesting people, great libraries, great local businesses, great events, great character, walkability.....perhaps this list deserves a new thread so others can contribute...

We have raised two wonderful daughters who are doing very well in college - thanks in great part to the Heights Schools and some fine teachers.

I serve as the current president of FutureHeights, the local non-profit which is proud to bring you the Heights Observer as our latest community-building project.

Life pleasures include but are not limited to: working out at 1-2-1 Fitness; gardening; reading biographies, art, home repair and cooking books; watercolor painting and drawing (thanks, HeightsArts and instructor Bob Raack for aiding and abetting this passion - I encourage all to take a leap and try a HeightsArt class); camping; gabbing with neighbors; wrestling wth my old dog; hearing from our kids at school; complaining about taxes and the Sun Press (hmmm, wrong list); cooking for family and friends.

As many of you do, I have numerous possible - and some improbable and some bizarre - dreams for our wonderful community. I hope that this forum connects us in groups small and large to transform our dreams to reality.

I'm one of the folks from the Lakewood Observer and I implemented the Observation Deck, Lakewood's online discussion area.

I set up the Observatory for the Heights Observer and will occasionally post regarding site maintenance or upgrades.

I also have family in the Heights and my husband and I enjoy the area!

dl meckes

Hi, I'm Tara Pesta. Wife to Alex and mom to a 1 1/2 year old daughter. We've lived in Cleveland Heights for 5 years and we love it! We moved to this area to be near family and also to take advantage of the affordable cost of living. We own a house on Superior Road and we love spending time at Cain Park and taking walks around the neighborhood. We love the walkability of the Heights, and the fact that we are so close to every amenity we could want.

Looking forward to seeing more of this board!

Hello from across the river! (and hi there Stephen!) I am the City Council reporter for the Lakewood Observer and I really want to congratulate all of you on the Observatory and the upcoming paper.

I think you will find your time spent posting, writing, and participating to be very rewarding.

And, if you need a break, visit my friend Jim Brennan at Brennan's Colony on Cedar at Silsby.

Please feel free to PM me if you have questions about our Observer.

Best of Luck

Stan Austin

Greetings Stan and DL, all.

Alas, since September 07, my partner and I have lived in the St. Dominics neighborhood of Shaker Heights.

However, I bring a few CH bona fides to this group. Born at Rainbow in 1954, crib located on Ormond Road. Fairfax El. until spring 1961. Next to E. Overlook and Coventry El., then to Roxburo Jr. High, class of 1969. Went to Hawken. Hung around for 2 years after graduation, worked in record shop next to old post office on Lee Rd., living with some other hippie friends farther up the block on E. Overlook.

Left in July 1974...rolled back apple-like to NEO in 1992. Amazing (to me!) moved in 95 to Colchester across from where I went to junior high 26 years earlier. Also lived in Cedar-Fairmount atop Nighttown for four years before we moved to Meadowbrook two-family in 2004.

..a context capture. Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal informally visited Roxburo JH in the spring of 69, welcomed by a 9th grade class engaged with a new fangled interdisciplinary 'humanities program' started by Jim MacGinnis. If you wish, take me aside and sincerely ask me how formative for me was growing up in CH in the late 60's early 70's.

My friends from Lakewood welcome me. I was privileged to observe the Lakewood Observer project blast off. I was engaged for 2 years with some of the knowledge creation efforts over there. ... terrific crew.

My own interest are: how people investigate, learn about, and come to know their communities. To me, this means--mostly--knowing each other freshly and richly.

Hi, I am Michelle Ware.

I have lived in CH since 1996. My husband, Dave, and his family moved here in '67. He is a CHHS grad from 1975. We are also Superior Rd. residents, close to Taylor. I am currently a stay-at-home mom, but am finishing my teacher's license, to teach middle or high school math.

Our daughter, Lisa, is in 1st grade at Canterbury, and our son, Danny, is finishing his last year of preschool at St. Paul's co-op. Our daughter was at Fairfax El. last year, but we were re-districted to Canterbury with the closing of Coventry. But we have had nothing but wonderful experiences at both public schools! Our daughter has just blossomed under the teachers she has had.

We love living in CH, and don't ever consider leaving!

Hi all. I'm Lita Gonzalez. I moved here with my family very reluctantly from New York almost 23 years ago and now can't picture myself living any place else. Still haven't shaken the New York accent completely though! Both my kids went through the CH-UH schools. I have been very active in the community and the schools. As a recent empty nester I am beginning to rediscover the artistic side of myself by taking art classes at Heights Arts on Lee Road (across from the Library) and really enjoying volunteering in this wonderful community.

Hi, I am Keith Gisser. I have lived in the Boulevard area for about 19 years and was in an apartment on Mayfield, across from the cemetery, for six years prior. My daughter graduates from Heights High this spring.

I am currently co-president of the PTA Council and am also the Head Coach of the Heights High Lady Tiger Soccer team. My son is the JV caoch.

Good luck with thi forum. It seems like a great idea and I will contribute when I can.

Hello I am Hugh Williams. My wife and I are 11 year residents of University Heights. I previously lived in Atlanta, GA and was relocated to Cleveland by my former employer. I now work at the Cleveland Foodbank. My daughter is in 1st grade at Gearity and my son is only 2 years old. We really like the Heights and plan to live here for a very long time.

We moved to Cleveland Heights with our newborn daughter in 1965 and we're still here, although not in the same house. We moved to Coventry in 1975 and have been here ever since, raising four kids who all went to the CH/UH schools.

This is an amazing town. Smart people figured out what a first ring suburb needed and worked hard to make those things happen, and we've been pretty successful.

My friends ask when I'm going to sell the very old/very wonderful house and I say "never". My son will inherit the house because he loves it. I'm lucky.

The great thing is that there are young people ready and willing to continue the mission. Keep up the good work. And listen to us older folks once-in-awhile. We've been there and done that, and not much changes.