This Week in Sustainable Heights

Monday, March 19
CHUH Facilities Planning Team Meeting at Studio Techne
Open to the public.
4:00 PM12210 Euclid Ave.,Cleveland

Tuesday, March 20
Reversing Disinvestment in Our Community
FutureHeights Annual Meeting, Grace Lutheran Church, 13001 Cedar Road, Cleveland Heights
7:00 PM Free and open to all. Harvey Garrett, executive director of the West Side Community Collaborative in Buffalo, N.Y., will be the keynote speaker at the FutureHeights 2012 annual meeting. Garrett’s talk, "Reversing Disinvestment in Our Community," will detail how his organization capitalized on vacant housing stock (much of it slated for demolition) and creative residents to turn one of Buffalo’s most distressed neighborhoods into its fastest growing real estate market.

Thursday, March 22
CHUH Facilities Planning Meeting at Roxboro Elementary School
Residents of the neighborhood, and students/parents encouraged to attend
6:30 PM, 2400 Roxboro Road, Cleveland Heights
A New Plan was created to provide a realistic scenario that meets District and community needs. The facilities planning team, with the assistance of each building’s PTA unit, will host several informal meetings at each of the schools. All are invited. These are informal meetings that will enable participants to ask questions freely and continue to offer suggestions. All meetings are open to the public. Elementary schools Meeting Schedule and the plan at http://www.chuh.org/news/detail/2012/3/14/district-facilities-planning-enters-final-phase

Saturday, March 24
Community Home Remodeling Fair
9:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Cleveland Heights City Hall, 40 Severance Circle
Presentations, advice tables, and more! FREE and open to all. Nr public transportation/handicap accessible

Register for these classes

Beekeeping Course-4 Saturdays in April
Sign up today! So you want to be a beekeeper? Or just curious? Get the BUZZ. Beekeeping is the fastest growing hobby in the United States. This series of seminars will explain why, and will give you an introduction to beekeeping in order to understand what is involved. It will also contain descriptions and explanations of the equipment needed, how to use the equipment, problems facing bees and beekeepers, and a comprehensive description of the life cycle of honey bees, which is necessary if you want to become a successful beekeeper. Included in the course, as an added benefit, we will instruct you on how to install a package of bees. This will be done by installing a package into a hive (week 4) at The McGregor Home Apiary. Class Description and Course Registration Form
Dates: Successive Saturdays: April 7, 14, 21 & 28 (28th is tentative based upon bee delivery date.)
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: McGregor Home, 14900 Private Drive, East Cleveland
Fee: $40.00/Students under 18: $25.00
Instructor: Stan Hockey, owner/operator of Hockey Heights Honey, beekeeper for approx. 8 years and consulting beekeeper at Squire Valleevue/Valley Ridge Farms, of CWRU.

*Invitation from Stan Hockey of Hockey Heights Honey
To the members and friends of Sustainable Heights Network, you are welcome to stop by and view my hive. Please pick a day when the weather is sunny and fairly warm (above 60°F) so that most of the bees are out of the hive foraging. I can be reached at: 216.382.7347.
Practical Sustainability: New Thinking For Older Homes
Home Repair Resource Center is introducing a new series of monthly lectures designed to help owners of existing, older homes take steps – large and small – toward household energy efficiency and sustainability. FREE and open to residents of all communities. Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, 2345 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights. Reservations are requested; call (216) 381-6100, ext. 16. Save your spot now for one, or all, of the first three presentations!

Lights, Cabinets, Action!: Sustainability & Kitchen Remodels

Fred Cortright (oneloom.net) and Michael Palcisco (MVP Consulting)

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Your Roof: Bottom/Up, Top/Down Sustainability

Chuck Miller (Doty & Miller Architects)

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Sustainability in Bits & Pieces: Developing a Life Plan for Your House

Thomas Meyer, LEED AP

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Beekeeping Classes in April

Stan Hockey of Hockey Heights Honey

So you want to be a beekeeper? Or just curious? Get the BUZZ.

Beekeeping is the fastest growing hobby in the United States. This series of seminars will explain why, and will give you an introduction to beekeeping in order to understand what is involved. It will also contain descriptions and explanations of the equipment needed, how to use the equipment, problems facing bees and beekeepers, and a comprehensive description of the life cycle of honey bees, which is necessary if you want to become a successful beekeeper.

Included in the course, as an added benefit, we will instruct you on how to install a package of bees. This will be done by installing a package into a hive (week 4) at The McGregor Home Apiary.

Class Description
Course Registration
Bee Facts
Beekeeping
Build a Mason Bee house to attract Orchard Mason Bees to your garden Instructions HERE

There will be 4 sessions.

Dates: Successive Saturdays: April 7, 14, 21 & 28 (28th is tentative based upon bee delivery date.)
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: McGregor Home, East Cleveland
Fee: $40.00
Students under 18: $25.00

Instructor: Stan Hockey, owner/operator of Hockey’s Heights Honey, beekeeper for approx. 8 years and consulting beekeeper at Squire Valleevue/Valley Ridge Farms, of CWRU.

Other Resources:

• Download the Ohio bee ID Guide HERE
• Check out Pollinator Partnership for regional pollinator planting guides

Watch SHN/FutureHeights Schools Facilities Forum

School Facilities Forum Part 1 of 2 from future heights on Vimeo.


School Facilities Forum Part 2 of 2 from future heights on Vimeo.

A forum on the CH-UH school facilities master planning process, at Noble Road Presbyterian Church, 2780 Noble Road on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Exploring several aspects of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District’s school facilities master planning process, including efficiency, sustainability, historic preservation, educational quality, neighborhood identity, walkability, sense of community, and equity in access and opportunity. Mark Chupp, assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University, moderates a discussion by panelists Joyce Barrett, executive director of Heritage Ohio; Sagree Sharma, urban designer and project manager with the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative; and others. A question and answer session follows. Representatives from the school district and the City of Cleveland Heights attended.

Practical Sustainability: New Thinking for Older Homes

Home Repair Resource Center is introducing a new series of monthly lectures designed to help owners of existing, older homes take steps – large and small – toward household energy efficiency and sustainability. The series will draw on the knowledge and experience of some of the best sustainable housing practitioners in Greater Cleveland to make the vast body of information surrounding sustainable housing manageable for homeowners – with action steps that are practical and affordable. These free presentations will be held at the main branch of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library, 2345 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, and are open to residents of all communities.

Reservations are requested; call (216) 381-6100, ext. 16.
Save your spot now for the first three presentations:

Lights, Cabinets, Action!: Sustainability & Kitchen Remodels
Fred Cortright (oneloom.net) and
Michael Palcisco (MVP Consulting)
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Your Roof: Bottom/Up, Top/Down Sustainability
Chuck Miller (Doty & Miller Architects)
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Sustainability in Bits & Pieces: Developing a Life Plan for Your House
Thomas Meyer, LEED AP
Wednesday, June 13th, 2012, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Also:

• Our Community Home Remodeling Fair will be held on Saturday, March 24th at Cleveland Heights City Hall. Click here for the schedule.
• HRRC's new series, "Practical Sustainability: New Thinking for Older Homes" will begin on April 11th. Click here for the schedule.
• HRRC's repair workshops and Home How-To program are now open to residents of all communities.
• Between March 19th and March 31st, HRRC will benefit from discounted energy audits ordered through GoodCents.
• HRRC's Tool Loan is now available to households with higher incomes
• HRRC's original handouts can now be accessed on line through theCleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library. Click here to access a list of titles you can view or print out.
• Use the code HRRC30 to receive a 30% discount when you sign up forAngie’s List, the service that offers ratings of local service companies
• HRRC can help homeowners access Ohio's Hardest-Hit Fund forforeclosure assistance (Click here for details)

This Week 3/11-3/17

Monday

• University Heights Town Hall Meeting to gather resident input about the City’s possible acquisition of the former Fuchs Mizrachi School property at 2301 Fenwick Road. Mayor Infeld notes that the availability of the 6.8 acre site is a one-time opportunity to acquire the largest remaining green space in the City for development into a public park. The Town Hall Meeting will be held on Monday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium of Wiley Middle School. Please contact Mayor Susan Infeld with questions at (216) 932-7800.

Tuesday

• Babes In Nature Walk: You’re never too young to start learning about nature! For 2 months to 2 years with caregiver. Fee per stroller is $5 for members, $7 for non-members. Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd., 10:00 - 10:45 AM

• Heights Community Garden Network Meeting CHUH Main Library, 2345 Lee Road at 7:00 PM. Join us! 2nd meeting of the grassroots network to promote community gardening in Cleveland Heights/University Heights area. Network with other gardeners, hear updates on the City's plans, and contribute resources to the effort. Contact: Jeff Coryell at sustainablehts[at]gmail[dot]com. Like them on Facebook

Wednesday

• Sustainable Zoning Community Input On February 21, 2012 City Council introduced Ordinance Number 20-2012, enacting and adopting a revised Zoning Code to incorporate sustainable practices.This begins the zoning code amendment process that affords residents three opportunities to comment. The Planning Commission is briefed on the changes, receives public comment and begins discussion at their regularly scheduled March 14th meeting held in Council Chambers located in City Hall, 40 Severance Circle at 7:00 pm. Read the proposed amendements:http://clevelandheights.com/upload/newsletter/Zoning_Code_Amendments.pdf

Thursday

• Tales 'n Trails Walk for seniors: Spring Awakenings. A new monthly program designed for nature lovers over the age of 55 to highlight the wonders of nature. Programs are presented on the Nature Center trails as weather permits, or indoors in inclement weather. $5 per person. 2:00 - 3:30 PM, Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Blvd.

DATE/TIME change: Volunteer Day: Imani Temple Community Garden

Volunteer Day, Imani Temple Community Garden
March 31
1:00 PM
2463 N. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights

The new community garden at Imani Temple Ministries, 2463 N. Taylor Road, is looking for volunteers to help clear the site and establish garden beds on March 31st starting at 9:00 am. This exciting new garden is going to provide a youth activity for the pre-school operated by the church as well as donating some of the garden produce for hunger relief. Please contact Garden Director Shirelle Boyd at Shirelle-dot-Boyd-at-CafeBonAppetit-dot-com for more information. Please bring rakes, shovels, brooms, and bags if you have them.

Schools Facilities Planners public meetings this week

As the CHUH schools work to develop a facilities plan, public input is crucial to the process. If you haven't taken part, here are three additional opportunities this week.

Meetings with the Planning Team Week of March 5th

The Planning Team is hosting three meetings this week with the Community

• Tuesday March 6th 6:30pm - Location: Offices of studioTECHNE 12210 Euclid Ave Cleveland Ohio. Join Reaching Heights in discussing the master plan.
• Thursday March 8th 6:30pm – Location: University Heights Branch Library 13866 Cedar Road University Heights. Join Open Doors Academy in in discussing the master plan.
• Friday March 9th 8:00am – Location: Offices of studioTECHNE 12210 Euclid Ave Cleveland Ohio. Join the Heights Alumni Association in discussing the master plan.

Meetings are open to the public.

Answers to questions:The questions and comments collected during the last community meeting on February 22 have been answered by the master planning team. Please click on the link below to connect to the blog post and/or the Facebook page.
http://chuhfacilitiesmasterplan.wordpress.com/2012/03/05/community-meeting-3-question-response/
https://www.facebook.com/CHUHFacilitiesMasterPlan

Visit the entire Schools Facilities Master Planning process at chuh.org

Schools facilities forum

Thank you to over 100 citizens who came to the Schools Forum on March 1 to listen, and, more importantly, talk about the process and results of the Facilities Master Planning. Residents took the opportunity to clearly state their values and concerns. A video of the proceedings will be posted soon.

Our thanks to Noble Road Presbyterian Church, Joyce Barrett of Heritage Ohio, Sagree Sharma of the Urban Design Center, Jay Foran of Lakewood School Facilities Planning Committee, and Cheryl Stephens of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. Thanks, also, to Steve Shergalis and Angee Shaker of the CHUH School District.

Hosted by Sustainable Heights Network and FutureHeights

CHUH School District Design Ideas A and B
District Facilities Planning Updates at chuh.org
It's About Teaching and Learning  - Jay Foran, Lakewood Schools Facilities Plan Committee
Sometime in the Future - Lakewood Schools Facilities Committee Vision
Heritage Ohio Best Practices and Studies File 1
Heritage Ohio Best Practices and Studies File 2