On an unseasonably warm day this past October, Euclid Planning and Zoning Commissioner Paul Beno welcomed volunteers – associates of Solon-based Swagelok Company – to the Green Creek stream corridor in the southwest corner of the city.
There are connections all around us. Some we know, like our extended family. Some we may not know as well, such as links from the past to the present. There are also connections we never see. Even though we may not be aware of them, connections in the natural world are of utmost importance to our well-being.
Learn how to harvest rainwater for all of your garden needs and to combat stormwater pollution in your community by constructing a rain barrel! Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, City of Euclid and Friends of Euclid Creek are hosting a Rain Barrel Workshop on Thursday, September 15th from 6:30-8:00pm at the Euclid Senior Center (1 Bliss Lane, 44123). The $60 fee includes a 60 gallon barrel, all materials and downspout diverter, but it is free to come and listen. Registration is required by Thursday, September 8.
The Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC) is pleased to announce that the recipient of its 2016 annual Environmental Education scholarship is Hrishikesh "Gopal" Mandal. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a student residing in the Euclid Creek watershed who has exhibited the potential to make a contribution to the environment through a related field of study.
Most of the cleaning products we buy at the store contain harsh chemicals. Many have handling warnings and cautions: wear gloves, don’t inhale. Those warning are there for a reason. They really can harm us through contact while we clean. When rinsed down the drain they go back to the water or sewer plant ending up in our drinking water and the lake harming aquatic life. Our cupboards are stuffed with cans and bottles for every different chore. The cost adds up.
Although Lake Erie water is only 2% of the Great Lakes, it provides drinking water for millions of people, electricity from over 20 power plants, and contains 50% of all the Great Lakes fish. Our lake is the most valuable fresh water fishery in the world. Power production, fishing, and tourism generate billions of dollars a year in revenues.
The Friends of Euclid Creek (FOEC), a grass-roots, non-profit charitable organization which advocates for the health of the Euclid Creek watershed, is pleased to announce the availability of its third annual scholarship in environmental studies. This scholarship was created in order to aid one deserving student in his/her pursuit of a degree or certificate in environmental studies, field biology, or any scientific field related to watershed health.
Salt, as harmless as it sounds, is a chemical that can harm both our personal & pet health and that of our local creeks and streams.
Please join Euclid Creek Watershed program partners as we conduct restoration activities at the wetland and cleanup the bioswale garden.
On June 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the city of Euclid two Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Shoreline Cities grants to improve Lake Erie water quality. I was proud to join representatives from Northern Ohio communities and the EPA on this day to recognize the city of Euclid for their efforts.
Euclid must control stormwater discharge into Lake Erie. With an Integrated Plan, stormwater can be a resource. EPA has guidelines. Other cities have examples. Euclid has many ghost stream features. These can be enhanced for bio-infiltration and habitat diversity. Eco-greenways can connect the features. Learn how eco-greenways can make storm flows a resource. We can build a better, more natural Euclid.
Imagine living close to a trail system that connects neighborhoods throughout the eastern portion of Cuyahoga County with employment centers, transit, services, parks and green spaces. Imagine walking or biking to school, work, the store, or a park. Imagine being able to bike from the Euclid Creek Reservation to the Shaker Median Trail, or from Rockefeller Park to the North Chagrin Reservation. Imagine the Eastside Greenway.
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Cleveland Division of Water Pollution Control (WPC) are conducting a “Green Cleaning: Inside and Out” workshop in Cleveland this summer. The workshop will be held Thursday, July 16 at the Collinwood Recreation Center and will run from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The workshop is free and open to the public, however, participants will have the opportunity to make two green cleaners to take home and try for $10.
Imagine living close to a trail system that connects neighborhoods throughout the eastern portion of Cuyahoga County with employment centers, transit, services, parks and green spaces. Imagine walking or biking to school, work, the store, or a park. Imagine being able to bike from the Euclid Creek Reservation to the Shaker Median Trail, or from Rockefeller Park to the North Chagrin Reservation. Imagine the Eastside Greenway.
The Eastside Greenway will increase pedestrian and bicycle connectivity in and between the eastern portion of Cleveland and 18 suburbs: East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, University Heights, Beachwood, Pepper Pike, Richmond Heights, Highland Heights, Highland Hills, North Randall, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Euclid, South Euclid, Lyndhurst, Bratenahl, Orange Village and Warrensville Heights. Leaders from these cities are working alongside planners and other regional organizations, like the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, LAND studio, the Cleveland Metroparks, Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District and Bike Cleveland, to develop a plan for the greenway that can be used to guide the way to implementation.
With planning currently underway, the project team will be hosting a second round of public meetings to share project updates and solicit feedback from the community in early 2015 and you are invited. The same content will be presented at each meeting, so choose the date and location that works best for your schedule. The meeting dates are as follows:
January 28, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Happy Dog at Euclid Tavern, 11625 Euclid Ave, Cleveland
January 29, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Beachwood Public Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd, Beachwood
February 2, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m: Waterloo Brew, 15335 Waterloo Rd, Cleveland
February 3, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m: University Heights Public Library, 13866 Cedar Rd, University Heights
At the meetings, a brief overview of the project will be provided as well as the results of the completed inventory and analysis. Alternative routes for the greenway network will be presented and the project team will solicit feedback on route alignments as well as route priorities from community members. This feedback will be taken into account as the plan is finalized in the first half of 2015. A third round of public meetings, in which the final greenway plan will be presented to the public, will take place in May 2015. More information on the Eastside Greenway can be found on the project’s website at www.eastsidegreenway.weebly.com.
Hospice of the Western Reserve recently became the first hospice organization in the United States to earn two national health care environmental awards from Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting environmental stewardship and best practices in the health care community.
The awards were presented in Cleveland at CleanMed 2014, a leading national environmental conference for health care sustainability. Other award winners include Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins.
“Hospice of the Western Reserve is committed to sustainable practices and environmental stewardship - not only at our two in-patient care centers - but throughout the agency,” said Bill Finn, chief executive officer. “Environmental stewardship, economic vitality and social responsibility align with our mission of providing the best quality of life for our patients and leaving a positive legacy for future generations.”
“We have worked hard to develop programs and practices that protect the environment and the health of our patients, staff and community,” added Kathleen Gatto, director of support services, who heads up the agency’s ‘green team.’ It’s rewarding to see our efforts recognized on a national level.”
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Water quality is essential to all of us – and the quality of our water affects the quality of our lives. Cleveland Division of Water is committed to providing its customers safe, high-quality drinking water.
That is why the division maintains a rigorous quality control program and continues to invest substantial financial resources to improve our water treatment facilities and distribution system. Our water is constantly monitored and tested. The water produced and delivered by Cleveland Water far exceeds the most stringent water quality standards currently mandated by federal and state water regulations, and last year was no exception.
Cleveland Water has continued to significantly enhance the quality of life by meeting the growing need for safe, clean water in the communities we serve. Therefore, we present you with the division’s Annual Water Quality Report for 2013. This report provides an overview of the division’s water quality during the past year. It shows the source of your water, how it compares to standards set by regulatory agencies, and how your water is treated and tested.
Additional copies can be requested by calling 216-664-2639 or by viewing and downloading it at www.clevelandwater.com.
If you fertilize your lawn, practice the 4 Rs of Fertilization:
1. Right Type. Have your soil tested to determine fertilizer needs and choose a slow-release fertilizer. Best Management Practice:Use phosphate-free organic fertilizer.
2. Right Rate. Soil test results will supply you with the appropriate fertilizer rate. Do not exceed the recommended rate and never apply more than 1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Best Management Practice: Use mulching blades on your mower and leave the grass clippings on the lawn.
3. Right Time. September is the best time to fertilize lawns when cool season grasses are actively growing. Best Management Practice: Never apply fertilizer when rain and wind are in the forecast.
4. Right Place. Proper fertilization techniques save money and protect waterways and wildlife. Avoid fertilizing near streams, ditches, hard surfaces, and slopes. Best Management Practice: Incorporate native plantings near streams, ditches, and slopes to better intercept pollutants before they enter waterways.
To learn more contact: Claire Posius, Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator at 216-524-6580, ext. 16, cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org; www.EuclidCreekWatershed.org; www.cuyahogaswcd.org
Please join Euclid Creek Watershed partners for a watershed day where we have a few activities for you to participate: a wetland planting, or you can help maintain a bioswale garden or assist with a beach cleanup.
This event is a partnership with Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team in addition to the Cleveland Metroparks, Cuyahoga Soil & Water Conservation District, Friends of Euclid Creek, City of Cleveland, Alliance fo the Great Lakes, and the Euclid Creek Watershed Council.
When: Sat., May 17, 9:00am to noon, Wildwood Lakefront Reservation, Cleveland (at E. 174th Street and Lakeshore Blvd., meet at the Wildwood pavilion)
Registration required for wetland planting by May 15 at: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/EventsProgramsCalendar/Euclid-Creek-Watershed-Day-3381.aspx
Contact Claire Posius for details at 216-524-6580x16 cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org.
Or more event details are available here: http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/Event%20PDFs/WildwoodPlantingFlyer.051714.pdf
If you are interested in harvesting nuphar/spadderdock from Singer Lake Bog in Geauga County, we will be harvesting on Friday, May 16th from 9:00am tonoon, contact Claire Posius for details and directions.
This year the Euclid Police Department’s Police Activities League revived the Hooked on Fishing Program in cooperation with the Euclid Schools. Twice weekly from early May through early June the police officers and volunteer “fishermen” of PAL took individual fourth grade classes from Arbor, Bluestone, Chardon Hills, and Shoreview Elementary Schools fishing at the Ohio DNR Youth Fishing Ponds near Akron. These ponds are operated by the Ohio DNR and are regularly stocked to insure that when we bring the kids down they will catch fish. They are stocked with Bluegill, Catfish, and some Trout.
Approximately 300 kids had the thrill of catching their first fish. To many of these kids it was the first time they had ever been fishing, and with the help of the PAL volunteers they learned how to bait their hooks, cast, fish, and take the fish of the hook.
It’s amazing to watch these kid’s excitement when they catch their first fish; often the first fish they have ever caught in their lifetime. The squealing and laughing are contagious. From putting the first worm on the hook, to putting the fish back in the water (this is a catch and release program), the kids are learning sportsmanship, learning about the great outdoors, and interacting with a different group of adults.
The school buses picked up the kids at school at about 9:30 AM and we had two police cars, one leading the bus and one trailing. We fished from about 10:15 AM till lunch time, picnicked around the ponds, and then returned to school by 2:00 PM. The kids were really great and there were no problems (unless you call fun and excitement a problem). The teachers for each class went with us, and there were several parents along to help also.
DVD’s with pictures of the kids with their fish are being supplied to the classrooms for them to enjoy the trip all over again.
On July 17th, nearly 20 citizens from Euclid, Cleveland, Willoughby and other cities gathered behind Henn Mansion on the lakefront at Sims Park. The group viewed the soon-to-be completed fishing pier. Brian Iorio from Euclid's Planning and Development Department detailed some of the pending and proposed improvements to the city's four miles of coastline. Also, Hyle Lowry, the Ohio Coordinator for the Chicago-based Alliance for the Great Lakes, led a discussion on how Euclid's efforts to restore and protect the lakefront are aligned with the efforts of similar communities and organizations throughout the Great Lakes.
Please join the Euclid Creek Watershed Program Partners as we celebrate the wetland and stream restoration project on Euclid Creek. The event will be held on Wednesday, July 10, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation – Wildwood Lakefront Park at the Picnic Pavilion.
This public meeting and tour celebrates the creation of a 2.3-acre wetland near the mouth of Euclid Creek and Lake Erie. Several speakers will briefly discuss the wetland and stream restoration project, followed by a ~ 1-mile hike around the site noting wildlife present and historic features preserved through the project. Meet the project partners pivotal in making this project happen and learn why a restoration project of this scale is important to Euclid Creek and Lake Erie. This $1.4 million restoration project was funded through a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information, call or email Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator Claire Posiusat 216-524-6580 x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org. Or see the detailed event flyer at http://tinyurl.com/ozrdlcd.
Thanks to a start-up grant from The Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Metroparks is working on a collaborative effort with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and volunteers from Friends of Edgewater State Park, Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team and Drink Local Drink Tap, to pilot the Urban Beach Ambassadors program this summer!
This volunteer program, similar to Cleveland Metroparks Trail Monitor program, will take place along the beaches and park trails at Edgewater and Euclid/Villa Angela Beach. Volunteers will be trained to educate and inform park and beach visitors about how their actions can adversely impact beach and water quality and diminish visitor experience. Ambassadors will also provide park visitors with information about how to get involved in volunteer activities and programs in the park and provide monitoring and observation for park staff by reporting safety and maintenance issues.
Individuals interested in the UBA program must be 21 years of age or older. Ambassadors will monitor park pathways and beaches in pairs during two-hour shifts. Each Ambassador must be certified in First Aid and CPR and participate in UBA training. First Aid, CPR and UBA training is provided by Cleveland Metroparks, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, Cleveland Lakefront State Park and volunteer group representatives from Friends of Edgewater State Park, Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team and Drink Local Drink Tap. Two training sessions will be offered in mid-April. The UBA season begins on May 1 and ends on October 1. Each volunteer must commit to a minimum of 25 hours for the entire season.
The snow might still be falling and the Lake might be freezing over but there are signs of spring all around us! And with spring comes beach cleanups!
Adopt-a-Beach volunteers will kick off the 2013 beach cleanup season on Saturday March 23rd in celebration of World Water Day. World Water Day http://www.unwater.org/watercooperation2013/ is a United Nations recognized day to focus attention on the importance of freshwater and sustainable use of freshwater.
Volunteers will meet in the Euclid Beach (16250 Lakeshore Blvd.) park pavilion at 10am, break up into teams and head down to the beach to pick up trash, conduct water quality tests and have a trash weighing and World Water Day trivia contest!
Our World Water Day trivia sponsor is STAR POP vintage + modern!! STAR POP vintage + modern, just a few short minutes from Euclid Beach Park in the Waterloo Arts District, buys and sells toys, clothing, music, movies, video games, books, art, toys, and other pop culture collectibles. The store was almost named Sustainable Pop, but despite siding with a shorter name, promoting sustainability remains at the heart of what STAR POP is all about. Everything from the hand selected merchandise to the fixtures are recycled from area families and defunct businesses. Come check it out for yourself! www.starpopcleveland.com 216-965-2368 15813 Waterloo Rd. #5, Cleveland, OH 44110
Please be sure to thank owner Troy Schwartz for his generous support of our efforts!
Your actions on the land directly impact the quality of the rivers, streams, and lakes. Be a part of the solution to storm water pollution.
Choose environmentally friendly household products. Most household products are toxic, ignitable, corrosive, or reactive. Humans can be exposed to hazardous chemicals by inhaling, swallowing, and absorption through skin/eyes. Look for cleaners that are biodegradable, non-toxic, and/or contain plant-based ingredients. Product certifications include Green Seal, US EPA Design for the Environment, or Greenguard. Or learn to make your own environmentally-friendly household cleaners.
Contact your county’s Solid Waste District for procedures and locations to dispose of household hazardous wastes. Americans generate 1.6 million tons of harmful household waste per year. The average home accumulates as much as 100 lbs. of hazardous waste over time. These include: aerosols, appliances, batteries, corrosives, electronics, flammable liquids, fluorescent lamps, mercury products, oil/oil filters, paints, pesticides, and tires.
Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly. Pet waste is teaming with E. Coli and other harmful bacteria including fecal coliform bacteria, which causes serious kidney disorders, intestinal illness, cramps and diarrhea in humans. (There are 23 million fecal coliform bacteria in a single gram of pet waste!) You may not live near water, but unscooped poop from your yard is carried by overland water flow or is washed into storm drains, ending up in streams, rivers, ground water and Lake Erie!
In 2009 City Council passed a resolution that read in part, "…it is the goal of the City of Euclid to support and encourage sustainability in the daily operations and provision of municipal services in order to reduce overall energy consumption, use resources responsibly, be good stewards of the environment, and to save costs."
The resolution applied to alternative energy. It’s well beyond time to apply it to our Storm Water Management System.
The Federal EPA is requiring Euclid to improve our system. In April, Council increased user fees that will raise about $70 million to pay in part for improved sewer lines, new holding tanks and improved storm water treatment. This approach is referred to as "Grey Infrastructure." It addresses capacity and treatment issues. Grey improvements are necessary, but incorporating a “Green Infrastructure Strategy” (GIS) to Euclid's storm water problem reduces the AMOUNT of storm water that enters the system.
GIS keeps water out of the system by intercepting storm water, infiltrating a portion of it into the ground, evaporating a portion of it into the air, and in some cases releasing a portion of it slowly back into the sewer system.
A successful GIS reduces the storm water load, reduces the need for increased capacity, reduces the severity of cost increases and improves the ecosystem. Tools to intercept storm water run off include rain barrels, tree plantings, pervious pavement, rain gardens, tree trenches, green streets and green roofs.
Join Adopt-a-Beach volunteers in celebration of World Water Day 2012 for a beach cleanup at Euclid Beach State Park from 10am-12pm on March 24th and get a free taco and drink from Chilli Peppers restaurant (869 East 185th St. Cleveland 44110)! We will meet in the park pavilion at 10am, break up into teams and head down to the beach to pick up trash, conduct water quality tests and have a trash weighing contest! Gloves, trash pickers, rakes and bags will be provided. Please dress for the weather...whatever it may be and wear tennis shoes or boots! Coffee and water will be provided at the cleanup. After the beach cleanup all volunteers are invited to Chilli Peppers restaurant for a free taco and drink (Be sure to thank Steve Newman owner of Chilli Peppers)! The winners of the trash weighing contest will also get a special prize...to be announced at Chilli Peppers!
It's never too early to start thinking about the beach! At least that's what volunteers of the Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team say! If you are not familiar, Adopt-a-Beach is a volunteer organization and partner of the Alliance for The Great Lakes a non-profit dedicated to sustaining, improving and educating about the health of our lakes and beaches. For the past two years through monthly beach cleanups, Adopt-a-Beach volunteers have picked up close to 2,000 pounds of trash and recyclables at Historic Euclid Beach State Park alone! But it's a lot more than just picking up trash on the beach! Take a look at what we did in 2011:
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A group of local residents along with the OSU Urban Agriculture Program are wanting to make a difference in our community by creating awareness about urban fruit production in order to increase the amounts of fresh and preserved fruits consumed by residents, decreasing the amount of waste generate by fallen fruit, and cultivating appreciation for the value of fruit trees in the urban landscape.
Proposed activities for this project include meeting to develop the organizational structure of this project, locate landowners in and around the city of Euclid and identify the location and types of fruit trees. As fruit trees were very important in Euclid for family health one hundred years ago, Roy Larick is interested in using Google Earth to help us map the locations of found trees. We will seek permission from tree owners and volunteer groups would go pick fruit that would otherwise go unpicked. Group harvests will be scheduled and the fruit will be distributed to area organizations such as the Euclid Hunger Center, other nonprofits, the culinary school, or even used for food preservation classes and demonstrations. Modeled after other fruit tree projects in the U.S., our project will also provide fruit to the volunteers. We also hope to increase the knowledge and skills related to fruit tree care and maintenance by creating workshops and other educational opportunities for Euclid area residents.
Would you like to help us with this initiative? Contact Sherrie at 216-798-7089 or Nicole Wright of the OSU Extension Urban Agriculture Program 216-429-8200 x 249 for more information.
Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the City of Euclid will be hosting a 4th annual Rain Barrel Workshop with the Friends of Euclid Creek on Saturday, April 21st from 10:00am-11:30am at the Euclid Historical Society.
A rain barrel is a container used to collect and store rainwater that would otherwise be lost to runoff and likely diverted to a storm drain. Collected water may then be used to water lawns and gardens. Cost is $60 (Friends of Euclid Creek members receive a $10 discount) and includes the 60 gallon barrel, all materials and downspout diverter.
To register for this workshop (registration is required), contact the Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator at 216-524-6580x16 or cposius@cuyahogaswcd.org by April 13th.
Stop by and see environmental displays on composting, rain gardens and other sustainable practices. Booths include the Euclid Community Garden, Solar Fountain, Worm Farm, Container Planting and more.
The Euclid Creek Watershed Council Public Involvement and Public Education (PIPE) Committee has developed nine community-focused fact sheets to help residents learn what watersheds are located in their community.
A fact sheet for the City of Euclid is available for download on the Euclid Creek Watershed Program Website at http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/EuclidCreekFiles/EC_WatershedFactSheets.htm, and for all nine Euclid Creek Watershed Council communities (Beachwood, Cleveland, Euclid, Highland Heights, Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Richmond Heights and South Euclid). You can find a hard copy at Euclid City Hall. To request a copy, contact the Euclid Creek Watershed Coordinator, Claire Posius, at 216-524-6580 ext. 16 or cposius@cuyhaogaswcd.org
A watershed is an area of land that drains rain and snow to a common body of water such as a stream, river, or lake. This new educational brochure explains what a watershed is and why we should care, and includes a map showing watershed boundaries, parks and natural resources, and current projects helping streams in the nine Euclid Creek Watershed Council communities. Each fact sheet describes roughly how many miles of streams are above ground and how many miles are buried underground in culverts due to urban/suburban development. Additionally, the fact sheets include details about each watershed, information on what your community is doing to help its watershed(s), and offers ways in which residents can help their watershed.
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Illegal Dumping is the improper disposal of waste at any location other than a permitted landfill or facility. Illegal dumping poses a threat to human health and the environment.
Also known as open dumping or midnight dumping, illegal dumping usually happens in open areas, along roadsides, in wooded areas, streams and rivers, and frequently occurs late at night to avoid detection. The waste is dumped to avoid disposal fees or time and effort required for proper disposal.
It is illegal to allow open dumping on your property. Property owners sometimes try to benefit financially by charging a fee for someone to dump waste on their property. This is illegal.
What types of materials are commonly dumped?
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Did you know that grass and leaves can be harmful to our waterways?
Many leaves will naturally fall into the water, but as homeowners, we should be mindful not to upset nature’s balance. The leaves that fall on our lawn should never be put in a creek, stream or river. Excessive decaying leaves use up the water’s oxygen, harming animals that live in the water.
Leaves can also get into our creeks and streams through storm drains. Leaves and pollutants can easily be washed into the storm drain when it rains.
When cleaning up this year’s leaf drop, follow these simple steps to keep our waterways clean!
Thanks to a Small Scale Storm Water Demonstration Grant from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), volunteers from the Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team planted Ohio native plants in two grass swales along the front entrance to Euclid Beach State Park. The demonstration project is part of a $50,000.00 small grant initiative by the NEORSD to help raise awareness about storm water management issues in our region. More information about the NEORSD demonstration grant program can be found at: http://www.neorsd.org/watershedgrants.php.
A swale garden works by absorbing water through extensive root systems laid down by water tolerant plants. Water stays in the soil and out of the storm sewers and Lake Erie, reducing runoff, flooding and improving water quality. The plants, all Ohio natives courtesy of Great Lakes Natives Plant Nursery, will take root over the winter and blossom next spring and summer. With New England Aster, Purple Cone Flower, Orange Cone Flower and many more, it is sure to be a colorful summer at the park! So next time you are driving along Lakeshore Boulevard admiring the new Collinwood Recreation Center, look across the street at the entrance to Euclid Beach State Park! While it does not look like much more than some mulch and sprouting plants today, it is actually a storm water management project in progress!
For more information about the Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach team, future volunteer events and pictures of the swale garden, search The Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach Team on Facebook or email stephen.love20@gmail.com.
Please consider joining us for our next beach cleanup Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at Euclid Beach State Park. We will provide volunteers with gloves, rakes and trash bags. Area food establishments Cafe Arts Collinwood, Chili Peppers and Giorgio's Pizza are graciously providing refreshments.
The Euclid Beach Blast! was a great success! All tolled throughout the day we had close to 450 attendees having a blast watching pop up art take shape on "the wall of doors", cleaning the beach (and picking up 200 pounds of trash!), building a sandcastle and catching some rays, watching a jump rope troop hop in all the way from Africa, chalking the sidewalk, learning about watershed preservation, chowing down on a Cuban sandwich from Jibaro World Eats Food Truck, biking and planting gardens around Collinwood and most importantly jamming to some music from 106.5 The Lake, Radio Disney and live performances from Bill Meyer, Andriana Santiago and Grupo Son Gitano! We could not have had such a great event without the help of many dedicated Euclid Beach Adopt-a-Beach volunteers who spent hours in the hot sun on Saturday keeping everything cool! Thank you again to everyone who came out to volunteer on Saturday! Thank you also to all of our participating pop up artists! You can see the "the wall of doors" or the "Blank Canvas" in the Arts Collinwood Gallery.
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Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And so my garden grows.
Who hasn’t heard that nursery rhyme before? Sure, one can argue the political overtones of this little diddy, but let’s dispense with the that and focus on how the words fit so nicely with the magic that is taking place behind the Euclid city jail.
A number of Euclid residents have been making wonderful things grow in Euclid’s newest community garden, located behind the city jail on Milton Avenue. Early spring rains, summer sunshine and a lot of sweat equity seem to be the key ingredients to the mounds of vegetables, herbs and annuals that line the various beds.
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I grew up in Westlake before it became the land of mini-mansions. I distinctly remember a cow running loose through our backyard and a cowboy on a horse, lasso spinning over his head, in pursuit. Maybe part of my memory is shaded by the romance of childhood, but the cows most distinctly were living a few houses away and they did sometimes get loose. Our backyard led to abandoned grape fields formerly owned by Welsh’s. There were early raspberries growing wild that would supply the children of the neighborhood with sustenance while they explored the wooded areas. We had favorite grape vines that we could swing on and in the late summer enjoy eating the concord grapes.
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A rain garden is an attractive, landscaped area planted with perennial native plants which don't mind getting wet feet. They are beautiful gardens, built in depressions, which are designed to capture and filter storm water runoff from impervious surfaces around the home, such as rooftops and driveways.
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Our photographer wasn’t really sure, since he can’t tell the difference between a cherry blossom tree and a large mulberry bush. Whatever they are, trees of this type burst into bloom in many parts of Euclid in the middle of May. These colorful spring blossoms were spotted on Miller Avenue, near East 200th Street.
Antifreeze, household cleaners, gasoline, pesticides, oil paints, solvents, used motor oil, etc. Improper disposal allows these items to seep into and pollute our rivers and groundwater. So the next time you’re spring cleaning or on the move, learn the proper disposal of household hazardous waste. The Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District encourages you to participate in spring cleaning to rid your house and garage of household hazardous waste.
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