On Thursday, June 8th any and all Lake Erie lovers are invited to join the regional advocacy group Green Ribbon Coalition and the City of Euclid for an Erie Shore “Call To Action” Social event at Henn Mansion in Sims Park.
Are you ready for the summer? There sure is a lot going on in Euclid. I hope you have received the Euclid 360! publication in the mail – check out their calendar of events or visit their website http://euclid360.com. You will also find events and activities in the Euclid Recreation Summer Guide, Euclid Public Library “Library Lines” and Shore Cultural Centre “Summer Program Guide” and our neighbors in Collinwood have published the Scoop on Summer (http://collinwoodscoop.org/). It promises to be a fun filled summer!
Happy May! I hope you are enjoying spring in Euclid. For all those able to help with the Spring Clean-up, thank you! We have been working hard to spruce up our community and I appreciate all the residents, businesses, schools, churches, neighborhood associations, beach clubs and community organizations who took the time to help. Thanks to the “Keep Euclid Beautiful” group for organizing this effort and others. We need to continue this effort throughout the year – it is up to all of us to help Keep Euclid Beautiful! If you want to learn how you can help, please call 289-2751.
Question: What are some summer activities offered by the Euclid Police Department?
We at the Observer are excited to bring you our readers even more content and news. We have been working closely with the Mayor and the city council to bring you the new Euclid City Pages. This will be a place where your council representatives will have the opportunity to communicate with you and let you know what they are working on. We have included a city ward map to help you identify which ward you are in. We have also included the contact information for all your local, state, and federal representatives, including President Trump. In the future we will have a summary of the council meetings and communications from our state and federal representatives. This is a work in progress, and we welcome your ideas and suggestions. Please contact us via email at Euclidobserver@gmail.com and let us know what you would like to see in the city pages or the paper in general. We look forward to hearing from you.
Greetings all and Happy Spring! In this month’s issue of the Euclid Observer, you will see a new partnership between the City of Euclid and the Euclid Observer to bring you regular City of Euclid pages. This month’s edition includes the City map showing Ward boundaries and contact information for your City officials. We will continue to work with Council members and City staff to provide you with relevant and useful information. Look to this page to provide news from your City Council members and other elected officials, a re-cap of Council meetings, and other important City updates and information. I want to thank John Copic for his continued efforts to enhance communication citywide.
Question: What are some statistics on distracted driving?
As Councilwoman of Ward 8, my number one priority is to work hard with the citizens’ best interests in mind. Their expectation of me as their elected representative is a great responsibility that I take seriously. I value their trust, as it is critical to the Ward’s success.
For over thirty years, the Euclid Department of Planning & Development’s Storefront Renovation Program has provided grants to renovate retail, commercial, and industrial properties located in the City of Euclid.
This past month was a month to celebrate partnerships. At the beginning of February, we officially welcomed Simon Grocery store to Euclid Avenue with a ribbon cutting and community event. This project is an example of partnerships working to address a problem and bring about a great project. In this case, we have a private developer, Mr. Hussain, who invested in an aging plaza; City Council committing CDBG funds to help the project; Cuyahoga County Board of Health Healthy Communities Program providing technical assistance and connections to the Finance Fund and Food Trust who provided both funding and expertise. This project is being held up as an example by the agencies involved of how successful partnerships lead to great results. This project brings investment, jobs to local residents, and fresh affordable food to an area previously identified as a food desert.
Question: Are there ways to protect yourself from identity fraud?
Greetings to all! As I write this, I am also preparing my State of the City Address. Too often, we do not stop to celebrate the successes we have but focus on the problem at hand. I am happy to share with you some of our successes as we continue to work towards making sure Euclid is a first choice suburb where we all can be proud to live, work and visit.
The Building and Housing Department is responsible for the residential and commercial structures in the City of Euclid. We have a staff of four clerks, 3 primary residential housing inspectors, one multi-unit or apartment complex inspector, two commercial building inspectors and one housing manager.
Happy New Year! I wish each of you joy, good health, and prosperity in the New Year. It is hard to believe that I have been in office one year already. Time has flown by. As I think back about the first year, I am proud of our accomplishments and the hard work and dedication of the City of Euclid employees. I am grateful for the partnerships and relationships formed to help Euclid succeed. I am hopeful about our future.
Since 2008, the City of Euclid has acquired and rehabilitated 25 homes through the Neighborhood Stabilization program (NSP) administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Happy Holidays to you and your families! I look forward to the upcoming holidays with excitement and anticipation. I enjoy the holiday decorations that line our streets and shopping centers. I look forward to holiday gatherings and parties to celebrate the relationships we have made through the year. I look forward to spending time with friends, family, and neighbors. I am grateful for the many blessings we have in our community.
As you prepare for the holidays, please remember your local stores, restaurants and entertainment establishments. We all want thriving neighborhood commercial districts – but they will only thrive with our support. By keeping your dollars local, you are helping to improve our local economy while supporting small, resident-owned and operated businesses. Please shop local whenever you can!
I am grateful for the community organizations and the many people who work every day to help those in need and help strengthen our community. During this season of giving, if you are able to make a charitable contribution please give locally. Our local organizations and community groups truly make a difference everyday right here in our community and they depend on the generosity of time and resources from all of us.
On behalf of the City of Euclid, I wish you much joy and many blessings this holiday season! Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our community. I look forward to a new year filled with peace, happiness, and continued prosperity for the City of Euclid.
Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail
Earlier this year the City of Euclid was awarded a Master Plan to be prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. A Master Plan inventories current conditions, outlines a community’s vision for the future and then describes concrete, specific action steps community leaders can undertake to accomplish that growth and development.
The first public meetings of the Euclid Master Plan were great successes. Residents and other community stakeholders from across the City attended a presentation and visioning workshop at Arbor Elementary School on Tuesday, October 4, 2016 and the community survey results were revealed during Councilman and Master Plan Steering Committee Member Kristian Jarosz’s (Ward 4) City Planning Council Committee meeting on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 in Council Chambers at City Hall.
Surveys were distributed in August 2016 to 1400 randomized Euclid households. Questions were both multiple choice and open ended and inquired about city amenities and services, community engagement, economic development and more.
Question: What are some holiday crime prevention tips to help us have a joyous season?
This month we will celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, so I am thinking about our many blessings. Veterans Day celebrates and honors America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Euclid will honor our Veterans on Nov. 11th at 11:00 am with a ceremony at Euclid City Hall (585 E. 222 Street) conducted by the Euclid Joint Veterans Council. Please join me in honoring those who served and affirming the continued commitment to promoting peace and mutual understanding in our world.
Earlier this year the City of Euclid was awarded a Master Plan to be prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission. A Master Plan inventories current conditions, outlines a community’s vision for the future and then describes concrete, specific action steps community leaders can undertake to accomplish that growth and development.
With the fall season upon us once again, it’s time to talk leaf pickup. I would like to go over some of the specifics, as well as let you know how to track what neighborhoods crews are in on any given day. Pickup will begin as leaves start falling in volume – this is typically mid to late October. Crews will continue picking up until approximately December depending on how quickly the trees shed the leaves. There will be advanced notice before crews start the final collection through the City. That information will be posted on the City of Euclid website (www.cityofeuclid.com). Leaf pickup will not be tied to your trash pickup day as in the past. The crews will start in the Southwest corner of the City working across to the Northeast corner. The City website will have the most up to date information on the location of the crews.
If you happened down Lakeshore Boulevard the evening of Friday, September 23rd you would have been greeted by a couple of hundred people strolling the sidewalks, painting on canvases and enjoying live music and other performances.
Earlier this year the City of Euclid was awarded a Master Plan to be prepared by the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission over the next 10 months. A Master Plan inventories current conditions, outlines a community’s vision for the future and then describes concrete, specific action steps community leaders can undertake to accomplish that growth and development.
Public input is a vital piece of any Master Plan to ensure that future policies reflect the goals and vision of residents, businesses and other stakeholders. The creation of Euclid’s next Master Plan will allow many opportunities to be engaged in the process.
A community-wide survey was issued in August 2015 to a random sample of 1,400 households throughout all eight wards. The anonymous results are currently being recorded and will appear in a written report as well as influence the Master Plan.
Furthermore, the 2016 Master Plan is led by a Steering Committee of community stakeholders including residents who applied through a competitive application in summer 2016. Each member possesses unique qualifications to develop a meaningful, inventive and useful planning tool for the City of Euclid.
Happy September! I want to take a minute to say thank you to John Copic and all the writers who make the Observer happen each month. John recently held an appreciation party to say thank you to the writers. I want to extend my appreciation on behalf of the City of Euclid to John and all the writers for providing this important service to our community. John has worked hard to improve the features in the paper and is continuing to look for ways to improve the paper. I always open the Euclid Observer with anticipation to see the coverage of local events and read about some of the things happening in our community – it has become a source of information many of us depend on.
So often today, the media reports on the negative things happening in our communities. In a recent social media site, a resident shared her favorite things about Euclid and asked members to weigh in with their “favorite things.” The positive responses ranged from reviews of specific restaurants and stores to more general services, programs and places. After the tragic incidents that took place at Sims Park, it was wonderful to see how residents were focused on the strengths of our community.
On Tuesday, July 19th, 2016, members of the City of Euclid Service Department began painting “sharrow” markings on Lakeshore Boulevard as the first step to installing a shared bike path in the curb lane of the street. The markings extend nearly the entire length of Lakeshore Boulevard in Euclid - from E. 185th Street to Lloyd Road. Signage featuring a picture of a bicycle indicating bicycles may use full lane was also installed.
Question: How is it possible for people to forget their child in a car on a hot day?
What a great start to the summer! The Euclid Wind Fest was a great success – helicopter riders raved about the views along the shoreline and participants enjoyed the hot air balloon rides, zip line, inflatables, bubbles, crafts and activities, dance performances, music and food. What a great setting and great opportunity to appreciate the lakefront, pier and beautiful beach. I want to especially thank Shore Cultural Centre, the Euclid Chamber of Commerce, and City of Euclid staff for helping to plan and host the event. I also truly appreciate the generosity of many local businesses in sponsoring the event and the many volunteers for assisting in making the event a great success.
School is out and summer is here! I would like to congratulate all the graduates and send them best wishes on their future plans. The City of Euclid wants to applaud the outstanding achievements of students at Euclid High School, Villa Angela St. Joseph High School and other schools who have excelled academically, athletically, and are poised for success in college, the work place, or the military. We are proud of you and your accomplishments and know you will continue to make Euclid proud!
Question: What are some crime prevention tips for traveling this summer?
At the foundation of a strong community is a commitment to community service and giving of oneself. May brings us several opportunities to celebrate service and remember those who served.
Question: What is CPTED and how is it used by the Euclid Police Department?
Answer: Kate McLaughlin, Community Policing Specialist
The problem of crime can occur when a motivated offender finds a suitable target in a vulnerable place, illustrated in the Crime Triangle. If one of three sides of the Crime Triangle is addressed, it can prevent the crime. We can use crime prevention measures to protect ourselves from becoming a victim, and we can establish safeguards to protect places. CPTED, an acronym for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, is one of those measures to protect places. CPTED is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior by designing a physical environment that positively influences human behavior. There are several strategies to designing a safer space. Natural Access Control denies access to a crime target and increases the risk to offenders such as signs, barriers, landscaping, and door locks. Natural Surveillance facilitates observation and is achieved through windows, open views, lighting, and security cameras. Territorial Reinforcement relates to the belief that physical design contributes to ownership. If normal users develop a sense of control in their space, an offender may be less likely to enter that space. Physical Maintenance involves keeping the property well maintained, and Order Maintenance involves having rules and guidelines in place. The Euclid Police Department utilizes CPTED when conducting security surveys for Euclid businesses to offer crime prevention suggestions on how to improve security in and around a facility. Euclid businesses that might be interested in having a CPTED security survey conducted at their property should call EPD Community Policing at 289-8449.
If you would like to submit a question to Ask an Officer, contact Community Policing at the Euclid Police Department: email kmclaughlin@cityofeuclid.com or call 216-289-8449.
Happy Spring! With the brighter days comes the need for some spring cleaning! We are working to put together a Citywide cleanup week and hope that residents, businesses and city staff will come together to help us spruce up our city. We will be working to pick up litter but also planting trees, looking at ways to dress up empty store fronts, landscaping, and more. We all should have pride in our homes, businesses, and neighborhoods and my administration wants to share the responsibility for keeping it clean and looking good. Please help us by doing your part! If you have ideas or want to help, please contact my office at 216-289-2751.
Soon, I will have completed 100 days as Mayor. I am proud to say that all positions are filled, we have a budget and department goals in place, and have been looking at ways to improve our level of service and responsiveness. I have very much enjoyed meeting with local businesses and commercial brokers, neighborhood and community groups, and talking with residents about their concerns and ideas. I have had the opportunity to participate in Mayors and Manager Association, NOACA, and regional planning efforts where I have continued to build relationships necessary for strong partnerships. We have much to do, but I am proud of what we have accomplished to date.
The City of Euclid’s political landscape continues to reshape itself as John Monroe was appointed President of City Council. Following a few weeks of uncertainty about who would lead Euclid’s City Council, Mayor Kirsten Holzheimer Gail appointed Monroe after Council failed to elect its own candidate. The Council Presidency became open when Holzheimer Gail was elected Mayor, vacating her role as head of City Council.
Question: When driving on the interstate, what is the Ohio law for moving over one lane when an emergency or safety vehicle is stopped at the side of the road with lights flashing?
Answer: Kate McLaughlin, Community Policing Specialist
Ohio Codified Ordinance 4511.213 outlines the procedure for moving over one lane when a public safety, emergency, or road service vehicle is stopped on the side of the road with flashing lights operating.
If the driver of the motor vehicle is traveling on a highway that consists of at least two lanes that carry traffic in the same direction of travel as that of the driver's motor vehicle, the driver shall proceed with due caution and, if possible and with due regard to the road, weather, and traffic conditions, shall change lanes into a lane that is not adjacent to that of the stationary public safety vehicle, emergency vehicle, road service vehicle, vehicle used by the public utilities commission to conduct motor vehicle inspections in accordance with sections 4923.04 and 4923.06 of the Revised Code, or a highway maintenance vehicle.
For example, if you are driving in the far right lane of I-90 and you see a State Highway Patrol vehicle ahead parked on the right berm and the vehicle lights are flashing, you should move over one lane to the left, when possible, until you pass. Allowing one empty lane between your vehicle and the patrol car, road service, or emergency vehicle provides a safer situation for the people who may be standing or working in the berm area. In instances where you are driving in the far right lane and it is not safe or it is impossible to move over one lane to the left, you should slow down, be cautious, be prepared to stop, and be aware of people who may have to step into the road in front of you. A driver can be cited for failure to follow Ohio’s Move Over Law.
For more information on Ohio’s Move Over Law, check out the Ohio Department of Transportation website at www.dot.state.oh.us/moveover.
If you would like to submit a question to Ask an Officer, contact Community Policing at the Euclid Police Department: email kmclaughlin@cityofeuclid.com or call 216-289-8449.
Happy New Year! I am truly honored to have been elected to serve as the City of Euclid’s 14th Mayor. I want to thank all of those who helped make this possible, especially the voters of Euclid for their confidence in me. I also want to thank Mayor Bill Cervenik for his leadership and service to the City of Euclid for the past 12 years.
It has been my honor and privilege to serve Euclid in various capacities for the last 20 years. I began my career in Euclid at Euclid Community Concerns. The mission of that organization was to create a model community where citizens of all races and backgrounds live together in harmony. My work on City Council and involvement with community, neighborhood, and school organizations allowed me to continue that work. The constant themes throughout these roles has been working to build strong neighborhoods, help engage residents and stakeholders, build on our strengths, and promote the positives found in Euclid – working to create that model community. I will continue to make those themes cornerstones of my administration.
Dear Friends:
It has been an honor to serve as your Mayor over the past twelve years but my time in office is quickly coming to a close. I have met many fine people and I have enjoyed working with each of you. While I will miss being your Mayor, I leave with many fond memories and a feeling of great satisfaction that much has been accomplished.
I look at the progress on lakefront development beginning with the beautiful fishing pier at Sims Park. Construction of the boardwalk, beaches and breakwaters are slated to begin within the next 16 months, and we have secured the majority of the funding needed to make lakefront development a reality.
I look at the transformation of the downtown retail district with over 16 million dollars in public and private investment. Downtown Euclid will continue to grow and prosper, especially as the Waterfront District is developed.
Baker Candies Famous Whipped Eggs through an agreemnt with Humphrey Popcorn Company will now be manufacturing the whipped eggs.
After a competitive election campaign, Kirsten Holzheimer Gail was hoping for a short break before tackling her new role as Mayor of Euclid. However, preparing for the new job while keeping up with her current role as Council President has kept Holzheimer Gail busy nearly every day since the election.
“The campaign really offered us a chance to have some healthy discussion about the key issues facing Euclid,” said Holzheimer Gail. “We stayed positive, focused on the assets of the community and had some great grass roots support,” she explained pointing to what helped lead to her victory.
Holzheimer Gail takes office January 1, 2016 succeeding current Mayor Bill Cervenik, who was term limited after 12 years in office. Euclid’s Mayor earns $85,000 annually, slightly lower than comparably sized cities in northeast Ohio such Lakewood where the Mayor earns $103,480. She will oversee an annual budget of approximately $38-39 million.
Question: How do I prepare for winter driving?