Artist and writer Ralph Solonitz was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He now makes his home in Cleveland Heights.

The Heights is Greater Cleveland’s best asset—next to the lake, of course. The Heights has fantastic restaurants and it’s just up the hill from nationally recognized health care facilities. It has viable local merchant districts, neighborhoods with fine homes, is adjacent to the cultural icons of University Circle, and it’s inhabited by the most diverse demographic of Northeast Ohio. We should do more than celebrate this community; we should fiercely protect and grow the Heights as innovatively, efficiently and aggressively as possible.

Calling all friends of Forest Hill Park: your favorite place to (check one) walk, run or hang out with (check one) your boyfriend, girlfriend, children or dog, needs your help. 

Forest Hill Park means much to many people. With its huge old-growth oaks, large open meadows, and steep wooded ravines, it is a natural treasure—an old-world deer park transplanted into the middle of an American city.

Tuesday is my least favorite day in Cleveland Heights because it is trash day. I’m not opposed to trash, but I detest the remnants left over each week from our failed waste and recycling programs.

I walk my dog several times a week, and Tuesdays are frustrating. Instead of enjoying the walk through my beautiful neighborhood, I maneuver a gauntlet of chicken bones, pizza boxes, candy wrappers and unknown, unrecognizable food remnants, hoping my dog does not digest any of this dangerous smorgasbord. 

I cannot let January 2010 pass without acknowledging the 10th birthday of the organization that led to not only the Heights Observer, but has given the residents of Cleveland Heights, and now also University Heights, many opportunities to be active citizens and make a true difference in their communities. 

In January 2000, in response to Giant Eagle's plans to build a 50,000 square foot store on Cedar Hill, more than 350 people from the neighborhood came together at a town meeting to voice their concern that drastically changing the historic physical fabric of the area would not be in the long-term best interest of the community.

The buzz around town and in the Heights Observatory Forum (www.heightsobserver.org/deck/) is that the Oakwood Golf Course may be for sale. 

This is an opportunity to add a valuable amenity to our area: a passive park. Urban land use rotates; maybe, at some point, the best use of this land will be housing. But that is not its best use now.  

When I did an Internet search for homes in Cleveland Heights that are for sale for over $300,000, I found 54 properties, including two on Oakwood Drive, located on the golf course. Many of these properties include a 10-year tax abatement.

Cleveland Heights has plenty of empty or low-quality commercial space that can be demolished or reconfigured if demand for commercial property increases. Remember the empty school properties when you are looking for large tracts of land to put to new uses.

It’s time to think big. What if the founders of Cain Park in the 1930s had failed to act on the opportunity to create something long-lasting and meaningful for the community?

I was privileged to be part of the Cleveland Sustainability 2009 gathering this past August. Our goal was no less than to celebrate Cleveland becoming a “green city on a blue lake.”

The way towards that goal is to leverage the abundance of assets of our region towards practical and measurable outcomes. The future calls us to re-tool our economic engine towards a green economy. This new economic engine would bring jobs to the inner city, strengthen our suburbs and stimulate prosperity in Northeast Ohio.

Why is it that politicians just cannot deal with rejection of their agenda? On Nov. 3, residents of University Heights rejected a city administrator. The vote was not even close on that issue, yet an article reported last week that Councilman Bullock feels that residents were not educated enough to understand, and Councilman Murphy questioned whether residents still want an administrator just not through a charter amendment.

“Money is like an iron ring we've put through our noses. We've forgotten that we designed it, and it's now leading us around. I think it's time to figure out where we want to go -- in my opinion toward sustainability and community -- and then design a money system that gets us there.” --Bernard Lietaer in Beyond Greed and Scarcity

What is it for, anyway? As artist Carol Hummel and her small army of volunteers were on Lee Road and Larchmere Boulevard this past August covering parking meters and tree trunks with colorful crocheted cord, a common assumption was that Heights Arts was raising money for a cause through art. 

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting". Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

No matter how hard we try to re-invent ourselves, right now the Heights' economic health is still tied to the automobile industry. Like dominoes falling,with each passing week our economic downturn continues to affect our local businesses. Familiar greater-Cleveland family names such as Spitzer, Ganley, Axelrod, Serpentini, and others are struggling to make ends meet.

Stimulus dollars, the failure of many banking institutions (including our own National City Bank), the bankruptcy of General Motors and Chrysler and our federal government’s buy-in to the tune of trillions of dollars will lead to super inflation or hyperinflation.

It may not always seem to be in fashion, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about civility. In fact, it’s perhaps more important than ever to our quality of life as a community.

Cleveland Heights and University Circle have long had a mutually beneficial relationship. University Circle's cultural, academic and healthcare institutions employ many Cleveland Heights residents, and proximity to the Circle’s world-class attractions and facilities is seen as a benefit of living here.

Now University Circle Inc. (UCI) is in the midst of a five-year plan to create “the premier urban district.” The plan builds on the Circle’s anchor institutions to make it “the fastest-growing area in the region,” with new housing, shopping, and other improved and new amenities.

The recent budget tightening in local government has rekindled a critical issue in Cleveland Heights: the need for a comprehensive master plan and economic strategy for our community.

Nearly 10 years ago, residents created a vision report that described what Cleveland Heights aspired to be. It was a valiant effort, but it omitted one important element—a road map for how Cleveland Heights hopes to achieve these goals. There was nothing about implementation strategy, no specifics about resource allocation, no strategic development focus and no project prioritization. Nor did it provide development plans for the major commercial thoroughfares of Mayfield, Cedar, Taylor, and Coventry roads.

The city has a zoning ordinance that designates approved land uses. But a zoning ordinance is not a master plan and does not provide direction in crafting the future of land development and economic growth in the community.

The Charter Review Commission has had several weeks to digest the questions presented to them, such as what they think are the specific issues the city faces, and how the charter would correct them. Still, the answers are elusive.

What I do hear from some members of the commission are responses that prey on a fear -- that we need to create a charter that provides flexibility to deal with changes in the many variables that affect our lives. Which is great if you accept  vague and unspecific answers. However what’s to say the current form of government doesn’t have that capacity? 

As Dickens said: It is “the worst of times.” We all know we are in an economic downturn the likes of which has not been seen since the Great Depression, and every community across Ohio is feeling the pain. As a city councilman in Cleveland Heights, my council colleagues and I have worked to stem the impact of falling income tax returns so we can continue to provide the type of services and quality of life our residents expect and deserve.

In Cleveland Heights, over the past two years, we have cut our budget by over $2 million, and we will probably have to cut more as income tax receipts continue to fall. Like cities all around, we have frozen wages, cut services and programming, increased fees and laid off employees. More cuts will further reduce our ability to serve our citizens.

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors.

He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting".

Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

It seems odd that I had to travel over 5,000 miles to get perspective on faith and politics in Northeast Ohio. But that is what happened. On a recent trip to the Middle East, I met with the Rev. Mitri Raheb, Pastor of the Christmas Church, an Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Bethlehem. Church members include teachers, doctors, lawyers, musicians, artists and business folk. There were many young families, children and teens -- just like our congregation. Certainly there are vast differences between Pastor Raheb’s context and mine. His is a world of security walls, occupation and minority status as a Palestinian Christian. My context is one of safety, majority identity and freedom. Yet what he said has application for our current reality in metro Cleveland. 

Since September residents have been asking the University Heights City Council, the Mayor and the appointed Charter Review Commission to schedule an open forum to seek resident input prior to revising the City Charter and changing the form of government. Regretfully, the many requests have been ignored. Why must UH residents wait so long to express their views?

Concerned Citizens for University Heights, a group formed in October, recommended that council delay the CRC’s organizational meeting for six months to provide ample time for open forums. No response was received.

With the recent announcement of Catholic church closures and mergers splashed across the pages of local newspapers, we are all being forced to look forward to a new reality in our community. As members of the team of parishioners from Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland that submitted the recommendation to the Bishop, we have been in dialogue about these realities for more than a year and a half. These realties led us to recommend the creation of a single parish serving the area with two worship sites, one at Saint Ann in Cleveland Heights, and one at St. Philomena in East Cleveland.

Heights Community Congress was founded more than 35 years ago to fight discrimination in the housing and real estate market of Cleveland Heights. And today, thanks to a recent report highlighting how severe the problem still is, the organization's mission is more important than ever.

The site has been reviewed by the University Heights City Engineer Joseph Ciuni,

And his project manager, Edward Franks. They report a Dec. 18, visit with engineering consultants, Raths, Raths & Johnson for the owner of the property, Inland Management Company of Chicago.

The review concluded that reinforcement, supplemental steel supports, painting, waterproofing the top deck and on and on … all will result in a safely restored structure. 

Knowing that I’m safe is different than feeling safe in a specific space.

Shortly before Barack Obama's inauguration, I was asked, "What does this inauguration mean to you?" The inauguration means so much to so many - but to me, it proves not only that anything is possible, but that no matter how bleak things look, things can get better. As a high school senior, I recognized the need for change and devoted my spare time to volunteering for the Obama campaign this summer and fall. Obama was someone who hsd done things I could admire. He is an inspiration and role model for me and all other Americans.

I was humbled. I just left the Heights Emergency Food Center. I was dropping off over $300 in cash and nearly 150 pounds of food that was donated by community members celebrating the Obama Inauguration at the Grog Shop.

The economy will recover, and people will buy houses again. Will University Heights be ready?  Unless our city government works to secure UH’s place in that recovery, no one will look at us, except as low-cost housing.

My day job has me reporting on the many innovative ideas that are finally coalescing into a Cleveland sustainability agenda. It leaves me with little time to write about what’s happening in my own backyard. Cleveland Heights has plenty of good people working on these issues. They need support and active engagement from you and me to make us a truly green suburb. Here’s my wish list for a Cleveland Heights green agenda:

It's the Sunday before Christmas and all through the streets, not a creature was stirring, not even a customer.  This is not poetry or haiku; it's reality. 

At Big Fun, we've had some decent "rushes," but not the crowds that we are used to at this time of year.  Friends in other cities have shared the same stories.  There is still hope.  People are starting to think twice about where they shop and who they want to support.  Please continue to spread the word and we all will be better for it.

I had the honor of attending the Height’s High production of Leonard Bernstein’s "West Side Story" on November 7 and 9. I came to the show to support my son in his first performance. My son attends Oxford Elementary School and was a member of the choir. The choir provided vocals for “America” and “One Hand, One Heart.” I came expecting to see the typical high school play, what I saw was a Broadway quality production.

Dominion East Ohio Gas is a trustworthy company. Do not be so sure when buying their water heater repair and replacement plan for $4.95 a month. You may end up spending more than if you hired a private plumber.

Remember when Bill Clinton tacked up the Post-it® note that reminded him, “it’s the economy, stupid?” This clear focus helped him win the presidency.

For the Heights schools the focus is “the instructional core.” And the goal is a high level of student achievement across the board.

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting". Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

Every presidential election seems “the most important ever.” This happens because the stakes keep getting higher. In this election, I support Senator Barack Obama because I believe he will lead our country toward sustainability in a world where everything is going wrong at the same time.

With the financial crisis and the decline of Cleveland’s economy, we need a president with a record of accomplishing real reform, who understands our problems and knows what needs to be reformed.  John McCain is that man.

As a senior at Cleveland Heights High School, it is a very important year for me. Fall of senior year is the time when you begin applying for colleges and scholarships; taking the SATs and ACTs, and making sure your grades are up to par, not to mention involvement in school activities. This is the time when I begin making all of the important decisions that will affect my life. However, there is one more thing that will make my senior year all that more important: being able to vote for the first time in the 2008 Presidential Election.

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting". Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

The Cleveland Jewish Federation is moving to the suburbs...

out of the city they are part of. 

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting". Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

I got concerned when I first heard about the charter review commission for University Heights.

I wanted to know where the idea came from. And more importantly, I wondered why now?

A partial answer comes from council members Steven Bullock, Frank Consolo and Kevin Murphy when they said in the Sun Press that they are interested in a city manager form of a government.  This would require changing the charter. The review commission is the first step.

Saturday morning, August 16, was one of those clear and sunny Northeast Ohio mornings that makes you wonder why anyone would go anywhere else for a summer vacation. It seemed as if half the population of the Heights was out walking, jogging, gardening, or just taking in the day.

The conditions were especially good for a long bike ride, and many cyclists (myself included) spent a few hours on the road that morning. One of us didn't make it home. Miles Coburn was hit and fatally injured at the intersection of State Route 44 and Music Street in Newbury Township.

School reform isn't new to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. Over the last six years, district educators have been engaged in intensive reflection, research, planning and action guided by more than a dozen educational experts. The process has led to a powerful transformation in expectations and practices, right under our noses! As a result, the schools are on a course that is forward thinking, great for kids and empowering to educators.

In the 1980s, homebuyers saw real estate as a precious commodity. Double-digit interest rates were the norm and the prospect of getting into a home was a lifelong proposition. Achieving the American dream was not easy.

Something changed in the mid-1990s: incomes spiked, interest rates tumbled, and the perception of real estate changed. By the early 2000s we had become a country of quick flippers. Loads of average people tried to win big by buying property at low prices, sinking small amounts of capital into improvements, and then reselling the house for a big gain. It was a win-win for everybody. Communities collected more property tax income while flippers modeled the American dream quickly by moving into bigger and better homes.

Cleveland Heights resident Ralph Solonitz (artist/writer) was born in 1947 in Munich, Germany, the son of Holocaust survivors. He began doodling very early on...first in German and a few years later in his new language English. His father gave him motivational advice..."stop your doodling, you are vasting time and vill amount to nutting". Fast forward 55 years, thousands of dollars in therapy and he still can't stop doodling.

It’s getting harder and harder to think globally and shop locally. Armed with my laptop and debit card, I made a stop at my locally-owned and operated pharmacy this morning only to find that a CVS in a neighboring city had swallowed it up. I say “my” pharmacy because I always had a chat with whoever was working behind the counter, I never had to wait long for a prescription, and I usually ran into someone I knew. All that was no more.

Captured at the intersection of Fairmount Blvd. and Coventry Road is a Smart car surrounded by six gigantic SUV's. One wonders how a paleontologist would interpret this scene.

Cooperation, collaboration, regionalism and partnerships are at the top of every community’s “to do” list these days. Far too often, however, communities fail in these efforts. In Cleveland Heights (CH) and University Heights (UH), some of these activities may actually happen as city leaders and citizens begin to discuss the very real potential for a CH/UH merger. So what does it take to merge and why would our two cities entertain such a notion?