I have been riding my bike for over 30 years –commuting, touring and even a brief stint as a racer. In July, I joined six other people for an eight-hour cycling class. The class was taught by League of American Bicyclist certified instructors Ann Whalen and Mike Sherman. The course included classroom instruction, bike skills in a closed parking lot and road riding.

The League of American Bicyclists and FutureHeights are teaming up to offer a cycling class that teaches the skills needed to ride safely and confidently in traffic.

The League of American Bicyclists and FutureHeights are teaming up to offer a cycling class that teaches the skills needed to ride safely and confidently in traffic.

Cycling for transportation is becoming more attractive as gas prices rise and having the right cycling instruction can ease the transition to a less car dependent lifestyle.

Ah, the warm breezes, fragrant lilacs, blooming crabapples. At this season, we eye our garden plots and vegetable beds and plan for a crop. While I gaze admiringly at some of my neighbors’ gardens, I heave a sigh of despair over my front yard. We have trimmed and tamed the bushes, yet the ground is rather weed-ridden. A lawn it is not, and though I enjoy its feathered and furry visitors, I cringe with embarrassment at the bare spots and weeds.

The Canterbury neighborhood community garden began life as a World War II Victory Garden in the early 1940's and continues to support urban gardening efforts today.

Every generation in human history has faced seemingly greater and more difficult challenges than any previous. We have all heard of the difficult times during the Great Depression. We know about the ‘Greatest Generation’ that responded to the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. Within months, Detroit’s auto industry was transformed into a war-fighting industry producing military vehicles and equipment to face the Axis Powers.

Earth day is April 22 and Phoenix Coffee has unveiled a new sustainability initiative. The popular locally owned coffee shop with five locations, two of them in Cleveland Heights, is encouraging its customers to use reusable beverage containers. “It doesn’t matter if it’s one of our mugs or a mug of your own,” said Marcie Phillips, manager at the Coventry location, “the idea is to try and create a sustainable coffee community in Cleveland and reduce our dependence on disposable cups.”