“Coach McFarland expresses his deepest regret about the matter, and o ers his sincerest apologies to the Beachwood and Brooklyn school communities. The Brooklyn City Schools echoes this regret, and apology as well. As stated, this hurtful and harmful speech will not be tolerated, in any form, by Brooklyn City Schools leadership.”
Brooklyn Superintendent Ted Caleris
• Brooklyn
COURTNEY BYRNES
cbyrnes@cjn.org | @courtney_byrnes
Several Jewish organizations are working with two local high schools after Brooklyn High School football team used the word “Nazi” and racial slurs during a Sept. 22 game against Beachwood High School – an incident that has
• Incident gains worldwide attention
Sports Columnist Andy Baskin says education must become part of the high school playbook. Page 28
since gained national and international attention. Brooklyn head coach Tim McFarland – who resigned three days after the game on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in
the Jewish calendar and the Day of Atonement – admitted during a halftime meeting with both schools’ coaches, athletic directors and o cials that his team had a designated play call named “Nazi,” according to statements from the two schools.
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ALEXANDRA GOLDEN agolden@cjn.org | @agoldencjn
The theme of residents’ involvement and feedback was shared among the candidates at the Cleveland Jewish News’ Inside Politics: 2023 Beachwood City Council Debate on Sept. 21 at Beachwood High School.
Seven of the eight candidates running for four seats were in attendance at the debate, which was moderated by 3 News Anchor and Managing Editor Russ Mitchell. More than 200 residents attended the debate.
DEBATE | CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Antisemitic message found, removed at CSU. Page 10
Cleveland Jewish FilmFest to present 34 films. Page 12
Dolan receives AJC Adler Leadership Award. Page 16
Kol Israel Foundation holds 62nd Fall Memorial. Page 18
Election special section. Page 35
...because you are here.
When online conspiracies and anti-Israel rhetoric fanned the flames of antisemitism, we were there with our security provider – JFC Security, LLC – to help keep Jewish Cleveland safe. For example, we’ve provided security training for more than 3,700 community members and now monitor over 80 locations across Jewish Cleveland. With your support, we can do even more!
DEBATE | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
In attendance were council members Mike Burkons, Danielle Shoykhet and June Taylor, along with Howard Darvin, Jillian DeLong, Ali B. Stern and Karen R. Tindel, who are vying for a council seat. Matt Hildebrand, who was not in attendance as he is recovering from COVID-19, gave opening and closing remarks through a prerecorded video. The fourth council seat is held by Barbara Bellin Janovitz, who is not running.
Burkons, Darvin, Hildebrand and Tindel are running on one slate, while DeLong, Shoykhet, Stern and Taylor are running on another slate. DeLong, who is a member of the Beachwood Board of Education, said it is the first woman slate in the history of the city.
Kevin S. Adelstein, publisher and CEO of the Cleveland Jewish News and president of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, welcomed attendees and introduced Mitchell.
The candidates were each given two minutes to make opening statements before a Q&A portion. Following opening statements, several questions were asked and candidates were given one minute to answer each. Each candidate had the opportunity for a 30-second rebuttal should another candidate discuss them during their remarks. However, no rebuttal time was needed.
The opening question focused on the $3.4 million playground project. Incumbents were asked why they voted the way they did during a council meeting and those hoping to join council were asked how they would
have voted and why.
Burkons and Taylor voted no during a June council meeting. Burkons said he is for improvements, but based on what other cities have spent to improve their playground, he thinks this can be done for less. Taylor voted no because she is a “big supporter of data” and when a survey was conducted about the playground, only 243 responses were received, which she believes is not a good sampling size. Also, due to the city receiving a $700,000 grant from Cuyahoga County, the city would have to accept “other people’s minds and rules.”
Shoykhet voted yes during the council meeting. “Beachwood actually touches more suburbs than any other city within Cuyahoga County,” she said. “This is a safe space for children to be able to play (and) create a sense of community.”
Tindel and Darvin both stated they are for a playground project, but not for the $3.4 million price tag. Darvin said the new playground would not require key fobs for entry and there is already difficulty parking at the location and it would be worse with the new playground. Tindel said she is against it because the council went into it without a budget and sufficient bidding.
DeLong and Stern said they would have supported it. DeLong said $1.2 million in site work for the playground was needed regardless. Stern said, “I think it’s also important to point out when we talk about what other communities spend that a number of years ago, we spent more than any other community to build the Beachwood Aquatic Center and we could DEBATE | CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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have just done what other communities did, but we want to be a leader and offer some really high-quality amenities to the city.”
The candidates were asked about the need for street lights, especially near the Orthodox campus along South Green Road, how they would get it moving forward, and who should pay for the installation and the cost to operate.
Darvin said in the recent committee of the whole meeting, an estimated cost was $15 million for 900 decorative street lights. In regard to paying for this, he said that people can petition the government, and if there is enough demand, the city will address it and it will be assessed.
Stern said in her household this is a divided topic as she is for them and her husband opposes them. She said data should be used along with the balance of safety and environmental impact.
DeLong said residents are divided on the issue of street lights.
Tindel said street lights are part of their (Burkons, Darvin, Hildebrand and Tindel) entire campaign and there needs to be leadership to move it along since this has been discussed before and not executed.
Shoykhet said she is in favor of street lights and was the one to move the conversation forward with council.
Taylor said she would like to see a collaboration between GE Current, a discussion with the founder of Ring, take a look at councilman Eric Synenberg’s proposal and talk with the Department of Homeland Security in terms of available funding.
Burkons said he wants to explore Synenberg’s proposal, too.
Candidates were asked if they were in favor of adding sidewalks to the few streets that do not have them, especially Bryden Road near Bryden Elementary School.
Tindel said she lives one street from Bryden Road and due to there being no sidewalks, her children had to take a bus to the school, instead of walking. “We definitely need to put some sidewalks on every single street in our community,” she said. “I believe there’s about maybe 10 streets left who don’t have them.”
DeLong said she is in favor of them, but after talking with the residents on the street, it is a mixed bag of if people want them or they do not. She said whether the city is going to pay for it or the residents, the residents need to be a part of a discussion.
Shoykhet said she is in favor and believes that the city should pay for sidewalks because it is a safety issue with the school located there. “I advocated for and implanted a crosswalk at Bryden,” she said. “Why don’t we have sidewalks?”
Stern said she is in favor and suggests having a focus group for residents that
would be affected. She said she is concerned about the drainage and driveways of homes on the street.
Taylor said she is in favor of sidewalks, but is not in favor of having council dictate to residents. She said she would want to work with the administration and understand it from an engineering standpoint, landscaping standpoint and sewer district standpoint. She also suggested additional surveys, data and a breakdown of the cost of materials.
Burkons said he is in favor of sidewalks and his house is a gathering spot for children because they can ride their bicycles over. He said he would not have let his children ride their bikes down the road if there were no sidewalks. “It costs a lot, I get it, but this is something you need to do,” he said.
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e game occurred between the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Beachwood. According to a Greater Cleveland Jewish Population Study conducted by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Beachwood suburb’s population was 89.5% Jewish in 2011 – the most recent study.
e Brooklyn team agreed to change the name of the play and it was not used during the second half, however, Beachwood Athletic Director Ryan M. Peters wrote to families after the game that several Brooklyn players used racial slurs multiple times during the game.
e incident garnered media coverage locally and statewide, and the story has gained traction to be picked up by national and international media such as e Associated Press, e New York Times, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Times of Israel and e Jerusalem Post. As of Sept. 27, it was the third most popular story on the ESPN website.
As with past incidents in the community, such as recent antisemitic incidents aimed at Orange High School lacrosse players in the last year and a half, organizations like the Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland, American Jewish Committee Cleveland and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland have o ered support and their resources to
DEBATE | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
Darvin, who lives on Bryden Road, said he is in favor of sidewalks and a way to mitigate the cost is to start by only paving one side of the street.
Candidates responded to a question about the Ohio Department of Transportation coming to the city with a regional safety project for improvements on Chagrin/Richmond/Interstate 271 corridor.
Darvin said he is directly a ected by this and is against the project. He said he does not feel the safety issue warrants a $20-million-plus expenditure.
Tindel said she does not support the project because it is a “minor tra c delay” that is “only on weekdays during rush-hour tra c.”
Burkons said he is against it and had voted against it previously when the issue arose before council.
Taylor said she supports it and would like to see an integration of communication strategies, more community engagement where ODOT comes and gets a better understanding of the community.
Shoykhet said she supports this project because it has a regional impact, not just for the safety of the residents, but it has an impact on economic development.
DeLong said she supports the project and would want data from the residents to hear what they think.
Stern said that she would like to meet with the relevant individuals and get a greater sense of the scale of the project because she is not on council.
Candidates were asked about a vote of
schools for further education.
“We all bring di erent resources to the table, and we all support the community in di erent ways,” Kelly Fishman, regional director of ADL Cleveland, told the Cleveland Jewish News Sept. 26. “And I think it’s important that we can continue to show up together as a united resource, so that no matter who a community member or school reaches out to, we’re all working together to share the resources that we have.
“Because at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing, is to make sure that our communities are supported in all the ways that they need to be.”
Fishman said she reached out to both schools, and while the ADL already works closely with Beachwood, she said Brooklyn’s superintendent, Ted Caleris, was responsive and is taking the matter seriously.
e ADL has shared its incident response guides for K-12 education and sports, as well as a collection of resources referred to as “antisemitism in sports” that have lessons, tools and strategies for teachers and parents. She said she also was to speak with Caleris on Sept. 26 about additional in-person training the ADL can do with the school district.
“I think it’s just important that we continue to educate students, sta and families because there’s just no space in our schools, in sports, for any kind of these references
no-con dence in the leadership of Police Chief Kate McLaughlin and deputy chief John Resek, which was delivered last December by members of the Beachwood Police Union.
DeLong said she has con dence and wants to continue to work with public safety to increase resources that will provide residents a better sense of comfort.
Stern said she has con dence and the city has the most active police presence in any city she has lived in.
Taylor said that she has con dence and the “highest respect” for those who put their life on the line to protect people every day. What concerns her, she said, is they are not using some of the most state-of-the-art technology that they could, such as robots that are used in the city of Westlake.
Darvin said he has con dence in the police department and feels that the city is safe. “Whether or not the police o cers have con dence in the chief is something that I have no way of knowing,” he said.
Shoykhet said she has con dence in the police department, pointing out the new substation at Beachwood Place, the addition of more license plate readers and the chief wanting a drone for protection at larger events.
Burkons said it is not appropriate for him to answer because he is not a policeman and does not work there. He brought up the anonymous “Miss Marples” emails that were sent to a senior administrative sta member. e senior administrative sta member was learned to be the police chief. Burkons said he can see why some in the police department don’t feel supported when the reaction was to hire a law rm to nd out
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“who dares criticizing our police chief.”
Tindel said she is con dent in the men and women, but is unsure due to how the city handled the vote of con dence. She also said the amount of information she has about the emails is limited since she is not on council.
Candidates were asked about council voting 4-3 last year to pay up to $25,000 to a law rm to investigate the anonymous, defamatory and threatening emails and online posting directed to or concerning the police chief, and to seek retribution toward that individual. Burkons and Taylor voted no, while Shoykhet voted yes.
ese anonymous accounts include a Proton.me email account named missmarples21@proton.me, which sent emails criticizing how McLaughlin and Resek address and interact with department employees,
Shoykhet said she stands by her vote and “it was only $15,000, not $25,000.” It sent a “positive message to our city employees that we care about them,” she said.
Taylor said she stands by her vote because she cares about the employees, but she also cares about the city’s revenue and the residents’ dollars. “I understand the First Amendment and the right of those to say things as horrible and as despicable as they may be,” she said. “Unfortunately, there are some of us in positions of public service that have to endure these sort of things.”
Burkons said he stands by his vote and said they are public o cials and people are allowed to criticize them, and they cannot dictate the parameters.
DeLong said she would have voted yes and to her understanding, they were trying
to identify if it was between two employees, not a resident. “It’s unfortunate that it’s predictable that there are these anonymous emails,” she said. “ is is a pattern on city council. It’s a bigger issue than that, and I think it’s important to understand that.”
Tindel, Darvin and Stern all said they would have voted no.
Tindel said this violated the First Amendment and she would have been more concerned about what was said than who said it. “We were so xated on nding out who said it that we missed an opportunity here to support the employees and to do better,” she said.
Darvin said this type of speech is protected speech. He said he is subscribed to the Proton email that the sender used and felt “very con dent” the owner would not have his name divulged without a crime being committed.
Stern said anonymous speech is protected speech and there seems to be a pattern of anonymous emails and anonymous defamatory remarks.
Each candidate, including Hildebrand, via his prerecorded video, then was given one minute for closing statements.
To watch a recording of the debate, visit cjn.org/debate
Follow all of the local and statewide races at cjn.org/ elections.
or slurs,” Fishman said. “And we want to make sure that students can show up as their best selves. And if we aren’t helping them understand when something is hurtful and the impact that can have on their community or their friends or the students they’re playing against, then I think we’re missing out because I think it’s our job to make sure we’re helping them show up as their best selves.”
Lee C. Shapiro, regional director of AJC Cleveland, told the CJN Sept. 26 the organization reached out to both schools’ administrators on Sept. 24, with the o er to provide resources, educational trainings and opportunities for both sta and students. She also said Caleris responded favorably to the o er and that AJC looks forward to working with the school system to create better awareness and understanding.
“ e trivialization of the Holocaust and the usage of racial slurs have no place on a sports eld, in a classroom, in civil discourse, really anywhere,” Shapiro said. “So, the incident on Friday evening was deeply concerning. We were pleased that both schools took the incident seriously.”
e Federation, along with its partners such as the Kol Israel Foundation and the Maltz Museum, has also put together
educational resources for the school district and is working with the ADL and AJC, Jason Wuliger, chair of the Federation’s government relations committee, told the CJN.
“Unfortunately, incidents like this are not unique,” he said. “We’ve been seeing them happen throughout Northeast Ohio over the last few years and response is important because we cannot be silent in the face of antisemitism.”
Wuliger said expanding Holocaust education in all communities, regardless of the Jewish population there, is important in preventing such incidents. In response to the name of the call, he said, “ e term ‘Nazi’ should be o ensive to every American regardless of whether or not you are Jewish. Of course, the Jewish people su ered uniquely at the hands of the Nazis, but what the Nazis did throughout Europe and what they wanted to do in the rest of the world is something that the greatest generation had to rise up in mass to stop. And thousands of our troops were killed overseas ghting to stop them.”
During the game, there was also a report of a threat made by a Brooklyn middle school student who left the game around halftime and police presence was increased as a result, Peters, the Beachwood AD, wrote.
Peters condemned the o ensive language and stated Beachwood would address the incident with Brooklyn Schools’ administration and the Chagrin Valley
Conference Commissioner.
“I am so proud of our kids and coaches at the way they handled themselves during and after the game,” Peters wrote. “ ey are true warriors that play the game of football with class, dignity and a lot of heart. ey are amazing kids and I am so proud that they are Bison.”
Beachwood Superintendent Robert P. Hardis likewise condemned the behavior as unacceptable and violating CVC’s rules of sportsmanship in a Sept. 23 email regarding the incident. He also o ered support for those angered or distressed by the incident.
e Beachwood City School District previously passed a diversity and sportsmanship resolution following raciallycharged incidents at a Sept. 20, 2019, football game against Grand Valley High School, which also passed the resolution, according to previous CJN reports.
“ is is not the rst time Beachwood student-athletes have been subjected to antisemitic and racist speech,” Hardis wrote. “We always hope it will be the last.”
Caleris wrote in a statement while the o ensive language was not directed to any single individual to the district’s knowledge, Brooklyn City Schools also condemns its use. He added that the school community is choosing to learn from the incident and grow, noting the ADL and others who have o ered resources.
“Coach McFarland expresses his deepest regret about the matter, and o ers his sincerest apologies to the Beachwood and Brooklyn school communities,” he wrote.
the game as her daughter, Sami Stimpert, is a sophomore cheerleader for Beachwood High School. She was unaware of the language being used and the threat against the school until after leaving the game.
“I was there with other family members,” Friedlander told the CJN Sept. 27. “At one point we were commenting on what’s going on. You could just see the coaches and the referees in some heated conversations, so we didn’t know if it had to do with plays or what. You really couldn’t hear it.”
As the game wound to a close, with only a couple minutes left on the clock, the cheerleaders were quickly escorted o the eld and Friedlander received a text from her daughter to come to the parking lot as soon as possible, she said.
Sami, 16, later told her mother they were taken one by one to pack up their belongings during the third quarter and told to be ready to leave the eld due to the threat. She learned from a football player later of the antisemitic and racist remarks that were made on the eld.
“Beachwood is such a diverse community, the school is, and I love that about it,” Friedlander said. “So, it’s just wrong on so many levels.”
She said she felt worried for the students, but also anger that a weighted term like “Nazi” would be used in such a light, matter-of-fact manner, particularly by adults like Brooklyn’s coach. Not surprised by McFarland’s resignation, Friedlander added that more could have been done during the game, such as Brooklyn forfeiting or the coach being escorted out as to not reinforce such behavior to the athletes.
“ e Brooklyn City Schools echoes this regret, and apology as well. As stated, this hurtful and harmful speech will not be tolerated, in any form, by Brooklyn City Schools leadership.
e Ohio High School Athletic Association released a statement Sept. 27, acknowledging the incident and the response thus far.
“ e OHSAA is aware of the incident involving the Brooklyn High School football team on Sept. 22 in a game against Beachwood High School,” the statement reads. “ e OHSAA a rms the statement and apology released by Brooklyn City Schools on Monday and acknowledges that the head football coach has resigned. e OHSAA expects that the school will not have any similar issues moving forward, as o ensive language has no place in sports at any level and goes against the values of sportsmanship, respect and education-based athletics.”
Ahead of the start of the 2023 season, Beachwood Bison head coach Scott Fischer, who became a bar mitzvah at e TempleTifereth Israel in Beachwood, had previously told the CJN the diverse team was seeing an in ux of Jewish players joining the football program.
Betsy Friedlander of Beachwood attended
“By letting him stay, I think it just lets the players feel, especially on Brooklyn, that this is normal behavior and that’s accepted,” she said. “If you allow that type of hateful speech, well of course the kids are going to come on the eld and say it again.”
Friedlander did express hope that Brooklyn schools would learn from this and do better. She also stressed the importance of speaking out about every incident of hate to prevent future incidents.
Beachwood Mayor Justin Berns and Beachwood City Council issued a statement Sept. 24 also condemning the language and behavior, while commending the response by Beachwood o cials and athletes.
“We do appreciate the apology issued by Brooklyn’s school leadership and we trust that they will address this issue in a way that demonstrates accountability,” the statement concluded.
Brooklyn won the game, 35-3.
An antisemitic message was discovered and removed from Cleveland State University’s Union Building Sept. 21, according to a Sept. 22 letter to the campus community.
e message was written on the outside of the building, which houses the Counseling Center and other services above Rascal House at 1836 Euclid Ave.
“And though the University acted swiftly to remove the o ensive gra ti as soon as it came to our attention, we fully understand that this abhorrent language likely has already a ected members of our community in di erent ways,” the letter, signed by Phillip “Flapp” Cockrell, vice president for campus engagement and chief diversity o cer, stated. “Cleveland State University strongly condemns this type of unacceptable behavior. We embrace and support a culture of diversity and inclusion – and as a community of scholars (and human beings), we expect our students, faculty, sta and visitors to treat everyone with dignity and respect.”
Early this year in February, an antisemitic racial slur was found on a community bulletin board in Fenn Tower, one of the downtown campus’ residence halls. e university sent out a similar letter outlining the consequences and the support resources available to sta and students.
e Sept. 22 letter stated students found responsible for destruction or defacement of property could face criminal charges and be sanctioned under the student code of conduct. Non-students could be charged with vandalism by CSU Police.
e O ce of Institutional Equity is currently investigating the incident.
Mental health support and assistance are available for students 24/7 through the CSU Counseling Center in suite 220 of the Union Building. Appointments can be made by calling 216-687-2277 or online. Crisis hours are available without appointment from 1 to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, the letter stated.
Employees can receive 24/7 support through Impact Solutions by calling toll-free 800-227-6007.
“By working together, we can help ensure all members of our community
feel respected, valued and safe,” the letter concluded.
e Cleveland o ces of the AntiDefamation League and American Jewish Committee told the Cleveland Jewish News on Sept. 26 that such an incident ts a trend of rising antisemitism and their resources are also available to CSU.
“We just had our campus report come out last week as well,” said Kelly Fishman, regional director of ADL Cleveland.
“Unfortunately it mirrors what happened at Cleveland State, and so I know as an organization across the U.S., we’re continuing to work with campuses as we see this increase in antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-Zionist rhetoric increase on campuses.”
She said while such a rise is alarming, she is hopeful as she see communities stand up against the hatred.
“It’s twofold, right?” Fishman said. “We see this increase in a hateful rhetoric messaging but we’re also then seeing an increase in people standing up and saying not here, not now and how do we help continue to guide our students and sta so that they know that they are supported every day when they show up here?”
Lee C. Shapiro, AJC Cleveland regional director, praised CSU for its response to the incident while o ering support.
“ e gra ti was quickly removed,” Shapiro said. “It was found, it was quickly removed and the university issued a very strong statement condemning the behavior and we have reached out to CSU to be here for resource for them should they need it.” ose with information to assist in identifying the responsible party are urged to contact the o ce at 216-687-2223, or le an anonymous report via Ethics Point, at bit.ly/45ZvDiV, or CSU’s Report a Concern website at bit.ly/3LzSQ3f, the letter reads.
Joey Rogo , a 2018 Beachwood High School graduate, recently launched JoRo Productions, a Los Angeles based production company, with business partner Brian Yuran.
Driven by compelling characters rather than overarching stories, Rogo hopes to use lm to make a di erence, he said.
“JoRo was founded a little under a year ago with a goal of creating and sharing stories that make a di erence in the world today more on the traditional lm and TV side of things,” Rogo , 24, told the Cleveland Jewish News.
JoRo Productions’ rst short lm, “Guardian Angel,” is based on a true story about a ight attendant that helps save a female passenger from human tra cking.
Doing its festival rounds, it has been shown at L.A. Shorts Film Festival in Los Angeles, Big Apple Film Festival in New York and Silicon Beach Film Festival in Los Angeles.
“It was pretty surreal,” Rogo said about walking his rst red carpet in July at L.A. Shorts. “From middle school in Beachwood, that was my dream to walk the red carpet and be in Hollywood. I nally gured out how to do it and we made an amazing lm and it got some recognition at a pretty good festival. So, walking the red carpet with all the photographers and everything was pretty
cool.”
Rogo said his interest in lmmaking peaked as a student at Beachwood Middle School where he was involved in student television and news classes. At Beachwood High School, he channeled his curiosity into the production side of things and began making short lms.
“ at’s really where my love of storytelling and lmmaking originated,” said Rogo , who grew up as a congregant of Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple in Beachwood.
Following graduation, he attended e University of Arizona in Tucson for a semester, but transferred to the New York Film Academy’s Los Angeles campus. He was there for about a year when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
With lockdown at hand, Rogo began to create content for social media, where he has gained over 6 million followers.
Social media became his full-time job and a way to fund JoRo Productions. Rogo posts content centering around challenges and games multiple times a day on Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok at @joeyrogo .
His short form content is opposite of what he does at JoRo Productions, but Rogo hopes his audience, between 8 and 15-years-old, grows with him.
“I think it’s cool to touch on both audiences and see how I could leverage the younger audience to potentially come over to the company and enjoy that kind of content because as the years go on my audience will grow and age,” said Rogo , who attended Camp Wise in Claridon Township for 10 years.
Rogo had the idea for “Guardian Angel” when he began lm
school but didn’t have the skill to put it on paper until he met his business partner, Yuran, who wrote the script.
“He was my personal trainer for a while and he happens to be a really talented writer,” Rogo said. “… I told him the idea and within four or ve days he had a really good rough draft written. We went from there and about two months later we started production.”
It wasn’t until after the pair began working together that Rogo learned Yuran was Jewish. He relates their good partnership to the familiarity of their Jewish faith.
“I think whether we like to say it or not, I think Jews kind of unite together and have that familiarity with each other and I think that’s what helps create a good team between us too,” he said.
JoRo Productions’ next project, “Steady,” follows a Cleveland boxer with Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder that causes uncontrollable movements, as he navigates his relationship to the disease and mentors a younger boxer.
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e story was inspired by Rogo ’s grandfather, Charles Babbush, a Lyndhurst resident, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
“I’ve been kind of just seeing it unraveled in real time and the progression of the disease and how debilitating it can be for a person,” Rogo said. “ e goal of this project is to kind of highlight those issues and see where it goes from there.”
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The Cleveland Jewish FilmFest, opening on Oct. 12, will present 34 lms from 11 countries over 11 days.
For 17 years, the annual festival, presented by the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood, has brought international Jewish and Jewishthemed cinema to Cleveland to educate and entertain teen and adult audiences.
“ e lm festival really strives to showcase all the di erent issues that impact the Jewish community,” Deborah Bobrow, director of arts and culture at e J, told the Cleveland Jewish News.
e 2023 FilmFest will see the most inperson events since before 2020, Bobrow said.
Films will be screened at Cedar Lee eatre in Cleveland Heights, Cinematheque at the Cleveland Institute
of Art in Cleveland, the Maltz Museum in Beachwood, the e J in Beachwood and Silverspot Cinema in Orange.
Twenty-two screenings, a Q&A and the “teen screen,” a lm, this year “ e Story of Annette Zelman,” accompanied by an educational curriculum provided to local teachers, return to in-person events.
“It’s not new, but we’re back to more inperson events,” Bobrow said. “Post-COVID we had to sort of ease our way back.”
e festival remains committed to continuing the use of streaming technology, she said. It o ers four lm programs, including two short lm series, for streaming along with a four-part TV series “Madrasa,” a fast-paced comedy that depicts teens of two cultures learning together, available for 48-hours.
Bobrow said streaming will make the four-part series easier to watch.
“ e virtual format really allows people to binge like they would any show on Net ix or whatever platform and watch at their leisure,” she said.
Jean Candiotte, a founding member of the Jewish American community in the United Arab Emirites, will lead a Q&A following the lm “Amen-Amen-Amen: A
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Story for Our Times,” a documentary about a custom-made Torah scroll created in Israel in honor of the founding father of the UAE, at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at Cedar Lee eatre.
Two movies have local ties, Bobrow said.
“Culture Fix Cle: Healing Our Community rough the Arts” is a short lm documenting Dede Bandaid, an Israeli street artist, as he uses his art form to build cultural bridges between Israeli and American art.
“ is is a project that happened during the pandemic where he came and photographed artists from across greater Cleveland with his signature Band-Aids and then they were installed anonymously around town,” Bobrow said. “… It showcases people who are involved in the Cleveland community and it’s highlighting an Israeli artist that’s very unique and Avant Garde.”
“Culture Fix Cle” will be shown as part of the Israeli Shorts Program at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at the Maltz Museum in Beachwood as well as part of the shorts program at 1 p.m. on Oct. 19 at Cedar Lee eatre and it can be streamed.
Written and directed by Beachwood High School graduates Benjamin Duco and Amnon Carmi, “Yaniv” follows a high school teacher looking to fund the school musical by cheating at an underground card game run by the Chasidic Jewish community.
“ is is a brand-new movie and we’re thrilled to be able to premiere it at the Cleveland Jewish FilmFest,” Bobrow said.
“Yaniv” will premiere as a double feature with “Less an Kosher,” a lm about a woman in her 30s with a failing music career that forces her back home to become a cantor at her family’s synagogue, starting at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Cedar Lee eatre in Cleveland Heights.
FilmFest’s closing movie, “June Zero,” will
“The film festival really strives to showcase all the di erent issues that impact the Jewish community.”
Deborah Bobrow
be shown at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at rst time-venue SilverSpot at Pinecrest in Orange.
“We’ve always wanted to try that venue since they opened and this year, as we’re trying to get back to where we used to be, it was a great location for us,” Bobrow said. “It’s right here near the center of the community and it’s a cool spot.”
In the lm, the 1961 trial of Adolf Eichmann, architect of the mass murder of the Jews during World War II, is revisited through the intertwined perspectives of three largely unrelated gures: Eichmann’s Jewish Moroccan prison guard; an Israeli police investigator for the prosecution and Holocaust survivor; and a 12-year-old Jewish Libyan immigrant.
Opening night will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, a third-year venue, with the documentary “Remembering Gene Wilder” narrating the life and career of actor Jerome Silberman known for his many comedic roles in over 20 lms including the 1971 “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Tickets are $25.
For ticket information and to view trailers, visit bit.ly/467bWWq.
e Cleveland Jewish News is the media sponsor of the festival.
WHAT: 17th annual Mandel JCC Cleveland Jewish FilmFest
WHEN: Oct. 12 to Oct. 22
WHERE: Opening night is at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History at 1 Wade Oval Drive in Cleveland. Feature films will be screened Oct. 13 through Oct. 19 at the Cedar Lee Theatre at 2163 Lee Road in Cleveland Heights, with a shorts program on Oct. 15 at the Maltz Museum at 2929 Richmond Road in Beachwood. Feature films will be screened at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at Cinematheque Cleveland Institute of Art at 11610 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, at 10 a.m. Oct. 22 at the Mandel JCC at 26001 S. Woodland Road in Beachwood and at 4 p.m. Oct. 22 at Silverspot Cinema Pinecrest at 10 Park Ave, Suite 218 in Orange. Several films and a television series will be available for streaming at home.
TICKETS & INFO: $180 for all access ticket to all in-person films; $50 for all access ticket to all virtual films and TV series; $25 for opening night film and reception; $14 for in-person evening films; $12 for in-person matinee films; $20 per household for virtual TV series; and $15 per household for virtual films. Films and shorts range from free to $180 packages. For more information and to view trailers, visit bit.ly/467bWWq.
The 2023 Celebration of Goodness honorees are a “cohort that just has been super, super involved in building community, in building the kind of community we have and in setting the seeds for the emerging community that we want to be,” according to Stuart Muszynski, president and CEO of Values in Action Foundation. Bob Reitman and Enid Rosenberg are among the recipients of the Sam Miller Goodness Award.
is is the 23rd year of the event and four honorees will be presented the Sam Miller Goodness Award and one the Arnold R. Pinkney Award for Civic Leadership.
e free event, founded by the late Sam Miller and continued by Values-in-Action, will be held Oct. 20 at Landerhaven in May eld Heights.
Reitman, a community leader, “has just put his heart and soul into bene ting the community,” Muszynski said. “His acts of kindness are legendary in terms of how he’s treated people.”
Rosenberg, a community volunteer leader, has been the “go-to person for organizations throughout the community,” Muszynski said. “… She has just rolled up her sleeve and done the hard work to bene t the community.”
Patricia DePompei and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s, community health care leaders, will also receive a Goodness Award.
“Patricia wanted to be recognized along with the hospital
because she’s devoted her career to the hospital and she feels that is the main bene ciary of her goodness,” Muszynski said.
Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita, founder and CEO of Quality Electrodynamics, chairman of Canon Healthcare USA, Inc. and CTO of the CT-MR Division of Canon Medical Systems Corp., also will receive a Goodness Award.
“As an immigrant from Japan, he came to Cleveland, called Cleveland home and started a business,” Muszynski said. “… (Fujita) has emphasized goodness in his dealings with people (and) in his dealings with organizations.”
e Arnold R. Pinkney Award for Civic Leadership will go to Darrell McNair, CEO of MVP Plastics Group.
“ e Arnold Pinkney Award is for the same kind of standard of goodness and kindness, but for leadership within the urban community,” Muszynski said. “… He does a lot of mentorship in the urban community.”
e event co-chairs are Dick Bogomolny, Stewart Kohl, Howard Lewis, Valarie McCall, Betty Pinkney, Albert Ratner and Dr. Dan Simon.
“When Sam Miller created the Celebration of Goodness, he did so with the intention that goodness and kindness in the community is copied,” said Muszynski, a Lyndhurst resident and congregant of Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai Synagogue in Lyndhust.
Miller, a community leader and co-chairman emeritus of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. in Cleveland, died March 7, 2019, at age 97.
In addition to the honorees, Values-in-Action will celebrate its Kindland initiative that continues its mission to make Northeast Ohio the kindest region in the country through programs, the event information said. Proceeds from the event support Values-inAction’s school programming.
WHAT: 2023 Celebration of Goodness
WHERE: Landerhaven at 6111 Landerhaven Drive in Mayfield Heights
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 20
TICKETS: Free
RSVP: Email amanda@projectlove.org by Oct.6 with names and dietary restrictions
The human resources director for the city of Solon has been placed on leave following an altercation that took place at Solon City Hall on Sept. 7.
Allyne Zamcheck, 75, who works at the front desk of city hall led a police report with the Solon Police Department at 5 p.m. Sept. 11, alleging she was the victim of an assault by co-worker Yolanda Guzman, the city’s human resources director.
Guzman, 54, was immediately suspended without pay for eight weeks and is required to obtain anger management counseling, according to a letter of discipline delivered by attorney Barry Freeman of Roetzel & Andress in Cleveland on Sept. 12 on behalf of the City of Solon.
According to the letter, Guzman will be terminated if she engages in another physical altercation, other than selfdefense, upon her reinstatement on Nov. 7.
“We realize this is signi cant discipline,” stated the letter. “But it is appropriate because (other than self-defense) getting physical with a colleague is never acceptable and Allyne was seriously injured.”
According to the letter, there was a dislike between Guzman and Zamcheck preceding the incident.
In video footage provided by the City of Solon, Zamcheck can be seen with her back turned to Guzman as she attempted to have a conversation with her.
“As the situation involves two city employees and an ongoing police investigation, the city prefers not to discuss.”
Sarah Kostura
According to the letter, Guzman proceeded to grab Zamcheck’s chair, swung it around and caused Zamcheck to fall. is is not included in the provided video.
Guzman then blocked Zamcheck’s path and put her arm around her. Zamcheck shoved Guzman to get past, the video shows.
Due to the fall, Zamcheck injured her tailbone and head, according to the letter.
Following the incident, Zamcheck was found in the o ce of Maria Farley, assistant to the mayor, crying and shaking. Guzman’s hand was bleeding, according to the letter.
“In light of those facts, Allyne is being reprimanded for being unprofessional and disrespectful to you,” stated the letter to Guzman. “In the future, she should maturely discuss
matters with her colleagues – face-to-face.”
Review of the incident is based on written statements by Guzman, Zamcheck and Farley and the available video of the incident.
Freeman said he is performing an independent investigation of the incident. e Solon Police Department is also performing an investigation of the incident as a simple assault.
City representatives will not be commenting on the investigation, according to a statement from the city provided by Sarah Kostura, associate law director for the city.
“As the situation involves two city employees and an ongoing police investigation, the city prefers not to discuss –lest that discussion create even an appearance of in uencing the independent police investigation,” according to the statement. “City representatives will not be commenting further.”
is is a developing story. For updates and more community news from Solon, visit cjn.org/solon.
For updates and more community news from Solon, visit cjn.org/solon.
To watch a video with this story, visit cjn.org
Heights Schools Foundation will honor the 2023 class of inductees into the 43rd annual Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5 in the Cleveland Heights High School Auditorium at 13263 Cedar Road.
e 2023 inductees are:
• Eric “E.J.” Bailey, designer and vice president of user experience at Zillow Group and founder of Properganda, class of 1990
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland will host “An Evening with Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation at 27501 Fairmount Blvd. in Pepper Pike.
Bennett served as the 13th prime minister of Israel from June 13, 2021, to June 30, 2022. He then served as the alternate prime minister of Israel until he resigned and retired on Nov. 8, 2022.
e event comes during the Federation’s yearlong celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary and its 2024 annual Campaign for Jewish Needs.
• Ken Barcus, posthumously, NPR bureau chief and editor, 1973
• Heather Clayton Terry, director of corporate giving at Dominion Energy, executive coach and DEI advocate, 1994
• Phyllis “Seven” Harris, executive director at LGBTQ Center Cleveland and founder of Sage & Maven Consulting, 1983
• Dr. Susan M. Kleiner, nutritionist and owner of High Performance Nutrition, LLC, 1975
• Ruth Link-Gelles, senior epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and commander of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, 2002
• David omas, advanced system specialist, audio engineer and production specialist, 1991
• Dr. Howard Tucker, retired veteran and neurologist, 1940
• Dr. Armin David Weinberg, clinical professor at Baylor College of Medicine, adjunct professor at Rice University and faculty a liate at Texas A&M Center for Population Health and Aging, 1964.
e 2023 class joins 450 members inducted since the CHUH District held the rst ceremony in 1981.
Created by Patricia A. Ackerman, former CH-UH school administrator and principal, Heights High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes individuals of all elds at varying stages of success in career, philanthropy and humanitarian e orts, according to a news release. e ceremony is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Heights Schools Foundation, visit bit.ly/3sZ9MK3 or email Laura Loebl, executive director, at L_Loebl@CHUH.org.
Almost 250 people came in support of Cleveland Guardians chairman and CEO Paul Dolan as he accepted AJC Cleveland’s 2023 Richard H. Adler Community Leadership Award on Sept. 7.
The award, which is given annually since its inception in 1996, honors Adler’s legacy by recognizing a visionary leader for their professional accomplishments, service to the community and commitment to building bridges of understanding, according to a news release.
The program featured comments from the award’s first recipient, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, Jr., who delivered the event’s invocation; Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb who spoke about the city’s effort to combat antisemitism and other forms of hatred; Tom Adler who discussed his father’s life and legacy; and Augie Napoli, who presented the award to Dolan.
In her welcoming remarks, AJC Cleveland president Jill Zimon had no shortage of good words to share about Dolan.
“With quiet yet rock-solid determination, you show us what leadership looks like as you relentlessly work to ensure a strong Cleveland – now and for future generations,” Zimon said at the event, according to the release.
Described as a “guardian of our community,” Dolan spoke of the importance and legacy of the team’s name change from the Cleveland Indians to the Cleveland
Guardians, equating the reasoning of the change to AJC Cleveland’s work in accepting his award.
“Hate is not merely parochial or partisan. It’s like a pandemic, it has to be stopped everywhere,” Dolan said at the event, the release stated. “AJC recognized that fact over a hundred years ago and has been battling hate wherever it arises. We at the Guardians are pleased to join that fight.”
Throughout the evening, attendees also heard about AJC Cleveland’s efforts to combat rising antisemitism. Zimon introduced Kevin Clayton, senior vice president, head of social impact and equity for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Joanna Radov, senior manager, corporate communications and community impact for the Cleveland Charge, who both spoke about the work their organizations do to combat hatred and their partnerships with AJC Cleveland. They spoke about AJC’s “Unpacking Antisemitism” training for their employees and how it transcended well beyond the walls of their building, the release said.
Zimon said the initiative earned AJC Cleveland the organization’s highest regional achievement award, announcing that the Cleveland Guardians will soon participate in the training as well.
To watch a video of the program, visit bit.ly/3PQnSGw
Visit cjn.org/calendar for more events happening throughout the community.
To have your community events listed in News You Can Use, send information to editorial@cjn.org at least 14 days prior to event.
Lakeland Theatre presents ‘King Lear’ Sept. 29-30
A staged reading of William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 at Lakeland eatre at 7700 Clocktower Drive in Kirtland
Directed by Martin Friedman, the play features Mitchell Fields as Lear.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors and $7 for students. To purchase tickets, visit lakelandcc.edu/arts.
e Coventry Village Street Festival will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 30 at 1820 Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights.
ere will be food trucks, a sidewalk sale, and an art and vendor market. For families, there will be face painting, airbrush tattoos, circus performers and bubble games.
Coventry Restaurant Week will be celebrated with street-wide food sales. School of Rock will perform from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit bit.ly/464Hb4J.
Kass to discuss new book, ‘Bessie’ Oct. 4 at Beachwood library
Linda Kass of the Columbus suburb of Bexley will discuss her new book, “Bessie,” with Kelly Fishman, regional director of ADL Cleveland from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library at 25501 Shaker Blvd.
In “Bessie,” just days after the close of World War II, Bess Myerson – the college-educated daughter of poor Russian Jewish immigrants living in the Bronx – is competing in the Miss America pageant. At stake is a $5,000 scholarship. e tension and excitement in Atlantic City’s Warner eatre is palpable, especially for traumatized Jews rooting for one of their own, according to a news release.
Kass is the owner of Gramercy Books in Bexley.
Books will be available for purchase courtesy of Mac’s Backs Books in Cleveland Heights.
For more information, visit bit.ly/3LDPQ62.
e Maltz Museum will host a panel discussion on Jewish art and its role in the modern world at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at e Temple-Tifereth Israel at 26000 Shaker Blvd. in Beachwood.
e event is in honor of Nancy Schwartz-Katz as Ohio Arts Council’s Executive Director Donna S. Collins will present the Ohio Heritage Fellowship Award to her. is lifetime achievement award recognizes traditional artists who demonstrate and re ect Ohio’s living cultural heritages, according to the Maltz Museum’s website.
“ e Role of Jewish Art in the Modern World: A Night of Discussion and Celebration” will feature art historian and professor Samantha Baskind, former director of e Temple Museum Sue Braham Koletsky and Schwartz-Katz. Dahlia Fisher, director of external relations for the Maltz Museum, will be the moderator.
7:00 pm: Children's Improv & Awards with Rabbi Joshua Jacobs
7:30 pm: Headliner - Gianmarco Soresi
| @apreiszigcjn.org
The Cleveland Jewish community remembered Holocaust victims and honored survivors and liberators at the annual Kol Israel Foundation Fall Memorial on Sept. 24 at Zion Memorial Park in Bedford Heights.
The memorial, hosted by Kol Israel
Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, was the 62nd anniversary of the memorial’s dedication in 1961 by the foundation’s founders, a group of local survivors, and it was the first year the memorial was honored as a National Memorial.
“What began as the nation’s first Holocaust monument is now the country’s first Holocaust memorial to obtain national recognition,” said Mark Frank, past president of Kol Israel
Foundation and memorial co-chair. “We so wish we could share this accomplishment with now departed ancestors who had the foresight and fortitude to build it.”
Frank guided the candlelighting ceremony.
Candles, in the form of six electric lamps, were lit by survivors and their families to commemorate the 6 million Jews who died during the Holocaust. Frank read short biographies of each featured survivor, Khariton
Stanovskiy; husband and wife, Peter and Aliki Rzepka; husband and wife, Albert and Madelyn Pollack; Erika Gold; and husband and wife, Irving Auerbach, and Jeanette Auerbach Buchwald.
A seventh candle was scheduled to be lit by Seth Gelwasser, who could not attend. Rachelle Korland, his grandmother, lit it in his place
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in memory of children who died during the Holocaust.
An eighth candle was lit by Irving Berger in honor of liberators of the Holocaust.
Robert Zelwin, president of Kol Israel Foundation, spoke about the experience of losing his grandson, 11-year-old Cole Zelwin, to acute myeloid leukemia in May and the importance of keeping his memory alive. He related his personal experience to the importance of keeping alive the memory of the Holocaust.
“We experienced a little bit of what the Holocaust survivors experienced,” Zelwin said. “It’s been our family’s mission since he passed
away to remember him since he passed away.
I am imploring everybody here to keep the memory of your family’s alive through the next generations.”
Dan Zelman, Jewish Federation of Cleveland Board Chair, discussed the importance of countering antisemitism through education and remembering the Holocaust. He discussed the presence of antisemitism in the community following an antisemitic incident by Brooklyn High School’s football team on Sept. 22.
“It isn’t just the Jewish people we have to educate,” Zelman said. “… the fact that this can happen right here in our community is proof, not that we needed proof, but it’s just proof that these events are still going on and we’ve got
to continue to educate and do what we can to prevent this.”
Rabbi Yossi Marozov, executive director of Friendship Circle of Cleveland in Pepper Pike, spoke about further emphasizing the importance of remembering the Holocaust.
“In order for something to really hit home and stay with you, we need to repeat it again and again, it’s never enough,” Marozov said. “If we stop remembering something we will forget.”
Andrew Mizsak, a member of the Kol Israel board of directors, presented Mayor Fletcher Berger of Bedford Heights with an honorary plaque for his efforts since 2015 to recognize the Kol Israel Foundation Holocaust Memorial as a National Memorial.
“Mayor Berger along with former state Sen. Kenny Yuko, who joins us today, have been two of our strongest voices in advocacy with this –America’s first National Memorial dedicated to the victims, the liberators and the survivors of the Holocaust,” Mizsak said.
Following the memorial, Berger told the Cleveland Jewish News he was flattered by the honor, but he didn’t feel he did anything out of the ordinary.
“It’s an honor,” Berger told the CJN. “But it feels like an over exaggeration for doing something that should be done.”
The ceremony closed with Tehillim and El Malei Rachamim led by Charles Gruenspan.
Marozov also led the recitation of the Kaddish, or Mourner’s Prayer.
Gianmarco Soresi will headline Comedy Night: A Funny Thing Happened After Eating in the Sukkah on Oct. 5 at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike. Soresi’s stand-up has been featured on Comedy Central, Netflix, PBSA, Amazon and “Real Housewives of New York.”
Rabbi Joshua Jacobs will be the night’s emcee.
Dinner will be at 6:15 p.m., followed by a children’s improv and awards with Jacobs at 7 and Soresi at 7:30. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for children and free for children under 2, with a $60 family maximum. To purchase tickets, visit cutt.ly/comedy-night.
The men’s club and sisterhood are hosting the event.
The synagogue is at 27501 Fairmount Blvd.
B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike held two Tashlich programs between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. One took place at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center, where attendees joined together for song, a short service and cast their sins into the lake using bird seed. A Mindful Tashlich focused on self-reflection and looking to the year ahead. Besides casting their sins into the lake, they also took time to write their thoughts down on dissolvable paper that was away as well, according to a news release. | Submitted photos.
Coby Greenman takes part in Tashlich. His brother, Noah, is behind him.
Solon Mayor Eddy Kraus sounded the shofar for a happy new year in the Solon Community Center’s gym on Sept. 20 during its senior expo. At the event, University Hospitals provided flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus shots to the hundreds of seniors in attendance. The Second Act Singers also performed “God Bless America” before an all-you-can-eat chili and cornbread contest. | Submitted photos
Beth El- The Heights Synagogue will have its annual Dinner in the Sukkah from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at 3246 Desota Ave. in Cleveland Heights.
Members and friends are welcome to join the mitzvah of dwelling in the Sukkah with a pescatarian/vegetarian-friendly meal. If there is inclement weather, the dinner will be in the social hall.
The dinner is free for children under 6 years old, $6 for children 6 to 12 and $12 per adult with a maximum $36 per household.
Walk-ins will be allowed for $14 a person and $40 maximum per household.
Registration and payment can be done by using the “Donate” button at bethelheights.org. For more information, leave a message at 216-320-9667.
Annika Balish was hired as music director at Suburban Temple-Kol Israel in Beachwood, according to an email sent to congregants on Sept. 27 by temple president Lori Rosenberg. She will begin her role in October.
As she replaces Deb Rogers, a Simchat Torah celebration Oct. 6 will be a chance to honor the two vocalists, Rosenberg wrote.
Balish, a recent graduate of The College of Wooster, will begin leading tefillah in Our Tent on Oct. 8 and at her first Shabbat service on Oct. 20.
She will also support the congregation with graphic design, Rosenberg wrote. Balish’s contract will run through June 2024 as the temple leadership considers its long-term music and programmatic needs, she wrote.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland held its Membership Appreciation Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 – the rst day of Rosh Hashanah.
“We regret that our event coincided with Rosh Hashanah, and we will do our best to avoid overlapping in the future,” J.R. Johnson, director of communications for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, wrote in an email to the Cleveland Jewish News. It was not stated if anything would be
done for members who were not able to attend for religious reasons.
e event o ered members early museum entry, exclusive programming, extra discounts, a collectible lanyard and a chance at prizes, according to the Rock Hall’s website.
e event was free for members but
required RSVP. e lowest membership is $65 “Rocker” which includes one member, $100 “Duet” for one member and one guest, $180 “Roller” two members and two guests and $500 “Headliner” two members, two guests, two parking passes and more. ere are di erent bene ts for each tier.
The U.S. Department of Education recently recognized 353 schools, including Orchard Middle School in Solon, as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023, including 19 schools in Ohio.
Announced in a Sept. 19 news release from the U.S. Department of Education, the recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups on assessments. e department recognizes schools in one of two categories, exemplary high performing schools and exemplary achievement gap-closing schools, based on all student scores, subgroup student scores and graduation rates, the release said.
e national award recognizing student achievement at Orchard Middle School re ects the district’s continuous commitment to focus on the needs of every student every day and support the whole child, Solon Superintendent Fred Bolden said in a news release from the Solon School District.
“Outstanding student achievement levels are the basis for Orchard being nominated for the Blue Ribbon award,” he said. “But the comprehensive application process required us to provide detailed evidence regarding our instructional practices and supports that meet student needs, the targeted strategies we have in place to encourage and challenge students to achieve personal excellence, as well as the ways we promote student and family engagement. is award highlights the dedication and collaboration among our students, families and sta .”
Cari Mineard, principal of Orchard Middle School, said in the release, “At Orchard, we always talk about how we are stronger together and today’s news that we are a Blue Ribbon School shows that team e ort. We are so proud to receive the Blue Ribbon award. I know everyone at Orchard will continue to lead with kindness and build our school community.”
Mineard will travel to Washington, D.C., in November to o cially accept the award. Orchard was nominated for the award by the Ohio Department of Education
and subsequently completed an extensive application about the school, its instructional practices, educational climate and culture. Orchard was honored as an Exemplary High-Performing School, identifying it as having among the highest achievement levels in the state, according to the release.
Ohio’s National Blue Ribbon Schools included: Akron’s Saint Sebastian Parish School; Berlin Center’s Western Reserve Elementary School; Canal Fulton’s Northwest Middle School; Chester Township’s Robert C. Lindsey Elementary School; Cincinnati’s Saint Mary School and Walnut Hill High School; Fort Recovery’s Fort Recovery Middle School; Granville’s Granville Middle School; Lakewood’s Lakewood Catholic Academy; Loveland’s Saint Margaret of York Elementary School; Mount Vernon’s East Elementary School; Parma Heights’ Incarnate Word Academy; Rocky River’s Kensington Intermediate School; Sugar Creek’s Ragersville Elementary School; Uniontown’s Lake Middle/ High School; Westlake’s Saint Bernadette Elementary School; and Youngstown’s Robinwood Lane Elementary School.
“ e honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in the U.S. Department of Education release.
“ e leaders, educators, and sta at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. As the BidenHarris Administration partners with states and schools to accelerate academic success and transform educational opportunity in this country, we take tremendous pride in the achievements of these schools and their commitment to empowering educators, serving students and engaging families.”
e 2023 announcement makes up the 40th cohort of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Since its inception, approximately 10,000 awards have been
presented to more than 9,700 schools, the U.S. Department of Education release said.
National Blue Ribbon Schools serve as models of e ective and innovative school practices for state and district educators and other schools throughout the nation. A National Blue Ribbon School ag gracing a school’s entryway or on a agpole is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning, the release said.
Up to 420 schools can be nominated each year and can be for schools in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education. To learn more, visit nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov.
Orchard Middle School – 2023
Roxbury Elementary School – 2022
Solon Middle School – 2020
Solon High School – 2019
Roxbury Elementary School – 2016
Orchard Middle School – 2013
Solon Middle School – 2010
Solon High School – 2008
Parkside Elementary School – 2007
Lewis Elementary School – 2006
Arthur Road Elementary School –2005
Solon High School – 1991
ometimes you come across a production that is difficult to review, because you want the reader to understand it the way you do, or feel it and experience it the way you do, and without creating a new telepathic language, words just do not do it justice. This is the case with the Great Lakes Theater production of “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812,” which not only sets the bar high for innovative, experiential storytelling, but it eviscerates that bar. And the moment you enter the theater, you know you are in for something special.
When the show opened o -Broadway in 2012, it was staged with action taking place on and around the circular stage. When it eventually made its way to Broadway in 2015, the production was set on a proscenium stage that was recon gured into a twisty, multi-level performance space holding 200 audience seats scattered throughout, and action all through the orchestra section and mezzanine to create the intimacy that this show demands.
It might be hard to imagine how the Hanna eatre, with its classic proscenium stage, could possibly elicit this same intimate vibe, but it does.
From the romantic, curvy set that is redder than red, complete with sexy, swerv sofas for lovers to sink into, to the inviting cabaret tables right up against the stage, with actors charming us in the aisles, in the loges, and in some cases, in our faces, this ingenious production team pulls out all the stops in order to thrust the audience straight into the heart of the story.
Speaking of the story, Leo Tolstoy’s novel, “War and Peace,” hardly cries out, “Please turn me into a musical.” But composer/ lyricist David Malloy saw something glimmering under the surface in Chapter 8 that inspired him to hone in on Natasha’s tragic love story, and Pierre’s desperate search for meaning in a world that leaves him empty. Malloy transforms Tolstoy’s words into a one-of-a-kind “electropop opera” that merges styles of punk, indie rock, Russian folk and classical music with lyrics that are tongue in cheek, thought-provoking, and truly challenging, because at times, a character singing in rst person will suddenly and seamlessly ip to third person, becoming the narrator of his or her own story.
e cast warns us in the opening number, “Prologue,” that the plot can be confusing, and while they help us with the character breakdown, they also point out that “this is all in your program, you are at the opera, gonna have to study up a little bit if you wanna keep with the plot, cuz it’s a complicated Russian novel, everyone’s got nine di erent names, so look it up in your program.” And once the foot is on the gas, this production lurches forward, full speed ahead, bounding around every curve and never slowing down until it reaches the nish line.
We rst lay eyes on the radiant Natasha as she arrives in Moscow, anxiously awaiting her ance, Andrey, to return from the war. As she longs for him, wondering when he will nally be home, she has a bumpy rst encounter with her future in-laws, and later, allows herself to be seduced by a handsome rogue named Anatole. She sends Andrey a letter ending her engagement to him and makes plans to elope with Anatole, unaware that he is already married.
Her dear cousin, Sonya, tries desperately to stop her, and her godmother Marya brands her as a disgrace to the family name. A desperate Marya visits the melancholy loner Pierre in the middle of the night, begging him as a close family friend to intervene in this debacle. Pierre is distraught and reveals that Anatole is already married, and he sets o to force him to leave town, which he does.
Meanwhile, horri ed by what she learns, Marya runs back to tell Natasha, and although she does not want to believe her godmother, Natasha is overcome with sorrow and poisons herself, but she survives. Andrey returns, still reeling from Natasha’s letter breaking o their engagement, and although Pierre pleads with his friend to forgive her in the wake of her attempted suicide, he refuses. Natasha is left completely broken, and it is up to Pierre to put her back together. He himself is trapped in a loveless marriage to Anatole’s wretched sister, Helene, and although he is connected to all of the central characters in some way, he prefers to remain an outsider, left alone to contemplate the existence of God in a weary world. When he visits the very fragile Natasha, his gentleness comforts her, and she awakens something within him. After their encounter, when the great comet of 1812 is ying across the sky toward the Earth, Pierre has a rebirth of sorts, as if his eyes are open for the rst time.
Victoria Bussert’s gift for innovation and creativity is on full display, and she has assembled a pitch perfect team to make this comet soar. It is almost a crime to single out any one cast member, as they each, and all, are breathtaking in their roles. eir single company bow is a testament to the fact that they are a true ensemble; some actors play more than one role, some actors play di erent instruments on stage, and all actors support and elevate each other.
As a teaser for the kind of talent on this stage, Jessi Kirtley and Alex Syiek are just stunning as the young, e ervescent Natasha, and the brooding, contemplative Pierre. ey are out of this world both vocally and emotionally, and Jodi Dominick dominates the stage from the moment she enters, showing strength as well as vulnerability, and landing every single joke, rightfully earning her some of the biggest laughs. However, kudos and bravos must go to this entire Great Lakes eater cast and crew for creating an epic theatrical experience that must be seen and heard.
You should know that on this particular night, the parking lots lled up very early, which made for a harrowing parking experience. So plan ahead, because you should not miss one single second of this show.
One more thing that cannot be left unsaid: e timing of this production on the heels of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur seems so signi cant. It is almost impossible to separate Pierre’s need for self-re ection and introspection, with our own. Haven’t we all found ourselves wondering where God is during tragic times? Or what we need to do for our prayers to be answered? Or how we can be better in order to deserve real love? Or how we can tap into our God given strengths and talents that we might have chosen to ignore?
Many of us have spent these past weeks taking stock of who we are, and who we want to be. For Pierre, it takes love and a big ball of re to awaken his true self. It is highly likely that you will leave this production wondering ... contemplating ... what your comet might be.
Sheri Gross is the CJN theatre critic. She is a performer, director and freelance writer from Solon. She was the director of the Mandel JCC Playmakers Youth Theatre and Pilloff Performing Arts Camp for over 20 years and is the director of creative programs at Gross Schechter Day School in Pepper Pike.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
WHAT: “Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812” at Great Lakes Theater
WHERE: Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland
WHEN: Through Oct. 8
TICKETS & INFO: $20-$89, call 216-241-6000 or visit greatlakestheater.org
By Dave MalloyDirected by Victoria Bussert
Scenic Designer: Jeff Hermann
Costume Designer: Tess Dugan Benson
Lighting Designer: Trad A Burns
Sound Designer: David Gotwald
Choreographer: Jaclyn Miller
Music Director: Matthew Webb
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Israel caught a Tehran-sponsored terrorist cell plotting to carry out attacks in the Jewish state, including assassinating National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed on Sept. 27.
Israeli forces arrested ve suspects – three Palestinians and two Israeli citizens – who were recruited by the Islamic Republic.
e Shin Bet identi ed the three Palestinians as Ziad Shanti, 45, and Hassan Mujarimah, 34, both from Jenin, and 47-year-old Murad Kamamaja from the nearby village of Kafr Dan.
e Israelis were named as 23-year-old Hamad Hammadi from Nazareth and 18-year-old Yosef Hamad from Muqeible in the Gilboa region.
Mujarimah and Kamamaja were allegedly under the direction of a Jordanian working for Iranian security services. ey were allegedly tasked with smuggling weapons into Israel and collecting information on two targets: Ben-Gvir and former Knesset member Yehudah Glick, both staunch advocates of Jewish prayer rights on the Temple Mount.
However, due to Ben-Gvir’s security detail, Hammadi and Hamad could not get close enough to the minister to report anything meaningful.
Mujarimah and Kamamaja, who knew they were being directed by Iran, recruited Shanti, who in turn recruited the two Israelis.
e Shin Bet said that in a “test run” for a future attack, the Israelis recently torched a car in Haifa and lmed it to prove their commitment to their Iranian masters.
“I thank the members of the Shin Bet and the security services
who exposed and captured the terrorist squad planning to assassinate an Israeli minister,” said Ben-Gvir on Sept. 27. “I will continue to act fearlessly and even more vigorously to fundamentally change the conditions of imprisoned terrorists, to continue the war on terror, for the right of prayer and Jewish sovereignty on the Temple Mount, for the integrity of our country and for ensuring the safety and security of the citizens of Israel.”
Earlier this month, Mossad Director David Barnea said that the agency, in cooperation with international allies, had so far this year foiled 27 plots by Iran to murder Israelis and Jews outside the borders of the Jewish state.
“ e plots being pursued by these (terrorist) teams were orchestrated, masterminded and directed by Iran,” he said, noting that the plots took place “all over the world,” including “in Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and South America.”
On Sept. 24, Barnea showed a video he said proved beyond a doubt that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is directly involved in murder plots against Jews worldwide. “ e Iranian regime is no longer able to deny its involvement, and most important, it has no immunity,” he said.
“Any harm done to any Israeli or Jew in any way whatsoever will elicit a response against the Iranians who dispatched the terrorists and the policymakers who authorized the terror units to carry out the plots, from the bottom all the way up to the top,” Barnea warned, vowing to exact a price “deep inside Iran, in the heart of Tehran.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have also charged the Islamic Republic with orchestrating the most recent surge in Palestinian terrorism.
MONTREAL – A leading Canadian lawmaker apologized, and then resigned from his leadership role, after inviting a former Nazi soldier to attend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Parliament last week.
Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota said he had not known that 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka had volunteered with the Wa en SS Galicia Division in Ukraine during World War II when he invited Hunka to be his guest for Zelenskyy’s speech. e combat division was part of the Nazi army.
“I subsequently became aware of more information which causes me to regret the decision to do so,” Rota said. Rota drew attention to Hunka’s presence before Zelenskyy’s
speech, saying that the resident of his Ontario district was “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.” Zelenskyy joined the assembly in applauding Hunka, pumping his st in the air in acknowledgment.
Jewish advocacy groups were quick to condemn the ovation, including B’nai Brith Canada, the Centre for Israel and Jewish A airs, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies. e statements followed a report from the Forward about Hunka’s background.
“Canada’s Jewish community stands rmly with Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression,” the Centre for Israel and Jewish A airs said in a statement. “But we can’t stay silent when crimes committed by Ukrainians during the Holocaust are whitewashed.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – A growing sense of urgency hung over the Sept. 27 Republican presidential debate as seven candidates fought for momentum on a stage that did not feature the race’s front-runner.
Former President Donald Trump said he’s so far ahead that it would only help his competitors if he participated. e former president’s second consecutive absence gave those who did show up more airtime to make their case. But less than four months before Iowa’s kicko caucuses, they are running out of time to
change the trajectory of the primary.
e candidates on stage were expected to be: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
For
In a Sept. 12 interview on a Norwegian podcast, Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden defended Ye, formerly Kanye West, who has made antisemitic and proHitler remarks in recent months. “Kanye didn’t mean what he said (about Jews),” Gulden said. “I don’t think he’s a bad person. It just came across that way.” He added that Ye is “one of the most creative people in the world.” e German sporting goods giant announced last October that it was severing ties with West, following a series of antisemitic and o ensive statements by the American rapper, producer and fashion designer. StopAntisemitism, a U.S.-based group ghting Jew-hatred, criticized Gulden’s comments.
More than 100 Jewish activists have signed a letter appealing to major advertisers to end their relationship with X, the platform previously known as Twitter that is owned by Elon Musk, calling it “a breeding ground for antisemitism” that “represents one of the largest dangers to Jews in years.” e signatories are also calling on Apple and Google to remove the platform from their app stores, which would e ectively make X’s app inaccessible to the vast majority of mobile users.
Multiple people told the University of Pennsylvania student newspaper that the campus Hillel was vandalized on Sept. 21 – the day before the start of a controversial “Palestine Writes” literary festival – as Orthodox students were praying inside the building. “I noticed that the lobby was completely trashed – one of the podiums was smashed, one of the tables was smashed. ere was stu everywhere,” a Jewish student who was going to Shacharit services told the school’s student newspaper, e Daily Pennsylvanian. A fellow student who was in the building to pray said the vandal came into the building and “immediately started smashing things, yelling ‘F--k the Jews’ and ‘ ey killed JC,’ ” the student paper reported. e latter is apparently a reference to Jesus. A number of Jewish groups have denounced the literary festival that begins on Sept. 22.
– Compiled from JTA, JNS.org and e Associated Press
visit cjn.org/elections
IIf you have a suggestion for a column idea for Andy Baskin, send him an email at columnists@cjn.org. He can be heard on “Baskin & Phelps” weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 92.3 The Fan. | @andy_baskin
ANDY BASKIN Columnistt’s difficult to believe what took place at the high school football game between Beachwood and Brooklyn on Sept. 22 – especially in the world we live in now. What is harder to accept is the fact that nobody spoke up before the game to say this is not right.
Here is the part of the story that really is bothersome. During a conversation at halftime with the coaches and the athletic directors, I was told that one of the reasons the Brooklyn coaching sta didn’t think having a scheme called “Nazi” was a big deal is because they have been calling out the play for years.
If that is true and was not said to somehow soften the blow to make it seem like it’s OK because Brooklyn has been doing it before, it is the worst part of this story. It means that hundreds of players, parents, coaches, fans and o cials must have heard the play called and not one person stepped up and thought this must be wrong. Not one person.
e teams agreed at halftime. It must have been a moment of clarity for Brooklyn’s coaching sta to agree after hearing the Beachwood reaction, but it was too late. e damage and fallout would be coming.
It was such a non-factor at Brooklyn and a part of the vocabulary that it was deemed as not a big deal even when you are playing in front of one the most predominantly Jewish cities in the world.
I’m really bothered by the fact that referees and coaches in the state of Ohio must take training through the National Federation of State High School Associations to become a coach or referee. It’s with or without intent easy to step back now and think, “unsportsman-like conduct.” e word “Nazi” had just become accepted in any time Brooklyn used it.
Until halftime, nobody stood up. It doesn’t matter if it was every game in Brooklyn history or just one game prior. I’m disappointed the system failed. I’m worried we are getting farther away from the Holocaust that time is leading us down a path of forgetting history.
It took Beachwood City Schools to stand
up and say something to cause change, but it never should have taken that long.
e Ohio High School Athletic Association needs to look at the situation. e association mandates coaches and referees take training videos that address these issues. e question needs to be asked, “Are we making our participants watch these videos because lawyers say we should to cover our behinds in situations like this or are we really trying to make a di erence?”
Yes, it is about the history of the word that was being used. It’s troubling all the way around. e racial slurs used in the second half of the game double down on the ignorance spewing on the eld.
So where are we now?
Brooklyn football coach Tim McFarland has resigned.
Two communities should be stunned by what happened.
I hope just one Brooklyn football player will realize why this incident cost his coach his job and became such a big deal. Maybe they might open a book, or watch a TV show and understand why things played out the way they did.
It’s all really sad. It’s 2023 and these stories continue to happen. It seems to be a yearly issue. Orange last year with a lacrosse match and a swastika, Beachwood this year. It happens more often than we think and education is the only answer.
It’s been 11 years since Terry Francona took over as the manager of Cleveland’s baseball team and it’s been a great ride. Despite not wanting any fanfare over his departure, the team gured out a way to say thank you on its nal home stand. e club was lucky to get Francona 11 years ago. I hope that Tito gets healthy and can nd his way into the team’s front o ce in the future.
He was a very good analyst in his time as a manager between Boston and Cleveland. It is very hard for baseball “lifers” to walk away from the game. He has so much knowledge as a fan that I hope there is an outlet to keep it going without the daily grind of a game that can make a 23-year-old look like a 45-year-old in two seasons. Good Luck and thank you, Terry.
Don’t look now, but it only took one game to turn the doom and gloom of losing on Monday Night Football to the Pittsburgh Steelers to change to “look, the Cleveland Browns are tied for rst place in the AFC North!”
Quarterback Deshaun Watson played his best game of his short tenure with the Browns against Tennessee on Sept. 24. But the story is the Browns’ defense. For three straight games, it has dominated the Bengals, Steelers and the Titans. Tennessee is the only team to run a play in the Browns’ red zone in three games and it was only because of a turnover. e Browns’ o ense has allowed more touchdowns than the defense – an amazing stat through three games. is week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens is going to be a big test. So far, this season continues to get more interesting by the moment.
Cleveland Heights High School alum Travis Kelce continues to make big headlines. His relationship with pop star Taylor Swift has pushed his Kansas City jersey sales into the top ve among all NFL players. It has become a larger-than-life story for the one-time Tiger quarterback turned tight end from Northeast Ohio. e big question is will he be able to convince her to play Cain Park in Cleveland Heights? Wow, parking would be impossible.
Andy Baskin writes about Sports for the Cleveland Jewish News. To read more from him, visit cjn.org/baskin.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
It’s been a long time since the Solon girls’ cross-country team was paced by a freshman. But Morgan Hillman has taken the reins and for her performance at the Solon Comet Run Invitational, has been named this week’s Cleveland Jewish News Les Levine High School Player of the Week. She placed ninth in 20:56.
“It felt really good,” Hillman told the CJN. “It was de nitely a harder race than I have had before conditions wise, and it was right after a pretty big storm so it was a challenging race. I made sure to stay up with the front and follow my coach’s expectation to be with that front pack and that is what I ended up doing so it was a good race.”
With three of Solon’s top three runners this season being two freshmen and one sophomore, Hillman is helping spearhead a youth movement.
She rst started running when she ran around a track while attending one of her sister’s soccer games. After that moment, Hillman never stopped running and began competing on club track teams.
She introduced her older sister, Caitlin, and her twin sister, Devin, to track and eld, and it has been something she has enjoyed sharing with her sisters.
“It is pretty special that all three of us get to do a sport together,” Hillman said. “We all do di erent events, but Caitlin has done gymnastics for a long time and pole vaulting came naturally, so she thought she would try it and we all ended up starting to do it together which was pretty fun.”
When she was in the seventh grade, Hillman started competing on the middle school crosscountry team after nding her niche in track as a middle-distance runner.
“Distance running mentally is so helpful,” she said. “Even if I am just running by myself or with my friends it is a way to just be in my own thoughts without any distractions. It has helped mentally a lot.”
She was a top runner on the Solon Middle School cross-country teams based on her times
cjn.org/playeroftheweek
Coaches, athletic directors, family or friends can nominate a student athlete for The CJN Les Levine High School Player Of The Week. Nominations are open for the 2023-24 school year for student athletes participating in a fall sport. Visit cjn.org/playeroftheweek for more information and to nominate a player.
Hometown: Solon
Synogague: The Temple-Tifererth Israel
Favorite Subject: Math
Favorite Show: “Modern Family”
Favorite Movie: “The Parent Trap”
Favorite Book: “The Hate You Give”
Favorite Pro Athlete: Emma Coburn
Favorite Jewish Food: Noodle Kugel
Favorite Jewish Holiday: Passover
Favorite Jewish Activity/Organization: Going to Israel with friends from Jewish day schools this past spring and The Friendship Circle of Cleveland
Parents: Meredith and Jason Hillman
and has continued to lead her team in her freshman season.
“Morgan has been our No. 1 runner in workouts and going o of her eighth-grade track season just shows a lot of promise and a lot of poise for a freshman when it comes to racing in a high pressure situation,” Solon coach Anna Gusielo told the CJN. “I anticipate this season she will continue to lead our team with both her speed and maturity. She really understands what it is to go out in a cross-country race and be aggressive and I think it is going to bene t our team all season.”
In Hillman’s rst varsity race, she ran in muddy conditions after a thunderstorm ravaged the course, but stayed with the front pack and was the rst Comet runner to cross the nish line, taking ninth place.
According to Guseilo, it was an impressive debut and she can foresee the Comet freshman contending for rst place in many races before the season is over.
“I think that she is learning from race-to-race what it takes to be at the front of a pack and be con dent enough you are going to be able to nish the race with the position that you would like,” said Guseilo, who is in her eighth year as coach.
Daniel Sherriff is a freelance journalist.
Publisher’s note: Morgan’s mother Meredith Hillman, is a member of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company Board of Directors.
To read about past CJN Les Levine Players of the Week, visit cjn.org/playeroftheweek
The howls of outrage were heard on both sides of the Atlantic.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took a shot at protesters who were planning to sabotage his trip to the United States and appearance at the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 22, he gave full vent to his resentment at their activities. He described the opposition groups that have projected an image on the side of the world body’s headquarters and who will be not just dogging him every stop on his trip but also demonstrating at the U.N. building itself as “joining forces with the PLO and Iran.”
He shouldn’t have said that – or at least not in that way. But those blasting him for it are ignoring the implications of their own actions, which, like it or not, are providing ammunition to those who don’t want merely to delegitimize Israel’s government but destroy the Jewish state.
Netanyahu’s statement was denounced by his political opponents at home as well as by the Israeli press as an outrageous slander. ey spoke of the demonstrators as “patriots” who deserved respect, not comparisons to those forces wanting an end to Israel.
And to some extent, the criticisms were justi ed. ose Israelis who hate him and who have done all in their power to try to topple his government since it took o ce at the end of December are not the same thing as terrorist murderers or Islamist theocrats bent on the annihilation of the Jewish state. At best, Netanyahu’s comments were intemperate partisan hyperbole. At worst, they were an example of how the battle over judicial reform and the composition of the current government has crossed over into the sort of culture war that threatens the social fabric of the nation.
But the idea that it is Netanyahu who
crossed the “red lines” that should exist in a democracy to ensure that political debate remains at least somewhat civil is absurd. Even if it would have been more statesmanlike for Netanyahu to try to rise above the fray, the protests being conducted during his visit to the United States are far worse than anything he said. Indeed, the entire tenor of the antiNetanyahu demonstrations and the e orts by his opponents to sabotage the economy and national security in order to get their way are not the actions of a loyal, let alone civil, opposition.
By falsely branding the prime minister as an authoritarian and the e orts by the coalition to enact a program of reform of Israel’s out-of-control and power-mad judiciary as a “coup,” the protesters have crossed over from political debate to a campaign of delegitimization that is incompatible with a functioning democracy.
Even worse, it soon became apparent that this struggle was not really so much about judicial reform. Nor was it just about the dismay that the losers of the election conducted in November 2022 felt about the end of the three-year-long stalemate that ended with the Likud Party and its religious allies gaining a clear majority in the Knesset. More than that, it is a culture war in which the country’s Ashkenazi secular liberal elites feel power slipping from their grasp. at’s why they want not so much to preserve the Israeli Supreme Court but to allow it to rule unchallenged and unelected as the last bastion of the old left’s once-complete dominance of every government institution. And it’s why the demonstrators have engaged in the most vicious slurs against the largely Mizrachi, religious and nationalist voters who
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helped elect Netanyahu.
All that is bad enough. But what the anti-Bibi resistance ignores is the way their campaign is regarded by those who have very di erent goals than others who just want a return to the good old days when the Israeli left ran the Jewish state – and, I might add did, so without a Supreme Court having a fraction of the power it claims to possess today.
e protesters claim that the winner of a democratic election whose goal is to give the Knesset and the executive back some of the power that the courts seized without reference to any law or constitution other than their own self-manufactured whims is an authoritarian and seeking to end democracy isn’t just wrong. It’s gaslighting.
It’s not just that it is unseemly for groups of Israeli immigrants to the United States and other leftist allies to hound the democratically elected leader of their former country as he carries out his routine task of trying to build support for the Jewish state, especially at the United Nations. e claim that Netanyahu is a “criminal” because of bogus corruption charges that don’t stand up to scrutiny, and which even the judges in the case that is dragging on for years have already said has no chance of ending in a conviction, is also cheap partisan rhetoric.
But in a non-Israeli context, all this also has the e ect of undermining Israel’s stance as the only true democracy in the Middle East.
that is patriotic or in line with the aims of any real democratic movement.
Netanyahu’s opponents are entitled to say what they like as well as to demonstrate. It should be noted, however, that their tactics of blocking highways and paralyzing the country wouldn’t be tolerated, and, in fact, would be labeled as thuggish and anti-democratic if it were the political right that was behaving in that fashion. Just look back to the protests against the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and the disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Still, they have no right to cry foul when it is pointed out that their e orts to delegitimize an Israeli government not just at home but abroad go far beyond anything ever done by their opponents.
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ose who make this argument are assisting Israel’s foes, whether that is their intent or not. ey are demonizing the country’s leader and his supporters. People like e New York Times columnists Bret Stephens and omas Friedman, who support the anti-Bibi resistance, argue that at least half of Israel are “deplorable” would-be tyrants who are indistinguishable from their Arab and Islamic foes. at is a direct assault not just on Israel’s image but exactly what the intersectional left, which is trying to convince Americans that Israelis are “white” oppressors of Palestinians, is trying to argue.
It’s all well and good to say that Netanyahu should be more polite when talking about his critics. But those who are treating Bibi as if he were the moral equivalent of an Iranian or Palestinian terrorist who threatens Israel are in no position to complain about civility or hurt feelings. Moreover, the resistance’s e orts to foment mutiny in the Israel Defense Forces and to persuade investors to remove capital from the country are not behaving in a manner
Some who are protesting are upset about any connection being made between their hatred for Netanyahu and support for a juristocracy with the e orts to falsely smear Israel as an “apartheid state.” But the links are there. And it will be no coincidence that while they are trashing the only man who is standing up against the lies of the Palestinians and the nuclear threat from Iran on the podium of the United Nations, there will be other demonstrators there supporting Israel’s destruction. A more responsible opposition would have chosen to say that politics end “at the water’s edge,” as Michigan Republican Sen. Arthur Vandenberg famously said of debates among Americans in the 1940s. Instead, they have chosen to recognize no limits to their campaign to slander Netanyahu and his voters.
While the prime minister should be more careful when expressing his frustration about his political foes, those who are lying about him and his voters are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS –Jewish News Syndicate. Follow him on Twitter at @jonathans_tobin. To read more from him, visit cjn.org/tobin.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
’ve often wondered why all of Donald Trump’s co-defendants and coconspirators in his assorted criminal cases are sticking with him as they face financial and professional ruin, to say nothing of jail time.
e twice-impeached, four-times indicted on 91 felony counts former president has been called many things – compulsive liar, misogynist, racist, antisemite, immature, narcissist, mob boss, intellectually uncurious, philanderer, tax cheat and more – but there’s one thing he isn’t: Loyal.
For him loyalty is a one-way street, all headed in his direction. He demands it of everyone, gives it to no one and woe is anyone who doesn’t o er it with the desired intensity. He demands employees, aides and even top government o cials pledge their loyalty and sign non-disclosure agreements. He’s shown no remorse for putting so many people in jeopardy for serving him.
Some of his high-pro le co-defendants have argued that they were acting at the personal direction of the disgraced former president – Peter Navarro, Je rey Clark and Mark Meadows – but judges aren’t buying it and Trump isn’t rushing to their defense.
To borrow a phrase from Watergate, he’s content to let them twist slowly, slowly in the wind. at should come as no surprise, so why are they willing to risk all for him?
His power can be summed up in one word. Fear.
Take it from Sen. Mitt Romney, the only Republican senator with the courage to vote twice to remove the impeached former president. e Utah senator is spending $5,000 a day to hire private security for himself and his family in response to threats from Trump’s cult. “ ere are deranged people among us,” he told his biographer. “It only takes one really disturbed person.”
It is a fear shared by many of his Congressional colleagues, he said. Many voted for Trump’s acquittal not because they believed him innocent but because they feared he would turn their constituents against them, and more importantly, they feared for their own personal safety and the safety of their families.
Romney lamented to his biographer, “A very large portion of my party really doesn’t believe in the Constitution.” He considered Trump a bu oon and a conspiracy theorist, and quickly discovered “Almost without exception (his fellow senators) shared my view of the president.” In Trump’s presence they were obsequious, but behind his back they laughed at him and ridiculed his ignorance and childlike behavior, said the senator who is retiring at
the end of this term.
But fear – political and physical – turned them into enablers. Among those Romney found most contemptuous were fellow Republican Senators Josh Hawley, J.D. Vance and Ted Cruz.
Trump, who has turned the GOP from a political party to a cult of personality, has never been hesitant to incite violence against his critics and foes. In social media posts, he warned any indictments targeting him may lead to “potential death & destruction” around the country, e Hill reported.
At one rally he o ered to pay the legal expenses for anyone beating up hecklers (he really wouldn’t because he’s a notorious deadbeat).
Vox.com reported “As far back as 2015, Trump has been connected to documented acts of violence, with perpetrators claiming that he was even their inspiration.”
Axios listed a few instances including asking his secretary of defense about demonstrators protesting the George Floyd killing, “Can’t you just shoot them … in the legs or something?”
Telling police audiences “Please don’t be too nice” when arresting people. Saying “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Wanting to ll a ditch at the southern border with snakes and gators to stop migrants and “just shoot them in the legs.”
He tries to bleach his calls for hate and violence with occasional denunciations of violence, but they come out sounding like Richard Nixon engineering a cover-up while saying for the tape “but that would be wrong.”
e New York Times reported in 2016, “Donald J. Trump has appealed to the raw anger of voters and encouraged crowds at rallies to use force against protesters who are disruptive.”
State and federal prosecutors and judges are well aware of the fear factor and his penchant for violence, forcing them to beef up their own security.
at prompted Special Counsel Jack Smith to ask Judge Tanya Chutkan to impose a limited gag order on the former president, saying he has a history of “disparaging and in ammatory messages” aimed at the court, prosecutors, witnesses and potential jurors. Smith is convinced Trump’s public statements could pose a “serious and substantial” danger to his federal case. e same can be said for state-level cases in New York and Georgia.
As the pressure on Trump intensi es so does his violent rhetoric. e problem facing the courts is where to draw the line for a presidential candidate with his history.
Beyond fear, many of his co-conspirators and others charged or waiting for that shoe to drop are said to feel Trump in his second term would grant them pardons.
Trump this month said he is “very, very seriously” considering “full pardons” for those prosecuted for the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol if he is reelected. Don’t bet on it. Just ask those whose requests he turned down before he left o ce in 2021, like Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Scott Perry, Andy Biggs and Mo Brooks, whose pleas were revealed in the Jan. 6 hearings. ey got bupkis.
Prosecutors are trying to peel o Trump’s co-defendants with plea deals. e fear of nancial ruin, professional disaster and jail time are weighed against fear of Trump’s retribution.
Politico reports some of his aides, allies and co-defendants are starting to turn on the former president. Former White House chief of sta Mark Meadows is rumored to have ipped on his former boss in both the federal and Georgia cases.
Jenna Ellis, Trump’s former attorney who was indicted in the Georgia case, is reportedly upset her ex-client won’t help pay her legal bills, and prosecutors consider her ripe for ipping. She recently blamed his “malignant narcissistic
tendency” for his refusal to admit he’s ever done anything wrong.
Prosecutors said a key witness in the classi ed documents case “retracted his prior false testimony” after dropping his lawyer paid for by a Trump PAC and hiring a new one, Axios reported.
A man who should know about such things advised the former president’s partners in crime. “History has shown the 18 co-defendants that Donald doesn’t care about anyone but himself,” said Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and xer.
at should be obvious to everyone by now.
Douglas M. Bloomfield is a former Clevelander, syndicated columnist, Washington lobbyist and consultant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus. To read more from him, visit cjn.org/bloomfield.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
BEN COHEN bencohenonline@gmail.com
There was a pertinent observation offered up in an opinion piece published recently by the French magazine Marianne.
“ ere are kindness weeks and human rights days,” wrote the author, Martine Gozlan, “but right now, we are in the middle of the antisemitism month of Arab leaders.”
Gozlan was referring to two outbursts by Arab leaders at both ends of the Middle East: Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas, who declared during a speech in August that the Nazi Holocaust had been provoked by the Jews’ “social role”; and President Kais Saeid of Tunisia, who detected the hidden hand of international Zionism behind the oods that devastated neighboring Libya in early September.
We live, of course, during a time when the mild taboo upon antisemitism that prevailed after World War II has been shattered, leaving tech billionaires, rock musicians and minor parliamentarians on left and right to articulate and enable antisemitism of the most venomous sort, all too often using social media to do so. But that realization shouldn’t mask the distinctive origins and strategic purpose of the antisemitism in the Arab and wider Muslim worlds that was so neatly expressed by Abbas and Saied.
It’s important to remember the key di erence, contextually, between Arab and Western antisemitism. In Western countries, as well as in Eastern Europe, Jews were a largely defenseless minority who were nonetheless assigned near mystic powers by an assortment of pogromists and ideologues. In the Middle East, while the same myths about disproportionate Jewish power have won over the masses, the Jews whom they confronted – and still do – are
not powerless. ese Jews are, through the existence of the State of Israel, empowered and sovereign – not only in possession of an army (and navy and air force), but one that is supremely capable of punishing the enemy and winning the wars it ghts.
e historic Arab failure to eliminate Israel from the map of nations is one key reason for the persistence of antisemitism in the rhetoric of some Arab leaders. In that regard, antisemitic ideology has played a useful dual role. Firstly, it allows Arab leaders to distract their publics from real issues like employment, social welfare, environmental degradation and education by pointing to “the Jews” as the ultimate source of their complaints. Secondly, the widespread acceptance of conspiracy theories over the extent of Jewish power enables Arab leaders to explain away, far more easily than is justi ed, their own failings.
ere is another signi cant di erence between antisemitism in the West and outside it that further explains the Abbas and Saeid outbursts. In the West, much of the time, antisemitism is a feature of disgruntled social movements that go through troughs and peaks in terms of their popularity, but whose grasp on power is eeting; rarely do they win a sustained engagement with genuine political power. But in the Middle East, antisemitism emanates from the corridors of power, walking hand in hand with corruption, political repression, torture, racism and other reprehensible features of authoritarian rule.
Indeed, Abbas’s response to the group
The historic Arab failure to eliminate Israel from the map of nations is one key reason for the persistence of antisemitism in the rhetoric of some Arab leaders.
of Palestinian intellectuals and in uencers who publicly objected to his latest verbal assault on the Holocaust is a perfect example of this tendency. No matter that this group forthrightly condemned Israeli “occupation” and “apartheid” in its statement, thereby repeating antisemitic tropes about Israel even as they condemned antisemitism. ey had the temerity to confront Abbas, the Palestinian caudillo, over his crude, cringeworthy antisemitism, and were therefore worthy of denunciation as the “shame of the nation.”
Mark as well how Abbas’s antics perfectly t the approach of Arab dictators towards the Jewish state; when you are unpopular and when your disapproval ratings are at an eye-watering 73%, as are his, point the nger at the real culprits.
Saeid, meanwhile, operates with a similar logic.
neighbors and not because the Allied armies trounced the Germans in North Africa.
As well as being an antisemite, Saeid is also a racist who has whipped up feelings against Black migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa. In a speech in February, he claimed that “hordes of irregular migrants” had come to Tunisia “with all the violence, crime and unacceptable practices that entails.” He argued that this was an “unnatural” situation, part of a criminal plan designed to “change the demographic make-up” and turn Tunisia into “just another African country that doesn’t belong to the Arab and Islamic nations anymore.” Following this rant, angry mobs attacked African migrants in several cities, while the police detained up to 1,000, deporting many of them. is Islamist and Arabist form of supremacism – with its disdain for Africa’s Black majority population and its barely concealed loathing of Jews – is no less threatening than any other form of bigotry. As long as it is left unchecked and unchallenged, we can anticipate many more “Antisemitism Months” from Arab and Muslim national leaders.
Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author who writes a weekly column on Jewish and international affairs for JNS. To read more from him, visit cjn.org/cohen.
A conservative legal scholar who came to power in 2019 and has stalled Tunisia’s hesitant progress towards democracy ever since, his remarks about the oods in Libya – the fruit of Storm “Daniel,” a Jewish name that was chosen, said Saeid, because “the Zionist movement has in ltrated our minds” – are the second occasion this year that he has expressed antisemitic sentiment. On the rst occasion, back in May, he told a meeting of Tunisia’s National Security Council that a deadly gun attack upon worshippers at a historic synagogue on the island of Djerba was not motivated by antisemitism.
Mocking those “who talk about antisemitism when we are in the 21st century,” Saeid accused those who raised the issue of antisemitism of wanting “to sow division to bene t from this discourse.”
e following day, in de ance of the actual historical record, he doubled down by pointing to supposed Jewish ingratitude, insisting that the Jews of Tunisia who survived the 1942-43 Nazi occupation did so because of the goodwill of their
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
Biden, administration off target
In response to the headlining article on Sept. 20, I nd it’s yet another hypocritical gesture of President Joe Biden and the Biden administration, which has weaponized the judiciary in the United States against Republican politicians, to lecture Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the foundational democratic principle of checks and balances. (“Biden warns Netanyahu about the health of Israel’s democracy and urges compromise on court overhaul,” cjn.org)
Cynthia Cohen Shaker HeightsDISCLAIMER
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
Israel needs electoral reform e current unrest in Israel results from an electoral system (proportional representation) which tends to give small parties the ability to bring down the government if its demands are not met.
For the past three decades, Israel has been governed by fragile coalitions holding barely more than the minimum, 61-seats, needed to “control” the government, which would fall if a few MKs decide to move from the coalition to the opposition. is excessive power given to small parties favors special interest groups and mitigates against working to build a broad consensus of the many disparate sectors within Israeli society.
Even more than judicial reform, Israel needs electoral reform, an e ort to create fewer, longer-lasting parties, which will be around long enough for people to hold them accountable for keeping the promises made at election time. Parties should be required to publish their platforms and engage in public debates. If polls conducted after each debate indicate, several times, that a party is unlikely to reach the election threshold (minimum votes required to obtain seats in the Knesset), that party should be required to sit out the current election (but would be able to stand for election again after the elected Knesset completed its term (hopefully, after having served its nominal four years).
Toby F. Block AtlantaPUBLISHER AND CEO
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Jewish kids lack Israel attachment e Jewish Diaspora has a more important task to carry out than to mobilize to criticize the Israeli government. A huge number of Jewish children are growing up without any feeling for Israel, indeed many are joining organizations that call for the boycott of Israel. You have to love the country to speak out about it, and love for Israel is waning, and not waning because the Netanyahu government wants to reform the judicial system.
ere are many reasons why American Jewish kids have no attachment to Israel, ranging from intermarriage, Holocaust fatigue, to the outstanding job done by the Palestinian victimhood project that has been spectacularly successful in projecting Israel as a brutal, ethnic cleansing colonialist entity. is is partially thanks to multibillion donations to American universities from Gulf Oil states. Anti-Israel libels have penetrated our education system and Jewish kids and teachers who fall for it are the spoils of victory. Mobilizing Jews to criticize their own country is being celebrated right now in the Jews hating world.
I strongly suggest that anti-Netanyahu Jews rethink their priorities before trying to turn the rest of us against Israel.
Larry Shapiro Calgary, CanadaFor advertising rates, editorial calendar and production specs, contact Adam Mandell, VP of Sales at amandell@cjn.org or 216-342-5191.
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Regina Brett is off this week
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*of blessed memory
Vice Chairs: Dennis A. Linden, David Minc, Harvey Siegel, Becky Watts, Art Weisman
Treasurer: Lawrence M. Hirsh
Assistant Treasurer: Susan D. Krantz
Secretary: Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim
Directors: Joshua Berggrun, Ilene Butensky Brehm, Michael Broidy, Leora Cohen, Ida Haber, Joel Herman, Meredith Hillman, Kate Hubben, Jackie Jacobs, Ari H. Jaffe, Sharon Sobol Jordan, Kate Bigam Kaput, Ethan Karp, Michele Krantz, Emily Lebowitz, Gregg A. Levine, Greg Marcus, Adam Miller, Earl Pike,
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Lauren B. Rock, David Saltzman, David J. Sherriff, Scott Simon, Dr. Mark Stovsky, James A. Strassman, Ronald J. Teplitzky (ex officio), Nancy B. Udelson
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Board Chair: Ronald J. Teplitzky
Vice Chairs: Mark Bogomolny, Larry Friedman, Marcy Young
Secretary: Clifford Wolf
Treasurer: Bruce Friedman
Directors: Aaron Evenchik, Barry Feldman, Debra Rothschild, Meredith Glazer, David Gottlieb, Estra Grant, David Kroh, Kenneth Liffman,
Paul J. Singerman (ex officio)
Emeritus Directors: Barry R. Chesler*, David Kaufman, Susan C. Levine, Martin H. Marcus, Paul J. Singerman, Norman Wain*, Chuck Whitehill *of blessed memory
Walkways needed in Pepper Pike
My wife and I moved to Pepper Pike because we want to raise strong, independent, daughters in a welcoming, safe community. We were encouraged to see these values overwhelmingly supported by other residents in numerous community surveys, particularly around improving walkability.
Living on a main street, family walks put our daughters and our own lives at risk as we regularly have to jump the stroller into someone’s yard to dodge drivers distracted by texts and TikToks, distractions that were not around decades ago.
e status quo of “no walkways” is not without costs. is resistance discourages exercise, the best thing we can do to support health and longevity. Even worse, it tells our community’s children their desire to walk or bike to schools, parks, and to their neighbors is dangerous and unrealistic. Our children deserve better.
e recent state report cards are a reminder of why Orange schools are such a huge draw for families. ese walkways are an opportunity for our city to demonstrate that same commitment to the next generation we see from our educators.
Like they say about trees, the best time to install walkways would have been 20 years ago. e second best time is today. While adding a 5-foot wide path to three streets may be scary, unsafe roads and child obesity are scarier. I invite you to join me in supporting investment in a safer and healthier future for our great city.
Ben Colas Pepper PikeWhy publish Zashin story?
I typically enjoy reading the Cleveland Jewish News and appreciated the articles on Sept. 22 about Reform uni cation, the Cincinnati area Tea Party’s antisemitic rhetoric and Regina Brett’s column on the Diocese’s LGBTQ+ policy. However, when I arrived at “Brother v. Brother” by Alexandra Golden on Page 8, I found myself thoroughly perplexed as to why this article, outlining what I consider both personal and professional hardship for this family, was included in our paper.
e mission of the CJN is to, “provide the Jewish community of Northeast Ohio with a quality weekly newspaper, which will fully present local, national and world news of Jewish interest ... and to enrich the cultural life both of individuals and the community through the presentation of features, articles, reviews and other material of Jewish content and interest.”
Are we enriched culturally by the details of the Zashin brothers’ tragic and very unfortunate personal and business relationships? In what way was it to readers’ bene ts to publicize this information, which is nothing short of longtime trauma for this family? Is this local gossip akin to an afternoon soap opera?
At this time of year, we are asked to re ect on what we can do to improve our relationships with God and our fellow human beings. e CjN board of trustees and professional sta need to ask themselves whether articles such as this are in line with their mission and whether they reinforce or degrade the integrity of the newspaper.
Sharon Fagin Beachwood• The Cleveland Jewish News will accept election-related letters through NOON on Monday, Oct. 16 for consideration for the Friday, Oct. 20 edition. No election-related letter received after the deadline will be printed.
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Reform unification would be ‘ironic’ e article on the potential joining of e Temple-Tifereth Israel with Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple is ironic in a sense. (“Reform uni cation: What would it mean for Fairmount Temple, e Temple?,” Sept. 22) e Cleveland Jewish Center, now known as Park Synagogue, was originally formed from two Orthodox shuls – Anshe Emet and Beth Te lo.
My early life was associated with Cleveland Jewish Center. My older brother, Herman, and I both were bar mitzvahed and Con rmed there.
When our family moved to Pierpont Avenue in the heart of the Glenville area in 1934, Rabbi Armond Cohen became our spiritual leader. He was one of trio of amazing rabbis – Abba Hillel Silver at e Temple and Barnett R. Brickner at Fairmount Temole. All three were incredible speakers. Cohen, the lone Conservative, held his own against the two Reform rabbis.
I believe we had, and still have, some things the other two did not. One was an incredible athletic center with the secondlargest pool in the city (the YMCA was rst).
e other was the choir. Its leader, Abe Herzog, lived next door to us. en there was an unmatched duet – Herzog singing bass and teenager Larry Sa er singing tenor. I can still hear them.
When Jewish families began moving to the Heights areas, this led to Park Synagogue.
A bit of nostalgia. When our Con rmation class held its 25th reunion, I drove in from my then-home in Columbus. Out of nowhere, one former classmate I had not seen for years, came up to me, shook my hand and said, “Dave, you’ve put on some weight.”
David BrownNorth Bethesda, Md.
Letter writer David Goldberg is entitled to his opinion. (“Time for Diaspora to Act,” Sept. 22).
However, he ignores the fact that the Netanyahu coalition was elected in a close fair democratic parliamentary election in which judicial reform was part of its platform. Many elections in the United States are close, such as in November 2016, which was followed by massive demonstrations in January 2017 by those disappointed with the election’s outcome. To date there has been no vote of no con dence in Israel, a country which has had many more national elections in the last 20 years than the United States.
For 75 years, Israel’s Arab enemies have called for its destruction and killed over 28,400 Jews in the process while repeatedly and repeatedly rejecting an independent state – regardless of whether the Israeli government is left, right or center.
Richard Sherman Margate, Fla.
WRITE US: The Cleveland Jewish News welcomes letters from readers. Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited. Submit letters online at cjn.org/letters, send letters to CJN, 23880 Commerce Park, Suite 1, Beachwood, OH 44122, or email letters@ cjn.org. Please include your complete name and your place of residence, and a telephone number for fact-checking purposes. Readers can post comments to any online story or feature at cjn.org
Hundreds of candidates across Northeast Ohio will be vying to become mayor, or to win seats on city council or school board. Several local issues will be on the ballot as well. ere will also be two statewide issues on the ballot regareding abortion and marijuana. Here’s the wording for the statewide issues from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website:
• Issue 1 - A Self-Executing Amendment Relating to Abortion and Other Reproductive
Decisions
• Issue 2 - To Commercialize, Regulate, Legalize, and Tax the Adult Use of Cannabis Voters will go to the polls from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7.
To request a vote-by-mail application, visit your local board of election’s website.
Early voting will begin at 8 a.m. Oct. 11 in Cuyahoga County at the board of elections at 2925 Euclid Ave. in downtown Cleveland. It will end at
5 p.m. Nov. 5.
To help our readers become familiar with who’s running and what’s on the ballot in their communities, the Cleveland Jewish News asked candidates to complete a questionnaire for all contested races. For example, if someone is running unopposed, we did not ask them to complete a questionnaire.
Candidates appearing with no responses and just their names listed either did not respond to the questions or issued no comment. Candidates without headshots did not provide them and appear with the American ag. Each candidate was given 75 words per response and answers have been edited for clarity only. Any comments regarding religious a liation have been edited and do not appear. Only contested races appear in this section.
BEACHWOOD COUNCIL AT LARGE
Four-year term – Vote for no more than four
Name: Mike Burkons
Age: 47
Campaign Email: Mike@ burkonsforbeachwood.com
Education: Undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and law degree from CSU College of Law
Current Occupation: Owns and runs two businesses, Charitee Golf LLC and Lead Free Ohio.
Website: 4forBeachwoodcitycouncil.com
Facebook: 4 for Beachwood City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I will continue to advocate for things residents have been asking for like better lighted side streets, sidewalks on streets without them,
and partnering with the schools to improve our community’s substandard sports fields/ courts. I will also advocate against irresponsible overspending like the $3.5M playground, the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent to build an outdoor fitness court before building basketball courts and purchasing 56 chairs for the pool snack shop costing $755 to $1,185 per chair.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Traditional malls don’t work well anymore as the trend is towards mixed-use like Pinecrest and Crocker Park. We must incentivize the mall owners to begin redeveloping towards mixed-use now, instead of hoping this trend changes.
We also need to make the recent property tax cut permanent, not just three years. Just like lower property taxes make it more attractive to buy a home in Beachwood and improve it, this also applies to commercial properties.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The way we spend isn’t sustainable. A sevenyear cash flow projection recently provided to council showed the $33,092,989 general fund balance at the end of 2022 depleting to $3,093,352 by 2029. Even more troubling is these projections rely on 1) Council voting for a property tax increase beginning in 2027 and 2) income tax collections for 2029 to be $9.4M higher than what they were in 2022, despite only increasing $4.5M during the previous seven-year period.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I was, and still am, in favor of a playground improvement project with sensible costs. This is similar to my excitement in 2021 upon learning a plan was in the works to build an amphitheater which I expected would be similar to Legacy Village’s stage area. I still support a plan like that, but not the plan presented costing $5M so it could be nice enough to “host weddings and the ballet.”
Name: Howard Darvin
Age: 64
Campaign email: howiedarvin@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in zoology from Howard University in 1980,
M.D. Howard University in 1982
Current Occupation: Retired physician
Website: 4forbeachwoodcitycouncil.com
Facebook: 4 For Beachwood City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am a retired vascular surgeon. I founded and grew my practice into the largest independent vascular surgery group in Northeast Ohio. I have a proven record as a financially adept successful businessman. I am a leader. I have been a managing partner. I have served as a divisional and departmental chairman. I have boardroom experience. I make important decisions thoughtfully, collaboratively and quickly. I am a rule follower with a profound sense of fairness.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Previous economic development has made Beachwood’s finances the envy of most similarly sized cities. Encouraging businesses with highly compensated employees is not a path to deviate from. The outdated commercial Commerce Park/ Mercantile area has unfulfilled potential in this regard. Constructing a connecting road from Mercantile to Harvard Road would increase access and off load traffic from congested Chagrin Boulevard, simultaneously increasing the area’s desirability and enhancing the value of the largely underdeveloped south city border.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Beachwood lacks a recent comprehensive long range plan. A master plan was completed in 2015 but subsequent leadership has not embraced critical components. Following the blueprint a master plan provides is crucial to avoid wasteful spending while providing residents and businesses with the amenities, resources and incentives that allow a city to thrive. A new master plan is essential to direct sensible spending that addresses my concerns of safety, infrastructure and the mall’s future.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I obtained my undergraduate and medical degree from Howard University, an Historically
Black College and University. I am writing a book about my minority experience. If elected, when council convenes in January, I would be the only council member classified as a senior citizen, a group that represents close to 30% of Beachwood’s residents.
Name: Jillian DeLong
Age: 46
Campaign Email: jillian@ delongforbeachwood.com
Education: Bachelor of accounting degree from Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: Manager of college assets and mail operations at Cuyahoga Community College
Website: delongforbeachwood.com
Facebook: delongforbeachwood
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
As the vice president of the Beachwood School Board and champion for our city, I am uniquely situated to bring the knowledge I have gained from listening to residents and working collaboratively with my peers to this role on city council. In addition, professionally I oversee funds at Tri-C which aligns extremely well as a fiscal steward for the city. I am a proven leader who brings people together and is forward thinking, all while being aware of the community and financial impact of our work.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Over the next five years, my goal for the city would be to review and improve the current business retention program and create opportunities to build stronger working relationships with businesses. We must have a robust business retention program to keep our city attractive to retain and welcome new businesses. It’s also integral that we prioritize developing a shared vision for economic development that can be reviewed, assessed and improved on a yearly basis.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
One issue that the city must address is proactively communicating and engaging with residents regarding projects and master planning so that misinformation is not driving the narrative. The city must prioritize residents’ needs and provide open communication so that fact-based, data-driven information is shared. This information must be provided to the residents in a timely manner and on platforms that residents access.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am making history by running on the city’s first all-female slate. Our commitment to fact-based, data-driven information is the foundation of our all-female slate for Beachwood City Council. This commitment defines how we communicate with residents and local businesses, informs our decision-making policies, and determines how we will hold our administration accountable. I strongly believe my experience and proven leadership is what will make me a good city councilwoman.
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Name: Matt Hildebrand
Age: 47
Campaign email: hildebmd@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine from University of Dayton in 1998; Master of Science in industrial pharmacy from Long Island University in 2011
Current Occupation: Director of regulatory affairs and quality, Checkpoint Surgical, Inc. Website: 4forbeachwoodcitycouncil.com
Facebook: 4 For Beachwood City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Since January 2022, I have attended virtually every council meeting. I have advocated for constructive engagement with residents to provide a perspective that is currently lacking. A group is successful when they challenge each other, not when they are in group-think. My fulltime job requires that I ask tough questions, and if I disagree with an idea, I provide comments that demonstrate my disagreement without being disagreeable.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Beachwood has enacted an across-the-board tax reduction for every home and business. The city has stated they plan to increase taxes after three years. Since this tax cut has a material positive impact on our current businesses while also being an incentive for new businesses, I want to make this tax cut permanent. Furthermore, the city needs to work with the mall to make sure it remains a viable tax base long term.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Our city council has been a rubber stamp for a host of non-sensible spending decisions since at least January 2022. Because the city doesn’t have a master plan they utilize, millions in wasteful spending has occurred which prevents other projects from being considered and funded. The lack of a plan for appropriate lighting on side streets to help deter crime while also providing safety for our many walkers and runners is a textbook example.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
For five years while living in NYC, I served as both a board member and president of my co-op residential complex where we successfully increased our reserve fund while also making long-term investments in environmental sustainability.
Name: Danielle Shoykhet
Age: 41
Campaign Email: danielleshoykhet@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in business from Miami University
Current Occupation: Senior Client Manager at American Express
Website: danielleshoykhet.com
Facebook: Danielle Shoykhet for Beachwood City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am a third-generation Beachwood resident and was appointed to Beachwood City Council out of 16 other applicants in February 2022. I am a female, millennial, with a corporate business background bringing diversity and a skill set to council which was previously lacking. My experience advocating for businesses, from startups to those publicly traded, brings a unique perspective helping Beachwood’s Economic Development reach its goals while making a significant and positive impact on Beachwood.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Many businesses and residents are attracted to our city due to our low tax rates. To keep taxes low, we must spur additional growth in the city.
As work-from-home dynamics change office space needs, the city must be open to helping property owners attract and maintain office tenants. We must assist Beachwood Place to ensure it remains one of the top malls in the region, incorporating mixeduse development on site.
What is the most important issues facing your community and how will you address it?
Public safety is of paramount concern. We recently created a police substation at Beachwood Place, budgeted for license plate readers and implemented drone technologies. Improving upon the amenities that continue making Beachwood a community of choice, installing new streetlights where appropriate, as well as the construction and maintenance of sidewalks are some of my priorities. I am open to residents’ ideas for future improvements for the overall health of the community through green and sustainable initiatives.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a dedicated person and strong collaborator, whether it is my fitness routine, career at American Express, being a wife, mom (Wesley, 6 and Chandler, 2.5) or longtime member of The Junior League of Cleveland where I have raised funds to support disadvantaged students. I am running on a slate; passionate about helping people to achieve their best, as a trusted adviser, negotiating and bringing different perspectives and views together to achieve optimal results.
Name: Ali B. Stern
Age: 40
Campaign Email: stern4beachwood@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Brandeis University; Master of Arts in community leadership and philanthropy studies from Rothberg International School at The Hebrew University
Current Occupation: Grant writer at The Jewish Agency for Israel
Website: alisternforbeachwood.com
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
As a grant writer, I look at big, ambitious projects and seek to answer: Why is there a need for this initiative? Why is funding being allocated to this project? Why does this matter? This “Why-based” approach is needed on Beachwood City Council. As a member of Council, I will ask thoughtful, necessary questions on behalf of residents, publicly communicate decisions and the reasons behind them, and work to strengthen trust in local government.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Beachwood remains a premier location for businesses and nearly 90% of our annual budget is generated from commercial revenue. Business growth and retention must remain one of our highest priorities. This requires council to be willing partners with the administration and the office of economic development to offer competitive business incentives and develop available real estate for commercial use in order to maintain the diverse industries that serve as our city’s economic backbone.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
One of the issues facing Beachwood is residents not understanding the city’s priorities. When talking to residents,
people continue to ask about the status of street lights and sidewalks and express a concern about crime. There needs to be an updated strategic 10-year plan that is clearly articulated to residents, outlining where the city stands on providing amenities that the community desires.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am honored to run alongside Danielle Shoykhet, Jillian DeLong and June Taylor for Beachwood City Council. Our commitment to fact-based, data-driven information is the foundation of our all-female slate. This commitment defines how we communicate with residents and local businesses, informs our decision-making policies, and determines how we will hold our administration accountable. In my personal life, I am also the proud mother of two silly, Lego-loving, amazing boys (ages 8 and 4).
Name: June E. Taylor
Age: 57
Campaign Email: jt@integralcle.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Northwestern University; Master of Management, Finance, Marketing & Organizational Behavior from J.L Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Current Occupation: Chief, performance & strategy at Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Mayor Mulcahy stated, “Councilman Kline’s strength is his knowledge, experience, and understanding of the process, along with his established relationships with our department directors and regional community.”
Hon. Kathy U. Mulcahy, Mayor Orange Village
Hon. Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive
Hon. Annette Blackwell, Mayor Maple Heights
Hon. Bradley Sellers, Mayor Warrensville Hts.
Hon. Georgene Welo, Mayor South Euclid
Hon. Robert Fialla, Mayor Willoughby
Hon. Sam Scaffide, Mayor Twinsburg
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My leadership abilities combined with experience in business, finance, economic development and local, county, state and federal resources position me as a candidate who can listen and find creative ways to solve problems and complement our city’s resources and assets. Today’s public servant must be willing to work with everyone to find the best solutions and ways to protect resources, retain and attract new businesses, so we may protect our tax base and home values.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Retain the businesses we have; attract new business; incentivize building owners to develop and maintain Class A level tenant and outdoor space; “refresh” Beachwood Mall using Tyson’s Corner Mall anchor, boutique stores and eateries, as a “best in class” model which is what our citizens are demanding; incentivize apartment building owners to install charging stations, so electric car owners view Beachwood as the best city to live, work, play and charge their electric vehicle.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Remaining a safe and secure community for our residents to live, work, play and enjoy our resources is the most important issue.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a certified professional pickleball registry associate coach and pickleball player.
Village
Mayor Mulcahy announces, “As I leave office at the end of this year, the legacy I have created can be carried on through someone (Jud Kline) who has been with me every step of the way in producing projects and facilities we have delivered.”
Paid for by the Committee to Elect Judson Kline
Robert Miller, Treasurer John Kolb Deputy Treasurer
Louis & Marcia Moss
Dr. Bruce & Lorene Averbook
Gerald & Sarajane Goldstein
Dr. Saurin & Aditi Bhatt
Russell Rogers
Michael & Carly Glantz
Alyssa & Evan Stein
Steve & Staci Steinberg
Jim Strassman
Joni Klaus
Dean & Stephanie Sumner
Laurence & Arlene Turbow
Jodi & Doug Trossler
Sandford & Beverly Weinberg
John & Linda Wirtshafter
Larry & Jodi Kutash
David & Gail Stein
Phil Madden & Deb Rozin
Jack & Cheryl Miller
Delores Momon
Scott Lewis
Russell & Joann Grundke
Peter Turner & Lauren Rock
And many more...
Name: Karen R. Tindel
Age: 62
Campaign Email: ktindel@ sbcglobal.net
Education: Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Kent State University in 1984; Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University in 1999
Current Occupation: Director revenue cycle management at Jewish Family Service Association
Website: 4forBeachwoodcitycouncil.com
Facebook: 4 for Beachwood City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
With an expansive career in health care and nonprofit management, I have held leadership positions overseeing million-dollar budgets and daily operations of diverse workforces. I will leverage my business acumen and financial expertise to ensure responsible funding for projects while collaborating with others within the city administration to meet the needs of our community and business partners. I have called Beachwood home for 25 years and will continue to advocate as a voice for our residents.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Revise city master plan as a road map for all development. Our economic development department has compiled a toolkit of financial incentives available to assist with business growth. Develop a hub for science, innovation and technology targeting expansion of underdeveloped land available north of Harvard. Continue to prioritize efforts to attract and retain companies in target areas of Commerce Park, Science Park and Park East. Maintain open dialogs regarding the safety and longevity of the mall.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
In the last year, Beachwood spent or approved tremendous amounts on embarrassing lawsuit settlements, legal fees, engineering fees and overpriced and poorly executed recreation projects. For this to end, we need to elect
new council members who are independent, critical thinkers. Approved projects need to be prioritized and budgeted. Expand our usage of competitive bidding on large scale projects, allowing women and minority owned businesses an opportunity to earn business contracts and reduce our costs.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Die-hard OSU Buckeye football fan. Primary home caregiver for my husband, Darryl, as he recovered from bilateral lung and kidney transplants. Proficient in time management and multi-tasking, I successfully completed my MBA while concurrently holding a full-time job, managing my second pregnancy, and overseeing our household that included my husband and toddler son.
Four-year term – vote for no more than two
Name: Robert Chalfant
Name: Alexander E. Goetsch
Two-year term – vote for no more than four
Name: Michael Corkran
Age: 69
Campaign Email: Mike@ wmcorkran.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in economics from Dartmouth College; Master of Business Administration in finance and marketing from University of Rochester
Current Occupation: CEO, Management
Consulting Firm
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Whether I am the best candidate is up to the residents to determine. I do think my financial, general management and operations business experience provides some background of value to village management. The village has a very complex government and financial structure –more so than many east side suburbs – because we operate our own water and wastewater utilities.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
The village is in solid financial and economic condition. The goal is to continue to provide support to village administration economic and infrastructure enhancement programs/ investment. Much progress has been achieved in recent years, but there is a significant list of projects planned that will be important contributors to the village’s successful future.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
There are always important issues, but the one most challenging at the moment is the availability of project contractors and materials to start and finish key infrastructure projects. This is an issue being confronted by most communities, so Chagrin Falls is not alone in this situation.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Nothing relevant that I can think of at the moment.
Name: Don Gutierrez
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years? My goal for economic development is to balance the interests of the businesses with the interests of the community.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The Main Street Bridge reconstruction project needs to be implemented and pushed forward to completion.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I love horseback riding.
Name: Andrew Rockey
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Jon Benedict
Name: Janine R. Boyd
Name: Jeanne V. Gordon
Age: 50
Campaign Email: jeanne@ gordonforclehts.com
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Name: Nancy Rogoff
Age: 79
Campaign Email: nhrogoff@ gmail.com
Education: Juris Doctor
Current Occupation: Attorney at law
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My eight years of experience on village council together with my many years on the village planning and zoning commission give me the experience and long-term vision and understanding of the many challenges facing Village government.
Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration from University of Richmond in 1991; Juris Doctor from University of Toledo College of Law in 1995; Master of Laws in taxation from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1998
Current Occupation: Attorney, Principal at Jeanne V. Gordon, Inc. law firm
Website: gordonforclehts.net
Facebook: facebook.com/ jeannegordonclehtscouncil
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My professional background as a tax attorney informs my decision making which is data driven. I believe it is critical for good governance to ask questions to understand an initiative’s objectives and identify weaknesses and strengths of a position. As one of three primary attorney drafters of the amendment to the city’s charter changing the form of government, I bring a
unique viewpoint as the council will consider recommendations from the current charter review commission.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
The current Economic Development Strategic Outline (“EDSO”) was developed and presented in 2016, seven years ago. I believe that an updated EDSO is necessary with a focus on a strategy for Cleveland Heights’ commercial districts which are lagging (including Coventry Village, Noble Nela, Noble Monticello and Severance Town Center). In five years, I would anticipate seeing an increase in amenities in all 11 districts and action to divest Severance Town Center from Namdar Realty Group.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Currently, the most important issue facing Cleveland Heights is trust in local government, both city council and city hall, to function proactively in the delivery of city services in an efficient, effective and equitable manner. I will address this by building relationships, using data and objective criteria to work towards informing and discussing decisions and votes on legislation, and reviewing charter changes that will provide for a more collaborative government.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have lived in Cleveland Heights longer than anywhere else. I lived in many places including Columbus, Ohio, Newtown, Conn., Baton Rouge, Columbia, Mo., Richmond, Va., and Toledo. I moved to Cleveland Heights in 1999, and of all the places I have lived, it is the place that comes closest to what I wanted for a community in which to live and raise my children. Also, I am a lover of cheesy sports movies.
Name: Melody Joy Hart
Age: 70
Campaign Email: melodyjoyhart@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science from Bradley University; Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School; Certified Public Accountant; Certified Treasury Professional; Certified Financial Planning and Analysis
Current Occupation: Semi-retired finance executive
Website: melodyjoyhart.com
Facebook: Melody Joy Hart
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am the only certified public accountant running. I am one of the most experienced candidates. I attended council 4½ years before running and since being elected, I have a track record of accomplishments. I instituted a robust council budget process for the city. I put in place a diversion program for housing violations for homeowners, sponsored legislation to hold
foreclosing banks and bad landlords accountable, and sponsored legislation to form the racial justice task force.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Both business and residential districts need development. This is critical for a safe vibrant city and reducing tax burden on residents. Coventry needs vacancies filled. Taylor Tudor has a developer, but Noble and Severance still need transformative developments. We need to focus on finding developers for those areas. Many areas of the city have vacant lots and we need to actively engage with developing infill housing that fits modern needs as well as larger families.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Housing and safety are the most important. Safe neighborhoods are necessary for vibrant cities. I would like to have more patrols of neighborhoods and beat cops in business districts. I will legislate to ensure we have adequate staff and funding for this. On housing, out of state investors have created blight by not maintaining properties. I will legislate for increased staff for inspections and tougher enforcement.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a proud mom and grandma. I love spending time with family. I am the salsa queen of the Canterbury Community Garden, and I can about 51 pints of salsa each year. I love biking downtown and over to Edgewater Park and back on weekends. One year on vacation, we biked from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. Another year, we spent a week biking the trails in the southern part of Ohio.
Name: Gail Larson
Age: 74
Campaign email: gaillarsonforcitycouncil@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in speech pathology and audiology from Moorhead State College in 1971; Accounting certificate from Pacific Lutheran University in 1994
Current Occupation: Part-time Cleveland Heights City Council
Website: gaillarsonforclevelandheights.com
Facebook: @gaillarsonforcitycouncil
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I advocate for the citizens of our city. I am striving to work collaboratively with my council colleagues and the mayor so we can find solutions to the challenges we face. I come prepared to every meeting so I can ask substantive questions. The research I do helps me make decisions that I arrive at independently. I want to continue working on council to serve our citizens well.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
To work with council and the administration to redevelop the Noble, Taylor and Coventry business districts to provide walkable services that provide the surrounding neighborhoods with the amenities they deserve.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Investors are purchasing our existing residential properties to buy cheaply, and remodel cheaply, often without permits. The housing and building department must be fully staffed so it can efficiently and effectively apply the codified ordinances so these properties no longer detract from a neighborhood’s attractiveness to buyers. I will keep asking that this department be funded for full staffing.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
When I moved into my home in 2014, the property behind me had been vacant and abandoned for years. I complained often to the housing department asking for help. Ultimately, the damage was too great and the building had to be demolished. That is why I am fighting for enough inspectors to serve our city and make certain housing code is enforced to keep our neighborhoods attractive to all.
Name: Jim Petras
GATES MILLS COUNCIL
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Jay AuWerter
Name: J. Scott Broome
Name: Rita Petti
Name: Sandra Turner
Age: 75
Campaign Email: turner4gm@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in psychology and political science from Boston University in 1970; Master of Social Work in groups and community organizations from University of Minnesota in 1972; Doctor of Philosophy in social welfare policy and administration from Case Western Reserve University in 2004
Current Occupation: Retired, Director, EY
Assist, Americas Talent Team, Ernst & Young LLP
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My husband and I love living in the Village and feel a responsibility to give back. Over the years I have made significant contributions as a volunteer leader and have enthusiasm, energy and commitment for the future. The recently completed 10-year comprehensive plan that I co-managed is a notable accomplishment. It captures the insights of our residents. I want to make sure that this plan is used as a reference in future planning and budgeting.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Our village is sound financially with no debt, with varied streams of revenue … income tax, property tax, conservation levy, ARPA funds, grants, and state and federal partners on infrastructure projects. As a primarily residential community, we have limited professional services offices and retail in the Village.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The village’s rural character is of vital importance to our residents. The environmental viewscape is a treasure to be preserved. Threats to the environment include stormwater run off, loss of tree canopy, construction and the effects of climate change. To remedy this situation, the village must balance supporting our residents’ private property interests with enforcing ordinances that ensure good stewardship of the land. Examples include: tree cutting, home renovation and construction, and historic preservation.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Having lived in the village for 34 years and been active as a volunteer for the past 12 years, there is not much that people haven’t heard about me and my family!
“I humbly request your vote to transform Shaker Heights’ government, making it work better for all of us.” - Scott Shelfer
Scott’s candidacy for Mayor aims to:
• Foster community trust: Collaborate with all residents to maintain a safe and just community
• Listen and respond: Guarantee that our government hears citizens’ concerns and promptly addresses their challenges
• Promote government transparency: Initiating “White Board Wednesdays” to encourage direct citizen input
Name: Ed Welsh
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS COUNCIL WARD 2
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Frank DiLalla
Name: Shekhar Ganore
Age: 45
Campaign Email: csganore@ yahoo.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering; Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in industrial engineering
Current Occupation: Senior Executive in a Medical Device firm
Website: shekharganore.com
Facebook: Shekhar Ganore for City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I bring collaborative leadership with visionary and strategic thinking that will aid city council members in long-term planning and at the same time achieving short-term operational goals. I have the passion and drive to serve the community selflessly to uplift and improve our community for a better tomorrow.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Promote the development of small businesses and bring back businesses to regain lost tax revenue.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The biggest issue facing my ward is the development and maintenance of aging infrastructure and resident safety. I plan to improve the infrastructure to prevent accidents/ injuries, and improve vigilance and patrolling for increased safety of our neighborhood.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have served in various leadership roles in the last 10-plus years where I have been instrumental in bringing people together, establishing effective policies, and improving overall people engagement. I have been serving as a commissioner for the Mayfield Rec Soccer Club for the last three years.
HUNTING VALLEY COUNCIL
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Barbara Ann Burkhart
Name: Harry Hawkes Jr.
Name: Gerald Medinger
LYNDHURST COUNCIL AT LARGE
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Charles A. LoPresti
Name: Joseph A. Marko
Name: Jeff Price
MAYFIELD HEIGHTS COUNCIL AT LARGE
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Chad Lichtin
Age: 34
Campaign Email: friendstoelectchadlichtin@ gmail.com
Education: Mayfield High School; Los Angeles Film School; Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: Valet
Website: Under construction
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race? I am beholden to no one and have not
accepted contributions. I have boundless energy that I want to use to lift Mayfield Heights to greater heights. You cannot buy me off. I am an open book and have a huge heart. I care very deeply for human and animal rights. Mayfield has the potential to become a beacon of hope for the rest of the nation.
What is your goal for economic development?
You have to realize that one person cannot create much economic development without the cooperation of the other council members. However, one reason that I am running is that there is a lot of profligate spending, especially $35 million for an aquatic center. I would be a speed-bump to slow down the spending.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Bullying. There are multiple instances of cruel neighbors (some who reside elsewhere, but use their Mayfield house for work/storage) using powerful lighting technology intentionally to make their neighbors’ lives miserable. The city does nothing to help, thus they are accomplices to the bullies. My campaign motto is “No Outlet for Bullies” because no cruel-minded individuals should be granted any legal outlet for tormenting others.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a pretty gifted public speaker. I have a keen awareness of reality and understand the importance of quality leadership. When pushed into a corner, I rise to the occasion.
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Name: King Miner
Age: 38
Campaign Email: minercampaign@gmail.com
Education: Wheeling Jesuit University
Current Occupation: Controller
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
As a devoted husband, father and engaged community member, I am committed to leveraging my extensive professional and personal experiences for the betterment of our city. My background in asset management, financial strategy development, team building, process improvement, and stakeholder collaboration has equipped me with the skills necessary to serve as an effective council member. My motivation stems from a desire to assist our neighbors and ensure that our city remains a place where future generations can envision themselves living and raising families.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years? My primary objective is to maintain the vibrancy and prosperity of our city while
preparing it for the future. I plan to achieve this by harnessing the potential of Mayfield’s commercial real estate to attract communityfocused, revenue-generating businesses, all while exercising responsible stewardship of the city’s resources. My focus will be on fostering sustainable revenue streams, ensuring financial security, and fostering community development.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
While I don’t perceive any single major crisis in our community, like many others, we are navigating the lasting effects of the economic and social changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. To address these challenges, I firmly believe that fostering collaboration, embracing necessary changes, and practicing empathy are essential. By doing so, we can further strengthen the solid foundation our city has already established.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I understand that many people may not be familiar with me, and while being a committed husband and father is a part of who I am, I believe my authenticity is a quality that resonates with people the most. I openly express my thoughts and emotions, wearing my heart on my sleeve. My hope is to make every person I interact with feel valued, heard and understood.
Name: Diane Marzano Snider
Age: 58
Campaign Email: 6sniders@ ameritech.net
Education: Mayfield High Shcool; Lakeland Community College
Current Occupation: Ultrasonographer at Cleveland Clinic
Website: N/A
Facebook: Re-elect Diane Snider for Mayfield Height City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I’m passionate and dedicated to helping our residents, and my priority will be to continue to be a voice for them. During my tenure on the city council, I have gained a deep understanding of the needs of our residents and the business communities. My experience serving on various committees, commissions, and boards within the city and the school district has given me the knowledge and commitment to work hard to be an effective leader.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Currently, the city is looking for a new economic development director who will identify the opportunities and tackle the challenges facing our community. My goal is to help the economic development director build stronger relationships with the corporate park community
and our small businesses. Having our businesses be involved with the city is beneficial to them as well as to our residents.
What is the most important issue facing your community, and how will you address it?
One of the most significant issues we face is the sanitary and stormwater sewers. We are experiencing an increase in water in and around residents’ homes. The city is investigating the causes of these issues, and I plan to stay on top of this problem in hopes of finding a workable resolution.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a lifelong resident of Mayfield Heights. My husband, Van, and I have raised six wonderful children in this city, all graduates of Mayfield City Schools. I am proud to have served on the city council for 18 years and am passionate about Mayfield Heights and all it has to offer. I believe that with the right leadership and vision, we can continue to thrive and grow.
Name: Kathy Telban
Age: 68
Campaign Email: ElectKathyTelban@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University; Master’s in Adult Learning from Cleveland State University; certification as Senior Human Resource Professional and Certified Performance Technologist
Current Occupation: Outcome strategist
Website: ElectKathyTelban.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ ElectKathyTelban
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I have a passion to serve, I have the experience/skills to be effective, I plan to age in place. I have a vested interest in Mayfield Heights.
I’ve been legislatively active for over 30 years. I can write a resolution/ordinance and am proficient in using Roberts Rules of Order. I regularly attend city council meetings and know what decisions have been made and any future implications. I’ll be ready on day one.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
At the end of five years of focused economic development, the city would have: quality retailers and restaurants that position the city as a unique shopping and eating destination; leverage local, state and federal grants to support and expand the growth in the business park along with the businesses in the city; have a 95% business occupancy rate with a high retention rate of current businesses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The city’s financial stability will be critical. The city spent over $34M on a new Aquatic and Community Center that must be paid off in 20 years. With more employees working from home, payroll tax revenue may be adversely affected and may impact the budget and/or city services.
Constant revenue and expenditures monitoring will be required. I will require the anticipated maintenance costs for all new projects prior to my approval.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have a systems background that includes information technology, human resources, training and operations. These systems need to be aligned for performance and efficiency. My diverse systems background allows me to identify other related issues that may need to be addressed when making decisions about how best to provide support and resources for the city. I have worked with corporations and nonprofits for over 40 years with 20 years as a small business owner.
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Brenda Tedeschi Bodnar
Age: 64
Campaign Email: brendab99@ roadrunner.com
Education: Bachelor of Science from Cleveland State University in 1981; Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law in 1984
Current Occupation: Mayor of Mayfield Village; Attorney in private practice at Sirvaitis Law, LLC
Website: N/A
Facebook: Bodnar for Mayor of Mayfield Village
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I have the experience, vision and commitment to lead Mayfield Village into a successful future. Since moving here 23 years ago, I have enjoyed and valued this quietly confident community of friends and neighbors. As the mayor over the last eight years, and as a practicing attorney for 39 years, I have gained the knowledge, skill and experience to lead Mayfield Village into a promising future, build economic growth and honor our cherished traditions.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Economic development is an important key to success. My goal is to continue to create strategic opportunities for economic development; collaborate with businesses to build strong public-private partnerships; and grow a diverse businesses base to increase jobs and replenish the economy. Our fair incentive
packages, with incentives tied to performance goals, result in positive outcomes for both our businesses and residents.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Our focus is on growing our economy while honoring community values – to think big and stay small. We are developing opportunities to work with businesses, and provide world-class services to residents and businesses alike. Our assets – including our business-friendly philosophy, professionalism, trails, parks, services and amenities, as well as proximity to I-271, make Mayfield Village an attractive place to live and work. Creative solution-finding helps us pave the way into a successful future.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
My approach to the future of Mayfield Village is to follow the ABCs of good leadership: Accept post-pandemic challenges as a catalyst for positive change; plan proactively and keep Village traditions strong. Budget wisely and spend cautiously to maintain economic stability, prioritizing the services and amenities our community values. Create strategic opportunities for economic development; collaborate to build strong public-private partnerships; and grow diverse businesses to increase jobs and replenish the economy.
Name: Denise D. Calabrese
Website: denisecalabrese.com
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Jennette Irish-Glass
Age: 55
Campaign Email: N/A
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from Ohio University and Master of Education from Kent State University
Current Occupation: Director of Technology at the Orange City Schools
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I’m a candidate that cares a great deal about our community and will work my hardest to support the needs of the community and answer and address the questions of our constituents.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years? My goal within my position is to support
initiatives that enhance the quality of life within Moreland Hills.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
I think one of the most important issues facing many communities is our aging infrastructure. My plan is to work in tandem with village council, the mayor, the service department, and treasurer to review our infrastructure and support a plan to prioritize and address our needs.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I’m a 20-year resident of Moreland Hills. I’m married and have two daughters and two stepdaughters, all of whom are Orange graduates. I’m really excited for the opportunity to further support our community as a future council member of Moreland Hills Village.
NAME: Stephen Richman
Age: 66
Campaign Email: sdresq@ sbcglobal.net
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business
Administration from University of Miami; Juris Doctor from CSU College of Law
Current Occupation: Attorney, senior counsel at Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Because of the length and multidimensional nature of my education and experience. I am honored to have been on Council for five fouryear terms. In that time, I have learned how to do this job, and do it well; always looking out for the best interests of Moreland Hills residents. I am also fortunate to have varied skills, education and experience in law, business and community service; important tools for a councilperson.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Continuity. In other words, how to continue to ensure fiscal responsibility, public safety, excellent services, environmental protection, regional cooperation and prudent land management. I will address this overall issue by researching pertinent information, reaching out to residents for their input and working with the mayor and Council to “change with the times,” as necessary, while still continuing to keep Moreland Hills the suburban gem all who live/ work and play here expect.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Preservation and protection, without expansion. Countless surveys and community over community outreach has shown that our
residents do not favor any further commercial expansion and want to maintain the semi-rural character of the village. I feel the same way. However, we should maintain good relationships with all residents – commercial, institutional and residential and do what we can to preserve and protect the value of our existing property stock, and help revitalize any vacant properties.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am also a volunteer juvenile magistrate for Moreland Hills, on our Green Commission, CERT Team and planning commission (chair, 2023). Outside of Moreland Hills, I am back as senior counsel at Kohrman, Jackson & Krantz. While there, I have written 10 years worth of articles on the Ohio Real Estate Law Blog that I co-founded: ohiorelaw.com. When not working, I enjoy family time, traveling, charitable work, collecting vinyl and cruising in my ’66 Mustang.
Name: Rick Vincent
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Judson A. Kline
Age: 73
Campaign Email: klineformayor@hotmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Architecture from Miami University; Architecture Association in London, Great Britain; Master of Engineering Program at Case Western Reserve University
Current Occupation: Architect, President of CIVITAD Services, LLC for 10 years; Principle/ partner of Herschman Architects, Inc., now Onyx Creative, for 37 years; Educator, adjunct professor of architecture at Kent State University over 10 years
Website: N/A
Facebook : Judson Kline for Orange Village Mayor
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My architectural background, professional education, imagination, problem solving, organizational skills and experience provide an invaluable resource for major development projects in process and will serve to envision aspirations and develop plans to achieve them. My 12-year architectural review board and 10-year council service where I have played an integral role advancing projects, maintaining well-run departments and cultivating institutional knowledge benefiting the Village. My cultivating extensive relationships with regional leaders is valuable to Orange Village.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Orange, like other communities, needs to be a proactive partner in supporting and maintaining the quality businesses already here and identify those we would like to see come to the Village. To accomplish this objective, we need an economic development strategy for our future. I have crafted such a plan and have suggested its implementation to the mayor and Council.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Identifying the values, services and facilities residents want, updating our community survey to identify priorities. Safety and security, keeping our safety forces updated and current with technology and skills. Significant development projects, utilizing my architectural knowledge and skill to lead these projects. This is my strength. Local role in sustainability, resilience and climate change, introduce strategies and policies through a sustainability and resiliency plan.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Past president: Rotary Club of Shaker Heights, American Institute of Architects Cleveland and Ohio components; Greater Cleveland Real Estate Organization; John Hay High School of Architecture and Design Advisory Board; Cuyahoga Arts and Culture Public Policy Committee. Volunteer architect for Purple Heart Homes Organization. Volunteer Educator in CMSD schools, ACE Mentors and College Now programs. Contributing author and editor for American Institute of Architects book, “Living Your Life As a Leader.”
Name: Amanda Kurland
Age: 53
Campaign Email: KurlandForMayor@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in English communications with a minor in political science from Stern College of Yeshiva University
Current Occupation: President of Orange Village Council; Owner/office manager Corky & Lenny’s Restaurant
Website: KurlandForMayor.com
Facebook: Kurland for Mayor
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I love Orange Village and have both the energy and commitment to ensure a bright future. I’ve been involved long enough to show my leadership and to know the lay of the land, but I’m still fresh enough to bring a new perspective. I have walked the entire village and have been listening to the residents to better work in partnership with them to help Orange Village thrive.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
We have some exciting developments in the works for the few bits of developable land left in the village. I will continue to help shape those projects to keep them in line with my vision of the village: a warm residential community, with high-end retail and significant natural space. The next five years will likely see the completion of development in Orange and shape the way the community will look for the foreseeable future.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
We need to keep an eye on our natural spaces, for the sake of our wildlife, our natural canopy and to mitigate rainfall. I will manage development to ensure retaining significant green space that is important for the ecology of the village and work with Chagrin River Watershed Partners to help mitigate flooding concerns.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I’ve taken on leadership roles since I was a shift manager at Little Caesar’s Pizza at 16 years old. More recently, I arranged for the contract, build out and complete staffing of the Corky & Lenny’s casino locations. Where there is a need, I am the one willing to step up and make things happen.
ORANGE COUNCIL
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Ryan A. Bilsky
Age: 38
Campaign Email: ryanbilsky@ gmail.com
Education: Solon High School class of 2003; Bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2007, Master of Business Administration from Cleveland State University in 2009
Current Occupation: Relationship Manager at Key Private Bank
Website: linkedin.com/in/ryanbilsky
Facebook: Retain Ryan Bilsky for Orange Village Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My professional background in banking and public sector allow me to bring years of treasury and investment expertise to Orange Village Council. I am also the father of three young children that we plan to raise here for years to come. Whether issues brought to council are economic, development or safety related, my background and immersion in the community keeps me prepared and invested to act as an informed fiduciary on behalf of all residents.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
While we have seen a great deal of residential and commercial development over the past few years, but there is still more to be done. I look forward to working with the new mayor and council to ensure that development continues in a way that maintains the historic integrity and quaintness of Orange Village while maintaining a safe and peaceful community.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
What I remain most concerned about as a parent and resident of the community is safety, whether it is in the school or the community at large. We need to be vigilant as leaders to work together with neighboring communities and safety forces to ensure that we are doing all we can to keep our children and our residents safe. We have taken great measures in the past year, but the work doesn’t stop there.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am believer in “Wellness.” Whether emotional, physical or financial in nature, these are pillars that need to be well intact for people to live a good life. It is not an easy task to do this well all day and every day, but by helping to raise awareness and provide resources for people to start or manage their journey would be something intangibly meaningful to provide the residents of Orange Village.
Name: Jeff Gerckens
Age: 61
Campaign Email: jeppy2g@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in computer and information science from The Ohio State University; Graduate study at Ohio State Current Occupation: I am currently trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up this time. I was most recently a lead engineer/ liaison/technical program manager for a Fortune 50 company.
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I bring an engineer’s approach to problem solving on behalf of customers, not myself. I also have many years of experience communicating and negotiating with large (Fortune 50) organizations. Growing up I learned a lot about how cities need to function, and how they often fail, from my father who was a city planning professor.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I have a strong interest in controlled growth with a goal of seeing Orange Village maintain its character as the city grows sufficiently to
remain successful. Stagnation generally leads to decay, but uncontrolled growth generally leads to radical change in character. I am a strong believer in comprehensive city plans.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
I don’t really know, nor is my current opinion particularly crucial. I am interested in what the people of the village consider to be the most important issue. That will lead to analysis of options and plans for implementation. That said, I do feel it is very important for Orange to continue be a welcoming community to everyone.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have lived in Orange for six years and have a wife, child, dog and a cat. My wife is doctor for UH, and my son is a senior at Orange High School. I am very much a people person, which has largely led to my success as an engineering liaison. As hobbies I fish, garden, make costumes and practice a variety of martial arts.
Name: Marc N. Silberman
Name: Kim Ullner
Age: 54
Campaign Email: KimForOrange@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College in 1991; Master of Arts in history and Juris Doctor from Duke University in 1995
Current Occupation: Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator
Website: N/A
Facebook: Kim Ullner for Orange Village Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I bring unique skill sets and a different point of view. It’s a good thing for a village council to represent the different people in our village and to bring new viewpoints to the discussions. As a single mother with teenagers, I may see things others wouldn’t. My experience as an attorney negotiating contracts and resolving disputes and as a mediator, building consensus and finding common ground, will benefit the citizens of Orange.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I want to partner with community businesses to keep both our money and our children in Orange. Currently, teenagers under 18 cannot shop in Pinecrest past 4 p.m., unless accompanied by an adult. I’d like to have discussions with Pinecrest to change that –
meeting a common goal of maintaining a safe environment while also helping our young people stay close. I also want to open discussions with our neighboring communities about establishing a community center.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
One important issue facing Orange is increased crime, particularly car break-ins and theft which have risen sharply over the past year. As a council person, I would continue to support our hard working police force to see what additional steps we can all take and how we can partner with our police to reduce crime. Our police officers do a fabulous job of patrolling our neighborhoods but, clearly, as a community, we need to do more.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I’m a can-do person – noticing what needs to be done and then doing it. For example, when my children were at the middle school, I learned the girls’ restrooms didn’t have feminine hygiene products available, so I lobbied to make them available at the school. Many in our community already know me for my extensive volunteer work with Girl Scouts; however, I’ve been an active participant, often behind the scenes, in other ways.
Name: Staci Adelman Vincent
Age: 57
Campaign Email: svorangevillage23@gmail.com
Education: Orange High School class of 1983; Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern University Accelerated Joint Master’s Program in journalism, with an education/law/political science focus in 1987
Current Occupation: Communications/ marketing/ public relations for Orange City Schools for 14 years; Orange Village Council Member for 4 years
Website: bit.ly/Vincent4orangevillage
Facebook: Vincent 4 Orange Village
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am Orange. I have been an Orange Village resident for 23 years, Orange Village councilperson for four years, and Orange schools’ communications department employee for 14 years. As consultant/past president of the Orange Alumni Association (OHS ‘83), a local Kiwanis Club board member, Senior center advisory board representative, and Orange Cares volunteer, I embrace community connections and believe I am best equipped to continue to represent the voice of all generations of the Village.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
While I am happy with the urbanization we have seen to date with the advent of Pinecrest and procurement of RH showroom, I will work to maintain our Village appellation and feel. Strengthening the business ties to the community is crucial as evidenced by our Orange for the Holidays incentive program. At the same time, I support preservation of remaining green space to safeguard the ability of our residents to savor a healthy living environment.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Safety. Our residents need to not only feel safe but be safe. With the increase in NE Ohio crime, we must consider all means available to protect our residents and extraordinary first responders. During my tenure we have added to our safety forces, placed Flock cameras throughout the village, and approved police body cams to ensure our officers’ safety. I will continue to advocate for the resources needed so all residents are safe, connected and protected.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am the same person students at Orange schools refer to as “the Picture Lady.” I love that moniker because they see me as their photographer and storyteller. My own communications story began in television news where I spearheaded the crisis teams that were deployed around the world to cover major stories later led to my becoming an Emmy-Award winning investigative journalist who fought for the community at large. I’m endorsed by Mayor Kathy Mulcahy.
PEPPER PIKE COUNCIL
Four-year term - vote for no more than three
Name: Anthony M. Gentile Jr.
Age: 76
Campaign Email: amgentilejr@ usa.net
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Denison University; Master of Arts in economic from Duke University; Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University; Juris Doctor from CSU College of Law
Occupation: Member of City Council; Retired deputy finance director, Hunting Valley. Previously was director of finance for Cleveland Museum of Art; executive director of Regional Income Tax Agency and chief financial officer of APCOA, Inc.
Website: Information available on PepperPike. org
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am the best candidate because of my range of experience. I have been a successful executive in the for-profit, nonprofit and the governmental sector. Serving on council for the past 11-plus years, I have served as the city’s financial conscience. The solid financial position the city enjoys is due to this role. Of course, I have not done this alone, but I have consistently kept in mind that the city spends the resident’s money.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Pepper Pike, as an overwhelmingly residential city, is not the type of community where economic development is an issue of high importance. Nearly all the land that is zoned (U-3 and U-4) for commercial activities is occupied. My goal is to maintain this base and improve it when opportunities are presented.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Two important issues face Pepper Pike, walkability and communication. Walkability has created a divide in the city between proponents and opponents. Pepper Pike council has wisely decided to put this issue on the ballot in November so that all residents can be heard through the ballot box. Communication may even be the more important issue. Improving communication with our residents will be a priority for me and I will propose a committee to address it.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
While on council, I have worked quietly addressing issues facing the community. Many may not know that I pressed the administration to engage professional investment management. With funds rising from $3 million in 2010 to $26 million in 2023, this program generates significant revenue, allowing us to maintain one of the lowest income tax rates around and will generate nearly $1 million in 2023. This is just one example of the impact I have had on Pepper Pike.
Name: Jackie Godic
Age: 45
Campaign Email: godicforpepperpike@gmail.com
Education: Undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University, current law student at Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: student at CSU College of Law
Website: godicforpepperpike.com
Facebook: Jackie Godic for Pepper Pike
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Council should be more representative of the young families in Pepper Pike. I’ve lived here for six years, and in that time, I’ve become engaged
in the community as chair of the Orange Area Service Committee and by being active in my kids’ school. Both of these activities have allowed me to form a wonderful network within Pepper Pike and given me insight into why people live here and what is important to them.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
We are lucky to live in a community with a very strong financial picture, which is only expected to improve in coming years. My goal would be to use the resources we have to make improvements in our city, including walkways on main roads, while maintaining a comfortably secure position for unexpected future expenses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The headline issue has of course been sidewalks. However, I think the most important issue is how we will address increasing challenges to our infrastructure. With recent storms causing extended power outages and flooding, this issue is top of mind for many people. I would like to explore potential solutions we can implement at either a city level or on a house-by-house basis.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a person who gets things done. I am not content to sit and let things take their course. Part of why I am running stems from frustration with the lengthy process to build walkways. There is certainly a time for debate and research, but there is also a time when a decision and action become necessary. I am the person to move through that process to get to a point of action.
Name: Jim LeMay
Age: 66
Campaign Email: jimlemay6@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration from Bowling Green State University in 1979; The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Corporate Strategy; Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management Executive Programs; Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University in 1982 Current Occupation: Prior to my retirement, I was, for over 20 years, senior vice president, corporate development and general counsel of Omnova Solutions, a Beachwood-based global manufacturer of specialty materials. Prior to that I was assistant general Counsel for GenCorp, a Fairlawn, Ohio-based manufacturer. I began my career as an associate at Baker Hostetler, a Cleveland-based law firm. Website: N/A Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I bring to Pepper Pike City Council 12 years of experience on Council and as chair of the Finance Committee as well as over 35 years of experience in business management, finance, strategic planning and law. My experience has provided me with the seasoned judgment necessary to understand issues and solve problems. I will continue to focus on preserving and improving our quality of life and bringing transparency and civility to city government.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My primary focus will be to maintain Pepper Pike’s residential character and quality of life. At the same time, I will work to foster a positive environment to retain and attract those businesses that fit within our existing commercial footprint. These businesses support our community with jobs, products and services important to many residents and a tax base that is critical to maintaining city services and infrastructure.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The city is currently engaged in a discussion about improving walkability in the city by adding sidewalks on one side of certain major streets. To further this discussion and make sure all voices will be heard, I designed a citizen engagement and communication process that resulted in numerous well-attended council meetings, an informational mailing to residents, three town hall meetings and placing the issue on the November ballot.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have lived in Pepper Pike for 30 years, married to Abby for 33 years and raised four children in the city, all of whom attended Orange schools. In addition to Pepper Pike City Council, I currently serve as a volunteer entrepreneurship mentor for Jumpstart Inc. and Business Advisers of Cleveland and on the investment committees of Breakthrough and Hawken schools.
Name: Sandip Dev Mody
Age: 43
Campaign Email: sdmody@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Wisconsin and Master of Business Administration from University of Michigan
Current Occupation: Senior sales leader for artificial intelligence consulting firm, KungFu.AI Website: modyforpepperpike.com
Facebook: Sandip Mody for Pepper Pike City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
The primary job of city council is to represent its residents and work with the mayor so their needs are on the agenda. I am running because I feel many of our residents (newcomers with families and long-standing residents alike) do not feel included today. To that end, I would like to improve the city’s website and leverage social media to capture and prioritize feedback; then work with the mayor to prioritize our top interests.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Pepper Pike is fortunate to have a $13 million budget surplus thanks to the mayor and city finance committee. It is important we save a portion in case there is a change to our revenue stream. The rest should be spent on a set of initiatives as prioritized by what residents want. I believe determining these priorities should be done with a broad outreach campaign and using previous survey feedback.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The sidewalk issue represents a microcosm of what our city faces – diverging attitudes about what the city should be. I will address this by providing additional venues to engage all our residents (not just the ones who show up to council meetings). We need social media, online and physical suggestion boxes, increased mailings, and more thorough surveys. Prioritizing and publishing priorities based on this holistic feedback should shape the forward direction of Pepper Pike.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Four years ago, my wife and I chose Pepper Pike to raise our family (we have two young daughters). My initial interest in council began earlier this year when I learned that the existing council unanimously down voted installation of a kids splash pad at Pepper Pike Park. This created an inner urge to run for council myself and provide more inclusivity for residents who do not feel represented today.
Name: Brittany Shatteen
Age: 43
Email: BrittanyForCouncil@ gmail.com
Education: Notre Dame College
Current Occupation: Program coordinator at The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Website: N/A
Facebook: Brittany Shatteen for City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am the best candidate for this race because I have been a resident of the Pepper Pike community for 25 years. I have had the opportunity to watch the city continue to
flourish in a positive way. I am an excellent communicator, sound judgment and decisionmaking ability, and will serve with integrity.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My goal for economic development in the next five years is to encourage business to come into our community and retain the ones we have. Thoughtfully choose development projects that benefit our entire community.
What is the most important issues in your community and how will you address it?
Infrastructure is one of the important issues in my community. As Pepper Pike continues to grow, there is a need to upgrade, fix and maintain to keep up with the progression of the city. If elected, I would want to prioritize the infrastructure issues in our community and have a project pipeline to get these issues taken care of.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have a great network of individuals on the local and state level of government, I have been a field hockey coach at my alma mater, Laurel School, for 15 years. I volunteer for both the Orange School District and University School. I am passionate about my community, and I am eager to serve.
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Frank L. Lentine
Name: Asu Mook Robinson
Age: 52
Email: vote4AsuRobinson@ gmail.com
Education: Cleveland Metropolitan School District East High School; The Ohio State University ATI Wooster Campus
Current Occupation: Owner/barber of Diamond Cut Barbershop
Website: N/A
Facebook: Mookie Robinson
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I’ve lived here for more than 18 years, during those times the community and myself have witnessed the breakdown, disconnect and lack of transparency between the current representation. As a shop owner and barber, I speak with various people and developed the skill of understanding and communication. I will take those skills, and bridge back a line of communication. I will bring back the trust and transparency of government with frequent bulletins and community gatherings.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My first goal is to continue to live and raise my family in Richmond Heights and to work with the current administration and continue to push forward the development of the Belle Oaks Apartment and shopping complex. Stand behind our school board administration to push for a possible future improvement levy. To strengthen current and add new programs to our school system. This will help make our city more attractive to future residents and businesses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
It is important to focus on infrastructure and safety. Maintaining roads, signs, city operating equipment and the hiring of more police and first responders. We must have the residents of Richmond Heights understand the importance of a thriving school system. It may take the passage of a possible future tax levy to maintain and improve an already good system. I believe any city or town is as good as its school system.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a family man first: a husband, father, a very concerned grandparent and guardian. A very hard-working person who started a successful business of more than 25 years from the ground up, with determination, and the will not to fail. I have invested my life in the community as an activist and community leader. I want to continue that role of leadership, by being that voice, and to fight for the community.
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Cassandra A. Nelson
Age: 72
Campaign Email: cassandran117@gmail.com
Education: Cuyahoga Community College
Current Occupation: Council Member, Richmond Heights
Website: cassandraanelson.com
Facebook: Councilwoman Nelson RH Ward 3
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Not only am I a fierce advocate for Ward 3 residents, as a 22-year resident and current councilwoman, I have institutional knowledge about the city’s condition and governance. Since being elected, I’ve engaged the community more than any councilperson by hosting consistent meetings to make sure council decisions are transparent and known. I have experience reading and enacting legislation, and the proven professional and leadership skills to collaborate across racial, educational, political and socioeconomic lines.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I will work closely with the Belle Oaks developer to make sure the city’s $280-million project comes to fruitions as such will generate revenue for the city. I will promote the city as a good place to live, work and play by seeking new small businesses for the ward, and finally encourage home seekers to consider Richmond Heights for their future home.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
A couple issues facing Richmond Heights are infrastructure and safety as both impact our residents’ quality of life. I will continue to advocate for more streetlights as I believe welllit areas help deter crime, making residents feel safer approaching their homes and businesses in the city; and I will collaborate with administration by keeping a watchful eye over public works projects to make sure our sewers and water pipes function optimally.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I believe in the concept of servant leadership. I am not seeking reelection for notoriety or personal gain. I genuinely enjoy serving my residents, solving problems and obtaining positive results for people who otherwise may not be able to do so on their own.
Name: Cherita Shaw
Age: 48
Campaign Email: cdlakesshaw@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in business management
Current Occupation: Client finance manager
Website: @shawforward3
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am the best candidate for this race because I am equipped and qualified for the role. My leadership and finance background aids in the knowledge I posses to contribute to what is needed to successfully make decisions for the continued growth.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My goal for the next five years is to continue the support of existing businesses and welcome new businesses to the community which will increase the economic development of the city of Richmond Heights. Developing new and innovative ideas that will increase patronage to our local small businesses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
One of the most important issues in my community for young families, besides safety are
the schools. There is not much a council member can do to change that, however I intend to work with the school board to find ways that the city council can be of support. With back-to-back state championships that the Richmond Heights High School managed to snag, I see great things in the future of the schools.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Most people don’t know that I have always had a desire to serve. However, for the past 30 years, my children and family have been my main priority of service. Now that my children are older, I now have the time to devote myself to contributing to the community. I have a genuine nurturing spirit and I want to nurture the constituents in my ward and bridge the gap across generations.
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Shirley McMillan
Website: N/A
Name: Brian Silver
Age: 44
Campaign Email: electbriansilver@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Current Occupation: Cyber Security
Facebook: electbriansilver
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I’m more in-tune with the community’s needs and wants, due to the fact that I have been showing up to council meetings for years and listening and following what the council has been doing.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
To closely work with the administration and colleges on council to attract and support small and local businesses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Infrastructure; lighting, water main breaks. Work with the current administration on plans to upgrade our infrastructure throughout the city.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am currently an assistant track coach with Cleveland Heights AAU youth track and field team. I hope to bring a similar program to the residents of Richmond Heights
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Scott Shelfer
Age: 52
Campaign Email: scott@ shelferfamily.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in finance from Florida State University in 1995; Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Business in 2022
Current Occupation: Chairman, Generational Fittings LLC & Chairman, Mika Metal Fabricating
Website: shelferforshaker.com
Facebook: Scott Shelfer
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
While I am a fan of Mayor Weiss and our city leaders, I find myself frustrated with the pace of progress in Shaker Heights. In my business life, I’ve been a driver of organizational change and able to find success through creativity, innovation, engagement, energy, inclusion, enthusiasm and transparency. I would love the opportunity to reinvent our government processes, instill a more streamlined decisionmaking process, and build a culture of continuous improvement into every department.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Let’s make it a top priority for Shaker Heights to lower our tax rates over time (both our property taxes and our income taxes). We cannot continue to attract, engage and retain the best citizens if we are always the highest taxed citizens in Ohio. We need to use creativity, innovation, technology, business metrics and operations to deliver better services for less cost over the long run.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Trust, well the erosion of trust. Sadly, I think a lot of folks in our community have just started shrugging shoulders and saying things like, “that’s just Shaker being Shaker.” We advertise all the great things we are doing, but the average citizen doesn’t see or feel improvement. I would be far more transparent and inclusive with our decision-making process. Trust is built in drops and lost in buckets. Let’s build trust drop by drop.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
So much. It’s a wonderful life, and I pray that my candidacy helps make our little world a better place.
Name: David E. Weiss
Age: 62
Campaign Email:
davidweiss4shaker@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science from University of Michigan; Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law
Current Occupation: Mayor of the City of Shaker Heights
Website: davidweissforshaker.com
Facebook: David Weiss For Shaker
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I bring a depth of experience and demonstrated leadership to the office of mayor. In addition to serving as mayor, I have previously served the city in other capacities including as an elected city council member and an appointed member of the planning commission and board of zoning appeals. I have proven results in all five of my key priority areas: economic development, fiscal stewardship, diversity, equity and inclusion, attract and retain residents, and sustainability.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Diversifying the tax base through commercial and residential development is a primary goal that will reap benefits over the next five years. Building on the success of phase one of the mixed use Van Aken District, Phase II is underway which involves the development of additional commercial and residential projects generating more tax revenues. Additionally, redevelopment preparations along Lee Road are underway, with a regional effort strengthening this transformational, transit-oriented development in Shaker and Cleveland.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
We are always focused on ensuring Shaker Heights is positioned to thrive, innovate, evolve and lead so that our historic city will continue to be the community of choice for a diverse and engaged resident population well into the future. This means there isn’t a single important issue, but many including: maintaining responsible fiscal stewardship and strong finances, maximizing economic development opportunities, making sustainable decisions, and continuing to grow as a welcoming community for all.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
In my spare time, I like to raise funds for a wide range of local nonprofit organizations through my favorite activities. A few examples include attending concerts sponsored by the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society, fighting cancer by cycling in VeloSano at Cleveland Clinic, battling Parkinson’s disease by jogging in the Pals in Motion run
sponsored by InMotion, and regularly donating blood, totaling 79 times over more than 13 years.
Four-year term – vote for no more than four
Name: Jane Arnoff Logsdon
Age: 50
Campaign Email: jal4council@ gmail.com
Education: Bachleor of Arts from Beloit College; Master of Science in social administration from Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences
Current Occupation: Business owner, Substitute teacher
Website: jalforcouncil.com
Facebook: Jal 4 council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am deeply involved in the community as a business owner (Shaker Home Maintenance) and substitute teacher. I co-founded Shaker Heights Anti-Racism Group. I live in the Lomond neighborhood, one of the areas that lacks representation. Our city needs to better represent and include residents from all of Shaker – or at least make some more efforts toward that goal. I am someone who will work hard towards that goal.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I am excited about the Lee Road development and know that it will provide revenue for and traffic to our city similar to the Van Aken District. Focusing on Lee Road will open up great opportunities for the city. I’d love to be involved in the process of considering what entities can promote economic growth along with remaining affordable and attractive for all of our community.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
City entities need to work together in order to better support youth, seniors, and the community. For instance in 2022, $100,000 was spent on “youth programming” yet I can’t identify any youth programming that happened (aside from school based or paid recreation classes). Almost $800,000 was spent on ice rink expenses which seems exorbitant. I’d like to better understand how we can utilize resources to support our residents.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a strong proponent of animal welfare. I am also a passionate environmentalist. I am a Recycling Ambassador through the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District. I drive an electric car and will never go back to a gas one.
Name: Kim Bixenstine
Age: 65
Campaign Email: kbixenstine4shaker@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College; Juris Doctor from University of Chicago Law School
Current Occupation: Professional mediator and arbitrator with Bixenstine Resolutions, LLC Website: kbixenstine4shaker.com
Facebook: Kim Fenton Bixenstine
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I believe I have the unique combination of a successful career and executive leadership experience, along with an extensive record of community service. My proven ability to work collaboratively and build consensus, and my expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and risk/benefit analysis, will inform my work for the benefit of the entire community. My community service reflects my long-standing commitment to social issues and enhancing the quality of life for all.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My goal is equitable commercial development to diversify the tax base, ease residents’ tax burdens, and benefit the entire community, including less affluent areas. This will require thoughtful implementation of the Lee Road Action Plan and other projects. Based on my 11-year tenure on the Shaker Heights Development Corporation Board, I understand and support the city’s economic development plans and believe I can contribute meaningfully to their implementation.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The most immediate issue we face as a community is to strengthen our resolve in addressing racial equity and inclusion, as highlighted by the recent proposed charter amendment focusing on policing. By contributing to the successful implementation of the settlement between the city and the proponents of the charter amendment and collaborating on innovative strategies to foster broader community engagement, I hope to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and help unify our special community.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have always looked for innovative approaches to problem-solving. As chief compliance officer at University Hospitals, we created a music video, “Who Ya Gonna Call? –Compliance,” based on the Ghostbusters’ theme song. This creative video made complex ideas more relatable, memorable and less threatening, jump-starting our plan for a more proactive, approachable and effective compliance and ethics department.
Name: Geoffrey Lake
Name: Sean Malone
Age: 46
Campaign Email: seanpmalone@yahoo. com
Education: Shaker Schools class of 1995; Bachelor of Arts from College of Wooster in 1999; Juris Doctor from The Ohio State Moritz College of Law in 2003
Current Occupation: Attorney, mediator and member of Shaker Heights City Council
Website: seanmaloneforshakerheights.com
Facebook: Sean Malone for Shaker
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I know this community well. I have almost eight years of experience on council, have lived in Shaker for 30 years, attended the public schools K-12, and am now sending my children to the schools. I’m also skilled at building consensus and pushing for action on topics such as sustainability, recreation, and neighborhood engagement. I try to be responsive and accessible, to act with integrity, and not to personalize disagreements.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Implementing the Lee Road plan will transform a once-overlooked area into a new Shaker destination, with improved connections to Chelton Park and neighborhoods, modern office space, new housing, restaurants and retail. We also should support home businesses, create a city-wide bid, and encourage growth in our other districts and neighboring cities. Economic development doesn’t just alleviate tax burdens; it generates community benefits, improves quality of life, and facilitates investments in parks, infrastructure and recreational amenities.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Our biggest challenge is modernizing our historic city and making it more inclusive and accessible, despite high taxes, a declining regional population, and age-old disparities in housing and economic opportunities. To increase opportunities for all, we not only need to broaden our tax base with business development, keep delivering high quality services with greater efficiency, and re-invest in infrastructure (sewers, waterways, trees, parks, buildings), we need to strengthen partnerships, especially with the school district.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I enjoy poetry and music.
Name: Nancy R. Moore
Age: 74
Campaign Email: nrmoore1949@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and George Washington University; Master of Science from Georgetown University
Current Occupation: Member of Shaker Heights City Council
Website: mooreforcitycouncil.com
Facebook: Nancy Moore
Why are you the best candidate for Shaker Heights City Council?
I have deep elective office experience, having served for 20 years on Shaker Heights City Council. I have a broad skill set, having served as vice mayor and a member or chair of every city committee. I know our community, having lived here for the past 42 years. I also have experience with our public schools, having served eight years as member, vice president and president of the Shaker Heights Board of Education (1995 to 2003).
What is your goal for economic development for the next five years?
The city has a strategic plan for redeveloping the Lee Road Corridor and is amassing its funding. The next step will include a recreation and ED feasibility study. An RFP will be issued this fall. The public engagement process and cost analyses of options will yield both a fiveyear map for economic development in our SW quadrant and a plan for community recreation facilities. Close collaboration with the Shaker schools will be required.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Our challenge is to keep attracting and retaining the racially, ethnically and economically diverse population that makes our community so vital and viable. We will achieve this by 1) increasing our commercial/business tax base to decrease reliance on residential property taxes, 2) replacing basic infrastructure, 3) maintaining our housing stock while creating new products, 4) keeping our public schools excellent for all, and 5) working to promote communication on diversity issues throughout our community.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Shaker has been my home for four decades now. My husband and I raised four children here who all attended the Shaker Schools K-12 and are now married and living all over the world with our eight grandchildren. This community has given me more than I can ever repay. My continued public service is a commitment to give
back to others in some measure the gift that living in Shaker continues to be for me.
Name: Carmella Williams
Age: 50
Campaign Email:
carmellaforshaker@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in criminal justice
Current Occupation: Records management analyst
Website: N/A
Facebook: Friends For Carmella Williams
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I take off my hat to anyone willing to serve as an elected official, so kudos to all the candidates in this race. In my case, I understand that what makes Shaker special varies for my neighbors across our city. As a council member, I am mindful of that reality and make decisions supporting growth and a great quality of life for the whole community.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
We need to build on the progress we have made and ensure future development makes room for everyone. In my opinion, successful development should prioritize adapting to the future, preserving what makes Shaker special.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Adapt to the post-COVID-19 changes affecting our day-to-day lives and community. Shaker needs housing options that vary in price and style, more support for mental health, and policies that support work-life balance, our public schools and new ways of work.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
How strongly I believe in the community that Shaker aspires to be. I make decisions based on how they help fulfill our aspirations for our entire community, and the short- and long-term benefits in creating a more open, responsive, resilient and sustainable Shaker Heights.
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: Steven Horn
Age: 58
Campaign Email: 6565sah@ gmail.com
Education: Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Case Western Reserve School of Dentistry
Current Occupation: Dentist
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I believe that as a 22-year resident of Solon, and father of seven Solon High School graduates, I have had many unique opportunities to experience this community. My family and I love Solon, and want to see it grow and thrive. I am a supporter of term limits, and I believe it affords new perspectives and thought on how to serve our community, in ways to benefit everyone.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I am concerned by the numerous empty businesses and business closings that have taken place in Solon in recent years. I realize the damaging effects of the pandemic, but we need to look for ways to encourage new businesses and entrepreneurs to choose Solon as their place of business. Healthy businesses create a healthy tax base.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Safety for Solon residents is a top priority. This includes increased emergency medical equipment and personnel, as our community base is aging. I am also an advocate for increased safety in our schools to protect our students from potential harm. I think we would all agree that the armed car thief got much too close to Roxbury Elementary last April 6.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I don’t support wasteful spending of taxpayers’ money. I support well-maintained streets and sidewalks over a proposed $32plus million park renovation. I want our first responders to have the finest equipment and not to feel understaffed or under-appreciated. As a native of Southern California, I realize and appreciate that the city of Solon is a hidden gem.
Name: Jeremy Zelwin
Age: 41
Campaign Email: jeremyzelwin@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Miami University and MBA from Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: Director of Internal Audit at JOANN Inc.
Website: N/A
Facebook: Zelwin Ward 3
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I have represented Ward 3 for the past six years and have increased communication to Ward 3 and Solon residents. I have been the chair of the finance committee and help bring my financial acumen to ensure the city continues to be fiscally responsible. I also have kids that are in the school district and can bring a different perspective than others on council due to my interactions with family in the community.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Over the next five years my goal is to continue to build strong relationships with existing businesses in Solon, while continuing to showcase our amenities as we recruited new companies. Furthermore, we need to continue to support our small businesses and provide them the necessary resources. We need to continue to build out our mobility plan for public transportation as well as continue to make the city more accessible for bikers and walkers.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
One of the most important issues facing Solon is maintaining our fiscal responsibility. The state legislature continues to make changes to how local municipalities get funding from the state. The city has lost millions of dollars in state funding over the past five to seven years and it is imperative that I continue to advocate for Solon with not only our state representatives, but to engage with others around the state that can help make a difference.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
People should know that I am very passionate about giving back to the community, not only in my capacity as a city council representative, but through engagement with the school, local sports programs and other civic engagement opportunities. I have the desire to always be active, continuing to learn and helping others. I also feel that I have the ability to get along with all different types of people and be a good advocate.
SOLON COUNCIL WARD 7
Four-year term – vote for no more than one
Name: George Eging
Name: Brian Laubscher
Age: 57
Campaign Email: xjs1976@ hotmail.com
Education: Shaker Heights High School; Bachelor of Arts from Miami University
Current Occupation: Director of preconstruction at Shook Construction
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My professional background has allowed me to work with various municipalities and departments on projects from residential developments, hospital systems municipal
buildings, elementary secondary and higher education buildings, retail, recreation centers, libraries to NFL and collegians stadiums and infrastructure projects such as wastewater treatment plants and Cleveland’s Public Square. I have supported and been involved with the Solon school system, Solon Public Schools and my wife and I were members of the Solon Athletic Boosters.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Solon continues to grow and attract companies and businesses. It’s important that we look at the big picture and how it relates to a master plan. A thought-out master plan will project the right identity that makes it attractive to people and businesses. There are a few local communities with lifestyle centers. We have Swagelok and Nestle employees that would love to have this type of lifestyle and amenities where they work.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Most important issues are the overall development of the business district, in particular the Liberty Ford site. It is critical that the master plan be thought out and how these projects contribute to the overall identity and success of the city. Continued capital improvements and service to aging infrastructure from sewers, roadways and power. Making sure our city services and facilities remain best in class from police, fire, safety, snow and rubbish removal to recreation.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
My experience with public office has been serving on the Solon charter review commission for two terms and being nominated by current Ward 7 Councilman Bill Russo for the Solon master planning committee. All other experience has been presenting to planning commission for projects I’ve been a part of. I’ve lived in Solon for 21 years. I’m married to my wife, Anna, a recently retired schoolteacher, and have two boys, Michael and Matthew.
SOUTH EUCLID
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Chanell Renee-Faye Elston
Age: 36
Campaign Email: Friendsofchanellelston@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminology from Cleveland State University and master’s degree in social work from Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: Social worker at Veteran Affairs medical center
Website: N/A
Facebook: Councilwoman Chanell Elston
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My life’s actions have been about listening to those affected by change and partnering with them to implement solutions. From organizing community events, advocating for older adults, renters and the most vulnerable. To providing voting education to high school seniors and increasing recreational opportunities. Why am I the best candidate? Because none of these tasks required me to be an elected official, as I believe you don’t have to have a title to lead.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Economic development can be achieved through many paths, of which home ownership being one. Over 25% of housing units within South Euclid are rented. Allowing long-term renters the opportunity to realize home ownership is my goal. Through the cities newly established housing commission we will work to develop resources to ease significant barriers to sustainable homeownership, with the goal of improving the economic well-being and quality of life for the community.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
As chair of the safety committee, we combined the city’s safety and road levy, changing the renewal time to every five years. This ensures we maintain our infrastructure and efficient safety forces while reducing the financial burden on residents. Like most cities addressing a major concern of residents surrounds the cost of taxes. I will work through the finance committee to develop plan to return a portion of the income tax credit to residents.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I love giving back to others, as a 16-year social worker for the VA my entire career has been focused on serving those who served. I am a mentor for the College Now program and a as first-generation college graduate, I enjoy working with those taking that next step into education. But most importantly, I love my children as they are the center of my world.
Name: Susan Hardy
Age: 38
Campaign Email: shardy@ seuclid.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in urban studies and master’s in Library and Information Science
Current Occupation: Substitute teacher
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Because of my bachelor’s degree in urban studies, I have a solid knowledge base of past and current problems facing cities in Northeast
Ohio. I use this knowledge to help me look toward the future and navigate the issues that are heading our way. I grew up in a culture that believes in loving thy neighbor, and I do my best to treat all residents with the respect and kindness they deserve.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
South Euclid is a first ring suburb with smaller commercial areas and a small industrial area. Housing is our bread and butter. Over the next five years, my goal is to continue to maintain safe and inviting neighborhoods and welcoming public spaces. Our housing stock is strong. Our community development corporation, One South Euclid, has been instrumental in keeping and building desirable housing. A strong partnership with OSE is vital toward this goal.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
I believe that climate change is one of the most important issues facing our community, but the most common complaint I hear from residents is the condition of our roads. This might come as a surprise to some, but planting trees is one of the best things we can do to maintain our roads and increase their lifespan. Planting trees also combats climate change. Increasing our tree canopy is a win-win for everyone.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
My husband and I have been married for 18 years and have lived in South Euclid for 17 years. We have four children who attend public school. I enjoy talking with people and being an active member of our community. Setting goals and working hard to achieve them is something I thrive at doing. I look forward to another four years of service using my time and talents to help our community thrive.
Name: Justin Tisdale
partner of Bartell, Georgalas & Juarez LPA Co.
Website: bartell4uh.com
Facebook: Bartell for University Heights
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
My deep roots and profound understanding of what makes University Heights exceptional stem from my family’s connection to this city since the 1940s. I permanently returned to UH 25 years ago. With University Heights in my DNA, if elected to council, I’ll prioritize residents’ interests. Also as an attorney, I work daily with diverse prospectives, consistently achieving results. I am to bring this even-tempered, open minded approach to advance city proposals for its benefit.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
The University Square redevelopment is a paramount project for immediate growth. Proposed mixed-use housing and commercial space will boost the tax base and city income. I’m committed to making our city an attractive long-term destination. Creating a modern, livable space at Warrensville and Cedar, with green areas is vital for drawing both residents and visitors from neighboring suburbs, ensuring the city’s continued appeal and prosperity.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Garbage remains the most pressing issue, requiring resolution and establishment of efficient practices. While curbside pickup is the ideal long-term solution, it’s crucial to address concerns regarding the elderly and handicapped, timely trashcan retrieval and street cleanliness before transitioning. This change promises cost savings, reduced carbon footprint, and improved working conditions for our service department. Eliminating injuries from lifting heavy cans and other hazards will allow our dedicated team to focus on essential city projects.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Current Occupation: Product manager for a manufacturing company
Website: www.maliskas4uh.com
Facebook: Micah Maliskas for University Heights City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Having lived in University Heights for just a couple years makes me a much newer resident than any other candidates. Because of this, I am able to provide an outside perspective of what works and doesn’t work for the communities I’ve lived in all over the country. I also don’t have any acrimonious history with other members of council or the executive branch that has led to frequent deadlock on the current city government.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
UH is uniquely situated, with minimal unused real estate. In order for us to grow and flourish, we need to redevelop what we already have. Ushering in new mixed-use development at University Square or soon-to-be-vacant studentoccupied duplexes on Warrensville Center, acquiring Wiley Middle School for a community center, and maximizing walkability/bikeability. These are all opportunities to realign our city’s infrastructure with my people-focused vision for UH.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
It might be boring, but there is over $100 million worth of sewer repairs that need to happen in University Heights over the next few years. Relying on grants from the state or federal government will take far too long to meet our needs. I will lead UH to be self-sufficient on this and other infrastructure by expanding our tax base, increasing residential and commercial density wherever possible through redevelopment-friendly zoning reform.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Current Occupation: Caption agent
Website: marshall4uh.com
Facebook: Councilwoman Threse Marshall
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I have decades of experience in public service. My military service as well as my experience as an educator, equipped me with opportunities to make decisions to protect our country, communities and our children. I am an active listener and I believe working collaboratively is essential. I pledge to continue to promote growth in our city, address resident’s concerns, maintain the safety of our community and build cohesive, respectful and professional relationships.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My goal for economic development for the community is to support new development and or redevelopment projects, in UH that bring sufficient revenue to our city. I also plan to work with other council members and administration to approve a budget that is beneficial to UH and in the best interest of the residents. The main goal is to have surplus in the city’s budget with no extra cost to our residents.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
We have lost revenue from the businesses that have vacated University Square and the parking garage needs repairs. I plan to support an agreement between the city of University Heights, Target, Macy’s and a developer. This agreement would enable the developer to build residential and retail space on the University Square site. This will lead to the generation of more revenue for UH. It would also enable completion of repairs to the parking garage.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS COUNCIL AT LARGE
Four-year term – vote for no more than four
Name: Jonathan Aaron Bartell
Age: 52
Campaign Email: jonathan@ bartell4uh.com
Education: Bachelor of Science from Ithaca College; Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University
Current Occupation: Attorney and founding
After college, I traveled to Thailand and secured a position with a NGO affiliated with UNHCR. I commuted from the small town where I lived to a refugee camp 30 minutes away. Here I was part of a pre-departure program primarily composed of Laotian Highlanders who were recruited by the CIA in the 1970’s to fight in the “Secret War.” This transformative experience in the camp serves as an enduring source of inspiration to continue aiding others.
Name: Micah Maliskas
Age: 37
Campaign Email: maliskas4uh@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in mathematics; Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering; Master of Business Administration
My wife and I were foster parents in Texas. We navigated the complex challenge of government bureaucracy and met countless big-hearted CPS workers who sacrificed pay and personal time to help Houston’s neediest kids. It was challenging for us all, but one of the most rewarding things we’ve done in our lives. Being on city council is a similar calling: we’re there to serve our neighbors that need us most, not ourselves.
Name: Threse Marshall
Age: 54
Campaign Email: Info@ marshall4uh.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in education; Master of Education; Education Specialist Degree
I am very passionate about serving my community. As a member of city council, my goal is to go above and beyond to meet the expectations of the people I serve.
Name: John Rach
Age: 38
Campaign Email: KeepCouncilmanRach@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor of Science in architecture in 2007; Master of Architecture & Environmental Design in 2008; Master of Business Administration in 2009 from Kent State University
Current Occupation: Architect, operations manager at LDA Architects
Website: KeepCouncilmanRach.com
Facebook: Councilman John Rach
Why are you the best candidate in this race? Being a registered architect, I am best
positioned to tackle ongoing key issues in the next term. This includes determining the proper size of the new municipal center, choosing how our new zoning codes will be structured, reviewing the new development proposed at University Square, proposing the best use of space at Wiley, and requiring professional design and engineering services be selected in a competitive manner.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Having served on the city council, planning commission, board of zoning appeals, Community Investment Corporation, and chairperson for the new zoning code committee, I understand the importance of economic development with two main development hubs proposed in our city: University Square and Fairmount Circle. First and foremost, we need to complete the update to our zoning codes to encourage mixed-use development, continue tax abatement on residential projects, and provide incentives to bring new businesses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
While we thought the issue of trash was resolved by the overwhelming support to preserve backyard rubbish pickup in the two surveys, the mayor and his endorsed candidates are all pushing for curbside pickup despite the residents declared preferences. If elected, I’ll vote to keep backyard pickup. The second issue is determining the proper size of the new municipal center. I support building a center that is affordable without tax levy or cutting services.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I’m a believer in governmental accountability and have been known to be a tough critic of the administration. It’s not that I disagree, my record shows I support 95% of their agenda. I ask tough questions. I offer compromise. Most importantly, I stand up to bullying. I’m not a politician, but I give my time because as an architect, I believe it’s our role to shape the environment in which we live, work and play.
Name: Alicia Sloan
Age: 39
Campaign Email: sloan4uh@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from North Carolina Central University in 2005; Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Cleveland State University in 2010; Master’s in public administration from CSU in 2007; Master’s in labor relations and human resources from CSU in 2014; Doctor of Philosophy in urban geography from Kent State University in 2021
Current Occupation: Small business owner, college professor
Website: N/A
Facebook: Dr. Alicia Sloan for University Heights Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I’m highly educated. I’ve been involved with a few civic groups in University Heights, including charter review commission and the Juneteenth Celebration committee. Outside of University Heights, I’ve worked with governmental organizations that have helped people find jobs, training, engage with their community and improve their social welfare. I’ve taught at all levels of education which has given me specialized skills when communicating with the public. I’ve also built two businesses from the ground up.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
My goal for any development in University Heights is for it to be sustainable and accessible.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
I’ve lived here for 13 years and really have no complaints. To enhance others’ experience here and build up people’s sense of belonging, I’d like to address transparency and awareness. I think those elements can be addressed by increasing the amount of accessibility information within the city; thinking outside of social media, and the city’s website or using those things differently as well as exhausting every feasible avenue to reach as many residents as possible.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I believe every problem/issue has a solution and or resolution. As I am known to some as a workaholic, I can be relentless in finding the best possible solution for everyone.
Name: Vincent E. Stokes II
Age: 37
Campaign Email: campaignforstokes@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Fisk University; Master of Divinity from Yale University; Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University ; Doctor of Ministry from Azusa Pacific University; In progress of Juris Doctor/ Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University
Current Occupation: Educator Website: vincentestokesii.com
Facebook: Vincent E. Stokes, II for State Rep
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am the best candidate because I was born here, I live here, I have a vested interest beyond my own personal pet projects to advance the city and I am the only one running not in a block (not an incumbent and not on the mayor’s team)
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Redevelop University Square with apartment style living. Find a vendor for the old KFC on South Taylor.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
As a community, unity is the most pressing issue. Both branches of government are at each other’s neck and need to work together. Mayor is not all wrong and council is not all right, and vice versa. The balance of power needs to be maintained. I address it by speaking truth to both parties and to remind us that we are beholden to the electorate and our in-fighting is not advancing us.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a husband of one, father of two, living in a multi-generational home. I am the caretaker of my 90-year-old grandmother, and the pastor of a church (New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church).
Name: Hallie Shalev Turnberrez
Age: 29
Campaign Email: hal4community@gmail.com
Education: Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University Law
Current Occupation: Attorney Website: hal4community.org
Facebook: Hallie Turnberrez for UH City Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I am passionate, young and bring new ideas and perspectives to the table! As an attorney with experience in local government, legislative writing, and dispute resolution, I am uniquely qualified to tackle our city’s challenges. My partner and I have lived in UH for six-plus years, and I currently serve on the Civil Service Commission. I have been endorsed by Mayor Michael Brennan, school board member Jodi Sourini and the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
It’s an exciting (and pivotal) time in UH. Large redevelopment projects are on the horizon, and they will be defined by the vision/values of city representatives. I want to see a more walkable, bikable and community-oriented city that attracts and supports local businesses. My most ambitious (and perhaps most exciting) goal is to transform (former) Wiley Middle School into a community center that will nourish our city with educational opportunities, senior programming and resource-sharing initiatives.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Our community is being held back by a lack
of affordable livable housing and inequitable distribution of opportunities/resources. These issues will continue to be under-prioritized without more equitable representation across the city – not just in the most affluent areas. This means considering the interests of renters and owners alike, young families and lifelong residents, across all wards. New building projects should focus on affordable housing and local businesses, and we need a community center.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
My viewpoint as a creative informs my community values and collectivist beliefs; I was a musician and an artist long before I got involved with local government and became an attorney. I celebrated 16 years of piano study with a joint piano and composition senior recital at my university in 2015. I am also an accomplished sewist and painter, and come from a diversely artistic family.
Name: Michele Weiss
Age: 48
Campaign Email: micheleweiss4uhcouncil@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Master of Business Administration from John Carroll University
Current Occupation: Controller at Hebrew Academy of Cleveland; Vice Mayor of City of University Heights; Adjunct professor at Cleveland State University, Founder of Amatz Initiative
Website: micheleweiss4uh.com
Facebook: Vice Mayor, City of University Heights
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I strive to be collaborative, listen to concerns of residents and build authentic relationships. I listen to my constituents and colleagues and try to come to a consensus. My vast city experience including, observer for the League of Women Voters, member of the city’s lay finance committee and an elected official including being nominated to serve as vice mayor, gives me the background of the city to keep us doing better and be a leader.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
We are a small bedroom community that does not have a large commercial base. We need to take advantage of the commercial areas we have and capitalize on those. We need to be near 100% occupancy always. We must keep working on University Square to get development started. We also need to incentivize the current businesses to stay.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
The city needs new municipal facilities. We
are having a difficult time even recruiting safety and service employees because of the condition of the buildings. City council has worked hard the last two years to build the facilities and not raise taxes.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Everyone who knows me knows that integrity, relationship building and acting are my strengths. I will continue to work for the residents and the administration to make University Heights so much more than home.
Name: Winifred J. Weizer
Age: 73
Campaign Email: win4uh@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in urban studies; Master of Public Administration
Current Occupation: Associate college lecturer at Cleveland State University
Website: win4uh.com
Facebook: Winifred Weizer 4 University Heights Council
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
I have an extensive working knowledge and understanding of the city and its processes which I learned as a volunteer for various committees over the past 20 years. This combined with new updated ideas and techniques provides me with a base to help our city grow. I also respect the need for input from our residents for any changes we might make since they know the impact in their neighborhoods.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
I’d hope that we can find ways to grow beyond fast food as economic development. We should look at the situation with the one office building in the city and see if there is a way to leverage that into a more permanent type of use as these provide a stronger tax base. We also need to use the proposed rezoning of the city to see where commercial development might be appropriate to be expanded.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
We have issues that need to be addressed in safety and housing. The use of new technology can extend the effectiveness of our safety forces. We need to deal more effectively with absentee landlords and vacant homes. Both can impact our home values negatively if not addressed. We need to use our Community Improvement Corp. to leverage grants to address these issues.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I love to learn, and to do that one needs to be able to listen and I am happy to do that. I have a dry sense of humor that sometimes people miss. I also am a baseball fanatic. Go Guardians (well maybe next year).
Four-year term – vote for no more than four
Name: Nicole Y. Culliver
Name: Nakeshia Nickerson
Age: 42
Campaign Email: nickersonforcouncil@gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in psychology with Japanese minor from The Ohio State University
Current Occupation: Business owner
Website: nakeshianickerson.org
Facebook: Councilwoman Nakeshia Nickerson
Why are you the best candidate in this race?
Since moving to Woodmere 20 years ago, I’ve engaged in activities and school district volunteering and I’m active as a member of our local YMCA. Prior to becoming elected, I attended council and committee meetings to gain knowledge and deliver information to elderly residents. Canvassed with the mayor and previous council members for chats with
residents. I’ve established relationships with communities and elected officials granting me the opportunity to communicate the needs and concerns of Woodmere.
What is your goal for economic development for the community over the next five years?
Support (and) maintain positive budget balances, and support legislation for building of new houses.
What is the most important issue facing your community and how will you address it?
Senior services, population retention and funds for infrastructure. I will continue to advocate on local, state and federal level for resources that address these issues.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have been a loyal and committed resident of Woodmere for over 20 years. I have worked for more than 13 years in private and public housing as well as employee management prior to owning and operating a successful digital business. I am an author of two published children’s books, journals and workbooks which address social and emotional learning, grief and coping. I have a twin sister who owns a salon and blow dry spa.
Name: Waymond Scott
Name: Vivian J. Walker
– Compiled by Alexandra Golden
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
BEACHWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Four-year term – vote for no more than two
Name: Julie Brough
Age: 44
Campaign Email: friendstoelectbroughferns@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in exercise physiology from University of Wyoming in 2002
Current Occupation: Clinical Athletic Trainer at University Hospitals
Website: N/A
Facebook: Friendstoelectbroughferns
Why are you the best candidate?
I am the best candidate because of my unique experience of working within this district for eight years. My love for Beachwood, while working as the athletic trainer, prompted me to move to the district for my kids. I am committed to Beachwood and the education my sons (current eighth grader and fifth grader) will receive from this district to prepare them for success in their future.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
My goal for the district is simple. It’s a top down motto. I want to encourage strong leadership that values that the educators put in place to teach our kids who help guide them and shape their future are supported. This starts and ends with communication within the district, between staff and to our families. With that comes a strategic plan, transparency and accountability. Our kids’ success is a direct reflection of our leaders.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
I believe the most important issue is the support of our teachers and staff. My relationships while working within the school allowed me to understand their needs, goals and ultimately how can we support and empower them. I will address this by gaining perspective and making sure there is a strategic plan in place with continued communication, teamwork and a strong sense of leadership from fellow board members who are committed to Beachwood.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I’m here for the City of Beachwood kids. My kids. Your kids. I’m committed to Beachwood schools. Running in a campaign is definitely not something I thought I would ever do, but here I am. While I didn’t grow up here, I consider Beachwood my home and am so excited for my boys as they continue their educational journey.
Name: Josephine Chan
Age: 46
Campaign Email: Josephine4beachwood@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor of Arts from University of Chicago; Master of Business Administration from Weatherhead School of Management; Doctor of Philosophy in genetics from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Current Occupation: Director, Clinical Trials
Unit, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center
Website: chan4beachwood.wixsite.com/home
Facebook: Josephine Chan For Beachwood School Board
Why are you the best candidate?
I have the experience, leadership skills and I am passionate about our three district goals (academic achievement, mental wellness and intercultural awareness). I was appointed to the board in January 2022. Together with Megan Walsh, we are running to continue on the board because of our proven effectiveness, achievements and ability to make tough decisions. I am a servant leader, I listen and I will continue to build upon our district’s success with the community.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
My goals include providing students a safe environment for learning, strengthening community relations and communications, and maximizing the performance of each student in all academic areas while cultivating authentic and positive relationships among students, staff and families. The district has done an excellent job with increasing intercultural awareness and creating an inclusive environment. We will continue to expand the newly established affinity groups to provide opportunities for families to engage and share their identity.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
With the successful passage of the bond issue in May, I look forward to engaging again with the community, students and staff to gather feedback and implementing their ideas to design the new elementary buildings and playgrounds with enhanced security measures. Keeping schools safe is a high priority so students can have an encouraging environment that promotes social growth and creative learning. Modernized classrooms will allow us to expand our programming and offerings.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I feel a strong obligation to mentor the younger generation especially women, to close the gender gap. Growing up, I did not have many female role models to emulate. I have been a
mentor for the Engage! Cleveland Women’s Mentorship Program and find value in having summer students working in my department at work. I am committed to being a positive female influence and to advocate on behalf of other women and help them succeed.
Name: Jennifer Ferns
Age: 39
Campaign Email: friendstoelectbroughferns@ gmail.com
Education: Beachwood High School class of 2002
Current Occupation: Interior Designer/ Construction
Website: N/A
Facebook: friendstoelectbroughferns
Why are you the best candidate?
Being a Beachwood alum and having three children who attend Beachwood schools, I am committed to keeping Beachwood excellent. While working as the PTO vice president and the president for the last five years, it has allowed me the opportunity to build relationships with the staff and gain an understanding of the atmosphere and morale.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
My goals are to have better communication between admin and all staff, work on having a better support system for teachers and continuing to have a strong focus on safety in our schools.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
I believe that the most important issue facing our schools is the safety of our kids and teachers on a daily basis. We need to reevaluate all of our safety measures and put updated plans in place. We need to make sure the plans are being followed by each building and being as transparent as possible with the district.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a lifelong Beachwood resident and I have three children who attend Beachwood schools. I have a business background focusing on bid contracts and negotiations. I also started my own business and do home design and remodeling. With my sound mind and visionary approach, I believe my background will be an asset to the board.
Name: Megan Walsh
Age: 42
Campaign Email: friendsofmeganwalsh@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University; Master of Science in social
administration from Case Western Reserve University
Current Occupation: Program manager for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Education at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Website: walshforbeachwood.com
Facebook: Megan Walsh Beachwood Board of Education
Why are you the best candidate?
As a board member since January 2019 and board president since January 2022, I have the experience and positive working relationships to continue the board’s success with engaging the community and supporting the district’s goals. Fellow board member, Dr. Josephine Chan and I have demonstrated proven results prioritizing community input with the significant accomplishments of creating a master plan for our elementary facilities, the passage of the bond issue and hiring a new treasurer.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
My top priority is cultivating an environment in all of our schools where every student feels seen, valued and respected. When students feel that way, they are best able to learn, think critically and thrive. This can be achieved through the support of the district’s focus areas of academic achievement, intercultural awareness and mental wellness. As a board member, it is my goal to value all voices, listen to understand and be solution focused.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
As a well-funded, small school district, the board must be prudent stewards of public funds while providing the excellent services, innovative programming and stellar education that our community has come to expect from Beachwood schools. The board tasks the administration with utilizing our resources in cost-effective ways while maintaining high standards for every student. I will continue to be vigilant in maximizing the district’s offerings, while prioritizing responsible spending.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Following the 2016 election, I adopted the mantra “Be the change you wish to see.” I have taken on new endeavors such as sending postcards to voters, mentoring a first-generation college student and filling Little Free Libraries with diverse books. I value leading by example and showing my sons, Nolan (eighth grader at BMS) and Cooper (fifth grader at Hilltop), that everyone can take small actions to make our world a better place.
CHAGRIN FALLS EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Four-year term – vote for no more than two
Name: Laura Hui
Age: 38
Campaign Email: Laura@laurahui.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Italian language and literature, and Bachelor of Music in violin performance from University of Maryland, College Park; Masters of Teaching in elementary education from the Johns Hopkins School of Education, College Park
Current Occupation: At-home parent to 5th and 2nd grader; substitute teacher for Chagrin Schools
Website: N/A
Facebook: Laura Hui for Chagrin School Board
Why are you the best candidate?
I am the best candidate because I possess the teaching, volunteer and leadership experience necessary to support Chagrin schools. I am engaged in the district as a volunteer and substitute teacher. As a former classroom teacher, I am knowledgeable about public education, and I have forged meaningful connections with teachers, administration and the community. I am known as a trusted advocate for all students.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
My goals are to: Improve communication and transparency across stakeholder groups so that time and resources are managed effectively and efficiently. Ensure that the newly-adopted strategic plan is implemented with fidelity, including continued opportunities for community input, and accountability from district leadership. Build consensus and enhance trust among stakeholder groups, including teachers and staff, administrators, parents and community partners so that students’ academic, social, emotional and safety needs remain the top priority.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Student safety is an ongoing challenge in today’s social climate. I’ll work with law enforcement to continue to analyze, improve and implement safety measures necessary to ensure children are learning in a safe school environment. Chagrin Falls has wonderful schools, and yet there’s more potential for student achievement and success. I hope to identify and implement initiatives that will help Chagrin stand out as a model of excellence and build upon what makes Chagrin great.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
My husband and I chose Chagrin Falls because the tight knit community and the
outstanding schools align with our family values. We love Northeast Ohio because of the arts, culture and abundant nature. We enjoy tennis, and go on long bike rides in the Metroparks. This summer we biked as a family (including our 10- and 7-year-old kids) from Pittsburgh to D C –333.3 miles – in one week. We believe in big goals and doing hard things
Name : Sam Nichols
Age: 35
Campaign Email: samforchagrinschools@gmail. com
Education: Chagrin Falls
High School class of 2006; Bachelor of Philosophy from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; Bachelor of construction management from Colorado State University
Current Occupation: Project manager for Snavely Group
Website: samforchagrin.com
Facebook: Sam For Chagrin School Board
Why are you the best candidate?
I am well practiced with finding solutions and working with diverse groups of people. I have a clear vision for the purpose of public education in Chagrin Falls and can work with the teachers, families, other board members and administrators in our town to help fulfill that vision.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Repairing the relationship between the school board/administration and the teachers and building trust with the parents of the district. Working to make information about the curriculum easy and accessible for parents through a variety of mediums, and reaching every parent with this information in a way that works for their family. Bringing normalcy and transparency to the school board, providing a voice for our community. Hire a Student Resource Officer for each campus.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
The most immediate issue is the relationship between the teachers and the superintendent/ BOE. I’ll address this issue by requiring administration to take ownership of the problem and being transparent with what role the school board is taking regarding teacher relationships. In the long term, we’ll evaluate the benefit of layering SEL into our curriculum with respect to the education of students, the cost of the programs and how it affects the teachers and their work.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I love to play guitar and am an amateur wood worker. I participated in an 80-day expedition
in the Patagonia Region of southern Chile with the National Outdoor Leadership School. With NOLS, we learned about excellency in leadership, community and environmental stewardship through camp craft, mountaineering and sea kayaking.
Name: Danielle Sabo
Four-year term – vote for no more than two
Name: Angela Arnold
Name: Beth Wilson-Fish
Age: N/A
Campaign Email: N/A
Education: Bachelor of Science in education in elementary education K through 8 from Bowling Green State University in 1984; Master of Education in school counseling from Cleveland State University in 1990; Gifted Education Endorsement from CSU in 1993; Administrative Specialist: School and Community Relations in 2017; Superintendent Licensure 2021 to present from Muskingum University
Current Occupation: Gifted coordinator at Shaker Heights City Schools
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Fiscal responsibility is always at the forefront of my thinking, with a focus on how we best meet the needs of all students. I value the vast array of offerings we provide our students in academics, athletics and the arts and will continue to encourage the examination of initiatives to support our diverse population.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
We must continue to support our public schools and work to retain quality educators and support staff. We need to examine the divisiveness facing our public schools today. We have so much to consider in our school community and must work together in the best interest of our students.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I retired from Orange in 2014 after 30 years in education and have been fortunate to continue working with many districts across Northeast Ohio in my role as a gifted coordinator. I believe it gives me a unique perspective about public education. As I enter my 39th year in education, I’m pleased to be completing the second part of my licensure as a superintendent at my alma mater, Wickliffe City Schools, this fall of 2023.
Four-year term – vote for no more than two
Name: Andrea N. Boyd
Age: 43
Campaign
Email:Andreaboyd2012@ gmail.com
Education: Associate degree; Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree; current Doctor of Philosophy candidate.
Current Occupation: Business Advisor for Ohio MBDA, U.S. Department of Commerce/ GCP
Website: andreaboydforschoolboard.com
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate?
I’m not the best candidate, this community is full of great people that can assist our district schools as an active board member. The question should be who is passionate enough to make an impact on concerns and issues that community members, students, teachers, school safety and security and other school district staff care about? You serve all (those who) elected you to ensure schools are stable, financially sound and reaching (their) goal of educational excellence.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
De-tracking in our district has been an issue in implementation. We must be proactive, provide proper support, planning and follow through to our teachers, support staff and admin. I would love to correct communication issues within the district. We have to make sure we have a sustainable district for future generations. Fiscal responsibility is important along with ensuring our core values and what makes us different as a district is kept intact.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Our Bond Issue is the most important issue. On one hand, we need schools that are well-maintained, excelling academically and innovative. This will assist our district in competing with private schools in our community, while making sure our students are challenged. “A community is known by
the schools it keeps.” On the other hand, we cannot have a bond issue every six to seven years, it’s not feasible nor fair to the tax-paying community.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have been in the community for years. I am a Shaker Heights graduate, class of 1998, so is my husband class of ‘97. I am a part of the PTO, Shaker Height Development Corporation board member, League of Women Voters Shaker participant, The Fund committee member and a member for the city of Shaker Heights DEI committee. I am an advocate for the community. “Driven by passion fueled by love.”
Name: Pamela M. Scott
Age: 50
Campaign Email: pamscottcandidacy@gmail. com
Education: Bachelor of social work from Capital University; Master of Science in social administration from Case Western Reserve University
Current Occupation: Senior director of grants administration at Boys and Girls Club of Northeast Ohio
Website: TBD
Facebook: TBD
Why are you the best candidate?
As a proud parent of four Shaker Heights School District graduates, I believe our families’ firsthand experiences and proven dedication to serving the community in various roles will serve me well in ensuring our schools provide high quality education for Aall families and students. My background in education has shaped my commitment for equitable support and services, transparency to build positive engagement within the community, and communication to Shaker residents, including those without schoolaged children.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Building relationships with stakeholders allows me the opportunity to hear both concerns and advantages of our district. The provision of community voice during the decision-making processes ensures the vision of the district is reflective of all constituents providing opportunities for input at every stage of planning. Additionally, determining clear actions steps cultivates equitable awareness and access, along with developing and implementing systems to remove barriers impeding families from utilizing support and services.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Equity is an urgent and vast concern for not only Shaker schools, but schools across the country. I will advocate for systems that would
address this concern. A district of innovative and proactive leaders will anticipate inequities for students mitigating barriers. In addition, I am an avid enthusiast of supporting rigorous instruction for all students. I believe the exploration of student autonomy as a tool can effectively address the perils of inequity in the classroom.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
With 14 years in service of schools through diverse experiences: working on school turnaround efforts, assisting in the development of capital projects, managing federal grants, budgets and ensuring district compliance, I’m dedicated to youth advocacy, committed to the overall well-being of people, and I believe in the potential of all students. I’m a woman faith. I’m in relentless pursuit of change; I don’t sweat the small stuff; I believe in infinite possibilities.
Name: Douglas Wang
Age: 66
Campaign Email: DougWang4ShakerSchools@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Kenyon College; Master of Science in management with concentration in finance from The MIT Sloan School.
Current Occupation: Community volunteer
Website: dougwang4shakerschools.com
Facebook: Doug Wang 4 Shaker Schools
Why are you the best candidate?
I have the financial experience to balance the needs of the district with the reality that Shaker has high taxes. I understand how to make the leader of an organization more effective from the broad experience of serving on the boards of Kenyon College; St. Luke’s Foundation; Judson Services; University Circle, Inc; Cuyahoga County Board of Health and Legal Aid Society of Cleveland. I have the time, temperament and commitment to do the job well.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
To ensure that the expansion of Pre-K in Shaker is handled efficiently, to begin the 10-year project to renovate the K-8 buildings in an inclusive and sustainable manner, and to oversee and improve satisfaction with the deleveling initiative in the schools.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
The most important issue today is the sense of belonging in the schools. We need students, teachers and families to feel that they are welcomed, known, included, supported and connected. Increasing the sense of belonging in the schools will lead to better outcomes. I will work with the board and district to improve
communications and encourage openness and trust.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Beyond what is publicly available on my website, I enjoy challenges: bridge, crossword puzzles, escape rooms and, hopefully, the Shaker Heights schools.
Name: Laura Whay Klein
Age: 57
Campaign Email: whaykleinlaura@yahoo.com
Education: Shaker Heights
High School class of 1984; Bachelor of Arts from Smith College in 1988
Current Occupation: Stay-at home-mother, previously a fundraising professional for 20 years
Website: kleinforshaker.com
Facebook: Laura Klein for Shaker School Board
Why are you the best candidate?
I’m a lifelong Shaker resident, a 1984 graduate of Shaker Heights schools, a mother of three past and present Shaker students, and a resident of the Fernway neighborhood. I spent more than 20 years in the nonprofit space, including at a private school. In every job, I was involved in education-related initiatives. I’ve been active in our neighborhood and children’s education, invested in Shaker’s future, and am dedicated to making this community a better place.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
As a board member, my goals will be to create opportunity for every student, improve the safety and security of our buildings, work to re-foster a sense of community in the district, restore transparency in our district leadership, bring stability to our schools and students, and be accessible and accountable to the community. It’s a partnership, and I intend to treat it as one.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Shaker Schools face a crisis of leadership. They don’t listen to the community nor take responsibility for bad policies. Decisions are made behind closed doors to limit the public’s knowledge and ability to offer comment. They aren’t transparent about important financial and academic concerns that affect the entire community. I will bring decision-making into the public and hold school leadership accountable for policies that don’t work for our children. Together, we can make a difference.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am part of a family that spans five
generations of residents and students of Shaker schools. Our family has attended our schools in every decade since the 1920s. I would be a leader that bridges the gap of historical knowledge and experience, and new leadership to provide education that meets the challenges of today and the future.
Four-year term – vote for no more than three
Name: Stephanie Abramowitz
Age: 39
Campaign Email: Stephanie4
SolonSchoolBoard@gmail.com
Education: Upper Arlington High School; Bachelor of Science in allied health professions medical technology and laboratory science from The Ohio State University; Medical Degree from Wright State University School of Medicine
Current Occupation: Physician, child and adolescent psychiatrist
Website: stephanieforsolonschools.com
Facebook: Stephanie for Solon School Board
Why are you the best candidate?
I am a mother to four young children, a physician specializing in child psychiatry and an active community member. Three of my children currently attend Solon schools and my youngest is in preschool. My husband and I plan for all of our children to graduate from Solon schools. I care deeply about education, safety and wellness for my children and all children in the community.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Schools need to maintain the legacy of excellence they are known for, while looking to the future. My priorities on the Solon School Board will be to address many complex challenges including funding, technology advancements, safety concerns for our children and school staff, demands on curriculum and the diverse academic needs of our children.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Children learn and grow the best when they feel safe and supported. Solon schools need to be a place free from bullying and threats to physical or mental safety. Let’s cultivate and nurture an environment that supports our children’s diverse needs. This is best done with clear communication and transparency in funding, building changes and safety procedures between the school board and residents of Solon and Glenwillow.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I am a Girl Scout troop leader, Cub Scout den leader and rec sports coach. You can usually find me at my children’s activities, including taekwondo, Solon Lightning Soccer, Solon Saturns Cheer, Solon Center for the Arts, Renzi Gymnastics or dance classes
Name: Julie Glavin
Age: 71
Campaign Email: reelectjulieglavinsboe@gmail. com
Education: Warren Area High School in Warren, Pa.; Bachelor of Arts in history from St. Bonaventure University
Current Occupation: My husband and I recently sold our Solon-based manufacturing business, Glavin Industries, Inc., to our youngest son, Dan.
Website: N/A
Facebook: Re-Elect Julie Glavin Solon BOE
Why are you the best candidate?
I have been a member of the Solon Board of Education since 2004. I have extensive experience, knowledge and perspective to help guide the district in achieving our mission, core values and strategic objectives. Our strategic commitment to “empower every student to achieve personal excellence “will always be a work in progress. I believe my proven leadership skills, dedication and comprehensive overview of the district will continue to add value for our students and community.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Solon is consistently a very high performing district, with lofty goals and expectations to provide students with rich academic and extracurricular opportunities. It will be my goal to work collaboratively with my colleagues, the staff, students and families to achieve our firm commitment to address the needs of every student, every day.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
School funding is a demanding issue. To maintain a reliable revenue stream, all residents need to be well-informed about the reality and challenges of school funding. Our most recent strategic plan will address this by regularly communicating to our residents, including those who do not have students in the schools. Building understanding of financial complexities and the need for local funding support are paramount in continuing the top-notch programming and activities our students deserve.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
I have three sons who experienced a K-12 Solon education. I’ve served in school leadership roles since 1986, providing me with an all-encompassing district perspective. I owned a local business, was a two-term president of Roxbury PTA, Solon Council of PTA’s and Solon High School PTA; was a twotime operating levy and bond issue chairwoman. Additionally, I’ve served on the district’s strategic planning team since 1994 and have held multiple board executive leadership positions.
Name: Leanne Jones Moses
Age: 52
Campaign Email:
KeepLeanne4SolonBOE@ gmail.com
Education: Bachelor of Science in business from Miami University in 1990
Current Occupation: Currently retired. Previously was a business and communications professional and served as chief operating officer for a local nonprofit organization focusing on mentoring and volunteerism. Currently volunteering as the technology coordinator for a new educational app, which brings to life the stories of the Underground Railroad in Ohio.
Website: N/A
Facebook: Keep Leanne 4 Solon BOE
Why are you the best candidate?
As an engaged five-year incumbent and current board president, I am a proven leader who puts my passion into action. Through my extensive volunteer involvement at the state and district level, I understand the balance of resources necessary for our district’s continued success. I am an advocate for student-centered learning and work collaboratively with other board members, educators, parents and students to ensure a welcoming environment where every student can and will learn.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
I will be a champion for the ideals of the Solon and Glenwillow communities by advocating for the best interests of all students and staff. I will ensure the strategic plan developed by staff, parents and community members continues to drive every decision. My primary focus has always been and will continue to be maintaining the legacy of academic and extracurricular excellence that sets Solon apart and is expected by our residents and stakeholders.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Ensuring all students have access to highquality education in a safe and supportive environment is my priority. This is accomplished through open communication with all stakeholders and by being responsible stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us by every taxpayer. Exceptional staff members are essential to creating
a learning environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking and lifelong learning. Investing in our schools guarantees the best outcomes for all students and benefits the entire community.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
Public education is vitally important and worth the investment of time, effort and money. My three daughters are Solon schools graduates and exemplify how great public education promotes student success. I want to ensure all future students reap the same benefits that my daughters received. We start with the littlest Comets and watch them grow into young adults who are prepared for their future. This is an enormous responsibility that I do not take lightly.
Name: Kevin C. Patton
Age: 76
Campaign email: N/A
Education: Bachelor of Arts from John Carroll University; Master of Education from Cleveland State University; Master of Business Administration from Kent State University; Licensed Psychologist from State of Ohio from 1978 to 2019 Current Occupation: Adjunct faculty in Psychology at Cuyahoga Community College (Western)
Website: N/A
Facebook: N/A
Why are you the best candidate?
Education has been a major part of my life, working in teaching and administrative positions at colleges and health care organizations. My tenure on Solon City Council and as mayor provide unique perspective on how our excellent school district enhances the Solon/Glenwillow community. Since my early days in public service, I have focused on helping people develop their full potential. That is what motivates me to seek re-election on Solon’s Board of Education.
What are your goals for the district during your term?
Each board member brings different skill sets and experience for working collaboratively with
other board members, administration, faculty/ staff, students/parents and the community. Our vision and goals outlined in the district’s strategic plan focus on success and assuring funding for facilities, safety, equipment and communications, while maintaining support from residents and businesses. This strategic direction charts a course to achieve educational excellence for our students and fiscal responsibility and pride for our community.
What is the most important issue facing the schools and how will you address it?
Solon schools ensure excellence in academic achievement through outstanding teachers and administrators providing students with engaging learning opportunities to prepare for dealing with present and future challenges. Strong academics, and extensive programming in the arts, athletics and activities help our students distinguish themselves. Financial sustainability during difficult economic times continues as a major challenge. Working together to effectively communicate with our community, and advocate with local and state leadership, is our ongoing responsibility.
What don’t people know about you that they should?
In my student days at John Carroll University, I was president of the men’s glee club and served in the Student Union. These leadership roles were the impetus for my getting involved in public service. I have lived in Solon nearly all my life. My work as an elected leader for both the city and schools focuses on supporting those who live, work and learn in Solon. It is most challenging and rewarding work.
– Compiled by Alexandra Golden
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
Language taken directly from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
Proposed Tax Levy
An additional tax for the benefit of the Orange City School District for the purpose of general permanent improvements that the County Fiscal Officer estimates will collect $1,879,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1.5 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $52 for each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s appraised value, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.
Proposed Bond Issue and Tax Levies
Shall the Shaker Heights City School District be authorized to do the following:
(1) Issue bonds for the purpose of constructing, adding to, renovating, remodeling, furnishing, equipping and otherwise improving School District buildings and facilities, and clearing, equipping and otherwise improving sites for those School District buildings and facilities in the principal amount of $121,190,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 37 years, and levy a property tax outside the 10-mill limitation, estimated by the County Fiscal Officer to average over the bond repayment period 6.45 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $226 for each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s appraised value, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?
(2) Levy an additional property tax to provide funds for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, renovation, and financing of general permanent improvements, that the County Fiscal Officer estimates will collect $471,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $17 for each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s appraised value, for a continuing period of time?
(3) Levy an additional property tax to pay current operating expenses that the County Fiscal Officer estimates will collect $2,828,000 annually, at a rate not exceeding 3 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $105 for
Language taken directly from Ohio Secretary of State’s website.
ISSUE 1
The proposed amendment would: Establish in the Constitution of the State of Ohio an individual right to one’s own reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion; Create legal protections for any person or entity that assists a person with receiving reproductive medical treatment, including but not limited to abortion; Prohibit the State from directly or indirectly burdening, penalizing, or prohibiting abortion before an unborn child is determined to be viable, unless the State demonstrates that it is using the least restrictive means; Grant a pregnant woman’s treating physician the authority to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether an unborn child is viable; Only allow the State to prohibit an abortion after an unborn child is determined by a pregnant woman’s treating physician to be viable and only if the physician does not consider the abortion necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health; and always allow an unborn child to be aborted at any stage of pregnancy, regardless of viability if, in the treating physician’s determination, the abortion is necessary to protect the pregnant woman’s life or health. If passed, the amendment will become effective 30 days after the election.
ISSUE 2
To enact Chapter 3780 of the Ohio Revised Code, which would: Define adult use cannabis to mean marijuana as defined in Section 3719.01 of the
each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s appraised value, for a continuing period of time?
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to provide for gender-neutral and gender inclusive language throughout the Charter; and amend Article 8, Section 11 to provide that Council shall have the authority to enact by ordinance, adopted by unanimous vote, make typographical, numerical, grammatical, organizational sequencing, or other non-substantive revisions and corrections to the Charter?
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall Article 3, Section 5 and Article 5, Section 4 of the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to provide that the Vice Mayor, or in the Vice Mayor’s absence the Vice Mayor’s designee, shall preside at all meetings of Council; and to eliminate the provision that the Mayor shall preside over Council meetings?
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall Article 4, Sections 1 and 2 of the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to provide that a petition for an initiated ordinance or resolution may be submitted to the Clerk of Council by petition signed by registered electors of the City equal in number to at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of voters casting ballots at the last regular municipal election; to provide a process to require Council to submit the proposed ordinance or resolution to a vote of the electors by supplementing the original petition with additional signatures to total at least twenty percent (20%) of the total number of voters casting ballots at the last regular municipal election, and if it will total at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of voters casting ballots at the last regular municipal election, the date of the election may be fixed therein, not less than ninety (90) days from the filing of such supplemental petition; and to provide that the electors of the city shall have the power, within thirty (30) days of the passage of an ordinance or resolution by Council, to submit a referendum petition requesting such ordinance or resolution be repealed or submitted to a vote of the electors, signed by registered electors of the City equal in number to twenty percent (20%) of the
Revised Code and establish the Division of Cannabis Control (the “Division”) within the Department of Commerce; Authorize the Division to regulate, investigate and penalize adult use cannabis operators, adult use testing laboratories, and individuals required to be licensed; Legalize and regulate the cultivation, processing, sale, purchase, possession, home grow, and use of cannabis by adults at least 21 years of age; Create additional protections for individuals who engage in permitted adult use cannabis conduct; Establish the cannabis social equity and jobs program and require the Department of Development to certify program applicants based on social and economic disadvantage; Define “social disadvantage” to include membership in a racial or ethnic minority group, disability status, gender, or long-term residence in an area of high unemployment; Shield certain confidential information from disclosure to the public, including but not limited to any information reported to or collected by the Division that identifies or would tend to identify any adult use cannabis consumer and prohibit the Department of Development from releasing certain application information as public records; Require the Division to provide preferential treatment to applicants who have qualified for the cannabis social equity and jobs program based on social disadvantage when issuing level III adult use cannabis cultivator licenses and dispensary licenses; Prohibit certain local government entities from limiting specific research, levying a tax, or charge on adult use operations, their owner, or their property not generally charged on other business, and prohibit certain local government entities from prohibiting or limiting adult use cannabis home grow or prohibiting or restricting an activity authorized by the proposed law; Authorize a landlord or an employer to prohibit the adult use of cannabis in certain circumstances, and prohibit the operation of a motor vehicle while using or under the influence of adult use cannabis and from using any other
total number of voters casting ballots a the last regular municipal election; and if said petition is signed by registered electors equal in number to twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of voters casting ballots at the last regular municipal election, the date of the election may be fixed therein, not less than ninety days from the time of filing thereof?
Shall Article 4, Section 3 of the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to replace all the provisions regarding recall elections and to provide a process therefor; to provide that the electors shall have the power to recall any elective officer of the City, except those having served less than six months in office, by submitting a petition signed by registered electors of the City equal in number to at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of registered electors to vote at the last regular municipal election; to provide if a recall petition has been determined to be sufficient, it shall be submitted to the electors at a recall election to be held not less than 60 days and not later than 90 days from the date of final determination; and to provide that if a majority of registered electors vote in favor of the recall, the officer is removed and the seat is vacant, and the vacancy shall be filled in?
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall Article 6, Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to update and modernize the names of administrative officers and departments; and to prohibit Council from abolishing or combining the Division of Public Safety with other existing departments or divisions?
Proposed Charter Amendment
Shall Article 8 of the Charter of the City of University Heights be amended to enact new Section 12 providing that the City shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship status, caste, tribal affiliation or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, or local law unless reasonably necessary to normal operations and having a substantial relationship to job function and responsibilities?
combustible adult use cannabis while a passenger in a motor vehicle; Limit criminal liability for certain financial institutions that provide financial services to any lawful adult use cannabis operator or testing laboratory licensed under the proposed law; Require the Division to enter into an agreement with the Depa1tment of Mental Health and Addiction Services to create a program for cannabis addiction services; Provide for the creation of five funds in the state treasury: the adult use tax fund; the cannabis social equity and jobs fund; the host community cannabis fund; the substance abuse and addiction fund; and the division of cannabis control and tax commissioner fund; and Provide for taxation of 10 percent on the sale of adult use cannabis by dispensaries in addition to usual sales taxes and require that all monies collected from the IO% tax levied to be deposited into the adult use tax fund and quarterly distributed as follows: 36 percent to the cannabis social equity and jobs fund; 36 percent to the host community cannabis facilities fund; 25 percent to the substance abuse and addiction fund; and three percent to the division of cannabis control and tax commission fund.
If passed, the law will become effective 30 days after the election.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn. org or our social media pages reflect the views and thoughts of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff or any other organization unless explicitly stated.
A CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS ADVERTISING SPECIAL SECTION
The six-county Greater Cleveland area is host to 190,104 apartment units, according to Apartments.com. The vacancy rate is 6.5%, and more apartment units – 4,467 of them – are under construction.
Renting an apartment for the first time? Here’s a primer: The baseline that landlords expect is that a renter should leave their apartment in the same shape as when they first move in. Key items, though, vary from complex to complex. When it comes to replacing existing appliances or fixtures or carpeting, renters usually have to make that communication
and approval with the landlord first.
Joy Anzalone, chief operating officer of BurtonCarol, which owns 27 multi-family properties in three states, offered advice for new apartment renters.
Foremost, read the fine print in the lease, carefully.
“We remain very focused on making sure all residents are treated the same so it is important to be consistent and follow the terms of the lease with all residents,” Anzalone said. “The resident’s rights are outlined clearly in landlord/ tenant law and the lease always supports that.”
Anzalone, who is in her 42nd year in the apartment business, has the following advice for those wanting to
“We remain very focused on making sure all residents are treated the same so it is important to be consistent and follow the terms of the lease with all residents.”
Joy Anzalone
change appliances, carpet or paint.
“If a resident wants a modification it is always helpful to discuss that up front and certainly in advance of doing it,” she said, “however at times a resident may not know what they may desire down the line. Often, a resident is asking for something that they are aware of is their responsibility.
“Changing flooring, appliances, lighting and paint is common and residents will do that at their expense if it is based on desire. If it is based on what is there is not functioning or being up to our standards, we will always change it at our expense. Our goal is long-term residency and working within the frameworks of what is reasonable.”
The term “reasonable” comes with responsibility at the end of the lease.
“It really depends on what the change was,” Anzalone said. “If they paint the walls black, they would be responsible to either return it to neutral or pay the extra charge of what a painter would charge to do extra coats of paint beyond a normal paint job. But if they added some enhancements that would be acceptable going forward, we may not require them to change it back. A resident is responsible for returning the apartment back to us in the same condition it was given to them, minus normal wear and tear.”
Anzalone, whose company operates 7,000 units nationally, has seen a few “unique” requests from tenants.
“I have heard everything from the simple to the ridiculous, whether it is asking if we could sponsor a GoFundMe for the resident to raise money for delinquent rent, to putting in a bidet, to allowing wild animals (monkeys, miniature horses) to anything you can think of,” Anzalone said. “We have had to learn to say ‘no’ in a most diplomatic way for many things but are always happy to say yes and accommodate a resident.”
Whatever the case, there is a simple, common practice. “Making sure we communicate properly is so important,” Anzalone said. “Getting everything in writing is critical as well.”
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Demolition of the former Richmond Mall in Richmond Heights began on the morning of Sept. 18.
e demolition marks a milestone in the construction of Belle Oaks Marketplace, a mixed-use project o ering luxury multifamily apartments, retail outlets, restaurants and a 160,000 square-foot Meijer grocery store.
“Belle Oaks is going to be a mixed-use,” Jeremy Kumin, communications manager for Belle Oaks, told the Cleveland Jewish News in February. “It’s going to be a mix of 791 luxury apartments – one- and twobedroom apartments – in 24 buildings, along with retail and services that are going to cater to the people living on the property.”
Developed on 75 acres, Belle Oaks Marketplace will include a central park with a water feature, dog walking park, walking trails and full-grown trees that will be
imported to make the property look like it has always been there, Kumin said.
In July 2022, developer DealPoint Merril in California announced the full acquisition of the Richmond and Wilson Mills roads property, which more recently was known as Richmond Town Square.
Built in 1966, Richmond Mall was once considered the largest enclosed shopping mall in Ohio with over 90 stores until it closed in 2021. e property was largely vacant since 2017.
To watch a video with this story, visit cjn.org/cjntv
To read more about Belle Oaks Marketplace, visit cjn.org
Join us as author Annette Januzzi Wick shares her personal story of caregiving: falling short of expectations, learning to be strong and kind in her care, and finding a way to love her mother as her mother’s memory recedes.
A complimentary copy of Annette’s book will be given to all attendees.
After the seminar, Annette J. Wick will include time for questions. She will also be
available to sign copies of her book.
Monday October 16, 2023
Registration: 5:30 p.m.
Event: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
8100 E. Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
RSVP: 440-543-6766 or chagrinfallsardencourts@promedica.org
As the Creative Living for Life at Ursuline Sisters broke ground Sept. 13, it was emotional for Shari Goldberg, who helped over the last several years to bring the development to Pepper Pike for her son, Noah, and others with disabilities.
Medina Creative Housing is duplicating its Creative Living for Life community model to bring 25 “forever homes” for individuals with disabilities to a plot of 3 acres sold to them by the Ursuline Sisters at 29777 Fairmount Blvd. in Pepper Pike. Over 200 people attended the groundbreaking.
“Breaking ground is just joyous and not lost on me that it’s at the beginning of a new year,” Goldberg told the Cleveland Jewish News as the groundbreaking took place two days before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. “This is such an important time and a sweet time in our year, but this is when it’s happening – right before the new year – was just remarkable.”
After 11 years in the making, construction on the homes began Sept. 1, with a ribbon cutting and occupancy expected in September 2024, Dianne DePasquale-Hagerty, CEO of Medina Creative Housing, told the CJN.
arden-courts.org/chagrinfalls
“It’s been a long and winding road, and to go from a concept, a dream, to having that formalized into a partnership with the Ursuline Sisters and going through all of the zoning, through the planning, through the city requirements, to finally be approved to build this very special, intentional community where we’ll have forever homes for individuals with disabilities full of hope and promise for the residents and peace of mind for their families,” DePasquale-Hagerty said. “And I think that the 11 years has signified the unwavering commitment of all the partners involved to support and uplift the lives of those in need.”
As its first development on the east side of Cleveland, she
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After over 30 years, The Riverside Company will leave the Terminal Tower at 50 Public Square for the 57th floor of Key Tower, the top floor of Cleveland’s tallest skyscraper.
The global private equity firm was founded in 1988 and is led by coCEOs Bela Szigethy and Stewart Kohl with headquarters in New York and Cleveland. Kohl, who joined Riverside in 1993, told the Cleveland Jewish News the company, and he personally, have been tenants of Terminal Tower in one form or another for over 30 years.
“It’s been a long and fantastic relationship and we’ve been very happy in the tower,” said Kohl, a Beachwood resident and congregant of Green Road Synagogue in Beachwood. “But the lease was coming up, so two years ago we, as I think is best practice, took kind of zero based and said where do we want to be for the next 30 years, if you will.”
While the company has moved around the Terminal Tower since its inception, its current office is a 13,800 square-feet space across the 28th and 29th floor connected by its own stairwell.
As conversations regarding the move began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kohl said it was hard
to imagine what a new space should be. But ultimately, Riverside decided on staying downtown in the central business district and looking for an amenity-rich space on one floor that could be flexible as needs change time.
And Key Tower checked all of the boxes, he said.
“The goal is to have a space which is compelling enough that our folks, even those who live in beautiful homes –which is often the case in Cleveland – and have very good home offices – which is often the case with our folks – still want to come into the office because it’s a compelling place to be,” Kohl said.
While the new space is about 3,000 square feet less than the company’s current office, he said it’s a very efficient space on one floor with views over Lake Erie to the north, industrial Cleveland to the south, the Gold Coast to the West and the Heights to the east.
“You can see everything, it’s really just astounding,” he said.
In preparation for the move during the mid-to-late first quarter of 2024, Kohl said the space is empty as they’re finishing the demolition. But it will be an attractive and functional space with modular furniture to change the space to its needs.
Given the global nature of the firm, Riverside already had a hybrid-model workplace before the pandemic sent many workers to work from home which will continue in the new office even as he hopes to attract more people to the office, Kohl said.
Recognizing a need for change, he said the move will
“You can see everything, it’s really just astounding.”
Stewart Kohl
“get them excited about the office again. People are not that excited about the office right now. And I’m excited about the office, I want to see their smiling faces even if they don’t want to see mine. And the opportunity to do something from scratch I think also was unique.”
Frank Sinito, founder and CEO of Millenia Cos., which owns Key Tower, and Doug Miller, president of Millenia Commercial Group, which manages the tower, also have offices in the building, which Kohl said makes a difference.
“(Sinito) really cares and I think it underlines the level of service that everybody gets,” he said.
The downtown Cleveland office is Riverside’s largest, Kohl said, and staying downtown shows a commitment to Cleveland not only as a place to do business, but to build a company, start or advance a career, and raise a family.
In regard to the two floors that Riverside currently occupies in Terminal Tower, Doug Price, CEO of K&D Group which owns the tower, told Crain’s Cleveland Business they have found a new tenant, but cannot identify it yet.
said the project came about when MCH was developing a project in Middleburg Heights and a motivated group of east side families reached out wanting a development in their own community.
Part of this group was the Goldbergs, who moved to Pepper Pike 26 years ago “not knowing what we needed” and finding a wonderful school district and community that they hoped to stay in, Goldberg said. Goldberg, her husband, Michael, and their sons, Noah and Jackson, are congregants of Congregation Shaarey Tikvah in Beachwood and Jewish Family Experience in University Heights.
Goldberg said she has been thinking about Noah’s future since he was a teen and came across MCH’s Creative Living for Life community model and felt it was a good fit. She met with its grant writer, Jen Wintner, and DePasquale-Hagerty, and later Mayor Richard Bain of Pepper Pike who suggested the Ursuline Sisters property. Goldberg became a full-time volunteer collecting names and serving as a liaison between MCH and the new project.
Throughout the process, the project received a mix of support and some
concerns raised by residents, but ultimately Goldberg and DePasquale-Hagerty look forward to a bright future.
“I’m really hoping people who originally felt that way are going to feel differently once we move in to see that we’re going to be great neighbors, and we’re going to do what we can to fit in and support each other,” Goldberg said.
Many of the residents, she said, are not new neighbors, but have lived or grew up in Pepper Pike, and almost half of them identify as Jewish.
“Not only (is it) neurodiverse, multigenerational, but it also makes it very ecumenical and a wide variety of religious affiliation,” she said.
The homes are privately-funded by families, with fundraising for a community center.
“We’re excited to become active members of the Pepper Pike community in the near future and welcome the community to get to know us and our organization, and obviously all of the future residents to get to know us better,” DePasquale-Hagerty said. “And again, we look forward to developing additional relationships in the community and we look forward to the bright future.”
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
WOur Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
hat do the following have in common?
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Michael Jackson and Jerry Garcia.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
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Our Mission: To provide resources for advancing student success at Cuyahoga Community College and to transform the lives of those Tri-C serves. Our vision: To ensure Tri-C has the resources needed to help every student learn, thrive and succeed and to create a prosperous community for all.
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If you guessed musicians, you shouldn’t have thought this exercise would be so easy.
more likely to devolve into a dispute and that it includes persons that prize secrecy and doesn’t discuss their wishes with their family; plans that are unnatural (meaning not typically expected); clients who are diminished in capacity or in need of services of another for the daily care; bad family dynamics.”
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unfortunately, can be as drastic as the need to appoint a guardian – someone independent, who has to manage the care and finances of the parent – usually to the dissatisfaction of all of the family members.”
Tri-C Foundation’s largest campaign in history has surpassed its $50 million goal. The Skills to Succeed Campaign aligns with regional needs and challenges, to connect everyone to more opportunities.
Tri-C Foundation’s largest campaign in history has surpassed its $50 million goal. The Skills to Succeed Campaign aligns with regional needs and challenges, to connect everyone to more opportunities.
The correct answer is: Celebrities whose estates created massive, newsmaking disputes among their respective families.
Fried
One doesn’t need to have estates of that volume of wealth or public interest to avoid family squabbling, either in the estate creation process or after the owner of the estate is deceased.
Fried has three areas for a client’s attention: Disputes over health care arrangements, control issues and changes to an estate plan that benefits one family member at the expense of others.
First, health care disputes.
“This is a very human kind of problem,” Fried said. “An estate plan includes the appointment of an agent to make health care decisions.
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The campaign is having immediate impact on students and the future of the community, with 90% of funds already in use. The balance will invest in long-term strategies. Contributions are still urgently needed to address students’ most critical needs, especially scholarships and student emergency funds. Learn how you can help at tri-c.edu/skills-to-succeed-campaign
The campaign is having immediate impact on students and the future of the community, with 90% of funds already in use. The balance will invest in long-term strategies. Contributions are still urgently needed to address students’ most critical needs, especially scholarships and student emergency funds. Learn how you can help at tri-c.edu/skills-to-succeed-campaign
Adam Fried, attorney at Reminger Co. LPA in Cleveland, said their are a myriad of concerns and potential issues involved within a family when establishing an estate plan.
Consider that disputes are not the rule, but they occur.
“Some family members go to war over the decision making of the health care agent. What we sometimes see that create problems: (a) decisions that isolate the parent from other family members; (b) secrecy about medical issues and concerns, leaving family members in the dark about the needs of a parent; (c) questions of placement into a nursing care or assisted living; (d) making decisions to save or spend money that other family members think are dangerous or excessive.
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Next on Fried’s list is who controls the estate, including the appointment of bad executors, trustees and agents under a power of attorney.
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to diminished cognition or reliance on care services, or otherwise, loses capacity altogether. A person with bad intentions can pray on such conditions and cause changes to an existing estate plan that are unnatural and contrary to the known, longstanding intentions of the grantor.
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“I see this mostly when a parent appoints one child to serve as trustee over another child,” he said. “The plan and intent is for the trustee to take care of his or her sibling(s). The plan goes awry when the trusted child abuses that power by things such as: (a) lack of reporting and failure to provide material information about the trust and its assets; (b) misappropriation or selfdealing; (c) poor investments; and (d) refusal to distribute or consider needs of the beneficiary, as some examples.
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“Things we see include: gifting, misuse of a power of attorney, misappropriation, use of credit, and / or revisions or rewrites of wills and trusts. If inheritance was procured by bad conduct, the estate plan that was originally intended is no longer in effect, and it takes litigation to potentially restore the plan to its original intent.”
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“These kinds of problems lead to litigation in the form of actions to seek accountings and efforts to remove the trustee.”
Third on Fried’s list is changes to an estate plan that may lean toward one family member at the expense of others.
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Picture a round table at a lawyer’s office. Lots of money is at stake, and there are some angry voices. That’s where Fried comes in.
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Lou Joseph Megan O’Bryan
“These types of claims can completely
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“Typically, if a dispute arises, the parties should consider hiring someone who focuses their practice on resolving estate disputes,” he said. “Skills that are required: understanding the legal system and documents at issue; understanding the legal standards and burdens of proof; trial and deposition skills; and knowledge of the medical issues that often exist in estate disputes.”
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Whatever your net worth, you must feel it is significant enough to warrant meeting with an estate planner. Kim Stein of Ulmer & Berne in Cleveland, warned of some common mistakes a client should avoid when mulling over the process.
“One, don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good,” said Stein, who specializes in estate and retirement planning and is also an expert in tax planning strategies.
“Sometimes people get so bogged down in thinking about unlikely scenarios or in trying to conceptualize every possible outcome that they don’t end up getting anything done.
“With standard estate plans (wills and revocable trusts), you can update as time goes on, and implementing something close to what you want – even if it isn’t perfect –is far better than having nothing done.”
Stein’s second point involves serious soul-searching.
“Fiduciary selection (agent under power of attorney, executor, and/or trustee) is important,” Stein said. “Some clients want to name their children as their fiduciary in some order having to do with external factors, like age or geography, to avoid hurting feelings. Others want to name a friend or family member to avoid paying professional
fees. This kind of decision-making often leads to problems. Clients should choose fiduciaries based on their fitness for the role and an honest consideration of what the role will be. For example, if your children do not get along, is your sibling the best arbiter of those disagreements? If you have a child who spends frivolously, will naming their sibling as trustee both help them manage financially and preserve family relationships?
“If your sibling has widely divergent views from you on end-of-life decision-making, can you name them as your health care agent and be confident that if called upon to act in a tragic situation, they would make the choice you would want to make for yourself and not the choice they would make for him or herself? If a client is lucky enough to have a friend or family member well-suited to the role in question, that’s great. Being honest with yourself about what you are asking someone to take on is an incredibly important first step, and one that many clients struggle to manage.”
When searching for an expert in this area, Stein offered these tips.
“We are lucky to have a very strong community of good estate planning lawyers in Cleveland,” Stein said. “In my experience, successful relationships are driven by personal compatibility.
“The matters we discuss are very personal and require a great deal of trust that the work you’re doing together will outlive you. Our working relationship forms the basis of a legacy for your family, friends and preferred charities. It is essential to feel you can be candid with your counsel, and to
“The matters we discuss are very personal and require a great deal of trust that the work you’re doing together will outlive you.”Kim Stein
feel confident that they are giving you advice that is tailored to your concerns and personal situation. Ideally, this person also can relate well to your family and friends, and has the ability to be a comfort and a resource to them after you have passed away.”
When you finish your vetting process and await your first meeting with an adviser, be prepared, Stein said, for the following questions:
“What concerns brought you to me? The answers range from particularized, technical tax questions to planning strategies discussed at cocktail parties (or seen on TikTok) to a general mandate from parents or financial advisors that ‘we need a will.’ These all are valid, reasonable answers to that threshold question, but understanding the client’s primary motivation is essential to a productive beginning to what we hope will evolve into a long and trusting advisory relationship.”
Steve Mark is a freelance journalist.
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According to the Ohio Deptartment of Health, there were 56,060 marriages in the state of Ohio in 2020, the most recent year the state has tabulated the statistic.
at same year, there were 28,916 divorces in Ohio.
With regard to that second statistic, that translates into lots of legal fees.
at’s also a lot of disruptions in estates.
Ellen Mandell of Mandell Law in Beachwood discussed the e ect a marital breakup can have on an estate and what steps to take in the event of a divorce.
e rst item Mandell addressed was mostly clerical.
“I ask clients to bring me as many documents as possible related to the assets they have identi ed,” Mandell said. “I also ask if there are any special circumstances,
such as a dependent child or a child with special needs that must be supported after age 18.”
en comes the gritty tasks.
“When dealing with a divorcing client, I obtain a detailed list of assets and debts, as well as a history of when and how assets were acquired,” Mandell said. “Assets which are inherited and assets accumulated before the marriage began are generally not part of the marital estate. e type of asset is also relevant – is the retirement account a de ned bene t plan or an IRA or 401(k)type plan?
“Public employees, for example, who have a de ned bene t plan, may have chosen a single life annuity which means that upon the employee’s death after retirement, there is no monthly payment continued for the surviving former spouse.
I ask clients, ‘Are the assets in cash or securities? Are assets held in trust? If so, what kind of trust? Is there a 529 plan for a child, and who is the account holder?’”
Mandell advised if someone is considering establishing an estate plan, make an honest evaluation of the marital
“On a few occasions, people determine that a divorce will disrupt their planned retirement to such an extent that they choose to remain unhappily together. ... Complicated estate matters should be referred to attorneys and tax consultants who focus on estate planning and trusts.”
Ellen Mandell
relationship.
“In my experience people wait until after a divorce to start estate plans,” Mandell said. “Sometimes, there are estate plans in place that must be redone after divorce. On a few occasions, people determine that a divorce will disrupt their planned retirement to such an extent that they choose to remain unhappily together. One thing that used to be of concern was resolved by the Ohio legislature a number of years ago – once you are divorced, if you have a last will and testament which predated the marriage
termination and which you do not change, your former spouse does not inherit, even if the document says ‘I leave everything to my wife Jane.’”
All of the above requires skills of an estate planner to help a client navigate a divorce.
“I recognize the limits of my skill set,” Mandell said. “Complicated estate matters should be referred to attorneys and tax consultants who focus on estate planning and trusts.”
Steve Mark is a freelance journalist.
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When a person dies, certain processes need to be followed to allocate assets. Sometimes the assets, also known as a person’s estate, go through a court process called probate.
Susan Friedman, partner and estate planning attorney at Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP, and Jaclyn Vary, partner and vice chair of estate and succession planning and administration at Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP, both in Cleveland, explained what probate is, why it is necessary and how probate attorneys are involved in the process.
“Probate is the judicial administration to transfer property previously owned by a deceased person,” Friedman said.
In Ohio, the probate process is public and is handled in the local county’s probate court, she said. An executor or personal representative is appointed by the probate court. is person collects all assets, creates an inventory of them, pays debts, and prepares accounts according to the deceased person’s last will and testament provisions.
If the deceased person does not have a last will and testament, the executor prepares accountings according to Ohio interstate law, the law that applies when a person
dies without a last will and testament, Friedman said.
Attorneys who specialize in probate guide the executor of an estate and the estate’s bene ciaries through the court process, she said. ey help them identify assets and bene ciaries; pay outstanding debts; collect and distribute life insurance proceeds; resolve any tax issues; transfer real estate; prepare and le all probate court documents; distribute assets; and settle an estate according to probate law.
“Probate attorneys also help when a decedent dies without a will, an executor isn’t named, a will is determined to be invalid by the probate court or there are no known bene ciaries,” she added.
Because probate court can be expensive, time consuming and is public record, probate attorneys usually try to help clients avoid probate, Friedman noted. Probate attorneys are usually also estate planning attorneys, so they work with clients prior to their deaths to prepare estate plans that often include probate avoidance.
Friedman suggested a potential client looking for a probate attorney ask how long an attorney has been practicing in the probate eld; what fees are involved, and how and when those fees will be paid; who their main point of contact will be and whether other sta at the rm will be involved in the case; whether the attorney has experience with the speci c court handling the case; what documents will be needed; and how long they anticipate the process taking.
Patience is an important trait for probate attorneys to have, she pointed out.
“Probate attorneys face constant challenges throughout the process,” Friedman said. “ ere are often issues involving banks, investment advisers and insurance companies relating to assets, for example. Many times, there are di cult family dynamics to pay attention to. Disagreements can also lead to contentious litigation and will contests. Experienced attorneys can address challenges as issues arise and know when to delegate or seek additional assistance.”
Something people may not know about probate attorneys is their goal is to avoid probate and family con icts, she said. A smooth transfer of assets is preferred.
“Probate often exacerbates an already extremely di cult time for loved ones,” she said. “Proper planning will help alleviate much of that additional stress.”
A smooth transition will be much more likely if proper planning to control who one’s assets go to is done in advance of their death, Friedman noted.
“Probate is a court supervised process of administering a decedent’s estate which includes paying debts and distributing assets to heirs,” Vary explained. “If an Ohio decedent did not have an estate plan, often both a will and trust, any property that is solely owned by the decedent will need to be reported to the probate court through the probate process.”
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Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A. prides itself on bringing a wide range of experience to structuring and executing estate planning documentation for our clients. Our goal is to provide our clients with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their counsel is single-mindedly looking out for their best interests.
prah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson have committed $10 million to make direct payments to people on Maui who are unable to return to their homes because of the wildfires, through a new fund they announced recently.
The People’s Fund of Maui will give $1,200 a month to adults who are not able to return to their primary residences because of the recent wildfires, including people who owned and rented their homes, according to the fund’s website. The fund will also seek donations to extend the length of time it can provide the support.
“How do we help?” the “Young Rock” star said he and Winfrey asked each other during the wildfires, saying in a video released along with the announcement that they grappled with how to best direct their efforts. “You want to take care of the greatest need of the people, and that’s giving them money.”
They are looking forward to the help of “every person who called me and said, ‘What can I do?’” Winfrey said in the video. “This is what you can do.”
The pair were inspired by a similar fund set up by Dolly Parton after wildfires swept through Gatlinburg, Tennessee in December 2016, killing 14 people and destroying 2,400 structures.
Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation, said he consulted with Winfrey’s team multiple times in the past
PROBATE | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 72
The probate process ensures the decedent’s solely owned property passes under their last will and testament, or Ohio’s interstate statute of descent and distribution to heirs, she elaborated.
Probate attorneys assist executors named in a will and help them correctly carry out the probate process, she said.
weeks to share the lessons that they’d learned from administrating the fund, which eventually granted $11 million to families who had lost their homes.
“Dolly’s idea was that, ‘Hey, look, these are my people and I want to take care of them and we trust them to know what recovery looks like for themselves and their families in the days and weeks following this immediate catastrophe here,’” Conyers said.
Parton’s fund, called My People Fund, worked with first responders and a local utility company and asked residents to help them determine which structures were destroyed and who lived in those homes, Conyers said. Around 1,000 families eventually received assistance from the fund, according to an evaluation from the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Social Work. That included a final $5,000 lump sum transfer at the end of six months.
To qualify for the People’s Fund of Maui, applicants must show a government ID and a utility bill in their name for a lost or uninhabitable residence, the fund’s website said.
Winfrey, who lives on Maui part-time, visited an emergency shelter on Maui in the days after the wildfire hit and worried about effectively getting resources to residents. At least 115 people were killed in the fires, though an unknown number are still missing. The fire that ripped through the historic town of Lahaina on Aug. 8 was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.
estate is large in size, there are complex beneficiary designations, or the beneficiary relationships are contentious, she advised.
When searching for a probate attorney, potential clients should ask how long the attorney has been practicing in the areas of probate and estate planning law, whether they have dealt with the court in which their probate case is being handled and what their fees are, she suggested.
Clients often want to avoid probate due to its public nature, long time frames and fees, she pointed out.
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Singerman, Mills, Desberg & Kauntz Co., L.P.A. prides itself on bringing a wide range of experience to structuring and executing estate planning documentation for our clients. Our goal is to provide our clients with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their counsel is single-mindedly
“A probate attorney may also assist an executor with identifying all the estate assets, collecting insurance policies, determining and filing estate and income tax returns, ordering appraisals for property, paying debts and final bills, preparing and filing court documents, and retitling assets,” Vary listed.
A person should consider hiring a probate attorney when an estate plan is complicated, there are many assets, the assets are difficult to value or divide, the
“Probate can occasionally be a quick process,” Vary said. “More often, the probate process takes about a year or more. It is helpful if the decedent had a good estate plan in place with assets properly titled to carry out the estate plan.”
Meghan Walsh is a freelance journalist.
NEW YORK – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $200 million to help save the lives of mothers and children during childbirth, as the largest American philanthropic donor throws its weight behind the issue during the nonprofit’s annual Goalkeepers conference on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.
Melinda French Gates, who says the issue is personal to her, smiled broadly as she introduced herself not just as the co-founder and co-chair of the foundation but as “Nona,” or grandmother, gesturing to her oldest daughter, Jennifer, who was seated in the audience in New York last week.
The foundation pledged $100 million each to health products manufacturer Unitaid, and UNFPA, the U.N. agency for reproductive health, to fund access to health care and contraceptive supplies and information in lowand middle-income countries. The Gates Foundation has been a major supporter of Unitaid, donating $50 million in each 2012 and 2017, according to the foundation’s grant database.
Founded in 2017, the Goalkeepers initiative is how the foundation tracks progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, which U.N. member countries agreed in 2015 to meet by 2030. The goals set lofty targets to reduce poverty, improve health and education and protect the environment, though progress toward achieving them has fallen significantly off track, especially following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
In an effort to reach an audience outside of government officials, experts and policy circles, the foundation hosted an award ceremony in New York Tuesday evening and recruited social media influencers to cover it, said Blessing Omakwu, who leads the Goalkeepers initiative.
“My goal is they go back and take these things that we said in a very policy way and make it accessible to their followings and say, ‘Look, this matters. You should care about maternal health.’”
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“My goal is they go back and take these things that we said in a very policy way and make it accessible to their followings and say, ‘Look, this matters. You should care about maternal health,’” French Gates said.
French Gates recognized former President Jimmy Carter and former rst lady Rosalynn Carter with a lifetime achievement award, pointing in part Carter’s long commitment to the elimination of guinea worm disease. Singer Bono also received a special award for his work advocating over many years for access to health care in developing countries and for the role he played in launching the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR.
e program to combat HIV/AIDS was created by President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress two decades ago and is credited with saving 25 million lives. e fate of the program, set to expire at the end of September, is uncertain because of a demand from Republican lawmakers to bar nongovernmental organizations that used any funding from providing or promoting abortion services.
Bill Gates was absent from the award ceremony Tuesday because he had been invited to attend an event with President Joe Biden, French Gates said on stage. e two announced their divorce in 2021 but committed to continuing to work together at the foundation.
Speaking of the future of PEPFAR on Wednesday, Bill Gates said the idea the program would not continue is quite scary, given that it continues to provide life saving medications for millions of people around the world.
“It’s a shame that, at least temporarily, this is caught up in sort of a, ‘Does the U.S. reach out to the world and help the world?’ – some of those controversies. I think we will overcome that because the U.S. has a lot to be proud on this one,” Gates said.
Gates also made the case for a suite of interventions to prevent the deaths of children in the year after they are born, which he said was one of the rst priorities of the foundation. He spoke with emotion about a visit he made to a South African clinic, where doctors asked the mother of a child who had died that day if she would allow them to try to determine more speci cally the cause of the baby’s death as a part of a larger study. Cumulatively, the results of that study, which the foundation funded, has advanced knowledge about the causes of infant mortality.
e foundation also recognized the leaders of projects they said exempli ed the aims of the development goals, including Eden Tadesse from Ethiopia, who designed a platform to provide job opportunities to refugees, and Aidan Reilly, Ben Collier, and James Kano , who started a project that delivers vegetables and produce that otherwise would be thrown out to food banks in the U.S.
Award winner Ashu Martha Agbornyenty, a midwife from Cameroon, called the foundation’s recognition of her work a victory for those who study to become midwives and for the health of women in her country.
“Everyone around me was like, ‘ ere’s nothing for midwifery. Midwifery is just a layman’s profession. ere’s no future for midwifery.’ But me being here in New York today, it’s victory,” she said standing on a red carpet.
e Gates Foundation was not alone in announcing new
“Everyone around me was like, ‘There’s nothing for midwifery. Midwifery is just a layman’s profession. There’s no future for midwifery.’ But me being here in New York today, it’s victory.”
Ashu Martha Agbornyenty
commitments to support progress toward the development goals. On Tuesday, the IKEA Foundation pledged $20 million to help workers and communities who may lose jobs in the transition to renewal energy sources in Vietnam, South Africa and Indonesia. e Rockefeller Foundation announced last week that it will focus 75% of its resources over ve years on what it calls climate solutions in energy, health, agriculture and nance, committing $1 billion in granted funds. And the Clinton Global Initiative announced that gender equity would now be a pillar of its work.
Last year, the Gates Foundation put the spotlight on hunger and promoted its support for crops engineered to adapt to climate change and resist agricultural pests, which have been criticized by farming groups and researchers who say that con icts with worldwide e orts to protect the environment.
Americans are a generous bunch, with 60% giving to charity annually according to many surveys. The Jewish community donates at even higher rates. However, fewer than 10% of wills and estate plans include a charitable bequest. Let’s consider some reasons people might have for this disconnect.
I give annually. Terri c. Regular giving is the lifeblood that lets charitable organizations keep their doors open. But a bequest can help ensure that your support continues uninterrupted long after you’re gone.
I don’t want publicity. Most nonpro ts publish legacy donors as a way of saying thank you and to inspire others to do the same. If you’re not the kind of person who wants to draw attention to your generosity, you can always tell the charity you wish to remain anonymous.
I’m too young for a legacy gift. It’s never too early to plan ahead. Any person, no matter their age, can identify the causes and organizations they wish their assets to support after they are gone.
I will need a lawyer. ere are many legacy gift options that don’t require an attorney. Consider naming your favorite nonpro t as a bene ciary of a portion of your retirement fund, brokerage account or life insurance policy. is can often be done online or by signing a form. You can even revise such designations if you later change your mind. Still, it is highly advisable to work with an attorney to create a comprehensive estate plan.
I won’t get to decide what happens to my gift. You can stipulate how the recipient organization uses your bequest, such as specifying it support a particular program or establish a designated fund. Nonpro t organizations have ethical and legal obligations to honor donor intent. at said, you don’t have to restrict your gift; in fact, general funding is usually what a nonpro t most needs.
If the organization dissolves, so will my money. It’s impossible to predict where any of us will be in 10, 20 or certainly 50 years. If you are worried that your favorite organization might not be around in the future, you can direct your bequest go to an alternate organization or to a general cause (Jewish education, seniors, etc.).
My children come rst. Every parent wants to make sure their children are taken care of. Consider leaving just a portion of your estate to charitable causes. You will not only provide for your children, but you’ll also convey a powerful statement about your charitable values.
I might need my money. True, you might. And it will be there for you when you do need it. A legacy gift represents what you value and how you wish to be remembered when you will no longer need your assets.
I don’t know where to give. ere are indeed many worthwhile causes and organizations. Many people base their legacy gifts on what inspires them or on issues of greatest concern. Others select speci c charities that helped
them or a loved one.
I have to be a millionaire to leave a bequest. e great thing about legacy giving is that you can make a bequest in any amount. e recipient organizations will gratefully cherish your gift no matter its size.
What better way to ensure your charitable legacy continues than by including a charitable bequest.
Matthew A. Kaliff is senior director of endowment development at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland in Cleveland. This article is not intended as legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult with your own professional adviser.
A legacy gift represents what you value and how you wish to be remembered when you will no longer need your assets.
NEW YORK – ere has been a “substantial” increase in philanthropic spending for journalism over the past ve years, particularly outlets that serve poor and minority communities, a report issued last week said – but journalists need to tighten ethical rules that govern the new spending, it recommended.
e struggling news industry is increasingly relying on donations and subscriptions, although it hasn’t come close to making up for the collapse in advertising that has led to the dramatic drop in outlets that cover local news.
More than half of funders surveyed by NORC at the University of Chicago said they have increased their journalism grants. Most nonpro t and for-pro t news organizations report more funding.
“We see many more people – and that includes people who work in philanthropy –being interested in a stronger civic infrastructure by funding local news,” said Sarah Alvarez, founder of Outlier Media, a Detroit-based news source that started in 2016 and has 16 employees.
Partly because it’s a relatively new area of giving, it’s hard to get a reliable count of how much philanthropy funds journalism. A report by Boston Consulting Group estimated $150 million per year is given to nonpro t news outlets. e same report said that industry needs up to $1.75 billion.
A major drive with a goal of raising $1 billion for local news is expected to be announced this fall, the NORC report said.
“It’s signi cantly more important than it was eight years ago,” said Tom Rosenstiel, a University of Maryland professor who worked on the report, updating a similar one from 2015. “ ere are more nonpro t news organizations, and a lot of for-pro t news organizations now get charitable donations, including e New York Times.”
Alvarez, a former public radio reporter in Michigan, built an organization intent on delivering information to poor communities –through text messages at rst – on topics like housing, utilities and transportation.
Outlier Media has worked with other local news organizations in the Detroit area to develop a network of community reporters to keep an eye on local government meetings, she said.
She found a sharp increase in philanthropic interest in Outlier Media after
the pandemic because it showed people who weren’t used to living every day with a lack of vital information what that was like.
Nearly six in 10 funders that responded to NORC’s survey said they have made grants to outlets primarily focused on communities of color. Rosenstiel said that was partly spurred by the racial reckoning caused by George Floyd’s killing, along with a recognition that news organizations have long been better covering wealthier areas because that was what most interested their advertisers.
While the situation has improved since the 2015 study, news organizations have been slow in developing public guidelines on what type of money they will accept, and how that is disclosed to readers, he said. For instance, 72% of for-pro t outlets say they don’t have written policies, the survey said.
In many cases, “they hadn’t really thought about it,” Rosenstiel said. “ ey were just trying to get money.”
But the policies are vital if the outlets want consumers to understand that they are not accepting money from donors who are interested in speci c stories being written to advance an agenda, he said.
e survey said 92% of nonpro t news outlets and 83% or for-pro t organizations said funders never saw editorial content that they helped underwrite prior to publication.
While several donors are interested in journalism that delves into areas that t their particular interests – like the environment or education, two areas among several in which e Associated Press receives grant funding — an increasing number are seeing the importance of funding news reporting in general, Rosenstiel said.
“ e data would suggest that philanthropies are getting a little more sophisticated in understanding that if you’re going to fund journalism, it has to be independent journalism,” Rosenstiel said. “If you’re going to give a lot of money to a news organization and nobody believes what the news organization reports, what’s the point?”
A total of 129 organizations that fund journalism responded to this year’s survey, compared to 76 in 2015, NORC said. e University of Chicago worked with the Lenfest Institute for Journalism and Media Impact Funders for the study.
NEW YORK – Some organizations representing minority journalists say they’re worried that outlets reporting on their communities will be left behind in a recently-announced $500 million initiative aimed at boosting the struggling local news industry.
They urged that Press Forward Initiative, a group of 20 funders led by the Knight and MacArthur Foundations, to more explicitly commit to funding these outlets, particularly those run by minorities.
“They’re sort of skirting around it,” Martin Reynolds, co-executive director of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, said recently.
In announcing the $500 million pledge on Sept. 7, the funders said they wanted to “move resources to newsrooms and organizations that are improving diversity of experience and thought,” as well as into underserved communities.
“We deeply value diversity within news ecosystems, recognizing that it is required for the optimal functioning of democracy,” said Jim Brady, the Knight Foundation’s vice president of journalism. “Knight’s grantmaking has shown that commitment to diversity, which will absolutely continue with Press Forward.”
Reynolds pointed to research showing that philanthropists tended to favor organizations run by whites for funding, more than minorities, and are more apt to put restrictions on the use of grants given to non-whites.
He said he’s also concerned that the U.S. Supreme Court decision in June striking down affirmative action in college admissions will make funders less willing to make racial equity a priority in decisions about where to spend.
A recent survey by the National Trust for Local News found that 53% of leaders at community media outlets that serve specific racial or ethnic communities said their organizations were likely to go out of business within five years based on how things were going for them financially.
The letter to Press Forward sent on Tuesday was signed by the Asian American Journalists Association, the Indigenous Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Local news in the U.S. has been decimated over the past two decades by a collapse in advertising, leading many newspapers to close or operate in a “ghost” state. Some philanthropies have stepped up in recent years to try and fill the gaps.
The organizations that spoke out on Tuesday said
“We deeply value diversity within news ecosystems, recognizing that it is required for the optimal functioning of democracy.”
Jim Brady
they “didn’t hesitate to applaud” when the latest funding initiative was announced, and pleased that “improving diversity of experience and thought” was set as part of the mission.
“As this initiative unfolds and decisions are made about where support is directed, we want to be clear: racial and ethnic diversity, equity and belonging must be among the pillars of its foundation,” the letter said.
Clothes
www.GoodwillGoodSkills.org
Can money buy happiness? Recent data shows that most Americans need an annual salary of $100,000 to be happy. But this number varies by state, with some residents reporting needing more income and others claiming to need less.
Twelve-hundred Americans answered survey questions about their income, satisfaction with their current salary, and how much more they would need to earn to be happy. e response was a $25,000 jump from a 2010 Nobel-prize-winning happiness study.
Considering the average income in the United States is about $31,000 a year, most people have a long way to go.
People in Hawaii need the biggest paycheck to be happy, an annual income of $200,978. Hawaiians are also near the top of the list regarding dissatisfaction with their income. e di erence between what they currently earn and the salary they believe they need to be happy is 311%.
Many states in the Northeast rank high on the list of needing the biggest paychecks to be happy. New York, Maryland, Maine and New Jersey are all in the top ten, and Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia are in the top half.
e cost of living in these states is notoriously expensive – higher than the average. It stands to reason that at least a portion of this higher income allows residents to meet basic needs like housing, food and healthcare.
For most people, though, happiness is achieved beyond meeting basic needs. e fact that more than half of the respondents said they avoid social outings and vacations because of nancial instability shows that there is more to their happiness than just keeping a roof over their heads.
On the ip side are Southern states. Six states, including Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi, come in on the bottom half of the list.
People in Alabama say they would be
happy with an annual salary of $69,615, and those in Mississippi would be satis ed with $57,500.
While most people feel like they need to earn more money to be happy, those living in Delaware, New Hampshire, Indiana, North Dakota and Vermont are pleased with their income. Some residents even say they would be happy to earn less.
ey have found a sweet spot of contentment that has little to do with how much money they have in the bank. ey recognize they have many things to be grateful for, which is one of the keys to happiness.
e most signi cant surprise in the ndings is that paycheck size does not correlate with the cost of living. Californians report needing an annual income of $127,968 to be happy when this western state is one of the most expensive in the country. New York, also well known for its high cost of living, ranks number one for needing the largest paycheck, whereas Massachusetts, which has an even higher cost of living than New York, ranks fth. is nding shows there is more to happiness than the number of zeros on a paycheck. So, what’s the real secret to a happy life?
A previous study showed that income increases happiness, which makes sense. e higher a person’s income, the easier it is to meet their basic necessities and still have money left over. But these same studies also show that the relationship is not in nite. ere is a tipping point where additional money does not bring extra happiness.
Earning an income of greater than $100,000 does not equal more happiness. Other, more critical factors are likely at play, such as the quality of relationships, job satisfaction, health and overall quality of life. ose who are earning over $100,000 and are still unhappy may need to take a step back and change their perspective. As the old saying goes, you make lemonade when life gives you lemons. A grateful attitude goes a long way, as does the realization that not all good things in life come with
Starting retirement planning and acting on it early generally results in greater funds for retirement. However, this does not imply it is ever too late to learn how to plan your retirement strategically. ese experienced insights from Yieldstreet can help you develop a plan, regardless of where you are on your career path.
Ideally, you’ll start putting money away when you’re in your 20s. is enables you to maximize the compounding of interest and gives you the ability to invest more aggressively. Preservation of capital should anchor your strategy as you get older. is typically means bonds and other xedincome securities. Riskier investments such as stocks can o er greater earnings potential when you have a longer time horizon. Learning how to invest in real estate can be bene cial at any age.
is will vary based on your current income, your retirement age and the activities you’d like to enjoy in retirement. Some counselors advise saving at least 12 years of your pre-retirement income. However, the exact amount will vary depending on the type of life you’d like to live and the lifestyle to which you are accustomed. A retirement calculator can help you determine your target gure.
Waiting until you’ve reached full retirement age to claim your Social Security bene t is a good play. For people born in 1960 or later, this means 67 years of age. Claiming the bene t earlier reduces the
HAPPY | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 80
a price tag. Learning to enjoy the simple pleasures in life can help to break the belief that chasing more money will equal more happiness.
Another important tool to use against unhappiness and discontent is to prioritize self-care. All too often, people get wrapped up in family, career and friends, putting others rst while leaving little or no time for taking care of themselves. e result is unhealthy habits like eating poorly,
amount you’ll receive each month – forever. With that said, there are very few places one can live in the U.S. in which Social Security income will provide all of the funding needed to live a comfortable life. It’s best to look at that bene t as part of the retirement income package, rather than the entire package.
e order in which you withdraw funds from your retirement accounts will have a profound e ect upon your tax burden. You’ll also want to draw income from your investments before your retirement accounts to a ord the latter more time to compound interest.
You’ll need to consider the after-tax return potential of your investment stratagems to get an accurate picture of the amount you’ll need to put away. You’ll also need to have an idea of your tax status when you begin withdrawals. Here again, a good retirement calculator can be an invaluable tool.
Best-case scenario, you’ll build a portfolio that can deliver returns capable of supporting your retirement needs, while preserving its value. You can then pass it on to your bene ciaries. It’s also important to have a succession plan, as well as adequate insurance, to help your descendants avoid unnecessary expenses.
ese insights on how to plan your retirement strategically can help ensure your retirement plan is both workable and e ective to maximize the superannuation funding available to you.
not getting enough sleep and adopting unreliable coping strategies that can damage the body.
Chasing happiness on a dollar sign breeds discontent, which leads to stress. Creating a detailed list of self-care ideas and putting them into action is critical to nding more happiness. e truth is happiness is not a destination. It is an attitude, a state of mind, a decision and all the money in the world can’t create that.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks via The Associated Press.
NEW YORK – Actor and philanthropist Michael J. Fox won this year’s Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, which the “Back to the Future” star plans to use to further his foundation’s work to nd treatments for Parkinson’s disease.
Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29 in 1991, received the award at the Clinton Global Initiative, or CGI, conference Sept. 19 in New York. e annual prize, which went to Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai last year, includes $250,000 from the Elevate Prize Foundation and support to amplify the winner’s messaging.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who interviewed Fox onstage at CGI, credited him with research advances in understanding Parkinson’s. “I don’t think this work would have made the progress it has if Michael hadn’t been so open,” she said.
“He is an icon. He was able to use the power of his story to introduce to so many people what this disease was and make us care about it.”
Garcia Jayaram
in 2000 has made a major di erence in the understanding of the disease.
Fox said that once he got support from his family after his diagnosis, he did not hesitate about going public with his diagnosis.
“I just can’t think of a better person to inspire us all to face our challenges with that much stamina and honesty and vulnerability,” Garcia Jayaram said. “It’s scary to be that vulnerable and share something so personal to you and your family -- especially in his case when his job was to be a public gure. He did it anyway. Nothing will stop him.”
“ ere’s such shame associated with this illness,” Fox said. “It’s so ridiculous, this great need to keep it secret. e cruel thing of it is it’s going to out you eventually.”
However, he said there is no choice but to “keep trying to move the ball forward –whether it’s world peace, climate change or this disease.”
Former President Bill Clinton said he was “awestruck” by Fox. “I’ve known Michael J. Fox for a long time, and he looks better every time I see him,” he said. “He is a brave, good man.”
Joseph Deitch, founder of e Elevate Prize Foundation, called Fox “a lightning rod for good,” as he presented him with the award.
“He is an icon,” Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina García Jayaram told e Associated Press in an interview. “He was able to use the power of his story to introduce to so many people what this disease was and make us care about it.”
Garcia Jayaram said Fox embodies this year’s CGI theme of “ Keep Going “ and was “the perfect person at the perfect time” as the more than $2 billion Fox’s foundation has raised for research since it launched
Deborah Brooks, co-founder and CEO of the Michael J. Fox Foundation, said the award comes at an important time for the nonpro t. In April, a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease was identi ed for the rst time, a “seismic shift” that will help improve chances for creating treatments and tests that can detect the disease in living patients.
“We’re excited that this kind of recognition allows him to help us continue to keep moving at what feels somewhat like a warp pace in terms of driving progress on some of the most exciting things going on in neuroscience right now,” Brooks said.
New developments will require hundreds of millions, if not billions, of research dollars, as well as more volunteers for testing, Brooks said. However, Fox plans to use the award to increase his pro le, as well as raise awareness about how people can help.
“Patients and families want to be part of the solution they are looking for,” said Brooks, adding that the foundation created the Fox Trial Finder, which helps connect patients to potential testing programs. “Often they have no idea how that manifests, and so it’s always been a part of our message.”
NEW YORK – e Clinton Global Initiative added gender equity as a pillar of the nonpro t’s work to sound the alarm about the increasing challenges women and girls currently face, Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton told e Associated Press in an interview recently.
e conference addressed numerous pressing global issues before wrapping up – from food insecurity, which World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain called “desperation,” to climate change – with 160 new monetary commitments announced that could total billions of dollars in new funding.
“Whatever the issue – it’s connected to women and it falls more heavily on women,” Chelsea Clinton said. “It also requires us to center women in how we think about what our collective response should be.”
She echoed the famous line, “Human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights,” from then rst lady Hillary Clinton’s speech to the United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. However, Chelsea Clinton said that while there has been progress for gender equality since then, “we’ve stalled out in some areas and we’ve regressed in others.”
“I think that it’s important to acknowledge all of that,” she said. “We have to secure the progress that we’ve made and keep pushing forward.”
at also applies to Ukraine. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the new CGI Ukraine Action
Network, which is “committed to sustaining a deliberate international focus on Ukraine and supporting new commitments to action.”
CGI announced numerous new programs for Ukraine –from actor Orlando Bloom’s plan to raise $20 million to provide new laptops to 50,000 students to So-Light Design’s pledge to provide 30,000 SoLights, individual solar-powered light sources, to Ukrainians who lack consistent access to electricity.
“We are in this for the long haul for Ukraine, Ukrainians and for democracy everywhere,” Hillary Clinton said. “ eir ght is our ght. Don’t let anybody tell you di erently.”
She also presented First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska with this year’s Clinton Global Citizen Award for “extraordinary leadership amid unimaginable, di cult circumstances, and who has been a forceful advocate for peace and a relentless champion of her determined people.”
Zelenska, who worked with Hillary Clinton for the past year designing the Ukraine Action Network, accepted the award on behalf of all Ukrainians who she said keep the country going each day in the face of attacks from Russia. “All of them are my compatriots and I am grateful to them,” she said. “A leader is the one who comes to help, who stands by those who need help. I’m grateful to the American people and their friends and family for being such leaders.”
Cindy McCain was looking to CGI for similar leaders to help address the growing problem of food insecurity.
“From the World Food Programme’s perspective, the world on re,” she told former President Bill Clinton. “ is is nothing to play with now... We have hundreds of millions of people who
Ronald
McDonald
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don’t know where their next meal is going to come from.”
McCain said recent disasters in Africa could plunge the region into chaos due to a lack of food. “I am scared for the rst time in this job,” she said. “I’m scared about what will happen next.”
Chef Jose Andres, founder of World Central Kitchen, agreed with McCain that food insecurity should be seen as a national security issue. He said that the war in Ukraine is as much a war about feeding the world, since Ukraine normally feeds about 500 million people annually, as it is a war about them keeping their freedom.
Andres said he was proud to be part of the Ukraine Action Network to help out through World Central Kitchen.
“Over the past almost two years, I’ve spent a lot of time in Ukraine and with the World Central Kitchen Ukrainian team members,” he told e Associated Press. “WCK has served over 240 million meals since the invasion of Ukraine began, by mobilizing a network of local cooks, community organizers and volunteer organizations to provide food, when, where and how it’s most needed. We have been lling gaps by listening to and following the Ukrainians – Ukrainians feeding Ukrainians – and we constantly adapt to meet the need.”
Chelsea Clinton said the new gender equity pillar and the Ukraine Action Network provide a structure for expanding CGI’s work that allows it to be more e ective.
“ is work has to be coherent and it also has to be bold and ambitious, but with clear underlying targets to kind of hold ourselves accountable,” she said. “It is so that we are very clear about what we’re driving toward.”
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Baby boomers who haven’t retired yet, as well as early Gen Xers, are looking at Washington, D.C., with some apprehension. The 176-member House Republican Study Committee approved a fiscal blueprint in June 2023 to increase the full retirement age to 69 for those turning 62 in 2033.
This measure, along with others, would reduce the number of Americans collecting Social Security benefits, cut costs and help balance the budget by freeing up “cash” in the system.
Americans who plan to retire in the next 10 to 15 years aren’t happy with that concept since it means they have to work longer to receive full benefits, receiving less money overall.
The Old Age and Survivors Trust Fund, which helps fund Social Security, could run out of money in the next 10 years or so. If that happens, Social Security will be solely financed by payroll taxes, which cover about 77% of the current level of benefits. That translates to retirees losing nearly one
quarter of their expected Social Security income when the trust fund runs out.
The RSC report proposed significant changes to help combat this issue. The alterations to Social Security equal a 31% cut by 2086. These changes include the increase in the full retirement age, reducing benefits for above-average earners, and eliminating the Cost of Living Adjustment for those with higher incomes while at the same time weighting COLA for those who do qualify.
Alicia H. Munnell with the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College reported the effects of these cuts could be catastrophic for middle-class earners since the income threshold isn’t very high.
She wrote, “The medium worker, who sees benefits drop to 77% of current law, had career average earnings of $58,700 in 2022 and the “high” earner, who sees benefits drop to 40 percent of current law, earned $94,000. These are not rich people.”
Munnell said lawmakers should think about the entire retirement income structure when considering cuts to Social Security since less than half of the private sector workforce participates in an employersponsored retirement plan.
Andrew Gosselin, senior editor of
Money Inc., said the current talks about Social Security are more than just political posturing but instead indicate “a seismic shift in how lawmakers are starting to rethink long-term liabilities.” In other words, more changes could be coming.
Late-year, boomers and early Gen Xers who are considering retirement in the next couple of decades should start planning their budgets for what might happen if Congress does pass Social Security cuts. They need to think about whether their current financial plans will keep them afloat after they stop working.
The consensus among financial planners is that workers should diversify their investment assets now to guard against future changes. Tim Doman, investment analyst and CEO of Top Mobile Banks advised upcoming retirees that “diversifying [their] investment portfolio becomes not only a savvy move but also a protective measure. … This approach is particularly invaluable in a climate where Social Security is not the rock-solid safety net it once was.”
Gosselin agreed, saying workers must “become the CEO of (their) own financial future.”
Other experts confirm the necessity to diversify and also advise workers to consider working longer to receive higher benefits, creating and sticking to a budget, investigating other income streams, and reducing debt now so they’re not paying off high-interest credit cards after retirement.
Some financial planners also recommend reducing discretionary expenses and downsizing lifestyles now. Doug Carey, founder and president of WealthTrace, a financial and retirement planning software company, said, “Consider downsizing your home or relocating to a more cost-effective area.”
Leo Smigel, founder of Analyzing Alpha, a financial planning website, advocated an
even more radical approach to retirement solvency, saying workers should develop, “a strategy sturdy enough to survive without needing a government safety net.”
Like Carey, Smigel also recommended downsizing one’s home, as well as considering other income sources. Smigel is also a proponent of diversifying retirement options, including making needed changes to an IRA or 401(k) account.
Both Gosselin and Doman advise workers to stay current on legislative changes to Social Security. Gosselin says being well-informed on policy changes allows workers to adapt to changes, “making (them) less likely to be tripped up by sudden amendments to Social Security or any other fiscal policies..”
Doman agrees. “Being actively involved in these conversations not only enriches [their] understanding but also amplifies (their) ability to influence change.”
Linda Chavez, CEO of the Seniors Life Insurance Finder website, advised people to go to the top to express their concerns. She urges workers to contact their local Congressional representatives to let them know how they feel about proposed Social Security or other federal legislation.
Contact information for all U.S. House and Senate members is available online. Details on all U.S. House and Senate legislation can be found online at GovTrack.
Whatever financial plans people make, the last thing they should do is nothing. Gosselin says, “…the old axiom of ‘saving for a rainy day’ needs an update. It’s more like ‘saving for a climate change-induced downpour.’” Workers should start planning now for their future as retirees, even if that time seems a long way off.
This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks via The Associated Press.
Late-year, boomers and early Gen Xers who are considering retirement in the next couple of decades should start planning their budgets for what might happen if Congress does pass Social Security cuts.
NEW YORK – It’s a transaction that would be commonplace for a corporation or a sports team, but it’s the kind of deal that is practically unheard of in the nonpro t sector.
e philanthropy research organization Candid sent control of its CF Insights website and the sta that gathered information about community foundations to the Council on Foundations, the association of nearly 900 nonpro t members, last week.
Candid CEO Ann Mei Chang says the shift will allow her nonpro t to focus more sharply on priority areas – including diversity, transparency and e ectiveness in the sector –while providing its CF Insights information a larger audience and the potential to expand at the Council on Foundations.
“ at was our No. 1 criteria about whether to move forward with this,” Chang said. “We believe more community foundations would be able to bene t from this tool at the Council than from Candid.”
Council on Foundations CEO Kathleen Enright said community foundations are unique civic institutions because they meet so many di erent needs depending on the area that they serve. Some focus on bringing federal and local money into the community, especially in the wake of disasters, like the way the Hawaii Community Foundation has helped focus donations for those a ected by the Maui wild res. Others aggregate philanthropic donations for a community. Many also serve as homes for the increasingly popular donor-advised funds. Some provide all of these services and more.
“ ey’re often the only community foundation in their region,” Enright said. “So being able to network with and benchmark against peers at the national level is incredibly important. It helps them make better decisions.”
Chang said CF Insights can help community foundations see how its peers handled expansion or compensation. And that information pairs well with the Council on Foundations annual surveys on compensation and bene ts among community foundations.
In the corporate world, that would be called synergy.
However, nonpro ts don’t generally go looking for synergy through mergers and acquisitions or restructuring.
“We don’t have the nancial incentive,” Chang said. “In business, the way that you incentivize somebody to give up something that they have that’s good is that you give them
“We don’t have the financial incentive. In business, the way that you incentivize somebody to give up something that they have that’s good is that you give them a lot of money, right? That doesn’t happen in the nonprofit sector. We’re not buying things from each other.”Ann Mei Chang
a lot of money, right? at doesn’t happen in the nonpro t sector. We’re not buying things from each other.”
However, both Chang and Enright say that more nonpro ts should look for more e ective ways to use resources, including potentially sending some to other nonpro ts.
“We are really trying to take a eld rst approach, thinking about what’s best for the eld,” Chang said. “ ere’s no nancial upside for us in making these deals. And there is a cost, so it’s a hard equation to square for organizations.”
Enright said even though both Candid and the Council on Foundations were interested in the deal, it still required resources from both nonpro ts, as well as an external consultant, to get completed. She said she understands that smaller organizations may not have been able to complete it.
“It starts with putting the needs of those that we serve before ours,” Enright said. “ at is really core to what we did here.”
Even though it was di cult, Chang said she hopes more nonpro ts will consider it – perhaps with more support from donors looking to make nonpro ts work better together. Candid recently donated some of its data to the new initiative led by e Aspen Institute, Charity Navigator, CitizenAudit, GivingTuesday, and e Urban Institute to create a clearinghouse for forms nonpro ts le with the Internal Revenue Service.
“I’d love to see more of this happen,” Chang said. “I think investments like this can really help us create a much more robust sector that will be in a stronger position to, over time, be able to serve the needs of more people.”
Have you been you looking for some knowledge to manage finances effectively? Former Beachwood resident Maverick Peters was.
Peters
So, in June, the 26-year-old Peters launched his financial literacy podcast, “Money with Maverick,” to learn more about his finances from industry professionals and help others along the way.
“I started this show, that is very near and dear to my heart, not because I’m the expert,” said Peters. “In fact, I need this show probably more than anybody.”
When Peters and his wife, Tehila Peters, were married in March 2021, they realized they lacked the knowledge necessary to manage their finances effectively. After speaking with their friends, they realized
many couples in their early twenties were facing similar challenges.
“We learned very fast whatever our parents didn’t teach us about money, school definitely did not teach us,” said Peters, who lives in University Heights with his wife and daughter, Tori, 1.
Through this experience, Peters decided he wanted to help people achieve the financial education that was not provided in school.
So, after doing some research, he began reaching out to finance professionals for advice, recording the hourlong conversations, taking the best 15 minutes of that conversation and releasing it as a weekly podcast.
“I call it my financial journey,” said Peters, a congregant at Ohel Sara in Cleveland Heights. “It’s my journey to money mastery. I, Maverick Peters, want to know how money works and then I’m turning on the mic so you can tune in, so you can join me on my journey.”
Twelve episodes in, “Money with Maverick” has covered topics including
FICO scores, budgeting in Orthodox Jewish life, shared bills with partners and Roth IRAs every Monday with no plan to slow down, he said.
“I’m getting tons of comments, tons of feedback and most importantly I’m having a lot of fun,” said Peters, who has 20 more episodes prerecorded and plans to launch a YouTube channel.
When launching the podcast, Peters said he thought it would help those ages 17 to 35, but he quickly realized that all ages need help with financial literacy.
“It turns out, there’s a lot of people that don’t know how money works and now that demographic is very far and wide,” he said.
The show is about how to become financially aware and make good financial decisions while peeling away the stigma around talking about money, Peters said.
“It’s just 15 minutes a week, and it’s geared toward someone who is too shy, too embarrassed, too ashamed of not knowing, for them to be able to learn, understand and grow,” he said.
As the podcast intertwines with Peters’
“I’m getting tons of comments, tons of feedback and most importantly I’m having a lot of fun.”
Maverick Peters
personal financial literacy journey, it is beginning with the basics and will continue to become more advanced as he continues to learn.
To follow Peters on his financial literacy journey, you can find “Money with Maverick” @moneywithmav on all platforms.
NEW YORK – With deadly extreme weather hitting all over the globe, rising temperatures peaking during the hottest summer on record and carbon pollution levels that keep climbing, Britain’s Prince William and wealthy entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg promised a warming world a degree of hope.
That comes in the form of innovation, creativity and technology, the trio and others said at a summit Tuesday in the posh Plaza Hotel. They announced finalists for William’s third annual Earthshot Prize that offers five awards of 1 million pounds ($1.2 million) to companies and groups that come up with new ways to save the planet.
“We’ve got to hang onto optimism and hope because it is the biggest driver of change, the biggest driver of innovation,” William told the crowd of movers and shakers, after mentioning that he’d slipped away for a morning jog in New York’s Central Park.
While a healthy dose of realistic pessimism about Earth’s climate is important, the heir to the British throne said he wants people to believe “there is hope; there are people out there doing incredible things that will have massive impacts on our futures.”
William’s summit highlighted 15 different finalists from around the world, including efforts to reduce London air pollution from vehicle tires, reduce livestock methane emissions by new types of seaweed feedstock and use DNA technology to make more sustainable textile dyes.
Days after protesters in the street, many of them under 30, talked of robbed futures, speakers at the Earthshot summit – named because it was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s moonshot effort in the 1960s – saw a different world developing, mainly because of changes in technology.
“There’s a lot of climate exaggeration,” said Gates, who founded Microsoft and is now a philanthropist. “The climate is not the end of the planet. So the planet is going to be fine.”
The world will not be able to meet its agreed-upon goal to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial temperatures, but it won’t hit the 3-degree Celsius mark either, said Gates, who is not a climate scientist.
Gates cited a reason for thinking it won’t be as bad as it once looked: Since 2015, until last year, the world went on a “gigantic” innovation binge in efforts that could help curb climate change.
Gates promoted a winner from last year who tries to use rock-like resources to safely store carbon dioxide sucked from the atmosphere, speeding up a natural process by 100,000 times. If that company can get the price of storing carbon dioxide down to $50 a ton it “brings in this additional tool that reduces the temperature rise.”
Later, at the same hotel, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talked about more down-to-Earth financial issues –how powerful companies could have what’s called net-zero investments, which is not funding industries and firms that emit heat-trapping gases.
“The climate crisis has propelled a massive economic shift,” Yellen said.
She introduced a series of best practices for these financial institutions to carry out their net-zero commitments called “ Principles for Net-Zero Financing and Investment.” They include encouraging banks and other institutions to finance clients pursuing decarbonization in high-polluting industries and investing in clean energy projects. Some financial institutions could supplement emissions reduction measures with the voluntary purchase of carbon credits, according to a handout.
She said the goal is to affirm “the importance of credible net-zero commitments and to encourage financial institutions that make them to take consistent approaches to implementation.”
Yellen also announced that a group of philanthropic organizations – including Bezos Earth Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies and others – would pledge $340 million to help financial institutions “develop and execute robust, voluntary net-zero commitments,” she said.
In a statement, David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program, said the new Treasury commitments, “suffer from major shortcomings.”
“Offsets are a loophole large enough to drive most carbon pollution through,” he said.
Afterward, Prince William headed toward ground zero, where he visited with firefighters at FDNY Ten House, the station that was the first on the scene at the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. He then greeted scores of people lined up behind metal barricades across the street. The Prince shook outstretched hands and chatted briefly with people.
he sukkah, a cherished symbol in the Jewish tradition, beckons us with its loving embrace during the joyous festival of Sukkot. It’s a humble structure, but its design holds profound spiritual significance.
A kosher sukkah must have at least two full walls and a part of a third wall, and this requirement holds a deeper message:
Northeast Ohio is home to numerous local synagogues and congregations to meet the worship needs of all members of the community. For service times and additional information, including links and passwords to attend online services and requirements for attending services in person, visit the synagogue website or contact the synagogue office directly. This is a paid listing with Information provided by synagogues.
CONSERVATIVE
AGUDATH B’NAI ISRAEL
Meister Road at Pole Ave., Lorain Ritual Director Mark Jaffee 440-282-3307 abitemplelorain.com
BETH EL CONGREGATION
750 White Pond Dr., Akron Rabbi Jeremy Lipton 330-864-2105 bethelakron.com
B’NAI JESHURUN
SHAAREY TIKVAH
Unconditional love.
Two eminent Jewish thinkers, Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of
HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER SYNAGOGUE
Liadi, unravel the metaphor of the Song of Songs to illuminate the relationship between God and the Jewish people. “His left arm lay under my head” symbolizes the solemn days of introspection, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, whereas “His right arm embraces me” signi es the love and joy of Sukkot.
Rabbi Luria draws a striking parallel between the three sections of an arm’s embrace and the three walls of a sukkah. e rst wall embodies God’s embrace from the shoulder to the elbow, the second wall mirrors the embrace of the forearm, and the third, though small, symbolizes the
Sukkot
Leviticus 22:26-23:44; Zechariah 14:1-21
palm’s embrace. Moreover, when you hold someone close, your arms encompass and welcome their entire being.
Apply this to your Sukkah, and you’ll see it as an embodiment of God’s love enveloping your entire essence as you dwell within its walls. ere’s a beautiful symbolism in the Hebrew word “Sukkah”
Temple Israel Ner Tamid Membership Has Its Benefits: FREE* Religious School Tuition
26811 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood Rabbi Scott B. Roland; Gary Paller, Cantor Emeritus 216-765-8300 shaareytikvah.org
BETH EL-The Heights Synagogue, an Independent Minyan 3246 Desota Ave., Cleveland Heights Rabbi Michael Ungar 216-320-9667 bethelheights.org
INDEPENDENT
MONTEFIORE
Montefiore Maltz Chapel One David N. Myers Parkway., Beachwood Rabbi Akiva Feinstein; Cantor Gary Paller 216-360-9080
THE SHUL-An Innovative Center for Jewish Outreach 30799 Pinetree Road, #401, Pepper Pike Rabbi Eddie Sukol 216-509-9969
rabbieddie@theshul.us theshul.us
ORTHODOX
14270 Cedar Road, University Heights Rabbi Raphael Davidovich 216-382-1958 hjcs.org
JEWISH FAMILY EXPERIENCE
2200 S Green Road, Cleveland Rabbi Sruly Koval jewishfamilyexperience.org
K’HAL YEREIM
1771 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights Rabbi Yehuda Blum 216-321-1033
YOUNG ISRAEL OF GREATER CLEVELAND
Hebrew Academy (HAC), 1860 S. Taylor Road Beachwood (Stone), 2463 Green Road Rabbis Naphtali Burnstein and Aharon Dovid Lebovics 216-382-5740 office@yigc.org
ZICHRON CHAIM
2203 S. Green Road, Beachwood Rabbi Alexander Charlop 216-407-7398
RECONSTRUCTIONIST
MENORAH PARK
27100 Cedar Road, Beachwood
Rabbi Akiva Feinstein
Associate Rabbi Joseph Kirsch 216-831-6500
OHEB ZEDEK CEDAR SINAI
SYNAGOGUE
23749 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst Rabbi Noah Leavitt 216-382-6566
office@oz-cedarsinai.org oz-cedarsinai.org
SEMACH SEDEK
KOL HALEV (Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Jewish Community) Rabbi Steve Segar 216-320-1498 connect@kolhalev.net kolhalev.net
REFORM
AM SHALOM of Lake County 7599 Center St., Mentor Spiritual Director Renee Blau; Assistant Spiritual Director Elise Aitken 440-255-1544
BETH ISRAEL-The West Temple 14308 Triskett Road, Cleveland Rabbi Enid Lader. Alan Lettofsky, Rabbi Emeritus 216-941-8882 thewesttemple.com
TORAH | CONTINUED ON PAGE 88
The small, hamish congregation with the big heart believes so strongly in Jewish education, we offer it a no cost* for members in good standing. (*$50 supply fee per student). Watch your child f ourish in an environment that’s fun and supportive, with teachers dedicated to encouraging our Jewish heritage
Candlelighting
For membership & Religious School registration, please call 440-473-5120. The 2017-2018 school year begins on Sunday, August 27th.
Sept. 29 - Erev Sukkot 6:54 p.m. Shabbat Ends 7:51 p.m. Light candles after 7:51 p.m. Oct. 1 – Holiday ends 7:49 p.m.
Matthew Eisenberg, Rabbi Edna Akrish, Education Director Gary Rosenthal, President Marcie Oelbracht, Temple Administrator
Temple Israel Ner Tamid 1732 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124 ì 440-473-5120 ì
TEMPLE ISRAEL NER TAMID
SUBURBAN TEMPLE-KOL AMI 22401 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood Rabbi Allison Bergman Vann 216-991-0700 suburbantemple.org
1732 Lander Road, Mayfield Heights
Rabbi Matthew J. Eisenberg, D.D.; Frederick A. Eisenberg, D.D., Founding Rabbi (of blessed memory); Cantorial Soloist Rachel Eisenberg 440-473-5120
tintcleveland.org
THE TEMPLE-TIFERETH ISRAEL
26000 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood
Senior Rabbi Jonathan Cohen, Rabbi Yael Dadoun, Rabbi Roger C. Klein, Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo 216-831-3233
always welcome.
ttti.org
JEWISH SECULAR COMMUNITY
WE 12 UNDER
AHAVAS YISROEL
WE SEE WHY HE WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE CJN'S 12 UNDER 36
Kevin Kretch!
27501 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike Senior Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria; Rabbi Joshua Jacobs; Cantor Alyssa Rosenbaum; Education Engagement Rabbi Josh Foster; Rabbi Alexandra Rosenbaum 216-831-6555 bnaijeshurun.org
1700 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights Rabbi Boruch Hirschfeld 216-932-6064
BEACHWOOD KEHILLA
2004 S. Green Road, South Euclid Rabbi Yossi Marozov 216-235-6498
SOLON CHABAD
TEMPLE EMANU EL 4545 Brainard Road, Orange Rabbi Matt Cohen 216-454-1300 teecleve.org
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Blvd., Shaker Heights
jewishsecularcommunity.org
MIKVAOT
THE PARK SYNAGOGUE
Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo Congregation 27500 Shaker Blvd, Pepper Pike, OH 44124 Joshua Skoff, Senior Rabbi Sharon Y. Marcus, Associate Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim, Guest Rabbi Milton B. Rube, Rabbi-in-Residence Misha Pisman, Cantor Gadi Galili, Ritual Director 216-371-2244; TDD # 216-371-8579 parksynagogue.org
25400 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood Rabbi Ari Spiegler; Rabbi Emeritus David S. Zlatin 216-556-0010
Beachwoodkehilla.org
GREEN ROAD SYNAGOGUE
2437 S. Green Road, Beachwood Rabbi Binyamin Blau; Melvin Granatstein, Rabbi Emeritus 216-381-4757
GreenRoadSynagogue.org
5570 Harper Road, Solon Rabbi Zushe Greenberg 440-498-9533 office@solonchabad.com solonchabad.com
TAYLOR ROAD SYNAGOGUE
1970 S. Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights 216-321-4875
WAXMAN CHABAD CENTER
2479 S. Green Road, Beachwood Rabbis Shalom Ber Chaikin and Shmuli Friedman 216-282-0112
info@ChabadofCleveland.com wccrabbi@gmail.com
ANSHE CHESED FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood Rabbis Robert Nosanchuk and Joshua Caruso; Cantor Vladimir Lapin; Associate Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum; Cantor Laureate Sarah J. Sager 216-464-1330 fairmounttemple.org
TEMPLE ISRAEL 91 Springside Drive, Akron Rabbi Josh Brown; Cantor Kathy Fromson 330-665-2000 templeisraelakron.org
TEMPLE ISRAEL 432 30th Street NW, Canton Rabbi David Komerofsky; Rabbis Emeritus John H. Spitzer 214-251-3566 templeisraelcanton.org
THE CHARLOTTE GOLDBERG COMMUNITY MIKVAH
Park Synagogue, 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights
By appointment only: 216-371-2244, ext. 135.
THE STANLEY AND ESTHER WAXMAN COMMUNITY MIKVAH
Waxman Chabad House, 2479 South Green Road, Beachwood 216-381-3170
To be included in the Synagogue directory, send an email to Abby Royer at aroyer@cjn.org or call 216-454-8300.
Joshua Matthew Friedlander
Joshua Matthew Friedlander will become a bar mitzvah Saturday afternoon, Sept. 30, at The TempleTifereth Israel. Josh is lovingly raised by Dr. Sam Friedlander and Stefanie Peck, and by Lisa Friedlander, and is the brother of Eva Juliet and Kaylee Haya. He is the grandson of Sondra Friedlander of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Michael Friedlander, of blessed memory, and Howard and Linda Chapman of Pepper Pike. Josh attends Solon Middle School. He is an entrepreneur – selling Jam by Josh. Josh is also skilled at cooking, skiing, tennis, gardening and track.
Kaylee Haya Friedlander
Kaylee Haya Friedlander will become a bat mitzvah Saturday afternoon, Sept. 30, at The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Kaylee is lovingly raised by Dr. Sam Friedlander and Stefanie Peck, and by Lisa Friedlander, and is the sister of Eva Juliet and Joshua Matthew. She is the granddaughter of Sondra Friedlander of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Michael Friedlander, of blessed memory, and Howard and Linda Chapman of Pepper Pike. Kaylee attends Solon Middle School. She is an avid singer, dancer and artist.
Brady Maddox Wynbrandt
Brady Maddox Wynbrandt will become a bar mitzvah Saturday morning, Sept. 30, at The TempleTifereth Israel. Brady is the son of Jamie and Adam Wynbrandt, and the brother of Colin Varga. He is the grandson of Barbara Peleg of Lyndhurst, Earl and Susan Wynbrandt of Pepper Pike, and Darrel and LuAnn Deyling of Medina. Brady attends University School. He enjoys acting, baseball and football.
Sonia Curie Tonti-Marsh
Roberta and Mario Tonti of Beachwood announce the birth of their granddaughter, Sonia Curie Tonti-Marsh, on April 14, 2023. Sonia is the daughter of Jenni Tonti and Andrew Marsh of Takoma Park, Md. She joins “big sista” Emily Ruth Tonti-Marsh and four-legged friend, Ada. Paternal grandparents include Sandra and Richard Marsh of Carmichael, Calif. Sonia was welcomed home by her whole family including Bubbe, Grandpa, Nana and PopPop.
Yiddish Vinkl
Shtul – (shtoul)
Meaning: chair; seat
• “Ven dos mazel kumt, shtel im a shtul. / If fortune calls, o er him a seat.” (bit.ly/3LCf84l)
• “Zitsn oyf tsvey shtuln”/to be on both sides of the fence
TORAH | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 87
itself, סכה - where the rst letter, ס, has four walls, the second letter, כ, has three, and the third letter, ה, has two full walls and part of a third.
is may sound mystical, but it carries a profound message for our daily lives. Love is expressed in various forms—through words, kisses, gazes, and embraces. Among them, an embrace stands out. It represents unconditional love, accepting every facet of the other person, even the hidden or disapproved parts.
Love itself can be categorized into two forms – reciprocal and unconditional. God’s love re ects these forms.
roughout the year, His love is reciprocal, in uenced by our choices and actions. But during Sukkot, something extraordinary happens. God’s love becomes unconditional, embracing us without any conditions, regardless of our deeds.
So, when you step into the sukkah, you’re not just eating, drinking, and relaxing. You are enveloped in God’s
about something (liteally, to sit on two chairs). (bit.ly/3LCfecd)
• “Derivatives of shtul: brokhshtul / a birthing chair; dreyshtul – a swivel chair; eydes-shtul - the witness stand (in a courtroom); a wheel-chair; toytshtul or elektrishe shtul – an electric chair; vebshtul or shoklshtul – a rocking chair.” (yiddishwordoftheweek.)
- e root of the word “shtul” has to do with standing (shteyn in Yiddish), because one of the most prominent features of a chair is that it stands erect.
Shaker Heights resident Harold Ticktin prepares “Yiddish Vinkl” for the Cleveland Jewish News.
unconditional love. e sukkah walls murmur, “I love you not for what you do for Me, but simply because I love you.” It’s a divine hug, a beautiful reminder that God loves you deeply, just as you are. It’s also a reminder for us to ‘hug’ love others – like a sukkah, unconditionally.
Sukkot is a time to embrace this divine love, to let it warm your heart and infuse your daily life with meaning and purpose. And as the festival ends, carry this love forward, transforming your everyday actions into acts of service and kindness, spreading God’s light in the world.
Rabbi Chayim B. Alevsky works with Chabad of Cleveland.
The Cleveland Jewish News does not make endorsements of political candidates and/or political or other ballot issues on any level. Letters, commentaries, opinions, advertisements and online posts appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News, on cjn.org or our social media pages reflect the views
Dr. Gerald B. Adelstein, born June 17, 1939, in Cleveland, passed away peacefully with his family by his side, on Sept. 22, 2023, at age 84.
Son of Mildred (nee Atkin) and Sanford Adelstein, both of blessed memory. Husband of Marilyn (nee Shaw), beloved wife and love of his life for 61 years. Father of sons, Robby (Debbie), Rick (Rachel), Kevin (Daryn), Howard (Anne) and Steve (Betsy). Poppa was the pride and joy of his 15 grandchildren: Sydney (fiancé Anthony), Melanie, Jeremy, Cooper, Jake, Avery, Jonna, Mira, Landon, Lyla, Grayson, Ryan, Sander, Shae and Carson Adelstein.
Brother of Arlyne (Larry) Rubinstein, both of blessed memory. Surrogate brother of Michael and Lana Jacobson. Foster brother of David Gottdiener of Frankfort, Germany. Beloved uncle of many nieces and nephews.
“Gibba” set the highest standard for all those around him. A respected dentist in private practice for 53 years, Dr. Jerry performed regular pro-bono dental work at the Little Sisters of the Poor. His proudest moment as a dentist came when he was able to see one of his sons and one of his granddaughters graduate dental school at his alma mater, Case Western Reserve University (then Western Reserve Academy). A U.S. Air Force Captain serving in the Dental Service Corp., Jerry was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, in Denver, Colo., from 1966 to 1968.
Services were held Sept. 24 at BerkowitzKumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel in Cleveland Heights. Burial immediately followed services at Bet Olam Cemetery in Beachwood.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jerry’s memory can be made to support mitochondrial research at the Charles Hoppel, MD Endowment at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Please mail to CWRU, Attn: Advancement Services, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland OH,
44106-7035. Online gifts can be made at giving.case.edu/hoppel. Kindly note “In memory of Jerry Adelstein.”
Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel.
The Rev. Gary Asher Mitchener was born Feb. 21, 1939, in St. Louis. He died on Sept. 3, 2023, at Kemper House, a memory care facility in suburban Cleveland. He was 84, and in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Gary was the domestic partner of William H. Jones; father of Robert A. Mitchener and Miriam Mitchener; brother of Larry E. Mitchener; former husband of the late Judith Claghorn Mitchener; and grandfather of Jaden, Liam and Ava.
Outside of family, Gary’s life focused on two core elements: his strong Christian beliefs and his love of music.
The importance of Gary’s Christian beliefs was evident at an early age. At 5 or 6 years old, he would stand in the front yard “preaching” to the passers-by. He became active in the youth groups of the fundamentalist church he was raised in. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Pacific University (Forest Grove, Ore.), Gary became active in the Episcopal Church. Soon after, he enrolled in what was then the Episcopal Theological School (Cambridge, Mass.).
After his ordination in 1966, Gary served parishes, large and small, across the country: Missouri, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and for the past 30 years in Cleveland. Since his retirement, he and his partner have been active members of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church (Brunswick) and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Cleveland Heights), due in part to St. Paul’s proud support of Cleveland’s gay community.
But Gary never strayed far from music. After his undergraduate degree, he was undecided whether to pursue a master’s degree in music or enter the Episcopal seminary. He decided on the latter, but music remained an important part of his life.
Gary was always a talented pianist.
During the height of the folk music rage in the ‘60s, he also taught himself to play the guitar – well enough to start a youth choir, the Amen Singers at Calvary Episcopal Church (Columbia, Mo.), his first parish.
Gary was musically versatile. His tastes ran the gamut from the fundamentalist Christian hymns of his childhood to the complicated concertos of J.S. Bach. He was as comfortable improvising cabaret songs in a smoke-filled cocktail lounge as he was playing “Amazing Grace” on an out-of-tune piano in a country church. At one of Gary’s recent residences, he established a reputation for his singing, piano playing and dancing.
Near the end of his life, family was the primary focus of Gary’s life. He and his domestic partner Bill have shared the past decade of their lives. In 2021, they legalized their domestic partnership with a ceremony at St. Paul’s Church. Rounding out Gary’s family are his two children and three grandchildren.
Gary’s life will be celebrated at a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Sept. 29 at St. Paul’s, 2747 Fairmount Blvd. in Cleveland Heights.
Arrangements under the direction of the Brown-Forward Funeral Service.
Neher, Jean
Jean Neher, 101, passed away on Sept. 20, 2023.
Cherished wife of the late Andre Neher for 50 years; dear mother of Mara (the late Sheldon) Krause, Rachelle Neher, and the late Jacques (Debra) Neher; grandmother of Sam (Jen) Neher, Gabe Neher, Molly Neher, Michael (Ines) Krause, and Daniel Crews; great-grandmother of Natalie and Glenn Krause.
Jean had a beautiful voice and sang for many years in the Cleveland Heights choir. A wonderful grandmother, Jean also was a lover of classical music, nature and games of all kinds, especially sudoku puzzles.
Donations in Jean’s memory can be made to a charity of choice.
Sosnoswsky, Robert
In loving memory of Robert Sosnoswsky, a monument will be dedicated at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Mount Olive Cemetery. Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo will officiate. Robert was the husband of Raleigh (nee Rodoff); father of Lisa (Kevin) Patai, Michael (Sami) Sosnoswsky and Michele (Eric) Fried; grandfather of Sheridan, Brandon, Dylan, Travis, Noah and Olivia; brother of his sister, Esther Perlman and William Sosnowsky (both deceased); and son of Tillie and Louis Sosnoswsky (both deceased).
•
Juan Bradman was still in his twenties when he became a circuit judge in rural Cuba, traveling among the provinces.
But in 1962, after the communist takeover by Fidel Castro, he and his wife, Pola, ed Cuba for the United States with their daughter Miriam, who had just celebrated her rst birthday.
Years later, Miriam Bradman Abrahams would remember her parents’ story of exodus and exile in the forward to a novel inspired by their lives. “ e Incident at San Miguel,” written by A.J. Sidransky, was published in March.
“ ey would leave behind all they knew for another climate, language and culture,” she wrote of her parents.
“ ey could barely imagine the enormity of what faced them. is leaving and arriving, setting down roots and then suddenly having to pull them up to survive, has been part of Jewish DNA for millennia. It is the biblical story of Abraham, Noah, Joseph and Moses.”
Juan Bradman, who lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., died Sept 23, at the age of 90.
In many ways, Bradman’s was an archetypal story of the more than 90% of Jews who, having found a refuge in Cuba from hardship in Europe, ed once again after Castro’s revolution. After leaving Cuba and putting down roots rst in Yonkers, New York and later Brooklyn, Bradman refused to return to Cuba, harboring fears about his safety and his family’s in the country from which he ed. Yet he remained connected to the country by his brother, Salomon, who supported the revolution and chose to remain after the communist takeover.
Despite their political di erences and years of estrangement, when the Cuban government opened travel for Cuban citizens to the United States in 2001, Juan sponsored Salomon and his wife for a month’s visit in Brooklyn. Salomon died in 2012.
A ctionalized version of their reunion, as well as Juan’s brief encounter with Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara, are featured in ” e Incident at San Miguel.”
Bradman never lost his bitterness over Castro’s takeover of the country, which replaced the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista with years of deepening repression and economic malaise.
“Fidel was a ruthless Stalinist dictator with a charismatic personality,” Bradman told his daughter after Castro’s death in 2016. “He destroyed the island, running it as his own
personal domain. I thank Castro for being the reason we came here. We would not have lived the same quality of life, had we stayed there. History should remember him as a tyrant rather than as a hero or savior. ere is an end to everything, and I hope this is the beginning of the end of communism in Cuba.”
Juan Bradman was born on June 24, 1933, the son of Rifka and Yechezkiel Bradman. He and his wife Pola’s parents were refugees from Poland and Belarus. Bradman studied law at the Universidad de Havana before it was closed by the government; he later completed his law degree through the “back door,” according to his family. A stint as a lawyer at the National Bank of Cuba was cut short by political upheaval in Cuba, and in 1959 he was appointed a traveling judge for constituents in the Cuban countryside.
In 1962, he, his wife and daughter ed Cuba “with nothing but six cigars in his pocket, one suitcase of clothes, and a smuggled law degree,” according to a family obituary. “On arriving in Miami, Juan was questioned by immigration authorities to clear up a case of mistaken identity of a cousin with the same name.”
e family continued on to the Yonkers home of an aunt who served as their sponsor, and later settled in Midwood, Brooklyn. Unable to practice law in the United States, he earned a degree from Columbia University, and later a master’s degree in social work. After retiring as a social worker he trained as a docent at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, where he taught about the Holocaust and shared his immigrant background with visitors.
Bradman was an active member of his synagogue’s Men’s Club and served on the board of his children’s school, Yeshiva Rambam.
Survivors include his wife and his daughters, Sheila Feirstein and Miriam Bradman, two sons in law, ve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In her forward to the novel based on her parents’ lives, Bradman Abrahams wrote about the ways their parents’ Cuban, American and Jewish identities shaped the lives of their daughters.
“My parents valued education above all else,” she remembered. “Brooklyn’s public schools were not the best back then. Our parents chose to enroll my sister and me in Jewish day school. How I think, speak and react today, what I cook and eat, how I communicate with my parents, my husband, grown kids, and community are a direct result of being tri-lingual and tri-cultural.”
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Notice more
Halbecker.com
There are so many business terms out there for managing people or running a business. They range from “micromanaging, democratic leadership, autocratic leadership, coach-style management, transformational, strategic leadership” and so on.
One of my favorites who discussed leadership techniques was Tom Peters, an American writer on business management practices, best known for his 1982 blockbuster bestselling book, “In Search of Excellence,” co-authored with Robert H. Waterman Jr. He coined the term MBWA, or managing by walking around, which became a business theory still used today by many corporations. Managing by walking around is a strategy where managers leave their desks and walk around the o ce, plant, etc., to understand employees and what they are “actually doing.” It requires a random or an unstructured schedule that sta was not expecting a check-in and managers get a true sample of what is going on in real time. MBWA aimed to bridge the gap between leadership and employees by having them interact naturally while the work was going
on. It helped managers sample genuine day to day operations by talking face-to-face to the people doing the work.
One crucial aspect of management by walking around has to be the spontaneity and genuineness on the part of the managers. It shouldn’t come across as aimless or unnecessary. More importantly, the manager should be sincere in their actions and not let their ego or “perceived power” get in the way.
Some examples of MBWA could be:
• Helpful advice with how to deal with a customer or issue
• Assessing employee morale
• Connecting an employee with someone in a di erent area to x a problem
• Learning about an issue potentially delaying a deadline
• Noticing older equipment that needs replacing.
Ever since the late 1980s when we incorporated computers into our every day lifestyles (especially at work) we have virtually been stuck behind a desk. We are constantly checking emails, absorbed in an array of business practices such as viewing spreadsheets, word documents, scanning documents, making copies, inputting data or even constructing PowerPoint presentations.
All of the above daily tasks pulls us away from our number one priority which is people.
How do you know what someone is doing and/or if they are performing the task correctly or e ectively?
ink of a coach of any professional sport sitting behind their desk and not being on the eld to observe their players practicing or even during the game itself! Humorously, I can only imagine the coach saying to one of their players “Hey, let me know if we won or lost the game, since I will be here in my o ce returning emails and will not be able to watch the game.”
Tom Peters really set the stage over 40 years ago with MBWA, and as new generations come into the workplace his words are not echoed as they used to be. In fact, ask a younger person who Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill or Norman Vincent Peale are and I’ll bet they will not know.
No biggie, but we still have to learn from the best who were the “deep thinkers” of their time. Today, it might be Robert Kiyosaki, Malcolm Gladwell or Jim Collins. Bottom line is that we should be on a quest to constantly grow from reading, listening (podcasts, TV, YouTube, etc) or observing others who are smarter than ourselves.
“If a manager or leader wants to know more, they need to notice more.” at’s it, get out from behind your desk and learn through observation.
Hal Becker is a nationally known speaker on sales and customer service. He is the author of numerous business books including two national best sellers, “Can I Have 5 Minutes Of Your Time?” and “Lip Service.” Hal’s newest book on sales is titled “Ultimate Sales Book.” He can be reached at Halbecker.com.
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