Ginn Academy Saved!

As announced last night by Cleveland School District CEO Eugene Sanders, Ginn Academy will remain in Collinwood and will NOT be connected to Glenville High School.

Thank you to all that heeded Councilman Polensek's call to action and made your voice heard! Clearly, our collective ability to let the school district know our thoughts had something to do with Ginn Academy remaining at its new Collinwood home.

More reporting on Ginn Academy can be found at:
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-ceo-schools-txt,0,2299351.story

Taste of the Neighborhood TOMORROW!

Just a friendly reminder that the Second Annual Taste of the Neighborhood is tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd.

Here is a list of this year's participants in the Taste of the Neighborhood:
Arabica, Azman's Meats, B&M Barbecue, Beachland Tavern, Bistro 185, Blitz BarBQ, Boardwalk, Cafe @ Arts Collinwood, Cakes by Sweet Water, Chili Peppers, Congin's Pizza, Convenient Food mart, Dave's, Fotinas. Georgios, Gostilna at Knezak, Grovewood Tavern, Gus's Diner, Lithuanian Hall, Muldoons, Scottis, Slovenian Hall, Stella Sweets, VASJ and Winners.

For only $20.00, you get to sample all of the goodies from these restaurants tomorrow night at the Lithuanian Hall from 6:00 until 9:00. There will be a DJ, lots of food, a 50/50 raffle, a chinese raffle, a cash bar + lots of good people having fun and eating good food.

There are still just a few tickets left. Let Denise know if you are interested. 216-481-7660.

Taste of Neighborhood Award Winners Anounced

Only one week until the 2nd Annual North Collinwood Taste of the Neighborhood awards dinner.

Please reserve your tickets now since they are going FAST. Contact Denise at (216) 481-7660 or dlorek@northeastshores.org.

Meanwhile, the award recipients for the annual awards were announced today and they are:

Amazing Block Watches - The E.185th St Block Watch
Neighborhood groups that have made great achievements throughout the year.

Outstanding Residents
Pastor Walther Marcis - North Collinwood Hall of Fame
Ruta Degutis - Honorable Mention
Regular folks who go that extra mile

Best Businesses
Dominium for their 14 million dollar investment in Lakeshore Village Apartments
Rite Aid for their opening of a new store in our area

Celebrate the achievements of your favorite local businesses and their owners



TASTE THE NEIGHBORHOOD Award Dinner
February 23, 2010
6:00 PM - food/drink
7:00 PM - program

Lithuanian Hall
877 East 185th St.

Join Northeast Shores for a chance to sample foods from our neighborhood’s many restaurants and eateries and honor local residents, block watches and businesses for their accomplishments making this a better community to live in.

FOOD AND DRINK
Local Restaurants taste from many local restaurants and eateries.
There will be a cash bar.

TICKETS ETC.
Reservations and Questions
Tickets are moving fast, make your reservation today!
Call Denise at 216-481-7660

Tickets $20.00
Buy your tickets at Northeast Shores office or from any employee of Northeast Shores. To order by mail, send a check to Northeast Shores , 317 E. 156th St. , Cleveland, OH 44110 by Feb 18th.
($15.00 of the ticket price is tax deductible)

Community Services Fair this Tuesday

Coming this Tuesday is a wonderful opportunity to come out and learn about the wide range of services that are available to you and your family.

Please join Northeast Shores and the East 185th Street Block Watch for the Community Services Info Fair. The event starts at 6:00 pm at the Lithuanian Hall (877 East 185th Street). See you there!

The E.185th St. Block Watch
Community Services Info Fair
February 9th, 2010
6:00 PM
Lithuanian Hall 877 E.185th St.
(corner of Kewanee)

The following organizations will be on hand to answer any questions you may have on the services they provide:
5th District Police Department, Cleveland Dept. of Public Health, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, City of Cleveland Dept. of Aging, Collinwood (Lakeshore) Garden Club, 2010 Census Bureau, Cuyahoga County Auditor, North Collinwood Feral Cat Project, First Energy/Illuminating Company, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Councilman Polensek, City of Cleveland Water Pollution Control, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, City of Cleveland Dept. of Water, Friends of Euclid Creek, Cleveland Public Power, Collinwood Observer, Neighborhood Connections, The HELP Foundation, Northeast Shores, Cuyahoga County Treasurer, Cleveland Action to Support Housing, The Food Bank, and City of Cleveland Waste

Additional Parking Available at Key Bank

Thank you to E.185th St. Block Watch, Northeast Shores and the Lithuanian Hall

Come shop on Waterloo for Valentine's Day

There is a kick-butt event on Waterloo next Saturday the 13th in anticipation for Valentine's Day. While I wouldn't normally suggest you procrastinate on getting your sweetie a special gift, this event will be an extra special opportunity to get your someone special something extra special.

UPSTAGE ARTISAN ALLEY CRAFT SHOW TO SUPPORT CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY THEATER COMPANY
Cupid is coming a day early to the Waterloo Arts District! UpStage Artisan Alley, a fresh, new indie craft show, opens its doors from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010 at Collinwood's Slovenian Workmen's Home (15335 Waterloo Rd.; Cleveland, 44110). The event will serve as a fundraiser for UpStage Players, a local, nonprofit children's theater company, as they gear-up for their spring musical, "Aladdin, Jr." In addition to raising funds for this accomplished organization. UpStage Artisan Alley's mission is to showcase the talents of Northeast Ohio artisans in an intimate, family-friendly atmosphere, while allowing patrons to shop for themselves and their loved ones.

UpStage Artisan Alley will feature a variety of talented artisans from around Northeast Ohio. Patrons can choose from handcrafted bath and body products, handpainted keepsakes and magnets, rocknroll inspired art prints, jewelry, candles, crocheted items, rocknroll posters, fused glass items, photographic art, ceramic keepsakes, ecofriendly items and more! The event will also feature a rehearsal from UpStage Players, face painters, food and refreshments, raffles, prizes and an opportunity to socialize with the cast, crew and staff of UpStage Players, as well as the local artisans.

The arts scene in the Waterloo/Arts Collinwood area is really starting to blossom, and this indie craft show, in conjunction with UpStage Players, will surely continue to foster that growth. UpStage Artisan Alley is more than just a craft show. It is an event that will incorporate theater arts and other artistic mediums in a harmonious forum of support for one another. The event's success will further demonstrate that the Waterloo Arts District is a unique destination for all Northeast Ohioans.

Upstage Players is a nonprofit professional children's theatre group run by an all volunteer staff in Cleveland, Ohio. The organization was founded in 1995 with 30 children and a vision to create love and respect for the arts. They have evolved into a strong group that uses theater as a vehicle to teach leadership, creativity and responsibility to nearly 150 children today. Although the UpStage family has grown tremendously over the years, their nocut policy remains unchanged.

The children of UpStage Players come from varied backgrounds and communities, yet they share the same drive to optimize their potential. They hail from a variety of communities, including: Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Bratenahl, Euclid, Eastlake, Lakewood, Mayfield, Mentor, Richmond Heights, Willoughby, Concord andWillowick. In addition, the diverse cast/crew of UpStage Players is headed by an unpaid staff and supported by an army of volunteers dedicated to transforming everyday kids into
accomplished artists.

Upstage Players provides many benefits for their artists, including building self confidence, encouraging selfesteem, providing social outlets, promoting responsibility and leadership and providing a fun, safe haven. In addition to its artistic value, UpStage Players brings communities together and gives kids something to do. The organization produces numerous shows throughout the year, including the upcoming spring musical "Aladdin, Jr.," an improvisational troupe and the Upstage Underground summer show.

The UpStage Players spring musical "Aladdin, Jr.," will take place on March 26th and 27th at 7:30 p.m. and March 28th at 2:30 p.m., also at the Slovenian Workmen's Home. Advance tickets are $5 each and are reserved seats. Admission is $6 each if purchased during the week prior to the show or at the door (these are general admission seats). To order or inquire about advance tickets, email
upstageplayers@gmail.com. For additional information about UpStage Players, or to download a printable ticket order form for "Aladdin, Jr.," visit www.upstageplayers.com. To find out more about UpStage Artisan Alley, check out www.upstageartisanalley.blogspot.com.

How you can help keep Ginn Academy!

As editorizlized in yesterday's Plain Dealer, the school district is considering moving Ginn Academy from its new South Collinwood home into Glenville High School. Such a move will close Margaret Spellacy Junior High. The move will also move the all-male program into a coed environment.

For more about the Plain Dealer's editorial, check out:
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/01/let_clevelands_all-male_high_s.html

Councilman Polensek also shared some thoughts about how you can expresss your interest to keep Ginn Academy at Margaret Spellacy. His comments are as follows:

I am sure that you read by now about the proposed relocation of Ginn Academy from the former Margaret Spellacy School on East 162 Street to Glenville High School for the next school year. Many of you know I worked diligently with Coach Ted Ginn, Sr. over the last three years to find a permanent suitable location to house “Ted’s dream” of a stand –alone, all boys, single gender, academy; one that placed safety, security and academic excellence as its core value.

To hear that Ginn Academy is now being proposed to be relocated into a general high school is a tragic turn of events. After CMSD put $2.5 million into renovating the present building, their consultant from Boston recommends, in order to shore-up Glenville, that the District should place Ginn Academy in the building with an all-girls academy, as well. This would totally defeat what Ginn was supposed to be about from day one.

Time is of the essence. We cannot let them destroy this vision because “Ted’s dream” is working. I am in the process of organizing parents, concerned citizens and anyone else who believes that the young men in Ginn Academy have a right to succeed and to become somebody. I urge you to contact CMSD Board members at (216) 574-8585 or email them via Kevin Burtzlaff, Board Liaison, at kevin.burtzlaff@cmsdnet.net or mail a letter to them at the Board of Education; Administration Building; 1380 East Sixth Street, Room 152; Cleveland, Ohio 44114, to express your outrage and concerns. Members names are online at www.cmsdnet.net.

On Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Ginn Academy, located at 655 East 162 Street, there will be a Parent/Community meeting with CEO, Dr. Eugene Sanders, to discuss this proposal. We need everybody who cares about the students and their future to be in attendance. Furthermore, we have petitions available for anyone wishing to circulate them in opposition to the proposed relocation.

Feel free to contact my office at (216) 664-4236 or email us at council11@clevelandcitycouncil.org to request a petition. Completed petitions should be returned to my office. You can mail them to me at: Councilman Michael D. Polensek; Cleveland City Hall; 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 220; Cleveland, Ohio 44114.

To quote Ted Ginn, Sr. “It takes courage to be different; to be a Ginn man.” I told Dr. Sanders that the fight has just begun. I refuse to let CMSD wreck a program and a philosophy that is working to save young men in our very community. You have all heard the old saying, “If it isn’t broke; don’t fix it!” Ginn Academy isn’t broke; it needs to be nurtured and protected and I plan to do whatever I have to do in order to safeguard Ginn Academy. I need your help, though. Please join with me in making sure that CMSD Board of Education rejects this proposal outright.

“Keep the faith for we can win this battle if we all work together!”

Sincerely Yours,
Michael D. Polensek
Councilman, Ward 11