Volume 1, Issue 2, August 2017 Published Quarterly

A Message from MayorAnnette M. Blackwell

On May 30, 2017, Channel 19 News ran a story under theheadline “Maple Heights On Underwater Mortgage List”.This station ran this news story without seeking any inputfrom the City of Maple Heights. I have since learned thatthe story was based on an article that appeared on a websitenamed “credit.com”, which website attracts hits by offeringfree monthly credit score reviews. I have also discoveredthat the housing inventory graphic used by Channel 19 camefrom a website called “homefacts.com”.

In short, none of the information presented by Channel 19 was noted by sourceor verified as to accuracy. Neither the City of Maple Heights nor the County ofCuyahoga were contacted prior to this story being run to offer comment, in-sight, or analysis.

The fact of the matter is that Maple Heights, like most communities withinCuyahoga County and throughout the nation, are still combating the effects ofthe 2008 recession. However, as noted in an article by Rich Exner forCleveland.com on January 10, 2017, “home prices are increasing across mostof Cuyahoga County with some of the strongest gains posted in areas hithardest by the recession of nearly a decade ago”. As noted in that story, themedian sales price for single family homes in Maple Heights rose over 50%from 2009 to 2016. This is a remarkable increase and confirms that MapleHeights is “winning” the battle.

Since my term in office began in January 2016 the City has seen a graduallyimproving housing market. In order to sustain and to continue this growth in2016 and 2017 the City waived its escrow requirement for new owner-occu-pied home owners buying within the City. This has spurred many young fami-lies to seek out and purchase homes within Maple Heights. In addition, theCity just recently held a housing fair which allowed residents who are strug-gling with their mortgages to talk with professionals and work on strategies toease their burdens.

The City has started “winning” under my administration. We have been suc-cessful recipients of numerous grants to improve the City’s infrastructure andservices. In addition, we have been chosen by the Cuyahoga County Eco-nomic Development Department to implement a brand new vision for theBroadway Corridor partnering with the County to revitalize Broadway and at-tract retail businesses to the Corridor. Coupled with that, the City recentlywas awarded a grant from Cuyahoga County to prepare a master plan tostudy how best to position the City for continued growth and economic suc-cess for the future. And just yesterday I learned that we along with four otherinner ring suburbs were granted nearly $200,000 from the Cleveland Founda-tion to work with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy for implementationof a property survey initiative.

I am proud to continue fighting for, and winning, on behalf of Maple Heights.

The Maple Heights Library is the lead agency in Maple Heights to facilitate theneighborhood in conversations surrounding the goals and needs of our youth.A Steering Committee, a mobilization team comprised of youth serving part-ners, parents, faith based entities, school representatives and youth will meetregularly to identify and pool neighborhood resources and to work together tocreate a three-year plan for youth engagement in the city.

For the period of July 1st until December 31st, Maple Heights will be partici-pating in the Heritage Home Programsm of the Cleveland Restoration Soci-ety (CRS). This program is designed for the owners of older homes andprovides guidance on home improvement and maintenance projects.

The most important feature of the Heritage Home Programsm is that it offersfree Technical Assistance and advice to the owners of houses that are over50 years old. An employee of Cleveland Restoration Society will come outand visit your house to discuss the types of repairs that are necessary andappropriate for the house. The CRS employee will help identify the propermaterials to be used for repairs and replacements that will be consistent withthe architecture and style of the home.

The free Technical Assistance offered by the Heritage Home Programsm iscompletely impartial and independent. CRS does not have any products orservices that it sells to the homeowners and does not charge the homeownerfor the advice. CRS can also provide a homeowner with a list of contractorsthat do the type of work that the homeowner needs. CRS will even review

contractor bids and advise the homeowner on the estimates.

Since the inception of the program 25 years ago, CRS has provided technicaladvice and assistance to over 12,000 homeowners in Northeast Ohio onprojects having a value of over $269 Million.

Another feature of the Heritage Home Programsm is its low-interest equityloan program. These loans are made by KeyBank and Third Federal Savingsand Loan have a fixed rate as low as 1.99%*. The loans have a repaymentterm of up to 15 years. Most projects, both interior and exterior, qualify. Roof-ing, waterproofing, and kitchen and bath remodeling are popular uses of theHeritage Home Programsm loan. The only projects that cannot be done witha Heritage Home Programsm loan are luxury items such as swimming poolsor hot tubs, vinyl siding or windows, removable appliances, incompatible ad-ditions, and landscaping.

For more information, homeowners can visit www.heritagehomeprogram.orgor call 216-426-3116.

Maple Heights is Officiallya MYCOM Neighborhood!

The MyCom network connects youngpeople with high-quality, neighbor-hood-based programs and servicesthat provide engaging, educationaland affordable opportunities in a safeand supportive environment – helping them to connect, navigate and be pro-ductive so they can grow, thrive and reach their true potential. It is a networkof caring adults and a reliable partner for parents and caregivers, in theirneighborhood and in their child’s development, providing safe, productive andaffordable experiences for their children at school, out-of-school, on the joband for their future.

MyCom has grown into a $4.8 million public-private partnership that helpschildren advance towards stable, successful adulthood. MyCom has touchedmore than 23,000 youth from kindergarten to high school through after-schoolprograms, summer jobs, leadership training, and other opportunities.

MyCom aims to complement the parenting and education young people re-ceive and create the conditions to ensure that all young people succeed.MyCom believes in a holistic youth development strategy and is organizingneighborhood-based programs and resources to create a network of supportfor all young people as they journey into adulthood.

As a network, MyCom convenes City and County Government, United Wayservices, family- and youth-focused agencies, the business community, schoolofficials, philanthropic leaders and young people from across the region to iden-tify and leverage opportunities that allow us to educate, expose and provide ouryouth with quality life skill development. MyCom is the go-to resource for qualityprogramming in the areas of youth employment, youth engagement and lead-ership, out- of-school time, transitions and neighborhood involvement.

We are excited to announce that Maple Heights is a MyCom Neighborhood!Maple Heights joins a Network of 17 other neighborhoods working together toensure our youth are able to connect to quality programs in there are able toconnect to quality programs in their neighborhood and beyond so that theycan develop 21st century skills and maximize their talents to connect, navi-gate and be productive.

This program was created by the Cleveland Foundation and Cuyahoga Countyin collaboration with more than 250 national and local individuals and organi-zations. MyCom is a network committed to igniting positive futures for youthby connecting them with community-based innovative programming and trans-formational services.

Maple Heights HeadlinesPage 2 August 2017

Team Effort Makes Maple Heights Neighborhood SaferVolunteers from The Mission Continues, Team Rubicon, and Team Red Whiteand Blue went door-to-door in a neighborhood near Maple Heights High Schoolto check existing smoke alarms, replace batteries, and install new smokealarms where needed. They also shared valuable fire safety information.

Volunteers from another service group joined the Fire Safety Walk as well. Three members of “We’re Not Famous, But We Made It” also installed smokealarms where needed.

Mikoyan Headen was grateful tohave new smoke alarms installedin her home. She survived a homefire as a child. “Our house lookedlike burnt toast,” she said. “Welost everything and had to com-pletely start over.”

More than 40 homes in Maple Heights are safer, after volunteers fromseveral veteran-related service groups partnered with the Red Crossand the Maple Heights Fire Department to install smoke alarms and sharefire safety information on Saturday, April 22.

Fire Department Donates Equipment

Pictured left to right: Police Of-ficer Allen, PJ, Police CadetHeitzer

On Thursday April 20, 2017 Linda M. Vopat , Director ofHuman Services at the Maple Heights Senior Center inCuyahoga County attended the WRAAA Annual Luncheon& Conference to receive the 2017 Independent Living Awardfor Excellence in Service Provision. The theme for 2017 is“Aging Well...Mind, Body, & Spirit.” More than 400 profes-sionals, including WRAAA staff, providers, advocates, andvolunteers representing organizations in the aging and dis-ability networks were present, along with Mayor Annette M.Blackwell from the City of Maple Heights.

The Mission Continues to empower veterans who are adjusting to life at hometo find purpose through community impact. They deploy veterans on newmissions in their communities, so that their actions will inspire future genera-tions to serve. The Cleveland 1st ServicePlatoon was launched this April 2017.

Volunteer James Davenport said,“Our members have hit bumps in theroad along the way. We want tomake sure we give back to the com-munity.”

It’s a perfect time to give back. Thisis National Volunteer Week (April 23-29) and the Red Cross offers manyvolunteer opportunities. Visit us atredcross.org/neo to begin the appli-cation process.

Link to full story: https://neoredcross.org/2017/04/24/team-effort-makes-maple-heights-neigh-borhood-safer/

Excellence in Service Provision recognizes an individual or agency (non-profitor public) who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and dedicationto helping individuals achieve independence through services and supports.

Created in 2008, the Independent Living Awards were designed to honor indi-viduals and organizations who are exceptional in helping older adults andpersons with disabilities maintain their independence within the community.The Nominees’ work must impact older adults and/or individuals with disabili-ties in Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and/or Medina Counties. Nominees’will be evaluated on the impact of their past and/or present accomplishmentspromoting independent living. Congratulations, Linda! Thank you for all youdo for your community!

Linda Vopat Awarded for Excellence

Dream Comes True

A little boy’s biggest dream came truethanks to Maple Heights Police offic-ers. Fox8 Cleveland aired the storyon May 31, 2017 – To see storysearch Fox8.com

The Maple Heights Fire Departmenthas organized and assessed the bun-ker gear and Self Contained Breath-ing Apparatus that are no longer ser-viceable for the Maple Heights FireDepartment.

Due to standards and laws in theUnited States, these aged items areno longer serviceable for our use andwere taken out of service.

However, they still have some use forfirefighters in other countries who arein great need of equipment, regard-less of age.

The Maple Heights Fire Departmenthas donating these items to the Af-rica Fire Mission (AFM) The AFM isan organization committed to build-ing and increasing the sustainablecapacity of fire departments acrossAfrica; specifically Kenya, Ethiopia,

and Zambia. By donating our oldequipment, we are helping fellowfirefighters in Africa stay safe whilefighting fires.

Mayor Annette M. Blackwell and Chief John Popielarczyk swore in twonew police cadets for the City of Maple Heights on May 4, 2017. Pic-tured left to right are: Captain Todd Hansen, Cadet Matthew Heitzer,Mayor Annette M. Blackwell, Cadet Allen Crawford and Chief JohnPopielarczyk.

Swearing In Held for New Police Cadets

Akron Cleveland Assn. of REALTORS®to Create Pocket Park in Maple Heights

The Akron ClevelandAssociation of Real-tors® (ACAR) has re-

Society, the City of Maple Heights,Turf World Co., Maple Heights CitySchools, and residents on this projectwho will assist with labor, site prepa-rations, and ongoing maintenance.

For more information onPlacemaking opportunities offered byACAR, visit www.AkronClevelandRealtors.com.

ceived a $4,200 Placemaking grantfrom the National Association of Re-altors® to help make Maple Heightsa better place to live by transformingan unused space into vibrant publicspace for the community to gatherand enjoy.

The grant is intended to help Realtor As-sociations partner with others to plan,organize, implement and maintain lighter, quicker, cheaper placemakingprojects in their communities

ACAR will use the funds to help adda courtyard/pocket park area next tothe Maple Heights Historical Society.The project will improve upon exist-ing landscaping, and add seating andlighting to the lot. They will partnerwith the Maple Heights Historical

Maple Heights Headlines Page 3August 2017

For over 30 years, Nadine has beencreating her unique creations. Withher expertise, you can design yourown cake for that special event!

Our great customer base has helpedkeep us at our 14151 Granger Roadlocation and has provided us with theopportunity to be creative and grow.

We are centrally located to the sur-rounding communities and our cus-tomers have become our friends. Welook forward to staying in MapleHeights for many years to come.

Nadine’s Cake and Candy Supply pro-vides everything you need to make anyevent a special occasion. Stop in andpick up a beautiful cake, balloons andmore. You can even rent our atten-tion grabbing chocolate fountain.

~Mayor’s Featured Business~Quality of Life and Howto be a Good Neighbor

Maple Heights Housing Committee: Toni Jones District 2 Chairperson,Members: Tanglyn Madden District 5 and Sharri Thomas District 6

best you will find. Many of our prod-ucts are made from scratch by Nadine.

Everyone wants to live in a safe, secure, clean and friendly community. Thismeans that neighbors do not abuse their property rights and do not behave inways that interfere with their neighbor’s quality of life. Issues such as dogsbarking or running loose, loud music, children violating curfew, yards withovergrown bushes, weeds and grass; cars parking on grass, yards with trashand debris, trespassing, loitering, damage of property, trash cans not taken inon time are all examples of behaviors which lead to neighborhood decline.Below are a few of the City Ordinances that effect our quality of life:

•Be a responsible pet owner and pick up after your animal. Dogs mustbe on a leash or gated in your backyard. Dogs should not bark or howlto disturb the quiet of any neighbor.•Cut your grass on a regular basis so it does not exceed 6 inches in height.Front yard bushes should be maintained as well as the flower beds.•Garbage cannot be put out earlier than 6PM the day before pickup andshould be taken in after the pickup and not left on the curb for days.•Loud noise ordinance is in effect from 11pm to 8am. Music cannot beplayed at a volume to disturb the quiet or comfort of others.•Parking is prohibited on the front lawn or on any grass areas of the rearyard. Abandoned or unlicensed vehicles must be stored in the garage.Parking is prohibited on all City streets between 4am and 6am everynight and at all times when snow exceeds 2 inches.•Curfew hours for children under 14 are 9pm to 6am. Juveniles over 14but under 18 is 11pm to 6am. Parents and guardians are responsible forthis enforcement.•No person shall congregate with others on the sidewalk, street, parks,etc. with the intent to provoke or breach the peace of other persons.•No one has the right to cut across someone’s yard, sit on their porch orcongregate on someone’s lawn or driveway without their permission,this is trespassing.The City of Maple Heights has a Quality of Life brochure available through yourCouncilperson. It addresses these nuisances and the consequences. RecentlyCity Council passed an ordinance to strengthen the nuisance laws of the Citywhich now has stricter guidelines for those who continuously violate the CityOrdinances and allows the City to declare a property a nuisance if there arerepeated criminal or nuisance activities. The property owner will be notifiedand may be billed for the cost incurred by the City to abate the nuisance.

We have everything you need to bakea beautiful and tasty creation. Ourfriendly staff will help you pick out theperfect supplies for cake baking, candymaking and more. Our great fillings,chocolate, icings and more are the

We would like to thank the residentsof Maple Heights for the years of sup-port and Mayor Annette M. Blackwellfor choosing us as her featured busi-ness of the month. You can find us atnadinescakes.com or on Facebook.

Maple Heights HeadlinesPage 4 August 2017