I sent out this email on Thursday, June 6, 2013, after seeing the electronic billboard at our southern end of Lander Road (by the Chagrin and Pinetree circle). The City has also sent out the information and it's on the website.

Greetings!

Due to a desire to have more residents utilize the City-wide City-generated electronic communications, you've not received many emails from me personally recently. And hopefully by now you have visited and used the new website which launched at the very end of December 2012 (see here), and have signed up for the City communications (see here) and have had a chance to sign up for the Code Red alert system (see here about the program and here to sign up).

However, I also appreciate the comments I've received that have noted the decrease in frequency of these emails and this is a bit of an attempt to re-connect a little more often without duplicating what you receive from the City.  And with that in mind, please take note of this information regarding the road work that will start this Monday, June 10, 2013 on Lander Road in Pepper Pike. This information is directly from the website (see here):

Lander Road Reconstruction Project 2013 - 2014

June 4, 2013

Work Schedule for  the  Lander Road Reconstruction Project

2013

Phase I  -  Cedar Rd. to Fairmount Blvd.:  June 10th through July 26th
Phase II  -  Fairmount Blvd. to Shaker Blvd.:  July 29th through September 13th
Phase III  -  Shaker Blvd to South Woodland Rd.:  September 16th through November 15th

2014
Phase IV  -  South Woodland Rd. to Chagrin Blvd.( does not include Lander/Chagrin Circle):  April 1st through May 15th

These timelines are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, i.e. weather conditions.

I'd urge you to please contact City Hall if you have any questions (I called the engineer myself yesterday to get a refresher on exactly what the plan was/is).

Have a great June and be ready for the Community Band season:

Summer 2013 schedule of performances 

Pepper Pike Park - Monday, July 15 at 7:00pm

Pepper Pike Park - Monday, August 5 at 7:00pm

Pepper Pike Park - Sunday, August 25 - Part of the Ice Cream Social

Never hesitate to be in touch if you have questions, comments or concerns, would like to be removed from this email list or want to have someone added to it (please feel free to forward at will).

Very warm wishes on this drizzly, cool day!

Jill

Pepper Pike Civic Award 2013

Pepper Pike high school residents (or their parents): There are four (4) days left to check out and apply for the Civic Award 2013 - an opportunity for a $2000 scholarship toward college. Here's some information and the relevant links are here:

The Pepper Pike Civic League is offering a $2000 Civic Award to a high school senior who is a resident of Pepper Pike, attends a high school in the general vicinity of Pepper Pike and is planning to attend college in 2013. The Award’s purpose is to encourage students to become aware of, participate in, and support Pepper Pike and community governments, in general.

Applicants must currently be a senior high school student and a resident of Pepper Pike. The applicant must attend an accredited college in 2013 and furnish proof of enrollment in a college.

Applicants must submit a one (1) page essay describing what the student believes is the single most important issue currently facing Pepper Pike with recommendations about how that issue might be addressed.  Refer to the application for complete requirements.

The application form and instructions are available from the student’s guidance counselor as well as on this website below.  The completed application, along with the required essay, must be submitted by March 31 to: Pepper Pike Civic League , P.O. Box 24808, Pepper Pike, Ohio 44124. The Award will be presented to the winning applicant  at the Pepper Pike Civic League’s Town Hall meeting to be held in April, 2013.

The Town Hall meeting will be April 23 at 7pm at Brady Middle School. Thanks as always to the Civic League for offering this opportunity!

Public Meetings on Merger Study Scheduled for 2/7/13 & 2/8/13

From the inbox:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts:
John O’Brien: 216.698.2099 or jfobrien@cuyahogacounty.us
Nicole Dailey Jones: 216.263.4602, 216.338.0863 or ndjones@cuyahogacounty.us

MERGER STUDY KICK-OFF, COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION DESIRED

Cuyahoga County – The Shared Services/Merger Study for Moreland Hills, Orange, Pepper Pike, and Woodmere, Ohio is being launched through a series of public meetings on Thursday, February 7, and Friday, February 8, 2013.

These meetings will provide the community with an opportunity to learn about the study process and to join the conversation around both merger and shared services for these communities. Each meeting will include an overview of the project, information about some of the key characteristics of the four communities, an interactive live survey and a roundtable discussion of challenges and opportunities. 

The meetings will be moderated by the project consultant, the Center for Governmental Research of Rochester, New York.

Each of the meetings will follow the same format so attendance is only necessary at one of the four options listed below:

Public Meeting Information

Thursday, February 7th

• 1:30 pm – Woodmere Village Hall at 27899 Chagrin Boulevard
• 4:00 pm – Orange Village Hall at 4600 Lander Road
• 7:00 pm – Moreland Hills Village Hall at 4350 SOM. Center Road  

Friday, February 8th

• 8:30 am – Pepper Pike City Hall at 28000 Shaker Boulevard

About the Center for Governmental Research:

CGR is a 98-year-old independent nonprofit strategic consulting and decision support organization with significant expertise conducting local government merger and shared service studies and developing implementation plans across New York and the Northeast. CGR is headquartered in Rochester, NY and was engaged by Cuyahoga County and the involved municipalities to serve as study consultant in December, 2012. 

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Asking candidates about their commitment to public engagement

From my day job:

Many political candidates don't just have a fear of commitment. They have a fear of engagement. But with 2013 being a local government election year, voters should pull no punches in putting the question about committing to public engagement to the people who want their votes. Contrary to the immortal words of the ultimate Meatloaf song, we can't just sleep on it. We want to know: what's it gonna be, yes or no?

So often, we clamor to know how a candidate will vote on an issue he or she hasn't yet faced. We provide hypothetical circumstances that we want them to imagine are real. Sure, plenty of politicians pick and choose issues about which they will shake their fist and blurt out a reliable yes or no (consider how few elected folks waffled on the Affordable Care Act; most knew what they wanted, the issue was whether they'd vote for what came before them). But mostly, we've come to accept as routine a refusal to comply with such a demand. It's truly rare to see courage rear it's head and and expose itself through the voice of a political wannabe as he or she, instead, silently calculates the local vote count that can be earned by resisting commitment.

Now, with the fear of engagement, there is hope. At least, I have hope.

Read about why I have hope here and add you thoughts in the accompanying conversation.

Do you Pinterest? Should candidates or electeds?

The White House just started a Pinterest account which you can see here. (Here's a primer on Pinterest.) And more and more, public servants and government entities are using Pinterest.

I started a Pinterest for a day job project I ran for about 16 months and I started a personal one to catalogue bucket list items and presents I could show my husband for Chanukah (yes, really - probably TMI there).

I'm kind of an early adopter of sorts and don't mind failing if something just isn't doing it for me. What do you think?

Pepper Pike website soft launch is here! Please check it out & offer input

Happy New Year!

As Mayor Bain mentioned in his December 2012 resident communication (which you can read here), we are now rolling out the new website for the City. The URL (web address) remains the same: http://pepperpike.org

Many thanks to the resident members of the Communications Committee (Tom Andrzejewski, Valeri Furst, Beth Robbins and former Councilman Cleve Svetlik), the Council members of the Committee (Scott Newell and Bob Freed), the Mayor and the City staff - especially Katy Zippert - who have all played and will continue to play a role in making this overhaul happen.

The first part of the soft launch emphasizes improved functionality. The next phase will focus on copy editing and updating content. Your input on any and all aspects, large or small, are invited and desired. You can respond by email, call or use the feedback form on the City website (here).

Thank you as always and have a fabulous 2013.

Babcock Property purchased by and gifted to City of Pepper Pike by family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan

Greetings (and Merry Christmas to all who are celebrating!).

I received the press release (published in its entirety) from the Mayor this evening with the news about the disposition of what has often been referred to as the Babcock Property located on the eastern side of Lander Circle between Chagrin and Pinetree.  Please read the release for the details which the Mayor has shared. I was so excited by the news, I knew that there would be residents who would be equally interested and excited. I have no doubt that plenty of information will be forthcoming after the holidays pass but I do want to express gratitude to the family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan for this incredible act.

Please have a safe and joyous holiday season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   December 24, 2012

CONTACT:  MAYOR RICHARD BAIN

CITY OF PEPPER PIKE

216 896-6126

Press Release:

The City of Pepper Pike is very happy to announce it is receiving a gift of land for use as a city park. The park has been purchased from Garfield Memorial Church and donated to the city in memory of their parents by the family of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan.  Known by many in the community as the former Mary Babcock property, it is located adjacent to Lander Circle at the intersection of Chagrin Blvd, Pinetree Rd. and Lander Rd. It consists of approximately 1.6 acres, and includes a meandering creek, woodland trees, shed and a 2000 square foot house constructed in the early 1900s.   

Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain said, “This land sits at the southern gateway to Pepper Pike and is an important historic link to the past. This site was at the heart of the original Orange Township. The site has been in constant use since the early 19^th century and apparently functioned as part of a farm for which foundation stones still exist. In this immediate area stood the township’s first shops and church. The graves of its early settlers dating to the mid 19^th century still remain, and later the electric Interurban Railway ran through here. This very generous gift will allow us to preserve a green gateway to Pepper Pike and enhance the community. We have worked with the family and Garfield Memorial Church to assist in this transpiring and I sincerely thank them for their commitment to the city and salute the family for this wonderful tribute to their parents.”

A Morgan family spokesman stated, “This parcel of land is given to the city of Pepper Pike in memory of Stanley L. and Eloise M. Morgan by their family.  The land is to be used as a park for all residents to enjoy.  Mr. and Mrs. Morgan moved to Pepper Pike in 1957 and resided there until their deaths.  They watched Pepper Pike grow and develop, and would have been pleased that the last green space on Lander Circle will remain that way.”

Mayor Bain further remarked, “We will also be using the park for educational purposes, and working with Chagrin River Watershed Partners to restore the creek and enhance the site. I would like to see in addition, that the park becomes an historic reminder of how the community originated. We will be investigating how best to utilize the park for that purpose. Any residents who have historic knowledge of the site, including records and photographs of the area, or wish to contribute ideas are invited to be in contact with me. A rejuvenated Pepper Pike Historic Society will be established to help with this project. ”

For additional information regarding this Press Release, please contact

Mayor Richard Bain at 216 896-6126