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The Heights Observer, 2450 Fairmount Boulevard , Suite M180, Cleveland Heights, OH (2025)

11/10/2025

After her kids left the nest, University Heights resident Marie Sovacool was adrift, in search of new friends and things to do. She discovered both in the New Clevelanders Club, a nonprofit philanthropic, cultural and social group for new and established women on Cleveland’s east side.

“They are very friendly people,” Sovacool said. “Everyone has been very nice and welcoming.”

The Cleveland native said she enjoys the camaraderie the group provides, noting, “At this time of life, it’s harder to meet people on your own.”

New Clevelanders was founded more than 50 years ago to help recent arrivals to the area settle in, learn all that Cleveland has to offer and form lasting friendships. Its mission has expanded to include all women on Cleveland’s east side and in its eastern suburbs who are interested in making new friends.

After her kids left the nest, University Heights resident Marie Sovacool was adrift, in search of new friends and things to do. She discovered both in the New Clevelanders Club, a nonprofit philanthropic, cultural and social group for new and established women on Cleveland’s east side. “They are...

11/10/2025

Two years ago, the Heights Athletic Boosters obtained permission from district alumni Jason and Travis Kelce to sell replica versions of their high school football jerseys. That campaign lasted only a few months, but it’s still paying big dividends for the booster club.

Last spring, a Cleveland Heights resident purchased a Jason Kelce jersey to wear to an autism awareness event in the Philadelphia Eagles stadium. There, she met Jason’s wife, Kylie, who signed the jersey and took it home for him to sign as well.

That jersey, a white Russell-brand Heights football jersey in size XL, bearing Jason’s high school number 48, is now being raffled off to benefit the boosters.

The sale of $10 raffle tickets will run through Friday, Dec. 19, when the winning number will be pulled at the Heights hockey game versus North Olmsted. The jersey will then be shipped or delivered to the winner, anywhere in the U.S.

Two years ago, the Heights Athletic Boosters obtained permission from district alumni Jason and Travis Kelce to sell replica versions of their high school football jerseys. That campaign lasted only a few months, but it’s still paying big dividends for the booster club. Last spring, a Cleveland He...

11/10/2025

The photography of University Heights resident Don Cassaniti will be on view at The Wine Spot through Dec. 9. New pieces will be added as others are sold, and each photograph is a limited edition.

In color and black-and-white Cassaniti has captured scenes from near and far—from the Heights, to Oregon, to Barcelona, and other destinations in between.

Recently retired after a 45-year career in aviation as a pilot and FAA air traffic controller, Cassaniti attended classes in digital photography at Tri-C, participates in coursework and competitions with the Cleveland Photographic Society (CPS), and has participated in other exhibitions in Greater Cleveland.

The Wine Spot’s owner, Adam Fleischer, selects local artists to fill the walls of his shop with the assistance of two art curators, local artists Martha Shiverick and Wendy Weil. All art-sale proceeds go directly to the artists.

The photography of University Heights resident Don Cassaniti will be on view at The Wine Spot through Dec. 9. New pieces will be added as others are sold, and each photograph is a limited edition. In color and black-and-white Cassaniti has captured scenes from near and far—from the Heights, to Ore...

11/10/2025

After a five-year hiatus, youth basketball returns to Church of the Saviour (COTS) at 2537 Lee Road, with evaluations beginning in November and league play commencing in January. All interested boys and girls in kindergarten through grade four are welcome to participate, regardless of experience or ability.

The church’s program, once associated with Upward Basketball, is now its own league: COTS Youth Basketball. It comprises co-ed kindergarten teams, first- and second-grade boys’ and girls’ teams, and third- and fourth-grade boys’ and girls’ teams.

As in the past, games will be held at the church on Saturday mornings and early afternoons for eight consecutive weeks, from mid-January until early March. In addition, starting in early January there will by weekly one-hour practices for each team during the late afternoon/early evening.

After a five-year hiatus, youth basketball returns to Church of the Saviour (COTS) at 2537 Lee Road, with evaluations beginning in November and league play commencing in January. All interested boys and girls in kindergarten through grade four are welcome to participate, regardless of experience or....

11/10/2025

Cleveland Heights city council person Jim Petras has become the city’s second elected mayor.

Following the election, Petras released the following statement: “Thank you, Cleveland Heights. Your trust means so much to me. This election has never been about me. It’s about our entire community choosing a better, brighter path forward for Cleveland Heights. Our city has been through enough. You have made you voices clear and I am with you. Our work strengthening Cleveland Heights starts right now. In the days to come, I will be meeting with council members, leaders and residents to start the work ahead to bring stable leadership, strong city services, roads that don’t take out the front end of your car, and restore trust in City Hall. Cleveland Heights has so much untapped potential. Today, we finally start to unleash it. I bring people together to get things done. That’s how we move Cleveland Heights forward. Let’s get to work.”

Cleveland Heights city council person Jim Petras has become the city’s second elected mayor. Following the election, Petras released the following statement: “Thank you, Cleveland Heights. Your trust means so much to me. This election has never been about me. It’s about our entire community ...

11/03/2025

Opinion: In response to Dustin Russell’s statement to the CH-UH Board of Education, published in the October issue of the Heights Observer, let me say this: I, too, am a resident of Cleveland Heights—of many years—and a product of the CH-UH school system, along with my children and my grandchildren. I was raised and taught to believe in free speech.

I am not on social media. I didn’t know who Charlie Kirk was before he was shot. But I have since learned enough to fully appreciate the response supposedly made on social media by a CH-UH teacher that Mr. Russell claims was posted after Kirk’s death.

The response to Kirk’s murder is emblematic of the current hypocrisy in our country. Kirk is being celebrated as a champion of free speech willing to debate anyone on his views—anti-DEI hires, women should be subservient to men, anti-reproductive rights, anti-trans/LGBTQ, pro gun. Interesting that he believed that a certain number of gun deaths were a necessary cost of the Second Amendment.

I hope our community—this includes our city and our school board—does not persecute people for what some view as hate speech and others view as constitutionally protected free speech. We here in Cleveland Heights have not—I hope—gone the way of Trumpism yet. Please bring this (much needed) intervention specialist back to her job.

In response to Dustin Russell’s statement to the CH-UH Board of Education, published in the October issue of the Heights Observer, let me say this: I, too, am a resident of Cleveland Heights—of many years—and a product of the CH-UH school system, along with my children and my grandchildren....

11/03/2025

Opinion: The federal government affects our lives every day in ways that are visible and invisible. People who work for federal agencies and in programs supported by federal funding share their skills, solve problems, and serve us.

The federal government is not a faceless bureaucracy. It’s people we know. It’s their lives.

The 2024 book Who is Government, edited by Michael Lewis, profiles federal public servants from diverse agencies and their remarkable contributions. The Partnership for Public Service reported that, as of July 2025, more than 148,000 people have voluntarily or involuntarily left the federal workforce.

Please help me create “In Public Service,” a possible feature to appear in the Heights Observer, that profiles Heights residents whose employment is funded with federal funds. Their stories will clarify what we will lose if dismantling our federal government continues.

The federal government affects our lives every day in ways that are visible and invisible. People who work for federal agencies and in programs supported by federal funding share their skills, solve problems, and serve us. The federal government is not a faceless bureaucracy. It’s people we know. ...

11/03/2025

Opinion: I live in the “Top of the Hill” neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. It’s a groovy place to live in retirement—I like to call it “Chillaxia” of the Western Reserve. The place could have been a national park if Grover C. hadn’t ruined things—the area covers the last great escarpment of the ancient Great Lake Erie. According to my geologist brother, our homes here sit on a huge outcropping of porous sandstone.

Sometimes, I like to walk halfway down the hill to the commercial area at Cedar and Fairmount. Unlike the more popular Lee Road district, there’s no drinking alcoholic beverages in the street here—we don’t even have a ma*****na store, maybe due to the pop-up church by the gas station on Cedar. (It’s illegal to sell w**d near a church or school.)

Recently, we had a taste of Manhattan living in the form of towering sidewalk sheds right in front of the medical building. Stone parts of the building had fallen and created a dangerous situation for pedestrians. The sheds were put up to prevent injuries during the repairs. The sheds are gone now, and they say it’s safe to walk there. I still look up.

Nighttown was recently replaced by Edwins—that place is really hopping in the evening. Vero Pizza expanded into the adjoining space—too bad they didn’t make the new front entrance wheelchair accessible during renovations. Gone is the combination event center and lingerie shop—rumor has it that a clothing store will go into the space. The bookstore is closed—just an empty shell now.

I live in the “Top of the Hill” neighborhood of Cleveland Heights. It’s a groovy place to live in retirement—I like to call it “Chillaxia” of the Western Reserve. The place could have been a national park if Grover C. hadn’t ruined things—the area covers the last great escarpment of ...

11/03/2025

Opinion: Now is the time to elect a leader who is ready to work for the people on day one. The choice of mayor is not just about determining our next leader but about selecting the person who will set the tone for our community, prioritize our needs, and represent our collective interests on the city, county. and state level. Vice Mayor Michele Weiss is the one candidate who has demonstrated commitment to University Heights citizens through her record of service to and on behalf of our community.

In addition to the many achievements and accomplishments on her resume, Weiss is known for her kindness, caring, and selflessness. I am reminded of the many neighbors that she checked in on during a citywide power outage to make sure that they were okay and offering to deliver supplies.

Our next mayor will face challenges in the quest to make sure that University Heights continues to be “So Much More Than Home.” To build upon the successes of prior administrations, our mayor must be prepared to collaborate with council on major initiatives such as infrastructure modernization, municipal facilities improvements, and economic development. Through her experience as a finance professional responsible for multi-million-dollar budgets, Weiss is the only candidate with the experience and decision-making skills to guide the city through these projects.

A successful mayor must not only manage budgets and policies but also foster a strong sense of belonging. We need someone who amplifies the voices of everyday residents, makes city hall approachable, and builds coalitions across neighborhoods. This is how we strengthen the fabric of our city and ensure every citizen feels represented. Weiss is an advocate for all residents; this is clearly recognized by voters who elected her to multiple council terms.

Now is the time to elect a leader who is ready to work for the people on day one. The choice of mayor is not just about determining our next leader but about selecting the person who will set the tone for our community, prioritize our needs, and represent our collective interests on the city, county...

11/03/2025

Before “all-knowing” algorithms could scan our lives to provide personalized recommendations, Heights Libraries staff helped thousands of patrons discover their next read. This work expanded in 2012 with the creation of the Matchmakers, a cohort of librarians who connect individual readers with books (and other media) tailored just for them.

Andrea Lynn, lead matchmaker, said the magic of a good match is all about thoughtful conversation and rapport. “We ask about books you enjoyed previously and what you’re in the mood for now—whether it’s dark and twisty, warm and cozy, or character-driven and witty,” explained Lynn.

From there, she noted, it’s highly personalized. Sometimes that means walking through the stacks together; other times, it’s a quiet online exchange through the library’s Match Me Up form. Matchmakers often call on each other’s knowledge—of various genres and the current collection—to provide the best possible recommendations.

In an era of online feeds and chatbots that seem to know us better than we know ourselves, the library offers a refreshing alternative rooted not in data, but true listening and connection. Matchmakers know the difference between a “similar” book and one that feels right. They also know how much the right match matters.

Before “all-knowing” algorithms could scan our lives to provide personalized recommendations, Heights Libraries staff helped thousands of patrons discover their next read. This work expanded in 2012 with the creation of the Matchmakers, a cohort of librarians who connect individual readers with...

11/03/2025

On Oct. 1, Tony Cuda was sworn in as mayor of the city of Cleveland Heights in a public ceremony held in City Hall’s Council Chambers.

Officiating at the swearing was Christopher Heltzel, assistant law director, and joining the mayor was his wife, Sandy Moran.

Cuda stated, “Today, I’m honored to be sworn in as interim mayor of the city of Cleveland Heights. I take this oath with humility, with respect for the decision of our voters, and with a clear understanding that I am a temporary caretaker of this office.

“Over the past several weeks, I have prepared for this role so I could hit the ground running. I’ve met with directors [of city departments]; I’ve learned where they’re at as far as their work and goals.

“My goal is simple: To steady the ship and prepare the city of Cleveland Heights for its next chapter.”

On Oct. 1, Tony Cuda was sworn in as mayor of the city of Cleveland Heights in a public ceremony held in City Hall’s Council Chambers. Officiating at the swearing was Christopher Heltzel, assistant law director, and joining the mayor was his wife, Sandy Moran. Cuda stated, “Today, I’m honored ...

11/03/2025

Opinion: Heights of Democracy’s September column brought up the need for a community effort to shape the Severance redevelopment.

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) were suggested as a tool to help guide the development. CLTs are a way to control development for everyone in the community. Rentals, home ownership, retail business, and other developments can be supported by CLTs, and costs can be mediated from the effects of inflation and financial pressure brought by some companies and institutions.

If the community owns the land, the buildings or parks may reflect the vision of the community.

To the Editor: Heights of Democracy’s September column brought up the need for a community effort to shape the Severance redevelopment. Community Land Trusts (CLTs) were suggested as a tool to help guide the development. CLTs are a way to control development for everyone in the community. Rentals,...

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