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City's original goals for TOH have been lost
by Steve Rajki
What's refreshing about ascending Cedar Glen is that you're entering a new realm—a realm of greenery.
The city of Cleveland Heights and its Top of the Hill (TOH) developer have chosen to monetize the TOH land to the max by placing a confrontational wall-like structure at the city's most valuable and prominent property—a site which should be welcoming, not in-your-face.
City council members, in desperation to get TOH done on their watch, somehow lost control of the design process and its original development goals. Goals included in April 2018, but now gone (or nearly so), were:
Great? TOH design isn't even good
by M. Joan Mallick
CH officials have repeatedly said that citizen input into the Top of the Hill (TOH) design is a matter of personal opinions and not worthy of serious consideration. They say design decisions should be left to credentialed architects and city planners who understand principles of good design. At the suggestion of a city official, I've read some key city planning texts. I found not only that the principles are easy to understand, but that the current TOH design violates at least four major principles of good design.
History proves council-manager plan works well
by Alan Rapoport
A proposal to change the Cleveland Heights form of government would reject the past. Before supporting such a drastic change, please consider the history of Frank Cain.
Cain came to Cleveland Heights when it still was a village. He was elected to village council in 1909, and became mayor in 1914. When Cleveland Heights became a city in 1921, Cain headed a charter commission that defined a new council-manager plan, still in use. Elected as first mayor under this new plan, Cain headed a slate of council members that went undefeated for 18 elections. He retired from city government in 1946. The city had a population of 3,000 when he began service, and 60,000 when Cain retired from city government in 1946.
How long a shadow does a 50-foot dump pile cast?
by Sarah West
Between 2014 and 2017, Arco Recycling in East Cleveland—on Noble Road, just minutes from the north side of Cleveland Heights—operated a dump that Diane Bickett, director of the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District (CCSWD), described as "a sham facility that was going to take in material, claim to be recycling it, make money off of having the material dumped there, and pocket the money and then abandon the site," in an article by Nick Castele (www.ideastream.org/news/how-publicly-funded-demolitions-fed-an-east-cleveland-dump). Full of noxious waste, including carcinogenic drywall, the Arco site filled a space the equivalent of five football fields, in a residential area.
CH needs an elected mayor
by Michael Bennett and Tony Cuda
Energy and excitement for a charter amendment enabling CH citizens to elect our mayor are building, buoyed by a wildly successful campaign to gather signatures to place the issue on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Why? Cleveland Heights residents are not satisfied with the status quo or the city's direction. They want a more dynamic, responsive and accountable government. They want a better future. The proposed amendment addresses these needs in several ways, outlined below.
The full-time, elected mayor would appoint and work with a full-time professional city administrator: The mayor will appoint the administrator on the basis of executive and administrative training and experience, subject to council's confirmation.
Directly elected mayor would not be more accountable
by Jack Newman and Mike Gaynier
Should we abandon our long-standing system of democratically shared power in Cleveland Heights? The group favoring centralized executive authority (including power of veto and political appointment) in a single directly elected mayor believes this will make our political leadership in Cleveland Heights more democratically accountable to voters. Let's examine this contention.
A strong mayor would face election only once every four years. In Cleveland Heights, where political affiliation overwhelmingly favors a single party, a strong mayor would likely be from, and supported by, that party. It would be very difficult for any challenger to replace an incumbent, even if the office holder turned out to be less skilled, less effective, or less ethical than voters had originally believed.
CH residents should support our council-manager governance structure
by Mike Gaynier and Jack Newman
The Heights Observer has published news articles and opinion pieces regarding Citizens for an Elected Mayor, a local group that advocates abandoning Cleveland Heights' existing council-manager structure in favor of a "strong mayor-council" form of government. This position is inconsistent with the recommendation of the Charter Review Commission (CRC), which voted 10-2-1 (1 abstention) against adding a strong mayor, and 11-2 to retain our council-manager structure.
The CRC was tasked by Cleveland Heights City Council to answer the question: "What is in the best interest of the residents of Cleveland Heights?"
The CRC undertook an extensive 16-month study of our charter and best governance practices for Cleveland Heights, as we look toward our future.
A city manager form of government works well
A pending proposal seeks to change the Cleveland Heights city manager form of government to a strong mayor form, via a charter amendment proposed for the November 2019 ballot. Before any rush to judgment, we all should consider what our present form of government is.
The city manager system adopted in 1921 was a "good government" reform to put less emphasis on political decision-making. Our municipal corporation operates like a traditional corporation. Voters are "stockholders." They elect a city council as a "board of directors." Council members are elected at large, not by wards. This board elects one member as its presiding officer with the title of Mayor. It hires a city manager as the "chief executive officer." Managers are chosen based upon qualifications and experience. Cleveland Heights has prospered with this system for almost 100 years.
Forest Hill Swim Club—My summer home
by Kennedy Kostos
Most times when you hear people talk about spending the summer in Cleveland Heights, you hear the same remarks: "There's nothing to do," and, "When I'm older, I'm moving somewhere less boring." Despite these common claims, I have never felt this way about my summer days here. This is because whenever I feel like I'm on the verge of being "bored," I have a convenient place where I can go to change that. A place where I can spend my summer days and nights with my friends and family. A place where I can cool off, relax, and enjoy my dad's famous grilled cheeseburgers. A place I call my summer home—more commonly known as, Forest Hills Swim Club (FHSC).
Concerns about Top of the Hill
by Eric Silverman
While the design and massing for Top of the Hill (TOH) are extremely disappointing, what irks me to no end is the math behind the project and the answers I receive from City Hall.
What no one has been able to explain to me is why—with land that is ostensibly "free" at the most developable site in the city, with a parking structure that makes the project viable, paid for with taxes that would otherwise go to the public schools—the developer is unable to secure financing and the city is covering a funding "gap."
No one at City Hall is able to tell me why there is a "gap," why the city is covering $1.85 million of this "gap," or what $1.85 million in public money is paying for. As the city does not have $1.85 million sitting around, it is going to borrow this money, which means the cost will be around $2 million with interest.
Cleveland Heights announces new council member
by Carol Roe
Last week, I was very pleased, on behalf of City Council, to announce the selection of Cleveland Heights resident Craig Cobb to fill the unexpired term of former Councilperson Cheryl Stephens.
It was a truly rewarding process with over 30 residents applying for the position, and each one bringing a variety of experiences and interests to the table. We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the Council and believe he will be a great asset to us and to the city. Craig's knowledge and experience with city government will be immediately capitalized on as we go forward with a number of important issues.
Beaumont students need athletic fields
by Wendy Hoke
It was with great interest that I read Colin Compton's opinion, "In opposition to Beaumont's plans to demolish the Painter Mansion." As the president of Beaumont School, I'd like to add additional perspective on this issue.
The Painter family sold the building in 1942 to the Ursuline Sisters, who found the house in severely deteriorated condition when they assumed ownership. Most of the interior had been stripped bare, including wood paneling, the electrical system and even the doorknobs. While the Ursulines invested heavily to try and restore the property, it was a structure that required significant expenditures simply to maintain in habitable condition as a convent. Even before Beaumont assumed ownership in 2009, outside experts provided the opinion that the cost to renovate the building and convert it back to an academic use would be cost-prohibitive.
In opposition to Beaumont's plans to demolish the Painter Mansion
by Colin Compton
Stewardship is defined in many ways. Environmentalists may classify it as actions taken to protect natural resources. In financial terms, it could mean prudent supervision. A religious person (a nun, for example) may interpret it as responsibility to care for the world in order to leave it better off than how one found it. In a broad sense, Merriam-Webster defines stewardship as "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care."
Careful and responsible.
To these definitions, I'd add that stewardship is equally applicable to the ownership of historic buildings. The owner is a caretaker, not a sole beneficiary. This is why I oppose Beaumont School's proposed demolition of the Painter Mansion.
A view from the bench: CH court cut budget and added cases in 2018
by J.J. Costello
In 2018, the Cleveland Heights Municipal Court cost taxpayers almost $70,000 less than in 2017, while hearing about 1,500 more cases, according to our just-released annual report. The court managed the savings while improving its Web access and providing more services for defendants, thanks to good planning and management by our capable and dedicated staff.
Part-time magistrates replaced a full-time magistrate. Other cost savings in 2018 included reducing the number of vehicles from two to one, and spending less on books, because the same information was already available on existing electronic research services.
EdChoice vouchers more available as public school test performance dips
by Robert Shwab
About 60 residents met at the Lee Road Library on Feb. 26 to learn about the EdChoice Scholarships that are becoming more available for students in Cleveland Heights, as state test results for Heights High have fallen to the "underperforming" category.
At the request of residents, Americans for Prosperity Foundation invited Alyson Miles, board chair of School Choice Ohio, to explain eligibility and the application process. School Choice Ohio (https://scohio.org/) is an independent not-for-profit that offers to assist parents in navigating the program. The Ohio Department of Education provides information about the program on its website: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Scholarships/.
Economic reports contradict latest TOH plan
by Loretta Feller
As a 35-year resident of the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood, across Cedar Road from the Top of the Hill (TOH) proposed development, I was surprised to read a Jan. 25 article in the Plain Dealer, "Cleveland Hotel Occupancy in 2018 Rebounds, Exceeds Republican National Convention Year", which noted, "Hotel occupancy—that's the percentage of hotel rooms that are filled—was 69.3 percent in 2018 for downtown Cleveland and University Circle. . . . That's up from 66.5 percent in 2017, and the highest since 2015, before the city added several new hotels in anticipation of the RNC."
My surprise arose from my attendance at a 2018 community meeting on TOH, when we were told by the city that the developers, Flaherty and Collins, had dropped the "nationally branded or boutique hotel" and office space from their original proposal submitted to the city, which formed part of their being chosen to develop this city property.
A consideration on Top of the Hill
by Michael Knoblauch
I have been "sort of" aware of the Top of the Hill project, reading a few Web posting and local articles. Conversations with friends reveals a certain "ambiguity' about the project. My initial consideration on the design and plan: "Is this the best the city could do?"
As rendered in photographs, the design does not say, at least to me, "Welcome to Cleveland Heights!" I would expect a driver arriving at the top of Cedar Hill would have the same impression. If I were a resident of the Buckingham condos, I would not appreciate having to look at the back end of this building. I think/hope something more creative and less automobile-centric is possible.
In defense of density at Cedar Fairmount/Top of the Hill
by Brendan Ring
Nighttown first opened for business in 1965. I started working there in 1992. When I bought the place in 2001, business was just so-so. Eighteen years later Nighttown thrives because we added three outdoor dining areas, a world-class music calendar, a changed menu and other innovations that have made Nighttown a regional destination for a diverse clientele which benefits all of Cedar Fairmount. However, with the cost of food, people and benefits constantly on the rise, as well as the addition of scores of new restaurants in Greater Cleveland (with a population that isn't increasing), it's a continual struggle to remain a destination location. So, too, do my fellow merchants and property owners face similar challenges in the Cedar-Fairmount area.
Top of the Hill design fails CH
I was disappointed to see FutureHeights support the Top of the Hill (TOH) project in light of the current design. While I agree with FutureHeights on many points, and give the site plan an "A," the TIF funding a "B" and the parking plan a "B-," I feel the design is so poor that it warrants a "D" and support should be withheld until a better one is presented.
The current design fails Cleveland Heights on multiple levels, both in process and appearance.
From a process standpoint, while city materials state community feedback will be included, in calendar year 2018, I know of no formal process to solicit this input from the general public. There have been no design charrettes and the only input from the public has been generated by questions when status updates on the project have been given. I have seen none of that feedback translated into the design, as the original images, which were reported to just be "massing studies," have only been refined with more detail—they continue to be boring, bland, banal "Developer Modernism."
Change in state law offers 'fresh start' for some offenders
by James Costello
The new year is all about fresh starts. A recent change in Ohio law means that more people are now eligible to have their criminal records sealed. Effective Oct. 29, 2018, the definition of "eligible offender" changed and is now much broader.
In Ohio, an adult criminal record can be sealed so that the conviction or criminal charge is filed separately from a person's record. However, the record can never be completely erased. It is still available to some; for instance, judges, law enforcement, certain employers (such as schools), and most professional licensing boards can gain access to the sealed record, but most employers, landlords, and the public cannot see the record.
Addendum to December letter re: Top of the Hill
by Kim Sergio Inglis
One of our readers alerted Heights Observer staff to the fact that in publishing a letter by Richard Bozic ["Top of the Hill design should reflect Cedar Fairmount style"] in the December issue, we failed to disclose that he was "a (very recent) former chair of the CH Architectural Board of Review."
We were unaware of that, and confirmed with Bozic that he was indeed a former member who "left the board at the end of 2016, almost 2 years ago . . . (and) was the chairman in 2016."
Consider risks of the Top of the Hill Project
by Don King
On Oct. 27, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the upcoming closing of Happy Dog at the Euclid Tavern. It's been a rocky couple of decades for "the Euc," but Happy Dog co-owner Sean Watterson, quoted in the Plain Dealer, summed up the current situation in University Circle by saying, "The area changed pretty quickly with building going up rather than through organic growth." [The Euclid Tavern is owned by University Circle Inc.]
This could serve as a cautionary tale for the Heights' Top of the Hill Project. Could any of our organically grown treasures, such as Appletree Books, Luna, or The Fairmount, suffer because of too much building, too fast?
Forest Hill Church's 'new thing'
by Peg Weissbrod
The sign in front of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church that proclaims "See, I am doing a new thing!" refers to the hiring of the Rev. Veronica Goines as the church's first African-American co-pastor.
The story of this historic call started in 2010, when a horrifying racial incident threatened one of the church's young members. The young man, soliciting money for his football team, was searched at gunpoint by Pepper Pike police after a 911 caller reported a black youth trying to break into houses with a gun.
When church members demanded a public apology, the city of Pepper Pike refused, saying its response would have been the same if the call had been about a white youth with a gun.
The problem was, there wouldn't have been a 911 call if the boy had been white. Only through the lens of implicit bias does a well-dressed, respectful and respectable young man with a cell phone, going door-to-door to raise money for his school, become a criminal suspect wielding a gun.
Volume 11, Issue 11, Posted 12:25 PM, 11.01.2018
There is systemic racism in CH
by Diane Hallum
When institutions give an unjust amount of resources, rights and political-economic power to white people while denying it to people of color, this is systemic racism. According to sociologist Joe Feagin, white elites and even people of color perpetuate systemic racism. The Cleveland Heights government is such an institution.
In 1972, it was revealed that the city had been redlining—limiting black families to homeownership only on the north side of the city. In 1993, city leaders acknowledged it had not invested in that area's infrastructure, housing stock and local business districts, and promised to change its ways. Today, after bearing the brunt of the foreclosure crisis in this city, the north side has yet to experience a change in the city's racist ways. It razes vacant and abandoned property and hopes to attract out-of-town property buyers and developers to build high-density, high-income residential buildings along the "Noble Corridor," to bring in a more-gentrified class of people and businesses—forget the issues facing the low- to moderate-income, primarily black, residents currently living there.
Coventry School should be sold
While having an arts/nonprofit center is a wonderful idea and concept for our community, I don't feel the Coventry School site should be the location for it. A non-property tax generating building is not the highest and best use for this desirable location. It is a site that I presume would have a lot of interest from developers.
A site I presume won't have as much interest would be the Tudor buildings at the corner of S. Taylor Road and Superior Park Drive. These buildings are being transferred to the city of Cleveland Heights due to non-payment of property taxes. The first floor retail space in these buildings is essentially empty. Let's state some facts:
Show your pride in and gratitude for Heights schools
by Krista Hawthorne
November is gratitude month. CH-UH school administrators and staff work continuously to bolster the educational experience and academic success of each of their students. While there are always ways to improve, there is also much to celebrate.
We want to hear your statements of pride and gratitude about the Cleveland Heights-University Heights public schools. Please go to www.reachingheights.org and complete the "Proud & Grateful" form. These statements will be compiled and shared on the Reaching Heights website, our Facebook page, and other media, to spread positive statements about the accomplishments of the students and staff of the CH-UH public schools.
Several Reaching Heights staff and board members shared statements of pride and gratitude for the community's public schools:
Opinion: CDC: what does it stand for?
by Paul Volpe
I would expect that when most folks think of what "CDC" stands for, they would think of Centers for Disease Control. But, for many of us who have had the opportunity to enjoy life in an established urban neighborhood, our response might more likely be "community development corporation" (CDC). So, what is a CDC, and why do we care?
Well, as the name suggests, the word "community" indicates a gathering and engagement of people with a common agenda or purpose—in this case, improving a place by taking action to remove or prevent deterioration, blight and decline.
Opinion: Tiger Nation wants you
The Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District has a tiger as the district mascot and is known as Tiger Nation. Current and past students and school staff are fondly known as Heights Tigers. Are you a Heights Tiger, too?
If you live within the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District, your property taxes fund the public schools. You are a Heights Tiger. If you work for or own a business within the CH-UH school district, your business taxes support our public schools. You are a Heights Tiger, too.
Opinion: I'm a proud member of the Forest Hill crank club
by Michael Reilly
After 10 years of watching the alarming rise of vacant foreclosures in Forest Hill, I can no longer stomach our homeowners' association's (HOA) excuses for inaction.
Anybody who lives in Forest Hill sees the vacant houses that sit and rot, impacting our quality of life and property values. If our HOA is "nurturing the historic serenity of this area" as it claims, why is it ignoring the eyesores at 1024 and 1315 Hereford Road, 15780 Cleviden Road, 15472 Brewster Road, 1400 Forest Hills Blvd., and 3045 Monticello Blvd.?
A well-defined brand can enhance a city's image
by Mary Trupo
Each of us is passionate about our community and committed to sharing the story of what makes Cleveland Heights such a wonderful place [in which] to live, work, eat, shop and play. Developing clear messaging and engaging graphics will help shape our conversation and enhance our ability to clearly communicate who Cleveland Heights is and what it offers. The city made the strategic decision to invest in discovering and defining the brand of Cleveland Heights and establishing new tools and resources to help effectively promote the city brand to others.
A brand is much more than a logo or tag line. It is the DNA of the city and speaks to what Cleveland Heights stands for and what it offers visitors, business owners and residents alike. By discovering and defining the brand, the foundation for tools and resources will be developed to help us effectively promote this unique community to prospective residents and businesses, current residents and visitors.
Court holds that property manager breached its own contract
by Douglas Whipple
A Cleveland Heights property manager sued its client to recover management fees but the strategy backfired. Municipal Court Magistrate Gary Benjamin found that the property manager had breached its own property management agreement and rejected the company's claim for compensation. Instead, the magistrate awarded damages to the property owner on his counterclaim.
The property manager, Transnational Property Investments, manages more than 350 properties out of its office on Fairmount Boulevard. A July 2016 property management agreement provided that Transnational would rent and manage a duplex in Cleveland owned by Rodolfo Encinas, a California resident. The agreement was terminated in October 2017 after both units had been vacant for ten months.
A complaint-driven housing policy isn't enough to save our neighborhoods
by Kermit Lind
Few places have as much potential for attractive residency as the racially and culturally vibrant Heights suburbs east of Cleveland. Yet, like most aging suburban communities in mid-western states, these suburbs are confronting the residue of disruptive, predatory home sales and financing practices along with persistent middle-income wage stagnation. Although recovery is evident in upscale neighborhoods, reported data shows ordinary legacy neighborhoods still face dire realities.
These realities pose a serious threat to housing quality and neighborhood sustainability. Increasing code compliance failures tend to normalize more negligence, abandonment and distress, leading to lower housing values, more absentee-investor home ownership, and property tax base erosion. Communities cannot afford to stand by and watch their most affordable housing stock turn into solid waste. Virtually all candidates for municipal office in the Heights said so in their 2016 election campaigns.
A 'Fool on the Hill'
The hill I am referring to is the near legendary "Top of the Hill" in the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood. Is it a place, a property, or maybe even someday a project? For me, and probably many others, is it more likely a dream that never seems to end?Can this dream become reality?
Looking back over two years ago, the city distributed requests for proposals, seeking a development partner. Five interested teams responded. (Full disclosure: I, along with my former architectural firm, submitted a detailed proposal in partnership with a local development group. We were not selected and moved on.)
'Charter-ing' the best course for Cleveland Heights
Over the past months, I have had a keen interest and emerging sense of civic responsibility to become involved with the discussion regarding Cleveland Heights' charter review. I have found myself reading articles, letters, attending the public meeting, and sitting thru two sessions of the Charter Review Commission (CRC). I even felt compelled to express myself in various CRC meetings and forums.
My career has provided me the opportunity to work in the public sector in an appointed executive position, and as the owner and director of a professional business. I have met and dealt with many important people—even some considered powerful—these last 40 years, and have discovered a great deal about leadership.
The lesson I have learned, which I found of the greatest importance, is that leadership is not defined by a job title; it must be earned.
Forest Hill will smile again
by Jan Milic
Other than the azaleas and blossoming trees in Forest Hill, the best thing here is the homeowners association, regardless of what has been said in an ongoing dialogue. The "fuss" has been the private crusade of less than six people. Neighborhoods will always have "cranks," but ours has been extremely aggressive. Since the 1950s, the association has nurtured the historic serenity of this area.
Charter Review Commission should discuss before deciding
by Michael Bennett
Months of opinion-gathering and fact-finding by the Cleveland Heights Charter Review Commission (CRC) went to waste at its June 7 meeting.
Instead of engaging in thoughtful discussion about our city's form of government, and evaluating of hundreds of comments from residents, commission members stated their preferences, with a majority in support of preserving the current city manager-council form. This derailed the conversation, discomfited several commission members, and did little to move the process forward. A bit of conversation surfaced toward the end of the meeting, but the damage was done; the tenor was such that anyone even considering an elected mayor form of government had little ground on which to take a stand.
I urge the commission to get the deliberation train back on a better track at its June 21 meeting and beyond, for this and all other charter issues. Potential charter changes are too important to let the strongly and frequently expressed opinions of several preclude open and honest deliberation among all.
Libraries are the true 'third place'
by Sheryl Banks
By now, most people have heard about the dismaying incident at a Philadelphia Starbucks, where two African-American men were arrested after the store manager called 911. Their offense? In a nutshell, waiting for a few minutes in the store for someone without buying anything. And asking to use the restroom.
Much of the media coverage contrasted the men's treatment with the company's stated desire to be a "third place"—someplace other than home, work, or school where people feel welcome to spend time. Indeed, Starbucks' website asserts that the stores are "A place for conversation and a sense of community. A third place between work and home."
CH can do better with garbage
by Tom Diamond
As a new resident of Cleveland Heights but a real estate broker who has worked in areas from Sandusky to Solon, I get a pretty good idea of how each city differs from its neighbor.
The city of Cleveland Heights has a trash collection policy that is incredibly baffling to me. We throw our garbage bags on the tree lawn (do they still call it that?) and the animals pick at it for dinner leaving gaping holes in the bags which then are influenced by mother nature and—suddenly!—garbage everywhere!
Slay the gerrymander: Vote Yes on Issue 1
by Maryann Barnes
Chances are you've been asked to sign a petition to stop the gerrymandering—drawing district lines to favor a candidate or party—of Ohio's congressional districts. Spearheaded by the Fair Districts = Fair Elections coalition, this constitutional referendum effort culminated in successful negotiations with state legislators to put Ohio Issue 1—an alternative, but solid, solution—on the May 8 ballot.
Issue 1 has the full endorsement of the Fair Districts coalition (which includes the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Common Cause), the Democratic and Republican parties, and a growing list of organizations statewide.
Forest Hill can be the next Tremont
by Mike Reilly
For Greater Clevelanders, it has been the best and the worst of times depending on the neighborhood you live in. Destination neighborhoods like Cedar Fairmount and Tremont are thriving with increased property values and the buzz of restaurants and retail.
Forest Hill as a neighborhood once enjoyed this status. No more. Now it is lumped into a collection of neighborhoods many call "north of Mayfield." Instead of buzz, there is the ghost town called Severance Town Center and the only restaurants are fast food. Retail consists of Walgreen's and The Dollar Store.
Forest Hill is at a crossroads. We can look west and connect to the vibrancy of Little Italy and University Circle. Or continue to plod along and stagnate.
HCC decries proposed HUD mission statement change
Recently, Dr. Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), issued a statement that alarms Heights Community Congress (HCC) members, who feel it should alarm their neighbors as well. Carson said that HUD will amend its mission statement to remove, among other things, references to creating "inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination."
Compassion or stigma: You choose
by Laurel Hopwood
I read a comment on NextDoor in Cleveland Heights where a writer referred to another person as "the Tourette's guy." Based on the person's behavior of having uncontrollable outbursts, apparently the writer assumed the person had Tourette's syndrome (TS). I responded that TS is a genetic brain disorder and I doubt the person suffering from this disorder appreciated being categorized.
[TS is] usually symptomatic early in life. Can you imagine how young classmates treat a child diagnosed with Tourettes?
That's not the only genetic brain disorder. I've been hearing from more and more people who've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. People diagnosed can suffer from uncontrolled mood changes, on the spectrum of depression to mania.
CH judge provides municipal court update
On or before the last day of March each year, municipal courts throughout Ohio submit a report of their operations during the preceding calendar year to the legislative authority and to the board of county commissioners of each county within their territory. The report shows the work performed by the court; a statement of receipts and expenditures of the civil and criminal branches; the number of cases heard, decided, and settled; and any other data that the supreme court, the secretary of state, the legislative authority, and the board of county commissioners requires. As I prepared the data for the report for 2017, which occurred before I took office, I found myself reflecting on the first two and a half months that I have been in office.
Let me begin by stating that it is an honor to serve Cleveland Heights as its judge. It has at times been trying, for example, setting bail for an accused who is pulled over and allegedly found to have a small amount of drugs, but also a loaded, unlicensed, semi-automatic handgun in the vehicle. The preeminent purpose of bail is to ensure that an accused appears at all stages of the criminal proceedings. It is also necessary to take into consideration the potential danger to the community of the accused. All this has to occur while affording the greatest degree of fairness to the accused, who is just that, accused, and innocent until proven guilty.
A popularly elected, accountable mayor would be better for Cleveland Heights
by Sarah Wean
As a 26-year resident of Cleveland Heights, I took great interest in community issues and learned a great deal about them through my stints as a city of Cleveland Heights Housing Service consultant; as one of a number of concerned citizens who rallied around quality of life and city planning issues by creating FutureHeights in 2000; and as a volunteer in Grant Deming's Forest Hill Historic District.
My experiences have led me to the conclusion that Cleveland Heights has not been well served by its current council-manager form of government. This structure may have worked well in the early 20th-century Progressive-era view of government needing to be placed on a business footing, but today's challenges require a new approach.
Thinking about Big Fun's going-out-of-business sale
by Bob Rosenbaum
Big Fun is about childhood—revisiting our own, enriching our children's, and then watching our children discover nostalgia for themselves.
Big Fun is about commerce. It's a tourist attraction in an unlikely place, and an anchor for Coventry Village and Cleveland Heights—reliably drawing more than its fair share of traffic. Its presence has probably enriched other businesses more than it's enriched the owner, Steve Presser.
Big Fun is about community. Steve is everybody's close friend, whether he knows you or not. I'm not sure he's ever turned down a reasonable request to support a local cause.
Change the charter to directly elect CH mayor
by Gary Benjamin
I drafted a statement of my opinion and submitted it to the CH Charter Review Commission (CRC). I would encourage everyone write in and let your voice be heard.
I have attended two CRC meetings. At one, a resident stood up and said that he didn't care who the elected council members wanted as mayor; he cared who he, as a voter, wanted as mayor. I thought this simple statement got to the heart of the debate between having a mayor directly elected by the voters as opposed to a "mayor" selected by four of the seven CH council members.
CH needs a full-time mayor
by Tony Cuda
Cleveland Heights needs to elect a full-time mayor. Currently, our part-time city council elects a part-time mayor who has no executive power. The city manager (a full-time position) is hired by city council and runs the day-to-day operations of the city.
Our city has decent city services and a school system that is moving in the right direction. But the problems we have require a full-time elected mayor with the vision, the time and the skills to move our city forward. The problems are:
The Heights Observer is not an ordinary newspaper; it is a nonprofit publication for residents of Cleveland Heights and University Heights.
The Observer has no writing staff; it is written by you—the readers.
Individuals throughout the community decide what stories they want to write, then submit them for publication. Anyone in University Heights or Cleveland Heights is welcome to contribute regularly, occasionally or even just once.
Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus vision closer to reality after recent developments
by Frank Lewis
The members of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus team are pleased to report that all relevant parties are engaged in active discussions over the immediate future of the Coventry site and our proposal to build on its success as a center for arts, education and community gatherings.
On Nov. 20, the Heights Libraries Board of Trustees authorized Executive Director Nancy Levin to enter into negotiations with the P.E.A.C.E. Campus group about partnering to take possession of the Coventry property from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. School districts are limited by law in how they can dispose of unused buildings and land; cities and libraries are two entities to which districts can transfer ownership. But this is not just a legal maneuver—the library's formal involvement is a welcome and promising development.
Volume 10, Issue 12, Posted 11:20 AM, 11.30.2017
Vouchers are bad for most
by Robin Koslen
I have two adult children that I love more than anything in the world and always have. They went to Cleveland Heights-University Heights public schools and received an imperfect but great education. I worshiped some of their teachers, tolerated others, thought some administrators knew what they were doing and didn't care for others. All in all, CH-UH schools and my family were a good fit. I never thought about sending them to a different system.
Volume 10, Issue 11, Posted 2:26 PM, 11.01.2017
Flags are being stolen from Forest Hill Church
by John Lentz
Since February, two flags have flown on the steps of Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian, at the intersection of Monticello and Lee boulevards: the "rainbow" flag which celebrating LGBTQ persons, and the green, black and red flag known as the "International African Flag" or the "African-American" flag.
Four times since February, the African-American flag has been stolen.
Perhaps the flag was taken by a white supremacist. Perhaps some young person, who thought it was a good-looking flag and wanted it for a dorm room or apartment, took it. Or perhaps someone who believed that these two flags should not be in the same space removed it.
What matters to you in our council members?
Our homes are our sanctuary from the world. But our contentment there can be hard fought.
We're busy, consumed with thoughts about jobs, kids, repairs, bills and doctors' visits. Pricking that contentment are outside issues as well. Streets with damaged trees; sinking sewer grates; broken curbs; cracked, crumbling surfaces; and empty storefronts and homes. But your calls to [Cleveland Heights] City Hall go nowhere. Council members don't respond to your calls or e-mails.
An appreciation of Cumberland Pool
by Cary Seidman
My earliest memories of Cumberland Pool go back to the middle 1950s. In those days water was fed into the pool with considerable force through two above-ground sculpted lions' mouths on the pool's east side. People of a certain age will remember ropes (as in "get off the rope") at the north and south ends. But before the ropes there were chain-link fences in the pool separating the deeper from shallower water. During the middle and late 1960s I worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor there.
We had rules covering just about everything, mostly dealing with what you could not do or must not bring (food, toys, suntan lotion, training equipment, reading material, and much more) into the pool area. Who remembers having to present your feet for inspection prior to emerging from the locker room?
Coventry P.E.A.C.E. park is an essential community asset
by Erick Kauffman
The Coventry P.E.A.C.E. playground was created 23 years ago by a group of passionate and engaged citizens, in collaboration with the school board and city of Cleveland Heights.
Since that time, Coventy P.E.A.C.E., a nonprofit organization, has endured. Its volunteer members are stewards of the park, caring for the grounds, gardens and play equipment through biannual park work days.
Coventry park is really a campus, as it encompasses the multi-use Coventry School building, the park itself, the ball field, the P.E.A.C.E. arch, the Coventry Village Library and the south entrance to Coventry Village.
The park serves at times as a soccer and Frisbee field, a summer movie theater, an amphitheater for Shakespeare plays, a great sledding hill for little kids, a gathering place for a drum circle, a concert venue, a place for outdoor yoga classes, a reading garden for library patrons, a place to meet neighbors, a place to make friends and a place where one can just "be." Per square foot it is the most-used ground in Cleveland Heights.
Heights Observer local candidate policy
With the November election approaching, the Heights Observer is publishing its policy for contributions by candidates for local office.
As a community newspaper committed to equal access for everyone, the Observer is unique among publications in providing opportunity for any member of the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities to raise and discuss issues of local interest.
At election time, however, this commitment creates a challenge in managing the finite space that is available for community members who are running for public office.
The policy, approved by the FutureHeights Board of Directors, is designed to address that challenge. It states the following:
The August-November issues of the printed publication will not carry any editorial contributions from known candidates for office.
Opinion: FutureHeights declares its intent to become the CDC for Cleveland Heights
by FutureHeights Board of Directors
On April 21, the FutureHeights Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically approved a resolution declaring the intent of the organization to become the Community Development Corporation (CDC) for Cleveland Heights. FutureHeights has been in discussion with city leaders about becoming the CDC for more than a year, and feels that now is the time to move forward.
Consistent with our name, for 15 years FutureHeights' mission has been to promote a vibrant and sustainable "future" for Cleveland Heights (and University Heights, since 2008), through innovative ideas and civic engagement.
It's hard to recommend teaching as a profession
by Ari Klein
My holiday tradition for several years was to go backpacking overnight between Christmas and New Year's with Boy Scout alums from my days as scoutmaster. For the last several years, we seem to get a better turnout if I host a party at my house instead. This year, one of the young men, who is in his mid-20s, and I discussed whether he should go into teaching. This would have been an easy discussion years ago, but now it is not so simple.
County overvalues Heights properties
by J. Alex Morton and Ruth Morton Fazio
Has the county valued your home accurately for property tax purposes? In other words, does the value comport [compare?] with other properties that have sold on your street? Do you think that your home would sell for the amount at which the county has valued it? If the county's appraised value seems out of line to you, you are not alone. There seems to be a pattern of overvaluing homes for property tax purposes in Cuyahoga County, and this miscalculation by the county could be costing [homeowners] thousands of dollars.
Forest Hill Home Owners association enforces covenants and protects housing standards
by Pete Grebus
The Forest Hill Home Owners association (FHHO) is a nonprofit founded in 1950. Forest Hill spans both Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland, containing 991 single-family residences and a small number of apartment buildings. It's important to understand that FHHO does not possess the mechanisms of a modern HOA—mandatory dues, the ability to make repairs and bill the homeowner, or the ability to easily attach liens to properties. FHHO does, however, have standards relating to siding, roofing, landscaping and general exterior maintenance that go beyond both Cleveland Heights and East Cleveland housing standards.
FHHO views its relationship with Cleveland Heights as a strong and productive one. Cleveland Heights has been responsive in assisting FHHO to address non-operational vehicles, broken streetlights and damaged fire hydrants.


The Senior Services division operates at several locations throughout Richmond County to provide daily activities for it's members. Participants enjoy an array of educational, physical, and nutritional programs such as Health Education, Chronic Disease Management, Arts & Crafts, Games, Nutrition Education, Fitness Programs and much more.
The Senior Services Division also hosts many Special Events designed and coordinated solely for our Senior Adult population. Many of these events are held for Service Center members as well as open to all Seniors county wide.
Family Life Center 1014 Eleventh Ave.
Community Center 1155 Hephzibah-McBean Rd.
Community Center 3431 Old McDuffie Rd.
Community Center 2540 Wheeler Rd.


In 1982 Gerald Whent successfully convinced the board of Racal Electronics, a defense company, that it should invest in a bid for a cellular mobile phone licence in the United Kingdom. Based in Newbury, the resulting company chose the name Vodafone as it combined the words voice, data and telephone. The first Vodafone analogue service was launched at the beginning of 1985 and by the end of the first year the company had 19,000 customers. That more then trebled in the second year and by 1987 the company had begun to expand internationally. Ever-improving technology helped to drive the expansion and to help fund the business 20% of the business was floated on the London and New York Stock Exchanges in the course of 1988.Within three years Vodafone was ready to demerge from Racal and at the end of 1991 it launched the world's first GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) system. The company then began to open stores in Britain and the number of customers topped a million for the first time. Within two years that had doubled as Vodafone increased its retail business.In 1997 the company underwent a major restructuring program and the following year Whent, who had by then been knighted, retired. He was replaced by Chris Gent.Gent embarked on an audacious program to expand. His first move was to merge the company with the US mobile telephone company AirTouch and less then a year later Gent struck again taking over the giant German Mannesmann engineering empire - owner of a variety of telecommunications companies, including D2 and Orange, in a huge hostile takeover bid. The deal overcame European Union scrutiny when Gent agreed to sell off Mannesmann's subsidiary Orange to France Telecom for $51bn.Gent has continued his expansion by selling a stake which the company owned in France Telecom and buying a 15% shareholding in Japan Telecom and Vodafone AirTouch is now the world's leading mobile telephone operator.Initially involved in motor racing via a D2 sponsorship of Benetton, Vodafone switched to Ferrari soon afterwards and has enjoyed huge success thanks to the victories of Michael Schumacher.


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Home Top Story Good and bad news on road safety
Good and bad news on road safety
First the bad news. Despite the Prince's Government reiterating its commitment to enforce respect for the highway code and to fight against all forms of road incivility and nuisance, as well as a Ministerial Order regulating how long vehicles can remain immobilised during certain events, the chaotic scene at the Fairmont Hairpin Turn on Saturday night was every resident's worst nightmare. This video blogger, whose clip has gone viral, predicts it's the end of Top Marques Monaco.
Now for some good news. France's Road Safety office announced on Monday, April 23, that the number of deaths on the nation's roads fell by 13.5 percent over the last year, and by 6.1 percent in the first three months of 2018, compared to the same period last year.
A total of 231 people lost their lives in road accidents in March, 36 fewer than in 2017. The number of those injured also fell, by 17.5 percent to 5,074, the office said. French road accidents reached a historic low in 2013, with 3,427 killed over the 12 months, before three consecutive years in which the number of fatalities increased sharply.
The figures come amid an ongoing controversy over the planned reduction in the speed limit on 400,000 kilometres of secondary roads from 90 to 80 km/h, due to go into force on July 1. Meanwhile, President Macron announced on April 13 that revenue from traffic fines will be assigned to hospitals that treat road accident victims.
Monaco strengthens fight against road nuisance during F1 and Top Marques
Scorpio Tankers sells and leases back four...
Business	Staff Writer - June 26, 2018
Monaco-based Scorpio Tankers Inc. has agreed to sell and leaseback four tankers in two separate transactions to an international financial institution.
Monaco divers find healthy shellfish population
Environment	Staff Writer - August 9, 2018
Monaco Underwater Exploration Club and the Department of the Environment teamed up on August 5 to survey a large Mediterranean bivalve shellfish.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Megha Goel
Why I Volunteer: "Because I'm Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired"
A virus that swept millions from the planet, unprecedented lockdowns, layoffs, death of a dear one, the casual killing of minorities and, races still fighting for their rights! With instability in all areas and events of the current times unveiling the reality of society, are you primed for a complete meltdown? Or do you feel the need to buckle up and stand up taller than ever to voice out?
Unanticipated situations often lead to the most thought-provoking and toughest moments in life. These situations often have the potential to open doors to new events that we have always wanted to pursue. Numbing my emotions to achieving personal goals and muting the happenings to find comfort in hobbies helped for a certain time and then I paused.
This time, the 'pause' needed a response, not a reaction, a conscious action based on my thoughtful assessment of the situations. Working in the content industry, I knew where I belonged and how I could contribute my bit to bring a change.
I was looking for an organization that had a strong voice against social injustice, a group that believed in amplifying the voice of the suppressed, a group that not only understood the consequence of human right violation but also took steps to help them at the ground level. My search led me to Empowering Youth, Exploring Justice (EYEJ), where I met the Founder and Executive Director, Mai Moore, and discussed our mutual goals and agenda. With that conversation, I felt I truly found a place where my skills could make an impact.
Empowering Youth, Exploring Justice (EYEJ) amplifies youth voices and convenes them with diverse community leaders and business professionals to engage in interactive discussions centered around social justice. One thing, out of the many, that drew me towards EYEJ is the diversity of the youth participants and volunteers. With about 60 back-end volunteers from diverse backgrounds coming from all across the world serving over 1,500 youth annually, this NGO (non-governmental organization) firmly believes that it is important for the youth to have diverse role models in the community. EYEJ not only recognizes the diversity of its workforce by creating an inclusive culture but also respects the diversity of perspective that these people bring along.
Coming from a different background, with no social connections and restricted to my domestic realm, EYEJ gave me a sense of belonging. It helped me feel included and safe. It helped me contribute my bit to better the community and in large build a world that we all would love to live in. I wanted something big; something beyond just me or my 9 to 5 schedule. I wanted to use my skills and knowledge to assist in empowering the people around me and making them big. Voila, EYEJ!
I come from India where 34.33% of the total population is youth and the majority of these young people have limited or no access to education, which makes employment one of the country's biggest challenges. Though there has been a transition towards better in recent times, this is not uniform across social groups. No matter where in the world you are, social differences lead to a certain community suffering. The number of youths who continue education from these communities is lower. Lack of education, skills, and lack of guidance on topics that matter to us as global citizens, are holding back the youth from flourishing.
EYEJ gives the youth of Cleveland the voice to pinpoint areas of injustice that they consider most needed in order to create positive change. This nonprofit organization not only helps young lives to identify the issue and build solutions but also connects them to a diverse set of entities: media, sports, government, other non-profit entities, social enterprises; to come together to help positive change come to fruition. The trust youth have in the program was highlighted in a recent conversation I had with Arieanna Saddler, Tremont Youth Council Representative, and 7th Grade student from Cleveland. "I have been a part of YODJ (Youth Online Discussing Justice) for two weeks now. It helps me calm down. I can share my issues with them."
And here I am, volunteering to bring a change because I am tired of just being.
Learn more about EYEJ and sign up as a volunteer here: http://eyej.org/volunteer/. To support the social justice work of EYEJ, please make a contribution to our #EMPOWER campaign at http://eyej.org/giving/.
When the Label Says 'Argan Oil,' But It Really Isn't Real.
Hairscripts, Untangling Our Identity
I Sometimes Send Newsletters


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West Haven seeks feedback on four shoreline restoration concepts
Jason Williams Principal Landscape Architect - Urban Design
Jason is a Lead Landscape Architect and Urban Designer who provides visioning at project initiation, works to engage the public, and reimagines new spaces, from city blocks to small courtyards. His collection of work spans from regional and community master planning and conceptual site design to detailed construction plans. His projects include downtown revitalisation plans, coastal resilience and riverine restoration, multimodal/transit-oriented development plans, corporate campuses, educational facilities, parks, and linear greenways.
Megan Raymond Principal Environmental Scientist
As a Lead Environmental Scientist, Megan has a strong multidisciplinary background with respect to both inland and coastal environments. She specializes in natural resources with specific expertise in wetland delineation, assessment, and functions; vegetation management, invasive species control, biological inventories, water quality monitoring, watershed planning, vernal pool surveys, inland wetland and tidal wetland mitigation, and peer review services. She most values the variety of her work, in which her day to day includes everything from field work and client interaction to report writing and presentations.
Original article posted and created by New Haven Register. You can view the article here.
City officials are looking to add native plants to the shoreline along Old Grove Park. To select which ones, they are calling on city residents for their feedback.
In July, the West Haven Shoreline Restoration Project committee first met with consultants from SLR International Corp. to do site analysis and create a design for a coastal resiliency plan for a 1.5-acre stretch of the city's shoreline. After collaborating and collecting feedback for several months, SLR has released four visualisations of design concepts for the Old Grove Park shoreline that incorporate vegetation, walkways and areas for respite and observation.
The committee's work has been funded by money that was budgeted for, but not spent, on programmes that didn't happen during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee has also received $200,000 in state bonding for its restoration efforts. Officials with the committee expect to finish their partnership with SLR with a design concept that can be submitted in grant applications to fund the full project.
"This is a jumping-off point to get people started thinking about the possibilities of what it can look like," said committee co-chairwoman Marilyn Wilkes.
She said the current phase is inviting more specific feedback from the public prior to the development of a final design concept.
"They might like the pathways but want seating in one area and not another," she said.
The committee has posted a survey link on the project's website where residents are invited to share their observations of all four design concepts, to share both the things they like and dislike.
Wilkes said that in the first phase the committee collected 625 survey responses, a figure that SLR consultants said was significantly higher than what they would have expected from previous municipal projects.
The plan to create a resiliency and eco-restoration project was inspired several years ago when the city unexpectedly lost vegetation after removing storm-damaged trees, which allowed invasive, non-native species beneath the roots of those trees to germinate. The initiative is looking to replace non-native species with native perennials — Wilkes said ideally the native species would reflect all four seasons, so there is always something growing or flowering along the shoreline. For instance, proposed trees are eastern red cedar, red maple, and tupelo.
The four design concepts proposed to the public all propose the addition of a beach mat that provides accessibility to the beach for people with mobility disabilities, although Wilkes said the committee would consider feedback about the placement of that mat. Various proposals also posit different types of dunes, decking, fencing and various amounts of shade.
"We also have to figure out the best materials for the walkways and the fencing and the seating. Those are all components that need to be determined as well. We want longevity, to stand the test of time," Wilkes said.
Wilkes said it is also important to the committee that there be educational elements, so the committee will look to develop signage to describe the various elements of the shoreline's vegetation.
"The elements are interchangeable," Wilkes said. "It's helpful to have these images to spark people's imagination."
"We also have to figure out the best materials for the walkways and the fencing and the seating. Those
are all components that need to be determined as well. We want longevity, to stand the test of time," Wilkes said.
Four visualizations prepared by SLR of concepts for an eco-resilient shoreline restoration along West Haven's Old Grove Park.
If you have any questions, or would like to discuss a project, our team would be happy to hear from you. Find out more
Climate resilience planning & design


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Join The Walton's Family
Family owned and operated in Historic Downtown Franklin, TN since 1974
info@waltonsjewelry.com
Our store began over forty years ago by Melba Walton, an entrepreneur who had a sincere passion for antique jewelry. Today, Walton's Antique and Estate Jewelry has become a staple to the downtown Franklin community. Specializing in pre-1940's antique and estate pieces, Walton's maintains the foundation on which Melba created the store; a place where all are welcome to share in the love and admiration for pieces of one of a kind jewelry.
We are open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Come on in and discover, or rekindle, your passion for antique jewelry!
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← Back to Diamond Rings & Engagement Rings
1940 2.00 carat Old European cut diamond ring
From 1940, this gorgeous 2.00 carat Old European cut diamond is set in a classic 8 prong solitaire setting. The diamond is a VS1 in clarity and an L/M in color. The ring is a size 6.5 and can be resized one, two or three sizes larger or smaller.
This 2.00 carat Old European cut beauty was purchased in 1940, by Mrs. Barker in Liverpool, England. In the last photo, the ring is pictured with the original receipt in the original box with the original care card, addressed to Mrs. Barker.
During that time, Liverpool was in the thick of World War II. It was targeted by the Germans - and badly hit - because it was a port town. Although the heaviest bombings occurred during the later part of the year, as well as the following year, there is no telling what this ring, and Mrs. Barker endured.
Item #: 100-124
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Find a fabulous array of lunch options, representing a wide variety of cuisines, in Saratoga Springs. Filter by features such as waterfront dining, scenic views, vegetarian meals and pet friendly dining, then select one or more cuisines. It's easy to find just what you're hungry for at SaratogaRestaurants.com.


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Wood Mackenzie: M&A shake-up on the horizon for the Australian upstream sector
Oilfield Technology, Friday, 30 August 2019 09:30
Australians love a good yarn, a chinwag, a chat. But it's not sports or politics that's making the 'goss' in the oil & gas boardrooms of Perth right now. ConocoPhillips divesting its Darwin LNG stake is the latest rumour doing the rounds, and there's plenty more potential M&A activity to keep the industry speculating over the next 12 months.
Several sizeable deals were inked in the region in 2018, with Woodside's US$444 million acquisition of Scarborough and Santos's US$2.2 billion acquisition of Quadrant Energy the pick of the bunch. This year in comparison has been relatively quiet, but word on the street is that something larger might be brewing. We think an M&A shake-up could be on the horizon.
We've identified a potential US$32 billion worth of assets that could change hands in the next few years. Many of these deals are long in the planning and reflect wider trends in the Australian and global upstream sectors. We've bucketed our pick of the deals into three key themes:
Rationalisation and high grading of assets within international oil companies' (IOC) portfolios.
Corporate takeover targets.
Australian LNG infrastructure.
Portfolio rationalisation
The Majors and big IOCs continue to actively manage their global portfolios, trimming mature, non-core assets to focus and allocate resources to core growth projects. In Australia our spotlight falls on two IOCs, Eni and ConocoPhillips.
Eni's Australian portfolio is reliant on the depleting Bayu-Undan field that feeds the Darwin LNG plant. The undeveloped gas assets, Evans Shoal and Blacktip, offer limited potential when Bayu-Undan ceases in 2022, and the Italian player may prefer to focus on more attractive opportunities in the Middle East and Mozambique.
ConocoPhillips's portfolio high-grading has already started with the sale of its 30% stake in Sunrise to the East Timor government for US$350 million back in October 2018. It's unlikely this will be the last asset in the region to be sold. More radically, we've believed for some time that ConocoPhillips could sell out of Australia entirely, and recent market rumours suggest we're not the only ones.
A sale of Darwin LNG, and the capital and emissions intensive Barossa-Caldita supply project would free up capital for buybacks and re-investment in US tight oil - the focus of ConocoPhillips's strategy in recent years.
If a Darwin divestment were to materialise, APLNG would be ConocoPhillips' only producing asset left in Australia. This asset is a cash cow in its portfolio and is unlikely to be sold anytime soon. That said, it is a high sustaining CAPEX, relatively low return-yielding coal-seam gas asset. The funds could be diverted to higher payback US onshore projects instead.
Corporate takeover targets
Consolidation is on the cards among smaller players, particularly those with exposure to rising east coast gas prices. Cooper Energy (COE), Senex Energy (SXY), Comet Ridge (COI) and Galilee Energy (GLL) fit this bill.
However, not all companies are valued equally, with the market favouring those with discovered gas in the ground and ready to go, over unconventional resource holders. The likes of Senex Energy, Comet Ridge and Galilee Energy are being valued around four times less than Cooper Energy on an enterprise value to resource base metric. Acquiring or bolstering a position on the Australian east coast market could be cheaper via the unconventional route, but it is not without risk.
But the biggest potential corporate takeover in Australia might not even involve Australian assets. Oil Search's PNG expansion plans have run into political problems in recent months, weighing on the company's share price. But the firm's PNG portfolio still offers an attractive LNG growth position, and coupled with the oil-weighted Alaska assets, Oil Search might yet be an attractive proposition for a larger player with serious LNG ambitions.
Australian LNG infrastructure
We see the need for a new LNG asset ownership model if Australia is to optimise its undeveloped gas resources and remain globally competitive.
The North West Shelf (NWS) is the primary project in question. It is running short of gas supply to maintain LNG output and will require third-party gas in the near-future. The list of potential backfill resources in the Carnarvon basin is long, but the current development pipeline is short, as a lack of alignment between upstream partners and plant owners stymies new investment.
But as the 17.6-million tpy NWS LNG plant starts receiving third-party gas, and generating tolling and tariff revenue, a change in ownership of the downstream facilities could breathe new life into several stalled upstream projects. Infrastructure-investors or pension funds would be happy with regular tolling and tariff revenues, and less concerned with where supply comes from, provided maximum throughput is maintained.
However, there are still many barriers to overcome. The primary sticking point is convincing all the NWS joint venture partners to relinquish control of this key infrastructure asset. Alignment on third-party access agreements and security of future gas supply into the facility are some key hurdles.
These hurdles are not insurmountable. And we see this ownership structure as a longer-term play. In the interim, we think equity alignment between third-party upstream supply and the liquefaction facility through M&A, a more likely outcome.
Author: Wood Mackenzie senior analyst David Low
Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/special-reports/30082019/wood-mackenzie-ma-shake-up-on-the-horizon-for-the-australian-upstream-sector/
Upstream news Oil rig news Upstream project news


It is the assistance that is given to library patrons to help them answer their information need.
All Faculty Librarians are available by appointment to assist both staff and students with in depth research questions.
The Library provides materials and services outside the library's regular service centres. Library extension services include offering library materials and services to the different external libraries.
The Library offers Internet and computing Services for all patrons. Patrons should be aware of the rules and regulations governing the use of computers.
Users with special needs are assisted by library staff to get access to the library resources. These include those who are wheelchair bound, and those with visual impairments. They are assisted in using the Online Public Access Catalogue and retrieving library materials.
BUSE Library provides access to electronic resources in the form of electronic journal databases, theses and dissertations, past examination papers, research output of BUSE in the form of published articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters.


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BSS steht als Abkürzung für:
 Bad Soden-Salmünster, Stadt im Main-Kinzig-Kreis, Hessen
 Balanced Salt Solution, klare Lösung mineralischer Salze zur Laborverwendung
 Base Station Subsystem, funkbezogener Teil eines GSM-Netzes im Mobilfunk
 Basic Service Set, Betriebsmodus bei WLANs
 Behrens-Werft (Hamburg), Behrens Schiffs- und Schweißtechnik, ehemalige Werft in Hamburg
 Beeinträchtigungs-Schwere-Score,  Ratingverfahren zur Einschätzung der Beeinträchtigung eines Menschen in drei Dimensionen (körperlich/psychisch/sozial kommunikativ)
 Bernard-Soulier-Syndrom, Krankheitsbild in der Hämatologie
 Bevara Sverige Svenskt, rassistische Bewegung in Schweden von 1979 bis 1986
 Bewegung, Spiel und Sport, in Baden-Württemberg die Bezeichnung für Schulsport an Grundschulen
 Blind Source Separation, das Problem, zugrundeliegende Quellen einer Überlagerung von Signaldaten zu finden
 Block Started by Symbol, Speicherbereich eines Computerprogramms
 British Ski and Snowboard, britischer Ski- und Snowboardverband
 Broadcasting-Satellite Service, Satellitenrundfunk
 Brown-Séquard-Syndrom, Krankheitsbild in der Neurologie
 Bildschirmspiel 01, einzige Spielkonsole der DDR, von 1979 bis 1981 produziert
 Burgsitzschule Spangenberg, kooperative Gesamtschule im Schwalm-Eder-Kreis
 Business Support System, zur Unterstützung der Geschäftsprozesse eines Unternehmens

Abkürzung

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Q: ImportError: No module named 'googlevoice' python noob here. Just start picking up python few weeks ago and currently need some help. I have 3.3.4 python for windows 7 and I tried running this:
    import urllib.request
    from googlevoice import Voice
    from googlevoice.util import input
    import time
 File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
 from googlevoice import Voice
 ImportError: No module named 'googlevoice'

so I figured. no big deal, I just need to install the module. I obtained a setup.py file from the link below and ran the file in different directories. Then tried " import googlevoice" but still doesn't work. The github link isn't too helpful, in terms of installing this module. Please help? I think I just have not learned how to install modules properly. Last time it took me a while to install pygame module, but i think it was because of directory issues at first.
https://pygooglevoice.googlecode.com/hg/
http://sphinxdoc.github.io/pygooglevoice/examples.html

A: To install the PyGoogleVoice, you need to download the whole archive and execute:
python setup.py install

If you have pip install, you can also run pip install pygooglevoice, or easy_install pygooglevoice with EasyInstall, without having to download the source code.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A small Indian restaurant offering cheap, hearty, moreish vegetarian curries at good prices.
Specialising in vegetarian dishes from northern India and already something of a hit across Paris, this restaurant on the Rue de Cail is now one of four Krishna Bhavan addresses located around the capital. This particular outlet can be a tight squeeze, but it's worth getting used to the cosiness for all the great, filling, cheap food on offer. For the ideal three-course Indian blowout, order some crispy 'rolls' (breaded sticks made from a mix of soya and veg, €3.50) to start, before a main of moreish cheese paratha bread, served with three vegetable curries (€8.50) and a sweet, cooling mango lassi to finish up. If you haven't sourced a fantastic homey Indian in Paris yet, Krishan Bhavan will probably fill the gap.


first part of a review of the Redirect Reference Resources Protocol.
> method for creating them.
understand, holds true for this protocol as well.
> integrity of any bindings that they allow to be created.
section is too specific to appear in an abstract.
also hold true for this specification.
Personally, I would not expect a complete sentence as header line.
I move "usually" be replaced by "possibly".
This may result in yet another circular cross-reference.
> associated with the resource, it appears in additional collections.
("By contrast, ...") should suffice.
Once again a reference to bindings.
Does it really make sense to define terms that are out of scope?
that a direct reference resource be a reference resource.
operation is to be applied to the redirect reference resource itself."
> its trailing slash (if present) and final segment.
> properties initialized in one atomic operation.
DAV:collection value for the DAV:resourcetype property.
a PROPPATCH with the DAV:propertyupdate request body."
deferred creation allowed for an implementation of MKRESOURCE?).
cache protocol outside of the scope for this specification.
not aware of this protocol".
> order to operate on the reference resource itself.
examples of typical behaviour that a client may choose.
sounds as if direct references were addressed.
> Redirect-Ref header in its initial request to the URI.
dropped.  But it may be worth to be mentioned in an example.
using terms such as "request body", "entity body" and "response body".
subsequent GET with Apply-To-Redirect-Ref header."
Once again, I move this paragraph be moved into an example section.
What is ORDERPATCH?  Where is it specified?
See the above discussion on the "resource body" issue.
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Sciatica is a sudden pain that occurs in the lower back or hip and radiates downward to the buttocks to the thigh. The problem originates in the lower back as one disk applies pressure on the root of the nerve. The pain can include burning, tingling, numbness or shooting pain.
Chiropractic is the best long-term treatment solution. A series of adjustments to the vertebrae will help relieve pressure on the nerve. Before and during treatment, massaging China-Gel into the joints and muscles of the affected area two to three times a day will help to ease soreness and pain while reducing the inflammation. When massaged properly into the skin, China-Gel stimulates circulation and the body's endorphin response to pain providing effective relief to any flare-ups or chronic aches making it a great alternative to oral medication.


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Our culture is about providing everyone who works here with opportunities to exercise their responsibility, integrity, and creativity while growing themselves, their careers, and our business.
Life at GE in the UAE
Crotonville
Crotonville is GE's global leadership institute. Often described as the epicenter of GE culture, Crotonville is both a place and an ideal. It connects past, present, and future — our heritage and our vision. Here, we seek to define the state of the art of leadership, sharing ideas with the most influential thinkers in academia and business, and creating transformative learning experiences to inspire, connect and develop the GE leaders of today and tomorrow.
Founded in 1956, Crotonville is the world's first major corporate university. The 59-acre main campus in New York, USA, hosts thousands of GE employees and customers each year. In the UAE employees and customer can attend Crotonville leadership courses at LAB, a learning center established with Mubadala, in Abu Dhabi.
With 6,000 employees from 76 countries, GE's operations in the region reflect the diverse nature of the local communities we serve and the people with whom we do business. According to a World Bank report issued in 2012, women constitute 25 percent or less of the total workforce in the region. At GE, we see gender diversity and inclusiveness as an essential part of our productivity, creativity, innovation and competitive advantage.
The Women's Network fosters the professional growth and development of women working at GE by providing mentoring, networking, skills development, and coaching on career paths. Our primary mandate is developing and retaining talented women.
For more than a century, volunteerism has been a vibrant part of GE's culture, as both an individual employee activity as well as an organizational effort. We coordinate our resources — including products, matching gifts, grants and people — to create responses tailored to local and individual challenges. Today, the ultimate measure of GE's business is found in the improvements to the lives touched by our work.
In 2013, seven GE employees cycled 330 kilometers through all seven UAE emirates in a five-day challenge that raised $44,000. The money, which was matched by the GE Foundation, went to the Al Manzil School for Special Needs in Sharjah. During Ramadan, more than 10,000 volunteers, some of them GE employees, collectively put together 5,000 Ramadan Care Packages for foreign workers living in UAE labor camps.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com
Candidate Data Protection Standards
©2022 General Electric


Sometimes approaching the end of a tenancy can go hand in hand with all sorts of anxieties related to your deposit and whether you'll get it back, especially if the property isn't in the same state as when you first arrived!
It's essential for any tenant who is preparing to leave a property to call on the specialist cleaning services provided by Apple Clean and our professional operatives are more than capable of carrying out a seamless cleaning service with minimal disruption to you.
Carpet cleaning is important all the time, as the fabric in carpets easily traps dirt and odours. Specialist cleaning techniques are capable of refreshing an entire carpet to leave it looking and feeling in brand new condition. It's especially important if you've had pets or smokers in the property at any time.
Furnished rental properties will need to have upholstery returned to the shape they were in previously and our specialist cleaning methods here at Apple Clean are capable of restoring furniture to their best possible condition. Furniture collects dirt beneath cushions and in fabrics and it's often difficult to see the lack of cleanliness, so specialist cleaning is essential.
Curtains are often pulled back during the summer but they're still capable of attracting dirt and pollen through open windows. This can lead to an uncomfortable experience for future tenants suffering from hay fever. Pollen attached to fabric is hardly visible, so having specialist cleaning to get rid of any potential allergens is also necessary.
Mattresses require specialist cleaning methods and treatment due to their size and the fact they can't be washed in the same way as other fabrics. Apple Clean make the most of specialist cleaning equipment and techniques to restore mattresses to their best possible condition before the end of a tenancy.
Stains appear all the time and some might be particularly difficult to get rid of. Many people try and combat stains themselves but end up causing further damage to fabrics, so here at Apple Clean we offer a specialist stain removal service for the toughest of stains. From wine spills to urine, we can get rid of any unwanted carpet or fabric stain!
This is essential for any property with pets, as they can leave allergens and dander around that creates an unhealthy atmosphere for those suffering from allergies to animals, especially dogs and cats. Our sanitation and insecticide treatment rids your rented property of these issues and combats any growing population of bugs and pests.


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Gilles Fabien (born September 27, 1978 in Cayenne) is a French Guianan footballer, who is currently playing for Angoulême CFC in Division Honneur (6th division).

International career

International goals
Scores and results list French Guiana's goal tally first.

References

External links
Gilles Fabien profile at foot-national.com

1978 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Cayenne
French Guiana international footballers
French Guianan footballers
Association football forwards
Ligue 2 players
Championnat National players
Le Mans FC players
Tours FC players
Angoulême Charente FC players
Louhans-Cuiseaux FC players
Stade Lavallois players
AS Beauvais Oise players
SO Romorantin players
2014 Caribbean Cup players
ESA Brive players
Bergerac Périgord FC players


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Originally from Tullaroan, Co Kilkenny, James Butler is a graduate of English and Philosophy at UCD, and trained as a primary school teacher in 1981. Currently he is a Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator at St Anne's National School, Fettercairn, Tallaght. He became interested in writing children's drama through his work as a primary teacher dramatising poems and stories in the classroom, and participated in Barnstorm's New Plays for Young Audiences writing project in 2004. His play Stuck in the Mud was first presented in a public rehearsed reading as part of the project's showcase event at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in 2004. The play was then produced in full by Barnstorm Theatre Company in February 2005 and toured nationally.
Stuck in the Mud James Butler
Walk For Me
Woyzeck in Winter
I Hear You and Rejoice
Take Off Your Cornflakes
Is Iomaí Slí
Simeon Tachev
Jackie - An tOspidéal
Deborah Dignam


text:
Forestry and Natural Resources College of Agriculture
Allied Research Centers
FNR Extension Directory
Alumni Perspectives
Ag Alumni & Friends
Non-Government Partners
Year : 2019 (1)
Undergraduate Awards
Faculty Awards
Outstanding Graduate Mentor/Teacher
This award recognizes faculty who are exemplars of excellence in mentoring and teaching in the area of graduate education.
Richard L. Kohls Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award
This award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated teaching excellence.
Richard L. Kohls Early Career Award
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated a commitment to a career in teaching and working with students, but have no more than 7 concurrent years of experience.
To view our Forestry and Natural Resources alumni awards visit our Alumni Awards page.
Forestry and Natural Resources, 715 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2061 USA, (765) 494-3590


Build this incredible, roller coaster using the included step-by-step, color-coded building instructions. The traditional motorized chain lift pulls the coaster to the top of the coaster! Once at the top, the coaster car rushes down the track and resets for another ride.