Home Care In Mayfield Heights, OH

The most recognizable Independence Day tradition in the United States is fireworks. Many cities and communities around the country host their own events to recognize the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Here in Cleveland, the most iconic Independence Day celebration takes place along the shore of Lake Erie, with bright pyrotechnics reflecting off the water. Downtown Cleveland Inc. will host a free watch party in Voinovich Park on the holiday itself from 5 to 11 p.m. with music, games, food and more. The 20-minute Light Up the Lake fireworks display—set off from the Port of Cleveland’s Dock 20—will begin at 10 p.m. The display can be seen from several locations along the lake, including The Flats, Edgewater Park and the Superior Viaduct.

But if you’re looking for something a bit different, there are many cities in the area that join in on the celebrations. We’ve got you covered with four other July 4 events occurring around Cuyahoga County below.

Find out if your community is hosting a fireworks display—and take a few minutes to learn the science and history of these colorful displays from Case Western Reserve’s own researchers.

Berea

The City of Berea celebrates Independence Day with its two-day Grindstone Festival July 3–4.

This year’s events will begin July 3 with a parade, food and business vendors, face painting, live music, paddleboat rides, inflatables and an outdoor movie.

Many of those activities will be held again on July 4, with the added spectacle of fireworks to wrap up the event.

Learn more about Berea’s Grindstone Festival.

Lakewood

A local favorite event, Lakewood’s Independence Day festivities bring together music, fireworks and family-friendly activities for a day of fun for all ages.

The celebration will begin on July 4 with a Fun Run at 8 a.m., followed by a Taylor Swift Eras Tour-inspired parade that will pay homage to the City of Lakewood through the decades. The parade will start at 8 a.m. at Kenneth and Lake Avenues and end at Lakewood Park.

The Lakewood Project—Lakewood High School’s rock orchestra—will take the stage for a concert on the Lakewood Park Bandstand at 7 p.m.

The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at approximately 9:45 p.m. at Lakewood Park.

Get more details about Lakewood’s Independence Day festivities.

Mayfield Village

The City of Mayfield Village will start celebrating the Independence Day holiday early with a celebration Saturday, July 1.

At The Grove Amphitheater, an evening of activities will include a magic show, music by Jersey Beat Band and a fireworks display.

Additionally, family-friendly activities will be held at the city’s Parkview Pool; the events are free to Mayfield Village residents, with regular admission required of all others.

Learn more about Mayfield Village’s activities. (PDF page 5)

Westlake

Independence Day festivities are a full-day affair in Westlake. On the morning of July 4, a parade will make its way through the city and a classic car show will allow locals to show off their prized vehicles. Families also can visit Clague Park for face painting, balloon twisters and food vendors.

At dusk, fireworks will fill the sky.

Special activities also will be held throughout the day at the Westlake Aquatics Center and Peterson Pool for residents.

MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The owners of the CVS/Pharmacy property at 5901 Mayfield Road have hit a snag in their attempt to build a Popeyes chicken restaurant in what is now a parking lot just east of the store, as well as to redevelop the CVS, which is slated for closure in 2025.

In early October, the Landis Group, which has leased the property to CVS for 20 years, went before City Council to tell of its plans to build the Popeyes and redevelop the CVS store.

City Council, however, during its meeting Monday (Nov. 13), decided in two 6-1 votes not to approve preliminary plans for the Popeyes or CVS building.

Plans for the CVS building, once it closes, had it being divided into three storefronts.

To the rear of the parking lot where the Popeyes is being planned is the Lakshmi Plaza, home to Dollar General, Inland & Asian Grocery, Cosmo Prof and Euro Deli Deluxe.

Lakshmi Plaza ownership Mayfield Ridge Limited Partnership -- and specifically its general partner, Ivan Sokolov of Beachwood -- attended the meeting. Sokolov voiced his displeasure over the Popeyes plan.

Sokolov told council that the nearly 2,000-square-foot Popeyes building would block the view of the Lakshmi Plaza storefronts from Mayfield Road. He also disapproved of the plan to put the Popeyes’ trash disposal area on the side of the building that adjoins the plaza’s eastern entrance.

Planned is a short drive off the entrance road, where large garbage trucks would drive in and, once filled with garbage, have to back out onto the entrance.

The trash area, which would be enclosed, would be visible from Mayfield Road.

“I’ve been in this business long enough to know not everybody maintains their trash as carefully as they should,” said Sokolov.

Sokolov said he looked at other Popeyes restaurants, and other local restaurants such as Raising Cane’s, across Mayfield Road in the Mayland retail development, and said all have their trash areas in the back of their buildings.

“We, as the owners of the plaza, are opposed to the layout and the presentation of the stores and would ask that this be deferred until it can, in fact, be negotiated,” Sokolov said to council.

“This proves we would not be opposed to having an additional user out front of the (plaza), but I believe it does represent that we want a clean shopping center and we want one that does not generate additional risk to either pedestrians or anybody else.

“We would like to have the opportunity to negotiate through and come up with an alternative to the location of the trash,” he said, noting that having a garbage truck back into the main driveway would not be safe.

Plans for the back of the Popeye’s building now include a two-lane drive-thru.

As for the building blocking the view of the storefronts in the plaza, Landis’ attorney, Benjamin Chojnacki, said the current plan would allow for viewing of the storefronts from Mayfield Road. He said Landis is offering to put up a sign in front that would include all of the names of the businesses in the plaza.

Mayor Anthony DiCicco said he also believes the view of the plaza’s storefronts would not be obstructed.

“If you drive it yourself,” DiCicco said, “the driveway to the east, which is next to the body shop, and the main (existing) driveway, which would be between the CVS building and the (Popeyes), I think the sight lines are fine.”

On a recent trip there, DiCicco said he could clearly see the plaza storefronts.

A representative of the Inland & Asian Grocery also spoke at the meeting, however, voicing concern about the view of the store if a Popeyes was built.

Councilman Robert DeJohn said he wanted to know why the Popeyes was planned for the lot next to CVS and not across Mayfield Road at the Mayland development, where there is room for restaurants to join Raising Cain’s and Sheetz.

DiCicco explained that the city cannot tell a developer how their property should be developed as long as a development is within the city’s ordinances.

The city’s Planning Commission approved the Popeyes plan by a 4-1 vote, but it will now be up to the developer to devise another plan that would be brought back to council with a request for approval.

Councilman Donald Manno said: “I think that’s (Popeyes) the wrong thing to put there. You’re going to have two restaurants, maybe three, within a 500-foot proximity. What is that going to do for the traffic down there?

“I will not support the project,” he said. ”Not as is.”

“It is going to take a majority of council to vote this down, and I would suggest that we vote to stop it,” said DeJohn, who cited the problem of visibility of the stores in Lakshmi Plaza.

Meanwhile, the Landis Group’s motion for council to accept its preliminary plan for redevelopment of the CVS building also did not meet with success.

“This store (CVS) is not slated to be closed until 2025, so why are we looking at this redevelopment now?” DeJohn asked.

“The developer brought this proposal to council at this time in order to find out whether or not the development that has been proposed would be accepted by the city,” Law Director Paul Murphy answered.

“It’s the developer’s timing, not the city’s. They can bring it up whenever they want.”

Answering a question from Councilwoman Gayle Teresi, Chojnacki said that, as of now, there are no known tenants for the CVS building when it closes.

In both 6-1 council votes, Councilman Michael Ballistrea cast the only vote in favor.

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MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- As it turns out, Mayfield Heights Recreation Director Sean Ward wasn’t kidding when he stated Wednesday (July 19) that the city’s new aquatic center would be opening “soon.”

Just two days later, word came from the city that the new aquatic center will be opening for residents’ use at 11:30 a.m. Monday (July 24). Passes will be sold at the aquatic center beginning at 10 a.m. Monday. The area, which includes two pools, will be open until 8 p.m.

On opening day, the center’s Traxx Slide and Family Slide will not be open, as they are pending final inspection. They are expected to be open and be ready for use by the end of the week. The concession stand will also open later in the week.

It was originally hoped that the aquatic center would be open by July 7, but delays often occur in readying a large-scale project such as this, which has a price tag of $34.9 million. The project also includes a new community center expected to open in September, and a playground expected to open in August.

Just a few days ago, Ward told cleveland.com, ““We can’t wait for them to see all we have -- there is something here for everyone. From a family slide to the vortex pool. From a diving board to the lap pool. For those who want shaded areas, we have that for you, too. There is so much to see, and we can’t wait for everyone to see and experience it all.”

Opening day will give residents the opportunity to enjoy other amenities, such as the Drop Slide, Green Spiral Slide, water vortex, lap swimming, diving boards, current channel, and Family Pool toys. The city’s website has posted a link to rules for riding the slide.

Patrons who purchased a season pass will receive a $10 credit towards recreation programs, or a season’s pass for next year. Patrons who purchased individual or senior passes will receive a $5 credit toward recreation programs, or for next year’s season pass.

Open swim times are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; and 11:30 a.m. to 5p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Adult-only lap swimming and water walking will be permitted from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Information about an official ribbon cutting ceremony is coming soon.

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MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council will welcome back one veteran and two newcomers beginning in January.

Council President Diane Snider won re-election Tuesday, Nov. 7. The new members will be King S. Miner and Kathy Telban. The three will hold at-large seats.

Snider topped the field of four candidates seeking the three open seats. She received 3,601 votes (40.1%), according to unofficial results tallied by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. First-time candidates Telban (2,394 votes, 26.8%) and Miner (1,770, 19.8%) finished second and third, respectively.

Another first-time candidate, Chad Lichtin, came in fourth with 1,174 votes, for 13.1%.

The two newest council members will fill the seats of Councilwoman at-large Gayle Teresi, who could not run again due to term limits, and Councilman at-large Nino Monaco, who chose not to run.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve this city and its residents,” Snider stated in a text message to cleveland.com upon learning of her victory. “I want to share how honored I am that the citizens of Mayfield Heights have voted me another term on City Council.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to help me in my endeavors, from voting, to putting signs in their yards and businesses. Your confidence in me speaks volumes and it gives me such pride that you believe in me and all that I do. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Looking ahead to her next term, Snider said, “I will continue to be an advocate for the citizens and help create purposeful and common sense policies to enrich our city. I want our community to thrive and be the best that it can be in a place where I call home. As always, I will be your voice on council and please reach out to me with your questions and concerns. I’m here to help.

“My plans are to ensure that my votes are at the best interests of the city. I want to find creative ways to help with our corporate parks, finding ways to include them in city involvement, and I would like to be creative in working to keep our businesses strong.

“I want to bring back enhanced programs for all age groups in our city.

“I would like to have events much like other communities, like ‘Light Up Lakewood’ at holiday time. I also want to keep our city fiscally strong, which goes along with keeping our businesses strong. Safety and well-being are always very important.

“Finally,” Snider said, “working closely on the beautification program is another task that I would like to see through, and getting more community involvement from our residents to help make that happen.”

Snider is a lifelong Mayfield Heights resident who will serve her third term.

Telban, of Gates Mills Boulevard, began regularly attending council meetings a couple of years ago when council and the administration began to consider a walkway and amenities for the grassy median on her street. She opposed those amenities, such as restrooms, and when council decided to forego the extras on the street, she continued to attend meetings.

While attending the Gates Mills Boulevard council meetings, she said, a council member told her that members of the public attend meetings when an issue directly pertains to them, but are rarely seen afterwards.

“I thought, ‘Well, that isn’t going to be me,’” Telban said of her continued attendance and involvement in Mayfield Heights’ activities.

Of her election win on her first try, Telban said, “I’m very grateful for people’s support. I canvassed the city -- I didn’t go down every street, there’s a lot of streets -- but I learned what was important to people. The people of this city are very nice, many invited me in to talk.”

A management consultant, Telban was asked what she wanted to accomplish when taking office. “I know it takes four votes to do anything, so I know it takes more than just me. But I want to look at how we can better communicate with residents.”

She said she will, however, be paying attention to the city’s revenue stream versus its spending.

Miner, an accountant/controller, has lived in Mayfield Heights for 12 years. He and wife, Katy, are the parents of three children, ages 8, 10 and 12, who attend Mayfield District schools.

When asked why he ran for council, Miner said, ”I’ve always been motivated to help people whenever I could, in any way I could. And when I was discussing the possibility (of running, his wife) said, ‘It’s just another way for you to help people, so why not do it? And it could amplify your impact on others.’”

As for wining in his first election try, Miner said, “I never saw myself running for anything. I’m still getting used to the idea that I’ve run for something, campaigned and won. It’s a humbling thing for me to think that I resonated enough with people that they decided to go vote for me.”

Miner said that his initial approach to serving will be to listen and learn.

“”I’ll approach this like everything else -- learn, observe and then suggest,” he said. “So I think I will be learning the processes, understanding the processes, the traditions we’ve had in this city, and then move from there.”

A college basketball player at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he met his wife, also a basketball player there, Miner said that his athletic background has given him a mindset influenced heavily by an appreciation for the good that can come from teamwork.

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MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Heavy rains that fell Saturday (Aug. 12) brought about the return of an old problem that has plagued some of the city’s streets -- basement flooding.

Councilman Michael Ballistrea said he had received a half-dozen calls from upset homeowners that day, while Councilwoman Susan Sabetta said she took “quite a few” calls.

“I got one major call,” said Council President Diane Snider of the aftermath of Saturday’s downpour.

Snider, in turn, called Mayor Anthony DiCicco and the city’s service department.

“I then went over there myself (to Marnell Avenue). While I was there, there were residents from other streets that saw me and came to me.”

“We all got calls,” Ballistrea said of council members hearing from constituents about flooded basement.

During a special council meeting Monday (Aug. 14), residents’ problems with their wet basements was a central topic.

With City Engineer Joseph Ciuni in attendance, council asked that immediate action be taken to determine the underground sources of the flooding within the city’s sewer system via the means of dye testing.

Council had approved dye testing in December 2021, but it was not carried out as the city at first attempted to clean out its sewers.

According to a November 2021 letter to the city from the GPD Group (engineering firm) and Ciuni: “Mainline dye testing consists of essentially two parts. One part is to flood the storm sewer with dyed water and use a camera to determine if the dyed water is entering the sanitary sewer; the second part is to flood storm catch basins with dyed water and use a camera to determine if the dyed water is entering the sanitary sewer.

“This work would identify locations along the sanitary sewer that storm water is entering the sewer. This investigation is helpful in determining the most cost-effective repair program.”

Snider began Monday’s meeting by mentioning the flooding and stating that council members had received calls from residents living on Marnell, as well as Ascot Road, Mayfair Boulevard and Byron and Circle drives.

Most of the homes are located south of Mayfield Road (in the Mayland area) and west of Lander Road.

Janene Vocaire and Joann DiTomaso live in a home at the corner of Ascot and Bellingham Road, east of Lander Road.

“I don’t want to cry anymore, because it’s been three days of cleaning,” Vocaire told council Monday. “We’re going to have to have the walls ripped out of the basement again. The floors -- I don’t even know if my insurance is going to approve it. I’ve spent $50,000. I can’t spend anymore.

“Our tree lawn was under water. The water came up the front yard and as soon as I saw the water piling up in my front beds, which I just had redone again -- I knew.

“We ran downstairs and the water just came in. I mean 3 inches within two minutes. We just stood there and waited. It’s got to stop.”

DiTomaso has lived in the house for 34 years and said the first flooding incident happened about 25 years ago.

Vocaire said a neighbor, who recently spent $30,000 for waterproofing work completed in May, also experienced flooding.

“Please,” Vocaire said to DiCicco and council, “you’ve got to do something. I can’t even put a ‘for sale’ sign at my house. Who’s going to buy it? Nobody’s going to buy it. So I’m stuck with this mess.”

In mid-December 2021, council approved legislation to begin dye testing, as performed by the firm AECOM, at a cost of $180,000. DiCicco said that an attempt was, instead, made to unclog the sewers.

“We did clean out the sewers over there and we were hoping and praying that that was the solution we needed there,” DiCicco said.

”And we did have some major rain events and we had no flooding (after) we cleaned them out, until we had this extremely large event that we just had.

“I know the residents are extremely upset. I don’t blame them. I got phone calls from them, and I can’t blame them. We’ve just got to stay on top of it. But we had hoped that cleaning that out was the solution that we needed.”

Speaking about the urgency to do something soon for residents, Councilwoman Gayle Teresi said: “This has been ongoing for, we’ll say eight years. So we can’t wait another five years or three years or six months to get this going. It’s just been way too long.

“And you (Ciuni) have to be on this. It’s more important than anything else. (Finance Director Karen) Fegan said we have the money. Let’s do it, now.”

“When you hear some of (the residents’) stories,” Snider added, “of how they’ve had people come out and they have redone their basements four or five times, it’s really bad, really bad. It’s pathetic. And after going there and seeing what they’ve been living with, it’s awful.”

The 2021 GPD letter recommended mainline dye testing on Temple, Longwood and Mayland avenues, and the east and west side of Lander Road. It recommended private property dye testing in the Ascot area, from 1722 to 1790 Crestwood Road, covering approximately 23 homes, and in the Marnell area, from 1670 Hawthorne Drive to 5808 Circle Drive, covering approximately 43 homes.

Snider said it is now time to initiate the dye testing program and that all council members are in agreement with taking that action. Because council approved the dye testing program in 2021, Snider said no further council action is needed to start the work.

“We don’t have a meeting until September, so I’m hoping this can get done sooner, like tomorrow,” Snider said to Ciuni.

“OK, we’ll start on it tomorrow. Absolutely,” Ciuni answered.

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