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The Cedar Fairmount District will play host Dec. 12 to a Holiday Stroll.
(Jeff Piorkowski/Special to Sun News)
Yes, the malls, shopping strips and chain big-box stores will be packed with shoppers this holiday season, but instead of butting heads with others seeking a deal in these slick places, why not take a leisurely stroll instead?
That's the message from the Cedar Fairmount Special Improvement District which will again host a Holiday Stroll, this year on Dec. 12.
There's something special about visiting your local merchants to pick up a Christmas gift or two. As you watch others go by, the experience also heightens your sense of having a stake in your community.
But enough about my sentiments on neighborhood shopping. Here are some of the things you'll experience as you stroll this charming and historic district.
-- Adults and children can decorate gingerbread cookies at Luna Bakery and Cafe, 2482 Fairmount Blvd., as well as catch a free showing of "The Santa Clause," starring Tim Allen at 1 p.m. at The Alcazar Hotel.
-- Visit jewelry designer Wes Airgood as he hosts an open house at his new business, Wanderlust Jewelers, located above Starbucks, at 12429 Cedar Road, Ste. 25.
-- Listen to church carolers, strolling the sidewalks in song, beginning at 2 p.m.
-- If you want your gifts wrapped, the Roxboro Elementary School PTA will be doing just that from noon to 4 p.m. at 12433 Cedar Road. Donations will benefit the PTA's programs.
-- The day will culminate, from 4-8 p.m., with free rides on Lolly the Trolley. The trolley will take shoppers and fun seekers to and from the Coventry and Cedar Lee business districts.
Trolley pickup will be at Luna Bakery & Cafe, and drop off at Buffalo Wild Wings, 12459 Cedar Road.
-- Enjoy food at restaurants that will be taking part in the Holiday Stroll by offering evening specials.
Kaye Lowe, executive director of the Cedar Fairmount SID, said there have been strolls in various forms taking place in the district for about 15 years, but that this is just the second year Cedar Fairmount has teamed with the Coventry and Cedar Lee districts.
It's all a lot of fun. I was there last year, a little too late to take in most of the good stuff, but not too late to pick up the wonderful vibe of the day.
"Cedar Fairmount merchants, professionals and restaurants are eager to assist holiday shoppers," Lowe said.
Indeed, they are.
Let's have a debate: The debate team from Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights has advanced to the "Round of 64" in the IPPF Debate Competition that includes teams from around the globe.
Next up for the HB girls is a match against a team from Croatia, and you know what they say about the Croatian debate team.
Well, I'm not exactly sure what they say about the Croatian debate team, but I'm sure they'll be formidable.
Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
The top 64 teams were determined based upon submitted essays affirming or negating the topic, "Resolved: Genetically modified organisms are essential to global food security." The HB team was included in the tournament after submitting essays deemed worthy of a place in the top 64.
In all, teams from 24 states and 16 countries are competing.
Competing teams will debate by vollying essays back and forth to each other electronically. Judges will determine winners based on those essays.
The final, "Elite 8" in the tournament will square off face to face in April in New York City. Grand prize is $10,000.
Good luck Hathaway Brown.
Biking for the holidays: If you are into biking, or want to get more into it, pedal on down at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 to the Heights Bicycle Coalition's holiday party and meeting. It will be held at Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights.
You can enjoy the company of other biking aficionados and hear a talk by Jacob VanSickle, or maybe it should be "VanCycle," executive director of Bike Cleveland, about the organization's accomplishments in 2015, and plans for 2016, as well as other topics.
Also speaking will be three hearty bicyclists who commute to work on their two-wheelers. They'll talk of the joys of such commuting, although I must say when it is 10 degrees outside and snow is all around, I'm happy to be in a car.
Get biking question answered, enjoy some light refreshments, and hear the latest from the Heights Bicycle Coalition -- it's all happening at the party, so stop in.
Award winner: Menorah Park is pleased to announce that its Summit Home Health Services placed in the top 25 percent of Fazzi's National Patient Satisfaction Database. The placing is based on residents answering survey questions.
The Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey was designed to measure and assess the experiences of people receiving home health care.
The Menorah Park campus is located at 27100 Cedar Road in Beachwood.
An example of McNamara's work.
Shaker-inspired: The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes will open its exhibit, "Nature & Imagination: The Artwork of James McNamara," with an artist's reception from 5-7 p.m. Dec. 4.
McNamara's work is inspired by the natural beauty of the Shaker park lands, so perhaps you'll recognize a tree or a rock within one of his works. Media includes works in acrylics, woodcut color prints, watercolors and more.
The exhibit will run through Feb. 5, 2016. The reception is free and open to all. Light refreshments will be provided.
The Nature Center is located at 2600 South Park Blvd. in Shaker Heights.
Chromecast: Margaret Simon at the Shaker Heights Library, 16500 Van Aken Blvd., wants all to know that the library now has available Chromecast for video from any iOS or Android smartphone, tablet or computer.
All you need is a connected device and an active internet connection.
With Chromecast, you can cast video from your device to your TV.
Visit shakerlibrary.org, go to the "My Library" then to the "Our Collections" tabs, and then scroll down to eLibrary to find Hoopla to begin downloading.
Now, I'm not going to pretend that I know anything about what is written above about Chromecast. But, if you do, have yourself a great time.
Get ready to create: The Jewish Federation of Cleveland is putting out a call to all middle and high school wordsmiths and artists that you are invited to enter its annual Yom Hashoah V'Hagvurah Contest.
The contest commemorates the Holocaust and celebrates heroism.
Students can write an essay or create a work of art that pertains to this year's theme, "Out of the Darkness: Into a New Life."
"This is a wonderful opportunity for students to consider the lessons of the Holocaust from a unique perspective and to creatively interpret that point of view through writing and art," said Richard Rakos, co-chair of the Federation's Creative Arts Committee.
Entries will be judged on adherence to the theme, originality and technique. A total of $2,500 in prize money will be awarded.
Winners and their schools will be recognized at the Yom Hashoah Commemoration May 4, 2016 at the Green Road Synagogue.
Deadline for entries is Feb. 16. For more information and entry forms, visit jewishcleveland.org.
Also, the Jewish Federation has let us know that Madeline "Maddie" McCann, 10, of Beachwood, has been selected to join the national PJ Our Way Design Team. It is a prestigious position through the PJ Our Way program that gives young people the opportunity to develop leadership skills, while connecting with other pre-teens across the country.
Maddie and nine other team members, ages 9-11, will have early access to books, and will create content, including videos and reviews, for the PJ Our Way website. The team will work together to interview authors, participate in workshops, and lead the conversation amongst their peers.
Now in its second year, the PJ Our Way pilot program is the next chapter of the successful Jewish outreach program PJ Library, which has reached more than 4,400 Cleveland youngsters since 2009.
"I had so much fun last year," Maddie said. "Now I am really excited to Skype and work with people all over America."
For more information on PJ Our Way, visit pjourway.org.
If there is an item you would like to see appear in Press Run, send me an email, at least 12 days prior to an event, at jeff.piorkowski@att.net.