Rocky River - June 2022

Rocky River Destination

ry o t s i te H a r b e l Ce

The Rocky River Chamber of Commerce celebrates 100 years and looks back on a century of supporting local businesses and helping the community thrive.

Special Promotional Section

PLUS: Connecting with the Library | Collaborative Efforts at the Schools

FROM THE MAYOR

Celebrate!

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Rocky River

A quality community for your family, your business and your investment.

440-331-0600 • rrcity.com

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COVER: LAURA WATILO BLAKE

uring the past couple of years, we’ve learned that it takes an entire community working together to overcome life’s toughest hurdles. This year, as the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial, it’s a proud milestone for us all — a testament to everyone’s dedication to support each other in times of need.

Rocky River is known as one of Cleveland's most desirable suburbs in which to live, work, play and enjoy all that life has to offer. From shopping and dining to strolling the shoreline and playing in the parks, it's an ideal destination for people of all ages and interests. The chamber plays such a vital role in making all of that possible, from hosting fundraisers and participating in beach cleanups to planting flowers and hosting gatherings for everyone to enjoy.

On page 6, we dive into the rich history of Rocky River’s business community and the cooperation that exists between the city, chamber and residents. In addition to those connections, Rocky River Public Library and Rocky River City Schools also impact the city in many positive ways. On page 3, get a sneak peek at the variety of programs available at the library this summer, from computer courses and history talks to summer concerts and children’s activities. On page 4, take a closer look at how high school fashion students put a smile on the faces of kids at Goldwood Elementary School and the collaboration taking place after two years of hybrid learning.

As we look back on the past 100 years, I’m excited to see how far we’ve come and what the future holds. With Mayor our strong foundation and care for one another, the Pamela E. Bobst possibilities are endless.

Executive Assistant to the Mayor Mary Ellen Umerley With kindest regards, Mayor Pam Bobst

LIBRARY

CITY NEWS

Mark Your Calendar Get a sneak peek at the variety of activities and training programs available at the library this summer.

Internet Essentials I

June 6, 6:30 p.m.

Learn how to get connected, use a web browser, navigate web pages and choose a search engine.

Astrology Apps

June 13, 6:30 p.m.

Discover some of the most popular astrology apps, such as Co-Star, the Chani App and the Pattern.

New Ways to Connect

From one-on-one tech training to inclusive programs, Rocky River Public Library works to reach everyone in the community.

By Kristen Hampshire

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econnection and outreach are focus areas for Rocky River Public Library heading into summer and beyond.

“We could all use a refresher after the pandemic,” says Stacey Hayman, outreach coordinator. “We are trying different methods of connecting with the community.”

That includes unleashing a new podcast called What’s the Story @RRPL that will showcase the library’s services and starting a welcome wagon-esque offering for new residents to share what’s “on the shelf,” from training to digital services.

“The podcast will feature four staff members, and we’ll talk about services, materials like books and music and different programs taking place,” Hayman says. Patrons can access the podcast through the library’s blog, Read It or Weep, and it will be available on iTunes and Google Play.

For those who might not fall in the digital native camp, the library is amping up its one-on-one training opportunities. Already,

the reference desk provides troubleshooting tips. “But, let’s say you are having trouble with an e-reader. You can set up an appointment with our training department, and they can sit down with you,” Hayman says.

With a goal to reach a wider audience and diversify programming, the library is rolling out additional inclusive, adaptive offerings.

“We want to reach people who might not have felt like we had something for them, so we are offering some English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, along with American Sign Language,” Hayman says.

The library received a grant from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities to deliver new programs for adults and children, such as life skills and sensory friendly offerings. “We are also looking to reach people who are homebound and may not realize that we can bring materials to them,” Hayman says. “We are making sure that no one is left behind and trying to touch everyone in a positive way.”

Internet Skills — Email

June 20, 6:30 p.m.

Learn about email security, personalizing emails and other settings and filters.

History TALKS: History of Bradstreet's Landing June 23, 7 p.m.

Carrie Sowden from the National Museum of the Great Lakes will share the history of the site and its namesake, Bradstreet’s Disaster.

Internet Skills — Searching

June 27, 6:30 p.m.

Become a search engine master.

iNaturalist App

June 28, 6:30 p.m.

Learn to use the iNaturalist app for plant and creature identification, help others make identifications and contribute to scientific data collection.

Cloud Computing

July 11, 6:30 p.m.

Understand the concept of cloud computing, how it’s different from saving locally and some sample applications.

Zoom I

July 16, 2 p.m.

This introduction class will teach participants the basics of Zoom.

Microsoft Office 365 — Word July 18, 6:30 p.m.

Create virtual documents, use editing tools and customize text.

Microsoft Office 365 — Excel July 25, 6:30 p.m.

Learn how to create a virtual spreadsheet that can be used for computation, graphing, record-keeping and more during this beginner class.

History TALKS: The Canal that Created Cleveland July 27, 7 p.m.

Judy MacKeigan, a historian/archivist from Cleveland Metroparks, will present a program on the Ohio and Erie Canal.

COURTESY ROCKY RIVER PUBLIC LIBRARY

Google — Docs

Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Learn how to use Google's free service to create word processing documents in Google Drive.

Career Minded Series — Free Technology Certifications Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Discover two ways to earn certifications through the library's provided platforms, LinkedIn Learning and Northstar Digital Literacy.

Google — Sheets

Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m.

Use Google's free service to create spreadsheets in Google Drive.

For more information or to register for a class, visit rrpl.com.

CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM

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CITY NEWS

SCHOOLS

Makings of Little Monsters Students get creative with a collaborative project designed to foster teamwork after two years of hybrid learning.

By Kristen Hampshire

M

onster Makenna likes to eat grapes and has a yarn smile with two red-heart dimples. Monster Gray Scar likes meat and is afraid of the sun, but the winged, fire-spitting character with a zig-zag mouth loves to fly.

There’s nothing scary about this collaborative project designed to reconnect students after the pandemic. Rocky River High School’s family and consumer science teacher, Kristen Kalinowski, came up with the idea. She suggested that her fashion students fabricate monsters for the children at Goldwood Elementary School. Since the elementary school encompasses about 600 students, the school decided to make a monster for each kindergarten through second-grade class.

“They had to communicate, collaborate and compromise to make one classroom monster — and compromise is a tough

one,” says Erin Pontikos, school counselor at Goldwood Elementary School. “Not everyone is going to win.”

Students came up with silly monster names and participated in activities such as writing stories about their monsters.

Then, the high school fashion students used their drawings as patterns to craft stuffed animal replicas.

“Not only were students here working as teams, the high school students discussed the designs with the kids — ‘Did you mean this to be antennas or wings?’ It was cool to see how they made their K-2 dreams a reality,” Pontikos says.

Felt, thread, buttons, yarn, pipe cleaners and other materials came together as funny, squeezable monsters. Then, the fashion students visited the elementary school to present them to the classes.

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CITY NEWS

“The high school students loved it, too, and they got a huge kick out of spending time with the classes,” Pontikos says, adding that the elementary school students read the high schoolers their monster stories, and the April 4 reveal became a celebration.

The project aligned with Goldwood’s March theme of teamwork. April was sportsmanship and included “games and grains,” highlighting how board games can teach academic skills. “We want to bring students back together again,” Pontikos says.

“Our second graders have never had a normal school year, and this is the first year they’ve been in the building five days a week in-person,” Pontikos relates. “So, being able to collaborate like this is something they have not had a chance to do. That’s why these enrichment projects where they work together are so important.”

The project hit home with the high schoolers, too.

“They were even making little monsters for their cars,” Pontikos says. “This is definitely an idea where we decided, ‘We’re doing this every year.’”

CLEVELANDMAGAZINE.COM

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As the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial, we look back at the history of the city's booming business community and longtime reputation as a destination for shopping, dining, gathering and taking in the sights.

COURTESY CITY OF ROCKY RIVER

PHOTO CREDIT

BY KRISTEN HAMPSHIRE

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ewind the clock back 100 years and imagine milk delivered by the local Barrett Creamery and libations at Wright’s Tavern, where the Silverthorne stands.

Zeager’s — by what is now Stadler’s Jewelers — was a general store stocked with staples, from pantry items to hardware goods. Hogg Brothers Coal, Flour and Feed offered necessities to keep the home fires burning. And, fertile soil throughout the community translated to greenhouses.

“For many years we had an agricultural economy,” says Mayor Pamela Bobst, reflecting on historical accounts of the city’s business community.

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This year, the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce celebrates its centennial — a significant milestone for an organization that has grown to more than 400 members and continues to represent a diverse, committed group of entrepreneurs.

“Our businesses play an important role in supporting community members, providing goods and services to residents, and they have a long history of volunteerism and philanthropy,” Bobst says, relating how the chamber supports city initiatives, from planting flowers to beach cleanups.

Chamber members fuel the city’s economic engine, and Rocky River has a legacy of supporting its local businesses.

“Strength in numbers does not come easy, without each member doing their part,” points out Alan Rego, owner of Lake Road Market. “The vibrant support from our community

COURTESY ROCKY RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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From 1920s dress to music, dancing and sharing photographs and historic memorabilia, “We embraced our history,” Barth says. A life-sized (not edible) cake commemorating the milestone features 100 candles sponsored by members. “The cake will go out and about with us all year long, showing those members’ commitment to the organization and helping us celebrate as a beautiful visual for our anniversary.”

The chamber has been collecting mementos for a time capsule — industry information, menus, storefront ENGAGING TRADITIONS pictures, swag and even masks with The yearlong centennial celebration companies’ logos. kicked off with a Roaring Twenties soi“That way, we’ll really have a glimpse ree at the Cleveland Yachting Club on of what it was like when we turned 100,” Feb. 25. The anniversary of the cham- Barth says. A time capsule dedication ber’s founding in 1922 is Feb. 27. “We and celebratory happy hour took place Consumer Postcard Deck took it back to where it began,” says May 11 at Behind the Woods, a longtime Proof #: 1 Angela Barth, executive director for the chamber member. The time capsule will ChangeRiver The Way You Smile Permanent Teeth.

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would not be possible without such a great organization.”

A longtime member, Rego has watched the chamber grow and thrive.

Lake Road Market is located along a historic artery of Rocky River, so he has seen the community evolve while maintaining its roots and traditions.

“It’s amazing to see the transformation over the years,” he says, adding that the business community has progressed to meet the community’s needs. “Today, the chamber is stronger than ever.”

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Come with an appetite for chefs' favorites, live music, spirits and a sense of community. The reimagined Taste of River event, June 25, 4 to 8 p.m., takes to the streets as a larger scale celebration of the city’s restaurant scene.

“We are excited to bring back this event after a two-year hiatus,” says Angela Barth, executive director of the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, which launched the event in 2009. “We celebrated our 10-year anniversary in 2019 and decided we’d shake it up the following year, but then came the pandemic.”

Traditionally, the event took place in conjunction with River Days and was held on a Saturday at the Don Umerley Civic Center. This year, the city will close

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MILESTONE off Linda Street. The later time and block party feel will bring new energy to Taste of River. “We want people to enjoy a beautiful summer evening and great food,” Barth says.

Taste of River is free. Visitors pay only upon consumption.

The event will include up to 15 restaurants — mainstays like Rocky River Wine Bar and the Market, along with new spots like Sakana Sushi.

“They will have tasting sizes of signature items and some might bring new items they are testing to add to their menus,” Barth says. “The event showcases the wonderful culinary scene in Rocky River — our restaurants are the heart and soul of the event. But we also added other features, including a bar and live entertainment, to encourage people to stay longer, socialize, eat and enjoy.”

Throughout the year, traditional chamber events will have a centennial twist. The Taste of River will take to the streets on June 25 as a communitywide festival. Planting day will include creating a centennial garden at Elmwood Park. Monthly luncheons highlight special speakers.

All the while, members share memories of the first business expo or chamber holiday parties in the early days. “The chamber always has been and is a part of many of our traditions — and we are a community that loves its traditions,” Bobst says. “We love gatherings at Christmas, the Easter egg hunt, Festival of the Trees, Taste of River and now, Strengthening Our Roots, which includes a big cleanup and planting in an area of the city every year.”

The city’s All Aglow Tree Lighting includes Chamber Lights, where businesses sponsor and decorate

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balled-and-burlapped trees for the city hall campus. After the holiday display, the trees are replanted throughout the community for Arbor Day. As for trees, some longtime community members recall bonfires held in what is now the Whole Foods parking lot. Before the site was developed into a shopping center in the 1950s, there were sand pits.

“A huge tradition was the Christmas tree burning gathering that was sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce,” Bobst relates. “Everyone would bring their spent Christmas tree to the sand pits, and residents who have been here for many years and grew up here remember those bonfires as children and what great fun it was.”

Rego adds, “Over the years, chamber events have always made a lasting impression. From start to finish, whether it’s a social event or scheduled chamber event, everything always runs smoothly and is fun to be a part of.”

Most of the chamber’s traditions are tied to a purpose and involve community service. For example,

COURTESY ROCKY RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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members volunteer for biweekly beach cleanups.“ We do our best to give back all that we receive, so getting our members involved handson in beautifying the community and helping us maintain our city is really important,” Barth says. “We make it a priority to be active and engaged with the city and integrated with their projects.”

Civic engagement is a founding tenant of the chamber, points out Christopher Klym, the organization’s board chair, a longtime Rocky River resident and partner in Huffman, Hunt & Klym. “Our businesses are just as much members of the community as we are as individuals, and we have a responsibility to give back,” he says. “Civic involvement is a wonderful way for outreach in a collaborative, authentic way. We get to know each other and we are part of each other’s lives.”

It’s an example of how the community comes together in many ways, Klym adds. “It shows how much we care about the community, and we are all working to serve the community the best we can.”

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Grendow says. “The support we received was phenomenal.”

The chamber has supported Danny Boy’s milestones, too. “In fact, the community helped us name our children and guess their weights in a baby contest,” Grendow says, describing a banner they hung outside the restaurant that read, “It’s a waiter!” when their son, Camden, was born and, “It’s a waitress!” for their daughter, Chase.

Both attended River schools and today they work at the business.

“In this world we live in now, we feel so lucky to have so much support and goodwill in the community and through the chamber,” Grendow says.

Bobst calls the chamber “an important clearinghouse and conduit for the exchange of information.” Case in point: During the pandemic, the chamber helped connect members to programs through the state and other agencies.

COURTESY DANNY BOY'S

Chase Grendow (pictured) operates Danny Boy's with her brother, Camden, and parents, Rob and Renee.

Business owners from across the region have chosen Rocky River as a home base for business. Many owners live in River, but some come from the East Side, Akron, Canton and west into Lorain County. “It’s so great to see the impact we have on Northeast Ohio,” Barth says.

Bobst adds, “In 100 years, members have made an effort to be part of the fabric of the community and to really assist one another.”

Rob and Renee Grendow, owners of Danny Boy’s, live in Rocky River and opened their business in town 30 years ago. “The city of Rocky River, chamber and community have been with us every step of the way, through the very early, tough years when we didn’t know much at all through the long construction closure of Lake Road and certainly during the pandemic,” Rob

COURTESY GOURMET GUY'S

MILESTONE “If businesses didn’t have a strong and engaged chamber, they might not be aware of some of these important resources, whether to help businesses expand, provide regulatory information, workforce development — all of these things are critical to retaining and growing businesses,” she says.

Businesses came together during the pandemic — and have joined forces throughout history to weather tough times. At the onset of COVID-19 when many businesses were temporarily shut down, they found creative ways to help each other and to serve residents. Lake Road Market, Danny Boy’s and Gourmet Guy’s offered meal giveaways to literally “feed support” to those who had been loyal to their businesses. Community members also donated to the cause.

About 900 people showed up for the free meal night and received takeout chicken paprikash, broccoli and pizzas.

During COVID-19, Gourmet Guy's prepared meal giveaways to help other local businesses and serve residents.

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Bobst points interested businesses that are exploring Rocky River as a location to the chamber. “Businesses settle here, and they can thrive and grow here with the support,” she says, adding that members have a “direct and significant impact on our local economy.”

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L AUR A WATILO BL AKE

The chamber supported businesses by purchasing gift cards and raffling them to residents who ate local and uploaded receipts for a chance to win.

And even during a stressful time, new businesses were opening in Rocky River, Barth points out.

“Small businesses are not only important to a local community, but they are important to our nation’s economy,” Bobst adds. “About half of the nation’s workforce is employed by small businesses, and 60% to 65% of new jobs are created by small business.”

The diversity of businesses in River is also an asset to the economy. “That’s one reason why we have stability,” Bobst says.

From clothing to dining, health care to professional services, retail to recreation — Rocky River’s portfolio of businesses runs the gamut. “There is a great deal of loyalty in our community on behalf of residents for our local businesses,” Bobst adds. “They understand the importance of frequenting our local businesses and being patrons.”

Paul Gorton, owner of Ford’s Clothier, says generations of residents have shopped at the store, which has been open for 109 years and more than 60

COURTESY FORD'S CLOTHIER / CENTURY CYCLES

MILESTONE

Paul Gorton, the current owner of Ford's Clothier, is pictured on the left (circa mid-1970s).

years in Rocky River. “A big thank you,” he says, noting that loyal business and community members are part of the store’s success. The centennial anniversary is “an accomplishment,” he adds.

Loyalty goes beyond “buy local,” Klym says. “We get to know the owners of our businesses and that’s what makes a community.”

Scott Maloney, the current co-owner and president of Century Cycles, is pictured on the left (circa 1986).

A CARING COMMUNITY Rocky River has a rich history of caring for the community. “We have been able to make valuable connections through the Chamber’s network to help us on the business front — whether for banking or legal needs — and also on the personal side,” says Matt Miller, store manager of the Rocky River Century Cycles.

“If you think about it, there aren’t a lot of buildings that stand for 100 years, and you take a group of people and businesses with similar interests that have been going strong for a century, that’s fantastic — and there is no doubt it will continue,” Miller says.

The Welsh Home is sharing a centennial year with the Rocky River

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06.22

COURTESY THE WELSH HOME

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Chamber of Commerce. The site was formerly the Higley Farm, and the original home there was described as “having nine bedrooms, two living rooms, five bathrooms as well as six cows, calves, a bull and a house with an orchard and a garden.” One-hundred years later, the continuum of care community offering assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and long-term care still provides a home-like environment.

“Taking care of the community is our business,” says Sarah Koch, LNHA, executive director, The Welsh Home. “The residents of the Welsh Home are the residents of Rocky River. The employees are residents, and the families of our residents also live here. It’s a wonderful circle we are honored to be a part of.”

For 100 years, the Welsh Home has owned the same property that is now a central commercial district encircled by neighborhoods. Sharing a Chamber memory, Koch recalls when she attended a luncheon eight years ago when Mayor Bobst delivered a state of the city. “I knew I wanted to reinvent my career at The Welsh Home, and it sparked the idea of me moving to Rocky River,” Koch says.

For many, it’s a merging of business, pleasure, family and fun. And, importantly, support to make a dream come to life and create a legacy.

“When you support our businesses, you’re helping them realize the American Dream,” Bobst says. “I can’t imagine anything more worthy of our attention and support than helping someone realize their dream.”

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