Mary Dunbar » Working together

It’s Official!

Mary Dunbar — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:30:15 +0000

After the automatic recount on Monday, December 5, it became official: I won a seat on City Council. It was a close race – basically a three-way tie between Phyllis Evans, Jeff Coryell and me, with Dennis Wilcox firmly in first place. Phyllis came in second, and I was third – good enough to win. All candidates ran impressive races and I know they will stay actively involved in our community, because we all love and are committed to this place.

Thanks again to everyone who supported my candidacy. I am looking forward to doing my best to overcome our challenges and move Cleveland Heights forward in positive ways during my four-year term in office from 2012 through 2015. Please let me know if you could use my help on any City issues or if you have ideas for improvements. You can contact me by sending an e-mail through this Web site. My telephone number is 216/321-1335.

House Proud! State Board Approves Shaker Farm

Mary Dunbar — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 12:39:37 +0000

It’s another well deserved tribute to the excellent quality of so many residences in Cleveland Heights. On Friday, November 1, I attended a meeting in Columbus of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board, which was considering, among others, the application I wrote and assembled with help from neighbors and Cleveland Heights experts proposing the Shaker Farm Historic District for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. I was prepared to defend the application, but board members praised and approved it in a matter of minutes. One board member, Aaron Askew, a Columbus architect, said he had grown up near the district and been inspired by the quality of the residences to study architecture. He was happy to see the district listed. Another, Columbus archeologist Paul Graham, cited the clarity and completeness of the application, which made it easy to understand and approve the proposed district based on its significance. Here’s what the press release said specifically about the Shaker Farm Historic District:

STATE BOARD RECOMMENDS CLEVELAND HEIGHTS’ PROPOSED SHAKER FARM HISTORIC DISTRICT FOR NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board have voted to recommend that nominations for four properties in Ohio be forwarded to the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places for her consideration:

Cleveland Heights / Cuyahoga County: Shaker Farm Historic District, roughly bounded by properties along Fairmount and North Park Blvds. to the south, Fairfax Road to the north, Roxboro Middle School to the west and Ashton Road to the east.

A residential development platted in 1904 on the south side of Cleveland Heights, Shaker Farm occupies 266 acres owned from 1822-1889 by the North Union Shaker Colony. The developer, Shaker Heights Land Company, had limited success selling home sites there until O.P. and M.J. Van Sweringen took over marketing and sales in 1905. While deed restrictions governing the development were already in place, the Van Sweringens embraced them, promising buyers a carefully planned community. House plans had to be approved before construction. Attached houses, row houses and commercial buildings were prohibited, as were billboards and “other unsightly nuisances.” Only one home was allowed per lot and deeds required setbacks of 60 to 100 feet, with ample space between houses. Homes on Fairmount Boulevard required a $7,000 investment, those on Stratford $6,000, and those on Guilford, Islington (later Arlington), Monmouth and Fairfax $5,000. Tree-lined streets followed the lay of the land rather than a more conventional grid plan and led to a wide central boulevard. Generous provision for churches, schools and other amenities — including streetcar service, essential at the time — completed the formula. The first house was built in 1906. About two-thirds date from 1910 to 1919 and nearly all were built before 1929. Architecturally, the development features a range of styles popular a century ago, including Shingle, Colonial, Neoclassical, Tudor Revival, Spanish Revival, French Renaissance Revival, Bungalow and Craftsman, with many examples of work by leading early 20th century Cleveland architects. With some refinements, Shaker Farm became a model for the Van Sweringens’ later development, Shaker Heights. The proposed Shaker Farm Historic District includes a portion of the Fairmount Boulevard Historic District, listed on the National Register in 1974.

Candidates Forum

Mary Dunbar — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:02:43 +0000

A recording of the candidates forum co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and FutureHeights on October 6 is now available. View video from the forum online at http://vimeo.com/30564868. All candidates for Cleveland Heights City Council were present and participated, so this is a good chance for you to make comparisons. I was the first to give a two-minute speech; after that, candidates responded to the questions in varying orders, so as to be fair. Deanna Bremer Fisher did a great job as moderator.

Unfortunately, the microphone that I was using was not working properly during the forum, so some people at the back of the room had trouble hearing me. I watched only a part of the video, but the sound for the video recording was certainly working at least at the beginning of the forum. I will assume the recording was working throughout, but let me know if you find otherwise! Back to the campaign trail.

Thank you for your interest.

If you wish to vote by mail

Mary Dunbar — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:39:32 +0000

The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections wants to make sure voters know that ballot applications are no longer automatically mailed to voters. You, as a voter, are accustomed to receiving an application in the mail, but now you must request your ballot application. You must obtain and return a Vote by Mail ballot application if you wish to Vote by Mail in the November 8, 2011 General Election. Here’s how:

To obtain a Vote by Mail Application, go to the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website. You will then be able to print a personalized application or have one mailed to you.

Get Your Mary Dunbar Yard Sign

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:22:10 +0000

Yard signs are popping up all over town. To request your “Elect Mary Dunbar, City Council” yard sign, click on “Volunteer” above, fill in the electronic form, and check the yard sign box. Your sign will soon be delivered free of charge to your home and inserted in your front yard. Certain placement restrictions apply, and that information will be provided to you. Yard signs are important in a political campaign because……they increase awareness of an upcoming election and build name recognition for candidates so that voters can do additional research to learn about candidates’ positions. Your support of my candidate by posting a sign in your yard will be greatly appreciated.

Officially on the Ballot

Mary Dunbar — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:22:49 +0000

Friday morning, September 9, I turned in 31 partial petitions with 516 signatures at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (BOE). I only needed 282 signatures but was advised to have lots of extras since the BOE no longer does pre-checks before the deadline, and that means there is no second chance. When I turned in the signatures, I was told that if they didn’t call me to tell me I’d fallen short, then I could be assured I was on the ballot. Looking on the BOE Web site, you can now see my name listed as a candidate for Cleveland Heights City Council. Thanks to…

Julie Schlemmer, Alice Stratton, Sue Blackwell, Bonnie Baker, Chris Hall, Joan Spoerl, Whitney Lloyd, Nancy Dietrich, Sarah Wilson-Jones, Barbara Brennan, Al Kuntz, Rob Dunbar, Lissa Waite, Nancy Sherwin, Arlene Mann and Penny Allen for collecting signatures on petitions. Thanks, too, to the 516 people who signed the petitions to get my name on the ballot. I couldn’t do it without you!

Presentation on September 27

Mary Dunbar — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:00:41 +0000

Come to the Lee Road Library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 27, for a public meeting about a new historic district for Cleveland Heights – the Shaker Farm Historic District. The meeting will feature a presentation by a representative from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office on what becoming listed as an historic district on the National Register of Historic Places entails. Because I submitted the application, I will explain the scope and architectural and historic merits of the district.

A team of residents helped me with the application. I couldn’t have done it without the invaluable help of Jack Sulak, Marjorie Kitchell, Bill Collins, Ken Goldberg, Kara Hamley O’Donnell, Leslie Marting and Diane Christ.

Collected Works

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:54:36 +0000

There’s so much to do in a campaign for Cleveland Heights City Council that it’s hard to find time to blog. While I’m looking for that time, click on “Read the full story” for a list a articles I’ve written over the past three years for the Heights Observer. I am now gathering new ideas and perspective as I meet more and more voters, but these articles represent some of my interests and thoughts. They especially support my vision for Cleveland Heights as a healthy, activity community with outstanding opportunities for growth and excellence.

May 3, 2011. Now is the time to get on your bike and ride. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2011/05/03/now-is-the-time-to-get-on-your-bike-and

March 1, 2011. Cleveland Heights is tops in walkability. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2011/03/01/cleveland-heights-is-tops-in-walkability

December 12, 2010. Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition to hold first meeting of the year. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2010/12/12/cleveland-heights-bicycle-coalition-to-hold

June 22, 2010. Bicycle coalition formed for a bicycle friendly Cleveland Heights. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2010/22/06/bicycle-coalition-formed-for-a-more

August 13, 2009. Civility is important to our quality of life. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2009/08/13/civility-is-important-to-our-quality

June 23, 2009. Think regional: Why a resurgent University Circle is good for the heights. http://www.heightsobserver.org/read/2009/23/06/think-regional-why-a-resurgent-university

Party to Raise Funds for the Dunbar Campaign

Mary Dunbar — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:32:28 +0000

You missed the fundraiser on August 11 to help elect Mary Dunbar to Cleveland Heights City Council, but it’s not too late to make a donation or get involved. Just click on the Donate button on the menu bar above to learn how to make a contribution. Click on the Volunteer button for a list of some ways that you can help the Dunbar campaign.

Posting a yard sign that says “Elect Mary Dunbar, City Council” really helps to build awareness and increase Mary Dunbar’s visibility in the community. It’s called name recognition, and it’s very important. If you agree to post a yard sign, it will be provided to you free of charge when the time comes. Political yard signs can only be posted 45 days before the election date, or on September 24 this year, according to Cleveland Heights regulations. To dispose of a yard sign after the election, just put it out with your other garbage.

Hosting a coffee where Mary Dunbar can meet your neighbors and friends and discuss issues and opportunities with them helps build support. Meeting as many voters as possible is very important for the outcome of the election.

Distributing literature is another good way to help gain recognition and build support for Mary Dunbar.

Thank you for considering these ways that you can help.

Why Bicycles Matter

Mary Dunbar — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 20:40:28 +0000

Let’s be honest: I have found that the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition could be a full-time job, because there’s so much to do to encourage and facilitate bicycling in our city! Fortunately, lots of people embrace this cause and want to help.

Why is the bicycle coalition important? As I explained in a Heights Observer article in the May 2011 issue, having a lot of bicyclists is a sign of a city that attracts creative thinkers and young professionals seeking vibrant, sustainable communities in which to live and work. After all, bicycles are a perfect mode of transportation for those who are concerned about the environment, their health or their pocketbook. In addition, bicycling can make one feel good physically, and depending on oneself to get around can feel empowering.

I and others have posted many items on the Cleveland Heights Bicycle Coalition’s Web site – www.bikesintheheights.org I invite you to take a look at this Web site. I think you’ll like what you see!