November 2011 Minutes

Collaborative Meeting Minutes

November 17, 2011 ~ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Woman’s Club Pavilion, Lakewood Park

 

Our Mission:

“The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a group of agencies, organizations and concerned individuals working together to make sure a network of services and supports are available and accessible to children, youth and families.”

 

Program Year 2011-2012 Focus:

“Strengthening the connections between all who live, work and play in our Lakewood”

Goals:  1. Increase membership and awareness within the Lakewood community.

2. Motivate members to participate in Collaborative activities.

3. Educate members on how to connect and reach out amongst each other for information, ideas and general support.

 

Welcome – Bruce Chamberlin welcomed everyone and introduced the Spotlight Speaker, Heather Adelstein.

 

Collaborative Spotlight and Discussion – Heather Adelstein, Employment and Family Services Speakers Bureau – Ms. Adelstein addressed the services provided by EFS.  EFS has recently welcomed a new administrator, Dr. Richard Jones.  EFS has 7 Neighborhood Family Service Center Locations where clients can go for assistance.  EFS is also currently introducing more online/phone services to streamline the application & benefits process.  Ms. Adelstein briefly reviewed some of the specific services of EFS such as:  Ohio Works First, Food Assistance, Prevention-Retention and Contingency Program, Healthy Start, Medicaid, and Child Care Assistance.

            Ms. Adelstein welcomed feedback, and some items addressed by the Collab were:  difficulty processing child care vouchers, social workers and supervisors voicemails being full so clients are not able to leave a message and get service, clients can’t get child care vouchers unless have a job – but clients need child care in order to go find a job. 

            Table Discussion:  What could EFS do to make things better?

1.  Be able to get personal items (such as feminine products) with food stamps.

2.  Child Care Assistance (Coupon Book or Punch Card) for individuals looking for jobs.

3.  EFS more familiar with & advocating for the Neighborhood Collabs.

4.  EFS get more involved and have more of a positive face in community.

5.  Educate clients on how to use online services.

6.  Streamlining of services is a positive thing!

7.  Keep voicemails cleaned out so clients can leave messages.

8.  EFS should be more forthcoming with clients about how long the process might be before benefits are received.

            Verlinda Moore is a Program Officer with EFS and offered assistance in working with EFS.  Her work number is 216.939.2483.   

 

Introductions – The friendly folks of the Collab introduced themselves, shared what they are most thankful for about Lakewood, and their favorite pie.  The Collab, in regards to Lakewood, is thankful for:  the people, the concern for children & families, parks, walkable city, the Collab, strong sense of community, loyalty, Beck Center, small businesses, old homes, unique restaurants and businesses, and diversity.   

 

Announcements –

*The Housing Center is having an Art Contest during Fair Housing Month. 

*Recovery Resources is increasing adolescent services and offering training in mental health first-aid.  recres.org / Jennifer Tully – Program Manager – 216.923.4001 x 4201

*Lakewood Community Services Center invites you to Adopt-A-Family this holiday season.  Call LCSC (216.226.6466) and ask for Colleen Timm or Trish Rooney, who will match you with a family who has completed a Wish List for their children.  lcsclakewood.org

*Division of Youth invites you to adopt a child who has aged out of foster care for the holiday season.  Contact Colleen McNamara (529.6873 / colleen.mcnamara@lakewoodoh.net).

*Remember to sign in & complete a Collab membership application.

 

Committee Reports –

 

Adoption/Foster Care – Colleen McNamara, Chair

1.  Stop by the 2nd floor of the Lakewood Library and check out the Moving Hearts Gallery:  now through December 4.

 

Job Seekers – Chair Position Open

1.  Need someone to step up and fill this position!

 

Hospitality – Jillian Driscoll, Chair

 

Lakewood School Supplies Initiative – Karen Lee, Chair

 

Membership – Toni Gelsomino, Chair

 

Vice Chair Update – Kristine Pagsuyoin

 

County Corner –

 

Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services

Kathleen Sullivan, Geo Chief for Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services, commented that Lakewood is an incredible community where people work together so well, really a model for other communities.  She also noted that during the stressful holiday season be aware of children and look for & report any abuse or neglect.  Kathleen Sullivan (216.635.3801).

 

Cuyahoga County Employment and Family Services

 

 

 

 

THANK YOU for building and growing with us…for a stronger Lakewood!

 

Next meeting is Thursday, December 15, 2011 @ 1pm.

 

The Lakewood Family Collaborative

Meets the fourth Thursday of each month, 1:00 – 2:30 pm.

Lakewood Park Woman’s Club Pavilion

(November and December – third Thursday of the month)

Contact us @ 529-6870 or lakewoodfamilycollab@gmail.com

All are welcome and encouraged to attend, so please spread the word!

Newsletter Deadline:  15th of the month.  Submissions emailed to lakewoodfamilycollab@gmail.com

>LIKE us on Facebook – “Lakewood Family Collaborative” >Check us out on the Observation Deck of the Lakewood Observer

>Follow our monthly eNewsletter – subscribe at lakewoodfamilycollab@gmail.com

>Collab Web Page @ Lakewood Main Library – lkwdpl.org/lkwdfamcollab

 

 

Collab Leadership Contact Information

Last Name	Title	First Name	Organization	Address	Phone	Email
Calloway	Pastor	Todd	Cross Point Church	Harding Middle School	390-0573	todd@crossptchurch.com
Chamberlin	Mr.	Bruce	Lakewood DHS/Youth	12900 Madison Ave	529-6042	Bruce.Chamberlin@lakewoodoh.net
Driscoll	Ms.	Jillian	Family to Family Administative Council	9300 Lorain Ave	771-7297 x 328	Jdriscoll1125@yahoo.com
Edwards	Mr.	Mark	Lakewood Family YMCA	16915 Detroit Ave	521-8400	medwards@clevelandymca.org
Gelsomino	Ms.	Toni	Lakewood DHS/Early Childhood	17400 Northwood Av	529-5018	AntoLeainette.Gelsomino@lakewoodoh.net
Hall	Ms.	Mary	Lakewood DHS/Youth	12900 Madison Ave	529-6042	Mary.Hall@lakewoodoh.net
Lundberg	Mr.	Ralph	Lakewood Community Rec & Education	1456 Warren Rd	529-4081	ralph.lundberg@lakewood.k12.oh.us
McNamara	Ms.	Colleen	Lakewood DHS/Youth	12900 Madison Ave	529-6873	Colleen.McNamara@lakewoodoh.net
Pagsuyoin	Ms.	Kristine	Parent Rep Phase III Steering Comm	1356 St. Charles Av	521-0121	kpagsuyoin@hotmail.com
Rakerd-Converse	Miss	Donna	The Silhouette School of Dance and Fine Arts Lakewood DHS/Youth	12501 Madison Ave	228-3871	silhbusiness@aol.com
Thacker	Ms.	Amy	Lakewood Professional/PR guru	15324 Clifton Blvd #204	419-612-8501	thacker.amy@gmail.com

Lakewood Recreation December Events

Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter for the latest news and updates!

Register now for boys and girls youth basketball.  Registration ends on November 30.

We are still accepting team registrations for our Adult Basketball leagues.

Zumba class begins on November 14.  Register now!

Pilates class begins November 16.  Register now!

Schools’ Out Open Swim on Friday, November 25 from 1pm-3pm.  Take a break from shopping and enjoy the day off school!

Power Water Aerobics classes begin November 30 and December 5, respectively.

SPECIAL Saturday session of Tumblebugs and Tiny Turners will begin on December 3.

Swim with Santa on Sunday, December 18.  FREE admission with donation of a canned good.  Pictures with Santa are only $3.

Matt Demaline
Aquatic Manager
Lakewood Community Recreation and Education
http://www.lakewoodrecreation.com
216-529-4081

“Healthy Starts, Happy Hearts” Charity Wine and Beer Tasting

Heart Disease is the #1 birth defect in our nation, affecting our children at a rate of nearly 1 in 100 births.  Each year more than 300 distinguished members of the community and medical field join together with Jordan’s Family Foundation at its “Healthy Starts, Happy Hearts” Charity Wine and Beer Tasting to raise awareness and funding for the research and development of Congenital Heart Diseases.  This year’s tasting, the seventh annual event, is scheduled for Thursday, February 23, 2012 at Rozi’s Wine House.

We would sincerely appreciate your contribution of a unique experience, service or item(s) that reflects your organization.

To acknowledge your support of the event, Jordan’s Family Foundation’s
“Healthy Starts, Happy Hearts” will offer you the following:

?  Recognition and description of your item in the auction booklet given to all attendees.  (Item must be received before February 1, 2011.)
?  Description on signage in the auction area.
?  Letter of receipt for tax purposes.
?  Additional benefits may occur for items used in Live Auction program.

Jordan’s Family Foundation is very grateful for your generosity.  We have been fortunate enough to raise enough money to donate, more than $50,000 through this event alone, to many organizations such as the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital Cardiac Research Division, contribute to support groups including the Congenital Heart Information Network, and conduct events such as Recess ROCKS! where more than 3000 people came together to learn about eating healthy, being active and having fun.

The proceeds of the event will benefit Jordan’s Family Foundation 501(c)(3), The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, and The Cleveland Clinic Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases.

If you have any questions or know of someone who would also like to support Jordan’s Family Foundation’s “Healthy Starts, Happy Hearts” please feel free to contact Corey Rossen at 216-221-0147 or JordansFamilyFoundation@Yahoo.com.

Beck Center Events

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor^® Dreamcoat

Beck Center presents Encore Production of Smash Hit Musical!

 

Back by popular demand! Beck Center for the Arts presents an encore production of the smash hit musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat^®, December 2 through 31, 2011 on the Mackey Main Stage. Start a new holiday tradition and bring the entire family to enjoy live theater at the Beck Center. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Special Saturday matinees will be held on December 10 and 17. Additional weeknight performances are scheduled on Wednesday, December 28; Thursdays, December 22 and 29; and a special New Year’s Eve performance at 7:30 p.m. There are no performances on December 24 or 25.

 

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor^® Dreamcoat is a humorous retelling of the biblical story of Joseph of Canaan. Center stage will be awash with a rainbow of colors in this rollicking musical, complete with an amazing light show, buoyant choreography, splashy costumes, and musical stylings that appeal to all tastes—from Marleyesque reggae to spur-slapping country western to an Elvis-channeling pharaoh. Preschoolers to their great-grandparents will delight in this entertaining extravaganza. “Joseph is that rare entertainment that appeals to audiences of all ages,” added Spence.

 

Tickets are $28 for adults, $25 for seniors (65 and older), $17 for students (with valid ID), and $10 for children (12 and under). An additional $3 service fee per ticket is applied at the time of purchase. Preview Night on Thursday, December 1 is $10 with general admission seating. Group discounts are available for parties of 13 or more. Purchase tickets online at www.beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10.

 

Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

 

Beck Center’s production of Joseph is presented through an exclusive arrangement with R&H Theatricals and The Really Useful Group Ltd. and is sponsored by Parker Hannifin, First Federal Lakewood, Cox Communications, Ohio Arts Council, and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. 

                                                                                                                                                           

 

Nutcracker…Jazzed Up!

Beck Center Dance presents Classic Tale with A Twist

 

Beck Center’s Dance Workshop and Dance Education program present Nutcracker…Jazzed Up!, a contemporary twist on the classic Tchaikovsky tale, December 3 and 4, 2011 in the Recital Hall of the Music-Armory Building at Beck Center. Performance times are 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 3 and 1 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 4.

 

Performed by an ensemble of 60 dancers, Nutcracker…Jazzed Up! tells the endearing story of The Nutcracker in a nontraditional setting through ballet, contemporary dance, hip hop, jazz, and tap. This holiday production features original choreography by Melanie Szucs, Beck Center’s associate director of Dance Education, and fellow faculty members Louise Hadaway, Wannetta Scott and Mimi Schwensen. Featured dancers include Alexandra Cassidy (Cleveland), Taylor Gerrasch (Rocky River), Julia Horner (Cleveland), Abby Schneider (Lakewood), Becky Steffen (Westlake), and Kelly Tomko (North Ridgeville).

 

Reserved seating is limited and tickets are selling fast. Tickets are $12 for adults/seniors and $10 for students/children 18 and under, including the service fee. To purchase tickets, visit www.beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540, ext. 10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

 

On Saturday, December 10, the ensemble will again perform the piece for residents at Lakewood Senior Health, Ennis Court and Eliza Jennings. This has become an annual tradition for Beck Center dancers who have shared their talents with the community during the holiday season for the past six years.

 

Beck Center’s production of Nutcracker…Jazzed Up! is sponsored by Cox Communications. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this production with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. This production is also generously supported by the public through a grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

                                                                                                                                                           

 

Bring-A-Friend Week at Beck Center

 

Beck Center for the Arts invites you to be our guest and sit in on a class or lesson for free the week of December 5 through 10. We offer over 200 classes each week in dance, music, theater, and visual arts – something for every age and ability. Bring-A-Friend Week is a great opportunity to experience all the Beck Center has to offer and allows you to engage in the creative process first-hand and inspire you to get involved in the arts at Beck. Our complete class schedule is available online at www.beckcenter.org, click on Arts Education. For more information, call Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Free onsite parking is available.

                                                                                                                                                           

 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Beck Theater Students Take Center Stage in Studio Theater

 

Beck Youth Theater presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, December 9-11 and 16-18, 2011 in the Studio Theater. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

 

Written by Barbara Robinson and directed by Rachel Spence, this hilarious Christmas tale is about a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant who are faced with casting the Herdman kids – probably the most inventively awful kids in history. When the town reacts with horror to the news that the most sinful children will be playing the holiest roles, the pageant director becomes even more determined to make it work. Although everyone expects a disaster, the Herdmans bring a fresh interpretation to the Christmas story, a story they have never heard before. You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on!

 

This holiday youth production usually sells out. Tickets for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are $12 for Adult/Senior (65 and over) and $10 for Children/Student (18 and under). Special discounted rates are available for groups of 13 or more. For tickets, visit www.beckcenter.org or call 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

 

Beck Center’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. and is sponsored by Cox Communications, the Ohio Arts Council, and Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

 

                                                                                                                                                           

 

Beck the Halls!

A Unique Holiday Boutique

 

Beck Center for the Arts will host “Beck the Halls” – a unique holiday boutique on December 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  For your shopping pleasure, local artists and artisans will display their extraordinary original works of art in Beck’s main lobby. Shoppers can browse and select from a wide array of creative gifts including drawings, jewelry, photography, pottery, prints, and watercolors. Avoid the crowded, commercial malls and buy unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your list – and support the arts in our community! Admission is free and convenient, onsite parking is available.

 

While you shop at “Beck the Halls,” your children can explore their creativity at Super Saturdays at Beck – a free hands-on arts experience for children ages 10 and under. Super Saturdays takes place 9 to 11:30 a.m. on December 10 and include special arts activities in collaboration with Beck’s community partners. This month, Usbourne Books will share a holiday-themed craft activity with the kids. It’s fun for the entire family! Super Saturdays are sponsored through the generous support of the Lakewood Arts Festival Association. For more information about “Beck the Halls” or Super Saturdays at Beck, call 216.521.2540 x10.

 

Located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, the Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring regional artists.

December SPOTLIGHT

December SPOTLIGHT:

Ohio Benefit Bank

In Ohio, more than $2.24 billion Federal dollars in tax credits and work support programs go unclaimed by Ohio citizens each year; 57% is unclaimed SNAP funding.  Unclaimed Federal dollars must be returned each year for re-allocation to other states or other Federal programs.  The Ohio Benefit Bank strives to assist Ohioans to access these unclaimed funds which in turn provide revenue for our local Ohio economies.
The Benefit Bank Online Services are offered free of charge to organizations seeking to better serve the citizens of Ohio.  The program is Internet-based, multi-lingual and accessible from any computer with internet access and a printer.  It serves as a tool to stimulate local economies, for income enhancement, application completion, and potential eligibility calculation for over 20 benefits and programs.
This time of year, The Ohio Benefit Bank focuses on connecting Ohioans with their FULL tax refunds. We believe that no one should have to fight to keep the money they have earned, so we work to make federal and state tax filing as easy as possible for Ohioans.
We want to help you hang on to your complete refund and all of the credits that your family may be eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, Education Credits, and much more!
So whether you file your tax return on your own through our free, secure site, or with the help of one of our trained counselors, we encourage you to hang on to your full refund by filing with The Ohio Benefit Bank!

For more information about the Ohio Benefit Bank, please contact:

Leah Brow
Ohio Benefit Bank Community Organizer
Office: 216-738-2265 x2101
Email: lbrow@clevelandfoodbank.org

Lakewood Community Service Center (LCSC) extends comprehensive services to our neighbors during these very uncertain times

LCSC continues to provide support to an ever-growing number of individuals
and families – many who are coming to us for assistance for the first time
in their lives.

Did you know that in addition to being a food pantry for Lakewood, Rocky
River and Westlake, LCSC provides social work services, assistance with
energy bills, free legal and renters advice, has a supportive housing
program, a community garden, a senior citizen delivery service funded by the
United Way, holiday baskets and much more? With each passing month the
number of folks that walk through our doors in need of assistance –
increases as the economy dwindles. From our beginning in 1982, volunteers
have formed the heart and soul of Lakewood Community Services Center – RSVP
to me and join us at LCSC on Tuesday Nov 8 at 7pm for an insider’s view of
our facility and hear what our executive director and volunteers have to say
about this very rewarding opportunity! !

Be sure to check out the flyer, http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=10510,for more information and
also to see how you can “adopt a family” for Christmas…we will match you
with a family that has completed a wish list for their children. This may
be a nice thing for a group of friends to do together! LCSC also accepts
business and individual donations of non-perishable foods at anytime.

MONEY SMART

WECO Fund, Inc.
and
Lakewood Community Services Center
are Pleased to Announce

MONEY SMART

Three free workshops for Lakewood residents will cover these important topics:

 Money Matters: how to manage your money by preparing a personal spending plan and identifying ways to decrease spending and increase income

 To Your Credit: how to read a credit report and how to build and repair your credit history

 Financial Recovery: steps you can take to recover financially and rebuild your credit after experiencing a financial setback

Each workshop is one hour long and will be held at Lakewood Community Services Center, 14230 Madison Avenue (corner of Madison and Roosevelt).

Workshops will begin on Wednesday November 2, 2011 and will be held from 6pm – 7pm through November and will begin again the first Wednesday in January, 2012. Participants are encouraged to sign up for all three workshops, but you can take them in any order that is most convenient for you.

Registration is limited to 10 participants. To sign up, please call 216.226.6466 and either ask for or leave a message with Office Manager Colleen Timm.

A life of financial success and security is about learning,
planning and investing.

Lakewood Recreation Update

Want to save $5 on your next registration?  Our next 50 likes on Facebook and 100 twitter followers will save $5 on their next Lakewood Recreation registration!
 
Register your team now in one of our adult basketball leagues!  
 
Register for youth basketball by Monday and receive $10 off with our early bird special.  
 
The last Learn-To-Swim session of 2011 begins Tuesday, November 8.  Register today!
 
Swim with Santa on Sunday, December 18.  Santa is stopping by the pool to pose for pictures and see everyone before his big ride!  FREE admission with donation of canned good.
 
A new session of Zumba begins Monday, November 14.  Check out this dynamic fitness program that will blow you away!
 
Looking for a gentle, yet challenging workout sure to build your body’s core?  Check out Pilates, beginning November 16.
 
Looking for a great winter break activity?  Try Jr. Robotics with LEGO WeDo. 
 
Tell us how we are doing – complete this survey and be entered in a drawing to win a Lakewood Rec gift certificate!
 

Beck Center

Beck Youth Theater presents “Charlotte’s Web”
Based on E.B. White’s classic tale, Beck Youth Theater presents Charlotte’s Web on the Mackey Main Stage, November 3-6, 2011. Featuring a cast of 44 young actors ages 7 to 17, this beloved, award-winning story about “Some Pig” named Wilbur and his special friendship with a spider named Charlotte teaches us about the strength of friendship between even the most unlikely of friends. Show times are 7:30 Friday and Saturday and 3:00 p.m. Sunday. The student matinee on Thursday is sold out. Tickets are $12 for adults/seniors (65 and over) and $10 for students/children (16 and under). Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org or call 216.521.2540 x10. Charlotte’s Web is presented through special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company and is sponsored by First Federal Lakewood.

Super Saturdays @ Beck Center
Start off your family’s weekend creatively with Super Saturdays @ Beck Center. Each month Beck Center offers a free hands-on arts experience for children ages 10 and under. Super Saturdays take place 9:00 to 11:30 am on the dates listed below and include special activities in collaboration with Beck’s community partners.

November 5 Beck Center Visual Arts Department
December 10 Usbourne Books
January 14 Cleveland Botanical Garden

Super Saturdays are sponsored through the generous support of the Lakewood Arts Festival Association.

Falling for the Arts!
Fall classes are currently underway at Beck, but it’s not too late to register. Sign up for the second session of visual arts classes which begin the week of November 9. There are a variety of classes to choose from including cartooning, drawing, painting, pottery, and watercolors – for all ages and abilities. Registration for private music lessons in all band and orchestral instruments is ongoing throughout the year. For a complete class schedule and descriptions, visit http://www.beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10.

Like to sing?
Beck Center is looking for young vocalists ages 6 to 14 to join their Youth Choirs. Under the direction of Melissa Sorohan, the Primary Choir (ages 6 to 8) and Performing Choir (ages 9 to 14) rehearse every Thursday evening at Beck. Children can learn how to make great music – and new friends! For more information, contact Kris Morron, associate director of Music Education, at 216.521.2540 x37 or email at kmorron@beckcenter.org.

Puttin’ On the Ritz!
Lakewood Mayor Michael P. Summers will host the 4th Annual Mayor’s Ball on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Beck Center for the Arts. Guests will enjoy elegant hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and live entertainment. The evening’s festivities will include an exciting raffle, silent auction and presentation of the Key to the City to Kathy and Ken Haber. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased online at beckcenter.org. For more information, contact Holly Lauch at 216.529.6602. All proceeds from this event support the Beck Center’s quality arts education and theater programs which benefit our community.

See A Show for Free at Beck Center!
Beck Center recently kicked off another exciting new season of extraordinary theater – an eclectic mix of award-winning musicals, Off-Broadway hits and compelling drama – including six regional premieres! You can see any of these shows for free when you volunteer at Beck. As a nonprofit organization, the Beck Center relies on volunteers to help as ushers, ticket takers, concession helpers, and coat checkers during its professional theater season. In return, all volunteers see the show for free. For more information, contact Rennie Tisdale at rtisdale@beckcenter.org or call 216.521.2540 x28.

Now on stage…RACE, a riveting new drama by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet, through November 20 in the Studio Theater. Also coming this season…an encore production of the holiday hit Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Eric Coble’s The Velocity of Autumn starring Dorothy Silver, the Tony Award-winning sensation Spring Awakening, the punk rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson starring Dan Folino, and Beck’s summer blockbuster hit, Legally Blonde The Musical.

For a complete list of shows, performance dates and descriptions visit beckcenter.org or stop by Customer Service at the Beck Center to pick up a copy of the 2011/2012 theater season brochure.

Heirloom Home Supports the Arts
Heirloom Home, located on Lakewood’s west end, is a unique resale shop with a philanthropic purpose. All proceeds benefit the student scholarship fund at the Beck Center for the Arts. Owner Brenda Ellner’s love of the arts inspired her to open the establishment last year, just blocks from the Beck Center. Since then, store sales have helped many area children, who may not otherwise have the financial means, to enroll in Beck’s arts education classes.

Customers will enjoy browsing the store filled with interesting antiques, decorative collectibles, vintage jewelry, and watches. All items are donated and many found their way from Ellner’s own home in Shaker Heights when she downsized her collection of family memorabilia.

Heirloom Home is located at 18119 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Store hours are 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Donations are accepted and volunteers are needed. Contact Brenda at heirloomhome@gmail.com or call 216-406-7530.

Located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, the Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring regional artists.