Cleveland Institute of Music President Wins Grammy Award 
CIM President Joel Smirnoff and his colleagues from the Juillaird String Quartet were presented with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award at the awards ceremony last month.  The Award is presented by a vote of the Recording Academy's National Trustees to performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.  Founded in 1946, the Juilliard String Quartet has long been recognized as the quintessential American string quartet.  Throughout its history, the quartet has won a total of four grammys.  President Smirnoff joined the quartet in 1986 and was the ensemble's leader from 1997 until 2008 when he joined the staff at CIM.

Revisions Complete to the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria  The 2011 revisions are complete and many improvements have been made.  The most significant changes include pathways for different locations type in the Location + Neighborhood Fabric category and a revised whole-building energy performance standard.  The Location + Neighborhood Fabric focuses around smart growth principles most appropriate for three different location types - urban/small city, suburban/mid-size town or rural/tribal/small town.  The whole building energy performance standards have been updated to include the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR for new homes and high-rise multi-family program.  The 2011 Criteria was designed to be seamlessly integrated with enterprise Green Communities Certification.  The Enterprise Green Communities Criteria is an initiative of Enterprise Community Partners.   For further information visit www.greencommunitiesonline.org.
 

Free Grass Cutting for Senior Citizens  The City of Cleveland, Department of Aging, is now taking applications for the 2011 Senior Lawn Cutting Program.  Service will begin on April 18th and continue through October 28th.  To learn about eligibility criteria and to make a phone application, call 216-664-3998 or 216-664-4694.
 

Member News

Old Brooklyn CDC Announces "Pop UP Pearl" Old Brooklyn is going to celebrate the assets of  the neighborhood in a very innovative, exciting way.   For one day, vacant storefronts will showcase Pop UP gift shops, art galleries, restaurants and a lot more. Residents and non residents alike are asked to participate in the event.  As the notice from the CDC states, "Maybe your Grandma passed down her secret to making soap or you make incredible birdhouses. Or perhaps you excelled in art class but were too shy to show your work to anyone or you have a band that needs an audience.  All of this and more is what we want to showcase...after all it is about you and your neighborhood." The inspiration comes from a Better Block event in Dallas that created jobs from bringing in businesses, art galleries and retail space.  Check the site out at www.betterblock.org  For more information, please contact Old Brooklyn CDC at 216-459-1000.
 

Tremont West Seeking Proposals for Two Public Art Projects  Tremont West Development Corporation (TWDC), in partnership with Cleveland Public Art and ParkWorks is requesting proposals for two projects set to start later this year.   Project #1 requests proposals from qualified artists for a permanment artwork installation in a park-like area known as Lucky Park.  Submissions for the Lucky Park project must be submitted by Friday, April 22, 2011.  Project #2 involves proposals from qualified artists to design a pattern for Tremont crosswalks that would be cut into a stencil.  Submissions for the crosswalks project must be submitted by Monday, April 4, 2011.  Prize money will be awarded for both projects.  For further information, including eligibility and submission requirements, visit the TWDC webiste at www.tremontwest.org or contact Vince Reddy at Cleveland Public Art at 216-621-5330 or Michelle Davis at TWDC at 216-575-0920 or by email to michelledavis@tremontwest.org. 
 

Two CNDC Member Agencies Receive Community Impact Awards  CNDC would like to congratulate The Campus District and the Tremont West Development Corporation for being selected as recipients at the 16th Annual Dominion Community Impact Awards.  A panel of judges selected them and 10 other non-profit agencies across Northeast Ohio from 85 entries.  The Community Impact Award recognizes eligible non-profit organizations that have made an impact in their communities. 
The Campus District received their award for the Collaborative Campus Planning Project.  This initiative was started to engage and re-imagine the neighborhood.  The 30-member team consisted of profesional planners, college students, high school students and even one eighth grader.  One of the first steps in the process is the creation of a cultural walk showcasing live/work spaces for artists, a garden walk boasting entrepreneur Hugh Kidd's produce stand, and a trade walk that would transform the former juvenile detention facility into a small business incubator.
Tremont West received their award for transforming a vacant parcel into a useable parking lot and bioretention area.  What is so exciting about the bioretention area is that it captures rainwater runoff, treats it naturally and prevents contaminants from entering the sewer system.  An army of volunteers planted about 300 native grasses and other perennials and one restaurant owner is actually using a portion of this area as a community garden, growing herbs, tomatoes, string beans and corn, most of which he uses in his restaurant. 
CNDC is proud to to have these two agencies as members and salutes them on this dubious achievement.  For more information, and to see who the other 10 winners were, check the latest issue of Inside Business Magazine or go to www.ibmag.com.