Message from Mayor Susan C. Renda

Dear Resident,

Every year Orange High School allows its seniors to explore their dreams and possibilities by participating in a “Senior Project.” This year I was honored to be asked to sponsor one such student, Ethan Sands. As you will see from his letter he is enthusiastic, intelligent and dedicated. He came to us asking to better understand local government. We tried to give him a well-rounded experience. He was up for every task from discussing the difference between our Charter and Ordinances to helping repair a trail in Forest Ridge. It has been fun. Thanks, Ethan, for sharing your time with us and for writing my newsletter. It’s been great!      

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Hello! My name is Ethan Sands and I am a senior at Orange High School. Currently, I am completing my senior project at the Village of Moreland Hills. Mayor Renda has graciously allowed me to write this month’s issue of the Moreland Hills Newsletter and I am very thankful for the opportunity to do so.  

On Tuesday, May 7th, I had the privilege to sit in on a meeting of the newly-restarted Parks Commission. The Commission, which had been on hiatus for 5 years, consists of passionate, civic-minded residents of Moreland Hills who wish to see the village’s public lands used in the best manner possible, as well as the Mayor, Service Director Ted DeWater, and Clerk of Council, Sherri Arrietta. In Moreland Hills, we are lucky to have the Forest Ridge Preserve (the entrance is located on Chagrin River Road, across the street from the Polo Field), a 142-acre park featuring winding forest paths, sweeping elevation changes, and sheer cliff-faces. Altogether, the park is a tremendous encapsulation of the natural beauty present in Northeast Ohio. However, there are some features of the entrance to the park that many in the community believe could be expanded upon. During the enthusiastic meeting, members discussed the culmination of months of work: the possibility of an upcoming grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources which would allow for the demolition of the old “House on the Hill” that currently lies at the end of the drive, the construction of a recreational pavilion, and the installation of an ecologically sustainable restroom on the site. Beyond this grant, however, there are other improvements that members of both the Commission and the community would like to see. Luckily, the Parks Commission is not going anywhere and its members have their eyes on the future!  

Additionally, I would like to briefly cover what types of experiences I have had on my senior project so far. Most days, I have been able to meet a different employee of the village and learn about their role and the type of work they do. For example, I spent time individually with Treasurer Prashant Shah, Building Department Commissioner Paul Kowalczyk, Housing Inspector Tom Merhar, Law Director Aimee Lane, and Village Prosecutor Santo Incorvaia. Mayor Renda and her secretary Sherri have been kind enough to reach out to not only employees on the Moreland Hills campus, but also other community leaders like Chagrin Falls Fire Marshal Jim Alunni, who let me follow him through a normal day and gave me a new perspective on matters of fire safety and emergency services.

As a closing message, I would like to once again thank the Mayor and the entire staff of the village. I have met employees from nearly every department and have felt nothing but welcome the whole time. As I take stock of my life so far and prepare for the next part, I count myself lucky for a variety of reasons: lucky to live in a such a beautiful place, lucky to have access to lands like the Forest Ridge Preserve and the Metroparks, and lucky to have gotten to meet those dedicated public servants who work hard to ensure a thriving community for us in Moreland Hills.  

Thank you and enjoy the summer,

Ethan Sands