To surfohio:

That stand up paddleboarding actually looks pretty cool.  I am not sure if I have the... er... natual ability for that kind of thing but it could be fun to try =)

 

On a different note, I have checked the job market and it does appear that there is a need for teachers in Cleveland and the surrounding area.  Does anyone know if it is hard to secure one of these jobs?  I have some teaching experience but not much (and with a non-traditional school).  Is there more need in a certain area (that may not be apparent just by looking at job listings or that always seems to need educators)?  That might help me narrow down housing as well since the closer to work (while remaining within the other parameters) the better.

 

Getting a public school job is tough, nearly impossible in the good districts. There are a lot more opportunities in the charter schools.  Some charters are good but some are just terrible. They take advantage of the teachers, and many of the students will be unruly and come from troubled backgrounds.  There's a very high teacher turnover rate from lack of support and general burnout. This can be why there's so many openings each year.  Beware of any school connected to White Hat Management. They may be better today, but I can assure you they were an awful company to work for five years ago.

To surfohio:

I work with at-risk youth right now... 16-24yos.  They pretty much all come from "troubled backgrounds", have mental health issues (anger, socially inappropriate behavior, etc), learning disabilities, are/were gang members, etc etc.  It's not easy but it'd be nothing new for me to do it in Ohio.  Same issues different kids (I would assume).  I take it you're a teacher?  Or...?  I will watch out for "White Hat".  The management company can make all the difference.  The company that just took over where I work is AWFUL.  I would really rather work with younger children but I will take whatever.

To surfohio:

I work with at-risk youth right now... 16-24yos.  They pretty much all come from "troubled backgrounds", have mental health issues (anger, socially inappropriate behavior, etc), learning disabilities, are/were gang members, etc etc.  It's not easy but it'd be nothing new for me to do it in Ohio.  Same issues different kids (I would assume).  I take it you're a teacher?  Or...?  I will watch out for "White Hat".  The management company can make all the difference.  The company that just took over where I work is AWFUL.  I would really rather work with younger children but I will take whatever.

 

Great then, we need more devoted and experienced teachers like you.  My wife has worked both as a teacher and an administrator. One good thing about her charter school experience; she was able to take on a wide array of responsibilities within her school. Taking on numerous responsibilities has allowed her to explore just about every facet of education.

White Hat should not still be open.  If they are, that's sad.

 

A lot of my friends are teachers and the market here is abysmal.  Experience with LD/special ed/behaviors is a major plus.  Unless you do that or math/science, your best option is teaching online.  That doesn't pay nearly as well, and you have hundreds of students at once, but you do get to work from home.   

To surfohio:

To KJP:

I am quite envious of these trips to England you keep talking about!  And again, wonderful pictures!  I especially like the ones with what I believe is a lighthouse in the background.  If I could live somewhere with a view of the water you'd have me sold.  I think that is unlikely though. 

 

Not to brag (OK, maybe a little), I can see the lake from my balcony -- in winter, if I lean out kinda far, and tilt my head in the correct way. But if you want to see the lake, getting an apartment is the most affordable way. If you want a house with a lake view, it will cost you. But you might check Euclid or Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood for affordable homes with lake views.

 

And not to get off topic, if you want to see some of my pictures from England, see these threads.......

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,12996.0.html

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,13132.0.html

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14644.0.html

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14677.0.html

 

 

RE: the link you posted to a home on Keswick - it's too close the the Buckeye neighborhood for my tastes.  Buckeye used to be (40+ years ago) a very ethnic Hungarian & East European neighborhood, but the area has been very rough over the past 20 years or so.  Lots of crime.  That's reflected in the $44k price tag on that house.  This street might not be too bad, but I'd stick north or farther east of here.

 

There is quite an East vs. West thing, but it's a pretty benign teasing.  The museums are east side.  Many strip malls on west side.  :wink:

Hope you're getting some good info here.  Good luck!!

 

What do you know about MY area?  Seriously?  That house is on a nice middle class street.  Half of which is physically in Shaker.  The issues that some have with Buckeye don't even start until you're west of 126 street!

Brightdreams,

 

Just move to the Eastside. 

 

Who doesn't want to view the city from the top?!  I can see all of the Eastside and have a terrific view of downtown. (It was smoggy this day)  But you get the picture!

 

 

Brightdreams,

 

Just move to the Eastside. 

 

Who doesn't want to view the city from the top?!  I can see all of the Eastside and have a terrific view of downtown. (It was smoggy this day)  But you get the picture!

 

 

 

That view does look kind of amazing.

Brightdreams,

 

Just move to the Eastside. 

 

Who doesn't want to view the city from the top?!  I can see all of the Eastside and have a terrific view of downtown. (It was smoggy this day)  But you get the picture!

 

 

 

Aren't you worried about getting shot up there by a stray bullet from all those nearby ghettos? Or getting mugged when you come down from your ivory tower? Or finding your stripped car up on concrete blocks in the morning?

 

I mean, c'mon, it is the east side!  :shoot:

 

Seriously though, nice view.

White Hat should not still be open.  If they are, that's sad.

 

A lot of my friends are teachers and the market here is abysmal.  Experience with LD/special ed/behaviors is a major plus.  Unless you do that or math/science, your best option is teaching online.  That doesn't pay nearly as well, and you have hundreds of students at once, but you do get to work from home. 

 

The job market in general is pretty abysmal in the Cleveland area (not so bad in service industries & skilled labor).  I know of a number of well-educated folks that lost jobs in 2009-2010-2011, that haven't been able to find work, and are still looking. 

For teachers, I agree with others above - most jobs are in rough districts, and most of the openings are either Special Ed or Science/Math. 

(I hope you find a job before buying a home out here)

 

KJP - the dates my camera recorded for those photos are:  3/8/2008 for the deep snow photos, 3/20/2008 for the ice storm pics.  I don't remember very well. 

These storms are not the norm, but they do happen once every year or 2.  Most of the winter here is slushy, or lighter snow that melts in a few days.

Lots of strip malls in North Olmstead, Parma & Avon, no??  (& Westgate, Fairview, etc)  :wink:  Pretty much anything south or west of Lakewood.

 

M2S - Sorry, didn't mean to offend...  I used to live just off the Square, on Kemper about 10 years ago, and lived the 1st 2 years of my life in a duplex on Buckeye (LONG time ago).  I wasn't sure exactly where it starts to go downhill, but I know Buckeye is not where I'd recommend someone to buy a home.

 

Solon does have excellent schools, and you might be able to find a scarce old farmhouse there, but it's not a walkable area at all.  There's very much an outer suburbia feel to it.  It's also about a 30+ minute freeway drive into Cleveland proper.

 

I think you might be best off in/near the Heights areas, or the near West side (Shoreway, Ohio City, Tremont).  The train system is pretty decent and convenient, especially if you live near the tracks (but there are Park-N-Ride stops, if you live a little farther out). 

 

Lastly, here's some photos from almost 2 weeks ago, the beach at Mentor Highlands.  (my kids are pixelated, sorry)  Didn't get many shots of just scenery, but it was a beautiful EAST SIDE day.  :cool2:

 

To surfohio:

Thanks, I don't know that I'd describe myself as devoted or anything like that.  I do have an exceptionally high tolerance for things other people find annoying, though.  No idea why.

 

To 327:

I don't know about teaching math... remedial math, certainly, but I'm not especially good at upper level high school math (like calculus, etc).  I could teach science easily.  I'd prefer to teach English, social studies, history, or something of that nature.  I wouldn't mind teaching ESL either, although I don't know if there's much need for that in Ohio.  I've learned quite a bit of Spanish since I started working in New Mexico (some of it is even polite Spanish, haha!) and after I go to Japan I will have more experience teaching in that area.

 

To KJP:

I'm afraid of heights so that probably wouldn't work for me =)  And the chickens wouldn't like it, hehe. If I didn't want pets and a yard for kids I would totally consider an apartment though. I am green with envy over those pictures from England!  The only international traveling I have done is to Mexico and Canada.  What do the jagged white stripes on the side of the street mean?  (It made me think of the nursery rhyme "there was a crooked man".)

 

To MyTwoSense:

The eastside is looking like a winner really (though I won't make any decisions until I visit, of course).  And that is also a great picture =)  I love all the green!  I have missed having lots of green trees and such living in New Mexico.

 

To Rlucky:

What is an "outer suburbia feel"?  I don't think I've ever really lived in a suburb.  I've lived in just about everything BUT a normal large city... in the country, old cane plantation towns, condos on the beach in Hawaii, etc etc.  I really don't like living far away from everything though.

 

There seem to be openings (right now) at Entrepreneurship Preparatory School and Village Preparatory School... which are part of "Breakthrough Charter Schools"?  Also several for Shine! and lots for those online ones... Like I mentioned, working with at-risk (which isn't the PC term anymore, it's "at-potential" or something, but I think you know what I mean) kids now so it wouldn't be so bad to work with them there either.  I draw the line at physically dangerous but other than that I am cool with whatever.  The online jobs might be okay too.  I make about 1/3 of my current income from rentals so I could put a little more effort into that and do the online teaching from home.

 

 

As a random side note, I am watching "The Great Food Truck Race" and they're in Cleveland right now and said that everyone is "Very very friendly and help each other out".  I would have to agree!  Thanks again guys (and gals =)

  What do the jagged white stripes on the side of the street mean? 

 

No waiting/parking. They're buffers for pedestrian crossings, so that pedestrians don't just appear from behind a parked car from the perspective of a driver.

What do the jagged white stripes on the side of the street mean? 

 

It means there is a cross-walk ahead.

 

 

To Loretto & KJP:

Thanks!  I've never seen that before.  Very interesting!  I wonder how much it helps with accidents.

Brightdreams,

 

Just move to the Eastside. 

 

Who doesn't want to view the city from the top?!  I can see all of the Eastside and have a terrific view of downtown. (It was smoggy this day)  But you get the picture!  :

 

 

 

That view does look kind of amazing.

 

What would you expect?  I'm amazing, and I live an the most amazing building in Cleveland, which is located in the most amazing neighborhood in Cleveland.  HA!  :P

Brightdreams,

 

Just move to the Eastside. 

 

Who doesn't want to view the city from the top?!  I can see all of the Eastside and have a terrific view of downtown. (It was smoggy this day)  But you get the picture!  :

 

 

 

That view does look kind of amazing.

 

What would you expect?  I'm amazing, and I live an the most amazing building in Cleveland, which is located in the most amazing neighborhood in Cleveland.  HA!  :P

 

And so modest too! =)

And so modest too! =)

 

MTS is about as modest as a bitch-slap by RuPaul.....

 

And so modest too! =)

 

MTS is about as modest as a bitch-slap by RuPaul.....

 

 

I will not RuPologize for being fabulous!

 

 

LoL! @ KJP and MyTwoSense

 

 

LoL! @ KJP and MyTwoSense

 

 

 

Honey, KJP is a mess.  Just remember EASTSIDE.

 

Honey, KJP is a mess.  Just remember EASTSIDE.

 

 

A hot mess, maybe. ;) Yes, just remember that eastside is to be AVOIDED. I fled there after 26 years. Now a happy westsider for 19 years, and counting.

 

Truth be told, I love both sides of town.

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. So if you live on the West side every morning you have the sunrise in your eyes on the way to work and every evening you have the sun setting in your eyes on the way home. That's mother nature's way of trying to give you a hint that you shouldn't be living on that side of town.

Oh lord...is this fight still going on?? I just moved here a couple years ago, so I don't really understand the east/west thing. As far as I'm concerned the west side starts at Rocky River and the east side starts at Beachwood...everything else is Central or south of the city. I can't see any difference from someone in Cleveland Heights versus someone in Lakewood or downtown.

You're quite right, for the most part, but things like rent and parking are vastly different between CH and Lakewood.  And it takes about 1/2 hour to drive between the two, so they offer access to different things.  And while the architecture is similar, the layouts are like yin and yang.  I love the variety.

Brooklyn is ready to allow chickens, if they're quiet

Published: Thursday, October 04, 2012, 9:01 AM

 

BROOKLYN -- If everything goes as planned, council will pass an ordinance at its meeting Oct. 9 making it legal to raise chickens in Brooklyn.

 

Introduced by Councilwoman Colleen Coyne-Gallagher, the ordinance will allow residents to own up to six chickens on a standard residential lot of 4,800 square feet.

 

According to city officials, there are already a number of chicken coops with chickens in the city, but at this time they are illegal.

 

The ordinance will also place restrictions on the types of coops and the sizes of the enclosures allowed on a residential lot.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/brooklyn/index.ssf/2012/10/brooklyn_is_ready_to_allow_chi.html

Some of us like to see the sun every day, instead of always driving away from it :)

Seeing the sun is different than being blinded by it.

It doesn't blind me. I love driving in and having the sun on my face. Different strokes.

That's why sunglasses were made;)

Cant believe we are still talkin about this.  If you have a green thumb and/or like water, there is no better place to live than the near westside!!

 

Live in Shaker Square and take the 15-20 minute drive to the water access.

Cant believe we are still talkin about this.  If you have a green thumb and/or like water, there is no better place to live than the near westside!!

 

Live in Shaker Square and take the 15-20 minute drive to the water access.

Really?  I wonder what liquid is in the Shaker Lakes?  Hummmmmmmmmmmm

MD 20/20? :)

Oh lord...is this fight still going on?? I just moved here a couple years ago, so I don't really understand the east/west thing. As far as I'm concerned the west side starts at Rocky River and the east side starts at Beachwood...everything else is Central or south of the city. I can't see any difference from someone in Cleveland Heights versus someone in Lakewood or downtown.

 

You're a newbie, that's why you don't "get it"!  Where do you live?  You can't see the difference from someone in the Heights vs. Lakewood or Downtown?  Laaaaaaaaaawd!

Thanks surfohio!  That is awesome!  I am watching out for all those sorts of news things.  I am not 100% on how one would keep chickens quiet though... I hope that would be quiet like a dog is quiet (some barking but not all night).  Although the breed of chicken I am looking at right now is known for being fairly quiet.

 

 

Okey dokey... so apparently I need to build a house in the dead center... then I will be on both sides!  haha!

On the topic of houses, is it common to have issues with dampness or water in basements?  I'm a west coaster so I've never actually lived in a house with a basement.  When my dad was alive he lived in a house in Roswell with a bomb shelter and it was a huge hassle because it was damp all the time.  I do love the idea of the extra space though.  I also love that most houses seem to have attics... something else that I didn't grow up with in Hawaii.

 

 

I will keep checking back here but may not post as much as NaNoWriMo is coming up and I need to get working on world building and character profiles.  I also have apparently gone insane because I am going to talk to the after school coordinator to see if they're interested in having me teach writing/NaNo as a class.  (Anyone here who wants a buddy feel free to add me!)

 

 

And thanks again everyone for all your help!

I am doing NaNo as well, but I think I need to just do it with solo discipline.

I like chatting about books as much or more than I like writing.  I also love their forums.  But whatever works for you =)  I wish you luck on your novel!  This is my second year doing NaNo and I am really hoping to "win" this year!

I'm the other way. I like writing more than I like reading. I've read only five novels all the way through but started probably three times as many and never finished them. As soon as I pick up a book and start reading, I say to myself "I can do this at least as well" and start writing something new or trying to finish something I've already started. It doesn't get far as regular ol' work intrudes and snatches my free time back.

 

Oh, and for us west-siders, the sun only gets in your eyes if you're driving AND working downtown or points east. Sometimes I work at home. But when I'm working downtown I'm almost always on the 55 or Red Line.

You need to read better books =)

I've read lots... maybe 2000-3000 books.  Not that all of them were stunning, but maybe 100 or so were phenomenal.  I like writing too but I'm by no means a good writer.  I could probably write one of the poorer novels I've read but do no have the skill to write a phenomenal one... yet.

 

 

As far as the sun goes I'm not really worried.  I was actually trying to be a bit witty saying the best sunrises would be in the east and the best sunsets in the west (since the sun rises in the east and sets in the west) but oh well.  I am more funny in person than online I think.

Re: basements.  They do tend to get a little damp especially in Spring and Fall, but a dehumidifier will take care of the dampness pretty easily.  Also they aren't too expensive and tend to last.  I think we have had ours for 5 years now with no problems.

 

Now regrading water in the basement that is something that hopefully won't happen but certainly can, and is not an easy fix.  Generally they will have to dig out around the foundation of the house and re-seal the wall.  That said it shouldn't be something that happens often.  Just make sure you get a good home inspector before purchasing (usually the banks will require this anyway) as they can point out any flaws.

^One note on that. If you find basement walls that have very recently been painted, there's a good chance they're trying to cover up something.

^One note on that. If you find basement walls that have very recently been painted, there's a good chance they're trying to cover up something.

 

and/or new carpet in the basement.