Mayfield Alliance Celebrates Groundhog Day

The Mayfield Alliance, a nonprofit business group supporting the school district, had a success on its hands with the new format for its annual Groundhog Day event.

"Conversation & Cocktails" drew about 200 people to and an audience poll indicated it was preferred to the traditional breakfast gathering.

As usual, the focus was on the district and its member communities, with Superintendent Phillip Price moderating a discussion with Mayor Gregory Costabile, Mayor Shawn Riley, Mayor Scott Coleman and Mayor Bruce Rinker.

Mayors were about exciting developments in their city, with Costabile outlining energy conservative efforts and a rain garden adding up to about $750,000 in projects being paid with grants.

Coleman talked about property next to city hall being developed as a community gathering place, while Rinker mentioned that the new library will break ground on SOM Center Road this year.

"The most exciting thing to happen in our village in the past year was when our dam broke," Riley said, adding that funds were being raised to build another. "Please make your check out to 'people who give a dam,'" he quipped.

Price also asked mayors what they would like to do if money was no object. Costabile had two wishes, one was to address all storm water management issues and the other was to develop a place along Mayfield Road that could provide recreation for people of all ages and serve as a downtown.

That answer was echoed by Riley and Coleman. Riley said the Gates Mills community center is starting to show its age, while Coleman said a downtown area would be nice in Highland Heights. But Coleman also wished for higher ground so there would be no more storm water issues.

Rinker took a less serious approach to the subject. "I'd like to have a council that would fund every project I want when I want it," he said.

Price answered the same question regarding the district and said he'd like to have certified teachers providing early childhood education for ages 3 to 5.

Mayfield Alliance President Charles Klass presented the annual Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt Award to Price, who is retiring this summer, for his efforts on behalf of the district.

The program concluded with celebrity groundhog Mary Beth Mack of proclaiming that spring has arrived and there will not be six more weeks of winter.