Cleveland Heights is working to attract new businesses to the city and provide established merchants with resources and loans so that they succeed.

Rocked by a pair of senseless tragedies, Cedar Lee merchants say they can't remember a sadder year. Yet they say their community has been painted in an unfair light. Crime is down overall, many merchants are thriving and street improvements are in the works.

The Cleveland Heights Police Department has long had a reputation for doling out too many speeding and parking tickets, but new leadership is partnering with businesses and making community policing a focus.

The Browns have one of the largest fan bases in the NFL, with Backers groups spread across the globe. It's a vast pigskin-loving Cleveland diaspora out there, one that's found something to cheer about this season.

Whether you life on the east side or west side, there are plenty of opportunities this weekend to explore new neighborhoods and try new things. Learn to swing dance, try a new beer and visit a museum you’ve never been to for free -- it's all within an arm's reach.

The much-maligned traffic circle at East 105th and MLK Jr. Drive has been completely redeveloped and is now open to vehicle traffic. Fresh Water first reported on these planned improvements two and a half years ago.

"This traffic circle has one of the highest rates of vehicular accidents in the region -- they're mostly fender benders, because people are just confused by it," Chris Bongorno, Director of Planning with University Circle Incorporated (UCI), told us at the time. "The new configuration will definitely be more pedestrian and bike friendly, and will also help to connect people to Rockefeller Park and University Circle."

According to a press release from Cuyahoga County, which invested in the project along with the City of Cleveland, the $7.2 million infrastructure project "modified an existing roadway network at East 105^th Street, MLK Boulevard, Mt. Sinai Drive, East Boulevard, and Jeptha Drive. An existing roundabout was eliminated and the remaining roadways geometrically realigned."
 
Mt. Sinai was moved south of its previous location, while Jeptha Drive was moved north. Meanwhile, East 105th Street was widened and now includes turning lanes. Finally, MLK Jr. Boulevard has been widened and realigned, and East Boulevard has been extended.

Additional improvements include new sidewalks, paths and the reconstruction of the Cancer Survivor Plaza. A new bio swale will have over 4,000 shrubs and perennials, apparently.
 
The project is pedestrian- and bike-friendly. A pedestrian boardwalk will serve to connect East 105th Street to MLK Jr. Blvd.

There are still a few items to be ticked off the completion list, including installation of the shrubs and perennials, permanent pavement markings and permanent traffic signals.

Fresh Water is taking a break next week to give our staff time off to celebrate Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. We are grateful for all of our devoted readers and wish you all a wonderful holiday. We'll be back with a new issue December 4.