This Inspiring Story Brought to You by Grape-Nuts

Athlete's Disappointment Does Not Stop Her From Helping Ugandans Access Clean Drinking Water

Last summer, Beth O’Kain set out to be the first person to row across Lake Erie, and to provide clean drinking water for orphans in Uganda. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary's historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains. Last summer, Beth O’Kain planned to attempt the 55-mile row from Cleveland to Rondeau Provincial Park in Canada without taking any breaks. She had already rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, the 33rd American to do so.  The trip was expected to take about 16 hours. Sadly, a medical setback prevented her from the historic rowing attempt. She said she felt ready to take on the Lake Erie row, but was advised to postpone the trip, which prevented her from taking advantage of the short weather window. Lake Erie’s …

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Top Stories of 2012

No. 3 Top Story of 2012: Hurricane Sandy Smacks Lake Erie, Shaker Lakes

Don't miss some of the most stellar photos from the superstorm that hit Cleveland Heights earlier this year.

Dubbed early on as "Frankenstorm," Superstorm Sandy rolled through Ohio in late October leaving many without power, causing major damage and making for some great pictures on the lakefront. Read the No. 3 most-read story of 2012: Hurricane Sandy Storm at Lake Erie, Shaker Lakes Editors from Cleveland Heights Patch, Beachwood Patch and Avon Lake Patch stopped by Shaker Lakes, the Cleveland Lakefront State Park and Veterans Park to see how Hurricane Sandy was impacting our local waters. Waves crashed on the rocks and seagulls huddled on the ground as the winds became stronger late Monday afternoon.

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LOOK: Hurricane Sandy Storm at Lake Erie, Shaker Lakes

Add your photos of Hurricane Sandy's local effects here.

Editors from Cleveland Heights Patch, Beachwood Patch and Avon Lake Patch stopped by Shaker Lakes, the Cleveland Lakefront State Park and Veterans Park to see how Hurricane Sandy was impacting our local waters. Waves crashed on the rocks and seagulls huddled on the ground as the winds became stronger late Monday afternoon. Browse our photos above and click "Upload Photos and Videos" to add your own shots of local damage from Hurricane Sandy. The hurricane is expected to bring strong winds to all of Northeast Ohio for a roughly 24-hour period beginning this evening. More coverage: Hurricane Sandy in Northeast Ohio

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Shaker Council Approves Grant Applications for Lakes to Lakes Project

Shaker's portion of the regional trail would be a 0.6-mile path along Fairhill Road

Shaker Heights City Council on Monday gave the planning department permission to seek grants to pay for the city's role in a five-mile trail that would extend from Interstate 271 in Beachwood to Lake Erie in Cleveland. Council granted the city's planning department blanket authorization to apply for grants to pay for its part of the Lakes to Lakes Trail — a 0.6-mile path along Fairhill Road. The city will seek matching funds to help design and construct the multipurpose Lakes to Lakes, which would stretch across Shaker, Cleveland Heights and Cleveland. Shaker's path will connect to Cleveland's trail, near the city line on East 127th Street. On the Shaker path's east side, it will connect to the Cleveland Heights North Park trail near the …

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Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights Seek Money To Complete Lake to Lakes Trail

The cities, in conjunction with the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, will apply for funding to complete the plan to link Lake Erie with the Shaker Lakes.

Work on the Lake to Lakes Trail, a plan to connect Lake Erie to Shaker Lakes through Rockefeller Park and University Circle, is already under way. One of the next steps is to acquire money to construct the portion outside of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Heights City Council started that process at its regular meeting Monday night. Cleveland Heights City Council members authorized Susanna Niermann O’Neil, acting city manger, to apply for funding under the federal Transportation Enhancements Program in conjunction with the City of Shaker Heights and the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency. O’Neil said Shaker Heights asked that Cleveland Heights join in this effort. If the grant is awarded, the city will provide matching funds at 20 …

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Garry Kanter

12:24 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012

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