Council Gardens
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1963 - 2019
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Warm and Inviting in all Seasons

About Council Gardens
Council Gardens provides quality affordable housing and a full array of supportive and life enrichment services for low-to-moderate income senior adults.  Founded in 1962 by the National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section, Council Gardens is the vision of NCJW member Ruth Einstein, who was quoted in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on November 11, 1962: “The dreams and efforts of almost a decade are now being realized.  Our hope and prayer on this day is that Council Gardens will become a worthy model residence for our Senior Citizens.” With NCJW’s financial and volunteer help through the last 54 years, Ruth’s hopes and prayers were answered.
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New Front Entrance Sponsored by NCJW

Zen Garden
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Our new zen garden is located at the North end of the property. It provides a peaceful and welcoming space for tenants to enjoy the outdoors and view our beautiful fruit orchard while sitting under the latticework structure and listening to the calming murmur of a bubbling fountain.

Resident Gardening Project
Council Gardens is situated on seven and a half acres in Cleveland Heights. Our 122 apartment units, located in one midrise and eight garden buildings, are connected by glass-enclosed breezeways alive with plants year round.  Our buildings are surrounded by manicured lawns with benches and trees; by gardens - vegetable, flower, berry, fruit orchard and our new Zen Garden; and by play areas – a small playground for tots, exercise stations for adults, patios with grills and a dog park. Rentals are available for lower income households in which at least one member is 62 years old and for mobility impaired adults under 62. HUD subsidies are available to qualifying adults.
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Planting in One of our Vegetable Gardens
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Fruit Trees in our Orchard Bear Fruit

Board of Trustees Involvement
One of the most unique aspects of Council Gardens is the connection between our tenants, members of our Board and the community.  On any given day you can observe a volunteer from the Board, from NCJW or from our many supporters, teaching a class, leading a discussion or accompanying our tenants on one of our outings.  These dedicated people ensure that every tenant’s needs are being addressed.
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ESL class
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Tenants and Board Celebrate Together

Life Enrichment Activities
While government subsidies provide Council Gardens’ core-operating support, private funds raised though our Friends Campaign and through foundation grants support: ​​holiday celebrations; English and computer literacy classes and tutoring; library groups; day trips and outings such as dance and theater performances, and Severance Hall and Blossom trips; outdoor fitness stations; Zen Garden; healthy breakfasts and brunches; health fairs and blood pressure checks; weekly fresh vegetable and fruit programs; cooking classes; a small convenience store; extensive gardening programs; and an emergency loan program.
Life Enrichment Activities are designed to encourage Healthy Lifestyle Choices.
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Cooking Class in Our Renovated Kitchen
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Day Trip to Chargin Falls
Annual Report​

Support for Life Enrichment Programs
Past and Current Donors to our Friends Campaign
National Council of Jewish Women, Cleveland Section
The Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation
Eva L. And Joseph M. Bruening Foundation
Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Harry K. Fox and Emma R. Fox Charitable Foundation
Jewish Federation of Cleveland Supporting Foundations
The McGregor Foundation

2019-2020 Board of Directors
Ilya Farber – Chair
David Gross – Vice Chair
Larry Schneider – Treasurer
Gretta Ryan – Secretary 
Elaine Geller- NCJW President
 
Julio Pelsmajer – Immediate Past Chair
Becky Chesler –  Past Chair
Aaron Bulloff – Past Chair
Debbie Hoffmann – Past Chair
Linda Friedman
– Past Chair
   
Sue Biaganti
Sandra Boyd
Barbara Epstein
Shelly Friedman
Anya Hodgson
Scott Lepa
Sarah Bennett Lerner
Jamie Lowy
Sue Maier
Larisa Marmerstein
​Annette Paley

Aurelia Pelsmajer
Rita Politzter
Leslie Resnik

Gail Sands
Lewis Sternberg
Louise Sternberg
Hyla Winston

Council Gardens Staff
Barbara Mervine, Executive Director
Larie Goggins, HUD Coordinator
Marina Markovich, Community Relations Coordinator
Sima Kogan, Social Services Coordinator
Reginald McKissick, Director of Maintenance
Brian Ross, Assistant Director of Maintenance
Igor Vorotilkin, Maintenance Technician
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Council Gardens
2501 North Taylor Road, 
Cleveland Heights, Ohio  44118
Phone (216) 382-8625 
Fax (216) 382-5220
Stay in the loop!
Send your email to mmarkovich@councilgardens.org to receive news of special events, invitations to programs and projects, photos of our elevator construction in progress!

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