Getting To Know You

What an elusive character this Kris Kringle is. I first met up with him in 1964. Actually my earliest memory, that is. Living in a brownstone on E. 72, my parents were gone all day long. The weather was extremely cold and my Uncle Ray was watching my sister and me, until my parents returned home, from wherever it was they were at. After watching the Flintstones on the black and white that evening, we were ushered into bed and told that, when we woke up, something magical would happen.

So, of course there was no way that we were ever going to get to sleep! That was when my Uncle Ray read my sister and me, "Twas The Night Before Christmas."

I have no memory of falling asleep, but I did remember the part of the jolly old man, Kris Kringle and his eight tiny reindeers. When my sister and I woke up, something magical had happened. Kris had paid a visit to E. 72, for in the living room was one of the most beautiful Christmas trees my sister and I had ever laid eyes on. After that year, we would chase the entire year away knowing that Dec. 25th would be here and Kris Kringle would return, and that for just one night, something magical could happen.

So now my crazy historic side has taken over and I really do want to know, where did Kris Kringle come from??

This information is from "The Historic St. Charles, Missouri Christmas Traditions":

Kris Kringle is of German and American descent. The figure of Santa Claus first begins to show up among the Pennsylvania Dutch in the mid 1820's in the form of Kris Kringle, or as he was also known, "Belsnickle". Belsnickle is a derivative of the German, "Pelz-nickle," which means "Nicholas in Furs."

Belsnickle would travel the Pennsylvania countryside ringing his bell looking for good children to give out his small gifts of cakes and nuts to. If Belsnickle came across a child who had not been behaving in the past year, he would warn the child to be good or else he might give them a smack with his rod.

How ironic that I met Jerry Schmidt about 4 years ago at the Arts Collinwood Gallery on Waterloo; we both grew up in Mentor Headlands, attended Mentor High School (that's right the school with the bullying issues) Shore Jr. High and pretty much knew the same people in Mentor but really never knew each other till about 4 years ago.

Tami Deuschle is one of the most entertaining persons I have had the privilege of knowing. Her vivaciousness, tenacity and zest for life is infectious and very exciting, but I am cautious, she is not meek or mild in any way shape or form and I write that with her spirit in mind!

Tami grew up in Twinsburg, and currently lives in North Collinwood. She and I both moved on the same street only months apart from each other, and we have been friends ever since. She is 40something, has no children, but did rescue a female Doberman named Pinkey. Lake Erie is what drew Tami to this area, she enjoys gardening, projects at home, suntanning, reading, shopping, sailing and hanging out with friends and family.

I met Sarah Taylor on a beautiful Friday evening, at the Cafe at Arts Collinwood. Her energy and enthusiasm is infectious, along with her attitude and disposition. She is a single mother of an 11-month-old little boy, Rory James Taylor, and is 38 years old. 

As part of the revamping efforts at the Cafe at Arts Collinwood, Sarah, as of January, 2010, has been given the assignment of manager. To date, those revamping efforts have produced consistency and availability of product, along with improving methods of operation. In the future, Sarah noted, the Cafe would like to meet the needs of the neighborhood by providing delicious lunches and dinners at an affordable price. They also like to help start the day off right with coffee and pastries, have an excellent wine list, encourage more craft fairs, and first, and foremost, provide a gathering place for the neighborhood.  

I first met Laura Robinson about ten years ago at an E. 185th Street Merchant Meeting. She is a force to be reckoned with: fun, vivacious, and full of positive energy! Laura owns, and operates Helping Hands Day Care on E. 185th Street. She currently resides, for the last 21 years, in Euclid, has 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and a beloved dog, Corkey. At the day care, she and her staff of six employees, manage about 50 children daily.

Along with a very busy family and work schedule, Laura finds time to volunteer for the E.185th Street Merchant, Professional and Development Association, as Vice President. She, with the help of Northeast Shores Development Association, brought back small events in order to market the street as alive and thriving, in a struggling economy. Breakfast with Santa, Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Alive on 185! are among her greatest successes.

Frank Macuga is the most likable person there is, salt of the earth personality, always smiling, friendly, quick conversationalist and just genuinely warm. Or at least I hope so, you see Frank is the crossing guard at Lakeshore and E. 200th Street. So you would have to encompass all of those traits especially when the cold winter weather hits.

Joe and Cookie Morgan are as Irish a couple as you get here in Collinwood! Both were born and raised here, Joe Morgan was born in 1943, and raised on E 146 and Idarose, both parents directly from Ireland. He attended St. Joe grade school and St. Joes High School, class of '61. Cookie was born Cookie Pankuch, she grew up on E.146 and St. Clair, attended E. Clark and Collinwood High School, class of '71.

While not a real person, Cupid was the God of Love to ancient Romans, and many Italians believed in his powers. Even in the modern world, references to Cupid and his bow and arrows of love are found everywhere on Valentine’s Day.

Kathy Galgczy, of Bakers Candies, is the epitome of what is good in Collinwood. Bakers Candies originally started in 1921 on Lexington and 55th, moved to Collinwood in 1946, at 1613 Holmes Ave., and has been a Collinwood business ever since. In 1995, they opened up a satellite store in Willoughby Hills on Chardon Rd. The business spans three generations in the Collinwood area, and their main plant still remains on Holmes Ave.

Recently, the family business decided to create a fundraiser for the Cleveland Food Bank, selling solid chocolate hippopotamuses, inspired by the Christmas song, "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas." 

I met Mike Karban on a journey, one I hope will never end. Mike is my personal trainer at Miller Athletic Club, located at 669 E. 185th Street. By now, most everyone in Cleveland has read ,or heard about the physical condition of Clevelanders, from staggering statistics that Cleveland is one of the most obese cities in the nation, or to Coby Cosgroves remarks on the subject.  I am one of those statistic, and have been fighting this fight for decades. Up until recently I had not been fighting very well, but with Mike's training, there is hope.

Rowan Martin moved here about a year ago because, as she would say, "I guess you can call it a family tradition." Rowan is a direct relation to the McPhillips Plumbing Heating and Cooling Service, located on Waterloo Road. Since she showed up, she found one of the greatest places on earth for Saturday morning hoops, The Salvation Army?? She started writing stats for the kids at the Salvation Army's basketball league ,with screaming people at every other buzzer. She coached tee-ball, and during the summer, there's a good chance you will see her at Humphrey's Field, playing 'Kobe time' with the kids.

Getting to Know You
is a column designed for the Collinwood Observer reader to get to know their neighbor or
local business owner.
Submissions for this column can be directed to
Susan Brandt, Column Editor
gettingtoknow@collinwoodobserver.com

The column will feature a brief bio on the person with who they are and what they do in our neighborhood.

We look forward to hearing from the readers, for their input and suggestions.