Report to the Community 2011-2012 - Nature Center at Shaker Lakes

Donor Spotlight
When the Nature Center was being
formed back in the 1960s, John Emerman,
co-owner of The Stone Oven Bakery &
Café, was growing up just a few miles away
in Beachwood. On the other side of the
world, his future wife and business partner,
Tatyana Rehn, was growing up in Russia.
Fate would bring them together some 35
years later to create one of the most popular
eateries in the Heights.
The Stone Oven is a local success story.
After graduating from Connecticut College
with a liberal arts degree, John headed to
Boston and worked in the restaurant business
for several years. He returned to Cleveland
in the early ’80s to complete a second degree
in mechanical engineering at Cleveland
State University. There he met Tatyana, who
had recently immigrated and was likewise
pursuing an engineering career. John and
Tatyana bought a house in the Heights and
raised their children. Tatyana’s passion for
crusty European bread and John’s love of
the café business led them to abandon their
engineering careers and take the plunge into
the scary waters of entrepreneurship. Their
timing couldn’t have been better, as the
artisan bread movement was just taking hold
in this country.
Thus, The Stone Oven Bakery was
born. From its original location at Lee
and Meadowbrook, John and Tatyana
have moved the store to its current, larger
location a few doors down, and have since
opened additional cafés in the Galleria
downtown and at Eton Collection in
Woodmere. Last year, they partnered with
Bridget Thibeault to create Luna, the new
bakery and crepe café at Cedar Fairmount.
Throughout their business careers,
they have maintained a deep loyalty to the
community in which they live and work.
“Keeping these communities alive and vital
and staying connected with neighbors —
that’s really what it’s all about,” says John.
“These days, people value close access
to nature, good restaurants and other
amenities. That’s what makes the Heights
communities a great place to live and do
business.”
John and Tatyana demonstrate their
dedication to the community and green
spaces by being a generous donor to the
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. Several
years ago, they made a commitment to
donate a percentage of each Tuesday’s
sales at The Stone Oven to the Nature
Center — a relationship that is now known
as “Stone Oven Tuesdays.” “We know the
Nature Center,” John said. “We used to
take our kids there when they were young,
and we knew our contributions would be
going to an organization that is good for the
community.”
We at the Nature Center are grateful for
the support of John, Tatyana and The Stone
Oven. We share their commitment to our
community, and we value the partnership
that has evolved. So when you stop by The
Stone Oven (perhaps on Tuesdays!), please
thank John and Tatyana for their support of
the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes!
Volunteer of the Year
This year’s “Volunteer of the Year”
award recipient is Laura C. Gooch. In the
past year, Laura has spent over 30 hours as
a member of the Natural Resources Tree
Subcommittee identifying and tagging ash
trees affected by the Emerald Ash Borer on
the Nature Center property. She has also
provided more than 50 hours of service this
year gathering migratory bird information
through the bird-banding program.
Laura has been an active member
of the Nature Center for many years.
She served on the Board of Directors
for three consecutive three-year terms
ending in 2009. She also served on the
History Committee to celebrate the 40th
anniversary of the Nature Center and was
a charter member of the Natural Resources
and Facilities Committee.
Laura authored The Doan Brook Handbook
in 2001 and has taught courses on issues
surrounding the Doan Brook. She has
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil
engineering, with expertise in environmental
engineering and water resources management,
and she is now serving on the Board of the
Doan Brook Watershed Partnership. She
is an avid birder and photographer and is
often seen around the Nature Center and
Shaker Lakes with her camera and a pair of
binoculars. Congratulations Laura, and thank
you for all you do for the Nature Center!