Mom in C-Town

MAUREEN KYLE, MORNING ANCHOR AT WKYC 3 AND NORTHEAST OHIO NATIVE SHARES WITH US HER LIFE AS A MOM OF THREE GIRLS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF RAISING THEM IN THIS REGION — PLUS, HER INDUCTION INTO THE "MOM SQUAD."

STORY BY Angela Gartner

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Stephanie Mauric

MMaureen Kyle, morning anchor at WKYC 3 is like most moms — juggling it all — work, parenting and home life. However, she wouldn’t do it anywhere else, but here, in Northeast Ohio, where her family roots run deep on the West Side of Cleveland.

Kyle was born in Lakewood, but then raised in Westlake. She said her family originally moved here in the 1800s and her great, great grandfather, a clockmaker, had a foundry in Tremont. Her parents grew up in Parma and Parma Heights, where her grandfather was mayor of Parma Heights.

Her interest in a broadcast news career began with an encounter with a local sportscaster Jim Donovan who was interviewing her father, Chuck Kyle, the head football coach and English teacher at St. Ignatius High School.

“I remember (Donovan) talking to my dad and thinking, ‘this is amazing, this is this guy’s job. He gets to talk to people and then it’s on TV,’” Kyle says. “And from that point on —just with the media being in and out of our lives with my dad’s career — I got exposed to what it entails and how fun it is. I just always felt like this is what I wanted to do and I never had another thought of any other career.”

She went onto college in New York and her first broadcasting job was in Louisville, Ky., but always hoped to come back home. She says “she knocked on doors” in town and the first one opened was WKYC 3, where she has spent much of her career either out in the field or now, in the morning anchor position.

Back on the west side, she and her husband Mark McDougall are raising three daughters — Scarlett, 9, Millie, 7, and Etta, 4.

“We talked about how (Northeast Ohio) has everything all the big cities have, but it’s much more accessible and it’s easier to do everything with the family,” Kyle says. “I think there’s just a whole vibe of Northeast Ohio. The people who are from Northeast Ohio have a great sense of humor, humility and it's still grounded in Midwestern values.”

The family does have a new addition, Buster, a mixed breed puppy. “He is a super mutt, he is like a mix of everything.” Kyle says of Buster, almost 4-months-old and the family’s first dog.

“It has been really adorable,” she says of her three girls' interaction with their new four-legged sibling. “Right now they are pretty excited to have the puppy in the house, especially since the oldest (daughter) has been begging for one for so long. I can see why it’s a good responsibility for kids. Just providing that extra responsibility of having to take care of something other than themselves has also taught them little lessons in selflessness, which I like.”

For the busy, working mom, who gets up early due to her morning shift (when we say early, it means for her, 2:30 a.m.) While she has lots to get done during the day, with the help of Zoom and other technology, it has given her a little more flexibility, but not all the time.

“I always joke, ‘I’m a full-time mom, a full time employee and a part-time sleeper,’” she says. “I have an out-of-the-box schedule, but that is how we’ve really made it work. I have to stick to a list and just stay really on top of the schedule,” adding she writes down her to-do list during commercial breaks. “I always told my husband, ‘it’ll work until it doesn’t and then we’ll figure out what to do.’”

While her girls are in multiple after school activities, the family also spends time enjoying what Northeast Ohio has to offer.

“We just got bikes,” Kyle says.“We’ve been hitting up the bike path and trails. We are also close to Huntington Beach and we are always walking or riding our bikes up there. Cedar Point is huge for my family. We hit up a lot of the museums in the winter months and we are always at the Cleveland Zoo in the summer.”

For Kyle, cooking meals is also important. “I just cook super healthy,” she says. “My mom cooked everything from scratch, I probably make it a lot harder on myself, but that is how I grew up. It’s how I still cook and get meals ready. It’s a lot of meats and vegetables. I also need leftovers. I cook at night so that means I least have lunch prepared the next day with leftovers.”

“I want to show my daughters that if they want to be married, have a family, have a career, that they can do it,” Kyle adds.

In fact, for WKYC’s Mom Squad, that provides expert advice on parenting questions on a talk show streaming on their WKYC+ channel, being parents was the big inspiration for creating the squad.

“We (the staff at WKYC 3) all have kids about the same age and we’re all going through working and raising our kids in a world we didn’t grow up in — (such as) the extra technology, added pressures and more sports and activities than we ever dreamed about at earlier ages,” she says. “I think so many parents are looking for answers, help and guidance, so that's why we called it the squad because you need advice from every angle.”

We asked Maureen Kyle her kids’ favorite go-to meal. She shares a quick and easy weeknight chili, which her family gobbles up no matter what time of year.

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs ground turkey

1 white or yellow onion diced

2 bell peppers diced

1 28 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 15 oz can of petite diced tomatoes

1 15 oz can kidney beans

2 tbsp Chili powder

2 tbsp Cocoa powder

2 tsp Cumin ground

In a large stock pot, saute the diced onion and pepper in olive oil until soft.

Add the ground turkey and cook until it’s browned

Add the cans of tomatoes, kidney beans and spices (chili powder, cocoa and cumin)

Simmer on medium for about 10 minutes. Serve hot.

** Additional notes: I use this recipe when I have about 20 minutes to cook. Sometimes I add black beans instead of kidney beans.

Three

By Margaret Briller

From the Van Sweringens’ architectural standards in Shaker Heights to John D. Rockefeller’s support of Cain Park in Cleveland Heights to John Carroll University’s influence in University Heights, early residents, industrialists, white-collar professionals and academics were often patrons of museums, galleries and theaters in Cleveland, and extended this influence into their communities. These efforts helped to create a rich artistic heritage in the Heights, and neighborhoods like Larchmere and Coventry became known as eclectic, creative hubs.

Within the past few decades, arts-based nonprofits like Heights Arts and Shaker Arts Council formed to grow the impact of art in these communities, and the Shaker Historical Society added the Lissauer Art Gallery to highlight local talent. Today, the Heights are known for diverse and dynamic cultural scenes that benefit residents and visitors alike.

Margaret Briller is a freelance writer in Northeast Ohio.

“When in Cleveland Heights, be sure to check out Heights Arts, Cain Park, Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus, The Grog Shop, and Cedar-Lee Theater just to name a few of the many amazing spaces that make this area home to the arts!” says Tom Masaveg, program manager for Heights Arts.

Bike Shaker

“Welcome to Shaker Heights” Bike Tour on Saturday, June 17, will take riders to significant sites related to Shaker Heights history. This ride is great for families, especially new residents. More information can be found at: shakerhistory.org/bikeshaker

Make Like... All-Ages Art Kit

Ever seen a work of art and wished you could make it yourself? These craft kits will help you do just that. In celebration of Viktor Schreckengost, an industrial designer, teacher, sculptor and artist, the library is giving away supplies to make art like his signature style. Kits will be available starting Thursday, June 1, while supplies last. Registration is appreciated but not required. All ages are encouraged to participate. Noble Neighborhood branch of Heights Libraries. heightslibrary.org

This Art is for the Birds Summer Art Camp

This series of weekend family workshops run June 12-July 23 at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus in Cleveland Heights. There are also week-long multidisciplinary Arts Camps for half-day or full-day options for grades 4-6 and 7-10. Registration and fee required (sibling discounts available). All sessions led by professional artists, playwrights, poets, musicians and dancers including Robin VanLear, creator of Parade the Circle. artfulcleveland.org

Mobius

Mobius is a growing network of parents, teachers, community members and volunteers raising funds and providing educational programs in performing and visual arts and sciences for all Cleveland Heights-University Heights kindergarten through eighth grade students. Examples of the artist residencies, art activities, science enrichment, and capital improvements include art kit for kindergartners, Lego Mindstorms, ballroom dance, batik, papermaking and puppetry. mobiuschuh.org/events

Coventry P.E.A.C.E Park

(People Enhancing a Child’s Environment) Park was built in 1993 by students, parents and other members of the Cleveland Heights community. The park has been a favorite of children and parents alike and was voted the best place to take your kids in both 2008 and 2009. The name “Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus” is derived from this organization and now stands for “People Enhancing a Community’s Environment.” Located at 2843 Washington Blvd. in Coventry.

Found Object Art Walks

Join visiting artists from Art House to create works of art inspired by exploration of your neighborhood. Each participant will search for items to create one-of-a-kind art pieces, and the series will include multiple art styles, from two-dimensional to small three-dimensional sculptures with materials chosen by participants. No previous art skills are needed, bring your creativity and imagination! Ages 6-11. First session is Thursday, June 29, 4-5:30 p.m. Check heightslibrary.org for registration and more dates. Lee Road Library Branch, Children’s Garden.

Shaker Dig 9 Day Camp

Shaker Historical Society’s 9th annual archaeological camp starts the week of July 10-14. This hands-on brings kids in second through fifth grade up close with archaeological finds from Northeast Ohio and around the world. Kids can create their own artifacts, too, all on the grounds of the SHS. Registration and fee required. shakerhistory.org.

By Faith Boone