A Pledge

7.05-7.12.06

A Pledge

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Ingenuity Mixer 7/13 Get tix here before they go up at midnight 7/7
* Access:Cleveland video interview with BioEnterprise President Baiju Shah
* Win a video iPod by inviting a friend to join Cool Cleveland here
* A & Q w/ G David Akers of the Northeast Ohio Sourcing Office
* Cool Cleveland Responding to Roldo’s Selling Selves Out…
* RoldoLINK Give me $250K, I’ll explain later
* Cool Cleveland Reads Dealing: The Cleveland Indians New Ballgame
* Cool Cleveland Kids podcast click here, CC podcast click here, CC Blog click here

Trust builds slowly, from one small promise kept to another small committment honored. Our region is starting to build trust, especially between our hundreds of tiny municipalities. Check below for the “no poaching” pledge that is in the news this week, and read the Commentary and interview with David Akers, who has some ideas on how the region can pledge trust, then send us your thoughts on how you think the region can best work together.

Trust us when we suggest you get your tix now for the CC Ingenuity Mixer on 7/13, which includes a comp ticket to Cleveland’s coolest Fest, along with open bar & food; you’ll never see a deal like this again. Listen, like a lot of venture capitalists do, to BioE president Baiju Shah as he explains Cleveland’s unique model for kick-starting new companies in our health-tech sector. We’ve got a good book review of a good book by ABJ’s Terry Pluto on our baseball team, a passel of excellent letters from CC readers, and our picks of great things to do this week. That’s our pledge to you: pointing out the excellence in Cleveland and beyond, every week. We promise. –Thomas Mulready

Cross your heart?
Cool Cleveland Ingenuity Mixer
New low price until Thu 7/7 midnight here!

We promise you won’t find a better offer than this, which includes all you can eat and drink and a ticket to the Ingenuity Festival. Pledge to be with us at Fat Fish Blue on Thur 7/13 and pick your Cool Cleveland/Ingenuity party time slot: 5-7PM or 7-9PM (separate admissions). Start with open bar beer & wine, then add a complete Louisiana-style buffet with spicy Cajun hors d’oeuvres that include jambalaya, chicken, andouille sausage gumbo, cornbread, sweet potato chips, mini crab cakes with cajun mayo, delta dip with black tortilla chips, praline chicken tenders with Jack Daniel’s sauce, southern fried pickles, beignets and cheesecake bites! You’ll be glad you promised to check out Lounge Kitty followed by the acoustic vibe of Kristine Jackson and Basically Blue, playing all night.

Then we promise you a comp ticket to the Ingenuity Festival of Art & Technology ($10 value), which includes: “Circumference Cycles,” wild sound created with electrified bowls by Pittsburgh artists at 7PM, and at 7:30 witness The Northcoast Jazz Collective, one of the best jazz groups in Cleveland. At 9PM see the Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, the first professionally established contemporary dance company in Northeast Ohio, and at 9:30 see “An Evolution of Light” multimedia synesthesia by Ohio’s most innovative ensemble, SAFMOD. Or, use your comp ticket later in the Fest. All this at one incredible price, if you score your tix online before midnight Thu 7/7 here.

We make this pledge Sign up at 5PM or 7PM at Fat Fish Blue at the corner of Prospect and Ontario downtown (see map here), then grab your comp ticket to the fabulous Ingenuity Festival ($10 value), happening right outside FFB as they shut down Prospect Avenue so Cleveland can party. Get your Tix online before midnight 7/7 for your best deal here.

Do the right thing, by your friends, and anyone else you wanna party with. At this price, bring ’em all!
https://CoolCleveland.net/tickets/071306/index.php

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Why Watch Reruns on TV when you can be out enjoying sunshine, live music, great food and amazing artwork? Discover the only free outdoor concert in town every Wednesday evening this summer at WOW! Wade Oval Wednesdays, presented by National City. This is the entertainment you, your family and friends have been looking for. Keep your Fourth of July holiday going strong on Wed 7/5 with our first lunchtime and evening concert-combo, featuring Councilman Conwell and Footprints from 11:30AM-1:30PM, and Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band from 5:30PM-7:30PM. On Wed 7/12, put on your dancing shoes and get ready to swing to the sounds of Blue Lunch. For more information call 216-707-5033 or visit www.universitycircle.org.
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Access:Cleveland
Baiju Shah
BioEnterprise President
Movies Behind the Scenes

BioEnterprise Initiative is responsible for creating and accelerating over 45 tech-med companies in our region, generating over $255 million in new funding, and nailing 150 tech transfer deals. What’s next for BioEnterprise? Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready spoke on camera with BioE president Baiju Shah about the innovative BioE funding model, and how they inspire collaborations between groups like the Cleveland Clinic, Summa HealthCare, University Hospitals, and CWRU, just in time for the National Institutes of Health conference, right here in Cleveland for the very first time, on 7/12-13. Click the link and watch the movie.

MOVIE BioEnterprise President Baiju Shah (PC) (Mac)

We Know You’re Cool, Got Any Cool Friends? If so, please introduce us and each of you will be eligible to win a Video iPod compliments of Cool Cleveland. No purchase necessary. Enter as many friends as you wish. The more friends you enter, the greater your chances of winning. Sign up by going here.

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Stunning Be the first to preview Herbert Ascherman, Jr.’s exhibit on Fri 7/7, 6 to 9PM, at the Western Reserve Historical Society, before it opens to the public. “Cleveland, America!” embodies 110 stunning platinum portraits of places and faces in Greater Cleveland. Ascherman is internationally recognized for his black and white and platinum portraiture of photographs of people in creative, commercial and social settings. Tickets are $30, including a reception with beer, wine and light refreshments. Help support the Historical Society, groove to the deviant cabaret sounds of “Lounge Kitty,” meet the artist, and learn his secrets to light, shadow, subject and timing. Norton Gallery. For tickets call 216.721.5722 x 320. Reservations recommended. Some tickets available at the door on Fri 7/7. For more info contact www.WRHS.org.
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NewsLinks

  • I pledge not to poach Enticing companies to stay in the region is great, but not when it pits one community against another, offering tax incentives that undercut school funding. But our hundreds of tiny municipalities aren’t going to merge overnight, and they’re not going to cooperate without a good reason. Columbus forced their suburbs to merge before they ran them water. It’s too late for that here, but Mayor Frank Jackson has done the next best thing: offered to fix and maintain the billions of dollars of antiquated water and sewer infrastructure in the suburbs, if they all take a pledge not to poach. He’s even agreed to a tax split with Independence when they get the Cavs new practice facility, formerly at The Q in Downtown. See stories here and here, that cynically list failures to cooperate, rather than stressing the productive and groundbreaking talks between communities that have heated up in recent months. And what do you think? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
  • Viktor in USA Today Read more here.
  • Why Buy the Cow When You Can Get the Milk For Free? That’s right, the best way to go to Ingenuity free is to volunteer at the Cool Cleveland booth. You will help sign people up for the CC e-letter, sell t-shirts and partake in the general merriment of CC volunteerism. Laughing is encouraged, but strictly optional. Pick a shift that works best for your schedule and bring a bud because volunteering with friends is more fun. Here are your options: Fri July 14th 3:00PM-7:00PM, one person needed. Sun July 16th 3:00PM-7:00PM, one person needed; Sun July 16th 7:00PM-10:00PM, two people needed. Email tl@coolcleveland.com with your availability. We need You!
  • A Place For Us in Ohio City The $30 million, 250-unit condo planned in the Warehouse District to accomodate elderly gay, lesbian, bi- and tranny folks has been scaled back and moved to W. 28th & Detroit in Ohio City. A Place For Us Development, Inc., the non-profit group building the project now plans for a $15 million 57-unit complex. Since most assisted living facilities discriminate against same-sex couples, the group is still looking for input at http://www.APlace4Us.org on their condos which will sell for $160K to $250K. See story here. Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
  • Cool Cleveland Podcast Cool things to do this week in Cleveland, at the click of a button. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolCleveland07.07.06.mp3. Don’t forget, you can subscribe to this podcast by saving this link in your favorite program that catches podcasts.

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Tour Our Homes . . . and see why The Courtyards of Severance is the most sought after new home construction in Cleveland Heights. Five award-winning floor plans, liberating maintenance-free living, tax abatement, exquisite designer-quality finishes, a short commute to University Circle and Downtown, green space, minutes from restaurants, entertainment & shopping, . . . the list goes on and on. On Mayfield Road between Warrensville Center and South Taylor Roads, The Courtyards of Severance is open Saturdays through Wednesdays, 1PM – 5PM, and by appointment. Visit www.TheCourtyardsOfSeverance.com for more information.
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NewsLinks

  • Disingenuous X 2 Norm Roulet’s blog http://www.RealNEO.us doesn’t pull punches as it examines the world of economic development in Northeast Ohio. He comments here on Nancy Lesic’s obvious conflicts of interest, glossed over by our daily here, and takes Community Partnership for Arts & Culture president Tom Shorgl to task here for his comments here, giving developer Bob Stark the credit that his own landlord, developer David Perkowski deserves for creating arts-economy projects Tower Press and Hyacinth Lofts, as Stark woos the Beck Center from Lakewood to his Crocker Park faux-Downtown in Westlake. What about that pledge not to poach? Your thoughts? Letters@CoolCleveland.com.
  • Celebrating Success Conference Feeling like the Rodney Dangerfield of the small business world? Here’s your chance to nominate yourself for an award and let others know about your great organization. This conference was created to transform the Northeast Ohio region by acknowledging and rewarding the small businesses who have creatively identified new markets and opportunities and overcome the challenges of a new economy. Nominate your company by the Mon 7/31 deadline and attend the conference on 11/2 from 8AM to 1:30PM at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Visit http://www.neobusinessconference.org/ to learn more.
  • To ensure you receive Cool Cleveland every week, take a moment now and add CoolCleveland@CoolCleveland.com to your address book, trusted sender list, or corporate white list.
  • Arts Prize announces winners The board of the Cleveland Arts Prize officially announced the recipients of the 2006 Cleveland Arts Prize. Honorees, Ryan Lott, Composer, Emerging Artist; John Nottingham & John Spirk, Industrial Designers, Mid-career Artists; Andrew Borowiec, Photographer, Mid-career Artists; Dianne McIntyre, Choreographer, Lifetime of Achievement and Harvey Pekar, Writer, Lifetime of Achievement, will be recognized Fri 7/7 at Public Square, preceding the annual no-cost family concert by the Cleveland Orchestra. Those in attendance will be introduced to the Arts Prize winners and their work via a video presentation shown on giant screens at 8:30PM. The awards will be presented to the artists at a ticketed ceremony and reception in the English Oak Room beginning at 5:30PM. You can purchase tickets for the ticketed event at http://www.ClevelandArtsPrize.org.
  • First Wi-Fi city is Anaheim Read more here.
  • Ohio City safety First Downtown taxes themselves $3 million/year to create the Clean & Safe Program, hiring safety ambassadors to walk the Downtown streets. Now four Ohio City businesses are pitching in to hire 2 off-duty police officers to walk the beat around the West Side Market during late night hours. Congrats to Sam McNulty, owner of McNulty’s Bier Markt, Jeff Allison, owner of the Garage Bar, Alex Gleason, owner of the Old Angle, and Mike Roman, owner of the ABC Tavern, for their initiative. Why not pop in for a drink at one of these fine establishments, and toast the owners. These are the heroes of the neighborhood, and hopefully the rest of the community will follow suit. http://www.OCNW.org.
  • Cool Cleveland Kids 10-year-old Cool Cleveland correspondent Max Mulready scours the Internets looking for a few good events to recommend. Hear his short podcast here even if you don’t have special software. If you’re a whiz kid, you can download it to your iPod or your computer and listen with your own kid. Check below to see the events tagged CC KIDS under Cool Cleveland This Week for our recommendations for a fantastic family week. http://www.coolcleveland.com/files/audio/CoolClevelandKids07.07.06.mp3. Adding this link to your program that catches podcasts, will keep you up-to-date on the latest audio.

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With Poetry by the “Tech Czar” You read that right. One of the features of this year’s Bloggapalooza is the City of Cleveland’s Michael DeAloia reading from his soon-to-be released collection of poems. Plenty of other things to enjoy on Sat 7/22 between 2-10PM @ The Town Fryer. Listen to bands like Woodshed Mercy and Crookneck Chandler and the Tibbee Bottom Boys, enjoy deep fried Oreos, free WiFi and the opportunity to chat with some of the leaders they’ve interviewed. Maybe Paul Hackett will show up? Click here for details.
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Emissions from the blogsphere Tech Link is going on hiatus because Henry Gomez will be covering real estate. SnogAsh points out that she’s “never had a problem walking around at night, but at 11:30 on a Saturday morning I’m forced to pretend another house is my home so Norman the Stone-Washed Crack Dealer doesn’t find out where I live.” Heather wonders why people break glass on bike paths. John Green of Akron’s Bliss Institute of Applied Politics is interviewed by Meet.The.Bloggers*. Mike’s blog is named the best gourmand blog by VegNews. Check the Cool Cleveland weblog here where Peter Chakerian toasts local Ohio City businesses taking “Clean & Safe” to the next level and gets excited about the Ingenuity and Bloggapalooza. When you’re done, add your own comments, questions and attitude. Letters@CoolCleveland.com.


Cool Cleveland This Week

6.28-7.05

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Transformations & Meditations An exhibit highlighting the work of Northeast Ohio artists, Susan Danko, Andrea Joki, and Hui-Chu Ying, will be on display in Cleveland Clinic’s main campus H lobby Wed 7/5 through 10/3. Through their work, the artists explore ideas about the synthetic, organic and spiritual worlds and how they bridge from one area of interest to another, crossing real and imagined environments. Call 297-8941. Cleveland Clinic’s main campus H lobby.

The Buddy Holly Story is a rockin’-boppin’ musical revue of the 1950’s icon who reshaped the face of rock-and-roll. Set to an irresistible score of 20 rockabilly hits including “Maybe Baby,” “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be The Day…”. The show highlights the singer’s soaring rise to fame, his young marriage and breakup with longtime band, the Crickets and recreates two memorable Buddy Holly concerts, including the Crickets appearance as the first white act ever to appear at the Apollo Theatre and his final gig in Iowa before his fatal plane crash in 1959. The show runs from Wed 7/5 through 9/2. Get tickets at www.CarouselDinnerTheatre.com. Carousel Dinner Theatre, 1275 E. Waterloo Road, Akron.

The Cabaret Craze at Cain Park Back Where We Started, with Christine & Patrick Janson, will be the first of three Alma cabaret events happening within the first week of July. They will be joined by special guest composer and pianist Larry Kass for an evening of Broadway songs on Wed 7/5 at 7:30PM. Cynthia O’Connell returns to the Alma stage with her illustrious pianist Mark Graham the following evening, Thu 7/6 at 7:30PM. Their show includes songs by Gershwin, Bernstein, Bolcom, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and other familiar classics and Broadway tunes in an evening titled Simply Cynthia. I’m Just Saying, with Adina Bloom and John Jensen, examines the intricacies of communication in the wacky world of relationships on Sun 7/9. Call 371-3000 or visit Ticketmaster for tickets. Alma Theater, Cain Park.

Recent Graduate Works The work of local artist and Cleveland Institute of Art grad, Natalie Lanese, was featured at both Newsense and Buzz Galleries last summer. See what she has in store this year as she reveals her current body of work featuring collaged images of interior patterns, advertising models and appealing items of consumerist culture beginning with the opening reception on Thu 7/6 from 5:30-8:30PM. Art in the Village at 5700 Gallery, 5700 Broadway, Slavic Village.

HOT PICK FILF Underground literature comes into the light as The Underground Literary Alliance presents The F Independent Literary Festival (FILF) Thur 7/6 at 7PM through Sat 7/8 in prime locations throughout Cleveland. Schmooze with the illustrious and the unknowns of the zine world as ULA zinesters from around the country join with Cleveland area writers and musicians to perform and mingle. Check out the incredible list of plays and review the complete schedule and location guide at http://www.wredfright.com/filf.html.

Early Morning Walk at Stan Hywet Staff will lead participants through the landscaped gardens and grounds of this magnificent historic house museum and country estate for a look at what is blooming on Thu 7/6 from 7:30-8:30AM. Call 330-315-3287 or visit http://www.StanHywet.org for required reservations. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, Akron.

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CIM Heads South for the Summer! It’s cooled down at the Cleveland Institute of Music, but it’s heating up at our summer home at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson. ENCORE School for Strings, a six-week program in which faculty work with gifted students from all over the world, is well underway. Hear these talented musicians at one of many student recitals. Plus don’t miss special Blue Ribbon concerts by ENCORE alumni, faculty and renowned guest artists. All concerts are free and are going on now through Sat 8/5. Visit www.cim.edu for a complete schedule. Did you know? CIM is 1 of only 8 independent music conservatories in the U.S. with an annual economic impact of $90 million on Ohio.
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The Great Mohican Indian Pow-Wow More than 30 top Native American artisans will display their pottery, bead work, knife making, silver smithing, antler works, quill working, fur trading, silverwork, storytellers and more on Fri 7/7 from 10AM to 7PM, Sat 7/8 from 10AM to 9:30PM and Sun 7/9 from 10AM to 7PM. Call 800-766-2267 for admission info or visit http://www.MohicanPowWow.com. Mohican Reservation Camp Ground, 23270 Wally Road South, Loudonville.

Buena Vista Social Club Follow legendary, but forgotten, Cuban musicians on their return to the spotlight on Fri 7/7 at 7PM, during the Lakewood Library Films on Friday. Call 226-8275 or visit www.LakewoodPublicLibrary.com to learn more. Lakewood Public Library Main Branch Auditorium, 15425 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood.

Rock The Lock & Reggae Fest Rock The Lock, a no-cost family concert on Fri 7/7 at 7PM, features the Cletus Black Revue with their unique blend of rock-n-roll, blues and country of the 50s and 60s and the Bob Seger tribute band, The System, will churn out powerful renditions of all your favorite radio hits. Then come back on Sat 7/8 at 7PM for the low-cost Day of Reggae festival featuring two of Ohio’s most dynamic live reggae acts, Seefari and The Ark Band plus Reggae icon, Mikey Dread. Akron. Get directions at www.DestinationDowntownAkron.

Hip Hop Boot Camp Hip Hop hits the Playhouse Square on full throttle with the Hip Hop Boot Camp Fri 7/7and Sat 7/8. Explore Hip Hop culture with Dance, Rap, DJ and Graffiti Art exposed for your learning pleasure. Register at www.PlayhouseSquare.com or call 771-4444 ext. 3338 for more information. Idea Center at Playhouse Square, 1375 Euclid Avenue.

HOT PICK Cleveland Orchestra Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert and Festival Assistant Conductor James Gaffigan will lead the Orchestra during one of Cleveland’s favorite annual events – this year on Fri 7/7 at 9PM. This no-cost community concert features soprano Measha Brueggergosman in her Cleveland Orchestra debut, as soloist in “America the Beautiful” and Gershwin works. The pre-concert festival, in conjunction with the 2006 Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology, kicks off at 4PM and will feature local faves like Grupo Brasil, Halim el Dabh, Joe Hunter’s Swinging Six and the Get Hep Dancers, Cats on Holiday and The Prayer Warriors. The work of video artist Kasumi will be displayed on the Jumbotron during the pre-concert festival. The Star-Spangled Spectacular Concert will be broadcast live on 90.3 WCPN and WCLV 104.9 FM. Public Square. www.ClevelandOrchestra.com.

Collaboration Bored by art that looks like you could turn it upside down and no one would know? If you are looking for pieces that you can actually picture in your home instead of on the walls of a museum, check out the work of Joanne DePolo and Denise Ivey Telep. The pair has just completed work on the June 14 Communal Mural that nearly 700 Clevelanders participated in painting. The mural will be presented to the City of Cleveland in a ceremony with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson as part of the Collaboration opening on Fri 7/7 from 5-8PM. The exhibit continues through Sat 7/29. Gallery 324, 1301 East Ninth Street.

WCLVnotes This week, WCLV 104.9 FM has three concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to the regular Saturday (at 8PM) and Sunday (at 4PM) broadcasts, on Fri 7/7 WCLV will broadcast live the Orchestra’s Public Square concert beginning at 9PM. The concert serves as the kick-off for this summer’s Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology. And WCLV will be at the Ingenuity Festival starting Thu 7/13, broadcasting five live concerts from the WCLV Classical Music Stage at the United Church of Christ Chapel, Thursday through Sunday. Complete details of the WCLV program schedule can be found at www.wclv.com.

CC KIDS Sand Sculpture Contest Work alongside local artists during a day of outdoor family fun as the local beach gets turned into a magnificent outdoor art installation for a day. Pack a picnic basket full of goodies to savor when you take a break from creating your masterpiece and frolicking on the beach with other families during this Sat 7/8 event from 10AM to 1PM. There is no admission charge and the event is open to all ages. You might even win a cool prize. Visit http://www.ArtsCollinwood.org to learn more. Call 692-9500. Wildwood Beach, Lake Shore Boulevard at East 174th Street.

HOT PICK Cleveland, America! Prominent Cleveland-based photographer Herbert Ascherman, Jr. will open an exhibit of 110 magnificent platinum portraits of odd, interesting and unusual characters living in Greater Cleveland with an opening reception on Sat 7/8 from 5-7PM. The exhibit is the result of Ascherman’s two-year odyssey throughout Cuyahoga County, armed with a Deardorff 8 x 10 view camera and a tripod. Using the city itself as the backdrop, Ascherman has captured a fascinating pastiche of the places and faces of Northeast Ohio. Western Reserve Historical Society, 10825 East Boulevard, University Circle. http://www.Ascherman.com/.

Amish Art Show The author, Randy James and the Amish illustrator Crist Miller from the popular book: Why Cows Learn Dutch, will be on hand along with Amish feather painter, Ben Miller. The art of Liz Weaver will also be featured. Listen to the country sounds of fiddle player: Robert Allyn, while enjoying local Amish Bakery during this event on Sat 7/8. Call 440-632-1124. Vancura Gallery of Fine Art and Custom Framing, 14279 Old State Road, Middlefield. http://www.VancuraGallery.com.

The Dressmaker and the Tailor The exhibition of work by Brenda Stumpf features ten mixed media paintings layered with translucent dress patterns, the paper of steeped tea bags, oil paint, wax, matte medium and sand. The work explores the archetypal relationships of the Maker and the Mender, the feminine and the masculine, the physical and the immaterial. Attend the artist’s reception on Sat 7/8 from 6-10PM or during the Tremont ArtWalk on Fri 7/14 from 6-10PM. Exhibit runs through 8/12. Call 621-1610. Brandt Gallery, 1028 Kenilworth Avenue.

Sam Shaber at Cain Park Singer/Songwriter Sam Shaber, daughter of the late David Shaber, will perform on Sat 7/8 at 7:30PM at the same venue where the movie, Those Lips, Those Eyes – based on a screenplay written by her father – was filmed in 1978. Shaber has won numerous songwriting awards. Her original songs accompanied by acoustic guitar present simple yet stimulating lyrics that have been known to move audiences from quiet tears to roaring laughter. Call 371-3000 or visit Ticketmaster for tickets. Alma Theater, Cain Park. http://www.SamShaber.com.

Plain Dealer protects its big advertisers, hospitals – by refusing to publish our meeting announcements about uncaring Cleveland City Council refusing to enact a law to stop hospitals from sometimes banning patients who complain, sponsored by Ohio Patients Rights, on Mon 7/10 at 5PM at Cleveland Public Library, 325 Superior Avenue, Stokes Wing, room 218, 221-2724, ohiopatientsrights@yahoo.com.

HOT PICK Imagination Writer’s Conference links aspiring writers with eight nationally known and award-winning writers on Tue 7/11 through Sun 7/16. The workshop attracts writers from the region and around the country that need feedback on their efforts and are seeking to improve their craft with its focus is on strong, imaginative writing in genres ranging from nonfiction to science fiction and everything in between. A one-day colloquium on The Business of Writing will be held on Sat 7/15 from 9AM to 4PM, and can be registered for separately. Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Avenue. http://www.csuohio.edu/imagination/.

Building Gaming and Simulation Networks Strap on your goggles…it’s a whole new game! Mike DeAloia, Tech Czar for the City of Cleveland, and a team of collaborators discuss efforts to establish a downtown Gaming Center, with deep ties to regional game design and development networks in the Region on Tue 7/11 from 4:30PM – 6:15PM. Visit http://tuesdaysfuture.blogspot.com/ to learn more. FUTURE: Center for Design and Technology Transfer @ The Cleveland Institute of Art 11610 Euclid Avenue.

Poet Laureate Invitational Make a date to attend the Second Annual Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Invitational on Tue 7/11 at 7PM. There is no cost to attend this event which features poetry readings by Katie Daley, Kelly Harris, Meredith Holmes, John Panza, Lou Suarez, Mary Weems, and Loren Weiss. Then attend future readings and workshops conducted by several of the poets participating in the invitational. Visit http://www.HeightsArts.org to learn more or to register. Call 371-3344. Heights Arts Gallery, 2173 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights.

CC KIDS Harborfest/Tall Ships The billowy sails of the Tall Ships will make their triumphant return to the North Coast Harbor on Wed 7/12 through 7/16. Sailors of all ages can board and explore the ships for a day of family fun on the Lake Erie. Visit http://www.ClevelandHarborfest.com to learn more. North Coast Harbor.

Lake Communicators Picnic Enjoy the summer sun during the Lake Communicators’ next monthly meeting – a picnic barbecue luncheon in a lovely outdoor setting, on Wed 7/12 from 11:45AM to 11PM. Network, tour the new museum – a renovated historic home located on the 30-acre grounds of the Lake County History Center – or learn more about living on Ohio’s frontier in the Jack Daniels Living History Village. Reserve your spot by calling 255-8932 or email wolfeshirley@yahoo.com. Lake County History Center, 8610 Mentor Road, Kirtland Hills.

Doing Business with India Pradip Kamat of Indus International will discuss the benefits on Wed 7/12 at 5PM. Myers University, Chester Campus 3921 Chester Avenue. http://www.midtownwednesdays.blogspot.com/.

The Patriot Act and Other Post 9-11 Issues: Have We Done Enough or Too Much? Assistant US Attorney and soon-to-be partner at Baker & Hostetler, Steve Dettelbach, will join Professor James G. Wilson, James A. Thomas Distinguished Professor of Law at Cleveland State University, on Wed 7/12 at 7PM to engage in a point, counterpoint about the Patriot Act and other antiterrorism measures and how we balance civil rights with security in the aftermath of September 11th. RSVP for this no-cost event to 579-9600 x29 or cleveland50@adl.org. Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 South Park Boulevard.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

A & Q w/ G
David Akers of NEOSO
Cool Cleveland’s CIO gets some answers, has more questions

The first time I saw the name NEOSO was in a blog post from Dan Hanson, where he confused NEOSO, the Northeast Ohio Sourcing Office with NEOSA, the Northeast Ohio Software Association. Intrigued by the application of Practical Regionalism as David Akers likes to put it, we had a long discussion about it.

George Nemeth: Bob Aber, NEOSO’s Membership Manager and I were talking and he confirmed what I had initially thought— when people talk about regionalism, it’s hard to get a handle on exactly what that means. Are you talking about school systems? Are you talking about government? Are you talking about taxes? Or are you talking about kind of the government services that local municipalities provide? Right? You have eight services that you’re currently offering, correct?
David Akers: Right.

Why don’t you go over those in a nutshell?
David Akers: The easiest one to understand is auto parts. Everybody buys auto parts. Most of the governments, now this is school districts, municipalities, counties, whatever, even libraries and colleges and universities, they have fleets. They all buy auto parts. So we put together a deal that has three aspects to it: 1) It will save them, and we’re finding right now the average upfront savings is 20%. Just 20 cents on the dollar.

How much is the total buying power of like municipalities? It’s 13 counties, right?
David Akers: 745 governments…
Read A & Q w/G: David Akers here

Cool Cleveland Commentary
Selling Selves Out Might Not Be Bad Idea
a response to Roldo’s column
By David Akers

Roldo’s article [Selling Selves Out Might Not Be Bad Blackwell Idea here], defining the concept of utilizing experts to manage government assets as a sop to the rich is sadly off-base. Forget the narrow lenses of Republican vs. Democrat and rich vs. poor. Let’s talk about a novel concept: effectiveness. If we, as taxpayers, really care about 1) the cost of managing government assets, and 2) the effectiveness with which those assets are managed, then we have a responsibility to evaluate every viable option for managing assets and choose the best option based on a combination of cost and effectiveness. Unfortunately from Roldo’s perspective, governments aren’t always the best option. Sometimes they are, but not always.

Has anyone really considered why it is that we are spending $1.5 billion (give or take) to rebuild or replace the Cleveland Public School buildings? Maybe it’s because schools focus on education. They don’t specialize in maintaining buildings. And buildings fall down from disrepair as a result.

Who does focus on real estate? Real estate professionals. You can go to a Class B building in downtown Cleveland, sign a 15-year lease for $15 per square foot, and know that 15 years from now, the building will likely be in a very similar state, with similar quality, as it is today. Why? Because it is in the landlord’s best interest to maintain that Class B service level and keep you happy so that you stay…
Read David Akers’ comment here

RoldoLINK
Quick, give me $250,000. “Why” comes later
By Roldo Bartimole

Does Mayor Frank Jackson have the same secret locally that George Bush has nationally? A subservient legislature.

Council has bowed to the administration by allowing the city, through the Economic Development department, to give loans of up to $250,000 without Council approval. More later.

The ability of Jackson to get the legislative process to run in tandem with his ideas and plans is an unusual situation with a body – 21 strong – that usually guards its privileges muscularly.

Council President Martin (Marty) Sweeney seems to have made Council an ancillary body to the Jackson administration.

The ability to make loans so significant without legislative oversight is a mistake.

Under new legislation, loans of up to $250,000 can be made on the say so of a single Council member. The Council member in whose ward the loan is made can say yes or no. It’s very likely he or she isn’t going to come up with reasons to refuse the dough…
Read RoldoLINK here

Cool Cleveland Sounds
All of My Friends
Goat
Judgment/Lightyear

Even if the name Goat doesn’t ring a bell, his “mangled, attenuated” voice, pedigree and given name are sure to. See, Goat may live in New York these days, but he’s a Clevelander… born and raised here and itching to get back home. His real name is Andy Rosen and he’s the son of legendary Cleveland Indians third baseman, Al Rosen. If you hit the Rib Burn Off this summer, you might have even seen him play.

Goat’s career has had it’s ups and downs, thanks to major-label politics. Yet, television saved his career from bargin-bin obscurity: he graced a $30 million dollar Kia Sportage ad campaign with his quirky tune called “Great Life” (“Start having a great life… start living with inspiration…”). His ode to loving life recalls both Randy Newman and Beck all at once.

Goat has a new album in the pipeline called Twisted Heart, due out in August. It is a gritty, emotion-filled effort that attempts to find hope in the state of our union. His indie effort from this time last year is called All of My Friends; it’s an equally inspiring and authentic collection of pop-based songcraft… with a hint of “Adult Alternative” flair.

All of My Friends features the kind of deft wordsmithing and delicious phrasing rarely heard since the rediscovery of pop that happened in the mid-‘70s. The album loves on pop and indeed features some of Goat’s friends—including bassist Tony Levin, slide guitarist Jeff Golub and the late Chris Whitley playing National Guitar.

With a pocketful of heartfelt songs, Goat honors pop in a much different way than, say, Josh Rouse (who I name-dropped recently). The folk and hip-hop flava is straight-up modern. You get a whole lotta Beck, Soul Coughing and G. Love & Special Sauce blended into his troubadour approach.

Songs like “Star,” “Angel” and the title track all channel positivity in an upbeat, toe-tapping framework and help recall bygone eras like they never left. You even get an extended remix version of “Great Life,” which is, well, great. All of My Friends is fun summer music for you and all of your friends… perfect picnic tunes, courtesy of a native son.

Goat performs a solo acoustic “homecoming” of sorts at the Beachland Ballroom this Sunday, July 9. For more information, please visit http://www.GoatRocks.com or http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com

Wanna get reviewed? Send your band’s CD (less than 1 year old) to: Cool Cleveland, 14837 Detroit Avenue, #105, Lakewood, OH 44107

Hey Writers! Wanna write about Cleveland music? We’ve got a slew of recently-released CDs and DVDs by Cleveland-area musicians that could use your critical commentary for Cool Cleveland Sounds. If you’re interested, send us a note at Letters@CoolCleveland.com.

Cool Cleveland Reads
Dealing: The Cleveland Indians New Ballgame
By Terry Pluto
Gray & Company

Terry Pluto, the award-winning sports columnist for the Akron Beacon Journal for the last 21 years uses his extensive knowledge and the openness of the Dolan family, along with Mark Shapiro, to explain the last few years of baseball in Cleveland. Actually, Paul Dolan, president of the team, should almost qualify for co-author status, he appears so often and so openly, explaining the actions of himself and his family. The Dolans appear to be out-going, straight-forward owners, explaining matters to the fans. (Sometimes they explain too much, to be sure.) By contrast, as Pluto says, “(Jacobs) is not a man who likes to explain business, he just does business.” (page 20.)

From the first pitch “The Cleveland Indians were supposed to keep ruling the American League’s Central Division forever” to the final out, some 211 pages later “And drastic, daring dealing is the only way for a team like the Indians to do it” –consistently putting a winner on the field, that is, you’ll be part of the team in this plain-speaking look at the inner workings of a Major League baseball team’s front office, and how the entire team—front office and the one on the field—combine to make things happen.

Perhaps the Dolans biggest mistake was that, although they had been shrewd businessmen for many years, they approached the purchase of the team as fans rather than owners. For no other reason, perhaps, you have to like these guys. They play with their hearts—with tons of dollars thrown in for good measure. Seems to me they should be given a bit more time to make good on their intentions. After all, the world—and Northeast Ohio—changed drastically in the four years since they overpaid for the team…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Instant Karma
Quick reviews of recent events
Going out this weekend? Take along your PDA and your digital camera. Scratch out a few notes to send us with a picture of it for our Instant Karma real-world reviews of what’s really happening. We’d love to hear from you. Send your stuff to Events@CoolCleveland.com

Lyric Opera Cleveland @ the Cleveland Play House 6/28 Some twenty years ago, in one of the first years that the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival was downtown at the Ohio Theatre, Vincent Dowling directed an ‘outer space’ version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It was hilarious! The play adapted very well to such a treatment. So, when I first heard about Lyric Opera Cleveland’s idea to put Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail on Mars, I thought, why not?

Well, in some ways it worked very well, and in others maybe not quite so well. Director Jonathon Field wrote a good bit (perhaps all?) of the dialogue and devised the Martian Shuffle choreography for the chorus as well, which was a big hit. The dialogue was very punny in nature, almost as though one had detoured through southern America on the way to Mars. There were also sight gags aplenty.

The first act was brilliant, beginning with the brightly-colored, cartoonish space vehicles chasing each other back and forth across the stage. Once the curtain went up, the comedy continued as a green-faced Osmin (Gregory Stapp) vigorously interacted with the down-home Pedrillo of Tim Culver. These two must have been channeling Abbott and Costello or maybe the sheriff and his deputy from Mayberry. Whichever, they were wonderful singers and actors throughout…
Read the review by Kelly Ferjutz here

Erin Bode @ NightTown 6/29 Before I saw Erin Bode perform last Thursday I read a review of her last album from, of all places, the Wall Street Journal. It was quite complimentary, however, you got the feeling she was another in the long line of Diana Krall/Norah Jones clones, and a night of jazzed up standards was awaiting us. My assumptions turned out to be wrong, and the night far exceeded my expectations.

Ms. Bode, a twenty-seven year old singer from St. Louis who is quietly putting together a solid career, was accompanied by the standard Nat King Cole three piece band with piano, bass, and drums. Her voice is a young combination of Ella Fitzgerald and Karla Bonoff, with a touch of Eva Cassidy, if you can imagine that. And she has so many positives going for her I think some big things might be in front of her.

The show was a mix of originals and unusual covers, and she should be complimented on both. Her originals, either penned by herself or her piano player Adam Maness, are catchy sentimental ballads or bluesy tunes with a bit of swing to them. Amongst the standouts included the opening tune “Feet Off the Ground,” “A Long, Long, Time,” “Northern Lights,” and a sentimental ballad about a lost college romance called “St. Louis Song.” The fact that she did so many originals, and they were almost all good, was the surprise for the night and I think will pay off for her in the long run…
Read the review by Greg Cielec here

Icarus @ convergence-continuum 6/29
What: A fine production of Edwin Sanchez’ magical realist play about wounded dreamers who meet at a beach, as a disfigured sister helps her crippled brother “train” to become a celebrity who can swim far enough to reach the setting sun.
Reasons to go: Sanchez is a marvelous writer whose humane character studies also incorporate plenty of off-center humor. Lucy Bredeson-Smith is fabulous as “the Gloria”, an aging actress who’ll only let herself be seen at a distance. So is Clyde Simon in his Mr. Peepers glasses and stuffed kitty as the demented “fan” who lives under the porch. Leads Geoffrey Hoffman and Jovana Batkovic have a lovely chemistry.
Caveats: As Primitivo, Brin Metzendorf’s limp comes and goes, and Caleb J. Sekeres’ direction doesn’t always linger long enough over key moments. But overall it’s a strong production.
Backstory: This is the first area production for the talented and much-awarded Sanchez, a former member of NY’s New Dramatists.
Details: thru 7/15 at convergence-continuum, The Liminis, http://www.convergence-continuum.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Ain’t We Got Fun @ 14th St. Theatre 7/1
What: A boy-meets-boy love story set in 1929, incorporating a catalogue of cheeky Tin Pan Alley songs with gay content from Oscar Levant to Cole Porter.
What’s Fun: When the show sticks to frothy camp and vocal stylings in the group numbers, it’s refreshing, and there are standouts in the non-Equity cast. With his dark eyes, lovely voice, and tap-dancing feet, Alex Duette steals the show as the faithful small town lad who loses his vacuous blond boyfriend to Chicago speakeasies and gay revues. Dorothy Savage is an adorable Betty Boop type as socialite Chloe, Zac Hudak sizzles as drag queen Amanda, and Ian Atwood is charming as her bouncer brother Meathook.
What Needs Work: Chad Moore has neither the charm nor the vocal chops to animate the unlikeable protagonist. The low-budget production is still a work-in-progress. It’s a half-hour too long, with clumsy narration, 2nd act drama about the market crash, and poky set changes.
Backstory: Currently living in Nashville, writer/director Michael McFaden has local roots, having directed at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, Clague Playhouse, & the former Greenbrier.
Details: 14th St. Theater, Playhouse Square, Cleveland. (216)241-6000. Thru 8/13. http://www.playhousesquare.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Yr Turn
Cool Cleveland readers write
We encourage our readers to speak out by sending us letters and commentary. Send your letters to Letters@CoolCleveland.com. You must include your full name (required) and you may include your e-mail address (optional). You may also create a new Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail e-mail address and submit it with your letter. Letters submitted to Cool Cleveland, or edited portions, may be published in an upcoming issue of Cool Cleveland at our discretion.

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On the Beck Center moving to Crocker Park (See Beck Center on the move? here) So the Beck Center wants some fancy new digs? And another city is trying to woo them away? Wow, change the names, and it sounds like the Cleveland Browns, or other sports teams that have threatened moves to get swanky new facilities. Is this the latest version of poaching? What happens if Stark can’t get the Beck Center to move? Will he go to Willoughby and try to steal the Fine Arts center there? Will he go to the Cleveland Orchestra and offer them a brand-new concert facility, if they just up and move? What’s next, will he go then to some of the University Circle institutions that may be financially wobbly and offer them sparkling new facilities, just so he can really give his little faux neighborhood a real city feeling? I thought he was turning his focus to redeveloping downtown, that he saw that the logical progression of New Urbanism was to revitalize downtowns and places like Lakewood … not poach from them to allow the well-to-do white-flighters out in the outer ‘burbs to avoid the inner ring suburbs or Downtown, where they might actually encounter a person of a different color or economic strata. If Stark wants to have a performing arts center in his little fake Disneyland, why not build a new center, let the Clague Park Playhouse folks have it, and expand their programming. Why steal something from Lakewood? Especially as moving the Beck to Crocker Park could actually threaten a wonderful institution like the Clague Park Playhouse which has such deep roots in Westlake’s history! And it also amazes me that the folks at the Beck Center would consider this. Yes, their facilities are a mishmash of buildings, many of them outdated and facing major maintenance costs. But they’ve got a great location, easily accessible by car, public transit, and foot. Why not redevelop what they have? And if the Beck Center is having trouble raising money to keep their heads above water now, how can they raise money to move? Or are there enough wealthy folk in Westlake who have no trouble with the idea of stealing from their neighbors? And while it may be easy to find donors who will pony up the cash for a fancy new building (as long as their names can be put on it somewhere), those same donors may not care so much when it comes to providing funding for operating costs, and the fabulous new facility could become a big white elephant … look to “Healthspace Cleveland” as an example … While the Plain Dealer’s theater critic thinks this is an intriguing concept and can be a nice way of preserving cultural institutions, it is actually just another dark trend. Why can’t the exurbs create their own cultural institutions? Why do they have to steal from the inner-ring suburbs that have them?
from Cool Cleveland reader Christopher Dawson Christopher.DawsonATtri-c.edu

It would be sad to see the Beck Center leave Lakewood, but Crocker Park is growing very successful and it would be a smart move. There are more consumer dollars in Westlake, and the parking situation is better at Crocker. Plus, Beck@Crocker would have a synergistic effect on the center.
from Cool Cleveland reader Stephen Gross mrstephengrossAThotmail.com

I have been a resident of Lakewood for over 8 years and have come to see the Beck Center as a positive fixture of my family-oriented community. I would hate to see it move and would like the Lakewood City Council to try to do something to keep the only arts venue in Lakewood in Lakewood.
from Cool Cleveland reader Megan French mfrenchATclevelandbar.org

PLEASE HELP, SOS or SOMETHING! It is heart-wrenching to think that a staple in the Arts community, like the Beck Center would consider a move out of a real city, and into the Disney like fakeness of the ever expanding, shopping addict haven of Crocker Park, or close to it. This is a time that the community truly needs to understand the ramifications of such a move, and put it’s little money were its mouth is. A fellow “Lakewoodian” I would hate such a move, but without the city getting involved, multi-million dollar developer’s like Mr. Stark offer ever enticing propositions with obvious tax considerations for themselves to greater rob urban areas of their souls, to only enhance sprawl to the ‘burbs. Once lost we cannot hope to re-gain these centers of civic pride and culture, and will only be left with more vacant buildings.
from Cool Cleveland reader J. David Fields davidfieldsATyahoo.com

On the Cool Cleveland interview with Michael Schwartz (See Access:Cleveland here) Thanks for the positive article about the CSU President Michael Schwartz. Maybe he is the great leader we need to pull the Northeast Ohio region out of the economic doldrums. With Dr. Dave Sweet at Youngstown State U. and Dr. Schwartz’s knowledge of the Kent State region we have the effective leadership that has been missing since the late ’70s. Not since Dr. Ruben Metler, formerly of TRW, lead the International Competitiveness Program, has any leadership been viable. Cleveland State and CWRU failed to keep the Program going after Dr. Metler left for California. While I was the Economic Development Coordinator, we did a survey of 2,500 Cuyahoga County companies. Of the over 500 companies that responded they agreed with Dr. Metler’s parameters. Had they been totally implemented this region would have not lost the 150,000 manufacturing jobs. The prime cause for the loss of jobs was the lack of labor/management cooperation. We were rated on the bottom of all major international metropolitan regions in this critical area. Another was marketing. Unless we promote our local products such as cars we will continue to lose more manufacturing jobs. Case in point promoting Honda moving into North East Ohio when all the time they were using us as leverage in Indiana. We all know what the foreign cars have done to our regional jobs. TRW knows this. Akron tires are another victim. Now is the time for all good leaders to work together in a business, labor and government partnership. Keep Cleveland Cool!
from Cool Cleveland reader Albert Oberst knuteoicpATwebtv.net

Thank you for taking the time to interview CSU President Michael Schwartz. The questions you asked comprise some of my biggest concerns as a transfer student to the school this coming fall. A few things you didn’t ask about that potential students might want to know (as I did) are: what is the most common crime committed against CSU students, what area businesses do the departments (perhaps an example not limited to the healthcare field) partner with for job placement upon graduation, what is the average loan amount necessary to complete a four year degree? I would’ve liked to have seen more of a follow-up to the response about raising admission standards (i.e. “Will they go higher?/Why or why not?”) I was told, at the Adult & Transfer Workshop last week (by Dr. Ezekiel), that the most common crime that occurs is theft-of-opportunity (hence the stolen laptop). It was good advice to study near others (if I study downtown), and to always carry my belongings with me (even in the library; to never abandon them). I haven’t confirmed that the last rape was two years ago and that the offender (a serial rapist who was targeting students at other schools, too) is in jail now. My mind would be slightly more at rest to know if additional outdoor lighting is to be included in the slated construction. I want to know if the new parking will be close to the classes I plan to attend, and I wonder if they’ll be hiring more security for the additions. As a parent, I also wonder what impact child care will have on me since it will be private: Will it be as expensive as most private child care is? What company will run it? These are things that will personally affect me as a ‘non-traditional’ student. When will the school hold classes on weekends (as other area schools do)? When will they beef up their online course offerings to include the courses from other programs? (When I think of technology as applied to a college, one of the first things to come to mind is just that, since I am conducive to learning that way and it would save me one hellacious commute to and from some of the classes with all that construction.) All-in-all, you performed a great service to Cleveland by doing this interview. I don’t mean to minimize that; I’m simply explaining what I was left curious about.
from Cool Cleveland reader Audrey McCrone LaFlacaChica@aol.com

On saving Cleveland’s Huletts (See Yr Turn here) I saw the commentary by Adam Brandon in Cool Cleveland. Below is our letter and supporting documentation regarding their insanity to destroy the remaining Huletts. I have seen your interviews, it would be appropriate if you would interview Tim Donovan and myself regarding the Huletts. It would shed the light on what really transpired over the years and what is forthcoming.

Dear Mayor Frank Jackson and Mr. Silliman: Please find attached a letter from the National Trust for Historic Preservation regarding the impending desire by the Port Authority, the City and others to destroy the Hulett Ore Unloaders that citizens such as myself and many others donated funds for their preservation and relied on the City of Cleveland to protect their interest through the enforcement of city ordinances and city initiated agreements incorporated into permits issued. The City of Cleveland through its Landmarks Commission failed in its fiduciary duty to enforce a Certificate of Appropriateness and it corresponding MOU, both of which are also attached, regarding the immediate establishment of a foundation immediately after the issuance of the Certificate of Appropriateness to raise funds for the restoration of the Huletts. The City of Cleveland through its Landmarks Commission has been further negligent in protecting the Huletts and other Landmarks and historically significant structures from deterioration and enforcing minimum maintenance. The Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority will jeopardize the Cleveland Bulk Terminal at Whiskey Island, if they in any way further destroy the integrity of the Huletts being stored there and their chance at being restored, because we will enforce our legally entitled right to prevent that facility from ever obtaining the dredging permit has been re-applied for and also any federal funds or services for the facility or servicing the facility. We won a Federal Court case against the Army Corps of Engineers that also revoked the dredging permit that the Port Authority had for the facility, we are entitled to further enforcement rights against the Port Authority.Our leaders behavior in this City on preserving its rich historic past has been compared to an individuals who wants to erase his/her past because of low self-esteem. I believe that observation hits right square at the malady that the City of Cleveland and this region suffers since it constantly tries to copy Chicago, New York and others instead of capitalizing on our own unique and rich resources to showcase. We request a meeting directly with Mayor Frank Jackson ASAP so a grave mistake is not set into motion. We will not forego our rights to enforce federal, state and local laws, we have left one legacy with the Federal case and we are determined to complete that legacy, our families, our fellow citizens and future generations deserve it. Some of the parties to be included in the initial meeting should be: Tim Donovan, Ohio Canal Corridor; Steve Merkel and myself, Committee to Save Cleveland’s Huletts; and others that the Mayor would like to include. If possible for them to attend, the National Trust for Historic Preservation should also be invited. The Port Authority and Oglebay Norton have consistently misrepresented the financial/economic picture at the facility plus have operated with the idea that laws do not have to be obeyed and can be circumvented. We are here to remind all of those concerned, the price that will be paid for violating the laws will be a direct responsibility of those who shirked the laws previously and lost. We have video recorded the meetings, so a record exists beyond the scant and disorganized records at the Landmarks Commission and papers that were withheld from our Open Records review in an illegal procedure under “Client/Attorney privilege” exception by someone in your administration. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ray Saikus, Chairman, Friends of the Hulett Ore Unloaders, and Steamer William G. Mather, A Committee of Citizens’ Vision http://www.citizensvision.org rrsATcitizensvision.org [Editor’s note: You can download a zipped file containing several PDFs with more info on the Huletts here.]

On the Clean & Safe Program (See Yr Turn here) Cool Cleveland letter writer Greg Bajbus commented on the clean-up and safety crews recently seen walking and driving around the Warehouse District, noting what a positive difference they were making in the neighborhood (agreed!!). He attributed the crews to efforts by the city to clean up the area. It’s my understanding that the crews were launched by the Historic Warehouse District, a partnership/coalition of Warehouse District businesses and residents, as well as corporate entities and others who support a vital and healthy Warehouse District. I’m sure the Historic Warehouse District got tired of waiting for the city to make a move to improve safety and aesthetics in that neighborhood and took matters into its own hands – with great results. I know that there are many challenges facing the city (declining population, disappearing tax base, the state of education for Cleveland students, crime, etc.), and, in my opinion, the city isn’t doing a very good job of solving them and has not done a good job for a very long time. I don’t have any “big picture” answers, but I do know this: Mayor Jackson et al should take a page out of the Historic Warehouse District’s book and realize that a clean, safe neighborhood or a clean, safe city is attractive – not only to potential residents, but to potential business owners and visitors as well. We can’t clean up the entire city and make it safe in a year, or even in five years…but we can do it one neighborhood at a time if we involve all the stakeholders – everyone who lives, works or travels through that area – and encourage them to take ownership of “their” part of Cleveland. If everyone gave a little money and a lot of time, we could put the shine back on Cleveland in no time.
from Cool Cleveland reader Sandy Smith slsmith819AThotmail.com

On banning smoking Smoking bans are un-American. Just to ring in about this over-hyped issue. I no doubt believe that any exposure to smoke must have some negative affect on the human body. What drives me cray is how this issue is blown WAY out of proportion. I mean if all of the pro smoking ban propaganda was so true, we should all already be dead by the smoke we have been exposed to!! Last time I checked, there’s plenty of happy and healthy people walking around, and even…gasp…in smokey bars. The truth is, there are hundreds of risks and harms we all face every day, from the way we drive our cars, to some of the poor diet choices people make. Yet, we allow people to be exposed to those “risks” of their own free will as part of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. The pro smoking ban is always presented as a health issue because it is the one that can really scare up the agenda of pro ban supporters. This brilliant move on their part disguises what is really going on, and will lead to the erosion of yet another choice a citizen gets to make on their own without government interference, just as seatbelt laws do. I believe the real issue here is one of property rights. In areas where current law permits smoking, any owner of a public business can choose to make their business non-smoking. I assume an owner would make this decision based on free market forces if he/she believed it was best for their business. A business that they own and operate to earn a living, participate in local economies and yes, pay taxes to the government that want to restrict what they can or can’t do in their own establishment. The Applebee’s chain banned smoking in their restaurants years ago, and I am glad that they had the freedom to make that decision, and that there was no law stating that they HAD TO ALLOW smoking. The problem with smoking bans is that it removes the freedom of an owner to choose. I believe that choice is part of the foundation of this country, and that property owners should have the right to choose for themselves which side of this issue they fall on.
from Cool Cleveland reader Rick Pouliot rpouliotATfuse.net

On our sewer emergency (See How to clean up here) You are absolutely right about needing to declare a state of emergency for our regional sewer problem. Basements flooded with sewer water is disgusting. It’s also disgusting to have raw sewage leaking into the lake. We are abusing this great natural resource. Just think about the bacteria levels of our “freshwater” lake. I understand that switching out the old sewer system is a HUGE undertaking. Not to mention expensive. But it has to be done! The City of Cleveland is overlooking the potential of Lake Erie. We have lakefront property that (if the lake was free of sewage) could be a wonderful tourist attraction.
from Cool Cleveland reader McKala Everett mckalaATexploringwellness.com

On who rocked first (See The Buddy Holly Story here) Before the Beatles sure, but it’s a bit of a stretch to say Buddy Holly was “Before Elvis.” I remember where I was the day I heard the music died (the corner of Kenyon and Riedham in Shaker, I think my friend’s father actually used that phrase), but I believe I was buying Elvis Presley re-issues on the top floor of Higbee’s before “That’ll be the Day” hit the airwaves mid 1957. In any case “Heartbreak Hotel” (the beginning of Elvis’s decline) came out early in ’56, when his Sun Records days were already over. Maybe not much of a difference to folks now, but it’s best to get the facts straight anyway. I hope I have.
from Cool Cleveland reader Richard Astle rastleATbigfoot.com

On not whining (See Yr Turn here) We need more people that think like Mati Senerchia. Instead of complaining, we need more people to help make things better, and/or to praise the well-intentioned hard work of others. Recognition and praise are the actions that help mobilize and motivate others.
from Cool Cleveland reader Larry Schedler LSchedlerATaol.com

Is Cleveland really going anywhere?
from Cool Cleveland reader Cash Nashery nasheryATyahoo.com

On cool Lakewood (See Lakewood is alive here ) I think Lakewood is great and applaud you for keeping its efforts in the limelight!
from Cool Cleveland reader Robin Yates ryates1ATmindspring.com

On Cool Cleveland I hate to go away this week because there are so many great things to do in Cleveland. Your CoolCleveland is my life line. PS you should be listed as the best asset for the Cleveland Tourist bureau if there was one.
from Cool Cleveland reader Danielle Lindquist mskbec1ATyahoo.com

I still like to sit down at breakfast with the newspaper but of course you can’t beat COOL CLEVELAND for local news and while I’m praising CC here’s a “thank you” to Thomas Mulready for the Michael Schwartz piece.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jean Sommer jean_sommerATyahoo.com

Dear Mr. Mulready, We have never met, but if we were to meet I would tell you that -“I think you are doing a fantastic job!” Cheers. Sinceramente,
from Cool Cleveland reader John Rivera-Resto http://www.muralmaster.org johnATmuralmaster.org

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Top 5
Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) Lakewood is Alive the latest issue of the Lakewood Observer, which roundups the $200 million in surprising development projects happening right now in Lakewood.
www.LakewoodObserver.com.

2) Signs of Life on Planet Cleveland Be a Clevelander; Take a Look at Cleveland by David Budin.
www.CoolCleveland.com.

3) Access:Cleveland Cleveland State University President Michael Schwartz.
www.CoolCleveland.com.

4) RoldoLINK Selling Selves Out Might Not Be Bad Blackwell Idea
www.CoolCleveland.com

5) Cool Cleveland Ingenuity Mixer 7/13 Tix include comp admission to the Ingenuity Fest.
www.CoolCleveland.com.

Independence is one of the freedoms the Hard Corps appreciate. Thanks to Peter Chakerian, Roxanne Ravenel, TL Champion, George Nemeth, Linda Eisenstein, Kelly Ferjutz, Roldo Bartimole and everyone who partners with us. Want to volunteer and contribute your writing to Cool Cleveland? Send your reviews, articles, or story ideas to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Download the Cool Cleveland podcast each week at http://www.CoolCleveland.com. Click on the Cool Cleveland Blog here. Read the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine here. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com, and your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com.

We mean it, man…

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2006 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved
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