Psycho

03.05-03.12.08
Psycho

In this week’s issue:

* Party You’ll think our Cool Cleveland party this Saturday is Psycho

Doesn’t it make you crazy the way the national media dwells momentarily on Ohio’s issues and problems during election season, then reverts to their coastal-focused metro-centric coverage the rest of the year? In BFD this week, Meet The Bloggers even comment on the warm welcome they received from a local TV station the night of the big debate. The crazy thing about covering the cool stuff every week, is that Cool Cleveland has tapped into a never-ending font of creative, cool and clever stuff and the people behind it all. This time of year we get psyched up about film, as our preview of the CIFF attests, and our Cool Cleveland party with Red also features Hitchcock movie clips, with a ticket price that can only be described as Psycho. We review the Mayor’s State of the City address, offer a beginner’s guide to alternative-fuel vehicles, and tip you off to a group of WISE women. The CYO hits Pittsburgh, our Commissioners debut a comedy act, and the chickens come home to roost. Like our tag line says, we’re “Serious about the city, Crazy about all it has to offer.” —Thomas Mulready

We must be Psycho!
Offering you 50% off our cool party…
But you must order online before Midnight Thu 3/6 here

We’ve amped up the hors d’oeuvres, and kept a lid on the cost, all to encourage you to join Cool Cleveland and Red {an orchestra} as we celebrate the best movie music ever written. The party and concert take place Sat 3/8 starting at 5:30PM at the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Ave., and you are invited!

Bernard Herrmann was the bomb Not only did he write the music for both Citizen Kane, his first film, considered by many to be the best film ever, and the music for Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, his last film, he spent his peak years scoring some of Alfred Hitchcock’s best films.

Red’s music director Jonathan Scheffer has scored dozens of Hollywood movies himself, and he put this program together to showcase Herrmann’s outrageous talents. View the Cool Cleveland interview with Jonathan here. So you can expect film clips from Hitchcock classics like Psycho, North By Northwest, and Vertigo, plus excerpts from Herrmann’s great “lost” opera, Wuthering Heights considered the greatest unknown American opera.

View photos of our past fabulous parties here, get party details here, and order your 50% off tix online before midnight Thu 3/6 here: https://www.coolcleveland.net/tickets/030808/index.php.

Are we crazy or what…?

It sounds crazy But you can get all this at a sharp 50% discount by ordering online before midnight Thu 3/6: https://www.coolcleveland.net/tickets/030808/index.php

A hot selection of tech and business news & events from around the region. Got business news? Send it to: EVENTS@CoolCleveland.com

Clinic/UH pay to rename section of Euclid Corridor/RTA bus line. Read
Cle and Cuy Bar Associations finally merge into one complete entity. Read
FIT purchases Campus Outfitters selling uniforms to schools K-12, expanding the SchoolOne brand Click
K&D bid for Breuer is rejected. Read
LaunchTown offering up $20K in cash/services The non-profit committee is promoting regional entrepreneurship. Submit your best new business ideas/models for a competition, open to any Northeast Ohio 4-year college students. This is hot! You know you could use the cash. Click for More Info
Continental Airlines adds more N/S service at Hopkins again, this time w/ daily non-stops between CLE and Greensboro NC, Savanna GA; Omaha. Fly
GE Aviation nets $5B gov’t deal, good for Ohio jobs. Click
Smithsonian contracts Cle metal fabricator for incredible project. Read
Good video at Crain’s with Baiju Shah of BioE from this week. Watch
Where are the workers with tech-manu skills? Are they here in NEO? Read
Coral Company on Cedar launches a new blog here
NEOUPA is looking for people to get involved. Click
Ohio-based Victoria’s Secret is too sexxxy for its ads, apparently. Read

The Cleveland Green Building Coalition has teamed with mbi | k2m Architecture, Inc. to offer architecture, interior design, and engineering professionals the opportunity to follow the design and construction process of a USGBC Silver Certified green building. Apply.

Youngstown’s Business Incubator has grown by two new tenants: Visual Impact Imaging and Eris Medical Technologies. Visual Impact Imaging provides high quality design software and other technical tools to the landscaping industry throughout North America. Eris Medical Technologies has developed software that is focused on identifying, benchmarking, correcting and tracking outpatient hospital and clinic missing revenue and charge capture opportunities. Both firms will be moving into the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI) in about one month when YBI’s new Taft Technology Center and renovated Semple Building open. Nine additional software companies are expected to follow within the next twelve months. World class software companies moving to NEO, globally doing business from Downtown Youngstown. How about that. http://www.visualimpactimaging.com. http://www.erismed.com http://www.ybi.org.

If “Cleveland has quietly become the epicenter of the Midwest food scene,” as recently asserted by the Chicago Tribune, then what better way to celebrate than to enjoy a lavish 5-course meal to be cooked table-side by one of 20 chefs from the region’s finest restaurants. On 5/12, the American Liver Foundation brings back their popular FLAVORS culinary gala at the InterContinental Hotel for a limited number of lucky Northeast Ohioans. One in 10 Americans is affected by liver disease. If you’d like to investigate a sponsor package between $500 – $10K, or have culinary items to donate for the raffle, please contact Stephanie at 635-2780 or OhioATLiverFoundation.org.

SPONSORED: Did You Know that vacant properties – abandoned in part by a mountain of foreclosures – so far have cost Cleveland more than $35 million? And 2007 was definitely a tough year for foreclosures in the county, with a record 2,243 filed – an increase of 15.6 percent over 2006. Find this and other “Economic News from Ohio’s Regions” in a new weekly newsletter from the Ohio Urban University Program and the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. We’ll search Ohio’s papers to bring you economic news and key happenings that impact Ohio’s regions. Check it out here and join our mailing list here.

Creative Capital for a 21stC Digital Media Marketplace hits Midtown Brews Thu 3/6 at 5:30PM. Insivia, 1900 Superior Ave. #105. Details
NEO Success Awards Luncheon hits Exec Caterers @ Landerhaven Tue 3/11 at 11:30AM. Register
Ohio-Israel IT Financial Trade Mission Mon 3/10 & Tue 3/11 from 7AM, Cle Marriott KeyCenter 292-3399
Cleveland AMA Marketing Mixer and Bowling Night hits Winking Lizard Lakewood Wed 3/12 at 5PM. Call 440-646-9932.
Planning and Executing a High-Impact “Done-in-a-Day” Fri 3/14 at 8:30AM Key Center 127 Public Sq., 27th Floor. Register
Preparing/Enhancing the Cle Workforce is the subject of this Fri 3/28 day-long seminar at the Cle Conv Ctr. Details
Research ShowCASE 08 Scientists, scholars in 2-day collaboration highlighting research @ CWRU Wed 4/16 & Thu 4/17. More
Networked Approach to Building Prosperity in Regions 2-Day Wksp at Punderson Manor Resort beg Wed 4/23. Details
Cleveland Opportunity + Expo 2008 is designed to provide small and mid-size businesses in Cle an opportunity to promote and introduce products or services and establish new relationships. It hits Fri 5/23 at 10AM at the Galleria. Click

Mayor Frank Jackson State of the City 2/28

This time of year is all about the Grammys and the Oscars; someone should give Mayor Frank Jackson an award for “Most Improved Communicator” for his 2008 State of the City address to a packed house of who’s-whos at the Crown Plaza Hotel last week (pictured, from left: Jackson, County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, Cle City Councilman Zach Reed). Always disdainful of the hackneyed conventions of politico-speak, Jackson still refuses to emphasize his own punch lines, even when he has a real point to make. But his delivery is smoother, his syntax more fluid, and he finally seems comfortable discussing all aspects of his role as Mayor. His comprehensive talk laid out specific examples of real progress the city has made in five areas (finances, investment, regional economy, safety and education), often interrupted by unsolicited but appreciative applause for balancing the budget, for instituting a Joint Economic Development Agreement with 15 surrounding cities, for graduating more police from the Academy, for the Cleveland Metro School District’s rise to “Continuous Improvement” status, for a high school graduation rate now up to 65%, a 13-year high. Jackson’s appearance took on another dimension when he finished his prepared remarks and showed quick thinking on his feet with his answers to the customary City Club Q&A. He comfortably segued from discussing solar panel manufacturing opportunities (now a boon to the German economy), to his take on the foreclosure crisis (“Whatever we are doing is insufficient… that’s why we’re suing Wall Street…”), to what he had hoped to hear from the candidates at the recent Democratic debate in Cleveland (“If we rebuild our urban centers, we will rebuild America…”) to his forthright and leader-like response to Regionalism (“Our inability to get past our own self-interest is our greatest detriment…”). If he’s been taking Dale Carnegie courses, they are working. If he’s just getting more comfortable communicating the positives of the City, get him an easy chair. We should all be this comfortable. A podcast of the show may soon be posted here. http://www.CityClub.org

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2008-2009 Performing Arts Fund eGRANT application launched. http://www.artsmidwest.org
Great Lakes Theater Festival announces auditions for non-Equity actor/teachers for its School Residency Program for the 08-09 school year. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an audition appointment, call Lisa Ortenzi at 241-5490 x306. The deadline is Fri 5/16 at 5PM.
CRS Awarded $147,000 from National Trust to strengthen local preservation efforts. Read
Renaissance Cle Hotel has St. Patty’s covered for you with a cool offer. Stay safe after your partying ways. Read
Myrtle Beach Flights are Buy 3, get 1 free our of akroncantonairport.com CAK on Southern Skyways. Buy Buy Buy!!!
Blog shows Ohio in the crosshairs. Pretty cool photos. Read
Are your kids High School Musical crazy? Maybe they’d like to actually be IN a production of it…? Click
Is EntertainMe.us Northeast Ohio’s Best Rock n Roll Website? Click
Check out what’s new at the online home for women of all ages in Cle and NEO. Click
SounDoctrine’s “Sacrifice” & “Boys in the Wood” now airing nationally on The Weather Channel. More
Our friends at Ray’s Indoor Bike Park get even more great publicity, and not just from us. Read
Cleveland Cupcake Company launches their new website. Ladies, it’s hard to write these listings when you realize your tummy’s rumbling. Mmmmmmm

Calling all Interior Decorators, Artists and Art Enthusiasts Can you handle it? This is the artistic extravaganza you can’t miss! The 2008 Artist/Designer Spring Showcase is Thu 3/13 from 4:30 – 8:30PM at the Lake Erie Artists Gallery in Tower City Center, Lower Level (north). Relax in an artistic haven that will make your head spin with original, mega creativity. Bring a friend/date and experience it together. Meet the hottest local artists, have a glass of wine (or two!), and nosh on all the delicious food you can eat! See and be seen, baby. Live music by Fireside Symphony. A portion of the proceeds to benefit the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. RSVP at 664-9920 or email: paulaatwell@sbcglobal.net. Dig it! http://www.lakeerieartists.com.

Parade the Circle 2008 It’s not too early to start thinking about it. The date? Sat 6/14. And the Cleveland Museum of Art will be offering no-cost training workshops in parade skills for leaders of school or community groups preparing parade entries. These workshops will run every Tuesday evening from now until Tax Day, from 7 – 9PM. Public workshops begin in May. For more info, Nan Eisenberg at 707-2483 or email neisenberg@clevelandart.org.

Cleveland City Council announced the appointment of Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, Ward 5; Councilman Kevin Conwell, Ward 9; Councilman Zack Reed, Ward 3; and Councilman Matt Zone, Ward 17, to the 2008 Central Cities Council, a networking council for the National League of Cities. http://www.nlc.org.

April 5, 2008 marks the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy’s infamous Cleveland City Club speech that he gave one day after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. In his speech, Kennedy called for the nation to unify in face of tragedy. On Fri 3/7, his nephew Congressman Patrick Kennedy — youngest son of Senator Edward Kennedy — will reflect on the themes of his uncle’s speech. Register here

Tri-C hosts the NJCAA basketball tournament at Tri-C Metro, the place where Cle Cavaliers star Ben Wallace started his triumphant b-ball career. Check it out at 2900 Community College Ave, from Fri 3/7 – Sun 3/9. Teams competing include Cuyahoga, Lakeland, Owens, Edison, Sinclair, Columbus State and Cincinnati State. For three, for sure. Learn more here

Primed for Primaries 08 It was dubbed “the day of reckoning” by more than one global news outlet. Of course, we’re talking about the results of the Presidential Primaries. If you’re like the fine folks at Cool Cleveland, you were likely up late holding your breath for the results of yesterday’s primary and elections. Did Ohio go for Obama or Clinton? Did conservative Huckabee upset the moderate McCain? Did Northeast Ohio’s favorite son Dennis Kucinich lose his seat to Joe Cimperman? What’s up with Deborah Sutherland’s bid for a County Commish seat? Who won those all-important judge seats…? Did Issue 15 pass? Undoubtedly, you nodded off before the results hit your ears.

Following up his sharp, in-depth coverage of the Cleveland State University Democratic Debate last week, our very own Managing Editor Peter Chakerian breaks it all down for you. (He’s not as suave as Keith Olbermann, or as blunt as Chris Matthews, but he’ll do in a pinch…) If you’re looking for answers to the results of the critical races and issues from yesterday’s icy, absentee-stocked, optical-scanned, do-or-die, whirlwind vertigo… well, all you need to do is click here and follow along.

Our thanks to Bill Rieter of the CSU News Bureau for the Democratic Debate photo above.

Cool Cleveland Podcast Weekly roundup of cool events.

Click here to subscribe to the Cool Cleveland Podcast in iTunes.

SPONSORED: One for You, Two for Me Give into temptation and enjoy the sweet surrender of Chocolate: The Exhibition running now through – Sun 5/4 at the Great Lakes Science Center. See chocolate science at our Chocolate Bar – our chocolate experiments with a culinary twist include making chocolate ice cream with liquid nitrogen. Browse the Chocolate Store, where you can purchase luxury chocolates from around the world. Enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of these events: Sundaes on Saturday: Sat 3/15 & Sat 4/12; Candy Chemistry Spring Break Day Camp: Sat 3/22 – Sat 3/29; Doggone Good Chocolate: Sat 4/19 (bring your Chocolate Labrador for an outdoor group photo opp. Proceeds benefit the Animal Protective League). Members get extra special treats. Details: www.GreatScience.com.

Paula Grooms
WISE: Women in Sports & Events

Paula Grooms comes from a background of running the creative department at IMG, so she knows sports and events. Launching the Cleveland chapter of WISE, Women in Sports and Events, has been her passion and an opportunity to pass along some of her knowledge, and that of experienced women in the field, to a younger generation. She first met Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready a few years ago when IMG partnered with the first Ingenuity Festival of Art & Technology. When she asked him to speak on a panel at a recent WISE meeting, Mulready pulled out his camera and got Grooms to talk about how their programs help to mentor and offer networking for professional women, as well as offer discussions on building volunteers, working with the media, working behind the scenes, and managing public relations. The good news and bad news is that a lot of women are in the marketing and events industries, while womens’ roles in sports has been a challenge. Rather than rely on the “old boy’s network,” Grooms is trying to help create a “new girls network” right here in Cleveland. WomenInSportsAndEvents.com

SPONSORED: Psychological Thrillers Make You See Red Selections from Psycho will be performed by one of the coolest orchestras in town: Red {an orchestra}. Red pulls out all the stops on Sat 3/8 at 8PM with the bone chilling music of film composer Bernard Herrmann, whose scores for classic Hitchcock films such as Vertigo and North by Northwest are unmatched in their distinctive style. Experience film clips while Herrmann’s Hollywood masterpieces are performed, including excerpts from his rarely produced opera, Wuthering Heights, perhaps the greatest unknown opera in the history of American music. Join us in the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland’s Midtown neighborhood. Tickets are available starting at $15. Contact 216.361.1733 or www.redanorchestra.org.

Stories to Change You
Every Picture Tells a Story at the Cleveland International Film Festival

They say every picture tells a story… and every film does as well. The stories at the Cleveland International Film Festival start tomorrow and continus through March 16. The upgraded and full-color program guide and website (www.clevelandfilm.org) are packed with stories of the films and the people behind them. Stories are what hold us together, whether we’re from Indonesia or Sweden or the United States, so if you like a good story, you’ll find a kaleidoscope of options at one of Cleveland’s most popular and successful annual events.

Until 1991, the Cleveland International Film Festival took place at the Cedar Lee Theater, and it will again this year for the showing of the film, “Priceless.” Now in its 32nd year, the Festival takes advantage of its venue at the multi-screened Tower City Cinemas and has grown from selling 14,000 tickets to the 53,000 tickets sold last year. Today’s high-profile event highlights over 130 films and 160 shorts from countries as close to Canada and as far away as Palestine, 59 countries in all.

If you’re a Film Festival devotee, you know that the Cleveland International Film Festival awakens the innate artist within in all of us. Many of the independent filmmakers whose works are gathered into the realms of this event are unknown anywhere but their own country. The films are often made on low budgets and without support other than a close-knit group of writers, directors, actors, and cinematographers with a vision. Against odds, independent filmmakers make films because they have something to say. The artistic soul within us is impressed by the effort made; it may decide to dance in the kitchen while cooking a Sicilian feast. Transformation is inevitable at the Film Festival.

The Film Fest’s trailer asks “How will it change you?” It doesn’t ask “Will it change you?” because it will change you, without a doubt. I still vividly recall the story about indigenous people being displaced by hydroelectric plants in the virgin forests of Brazil (a theme repeated in this year’s film “Bing Ai”) and another I saw about the effects of global growth on the farmers in Chile. One of my favorite authors talked about what inspires her life and her writing in a film devoted to her, and to see who she is, how she speaks and moves and relates, changes how I think about her when I read her words. The movies portray the people and culture of other lands, people who make a difference in the lives of others, and relay a message to the world. The major themes of the Festival are announced in the sidebars of the program: It’s Easy Being Green, Medical Mart, and Women of the World. Listening and watching and responding to the messages in independent films make a lasting impact. It’s all about the continuing story of humankind, and how we’re different but the same whether we live in Afghanistan or Peru or in Northeast Ohio.

If you have no real agenda in going to the film festival, go to experience something you’ve never experienced before. Throngs of independent film enthusiasts wait in line along the Tower City corridor for admittance. When asked what she would tell people about the Festival, Executive Director Marcie Goodman said, “Buy tickets early before the films go on stand-by.” Most of the attendees are from the immediate eighteen-county radius, making the Festival regional, but the creative people behind the outside-the-mainstream, groundbreaking films selected by the discerning Bill Guentzler also come into town for the various awards.

The exuberance of the filmmakers spills over to into the City of Cleveland. Downtown hotel-festival packages are selling briskly and restaurants will be busier than usual. Many of these movie-goers are attending private receptions and director talks, award banquets and behind-the-scenes presentations in honor of films that aren’t backed by big corporate money generate a lot of creative energy. The Festival is honoring director John Sayles and has selected writer Michael Cunningham for the From the Page to Projector award co-sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Library. The opening night gala tomorrow night will bring people together in a way that lights up the importance of the Cleveland International Film Festival.

During the Festival’s run CSU is hosting Reel Changes, a Series of Interactive Discussions of the Evolving Art, Craft and Business of Film Making. The fact that CSU’s School of Communications thought the series would attract an audience speaks to the sophistication and love of film displayed by Clevelanders. FilmForums, which take place immediately after the conclusion of selected film screenings, uses film as a catalyst for discussion of issues that face the world today, from AIDS to race and religion to oppression vs. freedom, to assisted suicide. Yes, as I said earlier, the stories told in these films will change you.

I have always been impressed to hear the comparisons of the films, the background information shared about the directors and producers, and the descriptions of scenes and cinematography being told around me while sitting in a theater before or after a film. The audience knows what works and what doesn’t, good art from bad, and has done its homework. When I mentioned this to Executive Director Marcie Goodman, she responded by saying “The audience in Cleveland is one of the most sophisticated audiences in the world” and the directors who come to Cleveland for the Film Festival feel “embraced, respected, and engaged” by the audience.

Local Cleveland talent is highlighted by the Local Heroes’ film series. Our local movies include “Chasin Gus’ Ghost” by Todd Kwait, “Devil’s Oven” by Valda Lewis, “One Bad Cat: The Reverend Albert Wagner Story” by Thomas G. Miller, “Return of the Cuyahoga” by Lawrence Hott, “Stilletto” by Nick Vallelonga, and “Unspeakable” by Marquette Williams. The film “Swing State,” the 90-minute film depicting “personal and public frenzy” of Lee Fisher’s campaign with Strickland, is directed by Jason Fisher, son of Lee Fisher, with John Intrater and H. Spencer Young; a behind-the-scenes look of campaigning should be interesting during this presidential-election year when Cleveland is again a swing state.

The Festival is full of stories, but the people behind the films are stories in themselves. John Sayles, this year’s Director’s Spotlight Honoree, with his long career in independent films, has a life of stories to tell. Sayles started making films in the late 1970s with “Return of the Secaucus Seven,” which will be shown at the Festival, as will “The Secret of Roan Inish” (1994), “Lianna” (1983), and “The Brother from Another Planet” (1984). While many independent film directors go on to work in Hollywood or drop out of the ranks, Sayles has maintained his independent spirit, and his life journey would certainly be a story.

Some of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham’s story of seeing a novel become a film will be told during an award reception at the English Oak Room on March 11. All the other people involved in each and every film, from producer to actor, have stories to tell.

The people behind the Festival in Cleveland make a good story. Clevelander Marcie Goodman, the Executive Director of the Film Festival, has been with the organization since 1987, so her story is one of dedication to the event. Marcie particularly likes the question, “How will it change you?” and she says she wants to know how the films change the audience. I asked her how the Festival chooses its films and she told me there are two ways in which films end up at the Festival: Bill Guentzler travels around the world and invites films to be in the festival, and there’s a Worldwide Call for Entries. This year there were 1100 submissions that were viewed by a selection committee.

The Festival employs five full-time people all year, including Artistic Director, Bill Guentzler, who travels around the world during the time between festivals, searching for films he thinks are important or enticing enough to show at the Festival—I can only imagine what it’s like to be in Cannes when they roll out the red carpet or in Park City for the Sundance Festival or scouring the cinemas of Delhi. He must have enough stories (and I was guessing at some of the places he may have been—with 59 countries represented, he was probably in more interesting places than Cannes) to write a long memoir.

The Cleveland Film Society, which stages the Film Festival, states its mission as promoting “artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition to enrich the life of the community.” The Film Festival would like to continue fulfilling that mission for another 32 years with its $32,000 Challenge Match. To participate in this year’s local film event of the year, call 1-866-865-3456, go to www.clevelandfilm.org, or walk over to the Film Festival Store at Tower City Cinemas. Whatever you do, order your tickets early and join the challenge to keep the Cleveland International Film Festival in Cleveland.

Every film tells a story. Telling stories through film unites us. It’s a good thing.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Claudia J. Taller ctallerwritesATwowway.com

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

HOT Diary of a Punk Mike Hudson, lead singer of legendary Cleveland proto-punk/ post-punk band the Pagans, will be at Visible Voice Books for a book signing of his newly released Diary of a Punk. A hugely influential band, the Pagans have often been overlooked for their contributions to modern music. No cost, open to the public on Wed 3/5 at 7PM. http://www.visiblevoicebooks.com.

20 Years of Making Great Strides The Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland holds their Kick-Off Celebration on Wed 3/5 at 6PM at the Hard Rock Café in Cleveland, 230 West Huron Rd. in Tower City Center. With this being the 20th anniversary of the Walk, the organization is celebrating and offering the opportunity to meet other Hunger Network supporters. Learn how to lead a walk team and enjoy no-cost appetizers, soft drinks and prizes will all be part of the kick-off party. RSVP at http://www.hungernetwork.org.

The Gates This sdvanced screening of the film documents the 26-year incubation of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s epic art installation in New York’s Central Park. Replete with 23 miles of framed orange nylon during the winter of 2005, you’ll never see Central Park the same again. This is bound to be a fascinating documentary. Check it out Wed 3/5 at 7PM. No cost, open to the public. 1-888-CMA-0033 or visit http://www.clevelandart.org for details.

SPONSORED: Check Out the Curator’s Forum Series: “T. rex vs. Triceratops: Why Horns Are Better Than Teeth” on Wed 3/5. Learn about the two most famous “terrible lizards” that towered over the landscape 65 mil years ago. Next is the ‘“True Story of Downtown Cleveland Rocks” on Wed 3/19. We’ll take you on a virtual tour of selected landmarks, telling the story of the stones used to build them. And don’t miss ‘“Skywatchers and Monument Builders: Can We Connect Them?”‘ on Wed 3/26, about the Hopewell people, who lived in southern Ohio 2,000 years ago and built monumental earthen constructions that, viewed from above, formed recognizable shapes on the ground. All forums start at 7PM. $5 member, $7 nonmember. Order tickets: 800-317-9155, ext. 3279, or (216) 231-1177. Info: www.cmnh.org.

HOT 32nd Cle Int’l Film Festival Don’t miss this visual feast, which launches Thu 3/6 at 7PM with an Opening Gala and screening of Then She Found Me. The Gala includes the film at 7PM at Tower City Cinemas, followed by a party at 9PM at MK Ferguson Plaza in Tower City Center. Special guest Elinor Lipman, who wrote the novel that the romantic comedy is based on, will be on hand. Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt makes her directorial debut and also stars in the adaptation. Also, be sure to read all about this year’s CIFF “Local Heroes” series! http://www.elinorlipman.com. http://www.clevelandfilm.org.

Todd Kwait The Cleveland native and first time filmmaker, will screen his music documentary Chasin’ Gus’ Ghost at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Three screenings will take place between Fri 3/7 – Sun 3/9 at Tower City Cinemas. View the trailer here. http://www.clevelandfilm.org.

Runway For Rainbow: The Power of Fashion This ultra-chic benefit for Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital features a silent auction, raffle, cocktails and h’ors doeuvers and “The Best of Saks Fifth Avenue” fashions this Thu 3/6 at 6PM at the Key Club at Key Center. Call 323-2647 or email aglonek@hotmail for tickets and details. Sponsored by KeyBank and Saks Fifth Avenue. Learn all about all the amazing things happening at Rainbow at http://www.rainbowbabies.org.

MB89 is the musical vehicle of artist Craig Collorosso. Beyond that it is “an idea, an experience, an art form” according to its composer. Presented in four one-hour increments, a cylindrical mass of metal and fabric will stand in the room from within the cylinder will be a bass clarinet generating a drone with electronics and lights that constantly change. Subtle color fills the space and changes with the music. Eat your heart out Lou Reed Metal Machine Music fans. Experience MB89 at Visible Voice Books Thu 3/6. Get a Feel For It Here. http://www.visiblevoicebooks.com.

International Women’s Day is celebrated at Trinity Commons Thu 3/6 starting at 5PM. Every year the first week in March, millions gather in rallies and parades around the world to honor the achievements of women on International Women’s Day — an occasion relatively unknown in the United States. Fair trade retailers Ten Thousand Villages and Sacred Path Books & Art join forces with Cleveland State University’s Departments of International Student Services and Women’s Studies to offer a celebration of women across the globe. A reception, East Indian dancing, a lecture, raffle and shopping are part of the fun. Live harp music by Cecilia Ilg McKay. 2242 Euclid Ave. http://www.sacredpathbooks.com.

Das Lied von der Erde Music Director Franz Welser-Möst will conduct The Cleveland Orchestra in concerts featuring Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at Severance Hall on Thu 3/6; Fri 3/7; and Sat 3/8 at 8PM. Tenor Jonas Kaufmann and baritone Christopher Maltman will be soloists in the work. Mr. Maltman will be making his Cleveland Orchestra debut. http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

Adrienne Zurub The former Cleveland Clinic nurse and member of the National Speakers Association of Ohio signs her work Notes from the Mothership on Thu 3/6 at 7PM at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lyndhurst. Zurub is more than a biography — it’s a poetic, tragic look at life in general. Writing about her various life experiences — including her tenure at the Clinic, which is what led to her firing — she has written a wonderful debut novel. Buzz on the book is a big deal. http://www.josephbeth.com.

HOT Tower City Arts Festival Sponsored by Lake Erie Arts Gallery and Tower City and produced by Northcoast Promotions, the first-ever Tower City Arts Festival Fri 3/7 – Sun 3/9. The Arts Festival features a Designer Showcase and will be running simultaneously with the Cleveland International Film Festival at Tower City Cinemas and is no-cost, open to the public. For more information on the festival, see Lake Erie Artists’ blog. http://www.lakeerieartists.com.

The Planet hits the Cleveland International Film Festival starting Fri 3/7. See what’s happening to our fragile world in this Swedish documentary’s weekend CIFF run. The Fri screening will be followed by a panel discussion with local sustainability experts. Tickets at http://www.clevelandfilm.org‘ or by phone 866-865-FILM.

HOT Phenomena(l) Transcendent Curiosity This SPACESGallery lecture/talk focuses on Transcendent Curiosity: Co-Evolution of Art and Religion and the Later Emergence of Science. It features John Byrum, former editor and publisher of Generator Press and Phenomena(l) Ohio artists Gregory Little and Laura Vinnedge, will discuss the role science plays as a muse for the works included in the exhibition and respond to Byrum’s lecture. Don’t miss this cerebral evening Fri 3/7 at 6PM. This wraps up the current exhibition Phenomen(l), which closes that night. No cost, open to the public. 2220 Superior Viaduct. http://www.spacesgallery.org or call 621-2314.

HOT Guitars International in cooperation with CIM, presents a concentrated series of outstanding artists in performances and master classes Fri 3/7 – Sun 3/9. This “Guitar Weekend” includes several concerts and master classes. CIM guitar department Head Jason Vieaux will present a free recital on Sun 3/9 at 4PM, featuring works by Albéniz, J.S. Bach and Pat Metheny. Full schedule available at http://www.cim.edu and http://www.guitarsint.com.

Exquisite Coarse Check out this exhibition of contemporary ceramic art at the Downtown Gallery, 141 East Main St., Kent. Exquisite Coarse features the “Collaborative Work of Lesley Baker and Karl McDade” and runs through late March. A gallery talk Fri 3/7 at 2PM features Baker, Assistant Professor, Herron School of Art and Design; IUPUI and Anderson Turner, Ceramics Author and Director of Galleries, Kent State University School of Art. For more info, email: haturner@kent.edu or call 330-672-1369.

Material Studies Zygote Press hosts the exhibition Material Studies: Process and Play launched with a reception Fri 3/7 at 6PM. The exhibition brings together four artists whose work in sculpture, collage, drawing and prints speaks to themes of process and play. 1410 E. 30th St. Call 621-2900 or visit http://www.zygotepress.com for more.

Wine and Cheese Night Hike This event at Holden Arboretum is sure to sell out. Starting Fri 3/7 at 7PM, instructor Dan Donaldson will lead a group on an early spring night hike — expect to hear frogs singing, owls calling, and bats just arriving. Enjoy a variety of wines and gourmet cheeses after the hike. This rain-or-shine event (dress accordingly) looks to be fun for nature lovers; wear your hiking shoes. The Holden Arboretum 9500 Sperry Rd, Kirtland. http://www.holdenarb.org.

The History Boys Remember the things you loved and hated about school? Your ideals? Memorable teachers? Go back to school and experience those moments again with the Tony Award-winning The History Boys at the Beck Center for the Arts beginning Fri 3/7 at 8:00PM and running through the end of the month. Blending comedy and tragedy, the story shares the experiences of eight grammar school boys preparing for college entrance exams and the year that influenced the rest of their lives. (Sunday matinees run at 3PM). Call 521-2540 or visit http://www.beckcenter.org for details and tix.

SPONSORED Several special programs on WCLV 104.9 FM are on tap. This Sat 3/8, The Cleveland Orchestra is live from Severance Hall with Franz Welser-Moest and soloists performing Mahler’s passionate “Das Lied von der Erde.” On Mon 3/10 at 8PM, Baldwin-Wallace’s Elysian Trio will be heard in a live-by-tape concert. And on Tue 3/11 at 9PM, composer John Costa is Andrew Rindfleisch’s guest in the New Music Studio from Cleveland State. Full details on all of WCLV’s programming at http://www.WCLV.com.

HOT Red {an orchestra}’s Mega Movie Edition Their 6th season comes to an exciting conclusion with a concert featuring the music of film composer Bernard Herrmann, whose scores for classic films of Alfred Hitchcock — Vertigo, North By Northwest and Psycho — are unmatched in their distinctive style. The concert takes place on Sat 3/8 at 8PM at the Masonic Auditorium in Cle’s Midtown neighborhood. Herrmann achieved great fame with his scores for the Hitchcock classics; his style as a film composer was formed in his concert music. http://www.redanorchestra.org.

Lakewood Home Show This year’s show runs Sat 3/8 and Sun 3/9 and features information, entertainment and loads of ideas for both new and existing homeowners. Learn about topics such as “Designing with Annuals,” “How To Make Your Home Green,” Feng Shui, Home Revitalization, and much more! A Home Buying seminar on Saturday rounds out the festivities. Learn more about the show, hours and admission at http://www.lakewoodhomeshow.com.

Jazz Vespers This Cleveland Jazz Orchestra special event celebrates the release of the group’s latest CD, Jazz Vespers this Sat 3/8 at 8PM. The CD was recorded last April; Paul Ferguson’s compositions explore the beauty of sacred music set to the powerful sound of a jazz orchestra. Don’t miss it! Cleveland Bop Stop 2920 Detroit Ave. http://www.clevelandjazz.org.

Sustainable Energy Festival, held at The Wilderness Center in Stark County was a huge success. Fairless Middle School in Navarre (Stark County) hosts the 2nd annual event Sat 3/8. Discover the benefits, challenges and costs of clean energy living through no cost presentations running throughout the day. Sozens of exhibitors, hands-on demonstrations and experts will be there to answer all your questions. For info, schedule and tix, visit http://www.greenenergyohio.org.

SPONSORED: A Movie Maestro’s Masterpieces are performed by one of the most imaginative and multi-sensory orchestral experiences: Red {an orchestra}. Check out a concert featuring the music of film composer Bernard Herrmann, whose scores for classic films of Alfred Hitchcock ”- Vertigo, North By Northwest and Psycho – are unmatched in their distinctive style. Experience film clips while Herrmann’s Hollywood masterpieces are performed including excerpts from his rarely produced opera, Wuthering Heights. This is perhaps the greatest unknown opera in the history of American music and it will feature the vocal talents of baritone Michael Todd Simpson and mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey. Join us on Sat 3/8 at 8PM in the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland’s Midtown neighborhood. Tickets are available starting at $15. Contact 216.361.1733 or www.redanorchestra.org.

Strings of Spring with Heavenly Voices Pianist Feroza LaBonne, cellist Lindsay Taylor Brown, and violinist Wanda Sobieska will perform the soulful English Folk Songs of Vaughn Williams, Beethoven’s melodious and ecstatic “Spring Sonata” for violin and piano, and the dazzling “Tarantella” by Squire for cello and piano. Rounding out this Sun 3/9 at 3PM program is Phyllis Speirs, who conducts one of the loveliest classical choral pieces ever written, Schubert’s “Mass in G.” Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby. Info: 440-951-7500 or http://www.fineartsassociation.org.

CSU Sundown Jazz One far too unappreciated event is the monthly (through fall and winter) Sundown Jazz Concert series at Cleveland State University, in Drinko Hall in the Music/Communcations Bulding at Euclid and 21st. Catch the latest installment Sun 3/9 from 4 – 6PM. This month, Joe Hunter (piano), Lev Polyakin (jazz violin) and Marty Block (bass) are featured. http://www.clevelandstate.edu.

Sam Taylor-Wood and Craig Lucas Don’t miss these two MOCACleveland exhibitions! In her first solo U.S. exhibition, British artist Taylor-Wood unveils a portfolio of video and photographic installations featuring her celebrity friends (like Sir Elton John, Robert Downey Jr., and David Beckham) and others. Nearby, Lucas’s Surge: A Pulse Exhibition redirects his abstract work to create semi-figurative paintings and prints in response to the war in Iraq. Both exhibitions run through mid-May, but may we suggest giving your Sun 3/9 morning a lift? Get there at 11AM when they open, after going out for breakfast and coffee. Let it never be said we don’t give you ideas. Call 421-8671 or visit http://www.mocacleveland.org.

CIA’s 62nd Annual Student Indie Exhibition If you don’t get your fill at MOCA, a short car ride to the juried exhibition of work created by current CIA students is a good place to wrap up Sun 3/9 starting at noon. The S.I.E. features the work of students across all 16 of CIA’s artistic majors. Runs through mid-March, so your time is running out. No cost, open to the public. Call 421-7000 or visit http://www.cia.edu.

Play it Forward The 4th Annual Heights March Musical Magic Benefit Concert hits Fairmount Presbyterial Church in Cleveland Heights this Sun 3/9 at 3PM. Turn your clocks ahead and celebrate time with some of the finest musicians who perform and teach right here in Northeast Ohio! Program includes the timeless music of Bach, Bartok, Poulenc, Schubert and some rousing Hungarian gypsy music! Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Blvd., Cle Hts. For concert information, please contact Peggy Spaeth, bassoonist parent at 371-3457 or email: spaethcoburn@sbcglobal.net.

Chinese Art Today This MOCA MIX::FILM features Cao Fei and Yang Fudong and is showin oin collaboration with the 2008 Cleveland International Film Festival Mon 3/10 at 7PM at Tower City Cinemas. http://www.mocacleveland.org.

University of Akron JazzFest 2008 launches Tue 3/11 in UofA’s Guzzetta Recital Hall and E.J. Thomas Hall. Concerts and master classes are among the events in three-day festival. Jazz trumpeter Marvin Stamm (2008 Bittle Jazz Artist-in-Residence), pianist Bill Mays and trumpeter Jack Schantz are among the featured performers. A Cabaret Concert on We 3/12 at 7:30PM is included. Info and schedule by calling 330-972-5196 or logging on to http://www.uakron.edu/music.

Irish Sopranos The Cleveland Pops Orchestra welcomes their special guests for a concert experience presented in conjunction with The Irish-American Charitable Foundation Wed 3/12 at 8PM at Severance Hall. 11001 Euclid Ave. Call 765-1412 for more info. http://www.clevelandpops.com.

Poems Need Legs Heights Writes presents another poetry workshop in its popular series with local poets Wed 3/12 at 7PM at Heights Arts Studio, 2340 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights (west side of Library bridge). Kelly Harris leads this poetry workshop, designed to give poets at all levels a workshop atmosphere in which to present poems for group discussion and criticism. Emphasis on the various elements of poetry such as rhythm and meter, imagery, person, tone and diction, form theme and mood will be discussed. Poems by contemporary American poets will also be highlighted. RSVP required at 371-3457 or via email at register@heightsarts.org.

Loving Lockwood Jr. Legendary bluesman Robert Lockwood Jr. posthumously won the 2008 Grammy for “Best Traditional Blues Album.” The Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas features Henry James Townsend, Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins, Lockwood Jr. & David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Robert’s performance was singled out for Grammy recognition. Also credited on the award winning album are the members of The Lockwood All-Stars Band who perform at Fat Fish Blue every Wednesday night, including Wed 3/12 at 8PM, in tribute to Lockwood. No cost, open to the public. http://www.fatfishblue.com.

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

SPONSORED: Interested in Innovative Marketing? Donate to the 2008 WVIZ/PBS Televised Auction and receive valuable on-air promotion and a tax deduction. Donations include: Antiques, art, collectibles, vacations, event tickets, wine, dining certificates, and appliances. Each year, the Auction draws thousands of viewers ready to buy. Call 216.916.6100 or visit www.wviz.org.

Jonathan Scheffer
Red {an orchestra}

Jonathan Scheffer is excited about movie music. Not only did he spend his formative years composing scores for “rather bad movies” (his words) and TV shows, his knowledge and experience with contemporary movie music is without compare. As comes out in this video interview with Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready in Jonathan’s Downtown Cleveland loft, Scheffer has worked with some of the greats. Last year, he conducted the music for The Good Shepherd directed by Robert DeNiro and starring Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon. He’s also worked with composing giant Danny Elfman, and Scheffer composed the TV music for Ben Affleck’s first movie, for which Madeline Kahn won an Emmy. They talk about the upcoming Red concert on Sat 3/8 and the surprises in store: excerpts from Bernard Herrmann’s “lost” opera, film clips of Psycho, and other Hitchcock classics, and a legendary Cool Cleveland party with open bar and hors d’oeuvres to kick it all off (get discount tix here). RedAnOrchestra.org

It’s a Family Affair!
The Contemporary Youth Orchestra visits Pittsburgh

We’re getting our act together and taking it on the road. Well, and why not? There were any number of good reasons that two buses and several cars headed away from Cleveland State University going to Pittsburgh on Saturday morning February 9. It wasn’t an athletic team making the trip, it was a musical team—the Contemporary Youth Orchestra, founded thirteen years ago by its music director Liza Grossman. This was their first-ever trip as a group.

But not everyone was able to leave that morning. Some of the musicians were competing in a regional swimming meet; others were in an ensemble competition. Still others were away elsewhere on recruiting trips of their own. Haydee Pagan and her daughter Olivia Harris (a senior cellist) arrived home rather late on Friday from such a trip, but still made it to the bus by 9:30AM the next morning. Small wonder that both of them slept on the bus!

Other students were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, but so well-mannered! I was thrilled to be included on the trip, but still somewhat hesitant, wondering about the noise level. I needn’t have worried. These young people were so quiet we adults kept checking to make sure they were still there! They read, or wrote, or talked quietly among themselves. A CD of their most recent concert in December sounded through the bus audio system, prompting the occasional cheer, but otherwise, it was a very sedate bus trip. Both ways.

Several parents also made the trip: some on the bus and some in their cars. Others came later in the day, after their other commitment was met. Kate Sheppard-Sage was one of the organizers of the trip, seldom observed without a clutch of papers in her hands. In her other life she’s a professor of Economics at the University of Akron; her husband Lewis Sage, is a Professor of Economics at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea. They live in Hudson. Good thing they’re economists! She also does a good bit of the fund-raising/grant-writing for CYO, allowing Ms. Grossman to primarily tend to the musical aspects.

Their older son, Rob, a trombonist, is a junior at Carnegie-Mellon, majoring in performance on his chosen instrument, but in ensemble work, not as soloist. About Ms. Grossman he says, “Liza is an incredible conductor. I was very fortunate to work with her for three years. She’s very good at taking what you can do and pushing you, to find out just how far you can go.” He studies with the co-principal trombonist in the Pittsburgh Symphony, Rebecca Cherian. Rob’s high school years before graduation saw him in rehearsal for something or other for a minimum of nine hours each weekend. He played in a student jazz ensemble at Tri-C and the Akron Youth Symphony, as well as CYO.

His dad chimed in with: “Liza gets them to places where you just say, ‘damn!’”. His mom added, “Liza pushes. And pulls. She reaches out to them. But then, she allows them time to get there.” Because she likes contemporary music, it was Kate’s idea for Rob to audition for CYO, but she adds with a grin, “I didn’t have to push very hard, it didn’t take a lot of persuasion.” She didn’t know it would turn into quite such a family affair. They also have a younger son, who, in spite of being ‘a lovely pianist’ isn’t going into music.

The purpose of this trip was to perform a concert at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall on the Carnegie-Mellon University campus on Sunday afternoon. The repertoire consisted of two works from that same December concert, plus one from this weekend’s movie music concert. Richard King, principal horn player of the Cleveland Orchestra would again perform the Horn Concerto that the CYO commissioned for him from American composer John Kennedy, and which received its world premiere in December. He would drive up on Sunday morning, however, after hearing auditions at CIM for incoming students, after Saturday evening’s concert by the orchestra. Fortunately, Pittsburgh is fairly close, except for when it snows or rains really hard, making traffic hazardous.

Another piece from the December concert was Pini de Roma by Resphigi. Needing a few extra brass players for the piece, Ms. Grossman called on CYO alum, trombonist Rob Sheppard-Sage. He rounded up several of his fellow students, who cheerfully participated, while parked in the balcony of the gorgeous old hall, built in the early 1900s to honor military personnel from the Civil War and World War One. Ms. Grossman thought the stage was a bit smaller, but the auditorium was more than twice as large, with warm, resonant acoustics.

But I’m getting ahead of myself here. Even during a stop for fuel for the youngsters, (snacks, especially pizza, proved very popular! even before noon) they were well-behaved, never once causing any of the accompanying parents to remind them of their circumstance. Once at the hotel, instruments and luggage was unloaded from the buses and cars and put in a secure storage room, as check-in time would not be for several hours yet.

At this point, we separated briefly. I went off to the Phipps Conservatory and the Chilhully Glass Exhibit, which I’d been wanting to see since it first opened there last May. The young musicians and their parents went off to see the various attractions of Carnegie-Mellon University, where several of the students will most likely further their education. The young musicians were so well-behaved at the Carnegie Museum, they made a big impression on several of the docents who guided them through the vast spaces. In fact, some of those same docents came on Sunday to hear the performance. In the process, these Pittsburghers were able to hear some of their own, as well.

But still on Saturday, after the Museum tour, and check-in at the hotel, the youngsters were bused to the downtown Station Square Center for dinner at their choice of venue. Then it was back to the CMU campus again where they participated in a concert/masterclass by Eighth Blackbird, which was enthusiastically received. After pizza in the hotel’s common room, it was off to bed for a very tired group.

Breakfast the next morning was followed by a reunion with musical instruments and rehearsal! It took only a brief time to settle in, and become accustomed to the acoustics, an important part of traveling. Then came the major event.

Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School (very like our own School of the Arts) performed on the first half of the program at the express invitation of Ms. Grossman. A chamber orchestra, usually directed by instructor David Knapp, performed the Overture to The Pirates of Penzance in a totally up-beat and vivacious manner. The conductor for this performance was student Michael DePasquale, a very gifted young man who should have no difficulty in pursuing a conducting career. He was on top of the score, in every little detail, meticulously meeting the rhythmic demands while still being helpful to his musicians by cueing them in at the appropriate times. It was such a vibrant performance, I wished we could have heard the entire operetta.

This feeling was intensified by the appearance of two young singers for Poor Wandering One from the same operetta. Annie Raego, soprano and Adriani Cleveland, mezzo-soprano, were marvels of expression, vocal agility and pitch in this large auditorium. (Later, I overheard an unidentified gentleman saying he’d never heard a high-school-age soprano of that quality before. Ever. I’m not sure I want to go quite that far, but certainly, she was excellent.)

Richard Dannenberg, a violinist in the chamber orchestra, stepped out to the front of the stage as soloist in a performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto, which was more than capably played, again conducted by the truly extraordinary young Mr. DePasquale. CAPA’s Modern Music Ensemble –ANTITHESIS, a small, electronically-assisted group performed a piece by Terry Riley, which was conducted by Ben Opie and Rick McNerny.

A presentation at the end of intermission allowed Ms. Grossman to present Mr. Knapp with a DVD of the CYO performances, and he reciprocated with a Terrible Towel. She looked as though she didn’t quite understand what that was all about, but that’s okay—she isn’t from Pittsburgh, and may not be much of a football fan, either. (She’s from Detroit.)

The CYO was superb, of course, as they always are. Danny Elfman’s Spiderman led off, followed by Mr. King’s performance of the Horn Concerto by John Kennedy, and the musical portion of the aftenoon was concluded by a roof-rattling rendition of the Pini di Roma by Respighi. The additional brass in the balcony was awesome!

A reception following the concert allowed the two groups of young musicians to become acquainted with each other, and new friendships to be formed. It’s a reasonable guess that some of the Clevelanders will end up at CMU, while some of the Pittsburghers could well come to this area for further study.

The buses were waiting for us, ready for the trip home, which was interesting, considering the abrupt change in the weather. I know, Cleveland in February! But it was a safe and uneventful trip back to CSU. The purpose of this trip, was more than to just present a concert

That’s more or less the end of the trip story, in itself, but CYO is more than just a student orchestra; it’s a way of life. Coming from all areas of Cleveland and the surrounding communities as they do, the students rarely get a chance to socialize with other young musicians beyond their own stand partner or section mates. Many of the parents are involved, to an extraordinary degree. In fact, once their own children have graduated from high school and gone on to college, the parents stay involved with CYO because they believe so strongly in what CYO and Ms. Grossman do for their children and their community.

When Dean Hinterberger and his wife – a professor and Urban Planner at CSU (and Associate Dean for Urban Affairs) – became parents, they decided that Dean would be ‘Mr. Mom’ to their son, Andrew, now a senior at Hawken and a cellist in CYO. He’s been studying music since second grade, but isn’t sure yet about which college or even if he’ll continue music once he gets there, as his first real love is computer science. Or maybe he’ll minor in music; in addition to cello, he also plays various kinds of guitar. He has six of them—good for classical or rock or heavy metal.

Andrew had almost reached the black belt stage in martial arts after six years, but it was becoming logistically difficult between the music and the school and the transportation. He’s also a golfer and former basketball player at Hawken. This summer he hopes to crew as well. They’ve been on school visits to Wittenberg (he liked it a lot) and RIT – that was good for computers, but no so good for music. Of course, he might be able to scoot over to Eastman for that. He still has some time to reach a conclusion.

One conclusion that Dean has reached, however, is that he’s not leaving CYO once Andrew moves on. “Other than socializing with the other parents, I’m exposed to music I might not have listened to otherwise. A couple of hours a week with these kids goes a long way to recovering from reading the daily paper. They’re such a positive group. Liza does such a good job. She gets people to work hard and they don’t even realize it.” He stops for a moment of reflection, then continues. “I’d miss it,” he adds simply.

Attending college is a requirement for the members of the CYO. We read frequently in the papers or hear on TV about this or that young athlete being assiduously courted by a college or university enamored with the young person’s skills with a ball or in a pool or on a track. These students are equally gifted, but in a different direction, although some of them are also athletic. Charlie Poe, for instance is a violinist for CYO, and a junior at Kenston High, where he’s a member of the swim team. He and his younger sister (a violist) and brother (a pianist) keep their parents hopping, going from one event to another. Just listening to Charlie’s regular schedule is enough to wear one out.

The morning of the trip, Charlie stayed behind for a high school sectional swim competition. His parents brought him to Pittsburgh and stayed for the concert the next day. He swims four events: the 100 yard butterfly, 200 yard freestyle, and the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. He achieved personal bests in his events that morning, although just not quite good enough to advance to the regionals. He’s been swimming for 10 years, and studying violin for nine. He’s also a bass-baritone in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, and engages in acting and musical theater at school, where he maintains a 3.8 or 3.9 grade average. Charlie knows he’s going to be involved in music in his adult life, although the exact manner is still undecided. He’s leaning strongly toward music education and choral conducting.

He’s just started piano lessons, as though he needed another activity to add to his list, to go along with water skiing, sailing and swing dancing. He’s also a dj at Kenston’s radio station, WKHR 91.5, which apparently plays everything but rock.

Charlie is also an excellent writer and very literate. For instance, this came to me in an e-mail from him, and I’ve not touched one comma. ******”In terms of athletic competition and artistic performance, I would say that they compliment each other. So your original statement of “athletic competition helping with stage nerves” also goes vice versa. Swimming to me is as technically demanding as playing an instrument, therefore the nerves would be equivalent. Quite frankly, they’re quite comparable to each other. As I have advanced in both my swimming and violin career, I’ve found that more and more fine tuning is required to keep getting better. The more of this fine tuning you have done beforehand the better, hence the point of practicing and rehearsal. Typically though, my nerves usually don’t get to me. It’s a matter of simply settling in mentally during those ten minutes beforehand and building up self confidence.

“Settling in” before a race is obviously different than “settling in” before a performance, but they’re both accomplishing the same task. For me, it just flat out feels awesome to throw myself out there knowing that I’m going to give what I’m doing everything I’ve got and not give a care to what anyone else thinks about it. If I’m in this state of mind before walking through the stage door or stepping up on to the block, nerves hardly have any effect at all, really only kicking a little adrenaline into the system.”****** (I would remind you that this is from a 17-year-old. He hasn’t yet started a college search, but lucky the one that lands him!)

At one point, I asked Charlie what he’d do if he had to choose between swimming and playing the violin. He thought for a moment, then said, “It would be pretty difficult to choose between them. They’re both really important values to have in life.” Being so well-grounded sure doesn’t hurt, either!

Olivia Harris, the cellist who is a senior at Brush, has made six college visits this spring, from Cleveland to Chicago to Montreal to Hartford, auditioning at each of them, trying to discern from a brief weekend visit where she’ll further her studies. Fortunately, her Mom, Haydee Pagan—a teacher in the Cleveland School System–is usually able to drive her on these trips; a cello requires an airplane seat of its own, a considerable added expense, but worth it for really long trips.

Olivia is a talented visual artist, whose favorite mediums are painting and photography. It’s quite certain that music performance will be her major, with a minor is visual art. She’s one of the handful of young musicians who perform with both youth orchestras in the city, but she goes the others one better, by playing a different instrument—the harp—in the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. She plays softball in the summer, and not only volunteers for the South Euclid Humane Society, she’s also a sought-after pet (and child) sitter in her neighborhood. Her 3.3+ grade average qualified her for the Academic Challenge Team at Brush.

In her third season now with CYO, Molly Goldman, a junior at Beachwood, enjoyed the trip to Pittsburgh because of the opportunities it afforded to meet with the CAPA students, as well as the educational exploration possible at the museums there. She admits to “being taken aback by the beautiful auditorium. There was so much empty space in the middle of it, and the acoustics were so good.” She’s participated in a few run-out concerts with CYO and finds them a great learning experience.

Molly is also in the COYO, and plays with a string quartet at school. She’s considering a double music program once she decides on which college to attend. It will be both performance and education. She’s president of the Multi-Cultural Club at school, which she finds enjoyable for ‘getting all sorts of people involved in the community.’ In addition to the musical activities at school, there’s also home: her older brother is a cellist in the CYO, and younger brother is a violinist. Mom plays violin, Dad the cello. And yes, they do all play music together!

Students from the ages of 13 to 19 are eligible for membership in the Contemporary Youth Orchestra. No young musician is denied for financial reasons: financial aid, scholarships and student work study are available. There are other programs also available to students of this age.

Saturday, March 8, you can hear this marvelous organization for yourself, as it presents its Spring Concert at Waetjen Auditorium at CSU. The concert — A Night at the Movies — begins at 7 pm. They’ve not yet announced the guest artist(s) for the annual Rock the Orchestra concert to held in May or June. For information, go to http://www.cyorchestra.org/home.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Celebrate this summer at Lake Metroparks summer day camps Children in preschool through 8th grade can experience this summer naturally at more than 70 different Summer Day Camps. Led by qualified staff at various park locations, summer day camps offer fun and educational activities including art, crafts, science, farming, nature, outdoor skills, fishing, swimming, and boating. Extended care, field trips and an overnight campouts are available for some camps. Explore the complete listing of Lake Metroparks summer day camps online at http://www.lakemetroparks.com. Pre-registration is required to participate.

Footloose Heights Youth Theatre offers up a slate of talented actors ages 12-18 who kick up their heels in this musical production of Footloose Fri 3/7 at 7:30PM and Sat 3/8 at 2PM. Ren McCormack and his mother Ethel move from Chicago to the small town of Beaumont where dancing has been banned. Ren befriends Ariel Moore, a Reverend’s daughter, and is determined do what he can to bring back dance to the town. Filled with 1980s pop mainstays, this production is sure to entertain young and old. Repeats showtimes the following weekend. Wiley Auditorium, 2181 Miramar Blvd., University Hts. http://www.heightsyouththeatre.com.

Peter Pan The Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet visits Neverland this spring production Sat 3/8 at 2:30PM and 7:30PM and Sun 3/9 at 2:30PM. J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s tale gets a rousing dance treatment, complete with a wicked pirate ship, exciting sword fighting, and beautiful custom-designed costumes promise to engage and entertain one and all. Audience members are encouraged to join in the fun by coming dressed as their favorite character from the story. Tickets Here. For additional details, visit the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet’s website: http://www.cvyb.org.

Kids in the Kitchen Don’t miss this interactive program designed for families to learn together about healthy eating, healthy fitness, and living well. Families will plant fresh food, go on a shopping scavenger hunt, find the health foods on a menu, complete an obstacle course, and even get a cooking lesson from award-winning chef Jim Perko (coolness!!) on Sat 3/8 at 10AM. http://www.clevelandchildrensmuseum.org.

HOT A Trip Down Memory Lane Explore the cool opportunity for On-the-Spot Family Oral History Conversations at the Western Reserve Historical Society Sat 3/8 at 1PM. Parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, or any intergenerational group can share memories on any topic in conversation — which will be digitally recorded by WRHS staff on-site. These 5- to 15-minute oral histories are immediately transferred to a CD for participants to take home. Call 721-5722 or visit http://www.wrhs.org for details.

Science is Fun! It’s a super-cool, super-fun hands-on “Family Day” at Case Western Reserve University this Sat 3/8 from 10AM – 4PM. Check out great science experiments; kids of all ages can engage in friendly competitions and science demonstrations. No cost, though an RSVP is required. Call 368-5075 or visit http://www.case.edu/artsci/csm for details and reservations.

Maple Sugaring Days Hale Farm and Village offers the splendor of winter, a day of discovery, and a delicious pancake breakfast in this great family event. Enjoy demos maple sugar production, basket weaving, broom making and much more. Children can enjoy a cool “make-and-take” craft area. Launches Sat 3/8 at 10AM and runs through mid-month. Call 721-5722 or visit http://www.wrhs.org for details.

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Chickens eventually do come home to roost

For the last 20 years I’ve known that one day I would write this column— just as sure as the sun rises in the East… and God makes little green apples. This is one of those “I hate to say, I told you so” pieces. In what has to be one of the biggest “Duhhh” s in U.S. penal history, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is strongly considering opening the prison gates and releasing 22,000 “low-risk” offenders in 2008. Why? To save his state from going bankrupt, that’s why.

It didn’t take a crystal ball to predict — from as far back as the early 70s when politicians began building their careers on “lock ‘um up and throw away the key” demagoguery — that the bill for our foolish and wrongheaded incarceration policies would one day come due. That bill has finally arrived, due and payable next year and it’s all because of budget-busting overcrowding. Recently The Pew Center on the States, a Washington, DC-based research organization released new data in a study entitled “One in 100: Behind Bars in America 2008.” That’s the number of adult males incarcerated in the US, making us the most imprisoned country on earth.

Politicians who falsely promised the citizenry safety and security via Draconian incarceration policies omitted one fairly obvious fact: Prisons are a very, very expensive proposition, especially when they are used for social control and to deliver medical and mental health treatment services… instead of exclusively being used for their originally intended purpose: To house individuals who pose a danger to society. The vast majority of prisoners in California — and virtually every other state — are behind bars not because they pose a danger to society and the commonweal, but because we have failed to construct a social safety net for the human failures our system of government has created by balancing budgets on the backs of the poor.

“I don’t think we’re getting the worst drug lords into the prisons,” said Kentucky State Justice Secretary J. Michael Brown to a Senate committee last month. “We’re just getting the people who went out and got caught. It’s the low-hanging fruit “

We have this huge national appetite for locking up people we don’t like, whose behavior we don’t approve of … and those we just happen to be mad at. Many of the highest grossing movies of all time are horror flicks … because we just love to be terrified. Terror is the only emotion that cuts through our ennui. And, realizing this, politicians manipulate our fears and emotions to get us to sign onto all sorts of policies that produce little benefit — except for the politicians and the prison/industrial complex.

We also have this huge propensity for allowing our manipulating legislators to create unfunded mandates. We just love to listen to them shout “I’m going to lock all of those people up to make you and your family safe!” But they know full well they are lying through their teeth. But when the bill comes due to house and feed this growing population we don’t want to reach down into our pockets and put our money where their mouths are because we don’t feel any safer.

According to The Sacramento Bee, the “Schwarzenegger administration will ask the Legislature to authorize the release of certain non-serious, nonviolent, non-sex offenders who are in the final 20 months of their terms. The proposal would cut the prison population by 22,159 inmates and save the cash-strapped state an estimated $256 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1 and more than $780 million through June 30, 2010. The proposal also calls for a reduction of more than 4,000 prison jobs, most of them involving correctional officers.” A spokesperson for the governor said that a final decision has yet to be made. It pays to keep in mind that California is a bellwether state in matters regarding incarceration; the issues officials there are confronted with today will bedevil officials in other states across the nation in a not too distant tomorrow.

Schwarzenegger’s administration is looking at across-the-board budget cuts to stem a projected deficit predicted to potentially be as high as $14 billion, created in large part by decades of “three strikes” laws that have California prisons busting at the seams. Laws that, by the way, have never live up to their billing in terms of making citizens there any safer.

Officials there are also looking for additional savings by shifting lower-risk parolees into what they describe as a “summary” parole system, which would require legislative approval. Under “summary” parole, offenders would remain on supervised release and would still be subject to searches by local law enforcement at any time, but they would not be returned to prison on technical violations. It would take a new crime prosecuted by local law enforcement officials to return an offender to prison. A summary parole system t would save the state an estimated $98 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year and $329 million through 2009-10. The number of job cuts in the parole proposal would hit 1,660.

With a corrections budget of $9.9 billion annually, California needs to cut spending by 10 percent per year, but the state must also satisfy a panel of three federal judges who are breathing down their necks for overcrowded conditions that border on cruel and unusual punishment. They are threatening legal action to cap the prison population, which currently stands at 172,079. Over the last decade the state has built seven new prisons and no new universities, and the last thing officials want to do is to continue to build more. If the feds take over the state prison system the financial ramifications for California could prove cataclysmic. Default could loom on the horizon.

Corrections officials in California and elsewhere have finally come to the conclusion that no state can simply “build” and “incarcerate” its way out of its crime problems — the only real answers are to find methods of reducing the number of criminals created in a given state by poverty and wrongheaded social and educational policies.

Of course conservatives and victims-rights groups in California are fit to be tied. They say the proposed release poses a massive public safety threat. Assemblyman Todd Spitzer, R-Orange, accused Schwarzenegger of “running with his tails between his legs” from the three federal judges. “I can guarantee you that we’ll be out in force yelling against this,” said Nina Salarno Ashford, an executive board member of Crime Victims United of California.

However, Brad Seldon, an Oakland-based prison activist said that conservatives fail to differentiate between types of crimes and levels of severity. “I don’t want violent criminals returned to society early either,” he said. “In fact, some of them should never be released, but with most of these low-level offenders being considered for release under this currently proposed program, the only ‘victims’ were themselves. In the majority these are drug abusers who never should have been incarcerated in the first place… they should have stayed in the community and received treatment, which is a far less expensive proposition and has a far greater chance of actually solving the problem. We’ve proven over and over that except for dangerous and violent offenders, incarceration simply does not work. But we Americans have this punitive streak in us that we can’t get rid of, and politicians just love to take advantage of it to get themselves elected.”

From Cool Cleveland contributor Mansfield B. Frazier mansfieldfATgmail.com

This week’s most active post on BrewedFreshDaily.com

Meet.The.Bloggers* was invited by local NBC affliate WKYC-TV to watch the debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at Cleveland State University from their studios. WKYC provided the pizza, conference room, bright lights, cameras and reporters. Meet.The.Bloggers* took video, twittered (microblogging on twitter.com), live blogged, and offered realtime commentary on the debate.

Read and add your comment here

A Beginner’s Guide to Biodiesel and SVO

It all started for us just before Valentine’s Day, asking a friend what she planned to get for her husband. “A centrifuge,” she replied, explaining that her engineer/husband had converted their diesel vehicles to run on vegetable oil and a centrifuge was just the thing to prepare waste vegetable oil for use as diesel fuel.

Not very romantic, but the idea of an alternative-fueled vehicle resonated, particularly for Vic, who, for a while now, has been imagining an overheard conversation between two Saudis who rejoice in his inefficient driving habits: “Look, Ahmet, the foolish American is charging a red light! Quick, pump more oil and charge him dearly for it!”

Vic ended up talking with Ray Holan who’s done a number of conversions. His book (Sliding Home: A Complete Guide to Driving Your Diesel on Straight Vegetable Oil, 365 pp, $25, available thru http://www.plantdrive.com) marked him as conversant with the subject and willing to spend time on an article for Cool Cleveland.

Holan started by differentiating between biodiesel and running a vehicle on straight vegetable oil (SVO). “Biodiesel is a fuel that is made from vegetable oil just as cheese is made from milk. Biodiesel can be made from various sources, animal tallow for instance, but commercially it’s usually made from vegetable oil, either fresh pressed or from filtered waste vegetable oil. A home brewer usually uses waste oil (WVO) because it’s free.”

And how do you make biodiesel? Holan says he’s made a couple of thousand gallons himself, so he gave us what he described as a “Reader’s Digest version of the process.” A catalyst made from methyl or ethyl alcohol and either sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide mixed with vegetable oil makes for a reaction called transesterfication, which yields, after settling, “a layer of honey-colored glycerin with a layer of amber-colored raw biodiesel floating on top.”

Is the process hazardous? “Absolutely,” replied Holan, who listed 3 primary safety issues. “The ethanol and methanol are highly flammable, you’ve got a disposal problem with the toxic glycerin, and you’ve got the caustic sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide to deal with.” We found the complexities and hazards of the process completely daunting, but for Holan “It’s definitely doable.”

Or you could just buy your biodiesel from a producer. “Center for Alternative Energy is a commercial biodiesel producer right here in Cleveland down in the old LTV in the flats; they went on line in spring of 2007.” According to Holan, once you have biodiesel fuel processed to American Society of Testing and Materials standards, you can use it in any diesel manufactured after 1996 with no conversion whatsoever.

“Older vehicles used butyl rubber hoses which break down with biodiesel. People refer to it as a ‘biodiesel conversion’ which is really a misnomer. It’s more of an upgrade, if you will, simply a matter of popping off a few old hoses and replacing them with the newer viton hoses.”

We understand from our reading that profit margins for biodiesel producers are slim-to-none, particularly using virgin soybean oil as a feedstock. Prices per gallon tend to run close to regular diesel, which is currently slightly higher than regular gasoline in our area. For real opportunities for savings, do-it-yourselfers look to a so-called two-tank conversion in order to run their diesel vehicle on SVO.

“In the case of biodiesel, you’re converting the vegetable oil into something that you can use in an unconverted vehicle. In the case of vegetable oil, you’re taking an unconverted material, the vegetable oil, and putting it into a converted vehicle,” Holan explained.

“In order to run SVO in a vehicle you have to provide a heated auxiliary fuel system because vegetable oil is 10 – 15 times thicker than diesel. The fuel injectors in a diesel engine would jam up with high viscosity unheated vegetable oil. Think of a Windex spray bottle with olive oil in it – it wouldn’t work very well.”

And how to heat the SVO? “Much of the energy generated in an internal combustion engine – some ungodly amount, maybe 40 – 50% — gets cooled off by the radiator, so the SVO tank is heated by a line from the radiator. Everybody’s familiar with the little one-cup heating element we used in our dorm rooms. The cool thing is that that the SVO is generally about the same viscosity as diesel oil at about 170 – 185 degrees F, and guess what your car’s cooling system generally operates at?”

For every day operation, you start your car using regular diesel and switch over to SVO after the cooling system has heated the SVO to the requisite temperature, usually after about 5 minutes. Similarly, you need to run your vehicle on straight diesel for another few minutes before turning off the engine for prolonged periods lest the SVO congeal in the engine. So, some mindfulness is required in operating on SVO, but the relatively affordable conversion and the low tech process of prepping used cooking oil would seem to open the door to significant savings.

“Fifteen or so companies make commercial conversion kits, including http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com, http://www.greasefuel.com, and http://www.plantdrive.com. Full Circle Fuels in Oberlin installs predominantly Golden Fuel Systems. A do-it-yourself kit goes for about $800 – $900. Parts only would run you about $400 – $500 at an auto parts store.”

Prepping used cooking oil, according to Holan, “is the subject of lots of rigid and wildly varying opinion. Essentially you have to remove particulate with a bag filter or a pump through a canister filter; or you could use a centrifuge, though that’s generally more expensive. You can remove water by heating but with time and gravity, it’ll stratify, settle out, in 1 – 2 weeks. Most people who do this in earnest have a first in, first out system. It’s a matter of what works for you.”

And costs per gallon? “50 cents per gallon pays you for your time, your filters, and other consumables.” That would be less than the $3 per gallon we’re paying at the pump. It would also silence Ahmet and his companion, those 2 hypothetical Saudis living rent-free in Vic’s head.

“Where this really makes economic sense is with fleet vehicles. An operator like Great Lakes Brewing looks at fuel costs of thousands of dollars a month and converting his fleet to SVO is a no-brainer.” This all sounds great. Except – for a couple of people who can’t even change their own oil, it sure sounds daunting. Also – what does happen to the toxic wastes? We’d like our revenge on Ahmet best if we knew it wasn’t creating a new and different ecological problem.

From Cool Cleveland contributors Elsa Johnson and Victor Lucas vicnelsaATearthlink.net

Links to interesting NEO blogs

The Tech Czar refreshes our collective memory on the history of the Medical Mart deal.
Photos of President Bill Clinton at Lakewood High School.
When questioned as to what area he was most passionate about (by Cool Cleveland’s Thomas Mulready, no less) Frank Jackson said education.
Job hunting is the most difficult job you’ll ever have.
Area incubators add new tenants.

R.I.P. Jim Jones

Usually we reserve this space for a weekly CD review from one of the region’s rock luminaries. This week, we pay our respects to Jim Jones, the eclectic musician at the epicenter of Cleveland’s legendary undeground rock scene. Jones died of a heart attack on Monday, February 18th. His work graced a number of influential bands, including Pere Ubu (Ubu’s The Tenement Year album Jones worked on pictured here), Home and Garden, The Styrenes and Easter Monkeys. Obituaries abound, calling for listeners to remember Jones’ sharp perspective on music and creativity. We can’t think of a better way to remember him than by his music. To wit, the Beachland Ballroom is hosting a Jim Jones celebration this Sun 3/9 from 5 – 8PM, the same day they debut their new Rockin’ Brunch. Get to the Beachland early, enjoy a great meal and beverages and stick around for what should be a memorable tribute to one of Cleveland’s greatest musical minds. Watch http://www.beachlandballroom.com for more details as they’re confirmed.

Read one of the better interviews with Jim Jones (over 12 years old now) by clicking here. And watch Pitchfork Media’s video interview with Jones here.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor 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

Hagan, Dimora Comedy Act Makes for Tragedy

How much bungling and boondoggling will Cuyahoga County taxpayers take from their Commissioners?

As the East 9th property bought from Jacobs bounces back to them, and the muddled dance of trying to lure a Medical Mart as an excuse to build a too-expensive and money-losing Convention Center continues, when is anyone going to ask the Commissioners for some accounting?

The mealy-mouthed Pee Dee actually wrote an editorial about the E. 9th old Ameritrust building debacle last Thursday.

Yet the editorial was absent the names “Hagan” and “Dimora.” How can you ignore the principal actors? Isn’t anyone to blame for the shoddy planning of the County?

Can we expect even a modicum of competence from our County Government? Hell, the Cuyahoga County Commissioners – at least Timmy Hagan and Jimmy Dimora – even make George Bush look skillful.

County taxpayers face two major issues to be resolved soon.

First, there is the bungling of the purchase for $22 million (with additions, now labeled a cost of $37.4, with an extra $4 million for asbestos removal expected) of Jacobs’s old Ameritrust properties at E. 9th-Euclid-Prospect, supposedly for a new county administration building, followed by a bid competition that elicited a single suspicious bid.

Secondly, we have the continued indecision over the medical mart and new convention center.

These two very expensive and difficult decisions provide us with stumbling and bumbling on a large scale by County leaders.

As noted here a couple of weeks ago, Cuyahoga County’s sale of the former Jacobs properties at E. 9th & Euclid to the K&D Group looked, as I put it, “counterfeit.” The County subsequently rejected the bid making that supposition ring true.

When is someone in a position of authority going to examine whether the sale of the Ameritrust properties was a matter of gross stupidity or vile corruption?

We can’t expect County Prosecutor Bill Mason to probe Democratic Party leaders but where are the federalistas?

We need a federal probe of the County Commissioners to determine why and how the deal to take Jacobs’s white elephants off his hands was contrived. The reason: It has all the stink of a deal.

It’s accounting time.

Are Hagan and Dimora simply as stupid as they seem or can there be more to this combo’s machinations at E. 9th & Euclid, and with the Medical Mart deal? Hagan’s friendship connection with the medical mart developer, a son of Robert Kennedy, cries out for examination.

And why were the Jacobs properties bought without a plan that insured the County was capable to finance and build a new administration building at the site? What caused the change in plans?

Now, we should have faith in the Plain Dealer for non-legal monitoring of such behavior. However, the Pee Dee, as I have come to call it, appears to be nothing more than a stenography service for all parties involved. Reporters take whatever Fred Nance – Squire-Sanders managing partner and County negotiator on the medical mart – says and presents that as what’s happening. There seems to be little effort to go beneath the surface.

It’s time all principals, including Hagan and Dimora, were made to come clean on these issues.

You should be able to expect the Pee Dee to ask the questions about these major debacles and insist upon answers from public officials. Of course, you can’t when you get editorials that let the culprits off the hook by failing even to name them.

“The best option,” said the PD editorial of the Ameritrust deal “is to get the property back into the hands of a private developer who can make it over as a mix of office, retail and other uses…”

Well, that’s exactly in whose hands it was: a private developer named Jacobs.

The Commissioners rejected the K& D bid earlier than I expected. I thought, as mentioned in the previous column, that they would wait until yesterday’s primary was over. Of course, Hagan had no primary opponent (shame on all of us) and Dimora isn’t on the ballot this year.

Hagan especially deserves close observation. He has enriched Jacobs beyond his already multi-millionaire status by his strong support for Jacobs at Gateway and his insistence and lobbying for total property tax exemption for Cleveland’s baseball stadium and arena. This help enabled Jacobs to profit by several hundred million dollars on the sale of the Cleveland Indians.

In 1998, Hagan left the Commissioner’s office, supposedly tired of the business, only to return in 2004 to run for the office he said had drained him, defeating Tim McCormack. McCormack foot dragged on a costly new convention center. Ironically, Peter Lawson Jones, the third Commissioner who has voted wisely on these issues, may pay the price since he actually has serious Republican opposition this November.

Hagan’s return put him in position to mess up the deal at E. 9th and support the medical mart for his Kennedy family friend who wants both medical mart and convention center on the cheap. The Kennedy operation -Merchandise Mart Properties of Chicago – doesn’t want to put up any part of the cost but wants to control the building, the leasing and the managing of the development, according to Nance.

In other words, we have another deal where the public has to dump in big money and the profits will be handled by the money-makers.

And as I wrote a couple of weeks ago, “The bid from K&D Group from the beginning struck me as a backroom deal made… to help (Hagan and Dimora) save face on a smelly deal that could have significant financial damage to Cuyahoga County and its taxpayers.”

With the rejection of the K&D bid this seems very plausible.

All this incompetence will have its consequences.

As this is written, County taxpayers are voting on a health and welfare levy. If voters yesterday defeated the levy issue, we can blame Hagan and Dimora. They arrogantly ignored voters and went ahead to vote a quarter percent sales tax hike to fund the medical mart/convention center. Hopefully, voters didn’t show anger for the haughty act by voting down the social services levy.

If voters did reject the health and welfare levy, Hagan and Dimora’s comedy act has turned tragic for the neediest people in the County.

Why Did CSU Have to Pay for Debate?

Are we all stupid or what?

Cleveland State University, a college of working class and middle class students, had to raise $300,000 to help put on the Democratic debate last week at the Wolstein Center.

Why?

Debate sponsors NBC-TV, its affiliate here WKYC, and its cable network MSNBC are all profit making entities. They all enjoy government-anointed, semi-monopolies using the public air waves. They are being fed by millions and millions of dollars of election advertising. Yet CSU had to go take $300,000 out of this community to host the event. I don’t understand why the profit-makers didn’t pay their own way.

The Cleveland debate drew 7.78 million voters, a historic best for MSNBC, according to Nielsen Media Research.

So shouldn’t NBC pay CSU, rather than the other way around?

MSNBC has been running ads saying that the debate in Cleveland got it great ratings, but CSU had to pay some of the cost of providing the network a stage.

Doesn’t seem right to me. However, it does seem just the way the private sector operates here and everywhere. It’s all take, take, take.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roldo Bartimole roldoATroadrunner.com

Quick reviews of recent events
Submit your own review or commentary to Events@CoolCleveland.com

The Breakup Notebook: The Lesbian Musical @ Beck 2/23
Hip, fun, original: This adorable new small-cast musical is tailor-made for anyone who has ever obsessed over a relationship crackup: gay, straight, female or male. As protagonist Helen, Jodi Dominick is utterly winsome, whether seeking revenge on Bad Perm (her ex’s new lover) in a laundromat or mooning over a new flame. Local-girl-made-good Lori Scarlett’s lyrics are clever and original, and the music is fresh — instead of the typical second-rate Sondheim, she has an alt-rock sensibility worth of Indigo Girls. Director Vicki Bussert has put together her usual tight cast of young talent, supplemented by local pros Eric Van Baars as Helen’s gay friend and Tracee Patterson who sizzles like a young Brando as the inarticulate but hunky Frances. Russ Borski’s set covered in cartoons is terrific.
Still developing: Patricia Cotter’s book has many charms, but needs some work in the 2nd act, when the music plays 2nd fiddle to plot developments. But it’s great fun — and a terrific date night out.
Details: Thru 3/22, Beck Center, Lakewood. http://www.beckcenter.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 2/28 It was a Farewell to Alfred Brendel. When I was 18, I fell irrevocably, irretrievably in love. It wasn’t the first time, but it’s certainly been the most lasting. I was a freshman in college, playing fourth horn in the orchestra, and for the second concert of the season, our conductor programmed the Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98, by Johannes Brahms. I’d heard it before then, of course, but being surrounded by so much lush music made a lasting impression on me, so I’m predisposed to appreciate any performance of the work. Occasionally, I’ve been disappointed, but I certainly wasn’t this time.

It seems to me that every time I hear one of the standard symphonies performed these days by the Cleveland Orchestra, conducted by Music Director Franz Welser-Möst, I hear something new. It may be a small, generally hidden phrase not usually given center stage, or a small exposed solo by one of the musicians. It’s always a pleasure to discover such a little gem, not previously noticed in other performances or recordings.

The most noticeable (to me) such incident in the rendition of the 4th Symphony on Thursday night was the very beginning of the third movement. Those opening chords had real bite! It was different, and quite engaging. Of course, the horns opening the second movement was also gorgeously silken, and the fourth movement featured lovely solos by Joshua Smith, flute and Frank Rosenwein, oboe. The brass chorale that followed reminded one of a great organ. This performance drew the second standing ovation of the evening.

The first was, of course, automatic, and began even before the final notes of the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 had lost their voice. The legendary Alfred Brendel was the elegant soloist in the Beethoven, as part of his ‘farewell tour.’ What a huge gap he’ll leave behind. Who is there of his status and dignity to illuminate these works for us? The second movement Largo was as a love letter to the beloved, so delicate, it could not possibly have been more eloquent in any kind of language, spoken or otherwise. Near the end of the opening Allegro con brio, Mr. Brendel’s fingers scampered up and down the keyboard on little mice feet, as softly as if they were on pillows. The frisky final Rondo was entirely effortless on his part. We will certainly miss him.

This year’s Daniel R. Lewis Young Composer Fellow, Johannes Maria Staud, of Austria, will return again next year with a work composed specifically for our orchestra. This year, however, we heard his Apeiron—Music for Large Orchestra, in its US premiere. Berlin was the site of its world premiere some three years ago. If the stage last week seemed nearly empty by the chamber-sized grouping of musicians utilized, this week, they made up for it, not least by the huge contingent of percussion instruments. Large orchestra, indeed.

It was a very interesting work for this time and place—very little dissonance, with wide variances of dynamics and rhythmic elements. Soft, shimmering notes began the work, slowly making the transfer to very loud tutti chords with everyone participating. Rhythms ranged from languid to tempestuous, and ended with frenetic energy from the strings. Conspicuous by their presence were the ‘rattles’ in the percussion, a nod to the commissioning conductor, Sir Simon Rattle. Neat touch!

This week’s concerts, conducted by Mr. Welser-Möst, include works by Messiaen and Mahler. For information or tickets, call the ticket office at 231-1111 or visit the website, http://www.clevelandorchestra.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

Cleveland Orchestra @ Severance Hall 2/28 Is art truly imposing form on nature? Eighteenth-century poet Alexander Pope might have sighed with impatience at the Cleveland Orchestra’s opening work for this concert–the loose-jointed but beautifully articulated Apeiron by Johannes Maria Staud (b. 1974). Lovely passages dribbled everywhere, but the work as a whole seemed to go nowhere (yes, I expect shape). Still as the evening progressed, after works by Beethoven and Brahms, works which seemed to gather up all the scattered notes left onstage and turn them into gold, Pope might have sighed with joy. It isn’t fair to judge on first hearing, so it’s probably enough to say that Apeiron had flashes of excitement, singing harp and rumbling brass, and that since Staud is the latest Daniel R. Lewis Young Composer Fellow with the Orchestra, we will hear more from him the future.

Although the orchestra also played Brahms’s last lovely Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Opus 98, with its legendary beauty and their legendary skill (led briskly by conductor Franz Welser-Most), it was the exquisite shaping and directing of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 by veteran pianist Alfred Brendel that completely wowed us all. Brendel’s command of the keyboard, his presence– vibrant and energetic as ever (this is his last appearance here, his first was in 1971)–showed how “soul” is not limited to pop music. Singing along with the music, Brendel revealed the heart that beats within Beethoven’s great concerto with the loving touch of life-long acquaintance and the grace of a master of his art. There was form here and art aplenty and the audience responded with passionate applause and thanks for one more night of pure music.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Laura Kennelly lkennellyATgmail.com

The King and I @ Carousel 2/29 There is a saying among theatre-goers that it’s never a good sign when one exits the theatre talking about the production’s sets and costumes. Well, in the case of Carousel Dinner Theatre’s The King and I, the likely departure conversation will be about the glorious sets and the magnificent costumes. That’s not to say the acting, dancing and singing are bad, they are all quite good, it’s just that the technical aspects of this particular production are so outstanding.

Artistic Director Sean Cercone has let loose big time on the production budget. Scenic Designer Robert Kovach and Costume Designer Dale DiBernardo have very successfully taken up the challenge and created striking visually images.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were the kings of musical theatre in the 1950s and 60s. They wrote more classics for that genre than any other creative team. The list goes on and on, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, Flower Drum Song and Carousel are only a few. Many consider The King and I to be one of their best shows.

The King and I is based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. The plot was actually taken from a story by Anna Leonowens who was a school teacher to the children of King Mongukut, the King of Siam, in the early 1860s. Though the story is supposedly autobiographical, there are numerous questions about the accuracy of the story.

The Broadway production which starred Yul Brenner and Gertrude Lawrence, opened in 1951, ran over 1200 performances and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The script was made into a film in 1956 starring Brenner and Deborah Kerr. Since Kerr was not a singer, Marne Nixon, the diva of voice stand-ins, did the singing.

The story starts with the arrival of Anna Leonowens, a widow from Wales and her son Louis, into Bangkok. She has been hired to teach the children of the King of Siam in the “scientific ways” of the Western world. In the process of her stay there are conflicts over her housing, the King’s “barbaric” control over his people, a visit from the British who may be considering taking over the country as a colony, and eventually the death of the king. All this encased within a glorious musical score that includes, “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Getting to Know You,” “We Kiss in a Shadow,’ and “Shall We Dance?”

R&H’s shows contain messages of societal ills. The theme was highlighted by a major song. In the case of The King and I, it is “A Puzzlement,” during which the King questions his role in bringing Siam into the “new” world, his ability to adapt to the changes and whether what is going on in the outside world is good for his people. Carousel’s production is well served by its cast, which is the largest company ever to appear on the theatre’s stage.

Though he takes a little getting used to, due to a lack of strong physical presence, Francis Jue gives his own spin to the role. That interpretation generally works. Jennifer Hughes is a fine Anna, though her speaking voice was occasionally a little high pitched, and she lacks some of the needed warmth that would have made the character more appealing. She sings well.

Jonelle Margallo (Tuptim) and JP Moraga (Lun Tha), both have nice voices and develop authentic characters as the young lovers. Catherine Cheng Jones (Madam Thiang) does an excellent vocal rendition of “Something Wonderful.” Both of the young boys, Jacob Rummell (Prince Chululongkorn) and Matthew Hemminger (Louis) have difficulty developing realistic characterizations.

Director Stephen Bourneuf and choreographer Vince Pesce do a nice job of creating the proper atmosphere and add some creative touches to the happenings. The major flaw with the production is the overzealous orchestra who often drowned out the vocalists and the sound technician who often cranked the musical volume to an ear-splitting level.

Capsule judgment: This is a musical theatre classic which gets a very good production at Carousel Dinner Theatre.

The King and I runs through April 26. For tickets call 800-362-4100. Show times are Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 8PM, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30PM and Sunday evenings at 5PM and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM”.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

Paul Thorn Band @ Beachland Ballroom 3/1 One thing was for sure after Saturday’s sold out Paul Thorn show in the tavern at the Beachland: it was the last time we will see him in a venue that small. The pro boxer turned blues singer from Mississippi, along with his very talented band, gave the sold out standing room only crowd a solid two hours of blues, rock, and story-telling, that will keep them coming back again and again. Thorns music is a cross between the Allman Brothers and Jim Croce, with every song a story wrapped around great guitar playing. And boy can he write a song, with titles like “It Doesn’t Feel Like Saturday Night,” “I’m Going to Walk Without my Crutches Someday,” “Starvin’ for your Kisses,” and “When the Long Road Ends.” His face still shows a scar or two from his boxing days, and his story telling monologues between songs feature a slow, deliberate southern drawl, and everything comes with an ironic mix of humor and hurt.

For a band that does not get its music played on Cleveland radio, and had only a handful of people at his last Cleveland show, the crowd was filled with many fans of Thorn’s music, and sang along on a couple of gems, including “Every so Often I have a Good Day” and “I’d Rather be the Hammer than the Nail.” His band features lefty Billy Hinds on guitar, one of the best guitarists on the planet. If you missed the show but want to check out more about Paul Thorn and his band and music go to paulthorn.com, or watch him on the Conan O’Brien Show on March 19. The Beachland is entering its ninth year with a lot of great concerts coming up in the tavern and in the ballroom, including shows from King Crimson’s Adrian Below, Utopia’s Kasim Sulton, and roots music singer songwriter Tom Russell. Visit http://www.beachlandballroom.com for more information. I’m looking forward to the March 30 show with Shelby Lynne, who is touring in support of her recently released Dusty Springfield tribute album.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Greg Cielec cielecAThotmail.com

Colder Than Here: Dobama @ Pilgrim UCC 2/29
Reasons to Go: As a British mother with cancer determined to micromanage her own funeral and family, Anne McEvoy is tons better than the script she’s in. She’s at turns perky, exhausted, grouchy, and serene, and her “PowerPoint” funeral presentation is a highlight. The ever-reliable Robert Hawkes is appealing as her at-sea husband.
Caveats: Though there are strong moments and images, Laura Wade’s intermissionless play is repetitious and long-winded. You can hear the contrivance of the plot wheels endlessly turning, especially the interplay between the two sisters, good girl Harriet (Liz Conway) and troublemaker Jenna (a screechy Heather Lea Anderson Boll).
Details: Thru 3/23 @ Pilgrim UCC in Tremont, http://www.dobama.org
from Cool Cleveland contributor Linda Eisenstein LindaATcoolcleveland.com

Colder Than Here: Dobama @ Pilgrim UCC 2/29 Laura Wade, the author of Colder Than Here, now in production by Dobama Theatre, is quite unusual. Between February 2005 and March 2006 she had three plays in production in London. She was the winner of the Critics’ Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright of 2006 and the recipient of Pearson Playwrights Best Play Award. All this, and she has only been writing full-time for less than three years.

Colder Than Here is the story of Myra, a mother in her mid-50’s suffering from advanced secondary bone cancer. Since she only has about six months to live, she sets about planning her funeral with the same energy one might expend on organizing the perfect wedding. She picks out and assembles the cardboard coffin, which she decorates with clouds and stars, even deciding that she wants to be placed in the box on her side, because that’s the way she sleeps. She illustrates her plans in a Power Point computer presentation so her family can follow the directions.

In between trips to scout out prospective eternal resting places, Myra tries to build up the self-esteem of youngest daughter Jenna, who seems to have settled for unhealthy romantic relationships. As Myra says, “While I’m still here, I can help. After I kick it, you’re on your own.” She also confronts her own marital problems, highlighted by years of separate bedrooms, and tries to mend the emotional distance between family members.

Is she bizarre, a woman lost in sorrow? Not so, according to playwright Wade who believes that “Grief needs to be occupied, and organizing the funeral is one way of doing that.” Her research for the play brought her into contact with the Natural Death Movement, which aims to rescue funerals from the high-cost funeral directors and gives people control over their own dead bodies. It’s an approach Wade thinks we would do well to follow. (Incidentally, this is a growing trend in England, where this play is set.)

Sounds like a downer. It’s not. There is humor, tenderness and even beauty. Most of all, there is reality. I defy anyone in the audience not to be thinking about their own approach to death and the rituals which surround it.

Dobama’s production, as has been the case so often, is right on target. Artistic Director Joyce Casey has again chosen a script of merit and turned over the forging of it to director Joel Hammer, who paces the production well, creates all the correct moods and has molded the cast into a quality team.

Anne McEvoy takes on the difficult task of Myra. She does an outstanding job of walking the fine line between humor and drama. This is a masterful performance. We laugh and are amazed at Jenna, the self-obsessed daughter. In the role, Heather Lea Anderson Boll, the only equity member of the cast, effectively traverses the tight rope between being “ditzy,” “confused” and “pathetic.” It would be so easy to go overboard with the haracterization, but Boll doesn’t.

Liz Conway, is right on target as Harriet, the sensible daughter. Robert Hawkes gives a stellar performance as, Alec, Myra’s husband, the typical English male… self-contained, distant and practical. Ben Needham’s multi-scene set works well, as does Michael Boll’s lighting design and Richard Ingraham’s sound.

”Capsule judgment: Bravo to Dobama for continuing a string of outstanding productions. This is a must see presentation that deserves community support. Dobama is still without a permanent home, so this production is being performed at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Tremont. For east-siders, the marvelous church is only a five-minute drive past downtown and contrary to popular myth, you don’t need a passport to get over the Cuyahoga River. There is free and safe parking. Go early and enjoy one of Tremont’s many wonderful restaurants.”

Colder Than Here runs through March 23. For tickets call 932-3396 and leave a message or go online at http://www.ticketleap.com.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Roy Berko royberkoATyahoo.com

A Song for Peace @ First Baptist Church 3/2 It’s been five long years since the United States sent armed troops to Iraq. The ancient prayer Dona Nobis Pacem (or “Grant Us Peace”) was set to music in 1936 when the world was approaching yet another war, by the great English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams. The composer died 50 years ago this year. Two years after Dona Nobis Pacem, he composed another piece for soloists, chorus and orchestra – Serenade to Music. They make an admirable pairing, especially under the leadership of Robert Porco, and the choirs of First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland, Fairmount Presbyterian Church and Plymouth Church of Shaker Heights. Mr. Porco is well known to area audiences as Director of Choruses of the Cleveland Orchestra. First Baptist was the host church for the event.

Soloists in the Dona Nobis Pacem were soprano Sharon Shaffer of Plymouth Church and baritone Peter Bush of Fairmount Presbyterian. In the shorter Serenade to Music soloist duties were spread around a bit, and featured many of the choristers: Diane Julin Menges, Brent Chamberlin, Chester F. Willey, Matt Rizer, Jared Littleton, Lisa Pierce Litteral, Rebecca Myers Hoke, G. Michael Skerritt, Aaron Townsend Hoke, Michael Parry, Lucia Leszczuk and Katie Oldham.

While the orchestra might be considered a ‘pick-up’ band, it was by no means actually that. Many familiar faces were visible among the professional musicians, many of whom are in various orchestras of the area. In other words, this was a first-class production.

The Serenade to Music is set to words of Shakespeare – from the Merchant of Venice – which lovingly extols the many joys of music, whether listening to it or performing it oneself. Originally written for sixteen solo voices, this version used twelve, but with a violin obbligato throughout, almost as though it was a mini-concerto. This was gorgeously performed by Hanne-Berit Hahnemann, concertmaster.

Dona Nobis Pacem uses poetry of Walt Whitman, John Bright and various verses from the Bible. Over and over, it asks Grant Us Peace. The baritone soloist, Mr. Bush, has a pleasant, light voice which carried very well. His diction is superb. Ms. Shaffer’s soprano floated easily over the full orchestra when required. Yet, at one point, she sang most plaintively, at about half-voice, the words Dona Nobis Pacem, until the militaristic beat of the snare drums rose up underneath her plea, drowning her out. It was enough to bring tears to many in the church sanctuary. Near the end the combined thunderous voices rose triumphantly above the clamoring drums, just as the sun chose that moment to blaze through the west-ward facing stained glass windows. It was an awesome moment.

Great attention was paid to myriad details: diction, articulation, pitch. It would be most difficult to find a better performance of this heart-felt work than this one.

Students of the Cleveland Institute of Art were invited to compete for a $1,000 scholarship. Second year student Kelsey Lyon was the winner of the competition to design the program cover for the event based on the theme “Give Us Peace.”. She received the award prior to the beginning of the concert. Her design accompanies this review.

Throughout the month of March, choirs around the world will be performing the ancient prayer Dona Nobis Pacem (or “Grant Us Peace”). As of Feb. 17, there were 59 concerts scheduled in venues around the world: 17 of the United States (some with multiple locations) plus six countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England and Israel. You can track these for yourself at http://www.songofpeace.org.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Kelly Ferjutz artswriterATroadrunner.com

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

1) RoldoLINK Cimperman Is Doing Corporate Work.
www.CoolCleveland.com

2) Pop-Up Leap Night and video of organizer Terry Schwartz.
www.PopUpCleveland.com

3) Restaurant Synergy by Claudia J. Taller.
www.CoolCleveland.com

4) Cool Cleveland Party with Red {an orchestra} on Sat 3/8, plus photos and discount tickets.
www.CoolCleveland.com

5) Election Coverage with our endorsements and coverage of the 2008 Cleveland debate and primary election.
www.CoolCleveland.com

Does that make us craaazy? Probably. “Mad” props to Peter Chakerian, T.L. Champion, George Nemeth, Steve Copley, Victor Licas and Elsa Johnson, Kelly Ferjutz, Linda Eisenstein, Roy Berko, Mansfield B. Frazier, Roldo Bartimole, Laura Kennelly, Greg Cielec, Claudia J. Taller and Gnarls Barkley. This episode was brought to you by a dozen political robo-calls and a half-inch of icy goodness. And lastly, though certainly not least, thanks to our readers 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.

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