She Blinded Me

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3.30-4.06.05
She Blinded Me

In this week’s issue:
* Cool Cleveland Interview Linda Abraham-Silver, Director of the Great Lakes Science Center
* Cool Cleveland Red Night Out with Red {an orchestra}, discount until Thu 3/31 here
* Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out with Al Jarreau, your best price until Thu 3/31 here
* Cool Cleveland Commentary Return of the Housewife Zeitqeist
* Cool Cleveland People Lora Workman, Cabaret Series at Playhouse Square

Cool Cleveland Interview
Linda Abraham-Silver

As the new president and executive director of the Great Lakes Science Center, Linda Abraham-Silver is planning the opening of Body Worlds II, an exhibition of real human bodies preserved by a unique method called plastination, opening Sat 4/9. Online tickets go on sale here starting 4/1. The show has been controversial, though ultimately successful, when it was exhibited in Los Angeles. Abraham-Silver shares with Cool Cleveland contributor David Tarditi how she landed in Cleveland from California, the Science Center’s strategies and new programs, and why she is rooted to our region.

Cool Cleveland: How do you explain to the nay sayers about your move from L.A. to Cleveland?
Linda Abraham-Silver: The only people who question my move from L.A. to Cleveland are people from Cleveland. No one in L.A. said to me, “Why would you move to Cleveland?” They all agreed that it was a fabulous opportunity.

Why is Cleveland cool from a Los Angeles ex-pat perspective? What do we have that L.A. never will?
A sense of community. A scale of life that allows you to enjoy life at a much higher level, with phenomenal cultural resources, as many big cities have. The cultural resources here are so much more accessible to people, and I do know that living in Cleveland will enable my children to grow up to be better people…
Read the interview with Linda Abraham Silver by Cool Cleveland contributor David Tarditi here

Cool Cleveland Red Night Out 4/2 selling fast
Discount tix available here thru 3/31

Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out 4/15 is jumping
Lowest price tix available here thru 3/31
CC partners up with the ever-phat JazzFest for a Cool Cleveland Jazz Night Out on Fri 4/15, jump-starting your evening with a tasteful open wine bar, complimentary, succulent hors d’oeuvres at the secret Hermit Club, with multiple floors of entertainment, and then the party heads over to the Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square for a featured performance by jazz legend Al Jarreau. Your discount ticket (purchase online before midnight 3/31 here for your best price) will get you access to the pumping pre-party with open wine bar & hors d’oeuvres from 5:30-7:30PM, and includes one admission to hear the incredible vocal work of Al Jarreau, winner of five Grammys in jazz, pop and R&B, while he performs at 8PM that evening in the Allen Theatre – part of the Tri-C JazzFest. Ticket prices increase after midnight 3/31, so order now before this excellent offer sells out. See the details here and click here for ticket discounts: http://www.coolcleveland.com/tickets/nightoutfour

Rokakis’s bright idea It’s an admirable concept that’s rock solid: Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis recommends that tax-exempt area non-profits like hospitals, universities and museums opt to voluntarily contribute $6 million a year to strengthen Cleveland schools, like other cities in the US. He points out that Pittsburgh makes a decent model; they tapped a foundation leader to negotiate with non-profits to voluntarily pony up $6 million a year to Pittsburgh instead of tax payments. Our hospital community is less interested. See story here and let us know your thoughts: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Akron learning how to retain youth Last week the Greater Akron Chamber drew over 650 people to their annual meeting for a look at the past and into the future. They’ve hired Rebecca Ryan, President of Next Generation Consulting, to determine the region’s assets and weaknesses through the eyes of young professionals. Akron’s Chamber has made the attraction and retention of these young professionals a high priority, what about Cleveland’s? Read here and send your comments here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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26th Annual Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland Tickets on Sale Now Two weeks of star-studded performances. One great jazz festival: Iconoclast saxophonist and flutist Charles Lloyd broke barriers for acoustic jazz with his legendary quartet in the ’60s and ’70s, performing alongside rock bands at the historic Fillmores – both East and West. For his JazzFest performance he’s joined by Geri Allen, Ruben Rogers and Derrick Phillips for his first Cleveland appearance in decades. To learn more about the Charles Lloyd Quartet at the Tri-C Metro Auditorium April 17 and the rest of JazzFest’s stellar two-week lineup, visit http://www.tricjazzfest.com or call 216-987-4400. Tickets on sale at all tickets.com outlets, online at http://www.tickets.com or by phone 800-766-6048. 2005 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland – ALL THAT’S JAZZ!
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American Greetings gets into ring tones Ring tones are hugely popular according to industry observers, becoming a profitable new market that American Greetings is hoping to get into early. Their focus is on building brand recognition for their company, and it grabbed attention last year when it purchased MIDIRingTones, of St. Paul, Minnesota which sells graphics and ring tones for the US market. American Greetings also snatched up the Paris-based K-Mobile, which sells ring tones and other audio tones for Europe. This positioning has pushed American Greetings into the higher echelons of ring tone retailers. Read here

CVB promotes Cleveland arts Cleveland arts and culture propel our economy to the tune of $1 billion in economic impact. Encouraging research has just arrived – Cleveland’s residents spend more on culture than sports, so many wondered why the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland only trumped up the sports teams, instead of focusing on our world class performing companies and museums. Change is on the horizon; look for Tami Brown, the new Director of Arts and Cultural Tourism to deliver the first phase of an arts-promotion plan that may draw people to both large and small cultural institutions. Read here and let us know your comments by sending mail here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Gaming interests meet in secret 60 people representing all aspects of gaming, including the Mayors of Cleveland and Cincinnati, met at a Downtown Columbus athletic club to discuss privately the possibility of casinos in Cleveland. The results will ramp up research for the economic impact of gaming, even though voters have twice turned down casino initiatives in Ohio. See story here. Mayor Campbell writes to U.S. Senator Voinovich stating her support of casino business in Cleveland; Voinovich has staunchly opposed it from the beginning here. Unfortunately, the PD interprets a recent poll to call casinos a “cure-all” here. Haven’t we learned that there’s no “silver bullet” to our economic future? Tell us your opinion of casinos in Cleveland: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Showcase your tech company with art Cleveland’s first-ever Ingenuity Festival of Art and Technology is launching this Labor Day weekend 2005, with CPT founder James Levin and Cool Cleveland creator Thomas Mulready at the helm, corralling the vast array of artistic talent in the region to collaborate with high-tech ventures to showcase the best arts and technology in our region. Hi-tech groups like NASA and Cleveland Clinic Innovations are already on board, engaged in mind-bending collaborative projects with area arts groups. And the Festival is already busy raising money and facilitating the hook-up of arts and technology, as reported this week in the PD here, and got a boost from their editorial staff here, while the CVB hired their first arts tourism director here. Do you have a growing hi-tech company that’s interested in putting its cutting-edge technology in play with a theatre, dance or music group to collaborate on a cool project that could be presented on the stage at Ingenuity this Fall to show off the best our region has to offer? Contact Mulready at Thomas@IngenuityCleveland.org

BioLabs’s radiation-blocking drug The Cleveland Clinic spin-off company recently landed a $5.9 million investment to further develop a treatment that may preserve cancer patients’ healthy tissue from the damage of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. There’s an interesting side story to this as well; the drug could potentially protect the masses from radiation exposure released by a terrorist’s dirty bomb. Read here

Issue one backlash It’s a disturbing reality caused by the recent passage of Issue 1, Ohio’s constitutional amendment which bans gay marriage and any law that approximates the effect of marriage. Now defense attorneys are arguing that domestic abuse laws, which increase penalties from misdemeanors to felonies, do not apply if you are not married. And two judges recently have agreed with them. See stories here and here. Your thoughts on Issue 1’s unintended side effects? Send them to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Why regionalism matters Fort Wayne is discovering clustering and regionalism: the idea that a city does not contain limits or county borders. As regionalism becomes accepted, the benefits begin pouring in. Read the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel here

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Ethel’s String Quartet from NYC will Electrify You When joined by Red {an orchestra} this unique, high energy concert will transform your image of classical music concerts with its eclectic mix of sound and light completed by the more traditional sounds of Bartok. Experience Ethel/Red on Sat 4/2 at 8PM in the Masonic Auditorium, 3615 Euclid Avenue. Concert tickets start at $15. For more information call Red {an orchestra} at 440-519-1733 or visit http://www.redanorchestra.org.
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Technopeople wired on Cleveland’s WiFi Armed with PCs, iPods, digital cameras and mobile phones with earpieces, local entrepreneurs went on the road to do business – not actually traveling, but landing at dozens of cafés in the Cleveland area that offer complimentary WiFi [wireless internet service]; from Westlake, Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. Free agents can conduct business from coffee houses and hotspots, thanks to WiFi, now widely available in the Cleveland area. Conducting the tour: Cool Cleveland’s Chief Information Officer George Nemeth, who runs Brewed Fresh Daily here; Steve Goldberg, who has compiled 123 area hotspots here; and Valdis Krebs, who documented the tour here. See story here

Skindell wants parking fee eliminated State Rep Michael Skindell of Lakewood, has submitted an amendment to the Finance & Appropriations Committee chairman to eliminate the parking fees proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, which would charge $5 per vehicle to park at any of Ohio’s 74 state parks, including Edgewater Park, the most frequently visited state park in Ohio, which is in his district. “Gov. Taft is currently proposing the second-largest tax increase in state history, in addition to other fee increases,” said a press release sent by Skindell’s office. “Ohio’s middle-class and working families cannot afford another blow to their pocketbooks….There are few things left in Ohio that are free. Ohioans deserve to have their parks back.” See Yr Turn below for vehement reader reaction to the propsed parking fees, send a note to Rep. Skindell here: District13@ohr.state.oh.us, and cc: us here: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Selling Pittsburgh A promotional video campaign is in the works and being funded with state money, in hopes of luring visitors and companies. Another goal is to improve residents’ personal opinion about the city; sound familiar? It is a shared challenge that rings true to Cleveland and one we’re ready to address. The program, “Discover Pittsburgh Country,” tips off visitors to local attractions, highlights, and events. Locals will be hired to work on the project, as well as a crew from New York; the video is slated to be finished by summer and available to businesses. Read here Should we be doing something like this? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland is growing Looking for a cool job is sales? If you are a real go-getter with the ability to juggle marketing initiatives and multiple accounts, then we have a great job for you. Work with a great team and the only e-zine in town that has been said to “wake Cleveland up from its post-industrial slumber one in-box at a time.” Send your qualifications and a passionate letter to: Info@CoolCleveland.com

Feeding the masses…news? The Bush administration says it is legal for federal agencies to push TV stations prepackaged news stories that do not reveal the government’s role in producing them. This contradicts a February 17 memo from the Comptroller General which states that these blurbs designed to mimic independently reported broadcast news stories violate laws that ban covert propaganda. Read here or here

Cleveland’s teen slammers head to SF The results are in from the Slam U! group, the culturally current, annual series of poetry workshops and slams for teens held by Playhouse Square Center’s Arts Education Department. Slam emphasizes both writing and performance, in which poets perform their work and members of the audience serve as judges. Finalists who will be making up Cleveland’s first National Youth Poetry Slam Team are: Kiara Blake, Health Careers Center; Jessica Fain, Shaker Heights High School; Myron Gaines, Collinwood High School; Chris Webb, Cleveland School of the Arts; Shawnequa Wright, Jane Adams High School. This young group will represent Cleveland’s first national youth poetry slam team, traveling to Brave New Voices, the 8th Annual National Youth Poetry Slam Festival in San Francisco Wed 4/20 thru 4/24; it’s the first time Cleveland will be at this festival. http://PlayhouseSquare.brinkster.net/education/SLAMB04.pdf

Not for accountants or lawyers Hip Cleveland-based fashion house Koyono has impressed celebrities like Mike D of the Beastie Boys, who bought one of their new BlackCoat AirGo raincoats, and Public Enemy, who bought them for the entire band. But the edgy clothing company that designs products for the mobile professional and appeals to “Geniuses, Artists and Innovators,” has found a niche that might not be their key demographics. “We have a lot of very happy AirGo customers, but started to notice an interesting trend. Almost all the BlackCoat AirGo raincoats that have been returned came from lawyers and accountants. Seriously.” In the meantime, they are offering the AirGo and the original BlackCoat Classic at serious discounts, along with a growing line of accessories such as belts, wallets, pens and the BlackCoat T-short, with a zipper and special pockets for your iPod. http://www.Koyono.com

Call for fashion designers The designer search is on! Portfolio submissions and interviews for The Cleveland Fashion Show 2005 are in full swing. Artistic Director Steven Hanson will meet with prospective designers on Thu 3/31 from 5-8PM at The Club at Key Center, 127 St. Clair. Then on Sat 5/28 make way for the trendsters at the 2005 Cleveland Fashion Show, 9PM touting a fashion-forward dress code, Verb Ballets members, and a crowd that will make you say wow. Purchase tickets at 771-9118. FashionWeekCleveland 2005 is a conscientious effort supporting the Kent State University School of Fashion Design, and Merchandising’s Senior Design Critics Program. http://www.TheClevelandFashionShow.com

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More Naked Than Naked Have you ever seen the exposed human body (without skin)? You will at BODY WORLDS 2: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies, opening Sat 4/9 at the Great Lakes Science Center. Cleveland is only the second U.S. city to host this awe-inspiring and profound exhibition that illustrates the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. View 200 real human specimens preserved though a unique method called plastination and experience the human anatomy, physiology and the complexity of the (healthy and unhealthy) human body in meticulous detail. Hours: 9:30AM – 5:30PM Monday through Wednesday; 9:30AM – 9PM Thursday through Sunday. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $9 for youths. For more information contact the Science Center at 216.694.2000 or www.GreatScience.com
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Bring a friend and get involved in the great buzz at Cool Cleveland. Here’s a great opportunity for you to help while meeting cool people: volunteers are needed for Fri 4/15 from 4-8PM during the Cool Cleveland JazzFest party at the Hermit Club. Assignments include checking people in, serving food and overseeing the facility cleanup. Your reward is free entry to the party (for you and your volunteer friends), CC t-shirts and the chance to meet Cleveland’s in-crowd, the readers of Cool Cleveland. Sign up by contacting TL@CoolCleveland.com

Reed named one of 50 most powerful Here’s the list in town every African-American in sports wants to be on: the 50 Most Powerful List, and Cleveland State Director of Athletics Lee Reed was recently named to the Black Enterprise list of the 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports. The roster is the cover story in the magazine’s March issue. According to the editors, the selected few “have broken through to the highest ranks to achieve true clout within the sports industry.” Reed made the “collegiate decision makers” category, from his involvement in the $2.2 million renovation of Cleveland State’s athletic facilities. His achievements include hiring new head coaches in five sports and increased private gifts to athletics.

NorthCoast 99 Are you lucky enough to work in crave-worthy, professional environment? If you work for a great company, send your nominations or nominate your own organization as one of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio. The 2005 NorthCoast 99 nominations now being accepted through Sun 5/15. Call 440-684-9700 or visit http://www.NorthCoast99.org

Libraries survive the digital revolution because they are places of sensuality and power. Don’t believe it? Read it here

Cleveland loves WRUW If you do too, open up your heart and wallet during their annual on-air fundraiser. For 168 hours straight, WRUW’s all-volunteer staff will work the phones in support of this on-air celebration of community-based radio without commercials. Pledges from last year supported programming, special events, music purchases, and much-needed equipment for the station. Commit to the alternative listening community and experience, so you can continue enjoying broadcast music, news, and viewpoints not readily available in the mainstream media. Call Mon 4/4 thru 4/10 at 707-2426 or Email charliesaber@wruw.org or visit http://www.WRUW.org

Cleveland schools turnaround is real According to a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute’s Education Research Office, the Cleveland school system has truly rebounded, with graduation rates soaring from 28% in 1998 to 45% in 2002. Even the expert admits it’s hard to believe, but here are his possible reasons: Cleveland was at such a low point that improvement was a real possibility, and Cleveland’s voucher program may have placed pressure on the district to improve its quality. State takeover of the schools may also have had an effect. Not mentioned as possible reasons for the turnaround: strong leadership provided by schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, and Mayoral control of the school board which eliminated political posturing. See story here Your thoughts on this stunning achievement by the Cleveland Public schools? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Limiting charter schools The state will give a whopping $450 million to charter schools this year, despite data that shows students’ scores are continually sub-standard and their teachers are not certified. There could be relief on the way, as a new bill is being introduced to limit charter school expansion. Read here Have an opinion about charter schools? Letters@CoolCleveland.com

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Murder, Revenge, Intrigue, Jealousy and Love It’s all happening at the Cleveland Institute of Music beginning Wed 4/6 through Sat 4/9 at 8PM as the CIM Opera Theater presents Mozart’s The Garden Girl in Disguise, directed by David Bamberger with the CIM Orchestra conducted by Steven Byess. Written by Mozart when he was only 18 years old, this tale of mistaken identity and misplaced affections anticipates the enchanting comedy of his most celebrated masterpieces, but has remarkable scenes of romance and passion not duplicated in his most famous works. This will be David Bamberger’s first full production in his new role as Artistic Director of the CIM Opera Program. For tickets, call 216-791-5000, ext. 411. Adults $15; Students and Seniors $10. Mention Cool Cleveland and receive $2 off your ticket! Take an interest – get involved! Visit www.CIM.edu to learn more about one of the top international music conservatories.
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Hyping up high-tech Ohio’s bioscience industry has millions of dollars at stake, and their dreams are as big. State officials are about to award the latest round of grants for high-tech companies’ research. With a total of $6 million available, the heat is on to acquire one of the more competitive grants, as only 20 of the 81 proposals will be selected for financial support. Project proposals include significant life-improvement research, including new skin and bone regeneration. Of the entire group, some bioscience proposals are predicting their projects would boost the economy: The Cleveland Clinic’s idea for a center to find treatments for irregular heartbeats may create 468 jobs. Read here

Cool Cleveland This Week
3.30-4.06

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Naked in Cleveland delivers the art and poetry of Steve Smith, and a delectable offering from Peter Conklin Ball; this online exhibit can be seen only at The Digital Museum of Modern Art. Smith, founder of the underground ‘zine ArtCrimes, is an “outspoken poet and inveterate artist whose transgressive art works are collected by renegade art enthusiasts and mainstream corporations alike.” His magnetic style has extended to the web with his Agent of Chaos website. Ball been making music on synthesizers for over twenty-five years, writing and recording, playing and singing on countless original songs, and he’s the consummate underground personality. The exhibition also features a “poem cycle” – 41 of Smith’s poems hyperlinked in a strange web of errant and provocative musings; show opens online Wed 3/30. Visit the online exhibit at http://www.dmoma.org/lobby/exhibitions/naked_in_cleveland/exhibition_lobby.html

Final forum on CTIX The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) of Greater Cleveland will be hosting the final public forum to present concepts for the development of an online marketplace for sales of surplus tickets to events in Cleveland through CTIX. The Community Partnership for Arts and Culture and the CVB of Greater Cleveland encourages your attendance and would appreciate your input; take this opportunity to make your voice heard. Final forum will be held on Thu 3/31 at 8:30AM. Call 575-0331 or email cpac2001@aol.com to RSVP. Cleveland Public Theatre, 6415 Detroit Ave.

East v. West Community Forum explores Cleveland’s Great Divide. The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club will host a panel discussion to delve into Cleveland’s history including the current state of the community and the cause of the great East/West divide. Panel of speakers include native Clevelander Harvey Pekar, author of American Splendor. Don’t miss this momentous discussion and the follow-up scavenger hunt, with forum to be held on Thu 3/31. Registration begins at 5:30PM. Great Lakes Brewing Company, Schlather Tasting Room, 2516 Market Ave. http://www.Cleveland2030.com

Ethel’s vibrating strings at Beachland Ballroom It’s a contemporary delivery and performance from a music quartet unlike any you’ve ever heard; Ethel’s musical background is hep and hot; their members have played with everyone from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra to Roger Daltry. This amplified anthem-rock string quartet from NYC will lift you into another dimension of entertainment on Thu 3/31 at 9PM. Call 383-1124. Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd. http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com

Creative Strategies from Concentrate Head out to this Innovations Breakfast; topic will be managing innovation to boost competitive advantage in this high-powered presentation. How will harnessing innovation create healthy financial solutions for customers? Bruce Claxton, chair of the Industrial Design Society of America and senior director of design integration at Motorola, Inc. will enlighten the crowd on Fri 4/1 from 8-9AM; a continental breakfast will be served at 7:30AM. It’s the first in a series of Making Art Work lectures to address strategies for managing creativity. Register in advance at 421-7415. Reinberger Galleries at The Cleveland Institute of Art, 11141 East Blvd. http://www.CIA.edu/events

Attitudes Toward Democracy and Governance in the Arab World: Findings from Recent Surveys in Six Arab Countries” The Case Center for Policy Studies is proud to present Mark Tessler, Ph.D., Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate Professor of Political Science and research professor at the Center for Political Studies in U-Michigan’s Institute for Social Research. A specialist in comparative politics and Middle East studies, he is one of the very few American scholars to have studied and lived for extended periods in both the Arab world and Israel. Professor Tessler is author or coauthor of eleven books and over one hundred scholarly articles. It’s open to the public on Fri 4/1 at 4PM. Call 368-2424. Ford Auditorium, Allen Medical Library, on the Case Western University Campus, 11000 Euclid Ave. http://www.CASE.edu

Third Annual Net Impact Case Bowl Weatherhead is hosting this year’s event, a faculty debate which will focus on GlaxoSmithKline, the world’s second largest pharmaceutical company, and the issue of life-saving AIDS drugs. GSK is a leading provider of drugs to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, the three most critical diseases in the developing world. The industry giant finds itself responding to pressure to increase access to these essential medicines, including possibly reducing prices. Witness the debate ‘Fri 4/1 at 5:30PM at the Weatherhead School of Management, Peter B. Lewis Bldg., Room 103, 11119 Bellflower Road. http://Weatherhead.cwru.edu

Four Hundred & Nine Fools The Fools of four09 will invade Buzz Gallery for an annual exhibition of new works; every year this exhibition showcases the private works some of Cleveland’s best designers, artists and creative individuals kicking out digital, mix-media, painting, photography, and printing. The four09 is a junction of many disciplines, where art, photography, design, music and technology intersect. The collective has been removing boundaries and fusing form with function, idea with object, signal with noise to provide a vehicle for people who have a passion to learn, collaborate, and create art of all forms, mediums, and definitions. Show up for the opening reception on Fri 4/1 from 6-10PM at Buzz Gallery. Call 522-1836. At 1836 West 25th, Suite 1B. http://www.BuzzGallery.com

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Hit the trail! Spring forward and buy a new bike from Century Cycles. Once a year we have everything in our four stores on sale. This year’s sale is April 7-10 so don’t miss your chance to save big on sweet bicycles and gear. Be sure to mention Cool Cleveland and you’ll get a cool free gift. With stores in Rocky River, Solon, Medina and Peninsula we offer a huge selection, outstanding service and professional staff. Come see why we were named one of America’s top 100 bicycle stores for 2005! See the complete schedule of this and other events at http://www.centurycycles.com.
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Dobama’s Final Season on Coventry After this season’s final production, the theater will move to various sites; come out for their benefit performance celebrating the end of Dobama’s tenure on Coventry Road. Past actors and directors will join friends and supporters for two performances of Underneath the Lintel by Glen Berger, the whimsical tale of a librarian who checks in a book 113 years overdue, and the audience globe trots around the word in search of the culprit. See the performances on Fri 4/1 and Sat 4/2 at 8:00PM will be followed by a food and beverage reception. Call 932-3396 for reservations. Dobama Theatre, 1846 Coventry Rd. http://www.Dobama.org

Underground Hip Hop Showcase Hear it, feel it, and be into the moment, as street sense takes over the stage with Galactic from Media Darling Records. Remember: It’s better underground; so slide on some treads, get ready to work it while you hear the latest notable street noise and kick it on Fri 4/1 at 9PM. Call 574-2525. The Odeon Concert Club, 1295 Old River Rd. in the East Bank of the Flats. http://www.TheOdeon.com/contact.html

Walker & Weeks Building Grand Opening You are cordially invited to the Grand Opening of Ceveland’s first green historic residential renovation project. Come and see 36 luxury apartments that will improve your perceptions of our city. Check out one of Cleveland’s most notable buildings erected by the renowned architects Walker & Weeks and attend the opening on Fri 4/1 from 5:30-8:30PM. Refreshments will be provided. Walker & Weeks Building, 2341 Carnegie Ave. Please use entrance at 2404 Prospect Avenue and RSVP at http://www.WalkerWeeks.com

Arts Collinwood & Inlet Dance Theatre are bringing dance education to Collinwood youths. Bill Wade, Inlet’s Founder and Artistic Director, believes in the power of dance to transform young lives. Students will gain self-confidence through creative expression and Inlet’s use of dance to speak creatively about life and the issues we all face. The season kicks off with a free performance by Inlet dancers Fri 4/1 at 8PM at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. Classes will be held Sat mornings, 4/2 through 5/14. The program, free to area youths ages 10-16, will be held at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 326 E.156th St. To register for the series, call 491-1785 or visit http://www.ArtsCollinwood.org or visit http://www.InletDance.org

City-Wide Scavenger Hunt If you’ve an urge to wander, you can run through the city with the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, a non-profit organization created to retain young professionals in Greater Cleveland. They’re paving our region with events focused on personal and professional development with speakers, presentations, networking events, philanthropic opportunities and social events. Be there on Sat 4/2 with team registration starting 11AM; it’s an all-day activity. Call 440-234-1812 for info. Located at the Garage Bar, 1859 West 25th St. http://www.Cleveland2030.com or email kkalich@sonnhalter.com

Edible Books Festival See, eat, and experience consumable books on display for the public’s culinary consumption. Head out to this worldwide event happening in Cleveland, with food and activities including a book signing with author Gail Ghetia Bellamy, whose nostalgic Cleveland Food Memories is a collection of readable tidbits of Cleveland memories, published by local press Gray and Company. Bring the family to this literary and food inspired event on Sat 4/2 from 1-3PM. Call 795-9800. Loganberry Books & Strong Bindery, 3015 Larchmere Blvd. in Shaker Heights. http://www.LoganBerryBooks.com

Doc Opera celebrates its 20th anniversary Case Western Reserve University students are producing and choreographing this two-hour multimedia presentation, in which audience will enjoy everything from the swinging tunes of the ’40s, to the pop and hip-hop of today, with song lyrics reworked to parody the lives of medical students and physicians. Doc Opera serves not only as a creative outlet for the medical students but also as a fundraiser enabling the students to give back to the community in which they practice and learn on Sat 4/2 at 8PM. Proceeds will benefit The Free Clinic. Call 771-4444 for tickets. Allen Theatre located in Playhouse Square Center, 1407 Euclid Ave. http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

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26th Annual Tri-C JazzFest Heats Up Cleveland Now Two weeks of star-studded performances. One great jazz festival: When Wynton Marsalis arrived on the jazz scene in 1980 at the age of 19, critics were already hailing him as the “symbol for the new decade” and the standard-bearer for his generation. The first jazz composer to win a Pulitzer Prize (for his major oratorio Blood on the Fields), Marsalis is currently Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, which last October opened the world’s first concert facility constructed specifically for jazz. For more information about Wynton Marsalis at the Allen Theatre April 20 and the rest of JazzFest’s stellar two-week lineup, visit http://www.tricjazzfest.com or call 216-987-4400. Tickets on sale at all tickets.com outlets, online at http://www.tickets.com or by phone 800-766-6048. 2005 Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland – ALL THAT’S JAZZ!
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Red {an orchestra} with Ethel Reinventing classically cool music, Red {an orchestra} is joined by the untamed, electric string ensemble, Ethel. The two groups are united in their goal of reinventing the repertoire, making unpredictable and rousing concerts. If you’ve never heard strings rock and rip it out, now is the time to experience audio adventures on Sat 4/2 at 8PM. Call 440-519-1733 for tickets. Masonic Temple Auditorium, East 36th between Chester and Euclid Avenues. http://www.Redanorchestra.org

The Healing Circle will raise awareness of rape and sexual abuse. Produced by Gary Lockwood and written by Mike Hovancsek, “The Healing Circle” is a story of one person’s journey from sexual assault to healing through dance, original music, spoken text and video art. For more information call 330-903-2055. Show begins Sat 4/2 at 8PM. Kent State University’s Kiva Auditorium at the Student Center, 1240 E. Summit St. http://www.StandingRock.net or visit http://www.Kent.edu

Book Signings, Writing Workshops and Book Discussion groups are a few of the stimulating events on April’s schedule at the Barnes and Noble in Mentor. The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity is an exploration of Julia Cameron’s 12-week course that will teach you how to overcome barriers in order to develop your creative self. Embark on your creative journey every Tuesday at 8PM through May, and call for further event info. This week you can meet actors who perform Love’s Fire, one-act plays by modern playwrights based on Shakespearean sonnets, located at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. Refreshments and conversation will converge on Sat 4/2 & 4/9. Call 440-266-0212. Barnes and Noble, 7900 Mentor Avenue, Mentor. For info http://www.FineArtsAssociation.org or http://www.BN.com

Man and Beast Exhibition explores the changing cultural attitudes toward animals in the contexts of religion, mythology, sports, pets and commercial symbols. Searing issues such as animal rights, genetic engineering, and the extinction of species are examined. See it on display at the University of Akron’s Mary Schiller Myers School of Art, including works by Andy Warhol, Linda Butler, Mark Mothersbaugh, and others. An opening reception on Mon 4/4 from 4:30–7:30PM arrives at the Emily Davis Gallery. Event is open to the public and showing through Wed 4/27. Call 330-972-5951. University of Akron, Myers School of Art, 150 E. Exchange St. http://www.uakron.edu

Trust and Betrayal is one of many themes from E. L. Doctorow’s, The Book of Daniel, which was penned using elements of historical fiction, along with the Red Scare of the ’50s as a backdrop. Based loosely on the infamous Rosenberg spy trial, The Book of Daniel focuses on government’s role in quelling the fears of its people – and the terror of such over-zealous actions. E. L. Doctorow will be Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Writers Center Stage 2004-2005 series final, presenting author on Tue 4/5 at 7:30PM. Call 241-6000. Ohio Theatre at Playhouse Square Center, 1501 Euclid Ave. Visit http://www.CuyahogaLibrary.org or http://www.PlayhouseSquare.com

Cleveland’s 50-year Lakefront Plan: Building and Accelerating Wealth Creation in NEO will bolster up your knowledge on connections between Cleveland’s 50 year Lakefront Plan and wealth creation for NEO. Chris Ronayne, Former Director, Cleveland City Planning Commission and current Chief of Staff for Mayor Jane Campbell will guide the session and talk informally about the changes that are on our doorstep on Tue 4/5 at 4:15. This event is open to the public and without charge; call 368-5540. The Center for Regional Economic Issues, Case/Weatherhead School of Management, The Peter B. Lewis Building, 11119 Bellflower Rd. Register at http://www.weatherhead.cwru.edu/rei/events/register.cfm

Mozart Mania WCLV 104.9 FM is inviting you to join First Program host Jacqueline Gerber on a trip to the OK Mozart International Festival in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 6/11 thru 6/19/05. The Meadowlarks and Mozart excursion features eleven concerts including The Mikado, conductor Ransom Wilson, guitarist Christopher Parkening, and concerts and recitals. There’ll be visits to Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum to view Native American art, walks along the nature trails at the Woolaroc Ranch, Museum and Wildlife Preserve. This will also be the peak birding season at the Nature Conservancy’s 37,000 acre Tall Grass Prairie Preserve. Cleveland naturalist Bill Faber is the tour guide. The price includes airfare, hotel, concerts, meals and museum admission. For information, call Discovery Tours at 216-531-8884. The Meadowlarks and Mozart tour benefits the WCLV Foundation, which supports WCLV’s classical music programming. http://www.WCLV.com a Cool Cleveland partner

John Pizzarelli Trio Jazz and jam out to these Telarc recording artists, from the record label that put Cleveland on the jazz map. Hear acclaimed instrumentalists Mark Pizzarelli on bass and Ray Kennedy on piano, smoking up the room at Nighttown on Tues 4/5 at 7PM and 9PM. Call for reservations at 795-0550. Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd. in Cleveland Hts. http://www.NightTownCleveland.com and http://www.JohnPizzarelli.com

Third Annual Research ShowCASE is a unique opportunity for the business and civic community to interact with researchers and entrepreneurs. Live demonstrations, symposia, workshops and panel discussions highlight research in the context of current local and global issues and will include the commercial aspects of research and discovery. Topics will encompass nearly every department at Case and its collaborating institutions including University Hospitals of Cleveland, MetroHealth System, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Future Shock author, Alvin Toffler, will deliver Keynote Address. ShowCASE takes place on Wed 4/6 and Thu 4/7 and is and open to the public; registration is recommended. Case Western Reserve University’s Veale Convocation and Recreation Center, 10900 Euclid Ave. http://www.CASE.edu

Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com

Cool Cleveland Commentary
Return of the Housewife Zeitgeist
By Tracy Glover-Williams

During the past few weeks an old tree has begun to sprout new leaves and fruit. Thanks to a disparate set of events, a Maureen Dowd column, the Golden Globe Awards, an op-ed by David Brooks, and some remarks by Harvard’s Lawrence Summers, many of us have finally noticed that the Housewife Zeitgeist has returned with a vengeance. Many of us, namely feminists and other women who think too much, were appalled by Summers’ remarks and Brooks’ advice to marry and reproduce while we were young. But, the same lot, have seemed to be blissfully unaware of what was fertilizing and waiting to spring forth during the past ten years. Let me suggest that the reemergence of the housewife as category, delectable babe, and occupation is deeply tied to the popular culture that we all, and that includes the “cliterati” have so willingly and lovingly fed on in recent times. That is to say that those “Desperate Housewives” are the natural evolutionary step in a culture that has given us cocooning, Martha Stewart, Pamela Anderson, Sex in the City, hip-hop videos, Sephora stores, stripper workouts, Oprah the corporation, makeover shows, the return of über-feminine clothing and Paris Hilton. Add to this the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, the War on Terror, the War in Iraq, and the increasing influence of evangelical Christians in our society, and you get a potent mixture that beckons us all to return to those halcyon days when men were men and women were unquestioning. Can any of us really be surprised at the return of the housewife and the warped 1950s echo that accompanies her? Zeitgeist means the general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era. The return of the housewife is this era’s fate accompli…
Read The Return of the Housewife Zeitgeist by Tracy Glover-Williams here

Cool Cleveland People
Lora Workman

Cool Cleveland: What do you think are Cleveland’s big strengths?
Lora Workman: There’s a feeling right now of wanting to make the city stronger. We live in a city where people are trying to combine forces, like with the Education Center, to make the city a stronger. I take people on tours of Playhouse Square – lots of people don’t know that Playhouse Square Center is the 2nd largest performing arts center in the US. There is so much here! We’re so lucky! We’ve got the Orchestra, and one of the best museums in the world, and the Cleveland Clinic. My friend has a father in upstate New York where the hospitals don’t even have respiratory therapy – we have every kind of treatment here. We take so much for granted, when stuff is readily available. But people travel from different countries to take advantage of our resources.

I had friends in from out of town, they asked how much the museum cost. When I said it was free, they thought I was lying! It’s unimaginable to folks in other places. And the cost of living is still affordable.

I thought about moving to New York, most artists consider it at least once. But I didn’t want to live with 7 people and cockroaches. Here I can still do art and do it well and have a nice life. I was in NY in October for 12 days. It’s exciting but it wears you down. I was watching dogs walking and even they looked worn down. There’s a pulse there, but there can be a pulse here, too, and you’re able to live.

You can even have a back yard.
One of my New York friends stayed with me and said, “I’ve never seen such a big backyard!…”
Read the Cool Cleveland People interview with Lora Workman here

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

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

On A Young Clevelander’s Guide to Success [here] As a middle management person who has been with SBC for 32 years, I truly enjoyed the column from Birol’s Business. I proceeded to his web site for the advance he had for the younger workers and it is all so true. Thanks for the article.
from Cool Cleveland reader Carolyn Samstag samstag@prodigy.net

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to say that I thought [Andy Birol’s] advice to younger employees was right on the money. As someone who has had the pleasure of hiring and managing many employees over the past 20 years, I thought [he] provided solid counsel in a straightforward, easy-to-read way. PS, I think what you’re doing with CC etc. is a real plus for the long-term future of the area.
from Cool Cleveland reader Toby Maloney TMal222@aol.com

On Cleveland as college town? [here] Our son is a Junior in high school. High ACT, PSATs that anyone would desire. High GPA Rank. Knows he desires a career in mechanical engineering. But will he even consider a Cleveland area University? NOT. Does he see a future job in Cleveland? NOT. We’ve been to the college towns…Boston, Philadelphia, even Albany. On our way to Rochester and even Pittsburgh. So weather does not factor in here anyplace. If it is of consolation to Cleveland…he won’t even consider the college town of St. Louis either! Their offerings blow the socks off Cleveland college offerings. The objective to make Cleveland a full-service college town is worthy. This young man’s parents went to college in the 70s IN CLEVELAND ….when Cleveland WAS a college town! We didn’t require what now defines a full-service college town!
from Cool Cleveland reader Joyce Hillson RustPilot@aol.com

On Doug Gillard (See Tuning In with Doug Gillard here) Doug Gillard is a fantastic musician, songwriter and, despite what he says, singer (just listen to his “A Foggy Day”), and he’s even a great neighbor, but I respectfully have to take issue with his characterization of our neighborhood as Crackton. Sure it’s an urban neighborhood with its share of urban problems, but statistically, North Collinwood, with less than two percent of the city’s drug arrests (admittedly not an infallible measure of actual drug use or trafficking, but at least something of an indicator) is far from being considered a drug hot spot. It is, however, home to the best music venue in town (Beachland), an organized arts community with boundless energy and possibilities (Arts Collinwood), lakefront parks (Euclid Beach and Wildwood) the favorite restaurant of at least half the town’s food critics (the Grovewood), and some of Cleveland’s most talented and creative people (Doug Gillard among them). I know it’s not on par with the Gershwins’ song, but maybe Doug could at least get acquainted with a certain Arlen/Mercer tune and, next time he talks of our neighborhood, accentuate the positive.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jeff Hagan jfh5@po.cwru.edu

On graduation rates (See Cleveland has more graduates than dropouts here) So, should our new high school cheer for the city of Cleveland be: “We’re not last! We’re not last!” ? Although last place certainly offers NO hope, for me ‘not last’ is not a good reason to hire someone. Much more work is needed. This is page one of a hundred page plan.
from Cool Cleveland reader Randy Martin randymartin@ameritech.net

To Gordon Proctor, Director, Department of Transportation Gordon.Proctor@dot.state.oh (See A signature bridge for Cleveland? here) I have seen the PBS special about the 1-90 bridge renovation project and read about it again in Cool Cleveland.com. I for one feel it would be better to take this opportunity to build a new land mark bridge then to rehab an old one. The most convincing state from the PBS program I heard was: “Fifty years from now would you rather have a 100 year old bridge or a visually appealing 50 year old land mark signature for the city” To me the new bridge sounds like a worth while investment to our city’s infrastructure.
from Cool Cleveland reader Jeff Krotine Jeff.Krotine@promerus.com

FIX THAT BRIDGE Your current solution to renovate the existing I-90 bridge simply by removing rust and adding new lanes, and in the process adding a horrendous ramp, is horrible. For the same cost to renovate, why not build a beautifully designed, high-tech bridge that could be a cool landmark? It might become a visual signature that would identify Cleveland.
from Cool Cleveland reader Kevin Patrick Murphy kpm@hurtukdaroff.com

To Sam Speck, Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources dnrmail@dnr.state.oh.us (See Visiting Edgewater Park will cost you here) It’s my park! Are you guys crazy with FEAR. I know you are short in the check book but charging to get close to the water is a foul. Please change your mind before you fall further into the mental abyss and start charging for rainbows.
from Cool Cleveland reader Fred Wright keycards@keyguarantee.com

Mr. Speck, This is unbelievable! Will there be an extra surcharge of $1.00 if we choose to breathe the air that comes off the lake? How about an extra $2.50 if we want to use the water? If this goes through, it will be put on the top 10 list of bad moves by the Ohio legislature.
from Cool Cleveland reader Chris Ramsay cramsay@wideopenwest.com

Mr. Speck: This is one more way for the State of Ohio to take over lake front property, and take away rights already paid for by Ohioans. ODNR should operate within its budget like everyone else. This is nothing more than another un-voted on TAX.
from Cool Cleveland reader W. H. Nichols Jr. whn@ameritech.net

Mr. Speck: The $5.00 parking fee being imposed at Edgewater State Park is another reason to stay in the suburbs and not visit Cleveland proper. We’ll go to the Metro Parks?. Plus, the fee increases the inaccessibility to the waterfront, especially to lower income residents. We’ll buy an annual pass and continue to go to Edgewater, since it’s the most convenient place to let the dog swim.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ellen Blahut eablahut@juno.com

Mr. Speck: People in the city of Cleveland are unable to take advantage of the many attractions that are here in town. To charge a parking fee at Edgewater park is outrageous . I remember being a poor child, daughter of a welfare recipient living in the projects. Edgewater park was somewhere my family and I could have a fun time and enjoy nature for free. If there was a parking fee I would be denied that because we simply did not have any money. The park is somewhere people go to escape, the heat, their lives, and to commune with nature. As the #1 impoverished city I find it ludicrous to charge for something that should essentially be free for the enjoyment of the public. As an urban studies major I am intrigued by the use of public space and green space. The amount of green space in the city reflects the general attitude of the city. This fee would lessen options and is just unfair legislation. Cities are places that should provide basic necessities and services to residents and as funding is slashed it seems urban dwellers are feeling the brunt of the cuts more painfully than others. Keep public space public and accessible to all.
from Cool Cleveland reader Teresa Michelle Obrero teresaobrero@yahoo.com

Mr. Speck: This, I must say, is one of the most idiotic proposals I have heard from you guys in a while. This is my state too, so don’t high-jack it with your bull…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland reader Russell Brown Cmonkey03@aol.com here

Mr. Speck: The decision of your department to impose an admission fee for the public parks is reproachable. It goes counter to the very purpose and meaning of “Public” parks. As every citizen is well aware, the maintenance of these parks is through public dollars and paying again to enter a place that exists because of our tax dollars is a travesty. This move is analogous to having to pay toll on every road that we would drive on. While we are all aware of the none too happy state of finances, we cannot tolerate this infringement on our freedom to travel to a place that for many of us is almost our backyard and of which we are part owners.
from Cool Cleveland reader Srinivas R Merugu merugu@yahoo.com

Mr. Speck: As a resident of the Clifton / Edgewater neighborhood, I am compelled to relay my unhappiness with the recent decision to charge parking fees at Edgewater State Park. The park was a deciding factor in my relocation from the suburbs into Cleveland proper. During the summer months I enjoy Edgewater multiple times a week. I also run with a group that meets at the park each Saturday morning (rain or shine). I feel the imposition of parking fees will limit the usefulness of the park and discourage full enjoyment of the beautiful beach front and walking/biking paths for which the park was established to share with the community. Thank you for hearing me out.
from Cool Cleveland reader Bryan Bowser BBowser@bw.edu

Dear Mr. Speck; The short-sightedness of some members of our State Legislature never ceases to amaze me. Their latest feat of amazement is the decision to begin charging a $5 parking fee at all 74 Ohio State Parks. While I have not visited all 74, I have taken advantage of the opportunities to recreate and relax afforded by a half dozen of them in my area; the one most often visited being Edgewater Park, here, in Cleveland proper. It has been one of the small pleasures in my life to pick up a sandwich and drive over to the park at lunchtime during the week, or grab a cup of coffee and head over to the park with the Sunday paper to read and relax on the bluff overlooking Lake Erie. But those activities will soon be coming to an end thanks to the aforementioned actions of our feckless leaders in Columbus. I cannot afford, neither in actuality or principle, to shell out $5 every time I want to enjoy a few minutes in the fresh air. And just why should we have to pay $5 for something for which we already pay taxes? It strikes me as yet another example of the E Check?-mentality of this state’s legislators. I urge you to do all you can to cancel the implementation of this newest “tax” on the citizens of Ohio.
from Cool Cleveland reader John E. Jacobs

Mr. Speck: How dare you charge admission to walk on our States land !!!! To charge admission to a State Park makes me want to leave Ohio, because this is one of the reasons I live here, our great parks and waterfront beaches. Aren’t our taxes enough to care for these parks?
from Cool Cleveland reader Robyn Bonacci robynbonacci@msn.com

Mr. Speck, So, I was just wondering what it’s going to cost the tax payers (including those who don’t visit the State Parks) to build all the little booths, purchase cash registers, pay attendants, ticket cars parked along roadways to avoid the fee, etc., etc. Do you have that figure? And how much money is the $5 fee actually going bring in per year? Don’t we pay enough in tax dollars to support these “State” parks already? This is an idea whose time never should have come. Give us over-taxed Ohioans a break. Perhaps next we’ll be paying $5 to park in our public school parking lots.
from Cool Cleveland reader Carol Hunt

Dear Mr. Speck, I am sure that you have received a lot of mail on the subject of charging for parking at the state parks. Add my letter to the list of dissatisfied individuals. In addition to supporting the parks with my tax dollars, I have checked to box on prior state tax returns to support various wildlife efforts. I will stop doing that in protest of this issue. In my opinion, charging for parking is absurd. It diminishes the value of the parks to most residents and the spontaneity of families taking a drive on a nice day to visit and stop at one of our best resources. You are putting up a barrier for the residents to use the parks – especially the ones that are in lower income brackets and use the parks for a cheaper recreational alternative. I’m betting that most people will not go out and buy a $25 pass, and they will decide not to go through the effort to get a $5 pass for one day. I know sometimes I just want to stop for a half hour at Edgewater Park to walk the area where the fisherman are at – and I doubt I will do that in the future. Likewise, many of the people who come down for the day to fish, count on their catch for a meal. Charging them will hurt the people who can least afford this fee. For those just stopping by for an hour or so, it is not worth it. It is a good thing you don’t manage the rest stops along our highways for I fear your next move would be to put a toll gate on them. How many other states charge a fee to park in taxpayer owned and supported state park systems? I hope that your thinking on this experiment changes. If not, I hope the next governor or whatever elected official you report to decides to replace you with a more moderate thinker. If you care to respond, I can be emailed at mwester@waxmanind.com.
from Cool Cleveland reader Mark Wester Mwester@waxmanind.com

Mr. Speck: As an Ohioan, I am proud of our state and municipal parks. They are truly a treasure. One of the most attractive features of Ohio’s state park system is that they are freely accessible to all residents and visitors. By imposing a parking fee at Ohio’s state parks, you have automatically changed the face of the park system. Rather than being accessible to all, it becomes accessible only to those who can afford the $5 price tag. This will especially affect Edgewater Park. When I was a young, single mother I would take my children to Edgewater for days of fun which they still remember at ages 21 and 23. At that time in my life, I could not have afforded to take my kids to the beach if there had been a parking fee. Five dollars was very precious in my household. As the “poorest big city” in America, I know there will be many others today who will have to forgo a beach day because of the price tag. That is a shame. This is not good for Ohio. Please reconsider this issue and DO NOT impose parking fees at state parks.
from Cool Cleveland reader Kathryn Watkins Katie4403@aol.com

Dear Sam Speck: You and your department are to be congratulated. You have joined the movement. Columbus seems intent on the complete disenfranchisement of all its tax-paying citizens. The latest decision by your department – to charge parking fees, and exorbitant ones at that – for access to public parks, parks supported by citizens’ tax dollars, surely must take its place at the top of the list, well not quite the top: Mr. Blackwell’s myriad and arcane decisions regarding voter rights in the 2004 elections still have you beaten – but not by much. Here is what we wonder: when the parking fee – in effect an access ban – takes effect, who will come to the parks?…
Read the letter from Cool Cleveland readers Christine Sell and James Hilliard csell@stratos.net here

Mr. Speck: The charging of park fees in our urban areas is outrageous! The only places where people can get respite from the grind of every day living in Cleveland, “the poorest city in the nation” is the state parks. WE already pay with our taxes, what more can the poor people do. We do not support this at all and will fight to keep the lakefront parks accessible to everyone.
Sr. Alicia Alvarado, OP aalvarado@dioceseofcleveland.org

Response from ODNR Sr. Alvarado: Thank you for e-mailing the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Your e-mail to Director Speck has been forwarded to me for a specific response. Thank you for your comments regarding the Parks Pride Pass. Ohio State Parks understands the challenges and concerns with instituting a parking pass, unfortunately this is our best option as we look to maintain and restore the level of customer service that Ohioans have come to expect in their state parks. Since being recognized as the nation’s finest state park system in 1997, we have seen a number of significant cuts, keeping us more than $20 million away from our desired funding level. We are proud of the work we have done over the past five years to handle these budget challenges. Our state park staffing is nearly half the size it was 10 years ago and 22 percent smaller than 2000. We have also restructured our state park system several times, eliminating more than one-half of the state park manager position (and 22 Ohio State Parks have no full-time staff). We have made reductions in our maintenance activities, reduced our motor vehicle fleet, closed campgrounds and other lesser-used areas at certain times, and reduced the number of seasonal employees that support education programs. And, we have created new partnerships to help support our state parks. Again, this decision to begin implementing a parking pass was a regrettable, but necessary step as we look to start restoring our state park system. We will continue to provide further information on the Parks Pride Pass through the Internet at http://www.ohiodnr.com. We hope that state park visitors such as you will continue to support our parks and we hope that you will be more accepting on this program as you learn more about the budget troubles we’ve faced over the past six years. Thank you.
from Jim Lynch, Assistant Chief of Communications, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Jim.Lynch@dnr.state.oh.us

On parking fees at state parks Regarding your comments on state parking fees, why do you call this gutless? These are classic user fees, so that the costs of maintaining these services (parks are not free, which must come as a surprise to you) are primarily supported by those who get the direct benefits of them. What do you think is a better alternative to providing the public funds to maintain these parks? Raising general taxes? That is always popular. I am constantly amazed by the public who screams for services and then screams that the government is imposing too many taxes to provide for those services. Here is a constructive suggestion: If Mayor Campbell feels that her citizen are being unfairly charged for use of Edgewater and Euclid State Park, let her offer a rebate to citizens for the parking fees they incur. Keep a receipt, turn it in and get a rebate from the city of Cleveland. Or let the city of Cleveland pay directly some of the cost of maintaining the parks so that a parking fee is not imposed. Bottom line is, public services are not free and must be paid for somehow. Direct user fees are in the view of most economists the best mechanism for this and provide the best market price signals to value the use of the services provided.
from Cool Cleveland reader Ken Alfred kalfred@nortech.org

Nearly every other state charges parking fees in their parks. I think it’s a great idea. We use tax dollars to keep the parks “clean” (hahahah, that’s a joke) and since the state doesn’t really adhere to that “clean” policy, we should charge for parking (those who use the parks have an obligation to pay.) The $25.00/year fee isn’t out of line, even for those on limited incomes. That’s actually less than a carton of cigaretts!
from Cool Cleveland reader Rita Telaak http://www.EyeCandy-gallery.com Fishbre396@aol.com

On Cool Cleveland I sent this to my entire staff. Great information and thanks for the pro-Cleveland stance … it’s long overdue. If you can only get WTAM’s Mike Trivisonno to change his tune we’ll run you for governor.
from Cool Cleveland reader Leland M. Lewis, General Manager, InterContinental Hotels Cleveland Leland_Lewis@interconti.com

Send your letters to: Letters@CoolCleveland.com

Top 5
Cool Cleveland uses Opticast tools to track which articles were clicked the most. Here are the Top 5 from last week’s issue, with one more chance for you to click.

1) CC Red Night Out Join the fun and chill with the cool Clevelanders who know a good thing when they hear it. Bring a friend or meet someone interesting this Sat 4/2 and hang with Cleveland’s creative class. Red Night Out

2) Arts Collinwood classes will be offering art and dance classes for children and “funk-tional” art classes for everyone this spring. http://www.ArtsCollinwood.org

3) NEO young professionals survey Help (i)Cleveland better serve the community by telling them your opinions. It doesn’t matter how old you are or if you currently live in the region. http://www.cleveland.com/contests/icleveland

4) NEO calling It used to be called the May Show, but now the Cleveland Museum of Art is mounting The NEO Show, on view 7/10 thru 9/4 this year, and it’s open to any artist living in the fifteen counties of Northeast Ohio. This highly prestigious juried exhibition of area artwork will result in the Museum acquiring at least one work for its permanent collection. They are looking for work in all media: painting, works on paper (prints and drawings), sculpture, installation, film/video, performance web-based and interactive art. http://www.clevelandart.org/exhibcef/neo/html

5) AIGA at the City Club of Cleveland It’s an opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions with Cleveland’s “creative class,” as well as other world-class designers from around the country. Learn how creativity can be an economic engine. http://www.AIGAcleveland.org

Mad props for Hard Corps Thanks to their critical eye on events, reviews, and cultural content, CC arrives to improve your days and nights in Cleveland. Appreciation goes out to Tisha Nemeth-Loomis, Deb Remington, David Tarditi, Linda Eisenstein, TL Champion, Bill Nagode, George Nemeth, Rachel Jacobs, Tracy Glover-Williams, 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

Forward CC to a friend No one really listens to marketing come-ons. Instead, people listen to their friends when it comes to recommending good things. Did someone turn you on to Cool Cleveland? Now you can do someone you know a favor, and pass on CC to them. Your friends will receive the benefits from Cool Cleveland’s content and give you kudos for it. Send them to http://www.CoolCleveland.com, or drop us a note at Signup@CoolCleveland.com.

See the Cool Cleveland column each month in Cleveland Magazine. Listen to Cool Cleveland on WCLV-FM 104.9 twice each Friday during drive time. Send your cool events to: Events@CoolCleveland.com. For your copy of the free weekly Cool Cleveland e-zine, go to http://www.CoolCleveland.com

It’s poetry in motion,

–Thomas Mulready
Letters@CoolCleveland.com

all contents ©2005 MulreadyGROUP all rights reserved

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