(to Librarians and other people, and they will be NICE to you!) From Library Journal Insider:

 

A Retired Librarian Leaves $2M to West Hartford Public Library

March 19, 2008

Often, the story of an unexpected major bequest involves a patron who quietly but regularly used the library. In the case of the West Hartfort Public Library, CT, however, the story stars a longtime reference librarian, Thomas Kilfoil, who died in 2005 at 82 and left the library $2 million. (He worked until he was 79.)

Only a few more weeks to go Cleveland.  We can do it!

From the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission blog:

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names approved names for five tributaries of Euclid Creek yesterday: Claribel Creek, Redstone Run, Stevenson Brook, Verbsky Creek, and the East Branch of Euclid Creek.

Labels: Lake Erie, Richmond Heights

School design has been on my mind. Here is a thumbnail of an almost perfect Cleveland school.  Benjamin Franklin School slated for demolition in the CMSD Facilities Plan.  It also has beautiful adjacent gardens.

Woe is me.  The sad state of communication leads to a state of confusion in Northeast Ohio at every level.  Street, block, neighborhood, county, state, ad infinitum...  Will anyone ever figure out the new media?  Please.  Today, as Councilman Cummins knows...I fielded questions about snow bans, plowing, school closings, and sidewalks.  Kids did not get picked up by school buses, because the streets were impassable. 

What can we do about this Mayor Jackson?  By now, most of us have Internet access and the rest certainly have a TV.  Let's all talk.  Please.

I will be emailing my own suggestions, but can we start with the ability for your office to post critical alerts on the City of Cleveland web site? 

Expose the corruption you see around you.  Make it hard for the culprits to hide.  Or, instead, just post a happy image to make us laugh, cry, be inspired.  The new media allows us to have a say.  Change the world.  Don't be afraid.  There is no time for fear.

Change.  Wow, it is happening.  Thank you Obama and Hillary. Today, Kevin O'Brien declares himself a Democrat (?).  His change of attitude has me pondering my own cultural make-up.  Do we have in-breed, unpleasant cultural traits that need to be evaluated and addressed from time-to-time? 

It's always good to return home with fresh eyes.  There are so many positives to our city.  It all depends on your view.

I am at home now, so I am allowed to say this:  If you live in the City of Cleveland,
please don't forget to Pass Issue 2.

Meet the Bloggers produced an insightful interview with Holly Carroll and Pam Eyerdam of Cleveland Public Library.  Please give it a listen.  Please also visit your local library.  If you haven't been able to visit lately, you will be surprised by the breadth and depth of our services. 

This past week during a cinquain exercise for the Cultural Exchange Read Baby Read program, I asked a second-grader what she saw herself doing as an adult. 

The Meet the Bloggers interview with library administrators Holly Carroll and Pam Eyredam triggered this ponder.   How many people see libraries as part of their growing lives, but then "move on?"

Why care?  Care, because, our ecosystems are collapsing.  We can not ignore the reality of the effects of our actions and inactions.  The tipping point means that there is no going back.

I keep looking for the signs.  Today's Plain Dealer proclaims hope for downtown.  Believe me, I want to believe it.  How many downtown employees live, shop and recreate downtown?  Have institutions done all they can to encourage a small footprint? I like Michael Schwartz at CSU--does he live nearby?  Ditto, for all the CEOs and intitutional leaders at the Clinic, CWRU, CPL, NEORSD, NOACA... 

"No matter who becomes our next president"

Surprise!!!

From Alenka--East Cleveland Rising!!!

 

Hey contractors pay up and line up for another demolition contract award in the DEMOcity!

Looks like my Pittsburgh sister chocks up another winning mark for choosing the right liveable city-

 

 

*Note this man is riding on the highway off-ramp for the West 25th exit (not recommended!!!:)

 

As I get older, my passion for food and wine is catching up with me.  I no longer hear adjectives like lithe or lanky used to describe me, but so what?!

 

Wow--I am so bummed that I am too old to compete for the Miss Cleveland award! 

Requirements

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Click on the image to check for your own street--

I was very surprised to see our neighbor and friend Kurt Weaver featured in the stodgy, old PD.  I was even more amazed to find out that Steven Litt followed up on the story to reveal Kurt's real thoughts about Cleveland architecture. 

A while back, I posted this Pittsburgh-based site www.mymave.com as a place to advertise your skills.  Last night, talking to Ed Hauser--who described marketing his problem-solving talents--I realized that this is still available and free to anyone who has a skill to market. 

It cracks me up to see kids come in to the library to sing!  They plug in the headphones and start grooving to a tune on line and the next thing you know I have to go into shhhh! mode.
Is there a way to tap this energy?  So,  who is mining this?