Education

I GRO Cleveland: Greening Browns

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Sun, 08/31/2008 - 08:37.
I GRO Cleveland: Greening Browns

If an apple a day keps the doctor away, what is the economic value to Northeast Ohio of bringing fresh, local fruits and vegetables to poor, unhealthy, underserved inner city places like The Star Neig

Sculpture in Let It Bee Gardens

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 15:21.
08/29/2008 - 17:00
08/29/2008 - 20:00
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Location

Let It Bee Gardens - corner of Ashbury and East Blvd.
1387 East Boulevard
Cleveland, OH

Behold the Lamb of God, in a McCainald's world

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 08/26/2008 - 08:54.

McCain Churchleaver

Last Sunday, at St. Ann's Catholic Church, in Cleveland Heights, I saw the first McCain bumper sticker I can recall. Perhaps I've simply overlooked the tiny, militaristic, white-on-black branding on all those massive suburban Suburbans and Hummers. But this one star general caught my eye. Seeing this brought me understanding... so this is where the McCain community lives... although I didn't see any other McCain stickers in the lot, which mostly contained simple, spartan, sensible, socially conscious vehicles. I thought, "at least one bible-thumping Republican practices the preach". Then The General left the service long before it was over... before anyone else left the church... and I realized The General had been in church not for a shared community experience but drive-through religious self-service. Probably escaped right before the offerings basket was passed.

Library of the Day: Cleveland Heights Lee Road Branch, Reinvented by Studio Techne

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 19:24.
Library of the Day: Cleveland Heights Lee Road Branch, Reinvented by Studio Techne

I've used the Cleveland Heights library on Lee Road since the 1970s, and can say with confidence the recent Studio Techne reinvention of this facility transformed the space, site, and surrounding neighborhood for the better. Featuring a dramatic, high-art bridge over Lee Road, and two reused buildings - one signficantly modernized - with crisp, fitting site improvements, this is one of the best library facilities and urban redevelopments in Northeast Ohio.

 

Art of the Day: City Xpressions08

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 08/25/2008 - 09:56.

City Xpressions 2008 Fan Dancing

Huge props to the many artists, MCs, DJs, bboys-and-girls, organizers and 100s of real NEOans who turned out for the 7th annual City Xpressions Street Art Festival, August 23, 2008, at West 25th and Lorain, Cleveland. A perfect summer day - great happy crowd - creative vibe and entertainment - and some spectacular urban art. While there weren't as many artists as the last year I attended, what showed was diverse and often pure genius.

City Xpressions 2008

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sun, 08/24/2008 - 10:21.
City Xpressions 2008

August 23, 2008, was the City Xpressions 2008 arts and culture festival, at W. 25th Street and Lorain... one of my favorite annual events in the region... more photos to come!

Art of the Day: Houghs Angel, by Harry Bell

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 08/19/2008 - 23:14.

 Hough's Angel, by Harry Bell

Harry Bell is a powerful urban artist, well appreciated in Cleveland and beyond. His most famous work I know is the Wall of Sorrows, recently dismantled, under controversy, and now in storage... scheduled for future re-installation. You may know his current work from cruising through Cedar and E.55th, where he is commissioned by a gas station and car dealership to create urban art on their walls, now including the work-in-progress shown above... a memorial tribute to "Houghs Angel", Fannie Lewis, rest in peace.

I GRO EC at Coit Road Farmers Market, for over 75 years

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Sun, 08/17/2008 - 14:27.

The Coit Road Farmers Market is one of the most endearing places in real NEO. Hidden away in a near-dead industrial graveyard of East Cleveland, with the curb-appeal of a brownfield, it is not a place one goes without intent. So it amazes me that just about every time I go there I see someone I know. I guess I know some pretty smart people.

Catch the Wave! Eco-Fashion Show and Party

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 17:18.
10/17/2008 - 18:00
10/17/2008 - 20:00
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Catch the Wave!  Eco-Fashion Show and Party.  Enjoy gourmet local organic eats, cash bar, and an Eco-Friendly fashion show featuring Cleveland’s green fashion entrepreneurs! $15 per person.  (free for Bioneers conference attendees)

Location

Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
1717 Euclid Avenue Cleveland State University (CSU)
Cleveland, OH
United States

Bioneers Conference 2008

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 17:05.
10/17/2008 - 08:30
10/19/2008 - 18:00
Etc/GMT-4

Bioneers Conference 2008 Bioneers, now in its 19th year is an acclaimed leading-edge forum that features a solutions-based approach, connecting environment, social justice, health and spiritual networks.  For the second year, Great Lakes Bioneers—Cleveland will bring to Northeast Ohio the excitement and energy of the inspiring social and scientific innovators speaking at the national conference and a wide-ranging line-up of regional and local speakers, workshops and tours to communicate and celebrate the trailblazing work taking place in our region.  This year’s conference will emphasize water and the important and diverse role that it plays in the social, economic, and natural environment of the Great Lakes Region.   

Location

Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
1717 Euclid Avenue Cleveland State University (CSU)
Cleveland, OH
United States

"Cleveland's plight is unique because of an unusually high rate of lead poisoning"

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/13/2008 - 08:14.

The results of a study on violence in the Cleveland public schools, commissioned by the Cleveland Municipal School District, has their leadership and the Cleveland Plain Dealer finally focusing on lead poisoning as a cause of failure of our schools and school children. In an article in today's PD, "Cleveland schools struggle with finding and helping potentially violent students, study reports", a researcher from the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., which performed the CMSD study on violence in our schools, is quoted saying "Cleveland's plight is unique because of an unusually high rate of lead poisoning - from paint in aging houses - that can affect behavior and academic performance." CMSD Board Member Louise Dempsey is quoted in the article as saying "I'm very pleased to see a lot of this stuff out in the open," she said. "Let's not kid ourselves, we've got to be honest if we're going to solve the problem." I'm pleased to see this getting CMSD Board-level attention.

What's wrong with this picture?

Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 08/11/2008 - 09:11.

What is wrong with this picture?  (Extra credit to any one who can identify the location)  Hint: Back to school!

 

Art of the Day: "Electric Chair"; Glenville Shootout Memorial, by Cleveland Public Power

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 23:50.
Art of the Day: "Electric Chair"; Glenville Shootout Memorial, by Cleveland Public Power

40 years ago, a great tragedy occurred at Beulah and Lakeview roads - police officers and citizens of Cleveland died here in one of the longest, most deadly urban gunfights and riots in modern American history... the Glenville Shootout.

Art of the Day: Masumi Sunflowers, by God

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 08/04/2008 - 08:23.

 

I've always loved sunflowers, but the bright, sunny blooms glowing in our front yard this Summer are special. The seeds were from the work of art below, in the "To Masumi" memorial exhibition, held last October, in celebration of the everlasting, peaceful, sunny spirit of Masumi Hayashi, the great photographer killed a year earlier, in Cleveland, with other great Cleveland artist John Jackson. The Masumi Sunflower seeds distributed in Tremont may have been planted anywhere on Earth, and I wonder where else such Masumi Sunflowers are growing today, from this one showing of love for love and art received and lost.

I imagine ours are the only Masumi Sunflowers in East Cleveland, this year, but I may be wrong... do you have any in your yard or neighborhood, that you know?

Question of the Day: Which NEO leader should replace Dimora?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 07:54.

Northeast Ohio has some of the dirtiest water and beaches in the world, because we have some of the dirtiest leadership in the world, and that is very poor for Cleveland's image and economy. Fortunately, it seems the region is now positioned to clean up at least one of our messes.

Welcome Back Barack

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 15:36.
Welcome Back Barack

The Barack Obama for President Shaker Heights campaign office opened July 24, 2008, at Shaker Square, where a great turn-out of old friends, young and old, all races, came together for change we can believe in.

Government and Social Leadership Stands United as GCLAC Against Lead Poisoning in NEO - Committed to Eradication by 2010

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 07/21/2008 - 22:09.

The most important message communicated at today's press conference kicking-off Lead Awareness Week was that our government leadership at the state, county and municipal level stand united to eradicate lead poisoning in Northeast Ohio by 2010. Publicly expressing their concern about lead poisoning here, and their commitment to its rapid elimination, East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones added important voices to the chorus of public health and social service champions of the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council... a unique, world-class collaboration of around 85 organizations.

Press Conference in recognition of Ohio Lead Awareness Week

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 10:50.
07/21/2008 - 11:00
07/21/2008 - 12:00
Etc/GMT-4

The Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC) will be holding a Press Conference in recognition of Ohio Lead Awareness Week, which will take place the week of July 20th – 26th, 2008.  Scheduled speakers will address the significant progress made in reducing the number of children affected by lead paint hazards, as well as the importance of continued vigilance and prevention in light of new evidence linking childhood lead exposure to crime, low school-performance, as well as numerous lifelong health problems.  Scheduled speakers, representing a City, County, and State unified effort to eliminate the dangers of childhood lead poisoning are:

 

  • Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners
  • Mayor Frank Jackson, City of Cleveland
  • Mayor Eric Brewer, City of East Cleveland
  • State Representative Mike Foley, District 14
  • Stuart Greenburg, Executive Director, Environmental Health Watch
  • Nakiaa Robinson, Program Manager, Office of Early Childhood, Invest in Children

 

Location

The Justice Center (North face of building)
1200 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH
United States

I GRO Cuba to Grow NEO?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 22:36.
07/15/2008 - 18:00
07/15/2008 - 19:00
Etc/GMT-4

I thought perhaps I could stump City Fresh's Maurice Small with the question "what county in the world is the leader in urban farming?", but he didn't hesitate responding Cuba. And the July 8, 2008 I GRO EC roundtable concluded we need to plan a best practices mission to Havana. Next Tuesday, July 15, 6-7 PM, come to the Independent Green Republic Of Star Village, at the Star/Hough Bakeries Complex, to help plan our mission to Cuba and discuss other plans for transforming our region through urban farming.

Location

Star Complex (Former Hough Bakeries)
1519 Lakeview Road
Cleveland, OH
United States

Let Them Eat Fresh, Local, Organic Raspberries and Blackberries They Picked In Their Neighborhood For Free

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 11:08.
07/08/2008 - 18:00
07/08/2008 - 19:00
Etc/GMT-4

When our neighbor Dr. Pat Blochowiak told us to stop by her garden and pick some raspberries, blackberries and snow peas, I didn't realize the depths of her bounty... or how great blackberries may be. As my kids picked through nature, they chomped down probably $50 worth of the best food in town, when you may find food so good. As I looked at the bowls of berries collected in short time, I felt blessed by my community and nature. Over a fresh berries and whipped organic cream desert, our family celebrated Summer and life in the best way. All that is the certain promise of East Cleveland, with community farming. Help plan that reality with Maurice Small and others as we meet again, today, for what has become an every-other-Tuesday City Fresh I GRO EC brainstorming session, in East Cleveland. This week, we'll meet at the Hough/Star Bakeries complex, and also visit Brown's Market, which we plan to convert into a pilot City Fresh Market.

Location

Star Complex (Former Hough Bakeries)
1519 Lakeview Road
Cleveland, OH
United States

Congratulations to Shaw's 'Best Band In The World'

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 09:06.

When people wonder what is the value of a local daily newspaper, I must point to the story of Shaw High School Band, which was invited to China to perform but could not afford to do that. The Plain Dealer article "Bang a Drum, Proudly", by Connie Schulz, raised enough attention and funding to get them there, from where they just returned in triumph (nicely covered in the PD here, today)... a $500,000 whirlwind phenomenon all occurring in less than 6 months!

Question of the Day: How Is Your Victory Garden?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 10:40.

Now that my family has land that we may use for a while, we are growing our own food... and enough for many other families, it seems. One $1.07 packet of radish seeds planted in May is already many pounds of crisp, bright, beautiful, healthy fresh veggies... and eating my first fresh radish of my life taught me radishes are actually delicious. Same for Kale, and all the varieties of lettuce covering our farmland... really fresh pesto is to die for... can't wait for the carrots and shallots!