Tag Archives: Ohio

3 May 2013:exercise, shopping, politics, and dancing

At the gym, it was back and triceps emphasis, and then Sharon and I went to Lakeside Glass in Lorain, where we picked out things for our new shower.

We had lunch at Sorrento‘s, and then came home.

Much Progress was made on the bathroom.

IMG_2616

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I went to the 9th annual Lorain County Chairman‘s Banquet, where Ed Fitzgerald gave a good speech, and rewards were given to several long time activists.  (It is heart warming to read their stories).

John Hunter

John Hunter

When that was over, I headed over to the Avon Ballroom, where I was able to catch the end of the Friday Party, and have a few dances.

http://www.avonballroom.com/Avon_Ballroom/Welcome.html

 

Monday 22 April 2013:variety is the spice of life!

I began at the gym: chest and biceps main.

Sharon and I went for a top down cruise in our 2009 MINI Cooper S convertible, stopping at Erie Island Coffee in Rocky River.

Progress in our bathroom renovation:

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I went to a meeting at Local 310, where Tim Burka – President of AFL-CIO of Ohio – kicked off the campaign against an anti labor “right to work” bill in the state.

Then it was off to Oberlin College, for an ACLU board meeting.

Flowering trees at Wilder Hall, Oberlin College 2013.

Flowering trees at Wilder Hall, Oberlin College 2013.

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Saturday 23 Feb 2013: A big day downtown

I took the RTA train downtown to the Cleveland Public Library.

Triskett Station

Triskett Station

At the Library – where I had come to attend an event – I checked out a few Russian Books.

Russian childrens books at CPL

Russian children’s books at CPL

Original section of Main Library

Original section of Main Library

The event I attended was in the new Louis Stokes wing.

Lobby of Louis Stokes Wing

Lobby of Louis Stokes Wing

The Main branch of the Cleveland Public Library (www,cpl.org) has been hosting a display of labor and New Deal (visual) art from January 18 – March 24, and on February 23 was host to Laborfest: a multimedia celebration from videos and powerpoint presentations to live drama and music.

We were warmly welcomed by Leonard DiCosimo (President, Cleveland Federation of Musicians), who introduce Harriet AppleGate, (Executive Secretary of the North Shore Federation of Labor), who also welcomed us and introduced Patrick Gallagher (USW).

They were followed by three speakers: Prof. Ahmed White, Colorado School of Law; Prof. Patricia Hills, Boston University; and Dr. M. Melissa Wolfe, Curator of American Art at the Columbus Museum of Art. All were very well qualified to speak in their areas.

Mr. White covered the infamous ‘little steel’ strike of 1937, ranging from the Chicago Massacre, in which ten strikers were killed, through actions in Ohio, to the eventual, inadequate settlements, concluded in 1942; Ms. Hills spoke on Art and Politics in the Popular Front: The Union Work and Social Realism of Philip Evergood; Ms. Wolfe presented the life and works of Joe Jones – a worker-artist. Joe – who started out as a house painter – said he wanted to make art that would knock holes in walls, rather than merely make them pretty.

Reading the play "Captitalization". Cleveland Public Theater.

Reading the play “Capitalization”. Cleveland Public Theater.

Todd Smith and the New Deal All Stars sing depression era songs.

Todd Smith and the New Deal All Stars sing depression era songs.

It was a fine event: enlightening and entertaining: see my post in charlog.me for more detail.

 

 

Mon 5 Mar 2012:Adventures in GrassRoots!

Began with a workout at Fitness edge: chest and biceps primary.  Less mouth pain…

I organized in my den, read some serious books, and then we had dinner at Danny Boy’s in Rocky River.

Starting at 8pm I deployed Dennis Kucinich yard signs at strategic locations at each of the seven polling locations in Avon Lake, and a few other very visible locations as well.  The last location was at Westview school, and after I finished there, I decided to check the section of Lake road by the old shopping center, and see if there was a location there: there was, but a Dennis sign was already in place.  I went back out onto Lake road, and went slowly, looking for another key spot.  A police car came up behind me, with every know color of light flashing.  I moved over, expecting it to pass me, but it pulled onto the berm behind me.?!? I waited, put the down window.  He came up: “Good evening officer.”
 ” What are you doing, where have you been?”
“Putting up campaign signs – see the back seat.”
 ”Where was the last place you put one up?”
  ”Westview school, and then I drove over to the shopping center.”
 ”You seem very nervous”, he said.  Nervous? Totally Fucking Paranoid, I thought!: It is a Very Short List of Good Things that happen in front of Those Lights. He ‘ran’ my plate and operator’s license, and  then told me he had followed me out of Westview into the center.  Drug activity there, he said.
I asked him his name, thanked him, and told him I had worked to defeat SB5.
“Keep up the work, he said”.  I might have said “Voter for Dennis”, but I decided to leave it right there!
The victory libation will test even better.
Both Colbert and Stewart took the factually challenged fat boy to task.

Tuesday 31 Jan 2012: voting, dancing, and transporting

We ate breakfast at IHOP, and then went to the Lorain County Board of Elections and voted – including a vote for me for precinct 2-B committee person.

Headed over to Kiedrowski’s world famous bakery in Amherst, where we bought one of their snoogles (TM).

I took a slice of snoogle to our dance lesson, and gave it to our instructor – Anya Khan, who loved it.

Raced away from the lesson to Cleveland Hopkins International, where I met and picked up our speaker for Wednesday, Katherine Stewart.

She was thrilled to have transportation, loved the MINI Cooper S Convertible (top down), and also the snoogle I had for her in the glove box.  I dropped her at her cousin’s in Pepper Pike, and then, on the way home, I stopped at a place Well Known to Me, where I gave a friend her first snoogle (and she is from Amherst!)

We went to dinner at  Carraba’s, in Westlake.

Thur 5 Jan 2012: planning for the future

Today I rested, studied, did research, and made strides in the planning of our AU event on 1 Feb.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State NorthEast Ohio Chapter will have an event featuring author Katherine Stewart with her new book: The Good News Club.

Tue 3 Jan 2012: dems and writers…

I got up and out of bed to make an Avon Lake Dem strategizing /gossiping mtg at 10 at Caribou.

Back home, it was updating blogs and web sites, including our AL Dems site.

In the afternoon, I rode my stationary bike 60 min for almost 16 miles, while being enlightened by a pair of Great Course lectures.

In the evening, I was off to my first participation in the The Greater Cleveland Writers Meet up Group Monthly Meetup, featuring as a guest Michael Heaton of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, selling his book: “Truth and Justice for Fun and Profit”.

Many knowledgeable people, some good information, and some good readings.  I got back in time to do a half hour of my Roseta Stone course, and to watch the new Daily and Colbert shows…

Tuesday 29 Nov 2011: Seniors, Dances, and Politics

The day began with a recognition dinner for Norm Wernet, retiring as Ohio head of ARA.   It was at Massimo’s, on W.25th street.  Norm’s years of dedication were recognised by many, including the Ohio Senate, and three US Congress people.

Semanthie Brooks, Belle Likover, and Norm Wernet 29 Nov 2011

We had a dancing lesson (Waltz) from Anya at the Avon Ballroom, and then went to a fund raiser for Greg Zilka, for Mayor of Avon Lake.