Etheostoma Caeruleum

That actually is what I thought they did successfully along Euclid, which gave me hope that somebody knew what they were doing with the plantings. (There were varieties grouped together for this reason) Now planted all mixed up and not in some kind of order is not a good idea at all. Evergreens will not grow in these city situations. I am suggesting more diversity in grouping the plantings.. Its obvious that for some reason these did not work, but all we can do is speculate at his juncture because I doubt we will ever hear about all the reasons why they died. We do know the elements on roads is harsh on the plants, but does anyone really know if the city/RTA will investigate this thoroughly? There are all kinds of reasons the trees could die. We have listed many here. I am also inclined to believe that maybe the product was bad in the first place..OR, that there was a lack of follow up in caring for the new trees. I may give an arborist I know a call today.

One thing we're not mentioning is the idea of changing the materials they're using on the road to something more benign. There is nothing good about salt products on the road, we know this...the damage they do to concrete and brick work, metal on bridges/overpasses, vehicles, aquatic environments, and plants along streets like trees. I looked into this a long time ago and forget the products, but there are more sensitive products. One thing I also witness is sat trucks going waaaaayyy overboard on the application of this stuff. I have even seen them literally stand still and dump small piles of this on the street. That is unacceptable, careless application... and simply not necessary.

And more.... I will post more later. I have a lot more...

Now for the next lot....

A problem in many "bad" neighborhoods...at least what I am thinking of "bad"....in this area, anyway...is that they are often void of anything other than a few joints hanging on for dear life...... In terms of food, more often than not they can be nutritional wastelands where the best you may find is McCrap or some other fast food that is nothing special. An area that serves as a good example is 55th and Woodland. I know I posted a photo of that area as it was in the 40's....if you look at it today, it is fast food and fuel stations. The word "Ghetto" has taken on a new meaning as well. "Ghetto" although poorer areas it described, did not necessarily mean they were bad in terms of crime, etc. Kind of like how the words "full figured" never meant FAT...but somehow have been stolen and bastardized to kindly describe FAT women. Jane Russell was never fat as a "full figured gal." :-D

^ We certainly need better fitness lifestyles..... Right on!

Is the Sans S. restaurant still there?

^ I have a podcast I did with Mansfield about this...and if anyone cares to get a copy file...let me know.

I met Larry once in Cleveland and actually engaged in a brief sports conversation with him. His skin tone and hands creeped me out. :-o

^Broadway has some pretty interesting places. Just don't go around when school is letting out. Also, the Mill Creek Historical Center is a great place to visit if you're not hungry... If you are, there are still a handful of eateries along Fleet. Still a lot of interesting things between Slavic Village/Broadway/Newburgh Hts. area.

I agree. Honey Locusts are the "chain restaurant" of trees...they're everywhere. Actually, I like using native species when possible and if suitable for the environment along a street, but sometimes this is not always an option because of the conditions...and we then have to resort to 'weed trees' or those that will grow in just about any environment. Personally, I like mixing species along a street. This way, if one species has a disease, Asian invasive bug.... or sickness unique to one specific species, we will have only that tree affected instead of wiping out the entire rows along the street. Diversity breeds stability, instead of monoculture. Again, these are all the things the forester does in his/her trade. I am even sure the local Botanical Gardens have people who can assist with this. I wonder if they were consulted. I am amazed sometimes how various Gov't/public agencies fail to make use of the resources right under their noses. One thing young and newly planted trees need a lot is water and initial pruning care. At least when I was out and about, I never witnessed this...But their were supposed to be irrigation systems under them. Were they operating at the right times of the day or enough? Don't know.

Not really a BAD neighborhood as media makes it out to be... But how about Seven Roses on Fleet in Slavic Village?

I think there are options, but they need to be carefully explored, hence why I suggested consulting with an urban forester from the state, local or private.... You cannot solely rely on landscape people for this kind of information. There can be a big difference in their respected professions and they need to work together.

Well said. I also still maintain that "funding" will not be a cure all for their problems like nasty drivers and filthy buses. This goes much deeper involving the vision/integrity/pride of those they hire. Money cannot always buy class....one either has it or they do not. It is a simple anecdotal bit of philosophy that really does go a long way. Cannot keep waiting for all the world to be made right when the funding ship comes in. It may never come in...so in the meanwhile, let's try to find other ways to achieve some of the things we need to achieve (such as dirty vehicles and trashy stations/right of ways) and get down to creative thinking. I offered my suggestions.

When these were selected and planted, the potential harsh conditions should have been a foreseen factor. Nowhere did I see mention of hiring an urban forester to work with this project, such as Alan Seiwert. (If he is even still working out of M.Field) Landscaping designers do not typically go in depth with factoring in all conditions to determine an appropriate species. The Clinic, our wonderful "Gods of Health" use toxic lawn chemicals (carcinogens) on that lawn...the same stuff banned in many and a growing number of places for mere cosmetic uses.....the same stuff that helps turn Lake Erie green, contributes to big fish kills.... and makes it stink at certain times of the year. Good on ya, folks...real smart way to set examples for better health and sustainability! Well, I hope the RTA will get the tree thing right this time...If they're listening..please consult a state forester, or private one...but just someone who knows more about trees than just mostly selling them. 327... you may be right in that they were setting there far too long.

Great!

Great pics. Love that one where it says "God Bless America" as it is surrounded by all those big corporate names. How fitting and a testament to what has happened to baseball, and America. That photo can even be made into a poster for sublime messages.

If they had a decent pen....this might have been three straight wins.

I agree about the traffic stops yielding more illegal goodies and goings on. I have a bit of a lengthy story below, so for those who hate my longer rants...you won't like this one...but anyone else.... Here is the story.... When I was in Warren, for 5 years myself and a handful of other citizens (as what is currently going on in Loraine locally) set out to curb excessive and illegal noise in the city--focusing FIRST on what we refer to as "audio terrorists" who unleash acoustic assault all hours of the day on a helpless public with their boom cars. I, for one, was hounded by this crap nearly 'round the clock to the point of it driving me insane and thought there is no way anyone should have to move because of the illegal, selfish, and indulgent obnoxious behavior of a few. I and others had to thoroughly educate ourselves on this boom car phenomenon (why I give talks on it today at neighborhood associations) and the negative/dark side of the subculture to see that it is a hell of a lot more than little Johnny practicing his hobby as much of the public seems to perceive. There is a world of sold information about the boom car problem and how it is ruining communities right to reasonable peace in their own homes coast to coast, how especially dangerous low frequency coupled with high decibels and vibration is to the body, the public, and how it runs a safety risk for police, fire, and EMT vehicles at intersections---and what municipalities are doing all over to reduce this particular problem. Loraine, St. Petersburg, Gulf Port Mississippi, Chicago, and a myriad of other places, even Warren, now have cutting edge ordinances that allow for effective deterrent of this problem. All that is another story and the details can be seen at www.lowertheboom.org and www.noiselff.org Anyway, what I am saying in how this is related to traffic stops is that after we had gathered information via daily news reports on this subject generated from papers across the nation via a program that searches for related articles.....and after consulting hundreds of police departments on this issue, including information straight from Warren City Municipal Court...on average, about 1 in 4 boom cars stopped for making illegal extreme raucous noise as outlined as illegal per city ordinance....yielded either guns, drugs, people driving w/o a license, or those wanted on arrest warrants...drunk driving and other illegal treasures were discovered from making stops for this alone. Many police departments and officers KNOW this and get it. Many do not and it is an education process. The point is...that besides speeding, this loud booming will often lead to finding more criminals. As I mentioned, about 1 in 4 cars stopped. There is world of crime to be discovered with that dead give away. In fact, just like the ice cream man jingles and dingles his bell to alert kids in the neighborhood of ice cream nearby!....the boom car thug who is roving around disturbing the neighborhood shaking people's homes off their foundations...dealing drugs, uses the booming to let it be known that drugs are available. I did a 22 minute podcast about this with someone in Florida who is very knowledgeable on this issue, a former legal worker and neighborhood association president who works closely with the police department and has appeared on NPR about it. You may have seen something about these issues in the last Parade Magazine. Where we are in educating the public about this is about where anti-tobacco was 40 years ago educating people about the dangers associated with smoking. It is an uphill battle. Part of the problem is the fact that EPA Office on Noise Pollution Abatement was de-funded in the early 80's which eventually opened up the flood gates for virtually little to no regulation on manufactures making noise producing products and how many decibels are deemed safe/unsafe. Anyone wanting the pod-cast on this let me know.. Btw.. Making stops for this is not profiling or picking on poor kids. The problem is widespread and graces all walks of life...Additionally, anyone who spends up to $30,000 on audio equipment is hardly poor..and anyone making this much noise is profiling themselves.

^^ Ok, As long at the lots are out of plain street sight, I can live with that. :-) As I was saying too..they could even have a pedestrian element added..benches...bricked walkways, trees, a small pic-nic shelter, planters, etc...

I think I would love the setting. Although I am vegetarian.... I still love the retro looks of these types of places..the old steak houses and family restaurants. George's Kitchen and Romas has to rank up there too! There is another place that comes to mind speaking of "retro" and this is maybe not a secret by any means, but the way I perceive it may be pointing out something that IS a lost thing, therefore making the place pretty special in terms of retro. This would be the shopping plaza at Kamms... First, it does not have a HUGE ocean of pavement like the sprawl plazas of today and actually is a bit more easy on the urban streetscape.. Additionally, this place actually has some smaller/independent/locally owned type businesses that used to be the norm back in the day before the invasion of the big time clone zone. There is even a small Pet Shop--a rarity anymore. Gene's Place is also unique. The plaza is well maintained and a sort of throwback to when such places were more intimate with the smaller stores. Again, not a big secret...but I wonder if anyone else sees this place in such a light?

I just looked at this the other day. It seems that the front facades have a way to go for this to be completed by the 5th. Isn't the City Blue space going to be a part of this?

Establishing a presence is essential.

^ ^ "Why don't you want to incarcerate violent criminals?" Sir, this is not what I sad AT ALL.. You show me where I made that statement. I will not be sucked into that little trap. What we did solves a lot.....and if more people get involved, like yourself as you are...then sooner or later the message will be sent that unless these people shape up...society will have NO place for them to live---in which case of they wind up in jail, so be it and I am all for that. In England, there are laws that are titled something like "anti-social laws".. I don't know the exact name as it has been a long time since I was researching it, but if people become continued problems, they can be evicted from the neighborhood through due process and it is pretty strict. Here we have a similar opportunity in getting properties dubbed as a "nuisance" and such puts pressure on the property owner to straighten out the situation, evict the problem etc.... The point is that we have the groundwork laid out to make the changes to help make a situation better, BUT, most fail to use them. I understand what is on paper and what is reality are two different things, but just remember that we "make our reality" in this if not enough do their part. After this...anyway you look at it, we use what tools we have and jail is the ultimate home for the offenders, then that's good. By able people running and hiding instead of trying to ban together as a community.....surrendering neighborhoods to the problem, it just drives the final nail in the coffin--and essentially those who run to McMansion land are just as much a part of the problem. While speaking of jail...I also would like to see the white collar criminals incarcerated. Afterall, often is the case that organized violence and corruption at the top, breeds/seeds disorganized violence/corruption at the bottom.

Your estrogen-fueled screams for assistance may help some (provided that the thug hasn't neutralized you already), but there's more than one way to skin a cat. Like you said, the cops can't be everywhere at once. Well, if you want to live life gripped in the fear of what 95% of the time will not happen anyway.....that is totally your prerogative, and I respect that..but I chose to not live that way. No need for the insults either. I would rather adhere to the philosophy that lets our brains do the thinking...not our balls, and I reserve that right to be evolved.