MuRrAy HiLL

Ted Ginn Sr in the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/sports/11academy.html

Cleveland's 'square factor' helps land the Gay Games By Robert L. Smith, The Plain Dealer October 07, 2009, 3:55AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Founded in San Francisco 28 years ago, the Gay Games have been held in New York City, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Chicago and Sydney, Australia. Last week, the Federation of Gay Games announced from Europe that the 2014 edition will unfold in Cleveland, Ohio. Or, as they are saying across much of the gay world, "Cleveland?" The news elicited widespread curiosity and incredulity, sour grapes in the runner-up cities of Boston and Washington, D.C., and plenty of griping that Cleveland is not gay-friendly enough nor interesting enough to deserve the international games. MORE AT http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/10/clevelands_square_factor_helps.html

Cleveland City Council takes first steps to prep Midtown land for state mental hospital By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer October 05, 2009, 1:27AM Efforts to prepare land in Cleveland's Midtown area for a state mental hospital are underway. The City Council's Finance Committee will hear legislation this afternoon to acquire and clean parcels near Euclid Avenue and East 59th Street. MORE AT CLEVELAND.COM http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/10/cleveland_city_council_takes_f.html

Here's from a National Media source, with some quotes from Lebron: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=8756776

Shaq's Tweet Puts Tremont Restaurant On Map POSTED: 4:06 pm EDT October 2, 2009 UPDATED: 1:11 am EDT October 3, 2009 CLEVELAND -- Shaquille O'Neal is one of the biggest celebrities ever to play in Cleveland, and now the new Cavs center is even giving restaurant reviews. On Wednesday night, Shaq put on his Twitter page that he was at Lago in Tremont and having the best lasagna in Cleveland. MORE AT http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/21184802/detail.html

Transforming Cleveland schools: Can Sanders deliver on promise? Sanders vows to turn around education in Cleveland schools Thursday, October 01, 2009 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland schools chief Eugene Sanders promises to deliver a bold plan for the district's "transformation" by the end of this year. His timing is good; the stars are aligned. The White House is investing billions in school innovation and reform. The Cleveland Teachers Union is begging for a role in planning and carrying out the improvements. And the district's back is to the wall as money runs out, enrollment falls and academic performance continues to scrape bottom. Sanders is adamant that education, not economics, will drive changes. But he has to decide where best to spend shrinking resources. The district faces a deficit of nearly $53 million in 2011. MORE AT: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1254385976214240.xml&coll=2

From BostonEdge: http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=&sc3=&id=96990

Crains gives these numbers: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090929/FREE/909299982 Not sure if they're too high or not. Hopefully not.

Let's not forget folks, Cleveland will be hosting the 2013 Senior Games as well: http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2008/03/cleveland_to_host_senior_games.html Busy times ahead for event planners in the city and NEO.

Florida celebrity chef Dean Max opens AMP 150 in Cleveland Airport Marriott: Restaurant Row By Joe Crea, The Plain Dealer September 29, 2009, 9:56AM Let's say a celebrity chef decided to open a restaurant in Northeast Ohio. Where would he locate? Tremont? Downtown, say on East Fourth Street or in the Warehouse District? East, on Shaker Square? How about on West 150th Street? That's one of the big surprises in the opening of AMP 150, an unlikely but most welcome arrival on the commercial corridor just off I-71. For good measure, it's in a hotel -- the Cleveland Airport Marriott, which is completing the final phase of a reported $20 million renovation. MORE AT: http://www.cleveland.com/taste/index.ssf/2009/09/florida_celebrity_chef_dean_ma.html

Video from NewsNet5 : http://www.newsnet5.com/sports/21149050/detail.html

“Cleveland demonstrated to the Federation of Gay Games that they understood the mission of the Gay Games and our principles of ‘Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best,'” said Kurt Dahl (Chicago) and Emy Ritt (Paris), FGG Co-Presidents. “We were highly impressed by the facilities and infrastructure, the widespread community sport, their financial plan and the city’s experience in hosting large scale sports and cultural events.” http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/index.php?/archives/2009/09/summary.html

House price decline slows nationwide; Cleveland holds up best of 20 markets By Michelle Jarboe, The Plain Dealer September 29, 2009, 9:59AM CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Declines in house prices kept slowing down in July, according to data released this morning by the much-watched Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. And though house prices here have fallen farther during the past few years than those in many other cities, Cleveland has held up the best of all 20 metropolitan areas tracked since July 2008. Cleveland's index dropped only 1.3 percent during the 12 months that ended in July, while the 20-city index fell 13.3 percent. Much of that national drop was driven by declines in once-bustling markets including Las Vegas and Phoenix. MORE FROM THE PLAIN DEALER: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/09/house_price_declines_slow_clev.html

Time to start building the high-end shopping downtown! CONGRATS Cleveland...nice work!

$$$ has been appoved. Thanks HJG: City council approves loan for aquarium on west bank Tuesday, September 29, 2009 Henry J. Gomez Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland's City Council gave a boost Monday to efforts to bring an indoor aquarium to the west bank of the Flats. The council approved a $2 million loan for Nautica Aquarium LLC, a subsidiary of Jacobs Investments Inc. that plans to develop the project at its Powerhouse complex. MORE AT CLEVELAND.COM: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1254213068184630.xml&coll=2

Gay Games 2014 site to be chosen Tuesday Kim Wendel Updated: 9/28/2009 4:26:45 PM Posted: 9/28/2009 3:52:06 PM The Federation of Gay Games will broadcast the announcement live on its website at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Supporters in Northeast Ohio will also gather at Twist, 11633 Clifton Boulevard in Lakewood to watch the announcement being made, according to local organizers. http://www.wkyc.com/news/politics_govt/politics_article.aspx?storyid=122388&catid=130

$2 million loan for aquarium on track to pass at tonight's Cleveland City Council meeting By Henry J. Gomez, The Plain Dealer September 28, 2009, 3:57PM A $2 million loan to help build an indoor aquarium at the Nautica complex in the Flats appears to be headed for approval at tonight’s Cleveland City Council meeting. MORE AT CLEVELAND.COM http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/09/2_million_loan_for_jacobs_aqua.html

Cleveland: West Side historic Capitol Theatre alive again Maureen Kyle Updated: 9/28/2009 7:37:14 AM CLEVELAND -- The Gordon Square Arts District is one of Cleveland's new hot spots. And this week, the world premiere of LeBron James' documentary "More than a Game" will also mark the grand opening of a newly renovated historical landmark. MORE AT http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=122349&catid=3

Here are some pics of the Mayor's visit. DocBroc is that you I take it?? http://www.theavenuedistrict.com/blog/2009/09/24/e-12th-street-security-walk/

lol. wow! So all I have to do is buy a house downtown for the Mayor to come visit me?? Where will they show any of this footage?

Dan Whalen currently leads the nation in Passing Efficiency: http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&div=3&rpt=III_playerpasseff&site=org Also, here's another article on him vying for the national spotlight: http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/09/24/sports/nh1477436.txt

Cleveland Foundation awards nearly $15 million in grants By SHANNON MORTLAND 9:30 am, September 25, 2009 The Cleveland Foundation is following through with a project it began pursuing two years ago to create an arts and technical center that would provide art projects for children and job training resources for adults. The foundation announced it has granted $3 million to the Cleveland Center for Arts and Technology to partner with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to create a year-round, after-school program for local children to participate in ceramics, sculpture and digital arts. MORE AT CRAINS: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090925/FREE/909249973

I don't think we have to worry about the city marketing itself too much. If Dan Gilbert is putting down $600 mil, I'm sure he's going to be having a damn good marketing department. I'm guessing he'll tie it in with what else he already owns downtown: Lake Erie Monsters and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

^^and also some love from Las Vegas. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/24/citys-budding-love-affair-cleveland-clinic/

Thanks I fixed my post. Here it is again anyways: http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/09/mayor_frank_jackson_endorses_i.html