MuRrAy HiLL

Cleveland schools CEO Eugene Sanders passes up contract extension Friday, June 12, 2009 Thomas Ott Plain Dealer Reporter Cleveland schools Chief Executive Officer Eugene Sanders says he wants to stay in the job until at least 2016, but for the second time he has passed on a contract extension that could move him closer to that goal. His original four-year contract, signed in 2006, was extended once and will expire on June 30, 2011. More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1244795458291020.xml&coll=2

^^ Great article. I missed it from before. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/06/cleveland_entrepreneur_offers.html Cleveland entrepreneur offers to buy OnStar from GM by Robert Schoenberger/Plain Dealer Reporter Friday June 12, 2009, 10:41 AM CLEVELAND -- A local entrepreneur with a startup technology company has offered to buy General Motors' OnStar service, a system that connects drivers to a GM call center that can offer step-by-step direction, unlock car doors or call an ambulance in the case of an accident. "We're not expecting a quick answer on this one," said Scott Minor, chief executive of startup geoDNA Llc, a company that hopes to establish mobile communications networks. "We'll see if it goes anywhere. It's pretty early in the mix of things right now." More at http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/06/cleveland_entrepreneur_offers.html

CC always seems to be a step ahead.. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/06/cleveland_clinic_ceo_delivers.html Cleveland Clinic CEO Toby Cosgrove delivers health-care prescription to Congress by Sabrina Eaton/Plain Dealer Washington Bureau Friday June 12, 2009, 11:28 AM WASHINGTON — As government health-care reform efforts reach a fever pitch over the summer, experts from Northeast Ohio and across the country will deliver their own reform prescriptions to Washington. Today, it was Cleveland Clinic CEO Delos "Toby" Cosgrove's turn. He was among two dozen participants in a Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee hearing that included representatives from business, the insurance industry, hospitals, academia, medical groups, organized labor, and state government. Activists for the elderly and disabled also participated in the two days of hearings. Cosgrove told the committee that the clinic reduces costs by operating as a group practice, which aligns the financial interests of the hospital and its physicians, allowing them to better deploy resources on patients' behalf. He said there's no profit motive for his doctors to order expensive or unnecessary procedures...

Make sure to check out Sportscenter today. And thanks to the birds...outta last place! For the birds: Gull struck by winning hit Choo's single deflected to push Indians past Royals By Dick Kaegel and Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com CLEVELAND -- What happens when a baseball strikes a seagull on the field? The ball is in play and, as it happened on Thursday night, the Cleveland Indians score the winning run to post a 4-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. This one for the book came in the 10th inning at Progressive Field with the Indians trying to break a tie with the Royals. Mark DeRosa singled and Victor Martinez walked against reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Shin-Soo Choo singled sharply up the middle straight toward a flock of seagulls who were lounging in center field. The gulls, apparently in pursuit of bugs, had been swarming over the field during the entire series. Choo's line drive kicked in the outfield grass, struck a bird, then skipped away and rolled all the way to the wall, as DeRosa scored the winning run from second base. Center fielder Coco Crisp raised his arms in frustration, but there was no arguing the play. Umpire crew chief Mike Reilly confirmed that any ball striking one of the birds in fair territory is in play. Full story at http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090612&content_id=5283376&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Here's a nice little listing for the new apartments: http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1000057159.php

He also did some work in Cleveland in his past, so there's another connection. From his Bio: "After graduation, he moved on to weathercasting jobs in Washington, DC, and Cleveland, OH, before becoming the weekend weathercaster at WNBC in New York in 1983."

Great list! Personally, my favorite is the "Burning River Pale Ale" from the eco-friendly business of the Great Lakes Brewing Co.

^^Here's some more info on that concert: BUCKEYE BOOSTERS: "Without the Ohio experience and the years we spent there, I just don't see it happening the way it did," says Marc Roberge of O.A.R., which started building a following at Ohio State University in the 1990s. From left are Chris Culos, Richard On, Roberge, Jerry DePizzo and Benj Gershman. O.A.R. When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 12. Opener: The Wailers. Where: Nautica Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St., Cleveland. Â Tickets: $28.50 advance, $31 day of show at the box office and here, or charge by phone at 1-877-598-8703. More at http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2009/06/riding_high_with_hit_shattered.html

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/another_reprieve_for_owners_of.html Another reprieve for owners of Cleveland's condemned Howard Johnson hotel Posted by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter June 11, 2009 11:56AM Categories: Cleveland City Hall The old and abandoned Howard Johnson Motor Inn off Cleveland's East Shoreway will stand for at least another five weeks. Owners of the condemned property have until July 20 to show progress at the site. The city began demolishing the 12-story structure earlier this year. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/another_reprieve_for_owners_of.html

Since this thread is heavily underutilized...thought I'd post this here. Other cities really promote their Hard Rock Cafe's...for better or worse, Cleveland really does not. Nonetheless, cool event this Sunday: http://www.clevescene.com/c-notes/archives/2009/06/11/hard-rock-caf-throws-a-rockin-benefit Hard Rock Café Throws a Rockin' Benefit Posted by Michael Gallucci on Thu, Jun 11, 2009 at 2:18 PM A group of cool local bands and artists have teamed up to participate in a fundraiser happening at the Hard Rock Café on Sunday. Artists like indie-rockers Ghost Town Trio, former Faith No More singer Chuck Mosley, industrial rockers This I a Shakedown, Miami University-educated singer-guitarist Dave Ritz and alternative heroes Pale Hollow (pictured) will play outside the Hard Rock Café as part of an all-day street festival that starts at 11 a.m. Many of the bands are affiliated with the locally based Reversed Image Unlimited label. Tickets are $10 and proceeds go directly to the Cleveland Police Athletic League, a 70-year-old program that provides recreational, athletic and educational activities for young people. PAL is the only program in the country that provides daily interaction with police officers in the community and last year Cleveland PAL police officers interacted with over 10,000 inner-city Cleveland area youth, many from minority and low income families. —Jeff Niesel

From the PD today: Cleveland residency requirement's effect on city neighborhoods may be softened by poor housing market Thursday, June 11, 2009 Michelle Jarboe Plain Dealer Reporter The depressed housing market could hamper city employees who want to leave Cleveland, softening the short-term blow from the Ohio Supreme Court's Wednesday ruling. But a gradual migration of city workers might change the landscape of some Cleveland neighborhoods. And with roughly 8,000 city workers allowed to move beyond the city's boundaries, Cleveland potentially faces a slower rebound from the housing crisis. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/business/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/business-12/1244709030152920.xml&coll=2

Again here is what I linked over if anyone is confused...from 2007 proposal to city planning:

For some reason, I thought these zoing codes were outdated....so this is really what it still is in 2009?? damn.. You're right..."a grocery store is not permitted in a Multi-Family District" ??...does this mean it's supposed to be purely residental...still trying to figure this out since there are of course Mcdonalds and BK just a few blocks away "frontage landscape strip... a 6ft width is required along the parking lot" "parking spaces shall be at least 180 square feet and accessory uses shall be no less than 10 from the side street line" Parking guidelines...of course! the more suburban city of Cleveland the better

I use Charter One and USAA.

Man, maybe Cleveland should secede from Ohio...! I like Crain's article the best. Ohio Supreme Court supports end to city worker residency rules By JAY MILLER 11:57 am, June 10, 2009 The Ohio Supreme Court today in a 5-2 decision backed a state law passed in 2006 that said cities can’t require their employees to live in the community where they work. Political leaders in large metropolitan cities, including Cleveland and Akron, that have these laws havefeared a ruling against them would lead to an exodus of police, fire and other employees to the suburbs. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson would not speculate on the impact of the ruling. “At the end of the day, Cleveland will survive,” he told reporters gathered for an impromptu press conference in his office this afternoon. “It’s a sad day for the voters of Cleveland who believed in a system where their vote counts.” More from Crains http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090610/FREE/906109949

http://www.cleveland.com/goingout/index.ssf/2009/06/clevelands_agora_theater_and_b.html Cleveland's Agora Theater and Ballroom to close for summer: After Dark by John Petkovic / Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday June 10, 2009, 1:35 PM "I'm closing for three months -- June, July and August," said Hank LoConti, owner of the Agora Theater and Ballroom, 5000 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. "I'm still renting the place for shows that other promoters are doing, but I'm not booking shows until September."...

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cleveland_state_university_to_1.html Cleveland State University to keep Wright Center after revising plan Posted by Janet Okoben/The Plain Dealer June 09, 2009 16:22PM Categories: Real Time News Cleveland State University can keep a $24 million grant for the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering. CLEVELAND — Cleveland State University's $23 million state-funded center for sensor technology is back in business with the blessing of state leaders, just months after the university risked losing the whole project because of management issues. CSU remains the host of the Wright Center for Sensor Systems Engineering, the formal name of the project, which is charged with helping businesses develop new products. Prospective companies must prove that their technologies or products will be commercially marketable within three years, according to the new plan. More at http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cleveland_state_university_to_1.html

From the PD: Strickland seeks high speed rail dollars in Washington by By Sabrina Eaton/Plain Dealer Washington Bureau Tuesday June 09, 2009, 1:54 PM Gov. Ted Strickland and Ohio Transportation Director Jolene Molitoris don't want to miss the federal stimulus funding train. The pair spent Tuesday in Washington, working to snag $400 million in transportation money to create a high-speed passenger rail corridor that would link Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton with each other and the rest of the country. They were scheduled to discuss the issue today with Amtrak CEO Joseph Boardman and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Ohio and those cities represent the most densely populated part of the entire country that is devoid of passenger rail service," said Strickland, noting that other states are aggressively pursuing large slices of the $8 billion in stimulus money that President Obama has designated for high speed rail. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2009/06/strickland_seeks_high_speed_ra.html

It's ashame there is such a generational gap in leadership and the young "top talent" they are trying to attract. I wonder if the company will regret this move a decade from now. Maybe not, but who knows.

^^Thanks for posting!

Man, we've already knocked over too much on Euclid Ave already this year...

Nice little piece...showcasing Cleveland http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2009/06/crowning_moment_at_university.html Chris Coburn, leader of the Cleveland Clinic's Innovation Center, spent months negotiating business terms with the National Surgical Training Centre for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. But when it came time to sign the deal, Coburn pulled out the stops to charm the small delegation that visited from Ireland: Fine dining, the Cleveland Orchestra and a boat ride on Lake Erie at sunset. More at http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2009/06/crowning_moment_at_university.html

Case Western Reserve University graduates open bookstore on West 25th Street Posted by Tom Feran/Plain Dealer Reporter June 08, 2009 18:05PM Building an online presence has become part of doing business for bricks-and-mortar merchants. Recently, two enterprising Case Western Reserve University graduates reversed the formula. David Kallevig and Scott Greer first developed a successful business selling books on the Internet -- then swapped clicks for bricks by opening a store. More at Cleveland.com http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/case_western_reserve_universit_9.html

OK, I'm on a googling frenzy: http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/41/quothalf-the-world-is-here Half The World Is Here An Economics Student Turned Butcher Serves His Own Growing Community, And Many Others By Jo Steigerwald Once a week, Mr. Ali Lotfi-fard, an Iranian-born Muslim, drives to Bristol, Ohio, just a jog south of Middlefield. His destination: a slaughterhouse where Amish workers will help him corral the beef on the hoof needed for the week. Mr. Lotfi-fard is a halal butcher, whose store at West 95th and Detroit packs the world between its walls. Tinned mackerel from Izola, Slovenia. Rice from Pakistan; rice from Thailand. Moroccan sardines. Feta cheese: French, Bulgarian, Romanian. The most fragrant green tea with jasmine from Karachi, Pakistan. Goya-brand beans and recaito. Dettol, the antiseptic cleaner mentioned in seemingly every contemporary novel from India. A phalanx of silver and gold hookah pipes. Henna hair dye. Tea samovars and china; liters of Pepsi, boxes of corn flakes. And during Ramadan, the cases of medjool dates are stacked as high as a man. Want to know how a city grows? Watch what it eats. Cleveland, long a bastion of pierogis (or piroshke or pyrohy, depending on which side of what Eastern European border your great-grandmother traveled from), is now enriched by a conflation of Arabic, African and Asian tastes - all of whom have among them the commonality of a fast-growing religion, Islam. Mr. Lotfi-fard (whom everyone calls Ali) and his wife, Paradise, immigrated to the United States in 1977. They came to escape the revolution brewing in Iran that ended with the overthrow of the reigning monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic republic under the Ayatollah Khomeini. Ali studied economics at Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State, worked several jobs and raised a family of four sons with Paradise. How did a student of economics become a butcher? Market demand. There was a dearth of halal butchers in Cleveland in the late '70s, and so Ali started Halal Meats to provide acceptable meat for his family. Then for friends. Finally, he and Paradise opened the store at 9418 Detroit in 1983. "Halal means lawful, or permitted," explains Ali. "One takes the life of an animal with intention and respect in a humane way, and one invokes the name of God. A halal butcher must be intentional; must be humane; and must invoke the name of God." Like the kosher designation for Jews, halal signifies the divine present in the everyday, where God is in the details. Unlike kosher standards, a halal certification does not require its butchers to be overseen by a mosque official; it is enough that they are Muslim. In addition to the beef from Bristol, Halal Meats has goat, lamb and chicken, whole or cut to order. His assistant, Noor Najmiah, who sports a pompadour that would make a rockabilly front man proud, travels to Detroit once a week for halal chicken, bakery and most of the store's grocery stock. "It used to be that the distributors delivered to us," says Paradise. "But since the price of gas is so high, we must go to them. Most of what is in the store we get from Detroit, which has a large Arabic community." According to the American Religious Identity Survey, conducted in 2001 by the City University of New York with a sample size of 50,000 Americans, Islam ranks third on the list of the top 20 religions in the United States. Since 1980, the proportion of mosques founded in this country had increased by 62 percent, according to a 2001 study from the Hartford Institute for Religious Research. Of course, Muslims have come to the United States for much longer than the past 30 years. Paradise tells this story: "About 15 years ago, there was an old Iranian man who came to the store, maybe twice. He had come to this country long ago, probably in the early 1900s. The second time he was in the store, he brought some things his mother gave him to take with him to America. He said his family wasn't interested in them and he wanted to give them to me. There was a magnificent prayer rug, a string of prayer beads, and two books. The one book was the Koran. He didn't know what the other book was, he couldn't read it." It was a cookbook. Humanity needs nourishment, physical and spiritual. A prohibition on eating pork is part of the Muslim faith, as are drinking alcohol and gambling, which is one reason Ali won't sell beer or lottery tickets. The other? "If it's not good for my family," says Ali, "it's not good for yours. People tell me I'd make a lot of money in this neighborhood if I sold alcohol and lottery tickets. But it's not just about making money." In fact, for most of Halal Meat's history, Ali has worked at other jobs and owned other businesses in order to support his family. "I don't do this for the money. I started this because there was no halal meat here for my family. Then friends wanted some. So, there was a demand; a market." He shrugs. "It was important to me to make it available." This availability now includes supplying several Indian and Turkish restaurants in Northeast Ohio. And within the next month, Ali will break ground for a new store at East 83rd, between Euclid and Carnegie, next to the Cleveland Playhouse and down the block from the Cleveland Clinic. Named after the mystic Sufi poet, Rumi International Foods will feature prepared foods, a food court and halal catering services, in addition to halal meats and groceries. At the original store, Ali takes phone orders: one whole goat, two lambs. He makes change for a sweet, lumbering man who gives out Catholic holy cards; totals up two liters of pop, dish soap and 25 pounds of flour, entering it into his book of store credit. He sells a $15 phone card for Africa and confers with Paradise. "When customers are waiting, I tell them, look around you! Half the world is here! There's Somalia. Romania. Turkey, Egypt, Morocco. Pakistan. Iran." All shopping for blessed meat, spices, dish soap and pop. The world goes to Ali's store and smiles.

Here's something from 2007... http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bza/agenda/crr06-18-07.htm 9:30 Ward 6 Calendar No. 07-78: 2040 East 83rd Street Patricia Britt East 83rd and Carnegie LLC, owner and Ali Lofti Fard, appeal to construct a one-story grocery store and restaurant, proposed to be situated on consolidated parcels located in split zoning between General Retail Business and Multi-Family Districts on the west side of East 83rd Street at 2040 East 83rd Street; subject to the limitations of Section 337.08, a grocery store is not permitted in a Multi-Family District; and contrary to Sections 352.10 and 352.11, a 4’ wide frontage landscape strip is proposed where a 6’ width is required along the parking lot on East 83rd Street and Section 325.03 stipulates that parking spaces shall be at least 180 square feet and accessory uses shall be no less than 10’ from the side street line according to Section 357.05 of the Codified Ordinances. (Filed 5-15-07) Obviously outdated...but the names might help.