MuRrAy HiLL

some news from the PD: Amtrak may include stop near Hopkins airport on Cleveland-to-Cincinnati route Posted by Karen Farkas/Plain Dealer Reporter May 05, 2009 04:00AM The proposed passenger train route from Cleveland to Cincinnati may include a stop at an RTA rapid station near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and one in Grafton in Lorain County, according to a report released by Amtrak. The route recommended by Amtrak is part of its ongoing study of providing rail service along existing freight tracks across the state. More at Cleveland.com http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/amtrak_may_include_stop_near_h.html

Rockets 100, Lakers 92

Live streaming at 4 pm http://www.nba.com/playoffs2009/live1/ AND apparently Fox Sports Ohio will be covering ...something LIVE. My guess is ASVSM gym. ?? EDIT: well it looks like a press conference is what it will be.

More news coming out from USAToday about ..about impending news! : Reports: LeBron to be named NBA's MVP this afternoon Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James is expected to be named the NBA's Most Valuable Player on Monday afternoon, according to reports. The Associated Press and Cleveland Plain Dealer, both citing a league source, report that James is to receive the award at his preps alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. James would become the first player in franchise history to win MVP honors. He also finished second in voting for defensive player of the year. James averaged 28.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.6 assists during the regular season, when the Cavaliers notched a franchise-record 66 wins. He led the Cavs to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons. The Cavs open their second-round series against Atlanta on Tuesday night. Full story at http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/cavaliers/2009-05-04-lebron-mvp_N.htm

From Ideastream: http://www.wcpn.org/index.php/WCPN/news/26025/

I always enjoy reading the other's team's home paper on the take of things....in this case, the Atanta Journal-Constitution http://www.ajc.com/ First article on the series: Hawks fans: ‘Bring on LeBron!’ By LARRY HARTSTEIN Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday, May 03, 2009 Chants of “Bring on LeBron!” pierced CNN Center as Hawks fans poured out of Philips Arena Sunday afternoon. For fans who had watched their team win a playoff series for the first time in a decade, the Game 7 trouncing of Miami was an occasion for giddiness. “I think they can go all the way,” declared season-ticket holder Roosevelt Wilson, a 49-year-old postal worker. “We can beat anybody here in our house. We just need to sneak one out on the road.” That will be a monumental task against LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers, who went 39-2 at home. James averaged 26.3 points as the Cavs beat the Hawks three of four times this season. Cleveland finished with the NBA’s best regular-season record, 66-16, then destroyed Detroit in a four-game playoff sweep. Still, fans spent Sunday relishing the Hawks’ first playoff series win since a 3-2 victory over Detroit in 1999. Full story at http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/stories/2009/05/03/atlanta_hawks_fans.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

So everyone knows... HESSLER STREET FAIR 2009 May 16-17 Dawn till Dusk http://hesslerstreet.com/

A feel good article from USAToday: LeBron James driven to win it all By Tom Withers, AP Sports Writer INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Nobody will be there, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown thought as he left the house early one morning last May. It was a few days after Cleveland's disappointing season ended with a bitter Game 7 loss on Boston's famed parquet floor and it was down time. The Cavs had dispersed to Cancun, the French Riviera and other vacation spots for rejuvenation and reflection. Brown was headed to the team's plush training compound with his son, Elijah. Time for some father-son bonding with nobody around but security guards. But as the Browns walked in the door, the lights were on in the gym. And as they neared the courts, they heard the thump, thump, thump of a basketball kissing hardwood. One Cavalier stayed home. LeBron James was already back at work. Full story at http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-05-01-1897146319_x.htm

A neat write up on the fairly new La Stada....and and VERY interesting blip about plans for the old Mayfield theater in Little Italy. I know Terry would do an amazing job in restoring and keeping a lot of original pieces, but I don't know if I want to see this property turned into another restaurant...however the description seems like a good compromise with the live music. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cleveland restaurateur Terry Tarantino has a Felliniesque touch: Tastemakers by John Petkovic/Plain Dealer Reporter Sunday May 03, 2009, 12:01 AM John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer La Strada owner Terry Tarantino has learned that the road less traveled is always more interesting. And if it gets surreal at times, well, then, as Fellini might say, even better. He was moved by the street, a quaint walkway tailor-made for a night on the town. He was inspired by the Federico Fellini film "La Strada," Italian for "the road." But the name of Terry Tarantino's newest eatery also reflects his own path -- one full of hustle and bustle, with some Felliniesque twists and turns to make it interesting, if not surreal. More at http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2009/05/cleveland_restaurateur_terry_t_2.html

Mentioned in the Crain's story about the Convention Center today: Goodrich donates land to Cleveland Charlotte Business Journal Goodrich Corp. has donated 3 acres to the city of Cleveland for community-redevelopment efforts. http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/04/27/daily58.html

Wow, very cool. Thanks for sharing. So there's where the UO business card would come into play!

From Crains: http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090429/FREE/904299947 Northeast Ohio dominates latest round of Third Frontier grants By CHUCK SODER 9:25 am, April 29, 2009 Nine Northeast Ohio companies and institutions have been awarded a total of more than $29 million in state grants aimed at helping them commercialize new technologies. The six companies and three institutions that won the grants received nearly 75% of the $40.1 million that the Ohio Third Frontier Commission awarded Tuesday afternoon. The awards are contingent upon State Controlling Board approval.

I find it most interesting about the Dan Gilbert piece. I never really thought of his initiative to make money in Cleveland may end up hurting his home city and home state.

what the hell????? Is this just more PD shock and awe or there really a chance the med mart will not go on the Malls??

Maybe this discussion should be moved over into the College Town thread....although it is technically "Filling in Euclid Ave." http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,13086.330.html

Overcoming barriers, Cleveland Marathon officials settle on May 17 race course by Zachary Lewis/Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday April 29, 2009, 1:00 AM CLEVELAND -- Less than a month before the May 17 race, the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon has settled on a course. But if the announcement seems late or the news anti-climactic, don't blame the event's organizers. Like runners in a hurdle race, they've encountered one obstacle after another in addressing complaints that surfaced through a survey after last year's race. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/04/overcoming_barriers_cleveland.html

Interesting... 80-Year-Old Cleveland Activist Will Walk and 'Tweet' 250 Miles CLEVELAND, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On May 1, 80-year-old community activist Joan Southgate of Cleveland, Ohio, plans to "complete the circle" she began in 2002 by walking 250 miles from St. Catharines, Ontario, to Cleveland's Cozad-Bates House. In her journey to honor the conductors and fugitives brought together along the Underground Railroad, Southgate walked 519 miles in 2002 and 2003 from the one-time anti-slavery stronghold of Ripley in southern Ohio to Cleveland and on to Canada. In May, Southgate will again take to the road to raise money for Restore Cleveland Hope Inc., a grassroots community group that grew out of the enthusiasm for her inspirational walk and has expanded into a non-profit organization that presents educational workshops and intergenerational programs. Since its founding in 2003, RCH has worked passionately to save the Cozad-Bates House, the only pre-Civil War-era building still standing in Cleveland's cultural and educational district of University Circle. The group has been working to establish an Underground Railroad Education and Resource Center in the historic home. Southgate's month-long walk is an effort to raise $250,000 for restoration of the home and RCH programming. As with her earlier walk, Southgate will talk to schoolchildren and community groups about the Underground Railroad, the nation's first integrated Civil Rights movement. She will stay with strangers and at churches along her route, which will take her along State Route 5 in New York and Pennsylvania and Ohio 84. Embracing the technology of social networking to share her message, Southgate will share her experiences on Twitter. "Many people thought my first walk sounded like a crazy idea," Southgate said with a smile. "Now, I guess they'll call me 'Twitterpated.' I am excited to take to the road again and meet the many good people who are drawn to the Underground Railroad's example of individual acts of courage. Everyone should celebrate this story and understand what it has to teach us about what can be accomplished if we work together." Southgate will kick off her walk with a blessing at 1 p.m. May 1 at the Salem Chapel in St. Catharines, which had been the Canadian refuge for celebrated Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman, whom Southgate's family knew. http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/04-29-2009/0005015536&EDATE=

Man..too bad CWRU won't be in session...! Half the campus would be ditching class..

^I agree with jpop. Many people just live for these types of conventions, and I'd expect numbers in the thousands coming just for the convention...not to mention, we'll be seeing the occasionial superman, wonder woman, and many other costumed superheros walk by..

So far, just a more in depth article... http://www.gcpartnership.com/News.aspx?id=3192 European business group to locate U.S. office in Cleveland Effort to encourage business growth between Europe, northeast Ohio to be announced at GCP Annual Meeting Cleveland, Ohio - March 4, 2009 - A business organization with operations in 34 European nations will locate its U.S. office in Cleveland. The Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Union ("SME Union") was established in 1996 to promote growth of businesses in Europe. The U.S. office of this umbrella business organization will be located in the Greater Cleveland Partnership's (GCP) offices in the Higbee Building in downtown Cleveland. The announcement will be made at tomorrow's annual meeting of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) by Board Chairman Henry L. Meyer III and Nadezhda Mihaylova, vice president of the SME Union and deputy speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly. The meeting will be held Thursday, March 5, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th Street. "The goal of the new venture is to establish new ties between small- to mid-sized companies in Europe and the U.S. that expand international trade and market opportunities in both places," Meyer said. "Having this office in Cleveland will give us another pin on the global map to strengthen the competitiveness of local companies and industries involved in trade and commerce." This new U.S. office for SME Union will be directed by Dimitar Ivanov, who is from Sofia, Bulgaria. The SME Union, an umbrella business organization affiliated with the majority political party coalition in the European Parliament that includes representation from the 38 European countries. The SME Union works with all the governments and chambers of commerce in Europe to help small and mid-sized companies grow. Through its connections, the SME Union has access to almost 20 million small to mid-sized businesses across the 38 countries. The SME Union's operation in Cleveland will be advised by a group representing Northeast Ohio organizations involved with international trade and development including the Port of Cleveland, the State of Ohio Department of Development, the Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC), the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network (MAGNET), the City of Cleveland, the GCP and others. The new partnership was brokered by The Cleveland Foundation, specifically by Jorge Delgado, the Foundation's director of International Affairs. Ms. Mihaylova said that she was impressed with the Cleveland region's commitment to build stronger ties with Europe when she met with representatives from the region, including Mayor Jackson, other City officials, and Team NEO representatives in Brussels several months ago. She added that addressing the economic difficulties presently confronting the U.S. and Europe requires the new kinds of collaboration such as that demonstrated in the SME Union's decision to open its U.S. office in Cleveland. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said the location of the group's office here reflects his administration's insistence that Cleveland push hard to further integrate itself into the international world of trade and business. "Cleveland has a unique set of assets that businesses can benefit from by locating here. My trade missions last year, were entirely about making sure the global marketplace understands what we have to offer and how we both can benefit," Mayor Jackson said. "When we met with SME leadership back in December we were able to demonstrate how and why Cleveland is the perfect location to establish new ties and expand international trade opportunities. I would like to thank the Greater Cleveland Partnership for hosting their office." Ronald B. Richard, president and CEO of The Cleveland Foundation, added "The Cleveland Foundation is pleased to support this new partnership between the GCP and the SME Union. Adding that, deeper international ties like this are critical to Cleveland's future. Expanding global commerce is an important way to increase our city's ability to generate jobs and investment."

Maybe someone can contact Dimitar Ivanov for more info, who it says "directs the office." I'm searching right now for some contact info....no luck

FYI: Little Italy just opened a new restaurant "Etna" in the previous Valerio's location. (In between E.119 and E. 120, along Mayfield Rd.) Meanwhile, Valerio's moved up the street to I believe the old Battuto location. (that's what I hear though..someone please confirm) Both owners are from Sicily, with the one who runs Etna only a few years removed. So, I would expect a decent amount of more southern Italian cooking. I'm out of the state right now, so if anyone wants to try it out, please let me/us know!!

can you post the link?

More on the President... Cleveland State University's sixth president hails from similar school Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Janet Okoben Plain Dealer Reporter Ronald Berkman had 5,000 reasons why he couldn't be in Cleveland on Monday, a day after being named Cleveland State University's new president. Florida International University, where Berkman is executive vice president and provost, began graduation ceremonies Monday and has two more ceremonies today for its 5,000 graduates. The events will be his last at the Miami university after 11 years there. More at Cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1240907504324760.xml&coll=2

Although they are crap...and as much as a hate to say....people and media pay attention to them. Perception of an area is sometimes bigger than the reality of things.