Norm Roulet's blog

Art of the Day: Houghs Angel, by Harry Bell

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:14:51 -0400

Harry Bell is a powerful urban artist, well appreciated in Cleveland and beyond. His most famous work I know is the Wall of Sorrows, recently dismantled, under controversy, and now in storage... scheduled for future re-installation. You may know his current work from cruising through Cedar and E.55th, where he is commissioned by a gas station and car dealership to create urban art on their walls, now including the work-in-progress shown above... a memorial tribute to "Houghs Angel", Fannie Lewis, rest in peace.

Not So Secret Agents Of Change, Flobots Concert Rises Above Mean Spirit of Unreal NEO

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:30:03 -0400

Thanks to Sudhir, I had the opportunity to check out the Flobots at Peabody's, Sunday night. If I'd browsed the Cleveland Scene Magazine concert preview, beforehand, I probably wouldn't have bothered going. The 100s of fans who enjoyed the show agreed that would have been a mistake.

I GRO EC at Coit Road Farmers Market, for over 75 years

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:27:44 -0400

The Coit Road Farmers Market is one of the most endearing places in real NEO. Hidden away in a near-dead industrial graveyard of East Cleveland, with the curb-appeal of a brownfield, it is not a place one goes without intent. So it amazes me that just about every time I go there I see someone I know. I guess I know some pretty smart people.

Art of the Day: Silver Line RTA Bus Stations and Green Spaces on Euclid Avenue

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 23:37:53 -0400

Public Art is site specific, so designing public art for a five-mile site - a bus line - must be quite a challenge. Now, as the "Euclid Corridor" "Silver Line" "HealthLine" street improvements, light fixtures, bus stops, signage, green spaces, trees, grass and technologies are becoming apparent, I think much of what has been assembled works for most of the sites I've seen... despite basically wiping out the city, and costing over a $billion, retooling of an existing bus line. Whether the infrastructure and facilities will prove very functional, I have my doubts... we'll know after the first winter of full service. But the form of the bus station, designed by Robert P. Madison International, and light fixture shown in this picture of the East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue "Breuer Stop" works astoundingly well for this important site... one of the most important on the line. In this case, it appears the art was well conceived for the surroundings.

"Cleveland's plight is unique because of an unusually high rate of lead poisoning"

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:14:04 -0400

The results of a study on violence in the Cleveland public schools, commissioned by the Cleveland Municipal School District, has their leadership and the Cleveland Plain Dealer finally focusing on lead poisoning as a cause of failure of our schools and school children. In an article in today's PD, "Cleveland schools struggle with finding and helping potentially violent students, study reports", a researcher from the American Institutes for Research in Washington, D.C., which performed the CMSD study on violence in our schools, is quoted saying "Cleveland's plight is unique because of an unusually high rate of lead poisoning - from paint in aging houses - that can affect behavior and academic performance." CMSD Board Member Louise Dempsey is quoted in the article as saying "I'm very pleased to see a lot of this stuff out in the open," she said. "Let's not kid ourselves, we've got to be honest if we're going to solve the problem." I'm pleased to see this getting CMSD Board-level attention.

Fallen Soldiers on America's Homefront

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 22:03:00 -0400

I was over by Glenville High School today and I asked my friend Snag what was the meaning of the shoes hanging from the powerlines. He said "Fallen Soldiers". I asked if he meant people from around here who were killed... a sort of memorial... and he said basically so. He said they did it in the army, too, and the three pair in the header today are probably for the people killed the other day over by St. Clair...

Art of the Day: Masumi Sunflowers, by God

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:23:21 -0400

I've always loved sunflowers, but the bright, sunny blooms glowing in our front yard this Summer are special. The seeds were from the work of art below, in the "To Masumi" memorial exhibition, held last October, in celebration of the everlasting, peaceful, sunny spirit of Masumi Hayashi, the great photographer killed a year earlier, in Cleveland, with other great Cleveland artist John Jackson. The Masumi Sunflower seeds distributed in Tremont may have been planted anywhere on Earth, and I wonder where else such Masumi Sunflowers are growing today, from this one showing of love for love and art received and lost.

I imagine ours are the only Masumi Sunflowers in East Cleveland, this year, but I may be wrong... do you have any in your yard or neighborhood, that you know?

Question of the Day: Which NEO leader should replace Dimora?

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:54:11 -0400

Northeast Ohio has some of the dirtiest water and beaches in the world, because we have some of the dirtiest leadership in the world, and that is very poor for Cleveland's image and economy. Fortunately, it seems the region is now positioned to clean up at least one of our messes.

FBI/IRS PoolGate Investigation excellent conclusion to lead awareness week

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:02:58 -0400

As a fitting end to Lead Awareness Week, the FBI and IRS provide an exciting, high profile demonstration that lead poisoning doesn't only impact poor inner city kids living in old, rotten housing, but impacts white, suburban baby boomers poisoned throughout their longer lives, as well. Though not yet reported in the mainstream media, REALNEO members have documented for years the failures of our growing population of aging and so mentally-declining industry-tainted and functionally defective business and government leadership, and the impact of lead poisoning on the people of all ages of the region. The combination of toxins - especially lead - and an aging population is the explanation for America's failing competitiveness, especially in historically polluted heavy industrial and old, dense urban areas, like Cleveland.

Bloggers for Obama, Part 2

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:41:44 -0400

I had so much fun at the Barack Obama campaign headquarters in East Cleveland, leading up to the March primary, meeting people and feeling part of something important, that I was excited by news the Shaker Heights campaign office was opening, July 24, 2008... hope to see one in EC soon. Sudhir and I stopped by to enjoy the good vibe. Cool to see a group line dancing to the energy. As we left, Sudhir said he'd like to go to a McCain event, just to see how it compares... I suggested he go to church or a gun show in Central Ohio...

Question of the Day: I'd like to buy ad space on REALNEO.us

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:12:25 -0400

Today I received an email with the message below, and I've received several like this recently, inquiring for text-link ads. I've seen those popping up on many sites, and I bet they work pretty well, for a while. But I can only imagine where such text-links may lead... and wonder what are the best ways to commercialize content via REALNEO. Is it this...?:

Attention REALNEO Shoppers

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:53 -0400

Even though I've known City Fresh farmer Maurice Small for years, and plan to be one of his "Fresh Stops", I hadn't been to one, so decided to stop by my neighborhood Fresh Stop, at Huron Road Hospital, to see what the excitement is about. It seems to be simple... it's the food. But it is more... it's the connections of neighbors with their place and with fresh local food.

Government and Social Leadership Stands United as GCLAC Against Lead Poisoning in NEO - Committed to Eradication by 2010

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:09:42 -0400

The most important message communicated at today's press conference kicking-off Lead Awareness Week was that our government leadership at the state, county and municipal level stand united to eradicate lead poisoning in Northeast Ohio by 2010. Publicly expressing their concern about lead poisoning here, and their commitment to its rapid elimination, East Cleveland Mayor Eric Brewer, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones added important voices to the chorus of public health and social service champions of the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council... a unique, world-class collaboration of around 85 organizations.

I GRO Mi Pueblo, With City Fresh and Hot Sauce Williams

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:55:02 -0400

For this week's I GRO EC With City Fresh meeting, evolving plans led us to my favorite Mexican restaurant in NEO, Mi Pueblo, in University Circle... a few blocks down Euclid Avenue from the Star Complex. City Fresh's Maurice Small brought a diverse team of young adults from across the region who are learning from Maurice about urban farming and providing fresh local food to the community. As such, much of our discussion focused in on the business and social opportunities urban farming offers young people like those sitting at the table.

SUN NEWS GETTING SCREWED!!!!

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:42:11 -0400

I received an email that should be open to discussion, as requested. All I know about the Sun Press is that there isn't a newspaper for East Cleveland, so I don't read their product. My parents do, so I'll get their opinion on whether the Sun Press matters to them, or not. What about to you? Here's what one realneo reader thinks....