July 2018 Newsletter - Volume 1, Edition 5

Greetings, Cleveland Friends.

From the Cleveland Club Archives

In the winter of 1982, the 25th year of the Club, Cleveland Mayor George Voinovich was granted Honorary Life Member status for his achievements on behalf of the city. (In 2005, having also served as Ohio's Governor and U.S. Senator, George Voinovich was given the Club's Harold Hitz Burton Award.)

Cleveland Events

Orchestra for the 4th

The Cleveland Orchestra helped Cleveland celebrate the 4th of July with a free concert on Mall B with a rousing musical repertoire followed by fireworks over Lake Erie. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Orchestra was particularly festive, playing Rossini's William Tell Overture as well as Wagner before launching into such 4th favorites as Semper Fidelis and Stars and Stripes Forever. The sky was cloudless, the temperature accommodating, and the Cleveland crowd enthusiastic.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Opens Asian Highlands Area

Last month, the Cleveland Zoo opened a new one-acre area: Asian Highlands. It features snow leopard cubs, a red panda, and a takin, which is a goat-antelope that lives in the Himalayas. Later this month and into August the Zoo will present the Asian Lantern Festival to help light up the summer sky. Besides exotic lanterns, the festival will present dining, music, a market and performers. (A Cleveland Zoo favorite of this Newsletter's editor: the Leaf Cutter Ants in RainForest – absolutely fascinating!)

NE Ohio on the Hill

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH 13), who represents Youngstown, Warren and suburban Akron to near Brecksville, recently advocated both for the Gorge Dam Project Agreement creating a plan for contaminated sediment management and habitat restoration in the region of the dam on the Cuyahoga River and for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Congressman Jim Renacci (R-OH 16), who represents roughly Wooster north to Middleburg Heights and Cleveland's far West Side, recently introduced two federal budget measures. One would require an annual Fiscal State of the Union presented to a Joint Session of Congress – the point to shine more light on the fiscal condition of the government – and the other would alert House Representatives when they are voting on legislation that, if passed, would break the current federal budget.

Thanks for reading! We encourage you to reply to this email with any comments or suggestions for future editions and, as always, a reminder that if you have not already done so, please fill out the Join form at our website, which enables us to learn more about our members for event planning and networking opportunities.

Go, Tribe!

June 2018 Newsletter - Volume 1, Edition 4

Greetings, Cleveland Friends.

We hope everyone is enjoying the end of spring and getting ready for summer. In the June newsletter, we're going to provide some interesting information about a few places and organizations in Cleveland. If your travel plans this summer include a stop in Northeast Ohio, make sure to check them out!

And, as always, a reminder that if you have not already done so, please fill out the Join form at our website, which enables us to learn more about our members for event planning and networking opportunities.

Indians' Pitching covered by Washington Post

In April, the Post highlighted the historic pace of the Indians' pitching staff. The Tribe's won-lost percentage was better then than now, but the point of the story was that the pitching staff was at work on a stunning WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched) statistic. No team has achieved a WHIP of less than 1.0 for a full season and no pitcher has done so for his career in over a hundred years. But in late April the Indians' pitching staff's WHIP was 0.977. At present only Corey Kluber of principal Tribe pitchers has a WHIP of less than 1.0; it's at 0.83; the team pitching staff's WHIP is 1.19.

Famous people in Lakeview Cemetery

Lakeview Cemetery was founded in 1869 and is located just east of University Circle. A few notable persons buried there are: James Garfield, 20th President of the United States; John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil Company; Eliot Ness, lawman; Marcus Hanna, businessman and Republican "kingmaker" of the late 19th century; Francis Bolton, Congresswoman for 29 years; Carl Stokes, first African-American mayor of a major U.S. City; Jeptha Wade, Sr., founder of Western Union Telegraph Co.; Charles Brush, lighting inventor; Garrett Morgan, activist and mixed-race multi-talented inventor of the gas mask and three-color traffic light; and George Crile, co-founder of the Cleveland Clinic.

City Club of Cleveland 

The City Club of Cleveland was founded in 1912 as a meeting place for "all shades of opinion, political beliefs, and social relations,” stating that “accurate information on public questions is a fundamental need in all our cities, and … a free, open discussion of these problems is the most effective way of securing and disseminating such information.”

Recent speakers have been: Jon J. Penney of Kohrman Jackson & Krantz on spurring the Cleveland economy, and journalist Salena Zito on populism shaping American politics.

The City Club has also been running a forum series called For the Love of Cleveland: The Power of Place. Learn more at cityclub.org.

NE Ohio on the Hill

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH 9), whose Ohio district includes Cleveland's West Side, recently introduced an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act of 2018 to expand the scope of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation and meant to bolster trade and port activity on the Great Lakes.

Congressman David Joyce (R-OH 14), whose Ohio district covers the far East Side, has also been at work on the Water Resources Development Act. A recent Tweet: "The Brandon Road Study is the one thing delaying us from responsibly acting to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. We need to keep to the schedule and my amendment to Water Resources Development Act."
 

Thanks for reading! We encourage you to reply to this email with any comments or suggestions for future editions.

Go, Tribe!

May 2018 Newsletter - Volume 1, Edition 3

Greetings, Cleveland Friends.

Since our last newsletter, the Cleveland Club has had two successful gatherings: May 9 with the Cleveland Foundation, and April 21 to cheer the Indians against the Orioles.

Recaps
 

Cleveland Foundation Report

On May 9, Cleveland Foundation president and CEO Ronn Richard presented a visual and oral report to the Club at the offices of the Washington, D.C. Economic Partnership near the U.S. Treasury Building. Ronn noted that, created in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation was the first community foundation in the world, since copied in major cities around the nation. Currently, the Foundation has an endowment of more than $2 billion and gave grants last year of $100 million to efforts within the city of Cleveland alone, other grants going to nonprofits in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties.

Ronn outlined Foundation efforts in such categories as Neighborhoods, Arts & Culture, Social Services, Education, Economic Transformation, and in what it calls its Digital Excellence Initiative. Ronn noted that the new Public Square, supported by the Foundation, has been highly successful. He reported that the city population is growing, notably on account of millennials and empty nesters moving in from the suburbs, and also that jobs in Information Technology and such skills as welding are in urgent need of applicants.

Asked by a Club member what persons in the Washington, D.C., area could do to help, Ronn's response was 1) Donate money, 2) Donate ideas ("intellectual capital" is prized), and 3) Come back to Cleveland to visit, to live, or to establish a company or a branch of your company.

The report was very well received. Ronn distributed literature to Club members.

Additional information about the Cleveland Foundation can be found at ClevelandFoundation.org and on Facebook.

Paul Hoynes Spins Yarns of the Indians, Who Then Proceeded to Defeat the Orioles on April 21

Plain Dealer sports writer Paul Hoynes met with 35 Cleveland Club Indians fans above the Indians dugout in Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 21 and spun tales of his decades covering Cleveland teams, mainly the Indians. Recalling episodes with Albert Belle, Ernie Camacho, Danny Salazar and more, Hoynes kept his listeners enthralled – despite a loud sound system blaring rock-and-roll. Hoynes recalled one time Manny Ramirez left his cowboy boots in a Kansas City locker room – one of the boots had his paycheck in it. Hoynes complimented Trevor Bauer as a hard worker and maturing well as a pitcher. The Tribe enjoyed a good game behind the pitching of Mike Clevinger, who went the distance and gave up only two hits. Jose Ramirez, Yan Gomez, and Yonder Alonso all hit home runs in the Indians' 4-0 victory. As an added bonus, Cleveland Club Sports Committee member Tom Steich arranged for Club ticket-buyers to get half-off passes to the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum that day; the Museum is a block from Oriole Park.

News from Northeast Ohio

Burning River Celebration! What good came out of the infamous Cuyahoga River conflagration of June, 1969? Answer: The Clean Water Act, the U.S. EPA and other efforts to restore the nation's rivers and lakes to healthier condition. Cleveland is planning a year-long string of activities culminating in a June, 19-22, 2019 50th Anniversary commemoration of the inadvertent combustion, improvements that have resulted, and visions for the future. One element: The Xtinguish Torch Fest (to help "extinguish the past and ignite the future," which will pass a torch down the 100-mile length of the Cuyahoga River and culminate in downtown Cleveland where the river will be designated an Ohio Division of Natural Resources Water Trail. There will be tie-ins with national conservation groups. For more information, contact Events Chair Peter Bode of the West Creek Conservancy, 216-749-3720 or peter@westcreek.org.

Washington Post "Covers" Dennis Kucinich. Readers of the Washington Post woke up Sunday, April 15 to see former Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich striking a combative pose on the cover of the Post's Magazine. The point of the story was that Dennis had preceded Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in some of the left-wing proposals Sanders touted during his primary contests with Hillary Clinton in 2016. On May 8, Kucinich lost the Ohio Democratic primary for governor to Richard Cordray, who grew up in central Ohio.

Watch out for the next edition of the Cleveland Club Newsletter in June. 

April 2018 Newsletter - Volume 1, Edition 2

Greetings, Cleveland Friends.
 

Upcoming Events

May 9 with the Cleveland Foundation

Please join us for lunch on May 9 during which we will hear from Ronn Richard, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. We will meet at the offices of the Washington, D.C., Economic Partnership (WDCEP) at 1495 F Street NW. Ronn will present slides and talk about how the Cleveland Foundation is working to improve the Greater Cleveland area. The Foundation celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. Learn more about The Cleveland Foundation at clevelandfoundation.org.

RSVP and learn more about the event here.

Indians v. Orioles - April 21

The Sports Committee obtained group-sales discount for Club members to attend the Indians-Orioles game in Baltimore on April 21. The tickets are in Section 53 above the Indians dugout. The Plain Dealer Indians writer, Paul Hoynes, will be talking to Club members in their Section 53 seats about The Tribe before the game. Go, Tribe!

RSVP here if you haven't already!
 

News from Northeast Ohio

The Wall Street Journal on February 17-18 ran a story about the Garfield Memorial in Lake View Cemetery. Completed in 1890, commemorating the life and short presidency of assassinated (in 1881) James Garfield, the Memorial was a major Gilded Age work. Funding in part came from Cleveland native John D. Rockefeller – himself buried in Lake View Cemetery – and the Memorial dedication was attended by President Harrison. The Journal article, written by Ryan L. Cole, calls the building designed by Georg Keller the "grandest of all presidential tombs." Cole wrote that Garfield, born in Moreland Hills, lived a life that is "proof of the power of self-determination, education and equal opportunity to transcend poverty."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame scheduled its 2018 Induction Ceremony for yesterday, April 14, in Cleveland. This year's inductees are: Bon Jovi, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical Hamilton is coming to Cleveland's KeyBank State Theatre in Playhouse Square July 17 to August 26. Sixty thousand tickets sold out last week within hours. Some tickets remain and will be made available closer to the production dates and by lottery.

Watch out for the next edition of the Cleveland Club Newsletter in May. 

March 2018 Newsletter - Volume 1, Edition 1

Greetings, Cleveland Friends.

We herewith initiate a Cleveland Club of Washington, D.C. Newsletter. We look to post it each 15th day of the month (summer months perhaps excepted).

We expect it to be short, but to post news from Northeast Ohio and items of interest to persons from Northeast Ohio living in the Washington, D.C. area.
 

Club News

Indians v. Orioles

The Sports Committee is working on the notion of organizing a Club member outing to see the Indians play the Orioles in Camden Yard on Saturday, April 21. The Committee is working on having Paul Hoynes, the Plain Dealer Indians beat writer, as a pre-game speaker. Last year’s and the previous year’s expeditions to watch the Indians play the Orioles and the Nationals including pre-game visits by broadcaster Jim Rosenhaus were both very successful.

For more information, see the Event page and RSVP here.

May 9 with the Cleveland Foundation

Please plan to attend a luncheon on May 9 with Ronn Richard, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation, likely to be at the offices of the Washington, D.C., Economic Partnership (WDCEP) at 15th & F Streets, NW. Ronn will present slides and talk about how the Cleveland Foundation is working to improve the Greater Cleveland area. The Foundation celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. Details about this lunch program to come later.

For more information, see the Event page.

News from Northeast Ohio 

Each month in the Club newsletter, we’ll provide a few news clips from and about Northeast Ohio. If you would like to submit a link, please respond to this email with a link and a short note describing why you think it would be an interesting article to share. Also, please indicate if you would prefer we do not note you as the source of the link.

Global Cleveland

Since the 19th century, Cleveland has been known as a city of immigrants. Persons from around the world have enriched the Cleveland area in ways too numerous to count but certainly in no less than food, festival, architecture, skills, music, innovation and politics. The modern incarnation of Cleveland’s welcoming hand to immigrants is Global Cleveland (https://globalcleveland.org). Its mission is to “welcome and connect international newcomers to economic and social opportunities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.”

Freshwater Cleveland

Bringing to light Cleveland’s more dynamic and creative efforts is Freshwater Cleveland (http://www.freshwatercleveland.com), a website and eNewsletter. Says the group: “Our focus areas include technology, innovation, diversity, local food, and entrepreneurship. We speak to creative, highly mobile, and curious people who are interested in where the growing companies are, where innovation is taking place, and where unique neighborhood transformations are taking root.” Check them out.
 

News from Washington, D.C.

Scores of Ohioans joined a majority of the Ohio Congressional Delegation on March 7 in the Library of Congress Madison Building to celebrate the state’s 215th birthday (Ohio was admitted to the Union in 1803). Host for the Ohio Society of Washington celebration was the University of Akron, whose president, Matthew Wilson, was master of ceremonies. The Ohio Society celebrates Ohio’s birthday each March.

Watch out for the next edition of the Cleveland Club Newsletter in April.