Did you see Cleveland Magazine mentioned on the Plain Dealer's front page yesterday? Mike McIntyre, the Tipoff columnist, credited us with a friendly assist as he tried to settle Cleveland's eternal debate: whether the river and the county should be pronounced "Ky-ah-HO-ga" or "Ky-ah-HOG-ah."
McIntyre covers the main points: that West Siders tend to prefer "HOG-ah," while East Siders say "HO-ga." He credited Jimmy Dimora with endorsing "HOG-ah" last week. (During his "diatribe" -- Dimora's own description -- against county Republican leader Rob Frost, my notes show Dimora also reduced the name to three, almost two, syllables: "Ka'HOG-ah" County.)
McIntyre writes, "Cleveland Magazine declared hoag correct after once interviewing a woman who speaks Mohawk. Cuyahoga is derived from an American Indian word." I had tipped him off to one of my proudest discoveries of Cleveland-iana, which we published in our December 2005 "How Cleveland Are You?" quiz:
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The most poetic legend claims Cuyahoga is a Mohawk word for “crooked river.” So we called someone who speaks Mohawk: Martha Lickers, curriculum developer at the Ronathahonni Cultural Center in Ahkwesahsne, Ont. The Mohawk word for “big river,” she says, is kahionhowanen, which is pronounced “gah-yo-ho-wah-na.” HO-ga it is.
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Gah-yo-ho-wah = Ky-ah-ho-gah. That not only settles the HO-ga vs. HOG-ah debate, it identifies the origin of the river's name! Alas, it's not "crooked river," as the poetic legend goes, just "big river."
No wonder our discovery didn't catch on. The idea that the name means "crooked river" is one of those Cleveland myths we don't want to let go -- like the legend that the bullet holes in Great Lakes Brewing's bar were shot by Eliot Ness.
Speaking of the river: "Burn On," our complete package of stories about the 40th anniversary of the Cuyahoga River Fire, is now online. It's also in the July issue of the magazine. (If you'd like to link to it, here's a shortcut: tinyurl.com/CMriverpackage.)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Dimora: Investigate the investigators
"Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire," Jimmy Dimora said this afternoon.
With that, the embattled county commissioner accused the "Rove-Gonzales" Department of Justice and the Republican Party of conspiring against him. Dimora announced he will ask U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Congress to investigate the federal investigation of him.
In a fiery press conference late today, Dimora charged that the Justice Department started its investigation of him as an attempt to discredit Democrats and lower the turnout in the presidential election. Many people, he said, "had an interest in making sure I am out of the way."
For more, see my complete post on the Cleveland Magazine Politics blog.
With that, the embattled county commissioner accused the "Rove-Gonzales" Department of Justice and the Republican Party of conspiring against him. Dimora announced he will ask U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Congress to investigate the federal investigation of him.
In a fiery press conference late today, Dimora charged that the Justice Department started its investigation of him as an attempt to discredit Democrats and lower the turnout in the presidential election. Many people, he said, "had an interest in making sure I am out of the way."
For more, see my complete post on the Cleveland Magazine Politics blog.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
D.M.C. the teacher: Life lessons from an old-school rap legend
Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, in unlaced Adidas kicks and a black gazelle hat, once raised hell in a museum much like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He broke Elton John’s oversized shades and stomping on Michael Jackson’s sequined glove in the video for his band Run-D.M.C.'s 1985 hit, "King of Rock." This mayhem has proved more ironic than iconoclastic, since Run-D.M.C was inducted into the actual Rock Hall this year -- and McDaniels was back last night to speak to a crowd of educators from across the country and fans.
McDaniels, now 45, appeared as part of the Rock Hall’s Summer Teacher Institute “Electrifying the Classroom” program. Wearing designer jeans and a T-shirt, his head clean-shaven, he stood up for old-school hip-hop in a gangster-rap era and recounted his life story's highs and lows.
Run-D.M.C. mainstreamed hip-hop and created rap-rock — without glorifying drugs and violence. McDaniels, a hard-working, deep-thinking father of hip-hop, cringes at the modern hip-hop era of “slangin’ cane” and “sippin’ outta’ pimp cups” -- all justified as merely art imitating the harsh reality of ghetto life.
“You’re a goddamned liar," McDaniels says to hip-hop acts who use this defense. "Even in a dirt-poor ghetto, there’s some good. Everyone in the ghetto's not a pusher, everybody’s not a pimp, and everybody don’t like to go to strip clubs.”
Gangster rappers may sell ten million albums, but the negative images destroy ten million lives, he says. He questions why they don’t rap about the old woman who cleans houses for 50 years to send her children to college. There are songs about using guns, but none about choosing not to, he points out.
McDaniels grew up as a straight-“A” student at an all-boys Catholic school in Queens. He filled stacks of notebooks with rhymes emulating his heroes Grandmaster Flash and Kool Moe Dee. They used hip-hop as a device for education and communication, and ultimately evolution, McDaniels says. “They lived in the roughest place, and you never heard violence, profanity, or disrespecting women.”
Those notebooks were discovered by a young Russell Simmons, who had made a name for himself opening for Bronx rappers. The rest is rock history, and a lesson for the many children he talked to through the program, including more than 90 schools via Web chats.
“The reason why you pay attention to your studies is you never know who’s looking,” he told them.
It took hard times for him to become such a vocal proponent of education. Fading fame and a feeling of emptiness left a heavy-drinking McDaniels with thoughts of suicide -- until a cathartic cab ride listening to Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.”
“One whole year, all I listened to was Sarah McLachlan,” he recalls. After finding out he was adopted, McDaniels called up the singer/songwriter, who he’d met at a party, and who was also adopted. The two collaborated on “Just Like Me.” McDaniels went to co-found the Felix Organization, a camp for foster children run by grown-up, successful adoptees.
McDaniels' new message inspired at least two of the 60 teachers in attendance.
“He reaffirmed what I think most teachers believe, that each child has such potential and we’re doing whatever we can to bring that out in those kids,” says Janet Myers, a high school communications teacher from Joplin, Mo., with 33 years of experience.
Debbie Supplitt, an elementary teacher in Battleground, Wash., had never heard of Run-D.M.C. before. But she sees, even in first-graders, the negative hip-hop imagery McDaniels rails against. “We think we’re isolated in the suburbs, but we’re really not," she says. "TV crosses all cultures. So does music.” --John Hitch
McDaniels, now 45, appeared as part of the Rock Hall’s Summer Teacher Institute “Electrifying the Classroom” program. Wearing designer jeans and a T-shirt, his head clean-shaven, he stood up for old-school hip-hop in a gangster-rap era and recounted his life story's highs and lows.
Run-D.M.C. mainstreamed hip-hop and created rap-rock — without glorifying drugs and violence. McDaniels, a hard-working, deep-thinking father of hip-hop, cringes at the modern hip-hop era of “slangin’ cane” and “sippin’ outta’ pimp cups” -- all justified as merely art imitating the harsh reality of ghetto life.
“You’re a goddamned liar," McDaniels says to hip-hop acts who use this defense. "Even in a dirt-poor ghetto, there’s some good. Everyone in the ghetto's not a pusher, everybody’s not a pimp, and everybody don’t like to go to strip clubs.”
Gangster rappers may sell ten million albums, but the negative images destroy ten million lives, he says. He questions why they don’t rap about the old woman who cleans houses for 50 years to send her children to college. There are songs about using guns, but none about choosing not to, he points out.
McDaniels grew up as a straight-“A” student at an all-boys Catholic school in Queens. He filled stacks of notebooks with rhymes emulating his heroes Grandmaster Flash and Kool Moe Dee. They used hip-hop as a device for education and communication, and ultimately evolution, McDaniels says. “They lived in the roughest place, and you never heard violence, profanity, or disrespecting women.”
Those notebooks were discovered by a young Russell Simmons, who had made a name for himself opening for Bronx rappers. The rest is rock history, and a lesson for the many children he talked to through the program, including more than 90 schools via Web chats.
“The reason why you pay attention to your studies is you never know who’s looking,” he told them.
It took hard times for him to become such a vocal proponent of education. Fading fame and a feeling of emptiness left a heavy-drinking McDaniels with thoughts of suicide -- until a cathartic cab ride listening to Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel.”
“One whole year, all I listened to was Sarah McLachlan,” he recalls. After finding out he was adopted, McDaniels called up the singer/songwriter, who he’d met at a party, and who was also adopted. The two collaborated on “Just Like Me.” McDaniels went to co-found the Felix Organization, a camp for foster children run by grown-up, successful adoptees.
McDaniels' new message inspired at least two of the 60 teachers in attendance.
“He reaffirmed what I think most teachers believe, that each child has such potential and we’re doing whatever we can to bring that out in those kids,” says Janet Myers, a high school communications teacher from Joplin, Mo., with 33 years of experience.
Debbie Supplitt, an elementary teacher in Battleground, Wash., had never heard of Run-D.M.C. before. But she sees, even in first-graders, the negative hip-hop imagery McDaniels rails against. “We think we’re isolated in the suburbs, but we’re really not," she says. "TV crosses all cultures. So does music.” --John Hitch
Dimora: "I will prove my innocence"
"I am innocent," Jimmy Dimora said this morning at the county commissioner's meeting. "If I have to have a day in court, I will prove my innocence."
Provoked by county Republican chairman Rob Frost, the embattled Dimora launched into a long speech at the end of the meeting today, attacking Frost and responding to the federal corruption investigation.
"I haven't done anything wrong," Dimora told Frost. "I'm innocent. I'm not resigning."
For more of Dimora's comments, read my full post on the Cleveland Magazine Politics blog.
Provoked by county Republican chairman Rob Frost, the embattled Dimora launched into a long speech at the end of the meeting today, attacking Frost and responding to the federal corruption investigation.
"I haven't done anything wrong," Dimora told Frost. "I'm innocent. I'm not resigning."
For more of Dimora's comments, read my full post on the Cleveland Magazine Politics blog.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Librarians make noise, protest budget cuts
What happens when you try to take a library away from a librarian? All hell breaks loose.
Well, that’s bit of an exaggeration, but let me say that any stereotypes of librarians as meek and mild-mannered were shattered this morning at the Save Ohio Libraries rally at the Cleveland Public Library. More than a hundred from around Ohio made the trek to Superior Avenue to send the message to Governor Strickland that they wouldn’t stand for his proposal to reduce the Public Library Fund by 50 percent starting next year. If Strickland gets his way, cuts for library funding in Ohio in the next two years would total $227 million.
Signs with slogans such as “Save Ohio Libraries” and American flags were all over the place, but a few gems stuck out, including the woman holding the alliterated gem “Slasher Strickland to Slice Libraries” and pictures of Strickland holding a book with “READ” across the top, modified to say “CLOSED?” The Kingsville Library even showed up with puppets that yakked along with the crowd during chants of “Act Now, Save our Libraries!” It was definitely a stark difference from the quiet atmosphere indoors.
The rally kicked off at about 10:30 a.m. with Cleveland Public Library director Felton Thomas Jr. explaining how the budget cuts would affect the downtown branch. Cleveland’s library gets 35 percent of funding from the state government, so Strickland’s budget proposal would basically slash $14 million over a two-year period. But for the 70 percent of Ohio libraries that receive at least half of their funding from the state, the consequences will be even worse -- they may have to close their doors.
"We understand that there are no easy answers, governor, but without our libraries, there are no answers,” said Thomas to the rally-goers, his words encouraging a voracious round of applause.
Heads of libraries from all over Cuyahoga County and beyond took turns explaining reasons why libraries are necessary, citing children’s programs, places to vote, English education and programs for the disabled.
Cleveland city councilman and former Ohio Rep. Eugene Miller let the crowd in on a little “secret”: that Strickland would be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel downtown at 11:30. He encouraged everyone go to the hotel to give him a piece of their mind.
“It’s strange having to fight my former colleagues for funding,” Miller said, adding that he knew how to get to Columbus pretty fast if need be.
I talked to Rebecca McFarland and Mike Stein from the Euclid Public Library, and they said that the system has already been feeling the effects of cuts in the past year.
Stein explained how he believes the governor's proposed cuts would affect the system.
“What the budget calls for is not a reduction of the budget of libraries, but closing libraries,” he said. "They won’t be able to be able to function. … If they cut the current budget to what is proposed, there aren’t libraries, basically. Libraries as we know them are done.”
While some have suggested merging the Cleveland Public Library with the rest of the Cuyahoga County system, Thomas argues that doing so would be detrimental to urban libraries and is not a viable solution to the funding problem.
“When you merge a system, you take out the long-term history of how they serve the community,” Thomas argues. “Our system is very different than the Cuyahoga County system, which are for the most part suburbs. We deal with very urban communities, and the ability to serve those is something that we worked over many years to learn how to best reach out to those communities.”
Library supporters have until Friday to garner support from the community to persuade Strickland to balance his budget differently.
A Place Fit for a Prince
Like the artist of Purple Rain fame, the Cuyahoga Falls restaurant formerly known as Lefever’s River Grille will soon be reborn and rechristened. Executive Chef Michael Fiala, the guy who made the now defunct Inn at Turner’s Mill such a satisfying place to eat, is at the helm here along with partner David Slaght and group of investors. The new name will remain a secret for a few more weeks, but I was among a small group that gathered Monday night to sample-- and score-- dishes from a menu that goes public next Wednesday (July 8).
Our assignment was to taste five appetizers, three salads, and nine entrees, and rate each on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (great). The food was set out buffet style one course at a time. The challenge was to keep self-serve portions small enough so you could go the distance.
I failed, forced to cry uncle before the final two- a char grilled pork rib chop with cheddar cheese grits and chimichurri sauce, and a ribeye steak topped with spicy corn and sweet pepper sauce.
Fiala’s food concepts are creative and tasty, and will often spotlight farm fresh ingredients. The bibb lettuce salad was composed of local leaves jazzed up with candied pecans and blueberries and Tea Hills of Loudonville, OH supplied the wonderfully moist organic chicken he served with an outstanding mushroom bread pudding. His panko crusted walleye with potato bacon was a favorite at my table . Fish will be a big part of the offerings: we tried grilled rainbow trout atop a lovely herb salad; poached salmon with red onion slaw; pan seared halibut in a roasted tomato beurre blanc; and scallops dabbed with cucumber melon sauce. Garlic marinated anchovies kicked up a traditional Caesar salad- really wanted to go back for seconds on that. Two seafood appetizers got high marks from me—crab cakes with red onion jam and pan roasted mussels with ginger pesto and jicama slaw. Other thinsg deserving of a shout out were a baby iceberg lettuce salad with feta cheese, pickled red onions and banana peppers in a kalamata olive, cucumber vinaigrette, and a vegetarian grazer's pie made with creamed spinach and wild rice on a potato crust that had a satisfyingly rich and complex flavor.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to be a fine place to spend an evening and well worth the drive from Cleveland. The space- in an old power generating plant- is attractive and comfortable with a dash of beam and brick charm. The dramatic views of the river can’t be beat. And after Monday night, I know Fiala will quickly win a following.
Our assignment was to taste five appetizers, three salads, and nine entrees, and rate each on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (great). The food was set out buffet style one course at a time. The challenge was to keep self-serve portions small enough so you could go the distance.
I failed, forced to cry uncle before the final two- a char grilled pork rib chop with cheddar cheese grits and chimichurri sauce, and a ribeye steak topped with spicy corn and sweet pepper sauce.
Fiala’s food concepts are creative and tasty, and will often spotlight farm fresh ingredients. The bibb lettuce salad was composed of local leaves jazzed up with candied pecans and blueberries and Tea Hills of Loudonville, OH supplied the wonderfully moist organic chicken he served with an outstanding mushroom bread pudding. His panko crusted walleye with potato bacon was a favorite at my table . Fish will be a big part of the offerings: we tried grilled rainbow trout atop a lovely herb salad; poached salmon with red onion slaw; pan seared halibut in a roasted tomato beurre blanc; and scallops dabbed with cucumber melon sauce. Garlic marinated anchovies kicked up a traditional Caesar salad- really wanted to go back for seconds on that. Two seafood appetizers got high marks from me—crab cakes with red onion jam and pan roasted mussels with ginger pesto and jicama slaw. Other thinsg deserving of a shout out were a baby iceberg lettuce salad with feta cheese, pickled red onions and banana peppers in a kalamata olive, cucumber vinaigrette, and a vegetarian grazer's pie made with creamed spinach and wild rice on a potato crust that had a satisfyingly rich and complex flavor.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this is going to be a fine place to spend an evening and well worth the drive from Cleveland. The space- in an old power generating plant- is attractive and comfortable with a dash of beam and brick charm. The dramatic views of the river can’t be beat. And after Monday night, I know Fiala will quickly win a following.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Re-Birthday Party
Cuyahoga County residents and families covered the grassy slope that is Settler’s Landing at today’s celebration — Once Gray, Now Green: 40 Years of Progress on the Cuyahoga River.
The Waterband kicked off today’s events with a folksy-reggae-pop performance (I believe the term the band coined for its genre is ‘folkedelicfunkpop’). What’s even cooler than the band's unique blend of electric and acoustic style is its contribution to your drinking water. In 2008, Waterband raised and donated $4,000 to various nonprofit organizations specializing in providing clean water.
But don’t panic — you may not have missed the fun yet. The re-birthday party continues this evening. Stop at the log cabin under the Detroit Superior Bridge anytime before 8 p.m. for some re-birthday cake, games and a little river history 101 from the River’s Bend historical interpreters.
The Waterband kicked off today’s events with a folksy-reggae-pop performance (I believe the term the band coined for its genre is ‘folkedelicfunkpop’). What’s even cooler than the band's unique blend of electric and acoustic style is its contribution to your drinking water. In 2008, Waterband raised and donated $4,000 to various nonprofit organizations specializing in providing clean water.
But don’t panic — you may not have missed the fun yet. The re-birthday party continues this evening. Stop at the log cabin under the Detroit Superior Bridge anytime before 8 p.m. for some re-birthday cake, games and a little river history 101 from the River’s Bend historical interpreters.
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