Gloria Ferris

At Monday’s City of Cleveland Council meeting, Councilman Brancatelli, Cummins, and Kelley submitted emergency  Resolution 375-10 opposing the above referenced application.

The resolution was read three times, and then,  council voted.  It passed with all eighteen members present voting “yea”.  Councilman Cummins verified that this mining permit application does have a connection to Bradley Road landfill.  Councilman Brancatelli confirmed that information on TY Inc. has been difficult to obtain at this point.

Several people have submitted letters of objection.  Chris Trepal, executive director of Earth Day Coalition notified me her letter of objection has been mailed.  Robyn Sandys, executive director of Old Brooklyn CDC emailed me to tell me that OBCDC would be formally objecting.  I learned today that the objection was unanimously approved at last night’s board meeting.

At this point, not much is known about the details of the application or the ramifications of what such a permit would have to the community.  Many city departments are compiling data, city council has objected and asked for answers, OBCDC is gathering information, and most importantly, private citizens are aware and asking questions.    

until March 31, 2010 when the time for public comment is closed on Mineral Mining Permit Application #10428 which would allow strip mining for sand and clay  between Sky Lane and Bradley Road.

Here is the letter I sent to the Chief of Mineral Resources at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.  Feel free to use it in its entirity adding your own concerns, use parts of it our write you own letter.  Just WRITE!

March 22, 2010

Chief John Husted

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Division of Mineral Resources Management

2045 Morse Road, Building H3

Columbus, OH 43229-6693

Dear Mr. Husted:

I object to the application #10428 Request for Mineral Mining between Sky Lane and Bradley Road in the City of Cleveland. My reasons include but are not limited to the following:

Effect of Strip Mining on Neighborhood: How will the strip mining affect residents of Sky Lane and Bradley Roads? How much noise, dust and traffic will be created? Can the infrastructure handle the strain of heavy machinery and trucks? What impact will this have on property values and even the ability to sell at all? How far into the neighborhood will this effect reach?
Effect on Watershed: Will the ecosystems of two creeks be compromised?  What will ensure that they are not?   What is the Ohio EPA’s position on covering over streams?

Effect on Air Quality: What particulate matter will be added to the atmosphere?

Effect on Community: Will this set a precedent for other vacant land within the city limits of Cleveland? What rights do the City of Cleveland and its citizens have in such a matter?

Need for Transparency: What is Ty Inc. and what assurance do we have that the corporation has the expertise to take on this undertaking? Who will the partners be in this operation? How will the public be assured that they will not be burdened with a failed enterprise? What will the transparency of such a major undertaking be? Will all contracts be approved in the light of day? What assurances will the public have that the corporation and partners are financially able to underwrite the endeavor?

I request a public hearing to be held so that the residential neighbors in this area as well as their fellow Clevelanders can ask questions and speak to the impact the awarding of a 15 year permit for mineral mining would have on our city and the community of Old Brooklyn.

Sincerely,

Today’s Cleveland City Council Meeting is of major importance for those community members who are lobbying for pedestrian and bicicyle access on the planned Innerbelt bridge. Rally at 6:30 on steps of City Hall.

During the City Council Meeting which starts a 7 pm Councilman Brancatelli will be introducing a  formal objection to introucing mineral mining with Old Brooklyn.

Sherry wants to thank everybody who came to The Ugly Broad Tavern bearing turkeys, complete Thanksgiving meals, and more. Due to your efforts, Sherry dropped off an envelope with $211 in cash, three turkeys complete with all the trimmings, seventeen boxes, and more than fifteen bags of food to help fill Brookside Center’s shelves during the Thanksgiving holiday.

It was great to catch up with people we hadn’t seen in awhile and to meet a FaceBook friend face to face for the first time. As always, the tacos were scrumptious, and we enjoyed the conversation and camaraderie at our neighborhood bar, The Ugly. Stay tuned, scuttlebutt has it that there will be a redux of the event before Christmas.

This week heralds the yearly Brookside Center Thanksgiving food drive for my community-Brooklyn Centre as well as Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn. Part of the Westside Ecumenical ministry, Brookside Center helps those most in need in our community by stocking a food pantry, resale shop, and supporting people who need to find resources to help them through rough times. Donations of food or cash  can be dropped off directly to Brookside Center at 3784 Pearl Road.

Or, you can stop by The Ugly Broad Tavern tonight for a taco. And, your question is “what does Taco Night at 3908 Denison Avenue have to do with a local food drive?”  A lot, actually. Bring a food or cash donation  and YOU will receive a FREE taco. If you supplement that taco with a cold beer, some friendly conversation with friends and neighbors, and the good feeling you get  from giving you have the makings of a warm and cozy evening in Cleveland.

ALL ACCESS FAIR:

Walk+Roll Cleveland comes to our neighborhood this weekend with the All Access Fair sponsored by Old Brooklyn CDC and others.  http://walkroll.com/specialevents/details.php?unid=550

The event kicks off at 10 am and winds down at 4 p.m.  For details, i have included two access points.  Bicycle tours, walking tours and much more will be available throughout the day.

BROOKSTOCK:

Shortly after, an evening of musical entertainment will begin at The Brookside Reservation.  This year access off Denison Avenue will be restricted due to bridge construction.  Next year we should have pedestrian access from our side of the bridge.  Entry this year will be off Ridge Road.

http://www.clemetparks.com/events/brookstock.asp

And throughout the weekend, the annual West 44th Street Neighborhood Garage Sale will be taking place.  The small neighborhood nestled on a brick lined street off Denison Avenue will once again, amaze its patrons with the quality of the merchandise and the sellers’ ability to bargain with their buyers.  This sale is a garage sale browser’s dream in reality.  

HOURS OF SALE:

July 18^th and 19th, 2009

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

I stopped in to see Sherry Perry at The Ugly Broad yesterday, and she gave me a menu for a new restaurant over on Memphis Avenue. She told me that two of her friends had opened the Memphis Eatery in the old Taco Bell at 6212 Memphis Avenue. After Taco Bell moved up the street, a “Dogs & Taters” place went in there, but it didn’t make it. Then “83 Degrees” moved in and although it was different and had a good menu it didn’t make it either. The restaurant business is tough to say the least.

But, Michelle and Tina have decided to take the plunge. Both worked for Nick at the “Expressway Diner” so they certainly have some good experience under their belts. And as any good restaurateur will tell you “competition is a good thing in the restaurant business because no one eats at the same place EVERY day!” So here’s hoping that the third time will be the charm for this location and the gals are successful. Patrons will help that happen so here is my take on it.

I looked at the menu and saw that it was my kind of place. For breakfast, there is a country section that has Biscuits and Gravy, Eggs Benedict and an “everything omelet” plus a whole lot more, but this is MY blog and I am talking about MY favorites here. On the lunch side, the gals have open faced sandwiches including the usual roast beef and turkey but also meatloaf and sirloin steak. All the sandwiches are served WITH french fries. It isn’t totally a la carte which adds to the price so it is affordable. Nothing is over $7.00 and the average price seems to run between $4 and $5.

Sherry tells me that Tina is the chef and Sherry runs the front so it appears they have decided on division of labor which is a good thing. Now, Tim and I need to try it out and see if the food is as good as it looks on paper. Our only argument will be that I won’t want to get there right at 6:30 a.m. when they open. Tim loves 24 hour places and early in the morning venues. Me I am more of a late lunch person. We will work it out though, and try out this new place in the neighborhood.

Here are the vitals if you want to try it out too.

Memphis Eatery
6212 Memphis Avenue
Telephone 216-398-8890
Hours: 6:30 a..m. to 2:30 p.m.

I left this toothless grin comment on the Save Our Land Blog.  Mike Gill’s Free Times article gives us a lot of food for thought.  Preservation and rehabilitation should always be considered when redevelopment in a neighborhood is an issue. Thanks to the Cleveland Restoration Society for reminding us that school buildings were community centers and a gathering place for both young and old.  How fitting if a school received a new life as a home for our older citizens so that they could remain a part of the community where they grew old creating so many memories in their lives.  Put yourself in their shoes. At seventy, will you want to be uprooted from your neighborhood looking for a new place to find new friends, create new memories, or would you rather stay in place and blossom?  

Yes, I survived my 17 hour marathon yesterday to blog today.  Let me first say, that these are my own personal observations, thoughts and experiences on election day. I am sure that many other people have different thoughts about their experience of yesterday. I hope that they comment here so that I can take these concerns forward to the Board of Elections because I intend to inform them of what I saw that went right, what could be greatly improved, and those things that definitely need to be fixed.  My hope is that this post serves as an education piece on how we can do elections better and find the positive points in a day of long lines and frustration for many people.

THE GOOD:

My assisting judges, EDTs  (Electronic Device Technicians) and my student poll worker. I was lucky I had a full complement of judges, TWO EDTS and a super student poll worker assigned to my precinct.

The first time voters.  We had a huge number of  young people with those strange driver licenses show up to VOTE! It was great.  The other good thing was the number of parents who accompanied these first time voters and proudly told their friends and neighbors that their son or daughter voted for the first time.

The number of voters.  Personally, I think it must be a near record for a midterm election.  The numbers at our precincts were close to presidential numbers.  If you add in the absentee votes cast, I bet we do rival those numbers. Over 1000 people voted at our polling place!

The voters who brought the brochure they received from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.  It had the Precinct prominently displayed by the ward. And also, the ones who brought well-worn cards that they have had for years.  

The civility of the people who live in Old Brooklyn.  Many people stopped by to thank me for working the polls and commented that  they thought we all were handling the crowds and complaints quite well. The way they used their waits in line to catch up with neighbors and friends making the best of what could have been a bad situation. 

The voters who just like me were okay with lots of people and waiting on line because it meant that a LOT of people were voting.

To all of you who thought about leaving but stayed because I told you the wait really wasn’t that bad, and please don’t leave because you’re here now and the line might not be shorter later. I apoligize.  I know that your wait was probably longer than you intended, but thank you for staying and voting. 

The policeman who helped me by explaining to the voters that double parking could not be allowed in the parking lot.  And who told me that I should call the Second District if I had any more problems.  He would make sure that they were aware that we were having a problem.

And to the man that I could not help for his thank you.  He said that it was enough that I had spent time that I did not have to listen to his complaint He said that the whole time we talked he never felt like I wanted to be anywhere but there.  He said “you listened, and that is enough!”

The luck we enjoyed.  Our machinery worked.  We only had three hours of long lines of voters and even then from some of the things I’ve heard things still went relatively smoothly at our polling location.

The Bad:

People who commit to being a poll worker and then do not show.

I lost my provisional vote judge and my student poll worker to another precinct who had one lone woman to man the polls.  Without their help, there is no way the woman could have handled her precinct.  I was glad that I had a full complement so I could share.

Poll workers that decide that treating a polling location like a waiting room is a good thing.

People who do not know their voting precinct.  This would be my number one reason for the slowdown of voting.  We needed a better way to determine precinct designation.

People who come to vote after work and expect no line.  How could this be? After work, is always the busiest time. Although I realize that some people can only come after work, is it really necessary to blame the long lines on disorganized polls and inadequate poll workers?  More people, longer wait. 

The small room that previously held two precincts with an approximate vote tally of 700 voters from previous vote tallies I have seen now held THREE precincts essentially adding another 350 voters.  It was a tight squeeze, but we survived.

The extremely ugly:

A precinct map that was printed on October 25, 2006 was incorrect.  Our precincts M.N. and G had apparently a superimposed map of we believe Fairview Park because for some reason W.220 and other 200 streets appeared as our numbered streets.  Our actual numbered streets are eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth.  Hence, the difficulity of determining what was the voting precinct.  We used an elector worksheet throughout the day but this became extremely difficult as the crowds grew.  It would have been helpful to have had the map so that people could determine for themselves.

Provisional voting. Only one precinct had the luxury of a fourth judge to serve in this capacity.  But the biggest problem was the contridictory instructions on how these votes should be handled. Enough said for now, but I intend to help in any way I know how to make this part of the voting experience better.  I will first offer to help the Board of Elections.  I will keep you posted.  And for those people who voted provisionally at our polling place, I intend to be your advocate to see that each and every one of your votes are counted.    

 I don’t think that we lost many people because they saw large lines. I hope not.  That would be extremely ugly.

And, in conclusion:

All in all, my first experience as a poll worker was a good one.  The number of gracious people certainly outweighed the handful of disgruntled people. Of course, there is room for improvement in the process but after all, there always is room for improvement.  In fact, I would like to bring back the tradition of posting the number of votes cast in each precinct at each polling place.  I believe that this would be a good place to start building trust and integrity with the voting public.  And frankly, I don’t understand why we are not doing that.  When you are staying until ten o’clock anyway what is ten minutes more?  

And, my wishes were granted.  People voted!  My other wish was that I would have a good group of people to work with and that together we would make election day an experience to remember.  To all of my co-workers at the polls yesterday: You are a great group of people and without you, I would not  feel the sense of accomplishment I feel today.  Thank you!

Michelle Baran, a local artist and resident of Old Brooklyn, is a welcome addition to our Business Page and our blogroll.  Michelle’s subjects include many local sites such as the Fulton Road Bridge and Riverside Cemetery’s Administration Building.  Visit her website to see more examples of her artistic talent.

Michelle also has a blog that promotes local artists and events around town.  She belongs to S.E.A.N  at our local gem, Art House.  As you know Tim and I have one New Year’s resolution this year to promote and support local businesses.  We are glad to add Michelle to our list of local businesspeople to support.

Sometimes I find it truly amazing when events coincide and other times I simply think they should.  Last week I received my monthly flyer from Barb Spaan, our Crime Watch Coordinator here in Ward 15 and 16 telling me the subject of this month’s meeting “Fire Safety for your Home & Business”.  Naturally, I immediately put it on my list of things to attend given the recent events here in our neighborhood.  Yesterday, Channel 5 began a series of reports on fire safety in the city and the suburbs.  Clicking on the list of response times included in the Channel 5 report shows  Cleveland ranked in the top ten in the county.  Roger Bundy blogs about the response time issue as well.  Good to know that not only the media is watching our backs, but so are concerned citizens.

Last night’s meeting was chock full of things that we can do ourselves to prepare  for a fire emergency. There were too many tips to relate all of them here, but if you ever have the chance to attend a meeting with Lieutentant Larry Gray, Public Information Officer, Division of Fire do it.  The man is a tremendous public speaker chock full of useful information.  I took away three things from this meeting that I want to share.

1.  Fire Extinguishers.  If you have one, make sure it is up to date. Doesn’t do you any good to have a fire extinguisher if when you need it you can’t use it because it has expired.    If you don’t have one get one.  It should be an ABC extinguisher with a UL sticker.  If you use the extinguisher, try to put the fire out for twelve seconds no more, and stay between the fire and your exit.

2. Fire Drills.  After last night, I know fire drills are a must.  Lt. Gray told us that within three minutes the fire is too hot to survive.  Each minute a fire burns the temprature doubles.  Do the math–first minute, 200 degrees, second minute, 400 degrees, third minute-800 degrees, and the fourth minute is 1600 degrees.  This is the drill.  Go to your bedroom.  Blindfold yourself.  Turn around three times and then try to get out of the room.  If you have a partner, have them time you for three minutes. If you are alone, use a kitchen timer.  Be sure that you use the three minute time frame.  Isn’t easy, is it?  The more you practice the better you will be able to get out of the house within the shortest time possible.  I cannot stress how important this exercise is to you and your family.

3.  Get Out!  Shout as  you leave the house.  Tell the others in the house where you will meet them outside–across the street, under a big tree, etc.  When you assemble at the designated point, you will be able to tell the firefighters if everyone is out of the house or if someone is inside waiting for rescue.  As Lt. Gray stated,  the mission is to save lives first and then save property.  If you are still inside, no one will be able to help the firefighters locate any of you.

 My Aunt Dadie always said :”Hope for the best, get ready  for the worst, and take what comes”.   So to paraphrase,  I hope that we are preparing for the worst that never comes to any of us.