Food for (my ) thought -literally can make you fat

Or one woman’s plumpness- one woman’s memories

Sunday found me making a Spaghetti Bolognese for myself- mum can’t abide spaghetti and my husband likes more “American” style ( bring on the Prego) so as I was cooking ground beef anyway I decided on an individual “spagbol” lunch

http://everythingthereistoknowaboutspagbol.blogspot.com/
I was transported back through time to a little Italian Café in London’s Soho . I was in one of my first jobs ( I used to go through jobs like chickens wings at a Super Bowl party) It turned out one of my friends was also working in the area so we used to pool our Luncheon Vouchers for lunch – For those that are unaware of a Luncheon Voucher – outside the UK

“luncheon voucher is a voucher for a meal given to employees as an employee benefit, allowing them to eat at outside restaurants, typically for lunch. In many countries, meal vouchers have had favorable tax treatment. Vouchers are typically in the form of paper tickets.”

The proprietor could not help but be dismayed as to the way we ate his
“spaghetti” ( We used to use a knife and fork and cut it) One day, he could stand it no longer and promised if we tried to eat our pasta the proper way ( which he would demonstrate) until we mastered the skill he would not charge us for our meal. Needless to say it took weeks 😉 We progressed from cutting to using the fork and spoon method to finally the twist and twirl without slurping up errant strands or slavering sauce down our chins. I then changed jobs again and could no longer get my free meal .

Food always the comfort and I have realized when “cooking- ( sometimes successfully sometimes not so successfully I equate the dishes with people and memories .

digging for victory

My mum during the war was part of the rationing generation. Having to stock up and make things last has stayed with her and 75 years later she still stockpiles as evidenced by my cupboards “just in case”. Mum can make a roast last for three or more meals.


Roast on Sunday– http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/recipes/the-ultimate-sunday-roast/ followed cold meat and bubble and squeak- shepherd’s pie and Cornish pasties and then if any is left over we have mince. I will say now she will make the items to freeze so we don’t have to eat them all at once. However, she has decided at her time of life that she hates leftovers so I am left with eating all the leftovers. ( sigh)

My husband on his ranting about our cooking with butter will not eat what we eat. Unhealthy!!!!! – mind you HE is the one with the stents and cholesterol – seems according to the heart Dr. and our Dr. when I asked how could he ,with his horribly healthy diet, have blockages “food consumption only affects cholesterol 3% – 20% –

this writing is making me hungry for a sticky toffee pudding
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3682/ultimate-sticky-toffee-pudding
and that reminds me of the Goring Hotel London http://www.thegoring.com/ and Cousin Pat.

My memories are everywhere in this kitchen making strong tea and thick toast and butter with chunky marmalade – My Auntie Ethel and a little cottage in Lincolnshire .

Baked potatoes – my childhood ( and I have never had baked potatoes since that were so good ) and cocoa coming in from Guy Fawkes Night and the chill in the air to Mrs. Cushing’s lovely warm kitchen( London England) – ( my cousin’s paternal grandmother) She of the white hair and cherubic face – she should have been a model for the ultimate Mrs. Clause .

Chocolate Chip Cookies ( the best) and Lemon Meringue Pie http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/marys_lemon_meringue_pie_02330 will take me back to the 7th grade and New Brunswick Canada when a young teacher ” Miss Calder” came to live with us.

Pavlova – http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/711658/strawberry-pavlova I can’t say I, or even my mum, have been successful in making the perfect Pavlova but as we try memories of Susan’s Pavlovas , Sunday afternoon tea time complete with her spread of new potatoes sliced ham and salad spread before us Ipswich, Suffolk England .

http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/steak-and-kidney-pudding/ Steak and Kidney Pudding -well that would be my own Nana ( on my mum’s side) when she lived with us in South Harrow Middlesex England – she had long white hair she used to pull up in a bun and the brightest blue eyes- she had a hard life and was nearly killed being strafed by a German flyer during WW2 as she was collecting wood.

But figs, dates, pomegranates,
https://wimshulcooks.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/wimshul-cooks-bakes-tu-bshevat/

chocolates and wonderful fresh cream cakes and éclairs from the bakery – cheese and watercress sandwiches was my more wealthy grandmother on my father’s side – It as all very exotic in her home silks and fringes an Aladdin’s cave to my eyes. The home of “children should be seen but not heard in Hendon England

Cooking egg and chips http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/the-ultimate-egg-and-chips/ takes me back once again to being a little girl and sharing Saturday night tea time with the Braynes in South Harrow, Aunt Lilly’s lovely fairy cakes which I have never managed to make successfully bring such happy innocent times.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/only-in-britain/the-15-most-british-foods-ever/full-english-breakfast/
Cooking the “English Breakfast”- Dusseldorf Germany and my Uncle Austin running along the Rhine embankment with pennies in my hand to buy sweeties from Frau Bloomers sweet shop.

Chocolate Gateaux http://allrecipes.com/recipe/8095/black-forest-cake-i/ I make a fairly decent Chocolate Gateaux – memories of Nikki as a two – year old and the Mohne Dam of Dambusters fame Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B6hne_Reservoir
and her insistence she be allowed ‘gatoes” before she would eat a sandwich! and my cousin John

From Germany back to England and Devon Cheese and Onion pie http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cheeseandonionpie_89625 gracing cousin Dawn’s table at the farm. The table used to fair creak under the weight of all the dishes – How much fun I had riding the tractor over the fields to the pub- my husband playing darts in the Cider Shed getting blotto.

Not all food brings back pleasant memories – the smell of creamed corn turns me into a puddle of nerves and tears. Hopefully none who read this ever have to go through a stem cell transplant the smell of the preservative used in the gathered stem cells stinks like creamed corn. The odor permeates everything including my brain and takes me to a time of hope and hell with my son Chris. You won’t find creamed corn here in this house.

Another banned from memory and kitchen food is Christmas Pudding http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/christmas_pudding I make a mean Christmas Pud but no longer – because the memory of Chris ‘s job of always lighting the pudding can’t be replicated and only mum and I ate it anyway – the memory still too raw……..In fact our previous traditions when it comes to celebrating have been exchanged for new ones .

Chris – whose love of lobster and shrimp is always celebrated on special occasions – the lobsters in the pot bearing the names of those evil and wicked individuals who have added nothing but terrible negatives to our lives.( Good job I am not Elizabeth the 1st). He and Jim wiping out the buffet of seafood at the Bomber Squadron Cleveland Ohio.

Yes food for thought and cooking the food of comfort – as the memories come flooding in so do the calories. Yes! you can gain weight just by going down memory lane and find yourself all over the world. ……….
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/breakfast/oy-yanks-introducing-britains-bacon-butty/

Now I am going to visit Granddad with a bacon buttie

Lorain – History Mystery-Her name was Clara- Pt 5

Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara/

Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-2/

Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt3/

Part Four https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-4/

As the solving of the mystery continues off site, I am uploading the next two pages. Readers will notice the very delicate condition of the paper -literally falling apart . I have done what I can to help stabilize the paper .

Clara- Oklahoma continues….. Judge Hartwell..????

At that time, for I had held office for a couple of terms of “Justice of the Peace” and to this day I am known as “Judge”

Well Barton opened his office and as time went on we met often and became very good friends. About six months after his arrival at B ( torn missing (artmore???) I was surprised to learn that he had over $3,000 in a large tract of land just south ( torn missing) here and I was surprised, for it is very unusual for a young lawyer just little over a year out of school to have $3000.

I found out years later after just how he happened to have that money. ( torn)…most of you remembered the Oil Boom we had in this section of the state in 1904

ED NOTE there was an oil boom in 1904… so now we can surmise the location in respect to the state
http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=PE023

In the first three decades of the twentieth century discovery after discovery was made in the Sooner State. In 1901 came Red Fork Field and the emergence of Tulsa as “the Oil Capital of the World.” The Alluwe Field and the Cherokee Shallow Sands District soon were discovered, as was Cleveland, the first major discovery in Oklahoma Territory when it was opened in 1904, as were the Muskogee Field and its associated pools. The following year Glenn Pool, one of the greatest oil fields ever, made Oklahoma a national leader in oil production and induced several major energy companies to tie the state into their major oil transmission pipelines.
It should be noted that one of the oil fields there is a town/city called “Bartlesville” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartlesville,_Oklahoma

Well Bruce Barton sure cashed in on his $3,000 investment and he told me he sold for 375,000 Well he invested this money wisely and bought up more land and in six or seven ( torn) from the time he first came to Bartmore ( torn) was said to be one of the wealthys men ( torn) I might add that Bartmore ( torn and missing)… thriving city of about 20 odd (missing) ……… and success had…….

Clara -Oklahoma – Continued..Page three

Bruce Barton in any way. He and I had become great pals and each year planned on two or three fishing trips. It was on one fishing of our fishing trips that Bruce said “Judge why can’t we combine those ( missing) (offices???) of ours. I said why what do you me ( missing) Well said Barton, why not move over into my place and just paint on the door Hartwell and Barton. I laughed and told him it would just spoil our fishing trips. But Bruce said “Well that is to be understood that when ever Business interferes with fishing we will close up the office. That was in 1906 that the firm of Hartwell and Barton started and it meant a great deal to me for it was thru Barton I believe rather successful and made quite a lot of money ..(torn) .. never anything like him.
He never talked of his early life and( all) I know was he was born in Massa(missing) (chutsetts???) and he had no living relative . He was a heavy(/) stock holder in the Weste( missing) Light and Power Co

ED NOTE: there was a Western Light and Power Company in Colorado
http://www.cityofloveland.org/departments/water-and-power/about-us/history-of-loveland-water-and-power/history-of-loveland-light-and-power

And had controlling interest in three or four large corporations. He gave freely to charitable institutions .. ( missing)

And there you have it….. some things check, some names are similar and so it continues …..

Pages in 2/3 in Black and white enhanced

Money Where Your Mouth is – Part 4

The Tree Phase One of the Plan

Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/05/17/money-where-your-mouth-is-part-one/

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/06/03/june-3rd-your-truth-chris-ritchey

Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/06/17/money-where-your-mouth-is-the-process-part-two/
Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/money-where-your-mouth-is-part-3/

It took a few weeks, after we were notified, we had been successful in our bid to purchase the lot at 1125 aka ( Highway 1125) for the property to transfer .

The first thing we did was to ask for bids to remove the gigantic tree close to our house. We had stated in our “plan” to the city this would be done. The tree almost 90 feet tall was failing, it was less than 10 feet away from our house and if it had fallen it certainly would’ve taken out at least two homes. Estimates came in from nearly $5,000 to the lowest at $2,500. We went with a local company Tree Pro.
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/03/30/a-tall-tree-tale-ends-lorain-dudes/

Since other trees in and around our original property had to be taken down in recent years due to decay and literally falling over, based on the holes left behind by their removal, I knew

the loss of this gentle, yet worrying, giant was also going to be missed. I knew we would no longer get the benefit of shade on our balcony and mum’s flowers would have to be changed out and air-conditioning would be cranked up come summer, the tree provided so much shade to our lot and home. I love trees, always have done, it breaks my heart to lose them.

What I hadn’t realized , this tree with its huge trunk and outstretched branches, some of which could be trees themselves, blocked from my view, through the den window, from all manner of issues in the neighborhood. How secure and serene my view whilst the maple had stood guard. The lifestyles of others hidden from me. I was lost in a world of bark, butterflies , leafy limbs, squirrels , birds and living things – my non human neighboring so much more pleasant than reality!

“What the eye doesn’t see and the mind doesn’t know, doesn’t exist.” D H Lawrence

All of a sudden – windows were opened to more than just sunlight and heat. Stark reality invaded my home, no longer could I sit at the desk in the den -protected from view and protected views- as fingers pounded the computer keyboard on a daily basis . The goldfish bowl of life opened me up to view, it was and is intrusive to my little world . The bamboo blinds helped but still there was a nakedness to the views which I hadn’t experienced in the 40 years of living here all because of the absence of the tree.

I knew the tree was a hazard, I knew it was dying slowly, I knew it had to go but I didn’t know how much that tree had added to my happiness and how desolate the outlook when it was gone. It softened and protected .

Tree and root

The wood hauled away the stump ground down leaving the “ashes” of what was once there.

But even in its death throes still it made its presence known, gigantic roots extending throughout the lot next door, reaching for the water source we knew was to be found beneath. The trunk and upper branches lost to the chipper and lumber yards but the roots would not give up so easily . The clearing of the lot and new landscaping would be compromised. My only hope to replicate the privacy , beauty and well-being that had been taken away by the chainsaw would be in some ” creative” plantings”. The tree was so large it will take many, many months if not years to retrieve the ambiance and peace of mind the old maple afforded us ……..

To be continued…………….

–

Lorain – Common Core? values and math? PT 4.

UPDATE: According to Lorain County the following information 2835 Pearl Ave will not be demolished and will be receiving some much needed repair work to make it a better rental or sale property.

and actually the reason given for the CDC not filing for tax exempt : ”

Also, tax exemptions can not be acquired if property is rented for profit, regardless of CDC non profit status. This is why the CDCs you mentioned did not file for property tax exemption. They were renting the majority of the properties for income; little was used for office space for the most part”

Readers might remember that is why we in Lorain are paying taxes on 642 Broadway

the then for Profit business Follow the Fish rented ???? the space https://www.facebook.com/FollowTheFishArtAndAdventureTrails I have no update on that aspect of their business arrangement with the City of Lorain since the article April 15 2015 ( oh my ironically tax day) https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/money-for-old-rope-a-taxpayers-question/

Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/06/15/lorain-common-core-values-and-math-pt-1/
Part Two-https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/06/22/lorain-common-core-values-and-math-pt-2/
Part Three- https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/lorain-common-core-values-and-math-pt-3/

Community Development – not for CVSI- the math doesn’t add up!

artwork Chris Ritchey

Oh! back in the days of ” we can do this – we can make a difference” the Charleston Village members knew we had a tough job if we were to turn this neighborhood around. We knew we weren’t popular with the Community Development Dept. at the time.

” They (CVSI) are nothing but a middle class clique”

according to Chuck Urindriski(sp)

I won’t go into telling you the obstacles that were put in our way by Community Development Dept. at the time. Why? when they were bending over backwards to get South Lorain group recognized as a CDC

“A community development corporation (CDC) is a not-for-profit organization incorporated to provide programs, offer services and engage in other activities that promote and support community development. CDCs usually serve a geographic location such as a neighborhood or a town. They often focus on serving lower-income residents or struggling neighborhoods. They can be involved in a variety of activities including economic development, education, community organizing and real estate development. These organizations are often associated with the development of affordable housing.”

South Lorain CDC- description :
http://www.loraincounty.com/slcdc/

“The South Lorain Community Development Corporation assists homebuyers by providing new and rehabilitated housing opportunities for low-mod income, market rate and first-time, income qualified families and individuals. The SLCDC promotes and encourages private sector commercial investment in the South Lorain Neighborhood.”

And then there was Community Development bending over backwards for Direct Action for Central Lorain http://www.loraincounty.com/directory/display_5235.html

” Direct Action, a non-profit, builds and rehabs commercial and residential properties to generate revenue to provide home ownership counseling, educational and safety programming, youth recreational programs, and other activities to revitalize the Central Lorain neighborhood.”

You would have thought with the interest Community Development had in apparently recognizing the historic worth of “downtown Lorain” and putting in the tools back in 1987- their interest in South Lorain ( a struggling neighborhood and business community) and Central Lorain- also a struggling neighborhood and business community- the mere fact a whole group of people were banding together in a grass-roots effort to promote, stabilize , research the history and therefore historic tax credits etc. and use our own money to rehab the homes would have been met with delight! Far from it!

Once again, we were naïve, we didn’t understand the unwritten rules- no place for this grass-roots group- we had no paid Director ( through government funding) , we were a democratic volunteer organization – the will of the majority- and therefore it seemed the proverbial loose cannon and maybe just maybe this “middle class clique would not fit the “plan”- lack of “control” and we asked too many questions – did not accept the status quo ( in my opinion that is having dealt with Community Development as it was for decades.)

It was the mere fact Lorain Community Development Dept. (at the time) put so many obstacles in our way and were very unhelpful when we went to them for advice etc. we exist today. We basically said, fine we will do it ourselves. You see we had people in the “village” who had expertise in various areas of government, research and who knew the protocol.

We raised money through opening our homes, put in our own money and did the paperwork for our own 501c3. It wasn’t easy, we as a neighborhood were unique, according to the IRS because we had not gone through the regular route of “local government” such as South Lorain CDC and Direct Action. But we managed independently of Sandy Prudoff, Chuck Urindriski(sp) and company of the City of Lorain Community Development Dept. and in 1993 we received , after a great deal of paperwork, our 501c3 and incorporation.

We were never listed on the City of Lorain website as one of their sponsored , non -profits, CDC’s or organizations such as South Lorain CDC, Direct Action CDC and Lorain Growth Corp. CVSI – never received or applied any monies from Community Development – contrary to some of that opinion! But whenever a grass-roots organization was needed for a study or grant funding- we were the first to be contacted.

We have however, through the years sent them a copy of our Annual Report and our Tax Filing status. In fact we have had in recent years after the Foltin administration( which was adversarial in nature) a partnership with the City of Lorain. A partnership which continues today ( hopefully) .

I believe our independent nature ruffled more than a few feathers. We have never received any of the numerous grants as did South Lorain CDC- For example The Stocker Foundation write in their report of 2007 they had given $15,000 to South Lorain CDC using the new houses built in their Annual report

Curious I went to the Lorain County Auditors site to see what had happened to those properties knowing the South Lorain CDC IS NO LONGER A CDC , NON- PROFIT OR ORGANIZATION.

It seems the city had transferred these properties over to the South Lorain CDC in 2006– they were transferred back to the city in 2011 and then the city transferred them to Direct Action of Central Lorain.

Direct Action of Central Lorain has also received numerous grants throughout the years as an example another of Stocker Foundations annual reports 2008

Memory came back into play concerning issues with the City of Lorain and Direct Action-
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2013/08/14/action-slow-for-lorain-houses-demolition/

“Mason said earlier this month that he was frustrated by the delay and that Direct Action was slow to provide paperwork regarding the use of HUD money without producing new houses.

“Something doesn’t smell right,” Mason said of Direct Action, which owns 13 properties in Lorain besides the Lakeview property, according to the Lorain County auditor’s website”

That Woman decided to check the auditors site this morning and to her chagrin found Direct Action of Central Lorain owned 15 properties

I say to my chagrin because Direct Action of Central Lorain owes over $77,000 in back taxes on those properties and has seemingly done for many years:

1015 West 14th- $4,033.48 annual tax bill $489.22
1140 West 18th -$7,589.57 annual tax bill $622.54
1722 Washington -$4,466.16 annual tax bill $877.40
Washington lots – $2,469.21 annual tax bill $157.72
Direct Action headquarters 1850 Washington – $47,828.35 annual tax bill $819.60

1849 Washington -$5,222.13 annual tax bill $509.46
1037 W 22ns – $5,437.60 annual tax bill $751.10

THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT – DIRECT ACTION IS A NOT FOR PROFIT AND THEREFORE DOESN’T HAVE TO PAY PROPERTY TAXES.
I contacted the City of Lorain – I was told the City of Lorain cancelled their contract with Direct Action ( CDC) in August of 2013.
So I contacted the Lorain County Auditors office. There wasn’t any paperwork filed for tax exempt status on any of these properties – OH! OH! been there and done that before .

Howard Goldberg of Lorain Community Development Dept.
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20121210/updated-goldberg-resigns-lorain-city-post-under-cloud
had neglected to file exempt status on over a dozen properties- a fact brought to light when Black River Historical Society ( now Lorain Historical Society) was caught up in the mess see pages 4 and 5 in the following PDF

http://www.loraincounty.com/lorain/agendas/2008/December_4_2008_packet.pdf

Looks like somebody didn’t do due diligence and the paperwork to file exemptions on these properties belonging to Direct Action of Central Lorain.
No exemptions – no taxes …. Oh Lorain all that money and what do we have to show for it?

Ironically, Patrick Metzger who used to be the Director of South Lorain CDC , now in charge of

“The county’s Land Reutilization Corp. — most refer to it as the land bank — was incorporated in May 2012 as a way to deal with structures in need of demolition, identify tax-delinquent properties and redevelop those properties to restore them to their “tax-paying, useful life,” says Patrick Metzger, assistant director of the land bank and director of the Lorain County Port Authority, which is its administrative agent.

will be taking down his old headquarters as 2835 Pearl Ave,( which also owed back taxes. The old South Lorain CDC offices is now owned by LORAIN COUNTY LAND REUTILIZATION CORPORATION and owed
Unpaid Taxes: $39,355.90
Full Year Tax(includes any unpaid taxes & special assessments): $43,396.95
Total Taxes Paid to Date: $0.00 (once again according to the Auditors website.)

Guess South Lorain CDC didn’t file for an exemption either with the Lorain County Auditor and now it has been taken for TAXES???? among other issues I am sure!

My head is beginning to ache BUT good news is Charleston Village Society gets a PASS– We succeeded in our paperwork and managing to stay “profitable ” for the past 22 years we have been a non-profit without a paid Director, without grants and without relying on the previous Community Development Dept.

We have been transparent in all our dealings and reports – we didn’t fudge numbers and we didn’t and haven’t budgeted on “projected income” and when we spent money , every dollar went toward the designated project. We may not have much but we still have it and our records with the IRS are up to date.

Morning Stillness- the Pond Life – continues

The sun was just coming up this morning when I decided to take my coffee out to the garden pond. The back garden ( yard for the Americans) has been somewhat torn up of late. It all started with the back door stairs needing to be replaced and as usual with this house one thing led to another since things usually turn into a building site around here with “projects” why not re-do the ponds ?
Shadow was definitely not sure of the plans.


In fact Shadow was not the only resident of the garden leery as to what was happening . There seemed a lot of interest as to what these humans were up to:

The top pond had “settled” badly and needed leveling and a continuation of the rock wall and an upper flower bed installed.

How I miss the Willow tree. The silver lining is I might be able to have the water lilies and blooms, they never grew in the deep shade of the Willow.
The building was and is slow- not as young as we were and ill-health and life getting in the way makes the project slower than I would like. BUT it is happening. The dry stone rockery is 75 percent done .
last week were here in the project.
Shadow discussing the situation with another resident bird- and well those two toads – what can I say? It is spring after all!!!

Yesterday was another trip to Pandys, for pond supplies and flowers- some have been planted and this morning the area was at least nice enough for that morning cup of coffee and to feed the fish before the other residents of the house were awake.

I was not alone however, two Morning Doves were enjoying a stimulating activity – I surmise there will be offspring soon, two Blue Jays were following suit and a Cardinal was definitely intent on some morning love as he chased his mate across the garden skies. Squirrels chattered and nattered at me for intruding on their morning drinking time.

In the meantime my Ghost Koi
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/the-ghost-in-the-pond-continued-2015/ oblivious to the changes in the garden , continued to graze at the edges of the bottom pond indifferent to the hullabaloo of the gold-fish as they rushed around in a frenzy after the fish pellets. He reminded me of a dirigible of the water as he slides through the water at peace whilst all around him is chaos. Oh! to be a Ghost- Koi!!! in the pond

Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk- Lorain County Beautiful

Logo – Chris Ritchey

ED NOTE: Charleston Village Society
http://www.loraincounty.com/charlestonlorai/
received the notification a few days ago , Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk, received a nomination for the 2014 Award. Since we were required to send in information about the project and since our “defense” of the property caused such “blathering” recently,
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/freedom-of-speech-usa-really-pt-4/
I thought it would be a good time to share our response to the Awards Committee. We may not win but the people who have given so much are most certainly winners already!

ERIC BARNES’ HEROES WALK – Lorain County Beautiful 2014

A small pathway was originally planned as a way to connect the area known as Settlers’ Watch, 2nd Street and Oberlin Ave. to the area where Charleston Village Society Inc. had recently completed The Admiral King Tribute Site, 1st Street and Hamilton Ave. . The area of brush and trees in between the two sites had become a dumping ground for all manner of trash, garbage and undesirable activities within this Lorain’s oldest neighborhood. It took 25 loads of 5 ton dump trucks to clear what is now the area known as Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk.

At the same moment in time as this clearance was happening, Lorain City Council was looking to honor Eric Barnes, who had been killed in action in Iraq. Councilman Dan Given asked if Charleston Village Society (CVSI) could do something in his honor. Since we already had the Eric Barnes Eagle tree carving at Settler’s Watch

and the Admiral King Tribute site on the opposite side of the block of land we proposed a linking of the sites honoring two heroes, Eric Barnes and Fleet Admiral Ernest J King.

What started off as a simple walkway then grew as more information on Lorain’s lost heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan was researched. The walk became a huge project and is being done in three phases. The initial phase laid out the gardens of tribute for all the young men (to date) who were killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, who were also born in Lorain.

As you walk along the pathway, you will see signage depicting the personal information for each hero- a bench where one can sit and enjoy the views of Lake Erie, their own garden space and piece of individualized art work. Each of the heroes’ families were contacted as to what they would like to see the signage , which was designed by volunteers and paid for with donations from the community , as to the verbiage and which spot along the walk they would like for their sons or brothers as well as any favorite plants .

CVSI raised the money for the signs, plants, art work and expenses encountered through donations to our 501C3 s. The community also donated plants, trees and labor. Two of the benches, are from the now demolished Lorain Admiral King High School. The benches donated by class member were repurposed and were placed in the tribute spaces of the two Lorain City Schools graduates, Marine Lance Corporal David Hall and Army 1st Sgt. Bruce Horner. The other benches for Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Giese and Army Sgt. Louis Torres are also made of recycled material.

CVSI, as with the Settlers’ Watch site which is 95% repurposed and recycled material, including the trees and the mulch and the Admiral King Tribute Site which is also 100% repurposed and recycled ( apart from the flags which fly on the ship’s mast flag pole), has focused on recycling and repurposing for Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk .

All the lighting is “solar” and the pathway itself is being covered with recycled concrete, when we can acquire it, this also fits the requirement for the Americans with Disabilities recommendations. Phase Two was completed this past spring.

As we continue with Phase Three of the project, the community will find the United States Marine Corps. Monument being placed and a flag pole. The site has been prepared for that aspect of the walk thanks to the City of Lorain who actually own the property. The tree carvings from the tree lawn on 2nd Street will also be re-positioned along the walkway as they are being refurbished and the wood stabilized.

Every day there are volunteers weeding, planting and watering the site. The site is ongoing and growing with something different every day, every week

We have received in kind donations of lighted bollards, (yet to be placed) more trees and plants as the site grows. 100% of every monetary donation goes toward the site. However it is the labor and in kind donations from the community, as a whole, which make this honor for our heroes even possible.

Eric Barnes’ Heroes Walk which started as a simple “pathway” has now become a place of tranquility , reflection and beauty , a place honoring Lorain’s young men who gave their all in this most recent of wars. The gardens along the winding path, once a place for dumping trash, are now places of pride within the neighborhood. Every summer evening will find people walking, children playing on the green spaces neighbors enjoying the cooling breezes. There is once again a sense of community, as noted on the 4th of July , as families gathered respectfully to watch the 4th of July fireworks and the freedom they represent- earned at the ultimate price to pay by the young men honored along the walk of heroes . This special place is reminder to all who now enjoy the sights , sounds , the fragrance of blossoms of our freedom every day and a pride has returned in this Lorain’s oldest and much abused over the decades , neighborhood.

HypNOTic Regression – the Session- Pt 2

The diagnostic box- self- portrait Chris Ritchey

Part One
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/hypnotic-regression-the-session-pt-1/

The therapist did her utmost to relax me- the room was large – open and airy – sunlight filtered in . A warning to my daughter not to get too relaxed herself as we went through the process

There had been a discussion, rather lengthy, as to what role “imagination” plays in the past life regression “happenings’ . This was very similar to what is written in the blog Eric J Christopherhttp://www.ericjchristopher.com/about-2/meet-eric/
http://www.ericjchristopher.com/what-past-life-regression-really-is/

“Imagination is the gateway to the soul.” This is true for past life regression. Your imagination launches this inner journey. The past life information then starts coming to you slowly and feels like you’re making it up. However, research shows that it may be an actual past life, a metaphor, or a mixture of both. To the degree that you focus on whatever impressions your intuitive guidance shows you without analytical mind commentary, is to the degree that you’ll move deeper into the experience

I was directed to a large comfortable chair with large ottoman. I was extremely at ease , comfortable and very willing. I did what I was instructed to do with my breathing and felt totally relaxed – my arms felt a little heavy and there was a little tingling.

I could hear everything, I could feel the sunshine on my face from the windows. BUT there was an issue, for me at least. Not having had any experience with this sort of thing, I listened to the therapists voice, which was pleasant but as she took me down the “path” through the gateway – that was fine but she then took me to a meadow filled with flowers. Of course, what popped into my brain was the Wizard of OZ, Dorothy and the fields of poppies .

Poppy Field ( near Gayton UK- 2014) Photo Molly Housego
We then went up a mountain path , and although probably quite spiritual and relaxing to the therapist I was thinking – I don’t want to do this climbing the mountain- it is hard work climbing a mountain , I would get all hot and sweaty and not something I particularly would want to do.

She then tried various other situations, going down stone steps, getting on an old train , describing the train. My “imagination” was filling in the blanks re the train- she obviously hadn’t been on British rail and was describing something from the Wild, Wild West show-

Source http://www.railswest.com/passengertrains.html

That brought in visions of the old tv show, so my relaxation became less relaxed as my conscious brain was wondering what ever happened to the actor Robert Conrad http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Conrad.

“This” went on for quite a while trying to get me to relax, actually ” this” had the opposite effect – it was taking me “out of the relaxed state” .

Finally, after an attempt of describing what was happening on a “big television screen” – for me segued into the old movie the Quatermass and The Pit and the jumping Martians scene being viewed from the brain of one of the characters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatermass_and_the_Pit_(film)

As I said this way of getting me to go deeper was having just the opposite effect. I stopped the session and said – this really isn’t working for me-

but as I opened my eyes, her face was genuinely crest fallen and I felt badly for her .

Maybe it was my fault ? Was I subconsciously fighting her?

No! the more I thought about it then and indeed now I truly believe I was already in a state where I could be regressed, at least as far back as my childhood, her descriptive speeches in trying to get me to a place where I believe I was already only this was not being recognized and the “leading” me had the effect of bringing me OUT of that state.

After another little bit of walking some more and into a cave- I felt sorry for the therapist. I felt I was being a tad bit obstreperous, so when we went into a cave and in darkness- I was told there was a plinth and asked what was on the plinth -I remember thinking OK let me go with this scenario – I said:

There was a silver chalice on the plinth-

What was in the chalice?-

red wine

– What was I a man or a woman– I said

a woman by my hands and forearms

( but then again I could’ve been a young thin male- when you think about it) but I said

woman – I was in a robe ( dark, with long flowing sleeves, a heavy material)

Asked to describe my surroundings, I said

the background behind the chalice was in flames.

I was then asked to pick up the chalice and take it down a corridor, describing the corridor , the door I was entering , what was the room like I was entering ( I have been in too many old castles, me thinks, because I believe I pictured rooms I had seen in this life.

I know I didn’t really want to continue this ” story line” so I consciously had it had it vanish into light.

Next stop was supposedly the 17th century but I ended up in the 19th century – describing a London Cabby circa 1890 –

I know my I was thinking consciously of my grandmother and the tale of her father and mother being taken out for the evening via the Hansome Cabs-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hansom_cab

– and so the tale of waiting outside the Covenant Garden Opera house, in the cold and wet , even to what I was wearing , the steam rising in the dank night air from the horses nostrils and my happy chubby wife at home . I filled in all sorts of details as to this chap- from being a war veteran with a bad leg , the coarseness of his coat but you see I rather think it was my conscious imagination because the detail I got wrong was –I was sitting up front and we know ( at least I do now) having done a little research the cabbie sat at the back 🙂

Source:http://www.presbyterian.org.nz/archives/photogallery20/page1.htm

So surely , if I had been that cabby I would have known that fact the cabby – sat at the back. I truly felt I was making this up as I went along- ironically because I felt bad for the therapist. She woke me up but I was already awake- I let her go through the rest of the sequence for her sake .

I have to say, I felt rather guilty, because she was sure we had reached a bit of a breakthrough. I listened as she explained certain conclusions. Thanked her and left-

Assignment – Chris Ritchey-CIA

My conclusion : I was part way into the trance, maybe a different technique other than the one this therapist used may have helped me go deeper and find some answers. I felt if the focus had been on me and my life when I was initially so relaxed instead of journeys up mountain, on trains and into caves things may have ended differently.

I am a storyteller at heart and when I have an audience I will “tell the story” even if I am the one paying the “admission price” . BUT then again :

The past life information then starts coming to you slowly and feels like you’re making it up. However, research shows that it may be an actual past life, a metaphor, or a mixture of both. Eric J. Christopher

I believe the incidents I describe were out of my fertile imagination or too much television in my youth and not remembrances.

However, that being said I wouldn’t poohoo the practice – this particular session didn’t work for me and honestly I don’t have the money to “explore” further as I said it doesn’t come cheap. But should the opportunity arise as well as cash I would delve into it a little more deeply. Until that happens I will chalk it up to an interesting experience and read up on self-hypnosis !

http://www.wikihow.com/Perform-Self-Hypnosis

Note: I have purposely not given the therapists name – I still do not have enough information to draw any conclusions as to her abilities- What I do know is that she was the only one willing to be witnessed and that says a lot.