Posts tagged ‘media’
Morning Journal- Punishing Press-Part 4
Chris Ritchey
Part One : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press/
Part Two : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press-part-two/
Part Three: https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/15/morning-journal-the-punishing-press-part-3/
Part Three cont. https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/morning-journal-the-punishing-press-pt-3-cont/
I have spent hours going through old writings and blogs. Unfortunately, as I have said a lot of the links are missing and in fact blogs have disappeared from the WWW. I can only go by the hard copy I have. I can only assure you the reader the information is true and I have those documents in hard copy or in my files electronically.
Here were go:
Front Page News .. a tale of a super woman, well maybe not 😉
WoM Logo by Scott Baklar
Jon Veard & word of mouth scott bakalar on 22 Nov 2006
SO SAYETH THE NAYSAYERS:
““I’m going to extricate myself from downtown Lorain,” Veard said.
[…]
“I don’t have to do business in Lorain, especially if I’m not wanted,” he said. Veard, 65, who has run his United Properties development company in downtown Lorain for the last 44 years, said it will be “easier to do business elsewhere.”
Why?
“Admittedly, council has taken Jon to task a few times, but council has approved projects with him involved, such as the restoration of the Duane Building,” Foltin said.
Veard said he hasn’t faced opposition only from council, but criticism from citizen activists, such as downtown resident Loraine Ritchie. Veard said Ritchie has been a critic of his developments.
NOTE: THE ONLY CRITICISM I GAVE was his plans to build condos in the historic park”
“What is she attacking me for?” Veard said. “Let her develop downtown Lorain.”
Ritchie declined to speak to The Morning Journal.
But Veard said he’s tired of the criticism.
“I lost money on the Duane Building. I lost money on the Antlers Building. I haven’t made a dime yet on City Center. … Let them throw darts at someone else.”
The quote came from the article in the Morning Journal- Kate Giammarise November 2006
HOWEVER A DAY LATER… Mr. Veard stated to Joe Medici of the Chronicle
“Despite having three buildings up for sale downtown, local developer Jon Veard said Tuesday he has no intention of leaving the city…..“My roots are here. All my business and banking relationships are here. It would be a nightmare to move all that,” Veard said. “These people know me and when I ask for something it’s a done deal because they trust me.”
“I’m not selling because I’m mad about the park. Maybe (City Council) did me a favor when they shot it down. Building condos in downtown Lorain is risky business,” Veard said.
Which publication printed the correct information? Remember media moguls you are only as good as your sources ( biased or not)? This knee jerk reaction maybe to Cole and Co caused Cole to jump once more into the Editorial mode and chastise me a “history bonehead.. sorry can’t link to it BUT here is my response :
As I decided to BOYCOTT the Morning Journal…. You can find that WoM post here TUDOR Boycott
Who got it wrong John Cole? I think I know – tch tch tch – how much egg is on the face of your publication on this one? And poor Mr. Veard – he came across in your article as a whiney, sorry, pouting, juvenile, it seems I have more respect for Mr. Veard than his ”friends”. You did him no favor – believe me – in your portrayal of this Lorain Developer. What my international readers (and I have a “barrelful”) must think of this community, I shudder to imagine.
NOTE – Oh! and one more thing, it has been remarked that Mr. Veard is upset that he didn’t get the chance to show City Council his “plans” for our park ( that other editorial chastising Lorain City Council….before they voted No! the first time. Check the minutes, I think you will find that Mayor Craig Foltin ”called for the vote” that night – that is right Mayor Craig Foltin.And then YOUR “Love letter to Veard” Oh! come on now – hearts and flowers begging him – Don’t go-Please stay – when he apparently had NO intention of leaving. I ask you who is the “blow-hard and crank and short sighted” individual whose “long winded” piece sent the negative message of Lorain’s developer diva -great publicity for Lorain? Shoe fits – wear it JC!
But all is not lost – Cole and Company you can – by a change in editorial policy, adhering to unbiased news reporting and an apology to all who ”dare to suffer the editorial wrath” by stepping up to the plate and to those “long winded politicians” who do the best they can to represent THEIR constituents on City Council stop this ”Old-Boy Cott” Up to YOU!!!!!!!!
2007 was the Lorain Bicentennial we had a city wide celebration focused in on the little park. Now don’t go looking for coverage- John Cole denied any coverage , that is until so many organizations involved took issue there was a small blurb in the Saturday section.
Link to a number of photos of the event :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12219598@N06/with/1249174028/
However, the opening ceremonies were taped and one participant berated the Morning Journal for their stance and lack of coverage for the event. Problem was it was ME who was spearheading the whole shebang.. Oh well happened without him or the Morning Journal….
.
Tom Skoch
John Cole retired in February 2008 and a new editor Tom Skoch took over the editorial seat. Mr. Skoch reached out to me and we came to a friendly truce. He was really kind and instrumental in getting Charleston Village projects publicity etc. for the Admiral King Tribute Space, Eric Barnes Heroes Walk and Settlers’ Watch . He may not have been overly fond of yours truly but he could see past the tree to the forest.
Although I have been known to come out fingers flying when I felt the Morning Journal and others and its staff needed a different perspective : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/media-as-the-word-turns-or-rolls-lorain/
You see at the same time all this bruhaha was going on with me the news media were all over Councilman Dan Given and others with the Community Reinvestment Areas. This too had its birthing in politics and the blame game ensued.
Before I get pilloried once more let me tell you I was involved in the CRA situation before any of the media.I did my homework and I have files two inches thick, Courts, the players and their agendas, articles comments and documentation up the ying yang. Anyone wants to see them -only too willing… Oh and the politics are mind boggling.
However Dan Given became the scapegoat even though the Plain dealer article OCTOBER 2007 used in the court case had 11 inaccuracies ( I wrote to the Editor pointing out the journalists biased leanings – no reply)
NOTE: Article is no longer on line but I have the hard copy. There was a friendly relationship between the county’s attorney and the journalist….. I have the article
Later on I took Tom and the MJ to task over an article in 2009– I had just 6 days earlier lost my son to cancer – but it was still important to me that truth and the whole truth should be explored.
Dan Given was also pilloried in the article of December 10th 2009 but the readership of the Morning Journal has been denied the “rest of the story ” and denied so far as they would not print Mr. Given’s rebuttal leading their readership and those of the community in a direction that is less than accurate. I published his letter to the MJ because they wouldn’t- I would suggest a read of that letter found in the link below:
When you go to the comments of that post you will find Mr. Skoch had his say .. but since the claim by the editors stated they had reached out to Mr. Given originally they apparently missed the part in all the bru haha that the Law Director had told Council members ( because of litigation they couldn’t comment ) although at least two did …
Does ANY of this matter NOW? You tell me as recently as March 12th 2020 Dan Given was accused of public corruption in a letter chastising now Mayor Bradley from the Lorain FOP for supporting a political candidate they have issues with. Click on jpg for a clearer picture.
Although letters and legal stating no wrongdoing 15 YEARS LATER DAN GIVEN IS STILL BEING ACCUSED. 10 YEARS cleared of any wrongdoing AND YET STILL IN 2020 THE FOP ACCUSATION OF public corruption..
MAYBE THEY MISSED THE ARTICLE FROM 10 YEARS AGO!!!!!
GIVEN CLEARED – CHRONICLE – BRAD DICKEN DECEMBER 10TH 2010
WHY ? If anyone had really done ALL the homework and evidence complied and not just dwelled on the surface of the CRA situation the story would be different, believe me I looked at that CRA situation until I was sick of it and the ones that should be held responsible weren’t.
AND NOW!!! We have Mary Springowski feeling the wrath of imho of a up-jumped egotistical 32 year old reporter Kevin Martin / Morning Journal trying the name and shame game because Mary , in order to reach out and provide information to her constituents with information and participation. by pasting an article on her facebook page ! Horrors she apparently single handedly has brought down the print media local by publishing the article
Facebook post by Mary :
THE REST OF THE STORY!!!!
( Mary) “What is happening with this money? Who should benefit from this? Who CAN benefit from this? There must be some regulations. If this is CDBG then it is geared towards low to moderate income areas. What are your thoughts? Remember, if you want them to be part of the permanent record, post your comments and thoughts on the city’s official Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/CityofLorainOH/
( Morning Journal)Lorain, Elyria to get stimulus money in coronavirus response By Richard Payerchin rpayerchin@morningjournal.com @MJ_JournalRick on Twitter Apr 1, 2020
The cities of Lorain and Elyria will receive money from the first allocations in the federal government’s economic stimulus bill due to the novel coronavirus.
The city of Lorain will receive $725,720, while Elyria will receive $439,110 in Community Development Block Grant money, according to an announcement from Sen. Sherrod Brown.……..
Innocent enough one would have thought HOWEVER Mr. Martin thought otherwise and through Twitter started on April 9th to chastise Mary for an article written NOT by Mr Martin but by Rick Payerchin……..although Martin states he is speaking for himself ( that didn’t last long ) Click on the jpg for a clearer picture
Has Mr. Payerchin , the journalist and writer of the piece, contacted Mary with his displeasure? NO! according to Mary. Has Daryl Tucker the Editor contacted Mary? No! apparently not BUT 13 days after Mary posted the article on face book Kevin Martin of Muck Rack fame and membership https://muckrack.com/ complained to the Facebook Police for copy right infringement –
APRIL 13th
If you believe that this content should not have been removed from Facebook, you can contact the complaining party directly to resolve your issue:
Report #: 253706562467430
Rights Owner: MediaNews Group Inc.
Email: kmartin@morningjournal.com
Copyrighted Work: Other
NOTE Martin does not use a personal email account in filing his complaint but that of the Morning Journal .
This should never have gone this far…. I wouldn’t have had to spend five days writing and reliving the punishing press… and maybe “raking the muck” because I was angry at the “punishment not fitting the crime”
All it would’ve taken was a phone call to Mary to take down the post, explain why there was a concern but No the crusading journalist jumped on his high horse and banner of punishing the politician of the people……
WHY? what is his agenda …. when obviously the writer of the offending piece and the Editor didn’t complain….. but because of Mr. Martin -Mrs. Springowski will no longer share , be interviewed or subscribe to the Morning Journal, and Mary is always newsworthy so who suffers by this petulant posturing? NOT Mary .. maybe Martin should be taught the old adage :
“Cutting off the nose to spite the face” is an expression to describe a needlessly self-destructive over-reaction to a problem: “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” is a warning against acting out of pique, or against pursuing revenge in a way that would damage oneself more than the object of one’s anger
THE END then again maybe NOT!!!
Morning Journal – The Punishing Press- Pt.3 cont.
Part One : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press/
Part Two : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press-part-two/
Part Three: https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/15/morning-journal-the-punishing-press-part-3/
Regugitating( in more ways than one) this week has woken up this poor old brain. I started out wanting to show that this particular local paper the Morning Journal had indeed used tactics in the past in order to retaliate and by all accounts a journalist working for them today ( Kevin Martin) had seemingly no compunction about going to the “over the top” reaction when reporting one of Lorain’s “popular with the people” councilwoman. Mary Springowski. You see, my belief, knowing Mary – had Martin or his boss Tucker contacted Mary personally and requested she take down their article from facebook and refrain from sharing in depth again – Mrs. Springowki would have acquiesced.
That “would have been the smart move” in my opinion but that is not what happened . Instead a ” I was reminded of the quote in Maxwell Anderson’s play ” Mary of Scotland”
“We must look to it….. has a woman’s face( and principles 😉 stirred such a confluence of air and waters to beat against the bastions….”
Other thoughts have also been running amok as I go cross- eyed reading the files, news article and editorials and I am thinking my hindsight is telling me there was more going on in that period from 2004- 2007.
Whilst I and others, were in middle of the waters swirling around us and we were fighting for our very homes , way of life and yes opinions we were fighting on more than one front. I can’t believe all these “plans were not part of a bigger picture” but I suppose now I will never know for sure
Shawnee( John Cole, Foltin and secrecy- selling off of lakefront land to the tribe.. being lambasted…. as greedy gobblers saw visions of casino chips dancing in their eyes. Why did it take a small group to point out the folly of having a reservation on the lakefront and the problems that would occur. Did Foltin , Cole Prudoff etc really believe that was going to happen as they spent our money? Thousands upon thousands for what ????? ( as seat at the table with the big boys?? https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/the-read/articles/cashing-in . We , and me mainly , certainly incurred the wrath when speaking out, but you see this was going to be “here” in our neighborhood, all the plans swirling around and the bandwagons rolling … COLE and Foltin were NOT happy with me !!!!
Blight – Before we in this Lorain’s oldest neighborhood could even get a handle on the Shawnee during those same weeks and months another plan quietly slipped into place .
The Administration paying yet MORE thousands upon thousands to go through the process of blighting the whole neighborhood on the lakefront where a casino entranceway, bus parking you name it would go .( for private development) .. can you say land banking??? And once again we were thrust into those swirling waters and coming up against media, politics. We were being stretched very thin. Land banking was what it looked like to me BUT FOR WHAT PURPOSE
From my testimony re Blight maybe ( in hindsight) I wasn’t too far from the mark.…”Eminent Lorain V
“Interestingly enough the land banking- that I believe is going on – happens to correspond to the entranceways to that same lake front property. Our City officials in planning, administration and that same newspaper editor making the decision the sell the 200 year old green space that was the birthplace of this community without informing the public or even our representatives on City Council. City council and myself were politely told to keep our place until the decision and plans were made for that park
Veterans Park ..AND THEN at the other end of the neighborhood “planned Blight of a historic little park .. Oh the wheeling and dealing pitting “history boneheads ” ( Coles words not mine ) against developers, and the administration – Foltin , Cole and Prudoff .. The proposed senior citizens condos in the Park.. we had to take on the Veterans who at one point had received hundreds of thousands for improvement for that park..”WHO TURNED NEARLY $500,000 DOLLARS INTO A BOONDOGGLE, BAD NEWS AND DEAD PARK?” https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/veterans-memorial-park-thanks-for-the-memories/
Oh! we were taking a beating by Cole and Co. Letters sent to Veterans groups and meeting berating the history boneheads, ridicule and downright untruths and nastiness followed us who tried to save a tangible and imho important part of Lorain’s history from the earliest times..
http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2006/02/22/opinion/16173705.txt
Lorain’s City Council shouldn’t be so quick to reject downtown condos (John Cole)
Published: Wednesday, February 22, 2006
But how can city leaders trumpet the need to save the park, when they have stood by and let it become such a vandalized dump? Lorain’s veterans barely use it anymore because it’s so seedy and because all the ceremonial action in Lorain these days is at Black River Landing.
You see the plans ( although NOT shared with anyone in City Council or even employees of Community Development came to light over a lunch… and I made some phone calls
You can read the entire situation here
and an except of a letter sent to the city administration and in particular Prudoff…. and there they are again
Cole,
Foltin
Prudoff
( if I was a betting person I would say there was some sort of collusion) BUT that would only be my cynical “OPINION” ( lawyers take NOTE!!!)
….[Veard} mention to two representatives of Charleston Village Executive Board on Jan 6th his “plan” as we were eating lunch in a very public place. There was no mention of the need for discretion, if anything the impression given was one of the plans for the park being a “done deal” and that all obstacles such as the Gilmore family restriction was and I quote “not a problem, I have been assured that isn’t an issue any more”.
I believe he was truly shocked when his plan did not meet with favor in our eyes. According to Mr. Veard, “you are the first ones that don’t like it” we were then informed, during that conversation, that other public officials, and non profits had been made aware of the plan to put condos in the “Veterans Park”, such as some members of the Lorain Port Authority, “ the veterans are on board”, the city, including Mayor Foltin and yourself (Sandy Prudoff), as well as the editor of the Morning Journal, John Cole.
At the same time Compass House was setting up as an independent housing and bringing in 10 Registered Sex Offenders a night .. and kicking them out into the neighborhoods a so many days – worrying since the city no longer had a jail and the funding for the Shawnee bond was apparently rolled over into that bond which went on ”
Jail– Lorain City Councilwoman Anne Molnar ( deceased) started to look into the funding and where the money had gone earmarked for a new Jail . Anne wrote to Wom and we put up the minutes of the meeting for her . Anne bless her “fighting for Lorain” heart wrote to WoM at the time
Dear Loraine,
Thank you for posting the minutes of the police and fire committee meeting on WOM. You can sure work miracles on the computer, did a great job posting it on WOM. I believe when most people read them, they can easily see how the Mayor has twisted his words and lied .
There is a lot more to be told, that I found out later regarding the jail, and it is all to late now. Money wasted and spend, many lies told, and not all from the Mayor.[Foltin} Anne
NOTE: The minutes of that meeting and the unbelievable amount of money and spin here Minutes of Feb 2003 No Jail
It seems you couldn’t pick up a paper without my name being “used” . I did seem to be on some vicious treadmill…..me against the media and city government.
–
Why? Yes I was involved but a free press believes in free speech , at least I always thought so . Initially I was confused by Coles’ comment in his editorials (problem is I can no longer link to them) and then I got angry. I started answering back.
The Shawnee excitement came down to earth with a bang when finally City Council etc after receiving much detailed information decided not to renew the option for the land at Black River . I testified at length before members of city council and with a plethora of documentation for the record. ( Was not well received by the Foltin Administration)
Phot by Dan Brady
It was the selling of the little park that really upset Cole and the Morning Journal – you see we along with our sister organization of (Charleston Village Society) Black River Historical Society and Anne Molnar and various residents fought for that park to remain a park. We were gathering our arguments together when Frank Sipkovsky, President of the then Black River Historical Society walked over to City Hall and put in each councilpersons mail box a letter detailing their concerns as to what was going on with the park. Councilman Dan Given called for a vote then and there that evening to settle this situation : and King Cole really went off on them….
March 3rd, 2006: Editorial by John Cole in response to Lorain City Council’s unanimous vote NOT to sell the historic little Park…..
“You can’t make us believe that some council members didn’t cook up Monday’s vote in an illegal backroom meeting. That kind of government stinks as bad as those flooded basements. The state attorney general’s office should give these guys a wake-up call. Their vote could be invalid.
Every one of these zeros is up for re-election next year. Remember how they embarrassed you and your city with their rude and juvenile no-show act………
………Lorain has too many short-sighted, long-winded politicians, cranks and blowhards and not enough people who can look past all that and push forward with positive accomplishments that can make Lorain strong and attractive again.”
To be continued …
Morning Journal Lorain, The Punishing Press- Part two
Part One : https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2020/04/13/morning-journal-lorain-the-punishing-press/
This series stems from the fact a reporter from the Morning Journal, Lorain Ohio in my opinion got his knickers in a twist because Council Woman at Large Mary Springowski shared a full article on facebook ( but with the who what and where it was published) . Happens all the time but Kevin Martin took issue .. went to twitter etc ( operative word here TWIT) and one thing led to another. We will get back to Kevin Martin at the end of this series. He has not been alone in the pseudo bullying behavior over the years by the Morning Journal publication from the publishers to the editors.
However, I bet a lot of people from Lorain have no idea just what the meddling in Lorain has cost in dollars and cents.
ED NOTE : after the expenses were heading upwards of $100,000 dollars the monies were rolled over into a bond (see below) but before that happened I had started to make public records requests and here is the spread sheet from the City of Lorain Auditor at the time for the initial expenses incurred:
Hang on the ride continues. Since John Cole, former Editor, is now deceased he can not rebut my post but he had that opportunity more than once when he was alive and certainly took advantage of his position to make my life “interesting” . I will at the end of this series of course give the Morning Journal their unedited say on this blog!
2004
John Cole , Editor of the Morning Journal and then Mayor Craig Foltin put on a great dog and pony show, dangling the casino carrot to the desperate population of Lorain. It was touted as a cure all for all our economic troubles. My standing up to Cole re the Shawnee fiasco didn’t do me any favors and I was in danger along with Anne Molnar ( Lorain City Councilwoman. now deceased , the only city council person who took issue with the Shawnee ) of being “squashed “.
The following is from the article Condos for Cole which we will explore tomorrow!! Unfortunately the links imbedded in these articles have disappeared as has the original WoM Blog .
“It seems this town has a lot to thank Mr. Cole for in recent months. August 1st 2004 the editorial which pointed Lorain in the direction of the Eastern Shawnee. Starting off a firestorm of wheeling, dealing, controversy and spending of taxpayer’s money. The fact that National Capital One (in whose direction we were pointed) and Terry Casey, spokesperson for National Capital One who had a less than a sterling reputation was never mentioned in the editorial.
In fact although Dayton, Cleveland newspapers carried the story of Casey’s “faux paux” I could never find mention of that fact in any of Cole’s Editorials. The fact that National Capital One has pleaded guilty to securities fraud has not had any mention in any editorial I have seen since. And oh yes! the very person to whom Cole’s ability to “squash” was touted was that same Terry Casey in the infamous e-mail from Mayor Foltin: Also Terry Casey:
http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/ohio-group-responds-to-tribal-casino-plans-148588
Plain Dealer 2005:
Repeatedly, Casey stressed that the Lorain plans had to remain secret. Foltin agreed but urged Casey to consider adding one person to the inner circle: John Cole, longtime editor of the local newspaper [Morning Journal]
ED NOTE: This article is no longer on line BUT you can access it here as I saved it : This article was in the Plain Dealer
Lorain mayor’s gamble paid off with casino deal
Talks with tribe kept secret from city officials, voters
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Molly Kavanaugh and Tom Breckenridge
Re: John Cole, longtime editor of the local newspaper. “I feel he should be briefed early (even in the next week or two) with the understanding that we are in very early stages and he will be the first to know if anything happens and when it becomes public,” Foltin wrote Oct. 11 in an e-mail to Casey. “He can personally squash any nay-saying and ensure broad community support.” – Plain Dealer 3/5/05
Now in 2007 I archived after another series of Cole’s decision making for Lorain for my records. The Shawnee fiasco the hundred thousand of dollars wasted and my take on Mr. Cole . Needless to say he wasn’t happy with me . And the citizens of Lorain shouldn’t have been happy with him, we were led down a very expensive garden path and I for one didn’t not like being threatened with being “squashed ” by him….
COLE-fuc-*-us say :
Apologies to Confucius
Since they don’t put the comics on line TP ( or That Paper) I always get a bit of laugh reading Mr. Cole’s take on life and so since we know that on August 1st 2004 Johnny Boy’s editorial sent Foltin charging off to the Shawnee and Terry Casey – his latest writings -especially this paragraph caused the bile to move up and out of the stomach and nearly choke THAT Woman!
The second throw of the dice for Lorain was Craig Foltin’s pillow talk with the Eastern Shawnee Indians. Predicated on dubious legal claims and if-you-say-so financial, planning and managerial expertise, the treaty was signed, the chief and the mayor blew a lot of smoke in the air and, before you knew it, Lorainites woke up one morning blood brothers to Tecumseh. It was a lot of fun if nothing else. John Cole
OH Johnny Boy! here I go again “nay saying” waiting to incur the wrath of the mighty King Cole! NO FUN for the tax payer -over $100,000 wasted by my calculations thanks to you supplying the bed for the pillow talk. And after a great deal of reasoning why we should jump in bed with your “slot sluts” you end up saying:
It’s time again for Lorain to jump into the casino game.
For your FUN peoples lives were disrupted and bunch of lemmings got on the casino tour bus 
following General Foltin to the Battle of the Little Big Bucks – A town divided , people in other parts of Ohio having their property compromised. I could go on – YOU SIR ! HAVE A PECULIAR IDEA OF FUN?
It seems a lot of the FEES were apparently rolled over into “a Bond” What Bond would that be I wonder? Could it be the Bond for the Jail?
The legal bill from Anthony Calabrese and the law firm of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease was rolled into a bond sale .
ED NOTE Anthony Calabrese was jailed for his part in another scheme according to the FBI press release:
Anthony O. Calabrese, III was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to pay more than $200,000 for his role in a series of bribery schemes involving Jimmy Dimora, Frank Russo, J. Kevin Kelley, and others uncovered as part of the Cuyahoga County corruption investigation, federal law enforcement officials said.
Remember the “Jail that never was Bond“ Johnny Boy ? The Plain Dealer had an editorial on that subject .
Lorain, the largest city in Lorain County, has no jail. Its police send their criminal suspects to the county’s lockup. Some critics say the city of 68,000 people lacks a jail because Mayor Craig Foltin and Safety Director Craig Miller diverted available money that could have been used to replace the antiquated facility that was closed last year.
They say it was spent on City Hall improvements, downtown lighting, landscaping and the like.
So Johnny Boy the next time you decided to get us in bed together for some pillow talk – cause you good Ole Boys “just wanna have fun” – YOU FOOT THE BILL!!!
ED NOTE: This article among others as I had felt the ire of the editor in his editorials and on his front page did nothing to calm the savage breast… but no-one was going to threaten and squash me not whilst I could write!!!!!
Continued Part three 2005-2007
Morning Journal Lorain- the Punishing Press?
ED NOTE: it takes a great deal nowadays to get my fingers flying over this keyboard. I have pretty much given up getting involved in all things Lorain. I am too old to worry about the future as it pertains to me and this neighborhood. Tired of swimming upstream. However, there are times that cause me to jump back in. This is one of them!
The Morning Journal vs City Council Woman at Large Mary Springowski
https://www.cityoflorain.org/305/Mary-Springowski
Mary Springowski . Council At-Large. Phone: 440-258-4302. Email Mary Springowski. Mary Springowski began serving as the Council at-Large representative on January 1, 2016 where she was gratified to receive the top votes in both the Democratic Primary …
Since the retaliation to various citizens ( usually me 😉 has been an ongoing behavior this post will be in a series one part every day! Time for a history lesson because history once again is repeating itself – in my humble opinion……( for the lawyers 😉
WoM Logo by Scott Baklar
Long time readers of this blog and the old WoM Blog will remember my penchant for holding the local press , especially the Morning Journal , Lorain to account. Unfortunately, that has put me time and time again on the list for punishment for my stance.
I had, with regard to publicity for the various theatre productions etc. and non profit , volunteer news , a very good relationship with the Plain Dealer, the Elyria Chronicle and yes! the Morning Journal. I would, when sending out press releases make sure the paper I was sending to had a local hook that differed with all three, meaning the press releases were geared to each paper so they weren’t rehashing the same article. This worked very well and over the years I like to think I built up a good rapport with the various newsrooms .
Unfortunately, this came to crashing halt in 2002 with the Publisher of the Morning Journal, Kevin Haezebroeck Publisher- The Morning Journal
Nov 2001 – Aug 2004 -2 years 10 months.
At the time I was on the board of what was MainstreetLorain a 501C3 . We were promoting one of our events in downtown Lorain. Our Director , at the time also promoted the event in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This sent the hierarchy of the Morning Journal , Haezebroeck , John Cole ( deceased) and Bill Cyran (deceased) into a frenzy of frustration. I received a call from the Entertainment Editor ( since I was doing the publicty) he had been told to pull the article he was writing and the cover of the entertainment magazine. I called Bill Cyran and was told unless we got rid of our Director the Morning Journal would never give us any publicity again, I was informed we could only deal with the Morning Journal. I was shocked especially since Mr. Haezebroek was a sitting member of our Board of Directors. As the situation went from bad to worse, and as the majority BOD did not support our Director, due to not wanting to fall foul of the Morning Journal, our Director then resigned .
I was furious, not only at the majority of the BOD. and their, in my opinion ,cowardice at not standing united, I know they were probably scared of retaliation with their businesses but that a “free press” – the 4th estate, would stoop to such behavior. I had at that time a couple of columns for various publications ( freelance) and never had I come across such punishing behavior. I wrote in one of my columns in 2002 :
“Locally, this writer has had cause for concern with her “morning news publication” It seems that community coverage has become tied to the amount of advertising dollars spent, dictates by the publisher and editor as to with whom a non profit is allowed to do business. Retaliatory punishment of an organization because of a personal dislike of an individual who had the audacity to support advertising outside the dictates of the local “fair and balanced” periodical.
There were threats of non-coverage of community events whilst certain individuals remained in their position. In fact the threats became reality. How? You ask can a publication get away with that behavior. Can it be that the publication involved has become so used to dealing with situations they dislike by throwing their weight around, without answering to anyone for their actions? Have they become immune to the seriousness of their behavior? Have bullying and “mercenary” attitudes become so commonplace that they have forgotten their first obligation to John Q. Public? Can they no longer see their editorial opinions chastising others for suspect behaviors could well be directed inwards?
Who? I ask, stands up to the publications and say “NO! We will not be bullied”. Members of John Q. Public who quiver with fear at the thought of their company, political ambitions or organization being on the receiving end of a “nasty editorial”. Yes, it seems our local media has us by the throat, they will be fair and balanced when it suits them, they will as a recent quote in an editorial stated, “we will be watching”. The question begs to be asked, “Who then watches the watchers?”
Unfortunately, for the MJ and Haezerbroeck I became the “volunteer” Director of the MainstreetLorain 501C3 until we could bet another Director. Poor Kevin he found me difficult to work with …. probably because I didn’t cave in to his threat ( stated at a restaurant downtown when he was not in a good mood… I know he thought I was just a little overweight housewife on 4th street…. as he stated that day ”
” “never argue with someone who buys his ink by the barrel full …threat” as a matter of interest I had more monthly readers in one dance magazine than the MJ had in 10 🙂
However Mr. Haezerbroeck remembers it differently and came onto this blog a few years ago to correct me .. What I would have said was it was not smart to fight with people who “buy paper by the ton and ink by the barrel”.
( still a threat ???)
Next up 2004 Please note some of the links in some of the post are no longer linkable due to publications pulling them – but I usually kept the articles on file 😉
No! No !don’t press enter/submit.. damn it!!!
I know you all have been there – you, who frequent the Twits, the Face and Snap, indeed any of the social media groups and comments on media -you want to add your thoughts and opinions, maybe make a difference or inform at the very least.
Yes! there are the dangers of “trolls” but I have found lately the danger lies in my peace of mind and maintaining energy for what should be important in my life. I used to jump in where angels feared to tread ( under my name) and when I tried, with documentation to back up my opinion, well let us say ( even on my blog) repercussions have been belligerent, vindictive and dangerous to health and welfare in my home.
It is no good to point out there is something rotten in Denmark anymore –
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” is used to describe corruption or a situation in which something is wrong.
This thinking of “factual” information , as the media have found out to their chagrin, under the Trump Month apparently it is like living with a – like a fart in a colander– for the USA readers ( You’re like a fart in a colander, not knowing which hole to come out of.”) and unfortunately try as you might you can’t contain a fart in a colander.
I used to be involved especially in the city/county I live- Lorain – nope not going there anymore. It is wearing to try to stop the rot from happening when the rot benefits the few who have the ear to government or a government that “doesn’t much care” – choosing their battles – and at the best “ignored” with smiling faces, placated with promises.
Well so be it ! And so once again this morning I sat not pressing enter or submit because basically the only action or non action taken is against MOI!!!
I congratulate myself and then OH NO! my good intentions go out the colander hole as I submit an opinion ….. and my little voice screams – WHY did you do that?? stupid woman the only difference it will make is to your peace of mind for the next hours……
but like all farts in colanders it dissipates into the air until the next “stink” happens and happen it will…. get out the gas masks
Photo Source http://www.goldbamboo.com/pictures-t3867.html
Lorain Development Corp- the revolving- evolving story!
UPDATE AND NOW THE FBI PROBE!!!!!
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2016/07/08/fbi-probes-loan-program/
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2016/04/26/city-cuts-ties-with-lorain-development-corp/
A further update: Lorain cuts the cord with Lorain Development Corp:
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20160424/lorain-cuts-ties-with-business-development-loan-board
UPDATE: The President of the Lorain Development Corp states the Board view
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20160415/loan-program-does-good-for-lorain-review-board-president-says
A year ago April 15th, 2015 I wrote the post “Money for Old Rope – A Taxpayers Question”
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2015/04/15/money-for-old-rope-a-taxpayers-question/
I had once again been to a City Council Meeting and I didn’t like the report being given to City Council on a loan with regard to the Lorain Development Corporation
The exchange between council and Director Rangel can be found here- page three
3-16-15regmin https://thatwoman.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/3-16-15regmin.pdf
“Unfortunately I remembered $100,000 dollars with much hoopla being given to Prime Industries. http://www.loraincounty.com/manufacturing/feature.shtml?f=12666
prime_industries and media success stories such as the Morning Journal article October 2010- ALL “SOUNDED” VERY PROMISING
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20101003/prime-industries-prospers-by-going-after-niche-marketsLocal customers include amusement park Cedar Point, which turns to Prime Industries for safety harnesses for its gravity-defying rides.
In addition to making new parts for Cedar Point, Prime Industries refurbishes safety harnesses after thousands of roller-coaster passengers have worn them out…..
… Other local customers include Invacare Corp., in Elyria; Bettcher Industries, in Florence Township; Nordson Corp., in Westlake; and Latanick Equipment Inc., in Huron. Prime Industries also makes parts for missiles built by Lockheed-Martin for use by U.S. armed forces in Iraq. With more than 500 customers, the company started as a division, called Advanced Foam and Plastics, of Kindt-Collins Co., based in Cleveland
The headline is a bit misleading( prospers???) because halfway through the article the history states:Advanced Foam and Plastics was created to serve the foundry industry, but by 1984 it was known as Prime Design.
In 1997, Prime Design received $292,000 from Lorain to relocate here from Cleveland, creating 22 jobs.A $100,000 loan from the city in 2000 helped expand, but by 2002 Prime Industries was up for sale
AND THEN
First, Rich and Joe Persico paid off the $292,000 loan from 1997, and then put up $145,000 of their own capital.“Then” the city of Lorain loaned them $400,000 and a Warren bank also loaned them $400,000 in 2002 Prime Design became Prime Industries.
In May 2008, Lorain loaned the company $100,000 to gain new contracts. That is $600.000 by my calculations we have had some back in the employee income tax but still money for old rope imho.
Eight months earlier, August 28th Lorain appointed a new Director of Building, Housing and Planning Department- Leon Mason .
The name of the department had changed from Community Development Dept (headed for decades by Sanford Prudoff) to Building Housing and Planning
http://www.morningjournal.com/article/MJ/20130614/NEWS/306149982
”
In three decades under former director Sanford “Sandy” Prudoff, Community Development grew into a overly large department with too little accountability to city leaders and providing too little benefit to Lorain, Ritenauer noted…………..
Prudoff controlled the agenda of how to spend CDBG money in the city with the administration and council seemed to have little say about what projects the city should do or skip, Ritenauer said.Those determinations were “completely opposite of chain of command and hierarchy,” Ritenauer said.
It appeared the department grew to maximize the salaries for administering federal CDBG money granted to Lorain, Ritenauer said.
30 years , missing paperwork, things getting lax, housekeeping by the way side, the paperwork is either non-existent or “lost”, not complete in some cases.And it appears certain developers( who shall remain nameless in case I am accused of chasing him out of town again) 😉 getting a great many trips to the ATM that was seemingly Lorain ? How many jobs have been created???
Trust– comes into play here , in my humble opinion:
TRUST– the employee that his “boss” knows what he is doing and is aware of legal ramifications !
TRUST – by volunteer boards the items brought before them are “above-board!
TRUST – by the Administraton -their departments heads, hired for their expertise, know what they are doing and are working with one goal in mind to better the City of Lorain!
TRUST by a City Council they can act upon the advice of those department “leaders”.
One area breaks down in that circle of trust and the ripple effect finally hits the shore with a great crashing sound, as it did last night in City Council Chambers .This morning’s headlines read :
Lorain Council Rips into Business Loan report by Rick Payerchin – Morning Journal
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20160411/lorain-council-rips-into-business-loan-report
and ” Lorain revolving loan program has $600,000 in write-offs- by Katie Nix”
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2016/04/12/lorain-revolving-loan-program-has-600000-in-write-offs/
As Mr. Mason stated, the issues with the revolving Loan fund came to him from the State Auditor
“I got an email from the state auditor who wanted to know why the city of Lorain had over $600,000 in loan write-offs,” department director Leon Mason said. “My response was that I didn’t know what he was talking about, and when he sent me the information, I was able to pinpoint some of the loans, but I did find some that were troubling, to say the least.”
Mason said one that stood out to him was a $250,000.01 loan to the South Shore Community Development Corporation.http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/06/11/lorain-works-to-save-center-and-its-tenants/
South Shore took ownership of the St. Joseph facility in 1997 after St. Joseph Hospital merged with Lorain Community Hospital to create Community Health Partners. An $800,000 federal grant was used to get the building ready for its new tenants. Additional grants and loans were secured to bring it to its current condition.
The state has $1.4 million in loans invested in the community center, while the county and the city each have $700,000 in loans tied to the center. If South Shore files for bankruptcy, the state, county and city will be on the hook for those loans. Gilchrist said the city’s payments on its loan would be about $50,000 a year. Lorain is currently $1.3 million in the red.After the loans are repaid by recipients, the money is intended to go back to another business.
With the notoriety gained by the Federal Investigation of Sanford Prudoff and Lorain Community Development is it any wonder the State and Federal Government are “checking” what has been happening?
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2009/06/11/lorain-works-to-save-center-and-its-tenants/
Federal Funds have certain rules which must be adhered to and Lorain has to be stringent in following those rules- other wise we are in trouble.
Should Lorain have to pay back those monies in question then the General Fund takes a huge hit and we can’t afford even that one dollar hit!
Hopefully, the program changes, the rules are followed and the “iffy factor” becomes totally transparent.
Although, due to a possible investigation in the loan for South Shore Development Corporation,
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/st-joes-community-center-three-legged-stool-one-missing-leg/
St. Joe’s Community Center – Let’s get fiscal/ physical – Let’s get REAL
not a lot was said ( under the Krasienko/ Gilchrist era) that money $250,000,and ONE dollar would give our General Fund a huge hit. Let us hope the Administration, Law Dept. and City Council will support each other on this and get to the very bottom of the “pot of gold- for some”
I remember under the Foltin Administration and Prudoff those “allowable ???” expenses paid to wine and dine the Shawnee and Capital One “tribe” initially, before I asked questions and then after??? well it was rolled over into a bond and I could no longer get the breakdown of all the monies spent but this country club of cash sure sent my red flags flying at the time- Dinner was literally on us!!!!!!
Lorain Development Corporation did respond to my post last April and it can be found here :
1)I prepare a loan write-up that provides a background of the project with financial information and the justification for approving the loan.
(2)Once I have completed, I provide this to the loan board for their review and approval.
We do this process just like bank’s credit teams do and have discussion and if everything is okay, loan approves the credit. They can also reject loan requests or modify them though these do not happen too often.
The loan board are various professionals in insurance, banking, law, small business owners, etc. who all live in, work in or own businesses in the City of Lorain. This board has been a self-appointing board since its inception and they are not appointed by administration or council. Board tries to keep a mix of professionals on board so it is not all bankers or attorneys but a mix. They are an all-volunteer board and most of these individuals have been on board from a few years to one person who has been on board since inception over 25 years ago.
Once the board approves the loan credit, all loans are submitted to Board of Control for approval as they will eventually sign for the loan.
http://www.cityoflorain.org/mayor/
Once board of control approves, we move to documentation of loan with all documents reviewed and approved by City’s Law Department. At that time, we also open a purchase order to commit money and submit check requests when we receive necessary documentation requesting funds.
hudimg
Loans are derived from two sources, one through HUD http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD and the other through the Economic Development Administration.
http://www.eda.gov/
You can find the PDF files of Director Mason’s report here:
Economic Development Final
Click to access 628_Economic%20Development%20Review%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf
LDC Conflict of Interest Policy
Click to access 628_Lorain%20Development%20Corp%20Conflict%20of%20Interest%20Policy.pdf
LDC Subrecipient Agreement
Click to access 628_LDC%20Subrecipient%20Agreement%20PDF.pdf
Portfolio Quality Report
Click to access 628_Portfolio%20Quality%20Report.pdf
EDA Title IX Plan
Click to access 628_EDA%20Title%20IX%20Revolving%20Loan%20Fund%20Plan.pdf
Lorain – Common Core? values and math? PT 3.
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/
source: WEWS News net 5.
“ON BROADWAY!!!!”
Still stuck in 1991 –
I didn’t know whether to laugh out loud or cry when I read what I had said in 1991 . I loved living in an “urban setting” where the homes in the neighborhood were not the typical slab homes or the new cookie cutter neighborhoods of the USA.
Maybe because I had lived in a London suburb where I would daily walk to the tube station , shop on the local high street, attend functions within the community- all without that car. I was used to that way of living . How bloody naïve was I to think I was going to find that continuing in Lorain on Broadway.
BUT we, the Charleston Village idiots ( as we had been called on more that one occasion) thought we could help bring back that feeling of Broadway that had been lost .
I was told Broadway in Lorain was at one time reminiscent of the “High Streets” from whence I came.
Source http://pointingthecannon.blogspot.com
Broadway 1960
In 1991 I could do quite a few of those errands- I can no longer do most of them – can’t go to the drug store, shopping????? Luckily I can still go to the Palace- although I have to say the last time I went, Saturday the 20th, upon exiting, we were met by a drunk slumped in a doorway- such a friendly welcoming ambiance.
By 1990 we were “INVOLVED WITH BROADWAY” The City Of Lorain recognized a healthy safe neighborhood brought foot traffic downtown- They held yet another meeting , to which the Village Idiots were invited
We went and the upshot of those meetings as featured in our May 1990 Newsletter
“Community should have a clear vision of what it wants to become”
I am not sure our “current downtown buildings” fit the vision we had.
But we tried, we got on the bandwagon – after all a bad downtown reflects negatively on the neighborhood and vice versa.
Charleston Village teamed up with the Downtown Lorain Growth Association
“We’re also excited over the Charleston Village’s grass roots organization which is banding homeowners together to improve the community-
Yes, even the Morning Journal got involved and would feature a home in Charleston Village every week in its real-estate section:
Oh we tried – Charleston Village reached out and we opened our homes for a the Ohio Preservation Statewide Preservation Conference ( a progressive dinner in each home). They came they saw and they were impressed.
I doubt they would have the same thoughts now a quarter of a century later. That lovely Renaissance Inn mentioned in their articles – look at it now
source Morning Journal
I could go on.
Downtown Lorain Growth Association – became Mainstreet Lorain 1995/6 ( not then affiliated with the Main Street Program- that came later). Charleston Village was one of the founding members of that new organization and had a seat on its board. Later Mainstreet Lorain did become a MAIN STEET Organization the first in Northern Ohio ( 2000)
Yours truly, ( when times got tough and we didn’t have enough in the kitty to pay for a Director) was the “volunteer” Director for 7 months of Mainstreet Lorain until we saved enough with memberships and grants to pay for another Director. It was during that time (2002) Mainstreet Lorain did not have its contract renewed with the Main Street program. We eventually changed the name to Lorain Growth Corporation http://www.loraingrowth.com/
which is still part of the downtown today.
Oh we cleaned Broadway with the Lorain Litter Council, started the Lorain Arts Council, promoted its events, decorated windows of terrible eyesores of buildings, actually charged people to join us in searching for the Black Pearl as we searched along Broadway and each merchant’s premises , had car shows on Thursday nights- ending up at Scorchers. We worked with the Port and the usage of the land given ( now known as Black River Landing), yes and so much more !
Yes! we have been around the Broadway block for decades and watched the “vision” go “dark”
“60 percent of downtown Lorain empty; hopes of rezoning as entertainment district to breathe new life”
‘It looks like a ghost town’
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-lorain/60-percent-of-downtown-loran-empty-hopes-of-rezoning-as-entertainment-district-to-breath-new-life
I admit not having given completely up on Broadway , as a blogger, I have had my say of late.
and https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/on-broadway-downtown-the-44052/
That particular post brought me into combative mode with a member of the Downtown Review Board – remember the one that was put in place to promote preservation in 1987 OH! yes we were there too.
Yes, Cathy Dye – a whole series on my blog where she was the subject matter – the mother of the owner of 418 Broadway which has its problems
Dye- abolical – goose /gander Inspection Process Pt. 4 – Lorain
ED. NOTE:
It is my opinion( based upon her emails etc. ) that Mrs. Dye tried to use coercion and intimidation of City of Lorain officials in order to get what she wanted re her son’s building via her position of the Design Review Board , took vindictive action using the Design Review Board moniker and the Lorain Building Dept. It is also my opinion her son’s building, which has been well documented as to its problems, IS one of the problem buildings on Broadway.
A Morning Journal article recently had some quotes as to what was needed on Broadway :
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20150606/broadway-slow-to-bring-new-residents-to-lorain
ERRRRRRRRR where have I heard this before –
Lorain also has a neighborhood of single-family houses immediately west of downtown, so incentives and training could help residents living just a few blocks from Broadway.
• Enforce property and zoning codes.
When run-down properties hurt the values of nearby properties, cities have to force property owners to act, Siegler said.
OH yes! I remember same thing they said in the LAST CENTURY and to add insult to injury Cathy Dye is quoted :
Dye said Lorain should require Broadway building owners to keep the historic and picturesque facades, but give them more freedom to modify the interiors and rear sections of buildings to create usable spaces
418 Broadway
Be patient.
ED NOTE– sorry but patience has worn thin – a quarter of century of the same rhetoric becomes numbing!!!
Lorain and other cities need a shared vision and a process of gradual action to implement that, Brachman said. She called the approach “strategic incrementalism.”
Revitalization “isn’t going to happen overnight,” she said. “It’s an incremental process.”
OVERNIGHT??????? we have been waiting and working on this for decades! Same old clap trap and so much yada yada yada and regurgitated ideas. And the newspaper decided to go to the “problem people” for the solutions …..now that at least was a was a novel approach………………
So Charleston Village how did we do when it comes down to revitalizing Broadway ?
a resounding FAIL!!!!
A Lesson in Lilacs- Lilacs Past- Crumbling Concrete- Lorain
We have all heard reasons and excuses for the decline of parks and beautification efforts in Lorain.
Oh! loss of industry , poor economic times.
The City of Lilacs – garden clubs and hoopla post World War One. Then the rebirth in the 30’s 40’s and so on and so forth bringing us to the 1980’s
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/lilacs-of-lorain-and-now-roses-part-6/
Monies being thrown at Lorain’s oldest park – founding greenspace- that tore out the Lilacs to put in the concrete bunker amphitheater in the 1980’s and three years after spending the equivalent of 1.5 million in today’s money the recipients of that money threw up their arms and walked away.
The park has been left in shambles and decay- far from the beauty and ambiance envisioned by Lorain’s founding fathers as they platted this town from its corner
.https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/veterans-memorial-park-thanks-for-the-memories/
Well poor economic times etc etc. there are always the excuses and apparently when times are “good” that too was the problem in Lorain . June 10th -1960 an editorial from the Lorain Journal throws a different spin on WHY things have gone beautifully bad in Lorain-
I seems that in 1960, at least, LORAIN’S SUCCESS was the culprit
Whether the spin is lack of success , growth and poor economic times or the fact Lorain was too successful it seems there are always excuses as the why Lorain lacks the beauty so many had envisioned , fought for and “tried to bring” to her streets.
We are left with the fact that it is just not that important, apparently, to the citizens and various administrations throughout the over 200 year history of Lorain in times of bad or in times of good . It seems the lack thereof of beauty and pride has made good copy for editors through the years but that is about all that has come from their words, a rally round the ideas and then PHUTT!!!
Nothing but a place for deadbeats and bums!” “ It has outlived its purpose” There is nothing historical about that park!” The city can’t afford to keep it up” It is a “piss park!!Nobody uses it, it is worthless!
So said John Cole and his editorials
and yet another time another editor
Beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder.
And 54 years after the 1960 editorial? It seems to me the last thoughts of that editor back in 1960 still hold true today
and definitely one that outlasts administrations and editors.
You can see the whole editorial here ( click on jpg to enlarge) and once again thanks has to go to Dan Brady for the research
http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/
Why Lorain- the Lilac City- the paper trail 3
Photo Settlers’ Watch Lilac – Mark Teleha
Part One
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail/
Part Two
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-2/
As mentioned in Part two, in 1924 this community was hit with a devastating tornado in a matter of minutes the town and business district went from this
to this
Amazingly, ( considering what it takes in this day and age to get anything done) two years later the business district was back and as mentioned in part two so was the surrounding neighborhood.
Building the Broadway Building 1926- Dennis Lamont
Yes! that would be the pride of Broadway ( The Broadway Building) being built- I wonder what they would say to its worth today- a man-made tornado of destruction that is known as “NEGLECT”
Then by the 30’s when Lilacs were on everyone’s lips it was Lorain back in business
The citizens had their say:
The ladies mentioned in the above cutting as to their “lilacs” and their homes today
MRS. H.L SHAW- 103 ARKANSAS
Miss Harriet Root- 3535 E. Erie Avenue
More on the Root Story here
http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/2011/04/william-h-root-house-part-1.html
photo Dan Brady
Then there was WINTER ROSE- OF 550- 6TH Street
The Mayor , at the time, Paul Goldthorpe was behind the “Lilacs”
TO BE CONTINUED…………
Why Lorain- the Lilac City- the paper trail 2
Part One
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail/
The one thing that was very important to communities ( world-wide) in decades past was the newspaper. I would imagine, for those early residents of “Black River”- then Charleston -then Lorain the importance of newspapers was it was one of the few sources of communication with the outside world. Now of course, we are in information overload with our internet scanning of websites of today with their ersatz sound bite news. 
The newspaper back in the day , was just that, a paper full of news connecting people and communities. It was tangible, you could discuss the news of the day over breakfast or evening meal, decide how your day would be as far as business, or use it to put under carpets for padding or in drafty places to keep the house warm or light a fire, a source of bedding for animals , to clean boots and in England wrap your fish and chips. A newspaper, was indeed very important part of community. A strong newspaper helped to strengthen the community!
Lorain’s first newspaper was the Lorain Monitor and its editor, reporter, ad man, printer and distributor was a 16-year-old. This young entrepreneur went on to become one of Lorain’s finest citizens before the tragedy that wiped out 9 of Lorain’s then movers and shakers . You can read about Lawler and the Leo in the series here
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/category/the-leo/
Editors of newspapers held great power and sway -as some still do- it is their connection to the public , the ability to reach into the homes and minds of the general population. They have been courted by politicians, kings and queens, merchants and groups of all kinds just to get into print or in some cases “stay out of print” .
So is it any wonder when an editorial on August 22nd 1930 in the Lorain Journal called together the civic-minded groups of the day to embrace the idea of a city flower , especially when comparing Lorain to Washington DC and the cherry blossoms and by doing so was going to spread the word and market Lorain nationwide ( where have we heard that before 😉 ) a gathering of Lilacs commenced
Click on to enlarge !
The power of print caused Lorain, as Dan Brady http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/(the researcher for these posts) observed to go Lilac -looney. But again, you have to hand it to those citizens when they got on board with something they went all the way – you see this was seen as a way for “Community Development “. Just one day later the Lorain Journal ran the story – you will see in the article familiar organizations of today.
Click on to enlarge
and then just 2 days later we have , Law Williams” Lorain Industrial Commissioner stating:
“the commission expressed itself unanimously of the opinion that the adoption of a community flower will doubtless contribute to a more beautiful atmosphere to Lorain and play no small part in furthering the growth and development of the city , even so with regard to our industrial development
Whew! a lot riding on the backs of those Lilacs…. more to come ! OH has anyone found the missing “red lantern on Reid” 😉 To be continued ……….
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