Friday, July 20, 2012

ODOT offers survey to find out where future expenditures should go


While not every question is biased along the lines of "Would you like 4 more lanes of highway to the exurbsor 5 more lanes of worthless highway to the exurbs?" some questions do beg why ODOT would even bother to ask about things such as inter-modal stations or light rail.  But they do ask about those things.  They ask more then once.  Which means that if you are sick of having your state taxes go to subsidize green field development (like I sure as heck am) at the expense of our urban cores then now is your time to click a button and pretend that someone is going to actually respond to the spreadsheet that will no doubt be generated (and ignored).

I know I am not the only one who looks at the second phase of the innerbelt bridge project and thinks "So what?  Do we really need another 5 lanes?  Is putting up with 10 minutes of commuter traffic that large a deal?  If you hate driving MOVE CLOSER to work."  I mean, if I wanted to raise chickens in Lakewood, the people against it argue "if you want a farm, move to the country".  Fine.  If you want a quick commute to downtown, LIVE NEAR DOWNTOWN.  Not that it is that simple, but, well, it is pretty simple.

Will ODOT support cycling and public mass transit?  Does ODOT really stand for Ohio Department of Transportation and not Screw Bikes, Trains, etc, We Want People to Live in the Suburbs and Continually Sap Infrastructure Dollars for Low Density Living (which is probably what NOACA actually stands for)?  I hope so.  That would be swell.

That would be swell indeed.

So get off your duff, click some buttons (or check boxes, it is the interwebs after all) and then you can go back to watching kitties dance on Youtube.


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Cleveland Velodrome Open House July 20th and 27th, 2012



Must.
Go.
Faster.
Cleveland Velodrome 
Donor and Volunteer Open House
Construction of the velodrome track is nearly complete. It will be a few weeks before we open to the public. In the meantime, we are hosting an open house for all donors and volunteers on Friday July 20th and Friday July 27th from 4pm to 8pm. Members of the Board of Trustees will be there to conduct tours of the facility and we will be conducting Track 101 sessions for a limited number of donors and volunteers. There will be beverages and light snacks provided.

Registration open for Great Lakes Week 2012

Personally I have been feeling a resurgence of positive emotion for my fair city.  Whether it is due to actually being able to work on things I find interesting in a manner that I appreciate or that coming off of a 6 month tour of "the dumps" is up for debate.  However as I currently approach and pass through downtown many times a week from various directions and have taken to trying to explore a bit more I find that things are definitely looking more positive for the Sixth City (or Mistake by the Lake if you prefer).  Regardless, the reason I make my commuting travels through downtown is multi-fold.
1. I do not like highway commuting during rush hour.  Without going into the vast vagarities of driving habits I will just calmly avoid the other commuters.  I don't need the stress.
2. Lake Erie.  I approach Cleveland from the West Side and leave Cleveland heading home along the Shoreway near Edgewater.  There is something about passing a beach that just calms the soul.  Too bad it isn't a boulevard, yet.
3. The Cuyahoga.  What a magnificent river.  On the rare occasion that the Fireboat has its pumps on spraying the River back into itself is worth the slow crawl and quick glance every morning.
4. Veteran's Memorial Bridge.  Fantastic bridge.  Be careful of cyclists (especially heading eastbound as they don't have a lane to work with) and give them the right of way when you are merging across their lane to turn right.  Use a signal.  Slow down.  Everyone wins.
5. The canyons of buildings.  What isn't to like?  The knife edges looming over you, the cliff faces articulated with a steady rhythm of windows?  I love me some cities.

Most of the items that make my commuting bearable (and actually enjoyable) are seen as vast assets to the local community, mainly the river and lake which is why I am posting about Great Lakes Week 2012 a couple of months ahead of time (so you have time to register and get involved).

Taking Action, Delivering Results
September 10-13th, 2012


Great Lakes Week gathers the annual meetings and conferences of the diverse groups leading the fight to restore the Great Lakes. The week features meetings and conferences of individual groups as well as a Joint Session, Joint Reception, and Joint Boat Cruise. You can register for all of the meetings, conferences, and joint events being offered during Great Lakes Week from this site.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Please Read!
1. You only need to register for each specific conference, event, or session once.
2. All participants of Great Lakes Week conferences and events are welcome to attend any and all of the meetings or workshops being offered at any time throughout the week. However, meals are only provided for conference participants who have registered and paid (meal tickets will be provided upon check-in) for a specific conference. In other words, if you register for the Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting, you may not eat at the Healing Our Waters or Areas of Concern Conferences, but you may attend workshops for either. Conferences offer meals only on the days they are in session, so please plan your meals accordingly.


Great Lakes Week Schedule and Registration

All events will take place at the Renaissance Hotel unless otherwise noted
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012
International Joint Commission Meeting (MORE INFO): 1-5PM, Ambassador Ballroom
  • The International Joint Commission Meeting is being held jointly with the Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting on Monday afternoon.
Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting (REGISTER NOW): 1-5PM, Ambassador Ballroom
  • The Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting on Monday afternoon is being held jointly with the International Joint Commission Meeting.
Great Lakes Commission Reception (SAVE THE DATE): 5-7PM, Idea Center at Playhouse Square
  • You must register for the Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting in order to RSVP for this reception.  This event is for Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting attendees and their guests (guests are $15 each, which must be paid as part of your registration).
Great Lakes Week Town Hall: 7-9PM, location TBD
  • Free and open to the public, no registration required.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
Great Lakes Commission Annual Meeting (REGISTER NOW): 8AM-NOON, Ambassador Ballroom
HOW Coalition’s 8th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference (MORE INFO): 10AM-5PM, Grand Ballroom
  • The Joint Session and Joint Session Lunch are included in the HOW registration fee.
Great Lakes Week Joint Reception (REGISTER; $30 per person): 6-9PM, Greater Cleveland Aquarium
Great Lakes Week will host a joint reception at the BRAND NEW Greater Cleveland Aquarium, starting at 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 11th and it is open to all. Thanks to the generosity of the Aquarium, guests will have the opportunity to tour the historic and beautifully restored First Energy Powerhouse building, home to the aquarium, and located on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River in the city’s flats district, while reuniting with friends. Registration for the reception is required. The cost of the reception is $30 per person.
  • Pre-registration and payment required for this event.
  • Transportation will be provided to and from the Reception.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Great Lakes Week Joint Session: 8:30AM-1:30PM, Grand Ballroom
Great Lakes Week will host a Joint Session for the Great Lakes community to come together and discuss some of the most pressing issues threatening the health of the Lakes. The session will feature discussions around nutrient pollution, Asian carp, and will include a panel with U.S. and Canadian government officials.
  • Entire program is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, no registration required.
Great Lakes Week Joint Session LUNCH (REGISTER; $25 per person): 12:30-1:30PM, Grand Ballroom
  • Pre-registration and payment required to partake in lunch during the Joint Session.
HOW Coalition’s 8th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference (MORE INFO): 10AM-5PM, Grand Ballroom
  • The Joint Session and Joint Session Lunch are included in the HOW registration fee.
Great Lakes Areas of Concern Annual Conference (REGISTER): 2-6PM, Gold Room: 3rd Floor
  • Onsite registration will begin at Noon in the foyer of the Gold Room for this event.
Great Lakes Week Boat Cruise (REGISTER; $25 per person): 6:30-9PM, Goodtime III.
Great Lakes Week groups will also host a sightseeing boat cruise on Wednesday, September 12th from 6:30- 9:00pm (boarding starts at 6:00pm) and the cruise is open to all. Thanks to the generosity of the Cleveland – Cuyahoga Port Authority, Cleveland’s largest sightseeing vessel, the Goodtime III, will take guests on a 2 1/2 hour tour of the Cuyahoga River Shipping Channel and North Coast Harbor. The cruise features Captain Jim’s Favorite dinner, cocktails and DJ – a guaranteed goodtime to be had by all!
  • Pre-registration and payment required for this event.
  • Transportation will be provided to and from the Boat Dock.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
HOW Coalition’s 8th Annual Great Lakes Restoration Conference (MORE INFO): 8AM-Noon, Grand Ballroom
Great Lakes Areas of Concern Annual Conference (REGISTER): 8AM-3:45PM, Gold Room: 3rd Floor
  • Onsite registration will begin at 7:30am in the foyer of the Gold Room for this event.
Great Lakes Week is hosted by: the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, the Great Lakes Commission, the International Joint Commission, the Great Lakes Areas of Concern Annual Conference, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. and Canadian federal environmental agencies participating in Great Lakes restoration work.

For more information on Great Lakes Week activities, contact:
  • Joint Session
    Jennifer Hill (734) 887-7104
    hillj@nwf.org

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

GardenWalk Cleveland 2012

Saturday + Sunday
July 21 & 22
Various Cleveland Neighborhoods
11am - 5pm

*You can find the shop where TOIstudio fabrication has been squatting during the Detroit Shoreway GardenWalk if you are clever.


GardenWalk Cleveland is a free, self- guided tour of gardens, urban farms, vineyards and orchards in ten neighborhoods of Cleveland, Ohio.
Tour at your own pace in each of the ten designated Cleveland neighborhoods between 11am and 5pm on Saturday, July 21st and Sunday, July 22nd, 2012.
Each neighborhood on the Walk has a headquarters where you’ll find car parking, bike parking, restrooms, water and maps.



Burning River Fest 2012 - This Saturday and Sunday (July 21 & 22)

Saturday, July 21st    6pm - 11pm
Sunday, July 22nd     1pm - 6pm
@ The Historic Coast Guard Station
Whiskey Island
Cleveland, Ohio
**Bike Parking at Whiskey Island @ Ohio City Bike Co-Op Corral
**Auto Parking available at Edgewater Park/Whiskey Island Exit (Shuttles will be there, look for the signs)
Admission:
  One-day pass: $10
  VIP Pass: $125

Plus there will probably be delicious ice cream to help beat back the summer heat.  Good times!


Since 2001, folks from all over the Great Lakes region have come together to remember the 1969 burning of the Cuyahoga River and celebrate the renewed sense of eco-consciousness the infamous fire sparked. Intended to raise awareness of environmental issues affecting the Great Lakes region and Cuyahoga River ecosystem, the annual Burning River Fest features educational exhibits from area environmental groups, fresh food from local farms and eateries, live music, and a special appearance by Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Christmas Ale!

2012's Fest will feature:

  • Over 25 bands and musicians on three stages bringing funk, blues, rock, and more to the shore
  • Local environmental groups featuring interactive and educational displays for all ages, including Baldwin Wallace University's Instrument Petting Zoo and Whole Foods Market's "Art On Wheels" recycled art booth
  • Fresh, all-natural local food and chef demonstrations, plus handcrafted beer by Great Lakes Brewing Company.
  • A Corporate Boat Float featuring boats made from post-consumer recyclable materials
  • The most spectacular nighttime views of Cleveland from a wonderful greenspace right in the heart of Cleveland’s industry
Proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, a local non-profit organization that provides resources for the sustainable future of our waterways. Join us at Burning River Fest at the historic Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island: help celebrate the “Spirit of Giving” and spark a new level of environmental awareness!