Memory Lane---What were YOU doing?

By: Mark Johnson, newsnet5.com CLEVELAND - During the week of Jan. 26, 1978, a major blizzard struck Ohio and the Great Lakes. Ohio, as well as several surrounding states, was shut down for a week. As OhioHistory.org describes it: "The worst winter storm in Ohio history struck before dawn on Thursday, January 26, 1978. The Blizzard of ’78 continued through Thursday and into Friday. Transportation, business, industry, and schools were closed statewide for two days with the normal pace of society not returning to the state for five days. Atmospheric pressure fell to 28.28 inches at Cleveland, the lowest ever recorded in Ohio, as the center of the blizzard crossed Ohio. This rapidly intensifying storm pulled bitterly cold air across Ohio on winds of 50 to 70 mph. These conditions, combined with heavy snow and blowing of deep snow already on the ground, caused extreme blizzard conditions all across Ohio. Enormous snowdrifts covered cars and houses, blocked highways and railways, and closed all airports for two days." While more than 5,000 members of the Ohio National Guard worked tirelessly to clear roads and help electric crews, 45 helicopters went on more than 2,700 rescue missions. Volunteers took stranded doctors and nurses to area hospitals on snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles. A total of 51 people died, making the Blizzard of 1978 the deadliest winter storm in Ohio. Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/weather/winter/Blizzard-of-1978-34-years-ago-this-week#ixzz2J5jo2oye

Unending Soapbox

I've "preached" forever about learning as much as one can prior to making an intelligent decision, regardless the situation, person, and yes, even a teevee program! That in mind, I'm introducing you to Mr. Niel, (That's the way he spells it), Young.  Niel has a radio program and writes a column for The Weirs Times in New Hampshire.  He presents a view of our nation that you might not have yet considered.  Neither am I pulling his wagon, nor am I suggesting you hop on, rather, it's an invite to read what others take the time to offer. I tried to copy the article, but it seems today that one must "log on" to most everything prior to forwarding, etc.  I shy away from social sites and the like.  As I told the friend next door, "I don't even like that my neighbor knows where I live!"  Anyway, if you'd like to read the article, kindly use your address bar to type in: www.weirs.com  Once there, you'll see the current edition, whereupon you can use the page-turning arrow on the right, until you reach page 13.  You can also enlarge the page...directions are easy. Thanks, and, Have a Nice Country!

Charities

When there's such an abrupt denial as shown below, I can't help but wonder how many back pockets are being filled from those who lost the class action suits.  Oh well, just another case of arrogance by those who were elected.  Obviously, this is Ohio, but I'm certain other states could use the help. By the way, might there be other instances?  By: Sarah Buduson, newsnet5.com COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio lawmakers have no plans to reintroduce a bill that could make millions of dollars available to charities and non-profit organizations. "We've been told we shouldn't waste our time on something that's dead on arrival," said Pat Perotti, an attorney with the northeast Ohio law firm Dworken & Bernstein, who helped draft the legislation. The legislation would change state rules regarding settlement funds from class actions lawsuits. "We asked for the legislation to be passed in the state of Ohio that would require that every single class action settlement have specific language that indicates what happens to unclaimed funds, and if it does not say what happens to them, then they automatically revert to charity," said Perotti. Currently, when class members cannot be located, unclaimed settlements funds revert to the defendant. For example, International Precious Metals Corporation, a commodity futures brokerage firm, paid approximately $22 million out of a $40 million settlement resulting from a 1990 lawsuit that accused the firm of defrauding its customers. "That's simply not fair, it's not right and it's not honest -- because that's not what the court understood and intended," said Perotti about defendants keeping unclaimed funds. When the legislation to spell out what happens to the funds was introduced in 2010, Perotti was optimistic. The bill had bipartisan support. But HB 427 went nowhere. There were no house or senate committee votes. Former Ohio Rep. Mark Okey (D) was chair of the house committee reviewing HB 427. Okey said members liked the idea, but disagreed on the details, like which charities would be eligible to receive funds. "I couldn't get a majority of votes. I certainly wasn't going to bring it to a vote and then just have it fail," he said. There was also strong opposition from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. "They did not want to see the bill go forward at all," said Okey. During a two week period in December, NewsChannel5 tried repeatedly to schedule an interview with Linda Woggon, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce executive vice president who lobbied against the bill, but she declined our requests to talk on camera. Perotti said he believes some of the chamber's members feared the legislation would affect their bottom lines. "Certain of their members were parties in our lawsuits, they were defendants, and they had committed fraud against our customers and they frankly didn't want to pay the money out," said Perotti. Dworken & Bernstein avoids allowing unclaimed class action settlement funds to revert back to defendants by using a little known legal rule called cy pres. "It's a legal doctrine which means 'as nearly as possible' and it makes sure that when there's an intent to pay out a certain amount of money that if you can't give it to the intended recipient, as nearly as possible, you give it to that person's benefit," said Perotti. Dworken & Bernstein founded Ohio Lawyers Give Back in order to promote cy pres. The organization has given more than $24 million to dozens of charities and non-profits operating in northeast Ohio. The Arc of Greater Cleveland, an advocacy group for developmentally disabled individuals, was on the verge of shutting down when it unexpectedly received a $74,000 donation from Ohio Lawyers Give Back in 2011. "I was looking at becoming unemployed and so were the rest of my staff. I mean, it was that dire of a situation," said Cindy Norwood, the executive director. Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery received a $250,000 donation. The donation helped the hospital maintain the team of specialists that treated Westlake resident Meredith Farrow's 2-year-old daughter, Presley. Presley was born with a cleft lip and palate. "It was very difficult. I cried. I wasn't prepared for that," said Farrow. "The pediatric plastic surgery unit at Rainbow Babies made me feel like it's going to be OK," she said. "About three months of age, she was operated on for almost four hours to correct her nose, her lip and her gumline. She's a completely normal, healthy child now," said Farrow. Both Farrow and Norwood were surprised no Ohio lawmakers plan to reintroduce HB 427. "I'm here to say, as a charity, that people don't always choose to give to charity," said Norwood. "There would be so many more people helped. Just seems like a no-brainer," said Farrow Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/no-ohio-lawmakers-plan-to-reintroduce-bill-that-could-mean-more-money-for-charities#ixzz2IoJd63gE

One of the Things I do When I'm not doing Other Things

A Lot More---For LESS!!!!! Date: 2013-01-24, 1:30PM Please visit Jennifer at Fantastic Finds---8113 Broadview Road---a small stone's throw from Wallings Road. Lose the cabin fever and have some fun while you discover great bargains! Fashion, Furniture, Home Decor and MORE! Tuesday thru Saturday, from 10 til 4:30. Tell her Bob sent you! Location: Broadview Heights it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests Original URL: http://cleveland.craigslist.org/gms/3568552676.html

Merry Christmas, World!

Lotts Creek Community School: Alice Slone's 1st Classroom (Circa 1930), in the Appalachian Mountains, just outside of Hazard, Kentucky

NIGHT BEFORE CRISSMUSS IN WARSAW

Vos da nite before Crissmuss in my Polish howse.  I sneke downda stairs, yoost quiet like a mowse.

Da whole rest of famlee in bed all asleep, while visions of nut rolls trew heads of dem creep.

Wurk sox Mama hung by chimley with care, in hopes dat St. Stosh soon vill be dair.

While over in korner is silly to see, dumplings and kielbassa hang frum da tree.

Denn comes diss big bang making howse start ta shudder, an sum nut lands onna roof an breaks da rain gutter.

He wiggle downa chimley and swears cuz its tight.  I hides behind 12 packs way outta site.

He lands inna fireplace, skorching white hair, on bustid up bowling pin still burning dair.

He climbs out an I peaks to get good look.  Yoost like pichers in mine histree book.

He gots vodka glazed eyes an stummick like bubble, with 5 days old beard and soot onna stubble.

Wearing biggist tennis shoes I ever saw, he lost alla da buttins off his old Mackinaw.

He won't ketch kold, Polish Santa's no dope, cuz tying coat tagedder is old peece of rope.

I tries not ta laff but give a few snikkers, when I sees da big patch onna seat of his knickers.

Diss is shure Polish Santa I knows widdout fear, cuz he heads for da kichfin and opinz warm beer.

When finished wit 6 pak, he give a big smirk, reechiz inta potato sack an goes rite ta wurk.

Now, under da tree he is startin to set, most byooteeful prezzints a Polack kin get.

Dairs new bred baskit an shuvvil fer brudder, a bright red babooshka an pick-ax fer mudder.

6 quartz vodka to make papa gay.  Oy, might be big trubble in our howse to pay.

For baby I know he ain't missed her, when I sees pretty things he leaves for my sister.

Won't she be happy troo da spring anna summer, witt pipe rench an plunger, so she can play plumber.

Denn bote my eyes brighten an heart fills witt glee, wen I sees tings Polish Santa leaves ME.

Dairs wurk gloves and sledge hamnmer, my faverit tool, to wurk hard for boss when I flunks outta skule.

Witt new thermos jug, cabbage supe cannot spill, when I carries lunch onna way to stele mill.

He chugs 5 more beers an makes a wide grin.  I kin see ware da foam runs offa his chin.

Giving some burps, up da chimley he rose, while I quickly got inta alla my clothes.

I must see him leave, so's I rushes outside, an looks toward da roof, while in bushes I hide.

An what does I see as I looks troo da twigs, rusty old garbage cart pulled by 8 stinky pigs.

Polish Santa jumps in an gives dem a yell.  Come on alla youse, don't yoost sit dair an smell.

On Stella, on Stanley, on Walter an Joe, an alla youse whose names I don't know.

Fly over da junk yard an turn ta da right.  Let's visit all peeples before I gets tight.

Den I heard him say as he flew over me, "I'm da only old Polack who gives things for free!"

copyright 12-15-85 Bob Jaskolka

Do Not Call Lists

      ?!?WHAT?!?

All of a sudden, I'm getting calls from solicitors, not Sarah Palin, wanting to sell me anything and everything.  The "Do Not Call" form on the computer has a link wherein you can file a complaint.  The form asks if you requested removal.  BUT...these wise #!!**&#!s have circumvented the ruling in this fashion:  When you pick up the phone, you hear nothing.  When you say, "Hello," the taped message begins and it does NOT identify the company.  When you request removal from their list, the call is immediately disconnected.  Therefore, you can't name them on the complaint form.  If you try to redial the number, you get a "Not In Service" message.  All I can suggest is that you say nothing if you have Caller ID and don't recognize the number, but that doesn't mean they won't try later.  If anyone has a suggestion or 3, kindly pass it along.