BOOK SALE IS COMING

Hey PD retirees, you're invited:
The Jo Ann Pallant Commemorative Book Sale will be Thursday, Dec. 6,
from 3-5:30 p.m. in the Plain Dealer's community room on the 2d floor.
On Friday, Dec. 7, books will be half-price, from 9-a.m. to noon.

The sale features the books that editorial departments part with
most reluctantly: -- classics and cookbooks, novels and
bound collections, history and poetry, as well as CDs,
DVDs, games and movies.

Hundreds of children's
titles, both picture and chapter books, and an especially
rich selection of coffee table books will be available.

There will be a box at the check-out for donated books
to William Cullen Bryant School in Cleveland.

Proceeds go to the United Way.

Book Editor Karen Long says:
"It remains a pleasure seeing so many books off to good homes."

Answer this! Luncheon survey

PD retirees, alumni, spouses and present Plain Dealer staffers gather every 3 months for lunch on the last Friday of the month at a restaurant determined by the organizers, Richard Ellers, JoAnn Pallant and Janet Beigle French.

Those who attended the recent Nighttown lunch received a survey to help plan future lunches.

Those who didn't can still respond.

Send Answers to the following questions to Janet French at jabfr519@sbcglobal.net.

What price range do you prefer?
Do you have particular diet requirements?
Would you consider any day other than Friday?
Do you have restaurant suggestions?
If so, would you check on whether there is a room charge (which can be substantial) or a minimum per-person charge for a group?

All answers cheerfully accepted .

Snyder-man needs some cheer

Remember Bob Snyder? He was a former Columbus bureau chief, asst. managing editor, reporter,etc, at the PD a while ago. During one of the various purges he left and went to Crain's as managing editor. He's retired from the Electric Institute in Columbus where the late Gerry Minery was his boss.

Bob's had some tough times lately because of health issues with diabetes and recently had spinal surgery with complication. He's at Highbanks Care Center, 111 Lazelle Rd, Columbus, OH 43235 and will be there for a while.

He's getting very bored, needless to say, and would love to hear from old friends. Cards, etc. would be a big boost. (Oct. 14, 2007)

Nighttown's the place

PD Alumni, retirees and expatriates:
Your invitations to the October lunch should have arrived. It will be Friday, Oct. 26, 2007 at noon at Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd, Cleveland Heights. Lunch will be $20.50 for a choice of roasted duck breast salad, dublin lawyer (lobster and mushrooms) and chevre chicken.

Call or email JoAnn Pallant at 440-734-1923 or Janet B. French at 216-221-2318 to make a reservation. Or just to chat.

You don't have to be retired to attend. We'd love to see working stiffs too. Of course they might get depressed to hear how much we like retirement.

"If you don't receive your post card by October 16, please let the Richard Ellers know: GeeRichard@aol.com"

Invitation from Zina

Former reporter  Zina Vishnevsky at
 zina@zinahouse.com sends this message:

Hi Rosie and all you retirees!

I spend most of my time in Mexico on my favorite Island where I own a house and
two rental apartments in the same compound. I also keep a little eye on
my Akron landlords' rental units. Very little. That's the way they want it.
With the cheap air fares available for Cancun much of the time, I thought
some of you might enjoy a visit. After landing, it's a shuttle to the ferry
and after 12 minutes on the ferry, you are on this beautiful little island.
That you can check out at www.myisla.com You can check out my property at
www.zinahouse.com

And I blog on www.islatravelers.com

If possible, I'd like to blog on the retirees site too!

I miss you all bunches!
Zina

More Bloggers

We've noted several blogs by former PD people but we were remiss in not posting this one:

David Molyneaux blogs about travel at http://travelmaven.typepad.com/.

You can subscribe (free) to his blog (look to the right) and an email will arrive when he writes. Unsubscribing is easy, and also free.

David is editor of http://www.travelmavens.net/


If you know of any others, please email us and we'll add it to the list

Pages from our past

The Press Club of Cleveland has a new home: Nighttown!

Take a look at Northern Ohio Live's coverage of the May launch party plus a downloadable PDF of the 84-page commemorative booklet by clickling here.

Thanks to Bruce Hennes for sending us the link. Those inducted into the Hall of Fame gathered for a group photo. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Repartee of reporters/editors

A slew of PD alumni, maybe 40 or so, filled a room at Viva Barcelona in Westlake on Friday, July 26. They ate, drank, talked and talked and talked. Here are some photos taken by Rosemary Kovacs.

Retirees Elanda Williams, editorial page clerk, and arts/living clerk Janice Rankin.


Ellie Ryner,
artist and former layout gur

Janice Rankin and Estelle Johnson, former clerks.

Van Richmond, former news editor and maker of giant salads from the old cafeteria.

With the hat, Ruth Sindelar, formerly a secretary to editors, with Tom Monahan and his wife. Tom was with the PD in the early 60s and went to the county, (check that)













The musical duo, Wilma Salisbury, of the hi brow notes and Jane Scott, rock n' roller,

Pattie Graziano, Donna Hayes and Bill Wynne, former photographer.


Newly retired Lori Onder, of the business dept. and long retired Dick Zunt of sports.

Pattie Graziano holds an old PD encyclopedia Richard Ellers brought to show and tell. That's Donna Hayes, formerly of the Sunday layout desk.

Sporty types

Bill Nichols and Dick Zunt.

Looking good

On the right, clerk Nellyn Brown and former Garden and Dog writer Sue Hively.




Steve Esrati, former copy editor, and former investigative reporter Doris O'Donnell.

More faces from the luncheon

. Two Toms, Gaumer and Quinn.











The former clerks, Janice Rankin, Estelle Johnson and Nellyn Brown

Bunches of lunch bunchers

LEFT: Lou Mio, former assistant metro editor, gestures to Millie Matteucci, formerly of the Friday magazine, while a cameraless ex-photographer Bill Wynne and art depart chief Vince Matteucci stand by to interpret.








Meanwhile, former travel editor Dave Molyneaux chats with Goodyear, Ariz. resident Rich Passen, formerly of sports, probably about his travel web site.









Former State reporter Richard Ellers welcomes the group.


















It included former garden editor Irma Bartel and Millie Matteucci.











That's Carol Malinowski, formerly of layout and Sunday Mag, next to ex- computer assistant reporting editor Tom Gaumer.










Former reporter Doris O'Donnell talks to Molly Callahan, former night copy editor and Doug Kramer, who's still working on the copy desk.








A view of the group at Viva Barcelona.

The wandering Rosemary Armao

A tip from Richard Ellers:

If you know Rosemary Armao and you don't read her blog now and again, you're missing out. And even if you don't know her.

Her current trip recital is matched by her photographs.


http://www.rosemarya.blogspot.com/

What is she doing on this world tour? Here's a synopsis in her own words:

One way of putting it is I'm out to save the world through journalism as always, this time by teaching colleagues in newly emerging democracies who have no clue what a free press is how it works. Or, you could say I've found a gilded bombshelter in the nuclear winter of American journalism.

I have been working for nearly three years in Africa and eastern Europe training and doing investigative reporting.

Here in Algiers, I'm working for the Journalism Development Group, a tiny company formed by two American journalists friends who have managed to win enough grants from governments and donors to do some wonderful work. We are working with Arab and French newspapers here on improving newspaper management. And yes, we are frequently asked if that kind of thing isn't needed in the US even more than here.

Cheers.
Rosemary

Hungry for news?

Join us at the PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates lunch at noon on Friday, July 27.

Viva Barcelona, 24600 Detroit Rd. Westlake.
Lunch choices: Chicken w/lemon sauce; Veal Scallopini w/mushroom sweet wine sauce; or Tilapia w/dried fruit sauce. All come with a non-alcoholic beverage and sides.

$14.50, includes tax and tip.

Reservation deadline: July 20.

Call JoAnn Pallant at 440-734-1923 or email her at: JAPallant@sbcglobal.net
Include your entree choice.

Spouses, guests welcome.

If you did not get the luncheon postcard, send an email to lunch clerk Richard Ellers via Geerichard@aol.com

WE'RE INVITED

Retirees Welcome at the Jo Ann Pallant Commemorative Summer Book Sale

The summer sale is almost upon us. We'll hold it at the top of the central staircase, Thursday, June 21, 3 to 5:30 p.m; then
half-price Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. All proceeds go to Plain Dealer Charities and items are priced at a song; books that retail at
$25 and $30 for $3.

These range from Danielle Steel's latest to a Complete Works of William Shakespeare, kid's books to cookbooks to stories on CD,
which are ideal for car trips. The music and film critics have thrown in their wares and we have piles of Transformers -- something
to do with a new movie out there.

Increase your literacy, get a jump on gift giving or just pick up a choice item for your own lounging pool side. See you there.

Karen

Press Club invitation

Are you a member of The Press Club of Cleveland? If so, we're having a party and you're invited.The Press Club of Cleveland was founded 120 years ago. For many of those years, The Press Club maintained its own headquarters, located in a wide variety of historic hotels (mostly now long torn down) and office buildings in downtown Cleveland. Recently, The Press Club was housed at The City Club and for a short time at the University Club (now Meyers University). On May 21, 2007, The Press Club of Cleveland will officially be housed at Nighttown, on the top of Cedar Hill in Cleveland Heights. At that time, we will rededicate our "visual archives" as well as The Press Club of Cleveland's Hall of Fame. If you are currently a member of The Press Club of Cleveland - or a member of The Press Club's Hall of Fame - you and a guest are invited to Nighttown on Monday, May 21st at 7:00 p.m. for this event. There is no charge for this event for members, Hall of Famers and their guests, but space is VERY much limited, so you must send your RSVP to the club's administrator, Lynn Bracic, at pressclubcleveland@oh.rr.com or by calling her at (440) 899-1222. As an added bonus, everyone who attends the May 21st event will receive a 70-page commemorative booklet containing the history of The Press Club of Cleveland, originally published by the club in 1987.

APRIL LUNCH

Hi again,
Ex PD people should be getting their
retiree lunch postcard by April 10. April's gathering will be at the Willoughby Brewing Co. at 4057 Erie St., in Willoughby at noon. PLease call JoAnn Pallant at 440-734-1923 or Janet B. French at 216-221-2318. If 30 people call right away, it will be a banquet lunch with a set price. Call by April 24, please.

Janet Beigle French Says: "With two of us trying to make reservations, we got some wires crossed and thought we needed 30 for a set menu. Not so, I learned today. So the postcard says we’ll have to order from the menu. But we will be offered a “banquet lunch” for a set price if we get enough early reservations, which would be quicker and easier for all.

if you coming west on 90, exit at 306, go north to Mentor Ave., then west to Erie and south two blocks to Glen. The restaurant is on the east side of Erie, in a strip, with parking in front.

Janet says: I told Richard (Ellers) this is what you get when dealing with amateurs and I hope everyone who has benefited will write a heartfelt note of thanks to Pauline Thoma, who handled reservations for years with nary a slip. With us, things will be adventurous for awhile. Maybe longer. And thanks to all who offered us restaurant suggestions. This is one of them. Janet Beighle French"

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Write your own?

Alana Baranick, the PD's fine obit writer, sends a message and asks some questions:

1. One of my obit blog collaborators posted an item at
www.obituaryforum.blogspot.com that I'd like the alumni to read. The
item is titled "Written by the Deceased." My message to the alumni is:
"Go and do likewise." In other words, write your own obit.

2. The same blogger, who penned "Written by the Deceased," has another
blog that might interest the gang - http://writerobits.livejournal.com.
It's obits for writers, who have died so far in 2007.

3. Are any of you folks on myspace?

You can reach Alana at aBARANICK@plaind.com

Ex-book editor Janice Harayda says hi,

We got this recent note from the former book editor:

"Since leaving the Plain Dealer in 1998, I've had two comic novels come out, The Accidental Bride (St. Martin's, 1999) and Manhattan
on the Rocks (Sourcebooks, 2004). Both had a lot of good things happen to them, including a movie option for The Accidental Bride.
And I've put some of the news about them on the Web site for the books, www.janiceharayda.com On the page of this site labeled "My
Background," you can see a picture of me in front of the old Plain Dealer building at 1801 Superior.

Just recently I started a book-review blog, One-Minute Book Reviews, www.oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com,that became successful
much faster I expected owing to some big links or publicity from places like Gawker.com and an article on the blog in the PD's
sister paper, The (Newark) Star-Ledger. I had planned to post book reviews only a couple of times a week, but after the blog began
to get a lot of attention, I had to start putting up a new book review almost every day. (A word warning to any of you who are
thinking about becoming bloggers: Blogs can run away with you! If you start getting a lot of traffic, you have to keep posting new
entries or you'll lose it.)

Jo Ann Pallant has done a great job of keeping me up to date on a lot of Plain Dealer alumni news, and I've enjoyed reading more on
the blog. Thanks a million to Rosie and Margie for making it possible for everybody to keep in touch.
Best,"
Jan Harayda


Janice Harayda
41 Watchung Plaza, #99
Montclair, NJ 07042
www.janiceharayda.com

Doris O'Donnell to speak at TRI-C east

SPJ's Writer's Week says former PD journalist
Doris O'Donnell will speak at Cuyahoga Community College's Eastern Campus on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 5:30 p.m. in the Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center Lobby at 4250 Richmond Road in Highland Hills. She'll be talking about her memoir, Front-Page Girl. Kent State University Press published it last year. The event is free. Doris made it to the PD's Nov. 15 retirees' party.

You too can get one of these, if you're retired

Dick Ellers handed out certificates of membership to new attendees to the PD retirees alumni luncheon Friday, Jan. 26, 2007 at Li Wah's on Payne. Notice it's signed by Etaoin Shrdlu, which are the most common letters (in descending order) used in the English Language and what the linotype operators used to fill out a line. And sometimes they forgot to delete the letters so in the hot type days, this became a familiar typo. Anyway, any retiree/ alum, PD groupie , can get one by attending the next lunch on the last Friday in April. Ellers sends out the postcard announcing the time and place and JoAnn Pallant and Janet Beigle French make the arrangements for the lunches. They are the held on the last Friday of January, April, July and October.

Retired at last

Tom Quinn, former night police reporter, is so happy to be retired and attending the luncheon gathering Friday, Jan 26, 2007 at Li Wah's, he's dancing to his table. About 40 retirees, including many of those who took the recent buyout, attended and caught up with old friends. Bob McAuley, former medical editor, can't believe what he's seeing. The following photos were taken by Rosemary Kovacs, who apologizes if she caught you with your mouth open.

The lunch is called to order

While Dick Ellers, an organizer of the PD Editorial Retirees and Expatriates (aka The Lunch Bunch) or (Casual Unstructured Lunch Troup - CULT), explains what Etaoin Shrdlu means, not listening are Dick Zunt, Tim, husband of Pattie Graziano and Bill Barnard. Etaoin Shrdul are the letters from the linotype operators or something like that.

Have I seen you lately?

Jim Strang can't believe his eyes. It's Jack Hagan.

Zip and Zander

Ruth Zander Sindelar, former secretary to the editors, and former high school sports reporter Dick Zip Zunt. Eneida Fletcher is almost hidden behind them.

Your point?

Former night police reporter Tom Quinn, former sports reporter Bob Dolgan and Enieda Fletcher, former photo clerk.

Get serious!

The one time this table wasn't laughing and having a good time. Jim Hatch, left, Bob McAuley, former dance critic Wilma Salisbury, and Estelle Johnson, who kept the phones and calls in order.

Thanks JoAnn

JoAnn Pallant and Millie Mateucci. JoAnn helped find the restaurant. She's looking for one on the east side for the last Friday in April lunch.

Amen brother

Buzzy and Lou Mio with mountain climber Darrell Holland, former religion editor, and Jim Strang, former editorial writer and Civil War buff.

Good ole boys

Lou Mio, a recent retiree, with veteran retiree Jim Hatch.

Veterans of retirement

Janet Beigle French and her husband.










Millie Mateucci, former Friday mag copy editor, with former boss Bob Roach.

And some West Coast tales

Carol Malinowski, Lillian Hlabse and Bob Dolgan










Marianne and Jim Hatch (former asst. photo editor), who flew in for a week from California, share sunshine and grandchild tales with Millie Mateucci, left, and Pat Gessler, former systems person.

Three amigos

Jack Hagan, Don Bean and Bob McAuley. All worked at one time at the Third District Police Station on the cops beat. The 3d District is to be closed and Bean wants to have a party in its honor.

More lunch bunchers

That's Steve Esrati, left, who used to be on the national copy desk, Bob Roach, former Friday magazine editor and JoAnn Pallant, books assistant and lunch coordinator.

Below
Jack Hagan, now teaching at Tri-C, Dick Ellers, and Ruth Zander Sindelar, former administrator assistant to various editors. That's Jim Strang's hand paying off Ellers.















Bill Barnard, former assistant to the publisher chats with Eneida Fletcher.










At the table below, Ellers, Ruth Zander, Lori Onder, former business secretary,former music critic Bob Finn and photographer Pete Copeland.

PD Lunch Bunch Jan 27, 2007 Li Wah's

Richard Ellers, former PD state reporter, explains the rules of the lunch. There aren't any.

Everyone had a grand time meeting old friends. The group grew thanks to the new buyouts who attended. At least 40 people attended. Jim Hatch and wife Marianne came the farthest, they returned from Studio City, Calif. to their West Side home for a week.

Former chief police reporter and assistant city editor Don Bean was his usual quiet self. He only had a few tales to tell. You could look it up.
Carol Malinowski , former layout designer and Lillian Hlabse, administrative assistant to at least 3 people at the lunch, shared a table with Bean.