EX-PD REPORTER JUDY GRANDE DIES

Judy Grande, who was a reporter in The Plain Dealer's Washington Bureau from 1982 through 1991 and was a Pulitzer Prize nominee while on staff at The Journal News in Rockland, N.Y., died Friday at age 58 after a seven-year fight with breast cancer.

After working for the Rockland paper in the '70s, she moved to Washington D.C. to work for syndicated columnist Jack Anderson, and soon afterward moved to The Plain Dealer.

While with the Washington Bureau, she rose through the ranks of the National Press Club, taking a leave of absence from The Plain Dealer to serve as its president in 1990. During her tenure, she persuaded the club to create a scholarship for a graduating minority student interested in a journalism career and played a key role in securing a $1 million bequest from Eric Friedheim to create the club's library and archives.

In 1991 she resigned from The Plain Dealer to raise her family. She was a resident of Great Falls, Va.

Here's a link to an obituary and photo in the Rockland paper:

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/NEWS03/806190432/-1/newsfront

A message from Stu Abbey....

Attention out –of-town former staffers: If you haven't attended a retiree lunch in a long while but still want to keep informed in case you happen to be in town, please contact Stu Abbey, JoAnn Pallant or Janet French to stay on the mailing list.



Also, next Sunday, June 22, Stu Abbey will have a booth at the Wildwood Arts Festival in Mentor. It is on Little Mountain Road, between Johnny Cake Ridge (O-84) and Mentor Ave (U.S. 20), east of Center Street (O-615), Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $2. Food and fine arts and crafts. Come by and say hello or comment on the art.

The 2006 buyout party replay!

Feeling nostalgic for the buyout party of 2006?

Bruce Hennes shot video of the event at Massimo De Milano. He recently reposted it on the web and you can have a look at: http://www.newimagemedia.com/plaindealer

Thanks to Steve Petti at New Image Media for the videotape conversion and website hosting.

The Press Club of Cleveland Announces The Chuck Heaton Award

We had great time last Monday night at Nightown.

It was a beautiful evening to be out on the patio, doing what the Press Club of Cleveland does best: Party. Dick Feagler, Leon Bibb, Michael Heaton, Regina Brett, Michael D. Roberts and Neil Zurcher were among familiar faces at the Press Club’s 2nd Annual Hall of Fame Reunion Party.

The guest list was a who’s who of Cleveland media with legendary names. Feagler took the podium and regaled us with anecdotes about his career and poked good-natured fun at some of his fellow Press Club Hall of Famers.

The touching moment of the evening came with the announcement by Press Club President Ed Byers that the Press Club of Cleveland is creating The Chuck Heaton Award. Michael Heaton, the Plain Dealer’s “Minister of Culture” took the podium, telling the crowd how deeply moved and honored his family is with the award named after his late father. Michael said the entire family is planning to be on hand at the Hall of Fame induction dinner in November at LaCentre to help present the frst Chuck Heaton Award.

Chairman of the event at Nighttown was Bruce Hennes and co-chair was John Betchkal. Pictures of the event can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/bhennes/PressClubHallOfFameEventAtNighttownJune22008