Chuck Heaton award goes to Terry Pluto

Plain Dealer and former Akron Beacon Journal sportswriter Terry Pluto is the recipient of the first annual Chuck Heaton award.

The award, presented by the Heaton family, was given at the Press Club of Cleveland's Journalism Hall of Fame inductions ceremonies Thursday night, November 13, 2008, at the LaCentre banquet and meeting facility in Westlake.

The Press Club presented the Heaton Award, named in honor of the legendary and beloved Plain Dealer sportswriter who died earlier this year. Press Club President Ed Byers said the award will be presented annually to the print, radio or television journalist who best exemplifies the sensitivity and humility which, along with his writing talents, were traits exhibited by Heaton.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame this year were Pete Cary, Tom Meyer, Bill Miller and Jane Temple. Elizabeth Sullivan was to have been inducted, but due to a family situation, she wasn't able to be present and will, instead, be inducted in 2009.

You can read the entire program, along with full-page tributes, here: http://www.pressclubcleveland.com/ME2/Audiences/Default.asp?AudID=B6D38AE5372E4669A908C13043FA23F0

Photos from the Hall of Fame event are located here (captions on the photos coming soon): http://tinyurl.com/6eazn4

The Pittsburgh Tribune ran an article about inductee Bill Miller. That article can be read here: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_599701.html

The actual Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame is located at Nighttown, at the top of Cedar Hill in Cleveland Heights, where Press Club of Cleveland members with valid membership cards receive 15% off the food portion of their checks.For further information about The Press Club of Cleveland, click here: http://www.pressclubcleveland.com

-- Bruce Hennes

A night crew to remember

This is the Plain Dealer's night crew as of Nov. 2008. The photo was taken on occasion of what would be the last night this particular crew worked together at The PD, which had also prompted a pot-luck dinner. You have probably read or heard about buyouts and layoffs . From this group, Chris Raider takes retirement, and Rona Proudfoot goes to the newly established Lorain.com. After that, who knows? Not pictured: Camera-shy Deborah Miller, Bob Proske (working in sports that night), Jon Fobes (who was taking the photo), Bill Bevins (night off) and Kathie Kroll (done for the evening), who is taking a position in the business department starting Dec. 1. Two faces who might not be familiar in the front row: Damon Sims, former sports clerk who is now the 4p.m.-1a.m. online editor, and Sarena McRae, the night police reporter. Also, the black sash-type accesory being worn by Felipe is a sling, the product of recent rotator-cuff surgery resulting from a fall last winter. No word on when he will be throwing off the mound again.

IDs: bottom row, from left: Sims, McRae, Proudfoot, Mary Ann Whitley.

2d row, Bill Benedict, John Spetz, Denise Ritter, Doug Kramer, Marty Sterpka.

3d row, Felipe Nieves, John Kuehner, Chris Raider, Joel Downey (behind her), Joe Hanak, Melodie Smith, Mike Mentrek.

Holiday fun, and a fundraiser, too!

The Guild is inviting PD retirees (both Guild members and former managers) to join them at their holiday gathering at the Town Fryer on Dec. 18th.

Brie Zeltner is looking for donations for a silent auction that will raise money for the folks who are laid off. So far she has photographers giving framed photos, knitters giving sweaters and afghans, people who have raided their gift closets, and hand-made jewelry, etc.

She is also happy to accept services. Debbi Snook may be donating a dinner. You can share your talents - a guitar lesson, golf lesson, a hayride at Rosie's farm. Use your imagination.

Contact Brie at bzeltner@plaind.com or brieskates@gmail.com.

Life after the PD

Jo Ellen Corrigan has launched a blog aimed at helping PD departees make the transition to life outside of the newsroom.

She's looking for tips, ideas, encouragement -- whatever you can contribute. Find the blog at:
http://1801zoned.blogspot.com/

It's a Tom Diemer book signing!!

Former longtime PD reporter Tom Diemer has a new book out on former Sen. Howard Metzenbaum and wants to invite current PD staffers or alums to a book-signing at NightTown on Jan. 11, 2009.

If interested please email Tom your mailing address. (Tdiemer@aol.com) The book, published by Kent State University Press, is called "Fighting the Unbeatable Foe : Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio, the Washington Years."

Holiday shopping alert!

Even though I have more time to get to the library these days, I still miss the PD book cart and all the treasures I found there.

Karen Long has generously extended an invitation to all PD alums to the annual Holiday Book Sale!!

It's Thursday, Dec. 11 from 3 - 5:30 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 12 from 9 to noon. Friday is 1/2 price day.

See you there!

Margie

Christine retires, Richard gets married

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008

For more photos from Christine Jindra's Retirement bash and wedding announcement
go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosebud/

Yes, Christine retired, and she and Richard quietly got
married the day before elections.

Jud celebrates 70th

Jud Shelnutt, formerly of the business department,
celebrated his 70th birthday recently with a party
at Punderson State Park, where he and his wife Marty were handling the boat rentals. After 2 years of boating fun, they decided to really retire. Here they are dancing to celebrate.

October 31 Luncheon

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates

Casual unstructured lunch troupe

Gather for lunch on the last Fridays of January, April, July and October

Spouses and guests always welcome

Next Luncheon: Noon, Friday, Oct. 31

Place: Pearl of the Orient

20121 Van Aken Boulevard

Shaker Heights

Van Aken Shopping Center

(near Van Aken Blvd. and Warrensville Center Road)

Cost: $12 per person, includes tax and tip.

Menu: (served family style) Won ton soup, Shrimp with snow peas,

Chicken with cashews, and Beef with broccoli.

RSVP by Oct. 25

Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or jabfr519@sbcglobal.net or

JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or japallant@sbcglobal.net

A note from Zina Vishnevsky

Hi there!
Sorry I couldn't see anyone while I was in Ohio. The Cleveland Clinic and family had me totally occupied when I wasn't near my childhood friends and their families.
I have a Google blog now and thought you might want to add it to the links on yours. It's my sometimes not so humdrum life in a sometimes imperfect paradies:
http://islazina.blogspot.com
I don't have the whole photo posting business down pat, but I am working on it!
Best wishes to everyone. And hey, update your blog!
Fondly,
Zina

Summer Book Sale -- we're invited

If you have a yen for Robert Ludlum's latest Jason Bourne thriller, or if your taste runs more to P.G. Wodehouse classics, make time to swing by the Summer Book Sale.

When: 2 p.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, July 24
9 a.m.-noon, Friday, July 25 (half-price)

Thousands of Hardcover books that retail for $25 or $30 will be priced at $3; Paperbacks are $2. An especially rich pile of children's books and stories on CD await.

Also available are DVDs and games -- priced at a few dollars.

All proceeds will go to the United Way.

The sale will be at the top of the central staircase on the second floor.

July 25 LUNCHEON GOES WEST

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates

Casual unstructured lunch troupe

Gather for lunch on the last Fridays of January, April, July and October

Spouses and guests always welcome

NEXT LUNCHEON: Noon, Friday, July 25

PLACE: Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center,

7370 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Twp.

Interstate 80 to Columbia Rd. Ohio 252) exits 6 and 6A, then south

From Royalton Rd. (Ohio 82), north on Columbia Rd.

Choice of Entrées:

Wiener schnitzel $10.00

Sausage Platter $7.50

Chicken Paprikash $6.50

Chef’s salad (no meat)

RSVP by July 18

Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or email jabfr519@sbcglobal.net

JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or email japallant@sbcglobal.net

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

Help celebrate Al Andrews signing out

After 54 years, national desk copyeditor
 Al Andrews retired.

To celebrate his 54 years at The Plain Dealer,
a reception  in his honor will be held
 from 4pm to 6pm, May 6,
in the reception area outside the
 Community Room on the 2d floor.

There will be cake, coffee
and punch ... and lots of old stories to tell.

PD alumni are invited....

Stephen A. Blossom

Stephen A. Blossom, who died March 28 at age 93, covered maritime news and the Great Lakes shipping industry for The Plain Dealer for nearly 20 years. Read the obit at:


http://www.cleveland.com/obituary/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1208248371292160.xml&coll=2

Hungry?

PD Editorial Retirees & Expatriates
Casual unstructured lunch troupe
Gather for lunch on the last Friday of January, April, July and October
Spouses and guests always welcome

NEXT LUNCHEON: Noon, Friday, April 25

PLACE: Stancato’s, 7380 State Rd, Parma,
Strip mall near intersection with W. Pleasant Valley Rd.
From I-480 take State Rd. south
From I-77, Ohio 82 or Wallings Rd., west
From I-71, Ohio 82 east

COST: Buffet $5.95, plus beverage, dessert, tip

RSVP by April 18
Janet Beighle French (216) 221-2318, or jabfr519@sbcglobal.net or
JoAnn Pallant (440) 734-1923, or japallant@sbcglobal.net

Future gatherings: July 25, October 31, and January 30

To correct a name or address, add or subtract a name, or to receive this notice by email, contact Stuart Abbey, (440) 257-2359 or smabbey@oh.rr.com

A note from Stu Abbey

I have taken over sending out postcards for the quarterly luncheon.

Anyone wishing to be notified by email, or to add, subtract, change, alter, mutilate, clone or whatever to the list contact me. It would be nice if people wanted to be notified by email to save the cost of postage and cards.

They can contact me at (440) 257-2359 or smabbey@oh.rr.com.

Thanks

Stu Abbey