Letters (33)

A Note from Mrs. Kucinich

Thank you so very much for featuring me in your January issue (“Our Most Interesting People”). I am astonished at how many people have read the article and stopped me to talk about it. Your story has spurred a new wave of welcomes to Cleveland, and how grateful I am for them. What a wonderful Cleveland homecoming it made in the transition from old to new, on my return from England where Dennis and I held our wedding blessing on Dec. 21 and spent our Christmas and New Year holidays. It is so humbling to be so warmly embraced by my new community of friends.

Elizabeth Kucinich
Cleveland

Seltzer and Dr. Sam

Mike Roberts’ well-written valentine to Louie Seltzer and The Cleveland Press (“Who Will Light the Way,” January 2006) left me reminiscing, but puzzled because he failed to mention the strongest memory many people have of Seltzer: His influence on the Sam Sheppard murder case.
Seltzer’s barrage of front-page editorials in banner type suggesting Sam’s guilt before and during the trial set the pace for what the U.S. Supreme Court later denounced as “massive, pervasive, prejudicial publicity” in what was described as a carnival atmosphere of bedlam. That certainly set journalistic standards back a few country miles, although Seltzer declared in his 1956 memoir, “I would do the same thing over again under the same circumstances.”
That was an era when Cleveland was blessed with three of the finest city editors in any journalistic pantheon: Jim Collins of The Plain Dealer, Louie Clifford of The Cleveland Press and John Rees of the Cleveland News. They were rare, intelligent men, tough and competitive, but fair-minded. Just ask the reporters who worked for them or the public relations folks who dealt with them on stories. Thanks for the reminder of that era.

Terry C. Williams
Hudson

Safe at Home

I was very pleased with your article “Ease Your Labor Pains” (January 2006), particularly with the mention of home birth as an alternative to hospital birth. Home birth is not a sentiment lingering from the hippie days. It is an unexplored option that most low-risk, healthy women are never exposed to or encouraged to learn about. When a woman learns the facts about home birth, fear of the unknown is eliminated, motherly instincts kick in and confidence is gained in the innate ability to give birth. The Home Birth Option of Cleveland meets at the Brooklyn Library on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:15 p.m. It is an excellent way to learn about and expose yourself to giving birth naturally.

Jenna HullPainesville

Ghoulardi Strikes Again

I got a copy of your magazine as a gift and I really enjoyed it. I especially liked the “How Cleveland Are You?” quiz (December 2005). I haven’t lived there since 1975, but still did pretty well. One glaring omission: No questions about Ghoulardi. How Cleveland were the people who came up with the quiz? Maybe they weren’t old enough to have experienced him.

Joe Walton
Lincoln, Neb.

Reason No. 76

“75 Reasons We Love Cleveland” (February 2006) was fun to read and had some great things I haven’t yet taken the time to appreciate, but certainly will. However, I had to read it over and over to search for Playhouse Square and Idea Center. I was very surprised it wasn’t near or at the top of the list. In fact, it wasn’t even on the list. Playhouse Square is the gem of our city, with all its gorgeous renovated theaters and fantastic performances. Idea Center was reported on by Cleveland Magazine just a few months ago, and is such a cool place for creativity to grow. I’m still checking that list in disbelief that they are missing.

Laura Leopold
Russell, Ohio

Making Waves

I enjoyed your article on surfing Lake Erie (“Yes! Surf in Cleveland,” December 2005). However, I wish to correct the mistaken notion that windsurfers are unable to tap into the energy of breaking waves. In fact, one of the greatest attributes of windsurfing on Lake Erie is the ability to ride waves. In order to be propelled by the wave, it is necessary to achieve a speed close to or equal to the speed of the wave. Surfers do this by paddling with their arms and legs. Windsurfers use the wind. The wave can’t tell if there is a sail attached to the surfboard.

Carl Rappaport
Deputy Assistant to the President, Board Heads of the North Coast
Chesterland