Columbus Free Press Events

On Sunday, JANUARY 25 @ 7PM, come hear our friend
Dave Lippman Singer - Satirist - Social Justice Advocate
and George Shrub the world's only singing CIA agent
Free Press office – 1021 East Broad Street
Donation requested $5-$10

AND DON'T FORGET:
Free Press Free Film Night - Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30pm
"MEAT THE TRUTH: The massive impact of livestock farming on climate change"
Sponsored by the Drexel East, Central Ohio Greeen Education Fund and the Columbus International Film & Video Festival

For more info:
253-2571
truth@freepress.org

Alan McLelland's new Fall Pics

Hello,

This is the fifth installment of the Radiance series. All photos where taken in various desolate and beautiful places in Ohio, Kentucky, New Mexico and Texas this year. Enjoy the charms of the Fall season and keep in touch!

-Alan

Radiance V

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyelyft/sets/72157608288482037/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyelyft

::: eye.lyft blogspot :::

http://eyelyft.blogspot.com/

Because we fought for them…

Harvey Wasserman is a friend I've known since high school days. He is also a well versed and often published author and social activist who often comes up with one or two wonderful ideas. Here's something he just recently came up with. Read below and enjoy.
-charlie

Harvey Wasserman

Because we fought for them my daughters have cast paper ballots
October 6, 2008

My daughters and I have cast paper ballots in the opening days of the 2008 presidential election. It was their first time voting in a presidential election.

That they have only voted with an African-American atop the Democratic ticket makes this doubly historic for them. The issue of race remains a great unknown in how things will turn out.

But so does the question of whether everyone who wants to vote can, and whether those votes will be accurately counted (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHiCFe2GBjk).

Four years ago this county tried to deny me the right to cast an absentee ballot. After four phone calls and some serious politicking, I finally did get a paper ballot, which I hand delivered to the election board. But was it counted?

My twins are now 21. On Friday, October 3, 2008, we drove to Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus to cast our ballots under unique circumstances. For a full week, Ohio voters have been able to register and vote at the same time.

It took the focused efforts of thousands of election protection activists---and a legal defense team---to make happen this and other things suitable to a democracy. Such victories will define whether we get fair participation and a reliable vote count in November, and thus who will be the next president.

Since the stolen election of 2000 the Democratic Party and corporate media have studiously ignored the fact that we have been afflicted with an unelected president. A media-based recount in Florida showed Al Gore was the clear winner there eight years ago.

In violation of federal law, 56 of Ohio's 88 counties have destroyed election-related materials, making a comprehensive 2004 recount impossible. No one has been prosecuted. But those of us who watched first-hand how the 2004 election was conducted here know all too well that it was stolen in a "do everything" campaign that the Democratic Party still doesn't comprehend, and does not seem to want to acknowledge.

Nonetheless, we may be entering the 2008 contest in somewhat better shape. Independent reporting on the internet and some talk radio organizing, plus a few major books and articles in places like Rolling Stone and Harpers, have inspired a new grassroots movement for election protection.

We have won important victories, such as removing Ohio's infamous Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, the critical point man for Karl Rove's 2004 hijacking. We are pursuing Michael Connell, a shadowy Bush IT operative who has been accused by a Republican insider of working to rig this and other elections.

In Ohio, as many as a third of Ohio voters are casting their ballots early. By law a quarter of those coming to the polls will be able to get paper ballots (we are working to make them available to ALL who want them). As my cohort Bob Fitrakis puts it, the choice will be between paper or the plastic of voting machines.

But the specter of disenfranchisement and electronic theft still hangs over this election as a twin curse to endemic racism. Millions of Americans are being systematically eliminated from voter rolls in as many as 19 states. Most of these are inner city and other vulnerable voters known to be heavily Democratic. Among them are African-American soldiers stationed overseas.

Some 300,000 Ohioans were deleted from the registration rolls prior to the 2004 vote count. Had they all voted, John Kerry might have been in the White House these past four years. Another 170,000 were eliminated after 2004 in Franklin County (Columbus) alone.

Throughout the US, Republican operatives are working overtime to decimate the Democratic turnout. The Bush Administration has already fired nine federal prosecutors for refusing to conduct a bogus witch hunt against legitimate voters.

But other attacks are proceeding, and could make all the difference. You who claim concern about our electoral process might spend at least some of this next month monitoring election boards and guaranteeing that those who believe they are registered do not show up at the polls November 4 only to find they have been disenfranchised for the "crime" of leaning left.

We must also have zero tolerance for electronic voting machines. There may actually be thousands more of these election theft devices deployed throughout the US this year than ever before. As always, the big vendors are hiding their software from the public, claiming it is "proprietary."

But as registration activists, poll workers, judges, official observers and Video-the-Vote workers (see "Be a Poll Worker and Save American Democracy,"http://www.freepress.org/ departments/display/19/2008/3205) you may be in a position to exert critical leverage on access to decisions on software, hardware deployment and vote counting that could save thousands of legitimate ballots thoughout the US.

In our next article, Bob Fitrakis, Sheri Myers and I will write in detail about the history of electronic election theft and its long-time master of disenfranchisement, Karl Rove.

In the meantime, it's crucial to remember that favorable polling numbers will not guarantee a fair election. Carefully manipulated racism, plus mass disenfranchisement, rigging of electronic voting machines and additional Rovian dirty tricks are what brought us eight hellish years of George W. Bush. Without taking drastic grassroots action, they could be used again to tack on four more, from which it is not likely this nation would survive.

The good news is that we have won some victories. My daughters have voted in a safe, secure atmosphere, and there's a reasonable chance their ballots will be counted---along with millions more.

But to guarantee a full voter turnout, and a safe reliable, vote count, YOU must get involved. Visit The Free Press (http://freepress.org) and Poll Workers for Democracy (http://act.credoaction.com/pollworkers/index.html).

This year, there is no excuse. We know what has happened, and we know the consequences of inaction. See you in the army….of election protection workers.

--
Harvey Wasserman is co-author, with Bob Fitrakis, of four books on election protection which are available at www.freepress.org, where this article first appeared. His HARVEY WASSERMAN's HISTORY OF THE US is at www.harveywasserman.com along with SOLARTOPIA! OUR GREEN-POWERED EARTH, A.D. 2030.

=

Rally for Rachel Widomski & Juli Liu at the Gallery Hop

This message came from John Angelo, Short North Business Association

Short North, Columbus, OH - On the evening of May 15, Rachel Widomski, a server at Haiku restaurant, and Juli Liu, co-owner of the restaurant, were seriously injured when they were literally run over by a dine-and-dash customer. Though Julie is on the road to recovery, Rachel's severe spinal cord trauma will leave her paralyzed from the waist down for life. Rachel's journey from this point will be long and extremely difficult. She and her family need our support for both immediate and long-term needs.

The Short North Business Association, the Central Ohio Restaurant Association and the Couchfire Collective (a Columbus arts organization) are collaboratively spearheading a series of events designed to help raise funds for Rachel's recovery. The events kick off with "Hope Weekend," Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 8. In particular, several initiatives are being orchestrated during Saturday's Gallery Hop. Beginning at 6:00PM, volunteers will spearhead an art auction at The Art Exchange (17 East Brickel), a letter writing and fundraising campaign (650 N. High Street), and a concert by area bands at the intersection of High Street and Hubbard Avenue (the site of Rachel's assault).

Join the effort and help turn a horrible, senseless act into a message of Hope for recovery, and a new beginning for Rachel and her family. Complete details are posted at www.HopeWeekend.com.

If you cannot make the Gallery Hop, but would like to contribute in support of the Rachel Widomski Medical Care Trust, please visit any area Huntington Bank or visit hopeweekend.com to make contributions online.

"Hope Weekend" consists of five key components:

1) Over 60 businesses are participating citywide by placing collection jars on their counters and inviting their patrons to donate. Many servers are contributing their own tips and numerous businesses are matching the proceeds.

2) A "Place of Reflection" will be set up in the shop windows at 650 N. High Street... the space will feature Rachel's art, messages from the community (many in the form of haikus), information about Rachel's status, and much more. The space will be staffed from 6PM to 10PM during Gallery Hop.

3) A silent auction of donated art will be held at the Art Exchange, 17 E. Brickel (proceeds will go to Rachel's Trust), 6pm - 10pm

4) A lineup of bands and performers will be on stage at High and Hubbard outside Haiku Restaurant
6:30 pm - Bob Ray Starker
7:30 pm - Megan Palmer
8:30 pm - Karate Coyote
9:30 pm - Paper Airplane
10:30 pm - Two Cow Garage

5) "Big Night" at Studio 35, 3055 Indianola Avenue

Sunday, June 8 4:00pm
See the film "Big Night" for only $5
All proceeds will benefit the recovery fund.

More information is available at haikuhelp.com

Notable contributions:

Sysco of Central Ohio has committed a minimum of $10,000 ($.10 of every case of food they sell through June 7 will go to the fund)

Heartland Payment Systems has pledged a matching grant of up to $25,000. The grant can be activated by donations from the public or other businesses.

Ohio Art League Exhibit

Saints, Sinners, Kings and Criminals
May 3 - 31, 2008

Works by
Dan Gerdeman, Ron Arps, Brad Bailey

Member Preview Reception: Friday, May 2, 7-9 pm
Opening reception: Saturday, May 3, 6-9 pm

954 N. High Street
Columbus, OH 43201
614 299 8225
www.oal.org
oal@aol.com

Larry Hamill' s recent pics of Chicago

Larry Hammil sent this last week -charlie
Hi Charlie,
I was in Chicago last weekend to attend a seminar. Enclosed are some shots I took for the fun of it. Cheers, Larry

Columbus Womens Chorus - Singing Our Dreams November 18

Babbette Gorman sent us this reminder:

Hi Charlie,

I have rejoined the Chorus under the direction of two wonderful musicians,
Jennifer Bell and Sheena Philips, and we are preparing our November Friends
and Family concert.

This concert, entitled "Singing Our Dreams," will be held at the Summit
United Methodist Church, 82 East 16th Avenue, on Sunday November 18, the day
after the Michigan game. We will begin with a silent auction, opening at 3,
sing from 4-5, and close the auction at 6. Ticket prices have been reduced
to $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students 12 and over. Children
under 12 get in free. Tickets will be available at the door or you can get
them in advance from me.

We will be singing our usual eclectic mix of folk, pop, world, and classical
music.

For more details on the chorus visit
http://www.cwchorus.org/

For directions to the concert visit
http://www.summitumc.org/frames/DirectionsFrame.htm

I really hope you can join us because I know you'll enjoy it!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 18 3:00 PM
82 EAST 16TH AVENUE (near OSU)

- Babette Gorman

Aaron Einhorn appearing in Control Cell - Oct 25-28; Nov 1-4

a note from my son Aaron:

Hey gang,

Just a reminder (or because I mistrust e-mail, in some cases, a first notice) - I'm in another show up here in Columbus – an experiment in un-scripted drama. (Not un-plotted, just un-scripted.) Imagine, if you will, a cross between "No Exit" and "The Prisoner," featuring a hopeless romantic, a nihilist, an opportunist and a paranoid delusional.

From rehearsals it seems like it's going to be really good, and a lot of fun (in a vaguely disturbing way.)

Tickets are based on a sliding scale of what you can afford between $8 and $16 dollars. We open on Friday, October 25 ^th, and run through Sunday the 28^th , then the following weekend, starting Thursday, November 1, and going until Sunday, November 4.

The show will take place at "The Space" in Columbus, Ohio. Directions can be obtained at http://www.foolishbison.com/ .

You can purchase tickets in advance, but seating is all general admission, so get there early!

Feel free to tell friends, family or anyone else who might be interested.

Jazz at Columbus Music Hall in Olde Towne East - Schedule

Every Monday, 7:30 -Vaughn Wiester Famous Jazz Orchestra
Every Wednesday, 9:00 - Yumbambé

Thursday, October 18, 7:30 Quartet Thursdays, $7- Pete Mills Fresh Spin CD release featuring Tony Monaco

Friday, October 19, 8:30, $10 - Tim Cummisky

Thursday, October 25, 7:30 Quartet Thursdays - Shawn “Thunder” Wallace

Friday, October 26, 8;30, $7 - Nova Madrugada

Saturday, October 27, 8:00, $15, seniors $12, students $5 - Mark Flugge Trio

Thursday, November 1, 7:30 - Randy Mather Quartet

Saturday, November 3, time - TBA, $15, $12, $5 - PASIC percussionists, Dane Richeson, Michael Spiro, & Dutch vibraphonist with Mark Flugge & Doug Richeson

Sunday, November 4, 4:00, $12, seniors $10, students $6 - former Bennett pianist & music director Ralph Sharon with Doug Richeson & Jim Rupp

Thursday, November 8, 7:30, $15, $12, $5 - NYC Jazz Saxophonist, clinician, teacher, Jim Snidero with the Bobby Floyd trio

Friday, November 9, - Maggie Green with guest musicians from Brazil

Thursday, November 15, 7:30, $15, $12, $5 - NYC and Woody Herman trombonist, John Fedchock

Saturday, November 17, 8:00m $15, $12, $5 - Mark Flugge Trio

Saturday, November 24, 7:00, $15, $12, $5 -Terry Waldo & his Gutbucket Syncopators

Friday, November 30, 8:00, $15, $12, $5 - Jazz Guitarist, Gene Bertoncini w/Doug & Dane Richeson

Check the website for updates!
www.columbusmusichall.com

Short North Arches Go Technicolor - September Gallery Hop

September Gallery Hop Celebrates “Summer Days and Technicolor Nights”
Color transformation with “glowing procession” will begin at Poplar and travel northward throughout the District


Saturday, September 1 • 9:00PM
at the 17 arches along High Street

“The effects will be amazing,” comments Sharon O’Brien, board member of the Short North SID. “This is the real eye-popper we’ve been waiting for since we began the project. Every bulb on every arch can be individually programmed to produce a million different effects. The lights can morph from one color to another, pulse and even appear to travel up and down the district.”

John Angelo, Director of the Short North Business Association (SNBA), adds: “The programmed arches will be unlike anything seen in the Midwest. In addition to adding to the experiential offerings of the Short North, the mile-long strip of High will become a barometer of major happenings in Columbus. The strip might be pink the night before the Race for the Cure. It could be silver, gold and white for the winter holidays. It could be a rolling rainbow for ComFest and the Pride Festival. The possibilities are endless.”

The arches were designed and installed as part of a collaborative effort between the City of Columbus and the Short North Arts District, working directly with the Short North Special Improvement District (SID). The programming of the arches will also be managed collaboratively by the city, the SID and the SNBA.

Look for up-to-the-minute news on the evening’s happenings at www.ShortNorth.org”

Marc Berger Covers Ohio's historic Covered Bridges

Photographer Marc Berger has photographed all the known existing historical covered bridges in Ohio.
These wonderful structures once dotted the State's landscape.

Although many have disappeared or are no longer in use, surprisingly, several new covered bridges have been built in some counties. They actually make sense, even today, because the cover offers protection from the elements and adds longevity and the wooden parts are easy and less expensive to repair. Marc has followed their progress, searched for lost bridges in remote locations, and now has the most extensive collection of existing coverd bridges in Ohio.

See more covered bridge? Visit his website: