Char celebrates end of 35 years

It was a time for family, colleages and friends at the farewell party Friday night, September 20, at the Posh nite club in downtown Akron for the retirement party of Charlene Nevada. Even Mayor Don Plusquellic was on hand along with Editor Debra Adams Simmons. (The BJ paid for the food). Char and Art Krummel were caught in this family shot with their beautiful daughter, Beth Meese. Beth’s husband Thad also was there.

Some oldtimers on hand were Chuck Ayers, Don Bandy, Bonnie Bolden and Bruce Winges, Bob Dyer, Susan Kirkman, Pam McCarthy, Roger and Ann Mezger, Russ Mussara, Don Roese, Sharon “Farkle” Shreve, Paula Schleis, Sarah Vradenburg and Phil White. If I forget to mention someone important it is because I am old and forgetful or just trying to slight someone. (Please leave a comment.)

It took two parties to celebrate the end of Char's 35 years.

Here’s Ann Mezger’s report on the afternoon affair:
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The newsroom gave Char her first sendoff of the day at 2:30 p.m. in the large third-floor meeting room in the northwest corner of the building. She was escorted into the room by education reporter Stephanie Warsmith and surrounded by other reporters and photographers who were acting like papparazzi and treating her like a real celeb.

I emceed the event and talked about working with Char for 33 years. I also presented her with a microfilm copy of one of her more notorious pages from October 1980. It told of a disastrous attempt to make a gingerbread house from a recipe in magazine. It got both both of us (I had assigned the story) in trouble with Paul Poorman, who said we were showing readers that our food writer didn't know how to cook.

Since no good going-away party would be complete without a special publication, Char was presented hers by Deputy Metro Editor Mitch McKenney and Susan Kirkman, AME for presentation. It was a tabloid, of course -- The Akron Beacon Urinal, with a cover story "Char and Alex: Splitsville." Other cover headlines: "Little Green Men Invade Akron; Holy Shit, Says Char" and "Mary Wyoming (Char's long-ago tabloid pen name): Box Wines Are Like Men. They're Best When They're Crisp, Fruity and Cheap."

Publisher Jim Crutchfield, Editor Debra Adams Simmons and Managing Editor Mike Burbach all talked about how the newsroom will be a less lively place without Char. Then reporter Doug Oplinger gave the first showing of his film "The Big Char and Little Art Show."

Char was given a large card created by artist Kathy Hagedorn, a gift basket and gift certificate from West Point Market (one of her favorite stores, and airline tickets (since she's a big traveler.) Then she made some presentations of her own: Since I was always borrowing it, I got her stapler. Since Katie Byard was always borrowing it, Katie got her
calculator. Reporter Kymberli Hagelberg got Char's collection of odd photos (presidential candidates in drag, etc.) and reporter Mary Ethridge, who's now the mad shopper, got one of Char's acquisitions from when she had that beat -- an obscene pencil.