FAMILIAR NAMES AMONG 2021 OHIOANA AWARDS NOMINEES

 

Mark J. Price, the BJ’s best excavator of historical information about the Akron area, sent me this email:

 

“Hi, John ...

 

“Some familiar names in the Beacon Journal's Book Talk column:

 

“The Ohioana Library has announced the finalists for the 80th anniversary Ohioana Book Awards, to be presented Oct. 14 at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

 

“Among the nominees in the fiction category are Connie Schultz (“The Daughters of Erietown”); in About Ohio or An Ohioan, Derf Backderf (“Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio”), David Giffels (“Barnstorming Ohio: To Understand America”) and Eliese Colette (“Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit”); in Juvenile Literature, Thrity Umrigar (“Sugar in Milk”), and in Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature, Shelley Pearsall (“Things Seen from Above”).”

 

Ohioana has been handing out these awards since 1942 and says it’s the 2^nd oldest in America to do it but they didn’t say, as an editor I always advised reporters to do, who was the oldest.

 

Connie, Derf, David and Thrity are familiar to me and most BJ or PD folks.

 

Connie is a nationally syndicated columnist for Creators Syndicate. She was at the PD from 1993 to 2011, when she resigned to avoid a conflict of interest because her husand, Sherrod Brown, is a Democratic Senator from Ohio. She won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her PD column. Connie teaches journalism at Kent State.

 

Derf John “Derf” Backderf is “My Friend Dahmer” cartoonist married to PD and former BJ reporter Sheryl Harris.

 

David won the Ohioana Book Award in 2019 for non-fiction for his book, “Furnishing Eternity,” about building a casket with his father. 

 

Eliese Colette Goldbach is a steelworker at the ArcelorMittal Cleveland Temper Mill. She received an MFA in nonfiction from the Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Program.

 

Her writing has appeared in Ploughshares, Western Humanities Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and Best American Essays 2017.

 

She received the Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Award and a Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant from the Ohioana Library Association, which is given to a young Ohio writer of promise.

 

Shelley Pearsall is a former teacher and the author of seven acclaimed books for middle grade and teen readers, including two American Library Association Notable Book selections.  She has a B.A. from The College of Wooster and a Master's in Education, M. Ed., from John Carroll University. Shelley lives in  Cuyahoga Valley National Park with her British husband, Mike

 

The Seventh Most Important Thing by Shelley Pearsall was among 20 books selected by the State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library Association and Ohio Center for the Book amalgamation for the 2017 & 2018 Choose to Read Ohio booklist. Her book was in the books for tweens and middle grades category.

 

All of the 2021 nominees:

 

Fiction

Martin, Lee. Yours, Jean, Dzanc Books.

McDaniel, Tiffany. Betty, Alfred A. Knopf.

Nesbit, TaraShea. Beheld, Bloomsbury Publishing.

Schultz, Connie. The Daughters of Erietown, Penguin Random House.

Sickels, Carter. The Prettiest Star, Hub City Press.

Nonfiction

Downs, Maggie. Braver Than You Think, Counterpoint Press.

Jones, Saeed. How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir, Simon & Schuster.

Nezhukumatathil, Aimee. World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, Milkweed Editions.

Ricca, Brad. Olive the Lionheart: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman’s Journey into the Heart of Africa, St. Martin’s Press.

Sutter, Paul M. How to Die in Space: A Journey Through Dangerous Astrophysical Phenomena, Pegasus Books.

About Ohio or an Ohioan

Backderf, Derf. Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, Abrams Books.

Genshaft, Carole, ed. Raggin’ On: The Art of Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson’s House and Journals, Ohio University Press.

Giffels, David. Barnstorming Ohio to Understand America, Hachette Books.

Goldbach, Eliese Colette. Rust: A Memoir of Steel and Grit, Flatiron Books.

Heyman, Stephen. The Planter of Modern Life: Louis Bromfield and the Seeds of a Food Revolution, W. W. Norton & Company.

Poetry

Black, Ali. If It Heals at All, Jacar Press.

Chan, Marianne. All Heathens, Sarabande Books.

Gay, Ross. Be Holding: A Poem, University of Pittsburgh Press.

Lambert, Paula J. How to See the World (Harmony), Bottom Dog Press.

Majmudar, Amit. What He Did in Solitary: Poems, Alfred A. Knopf.

Juvenile Literature

Hubbard, Rita Lorraine. Illus. by Oge Mora. The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read, Schwartz & Wade.

Metcalf, Lindsay H., Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley, eds.  Illus. by Jeannette Bradley.  No Voice Too Small, Charlesbridge Publishing.

Muth, Jon J. Addy’s Cup of Sugar: Based on a Buddhist Story of Healing, Scholastic.

Rex, Adam. On Account of the Gum, Chronicle Books.

Umrigar, Thrity. Illus. by Khoa Le. Sugar in Milk, Running Press Kids.

Middle Grade/Young Adult Literature

Creech, Sharon.  One Time, HarperCollins.

Pearsall, Shelley. Things Seen from Above, Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Reynolds, Justin A.  Early Departures, Katherine Tegen Books.

Taylor, Mildred D. All the Days Past, All the Days to Come, Viking Books.

Woodson, Jacqueline. Before the Ever After, Nancy Paulsen Books.

CATARACT SURGERY FOR JANE SNOW

Jane Snow, the best food writer in BJ history (there were a LOT of good ones, too), will have cataract surgery on her eyes, beginning Thursday, June 3. Two weeks later they’ll do the other eye. 

I had both of mine done about a decade ago. Several months apart. Piece of cake.

The average cost of LASIK eye surgery is about $2,000 per eye.

Patients pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for corrective lenses after each cataract surgery with an intraocular lens, and the Part B deductible applies. 

In my case the replacement lens improved my eyesight to 20/30 because, I was told, 20/20 vision in one eye puts the other eye out of kilter and creates vision problems (the way that 2 speakers provide stereo rather than mono but have to be synchronized properly).

Jane says if she goes for laser surgery and lenses that correct everything to end the need for glasses the cost is about $8,000.

Jane Snyder Neyrinck, who retired from Summit Physicians coding and auditing and lives in Uniontown, said that’s pretty much in the ballpark.

 She added: “What is covered by Medicare is the basic lens. We are sadly lacking in meaningful vision and dental care coverage.”

Anyone with more encouraging, reliable information to forward to Jane on her Facebook page?

The lenses aren’t much help if you have astigmatism. 

And you usually have to choose, as I did, between seeing better to drive or seeing better to read a book. 

I choose driving without running into cars I can’t see. 

If I take off my glasses the type in this article looks larger and clearer than it does when I look through my glasses. It’s a tradeoff I’m happy to live with.

My eyesight has remained remarkably stable over the years (I had a checkup last week).

Good luck, Jane! Here’s looking at you with my storebought lenses! Hope it doesn't screw up your marvelous cooking and recipes. 

BOB CORALL OF BJ MAILROOM PASSES AWAY

 

Mailroom’s Bob Corall passes away

Bob Corall, in the BJ Mailroom for 30 years, passed away. Bob was born 5 days before I was, but in Akron while I was born in the coal mining town of Monongah, West Virginia in my Polish grandparents’ second-floor bedroom because my parents couldn’t afford to live elsewhere during the Great Depression but they could manage to create me (mathematically, on their honeymoon in Pittsburgh since I was born 9 months and 5 days after the wedding).

Ken Krause, who was sports reporter and editor and news editor at the BJ (1976-2000) before winding up in Medford, Massachusetts as a freelance editor and community activist, notified me. And provided such a great email that I’m just going to post it verbatim.

Consider this a By Ken Krause article:

 

Hi John,

 

Do you want to post to the BJ Alums blog that Bob Corall passed away? He worked in the Mailroom for 30 years (he received his 25-year service award in 1990; photo from that year attached here) and wrote the Paperhandlers column for Tower Topics for many years. You might remember he was on the Blue Room Committee with you in 1976 when the company was looking to make improvements to the lunch room area. 

Bob also was a beloved neighbor of retired BJ graphic artist Kathy Hagedorn Kortvejesi, who wrote this about him on Facebook:

“My neighbor passed away yesterday. Bob was the life of our neighborhood. We called him the Mayor of Firestone Park. Friendly to everyone, always a smile and a wave when anyone passed by. I’ve known him for at least 20 years and my heart is broken that I no longer will be able to talk to my friend, and really, my second dad. He always had my back, always concerned about my husband and I, always looking after us.

“Bob and I had a mutual love of gardening and he would gift me with a lovely and unique plant every spring. One of my favorites was a giant Elephant Ear plant. He was so active, golfing, riding his bike, strolling for a walk through the neighborhood. We spent many evenings sitting with him on lawn chairs in his driveway reminiscing about the day’s events and laughing about the crazy stuff going on in the neighborhood.

“My heart breaks and I send my condolences out to his entire family. He was such a great man and he will be missed SO much.”

Here is his obituary and link:

Robert E. Corall, 88, our loving father and grandfather, passed away on May 20, 2021.

Bob was born in Akron and remained a lifelong resident. He was born on October 31, 1932. Bob met his sweetheart, Patricia Latchaw, while being a newspaper delivery boy. Bob and Patty were married for 64 years. They were fixtures in the Firestone Park area residing there for over 60 years while raising their sons.

Bob retired from the Akron Beacon Journal after 30 years. Bob loved family get-togethers, golf and football. He attended numerous St. Vincent and University of Akron football games and participated in golf leagues.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; brothers John, Larry, Charles and their wives and sister, Dorothy Jubara.

He will be deeply missed by his sons, Robert S. Corall and wife, Susan; Joe Corall and wife, Teresa; grandchildren, Denise (Byron) Yeric, Daniel (Dawn) Corall, Christopher Corall; Jake Corall and Carl Corall; great-grandchildren Corall, Bethany and Benjamin Yeric, Andrew, Emma, and Claire Corall; brother Bill and his wife Katie; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received Sunday, May 23, 2021 from 2 to 4 pm at the Anthony Funeral Home Kucko-Anthony-Kertesz Chapel, 1990 S. Main St. Akron OH 44301, where a Memorial Service will be held at 4:00pm. Interment Monday May 24, 2021 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Cemetery.

https://www.anthonyfh.com/obituary/Robert-Corall

 

Thanks,

 

- Ken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO TELL ABOUT LOSING YOUR BJ INSURANCE. SPEAK UP!

Your chance to state your case CALMLY

Mycheala Holley of Senator Sherrod Brown’s Cleveland office met with Rick O’Connor, CEO of Black Press, who has agreed to work with Senator Brown to identify the total number and names of the retirees who have lost their healthcare benefits.

So, it’s up to EVERY Beacon Journal retiree to contact Senator Brown’s Cleveland office and inform them of your lost healthcare benefits. Keep it civil, keep it rational and keep it accurate. Ranting won’t help. The facts are horrifying enough to stand on their own.

Instead of complaining to each other, let’s organize our thoughts and join together and flood Senator Brown’s office with letters (more effective, I think) and phone calls (but only if you can avoid shouting).

Maybe seeing what I wrote to Senator Brown’s office will help you craft your calm but factually frightening letter:

 

Mycheala Holley

Regional Representative

Office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown

801 W. Superior Ave., Suite 1400

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Ph: 216-385-4464

Fx: 216-522-2239

 

Ms. Holley:

I retired in 1996 with a retirement letter that guaranteed I would keep my same medical, supplemental and prescription coverage that was in effect on my retirement day. I gave up $37,000 in reduced Social Security checks and Beacon Journal pension to retire early in 1996 and avoid the cutbacks that I expected to hit future BJ retirees but Canadian big business legal dodgeball has harmed my financial situation severely in 2021.

The Beacon Journal dropped the 20% supplemental medical co-pay for doctors and hospitals in 2004, leaving only the 80% paid by Medicare and adding the 20% to my out-of-pocket costs.

Black Press dropped the $2 co-pay for 30-day prescriptions and $6 for 90-day prescriptions in 2007 for Beacon Journal Guild (newsroom) employees.

Black Press Group LTD bailing out of medical insurance and costs and our pensions, even though its income is nearly $300 million a year, increased my prescription costs ALONE from $160 a year to $2,476.19 for 2020. Puget Sound, Black Press’ subsidiary, dumped Beacon Journal pensions on the Federal Guaranteed Pension, so we will continue to get 100% of our pension because we don’t come close to the $5,000 monthly maximum to have the pension reduced below 100%.

During the years from Federal Judge David Dowd’s 2012 ruling invalidating reneging on printers and newsroom retirees’ retirement-day letters and their guarantees till the Canadian’s bankruptcy filing I saved $60,000 over what it would have cost me personally for my prescriptions, doctors, hospitals and premiums.

Now I am saddled with $1,057.20 a year in once-Beacon Journal-paid premiums for my AARP United Health Care prescription coverage that has far more out-of-pocket expenses than the $2 co-pay I had on retirement day, $2,332.20 a year in premiums for the AARP United Health Care Supplemental plan that the Beacon Journal paid the entire premiums for and the Medicare Part B premium of $1,735.20 a year. That’s $5,124.60 a year for the 3 medical premiums. Plus I gave up $37,000 in Social Security and Beacon Journal pension to retire early and avoid the cutbacks that were about to hit current employees in 1996 but 3 decades later returned to slash my financial situation severely.

And my prescription co-pay that I am responsible for went from $160 in the previous year to $2,476.19 for 2020 alone!

On a Beacon Journal pension that is $1,922.60 a month ($44.71 for each of the 43 years of my journalism career) or about one-fourth my BJ pension each year for my premiums alone. The premiums and now-imposed out-of-pocket medical costs mean that about HALF by Beacon Journal pension each year is gone before I can buy food, clothes, gas or go to a restaurant.

While David Black gets off scot-free with his $300 million revenue a year with the help of fancy lawyers and high-priced accountants.

Income inequality and dodging taxes and pensions and medical costs just widen the gap between people on yachts and people too poor to afford a leaky rowboat.

Anything you can do to improve this situation, not just for me but for the 45 printers and 5 Guild retirees who won the lawsuit only to lose the war to Canadian big business responsibility-dodging and others even worse off because they didn’t benefit from Judge Dowd’s lawsuit ruling.

Thank you for your time and anything you can do to help the Beacon Journal retirees, including many who are even worse off than I am. We gave our working lives to prop up our country’s economy and feel like we’re being kicked in the head by corporations ranking in millions of dollars a year.

 

John Olesky, Jr.

217 N Thomas Road

Tallmadge, OH 44278-1776

(330) 388-4466