Howl at the Moon! Protect Geauga Parks!

Not long ago Judge Tim Grendell told folks from Protect Geauga Parks that they might as well "howl at the moon like a bunch of coyotes"--they weren't going to stop his unraveling of the Geauga Park system. Well this afternoon, the people fighting to "Preserve Conserve and Protect" the Geauga Parks did just that, held a Howl-at-the-Moon event at the Kent State-Burton campus in Burton, Ohio.

Over 100 men, women, and children attended this event, one that included old-timey banjo, fiddle, and guitar music (Gordon Keller on fiddle, his wife Louise on guitar, and Rachel McKinney on banjo). John Augustine showed video and did a narration on local otters (John is extraordinarily knowledgeable about the natural world, and a staunch defender of the Geauga Parks); Ed Buckles and Kathy Hanratty gave speeches; and five children participated in a howl-at-the-moon contest (one did it in her father's arms).

So many extraordinary people were present, including Debbi Mayo, Kathleen O'Neill Webb, Debbie Eger, Kathy Hanratty, Barb Partington and her husband Dave, Sandra Buckles and her husband Ed, John Augustine, Todd and Mary Ray, Kathy Flora, Dave and Pat Dardis, Gayle and Jim Wohlken, Professor Steve Vieira, Catherine and Elbert Whitright, Linda Coughlin, Jim Mueller, and so many more. It was a fun event, with many people wearing their "Protect Geauga Parks" shirts. Beautiful photographic banners were hung on the walls, and "Protect Geauga Parks" signs were everywhere. People socialized and made plans--mixed business with fun. Click here to see Protect Geauga Park's website.

We ain't going away, Judge Grendell. We will continue to fight for the park system. We will not let it be destroyed.

Howl-at-the Moon Contest

Another Howler

Kathy Hanratty

Ed Buckles

Some of the crowd

Jim Wohlken, dressed as a coyote, with Ed Buckles and Kathy Hanratty

Beautiful old-timey music: Rachel McKinney, Louise and Gordon Keller

A couple of the extraordinary banners hung around the room

Debbi Mayo and Kathleen O'Neill Webb

A coyote sitting by the microphone

Lakeland's Poetry Contest--Looking Back Over 25 Years

Lakeland Community College's poetry contest has a deadline for submissions this Friday, April 20th (see the following blog post for contest rules, categories, and other information). Whenever the contest rolls around I think of the many extraordinary poet-judges and contest winners from the past.

One of the early judges was a poet from Hiram College by the name of Hale Chatfield. There are many Hiram alums and professors who fondly remember Professor Chatfield and his excellent poetry. Another of my favorite judges from the past is Kat Snider Blackbird from Burton, Ohio. Kat is an absolutely wonderful poet, and I believe she is teaching these days at Kent State University. Other judges have come from the Burton area, including Gayle and Jim Wohlken. Besides being a terrific poet, Gayle is a fine artist specializing in woodcuts. She has published several small chapbooks that feature her woodcuts and her poetry along with the poetry of many of her friends. At times this group of poets puts on performances that feature music and percussion accompanying the poems (they call themselves the "Drumming Poets").

Other fine local poets who have judged our contest over the years include Ellen McHugh of Painesville, Mary Roulette of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Tom Hyland of Rocky River, Michael Billings of Lakewood, Larry Aufderheide of Mentor, and George Bilgere, professor at John Carroll University. George Bilgere has a close connection with former US Poet Laureate Billy Collins.

The awards reception, which takes place this year on Tuesday, May 8th (7:30 PM in Lakeland's Library), will be a great time for celebrating poetry in Northeast Ohio. The featured poet this year is Suzanne Ondrus of Chagrin Falls. Several Lakeland faculty poets will also read, including contest co-founder Bill French, Lakeland professor of respiratory therapy.