SPRING FORWARD : This is how today began on Oakwood Drive in Vermilion, Ohio. The cat (Sweetie Pie) ventured out of the house in the early light to lick some of the rain from the surface of the deck behind the house (?).
Go figure.
My timing is off this week. I know it. I've had to do everything 3, 4, or 5 times before anything works right.
It started earlier this week with DVD Players. Have you ever hooked up DVD players to your television(s)? Hey - what the hell are all those wires for anyway?
It took me three days to figure out how to attach a DVD Player to a television that was recently changed from cable access to satellite. The fellow who set up the satellite receiver(s) said that everything would work when he was finished (i.e. the VCR and DVD Players).
He lied.
Actually I believe he was simply in a hurry and didn't bother to check his work. But that's okay. I now know more about the system (and DVD systems) than I really intended.
Now I'm trying to figure out how to hook up a DVR to those systems so I can copy a DVD and record from the TV.
When I'm finished I'll make a diagram - so anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation can have a better time of it than myself. It all seemed so simple.
Today I've had a wonderful experience adding sundry links from this page to others for friends who've requested that it be done.
Take note of the fact that adding links (using the language of this page - "HTML") is not quite as simple as just typing in the title of the webpage or e-mail address.
And also note that if, during this process, one happens to make even the slightest error in the language or (Heaven forbid) you forget to save your work - IT IS GONE and you have to start over again.
Fortunately, with all my mistakes I've developed a patience for technical problems that is, by and large (mostly large), become boundless.
I wish I had the same patience with people - and the weather.
But Spring is nigh. Spring forward.
OOC 1972(S): The precise date of this photograph is September 2, 1972. It was taken in Sloppy Joe's bar at the Olympic Outing Club. These young ladies are waiting for my wife, Georgi, to toss her wedding bouquet in the air.
And almost 35 years have gone bye.
I know all the girls in the pic. Three were Olympic Club girls. At least one (Diane Hones-Murray - far right) is now a grandmother.
The young lady, directly to her left (Bonnie Johnson), now lives in New Zealand. Her sister is Mary Johnson Moes.
The girl directly to her right (our left) in the middle is Jane Whitt. Janie is the second daughter of the late Vermilion Postmaster and his wife, Paul and Rita Whitt. She is a sister to Vermilinites Kathy Fischer and Don Whitt. Another brother, Rich, lives in W. VA.
No one knows where Jane is today. She moved to California, and hasn't been heard from in many years. She was a great kid.
And the young lady to the far left is Karen Keleman - a North Olmstead native.
Just to the right of Diane Murray (if you look closely) you can see June and Mario Rini.
It was a rainy September day.
NEW SOFTWARE: Among other things (i.e. the DVD & DVR set-ups) I've been involved in this week I've also been working with a new software program called the AKVIS Retoucher.
"The AKVIS Retoucher plug-in restores damaged photographs to optimal condition with little effort. Surface defects such as scratches, water spots, flakes and stains can be removed automatically, just select the defects and run the program..."
I used the above photo (which is, incidentally, a childhood photo of George Wakefield) because it was both handy and had some flaws/cracks in it. What you see between the pix are A the original, and B the photo with some of the flaws removed. I'm not through working with the photograph - so you're not really looking at anything too dynamic. When I'm finished I'll show you what the software can really do.
The software works as a plugin with Adober Photoshop Elements and/or CS2. I can see how it might be real helpful (to me).
At the moment I'm using a trial copy of the software program. When a company lets you try their software they must be confindent that it can be of some use.
We shall see.
THE REVERE BELL: If you've ever visited The History of Vermilion's Congregational Church page you're already aware of the fact that the old church on Main/Division Street next to the Vermilion Township Hall once called folks to worship with a genuine Revere bell. My friend, the good Reverend Louis Bertoni, dropped this old clipping off to me last week - and it is interesting.
The bell was lost when the new church on State Street was built in 1957. The congregation sold the old church and the bell.
The bell (to my knowledge) was sold to someone and/or an organization in California.
I've not a clue as to the logic behind that sale. But that's the way of it.
Like the old song goes...
"...Don't it always seem to go You don't know what you've got til it's gone..."
THE VHS MARCHING BAND: One other thing I've been busy with during the last few weeks is some recording hardware and software. I've made a digital recording of this record of Vermilion's Marching Band c. 1958-59 - and put it on disc. There are seven pieces on the recording.
Anyone who attended Vermilion Schools and/or their sports events during those years will likely remember Bill Burt's powerful marching bands. And if you look real close you will also remember some of the members of that particular band.
Great stuff.
PODCAST #14.2: This week the Vermilion Views Podcast #14.2.1 offers a bit more history (from 1937) about the Todd Family of Vermilion. You might be interested in finding out How Carp Came to Lake Erie. I can't attest to the veracity of the story - but it sure is interesting. After that I ask that you join me in a few laughs.
Stay close.
HAVE YE QUESTIONS (?): I've not yet acquired an answer to Bob Williams' question about the colors for the Vermilion School system. But I will. It just taking me long than I prefer to get the answer to Bob's question.
I sincerely hope to have the answer to this question next week.
WHAT'S A FOOT: The next meeting of the Vermilion Area Archival Society will be held at the Community Room of the Ritter Public Library this Monday (March 12, 2007) at 7 pm. This program will feature the Mitiwanga memories of Sarah and Harold Welker. Most folks who attended Vermilion's Schools know the Welker's quite well. They are an astounding couple. We hope to see ye all there.
Everyone is absolutely welcome to attend these meetings and/or to become a member of the VAAS.
Lifetime memberships are $100. Yearly memberships are $10 a person; $18.00 a couple; and $5 for a student.Our address is:
And I need to mention the projects of my friend Bette Lou Higgins, Artistic Director, of Eden Valley Enterprises. For those unfamiliar with her work - they stage historical people/events from (and) around the State of Ohio.
A great deal of research and practice goes into these productions to make them as accurate as possible.
I will attempt to keep updates on Eden Valley' programs here throughout the year. So keep coming back.
The Cleveland Baseball Heritage Museum in the Colonial Arcade, 530 Euclid Ave. will open the 2007 baseball season with several special events including a performance of YOU CAN'T PLAY BALL IN A SKIRT! On March 24 @ 3 p.m., Susan Brewer will portray Ohio's Baseball Wonder, Dr. Alta Weiss who put herself through medical school playing professional baseball on a MEN'S team in the early 1900s. This is the 100th anniversary year of the beginning of Alta's baseball career and this performance will open the 2007 season for the Museum. This program is open to the public. Admission is $10/person (Children under 12 are admitted free).For more information, visit the Cleveland Baseball Heritage Museum webpage.
This program will also be featured at the Ashland Chautauqua, June 25-30. The Chautauqua is sponsored by the Ashland Community Arts Center and this year's theme is "Sport and Society." For complete information on all of the events (which are FREE and open to the public), call 419-281-9836 or e-mail: Ashland Arts Center
To arrange for this or any of their programs for your group, contact Eden Valley directly with your request (and/or to view a complete schedule of Eden Valley Events) visit their web page at www.edenvalleyenterprises.org.
Please take the time to visit (or re-visit) the Hope Children's Home site linked below because there are some additions there that you might find interesting. With all the bad things happening on the "dark continent" and elsewhere it's really nice to know that there are some places where the light does shine brightly. Please keep in mind that the needs of Hope Children's Home are on-going. Partially due to the horrors taking place in the Mid-East the continued suffering of the peoples in Africa go virtually unnoticed by both our nation and the United Nations - and that should not be. Contributions to that home may be made to a Vermilion expatriot Larry Hohler in New York.
Larry, his wife Yvette recently returned from Kenya and sent me the following note:
Just returned from a visit to the Home in Kenya, and my heart is full; Yvette and I were accompanied by 8 fellow travelers, 3 HS students who went to perform a service project, thier teacher (also a Board member) his 23 year old daughter and his significant other, an older brother of one of the students, and an AIDS educator who works for our County. I met Weddie (not Wendi, the little girl I was holding in the picture taken during last year's visit), and her friends, and found therm to be delightful; energetic, intelligent, creative, and very happy to be off the streets. They had found one of the books I brought last year, a book of poetry that dealt with how people deal with life's adversity, particularly relevant to their lives. Each one of the 37 memorized a poem from the collection, altering it to fit each of their own experiences. Listening to them brought tears to my eyes. While the adults in the group were visiting various local movers ands shakers to firm up support for the home, the students used a stencil and spray paint they brought with them to prime a VAN WE BOUGHT FOR THE Home Before Christmas, and affix the name of the home, along with several African animals and the Kenya National Flag. The workers at the panel beaters shop where they did the work didn't know what to make of these young white people who showed up with their own paint and stencils. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality of Merian community and the gratitude expressed by the young people that we serve. I'll send you a couple of photos of the kids and their visitors, and you'll see what I mean.
I need to strongly reiterate the fact that this is an on-going project. The need is forever continuing. Please keep that in mind.
In relation to Larry's work with the Hope Children's Home I have received some very interesting biographies of some of the children who have come to benefit by participating in this project. I'd like to share one of them with you each week. The following is #18:
CLASS REUNION UPDATES:This from Shirley Williams Gleason: The CLASS of '58 is planning on hosting the reunion on the weekend of July 17, 18, 19, 2008....The Committee will be sending out information this spring in regard to the plans.
The VHS Class of 1957 are planning their Class Reunion for September 15, 2007. They cannot find addresses for the following classmates: William A. Brown, Carol L. Burkle, Eddie L. Davis, Robert W. DeLong, Jim B. Henry, Alexander J. Lutz, or Neil M. Marcussen. If anyone has that information please forward it to
And I just received the following from Alice Wakefield:
"...I just established a yahoo group for the VHS Class of 1957 so we can catch up on our classmates before our September reunion..." Here are the details: The Group home page can be found at: VHS CLASS OF 1957 The Group email address is: VHSClassof1957 Go to the home page and join today!!
Bob Ferry, is heading up the VHS Class Reunion for 1987...20 years. Hither is their website: Class of 1987
I was unaware of it but more than just a few folks do use this site as a link to their respective class sites - so - here's the VHS Class of 1959's site back for your convenience too: Remember that site is located at: Class of '59 and it'll be updated it as Roger (Boughton) receives enough new pictures and information from classmates to make it worth reading. And, incidently, I received the following communique from Roger this recently. It said in part:
JUST A REMINDER: You'll also want to place on your calendar the dates for our reunion in 2009. It will be held the weekend of September 18-20, 2009. It seems like a long way off but you'll find it will be here sooner than you anticipated.
It is my understanding that some of these links are not working, or not working well. If so it is a technical problem belonging to the respective parties operating those webpages.
The Beat Goes On: The page is generated by the dreaded Macintosh Computer and is written and designed by (me) Rich Tarrant. It will change weekly ~ usually on Saturday. Bookmark the URL (Universal Resource Locater) and come back at your own leisure. Send the page to your friends (and enemies if you wish). If you have something to share with those who visit this page, pass it on. And if you see something that is in need of correction do the same. My sister, Nancy, is a great help in that respect. It only takes me a week to get things right. And follow the bookmarks. You might find something you like. If you experience a problem with them let me know. Also, if you want to see past editions of this eZine check the new archives links below.
Links to other sites on the Web
For Persons who would like to contribute to the cause (to keep these "Views" on-line you can send whatever you would like to me at the following address or use PayPal(It's fast, free, easy, and secure):
Vol.4, Issue 51, March 10, 2007
© 2007 Rich Tarrant