Archives by: Marie Elium

Marie Elium

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About the author

Marie Elium joined Mitchell Media in 2015 as editor of Northeast Ohio Thrive, formerly Boomer magazine. A freelance writer for 45 years and a former newspaper reporter, she believes everyone has a story worth telling. She resides in Portage County where she grows flowers, tends chickens and bees and Facetimes with her young grandsons. Marie can be reached at [email protected]

Marie Elium Posts

Editor’s Note. How I Celebrated My Vaccination

Editor’s Note. How I Celebrated My Vaccination
As someone who isn’t burdened by unpleasant drug side effects, anti-vax angst, or a general suspicion of the medical community and people who are a lot smarter than me, getting the COVID vaccine was a no-brainer. I can hug my 87-year-old dad again, return to church, eat in a restaurant and, because I didn’t have a match handy, lose $20 in a Vegas slot machine rather than set it on fire. Isn’t science great? ...
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Watch for the Latest Issue of Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond

We're celebrating the region's gradual reopening with a jam-packed May/June issue full of outdoor concerts and other events to get your summer off to a great start. Look for the May/June issue at Marc's, Discount Drug Mart, Giant Eagle, recreation centers, libraries and other places throughout Northeast Ohio. ...
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The Art (and Crafts) of the You-Know-What

Editor’s Note
We are What We Make

The past year gave me clarity that I didn’t expect and I’m not sure I appreciate: I like art. But I’m not an artist.

Months of weekends with nothing to do, long evenings and insomnia-driven early mornings mean I have a lot of time on my hands. I don’t feel like doing anything that I should be doing: organizing closets, mastering recipes, reading books, grooming the dog. I’m restless, a condition I blame on Living Through a Major Historical Time (LTAMHT).

So I did what millions of others have done: I went on Amazon and ordered art supplies. 

Creatively Average
I started with origami. I thought it would be a fun art to master and I ordered a tablet of origami paper. My YouTube instructors led me through complicated-looking videos until I found one designed for children. It was still really, really complicated.

I powered through, and after a few short hours, made an origami chicken. I progressed to Christmas trees (harder than it looks on the videos) but finally gave up after a major star-folding fail. Conclusion: I’m a Below-Average Origami Artist. Let’s say D+.

Next up: Watercolor painting. I consulted my YouTube instructors and quickly realized that mixing pigments and managing brushstrokes, combined with a lack of artistic talent, had all the makings of a setup. 

Undeterred, I bought cheap watercolor pencils, paper and a pack of $5 brushes. I’m committed to art; my wallet isn’t. Fortunately, the instructors were patient with me and I made a few (shamelessly copied) paintings. Conclusion: A solid C. Good enough. 

During this LTAMHT, I’ve also tackled silk scarf painting and, briefly and inexpertly, calligraphy. Again, solid C work. I’m reluctant to call it art.

My artistic friends are making better use of their LTAMHT. One is a quilter who, not content with that impressive talent, made paper caricatures.

...
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Worth Noting: Goodbye, Michael; Used Bikes; Centennial Celebrations

Worth Noting: Goodbye, Michael; Used Bikes; Centennial Celebrations

A Shot in the Arm
o
r a Long Shot?
If you’ve been scrambling to find a Covid-19 vaccination, you’re in good company. With limited supplies and clunky websites, it’s been an exercise in frustration for many of us. Whether we’re helping older family members or trying to score a vaccination for ourselves, the process has proven to be time-consuming and confusing. Ugh!

One place to start is the state website — vaccine.coronavirus.ohio.gov/ — which lists vaccine providers by county and zip code. Supplies should be increasing throughout the spring as production ramps up and new vaccines get emergency approval. The end, at last, is in sight.

 

A Generation’s Touchstone  
Goodbye, Michael Stanley
Cleveland rock-n-roll singer and songwriter Michael Stanley was part of our lives throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. His death earlier this month was bittersweet.

Stanley stayed here and played here, but the Michael Stanley Band didn’t. We packed up our MSB albums in milk crates and carted them off to dorm rooms and first apartments, where Stanley’s lyrics and rhythms time-stamped our memories. Stanley reminded us of our younger years and hometowns in all the very best ways. 

That’s a great way to be remembered. 

 

Clothes Call
Local Company Simplifies Dressing

If you’ve ever tried to help an older loved one (or yourself, for that matter) put together an outfit and struggled to keep everything together in one easy-to-assemble spot, then you’ll appreciate this creative solution from Brecksville’s Erin Naso: The Hanger Valet.

Launched last year, The Hanger Valet is a daily outfit organizer that simplifies getting dressed, a task that can be especially frustrating for people who are trying to maintain independence and the people who help them. But honestly, who couldn’t benefit from an organizer with pockets that drape over a clothes hanger? Think about it: socks, shoes, undergarments, jewelry and anything else necessary, all in one, handy spot.

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Wild, Whimsical & Wonderful: Glorious Public Gardens

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the promise of spring than a stroll through one of Northeast Ohio’s public gardens. If you’re eager to find inspiration for your own backyard, or want to enjoy and appreciate someone else’s hard work, then a visit to a public garden is in order. The best part? The gardens are pandemic-friendly with expansive outdoor areas and protocols that keep safety first with timed visits, mask requirements and other measures. ...
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Cleveland Baseball’s Mike and Sharon Hargrove: A Season Like No Other

The former Indians player and manager Mike Hargrove and his wife, Sharon, had a year that was like no other in their 50-year marriage. They traded professional ballparks for the dusty confines of community ballfields, watching their grandkids play. They approached 2021 much like the rest of us, eager for life to return to normal, and wondering exactly what that might mean. ...
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Look for the March/April Issue of Boomer & Beyond

We've got spring fever and our latest issue of Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond shows it. On the cover we've got a major league couple: Mike and Sharon Hargrove who talk about life in and out of baseball and a year of living in a pandemic. Also on tap: second chances. We've rounded up experts for home decor, job hunting and dating who will inspire you to revamp, reboot and reclaim your life. And as they say, that's not all. Want to avoid internet cons? Never fear, our tech expert has practical advice on keeping the bad guys out of your online activities. ...
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Restaurant Recommendations? Ask a Foodie. Book Recommendations? Ask a Librarian

We'll read what they're reading. The Akron-Summit County Public Library staff tells us what they’re reading (or want to read) and why we may like it, too. Let us know what you think. ...
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