Come See Our CIFF Movie
Well, it’s Not Ours Exactly…
Northeast Ohio Boomer and Beyond is in the movie business.
Full disclosure: we don’t know any movie stars and we’ve not actually made any movies. But we like movies and to prove it, we’re media partners for the 43rd Cleveland International Film Festival, which runs March 27-April 7.
Our film is “Very Senior – Attitude is Everything.” Showtimes are Thursday, April 4 at 4:25 p.m., (Tower City), Friday, April 5 at 11:40 a.m. (Tower City) and Saturday, April 6 at 12:40 p.m. (Cleveland Museum of Art).
The film is one of 212 feature films and 237 shorts that will be screened throughout the festival at Tower City Cinemas downtown and at satellite locations.
“Very Senior – Attitude is Everything” is a documentary film about Sun City, Ariz., a 55+ community and the residents who live there. Directed by Susan Gluth, the film is described as “a bright look at the process of aging gracefully and honestly while making one’s own choices.”
See you at the movies – see you at our movie.
Pentameter Envy
A Month Made for Poetry
If it’s been decades since you’ve worked on your iambic pentameters, or you ’ve forgotten what the heck that is, you’re in luck. April is National Poetry Month and Northeast Ohio is crazy full of poets.
One of them is nationally recognized poet George Bilgere, who describes himself as the poet of aging. Several of his poems have been broadcast on Garrison Keillor’s “The Writer’s Almanac.” His latest poetry collection, “Blood Pages,” was published last year.
We figured he’d be the perfect person to ask about poetry, specifically some of his favorites, for Boomer readers.
“(Some) I’d highly recommend to older readers are, of course, the great Billy Collin, a wonderful poet named Tony Hoagland, (and) everybody loves Mary Oliver. And I’m crazy about a fine poet named Dorianne Laux,” Bilgere says. “Subscribing to Garrison Keillor’s podcast of ‘The Writer’s Almanac’ is also great. You get a new poem every day.”
Okay, those are a few to start with. And we need to include Bilgere himself in the group. Then, we’re left with the question: why should we care about poetry? That’s an easy one for Bilgere, who also is a professor at John Carroll University. “I can’t imagine my own life without it. Writing is a way of finding out what you think. And nothing puts you in touch with yourself better than that hour alone in the early morning, just you and your coffee and your writing notebook.”
Bilgere says that for aspiring poets, joining a writing group or workshop is a great way to connect with like-minded people. One of the best places to start is Literary Cleveland. Two or three poetry readings are held weekly in the Cleveland area. He recommends Brews + Prose, held the first Tuesday of the month at The Market Garden Brewery and the brainchild of Ohio’s Poet Laureate, Dave Lucas, who also happens to be based in NEO and teaches at Case Western Reserve University.
To learn more, check out Bigere’s website georgebilgere.com, visit litcleveland.org, or go to brewsandprose.com.
If that doesn’t quite satiate your writing appetite, Case Western Reserve’s Siegal Lifelong Learning in partnership with Literary Cleveland is offering the following courses: Writing the Short Story: Character, Plot, and Conflict, Mondays, April 1-April 15, 10 a.m.-noon and Developing a Writing Habit, Wednesdays, April 3-May 1, 10 a.m.-noon at the Landmark Centre Building, 25700 Science Park Drive, Beachwood. Visit case.edu/lifelonglearning or call 216-368-2091.
Tap Your Inner Madonna
Madonna may have been living in a material world, but today we’re also living in a digital world.
If you’re feeling a bit out of the tech loop, you may want to attend the 3rd Annual Living in the Digital World Senior Expo set for Thursday, May 16, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Don Umerley Civic Center in Rocky River.
The free event is sponsored by the nonprofit Center for Aging in the Digital World, an organization started by Boomer’s own tech guru Tak Sato and his wife, Mely Sato.
The theme is “Keeping Seniors Connected.” It includes exhibits on local senior services, talks by Tak Sato, and information on simple, user-friendly technology.
Stop in throughout the day to enjoy refreshments, conversation and education. Interested businesses and organizations also are invited to take part in the expo by becoming a vendor or sponsor. For details, contact Mely Sato at [email protected] or 440-787-2020.
The Don Umerley Civic Center is located at 21016 Hilliard Blvd. in Rocky River.
Neighborhood Rambles
If you’ve wanted to explore Cleveland’s nooks and crannies, take a look at the Neighborhood Scholars offerings through Cuyahoga Community College (tri-c.edu/neighborhoodscholars).
The guided tours with the themes of Ethnic Lunches, Places of Worship and Discover Cleveland take place now through May. Siam Cafe, the Federal Reserve Museum, The Islamic Center of Cleveland and other interesting, off-the-radar spots are included in the Neighborhood Scholars tours. The cost ranges from free-$20.
What is a Dyngus?
And Why Does it Have its Own Day?
You may know it as Easter Monday, the day after the religious holiday. But for the Polish, April 22 is Dyngus Day, a time to celebrate Easter and the end of the Lenten season.
Now in its ninth year here in Cleveland, the event celebrating Polish culture draws more than 45,000. This year, organizers are hosting a handmade arts and crafts market, vendors, polka music and more from 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. in the Detroit Shoreway Neighborhood, Tremont, Gordon Square, Hingetown, and Ohio City.
These Folks Don’t Mind a Challenge
While the rest of us count the minutes until spring arrives, 16 trivia buff teams have spent the past few months answering arcane questions – and having a blast doing it – at the Northeast Ohio Mind Challenge for the New Majority Tournament.
Representatives from various senior and community centers are competing in the inaugural event, which was the brainchild of Jill Frankel, of the Solon Community Center, and organized by Phil Levine and Art Greenberg, of Score Communications.
The three came up with a friendly trivia competition aimed at sharpening minds and building social connections among “The New Majority” – Baby Boomers and The Greatest Generation.
The tournament is modeled after the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament, with elimination rounds throughout the winter and into spring, Greenberg says.
The Mind Challenge has been a big hit, with enthusiastic feedback from the trivia teams and the crowd that turns out to support them, he says.
Lana Oriani, with the trivia company Get Lucky Trivia, is responsible for all the questions.
“We definitely plan to do this again next year and expand to other communities. The fun part has been in the elimination rounds as the teams compete to move on. Prize money has been a big thing for the senior community centers, as the winning community center will receive a cash prize of $2,500. Second place gets $1,500, third $1,000 and fourth place $500. Trophies will also be presented. We do plan to have a guest TV personality help in the finals,” Greenberg says.
Rounds will be held through March and into April. The top teams advance to the Fact Finding Four (Final Four) April 11. The finals are May 1 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Solon Community Center, with WKYC’s Leon Bibb pulling guest host duties.
Teams from the following 16 communities and organizations participated: Beachwood, Brecksville, Broadview Heights, Cleveland Heights, Chagrin Falls area, Hillcrest YMCA, Lakewood, Maple Heights, Mentor, Middleburg Heights, Partnership on Aging (Mayfield, Mayfield Hts, Lyndhurst, S. Euclid and Highland Heights), Rocky River, Shaker Heights, Solon, Strongsville and Westlake.
Greater Cleveland Volunteers
Are You Ready to Commit?
Help.
As much as The Beatles classic hit song might come to your mind, so might what people do in their community for others.
Did you know that about 32 percent of Ohioans volunteer, and that we come in 23rd among all states, according to The Corporation of National Service (CNCS)?
Which state was number one? Keep reading.
How can we boost Ohio’s volunteer ranks? Research, talk to others and make a commitment.
Research: By doing a quick internet search, you can discover the opportunities by nonprofit agencies that coincide with your passion, interests and/or location. Greater Cleveland Volunteers offers volunteer opportunities with more than 100 nonprofit agencies in Cuyahoga County.
Talk to Others: By having a conversation with your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors about their volunteering efforts, you can discover why they do it and when.
Make a Commitment: Specifically, 32.2 % of Ohio residents say they volunteer in local groups or organizations. Interested in a specific organization? Find out if they need help and learn their volunteer requirements. Is it something you can do from home? Is it ongoing or a one-time assist? Does it require special skills?
Think about what time you might have to help others, which, in turn, is a way to help yourself.
By the way, the number one state for volunteering is Utah, with 51 percent.
By Dianna Kall, communications manager, Greater Cleveland Volunteers. Go to greaterclevelandvolunteers.org to explore local volunteer opportunities.
Book Shelf
Book clubs are a big deal in Northeast Ohio. We asked the West Geauga Senior Center book club for recommendations. They meet at the Geauga West Library on the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. It sounds like a fun group, averaging 12 to 15 members each meeting. Anyone available earlier gathers for lunch at a local restaurant to catch up so they can focus on the book discussion later.
Here are their recommendations:
Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker
By Jennifer Chiaverini
This historical novel is based on the extraordinary relationship between Elizabeth Keckley and Mary Todd Lincoln. Keckley was born a slave and her sewing skills earned her freedom and won her the friendship and mutual devotion of Mrs. Lincoln. Their friendship endured the trials of the Civil War and lasted almost to the end of Mrs. Lincoln’s life.
The Boys in the Boat
By Daniel James Brown
In the most unexpected and unlikely story, nine working-class boys show the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin the grit and determination of their rowing team. Based on the West Coast, this team was never expected to defeat the elite teams of the East Coast, Great Britain or Germany’s team under Adolf Hitler. Brown draws from the boys’ own journals and personal memories to recount their remarkable achievement.
Before We Were Yours
By Lisa Wingate
This gripping and emotional story is based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country. The author weaves the gripping tale of four siblings who live on a shanty boat after they were kidnapped and thrown into the cruel hands of the orphanage. The oldest child fights to keep her siblings together in a world of danger and uncertainty.
The Nightingale
By Kristen Hannah
A beautifully written story that captures an intimate part of World War II seldom seen: the women’s war. This is a story of two sisters who embark on dangerous paths toward survival, love and freedom in German-occupied, war-torn France. This insightful novel celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the gifts women bring to war
Clara & Mr. Tiffany
By Susan Vreeland
Clara Driscoll worked behind the scenes for Louis Tiffany in a workplace that allowed no women to be married. It’s 1893 and Mr. Tiffany wants to debut his innovative stained glass windows at the World’s Fair in Chicago. Never publicly acknowledged, Clara struggles with her desire for artistic recognition and the insurmountable challenges of being a woman in the working world. She conceives and designs nearly all the iconic leaded-glass lamps for which Tiffany will be long remembered. She must decide what makes her happiest: her professional world or her personal world.
Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening
By Carol Wall
A great non-fiction book about a white woman living in an all-white American neighborhood. She notices a dark-skinned African man tending her neighbor’s yard. His name is Giles Owita and he is from Kenya – and is very good at gardening. He also bags groceries at the supermarket. He ends up transforming Carol’s yard and her life through a bond of friendship that develops and is revealed as the story unfolds.
