My Ticket to Ride: How I Ran Away to England to Meet the Beatles and Got Rock and Roll Banned in Cleveland (A True Story from 1964)
By Janice Mitchell
Reviewed by Dan Hanson
September 2021
I didn't expect to really like this book. Of course I like the Beatles music but Beatlemania was a little before my time and I never understood the screaming throng of young girls at concerts. But I soon found myself engrossed in a fascinating story.
In 1964 as Beatlemania swept the US and world a Cleveland Heights teen from a troubled family falls "in love" with the Beatles. She buys every record, magazine and tchotcke she can. She dreams of meeting them and moving to London to be with them. Probably the same dream as thousands of young girls at the time, right?
But this girl went beyond the dreaming stage. Her passion and drive lead her to several adventures including being alone in a room with the Rolling Stones and being kissed by one of them (not the one you might expect!). She saved her money and camped out at Public Hall to get front row center seats for the Beatles concert at Public Hall. That just furthers her drive to be part of their world.
She and a friend actually cash in their meager funds, get passports and travel to London to "Meet the Beatles" just like the record said. Without telling their family or anyone else. It's a fascinating account of their adventures and exposure to a very different climate from their Cleveland Heights homes.
It was suspenseful as the teen girls hitchhiked in England, met and hung out with older guys in bands and took chances that would be much more dangerous in our modern world.
The story grows as Cleveland Heights police and the local radio station start tracking down the missing girls while the girls keep pursuing meeting the Beatles in London and Liverpool. Even the Beatles get involved!
It's a fun read and locals will recognize many of the Cleveland and Cleveland Heights landmarks from the story. It also gives an insider's look at the carefree mod days of early Beatlemania in London as teens flocked to clubs, dressed in the latest fashions.
Sometimes we throw around numbers like a million or billion or trillion or more very casually. It's good to have a frame of reference to compare to.
For example, 1,000 seconds is almost 17 minutes. One million seconds are counted off in about eleven and a half days. But it takes 32 years for one billion seconds! That's how much bigger a billion is to a million.
A trillion seconds would amount to no less than 31,709.8 years!
Think of that when you hear of trillion dollar deficits and budgets.
Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito Jr. (born August 10, 1933) is best known playing baseball for the Cleveland Indians in right field. In 1959, he hit four consecutive home runs in one game. In 1965, he became the first American League (AL) outfielder to play a complete season with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Rocky Colavito was an All-Star for six seasons (9 All-Star Games). He is the fifth player in the history of the AL to have eleven consecutive 20-home run seasons (1956–1966). During that span, he exceeded 40 home runs three times and 100 runs batted in, six times. He also led the AL in home runs, RBI, and slugging average once each. Colavito ranked third among AL right-handed hitters for home runs (371) and eighth for AL games played at right field (1272), at the end of his MLB playing career in 1968.
But Rocky is so much more than a bunch of all-star caliber achievements. He was a hero to Cleveland and every kid in little league copied the stretch and other batting nuances of #6. The fans loved Rocky and when he was unexpectedly traded to Detroit on April 17, 1960 by Indians general manager Frank Lane to the Detroit Tigers for Harvey Kuenn the fans were devastated. They missed "The Rock" and cries of Don't knock the Rock were everywhere.
The Tribe was extremely unsuccessful after the trade and it was blamed on "The Curse of Rocky Colavito" which became a book by sportswriter Terry Pluto.
In January 1965, Rocky Colavito was brought back to Cleveland from Kansas City by Indians general manager Gabe Paul.
The Cleveland fans never stopped idolizing Rocky and he had a triumphant return in August 2021 for the unveiling of a statue in his honor in Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood.
The day included a lunch with a birthday cake and the packed house singing Happy Birthday to Rocky.
Happy 88th birthday Rocky Colavito
I was fortunate to be one of a handful who got to ask Rocky questions at a press conference. I asked about the many Italian American stars in baseball. I asked who would be his all-time Italian outfield with him in right field and Joe Dimaggio in center. Off camera we talked about other positions. For example, he said while Mike Piazza was great the best Italian catcher was Yogi Berra. No contest.
The highlight of the day was the ceremony and unveiling of the statue in Little Italy.
Fred Ziwich and his “International Sound Machine” has a new CD release
out called “When It’s Polka Time in Cleveland.”(Now and Then).Some of the 23
songs were recorded in 2021 (Now) and others were recorder in the past.
If you don’t know Fred Ziwich, here is a little about him from when the National
Cleveland Style Polka Hall of Fame gave him the Lifetime Achievement Award in
2010.
“Fred Ziwich is known as just about the most versatile nusician ever on
the Cleveland polka scene. He is a virtuoso on several instruments, a prolific
recording artist,and an expert music
arranger. His band, the "lnternational Sound Machine" has mastered,
performed and recorded all of the major polka styles. Fred also plays a large repertoire of popular music. There is no music he can't play and perform well.”
The 23 songs cover a variety of Polka Styles.I especially liked the title cut, Achtung Los
(Watch Out!), The Beer is Good (Die Goass is’ Weg) and Oktoberfest is here.
There’s a unique arrangement of In Heaven There Is No Beer and Cleveland
Girls Polka.Fred also does several
covers that were a surprise such as The Accordion Man – Billy Joel’s Piano Man
with the words adjusted.Who would
expect covers of “Can’t Smile Without You”, “The Way You Look Tonight” and the
classic “Does your Chewing Gum lose its flavor (on the bedpost overnight)?
There are a lot of styles on this CD and a lot of music.Something for everyone.
You can get it when you see Fred perform live or at PolkaConnection.com
and other websites.You can also email
him at FredPolka@yahoo.com
Architect Berj Shakarian was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame. Berj was the driving force behind the Armenian Cultural Garden in Cleveland as well as the Centennial Peace Plaza among other projects.
Armenian Cultural Garden
Berj Shakarian in the Plaza
Cleveland Cultural Garden Federation president Dr. Wael Khoury introduced Berj and then previous inductee Paul Burik presented Berj and gave him his CIHF award and pin.
The Estonian Cultural Garden was dedicated June 19, 1966. Each year, the Estonian community and friends gather to celebrate Estonian Victory Day (Võidupüha) and St John's Day (Jaanipäev).
Toomas Tubalkain served as MC and introduced speakers including Lithuanian Honorary Consul Ingrida Bublys, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and Estonian Garden delegate Erika Puussaar.
Erika Puussaar and Toomas Tubalkain
Estonian Garden Group
Estonian Garden Monument
Here’s how they fooled the occupying Soviets. (from our Ambassador Toomas Tubalkain).
Victory Day is the day Estonia won its final battle in the war of independence on June 21, 1919. St. John's Day is always celebrated as midsummer on June 24th. Victory Day and midsummer are linked through history. But during the Soviet occupation, Victory Day was banned, but midsummer (a pagan holiday) was allowed. Estonians decided to celebrate the two together, without informing anyone that Victory Day was being combined with midsummer celebrations.
The Serbian Cultural Garden is one of over 30 ethnic heritage gardens in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens in Cleveland Ohio.
The founder and driving force of the Serbian Cultural Garden is Serbian Honorary Consul Alex Machaskee.
Alex gave some history and led a tour of the Garden explaining the various features including the large icon of St. Sava and the busts of Nikola Tesla, King Peter 1, Mileva Maric, Nadezda Petrovic, Michael Pupin, Milutin Milankovic, Petar Njegos, Stevan Mokranjac, Vuk Karadzic and other Serbian cultural figures.
On June 1, 1971 Ken Kovach became Choir Master at the historic St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Cathedral in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland Ohio. In his 50 (and counting) years he has witnessed many things in the Cathedral.
One of which is being part of the filming of the movie The Deer Hunter, a 1978 American epic war drama film. Ken met and worked with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, writer/director Michael Cimino and others.
He also sings with a Russian folk group called the Cuyahoga Cossacks.
In this video, Ken tells about the Choir Master role and some of these stories. And then he gives a brief example of his great singing voice – singing The Lord’s Prayer.
St. Theodosius Cathedral is the oldest Orthodox Christian Church in the State of Ohio.
It is located in the historic Tremont area of the City of Cleveland. The historic cathedral was constructed between 1911-1912 and is considered one of the finest examples of Russian church architecture in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States.
The parish of St. Theodosius Orthodox Christian Cathedral was organized by immigrant Russians living in Tremont in 1896. St. Theodosius Cathedral was the "Mother Church" for most of the Orthodox Christian churches in northeast Ohio today.
The cathedral is perhaps best known for its appearance in the 1978 Best Picture winning film, The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep.
Ken Kovach has been Choir Master at St Theodosius for 50 years. He gives us a tour of the inside of the Cathedral and shares some thoughts on the Eastern Orthodox Church.
The Rotary Club of Cleveland hosted Timothy Daley, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument for a Zoom meeting.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument commemorates the American Civil War; it consists of a 125' column surrounded at its base by a Memorial Room and esplanade. The column, topped with a statue of the Goddess of Freedom, defended by the Shield of Liberty, signifies the essence of the Nation for which Cuyahoga County veterans were willing to and did give their lives.
Four bronze groupings on the esplanade depict, in battle scenes, the Navy, Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry. Inside the Memorial Room are four bronze relief sculptures: Women's Soldiers' and Sailors' Aid Society, Beginning of the War in Ohio, Emancipation of the Slaves and End of the War at City Point, Va., as well as busts of Gen. James Barnett and Architect/ Sculptor Levi T. Scofield, together with 6 officers, who were either killed in action, or died of disease or their wounds.
The interior of this old Monument built in 1894 has just been gloriously rehabilitated with its original coloration restored, new lighting, heating, air conditioning and ADA access.
Watch the entire presentation on the Soldiers’ and Sailors' Monument below.
I am honored
to have taken part in the Lakewood Public Library Meet the Author Series for my
book Murder in the Cultural Gardens.
Filmed in the Hungarian and British Gardens and in front of the Mark
Twain bust I tell the story of the book, the Cultural Gardens and the writing
process.
See more at https://www.lakewoodpubliclibrary.org/dan-hanson/
Hadia Tawadros and her husband Nader Soliman are encouraging people to "Eat like the Pharaohs" with the launch of their food truck, King Tut Egyptian Street Food. They love cooking and Egypt so decided to bring authentic Egyptian street food to the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
This is the first food truck in the state of Ohio to feature authentic Egyptian street food.
Casablanca, Marrakesh, Algiers, the Barbary Coast, Morocco, the Sahara Desert, Darfur, Benghazi, Tunisia, Tripoli.
You've seen these exotic locales in movies, TV shows and the news but do you know where they are or much about them? In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at North Africa.
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent and contains 54 fully recognized sovereign states (countries). This first episode in a series covering Africa includes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco (including Western Sahara), Tunisia and Sudan.
After watching you will never listen to Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash or even the US Marines Hymn the same.
Members of the Cleveland Lithuanian community gathered at the Lithuanian Cultural Garden to celebrate The Act of Reinstating Independence of Lithuania or Act of 16 February which was signed by the Council of Lithuania on 16 February 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania.
Gathering by the bust of Jonas Basanavicius in the Lithuanian Cultural Garden
Because of the pandemic only a few officers were allowed to attend this brief outdoor ceremony led by President Algis Gudenas and including Honorary Consul General Ingrida Bublys and Cleveland Councilman Mike Polensek.
Councilman Tony Brancatelli, Cleveland International Hall of Fame inductee Irene Morrow, Polish Cultural Garden delegate Connie Adams and others shared their favorite packzki traditions and memories. What are yours?
Each year the Rotary Club of Cleveland celebrates International Fellowship Day by honoring a person and/or organization with the International Service Award. The 2021 honoree is Global Cleveland and the award was accepted by its president Joe Cimperman.
Club President Ronald J. Felgenhauer welcomed the virtual attendees and spoke about the history and good woks of Rotary. After the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Father Ralph Wiatrowski, Pastor of St. Barnabas Church, past president Julie Brouhard presented the award.
Before the acceptance, Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Lithuania Ingrida Bublys read some of the proclamations from US Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and Governor Mike Dewine before showing a video message from Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.
Then Joe Cimperman accepted the award and gave an inspiring speech about Rotary, Cleveland and Global Cleveland.
In my alter ego persona as the the Great Lakes Geek, I posted this short video.
I was cleaning the basement and found two printouts of ASCII Art – Mona Lisa and Alfred E. Newman.
I talk about ASCII and the ‘good old days’ when you could create art for any existing device using a text editor, ASCII characters, a dot matrix printer and a box of green bar paper.
Whether you are old enough to remember when Led Zeppelin was touring and cutting their classic LPs or you have "discovered" them more recently, the band is undoubtedly one of the greatest of all time.
Thanks to Stern Pinball, Inc., you can rock out while playing a terrific pinball game.
Stern Pinball, Inc. is a global lifestyle brand based on the iconic and outrageously fun modern American game of pinball.
Headquartered in Chicago, the company creates, designs, engineers, manufactures, markets, and distributes a full line of technologically advanced terrestrial and digital pinball games, parts, accessories, and merchandise. Stern Pinball serves digital, consumer, commercial, and corporate markets around the globe.
Recent Stern Pinball titles include Avengers: Infinity Quest, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Stranger Things, Elvira’s House of Horrors, Jurassic Park, Black Knight: Sword of Rage, The Munsters, The Beatles, Deadpool, Iron Maiden, Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Aerosmith, Ghostbusters, KISS, Metallica, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, AC/DC, Batman, and Spider-Man. A broad range of players enjoy Stern Pinball’s games from professional pinball players who compete in high-stakes competitions around the globe to novice players who are discovering the allure of the silver ball for the first time.
Everyone knows Led Zeppelin. Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and the late, great drummer John Bonham. Together they became one of the best-selling bands with estimated record sales of 300 million units worldwide. In 1995 Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their innovative and influential impact on the entire music industry.
In this high energy rock and roll pinball concert experience, pinball and music are fused together. Players are transported back to Led Zeppelin’s early days and tour the world from 1968-1980. As if players were members of the band playing its music, their play updates game features at the start of each verse and chorus of ten iconic Led Zeppelin songs:
Good Times Bad Times
Whole Lotta Love
The Song Remains the Same
Rock and Roll
Trampled Under Foot
Ramble On
Kashmir
Immigrant Song
Black Dog
Communication Breakdown
These are high-energy, classic hard rock tunes and some of the Great Lakes Geek's favorites. Yours too I bet.
“There is nothing more energizing and fun than bringing pinball and music together,” said Gary Stern, Chairman and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “Partnering with Led Zeppelin, we created a one-of-a-kind pinball experience. It’s our dream goal to create a pinball machine with this iconic rock band.”
Stern Led Zeppelin Pro Pinball machine
The Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models all feature a custom-molded Hindenburg Zeppelin toy, based on the iconic imagery from the Led Zeppelin I album. When lit, the Zeppelin toy scores speed locks on the player’s musical journey to Zeppelin multiball. A custom Swan Song Records trademark Icarus sculpted leaper toy takes flight when smashed by the chaotic pinball. A 3-bank of drop targets, 3 custom steel ramps, and 3 flippers keep the pinball action rolling.
Stern Led Zeppelin Premium Pinball machine
The Premium and Limited Edition models feature an innovative interactive Electric Magic™ toy. This device is a unique motorized toy which rises from below the playfield to create different magical pinball experiences. An optical spinner charges the Electric Magic magnet, capturing and making balls disappear. The Electric Magic device also converts into a physical pinball bash toy capable of locking a ball or launching a ball around the playfield.
In true rock concert fashion, the Expression Lighting System™ with 96 intelligent RGB LED’s enables full color spectrum control. Positioned in pockets cut into the cabinet sides to provide color themed full playfield illumination, this integrated playfield lighting system is synchronized to custom light shows specifically designed for every song and dynamically responsive to game events.
As an encore, these models have an additional reversing scoop and metal combo ramp, allowing players to keep the hits coming with constant adrenalized pinball action. A back panel mounted illuminated song status board indicates which Led Zeppelin song is in play. Only 500 Limited Edition games will be made for sale throughout the world. This limited version includes an exclusive Icarus themed full color mirrored backglass, exclusive custom themed cabinet artwork, custom high gloss Paradise Shimmer Blue powder-coated armor, a custom autographed bottom arch, exclusive custom art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball glass, a shaker motor, and a sequentially numbered plaque.
Stern Led Zeppelin Limited Edition Pinball machine
Led Zeppelin pinball machines and accessories are available through authorized Stern Pinball distributors and dealers around the world. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes are:
Pro Model: $US 6,199
Premium Model: $US 7,799
Limited Edition Model: $US 9,199
Check out this Led Zeppelin Pinball - Game Trailer (57 seconds)
If you can swing it, what a great centerpiece in a man cave, game room, bar, club, wherever. The saying is "If it's too loud, you're too old." I'd update that to "If you don't have a blast cranking the Zeppelin while playing this wild pinball game, you need to have your pulse checked."
Though Covid-19 made CES 2021 a virtual affair, thanks toShowStopperswe were able to see some of the latest and greatest technology via Zoom press conferences. That includes the very cool Cutii.
Even before the pandemic, seniors often suffered from isolation and loneliness. Throw in stay-at-home orders and the inability to visit or be visited and the problem is magnified. Millions of seniors are isolated and alone. Experts say that Loneliness is toxic, at enormous moral and economic cost. For example
12 million women 75+ live alone (USA)
27% have only one conversation a week
Social isolation increases Medicare costs by an estimated $6.7 billion every year.
The goal of the team at Cutii is to add "Many additional engaged & connected years of living for our seniors at risk of isolation."
Cutii companion robot with grandson on the display
Cutii is a Companion Robot for isolated seniors. Cutii is designed for friendship. It's a "live-in companion" that learns the design of the senior's room.
Seniors communicate directly with Cutii. It's 100% voice activated and offers 2 way calling and text messages. Cutii can entertain and occupy the mind and body with live activities like Yoga, Tai Chi, poetry reading, games, trivia and so on.
And, of course, Cutii can call for help in the event of an emergency.
A senior can
Call loved ones, send messages and photos
Play games, trivia and more
Seek help or care from the comfort of home
Say "Cutii I need help!" and get help
Here is some of the Technology and IP behind the Cutii.
Autonomously mobile, voice-controlled robot
Articulating head
Proprietary software and AI speech
Not restricted by Google, Amazon, FB, etc
Smart home / IoT integration
ZigBee, ZWave, Bluetooth, wifi
Proprietary PCB and injection molds
European CE mark, and GDPR compliance
Here is the Value Proposition:
Families
Peace of mind
Less costly than live in caregiver
24/7 Monitoring
Home Health
Enable new revenue streams
Long term recurring revenue
Help clients stay in homes
Assisted Living
New revenue streams via in-room add on
Entertain & engage residents
Communal space is pre-mapped & Cutii knows the "points of interest". So a Senior resident can say:"Cutii, come to the sofa." or "Raise your head."
If the senior says "Cutii, I need help" since Cutii is always listening it will kick-off an emergency response workflow. For example:
Calls for help, in pre-determined sequence.
If answered, message sent to each person in the call list confirming response.
If not answered, calls first responders.
Of course the live 2-way video could be used for Telehealth consults with Physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, etc. Cutii is secure and private platform developed under EU GDPR regulations.
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at what has been called the 8th continent – Madagascar.
Map of Africa highlighting Madagascar
The map shows how isolated Madagascar is from the rest of the world and that makes it a hotbed of biodiversity - 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. It has varieties of plants and animals that do not exist anywhere else.
Lemur
You’ve probably seen lemurs (endemic to Madagascar) but there are thousands of other unique animals and plants such as the fossa, chameleon, the baobab tree and more.
Dan also shows a quick look at the Spiny Desert of Madagascar exhibit in the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
Cleveland Botanical Garden - The Spiny Desert of Madagascar
Madagascar is such a unique area and host Dan Hanson had a lot of fun with this map.
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Watch this episode.
About 71% of the earth is covered in water but it’s mostly salt water. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total area, and second-largest by total volume, containing 21% of the world's surface fresh water by volume.
Great Lakes from space
Map of Michigan - Lower and Upper Peninsulas
The Yoopers sense of humor
The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan is bounded by 3 of the Great Lakes – Superior, Michigan and Huron.
The 5 mile Mackinac Bridge connects the lower part of Michigan with the UP. The UP contains 29% of the land area of Michigan but just 3% of its total population.
The Yoopers who live there have a large Finnish population.
It’s a fascinating area and host Dan Hanson had a lot of fun with this map. He also quotes the great Plain Dealer sportswriter Terry Pluto who is a regular visitor.
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at the remote Polynesian island of Rapa Nui or Easter Island.
Though part of Chile, Easter Island has a fascinating culture and history. Dan focuses on the island’s remoteness, the Rapa Nui people and of course the amazing mo’ai, the Easter Island “head” statues.
Tell me this mo'ai doesn't look like Bart Simpson!
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at the long country of Chile. Chile is bordered by the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean and the map has played a big part in its history.
Painting of The Zamacueca by Manuel Antonio Caro. Oil on canvas, collection of the Presidency of the Republic of Chile.
In this episode Dan looks at the Straits of Magellan, the Drake Passage, the huasos, the Mapuche people, Santiago, the largest mountain and volcano in the Americas, the rescue of the miners, interesting Chilean people and more.
Cleveland's newest Hungarian monument to St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary, is a cornerstone saved from the recently demolished St. Stephen Hungarian Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania (1900-2020). The cornerstone was brought to the historic St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church at 9016 Buckeye Road in Cleveland Ohio which was established on June 4, 1893.
The Church and the United Hungarian Societies (UHS) of Cleveland hosted an outdoor dedication of the monument in the Church's courtyard.
The theme of the dedication ceremony was "Honoring our past by remembering St. Stephen's Catholic Church of McKeesport."
America's first Hungarian Roman Catholic churches in order of cornerstone-laying date:
St. Elizabeth's Church - Cleveland, OH. June 4, 1893
St Mary's Church - Throop, PA. July 21, 1895
St. Stephen's Church - East Toledo, OH. Dedication August 20, 1899
St. Stephen's Church - Bridgeport, CT. November 30, 1899
St. Stephen's Church - McKeesport, PA. September 8, 1900
In this episode of Fun with Maps, host Dan Hanson looks at the historic country of Lebanon. Though small in size the influence of Lebanon and its people is huge.
Tragically, the capital of Beirut was devastated by explosions in August 2020.
Pierre Bejjani, Ms. Blanche Salwan and Mr. Faris Alameh
In this episode of Fun with Maps, Dan looks at the major cities, culture, geography, the cedar tree, famous Lebanese people and some fascinating history from the Phoenicians to the present.
In this episode of Fun with Maps host Dan Hanson looks at New Zealand and the Lost Continent of Zealandia in Oceania. New Zealand is home to the Maori people, terrific rugby like the All Blacks team, the haka dance, the beautiful scenery as the setting of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies, Milford Sound and much more. Modern technology is allowing us to see more of the huge lost continent of Zealandia underneath New Zealand, 94% submerged under the ocean.
Captive Nations Week was first recognized in 1959 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the urging of future Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk Sr. and Congressmen Charles Vanik and US Senator Frank Lausche. Captive Nations Week has been supported each 3rd week in July by every US president since.
Judge Ralph Perk Jr. is the current (and only the third) president of the American Nationalities Movement. The first president was his father, the late Mayor Ralph Perk. He was followed by Irene Morrow. All three have been inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for their significant contributions to the region's ethnic diversity and heritage.
Judge Ralph Perk Jr.
The American Nationalities Movement was formed for the purpose of uniting all the nationalities in the United States in the goal to educate, advocate and represent their interests of all the diverse ethnic groups to the public and mostly to the political leaders of the United States. This pursuit of our common interest to achieve an understanding of the complex issues that confront each group individually and collectively and that without our united efforts all of us will be endanger.
Judge Perk gave some opening remarks and then read the current proclamation from President Donald Trump.
Czech Cultural Garden in Cleveland
Joseph Meissner
The annual Captive Nations week dinner event could not be held because of the Coviv19 pandemic so Judge Perk and a few community leaders gathered (socially distant) in the Czech Cultural Garden in Cleveland.
Michael Patterson, Joe Meissner, Pierre Bejjani, Ralph Perk and Paul Burik
