An Honest Mistake
Those of us residing in Oberlin are pleased and proud that Eric and Jane Nord remain in our midst. While your recognition of Eric among Inside Business’ 2006 Business Hall of Fame inductees (October issue) is certainly appropriate, his inclusion among those honored posthumously is not. That designation would be applied more accurately to Evan Nord, who, with his brother, transformed U.S. Automatic into the Nordson Corp. known today.
Carol Hoffman
Oberlin
Uncovering Truths
First off, I believe in the premise of your October (Absolutely) column, “‘Poorest City’ Is a Bad Image for a World-Class City.” However, it doesn’t help to present untruths as facts. All of the Columbus area suburbs mentioned, Dublin, Worthington, Bexley, New Albany, as well as Gahanna, Westerville, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights, etc., are in fact incorporated cities and are not part of the 212.50 square miles of the city of Columbus.
Since the 1950s, Columbus leveraged access to its water and sewer systems to annex newly developing unincorporated township areas. Columbus didn’t just absorb its suburbs, since the 1950s it never permitted new ones to grow. This has been a 50-year process and so instead of 60-some political entities like that of Cuyahoga County, Franklin County probably has 20 something and Columbus overwhelmingly dominates.
You may be right about suburban Columbus residents identifying themselves by their suburbs. Maybe this is because there is lingering animosity with Columbus’ hardball tactics. Cleveland suburbanites, at least the ones I know, for the most part say they are from Cleveland.
Jack Hodson
Cleveland
Right On
Your October (Absolutely) column, “‘Poorest City’ Is a Bad Image for a World-Class City” hit the nail on the head. It is not an apples to apples comparison and, in that context, means little. Where are you when this city needs you? Why aren’t you running for mayor?
Susan Anzovino
Cleveland
Subscriber Suggestions
Regarding the November article, “Preparing for Takeoff,” I bring business persons into the Cleveland area four to five times a year for updates on their investments. In addition, I fly once or twice each month around the United States. The main embarrassment I see [at Hopkins] trip after trip is a minor one: the duct tape on the carpet leading to the parking garages. I know money is snug for all businesses. But if the airport doesn’t invite business by being bright with a look of success, it won’t get new businesses to come. The carpet needs to be removed and new floors put down.
I love Cleveland and I will never leave. To be proud of our airport would be a big step into more investors looking to Cleveland as their next investment.
Dean Hunker
Landlord Leasing Inc. Lorain
An Altered Depiction
The article, “Horrifying Discovery” (October issue), failed to acknowledge the myriad of tissue transplants that occur each year in a safe, sterile environment. Biomedical Tissue Services of Fort Lee, N.J., remains under FDA and criminal investigation for improperly recovering and selling tissue for transplants. However, situations like this are the exception, not the rule.
LifeBanc, Northeast Ohio’s organ and tissue recovery agency, is committed to enhancing and saving lives by recovering needed tissue and organs for those awaiting transplants. The tissue donation and transplantation field is highly regulated — LifeBanc is an accredited member of the American Association of Tissue Banks, is audited by its tissue processors and it meets the tissue recovery guidelines/good tissue practices set forth by the FDA to ensure safety.
LifeBanc and other accredited tissue banks across the country have an extensive screening process for all tissue donors, including a complete social and medical history, and all tissue recoveries occur in an operating room, not a funeral home.
This is a life-enhancing procedure conducted under sterile conditions, not a gruesome one as depicted in the article.
Tissue transplants have a history of safe use. There are nearly one million tissue transplants performed each year and disease transmission is extremely rare. The Centers for Disease Control has less than one dozen documented cases of disease transmission from tissue transplants. Northeast Ohioans should be assured that LifeBanc will continue to work diligently to uphold the highest standards for tissue recovery and care for recipients, donors and their families.
Gordon R. Bowen
LifeBancCleveland
Appreciative Reader
I appreciate the honesty and thoughtfulness in the recent columns by Michael D. Roberts. It’s educational to learn of the facts and circumstances of the backdoor deals that too often shape our destiny.
Paul ShaiaTake Manhattan Music
Cleveland