God Bless America and Our Veterans

memorial day 768 blog

This Memorial Day, we salute our veterans for their courage and commitment. Take time this weekend with the kids and grandkids and attend a local ceremony and parade in your hometown. Here’s a handy list for our northeast Ohio friends and families.

Parades and Ceremonies:

  • Aurora: Parade on May 30 at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.
  • Avon Lake: Ceremony at Veterans Park on May 30 at 10 a.m. with parade to follow.
  • Bath Township: Observance on May 30 at noon at Bath Veterans’ Memorial Park.
  • Bay Village: Parade on May 30 at 8:30 a.m. at Huntington Park.
  • Bedford: Parade on May 30 at 10:15 at City Hall.
  • Berea: Cemetery services at Adams St. Cemetery (8am) Woodvale (9 am) Parade at 10:30.
  • Broadview Heights: Parade/ceremony on May 30 at 11 a.m. at Crossings Shopping Center.
  • Brunswick: Program and parade on May 30 at 10 a.m. at Vistintainer School.
  • Cleveland Heights: Ceremony on May 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Cumberland Park.
  • Fairview Park: Observance on May 30 at 8 a.m. in the City Hall Rotunda. Parade at 9 a.m.
  • Garfield Heights: Services on May 30 at 10 a.m. at the Civic Center Veterans Plaza.
  • Green: Parade and ceremony on May 30 at 7 a.m. at the Green High School parking lot.
  • Hudson: Parade on May 30 at 8 a.m., starting at Milford Road and Veterans Way.
  • Jackson Township: Field of Honor from May 27 to May 30, Fulton Road and Wales Avenue.
  • Lake View Cemetery: (Cleveland) Celebration Garfield Memorial on May 30 at 10:30 a.m.
  • Mentor-on-the-Lake: Annual Parade at 1 p.m. on May 29.
  • North Ridgeville: Parade on May 30 at 9:45 a.m., beginning at the Marc’s parking lot.
  • Painesville: Parade/commemoration at 10 a.m. on May 30, starting at Riverside Cemetery.
  • Riverside Cemetery: (Cleveland) Service and dedication ceremony on May 30 at 9:30 a.m.
  • Shaker Heights: Parade on May 30 at 9:30 a.m. Lee Road and Van Aken Boulevard.
  • Strongsville: Service at Freedom Trail Gazebo on May 30 at 11 a.m. Parade is canceled.
  • Suffield Township: Parade on May 30 at 2 p.m.
  • Tallmadge: American Legion Memorial Day Parade at May 30 at 10 a.m. at Circle Park.
  • University Heights: 50th Parade on May 30 at 11 a.m., beginning at Silsby Road.
  • Westlake: Parade on May 30 at 10 a.m. at Clague Park.
  • Wickliffe: Parade on May 30 at 10 a.m., corner of Euclid Avenue and Worden Road.
  • Willoughby: Parade on May 30 at 9:30 a.m. in downtown Willoughby.

Festivals and fun:

  • Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off: May 27 to 30 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.
  • Blossom Time: May 26 to May 30 in downtown Chagrin Falls. Cedar
  • Point Armed Forces Memorial Day Weekend: May 27 to May 30. Free to vets.
  • Cleveland Metroparks Zoo KidsDays: May 28 to May 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Special demonstrations with lions, elephants, and sea lions, as well as an interactive gaming zone.
  • Tremont Greek Fest: May 27 to 30 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

 


 

I’m So Lucky

lake view 768 blog

(top left) From my office window. (top right three photos) From my roof top. (second row left) Freighters pass everyday. (second row middle) A commemorative stamp to Great Lakes Transportation. (second row right) Great Lakes depth chart. (third row left) Frenchman Louis Jolliet first sighted Lake Erie in 1669. (third row middle) Great Walleye fishing! (third row right) Balloonist John Steiner’s first attempt at crossing the Lake Erie in a flimsy balloon didn’t pan out very well. But the whack job from Philadelphia finally made it in 1857. (bottom left) Cool view of Lake Erie from space. (bottom right) Cool view of Lake Erie from the lake during a storm in October. Sports photographer Dave Sandford’s passion is shooting Lake Erie’s monstrous waves. Read about this guy and see more of his images HERE

 

Years ago when Mom and Dad chose our current location, they knew it was special because of the visibility from the highway. They both wanted everyone to see KHT! Although they probably never realized just how special it was. Back then, inexpensive rent, open manufacturing space and capable local workers, coupled with easy “on/off” access to the highway was what caught their eyes. Being just outside of downtown, along with the local/regional “neighborhood” customers, made Dad’s decision a good one when he started KHT.

Over the years, as most of you know, we’ve acquired adjoining land, added buildings and built needed additions to handle our growth and our expanded array of PIA (pain in the @%$) specialty treatment services. We’ve remained “committed” to Ohio City and Cleveland, and see positive things happening all around us still today.

One great outcome of our location on the “Northshore” is the office view I have, designed to take advantage of the beautiful views of Lake Erie and downtown. Each morning, being the early bird I am, I get to come in really early, and watch the lake and the city come to life. With spring finally here, it’s even more beautiful – awesome trees, blue water, the return of lake freighters, sunrises/sunsets and the renewal of the highway and walkways across the street. If you are ever in town, swing by and take a peek with our telescope … and Thanks Mom and Dad for the great spot!!

So, for my engineers and trivia lovers out there, as I sit here soaking in the views, I thought I’d pass along some Lake Erie trivia. Enjoy.

  • Lake Erie is the eleventh largest lake in the world (by surface area), and the fourth largest of the Great Lakes.
  • The Lake is 241 miles long, 57 miles wide and has an average depth of 62 ft., with a maximum depth of 210 ft. The water surface area is 9910 sq. miles and its shoreline equals 871 linear miles.
  • Ninety-five percent of Lake Erie’s total inflow of water comes via the Detroit River water from all the “upper lakes” (Superior, Michigan and Huron) with help from the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and numerous tributaries. The rest comes from precipitation. The lake’s water retention/replacement time is 2.6 years.
  • Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes and is especially vulnerable to fluctuating water levels, fast storms and choppy waters.
  • In 1669, the Frenchman Louis Jolliet was the first documented European to sight Lake Erie, although there is speculation that Étienne Brûlé may have come across it in 1615. Lake Erie was the last of the Great Lakes to be explored by Europeans, since the Iroquois who occupied the Niagara River area were in conflict with the French, and did not allow explorers or traders to pass through.
  • The name Erie comes from its southern shore which was at one time occupied by a nation known to the Iroquois League as the “Erielhonan,” or the “long-tails.”. This name is always mentioned by the early French writers as meaning “cat”; Lac du Chat means “Lake of the Cat.” (reference to the wild cat or panther).
  • Wind Setups (wind pushing the water from one end of the lake toward the other), usually from west to east, have produced large short-term differences in water levels at the eastern and western ends of the lake, the record being more than 16 ft. Throughout the lake’s history, winds have been so strong, they have stranded boats in the western basin harbors due to shallow waters.
  • In 1857, a balloonist named John Steiner of Philadelphia made an ambitious trip across the lake. During his trip, he arose to the height of about three miles, but said he thinks his balloon bounded from the water at least twenty times, striking and then rebounding like a ball, going into the air from twenty to fifty feet, while still rushing down the lake at railroad speed. Just off the shore of Canada, he splashed down, abandoned the balloon, leaped into the water and swam to a nearby boat.
  • During the Prohibition years, a “great deal of alcohol crossed Erie” along with “mobster corpses” dumped into the Detroit River, which sometimes washed up on the beaches of Pelee Island. According to one account, Al Capone hid a “fortune” in the walls of the Middle Island luxury club, that featured a basement casino with poker tables and slot machines. No money was found.
  • In 1999, the warm lake almost became a problem for two nuclear power plants which require cool lake water to keep their reactors cool. The warm summer caused lake temperatures to come close to the 85 °F, the limit necessary to keep the plants cool.
  • The Lake is home to one of the world’s largest freshwater commercial fisheries, and is the most abundant of the Great Lakes. Due to the lake’s relatively mild temperatures, it’s “loaded with superstars” such as steelhead, walleye, pickerel, smallmouth bass, perch, bass, trout and salmon.
  • The lake is also responsible for microclimates that are important to agriculture. Along its north shore is one of the richest areas of Canada’s fruit and vegetable production. Along the southeastern shore in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York is an important grape growing region, as are the islands in the lake. Apple orchards are abundant in northeast Ohio to western New York due to the climate created by the lake.

 

 


 

 

RUN CLE RUN

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(L) A past race passing the Kowalski Heat Treating headquarters. (Top right Steve & Katie representing the Kowalski clan. (Bottom right) You’ll see this banner again this year as you run by KHT’s front door.

 

This weekend marks the 36th running of the Cleveland marathon, now known as the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon. Over the years Cleveland has hosted premier world-class runners and their families, along with local and regional athletes. For those of you not involved in the events, here are some fun facts and things to do as The Marathon is actually three days of “fun and run”:

  • The event is one of the 50 oldest marathons in the country, dating back 35 years
  • An estimated 30,000-40,000 participants in the combined runs and events
  • Sunday is “big” race day – Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K at 7am starting at Quicken Loans Arena and then flowing through downtown and the suburbs.
  • 21,000 12 oz. water bottles will be used on Sunday’s race day
  • The average mile time for the marathon winner is 5 minutes, 36 seconds per mile
  • An estimated 165,000 5 oz. cups used on the course throughout race, along with 17,500 bananas eaten, 3,200 gallons of PowerAde, 14,500 cookies and lots and lots of water
  • 138 portable restrooms throughout the course
  • About 25 runners over age of 65 will finish the 26.2 mile run
  • Oldest male runner in 2011 78 – oldest female 75

Best places to watch on Sunday:

  • Carnegie and Ontario across from Progressive Field (south-west corner at Tri-C)
  • US Bank Plaza at Playhouse Square (E. 14th and Euclid Ave)
  • Across from West Side Market – Lorain and W. 25th (10K)
  • Lincoln Park – Starkweather and W. 11th, Tremont
  • Detroit Ave. Between W.58th and 78th Street (Gordon Square Arts District)
  • Lakewood Park (Lake Avenue and Belle in Lakewood)
  • W 44th & Detroit (at The Harp, overlooking the Shoreway)
  • And of course, our front lawn at Kowalski Heat Treating

Best Race Day Parties on Sunday:

  • Tremont – Lincoln Park at Starkweather and W. 11th Street  – Block Party & music Mile 3.7 Runners from 7:00 – 9:00am
  • Ohio City – Lorain and W. 30th – St. Ignatius Band, cheering area – Mile 6.4- Runners from 7:10 – 9:00 am
  • Detroit Shoreway – Detroit Avenue between W. 58th and W. 78th – Gordon Park Arts District  Cheering & Music – Mile 7.6
  • Lakewood Park – Lakewood and Belle Avenue – Water Station & Music. Miles 14.5 and 20.25 (marathoners pass twice). Runners from 8:00am – 1pm.
  • Detroit Shoreway –  The Pep Club Dance Party @ The Harp, presented by Great Lakes Brewing Co. – Mile 11.8 (half), Mile 24.5 (full). Runners from 8:00 – 1:30pm.
  • 26.3 Mile Rock Party at the Finish Line! – Featuring Old Skool and Matt Lisi Productions (DJ)

For those “non-runners”, come by and enjoy the racers, events and scenery as we celebrate spring here in our hometown.

 

 


 

Because. Mom said so.

To all the Moms out there, this weekend – Happy Mother’s Day. What would we do without you. Always teaching, guiding, nurturing, and loving us – no matter what. To salute you, we thought we’d look back at those special sayings and “pearls of wisdom” you had for us. (As I read these, I can’t help but laugh out loud – and love ya Mom). Enjoy!!  We all know, that no matter how old we get you never stop being Mom!

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Mom-isms:

  • Don’t look at me with those eyes.
  • Children are to be seen, not heard.
  • If you keep making that face, it’ll freeze that way.
  • If you’re going to act like a child, I’ll treat you like one.
  • Quiet down, I can’t even hear myself think.
  • One day you’ll thank me for this.
  • Why? Because I said so, that’s why!
  • As long as you’re under my roof, you live by my rules.
  • God gave you a brain, so use it.
  • Ask a stupid question and you’ll get a stupid answer.
  • Are your legs broken?
  • Let’s not tell your Dad about this, ok.
  • If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you?
  • Jen’s mom lets her do (Blank). Fine, go live with Jen’s mom … I’ll help you pack.
  • Shut the door, were you born in a barn? (or think we’re heating the neighborhood?)
  • Your room looks like a cyclone ran through it.
  • Talking to you is like talking to a brick wall.
  • Let’s play the quiet game.
  • Someone better be bleeding.
  • Where are your manners – were you raised by wolves?
  • I’m not asking, I’m telling.
  • Don’t you use that tone with me Mister/Missy.
  • Stop crying or I’ll give you something to really cry about.
  • You better wipe that smirk off your face.
  • Don’t make me: tell you again / come back there / turn this car around, et al.
  • Don’t leave the house without clean underwear.
  • Just wait until your father gets home.
  • Remember, make good choices.
  • When you have kids, I hope they turn out just like you.

KHT Blog mom 768 blog