Recap: Western Reserve Heritage Feasibility Study, Town Hall Meeting, 2/9

Yesterday I attended the Western Reserve Heritage Feasibility Study’s town hall meeting at the downtown office of Positively Cleveland. Rory Robinson of the National Park Service gave a clear and concise presentation on the ins and outs of what it would mean for the Western Reserve to be designated as a National Heritage Area. Here’s the lowdown in a nutshell.

What’s this feasibility study all about?
In 2009, Congressman Tim Ryan introduced legislation to conduct a study on whether the historic Western Reserve should be designated a National Heritage Area. A steering committee made up of representatives from the National Park Service, as well as more than two dozen Northeast Ohio organizations, formed last summer. This steering committee is now in the public comment phase of the process, asking the public if they want the Western Reserve to be designated as a National Heritage Area. They'll spend the next year gathering and synthesizing this information into a report, which will then go before a Congressional committee in the winter of 2010/2011 for a final decision.

What exactly is a National Heritage Area (NHA)?
Put simply, a National Heritage Area is a geographic region that tells a nationally important story. A region whose unique culture has contributed to U.S. history in a lasting way. And since the Western Reserve was, as CityProwl’s Jennifer Coleman recently put it, the Silicon Valley of the 18th century, I’d call that pretty nationally important!

Why should the Western Reserve be designated as a National Heritage Area?
Frankly because it’s a win-win situation for everyone! Communities that care enough to protect and preserve their history and cultural traditions are strong communities full of dedicated, involved, and knowledgeable citizens. This kind of civic pride can help contribute to economic stability and revitalization. With all the buzz about regionalism in Northeast Ohio, this certainly can’t hurt!

How can I participate?
You can participate by telling your story! What do you value most about where you live? What unique cultural opportunities, food or drink, or historic traditions are important to your community? You can do this by attending upcoming town hall gatherings or by participating in the discussion online at westernreserve.ning.com.

In Search of Mr. Jingeling, Part Three: Hint - He's at South Park Mall

Rumors of Mr. Jingeling's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Certainly Earl Keyes, the most well-known actor who played Mr. Jingeling, passed away in 2000, but the character is alive and well thanks to a local company called Traditions Alive. I recently spoke with owner John Awarski, who started the company 15 years ago after sitting around and reminiscing with some friends about Cleveland history and the things that we've lost. Someone mentioned Mr. Jingeling, so Awarski, determined not to let the memory of this beloved character be forgotten, contacted Earl Keyes in order to get the record straight.

"He made me sit at his feet while he magically transformed into Mr. Jingeling," Awarski said, when I asked him about his first meeting with Keyes. Keyes told him the story of how Mr. Jingeling came to be, and Awarski knew that he should not let the character die when Keyes did. So he put together a picture book called How Mr. Jingeling Saved Christmas, and found a new actor, Jonathan Wilhelm (pictured, with Santa) to play the part. Since then, he's made recession-friendly appearances at South Park Mall (you have to pay to get your picture taken with Santa, but pictures with Mr. Jingeling are free), and even conducts Mr. Jingeling's Holiday Express for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. You can check his schedule here.

Why should people care about Mr. Jingeling? Mr. Awarski became passionate when I asked him this question. "Because there are so many people in Cleveland who aren't from Cleveland anymore," he said. Our local culture, those little things that make Cleveland Cleveland, dissipate and die off when people move away. It's up to people like Mr. Awarski -- indeed, it's up to all of us -- to preserve them.