Same scriptures, different reading: While living in Kent in the early '70s, I often took note of a sign for "Glenn Schwartz and the All Saved Freak Band." I wondered what was up.
Many years later, the winds of Christianity began to blow. I remembered the weird sign. I thought I understood. But having read the article about Glenn ["Lord of the Strings," December 8], I don't understand what happened to this brother who could write, play, and sing such beautiful music. He clearly is voicing some very un-Christian sentiments.
I believe either Glenn is being badly misrepresented or he's fallen into error. If that is true, rather than condemn my brother for his fault, I'm going to pray for him. It sounds like he has a badly wounded heart in need of healing.
Jeff Joslyn
Cleveland
Glenn back then: Thank you for the insightful, well-written article by Thomas Francis about guitar icon Glenn Schwartz. It brought back many good memories.
In 1967, I heard the James Gang, with Glenn Schwartz on lead guitar. It was a mind-shattering, world-changing event. Soon, I would see Jimi Hendrix, the Who, and other greats, but they all paled by comparison to Schwartz. Glenn once took the time to talk to me, a young kid, at length about guitars and life. Even today, every time I play my guitar, a bit of Glenn Schwartz comes out.
The Glenn Schwartz in the article I could not relate to at all. He seemed more like the demonic god of the Old Testament. Clearly, Glenn has had more than his share of sorrows and tragedy in life, but I wish him only well. I will never forget the thrill, in the late '60s, of knowing that the greatest guitarist in the world was from Cleveland.
Rick Kalister
Parma
Go hear the best: Great story! It's about time somebody wrote something about this guy!
I recommend that any Clevelander who follows music see Glenn play. I suspect he has inspired many musicians in town, and it would be a shame to say you never saw this guy play the blues at least once. Glenn is one of Cleveland's best-kept secrets.
Patrick Haggerty
Cleveland Heights
Cheesy Tactics
Hit 'em in the bottom line: Has anyone looked into the brands that Stoll supplies ["Stoll Survivors," December 15]? Would the merchandisers be proud of the tactics that bring their products to our tables? A farm in the boonies is easily dismissed. A guy outside the store where I shop would get Stoll's phone ringing. Bring it to the city, fellas!
Ron Garrison
Cleveland
Editor's note: Stoll Farms mostly supplies Ohio-based Brewster Dairy, which markets a variety of cheese products under the Brewster Cheese brand.
Square Deals
For the record: I wanted to clarify a few statements I feel were misrepresented in "Let Them Eat Cake" [December 8] by Rebecca Meiser.
First, I never used the term "smokescreen" to describe Peter Rubin's vision of Shaker Square. I indicated that the vision Mr. Rubin has put forth -- ice rinks, condos, amphitheaters, parking lots -- was currently murky at best, with no clear-cut start or finish.
During the two phone interviews I had with Meiser, she never once verified what she was printing or verified quotes, etc. This becomes evident in my final "quote," which indicated that my business, Shaker Square Beverages, was leaving Shaker Square. I told her I had two years left on my lease, with an additional five-year option. I told her that if I were asked to re-sign a lease today, I probably would not do so, given the lackluster retailing currently passing for a shopping center at Shaker.
Coral Corporation took a big risk in purchasing Shaker Square. But at the bargain-basement price they paid, they could be attracting quality merchants at 50 percent of the current rental structure and still make money. Coral Company must act on this opportunity immediately, or more of the remaining merchants will be gone by spring.
Gene Veronesi
Cleveland
Labor Travails
Balanced picture of a divided town: Excellent article ["Striketown," December 15]. One of the best I have read on the strike. Thank you for spending so much time making sure you got both sides!
Peggy Sinkovich
Warren
Unsound Ultrasound
Jury verdict a miscarriage of justice: The story about Trentina Perry and her stillborn son, D'Antre ["The Quick & the Dead," December 1], was very upsetting. This is not an isolated incident. The Institute of Medicine estimates that tens of thousands of Americans die each year because of medical errors.
The fact that the jury voted in favor of Dr. Shah is very disquieting. Why didn't they request the original ultrasound, instead of the one he fabricated? And what do allegations into the background of Dr. Cardwell, who testified that "had Dr. Shah made the appropriate recommendations, the baby would have been delivered," have to do with Dr. Shah's mistakes?
At the trial, Dr. Shah said he did not "recall [Trentina Perry's] face as a person," yet he recalled that he could not find an adequate pocket of amniotic fluid on her original ultrasound. Three years later, after resizing the image, he discovers one on a manipulated image. It seems the facts are being distorted to suit his case.
Jeanne Coppola
Cleveland