From the Desk of…
Before you order lunch, know that gig workers are striking today throughout the country. Anyway, you probably have better things to do than to read a note from me. At least, hopefully you do. How’s your week going? I feel like we never talk anymore. Boy, I tell you, Saturday, I woke up with a headache so bad that I couldn’t keep my eyes focused. A little Taste and a long nap fixed that up though, and thank God it did because that wedding had an open bar. Speaking of bars, I have some bad news.
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery in Goochland is closing. While owner and CEO Lisa Reynolds Brotherton says it’s only temporary as she takes care of her health, it’s a stark reminder not to take for granted the things we have, be they our lives, our beers, or our times together in Goochland. However, just because something is ephemeral and transient doesn’t mean you can’t hold onto it. That’s what’s happening at this Ohio funeral home that’s specializing in preserving the tattoos of the deceased. Honestly? I know of some people who likely would’ve gone for this. I see the draw.
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, the only full-time professional symphony in central Ohio that uses columbussymphony.com for its website, is developing plans to construct a music hall to the tune of $275 million down near COSI. Involved parties are speaking with hesitation, but if I were mayor? I’d already be breaking ground on the Meowodome.
Oh hell, early voting starts next week. I’ll have to make a Meowlot this weekend.
A man near Ohio State’s campus—let’s face it, a drunk college bro—was caught on camera going up onto someone’s porch and urinating on a pride flag while flipping off the house and hollering “f—— the gays” [derogatory]. The police are investigating it as a hate crime, and as much as they hate crime, I’m sure they’re trying their hardest to find the clearly visible fellas. In the event of charges being brought forth, I’m not sure that the “pee speech” defense will hold water in court.
Speaking of court, I’m going to wait to talk more on Jason Meade’s trial. Let’s see what the jury comes back with since the prosecution pulled a surprise witness.
If you’ve been reading the Selects for a minute, you already know who Sam Randazzo is. Again, for a refresher, refer to the 12/13/23 edition. Well, wouldn’t you just know it? Monday, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost indicted ol’ Sam along with former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and affiliated lobbyist Mike Dowling on a total of 27 felony counts for public corruption. Now, Sam already had the federal charges on him, but this is the first we’re seeing charges against the energy execs and lobbyists. Really makes you think! While I’m thinking about that, I’m also thinking about this news item saying that Governor DeWine’s chief of staff testified to the grand jury. What would the chief of staff know about any of this? Let’s pull this block quote:
DeWine himself publicly said he learned about the payment to Randazzo in October of 2020. However, spokesman Dan Tierney quickly clarified that DeWine only learned about the payment in November 2020 after FBI agents were seen raiding Randazzo’s home. Tierney reiterated this timing in a December 2023 interview after federal prosecutors unsealed a federal indictment of Randazzo.
The new state indictment, however, asserts Randazzo told Dawson in January 2019 that he received $4.3 million from FirstEnergy, which he claimed was the final payment of a “consulting agreement.” This would mean DeWine appointed Randazzo to regulate Ohio’s public utilities when his top-ranking staffer knew Randazzo had just received millions of dollars from a major Cleveland-area utility.
Interesting! How very… interesting. What did the governor know, and when did he know it? I’ll be keeping my eye on this. It could prove to be very… very entertaining. And if this is all news to you, here’s a good recap by Marty Schladen.
The Brain Dump
whomst wants some pączski tomorrow
can't even get a good breakfast sandwich these days. because of woke
not a lot of people know this but you can get a green wave going down summit at 70 miles an hour
they're playing The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald while cutting the cake at this wedding reception
i am a lineman for the county
I have got to get a worse brain. I’m just so tired these days.
At the Movies
Look! New movies! I do sometimes watch them!
Past Lives (2023), dir. Celine Song ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❤️
That was probably the best Linklater movie I've ever seen
May December (2023), dir. Todd Haynes ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Great performances by Portman and Moore (as expected). Not as transgressive as I expected from Haynes, but I'll take it. Good first outing for Burch!
Really... interesting choices for the score. I don't fully know that I understand why, but I dug it.
For Richer or Poorer (1997), dir. Bryan Spicer ⭐⭐ ❤️
On the surface, "Comedy Witness" isn't the worst pitch. Lot of Tim Allen being Tim Allen... lot of Kirstie Alley being Kirstie Alley.
I have seen this movie an embarrassing number of times because Grandma kept it in her zone-out-and-crossword rotation. As such, there are shots in this movie I can see as clearly in my mind as the faces of dear friends, line reads I can hear ringing out in my ears like the laughs of lovers. To her credit, it is a perfectly fine film to crossword to.
As always, get the full picture at Letterboxd.
One Picture
It’s true!
In closing,
I’m eschewing the standard closing to plug someone else’s work. This week, after decades at the Dispatch, local legend Joe Blundo, one of the great minds of Columbus, turned in his last column.
This week, Joe Blundo starts a new line as an unfettered freelancer, unbound by editorial constraint, and only he might know where he goes from here. Sign up for his Substack here. It’s going to be better than mine. I am comfortable enough to say that.