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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Hello everyone, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">I have some rather unfortunate news to share with all my dear friends and associates in the arts. <BR clear=all>As you look for Gallery Glances in Friday's TGIF - or on-line Thursday evening (if you are as anxious as NL), you will not find it.<BR clear=all>Nor will you find Curtain Call next week, as my closing curtain to a 14 year run was last Friday.<BR clear=all>The powers that be at the News Herald have made a budget cut to eliminate all freelance writers, of which I am one.<BR clear=all>Perhaps my absence in print will cause a sufficient reaction to rescind this folly of a decision. </SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">That is out of my hands - but in yours. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">I want to say thank you for the wonderful way you have all treated me and been so forthcoming with timely information to fill my columns. I did not know when I wrote my last Curtain Call that it was to be the last. So I want to make a point to thank our great local theaters for so many years of participation with the Free Ticket contest. I've loved reading the comments people add to the cards and their follow up comments after the shows. There is so much talent in NE Ohio. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">It has been my supreme pleasure to visit the galleries and attend performances - which of course I will continue to do because I didn't do it for my job, I did it because I love the arts. I will always treasure the special gifts from my artist friends; and will certainly seize any opportunity to continue my public support of the arts and keep people aware of the treasures to be found here.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">I am truly blessed as a freelance writer to have been in print weekly for the past 20 years! Wow - and not just via the New Herald, sometimes even 2 or 3 articles in a week! So please don't think of this as a pity me letter. I was not the only squeaky wheel to get these columns rolling (thank you Pat) and will no doubt continue just fine. I feel the real injustice is to the arts and those who need encouragement to pursue them - as entertainment, for appreciation, or as a profession.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Thank you - <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">and please think some warm happy thoughts (or let yourself be inflamed by the situation) to melt this dang snow!</SPAN></EM> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Cathee <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">PS<BR clear=all>Feel free to share this with others of a like mind, my contact list is large and unsorted for the arts - my friends and contacts seem to overlap. . . a good thing. I apologize if I have missed sharing this anyone who should have been alerted - or if I have contacted anyone unaffected or disinterested by this decision. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">PPS<BR clear=all>If you are looking for past columns, they are still available via: <A href="http://www.news-herald.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=go&l=20&s=recent&r=&d1=12-1-2000&d2=today&q=CATHEE+THOMAS"><FONT color=#800080>http://www.news-herald.com/shared-content/search/index.php?search=go&l=20&s=recent&r=&d1=12-1-2000&d2=today&q=CATHEE+THOMAS</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Jeff Sudbrook, Publisher <A href="mailto:publisher@News-Herald.com%3cpublisher@News-Herald.com%3e;" target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: #0066cc">publisher@News-Herald.com<publisher@News-Herald.com>;</SPAN></A></SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Brian McCloskey, General Manager <A href="mailto:bmccloskey@news-herald.com%3cbmccloskey@news-herald.com" target=_blank><SPAN style="COLOR: #0066cc">bmccloskey@news-herald.com<bmccloskey@news-herald.com</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></div></body></html>