Latest news with #Nadel
Chicago Tribune
01-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
EPA weighing how to address Lake County asbestos contamination; ‘It's a pretty isolated location'
Whether the southwest portion of the Illinois Beach Nature Preserve at the Illinois Beach State Park is ever open to the public remains a question, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is getting closer to remediating the asbestos contamination there. Currently inaccessible to the public both by physical means — there is a fence — and an EPA ruling, Dave Nadel, the EPA's community involvement coordinator for Region 5, which includes the Chicago area, said he is in the process of finalizing the decision-making. Adjacent to the Johns Manville EPA Superfund site, Nadel said the contamination occurred years ago — likely in the 1940s or 1950s — before it became part of the nature preserve in 1964. Not part of Manville's property, dumping occurred in the past. The discovery of asbestos was more recent. 'It came to the surface through freeze cycle,' Neal said, referring to the ground freezing and thawing as the seasons change. 'We will decide on remediation and disposal.' Twice in June the EPA came to Waukegan — June 4 and 26 — to learn the public's ideas about how to handle the site. The EPA is in the process of preparing the Record of Decision Document on Operable Area 6 of the Superfund site, which is the southwest portion of the nature preserve, with a goal of finishing it by fall. Presenting three options for public comment during both the June 4 and 26 meetings, one would be no action at all, another is periodic disposal of the asbestos with all public restrictions remaining in place, according to EPA documents. The projected cost is $554,000. A third option, which Nadel said is the preferred method, is much more detailed. There will be regular removal of asbestos by properly licensed personnel both before and after controlled burns, or after any wildfire that may occur. There will be an air monitoring program. Existing institutional controls will remain, like restricted access and land-use controls to limit disturbance activities, according to the EPA documents. Any access requires physical protective equipment and 'asbestos awareness training.' The forecast cost is $967,000. Additional hazard warning signage will be placed around the area's perimeter, according to the documents. Enhanced work project practices during burns, like 'wet method mop-up' and masks, will be part of the program. All removal will be done by hand and taken to approved landfills. Mayra Mendez, the executive director of Clean Power Lake County, an environmental activist organization, said at the June 27 meeting that her group prefers the enhanced method. Though she wants to see the entire Superfund site gone — not just Operable Area 6 — it provides the most protection. 'We have a lot of endangered spaces that affect our health,' Mendez said. 'The enhanced plan is the best, and the community deserves mitigation in this environmental-justice community.' Not the only public official at the meeting, Nadel was joined by representatives of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Lake County Health Department and the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission. A.J. Burlingham, an environmental health specialist with the state Health Department, said he was at the public information session to answer questions people may have about the impact of inhaling asbestos. 'The likelihood is very low at this site,' Burlingham said. 'It's a pretty isolated location that's been unavailable to the public for a long time. It's not like they had an opportunity to breathe much there.'
Winnipeg Free Press
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bay Area cartoonist's biography a real trip
If you're acquainted with Mr. Natural, Fritz the Cat or the Keep on Truckin' crew, you'll need no introduction to the subject of this lengthy, detailed, sometimes revelatory, sometimes welcomingly familiar and intimate biography. R. Crumb (Robert Dennis Crumb, to be precise) is the far-out cartoonist/chronicler of the 1960s and '70s counterculture whose drugs, sexual freedom and music (to a lesser extent) he embraced on the streets and in the parks of San Francisco. Crumb, born into a highly dysfunctional family rife with mental illness and abuse, and by nature a skeptical outsider, wasn't a natural candidate to capture the spirit of the hippie movement in its Haight-Ashbury home in 1968 when the 25-year-old arrived from the American northeast. Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life Yet, he captured the look and feel of the LSD trips as he as enthusiastically chronicled the racial and sexual violence his generation was trying to overcome. Crumb 'satirized the hippies, well-meaning liberals, and most of all himself,'' Nadel writes. If that urgent message hadn't found its moment, the modern bestselling graphic novels would be impossible, Nadel adds. Crumb had long wanted to be a successful cartoonist — he and his brother Charles were relentless comic book makers as kids — and the discovery of Mad magazine in the mid-'50s altered his brain chemistry as surely as the LSD would a decade later. The magazine's subversion freed Crumb from the need for social acceptance, as Mad cover boy Alfred. E. Neuman intoned his catchphrase 'What, me worry?'' Even though Crumb lived in San Francisco during the birth of psychedelic music, he had a lifetime love of 1920s-era dance music, collected countless 78s and performed in a couple of bands with like-minded syncopators. He met Janis Joplin in San Francisco, and while he liked her well enough, her music not so much, although he illustrated the Cheap Thrills album cover for her and Big Brother and the Holding Company. Nadel recounts the first Crumb-Joplin meeting, where she told him he should grow his hair longer and stop dressing like a character from the depression novel The Grapes of Wrath. Crumb was on the leading edge of underground comics with his Zap Comix and many other titles such as Weirdo, Introducing Kafka and The Book of Genesis and others, and his work was rife with sexual themes, often shading into the scatological and pornographic. He was often short of cash and moved about the country often, and was prone to taking off to visit friends without notice, even when married. He was hitched twice, and in each case he and his partner had regular affairs, sometimes lasting for years. He didn't have much of a relationship with his two children. In later years, he became a vaccine skeptic. In other words, like many a genius, he at times countered his artistic success with a less salubrious general lifestyle. Crumb agreed to work with Nadel on this book, but it is a warts-and-all biography. The cartoonist imposed just one condition, Nadel says: 'That I be honest about his faults, look closely at his compulsions, and examine the racially and sexually charged aspects of his work. He would rather risk honesty and see if anyone could understand than co-operate with a hagiography.' Nadel, the curator-at-large for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and author of other books including Art Out of Time: Unknown Comic Visionaries, 1900-1969, weaves Crumb's present-day remembrances throughout the biography in a way that helps explain the madcap early life that made his name, shaped the underground comic oeuvre and helped develop many other cartoonists along the way. Nadel says Crumb is fond of saying 'No one understands… But of course, how could they.' It is a statement with many undercurrents, but in this biography Nadel helps readers understand Crumb himself and the effect his life and work had on North American society and a generation that was going to change the world. At 81, Crumb has slowed down, of course, but at whatever pace he can he still keeps on truckin'. Chris Smith is a Winnipeg writer.
Chicago Tribune
05-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
EPA holds hearing on fate of contaminated Waukegan site
Citing concerns of asbestos-contaminated material surfacing adjacent to the infamous Johns Manville site due to a freeze and thaw cycle, the EPA held a public meeting in Waukegan on Wednesday sharing proposals to best monitor and clean the 1-acre area. A few dozen residents and local officials gathered at Waukegan City Hall for the presentation by David Nadel, remedial project manager with the EPA. A public comment period on the proposed plan will run until June 27. The Johns Manville site, about 350 acres sitting along Lake Michigan, was once home to a manufacturing facility that contaminated the area with asbestos. Johns-Manville ceased operations on the site in 1998, according to the EPA, and its former manufacturing buildings were demolished in 2000 and 2001. Today, it's one of five Superfund sites in Waukegan, areas that the federal government recognizes as especially hazardous and manages cleanup efforts. The area discussed on Wednesday is a relatively small, roughly 1-acre section that is within the Illinois Beach Nature Preserve, known as Operable Unit 6, or OU6. Representatives of the EPA emphasized during the meeting that the areas in question are not readily accessible to residents, and area neighborhoods are not at risk of exposure. Material contaminated with asbestos was discovered and removed from a road in OU6 in 1998, but more fragments were found the following year. The freeze and thaw cycle of the area was causing the contaminated material to come to the surface, Nadel said. This is especially dangerous because weathering can cause the asbestos to become more 'friable,' he said, meaning it can be more easily broken down and spread. Two potential action plans were presented. The first, estimated to cost $554,000, consisted of 'periodic manual removal' of asbestos contamination and disposal at an approved facility. This would also include visual monitoring, maintaining existing access restrictions, land-use control and maintaining existing fencing at the property line. However, that option doesn't 'provide adequate warning to authorized users or trespassers' of the hazards, according to Nadel, and lacks measures to evaluate effectiveness beyond visual monitoring. The second proposed plan, which is estimated to cost $967,000, would expand on the previous plan, including enhanced monitoring, additional access control and new signage, among various other efforts. The EPA considered the second the 'most effective remedy in the long term.' Residents shared comments and concerns during the meeting. One, pointing to the area's sizable Spanish-speaking community, asked if there would be translations of communications offered going forward. An EPA representative responded positively to the recommendation during the meeting. OU6 is subject to controlled burns, and residents discussed what risks those could pose for the area. While Nadel said they had found asbestos air contamination increased during burns, it remained under what is considered the safe limit. Some were concerned about the future of the site, noting the decades of work already done and questioning when the site will be safe. Lake County Board member Mary Ross-Cunningham, whose district includes the site and who attended the meeting, said she hoped it would one day be determined to be clean sooner rather than later. 'That'll be a big hit for Waukegan residents,' Ross-Cunningham said. She voiced her support for the cleanup proposal and praised the EPA for its continuing work to monitor and clean the site.
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Universal Hospitality Solutions (UHS) Appointed to Manage Crowne Plaza® Dallas Downtown
DALLAS & SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Universal Hospitality Solutions (UHS) today announced that the company is managing Crowne Plaza® Dallas Downtown by IHG. Under the management assignment, UHS is responsible for operating the 291-key, high-rise Crowne Plaza to better meet the needs of the modern traveler. UHS is a hotel development and management company that operates several hotels, representing well-known hotel brands in the United States and international locations. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company provides complete lifecycle services for hotel owners and investors to maximize their hospitality industry-related returns. Outstanding service is the cornerstone of helping guests make the most of their journeys. Share 'We appreciate the trust and confidence in our management team's track record for achieving impressive operational and financial results,' said Scott Nadel, CEO of Universal Hospitality Solutions. 'As an experienced hotel development and management company, UHS is committed to delivering on the high expectations of our associates, guests and hotel ownership.' Downtown Dallas Fixture Located at 1015 Elm Street, Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown is a short walk to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas and over 50 restaurants. The property is near several major employers, local attractions, West End district, American Airlines Center, and Uptown. The hotel is convenient to downtown Dallas public transportation and is approximately seven miles from Dallas Love Field (DAL) and 19 miles from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). With an inviting environment of beauty in balance, Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown inspires connection and collaboration that improve the well-being of business and leisure guests. A sampling of hotel amenities includes: Well-appointed guest rooms/suites with amazing views of downtown Dallas, contemporary décor, 55' television, mini refrigerator, desk and ergonomic chair, eco-friendly Apotheke toiletries, and free Wi-Fi access. Onsite dining options including Thrive Restaurant for breakfast and dinner featuring a refreshed menu with a global twist, including vegetarian options and kids' menu; Thrive Round Bar; and room service. Fully equipped fitness center, open 24/7. Conference center with 30,000 square feet of flexible event space; dedicated Crowne Meetings Director; versatile spaces, including combined 11,273 square feet to accommodate a reception of 1,677 guests; onsite catering; and comprehensive multimedia and audio-visual support. Business center, open 24/7. Ninth-floor rooftop pool with panoramic views of downtown Dallas skyline. Onsite self-service laundry. Onsite parking garage and valet service. Immediate Improvements According to Nadel, UHS is currently implementing several property updates at Crowne Plaza Downtown Dallas, such as: Refreshing menu offerings to appeal to travelers from around the world, including Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta, Chimichurri Filet, Tuscan Chicken Flatbread, and Vegetarian Omelet. Upgrading bedding in the hotel's 291 guest rooms/suites. Recarpeting all guest floor corridors in a calming shade of blue complemented by earthy tones of tan and beige. Converting the hotel's onsite snack bar/deli to The MarketPlace, a convenient, 24/7 spot for purchasing snacks and sundries. Culture Cornerstone According to Nadel, outstanding service is the cornerstone of helping guests make the most of their journeys. Nadel said, 'Our associates are at the core of our successful hotel operations leading to repeat guest stays. If we properly take care of our associates and provide them with training and meaningful opportunities for growth and well-being, they will take care of our guests.' For more information about joining the team at Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown, please contact UHS. Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown is an active community partner by: Supporting local businesses, including nearby restaurants, artisans and tour operators. Hiring locally and offering training with an emphasis on underrepresented groups. Volunteering time and resources to impactful causes, such as community cleanup days, charity events, school and foodbank donations, and youth sports team sponsorships. Collaborating with local environmental groups to reduce waste and to source supplies locally. Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown participates in IHG One Rewards loyalty program, providing hotel rewards and exclusive member offers. For more information about Crowne Plaza Dallas Downtown or to make a reservation, visit the hotel's website or call (214) 742-5678. For sales and events, please contact UHS. About Universal Hospitality Solutions Scottsdale, Arizona-based Universal Hospitality Solutions provides complete lifecycle services for hotel owners and investors to maximize their hospitality industry-related returns. With over 40 years combined experience developing and managing hotels, UHS' partners have the deep insight into market conditions, construction, forecasting, sales and marketing, operations, staffing, management, hotel brands, and other areas necessary to maximize the revenue and profitability for any hotel project at any phase in its lifecycle. For hotel owners or operators looking to take their business to the next level through strategic partnerships, please contact UHS. As one of the world's largest premium hotel brands with locations in city, airport, resort and suburban destinations, Crowne Plaza is perfectly placed to meet the needs of today's guest, whether they are traveling for business, leisure, or a blend of both. For more information, visit and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
Los Angeles Times
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Crumb' does not shy away from the cartoonist's faults — just as he wanted
In his new biography of Robert Crumb, Dan Nadel writes that his subject agreed to participate in the project under one condition: 'that I be honest about his faults, look closely at his compulsions, and examine the racially and sexually charged aspects of his work.' Crumb, graphically honest in his work as a surrealistic, libidinous underground comix pioneer, expected the same from his chronicler. And Nadel complied. Which doesn't mean 'Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life,' is a hatchet job. Far from it: Nadel, a museum curator and comics expert, expresses palpable admiration for Crumb, and sympathy for a peripatetic upbringing that could quietly be as macabre as anything he drew. He diligently tracks Crumb's artistic progress, from collaborating with his brother, Charles, on adolescent comics in the spirit of childhood heroes such as Disney's Carl Barks and 'Little Lulu' creator John Stanley; to cranking out greeting cards for the Cleveland-based American Greetings; and to following the LSD muse into an unfettered purging of subconscious chaos. Nadel draws a vivid portrait of not just Crumb but the Bay Area-based underground comix explosion of the late '60s and early '70s. 'Crumb' is rich in cultural context, the kind of biography that opens up an entire scene and movement. And when it comes time to explore Crumb's problematic depictions of women (rape fantasies became a running motif in underground comix, and in Crumb's work) and Black people (Crumb liberally deployed Sambo stereotypes), Nadel neither excuses the artist nor issues simple condemnation. A product of a very white, very misogynist postwar American culture (and family), Crumb often indulged in the same stereotypes he grew up with — and rendered them with grotesque vitality. Take Angelfood McSpade, 'Robert's racist fantasy of a large, muscular, and naïve Black woman seemingly made of inflated rubber.' Nadel describes her as 'a stand-in for every white vision of Black women (think of the Rolling Stones' 'Brown Sugar' and the marketing of Tina Turner as 'primal') and ultimately, for Robert, a capacious symbol of everything white American culture does to Black people.' Of Crumb's more generalized racist depictions, Nadel writes: 'Essentially it's both racist and excoriating. Robert indicts himself, the reader, and the entire culture. He can't help but tempt fate in order to prove a point. No happy endings or pat lessons in Crumb Land.' Nor happy beginnings. Crumb was born in 1943 in Philadelphia to Chuck and Bea, one of five children in a family rife with mental illness. The Crumbs moved often, which only heightened Robert's self-identification as a misfit. He and Charles, the eldest Crumb sibling, retreated into the world of comics, where they showed remarkable talent and ambition, churning out sophisticated animal narratives in the '50s. Nadel sets the cultural stage: 'Elvis Presley was on the air, Allen Ginsberg was diagnosing the country, and the 'sick' comedy of Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Jonathan Winters, and Stan Freberg was rising.' Perhaps most pertinent, Mad was on the magazine rack. As Nadel writes, 'According to 'Mad,' everything was absurd, [messed] up, and on the brink of destruction, just like the Crumb household.' The magazine was a lifeline to Robert, as it was to countless other '50s misfits. It helped foster a growing sense that everything about adult life was a lie, a theme that Nadel deftly weaves through the book. Crumb escaped to Cleveland, where he met his future wife, Dana Morgan, and in 1967 they decamped for San Francisco, where the marriage descended into open-ended craziness and his dazzling talent converged with and, in some respects, came to define the counterculture. But even here he saw himself as an outsider. 'He wasn't interested in hippies anyhow,' Nadel writes. 'Of greater interest was the sudden demand for his work.' He drew the cover art for 'Cheap Thrills,' the 1968 album by Big Brother and the Holding Company — Janis Joplin was a neighbor — created the seminal underground comix series 'Zap Comix' and worked on other projects at a maniacal pace. He conjured the sardonic guru Mr. Natural, a tiny sex fiend called the Snoid and other sweaty, anxious creatures, human and otherwise. He was so innovative that his work created a rippling, existential crisis among his peers. 'I realized I needed to change my goals in the world,' Art Spiegelman, who only went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for 'Maus' (still the only graphic novel to receive that honor), is quoted as saying in the book. 'I decided I was going to become a Buddha because comics were going to be fine without me.' Crumb became famous, and while he liked the money and acclaim, he never got comfortable with it. A consummate exile, he moved to France with his second wife, artist Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and their daughter, Sophie, in 1991. Aline died in 2022. Generously illustrated with work from throughout Crumb's career, 'Crumb' is an artist biography that astutely connects the work to the life story without forcing or simplifying anything. It works as cultural history and criticism; you won't find a sharper analysis of the underground comix movement. Nadel honors the complexity of his subject, even, perhaps particularly, when it gets ugly. Vognar is a freelance culture writer.
