GAY PEOPLE'S

Chronicle

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Ohio's Newspaper for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

OSKA

Volume 25, Issue 18 February 26, 2010

After 28 years, Mary Ann Finegan case is solved

Police and DNA identify assailant, but 'Finy's' companion is still in pain

by Patti Harris

Cleveland-What started out

as a chance encounter between two friends 28 years ago ended in the murder of Mary Ann Finegan, 42, a popular teacher, coach and guidance counselor, and the vicious rape of the other, then 38, shot twice at close range and left to die in an overgrown lot in the Flats near downtown Cleveland.

It was a night the survivor has re-lived over and over in vivid flashbacks and nightmares that visited her in her sleep as well as during the most routine waking

moments.

And for 28 years, her attacker escaped the law, at least for this murder and rape, until the hard work and tenacious digging of some grizzled detectives, teamed with renewed funding of Cleveland's Cold Case Unit and a

Mary Ann Finegan

few lucky breaks, led them to an incarcerated felon.

Richard Anthony Wilson, 56, is currently serving time in Pennsylvania for another crime, but his

Continued on page 2

STEVE EMERY

Emcee Iris Bishop regales the audience with the hidden meaning of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb" at the 35th Annual Womyn's Variety Show on February 13.

Variety show leaves 'em singing

by Patti Harris

Cleveland-For Browns fans, thinking back 35 years might be painful, remembering that the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Min-

nesota Vikings 16-6 to win Super Bowl IX.

But they might take comfort in remembering that 1975 was the year that Cincinnati beat Boston 4 games to 3 to win the World Series.

Inside This Issue

It was also the year that Jimmy Hoffa went missing and a gallon of gas was a whopping 57¢, less than half the cost of a gallon of milk.

That year also saw the birth of Continued on page 2

A longtime friend tak equality bill in Ohio

Calandar actory

Tiger, tiger, burning bright

Cindy Yu and Michael Chew perform the song "Don't Marry Me" from Flower Drum Song at the 15th annual Asians and FriendsCleveland Lunar New Year Celebration on February 20.

The duo wore traditional Chinese wedding garb to add extra panache to the comedic song.

It was the second time the group has celebrated the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese zodiac.

The organization hosted 160 guests representing ten community organizations and private citizens at the festivities, held for the second year at Hunan Gourmet Chinese Restaurant on Euclid Avenue.

As is traditional at Lunar New Year celebrations, the group gave out a lysee, a charitable donation in a red envelope. This year's donation went to humanitarian aid for earthquake victims in Haiti. For more information about Asians and Friends-Cleveland, go to www.afcleveland.org.

www.GayPeoplesChronicle.com

-Anthony Glassman