Alas

REMEMBER VARICK Street? It used to be teaming with printers, until Trinity Church Real Estate—with extensive holdings on Varick—opted not to renew many printer leases about 10 years ago. Alas, the real estate boom eroded a fine tradition, as many shops were forced to relocate. But New Yorkers are tough, no doubt about it, and have the survival skills to meet challenges. And thrive. According to the PIA/GATF, in its 2006 estimate for state print markets, New York ranked third in the nation for printing shipments at $12.3 billion, trailing only California ($15.3 billion) and Illinois ($12.9 billion). It is easy to get lost

BY ERIK CAGLE The Cleveland Indians baseball team may have the commercial printing industry to blame for having one less star player. Dave Bracken, president of The Press of Ohio and a 2000 Printing Impressions/RIT Printing Industry Hall of Fame inductee, was a pretty good player in his heyday, at least good enough to set a hitting record for his college team. He played alongside and against future major leaguers such as Mike Hershberger and Bill Halter, and was even offered a professional contract following a tryout at old Cleveland Stadium. Alas, a career in pro baseball was not meant to be, according to