Konop and Andrew Z want your help to save Children’s Wonderland…
24 Nov 2009
Toledo Free Press is one media source that has the story, Volunteers needed to save Children’s Wonderland. The basics? Fifty to 100 volunteers are needed in the next 24 hours to agree to help set up, move and run Children’s Wonderland. The Toledo Seagate Food Bank has agreed to receive all the proceeds.
If you want to help, you are asked to e-mail: savechristmasintoledo@gmail.com
Why didn’t you help save the CHILDREN’S
November 24th, 2009 at 9:18 amCONNECTING POINT Ben??
Maybe Ben can get Theresa Fedor to help him save Children’s Wonderland. She can lead a group of concerned citizens or the “coalition to save Wonderland” outside of the Lucas County Rec center and call people names…like “lame duck”. Let’s demand Santa and his elves open the books so that we…the financial experts…can decide if he spent his money correctly. Better yet, let’s get the Attorney General involved!
Will this effort make the front page of the daily rag for the next 7 days? They’ve beaten the Y and the dog warden to death…who is next? Perhaps the United Way when they begin to tear their old building down? We all know the Connecting Point matter will NEVER show up in the rag. Too bad…
November 24th, 2009 at 10:03 amIt is interesting the issues that our elected officials focus on:dog warden, YMCA, Wonderland.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:09 pmHaving a dog, YMCA, Children’s Wonderland, etc. do not help or address the primary emotional and/or physical problems of a Child or and Adult!!
November 24th, 2009 at 12:53 pmNot having grown up here, what is Children’s Wonderland?
November 24th, 2009 at 3:12 pmChildren’s Wonderland is a display of mechanical Christmas themed dolls/scenes that are about 50 years old. The displays look every year of their 50 years. Some of them are falling apart, but they’re still put on display. There is also a train that you have to pay extra money to ride. You can talk to Santa, I suspect that costs extra too.
A few years back, there wasn’t enough money to put Children’s Wonderland in the rec center so the county tried putting the displays in various windows in downtown Toledo. That idea was a bust.
I’m thinking that if they were really serious about “saving” Children’s Wonderland, they would of made some kind of effort to make a deal with the zoo, since they have success with their lights display.
November 24th, 2009 at 4:53 pmKonop lives in a Wonderland. Perhaps that’s why he’s so intent on saving it.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:17 pmBoo Ben!
November 24th, 2009 at 6:29 pmI do like the gmail account name, savechristmasintoledo ?
November 24th, 2009 at 6:31 pmAs if there would not be a Christmas without the Childrens Wonderland which is also a little like entering the Twilight Zone.
I admit I’m a bit confused by Konop’s desire to save Christmas. I thought he was Jewish.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:34 pmHe’s a diversity minded Jewish politician. lol, Susan.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:37 pmMaybe Ben suffers from Christmas Envy?
November 24th, 2009 at 6:45 pmWell, first I disclose I enjoy Children’s Wonderland each year, even though some of the displays are…antique…It’s a holiday tradition for many families which may be why Konop is interested in it as well as he’s getting some positive pr on it. I also admit to having to get the plastic reindeer or Santa each year from the machine they have there (smile).
It looks like the other two commissioners agree with him given this coverage from WTOL and they have a private donor to help them. Trying to pull this off in this time frame is going to be difficult though, I know it took the volunteers of the past quite some time to get the displays up and working.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:50 pmSusan, you are correct, Ben Konop is Jewish, several media sources have included that information, one example. He does practice his religion, since he has been off work during Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur.
In his defense I’m sure it would be said that no matter his personal religion, he represents voters of all religions and beliefs.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:58 pmIf one really reads, watches, and
listens, the conclusion is that Konop, Commissioners, Politicians,
and Public or Private Administrators do not really
practice any religion but are
most of the time practicing their
own wanting of power, self centered, love of self, and
greed interests.
If there is a God, wonder how he
November 24th, 2009 at 7:53 pmviews them??
plus 1 D boots, well done!
November 24th, 2009 at 8:23 pmI wouldn’t mind helping, but since Ben Konop is involved, I will have to pass. Just hearing his name takes away my Christmas spirit…
November 24th, 2009 at 9:12 pmIsn’t Ben Konop really Will Ferrell, and he is trying to re-promote his movie ELF……
Nicely played Ben… I mean Will
November 25th, 2009 at 7:38 amCan’t say I have much criticism for anyone asking for volunteers. If it would cost the taxpayers money then I’m against it. Criticizing just because it’s Ben asking? Seems silly to me. I much rather have Ben busy doing this then thinking of new ways to tax us for any of his social programs.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:42 amDoug,
In most cases I wouldn’t disagree with someone asking for volunteers. However, since it is Konop, this is more than likely a self-serving political ploy (althought I would agree that describes the motives of most politicians). I would have rather the proclamation come from Andrew Z himself. I would think Ben would have more important issues to tackle than Children’s Wonderland.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:37 pmI understand Dan, and believe me I am not a fan of Ben Konop but I would like to keep criticism to his individual policies, not when he is asking for volunteers. I don’t like to attack the person, just thier policies and all I am seeing here is attacks on Ben as a person. Maybe he is doing it just for a self serving political ploy but the outcome is the same as if it was organized by a stay at home parent. Unless it affects my taxes, I don’t see a problem with it. Might as well criticize the marines for thier toys for tots program because they have better things to do like defending our country. Also, if I read the article correctly, it was Andrew Z announcing it. Plus Andrew Z has his show that I bet he will use to tell people.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:17 pmWind Man – #18 –
Ben Konop is really David Bromstad who hosts Color Splash on HGTV. And we all thought he was a law professor (who doesn’t teach any classes)
Pic:
http://www.dispatchevents.com/images/press_photos/bromstad_250×345.jpg
Interesting paragraph from his page at UTLAW.edu
“Professor Konop has been active in a number of professional and civic organizations including: Connecting Point of Toledo, The Catholic Club of Toledo, The Toledo Bar Association, The Ohio Bar Association and the Washington, D.C. Bar Association. Professor Konop is also the President of the Lucas County Citizens Levy Review Committee.”
How active in Connecting Point? Hopefully he won’t be as effective in these other organizations.
It’s good to see the Catholic Club is accepting practicing Jews. haha.
http://utlaw.edu/facultystaff/parttime/Konop.htm
November 25th, 2009 at 2:36 pmKonop’s motives are not to save
Christmas Wonderland or SAVE THE CHILDREN themselves.
Konop’s primary motives are to save
and promote himself which is also the reason for his involvement with the Dog Warden issue.
If Konop’s motive is to SAVE THE
CHILDREN he had his opportunity to
help and speak out loudly regarding
the Connecting Point issue early
this year.
WHY SAVE A DISPLAY AND NOT THE LUCAS COUNTY CHILDREN THEMSELVES??
November 25th, 2009 at 3:00 pmAh that overrated radio host Z is at it again with his little buddy Ben Konop. Although Z is entitled to his opinion, I really think someone should tell him to shut up!
November 25th, 2009 at 9:36 pmAndrew has done a lot for the community, there is nothing wrong with him trying to organize an effort to save something like Children’s Wonderland.
Konop’s only problem is that some question his motives as well as wonder where he was when the Connecting Point needed this type of attention.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:40 pmI personally question z, what with his outrageous attack on that reporter that was trying to question konop. That was not nice.
But I do hope they can save Children’s Wonderland.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pmConsidering Konop was Andrew’s guest, I don’t think it was outrageous, a bit over the top? Probably but that’s common in Toledo’s radio on both AM and FM. Andrew didn’t try to strong arm me into removing my video, I can’t say the same for another station.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:56 pmPerhaps Ben realized something from the experience of Connecting Point and is now making sure he goes after what concerns people. Sometimes you don’t know you’ve made a mistake until the proof comes in.
November 25th, 2009 at 10:49 pmOh, Chad, Konop knew exactly what and why he was keeping his mouth shut regarding the Connecting Point issue.
November 25th, 2009 at 11:31 pmSome of us have some very clear clues
of why too! Konop has opened his
mouth loud and clear about everything
else and it definitely was not a
mistake!!
Konop didn’t run his mouth about the deer kill. maybe he doesn’t want to upset his rich folk?
November 25th, 2009 at 11:48 pmLisa,
Good site, and mostly love your insight. But really your defending of Ben is quite nauseating.
November 28th, 2009 at 12:03 amIt’s not my job to defend anyone, especially Ben Konop, I do however take a more devil’s advocate position as opposed to my own personal opinion as often as I can.
Thank you for the compliment though and welcome to the Jungle…
November 28th, 2009 at 12:09 amOne more thing regarding Konop never
opening his mouth regarding Connecting
Point issue;
Konop if you remember, or check back,
has not opened his mouth
hardly at all regarding any of the
mental health issues at all!!
There are 3 or 4 reasons I know of
November 28th, 2009 at 12:22 amwhy Konop does not open his mouth on
those issues.
Konop is all about self promotion. Andrew Z feeds into that, and by the looks of him every buffet in the NW Ohio/SE Michigan area.
As far as Children’s Wonderland goes why not move it to COSI so then we can consolidate all the things people don’t go to.
I agree with Wind Man in #18. I can see Ben saying “I like smiling. Smiling is my favorite.”
November 28th, 2009 at 1:45 pmI don’t think the personal reference about Andrew’s weight was necessary or related to the topic and I think it shows that I’m doing a good job in moderating/enhancing the discussion here since there are those that accuse me of being unfair to Konop and those who believe I’m being overly protective.
If the goal of the blog was for me to share my opinion only, I’d do things differently. The goal here is to try to present both sides, and when there are not those presenting the other side of perception in the comments? I try to…
November 28th, 2009 at 1:52 pmI’m surprised that Ben Konop and Andrew Z have not partnered up with Carty Finkbeiner to have Children’s’ Wonderland at Bay 4 the Erie Street Market. There have not been any concerts there in nearly a year and we, the taxpayers, paid $80,00+ on renovations.
November 29th, 2009 at 9:33 am