Glass City Jungle

Erosion issues are starting at the land that was supposed to be the marina project. We have people in our community who need assistance when it comes to food and even the Department of Agriculture realizes the importance of urban agriculture. WTOL’s Bob Chirdon feels that Councilmen Joe McNamara and Mike Craig’s idea [...]

The environmental concern aspect of a recent oil spill at Heilman Ditch was referenced by Councilman Rob Ludeman at the July 13 agenda review, Councilman Collins shared some of what he knew at that time, Ludeman requested a referral from the administration as to more information about the contamination. WNWO reported on this story, [...]

When I sat down last Wednesday to decide what I was going to focus on the “Shredding the Curtain” column I write for the Toledo Free Press each week, I had few different topics I could have focused on. The Maywood Project caught my attention since it’s been something I’d been following when [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland, I recommend this post from last year, (link) especially the video for those of you interested in learning more about why Asian Carps are felt to be a huge threat:
Strickland, Cordray Call For White House Asian Carp Emergency Summit this Month
Columbus, Ohio [...]

This in via e-mail from the Buckeye Forest Council:
National Biomass Energy Debate Coming to Ohio.
June 23, 2010
Recent news reports covering the downside of biomass energy proposals have generated articles in the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Biomass Magazine and Environment and Energy Daily. This debate on biomass energy generation is now coming home, making Ohio [...]

It all started June 10 with Talking Points Memo reporting (link):
House Minority Leader John Boehner said he believes taxpayers should help pick up the tab for the clean up.
“I think the people responsible in the oil spill–BP and the federal government–should take full responsibility for what’s happening there,” Boehner said at his weekly press [...]

I wasn’t going to get into the whole recently reported Blade story of Brian Wilson of WSPD, not really living in NWO anymore, but broadcasting from Virginia. Partly because the rumors about this have been out there for a few weeks, shortly after the moving trucks supposedly were seen at Wilson’s Wood County home. [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio Representative and Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi:
State Rep. Szollosi Announces $63K to Combat Lake Erie Bacteria Problem
Wolf Creek restoration to ease E. coli contamination, ensure safety for swimmers
COLUMBUS- Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Szollosi (D-Toledo) today announced the state will spend more than $63,000 on a [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Announces Ohio Partnership to Develop North America’s First Fresh Water Offshore Wind Farm in Lake Erie
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced a partnership between GE and the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation to harness the wind power of Lake Erie [...]

This in via e-mail to let you know this week is Bike Week (May 17-22) and to share the events planned for those of you interested from TMACOG:
Ride Bikes – for Recreation AND Transportation
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) is the local sponsor of Bike Week (May 17-22) and Bike to Work Day [...]

This in via e-mail from the Black Swamp Conservancy:
Conservancy Adds to Corridors of Preserved Farmland
Family Farms Protected in Fulton, Seneca Counties
Perrysburg, OH (May 17, 2010) Black Swamp Conservancy, along with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, has signed perpetual land conservation agreements with owners of farms in Fulton and Seneca counties, ensuring that their land [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Congressman Bob Latta:
WASHINGTON- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, delivered the following opening statement during today’s hearing on “Inquiry into Deepwater Horizon Gulf Coast Oil Spill.”
“Chairman Stupak and Ranking Member Burgess:
I want to extend [...]

This in via e-mail from the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA), unfortunately none of the farms on the tour are in Lucas or surrounding counties, the two closest are Richland and Wayne counties, but this may be of interest to some of you:
OEFFA Announces Free, Public Tour Series Featuring Ohio’s Organic and Sustainable [...]

Okay maybe not, though plagues of insects are supposed to be one sign…It does sound as if things got a bit buzzy just over the river in watching this WTOL story about thousands of bees invading an East Toledo neighborhood…
Goes to show some of you that diss East Toledo that it’s clearly a sweet spot…
[...]

This in via e-mail from the Toledo Botanical Garden:
Join us for a festival of gardening… the Spring Plant Sale!
Toledo Botanical Garden Spring Plant Sale May 7 -9, 2010
Toledo – The first step to expanding and beautifying your garden this year is a visit to Toledo Botanical Garden’s annual Spring Plant Sale. Gardeners from beginner [...]

The following was received via e-mail from the Buckeye Forest Council for those of you interested in taking action:
FOREST PROTECTION ACTION ALERT!
US Senate Climate Bill will Endanger Forest in Ohio and Across the Nation
Please contact US Senator John Kerry, immediately, and ask him to remove wood burning biomass from being included as “clean and [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
April Showers Bring May Flowers For Toledo Neighborhoods
City Offers Garden Partners Program to Continue Beautification Efforts
The City of Toledo will once again offer the Garden Partners program in an effort to maintain urban beautification projects in neighborhoods throughout the city despite the recent budget [...]

As a brief intro, I want to provide more information/discussion on our environment, especially related to the Maumee River and Lake Erie. Recently having the opportunity to speak with Sandy Bihn, her dedication, passion and knowledge, created my asking her if she would consider writing a monthly guest post. She agreed, so what [...]

I participated in a teleconference on this issue this morning, more will follow later, but this is the release received via e-mail, links to documentation that were included in the release have been included:
Anglers and conservationists call for the state to stop the Bayshore coal plant from killing billions of fish in Maumee Bay [...]

This in via e-mail earlier today from the office of Councilman Joe McNamara as an FYI for readers of GCJ:
McNamara and Craig Advocate Energy Plan To Power Economic Growth
Councilmen call on Bell administration to pursue comprehensive energy strategy
Toledo, OH – In spite of the many energy-related projects currently underway in Toledo, the city lacks [...]

The interview with Sandy Bihn of the Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Association (WLEWA) in the April 13 Toledo City Paper titled, Shallow Waters, Deep Problems caught my attention as I was surfing through some of the alternative print media websites. In February, the World Affairs Council held a forum on the topic of “From [...]

Article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, (link) on problems at Davis-Besse. Part of the recommended article:
As many as 16 critical parts in the Davis-Besse reactor lid are cracked or flawed, and the problem could get worse.
Engineers expect to find additional problems when they conduct a third round of high-tech inspections in the coming weeks.
The [...]

Earlier today Democratic candidate for Lucas County Commissioner Ben Krompak held a press conference, below is the release announcing the press conference and a copy of the text of the letter sent to Lucas County Urban Conservationist Jeff Grabarkiewicz.
Krompak Seeks To Create Local Jobs With “Cash for Caulkers”
Democratic Commissioner candidate urges action to [...]

Two releases on upcoming press conferences that involve wind energy projects and solar energy projects in NEO and NWO Ohio:
Governor, Senator Brown to Outline Plans to Advance Offshore Wind Energy Projects Monday in Cleveland
Leaders from Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. to Give Update on Wind Turbines in Lake and Make Announcement
Columbus, OH – Ohio [...]

This in via e-mail from Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association:
OEFFA Applauds the USDA’s Commitment to Improve the National Organic Program
Columbus, Ohio—On March 18, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its much-anticipated review of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP), which was created to administer federal organic [...]

I meant to post this last night, the Toledo Free Press reported that the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission (ERAC) granted summary judgment to FDS Coke Plant LLC.
What this means is that the legal issues concerning did FDS still retain a valid permit to install have been ruled on. The court stated the [...]

This in via e-mail from the Krompak for Lucas County Commissioner campaign:
Krompak Proposes Regional “Green Corridor” Partnership To Promote Clean Energy Jobs
Democratic candidate for Lucas County Commissioner inspired by regional economic development model pioneered by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu
Toledo, OH – Lucas County Commissioner candidate Ben Krompak wants to make our area a [...]

Not long ago Tom Morrissey shared part of the saga, ala his Toledo Free Press column, his parents have gone through in trying to get either Penn Line Tree Trimming Service or the parent company that hires the contractor, First Energy (Toledo Edison) to be responsible for damages done to their above the ground swimming [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Strickland Named Chair of Midwestern Governors Association, Co-Chair of Council of Great Lakes Governors
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland today was officially named chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) and the Council of Great Lakes Governors, during meetings in Washington, D.C., for [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor, Lt. Governor Call for Vigilance, Collaborative Action to Protect Lake Erie from Invasive Species Asian Carp
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Lt. Governor Lee Fisher today sent the following letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to press the [...]