Glass City Jungle

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell as an FYI for readers of the Jungle:
Bell Joins Presentation Of Donation To Hospice Of Northwest Ohio
Ride For Dignity Provides Needed Funds to Support Hospice Services
Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell will join representatives of Signature Harley Davidson to present a check to the [...]

The Ohio Controlling Board (link) approved funding for 180 projects listed on their agenda for July 19. Six of the funding approval requests list Toledo, one lists Lucas County. Since some of you like more details about these projects than is shared in some of the releases sent out by elected officials, below [...]

I guess it comes down to how you measure the word “success” though when I read the Blade headline – GOP chief: Reform petition drive a ’success’ (link) for a brief moment I thought that Stainbrook had actually pulled off getting the required 14,289 signatures.
The story doesn’t state how many signatures were collected – the [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Ohio House District 46 Representative Barbara Sears, it’s interesting that no other NWO representative has announced similar district office hours, State Representative Matt Patten (D-Strongsville) is the only other Ohio Representative who has sent out a release recently announcing constituent meetings:
Rep. Sears to Hold District Office Hours
Columbus—State [...]

After writing Looking through the windshield in the Toledo Free Press that came out Sunday, the thoughts that inspired that column are still with me. As I wrote at the time, it really didn’t matter which superintendent candidate TPS selected, the question raised in my mind by the comment made by Tom Watkins exists [...]

Zoo officials are still not sure why Louie attacked Don RedFox, the story has brought the debate over elephants being kept in Zoos into the pages of the daily paper – (link). One of the interesting parts of the debate revolves around “free contact” and “protected contact” — the Toledo Zoo uses both but [...]

I understand the symbolic gesture that is the motivation behind Toledo City Councilman Adam Martinez’s resolution, the text of which was shared here before (link). Since the City’s FTP server is still down, I have not yet listened to the three hours worth of audio to determine what was said at the committee meeting [...]

This in via e-mail from Jodie Tienvieri, Communications Manager Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross:
Famous Dave’s Pulled Pork Eating Contest Slated for Smoke on the Water Ribs for the Red Cross
Always hungry?
Asking for thirds while others struggle to finish their entre?
Ever been referred to as a bottomless pit?
The Famous Dave’s Pulled [...]

The following was received via e-mail from the Lucas County Republican Party, it’s an interesting position when compared to the Blade article (link) where Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop states, “In all honesty, it’s not a Republican document, it’s not a Democratic document; it’s a good-government document.” I think it’s important for Democrats to [...]

The following guest post was written by Dr. Edmund B. Lingan to share with readers of the Jungle. I welcome him to the blogosphere and hope you support what he is trying to accomplish:
I would like to introduce my new blog, Midwest Theatre Review midwesttheatre.wordpress.com. I am a professor in [...]

When you read – Mr. Stainbrook’s moment from Blade this weekend, it’s hard to see it any other way than the Blade editorial staff challenging Stainbrook to take up their cause and do it.
So the reform campaign offers the county Republican Party and its embattled chairman, Jon Stainbrook, the opportunity to show that [...]

Two releases sent out today by the office of Governor Ted Strickland, the first is on the creation of the Northwest Ohio Solar Energy Hub and the second calls upon the United States Senate to pass an extension for unemployment benefits.
Strickland Announces Northwest Ohio Solar Energy Hub in Toledo
Toledo, OH–Governor Ted Strickland today [...]

Since we’ve followed this story in detail, I thought some of you would be interested in this release I received via e-mail from Anneke M. Kurt, Marketing Director & Owner of Market Ink:
On May 23, 2009, Mike McCloskey – then just 24 years old – was shot by an Ottawa Hills police officer during a [...]

There has been a lot of discussion about Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop’s proposed charter changes, the cover story of this week’s Toledo Free Press written by Michael Stainbrook on this topic, is a recommended read, (link). Stainbrook points out a few things that have not gotten discussion, like term limits and the fact [...]

This in via e-mail from Lon Mitchell the Manager of Public Information for Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities:
Special Olympians Depart for Summer Games
What: More than 55 Special Olympians from Lucas County will depart Friday morning, June 25, for the State Summer Games. They will join 2,500 athletes from all across this weekend in [...]

This in from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Statement on Denial of Federal Assistance for Storm-damaged Northwest Ohio
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today released the following statement on the denial of assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the areas of Northwest Ohio affected by a damaging tornado that [...]

Former Ottawa Hills Police officer Thomas White was sentenced to ten years in jail today for shooting Mike McCloskey. White did not begin the prison process today though, an appellate bond in the amount of $100,000 was set by Common Pleas Judge Judge Gary Cook. FOX Toledo reported what White stated when he [...]

“If it’s wrong, it’s wrong” is something I’ve written on more than one occasion, it’s how I try to stay fair and eliminate as much personal bias as possible. This does create situations, where to my way of thinking, some things should just be common sense. Several things took place during the past few [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
Mayor Bell Joins In Support For Hospice Of Northwest Ohio
Ride For Dignity Commemorates The Spirit Of Life
Toledo Mayor Michael P. Bell will join the leaders of Hospice of Northwest Ohio at a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16 for the upcoming Ride [...]

This in via e-mail from Jodie Tienvieri, Communications Manager American Red Cross Greater Toledo Area Chapter yesterday:
Yesterday local officials, Red Cross staff and community partners met to discuss long-term recovery planning for case management and donations management after the northwest Ohio tornadoes. Below is what was discussed and determined. Please pay close attention to [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
June 14, 2010 – Governor Announces State Aid for Tornado Impacted Counties in Northwest Ohio
State Controlling Board approves $673,873 to support Wood, Fulton and Ottawa Counties
Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today announced $673,873 in state aid to assist Wood, Fulton and Ottawa [...]

One advantage of a government project is you don’t have to know for sure how it’s all going to be paid for. All you have to do is have a plan and even if some of the dollar amounts for the planned funding changes? It’s said to still be all okay, at least [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Mayor Mike Bell:
2010 Ohio Police and Fire Games Kick-Off in Toledo
Opening ceremonies for the 2010 Ohio Police and Fire games will be held at 7 p.m., June 14, 2010 at the Lighthouse at 2605 Broadway. The City of Toledo’s Police and Fire Departments along with the [...]

This in via e-mail from Jodie Tienvieri, Communications Manager for the American Red Cross Greater Toledo Area Chapter:
Costs of Response Essentially Met, but Donations Still Needed to Prepare for Future Disasters in Northwest Ohio
Toledo, OH, June 10, 2010 — The American Red Cross today announced that it has met the expected costs of the [...]

Earlier today it was reported that an unnamed person jumped from the fifth floor of the parking garage at the Toledo Hospital and died from the fall. Around 1:30 p.m. people started to contact me, the rumor at the time was that it was Larry Kaczala who was the person who had died. [...]

This in via e-mail from Andrew “Z” Zepeda who is the host of Host-Andrew Z in the morning on WVKS/92.5 KISS FM:
NORTHWEST OHIO’S BIGGEST FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT THE RED CROSS AND HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY THE TORNADOES THIS PAST WEEKEND!
Who: Andrew Z in the morning
What: Andrew Z’s Restaurant Relief
When: All Day this Thursday June [...]

In via e-mail from Jodie Tienvieri, Communications Manager for American Red Cross Greater Toledo Area Chapter:
Late on the evening of Saturday, June 5, a string of tornadoes ripped through Northwest Ohio producing damage in Fulton, Lucas Ottawa and Wood Counties. The most serious damage was in Wood County, in the communities of Take Township, [...]

This in via e-mail from the office of Governor Ted Strickland:
Governor Asks for Federal Assistance to Conduct Preliminary Damage Assessments
Ottawa County added to list of declared counties
Columbus, OH – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today spoke with President Barack Obama and asked for federal support to conduct preliminary damage assessments for Wood County.
The Governor made [...]

This in via e-mail from Dave Schulz on behalf of Toledo COBRA:
Toledo COBRA rejects Konop Plan
Konop plan will grow government and make it less efficient
Today, Toledo COBRA, Citizens Organized to Bring Reform and Accountability announces that it is opposed to the “Konop Plan” and will actively discourage any initiative petition campaign.
“This plan is horrible. [...]

Last night’s organizational meeting held by the Lucas County Democratic Party will not go down in history as one of the most attended, according to more than one source about 70 people attended. There has been no release yet from the party as to the complete list of officers for the Executive and Central [...]