TO THE EDITOR,

Oink, oink

Let me see if I have this right. Congress taxes business and the citizenry at ever increasing rates. Congress takes money off the top of those taxes to pay for their bloated administrative costs. Congressional members then attempt to buy our votes by returning a much smaller portion of our taxes back to their home districts, but only for the projects they wish, and only under the conditions they set. And we are supposed to feel grateful for this? Remember this simple process the next time your local official holds their press conference to announce a federal grant.
No wonder this is called pork — it sure stinks like a pig pen to me.
ROBERT DENSIC, Rossford

Against the TARTA sales tax

Sylvania TARTA service is too expensive on a per person basis. A sales tax will not improve service outside of Toledo.  There will be no accounting of how much is taken from individual cities and townships.

City                          Township
Taxes Paid 1                                         $1,124,000.00            $2,299,000.00
Tax per $100,000.00 assessed value       $70.00/year               $70.00/year
Riders/year2                                           79,310             bsp;        63,590
Taxpayers cost/trip                                 $14.17                      $36.15
Riders/day Annual (365 day year)             217 people                174 people
Mon.-Fri. riders/day2                               288 people                231 people
Sat.-Sun. riders/day 2                             40 people                  32 people
Last TARTA levy vote margin3                293 passed               454 failed
1 – Lucas County Auditor 2008 data; email on file
2- TARTA 2008 data; email on file on file
3- Lucas County Board of Elections Data

If Sylvania city voters knew the above data, I wonder if it would have passed in the city.

I tried TARTA, an unpleasant two hour, with transfer, one way trip to work I make in 15 MINUTES using my vehicle.

Recent TARTA Blade ad stated public transportati on is healthful.  Actually, public transportation is not healthy, especially to senior citizens.  Consider waiting for a bus in rain, cold, snow, heat and humidity and sitting with someone sneezing, coughing and blowing their nose. Swine flu anyone?

TARTA must wean itself from property taxes, operate as a business and charge riders appropriately. TARTA would become very responsive, customer friendly and fiscally responsible. Tax payers who can’t use TARTA should not be forced to subsidize riders.   Riders save on gasoline, vehicle cost, maintenance and possibly insurance.  Riders should bear the true cost.  Anyone concerned about poor people can form a charitable foundation to assist those in need.

TARTA is a mechanism for Toledo politicians to  obtain sub urban tax money.  A levy would fail only if Toledo residents voted no.  Suburban voters can’t overcome Toledo voters numerical advantage.

JOHN PLENZER, Sylvania

Haven’t you heard? Batman died. But he got better — maybe better than he’s been in a long time.

Let me explain: DC Comics killed off the famous Caped Crusader late last year in one of their publishing mega-events and put all his titles on hiatus. Then, Batman’s various associates squabbled over the right to wear the creepy cape and cowl and once that was decided a new Batman hit the mean streets of Gotham. And now? The Dark Knight’s poised on the brink of a brave and bold new era in his long history – which just happens to hit 70 years this year. Coincidence? Hey, this is comic books; ain’t no such thing.

Batman and Robin No. 1

Bruce Wayne found himself fried in “Final Crisis” but he went out like the champion he was, thankfully. Fans were not terribly impressed, being a bit jaded by such comic book stunts. DC then attempted to cement the idea in their minds with a three-issue series called “Battle for the Cowl.” It all came down to the guy who most people thought really deserved to win the name, Dick Grayson, the original Robin, and Jason Todd, a formerly dead former Robin. Dick won and though reluctant at first, became Batman. No fake.

June brings “Batman and Robin” #1, a brand-new title in the Bat-line that’s already garnered rave reviews from readers despite the fact that underneath the mask lurks not Bruce Wayne but his former ward. Helmed by Grant Morrison, he who killed Bruce in the first place, the book’s a perfect jumping-on point for both the curious and concerned. Oh, who’s Robin, you ask? Damian, Bruce’s son. Long story. Pick up the book.

This month also unveils the reactivated “Batman” title and three new series, “Red Robin,” “Batman: Streets of Gotham” and “Gotham City Sirens,” all of which put the Bat-supporting cast through their refreshed paces. Finally, the month-long inauguration culminates with the return of one of DC’s granddaddy titles, “Detective Comics,” which hits #854 as it welcomes its new star: Batwoman. You may remember her from the media-driven “controversy” over her homosexuality a while back.

So, sounds complicated? It is, but in some ways that’s the beauty of comics. Rich, multi-layered stories, interweaving series and a bevy of stars to thrill us – comics had it all long before such things as “Lost” and “Star Trek.” And they still have it.

And Bruce? He’ll be back. It is comics, after all.

Toledo mayoral candidate Clint White III refuses to accept campaign contributions from his parents, but has no problem taking money from other family members.
“I did accept $25 from my grandma,” he said.
White’s not apologizing, though. After all, he is only 17 years old and just graduated from Whitmer High School. He doesn’t even have a summer job.
“I think I can make a difference — hopefully, not a negative one,” said the west Toledo resident. “The city right now, we have a mayor who can do whatever he wants. If I get elected, I will take that out. The strong mayor system is good only if you have good people in there.”

Clint White

White, 4718 Douglas Road, is one of 18 names on a list of people who took out petitions to run for mayor. In fact, when White took out petitions on Jan. 5, he was the second person to do so. The first person was Daniel Angel, 715 Boalt St., who has since decided not to run.
At first White’s parents thought he wasn’t serious. White is an average student who plays in a bluegrass band and he has never even held a student government office.
“I don’t think they were sure about it, and I still don’t think they are sure about it,” White said. “I like to do things for fun and live to the fullest.”
His mother, Mary White, said his announcement to run for mayor came as a surprise.
“I was kind of shocked. I couldn’t believe it. He feels like he can make a difference, and my husband and I have always said, ‘Whatever you think you can do, you can try it.’”
Win or lose, she said it’s a good experience to run for office. He learned about running for office after attending Buckeye Boys State in BGSU last summer.
“Yes, I am only 17 years old, and if you’re thinking that this ‘kid’ does not have the experience to lead a city, I can tell you that you are wrong,” White wrote on his MySpace page.
“I’m sure a five-year-old could run this city better than what we have now. … At Buckeye Boys State, I ran for City coulncil (sic) and won. My roomate [sic], ran for Mayor of our city and won a very hard race. From that did I not only learn the job of the city council, but the job of the mayor as well.”
If nothing else, White said he wants to at least accomplish the task of collecting the 750 signatures required to run for office. Other residents on the list like Donald Gozdowski, 3142 Franklin Ave., stated in an e-mail that he’s as serious as “Christ Crucified” about the campaign, and Jeremiah Van Buren, 2438 Georgetown, has decided to run for Toledo city council instead.
“But, let me be clear, I really don’t want the job,” wrote Gozdowski in his blog, “who in their right mind would willingly embrace the madness of politics?”
All joking aside, none of the people who have taken out petitions, even the four major candidates, Mike Bell, Ben Konop, Jim Moody and Keith Wilkowski, has turned in petitions, according to the Lucas County Board of Elections. The deadline is July 17.
“Out of youthful zeal, I decided I was going to try and run for mayor,” Angel said in a statement. “Then after some wise consul (sic), I decided I was not ready to make decisions that would effect (sic) over 300,000 people.”
White said he knows winning one of the two spots in the Sept. 15 primary election is a long shot, but he wants to make sure people know that young people are monitoring the Toledo political scene. He will turn 18 on Aug. 6.
“Government should not brush off the people,” he said. “[Mayor Carty Finkbeiner] wants the government to be in everything … there’re all these rules. I am going to lower business and residential tax laws.”
White pointed to the Bass Pro Shop opening outside of Toledo as an example of a lost opportunity. He doesn’t blame the owners, though. Toledo has too many taxes. Lower taxes will bring people and businesses into the city, according to the young Republican.
“What Carty doesn’t understand, if you raise taxes, people don’t like that,” White said. “People like having money in their pockets.”
Opal Covey has also taken out petitions to collect signatures to run for mayor. She said that God wants her to be mayor, just like He did in 2000.
God even gave Covey, who lives at 2236 Broadway St., a vision of how to make Toledo thrive, which would be through an amusement park at Promenade Park, she said.
“God has trained me for 32 years for this,” Covey said.
As mayor, Christopher Frank Adams Sr., 1918 Barrows St., said he would listen and then research. He’s tired of all the politics and knows how to get results because of his 20 years in the business industry, including managing big-box stores.
“I haven’t been on TV or anything like that because I sit back and acknowledge what the other candidates are saying,” he said.
“We have to quit fighting as a city,” Adams continued. “I have been to a lot of council meetings, and it seems like all they want to do is bicker and fight … if you don’t want to keep this ship afloat, jump overboard.”
Earl Harris, 523 Chapin St., said he considered running for mayor and went so far as to collect more than 500 signatures, but then realized “this city isn’t ready for the ideas I wanted to present.”
“My main concerns are public safety and creating a business-friendly environment,” he wrote in a statement.
White said it depends what happens with the election, but he is considering college and possibly moving away from Toledo.
“No matter where you go, if I was to move to Florida or Japan, Toledo will always be in my mind,” he said. “No matter what I do, Toledo will always be my home.”
White said there’s nothing like the kind people of Toledo. He recently fell off his bicycle and a guy stopped and said, “Do you need some help?”
“If I don’t make it past the primary ballot, I will see where I go from there,” White said

Also in the running …
Toledo mayoral candidates listed in order of when each person took out petitions. No one has turned them in yet, according to the Lucas County Board of Elections.

1. Daniel J. Angel, 715 Boalt St./ Dec. 8
2. Clint White III, 4718 Douglas Road/ Jan. 5
3. Christopher Frank Adams Sr., 1918 Barrows St./ Jan. 6
4. Opal Covey, 2236 Broadway St./ Jan. 13
5. Pastor Clinton D. Dudley, 1980 Northtowne Drive/ Jan. 20
6. Michael K. Jackson, 3408 Westridge Drive/ Jan. 20
7. James D. Moody, 2468 Parkview/ Jan. 26
8. Keith Wilkowski, 2309 Middlesex/Jan. 27
9. Jeremiah Van Buren, 2438 Georgetown/ Jan. 27
10. Donald Watras, 282 Majestic Drive/ Jan. 30
11. Daniel Sartin, 823 Koch Drive/ Feb. 13
12. Christopher Allen Stevenson, 230 13th St./ March 6
13. William Cutcher, 910 Geneva/ March 10
14. Donald R. Gozdowski, 3142 Franklin Ave./April 1
15. Earl N. Harris, 523 Chapin St./ April 21
16. Jo Pollitt, 1016 N. Michigan St./April 30
17. Ben Konop, 100 S. Huron St., Suite 7C/ May 19
18. Mike Bell, 3010 Hopewell Place/ June 4

The University of Toledo and BottomLine Resource Technologies are preparing to harness wind, solar and geothermal power to meet all electricity needs at the Scott Park campus.
“Our goal is to offset or neutralize our carbon footprint, so we can demonstrate to the world how we can use renewable power intelligently,” said Chuck Lehnert, UT’s vice president of facilities and construction.
The campus’ changes would make it the first of its kind in the nation to produce its own power, said Richard Housh, chairman and CEO of BottomLine Resource Technologies. His company is currently analyzing the campus’ energy needs and possibilities.
Lehnert said the Scott Park campus consumes about one megawatt of electricity per hour, and a renewable energy infrastructure could meet the demand through solar and wind power.
“We want to use the grid in a more intelligent fashion,” Housh said.
A mix of five to eight acres of solar panels and wind turbines could meet the campus’ one-megawatt demand, Lehnert said.
BottomLine Resource Technologies expects to install the solar panels and wind turbines toward the end of the year, Housh said, but the program would continue to develop over time as a working experiment.
Housh said his company was founded in 2007, but he’s been involved with energy since 1978. BottomLine Resource Technologies has implemented similar energy-saving measures at The Ohio State University in Columbus and at the UT’s medical campus.
“The mission of our company is intelligent energy solutions, “Housh said. “There is more concentration around renewable, efficient technology, electric transport and everything related to the smart grid.”
He said universities are an ideal proving ground for the renewable energy sources.
“There’s an opportunity at universities to save energy because of the high occupancy,” Housh said.
UT has asked for state and federal financial assistance, Housh said, but he does not have an estimate in the preliminary stages. He said UT has proven itself as a leader in renewable energy and expects the Scott Park campus to be a success.

A local agency that helps visually impaired young people is taking steps to ensure them a brighter future.
Through a recent $9,000 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities, The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio will update its Children’s Technology Classroom, which provides opportunities to develop basic computing skills. Dawn Christensen, The Sight Center’s executive director, said the grant was necessary for obtaining the most up-to-date assistive technology.
“We have been using [the classroom], but it needs to be updated,” Christensen said. “New assistive technology is coming out every month.”
Christensen said the classroom serves a vital role in the development of visually impaired young people. She said most low-vision children do not learn the “basics of using a computer” until much later than children with normal vision. Thus, having the proper equipment is vital to the skills-development process.
“We need new computers with the ability to facilitate the use of new assistive technology,” she said.
Assistive technology includes any piece of equipment that levels the playing field between sighted and blind individuals. In the Children’s Technology Classroom, students learn to use computers by utilizing software, such as JAWS, an audio program that converts computer text into speech, and Zoom Text, which enlarges text to a greater level than on standard computer programs. Other technological aides include low-vision keyboards, which are useful due to their bright colors and controls to change the contrast of the monitor.
The Sight Center also serves local youth through the Activities of Daily Living Apartment, which is used to educate children enrolled in Toledo Public Schools. Students with moderate to severe vision impairments travel to the center once per week to learn tasks like making a bed, preparing a meal, cleaning, folding laundry and cleaning a bathroom. Through this program, students aim to learn basic skills to maintain independence.
Christensen, who is blind, has served as the executive director since March 2006.
“You name it; I do it,” she said.
She specifically works on marketing, public education and developmental program services.
“I do a lot of speaking engagements,” she said.
Christensen’s loyal companion through these tasks is her guide dog, Althea, whom she has had for seven years. He was trained at Seeing Eye in Morristown, N.J.
During her tenure, The Sight Center has been relocated to 1002 Garden Lake Parkway in Toledo. Prior to her current position, she has a plethora of experience, ranging from volunteer coordinator to clerical and rehabilitative work.
“In college, I worked here during the summer in our sheltered workshop doing assembly and production services and then into clerical and into rehab,” she said.
Christensen also founded the Toledo Chapter of the American Council of the Blind, served as the president at the statewide level and as a board member nationally. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Toledo.
Christensen, born with optic nerve atrophy, has been legally blind her entire life. She studied in special education programs through Toledo Public Schools until the sixth grade, learning Braille and other skills to ease her sight loss. Starting in seventh grade, she became the first legally blind student to attend Anthony Wayne Local Schools and Oregon City School.
At 18, Christensen was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, which eventually left her blind.
“I’ve been totally blind for nearly 20 years,” she said. “Being blind myself has given me great insight into how The Sight Center can provide services for people with visual impairments,” she said.
The Sight Center is a nonprofit agency that works in partnership with the United Way. In 2008, the center served about 1,200 clients in 16 Northwest Ohio counties.
“The majority start their services here,” she said, “but at least half end up with in-home services.
“We will seek grant funding for updated software as they come along,” Christensen said. However, she stated that not all funding is covered through grants from other agencies.
“We rely on contributions, wills and bequests,” she said. “These are very important for survival.”
Upcoming events
The 2009 White Cane Walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at The Sight Center. During this event, individuals will traverse the area in pairs as one is blindfolded. This individual must use a white cane and the guidance of his or her partner to navigate successfully. For more information, visit www.toledowhitecanewalk.kintera.org.

Vice President Joe Biden will visit Willard & Kelsey Solar Group in Perrysburg at 10 a.m. on June 23, according to Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s office. As head of the Middle Class Task Force, Biden is expected to discuss jobs in emerging industries such as alternative energy as he did in a recent visit to Denver, said Steve Fought, spokesman for Kaptur.

A June 18 press release said Perrysburg High School’s Athletic Department will feed approximately 2,500 cyclists between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. June 23 at Perrysburg Junior High School’s practice fields. The large group of bikers, it said, would travel on a five day trek through Northwest Ohio called the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure (GOBA).

The release said the school would serve sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, baked potatoes and drinks. In addition, it said, the school plans on providing entertainment and shelter for patrons.

The release said the trek began in Norwalk and would head up through Northwest Ohio. The public could come and observe the cyclists at the luncheon, it said.

Funds raised by the bikers will go towards renovations of Perrysburg’s Robert Steinecker Stadium.

For more information, contact Ann Sinclair of PHS at (419)-874-3181 or Karen Johnstone at (419)-704-7405.

Qualifiers for the Karaoke World Championship USA will occur 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. June 18 through 20 and June 24 through 26 at Bier Stube of 5333 Monroe St., Bier Stube employee Chuck Feilhardt told Toledo Free Press June 18.

Feilhardt said the event would determine a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. July 4 final, with each male and female winner receiving $300 in cash. The two victors, he said, would then move forward towards for the Ohio state finals at Tail Gators of Greenville July 18.

A June 18 press release for the event said Bier Stube judges would critique participants on their stage presence, entertainment value and vocal expression. This last category, it said, included voice quality, rhythm and tempo.

The release also said winners at the Greenville competition could continue onwards towards the KWCUSA championship August 6 through 8 at King’s Island in Mason. After this, it said, winners could potentially represent America during the international Karaoke championships September 11 and 12 in Lahti, Finland.

Feilhardt said attendees at the local level of the event could expect $2 Budweiser drafts until 9 p.m.

More information, he said, call the Bier Stube at (419)-841-7999.

A June 17 press release said Libbey High School is hosting a joint 1960-1969 class reunion 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. July 10 at Gladieux Meadows.

Admission costs $2 and will include a cash bar and light snacks, the release said. It said attire is casual, and DJ Bob Kelly will spin dance music for the event.

It said Gladieux Meadows is located at 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd. across from the Stranahan Theater.

For more information, contact Bill Albert at (419)-878-2571 or seemor3d@aol.com

A June 17 press release said a free concert is planned for 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 20 in the St. Lucas Lutheran Church’s parking lot.

The release said It’s Essential would play the event. The concert is intended for the St. Lucas Church neighborhood, it said.

It also said free pizza and refreshments were planned as well. Alcohol is banned from the event, the release said.

The release said St. Lucas is located at 745 Walbridge Ave. It said more information was available with Emmitt Williams at (419)-242-1493.