Ohio: In the Void of it All!

http://allaboardohio.org/2011/05/09/ohio-in-the-void-of-it-all/

Ohio: In the Void of it All!
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2011

Contact: Ken Prendergast, Executive Director, 216-288-4883 kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org

See today's USDOT press release regarding the distribution of $2 billion in federal passenger rail development funds at:
http://www.fra.dot.gov/roa/press_releases/fp_DOT_57-11.shtml

Statement by Ken Prendergast, Executive Director, All Aboard Ohio:

"With Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York all receiving funds in this round, and Indiana receiving funds in an earlier round, Ohio is now officially the doughnut hole between Chicago and the East Coast. As native Ohioan Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders once sang: 'Way to go Ohio.'

"However, we will continue to work with our Congressional leaders, Amtrak and others to promote capital improvements to Amtrak routes and stations across Ohio to link up Chicago and the East Coast. For the next few years, this may be the only way to bring civilized, energy-efficient, first-world transportation choices to millions of Ohioans who can't or won't drive."

END

 

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org

Meeting Highlights 5-9-11

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS   For Immediate Release: May 9, 2011   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

RACE FOR THE CURE:  Thousands of people will soon take to Columbus streets to battle breast cancer at the 2011 Komen Columbus Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 14th.  Health, Housing & Human Services Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring resolution 0069X-2011 to honor the thousands of runners, walkers and volunteers who will be giving their time and money to find a cure. The 19th annual event will raise money for breast cancer research. In 2010, approximately 50,000 runners and walkers raised $2 million for the cause.  Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women ages 40-59.   

 

MILLS HELPING PROVIDE FIVE NEW FIRE ENGINES: Columbus Firefighters respond to over 100,000 calls for emergency assistance each year.  In the ongoing effort to ensure the Division of Fire has the updated equipment they need to respond to these calls, Public Safety Committee Chair Michelle M. Mills is sponsoring ordinance 0588-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $947,122.18 from the Department of Public Safety’s Governmental Build America Bonds fund to purchase two new, custom built engines from Sutphen Corporation, a local company to replace existing engines that are beyond their useful life and have high maintenance costs.  The Division of Fire has 34 engines assigned to fire stations throughout the city.

 

REDUCING CITY STREET LIGHT COSTS:  In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, the city of Columbus continues to explore options to reduce city costs.  Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, chair of the Public Utilities Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0654-2011 to authorize the Department of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with AEP Retail Energy for street light generation and transmission services.  The city of Columbus owns street lights that are metered and billed by AEP Ohio. AEP Retail Energy is an electric service provider and affiliate of AEP Ohio. The Division of Power and Water (Power) has coordinated with AEP Retail Energy to reduce the power cost of the street lights on the AEP Ohio system. By switching the generation and transmission of the street lights currently on the AEP Ohio system to AEP Retail Energy, the Department of Public Utilities would reduce the cost of the mega watt hours (MWh) from $62.62/MWh to $49.90/MWh for an approximate annual savings of $126,000.00.

 

City partnering to pursue federal funding:  Development Committee Chair Zachary M. Klein is sponsoring ordinance 0675-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $25,000 for a cooperative funding agreement with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce for consultant services to pursue federal funding for transportation and infrastructure improvement projects within the City of Columbus and the Franklin County region.  Through this agreement, the City of Columbus will join other major metropolitan groups in requesting federal funding for projects. This is a collaborative effort involving the City of Columbus, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio State University, the Columbus Partnership, Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Ohio Health, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation.

 

USING TECHNOLOGY TO TRACK WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND TESTING: Councilmember A. Troy Miller, chair of the Administration Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0554-2011 to authorize the expenditure of $53,013.00 for the renewal of a contract with PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc., for maintenance and support of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).  The LIMS enables the Division of Sewer & Drainage (DOSD) and the Division of Power & Water (DOPW) to manage water quality sample information, incorporate input from plant operations data sources, track 79,000 tests on 16,000 different samples annually, and transfer approved results to end users automatically. The LIMS has replaced older information systems, allowing DOSD and DOPW to satisfy their regulatory reporting requirement more efficiently. The software agreement will provide software maintenance and support services through May 31, 2012.

 

PROTECTING WATER LEVELS FOR CITY RESIDENTS:  The city of Columbus provides water to Columbus residents and nearby communities through three water treatment facilities throughout the city.  The Parsons Avenue Water Treatment Plant is the only facility that uses well water to operate and provide water to customers in the southern area of Central Ohio.  To ensure that customers receive water free of contaminants and an adequate water supply, Finance Committee Chair Priscilla R. Tyson is sponsoring ordinance 0612--2011 for the purchase of 25 subsurface geologic borings and the installation of 15 monitoring wells to monitor water quality and water levels at the facility.    One fourth of the city’s water customers receive water from the Parsons Avenue Water Treatment Plant.

 

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Michigan to get nearly $200M for high-speed rail

Another $268.2 million is awarded to building 21st-century locomotives and rail cars for Midwest services, including Detroit-Chicago. The direct $198 million award is on top of $161 million awarded in October 2010 and $40 awarded in January 2010. Plus, another $204 million was awarded to Illinois and Indiana for portions of the Detroit-Chicago rail corridor in those two states (which also benefit Ohio-Chicago services too)...

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood: Michigan to get nearly $200M for high-speed rail
Published: Monday, May 09, 2011, 9:01 AM
  By The Associated Press 

The federal government is pumping nearly $200 million into high-speed passenger rail projects in Michigan.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says Monday the funds are part of a $2 billion investment stretching from the country's northeast corridor, through the Midwest and on to California.

Lahood says the investments will help create jobs and spur economic development.

About $195 million will be used to upgrade tracks and signals between Kalamazoo in southwestern Michigan to Dearborn, just outside Detroit. The work also will increase train speeds to 110 mph between Chicago and Detroit.

 

Another $2.8 million will be used for an analysis of a new station in Ann Arbor.

READ MORE AT:
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/transportation_secretary_ray_l.html

AND:

http://www.fra.dot.gov/roa/press_releases/fp_DOT_57-11.shtml

 

 

Ken Prendergast
Executive Director
All Aboard Ohio
12029 Clifton Blvd., Suite 505
Cleveland, OH 44107
(216) 288-4883
kenprendergast@allaboardohio.org
www.allaboardohio.org

Media Alert

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA ALERT   For Immediate Release:  May 6, 2011   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

 

Councilmember Mills Holds Public Hearing On Neighborhood Safety Cameras

 

 

WHO:
Councilmember Michelle M. Mills

Safety Director Mitchell Brown

Various Community Leaders

 

WHEN:
Thursday, May 12, 2011
5:00 pm

 

WHERE:
Columbus City Council Chambers

City Hall, 2^nd Floor

90 West Broad Street

Columbus, OH 43215

 

WHAT :

Councilmember Michelle M. Mills, chair of the Safety Committee, will hold a public hearing to discuss the installation of safety cameras in five Columbus neighborhoods.  The pilot project, announced last fall, is designed to improve the safety in Columbus by serving as a deterrent to crime and giving police and prosecutors another tool to hold criminals accountable for their actions. Speaker slips will be accepted until 5 pm.

 

Parking is free after 5 pm at City Hall and the meeting will be broadcast live on CTV, the Columbus’ public broadcast channel 3 on local cable systems.

 

 

 

 

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PEACE GARDEN Picnic

IVO  A consortium of volunteer organizations with global connections seeking to improve the quality of life in local communities.   

P.O. Box 212   Columbus, Ohio 43216                                         Tel. 614-421-7293                                           sardoviamsi@sbcglobal.net

 

Greetings…

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers among you!!!

It is springtime in Columbus Ohio and the Peace Garden is again calling for TLC from volunteers after the long hard winter.  This is a follow-up letter giving you again the date (Saturday, May 14) time(10 am – 2 pm), place(Franklin Park)and some details. Yes, it is going to be a working picnic and time to socialize and keep in touch with your friends from tmhe international and local community.  Please bring your favorite dish to share. Kindly pass along the attached flyer and invite friends.

Columbus is celebrating the Millennium in 2012. It is a yearlong celebration. We are participating in the festivities so please come with ideas for activities that IVO can do involving the International community in Columbus or the Columbus community in general.  We need your input.

WELCOME to our new members!!! We would like to invite the rest to join us. IVO is a consortium of volunteer organizations with global connections seeking to improve the quality of life in local communities. Due to popular request, the LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP PROMOTION HAS BEEN EXTENDED!!! Thus we are currently running a LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL for a limited time at only $50.00 instead of the regular $500.00.  Many IVO members have been involved with the Peace Garden and Volunteer Wall of Honor, the Health Fair and Outstanding Volunteer Recognition at the Columbus International Festival. IVO has also facilitated sending instruments abroad for use in hospitals and national Health Departments.  We are currently involved in developing volunteer initiatives, the Mosquito Net Project to control the spread of malaria (We just sent $1000.00.), Global Health and other interesting  programs.  Global exchanges and goodwill missions are being considered.  All contributions to IVO are tax deductible.

If you are a new IVO member,  please pass this information and attached brochure along to friends, etc. who may be interested.  If you are not yet an IVO member and would like to join us,  please fill out the enclosed membership form and send along with your lifetime membership fee.  Make checks payable to: IVO Treasurer and send to 1535 Buckshot Ct. Worthington, Ohio 43085.  If you would like to learn more about membership or the many IVO programs, please contact Juanita Elliott (juanitae@aol.com) for membership or Marlinda Iyer (sardoviamsi@sbcglobal.net)  and Amy Burrell (aburrell@cscc.edu) for programs.  

Thank you very much.

Best wishes…

Marlinda S. Iyer

 

     Dr. Marlinda R.  Sardovia-Iyer

President, International Voluntary Organizations (IVO)

Member, APHL Global Health Committee

P.O. Box 212, Columbus, Ohio 43216

     Tel: 614-421-7293      Email:  sardoviamsi@sbcgobal.net

Media Release

 

COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE   For Immediate Release:  May 5, 2011   For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 Web – Facebook – Twitter

 

City of Columbus Hosts Central Ohio Children's Water Festival

       

In recognition of the national Drinking Water Week, the Columbus Department of Public Utilities

hosted 640 fifth-grade students and teachers for the fourth annual Central Ohio Children's Water Festival today.  The annual event, held at the Public Utilities Complex on Dublin Road, is designed to promote environmental awareness about our valuable water resources to elementary students through interactive displays and hands-on activities. 

 

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman welcomed the students during the morning’s Tapping Team demonstration.

 

“It’s an honor to welcome the students and provide them with an overview of the water treatment process, from the source to the tap," he said. "The City of Columbus pumps an average of 140 million gallons of water to homes, schools and businesses each day, and we do it as energy efficient as possible for our 1.1 million customers."

 

City Council President Andrew J. Ginther spoke to the students about the important part in history Columbus played in water treatment.  In the 1870's, chemist Ellen Swallow Richards mentored several engineering students, some of whom later worked on pioneering water treatment methods and reservoir dams in Columbus.   City Councilmember Eileen Y. Paley, chair of the Public Utilities Committee, was also on hand to greet students as they participated in festival activities, which were focused on ground water, surface water, drinking water and water quality.

 

“The Water Festival helps to inspire the engineers, chemists and community leaders of tomorrow by showing them the enormous positive impact their work can have on the lives of others,” said Paley.   “Public Utilities workers are on the job, every hour of everyday, to protect Columbus residents by providing the safest drinking water possible.”

 

Participating school districts included Columbus, Westerville, Worthington and Bexley.  Partnering agencies included:

 

• The Franklin and Delaware Soil and Water Conservation Districts
• Metro Parks
• Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
• Ohio EPA
• Canoe Creation
• Engineering consultants: Brown and Caldwell, Burgess and Niple, Malcolm Pirnie and MWH

 

Residents interested in learning more about the drinking water treatment process and quality can view the current consumer confidence report at www.utilities.columbus.gov or request a copy by calling Customer Service at 645-8276.

 

 

 

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Re: Richard's email and other things

Hi William,
I think Richard's email is rvbucci@yahoo.com - there's .org in the email below that might just be a typo.

I'd love to have you and your neighbor in the garden - any chance you can let me know by May 13th?

thanks so much!
april

On Mon, May 2, 2011 at 9:02 PM, William Murdock <william@murdock.org> wrote:

April - Sorry it took me a while to get back to you!  We're doing okay, but it's been a little bit hectic this year!  So glad to hear that the garden's back at it for the new season and that you sound good!

Here's Richard's email - rvbucci.org@yahoo.com

I'm really happy the shed is working out for you guys, but I'm bummed to hear that the mural and the tables had to go.  Personally, it seems a bit crappy to pull that, but I guess the garden is the primary thing, so... anyhow, I'll send out the notice you asked for and post those things to the site shortly.

I'll talk to Missy about the garden plot and get back to you quickly.  Our neighbor might also be interested, so I'll let them know too.

Thanks - William

On Thu, Apr 28, 2011 at 9:02 AM, April Calkovsky <aprilcalkovsky@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi William,
How are you? It's been a while. How are you and Missy doing? I just wanted to check in real quick. I'd like to get Richard's email address if you have it handy. I thought I had saved it, but I can't find it. I want to see if he is interested in having a garden plot. Are you and Missy interested in having a plot? We have a few available so please do let me know. Any unused plots will be used for herbs and/or flowers until someone wants to occupy them.

We are building 2 or 3 new raised beds this year because the Creative Living people are so into it! It really is a lot of fun and very exciting to have such a commitment from them. I have had a little run-in with Steve Volkmann who wasn't happy about the mural, the bench, or the general "look" of the garden. He said it was just supposed to be something small scale and nice and it isn't. Of course, he saw it in November, so I'm not sure what garden looks good in November. In any case, we removed the mural and nixed the plan to build two wheelchair accessible picnic tables in the area. Steve said that he doesn't want the garden to be a gathering place. He is saying that because he is worried about vagrants and tailgaters hanging out in the space, but it was hard to swallow anyway. We cleaned up the compost bins and are making FULL use of the shed you have for us - thank goodness for that shed!!! I don't know where we would put all of those tomato stakes and fencing otherwise. We also have a tool box in the garden now.

Would you mind posting some things on the website under the garden for me? The email that I sent the other day has the rules and registration form (in one attachment) attached - could you please post those to the website? Could you also post something like:
It's time to grow veggies, flowers and fruit - are you ready? The NECKO Community Garden is kicking things into full swing on May 14th (rain date May 21st). Join us to plant veggies in the community plot. Interested in having your own plot? Read over the garden rules and email April Calkovsky, Garden Coordinator at garden@necko.org to discuss the options.

Let me know if there's anything you or Missy need. I'd love to have you guys involved in the garden this year :)

april