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All from the 6/27/07 DDN: WPAFB tax ban added to budget Riverside's income tax on civilian employees at Wright-Pat facing ban. By William Hershey and John Nolan Staff Writers Wednesday, June 27, 2007 A provision that would effectively ban the city of Riverside from imposing its 1.5 percent municipal income tax on civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base who are not Riverside residents is now part of the proposed state budget... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/06/27/ddn062707riverside.html Riverside asks Strickland to continue Wright-Pat tax By John Nolan Staff Writer Wednesday, June 27, 2007 RIVERSIDE — The city is asking Gov. Ted Strickland to allow Riverside to continue imposing its income tax on civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, despite a lawmaker's legislative attempt to end the tax... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/27/ddn062707riversideweb.html Provision aimed at Riverside tax could hit elsewhere Like Riverside, Whitehall imposes an income tax on civilian employees at a military base. By John Nolan and William Hershey Staff Writers Wednesday, June 27, 2007 State Rep. Kevin DeWine of Fairborn said Tuesday that wording he added to the state budget was intended to block the income tax that Riverside began imposing this spring on civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/06/27/ddn062707riversidebiz.html

From the 6/27/07 Bellefontaine Examiner: Jefferson zoning amendment blocked for now By Joel E. Mast Bellefontaine Examiner Staff Writer 06/27/07 A push to overturn a commission’s recommendation against a citizen-initiated wind turbine zoning amendment was scuttled Tuesday by Jefferson Township Trustee Paul Blair’s emphatic, “No.” His vote prompted applause from landowners who would like to explore the possibility of erecting wind turbines. The applause drowned out the “yes” votes of trustees Mark Conoyer and Tim Tillman. It was one of several spontaneous outbursts by both proponents and opponents of wind turbines during the meeting. Mr. Conoyer had proposed rejecting the recommendation of the township’s zoning commission and adopting an amendment proposed by www.savewesternoh.org, an organization fighting to keep wind turbines out of Logan and Champaign counties. Mr. Conoyer proposed raising the maximum height from 200 feet to 300 feet and trimming the setbacks from property lines, buildings and road rights of way. Savewesternoh.org believes large wind turbines will destroy the quality of life, lower property values, harm wildlife and cause health problems for some residents. Proponents, who are predominately farmers, view wind turbines as another source of revenue and a compatible enterprise with their livelihoods. They and a commission of the Logan-Union-Champaign Regional Planning Commission believe the amendment would effectively ban wind turbines. Full article at http://www.examiner.org/news06.27.2.php

Metro area numbers of civilian labor force and unemployment (in thousands), not seasonally adjusted, for May 2007 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/metro_06272007.pdf

From the 6/27/07 Warren Tribune Chronicle: Delphi, IUE-CWA enter intense talks By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle Delphi Corp. and union bargainers are digging in for long daily negotiating sessions as they try to reach an agreement for workers with the company’s second largest union, a union spokesman said Tuesday. Willie Thorpe, chairman of the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America Automotive Conference Board, said ‘‘everyone is working hard on it.’’ He declined to give any details, saying, ‘‘We have a gag order until we get done.’’ He said he can’t put a timetable for reaching an agreement, adding bargainers would work through the Fourth of July holiday if necessary. ... [email protected] (The Associated Press contributed to this report.) http://tribune-chronicle.com/articles.asp?articleID=19655

From the 6/27/07 Dispatch: PHOTO: Three Santa representatives visited Columbus to help judge its merits. From left, Santa look-alikes Nicholas Trolli, T. Christian Martens and Timothy Connaghan talk with reindeer Tim Dick, proprietor of Schmidt's Fudge Haus, on one of their stops. RENEE SAUER | DISPATCH How to woo a Santa Columbus one of cities competing for convention Wednesday, June 27, 2007 3:30 AM By Marla Matzer Rose THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Santa Claus is coming to town, if Experience Columbus officials have their way. For the past two days, members of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas have been making their lists and checking them twice while visiting Columbus to decide whether to bring their 2008 convention to the city. Representatives of the convention and visitors bureau chaperoned the three -- Timothy Connaghan of Riverside, Calif.; T. Christian Martens of Ventura, Calif.; and Nicholas Trolli of Philadelphia -- on guided tours around town and made their best pitch to get the 1,400-member group here next July. http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/business/stories/2007/06/27/santas.ART_ART_06-27-07_C8_2474S1T.html

Link contains a photo. From the 5/21/07 Dayton Business Journal: A.G. Edwards moving into Greene Dayton Business Journal - May 18, 2007 by Yvonne Teems DBJ Staff Reporter Come August, the financial advisers of A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc. no longer will have a view of Interstate 75 when looking out their windows. At their new home in The Greene, they'll look across the street to see people shopping with Coldstone Creamery ice cream in hand, or they'll glance below at customers heading into Talbot's clothing store. E-mail [email protected]. Call 528-4426. http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/05/21/story1.html

From the 4/19/07 Grove City Record: Council approves design agreement for Lumberyard Further negotiations to take place before issue settled Thursday, April 19, 2007 By KEVIN PARKS Record Staff Writer It's those numbers. Larry Corbin just can't get over the difference between the two figures, the vast gulf that exists between nothing and $4-million. That's the disparity, the Ward 3 Councilman has been insisting for weeks now, in the financial impacts on the city of the proposals for redeveloping the Lumberyard site behind City Hall. On the one hand, the project being envisioned by a joint effort of development and design firms Stonehenge of Gahanna and Bird Houk Collaborative of Dublin would leave the city footing the bill for a $4-million parking garage, in Corbin's view. The concept put forth by the early front-runner for the project, Skilken, would not have cost the city a penny for more parking. Read more at http://www.thisweeknews.com/?story=sites/thisweeknews/041907/GroveCity/News/041907-News-340576.html

From Grove City News, 4/11/07: City talks garages One City Council member says he is not happy with the possibility of residents footing the bill for parking. By KRISTIN CAMPBELL City officials continue to hash out plans for the renovation of downtown Grove City. The property behind City Hall, the former lumberyard site, has been a focus of discussion. Last year, Grove City Council approved a developer for the site, but that represented the earliest planning stages. At its Monday meeting, council will be asked to approve an agreement to allow The Stonehenge Co., the chosen developer, to begin drawing up plans. But some dissent underlies the planning process. Councilman Larry Corbin made remarks at the April 2 council meeting indicating his disapproval of a proposed parking garage on the site. He said his reservations stem from the cost of the garage. The garage -- which is only in the preliminary planning stages and has not been approved by council -- could cost between $2.5 million and $4 million. Read more at http://www.snponline.com/NEWS4-11/4-11_gcparking.html

From the 6/26/07 Tiffin Advertiser-Tribune: Coming down By Zachary Petit, [email protected] Even though the possibility of restoring the county courthouse was resurrected earlier this month, a majority of Seneca County commissioners decided Monday to take the option off the table and proceed toward demolishing the building. Amidst a packed boardroom, commissioners Mike Bridinger and Dave Sauber presented their contrasting plans Monday for the fate of the structure. After citizens representing different sides of the debate weighed in, Commissioner Ben Nutter called for a vote to have MKC Associates draft a project manual so the building’s demolition can be put up for bids. While Bridinger refused to second the motion and emphatically voted “no” to the backdrop of audience applause, Sauber echoed Nutter’s “yes.” “We’re absolutely removing that 1884 structure and we’re starting over,” Nutter said after the meeting. Full story: http://www.advertiser-tribune.com/articles.asp?articleID=8904

From the 6/26/07 Enquirer: CPS board adds spending checks BY BEN FISCHER | [email protected] The Cincinnati Board of Education unanimously approved a $428.3 million budget proposal without a single alteration on Monday but also took steps to put new controls on future spending. In the two weeks since Superintendent Rosa Blackwell presented the spending plan, just a handful of public speakers have appeared at board meetings. Meanwhile, the board itself has grilled Blackwell and her top lieutenants on the details, but ultimately did not order any changes. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070626/NEWS0102/706260351/

ODOD press release, 6/26/07: FISHER APPROVES BROWNFIELD LOAN FOR ERIE COUNTY PROJECT $ 618,000 Approved for Lakecrest Town Center Project FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2007 Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, Director of the Ohio Department of Development, today announced the approval of a $618,000 loan from the Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund for the remediation and redevelopment of the former Bechtel-McLaughlin site in Erie County's Perkins Township. The approval from the Ohio Department of Development is subject to completion of pre-loan closing activities and further consideration by the United State Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), which has final granting authority. The loan will be utilized by JRSMI, LLC for the $18 million Lakecrest Town Center project. "The Lakecrest Town Center project is significant not only for job creation and economic expansion for Perkins Township, but also for the revitalization of an abandoned industrial site into thriving commercial use," said Lt. Governor Fisher. "The state is proud to offer assistance to communities through brownfield programs and loans which utilize existing infrastructure and preserve greenspace while generating economic growth." The brownfield loan from the Ohio Department of Development, with approval from the US EPA, will be used to conduct remediation and demolition activities at 20.95 acre former metal plating operations site. Development of the site is set to begin in the fall with anchor tenants Aldi's and Menards already identified. The project and commercial tenants are expected to create 106 jobs. The Ohio Department of Development's Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund offers below-market rate loans to assist with the remediation of brownfield properties to return them to productive economic use in communities. The program provides loans by capitalizing grants from the US EPA. http://www.odod.state.oh.us/newsroom/releases/1775.asp

From the 6/26/07 Youngstown Vindicator: The yo-yo factor comes into play in Valley home sales and prices Statewide, both home sales and average selling prices were down for the month. By DON SHILLING VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR Home sales in Trumbull County are up, but prices are down. In Mahoning County, the opposite is true. The average selling price for homes in Trumbull County in May was $87,428, down 9 percent from the same month last year. Trumbull County lost nearly 5,000 jobs last year when General Motors and Delphi Packard Electric offered buyouts and early retirement incentives to their workers. Home sale prices have been down each month this year. http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/326534809906426.php Courthouse renovations near completion Youngstown Vindicator, 6/24/07 Renovations to the Columbiana County courthouse are coming to an end, although it might not look that way. The two Common Pleas courtrooms on the second floor are still full of wood as workers complete the trim. New school design is under way Youngstown Vindicator, 6/22/07 The schematic design phase for a new Jackson-Milton High School/Middle School has been submitted and a second, more detailed design portion is under way. Superintendent Buck Palmer said at Thursday's board of education meeting that the schematic needs the approval of the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

Link contains a photo. From the 6/26/07 Ashtabula Star Beacon: Residents oppose condos Residents don't buy promises for Lincoln building SHELLEY TERRY Star Beacon ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP - - Despite promises of turning the old Lincoln Elementary School into luxury condominiums with privacy landscaping and other amenities, area residents aren't buying it... http://www.starbeacon.com/local/local_story_177072334 Glenbeigh marks $4.2M expansion Ashtabula Star Beacon, 6/26/07 Glenbeigh Hospital and Outpatient Centers opened the doors to new possibilities Thursday, with the completion and official opening of it's $4.2 million expansion...

From the 6/13/07 BG News: BGSU unveils Sebo Center By: Chayse Held Issue date: 6/13/07 Section: Sports If you build it, they will come. Although the notion of the Sebo Athletic Center did not come from a voice in the sky, the idea that a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility, with athletic department suites, meeting spaces and football offices, would improve the overall attractiveness of BGSU athletic programs to prospective recruits and fans seemed obvious. MORE: http://www.bgnews.com/media/storage/paper883/news/2007/06/13/Sports/Bgsu-Unveils.Sebo.Center-2914592.shtml

Link contains a photo. From the 6/26/07 Blade: GRAPHIC: Catholic school tuition Tuition hike at parochial schools makes TPS leaders wary By IGNAZIO MESSINA BLADE STAFF WRITER Four Toledo Catholic elementary schools doubled their tuition over last year, putting the "cost of education" just under the maximum amount that the state will pay in taxpayer money for students coming from failing public schools. The sharp increases have prompted the top Toledo Public Schools official to raise an eyebrow and ask if the Catholic schools are fleecing the system or price-gouging the state. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070626/NEWS04/706260329/-1/NEWS

From the 6/28/07 Pulse-Journal: Maineville annexation grows village by 77 acres More than a 50 percent increase from its previous size By Danyrae Lockwood Staff Writer Tuesday, June 26, 2007 The village of Maineville formally annexed 77 acres of land from Hamilton Twp. on June 21, which increased its size by more than 50 percent to 205 acres. "It's a sizable addition and an exciting change for the village," administrator James Marconet said. "It's something that's long overdue for us, and it's really going to allow us to expand our housing and business area." Salt Run Ventures, Inc. owns the land which surrounds Maineville Elementary School on East Foster-Maineville Road. Proposed plans show business, housing and some possible green space areas on the land, but no plans have been finalized. http://www.pulsejournal.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/26/pjl062807annexation.html

From the 6/26/07 Elyria Chronicle-Telegram: Residents: Development should be put on the ballot Cindy Leise | The Chronicle-Telegram NORTH RIDGEVILLE A group of residents opposed to rezoning for a commercial development at the southeast corner of Lorain and Bagley roads wants a citywide vote. The residents submitted 1,142 signatures on referendum petitions last Wednesday, according to attorney Gerald Phillips. The residents need 929 valid signatures, or 10 percent of the voters who voted in the last general election, Phillips said. Mayor David Gillock said theres a question whether the petitions were submitted on time because his office received them Thursday by certified mail, and the deadline for a referendum was Wednesday. A nursing home is planned for the 13-acre site by Bagley Lorain Properties, a Bob Schmidt development, Gillock said. Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or [email protected]. http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/06/26/residents-development-should-be-put-on-the-ballot/

Both from the 6/26/07 Delaware Gazette: Preliminary Wal-Mart plan approved Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Mark A. Claffey Staff Writer Delaware City Council approved the preliminary development plan and three conditional use permits for a Wal-Mart Supercenter on Cheshire Road Monday night, and the retail giant agreed — after hearing the pleas from the community and council — to close the store for five hours a day for the first two years. If a final development plan is approved, a Supercenter will be open on the 22-acre site on Cheshire Road from 5 a.m. to midnight every day, but still will be able to operate 24 hours a day during the months of November and December during its first two years as agreed upon by council. After two years of operation, the store will be allowed to operate 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. Wal-Mart almost didn’t budge on the demand to lessen its operating hours. Council members Gary Milner and Joe DiGenova pleaded with Wal-Mart to have some consideration with the surrounding neighborhoods and change its hours. A final development plan must next be approved by planning commission and city council before construction can begin. Wal-Mart spokesperson Ron Mosby said his company hopes to be back in front of planning commission sometime in August for final development plan approval. MORE: http://www.delgazette.com Meijer, Home Depot officially headed to Delaware Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Mark A. Claffey Staff Writer Delaware will have a Home Depot store by the fall of 2008 and a Meijer by the spring of 2009. City council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday giving the green light to the final development plan for the largest commercial and retail development in the city’s history. The vote was met with little fanfare or comment as compared to other proposed developments in the city. The final subdivision plat for the development also was approved unanimously. “This development will be five times larger than any other development in the city,” said Delaware Planning Director Dave Efland. “This is a historic night in the city.” The final development plan for the 149-plus-acre project also includes 68.083 acres of residential, which will be known as Hanover Corners and include 327 single-family homes. Efland said Glennwood Commons would total more than 560,000 square feet of retail space. MORE: http://www.delgazette.com

Link contains a photo. From Cincinnati.com, 6/25/07: Local family keeps farm alive with CSA, Farmers' Market Contributed By Carrie Whitaker | The Enquirer There aren’t too many farmers left in West Chester Township, but one family has stood the test of time, despite steady development in the Cincinnati suburb. The Rosselot family, owners of Gravel Knolls Farm and The Feed Barn, has continued its farming tradition by running a community supported agriculture program – known as a CSA – as well as a weekly Farmers’ Market, welcoming local growers to share in the benefits of growing demands for organic produce and proteins. “It was my idea, that if we got a lot of people depending on the farm (and) something threatened it, people would say, ‘No, we need this farm,’” Jim Rosselot said. Now that the farm has a waiting list for CSA memberships, he feels it has a better chance of remaining a facet in the community, Rosselot said. The 80-acre farm has been in the Rosselot family for three generations. Today it’s farmed by Jim, his father Eugene, his wife Linda, their three children and two Percheron draft horses. The farm has operated as a CSA for nine years, meaning members pay $350 to get fresh vegetables and herbs weekly, for roughly 22 weeks, May through October. Each Wednesday, members pick up a pre-boxed share of crops harvested that week. Unlike some CSAs around Cincinnati, members are not required to help in the garden, but Linda Rosselot, who handles many of the details of the CSA portion of the family’s business, encourages people to get a little dirty and learn about farming. “This is where I feel good,” Linda said. “Come out and see it, work with some tools and get the basics back,” she encouraged. CSA memberships are closed for this year, and the family decided to cut back the number of memberships available from 100 in 2006 to 82 this year. Memberships fill quickly, Linda said, and applications for 2008 will be available in January, online at gravelknollsfarm.homestead.com. “We have repeat customers each year, those who are new and those who have come back to us,” Linda said. “And we allow people to share the membership with family members or neighbors.” The farm also sells brown eggs and farm-raised poultry. The first batch of chickens should be available July 5, according to the farm’s Web site. A list for the poultry can be found on the counter at The Feed Barn. The Farmers’ Market opens every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of The Feed Barn, 9257 Cincinnati.-Dayton Road, just south of the intersection with Union Centre Boulevard. The market features organic produce, eggs and meats. Locally made handmade natural soaps and raw, local honey and candies, as well as jams and jellies are some of the items available. . For information concerning the Farmers’ Market, call 513-779-6409. As Union Centre construction draws closer to the farm, and the family deals with the widening of Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Linda said she is thankful for those who support the farm, and holds on to her hopes that the farm won’t one day be surrounded by concrete parking lots. “I’ve seen other farms get surrounded,” Linda said. “I hope it doesn’t happen here. I hope there’s still a breeze.” http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100227&sid=114505

From the 6/26/07 Xenia Daily Gazette: Antioch alumni take action, raise $400,000 Board establishes College Revival Fund to raise money for the school AARON KEITH HARRIS Staff Writer YELLOW SPRINGS -- During a weekend reunion at Antioch College, alumni disgruntled by the recent decision to close the cash-strapped school raised more than $400,000 intended to help save it, while faculty members discussed the option of legal action to preserve their jobs and their tenure. The Antioch Alumni Association Board of Directors established the College Revival Fund at US Bank, 266 Xenia Ave., in an attempt to raise as much as $40 million that could be used to keep the college viable, said Dimi Reber, a former Antioch College dance professor. Reber also said that faculty members met over the weekend to decide their next move. Full story at http://www.xeniagazette.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=155661&TM=50549.38

From the 6/26/07 DDN: DeWine seeks ban on Riverside's Wright-Pat tax By William Hershey and John Nolan Staff Writers Tuesday, June 26, 2007 COLUMBUS — A provision that would effectively ban the city of Riverside from imposing its 1.5 percent municipal income tax on civilian employees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base who are not Riverside residents is now part of the proposed state budget... Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/06/26/ddn062607riversideweb.html

From the 6/25/07 DDN: Delphi wants to cut wages about $12 an hour By John Nolan Staff Writer Monday, June 25, 2007 DAYTON — Members of United Auto Workers Local 696 were being briefed Monday on a proposed wage-reduction agreement with Delphi Corp. that would cut the hourly wages of top-paid union members from about $28 to an average of $16.50. In exchange, those workers would receive a $35,000 payout each of the next three Octobers to help offset the wage cuts, Local 696 president Joe Buckley said in a telephone interview Monday during a break between the union briefings. Delphi, the UAW and General Motors Corp. — Delphi's biggest auto parts customer — reached the agreement Friday, subject to approval by the 17,000 UAW-represented Delphi workers and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court overseeing Delphi's bankruptcy reorganization. Delphi hopes to emerge from the reorganization later this year, subject to court approval. "What we've told the membership is, nobody likes concessions, but I don't know what the alternative is," Buckley said. "Obviously, it's a shock to think about reducing wages." ... Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or [email protected]. http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/business/2007/06/25/ddn062507delphiweb.html From the 6/26/07 Youngstown Vindicator: Delphi workers cross fingers for deal The Valley workers wait to see if their contract will match the UAW deal. By DON SHILLING VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR WARREN — Chris Wilson was in a good mood Monday when he heard about a new Delphi Corp. labor agreement, but was trying not to get too excited. "I'm cautiously optimistic," the skilled trades worker at Delphi Packard Electric said with a smile on his face. He had to be cautious because his union — the International Union of Electrical Workers — is just resuming talks with Delphi. The United Auto Workers, however, has reached a tentative deal. ... http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/363859262692761.php

Pearson plans taking shape for metropark's historic area Toledo Blade, 6/14/07 Plans for the historic area on the northeast end of Pearson Metropark are under way, but not yet finalized. Five design choices for the historic area were presented last week in conjunction with the Friends of Pearson meeting at the park's Packer-Hammersmith Center. About 25 residents who attended the meeting were encouraged to give their opinions about alternatives presented by Russ Schifferly, project manager with the Metroparks' planning and construction department. So far, the historical area of the park, near Seaman and Wynn roads on the property's northeast corner, consists of a log cabin built in 1867.

From the 6/17/07 Enquirer: PHOTO: The Valley Homes complex, which dates to World War II, is still facing long delays on its redevelopment. The complex has been resident-owned since 1954 and is currently under court-ordered receivership. A task force is reviewing two proposals for the long-delayed redevelopment. The Enquirer/Ernest Coleman Uncertainty surrounds Valley Homes' redevelopment project BY CLIFF RADEL | [email protected] They're burning the midnight oil poring over documents at Valley Homes. A task force of residents is reviewing two multimillion-dollar proposals dealing with the aging housing complex's long-delayed redevelopment. Fourteen developers inquired about submitting proposals in May. They were told to submit plans for rebuilding the debt-plagued World War II-era complex that is in court-ordered receivership. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070617/NEWS01/706170371/

Link contains a photo. From the 6/11/07 Cincinnati Business Courier: Nonprofit handles home repairs for 'invisible poor' Study: 78,000 homeowners in area earn less than $25K Cincinnati Business Courier - June 8, 2007 by Lucy May Senior Staff Reporter More than 78,000 homeowners in Greater Cincinnati have an annual household income of less than $25,000, according to a new study. People Working Cooperatively, the nonprofit construction company, calls those home­owners the "invisible poor." And for them, a leaky roof or broken furnace can be the first step toward losing their homes. http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/06/11/story9.html