Article published November 20, 2009
Y coalition not fooled by stalling
The board of the YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo appears to have adopted the rope-a-dope strategy against the Coalition of Concerned Citizens and Y members who are attempting to save the South Toledo Y.
For younger readers, "rope-a-dope" was a strategy used most famously by boxer Muhammad Ali on Oct. 30, 1974, against George Foreman. Ali assumed a protected stance against the ropes and allowed Foreman to hit him, hoping that Foreman would become exhausted.
He did. Ali knocked Foreman out in the eighth round.
Since July, the coalition has asked the board to address the issues of excessive compensation and nepotism. Bob Alexander and family continue to draw their huge salaries.
Since July, the coalition has acted in good faith and attempted to work with the Y board. In fits and starts, the board has sent mixed signals about its willingness to work with the coalition.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, the coalition turned to the Lucas County commissioners for assistance. Suddenly, the Y board was ready to meet. This has now happened twice and still no meetings of substance with the Y board have taken place.Muhammad Ali proved that "rope-a-dope" works when the opponent is unaware. But the coalition understands this strategy. We are not tired and the eighth round is coming.
Sue Ann Batts
Woodbine DriveOSU satellite aids area gardening
I understand the Lucas County commissioners are thinking of extensively cutting OSU Extension funding when they vote at the end of November. This would be a great financial loss for the county. Please, commissioners, consider the following facts:
The OSU satellite office on Bancroft Street has provided training to hundreds of Master Gardener volunteers, of which I am one. These volunteers in 2008 alone provided 6,500 documented volunteer hours representing a $130,000 return on the $40,000 budget line that is at risk.
These volunteers have trained first-time gardeners to grow food and provided more than 5,000 pounds of food to local food banks.
The horticultural hot lines are always ringing and we volunteers answer those calls three times a week to help people find solutions to their gardening problems.
This last summer we were besieged with questions regarding the tomato blight. People are always bringing in plant specimens for diagnoses which we research before giving sound horticultural answers - not always an easy task.
The horticulturalists, along with trained volunteers, have helped with information and diagnoses on the gypsy moth infestations, emerald ash borer questions, and insect problems.
My 2008 Master Gardener class consisted of 26 dedicated people, and the list for this year's class is even larger. And why? Because we care about this beautiful Earth and the people we can help along the way.
We appreciate the difficulties the commissioners have in choosing groups to fund, but the extension satellite office is helping you to do your job better.
Mary J. Campbell
WatervilleDon't alter facts to suit your case
Before Robert Densic of the "Patriots Principles" group ("Citizens town hall meeting," Nov. 10) expounds further on the "unwritten intent" of our Founding Fathers, perhaps he should brush up on his American history.
James Madison may very well have said to his wife that "life is sacred." However, his wife was not Abigail as stated by Mr. Densic. It is a fact that Dolley Todd Madison was his wife and that Abigail was Mrs. John Adams, Adams' wife.
I can only hope that Mr. Densic really did know this and did not intend to alter the facts of history as well as stating the "unwritten intent" of our Founding Fathers.
Pat Hoehing
SylvaniaNotice: Medicare is government run
I recently had the displeasure of watching my grandfather become gravely ill.
With the luxury of his insurance, he was able to afford the best possible care that medicine could provide.
As I sat in the hospital, I wondered about the people who could not afford the best medical care, let alone any medical care. I sat and wondered why there are still many who strongly oppose government-run health care. It's amazing me to hear people say they have to examine all sides of this issue.
Are there sides when people who live in the wealthiest country in the world cannot afford health care? The United States is ranked 37th in the world in health care, and yet this doesn't bother us?I don't understand how people can stand at town hall meetings and say that the federal government cannot be trusted to run things efficiently.
Why then is our government good enough to run schools and deliver the mail on time without any question, but not good enough to run the most inept medical system around?
Why must we leave our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers without? They talk about Medicare as if it's not government run. News flash: It is!
It is painful to see friends or people you don't know suffer because they cannot receive proper health care. Are we that arrogant as Americans that we feel some sort of entitlement?
Walk a mile in their shoes, and then see if you want government help. Better yet, have a town hall meeting at your local pharmacy.
Chase Freyer
OregonHere's a solution: Stop the breeders
What's wrong with this picture? On the Nov. 11 front page of The Blade is the article about the dog warden's job being in jeopardy for controlling the pet population. Then on Page 3, the Basset Hound Haven in Los Angeles needing funds to stay open for orphaned and abandoned hounds. And last, the worst of all, is Page 8, the back page of the Sports section, under Dogs. I counted this ad and there were more than 103 dogs for sale from breeders.
Why doesn't Toledo City Council or Lucas County try something to stop the breeders from breeding to help eliminate the population of dogs?
If whoever or whatever it takes can put a hold on the breeding for at least three to five years, wouldn't you think the adoption rate would increase and euthanasia would be substantially reduced, and everyone, human and animal, would be happier? There is a dose of some "common sense." And don't even get me started on people's rights.
Deb Wiese
MaumeeToo many dogs is county's problem
Tom Skeldon is not the problem. I counted 83 dogs and puppies for sale in the Nov. 15 Blade. It's not possible to adopt out 2,500 dogs every year.
Richard Reder
Foxcroft RoadChoice of words creates forceful impact
Isn’t it interesting how often the word “kill” is now used in the headlines when reading the endless parade of stories about the county dog warden and the animals he is charged to do something with?
Of course, when Ottawa Hills politicians set up a program to eliminate deer in their corporate limits, the word is “cull.” Much less intense.
And finally when we permit doctors to kill or cull human infants by the thousands all across our nation, it is called “abort.”
And we wonder why our country is going to “heck.”
Jim Brower
Oregon
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