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Oregon amends name for Bucks

By
Erin Holden
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It started with a simple Web post and ended with little Oregon, Ohio, on the lips and in the headlines of some of the biggest names in sports reporting.

After watching Ohio State upset Alabama in a college football playoff game Jan. 2, Whitmer High School teacher Matt Squibb posted a petition at change.org. In it, he called on the city of Oregon to change its name in support of the Buckeyes as they headed to the title game versus the University of Oregon Ducks. Fellow Whitmer teacher and Oregon native Mark Rabbitt backed him.

“I grew up in Oregon, Ohio, and love the city, but for the day of the ‘Big Game’ I am asking the city council to make a proclamation to change the name of the city for one day,” the petition reads. “Call it Buckeye Town, Ohio City, Brutusville, whatever, you get the point. Let’s not leave anything to chance here! Change the name and support the Buckeyes!”

People started sharing the link on social media and it wasn’t long before Oregon Mayor Michael Seferian caught wind.

“We’ve heard about [the petition]. We’ve gotten calls. We’re going to do something with it,” Oregon City Administrator Michael Beazley said Jan. 2.

On Jan. 5, Seferian made it official, issuing a proclamation declaring the city would be renamed “Oregon, Ohio Buckeyes on the Bay, City of Duck Hunters” through Jan. 12 and that Jan. 5-12 was “Ohio State Buckeye Week.”

The name is a play on the city’s motto “Oregon on the Bay, City of Opportunity,” and a reference to the city’s dedicated population of outdoorsmen as well as the Buckeyes upcoming opponents. The proclamation also notes that the city of Oregon had its name before the state of Oregon, which is why he opted to keep the name.

“Mike is having plenty of fun with it,” Beazley said. “[We discussed whether to change] ‘Oregon’ or the slogan part of our name. The mayor felt that changing the slogan part was more appropriate. We are proud of our name and have had it since long before there was a state of Oregon.”

The petition, which collected 2,066 supporters before it closed, also called for Clay High School in Oregon to change its colors for the day. Both Clay and the University of Oregon sport green and yellow.

However, Oregon City Schools superintendent Lonny Rivera said he probably won’t go that far. Instead, he plans to refer to the district as The Oregon City Schools — a nod to The Ohio State University — while retaining school colors. That way it’s “kind of humorous, but also show’s support,” he said.

“I’ve been a lifelong resident of Oregon and many of our residents bleed green and gold,” Rivera said. “That doesn’t change anything, but gives Ohio State kudos by capitalizing the ‘The.’ We have fans of many different schools, but Ohio State is part of our state and it’s neat to acknowledge that.”

Rivera said the district was planning a school spirit day Jan. 12, featuring a contest to see which school can wear the most Ohio State fanwear.

Ironically, neither Squibb nor Rabbitt are Ohio State fans. Rabbitt is a fan of Ohio State’s archrival University of Michigan while Squibb is a fan of that other football game, particularly Manchester United.

“We’re just two guys going on a website and sparking something that most people would think is probably a really stupid thing, but to have so many people supporting it and then hopefully rooting for Ohio State to win it all is pretty great,” Rabbitt said. “The Big Ten has been seen as a conference that can’t compete with the SEC or Pac-12. Now Ohio State has beaten the No. 1 team in the SEC and are facing the No. 1 team in the Pac-12 and we have this opportunity for Ohio State to win the national championship. I think it’s pretty good to see a community come together and support them.”

Also on Jan. 5, Urbana, Ohio, announced it would drop its second “a” to become Urban, Ohio, on Jan. 12 in support of head coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. And Dayton’s Oregon Historic District changed its name to the Buckeye District for the week.

Ohio State defeated Alabama 42-35 on Jan. 1 while Oregon took down undefeated Florida State 59-20 that same day. It’s the first time the national champion will be determined by a playoff.

Ottney: Name game

By
Erin Holden
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Oregon, Ohio, is a phrase I never thought I’d hear on ESPN. Oregon, yes. Ohio, yes. But Oregon, Ohio? That all changed this week.

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In case you missed it, the city temporarily amended its name in support of Ohio State, as the Buckeyes face the University of Oregon in college football’s first playoff series title game Jan. 12.

Prompted by an online petition, city officials decided to have a little fun and play along. I woke up Jan. 5 in Oregon, Ohio, but went to bed that night in “Oregon, Ohio Buckeyes on the Bay, City of Duck Hunters.” The name is a play on the city’s motto “Oregon on the Bay, City of Opportunity.”

Predictably, online judgement was swift, ranging from “AWESOME,” “Sweet!” and “Funny” to “Lame…,” “ Stupid!!!!” and “This has to be the absolute dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

The name is quite a mouthful, I’ll admit. (But doesn’t it have a fun Game of Thrones-y ring? “Ohio State Buckeyes of House Urban, King of the Big Ten and Defier of Expectations.”)

“Silly but you’ve got to love the passion for their team,” commented Mark Uyehara on ESPN.com.

Hey, a mayor’s job is to promote his city. Millions of people now know there is an Oregon, Ohio. That’s the kind of goodwill and name recognition you can’t buy.

Lindsay Myers, executive director of the Oregon Economic Development Foundation,  was torn.

“As the economic development director for the City of Oregon, Ohio, I’m thrilled for all of the publicity! As a dedicated fan of the SEC, I simply can’t get on board with this,” she joked.

The best part? Neither of the two petitioners are Ohio State fans either — one is actually a Michigan fan.

As Crystal Anderson posted on Toledo Free Press’ Facebook page: “I live in Oregon and I hope it pumps some life into this town. It is fun and really who is it hurting?”

Exactly. Lighten up, people. It’s all in good fun.

Five years ago, I was in Pasadena, California, watching Ohio State take down Oregon at the Rose Bowl. This year I’ll be watching on TV from Oregon, Ohio Buckeyes on the Bay, City of Duck Hunters. Here’s hoping for a repeat performance on a bigger stage, for a bigger prize.

Go Bucks!

Sarah Ottney is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. Contact her at [email protected].

Debate heats up over ProMedica’s plans for park

By
Toledo Free Press
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group of protesters gathered outside One Government Center on Jan. 6 to express opposition to ProMedica’s plan to build a parking garage on part of Promenade Park. Toledo Free Press photo by Joel Sensenig

Conversation surrounding ProMedica’s controversial plan to build a parking garage on public park space Downtown is intensifying as Toledo City Council prepares to decide if it will allow the project to move forward.

Area residents and local community leaders filled Council chambers Jan. 6 to hear and discuss the health care company’s  plan to build the structure in Promenade Park on Summit Street.

Robin Whitney, vice president of property acquisition and development at ProMedica, gave a presentation to Council’s Youth, Parks, Recreation, Community Relations and Education committee centering on the company’s plan to build a six-story parking structure in the southwest corner of the park. The structure — which would occupy 14 percent of the park’s surface area and 120 feet of the park’s 500 feet of frontage along Summit Street — is a key part of ProMedica’s $40 million plan to move up to 1,000 employees into the former Toledo Edison Steam Plant and KeyBank building Downtown. Since the meeting Jan. 6, ProMedica officials have stated future phases could bring as many as 2,500 employees Downtown.

n A GROUP OF PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE ONE GOVERNMENT CENTER ON JAN. 6 TO EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO PROMEDICA’S PLAN TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE ON PART OF PROMENADE PARK. TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO By JOEL SENSENIG / COVER ILLUSTRATION COURTESY PROMEDICA
A group of protesters gathered outside One Government Center on Jan. 6 to express opposition to ProMedica’s plan to build a parking garage on part of Promenade Park. Toledo Free Press photo by Joel Sensenig

A group of protesters gathered outside One Government Center prior to the meeting to express opposition to ProMedica’s plan to build the structure at the park.

Dave Shugar of Maumee held a sign reading “Don’t Park on our Park.”

“This is our heritage, this is our town,” he said. “If we don’t protect it now, it’s lost forever. … If the [proposed parking garage] is a deal breaker for them, they’re not negotiating in good faith with the Toledo community, they’re not being fair to us.”

In her presentation to Council, Whitney said, “We believe that this campus we’re talking about in Downtown Toledo is going to be a wonderful addition to our community. It’s going to be truly transformative — not only to what we think we can do for Downtown and the community, but for ProMedica as well.”

The plan will take administrative employees from 17 different locations — largely suburban — and put them Downtown.

Whitney said the location of the parking garage is important for matters of proximity and safety of employees and visitors.

“We looked at some other suburban opportunities — and there are benefits to that — but we really think that the community revitalization component of coming Downtown really puts this over the top as our best solution,” she said.

Following Whitney’s presentation, Council members had the opportunity to ask questions and make statements about the plan.

“I’m so excited about the opportunity this presents for our city, I can barely contain myself,” said Councilwoman Lindsay Webb. “This is the largest revitalization this city has seen in certainly the last decade, maybe two, and maybe my lifetime.”

Webb said she understands ProMedica’s concern for employees’ safety.

“We have a long way to go in terms of perception related to safety in Downtown Toledo,” she said, noting a recent walk she took to an event at the Valentine Theatre.

“I had my two young sons with me, and I did not feel safe — I did not feel safe. That’s a reality,” she said.

Webb said that people not feeling safe Downtown will diminish the odds of them returning and spending more money or moving their business there.

“It is a concern, and I don’t want to dance around it,” she said.

Members of the public were then given a chance to voice their opinion on the matter, with a majority saying they are in favor of ProMedica moving its headquarters Downtown but are opposed to building the garage at the park.

Elenore Weber moved back to Toledo a year ago after living in New York City for 30 years. She lives Downtown and said she has never felt unsafe there.

“Promenade Park is my front yard and it’s my backyard,” she said. “We use Promenade Park for exercising, for relaxing, reading, listening to the birds and especially taking in the beautiful view of the Maumee River. … Downtown Toledo looks like a giant parking lot already — it really does. The last thing we need is to have another parking lot.”

Wendy Gramza, president of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, spoke in favor of ProMedica’s plan.

“As you know, ProMedica is proposing to make a $40 million investment in Toledo by moving their corporate headquarters with about 1,000 jobs to Downtown Toledo, with more than half of these employees being new to the city of Toledo. It kind of seems like I should be able to just stop there, but I won’t. … It’s important to remember that these numbers do not include the strong likelihood that other companies, shops and restaurants will come Downtown to support these new employees.”

Bill Thomas, president of the Downtown Toledo Development Corporation, said suggestions to use other parking garages or build one near other buildings are not considering the long-term success of Downtown.

“If you go to the lot behind Fort Industry Square (south of Promenade Park), if we put up a really big parking structure there, we would lose the ability to be able to redevelop that space. That’s great space, prime for redevelopment.

In an interview with Toledo Free Press prior to the meeting, Thomas called ProMedica’s proposal “a beautiful plan.” Turning down ProMedica’s offer to spend money on developing the park would be shortsighted, he said.

“We need infrastructure put in Promenade Park. We’ve waited 35 years for infrastructure at Promenade Park — we can’t even keep pools open. There’s no chance the city is going to develop Promenade Park the way we need it,” Thomas said. “People say, ‘Well, you just go walk.’ Well, the problem is that our competition is the suburbs, and in the suburbs parking is right next door,” he said.

After the meeting, Whitney stopped short of calling the proposed parking garage at Promenade Park a “deal breaker” to moving Downtown but firmly stated the company feels it is by far the best option.

“I think we’re very clear and unwavering that we need safe, convenient parking. So far, this is the only solution that we have found that fits our needs. … There are ideas, but the ability to really do those and not jeopardize something else or even just get site control, I haven’t found any solutions that meets all those needs. At this point, we’re pretty focused on this solution being the right one. I think we’ve explored all the options that were addressed or brought up today,” she said.

Council will further discuss ProMedica’s plan to move Downtown at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 in its chambers at One Government Center.

Pounds: Let it grow

By
Tom Pounds
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You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who opposes ProMedica’s plan to move its headquarters Downtown. But the health care system’s proposed parking garage at Promenade Park is another case altogether.

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The debate heated up Jan. 6 as vocal opponents and equally vocal supporters got the chance to speak before a City Council committee meeting. The conversation will continue at 1 p.m. Jan. 14 as Council is set to hear more from ProMedica. A vote could come as early as Jan. 20. ProMedica, which is asking the city for free park land as well as various tax abatements, estimates the move will bring 1,000 employees, 100 of them new hires and 600 of them new to Toledo. Robin Whitney, ProMedica’s vice president of property acquisition and development, told Council that ProMedica has done its homework and feels Promenade Park is the best option for the proposed six-story structure. Safety and convenience were among the reasons cited. Alternate plans have been offered, but the garage can’t go more than one level underground at the park because of the Maumee River water table, she said, and existing Downtown parking garages are already too full to absorb all the new employees. Even if they could, consuming so much Downtown parking could impact potential future development at other riverfront locations, warned Cindy Kerr of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District. ProMedica’s proposal calls for taking 14 percent of Promenade Park for the garage, leaving the rest as public green space. Plans also include potential retail space on the front of the garage and outdoor seating areas overlooking the park, and I was pleased to learn the garage would be open to the public on nights and weekends. Green space is important, but Promenade Park has been underutilized for years. I live Downtown and enjoy the park, but it seems to me we’d be trading a little green space for a lot more amenities and a lot more land use. Last year, the park was closed January to June for construction, but in the last half of the year, the city issued 11 permits for a total of 23 days of event use, according to spokeswoman Stacy Weber. Another alternate suggestion is to build a new garage on a Port Authority-owned lot near Vistula garage and have employees utilize the underground walkway between Vistula and the KeyBank building, a five-to-seven-minute walk. One issue there is that access to parts of the walkway is cut off when buildings are closed. Imagination Station, at the middle of the walkway, is closed on Mondays and closes at 5 p.m. the rest of the week. Not very compatible with a typical work week. Yes, walking is healthy. But the appeal of a centralized campus is also understandable. What about older or disabled employees? What about visitors? People new to Downtown are often intimidated by parking. Will they be expected to navigate unfamiliar tunnels to attend a meeting? On Jan. 6, speakers from both sides pleaded with Council not to sacrifice the city’s long-term vitality with a short-sighted decision. The trick will be agreeing on what will ensure that long-term viability both sides want. There are still questions to be answered; in particular, we need a clearer estimate of how much the project will cost the city.  But here is an entity with money, motivation and a plan. Let them grow. “What’s missing from Downtown is not open space. What’s missing from Downtown is investment,” commercial developer Steve Serchuk told Council. We can have ProMedica and still keep Promenade Park. ProMedica’s plan already offers that. Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at [email protected].

How to obtain a marriage license in Lucas County

By
Dock David Treece
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Ambershaun Byrd / A Byrd's Eye Photo Productions

In Lucas County, both the bride and groom must be present when filling out an application for a marriage license. Couples have the option of completing their marriage license application online, printing it and then bringing it into the court for further processing.

A marriage license is valid for 60 days after it has been issued. An ordained or licensed minister of any religion within the state who is licensed with the Secretary of State or a judge in municipal or county court may solemnize marriages. Marriage licenses can be obtained, first come, first serve, at the Lucas County Probate Court, 700 Adams St., Suite 200, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The cost is $50 and must be paid in cash.

What you need: government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, pass- How to obtain a marriage license in Lucas County port or military ID); birth certificate for those younger than 21; copy of final Decree of Divorce, Dissolution or Annulment for those previously married; and a copy of previous spouse’s death certificate for widows/widowers.

Ohio residents must obtain a marriage license in the county where either the bride or groom resides. There is no waiting period on marriage licenses and weddings may take place the same day.

For more information, call (419) 213-4361 or visit the website www. lucas-co-probate-ct.org.

— Source: Lucas County Probate Court

Visions: Toth: Port Authority will continue momentum into 2015

By
Paul Toth
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Editor’s Note: This guest column is part of an annual special section called Visions, in which Toledo Free Press asks local economic development and business leaders to share what they see ahead for Toledo and Northwest Ohio in the coming year.

Over the past year, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has made great strides in the redevelopment of Overland Industrial Park and Ironville Terminal, passenger increases at Toledo Express Airport, cargo increases at the Port of Toledo, and fostering economic growth in Northwest Ohio through the Port Authority’s financing programs and its BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio (BBNWO) energy efficiency program.

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Construction at Overland Industrial Park’s 100,000-square-foot spec building began this fall and is expected to be completed this spring. This building is anticipated to be a catalyst for future development at Overland.

RELATED: Ottney: Visions

The Port Authority and Midwest Terminals of Toledo opened the new Ironville Terminal at the Port of Toledo this spring. The first phase in redevelopment of this 180-acre former refinery site is a public-private partnership that has culminated in more than $20 million in infrastructure investment for the property, which has rail access via Norfolk Southern, myriad pipelines serving the Midwest petrochemical industry, deepwater port access via the Maumee River and heavy load truck access via Front Street. This property redevelopment represents a convergence of all modes of transportation, creating new and unique development opportunities for our region. The addition of the Ironville dock has been a catalyst for an overall increase in port tonnage of more than 15 percent in 2014, and an impressive 89 percent increase in general and miscellaneous cargos.

Toledo Express Airport continued its slow and steady rise in 2014 with an increase in passenger enplanements of more than 11 percent through November. This year’s increase, along with the 11 percent increase in 2013, will mark the first two consecutive years of increased passenger traffic at the airport since 2004. On-demand cargo activity also increased in 2014, and all buildings and hangars at the airport have been fully leased.

In spring 2014, the Port Authority’s Northwest Ohio Bond Fund received a Standard & Poor’s rating increase from BBB+ to A-. This marks the first A rating in the bond fund’s 26-year history, allowing the Port Authority to offer more competitive rates for borrowers looking for long-term fixed-rate financing to locate or expand their business in Northwest Ohio.

In 2014, the Port Authority provided $7.2 million in financing for projects from the Northwest Ohio Bond Fund, which included $4.9 million to Keller Logistics and $66.2 million in bond financing outside of the Bond Fund for two student housing projects at the University of Toledo. The Port Authority also had a record year for its SBA 504 and Ohio Regional 166 loan programs, providing more than $7.38 million to support various businesses in the region, including an SBA loan to support the construction of a new Hampton Inn & Suites hotel on Secor Road.

BBNWO, the Port Authority’s energy efficiency program, continues to finance and promote energy efficiency upgrades to buildings in Northwest Ohio. Several projects were completed in 2014, including a $1 million energy upgrade to Toledo School for the Arts, and installation of new rooftop units and a state-of-the-art control system for the 100-year-old Toledo Club. Since 2011, BBNWO has completed improvements on 100 buildings with an investment of more than $25 million, and has created the equivalent of 35 full-time jobs.

2015 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for Northwest Ohio in several decades. Interest rates continue to be extremely low, oil prices are half of what they were in 2013 and companies are starting to expand and invest some of the cash reserves they amassed over the past several years. Unemployment rates in Northwest Ohio have dropped from 13 percent in 2009 to less than 5 percent in 2014 — all signs our economy is moving in the right direction and that further investment in the region is imminent.

We have seen continued investment in transportation with the 2014 announcement of a $43-million expansion of the CSX Intermodal facility in North Baltimore, the current expansion of the FedEx freight facility in Perrysburg, the $20 million investment in the Ironville Terminal at the Port of Toledo that opened for business in the spring of 2014, and the anticipated expansion of Norfolk Southern’s Airline Junction Intermodal located next to the University of Toledo’s Scott Park campus. In addition, Norfolk Southern will complete the $160-million expansion of its Bellevue Yard in 2015, creating more jobs and economic impact in the region. Home Depot will open its 1.6-million-square-foot distribution center in Wood County in the first quarter of 2015, representing another $100-million-plus investment tied to transportation in our region. The Ohio Department of Transportation’s investment in road and bridge improvements in our region will exceed $1 billion and will provide much needed highway capacity to support the continued expansion of commerce moving through the area.

These positive trends and investments all point to a vibrant and growing Northwest Ohio economy, which is poised to continue its positive momentum into 2015 and beyond.

Paul Toth is president and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Visions: Rosebrock: More collaborative economic development efforts needed

By
Hans Rosebrock
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Editor’s Note: This guest column is part of an annual special section called Visions, in which Toledo Free Press asks local economic development and business leaders to share what they see ahead for Toledo and Northwest Ohio in the coming year.

2014 was certainly a year in which economic activity in the Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development (NORED) region accelerated.

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Significant office developments were announced for the Toledo area, including Dana, ProMedica and The Andersons headquarters projects. In the manufacturing sector, projects at Toledo Refining, Faurecia, GT Technologies and Allermuir U.S. represent noteworthy expansions of production capacity.  In the outlying areas, Standard Technologies of Fremont, TRW Automotive in Fayette, Webster Industries of Tiffin, Valfilm North America in Findlay and FirstEnergy Davis-Besse nuclear power plant near Oak Harbor made considerable investments.

RELATED: Ottney: Visions

FirstEnergy’s $600 million steam generator replacement and refueling project at Davis-Besse — which I had extensive involvement in — provides a perfect example of how large-scale private sector investments impact our regional economy. At the height of the project in February, 3,200 contract personnel were employed to install two 470-ton steam generators, complete ancillary work associated with these heat exchangers and refuel the plant’s reactor.

This project, along with the plant’s regular operations, provided a total economic impact of $944 million to the state of Ohio in 2014. This figure includes direct, indirect and induced impacts along with fiscal influences on state and local governments. Direct impacts include wages paid to employees and other inputs used directly by the plant. Indirect impacts, or what some economists term spinoff or ripple effects, result from direct purchases. As such, these businesses indirectly increase employees and wages by purchasing goods/services from businesses that supply them. Induced impacts include all household purchases made by Davis-Besse contractor and supplier employees. Total state and local tax impact is estimated to be $13.2 million.

As can be seen by this example, considerable monetary benefits are derived from such projects and this is exactly why collaborative economic development efforts are needed at the local, regional and state levels to help facilitate more like it.

If all commercial indicators can be trusted, similar economic development projects in the NORED region should continue unabated. GDP grew at an annualized rate of 3.9 percent in the third quarter of 2014. Ohio’s unemployment fell to 4.5 percent in November. Consumer confidence in November, as measured by the University of Michigan/Reuters, was the highest since July 2007. These trends combined with lower fuel prices and added automotive purchases, which are now predicted to hit close to 17 million units in 2015, bode well for the NORED region in the coming year.

Hans Rosebrock is president of  NORED and manager of economic development and external affairs at FirstEnergy.

Toledo Area Bicyclists: Group bikes through winter

By
Cindy Divitto
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Toledo Area Bicyclists (TAB) is an all-volunteer organization, active for over 30 years in Northwest Ohio. Our mission is “to promote cycling in our community.” We are active in community education and support the Metroparks, promote safety in group rides and mentor new riders.

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I first joined as a newcomer to road riding, borrowing my father’s extra bike and building skills and fitness over the past seven years.

It was hard work at first, trying to stay with the experienced riders only to fall behind. A few nice souls came back to check on me and ride the rest of the route with the newbie. As time progressed over that first spring and summer, I saw that after each ride I was stronger on the next effort.

Each Sunday outing meant a better result on Thursday’s ride and soon I could keep up with the group. Now we have designated novice groups where newcomers can be tutored in ride and traffic etiquette, technique and training tips.

A few years ago, a group of women put together a Monday Night Ladies Ride, which was a great way to make new friends, exchange knowledge and have fun while getting some good exercise. It was so popular that the guys wanted in as well, and now the Monday Whitehouse Ride is our second-best attended group ride.

Our biggest ride is the flagship Thursday Night Ride out of Side Cut Metropark, featuring four groups at different levels, including a designated beginner group.

From May to October, TAB offers rides every day of the week except Friday. Weekend rides continue a little longer into the fall and a Winter Ride Series on Saturdays is attracting a good group during these cold months.

It features both road and off-road riding with points and prizes awarded. A spin class for TAB members was started at the Sylvania YMCA/JCC two years ago. It is one night a week and a great way to keep fit and in touch with cycling friends over the long winter.

TAB had a good year for community outreach this year, organizing riding clinics, safety training and helmet fittings for both young and adult riders.

We mentored Bike to the Bay riders before their big event, instructed our own members in group and traffic safety and instructed at several scout and school groups.

Our annual fundraiser is the Mad Anthony River Rally, an organized ride with several options for distances, from a 10-mile family ride to 100 miles. It is a huge volunteer effort led by two chairwomen and the numerous helpers needed at registration, food and rest stops. This event allows us the budget to contribute to the community efforts.

This year our annual banquet will be Jan. 25, featuring speaker Frankie Andreu, a former professional rider making news recently for his and his wife’s refusal to cave to pressure and lie in the doping scandal at the highest level of the sport. He will speak about the past and future of racing, both the good and the bad, and share his insights as a current Tour de France commentator on television. The banquet is open to both members and nonmembers and is a good way to get to know the club and see if it would be a good fit for you.

Please visit our website www.toledoareabicyclists.org for a summary of our ride schedule, club details and how to sign up for the banquet.

Hope to see you out on the road!

Cindy DiVitto is president of Toledo Area Bicyclists.

Visions: Commissioners: Lucas County focused on workforce development

By
Lucas County Commissioners
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Editor’s Note: This guest column is part of an annual special section called Visions, in which Toledo Free Press asks local economic development and business leaders to share what they see ahead for Toledo and Northwest Ohio in the coming year.

This past year, the Board of Lucas County Commissioners streamlined its economic and workforce development efforts with the creation of the Department of Planning and Development. With this step, economic and workforce development in our county began anew — focused on driving economic growth through a data-driven, results-oriented process with a special emphasis on matching employers’ needs with potential employees’ skills.

Work Ready Lucas County

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While we are encouraged by lower unemployment figures in Lucas County, we recognize too many people are being left behind and too many businesses are having difficulty recruiting skilled workers. Businesses looking to improve, expand or relocate to Lucas County demand a strong workforce with demonstrable skills. That is why we were proud to launch Work Ready Lucas County.

RELATED: Ottney: Visions

It seems only fitting that the board begins its second decade of workforce development programming by ushering in this new initiative. The framework allows us to quantify and improve the skill levels of our workforce through a standardized skill credential and a robust data infrastructure that helps measure, identify and close skill gaps — part of a national strategy for work readiness.

Over the next two years, Work Ready Lucas County will endeavor to certify over 2,000 citizen job seekers and nearly 200 businesses. Once we hit that goal, our county will have earned its own certification. We will prove to the world that Lucas County has an excellent workforce with demonstrable skills — and businesses will take notice. Work Ready Lucas County is fully integrated into the county’s economic development efforts. We believe workforce development helps drive our region’s economic engine — and Lucas County isn’t going to step off the gas. For more information, visit OhioMeansJobs.com/lucas.

Urban revitalization

Lucas County has a proven track record when it comes to urban revitalization, having invested nearly $200 million in Toledo’s Downtown core. As the owner of Fifth Third Field and Huntington Center, we remain committed to the success of Toledo. Lucas County is proud to be a major partner of Hensville. We believe Hensville will help transform this rapidly growing neighborhood into a showcase for our region, which will attract even more residents, employees and visitors.

Most recently, the Lucas County Commissioners directed our community improvement corporation to purchase and demolish the former Hotel Seagate. We are busy forging a private-public partnership to ensure the elimination of this blighted building from Downtown’s skyline, provide a clean site for redevelopment and encourage further investment. We are also working with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to attract a strong nationally branded hotel Downtown.

Growing local businesses

Lucas County has been working to facilitate the growth of local businesses in our community. Some recent examples include facilitating Allermuir’s new North American headquarters in Monclova Township, helping Matrix Technologies add dozens of engineers in Maumee and ensuring that The Andersons new corporate headquarters will be situated in Lucas County. We also supported less traditional economic development strategies such as playing a major role in connecting local businesses to cutting-edge technology through the NASA Roadshow, hosted by the University of Toledo in June.

Regional strategic planning

The modern global economy has ushered in a new era in which regions must work together to achieve their potential. As a means of enhancing our global competitiveness, Lucas County joined the Regional Growth Partnership, alongside Wood and Ottawa counties in Ohio, and Monroe County, Michigan, to create a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for our region.

The CEDS will provide our region with an effective means to coordinate infrastructure, workforce, business and other capital investments and policies into a regional vision and plan of action, whereby projects, activities and decisions are prioritized and integrated to maximize economic development outcomes.

Going forward in 2015

Lucas County and our region offer incredible opportunities for economic prosperity and an outstanding quality of life. We will continue to work with our local economic and workforce development partners to ensure we provide a unified, regional approach to development. We are committed to furthering economic prosperity by enhancing our workforce, investing in urban revitalization efforts, growing local businesses and engaging in regional strategic planning.

On behalf of the Lucas County Commissioners, we look forward to working on these and new opportunities, as resources permit, for the benefit of our citizens throughout the New Year.

Carol Contrada, Tina Skeldon Wozniak and Pete Gerken are Lucas County Commissioners.

Toledo woman makes healthy strides via ProMedica wellness program

By
Joel Sensenig
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One year ago, Shelly Banet was dealing with several heavy life issues.

Stress came from nearly all corners of the 53-year-old Toledo woman’s life. She was struggling at work as she moved into a full-time position as a pediatric occupational therapist at ProMedica.

Becky Bouillon, a wellness nurse at ProMedica, left, with Shelly Banet. Toledo Free Press Photo by Christie Materni

Becky Bouillon, a wellness nurse at ProMedica, left, with Shelly Banet. Toledo Free Press Photo by Christie Materni

She was still reeling emotionally after her best friend’s death from cancer the year before. Her marriage was on the rocks.

The once physically fit woman was left with little energy to cater to her own needs. Her weight ballooned to nearly 250 pounds.

Several times each week, she pulled into the drive-thru lane of a fast-food restaurant.

“My husband used to call me the ‘fast-food queen,’ and I used to get so upset about it but he was right,” Banet said. “I was so stressed that I would subconsciously go through the drive-thru as a way of getting someone else to take care of me. Because I was taking care of everybody else.”

Then she got an email from ProMedica seeking employees to take part in the company’s six-month wellness program. She decided to give it a shot.

Faced with completing a health risk assessment with a slew of questions regarding health, diet and exercise, Banet came face-to-face with some of the sources of her unhappiness.

She got together with a wellness coach in February and put together a list of goals.

One of her goals was to lose 25 pounds. Another was simply to walk several flights of stairs at work each day.

In the spring, she saw a couple of female peers walking out of Powerhouse Gym and was taken aback.

“Are there really people in there like us?” she asked, surprised that anyone not looking like a bodybuilder would frequent such a place. “Well, yeah,” they told her.

In July, she worked up the nerve to walk in herself. That day, she met her fitness coach.

The pounds started coming off, and she started doing more things she actually enjoyed: sewing and spending time with girlfriends.

“The more I took care of myself and met my needs, the more energy I had for others,” Banet said. “I used to look forward to getting home and sitting on the couch. I never imagined I would be the person who says, ‘I’m sorry folks, I’m leaving. I’m going to yoga fusion and it starts at 6:30.’”

Becky Bouillon, a wellness nurse at ProMedica, said Banet is similar to many women she works with.

“They’ve always wanted to do these things, but they’ve never given themselves permission because they’re so busy taking care of everybody else,” Bouillon said.

The wellness program is now being offered to people outside ProMedica. It addresses a variety of health needs, from diet and exercise to smoking cessation and stress management, incorporating the expertise of nurses, dietitians and exercise specialists.

Today, Banet is 35 pounds lighter than she was when she filled out those survey questions. Now, when she’s having a hard time, she’ll choose the gym over the drive-thru lane.

“That’s why she is such a success story,” Bouillon said. “In light of all these huge life changes, she has made the commitment to herself that ‘I’ve got to do this.’”

ProMedica’s Wellness Coaching program is $260 per individual and consists of six months of coaching and education; a personal health risk assessment; one face-to-face meeting with a wellness coach; and 12 follow-up sessions that can be done over the phone or online.

For more information, call (855) 251-8615 or visit www.promedica.org/wellness-coaching.

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