Broadway and Eastern

Nicholas Building

Madison

Four of Toledo's greatest buildings.

FYI

I haven't given up, I've just felt like crap, and not up to much blogging.

Late Breaking News

According to The Express, the HMS Ontario, which sank during the Revolution, has been found on the floor of Lake Ontario.

UPDATE: The TELEGRAPH even has a decent picture.

Immaculate Conception, Old South End

Odd Sort of Flowers

Sofia Quintero Center, Old South End

On Broadway

I had to sit on a park bench, on my way back from Mass on Sunday, until I stopped huffing and puffing. Ended up thinking about how many trees are in the neighborhood.

Amtrak Station, Old South End

Expect more posts by Monday. Just haven't been up to dealing with blogs this week.

On Broadway

Broadway and Western.

Eric Johnson - Cliffs of Dover - live 1990

My Chemical Romance - Famous Last Words

Where Your Donations May Go?

THIS is interesting. The "United Way of Greater Toledo" is debating the future of their building on Jackson Street.

Now, let's leave personal taste aside for a moment. This is a building that provokes strong reactions. You either love it or hate it. Either way, it's a remarkable design, and demolishing it would be a crime.

However, I find it amazing that a purported charity is even considering the expense involved. That's highly irresponsible.

A Good Organization

I attended an action assembly of Toledoans United for Social Action, on Monday.
In general, I avoid meetings like a plague. That's because meetings ARE a plague. Had my fill of them back in the old days, when I usually had to go to half a dozen a week. In this case, I made an exception, since my presence had been strongly suggested and because the people from my parish who usually go were off listening to Bishop Gregory. Surprisingly, I've no regrets.
TUSA is a useful organization, committed to common sense strategy and firm, yet non-confrontational tactics. That's a good combination, which is sorely lacking in similar groups.

There were three items on the agenda.
First, home forclosures, which are rampant in the area. The suggested solution is a mediation program, which will help homeowners reach an agreement with lenders, who nowadays, might be someone they've never even heard of, given the way mortgages are being sold as commodities. A similar program is showing some success in Summit County.

Second, vacant houses. To a great extent, this is a result of the first item, since 70% of them are owned by mortgage companies, and another 20% are in the foreclosure process. The suggested solution is improving the tracking of vacant homes, so none slip through the cracks and decay beyond hope.

Third, the amazingly high number of suspensions in the public schools. In the 2006-2007 school year, 49,140 days were missed due to suspensions. TUSA is offering to work with TPS to implement the Foundations program, part of the national Safe and Civil Schools initiative, which has a proven track record in reducing discipline problems. I'm not sure of this one. When school administrators ( Who are not the sharpest tools in the shed to begin with ) are fool enough to think a day off qualifies as a punishment, optimism isn't easy.

You can expect to hear more from me about TUSA, in the future. I'm hooked.