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And Now a Look at Ohio Sports

Ohio has professional sports teams in almost every popular sport played in the country, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey. Most people have heard of their professional teams like: the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds – their Major League Baseball teams. There are also the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals the major Football Teams from Ohio. As for basketball everyone has heard of the Cleveland Cavaliers; and as for their National Hockey League there is the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last but not least is Ohio’s Major League Soccer team the Columbus Crew. As a side note regarding Ohio’s influence on baseball, the sport’s first completely professional team hailed from Ohio: the Cincinnati Red Stockings organized in 1869. If you are interested in finding more from baseball historians themselves, go to canada 411 for the different options available for you.

Ohio sports don’t end with the major teams. There are also minor league baseball teams, indoor football as well as arena football to be enjoyed, along with lower division soccer and mid-level hockey. Minor league teams include the Akron Aeros, the Chillocothe Paints, the Dayton Dragons and the Columbus Clippers.  In addition to these recognizable teams there are the Mahoning Valley Scrappers and the Toledo Mud hens.

The minors don’t end with baseball of course as there are also minor league football teams that need to be mentioned: the Cincinnati Marshals, the Canton Legends, the Cleveland Fusion and the Cincinnati Sizzle.  Not to go unnoticed there are also the Columbus Comets, the Mahoning Valley Thunder and the Columbus Destroyers.

Not to be outdone, when it comes to hockey teams Ohio also has the Dayton Bombers, the Lake Erie Monsters and the Cincinnati  Cyclones.

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Real Estate Sop In A Recessionary World In St Bernard

real estate

Image by noway via Flickr

The recession has not come to an end and Democrats and Republicans continue to haggle over the best way of continuing the economic recovery. On the whole, the economic prospects seem bleak and there is no reason to be confident of improvement in the real estate market in the country in the near future.

However, there is one place in the country which is actually offering sops to those who purchase property in the city. St. Bernard is offering waivers and sops to those individuals who obtain real estate mortgage loan and buy property in the city. The city lost more than half of its population due to the ravages of hurricane Katrina. This was a low point in the overall administration of the city and population fled from the city seeking better and safer alternatives.

No other major hurricane has hit this city since then but fear of the mishap still continues. The administration is at its wits end to solve the problem because lack of manpower is creating a vicious cycle. Lack of citizens is affecting standard of living which discourages others from migrating to the city. Authorities are hoping that the real estate sop offered at a time when people are being forced to file for foreclosure and bankruptcy due to inability to repay home loans will act as a stimulant.

Critics pointed out that a holistic approach is required and merely bringing people back into the city will not remove these scars. Critics called for wholesale improvement in the administration of the city to ensure such a crisis never occurs again.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: , ,

Ohio Becomes a State at Last

Though the official date of Ohio’s statehood is March 1, 1803 it is an interesting story as to how Ohio wasn’t “officially” a state until a mistake was discovered and corrected in 1953. Jefferson was president on February 19, 1803 when Congress approved Ohio’s constitution and boundaries, but failed to pass a resolution that would formally admit Ohio into the Union as the 17th state. This was in part due to the fact that Congress hadn’t started the practice of declaring the official statehood of a state until 1812 when Louisiana was accepted into the union as the 18th state.  In truth a formal resolution admitting Ohio into the United States wasn’t necessary, but still being seen as an oversight George H. Bender recognized the situation and introduced a bill to Congress requesting that Ohio be admitted into the Union and making the resolution retroactive to march 1, 1803.  The Ohio state legislature held a special session at the old state capital located in Chillicothe. There they approved the petition for statehood and then had it delivered to Washington, D.C. by horseback.  It was on Ohio’s 150th anniversary as a state that on August 7, 1953 then President Eisenhower signed Ohio into the United States declaring that March 1, 1803 was the official date of Ohio’s admittance into the Union.

Filed Under: Government, News Tagged With: , ,

Deal With Solid Companies

When you have a bad situation unfold out of nowhere, it can be very hard to adapt in time to avoid serious damage from it. When you have a financial crunch, for instance, it can be all too easy to end up having to borrow money from shady people who may charge you a whole lot of interest (and may even end up beating you up if you miss a payment) just to get by. Unfortunately, many people have gotten to a point so low that this seems like their only option. Fortunately, there is still hope.

For instance, there is a company called PayDay One that offers payday loans all the time and is completely above board. First off, it is state licensed, which means it has had to meet certain criteria in order to operate as a chain. While an independent hustler might be able to hide out somewhere, it is all but impossible to hide an entire chain of shady cats. Being licensed becomes even more difficult when you operate in more than one state, as PayDay One happens to do. While some states might be less stringent on the companies that operate there, two different states should provide you with even more peace of mind.

One of the best things about PayDay One is that it operates in Ohio and offers you three different options for paying back your loan. You can make interest and fee only payments up to four times (if your cash crunch continues for a while), you can pay off your loan in full, or you can make regular payments toward the principle for a time. The interest rates are also quite reasonable by payday loan standards, not to mention they are some of the lowest in the industry and subject to the company’s Great Rate Guarantee. Overall, if you are going to take out a loan, deal with a solid company.

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Ohio Politics

Ohio has been called the “Mother of Presidents” and for good reason. It has sent seven of its own to the White House. They include: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, Warren G. Harding, William McKinley, James A. Garfield, William Howard Taft,  and Benjamin Harrison. Interestingly enough, all of them were Republicans.  Though a Virginian by birth, William Henry Harrison spent his life in Ohio. He was also president, of course, but not a Republican; he was a Whig. Next to Virginia, Ohio seems to have had the biggest impact on those who resided in the White House. The state of Ohio has been recognized as having a little bit of everything to offer: it has north-eastern and parts that are southern, there is both urban and rural to offset each other as well as poverty and suburbs with the booming up-and-comers.

As for political leanings, Ohio (as of 2008) has been in the Democratic Party’s camp. With approximately 2,408,180 registered Democrats it is heavily in this party’s favor when compared to its 1,486,470 registered Republicans. Those voters who don’t claim a party affiliation have approximately 4,057,520 voters after having lost about 15% since 2004. With 7,937,161 registered voters in total it is clear which side they went with as in 2008 Barack Obama won the popular vote in Ohio with 51.50% of the state’s vote.  But interesting to note also is that of Ohio’s 88 counties, Barack Obama only took 22 of them.

Ohio lost a congressional district in 2000 leaving it with 18 representatives for the United States House of Representatives. Following the 2010 Census it is expected that Ohio will lose two more seats.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: ,

Ohio Economy

When it comes to Ohio’s economic interest it has always been able to show itself strong. It has won awards from various magazines for its business growth and constant business development. It has boasted a high gross domestic product ($466 billion in 2007) consistently falling within the top 10 states in the union.

In 2009 The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council ranked Ohio in the 10th position due to its business friendly tax policies including capital gains rate and corporate tax policies. It has also been highly ranked for having an excellent business climate as well as litigation climate. It was ranked number 8 for its regulatory environment by Forbes in 2009

Ohio also boasts 5 of the top 115 colleges from the United States as stated in U.S. News and World Report for 2010.

In 2007 Ohio experienced an increase in personal income of 4.7%, while its median household income stood at $46,650.  It also expects to grow its employment base 5% by 2016 meaning 290,700 jobs will be added to the workforce by that time.

18.3% of Ohio’s GDP comes from the state’s manufacturing and financial sectors. These areas are the state’s biggest industries when taken as a percentage of its GDP.  Ohio is also the lead state in the nation for “green” economy practices.  The state is also the national leader for producing rubber, electrical equipment, plastics , appliances and fabricated metals.

19.4% of Ohio’s workforce is in the trade, utilities and transportation sectors: the largest section of employment. 15.8% are employed in the education and health care sector followed by the government which employs 15.1% of the workforce and then comes manufacturing at 12.9%. The last sector is made up of professionals and technical services at 12.2%

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Ohio’s Tornado History

Ohio experiences all kinds of weather conditions, some fair and some frightening. Though not the only state to experience the thrill of killer tornadoes, Ohio has certainly has had a history with them that would blow you away.

In 1965 on Palm Sunday 37 tornadoes blew a path through Ohio, Indian and Michigan. It took the lives of 256 people.  For Ohio which lost 55 people, it was the second deadliest tornado event in Ohio history. The Lorain Tornado outbreak in 1924 was the only one to surpass it.  Only one tornado set down on April 11th and was the only one to pass through a major metropolitan area as it skirted along the edge of Toledo. This F-4 tornado leveled homes and scattered debris for hundreds of yards.

April 3rd and 4th of 1974 saw 148 tornadoes that ripped across 13 states, topping the Palm Sunday break out in 1965.  It was a super outbreak of tornadoes that killed 315 people and injured more than 6000 others. Ohio experienced 12 of those tornadoes that took the lives of 36 people.

The tornado that set down nine miles southwest of Xenia tore 32 miles through Xenia and Wilberforce and on into Clark county. It took 32 lives. Green Memorial Hospital treated more than 1300 people for injuries due to that tornado.

By May 31, 1985 another rash of tornadoes, 41 of them, 14 of which were killer tornadoes, ripped through northeastern Ohio, southern Ontario and across Pennsylvania.  The region was not prepared for this calamity having never experienced such a large outbreak of tornadoes before. Trumbull County suffered the most with the loss of 11 people. This was the worst outbreak of tornadoes since the Xenia Tornado back in 1974.  The worst tornado was the one that hit Portage County and cut 47 miles through the county to Newton  Falls and Hubbard before moving on to Pennsylvania. It was the only F-5 tornado of 1985 and by far the deadliest tornado in to hit Ohio in more than a decade.

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The Wexner Center is for the Arts and All Your Senses

The Wexner Center for the Arts

Image via Wikipedia

Most museums are a feast for the eyes and nothing more.  A statement that is generally true, but not always.  For an artistic buffet for all the senses, visit the Wexner Center on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.  The Wex, as it is affectionately known, is a modern art museum that has standard art shows, is a venue for the performing arts, functions as a movie house, and is capable of feeding the masses.  On any given day, anyone hungry for cutting edge art can visit the Wex to feed their eyes, ears, skin, nose, and tongue.

Visitors to the Wex need to train their eyes to not only take in the rotating exhibitions that fill the wills, but also upon the architecture itself.  The building is a nod back to an armory that once stood on campus while also serving as an example of the direction art museum design may take in the future.  The exhibitions likewise are grounded in the historical framework of art while also breaking the mold of what many people may consider to be art.

For the ears, the Wexner Center serves as a venue for emerging musical talents.  The performance space, housed within the museum, provides a stage for indie rock acts, jazz performers, as well as theatrical performances that blend traditional plays with emerging technological developments.

While touching is generally forbidden at museums as well as for most of the exhibits at the Wexner Center, the skin is not always forgotten.  The recent Andy Warhol exhibition provided several opportunities to physically touch the art installations.  Patrons of the Wex are also given the opportunity to shake the hand of the artists, directors, and musicians whose works are presented.

The nose and tongue are not forgotten at the Wex.  A European inspired café serves daily scratch made breakfast and lunch as well as providing coffees, teas, and juices.  Walk in to taste and smell what they have to offer.

Filed Under: Events, News Tagged With: ,

Visit the Ambiance of Another Era in Columbus’ German Village

German Village, Columbus, Ohio

Image by Vasenka via Flickr

Step back in time during your visit to Columbus, Ohio.  German Village, just south of downtown, is a visual reminder of the way the city once looked.  Brick streets provide a reverberating ambiance to the tour of the neighborhood once populated by German immigrants.  While most of the original families have now moved out of the neighborhood, the old-world charm has not.  Shopping, dining, and entertainment are all within this walkable 233-acre neighborhood.

The shopping options in the area range from quaint gift shops to a sprawling maze of a bookstore.  The latter is something to behold.  The Book Loft is a 32 room experience in and of itself.  Entire afternoons can be spent getting lost on the labyrinth of rooms containing books of every topic imaginable.  Book lovers may find the only reason to leave The Book Loft is to find something to eat.

The food choices in German Village are diverse despite the name of the area.  Of course there is the requisite German restaurant, Schmidt’s Restaurant and Sausage Haus, which opened in 1886.  It has all the standard German fare, including half pound Jumbo Cream Puffs.  Fine dining in the area can be found at the trendy Barcelona and Lindey’s.  The area also has the city’s best deli, Katzinger’s.   Those with a sweet tooth, who do not think they can handle a cream puff, should visit Pistacia Vera for a bite-sized pastry that is as delicate as it is delicious.

Working off all of that food is not difficult thanks to all of German Village’s entertainment options.  Walk to any number of the area’s museums, or cap the night off with a drink at Club 185.  In June, take the annual Haus und Garten Tour or take in one of summer’s free Shakespeare play in Schiller Park.  Visitors can celebrate German Village’s heritage during the fall Oktoberfest.

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The Inside Story on William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft National Historic Site found in Cincinnati, Ohio shows the life he lived before he entered the White House as the President of the United States and a justice of the Supreme Court. Taft spent the major portion of his early life in this home, from his birth all the way up to 1857 when his political career took him to new places. This environment and his family played a crucial part in shaping who he became and his personal philosophy that he took with him when he entered politics.

Visitors coming to the park can take a ranger led tour through the home, seeing numerous exhibits. They will learn the history of the home, its inhabitants and Taft’s contributions to our nation’s history. Staff in period costume give talks on the histroy at the time, including family traditions and various personal items they used on a daily basis.

Special events are also offered, with candle light tours being done from late Novemebter through the second of Janurary. The Taft home is decorated for the holidays, Victorian style, and visitors can partake of holiday snacks. They will also get to learn how the Taft family celebrated the holidays. This event is free for the general public to take part in, giving your family a special treat during the holiday season. You can also take part in the New Year’s Day Open House.

The park is open year-round from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. daily. If you would like to take a guided tour, they are given on a rotation of every 30 minutes throughout the day. The last one to go out is at 3:30 in the afternoon. William Howard Taft National Historic Site is a pleasant walk through the history of one of our greatest presidents and is well worth the stop.

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