Spring Has Sprung

Can you feel it? Have you noticed? Spring is finally upon us, almost. There is noting like being cold most mornings and be sweating by the afternoon. Welcome to spring.
But, I guess it's better than having to deal with snow and ice on a daily basis. along the idea of not being able to make it home each night. I will not complain any longer, incase mother nature is listening.
There are many issues that face this community that is calling our attention. We as a community be distracted by these issues or we could approach them with unified efforts and make a bigger impact.
It's hard to tell, what would happen if we as a community would truly unify and work to find solutions to problems we are facing.
Efforts have been underway for a while now by community officials to combat the issue of prescription drugs. Those involved in those efforts were pleased to know that two pain clinics were raided last week, to search for information.
There are people and organizations work as hard as they can everyday to make this community better.
The Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District has received a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Recourses (ODNR) to purchase equipment that will help recycle used mattresses. The waste management district also received a $20,000 grant to gather discarded tires in both counties.
These organizations are working to be leaders in mattress recycling. There is not denying that we as a people generate trash. In most cases that trash ends up in landfills. One day those landfills will reach capacity and another one will have to be started.
Through the efforts of the Solid Waste Management District and Big Sandy the life of some landfills will be extended.
On Tuesday voters across the area will be asked to make their choice for a certain candidate or a certain issue.
We at the Common are asking you to vote Yes on Issue 1.
The Third Frontier Program according to it's website (www.ohiothirdfrontier.com), "represents an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to expand Ohio's technological strengths and promote commercialization that leads to economic prosperity throughout Ohio. Designed to build world-class research programs, nurture early-stage companies, and foster technology development that makes existing industries more productive, Ohio Third Frontier creates opportunity through innovation."
Recently the Shawnee State University (SSU) Board of Trustees passed a resolution endorsing State Issue 1.
Issue one would enable the state to provide funding and opportunities that would otherwise not be available.
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Rita Rice Morris, President of SSU she explained SSU will expanding its efforts to apply for additional funding for research.
It's estimated the $681 million in Third Frontier funds invested between 2003 and 2008 have generated $6.6 billion in economic activity, $2.4 billion in employee wages and benefits, and approximately 48,000 jobs.
According to SSU Third Frontier has the potential to provide support for SSU's Center of Excellence that focuses on applied research and regional innovation.
"I currently have two students that I employ as a result of a Third Frontier grant. This summer I will likely have 10 different students (who have internships) in which half of their pay is coming though the Third Frontier program," Dr. Larry Miller, Professor, Plastics Engineering Technology said.
"Starting May 3, the city of Portsmouth will begin demolition of eight condemned residential structures will begin, funded by grant monies procured through the Ohio Department of Development’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program, overseen by the Office of Housing and Community Partnerships. The purpose of this program is aiding communities in addressing the growing issue of abandoned and foreclosed homes.
Demolition will start May 3 and is expected to end on or around May 31 on the following properties, 2105 Argonne Road, 1717/1719 Robinson Ave., 1537 Robinson Ave., 2107 Scioto Trail, 1803 Baird Ave., 1310 Franklin Blvd., 1501 Linden Ave., 1505 Linden Ave.
So this summer will have some interesting issues and projects happening this summer.

I started a New Book

One of the things I have grown to love in my old age is a good quote. When I read a book I like to underline things in the book I think will be useful at another time. I have a pile of book I have marked up with things I would like remember. I have been been saying for a while I would like to put them in a book of some kind. So about a week or 4 ago I started to put these things into a book. Am not sure what I will do with the collection of quotes, but I think it would prove to be useful in the long run. and besides who can not use a good quote.

A Work In Progress

In March a report was released called "Hunger In Ohio 2010," this report outlined the number of people who are seeking assistance with food year year. The report estimates that 1.4 million Ohioans receive emergency food each year. That number is up almost 20 percent from 2006.
In any given week, according to the study, more than 225,000 Ohioans receive emergency food assistance.
According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_the_United_States.
Poverty in the United States is cyclical in nature with roughly 13 to 17 percent of Americans living below the federal poverty line at any given point in time, and roughly 40 percent falling below the poverty line at some point within a 10-year time span.
The site estimates that most Americans (58.5 percent) will spend at least one year below the poverty line at some point between ages 25 and 75.
According to Mindfully.org, Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day - that's roughly 200 billion more than needed - enough to feed 80 million people. Americans throw out 200,000 tons of edible food daily. The average American generates 52 tons of garbage by age 75. The average individual daily consumption of water is 159 gallons, while more than half the world's population lives on 25 gallons.
I bring you this information for informational purposes and the fact that if we as Americans, we as individuals would learn to live with what we have been given, we could end the issue of poverty in the country, and we could end it in our community.
There are many organizations in the community that are working to combat this issue everyday. In some cases it has or is becoming an up hill battle.
There is no doubt the economic conditions of today are driving more people to seek help to provide the most basic of needs.
As a part of the Scioto Slimdown, I am taking a look at the food consumption in my life and working to get it get it under control. It will be a hard journey, and I did not say it was going to be easy.
I can not say with certainty that I may not succeed with this effort, but at least I can say I tried and maybe I will have learned something in the process.