OT: St. Jude Dream Home

Thanks, Ruth; I knew I hadn't dreamed it!!! I absolutely loved that place.

How are you liking Tucson? I miss the mountains!

Anne

"RMJCMT" <RMJCMT.39dlyj@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au> wrote in message
news:RMJCMT.39dlyj@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au...
> Yes, Anne, Oak Openings is in the Toledo area. Actually about 10 miles
> west of Toledo in the Swanton area. It is beautiful. I used to go there
> every now and then on my day off and enjoy. I don't know if it is a
> state or county park. I liked it best in the late spring when all the
> trees had new, bright green leaves, the ferns were coming up, and the
> dogwood trees were in bloom. Didn't go much of anywhere in the winter...
> all that snow and ice. Ugh.
>
>
> --
> RMJCMT
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> RMJCMT's Profile: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/member.php?userid=337
> View this thread: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6685
>

RMJCMT wrote:
> << If I win, can I interest anyone in coming to beautiful
> Perrysburg, Ohio to visit? >>
>
>
> Marsha, I always see your sig Marsha/Ohio. Have always wondered where
> in Ohio you are. I lived in Swanton for 10 years, and yes Perrysburg is
> beautiful in the summer as is Whitehouse and Oak Openings. Nevertheless,
> for this Calif raised gal, the winters back there were killers. Probably
> the best thing I ever saw was Ohio in my rearview mirror.
>
> Ruth who is now in warm, sunny Tucson, Arizona :-)
>
>

Well, Ruth, I'm happy that you're happy :-) This area really isn't too
bad as far as snow accumulation, or even sub-zero weather, for being
this far north. Most of the lake effect stuff goes north or south or
heads right for Cleveland! It just makes us appreciate the other three
seasons a bit more. I've lived in this area my entire life and can't
see myself living anywhere else. I live in Springfield
Township/Holland. Most Toledo suburbs have a relatively low cost of
living and we are within a short drive of a lot of good stuff, but we
don't have to put up with a big city environment.

I remember asking you a long time ago if you were a person I knew in
school with the same name, but you weren't. I had relatives in Swanton,
right across from Swanton Coliseum, where we went roller skating, and we
used to fish at Swanton Reservoir. Ah, the good old days...

Marsha/Ohio

Ahh yes, our big city government with our wonderful, wonderful mayor! (Much
sarcasm here). On my walk this morning (trash day in this neighborhood
today) I noticed the wonderful 96-gallon trash cans sitting at the curb on
two blocks, waiting for the automated truck to come and get them. A recent
letter to the editor in the Blade stated it would cost $20 million for new
trucks and each resident will be provided one garbage container and one
recycling contaier. Of course until after the recent election, Toledo was
broke, only afterward did they find a great deal of money which no one kne
existed. Of course, this means you can't recycle paper or you can't recycle
cans/bottles because we have to separate them, but are only getting one
container for recycling material. If the containers are stolen we will be
required to buy new ones (I think it said about $100 each).

Of course the trucks will be heavier and tear up the streets faster, but for
all of this we gladly are taxed three times for the same trash pickup; one:
property taxes which, until dear sweet "King Carty" took office, took care
of unlimited trash pickup, two: a 3/4% tax for police, fire, and oh yes,
unlimited trash pickup. Three: A monthly tax attached to our water bills
for . . . trash pickup. For all of this we get torn up streets, only one
container per week, no large item pickup, and the elderly and handicapped
trying to maneurver full 96-gallon containers to the curb in the dead of
winter with ice, sleet, and snow.

Yes, Marsha, I'm glad you don't have to put up with our big city government
(at least as long as Carty Finkbeiner is the mayor)!

When I lived outside of Swanton 45 years ago life was much simpler and much
calmer than life in Toledo today.

"Marsha" <mas@xeb . net > wrote in message news:g0dcn1$c45$1@news.datemas.de...

> Most Toledo suburbs have a relatively low cost of living and we are within
> a short drive of a lot of good stuff, but we don't have to put up with a
> big city environment.
>
>

Good Lord, Phyllis, I thought our city was bad!

--
Sue -- Firefighter mom -- still rabid UW DAWG fan!
"Phyllis Nilsson" <phyllisnilsson@buckeye-express . com > wrote in message
news:Fu2dnfygJbsvq7HVnZ2dnUVZ_rrinZ2d@buckeye-express . com ...
> Ahh yes, our big city government with our wonderful, wonderful mayor!
> (Much sarcasm here). On my walk this morning (trash day in this
> neighborhood today) I noticed the wonderful 96-gallon trash cans sitting
> at the curb on two blocks, waiting for the automated truck to come and get
> them. A recent letter to the editor in the Blade stated it would cost $20
> million for new trucks and each resident will be provided one garbage
> container and one recycling contaier. Of course until after the recent
> election, Toledo was broke, only afterward did they find a great deal of
> money which no one kne existed. Of course, this means you can't recycle
> paper or you can't recycle cans/bottles because we have to separate them,
> but are only getting one container for recycling material. If the
> containers are stolen we will be required to buy new ones (I think it said
> about $100 each).
>
> Of course the trucks will be heavier and tear up the streets faster, but
> for all of this we gladly are taxed three times for the same trash pickup;
> one: property taxes which, until dear sweet "King Carty" took office,
> took care of unlimited trash pickup, two: a 3/4% tax for police, fire, and
> oh yes, unlimited trash pickup. Three: A monthly tax attached to our
> water bills for . . . trash pickup. For all of this we get torn up
> streets, only one container per week, no large item pickup, and the
> elderly and handicapped trying to maneurver full 96-gallon containers to
> the curb in the dead of winter with ice, sleet, and snow.
>
> Yes, Marsha, I'm glad you don't have to put up with our big city
> government (at least as long as Carty Finkbeiner is the mayor)!
>
> When I lived outside of Swanton 45 years ago life was much simpler and
> much calmer than life in Toledo today.
>
> "Marsha" <mas@xeb . net > wrote in message
> news:g0dcn1$c45$1@news.datemas.de...
>
>> Most Toledo suburbs have a relatively low cost of living and we are
>> within a short drive of a lot of good stuff, but we don't have to put up
>> with a big city environment.
>>
>>
>
>

Holy Toledo! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) It sounds like someone needs to ask
for clarification as to why you guys are paying for garbage service in so
many different ways. That's lousy.

Anne

"Phyllis Nilsson" <phyllisnilsson@buckeye-express . com > wrote in message
news:Fu2dnfygJbsvq7HVnZ2dnUVZ_rrinZ2d@buckeye-express . com ...
> Ahh yes, our big city government with our wonderful, wonderful mayor!
> (Much sarcasm here). On my walk this morning (trash day in this
> neighborhood today) I noticed the wonderful 96-gallon trash cans sitting
> at the curb on two blocks, waiting for the automated truck to come and get
> them. A recent letter to the editor in the Blade stated it would cost $20
> million for new trucks and each resident will be provided one garbage
> container and one recycling contaier. Of course until after the recent
> election, Toledo was broke, only afterward did they find a great deal of
> money which no one kne existed. Of course, this means you can't recycle
> paper or you can't recycle cans/bottles because we have to separate them,
> but are only getting one container for recycling material. If the
> containers are stolen we will be required to buy new ones (I think it said
> about $100 each).
>
> Of course the trucks will be heavier and tear up the streets faster, but
> for all of this we gladly are taxed three times for the same trash pickup;
> one: property taxes which, until dear sweet "King Carty" took office,
> took care of unlimited trash pickup, two: a 3/4% tax for police, fire, and
> oh yes, unlimited trash pickup. Three: A monthly tax attached to our
> water bills for . . . trash pickup. For all of this we get torn up
> streets, only one container per week, no large item pickup, and the
> elderly and handicapped trying to maneurver full 96-gallon containers to
> the curb in the dead of winter with ice, sleet, and snow.
>
> Yes, Marsha, I'm glad you don't have to put up with our big city
> government (at least as long as Carty Finkbeiner is the mayor)!
>
> When I lived outside of Swanton 45 years ago life was much simpler and
> much calmer than life in Toledo today.
\

Actually, and I believe it darn near everywhere even here as we have no
competing garbage companies, did you watch the Sopranos? What business were
they in? It seems ripe with Mafia -- the garbage business and crooked
politicians they seem to go hand-in-hand. I tried to get another outfit to
get our garbage and got "we don't touch Lakewood". What? "That is LeMay's
area." What? When a politician was running, a very honest guy in our area,
against a crooked incumbent, the garbage company had their haulers picking
up and "removing" the good guy's signs. I'm beginning to think this may be
going on in every city -- perhaps, Phyllis, that is what is happening in
your City!

--
Sue -- Firefighter mom -- still rabid UW DAWG fan!
"Anne V." <ahvasquez@NOSPAMsbcglobal . net > wrote in message
news:Mn%Wj.98$co7.72@nlpi066.nbdc.sbc . com ...
> Holy Toledo! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) It sounds like someone needs to
> ask for clarification as to why you guys are paying for garbage service in
> so many different ways. That's lousy.
>
> Anne
>
> "Phyllis Nilsson" <phyllisnilsson@buckeye-express . com > wrote in message
> news:Fu2dnfygJbsvq7HVnZ2dnUVZ_rrinZ2d@buckeye-express . com ...
>> Ahh yes, our big city government with our wonderful, wonderful mayor!
>> (Much sarcasm here). On my walk this morning (trash day in this
>> neighborhood today) I noticed the wonderful 96-gallon trash cans sitting
>> at the curb on two blocks, waiting for the automated truck to come and
>> get them. A recent letter to the editor in the Blade stated it would
>> cost $20 million for new trucks and each resident will be provided one
>> garbage container and one recycling contaier. Of course until after the
>> recent election, Toledo was broke, only afterward did they find a great
>> deal of money which no one kne existed. Of course, this means you can't
>> recycle paper or you can't recycle cans/bottles because we have to
>> separate them, but are only getting one container for recycling material.
>> If the containers are stolen we will be required to buy new ones (I think
>> it said about $100 each).
>>
>> Of course the trucks will be heavier and tear up the streets faster, but
>> for all of this we gladly are taxed three times for the same trash
>> pickup; one: property taxes which, until dear sweet "King Carty" took
>> office, took care of unlimited trash pickup, two: a 3/4% tax for police,
>> fire, and oh yes, unlimited trash pickup. Three: A monthly tax attached
>> to our water bills for . . . trash pickup. For all of this we get torn
>> up streets, only one container per week, no large item pickup, and the
>> elderly and handicapped trying to maneurver full 96-gallon containers to
>> the curb in the dead of winter with ice, sleet, and snow.
>>
>> Yes, Marsha, I'm glad you don't have to put up with our big city
>> government (at least as long as Carty Finkbeiner is the mayor)!
>>
>> When I lived outside of Swanton 45 years ago life was much simpler and
>> much calmer than life in Toledo today.
> \
>

Sue wrote:

> Actually, and I believe it darn near everywhere even here as we have no
> competing garbage companies, did you watch the Sopranos? What business were
> they in? It seems ripe with Mafia -- the garbage business and crooked
> politicians they seem to go hand-in-hand. I tried to get another outfit to
> get our garbage and got "we don't touch Lakewood". What? "That is LeMay's
> area." What? When a politician was running, a very honest guy in our area,
> against a crooked incumbent, the garbage company had their haulers picking
> up and "removing" the good guy's signs. I'm beginning to think this may be
> going on in every city -- perhaps, Phyllis, that is what is happening in
> your City!
>

Toledo's trash collectors are city employees with a union. That's the
problem in a nutshell. Their contract says they get paid for an 8-hour
day, even though most finish their route in 4 hours. Then the mayor
decided to charge extra for trash pickup, even for those who recycle,
although that's a lesser charge. Despite the fact that this service is
supposedly paid for through taxes. I can't believe there hasn't been a
serious backlash against this crap. I do agree that Toledo residents
have been spoiled with unlimited pickup for so many years, compared to
other municipalities. The automated collection trucks do have big
advantages. It will cut down on union wages (the mayor said no one
would lose their job - the workers will be offered other city jobs, but
it's hard to imagine what else a trash collector might be qualified
for). It will also cut down the Workers Compensation claims. Hopefully
it will make people see they waste a lot. We are a family of two and we
barely have more than one bag a week. But, like Phyllis said, no one
thought of older or disabled residents trying to move a 96-gallon
container to the curb. The containers will also be a hot comodity on
the theft market.

Marsha/Ohio

One woman filed a lawsuit because residents are charged the monthly tax even
if they don't put out trash (some people live in warmer climates several
months of the year). I don't agree we've been spoiled, but believe other
municipalities have not received what they pay taxes for. In fact, I'm so
old I can remember when the trash collectors actually came into our yard to
pick up the cans so we didn't have to carry them to the curb. He isn't much
of a leader in making a better city if all he can do is copy what other
places are doing.

It may cut down on union wages and Worker Comp claims, but it won't cut down
on the amount of money the mayor spends. Wonder how long it will take to
make back $20 million dollars set-up fee (new trucks and new containers). I
went to his web site yesterday and he again used his recurring theme that it
will make the city more attractive . . . like the big black patches on our
concrete streets are attractive. He wants bike paths, but won't fix the
sidewalks so we can take healthy walks in our own neighborhood. He is a
disaster waiting to take this city down with him. Last time I took my
morning walk on trash day (nosey me) I noticed what was in the open bins as
I passed. One had nothing in it but beer and vodka bottles. I won't quit
buying bottled juice or canned fruit and vegetables (fresh or frozen are not
on a dialysis diet) or the newspaper or cereal in boxes, so recycling isn't
going to change my buying habits or make less waste.

I've never met anyone so arrogant in my life. His wife's son got arrested
in a little burg not far from here and they went to visit him. Of course,
they chose to go after visiting hours and thankfully their police said he
would have to come back during regular visiting hours. His response, "I'm
the mayor of Toledo" didn't to him a bit of good. He also takes his dog to
work with him even though no one else is allowed to. The building
management just folded on that one. (He doesn't even walk the dog, but has
a salaried employee do it for him). A high-ranking employee was caught
using foul language to (I think) a reporter and was suspended without pay
for one or two weeks. Our mayor has a mouth worse than a stevedore, uses
foul language in public all the time, but he's never been suspended.

Actually, they forgot to pick up recycling materials yesterday. The cans
(one for cans/bottles, one for paper) are still sitting out there and if
they think I'm hauling them back to my yard they're nuts. We can get fined
if our cans are set out before the "legal" time the night before pickup; 5
p.m. in the winter, 7 p.m. in the summer (another "Let's make Toledo
beautiful" ploy). If I get a ticket the first thing I'm going to do is call
a newspaper reporter. If I fall and break a hip this winter trying to
navigate these huge containers, who on earth is going to take care of my
husband . . . it won't be our illustrious (or crazy) mayor.

While I was the city website, I found the button for e-mail and told him
what I think of his leadership, behavior, and the way he spends our money.
Will it do any good? No, but it made me feel better to tell him that, if he
were my son, I'd be ashamed of his behavior as mayor of Toledo.


.

"Marsha" <mas@xeb . net > wrote in message news:g0ij54$2lm$3@news.datemas.de...

> Toledo's trash collectors are city employees with a union. That's the
> problem in a nutshell. Their contract says they get paid for an 8-hour
> day, even though most finish their route in 4 hours. Then the mayor
> decided to charge extra for trash pickup, even for those who recycle,
> although that's a lesser charge. Despite the fact that this service is
> supposedly paid for through taxes. I can't believe there hasn't been a
> serious backlash against this crap. I do agree that Toledo residents have
> been spoiled with unlimited pickup for so many years, compared to other
> municipalities. The automated collection trucks do have big advantages.
> It will cut down on union wages (the mayor said no one would lose their
> job - the workers will be offered other city jobs, but it's hard to
> imagine what else a trash collector might be qualified for). It will also
> cut down the Workers Compensation claims. Hopefully it will make people
> see they waste a lot. We are a family of two and we barely have more than
> one bag a week. But, like Phyllis said, no one thought of older or
> disabled residents trying to move a 96-gallon container to the curb. The
> containers will also be a hot comodity on the theft market.
>
> Marsha/Ohio
>

There are private haulers in this area about which I've heard the same
thing. At one time I was the dispatcher for our solid waste division, and
due to cutbacks, many of us were laid off. A friend of mine said he could
get me a job with this waste company. I was amazed and said, "You know for
sure they have an opening?" His reply was, "There will be if you want the
job." Obviously, I wasn't going to have someone fired so I could get their
job, so I said no thanks and kept on looking. My friend was from Detroit
and knew all the "right" people I guess.


"Sue" <medlawtrans@comcast . net > wrote in message
news:2dadnU5vac64GrHVnZ2dnUVZ_uGdnZ2d@comcast . com ...
> Actually, and I believe it darn near everywhere even here as we have no
> competing garbage companies, did you watch the Sopranos? What business
> were they in? It seems ripe with Mafia -- the garbage business and crooked
> politicians they seem to go hand-in-hand. I tried to get another outfit to
> get our garbage and got "we don't touch Lakewood". What? "That is LeMay's
> area." What? When a politician was running, a very honest guy in our
> area, against a crooked incumbent, the garbage company had their haulers
> picking up and "removing" the good guy's signs. I'm beginning to think
> this may be going on in every city -- perhaps, Phyllis, that is what is
> happening in your City!
>
>

"Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio, is like being nowhere at all...." :)

Anne V. wrote:
> Holy Toledo! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) It sounds like someone needs to ask
> for clarification as to why you guys are paying for garbage service in so
> many different ways. That's lousy.

We modified that song when I was a kid... "Saturday night in Bisbee, AZ is
like being nowhere at all. They roll up the sidewalks precisely at 8 cuz
the folks of Bisbee can't stay out that late!" I was a teenager in a little
town, what can I say? <G>

Anne

"Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply" <fleetoffinger@TRASHyahoo . com > wrote
in message news:482ccb4d$0$34487$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> "Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio, is like being nowhere at all...." :)

<< Holy Toledo! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) >>
I always get a laugh out of Holy Toledo (or Holey Toledo). It has to be
the pot hole capital of the world. They even have a 24-hour pot hole hot
line. Airport Highway from Spring Meadows shopping center to west of the
airport was sure nice though after it was redone.

Is Carty still mayor? He sure is a cantankerous (sp?) character. The
sheriff of a neighboring county here in AZ I think is a lot like Carty.
This sheriff has built a tent city jail because of jail overcrowding.
Inmates all wear pink underwear and black and white striped prisoner
clothing. A few years back he refused to let them have television. One
inmate got a lawyer and took it to court. The court ruled in favor of
the prisoner and made the sheriff provide television. He did, but only
C-Span. Haaaaa, I got a kick out of that! I guess the court didn't
specify what channels the sheriff had to provide, just "television."


--
RMJCMT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
RMJCMT's Profile: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/member.php?userid=337
View this thread: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6685

Unfortunately, "Crazy Carty Who Would be King" had two terms, out for one,
then re-elected because the new mayor didn't smile enough. Says he doesn't
know if he will run for a second term the second time. He got caught
parking in a handicapped parking spot without a placard on a very hot day
with his dog "Scout" left in the car without water. He was fined, the
newspapers reported it, but some thought he ought to have had his dog
confiscated for abuse. He then made a public service video saying how bad
it was to leave your dog in a car, even with the window cracked open. Yeah,
he's a real peach.

I'll trade you our mayor for your sheriff. We see news stories about him
every once in awhile and I surely do admire that sheriff. If there were
more like him in this country, there would be fewer criminals, the need for
new prisons would decrease, and the money could be used for pot hole
reduction, or even, Heaven forbid, repaving of our city streets with
something that will last more than 10 years!

"RMJCMT" <RMJCMT.39j65z@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au> wrote in message
news:RMJCMT.39j65z@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au...
>
> << Holy Toledo! (Sorry, couldn't resist.) >>
> I always get a laugh out of Holy Toledo (or Holey Toledo). It has to be
> the pot hole capital of the world. They even have a 24-hour pot hole hot
> line. Airport Highway from Spring Meadows shopping center to west of the
> airport was sure nice though after it was redone.
>
> Is Carty still mayor? He sure is a cantankerous (sp?) character. The
> sheriff of a neighboring county here in AZ I think is a lot like Carty.
> This sheriff has built a tent city jail because of jail overcrowding.
> Inmates all wear pink underwear and black and white striped prisoner
> clothing. A few years back he refused to let them have television. One
> inmate got a lawyer and took it to court. The court ruled in favor of
> the prisoner and made the sheriff provide television. He did, but only
> C-Span. Haaaaa, I got a kick out of that! I guess the court didn't
> specify what channels the sheriff had to provide, just "television."
>
>
> --
> RMJCMT
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> RMJCMT's Profile: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/member.php?userid=337
> View this thread: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6685
>

I remember a road that ran near the school I went to in the Springfield area
that was under construction the entire time I lived in the area, and when I
went back to visit years later...yep, still under construction. McCormick
Road, or something like that?

Anne

"Phyllis Nilsson" <phyllisnilsson@buckeye-express . com > wrote in message
news:DbGdnTLCSvKxS7PVnZ2dnUVZ_rninZ2d@buckeye-express . com ...
> Unfortunately, "Crazy Carty Who Would be King" had two terms, out for one,
> then re-elected because the new mayor didn't smile enough. Says he
> doesn't know if he will run for a second term the second time. He got
> caught parking in a handicapped parking spot without a placard on a very
> hot day with his dog "Scout" left in the car without water. He was fined,
> the newspapers reported it, but some thought he ought to have had his dog
> confiscated for abuse. He then made a public service video saying how bad
> it was to leave your dog in a car, even with the window cracked open.
> Yeah, he's a real peach.
>
> I'll trade you our mayor for your sheriff. We see news stories about him
> every once in awhile and I surely do admire that sheriff. If there were
> more like him in this country, there would be fewer criminals, the need
> for new prisons would decrease, and the money could be used for pot hole
> reduction, or even, Heaven forbid, repaving of our city streets with
> something that will last more than 10 years!

Joe Arpaio, isn't that his name?


"RMJCMT" <RMJCMT.39j65z@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au> wrote in message
news:RMJCMT.39j65z@no-mx.forums.yourdomain . com .au...
> I always get a laugh out of Holy Toledo (or Holey Toledo). It has to be
> the pot hole capital of the world. They even have a 24-hour pot hole hot
> line. Airport Highway from Spring Meadows shopping center to west of the
> airport was sure nice though after it was redone.
>
> Is Carty still mayor? He sure is a cantankerous (sp?) character. The
> sheriff of a neighboring county here in AZ I think is a lot like Carty.
> This sheriff has built a tent city jail because of jail overcrowding.
> Inmates all wear pink underwear and black and white striped prisoner
> clothing. A few years back he refused to let them have television. One
> inmate got a lawyer and took it to court. The court ruled in favor of
> the prisoner and made the sheriff provide television. He did, but only
> C-Span. Haaaaa, I got a kick out of that! I guess the court didn't
> specify what channels the sheriff had to provide, just "television."
>
>
> --
> RMJCMT
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> RMJCMT's Profile: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/member.php?userid=337
> View this thread: * w w w .scribera.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6685
>