Category Archives: news

Hidden “Treasure” Found in Old Downtown Xenia Building

Posted on September 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Hidden Treasure has been uncovered on the east wall of the Toward Independence, Inc. building at 87 E. Main Street in downtown Xenia, according to Toward Independence, Inc. (TII) Board Chairperson, David Springsteen. “We were excited to hear that our contractor uncovered two inlaid brick “O”s on the east side of the building where we are removing deteriorating stucco. We think the “O’s were created a century ago for Xenia’s Orpheum Theater. Preserving these ornately bricked “O”s and sharing them with the public is a great way for TII to pay homage to Xenia’s past.”

According to Catherine Kidd Wilson, Director of Greene County Historical Society and the co-chairperson of the
Downtown’s Design Committee, “the uncovered doorway with two brick O’s was possibly the side entrance to the Orpheum Theater for props and flats for the theater which opened in 1909. At that time it was called the ‘longest room in Xenia’ at 22×165 feet. Before it was the theater, that location was the Bee-Hive dry goods store.” She added that the volunteers of the Downtown Xenia Design Committee plan to include the architectural feature in a Treasure/Scavenger hunt downtown at their First Friday Festivals (which is today).

TII is currently working with Columbus Architects, Hardlines Design Company, and the City of Xenia to restore the look of 87 E. Main to more closely resemble the original turn of the last century building that housed the Orpheum. The nearly half-million dollar façade renovation of the TII buildings at 81 and 87 E. Main Street is slated for completion by November 2012 and is partially funded with Community Development Block Grant funds through a Discretionary Grant from the State of Ohio and through the Xenia Downtown Façade Loan Program. An additional five downtown properties will be renovated under the Xenia Downtown Façade Loan Program this fall.

For more information about First Friday, go to http://www.facebook.com/XeniaFirstFridays

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Israel Prime Minister Natanyahu Honors Christians for Their Contributions in the Rebirth and Success of Israel

Posted on September 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

While speaking a the restoration ceremony of an historic Mishkenot windmill orignally built in 1858 by Moses Montefoire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu tributed Christian Zionism with the rebirth and success of Zionism and the Jewish state. The following are excerpts from his speech.

“I don’t believe that the Jewish State and Modern Zionism would have been possible without Christian Zionism. I think that the many Christian supporters of the rebirth of the Jewish State and the ingathering of the Jewish people in the 19th century made possible the rise of Jewish Zionism – modern Jewish Zionism. We always had the deeply ingrained desire to come back to our land and rebuild it. This is a prayer of the millennia of the Jewish people – that it was made possible in the 19th century, by the resurgence of Christian Zionism and European support for Zionism, most especially in Great Britain – The PEF, the Palestine Exploration Fund, which was a scientific fund created by Queen Victoria, and the many Christian friends that we had, including Dutch people in the 19th century, Americans, Englishmen, Frenchmen, who visited the Holy Land by the hundreds, including famous writers. We spoke about the barrenness of the land and the hope that the Jews would come back to reclaim this land as part of the parable of humanity, the hope that there’s hope, and this created the practical foundation, the political foundation for the emergence of Zionism. So that’s the first component. It’s well represented here today by our Dutch friends, who have been supporting Israel with their hearts, and with everything that you can, we know the depth of this support. We appreciate it deeply. We value our friends, and we never forget them, and we think that you have helped establish here a powerful memorial to our friendship and our common ideals. So thank you.”

After speaking about two more vital components to the success of Zion, PM Natanyahu remembered the economic contribution to the refounding of Israel and his rebuilding efforts being commemorated. Hw went to honor all of past and present Jews returned, settled, and rebuilt Zion.

Next, PM Netanyahu shared a story about his childhood experiences growing up in the same neighborhood in Jerusalem where daily saw now restored windmill towering above. I still serves as a symbol of the unity of effort that Jews and non-Jews continue to make to Zionism reality.

PM Netanyahu concluded his speech by saying:

“For us, this was a constant celebration but today it is a special celebration, because we are marking the restoration of this asset which will serve all residents of Jerusalem and Israel, as well as the tourists who come here, and this is a symbol of the spirit of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a material city but it is also a city of the spirit. Here is the windmill* in the positive sense of the word. I think that the many Israelis who come here will remember the picture of Moses Montefiore and his family and will rejoice that in Jerusalem everything continues to turn, develop and prosper.”

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Ohio Voting War

Posted on September 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

On Friday, US District Judge Peter Economus ordered the State of Ohio to restore early voting until the Monday November 5. This will give Ohioans the weekend prior to the election to vote in-person at Board of Election offices and other designated locations. Democrats claim nearly 93,000 additional Ohioans voted because of this provision in 2008. Yet, the statistics the judge in part relied on did not actually present any numbers regarding the 3-day post-election period. The statistics only covered both the total 35 day and the 7-day pre- election period of early voting. (Source: Wall Steet Journal blog.)

In the past, there presumably was no uniform state law concerning the early voting period. Since 2008, the Republican-led executive branch under the leadership of John Husted implemented uniform policies for all local board of election offices. A 35-day period was set to begin on Monday and continue to the Friday before the election except those who are stationed overseas. They are allowed to submit their ballot until the Monday before period.

Although I agree with the Democrats that voting on the weekend (Saturday) would make it easier for many to vote, the State is already making it easier for all Ohioans to vote. Ohio law allows workers to vote during business hours without being penalized by employers. The State will be mailing all Ohioans information about how to register and vote by absentee ballot, not to mention in-person early voting already been scheduled for the voting public. The Secretary of State also is also responsible for implementing a multifaceted voter registration initiative.

Liberal leaning organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund are cheerleading Obama’s judicial campaign for weekend voting. They call Husted’s rather egalitarian voting policies suppression of poor people’s voting rights. Like the inconclusive U.S. General Accounting Office study, a 93,000 additional voter turnout in 2008 does not seem very effective especially when considering the state’s new efforts to enable every voter in the state to vote on or before election day.

One proposal to decrease the burden of the poor voter is prepaid mail-in ballots. To my knowledge, the proposal has not been implemented. Seeing Obama is providing those on public assistance as well as the working poor with cell phones, maybe he and his liberal associates would like to use taxpayer money to supplies federal postage stamps. That just might get him and other liberal Democrats a few more votes.

Liberal efforts to get more of the poor to vote also raises concern of voter fraud. The Voter Participation Center (VPC) has been sending out registration cards to pets, deceased voters, and other non-voters. The organization’s leadership includes previous leaders of the infamous ACORN, which was defunded by the federal government in 2008 because of similar voting fraud. The Judicial Watch reports the founder is one of the Democrats top political strategist with roots in the AFL-CIO and SIEU unions. It current director was Other ranking members of the Democratic Party and Pres. Clinton’s staff are involved in the organization as well. Bogus voter registration cards have been reported in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Missouri, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The problem is the VPC is mailing voter registration cards that are already filled-out to the deceased, children, those already registered, noncitizens, felons and even pets across the nation. Ohio is not being left out of the Democrat-led efforts to get out the vote.

Besides continuing to fight Obama's weekend voting lawsuit, Attorney General Mike Dewine should look into The Voter Participation Center's work in Ohio.

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Voting Will Be Uniform and Accessible for Hard-Working Ohioans

Posted on September 3, 2012 by | Leave a comment

by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted

Labor Day marks the official end of summer and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the enduring American work ethic. It also means the election season is in full swing. This year, I am proud of the steps we are taking in each of the state’s 88 counties to ensure busy schedules won’t keep hard-working Ohioans from participating. In fact, starting on October 2, you can vote any hour of the day and without ever leaving your homes.

Just after the Labor Day holiday, registered voters should keep an eye out for an official absentee ballot application in the mail. This election marks the first time applications will be sent to all voters across the state. You’ll know it by the official Secretary of State seal and because it will have your name and address pre-printed, just as it appears in the voter file.

By simply completing the three security fields and mailing it back to your county board of elections in the envelope provided, you’ll be slated to receive your ballot in the mail. No juggling schedules. No waiting in line. Your kitchen table can be your voting booth and you’ll have more than 750 hours to complete your ballot at the time that works best for you.

Though many surrounding states don’t offer this method of voting, voting by mail has become increasingly popular in Ohio. It’s both convenient and secure. Completed ballots can be sealed and mailed back to be included in the Election Day tally, or, if you prefer, you can drop them off at your local board of elections (no later than Election Day on November 6, 2012).

If you are a voter that prefers going to the polls, there is also plenty of opportunity for you to cast a ballot both prior to, and on Election Day.

Starting October 2nd, all boards of elections will be open for voting Monday through Friday, including extended hours on October 9 (until 9 pm) and until 7 pm during the last two weeks before the election to accommodate working schedules. This provides for a total of 230 hours of voting time prior before Election Day. You can find a complete schedule online at www.MyOhioVote.com. And let’s not forget about Election Day itself, when polls will be open between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm like always.

This Labor Day, jobs are the number one issue on the minds of Ohio voters. We have important choices to make on the individuals who will best lead us to economic prosperity. In the meantime, my job is to make the voting process for electing those leaders uniform, accessible, fair and secure for all Ohioans. Learn more at www.MyOhioVote.com.

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The Mother’s Health & Safety Act

Posted on August 30, 2012 by | Leave a comment

By Meaghan K Pedati, Law Student

The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals granted a preliminary injunction against Arizona’s House Bill 2036, the Mother’s Health & Safety Act. The Mother’s Health & Safety Act was set to take effect on August 2nd; it bans abortions after twenty weeks of pregnancy. The preliminary injunction does not defeat the law; it merely means that that the law cannot be enforced until the appeals process is complete. The next step in the appeals process will not take place until October or November when an appeals court will hear the case. After the case is heard, the court could take weeks before issuing a decision. It is unlikely that a decision on the law will come before December.

The lawsuit against the Mother’s Health & Safety Act is result of action by the Center for Reproductive Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union which sued Arizona in July, challenging the bill’s constitutionality. When the case was first heard, a lower level federal district court found the law constitutional. The federal district court found that because an unborn child at twenty weeks has developed pain sensors, the state has a legitimate interest in limiting abortions past twenty weeks. Proof of a legitimate state interest is essential to upholding the law. The U.S. Supreme Court holds that a state is required to show a legitimate interest for the regulation. The meaning of legitimate interest is vague but leaves room for the state to show why the law is necessary. In Arizona, the state bases their interest largely on the mother’s health. Specially, the risk of complication during an abortion is considerably higher after twenty weeks.

The court, on appeal, will likely focus on the alleged burden this law would inflict on a mother. The complaint alleges that mothers will be forced to make an immediate decision as to whether or not to have an abortion thereby creating an undue hardship and obstacle on the woman. The law suit also criticizes the law’s limited and narrow medical emergency exception. This emergency exception does not contain an exception for women who are told their unborn child will not survive after birth. This well-defined medical emergency exception could help push this law to the U.S. Supreme Court as a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and the legal meaning of viability.

Roe v. Wade holds that abortions may be performed until the unborn child is “viable.” Critics of the Arizona law claim the law bans abortions before viability. At the time of Roe, the common belief was that the earliest viable baby could be born at 23 weeks. If the U.S. Supreme Court did hear the case, the Court would be forced to reevaluate the time at which medicine defines a child viable. Since Roe, premature babies are being kept alive at a much younger age. And according the Court’s decision in Roe, that would mean an unborn baby is viable before 23 weeks, thereby affirming the constitutionality of the Mother’s Health & Safety Act.

Legal briefs for this case’s appeal are due in September and October. Steven Aden, an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom calls the Ninth Circuit decision “regrettable.” But Steven Aden, like Attorney Bill Montgomery, who defended the law during a hearing, is confident the law will be upheld on appeal.

Source: Law Students for Life, August 29, 2012

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Nationwide Survey of Republican Women Affirms Economic Issues Dominate Political Landscape

Posted on August 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Results of a recent survey of Republican women affirm that women are most concerned about economic and fiscal issues during this presidential election year.

“Obama’s economic policies have failed our entire nation, but women have been disproportionately affected,” National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) President Rae Lynne Chornenky says:: “Our survey affirms that women believe that the economy, unemployment, federal spending and personal finances are our biggest problems, both nationally and locally.”

What’s more, many respondents are feeling the economic strains personally. When asked whether they are struggling to make ends meet, nearly 40% indicated that they are either struggling or somewhat struggling.

More than 8,500 Republican women from all 50 states and many U.S. territories participated in the online survey, which was conducted by the NFRW from July 1 through Aug. 6. Both a summary and a full report of results are available at www.nfrw.org/programs/survey.htm.

The NFRW had two requirements for participants: they had to be female, and they had to describe themselves as Republicans. The survey covered a range of topics on domestic and foreign policy, societal concerns, perceptions about women, elections, politics, personal beliefs, and demographics. Economic and fiscal issues noticeably dominated.

“It’s clear that we need new leadership in Washington to turn our country around,” Chornenky says. “The NFRW will be speaking out between now and Election Day, educating women about Obama’s failed economic record and offering Mitt Romney as the candidate with the expertise and the solutions to put Americans back to work.”

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State of Ohio’s Economy: Buckeye Institute July Report

Posted on August 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Buckeye Institute’s July 2012 Ohio by the Numbers report shows continuing positive signs for Ohio’s private economy. According to preliminary Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Ohio’s private sector gained 16,300 jobs, allowing the state to move up another notch, having the 13th fastest growing private sector since January 2010. It was 20th in January’s report. Ohio did lose 5,300 government jobs.

While 2012 continues to show Ohio’s private sector making gains and pushing the state’s unemployment rate below the national average, 7.2 percent vs. 8.3 percent, there are some troubling trends. Chief among them is that the labor force shrunk by 24,000 in July. In fact, though labor force participation increased by nearly 23,000 from January to May, it has declined by over 41,000 over the course of two consecutive months which leaves Ohio’s labor force 19,000 smaller than in January.

Meanwhile, a full recovery of Ohio’s private sector economy to its peak private sector employment numbers of March, 2000 is getting closer. Using the “boom” growth rates from the 1990s (nearly 95,000 per year on average), it will take until February of 2017 for Ohio to return to its previous private sector employment peak of 4.85 million last seen in March of 2000. However, that is an improvement over last month when the recovery date was projected to be March, 2017.

Overall highlights from the Buckeye Institute report include:

  • Ohio gained 16,300 private sector jobs in June while losing 5,300 government jobs
  • Ohio remains now ranks 13th nationally in terms of private sector job growth since January 2010, growing at a 4.7 percent rate;
  • Ohio currently ranks 46th for private sector job growth since January of 1990, growing at 7.3 percent (top ranked Nevada grew 84.5 percent over the same time span).

    • Within individual industry sectors, only Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services continue to have more people employed in them today than in either 1990 or 2000.

    The report shows that Forced Union states (which includes Ohio and most of its neighbors with the recent exception of Indiana which became a worker freedom state in February) had a private sector growth rate far below Worker Freedom states. Since 1990, Worker Freedom states’ private sector jobs grew at a 36 percent rate vs. only 13 percent for Forced Union states (12.3 million vs. 7.8 million).

    EEven during the decade from 2000-2010, which included the tech bubble burst of 2000 and the “Great Recession” of 2008-2009, Worker Freedom states gained jobs for a minimal growth of around 0.1 percent while Forced Union states lost 5 percent. Since 2010, Worker Freedom states also outperformed Forced Union states, growing at a 4.4 percent rate vs. only 3.7 percent.

    Even during the decade from 2000-2010, which included the tech bubble burst of 2000 and the “Great Recession” of 2008-2009, Worker Freedom states gained jobs for a minimal growth of around 0.1 percent while Forced Union states lost 5 percent. Since 2010, Worker Freedom states also outperformed Forced Union states, growing at a 4.4 percent rate vs. only 3.7 percent.

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    Posted in economy, news, Ohio

    Brandon Raub and the Thought Police

    Posted on August 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    In the following, Constitutional lawyer John Whitehead comments on the ex-Marine veteran Brandon Raub’s arrest and the blatant Constitutional violations committed by the local police and FBI agents. Whitehead also addresses the growing abuses power by our government officials.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeKRhAK4l1Q&w=560&h=315]

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    Economic Recession in 2013

    Posted on August 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    by Daniel Downs

    A recent article by Charles Gave of GaveKal reports Germany entering a recession. His initial analysis points to a mild recession for Germany. However, the impact of a stagnant recessionary German economy would result in a secondary depression on the southern nations of Europe. For Germany and the EU, the repercussion of such a depression could result in a much more severe recession for strongest EU economy. If that happens, Gave predicts the EU would break apart.

    Of course, a German recession would have a negative impact on the U.S. economy, according to the Fiscal Times. Because exports to Germany and other European nations would diminish, our economic would also slow down possibly to greater recessionary levels.

    The latest update to U.S. Budget and Economic Outlook projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts a recession in 2013. While the CBO estimates the national budget deficit to decline from $1.1 trillion to $641 billion, its analysts also estimate a decline in real GDP of 0.5 percent. At the same time, they predict unemployment to rise again to 9 percent.

    The CBO projections for 2014-2017 show slow but steady improvement. By the end of 2017, they predict the rate of unemployment to have decreased to 5.7 percent. While the unemployment is expected to decline, the growth rate of the national economy is expect to increase to 4.3 percent.

    Of course, CBO projections are dependent on the policies made on Capitol Hill and the economic conditions of those nations who buy our goods and services and invest in our capital markets.

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    Ohio Right to Life PAC Endorsements – Republican Ticket Plus A Few Democrats

    Posted on August 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

    The Ohio Right to Life Society and Political Action Committee today announced its endorsements of Ohio’s pro-life federal and state candidates for the November 6th general election.

    “This election is the doorway into what could be the most pivotal period in our nation’s history,” said Mike Gonidakis on behalf of the Ohio Right to Life PAC. ”We personally urge every pro-life Ohioan to support these pro-life men and women, and trust them to lead our state and nation to a greater respect for life and religious freedom.”

    These pro-life endorsed candidates include a diverse bipartisan group of men and women who Ohio Right to Life PAC is confident will represent the pro-life movement in our state and federal government. Ohio experienced never before seen growth in its defense of the unborn after electing every statewide candidate that Ohio Right to Life endorsed in 2010. With these victories, Ohio Right to Life worked with legislators to pass seven pro-life legislative measures, a feat unprecedented by any other General Assembly.

    Notable endorsed candidates include:

  • Mitt Romney – President
  • Republican Josh Mandel – U.S. Senate
  • Republican John Boehner – U.S. House Congressional District 8
  • Justice Robert Cupp – Ohio Supreme Court
  • Republican Jim Renacci – Ohio Congressional District 16
  • Republican Sam Wurzelbacher – Ohio Congressional District 9
  • Republican Randy Gardner – Ohio Senate District 2
  • Republican Peggy Lehner – Ohio Senate District 6
  • Republican Chris Widener – Ohio Senate District 10
  • Democrat Mike Curtin – Ohio House District 17
  • Democrat Denise Driehaus – Ohio House District 31
  • Republican Kristina Roegner – Ohio House District 37
  • Democrat Matt Lundy – Ohio House District 55
  • Republican Rick Perales – Ohio House District 73
  • Republican Robert Hackett – Ohio House District 74
  • Republican Nick Skeriotis – Ohio House District 75
  • Republican Ron Hood – Ohio House District 78

    • For a complete list, click here.

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