[docthehun]

I was born in Dayton and lived there until I was 6. I used to think it was a great mid-size city. Now a days, I wonder if it isn't a just a reflection of America's decline, 50 years or so in the making. Pretty sad to say the least. Maybe it's time to rebuild our great country. :(

[libbey1963]

I can relate to what you are saying. Although I was not born in Toledo I lived there for three years and graduated from high school there. I left Toledo when I entered the military in 1963 and returned a few times until my last visit in 1974. From what I have read Toledo has gone downhill every since and it is sad they have even closed my high school (Libbey) as well as others.
Maybe just a sign of the times.

[NapRover]

Small towns are just as bad off. I drive 40k miles/yr (for the last 22 yrs) and I'm always noting boarded up factories in the Midwest. Such a shame. Some of it is due to the obsolescence of technology, but I think most of it is due to labor and benefit costs. Politicians say what we want to hear-pointing blame at outsourcers and the rich. Only the truly ignorant and gullible will buy that. If they don't outsource, they go belly up and we have the same result. Our standard of living is so high because we're borrowing the means to support it.

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by libbey1963

I can relate to what you are saying. Although I was not born in Toledo I lived there for three years and graduated from high school there. I left Toledo when I entered the military in 1963 and returned a few times until my last visit in 1974. From what I have read Toledo has gone downhill every since and it is sad they have even closed my high school (Libbey) as well as others.
Maybe just a sign of the times.

I lived in Toledo in the late 70's, teaching school and working at the South Toledo Boys Club. Last summer I attended a wedding and was taken back by the deterioration in the area of the club. It wasn't the greatest area back then, but things have really gone down hill. It's now a scary area.

[DGUtley]

I practiced in Cleveland from 87-96. Now, I'm in our Akron office and have been since 96. I lived in Cleveland from 84-91. We left for better schools and went to Medina County. I don't get up there much anymore, but "wow" the decline is startling - and scary. I wouldn't drive the same neighborhood that I used to jog through at 6:00 a.m..

If I get down home to Sebring, and go through Alliance to get there, the devastation is amazing to me. Empty factories, empty buildings, boarded up strip malls, etc.

I think we're in for a massive re-adjustment b/c of our debt.

[JJ]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...p_ref=business

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by JJ

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...p_ref=business

Thanks boss! I totally forgot to include the link. :) (Old man brain fart!)

[wisdome]

GM, Mead, Standard Register, etc are all gone from Dayton. Kettering Medical and WPAFB are just the only two big ones left. It is a shame!

[bethere]

Originally Posted by wisdome

GM, Mead, Standard Register, etc are all gone from Dayton. Kettering Medical and WPAFB are just the only two big ones left. It is a shame!

don't forget frigidaire, delco, dayton tire, white industries, chrysler air temp, and NCR,

[DGUtley]

Was in Dayton today for mediation. Story on the river fountain?

[fish82]

Originally Posted by wisdome

GM, Mead, Standard Register, etc are all gone from Dayton. Kettering Medical and WPAFB are just the only two big ones left. It is a shame!

My brother will be sad, since he's currently employed at Standard Register. ;)

[bethere]

Originally Posted by DGUtley

Was in Dayton today for mediation. Story on the river fountain?

it's been there for around a decade. i like it, others do not.

it was made by a missouri company i believe, they do all similar projects in the country for the most part. when installed the outside ring of fountains were supposed to meet in midair, that didn't happen, so the builder was forced to install a fountain in the middle for free.

now it works great, and the water is pumped from the aquifer below so no potable water gets wasted in the process.

there are plans on the table for a european style kayak rapid water course (next week when you watch the kayak event in the olympics you'll understand what i am referring to). it is surprisingly affordable and if done would be done with private money--probably on the mad river there where it meets the miami river by the fountains...

THAT would be an outstanding draw as there are only a couple of these courses in the western hemisphere, and the event/activity is very popular in other parts of the world. at a very minimum we would get the same kind of ooomph for our buck that eugene oregon gets for track and west allis wisconsin gets from speed skating.

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by bethere

it's been there for around a decade. i like it, others do not.

it was made by a missouri company i believe, they do all similar projects in the country for the most part. when installed the outside ring of fountains were supposed to meet in midair, that didn't happen, so the builder was forced to install a fountain in the middle for free.

now it works great, and the water is pumped from the aquifer below so no potable water gets wasted in the process.

there are plans on the table for a european style kayak rapid water course (next week when you watch the kayak event in the olympics you'll understand what i am referring to). it is surprisingly affordable and if done would be done with private money--probably on the mad river there where it meets the miami river by the fountains...

THAT would be an outstanding draw as there are only a couple of these courses in the western hemisphere, and the event/activity is very popular in other parts of the world. at a very minimum we would get the same kind of ooomph for our buck that eugene oregon gets for track and west allis wisconsin gets from speed skating.

I like the fountain and the notion of making good use of the riverfront. Unfortunately, much of the rest of the city could use a good bulldozing. On a positive note, trash was down this year in the river sweep!

[bethere]

Originally Posted by docthehun

I like the fountain and the notion of making good use of the riverfront. Unfortunately, much of the rest of the city could use a good bulldozing. On a positive note, trash was down this year in the river sweep!

did you turn over some rocks for homer? if so, what did you observe?

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by bethere

did you turn over some rocks for homer? if so, what did you observe?

I worked the banks and never set foot in the river this year. I drove one of the street department's "Gators", hauling bags, cold water, passengers and the occasional tire. I suppose the canoeists pulled about 20 tires out in the 4.5 miles we worked. That's down from the 80-100 we use to haul out five years ago.

[bethere]

Originally Posted by docthehun

I worked the banks and never set foot in the river this year. I drove one of the street department's "Gators", hauling bags, cold water, passengers and the occasional tire. I suppose the canoeists pulled about 20 tires out in the 4.5 miles we worked. That's down from the 80-100 we use to haul out five years ago.

the first time i ever did this we pulled at least a dozen shopping carts out of the river (we did this in the stretch just north of the fountains).

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by bethere

the first time i ever did this we pulled at least a dozen shopping carts out of the river (we did this in the stretch just north of the fountains).

The gals from Honda of Troy pulled one out and used it transport trash. It was in fine running order!

[bethere]

Originally Posted by docthehun

The gals from Honda of Troy pulled one out and used it transport trash. It was in fine running order!

ours all belonged to the grocery store downtown--shears--and we returned them, i think... i am such a boy scout.

[DGUtley]

I thought the fountain looked cool. I was at the Performance Center and it was very nice. Traffic was nasty. I thought downtown was nice but I saw very little of it. Settled my case -- someone got ran over at a hay ride -- and booked it north. Overall, people we came in contact with raved about the area. Really want to do AF museum

[docthehun]

Originally Posted by DGUtley

I thought the fountain looked cool. I was at the Performance Center and it was very nice. Traffic was nasty. I thought downtown was nice but I saw very little of it. Settled my case -- someone got ran over at a hay ride -- and booked it north. Overall, people we came in contact with ravedabout area. Really want to do AF museum

The Museum is worth a trip by itself. Much to see and read.