Brunswick is a Hit!

The past several months have proved to be an educational experience for me, spent exploring the sights and sounds of Brunswick, OH, the city I call my hometown.  I have learned it is true that one does not always realize what is right in front of them.  The City of Brunswick has limitless opportunities to offer all it's residents.

  Upcoming events planned by the City of Brunswick government include:

• May 8 Mother's Day, Free admission for all moms to the Recreation Center
• May 20 Spring Kick Off Concert, with the Medina County Orchestra
• May 30, Memorial Day parade
• June 19 Father's Day, Free admission for all fathers to the Recreation Center 
• June 22 - 26, Brunswick Old Fashioned Days
• June 26 Parade
• July 3 Concert and Fireworks

  Parks and Recreation Department planned activites:

• Youth - Karate, golf, soccer, softball, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, swimming and summer camp
• Adult - Softball, baseball, soccer, tennis, and swimming
• Seniors - Free lunches, exercise classes, water aerobics, line dancing, hiking, bowling, bingo, movies, book clubs, and bus trips
• After school and summer camp for children
• The Zone dance events for 6th to 8th grade teenagers

 It's time to get out the baseballs, frisbees and swimsuits.  Brunswick has a park system encompassing 20 park sites with 335 acres that are available to all city residents and their guests.

Besides all the events sponsored by the city, the private sector of Brunswick also has limitless opportunities to offer residents.

 There truly is something for everyone in the city of Brunswick, OH!

More information about the city of Brunswick, Ohio is available at http://www.brunswick.oh.us/.

Senior Scam

Seniors in the city of Brunswick are being targeted by a scam.  Police are investigating instances where seniors have been called or notified by mail that they have won a lottery.  The senior citizens are then told to mail $2,000 for expenses by Western Union to an address outside of the country.  It is difficult to prosecute crimes when currency is sent outside of the United States.  All residents of Brunswick need to be aware of scam alerts, not just senior citizens.   

Their Last Text

The City of Brunswick Division of Police is concerned about drivers who are distracted while on the road.  Studies have shown there is a 37% reduction in brain power relating to the driving activity when someone is using a cell phone while driving.  Texting while driving increases the possibility of being in an accident by 23 times more than not texting.  These odds are not worth using a cell phone at the expense of a human life. Check out the attached video produced by AT&T and provided by the Brunswick Division of Police as a public service message about texting while driving.

<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DebhWD6ljZs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dining With Ammo

Last night I stopped in for a bite to eat at a local Mexican restaurant.  While sipping on a margarita, I glanced around the room and wondered if anyone there was packing a concealed weapon.  Permitted gun owners will be able to take concealed firearms into local bars and restaurants if HB 45 legislation is passed.  Ohio's Senate recently passed legislation and now a house bill is waiting for final vote in the House.  What are legislators in our state government thinking?  Permit holders caught drinking while carrying may face a felony conviction, but that is little comfort to someone shot and lying on the floor as part of their dining experience.  Mixing alcohol and guns is absurd and it is the innocent bystanders in restaurants and bars that are going to get hurt.  There are enough fights in bars already, why add guns to the alcohol?!! 

What does everyone think?  Would you feel comfortable dining out or having a drink in a bar if you spotted a gun on the person at the table next to you?       

Courage and Persistence on a Wet Night!

"We’re gonna march in the rain and take back the night!” exclaimed program
 coordinator Amanda Roder. The group then went out and marched around
Kent campus chanting slogans and waving banners.
 Photo by Sam Verbulecz.
Despite the rain, Take Back The Night was a success on Thursday night, 4/28, at Kent State University.  This event gives victims the courage to speak out against the violence inflicted on them.  Click on the link to read more about this empowering event.

http://kentwired.com/rape-victims-take-back-the-night/

Take Back The Night is Today

 

 Take Back The Night is an international march and rally that was started in the 1970's.  The march supports survivors of sexual violence and acts as a united front against fear and violence.  The event takes place today at locations throughout the United States, including Kent State University, OH at 8:00pm.

Three-year Bachelor's Degree Programs

Lorain County Community College has a local branch in the city of Brunswick which I attend as a transient student.  I enjoy attending class at a facility near home, but changes are in the future.  Gov. John Kasich's budget will cut funding for public colleges by $8 billion.  LCCC is anticipating a $4 million cut in state funding and is looking for ways to save money.  An idea first presented in 1987 by Oberlin College appears in Kasich's budget plan that would condense a four-year bachelor's degree program into three years.  It would be interesting to know how such a plan would work.  What do you think?  Would anyone be interested in completing their college bachelor's degree in three years?         

Chocolate For All!

Brunswick Recreation Center hosted the annual visit of the Easter Bunny to the delight of the young and old at heart.  Children happily danced and sang with the bunny, while a band, played before having their picture taken with the bunny.  Face painting and an inflatable bounce house were popular activities in the gymnasium, along with other games and crafts.  Of course there was also plenty of food and chocolate on hand.

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, The International Men's March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence was recently held on college campuses, including Kent State University.  Men wore women's heels and flip-flops while women wore tennis shoes for the mile walk.  Check out the video to see the overwhelming support of the event held for the first time on Kent's campus. 

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fkentwired.com%2Fwalk-a-mile-in-her-shoes-puts-men-in-heels%2F&h=b16d4

Tim Hetherington killed today in Libya

Photojournalist Tim Hetherington was killed in Libya today when a vehicle he was riding in with three other journalists was attacked by rocket propelled grenades.  The British born 41 year old co-directed "Restrepo", an academy award nominated documentary about a platoon of U.S. solders who spent 15 months at an outpost in Afghanistan with no running water during 2007 - 2008.   Hetherington tweeted yesterday that he was in the city of Misrata where there was indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi Forces.

It has been so long since there was a time of peace in this world.  War has become more common place than a time without it.  American soldiers that are only 19 and 20 years old are fighting and dying on the other side of the world. So sad.  Enough already!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42682853/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/



Photographer Chris Hondros                     Photojournalist Tim Hetherington

Facebook Scam

Whether you are from Brunswick, Ohio or live across the country, Facebook reaches around the globe.  A woman in Santa Cruz, California answered a Facebook inquiry from a stranger who appeared to be a United States soldier in Afghanistan.  When a relationship developed between the unemployed woman and the stranger, she sent him $150 for a telephone.  The stranger told the woman how much he loved her and wanted to be with her so she wired him $500 for an administrative fee so he could visit her on military leave.  Emails were filled with military photographs, love letters, instant messages, and official looking military documents.  The woman sent an additional $1,300 to cover fees.  When she received a request for another $1,300 to pay for his airfare she realized she had been scammed.  The woman had joined a Facebook "cause" page to help soldiers get free airfare home.  Anyone had access to the woman's personal information because she had no privacy controls set on her Facebook profile.  The woman's bank account is now empty and the Santa Cruz District Attorney's Office cannot help her because  international wire transfers were used.  The woman should not feel alone since the District Attorney's Office reports that 50 to 100 people a month claim they have been scammed.

Something to think about when putting personal information online for the world to see!

Donna

Governor's proposed budget cuts funds to Brunswick

Governor John Kasich recently proposed devastating budget cuts to Ohio communities to help offset a large state budget deficit.  State revenue sharing through the Local Government Fund, which includes municipalities, townships, park districts and Ohio's 88 counties, would see a loss of almost 50% in funds.  Brunswick residents may see severe service cutbacks as a result of losing between $364,000 and $416,000 in local government funds.  Concern is growing over safety services including police, fire and ambulances that would feel the effect of stretched budgets.  Services from public health clinics, homeland security, natural disaster response, parks and recreation, the criminal justice system, and maintaining roads would all be affected. 

Governor Kasich's plan would place a huge burden on local governments and tax districts to balance the state budget deficit.   Some localities would see funding for local services cut in half.   Is this fair?  Should local governments be crippled because of the state deficit? 

What do you think?

Visit http://www.everyohioan.com/ for more information on the Local Government Fund Coalition.

Thanks,
Donna     

Manzo's

I have again confirmed there is nightlife in Brunswick by making a return trip to Manzo's, a sports bar I visited formerly to see the band Bangkok Train Wreck.  Last night I danced to the music of another local band, Renegade.  I am glad there are live bands playing in Brunswick, proof again that the sidewalks don't roll up at 9:30 on weekends. 

Until my next adventure out, take care,

Donna