Local
Part One
It should surprise no one that in 21st century United States, young children’s learning to read is a landmine within academic capitalism where sales profits trump diverse children’s basic learning and equitable, humane bases for their futures. Unknowledgeable governors and politicians weigh in, confusing the public and offending teachers. Recent articles and essays in national and local media overflow with this, as the References show.
Today, with more force than usual across states and cities, the episodic “reading wars” erupt with passion and ignorance, and large financial stakes. At their oversimplified base, the “reading wars” pit one of a number of different forms of “phonics” against various forms of “phonetics.”
It is rarely noted that the issues are at least two hundred years, not two decades old, and that they have to do with much more than different ways of teaching children to read—and less often mentioned, write, spell, and do arithmetic.
With a handgun strapped to his belt, the owner of what was once a Far West Side farm points a chubby finger to a nearby retention pond in a small and mostly forgotten City of Columbus park. “There was once an old stone church there. Presbyterian,” says the mustached man from under his ball cap.
The church was demolished for the pond when a large apartment complex went up next door in 2001. The City turned the church’s former property into Clover Park, and near the pond’s banks is a cemetery where some of the dead perished in the Civil War fighting for the Union. They had to be Presbyterian.
“At least the City kept the bodies,” says “Brett” who wished to remain anonymous. His property, with a 100-year-old farmhouse and barn intact, is close to Clover Park.
Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Hear from several active Move to Amend Ohio leaders. Ask questions. Get pumped to Take Action.
What is State Issue 1? Why would make it harder to challenge corporate rule? What you can do to Take Action to help others to Vote NO on August 8 (early registration begins July 11).
More information and registration here.
I entered Souls of Mischief’s 30th Anniversary of “93 Til Infinity” tour Saturday night at the A + R Bar. I took the 1 from On Tap at Bethel Center into the A+R Bar’s Downtown walking vicinity.
While pregaming off Bethel Road, I recommended Billy Woods’ new album while at the On Tap bar which was added into a friend’s phone upon recommendation. I said, “Billy Woods is Def Jux meets Earl Sweatshirt.”
After On tap, I ate Fresco Taco Bell off Kenny Rd. A food eater turns veggie items vegan at Taco Bell with their Fresco button. Fresco replaces many non-vegan ingredients with tomatoes.
I bumped Alchemist ft. Earl Sweatshirt, and Billy Woods with my Beats while looking at our city from a bus. Alchemist’s “RIP Tracy” song ain’t on the Billy Woods album. You can bump various songs from a cellphone.
At the door, I set my Futura lanyard, Beats, Iphone, and wallet in a tray. I didn’t have anything which set the alarm off.
The room was filled with people who like rap songs.
When Andy Ginther’s office was asked by WSYX TV on July 3 to respond to the deplorable conditions of the new Greyhound bus terminal on North Wilson Road, his office stated, “Greyhound is private property and that issues should be brought to the Greyhound company.”
That statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Officials of Ginther’s Development Department signed off on a Zoning Clearance and allowed this facility to open and operate without plumbing, one trash receptacle, improper maneuverability for buses, no lockers for passengers’ baggage, vending machines and no on-site security.
Amazon Prime Day is Tuesday, July 11th (TODAY!) & Wednesday, July 12th. Why not use this opportunity to help homeless and marginally housed men, women and children we serve?
Save Ohio Parks is a group of volunteer grassroots citizens in Ohio concerned about fracking in our state parks, forests, wildlife areas, and other public lands. This year Gov. DeWine signed a law kickstarting fracking in our public lands. So far oil and gas companies have applied to frack two of our state parks (Salt Fork and Wolf Run), and two of our wildlife areas (Valley Run and Zepernick). Additional applications are submitted every week. Save Ohio Parks has formed to push back on this. Our public lands are supposed to be protected spaces for people and wildlife. They are not meant to be exploited by extractive industries. The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission is now taking public comments on these fracking applications:
Salt Fork State Park: bit.ly/nofracksaltfork
Sunday, July 9, 12noon
We are back with the second season of OTE Art Walk Sunday's in Olde Towne East! Visit 700bryden.com/ote-art-walk
Also
Sunday, Oct 15th 2023
Sunday, Nov 12th 2023
The OTE Art Walk is a monthly neighborhood event established by the creative community in collaboration with 700 Bryden. Each month our festival day takes place along Parsons Ave in Olde Towne East.
Join us this year for an EXPANDED Art Walk experience featuring food and drink, Land Grant beer, live music and live art, performances, 60+ local vendors, local businesses, food trucks, shopping & more!
One. Never hesitating to get her name into print or what passes for City communications, councilor Barroso de Padillo subsidizes five e-bike sellers (Beechwold Bicycles, Franklinton Cycle Works, Johnny Velo Bikes, Orbit City Bikes, Paradise Garage) with public dollar handouts to private citizens for discounts on e-bike purchase.
The subsidy to the bike stores amounts to the City spending $250,000 for 100-150 residents. The handouts go to any household with an income of less than $150,000, far out of line with housing and other social assistance. This is capitalist socialism.
Readers: do the simple division of public subsidy to private interests for yourselves. Does this make economic sense for the public?
No mention is made that unlike its peer cities, Columbus’ own safe bicycle lanes system remains dramatically incomplete and unmaintained. Snow removal trucks fill the bike lanes. In the Columbus Way, the lanes stop and start at the behest of private businesses.
Saturday, July 8, 6:30-11pm, 1710 Dorsetshire Rd.
We will be meeting in person at the home of Pat Marida, 1710 Dorsetshire Rd.
Everyone is welcome!
Live music! Hear the fabulous Free Press musicians.
Speakers will update us on aspects of the 9,198-page Ohio budget.
Bring along a chair; food and drink are welcome. We will have pizza, soup, iced tea, and coffee.
Rain or shine; party indoors or out.
Hosted by The Columbus Free Press.