Local
Lost in the aftermath of American Electric Power’s decision to cut power to tens-of-thousands is the lingering whispers amongst some weather experts that Columbus may have witnessed its hottest moment in its history during the afternoon of June 15th.
It’s debatable whether that fateful day was the hottest ever, but when considering how high the humidity was, it’s an argument for the ages, or in the forthcoming weeks, depending on when the next heatwave hits.
Nevertheless, welcome to what others are saying is just a taste of what it’s like to be a climate change refugee in Central Ohio. Don’t forget that AEP’s intentional blackout was partially due to 75 miles-per-hour wind gusts on June 14th which knocked out transmission lines.
During the afternoon of June 15th, the heat index in Columbus – defined as “what the temperature feels like” – reached 115 degrees, according to the NWS in Wilmington. There have been only two higher hourly heat index values over 115 degrees since 1945 – in July of 1995 (117 degrees) and July of 1980 (116 degrees).
I call for 19th-century urban reforms and an early 20th-century Progressive Era for Columbus, Ohio in 2022.
Columbus clamors for an unimaginable future alternatively as the Columbus Way or Opportunity City. But it has no sense of its past or even its present. If I turn to allegory for the city’s failing infrastructure, this is like building a 32-story skyscraper beside the historic North Market (once the home of city offices) or the ludicrously named Junto Hotel on the banks of the Scioto River without a foundation. Or, to turn to another relevant ecological metaphor, the City engages in slash-and-burn agriculture with no replanting.
We may combine these threads into a plea for sustained attention to the missing contexts of the city’s human and natural ecologies. We may then follow their intersections into the makings and breakings of the lives and the life chances of differently-situated Columbus residents.
Now through August 31, 2022"
Now through August 31, 2022"
The Columbus Black Theatre Festival (CBTF) celebrates its 10th Anniversary this July 9th and 10th in Central Ohio. The theme this year is Speaking Truth That Heals. Mine 4 God Productions (M4GP) kicks off our tenth year of bringing the Columbus Black Theatre Festival (CBTF) to Central Ohio with a free Anniversary Recognition & Celebration event held this July 9th at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Auditorium, from 1:30 to 3:30 PM.
The CBTF is produced by Mine 4 God Productions and has brought playwrights and actors from around the world to Columbus, Ohio for the past ten years. This year the festival is sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Wild Goose Creative and Lady Butterflies-Ohio.
Monday, July 4, 5:15-6pm, Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St.
Dan Dougan and His Little Brother’s will play from 5:15pm to 6pm on the Goodale Park Gazebo Stage on Monday, July 4 at the Doo Dah Music Fest and Parade!
• Great live music 11am-7pm
• Adult beverages
• Free entry for all!
Band: Dan Dougan on vocals, Ro-z Mendelson on guitar, Chris Cox on drums, and Bob Ray Starker on sax
Read “Little Brother’s, big shoes” in the 6-28-2017 issue of Columbus Monthly.
The Doo Dah Parade steps off at 1pm.
Hosted by Doo Dah Parade.
July 3 & 17, 4-6pm
Bronzeville Community Park, 199 Hamilton Ave.
Free admission, all are welcome!
Hosted by Bronzeville Neighborhood Association, featuring Transit Arts
Monday, July 4, 12noon, Goodale Park, 120 W. Goodale St.
Join fellow vegans as part of the Doo Dah Parade on Monday, July 4, beginning at 12noon; the parade kicks off at 1pm.
“Celebrate Liberty and Lunacy with off the wall range of mischievous grounded superheroes, political debacles, homegrown satirists, and the other bohemian frolickers winding through the Short North.” This is a great time for vegans to come together and to be provocative, zany, and leave an impression that folks won’t forget.
We will need signs . . . all positive vegan statements please. Here are some suggestions . . . “Kale Yeah!,” dressing like zombies with signs and sounds of “Grains, Grains!,” “Tofu: the Other White ‘Meat’,” or a blue Facebook sign that reads, “Vegan . . . 70 Billion Animals Like This!”
If you have any ideas, please post in the comments.
We will be making our final decision of what to create by June 21. An example would be us dressed as non-human animals with a human kabob. Doesn’t have to be that wild, but you get the idea. We hope that you can join us!
Monday, July 4 at 11 am.
Show your support for Fair Maps, voters, and democracy!
Fair Districts is joining with Common Cause Ohio, the local League of Women Voters, and other pro-democracy groups to pass out voter education materials, including information about the August 2 primary, and make a statement with our pro-voter and pro-democracy shirts. There will be candy to give the kids as well, of course!
Comfest returned this year. Comfest celebrated a 50 year anniversary last weekend.
Comfest began in 1972 as a community concert founded with a group of political activists, artists, craftspeople, local business owners, musicians, and plenty of dreamers near 16th avenue off the Ohio State Campus.
Our Columbus Free Press was amongst the founders of Comfest.
Comfest’s principal goal aims for elimination of prejudice against people on the basis of age, class, ability, income, race, sex and sexual preference/orientation.
In 1983 Comfest relocated to Goodale Park in the Short North.
I know I like freedom, justice, and equality, and outdoor drinking.
Last year, Comfest existed virtually last year because of COVID.
It was really weird thinking about the fact all of Columbus wouldn’t drink together in 2021.
Everyone was stuck inside.
Last weekend, I looked at the Comfest program guide as 2022’s Comfest returned to the Short North.
I didn’t know which music group I would watch but I knew I would find vegan food.
The necessity of food insured this.
I took the number 1.