Last nights Division 12 meeting was held at the Good Shepard Home in Fostoria. It was also The Fostoria Clubs 80th Anniversary. Several clubs attended, Bellevue (3), Fostoria (22), Fremont (5), Norwalk (3), Port Clinton (6), Sandusky (4), Tiffin (6), Willard (6). After Division business the speaker was Leonard Skonecki, a local Fostoria Historian. He was fantastic. He did research on the Fostoria Clubs building of Portage Park. The club started the project in 1971 and due to government agencies, grants and other hurdles was completed in 1978 and opened in 1980. The story, humor and the Fostoria Kiwanis members adding to it was interesting. The club also presented awards to some its past members. As a member of Kiwanis its always refreshing to see the difference we make coming from a different clubs perspective as each communities needs and club is unique.
I appreciate having the opportunity to take part in the celebration and I think I can speak for our club saying good luck in the future to the Fostoria club and continue on for another 80+ years!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Plan USA formerly known as Childreach
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The ARC of Erie County
Today's speaker was Don Roesch, the housing director from the ARC of Erie County. The mission of The ARC of Erie County is to work together with individuals and families affected by mental retardation and developmental disabilities by promoting an enhanced quality of life through social integration, affordable and safe housing, advocacy, and education.
(Taken directly from the ARC website http://www.orgsites.com/oh/arc/index.html )
THE ARC OF ERIE COUNTY HOUSING
Increasing Housing Options for Individuals with Disabilities
The Arc of Erie County began The Housing program in November of 2005 and it has now grown to include 11 homes which provide safe and affordable housing for over 20 individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities in Erie County.
We pride our housing program on being good neighbors in the community and maintaining our homes to high standards.
We also oversee the maintenance of 6 homes for the Huron County Board of MR/DD which provides housing to individuals in Huron County with mental retardation or developmental disabilities.
Don Roesch is the Housing Director and has been with the housing program since it began. He is responsible for all the day-to-day property operations including the supervision and maintenance of all work on the homes, managing financial activities of the properties including rent collection, expenditures, property sales and purchases and budgeting and resolving any tenants concerns. He also engages in research and information gathering, including research of available funding sources for low cost housing, reviews projects and design approaches that provide community benefits and encourages projects that create and support best practices in housing for people with disabilities.
We are also working with EHOVE who is building a 4 bedroom fully accessible house for us. We expect to complete this project before Summer 2008.
If you would like to volunteer for our housing program or if you would like our help finding the housing option that is right for you please contact us. We hope to continue to see our housing program grow.
The Arc of Erie County The Kaleidoscope Center 4405 Galloway Road Sandusky, OH 44870 419-625-9677 1-800-491-4566 Fax 419-625-3448
(Taken directly from the ARC website http://www.orgsites.com/oh/arc/index.html )
THE ARC OF ERIE COUNTY HOUSING
Increasing Housing Options for Individuals with Disabilities
The Arc of Erie County began The Housing program in November of 2005 and it has now grown to include 11 homes which provide safe and affordable housing for over 20 individuals with mental retardation or developmental disabilities in Erie County.
We pride our housing program on being good neighbors in the community and maintaining our homes to high standards.
We also oversee the maintenance of 6 homes for the Huron County Board of MR/DD which provides housing to individuals in Huron County with mental retardation or developmental disabilities.
Don Roesch is the Housing Director and has been with the housing program since it began. He is responsible for all the day-to-day property operations including the supervision and maintenance of all work on the homes, managing financial activities of the properties including rent collection, expenditures, property sales and purchases and budgeting and resolving any tenants concerns. He also engages in research and information gathering, including research of available funding sources for low cost housing, reviews projects and design approaches that provide community benefits and encourages projects that create and support best practices in housing for people with disabilities.
We are also working with EHOVE who is building a 4 bedroom fully accessible house for us. We expect to complete this project before Summer 2008.
If you would like to volunteer for our housing program or if you would like our help finding the housing option that is right for you please contact us. We hope to continue to see our housing program grow.
The Arc of Erie County The Kaleidoscope Center 4405 Galloway Road Sandusky, OH 44870 419-625-9677 1-800-491-4566 Fax 419-625-3448
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
History of the Firelands
Todays speaker was John Schaffer speaking about the history of the firelands area.
Below is an article from http://www.erie-county-ohio.net/KidsCorner/kids_firelands.htm.
The story of the Firelands of Ohio may be unique in American history in that in no other instance were civilian victims of a war compensated with land. The war was the American revolution and the land is what is now mainly Huron And Erie counties. During the American Revolution there was very little military activity in Connecticut, but the citizens were busy manufacturing goods and shipping supplies and material to the Continental Army. These actions angered the British, of course and they sent out a series of raids from New York City to destroy the supplies and cripple the shipping. The raids got out of hand and a good deal of civilian property such as private home, churches and schools were also destroyed or damaged. These people who lost property had no insurance and no federal disaster grants to help them rebuild. An example of the destruction is found in the story of Norwalk, Connecticut. It was raided July 11, 1779 and 80 of the 86 dwellings in the town were burned. Two churches, 87 barns, four mills and five vessels were also lost in that raid. The other towns raided during the war were New London, New Haven, East Haven, Greenwich, Danbury, Fairfield, Ridgefield and Groton.The 'sufferers' petition Several petitions were presented after the war to the Connecticut legislature by the citizens who lost property. They soon became known as "Sufferers." Their 1787 appeal was referred to a legislative committee which reported back in 1792 that the Sufferers ought to be paid, but the state had only western lands for compensation in lieu of cash. This western land was that part of northeast Ohio now known as the Western Reserve. Connecticut's 1662 royal charter had granted land from one ocean to the other. When the western claims of various states were settled after the American Revolution, Connecticut kept only a tract 120 miles long on the south shore of Lake Erie. A half-million acres at the west end of the Western Reserve was given to the Fire Sufferers in 1792. The claims totaled $538,495.26 in 1792 dollars and the land was allocated at a value just over $1 per acre. A major problem to be overcome was paying off the Indian tribes who owned the land and then surveying it. This took until 1808 and by then most of the Sufferers had died or had sold their claims to land speculators. Very few of the actual Fire Sufferers ever saw the Fire Sufferers Lands (a name soon shortened to Fire Lands or Firelands) in Ohio. Geographically, the Firelands is the area which is now Huron and Erie counties as well as Danbury Township in Ottawa County and Ruggles Township in Ashland County. None of the Lake Erie islands was originally included although they were later attached for judicial purposes. Johnson's Island in Sandusky Bay was a part of the half-million acres. Even before the surveying was completed in 1808 there were Americans "squatting" on the Firelands. Most of them lived along the lake shore and traded with the Indians or hunted and trapped. Frenchman John B. Flammand was operating a trading post on the river just south of Huron when the first Americans arrived and it was the only store on the Firelands.Settlement slow at first Settlement was slow before the War of 1812 due to the remoteness of the tract and the difficulties in reaching it. Some of the land speculators were holding out for high prices for their land and this discouraged settlement. When the War of 1812 broke out there was a small militia unit stationed at Fort Avery, a stockade on the Huron River north of Milan. These troops and local civilians fought a contingent of Indians on the Marblehead Peninsula in September 1812. This was the first battle of that war in Ohio and one of the few skirmishes in the state. Almost everyone left the Firelands due to the Indian threat and there were at least eight civilians murdered in raids in 1812-13. Settlement resumed quickly after the War of 1812 due to the natural westward expansion and due also to the Year Of No Summer in New England in 1816-17. This phenomenon was caused by a volcanic eruption in the Far East whose cloud of dust obliterated the sun and caused frigid conditions across the northern U.S. and Europe. As the roads improved and land prices were modified, more and more settlers arrived. Most came from New York and New England, although a few middle states residents moved to the southern tier of townships of the Firelands. There were also great migrations from Europe in the 19th Century, making the Firelands a real melting pot. The architecture and physical surroundings of these areas reflect so readily the origins of the early residents.Huron County is formed Ohio's Legislature organized the Firelands as Huron County in 1809 and attached it first to portage and Geauga counties and in 1810 to Cuyahoga. By 1815, the county's population was sufficient to establish its own government and the initial meeting of Huron County's commissioners took place Aug. 1, 1815, at the first county seat north of Milan near the site of Fort Avery. In 1818 all functions of county government were moved to Norwalk and it has been the county seat ever since. During this time the western townships of Lorain County as well as most of Sandusky and Seneca counties were attached to Huron County. As soon as those areas had sufficient population they assumed their own government functions.
Erie County is formed
When the wilderness had been tamed some people began agitating for smaller counties. In 1838 Erie County was formed by the Legislature in the northwest quadrant of the Firelands with the townships of Groton, Margaretta, Portland, Perkins, Danbury and part of Oxford. In 1840, Danbury was given to Ottawa County with Milan, Huron, Berlin, Florence and Vermilion were taken from Huron County to make Erie County the size it is today. Ruggles Township was removed from old Huron County in 1846 to help create Ashland County. Anyone wanting to learn more of the past can visit the Firelands Historical Museum 4 Case Ave., Norwalk. This is the second oldest historical society in Ohio, maintaining the second oldest museum.
Below is an article from http://www.erie-county-ohio.net/KidsCorner/kids_firelands.htm.
The story of the Firelands of Ohio may be unique in American history in that in no other instance were civilian victims of a war compensated with land. The war was the American revolution and the land is what is now mainly Huron And Erie counties. During the American Revolution there was very little military activity in Connecticut, but the citizens were busy manufacturing goods and shipping supplies and material to the Continental Army. These actions angered the British, of course and they sent out a series of raids from New York City to destroy the supplies and cripple the shipping. The raids got out of hand and a good deal of civilian property such as private home, churches and schools were also destroyed or damaged. These people who lost property had no insurance and no federal disaster grants to help them rebuild. An example of the destruction is found in the story of Norwalk, Connecticut. It was raided July 11, 1779 and 80 of the 86 dwellings in the town were burned. Two churches, 87 barns, four mills and five vessels were also lost in that raid. The other towns raided during the war were New London, New Haven, East Haven, Greenwich, Danbury, Fairfield, Ridgefield and Groton.The 'sufferers' petition Several petitions were presented after the war to the Connecticut legislature by the citizens who lost property. They soon became known as "Sufferers." Their 1787 appeal was referred to a legislative committee which reported back in 1792 that the Sufferers ought to be paid, but the state had only western lands for compensation in lieu of cash. This western land was that part of northeast Ohio now known as the Western Reserve. Connecticut's 1662 royal charter had granted land from one ocean to the other. When the western claims of various states were settled after the American Revolution, Connecticut kept only a tract 120 miles long on the south shore of Lake Erie. A half-million acres at the west end of the Western Reserve was given to the Fire Sufferers in 1792. The claims totaled $538,495.26 in 1792 dollars and the land was allocated at a value just over $1 per acre. A major problem to be overcome was paying off the Indian tribes who owned the land and then surveying it. This took until 1808 and by then most of the Sufferers had died or had sold their claims to land speculators. Very few of the actual Fire Sufferers ever saw the Fire Sufferers Lands (a name soon shortened to Fire Lands or Firelands) in Ohio. Geographically, the Firelands is the area which is now Huron and Erie counties as well as Danbury Township in Ottawa County and Ruggles Township in Ashland County. None of the Lake Erie islands was originally included although they were later attached for judicial purposes. Johnson's Island in Sandusky Bay was a part of the half-million acres. Even before the surveying was completed in 1808 there were Americans "squatting" on the Firelands. Most of them lived along the lake shore and traded with the Indians or hunted and trapped. Frenchman John B. Flammand was operating a trading post on the river just south of Huron when the first Americans arrived and it was the only store on the Firelands.Settlement slow at first Settlement was slow before the War of 1812 due to the remoteness of the tract and the difficulties in reaching it. Some of the land speculators were holding out for high prices for their land and this discouraged settlement. When the War of 1812 broke out there was a small militia unit stationed at Fort Avery, a stockade on the Huron River north of Milan. These troops and local civilians fought a contingent of Indians on the Marblehead Peninsula in September 1812. This was the first battle of that war in Ohio and one of the few skirmishes in the state. Almost everyone left the Firelands due to the Indian threat and there were at least eight civilians murdered in raids in 1812-13. Settlement resumed quickly after the War of 1812 due to the natural westward expansion and due also to the Year Of No Summer in New England in 1816-17. This phenomenon was caused by a volcanic eruption in the Far East whose cloud of dust obliterated the sun and caused frigid conditions across the northern U.S. and Europe. As the roads improved and land prices were modified, more and more settlers arrived. Most came from New York and New England, although a few middle states residents moved to the southern tier of townships of the Firelands. There were also great migrations from Europe in the 19th Century, making the Firelands a real melting pot. The architecture and physical surroundings of these areas reflect so readily the origins of the early residents.Huron County is formed Ohio's Legislature organized the Firelands as Huron County in 1809 and attached it first to portage and Geauga counties and in 1810 to Cuyahoga. By 1815, the county's population was sufficient to establish its own government and the initial meeting of Huron County's commissioners took place Aug. 1, 1815, at the first county seat north of Milan near the site of Fort Avery. In 1818 all functions of county government were moved to Norwalk and it has been the county seat ever since. During this time the western townships of Lorain County as well as most of Sandusky and Seneca counties were attached to Huron County. As soon as those areas had sufficient population they assumed their own government functions.
Erie County is formed
When the wilderness had been tamed some people began agitating for smaller counties. In 1838 Erie County was formed by the Legislature in the northwest quadrant of the Firelands with the townships of Groton, Margaretta, Portland, Perkins, Danbury and part of Oxford. In 1840, Danbury was given to Ottawa County with Milan, Huron, Berlin, Florence and Vermilion were taken from Huron County to make Erie County the size it is today. Ruggles Township was removed from old Huron County in 1846 to help create Ashland County. Anyone wanting to learn more of the past can visit the Firelands Historical Museum 4 Case Ave., Norwalk. This is the second oldest historical society in Ohio, maintaining the second oldest museum.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Wild Hogs arrive for Highway Cleanup
What better way to help keep our community and environment than a highway cleanup? Saturday June 7th was our first highway cleanup of the year. The Kiwanis Club of Sandusky is responsible for a stretch of US 250 from the Rex TV to Kalahari. Several of our members spent the morning making sure that tourists coming to Cedar Point and Bikers coming for Ohio Bike week entered Sandusky with clean roads. Many "special items were found" From wigs to boxes of light bulbs. Several members have also found cash on occasion! If you are interested in more details of highway cleanup and all of the other service projects the Kiwanis Club of Sandusky does please visit our main site at www.sanduskykwianis.org.
Larry Windau arrives in style for this years first Highway Cleanup.
Larry Windau arrives in style for this years first Highway Cleanup.
Adventures in Friendship summer fun
Ed Feick at Sandusky Yacht Club where he treated three international friends to dinner. Left to right: Nguc Huang from Viet Nam, Ed Feick, Lirong "May" Hu, China, and FeiFei "Lydia" Lu, China. The girls all work and live at Cedar Point for the summer.
The adventures in friendship program is going well. For more information or to participate in this program please visit our main site at www.sanduskykiwanis.org.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Adventures in Friendship
Left to right (Mary Baughman, Lu Feifei "Lydia", Hu Lirong "May", Joe Baughman.) May 30th: standing on the dock at ODNR, foot of Hancock Street, Sandusky. The girls both attend school in Singapore and are working and living at Cedar Point.
Imagine if your child went around the world for a summer. Wouldn't you want someone to be there for them if the need arose and they needed a friend? In the summertime many foreign students come to the Erie County area to work. Most lack basic transportation, their friends are few, they're in a strange place and their American "experience" is usually limited to work. Some find themselves trying to retain up to 3 seasonal type jobs just to make ends meet. They can become lonely and discouraged - often returning home with a less than favorable image of what life is like in the United States. Many foreign students working in Erie County in the summertime never meet Americans outside of their workplace. Typically they never get the opportunity to enter an American home or experience general hospitality. Sometimes their pay is stolen. Many students are unfamiliar with how banks, stores, and local law enforcement work. Sometimes they experience small problems which would otherwise be no problem for Americans familiar with the area.
This is one of the many programs the Kiwanis Club of Sandusky sponsors. If you want to participate in the Adventures in Friendship program an application is available on our site. Please visit our main site for more information. http://www.sanduskykiwanis.org/.
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