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Questions raised on senior levy need in Oregon
November 4, 2013
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By Kelly J. Kaczala and Melissa A. Burden
Fewer funds Marquette, who also chairs the Oregon Citizens Supporting Senior Services prolevy group, said the senior center needs its own levy because the AOoA is providing fewer funds to support current programs the center offers, such as Bingo, Euchre,
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uote of The Week
Reading is the least expensive, most effective skill that can help your child develop.
John Szozda See page 10
Les Misérables Oregon Community Theatre will present the musical Les Misérables November 8,9,15 and 16 at 7:30pm and November 10 at 3pm. Performances will be at the Fassett Middle School auditorium. Pictured in rehearsal, bottom left, is Mark Owen as Jean Valjean. Center photo, Glen Ackerman and Ron Davis, and bottom right, Austin Morrin. See The Press Entertainment Section for more information. (Press photos by Ken Grosjean)
Great Lakes museum set to open next spring By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com When the National Museum of the Great Lakes opens next spring, it could be the catalyst needed for the Marina District’s 127 acre development. The $12.8 million museum, currently under renovation at its Maumee River front location next to the Toledo Maritime Center and the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship, was brought to Toledo by the Great Lakes Historical Society. “There are very few museums in the world that can actually legitimately claim to be an economic development asset of massive significance,” said historical society executive director Christopher H. Gillcrist. “I think we’re one small piece of the puzzle that can help this area redevelop and that’s what we hope to do.” Paul LaMarre III, director of the Monroe (Mich.) port, added, “You can see it taking shape as a true destination. You see
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I think we’re one small piece of the puzzle that can help this area redevelop and that’s what we hope to do.
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Officials from the James “Wes” Hancock Senior Center in Oregon rejected the possibility of getting $250,000 from the Area Office on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc., (AOoA) to expand operations. Instead, they opted to get the center’s own levy on the ballot on Tuesday. Oregon City Administrator Mike Beazley met with Billie Johnson, president and CEO of the AOoA earlier this year to discuss the possibility of getting funding from the agency for expanded operations at the center. Oregon was planning to spend $750,000 to expand the senior facility on Bayshore Road, but would not be providing funds for enhanced services Johnson told Beazley she would ask the Lucas County Citizens Levy Review Committee, whose members are appointed by the Lucas County Commissioners, to earmark $250,000 for operations at the senior center if voters renewed the Lucas County Senior Services levy next year. The committee reviews the AOoA’s proposed use of levy funding. “I have to take my whole budget to a levy review committee,” Johnson explained to The Press. “There’s a lot of hoops you have to jump through, but we were willing to do that because if the city was going to come up with close to $1 million for the senior center, the least we could do was use some of the levy resources that the citizens have passed to help operate the facility.” Her proposal, though, was shot down by Bob Marquette, president of the senior center, and Bob Benton, a director of the board, according to Beazley. Instead, they asked Oregon City Council to put a 0.5mill, five year operating levy on the Nov. 5 ballot, which council approved. If passed, the levy would bring in $207,000 in annual revenue for the center.
the Jet Express parked outside (during an open house Tuesday) — this is the type of development that is needed to draw a ferry service like the Jet Express, or others, to the location. “It brings together multiple preservation assets, or attractions that will create something greater that will be something sustainable. So many preservation historical agencies struggle and struggle in today’s
fast-paced technological society to create partnerships and create a larger attraction, which is extremely valuable,” LaMarre continued. A feasibility study commissioned by the historical society and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority found that between 41,000 and 60,000 visitors will visit the museum annually. At a combined admission and per visitor store purchase figure of $12.50 per person, 41,000 visitors would generate about $500,000 annually for its operations. Total annual revenue, including membership, endowment and charitable giving, and grants are estimated at $1.225 million with expenses estimated at $1.075. That includes labor costs of $475,000, administrative costs of $100,000, plus advertising, programming, ship maintenance, occupancy, and cost of goods sold. The National Museum plans to use original artifacts and images coordinated with both low-tech and high-tech inter-
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