Perrysburg Main Street President Mike Liebenthal welcomes new executive director Carolyn Walton to the downtown organization. “I am excited about this Main Street opportunity. It allows me to give back to the charming, historic downtown which originally drew my husband and me to Perrysburg 16 years ago,” said Mrs. Walton.

Perrysburg Main Street, Inc. hires new executive director
The Perrysburg Main Street board of directors recently announced the appointment of Carolyn Walton as its new executive director.
A Perrysburg resident, Mrs. Walton holds a bachelor’s degree in both communications and sociology from the University of Toledo.
“Carolyn comes to us with deep roots in the community. She has been active with the Perrysburg school system, YMCA and St. Rose Church,” said Mike Liebenthal, president of Perrysburg Main Street, Inc. (PMSI). “We are extremely pleased to welcome her to the organization.”
Along with Mr. Liebenthal (LPL Financial), executive officers includes Pat Bidwell (Kingston Residence of Perrysburg), secretary, and Kathleen Jones (Jones & Company), treasurer and past president.

Board recognizes Melanie Mills for her artwork
School board slows down plan for Commodore renovations
By Deb Buker
At its January meeting, the Perrysburg Board of Education voted to approve an addendum to a contract with Duket Porter Associates for architectural and design services for phase II of the Commodore Building.
The board unanimously approved a $40,000 architectural fee which is based on 8 percent of the project construction budget, estimated at $500,000.
However, the district has decided to slow down the project, which in turn will lower the cost of the architectural fee.
“We have decided to slow this project down quite a bit just because of our current funding issues,” said district treasurer Matt Feasel. “We are going to keep things moving forward in terms of the renovations but at a much slower pace–just not at $500,000 per year. If we can use some of the tax abatement money to keep people employed, we are going to do that.”

Congressman Latta responds to State of the Union address
U.S. Congressman Bob Latta made the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address last week.
“Instead of focusing on creating jobs and putting Americans back to work in 2009, President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid chose to focus their attention on a $1 trillion health care bill, cap and trade legislation, which would be the largest energy tax levied against American families and business alike, a $1 trillion ‘stimulus package,’ and billions of dollars in bailouts.
“It is clear that last month’s special election in Massachusetts was a rejection of this administration’s legislative agenda, creating a wake-up call to address the most important issue facing our nation–unemployment and the need for real job creation. The President can no longer ignore Ohio’s 10.9 percent, and the nation’s 10 percent, unemployment rate as he did for most of his first year in office. Swift action is needed as this tailspin of job loss continues with no relief in sight.
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State Rep. Gardner backs repeal of driver’s license late fine
Ohio State Representative Randy Gardner last week co-sponsored legislation to repeal the new $20 late fee penalty on drivers’ licenses and license plate renewals.
The fee was proposed by Governor Ted Strickland last year and enacted by the Ohio General Assembly in the state transportation budget bill. Representative Gardner voted no on the bill.
“Many people view this penalty as excessive and not the appropriate way for government to raise revenue,” the representative said.
The penalty went into effect in October, with more than 320,000 Ohioans forced to pay the fine. Anyone more than seven days late in renewing a driver’s license or vehicle registration must pay the penalty.
“This penalty should have never been passed in the first place,” said Representative Gardner. “Just because it’s the law today doesn’t mean we shouldn’t end it. That’s what our bill will do.”
Even though the fine was Governor Strickland’s idea, Representative Gardner said he is pleased that its repeal is beginning to gain bipartisan support.
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Owens Community College opens $2.6 million Founders Hall in January
lege kicked off the new year and spring semester with the opening of Founders Hall on the former campus of Penta Career Center.
The 29,045-square-foot Founders Hall, renovated at a cost of $2.6 million, opened on January 7.
Situated on the south end of the campus, the hall features an open-air atrium with skylight, instructional classrooms, computer classrooms, a computer laboratory, three interactive learning labs, four conference rooms, 65 offices, wireless Internet access, employees’ lounge, snack bar and restroom facilities.
Founders Hall serves as the new home for the departments of English, social and behavioral sciences, communications, humanities and languages, and is the location of the dean for the school of arts and sciences.
Dr. Renay Scott, interim provost, described the hall as a “welcome addition to the campus community.”
She noted that the facility has helped free up other areas on campus. “We literally used every space last fall,” she said.
The additional classroom space also has allowed the college to offer more courses at a time frame that is in most demand by students.

Community invited to global summit Thursday evening
It is a chance to take a trip around the world without leaving Perrysburg.
The Global Understand-ing Summit will be held Thursday, February 4, from 5 to 9 p.m., at Perrysburg Junior High School. The Perrysburg Global Initiative, with funding by the Ohio Department of Education and the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, is sponsoring this free event. Students, families and community members of all ages will be able to experience mutliculturalism in Perrysburg with informational business and career booths, music and dance, international Skyping, ethnic food, a flag parade, and art and other hands-on activities. Door prizes will be raffled off throughout the evening, including gift certificates to Poco Piatti and Tea Tree Asian Bistro.
The Perrysburg Global Initiative is presenting the Global Understanding Summit as a venue that educates, encourages, respects, accepts and celebrates diversity in the Perrysburg community.
More than 32 organizations and individuals are taking part in the Global Summit and will provide displays and activities during the evening, including American Cultural Services (ACES); Center for Slavic and Eastern European Studies at OSU; the African Peoples Association; Islamic Center of Greater Toledo; Toledo Sister Cities International Festival; Toledo-Szeged Committee; University of Toledo Confucius Institute; UT Office of Global Initiatives; Project Learning Around the World; United Way Conexion Latina; Chinese Association of Greater Toledo; Ballet Folklorico Imagenes Mexicanas and many more.
Helping to lead the effort are Representative Ron Amstutz of Orrville and Representative Sandra Harwood of Niles. The bill is expected to be formally introduced this week in the House of Representatives.
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