Clark County residents are debating the future of the former Snyder Park golf course and their ideas on how to re-use the space in one of the oldest and largest parks in Springfield have ranged from an educational center to international gardens.

Local officials see the former golf course as an anchor that can tie many of the regions recreational assets together in the long run, said Pam Bennett, OSU Extension director.

The National Trail Parks and Recreation District is seeking input on what to do with the site, including holding meetings with residents and key stakeholders last week.

Much of those discussions focused on the potential of a roughly five-acre area near the former clubhouse. The Ohio State University Extension and Master Gardeners of Clark County plan to move their horticulture education gardens to the site from the current location on Gateway Boulevard, Bennett said.

The gardens on Gateway Boulevard already draw more than 1,500 people on guided tours to the site and have contributed about $4 million in economic impact since the late 1990s, Bennett said.

The five-acre area, which will be maintained by the Master Gardeners, will be manicured and ideally will eventually offer a variety of activities to draw residents from all over the region to the park, she said.

Were going to have a beautiful, pastoral site to host our gardens, Bennett said.

The golf course closed earlier this year as National Trail sought to make its golf operations financially sound.

Residents have suggested new uses for the area ranging from maintaining a single hole of golf at the site to nature trails to gardens featuring traditional farming methods from the 1700s. Several residents on hand also asked that the site be accessible for residents with disabilities, as well as offer items like park benches and gazebos for shade and rest.

Other suggestions included a beer garden, cooking classes, an educational center or meditation area.

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Ideas debated for re-use of Snyder Park golf course in Springfield

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Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill addresses the Think-A-Thon, an Oct. 11 brainstorming event for a more vibrant and walkable Route 1, sponsored by the Center for Synergy at UMDs College of Arts and Humaninties, at the College Park Community Center.

College Park residents and students at the citys University of Maryland gathered Saturday to brainstorm a more pedestrian-friendly U.S. Route 1 with music-filled gazebos, tree lined-sidewalks and a grocery store.

The Think-A-Thon meeting at the College Park Community Center yielded outlines, sketches, lists and a lot of notes as about 60 people among them university staff and elected officials sat down to find creative solutions to the challenges of Route 1.

In their discussions, attendees tried to address challenges such as too much traffic and a lack of independently-owned businesses, and tried to reimagine Route 1 as a space with more aesthetically-pleasing architecture, spaces for people to linger, art and music.

The event, organized by the Center for Synergy at the universitys college of Arts & Humanities, is modeled on previous Think-A-Thons held in Baltimore.

The core idea is how to use the strategies and theories of the arts and humanities to address cultural and social problems, said Sheri Parks, director of the Center for Synergy. When you talk about arts and culture, its a very easy way to enter dangerous spaces.

Parks said organizers framed the discussion early on by asking attendees to consider the roles of arts and culture in the redesign of Route 1. Once the different stakeholders began the discussion, she said they brought up other issues crime, family life, business development and food but the conversation focused on solutions rather than problems.

Route 1 needs to focus more on pedestrians...the streetscape. Trees would be nice, said Liesl Koch of College Park. Maybe if we started calling Route 1 Baltimore Avenue maybe it would create a momentum of its own.

Koch said the reason for her suggestion is the word avenue implies a more walkable space rather than a cut-through for motorists.

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College Park residents, UM students reimagine Route 1 -- Gazette.Net

WICKFORDS new market will officially open for business this weekend.

Almost 30 stallholders will display their goods in the newly-created Market Lane in the re-paved High Street following a 700,000 revamp.

Brightly-coloured gazebos are set to bring in visitors to take a look at the wide range of products on offer, including fresh fish, toys, pet supplies, shoes, bags and leather goods, plants and flowers, clothes and fruit and vegetables.

Three semi-permanent kiosks, which house a barber shop, florist and cafe, opened up two weeks ago, before the official opening.

Basildon Council is also hoping to sign up speciality fresh bread and cake traders to man further stalls, which are expected to open in the near future.

The current traders are moving from the old location, in Market Road, as part of the councils Wickford town centre regeneration project, which includes a new town square and high street refurbishments designed to boost the town.

Phil Turner, leader of Basildon Council, said: The market is another important development for Wickford residents, helping to develop the town as a vibrant centre of our community.

It comes alongside further investment weve made in new shop fronts, public conveniences and swimming and fitness facilities.

Market Lane, which has been given stylish iron entrance arches, street lighting, new paving and tree planters, will open from 9am until 4pm every Saturday, Tuesday and Friday.

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Colourful new market to bring crowds to Wickford

PORT ELGIN-

Neglect of the Port Elgin beach is costing the town touristsm dollars, according to life-long resident Wayne McGrath, who was not impressed with the answers he received when he raised the issue at the all candidates meeting Oct. 9.

"It is a sad state of affairs. The neglect is unbelievable.. and this summer was the worst in the last few years," McGrath said after the meeting, adding that none of the candidates actually answered his question about when remedial maintenance work would be done on the beach.

"It has been four years since the Port Elgin and Saugeen Township Beachers' Organization first brought it's concern to council," McGrath said on Monday.

"Senior administration, for whatever their reason, they don't see the value of the beach,"he said, adding they

"ignore" the concerns, not understanding that without the beach, there would be no tourism.

McGrath said the beachers' association has repeatedly tried to draw attention to a "long, long list of everyday maintenance problems" including dirty washrooms, weed-infested beaches, worn benches, litter and aging gazebos that need repainting.

The question was directed to the Port Elgin Ward candidates, including Corrina Serda who said the "Port Elgin beach is one of our greatest assets and we need to treat it as such, because it brings a lot of tourists to our town...," she said, adding if elected, she'd "push" the issue with staff.

Candidate John Rich said they are in the early stages of waterfront re-development process, although the first three plans were "not overly inspiring."

"We have to improve the facilities down there because it is a beacon...we have to improve the facilities and we have to make sure that area is a customer service focussed area..." Rich said.

Originally posted here:
Beach neglect costing tourism dollars ratepayer alleges

Bill Ryan/The Gazette

Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill addresses the Think-A-Thon, an Oct. 11 brainstorming event for a more vibrant and walkable Route 1, sponsored by the Center for Synergy at UMDs College of Arts and Humaninties, at the College Park Community Center.

College Park residents and students at the citys University of Maryland gathered Saturday to brainstorm a more pedestrian-friendly U.S. Route 1 with music-filled gazebos, tree lined-sidewalks and a grocery store.

The Think-A-Thon meeting at the College Park Community Center yielded outlines, sketches, lists and a lot of notes as about 60 people among them university staff and elected officials sat down to find creative solutions to the challenges of Route 1.

In their discussions, attendees tried to address challenges such as too much traffic and a lack of independently-owned businesses, and tried to reimagine Route 1 as a space with more aesthetically-pleasing architecture, spaces for people to linger, art and music.

The event, organized by the Center for Synergy at the universitys college of Arts & Humanities, is modeled on previous Think-A-Thons held in Baltimore.

The core idea is how to use the strategies and theories of the arts and humanities to address cultural and social problems, said Sheri Parks, director of the Center for Synergy. When you talk about arts and culture, its a very easy way to enter dangerous spaces.

Parks said organizers framed the discussion early on by asking attendees to consider the roles of arts and culture in the redesign of Route 1. Once the different stakeholders began the discussion, she said they brought up other issues crime, family life, business development and food but the conversation focused on solutions rather than problems.

Route 1 needs to focus more on pedestrians...the streetscape. Trees would be nice, said Liesl Koch of College Park. Maybe if we started calling Route 1 Baltimore Avenue maybe it would create a momentum of its own.

Koch said the reason for her suggestion is the word avenue implies a more walkable space rather than a cut-through for motorists.

Read the original post:
College Park residents, UM students reimagine Route 1

After more than two hours of testimony from Monroeville administrators, residents and representatives from the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, council voted unanimously to table any action regarding the temples conditional use applications.

Councilman Jim Johns recused himself from the vote.

Monroeville Solicitor Bruce Dice said council must act on the matter within 45 days.

Councilman Rob Harvey made the motion to table to take advantage of the time to analyze the information we received tonight.

The Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple has requested conditional use approval to cut and fill nearly 25,000 cubic yards of earth near its current location along Abers Creek Road.

The Hindu temple wants to construct a 13,410 square-foot, two-story building; a 1,466 square-foot addition; and a 264 square-foot connecting wing along with four gazebos. The addition would consist of new worship facilities, an office, meditation areas and a kitchen.

Tom Ayoob, attorney for the temple, stated at the hearing that the municipalitys zoning ordinance allows as a conditional use a church and school, as well as major excavation. He added that the municipalitys planning commission recommended approval with conditions.

Raghu Malyala, secretary for the temple, said the additions would help accommodate our growing congregation as well as host community events and other activities not possible at the current facility.

The temple also is asking to consolidate four plots of land into one, new 36.6-acre parcel.

The municipality cited steep slopes as constraints to development.

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Monroeville council tables action on Hindu temple's request

Many regard the wearing of a Native American headdress as a fashion accessory deeply offensive(Getty)

Glastonbury Festival will no longer sell Native American headdresses at the event following an appeal.

An online petition was set up calling for the world famous festival to stop selling the headdresses as a fashion accessory over complaints they are an "offensive and disrespectful" form of cultural appropriation that perpetuates "damaging and archaic" racist stereotypes.

The Change.orgpetition, set up by Daniel Round from Stourbridge, attracted just 65 signatures but appears to have done enough to sway the festival organisers.

Writing on the petition's page, Round said he has spoken privately with someone from the festival who informed him Native American headdresses will no longer be sold at Glastonbury stalls.

He said: "Although it is only one UK festival, I hope that if we spread the news of Glastonbury's decision online, positive discussions about the stereotyping of Native Americans and the headdress will grow in the UK and elsewhere."

On the festival's trader information page, Native American headdresses have been added to the list of products and services which cannot be sold at Glastonbury without authorisation, along with alcohol, cigarettes, candle flares, mobile phone changing, flags, and gazebos.

However, a spokesperson for the festival told IBTimes UKthat the story has been "blown out of proportion" and the removal of Native American headdresses is merely down to compliance with the festival's trading standards.

"The wording on our guidelines is very clear," he said. "There are a broad range issues to consider for anyone who applies to be a market trader, such as safety, before we decide if the product is appropriate to sell.

"We have guidelines about what we consider ethical and it is important to show there is an ideology behind our decisions and that it is not just a first come first serve basis.

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Glastonbury 2015: Festival Bans Sale of 'Racist' Native American Headdress

About 480 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions will take part in Eco Expo Asia and the Building and Hardware Fair with both events paying keen attention to more environmentally friendly building techniques and materials. The Building and Hardware Fair will also be open to the public for the first time on the last day.

Eco Expo

Eco Expo Asia is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, and co-organised by the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Eco Expo Asia is comprised of four themed days: "Global Green Initiatives", "Waste Management & Recycling", "Green Building, Energy Efficiency & Energy" and "Green Living". There will be a variety of special events and conferences related to the theme of each day. Major events taking place during Eco Expo Asia include the Eco Asia Conference running 29-31 October.

Going Green

Three types of environment-friendly vehicles will be on display during the Expo, including a car, a truck and a bus. Carmaker BMW is showcasing its BMW i3 electric car which promises sheer driving pleasure with zero emissions. It features lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic and an advanced electric drive system. The electric bus is produced by Green Dynamic Electric Vehicle Ltd in collaboration with the Hong Kong Productivity Council, making it the first local Hong Kong-brand of electric bus. The truck is a Hino 300 Hybrid Series which includes new features to boost fuel efficiency and ensure safe and smooth performance.

Creative Solutions

Creative solutions for green living on display at the fair include the Household Foodwaste Processing System which can be installed under the sink and decomposes food waste to be discharged through the sewage system. Also on show is Enevo ONe, which is a wireless sensor to detect how full waste containers are.

Building Better

This ninth edition of the Hong Kong International Building and Hardware Fair has been expanded this year to cover four days (29 Oct-1 Nov). The event includes companies from Portugal and Turkey participating for the first time. A total of 14 exhibitors from Huzhou, Zhejiang province of the Chinese mainland, will participate in the Huzhou Pavilion to showcase their latest green building materials and decorations.

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Eco Expo