Neighborhoodr : Athens, Ohio

NAthens, Ohio

Number of homeless children on the rise in Athens, across Ohio

The number of homeless students attending Ohio public schools climbed to 21,000 during the 2010-11 school year, according to a report by the Ohio Department of Education, an increase of more than 2,000 students from the previous school year.

As homelessness rates in Ohio and Athens County continue to climb, particularly among school-age children, its traditional criteria no longer apply, said Patrick Gallaway, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Education.

“It is important to note that the term ‘homeless’ may mean many things. It is not always someone living without any type of shelter. The numbers can include families who may be doubled up with another family, or living in a motel, hotel or shelter,” Gallaway said.

Owner of Fort St. boulder perch offers to give it to city

The Athens man who owns a ridgetop from which a huge boulder rolled down last month, smashing a local family’s car and garage, has offered to give part of his property to the city of Athens, to allow the city to take action to try to avoid future rock slips.

City Service/Safety Director Paula Horan Moseley confirmed via e-mail last week that site owner Michael A. Weiser, of Fairview Avenue in Athens, “has approached me to inquire if the city would be willing to accept a portion of his property for mitigation efforts. Preliminary internal discussions have begun and City Council will be advised of the initial inquiry.”

Weiser said Sunday that he would like to give the city the part of his land that includes the ridgetop along Fort Street, both to get a problematic piece of property off his hands, and to clear the way for the city to deal with any safety risks that the site may still represent.

Live Healthy Appalachia striving to expand on successes

Coming off of what they describe as a successful year of spreading the word in Southeast Ohio about the importance of healthy living, members of Live Healthy Appalachia are gearing up for the second Appalachian Health Summit and the expansion of other programs.

Live Healthy Appalachia is a community-university partnership designed to improve the health and wellness of Appalachian residents and reverse the rising rate of chronic diseases in the region. The initiative encompasses community members, city and county health officials and educators. Partners include the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens city and county governments, the Athens City-County Health Department and Athens County schools.

Last year was the first full year of the initiative. Four hundred individuals attended the first Appalachian Health Summit this past May, and 300 community members attended the free healthy living workshops on the day after the summit, according to Live Healthy Appalachia’s 2011 annual report.

Read more from The Athens Messenger (subscription required).

Thanks for reading athensohio.neighborhoodr.com • Ask • Submit • Follow • Twitter • If you like our blog, please spread the word!

4PM, Dec 14 2011

Comments

Notes

Group’s goal is Internet access in Appalachian Ohio

Many residents and businesses in Ohio’s rural Appalachian counties lack access to broadband Internet service, missing out on a chance to buy or sell products, avail themselves of medical care or just send an email.

That’s not acceptable, say leaders of several public, private and nonprofit organizations. Yesterday, they formed a task force to do something about it.

The Connect Appalachia Broadband Initiative was launched, aiming to make broadband available and improve computer literacy within 24 months.

Troupe presents Appalachian Christmas Carol

Brick Monkey Theater Ensemble (BMTE), southeast Ohio’s professional theater company, is beginning a holiday tradition with a staged reading of “An Appalachian Christmas Carol” tonight (Thursday) at Stuart’s Opera House in Nelsonville.

Directed by company member Dennis Lee Delaney, “An Appalachian Christmas Carol” is a new and relevant to our region adaptation of the Charles Dickens Christmas classic, according to a news release.

The fundraising event begins at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 for a celebration with holiday desserts and beverages. Tickets are available on line at www.stuartsoperahouse.org, or at the door.

Read more from The Athens NEWS or from The Post.

Thanks for reading athensohio.neighborhoodr.com • Ask • Submit • Follow • Twitter • If you like our blog, please spread the word!

2PM, Dec 8 2011

Comments

8 notes

Student organizations commit to can collection

Ohio University’s Exercise Physiology Club wants to take a bite out of poverty this quarter.

The club has organized a food drive to deter the effects of poverty in the Appalachian area. All collections will be donated to local food pantries.

Many Athens residents do not have enough to eat on a daily basis. Almost 35 percent of Athens County’s population lived below the poverty level as of 2009, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Anti-lease letter writers express fracking, tourism worries

Sixteen letters of protest against the proposed leasing of Wayne National Forest land for oil and gas development had been filed with the federal Bureau of Land Management as of Thursday. Today is the deadline for filing protests.

The bureau has scheduled a Dec. 7 lease auction for 3,302 acres of the Wayne National Forest land for oil and gas development. Of that land, 2,624 acres are in Athens County’s York Twp.

Larry Denny, BLM deputy state director for mineral resources, said Thursday that 16 protests had been filed so far.

Read more from The Athens Messenger (subscription required).

RELATED: Forest officials defend plans for oil and gas drilling (WOUB); Demonstrators protest leasing Friday morning (The Athens NEWS).

3PM, Oct 7 2011

Comments

Notes

About Neighborhoodr

Neighborhoodr is a local neighborhood blog network where anyone can quickly and easily post about what's happening in their neighborhood without having to log in or register.

Have news you'd like to share about your neighborhood? Just use the share buttons along the top of the page.

Editors

Interested in becoming an editor for this blog? Email us at hi@neighborhoodr.com for more information.