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Status of Ukraine center stage as Republicans overhaul party platform
COLUMBUS — The first Republican Party platform under former President Donald Trump would drop any reference to Ukraine as the party fractures on how much further the United States should go in helping the country defend itself against Russia. That isn’t how Jim Gilmore, then President Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe from 2019 to 2021, would have written the language if the pen had been in his hand. READ THE PROPOSED REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM But the Republican former Virginia governor believes the new language leaves room for a Trump administration to maneuver to work toward peace in Europe.
More than 800 volunteers make the Dana Open possible
The Dana Open, founded in 1984, has run on volunteer power for the past 40 years. From operating manual scoreboards to providing on-course refreshments, more than 800 volunteers are divided into six types of committees to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. Different groups of volunteers tend to the needs of players, spectators, volunteers, media professionals, and sponsors. Volunteers even run a shuttle service for spectators, directors, and chairmen between parking lots. “There’s a lot that goes into the tournament behind the scenes that I don’t think a lot of people realize,” said Heather Warga, the tournament’s volunteer coordinator.
Morsels: Rib Off, Coffee Quest, and other food events
Wine Spectator magazine released its 2024 list of the best restaurants for wine, with over 3,700 winners. Both The Beirut and Final Cut Steakhouse were recognized for their respective wine programs in the Toledo area. For a full list of the 2024 winners, visit winespectator.com/restaurants/search. DoorDash delivered 100 million meals through its Project DASH program in June. This milestone was made possible from its ongoing partnerships with organizations like United Way of Greater Toledo.
Hendel: Country clubs lead July 4 festivities
INDEPENDENCE Day celebrations were all last week, but the memories of fun times still linger in the minds of those who attended picnics, cookouts, and parties before watching fireworks, the grand finale of the day. Many folks, young and old, took the opportunity to don patriotic attire. TOLEDO Country Club had a different than normal menu for its 425 members and guests with macaroni salad, BLT potato salad, pineapple with fruit dip, Betty salad, pulled pork slaw, buffalo chicken meatballs, roasted chicken with BBQ sauce, honey glazed salmon, smoked pastrami, root beer baked beans, potato wedges, fried apples, corn pudding, a Chicago dog station, and a kids buffet of corn dogs, pizza, curly fries, and cheesy broccoli. Desserts included red, white, and blue cupcakes, ice cream novelties, gooey butter cake, and banana pudding. The club’s celebration on July 5 overlooking the Maumee River also included a petting zoo with goats, rabbits, and chickens, a balloon artist, a magician, and carnival games.
Patricia “Pat” Squire: cycling a way of life for celebrated Toledo bicycle enthusiast
Patricia “Pat” Squire, a celebrated Toledo bicycle enthusiast, University of Toledo-trained chemical engineer, and a mother of three, died Monday at Oakleaf Village of Toledo. She was 88. Mrs. Squire died after experiencing apparent heart problems, said Jennifer Sader, a daughter-in-law. “For her, bicycling was even more than a passion, it was a way of life,” said Scott Carpenter, Metroparks Toledo spokesman. “She had deep roots in the Toledo bicycling community going back to the 1980s.” Mrs. Squire never had a driver’s license and never owned a car.
Shribman: 1964 Goldwater speech resonates in 2024
Wiliam Jennings Bryan called for Americans not to be crucified “upon a cross of gold” in 1896. Franklin Roosevelt introduced the New Deal in 1932. John Kennedy set out the New Frontier in 1960. George H.W. Bush spoke of the “thousand points of light” and issued his “read my lips” vow about new taxes in 1988. Here, in the run-up to the Republican convention, it may be instructive to recall that of all the scores of American political convention acceptance speeches, the only one that still resonates is the one that spoke of “extremism in the defense of liberty” —...
Editorial: Abolish charter review
Of all the incompetence that from time to time comes to the attention of the public from the bowels of Toledo city hall, very little comes close to that of the charter review committee. It was that committee that laid the groundwork for the 13-piece charter proposal in 2022 that included everything but the kitchen sink. In that instance, the charter review committee should have advised council to put each of the questions on the ballot individually, or at least to group together only those that were similar. That would have been wise advice from the charter review committee but it didn’t make that recommendation, and council voted to lump them all together. Read more Blade editorials As all Toledo voters quickly figured out, the whole point of that hodgepodge of proposed minor and major revisions to the city’s charter was to sneak through an extension of term limits to allow the current mayor to seek a third term in office.
Editorial: Silent or supportive?
Reality is setting in for Congressional Democrats in competitive campaigns. Because of Joe Biden’s incoherent debate performance June 27, incumbents like Sherrod Brown and Marcy Kaptur must overcome dismal prospects for the likely presidential nominee. Read more Blade editorials The calls to oust Mr. Biden as the Democratic candidate began before the debate was over. His gaffe-laced performance was the worst in the history of televised debates. A CBS News poll shows 63 percent of voters think Joe Biden should not be running for president. An ABC-Washington Post poll is even worse. The majority of Democrats polled would like Mr....
To the editor: Case made for Biden to end campaign
Dear President Biden, Thank you for your years of service. You have been a better president than you will get credit for, but you haven’t been great. There are important parts of being President that you are failing at and you are refusing to hold yourself accountable for this failure. As a result you are choosing to continue to run even as the American people have moved on from you. You knew when you ran that it was intended that you would be a transitional figure, that you would move on after this term. I understand the desire to continue your work, but circumstances have revealed a very difficult truth. By continuing to run you are voting for Donald Trump, Mr. President. By continuing to run you provide him with the easiest and most predictable path back to power. The only way you can inject uncertainty into what is happening in America right now is to step aside. It is a harsh reality to confront, but it is real and it is here. It is time to do our nation one more service and step aside even though it is hard. Thank you, Mr. President. NATHAN ROEHL
To the editor: Lincoln said it all: ‘Fondly do we hope’
Jan. 6, 2021, brought forth a whirlwind of emotional reactions. Among those remaining are fear and sadness. And, of course, cynicism as politics provides daily fuel. A recent experience — at least momentarily — caused the fear and the sadness to go. Submit a letter to the editor In Washington, for a beloved aunt’s 90th birthday, we made pilgrimage to the Lincoln Memorial at dusk. The late May weather was ideal and the area out front a mob scene of middle school students on chaperoned trips from across the country. Up the steps we went. Once inside this American temple, most visitors stood in the center and directly before the 16th president’s impressive statue. After admiring it, we went to the left and read to ourselves, in the carved marble wall, the Gettysburg Address with perhaps a dozen other people near. We lingered a bit and went to the opposite side to bear witness to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural.
Big innings doom Mud Hens in 18-4 loss at Omaha Storm Chasers
PAPILLION, Neb. — The Toledo Mud Hens surrendered a pair of three-run home runs in the middle innings and fell 18-4 to the Omaha Storm Chasers on Saturday at Werner Park. The Mud Hens (42-49) never led at any point and twice saw one-run deficits balloon on one-out blasts by the Storm Chasers, who eventually put the game away with an eight-run seventh inning. Cam Devanney’s home run off Toledo starter Bryan Sammons gave Omaha a 5-1 lead, capping a four-run fourth inning. Drew Waters’ three-run blast pushed the Storm Chasers ahead 10-4 in the sixth inning, ending another four-run burst. Omaha’s Nelson Velazquez (three doubles) and Tyler Gentry each were 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while John Rave (2 for 4) added a two-run triple in the seventh inning.
Annual Love Fest event brings live music, performers to event near downtown
Rainbow clad peoples of all kinds manifested around the “Toledo Loves Love” mural, also known as the Love Wall, on Saturday to celebrate and raise funds for Equality Toledo. “It's bigger this year than it was last year. Last year was only in the parking lot,” Brent Rabie, the executive director of Equality Toledo, said of what is the eighth annual Love Fest celebration near downtown Toledo. An individual in an animal head and a pink power ranger particularly dressed to impress this year, weathering the high temperatures despite the elaborate costumes. “Visibility is important, especially right now in the political climate, where we have people, even in Ohio, trying to ban drag in public places like this,” Mr. Rabie said.
Dana Open will honor Lexi Thompson on Friday
Friday afternoon at Highland Meadows will be all about Lexi Thompson, as the Dana Open pays homage to one of the LPGA Tour’s most popular players who doubles as a global ambassador for the game of golf. To celebrate the tournament’s 40th anniversary and in appreciation of Thompson, two F-16s from the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport will fly over the Sylvania golf course for her 1:02 p.m. tee time. Five hundred Puma hats emblazoned with “LEXI” in pink will be given away, as well as buttons with an image of...
Photo Gallery: How northwest Ohio's LPGA tournament trophy has evolved over 40 years
A bowl, a vase, even a globe. The Jamie Farr/Marathon Classic/Dana Open trophy has evolved throughout the years, not unlike the event which has been played at two different golf courses and undergone numerous name changes. Click the image above and the arrows on the left and right to view the full gallery.
Healing & Compassion Fund would help survivors, families impacted by gun violence
Survivors and families of victims of gun violence in Toledo may soon be getting support from a pilot program called the Healing & Compassion Fund. The program is the result of a group of stakeholders — people who have been deeply impacted by gun violence — who have been meeting since August to discuss what could be done for families struggling with loss. “Whether it’s community-based organizations or individuals who have lost their children to gun violence — we have been working together to develop a comprehensive plan to address issues in our community related to gun violence,” said Malcolm Cunningham, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. That office convenes the Community Action Table, a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders engaged in community violence intervention and prevention work in Toledo. Stakeholders include traditional public safety representatives, communities impacted by violence, survivors, community-based organizations, mental health agencies, funders, health systems, advocacy groups, policy makers, faith-based organizations, school systems, and youth.
NFL to allow Guardian Caps during games. Will it trickle down to high school football?
As football coaches at all levels look to improve player safety, a new technology has risen to prominence. After two years of players wearing Guardian Caps, an extra shell of padding that goes around helmets, during training camp, the NFL announced in April that it will permit players to wear the helmet add-on during games. With data mounting that the caps significantly decrease the incidence of concussions, Ohio high schools are taking note. Though the Ohio High School Athletic Association permits players to wear them in games, that has been relatively uncommon. However, several schools have taken to wearing the caps in practice.
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