- Room with a view
The observation deck on the Terminal Tower has been closed to the general public since 9/11. The enclosed viewpoint on the 42nd floor of the 52-story building is set to reopen on July 11 for a nominal fee of $5. Aside from opening in 2005 for the tower's 75th birthday, its the first time since closing that the tower will be open. It was also open previosly as part of the "Tackle the Tower" stair-climbing event. This all comes after the completion of a $40 million renovation project, because apparently it's better to enjoy your outward view from a nicer-looking room. (Cleveland.com)
Akron has been experiencing a crime spree throughout city gardens. Plant thieves have apparently been ransacking the city's Flowerscape and Adopt-A-Site community urban gardens and flowerbeds. And while the city has experience vandalism to these gardens in the past, now some of these hardened criminals are escalating, making off with plants from these spots. What's worse is that it would appear that the thieves are pretty knowledgeable gardeners, because recently planted shrubs and flowers, which are easier to pull and successfully replant, are the hottest item being pulled from the gardens. Akron's got a case of green thumbs and sticky fingers. (Ohio.com)
To many, the planned casinos in Ohio are a economic Godsend. But in the process of developing these sites, the state has apparently been kept in the dark about the environmental hazards that turned up at these building sites, specifically a former Delphi plant in Franklin County. Penn National Gaming bought the site, and in May submitted a report to the state, which included all these surprise toxins floating around the grounds near the site. Now the state has to figure out how to clean up a problem it supposedly had no idea existed. The EPA also claimed to not know anything, but a spokesperson the EPA was certainly not surprised that the grounds were toxic. They just weren't really too interested in finding out until the area could be financially beneficial. (Columbus Dispatch).
Following some severe weekend storms, some 40,000 First Energy customers and residents of Northeast Ohio are without power this morning. Downed trees due to high winds have taken out telephone lines and power lines, and the east and west sides of Cleveland were the hardest-hit. Good thing your watch has batteries. Start waiting. (Cleveland.com)
