Visitors to the Nature Photography Center at Secor Metroparks find themselves looking twice at an outdoor mural. Enlarged from a photo taken by photographer Art Weber, the scene depicts a butterfly in a field of wild flowers. In front of the piece park workers have planted a variety of foliage, making it difficult to determine where the live plants end and the mural begins.

Sen. Mark Wagoner updates area residents on legislative activity, upcoming ballot issues
Ohio State Senator Mark Wagoner updated area residents on some of the legislative activity that has been taking place in Columbus, as well as some of the state issues that will be on the ballot this November.
Speaking at the Perrysburg Chamber of Commerce luncheon on August 20, Sen. Wagoner touched on the recently passed state economic stimulus package, the Clean Ohio Fund, and the Great Lakes Compact.
“There’s no question that we have some economic challanges here,” the senator said as he discussed the economic stimulus package, which he said was “part of a negotiation between the governor and the legislature to try to get things going again in Ohio.”
The package, he said, started as a $1.7 billion proposal from Governor Ted Strickland to invest in infrastructure projects, job creation, and alternative energy.
Sen. Wagoner said the legislature had some concerns about the amount of debt the package would result in for the state of Ohio, and about the $200 million the governor planned to take from the Ohio Turnpike to fund the package.
“We had active and good negotiations with the governor, and we were able to reach a compromise and find some creative ways to fund the stimulus package,” he explained.
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‘Party by the Pond’ on Sept. 6 to benefit youth football group
This month’s “Party by the Pond” community gathering event will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 6 p.m to midnight, at Community Homecoming Park on Angola Road, at the gazebo and adjacent to the pond.
The adults-only event will feature a live band, Johnny Rocker and the Hitmen, plus a beer garden with $3, 16-ounce beers.
A food booth will be offered by Marco’s Pizza and a hot dog stand by the Lil Devils Youth Football Association, which is sponsoring the event.
There is a $2 admission fee, and all proceeds go to the youth football association. The event will be held rain or shine.
Attendees must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license to enter the event.

New staff members prepare to take the reins at Springfield
Springfield Schools Superintendent Kathryn Hott welcomed new and returning staff during a “Back to School” orientation meeting on August 22. The event began with a continental breakfast in the high school cafeteria followed by an information seminar and update on construction at the district’s athletic facilities.
Mrs. Hott said she is counting on new and returning staff to help the district reach the “excellent” plateau, a state report card indicator that Springfield missed last year. She pointed out that it will take every staff member, from classified to certificated personnel, to achieve excellence. “Every person makes a difference in the lives of children.” She added, “Everyone doing their part to promote learning for all–that’s our challenge.”
The superintendent closed by showing a clip of the final swimming competition, in which Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal. “We’re going for the gold, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that we’re going to get it.”

Titans win slugfest against Trojans
It is said beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So what does the casual high school football fan who witnessed the St. John’s versus Findlay game call the opening-night slugfest?
If one is offensive minded they may say the Titans 47-34 road victory was a Picasso–a masterpiece by no stretch of the imagination for either team. If you prefer a low-scoring, defensive gem, well, you may as well have stayed home and colored the back of a paper placemat from the local dining establishment.
St. John’s (1-0) and the Trojans (0-1) combined for 980 yards of total offense in a game in which the offenses simply clicked the entire night or the defenses never found their strides, or the athlete with the ball.
Ian Gaston, who rushed for 191 yards and five touchdowns, put the Titans on the scoreboard first, scampering in from 24-yards. Mike Norward added the point after and the visitors led 7-0.
Norward then added an impressive 41-yard field goal before the first quarter expired to give St. John’s a 10-0 advantage.
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Page ‘superb’ in opener against Oak Harbor
The ‘S’ on the side of quarterback Eric Page’s helmet obviously stands for Springfield. In the opening game of the 2008 high school football season it stood for ‘Superman.’
The 5’10”, 170-pound quarterback was superb in the opener as the Blue Devils thumped Sandusky Bay Conference powerhouse Oak Harbor, 58-14.
Page, who is being heavily recruited by many Big-Ten teams and all MAC schools, rushed for 237 yards and threw for 192 more as the Royal Blue and White shot down the Rockets on their home field.
“Eric executed the game plan to near perfection,” Springfield Head Coach Dave Connelly said. “The entire team played well. Sure there are some things we have to work on, and we will. But for a first game, I am very happy and excited.
“It wasn’t about who we beat, but rather just winning that first game. It is nice to beat a team like Oak Harbor though because that team is going to win some games this year.”
On the game’s first drive, Page scrambled out of the pocket on a third down play, gaining 11 yards to keep the drive alive. He later found Josh Hair (six receptions, 105 yards) for 15 yards before going in himself from 14 yards away just 4:06 into the game.
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Plans for skateboard park, paved trail at Homecoming Park discussed by trustees
Two new additions to Community Homecoming Park were discussed by the Springfield Township Trustees at their August 18 meeting.
The trustees agreed to a $12,973 contract for a paved trail along the west side of the pond leading to the trails through the wooded area.
Bill Tunison, township road/maintenance superintendent, recommended the contract with Allied Paving Co. for the project.
The township has received a $55,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that could cover the cost, he said.
Any projects improving the trails and pond or adding fitness equipment at the park would be eligible for grant money.
Mr. Tunison told the trustees that two areas along the trail often have serious flooding, and he suggested building boardwalks.
He believes about 500 feet of boardwalk would be needed, but it must be determined how wide the walk should be. If it is too wide, it will encourage ATV riders to use the path, he added.
Township Administrator Leslie Kohli said she also has reviewed the suggestions for park improvements made last spring by the LEAP program elementary students.