October 17, 2012 PDF Edition of the Perrysburg Messenger Journal

MESSENGER JOURNALSECOND SECTIONP E R R Y S B U R GMeet theCity of PerrysburgOffice of Information TechnologyThis is a continuedseries on the City of Perrysburg’sdepartments,divisions, offices andbureaus.The City of Perrysburgemploys 154 individualsplus 60 seasonal employeeswho serve the morethan 20,000 Perrysburgresidents.Features will give residentsthe opportunity tomeet city employees andlearn how each job contributesto the “quality oflife” in the city.Office of InformationTechnologyThe City of PerrysburgOffice of InformationTechnology (IT) was createdin 2009. Prior to this,all information technologyprojects were either managedby each division oroutsourced to consultants.It was determined to bemore cost effective andprudent to staff a full timeemployee to support thetechnical infrastructureand provide direction withregard to the city’s computersand data communication.Perrysburg’s informationtechnology manager,Gary Kleinfelter, washired with more than 13years of experience inIT–10 in the public sector.He has experience in hardwaresupport, softwaredevelopment and administrativeIT duties. The ITmanager is tasked withserver and network administration,software anddesktop support, telephoneand cell phone support,and providing directionand city representationwith projects and outsideresources.In September 2012,software specialist, IanDunn, joined the city staffas a part-time employee.He is responsible for geographicinformation systemsmanagement, Website design and maintenance,and software supportand training. Mr.Dunn was the FranklinCounty emergency managementand homelandsecurity geographic informationsystems managerfor two years. He currentlyis working toward hismaster’s degree in publichealth epidemiology andadministration.The Office of InformationTechnology providessupport to the other citydivisions that serve citytaxpayers. IT assists divisionswith their respectiveprojects and managesenterprise-wide projectsnot only to deliver currentinitiatives but also to preparefor future technology.These projects support abroader plan to centralizeservices, improve connectivityand backup systems.In 2010, the city wasable to relocate many distributedserver systemsinto a single, cost effectivelocation using serverThis Friday, October19, Yellow Jacket fans aregoing pink.Ray Pohlman, PerrysburgHigh School athleticdirector, announced thatPHS will participate forthe second year in theSpielman Gridiron ClassicV against the BowlingGreen Bobcats, 7 p.m., atSteinecker Stadium.The PHS athleticdepartment and athleticboosters are working withthe Fellowship of ChristianAthletes (FCA) and theSpielman Classic to promotebreast cancer awareness.According to Mr.Pohlman, the theme for theevening is “Hope Soars.”The primary goal of theSpielman Gridiron Classicis to promote former OhioState and NFL linebacker-Chris Spielman’s philosophyof “Faith, Family andFootball” while raisingfunds for the StefanieSpielman fund at theJames Cancer Hospital andSolove Research Institute.The goal is to collect$100,000 for breast cancerresearch in Ohio during thefall football season. Inaddition, the FCA willsend 500 students to FCAcamps during the summerof 2013.“We believe this is agreat opportunity to teachour student-athletes thatfootball is more than agame, and it can be a platformto assist communitiesand significantly help peoplewho are battling thisterrible disease,” said Mr.Pohlman.All breast cancer survivorsare invited, asguests of the PHS athleticdepartment, to join the YellowJackets for a pregamesocial at the north endzone of Steinecker Stadiumand for the footballgame. To be included onthe guest list or for additionalinformation, contactthe athletic office at 419-874-3181, extension 5011.Along with the pregamesocial, pink T-shirts will beon sale at the game for $10or can be purchased at thePHS athletic office Mondaythrough Friday, 7 a.m.to 3 p.m., or at the MessengerJournal, 117 EastSecond Street, Mondaythrough Friday, 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.Also, a Chris Spielmanautographed football willbe raffled at the game. Studentsand Yellow Jacketfans are encouraged tovirtualization. Server centralizationallowed foreasier management ofserver resources and theability to share server services,resulting in lowercosts of acquisition andownership.This year, the city isinvesting in wirelesspoint-to-point networkconnectivity. Not to beconfused with WiFi, awireless point-to-pointnetwork privately andsecurely connects twopoints together. This issimilar to how a networkcable connects a computerto a wall jack. The speedof the wireless connectionwill be equivalent to thespeed of the internal networkand will provide asolid backbone for currentand future projects.Next year’s focus willbe establishing backupsystems. Creating thisredundancy will minimizedowntime in the event ofY O U R H O M E T O W N N E W S P A P E Ran emergency and providea great deal of flexibilityin creating emergencyoperation centers in timesof need.The benefits of thesethree high level initiativescan be viewed in the ITbudget.In 2012, IT operated onand completed projectswith a budget of almost$420,000. The proposed2013 IT budget is justover $340,000 which isalmost a 20 percentdecrease from the previousyear. This is due toleveraging existing hardwareand technologies.The ultimate goal of ITis to provide quality supportwhile minimizingspending. The evolutionof technology increasesdemands of employeeskills and city infrastructurewhich can drive upprices. It is the duty of ITto deliver affordable solutionsthat will allowwear pink to support breastcancer awareness, to featurea game “pink-out” andto honor local breast cancersuvivors.Mr. Pohlman said donationswill be accepted duringthe game and all proceedswill benefit breastcancer research.Last year, participatingin their first Gridiron Classic,the Yellow Jacketsraised more than$5,300–finishing third inthe scholarship competition.“Raising that amountin only your first year inthe Classic was exceptional,”wrote Mr. Spielman ina letter to Mr. Pohlman.The high school thatraises the largest amountof money will receive avisit from Mr. Spielman,who will host a schoolassembly to inspire studentsto get involved intheir local community andto award a scholarship inhonor of his late wife, StefanieSpielman.“I am so excited thatPerrysburg is participatingagain this year,” said theNFL player. “Last yearwas a huge success and wehope to make this year’sWWW.PERRYSBURG.COMOffice of Information Technology–Ian Dunn, part-time software specialist, and Gary Kleinfelter, informationtechnology manager.growth for future initiatives.The Office of InformationTechnology also addsa knowledgeable andexperienced voice whenrepresenting the city indiscussions with vendors.IT ensures that vendorsolutions will work in thecurrent environment andthat they leverage much ofthe technology alreadyowned by the city. Understandingand using existinginvestments ratherthan building completelyseparate systems significantlydrives costs down.The city divisions areconstantly researchingaffordable and scalabletechnologies that willimprove service to taxpayers.It is the privilege andduty of the Office InformationTechnology toassist them and provide asound infrastructure uponwhich to move the cityforward.Yellow Jackets go pink for breast cancer awarenessPHS varsity football team to participate in Spielman Gridiron Classic this FridayThe PHS Athletic Departmentand Athletic Boostersinvite breast cancer survivorsto apregame tailgate gatheringand football gameFriday, October 19, Steinecker StadiumYellow Jackets vs. Bowling Green BobcatsRSVP 419-874-3181, extension 5011The “Go Pink” Spielman Gridiron Classic T-shirtsare available for purchase for $10at the high school athletic officeor the Perrysburg Messenger Journal.Gridiron Classic even biggerby holding games allacross Ohio. Together, wewill win.”Friday night gamesponsors are Witzler ShankFuneral Homes, GreatLakes Medical Services,HCR-Heartland, PerrysburgMessenger Journal,PHS athletic departmentand athletic boosters.The Stefanie SpielmanFund for Breast CancerResearch supports breastcancer patients andresearch at Ohio State’sComprehensive CancerCenter-James Cancer Hospitaland Solove ResearchInstitute. Mrs. Spielmanwas a breast cancer advocate.For more than 11 years,the football player has leda public fight against thedisease and during thattime has raised more than$6.5 million for the OhioState University’s ArthurG. James Cancer CenterHospital and SoloveResearch Institute.The couple establishedStefanie’s Champions torecognize one of the mostcritical factors in survivorcancer–loving, unwaveringsupport. Though shepassed away in 2009, Stefanie’sChampions continuesher legacy by honoringthose whose dedicationand strength are powerfulinfluences in the lives ofcancer survivors. It washer hope that every survivorcould name someonewho stood by them, gavethem courage and helpedthem through.Since 1954, the FCA istouching millions of lives,one heart at a time. FCA isthe largest Christian sportsorganization in Americawith a focus on servinglocal communities byequipping, empoweringand encouraging people tomake a difference.PERRYSBURG MESSENGER JOURNAL — October 17, 2012 — Page 13Penta and Owens sign agreementNew dual enrollment initiative to benefit career tech studentsPenta Career Center andOwens Community Collegefurther cemented their longtimerelationship, signing anagreement that will allowPenta students to earn transcriptedcollege creditswhile attending the careercenter.On October 4, the educationalinstitutions announcedtheir new dual enrollmentinitiative.“We are very proud tohave established this agreementwith Owens CommunityCollege because it providesour students with avaluable opportunity to get ahead start on college whilestill in high school,”saidPenta Superintendent RonMatter, adding that theagreement will benefit studentsfor years to come.The superintendentbelieves the initiative alsowill help the pockets of families,many of whom needfinancial assistance for college.This offers a cost savingsby allowing students to earncollege credits while attendingPenta, he explained.Mr. Matter credited SuzyShort of Penta and JoeCarone of Owens for bringingthe initiative to fruition.“It took a lot of work tomake this happen,” he said.Dr. Mike Bower, Owenspresident, learned of theprogram just three weeksinto his tenure at the college.“Owens Community Collegeis proud to furtherstrengthen its longstandingpartnership with Penta,” hesaid. “It’s great for students,gives them a head start oncollege, and hopefully theywill choose to come toOwens.”Mike Jablonowski ofPerrysburg Schools, a seniorin the computerhardware/networking program,is among the 445 studentsenrolled in the program.“These [16] credits meana lot to me and will help meget through much quicker.It’s wonderful to have thisopportunity,” he said.Kayleigh Artiaga ofGenoa Schools, a junior inthe medical and legal officemanagementagreed.program,“Seussical the Musical”will be performed on October19, 20, 26, and 27, at 7p.m., and October 28, at 2p.m., at the Ave Maria PerformingArts Center atNotre Dame Academy,3535 West SylvaniaAvenue.In the musical The Catin the Hat tells the story ofHorton, an elephant whodiscovers a speck of dustcontaining Whos, includingJojo, a Who child sent offto a butter battling militaryschool for thinking toomany “thinks.”Horton’s attention to thespeck of dust and his “loitering”care of MayzieLaBird’s egg has elicitedtaunting and accusationsfrom the rest of the animalkingdom, except forGertrude McFuzz, wholongs for his attention, andJoJo, whose “thinks” savethem all in the end.More than 75 studentsfrom Notre Dame Academy,St. John’s Jesuit HighSchool, and St. Francis deSales High School areinvolved in the production.Cast members from Perrysburginclude: Julia Balzer,Courtney Dane, AbbieDavis, Katie Dills, AllisonPenta Superintendent Ron Matter, left, shakes hands with Owens President Dr. MikeBower after the two signed the dual enrollment agreement. Looking on are Penta studentswho will benefit from the program. From left are Zach Reecer of Anthony WayneHigh School, a junior in the automotive technology program; Kayleigh Artiaga of GenoaHigh School, a junior in medical and legal office management, and Mike Jablonowski ofPerrysburg High School, a senior in the computer hardware/networking program.“Dual enrollment is oneof many great things offeredat Penta. I can earn 13 creditsby the end of my senioryear.“It shortens my collegecareer, and that’s a big thingfinancially and personallyfor me,” she said.Junior Zach Reecer ofAnthony Wayne Schools isenrolled in the initiativethrough his automotive technologyprogram.“The Owens CommunityCollege dual enrollmentprogram is great. I can earn17 credit hours toward college,”he said.He appreciates the opportunityto save financiallyand receive a jump start onhis post secondary education.“It’s a great opportunityfor many students atPenta.”Ms. Short, curriculumsupervisor, said the programdiffers from Post SecondaryOptions (PSO) in that itallows students to earn collegecredit at the Penta campus.PSO students travel touniversities to attend classesand receive credits.She noted that careertechnical instructors are vettedand follow the courseKeane, Cassie Lucki, andRachel Maciejewski.Tickets cost $12, adults,requirements of the college.“Most [dual enrollmentprograms] have direct correlationsto programs atOwens,” she said.There are some exceptions,such as geospatialinformation systems. Owensdoes not have the full program,but students are ableto enroll in a similar surveyprogram, she explained.Ms. Short said dualenrollment is available inmore than 40 career technicalprograms, but not in corecourses.“We wanted to do this inthe labs first. That’s whatstudents come here for,” sheadded.The staff workedthroughout the summer toinstitute the program thisfall, and Ms. Short believesnearly all of the 445 studentswho enrolled will beaccepted.But, she cautioned, “thisis not just a given. Studentswill need to earn a C or betterat the end of the year tobe transcripted.”The curriculum supervisorsaid students have theopportunity to earn betweenone and 17 credits duringtheir tenure at Penta. “Theseare very valuable credits,”she added.The dual enrollment programalso is open to studentsenrolled in satelliteprograms such as DECAmarketing at memberschools, she said.Career Center DirectorJeff Kurtz is pleased withthe program and the efforthis staff put into it. “I’mproud of both organizations,”he said.He also appreciates whatthe initiative means to students.“It’s refreshing to seehow this positively impactsthe kids and the opportunityit provides them.”Mr. Matter said Penta hasbeen seeking to add value tothe programs it offers. “Thisis another value addedpiece. What a bonus.”Dr. Bower agreed, “Thisis exciting. We’ve donethings in the past but nothingof this magnitude. It’s agreat day here.”For more information onthe dual enrollment initiativeor Penta programs, callMs. Short at 419-661-6496or Mr. Carone, Owens managerof dual enrollment partnerships,at 567-661-7190.–Jane Maiolo‘Seussical the Musical’ to be performed at Notre Dame AcademyLast summer St. RoseSchool eighth gradersAutumn Maher, Julie Eagleand Noah Monaghan participatedin Bowling GreenState University’s CampMillionaire week to learnmore about business andeconomics.The students then createda business plan to collectused denim clothing andold shoes for Eco Erek, abusiness started by 11-yearoldWood County residentErek Hansen. He collectsdenim clothing that will berecycled into insulation forvictims of natural disasters.He also collects old shoesand boots that are madeinto recreation surfaces.The St. Rose GreenTeam’s goal is to collect500 items of denim thatwill insulate one house andto contribute to Erek’sattempt at the world recordfor the most shoes tiedThe cast of “Seussical The Musical” at Notre Dame Academy.and $8, students, and canbe purchased throughw w w. s h o w t i x 4 u . c o m ,together before they arerecycled.Donations of denimclothing of any color, sizeand style (jeans, shorts,skirts, vests, jackets,jumpers, etc.) or old bootsor shoes (no cleats orwww.nda.org, or by calling419-475-9359 for moreinformation.St. Rose students holding denim, used shoe collectionskates) will be accepted atSt. Rose Church andSchool from October 20 to26.St. Rose students, from left, Autumn Maher, Julie Eagle and Noah Monaghan, created abusiness plan to collect used denim clothing and old shoes for Eco Erek.