Tear down that eyesore

The Erie County land bank acquired the property at 624 Berlin Road in Huron and plan to remove asbestos and then demolish all on-site structures. Provided photo/ALEX JONES A group of elected officials quietly did what they set out to do several years ago, and the result will make our neighborhoods better and more beautiful. They voted forward a funding stream designed to help the land bank stay in business. Upon the recommendation of Erie County treasurer Caleb Stidham and a resolution approved by Erie County commissioners Matt Old, Steve Shoffner and Pat Shenigo, the county land bank is able to collect delinquent property tax and assessment collection funds for the first time, beginning this year. It's something Stidham's predecessor, Pam Farrell, refused to do. It's something Stidham promised to do if elected. The land bank acquires blighted property that's been abandoned or neglected and seeks to recycle these properties back into useful, productive use or to simply remove dilapidated structures from neighborhoods across the county. It's been enormously successful, and Erie County has been a leader in utilizing the programming. In the last decade, about 300 properties have been recycled or removed. This move, funding the land bank with money collected from land owners after properties enter foreclosure, is a good promise that the county will continue to be a leader in the fight against blight. Where's DeWine DeWine Provided The Democrat running for governor made her case this week in front of a group of editors from the Findlay Courier, the Sandusky Register and other Ogden newspapers. Nan Whaley was poised, direct and went for the jugular, saying her opponent was weak, too weak to stand up to radicals in his own party. Mike DeWine, she said, is a failed governor. DeWine responded by saying ... nothing. He wasn't there. It's easy, perhaps, to be lulled into a sense that during the heat of a campaign is when everything becomes a political calculation. DeWine's team determined that debating his opponent wasn't necessary for him to win this election, and he put the kibosh on any joint appearance with Whaley. It's more correct, we believe, that during the heat of the campaign is when candidates should be bold and declare their vision for the future with voters in a debate forum. There are still nearly two weeks left in this campaign season. We urge DeWine to change his mind and accept our invitation for a debate with his opponent. Celebrate Tondra Frisby, Sandusky Recreation's youth program supervisor, left, Trey Hardy, Erie County assistant health commissioner, center, and Rob Heidl from Guidestone, discuss an upcoming event during a segment of "Between the Lines" on Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022. Register photo/ERIN CALDWELL It just might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship between the Erie County Health Department and the Sandusky Recreation program, one we hope continues to grow and flourish. On Saturday the first-ever Black Mental Health Matters program opens at Sandusky Rec @ Mills, the former Mills Elementary School that has become the HQ for city rec. Aaren Snyder, a licensed marriage and family therapist from Toledo, and author of the book by the same title, will lead the program, which is described this way: "A guided journal for emotional healing that will take you on a 45-day journey of learning to master your emotions through self-awareness, addressing issues like generational curses, microaggressions and community violence. Practicing mindfulness techniques to forgive yourself and others, while gaining coping skills for depression, anxiety, self-doubt and much more." We could all use some of that. What about those Guardians History is so in the rearview mirror that we hardly remember the struggles for the Cleveland Major League Baseball team often causing heartbreak so many times and hasn't won a championship since before most of us were born. But the newly christened Cleveland Guardians, in their inaugural season, thrilled fans every day since opening day in the spring. This team was young and fun, enjoying the game more than any team in any sport we can think of, and in these parts, they restored America's past time. You've changed everything Guardians. Thank you for a terrific 2022 baseball season. We will see you again, next season. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez was one of the top players in baseball this year. The reliable third baseman finished with 126 runs batted in. AP/John Minchillo