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Downtown Lima Loses Famous Landmark to Fire
By Aubree Kaye | Tuesday, January 12, 2010
From The Lima News:
 Downtown Lima lost a historic building yesterday when a fire broke out at the Bistro Building on S. Main Street. The building has already been demolished. More information related to the fire can be found at The Lima News website.
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'Going Local' Workshop Generates Potential Business Initiatives in Yellow Springs, Ohio
By Diane Chiddister | Wednesday, December 30, 2009
From Business Alliance for Local Living Economies:
 On Friday, January 16, over 200 villagers from Yellow Springs, Ohio came together to learn about an alternative approach to economic development that focuses on nurturing and expanding the local and small business sector.
Over 70 residents returned on Saturday and Sunday for a hands-on local economic development workshop.
Participants first examined the resu...
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Lima Shay Locomotive Moving to new home on Monday
By Aubree Kaye | Friday, December 11, 2009
The City of Lima has agreed to close Metcalf Street (between Market and High Street on Monday, December 14th in order to position a crane to move the Lima Locomotive. The locomotive will be moving to it's new home inside the new Allen County Museum addition that is currently under construction.
The crane is supposed to arrive at the museum around 9am on Monday. The move is expected to take place around noon. The project schedule is subject to change r...
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Community Card Discounts for Shopping Locally
By SBB | Thursday, December 10, 2009
 A Columbus business is providing a way for people to shop locally and keep their money in their own community. Small Business Beanstalk is allowing anyone to obtain their new “Community Card”. The card is free to obtain and provides locals with great deals at independent businesses located in and aroun...
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The Return of the Two-Way Street
By Alan Ehrenhalt | Thursday, December 03, 2009
From GOVERNING:
 Over the past couple of decades, Vancouver, Washington, has spent millions of dollars trying to revitalize its downtown, and especially the area around Main Street that used to be the primary commercial center. Just how much the city has spent isn’t easy to determine. But it’s been an ambitious program. Vancouver h...
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Walkable Neighborhood key to Dublin, Ohio Growth
By Holly Zachariah | Tuesday, October 27, 2009
From Columbus Dispatch:
 As Dublin considers how to position itself for the future, an expert in land use and development says city officials need look only as far as one Columbus neighborhood for guidance.
German Village stands as the best example in Ohio of how to build a community in which people can live, work and play and never ha...
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City to Convert One-Way Streets to Two-Way
By Mike Schulte | Wednesday, September 16, 2009
 City officials in Lima are currently proposing preferred changes for downtown streets, converting many one-way streets to two-way, adding landscaping, and designated bike paths. A meeting was held on Wednesday to discuss these changes and take comments. Comments are welcome on the City’s Public Works...
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Music, food got the Square Fair ball rolling
By Hannah Poturalski | Thursday, August 06, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA — The sun was out and the birds were chirping for the kick-off of Square Fair 2009.
This year’s Square Fair brought in 55 craft vendors and 18 food booths that were sprinkled around Lima’s Town Square. That is a large increase to last year’s numbers of 25 vendors and 12 food booths.
“That’s the upside of the down economy,” said Diane Peterson, president of Square Fair Inc. “People are trying to make a little extra money.”
Vendors are selling artwork, home decorati...
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Lima part of state's rail funding request
By Heather Rutz | Friday, July 17, 2009
From The Lima News:
 LIMA — What a difference a few days make.
Lima is now part of the high speed rail equation for which Ohio is seeking federal funds. Lima’s inclusion came about because Indiana settled on a route from Ohio to Chicago.
Lima learned Friday the Ohio Rail Development Commission is including the Lima route in its submission to the federal government for a piece of the $8 billion in s...
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Downtown place to be today
By Heather Rutz | Wednesday, July 15, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA — Downtown will be the living definition of a lively community today, with a packed schedule of family events.
Changing Seasons will kick off the day with its annual art show from noon to 5 p.m. at its meeting space at 213 S. Main St.
From 3 to 6 p.m. the weekly farmers market takes place at its Thursday location near Hofeller, Hiatt and Clark, 237 N. Main St.
Starting at 5 p.m., the city’s newest neighborhood group, the Heart of Lima Neighborhood Association, wil...
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Author discusses demise of steam locomotives and the impact on Lima
By Tyrel Linkhorn | Tuesday, July 14, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA — As the railroad industry transitioned from steam locomotives to more efficient and advanced diesel engines much more was lost than the nostalgia of a friendly engineer’s wave or the brassy blare of a whistle.
“It gave the railroads an opportunity to get rid of the boilermakers, the machinists, the water department employees, the coal dock employees and the massive shops that were necessary to maintain a steam-powered locomotive,” said Scott Trostel, an author and railroad histo...
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Neighborhood group goes high-tech
By Heather Rutz | Sunday, July 12, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA — Neighborhood associations pride themselves on involving people block by block.
The Boulevard Neighborhood Association is still doing that, but adding blog by blog too.
The group, at the initiative of member Eric Gullufsen, started a blog and is reaching new neighbors, often younger and busier than some traditional members.
Gullufsen’s wife is the association secretary, and he does a lot of blogging and blog reading, so the blog, at limablvd.blogspot.com, seemed ...
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Indiana to decide on rail line
By Staff Reports | Thursday, July 09, 2009
From The Lima News:
FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Lima Mayor David Berger attended a meeting in Indiana on Thursday during which the state announced it would decide on the route of its high-speed rail line.
The state will apply today for $49 million in federal funds to determine whether the line will run through South Bend or Fort Wayne, the latter of which is the preference for Lima officials, Berger said.
Berger said he was pleased the state is taking the next step in the process and that he would contin...
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Individuals consider possibilities of turbines to generate electricity
By David Trinko | Saturday, July 04, 2009
From The Lima News:
WAUSEON - Art Miller found a way to pull money out of thin air.
"I was on a kick of what bill I could get rid of," said Miller, who owns a farm near Wauseon. "The way the market and the business are right now, profits seem to go down. But you can't pass it on to the customer."
He targeted an expense most people consider untouchable.
"What can I do to bring my cost of living to a bare minimum? Get rid of my utility bills," he said.
The answer was blowing in the ...
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Incentive deal prompts Nash Finch to expand
By Bob Blake | Wednesday, June 17, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - County economic development officials today announced they have come to terms on a deal that will enable Nash Finch Company to expand its Bath Township operations. Without the deal, the company and its 250-plus jobs were likely to leave, officials said.
Allen County commissioners this morning approved a 10-year, 60-percent tax abatement that works out to nearly $500,000 over the term of the agreement. The deal paves the way for a nearly $11 million expansion project that will a...
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Construction to start at R&D site
By Heather Rutz | Wednesday, June 17, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - The city will begin preparations for a new advanced energy research and development center this July, Mayor David Berger said Tuesday.
Berger announced the news during a City Focus meeting with Northside Neighborhood Association.
The city has planned the center for years at a triangle of land at South Main and Fourth streets near the planned site of Global Energy. The city has acquired the 44 parcels it needs for the site and has vacated the small stretches of Third and...
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New Rail Lines Spur Urban Revival
By Amy Cortese | Saturday, June 13, 2009
From The New York Times:
WHEN it was incorporated in 1913, Carrollton, Tex., was a thriving farm community. Three freight railroad lines intersected to help farmers get their grain, livestock and cotton to market. Today this city of around 123,000 people, just 14 miles north of Dallas, is again looking to the rail lines for its economic prosperity.
In April, the Carrollton City Council approved a $38 million mixed-use development next to a commuter rail station being erected downtown. The station is Carrollto...
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Tax flap could sink farmers market
By Heather Rutz | Monday, June 08, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - One of the downtown's most popular summer events may be on its way out of town over city tax policy.
Farmers market vendors receiving letters from the city Tax Department about the possibility of paying income tax on their profits, may locate outside the city if the issue can't be resolved.
The city does not collect or provide refunds for amounts less than $5. However, the vendors are doing business inside the city limits and so should be paying the tax, Tax Supervisor ...
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The Meeting Place Opens New Location!
By Jennifer Brogee | Thursday, May 28, 2009
From The Meeting Place:
 The Meeting Place on Market is pleased to announce its newest location in the lobby of the Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio. The beautiful, state of the art building is located just at the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Route 65.
To start, we'll be offering coffee, smoothies, and breakfast items from 8 am - ...
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Chamber honors business's best
By Bart Mills | Thursday, May 28, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - It may have been the businesses that were honored at Wednesday's Chamber of Commerce Awards, but to hear the winners speak, the customer remains king.
Winners in six different categories were announced during Wednesday's annual Lima Allen County Chamber Gala. The winning businesses covered the gamut from beauty salons to construction firms, but all shared a common belief that it's the customer that makes it all work.
"If you don't have customers you don't have business,...
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Commissioners, Civic Center reach understanding on Memorial Hall
By Bob Blake | Wednesday, May 13, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - Area veterans' groups who maintain offices in Memorial Hall will no longer have to worry if those offices will remain there. Allen County commissioners this morning approved an agreement that settles "miscommunication" problems earlier in the year.
Under the terms of the newly-approved memorandum of understanding, commissioners will continue to be responsible for payment of utilities and general maintenance. The board of the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center will co...
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Car-Free in America?
By The Editors | Tuesday, May 12, 2009
From The New York Times:
A New York Times article this week described efforts in Vauban, Germany, a suburb of Freiburg, to go “car free.” The story mentioned attempts in some American communities to achieve something similar. While walkable communities have become common all over the United States in the last 15 years, going car-free is another challenge altogether. Is this a realistic goal in a car culture like our...
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Nominees for Lima/Allen County Chamber Awards announced
By Bart Mills | Monday, April 27, 2009
From The Lima News:
The Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce announced nominees for this year's round of business awards.
More than 50 businesses, individuals and non-profits were nominated for this year's awards. They were narrowed down to three nominees in each category. This year's nominees are:
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR:
• Trisco Systems, Inc.
• Swartz Contracting
• Northwest Enterprises, Inc.
EMERGING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
• Jewels Hea...
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Some communities are printing their own currency
By Jen Haley | Wednesday, April 22, 2009
From CNN.com:
(CNN) -- Steve Carlotta's family-owned camera store is struggling along with other mom and pop stores. But he's found a way to compete with Internet stores and big-box chains.
Carlotta's store accepts BerkShares -- a local currency in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He credits it with helping keep local customers coming back to his store.
And as U.S. dollars and credit vanish in this economic crisis, more communities are looking into printing their own currencies.
Thi...
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Downtown Lima Traffic Survey
By Aubree Kaye | Friday, April 17, 2009
The City of Lima, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Transportation, LJB, and the Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission, is conducting a traffic study in the downtown Lima area. This study will:
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Evaluate the feasibility of converting local one-way streets to a two-way street pattern in whole or part
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Analyze the location of state routes in the downtown area
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Develop a plan to optimize the current signal syste...
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A Vision for High Speed Rail
By White House | Thursday, April 16, 2009
From The White House Blog:
 "I'm happy to be here. I’m more happy than you can imagine," said the Vice President, a noted rail enthusiast, before introducing the Pre...
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Commissioner says Civic Center on road to recovery
By Greg Sowinski | Wednesday, April 15, 2009
From The Lima News:
 After being on life support and facing a financial death, Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center seems to be on the path to someday being self-sufficient thanks to a new energetic director, a commissioner said Wednesday.
Allen County Commissioner Dan Reiff was praising center Director Cindy Wood for slashing ...
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HR Services Moves into New Downtown Office
By Aubree Kaye | Tuesday, April 07, 2009
From HR Services Website:
 HR Services, Inc. is pleased to announce their move to a new office at 675 West Market Street, Lima, Ohio 45801. The newly renovated 17,000 square foot building will provide HR Services with 3 times the space they previously occupied, and offers prime office space for lease on the main floor.
For HR Services, a s...
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Trashing Lima: Leaders push for better sense of city
By David Trinko | Saturday, April 04, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - Teresa Stewart knows that look.
It's that mix of surprise and alarm when she tells someone she's from Lima. That look means someone's subtly trashing her hometown.
"They're like, ‘Oh.' I've kind of wondered why they react that way," said Stewart, a lifelong resident of Lima now living on its west side. "They must have some kind of negative stigma attached to us. I just don't understand it. I don't feel that way at all."
She describes the city as quiet and ...
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Candidate Berger talks high-speed rail
By Heather Rutz | Thursday, March 26, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - At the end of the hour, Mayor David Berger reminded his audience of the obvious.
"I don't know if you know, but I'm running for mayor," Berger told a group of Allen County Democrats on Thursday.
The comment and a tie with the Berger for Mayor logo were the only indications of a candidate. The rest of his talk was largely about what he talks about many times, high-speed rail.
Berger told the crowd to write or call U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Lima, to express that the...
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Irish Day Parade is a big, green hit
By Greg Sowinski | Saturday, March 14, 2009
From The Lima News:
 Five-year-old Taz Scales scooped up candy at Lima's Irish Day Parade on Saturday to quickly pass onto his father, Thomas Scales, who was holding a bag.
Taz was having the time of his life as he and his father shared a cool morning together watching the floats and exhibits move down North Main Street.
<...
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Turnout on traffic meeting low
By Heather Rutz | Thursday, March 12, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - While traffic in the city is often a hot topic with drivers, only a handful of people, mostly downtown business owners, attended a meeting Thursday to give input on the topic.
The city is addressing one-way streets, paths of state routes, and coordination of traffic signals with a $1.7 million study, funded mainly with federal highway money.
Nitza's co-owner Karen Barrington asked about possible changes in state routes. The store benefits from drivers passing by because...
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Ohio transportation budget raises title fees, pushes rail
By James Nash | Friday, February 27, 2009
From The Columbus Dispatch:
Ohioans would have to pay triple the current $5 for vehicle titles and abide by new traffic and seat-belt laws under a new version of the state transportation budget headed toward approval.
The two-year, $7.5 billion budget also clears the way for toll roads in addition to the Ohio Turnpike. And it commits the state to move forward on developing passenger rail service connecting Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati, with a possible link to Toledo.
The budget increases...
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Plan on track for entrepreneur center
By Bart Mills | Thursday, February 26, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - Organizers of this year's Community Enrichment Dinner are hoping to use one man's success story to promote others.
This year's dinner, slated for April 2 at Veterans Memorial Civic Center, will feature former U.S. Rep. and former National Association for the Advancement of Colored People leader Kweisi Mfume, a man who didn't get a general equivalency diploma until he was 23, but went on to two college degrees and five terms in the U.S. House.
Money raised from the $50 a...
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This year's Irish Parade coming together
By Tyrel Linkhorn | Thursday, February 26, 2009
From The Lima News:
No blarney, its time yet again for the city's Irish Parade.
The 17th incarnation of the popular parade will embark at noon March 14 from the corner of Robb Avenue and Main Street.
Darby Bourk, parade co-chair, said it's a good chance to stick it to cabin fever.
"People have the winter blahs, people are ready to get out and do something. If we get some nice weather, it's a bonus."
This year's grand marshals will be Mike and Kay Casey.
"They've helped out with t...
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Chamber seeks surveys on branding efforts
By Bart Mills | Monday, February 23, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - The effort to brand Allen County is about 125 surveys shy of moving to the next phase.
Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce President Jed Metzger and other organizations of the effort to design a brand for the county are hoping to get another 125 people to the Chamber Web site to fill out a survey. The 25-question survey is a way to make sure the broader community is involved in the process, Metzger said.
"We really need input from all of the Allen County community. Th...
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Big feast, small cost: Churches help stretch food dollar
By Heather Rutz | Sunday, February 22, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - It's 9 a.m. and blistering snow and wind waited until after volunteers finished unloading semitrailers of food but is now here for the hundreds of people picking it up. And Jeff Hunter has already been up for five hours.
It's a typical monthly distribution day for the Angel Food Ministries program, putting top-quality, dirt-cheap groceries on tables.
Thousands of churches across the country participate in the national nonprofit; in Lima three churches, Lima Community Ch...
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Chamber seeks business award nominees
By J.D. Bruewer | Sunday, February 22, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - The Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce is taking nominations for local businesses to be honored at the Annual Awards Gala.
The award categories include: small business of the year, non-profit agency of the year, woman-owned business of the year, emerging business of the year and culturally diverse business of the year. Previous business award winners say the recognition that comes with the awards helps boost employee morale and promotes their businesses.
"It's really ...
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City checking out building foundations
By Heather Rutz | Sunday, February 22, 2009
From The Lima News:
LIMA - Two historic buildings rented by the city could have foundation trouble, and officials aim to determine the extent of it.
The city's Utilities Department customer service office, formerly a train depot, and the Cambridge Building are showing signs of foundation movement, Assistant Utilities Director Mike Caprella said.
City maintenance employees found crumbling of mortar in basement walls, drywall cracking and exterior masonry problems, Caprella said.
City Counci...
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Rail group lobbies Jordan's office
By Heather Rutz | Saturday, February 21, 2009
From The Lima News:
KENTON - High-speed rail has support from Gov. Ted Strickland, a new state transportation director and President Barack Obama. And it has more cash than ever before, including $8 billion for projects nationally in the federal stimulus package.
For those reasons, a group of government, development and industry officials believe the time is now to turn from long-laid plans to laying track. The group, the 4th Congressional District Rail Task Force, lobbied U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan's staff Fr...
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Downtown leaders consider neighborhood group
By Heather Rutz | Thursday, February 19, 2009
From The Lima News:
People in all corners of the city participate in neighborhood associations, but nothing exists for those living in the city's center.
That's the thinking of a group gauging interest Wednesday in such an endeavor.
Meeting Place co-owner Greg Stover, the Rev. David Harris, of Trinity United Methodist Church, and Trinity volunteer Wayne Kaufman discussed the idea with downtown business owners, members of Lima Allen County Neighborhoods in Partnership, and managers of downtown housing.
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Marion officials supporting rail project
By John Jarvis | Wednesday, February 18, 2009
From The Marion Star:
Money made available for required environmental studies has spurred a coalition of elected officials to seek the support of their congressman for a high-speed rail project.
The group of representatives of communities in the 4th U.S. House District including Marion, Lima and Mansfield will meet with members of U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan on Friday morning in Kenton.
Their objective is to persuade Jordan to help Ohio secure the approximately $7 million that it's estimated fed...
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Rhodes considering moving health programs downtown
By Beth L. Jokinen | Wednesday, February 18, 2009
From The Lima News:
Downtown Lima could be the future home of some Rhodes State College programs.
Preliminary talks are ongoing about the future of the school's health programs, including a possible move to the downtown area, President Debra McCurdy said Tuesday.
Officials said such a move would help rejuvenate downtown Lima and bring students and staff closer to the city's two hospitals.
"We know we need to grow and downtown Lima may be a viable option for us so our applied health programs can ...
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High-speed rail group wants Jordan on board
By Heather Rutz | Monday, February 16, 2009
From The Lima News:
 With support from Gov. Ted Strickland and President Barack Obama, high-speed rail appears to be at a tipping point.
A group of regional officials hope to get U.S. Rep Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, on board.
The newly formed 4th Congressional District Rail Task Force meets with staff from Jordan's district and Washington offices Friday. They wil...
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Man seeking furniture store downtown
By Staff Reports | Tuesday, February 10, 2009
From The Lima News:
A property owner wanting to open a furniture store is asking the city to rezone a piece of property at 241 S. Main St.
Athanasios Panos wants to open Contemporary Furnishings, offering new and refurbished furniture and other home accessories.
City Planning Commission previously recommended the zoning change, from Business 1 to Business 2. City Council will vote on the request later.
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Group plans spooky downtown tour
By Heather Rutz | Sunday, October 05, 2008
From The Lima News:
Every town has its secrets - some spooky, some sordid.
A group of professionals in the city decided Lima must have them too and developed a fun night befitting the haunting season. Lima Lantern Tours will happen Oct. 17 with a guided walking tour of downtown Lima focused on the city's gangster shootouts and heists, haunted hotels and murders.
The group of friends was talking, Downtown Lima Inc. Assistant Director Aubree Kaye said, and someone mentioned "dark tourism" popular in other...
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Schnorf remodel on track for February finish
By Bart Mills | Monday, September 29, 2008
From The Lima News:
Work on the future home of the county's economic development groups is on track to be completed by February.
Crews have been working on the former Schnorf Hardware building for the past month. So far, they've cleared it of environmental problems - asbestos and mold - and expect to have the new roof completed by week's end, said Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce Director Jed Metzger.
"They're actually ahead of schedule right now. The plan is to get all the windows and roof and ext...
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Drawing on a dream
By Bart Mills | Monday, January 28, 2008
From The Lima News:
 Mike Schulte doesn’t need a crystal ball to show folks the future of Lima; he has YouTube.The Delphos native and graduate architecture student at Ball State enlisted a group of fellow students to draft a vision of Lima’s possible future. That vision is now available as an 80-page book for sale a...
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