LENSC may host other state, regional events
By Jeff Gallatin
Bay Village
Published Aug. 6, 2008

For Gov. Ted Strickland, a visit to the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center showed him that it might be a good place for other people to see what Ohio and the Great Lakes have to offer.

After visiting the Bay Village based LENSC last Wednesday afternoon to see the facility which was given $200,000 in the recently approved state capital improvements bill, Strickland praised the Center and its operations. In addition, when asked, he said it would be a good place to host or initiate programs about the Great Lakes or other nature and environmental issues.

“Yes, it would be a natural for something like that,” said Strickland after being asked about the possibility of the Center hosting or initiating such programs.

Strickland’s tour came the same day that Sen. George Voinovich, a former governor, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Great Lakes Compact. Both Strickland and Voinovich as well as many other Ohio officials have been pushing passage of the Great Lakes legislation, which would protect the Great Lakes through better water management, conservation and public involvement.

LENSC Executive Director Larry Richardson said the Center would be happy to host any events the state or Great Lakes region is involved in.

“We’ve hosted similar events before,” said Richardson, citing meetings of the Great Lakes Commission and other regional organizations holding meetings at the Center in the past.

After the governor endorsed the suitability of the Center as a possible host facility, state Rep. Jennifer Brady, whose area includes the Center, also expressed interest.

“Absolutely, that’s something we will follow up on,” said Brady, who toured the Center along with Strickland, Bay Village Mayor and Cuyahoga County Commission candidate Debbie Sutherland, Dr. Jeffrey Reuter of Ohio Sea Grant and architect William Doty, who will be working on improvements which will be largely funded by the state money.

Sutherland said the city would be supportive of any programs or meetings put on at the Center.

“It’s one of the gems of not only the city, but the entire area,” she said. “It brings us a lot of benefits through its programs.”

Strickland said one of the goals of his visit was to highlight the state’s support for smaller and mid-sized facilities like the Center. It was one of several Westshore area programs to receive funding in the Capital Improvements Bill

“They bring a lot to the state, we support all projects, not just mega projects,” Strickland said. “Clearly, people here appreciate the center judging by the visitors and use of the programs.”

While touring the Center, Strickland met with various staff members and toured the Center’s Nature Nuts preschool classroom where student Joseph West gave the governor an up-close view of the classroom’s toad. He also stopped and talked with children and Dave Wolf, the center’s director of Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation while he was working with a red-tailed hawk, one of the many animals center staff has rehabilitated through the years. The hawk stays at the center since it’s not releasable because of its injuries. Strickland held the hawk and earlier in his tour encountered an owl.

After the 45-minute tour, Strickland praised the Center.

“It’s hugely impressive,” Strickland said. “It is obviously valued.”

Richardson said the improvements and planned expansion will accommodate the rising number of walk-in visitors to the non-profit center as well as meet a growing demand for hands-on programs that include early childhood education, after-school enrichment, scout programs, summer camps and school field trips.

“We have a variety of programs that run waiting lists,” he said. In addition to expanding our facility to meet that need, we want to expand our mission to motivate families in our community to go beyond simple appreciation for nature. We plan to show them how they can take action to care for the natural world.”

Strickland praised the Center’s work in teaching, education and rehabilitation.

“The tools are here to provide that kind of education, using hands-on approaches, which I think are the most effective way to teach.”

Center officials said the expansion should begin in 2009 and be done in about a year.