(GAHANNA, Ohio)- February 3, 2013
In a small Pennsylvania town, Punxatawney Phil forecasted an early spring early yesterday morning and city leaders in the Columbus suburb of Gahanna forecasted continuous economic growth for the east side suburb at the 16th Annual Groundhog Day Economic Forecast Breakfast on Friday.

The breakfast was held at the Creekside Conference and Event Center in Olde Gahanna as Gahanna celebrated its economic success in 2012 and its economic growth for the year ahead.

The City of Gahanna released surveys of the city’s General Fund Revenue from the past year. 62 percent of the city’s funds come from income tax.

For the 2011 year, 35 percent of money was spent on public safety. 16 percent was spent on general government. 15 percent was spent on the city’s Parks & Recreation department. 12 percent was spent on community and economic development, and 11 percent each was spent of public service and transfers, respectively.

In the 2011 tax year, most of the city’s real estate tax dollars went to the Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools. 17 percent of real estate tax dollars went to the Mifflin Township Fire Department. 11 percent went to Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Services. Seven percent went to Franklin County Children’s Services and Senior Options. Four percent each went to the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Two percent each went to the Franklin County Metro Parks, the Eastland Joint Vocational Schools, and the Franklin County General Fund. The remaining three percent of Gahanna’s real estate tax dollars in the 2011 tax year went back to the City of Gahanna.

Although we haven't mention it during weather updates on-air... My eyes have been watching Isaac. This is the latest we know at this moment.

Isaac is gaining strength off of the coast of Haiti with winds of 60 mph with the storm hitting Cuba tomorrow then the Gulf Coast around monday. Isaac is a large storm and it will affect Tampa and the GOP Convention.

At this point, we don't know If Isaac will have an impact on Central Ohio's weather next week but keep it tuned to WCRS 102.1/98.3 and WCRS Weather Now. I will be watching where it will go next all this weekend and will be blogging here under the WCRS Weather Now Blog.

The good news is we don't have to worry about it this weekend as it will be sunny, hot and 90 during the day and clear and mid 60's at night.

Have a great weekend! Soak it up!

Bryan Curtiss, Writer

At 3:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Savings Time yesterday, bus operators and maintenance workers for the Central Ohio Transit Authority, represented by Transport Workers Union Local # 208 walked off the job, creating the first work stoppage for COTA in 25 years.

For the first time ever, there will be no public transportation service to the Red, White, and Boom fireworks due to this work stoppage.

According to COTA President and CEO Curtis Stitt, COTA negotiated in "good faith" with the Union, but the Union rejected two contract proposals, including one tonight.

When the latest contract proposal was rejected tonight, I was hoping that there would be a definitive answer into why the strike is continuing onward. However, Transport Workers Union Local # 208 President Andrew Jordan did not go into specific details on the 11:00 News tonight.

This is going to be a long and hot summer for COTA riders trying to get around. While some riders are able to get around fine, many riders are disabled and unable to drive.

COTA bus operators on Facebook and on the local Columbus website Columbus Underground voiced their concerns regarding safety and the working conditions on the buses.

In Monday's Columbus Dispatch, Mayor Michael B. Coleman was quoted as saying the strike is "irresponsible" on the Union's part. Mayor Coleman is right. The strike by COTA is irresponsible, at a time where the city has seen its hottest temperature in 13 years this past week, at a time where the heat index is in the triple digits, and at a time where the economy is still recovering from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The Fatbeard Radio Programme with Shellac, Big Black, Messrs, Devo, H.M.O.O.C, Bygones, and Led Zeppelin.

“The DJBC Happy Hour To Offer Wide Variety Of Programs In Spring, Summer Months”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Bryan Curtiss, Host/Executive Producer
(614) 285-9079
curtiss.bryan@gmail.com

March 16, 2012

COLUMBUS. “The DJBC Happy Hour” will offer a plethora of themed-shows during the spring and summer months of 2012, including a Musical Salute to 1976, a road trip across Columbus, the One-Year Anniversary show, and the 12th Annual Bryan Awards.

April will begin with an April Fools themed show on April 2, which will be full of comedic surprises, and a recap of the 32nd Annual Golden Raspberry Awards. April 9 will be a week of rest due to Easter and to allow more time to work on the two-part One-Year Anniversary Show, set to air on April 16 and 23, which is still under wraps. April 30 will also be an off-week for the show.

The month of May will begin with a two-part musical salute to America’s Bicentennial Year, 1976.

“I want to do a lot of special-themed shows as part of the city of Columbus’ Bicentennial Year,” said show host and executive producer Bryan Curtiss. “Since America’s Bicentennial Year was 1976, I wanted to do a theme of songs from that year, as a kind-of Bicentennial homage.”

Part 1 of that Bicentennial Musical array will air on May 7 and Part 2 on May 14.

The May 21 show, which will also be repeated the following week, Memorial Day, will be a preview of some of the upcoming Summer events, including the 51st Annual Greater Columbus Arts Festival, the Asian Festival, and other city and community events in the early part of summer.

June will be busting out with another birthday-themed show on June 11, and an encore of last year’s birthday-themed show on June 4. The June 18 show will preview more Summer events including the 40th Anniversary of ComFest, tours in German Village and Olde Towne East, and other events.

The Fatbeard Radio Programme at 9pm EST Thursdays. This Week:
2 O'Clock Girlfriend, The Kinks, White Mice, Red Fang, Neon Blonde, Past Lives, Bygones, Hella, Led Zeppelin, and Heavy, Heavy, Low, Low.
Bring a date.

Check out the new Fatbeard Radio Programme at 9pm Thurs night. All new, no repeats.

Li$ten or Lo$e.

Listen to The Fatbeard Radio Programme at 9pm and Get Weird with Bo Davis at 10pm tonight.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Bryan Curtiss, Host/Executive Producer
(614) 377-9333
curtiss.bryan@gmail.com

January 26, 2012

Columbus Radio Show To Celebrate City’s Bicentennial In Two-Part Show

COLUMBUS. “The DJBC Happy Hour” radio program will celebrate the 200-year history of Columbus in a creative way with a two-part show, on January 30 and February 6.

The January 30 show will take a look back at Columbus’s past, and Curtiss will share some of the history of the city.

The February 6 program will preview upcoming Bicentennial Celebrations, including the Bicentennial Celebrations taking place from February 10 through 15.

“The Bicentennial Celebration is a big collaborative between so many communities and organizations, and this show cannot bypass recognizing the Bicentennial celebration before the actual date of the Bicentennial,” Curtiss added. The actual date of the Bicentennial is February 14, which is also Valentine’s Day.

There will be spoofs of current and former Columbus culture in both programs in sketches that are still in development.

“I got the idea for this when making fake historic commercials for the holiday shows, some of which were about Columbus,” Curtiss remarked. “I decided, ‘Why not make fake Columbus commercials for the Bicentennial?”

Other Bicentennial-themed shows will include “Christmas in Columbus”, which will air sometime in December; the Summer Preview Show, covering Summer Events in Columbus; “Songs from 1976”, which will be dedicated to songs from 1976, the American Bicentennial year, but will feature Columbus-themed clips, and “The 12th Annual Bryan Awards”, which will air over three weeks beginning August 27.

“‘The Bryan Awards’ this year will have references to Columbus thrown into the show, given the city’s 200th year,” Curtiss explained.