Donate your Facebook status to National Coming Out Day: 10/11/2009

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Click on the link below for much more information.

clipped from www.hrc.org National Coming Out Day: October 11, 2009 Conversations From the Heart Whether you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or not, be proud of who you are and your support for LGBT equality this National Coming Out Day. Watch HRC's Conversations From the Heart videos, donate your Facebook status and pledge to have conversations from the heart with your friends and family for equality. A simple conversation can change the lives of people you care about. Share via social networking  Donate your Facebook status for NCOD  Send to friends on Facebook  Share on Twitter Share your story Your own conversation from the heart Share     Related Links Take action Email to a friend Pledge to have conversations from the heart Join the Human Rights Campaign Looking for publications? Download coming out guides Request a free copy Order publications in bulk via the HRC Shop Do you have an event planned for National Coming Out Day 2009? Tell us about it! We will add it to the map.

GOP-led Ohio Senate is expected to kill anti-bias bill

clipped from news.cincinnati.com Gay rights law doomed in Senate By Jon Craig • jcraig@enquirer.com • September 28, 2009 COLUMBUS - Anti-discrimination legislation that easily passed the Democratic-controlled Ohio House earlier this month has no chance of passage in the GOP-led Senate because it's seen as "anti-business,'' state senators said last week. The House's 56-39 vote on Sept. 15 for House Bill 176 marked the first time either chamber of the Ohio General Assembly approved a bill protecting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Ohioans. Last year, similar legislation, Senate Bill 305, died in committee. This month's passage of the Equal Housing and Employment Act sent a clear message, according to Lynne Bowman, executive director of Equality Ohio, the state's advocacy organization for LGBT issues: "Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity will not be tolerated in Ohio, regardless of where a person lives, works or plays."

Cleveland has been awarded the 2014 Gay Games!

clipped from www.spanglemagazine.com Un-freakin'-believable! Cleveland has been awarded the 2014 Gay Games! The announcement was just made by the Federation of Gay Games in Cologne, Germany. Congratulations to everyone at the Cleveland Synergy Foundation, who, along with their partners, somewhat improbably brought the games home to Northeast Ohio. More details as we learn them.

What new home buyers should know beyond the $8,000 tax credit

I helped the reporter with the list. He did not use my quote: "Buy what you want. You would never buy a size 10 shoe if your wear a size 6 even if it is a great bargain."

Click on the link for the entire article.

clipped from www.dispatch.com Yes, there's still time to take advantage of the first-time homebuyers' tax credit, but you'd better hurry. A home purchase must be completed no later than Nov. 30 to qualify for up to $8,000 in tax credit. As you begin the search for your first house, here are 10 things you should know. Helping us compile the list were Cindy Flaherty, director of homeownership with the Ohio Housing Finance Agency; Theresa Hill, a senior homeownership counselor at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission; Kimberly Knight, an agent in the Bexley office of Coldwell Banker King Thompson; Angela Murphy, a partner in the Revealty real-estate firm; Terry Penrod, an agent in Real Living HER's Metro office; and David Zambo, a loan originator with Park National Bank. SEEK GUIDANCE KNOW YOUR BUDGET TALK TO A LENDER PICK A REAL-ESTATE AGENT BEWARE OF BARGAINS THAT MIGHT CAUSE GRIEF KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD GET AN INSPECTION KNOW WHAT THE HOME WILL REALLY COST GET MORE HELP UNDERSTAND THE PAPERS THAT YOU'RE SIGNING

Kroger at High and 7th is finally slated to break ground next spring and more news about Weinland Park

Good updates from Columbusunderground about Weinland Park. Click on the link to read more.

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com Roadwork is scheduled to begin this fall at the Columbus Coated Fabrics site. “While the economy has taken its toll on developers all over, the project continues to progress,” reported Mark Wagenbrenner at the Urban Land Institute meeting yesterday. The meeting covered the city plans for both Weinland Park and the upcoming Campus Partners development. The presentation included a projected expansion of the South Campus Gateway between 8th and 9th Avenues along High Street. The plan also includes a proposed gateway complex on 11th Ave between North Fourth and Grant in conjunction with the Columbus Coated Fabric site. The Kroger store on High and Seventh is finally slated to break ground next spring.

In Central Ohio: Roughly two in five Central Ohio home sales come from first-time buyers

and August numbers.....

clipped from columbus.bizjournals.com The board reported 1,994 existing single-family homes and condominiums were sold last month, down 8 percent from 2,166 sold in August 2008. Homes in contract, an indication of future sales, were off 16 percent at 1,569 units. At the same time, the average sale price of an area home fell 4 percent to $168,873 from $175,632. The board noted the inventory of homes on the market dropped 14 percent year-over-year last month to 14,552 homes, which represents a supply of little more than seven months, just above the high end of what’s considered a balanced market. The region’s market backlog a year ago was closer to an eight-month supply. And while the board doesn’t track first-time buyers, the government’s $8,000 first-time home buyer credit has made its mark, said President Gary Parsons in a release. Officials estimate that roughly two in five Central Ohio home sales come from first-time buyers, who have until Nov. 30 to take advantage of the credit by closing on their homes.

Columbus Dispatch: First-time home buyers rushing to close.. I am quoted :-)

If you are a first time home buyer and you want a home...start looking now!

clipped from www.dispatch.com Deadline for $8,000 tax credit boosts market The number of affordable houses is shrinking in central Ohio as first-time homebuyers rush to capitalize on a federal tax credit for home purchases. About 5,000 homes are for sale in central Ohio for less than $130,000, down from more than 6,500 a year ago, according to figures compiled by the real-estate company Real Living. Real-estate agents and lenders recommend that buyers be in contract for a house 30 days to 45 days before the deadline if they hope to close by the deadline. "You really need to be in contract by Oct. 15," said Terry Penrod, a Real Living agent active in the University District and other parts of Columbus. "Typically, you want 30 days to close, but if there's a dramatic influx of requests because of this tax credit, it may take a long time. "You need to be out there now looking."

Graffiti Burger opens new location TODAY on 5th Avenue in Grandview

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com This Wednesday, Graffiti Burger will be opening up their second restaurant at 1505 West 5th Avenue, in the 5XNW neighborhood. The original Dublin location has become a bit of a cult favorite here on Columbus Underground, and this new location promises more of the same: black angus burgers, fresh-cut fries, and hand-dipped milkshakes. The burger concept was launched earlier this year through a business partnership between Jim Torski, the former VP of operations with Cameron Mitchell, and George Tanchevski, founder of Aladdin’s and Giorgio. Customers of Graffiti Burger have often compared the food to that of Five Guys or In-N-Out Burger. The limited menu choices and higher-quality ingredients keeps the experience much more focused than the more traditional fast food burger chains. More information can be found online at GraffitiBurger.com, as well as their Facebook page.

Closed Lanes On Rt. 315 To Reopen Friday

clipped from www.dispatch.com Traffic on Rt. 315 will be a lot less crowded beginning Friday when closed northbound lanes reopen. The lanes had been closed and all traffic shifted to the southbound lanes since this summer. In all, 11 of the 21 exit and entrance ramps have been closed for the $24 million project on the 3-mile stretch between North Broadway and I-670. The reopening, which is several weeks ahead of schedule, should make travel to and from this Saturday's Buckeye football game much smoother.  Workers are repairing bridges and ramps and making other fixes. The reopening, which is several weeks ahead of schedule, should make travel to and from this Saturday's Buckeye football game much smoother.

Trio of area companies keep perfect score as gay-friendly workplaces

Trio of area companies keep perfect score as gay-friendly workplaces - Business First of Columbus:

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The three Central Ohio companies that made the top ranks last year in an annual report on equitable workplace policies for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered employees have held on to the top honor, but they came close to making room for another.

The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign this week issued its Corporate Equality Index, which scored 305 companies out of 590 with a perfect 100. Central Ohio companies with a perfect score were New Albany-based Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF), Dublin-based Cardinal Health Inc. (NYSE:CAH) and Columbus-based Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

All three companies also scored 100 last year, which marked Cardinal’s first time on the list. Nationwide has received a perfect score six times since the index began in 2002, while Abercrombie hit 100 for the fourth time.

Companies that received all possible points had non-discrimination policies, conducted diversity training and offered benefits to non-married partners, among other criteria.

The only other area company among six listed to score higher than a 90 was Columbus-based Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE:LTD), which received a 95, up from 80 the year before. The retailer was docked five points for not offering transgender-inclusive insurance coverage for at least one type of benefit.

Columbus-based Huntington Bancshares Inc. (NASDAQ:HBAN) scored a 75, while the region’s largest law firm, Columbus-based Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP received an 80. Ratings for Huntington and Vorys were unchanged from last year.

The advocacy group called this year’s results evidence of “impressive gains” for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered workers across the board as anti-discrimination policies are considered at the federal, state and municipal levels. The Democrat-controlled Ohio House of Representatives recently passed a bill that prohibits housing and workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, which is pending in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

“The Corporate Equality Index 2010 shows that, even in the most challenging economy, leading employers are forging ahead of federal and state law to recruit and retain a diverse work force – regardless of employees’ sexual orientation and gender identity or expression,” President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.

Click here to download the full report. An employer database can be accessed by clicking here.

At Home: In Franklinton

clipped from www.columbusunderground.com Chris Sherman wasn’t really looking to call Franklinton home when he came across a unique property a few years ago. At the time, he was working his construction business and had a garage, a shop and an apartment spread out in Olde Towne East and the Short North. When he found the nearly 3,000 square foot space in Franklinton, he knew he would be able to consolidate everything and make his life much easier. The area was a much better and more convenient location to many of his clients and to downtown and nightlife. The space was pretty raw and he has converted it into a workspace and a living space. His ultra-modern, contemporary minimal style fits the space well. He finds much of his design inspiration from his work, and from magazines such as Metropolis and Dwell. He has a pretty nice art collection, mixing things he has created himself, and pieces others have created along with things such as manhole covers and casts from hydraulic pumps from the now closed Chase Foundry.

IRS: 1.4 million have used home-buyer tax credit

Are you one of them?

clipped from columbus.bizjournals.com An estimated 1.4 million Americans have used the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time home buyers, according to the Internal Revenue Service. A Dec. 1 deadline looms for first-time buyers to purchase a house to qualify for the tax credit. The credit equals 10 percent of the purchase price of a home, up to $8,000. It either reduces the individual’s tax payment or will be returned as a higher refund next year. There are income limits to the program, which is designed to ease the housing crisis by reducing the inventory of homes on the market.