The Amherst news-times. (Amherst, Ohio), 2004-02-11

              swim team makes splash - page 6 soldier returns home pac wpl; f : 3 h at l82 o amherst news-time ee8551 lct drops route; offers private rides by jason hawk news-times reporter lorain county transit offi cials arc putting a positive spin on their decision last week to cancel the remaining perma nent route exclusive amherst. friday, 32 made its final run, and service began yesterday an expanded dial-a-ridc program. "wc looked ridcrship numbers felt they weren't high enough justify service," said general manager debbie mohr, adding that public hearings in december con firmed many . south residents did not have access route. officials also nixed 55 avon lake, but new program -dubbed community connectors will place permanent 25-foot, 15-passcngcr bus telephone request, schedule pick-ups drop-offs all points between obcrlin drug mart 58, super k-mart, meridian plaza lorain. "people won't be losing service. hopefully, receiving more meets needs," mohr said, now available saturdays. "and with 32, depending where people were going, trip was very long. this should give them faster service." been evaluating 'service other communities for past two years, she 15,024 trips taken 2003 sufficient warrant keeping line. try do best wc can our structure, daily annual reports. ask if doing money have.. .in case, didn't line open," said. "if doesn't work, then nothing will." 2002, dropped routes 61 62, which serviced lorain, sheffield sheffield, "when you're operating rural area or smaller populated like amherst, never going get you city of went into consideration," "feel assured transportation higher 2004 than previously. means we're giving better it individualized, tailored previously." elimination comes as council is preparing pass ordinance donate $1,000 appreciation services. members informed possi ble cut prior being solicited donation december, appeared before monday night assure would improvement. "it's perfect science, we figure out how sharing through communities, it's cross-over, hard tell just reliant businesses ore provide from elyria communi ties," 31 41 serve along cooper foster park road portions 58 sliding school near purple-haired mascot slider celebrates harris elementary school's cleveland indians day split, delight stu dents who could hardly contain excitement meeting players casey blake, travis hafner, cliff lee (below). attendance eric wedge (bottom right), lucky student kory watterson left), received ball autographed four stars. happy valentine's comp saturday, cupid make sure couples over love struck moon-eyed, city's first family no exception, j "he's basically marshmallow." diane taylor her husband, mayor dave taylor, smile. "dave says marriage has lasted so long because he's gone lot. he good sense humor." weekend, taylors celebrate 42nd together, although joked showing it, holiday brings dave's softer side. "i wouldn't say lovey-dovey, i too macho," "he ki iiiiihii mill iii hill ii l hf let me mow lawn, shovel snow take garbage. docs dishes sometimes even laundry. always opens doors me." both natives, met rcc downtown during 1950s, teens gathered play games, listen music, dance. introduced each mutual friend york state, staying town weekend. friendship contin ued while worked board education's summer recre ation long, started dating, married 1962. school, teacher asked what his succeed. answer wife liked other. oldct get, realize great was. respect care unselfishly," diane. "we've lucky." continued 5 lottery winners beware: wants share inspired euclid's recent financial fall floor, attempting quickly legislation set municipal tax winnings. euclid failed capital ize $162 million winnings resident rebecca jcmison, hit mcgamillions jackpot late december. cash-strapped collected $1.4 revenue, until gcorginc wclo remembered local legislators adopted charter amendment vould allow collect income prize. amherst's trying avoid same fate adopting 1.5 percent treasurer kathleen litkovitz code week, asking mernbers approve $600. "this something desper ately need look at," "i'm finding lot cities quite while, some since 2001 1996." earliest example tax, litkovitz, parma heights, 1983. same, stands average $10,000 annually, probably missed already had books," "they aren't having problem columbus hands this, why wc?" member northwest ohio administrator's association, aware 29 (75 percent) amendments. proposal modeled after those fmdlay, dublin, fairvicw park, pepper fike, brccksvillc, east cleveland, hudson, olmsted falls, akron. behind tax. at-iargc nick brusky joseph gambish voted against sending measure floor feb. 2 finance committee meeting. "at sounded idea," "but large windfall (should havc)...our taking windfall! next year." departments grow accustomed spending extra cash, though objected personal convictions. "it may my opinion, think taxing country go," rely on." denounced brusky's reasoning, stating coffers are swelled year unexpected sources such inheritance taxes, "nobody likes pay way alleviates us future raise rather