A little info in this older posting. Opal's big thing in the past and now is building an amusement park downtown. Also, don't forget about Martin Okonski. Here's a July 2 Blade article with info about Opal and Martin.
"[Okonski's] ideas include building a monorail system from the Southwyck Shopping Center to downtown "to help save Southwyck," and also creating a career-building program requiring those who successfully bid on contracts of over $100,000 with the city to hire interns from area colleges. He thinks Toledo citizens should answer the question of whether they want gambling."
"Opal Covey, 65, an independent candidate who runs a ministry out of her apartment at 615 Cherry St., moved to Toledo in 1977 from Lima, Ohio. Though she, as well, has yet to hold public office, the Kentucky native believes her "God-given vision" will lead her to make the decisions she needs to about Toledo. "I had a vision directly from the throne of God. I am a minister, and I have visions," she said. "I want to make this a big vacation city. I want to send flyers all around the world, getting people to come." "
"The crux of Ms. Covey's vision includes putting an amusement park in downtown's Promenade Park. "That is the key to prosperity and success in this city," she said. "We don't have 'yesterday' Toledo - the busy hustle and bustle of downtown shopping, the Macy's - we have 'today' Toledo, what it has become." "Today Toledo" for Ms. Covey is a theme park where the downtown's larger stores are replaced by little stores and souvenir shops. Candy shops, ice cream parlors, and restaurants would add to the area's fun-filled ambiance. As for the proposed arena, it should go on the east side of the Maumee River, she said. Putting it downtown would make the theme-park area too congested."
Also running, Patricia Mae Rose.
"Ms. Rose said she's running because Toledo "needs a mayor that listens - a people mayor. I go out and talk to anybody. Anything that goes wrong in Patty's neighborhood, they go to Patty. I clean the alleys, I plant flowers in the alleys. All the agencies downtown know my name," she said."
posted by jr at 01:38 P.M. EST on Sun Jul 10, 2005 #
I'm almost glad I cant vote in that election.
posted by swantucky at 03:16 P.M. EST on Sun Jul 10, 2005 #
Opal IS an Amusment Park Downtown...
And much more entertaining than JFo and Carty put together, hands down.
Opal moved here from Lima.
Isn't/wasn't there a rather large insane asylum or mental hospital there (or was, in years past)?
NOT that there's any connection ;-)
Nuff said.
posted by Hooda_Thunkit at 07:13 P.M. EST on Sun Jul 10, 2005 #
I have met Opal several times at Wildwood Metropark. She is usually walking a large but friendly dog (shepherd mix?), and uses the dog to "break the ice" with people in talking about her faith in Jesus Christ.
She drives an old, rusted car, that usually sports an "Opal for Mayor" sign on the top of it.
At one time she ran a used item/resale shop over near on the east side. A friend of mine told me that once she had a minor car accident near Opal's shop, and Opal let her use the phone and made sure she was all right.
I guess some would call her a character, but after some of the less friendly/more hostile people I have occasionally run into, Toledo could do with a few more like her.
posted by frigus_veritas at 11:09 A.M. EST on Mon Jul 11, 2005 #
All I know about her is that quite a while ago I went into her little shop at Oak and Fassett Street in East Toledo. There were more than a few cats in there.Some were loose, and some in cages.There was quite an arrangement of used goods for sale there.I can't remember if I bought anything.But I seem to remember she had a good stock of candy, and I do love candy. I may have bought some. I can only say that,at least she was trying to make an honest living. God bless her for doing that. I also remember there was some kind of animal raid there. Where the humane society took her animals away. That's all I know.I would only comment on something I actually know anything about. So this is it!
posted by Bbcmjeep43 at 07:05 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 12, 2005 #
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