It was great to read the editorial honoring one of northwest Ohio’s truly creative industrial geniuses: Harold McMaster (“Toledo’s spot in the sun,” Oct. 2).
My late brother, John, and I both had the privilege of being on Solar Cells Inc.’s board of directors until it was purchased by First Solar Inc. Though we lost money on the venture, as did many people at this end of Ohio, it was still an incredible experience.
It is great to watch First Solar Inc. employing hundreds of very sharp, local people and becoming an innovative, worldwide company.
Norman Nitschke, Mr. McMaster’s great friend and partner in developing many technical thoughts, is another amazing local scientist who sat on our board.
Mr. Nitschke spent many days before our board meetings on his computer tracking a large number of solar projects around the world by other companies to share with the board many of the creative thoughts being developed.
Mr. Nitschke is still very sharp and is now 99-½ years old. Helen McMaster, Mr. McMaster’s great buddy, friend, and widow, is doing extremely well at the age of 102.
She was always her husband’s strongest backer, supporter, and an outstanding lifetime mate.
BOB SAVAGE
West Toledo
Coordinate 911
The 911 consolidation plan for dispatch has stirred up controversy amidst the communities affected by the plan proposed by the Lucas County commissioners.
Richard Carr, Maumee’s mayor, is incensed, viewing the consolidation plan as taking something from the community.
He has done his best to gin up fear and anger and division among citizens via social media decrying the plan as an effort by Lucas County to “shove the plan down Maumee’s throat” and citing nine reasons to not go forward.
He states that meetings occurred when Toledo and the surrounding communities hammered out a plan for regional cooperation about water, yet no meetings have been planned for the consolidation proposal.
He decried the 911 plan in a public forum for mayoral and council candidates in September in front of a group of voters asserting that it isn’t good for Maumee.
Mayor Carr used his forum at a recent city council meeting to voice his displeasure. He finds no positives in the plan whatsoever.
Yet one wonders if the mayor has vigorously related his concerns to the commissioners. Has Mayor Carr attempted to bring these problems forward?
In my reading of the plan, an overwhelming topic is technology, i.e., use of cell phones instead of land lines and the need to accommodate to this well-established mode of communication.
I urge Mr. Carr to reach out to the commissioners and for the commissioners to listen to ease the disputed issue of 911 consolidation. Something needs to be done in a collaborative way.
PEGGY ERHART
Maumee
First Published October 19, 2019, 4:00 a.m.
