OHIO!

I am quite excited about going to Ohio! That's right, O-HI-O!

Going to visit one of my best of grad school mates Señor Dave Grager in sleepy little Y-Town, Youngstown, July 19 - 23!

Some random facts about our 17th state:
The first ambulance service was established in Cincinnati in 1865.

Cleveland boasts America's first traffic light. It began on Aug. 5, 1914.

Ermal Fraze invented the pop-top can in Kettering.

James J. Ritty, of Dayton, invented the cash register in 1879 to stop his patrons from pilfering house profits.

"Hang On Sloopy" is the official state rock song.

Cincinnati Reds were the first professional baseball team.

Akron was the first city to use police cars.

Cincinnati had the first professional city fire department.

Akron is the rubber capital of the world.

Ohio senator John Glenn became the oldest man to venture into outer space.

Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The popular television sit-com, "The Drew Cary Show" is set in Cleveland.

Seven United States presidents were born in Ohio. They are: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and Warren G. Harding.

Ohio gave America its first hot dog in 1900. Harry M. Stevens created the popular dining dog.

Ohio became the 17th state on March 1, 1803.

East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland was the site of the first pedestrian button for the control of a traffic light.

50% of the United States population lives within a 500 mile radius of Columbus.

Ohio's state flag is a pennant design. It is the only state flag of that design in the United States.

Cleveland became the world's first city to be lighted electrically in 1879.

W.F. Semple of Mount Vernon patented chewing gum in 1869.

Jesse Owens grew up in Cleveland. He won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Okay, that was a few more than a few!