Cleveland State University

Ever since I could talk it seems like my favorite letters were “O-H-I-O”. I was born and raised with a peanut butter and chocolate buckeye in my mouth and a “Block O” on my clothes. It seemed as if The Ohio State University and I were destined for a meeting once I reached adulthood. There were no two ways about it, I was a Buckeye. So naturally I am currently a Cleveland State Viking.

Ohio State was the binding force in my family. Nearly everyone on my father’s side had gone there and so I was happy to follow suit. Mom and dad didn’t attend OSU but, they cheered and roared every time they punched one in the end zone. My biggest influence had to be my uncle Gary who was a reserve wide receiver for the Buckeyes in the late ‘80s. I still wake up in the morning with my bed covers drenched in scarlet and gray.

It wasn’t long before I was in high school and needed to think about what I was going to do with the rest of my life. I tossed around ideas in my head as a freshman and sophomore. Was I going to stick with the original plan and attend Ohio State, or would I rebel. I finally decided that I wanted to go into accounting because of my knack for solving math problems.

I looked at all of the accounting programs at different schools. None in the area really stuck out to me. The good programs were either too far away or in a secluded area in the middle of nowhere. This plan wasn’t working out quite as I had hoped.

I contemplated choosing a school for other reasons like sports. The only sport I was good in was track and field throwing the discus. I even had offers from Tiffin University and Notre Dame College to come compete for them. I ultimately decided that college sports were way too time-consuming and I wanted to focus on my schoolwork.

I was continuing to narrow down my choices of colleges. I widdled down the number of schools to three. Those three colleges were Tiffin, Cleveland State and The Ohio State Universities. For most of the past three months I was leaning towards Ohio State, mainly due to meanings of family pride.

I enrolled in Fall classes at Cleveland State the following year. The past two years have confirmed that I made the right decision, even though it seemed as if it was forced. Looking back now I am still a Buckeyes fan, but Cleveland State is my university and I would not change a thing. I have learned that there is a distinct plan for my life and change is inevitable.

About the Author: Matt Marcinick is currently a student at Cleveland State University and will be graduating with a Bachelors in Communication in December. He has grown up and still lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. He enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as the occasional video game. Matt interned at WEWS NewsChannel 5 in Cleveland and has been part of numerous video projects in the Cleveland area. He is a Board Member of the Live Safe Foundation and believes that living fire safe is the secret to living a long and healthy life.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

On Monday, October, 4, 2010, with the support of The Ohio State University Medical Center Service Board and the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Central Ohio Chapter, will be hosting the 21st annual Golf Outing to benefit the Ohio State University Hospital Burn Center at the Country Club of Muirfield Village. Fire Protection industry supporters (OSU Medical Center Burn Center and Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers), come together annually to educate the public as to the extensive damage fire causes and how they can be a part of the solution to the problem by requiring properly designed automatic fire suppression systems not only where they work, but where they live, play, shop, go to school and worship. Since 1998 (traditionally kicked off during Fire Prevention Week) the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and its members have generously contributed $212,500 to the Burn Center at Ohio State University Medical Center. These funds have allowed the Ohio State Burn Center to continue to be actively involved in providing education on burn prevention and fire safety both to the community and the students on campus, as well as helping patients obtain special items or assistance such as compression garments which are not covered under insurance. The fund also provides direct support and assistance to patients, their families and advanced education to burn care nurses.

Funds raised from the event are allocated to enhance education and prevention programs, as well as patient care.

While mulch can be beneficial in landscape applications, it can also pose a fire hazard. Mulch fires are one of the more common calls the fire department answers during the warm months of the year. These fires are usually caused by cigarettes, matches and other smoking materials that are tossed on the ground before people enter a building or into the median from drivers. Some types of mulch are more easily ignited than others. Typically, mulches that are high in oils such as pine bark and shredded cypress bark, are easiest to ignite according to a study conducted by The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute. Dyed mulches that are commonly processed from pallets can also readily catch fire. In contrast, cocoa shells, medium pine bark nuggets, and hardwood bark were three organic mulches that were tested in the study and found to be more ignition resistant.

Beware of Mulch fires common in landscaping.

To keep mulch fires out of the landscape:
*  Do not discard cigarettes or other smoking materials on the ground, in playground areas, or throw them out of your vehicle.
*  Ensure proper clearance to electrical devices such as decorative lighting by following the manufacturer¹s instructions.
*  Maintain a minimum of a six-inch clearance between landscaping mulch beds and other combustible items such as buildings, shrubs, etc.
*  Use non-combustible mulch such as rock or pea gravel around the gas meter and next to combustible portions of a structure.
*  Maintain mulch at a depth of two to four inches to eliminate the chance of spontaneous combustion.

Do you have a fire prevention, fire, or life safety question for the fire department? Submit it to fireinfo@wtwp.com.

Line of Duty” Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, is a 32-year veteran of the fire service. A Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of several similar safety organizations. Perkins is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Where & When & How

• Date: Sunday  April 11,  2010
• Location: Recreation & Physical Activity Center – OSU
• Directions: CLICK HERE
• Time: 9:00am start time; registration begins at 7:00am
• Entry Fee: $25 through April 4th; $30 april 5th through race day
• Awards:
  • The top 3 male and female finishers will be rewarded
• Course Map: CLICK HERE

• How to Register
  • Online: www.premierraces.com
  • During packet pickup at Front Runner
  • Mail Registration form with check payable to: Premier Races, 401 Charmel Place Columbus, Ohio 43235
  • Race Day starting at 7:00am in the RPAC Lobby.
• Race Packets
  • All participants will receive a t-shirt and post race refreshments
• Packet Pick Up
  • April 5-9th, 10am-8pm; April 10th, 10am-6pm
    Front Runner, 1344 W Lane Ave, Columbus, OH
    Phone: 614-486-0301

Special Race Day Features:

• Family Friendly event
• Meet local fire fighters and explore an antique fire truck
• Cotton t-shirts for all participants
• Timing available for all participants
• Music, Food, Awards

For more information about the OSU Burn Center or Sponsor information, please contact Jennifer Parks via:

• Email: jennifer.parks@osumc.edu
• Fax: 614-293-8785
• Mail: 410 West 10th Avenue, Room 539 Doan Hall, Columbus, Ohio 43201
• Or visit www.premierraces.com

Run for a great cause!

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.