Toledo Free Press - July 27, 2005 by Toledo Free Press

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OPAL COVEY envisions a holy city, page 8

The dawn of a Toledo tradition www.toledofreepress.com

July 27, 2005

CATFISH HUNTER

FREE

Bawdy and bold blues master Bobby Rush headlines this weekend’s Toledo Blues Festival, page 44

■ Real estate

■ BREAKING NEWS: Concrete crumbles at BGSU stadium, page 11

BACK TO SCHOOL

Housing bubble What Toledoans need to know about the rise in housing prices, page 16

20 pages of local coverage to prep you for the 2005 academic year:

■ Agriculture

County fair Lucas County Fair seeks mindset, location change, page 6

school uniforms • home schooling special education • support groups one-on-one tutoring • adult education senior memories • breakfast recipes several notable Toledoans look back technology • after-school activities welcome back statements parent concerns teacher complaints after the kids are gone

■ Sports

Catching up with broadcasting legend Orris Tabner, page 20

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

Hall of famer

special section, page 23

he University of Toledo will implement a new Web portal in the fall called MyUT. The system will require only one user ID and password, said Joe Sawasky, the interim assistant vice president of Educational and Information Technology at UT. “The Internet generation demands those kinds of things.” Story by Zach Silka, page 38

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OPINION

July 27, 2005

LIGHTING THE FUSE A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC Vol. 1, No. 20, Established 2005

Thomas F. Pounds President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com Joshua E. Trust Vice President of Sales & Marketing jtrust@toledofreepress.com Kay T. Pounds Vice President of Operations kpounds@toledofreepress.com Stacie L. Klewer Art Director sklewer@toledofreepress.com Myndi M. Milliken Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com Barbara Goodman Shovers Contributing Editor bshovers@toledofreepress.com Edward Shimborske III Entertainment Editor es3@toledofreepress.com Adam Mahler Food/Dining Editor amahler@toledofreepress.com DM Stanﬁeld Photo Editor dmstanfield@toledofreepress.com Nate VanNatta Photographer STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com Joe Bellfy • Keith Bergman Michael Brooks • David Coehrs Scott Calhoun • Lauri Donahue Chris Kozak • Vicki Kroll Scott McKimmy • Heather Nash Jacqueline Rabe • Julie Restivo Mark Tinta • Dave Wasinger Dave Woolford Holly Abrams • Zach Silka Matt Zapotosky Editorial Interns Shannon Wisbon Proofreader Christopher Burke Contributing Ad Designer Maggie Gerber • Bari Scheinbach Administrative Interns ADVERTISING SALES Renee Bergmooser rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com Toledo Free Press is published every Wednesday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 300 Madison Avenue, Suite 1300, Toledo, OH 43604. www.toledofreepress.com Phone: (419) 241-1700. Fax: (419) 241-8828 Subscription rate: $52/year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2005 with all rights reserved. Publication of advertisements does not imply endorsement of advertisers’ goods or services.

Art attack raises blood pressure

e give the most complicated concepts perversely brief, threeletter names: God. Dad. Mom. Fun. Sex. Art. If these elusive entities carried labels as long as their deﬁnitions are ﬂuid, spelling bees would be mind-punishing marathons. Art played a central role in my weekend. Friday, we drove to the Ann Arbor Art Fair, which was in Ann Arbor, and did feature art, but proved anything but fair. As we perused the scores of booths, admiring the watercolors, sculptures in everything from metal to wax, fabrics and other creations, a small coal of resentment began to burn inside me. It was incredible to view the stunning collection of human creativity; it was galling to observe the prices being asked for scraps of driftwood and paint on canvas. I called it Painter’s Paradox; an opportunity to bring one’s

Michael S. Miller art to the masses, while pricing it to the exclusion of all but the wealthiest. Price tags in the thousands were common. Price tags in the hundreds were the norm. A great number of families walked the art fair, and I wondered what message the younger observers were taking away. The magniﬁcent chance to share the wonder of art was beaten into submission by the will of commerce. I do not wish all artists to be of the starving variety, but to make acres of art inaccessible to the average home seems elitist and counterproductive to the gifts these people have nurtured. Did it cost that painter $5,000 to make her masterpiece of black

triangles streaked with angry red slashes, or was she hoping to make 10 quick sales and vacation the rest of the year? I do not know; maybe Crayons are going on the black market for $700 each. Is there a man set up in Ann Arbor’s alleys, opening a trench coat to reveal Jazzberry Jam for $600, Magic Mint for $800, buy both and receive Crab Claw Red for just $300? I enjoyed mental visions of walking back to my car after all the people had left the streets and driving over and through every booth, smashing the corrupt system to a pulp and forcing it to start over. I envisioned myself as a beret-clad revolutionary, grinding $6,500 oil paintings and $4,000 watercolors under the wheels of working-class justice. More than a few times, my wife caught me humming a forced medley of “Ride of the Valkyries” by Wagner and John Lennon’s “Power to the People.” Saturday, we visited the Toledo Museum of Art, which features super-sized colorful banners read-

ing, “Come on in to your museum” on the Monroe Street entrance. I could feel my pallet, and my palette, cleansing. What a wonder Edward Drummond Libbey and his wife bequeathed us. Picasso. Van Gogh. Pollack. Rodin. Warhol. O’Keefe. Scores more. All on display, and all for free. No admission charge. The galleries hold enough works to enthrall one’s imagination and intellect for days. It’s overwhelming, trying to take it all in, this major, world-class gift. And while you can’t take any of it home to hang crookedly above your ﬁreplace, the experience leaves you richer in ways a $3,000 tie-dyed mitten will not. My impressions can be summed up with the simplest words. Ann Arbor Art Fair: Bad. Toledo Museum of Art: Wow.

Michael S. Miller is Editor in Chief of Toledo Free Press. He may be contacted at (419) 241-1700 or by e-mail at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

COMMON SENSE

What are you prepared to do?

he bullets might have come from the barrel of a London cop’s pistol, but make no mistake about it — they were delivered by Islamic terrorists. And before you go passing judgment on overzealous officers and a police policy that seems inhumane, try to imagine yourself in their shoes. Or just wait a few weeks — when you are in their shoes. Sooner or later, the terrorist bombings that have gripped London in a state of fear and anxiety will move further west, and it will be one of our own cities that faces a lethal decision on how to best protect its citizens. London police commissioner Sir Ian Blair has made his decision: “Shoot to kill in order to protect.” And despite a tragic mistake on a metropolitan tube train, the people of Great Britain support him. Do you? I’ve struggled mightily with this issue since the failed July 21 attacks on London and the shooting of a suspected suicide bomber the day after. My first reaction to the news that a would-be bomber had been killed was one of strong support for the police. I applauded their heroism as they were quickly able to assess the threat of yet another suicide bomber and eliminate it before any more innocent lives were lost. But my second reaction was different. What if he wasn’t a terrorist? I wondered. What if he was running to catch a train, and not from the police? What if his thick winter coat on a hot summer day simply made him weird — instead of wired? Friday became Saturday, and Saturday was Sunday before I finally heard the news. And each time I looked for it, I hoped to God I’d learn that the detectives had saved the lives of dozens of passengers, rather than taking one

Bob Frantz from an innocent civilian. When the truth was known, it was like a kick in the gut. It’s sometimes easy to disconnect ourselves from a tragic story like this, because we’re not in London and we don’t know any Brazilian electricians who have been shot. It’s not in our backyard yet, so we don’t have to make the decision on what’s right, what’s wrong, and what goes too far when it comes to securing ourselves. That’s why it’s so important to remember that London isn’t the terrorists’ final target. There will come a time when it’s an American city, be it Washington D.C. or New York or Philadelphia or wherever. Bombs will explode and terrorists will be sought, and we’ll ask our police to find them and stop them. And when that time comes, we will all be forced to answer a difficult question. The question was delivered by Sean Connery to Kevin Costner in “The Untouchables,” as Connery’s grizzled cop lay dying, imploring Elliot Ness to finish the job against Al Capone. “What ... are ... you ... prepared ... to do?” he spits through his final breath. Well? What are you prepared to do? Are you prepared to support the use of deadly force against bombing suspects, the consequences of a tragic mistake be damned? Or will you demand due process and civil

rights, hoping against hope that one brave cop is able to tackle and disarm a would-be bomber before he detonates? What are you prepared to do? The image of an innocent American citizen lying in a subway car with a heavy coat on his body and ﬁve bullets in his head, guilty of nothing more than running from large men with guns who may or may not be policemen, is abhorrent. It’s hard to imagine the anger and frustration we would feel toward the men and women in blue who mistakenly pulled their triggers. But the image of dozens of mangled, bloody bodies among the twisted wreckage of a train or bus is even more grotesque, and it’s hard to imagine the anger and frustration we would feel toward the men and women in blue who hesitated at the moment of truth and did not pull their triggers. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and we have to trust that those in our government and in our uniforms will make the right decisions for all of us. There would be no greater tragedy than to see a preventable act of mass murder carried out because public opinion made a good cop ﬂinch. What are you prepared to do? Bob Frantz hosts “Bob Frantz and the Morning News” each weekday on WSPD 1370 AM. He may be contacted by e-mail at letters@toledofreepress.com.

OPINION

July 27, 2005

OPINION

July 27, 2005

JEFFREY MITCHELL

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Frantz got it wrong

Frantz got it right

TO THE EDITOR, In the July 13 issue, hack editorialist Bob Frantz, whose sole “qualification” for the post is his hosting a daily talk-radio shout fest, shared his less-than-trenchant insight on the London bombings with TFP readers (“Message received, loud and clear”). He makes four assertions. First, liberals are to blame for opposing the Patriot Act. Second, the attacks were executed by radical Islamic terrorists. Third, the attacks would have occurred regardless of the U.S. and British presence in Iraq. Finally, the only solution is to “hunt and kill” all terrorists. Well, Bob, you’ve got it all wrong. First, liberals support most of the Patriot Act’s provisions; they (along with many GOP representatives) only oppose a few of its portions, mainly those authorizing the government’s intrusive sneak-and-peak searches and warrantless access to citizens’ library and bookstore activities. Second, as it turns out, some of the London bombers were mainstream, second-generation British citizens, not gun-toting cave dwellers or detainees in Guantanamo. As Pat Buchanan, whose conservative bona fides are unassailable, has stated, terrorism is the price we pay for “empire” (Buchanan’s term), i.e., for supporting dictatorial regimes in the Middle East to this day. Third, the attacks likely did result from Britain’s continued participation in the Iraq war. You’ll notice that American targets, as Frantz points out, continue to be attacked. Spain, in contrast, has seen no such hostilities since its pullout from Iraq. Finally, it’s well-nigh impossible to even find “these people” behind such attacks, much less “hunting and killing” them, as Frantz proposes. Again, I cite Buchanan, who has pointed out that Al Qaeda has “metastasized” (his term) from a band of nomadic cave dwellers to a loose, decentralized, worldwide coalition of sleeper cells. So good luck huntin’ ‘em down, Bob. In conclusion, these people have long opposed foreign-backed occupation. The Soviets incurred their wrath in Afghanistan, and the U.S. and U.K. are experiencing it now. While our behavior doesn’t justify terrorism in response, it does explain it, and it explains why the Iraq war — based entirely on false premises and started in blatant violation of international law — has served only as a breeding ground for more terrorism. No, Bob. We’re not going to bomb our way out of this one. The long-term solution, instead, is to quit meddling with other nations’ affairs. GRANT ACKERMAN, Toledo

TO THE EDITOR, How refreshing it was to read Bob Frantz’s article in the July 13 Toledo Free Press (“Message received, loud and clear”). The vast majority of our media is so vocal for the “other side,” I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone left in the press who understands that freedom is not free. Those who sought our destruction on 9-11-2001 have not changed their objectives. If we coddle them, they will kill us. Keep up the good work! KEVIN SORENSEN, Toledo

Mud Hens are a hit TO THE EDITOR, I was pleased to see in Michael S. Miller’s July 13 article (“Field joins zoo, museum as class act”) about the behavior of some of the fans when Mud Hen David Espinoza struck out. So much incivility and rudeness occurs at games, that it’s quite pleasant to hear of decent actions for a change. In the late 1940s, my grandfather took me to Swayne Field to see my ﬁrst ballgame. When a player struck out, some fans started booing him. I joined in — I thought that’s what you do in those circumstances — and my grandfather stopped me. When I asked why, when others were doing it, he said “He tried his best. That’s all anyone can do.” He was the best teacher I ever had. He is greatly missed. JIM TAYLOR, Temperence, Mich.

GUEST COLUMN

Judging Mr. Roberts day weekend at The Andersons, our Red Cross also assisted with six or seven other ﬁres the same weekend. So, come on Toledo, please show your thanks to all our heroes by supporting our Toledo Area Red Cross. Let’s open our hearts and call the American Red Cross, Greater Toledo Area Chapter, (419) 329-2900, to volunteer, give blood or send a ﬁnancial contribution. JAN L. NELSON, Toledo

Scientology mixup TO THE EDITOR, After reading the July 13 fea-

ture article on Tom Cruise and Scientology, I was concerned about Dr. Jill Fox’s quote in the second paragraph: “He’s part of the Christian Scientology that pickets all of our meetings. They have for years been picking on psychiatry and really using their power and position to reinforce negative perceptions of what psychiatry is,” Fox said. Scientologists are not Christians. There is, however, a small Christian religion commonly referred to as Christian Scientists, formally known as the Church of Christ, Scientist (http://www. tfccs.com/aboutchristianscience/). As a former Christian Scientist (who still has great respect for

this religion), I know ﬁrsthand how embarrassing and offensive it is to have people think you’re referring to Scientology when you’ve indicated you’re a former Christian Scientist. This confusion is often caused by misrepresentation (like Ms. Fox’s statement) of the two belief systems. Scientologists are not Christians. In everything I have read about them, I have never seen or heard anyone claim they are believers and followers of Christ. On the other hand, Christian Scientists are Christians who believe in the teachings and miracles of Christ. STACEY MILLER, Temperance, MI

God bless the heroes TO THE EDITOR, A big heartfelt thank you to all our heroes who fought the fire at The Andersons grain elevators over the 4th of July weekend. The fast response and great leadership of the fire departments, the Andersons Fire Brigade, Coast Guard, police force, National Guard, Toledo Area Red Cross volunteers and others was very commendable. They all bravely and tirelessly fought the major fire 24 hours a day over their three-day holiday weekend. They all put their lives in great danger to prevent an even more devastating explosion. To not have any injuries or worse was a true miracle and our heroes need to know how much they are appreciated. So, everyone who complained about being a few hours late, because our police force did a great job to keep them out of harm’s way, should remember that our heroes didn’t even get to be with their families and friends over the holiday weekend. Our Toledo Area Red Cross is an all-volunteer organization. Not only did they volunteer their holi-

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ohn Roberts Jr. is a name you will hear ad nauseum in the coming weeks and months, and you might hear it for years depending on the U.S. Senate. Judge Roberts sits on the bench of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and was recently nominated by President Bush to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Justice O’Connor leaves the bench having spent her term casting an all-important “swing vote” on a court that was, among the remaining eight justices, ideologically deadlocked on many important issues. Because of that, O’Connor’s replacement is perhaps the most important nomination in decades. Are you ready for a fight? As soon as the nomination was announced, liberal and conservative groups feverishly began to plan for the anticipated battle which will be Judge Roberts’ confirmation in the Senate. Democrats are terrified that Roberts, a devout Catholic, will be the conservative vote necessary to overturn Roe v. Wade and make abortions illegal again. Republicans, on the other hand, are already throwing around acerbic rhetoric and threatening the “nuclear option” of doing away with the longrespected tradition of filibuster if the Democrats attempt to use it to block Roberts’ confirmation. It has been said that the country is more politically polarized than it has been in more than 100 years. The Republican Party turned to its far-right base to keep control of the White House and Congress, and when the far right has the microphone, Democrats and other liberals get scared. The talk radio waves and Internet blogs get heated, and in many cases, personal. There are some things to keep in mind when you call Bob Frantz or hit your favorite Web blog. First and foremost, the responsibility for naming justices to the Supreme Court, and therefore the political advantage which stems from it, is in the purview of the President.

Steve Hartman Yes, he needs the advice and consent of the Senate, but like it or not, he is the President and to the victor goes the spoils. That being said, Democrats should keep in mind that they should focus on Roberts’ qualifications to sit on the bench, and not his personal ideologies. First accounts are that Judge Roberts is a brilliant scholar and jurist. If, during the confirmation process, information comes to light that this seemingly mildmannered Midwesterner has somehow at some time violated his judicial oath or done things that would make him unfit to sit on the high court, Democrats and Republicans alike should oppose his confirmation. Absent that, however, he should be confirmed. The Democrats are screaming about a brief Roberts wrote, or at least signed, back in the early 1990s, that advocated the reversal of Roe v. Wade. I, as an independent who is liberal on most social issues, do not share his views on that, but that is not a reason to keep him off the bench. Keep in mind that, at that time, he was an advocate and it was his job to pursue the interests of his client. To the Republicans who are throwing around ultimatums about the “nuclear option” and finding ever more ways to make “liberal” sound like a bad word, relax. Debate is a good thing, even if slightly misdirected. Stop characterizing the ideological differences of others as unpatriotic whining. Columnist Steve Hartman may be contacted at letters@toledofreepress.com.

COMMUNITY ■

Concrete crumbles at BGSU stadium, page 11

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Another nuisance

The gypsy moth rivals the emerald ashborer as a destructive force, page 12

AGRICULTURE

Lucas County Fair seeks mindset, location change By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

The Lucas County Fair has begun its 147th year, but some are wondering if major changes might be in order to make the event more viable. Last year, attendance was 35,000 for the week, significantly down from a decade ago, when attendance was at 80,000 per week. “The fair has not been in real healthy shape,” said Dennis Lang, president of the agricultural society and fair board president. “We are basically trying to live on a week’s income for an entire year.” Lang, like others, said he feels the fair needs to move from its current Maumee location and from its “county fair” mindset to rise from its struggles. A huge blow to the fair’s success has been 4-H youth turning to other counties’ clubs. “I don’t know what it would take to turn this around, so many 4-Hers are moving to Fulton County,” said Angie Carmona, fair manager. Lucas County’s extension office grants waivers to Lucas County residents to participate in other clubs provided they are within that club’s school district. “This is why we don’t have a county fair anymore,” Lang said. “Why is the extension office giving all these waivers? We are losing kids to Fulton and Ottawa County. We need to stop these exemptions, stop the flow.” Lang said the need to educate residents on the benefits of 4-H and the possibilities of what projects children can show when they participate in 4-H is important. He also said the fair needs a change of mindset from a county fair and find urban solutions. “There are no dairy cows in Lucas County, no chickens. We used to rent cows,” he said. “We are 75 percent urban. How do you get around it? Kids need to know they don’t have to have a horse,

pig or cow to show. They can have a dog, cat or guinea pig.” Lang cited a $50,000 deficit in 2002, and a $30,000 surplus in 2003 but 2004 was down approximately $20,000. “This year, we would like to have a $25,000 profit off the fair.” Profit or not, it takes money to make money, and some feel not enough is funneled into the fair by the Lucas County Commissioners. “A lot of these barns need significant work, and $50,000 doesn’t go far,” Carmona said of the general fund money given annually by the Commissioners. “I know they would love a ton of money dumped into their buildings,” Commissioner Maggie Thurber said. “Obviously we can’t fund everything they want in one year.” Lang said the commissioners have been supportive of the fair, giving $30,000 annually from the general fund, and finding $50,000 from its community improvement project funds to help renovate barns and exhibit buildings.

Moving the fair

Years ago, the County looked at options for the fairgrounds — even developing a master plan looking into six locations. Yet no further attempt has been made to relocate the fair. “They want to [move the fair], but at this point there has been no more talk about it,” Carmona said. Thurber said she has yet to see a comprehensive plan from the board concerning a move. She also noted it would be the board’s responsibility to “facilitate” the move — ﬁnd a place, crunch the numbers and then approach the commissioners for “approval.” Lang and Thurber said they have run into issues with Maumee residents who complain about sound and animals at the fairgrounds, making a move even more attractive. “Maumee residents complain that there are animals and mu-

behind the scenes, he was pressured to call the event off. “People tried to stop it,” he said. “The person who runs the Erie Street Market was making calls to the commissioners, and then it was mentioned that we could lose our funding if we did it.” He also said he has faced other obstacles. “Maumee rezoned the property so we can’t keep animals there overnight.” Lang said this limits the board’s abilities to put

on national horse shows or other animal-related events that could bring in more money. Lang said he thinks it will be hard to change. “Some people are not willing to compromise. I think we’ve made a lot of changes, but also a lot of enemies. We want people to know about 4-H because currently, less than one percent of our population is involved and that’s sad.” One effort being made this year is to get people from the inner city more involved with the fair. “This year we were able to

work with TARTA to get transportation coupons and give a free day,” Lang said. “We’ve tried to make it more appealing to everybody. Everything from rock and roll, rap and country.” The fair runs through July 31 at the Lucas County Fairgrounds, Key Street, Maumee. Entertainment includes a kids day, tractor pulls, performances by Pawn, Blue Oyster Cult, Foghat, Peter Schlegel, Bandera, and Survivor, a cheerleading contest, and a demolition derby. For more information, visit www.lucascountyfair.com.

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Country singer to serve up show at fair Come thirsty for good country music and catch Pete Schlegel’s Pour Me One Tour at 8:30 p.m., July 30 at the Lucas County Fair, 1406 Key St., Maumee. His single, “(It Takes a Whole Lotta) Liquor to Like Her,” earned Schlegel “hot pick” artist for November and December 2004 by Great American Country. “A song has a life of about six months,” SCHLEGEL Schlegel said last week from Hollywood. “The video must be in rotation again — people are still coming up to me saying they just saw it.” The country singer/guitarist was in California on business and to visit relatives. Schlegel grew up on a dairy farm between Paulding and Deﬁance, Ohio. “When my grandpa and I were milking cows, I remember listening to the radio in the barn,” Schle-

gel said. “He liked the classic country singers — George Jones, Ernest Tubbs, Freddy Fender.” In fourth grade, Schlegel started playing guitar. “I actually put the guitar down after high school and went on to become a state trooper,” he said. “I took a job ﬂying an EMS helicopter in Pennsylvania. I would work seven days and then be home seven days. I got bored and bought a guitar and started playing again.” He transferred to Ohio and was ﬂying for St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and started a band. “The original plan was to play for fun,” Schlegel said. “But it seems like I can’t do anything half-ass — full bore or none.” He teamed up with Nashville producer Clyde Brooks and recorded, “Strong Stuff,” which was released nationally in February. The independent musician is used to hard work. “A lot of artists don’t worry about anything but getting on the bus. I have to make sure the bus is running.” Brooks Atwood will open the show. Admission to the fair — $8 — includes the concert. — Vicki L. Kroll

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Dennis Lang, fair board president, said he feels the fair needs to move from its agricultural roots. sic,” Thurber said. “I don’t think a lot of people understand what a fair is; they think it’s supposed to be an amusement park.” Efforts are being made to build relationships and provide more tools to support the fairgrounds, Lang said. He has sent letters and gone door to door with Maumee residents near the fair to gauge their feelings on what can and can’t be done. He said he also met with the groups running tournaments at Roy Hobbs-Ned Skeldon stadium to see how they can work together more. “There are a lot of things we could do,” he said. “In ﬁve years I want us to be out of there and back in the City of Toledo.” Lang said efforts have been made to branch into other moneymaking ventures to help support the fair year-round. Some have been met with controversy. He said this year’s inaugural ﬂower sale was met with criticism, and CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

If only blue moons came around more often ��

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M AY O R A L C A N D I D AT E P R O F I L E S

July 27, 2005 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Opal Covey envisions Toledo as a Holy City Editor’s Note: Toledo Free Press is interviewing all seven mayoral candidates who have ﬁled petitions with the Board of Elections (Opal Covey, Carty Finkbeiner, Don Gozdowski, Rob Ludeman, Martin Okonski, Keith Wilkowski and Jack Ford). We will proﬁle one candidate per week up to the September 13 primary election. Each of the candidates will answer a series of standard questions, but the conversations will also include other topics the mayoral hopefuls see as important for Toledo voters. By Michael Brooks Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Despite temperatures in the 90s and a humidity reading of “swamp” in the July heat, Opal Covey seemed comfortable. “I usually walk Downtown, and the heat doesn’t bother me,” she said while walking toward Promenade Park. “Besides, you have to able to handle the heat if you want to be in government.” Covey, who operates a ministry with her canine companion Tony, said voters dissatisﬁed with the status quo need look no further than her. “If you want things to get better in Toledo, you have to do things differently,” TART132-10x6-0016BP.fh11 6/3/05 4:58 PM know Page 1it. When she said. “The Toledo Police they see me on the street, they say over their loudspeakers: ‘Opal Covey — our next mayor!’” On her qualiﬁcations to be mayor: Walking along the riverfront, Covey waved

and greeted everyone she passed. “I have a smile for everybody,” she said. “I am a people person.” Covey talked about the ways in which her administration would be different. “I, Opal, bring you new government,” she said. “I bring change.” While never formally attending college, Covey said she has spent a great deal of time at UT’s law library. “I have become very knowledgeable about the law, and I have learned how to work as a paralegal,” she said. “I do all of my own legal ﬁlings and prepare for all of my own court cases.” On a new sports arena: Covey said a new arena should be built on the East Side. “The voters wanted the new arena on the East Side of town,” she said. “The only other place I think an arena might make sense would be on the site of the old auto plant on Jeep Parkway.” On hurdles Toledo must overcome: The biggest problem facing Toledo, according to Covey, is the aftermath she termed “decades of destruction.” “The old regimes should be known for what they were: forces of destruction,” she asserted. “The corruption and moral failures of previous administrations must be cleaned up before we can move ahead.” On Toledo’s assets: Covey said she wants to build on the strength of existing Toledo cultural landmarks. “We have a great art museum, COSI, a great zoo and Fifth Third Field,” she said. “As soon as we build an amusement park and

COMMUNITY

July 27, 2005 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 makes her uniquely qualiﬁed to be mayor. “I owned a business for 15 years on Fassett, in one of the areas with the highest amount of drug dealers. I know all about crime,” she said. “Once there are more jobs and more money coming into the city, we will see the crime rates drop.” On city services: One of Covey’s chief concerns is the condition of city streets. “The roads in Toledo are terrible. How can we attract businesses and people with such awful roads?” she asked. “The money is supposed to be there, but the roads never seem to get ﬁxed.” On her lack of experience as

an elected official: Although she has never been elected to public office, Covey said that she is in good hands. “I have the best advisor of all — God. He has called me to help save this city, and I know that with His help I will help make this a holy city,” she said. “When I say ‘holy,’ I don’t mean that everyone is going to suddenly become perfect, but that we will shine like a beacon to the world.” On possible conflict between her ministry and the job of mayor: Covey saw no conflict wearing the hats of both mayor and prophetess: “God made the government, so God will always be a part of government.” On her candidacy: Covey bristled at the suggestion she is run-

ning for mayor as a publicity stunt. “I am doing this because God called me, not for myself,” she reiterated. “By electing me, the voters will be doing God’s will to make Toledo a quality city.” On her previous legal troubles: Covey, while bitter at city officials for padlocking her pet stores, remained upbeat about the future. “Despite their attempts to call me crazy and run me out of town, I’m still here and still fighting for the average person,” she said. “I am a survivor, and it is God’s will that these things happened the way that they did.” On her decision to run for mayor: A vision from God made Covey decide to run for mayor in 2001, and this vision prompted her to file petitions again in 2005.

9 “I never thought about running for mayor or any elected ofﬁce, and then I heard a voice that told me that I was called to be mayor to save the city,” she said. “I kept praying; I told Him, “I cannot do it without you.” On her most formidable opponent: Covey said that the “forces of destruction,” or the traditional area politicians, desperately want to stop her from being elected. “Many people are afraid of Opal Covey being elected, not just one person,” she said. “I represent everything the old regime doesn’t want — change.” On the Board of Elections: Covey said ballot boxes have been tampered with in past elections, and the recent changes at the Board of Elections have a divine basis.

“God has gotten all of the corrupt people out of the Board of Elections,” she declared. “This time we will have fair elections without votes being stolen. The county cleaned house, but this work was the hand of God in action.” On her most recent vision: God gave Covey a message for the voters of Toledo last week. The candidate read the prophecy aloud: “A blessed new government awaits you. This is the second and last opportunity to choose a new government for Toledo through My servant Opal, whom I have sent for the job. Toledo is dead; she will resurrect through Me. If you choose to keep the old criminal government that has been cursed for many decades, the city will be destroyed.”

COMMUNITY BRIEFS Toledo Free Press photo by Michael Brooks

Covey says you have to beable to handle the heat if you want to be in government. the new arena, we will have the core in place to attract new businesses and residents.” On public schools: Covey said discord between district officials and the union is the most serious problem facing Toledo Public Schools. “What has to happen first is that the various parties — superintendent, unions, and employees — have to get together and put aside their differences,” she said. “I will work to bring the people to the table and have constructive conversations.” On the city’s budget: The city’s finances are a major concern to Covey. “One of the first things that I will do is

to call for an audit. Where is all the money going?” she asked. “Nobody seems to know how the tax money is spent.” On the Downtown business district: The key to reviving Downtown Toledo, according to Covey, is the development of a riverfront amusement park. “For years I have called for the riverfront to be turned into an amusement park,” she said. “Nothing will bring people to the area and spend money like an amusement park.” On lowering crime rates: Covey said her experience as a local business owner CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Post Mark club

Nearly 100 members of the National Post Mark Collectors Club will bring their unusual interests to Ohio August 3-6 for the organization’s 44th annual convention

at Holiday Inn in Fremont. Members of the club collect postal cancellations from U.S. and foreign towns and cities. Events at the convention in addition to the museum visit include exhibits, sales, and auctions of postmarks and postal history items. The general public is welcome; for more information, contact Dave Proulx at (315) 638-0532 or Vick Steward at (309) 682-6774. More information about the Post Mark Collectors Club can be found at www.postmarks.org.

Toledo. Dragon boats are 40 feet long, Hong Kong-style canoes, each fully equipped with a decorative dragon head on the front and a large dragon tail on the stern. Twenty crew members, guided by a steersman, paddle to the beat of their team drummer over the 500-meter course. In addition to the races, spectators will enjoy live music, delicious food and karate and Ti chi demonstrations, colorful dancers and a children’s activities area. Free admission; (419) 242-2122.

Dragon boat fest

Art on the Mall

The Fourth Annual Great Maumee River Dragon Boat Festival will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 30 at International Park. This paddling event draws teams from U.S. and Canada and beneﬁts Partners In Education of

The UT Alumni Association’s Art on the Mall celebrates 13 years of browsing and buying. More than 100 artists will exhibit their works for sale during the free, public event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., July 31, on Centennial Mall.

Nu-Way ��

The kick-off gala for Art on the Mall will be held on at 6 p.m., July 30 in the Student Union Auditorium. Live jazz music and a silent auction of artists’ pieces also will be part of the evening. Costs are $50 a person and $25 for Art on the Mall volunteers.

Reﬂections in blood

Strong, gritty metal with intricate solo segments describes the all-original music of the local band Reflections in Blood (formerly known as In Cold Blood). These five musicians (Tony Sweeny, Jeff Sizemore, Bruce Stelter, Justin Drown, and Steve Miller) have electrified audiences and impressed peer musicians during their performances. Reflections in Blood will open for SELFLES at The Longhorn on July 30.

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Peepers adopted Toledo Area Humane Society Humane Ofﬁcer Jeremiah Johnson, far right, presents Joey Krasniewski with a Humane Hero Award for rescuing “Peepers,” whose eyes and oriﬁces had been super-glued shut. From left are Corey and Terri Guidera, who adopted Peepers (in her arms) and who presented Krasniewski with a $50 Savings Bond in thanks; Krasniewski’s mother, Sharon May, who called the Humane Society to report the abuse; and Krasniewski and Dominick, who assisted in the rescue.

COMMUNITY

July 27, 2005

Concrete crumbles at BG Stadium By Jacqueline Rabe Special to Toledo Free Press

BOWLING GREEN — A chunk of the northeast facade of the 40-year-old Doyt L. Perry Stadium fell off earlier this week. The smaller of the two types of decorative ridges bordering the top of the stadium fell. The estimated size of the cement that fell is 10 x 6 feet. According to a BGSU spokesperson, no one was injured in the incident. With a new football season beginning September 3, BGSU ofﬁcials said structural reinforce-

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ments are a top priority to assure fans that cement will not falling during games. The stadium has a seating capacity of 28,599. It was built in 1966 for approximately $3 million as a replacement for the 43-yearold University Stadium, according to the BGSU Web site. The east side of the facility includes locker rooms, training and equipment rooms and the ofﬁces of the BGSU Athletic Department. According to the schools Web site, the west side received a “face lift” 12 years ago.

Toledo Free Press photo by Jacqueline Rabe

A decorative ridge bordering the top of Doyt L. Perry Stadium fell to the ground earlier this week.

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ENVIRONMENT

Gypsy moths feast on area tree foliage By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

The tiny gypsy moth may not make the news like the devastating emerald ash borer, but it does qualify as one of the most important insect pests of American forests and shade trees. Unlike the ash borer, gypsy moth caterpillars feast on more than 300 species of trees, stripping their foliage for food. Now is the time of year the moths pupate — gorging on leaves as a caterpillar and then emerging from a cocoon-like mass as adult moths. While adult moths do not feed, they can lay more than 1,000 eggs. John Nicholson, program assistant for The Ohio State University Extension at Toledo Botanical Garden, inspects approximately 25 nests in areas such as Toledo, Ottawa Hills, Oak Openings and Waterville. Many of the inspection sites are in parks, but some are private. “We have a residence in Whitehouse with heavy infestation,” Nicholson said. “We traced it back to a vacation they took on the East Coast. A female moth climbed onto their RV parked under oak trees.” The “nests” are traps of burlap which entice the caterpillars to leave the canopies and hide from predators. Nicholson tracks the number of caterpillars in each trap as an indicator of infestation. “If a caterpillar doesn’t like the taste of a tree, it will spin a little silken thread and let the wind carry it to another tree,” he said. The caterpillars spent much of June chomping on trees. This behavior can practically strip a tree of its foliage overnight. Now, the bugs are pupating, emerging as adults, and spending the rest of a short lifespan laying eggs. “Pretty soon we’re going to ﬁnd egg masses, and that will give us an indicator of what our numbers will be next year,” Nicholson said. According to Amy Stone, extension educator, the gypsy moth population is on the rise, but there are things that can be done about it. September 16 is the deadline for submitting a request for Department of Agriculture suppression treatment. The treatment involves spraying by air, which means treatment is restricted to a minimum of 50 acres, she said. “Oak trees grow so tall, the

July 27, 2005

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BUSINESS

Local nonproﬁt group helps small business SCORE 14

What Toledoans need to know about the ‘housing bubble,’ page 16

TOLEDO IN BUSINESS

Deepam India caters to diners, home chefs

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

At Deepam India Deli in Sylvania Township, ingredients with medicinal values are utilized.

In Toledo, a town populated by restaurants of ethnic diversity, paying $25 to cook your own cuisine might seem a little pricey. But at Deepam India Deli and Food Mart in Sylvania Township, the entree comes with a full course — or rather a demonstration — on how to prepare the recipe so customers can shop for ingredients on site, then stir up a spicy, authentic, homemade Indian dish with conﬁdence. Revathi Chillapalli, co-owner and operator, hosts the monthly demos using all fresh meats and vegetables she orders through specialty wholesalers in Chicago, New Jersey and Canada. Although they’ve been popular, she CHILLAPALLI said that the demos have been put on hold until September because of high demands for catering services. But customers can still come in, ask questions and try deli selections, most slow-cooked over a ﬁre and chock full of herbs with high medicinal values. Deepam India stocks a complete line of Chillapalli’s native foods, from ready-to-eat frozen meals to breads, rice and lentils, known as “dals” in her culture. With key ingredients such as canola oil, olive oil, ginger and garlic, she said she is crusading against the myth that Indian

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RESOURCES

Boom on the bubble

By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

BUSINESS

July 27, 2005

foods are too greasy and less than healthy. Those who have listened are becoming ﬁrm believers. “Our concept is different. We want to introduce healthy cooking with Indian food, and we carry the products,” she said. “We don’t have thousands of customers per day, but the ones we have, they love us.” Earning love takes time, as much as 10 to 12 hours per day for Chillapalli as well as duties for her husband, Siva, co-owner, and a handful of employees. The couple has gained considerable business experience as former owners of Cajun Joe’s, a franchise of Subway Restaurants. Ms. Chillapalli previously owned School Technology Solutions, which helped educators integrate technology into the teaching process. Originally from Vizag, India, a port city and tourist attraction on the Bay of Bengal, Chillapalli arrived to the United States in 1980 and attended the University of Toledo, where she received her master’s degree in sociology. Her talents extend beyond teaching and cuisine. She also paints, with four works of Indian mythological characters on display at the deli as conversation pieces for customers. Devoting so much time and effort into the business, she added she’s content with one location, which has brought her closer to unique and interesting people. “We cater to different kinds of people. Some buy just what we make; some come here just for the groceries,” she said. “Some people we see maybe twice a week, then they’ll bring in their friends.”

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By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

While 60 to 75 percent of all small businesses fail by their second year, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), 100 percent have access to a little-known secret where assistance arrives at no cost from veteran business owners and executives. SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, has assumed the role of small business mentor since 1964, according to Jack Chezek, chair of the Northwest

Ohio Chapter 80. In its genesis an idea of Maurice du Pont Lee, DuPont Corp., SCORE was created by the SBA to enlist a “whole cadre of retired executives” with the sole purpose of helping a group that constitutes 99 percent of employers. The organization retired the original acronym for SCORE, but retained the founding cause of small business advocacy. Chezek said there is a tremendous advantage of knowledge and experience provided by SCORE counselors, who are experts in

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fields from financing to marketing. About 40 counselors serve clients, offering assistance and advice from a been-there, donethat perspective. “Most of us are old enough and we’ve been through it. We’ve been down that path; we’ve made those mistakes, and we’ve corrected those mistakes,” Chezek said. “All of our people are successful or they wouldn’t be here.” Successful applicants for counselors undergo about 20 hours of training, learning bylaws, operating procedures and terms of the required ethics and confidentiality agreements. Once trained, counselors stand ready to assist in their fields, sometimes coordinating with other SCORE counselors to solve the intricacies of small business startup and longevity. The organization acts, among other functions, as a sounding board for entrepreneurs in the hectic and sometimes solitary world of small business ownership.

Toledoan steamed over $17,000 gas bill

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By Dan Bumpus Special to Toledo Free Press

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A west Toledo man was in a ﬁght with the gas company after getting an outrageous bill. Tom Parent opened his statement and found charges for several thousand dollars, for just one month of service. Parent lives by himself, in a modest west Toledo home. Columbia Gas had installed a new gas meter setup that can be checked by remote control and he was hoping that would mean savings. Then his latest bill showed up, for more than $17,000. “I about had a stroke,” Parent said. “I’m furious.” He’s furious because his bill is usually about $35 this time of year. The only gas he uses in the summer heats his hot water tank and runs the furnace pilot light. “They should be calling me, saying we got the wrong bill. This is for Libbey Glass,” Parent said.

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“They also do follow-ups with you to make sure that what they did initially was really helpful, and it was on track.” Three counselors and a specialist from Toledo Chamber of Commerce combined to guide Reynolds. The team helped to complete a business plan, research market ﬁgures and prepare her for ﬁnancing at a local bank. SCORE refrains from actually writing business proposals and completing legwork for clients, but does recommend business strategies such as a merger Chezek described between two local companies — one struggling, one succeeding. The scenario represents a cross section of the 45 percent of clients who return for subsequent services. Chezek was a controller, vice president, CEO and treasurer of various local corporations until his retirement and since has served a business consultant on a part-time basis.

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“Small business people have nobody to talk to,” Chezek said. “That’s what we’re there for. If they want to bounce some ideas off [someone], they’ve got somebody to talk to.” Brenda Reynolds, owner of Superior Chocolate in Toledo, said she may have never earned the nickname “the Chocolate Lady,” if not for the comprehensive programs offered by SCORE. She sought assistance in 2002, when she founded her company to make specialty products in competition with national brands such as Fannie Farmer. After almost three years, the confectionery queen opened a second location at Westgate Shopping Center, where Fannie Farmer recently closed its doors. Financing and marketing, said Reynolds, were the keys to the startup and growth of Superior Chocolate. “Marketing is probably the biggest thing that they’ve helped me with since I’ve opened,” she said.

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But instead, he’s been calling Columbia Gas and getting no relief. “Their phone number says ‘Call this number 24 hours a day.’ You don’t even talk to a person. You talk to a recording. If they say I have to pay it, I’d have to mortgage my house again,” Parent said. “It just makes me mad that I pay them all this money to make mistakes. A $17,000 error.” Columbia Gas began investigating as soon as it was contacted by News 11, and the company admitted the bill was a clerical error. In fact, it discovered Parent is actually owed a $50 credit. That credit will show up on the next bill, and the $17,000 charge will be dropped.

Dan Bumpus is the consumer investigative reporter at WTOL News 11. He can be reached by e-mail at dbumpus@wtol.com.

BUSINESS IN FOCUS

REALTY&HOMES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

FINANCES

Speculative ‘housing bubble’ hovers over Toledo By Michael Brooks Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

$175K to $200K range.” The only segment of the local housing market in which Schlachter has seen any weakness is in houses selling between $300K and $400K. “Sales of these houses are largely a function of job growth,” Schlachter said. “When the local economy is soft, there is a lack of employees transferring in with larger employers as they set up operations.” Schlachter said local Realtors,

through groups such as the Home Builders Association and the Toledo Board of Realtors, actively work to attract employers. “The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) has worked hard to TREECE bring new employers to the area,” he said. “Toledo

real estate interests have contributed a lot of money to the RGP, because we know that creating jobs is good for the real estate business.” The prices of homes in Ohio have not kept pace with the national average, rising only 23 percent since 2000. Schlachter said if a serious correction occurs in housing markets, Ohio may fare better than other regions. “There has to be a serious imbalance between asking prices and market values for a major

New Generation of College Savings Plans Are Earning High Marks

Home equity is one of the biggest components of overall wealth for the average American family. Housing prices have been rising in many markets around the country; the average home cost rose 12.5 percent from the first quarter of 2004 through the first quarter of 2005, according to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO). The average home has risen more than 50 percent in value during the past five years. In Nevada, house prices have risen 31.2 percent in the past year, while homes in California and the Washington, D.C. area have, on average, doubled in value in the past five years. This good news for homeowners, however, has many experts nervous about the future.

By Gregory E. Shemas,

Vice President - Investments Financial Planning Specialist The ever-rising cost of higher education has many parents wondering, “How will I afford to send my children to college?” If you have begun to explore education funding possibilities, you have probably found that many traditional savings options have significant downsides. The answer for many parents are Section 529 College savings Plans. These programs, which were named after the Internal Revenue Code section that established them, let individuals contribute substantially more money toward higher education expenses while enjoying significant tax advantages. Contributions to Section 529 College Savings Plans are often invested in a family of pre-selected portfolios, according to the age of the beneficiary or the number of years until enrollment in college. Some plans also provide other investment options such as 100% equity portfolios or 100% fixed income portfolios as well as specific individual mutual funds. Once an investment option is chosen for a beneficiary, the option may only be changed once per calendar year without triggering any tax or penalty. However, any time you change the beneficiary you may also change the investment option. Assets in Section 529 College Savings Plans grow free from federal income tax while in the account. Assuming there are earnings, this feature allows the account to grow faster than

“Speculative fervor”

Financial figures as notable as investment guru Warren Buffet and Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan have publicly fretted about the possibility of a speculative bubble in the housing markets. Greenspan recently warned that “speculative fervor” has driven the prices of homes in some markets to “unsustainable levels.” This May, five government agencies, including the Fed, issued a joint statement expressing concern over some lending practices. Among the items being scrutinized are so-called “no-doc” or “low doc” loans (mortgages with little or no documentation on a borrower’s assets, income, and debts) and firms with higher loan-to-value (LTV) and debt-toincome (DTI) ratios. Local investment advisor Dock Treece, of Treece Financial Services, weighed in on the debate. “There is definitely a bubble of some kind in places like California and the East Coast,” he said. “There will likely be some sort of correction, but it is anyone’s guess as to its severity.”

REALTY&HOMES

July 27, 2005

a comparable taxable account where earnings are taxed every year. Better yet, qualified withdrawals are free from federal income taxes.1 Section 529 College Savings Plans can be an attractive estate-planning tool because they allow account owners to invest up to $55,000 ($110,000 for married couples) per beneficiary in one year without incurring gift taxes.2 Through the contributor maintains ownership of the account, the investment is excluded from his or her taxable estate.3 Many programs offer additional state tax benefits, so it’s important to examine the structure of your state’s plan. You should weigh any state tax benefits against the benefits and terms and conditions of plans offered by other states. Investment options, performance and other relevant factors should be considered when making a decision. And you should also be aware that many states offer prepaid tuition plans, which are another type of 529 Plan. If you are already saving within a custodial account, a Coverdell Education Savings Account or U.S. Savings Bonds, you may want to explore the tax consequences, if any, of transferring these investments to a Section 529 College Savings Plan. Your professional financial advisor can provide more information to help you decide which education-funding strategy may be appropriate for your situation.

7124 W. Central Ave, Toledo • (419) 842-5357 or (800) 458-1066 This information is for general purposes only. Smith Barney does not provide tax or legal advice. Please contact your tax and/or legal advisor for guidance as to how this information might apply to your personal circumstance. This material does not constitute an offer of solicitation with respect to any college savings plan or program.

A new home is being built by Buckeye Specialty Homes in Springﬁeld Townshipʼs Stone Oak subdivision. Treece said the reaction by the Fed will be critical to the effects of any popping of housing bubbles. “How the Fed responds is the key,” he said. “If they create massive amounts of liquidity by manipulating the money supply, there will not be a major correction. This is how Alan Greenspan softened

the blow from the NASDAQ tech bubble in the late 1990s.” One source of housing market unpredictability in the short term, according to Treece, is the possible retirement of Greenspan, who turns 80 next year. “We don’t know what the policies of Greenspan’s successor

will be,” he said. “If the new Fed Chairman has different philosophies, no one can predict what will happen.”

Local housing market

Tim Schlachter, of local developer Buckeye Specialty Homes, expressed conﬁdence in the hous-

Toledo Free Press photo by Michael Brooks

ing market in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. “I don’t see that speculation has had much impact in this area,” he said. “There are strong markets in housing for empty nesters and for houses in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

17 correction,” he said. “There is nothing like that overall in Northwest Ohio.” Sclachter said a number of factors besides speculation have helped boost housing prices. “The rising costs of construction help drive up prices,” he said. “Uncertainty in the stock market has also fueled it, as houses are seen as safe investment havens with built-in tax advantages.” One positive sign in the local market, Schlachter’s said, has been the number of homes for sale. “There are over 700 more homes for sale compared to this time last year,” he said. “This shows conﬁdence on the part of home buyers.”

Interest rates

One of the keys to the growth in housing prices has been affordable mortgages, which Treece indicated were at historic lows. “Interest rates cycle on a regular basis, and we are near the

bottom of what they have been in the last 100 years,” he said. “This is the best time to get into a long term low-interest rate mortgage.” Treece said speculators in real estate will likely be the hardest hit if there is a contraction in housing markets. Real estate and mortgage professionals, Treece suggested, may be in for a shock if housing markets contract. “The people who can’t see a speculative bubble are those closest to it,” he said. “In the late 1990s, many speculators were not worried about warning signs in tech stocks.” Treece said overconﬁdent dotcom speculators tried to downplay the worries of traditional analysts. “They called it a ‘new paradigm,’” he said. “Well, I’ve got a pair o’ dimes in my pocket, and that’s about all some of those NASDAQ speculators had left after the bubble burst.”

REAL ESTATE BRIEF From Staff Reports

Southwyck Mall redevelopment planned Larry Dillin, founder and president of Dillin Corp., announced Tuesday he has reached agreement with the owners of Southwyck Mall to investigate the potential redevelopment of the site. Morgan-Dreiseszun and Dillin have agreed to pursue the analysis of a redevelopment concept to convert the site to a mixed-use, master-planned community. The effort will include the creation of a business plan focused on a thriving, economically viable retail, residential and business environment. A timeframe for the redevelopment of the site cannot be determined at this time, according to Dillin.

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Father and son compete in National Table Hockey Championships, page 21

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The legend of Captain Casual

Orris Tabner enjoyings retirement and memories of a 45-year career, story by Dave Woolford, page 20

KOZ’S CORNER

Local scouting service ﬁnds scholarships for athletes

have some bad news for 99.99 percent of all parents reading this: Your young athlete will never play pro ball. It doesn’t matter how much he dominated CYO hoops, or schools the kids at Pacesetter soccer; the odds are longer than a Tiger Woods tee shot. And Division I scholarships are more rare than clean Ricky Williams urine samples. Look at the Hall-of-Famers who were overlooked: Barry Sanders received just two college offers. John Stockton and Jerry Rice each received one offer to play college ball. Sylvania-based Premier Scouting Service tries to take a student-athlete, one of sound GPA and jump shot, and ﬁnd a scholarship to play at the next level. “The few great studs out there will get recognition,” said Gene

Chris Kozak Grabiec, Premier’s regional manager. “What happens with 90 percent of other kids is that they truly are missed. We help young people in high school transition to college. We help them ﬁnd scholarships.” Matching students athletically and academically, Premier works with 1,800 schools across the nation, Division 1 through junior colleges, to ﬁnd athletic and aca-

demic scholarships. For an athlete, and his or her parents, who never thought about playing beyond high school and getting an education to do so, the process can be overwhelming. Prior to his contact with Premier in February of this year, Mark Harrington never thought his daughter, Kelly, would play basketball beyond her senior year at Emmanuel Baptist. Sure, she was a four-year varsity starter with a 3.8 GPA and an outside shot that was sweet as a pound of sugar, “but I never thought she was never good enough for Division I,” Harrington said. A scout from Premier approached Harrington, and told him that while D1 was likely out of the picture, the possibility of playing at a D2 or D3 school existed.

After having some preliminary concerns squelched, Harrington signed up his daughter for the service — for the fee of $1,295. With that, it was, in Harrington’s words, “a massive onslaught” as nearly 25 percent of all Division 3 schools sent letters of interest to his daughter. In the end she opted for Lesley University, a school associated with Harvard. Cost of a year at Lesley: $35,000. Out-of-pocket expense for the Harringtons: about $4,500. “If it wasn’t for Premier, we would have never got the contact, never knew Lesley University existed,” Harrington said. “What has more credibility is once we start to promote them, kids start talking to college coaches,” Grabiec said. “These kids suddenly stand out among thousands and thousands of other

kids across the country. They’re not necessarily better athletes than other kids. But because of the way we promote them, and these colleges trust our ability. They will give them recognition and start to develop a relationship with them.” “The number one priority here is the education,” said Premier CEO Wes Blanc. “Your son or daughter can go to college and play golf or tennis and have fun and get an education.” Ideally, Premier looks to sign scholar athletes as freshmen. “We aren’t in the business of being a professional agent,” Grabiec said. “We’re in this for the love of what we do.”

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SPORTS

July 27, 2005

Sportscasting legend Tabner enjoying retirement By Dave Woolford Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

He was shopping at a local store recently when a lady approached him and said, “Weren’t you Orris Tabner?” He looked at her and, in his methodically calm manner, smiled and said, “Yes, I was. And I still am.” How soon they forget. But that’s OK with the local legendary television sports director. As always, Tabner takes everything in stride, especially since his retirement in 1996 after 45 years in the business, the last 38 at WTOL-TV Channel 11. His new best friend is the snooze button on his alarm clock. “I do nothing all day and I’m getting real good at it,” Tabner said with a smile. “The ﬁrst few years after my retirement I wondered how I had the time to work because I was into so many things, but I’ve backed off.” He’s still involved in making occasional television commercials, plays golf, serves as Master of Ceremonies for local sports functions and plays golf, or did we already mention that? Tabner is a member at Heatherdowns Country Club, which borders his property to the west. The dining room table in Tabner’s South Toledo home is covered with neat piles of names and other pertinent information. He is planning still another Libbey High School class reunion, something the Toledo native has done for

5 10 15

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RECREATION

MEDIA

SPORTS

July 27, 2005

many years. Tabner, 72, will be celebrating his 55th Libbey reunion this year. Among the memorabilia that garnishes the walls of Tabner’s home are not one, but two plaques that pronounce his induction into the Libbey Hall of Fame. The former Cowboy offensive end was inducted in the original Libbey Hall of Fame, along with basketball star Chet Trail and women’s football star Linda Jefferson in 1979 after Tabner had been asked to help get it started. When Ann Keogh, the athletic director at the time, left Libbey shortly thereafter, the Hall of Fame became defunct. It was resurrected in 1994 and Tabner and Trail were again inducted, making them the only Libbey athletes to be installed into the school’s Hall of Fame twice. Also hanging in the hallway in Tabner’s house is an autographed picture of former Detroit Tigers star Al Kaline with the inscription, “Congrats on your retirement but you still can’t have that (bleeping) interview.” Tabner says he was always abruptly turned away when he attempted to interview Kaline and still contends that baseball players are the most difﬁcult athletes to deal with from a media perspective. He recalls walking up to Mickey Mantle at the batting cage before a spring training game one year in Florida with tape recorder in hand seeking a brief interview. Mantle had already taken a few swings and was at the end of the line behind Elston Howard, Yogi

Berra and Roger Maris. When Tabner asked Mantle for a couple of words, that’s what he got, neither of which can be repeated here. “My favorite athletes were golfers and auto racers,” Tabner said. “The ﬁrst time I went to Indy I was awestruck. I really like NASCAR. “I got to know Jack Nicklaus personally and when he won his last Masters championship at the age of 46 in 1986 I was actually crying over the last four or five holes. When he sank the putt on 18 to win it, I flipped the switch on our alarm system that triggers a horn on the roof. The neighbors must have thought I was crazy.” Tabner, who has encountered some health issues and harbors a pacemaker, spends three months every winter in Florida. He keeps up with the sports scene, but on a more casual basis. He recently attended the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, “to look at all the pretty girls.” Tabner, referred to as “Captain Casual” by his colleagues when he was the dean of local sportscasters, says he doesn’t miss the business with so much more to cover and so much more available information to sort through. And he especially doesn’t miss the drives to Ohio State where, if he was lucky, he might get a threeminute interview with the late Woody Hayes. He’s still Orris Tabner, but he’s much more content than he was when he was the “other” Orris Tabner.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Table hockey is family affair Perhaps they are trying to capture the fun of games from a simpler time; perhaps they are looking for a unique father-son bonding experience; or perhaps they are looking for the equivalent of playing chess at 700 miles per hour. Sylvania resident Paul Ruiz and his nine-year-old son, Tanner, traveled to the Chicago suburb of Lemont this weekend for the 2005 Stiga U.S. Open — in table hockey. You remember table hockey: 2 1/4” players you control with metal rods scattered across the playing surface. It’s easy enough for children to enjoy but challenging enough for adults to compete. “It started as I was trying to ﬁnd a gift we could all play together,” recalled the elder Ruiz. “And come to ﬁnd out there’s a whole sub-culture of people who play this game.” The combination of an obsessive sub-culture and general human competitiveness has spawned, naturally, tournaments. Not only is there a U.S. Open championship, a world championship has taken place every other year in Sweden, home of Stiga, the table hockey of choice among serious competitors, since 1989. Many traditional hockey skills apply to ensure victory, including checking, center passes and one timers. “This is a game of millimeters,” Ruiz said. “But it’s not so much about offense as defense.” For the Ruiz family, the competition rides shot-

From Staff Reports

Wilcox All-American

U.S. Lacrosse recently announced the selection of Toledoan Sarah Wilcox as a First-Team High School All-American. Wilcox, a four-year starter for the Culver Academy’s girls’ team, led the Eagles in scoring this season with 101 goals and 38 WILCOX assists, for 144 points. In addition, she ﬁnished as both the school and Indiana career-scoring leader with 322 points on 246 goals and 76 assists. The daughter of Mike and Jan Wilcox, Wilcox was a three-time Indiana All-State selection, served as co-captain, and completed her career with 60 wins and two losses against Indiana competition, earning four varsity letters in lacrosse. A highly sought-after student athlete, Wilcox will attend The Ohio State University, where she will become the ﬁrst Culver player to compete for a major Division I women’s lacrosse program.

Photo courtesy Desi Ruiz

From left, Paul Ruiz, Reyanna, 6, Zach, 8, Tanner, 9.

gun with the family bonding experience. This fall, Ruiz hopes to bring the game and family bonding experience to Northwest Ohio with the creation of a father-child and adult league. “It’s great to get face to face,” Ruiz said. “to get the kids away from the video game and face to face with someone else.” At the U.S. Open, the Ruiz family will compete against more than 50 other players. “There’s no age limit,” Ruiz said. “(My son) is gonna win some games. He’s gonna surprise some people.” — Chris Kozak

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Walbridge Amateur Baseball will be holding an ASA Men’s one pitch softball tournament at Railway Park in Walbridge on August 18-21. Entry Fee is $100 with proceeds to aid in funding extra curricular activities for Lake Local Schools for the 2005-06 school year. Possible NIT bid. More information contact Ed Blank at (419) 836-8646.

Clariﬁcation

In the July 20 issue, an editing mistake in “Perrysburg tourney key fundraiser,” made the number of participants unclear. There were four teams from Perrysburg, plus squads from Rossford, Oregon, Anthony Wayne and Swanton.

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Thee Toledo Reign, Toledo’s professional women’s football team, will host its ﬁrst dodgeball tournament August 7 at The Beach sand volleyball courts, International Park in Downtown Toledo. Teams can have six to 10 players. Check in begins at 11 a.m. with a double-elimination tourney starting at noon. Entry fee is $70 per team, with all participants receiving at least two games, T-shirts, and a ticket to a Toledo Reign football game. For info, contact (419) 654-5799.

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SPORTS

July 27, 2005

MEMORABILIA

Hens games gold mine for area autograph collectors By Scott Calhoun Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Mud Hens baseball represents the ﬁnal stepping stone to the Major Leagues for aspiring baseball stars. For many of the fans who attend Hens games, it is simply a great chance to root for pro-level baseball in an urban micropolis — or just a plain old dedication to Toledo sports. But for Jeff Thomas of Flat Rock, Mich. and Steve Paprocki of Point Place, attending Fifth-Third Field translates into something more than just a place to perch and watch the future of the rawhide. As autograph collectors, the men see AAA games as a gold-

mine for getting future stars’ John Hancocks as well as the signatures of baseball stars of lore. “I’ve got a room at home full of autographs, photographs and a big card collection,” said Thomas, as he eyed players signing autos for clambering kids along the stadium’s third base line at a recent game. He said his collection covers many of the Hens and Tigers, past and present. Thomas, whose son turned him into a Mud Hens fan 12 years ago, makes his collecting experience a give and take affair. “What I like to do is shoot pictures at games and then get those signed by the players,” Thomas said.

Thomas said he returns the favor by giving players his highquality photos. But Thomas collects merely for sport and not for the surprisingly high monetary value getting a photo or card of a future star can bring. “Everybody’s got a hobby, and I just enjoy doing it,” he said. For Paprocki, a fan since 1960 and also a paid Hens scorekeeper for BSI, the hobby is a business. He collects autos of past and future stars with the intent to sell and distribute the highly valuable commodities at collectors’ shows around the area and abroad. “I get all the good players. I’ve gotten Tony Gwynn, Hank Aaron,

Willie Mays, and then I get all the Mud Hens every year,” Paprocki said, waiting in line on a recent Autograph Day for the chance to get prospect Wayne Ledezma’s ink. While the lure of a prospect’s auto is the usual focus for collectors such as Paprocki and Thomas, they never lose sight of their

respective personal experiences of baseball’s mystical history. As a result, Paprocki’s main focus at games is to land old timers’ autographs. “I get old timers’ autographs because I won’t be here when the younger players are old timers,” Paprocki said.

FREE PRESS BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

National convention a sports collectors’ Nirvana A collection of cards, memorabilia and athletes that rivals any hall-of-fame will be on display this weekend in Chicago at the 26th annual National Sports Collectors Convention. Encompassing the 400,000+ sq. ft Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, more than 700 dealers will be on-hand. Many of the items are extremely rare and valuable; unlike your typical museum, they are all for sale. Local sports cards dealer Kevin Savage, of Kevin Savage Cards, maintains that the National is the show. “It’s the chance for the collectors to ﬁnd just about whatever they want,” Savage said. “It’s the one big show everyone points to. There will be some of the rarest and best cards you could

possibly want.” Another attraction is the jaw-dropping line up of athletes. A collection of more than 70 athletes, including Mike Ditka, Oscar Robertson, Phil Esposito and Maumee’s own Dick Kazmaier will be on hand. With the sports memorabilia industry generating an estimated $2 billion in sales annually from more than 16.7 million collectors around the world, it’s a ‘buyers and sellers’ market. “There’s plenty of stuff for sale, and there are a lot of guys buying stuff,” Savage said. “There will be tons of dealers there with their checkbooks ready to buy.” — Chris Kozak

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC Back to School 2005

Thomas F. Pounds President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

TABLE OF CONT ENT S

Michael S. Miller Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com Joshua E. Trust VP, Sales & Marketing jtrust@toledofreepress.com

Myndi M. Milliken Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com Zach Silka Project Editor news@toledofreepress.com DM Stanﬁeld Photo Editor dmstanfield@toledofreepress.com STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com Holly Abrams • David Coehrs Scott McKimmy • Matt Zapotosky Christopher Burke Contributing Ad Designer ADVERTISING SALES Renee Bergmooser rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com

HOMESCHOOLING

COMMUNITY

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Leaders welcome back students Staff report, page 28

Team aids Toledo special ed students Story by Scott McKimmy, page 33

LOOKING BACK

MEMENTOS

Memories of school deﬁne lives Story by Myndi Milliken, page 29

Senior memories precious, costly Story by Zach Silka, page 34

TUTORING

TECHNOLOGY

TPS teachers provide one-on-one help Story by Scott McKimmy, page 30

Internet saves time for local students Story by Zach Silka, page 38

AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITY

ADULT EDUCATION

TPS makes the transition Story by Matt Zopotosky, page 27

Kay T. Pounds Vice President of Operations kpounds@toledofreepress.com Stacie L. Klewer Art Director sklewer@toledofreepress.com

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

Advertiser Index Cohen and Cooke … 25 COSI … 33 Dave’s Home Cooked Foods … 37 Davis College … 40 Fifth Third Bank … 31 Frisch’s Big Boy … 41 Great Smiles Family Dentistry … 36 Lourdes College … 27, 37 Lucas County Children’s Services … 28 Lucas County Educational Center … 34 Maumee Valley Country Day School … 29 Nu Yu Medical … 30 Owens Community College … 39 Professional Skills Institute … 24 ProMedica … 42 Richard’s Music … 41 The Andersons … 26 Toledo Catholic Diocese … 38 Toledo Center for Research … 35 Toledo Christian Schools … 32 Victory Academy … 39 West Side Montessori … 35 YMCA of Greater Toledo … 40

Having fun when the day is done Story by David J. Coehrs, page 31

Support groups unite parents, kids Story by Holly Abrams, page 32

Women ﬁnd balance for life goals Story by Myndi Milliken, page 40

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BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

TPS makes uniform transition By Matt Zapotosky Special to Toledo Free Press

This October, grungy T-shirts, ripped jeans and pink skirts will be a thing of the past at Toledo Public Schools junior highs. And by next October, they’ll likely be removed from the high schools. The 2005-06 school year marks the second year in the implementation of the TPS uniform policy. Junior high school students will have until October to be in compliance with the policy, and elementary school students are already in compliance. “It’s been a very good program so far,” said Dr. Sheila Austin, chief of staff for the district. “For it to be a ﬁrst-year implementation, I thought it went rather smooth.” The uniform program began last year when elementary school students were required to wear the uniforms. Elementary school students are allowed to wear white, blue or yellow blouses, polos or turtlenecks with dark blue, navy, khaki or tan pants or knee-length shorts. Girls also are allowed to wear skirts, skorts or pants, and both girls and boys may wear sweaters. Junior high students have the same dress code with an ad-

ditional color for tops — maroon — and junior high girls may wear capri pants. The uniforms cost about $30 for one pair of pants, one top and one sweater, Austin said, and uniform items are available at most major department stores. Free uniforms are available for families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line — which equates to an annual household income of $18,850 for a family of four. The district has received 500 applications for free uniforms so far, and Lucas County Job and Family Services has spent about $600,000 providing free uniforms, Austin said. Each family applying for the ﬁrst time receives four shirts, three bottoms and one sweater. Families who were in the program last year will get one additional shirt, bottom and sweater this year, Austin said. Though Austin said the district has received mostly positive feedback concerning the uniforms, eighth grader Nico Covarrubias said he and his friends are not excited to begin wearing them next fall. “I think it’s a bad idea,” Covarrubias said. “You’re just dressing like everybody else. You’re not

expressing yourself.” Covarrubias’ mother, Alesia, has four other elementary-age children. She said having to purchase all her children’s uniforms at once was difficult, but now that she has them, she likes the idea of uniforms because children are more focused on schoolwork and less focused on fashion. “I don’t hear them talk about, ‘Oh, so and so’s wearing this’ ” she said. “They mostly come home and talk about what they’ve done in school.” Ms. Covarrubias also said the uniforms make it easier to recognize students. “I just think it’s a good thing for the principals and teachers to identify the children,” she said. “When they go away on field trips, people can tell these kids are in school.” Austin said these benefits were the reason TPS decided to make the switch to uniforms. “When you talk to people, they’d tell you there’s a difference in how the students behave,” she said. “They come to school ready to learn. The total environment has changed.” And next year, Austin said, the uniform policy will apply to the

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

The children of the Covarrubias family in their school uniforms. high schools as well — perhaps with another color or clothing option. A study committee will meet this fall to discuss the high school

uniform policy. “I’m sure they’ll be another twist when it goes to the high school,” Austin said.

B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

COMMUNITY

Toledo-area education leaders welcome back students From Staff Reports

Toledo-area education leaders are preparing for a new school year. Toledo Free Press offered officials an opportunity to welcome back their students. Dr. Eugene T. W. Sanders, Superintendent and CEO, Toledo Public Schools, said, “We are building on our unprecedented academic success during last school year. We were the only large urban district to achieve the “Continuous ImSANDERS provement” ranking from Ohio. We also were one of only a handful of urban districts across the nation to meet the No Child Left Behind mandate of Adequate Yearly Progress for students in specific groups: economically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, minority students, and limited English proficient students. TPS has received national acclaim for its academic performance and for closing the achievement gap for all students.”

Christa Adams, Ph.D., Owens Community College President, said, “This year marks Owens Community College’s 40th year of serving our students and communities. We are proud to announce the addition of a new certificate program offered through a unique partnership with the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo. In addition to the more than 150 program areas offered here at Owens, you now have the opportunity to complete an EmerADAMS gency Medical Services Certificate Program through both institutions, as well as take other selected Owens courses on MUO’s campus. “We are delighted to announce the completion of our new 119,407 square-foot Findlay-area Campus. The new campus features more than 35 technology classrooms, 27 technical and computer laboratories, a library, faculty and staff offices, a large multipurpose room, student commons, a food court and a child care center.”

Robert C. Helmer, Ph.D., J.D., President of Lourdes College, said, “Summer is winding down, signaling the end of another calendar year. However, the academic year is just beginning, full of opportunities for learning, growing and discovering. “Lourdes College has experienced amazing growth this summer. We’ve added talented and energetic people to our faculty and staff. Our graduate programs continue HELMER to expand, with more cohorts for our Master of Organizational Leadership and a new concentration for a Master of Education focusing on Teaching and Curriculum. “A solid liberal arts education can help bridge the gaps, and shorten the distances, between people, places, and ideas. Regardless of where you attend classes, seize every opportunity to learn about the social and cultural differences that make people unique.”

Dr. Dan Johnson, University of Toledo President, said, “I join with all of the faculty, staff members and administrators on campus in saying that we welcome you and are anxious to carry out this journey of educational discovery with you. “To those students who are attending the University for the ﬁrst time, we want to extend our welcome and thanks to you for choosing The University of Toledo to further your eduJOHNSON cation. “As you go to classes, socialize with friends and interact with campus employees, you will realize that you are more than a student — you are a member of The University of Toledo family. “We also want to welcome back students who are returning to the University this fall. “We wish all UT students success in the classroom and beyond during the coming school year. We are proud to have you as our partners in education.”

Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau, President, Bowling Green State University, said, “We have a vision at Bowling Green State University. That vision is to be the premier learning community in Ohio and one of the best in the nation. “We have much to be proud of: • Faculty who receive national and international recognition; • A student body that demonstrates its commitment to philanthropy every year with Dance Marathon, which has become RIBEAU the largest student-run philanthropic event in Ohio and one of the largest Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon programs in the nation. • Ground-breaking research; • The football team ranks among the top 25 teams nationally in pre-season polls, and Falcon quarterback Omar Jacobs already is receiving Heisman attention “I encourage you to Dream BiG. This is a great time to be at Bowling Green State University.”

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LOOKING BACK

Memories of school deﬁne lives, careers for notable Toledoans By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

School can make memories yearbooks just can’t capture. Toledo area residents from all backgrounds took time to share with Toledo Free Press an educational experience that meant something to them. Some school experiences lead to a lifetime of learning and enjoying a subject. “My all-time favorite class was Civil War History,” said Jim Tichy, veteran sports anchor for WNWO24 News. Tichy, a BGSU grad, said the class helped develop an interest in Civil War reenactTISCHY ments and battle sites: “We’re taking another trip to Gettysburg in a few weeks.” Jim Gee, president of TARTA, said American History was “thought-provoking and fascinating.” The Zanesville High School

native said the classes helped turn him into a bit of a history buff. Other experiences can lead to a lifestyle shared with friends and family. “Social studies was always my favorite subject,” said Marge Brown, Mayor of the City of Oregon and a former schoolteacher. Brown has shared her love of the United States with her family. “I’ve traveled to every state in the BROWN U.S.” Toledo Deputy Police Chief Linda Mason recalls the four years of German at Libbey High School and the great times she had. “I learned about the language and a lot about the country itself; the different cultures and backgrounds. My teacher was from Germany and hooked us up with pen pals. It’s still a goal of mine to travel to Germany some day.” Ray Maselli, general manager of WUPW-Fox Toledo News, remembered English literature as a favorite. “We had a really groovy Eng-

lish teacher who would let us write parodies ... it was some funny stuff,” he said. “Professor Reynolds at Dartmouth College, in his ﬁnal lecture on earth’s history was great,” said Larry Nichols, Toledo Museum of Art curator of European paintings and sculptures before 1900, of his favorite moment. “He told us dinosaurs walked the earth for a great deal longer than human beings.” Some experiences led to deﬁning careers. Tom Skeldon, Lucas County dog warden, said basic animal science at Ohio State University helped him pursue his career in animal welfare. “It was taught by a very enlightening professor and made you appreciate the education you were getting,” he said. Chad Anderson, an engineer at Toledo’s Surface Combustion, said math was always his favorite, no matter what the level. “You are VOETSCH

actually able to get an answer every time,” he said. WTOL-News 11 Anchorwoman Melissa Voetsch said English composition was her favorite class. “I had the greatest teacher and I loved writing short stories. I certainly didn’t like math, that’s for sure,” she said. “Miss Fox at Longfellow Elementary taught me how cool it was to write creatively,” said Mark Luetke of the public relations ﬁrm Funk Luetke Skunda. “My English teacher at Start taught me to write LUETKE well ... it was important because that’s what I do for a living.” Some experiences command sincere appreciation. Toledo Symphony Conductor Sam Szor remembers his “amazing” music instructor, Cecile Vashaw, but also a teacher at Waite High School that kept him amazed. “Mr. Brenner never used a textbook, he just gave us problems to do. I kept my notes for

10 years after I left because they were so amazing,” he said. “I was a machine gunner in the Marine Corps. and Lt. Col. Earl Cassidy came up to me and said it was his job to get me to re-enlist, but he said, ‘I think you should get out, and go to school.’ He was a great JACOBS inﬂuence on my decision to further my education,” Lloyd A. Jacobs, MD, president of the Medical University of Ohio said.

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B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BA C K TO S CH O O L 2 0 0 5

Owens offers Rapid Registration Week

TUTORING

TPS teachers, tutors provide one-on-one instruction By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

School districts often report student-teacher ratios as a benchmark of a quality education. Toledo Public Schools (TPS), for instance, serves about 35,000 students with a faculty of 2,073 teachers. But by adding the thousands of tutors recruited from throughout the community the ratio jumps from about 17to-1 to an ideal 1-to-1, at least for students at risk of failing their proficiency tests in math and science. Tutors enhance the learning experience for children, especially in elementary schools throughout the district, according to Craig Cotner, TPS chief academic officer. There are a wide range of programs available through federal funding under President Bush’s No Child Left Behind initiative as well as support from both the public and private sectors, Cotner said. “From the school district’s perspective, the more people who are interacting with the students in a positive way, the better,” he said. “Having one-to-one interaction between the students and tutors is a definite benefit.” Teachers often work or volunteer as tutors after school, having identified students who may need assistance with difficult subjects. At TPS, almost half have a master’s degree or higher level of education and average 16 years of experience. The 1,620 women and 453 men maintain an attendance rating of almost 94 percent and average $5,000 less in annual salaries than their counterparts in urban settings such as Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Yet under an atmosphere of higher community expectations and government standards, teachers turn to tutors to fill the cracks where students historically have fallen en

route to an inadequate education. Some who report to help the schools are grandparents with extra time; some are corporate employees giving back to the community; and some are still in elementary school. One special program funded by outside sources trains ﬁfth-graders to be tutors and then pays them to teach third-graders. Cotner said the program is rare but extremely helpful. “It’s a unique and productive way,” he added. “but you’ll never learn something until you have to teach it yourself.” More common avenues for tutors to donate their time and knowledge open through various nonproﬁt agencies dedicated to the task. Partners in Education, an organization established by the Rotary Club, provides about 1,300 tutors annually and draws from a database totaling almost 5,000 volunteers, according to Julia Faulkner, executive director. She described the increase in available grants since the state launched its Ohio Reads program in 1999. Ohio Reads provided a “much more structured tutoring curriculum” and ‘really kicked up that tutoring effort.” During the past six years, Partners in Education has recruited, screened and trained a good portion of the area tutors. Faulkner estimated that about 40 percent represent community volunteers, while 60 percent volunteer through their employers’ programs, often on company time. “As a result, we’ve been able to work with over 50 area businesses to get them into the schools and give their employees relief time to be able to tutor,” she said. Typically, tutoring programs through Ohio Reads, such as HOSTS — Help One Student to Succeed — places as many as 150 volunteers in and out of any given Toledo elementary school every week. A full-time teacher supervises

From Staff Reports

Those interested in taking college classes or starting a new career this fall are invited to attend Rapid Registration Week at Owens Community College on August 1-6. With the fall semester commencing August 22, Owens will be open extra hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., August 1-4. In addition, students may register Friday, August 5, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Saturday, August 6, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. “Rapid Registration offers area residents, businesses and students an array of opportunities to get a head start on pursuing their career aspirations,” said Donna Gruber, Owens director of Enrollment Services. “Individuals attending one of the days can learn about Owens’

many program offerings and receive academic advising, as well as select their classes in a convenient and timely manner with the college’s enrollment services staff.” Owens is one of the fastest-growing higher educational institutions in Ohio. On the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, the college serves more than 45,000 credit and non-credit students, making it the No. 1 choice for new college students. The Toledo-area campus is located on Oregon Road, which is located four miles from Downtown Toledo. For more registration information or to obtain a schedule of fall semester courses, contact Enrollment Services at (567) 661-7777 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7777.

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the tutoring, with students in the program receiving 1-to-1 attention for a half-hour per day, four days per week. The results, according to Faulkner, show that students in the program excelled at a tremendous rate, which is measured in the number of reading levels achieved during a school year. In nine months, students should advance to a level of .9. “On average the kids increased their instructional reading levels 1.7 instructional reading levels per year,” she explained, “so the kids are nearly doubling the expectation.”

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Having fun when the day is done By David J. Coehrs Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Toledo parents in search of organized after-school activities for their children need not look far. Several organizations serve a variety of educational and fun things to do after the school day is over. Child Care Connections of the YWCA of Greater Toledo offers a bevy of after-school programs in locations throughout the city for public and private school students, according to school-age specialist Regina Modisett. She said the enrichment activities give children “an idea of what they want to do in life, instead of hanging out on that corner at that corner store.” Examples include “Camp Week,” during which children construct a tent and participate in activities experienced on a camping trip. All activities are designed to give children both a sense of responsibility and accomplishment while they enjoy being creative, Modisett said. Participation in these programs does require a fee, but families with ﬁnancial hardships can get funding through Child Family Services, she added. Child Care Connections duplicates the programs at YWCA facilities, schools, churches and other facilities throughout the area to assure easy access. Free transportation is provided directly from schools. “It’s just a good program,” Modisett said. YMCA Child Care offers before and after-school care for children at more than 30 locations. For schools without a YMCA program onsite, transportation is provided to a local YMCA branch or center. The Boys and Girls Club of Toledo serves about 450 students daily in after-school programs. “Those are the kids we’re having an impact on — the numbers each day,” executive director Dave Wehrmeister said. “It gets them a membership and a sense of belonging that this is a place for them.” An annual membership for children age seven to 15 is $3; teens 16 to 18 pay $5. Local memberships currently total more than 7,000. Transportation to the centers is not provided. Available programs include arts and crafts, pen and ink drawing, acrylic painting, swimming, intramural sports and competitive teams. The Boys and Girls Club centers are equipped with computer centers where children are instructed in everything from basic programs to elaborate technology programs. Students can also participate in Power Hour, a popular homework assistance program. “We feel it’s a very strong asset to the teachers and what they’re teaching,” Wehrmeister said. The centers also offer game rooms, where “there’s definitely a learning curve there that goes on subtly,” he said. Wehrmeister said he believes the Boys and Girls Club give students across the city a necessary outlet. “The club is a second home to many of our kids,” he said. “From personal experience, I know how important it was in my life. If we were not here, many would be left with idle time that could be used out on the street or in latchkey circumstances.” While Toledo Public Schools doesn’t have a districtwide, after-school program, some elementary schools develop after-school activities, a spokesperson said. The Catholic Diocese of Toledo also is without a formal program but offers activities through the Catholic Club, said Carolyn Schmidbauer, assistant superintendent of schools.

B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

HOMESCHOOLING

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Area homeschool support groups unite parents and children

TPS sorts through labels, focuses on special education needs

By Holly Abrams Special to Toledo Free Press

Northwest Ohio has several support groups for homeschooling parents that provide connections within the community. “All these organizations are volunteer; it’s all grassroots,” said Kelly Savino, contact coordinator for Toledo H.E.L.P. (Home Education League of Parents). “Generally, there is a group out there for every family.” Savino also runs a Web site, www.homeschooltoledo.net, that showcases local groups and contact information for parents. H.E.L.P. incorporates a childled, interest-based approach to teaching, said Savino, who has homeschooled all three of her children, the oldest in sixth grade. “Kids know what they want to learn and are able to learn it,” she said. “You can wait for kids’ strengths to develop.” The group provides monthly meetings, support and information for parents and a newsletter listing activities and ﬁeld trips in the homeschool community. “It’s a good social connection,” Savino said. “We can organize and go on ﬁeld trips as a group. It’s especially nice for new homeschoolers.”

Support groups are a good resource for parents to learn about homeschooling, Savino said. “It’s almost misleading to say ‘homeschool’ because you think of kids sitting around the kitchen table,” she said. “But it’s much more than that. Our joke is that we are ‘vanschoolers.’ Everything we do, we go in a van.” The options are endless with group ﬁeld trips and co-ops, Savino said. “You could spend every day of the week with a group of students doing something,” she said. “There are so many options, you can design your own curriculum.” Activities with area support groups have included metropark visits, roller-skating parties, moms’ nights out and trips to the Toledo Museum of Art, Savino said. “When you homeschool, the ﬁrst question is about socialization,” said Velvet Keeler of OHMI (Ohio-Michigan), who has homeschooled her two children. “There is so much out there. A homeschooler can socialize even more than in regular school.” OHMI is a Christian-based homeschool support group that began in Bedford Mich., and meets in the Toledo area. The group also hosts activities for

homeschoolers and co-ops. Many of the groups support more than just school-age children. “It’s also a support group for moms,” Keeler said. Parents of children not even school age attend activities, according to Savino. “We get a lot of people whose kids aren’t in school yet,” she said. “They have preschoolers and are curious about their options.” The motivations for homeschooling vary but for Shari Grayczy, a homeschooling parent of nine years, the deﬁning factor was building character. “You can learn academics at school but character quality can only be developed at home,” she said. Time together with her children has been another highlight for Grayczy. For Keeler, the choice was a lifestyle issue. With her husband working nights, homeschooling would allow the children to see both parents daily. Ohio regulations require those who wish to homeschool to turn in a letter of intent to the superintendent of their school system each fall, notifying the school

By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

their child will be homeschooled, Savino said. At the end of each year, a certiﬁed teacher must assess the student to verify they are making progress and notify the school system of that progress in writing, Savino said. There are several options for students when it comes to moving on to higher education. They can take an equivalency test to earn a GED. Many students take regular college entrance exams, Savino said. Those with support groups may contact Kelly Savino at primalmommy@mail2ohio.com, to be added to the Web site.

ON THE WEB www.homeschooltoledo.net

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Children with special needs have run the gamut of labels. Those who the federal government calls “mentally retarded,” the state names “cognitively disabled.” They also may be “adjusted curriculum,” “emotionally disturbed” (previously “severe behavior disorder”), blind, autistic or speech or hearing impaired. But at Toledo Public Schools (TPS), each is ﬁrst and foremost a member of a School Assistance Team (SAT), along with the parents and any of the array of professionals on hand to facilitate their education. The labels apply by necessity, so the children can become eligible for assistance based on their mental, physical, emotional or psychological conditions, according to TPS Director of Student Services Thom Billau. “Before we label a child ‘disabled,’ we

do interventions — a teacher can refer; a parent can refer — and we develop an intervention program for the child to make a difference with whatever problem they’re experiencing,” Billau said. SAT shares the experience, which is a combined effort by the various educators, therapists, social workers and medical specialists involved in the case. No one person can determine if a child has a disability, and the parents weigh in to provide a perspective of the child’s home life. “Sometimes what we see at school isn’t the same thing [the parents] see happening at home,” Billau said. “We try to merge those viewpoints together to see if there truly is a problem.” Cases range from individuals with severe multiple handicaps, for which a tremendous amount of assistance must be provided, to learning disabilities that may be more treatable. Billau explained the ex-

tent of services available to children in the district as “the whole rainbow,” and the list of special programs as an “alphabet soup.” TPS houses three classes at the former Heatherdowns Elementary School for those with intensive disabilities. Children who Billau said “live fragile lives” attend the school, with some arriving to school regularly in an ambulance with a nurse and needing constant attention. Regardless of the severity, all specialneeds children receive protection under the Disabilities Education Improvement Act, passed in 1975 and renewed every four years. The act guarantees “... a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs ...” Billau described the legislation as more protective than the general student population, with restrictions such as no suspensions for more than 10 days with-

out services. Cynthia Kennedy, TPS school psychologist for early education students, assesses children ages three to ﬁve throughout the district about twice weekly during the school year. She said she has noticed a growing number of behavioral issues, which must be addressed. “We get a lot of children who have temperament and emotional disturbances,” she said. “Hopefully, we can intervene and do something so it does not become a predominate problem.” She also said she has observed a huge rise in autism, a trend that led her to participate in Project Play, a program in Ann Arbor designed to teach parents to communicate with their autistic children. Kennedy, who holds a bachelor’s degree in school psychology and a master’s degree in counseling, recently received certiﬁcation as an education specialist.

TPS ofﬁcial stresses communication when parent concerns arise Even under the best of circumstances, parents may sometimes take issue with a teacher, school administrator or policy. According to a fourth-quarter report issued by Toledo Public Schools for the 2003-04 school year, the district’s ombudsman

ﬁelded 1,200 calls from parents. “By and large, the vast majority of parents interact in a very good way with the schools,” said Jane Bruss, TPS executive director of communications. “There are occasions when problems occur. It’s the exception when things don’t go well.”

To ensure any problem or dispute is resolved amicably, TPS ofﬁcials recommend parents take the following steps: ■ Contact the teacher regarding problems in the classroom. If it is difﬁcult for a teacher to return a call, a conference may

be scheduled. ■ Contact the principal if problems occurring inside or outside of the classroom have not been addressed to the parent’s satisfaction. ■ If an issue still has not been resolved satisfactorily, contact the

appropriate administrator. ■ Always begin locally, making an appointment with the faculty member involved. Remember, busy schedules don’t always make it possible to approach faculty without a scheduled meeting. — David Coehrs

B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

MOMENTOS

Senior memories are precious — and costly By Zach Silka Special to Toledo Free Press news@toledofreepress.com

So you want your teenager to have a memorable senior year, but at what cost? From senior pictures to prom night, a student’s last year of high school is often the costliest. The following is a compilation of what parents can expect to dole out the cash for and how many greenbacks these activities will set them back. But don’t worry. The most expensive year of a student’s educational track still awaits: freshman year of college.

Memory tokens

Senior year just isn’t complete without two staples for everyone to look back on with hopefully fond memories: senior pictures and a class ring. Both of these come with numerous options and upgrades that can drive prices well over $500. Professionally taken senior pictures range from $150 to $250, while the traditional class ring costs around $175 to $285.

Academics

To the dismay of teenagers and the surprise of parents, senior year isn’t all fun and games. Retakes of standardized col-

lege entrance tests, the SAT and ACT, along with AP tests at the end of senior year are often necessary hiccups on the road. The SAT costs $41.50, while the ACT costs $28. Each AP test costs $82 but can turn into a bargain-basement deal on college credit if the student performs well enough. Filling out college applications is another obligatory hassle for seniors to deal with. Most colleges and universities charge between $35 and $60 for an application, so the bill can run up rather quickly depending on how many schools a student applies to. Some of these fees can be avoided by attending “open house” events where some schools waive application fees. Once a senior commits to a particular college, almost all institutions require a housing deposit to hold a student’s spot in the incoming class. These deposits range from $350 to $500.

Prom night

It’s the night some students look forward to more than graduation. Everyone dreams of a fairytale evening, but those memories don’t come without a price. Girls are usually the big spenders in this category. Dresses can range from $200 to $600, and that’s not including new shoes and a purse to go along with the dress. Hairstyling can range from $75

to $150, while a boutonniere for her date costs $15 to $25. Guys only need to rent a tuxedo and shoes, for around $150, and pick up a nice corsage to match her dress for $20 to $25. If he decides to buy the tickets, which run $40 to $75 at most schools, and to rent a limousine, which some schools have banned because of concerns over underage drinking, costs can climb much higher.

Graduation

The event all senior year activities are building toward does not come without its own set of expenses. Graduation announcements cost $90 to $150. A video of the ceremony will run $20 to $30, while cap and gown rental ranges from $40 to $60. Some high schools roll all graduation costs into a graduation fee of $150 to save parents time and money.

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B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

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FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid trends

Financial aid programs thrive despite Ohio cutbacks By Matt Zapotosky Special to Toledo Free Press news@toledofreepress.com

Despite rapidly decreasing state funding and increasing tuition levels, local colleges and universities are working to make an education more affordable than ever to students through increased financial aid. During the past three years at Owens Community College, Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo, financial aid has increased by an average of about 12 percent per year — three percent better than the average nine percent per year tuition increase at the three schools. “Financial aid is outpacing the increase in tuition,” said Craig Cornell, BGSU’s director of financial aid. “There’s more money for students to be able to receive.” At the same time, state education appropriations have dropped by more than $2 million at BGSU and more than $5 million at UT. Owens has seen a roughly $5 million increase in state funding, but Owens officials said the dollar amount per student is shrinking. Increasing financial aid in the face of decreasing funding can only be done “with great difficulty,” said William Decatur, UT’s Executive Vice President. “With fee caps in place, we can only raise fees 6 percent, so the rest of it comes out of the university’s budget,” he said. But UT is able to employ some creative methods to create more in-house financial

aid dollars. Though tuition increases were capped at 6 percent in the past two years, UT was able to raise tuition and fees an additional 3 percent if it used the funds for need-based scholarships or technology initiatives. This system put more of a financial burden on students who were able to pay and provided more financial aid for students in need of assistance, Decatur said. “A private university model is what that amounts to,” he said. “It’s called tuition discounting.” Lisa Hasselschwert, UT’s interim director of financial aid, said these extra dollars helped make up for federal and state grants that have not increased at the same rate tuition has increased. Hasselschwert said federal and state grants such as the Pell Grant and the Stafford Loan have not increased in at least three or four years. “Because the federal programs have not kept pace with tuition and fees increase ... this need-based money ... has given us money to help bridge that gap,” Hasselschwert said. At Owens, decreased state funding and stagnant federal and state grant levels are less of a problem because the school’s tuition is so low, said Betsy Johnson, Owens’ director of financial aid. Pell Grants, national financial aid grants, are capped at $2,025 per student for one semester at a public institution. State grants are capped at $1,095. “Obviously at those levels, you have

Bowling Green State University 02-’03 03-’04 04-’05

Financial Aid $135,177,568 $149,764,743 $172,659,737

Tuition & Fees State Appropriations $6,726 $76,244,540 $7,392 $76,227,964 $8,056 $74,216,936

02-’03 03-’04 04-’05

Tuition & Fees State Appropriations $2,300 $27,910,653.00 $2,438 $27,904,585.00 $2,660 $32,211,958.00

02-’03 03-’04 04-’05

Photo courtesy Owens Community College

Owens Community College students register for classes and check ﬁnancial aid status.

Financial Aid $102,023,467.51 $115,973,666.45 $125,450,478.42

“ T oledo

easily covered fees and books [at Owens],” Johnson said. For Johnson, the middle class students who are not eligible for the maximum amount of Pell and state grants are the biggest losers of the system. “I believe the student who... [is] middle class, not wealthy — they don’t get help from the federal government,” she said. “They’re looking at loans.” And with tuition levels continuing to rise and state appro-

priations continuing to shrink, Hasselschwert said increasing ﬁnancial aid is the only way a university can continue to survive without passing too much of an economic burden on to students. “I feel like the increasing tuition and fees is where we’re locked in,” she said. “[Financial aid] becomes the alternative for the university to maintain its quality services [and] its quality education, but you don’t want to zing the students either.”

away, families are preparing for the ʼ05-ʼ06 academic year. For most parents and students, this involves purchasing school supplies, getting sports physicals, and arranging car pools.

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Competitive College Application Process Requires Planning for High School Students With the start of school a few short weeks

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Tuition & Fees State Appropriations $5,835 $83,175,000 $6,414 $79,900,000 $7,054 $77,894,000

By Amy L. Mergen, Director of Admissions Lourdes College

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University of Toledo

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Owens Community College Financial Aid $37,722,543.93 $42,012,627.91 $46,893,925.29

High school sophomores and juniors have one additional planning process they should begin – their college search. Some families may have done preliminary research during the tenth grade, but most students begin their college search in earnest their junior year. Based on recent statistics, it is more important than ever to develop and begin a plan for your college bound student by the 11th grade. The college admissions process is more competitive than ever. A survey published in January by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) reported a dramatic increase in the number of students placed on wait lists at one of their schools of choice. In 1998, according to the College Board, nearly 96,000 students were

placed on wait lists; only 12.8% of those students were accepted. In 2002, almost 134,000 applicants were put on wait lists, and only 11% of those students were granted admission.

area or a smaller town. Donʼt forget to think about the distance from home. How much travel will it require for you to visit your student, or have him or her home for the holidays?

In order for students to secure a spot at their number one school choice, it is important for students and their parents to map out a strategy. Here are a few tips to get you started.

• Prepare for SAT and/or ACT. Most colleges use one or both of these scores to determine a studentʼs eligibility. Juniors should take the PSAT, SAT or ACT at least once. Sophomores should take the PLAN test. Ask your high school guidance counselor for specific test dates. Your local book store and library carry a number of practice books and manuals to help you prepare for the tests.

• Arrange a meeting with your studentʼs high school guidance counselor to begin the college selection process at the beginning of the school year. Review transcripts to make sure he or she has the core requirements colleges are seeking. General course requirements include: 4 units of English, 3 units of social sciences/history, 3 units of math, 3 units of science, 2 units of foreign language and 1 unit of fine arts. • Identify the most important criteria for selecting a college. Consider the size of classes, as well as the number of students in a school. Will your student excel at a large state university, or would he or she perform better in a smaller setting? List the academic programs of interest to your student. Be sure to research school rankings in programs of interest. Consider what type of location you would prefer, a large urban

There is a great deal of information available to parents and students on the Internet. The US News and World Reportʼs website (www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/pla nner/planner_brief.php), contains a number of pages dedicated to college search, ranking and preparation. They also provide practical forms (like timelines) which families can download and use. The Kaplan Test Prep website (www.kaptest.com) provides tools to help students excel in their standardized testing. Visit the NACAC website (www.nacac.com) and follow the links to the studentsʼ sections. You will find a host of Internet links, application tips and college rankings.

• Compile a list of schools that match your criteria, and arrange to visit the campuses and meet with an admissions counselor. If your visits can be scheduled during the academic year, it will give you a better sense of what life on campus is like.

The college application process can be extremely difficult and competitive, but, with planning, research and dedication, you can increase the chances of finding a school that is the best fit for your child.

• Study, study, study! Visit websites for colleges on your list. Review their application requirements, deadlines and costs. Research scholarship opportunities and financial aid information. Getting into the right college requires dedication, research and a timeline.

August 29th.

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B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

TECHNOLOGY

Internet saves time for NW Ohio college students By Zach Silka Special to Toledo Free Press

For students arriving at local colleges and universities this fall, hopping on the Internet will be a huge time-saver. The hassles of heading to multiple buildings for books, registration and financial aid notices have been eliminated. With school-supported intranets, which only those with proper identification can access, students can take care of all these first week activities. At the University of Toledo, students had been using Web for Students, but the university will implement a new Web portal in the fall called MyUT. The system will have many of the same capabilities but will require only one user ID and password, said Joe Sawasky, the interim assistant vice president of educational and information technology at UT. Sawasky said 99 percent of UT students utilize this service to conduct their day-to-day business with the university, including printing off grades and paying their tuition. “It really has freed them up to not worry so much about the

administrative kind of activities at the university and really focus more of their time on learning,” he said. “The Internet generation demands those kinds of things.” Even with more than 3,000 computers in labs throughout the campus, Sawasky said many students are opting to use their own laptops to tap into wireless Internet access points at UT. About 25 percent of UT’s classrooms are wireless and each new construction project will have wireless Internet access as a standard component, Sawasky said. At Owens Community College, students had utilized Campus Pipeline for their online administrative needs, but the campus soon will switch to a new system called the Ozone, said Bill Ivoska, vice president of Student Services. While the Internet has made registering for classes and viewing degree requirements much more efﬁcient, Ivoska said students still have the option of coming in and carrying out their business the old-fashioned way. “Student reaction is always positive because those who

want the Web can use it,” he said. “Those who don’t, [they] don’t have to use it.” Students at UT and Owens also can use the Internet to take online courses in place of or in addition to their normal courses with classroom-based instruction. Sawasky said UT is Ohio’s leading four-year institution in the way of distance learning, with more and more professors making their class material accessible

via online instruction. Ivoska said online classes are the most popular courses at Owens, more so than any class offered on campus. He also said online classes work the best for people with “access issues,” such as day-shift workers that want to go to class at night or mothers with young children who choose not to leave the house. “But in reality, that’s not who takes those classes,” Ivoska said.

“Who takes up the Web classes are often times traditional-age students, who maybe in the past took three or four classes but now can take sneak in another one ... and then they can graduate faster.” Bowling Green State Univer-

sity and UT offer computer help centers for students to bring their troubled computer and other pieces of technology. Sawasky said his department at UT also sponsors orientation programs during the summer for incoming

■ Keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date and ﬁrewall software enabled. Hackers and viruses tend to be more prevalent on college campuses, so you need to protect yourself from malicious attacks.

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

freshmen to train them on basic networking on campus. “We invest a lot there to make students’ experiences easy so that they don’t have any down time when they come to campus,” Sawasky said.

��

TIPS FOR TAKING A LAPTOP TO COLLEGE ■ Buy from a reputable brand and get a warranty, which should last the duration of a student’s time in college. Laptops are very fragile pieces of equipment, and a warranty is a very good investment, especially on a college campus. ■ Have enough memory to be able to run a modern operating system. Go ahead and bump up the quantity of RAM above the standard level installed on the computer. The faster processing time will be well worth it. ■ Bring a wireless card if you have a laptop. A secure sign-in protocol with the card is recommended because information transmitted wireless is easily viewable by other users.

��

Source: Joe Sawasky, UT Assistant Vice President of Educational and Information Technology

��

Joe Sawasky of the University of Toledo said 99 percent of UT students utilize the schoolʼs Web system.

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B A C K TO SCHOOL 2005

BACK TO SCHOOL 2005

ADULT EDUCATION

Women can ﬁnd opportunities to boost life balance goals By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

Leaving the workforce to raise a child can leave professional women devoid of the non-stop interaction with work and colleagues. Once they decide to re-enter the workforce, how can they stay in touch with an ever-changing world when they aren’t in it every day? Have a plan, said Lee Anne Grundish, director and owner of Graﬁx Services/Achieve Success! Career Success Coaching in Toledo. “One of the challenges faced by people leaving the workforce is that, in our culture, our identities are so inextricably linked to our jobs,” she said. “It is beneﬁcial to

one’s sense of well-being to be proactive about her professional persona, and actively nurturing of her sense of productivity, contribution and involvement.” So how does a woman do this after a long stint in childcare? “Get involved,” Grundish said. “Through consulting, projects, community work, leadership opportunities.” Grundish also recommends subscribing to and writing articles for trade publications, pursuing additional education, professional development and credentialing, and networking with former colleagues whenever possible. “Participate in collective and mutually supportive activities, such

“One of the challenges faced by people leaving the workforce is that, in our culture, our identities are so inextricably linked to our jobs,” she said. “It is beneﬁcial to one’s sense of well-being to be proactive about her professional persona, and actively nurturing of her sense of productivity, contribution and involvement.” — Lee Anne Grundish

as the Business and Professional Women’s organization, Women’s Entrepreneurial Network, Zonta, industry-speciﬁc organizations and research groups or start or join a topic-oriented book or

discussion club with like-minded people,” Grundish added. Most importantly, dust off your old resume and update it. “Continue to practice savvy career management,” Grundish

said. “Maintain a portfolio, journal or even a list of your ongoing accomplishments and contributions; keep your resume up to date so that when you are ready to rejoin the workforce, you will be prepared

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and your value to a potential employer will be well documented.” Melissa Voetsch, WTOL-News 11 anchorwoman and mother of three children, offers insight on juggling family and career.

“Appreciate your quiet moments. Just know it’s a season in your life where you’re not going to do it all; your house may never be clean,” she said. “That’s okay, because you need to enjoy your kids.”

Breakfast starts the day off right From Staff Reports

Research has shown that children who don’t eat breakfast feel restless, irritable and tired. With kids heading back to school, it is more important than ever that they eat a balanced breakfast to help them focus and behave well. If your child is nervous about new courses, classmates and teachers, a special meal will ease jitters and honor the special day. “Kids usually don’t equate nutritious with delicious,” said Janie Quinn, author of “Essential Eating: A Cookbook” (Azure Moon Publishing). “These recipes are specially designed to promote health and energy. Healthy eating doesn’t have to mean dieting.”

Buttermilk Waffles 1 large egg 2 2/3 cups buttermilk 1 1/3 cups sprouted spelt flour 1 1/3 cups cornmeal 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup maple sugar 1/4 cup melted butter Heat waffle iron. In a large bowl, beat egg until blended and stir in buttermilk. In another bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, soda, salt and sugar. Add flour mixture and melted butter to the buttermilk mixture. Stir until batter is evenly moistened. Cook according to waffle iron directions. Serve hot with butter and maple syrup. Serves four.

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MUSIC NOTES: A guide to the week in local music, page 45

TEAR SHEET: Bobby Rush headlines this year’s Toledo’s Blues Festival, page 44

Health care frustrations lead to adverse reactions

spent several hours in my doctor’s reception room last week. There were nine pastel-jacketed women ﬁling, phoning, and chatting behind the counter, but only three doctors were seeing patients. As I read magazines, four drug company reps — “detailers,” as they’re obliquely titled — stopped by to drop off samples, display baby pictures, and “check the doctors’ lunch schedules.” Patients waited patiently, but the detailers walked through like they owned the place. I was at the ofﬁce to discuss

Barbara Goodman Shovers my cholesterol. This could have been done by phone. In Germany, where I used to live, that’s how my physician conveyed test results. She charged for the phone

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consult, but the fee was minimal. Despite wasted time on the part of patients and rushed-ness of on the part of physicians, face-on appointments remain the norm here. That might be because my German doc had one ofﬁce helper while the Americans have their phalanx: all these people need paychecks. And with insurers and drug companies mostly running the show, that’s not going to change soon. Still, in the way we hate the sin yet love the sinner — or hate the war but love our soldiers — I like my doc. She’s a reasonable woman. But we disagree on the course she wants me to follow. My cholesterol count is marginally above current acceptable levels. So the doc wants me on a statin to bring it down. Acceptable levels have dropped from 240 to 200 in recent years. Dare I suggest what great news that must have been to Big Pharma. Dare I suggest they were involved in the studies that recommended the change. With the exception of sleeping tabs I’ve never been a pill popper. So the prospect of long-term meds concerns me. Also, my drug coverage stinks: I’ve paid an out-of-pock-

et average of $60 for each of the last four prescriptions I’ve taken to Rite-Aid. My insurer only covers “generics” but the detailers do their darndest convincing docs to prescribe proprietary treatments. I told this to my doc, and because she’s reasonable she agreed to start me with a generic. But when we discussed renewing my sleeping med, she suggested I try instead an herbal supplement chased by an antidepressant. “But I’m not depressed,” I said. “I just can’t sleep.” “That’s not the point,” she replied. Sleeping pills are “controlled substances Antidepressants are not. Nor are they generic. I can get 30 old line sleeping tabs for under 10 bucks. Since I split each in quarters, that’s $30 bucks annually and not a lot of dope ingested. Antidepresssants are hardly as divisible or economical. But docs continue recommending them, maybe cause detailers keep dropping off samples; about 140 millions scrips were written last year. Are there that many “depressed” Americans? Maybe, I think, they’re prescribed prophylactically: When I checked out, one of the pastel-jack-

eted women handed me a bill for $185 dollars. Though I’m personally responsible for only $20, my mood fell and blood pressure karoomed. So what comes first? Meds to cure ailments or ailments created by the cost and inconvenience of our health care industry? I am not, of course, the first patient to seethe about long waits and outrageous health care costs. Docs are angry at the system, too. They hate the head-counts required by insurers and the lack of flexibility in treating patients (though, financially, they still make nice incomes off it). Here’s my solution: cut the insurance guys out of the equation. Get the detailers out of the office. Make medicine one-on-one between doctors and patients. We dismiss socialized medicine as Old European, but in my experience both docs and patients are happier with their relationships. Being reasonable myself, I told my doc I’d give her suggestions a try. But the plan may be backfiring: The crankiness of this column is probably the result of too many sleepless nights. As with all meds or lack of them, be aware of adverse reactions.

> NEW BLUES: JIMMY REED, ‘AS JIMMY IS’; JIMMY WITHERSPOON, ‘BLUES IS NOW’, RON SPENCER, ‘LIVING LOW’

JULY

AUG

27-28-29 -30-31-01-02

tear sheet

Y O U R W E E K LY T O U R O F T H E T O L E D O Z E I T G E I S T

Rush to this weekend’s Blues Festival By Vicki L. Kroll Toledo Free Press Staff Writer events@toledofreepress.com

Harper offers moving experience Australian musician Harper’s harmonica playing has been compared to Jimi Hendrix’s guitar playing. “I taught myself by listening to guitar players,” he said. “I wasn’t following the harmonica players. I was a frustrated guitar player ---- I mimicked guitar licks.” Add his soulful vocals and you’ve got what he calls “roots groove,” a hybrid of Motown and English blues. “Somebody came up to me and said I was a very dark person,” Harper said. “I’m a pretty happy dude most of the time, especially now looking at this beautiful land.” The singer-songwriter was checking out his new house on 10 acres in Grass Lake, Mich. He’s moving from Melbourne and he has signed a deal with Blind Pig Records. “I’m the first non-American artist to be signed by Blind Pig. That’s a real achievement for me,” Harper said last week. His first disc for the label, “Down to the Rhythm,” was released in June. The title track is guaranteed to get people moving. “That one was inspired by old gospel and Bill Withers’ ‘Grandma’s Hands,’ ” Harper said. “His grandma would go down to church all happy and the white people were all miserable.” Trying times may have helped jumpstart Harper’s interest in music. His family moved from Britain to Perth, Australia, when he was 11. He started to sing. “I didn’t do much of the harmonica at first — blues wasn’t the hip thing to do.” But that changed. Harper will perform at the Toledo Blues Festival at 4 p.m. July 30 in Promenade Park. — Vicki L. Kroll

Bobby Rush believes all music is the blues. “I’m a black man who loves the blues. Show me a black man who doesn’t sing the blues. He loves someone and she left him, sure, that’s the blues. He also can get the blues if the woman stayed too long,” he said. “We’re all a blues singer one way or another. Call it rhythm and blues, pop, rock, country-western style. Same things make you laugh, same things make you cry. It’s the blues.” The singer and musician known for his soulful blues funk and humorous, sexy shows, headlines the Toledo Blues Festival. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. July 30 in Promenade Park. “When you see a Bobby Rush show, you see me shaking my butt, the girls dancing — this is what we do. I’m not going to water it down, what you see is what you get,” he said last week from his tour bus on his way home to Jackson, Miss. “I don’t expect everyone to love me, I just want them to respect what I do.” It’s hard not to respect a talented showman who has been making the rounds for decades. “I’ve been in the business 50

years. I have 249 records,” Rush said. “I’m one of the older guys who’s out here. I’m over 70 but under 75. I’ve been all around the world, and I’m going again.” The son of a preacher, he was born Emmet Ellis Jr. in Homer, La. He changed his name out of respect for his father. “If I got a big record, I didn’t want people to think my daddy was singing the blues.” One of Rush’s biggest songs, “Chicken Heads,” came in 1971. He toured relentlessly and became known as king of the chitlin’ circuit, a network of clubs stretching from Chicago, east Texas and north Florida. There were more hits — “Sue,” “Ain’t Studdin’ You,” “Bow-Legged Woman” and “Hoochie Man.” “I’m one of the few guys who left the chitlin’ circuit who didn’t sell out. I didn’t drop anything,” he said. “I thank God the white audience and the black audience have embraced me.” Rush is known for changing costumes and playing roles in concert. But don’t forget to listen to the words as you watch the man who has been named best live performer by several blues magazines over the years. “I try to write with double entendrés — two meanings to

MUSIC NOTES FRI JULY 29

Genocya, Fourth Coming

Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

Wildwood Preserve Metropark Manor House

RFD Boys

Smokestack

Centennial Terrace, Sylvania

Air Margaritaville Club Bijou

Rock Fight Week Two Cobo Arena, Detroit

WC Clark, Mary Bridget Davies

SAT JULY 30

DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkson, Mich.

Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

Harpo’s, Detroit

Crossbreed, Dope, Mushroomhead, Dope, Nocturne Lucas County Fair, Maumee

Blue Öyster Cult, Foghat, Survivor Manhattan’s

Johnny Reed & The Houserockers Seneca County Fair, Tiffﬁn

Rusty Vinyl

The Shelter, Detroit

Get in the Van Tour featuring All Shall Perish, Ion Dissonance, Mt. Egypt, Nicky P, Psyopus, Simon Dawes, Strong Intention, Swarm of the Lotus Toledo Museum of Art

Professor “Louie” was born courtesy of The Band’s Rick Danko. “I produced three records for The Band and made records with the individual guys. Rick and I started playing duo shows ... Most of The Band guys use their middle names, so he started calling me Professor ‘Louie.’ It was a fun thing,” Aaron Louis Hurwitz said. “Unfortunately, when Rick passed away, people wouldn’t know me by Aaron Hurwitz. It was easier to keep working as Professor ‘Louie,’ ” he said last week from a tour stop in Plymouth, Mass. “And it’s a nice honor from a great musician.” Working with The Band also brought The Crowmatix together. “As we started looking for songs for The Band, we pulled the best musicians in from Woodstock and Kingston [N.Y.]. They were the working band of The Band for a little while,” Professor “Louie” said. “One of the bar bands I grabbed from was The Crows. So they became The Crowmatix.” Members are Marie Spinosa, percussionist and singer; Frank Campbell, bass player; Gary Burke, drummer; and Josh Colow, guitarist. Professor “Louie” plays keyboards, Hammond organ, accorFrank Campbell, Bobbie Van Detta, Gary Burke, Miss Marie and “Louie.” dion and sings. The group’s fourth disc, “Century of the Blues,” was released in January. Toledo Blues Festival: July 30, Promenade Park “Shake Your Money Maker” is a nod to Elmore James; “Ain’t No 2 p.m. Pat Lewandowski, Rick Hall & The Blues Healers, Simon Carter Fun to Me” is a tribute to Al Green and the Memphis sound; and 3 p.m. Chicago Blues Breakdown with Honeyboy Edwards, Aaron Moore there’s a novelty tune a la ’40s and ’50s R&B bands with “Out to 4 p.m. Harper Lunch Eyes,” he said. 5:30 p.m. John Sinclair Professor “Louie” & The Crowmatix will play works from its four 6:30 p.m. Professor "Louie" & The Crowmatix 8 p.m. Bobby Rush CDs as well as a couple of tracks by The Band at 6:30 p.m. July 30 in Promenade Park. After the Blues Fest, the group will be at Murphy’s Admission $7 — www.citifest.org/rrblues/ Place, 151 Water St.; admission is $5. — Vicki L. Kroll

The Winchester, Cleveland

The Ark, Ann Arbor

Chocolate Genius

Jam class will be in session with Professor ‘Louie’

Jazz — Toledo School for the Arts

The Scream Tour featuring Bobby Valentino, Bow Wow, Marques “Batman” Houston, Omarion

Detroit Institute of Art

go deep and have a long pole.” Rush’s only vice may be bawdiness — and music. “I don’t smoke. I don’t drink or get high. I guess I’m a music-holic,” he said. “I dedicate all my time to music.” His secret for success? “Modify what you do. You can’t get up and sing like you did in 1957. If you don’t modify, you die.”

The Underground

The Ark, Ann Arbor

Montgomery Gentry, Bobby Pinson

everything I do,” Rush said. Take the song “Catfish” from his forthcoming disc, “Night Fishing.” “Night is when the catfish bite. There’s a line that goes ‘I know this lady about five-foot-five who lives by the catfish hole,’ ” he said. “Catfish swim at the bottom of the lake, so you know what you need to catch them? You need to

Travelers

Robbie Schaefer Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Cleveland

22-20’s

Eyedea, The Crest Centennial Terrace, Sylvania

“Songs of Stage and Screen” featuring The Johnny Knorr Orchestra Club Bijou

Sole Remedy, Ditrahis, Axiomatic, Help Wanted Fort Meigs, Perrysburg

Drums Along the Maumee featuring U.S. Fife and Drum Corps House of Blues, Cleveland

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Esthero

Lucas County Fair, Maumee

Pete Schlegel, Brooks Atwood Majestic Theatre, Detroit

Barry Goldberg, Chicago Blues Reunion, Corky Siegel, Harvey Mandel, Nick

COMPILED BY VICKI L. KROLL Gravenites, Sam Lay, Tracy Nelson Manhattan’s

Johnny Reed & The Houserockers Meadowbrook Music Festival, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Break! The Urban Funk Spectacular Mickey Finn’s Pub

Simon Carter Murphy’s Place Professor “Louie” & The Crowmatix Ottawa Park Glyn Smith Amphitheater

Blue Sun featuring Laurie Swyers

Peabody’s Down Under, Cleveland

Faster Pussycat, Pretty Boy Floyd

St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit

Esthero

Toledo Zoo Amphitheater Music Under the Stars

“Andrew Lloyd Webber: Unforgettable” featuring the Toledo Concert Band directed by Sam Szor

MON AUG 1 Grog Shop, Cleveland

Weird War

Peabody’s Down Under, Cleveland

Headliners

Seneca County Fair, Tiffﬁn

Grand Buffet, Jason Molina & Magnolia Electric Co.

Bret Michaels

Darryl & Allie Gatlin Stranahan Theater

Billy Idol

SUN JULY 31 The Ark, Ann Arbor

Bowling for Soup Magic Stick, Detroit

Toledo Zoo Amphitheater

Hootie & The Blowﬁsh, Ingram Hill

TUE AUG 2

Drums Along the Maumee featuring U.S. Fife and Drum Corps

The Ark, Ann Arbor

Grog Shop, Cleveland

Cleveland State University Wolstein Center

Lucas County Fair, Maumee

Bandera

Magic Stick, Detroit

Weird War

Kelly Broadway

WED AUG 3 Alivn’s, Detroit

Between the Buried and Me, Premonitions of War, The Acacia Strain, The Red Chord The Ark, Ann Arbor

Tony Furtado Band, Stacey Earle, Mark Stuart The Bronze Boar

Chene Park, Detroit

DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkson, Mich.

Pela, Scout Niblett

Manhattan’s

Monroe County Fair, Monroe, Mich.

Randy Travis, Josh Gracin

Fort Meigs, Perrysburg

3 Doors Down, Breaking Benjamin, Staind, No Address

Wayne Clifton and The Waldo Prospect

Bob Rex Trio

Paul Thorn

The Bronze Boar

Box of Cats

American Idols Live featuring Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Anthony Fedorov, Anwar Robinson,

PA RT I N G S H O T

DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkson, Mich.

Manhattan’s

A Celebration of Folks Like Us Hootie & The Blowﬁsh

Constantine Maroulis, Jessica Sierra, Nadia Turner, Nikko Smith, Scott Savol, Vonzell Solomon

Walter Beasley, Roy Ayers Manhattan’s

Quartet Bernadette Olander Park, Sylvania

Polish American Concert Band The Shelter, Detroit

The Redwalls

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library North Lawn of Main Library

Children’s Theater Workshop - musical review The Underground

Hit the Lights, Static Age

Sunday was a good day for father-son bonding as demonstrated by Holland’s Mike Placzkiewicz Sr. and Jr., 15. The radio-control duo took to a local parking lot for some miniature gas-powered recreation, and when Junior’s vehicle had a breakdown Senior lent a helping hand. In spite of the nearly blistering late-afternoon heat, it was refreshing to watch a dad and his boy share a cool moment. Technical information: this shot was taken at 1/2000 sec., ISO 200, f/3.5 and 28mm with a Minolta Dimage 7Hi.

DM Stanﬁeld is Toledo Free Press photo editor. Contact him at dmstanﬁeld@toledofreepress.com.

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July 27, 2005

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ELECTRONICS DIRECT TV 4-ROOM SYSTEM FREE Including installation & delivery. Programming as low as $29.99 per month. Disable your cable today! Call for details. 1 (800) 230-2564 www.satellite-connection.com

MISC. GOODS 55-GAL. DRUM of OIL 15W40 Diesel engine oil. Only $95 Call (419) 283-7669 SPA - NEW MUST SELL $1,999. 5-person with warranty. Can ﬁnance and deliver. 1 (800) 980-7727

PETS NEWFOUNDLAND PUPS AKC Landseers and blacks, $800-$1200 each. Call (419) 273-2673. WESTIE PUPS AKC, shots and wormed. $550-$650. Call (419) 446-2619 PUPPIES Miniature Pinscher puppies. AKC, black and rust, males and females. Tails, dewclaws done. 1st shots, wormed. $300-$350. Rare blue merle and tri-color Sheltie puppies. Shots and wormed. Male and female. $350. (419) 899-2446 (419) 487-0903 PUPPIES Jack Russel pups, 7 weeks. Brown and white, short legged, short hair, wormed, shots, $200 each. Basset Hound pups, 7 weeks. AKC, 1st shots, wormed. $300 each. Call (419) 594-3828

FOR SALE HOUSES FOR SALE All have three bedrooms, good condition, good neighborhoods, $40,000 to $60,000. Call (419) 843-3094

CLEANING/JANITORIAL THE FRENCH MAID Will clean your house and you will be pleased! Free estimates. (419) 873-0400

CONSTRUCTION/ BUILDING IMPACT BUILDERS Additions, pole barns, garages, roofs, siding, decks, etc. 20 yrs. exper. Insured & licensed. Call for a free estimate! (419) 874-4368.

CONSTRUCTION

FINANCIAL

CARPENTER Rough framing, must have minimum 3 years experience. Pay based on experience. Paid holiday and vacation. Call (419) 346-7123

DROWNING IN DEBT? In the “RED” every month? Financially stressed out? Debt freedom is just around the corner! Get help now! Toll-Free 1 (866) 415-5400

$$CASH$$ Immediate cash for structured settlements, annuities, lawsuits, inheritances, mortgage notes & cash ﬂows. J. G. Wentworth #1 1 (800) 794-7310 CASH PAID For your structured settlement and annuity payments. Best price guaranteed! Oldest/best in the business. Call for free quote. Settlememnts Purchasers. 1 (877) MONEY-ME STOP FORECLOSURE GUARANTEED This is not bankfruptcy. We do not buy houses. 1 (800) 771-4453 ext. 2525 www.house911.com

HANDYPERSON JIMMY’S HANDYMAN SERVICE “IF YOU CAN’T DO IT, I CAN!” Call for free estimate. (419) 509-8916

LANDSCAPE VAUGHN’S TREE SERVICE Tree removal by bucket. Tree topping, trimming, pruning. Lot clearing. Licensed & insured. Free estimates. (419) 466-9632

MEDICAL/HEALTHCARE FAMILY HEALTHCARE w/prescription plan! $69.95/month. Nationwide coverage. No limitations. Includes: doctors, dental, vision, hospital & more. Everyone accepted! Call: WCG 800-288-9214 Ext. 2358 HEALTHCARE FOR $59.93/MONTH! New low price! For the entire family! Prescriptions, dental, vision, hospitalization, & more! Pre-existing conditions OK! Call P. S. Family Healthcare! 1 (800) 531-2630 sc.-W1034

MISC. SERVICES SHARPENING SERVICES Mancillas Sharpening Saws - Scissors - Shears Carbide blades - Knives Lawn & Garden Tools. Almost anything with an edge! Call Gilbert Mancillas (419) 283-0685 DID YOU SUFFER A HEART ATTACK? Or a stroke, clot or heart surgery while taking VIOXX, CELEBREX, or BEXTRA? You may have a claim worth $250,000+. Toll free. 1 (877) 833-0926

CARS 99 FORD TAURUS SE 3.0 V6. Power windows & locks. Runs great! Only $2,500 or best offer. (419) 509-8916

MOTORCYCLES ‘86 HARLEY SPORTSTER 1200 Black, extra chrome. Runs great! 32K mi. Only $4,500 or best offer. (419) 509-8916

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Robert Shiels Robert Shiels’ Weather Tip: Lightning can occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

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Friday

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Mostly sunny HI 81° LOW 57°

Mostly sunny HI 83° LOW 60°

Mostly sunny HI 85° LOW 62°

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Partly sunny HI 87° LOW 63°

Third Rock Your Tarotgram

Almanac By Elizabeth Hazel

and Horoscope July 28 - Aug 4, 2005

Astro Events: Mars enters Taurus on July 28th,where it will travel until February 2006. Mars

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will be highly visible in the night sky throughout the autumn. New Moon in Leo on August 4th.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Mars enters Taurus on July 28th, where it will travel until February 2006. Mars will be highly visible in the night sky throughout the autumn. New Moon in Leo on August 4th. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Rest, recharge, and repair. Put your house in order on the 28-29th, and delegate to ensure priorities are covered. Loved ones reach critical turning points over the weekend, be patient. Attend to necessities before undertaking labors of love after the 1st. Gemini (May 21-June 21)

Haste makes waste. Handle chronic health conditions on the 28-29th. Growing awareness of shifting circumstances grows over the weekend; your ability to shoulder responsibility is tested. The New Moon unfolds opportunities - be cautious until then.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Keep to-do list at hand. Act on plans and accomplish your agenda on the 28-29th. Slow down over the weekend, and enjoy time with friends. Diffuse contentious issues on the 31st as compromises can be found after the 2nd. Leo (July 23-August 22) Changes are needed to fulfill your desires. Through this period, be aware of the fine line between purpose and obsession. Not everyone will share your enthusiasm, and it’s undignified to pout about it. The New Moon helps balance emotional extremes. Virgo (August 23-September 22) Release regrets and cling to hope. The future you envision could be different than what arrives in 2006. Remain flexible about potential paths. Conversations on the 30-31st could surprise/shock; be very clear with all communications to avoid rash assumptions. Elizabeth Hazel is a professional tarotist-astrologer and author. She has been giving tarot-astrology readings at Manos Greek Restaurant every Wednesday night since 1990. She may be contacted at ehazel@buckeye-express.com. (c) 2005

TOLEDO REAL ESTATE INVESTORS’ ASSOCIATION

Join us the 2nd Tuesday monthly at 6:45 p.m., Sullivan Hall, 2049 Parkside Blvd., (419) 283-8427.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Love takes many shapes and sizes. Work with paper-pushers to fix official problems on the 28-29th. Don’t invite pride or inflexibility to dinner over the weekend - counter disputes with calm diplomacy. Hidden data is found or revealed at the New Moon. Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Distant events reverberate in your environment. Secure agreement with partners on the 29th. Unanticipated mind-changing rocks the boat over the weekend. Smooth the waters after the 1st; the New Moon will confirm your best options. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Exercise shrewd judgment in agreements. Fancy footwork on the 28-29th keeps your agenda on track. Over the weekend, confessions reveal a secret admirer or longings of another. Hard work removes obstacles on the 31st-1st. A fresh chapter begins at the New Moon.

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Capricorn (December 22-January 19) The razor’s edge separates desire from obsession. Your physical urges are strong, as is the need to find an outlet for talents. Family changes benefit from your organizing skills on the 31st-1st. Watch finances on the 2nd-3rd; don’t misplace your keys. Aquarius (January 20-February 18) Reassess the value of the old versus the new. If people discourage or block your choices/actions, consider their motivation. The weekend brings critical turning points. Precise communications limit problems on the 1st-3rd, and the New Moon brings improvements. Pisces (February 19-March 20) Delays are strategically advantageous. Although various irritations litter the 28th-29th, the 30th shows better options and solutions. Effective and efficient means are much more accessible after the 3rd, and you can work with others to straighten out tangled issues.

Legal Secretary Downtown law ﬁrm looking for experience legal secretary. Excellent beneﬁts and pay! Immediate hire! Please forward resumes to jackie.barnes@renhill.com. fax (419) 254-2915 or call for appt (419) 254-2800. Factory New Plant Positions $7.00 to start. Long term. HS grad. or GED a must. Clean criminal history. Renhill (419) 254-2840

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Substitute School System Positions Teachers, Paraprofessionals, and Educational Aides are needed to work for the 2005-2006 school year. Positions available in Erie, Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood Counties. Commitment to education required. Applicants please email resume to brooke.keller@renhill.com Bilingual Speaking Customer Representative Well established Toledo company looking for bilingual speaking customer service representative. Must be ﬂuent in French or Spanish and have good typing skills. If interested please call (419) 254-2800.

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student union Experience the partnership!

Take Owens Community College courses closer to home – right on the Medical University of Ohio campus in the Collier Building. Thanks to the long-standing relationship between Owens Community College and the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo, you can join the 45,000 students who annually take advantage of a quality Owens education.

Convenient, course offerings – another reason Owens Community College is Northwest Ohio’s #1 Choice for higher education.

Take advantage of all that Owens offers you: • Unmatched affordability • Faculty focused on you • Over 150 program areas • eOwens online course offerings • Seamless course transferability • Small class sizes • Convenient, on-campus parking

Fall classes begin August 22.