Toledo Free Press – Sept. 1, 2013 by Toledo Free Press

Sept. 1, 2013

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Opinion

Seven up and Toledo pride

Tom Pounds on the Aug. 26 mayoral candidate forum and Michael S. Miller on religious protestors at the Toledo Pride parade. page 3

Community

Battle of Lake Erie bicentennial

Put-in-Bay is the center of celebration of Commodore Perry’s historic victory. page 10

Politics

Konwinski’s run

Mayoral candidate wants to take city know-how to mayor’s office. page 12

Community Star

The Greek Fest

Annual celebration Sept. 6-8. page 19

Autumn Adventure Metroparks ‘owns the fall’ with walking series. By Matt Liasse, page 6

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Publisher’s statement

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

DON LEE

Seven up

he last inclusive forum for the seven Toledo mayoral candidates was mild but offered a great amount of insight. Organized by the Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition (NOCC) and moderated by WNWO’s Jim Blue and Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller, the Aug. 26 forum provided an opportunity for audience members at the Toledo-Lucas County Main Library to ask questions and watch interactions between the candidates. A simple question about a complicated issue — so-called right-to-work — evoked the most intense response. Mayor Mike Bell has pointed to the proximity of Michigan competition as a factor in considering the legislation. Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, in her most convincing and passionate moment, lambasted right-to-work and any politician who supported it. City Councilmen D. Michael Collins and Joe McNamara were both clear in their opposition, albeit without the fire Lopez injected into the conversation. Alan Cox, a union leader, said workers adopt right-to-work at the peril of their representation for benefits and working conditions. Only Michael Konwinski Thomas F. Pounds and Opal Covey stated they favored right-towork policy, and both absorbed some halfhearted boos for their stances. It was also interesting to hear all seven candidates express their unqualified support for improving education (of course). Many of the candidates expressed confidence in Superintendent Romules Durant, but not one — not one — mentioned the upcoming 10-year Toledo Public Schools levy. Not even the most academic or administrative candidates wish to be tied to taxes. McNamara’s nonpoaching agreements strategy, his responses to the stronger schools question (safe schools means more resource officers and not reinventing committee work) and his example of limiting Toledo government (regionalize services like IT) show planning and consideration. Lopez was at her most polished, drawing laughs and applause when she said, “The city will never operate the same after I get finished with it,” a statement that rings with as much threat as it does promise. Konwinski was gracious in giving Bell credit for handling the financial difficulties he inherited. His discussion of Toledo needing financial remuneration for the money it has spent developing the water department’s infrastructure as water delivery is regionalized shows he’s on top of the issues. Cox may have lost some people when he noted that the majority of his supporters “are from my church family.” It indicates he may lack the experience and/or skills to create a coalition of diverse people. His story about friends and colleagues telling him he should be a mediator in his retirement indicates he sees one of the important roles of the mayor is mediation, and not everyone wants a mediating mayor. The American voting process is unique and fascinating, and forums such as this one provide strong examples of leadership and weakness. The entire forum may be viewed at http://bit.ly/mayoralforum419 (or scan QR code to the right). I hope you will watch it before the Sept. 10 primary. It’s an opportunity to see all seven candidates at their best — and worst. O Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

LIGHTING THE FUSE

Toledo pride

“I would like to have my address removed from your delivery list. I had hope that we would have a balance to the far left Blade. But after reading that Toledo Free Press is the media sponsor of Toledo [disgrace] Pride I now know all hope is gone.” — Larry D., Toledo

calling names and throwing insults at families and children must have access to different parables and lessons than I am aware of. The parade, in its third and biggest year, brought together scores of walking groups and vehicles to celebrate the LGBT community and open the Toledo Pride Festival, which brought 15,000 moneyo you remember that scene in the spending people to Promenade Park. Bible when Jesus sees a group of There were politicians such as Mayor Mike people he perceives as sinners and Bell, Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez, yells at them that they are bad people who are judge candidate Gretchen DeBacker and damned, then screams at their children and Councilmen Adam Martinez, Steve Steel blusters like a cawing crow? I don’t remember that story either, but Michael S. miller and Joe McNamara. Bell, Lopez and McNamara are of course mayoral candidates it must exist, as the protestors at the Aug. 24 Toledo Pride parade acted that way and worse, all this year, but Bell is a veteran of the Pride parade, having in Jesus’ name. I believe in Jesus’ teachings of love and served as grand marshal last year. redemption and outreach but the sign-wielding folks n MILLER CONTINUES ON 4

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

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 9, No. 35. Established 2005. EDITORIAL James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES Brent Long, Sales Manager blong@toledofreepress.com • (419) 346-9983 Renee Bergmooser, Senior Sales Representative rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com • (419) 266-0254 Chick Reid, Sales Representative creid@toledofreepress.com • (419) 705-5396

ADMINISTRATION Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com DISTRIBUTION (419) 241-1700, Ext. 234 tpounds@toledofreepress.com PRODUCTION Joseph Herr, Photographer

Michael S. Miller, Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com

STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com Brandi Barhite • Jeremy Baumhower • Jim Beard • Bailey G. Dick • John Dorsey Vicki L. Kroll • Don Lee • Matt Liasse • John P. McCartney • Duane Ramsey Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus • Lisa Renee Ward, Staff Writer Emeritus COPY EDITORS/PROOFREADERS Darcy Irons, Marisha Pietrowski, Gary Varney

Toledo Free Press is published every Sunday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604. Subscription rate: $100 /year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013, all rights reserved. Publication of advertisements does not imply endorsement of advertisers’ goods or services.

Opinion

n MILLER CONTINUED FROM 3 There were rainbow flags waving, rainbow balloons floating and more colorful prisms around than in a stack of Pink Floyd albums. Toledo Free Press was media sponsor, which upset Larry D. and killed his remaining hope (Larry must have been clinging to that hope for a while now, as this is our third year as a Toledo Pride sponsor). We were joined this year by Sid Kelly and his 92.5 KISS FM crew and Andrew Z, whose app station features LGBT channel “Rainbow.” Andrew, sporting rainbow crepe paper wrapped around the cast protecting his broken leg, seemed content to be hitched to a group of kilted ladies from Paddy Jack’s. Toledo Pride organizers have stated that while the festival may contain rated R or X elements, the parade is a PG-13 event. The number of families and kids in the parade bore witness to that, as even the most daring transgender dressers and drag queens were at their most (relatively) restrained. I did see one participant walking around in a T-shirt that read, “Down to F*ck,” and while I am not contesting the veracity of his convictions, I wonder if he understands that such an in-your-face article of clothing doesn’t help the mission of the parade. For each year of the parade, I have driven our minivan in the lineup, dec-

September 1, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com orating it with rainbow balloons and banners and a Toledo Free Press sign. For the first time, my wife and young boys rode along this year, passing out candy and waving to the sizeable crowd. Last year, the religious protestors yelled at me, “Toledo Sin Press! Toledo Sin Press!” a name I should probably copyright and protect in case we decide to launch such a publication. I had assumed the same protestors would leave their orphan and widow mission work to come yell at the LGBT parade again this year, and was not surprised to see them with their hellfire signs and chants of damnation. I doubt they see the irony of waving flaming signs while marching in renaissance clothes; had they been in line and dialed back the hate a notch or 40, they would have fit right in with parade groups. I drove the van, blasting Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love.” As we approached the protestors, I had my wife and sons move their candy handout walk to my side of the van, to keep them close as we passed the haters. I wonder how Jesus would react to seeing his followers yell at 5-year-olds that they are going to burn in hell and that their parents should be ashamed and will also burn in hell, with spittle flying from the rage-filled speech crevices. Even if you disdain gay people, even if you feel personally threatened

by gay marriage, even if you believe homosexuality is a choice of perversion — even if you are in lockstep with all those thoughts — do you advocate barking at children like rabid dogs? Is that the way to spread a message of love and redemption? There were a number of church groups in the parade; I wonder how they felt about their fellow Christians stomping and screeching at them. A few hours after the parade, I posted this message on Facebook: “To all the religious protestors at Toledo Pride today: I respect your right to your opinion and applaud your conviction in coming to the parade today to inform us of our damnation. Now, since I respect your protest, you’ll welcome me bringing a group of gay friends and drag queens to your church service tomorrow, right? Not to be saved, but to pass judgment on you and disrupt your celebration. See you Sunday.” There were 150 “likes” and 70 responses, ranging from Ken Leslie’s “I don’t get it. The way I read the bible it says love ALL... Then down the road a piece God says HE will do the judging. Pretty clear. Now go love all” to Don Lee’s “Anytime I hear someone say ‘God will judge,’ they do so with an air of silently adding, ‘...and I can’t wait to see it’” to Mark Makovic’s “I have no respect for Christians that would be so righteous as to forecast your eternal

future and in the presence of innocence, it sickens me. But I am tired of being chastised for my belief. Tolerance is the word of the day as long as you believe as I do. Otherwise, you must be filled with hate. Thousands of years of history has defined marriage in one manner. Simple anatomy would suggest that a finite combination of genitalia was by some measure of design. Are we prepared to discount procreation. While I would fight for your right not to be persecuted for being gay, I am not simpithetic [sic] to the extent that I have to agree with you. I tire of liberalism, the belief that your viewpoint must be excepted [sic] or you are certainly wrong all in the name of diversty [sic].” It is an ongoing conversation that will never progress as long as there is so much hate and ignorance involved. Speaking of hate and ignorance, Larry D., we have taken you off the delivery list. And since you are anxious to separate yourself from an organization that supports the LGBT community, here is a convenient list of many of this year’s sponsors and supporters so you can make sure you steer clear of their businesses, too: O Gallon, Tackas, Boissoneault & Schaffer law firm O The Loonar Station O Hollywood Casino Toledo O Ripcord Bar O Toledo Community Foundation

O Sandpiper Boat O Owens Community College O Bretz Nightclub O TARTA O Kahler Pharmacy O University of Toledo O Cousino Harris Disaster Kleenup O Yark Fiat O Reve Salon and Spa O Pita Pit O Monroe Dodge Superstore O The Head Shed O R House Bar O Owens Corning O Lions Den O Skylight Financial Group And for all the Jesus-lovin’, gay-hatin’ folks, here are the local churches you will want to avoid; these houses of worship are LGBT friendly, and you wouldn’t want to catch gay from the pews: O Central United Methodist O Center for Conscious Living O Faith in Christ Ministries O First Unitarian Church of Toledo O Holy Cross Reformed Catholic Church O St. Lucas Lutheran Church O Trinity Episcopal Church O Unity of Toledo O University Church O Village Church Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledo freepress.com.

TREECE BLOG

Infighting is holding Toledo back

who are here — people who care — erhaps more so than any because no one outside cares. other Midwestern indus“What’s the point?” one may trial region, Toledo has been ask. The point is that instead of rife with infighting for years. On having union/nonunion or labor/ a weekly if not daily basis, we see management hostilities, the argustruggles between labor and manment we should be having in this agement, union and nonunion, region is Toledo versus non-Toledo the city versus suburbs, or just one — in a regional sense. clique versus another. Unfortunately, for years people In doing so, Toledoans — both within the city proper and the Dock David TREECE in this region have been distracted by all the infighting. As a result, nonsurrounding metro area — forget a far larger issue with much further-reaching Toledo won for years. Whether it was Cincinnati or Chicago, New York or Shenzhen, China, Toconsequences. First, readers should understand that if ledo has been losing business and talent to other anyone inside the I-475-75-280 loop around major markets for years; all because we were foToledo travels just 20 miles from where they cused on fighting amongst ourselves about relasit, they will find that no one cares if the entire tively petty issues. Lest this message be misunderstood, there’s greater Toledo area burns to the ground. Sure, they know the Mud Hens, and no doubt plenty of room for infighting in this or any region. they’ve heard of our art museum or Tony Packo’s; The labor versus management, union versus nonthey may even have family here. But on the whole, union, or big versus small government disputes they don’t give a hoot whether Toledo thrives or have their place, and they can serve to make this dies. That simple fact should tell people in this area even better. However, this is only true when area something: If the Toledo region is going to such arguments take a back seat to the primary prosper, especially over other neighboring re- issue: Toledo versus non-Toledo. For this area to thrive, we must be in congions, it’s only going to do so because of people

stant competition with other regions to draw businesses, visitors, investment capital, human talent, etc. Only when we’ve won that contest should we spend time arguing among ourselves about how to make Toledo better by right-sizing government or ensuring strong relations between labor and management. When we stop focusing on small issues and start thinking on a grander scale, there’s no limit to what we as a region can accomplish. We have the ability to compete with any major market around the globe — if we aren’t busy fighting one another. Fortunately for Toledo and our residents, no one understands this better than Mike Bell. As mayor, he has done more than any other public official in decades to focus less on the infighting and more on making Toledo competitive with other regions — and he’s winning. O Dock David Treece is a partner with Treece Investment Advisory Corp. (www.TreeceInvestments.com) and is licensed with FINRA through Treece Financial Services Corp. He provides expert content to numerous media outlets. The above information is the express opinion of Dock David Treece.

“

We have the ability to compete with any major market around the globe — if we aren’t busy fighting one another. Fortunately for Toledo and our residents, no one understands this better than Mike Bell. As mayor, he has done more than any other public official in decades to focus less on the infighting and more on making Toledo competitive with other regions — and he’s winning.”

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Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

September 1, 2013

photo and cover photo courtesy metroparks of toledo area

Group camping returns

By Don Lee

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Girdham Road SAnd dunes tree line, one of scores of colorful scenes that will fill Metroparks of toledo area this fall.

Autumn Adventure offers Metroparks exploration the world doesn’t experience fall colors.” Autumn Adventure will take place Sept. 1 to Nov. 18.

By Matt Liasse

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer mliasse@toledofreepress.com

“Metroparks owns the fall.” So said director of Public Relations Scott Carpenter while describing the Metroparks of Toledo Area’s more than 100 miles of trails. “It’s the place to be to see all the fall colors, which are truly one of the best things about living in Northwest Ohio,” he said. “Not every place has fall colors. We get the luxury of taking it for granted but most of

Autumn Adventure

For more than 25 years, the Metroparks has sponsored Autumn Adventure, which was created to appreciate the fall season. The program serves as motivation to walk the numerous trails available at the parks in Lucas County: Farnsworth Metropark, Oak Openings Preserve, Pearson Metropark, Providence Metropark, Secor Metropark, Side Cut Metropark,

Swan Creek Preserve and Wildwood Preserve. Carpenter said the program showcases the best of the parks during the best time of year. “It provides a great excuse to exercise,” he said. “You don’t even have to think of it as exercising.” The Metroparks will provide an Autumn Adventure Trail Record, which recommends 10 trails in the area. People can pick one up at any Metropark or online at metroparkstoledo.com/metro. To complete the Autumn Adventure Trail Record, people walk, jog, rollerblade or bike (if permitted) trails and record the date. n METROPARKS CONTINUES ON 7

Metroparks of Toledo Area often hosts campouts by scouts and other groups. But starting Labor Day weekend, anyone can camp out at Oak Openings. The White Oak picnic area, on the parkway just west of state Route 295 south of Toledo Express Airport, will open as a public campground starting with the summer-ending holiday weekend. Campsite fees will be $20 a night for a single site and $30 a night for a group site. The campsite, with eight individual sites off the drive into the picnic area and two group sites in the open field behind it, will offer treated well water, restrooms, graywater disposal and a picnic shelter. Firewood is provided. The new site marks the return of group camping to Oak Openings after the park’s campsite was wiped out in the 2010 tornadoes, and the return of individual camping to the Metroparks district after an absence of several years, said Scott Carpenter, director of public relations for the parks. There used to be family campsites at Farnsworth Metropark along the Maumee River, but the traffic and noise along what was then U.S. 24 made them unpopular, Carpenter said. With U.S. 24 traffic now routed to the north along the new “Fort to Port” highway, Farnsworth camping is being considered again, he said. n CAMPING CONTINUES ON 7

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n METROPARKS CONTINUED FROM 6 After completing eight trails, participants can turn in the form and purchase a $14 long-sleeved t-shirt. The first 50 people to finish their Autumn Adventure Record will receive a T-shirt for free. One of the trails suggested is the 1.5-mile-long Wood Duck Trail at Side Cut Metropark. According to a brochure, it is an “adventure through a floodplain woods of cottonwoods, basswoods and black locust ringing a shallow lagoon formed in a portion of the old Side Cut Canal bed.” The other suggested trails include Indianola Shelter to Towpath Trailhead at Farnsworth, Evergreen Trail at Oak Openings, Upland Woods Trail at Wildwood, Black Swamp Trail at Pearson, North Trail Loop at Swan Creek, Trillium Trail at Secor and Kimble’s Landing to Providence Dam at Providence. The Metroparks has also included two new trails, including Quarry Trail Loop at Blue Creek Conservation Area. Carpenter said it’s not yet opened as a Metropark bu a small area that includes a trail and quarry recently opened. “It’s a neat place with a lot of history,” he said. The other new trail is the Oregon Parks Trail at Pearson Metropark, a 4.4-mile bike trail. It just opened this month as a partnership with the City of Oregon. Participants are not required to stick to the trails recommended by the program; they can choose up to four others of their preference. “The idea is not for you to jump through hoops, it’s to get you to come out and enjoy the parks on your terms,” Carpenter said. Carpenter added that some people will finish eight trails in the first week. “Others, like me, will take the whole time,” he said. “It depends somewhat on your motivation but I think more on your available time.”

Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 n CAMPING CONTINUED FROM 6

toledo free press photo by matt liasse

September 1, 2013

Scott Carpenter is director of public relations for metroparks of toeldo area.

T-shirts and coyotes

Each year, the Autumn Adventure T-shirts have a different design. This year’s shirt features a coyote howling to the moon. Carpenter said there’s been an increased interest in coyotes recently. “I don’t really have any proof … but we’ve been hearing that people are seeing them more,” Carpenter said. Coyotes have been in the area’s parks for a while, he said. “They probably live in every Metropark, they live in every county in Ohio and every state in the lower 48,” Carpenter said. “They’re everywhere.” Carpenter said coyotes are fascinating, which is why the animal was chosen as a symbol for the program. “People seem to want to know more about them,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot of questions about coyotes lately for some reason. There’s been one around Wildwood that’s been more visible than typical. People have been seeing him a lot. Everyone but me seems to see him.” n METROPARKS CONTINUES ON 8

At Oak Openings, the new White Oak campground is situated along many of the park’s hiking and riding trails, including the 15-mile Boy Scout trail. The park’s trails also link to both branches of the Wabash Cannonball Trail, former rail lines running west and southwest from Toledo to as far west as West Unity and Liberty Center. The park district had wanted to open the campground on Memorial Day weekend, Carpenter said, but getting together things like the necessary state health certifications “took a little longer than we wanted,” he said. The campsites cost less than $10,000 to build, Carpenter said, and Metroparks staff came up with the ideas and did the work. The campsites will be available year-round, including winter camping, he said. Reservations will be available at www.metroparkstoledo. com after Sept. 1.

New park plans

A recent public brainstorming session yielded ideas, and another meeting in October will give serious consideration to what ideas are practical at what will be Metroparks’ newest park, a 1,000-acre farm near Lake Erie in Jerusalem Township. The Howard farm, which Me-

[Converting a farm back to wetlands and adding a park] “is not something you get to do every day. It’s a pretty special opportunity to do this.” — Scott Carpenter troparks has acquired and will develop with the help of Ducks Unlimited, is located on the curve on State Route 2 near Bono. Its 1,000 acres reach almost to Lake Erie — there are two residential areas on the actual lakeshore — and connect to it by way of Ward’s Canal. One goal is to restore the farm to wetlands where possible, Carpenter said, and to develop the rest for park purposes. The October meeting will be the next step in determining what those purposes will be. Hunting is a possibility, though the details of how to do that need to be worked out, he said. Converting a farm back to wetlands and adding a park “is not something you get to do every day,” Carpenter said. “It’s a pretty special opportunity to do this.” O

Community

n METROPARKS CONTINUED FROM 7 Carpenter said coyotes pose no threat and he hasn’t heard of any conflicts with them in the parks. He added that they eat rodents. “There’s also a tiny bit of fear,” Carpenter said. “People’s ears usually perk up when they hear that we have coyotes. It’s nice to be able to feature it and, if it’s an issue for people, let’s hit it head-on and talk about it … break the myth from the facts. They’re much more afraid of us than we are of them so they tend to make themselves scarce.”

Guided walks

The parks will sponsor some guided walks during the next couple of months. The walks will be led by Metroparks naturalists and are free of charge (except the Audubon Island Canoe Paddle). “We all know about the fall colors,

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com but a naturalist will be able to point out where you’ll see some of the first colors — color changes along the edges of the woods and along the rivers,” Carpenter said. “They’ll be able to show you things like spider webs and other signs of fall that you may not think about.” Two of the guided walks will deal with coyotes, in response to the recent interest: “Coexisting with Coyotes” and “Especially for Families: Coyote Tales On Twilight Trails.” The final walk, “Metroparks Mutts: Howl-nProwl Autumn Adventure,” invites walkers to bring their dogs on the hike. Reservations are required for the guided walks. Visit metroparkstoledo. com or call (419) 407-9701 to do so. The guided walks include: O Autumn Adventure Kick Off. Side Cut Metropark, Lamb Center: 2-3 p.m. Sept. 1 O Oak Openings Sand Dunes Track Trek. Oak Openings Preserve

Metropark, Sand Dunes: 10-11 a.m. Sept. 12. O Canal Days Bridge Walk. Providence Metropark, dam area parking lot: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 14. O Full Moon Walk. Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center: 8-9:30 p.m. Sept. 19. O Audubon Island Canoe Paddle. Perrysburg (details when making reservations): 2-4 p.m. Sept. 21 $10 ($8 for members).

O Dew at Dawn. In Wildwood’s Prairies: Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center: 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 4 O Meadow Glory. Swan Creek Preserve, Yager Center: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 9. O New Oregon Parks Trail. Pearson Metropark: 2-3 p.m. Oct. 13 Limited to 30 people. O 4-Mile Bend View Hike. Farnsworth, Boat launch area: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Oct. 19 O Coexisting with Coyotes. Wild-

September 1, 2013 wood Preserve, Metroparks Hall: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 20. O Especially For Families: Coyote Tales on Twilight Trails. Pearson Metropark, Packer-Hammersmith Center: 4:30-6 p.m. Nov. 7. O Red Lanterns. Secor Metropark, NCNP parking lot: 10-11:30 a.m. Nov. 16. O Metroparks Mutts: Howl-nProwl Autumn Adventure: Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center: 7-8 p.m. Nov. 17. O

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205 S. Erie St. • Toledo, OH 43604

(419) 254-5000

Mon-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm Sat 8am-5pm • Sun 10am-5pm

September 1, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Community

10 Community

September 1, 2013

photo courtesy lance woodworth

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

The Niagara and the Jet Express are being prepared for the bicentennial of the Battle of Lake Erie.

Jet Express ready to handle increased traffic for bicentennial By Matt Liasse

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer mliasse@toledofreepress.com

A U C T I O N

militarized the American-Canadian border. The Jet Express offers its full support in the celebration of this great event in American history.” According to a news release, many

activities are planned for the celebration. Visitors will be able to tour the ships or enlist as crew members in a re-enactment. Other activities include kayaking, parasailing and bike rides.

TAKE NEXT STEP

THE

The number of Jet Express ferries to Put-in-Bay has increased to accommodate the Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial celebration taking place Aug. 29 to Sept. 10. On Sept. 10, 1813, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of the U.S. Navy, with a crew of 557 sailors, battled a British fleet, said Lance

Woodworth, who is general manager for Jet Express. “The American victory of the Battle of Lake Erie was a key turning point in the War of 1812,” Woodworth said. “It paved the way for Gen. Harrison’s attack and victory on the British and Indian forces of the Thames and American control of the territory through the end of the war. “With the end of the war, the Great Lakes never again saw naval warfare,” Woodworth said. “A later treaty de-

If you’ve thought about becoming a foster parent, it’s time to take the next step. Becoming a foster parent starts with asking questions and getting accurate information.

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September 1, 2013

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Community 11

A Toledo tradition since 2005

n BICENTENNIAL CONTINUED FROM 10

BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE

There will also be fireworks at 9 p.m. Sept. 1. For the complete list of events, visit battleof lakeerie-bicentennial.com. Woodworth said this is a victory to celebrate. “It will be a long time before anything like this comes back to the island,” he said. Ferries will deliver riders directly to downtown Put-inBay, “the heart of all the bicentennial events,” he added. “Other than ferry, travel options are limited,” he said. “There is no bridge to the island.” Turnout for the celebration is expected to reach up to 6,000 passengers during the weekends and as high as 2,500 passengers on weekdays. “We will operate as many trips as necessary … to get people back and forth to Put-in-Bay,” Woodworth said. “We included nearly 20 additional trips into the published schedule but will keep adding as needed.” The schedule of ferries can be viewed and tickets can be purchased at jet-express.com. Prices range from $29.98 round trip from Port Clinton and $39 round trip from Sandusky. All ages are welcome and there is a discount fare for children ages 6-12. Children ages 5 and younger are free. Parking is available at the Port Clinton and Sandusky docks. O

s a little sprout, I was generally ignored by those around me. I grew to be responsible and provided shelter for my friends. I offered relief from the summer heat to weary travelers. I even filtered the breeze and exchanged cleansing breaths with individuals I met. But 200 years ago, I was felled, trimmed and bent into a new life. I was a mighty oak, one of thousands from the forests of Frank Erie, Pa. In 1813 I became a member of the bulwarks of the mighty ship, Niagara, under the authority of a mighty commander, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. What I witnessed in my mariner’s life was grand and tragic. That year, the quiet village of Erie was likewise transformed, from a sleepy frontier village of 40 people into a bustling ship-building yard of hundreds. Oh, there were plenty of us oaks, pines and cedars to construct the ships, and folks got a day’s wage, a full dollar, for each one of us cut down on their property; but everything else had to come from quite a distance. Cannons, more than 60 of them, were carried hundreds of miles from Washington City and Sackets Harbor over horrible trails. Pittsburgh provided supplies like anchors, cannonballs and foodstuffs. Hundreds of skilled carpenters, riggers and sail-makers arrived from the East Coast. Many of my friends became part of the Lawrence, the identical twin of the Niagara. We were built in the bay created by the Presque Isle peninsula. Such a per-

Memoirs of a mariner

fect harbor — totally enclosed except for a narrow channel with a sandbar that kept enemy ships out. Unfortunately, it also kept us in, until the engineers had an epiphany. See, the water was only 6 feet deep and the Lawrence and I both drew 9 feet. So two huge hollow barges, one on each side of us, were filled to the brim with water. Then a few of my huge friends, nicknamed beams, were run KURON through our portholes and attached there, and then to the barges. When the water was bailed out of the barges, we rose over three feet and floated across the ridge. Brilliant! One morning, while docked at Put-in-Bay, I saw six British ships approaching from the mouth of the Detroit River. All nine of us were instantly boarded and sails set to meet them. It was a glorious morning, sun reflecting off low waves and not a cloud above. About an hour into the trip, the commodore, aboard the Lawrence, surprised everyone by raising a blue flag he’d secretly had made. In white letters it read, “Don’t give up the ship,” the dying words of his dear friend Capt. James Lawrence after whom this ship was named. Suddenly, cannon blasts broke the calm. Through the thick smoke, I could barely see the Lawrence being broken. Later my ship was boarded by the Commodore himself. I half-thought we were heading back to the island in defeat when suddenly we turned and closed in tight on the enemy ships, firing incessantly. After three hours, all was quiet. On the deck of

my ship I watched the commodore scribble on a scrap piece of envelope, “We have met the enemy, and they are ours.” He handed it off to a rugged frontiersman, Peter Navarre, who delivered it to Gen. Harrison waiting at Sandusky Bay. When I got back to the island, I saw the reality that the smoke had hidden earlier. The trees I grew up with, now the deck of the Lawrence, were shattered and covered with blood, brains, bone ... no one should have to witness such a scene. The mast of the captured Queen Charlotte snapped into the lake as she was brought to rest. The bulwarks of most ships were so riddled with shot that barely could a hand be placed anywhere without touching a hole. I witnessed the burial rites performed by the British and Americans for the dead who were found on my deck and others; all in the uncanny quiet of rippling waves against the island shore. As for me and my wooden friends of the Niagara, we were deemed unserviceable and sunk just a few years after the battle. But on the centennial of 1913, we were raised, refurbished and celebrated once again. We were forgotten until 1988 when the Niagara was restored to its present form. Only a very few of my friends and a piece of myself survived and made it into the interior of the new ship. You can see me at the Putin-Bay re-enactment during Labor Day weekend or visit my home outside the Erie Maritime Museum. O Frank Kuron is author of the War of 1812 book, “Thus Fell Tecumseh.” Email him at kuronpubs@bex.net.

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12 Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

September 1, 2013

POLITICS

Konwinski wants to take city know-how to mayor’s office By Bailey G. Dick

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer bdick@toledofreepress.com

Retiree Michael Konwinski spent time working as a repairman for the city’s water department and later worked as an accountant for the city. But Konwinski isn’t using his retirement to relax. He’s busy campaigning to become Toledo’s next mayor. One of seven mayoral hopefuls, Konwinski is running a self-funded campaign. The Rogers High School and University of Toledo graduate KONWINSKI said his decision mainly came out of his “frustration” with the city. “When I was working in utilities, I saw some things that frustrated me. But when I got into finance, you’d see that people would get placed into positions that they weren’t qualified for,” Konwinski said. “There was a hope that when Mayor Bell came in, he would reform that. I didn’t see that.” So, Konwinski decided to take matters into his own hands and launched his own bid for mayor. “I didn’t see that any of the other potential candidates would be any different,” he said. Konwinski said he “doesn’t like politics” and didn’t want to run for any other position. As a former accountant, Konwinski said his plan to revitalize the city is focused on keeping costs down. “The focus of my campaign is to give people what they’re paying for,” Konwinski said. “I want to give them the best product at the lowest possible price. We should be concentrating on things that taxpayers pay for, like fire and police protection and water, and not chasing our tail on other stuff.” Konwinski said he would like to end taxpayer funding of Imagination Station and turn the site into a retail center, reminiscent of the Portside Festival Marketplace. He also said that he disagreed with the city’s decision to implement a smoking ban, saying that the city’s decision resulted in the shuttering of small businesses. Konwinski said another flub the city made was missing out on locating the Bass Pro Shops store in the Marina District. He said the city’s restrictions on gun sales prevented economic development in the area. “That could have been a magnet

store for the East Side, but we screwed that up,” Konwinski said. “We do a lot of things that tell businesses how to run their place. The processes for business are longer than they should be, and inspectors are not very responsive. I just want to get government out of the way.” Konwinski said he knows his message is a tough sell, and that he hasn’t gotten the publicity most of the other candidates have gotten. His self-funded campaign has proved a challenge. “My biggest competition is that I have no money,” Konwinski said. “I know it’s a long haul and an uphill fight, but I’m hoping my message resonates more than the standard political stuff.” He’s hoping that resonance reaches his constituency, who he calls “the pissed-off taxpayer.” “Nobody’s representing them,” Konwinski said. Konwinski isn’t just in good company with his disgruntled taxpayer base. He also feels a sense of solidarity with fellow mayoral candidate and neighborhood development specialist Alan Cox. In fact, the two both ran for the same position in the union that Cox is now president of. “Alan and I are fighting the same battle,” Konwinski said. “We’re both city employees, and we see the problems. It’s not coincidental that we’re both fighting the same thing because we see the same thing. The politicians are behind the lines. They don’t see that. We’re in the trenches.” Cox said that Konwinski “has an excellent sense of finances,” but that the two differ on their approaches to leadership. “He does have a desire to see the right things done,” Cox said of Konwinski. “I know I could work very well with him. I could be almost as happy with having him elected.” Still, Cox said he has “concern[s] about what [Konwinski’s] full grasp of the management and leadership aspects would be.” Lucas County Auditor and fellow mayoral candidate Anita Lopez has also worked alongside Konwinski, when she worked in the city’s Purchasing, Affirmative Action and Compliance office. “He’s fairly friendly,” Lopez said of Konwinski. “I think he obviously has knowledge of the city operations, but again I think that one of the biggest problems in the City of Toledo is the bottleneck, and that’s not allowing the next generation to take over. Those individuals who have been in charge, like Mike Collins, Mike Bell, Mike Konwinski, all of the individuals at

the city who are running for mayor, they’ve had their day in leadership, and they have not been able to turn the City of Toledo around. So I think they need to move on and let a new person come in.”

In addition to Cox and Lopez, Konwinski is challenging incumbent Mayor Mike Bell, City Councilmen Joe McNamara and D. Michael Collins and evangelist Opal Covey in the Sept. 10 primary.

And despite the heavy competition, Konwinski said he’s feeling brave going into the election. “I’m not scared of losing. I’m not in it promising people stuff I can’t deliver,” he said. O

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Toledo Free Press | 9/1/13

8/22/13 10:56 AM

September 1, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Community 13

A Toledo tradition since 2005

By Duane Ramsey

TOLEDO FREE PRESS SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER dramsey@toledofreepress.com

Various community leaders and numerous Jeep retirees joined with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority on Aug. 28 to dedicate Overland Industrial Park to the thousands of men and women who worked on the site over the years. Overland Industrial Park was home to the Willys-Overland Jeep factory for many years; the site was left empty in 2006 and then purchased by the Port Authority in 2010. Work has already begun on the revitalization of the 100-acre site to make it a thriving center for business and employment. The Port Authority hosted the dedication ceremony, which included the unveiling of a plaque that will be mounted on the lone smokestack left standing there. The plaque reads: “Overland Industrial Site: This site is dedicated to the men and women of Northwest

Ohio who worked on this land to produce products that enhanced the American way of life and defended freedom throughout the world. August 30, 2013.” Rep. Marcy Kaptur presented the Port Authority with an American flag that had flown over the Capitol for use at Overland Industrial Park. Paul Toth, president and CEO of the Port Authority, spoke about his organization’s commitment to make Overland Industrial Park a contributor to the region’s economy. Mayor Mike Bell spoke about the value of creating future jobs for Toledoans through the businesses that will make their home in the Overland Industrial Park. Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken donned his UAW jacket to emphasize his long-term involvement at the site, dating back to when he began working for Jeep in 1976. Gerken introduced George Davis, a former Jeep employee who worked at the site. He was hired at Jeep in

1943 and worked there for 50 years before he retired in 1993. Davis said his sons and grandsons have built Jeeps in Toledo. Bruce Baumhower, president of UAW Local 12, welcomed all of the Jeep retirees in the audience and related his history on the site. He believes that many new tenants in Overland Industrial Park could support the current Toledo Assembly Complex, which was recently recognized as the largest auto manufacturing facility in North America. Ed Harmon, managing partner of Industrial Developers, is partnering with the Port Authority to bring development and tenants to the park. “Five years from now, you will be very proud of what’s here,” Harmon said. Matt Sapara, vice president of the Port Authority, said a groundbreaking will take place in October for the building on the site. He said there has been a lot of interest in the building, which could be available in the second quarter of 2014.

toledo free press photo by duane ramsey

Officials dedicate Overland Industrial Park

From left, Mayor Mike Bell, County Commissioner Pete Gerken, REP. Marcy Kaptur, Ed Harmon of Industrial Developers, William Carroll of the Port Authority and Bruce Baumhower of UAW LOCAL 12 with the dedication plaque.

“That project is going very well,” Sapara said. Construction on the roads, utilities

and infrastructure by Miller Brothers Construction of Toledo is nearing completion. O

14 Community

September 1, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

RELIGION

By David Yonke

EDITOR, ToledoFAVS.COM David.Yonke@ReligionNews.com

For the Rev. Mark Davis, his vocation as a Catholic priest and his hobby doing magic tricks have much in common. Both ask people for faith and trust, and to not try to understand everything. “Being a priest and being an entertainer, you give people an experience of something they don’t understand, and you help draw them into the mystery,” Davis said in an interview. The charismatic cleric, who is the pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Bowling Green, has a gift for keeping people interested and entertained, and for finding links between magic and spirituality. In a recent show, performing for about 70 people at Mercy St. Charles Hospital for the 16th Annual Catholic Seniors Retreat, Davis asked a volunteer from the audience to pick a card from “a perfectly normal invisible deck.” Following the priest’s directions, the audience member picked out an invisible card, placed it “facing backward” into the invisible deck, then put the deck inside its box and tossed it across the room to the priest. Davis, wearing a short-sleeved clerical shirt as if to show he had no tricks up his sleeve, caught it with a clap of his hands and — voila! — a visible deck of cards appeared between his palms. Fanning the deck, there was one card facing backward — the one the audience member had selected. Davis got a kick out of his own

magic trick — laughing and clapping his hands. He has a good time entertaining people. “It’s fun to laugh,” he said. “Life’s hard. It’s just fun to laugh.” Back in the spotlight at St. Charles, Davis quoted a verse from the biblical book of Hebrews: “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” “You had to trust me for the payoff to be effective,” he told the audience. “It’s like prayer and going to Mass. You have to trust God for the payoff.” Davis, 53, was first introduced to magic when he was 5. “My godparents came back from Florida with a magic kit with some tricks and props. Of course, I broke everything right away. I was 5 years old!” The summer before sixth grade, he found the instruction book from that long-broken set and started teaching himself card tricks. It wasn’t that hard, he said, and he’s been polishing his magic act ever since. A graduate of St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo and the University of Notre Dame, Davis decided to enter the priesthood after working nine years with handicapped children for the state of New Jersey (where one of his co-workers was “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart). Ordained in 1996, Davis does tricks on occasion at the pulpit and performs fairly regularly around the area. “I started out as a close-up magician and I’m a little partial to smaller audiences, working with coins and cards and everyday objects,” he said. Davis is deft at creating balloon animals for children and is a natural at telling jokes and stories. When it

comes to magic tricks, Davis’ show is well-crafted, seamlessly presented and nearly impossible for the average person to deconstruct. At the senior retreat, for example, he cut and burned a dollar bill whose serial number had been written down by the audience, then sliced open a lemon to reveal the same rolled-up bill inside. It’s impossible, of course, and that is part of its appeal. “Are we comfortable with the experience of not knowing what’s going on?” Davis asked. “If we are really uncomfortable with mystery, if it really bothers us not to know how something is done, then how in the world are we going to have a relationship with a God who is so much greater than us?” “I think it’s very good the way he relates magic to faith,” said Jane Thompson, who was at the St. Charles retreat. “He has a way of telling us something about the magic trick that helps us to understand things spiritually. You just kind of marvel at it, the way things can represent something else.” Getting audiences to think about God and to ponder spiritual things are the real goals of Davis’ show. At the same time, magic can be fun. “I know I’m never going to play Vegas, I’m never going to be famous,” he said. “But people

photo by david Yonke

Priest entertains to help convey message of faith

Rev. Mark Davis peforms a magic trick at MERCY St. Charles HOSPITAL.

seem to like it. I try to do very good magic and use the tools of the magician to do wonderful illusions. And inherently in any good art, God is present.” O

David Yonke is the editor and community manager of ToledoFAVS.com, a website that provides in-depth, nonsectarian news coverage of religion, faith and spirituality in the Toledo area.

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September 1, 2013

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Community 15

A Toledo tradition since 2005

FUNDRAISERS

By Matt Liasse

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer mliasse@toledofreepress.com

One hundred years ago, The American Cancer Society was founded by 15 physicians and businessmen determined to raise awareness about cancer. In 1936, the Women’s Field Army was formed; this organization of women took to the streets to educate people about cancer. In 1947, the first successful chemotherapy treatment for cancer was discovered by researcher Sidney Farber. In 1971, the National Cancer Act was passed, which led to federal funding for cancer research. In 1997, the first 24/7 cancer information call center was launched. In 2011, two American Cancer Society-funded researchers won the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine, bringing the total number of Nobel-winning grantees to 46. “One hundred years is really phenomenal when you think about cancer,” said Beth Stutler, distinguished events manager for American Cancer Society. “A hundred years ago, if someone, even if

they were diagnosed appropriately, that would be a huge question in and of itself, was diagnosed with cancer, of course it was a death sentence. No one was living with cancer back then.” The American Cancer Society will celebrate those 100 years during the Toledo Cattle Baron’s Ball, an annual fundraiser to support research and programs, both local and national. Stutler said the organization is currently funding more than $800,000 in grants at the University of Toledo. The goal is to raise $75,000 at the event. This is the ninth year the event has been sponsored. The event is Western-themed. Dressing the part is encouraged, but not required. It will be 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at Centennial Terrace. Tickets cost $100 and reservations are required. They can be made online at toledocattlebarons ball.org. There will be no walk-ins at the door and Stutler asked that reservations be made by Sept. 4. The event will include a silent and live auction, casino gaming, “wine toss” and a photo booth. Country band Haywire will provide live entertainment.

The event will also serve as a tribute to 18 individuals associated with cancer. For a number of months, the organization was advertising the opportunity to nominate a community member as a “face of cancer,” including physicians, health care professionals, caregivers, researchers, survivors, volunteers and supporters. A family of four was nominated by Ottawa Hills Local Schools and will be honored at the event. “One of the teachers has a young daughter who is dealing with cancer,” Stutler said. “Originally, their thought was they would sponsor this little girl and then they decided, I think as a group, that it’s not just the little girl but it’s her family. It’s her mother, her father [and] her brother who have all walked this journey with her too.” Stutler said even though there is still no cure for cancer, researchers have made headway in the fight against it. “Even as recent as five years ago, you would hear people [talk] about how they went through chemo and they were so deathly sick,” Stutler said. “There are so many things now that get you past some of those.” O

photo courtesy american cancer society

American Cancer Society turns 100, honors 18 ‘faces of cancer’

Michael Seay and WTOL-11’s Emilie Voss will emcee the cattle baron’s ball.

It’s like having front Row seats for the best show In town See the best fall color in your Metroparks. Pick up or download an Autumn Adventure brochure and walk at least eight trails before November 18. Free t-shirts go to the first 50 people who turn in their completed forms. (T-shirts also available for $14.) Walk on your own or register for a guided walk with a naturalist at MetroparksToledo.com. See you on the trail! upComInG EVEnts autumn adventure kick off Kick off this year’s Autumn Adventure with a short, family-friendly presentation about the Wiley star of our program, followed by a walk into coyote habitat. Sunday, September 1, 2 to 3 p.m. Side Cut, Lamb Center Free | Reservations

a D V E n t u R E mEtRopaRks of thE tolEDo aREa

sEptEmbER 1 – noVEmbER 18 2013

oak openings sand Dunes track trek At the region’s biggest sandbox, the Girdham Road Sand Dunes, scour the landscape in search of footprints left by animals. Some of the tracks that have been found there include: deer, squirrel, fox, coyote, mice and many more. Thursday, September 12, 10 to 11 a.m. Oak Openings Preserve, Sand Dunes, Girdham Rd. Free | Reservations

16 Business Link

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

September 1, 2013

FINANCE

By Duane Ramsey

TOLEDO FREE PRESS SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER dramsey@toledofreepress.com

John Stone and Richard “Dick” Sands, partners in Sandstone Commercial Capital Inc., have facilitated a number of transactions resulting in approximately $20 million in financing for projects in the hotel and other industries. While many of the businesses they serve have difficulty securing financing through traditional sources, the partners at Sandstone have found a niche in the market by finding financing solutions to meet the needs of their clients. “We want to get deals done that others can’t do. We match lenders with the clients’ needs,” Stone said. The partners at Sandstone recently completed the financing of three large hospitality projects for clients in the Toledo area. However, they can’t divulge the clients, amounts of the financing or details on the specific projects due to confidentiality agreements. “There is a need for privacy and security of information in our business,” Sands said. They also completed a transaction for the acquisition of a large industrial building for an existing Michigan business, reported Sands. Their client utilized the services of the Michigan Certified Development Corporation in East Lansing, Mich., to secure Small Business Administration (SBA) financing, while Sandstone coordinated the financing with a local community bank. Sands said one unique transaction by the firm involved the purchase of a partnership interest in a large multiline casualty insurance agency as an investment for a client. Stone said they have also worked with insurance companies looking to invest in specific types of businesses. Sandstone serves as correspondent broker for more than 40 different commercial lenders nationwide. The business has developed an approach to help clients solve their financing and refinancing objectives by offering solutions available through

toledo free press photo by joseph herr

Sandstone Commercial finances business projects

John Stone, left, and Dick Sands founded Sandstone Commercial Capital to help businesses find financing solutions.

the lenders they represent, according to Sands, who has 30 years of commercial lending experience with four financial institutions. In addition to working with traditional lenders, the partners offer available financing alternatives utilizing the U.S. SBA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, commercial mortgagebacked securities, FHA and HUD for all types of real estate investments in commercial, industrial, multifamily, warehouses and other businesses. Sands said they also have access to other lenders and investors who favor investing in equipmentleasing and machinery-purchase transactions, covering everything

from 18 wheelers to heavy-duty construction equipment. “We’re selling ourselves and our expertise in how to finance projects for clients. We’re making loans to credit-worthy people who have the ability to repay in a routine fashion,” Sands said. “It’s very rewarding personally and professionally to help clients with their financing needs,” Stone said. Sands and Stone have known each other for 20 years. After Sands helped finance two nursing home acquisitions for Stone, they got to talking and decided to start a business to help other businesses finance projects. The two became partners and

founded Sandstone Commercial Capital in the second half of 2012. Stone has 30 years of experience as a licensed nursing home administrator and owner. The partners believe their entrance into that industry could be an important thrust for the company, Sands said. Stone recently completed the acquisition of the Merit House nursing home, formerly Villa North. The Toledo facility has 52 residents and 45 employees. He is currently renovating 40,000 square feet of space there to provide assisted living suites at that location. “John is a turn-around specialist in nursing homes,” Sands said. Sandstone has been marketing to

investor-owned commercial real estate owners, the hospitality industry, credit tenant commercial centers, medical offices and clinics. The firm has the ability to explore financing and refinancing alternatives for new and existing clients. They often offer favorable terms and rates not available through other conventional financing sources, Sands said. He said Sandstone can offer 10year fixed rates, non-recourse and long-term amortizations that are difficult to obtain through conventional financing organizations. For more information, visit www. sandstonecommercialcapital.com. O

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September 1, 2013

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A Toledo tradition since 2005

RETIREMENT GUYS

Doing this could kill a retirement plan

his year, the major stock market indexes are up and most investors have become a lot more positive on the outlook of the economy. This has led to many average investors now increasing their equity exposure. In our most recent client update, we focused on how to get prepared for a 30 percent drop in the stock market. So why, when everything is going great, would we tell our clients (and now you) how to get prepared for a major drop in the stock market? It is because how the average investor prepares can mean the difference between creating a huge opportunity or ending up in another panic situation. Safety in numbers is human nature, but when it comes to making in-

vestment decisions it can be a costly mistake. The term is called “herding.” Meaning that doing what everyone else is doing makes sense at the time. If all your friends are buying, you buy, and if the news says everyone Mark is selling, you sell. In investing, herding Nolan goes back hundreds of years to the Netherlands’ tulip bulb craze. At one point, a tulip bulb sold for 12 times the salary of the average worker. That was till the black plague when buyers stopped showing up. Recently, this happened to inves-

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tors who herded in the Dot Com Era, the Real Estate Bubble and last year’s Gold Rush. It all makes sense until after the fact, when investors can look back and say, “What where we thinking?” Following the CLAIR herd could kill a family’s retirement BAKER plan; instead investors should focus on creating buckets of money for the different phases of life so each account has a purpose. The buckets of money should be for the following purposes: emergency account, current income, pay raise account, peak spending years, alternative assets and long-term growth. When an investor identifies the purpose of each account then the choice of which investments should be owned in each account gets a lot easier, as the objective become much more clear. If each objective is being met, then the day-to-day noise of the stock market becomes less and less relevant. Current income and emergency accounts should be either safe or very conservative. The goal would be to have predictable income and to have easy access to money. This income

stream could be from safe accounts like fixed income investments, cash reserves or fixed or indexed annuities with return of premium riders. The risk with drawing income from stocks, bonds, mutual funds or variable annuities is that in a declining market more investments need to be sold to get the same income. This could increase the chances of running out of money. The peak spending years and the pay raise buckets of money are designed for income planning in the future. The income will need to keep up with inflation and the cost of living. Taking the correct pension and Social Security income are important things to consider in this area. In investment accounts, it is important to make sure the pay raise is not subject to the lottery of returns of the stock and bond market. A strategy we often use for investors is laddering investments so they mature at different time frames as well as looking at ways to maximize the income sources. The alternatives and long-term growth buckets are designed for diversification and to allow an investor the opportunity to fill up the other buckets of money when those accounts are exceeding the goals. Because investors have little to no control over the stock and bond market in the short term, positioning these

assets for the long term reduces the emotional stress the short-term markets can have on you. Consider the advantages to investing into highquality dividend and income assets. This will help to create a more consistent income stream. Remember to stay out of the “herd.” Make your own path to reach financial, investment and retirement goals. Just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t mean it is right for you and your family. Look at each financial account and determine what the purpose and time frame is for the money and then make decisions that are based upon the objective. O For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www. retirementguysnetwork.com. Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC. NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice. The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550. Insurance guarantees are based upon the claims paying ability of the insurance company. Diversification is a strategy that is designed to reduce risk, it doesn’t not guarantee against loss.

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18 Sports SHAG ON SPORTS

Manziel’s penalty leaves egg on the NCAA’s face

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

September 1, 2013

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idn’t think that when Johnny a cellphone, and show Manziel in a Manziel won the Heisman hotel room signing football helmets, Trophy last year that he one after the other. That’s not inadvertent, that’s pretty blatant. wouldn’t start this year, did you? But there’s a really obYes, due to some vious question here: Did tough investigating by the NCAA ever see that Texas A&M and the video? NCAA, Johnny FootThis wasn’t a police ball has some time to investigation, because think about what he nothing illegal hapdid. After a long, deep pened. The NCAA did a investigation, they deep investigation, but have decided to susit’s not the cops. It can’t pend Manziel. For a issue subpoenas, it can’t half-game. That’s right, Man- Matt CULBREATH hold anybody for questioning and it can’t ziel will pay for his someone sins by missing the Whether you agree compel to tell the truth, the first 30 minutes of truth and their opening nearwith the rule about whole nothing but the scrimmage against truth, So help you the Rice Owls. To recap the players getting paid, Rockne. If Manziel talk, and the story: After a fanyou can’t help but didn’t brokers didn’t talk, tastic 2012, the Agand ESPN didn’t gies quarterback suddenly found him- laugh at its inability to have the evidence to turn over, and self under the microscope of the media, uphold its rules when A&M conveniently lost what they had which questioned it really counts. ” on hand, then the his every move, from NCAA is left with a what parties he attended to what alarm app he uses on whole lot of nothing. That does, though, shine a bright his phone. Soon after camp started, though, light on the ultimate toothlessness a more serious charge was levied: of the NCAA. Whether you agree An ESPN “Outside the Lines” report with the rule about players getting claimed that he had been paid by an paid, you can’t help but laugh at its autograph broker to sign memora- inability to uphold its rules when it bilia. The evidence included more really counts. They see these brokers than one broker corroborating the with signed memorabilia, but that’s story, along with video of Manziel all they have. They agree with A&M signing the gear (but it didn’t show that something has to be done, so they slap on a baloney 30-minute him getting paid). But upon completing the inves- suspension for generating all of the tigation, the NCAA said it couldn’t noise. Will any other player who has find evidence that Manziel was signed gear show up on eBay get the paid, and instead punished him for same suspension? Not likely. As much as I’d like to think there an “inadvertent violation” of the rules regarding autographs. In their were some underhanded shenanigans statement, the NCAA said “It is im- in this investigation — did the Manziel portant that schools are cognizant family dip into some of that oil money and educate student-athletes about to make this go away? — it feels like situations in which there is a strong the NCAA just had its hands tied. What hurts the Association is likelihood that the autograph seeker the public way in which it was tied plans to resell the items.” “But wait!” I hear the voice in up. Everybody knows what hapmy head say. (I’m hoping you said it pened at College Station, but when too …) “If there’s video of Manziel no one talks, and you can’t make signing these autographs for the bro- them talk, you’re the one with egg kers, then you really can’t call it inad- on your face. O vertent, can you?” Yeah, that would make sense, wouldn’t it? According Matt “Shaggy” Culbreath is sports dito reports, the videos were taken on rector for 1370 WSPD.

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Star 19

A Toledo tradition since 2005

By Jay Hathaway

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

Toledoans craving Mediterranean delicacies and dancing will want to make their way to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral’s 43rd annual Greek-American Festival. The event, known to many locals simply as “the Greek Fest,” will kick off at 11 a.m. Sept. 6 and conclude at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. However, the party really begins after the official blessing of the festival and cathedral at 4 p.m. Sept. 6. Friday night will feature entertainment by Greek dancing groups, a Greek cooking demonstration at 7 p.m. and the Olympus Band SARANTOU will play live Greek music from 6-11 p.m. Saturday will feature a similar lineup of dancers, a Greek cooking demonstration at 6 p.m. and live music by the Olympus Band from 5-11 p.m. Admission is $5 on Friday and Saturday, and kids age 12 and younger are free all weekend (with an adult). For early birds coming on Friday before 3 p.m., admission is also free. Sunday is family day, with $2 admission. The Mythos Band will play 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., along with more dancing and Greek cooking demonstrations at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tours of the cathedral and cultural presentations will also run throughout the weekend. Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou has been to every Greek Fest since the first in 1970, and is serving as the event’s publicity chairman this

photo courtesy greek-American festival

Food, dancing among draws of Greek-American festival

Grills and cooks are busy throughout the THREE days of the Greek-American Festival.

year. He said food is always a big attraction, and is one of several reasons the festival has evolved into such a big event over the years. “It’s really grown,” he said. “About a third of the space we use now is what we started with. It’s really grown into a major Toledo event. The food attracts an enormous amount of people.”

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Sarantou added that the dancing is another aspect people most enjoy about the festival. “I look forward to the people that come there, because they really enjoy Greek food and Greek culture,” Sarantou said. “Forty-three years ago, people just didn’t know that much Greek culture and Greek food. Today,

197

DAYS UnTiLDAY! ST. PATRick’S

we all know what gyros are and what leg of lamb is.” Sarantou said the festival is run by Holy Trinity, and proceeds benefit the church. He added that funds have helped with purchasing property around the church over the years, and have supported Holy Trinity in its community outreach efforts.

Friday, Sept. 6th

The entrances for the festival are at Walnut and Superior streets and at Summit and Walnut streets. Parking is available throughout the festival neighborhood and at the Vistula Garage (Superior and Orange streets). For a detailed schedule of events, visit www.toledogreekfest.com. O

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20 Star

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4051 Devers_VV_Audi_713_Layout 1 6/12/13 12:02 PM Page 1

September 1, 2013

IN CONCERT

By Vicki L. Kroll

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer vkroll@toledofreepress.com

Six-packs and Red Dog — that’s what Elvin Bishop was chatting about. That would be containers of tomato plants and his 1959 Gibson guitar, of course. The amazing ax man is an avid gardener. “This isn’t natural born tomato country like where you are; tomatoes like it where it’s too hot to sleep at night. Here, I live eight miles from the Pacific Ocean. The cool air comes rushing in every night; even if it’s 90 in the daytime, it gets down to 50 at night and the fog comes in. Tomatoes don’t particularly like that stuff,” Bishop said during a call from his northern California home. “You can’t grow heirloom tomatoes here, basically, if you raise them from seed like I do most of mine because the diseases get them. It has to be ideal conditions for those things to work. You have to go to the nursery and look at that little stick that’s in the six-pack and you have to get the one that has half the alphabet on it to make it work here. “But I found a way to cheat. I’ve been planting the crafted tomatoes,” he said. Bishop has had a history of make-it-work moments since he first heard the blues. “I was born in 1942, so the first 12 years of my life there was no rock ’n’ roll; it was pretty grim, you know, ‘(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window’ and Frank Sinatra and all that. And then rock came with Elvis and Chuck Berry and Little Richard and this is great. “And then I happened to hear blues, and that was like a bolt of lightning. I said, ‘Wow, this is where the good part of rock is coming from,’” the singer-songwriter recalled. Bishop said he was 14 when he got his first guitar. “We were kind of poor, so I bought my stuff at the pawn shop. And I didn’t know any better, so I’d get the ones with the strings way up off the neck of the guitar. King Kong couldn’t have made any chord on that,” he said and laughed. His real education began when a National Merit Scholarship served as his ticket out of Oklahoma and to

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Elvin Bishop still fooling around with blues music

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the University of Chicago, where he met harmonica player and singer Paul Butterfield. The blues fans hit the clubs and watched their idols. It was Little Smokey Smothers, former guitarist for Howlin’ Wolf, who befriended Bishop. “This was right on the edge of when civil rights was getting ready to kick in, and most people, black or white, didn’t have much experience with people of the other race at all,” Bishop said. “But Smokey, when I met him, we just fell right together and none of that seemed to apply. We just became really good friends, and he helped me as much as he could. He was a great guy, a very patient teacher and just a good-hearted person.” About the same time, Bishop found his first Red Dog. “I was playing a Fender Telecaster, and it just didn’t suit me. It didn’t feel right; I couldn’t get a good sound out of it. And then I got that Gibson and it has that big, warm, full sound with

good sustain,” he said. From 1963-68, Bishop played guitar for the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. After going solo, he dabbled in rock and had a 1976 hit with “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” which featured vocalist Mickey Thomas, who later joined Jefferson Starship. But the title of one of his songs says it all: “The Blues Rolls On.” “Blues is for people who want their music to have a real meaning and be connected to the understanding of life,” he said. Bishop will play the main stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green. See the lineup for the free three-day event at blackswamparts.org. Fans can hear some new music. “I’ve got one tune we’ll be doing called ‘Dancin’’ that’s kind of like — man, what would you call? — a Cajun pop tune or something,” the guitarist said. “And I’ve got another one called ‘Can’t Even Do Wrong Right,’ that’s a blues thing.” O

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Star 21

A Toledo tradition since 2005

STAND-up COMEDY

By Matt Liasse

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer mliasse@toledofreepress.com

Three years ago, Keith Bergman performed stand-up during an open mic at The Ground Level, a coffee shop formerly on Central Avenue. “I almost walked out. I was almost too nervous to get up,” he said. “When I did go up, I felt so good about it, I just kept going back.” Bergman’s set was mostly puns and one-liners and was in front of “maybe 10 to 15 people.” “I didn’t dive into anything that was more personal or really all that interesting,” he said. Bergman had performed stand-up before, but for years he explored other hobbies like theater and music. He thought if he’d ever want to do comedy again, he’d go to The Ground Level, since it was right by his house. “It was a great open mic. I wish that place was still there,” he said. The audience’s response motivated him to go back the next week. “I got a much better reaction than I had any right to,” Bergman said. “What seems to happen to a lot of people, and other people have confirmed this to me since, is people tend to be very sympathetic. When you get introduced and they say it’s your first time up, they all will give you the benefit of the doubt. They’re very encouraging.” Bergman said the audience’s support for beginners doesn’t last long. “For the most part, [for] a lot of people, their first set will go really well. Maybe their second set. And then it starts to sink in that they have a long way to go,” Bergman said. “It sort of sank in after a few different tries that it was going to be a really long process. I walked out there the first night thinking I was well on my way to being a real comedian. Three years later I realize I’m still not there yet.” Bergman said he has bombed a few shows. “It happens enough to keep you from getting too full of yourself,” Bergman said. “Usually you have no control over what kind of crowd is going to be there. I’ve ended up at shows where everyone there are retired or senior citizens. A lot of the jokes I have, they’re just not interested in what I have to say.” Bad shows keep Bergman grounded. “There’s nothing glamorous about this at all,” he said. “There’s a ton of rejection in comedy. There are

toledo free press photo by matt liasse

Bergman launches local comedy series Two Buck Yuks

Keith Bergman is debuting the stand-up comedy series Two Buck Yuks at the Blarney Event Center on Sept. 4.

people I have been sending emails to for eight months who have never replied. It’s almost like you’re stalking them at some point.” Bergman has never been booed off stage but said he may prefer it to no reaction at all. “To get disinterest is almost the worst thing,” Bergman said. “Because then they hear you, they’re listening, they just don’t care what you’re saying.”

Two Buck Yuks

Bergman hopes to keep comedy lovers interested with his new showcase Two Buck Yuks. Comedians will perform stand-up at 8 p.m. every Wednesday, beginning Sept. 4. The shows will be 90 minutes and will take place in The Blarney Event Center in Downtown Toledo. There will be a $2 cover for the shows, which are open to anyone ages 21 and older. “A lot of people don’t realize there’s a really growing comedy scene in this area and in some of the surrounding cities,” Bergman said. Two Buck Yuks is already booked until Christmas. Comedians from Illinois and Tennessee are on the schedule already, in addition to ones

from Ohio and Michigan. Bergman used to run a weekly comedy show at Connxtions Comedy Club. Since the venue closed for renovations in the spring, Bergman came up with Two Buck Yuks to fill the void. “I think Downtown needs something like [this]. It’s a good entertainment option,” Bergman said. “Especially midweek, there’s not always stuff to do. It would be nice for people to have another option so they don’t have to drive all the way out to the suburbs.” Bergman was put in contact with Bill Kline from The Blarney Irish Pub. Kline said it’s the perfect venue because the pub’s event center is a separate room from the bar and dining area. “We’re excited for the opportunity to host local and regional comedians, to give them a stage and to showcase their talents,” he said in an email. “We were on board from the moment Keith sat down with us and presented his plan, as we understood they had success at their previous venue.” Bergman said his favorite aspect of comedy is the immediacy. Two Buck Yuks will be what he loves about comedy and more. “I think with any creative thing you are doing, it’s nice to see people

feel the same way or react the same way,” Bergman said. “I see something [and] I think it’s funny, it’s gratifying to go onstage and have a room full of people also think it’s funny. They see where you’re coming from and they get it.”

‘Hashtag Rustbelt’

The first show will feature a special lineup. Bergman will perform with Stu McCallister from Grand Rapids, Mich., and local comic Mike Szar, two comedians he is making a comedy DVD with. The DVD, “Hashtag Rustbelt,” is expected to be available by Christmas. The three men will tour to promote the DVD, beginning at the show Sept. 4. They will leave directly afterward and drive to Alabama for their next gig. “It’s been interesting … we’re [doing] a lot of smaller venues, nonconventional comedy venues [and] in places that probably don’t get a lot of comedy,” McCallister said. “It’s a new experience.” The DVD was filmed in the spring, two weeks before Connxtions Comedy Club closed. It features 10 stand-up acts filmed over two nights. Erik Cribley, D.K. Hamilton, Steve

Wherry, Thom Brush, Anthony Martinez, Dustin Meadows and Owen Thomas will also be featured.

The lineup

O Sept. 4: Bergman, McCallister, Szar, Dwayne Duke, Ryan Dickman and John Cessna. O Sept. 11: Dustin Meadows, Lindsey Martin, Kamari Stevens, Esther Nevarez, Brad Wenzel, Kyle Tolliver, Anthony Martinez, Wes Ward, TJ Warner and Gad Holland. O Sept. 18: Steve Sabo, Mary Santora, Yusuf Ali, Anthony Savatt, Samantha Rager, Sean Sullivan, Ed Bartko, Bobby Bayn, Chris Tiefel and Owen Thomas. O Sept. 25: D.K. Hamilton, Erin Field, Michael Geeter, Joe Deez, Dan Fraley, Meghan Koesters, Jason Valentini and Szar. O Oct. 2: Dave Landau, Dan Currie, Pat Sievert, David Wellfare, Robert Jenkins, Bryan Thompson, Jason Carlen, Mark Roebuck, Jake Dickey and Reese Leonard. O Oct. 9: Zach Martina, Darnell Anderson, Jeremy Rowland, Jeff Horste, Kent Tucker, Robert Kemeny, Cody Cooper, LJ White, Keith Spurlock and Carl Johnson. O

22 Star

September 1, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

LGBT EVENTS

Holiday with Heart scheduled for Dec. 8

Toledo’s Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla isn’t just a night out that attendees look forward to each year. It’s the longest-running annual fundraiser benefiting local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) causes in the state. Taglined “the premier social event for LGBT community and friends,” the 36th annual event will be 4-11 p.m. Dec. 8 at The Toledo Club, 235 14th St. This year’s beneficiaries will be The Holiday with Heart Fund and Rainbow Area Youth (RAY), a local peer group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning teens ages 13-19. “We are excited to be benefiting Rainbow Area Youth this year for the first time,” said Rick Cornett, a member of the group’s board of directors. “That organization is a great asset to the needs of LGBT youth. Coming out can be a hard and scary time for someone young who is trying to find acceptance from family, friends, classmates and co-workers. I wish a group like RAY had been around in the 1980s when I was coming out and trying to find my way.” Last year’s Gayla raised $13,000 for beneficiaries including The Toledo Pride Foundation, the Toledo office of AIDS Resource Center Ohio, The Gay and Lesbian Student Endowment Fund at the University of Toledo and The Holiday with Heart Fund. All funds raised stay in the community. “Each year we have raised more money than the year before,” Cornett said. “I wish we could get more corporate sponsorship. It has been a slow and hard fight to get financial support from major corporations. Skylight Financial

Group stepped up last year and was a big help. They are very supportive of the gay community here in Toledo.” Attendees can expect an elegant evening with a served dinner, cash bar, DJ and dancing, live entertainment, 50-50 raffle and plenty of networking and socializing opportunities, Cornett said. “The Toledo Club is a historic and beautiful place for our event and all the Christmas trees and decorations are breathtaking,” Cornett said. “It is a great way to kick off the holiday season for a good cause that benefits the local LGBT community.” Cost is yet to be determined, but reserving tickets early is suggested as the 300-seat Gayla has sold out for the past several years. All are welcome, said Cornett, who has attended the event since 1991. “Although this charity benefits LGBT causes, we want everyone to know that our straight allies are welcome to join us,” Cornett said. “The evening is a fun mix of younger and older people who enjoy the diversity the LGBT community is known for. This isn’t an invite-only event.” The Holiday with Heart Fund, administered through the Toledo Community Foundation, was established in 2011 in memory of Gayla co-founder Dick Flock. Once an initial $25,000 is raised, the fund will be used to support local LGBT causes year-round. So far, more than $17,000 has been raised. Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of the Gayla. For more information, visit hwhcharitygayla.org. O — Sarah Ottney

Appliance Center celebrates 50th anniversary with Family Fun Days From Staff Reports The Appliance Center Home Store, 321 Illinois Ave. in Maumee, is marking 50 years in business with a “Family Festival of Deals.” The business will celebrate with Family Fun Days from Sept. 7-8.

A music festival will feature Velvet Jones, East River Drive, My ’80s Vice and Skoobie Snaks. The free event will also feature face painting, giveaways, a food kiosk, carnival games, bungee jumping, a giant bouncy house, a balloon artist and prizes.

During the event, Appliance Center will offer a “Truckload TV sale” and “24 months same as cash” financing. The Appliance Center Home Store opened in 1963. For information, call (419) 893-3374 or visit the website www.appliancecenterdirect.com. O

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Find everything you need for your tailgate party at Walt Churchill’s Market. Subs/Sandwiches, Fully Cooked BBQ RIbs, Hand Breaded Fried Chicken, Party Trays, Fresh Meats for the Grill, Snacks, Beverages and Much, Much More!

www.waltchurchillsmarket.com

Facebook @ waltchurchillsmarket » Twitter @ waltchurchills 3320 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee » 419.794.4000 » Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m. 26625 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg » 419.872.6900 » Hours: Mon-Sun 7 a.m.– 10 p.m. Effective 09/03/13-09/08/13 We reserve the right to limit quantities. No sales to vendors. » Not responsible for pictorial or typographical errors.

September 1, 2013

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