Heart of Ohio - Winter 2011

St. Peter’s celebrates 100 years

WINTER 2011

Keeping Active During Winter Months PLUS: Milliron Everyday Heroes Healthy Resolutions for the Whole Year Decorating with Contemporary Flair The Voices of Malabar Farm

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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FEATURES Johnson’s Island: Sandusky Bay

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Interesting People: Lunch with Louie

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Decorating with 20 Contemporary Flair

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A Celebration 100 Years in the 26 Making: St. Peter’s Catholic Church www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Connecting the 32 Past to the Future: America’s Railroads

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ON THE COVER: Family having fun in winter, , running with sled.

Photographer: Andrey Artykov, ©iStockphoto.com/Arand

WINTER 2010

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FROM THE EDITOR “It’s a poor frog who doesn’t praise his own pond.”

— author unknown Every season holds its own magic, and that is especially true here in the heart of Ohio. Perhaps we are given the slow-moving winter months to renew us and allow us time with our loved ones that we sometimes can’t seem to steal from the fast-moving summer time.

This issue is dedicated to helping you stay charged for this beautiful season, so read on for tips on how to stay motivated and on track with your new year’s resolutions, maybe even how to break out of the cold weather blahs to really enjoy this quieter time of year. We look forward to introducing you to a company that is one hundred fifty years old, the Wilson Bohannan Lock Company in Marion, and showing you the beauty of the one hundred year old St. Peter’s Church in Mansfield. Have you ever visited the Johnson’s Island Confederate Cemetery in Sandusky Bay? I bet you’ll want to after our article whets your appetite.

Katie Davis has an interesting review of Tim McKee’s latest book, Mansfield Then and Now, and many Mansfield Malabar graduates will remember our interesting person for this issue, beloved teacher Louis Mendez.

Decorating, interesting companies, Mike Greene still “Keeping Score”, and our new “Everyday Hero” feature… I think we have something for almost everyone. I’ve been fortunate to spend time with some very interesting people to bring these stories to you and I know you will enjoy meeting them as much as I have.

Remember this magazine is about all of us, our history, our day-to-day lives, and our future. If you have an interesting story idea please let us know. It might just be one that should be shared it with all of the heart of Ohio.

U R A L I N A U G

OUTDOOR LIVIN

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Sales & Marketing Tiffany Miller tiffany@heartofohiomagazine.com Kathy Clevenger kathy@heartofohiomagazine.com Contributing Writers Diana L. Coon Julie McCready Mike Greene Paula M. Cohen Guest Authors Graphic Designers Tami Shuck Tom Hofacre Circulation Becky Herrick maildept@sungraphicsinc.com

Heart of Ohio magazine is printed and published quarterly by SunGraphics, Inc.

I S S U E

Winter 2010

(4 issues)

Editor Diana L. Coon editor@heartofohiomagazine.com

Diana L. Coon, Editor Heart of Ohio magazine

ONE YEAR

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS Health & Wellness

Business Matters

11 Overcoming Winter Blues

41 Wilson Bohannan Padlock Company: A Company with a 150-year Lock on Success

14 That’s Why They Call It the Blues… and More 15 Healthy Resolutions for the Whole Year 17 Making a Successful New Year’s Resolution

44 A “Sign” of the Times: Spazz Monkey

Money Matters

Sports & Recreation

47 Financial Planning Issues for Women

23 Keeping Score with Mike Greene: Collecting Memories and More!

Outdoor Living

The Arts

49 In the Eye of the Beholder…

37 Book Review: Mansfield Then & Now

38 The Voices of Malabar Farm:

“Ceely”, “Phoebe” and “Louis”

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 From the Editor 35 Milliron Everyday Heroes 50 Ask the Communication Coach

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

52 The Last Word

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W hat do you do to ke ep bu sy du rin g th e wi nt er m onth s?

Watch for the next featured question online

Look for this image throughout the magazine to find out what our readers do to beat the winter blues.

Go to www.heartofohiomagazine.com to find the featured question. Submit an answer and it may be printed in a future issue of Heart of Ohio magazine.

WINTER 2010

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black wrought iron fence surrounds a plot of land decorated with rows of 206 white marble head stones on Johnson’s Island in the Sandusky Bay. These are the graves of Confederate officers who died during the Civil War at the Johnson’s Island Military Prison, a 16.5 acre compound that operated from April 1862 till September of 1865. Peering north, a huge bronze statue of a Confederate soldier keeps a ceaseless vigil over this sacred spot. The Robert Patton Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy commissioned Sir Moses Ezekiel to create the monument which was dedicated on June 8, 1910. Sir Moses Ezekiel created many monuments, including the Memorial to Confederates buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where he is also buried.

Johnson’s Island Sandusky Bay

took quick action to replace them with new markers made of Georgia marble, and all of the markers were replaced regardless of the home state of the deceased. The citizens of Georgia raised money from donations, various railroads donated the cost of transporting the markers, and the setting of the new marble headstones was completed in May of 1890. The Robert Patton Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy

The new marble headstones replaced the original wooden markers in May, 1890.

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Johnson’s Island was a Union prison used mainly for the confinement of Confederate officers. The Sandusky Bay site was chosen because the location made escape very difficult while at the same time providing easy access to supplies and food.

The prison opened in April of 1862 and continued operations until the last prisoners departed on September 5th of 1865. It is likely at least ten thousand men spent time at the facility with the average number of prisoners confined at one time probably between 2,000 and 2,500. The periods of confinement varied depending on when they arrived at the Depot. The first prisoners arriving in 1862 were exchanged after five months while those arriving after Gettysburg in July of 1863 stayed for twelve to eighteen months. Over all approximately three hundred men died from disease, injuries, or the hard winters on Lake Erie.

Twelve buildings housed the prisoners with a thirteenth serving as the prison hospital. After being decommissioned, the buildings, lumber and surplus materials were auctioned off between 1865 and 1866. Some of the buildings were moved across the thick Lake Erie ice to Marblehead and used as houses. None of the buildings remain.

There were more than 40 buildings outside the stockade that were used by the 128th Ohio Volunteer Infantry to guard the prison. The Hoffman Battalion with other companies of the 128th became the official guards of the prison.

The cemetery contains 206 graves marked with white marble headstones.

Text on two additional stone monuments indicates that 267 sets of remains were located and shows what is believed to be additional grave locations.

In September of 1889 a group touring Ohio visited the cemetery and saw the deplorable condition of the original deteriorating wooden markers. They

purchased the cemetery in March of 1905 and installed the iron fence and gates in 1912. On June 5, 1932 the Federal government took over ownership of the cemetery and the property is maintained today by the Veteran’s Administration.

In the years between 1866 and 1894 the island was used mostly for agricultural purposes. Fruit trees and crops were planted. The depot was plowed under, and a small number of private lots were sold to individuals during this time period.

1894 to 1907 saw two separate resorts spring up, both were named The Johnsons Island Pleasure Resort Company. The first burned to the ground, the second succumbed to competition

WINTER 2010

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From the lake, these iron gates open to reveal the towering bronze statue of a Confederate soldier who stands guard over the resting place of his fallen comrades.

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from Cedar Point; an expanding quarry operation from 1902 to 1908 may also have contributed to its demise.

Not until 1956 was the island considered as a possible site for vacation homes. The causeway was started in 1964 and the perimeter of the island divided for home sites. The causeway and island roads were not fully completed until 1974 when the Johnson’s Island Property Owners Association finished the work at its own expense. By 1989 a new developer had plans to create a new subdivision on the island interior at the deserted quarry site. 110 plots were planned, but many never got any further than the plans on the drawing board.

Today Johnson’s Island is a private residential area accessible by causeway.

Only the cemetery is open to the public, and there are no rest rooms or picnic areas. It is located in Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, and is a part of Marblehead Village between the Marblehead peninsula, Cedar Point, and the city of Sandusky.

To visit Johnson’s Island, exit at the SR 269 exit ramp and bear to the south (right) onto SR 269. The first intersection will be Bayshore Road. Turn east (left) onto Bayshore and travel east 5.9 miles to Gaydos drive. Turn south (right) onto WINTER 2010

This historical marker is the only sign directing visitors to the cemetery.

Gaydos and drive to the tollgate and causeway to the island. The cost is $2.00 (machine accepts quarters or dollars) for the toll. Once on the island, proceed straight after stopping at the four-way intersection. The Confederate cemetery is a short distance on the left side.

Discover more about the Johnson’s Island prison by visiting these websites:

JohnsonsIsland.com offers interesting artifacts and documents such as letters, diaries and poetry left behind by the prisoners.

Vist Archaelogy.org/Johnsonsisland to see an ongoing excavation at the site in the form of a fascinating video tour. •

Interesting People:

e i u o L h t i w h c Lun

Louie Mendez retired from teaching in May 2009, from the school system in Winter Haven, Florida. Over half of his fifty year career was spent in the Mansfield City Schools, where he was a teacher, mentor and role model for hundreds of students. I was fortunate enough to catch up with him during his recent trip back to Mansfield, and over lunch he reminisced about his long teaching career.

At age 75 he is a little grayer and a little stooped, but the smile that lights up a room and an impish sense of humor are still very much in place.

Louie Mendez grew up in El Paso, Texas, the son of a sign painter. He was a natural musician, and he was good enough to win a scholarship to Texas Western College (now the University of Texas in El Paso). Drafted into the Army his senior year he continued to play in the U.S. Army Band. After the army he finished his degree and got married.

Today, fifty years later, he still credits his wife, Patricia, with “decorating my life.”

In 1956, Louie started teaching kindergarten and music at an elementary school in El Paso. He loved working with the small children, and his eyes sparkle when he remembers those years. “They were like little sponges,” he chuckles. His first choral concert was a group of fourth Louie and his wife, Patricia, enjoy lunch with old friends and former students during a recent trip to Mansfield.

WINTER 2010

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graders scheduled to perform for a teacher’s convention.

After working tirelessly with the children on pronunciation and phonetics the concert was a success, even though many of them did not speak English.

They performed Three Blind Mice; Variations on a Louie Mendez still keeps them laughing — and editor, Diana Coon, was no exception.

Theme of Three Photo: Ellen Matthews Sightless Rodents. years, the Louis Mendez Trio has been the A friend lured Louie Mendez and his house band at the Mountain Lake Country wife to Mansfield in 1960. For the next Club in Lake Wales, Florida. twenty-nine years he taught in Mansfield During his time in Mansfield Louie City schools, including Sherman, Simpson Mendez was president of the Mansfield and Malabar. Eventually, he was the Musicians Local #159, and one of the Television Program Developer for all the founders of the Brown Bag Concerts, elementary schools, as well as leader of the which provided live music in Mansfield, reading readiness program. Loved by his Shelby, Crestline and Ashland through students, he still holds “favorite the years. teacher“status for so many who attended Today Louie and his wife live in public schools during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

Pearland, Texas, near two of their three Although he and his wife moved from daughters and two grandsons. Patricia Mansfield to Florida in 1989, Louie isn’t raises award winning Shelties and Louie is just remembered by his students. Many still occasionally making beautiful music area residents recall the Louie Mendez with the Louie Mendez Trio, and on a new Band, with Louie on piano, Kenny website where you can find a medley of Hoffman on clarinet, Bob Keys on much requested songs; enjoy the music at drums, Al Adams on bass, and Fred http:/www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_ Switzer on trumpet. They played in offsite.php?mid=2903775. area clubs and restaurants, such as, Looking back over his fifty year the Leland Hotel, Blue Dolphin and teaching career in an era when so many the Gourmet Room. During his are leaving the profession, Louie says, “I long career he also played in bands never counted the years, never counted and combos, sometimes alongside the days. I loved my job. I never put a time recognized performers. He filled in limit on it.” once in Cab Calloway’s band, played I know I speak for the countless one of the twin pianos in the Guy students whose lives were touched by this Lombardo Orchestra that carried on creative and dedicated teacher when I say, after the bandleader’s death, and “We are very glad you didn’t, and thanks toured one summer in Bob Hope’s for the memories, Mr. Mendez.” • stage band. For the last fourteen

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Overcoming Winter Blues

by Bradley K. Fox, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist with The Center for Individual & Family Services / Rehab Center For those of us who are not “winter people,” late November through late March (or mid-April) in Ohio can be a bit rough. Slick roads, shoveling driveways, scraping car windows, and trying to stay warm can be frequent headaches. Across my career as a mental health professional, I’ve worked in several states. In California, no one I knew seemed to worry too much about the “winter blues.” But in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where I’ve spent most of my working years, it is an annual challenge for many. What follows are a few ideas that may help us all make the journey into spring a little more positive. I think if we keep a few points in mind, we can often not only “survive winter,” but also even find ourselves enjoying the season after all.

Connect with the season Several of the world’s major faith groups celebrate significant events/ periods in their history during this season. For me personally, as much as I hate winter for its possible stress of driving in the snow/ice, I love — absolutely love — the period of Advent through the Octave of Christmas. The music, colors, symbolism, ceremonial rites, and tender yet powerful reminders of ultimate realities shine the dull off the mundane and revive meaning in every area of my life.

Even for those who may not feel comfortable entering a church, synagogue, or mosque to join in a particular faith tradition’s celebrations, many cultures have imbued the winter months

with meaning — and as the incredible German psychiatrist, Victor Frankl, himself a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, once wrote, meaning changes suffering. “The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it.” (Modern Man in Search of a Soul, 1933.)

Take care of yourself and of others Another way to reduce the negative impact of winter stresses is to be deliberate about doing something, even daily, to take care of us and of others.

These could be things like taking a nap when you’re tired, exercising, eating well (a challenge, but possible, even over the holidays), refusing to hide indoors with the curtains drawn, trying a new recipe, calling a friend, baking an extra batch of cookies and walking it over to your neighbor, inviting an elderly neighbor over for a card game or movie (or taking one to them), hosting a play group of kids to play in your yard or give them (safe/ fun) indoor games and having one of the parents over to help supervise (watching a child enjoy the winter weather can be infectious… but in a good way).

Of course, some extend beyond the four walls of their home during these months to serve the community more broadly, such as serving in soup kitchens, helping supply/stock shelters and food pantries, and volunteering with various religious or civic organizations.

Embrace the twin gifts of winter: Solitude/Silence I admit this one is particularly personal. Sometimes it is refreshing, deepening, to “learn to sit” whether in prayer, meditation, or simple silence and stillness. Especially during a season that we often over-fill with busy-ness, I find it meaningful (and necessary) to invest time into at least short periods of solitude and silence several times each week (though I find ‘daily’ is better). Unplug on purpose.

Take ten minutes and just watch the snowfall. Pay attention to your breath.

Don’t bother visualizing a sunny beach.

Visualize instead perfect stillness.

Cultivate a gentle, caring heart. Seek to build your capacity to access/hold stillness on the inside and you may come to see the chaos in the department store (or toy store) checkout line in a whole new way.

Deal with cabin fever Staying involved can help with “cabin fever.” But if you are snowed in for a couple of days, don’t have easy access to transportation, or really don’t want to go out on snow-covered roads (even to go across town to walk around Wal-Mart), you can still reduce cabin fever by watching TV (avoid the sad, tragic stuff), exercising, calling a friend, revive the lost art of letter writing to connect with or encourage a friend, organize your drawers/cupboards, rearrange furniture, or try that new recipe (or just make one up)! To make any of these even more fun, try them with your kids!

of others v. embrace solitude), but they do fit together. Part of the key is balance/ moderation in all things, as well as finding your personal preferences.

If, however, you find yourself sliding down a path that is not healthy, if solitude is turning into isolation, or caution in driving is turning into a full-on phobia, or disdain for over-commercialized holidays is turning into unchecked anger, or ‘blues’ are unresponsive to remedy/connection and seem to be turning into depression, it may be wise to get some extra help. If a family member or a close friend expresses

concern about how you’re doing, get coffee together to chat/reconnect and try to see what they are seeing. If you think you might need to talk to someone outside your circle of friends, or if you’re ever having thoughts of deep depression or a thought/desire to harm yourself, contact a local counseling hotline or emergency room right away. Some additional resources can be found through: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) @ 1-800-686-2646, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline @ 1-800-273-TALK. •

References http://www.healthcentral.com/adhd/adult-adhd-274795-5.html http://www.selfhelpdaily.com/overcome-winter-blues/ http://ezinearticles.com/?Overcoming-Winter-Blues&id=3495370

Know when to get extra help

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That’s why they call it the blues… and more

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by Bev Rosich, Communications Manager, Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., and Stephanie Taddeo, LISW, Mental Health Manager, Visiting Nurse Association of Mid-Ohio.

After all the gifts, parties and other holiday observances have passed and the decorations are packed away for another year, sometimes the cold reality of winter hits. We may find ourselves feeling a little “blue” or having what is referred to as the “blahs.” This is especially likely for older adults, who often have a rational fear of winter along with a decrease in anticipation of good weather and good times.

If you experience a sadder than usual mood as the seasons change, you should first determine if the feelings are merely the “blues” or something more serious, such as depression, grief or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). As days get shorter, many people experience changes in moods and behavior, feelings of exhaustion and most of all, feeling down from the lack of sunlight.

As daylight diminishes at earlier hours, millions of people suffer from a mild case of winter depression or winter blues. This wintertime depression can last for a few days or through the whole winter season.

In some cases, people can’t function normally without seeking medical and psychological help to cope with SAD. There are changes anyone can make to combat the winter blues. Winter brings colors associated with sadness such as blue and gray, which can make your home feel cold, empty and depressing. To uplift your spirits, think about decorating your home in colors reflecting the sun – the warm colors of red, yellow, orange. These colors help us imagine images of fire and heat and feelings of warmth and happiness. They also help fight depression, encourage activity, escalate body metabolism and stimulate your mind, according to some sources. You don’t need to redo your home — just add accessories such as colored candles, pillows, or flowers.

Other things that can affect an older adult’s winter mood can be the fear of

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WINTER 2010

winter driving and an exacerbation of health problems. Even if a driver does fine in good conditions, icy roads bring different challenges and can lead to social isolation.

Medical problems, such as shortness of breath, are made worse by frigid temperatures and can make going out difficult as well.

If the winter blues do not diminish or go away with the increase in daylight hours, then you or your loved one may be suffering from clinical depression. The signs are a persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood and loss of pleasure and interest in onceenjoyable activities (such as, not looking forward to everyday activities like watching a favorite show, sewing, doing puzzles, etc.).

Older adults encounter certain obstacles when accessing help. Possible barriers include the stigma coming from a place or time (generation) that depression doesn’t exist. People were taught to ‘pull yourself up by the boot straps’ and you don’t ‘air your dirty laundry.’ Older adults may not have a hope for recovery. Perhaps their friends are gone and they think, ‘I’m the only one left behind’.

The good news is HOPE AND HELP IS HERE. It is estimated over 70% of people recover with treatment. Although taking medication alone or participating in counseling alone are effective means of treating depression, studies show doing both has the best results. Help for suspected depression can be found by contacting your doctor, local mental health agency or board, or pastor.

So, don’t let the winter blues keep you down. Take time to listen to music, read a book, write in a journal, play with a pet, pray/meditate, go to church, exercise or whatever else may help you stay active and keep positive. WINTER DOESN’T LAST FOREVER… the blues don’t need to either! •

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Healthy Resolutions for the Whole Year

by James Twedt, Senior Program Director, Mansfield Area YMCA

Take Small Steps To make goals more attainable come up with small goals. Accomplishing the smaller goals will leave you with more immediate feeling of success. If your goals are too large, you may get caught up in them and feel disappointed when you do not see immediate results. Helpful tip: Rather than saying “I will exercise more,” try “I will walk on Tuesdays and Thursdays and go to the Y on Mondays and Fridays.”

Give your goals time. Most experts agree that it takes about 21 days to create a habit

and six months for it to actually become a part of your daily life. All resolutions should be perceived as positive changes that will help you reach optimal health and well-being.

Be Realistic Plan to workout at times when it is convenient for you. If you are not a

CARE LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

morning person, do not plan to workout early in the morning or you’ll just be setting yourself up for failure. Set your goals at reasonable heights so that you can reach them one by one without feeling overwhelmed. The Mansfield YMCA offers a computerized fitness trainer, FitLinxx that helps you progress and achieve your fitness goals.

Anticipate Roadblocks and Reward Yourself for Successes

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Build a Support System Get support from your family, friends and co-workers. Get professional assistance if you need to. Don’t feel that seeking help is a way of copping out.

Especially when it comes to fitness, research studies have shown that assistance from a fitness professional greatly improves people’s success rate. At the Mansfield YMCA we offer certified Personal Trainers to help you obtain your fitness goals. • WINTER 2010

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Nursing and Rehabilitation Center The Villas Assisted Living

Do not let a missed day or two throw you completely off target. Instead, do your best to get back on track as quickly as possible. It is easier to stick to your plan when you feel good about yourself. Try to find a new way to reward yourself when you meet your smaller goals.

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HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Making a Successful New Year’s Resolution

by Kerry Green, Assistant Director of Cardiovascular Services and Exercise Physiologist, MedCentral Health System Making a New Year’s resolution is easy!

In fact, more than half of Americans make at least one. Unfortunately, the majority of these resolutions fail, many within the first week. Researchers tell us that more than 80 percent of the many Americans who commit to a New Year’s resolution do not achieve their goal.

The most common New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, getting in better physical shape, saving more money and managing debt better, spending more time with family and friends and quitting smoking. Regardless of what your personal resolutions are, there is a process you can use to have success this time.

Making a successful New Year’s Resolution takes planning and commitment. The following seven-step goal setting process will clarify your decision-making and help you plan a resolution for long-term success.

1. State your goals as specifically as possible in your own words.

The key word here is “own.” This goal or resolution must be something you want to achieve. You control yourself not others, so work on self-improvement.

It is a dream until you write it down; then it becomes a goal. Find some quiet time with no distractions and develop a plan. I often encourage my rehabilitation patients to ask themselves what they want out of their remaining years and take control of their health to achieve it. You can make decisions today to impact how you are in five weeks, five months or five years.

3. Make your goals detailed, specific and measurable.

When setting your resolution goals, use observable terms such as days, miles, pounds, dollars, minutes. Always ask, “How much? By when? How often?”

Remember even intangible goals (I want to

4. Make your goals realistic and obtainable.

Think in terms of positive, progressive realization. When large goals stand before you, set intermediate or sub-goals as stepping-stones to the bigger goal. For example, if you’re returning to college at 35 years old, take it one semester at a time. At the end of each year treat yourself to a vacation as a reward for your hard work and to recharge yourself for the next year. If you have a large amount of weight to lose, set incremental goals of 15 pounds each and reward your self when you reach each goal level.

5. Have deadlines.

Deadlines are the foundation of commitment. Why do you think the government makes sure all tax-paying Americans know the date April 15? Over the decades I have always looked forward to the challenge of racing two of the most competitive marathons in the world, Boston (third Monday in April) and New York City ( first Sunday in November). So my training is set many months in advance to peak for those days. For 2009 I have already decided to skip Boston to run the scenic Big Sur Marathon on April 26. So whether you want to train for a race, lose weight or quit smoking, pick a date and go for it! By this time next year you will be a year older, so it won’t be any easier.

6. Think through all possible ways to accomplish your goals.

Consider the consequences of each solution and develop a strategy for success. For example, if a person decides on Dec. 31 to start exercising to lose weight and improve fitness, here are some possible strategies: • Join a fitness center.

• Skip television in the evening to work out.

• H ire a personal trainer for guidance and motivation.

• Purchase home exercise equipment.

• Get up early in the morning and walk or run in the neighborhood.

Think about how your possible strategies fit into your family life, work schedule and personal time. You need to address these issues to develop a successful plan.

7. Evaluate your progress and make changes as needed.

On a monthly or quarterly basis fine-tune your goals and analyze your strengths and weaknesses. As a 17 time participant in the Boston Marathon I learned early that my training rarely goes perfectly in the months leading up to race day. In good years my training would run ahead of schedule and I would have to make my workouts tougher than originally planned.

In other years, when I was slowed by injury, I reduced my mileage schedule for a few weeks and adjusted my goal time accordingly. It is important to review your progress on a regular basis and make necessary changes to achieve your goal.

Regardless of your goal, this sevenstep process can guide you to a successful New Year’s Resolution. Whether your goal is to lose weight, quit smoking, start back to school, improve communication with your spouse, build a new home or start a regular fitness program, it is your goal, so it is important. With planning and effort you can achieve it!

On behalf of the staff at the MedCentral Health & Fitness Center, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year! Let us know how we may help you with your health and fitness goals in 2009 by calling 419-526-8900. •

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2. Write your goals down.

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I have many fond childhood memories of summers growing up in North Central Ohio. Swimming in our backyard pool, chasing the blinking lights of fireflies, exciting days spent at Cedar Point, and the yearly family vacation to Lake Erie.

My grandparents owned a boathouse on the lake where my grandfather housed his beloved Lyman boat and all of his tackle for fishing. Our family would pack up the station wagon every summer and head up to Lake Erie where my parents, three brothers, and I would all squeeze into a little cottage at Gem Beach. We would spend the week fishing with Grandpa, playing at the beach, and sleeping with LOTS of sand in our bunk beds!! My brothers must have been just as fond of those trips as I was, because all of them currently own their own places close to Marblehead, where they have raised their children on the waters of Lake Erie fishing, jet skiing, and boating.

Owning a summer home at Lake Erie is very popular with many North Central Ohioans. They have found a place of refuge in the towns of Sandusky, Vermillion, Huron, Marblehead, and Catawba Island. It is fairly easy to walk the beaches in these areas or grab a perch dinner at one of the many family-owned eateries and spot a familiar face from the Mansfield area. Many of my friends and clients who have purchased summer homes, or rent a home with their own families, say they can feel the stress leave their bodies as they head out of town and get closer to the water!

Over the years, the designers on my staff and I have had the opportunity to help many of our clients decorate their summer getaways. Comfortable furniture and sleeper sofas for additional guests are generally a must, along with water themed decorum featuring sailboats, shells, and tropical colors. Recently, however, I received a request to decorate a client’s summer haven with a much different theme. The condominium, located at Mariner’s Village in the Sawmill Creek Lodge and Resort, was decorated in a simple, cottage theme when the owners purchased it this past winter. Their request was to turn the multi-level environment into an upscale, contemporary loft.

While the request might seem odd for a condo on Lake Erie, it fit perfectly for the owners. When they are not relaxing playing golf at the challenging Sawmill Golf Course or navigating their boat out of the marina onto the waters of the lake, the condo owners are traveling to exotic places around the world. They were eager to have an environment that would allow them to bring home and display their many treasures from their travels to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They also desired a space that reflected the look of a metropolitan loft, much like the ones their children inhabit where they live in Chicago and New York. The current wall color of the condo fit perfectly into our transformation plan, as did most of the recently updated kitchen. New stainless steel appliances, a few strategically painted accent walls, new carpet, and updated window treatments quickly prepared the dwelling for the contemporary change that was about to take place.

There are many interpretations of the term, “contemporary decorating.” What generally comes to mind for most people is a stark, simple environment that houses uncomfortable looking furniture with little accessories. European designers have a very specific, purist direction they take with contemporary decorating. American designers have a broader definition of the term. They have “softened” the contemporary design through clean-lined upholstered furniture and “warmed” the look with color, texture, and pattern. It is a style that fits well for homeowners who enjoy a more modern look but want to live comfortably in their rooms.

Pictured below are the living room, dining room, and bedroom of the condominium before redecorating. www.heartofohiomagazine.com WINTER 2010

21

was chosen to create the owner’s unique environment.

“Now that summer is over and our travel schedule picks back up,” stated the new condo owners, “we’re looking forward to bringing back all of our collected trinkets and treasures to a place that looks globally inspired on the inside and locally inspired by the waters of Lake Erie on the outside.” •

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We achieved the softer contemporary look of the Sawmill condo by choosing upholstered furniture from Norwalk Custom Order Furniture in colorful, textured fabrics and leathers that were paired with bolder, updated patterns on pillows and dining chairs. Tables and accent chests reflected an Asian flare, and

22

lighting was strategically chosen to add the urban loft look. Animal print carpet, lighted zebra striped pedestals, and cow hair on hide barstools added the element of surprise often found in contemporary design. Sleek chocolate draperies found in the downstairs area added a bold backdrop for each furniture piece that

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Keeping Score Collecting Memories and More!

Ted Williams and Ted Patterson, September 1972

Larry Siegfried after a Shelby High School tournament basketball game in Marion.

After high school, Ted moved on to the University of Dayton where he majored in communications arts and worked at the university radio station as Sports Director.

While at Dayton Ted put together a project called, “The Golden Voices of Sports,” which was a compilation of his written words and interviews he did with the greats of that time in sports casting; names like Vin Scully, Harry Caray, Mel Allen, Jimmy Dudley and Ernie Harwell.

After that it was on to Miami University in Oxford, where he served as a graduate assistant instructor and the play-by-play voice of the then “Redskins”

of the Mid-American Conference. Those were the years when Bo Schembechler was coaching football there and Tates Locke was the basketball coach.

So, in 1968, Ted had a Masters Degree from Miami of Ohio but no job until he sent his thesis and audio tapes to Armed Forces Radio. They liked all that they read and heard and ordered young Mr. Patterson to report to the Pentagon, where he stayed for two years broadcasting sports to our troops all over the world.

During that time he met a young British girl by the name of Diana Gillete, who was working at the World Bank on a two year visa. They married and, after his discharge from the Army, Ted began a job

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Are you among the legion of adult sports fans who, as youngsters, collected baseball cards as much for the bubble gum, that chewed as though it was made of the same material as the cards themselves, as for the memories they would someday represent? Include me in that group, as well as among those who didn’t take very good care of those collectibles after buying them.

Ted Patterson was not like most of the rest of us. You wouldn’t find an original, 1954 Larry Doby card stuck in the spokes of his bicycle. More likely, it was covered in plastic wrap and placed in the dark warmth of his sock drawer.

Ted was born and raised in Mansfield and spent all 12 of his grade school, junior high and high school years at St. Peters.

His first memories of sports collecting were of buying Bowman Bubble Gum cards at Paul’s Friendly on Lexington Ave., or Shaw-Ott Drug on Cline Ave. As a Spartan freshman, Ted remembers having to write his autobiography which he titled, SO THEN, SO NOW, SO WHAT, and in the last chapter he wrote about what he hoped to become in the future. He said he would love to be a Major League baseball player but, since that dream was fairly far fetched, Ted said he would settle for just “being around the games” he loved. Well, that prediction came true as Ted has been around professional sports for 45 years.

Ted became serious about collecting sports cards and autographs in his high school years. His first autograph of a ‘famous” athlete was Bob Feller, who came to Mansfield for a speaking engagement in the late 50’s. The first “on the scene” autograph was that of the late

with

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Ted’s Tips for Collectors

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

For those of you who have, or are putting together, a sports memorabilia collection of your own, with the hope of keeping the items in good enough condition to preserve their future value, here are a few tips from Ted Patterson: ■ First, collect because you love the game (s) they represent, not just because they could some day become valuable. That will likely ensure that you’ll automatically take better care of the items.

■ It’s more difficult, by far, to get “free” autographs of professional sports stars these days. If you can’t get to the games themselves and take your chances with the players, send the items you would like autographed to the teams they play for, and request that their P.R. person have them signed. If they can’t be mailed back, you may have to pick them up yourself.

Remember, anytime you put anything in the mail and out of your control, you may not get it back.

■ Keep your cards in plastic casings to prevent the corners from becoming frayed and bent.

■ Store them out of the sunlight and humidity.

■ Make a list of what you have, as well as when and where you got the items, and keep that list where you can get your hands on it.

■ Make a list of reputable sports memorabilia dealers and go to them for trading or sales advice.

hunt in the real world. It wasn’t long before he was able to land a spot as the ghost writer and producer of Curt Gowdy’s (yes THE Curt) Gowdy daily radio show for NBC. All the while, through college, the Army and work, Ted was continuing to build his sports memorabilia collection.

Two years later, in 1973, Ted was hired by WBAL Radio in Baltimore to host an Orioles’ talk show and has remained a resident of that Maryland

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(Top) Indians items, including Ray Fosse’s uniform (Above) Orioles memorabilia

city ever since. His professional sports casting career blossomed; he won 3 Maryland “Sportscaster of the Year” awards, as well as numerous other broadcasting accolades.

For 14 years Ted was the voice of Navy’s football and basketball teams, while continuing to do pre and post game shows for Baltimore’s pro baseball and football teams. His access to the athletes as a sportscaster certainly didn’t hurt his ability to get autographs for his growing treasure trove of sports cards, uniforms and other items; making them all the more valuable.

In the mid seventies Ted became a friend of Brooks Robinson, the Orioles’ third baseman and over the years was able, through the graciousness of the Hall of Famer, to build a valuable collection of his hats, uniforms and cards. In fact, if you visited Patterson’s home, as I have, you would find a variety of sports shrines to individual players. For instance, he has the uniform that former Indian catcher, Ray Fosse, was wearing in the 1970 All-Star game when Pete Rose collided with him at home plate.

There was an explosion of baseball card collecting in 1980 because that was the year when Topps lost its suit to be the exclusive source for Major League baseball cards. When that happened collectors were given the choice to buy Donrus, Fleer and Upper Deck, as well as Topps cards.

While the choices expanded, the value of cards overall decreased due to the flooding of the market.

But Ted’s collecting eye was on much more than just trading cards. He was buying or trading for things like, ad pieces that showed stars of the day or Ty

Cobb peddling products — especially tobacco. Those types of collectibles have continued to skyrocket in value and thus have assured Ted of never having to experience loss of sleep due to worrying whether the Social Security well will run dry. He can just sell off one of his numerous Mickey Mantle rookie cards to more than make up the difference.

For the serious collector of sports memorabilia parting with almost any item is a very emotional experience.

Every baseball, uniform and autographed trading card is part of their family... unless it’s a duplicate and, even then, it’s tough to get rid of even the most recent acquisitions.

Ted is spending more time than ever with his collection these days. His wife, Diana, passed away after a long illness in February 2008, and his daughter and son are grown and gone. Ted retired as a day-to-day sportscaster but still covers some Raven games for ESPN Radio. He gets back to Ohio a few times a year to visit his mother and sister in Cleveland and usually makes it to Mansfield, too.

Since Ted also has a keen interest in the history of his hometown, when he’s back he’ll often stop by the City News or the Coney Island Diner on North Main Street with the hope, I’m sure, of running into some of his old St. Peter’s gang. If you happen to recognize him, ask him if he’s brought any of his sports collection with him. The trunk of his car usually is full of scrapbooks, college yearbooks and game day programs and, if you ask him, he might even show them to you. But be polite because they’re old and part of his family. •

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Ted and Brooks Robinson

Mike Greene’s voice and face have been familiar to the sports fans of North Central Ohio for decades now.

He did play-by-play for hundreds of high school and college football and basketball games over the years and still does selected Ashland University football games on television. He also hosted a popular SportsTalk show on WMFD-TV for a dozen years.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach and Ted

WINTER 2010

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A celebration

a e y 100

St. Peter’s Catholic Church

ars in the making

Photo by Gunther Meisse, Jr. of Meisse Productions.

The year of 2011 is a year of celebration for St. Peter’s Catholic Church. It is the centennial year of the placing of the cornerstone and it is a time to look back, to remember, and to commemorate the occasion.

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May 14, 1911 dawned sunny and mild; a beautiful spring day in Mansfield, Ohio.

It was a perfect day to place the cornerstone in its proper position on the southeast corner of the soon to be constructed St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

The Sunday afternoon ceremony was conducted by the Right Reverend John P. Farrelly; the box in the cornerstone contained historical documents and copies of the Daily Press of Mansfield.

By the time the cornerstone was placed, St. Peter’s Parish was already 67 years old. When it was established in 1844, the church had no property, building, or permanent pastor, but it was a parish. In 1847, the Bishop of Cleveland bought the first property and church building, but it was not until 1860 that a permanent pastor was assigned to Mansfield.

The first Mass was conducted during the construction in the basement of the building on September 12th, 1911. Work continued and the building was completed in 1915. The formal dedication of the church took place on Sunday, September 16, 1917, with a celebration that boasted a parade from downtown Mansfield, which included the Knights of Columbus and many parishioners.

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Story discussing the laying of the cornerstone from the May 15, 1911 edition of The Mansfield News.

A crowd gathered to witness the laying of the cornerstone on May 14, 1911.

four major scenes from the life of Peter, the faces of parishioners and workers were used as models. Directly over the altar, a painting of “Christ the King” features John Bernat’s own likeness.

Mr. Bernat and his wife, Mary, relocated their family to Mansfield in 1944. While working on the paintings in St. Peter’s, he also taught art and founded the Mansfield Fine Arts Guild. During this time, Mary Bernat, a sculptress in her own right, carved the 14 Stations of the Cross from Philippine mahogany, which remain in the church today. The work was completed and the scaffolding removed from the church on November 9, 1945. After the completion of the work and the return of our men and women from military service, The cornerstone of St. Peter’s Grade School was laid on March 20, 1927.

St. Peter’s High School under construction in 1956. The old high school is on the right.

the parish century celebration took place on November 3, 1946. The Bernat family remained in Mansfield, teaching and enriching the art community until 1948, when they moved to California.

John Bernat returned to Mansfield in the summer of 1962, for a reunion with old friends and a reception at the Fine Arts Guild. He died in 1964, his wife, Mary, in 2007. August 26, 2008, the remaining family was invited by the church to attend a reception and view the still beautiful murals painted by John, and the Stations of the Cross carved by Mary.

Through the years there have been many events in the parish: ■ In 1949, the parish was divided and St. Mary’s, on the east side of the city, was established.

■ The ground breaking for the new high school building was in 1956.

■ In 1969, the parish was again divided and Resurrection Parish, south of the city, came into being.

■ In 1971, the Sisters of St. Francis of Joliet, Illinois, celebrated 100 years of service to the parish. Two sisters remain at St. Peters today; Sister Paula and Sister Bernard Marie.

■ In 1988, the childcare center opened.

■ On Thanksgiving Day 1991, a church fire, deliberately started by a young boy, was discovered. While investigating the young man’s hasty departure from the north door of the church, Father Joseph Szybka found smoke pouring from the servers’ sacristy and called the fire department. The fire was confined, but the damages were still roughly $176,000. Mass was held in the high school auditorium until repairs were completed in June 1992.

■ The ground breaking for the Franciscan Activity Center took place in 1998.

■ An ice storm in 2005, crippled the city. The high school gymnasium became a shelter and the cafeteria served meals to residents who were without utilities.

Church archivist, Sister Paula Bingert, provided the details for this article. Since her arrival at the parish in 1976, she has seen many changes. In addition to the physical changes in the parish, Sister Paula has seen changes in attitudes and

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The 100th anniversary of the founding of the parish was in 1944, but Msgr.

Rupert Goebel felt any celebration should be postponed until our men and women of the military returned home. Instead, it was determined that the church needed to be refurbished and redecorated. John Bernat, a Hungarian ecclesiastical artist, was commissioned to paint the murals in the church.

On January 25, 1944, the scaffolding was erected and the work began. Bernat and a crew of artisans and volunteers did life size charcoal sketches on plain brown wrapping paper in the basement of the church, then transferred them to the ceilings and walls. The main circular piece of art in the transept dome portrays

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attendance as well. “Over the years, we have had a decline in attendance. I think many churches have. But, I’ve also seen an increase in volunteerism, an increased dedication to feeding the poor, and to supporting the school. I believe the core membership is solid,” she said.

One hundred years later, the St. Peter’s steeples still grace the skyline of downtown Mansfield. The parish is proud to operate an outstanding school system that prepares students for higher education; 98% of St. Peter’s students graduate, and 95% of those young people go on to college. There are 1831 households, 3799 parishioners, who call St. Peter’s their church home. The year 2011 not only marks the 100th year of the laying of the church cornerstone, but the 140th anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters in the parish, and the 150th year of the Mansfield Catholic Cemetery; a remarkable history of service to our community.

Plans for the Centennial Celebration in May continue and will include ice cream socials, a centennial art show, a concert and parade. The beautiful watercolor of the twin steeples has become the symbol for the celebration. It was painted by Catherine Novak, a St. Peter’s student who graduated in 2010, and it graces the events’ printed materials. For a complete event calendar, visit the website at: www.mansfieldstpeters.org. •

Watercolor by Catherine Novak, a 2010 graduate of St. Peter’s High School

The church experienced great damage due to a fire on November 28, 1991.

(Left) Some of the fire damage. (Middle) Restoration work being done in 1992.

(Right) A restored window being replaced in June, 1992.

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Connecting the

Past to the Future

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America’s Railroads Every time you cross a railroad track you are crossing the silver line that connects America, and has since the 1800’s.

The earliest transportation in Crawford County can be traced back to canoes on the Sandusky River by the Native Americans. Ohio’s first statewide canal water way transportation system was surveyed, designed and built by the state of Ohio during the 1820’s, eventually providing nearly 1,000 miles of water canals. Traveling from Cleveland to Portsmouth on the canals would have taken approximately 80 hours, nearly three and a half days. The American Indian trails also provided a way for horse transportation and walking travel, the earliest of which was the Scioto Trail.

As the country continued to grow, two-rail railroads began their move into the transportation arena in Ohio during the 1830’s. From this point forward the railroads became the fastest and most dependable means of transportation of the day for freight, and passengers, as well.

During the summer of 1850, the construction of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railroad (subsequently known as, the New York Central Lines) made its way into Crest Line. The name became one word, Crestline, when the first post office came to town. Crestline became a town because the developing railroads needed workers. The promise of employment opportunities brought men and their families to this area and, in response, new businesses sprang up to supply goods and services to this burgeoning population.

Railroads created a new culture for people in Crestline and for the entire mid west. Most all railroads in the steam

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locomotive days had water and coal facilities approximately every 100 miles, to replenish needed supplies and provide repairs as necessary. This encouraged the growth of towns along the lines to provide services for a business that brought with it a sense of time and “by the book” rules necessary to keep the trains running on schedule. The demand for products and technologies required new skills, creating jobs for millwrights, pipe fitters, telecommunications and steel workers. Time was money; work had to be done right and it had to be done right now. These standards were ingrained in the workers, and five generations later are still a part of the Midwest work ethic and business DNA.

Crestline historian, Dr. Ernest G. Hesser, says, “Throughout past years of railway service the inhabitants of Crestline have accepted the railroads as a way of life and progress. Many families in the community have served the railroad for three and four generations, and in some cases five generations, where the great grandfathers helped build the road bed for the Ohio & Penna. Ry., whose first train came into Crestline from the east on April 11, 1853.”

During the early 1900’s, the “Big Four” railroads all traveled through Crawford County. The New York Central, the Erie Railroad, the B &O Railroad, and the Pennsylvania Railroad carried freight and passengers in every direction. Companies

Ohio cities and surrounding states.

Increasing oil costs have once again changed the transportation dynamic, and moving freight by rail has regained some ground in a struggling economy. Crestline actively pursues the possibility of having a train stop in what was once the “Pennsylvania Railroad Division Point and Terminal” of Crawford County. The

generations’ long story of the railroad is not anywhere near a final chapter; perhaps this saga will come full circle and Crestline will once again see the big trains pulling into the station. • Information submitted by Ron Widman, train enthusiast, Columbus, Ohio, and John Brown, Mansfield, Ohio.

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

could now provide accommodations to passengers from basic seating to opulent train cars, and opened the state and the entire country to travel.

Crestline was the division point of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Eastern and Fort Wayne divisions, and the long railroad yards spread out over Crestline to the length of nearly 3 miles. Locomotive roundhouse mechanics, engine crews, and other essential employees were needed to run the steam locomotive repair and service shops located there. These workers were among the most skilled workers in the communities, with the railroad engineer being held in highest regard for his technologic mastery.

Mechanical and management innovations built the railroad age and laid the groundwork for the automotive, electrical and computer technologies that followed.

Railway stations and office structures were often majestic. Two can still be seen, one in Galion and one in Bucyrus, which is presently being restored to its’ former grandeur. In spite of the beautiful structures competition was fierce and budgets were tight. The names of railroads changed often; mergers were common, as companies joined forces to form larger railroad operating systems and reap the benefits of efficiencies of scale.

By the early 1900s, you could travel to almost any city at any hour of the day in the Buckeye state by rail; however, in every decade since 1945, the number of passenger trains in service has decreased by 50%. During the mid 1900’s, construction of turnpikes and freeways quickly created competition for freight budgets with trucks and automobiles.

Airlines became a faster means of moving the mail, a lucrative contract that had for so many years been exclusive to the railroads. Air travel became more convenient and affordable, and a population of business and personal travelers eager for a new mobility embraced it. Soon the railroad companies were consolidating for a new reason… survival.

Today the Ohio Department of Transportation, along with the Ohio Rail Development Commission, is busy with efforts to bring passenger service back to

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“At our house, we do an indoor project every winter to give us something to look forward to in the evenings. Every night after work we put in a minimu m of one hour on our remodeling project, and in two more weeks we will have redone an entire half bath.”

Donna Willia ms Mount Gilead

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FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1929

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“After a hectic su mmer, I don’t have to do anything to enjoy the winter. I love snuggling in, and by the time spring gets here I’m ready for another active su mmer. I guess I like to hibernate.”

Diana Linn Mansfield

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Our Fifth-Grade Hero

Shea Benson

Shea, Red Dog, Big Guy, Shea-Shea — whatever name you use — if you start speaking to Shea Benson, an 11-year old from Mount Gilead, you will meet a strong and fun-loving hero. He meets his own problems and all of life with courage.

His challenges are big — he stutters.

Shea is an athletic fifth-grader with great ball skills. He plays football, basketball, baseball, soccer and tennis. In school he is bright and learns quickly.

Sports come easily to him.

Shea is our hero because he boldly faces the constant challenges of his stuttering. His brain interrupts a natural flow of speech. Listeners often don’t know what to do; they act embarrassed and turn away before he finishes his sentence.

Day after day he is challenged to get teachers, parents, coaches and friends to understand what he is saying. With great effort he makes himself understood. With education, practice and effort he is learning techniques to smooth his labored words.

Shea is our hero for another reason.

He intuitively seems to know how hard he has to work to smooth his speech.

“You have no idea how much focus and energy fluent, smooth speech takes when a person has a stutter,” said Shea’s

Irv Wollman, Shea’s speech therapist, shares a love of sports with Shea. They had great seats in the second row near the 50-yard line and cheered the Buckeyes to the exciting victory over Penn State.

Shea played on the defensive line for Mount Gilead Youth Football last season.

■ The Stuttering Foundation of America estimates more than three million Americans stutter, or approximately one percent of the population. Approximately five percent of all children go through a period of stuttering that lasts six months or more. One percent of all children who stutter are burdened with a life-long stuttering issue.

■ Research now confirms that most stuttering is based in the brain, in genetics and neurophysiology.

■ Bumpy, halting, labored speech is the obvious part of what people who stutter have to endure. “The major issue is the way the speaker reacts to the disruptions that are more problematic,” says disfluency specialist J. Scott Yaruss, PhD, CC-SP, BRS-FD, ASHA Fellow from Pittsburg Children’s Hospital.

“Those reactions can range from intense struggle and tensing in addition to increased levels of fear and frustration that often render the speaker with feelings of shame, discomfort and embarrassment . . . which may lead to significant impacts in all areas of a person’s life… vocational, academic and social domains.”

WINTER 2010

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

first speech therapist. “And simultaneously he must be figuring out the words he wants to say.”

Shea bravely faces up to his personal hurdles and willingly accepts guidance.

For example, he tolerates long drives to Cincinnati for speech therapy with Irv Wollman, M.A., CC-SP., BRFS, one of the country’s very few board-recognized stuttering specialists.

In the summer Shea gave up football for a week and attended Camp Our Time in New York State. It is a new, groundbreaking camp for stutterers and is the first of its kind. Shea never hesitated.

With excitement he left home for the sleep-away camp and all the new people.

“The camp was important for Shea,” said his mom, Andrea Benson. At Camp Our Time Shea quickly felt like part of the crowd, instead of alone within it. He gained valuable friendships, validation, self-esteem and encouragement.

Mrs. Benson continued, “It is a miracle and blessing that Shea has enormous fortitude and inner strength. People who stutter are often subject to bullying and discrimination. Simple things like introducing himself can be intimidating.”

“Every morning as they leave for school I tell Shea and his sisters and brother to ‘Be the best you that you can be,’ said Mrs. Benson.

Shea actively and consciously works at “being his best” over and over again. Every time he speaks he encourages others to be honest and open about their own limitations and problems. He is our hero. •

35

Things are happening in Morrow County!

Come hear

The Ohio State University’s

Coach Jim Tressel speak about

Tuesday March 15, 2011

CARDINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Hospice

of Morrow County

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Serving Morrow County & All Surrounding Areas

36

Family, Faith, Fitness, Football.

For tickets and information www.hospicemorrowcounty.org 419.946.9822 or 419.947.2100 www.ymcamorrow.org

“My husband built me a greenhouse as his su mmer project, and I a m planting seeds for my garden right now.”

Sue B. Loudonville

WINTER 2010

Charles P. Hahn, CFP® Cleveland Financial Group Affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp.

Member SIPC 108 North Main Street, Rear Building, Mansfield, Ohio 44902 Tel. 419.522.4333 • Fax 419.522.3303 • chuck.hahn@lfg.com CRN201005-2042432

THE ARTS

book review

by Katy Davis , Manager, Main Street Books

Mansfield Then & Now Timothy Brian McKee once again fleshes out the story told by the images. The text itself, then, becomes illustration — in one sense of the word — for the changes that have occurred in our 200 years of history.

Mansfield Then & Now is the third in a series of books about Mansfield produced by McKee in conjunction with Arcadia Publishing. As residents of towns which do not have a champion of their history will tell you, we are blessed to have someone to provide this documentation. In truth, we have had a series of people — for Mr. McKee is the most recent in a line of local historians (who can forget Virgil Stanfield’s contribution to this cause) and is, perhaps, the most notable among a current group of folks who dedicate their free time to making sure that Mansfield’s history does not slip away from us unacknowledged.

Of course, change is continuous.

Even over the short year it took to produce the book, “now” becomes “then”, as the author notes at one point.

When McKee and Sprang began their work, the “Park Place Hotel” still greeted traffic at the intersection where Park Avenue West truly becomes “downtown”.

By the time the book was sent to print, it was gone.

Whether the changes are good or bad is ultimately left in the hands of the reader. And they are questions worthy of debate. It is hard to have a conversation about change in Mansfield in which someone does not bemoan the tearing down of the Leland Hotel or the spectacular Courthouse which once graced downtown. I have been told that, in retrospect, some of the biggest

proponents of the “cut-through” on the Square now see it as a shortsighted decision made foolishly in the name of “progress”. In light of this, a book like McKee’s becomes both study in history and a cautionary tale. Each generation must strike its own bargain between progress and nostalgia. We are lucky to have such a wealth of information in our hands to inform those decisions. •

Kathryn (Katy) Davis is a life-long resident of Mansfield. She has written and edited articles and books for numerous publications. Presently, she is the Manager of Main Street Books in downtown Mansfield.

WINTER 2010

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

When Timothy Brian McKee called Arcadia Publishing about authoring a third book in his series on historic Mansfield, he was met with a degree of skepticism. McKee was interested in creating what is known as a “Then & Now” book — a comparison of the way it looks today Mansfield “the way it was” with. The representative from Arcadia confided that “Then & Now” books have become known as “parking lot books”, because, too often, the buildings of interest have been torn down and turned into, well, parking lots. That would make for a pretty depressing book. But luckily for the author and, more importantly, for Mansfield, there are many buildings that have stood the test of time and remain as silent witnesses to the city’s growth and change.

So, with assurances that Mansfield’s “now” is more than just parking lots, and a core of Then & Now photographs that were already produced for a 2008 library exhibit, McKee and local photographer Jeff Sprang set about to produce a book that would show how the city has developed over the years. Great pains were taken to re-create “now” scenes that are true to the viewpoint of the originals.

From stopping traffic, to borrowing cherry-pickers, the author and photographer give us a remarkably faithful opportunity to compare today’s Mansfield with the Mansfield-of-old.

The authentic reproductions are accompanied by McKee’s text which is, as ever, reliably thoughtful and well-written. Informed by years of background research and a steady collecting of anecdotes and history about Mansfield and Richland County, McKee

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THE ARTS

The voices of Malabar Farm “Ceely”, “Phoebe” and “Louis”

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Mark Jordan

Mark Sebastian Jordan is adamant about the fact that he did not choose writing as a career… writing chose him.

The author of Mansfield Trilogy, Ceely, Phoebe, and his newest, Louie, was inspired by his love of history and Malabar Farm as well as a business career that left him unsatisfied.

In 1995, Mark read a book, Haunted Ohio, on local folk lore that included an abbreviated version of the Ceely Rose story. Intrigued, he spent hours poring over newspaper accounts in the John Sherman room at the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library. He realized that even Bromfield’s own version of the story in his novel, Pleasant Valley, included more fiction than fact. The much more interesting truth of the story inspired him to see it on stage, and that summer he wrote Ceely.

As is often the case, Mark’s business career took precedence and he was forced to put the play’s production on the back burner. Not until 2001, when a friend, Dan Feiertag, encouraged him to develop the work, did the play become important to him once again. Mark approached then park manager, Louie Andres, about producing and staging Ceely at Malabar Farm. The barn at Malabar provided the perfect setting to present the play, and the farm’s historical tie with the story made it come alive. In 2003, Mark produced the play in conjunction with the Mansfield Playhouse and Dan Feiertag. As technical director, Feiertag was responsible for converting the barn into a temporary theater, a role which the technical wiz has repeated in every Malabar show since.

Candy Boyd is the young actress who portrayed Ceely. Mark says, “She couldn’t have been more dedicated to the part.

She brought Ceely to life on the stage.”

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As part of the research, Mark and Candy visited Lima State Hospital, where Ceely is buried. “It is all part of ‘absorbing’ the character,” says Jordan. In later revivals, the part was played by Rhiannon Evans, who explored different aspects of the troubled girl, proving that the play could handle a range of different interpretations.

Mark originally felt Ceely was to be a stand-alone. However, being a “just in case” thinker, he dropped a line in the play about Phoebe Wise to set up the

possibility of a second story. “If there are two ghost stories in the area that are famous, it is Phoebe and Ceely. I was intrigued by both,” Mark said. By the time Ceely had been presented at Malabar in 2003 and 2004, Mark had completed Phoebe, with the research help of Malabar Farm naturalist and local historian, Brett Mitchell, who has contributed to the author’s research on all three historical dramas. Phoebe took the stage in 2005 and 2006, with Dorothy Duckworth as

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the older Phoebe, and Chevy Troxell portraying the middle years. Audiences grew, as many people who had seen Ceely returned for the second play, bringing their friends with them.

In 2009, Mark Jordan was working as a reporter for the Mount Vernon News when he decided to write the next play in what now had become, in his mind, the Mansfield Trilogy. “I realized the common thread between the two women was their connection to Bromfield. His story would be the culmination of the cycle,” said Mark.

“Louie” was ready for production by the summer of 2010. Joe Mroczkowski was cast in the hefty role of Louie Bromfield, delivering a seemingly effortless performance, while Maureen Browning played his wry spirit guide, a reappearance of Old Phoebe Wise. The play finished its first sold out season in October of 2010 at Malabar and will return in 2011. Although this is the first of the series he did not personally direct, Mark say this production was the most trouble free of the three.

What comes next? Mark says, “I am waiting for the next project to speak to me. It may be a collection of dark tales from Ohio’s past. I’m not sure just yet. I think I have one more historical story left in me, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.” Right now Mark Jordan is manager of the Hostelling International hostel at Malabar Farm and he is also busy with his writing, poetry and events supporting the publication of his newest book, an irreverent, comic mash-up of American history, 1776 & All That, published by XOXOX Press. Pudding House Press published his poetry chapbook, The Book of Jobs in 2010 as well.

The plays are a delightful evening of entertainment in the barn of this historic spread. The setting is so charming, so authentic, that you might expect to see Louie Bromfield walking the grounds as you wait for the show to begin. Jot a note on your calendar and watch for the 2011 season of Louie at historic Malabar Farm.

Information about the 2011 production of Louie will be published soon at the website www.MansfieldTrilogy.com. For more information about Malabar Farm and the many events held there visit the website at: Malabarfarm.org. •

WINTER 2010

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THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AT MANSFIELD Big Ten Quality in a Small College Setting Admissions 419.755.4317

Retired Mansfield Firefighter/Paramedic Russell Gaubatz, now living in Talkeetna, Alaska, stopped to pose with Heart of Ohio magazine at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage before boarding a plane back to Ohio for a visit with family and friends.

Take us with you!

Whether you’re vacationing, exploring or just relaxing with a cup of coffee, we would love to see you enjoying your copy of Heart of Ohio magazine.

Submit your photo, and you just might see yourself in a future issue!

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Send your photo to: editor@heartofohiomagazine.com

40

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See what you’ve been missing…

Did you miss out on earlier issues of Heart of Ohio magazine? Back issues are available in limited quantities and can be purchased at SunGraphics, Inc. Stop in today before they’re gone!

41 Longview Ave. E, Mansfield.

WINTER 2010

Our DowtnetroOwpnens Urban Ceann. 3 J

BUSINESS MATTERS

Wilson Bohannan Padlock Company A company with a 150-year lock on success century nearly two hundred employees were shipping an estimated 100,000 padlocks each year all over the world.

The company’s largest customers in the beginning were the railroads. In the early 1900’s the customer base had evolved into utilities and heavy industry.

In 1927 the company was being run by Wilson Bohannan Tway, the grandson of Wilson Bohannan, who decided it was time to relocate the company. There are several reasons why Wilson Bohannan came to this area. Marion was a railroad center and the company shipped its products by rail. Their brass padlocks at that time were cast in a mold, and the American Malleable Casting Company was in Marion. Mr. Tway, while traveling across the country on a world war one troop train, stopped to refresh in Marion.

He remembered the friendliness of the community when he was later considering where to move his lock business. Later, changing the company sales focus from the declining railroads to supplying locks to utility companiesgas, electric, water and sewer, he created the customer base that remains a large part of their current sales.

Today the company of 65 employees is owned by the sixth and seventh generations, great-greatgranddaughter Pam Smith and her daughters. Pam’s husband, Howard, has worked at Wilson Bohannan since 1973, serving as President since 1995.

Howard and Pam Smith

Touring the impeccably clean 35,000 square foot facility one is immediately taken by the amount of technology used to produce padlocks. From product design to quality control, state-of-the-art equipment keeps productivity high and materials waste at a minimum.

An ongoing conversion to natural bio-oils will mean no waste and no disposal of by products and should be completed by 2011. Bio-oils will help keep manufacturing costs down while reducing the company’s environmental footprint over all.

Wilson Bohannan has its own tool and die and machine shops. Being able to reengineer and convert machinery to

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The Wilson Bohannan Padlock Company of Marion, Ohio is 150 years old and the oldest family owned padlock company still manufacturing product in the Unites States. The company motto is, “Locks since Lincoln”. WB began modestly in a garage behind the Bohannan home in Brooklyn, New York in 1860. That was also the year Bohannan’s first lock patent was granted and the year Abraham Lincoln was elected to his first term in office.

Ultimately Wilson Bohannan held twenty lock related patents.

By 1870 the business had grown and it became necessary to move to larger quarters in Brooklyn. The plant was equipped with what was then recognized as modern machines; lathes were run by foot and stamping and drilling machines operated by the same power. Three years later steam was installed for the purpose of obtaining power for the machinery and heat for the building. In 1888 it was necessary to move once again to an even larger facility in Brooklyn.

The main building was 10,000 square feet and was four stories high and a foundry was added later. At the turn of the

WINTER 2010

41

Mr. Wilson Bohannan, founder

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

Gleaming brass locks move through various workstations.

their specific needs as well as create their own replacement parts reduces equipment down time and makes for a more efficient operation.

The management team of Randy Dawson, V.P. of Operations, Bruce Valentino, V.P. of Finance, Steve Kirk, HR Manager, Dave Kozlik, Manufacturing Manager, Craig Stone, VP of Sales and Mark Williams, VP of Engineering, is a staff of seasoned professionals who credit President Howard Smith with having the company vision and the respect for his employees that allows them to do their best work. They credit a “hybrid management style” with making the operation successful. Mark Williams appreciates the ability to make hands on management decisions on the production floor, and Bruce Valentino summed it up as the newest of the team when he said, “I brought a great deal of outside experience to the mix. I’ve seen a lot of “best practices” in my career; however, this is the first place I’ve worked where I’ve seen all those things come together in one company.”

Many of the current employees have twenty plus years with Wilson Bohannan.

The family atmosphere is evident as Howard Smith walks through the plant addressing each employee by name. He pointed out that, while technology is important to the future success and

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competitive position of the company, not one job has been lost to automation.

“When an employee retires we look at ways we may bring technology into the mix, but we have never eliminated an employee to make room for automation.”

WB is ingrained in the community and even their purchasing practices reflect the clear picture of who they are as an organization. “When we purchase materials, services or equipment we start here in the community, and then we look at the state of Ohio, then across the

country, “Mr. Smith explains.

The ongoing business plan for Wilson Bohannan seems very straightforward as described by President Howard Smith: “We are committed to remaining an American company producing an American product. This one hundred and fifty year old company and the employees are part of the American dream. We are very proud of that fact.”

To learn more about the Wilson Bohannan Company visit their website at www.padlocks.com. •

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WINTER 2010

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“Skiing keeps me sane. It’s the best exercise going and it is so much fun!”

43

A “Sign” of the Times

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

In 1997 Matt Winemiller had a good job at General Motors that paid the bills and allowed him sleep easy at night.

In his spare time he doodled caricatures and cartoon figures for his kids. “I was pretty good at recreating Sponge Bob on restaurant napkins”, Matt grins.

Once, on a lark, Matt created a big Chief Wahoo cutout that he took to work and propped up on a press. Everyone appreciated the caricature, and one particular co worker liked it so much he asked Matt to make one for him out of plywood. That was the humble beginnings of a side business that gave Matt a place to park his creative side.

In 2001 Matt was sidelined with a knee injury. He decided to make the most of his recovery time; being off work gave him time to perfect some new paint techniques and come up with some new ideas for his signs. His designs continued to evolve, and later that year he had a booth at the Bellville Street Fair where he sold more of his work.

Matt continued to perfect his drawing and painting skills, becoming well known for both. In 2004 he was approached by an acquaintance who asked if Matt could

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recreate the Ohio Stadium. This design, featuring the marching band performing “Script Ohio” on the field, was the first piece of his work that he decided to make three dimensional. Using scrap lumber, he made the upper deck stand out of the picture. It took a full eighteen hours to create the piece, but for the first time there was depth and shadow to his art work that he found exciting. That led to a multi dimensional Brutus that really caught on with Ohio State fans, and the demand for his creations grew.

In 2009 the announcement that the Ontario General Motors plant was closing hit Matt and his family hard. He knew he

had a tough decision to make. He could take his small business creating three dimensional characters and signs to the next level and make it his career, or he could uproot his family and move with his current job. Matt describes his internal battle, “I was within two weeks of the time I had to fill out the paper work to either take the buyout and stay here or move to another GM plant. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think of anything else. We didn’t want to uproot our family, but we had bills to pay like everyone else. I had prayed continuously about it, but this particular dark night I was up alone wrestling with my thoughts. I finally just said “Lord, tell me what to do”. I heard in my head, not audibly but in my mind, “I will make a way”. I knew I had my answer, and I knew I could sleep now and did,” he grins. “I filled out the paperwork, took the buyout and a business commitment was born. It was scary, but I knew in my heart that I was doing the right thing. In October we took our products to Prairie Peddler and we got slammed with more business than I thought was possible,” Matt says.

When asked where the name Spazz Monkey originated Matt laughs and says, “At the time I had a two year old son who was so energetic he was bouncing off the walls. I kept laughing at him and telling him, “You’re a little spas monkey”. Suddenly, it popped into my head that just had to be the name of the new business!”

BUSINESS MATTERS

client base, and many homes around the area are displaying their school mascot and athlete’s name in the yard. “Many schools use our signs to show team spirit and as a fund raiser for their sports programs,” Matt explained.

“Every time we show our products, people fall in love with them and have suggestions for other things we can produce. We’re all having fun, and as ‘chief doodler’ I’m having more fun than anyone,” Matt Winemiller said. • For more information, contact Matt Winemiller, Owner/Chief Doodler at 419.709.7344 or by email at matt.w@spazzmonkey.com, or visit the company’s website at www.spazzmonkey.com.

An example of the separate pieces that are adhered together to create the three-dimensional pieces.

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

The fledgling company was formed with friends Don Kaufman and Mike Woods at the very beginning, and housed in Matt’s basement and garage. “Every day we would cover everything in the house with a fine coating of black dust. Every day my poor wife would clean it up. I wasn’t real popular after a while,” he explained. Finally it became evident that in order for the business (and the marriage) to grow, it had to go someplace else.

Matt credits Jim Rosser with being a great friend and business mentor. “He has been a tremendous asset to us”, he explains. “Jim’s advice and guidance, not to mention his investment in the business, has helped us grow.

With his guidance we embarked on a mission to raise capital, and this past March we raised $420,000 in one week. That investment allowed us to move the business to a larger place and expand our product development.

At that point Kendall Dials joined us and he has been instrumental in the production here at our new site”, Matt said, “Amber Williams rounds out the artistic team, and we recently added two more production workers in Zac Banks and Rob Gray.”

Looking ahead the sky’s the limit for the emerging company. The group is working on licensing for universities and they have already finalized a deal with Ohio State. NFL and NBA licensing is in their sites for the future. Schools have proven to be a very successful part of their WINTER 2010

45

Have you taken a look at the Chamber Health Plan lately?

You’ll be glad you did.

Brian Thompson

2036 W. 4th Street • Mansfield, Ohio 44906

Nick Gerber

419-522-5158 • www.thompsonbenefits.net

MONEY MATTERS

Financial Planning Issues for Women

by Jennifer Spellman, in conjunction with Lincoln Financial Group, a division of Lincoln Financial Advisors, a registered investment advisor

Women face a number of challenges when it comes to money. On average, they earn less than men but live longer.

Women are also more likely to leave the work place for a period of time, forfeiting wages and benefits.

The result? Many women have to make ends meet with limited financial resources.

It’s no surprise, then, that a recent survey found that many women are not doing enough to plan for the future.

Time for a Reality Check Developing good financial management skills is a matter of taking time to learn the fundamentals and establish a working financial plan. For women who are juggling a variety of responsibilities, however, finding that time can be a challenge. If you’d like to have better control of your finances, here are some suggestions.

Adopt a Budget

Invest for Your Future

It’s very likely that you have several financial goals you’d like to accomplish.

So you’ll want to put money away regularly. Arranging for a direct deposit from your paycheck into your savings account is an ideal way to make your goals a top priority.

One important goal you should add to your list is to build up an “emergency fund.” Ideally, you want to have a savings account with enough money to cover three to six months’ worth of expenses.

Other goals might be saving for new furniture, a car, or the down payment on a house. If you have children, you may want to save so you can help them with their education expenses.

Investing your money wisely can help you reach your goals. You’ll want to keep some savings in low-risk investments (such as money market accounts) where the money is easily accessible. For long-term goals, consider investments that have more earning potential, such as stocks and bonds, and funds that invest in these securities.

Another smart investment move: Join a tax-deferred retirement plan if you can. It’s a smart and convenient way to invest for the future — especially if your employer matches a portion of your contributions.

Investing doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with a few basic strategies and build up your knowledge as you go. Choosing a portfolio of investments and following your progress will be a learning experience. For help, talk with a professional financial planner.

He or she can work with you to develop a plan that helps meet your needs. •

Protect Your Income Make sure you have adequate life insurance coverage, especially if your family relies on your income or you stay home to provide care for children or relatives. You may also want to consider disability income insurance to provide needed income in case you’re unable to work.

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Coming up with a budget is a key factor in taking control of your finances, especially if you’re usually out of money by the time payday rolls around. A budget doesn’t have to be about depriving yourself; it’s about seeing how you’re spending your money and deciding where to cut back.

Start by keeping a list of everything you spend for a month or two. Then, divide the list into categories, add the numbers up, and go over the results carefully. You may be shocked at how quickly “little” expenses — a gourmet coffee on the way to work every morning, a movie every Friday night — add up. And you may be pleasantly surprised at how easily you can cut back on spending and boost your savings.

Make Saving a Habit

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Visit your neighborhood office today & save $100 at closing.

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48

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WINTER 2010

In the eye of the beholder…

by Len Montgomery what should be huge trees to the size of a diminutive houseplant?

Were they dwarf varieties or were they grown from special seeds? The owner of the bonsai garden was amused by my questions but generous with information. She provided book titles and sources for starter plants and supplies, and was kind enough to provide me with a few small bonsai starter seedlings. Sadly, they were sacrificed to my inexperienced care.

The information the friendly gardener provided was enough to keep me busy all that year. I considered it a success if a tree survived my clumsy efforts at following the rules of bonsai care, e.g., how to plant, trim, water, feed and protect these delicate little miracles. I knew so little of bonsai care; I assumed delicate bonsai trees could only survive indoors. In my ignorance, I actually tried to make a bonsai from a poison ivy plant discovered at the base of a tree! My neighbor advised me of the itchy personal problem I was about to be create.

That was just the first of many mistakes that bring smiles, and some sadness, for the trees I saved or lost. In my quest for the “perfect” bonsai, I have discovered which species of trees I actually enjoy looking at and working with. I am confident enough now to leave most of my little trees outside all year. I bring one in occasionally for a short stint as a centerpiece, and then return it to the outdoors. In the winter, I simply move them all to a semi-protected area like an unheated garage, under a tree or overhang. I partially cover them with leaves, leaving about six to eight inches of the tree exposed. The next spring, I simply uncover my beautiful bonsai trees, prune their roots, repot them and give them a trim. Then, I arrange them on our deck

and around the yard to enjoy them for another season.

For me, practicing the art of bonsai is very therapeutic and provides an esthetically satisfying experience every moment I spend working with them. They satisfy me in a way only a beautiful bonsai can; their form and beauty pleases the artist in me. They look old and wise somehow, and applying the secrets for making them look that way is fulfilling.

Using scarred and debarked areas on the trunk I create jin (an area debarked and treated to look scarred, sun bleached and very old) and shari (a broken splintered branch or limb, debarked and treated to appear very old and conferring a mature look to the whole tree). The challenge and satisfaction of training these wonders is gratifying and therapeutic. I recommend bonsai to anyone with a love for beauty and grace in nature.

To see and learn about bonsai Kingwood Center, in Mansfield, is an excellent place to start. I also suggest the Cleveland Botanical Garden at University Circle, in Cleveland; Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio; Dawes Arboretum near Newark, Ohio and, of course, The National Arboretum in Washington D.C. If you get a chance, don’t miss the wonderful Brooklyn Botanical Garden in New York City.

For a wealth of information on the subject visit: Evergreengardenworks.com. • Len Montgomery is available for advice and instruction at lenmontgomery@hotmail.com WINTER 2010

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

In the early part of 2006, my wife and I moved from Lakewood (a suburb west of Cleveland) to Mansfield to be nearer to our grandchildren. The move required us to pack many items ourselves for their protection, among them my collection of delicate bonsai trees in fragile ceramic containers. The challenge was to get them to our new home in Mansfield, undamaged, then find an appropriate place to display them. As I sited each one of my bonsai trees in shady spots in the new backyard, memories of how I first learned the art of bonsai bubbled up in my mind.

The beginnings of the art of bonsai seem to have been in China, transplanted to Japan perhaps via trade routes and/or after conquests and invasions. Here is where my story of discovery began.

One of the many jobs I had after discharge from military duty was reading meters for the East Ohio Gas Company. I loved the job, working alone, being outside.

In those days we walked our meter reading routes through yards, jumping over hedges and fences; across manicured lawns with KEEP OFF THE GRASS signs and flimsy string fences in search of the big green meters. One day, while on a new route, I discovered a beautiful oriental garden with the most attractive little trees. I had never seen such beautiful plants! It was love at first sight. While trudging through countless yards all over Cuyahoga County I had seen unique gardens, trees and plants; now I saw at least 50 or more beautiful examples of bonsai specimens. There were deciduous trees, small oaks, pines, elms, firs, maples, boxwoods, hollies, junipers and yews. Everything was neatly and attractively arranged at different heights, in shade and dappled sunlight.

I was curious and wanted to learn the secrets of creating my own beautiful oriental garden of artistically shaped miniature trees. How did they reduce

49

ASK THE

COMMUNICATION COACH by paula m. cohen

www.heartofohiomagazine.com

“Betty” is a woman in my yoga class that’s rude and invasive. She seems kind of toxic, and I want to avoid that in my life; however, it’s YOGA and I hope to evolve in my compassion for others.

One day after class I got in my car, started it to get the heat going, and then called my husband to say I was on the way to meet him. Betty started knocking hard on the window. Startled, I rolled down the window and she began to scold me about wasting fuel and poisoning the environment. In class, she takes up a lot of the teacher’s time and uses her own rumpled blanket and wears socks, because the floor isn’t clean. She brings her tea jar into the middle of the room with her, even though we are asked to keep extraneous items by the walls.

Betty also wants to do home practice with me. I feel awkward — I don’t like her but feel sorry for her. When I’m cordial to her in class, she thinks I’m her best friend. How can I communicate that I don’t want to be her friend but do want to have a pleasant class relationship?

C G, Mifflin Some people have problems correctly reading situations they are in; meaning, they often miss the verbal and non-verbal cues given by others, and therefore may respond inappropriately. Others can read cues, but just don’t care about appropriateness — they’re more focused on getting what they want. I think the latter is Betty’s problem.

Yoga class should provide a stress-free environment, not set your teeth on edge.

Try this strategy… Get to class a little after Betty. Observe where she sets up her mat.

Then set your mat up farther from Betty than usual. In small classes people usually have their “spot.” The others will notice you’ve moved and may comment. That’s OK; with a smile say something like, “I’ve been curious to see what the room is like from this angle.” I’m not sure why Betty’s sock wearing and rumpled blanket

50

WINTER 2010

bother you. If she’s worried about studio cleanliness, that’s her issue — not yours.

You should strive to be so absorbed in your own practice that you are not distracted by external smells, sounds, and sights.

Although this is an ideal state, try to work towards it. Betty’s refusal to follow yoga class etiquette rules by monopolizing the teacher’s time and bringing her tea jar to the middle of the room are issues that the teacher should have already addressed with Betty. Since that’s not happened, I suggest you speak to the teacher. Hopefully, that will cause her (or him) to take action.

Inside and outside of class, keep your communication with Betty pleasant (but cool) and brief. Do not feel guilty about not wanting to do home practice with her. You don’t like this woman, so don’t do anything to encourage a friendship. If she brings the subject up again, tell her that home practice is your time to yourself. In your letter you state, “she seems kind of toxic” — follow your intuition! Namaste.

How does a “non-texter” communicate effectively with a “texter” in the workplace?

As a manager, I’ve found that my younger employees have their phones continually attached to their fingers. It seems they have lost interpersonal skills and cannot communicate verbally. Last week, as I was giving instructions to an employee, he took out his phone and started reading his text messages. Help!

F B, Lexington Technology changes so quickly that what’s behaviorally appropriate in regard to technology is often questionable. However, reading texts while your manager is talking directly to you is unquestionably dimwitted. I agree that competence in interpersonal skills has decreased over the years because of lack of practice in a changing culture. Your employee probably grew up with a cell phone, computer, and video games. Learning how to address an

envelope, dial a rotary phone, and nightly family dinners probably fell by the wayside.

Texting in the workplace to get business done is another matter. Businesses that use texting can save time, increase productivity, and resolve small routine or personal matters in seconds.

But in your case we are talking about texting for personal reasons that results in distraction and loss of productivity in the workplace. Two things need to happen: (1) a written workplace policy regarding cell phone and computer use needs to be implemented, communicated, and rigorously enforced. Keep in mind, the policy needs to be appropriate for your type of business. What works for one industry will not work for another. And (2), training and orientation are crucial for communicating expectations and consequences for infractions. Training about the hierarchy of types of communication needs to be stressed.

Top priority: face-to-face communication ( full attention is required), then phone calls, then email, then texting. A training session on business etiquette in general, would be quite helpful.

There is also a generational disconnect.

What is acceptable behavior to Millennials may not be to Baby Boomers — and vice versa. The gap between groups pertaining to communication preferences can cause tensions to arise, just as you described in your letter. Talk to your human resources director about getting a firm policy in place.

When everyone knows what’s expected of them, incidents like you’ve described should decrease. • Paula M. Cohen is the owner of TrineVentures, a communications consulting business that helps organizations meet their communication needs through a variety of programs. Send inquiries to trineventures@hotmail.com. Please submit communication questions for this column to communicationcoach@excite.com

E M P O R I U M H

un

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Watch for the Lincoln Highway Sign 819 E. Main St., Crestline 419-683-3433 www.hungerpaynes.com Tue-Sat 6am-8pm, Sun 7am-2pm

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JOHN'S HOBBY SHOP

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Since we opened in 1965, trends, styles and colors have changed… but at the Spring Mill Furniture Barn, quality never goes out of style.

THE LAST WORD

I love it when a plan comes together! Last year at this time, our marketing team concluded that launching a magazine in a rocky economy would be risky at best. Never to be overtaken by logic, we adopted the “build it and they will come” approach and forged ahead with Heart of Ohio magazine.

Throughout our first year, we distributed over 40,000 magazines free of charge to anyone and everyone who expressed an interest in reading it. Our circulation included businesses and individuals within the nine counties the magazine serves, and our subscriptions have grown to include many readers in other cities and states. All the while one reoccurring comment has been the magazine isn’t easy to come by unless you are a subscriber. In response to that problem we’ve put our heads together once again.

Our plan for 2011 has evolved to include making the magazine available through retail distributors at a cover price of $3.79. We want to continue to add distributors, so if you would like to sell Heart of Ohio magazine we want to talk to you.

We’ve begun our second year of production gratified by the response to Heart of Ohio magazine. We will continue to bring you the positive stories that remind each of us why we live and work in the heart of Ohio.

Look for the sign: Heart of Ohio magazine sold here!

Buehler’s Hawkins Market Bucyrus Hospital Gift Shop Crestline Advocate Cornell’s Foods Geyer’s Fresh Foods Blueberry Patch City News Johnny’s Mattress & Furniture Superstore John’s Hobby Shop SunGraphics Marion General Hospital Gift Shop Whiston Pharmacy Johnny’s Mattress & Furniture Superstore Paragraphs Bookstore Fisher Titus Hospital Gift Shop The Bookery Cornell’s IGA Planktown Country Market Johnny’s Mattress & Furniture Superstore

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Heart of Ohio magazine is also available by subscription; visit us at www.heartofohiomagazine.com.

Diane Brown, President SunGraphics, Inc. and Heart of Ohio magazine

Family owned and operated since 1953.

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