The
P
Legion star player See Sports
RESS July 14, 2014
FREE
Serving i Th The E Eastern astern t Maumee M Bay Communities Since 1972
Boats, kayaks may get new launch ramp
Holy Toledo: a gangster movie See page 6 M
By Cynthia L. Jacoby Special to The Press
Continued on page 4
Q
uote
of The Week o
Just because the city has money to build a Taj Mahal doesn’t mean it should. John Szozda See Opinion page
0% Financing
Adam Soboleski, Amber LeFever, and Bradley Scherzer, with just a portion of their creations along the Main/Starr corridor. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean)
Main/Starr corridor
Art projects to be followed by music fest By J. Patrick Eaken Press Staff Writer news@presspublications.com First, 18 cement trashcans and eight planters were transformed from dull, gray cylinders to bright and creative works of art stretching along Main Street in East Toledo. Next, Owens-Illinois employees volunteered with the East Toledo Family Center and the LeSo Gallery to paint and add color to benches and bus stops along the same corridor. The project was a partnership between LeSo Gallery, the East Toledo Family Center, the East Toledo Club, and volunteers from Owens-Illinois. Last week, 19 murals were painted by nine artists, including local eighth-graders, at 813 Starr Ave. on a building that a year ago was a public eyesore. The final mural was completed at 5 p.m. on July 2, completing phase one of a public arts project led by LeSo and community leaders. One mural, painted by LeSo Gallery co-owner Amber LeFever and another artist, depicts a portrait of the 18-month-old Elaina Steinfurth surrounded by a bed of roses. Last December, Elaina’s mother, Angela Steinfurth, and Angela’s 24-yearold boyfriend, Steven King II, pled guilty for their roles in Elaina’s murder. That homicide attracted national media, casting a gray cloud over an East Toledo community
“
...I feel like art is our trade, art is our talent, and that is the best way that we can make improvements
“
A movement is under way to transform the old concrete fire dock into a boat launch in downtown Oak Harbor. During Monday’s village council meeting, Administrator Randy Genzman reviewed the funding breakdown for the renovation project revived last year after years on the back burner. He said a $62,850 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant has been obligated to the village and a $28,650 grant through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Nature Works is pending. Should both be secured, the village share would cost about $34,200 if the project comes in at the low estimate of $125,000 calculated by ODNR staff, the administrator said. The project falls in line with a low-key effort to revitalize the downtown to bring more visitors – and more spending – to Oak Harbor businesses. The old fire dock structure located at the end of Church Street at the Portage River was once used to provide water service to fire trucks battling blazes in the downtown area. It has, however, remained dormant for years, Genzman said. The work site could impact the public easement along Church Street as well as the rear properties of Oak Harbor Hardware, Croghan Colonial Bank, U.S. Bank and the old Gordon Lumber yard. Renovation would concentrate on constructing a hand-powered boat launch and dock and pier area for canoes, kayaks and similar watercraft. No access for motor-powered vehicles would be allowed, Genzman explained. Councilman Jim Seaman wondered if the village might be able to use in-kind donations toward the village’s grant commitment instead of cash. He outlined a few suggestions, including using village labor. “All these kind of things make the job more doable,” councilman Jon Fickert agreed. Genzman said he would explore the possibility with ODNR officials. Councilwoman Sue Rahm, who joined
already reeling from a bad image. Elaina’s grandfather is a neighbor to the LeSo Gallery owners, who live above their business at Starr and Valleywood. “It was our final piece to the 19 murals that we installed, so it’s kind of our grand finale,” LeFever said. “Being a community-based arts gallery, we really wanted to come up with an idea that was community engaging and meaningful to our neighborhood. So, Adam (Soboleski), the other coowner of LeSo, thought of the idea.” What’s next? LeSo and other MainStarr corridor businesses are planning an entertainment and arts festival for Sept. 13, which will include two stages featuring
live bands. Main Street will be blocked off between Front and Fourth streets. “It’s kind of a work in progress,” LeFever said. “The people at Frankie’s and Mainstreet Bar are on the music committee, so they will be working on the music aspect and up here at LeSo, we are working on the pop-up galleries. “Basically, pop-up galleries are when artists take on an underutilized base and turn it into a gallery, and it’s like never a gallery again. It is designed to bring light to those underutilized bases and hope that they are becoming utilized bases. Pop-up galleries have been around for a while. A few years ago, at a glass conference, which is where all the glass people came to Toledo, there were multiple pop-up galleries that came out of there,” LeFever continued. Toledo District 3 Councilman Mike Craig handles permitting and leading fundraising efforts. He says the partnership has a long way to get the project off the ground, but he’s confident it will happen. He admits he can use any help he can get. “I’ve raised about $10,000, but $12,000 pays for the infrastructure — the bandstands, the port-a-potties — all the stuff that you need,” Craig said. “That doesn’t pay for the talent. The talent is going to be $20,000 to $25,000 more.” Continued on page 2
New & Used Cars!! 0% x 72 on all new 2014 Chevrolets 0% on select GM certiłed preowned 419.693.3000 Main Lot
419.698.4323 I-280 Lot
300+ Used cars at dunnchevybuick.com