Mid January 2015
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
Jan. 20-Feb. 2, 2015
PAID
VOL. 19, NO. 21
Adrian, MI, 49221 Permit No. 1
OR CURRENT RESIDENT
Time-Sensitive Material
Historical Journeys THE COMMUNITY VOICE FOR SYLVANIA,ABOUT SYLVANIA
We’re Online! www.sylvaniaadvantage.com
Retires Joy Armstrong, center, recently retired as curator of the Sylvania Historical Village and Heritage Museum.
7 u u
New SCC Manager Greg Hibbard has been named the new general manager of Sylvania Country Club. He had been manager of golf facilities in Florida. .
16
Sylvania Northview High School alumnae Victoria ‘Scarlet’ Northrup attended the OSU vs. Oregon national championship game on Jan. 12 with her ‘handler’ Nicole Fernandez to cheer the Buckeyes on to their 42-20 victory over the Oregon Ducks.
u u
Two Attend The Game BY MARY HELEN DARAH
Fair Fun Lorenzo Delos Reyes threads beads at Sylvania Child Care’s table at the Mothers’ Center of Greater Toledo’s Preschool and Activity Fair.
28 INDEX 2
Community Events
3-6
Community News
6-7
Health/Fitness News 8-0
Business News
10-13
Downtown News
14-15
Healthy Helena
17
Lourdes News
18
School News
20-21
Sports News
22
Community Affairs
Local Athlete Travels to Cuba ylvania area resident Jim Donaldson is one of only 25 American athletes chosen to travel to Cuba to compete in the 2015 La Habana CAMTRI Sprint Triathlon American Cup on Jan. 24. Barry Siff, president of the board of directors of the USA Triathlon, had met the president of the Cuban Triathlon Federation in May and spoke about the sport they both love. “Barry feels that from an international relations standpoint, it is a good way to express U.S. support for a developing nation to send a few Americans to the race. With the help of the USOC, USA Triathlon obtained an official license to allow a small number of individuals to go to the event. Barry learned of his success on the same day U. S. President Obama announced relaxing the Cuban embargo,” Donaldson reported. After being selected, Donaldson obtained a travel license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which is good for a six-day stay in Cuba. He has made arrangements to stay with three other triathletes in a private home. Donaldson also decided to rent a bike there rather than transporting his own for the race. “I’m going to participate in the sprint race–a 700-yard swim, a 13-mile bike race and a 5K run as I am not able to fully train for the longer distance triathlon. Since this is a short race for
S
u u
Congratulations
Jim Donaldson joins 24 other American athletes in an historic journey to compete in a triathlon in Cuba.
23-24
Real Estate
26
Classifieds
27
me, I am comfortable having a rental bike and it will be much easier than bringing my own,” he stated. According to Donaldson, the swim will take place in the Marina Hemingway and the finish of his race will be in the Plaza de Revolution, the 31st largest city square in the world. This plaza is known as the location that Fidel Castro gave his annual address to the Cuban people. While some of the details of his travel plans have fallen in place easily, Donaldson is finding this particular trip to be full of challenges. “Since Americans have not been allowed to travel to Cuba for the past 50 years, there is no direct flight to the island from the U.S. I will have to go to Cancun, Mexico and then take another plane to Cuba. I cannot exchange money until I arrive and I will need Cuban pesos. There are no American services that I will be able to use such as credit cards, nor my own cell phone.” There are many more unknowns especially the logistics on this trip and, of course, there is the language barrier. “However, I am thrilled for the opportunity to participate and I am very excited to be going as one of the first Americans allowed to travel to Cuba. I am looking forward to the experience and seeing the country that few other Americans have not visited for the last half of a century.”
Sylvania Northview High School alumnae, Victoria “Scarlet” Northrup, attended the OSU vs. Oregon national championship game on Jan. 12. Northrup, a senior majoring in art at The Ohio State University in Columbus, had dressed up as ‘“Scarlet, the Buckeye” for Halloween several years ago at an OSU party. She received so much attention and notoriety, that she continues as the Buckeye “superhero.” Her mother, Amy Northrup, has a friend, Sheila Fernandez, who happened to ask if Victoria were going to the championship game in Dallas, Texas. “I told her that ‘Scarlet’ has no money,” said Northrup. “However, she is determined to get her there. To help, Sheila created a page on ‘Go Fund Me’ to raise funds for Victoria to go. But when Victoria saw kids with cancer and other traumatic issues trying to raise money on the site, she came up with another plan,” her mother said. “Scarlet” created a line of OSU-themed paintings to sell to raise money. On average it takes her eight hours to complete a single painting to sell for $50. Another family friend, Sara Jackson, suggested that Victoria make prints of the originals and sell them for $25. “Sara and Jeanette Hrovatich spread the word on social media. It was amazing. People we don't even know bought prints,” Northrup stated. Nicole Fernandez, daughter of Sheila Fernandez, accompanied “Scarlet” as her handler. The two young women ended up sitting in the VIP section and having an experience of a lifetime. A gentleman from Texas sitting in that same section, was enthralled by “Scarlet’s” story. He commissioned a painting from her. “He told Victoria that she reminded him of how he used to be at her age–full of life and enthusiasm.”