Toledo Free Press - Aug. 31, 2005 by Toledo Free Press

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MAYORAL CANDIDATE PROFILE

KEITH WILKOWSKI: ‘Turning around Toledo,’ page 8

The dawn of a Toledo tradition August 31, 2005

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ALL ENGINES GO: ROCKETS FOOTBALL 2005

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Scooter McDougle’s return, page 23 • Season opens vs. Western Illinois, page 22 New offensive, defensive coordinators, page 22 • Jambulance pumps up fans, page 23 Rockets radio voices Mark Beier and A.J. Sager sound off, page 23

‘MONSTER’ Toledo charities mobilize to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina Story by Myndi Milliken, page 6 S R O ning I N n

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OPINION

August 31, 2005

LIGHTING THE FUSE

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A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC Vol. 1, No. 25, Established 2005

Thomas F. Pounds President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com Michael S. Miller Editor in Chief mmiller@toledofreepress.com Kay T. Pounds Vice President of Operations kpounds@toledofreepress.com Stacie L. Klewer Art Director sklewer@toledofreepress.com Myndi M. Milliken Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com Barbara Goodman Shovers Contributing Editor bshovers@toledofreepress.com Edward Shimborske III Entertainment Editor es3@toledofreepress.com Adam Mahler Food/Dining Editor amahler@toledofreepress.com DM Stanﬁeld Photo Editor dmstanfield@toledofreepress.com STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com Emily Barnes • Keith Bergman Michael Brooks • David Coehrs Scott Calhoun • Lauri Donahue Vicki Kroll • Scott McKimmy Mark Tinta • Dave Wasinger Deanna Woolf • Dave Woolford

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Casey Fischer cfischer@toledofreepress.com

Ebony and ivory between the yellow lines

e asked me not to use his name, another sign of his modesty. He is the morning attendant in the parking garage I use Downtown, and he is as friendly and helpful a person as you are going to meet in this age of graceless customer service. He is a man of pleasant and sincere greetings who remembers scores of names and inspires good moods at the beginning of the workday. He taught me how to dock my car between the immovable concrete columns and yellow lines that separate vehicles by mere inches. Last Thursday, as I was leaving the garage, a woman pulled in, driving a yacht-sized luxury car. She nervously inched her way forward, clearly not sure where she should park among the reserved spaces. My friend saw her, and began walking toward her, already sizing up the car to guide the driver to a safe spot. As he approached, calling a friendly greeting, the woman saw him, drew back in her seat, hurriedly rolled up her window and hit the gas, barreling forward.

Michael S. Miller Why would she do that? “She must be scared of a black man,” my friend laughed, but his smile did not hide his baffled and wounded feelings. The parking attendant is not a big, tall, imposing guy; he wears a shirt that clearly identifies him as working for the parking garage. Yet the white woman fled from him like a socialite running from a mugger in Gotham City. I know racism is alive and well, but I rarely see such blatant displays, and it’s jarring to be reminded how some people still buy into the stereotypes and judgments that should have been discarded with the last “Whites Only” drinking fountains.

believed the very worst about nonwhite cultures, and he did his best to instill his backward, hillbilly racism in me. I’m not proud to say he succeeded; for a long time, I believed his descriptions, stories and misinformation. It wasn’t until I was moved from the farmlands and reached Toledo Libbey High School, and started interacting with other cultures, that I learned the truth that assassinated the lie. Because I’ve been on both sides of the racism mindset, I’m more aware when I see daylight prejudice, examples of undisguised ignorance. I do not pretend to know how being on the receiving end of such rudeness feels, but I received a glimpse of the impact in the sad face of my friend as he watched the white woman speed away from him. The parking spaces aren’t the only entities with yellow streaks running down their backs.

Three years ago, when I worked for The Daily Telegram in Adrian, Mich., I interviewed a citizen in the small city of Morenci about neighborhood drug and crime problems. She told harrowing accounts of neglected property, children living in ﬁlth and drug activity on her street. She was quiet for a moment, shook her head, and said, “Everything was ﬁne here until the coloreds moved in.” I wasn’t sure I heard correctly. “Coloreds?” I asked. “You know, blacks,” she said. “Coloreds?” I asked. “What is this, 1953?” That was a striking moment, a brush with the ignorance and evil of racism (it turned out half of the people involved with the property in question were Caucasian). But seeing the results of such rudeness through my parking attendant friend’s eyes drove it home much more clearly. “I get that all the time,” he told me. “There’s white folks scared of me when I approach them. I don’t understand it.” I understand it, even as I loathe it. I was raised by a father who

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

COMMON SENSE

Parents, teachers responsible for life lessons

he day I walk into my teenager’s high school on freshmen orientation day and find a condom machine in the restroom is the day I go to jail for destruction of public property. I’d go berserk. I’d rip the machine off the wall, jump up and down on it and flush its entire contents in the nearest toilet. Then I’d get mad. On the other hand, the day I walk into my teenager’s high school and receive greetings from no less than 65 different pregnant students is the day I run screaming to the pharmacy for a handful of Xanax. Neither scenario is very appealing. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the parents of kids at Canton Timken High School are facing as this school year gets under way, and no one knows what to do. Timken High has a female student population of 490. According to the Canton Repository, 65 of them, 13 percent(!) are carrying babies. School officials admit “this has gotten to horrible proportions,” but Timken principal Kim Redmond also said, “Schools can’t do it all. Once again, we’re being asked to.” As a former teacher, I concur with Redmond’s assertion. Teachers and administrators are paid to educate children, not raise them. And there’s only so much “advice” a role model can give to young hormonal kids

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Bob Frantz before they’re tuned out. But as a parent, I do expect a little bit more from our public schools than just the three R’s. When my children are in school for six-plus hours every day, the teachers in charge of them are no less than their parents by proxy. They are responsible for teaching, advising, encouraging and, yes, disciplining my kids. Of course the problem doesn’t exist only in schools — kids aren’t just hopping on the lunch tables and making babies. The Canton Health Department says 104 of the 586 babies born in its two largest hospitals since July were born to mothers between the ages of 11 and 19. Eleven years old. Babies having babies; young mothers dropping out of school to raise their kids, relying on county assistance to get by, and rarely going back to get their GEDs.

And no one has a solution. Well, actually we already know the solution, but the solution is very difficult to achieve. It takes years of hard, dedicated work, and for far too many of us, it’s just not something we’re motivated to do. The solution is to parent. The solution is to spend time with your kids from the very start, educating them about the realities and the fantasies of life. The solution is to help your kids to realize the sex they see on TV might not have any consequences, and neither will the sex they see in video games or in magazine ads. But the sex they have in their own lives will. Good, dedicated parents who make it their life’s mission to keep their kids safe from the dangers of unintended consequences brought about by careless actions, working hand-inhand with motivated teachers who help to reinforce their messages, can win the fight. The problem, however, is far too many kids grow up without the parents necessary; without a mom and dad who are willing to fight the fight for them. Those are the kids who need the schools to come through. The federal government has gone to great lengths to fund abstinence education in an effort to provide kids with the facts they need Please see FRANTZ, page 5

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OPINION

August 31, 2005

CONSIDER THIS

Now on video: College professors gone wild

arvard University recently pledged another $50 million for more women science faculty “diversity” initiatives. This is part of ongoing efforts to appease those offended by Harvard President Lawrence Summers’ accurate but politically incorrect remarks about why men are so dominant in the hard sciences. Among other things, Summers dared to suggest that men simply tend to more often innately possess the required workaholic tendencies and highly rarified quantitative reasoning abilities. Suffice to say feminists went ballistic, Harvard caved and Summers was marched straight to the gallows. To review the events and issues, see my March 23 and April 27 columns at the www.toledofreepress.com archives. Feminists insist women are being unfairly shut out of coveted academic science positions by oppression and discrimination. But the truth is, universities regard top women science faculty as exceedingly rare and precious finds. In fiercely competitive bidding wars, universities invariably wind up paying such prize diversity trophies their weight in gold to lure them away from all the other equally “diversity-challenged” universities.

Reid Ahlbeck Witness biology professor and recently appointed Chancellor of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Denice “Speak Truth to Power” Denton, who, along with other shrill and practiced provocateurs such as Nancy “The Fainting Biologist” Hopkins, helped goad the Larry Summers lynch mob into a blood frenzy. Along with her modest $275,000 annual salary, the downtrodden and discriminated against Denton also negotiated a special $192,000 university position for her girlfriend, Gretchen Kalonji. Can’t you just feel the oppression these poor women are forced to endure? Kalonji’s position was unadvertised and closed to all other applicants, thereby avoiding the tiresome customary formality

of openly and publicly seeking the best candidate for any university position (most especially from among minorities and other “under-represented” groups). How do you spell “shameless hypocrite,” Denice? In addition to their nearly half-million dollar combined annual pay package, the Denton-Kalonji household received $120,000 to move into their rent-free, service-provided university president’s mansion. The university doubtless regards all this as money well-spent, given that placing a lesbian couple in the university president’s mansion can only be described as an educational diversity grand slam. Meanwhile, during a time of record state budget deﬁcits, UC Santa Cruz staff and support workers have not received a pay raise in more than three years, and student fees recently increased by another 10 percent. Did somebody say “elitist”? These are by no means isolated incidents. Take the antics of a number of freewheeling academic feminists such as Hopkins and Denton, throw in the likes of Professor Ward “Little Eichmann” a.k.a. “I’m Not Really a Native American” Churchill at the University of Colorado, stir generously and you already have the makings for the ﬁrst installment in the “College Professors Gone Wild” video series.

“You’ll be absolutely amazed as totally uninhibited and unaccountable tenured professors and high-ranking academic administrators perform unspeakable acts of arrogance, hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty right in front of our cameras! “You won’t believe the ridiculous ideological claims and outrageously decadent compensation package demands these shameless academic party animals come up with! Order ‘College Professors Gone Wild’ video today! Operators standing by.” Instead of attacking the problem of why women (and minorities) aren’t succeeding in certain academic areas — with good ideas, redoubled efforts and workable solutions — feminists and other similar interest groups have become accustomed to simply issuing diversity ultimatums: “Give us whatever we want whenever we want it — or else!” I’ll bet next time Harvard feminists decide to pitch a hissy ﬁt, they’re going to demand a ransom of $100 million from the university — and get it. The Sicilian Maﬁa used to call this sort of shakedown “protection money.” Universities prefer more palatable euphemisms, such as “diversity.” Contact columnist Reid Ahlbeck at letters@toledofreepress.com.

GUEST OPINION

Education plan mired in clichés, misconceptions

read the [2004 strategic] plan put forward by the University of Toledo for its College of Education [online at http://education.utoledo.edu] with a sinking heart. Same old drivel. The money [$11.5 million approved for the UT Education College] could be put to so much better use by hiring the best faculty that could be found — men and women who know a subject well, love it and enjoy imparting what they know to the ignorant young. And the young are ignorant. That’s why they are in college — to learn what they do not yet know. So the [UT plan’s] idea of “students at the center of their own learning” is simply a misguided slogan of the people who brought you curricula based on multi-culturalism (all cultures are equally valuable, so why concentrate on the Western tradition?), on selfesteem (children must be encouraged to feel good about themselves because of the racial or ethnic

Rita Kramer group they belong to, not because of accomplishment through hard work) and who are now selling “constructivism,” the latest educational fad based on the idea that children, and all students, construct their own knowledge. It is assumed they will discover how to read and how to multiply and how the world is arranged and what happened in the past by themselves, in small groups at tables the “facilitator” (who used to be the teacher) moves among being careful not to appear to be an authority and not to interfere with this process of autodiscovery

called “collaborative learning” (I am quoting from the UT document here and elsewhere). The ubiquitous shiboleth of “diversity” comes in here, too, meaning diversity of every kind except of ideas and ways of looking at things. The clichés abound: “students will assess their own learning plan” (then why have instructors at all?) “in a non-threatening supportive environment” (are they grown-ups or little children unable to face the real world with its competition and inevitable occasional failures?). It is the student’s “choice of what to study” (how does a student judge what is important to know?). The UT Ed School strategic plan is a perfect example of the fashionable educational theory of the moment, throwing aside traditional methods that have stood the test of time and promising another generation of teachers who don’t really know how to teach — because they haven’t been taught

how to present real knowledge or even what real knowledge is. It’s goodbye to the history of the evolution of our democratic institutions, our literature and everything that should bind us in a common culture transmitted through the generations. Columbia University’s Teachers College is the front of such “movements,” which succeed each other with predictable regularity without producing students

who can read with comprehension, write clearly or deal with numbers effectively. Teachers College trains the professors who will teach at many of the country’s schools of education. One can only hope UT doesn’t waste its resources on becoming one of them.

OPINION

August 31, 2005

GUEST OPINION

New organization gives voice to youth

an’t you smell the scent of political debates and nasty last-minute scandals springing forth as we head toward the city’s primary election? In the midst of mayoral debates that focus on the city’s economic development, safety and other needed services, there seems to be an important issue that has been left out: Toledo’s youth. During a recent conversation with several friends, between the ages of 21 to 33, we discussed the city’s youth and what short- and long-term plans, if any, the candidates have for the youth of this city. The more we talked, the more we realized teens and young adults need to have a voice in this city. They need to know the City of Toledo has a place for them. Candidates, what is your detailed plan for the youth of this city? There is a new youth-sponsored grass roots organization forming called Y-HATS: Youth Have A lot To Say. Y-HATS provides youth a voice in the community regarding the things they need or would like to see take place in Toledo and surrounding areas through city government.

Y-HATS will soon sponsor citywide youth outreach activities that are created for youth, by youth. During this campaign and afterward, they will also hold city leaders, educators, the Toledo Youth Commission and the Youth Advisory Commission accountable for their mission in this city. Y-HATS will sponsor youth forums, youth seminars and roundtable discussions with city leaders on how they can work together to make Toledo a better place. I personally ask all mayoral candidates to please provide your proposed plan for the youth of this city if you are elected. What are your strategies to assist youth with issues such as neighborhood safety, recreational development, leadership development, plans to combat “brain

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Continued from page 3 to avoid teenage pregnancy and exposure to disease. These programs are an important part of the process. It’s shameful that some groups continue to lobby to have those funds redirected to “safe-sex programs.” When abstinence is taught in classrooms, the lessons mean as much to kids as the geometry lesson they learned the period before. If life lessons

don’t come from home, they often aren’t learned at all. Which brings us back to the dilemma that all parents may soon face: would you rather walk your freshman child into the school with its own birth control center or the school with its own delivery room? Bob Frantz hosts “Bob Frantz and the Morning News” each weekday on WSPD 1370 AM. He may be contacted by e-mail at letters@toledofreepress.com.

�Business development and jobs �Working hard for good schools �Strong and secure neighborhoods �More police for safe streets �A clean and attractive city �Excellence in government services

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Jason Daniels is a Toledoarea consultant and freelance writer. He may be contacted at nosajtoledo@yahoo.com.

Frantz

A vote for Rob means:

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drain,” the rise of youth violence, youth entrepreneurship or any other plans you may have? This is a public call to all mayoral candidates to inform the youth of this city on your plans. The youth of this city have something to say and we look forward to hearing the plans of each mayoral candidate in the days to come.

Let’s move Toledo forward

Rita Kramer is author of “Ed School Follies: The Mis-Education of America’s Teachers.”

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HOOVER, ELAINE, ROB AND JACKSON

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ROB LUDEMAN for MAYOR ’05

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS: A roundup of local news stories, page 10

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SPECIAL SECTION: SENIORS

Helen Fletcher is one of many area grandparents who are raising their children’s children, page 13

BREAKING NEWS

Katrina toll mounts; local charities mobilize Gulf Coast residents staggered from the body-blow inflicted by Hurricane Katrina, with more than a million people sweltering without power, miles of lowlands swamped and at least 55 dead — a number likely to increase as rescuers reach the hardest-hit areas. Even with Katrina to the north, a large section of the vital 17th Street Canal levee gave way Monday afternoon in New Orleans, sending a churning sea of water coursing across the western part of the city. Residents who had ridden out the brunt of Katrina now faced a second, more insidious threat as flood waters continued their ascent well into the night. “The hurricane was scary,” Scott Radish told The Times-Picayune. “All the tree branches fell, but the building stood. I thought I was doing good. Then I noticed my Jeep was under water.” Across the Gulf Coast, people were rescued in boats as they clung to rooftops, hundreds of trees were uprooted and sailboats were flung about like toys when

Katrina crashed ashore Monday in what could become the most expensive storm in U.S. history. The federal government began rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, along with doctors, nurses and ﬁrst-aid supplies. The Pentagon sent experts to help with search-and-rescue operations. Katrina knocked out power to more than a million people from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, and authorities said it could be two months before electricity is restored to everyone. Ten major hospitals in New Orleans were running on emergency backup power. “This is our tsunami,” Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway told the Biloxi Sun Herald. Kristen Cajka, spokeswoman for the Toledo Chapter of the American Red Cross, said three local disaster unit volunteers have been deployed to areas affected by the hurricane. These volunteers will assist in mass care — secur-

ing food, water and shelter. “The very best thing [people] can do is send money,” Cajka said. The money will assist families in acquiring the basics and for standardized client-assistance cards to help purchase needed supplies. Donations can be made online at www.americanredcross.com, by calling 1-800-435-7669, or by mail: ARC, P.O. Box 595, Toledo, OH 43697-0595. ISOH/IMPACT has several item drop-off locations to donate needed items or money. “We’re getting the word out and we’ve had a great deal of calls,” said Barb Brotzki, an employee of the service organization. Brotzki said there is a real need for monetary donations, which will help pay for fuel and packing to ship donated items to places in need. Volunteers and additional donation drop-off sites are also needed. Items accepted by ISOH/IMPACT are tarps, ropes, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats, cleaning supplies, purchased bottled water, ﬂashlights

Associated Press

Bryan Vernon and Dorthy Bell are rescued from their rooftop Monday after Hurricane Katrina caused ﬂooding in their New Orleans neighborhood. and batteries, diapers, large garbage bags, manual can openers, bug repellent, toilet paper, paper towels, Handi-wipes, and baby formula. The organization asks that no glass or clothing be dropped off. Drop-off locations include: ISOH/IMPACT, 905 Farnsowrth Rd., Waterville; Cathedral of Praise, 3000 Strayer Rd., Maumee;

Collingwood Presbyterian, 2108 Collingwood Blvd.; Foodtown, 8926 Lewis Ave., Temperance; and Mayberry Square in Sylvania. For information on ISOH/IMPACT’s efforts, call (419) 878-8584. — Myndi Milliken, with additional reporting from Associated Press

New ballet company performs despite threats of litigation As the dancers took the stage at the Music Under the Stars event last Sunday, few in the crowd knew the backstage controversey that nearly overshadowed the event. It was the inaugural act of the newly formed Ballet Theatre of Toledo, supported by parents who broke off from the Toledo Ballet Association after it was announced the contract of artistic director Nigel Burgoine would not be renewed. Anne Marie Getz, Burgoine’s wife, left her post as principal dancer and instructor for Toledo Ballet to head the Theatre. Burgoine, who had been with Toledo Ballet for nine years, cannot instruct or choreo-

graph, due to a non-compete agreement binding him until June 2006. “I had been with the Ballet for 35 years; taught for 20,” Getz said. “I didn’t feel like I could stay with an organization that let my husband go.” Burgoine and Getz said they are thrilled the parents felt strongly enough to create a new company. “We are so pleased with what they have accomplished. It’s brought tears to our eyes on many occasions,” Getz said. “The generosity of the parents is unbelievable.” The Theatre was offered a temporary studio in the Catz Dance Academy in Maumee. Getz said the company will soon be incorporated as a non-proﬁt organization and will sign a lease on a new site.

Burgoine said he and Toledo Ballet did not agree on the move to employ an executive director and to become semi-professional. He has to take a backseat to his wife for now but said, “next year will be a whole different story. I’ve got some real gems that have never been seen before in Toledo. Classical productions, but very big.” Planning their ﬁrst performance for Music Under the Stars was not without controversy. Toledo Free Press acquired several documents from attorneys representing both companies, one from Toledo Ballet threatening litigation. In this document, legal counsel for Toledo Ballet named Burgoine and several parents, stating all were in breach of duty or contract. It included an 11-page complaint dominated

(419) 870-LOFT (5638) or (419) 343-2770 or email megan@bartleylofts.com Open: Mon - Thurs 11-4pm, Sat 10 -2pm, Sun Noon-3pm WWW.BARTLEYLOFTS.COM

by a threat to submit to the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. “We believe that it is possible to reach an agreement regarding these disputed matters that allows the parties to go their own ways, while preventing unfair competition,” stated an Aug. 4 letter from Toledo Ballet attorney Joseph Thacker to Joseph Albrechta, legal representation for the Theatre. In another letter, dated Aug. 23 from Albrechta to Margaret Lockhart (of Thacker’s ﬁrm), Albrechta disputed Toledo Ballet allegations that Gatz had taken intellectual property, namely dance steps. “Toledo Ballet Association does not own

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the exclusive rights to any ballet steps,” the letter said. The letter also said the Music Under the Stars performance was videotaped for the Toledo Ballet to review. “We felt we needed to go in a different direction. We did not renew [Burgoine’s] contract,” read a statement released by Toledo Ballet Association, made by Debbie Monagan of Communica. “Since this showdown, I’ve gotten more involved,” said one

parent, who asked to remain anonymous due to the threatened litigation, which he said could jeopardize the many years his child and other students have put into ballet. “When it came to light they weren’t renewing Nigel, this was devastating. I know from my daughter, Nigel is the ballet. Why on earth would you get rid of him?” Many of the parents supporting the Toledo Ballet took issue with the change in the code of regulations and the attempt to go semi-professional, the father said.

“How do parents pay for professional dancers?” he asked. “Then an executive director? It just didn’t seem right.” The father said he joined more than 100 people who turned out for the annual meeting in June to protest Burgoine’s non-renewal. “It was awful, we had kids crying. There was an enormous outpouring of parents. [Toledo Ballet’s board] basically just thumbed their noses at us,” the father said. Attempts to try to become part of the board left concerned

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7 parents “elected but still outnumbered,” the father said. “We met again and decided the only way around this was to start our own company.” The Toledo Ballet’s letter asserted the parents who were elected then left to form another company breached their duty and caused harm. The company requested full disclosure of the elected parents’ actions to start up the new theatre. Another parent, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “I was a long-standing supporter of Toledo Ballet, Anne Marie and Nigel. I was voted in as a board member, but it’s my understanding we didn’t become board members.” This parent also asserted she made her decision to leave

Toledo Ballet based on her child. “My child has been dancing for 11 years. The students form close friendships and a passion about their ballet,” she said. “Nigel and Anne Marie are the only professional ballet teachers providing the highest classical training; we weren’t moving to New York City for ballet.” Last Sunday’s performance meant more to the parents and dancers than the Music Under the Stars let on. “It’s very unfortunate that the parents, in support of their children, had to do something like this,” the mother said. “It was a wonderful, tears-inyour-eyes kind of performance,” the father said. “I suppose the girls have felt it too, but they danced wonderfully.”

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By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

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August 31, 2005

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August 31, 2005

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

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Keith Wilkowski: ‘Turning around Toledo’ Editor’s Note: Toledo Free Press is interviewing all seven mayoral candidates who have ﬁled petitions with the Board of Elections (Opal Covey (July 27), Carty Finkbeiner (Aug. 3), Don Gozdowski (Aug. 10), Rob Ludeman (Aug. 17), Martin Okonski (Aug. 24), Keith Wilkowski, and Jack Ford). We will proﬁle one candidate per week up to the September 13 primary election. Each of the candidates will answer a series of standard questions, but the conversations will also include topics the mayoral hopefuls see as important for Toledo voters. By Michael Brooks Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Keith Wilkowski said Toledo is at a crossroads, or a “tipping point,” in which its future hangs in the balance, and that some residents have given up hope on turning the city around. “I got into the race because I believe in my heart that we can change this city,” he said, adding that his optimistic view of Toledo’s future differentiates him from his opponents. “I don’t accept for one minute that Toledo has to accept a

declining future.” On his qualiﬁcations to be mayor: Wilkowski said his track record as a leader sets him apart from the other candidates for mayor. “In order to lead, you have to be able to communicate, which our current mayor lacks,” he said. “You have to be able to inspire people toward a common vision and common objectives, like Winston Churchill did in England during the Second World War. I will provide the kind of leadership that Toledo needs.” Wilkowski said, unlike some of his opponents, he will be more than “just a cheerleader” for Toledo. “If we are going to stick with the sports analogy, I will be the team’s quarterback,” he said. “A cheerleader is not an active participant in what is happening on the ﬁeld.” On a new sports arena: The candidate is emphatic that the proposed new arena belongs Downtown, adding that he is the “only candidate who has put forth a rational, reasonable position” on where the arena should go. “We should locate the arena near Fifth Third Field,” he said. “These facilities will then create a critical mass of people and activi-

ties to make our downtown vibrant and alive, a place where companies like Owens-Illinois would think twice before moving out.” On hurdles Toledo must overcome: Wilkowski said Toledo’s biggest challenge is in the transition from a manufacturingbased economy to the realities of the global marketplace. “We need a leader who can understand not only the old manufacturing economy, but also the emerging knowledge-based economy,” he said. “For Toledo to compete in the 21st century, it has to retain its young college graduates by providing employment opportunities.” On the Downtown business district: The candidate would like to see the UT’s Law School move Downtown. “While I can’t speak for UT President Dan Johnson, I think that it makes sense to move the

school Downtown,” he said. “The courts and law ofﬁces are located down here, and this would be a great way to provide another hub of activity to spur development.” On public schools: Wilkowski said the next mayor must be able to bring a sense of unity to the city’s schools. “We need to recognize that we have a variety of public, private and parochial schools in this city, and that the mayor is responsible for leadership to the entire community,” he said. “When I was on the school board, we used to say that TPS has more in common with parochial and private schools than the things that separate the systems. That’s the right attitude to have.” He also said the current school- construction program offers the city hope. “One of the great opportunities we have is the ‘New Schools,

New Neighborhoods’ initiative,” he said. “The neighborhoods in which these new and remodeled schools are built allow us to target resources and use the schools as a catalyst for reinvigorating entire neighborhoods.” On lowering crime rates: Wilkowski is not convinced his opponents place a high enough emphasis on public safety. “Public safety has to be the No. 1 budget priority,” he said. “People will not visit or relocate to Toledo if they do not feel safe.” Wilkowski said the police department does not have adequate equipment to meet its needs. “People within the department have told me that many police vehicles are barely operational,” he said. “We need to make sure that ofﬁcers have safe equipment, and this needs to be factored into the budget. I have doubts that this CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

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COMMUNITY

August 31, 2005

WILKOWSKI

has been the case in the past.” On the city budget: The candidate said the budget process needs to be overhauled. “The city charter has not been revised since 1918 with regard to the budget provisions,” he said. “Under the charter the mayor has until November 15 to put together a budget proposal for the follow-

ing year. There is no way you can effectively put together a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars, study it and hold public hearings between November 15 and January 1.” On his top priorities: Wilkowski said his administration will have one immediate priority: jobs. “My top priority is creating an environment in which businesses will want to locate in Toledo,” he said. “This campaign, more than anything else, is about jobs and the type of leadership that this city needs in order to attract employers.” On the ﬂurry of 2005 road construction projects in the city: Wilkowski questioned the sudden appearance of thousands of orange barrels in Toledo, which some citizens have suggested is a political ploy by Mayor Jack Ford to create the impression of a “busy” city government right before the primary election. “I’d hate to think that road construction is being used for political purposes, but this is certainly poor planning,” he said. “Some people have jokingly said to me that we should amend the city charter to require a mayor’s race every year.” Wilkowski said he was concerned about the long-term effects of the burst in construction activity. “I have talked to people in city

government who said that this sudden increase has put a tremendous burden on city employees to get so much done,” he said. “I can’t believe that it is possible to do as good of a job trying to get everything done at once, than if we had a rational, reasonable plan in place to replace roads over time.” On his campaign style: Wilkowski said his unconventional campaign style represents more than trying to get the most mileage from his campaign funds. “We should be trying to position Toledo as an exciting community where younger residents will want to move,” he said. “If nothing else, my campaign is breaking stereotypes about this city being a place where nothing happens.” Update: Product Forwarding Corp: Campaign spokeswoman Jen Sorgenfrei said the campaign staff should have more thoroughly checked to make sure Gary Briggs’ Product Forwarding facility was vacant before Wilkowski held a press conference there and suggested it was an abandoned building, but added the situation turned into a positive for Wilkowski. “After meeting with Keith, Mr. Briggs decided that Keith was the best candidate for mayor, and offered his endorsement,” she said.

CIVIL RIGHTS

Equality Toledo plans fall rally, lecture series ■ WILKOWSKI: Noe gloated about GOP use of gay marriage as ‘strategy.’ Several dozen area citizens gathered at the home of Toledoans Janna and Randy Lake during the weekend for the second in a series of “Community House Parties” to raise awareness of discrimination issues faced by same-sex couples. “Gays and lesbians are our neighbors and friends,” Janna Lake said. “We wanted to open our home and take a stand WELTER for civil rights.” The group was formed earlier this year in response to the passage last November of Issue 1, which banned same-sex marriage in Ohio. Kim Welter, the group’s executive director, said there are many other issues

Equality lecture series Equality Toledo has announced a fall lecture series. Free and open to the public, the lectures take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the UT Eberly Center for Women. ■ Sept. 7, “What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality” Rev. Dr. Michelle Stecker, Pastor, Faith

beyond marriage that need to be addressed. “We are also concerned about inequality in insurance, housing and employment,” she said. “There are also efforts underway in some states to ban adoption by gay couples.” Mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski attended the event, and recounted an anecdote about former Lucas County GOP chairman Tom Noe. “I ran into Noe after the 2004 election, and he was gloating about the success of the Republican ‘strategy’ to use gay marriage as a political tactic,” he said. “To use human beings as political fodder is just wrong.” The group also announced a series of fall lectures at UT, and an upcoming Rally for Equality at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 in front of the Lucas County Courthouse. — Michael Brooks

ON THE WEB www.equalitytoledo.org Community United Church of Christ ■ Oct. 5, “There is Nothing Traditional About the History of Marriage” Dr. Diane Britton, professor of history, University of Toledo ■ Nov. 2, “Diversity at UT: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” Dr. Carol Bresnahan, professor of history and vice provost for academic programs and policies, convener of the President’s Commission on Diversity.

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COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Foundation launches Web site The Toledo Community Foundation has launched its ﬁrst Web site, www.toledocf.org. The foundation, with assests of $110 million, serves thousands of people seeking to improve the quality of life in the NW Ohio and SE Michigan region, according to a news release. The Web site will allow visitors options such as viewing fund statements, obtaining gift and grant histories, applying for grants and registering for workshops.

WEN business seminars The Women’s Entrepreneurial Network Training Center offers Getting Started seminars for people interested in starting a business. Upcoming seminars include: ■ “Getting Started in Business” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 8 ■ “Writing a Business Plan” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 ■ “Marketing Your Business” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 ■ “Financing and Record Keeping” at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 The cost is $15 per seminar or $40 for all four. Advance registration is required for the seminars, which take place at the Main Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St. For information, call (419) 536-6732.

Cullen Center awarded $420,000 The Cullen Center of Toledo Children’s Hospital was awarded a $420,000 grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs. The Cullen Center is one of only 15 organizations to receive this grant, given to assist children and families exposed to violence. “We hope that by getting involved earlier with children and families that we have a better chance of helping them to find healing and safety from the devastating problem of domestic violence,” said Kris Buffington, the center’s project director. Since 2002, the Cullen Center has provided counseling and group support to local families who have experienced any type of traumatic event. The mission of the center is to provide the best-possible counseling and support. The grants are awarded under OJP’s Safe Start Promising Approaches for Children Exposed to Violence program. Funds may be used to implement effective intervention strategies that curb children’s exposure to violence. Safe Start Promising Approaches enables communities to strengthen existing alliances among community groups such as law enforcement, mental health practitioners, child welfare organizations and domestic violence victim advocates and providers.

Toastmasters elects new ofﬁcers The Toledo Club Toastmasters announced the election of new ofﬁcers: President, Scott Lockhart, P.E., Senior Client Manager at Shaw Environmental, Inc; Vice President of Membership, Deb Schultz, Business Consultant at Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation; Vice President of Education, Diane Kornowa, Marketing Manager at NSS Enterprises;

Vice President of Public Relations, Bob Mossing, Realtor with the Danberry Co; Treasurer, Bob Meeker Jr., CLU, Managing Associate, Seymour and Associates/MassMutual; Secretary is Justin Moor, Aging Resource Center Director, Area Ofﬁce On Aging; Sergeant at Arms, Bryan Okuley, Financial Consultant at Hantz Financial Group. For 81 years, Toastmasters International has helped people develop leadership and communication skills. The Toledo Club Toastmasters is a well-established local club dedicated to providing its members with the oppor tunity to improve communication skills in a professional and suppor tive environment. The group meets at 7 a.m. on the second and four th Fridays of each month at the Toledo Club, at the corner of 14th Street and Madison Avenue in Downtown Toledo. Membership is open to the public; (419) 356-0146.

Port Authority funds projects The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority Board of Directors awarded seven grants totaling $338,000, according to Jim Mettler, vice president of New Project Development. Organizations receiving grants include Viva South Toledo, UpTown Association, Lagrange Development Corporation, River East Economic Revitalization Corporation, NorthRiver Development Corporation, House of Emmanuel and Toledo Central City Neighborhoods. “Each of these grants was awarded to help foster development at the grassroots level, in the community, to assure that as our economy develops, our neighborhoods keep pace,” Mettler said. “We were pleased with the quality of the applications we received in the fund’s first year.” The Board of Directors will also issue up to $250 million dollars in revenue bonds to KUKA Toledo Production Operations to finance the construction of a 340,500 square foot facility on land to be leased by DaimlerChrysler and subleased by the Port Authority. KUKA will assemble bodies for DaimlerChrysler, according to Jerry Arkebauer, vice president of Finance for the Port Authority. The Port Authority will hold title to the building and equipment. It will accept an Ohio 166 loan of $4 million and a $250,000 Ohio 412 grant, and lease the land, building, and equipment back to the company until 2016, according to Arkebauer. “This project embodies everything we try to do with our finance programs,” Arkebauer said. “It creates high paying jobs, expands the region’s manufacturing base, and helps save the company money on their construction costs.” KUKA will create 210 jobs within the first three years of production at its Toledo facility, according to a news release.

SkyTaxi ﬂies at Toledo Express SkyTaxi NE will provide new on-demand air passenger service company at Toledo Express Airport. This service will expand the number of services available to the NW Ohio traveling public.

St. Francis de Sales receives gift St. Francis de Sales High School received a $35,000 gift from The Lathrop Company, the construction manager for its $13.2-million expansion and renovation project. Tom Manahan, president of Lathrop and a 1977 graduate of St. Francis, presented the check. The school’s expansion project will include a chapel, a 20-percent increase in academic space, a fitness center, an arts wing, an auxiliary gym and a renovated gymnasium. The project will be completed next month. Caring Services DME (Durable Medical Equipment) began staffing a large consignment location within Bay Park Community Hospital to meet a growing demand of physical and clinical needs for patients. Customer Service Representative Mary Lou Springer will respond to patient needs for home medical equipment and respiratory services, including home oxygen, sleep apnea equipment, ventilators, humidifiers, headgear, tracheotomy care supplies, hospital beds. Caring Services DME at Bay Park is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; for information call (419) 690-7572.

WANTED

Craft displays will be located: Sat Oct 22nd St Clement's Hall Sat Nov 5th Lucas County Rec Center Sun Nov 6th Lucas County Rec Center Sun Nov 13th Sylvania Southview High School Sat Nov 19th St Clement's Hall Sun Dec 4th Perrysburg High School Sun Dec 11th Sunrise Banquet Center Millbury, OH

We are putting on the shows to collect toys for the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots toy drive. A portion of the table rentals will go to purchase toys plus we will be collecting toys at the events. Our goal is to donate 2005 toys for 2005. Each show is different. Special surprises at each show. Free Admission. Free Parking. Free Door Prizes.

Enter our free drawing for FREE GAS CARDS at each show. Swanton Area Model Train Club will be displaying an O gauge, HO gauge and N gauge train layouts at the Rec Center Show Nov. 5th and 6th. All shows are free to the public. Bring the whole family and enjoy! For more info contact crafterswhocare@yahoo.com or call 419-327-9739 or 419-842-9846

Transportation plans bolster Downtown redevelopment, page 12

TOURISM

Libraries closed for cataloging To allow the migration to new computer software, all Toledo-Lucas County Public Library locations will be closed from Sept. 4 through 7. The closures include the Main Library, all 18 branch libraries, all Outreach Services deliveries, the Library Café and Classics Gift Shop. Access to the Library’s Web site, www.toledolibrary.org, will be limited these days as well. Checked out materials will be made due on either Sept. 3 or 8. The Librar y is switching its electronic catalog, T.I.G.E.R. (Toledo’s Information Gateway to Electronic Resources), to the Innovative Inter faces Incorporated (I.I.I. -”Triple I”) system. When all Librar y locations and ser vices reopen on Sept. 8, they will be accompanied by a new look for the librar y’s Web site, www.toledolibrar y.org.

Elvis Cruise-In The Placers Car Club is sponsoring an “Elvis” Cruise-In for Make-A-Wish from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 1 at The Landing/Key West restaurant in Point Place. The group is raising money to send its fourth child to Disney World, according to a news release. For information, call (419) 726-1022.

Power wheelchair rally Young Medical will have a Power Wheelchair Rally from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 3 at 4062 Technology Dr. The free event is designed to raise awareness and to respond to questions regarding mobility needs and is open to wheelchair participants of all ages. There will be refreshments, live music, a wheelchair wash, an obstacle course and door prizes. Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, Melissa Milinovich, will be at the event. For details, call (419) 471-1919.

Photos courtesy Michael Drew Shaw

Architect Bob Stizenstock has developed a design for the SkyWay Center which includes a restaurant, left, a movie theater, right, and a virtual golf course.

Financial adviser named for SkyWay Center ��

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• Creative Appetizers & Salads • Exotic Desserts • Vegetarian & Health Dishes • Lamb Specialties • Homemade Pizza & Sauces • CATERING & BANQUETS FOR ANY OCCASION - CARRY OUT AVAILABLE •

Displayers to sell your crafts, gifts, gift certificates, items that would be of interest to Holiday Shoppers.

A desire named streetcar

DME servicing Bay Park

Danziger named Librarian of the Year Toledo-Lucas County Public Library Deputy Director Margaret C. Danziger has been named the Ohio Library Council’s 2005 Librarian of the Year. Danziger also has been named to the Ohio Library Council Board of Directors. Elected by the statewide voting members of the organization, Danziger will serve as the Master of Library Science Director on the board. She will serve a threeyear term beginning January 2006. She previously served as DANZIGER a board member from 1987 to 1990. Danziger has been employed at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library since 1977. In 1985, she was promoted to the position of Deputy Director, where she has spearheaded the Library’s numerous technological advancements.

BUSINESS

August 31, 2005

Monday-Thursday Monday-Thursday 4 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Saturday Saturday 4 p.m.-11:30 p.m. 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m. We are putting on the shows to beirutrestaurant.com e-mail: labibh@aol.com collect toys for the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots toy drive. A portion of the table rentals will goBAR to purchase FULL & LARGE SELECTION OF toys plus we will be collecting toys at the events. DOMESTIC Our goal is to donate AND IMPORTED BEER 2005 toys for 2005.Each show is different. Special surprises at each show. Free Admission. Free Parking, �� Free Door Prizes. ��

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By Deanna Woolf Special to Toledo Free Press

“If you take a look at what this going to be for Toledo, it’s going to be a jewel of the city,” said Dan Boos, president and managing principal of Gorillas & Gazelles LLC. The former Ernst & Young executive will serve as the ﬁnancial adviser for the proposed SkyWay Center, an entertainment and hotel venue to be located near the Front Street exit of the new I-280 bridge. He will work to create a fund-raising campaign for the $15 million project and will sit on the advisory board of directors to oversee the startup process. “We’re looking at creating a fund-raising strategy that is comprehensive and inclusive,” he said, noting board members are

being sought. “There should be an inclusive and rather comprehensive group,” he said. “There are some great leaders here [in the city].” The idea for the center originated when Michael Drew Shaw, executive director of American Retrospects, began work on a documentary about the bridge two years ago and was surprised to learn there were no plans for a visitors’ center. “I decided it was time to put plans into high gear,” he said. “We want to give people a reason to get off I-280 and spend some time here.” According to Andrew Gall, chief of staff with the ODOT central ofﬁce in Columbus, the idea is unique to Ohio. But as for supporting the project, “at this point, the state

will not weigh in,” he said. “We’re not able to be a funding partner for this.” Nor is that what Shaw wants. “What really makes this different is that it’s going to be built without taxpayer dollars,” he said. “Our belief is that this concept needs to stand on its own merits financially.” Architect Bob Stizenstock has developed a design for the SkyWay Center that includes a welcome center with information on the bridge and its construction, a theater, an observation deck, motel rooms and a virtual golf course. A restaurant is planned for the top floor of the building, featuring a view of the bridge. In addition, “the site will have places for RVs in transit and for people who want to go fishing and boating on the Maumee River,” he said.

Shaw recently met with Pizzuti Companies ofﬁcials to discuss the location of the SkyWay Center, with the Acme Power Plant being offered as a possible site for the center. “We want to create something that works in concert with the Marina District,” Shaw said. Shaw said the public feedback for the project has been positive. Project volunteer Scott Francis said he read about the proposed center in Toledo Free Press and “was inspired by the pictures and what he talked about doing. It seems to me that’s what we need here — attractions to bring people into the city,” he said. “It seems that the people of the city need something to be proud of.”

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DEVELOPMENT

Downtown transportation plans support redevelopment By Edward Slack Special to Toledo Free Press

The era of streetcars in Toledo ended in 1949. David Dysard, vice president of Transportation with the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council on Governments (TMACOG), described the Regional Core Circulator Study, which includes their possible return. Edward Slack: What is the depth of your study? David Dysard: This is a fouryear effort undertaken in 2001 by TMACOG to find answers to the question: “How best can transportation be part of and support redevelopment of the core of our region and Downtown Toledo?” The 20-year plan called the 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) identified the core to redevelop as one of our primary goals for transportation investment. It involved five main questions. 1) “If we have some sort of mechanized means Downtown, what mode should it be?” 2) “How do

we connect Downtown to the Toledo Museum of Art and the Zoo?” 3) “We have one Downtown with a river running through it. How do we tie the two sides together?” 4) “How does the bus loop operate and what could DYSARD help redevelopment?” 5) “Which one-way streets could go back to a twoway conﬁguration?” To encourage transit-related development in the overall mode Downtown, the best investment is a steel rail system, and we have an alignment shown in the 2025 RTP Summary. This would include rubber-tired trolleys like TARTA is now running, realigned to include connections across the river to the Docks and the ma-

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rina district, and a route through the Uptown area. Work was also being done at the University of Toledo on the technology corridor; a transit connection between the Medical University of Ohio (MUO), the UT campuses at Scott Park and Bancroft, and Toledo Hospital. We modiﬁed the Study for the feasibility of including a route to the Toledo Museum of Art and expanding to the research corridor. ES: What other aspects did you consider? DD: The rubber-tired bus loop

is functioning well. One side of the loop should be moved south. Instead of going up Jefferson, it should go to Monroe Street. There are only two street pairs needing to stay one-way: Erie and Michigan, 11th and 14th, because of how they connect into the freeway system to I-75. The other two oneway streets could be made two-way without signiﬁcant increase in congestion or degradation of service. Huron, 12th, Madison, and Jefferson could be two-way streets. Making a relatively conservative estimate of the redevelop-

ment potential from an overall perspective, this is a economically beneﬁcial project for the region, and a better than 3:1 rate of return for local dollars invested. ES: Is it coordinated with the Downtown Toledo Master Plan? DD: The underpinnings are the results and recommendations in the Master Plan. A steering committee and task force have guided this effort, to include representatives from Downtown Toledo, Inc., the City of Toledo, the Lucas County Port Authority, the Regional Growth Partnership, TARTA, and others.

SPECIAL SECTION

Seniors raise kids when parents get in trouble Also in this section: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Volunteerism, page 16 Driving safely, page 16 Home security, page 17 Long-term care, page 18 Identity theft, page 18 By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Helen Fletcher’s story began on Valentine’s Day, 2004. Like so many before and since, the 66year-old grandmother found herself thrust into a situation where children became victims of their parents’ destructive activities. “The older one came to live with me last school year because he wanted to go to Scott [High School], where I went to, but the others were not by choice,” she said. “I had to go one cold February night and pick them up from Detroit. Their mother had been arrested.” Fletcher said she has managed to absorb the cost of supporting five grandchildren after selling her home in Southfield, Mich., and leasing an apartment in southwest Toledo. The former government worker adjusted her life to suit her grandkids’ needs as well as those of her father, whose health began failing about the same time she intervened into her daughter’s personal problems. Her first priority was to enroll the three boys and one girl into school in grades one through four. The extended family is living comfortably, she said, and the children won’t be reunited in the same home with their mother until Fletcher is certain the mother’s life is “straightened out.” One father is in contact; another is deceased, and the third has abandoned his responsibilities, Fletcher said. “The main thing was to get them back into school and get their lives back on course,” she said. “They were not going to school; things were happening to them that should not have been because of their mother’s problems and her lifestyle.” For more than 2.3 million grandparents, aunts, uncles and others nationwide raising their relatives’ children, it often takes every penny and the last drop of energy they can muster day after day. In Lucas County, about 6,000 Please see SENIORS, page 14

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

Helen Fletcher surrounded by her grandchildren, clockwise from top: Jordan Banks, 15, Jaelin Clay, 10, Iman Clay, 8, Nazeer Preston, 6 and Malik Preston, 7.

SPECIAL SECTION: SENIORS

Seniors Continued from page 13 families raise children who are related to them, but separated from their birth parents, said Judy Paschalis, director of the Kinship Navigator program through the Area Ofﬁce on Aging in Northwest Ohio. She explained the complexity of the situation for kids whose parents have been incarcerated or are battling addiction to drugs or alcohol, which account for nearly all of the cases that walk through her door. Few have resulted from illness, injury or other catastrophes not linked to poor life decisions. “When the kin take in relatives’ children, it’s usually because of drug and alcohol abuse,” Paschalis said. “Sure, there’ve been trafﬁc accidents or something, but we don’t hear from those folks. Ninety-nine percent of the time it’s drugs and alcohol or things that happen — like incarceration — that stem from drugs and alcohol.” More surprising, perhaps, may be the widespread anonymity of grandparents and relatives assuming the responsibilities of the next generation’s children, in part because of their lack of involvement with Lucas County Children’s Services. When circumstances arise forcing relatives to harbor their kin’s children, an informal arrangement is made, and the county agency has no grounds

to step in and exert its powers. “The kin probably don’t have custody when they take the children in. They’re not involved with Lucas County Children’s Services or the courts in any way,” Paschalis said. “They just saw that the kids needed a good home and took them home with them one Sunday night.”

above minimum. “I’m getting close to retirement; I have zero money in the savings account because we’ve been in court so many times,” she said. Anne has raised the two boys practically from birth, she said, also with no support from the fa-

Financial ruin

The scenario has repeated itself involving as many as 4 million kids, according to GrandsPlace. com, an Internet service connecting those with relatives’ children to resources for legal assistance, health programs and support networks throughout the country. The grandparents and other kin often share a burden of rearing kids from infants to adolescents while they themselves face the financial and physical hardships of aging. Their retirement plans never included the possibility of supporting children through their 60s or 70s. One grandmother, who chose to be identified only as “Anne,” has been slipping toward financial ruin from legal fees incurred in custody battles with her daughter over Anne’s grandsons, ages 14 and 10. Costs have reached the $10,000 mark during the course of 17 court appearances, she said, which has robbed her of resources she needs for the children’s welfare. The daughter receives free legal services due to poverty, while Anne struggles to provide a proper home life on wages just

August 31, 2005

ther. And although her daughter signed off custody long ago, she made an about-face four years ago, ﬁling to have the boys returned to her. Anne related the legal strategy often used by family lawyers in a system that inherently favors birth parents regard-

August 31, 2005

gaining custody of grandchildren and enrolling them in school. going to lose,’ ” she said. “‘The However, word has spread parent that does this will win.’ ” slowly, and many adults raising relaThe problem had been exacertives’ offspring have no idea of the bated by the lack of government availability of health coverage and assistance for elders raising relamonthly benefits — up to $451 for tives’ kids until Kinship Navigator four children — in Medicaid dollars. emerged about five years ago, Joy Gibbs said she just disaccording to Paschalis. She has covered the opportunity to obtain run the program originally estabhealth insurance through the lished by the Ohio Department of state and is waiting for approval. Job and Family Services, but later The burden of raising her daugh�� turned over to AOoA. Recent legis- ter’s two children has been much lation has facilitated the process of more emotionally trying than fi-

less of their inability to provide a stable household. “One attorney that went to a Kinship [Navigator] meeting said, ‘I hate to say it, but if you don’t go into court moaning and groaning and crying and sobbing, you’re CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

Live. Laugh. Love.

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nancially debilitating. No longer just a grandmother, Gibbs has to play the strict parent of a 2-, 5- and 13-year-old. Meanwhile, her daughter undergoes treatment at a local clinic for a cocaine addiction, which Gibbs believes to be at the root of her problems, along with mental health issues that have never been addressed. “When I ﬁrst got custody, I was excited, but I realized how drastically my life was changing,” she said. “It isn’t a serious ﬁnancial burden, but I am sometimes resentful.”

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

Helen Fletcher teaches the game of checkers to grandsons, from left, Nazeer, 6, and Malik Preston, 7.

The Area Ofce on Aging of Northwestern Ohio, Inc.

provides programs and services to help you live life to the fullest. From home care options to caregiver services to nutrition, education and recreation.

COMMUNITY BRIEF Focus on healing St. Vincents Mercy Medical Center is presenting “Focus on Healing,” gentle therapeutic exercise, 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Vincent’s D’Youville Education Center and 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Mercy Health Partners Conference Center. The classes are free for all cancer survivors, $10 for others. To register, call (419) 251-4153.

We offer a full continuum of services for older adults and their families in a ten-county area of northwest Ohio.

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For more information contact us at 419.382.0624 or visit our web site at www.areaofceonaging.com.

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Doctor Recommended.

Mother Approved.

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It pays to listen to your physician about assisted living, especially if the doctor is your son.

“I chose Elizabeth Scott for my mother after asking around and checking them out. They have a very good reputation in the medical community. My mother lived in their Assisted Living Level I apartments, and she now lives in their Assisted Living Level II units.” Elizabeth Scott offers two levels of assisted living and a third level of skilled nursing care. So Mrs. Olson, and other Elizabeth Scott residents, will receive the proper care based on their changing health needs.

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If you are considering assisted living for yourself or a loved one, ask your doctor. He or she will, likely, agree with Dr. Olson.

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SPECIAL SECTION: SENIORS

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SPECIAL SECTION: SENIORS

August 31, 2005

VOLUNTEERISM

A couple of times per week, retiree Bill Hamilton travels to the homes of area seniors, delivering companionship and checking on their welfare as they deal with the day-to-day management of life after youth. At 57, he said believes himself to be the youngest person in the Retired Seniors Volunteer Patrol through the Toledo Police Department. But he knows for a fact that some of his associates are 80-yearolds helping 80-year-olds. It all depends on the individual senior’s needs, family whereabouts, income level and health. “For a lot of people, this is the only contact they have,” Hamilton said. “They don’t have relatives in town or someone to check up on them.” He also donates his time to the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, a service of the Area Ofﬁce on Aging of Northwest Ohio. AOoA recruits about 1,800 area seniors willing to give a much-needed hand at local hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and other locations that care and nurture the public. Every volunteer undergoes training, a background check and

several pats on the back. After 32 years at GM Powertrain Division, Hamilton is determined to keep active. Since last year, he has volunteered for assignments patrolling at Mud Hens games, working the Dragon Races Downtown, as well as more mundane tasks such as mailings. He’s willing to try something new, he said, but advises wouldbe volunteers to choose positions that interest them while offering the chance to assist others. “You’ve got to select what you want to do and dedicate your time to that instead of spreading yourself too thin,” Hamilton continued. “It is really easy to get into to many programs and not have the time.” Sally Davies, director of RSVP, described the turnout by senior volunteer as fascinating, citing the hours involved at more than 200 local nonproﬁt organizations. Volunteers choose from about 500 job descriptions and come from all walks of life. “We recruit anywhere and everywhere, any place that we can talk to seniors, we do,” Davies said. “Some are much more involved than others, but whatever they decide they want to do, we encourage.” After three years, Davies said

she considers RSVP a success, in part because of the close afﬁliation AOoA has with its volunteers. The program tracks hours, reimburses for travel and provides supplemental accident insurance for volunteers on assignment at no charge. Most of all, she added, they receive well-earned recognition, “lots and lots of recognition.” “Their calendars are full; they’re busy active people, and of course that’s what this is all about,” continued Davies. “It keeps seniors healthy and living independent lifestyles for many more years than just sitting home doing nothing.” For 81-year-old Julia R. Henry, RSVP enables her to donate even more time and effort than she has since retirement 25 years ago. Henry has served as a receptionist for a quarter century at the Sylvania Senior Center and recently began a similar position at AOoA. She also makes friendly visits at elderly care and medical care facilities. The opportunities to help others spurred her to volunteer originally, however, she said she expanded her social contacts as well. A member of the Red Hat Society, Henry and 44 other ladies dress in bright purple topped with red caps as a

Seniors have the secondhighest crash-death rate per mile (teenagers rank ﬁrst), according to AAA. Yet 90 percent drive themselves to get around on a daily basis. So when do seniors know it’s time to hand over the keys? “Work closely with your doctor, family and friends on this issue,” said Fred Stratmann, spokesman for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. “Seniors are entitled to keep their licenses as long as they don’t have any conditions that preclude them from being safe drivers.” BMV records show Toledo boasts two 100-year olds who still have a valid license. Lucas County has more than 500 drivers over the age of 90. As a whole, the number of drivers decline steadily after age 57. According to Stratmann, some seniors have valid licenses but voluntarily choose not to drive. The Ohio Revised Code provides for restrictions on licenses if a person has a medical or mental condition, requiring a doctor’s signature stating the person can drive safely. Senior Center Inc. offers transportation services for seniors to and from medical appointments. The service, for Lucas County seniors age 60 and older, provides bus service for $3 each way and ambulate service for $25. The program, called Transportation Services for Seniors, can be reached at (419) 242-9511. — Myndi Milliken

HAMILTON monthly diversion. The custom livens up the day much like other duties, such as preparing Teddy bears for charitable giveaways. “I dressed 45 bears for our senior center this year. I do that every year,” Henry related. “The Salvation Army furnishes the bears, and we dress them and give them to needy children at Christmas.” RSVP is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal domestic volunteer agency. The program operates from a main ofﬁce at AOoA in Toledo and a branch ofﬁce in Napoleon. Volunteers must be 55 years of age.

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By Myndi Milliken Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

TLC

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Things go bump in the night. Is it the wind or a prowler? Personal safety at home can be a scary issue, especially for seniors. There are precautions that can be taken to help prevent your home from being broken into. “The more things you can do to make yourself less of a victim, the better,” said Wendy Newsome, crime prevention ofﬁcer with the Maumee Police Department. She said most burglars spend less than one minute trying to break into a home, and offered these pointers on keeping your home from being an easy target. ■ Don’t open the door to a stranger. If someone needs help, offer to place a call for him or her, but do not let someone you don’t know in. ■ Glass doors can invite criminals. Use solid metal or hardwood doors. Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer. ■ Lock all windows. Also be sure to secure basement and attic windows. Planting thorny bushes such as roses under windows can also be a deterrent. ■ Use a double-cylinder deadbolt. “A single deadbolt, especially when the door has glass skylights nearby, can be easier to access,” Newsome said. “Criminals can break the window and simply turn the single bolt.” Spring latches, door locks and chain locks can

be easily broken. ■ Get a dog. If you can’t have a dog, pretend to have one. Simply placing a “beware of dog” sign on a fence and a (used) dog bowl on the porch can make a burglar move on. “I’ve even seen people put up security system signs when they don’t have one,” Newsome said. ■ Be prepared to call for help. Having a phone in one room doesn’t do much good if you cannot get to it quickly. Have a plan for calling for help and leaving your house if you need to. “We have found most seniors don’t have a cordless phone, and we almost never see cell phones,” Newsome said. She said family and neighbors could help seniors by purchasing a mobile or cellular phone, then showing them how to operate it. “Many cell phone providers offer an additional line at little cost,” she said. For seniors with walkers, a bag attached to the walker could be a lifesaver. “The little bag holds the phone, so it’s always near.” Toledo seniors wanting to benefit from or assist with a community protection program can call the Area Office on Aging at (419) 382-7060 for information about the RSVP. Short for retired senior volunteer patrol, RSVP is a joint program between the Area Office on Aging and the Toledo Police Department. The Area Office on Aging also offers workshops throughout the year focusing on safety in the home.

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Staying safe at home

Health Care Services

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SPECIAL SECTION: SENIORS SECURITY

Plan for future behind the wheel

Recruiting seniors to help seniors By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press StafF Writer News@toledofreepress.com

August 31, 2005

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SPECIAL REPORT: SENIORS

August 31, 2005

CRIME PREVENTION

Seniors often vulnerable targets for identity thieves By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Faye Wenzlick doesn’t need a study to show how seniors have become targeted for identity theft, fraud and other forms of exploitation. As director of senior programs for the Toledo Area Better Business Bureau, Wenzlick ﬁelds calls from victims regularly. She said one particular scam seems to reappear more than any other: You have just won the lottery. “[Seniors] are instructed to call a number,” Wenzlick said, explaining the con run by phone or through the mail. “Once they talk to a person on the other line, it’s almost like a drug; they’re hooked.” In one recent case, an elderly gentleman sent two separate checks for $1,700, believing he was to receive a much larger sum for his efforts. The family intervened but could not convince him he had been scammed. His involvement itself, according to Wenzlick, con-

stituted an illegal act of entering a lottery through U.S. Mail, although authorities would focus enforcement efforts on the con men. Forms of attempted identity theft include callers posing as bank personnel requesting account numbers and Medicare workers verifying Social Security numbers. In either case, the tactics may include bullying or inadvertently confusing seniors, who may have trouble interpreting the intentions of the caller. Wenzlick warns that entities such as banks and government agencies do not collect information in that manner. “People from Medicare, they have everything they need. They don’t have to call people,” Wenzlick said. Several reasons lie behind the targeted exploitation of seniors, and most are unrelated to their cognitive skills, she said. Many remain sharp but they tend to be more available to callers and more

likely to talk with solicitors or respond to charitable drives. They also have heart, often sending $5 or $10 to organizations promising to help children or other victims. “The $5 or $10 isn’t what those people are looking for,” she said. “They’re looking for that senior’s name and address and the fact that they are willing to give. That becomes a very valuable asset for the scammer to sell.”

Assistant Prosecutor Pete Kanios said, three years ago, he noticed the lack of justice without criminal action as well in exploitation cases and approached his boss, Prosecutor Julia Bates, who established APS. The county subsequently formed the Senior Protection Unit for pursuing CM MY Y Mcriminal C charges against scammers. Lucas County Commissioners recently announced the hiring of

a new investigator to strengthen SPU by assisting county prosecutors, who cannot serve as witnesses in their own trials. “When I started in 2000, I would get involved with exploitation. While APS took care of it civilly, we still had a perpetrator walking the streets,” Kanios said. “Julia K CY CMY Bates created the Senior Protection Unit, which allows me to work with a criminal investigator.”

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REALTY&HOMES

REAL ESTATE CAFE

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he majority of new investors I meet say they’re interested in real estate because they know of someone else who made money. There is certainly a lot of money to be made! It is not, however, always as easy as what the infomercials preach during the wee hours. The key to any good buy is ﬁnding a motivated seller who has a pressing reason to sell quickly and below market value. Realtors can have great insight in spotting them. If you’re new, keep this in mind: Houses attractive to investors usually aren’t the pretty ones. It’s like going to the clearance rack and picking through a few things until stumbling upon something that suits you. We’ve all heard about foreclosures. This is when owners lose their property to their lenders, usually for nonpayment of their mortgage. The foreclosure process goes something like this: Payments stop and the lender puts the mortgage in default. After a legally determined amount of time, the lender sells the property to the highest bidder at a courthouse Sheriff ’s sale. Before that sale happens, however, owners coming to terms with their misfortune typically qualify as motivated sellers. Therein lays an investor’s opportunity.

Jody Zink Finding foreclosures is cake if you know where to look. Acting on a foreclosure takes courage. Getting a name and phone number is a start. Some people going through foreclosure are quite bitter about it. It should come as no surprise that they may not want to talk to you. If they’re at least agreeable to listen, explain how you might be able to help. You might be able to make up back payments and penalties to save the owner’s credit rating (and maybe some cash depending on the seller’s equity). In exchange, you get title to the property. Could be a win-win. But wait! Before making any kind of offer to the owner, run the numbers as accurately and honestly as you can. Beware that their loan may not be as-

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tries to resell it as real estate owned property (REO) through a real estate agent. Banks are anxious to sell them, but not so anxious that they’re willing to take a loss. So what’s this mean for the investor? There can be advantages working with lenders rather than a home seller in a foreclosure. First of all, there’s no crying. A transaction with the bank is potentially much cleaner. Sometimes the bank will even help you finance and get title insurance. Like any investment, there is risk. But where there is risk, there’s also reward. In real estate, the risk is often directly proportional to knowledge. You won’t know if there’s a good deal to be had without getting a little dirty. If you think you’re serious, give yourself at least six months to see if real estate investing might work for you. I suggest first-timers do not go it alone. Find a Realtor who will take you by the hand through the first transaction. You won’t make any money talking about it or thinking about it. You must take action. Jody Zink is a former television news reporter and a licensed Realtor in Ohio and Michigan. She can be reached at (419) 7251881, or jodyzink@lossrealtygroup.com.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Go native with local plants during fall planting season By Myndi Milliken Toledo Free Press Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

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sumable. If you have to secure a new one, figure those costs to run about 5 percent of the loan amount with points, fees and title insurance. Back payments could amount to as much as six months’ worth of payments or more. The owner will also likely have incurred penalties for each month the payment was late. All these are costs you may have before even acquiring the property. Once you’ve got it, don’t forget to figure in your property taxes and refurbishing costs if the house needs work. You may find bailing out the owner with these added costs may not be worthwhile. If it isn’t, no sweat. You have gained some invaluable knowledge and just averted a sinking ship! Now let’s go back to the Sheriff ’s sale. Can I buy at the foreclosure sale? Yes, but it can be tricky. You don’t always know what you’re getting. Typically you won’t receive any guarantees to the property’s condition or title insurance. And your offer usually must be in the form of cash, so you’d need to work out financing details ahead of time. It is not unusual for the lender to be the highest bidder at these sales, upon which, the bank takes control of the property and

Now is the time many perennial plants are at their glory, in brilliant hues of orange, crimson and deep blues. The end of summer also makes a perfect time to choose next year’s plants for your garden, and Kitty Todd Nature Preserve offers inspiration for those wanting to go native. There are many beneﬁts to planting native species in your garden, according to Tom McCollum, land steward at Kitty Todd. “One of the biggest reasons to plant native species is because it helps the native birds and wildlife survive,” he said. “It also helps to ward off invasive and non-native species.” Invasive plants change the landscape by choking out native plants, potentially running out species of birds, wildlife and insects that rely on native species to survive. Surrounding the main ofﬁce at the preserve, located at 10420 Old State Line Rd., Swanton, is a demonstration

garden full of native species in which to gain inspiration. There are also information pamphlets and staff to speak to concerning gardening needs. “The demonstration garden is set up in beds with ideas like what you would do around your home,” McCollum said. Filled with color, the demonstration garden features native favorites such as butterfly milkweed, blazing star, swamp milkweed, wild lupine, cardinal flower, tall coreopsis and giant sunflower. “A lot of them attract butterflies, bees and even hummingbirds,” McCollum said. Each species is labeled so guests can easily see the name of a species. Occasionally, the preserve hosts a native plant sale. Some plants, whether brought in or purchased at a garden store, just can’t survive the northern chills of Ohio. “We receive many calls from local residents who have brought plants back with them from vacations, family members and friends, to find out they are not plants suited for our zone five here in Northwest Ohio,” said Barbara

Northrup, Ohio State University Extension spokeswoman. “These plants very rarely survive with our ﬂuctuating temperatures and sandy or clay soils. We try to encourage native plants for individuals who are looking for natural healthy looking plants in their gardens.” As with any plant, location and care are important. “The key to using native plants successfully is the careful choosing of plants that are compatible with your site location. Some native plants have superior survival techniques allowing them to adapt to a wide variety of environmental conditions,” said OSU Extension Master Gardener Phil Wesley. “Before you start selecting plant materials, know your site, including exposure, soil texture, pH, fertility, moisture conditions, weed problems and history of previous use. Those interested in learning more about gardening with native plants can contact the Master Gardener Hotline at Toledo Botanical Gardens. Call Monday, Wednesday or Friday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at (419) 578-6783 or e-mail: mghotline@ag.osu.edu.

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SPECIAL REPORT

WEEK 1

Season opens at home vs. Western Illinois mation coming from running backs coach Doug Downing, who served on the WIU staff from 1990 to 1995 and then returned in 1996 for three more years as offensive coordinator. He left the Leathernecks the same year they welcomed their new coach, Don Patterson, so the Rockets may ﬁnd themselves second-guessing their opponent and relying on their defense to stop WIU’s top running back, Travis Glasford. Glasford, a senior, twice ran for more than 1,000 yards in a season, and it seems the Leathernecks are pinAMSTUTZ ning their hopes on him. Although 4-7

overall and 2-5 in the Gateway Football Conference in 2004, WIU’s abilities may exceed expectations. A win against Eastern Michigan last year, one versus Ball State in 2000 and two previous victories against Northern Illinois demonstrate Patterson’s mantra that it’s all about attitude. For the Rockets, it’s about pride, too. UT looks to protect its 13-game home winning streak, which began after a loss to Miami in 2002. That game pitted the hometown boys against Ben Roethlisberger, who now suits up on Sundays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nevertheless, the Rockets turned around and beat Miami in the MAC championship that year, so the Leathernecks are looking, at best, at a possible upset. — Scott McKimmy

COACHING STAFF

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

Rockets running back Scooter McDougle wants to hit somebody. Hard. Nobody kicked his dog; nobody stepped on his midnight-blue suede shoes. The junior hopeful is just itching to resume play after a long time-out that began during his biggest game ever at the end of last year. That’ll happen when you’re all pumped up in the middle of a Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship. You make a gamebreaking play, and the next thing you know you’re being hauled off the ﬁeld with a knee injury. “I’m hoping by Wednesday or Thursday that I can do some kind of hitting anything,” McDougle said after practice last week. “I’ve been doing a lot of running and

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Rose tending to blooming UT defense By Scott Calhoun Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

New UT defensive coordinator Tim Rose has watched MAC football evolve tremendously during the last 22 years. The Cleveland-area native was head coach at Miami of Ohio from 1983-89, leading the RedHawks to a MAC championship in 1986, a season highlighted by the team’s huge upset win against thenNo. 8 ranked LSU. But whereas the MAC once was a defense-minded conference with the running game predominating offensive playbooks, Rose now steps into a league characterized by massive aerial assaults and WAC-style scoring onslaughts. With a season-ending showdown against the

high-scoring BGSU offense and Heisman candidate QB Omar Jacobs looming as Toledo’s final hurdle to another conference crown, Rose may hold the key to the team’s title defense. UT head coach Tom Amstutz has full confidence in Rose. “Every place Tim has gone he’s always improved their defense,” Amstutz said. Rose has led previous units to top 20 defensive rankings five times during a career that has included stints at Minnesota, Boston College, Memphis, Cincinnati and most recently at Louisiana Tech. Rose also engineered recent defensive success against MAC offensive attacks while serving as defensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan in 2003. He improved a Please see DEFENSE, page 24

Shannon no stranger to Amstutz, team By Scott Calhoun Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

When Rob Spence vacated the offensive coordinator position at UT last January to assume the same role under Terry Bowden at Clemson, head coach Tom Amstutz quickly decided keeping things at home would be the truest path in continuing the team’s nationally recognized offensive success. Enter former wide receivers coach John Shannon. In the past two years under Shannon’s mentoring, the receiving corps built a lofty resume of success. Rockets receivers hauled in a school record 24.8 receptions per game in 2003 followed by an encore performance of 23.7 receptions per contest last year with 28 touchdown grabs. Head-

Scooter revs up for return from knee injury

Rockets Football 2005

The Rockets’ season opener at the Glass Bowl on Thursday marks a couple of milestones. The first “first” is the meeting itself as UT faces Western Illinois University (WIU) for the first time in history. The second is the introduction of instant replay in the MidAmerican Conference, which functions by the same rules used in the Big Ten. Coach Tom Amstutz can’t throw the red flag himself because the replays must be called from the booth. But he can make sure that any calls going against the Rockets are nullified by dominating the Leathernecks with a deep backfield and a potential phenom in quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. Plus the Rockets may have an edge with inside infor-

SPECIAL REPORT: UT FOOTBALL 2005

PLAYER PROFILE

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August 31, 2005

ing Shannon’s receiver charge was Lance Moore, who as a junior in ‘03 paced the nation with an MAC tied-record 103 receptions, then painted his senior year with 90 more grips and a school record 14 TDs. Shannon has 27 years of college coaching experience, with 18 of those as a coordinator on offense or defense, including a gig as offensive coordinator at Jackson State from 1994-2000, where he earned honors as I-AA Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 1999 and I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2000. For Amstutz, the resume spoke for itself and made his fellow staff member the obvious go-to guy. “John’s been a big part of our offense the last two years and he understands our scheme. He’s a proven coordinator Please see OFFENSE, page 24

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working out with the strength coach. I have a real good chance of playing the first game.” While he proved to be “the difference maker” in the final three games of the ’04 season, according to Brian DeBenedictis, University of Toledo assistant director of media relations for the athletic department, the backfield’s a little crowded with two seniors, a sophomore and a freshman ahead of McDougle on the preseason depth chart. Until now he has been watching his teammates make full contact from the sidelines, anxious for the go-ahead from the coaches to pop a few pads. But that didn’t stop him from eyeing the conference title at the end of this season, an uphill journey so far for a player deemed “Super Prospect” by College Sports.com. McDougle sat out

once before during all of 2003 because of academic restrictions, and then racked up eight touchdowns in 12 games the following year, averaging 4.2 yards per carry and 9.3 yards per reception. Now he’s looking straight ahead while “one of the worst injuries of his career” fades into the distance. “I can’t wait for this year,” he said. “I hope the seniors go out with a MAC championship, and I’m really hoping that I can go out with a MAC championship next year.” Yet the view for McDougle remains blocked by numbers — big, gold and blue numbers such as 38, Trinity Dawson; 33, Jalen Parmele; 23, Quinton Broussard; and 27, Richard Davis. Dawson, Parmele and Broussard averaged between four and ﬁve yards per carry last year, and Davis comes off a season as a red shirt already in the habit of winning after USA Today ranked his

high school team as high as No. 1 in the state and No. 2 in the country. Plus the Rockets are grooming a brand-new talent, DaJuane Collins, a Jersey kid whom DeBenedictis said probably will red shirt this year and stay low on the depth chart. So can we say the Rockets pretty much have their running game covered with great depth? Sounds more like an ocean of talent rather than a pool, especially when you mix it with quarterback Bruce Gradkowski? The Rockets are an exception within their division because of their backﬁeld depth. Just ask McDougle, who knows he’s bumping elbows this year with some pretty productive fellow ball carriers. “This year will set me up for next year, but we’ve got a lot of good players this year and a lot of players coming back next year,” he said.

McDOUGLE

Rocket football radio voices sound off By Scott McKimmy Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Five years before the Rockets’ upcoming season opener on Sept. 1, a little history was made. We all remember that Toledo defeated Penn State in a stunning upset, but what about the debut performance of one rookie involved in almost every play? He was green and had to go to work in a stadium full of 93,000 screaming fans, most of whom

probably didn’t even notice him unless they tuned in to their portable radios. And while Beaver Stadium, nestled in a region called Happy Valley, sure sounds like a comforting venue for football, it can prove to be a bit trying for a brand-new color commentator who said that, at the time, he had never been on the “business” end of a microphone. “Yeah, that was 2000, and what a way to start,” said A.J. Sager, who is preparing for his Please see RADIO, page 26

Toledo Free Press photo by DM Stanﬁeld

Pat ʻRanger Rocketʼ Ryan, left, and his partner, Dan Miller.

Jambulance to amp Rockets crowds For Pat “Ranger Rocket” Ryan, following Toledo Rockets football every fall and winter isn’t just an interest. It is a way of life. Each autumn, the retired army lieutenant colonel and 1978 Rocket alum is a project manager during the weekday who transforms into a diehard Rocket fan. Ryan said he wants to bring something noticeable and special to show his pride for his alma mater. The result? The paramedictransport-turned-ultimate-tailgate-vehicle: the Jambulance. Complete with full UT Rocket insignia, the former ER visitor is equipped with an adjustable gas grill attached to the trailer hitch, an extendable tent outpost for tailgating and merchandising and a 27-inch ﬂatscreen monitor with live satellite coverage of Rockets games. “We’ve installed a Direct Dish system that will allow you to get satellite TV on the move,” Ryan said. The customized unit lights

up emergency style in midnight blue and gold, with accompanying sirens to help rally Glass Bowl attendees. “I wanted to do this as a way to increase interest in the Rockets’ athletic programs,” Ryan said. “This past winter I started looking around on eBay. At ﬁrst I looked at a used ﬁre truck but decided that it wasn’t practical, so I decided to look at ambulances because they’re smaller and enclosed.” Ryan purchased a used 1993 Ford E350 ambulance being sold by an army major from Miami who was soon to be deployed to Kuwait. Along with partner Dan Miller, Ryan began working on their concept ship. “We’ve been working on it since April, getting it repainted and detailed,” Ryan said. “Some of it was done professionally, but some of it was pure elbow grease by myself and other fans who helped to polish it up.” — Scott Calhoun

SPORTS

FOOTBALL SNAPS

August 31, 2005

defense ranked 117th in Division I in 2002 to one ranked 76th in total defense and 87th in scoring D the next year. Not too shabby, considering Eastern squared off that season against three of the nation’s highest-scoring teams and combated all year against the MAC. “We’re looking forward to him

doing the same thing at Toledo,” Amstutz said, referring to the team’s need for defensive improvement from last season, when Rockets end zone guardians yielded 404 points, including 63 points each to Minnesota and Kansas; 41 to BG; and 39 in the Motor City Bowl against Connecticut. Amstutz and Rose appear to be on the same page in their belief that an imaginative defense full of surprises will be successful. “Tim has great insight and a

unique defensive scheme that we’re really looking forward to having on the ﬁeld this year,” Amstutz said. “Tom is not afraid to be creative and he wants to do a lot of different things,” Rose said. Rose said that means keeping a good deal of the 4-4 defense used by the Rockets in years past but installing more of his 3-4 looks while mixing in some new features he’s been developing to help keep things in the dark for opponents.

and gives us a chance to continue with the same style and ﬂow of our offense that made it highly successful in the nation last year,” Amstutz said. “He has a good grasp of every concept of our of-

fense and has been a big part of game planning over the last two years, so it was a natural transition to go with him.” That means Rockets’ players, fans and opponents can expect a familiar and effective offensive attack. “Our philosophy offensively is not going to change. The things we do as far as running

and throwing the football aren’t going to change drastically,” Shannon said. “We’ve got good leadership from our players with Bruce Gradkowski and Trinity Dawson voted as team captains on offense, so we’re excited about them leading us this year. We expect good things from our offense.”

ART WEBER

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Bo Schembechler appearance highlights United Way event

Generalsʼ defenders mob Rams running back Peris Edwards. WEEK FIVE: There’s no “I” in team. Eleven equals one. Football is full of hackneyed sayings and clichés. They’re mostly true. Eleven players on the field, working in unison, are hard to beat. Solid defense and an efficient offense did the job for the Anthony Wayne Generals in their first test of the high school season Friday. If there was a standout, it was running back Tyler Rahn, who carried the ball 26 times for 131 yards. He’ll tell you he didn’t do anything but power through the holes the offensive line created for him. Two more wins and head coach Craig Smith will hit the 50-win plateau for his career. The team wants that for him. Toledo Free Press has commissioned photographer Art Weber to chronicle the 2005 varsity football season of the Anthony Wayne Generals. Each week, one photo will capture the evolving season. Art Weber may be contacted at aweber331@adelphia.net.

Former University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler will be in town Sept. 8 as the guest speaker at the United Way’s “An Evening that Builds a Community.” The fundraising dinner with auction and rafﬂe, organized by event coordi- SCHEMBECHLER nators Scott Schultz and Lance Tyo, will bring members of the housing industr y into the United Way’s effor ts to address education after homelessness. “What we were looking for was

a better way to connect to these groups,” Schultz said. “A lot of them are self-employed professionals who may not have United Way information because they work out of their home.” Schultz said Schembechler will talk about teamwork from a coaching standpoint. Schultz said the point of the evening is to educate previously homeless families on how not to return to that status. “We’re talking about giving them the skills that they need to prevent homelessness,” he said. The event begins at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at Gladieux Meadows, 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd., and is open to the public. The dinner includes live and silent auctions and a rafﬂe with 2006 Detroit Super Bowl tickets and Sept. 10 Michigan-Notre Dame

tickets. Tickets are $75 per person. Call (419) 254-4633 for tickets and information. — Scott Calhoun

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SPORTS

August 31, 2005

VOLLEYBALL

Twins pose double threat at net By Myndi Milliken Managing Editor mmilliken@toledofreepress.com

Laura and Sarah Gerkensmeyer leave people seeing double as they walk the halls of the Owens Community College campus. The freshmen take the same courses, have the same majors and even share the same books. They even play the same position for the Express volleyball team. The girls hail from Genoa High School’s volleyball program, which progressed to the state’s final four in 2003. The daughters of Tim and Bonnie Gerkensmeyer, of Genoa, the twins are majoring in medical records. “We wanted to play after high school and Owens is a nice campus,” Sarah said. “We didn’t want to go too far.” The twins are two of 15 who will play under the wing of fifth-year head coach Sonny Lewis. Last season, Lewis led the Express to a 35-13 record, helping the program capture its fifth-consecutive Ohio Community College Athletic Conference season and tournament championships, finishing with an overall conference record of 15-0. Lewis is supported by assistant coaches Shelli Smith and Jodi Jesion. With five players returning this year and the introduction of serious first-year prospects such as the Gerkensmeyer twins, Lewis said he’s positive about another conference championship. “It’s not a real tall team this year, but probably the most athletic team we’ve had,” he said, noting most of his players come from local high schools. “I expect the [team’s] hard work and dedication to pay off in the regular season.” Returning players include LEWIS

Radio Continued from page 23 sixth year as a voice of the Rockets for WSPD 1370 AM. He pulled the game coverage out in a clutch on the advice of Mark Beier, his on-air partner and colleague who had a few years’ experience then and more than a decade now. “Mark makes it a whole lot easier on everybody involved, especially me because I didn’t know a whole lot about what I was doing when I started,” Sager said. “He made it very simple. He said, ‘Watch the game and talk about football.’ ” The two have learned to mesh as announcers, with Sager coloring Beier’s play-by-play with facts, ﬁgures and anecdotes. Beier, a WSPD account executive when not covering games, said he focuses on the who, what, when and where of the action while Sager explains why. He sets standards for himself in terms of informing and entertaining the audience. “My No. 1 job — and keep in mind this is radio — is making sure people know the score,” Beier said. “Who has the ball, what yard line, how much time is left and what happened? There’s nothing more frustrating than someone tuning in to a broadcast and not ﬁnding out what the score of the game is.” When calling plays, some an-

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Laura and Sarah Gerkensmeyer at practice.

NJCAA All-region XII team selection Ceara Barr, OCCAC Academic All-conference selection Kelli Fisher, Alexi Carnicom, Mallory Bieringer and Anna Rauch. New players include Elisha Milks, Amanda Hensley, Madison Cupp, Kristy Bailey, Lindsay Trumitch, Lindsay Lehmann, Stephanie Czupich and Allison Siefker. Owens Express Volleyball will open its home campaign Aug. 31 against Lorain County Community College. A win would continue Owens’ 79-consecutive OCCAC match-winning streak. Owens will host its own invitational on Sept. 2 and 3. All home games are played at the College’s Student Health and Activities Center on the Toledo campus and admission is free.

nouncers show a little too much favoritism for their team, earning a rep as a “homer.” “If ‘homer’ means that I want the team that I’m covering to win, well yeah,” Beier said. “But I don’t make any excuses; it affects my credibility as a broadcaster. If it’s a good play or if it’s a bonehead play, I call it either way.” Sager, a UT football Hall of Famer and former major league pitcher, also serves as the pitching coach for the West Michigan White Caps, a minor league team

in Grand Rapids, Mich., about two levels below the Mud Hens in the major league farm system. With the Caps optimistic about their playoff picture, Sager expects to be absent come kick-off time next Thursday and possibly for a second game depending on how far West Michigan advances. “We won our championship so I ended up missing the last three football games last year,” he said. “But I was missing it for a good reason, because it meant [the White Caps] were doing well.”

PREP FOOTBALL

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Toledo Free Press photo by Myndi Milliken

SPORTS

August 31, 2005

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Sylvania Southview expected to top Northern Lakes League By David Gatwood Special to Toledo Free Press prepsports@buckeye-express.com

Since the late ‘90s, the road to the Northern Lakes League football championship has passed through Sylvania Southview. Excluding one major rebuilding year, Coach Jim Mayzes and his team have been in the thick of the NLL race and, despite heavy graduation losses, the Cougars can be expected to challenge again. The Cougars lost a ton of speed from last year’s team but the ever-conﬁdent and upbeat Mayzes does not feel that this will cost his team too dearly. “We just need to adjust. Try new things. Somehow it will come together,” he said. The strengths of this year’s team remain at the skill positions. Seniors Andrew Skeels and Scott Stansley will share responsibilities at quarterback but look for Skeels to eventually take over. Skeels ap-

pears more comfortable running the wide-open offense Mayzes prefers and is probably a better passer. Look for tight-end Brian Kramer and tailback Kwesi Kankam to have great seasons. Kramer does not possess great quickness but has good hands and a great competitive spirit while Kankam can run with the best of them. Defensively, the player to keep an eye on is linebacker Chad Valdez. The Valdez family has supplied Southview with a long line of quality players and Chad might be the best of them. He can run like a tailback and still hit like a linebacker. He will solidify the Cougar defense. Besides Southview, the safest bet for the NLL’s best team during the past decade has been the Maumee Panthers. Maumee’s head coach, John Boles, who like Mayzes, has built an outstanding program. Boles has built his program without the beneﬁt of

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the student numbers that other league members enjoy and so his accomplishments at Maumee are even more remarkable. The Maumee program has been decimated over the past two years by graduation but Boles manages to place a quality product on the field. Running backs Tyler Rayford, Ray Parry and Brad Spencer are equally explosive and if the offensive line develops, Maumee will be capable of moving the ball. On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers face a major rebuilding effort. They will be inexperienced but the Maumee staff will have them playing hard. In the early going the Panthers may take some lumps, but by the time league play begins, expect the D to have tightened enough to keep Maumee in the championship race. The rest of the NLL is difficult to gauge. Each team has its strengths but none of them has the complete package. Take the case of the Northview Wildcats. After a dismal first weekend last year, Northview began to show signs of life. They enjoyed their best year in quite some time and the expectations are high.

However, the Wildcat football team has not developed a winning habit and have struggled a bit during scrimmages. The two fastestgrowing schools in the NLL are Perrysburg and Anthony Wayne. While the SKEELS rest of the league has seen its student numbers leveling out, these two schools remain on the upswing. However, increased enrollment has not led to success on the ﬁeld. Both teams have looked promising in the past but have somehow found a middle ground where a .500 season has become the norm. If anyone has a chance to be a sleeper this season, it is the Bowling Green Bobcats. The Bobcats have a seemingly endless supply of big bodies and this year also have some quality athletes at the skilled positions. Seniors Ryan Hoehner and Brandon Radabaugh are not great football players in the sense that they

Mud Hens win division title

The Toledo Mud Hens won the 2005 International League West Division championship Monday. Kenny Baugh pitched seven innings, allowing zero runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out six batters against the Louisville Bats. The ﬁrst round of the International League Governors’ Cup Playoffs (best of 5) will be played at Fifth Third Field on the following dates: ■ 7 p.m. Sept. 9

have the skills to play beyond the high school level but they are the kind of athlete that every coach cannot get enough of. They do their job; provide great leadership; and possess good athletic skills. With great senior years from both them, the Bobcats just might surprise some people. Not enough to challenge for either a league championship or a play-off spot but enough to obtain a measure of respectability. Finally, there is Springﬁeld and Rossford. For Rossford, the problem remains the same: too few students. The Bulldogs put forth a good effort every week but just do not possess enough quality athletes to compete week after week with the likes of Southview and Maumee. Rossford is by far the smallest school in the league and is likely to remain that way for the immediate future. Under the circumstances they are likely to struggle. As for Springﬁeld, they return a number of starters from last year’s team but that team limped home with a losing record and more of the same is likely. It will be a struggle for the Blue Devils to avoid the basement.

■ 7 p.m. Sept. 10 ■ 6 p.m. Sept. 11 The second round of the International League Governors’ Cup Playoffs (best of 5) will be played at Fifth Third Field on the following dates: ■ 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 ■ 6: 30 p.m. Sept. 14 Tickets can be purchased at the Fifth Third Field Box Ofﬁce (1st base gate or home plate gate), by phone (419) 725-HENS (4367), or online at www.mudhens.com.

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The Toledo Hoopsters sixthgrade basketball team ﬁnished its summer season with a 31-4 record. The team won the American Youth basketball Tour National Tournament in late July, defeating Ohio Magic in the championship game. “We had a lot of depth on the team this year and no superstars,” Coach John Wiczynski said. “Each player contributed to the success of our season.”

ARTS&LIFE ■

TEAR SHEET: Your guide to the Toledo zeitgeist, page 30

Echoes of the Big Three

The Nu-Tones play the sounds of the Beatles, Stones and Who, page 33

IN CONCERT

Voodoo Libido conjures two gigs this week By Vicki L. Kroll Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

John Rockwood recalled when Toledo’s daily newspaper wouldn’t print the band name Voodoo Libido. “The Blade would call us the John Rockwood Orchestra,” he said with a laugh. “The name [Voodoo Libido] kind of ﬁts the group. We just like to have fun.” Rockwood has been having fun playing zydeco washboard and harmonica for 15 years with Dave Athanas, guitar; Joel Hazard, piano and vocals; Liz Presley, vocals; and Joe Beuhler, drums. “We’re a blues band, we play R&B, we do jazz, and we play classic rock ‘n’ roll,” the

Toledo resident said. “Some of our inﬂuences include Muddy Waters, Jon Hendricks, the early blues shouters like Ma Rainey.” Voodoo Libido played at Lollapalooza on the experimental stage in 1994; they jammed with Jerry Lee Lewis and Martha Reeves. “We played the Motor City Music Fest in Detroit with EdROCKWOOD die “Guitar” Burns,” Rockwood said. “We’ve been fortunate to play with so many of our heroes.”

He began rocking in the ‘60s with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. “I started playing harmonica along with ‘Love Me Do,’ “ Rockwood said. “Then most of us found out they were playing covers of blues guys — Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley. We dug and dug and got back to the real stuff.” Voodoo Libido will play two free shows this weekend. The band will be at the Toledo Museum of Art at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2, and perform at RiverFest at 5 p.m. Sept. 4 in Promenade Park. “We’ll mix it up at the museum. It’ll be more bluesy and jazzy. You can’t get too crazy, but we don’t really play that loud anyway,” Rockwood said. “For RiverFest, it’ll be a bigger stage and we’ll rock out a little more.”

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Extreme metal rockers Soilent Green to appear at The Underground in Toledo

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New Orleans extreme metal icons Soilent Green, called “one of the ten most important heavy metal bands” by Rolling Stone, stop in Toledo this Aug. 31 on a recent tour supporting its new CD, “Confrontation.” The

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band, featuring members of such abrasive acts as Eyehategod, Crowbar and Goatwhore, mixes elements of death and thrash metal. Soilent Green appear Aug. 31 at The Underground, Jefferson and Superior

streets. Doors open at 7 p.m. Opening bands include Into the Moat, A Perfect Murder, Watch Them Die and local acts The Dawning and Thought Hideous. — Keith Bergman

‘Weasle-word nation’ offers too few choices

few columns back (Aug. 10), I wrote about an advertising campaign that featured “real women” pushing a new Dove “ﬁrming” lotion. Apparently I wasn’t the only person thinking about the vamping girls. According to a story in the International Herald Tribune, the adulation Dove has received for “honesty” in undressing “real” female bodies has been more than worth its weight. But the article also says the product Dove is selling is not much different from what grandma used years ago. To its credit (and because it’s the law) Dove doesn’t explicitly state that its products smooth skin or reduce cellulite. But with phrases like “appearance of ” or “look of,” the copy implies it. It’s no new news that the cosmetics industry is all about selling hope. It’s no new news that all advertising is about selling hope. It’s just that when words and images are used to obfuscate instead of clarify that I get frustrated. I used to be part of this world. I have an MBA from what is prob-

Barbara Goodman Shovers ably this country’s top business school. I know a thing or two about “branding,” about creating and fulﬁlling needs. Or, to be more perverse, about selling fear and often useless solutions. “Ohmigosh,” you might be saying. “What a curmudgeon! Spoil sport! MBAs as high on the corporate ladder as President Bush say that shopping is to patriotism as breathing is to life. Give this woman a charge card and make her spend over its limit!” But it’s not stuff I’m averse to, it’s the less-than-forthright marketing of it. The phone company offers a zillion free minutes but doesn’t say only during off hours.

The cable company advertises a terriﬁc monthly rate — but just for the ﬁrst two months of a twoyear contract. The cookies have “No Carbs!” but tons of fat. The diet drink is doctor-recommended. (By which doctor? The one on the payroll?) Companies contend they’re giving customers helpful information. But what they’re really doing is holding back. This is communications as sleight of hand. What’s hidden is likely more important than what’s revealed. Then there’s redundancy packaged as “choice.” This concept was driven home when my daughter and I went to buy shampoo. The shelf at Target was groaning. In the Pantene line alone, there were formulations for “Classic Care,” “Classic Clean,” “Hydrating Curls,” “Sheer Volume,” “Full and Thick” and a least six others. The options were duplicated as conditioners. And a bunch were further morphed into shampoo-conditioner combos. Talk about stimulus overload. “Which should I buy?” my daughter asked. I compared labels and found all 11 plus a house brand more or less identical,

ingredient-wise. So we passed on the whole shebang. “Take the Target generic,” I said. “It’s a couple bucks cheaper.” Downer! Nag! The irony is that I got this way being on the push end of the marketing channel. After a while in MBA land, I realized the world really doesn’t need another ﬂavor of iced tea or scent of room freshener. When I lived in Germany, too much choice was not an issue. With grocery stores the size of gas stations, you bought what there was. You want soap? We carry one brand. Don’t like it? Stay dirty. Even I longed for more variety. But where my complaint lies is not with choice or variety. It’s with the fact that there’s only the “appearance” of choice, the “look” of variety. With few newand-improved exceptions, most stuff is “Me Too,” not “Oh My!” Plus, we’ve become a nation of weasel-word users: “may,” “should,” “can.” The what’s not said of products (and public policy, to coda back to the MBA-inChief) crowds out the headlines. Messages have become subsidiary to their declaimers.

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Celebrate the Labor Day weekend with the largest ﬁreworks display in Toledo history at the RiverFest on Sept. 4 at Promenade Park and Festival Park Downtown. RiverFest will feature bands Voodoo Libido from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and The Nu-Tones from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:45 p.m. Boaters can reserve dock space by calling (419) 936-3625.

MUSIC NOTES FRI SEPT 2 Agora Theatre, Cleveland

Steel Train

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Cleveland

Carey Bell

The Boardwalk, Put-in-Bay

Kyle White

Brewed Awakenings

Matt G

The Bronze Boar

Russel Martin & The Relics Chene Park, Detroit

DJ Quik

Manhattan’s

Frostbite Blues Murphy’s Place

Cakewalkin’ Jass Band The Odeon, Cleveland

Disengage, Fight Paris, Openhand, Ryan Dunn & Don Vito’s “Rock Night” Toledo Museum of Art Libbey Court

Voodoo Libido

Tower City Amphitheater, Cleveland

the AGENDA GET YOUR PINK ON The Party for the Cure will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 8 at Levis Commons. The event is a fund-raiser to beneﬁt the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. There will be performances by Andrew Martin Magic, Desi Serna and The East River Drive Band. Participants and cancer survivors will also be able to register for the Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure, which will be held in Toledo Sept. 18; (419) 868-6813.

A rose is a rose, and for someone in particular it’s a symbol of growing up. Sometimes Daddy’s little girl grows up and seeks a life all her own. So this goes out to all the dads and girls with a wish for all the best and the greatest success. Technical information: this photo was taken at 5 sec., 1s0 100, f/45 and 200mm. Photoshop ﬁlters applied Gausian blur 10 pixels> fade Screen 50% opacity, Gausian blur 10 pixels> fade Multiply 50% opacity.

DM Stanﬁeld is photo editor of Toledo Free Press. He may be contacted at dmstanﬁeld@toledofreepress.com.

BATS ALONG THE MAUMEE Take a nature walk to view bats as they begin their evening flight, learn how to use a bat detector and find out how to attract them to your yard. Class is 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Side Cut Metropark Lamb Center, 1025 River Rd., Maumee; (419) 407-9700. FORE! A GOOD CAUSE Reservations are due Sept. 16 for the Billy Joe Smith Heritage Scholarship Golf Outing, at 9 a.m. Oct. 7 at Stone Oak. Play your own ball for $100, lunch and prizes, foursomes welcome. Benefits Central Catholic High School; (419) 255-2306.

FOR WOMEN ONLY The Toledo Chabad Center offers classes on Kaballah and Relationships. These for-women-only classes start with a discussion of marital relationships from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Sept. 6 at the Sylvania JCC, 6465 Sylvania Ave. Babysitting is available. Classes are $8 each; (419) 843-9393. ART CLASSES Art classes for ages 3 to 93 start next week at the Toledo Art Museum. Offerings include the usual drawing, painting, and sculpture as well as jewelry-making, bronze-casting, glass-blowing and blacksmithing, plus cartooning and fashion illustration for teens. The full catalog is available at www.toledomuseum.org. YOUNG ARTIST RECITAL Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave. in Perrysburg, will present Jeff Heisler and Ryan Muncy, graduate student saxophonists from Bowling Green State University, in a Young Artist Recital at 3 p.m. Sept. 25. The recital is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.

The Center for Fine and Performing Ar ts

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CONNECTING ARTISTS + AUDIENCES

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567. 661. 2787

DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkson, Mich.

Brooks & Dunn, Big & Rich, Warren Brothers, Cowboy Troy

Ford Detroit International Jazz Fest

Hookahville featuring ekoostik hookah, Little Feat, DJ Logic, Hackensaw Boys Fulton County Fair, Fayette

The Van-Dells

Hancock County Fair, Findlay

Dierks Bentley

Hart Plaza, Detroit

Alvin’s, Detroit

The Boardwalk, Put-in-Bay

House of Blues, Cleveland

LeAnn Rimes

SAT SEPT 3 A Wilhelm Scream Kyle White

The Bronze Boar

Jeff Williams Band Centennial Terrace, Sylvania

The Funk Brothers

Rock for Autism

House of Blues, Cleveland

Detroit Jazz Festival

Black Sheep, DJ Z-Trip

Frontier Ranch Music Center, Pataskala, Ohio

Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate, McCoy Tyner, Randy Weston’s African Rhythms

Club Bijou

Rock Fight Week Five

COMPILED BY VICKI L. KROLL

Dr. John, Joey DeFrancesco, Bettye LaVette

Mickey Finn’s Pub

Traditional Irish Session Murphy’s Place

Glenda Biddlestone with The Murphys Tower City Amphitheater, Cleveland

Michael McDonald

SUN SEPT 4 The Boardwalk, Put-in-Bay Detroit Jazz Festival

Kenny Werner, Marcia Ball, T.S. Monk, Toots Thielemans Frontier Ranch Music Center, Pataskala, Ohio

La-Z-Boy Center at Meyer Theatre, Monroe, Mich.

Fulton County Fair, Fayette

Tom Turner and Slow Burn

Rebecca St. James, Brad Stine House of Blues, Cleveland

Spin Doctors

The Bronze Boar

Lonestar, Country Mile

Box of Cats Manhattan’s

MON SEPT 5

Kelly Broadway

Agora Theatre, Cleveland

WED SEPT 7 Alvin’s, Detroit

America Is Waiting, Shots Fired

Blind Boys of Alabama

Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Cleveland

Fulton County Fair, Fayette

Of Montreal, The Management

Gary Allan, Chris Cagle

The Bronze Boar

Howard’s Club H, Bowling Green

Chris Konopp & Friends

Heads Will Roll

Manhattan’s

Quartet Bernadette

Jazz Jam

Tower City Amphitheater, Cleveland

TUE SEPT 6 Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, Cleveland

Great Lake Swimmers David Mead

Van Wert County Fair, Van Wert

Rick Springﬁeld

Majestic Theatre, Detroit

Umphrey’s McGee Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak, Mich.

The English Beat, ABC

BE THERE. DO THAT. BENEFITS David’s House SRO event:

7 p.m. Sept. 10 at Centennial Terrace, Sylvania. Food, silent auction, cash bar and entertainment from Twila Starr, Voodoo Libido, Baptist Accents, Sound Connection, Kelly Broadway and Patrick Lewandowski. Tickets $30, or two for $50; (419) 243-7274. Kick-A-Thon: by American Martial Arts, 10 a.m. to 6

p.m. Sept. 17 at Westﬁeld Franklin Park. Demonstrations of traditional and extreme martial arts, prizes and all participants will receive an award. Money raised will beneﬁt St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; (419) 385-5425 for registration.

EXHIBITS Celebrity Sightings: Famous

Faces in Toledo, through Sept. 4 at Toledo Museum of Art; (419) 255-8000.

OSU/Port Clinton Performing Arts Festival: 8 a.m. to 10

p.m. Sept. 13-18 at 110 Madison St., Port Clinton. The Other Max Klinger:

through Sept. 18 at Toledo Museum of Art; (419) 255-8000. Riot In Detroit: Rock Art Of

The ’60s, featuring Detroit art icons Carl Lundgren and Leni Sinclair, will run through September at Culture Clash Records, 3001 W. Central Ave.

HEALTH Walk for Wellness:

8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 3 at Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center. Stay in shape while enjoying a three-mile hike with a naturalist; bring a water bottle. Irish Hills Tour: Sept. 25, Sylvania. Bicycle routes of 10/31/65/100 ﬂat to rolling miles. Hostelling International, Toledo Area; (419) 865-9145.

Borders Books & Music, Ann Arbor

Detroit Jazz Festival

Hookahville featuring ekoostik hookah, Dr. John, Donna the Buffalo, The Smokin’ Bandits

Manhattan’s

Voodoo Libido, The Nu-Tones

A Wilhelm Scream

Kyle White

Between Home and Serenity, Fireball Ministry, The Knives, cKy Spin Doctors

RiverFest at Promenade Park

TOLEDO CONFIDENTIAL

SENIORS Senior Discovery Days: week-

days throughout September and October, all seniors (60+) will receive free admission and parking, coffee and mufﬁn and more at the Toledo Zoo. For more information, visit www.toledozoo.org. Grandparents Day:

Sept. 4 at the Toledo Zoo. Grandparents receive free admission when visiting with their grandchildren.

Keith Bergman

Thoughts for New Orleans

“D

oes this damn bridge ever end?” one of my bandmates said, as we rolled past Lake Ponchartrain, our long-suffering van trundling through the sopping heat as we made our way to New Orleans. It was 2003, we were on the first leg of a disastrous tour, and we’d been driving for five hours. But we were excited — none of us had ever seen The Big Easy, and we were looking forward to soaking up a little of the Creole-flavored debauchery. We pulled up to the Dixie Taverne, a rancid, sinister little dive. The walls were seemingly held together by staples from past gig flyers, the bathrooms were ThirdWorld cesspools and some mean and ugly rock ’n’ roll throbbed out of the jukebox. We loaded in our gear and walked outside, beers legally in hand, to wander the streets and see a little bit. You could chew the humidity like asphalt bubble gum. People lurking on street corners and sitting on stoops had a malevolent, yet apathetic, air to them — they’d as soon shiv you as look at you, but it was just too damn hot, O.K.? There was a crackling sense of danger, intrigue and gothic Southern melodrama that was intoxicating to us wide-eyed Yankees. After our gig, a friend took us down to the French Quarter for a quick walking tour. While we didn’t partake in the hedonism, it was an astonishing sight, a nihilistic carnival that never stopped, and I often thought about it when we were back home and once again ensconced in our workaday routine. Even if I couldn’t be there, it was nice to know that at any given moment, it was five o’clock somewhere, and that the door to the party that never stopped was always open. As I write these words now, it is early Monday morning, and the party is over. I cannot stop watching Hurricane Katrina make its way straight for the Crescent City. On a map, the hurricane seems so small and eminently stoppable. We know this is not true — the storm is bearing down on the shoreline like a runaway train. But we’re human, so we keep hoping for some kind of miracle. I want to tell my grandchildren about the time the biggest, meanest hurricane ever got right up to the doorstep of that beautiful, ratty old city, and then somehow bounced off like a pinball and sputtered itself out over the Gulf of Mexico. But I don’t know what’s going to happen, here in the middle of the night. You have an advantage over me, reading these words. It’s now Wednesday or later, and you know what went down. Although given the likely outcome, I might be in the better position right now. Because I’m not sure I want to know. Please, if you haven’t already, donate to the Red Cross today. They’re going to be in the area for years, helping people put their lives back together.

ARTS&LIFE

August 31, 2005

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In 1991, Doug and Dave started a new band — the Love Zombies. “We concentrated on writing. We put out two CDs, and we were almost picked up by Columbia Records,” Doug said. “We opened for Loverboy, the Fixx, the Romantics; a lot of bands, playing our original music.” Last year, the Nu-Tones reunited. “The time was right. The new bands coming out have a British power pop inﬂuence,” Doug said. He and Dave and the rest of the Nu-Tones — Paul Juhasz, sax and guitar; Brian Pribis, bass; and Rick Zeithaml, guitar — will return to Promenade Park to play RiverFest on Sept. 4. The band will take the stage at 7 p.m. for the free show. The Nu-Tones also will be at the Village Idiot, 10 p.m. Sept. 23, 309 Conant St., Maumee. — Vicki L. Kroll

Robert Shiels

Thursday

Friday

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Siblings influence one another. Just ask Doug Agosti. “My older sisters were really into the Beatles,” he said. “My older brother, Kevin, was in a popular Toledo band called These Guys. They would rehearse in the basement. My brother [Dave] and I always listened to them, watching in awe.” Doug started playing drums; Dave dabbled in guitar and began singing. “We liked the same music, the big three — the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who,” Doug said. “We were so influenced by the British invasion.” In 1982, fraternal twins Doug and Dave and a couple of friends formed the Nu-Tones in Toledo and covered British bands. “We were the first band to play at Party in the Park. We opened for Mitch Ryder in 1986,” Doug said.

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ARTS&LIFE

August 31, 2005

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Showcase Maumee at 7:30 p.m.

To pick up your pass please stop by Trotters Tavern 5131 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, After 4 p.m. daily. Please arrive early. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is NOT guaranteed. Theater is not responsible for seating overcapacity. Only one pass per person, while supplies last. This film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some intense sequences of violence and language.

OPENS NATIONWIDE SEPTERMBER 9

Almanac By Elizabeth Hazel

and Horoscope Sept. 1 - Sept. 8, 2005

Events: Venus-Jupiter-Spica alignment (9-1); Pluto direct station (9-2); New Moon in Virgo (9-4); Mercury enters Virgo (9-4).

Aries (March 21-April 19) New relationships ﬂourish. On the 1st you enter a new phase in relationships — balance idealism and reality. Intense feelings and thoughts underscore the transition over the weekend. A great plan or deal emerges on the 6th - 7th; join forces with like-minded people.

Libra (September 23-October 22) Mutual appreciation enhances sense of belonging. The Venus-Jupiter alignment in Libra accelerates endings and beginnings. Rethink what matters most. Messages from distant places arrive from the 3rd - 5th. Cherish people who share your ideals and goals from the 6th - 8th.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Treasures are within reach. Business ﬂourishes as this period begins, but your mind is busy solving various complicated problems. Social opportunities over the weekend are therapeutic. Conversations and visits from the 6th - 8th offer guidance and sympathy.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21) Shelve ideas that are ahead of their time. Hidden pleasures are sweet, but others may struggle with abrupt transitions on the 1st - 2nd. Expand social networks over the weekend. Good timing on the 7th - 8th provides ingenious solutions and averts bloopers.

Gemini (May 21-June 21) Old friends lead to new friends. Adjustments in relationships reﬂect slow inner changes over the past ﬁve years. Discoveries rock foundations on the 2nd - 3rd; weekend exchanges provide fresh perspectives. Shared interests attract pleasant company on the 6th - 7th.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Divide complicated problems into easy-to-ﬁx pieces. Admirable progress is tainted with annoying peripheral conditions. The New Moon brings desired adjustments points with long-term effects. Word-of-mouth recommendations bring great fortune after Labor Day.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) Prepare for entrances and exits. Family health/wellness is the focus on the 2nd - 3rd; invisible irritants are revealed as the culprits. Contacts with sibs/friends enhance the holiday — house-guests possible. Handle paper work and domestic details on the 7th - 8th.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Opportunities arrive from out of the blue. Every area of life groans as you turn the corner into autumn schedules. News from in-laws arrives around the holiday. Re-arrange your home or ofﬁce furniture from 6th - 8th for comfort, convenience, and beauty.

Leo (July 23-August 22) Monotony is your nemesis. Follow your dreams and work to re-arrange your life to better suit you after the 1st. Your desires drive you through this period and give you iron-willed tenacity. The means to achieve goals are more apparent and accessible after the 6th.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18) Airy ideas feed a bonfire of ambition. Your tastes, and subsequently your aims, take a fresh, re-energized direction on the 1st- 2nd. Although finances may be wobbly from past strains, love, friendship, and networking benefits flourish after the 6th.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

New phases grow from stable foundations. A wave of turning points deﬁnes this period — both visible and invisible. The New Moon in your sign on the 3rd inspires ideas for the future. Loved ones are a source of blessings on the 6th - 7th. Acquire needed equipment.

Pisces (February 19-March 20) Conﬁdence produces great performances. Last-minute demands and quick changes on the 1st - 2nd leave you longing for a peaceful weekend, reminiscing about the good old days. Full speed into the future after the 6th; good luck arrives through partners on the 8th.

Elizabeth Hazel is a professional tarotist-astrologer and author. She has been giving tarot-astrology readings at Manos Greek Restaurant every Wednesday night since 1990. She may be contacted at ehazel@buckeye-express.com. (c) 2005

CLASSIFIEDS

August 31, 2005

TO PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD, CALL (419) 241-8500. AUTO DONATIONS DONATE A CAR To help children and their families suffering from cancer. Free towing. Tax deductible. Children’s Cancer Fund of America, Inc. www.ccfoa.org 1 (800) 469-8593 DONATE YOUR CAR boat, or RV to help children ﬁghting diabetes. Tax deductible and free towing. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation thanks you. Please call 1 (800) 578-0408

LOTTERY WINNINGS GET YOUR CASH NOW! As seen on TV. We pay the most for future payments from lawsuits, annuities, & lotteries. Call Prosperity Partners to cash in. 1 (800) 373-1353 www.ppicash.com

PERSONALS CHRISTIAN DATING & FRIENDSHIP SERVICE Over 100,000 members, countless relationships, and marriages since 1989. Call for a free information package. 1 (800) 437-1931

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES EARN INSTANT CASH Processing simple e-mails online. Make$25.00 per email. No limit! Guaranteed paychecks! More amazing programs available! Partner up with our website and make $59.60 commission. www.RealCashPrograms.com MAKE BIG MONEY Answering simple surveys online! Earn $250/hour! $25.00 per survey completed. Guaranteed paychecks! Instant cash grants! Receive $10,000 - $250,000! Never repay. More amazing opportunities! www.FastCashAtHome.com $750 WEEKLY SALARY! Workers needed immediately! 100% no commute. Genuine opportunity. Free info! Call now! 1 (800) 930-3714 24 hrs/day. MOVIE EXTRAS, ACTORS & MODELS! Make $100 - $300/Day. No experience required. FT/PT. All looks needed! Call 1 (800) 799-6151 MOVIE EXTRAS, ACTORS & MODELS! Make $100 - $300/day. No experience required. FT/PT. All looks needed! Call 1 (800) 799-6151 PATENT PENDING U. S. provisional patent applications. Total fee only $550. Product development and licensing assistance. Call (419) 385-9165

STEEL BUILDINGS ALL STEEL BUILDINGS! SUMMER CLEARANCE! 24 x 24 - $3,850 36 x 40 - $6,090 48 x 90 - $13,890 Must sell! Call Mike 1 (800) 863-9128

ALL STEEL BUILDINGS First come! First served! 40 x 40, 50 x 100, 80 x 200 Call Luke 1 (800) 839-1073

SPAS/HOT TUBS

FOR SALE

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7 PERSON SPA Loaded. $96/mo. Cover & warranty. Can deliver. 1 (866) 776-0999

ACTORS/MODELS

APARTMENTS FOR RENT

MANUFACTURED HOME Clean, well-maintained manufactured home located on low trafﬁc street is ideal for a family. 2-3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, ﬁreplace & garden tub w/whirlpool jets in the master bedroom suite. Appliances included. Located in Erie, MI (2 miles from state line). $30,000 or best offer. Call Keith at (419) 841-3811 Hurry! Won’t last long!

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

MOVIE EXTRAS!! Earn $150 - $300/Day. All looks/types needed. No experience necessary. TV, music videos, commercials, ﬁlm, print. Call toll free 7 days a week! 1 (800) 260-3949 ext. 3504

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES SALES Join our power team of sales reps to offer Dish, Cingular, and more. Paid weekly with residuals and bonuses. Call 1(888) 218-3954.

COMPUTERS ONLINE JOBS EBAY WORKERS NEEDED Work with us online. $$$ Weekly. Use your own computer or laptop. No experience necessary. Call Online Supplier at 1 (800) 693-9398 ext. 1889 $990-$2,320 WEEKLY POSSIBLE! Starting next week. 80 companies need workers immediately. No suit! No commute! 100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED! FREE information. Call now! 1 (800) 676-9957 24 hrs/day

OLD WEST END 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. Oak ﬂoors and woodwork, decorative ﬁreplace, professional decor. Willing to customize to meet your needs. We love your pets!!! Ask about our 3-Star program. $385 & up. (419) 304-1013 (419) 244-0727 JACKMAN/ALEXIS AREA Clean, newly remodeled, 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. $350-$460 plus utilities. Bus line, patio doors. Call Jennifer for your private showing. (419) 270-0019

FOR RENT UNITS FOR RENT 638 Leonard 1 bedrm., appliances, heat included. $375. 579 Yondota 2 bedrm. lower $395. 579 Leonard 2 bedrm. upper $350. More available! (419) 836-8612

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

FINANCIAL CASH PAID NOW For your structured settlement and annuity payments. Best price guaranteed! Oldest/best in the business. Call for free quote. Settlements Purchasers 1 (877) Money-Me STOP FORECLOSURE GUARANTEED This is not bankruptcy. We do not buy houses. 1 (800) 771-4453 ext. 2525 www.house911.com

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

VIAGRA Prescription strength alternative (30 blue tabs 100 mg $89.95) No prescription needed. Free shipping. 1 (888) 527-0870 ext. NN2 www.usaveonpills.com DID YOU SUFFER A HEART ATTACK? Stroke, blood clot, or heart surgery while taking VIOXX, CELEBREX, or BEXTRA? You may have a claim worth $250,000+. Toll-free 1 (877) 833-0926

MEDICAL/HEALTH CARE ACCUPUNCTURIST, NATUROPATH, REFLEXOLOGIST and like-minded practitioners needed for new holistic therapy center to be located in Temperance, MI. Call (419) 699-2279 HEALTHCARE FOR $59.93/MONTH! New low price! For the entire family! Prescriptions, dental, vision, hospitalization, more! Pre-existing conditions OK! Call P. S. Family Healthcare 1 (800) 531-2630

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TRUCKS ‘98 ISUZU RODEO SUV For sale, 4-wheel drive, white, 98,000 miles, good condition, $5000 ﬁrm. (419) 470-0971

FAMILY HEALTHCARE WITH PRESCRIPTION PLAN! Only $69.95/month. Nationwide coverage. No limitations. Includes doctors, dental, vision, hospital & more. Everyone is accepted. Call WCG at 1 (800) 288-9214 ext. 2358

MISC. SERVICES EARN DEGREE ONLINE from home. Medical. Business. Paralegal. Computers. Job Placement Assistance. Computer & ﬁnancial aid if qualify. 1 (866) 858-2121 www. onlinetidewatertech.com

OWNER OPEN HOUSE Elegant & Livable!

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SERVICE POSITIONS SECRET SHOPPERS NEEDED For store evaluations. Get paid to shop. Local stores, restaurants & theaters. Training provided, ﬂexible hours, email required. 1 (800) 585-9024 ext. 6262

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AA-1 APPLIANCES Washers $70 & up. Refrigerators & ranges $100 & up. Appliance repair. Mention this ad and receive 10% off. 3328 Lagrange. (419) 244-0202

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Direct financing of more than $849 million for business

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Wonderful 4/5 bdrm./4.5 bath like-new home in desirable Monclova Township with Anthony Wayne schools. Large, flat, symmetrical lot (3/4 acre) is perfect for family play or swimming pool. Finished basement provides 5100+ sq. ft. livable space. Custom deck with retractable awning. Open Sat. & Sun. Sept. 3rd and 4th – 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

improvement and expansions involving more than $1.4 billion of capital investments. Creating and retaining more than

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Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority | One Maritime Plaza | Toledo, Ohio 43604-1866 U.S.A. (419) 243-8251 | www.toledoportauthority.org