Toledo Free Press – Jan. 5, 2014 by Toledo Free Press

Jan. 5, 2014

Best Weekly Newspaper in Ohio 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards

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Opinion

Year in review

Managing Editor Sarah Ottney on the people and stories that grabbed local headlines in 2013. page 3

Newsmakers

Bell in Germany

Outgoing Mayor Mike Bell’s controversial trip to Germany in April has led to a couple visits from foreign investors. page 9

Brian Matters

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Star

Battle of Lake Erie

Frank Kuron on the re-enactment of the Battle of Lake Erie and other War of 1812 bicentennial events. page 13

Community

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2013

In the months since Brian Hoeflinger died in a drunken driving accident, his parents have channeled their pain into activism, speaking out about underage drinking and publishing a book. page 10

d o F r ee P

buzz generators WILL LUCAS, LESLIE ADAMS, SAM MELDEN, D. MICHAEL COLLINS and ROMULES DURANT lead our slate of 2013 newsmakers.

Toledo Free Press

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

January 5, 2014

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MANAGING EDITOR’S statement

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

DON LEE

Year in review

here’s something about the min- people who generate that certain buzz. utes ticking down on New Year’s Who have that spark, that vision, that Eve, heralding the start of another infectious energy or quiet strength that inspires those around them to calendar year, that prompts reflection. Anyone on social media prob- new heights. Five of them — D. Michael Collins, ably found their Dec. 31 feeds full of Romules Durant, Sam year-in-review posts Melden, Will Lucas and as friends looked back Leslie Adams, all Toledo on 2013’s graduations, natives — are featured weddings, babies, new on this week’s cover. jobs and other personal Collins, a Toledo milestones while also City Councilman and looking ahead with retired Toledo police hope and well-wishes officer, surprised many for 2014. people when he jumped At the end of each ahead of Councilman year, Toledo Free Press Sarah OTTNEY Joe McNamara and editors also look back on Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez to some of the year’s biggest news stories. Perhaps the biggest newsmaker of nab the second spot in the mayoral prithe year was also the smallest. Baby mary behind incumbent Mayor Mike Elaina Steinfurth dominated local head- Bell. He surprised even more when he lines for months, even drawing national defeated Bell by a wide margin in the attention, as law enforcement officers general election. Durant hit the ground running joined by hundreds of volunteers spent months searching for the East Toledo after being named interim superintentoddler reported missing in June. When dent of Toledo Public Schools (TPS) her remains were discovered in the raf- in April. A TPS graduate and veteran ters of a detached garage in September, TPS teacher and administrator, his the community’s heart collectively broke. energy, drive and enthusiasm immeIn December, her mother and mother’s diately set a more positive tone for ex-boyfriend pleaded guilty to murder the district. Many credit him with sparking enough confidence in voters and began serving life sentences. Brian Hoeflinger was another to finally pass a levy for TPS. In Deyoung life cut short too soon. The cember, he was rewarded with a four18-year-old honor student was killed year contract extension. Melden has been leading with a in a drunken driving accident on Feb. 2. His parents, Brian and Cindy creative vision since taking the helm Hoeflinger, almost immediately em- of local nonprofit Food for Thought in barked on a campaign to raise aware- 2011. Events like Jam City and Food ness of underage drinking. His father Fight 419 generated new excitement and has written a book and the couple awareness as well as thousands of dollars started an organization, Brian Mat- toward helping Toledo’s food-insecure ters, hoping to prevent more accidents families. Even Melden’s preferred title — like the one that cost their son his life. chief thought officer instead of executive Yet more heartache came in March director — reflects his outside-the-box as 20-year-old Kaitlin Gerber was shot thinking. In the past year, the organizaand killed by ex-boyfriend Jashua Perz, tion has nearly doubled its mobile sites one of the city’s 31 homicides of 2013 and established partnerships with Glass and one that raised awareness of how Wear, Actual Coffee and the Toledo domestic violence protection orders Farmers’ Market. Lucas also had a big year. In Jancan fall short. uary, the local entrepreneur launched But it wasn’t all heartbreak. Many of our newsmakers are education startup Classana and in

September, organized the second annual sold-out TEDxToledo. Nationally-renowned portrait artist Adams has been quietly making a name for herself in the art world. The work she creates in her Huron Street studio has been displayed at the Toledo Museum of Art and Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Her latest was recently installed at the Ohio Statehouse. Small-business owner Sandy Spang burst onto the political scene in a big way, earning a spot on Toledo City Council after placing third in both the primary and general election. Former Mayor Bell’s trip to Germany in April and the news that a trio of local investors was interested in privatizing operation of the area’s two airports were met with both applause and derision. Lexi Staples, executive director of the Pride of Toledo Foundation, has helped grow Toledo Pride from 2,500 attendees in 2010 to upwards of 13,000 this summer. She also helped spearhead the opening of Pride Center 419, a community center geared toward the needs of Toledo’s LGBT community. Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 10, No. 1. Established 2005. EDITORIAL James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

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In the sports realm, the Mud Hens unveiled plans for a multimillion-dollar Downtown renovation project around Fifth Third Field and announced Larry Parrish would return as manager. The announcement that Toledo native Jamie Farr was stepping down from hosting the annual LPGA tournament that has borne his name since 1984 marked the end of an era. Marathon Petroleum took over as title sponsor. Many neighborhoods gained bright splashes of color as the Organization of Latino Artists and Toledo Free Press contributor Rachel Richardson of Art Corner Toledo helped organize several new murals now dotting the South End and Downtown. Arts lovers and historians alike smiled as the longshuttered Ohio Theatre reopened. Other notable events included the last live harness race at Toledo’s Raceway Park, a sinkhole that swallowed a car and Cedar Point’s newest roller coaster GateKeeper, built by Ohio companies. Toledo Free Press also covered many of the community’s “unsung” newsmakers, among them Craig Schuele, who is raising six adopted kids; Mark

Greenblatt, who lost 150 pounds during his weight-loss journey; and all the servicemen and women featured in our annual Fourth of July military yearbook. Another could be Toledo Free Press columnist Jeremy Baumhower, who had a busy year brainstorming various charity events, including a kids’ race in honor of the Boston Marathon bombing victims and This is Me, a fundraiser for Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio featuring portraits of local women sans makeup. Just last month, Toledo celebrated the 100th anniversary of the slogan “You Will Do Better in Toledo.” We agree. For the fifth year in a row, Toledo Free Press was named best weekly newspaper in its 75,000-plus circulation class by the Ohio chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, an honor we aim to defend as best we can moving forward. Here’s to a new year. Thank you for joining us in 2013, and we look forward to seeing what 2014 has in store. O Sarah Ottney is managing editor of Toledo Free Press. Contact her at sottney@toledofreepress.com.

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

ADMINISTRATION Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com

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4 . Newsmakers 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

January 5, 2014

Search for Baby Elaina ends in heartbreak

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Elaina Steinfurth would have turned 2 on Dec. 20. Instead her life was cut short at the hands of her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. The East Toledo toddler who became known simply as Baby Elaina sparked the concern and compassion of the community, region and even the nation in the months after she was reported missing June 2. Family, friends and community members who searched, prayed and gathered for vigils and marches were devestated when remains found in a box in the rafters of a garage behind the house in which she was last seen were determined by DNA to be those of Elaina. The cause of death was found to be “non-accidental trauma” and her death was declared a homicide Nov. 6. On Dec. 3, Lucas County Court of Common Pleas judges handed down life sentences to Elaina’s mother, Angela Steinfurth, and Steinfurth’s ex-boyfriend Steven W. King, for Elaina’s death.

gators to focus on searching in and ment in both courtrooms, his voice breaking several times. around the Maumee River at first. “She was a playful little girl who At a news conference following the hearings, Lucas County Prosecutor was full of energy,” Steinfurth Jr. Julia Bates said she hoped the convic- said of his daughter. “She loved to tions would allow family and commu- swing and to chase her older sister Kylee around the house. She was also nity members to begin healing. “You may ask us, ‘Why did we a very loving baby who loved to be make a deal with the devil here held and cuddled.” Steinfurth Jr. said his daughter was today?’” Bates said. “[Everyone involved with the case] did a great deal “strong and determined” and that’s what gave him the strength to keep of soul-searching about making any kind of concession to the killer of a little child. “[Experts] looked at those bones and gave us some answers, but the answers that they gave us did not answer all of the questions. … There wsmak are things we would Ne never have known if we had not made an agreement. “I believe it was justice,” Bates said. “I believe it was right and l e d o F r ee P true and honorable.” Elaina’s father, Angela’s estranged husband Terry Steinfurth Jr., read a state-

sottney@toledofreepress.com

Both pleaded guilty to all charges related to the toddler’s death and signed prearranged plea deals. King, 24, was sentenced to 25 years to life: 20 years to life for aggravated murder, two years for obstruction of justice, two years for tampering with evidence and one year for abuse of a corpse. Steinfurth, 26, was sentenced to 18 years to life: 15 years to life for murder and three years for obstruction of justice. She signed an Alford plea to avoid other charges, meaning she did not admit to the crimes but acknowledged there was sufficient evidence for conviction. According to prosecutors, Steinfurth became frustrated when Elaina wouldn’t stop crying. She grabbed the toddler by a limb and threw her across a bedroom, where she hit the wall, bed and floor. The next morning, both panicking over the extent of her injuries, King covered Elaina’s nose and mouth with his hand until she stopped breathing, then hid her body in the garage. Misleading statements from both Steinfurth and King caused investi-

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

2013

By Sarah Ottney

pursuing justice for her during the past six months. “She was a fighter,” he said. “Due to being born with problems with her feet, doctors said it would take her longer than normal to be able to learn to walk, but with months of physical therapy she was walking by her first birthday.” Steinfurth Jr. called the actions of Steinfurth and King “selfish and senseless.” “The loss of Elaina has left the entire family with a gaping hole in their heart,” he said, adding that his other daughter, 4-year-old Kylee, was affected most and doesn’t understand why her sister is no longer there. “The question that leaves me completely baffled is how anyone can harm an innocent 18-month-old baby girl in any way,” he said. “Yet I know I will never get the answers to that question because as a loving father I can never comprehend any answer or excuse given. There is no justification for harming an innocent child.” O

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Newsmakers 2013

January 5, 2014

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

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During the past 12 months, D. Michael Collins decided to run for mayor, pulled off a come-from-behind victory and met the president of the United States. A few weeks ago, Collins and his wife Sandy toured a South Toledo home on a whim. They put in an offer on the house days later. To say Collins has had a whirlwind year would be an understatement. Just weeks after being elected as the next mayor of Toledo, Collins was standing in line to board a plane when he looked down at his phone and saw the White House was calling him. Collins took the call in disbelief, as Sandy, who had no idea who was on the other line, scoffed that her husband was stepping out of line to take a call. On Dec. 13, Collins and other newly-elected mayors from across the country met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Collins said Obama spoke individually with each guest about ways his administration could help their cities. Collins said he spoke to Obama about brownfield restoration, algae blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie and poverty, including his intention to establish a mentorship program that would pair kids most in need with “academic stars,” who would be paid a stipend. “He really likes that idea. I was impressed that the president embraced

bdick@toledofreepress.com

the concept and defined it as forward- tions have been made based on substance, which opens me up for criticism,” Collins thinking,” Collins said. Collins said he was also impressed said. “My hope is that before I’m judged too harshly over those decisions, how much the meeting delved that they would be allowed to into specifics about the needs wsmak e N demonstrate that those deciof each city. sions were made with a deep “I initially thought it concern for the citizens and would be more of a public the community.” relations experience than a Collins said another of true meeting with substance. le his biggest challenges will be But it was absolutely not a PR d o F r e e P winning over business comeffort. It was very substantial munity members who may not and I have a new respect for President Obama and the quality of his char- have backed him during the election. “I have to prove to the community acter,” Collins said. Just a year ago, Collins never imagined who have unfairly stereotyped me as a he’d be meeting with the president. Or, for one-dimensional person who has been that matter, running for mayor. But in No- bought by organized labor that that vember, Collins bested incumbent Mike is not a true evaluation of my level of commitment and my approach to govBell by a 14-point margin. Leading up to the September primary, ernment,” Collins said. Collins was coy when asked about Collins was pitted against Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez and City Coun- specifics, but said Toledoans should cilman Joe McNamara, whose head- expect a major announcement about a butting gave Collins the opportunity to company coming to Toledo in the next few months. nab the second-place spot behind Bell. “I will tell you it is a big one,” ColCollins isn’t a newcomer to the Toledo political scene. He finished fourth in the lins said. “In the course of life, there are 2009 mayoral race, and has held the Dis- pendulum moments. And when the trict 2 Council seat since 2007. But he said pendulum swings to the positive, as I think it will in the first quarter of the this election cycle was different. “The outcome was a very humbling year, I think we will see dynamic busiexperience, but it also clearly defined ness decisions being made. “Twelve months ago, if you asked me that the voters mandated me to live up to the expectations they have,” Collins said. if I had any thought about being where I Ahead of his swearing-in during am today, I would tell you unequivocally the first week of January, Collins as- no. I had no plans or expectations that in December 2013, my life would be drasembled his staff. “My appointments for director posi- matically changed,” Collins said. O

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

2013

By Bailey G. Dick

toledo free press photo AND COVER PHOTO by CHRISTIE materni

From underdog to 22nd floor: Toledo’s new mayor had year of changes

D. MICHAEL COLLINS DEFEATED MIKE BELL TO BECOME TOLEDO’S NEXT MAYOR.

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Newsmakers 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Local investors express interest in managing area airports sottney@toledofreepress.com

toledoairports.com, where they intend to lay out their plans for public review and input before a formal proposal is made to Toledo City Council. The website contains a summary of their qualifications and experience, fre-

quently asked questions and a contact form. The first document, a marketability study, was posted Dec. 6. “So far the responses we’ve received through the website have been almost universally positive,” Dock David said in wsmak an email on Jan. 1. “In Ne fact, we’ve heard from a number of people about even more previously unknown opportunities. There have le been a few inquisitive d o F r ee P reactions — people raising said they plan to post in the coming questions that will be answered weeks are their full business plan and as more information is released.” Toledo Express Airport and Toledo a 10-year financial forecast. “We want to be as transparent as Executive Airport are both owned by the City of Toledo and managed by the possible,” Dock David said. The Treeces are Toledo Free Press Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Among the documents the Treeces contributors. O

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It’s time.

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The news, revealed in October, that a group of local investors was considering

a proposal to take over operation of Northwest Ohio’s two airports was met with both cautious interest and derision. In November, Dock David Treece, his father Dock Treece and brother Ben Treece launched a website, www.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

By Sarah Ottney

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Newsmakers 2013

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Toledo Public School (TPS) Superintendent Romules Durant believes in being out in the field. He walks around his schools so much that he wears out three pairs of shoes a month. He orders new shoes 10 at a time. “In order for me to serve students best, I have to be grounded in their presence,” Durant said. “I want to change the paradigm of superintendency, being in the buildings, being involved. I tell people Dr. Durant is above no one, and no one is above Dr. Durant, and I make that a reality.” TPS selected Durant as interim superintendent in April. He told Toledo Free Press this summer he did not have an “interim mentality.” “If you try to rush a vision within a short period of time all you’re going to have is dysfunction as well as an overburdened staff. My actions are based on full force hitting the ground running,” Durant said. The high mark of Durant’s time at TPS so far was the November passage of the 6.5-mill renewal levy. Without passage of the levy, the district would have had to make cuts, Durant said. His presence and high level of involvement in

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Durant also knows a student’s educathe community helped earn local suption is affected by what happens outside port for the levy. the classroom. He wants to integrate On Dec. 17, the district chose Durant as programs like the United Way and superintendent. He said his biggest wsmak YMCA into the school commugoal is to continue implementing e N nities. He even plans to give the transformation plan he outside programs space in the helped design three years ago. schools to operate. He plans to emphasize dual “Education can’t be the socredit and certification prolution to the problem alone,” grams to provide a streamlined he said. career track for students and l e d o F r ee P Durant believes students continued community outreach. excel in positive leadership roles. “My goal is not necessarily im“Providing kids leadership opportunipacting TPS, but impacting the city of Toledo,” Durant said. “If the city is strong, the ties within the schools, I can’t stress that enough,” he said. “They become the drivers school is strong.” One of the biggest problems facing the of the culture of your building.” Durant said he believes in building district, Durant said, is students starting their first year of school already develop- relationships and has worked to do so mentally behind. That is one reason he his entire career. He still keeps a towel stresses getting the entire community in- given to him by the custodial staff at one school as a symbol of their gratitude for volved in education. Durant grew up on the East Side. He his kindness and showing genuine ingraduated from Waite High School in 1994 terest in them. “If I treat people with respect they will and attended the University of Toledo on a football scholarship. He received a doc- always remember and they will come totorate in education and administration gether to remember that, but those bridges you build on the way up are your support from UT in 2007. Durant has worked for the district in var- base when you’re there.” Ultimately, Durant said he is TPS proud. ious positions since 2004. He said his experi“Those aren’t just words, they’re a way ences in the schools have helped him underof life,” he said. O stand how to be a better superintendent.

2013

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

toledo free press photo by CHRISTIE materni

Durant leads TPS through levy, into future By Casey Harper

January 5, 2014

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

Toledo public schools superintendent romules durant.

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Toledo Mayor Mike Bell traveled to Germany in April to attend the industrial trade show Hannover Messe with the intention of promoting the Toledo region to international companies and investors. Two companies have since visited Toledo to consider opening operations in the region, said D. Paul Zito, vice president of international development with the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP). Zito, who has attended the Hannover Messe for the past 15 years, accompanied Bell on the trip along with Deputy Mayor of External Affairs and Economic Development Paul Syring, City Finance Director Patrick McLean and others. The mayor also visited Toledo’s sister city of Delmenhorst and toured Bremen, a port city similar to Toledo. “Mayor Bell’s trip to Germany for the Hannover Fair and events with sister city Delmenhorst was great promotion for the Toledo region,” Zito said in an email to Toledo Free Press on Dec. 23. “He met with German companies such as Kuka and Argo-Hytos, which employ hundreds in the Toledo area. He also helped to pitch the city of Toledo and the region to German companies as well as to companies from Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and the UK. “Since then two leads from the Hannover Fair have visited Toledo to con-

sottney@toledofreepress.com

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR

2013

By Sarah Ottney

toledo free press photo by SARAH OTTNEY

Bell’s Germany trip generated some leads

WILFRIED EBERHARDT OF KUKA, left, demonstrates d o F r ee P a robotic arm to D. Paul Zito, Patrick mclean, Mayor Mike Bell and Paul Syring during the hannover messe in germany in april.

sider opening operations in the region. We have several current projects from Germany with the potential for over 200 jobs and over $100 million to be invested in new manufacturing facilities.” Bell, McLean and Syring, who were visiting the fair for the first time, came away convinced Toledo needed to have a continued presence at the fair. “We need to be here because Toledo has tremendous potential, but without letting people know Toledo exists, we will not reach that potential,” McLean said. Other U.S. cities, including Akron, have been courting international companies for decades, McLean said. Bell, who also traveled to China, Japan and India during his term as mayor, weathered criticism that his overseas trips were ineffective use

of taxpayer money from many, including Councilman D. Michael Collins, who later defeated Bell to become Toledo’s next mayor. Dean Monske, president and CEO of the RGP, has already reached out to the new mayor, Zito said. “The RGP is confident that the new administration at the City of Toledo will support the efforts of the RGP and its partners to promote this region for foreign direct investment,” Zito said. “We look forward to working with Mayor-elect D. Michael Collins and his economic development team.” McLean has since left Toledo to take a job as director of the Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service at Albion College. Bell and Syring did not respond to requests for comment. O

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10 Newsmakers 2013

Family channels pain into activism

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This time last year, Brian Hoeflinger was entering the final half of his senior year at Ottawa Hills High School. He had just celebrated his 18th birthday Dec. 28. The aspiring dentist was considering colleges, among them the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a 32 on the ACT and a 4.5 GPA, the choices were seemingly endless. It was going to be a good year for Brian, a proud year for his family. On the night of Feb. 1, Brian drank at a party, drove and crashed into a tree. Just like that, it was over. He would not graduate. He would not turn 19. He would not go to Chapel Hill. The acceptance letter came two days after his death. “It is horrible. You want them back so much and you can’t get them back. It is on my mind constantly. It is on [my wife] Cindy’s mind constantly,” said his father, Brian Hoeflinger, on Dec. 23. “It is so senseless. It sickens me to see all that potential and to have it wasted on alcohol.” But the Hoeflingers would not just bury their son and mourn. They would bury their son, mourn and try to make a difference for Brian, their three other children and the rest of the community. His dad would be the spokesman. The resulting crusade, Brian Matters, began almost immediately after his death. “We wanted to get it out in the open and not be ashamed of it,” Hoeflinger said. Brian was a good boy — but even good boys make mistakes. They refused to be ashamed of how their son died. “Parents need to talk about it; they need to start a line of conversation,” Hoeflinger said in one of the many interviews he has done since his son died. “Millions of parents don’t think of talking about it because they don’t think their kids are doing it.” In 2011, the results from a local health assessment mirrored national trends. The survey indicated that 54 percent of Lucas County youth in grades seven through 12 had consumed at least one drink in their life. More than half of the seventh- through 12th-graders who reported drinking in the past 30 days participated in binge drinking, while 6 percent of all youth drivers had driven in the past month after they had been drinking. The Hoeflingers began speaking to local high schools, encouraging them to take Brian’s pledge to not drink. His dad is convinced Brian would have done it differently if he had had a second chance. Initially, “Brian dying was a

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huge eye-opener,” his friend Tyler Grandsko said for a story about the prevalence of underage drinking. But it didn’t last long. Within wsmak two weeks, some teens had Ne gone back to their old ways. This is why the Hoeflingers are not stopping. “It is hard to accept his life is over for something le d o F r ee P so nonsensical,” Hoeflinger said. In August, the clerk who sold Brian’s friend the liquor was indicted and shortly after Foxx Liquor Store lost its liquor license. The given them a purpose, the Hoeflingers said they saw the clerk, family’s suffering is still raw. The first Nicholas Thompson, at the mall while Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthday without Brian were almost unbearable. Christmas shopping. They didn’t put the bulbs on the tree “We wondered how he would feel if he couldn’t walk around with his this year. Only recently did they build the ice skating rink in the backyard at daughter,” he said. The crusade will continue. Hoefling- the urging of son Kevin. Hoeflinger said er’s book, “The Night He Died: The he has put off hanging the stockings beHarsh Reality of Teenage Drinking,” cause he will have to put up Brian’s. “Everything first is hard. Once you will be available starting in mid-January do it, it will make it OK and will make through Amazon and Kindle. The Hoeflingers are also finalizing it easier for next year.” For Brian’s birthday, his mom hosted an appearance on a national television show and working to change the so- a bowling party, a sport that Brian had cial host law. Currently, you have to started to like before he died. Hoeflinger know that underage kids are drinking said the day will be bittersweet, but rein your home to be liable; however, “if membering Brian is how they display you act ignorant, you are off the hook,” their love for him. They will not stop Hoeflinger said. “Parents have to take speaking about their son. “There is no reason to not take a a little more responsibility instead of just saying, ‘I don’t know.’ If you have tragedy and turn it into something good,” more potential to go to jail, you will go he said. “The worst thing would have been to put him in the grave and mourn down and check on the kids.” While starting Brian Matters has him and not talk about it again.”O

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Portrait master

January 5, 2014

2013 marked ‘turning point’ in Toledo artist Leslie Adams’ career.

By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

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2013

N “The vision of Virginia Outwin Boochever was to increase awareness about portraiture as a vibrant art form,” said Wendy le Wick Reaves, interim dido rector of the museum, in a news release. In March, Adams said she was motivated by Boochever’s vision. “I think so many people walk in museums, and with realistic portraiture … they think this is done from somebody a long time ago,” Adams said. “I think what she means is that there are still living, breathing people that paint portraits. It’s not a lost art; it’s not a dying art. It’s still a profession and it’s just an amazing profession to be in.” Adams said she would be interested in entering the contest again. “It’ll be sad when it ends,” Adams said. “It’s been really a turning point in my career.” Also this year, Adams won the grand prize at the International Por-

This year has been a big one for Toledo artist Leslie Adams. In March, Adams attended a private event in Washington, D.C. where she celebrated being one of 48 artists included in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The show is on display until Feb. 23 at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. “What’s really nice is the location of the exhibition,” Adams said. “It’s right near the Hall of Presidents and so it’s amazing to go through the portrait collection and see George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and then Bill Clinton and George Bush and beyond that, I see my own drawing. That was a little freaky experience but a wonderful one.” Adams’ drawing, one of the 3,000 pieces entered, is a charcoal-drawn self-portrait featuring her sitting in front of MRI images of her brain. Adams was inspired, among other things, by a quote from Michelangelo: “A man paints with his brains, not his hands.” Adams, who suffered a minor stroke in the past, had access to images of her brain, which she used in the drawing. Adams heard about the competition while she was a member of the Portrait Society of America. The triennial juried exhibition invites works in traditional media, including oil paintings, drawings and photographs, according to a news release. The competition, which Adams said brought her a lot of exposure, was started after Virginia Outwin Boochever left $2 million to the gallery when she died.

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Toledo artist Leslie Adams recently painted a portrait that now hangs in the Ohio Statehouse. TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY CHRISTIE MATERNI

trait Competition, sponsored by the Portrait Society of America in April. Adams won $12,000 in the competition and it was the first time a drawing won the contest and the second time a woman won. Adams has worked in Downtown Toledo for close to 20 years after growing up in the South End. She has spent most of her time the past few months painting political figures. Adams has completed portraits of Paul Gillmor for the Ohio Senate and Justice Francis Sweeney and Judge

Robert Morton Duncan for the Supreme Court of Ohio. Recently, Adams’ portrait of former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Jo Ann Davidson was unveiled at the Ohio Statehouse. According to a news release, Adams was commissioned to paint the portrait by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board through the Ladies’ Gallery Committee chaired by former Attorney General and Auditor of Ohio Betty Montgomery. Adams said each portrait re-

quires an average of 400 hours of work. Adams employs a traditional technique of portrait painting, which consists of a lengthy process of drawing and painting multiple layers of flesh tones and light. Much of this process is spent really getting to know the subject, physically and on a personal level, Adams said. In 2014, Adams will do another portrait for the Supreme Court of Ohio and two portraits for a new hospital at Ohio State University. O

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Star 13

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Entrepreneur champions education with Classana, TEDxToledo

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Local entrepreneur Will Lucas was the brains behind several big projects in 2013, including educational resource website Classana, which launched in January, and TEDxToledo, an annual speakers series held in September that sold out for the second consecutive year. TEDxToledo featured 23 speakers on topics ranging from art, music, science, business, politics and more. “The thing that’s so unique about TEDxToledo is the diversity you’ll get when you’re in the room,” Lucas said.

wsmak fers users personalized that we were able to continue to Ne suggestions for online build upon that lineup of truly eneducational activities. gaging speakers. Toledo is so full “There’s people of compelling stories, talent, and creating all these passions that the folks we have fantastic online here who are out there making life learning resources, happen for themselves and others l e d P o F r ee but there’s nowhere you make my curation job easy.” can go online that you can Planning is already underway for the third TEDxToledo, to be held in Sep- be presented with these options based particularly and specifically on your tember 2014. “Toledo has been very welcoming interests,” Lucas said. “A lot of this stuff is already on of TEDxToledo,” Lucas said. “I’m humbled to be the curator of such an Google, but I have to know to search for it on Google. What if I don’t know in-demand series.” 2014 will also be a big year for Lucas’ that it even exists? Classana, because it education startup Classana, which of- knows who I am and what I’m already re

sottney@toledofreepress.com

“Where else can you go and see a CEO sitting next to a farmer, or a physicist sitting next to an artist and all are having the same conversation — how to move our city forward? It’s a LUCAS remarkable experience. “The feedback we continue to get from attendees is consistent or better than what we got with the first event we produced in 2012,” Lucas said. “We get rave reviews on our speaker quality, and someone told me they were impressed

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TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAR MANAGING EDITOR

2013

By Sarah Ottney

interested in, it knows to present me with these things and I don’t have to go searching for them. “We launched an early beta version of the site a few months ago and will be resetting with a faster and all-around better upgrade of the site and mobile experience in early 2014,” Lucas said. “Our mission is to help people find their way and we accomplish that by organizing the world’s learning resources. “This is no easy undertaking, but I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and the future looks so amazingly bright. It’s going to be exciting stuff and I can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on.” O

War of 1812 bicentennial brings region’s history to life on the battleground near Chathis victory by raising a replica tham, Ontario, drew thouof the fort and drawing more sands of visitors. than 10,000 people to its threeThe Toledo Museum of day history-oriented festival. Art contributed to the 200th On Sept. 10, 1813, the anniversary celebrations with Battle of Lake Erie concluded a special exhibit, “Perry’s Vicafter three hours of shelling. tory: The Battle of Lake Erie.” The scene was replayed Sept. Nearly 30,000 visitors viewed 2, 2013, in one of the most prized artwork depicting spectacular displays of tall wsmak Commodore Oliver Hazard ships witnessed on the Great e N Perry and the battle, as well Lakes since that day. More as artifacts including one of than 2,000 boats anchored on only six known copies of the the lake to view 1,400 volunTreaty of Ghent, which ended teers take on the personas of real participants the War of 1812. and fight again on one of the 15 replica ships. Many of the historic sites History enthusiasts arrived weeks before and l e d o F r e e P in the region are open yearafter the Labor Day re-enactment to view, tour round and have annual memorials and cruise on a ship that the Americans did not and celebrations. Check them out this coming give up on that historic day. With control of the lakes, the Americans had the year. “The future ain’t what it used to be,” said upper hand and pursued the enemy into Canada, Yogi, but the past sure was present last year. O where on Oct. 5, 1813, the Battle of the Thames occurred. This fight marked the end of the war in the Frank Kuron is author of the War of 1812 book, Northwest Territory as the British and Indians were “Thus Fell Tecumseh.” Email him at kuronpubs@ soundly defeated. On Oct. 5, 2013, a re-enactment bex.net.

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t’s déjà vu all over again!” Yogi Berra fa- riors joined as allies to attack Fort Meigs. They mously said, and he was right, as names from failed, and in July, they failed yet again. This historic rebuff was celebrated for three dusty history books came to days in May 2013 as thousands of life across the region visitors witnessed something quite this past year, portrayed by exceptional — the largest number re-enactors for thousands of of uniformed 1812 soldiers on the attendees at numerous historical grounds since the actual conflict. events. 2013 was the 200th anniAmid the smoke of cannon and versary of several epic conflicts musket fire, a memorial was dediof the War of 1812 that played cated to the Kentuckians who out right here in our own backserved in this battle. And, just yards. It was 1813 all over again! down the road at Fort Miamis, the Here, in what was known as esteemed British 41st Regiment of the Northwest Territory, 1813 Frank Kuron Foot was acknowledged with the began with American forces dedication of a historical marker. moving north into FrenchArtillery demonstrations, tours and town (now Monroe, Mich.) period craftsmen made the weekend both ento drive out a contingent of British and Indian forces. In January 2013, the River Raisin Battle- tertaining and educational. After their unsuccessful assault on Fort field National Park honored those who fell in the confrontation that ensued, known as the River Meigs, the enemy traveled 40 miles east to attack Raisin Massacre, with a march over the same tiny Fort Stephenson, in what is now Fremont. route those Americans had taken 200 years ear- Expecting an easy victory, they were surprised lier. Many other tributes, tactical demonstrations when they encountered a handful of feisty Americans whom they could not defeat. This past Auand lectures were also well-attended. In May 1813, British military and Indian war- gust, the Fremont community commemorated

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January 5, 2014

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Food for Thought’s leader uses creativity to engage

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James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com ADMINISTRATION

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2013

as the Hens’ manager from 2003-06 and 2008-10. His championships came back-to-back, in 2005 and 2006, and his total record with

League Manager of the Year in 2005. Parrish replaces Phil Nevin, who went 188-243 as the Mud Hens skipper the past three seasons. O

the Mud Hens stands at 513-489, making him Toledo’s all-time winningest manager. He was named the International

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A familiar face wsmak Ne will be returning to the Toledo Mud Hens dugout for the le 2014 season. d o Free P In September, it was announced Larry Parrish had agreed to return as the manager of the Mud Hens, his third stint with the Detroit Tigers’ AAA affiliate, which he has led to two International League championships. Parrish was inducted into the International League Hall of Fame last season, during which time he also led the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps to a 69-70 record. Toledo Mud Hens President and General Manager Joe Napoli said in a news release he is thrilled to have Parrish back. “As a manager, he’s a great teacher and I know we’ll see improvement in player development,” Napoli said. “For our fans, he’s always been a favorite. They will be glad to welcome him back.” Parrish, a two-time All-Star during his 15-year Major League playing career, previously served s er

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Lisa Renee Ward, Staff Writer Emeritus Darcy Irons, Marisha Pietrowski, Gary Varney Proofreaders

thousands of people every Saturday so it’s a really great place to meet a broad spectrum of people. Maybe people who could qualify for the food pantry and didn’t know it was in the area. Or people who are excited to give their time or a little of their hard-earned money to people in need,” said Liz Bergman, who manages the Westgate Farmers’ Market. In addition to Food for Thought’s now annual events, Melden said he plans to push a citywide initiative in March to remind people that hunger is a year-round issue. “We’ll continue to push the envelope when it comes to being creative in how to serve people and how to engage the community in fighting food insecurity,” he said. Melden also said he plans to focus on health initiatives in 2014, by working with gardeners, nutritionists and other professionals to examine barriers to healthy eating. “It can be anything from [lacking] knowledge to not having a proper working stove,” he said. O

Mud Hens announce Parrish will return as skipper

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Food for Thought, a local nonprofit serving the area’s food insecure, increased its presence in several ways during 2013, said Chief Thought Officer Sam Melden. “The name recognition is increasing. There are more people approaching Food for Thought wanting to get involved,” he said. Food for Thought, which started in 2007, runs its stationary food pantry at 3540 Seaman Road in Oregon and takes its mobile unit all over its service area. During 2013, Food for Thought expanded its mobile service locations from 10 sites to 18 and Melden expects more locations to be added in the next couple of months. The charity emphasizes thoughtfulness and building relationships with its patrons — meaning eye contact counts as much, if not more, than full stomachs, said Melden, a Lake High School graduate. Melden, who began working at Food for Thought about two and a half years ago, helped organize several fundraisers for the nonprofit in 2013, including Jam City and Food Fight 419. In May, 11 local restaurants presented creative dishes using elements of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches for the Jam City fundraiser. The event

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coincided with Food for Thought’s sixth anniversary and was attended by more than 300 people. “It was a huge success,” Melden said, adding that wsmak the 2014 Jam City is set Ne for May 22. On Sept. 24, about 20 local restaurants donated 5 percent of their one-day sales to Food for Thought as l e d o F r ee P part of the Food Fight 419 event. The next Food Fight 419 event is slated for September, which is National Hunger Awareness Month. Together, both events raised about $10,000 for Food for Thought, Melden said. Melden also helped Food for Thought form new partnerships in 2013, including local T-shirt company Glass Wear and local coffee roastery Actual Coffee, and he anticipates forging more unions in the future. In 2013, Food for Thought also hosted the first “reverse booth” at the Toledo Farmers’ Market, Melden said. Shoppers can donate items purchased from local farmers or their own money at the booth at the Toledo Farmers’ Market at 525 Market St., open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. “Sam’s group does such a good job. We get

Toledo Free Press STAR Staff Writer

2013

By Brigitta Burks

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