Toledo Free Press – Mar. 1, 2015 by Toledo Free Press

March 1, 2015

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Opinion

March is hungry and eye on cancer Food for Thought’s Jill Bunge on food insecurity and Sarah Ottney on this month’s health focus. page 3

Community

Libbey memorial A Toledoan is looking for a home for a memorial plaque listing Libbey High School students killed in World War II. page 9

Eye on Health

Cancer Toledo Threads, Renee’s Survivor Shop, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, risk management, Mercy’s STAR Program and more. page 10-15

Community Star

Oscars wrap-up James A. Molnar, Jeff McGinnis and Don Lee on this year’s Oscars plus Oscar Shorts at Sylvania’s Tree City Film Fest. page 19-21

Toledo Soup

Microgrant recipients Audrey Johnson, Maxwell Austin and Roshawn Jones say effects reverberate long after fundraising events. By Joel Sensenig and Sarah Ottney, page 5-6

Toledo Free Press

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

We We catch itit early. early. catch

CER

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March 1, 2015

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COMMUNITY GUEST COLUMN

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

DON LEE

March is hungry

he holiday decorations are long packed away, the sparkling white snow has turned gray and most of us have hunkered down into hibernation mode until spring arrives. This is a normal, seasonal transition we experience year after year. Previous months were filled with service and philanthropy: Whole turkeys were schlepped to community meals, bell-ringing volunteers encouraged you to toss your spare change into bright red kettles and toys were collected for Toledo kids who would otherwise have woken up to a present-less tree. Good deeds and warm fuzzies are always abundant during “the most wonderful time of the year.” The unfortunate reality, however, is our neighbors are not only struggling to make ends Jill BUNGE meet during the holiday season. Jobs can be lost in the spring, family members can get sick in the fall and other unpredictable, debilitating life events happen throughout the year. At Food for Thought, we provide food assistance to our patrons so they can leverage their resources elsewhere, and know that feeding their family is one less thing to worry about. The 27,910 individuals we served last year are brutally aware of the fact that food insecurity is not confined to a particular month or season. This spring, we want to remind the Toledo community that “March Is Hungry.” Our strategy to remedy this is to invite you to help share our story and our cause. During the month of March, we at Food for Thought are calling on you to gather together with your friends, family and co-workers to host a fundraising party with a cause. Yes, a party! Supporting a cause does not have to be a somber affair with a plea for handouts. It can be spirited and fun. We can celebrate selflessness and give thanks for thoughtfulness in a way that can be both enjoyable and impactful. Let us help you combat your cabin fever by facilitating a truly lovely soirée for you and your guests. Make your party suit your style. You can have a five-course meal from a chef (we’ve got some great suggestions), a potluck or a tea party. Celebrate March Madness or St. Patrick’s Day. Hold a Spring Equinox moon dance if that’s your thing. The possibilities are endless! We’ll provide you with a package of party favors, promotional materials and talking points about food insecurity so you can express to your guests why their attendance is so meaningful. In addition, Food for Thought would be happy to send a representative to personally thank you and your guests and to further explain our mission and services. Never been head of the party planning committee? No worries, we have excellent recommendations for venues, themes and local supply sources. All you have to do is invite some company and tell them why you support Food for Thought throughout the year. Remember, for so many Toledoans, food insecurity and economic hardship are not seasonal problems. Make the choice to help, and accept our invitation because March is hungry. You can find more information at marchishungry.com. Give, serve and learn more at feedtoledo.org. O Jill Bunge is executive director of Food for Thought. She can be reached at jill@ feedtoledo.org.

Editor’s Statement

his month’s Eye on Health special section focuses designed a charity T-shirt reading “I can. I will. End of story.” on cancer, which hits close to home as my younger Renee’s Survivor Shop, offering wigs and other items, is operated by a cancer survivor at the University of Toledo Medical sister is a recent cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 26 Center. Staff with Mercy Cancer Center’s STAR Program help survivors lessen ongoing pain associated with and newly married. With no history of breast side effects from treatment. cancer in our family, the news threw everyone Cancer takes a lot out of a person physifor a loop — most of all her. Instead off heading cally, mentally, emotionally and financially. It off on a honeymoon, she embarked on a year makes you sad, mad, frustrated, hopeful and and a half of radiation, chemotherapy and terrified, sometimes all at once. I can only battles with insurance companies. imagine. But I know it’s bad because my norEveryone copes in different ways. My mally mild-mannered sister defiantly wears a sister is a private person. She didn’t like necklace that reads, “F--- Cancer.” to talk about her treatments. She said she Cancer is tough, but she’s tougher. The just wanted to be treated normally. But not day doctors gave her the “all clear,” she posted knowing the details worried my parents half a photo of two fingers covering the R and S to death, as she was living across the country Sarah Ottney in the words “breast cancer.” She beat cancer. I’ve never been and they couldn’t personally check in on her. Most of us have been touched by cancer, either person- prouder. To all those still battling, fight on. O ally or through someone we know. It’s scary. But luckily there are those out there who seek to help. Sarah Ottney is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. She can be Bethany Gurzynski of apparel company Toledo Threads reached at sottney@toledofreepress.com. Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 11, No. 9. Established 2005. EDITORIAL James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Joel Sensenig, Managing Editor jsensenig@toledofreepress.com Danielle Stanton, News Editor dstanton@toledofreepress.com Tom Konecny, Associate Editor tkonecny@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

Eye on cancer

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Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

March 1, 2015

I HEART GLASS CITY

The final exam

ave the Beat was two weeks ago and I am still blown away by the love and support from this community. Even with the unexpected terrible weather, over 200 people came out to the CPR training on Valentine’s Day and are now trained in saving a life. The event was a success, although its origin was in selfishness. After learning of Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins’ cardiac arrest Feb. 1, I was sad. Really sad. I was sad for the city I was born in and for the family of a great man. By Feb. 3, I needed to change my attention and look for something positive to focus on. Toledo Fire & Rescue Department’s Nicole Knight Zmijewski, a CPR trainer, and her coworkers always wanted to host a major event where hundreds of people could learn how to save a life at once. With her enthusiasm and the full support of the City of Toledo, Save the Beat was born. Picking the right day was crucial. Feb. 14 made for a perfect but ambitious date. I fell in love with the thought of people learning how to “save a heart” Jeremy BAUMHOWER on Valentine’s Day. Every phone call I made, every request for support, was answered with a “Yes.” ProMedica and the people at SMG, who manage the Huntington Center and SeaGate Convention Centre, provided a home for this vision. UAW Local 2213 made sure we had everything else. The William Swade Allstate Agency made sure we had the proper insurance and Jupmode made sure our 100-plus volunteers had T-shirts. My friend Paul Spoerl of Entertainment Network donated his time and equipment and provided the soundtrack for the day. In just 10 days, Save the Beat was created, planned and executed. Planning took some of the focus off DMC’s health and put it toward CPR education and preparedness. It was a way to rally the city behind the heroes of the day, while allowing those crushed by the weight of it all a few extra inches to breathe. It gave Toledoans a course of action to accompany our prayers. Media support for Save the Beat was beyond amazing. Toledo Free Press made it their cover story with less than a day’s notice. iHeartMedia’s general market manager, Kellie Holeman-Szenderski, in a two-minute phone call, vowed the full support of her radio stations and delivered. Toledo News Now, 13abc and NBC 24 all assigned reporters. The Blade’s Marlene Harris-Taylor made it a feature story. Zmijewski rallied the CPR training community, with trainers and dummies coming from as far as Ann Arbor. We had over 100 CPR trainers and 120 mannequins, but it was the volunteers’ excitement and passion that made for a celebratory day. This event would never have happened if not for the support of Toledo City Councilwoman Lindsay Webb. She made sure all the proper city departments were aware of what was happening, including our new mayor. Mayor Paula HicksHudson surprised us by making an appearance. She wanted to see and feel the love that was filling the SeaGate Centre. Her energy was upbeat and inspired; it matched those around her. I knew the bad weather would prevent some people from coming and it did. But it didn’t stop two very special visitors. On Feb. 12, the day of their dad’s funeral, Collins’ daughters unexpectedly messaged me on Facebook. They told me the Collins family was aware of Save the Beat and planned on coming. We had 54 people brave the elements to attend our second session, and two of them were Collins’ daughters. They had not spoken publicly since their father’s passing. With her sister Laurie Mulligan by her side, Kelly Sheridan spoke: “On behalf of my family, we’d like to say thank you to each and every one of you, for coming out today, on Valentine’s Day, in the snow, to learn how to save a life. … We are truly appreciative of all of you, for the compassion that you have shown our family, for your prayers and for the way you’ve reached out. We know by being here that Toledo truly cares and it’s comforting.” When they walked offstage, Mulligan asked if a CPR trainer could give her husband and her a refresher course. We did. Sheridan was already certified. I think Mike Collins was testing our resolve and had a hand in that unpredicted snow. He wanted to see which Toledoans would show up and learn CPR, even in whiteout conditions. I’m sure he had the biggest grin in heaven, as he watched his daughter and 50 others learn how to save a life. Another test from above, and another pass. It seems “The Professor” wanted to give his city a final exam. O

Jeremy Baumhower can be reached at jeremytheproducer@icloud.com.

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March 1, 2015

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Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Four projects to vie for Toledo SOUP grant March 8 By Joel Sensenig

Toledo Free Press Managing Editor jsensenig@toledofreepress.com

Not many places offer the chance to eat unlimited soup and salad while simultaneously supporting an organization that will benefit the community. Toledo SOUP offers just that opportunity. The volunteer-led initiative raises money for community-minded organizations by providing a platform for them to “pitch” their ideas to a captive audience. Attendees — after paying $5 at the door — eat bread, soup and salad and vote for their favorite organization, with the winner taking home all the cash raised at the event. Additional funds are raised through donations, a raffle and bake sale. “We have really come a long way in helping to grow support of these small community projects,” said Kelly Thompson, president of Toledo SOUP. “Some of them … they’re essential for their communities. Maybe not the entire city, but for the small community they’re in.” Toledo SOUP, which began in 2012, hosts several sessions each year, with finalists selected by a panel of judges. The next Toledo SOUP is 5 p.m.

March 8 at Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St. This year’s presenters are: Silke Goudos of 419 Tales; Gretchen DeBacker of Sisters in Law; Dee Brown of Delightful Art With Dee’s Art With a Heart program; and Sandy Sieben of Toledo Youth Pages. 419 Tales is a bi-monthly podcast dedicated to collecting and archiving stories about life in Toledo. Sisters in Law is a group of female attorneys who volunteer their time to provide legal advocacy and mentorship to young mothers at Mom’s House. Delightful Art with Dee is a new nonprofit art gallery that provides local artists with a positive and encouraging venue in which to display and sell their work. Toledo Youth Pages is a prevention tool for at-risk youth that provides information on health care, social services, criminal justice and rights and responsibilities. On her gofundme.com site, Goudos wrote, “Our beloved metropolis is packed with flavor and history, which deserves a platform. I’d like to provide that platform by developing a podcast dedicated to revealing the characters, personalities, and gems of Toledo; an adventure in mining the depths of our

fair city for the stories of its inhabitants. I hope to capture this through great interviewing techniques as well as competent, high-quality sound processing and editing. These recordings would be digitally archived. … Essentially, by using this podcast as a mirror of Toledo, I hope to further the burgeoning movement of pride in this place we call home.” In her SOUP proposal, DeBacker, founder of Sisters in Law, said, “What all of the research tells us is that it is more likely than not that when a single woman has a baby, she will be in poverty for her and her child’s lifetime. Breaking the cycle of a lack of education, poor support systems, living conditions and minimum-wage employment is difficult. Mom’s House offers a model that works. It is a model that provides all of the necessary support for a young mom to stay in school and work, all while her child is being cared for and prepared to start school.” When discussing the potential impact of SOUP funding, DeBacker said, “[It] is huge! We have already started this program without any funding. Mom’s House funding, as with any nonprofit, is always very tight. This money will allow us to get supplies, provide transportation and materials for our ac-

tivities with the moms. All of the attorneys will still be 100 percent volunteer.” In discussing her mission, Brown said, “The ability and opportunity to create your own art can bring a very deep fulfillment within one’s self. Art With A Heart will be providing the opportunity to create, to many who have none. We are raising funds to provide a great variety of free art classes such as drawing, painting, sculpture and found object art to those in life that have been left behind and often ignored. “People such as veterans, the disadvantaged, disabled, and also the children and older adults living in homes they cannot call their own,” Brown said. “And our desire is also to help special learners such as the autistic, people with Parkinson’s just like my father, and even some that need help with translation such as the wonderful deaf community.” Sieben, one of the coordinators for Toledo Youth Pages, said, “With SOUP’s support, the Toledo Youth Pages will be distributed to Toledo high schools, libraries, and community centers. … This is an incredible opportunity for us to collaborate with community members, share our skills and resources while learning from

others in the community.” Thompson said the simplicity of the SOUP model is an effective way to help improve the community. “The impact of the kindness, the generosity, the donations of people really goes toward helping these projects get off the ground,” she said. “It’s just cash in their hand.” Chefs from throughout the region are making soup for the event, while Country Grains Market in Sylvania is donating the bread. Chefs participating are Alex Sutphin of Ciao Bella Ristorante Italiano in Port Clinton, Pam Weirauch of Pam’s Corner in Toledo and Aaron Hensley, of Bier Stube’s House of Eats in Toledo. About 150 people attended the last SOUP event in October, raising $1,278 for winner Soul City Boxing and Wrestling. Thompson expects about 200 people at the March 8 event. “Each time we do this it gets a little bigger,” she said. “[SOUP] is something that’s an example for other people in the community. Come out, enjoy yourself, eat as much as you want, and watch people present these ideas. … You can’t get more grassroots than that.” For more information, visit toledo soup.com. O

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Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

March 1, 2015

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS EDITOR IN CHIEF sottney@toledofreepress.com

Teneashia Cunningham keeps a bucket in her office. It’s just an empty ice cream pail covered in paper marked “Toledo SOUP,” but it once held a donation of $734, enough to fund a basketball league at the Frederick Douglass Community Association that kept 120 young men off the streets on Friday and Saturday nights last summer. “It looks like a bucket to everyone else, but to us it’s a trophy,” said Cunningham, the community center’s interim director. SOUP is an international movement of microgrant fundraising events held in more than 100 cities worldwide. Toledo SOUP started in 2012. Since then, six events have raised more than $7,000 for seven community initiatives ranging from art programs, urban farming, human trafficking rehabilitation and small business development. At each event, several finalists present their projects while attendees eat and vote. The winning project receives all the funds raised during the night through admission, donations, raffles and bake sales. When votes were tallied last June, Frederick Douglass, which is located on Indiana Avenue, had the most. “We were so over the moon,” said board member Brandy Fuller. “We have a number of gangs in this neighborhood, but basketball is a universal language. It brings people together.” She recalled a time her son intervened when one boy pulled a gun on another. The boy with the gun knew her son from basketball and put his weapon down. “That could have been a scary ending, but sports bridged it,” she said. With the Toledo SOUP funds, Cunningham purchased team T-shirts, new nets, basketballs and a few team meals. “It was awesome,” Cunningham said. “Our turnout was big and getting bigger. We had the structure, but we didn’t have the look of structure. We didn’t have jerseys or matching shirts.” The players, mostly boys age 1624, come from across the city, Cunningham said. Games start around 8 p.m. and can last until 2 a.m. “We try to keep kids off the streets,” Cunningham said. “The whole purpose of it is to break those territorial lines. We have kids coming from the East Side, the North End. They see it as playing ball, we see it as breaking the lines. “There’s a lot of gang violence during the summertime. I was trying

to give them something to do. I knew I could get the draw with basketball. “The older guys are helping the younger guys, building bridges and closing gaps a little bit. Some of them, once they start mentoring, they feel like they’ve done something and given back so there’s a lot of positivity.” Besides youth sports, Frederick Douglass offers tutoring, GED classes, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and more. “We’re in trying times right now, but we are still here,” Cunningham said. “We are still viable to the community. We do still have a heartbeat. The doors are open and we are building.” For more information, visit www. fdcatoledo.org.

Glass City Pedicabs

The first Toledo SOUP took place March 4, 2012. Maxwell Austin of Glass City Pedicabs won $1,047, of which he used $800 for insurance and the rest for spare parts. “[That] doesn’t seem like a lot for some people, but for someone like me who has put every personal dime into this, it’s the difference between me operating or not,” Austin told Toledo Free Press at the time. Three years later, Austin’s enthusiasm for Toledo SOUP has not flagged. “I just can’t say enough nice things about it,” Austin said. “You can take every nice word in the dictionary and I’ll say them all. “If it wasn’t for Toledo SOUP, I don’t know how long I would have continued to wait or struggle for that amount of money. Eventually it would have happened, but it jump-started my business quicker than it would have.” In 2012, Austin had two pedicabs in his Ohio West End garage. Today, he has a fleet of six with plans to add two more. He has a rented space, advertisers, 20 contracted employees, a growing wedding business and gigs for out-of-state events like the Kentucky Derby and Indianapolis 500. Next up, he’s working to launch Atlantic Pedicab Fleet, a conglomerate of pedicab businesses from Detroit, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Columbus, Boston and more, who travel to events together. “We’ve grown and so has the city of Toledo,” Austin said. “Downtown has added way more restaurants and bars than were there in 2010 [when I started]. It’s really picked up. UpTown has grown too. That’s really nice to see.” Austin said he’s excited about the future of Toledo and has no plans to leave his adopted hometown. “I could go anywhere I want, but I love the people in Toledo,” Austin said. “You’ve got some naysayers that say, ‘Toledo sucks,’ but for the most part, man, there’s a huge group of diverse people

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY SARAH OTTNEY / TOLEDO FREE PRESS COVER PHOTO BY CHRISTIE MATERNI

Former Toledo SOUP winners continue to impact neighborhoods

n BOARD MEMBER Brandy Fuller, far left, and interim director Teneashia Cunningham, far right, with some students at the Frederick Douglass Community Association. Toledo Soup helped the center fund A summer basketball LEAGUE.

trying to make a difference in Toledo, pushing for expansion and growth and new ideas. It’s a wonderful place.” As a way to show his appreciation to Toledo SOUP, Austin now pays it forward by donating $100 to each new winner. “When I put my idea out there to have pedicabs in Toledo, someone told me that was the dumbest idea they’d ever heard and it would never work,” Austin said. “I didn’t let that crush my dream. I went to Toledo SOUP and it exploded.” For more information, visit www. glasscitypedicabs.com.

Art Around Town

The $858 Audrey Johnson took home from the second Toledo SOUP in September 2012, was used to take a group of eight Toledo youth to Chicago, most for the first time, to learn about Chinese culture. Johnson is the founder and director of the Jamil Lewis Multicultural Center for the Arts. Art Around Town is a program at the center offering creative and educational art activities for area youth. The Chicago trip was part of a Hostelling International program called

Cultural Kitchen. The kids stayed overnight at a hostel where they visited Chinatown, prepared a meal of Chinese dishes and gave a presentation to fellow travelers about Chinese culture. Next up for Jamil Lewis is building a greenhouse and sculpture garden at a renovated mansion on Winthrop Street, slated for this fall, Johnson said. Johnson is a vocal proponent of Toledo SOUP. “I always tell as many people as I can about Toledo SOUP because I believe it’s one of the best organically developed, crowd-funded, locally driven processes,” Johnson said. “There’s no political connection and it’s always kept fresh with people who are guiding the process. It keeps it honest by allowing the community to decide where the funds should be used for that particular time.” Even finalists who don’t win gain valuable feedback and awareness of their projects, Johnson said. “That’s how beautiful the process is,” she said. “Beyond what you get from the main crowd-funding source, other people step up to the plate and say, ‘Hey, maybe I need to support that.’”

MAXWELL AUSTIN OF GLASS CITY PEDICABS That happened during the September 2012 Toledo SOUP when local a doctor in the audience offered to help raise money for one of the finalists, a free clinic in need of new equipment. That offer allowed Art Around Town to win Toledo SOUP instead. “Because that happened, we ended up winning,” Johnson said. “It’s a beautiful thing.” n SOUP CONTINUES ON 7

March 1, 2015

ToledoFreePress.com

n SOUP CONTINUED FROM 6

The Art of Hope

Only one Toledo SOUP event was held in 2013. The winner was The Art of Hope, a South Toledo-based program offering temporary housing, counseling and mentoring to women recovering from sex trafficking. The program has worked with about 40 women since 2013, said Genevieve

Abalos, who started the program with Tina Robinson in a house owned by Vision Ministries, a South Toledo church. The Art of Hope received $1,015 from Toledo SOUP, which it used to purchase exterior and interior paint for the house, which was then painted by volunteers. “It meant everything to us. It was such a blessing,” Robinson said. “We

Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 had some donation money from the church but it wasn’t enough to take care of everything. When we got that, it was like a weight lifted off our shoulders.” The Art of Hope will soon disband as Abalos is moving out of state. However, Robinson plans to continue work at the house. She’s starting a nonprofit called Butterflies 15, aiming to help women recover from drug and alcohol addiction.

Heal expertly.

“I’m a recovering addict myself,” Robinson said. “I want to give back to these women who are where I used to be.” Butterflies 15 will use a five-stage, spiritually based recovery program developed by Robinson, who said she has been clean since 2004 and has gone back to school to become a social worker. The five stages are Butterflies in the Sand, Butterflies in the Wind, Butterflies in the Sun and Butterflies in the Field followed by aftercare, Robinson said. “Sand is you’re stuck. You want to get out of the rut you’re in, but you’re stuck,” Robinson said. “Wind is you have roots. You’re free from the sand and now you’re able to fly a little. Sun is a new dawning, a new beginning. You’re starting to change, you’re reaching out more, progressing more in your recovery. Field is you’re free, you’re finally free. You have all the tools you need to stay free. Then the next step is aftercare, where I will help them with housing, applications for jobs, resumes, all that.” Right now, Robinson is searching for partnerships and working on house repairs, which lost heat after the furnace caught fire. The floors have been torn up; she plans to write Bible verses on the wood and shellac over them. “I just started this at the beginning of this month,” she said. “It’s still a little baby. But this was set into me, God telling me what I need to do. So I’m doing it as he’s telling me to do it.” Robinson said Abalos supports her change of focus. “The Art of Hope was not really moving forward like we wanted it to. There were some major things we were not able to take care of,” Robinson said. “She has known my passion since the start.”

New Life Urban Agriculture

The first Toledo SOUP of 2014 came with another first — a tie.

This is what we were meant to do. At Mercy, we are joined in our Mission with Mercy Health. To give selflessly, listen patiently, care purposefully and heal expertly. Together we bring state-of-the-art technology, and experts in over 100 specialties to 23 hospitals across Ohio and Kentucky. We were not meant to be idle—we were meant to serve. To find out more, visit mercy.com A CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE MINISTRY SERVING OHIO AND KENTUCKY

TINA ROBINSON OF BUTTERFLIES 15 Derek Bunch of New Life Urban Agriculture and the Glass City Goat Gals got an equal number of votes at the March 9 event and split the $2,168 pot. Bunch’s plan was to use the funds to buy mushroom cultures, filtration units, lighting and other equipment needed to start local production of high-quality organic mushrooms in his Old West End home. “For me it felt good that people believed in this plan I had,” Bunch said. “When you win, it’s a confirmation that something is a good idea.” As it turned out, mushrooms didn’t work. “In the first month, I had mold issues because the humidity has to be so high,” Bunch said. “I ended up reverting back to what I know, which is tomatoes, basil, peppers, carrots and strawberries. Mushrooms are still a part of it, but much smaller. But that Toledo SOUP grant gave me everything I needed to complete doing what I’m doing now.” His goal is to sell his produce to local restaurants, food co-ops, food trucks and farmers markets. Bunch first heard about Toledo SOUP the day after he had to shut down his former growing operation because he lost the space he was renting. “I had to start over from zero,” Bunch said. “It was one of those things like, ‘What do I have to lose?’” n SOUP CONTINUES ON 8

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n SOUP CONTINUED FROM 7

Glass City Goat Gals

Elizabeth Harris and Unique Jones of Glass City Goat Gals are an example of persistence paying off. Their project was a finalist at the inaugural Toledo SOUP, but didn’t win. “It was disappointing, but made us see we needed to dig a little more, lay more groundwork, have a better business plan,” Harris said. Two years later, they won. “After losing, winning felt good. And it was also a confirmation that we’re on to something,” Harris said. “Once we won, it started a snowball effect of contacts and resources.” The Gals haven’t yet spent their Toledo SOUP money — they’ve been waiting on city permits and approvals for construction — but still plan to use it for fencing for their 10 goats, hopefully by this spring, Harris said. They are building their urban farm on Mentor Street in the central city. Both have degrees in urban agriculture and sustainability. They offer a 4-H Club and hands-on, STEM-based (science, technology, engineering, math) educational programs, which they bring to local community centers and soon to Moody Manor. “We want the farm to be an educational resource for our community,” Harris said. “The children need to see the connection between nature and their lives.” For more information, visit www. glasscitygoatgals.com.

PROOF Soul City

Soul City Boxing and Wrestling is the most recent Toledo SOUP winner.

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Students study at Soul City Boxing And Wrestling on Junction avenue.

After winning $1,278 in October, owner Roshawn Jones announced he would donate $100 each to the other two finalists. “It was shocking and amazing,” Jones said. “People there were nice. It was so touching that I kind of wanted everybody to win.” With the funds, Jones was able to purchase a laptop and three iPads for the Junction Avenue gym’s afterschool tutoring program. He also had two desktops and a laptop donated by people he met through Toledo SOUP. Jones has about 55 kids who are regulars at Soul City, which just this week became a nonprofit. “Their grades are monitored very closely,” Jones said. “Some of them have parents who don’t push them, so that’s what we do.” For more information, visit “Soul City Boxing and Wrestling gym” on Facebook.

The future

Paula Ross was among the original people who advocated bringing the SOUP model to Toledo. Her husband, Johnathon Ross, is the physician who offered to help fundraise for the free clinic. “It’s just wonderful,” Ross said. “It’s unique for Toledo but it’s part of something that’s international. I think they are doing a terrific job.” Ross would like to see SOUP expand regionally. “There’s room for some regional projects,” Ross said. “Some communities have more than one group. Let’s face it, there’s a lot of need and I think people like to connect to worthy causes where they can make a difference with a small contribution. There’s just lots of room for creativity, I think.” The next Toledo SOUP is set for 5 p.m. March 8 at Toledo School for the Arts, 333 14th St. For more information, visit toledosoup.com. O

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Community

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PHOTOS COURTESY SUE TERRILL

Toledoan searching for home for Libbey WWII plaque By Danielle Stanton

Toledo Free Press News Editor dstanton@toledofreepress.com

A Memorial Plaque from the former Libbey High School honoring students killed in World War II was salvaged when the school was demolished. Libbey Alumna Sue Terrill is looking for a place to display it.

Despite a valiant fight from alumni and supporters, the former Edward Drummond Libbey High School fell victim to the wrecking ball in 2012. Since then, a woman who led the fight to save the South Toledo school has been searching for a home for a memorial plaque honoring students who died in World War II. It is one of the last remaining pieces of the public high school that held classes from 1923-2010. Libbey High School, which was part of Toledo Public Schools (TPS), was named after the founder of the Toledo Museum of Art and Libbey Glass. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the only school in TPS with such an honor.

However, after a failed levy, TPS decided to shutter the school. Sue Terrill, formerly of South Toledo, worked with a group of neighborhood residents with support from the late Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins (then a Councilman) to save the building but their efforts proved fruitless. On Jan. 9, 2012, demolition began on the building, TERRILL whose chief architect was Edwin Gee. From the wreckage, Terrill, a Libbey alumna, was able to personally save a number of items, including two memorials. One memorializing Robert Craig, a Medal of Honor recipient from

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Toledo, recently found a home at the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic; the other was the Libbey High School World War II Memorial Tablet, which honors 106 Libbey graduates who died in the war. Terrill believes the World War II memorial deserves a place close to its roots in South Toledo, but as of yet, no one has been willing to make room for it. Terrill said she has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of support for what she sees as an important piece of Libbey’s past. “I want to find a place to put it in the community; I’m not saying it should be on the walls of city hall,” Terrill said. “[But] it deserves a place in South Toledo. That is our highest hope, to place it in South Toledo.” The memorial plaque still sits in storage at TPS, she said. Information about TPS’ plans, if any, for the memorial was not immediately available. Aside from the Craig memorial, Terrill said only the Harold Williams Memorial, also saved from Libbey, has found a home. Terrill still has an inventory of items she would like to place, she said. As for the World War II plaque, Terrill said she contacted several institutions around the city, including One Government Center and the Toledo-Lucas County Main Library, but both declined. “There were many places we tried,” she said. Collins vowed on Memorial Day 2013 that he would put the plaque on the walls of City Hall, Terrill said, but they never discussed the issue again before his death. “I never even brought it up with him the last year or so,” Terrill said. “There was never an appropriate time to talk about it.” Terrill said she believes Collins would fully support finding a home for the plaque. He was one of the few government officials who spoke out against the demolition of Libbey and went to bat for the organizers who wanted to save the school, she said. “Count me among the many who valued Mayor Mike Collins’ courage and support on important issues,” Terrill said. However, she said, One Government Center is “not necessarily the best placement for it.” A meeting to discuss placement of the plaque is set for 6 p.m. March 2 at the South Branch Library, 1736 Broadway St. Terrill said community members should come prepared for serious discussion. O

10 Eye on Health

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

March 1, 2015

By Brian Bohnert

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

In a quaint Sylvania café, Bethany Gurzynski scrolls through an online catalogue of customized apparel she’s created with nothing more than her artistic talent and a little bit of free time. Hoodies, T-shirts, V-necks — all bearing unique designs celebrating everything from Toledo’s historic Jeep plant to the University of Michigan’s hiring of Jim Harbaugh. However, there is one design — albeit a rather simple one — that stands out among the rest. A black T-shirt featuring a pink ribbon logo and bold lettering that reads: “I Can. I Will. End Of Story.” “This is for Tiffany and Melinda,” she says, smiling. Gurzynski, an art teacher at McCord Junior High School, recently began selling the shirts online to support two Sylvania women currently in the fight of their lives. Tiffany Townsend and Melinda Restivo both had their lives drastically altered when they received a diagnosis of two very different forms of breast cancer. To ease the financial burden on these two women, Gurzynski created the inspirational outerwear and jumpstarted a fundraising campaign Feb. 2 on Teespring.com. Marketing the apparel under the umbrella of her new company, Toledo Threads, she has already sold 462 shirts with 100 percent of the proceeds to be split between Townsend and Restivo. “There are a lot of things I couldn’t do to help them,” said Gurzynski, who currently teaches Townsend’s and Restivo’s children in her art class. “I couldn’t give them $5,000, but I could do a design — one that would cost me virtually nothing — that raises $5,000.” Prices for the “I Can. I Will. End Of

Story.” line range from $20 for a standard or women’s fit T-shirt to $35 for a hoodie. Gurzynski is also offering long-sleeve shirts, V-necks and a tie-dye version. “I don’t know where I’ll be in five years,” Gurzynski said. “I don’t know if [cancer] is going to affect me, my mom or my sister. So why wouldn’t I pay it forward?” Gurzynski said the design for the shirt, as well as the slogan, are wellknown symbols of strength and inspiration for those battling tough times in life. A big part of the campaign’s success is due to the local push it has received. Friends, relatives, strangers and even Gurzynski’s fellow teachers at McCord Junior High have all purchased shirts to support the two mothers. “Their daughters will see the teachers wearing the shirts and they’ll feel that support at school,” Gurzynski said. Townsend, an educator at Perrysburg Junior High School, said her students and even her own coworkers have also purchased the shirts. “I’m overwhelmed,” Townsend said. “I think people just want to help in any way they can. This is an easy way they can show love and support, and it’s a cool shirt on top of it.” Both Townsend and Restivo said the money they receive from the campaign will help their families survive this tough time by offsetting the cost of living expenses and medical bills. “I wasn’t prepared for this in any way,” Restivo said. “The financial burden it puts on a family is hard. One day you think you’re just chugging along and then, ‘Wham!’” Having only met Gurzynski a few times prior to her start of this fundraising effort, Restivo said she was surprised at the effort. “She was this guardian angel that came to me,” Restivo added. “She’ll never know how grateful I am and how much this will help me and my family. Words will never be able to

express how grateful I am.”

Melinda’s fight

Restivo lost her father to lung cancer in April and was still in the process of grieving when she discovered a lump on her right breast in October. “At that time, I let a lot of things for my own health go by the wayside,” Restivo said. “I knew I needed a mammogram done. A week after I scheduled my mammogram, my husband hugged me and, when he hugged me, something popped in my right breast.” Following a series of doctor and hospital visits, Restivo visited the ProMedica Toledo Hospital Breast Care Center on Nov. 3 and received the proper testing to diagnose the mass on her breast. She was not prepared when she got the call two days later. “It’s a day you never forget,” Restivo said. “I had lost my dad and six months later, here I am being diagnosed with cancer. You never know how it feels until it’s told to you. It affected me when my dad had it, but it changed me when I was told I have it.” On Nov. 5, she was diagnosed with triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma — a rare subset of cancer that lacks the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and generally responds well to chemotherapy. Her tumor, relatively large by the time it was discovered, had evaded early detection by hiding behind dense breast tissue. “It was already further along than I wanted it to be,” Restivo said. “I was shocked. I was shocked at the stage of it. I was shocked by the diagnosis of it.” Now surrounded by what she calls a “wonderful group” of doctors, oncologists and radiologists, Restivo has been undergoing an aggressive chemotherapy regimen since November. Restivo said she’ll finish with chemotherapy April 17 and prepare for

Photo courtesy toledo threads

T-shirt campaign helps women fighting cancer

Bethany gurzynski, owner of apparel company Toledo Threads is selling shirts stating “I Can. I will. End of story.” proceeds will go to Tiffany townsend and melinda restivo, both diagnosed with breast cancer.

surgery not long after. “It’s been a journey. It still will be for another year or so,” Restivo said. “Every woman’s path is different. After surgery I’ll go through radiation; and, after that, there could be talks of reconstruction. My goal is to have a double mastectomy by the time it’s all said and done.”

Tiffany’s story

Townsend’s journey began more than a month ago when her ob-gyn discovered a lump on one of her breasts during an annual checkup. Her doctor, whom she has gone to since she was 18 years old, tearfully delivered the news in late January. The diagnosis: ER/PR positive breast cancer — a hormone-receptor form of the disease that grows in response to estrogen and progesterone. “It’s been a total whirlwind,” Townsend said. “It’s been crazy. There really isn’t a better word to describe it.” Townsend underwent surgery Feb. 19 and reported Feb. 25 that her

lymph nodes are negative for cancer and the margins around her small tumor were all clear. Within the next few weeks, Townsend said, she plans to begin one year of chemotherapy, followed by a daily regimen of hormone therapy pills for the next five to 10 years. “It’s great to have some good news coming out of such a bad diagnosis,” she said. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women worldwide and the second most common cancer overall. In 2015, it is estimated there will be 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer among women in the United States — causing 40,290 deaths, according to Susan G. Komen. To purchase the “I Can. I Will. End of Story.” shirt, visit teespring.com/stores/ toledo-threads. For more information, visit the Toledo Threads Facebook page at Facebook.com/ToledoThreads or email Gurzynski at ToledoThreads@ gmail.com. O

March 1, 2015

ToledoFreePress.com

Eye on Health 11

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Mercy, Toledo Clinic announce plans for Perrysburg cancer center

A $14.5 million comprehensive cancer center is coming to Northwest Ohio, the result of a partnership between Mercy and The Toledo Clinic. The nearly 40,000-square-foot Mercy Perrysburg Cancer Center will open in early 2016, according

to a Feb. 26 news release. The center will be developed on the site of the Mercy Medical Center campus that houses the freestanding emergency center and imaging services, at the intersection of North Dixie Highway (State Route 25) and

Eckel Junction Road in Perrysburg. The center will offer access to the region’s largest team of oncologists, who together will provide a comprehensive treatment plan designed for the unique needs of each patient. Treatment may include diagnostics, surgical consulta-

coordinated between hospitals and private practice entities, according to the release. As such, there are currently no collaboratively developed and shared care protocols, standards, registration or billing processes and quality measures. “The Toledo Clinic and Mercy have come together to develop a program that will uniquely meet the needs of patients here in Northwest Ohio,” said Dr. Rex Mowat, The Toledo Clinic’s managing partner and medical director for Mercy Perrysburg Cancer Center, in the release. “Through our size and scope we will enhance our research and provide patients access to clinical trials that are currently not available in the market.” Mercy is part of Mercy Health, Ohio’s largest health care provider, and The Toledo Clinic is the region’s largest group of independent physicians. O — Staff reports

illustration courtesy mercy

Compassionate Greater Toledo Photo Contest 2015

tion, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and access to clinical trials, all provided in an integrated approach in one location, according to the release. “This is an exciting day for Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan,” said Dr. Imran Andrabi, Mercy’s chief operating officer in the release. “Today is about bringing full service, coordinated cancer care to one central location for patients and their families. Mercy is proud to partner with The Toledo Clinic, the leader in medical oncology care in this region. Our model will have more than 12 oncologists, the largest group in the region, that will work together to enhance care and develop areas of specialization in cancer care that will attract additional high-caliber physicians.” The center will improve the region’s oncology services, which are currently “fragmented” and not well-

An artist’s rendering of the $14.5 million, nearly 40,000-square-foot mercy perrysburg cancer center set to open in early 2016. The center is the result of a partnership between mercy and toledo clinic.

com·pas·sion: a feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.; sympathetic awareness of others’ distress together with a desire to help them. Mission: Showcasing how diverse and compassionate Greater Toledo is in just one photo. This contest is focused on the collective greatness of our city and region, through positive and peaceful happenings that occur on a daily basis. How to Enter: Complete an entry form, find rules and details and submit photos (or a drawing for students grades K-8) at www. toledo.oh.gov/services/community-relations between March 1-31, 2015. All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form. All entry forms and photo entries must be submitted in a digital format. Photos (or drawings, only by children grades K-8) and completed entry form will be accepted via email at bcr1@toledo.gov (or by mail, or in person Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at 1 Government Center, Suite 2130, Toledo, OH 43604) between March 1-31, 2015. Photos will be judged by: 1) pertinence to compassionate theme, 2) clarity of photo resolution, and 3) artistic composition. Only one photo/entry per person will be accepted. Photos will be juried by Toledo Museum of Art staff. For clarity — all photos or scanned drawings should be in JPEG or PNG format and of the highest-possible resolution.

This contest is sponsored by the City of Toledo Board of Community Relations with the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio.

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Trust your body

hen I was first diagnosed as they come, determined to live my with ovarian cancer, I life as I always have. I do a massive didn’t cry because I had amount of volunteer work and have a job. Cancer was just another obstacle cancer, I cried because I was right. to overcome. Something was Treatment was inpawrong with my tient for two days, one body and I knew it. week outpatient, one It took almost seven week off: a schedule to months of very invabe repeated for the next sive testing and being five months. When I poked and prodded would go inpatient, I’d in places I didn’t take my knitting, sewing know I had, but I or some project to work was right! Nobody on. After my first treatknows my body Diane MISCANNON ment, I wasn’t tired at all. better than I do. “Chemo isn’t so tough,” I thought. It all started with daily walks. I would get a quick, fleeting pain in my But I was so wrong. Tiredness set in hips and groin area. At first I ignored it after the third treatment and it hit but as weeks went on, the pain became hard. I made numerous trips to the sharper and lingered longer. I made ER over the next few months for IVs an appointment with a pain specialist of magnesium and potassium. It took great effort to stand or walk. Taking with whom I had a history. This specialist treated me for a “quick shower” turned into a hourback pain in the past as I’ve been hit long step-by-step process. I would sit five times in various car accidents. and rest on each of the landings to my (Earning a living as a driver in some third-floor apartment. When I encapacity isn’t meant to be. Sooner or tered my apartment, I would collapse later, you will be hit.) I spent about on the couch without taking off my five minutes with the specialist in the coat or shoes — that’s how tired I was. After my last chemo treatment, it exam room. He dismissed the pain and attributed it to my back pain. He took about six months before I began asked very few general questions and to feel normal again. Some cancer paordered no testing or follow-up. I left tients vomit during treatment. I vomthere thinking, “He is wrong, there IS ited for almost a solid month after my something wrong with me.” I went to last treatment. For me, cancer wasn’t a second pain specialist and he had the the hard part — it’s the neuropathy same opinion as the first specialist in that remains and still hinders me. I was honored when ProMedica his five-minute appointment. There were times I thought, “Am Toledo Hospital asked me if they could I crazy, am I making this up, am I use me as a case study for their conlooking for a quick fix, is this all in ference in continuing education on my head?” The answer was no. This ovarian cancer. I immediately said yes. is real. Someone, somewhere has to If I can do or say anything to help educate, I am all for it. Which is why I am believe me. So it was on to pain specialist No. 3. writing this column. Ovarian cancer He ordered an MRI and it came back is one of the hardest to detect. Some normal. He ordered an EMG, it came symptoms include hip and groin pain back normal. I had a spinal procedure (the only symptom I experienced), that made me sick for a week and it, bloating, back pain, constipation, too, came back normal. For the next changes in bowel movements and few months I had a number of tests; menstrual cycles and upset stomach. they all came back normal. We were If you feel something isn’t right with both beyond frustrated, but he was de- your body, follow up until you get the termined. He ordered a second MRI answers you feel you need. Nobody to see if anything had been missed. knows you better than you do. A big thank you to ProMedica When it came back, there it was: a 17.5 Toledo Hospital’s oncology staff, Dr. cm (6.5-inch) tumor. It was then I cried out of relief. I Garth Phibbs and his head nurse at was right and it was real — I wasn’t the time Sandy, and Priscilla Turner making anything up. He told me to go and Liz Woolaver at Restorative Conto my family doctor ASAP and then to cepts. Also, Milan Mihalek at the Victory Center is the best! O an oncologist. My first visit to the oncologist offered a wealth of information. All I re- Diane Miscannon is a volunteer for the membered was I was going to lose my Toledo Police Museum, Keith Dressel hair and be very tired. Ha! They didn’t Memorial Ride, Remembering Detecknow who they were dealing with, I tive Keith Dressel, Marine Corps Kids thought at the time. I am as stubborn and My Pink Scarf.

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

March 1, 2015

Concerning colorectal cancer By Joel Sensenig

Toledo Free Press Managing Editor jsensenig@toledofreepress.com

Thanks to improved treatments and highly publicized fundraising events, cancer isn’t the taboo subject it once was. However, there are still some types of the disease people don’t want to even think about. Hello, colorectal cancer. It seems pretty much no one wants to talk about colonoscopies, although the screening method could prevent more than 90 percent of colorectal cancers if everyone had one at the age of 50, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Those with a family member who developed colorectal cancer before the age of 60 are advised to get their first colonoscopy at the age of 40. Two women from the Hickman Cancer Center at ProMedica Flower Hospital hope to take away some of that stigma surrounding colorectal cancer. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. “We can prevent more cancer if people go in and have their colonoscopies,” said Kelly Morse, a licensed genetic counselor with ProMedica Cancer Institute. As part of her job, Morse talks with patients and their family members about preventing or catching cancer early, particularly with those who have a family history of the disease. “Even with colonoscopies, there’s a stigma. People say, ‘Oh, I’m not doing that,’” Morse said. “It’s always ‘Oh, I’ve heard they’re terrible. Oh, I don’t ever want to have that done. Nobody’s doing that to me.’ Or the biggest one is, ‘I’m afraid of what they’ll find.’ Well, delaying it further is just going to make it worse. Trying to bring people to that realization is just really, really hard.” Robin Sulier-Charney, an outreach coordinator with ProMedica Cancer Institute, goes out in the community to help raise awareness of cancer prevention and early detection. Any one of the 3,500 people who walked through a 20-foot, inflatable colon dubbed “Super Colon” at a Mud Hens game last year has Sulier-Charney to thank for that experience. The blow-up colon will make another appearance March 20 at the Toledo Walleye game at the Huntington Center. For Sulier-Charney, who wears a turquoise “I heart booty!” bracelet, it’s all about community awareness. “It is almost a completely preventable cancer,” she said. “I would love to see people go in to their doc-

toledo free press photo by joel sensenig

12 Eye on Health

promedica employees robin sulier-charney (left) and kelly morse help educate the public on colorectal cancer and the need for discussion and screening to help fight the disease.

tors and say, ‘Can you help me with my family history and what are my options for screening?’ Just to start that conversation, we could reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by a pretty substantial rate.” More than 50,000 Americans were expected to die from colorectal cancer in 2014, according to ACS. The Lucas County Colorectal Cancer Coalition (LCCCC), a small group of community activists dedicated to colorectal prevention, states that Lucas County has one of the highest late-stage diagnosis rates in Ohio, with the cancer being the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in the county. Although rarely discussed, people who have died from colorectal cancer include Audrey Hepburn, Charles Schulz, Jack Lemmon and Vince Lombardi. As of five years ago, only 59 percent of Americans above the age of 50 had received any sort of colorectal cancer testing, according to the ACS. “An early diagnosis is the closest thing we have to a cure,” SulierCharney said. According to the ACS, colorectal cancers start as a polyp, an abnormal, fleshy growth in the colon. Polyps are not necessarily cancerous, although those identified during a colonoscopy can be removed before they become cancerous. Symptoms of colorectal cancer do not appear until the polyp is large enough to cause bleeding or colon blockage. Early-stage colon cancer shows no symptoms. Hence, the need for screenings. “The vast majority of colorectal cancers are sporadic and randomly occurring,” Morse said. “The way we’re going to identify those in people is through routine screenings.” Although guidelines for the general population maintain getting a colo-

noscopy by the age of 50 (and every 10 years afterward), those with a family history may need to take a more aggressive approach. One in 35 colon cancer cases is due to Lynch syndrome, a genetic disorder that predisposes a person to develop certain types of cancer. Someone with Lynch syndrome has a nearly 80 percent chance of developing colon cancer, Morse said. According to the LCCCC, a colonoscopy involves the doctor using a flexible, hollow tube about the width of a finger to inspect the entire colon. The exam takes about 15-30 minutes, while the patient is sedated. About 12 hours of fasting is required, as well as the consumption of a liquid that will help clear out the colon. Identifying cancer in one’s body can be a scary proposition, but it’s one that can save their life, said SulierCharney, who has overcome a personal battle with cancer. She has had two colonoscopies herself. “When people think of cancer, they’re frightened and the first thing they think of is death,” she said. “They think of worst-case scenarios. But it is far from that. We have so many things that we can help people do before it even gets to that point.” There are ways for most people to reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer, such as eating a higher-fiber diet, increasing physical activity, limiting alcohol consumption and reducing the amount of red and/or processed meat consumed. “The most important thing that I want to get through is save yourself a lot of heartbreak, time and money: know what your risks are, know what you need to do, talk to your doctor and be an advocate for yourself,” SulierCharney said. For more information, visit toledo colonhealth.org and cancer.org O

March 1, 2015

ToledoFreePress.com

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Eye on Health 13

Manage your risk

s of Jan. 1, there were 14.5 mil- Environmental exposure lion Americans who have had O Limit sun exposure and wear or are currently living with a sunscreen daily. Many moisturizers cancer diagnosis. and cosmetics are now ofThat’s a stagfered with an SPF rating. gering figure when O Avoid smoking you consider some and repeated and proof the preventative longed exposure to measures that can second-hand smoke. be taken to miniO Avoid exposure to mize the risk of radon, lead and asbestos, cancer. or, if working in condiMaking healthy tions that present regular lifestyle choices Dr. Divya Vijendra exposure to these toxins, can decrease the be sure to wear protective chances of developing a nonhereditary clothing and breathing gear. cancer. Many major risk factors — Staying up to date with recomlike tobacco use, diet, physical activity, mended screenings and checkups alcohol use and environmental expo- allows for early detection of cancer sures — can be managed. or precancerous cells and is critical to prevention. It is important to Diet note that screening guidelines are O Keep a diet rich in phytochemi- different for men and women and cals. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables for different age groups. like berries, grapes, apricots, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. Whole Breast cancer grain bread, cereal, rice, and pasta are O Women in their 20s and 30s also important. Consider drinking should receive a breast exam during black or green tea instead of soda, regular health checkups at least coffee and alcohol. every three years. O Women ages 40 and older Physical activity should have an annual breast exam O Try to engage in moderate phys- during regular health checkups and ical activity for at least 30 minutes five an annual mammogram. or more days per week, or vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes Cervical cancer on three or more days per week. O Women ages 21-29 should

have a Pap test every three years. O Women ages 30-65 should have a Pap test and an HPV test every five years.

Colorectal cancer

O Men and women age 50 or older should have a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Prostate cancer

O Men age 50 or older should speak with their doctor to make an informed decision on whether or not to be tested.

Lung cancer

O Men and women ages 50 -74, with a high risk of lung cancer should talk to their doctor to see if they could benefit from a lung cancer screening.

Skin cancer

O Men and women, especially those over age 18, should always request a skin exam during regular health check-ups. To learn more about personal risk factors and the appropriate time for screenings, talk with your primary care physician. O

Dr. Divya Vijendra is a physician with ProMedica Hematology/Oncology Associates. For more information, call (419) 824-6599 or visit www.promedica.org/cancer.

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14 Eye on Health

UTMC shop survives to help others By Danielle Stanton

Toledo Free Press News Editor dstanton@toledofreepress.com

At 36, Renee Schick found a lump in her breast during a self-examination. A doctor performed an ultrasound and discovered she had cancer. In the wake of that diagnosis, she had a difficult time finding products and services that comforted her during her surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation. “When I was diagnosed, I had drain tubes and I didn’t know where to put them,” Schick said. “But there are camisoles that have pockets that are billable to insurance that can hold the tubes for you. They even come with puffs for people who have had a mastectomy.” After Schick recovered, she opened Renee’s Survivor Shop at 5401 Secor Road in 2003. Last May, after 11 years in business, Schick decided to close the shop that catered to the area’s cancer patients and survivors. She said the billing, paperwork and the uncertainty of a fluctuating business prompted the decision, one of the hardest she’s ever had to make. However, Renee’s Survivor Shop did not close permanently. Schick contacted the University of Toledo Medical Center and now manages Renee’s Survivor Shop at the Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center at UTMC. Now cancer patients at the hos-

“

It is powerful to be able to help them find what they need and take away even just a little bit of that fear, and to let them know they’re not alone. ” — Renee Schick pital have convenient access to the bright, airy shop tucked into a corner on the first floor. Cancer patients from other area hospitals have also found the new shop. Schick loves what she does and is happy to be able to continue providing services. “When you can help someone feel totally different about their situation than when they first walked through your door, what more rewarding job could you have? I have seen fear on the faces of many people who have come to my shop through the years. I’ve seen tears and anger. “It is powerful to be able to help them find what they need and take away even just a little bit of that fear,

and to let them know they’re not alone,” Schick said. The shop provides items specially designed for cancer patients and survivors. Wigs line one wall and there’s a private fitting room for mastectomy patients. T-shirts, gloves, socks, koozies, fleece jackets, nonmetallic deodorant, hats, scarves, gloves and bracelets are available. Some feature slogans such as “God Gives the Hardest Battle to the Strongest Soldiers” and “Life is Worth the Fight.” The official grand opening was Jan. 15. The shop is owned by the hospital, which performs the billing and paperwork. Schick is an employee of the hospital. Schick is a board-certified mastectomy fitter and has been fitting women for more than 10 years. The fittings and many of the products offered at the shop can be billed to insurance, she said. Schick considers many of her patients friends and is empathetic toward their needs. “When they come in and tell me they’ve just been diagnosed, I can relate to how they’re feeling,” Schick said, “especially the scary parts.” The hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Private evening appointments are available by request. For more information, call the shop at (419) 383-5243. O

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March 1, 2015

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A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

cancer survivor renee schick is the manager of Renee’s survivor shop at UTMC’s eleanor N. Dana Cancer center.

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Eye on Health 15

A Toledo tradition since 2005

By Joel Sensenig

Toledo Free Press Managing Editor jsensenig@toledofreepress.com

Cancer is a painful experience in a multitude of ways, but a Mercy Cancer Center program attempts to lessen the pain associated with treatment of the disease. The STAR (Survivorship Training and Rehabilitation) Program is a nationally recognized cancer effort that focuses on improving the lives of survivors who suffer from the side effects of treatments. “Fatigue is probably the primary complaint all of our cancer patients have,” said Anne Schroeder, a physical therapist and one of the 25 Mercy employees certified in the STAR Program. “It doesn’t matter where the diagnosis came from. A lot of it is the

effect of the chemotherapy and radiation, and the medications they take are pretty toxic to their system. … A lot of patients experience muscle weakness and a lot of balance issues.” Since 2013, a team of multidisciplinary specialists at Mercy — occupational and physical therapists, as well as nurses — have helped cancer patients overcome treatment-related conditions such as pain, weakness, fatigue, shoulder problems, balance issues, memory and concentration difficulties, swallowing and speech problems and lymphedema. About 10 patients go through the program each month. “Regardless of their prognosis, the benefit that they’ll come back and tell you about is that they have more energy or ability to do what they need to do,” Schroeder said. “For some of them, that’s getting back to work. For

Special Sections April 5: Eye on Health

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others, it’s just being able to sit up at the kitchen table to eat with their family for a half-hour. “There’s all levels of function there, but really we’re trying to get their pain down, increase their quality of life,” Schroeder said. “We set those goals with the patient in the first meeting or two.” Catherine Hughes is an example of what the program can accomplish. The 46-year-old Sylvania woman was diagnosed with breast cancer, resulting in two surgeries and chemotherapy every three weeks for one year, during which she also had 35 radiation treatments. To complicate matters, she was diagnosed with lymphedema — fluid retention and tissue swelling — in her left arm and left breast due to the removal of her lymph nodes. “After all the treatment I had been through I felt like my body never got back to normal. I was fatigued and had a hard time exercising,” Hughes said in an email interview with Toledo Free Press. “When the opportunity was given to me to do the STAR Program I was excited to participate in it. The program made a world of difference in my life. After completing the STAR Program, I truly feel like my body is back to normal. I am able to exercise and I’m not tired anymore. Also, I have seen a difference in my lymphedema; my arm does not swell up anymore and I feel it is under control. “This program has been a blessing to me and they have an amazing staff,” Hughes said. “From the time I was diagnosed with cancer I had all my doctor appointments, lab tests, surgeries and any other test I needed through the Mercy system. I always felt I was given the best treatment in every department I had contact with. The people who work for the Mercy system are wonderful and helpful. I thank God every day for the medical staff that gave me great care.” Patients’ stays in the STAR Program tend to be one to two times per week for two to three months, Schroeder said. Inclusion into the program requires a physician referral. So far, Schroeder has seen breast and brain cancer victims the most frequently. While brain cancer is not a common cancer, Schroeder said these patients are more likely to experience problems with balance. “Our goal is to see them the minute they start to experience a deficit, if not before,” she said. “We try to get people in quicker so they don’t have to live with those deficits. I think they just accept it sometimes as ‘Well, I’m happy

toledo free press photo by joel sensenig

Mercy STAR Program shoots for best lives possible

anne schroeder, a physical therapist and one of mercy’s 25 employees certified in the star program for cancer survivors, stands near equipment at the mercy center for health promotion and wellness at sunforest court. since 2013, a team of multidisciplinary specialists at mercy have helped cancer patients overcome treatment-related conditions such as pain and weakness.

to be alive and I’m stuck with this.’ But they can improve.” A common problem faced by breast cancer patients treated by Schroeder is tightness in the shoulders, due to scarring, radiation and surgical issues. “A lot of them can’t lift their arm up to get their shirt on,” she said. “Any task reaching overhead they can’t do. And they have weakness with that too, so they might not be able to lift their coffee cup.” The STAR Program can help them regain that range of motion and muscle strength.

Regardless of the type of cancer, many cancer patients experience similar symptoms due to chemotherapy and radiation, Schroeder said. “As a physical therapist, I don’t treat a kidney or a liver, but the chemotherapy effects [they experience] are almost the same,” she said. The STAR Program was founded by Dr. Julie Silver an assistant professor in Harvard Medical School’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. For more information or to refer a patient, call (888) 987-6372 or visit mercyweb.org O

16 Business Link

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

By Duane Ramsey TOLEDO FREE PRESS SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services of Pittsburgh, one of the largest real estate companies in the nation, plans to open a Toledo office March 2 with a Perrysburg man at the helm. Michael Aughinbaugh has been named office manager of the new location. He has worked in the real estate business in Northwest Ohio for nine years. “The Toledo real estate market experienced fantastic growth in 2014 with the outlook being brighter for 2015,” Aughinbaugh said. “As an office, I believe we stand to gain on this momentum by offering programs and incentives that no one else does or can.” Expanding west into the Toledo market has been a vital piece of the company’s development goals for the past few years, said Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV, president of Howard Hanna’s Midwest Region. “We’re excited to be finally opening in the Toledo real estate marketplace,” Hanna said in a news release. “Our spirit of integrity has helped us to grow to the fourth largest real estate company in the United States and we are bringing this spirit to Toledo.” Aughinbaugh said the company began recruiting agents in October and already has 14 agents for the Toledo market with more coming on board soon. The Toledo office will be one of the 12 Howard Hanna offices in its Ohio West Region. The firm will open a 2,800-squarefoot temporary office at 3214 Briarfield Blvd. in Maumee. Aughinbaugh said they plan to open a 5,000-square-foot permanent office in that area later this year that will accommodate 50 agents. Howard Hanna is the top real estate firm in Ohio, ranking No. 1 in homes sold for the past eight years with a 44 percent market share, according to the company, which is also No. 1 in Pennsylvania. Aughinbaugh will serve as a non-

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY DUANE RAMSEY

Perrysburg man slated to lead Howard Hanna’s Toledo office

Michael Aughinbaugh will serve as OFFICE manager of the Toledo/Maumee office of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services.

competing manager who does not list or sell properties, which is part of Howard Hanna’s philosophy. He joined the company’s Fremont office in 2012, where he worked with his mother Kim Wood. He has had his Ohio Real Estate License since 2006. “They talked to me about going into management and I’m very excited to be opening this office in the Toledo market,” Aughinbaugh said. Aughinbaugh earned his business degree from the University of Toledo, but he grew up in the real estate business. His grandfather, Ed Zitzelberger, owned a Century 21 franchise in Pennsylvania and knew Howard Hanna II, who founded the real estate firm in Pittsburgh in 1957. Howard “Hoddy” Hanna III now serves as CEO and his sister, Helen Hanna Casey, is president, supervising the firm’s residential real estate business. “The Hannas are all down to earth

and very hands-on. They know all their agents,” Aughinbaugh said of the family-owned business. “When we open the permanent office in Toledo, they will be here to meet the local agents, customers and media,” he said. The company specializes in residential and commercial brokerage services, mortgages, closing and title insurance, appraisal and insurance services, land development, corporate relocation and property management. Aughinbaugh said they will eventually expand into commercial real estate in the Toledo market. The firm is big in the relocation business, working with more than 600 corporations. He said they are already working with some local companies for relocation services in the Toledo market. For more information, visit www. howardhanna.com. O

March 1, 2015

Guantanamo Bay visit inspires UT student to start nonprofit By Ashley McMahon

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Imagine sitting in a humid courtroom in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 50 yards away from the alleged mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Evan Matheney experienced this firsthand and the “intense” encounter inspired him to create his own nonprofit, Dream Again Ohio, to help foster kids successfully transition to independence. Before heading down to Cuba as an advocate for the University of Toledo during the 9/11 trials, Matheney was in law school with a focus in juvenile law. He was also a member of the Lucas County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program. As a CASA, Matheney advocated for abused and neglected children when they came into the court system. Mom and dad have their attorneys, grandma and grandpa have their attorneys and the CASA is the only person in the room that’s a voice for just the child, Matheney explained. “Looking Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the face, I just had this realization that if they can do that much evil in the world with that type of passion, then assuredly the opposite has to be true,” Matheney said. “We can do that much good if we just have that type of passion for whatever we’re working toward.” “That was my big catalyst,” he said. “I had to go home and do something about this problem. At the time I had a CASA case and I couldn’t imagine my CASA kid aging out of the foster care system and being homeless.” Matheney’s experience with CASA instilled in him a passion for assisting children in need, especially those in the foster system. When he arrived home from Cuba, he left his studies and started Dream Again Ohio. “I dropped out of law school to work on this nonprofit because it became so successful,” he said.

Dream Again Ohio helps foster youth find housing and subsidizes their rent. The youth who age out of the foster system receive assistance from the organization by agreeing to participate in its life skills programming. E s s e n t i a l l y, this program teaches the young adults how to prepare for the responsibilities that come MATHENEY with living independently, Matheney said. According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, 20,000 young adults age out of the American foster system each year, with 1,000 of them living in Ohio. The statistics are daunting for those who age out of the system. Twentytwo percent become homeless within two years, 25 percent will become involved in crime and 50 percent of women experience early pregnancy. However, Julie Malkin, public information officer for Lucas County Children Services (LCCS), the agency responsible for Lucas County youth in foster care, said the statistics are not representative of the situation in Lucas County. She said LCCS offers post-emancipation services to foster youth between the ages of 18 and 21 where caseworkers assist youth with housing, education and employment. Before emancipation, Lucas County teens are linked with independent living caseworkers who work with them on self-care, budgeting, cooking and other skills, she said. Youth are also encouraged to stay with their foster families past age 18 if they are enrolled in high school, college or a GED program. Matheney urges the community to get involved. “If not you, then who? And if not now when?” he said. For more information, visit facebook.com/dreamagainohio. O

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Acoustics for Autism founder Nicole Khoury, left, performs with Arctic Clam bandmates Scott Hayes and Steve Knurek at last year’s event. PHOTO COURTESY PROJECT IAM

Acoustics for Autism March 8 charity fundraiser will feature 30-plus bands on four stages.

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

icole Khoury is not directly affected by autism, but the cause is important to her. After watching parents of children with autism struggle to afford treatment and travel expenses, Khoury took matters into her own hands. She started Acoustics For Autism to raise money for Project iAm scholarships, which go directly to the families in need. “It started off as me knowing people who were going through this and not having the money, going

into so much debt to try to help their kids,” Khoury said. “The best thing I can say is that when something makes me mad enough, I do something and I do it with a statement. If it wasn’t for my anger, we probably wouldn’t be where we are right now so thanks for making me mad.” The first Acoustics for Autism event, held in 2008, was a rousing success, Khoury said. This year’s event will take place March 8 in Downtown Maumee on four stages, the most the event has hosted to date. Live music will be heard at the Bier Garden tent, The Village Idiot stage, the Buster Brown’s stage and the silent auction tent. The outdoor Bier Garden tent will be heated, Khoury said.

More than 30 local musical acts are scheduled to perform including: Arctic Clam, Dave Carpenter & The Jaeglers, The Eight Fifteens, Jeff Stewart & The 25s, Flabongo Nation, Kyle White, Barile & May, Joe Woods Band, Brian Bocian, Judge Byers, Captain Sweet Shoes, Trey McLaughlin and more. “This year, we’re really expanding so that we can get more people in,” Khoury said. “Sometimes we get so busy in some of the bars that people can’t even walk in the door.” There will be donated merchandise up for grabs via a silent auction with a “Buy It Now” option. The merchandise will have Toledo flair, Khoury said. There will be raffles during the event as well.

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Last year, the event brought in its highest profits yet with around $27,000 raised. This year, Khoury would love to break $30,000. The need to help families affected by autism is now more important than ever as more children are diagnosed, Khoury said. “When I started the charity in 2008, the statistic was one in every 150 kids was diagnosed with autism. Now the statistic is one in every 66 kids,” Khoury said. “More families now are more aware of it. I think that now they are starting to understand it.” The original intent was to have the Acoustics For Autism event just once. But as it continued to grow, Khoury

began to plan the event annually. “What am I supposed to do, just throw in the towel at this point?” Khoury said. Josh Whitney of The Eight Fifteens is returning to the event for the sixth year. “I think it’s a great, great cause,” Whitney said. “It’s a way for me to give back to the community. … I’m very passionate for causes about kids. It just feels good that you can help in some small way.” Project iAm is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the federal government. For more information, visit acousticsforautism.com. O

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Wine event growing

The Glass City Wine Festival was so popular its first two years, organizers decided to double the size of the third event, set for noon to 9 p.m. March 7 at the SeaGate Convention Centre. The festival will now occupy two halls rather than one, said Brook Hall, director of operations for the festival. Attendance the first two years was capped at 1,800, with tickets selling out several weeks in advance. This year, organizers are expanding ticket sales to nearly 3,000, Hall said. The festival has also increased the number of featured wineries from 14 to 20. All of the wineries are from Ohio, including one from Northwest Ohio: Chateau Tebeau Winery in Helena. There are two sessions: 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. VIP tickets — which are sold out — allow entry one hour early. Afternoon tickets are $25, while evening tickets are $30. Tickets are available at glasscitywine festival.com. If tickets do not sell out, they will be $5 more at the door. Proceeds go to Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. In addition to samples from regional wineries, the festival offers attendees a chance to sample gourmet cheese and fare from local restaurants and shop for gifts from a variety of craft businesses. New this year will be Wine & Canvas, a national painting/cocktail business with a branch in Toledo. The business will host free painting classes at intervals throughout the event. Also new to the festival is the inclusion of Pairings, Ohio’s Wine & Culinary Experience, which will host free wine-tasting classes. O — Joel Sensenig

Beer festival By Dave Kubacki

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

On March 6, area residents will find plenty of craft beers to fill their sample-sized glasses as the Glass City Beer Festival opens its doors for the ninth year. The event, which will again be held at the Lucas County Recreation Center in Maumee, supports Camp Courageous & The Arc of NW Ohio and the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation. The event will provide attendees an oasis from the reality of winter, said Carla Wells, executive director of the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation. “People are ready to go out and do something fun,” Wells said. “It’s an indoor event so we don’t have to worry about the weather.” The festival, which runs from 7-11 p.m., will offer pours of more than 200 beers from 40 breweries. While the event will feature microbreweries from across the country, Lucas County will be represented well. Six area breweries will offer their beers: Maumee Bay Brewing Co., Great Black Swamp Brewing Company, Black Cloister Brewing Company, Black Frog Brewery, Sugar

Ridge Brewery and Flatrock Brewing Company. Black Cloister CEO Tom Schaeffer said the festival is one of the area’s premier events. “The growth the Glass City Beer Festival has experienced since its inception has been amazing,” Schaeffer said. “It’s really a sizable festival at this point. It just shows that there is a growing craft beer culture in this area and that makes it very exciting for us to be a part of that and being a new brewery in the area. We have a starving public out there right now.” Black Cloister, which is slated to open at 619 Monroe St. on March 20, is part of the growing craft beer scene in the Toledo area. According to Chris Harris of Black Frog Brewery, the festival provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about craft beers. “It gives me a chance to reach a broader audience besides the core beer drinking community that follows craft beer,” Harris said. “A lot of people go to the Glass City Beer Festival so it’s a great chance to expand my audience and show everyone in Toledo what I have to offer.” This year’s event will host new food vendors including PizzAroma and Granite City

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Ninth annual event to feature more than 200 beers from 40 breweries, including six in Northwest Ohio. Food & Brewery, both in Maumee. Perrysburg’s Swig will again provide food for the VIP area, which opens an hour earlier and offers access to exclusive beers. Wells said the festival offers an opportunity for people to try styles they might otherwise skip. “Craft beers are not usually inexpensive so it is a great way to try a bunch of different beers that you may have seen at The Andersons or at Joseph’s Beverage Center and didn’t

really want to pay $10 or $15 for a six-pack without knowing if you’d like it,” Wells said. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door ($50/$55 VIP). Advance tickets can be purchased at The Andersons customer service desks. Admission includes 12 taste tickets (18 for VIP) with additional taste tickets available for $1 each or six for $5. Parking is $5. For more information, visit the Glass City Beer Festival Facebook page or glasscitybeerfest.com. O

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Star at the Oscars 19

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Tree City Film Fest to screen Oscar-nominated shorts By Chase Will Toledo Free Press Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

In case you haven’t yet seen the short films nominated for Oscars this year, the Sylvania Community Arts Commission (SCAC) has you covered. For the third year, the Tree City Film Festival will include a screening of Oscar-nominated short films from around the world on April 17. These include both live-action and animated short films, and it’s one of the few places in the area you can view these shorts on the big screen. Jennifer Archer, executive director of SCAC, said it’s a big opportunity for film buffs to see films they may otherwise miss. “For me, because I’ve got kids, most of the shorts I get to see throughout the year are animated shorts,” Archer said. “This is the one place I get to see them all.” Tickets to the Oscar shorts are $8, which includes over three hours of entertainment. “Feast” was the winner in Best Short Film Animated category. Other nominees were “The Bigger Picture,” “The Dam Keeper,” “Me and My Moulton” and “A Single Life.” “The Phone Call” was the winner

in the Best Short Film Live Action category. Other nominees were “Aya,” “Boogaloo and Graham,” “Butter Lamp (La Lampe au Beurre de Yak)” and “Parvaneh.” The short films comprise just day one of the weekend-long festival, which will also include showings from the 50-hour film challenge on April 18 and original short films on April 19. The 50-hour film challenge gives teams of local filmmakers the chance to create original shorts. Each team is assigned a genre, prop, line of dialogue, character name and shooting location. These shorts must be shot and submitted between March 20-22. The deadline for entering the 50hour film challenge is March 1, and entry costs $45 per team. On April 19, selections from the Shorties: A Shorter Short Film Challenge will be screened and a winner will be announced. The Shorties: A Shorter Short Film Challenge invites three- to five-minute short film entries from teams of children grades K-12. At the screening, participating children will be able to walk the red carpet with their families before seeing their masterpieces on the big screen. Leading up to the challenge is a four-week workshop called Shorties

U, which began Feb. 21. At Shorties U, 50 area kids are learning every aspect of filmmaking from local masters as well as industry professionals, Archer said. Hands-on projects during the workshop include screenwriting, filming and the editing process. Every child will leave the program with a completed short film, and they’re encouraged to create a short in their own time to enter in the challenge, Archer said. Archer said the film festival helps locals experience the beauty of film, since Sylvania doesn’t have a movie theater. To meet the challenge of not having a theater available, SCAC will convert the chamber at the Sylvania Historic Village into a screening house for the weekend. “This engages everyone no matter what level they’re at, so if you want to try something new you can do it here,” Archer said. Tickets to the Oscar shorts and release forms for contest participants are available at www.sylvaniaarts.org. O

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March 1, 2015

20 Star at the Oscars

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

Hooray for Hollywood I

thoroughly enjoyed “Birdman.” It is a rare treat to find a film that so deftly swoops between the disparate tones of comedy, tragedy, surrealism and slapstick. I found the ending a bit of a letdown, as I felt there were a few loose ends both thematically and on a character level that the film didn’t even try to tie up. But on the whole, I found “Birdman” an excellent moviegoing experience. I say this to establish that what I’m about to write doesn’t come from a place of bias against the movie because it won the Academy Award for Best Picture, or that I would have preferred any of the other candidates. “Birdman” is a wonderful film, very worthy of the honor. But its victory seems to solidify a somewhat disturbing trend — an indication that, in its attempts to honor the best of its art form, Hollywood is in danger of disappearing (even further) up its own backside. The fact is that of the last four films that have won Best Picture — a prize meant to signify a movie that

represents the pinnacle of achieve- easily relate to and see themselves in. ment in show business — three of Other nominees depicting historical them have centered around one par- figures, individuals struggling with their humanity or ticular subject: show both didn’t have that business itself. And natural in-road with I would argue that the voters. the trend goes back In 2014, Best Piceven further than that, ture was awarded to leading an interested “12 Years a Slave” observer to deduce that — a harrowing and Hollywood’s voters are important film that a little too keen on interrupted the Tinrewarding work that seltown reverie. But they, and perhaps few JEFF mCGINNIS in 2013, the winner others outside of movwas “Argo,” a film iemaking, can relate to. about a fake film Start with set up by the CIA to “Birdman.” A sly metaGOES THE rescue diplomats satire of both Hollyfrom Iran. Sure, the wood and Broadway, movie wasn’t focused with a few dollops of on Hollywood, but pathos and selfshow business cerdoubt mixed in. The characters are all show business tainly played a key role, with plenty archetypes: the down-on-his-luck of inside winks to moviemaking and veteran actor, the egotistical method film buffs added in. In 2012, Best Picture went to “The performer, the paranoid agent, the neglected daughter. These are all in- Artist,” a nearly-silent movie dedividuals that Hollywood types can picting a famous actor who has hit the

POP CULTURE

March 1, 2015

Oscar win for “Birdman” continues a trend.

skids and is looking for a way back to stardom. Hmm, that sounds familiar. Hey, whaddya know, that sounds almost identical to the basic plot of “Birdman”! Now, sure, the two films could not be more different in terms of filmmaking style, tone and more, but the fact remains that once again the story Hollywood deemed the best of the year was largely focused on Hollywood itself. So that’s three films in four years that featured a behind-the-scenes entertainment story Best Picture. And then we get to 2011’s winner, “The King’s Speech,” about British monarch George VI overcoming his stammer in an effort to become an effective leader. If you get right down to it, the story can be read as working to overcome fear of expectation, of not performing well, which isn’t too far removed from stage fright — something many actors can certainly identify with. (Coincidentally, actors make up the largest branch of the Academy’s voters. Go figure.) Look, I’m not saying any of these films are bad — in my opinion,

they’re all excellent. But when a long string of victors for filmmaking’s top prize share a common theme, it begins to indicate a sort of tunnel vision, no matter what that subject is. Imagine if four out of five Pulitzer Prize winners were war novels, or (much less likely) sci-fi thrillers. It would hint that the voting block may be naturally biased toward that subject matter, potentially to the exclusion of other kinds of stories. The Oscars are supposed to spotlight great examples of filmmaking artistry, and encourage the audience to seek out great work. The filmmaking industry churns out an endless stream of vacuous garbage on a yearly basis, so working to bolster great, smaller pieces is always worth the effort. But when those same awards seem focused on honoring a series of films that play better to a very select market — the same market doing the voting — one can’t help but wonder if Academy voters would be well served to widen their scope in the years to come. O

March 1, 2015

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Star at the Oscars 21

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ow has awards season gotten Best Picture just last year, it appeared that any progress made toward diso long, and so exhausting? verse inclusion had Feb. 22’s Osbeen reversed. cars capped The Academy of off a special season Motion Picture Arts this year, filled with & Sciences voted for more dissent and vitriol outstanding achievethan normal. (Or maybe ments of 2014. MemI’m just watching social bers may not have media more.) meant to specifically This year seemed exclude “Selma,” but normal going into nominasurely not enough tions on Jan. 15. There was members voted to a fantastic feeling around James A. Molnar include it. some of the nominated THE Was this specififilms, including “Boyhood” cally about the Osand “Birdman.” cars, or a larger quesThen #OscarsSoWhite tion about the state happened. of Hollywood and the People were up in studios that make the arms over what they believed to be snubs for “Selma” in big films? What exactly is the problem multiple categories, the result of a and how can it be fixed? Everyone brings his or her own non-diverse motion picture academy. The hashtag on Twitter was created perspective and opinion to the Oscars. After all, choosing “the best” is with this feeling in mind. Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris subjective. Look at previous winners awkwardly joked about this in his of Academy Awards. Wouldn’t a film winning many awards for technical monologue. “Tonight we honor Hollywood’s achievements or acting be a shoo-in best and whitest — sorry, brightest,” for Best Picture? Last year, “Gravity” took home he said. While “12 Years a Slave” won for seven Oscars in Best Director and

GOLD KNIGHT

the technical categories, yet lost Best Picture to “12 Years a Slave,” which ended the night with three Oscars. These awards are chosen by a specific group of people. They happen to skew more white and more male. But the public holds the Academy to a higher standard because its awards are supposed to represent all facets of the film industry and honor the best achievements of the previous year. It’s the gold standard, a seal of approval. But again, that can be really subjective. The ceremony itself lost 16 percent of its record-breaking audience from last year, which was the best in a decade. The biggest film nominated for Best Picture at the box office this year was “American Sniper.” The moviegoing public, which votes with its wallet, chose “Sniper.” Yet it didn’t win. Maybe the exclusion of big ticket films from the top category kept audiences away. Or maybe the Olympics helped the Oscars last year, by giving awards season a monthlong break. Demanding change from the Academy, along with Hollywood, is healthy and important. Hopefully this awards season taught us something. It has certainly left us with many questions. O

22 Star

March 1, 2015

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

((((((((((((( THE PULSE

February 27MARCH 7, 2015 What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

✯ The New Mondays: 7-10 p.m. March 2. ✯ Clifford Murphy & Michael Whitty: 7-10 p.m. March 3. ✯ Ben Barefoot: 7-10 p.m. March 4. ✯ KMB3: 7-10 p.m. March 5.

Compiled by Matt Liasse Events are subject to change.

MUSIC

The Flying Joe

Bar 145º

$5 cover. 5304 Monroe St. (419) 593-0073 or bar145toledo.com. ✯ Tricky Dick & The Cover Ups: 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Feb. 27. ✯ Open Mic Night: 8-11 p.m. March 1. ✯ Bloody Mary Bar: March 1. ✯ Chris Knopp: 8-11:30 p.m. March 4.

The Blarney Irish Pub

601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www. theblarneyirishpub.com. ✯ Toast & Jam: Feb. 27. ✯ New Fashioned: Feb. 28.

Bronze Boar

20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www. bronzeboar.com. ✯ Open mic with Steve Finelli and Oliver Roses: Mondays. ✯ Karaoke with Greg: Tuesdays. ✯ Open mic and Steve Kennedy: Thursdays. ✯ Crucial 420: Feb. 27. ✯ Last Born Sons: Feb. 28.

Doc Watson’s

2130 Preston Parkway, Perrysburg. (419) 9310273 or www.theflyingjoe.com. ✯ Josh Wilson: 5:30-8 p.m. Feb. 28.

Forrester’s On The River

26 Main St. (419) 691-2626 or www. forrestersontheriver.com. ✯ Wine Down Wednesday with The H-Factor Jazz Show: 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays.

Frankie’s Inner-City

308 Main St. (419) 693-5300 or www. FrankiesInnerCity.com. ✯ Shwayze, Shavar Dontae, Stretch and Ryan Dunlap: 9 p.m. Feb. 27. ✯ Broken Glass with DJs Havok & Pockets (in Frankie’s Basement): 10 p.m. Feb. 27. $3 for 21 and older, $5 for ages 18-21. ✯ Jive Bomb, The Lonely Friends and The Groove Protocol: 9 p.m. Feb. 28. ✯ Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Andrew Ellis and Ben Stalets Band: 7 p.m. March 1. ✯ Rookie of the Year: 6 p.m. March 2.

French Quarter J. Patrick’s Pub

1515 S. Byrne Road. (419) 389-6003 or docwatsonstoledo.com. ✯ Sporcle Live Trivia: Thursdays. ✯ The Berlin Brothers: 10 p.m. Feb. 27.

Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. FridaysSaturdays. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. (419) 874-3111 or www.hifq.com. ✯ The Bradberries: Feb. 27-28.

Dorr St. Café

Glass City Cafe

Southwest corner of Dorr Street at Reynolds Road. (419) 531-4446 or dorrstreetcafe.com. ✯ Steve & Tom: Feb. 27.

Durty Bird

2 S. St. Clair St. (419) 243-2473 or www. yeoldedurtybird.com. ✯ The New Fashioned: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Feb. 27. ✯ The Eight Fifteens: 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Feb. 28. ✯ The Gazebo: 1-4 p.m. March 1.

10 a.m., 1107 Jackson St. (419) 241-4519 or www.glasscitycafe.com. ✯ Bluegrass Breakfast featuring The Blowing Grains: 10 a.m. Feb. 28.

Hollywood Casino Toledo

The Hollywood Casino offers musical distractions from all the lights, noise and jackpots. 777 Hollywood Blvd. (419) 661-5200 or www. hollywoodcasinotoledo.com. ✯ Gas Station Disco: 9 p.m. Feb. 27. ✯ The Homewreckers: 9 p.m. Feb. 28.

Come to The Blarney ... Go From There!

HAPPY HOUR Mon-Fri 4-7 pm Live facebook.com/blarneytoledo 601 Monroe St. Entertainment Right Across from Fifth Third Field Thurs-Fri-Sat

Iggy’s

128 Main St. ✯ Dethrone the Deceiver CD Release with The Martyr Design, Lament, Signal the Slaughter and Dementria: 8 p.m. Feb. 27. ✯ Glass City Hip Hop Showcase featuring Zajac and Whyte, K.O.G.A., KILLA KING, Killa Camo, Dezzy James, CiTo, Hydro & JBIZZ, Skrappy Locz, Kid Kriss Official, Kashi Jayy, Mr. Lee and King Veno: 9 p.m. Feb. 28.

Name That Tune

✯ The Oarhouse, 5044 Suder Ave.: 8-10 p.m. Mondays, 6-8:30 p.m. Fridays. ✯ Ralphie’s Sports Eatery, 6609 Airport Hwy.: 8-10 p.m. Tuesdays. ✯ Jed’s Barbeque and Brew, 855 S. HollandSylvania Road: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays. ✯ Pat & Dandy’s Sports Bar & Grill, 3344 W. Laskey Road: 9-11 p.m. Wednesdays. ✯ Ralphie’s Sports Eatery, 5702 Monroe St.: 7-9 p.m. Thursdays.

✯ Andrew Ellis: Wednesdays. ✯ Rain Dogs: A Tribute to Tom Waits: Feb. 27. ✯ Kentucky Chrome: Feb. 28. ✯ Andrew Ellis: March 4.

Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull

9 N. Huron St. (419) 244-2855 or facebook. com/cocknbulltoledo. ✯ Danny Mettler hosts Open Mic Night: Wednesdays. ✯ Tore Down Blues Jam Band: Sundays. ✯ Bobby May and John Barile followed by Dave Carpenter and the Jaeglers: Feb. 27. ✯ Sugar Pax: Feb. 28. ✯ Dan Stewart: March 3. ✯ Danny Mettler: March 4. ✯ Captain Sweet Shoes: March 5.

EVENTS

Live music starts at 7:30 p.m. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com. ✯ The Midnight Flowers: Feb. 27. ✯ Ruth Nichols & Friends: Feb. 28.

The Ottawa Tavern

“Corny Beef and Cabaret”

1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www. otavern.com. ✯ Streamlined with Jura and Dark Red: Feb. 28.

SWINGMANIA

Jeff McDonald’s group of musicians provides a peek into another era. (419) 708-0265, (419) 874-0290 or www.swingmania.org. ✯ Trotters Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-2079: 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

The Village Idiot

309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com. ✯ The House Band: Fridays. ✯ Dooley Wilson, Bob Rex and friends: Sundays. ✯ Frankie May and Associates: Mondays. ✯ John Barile & Bobby May: Tuesdays.

This “crazy, bawdy, irreverent show” is an annual event, featuring comedy and music performed by members of Extra Stout and friends. Memphis Pearl, 5147 Main St., Sylvania. 7 p.m. Feb. 28 and 5 p.m. March 1. $15. Call (419) 217-3715 for reservations.

Dine 419

New restaurant week featuring 16 local restaurants. Through March 1, each eatery will donate a portion of its proceeds from special menu items to local nonprofit Veterans Matter to help house homeless veterans. For more information, visit www.dine419.org.

Eastwood Theater

The historic landmark is screening movies for $5. 817 E. Broadway St. For more information, visit eastwoodtheater.com. ✯ “Into The Woods”: 6:15 p.m. Feb. 27, 7:15

Thursday, Mar. 5th 2 more weeKS ’tiL St. PatricK’S DaY

Rick Whited

The Stranahan Theater

4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. ✯ “Let It Be – A Celebration of the Music of The Beatles”: 7 p.m. March 1.

Tinis for Preemies

Fundraiser for Graham’s Foundation, a Waterville nonprofit that provides practical and emotional support to parents of premature babies. More information: grahamsfoundation.org/Tinis4Preemies.html. Carranor Hunt & Polo Club, 502 E. 2nd St., Perrysburg. 6 p.m. March 6.

Seed swap

Actors Collaborative Toledo

Trinity Episcopal Church, 316 Adams St. ✯ “Pretty Fire” by Charlayne Woodard. Directed by Barbara Barken and featuring Dafina-Lazarus Stewart. 8 p.m. Feb. 28. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit The Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls.

One2 Lounge at Treo

p.m. Feb. 28 and 4 p.m. March 1. ✯ “Exodus: Gods and Kings”: 8:45 p.m. Feb. 27, 9:40 p.m. Feb. 28 and 6:30 p.m. March 1. ✯ Free Family Flicks: “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids”: 1:30 p.m. Feb. 28.

Attendees at the 11th Toledo Botanical Garden seed swap will receive gardening information including a seed viability chart, planting schedules, composting tips and more. Woodward High School, 701 E. Central Ave. Noon-3 p.m. Feb. 28. Free.

Toledo Repertoire Theatre

The Young Rep will present “The Very UnMerry Adventures of Robin Hood.” 16 10th St. (419) 243-9277 or www.toledorep.org. 7 p.m. Feb. 27 and 28 and 2:30 p.m. March 1.

Toledo Stamp Expo 2015

Featuring Harry Potter on Stamps exhibit and a kids’ table. Holland Gardens, 6530 Angola Road, Holland. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 28 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 1.

Toledo Walleye

Huntington Center. 500 Jefferson Ave. www. toledowalleye.com. ✯ Walleye versus Kalamazoo Wings with Pink in the Rink theme: 7:15 p.m. Feb. 28 and 5:15 p.m. March 1. If you would like your event in The Pulse, contact Matt Liasse at mliasse@toledofreepress.com.

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