Toledo Free Press - Mar. 8, 2009

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8 2009

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Kyle White has written a powerful song about Toledo.

Now, it’s your turn.

Enter our contest, Page A A66

Italkwill about it.

1-877-291-1441 • www.promedica.org

© 2009 ProMedica Health System

Song of Toledo

A2 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

What’s behind these three simple letters?

Strength. Stability. Leadership.

{And now, the people of National City.} For over 150 years PNC has operated according to a very simple, customer-driven philosophy: Deliver value. To us that means providing the leadership and solutions that most benefit our customers in the long run. It means a disciplined, down-to-earth approach. It means lending to hardworking families looking to own their own home, and to creditworthy businesses looking to grow. It’s a way of doing business that has strength and stability at its very core.

The success of this approach has helped PNC earn wide recognition, including the designation as one of FORTUNE® magazine’s “Most Admired Companies.”1 More important, it has helped us earn the confidence of millions of individuals, families and businesses of all sizes, for more than a century and a half.

PNC is one of FORTUNE® magazine’s “Most Admired Companies.”

corporate-sponsored program of its kind in the United States. We see it as nothing less than an investment in the future.

PNC has more LEED-certified green buildings than any other company on Earth.

We also consider the environment we all share to be an investment in our common interest. That’s why we’ve been at the forefront of green building practices for more than a decade. Today, PNC has more LEED-certified green buildings than any other company on Earth.2

Helping build communities, one future at a time.

A firm foundation at every step along your journey.

Like National City, we have always believed that strong communities are built from the ground up. To ensure that the National City tradition of supporting important local causes and programs endures, PNC has pledged $28 million in support of National City’s foundation for 2009.

This level of community support is nothing new for PNC. At the heart of our efforts to foster educational opportunities and personal growth is our “Grow Up Great” initiative. This 10-year, $100 million program works to develop school readiness in children through the first five years of their lives. It’s the most comprehensive

As a National City customer, you should continue to bank at National City branches, with the same accounts you currently hold.

While doing so, you can continue to earn and redeem your points just as you always have. And you now also have access through your National City ATM card to the entire PNC network of over 3,900 ATMs—with no transaction fees.

National City’s becoming a part of PNC presents a world of possibilities for our customers, and for the communities where we all live and work. Starting with a firm foundation, we’re building an even brighter future. Let our strength and stability be the basis for your own.

Keep up to date with all the exciting news on the National City-PNC transition at www.welcometopnc.com.

1 According to FORTUNE® magazine, March 17, 2008, issue. 2 According to the U.S. Green Building Council, September 2008. National City Bank, Member FDIC. ©2009 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

69369_PNC_PN9-8820.indd 1

2/10/09 5:00:00 PM

OPINION

MARCH 8, 2009

PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

No privacy

A

few years ago, following a victorious, albeit unpleasant, confrontation in court, comment were made in the heat of victory at a closed-door Toledo Free Press staff meeting.

An intern working with us went home that day and blogged Thomas F. POUNDS about the court decision and the meeting, including all the flush-with-victory comments that were made behind closed doors.

Very few of those comments would be considered publishable or even civil. Of course, those blogged-to-a-few-pals comments were discovered by the adversaries and used to further condemn our organization. It was a lesson for all of us on how new technology can add fire to old problems.

As mayoral spokesman Jason Webber learned this week, even comments posted to a “private” Web site or social networking site can be breached and publicized. SwampBubbles curator Chris Myers obtained unflattering comments Webber wrote and posted them on his site.

As bloggers sort their roles and responsibilities in this relatively new frontier, and the lines between journalism, reporting, blogging and opinion become blurred and intertwined, there will undoubtedly be many more victims caught in the gears.

Whether Webber was being judicious or foolish, and whether Myers was being a responsible reporter or a reckless one, the urgent lesson for all anyone with a stake in public life is that any technology can fail, any human’s mind can change, and there is no such thing as private.

There are wondrous advantages to the MySpace, Facebook and Twitter frontiers, but there are also unforeseen pitfalls, and the wise pioneer will be exceedingly careful when venting, reporting or being creative online.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

■ A3

LIGHTING THE FUSE

Afrightened and ascared E

van had been missing for less than five past my wife back to our bedroom, to grab minutes when I started to fear the worst. shoes and a jacket to walk around the house.

“He’s not even 3,” I thought, as my The big-boy bed wife and I called his name and searched for him in the dark.

Twenty-four hours earlier, We looked in each room of my sleep was interrupted when the house, yelling his name, but Evan opened our bedroom found no trace of him. door and walked in to anHis bedroom is on the nounce, “I’m awake. I want to second floor, just feet from our eat, please.” room, separated by a metal tenThis was remarkable besion gate that is supposed to cause for the first two years and block the stairs. Assuming Evan nine months of his life, Evan had not breached that admit- Michael S. MILLER had slept in a high-walled crib tedly flimsy security measure, and had never shown any incliwe checked every upstairs closet and hiding nation to Spider-Man his way out. But there he place, but to no avail. stood, yawning, as if he’d been climbing out of When it occurred to me that Evan might his crib and waltzing room to room forever. have made it past the gate and downstairs, my I took Evan back to his room, returned him heart started pushing adrenaline through my to his crib and asked him to show me how he frame, taking me from groggy to cappuccino escaped. He clambered up the side, flipped his body over and dropped to the floor at an angle awake in seconds.

My wife started downstairs, calling Evan’s very unfriendly to arms, legs and necks.

That day, my wife and I decided to convert name, as I began to form a mental list of all the previously unimaginable Stephen King Evan’s crib to its toddler daybed version. We horrors that might have befallen our first celebrated this rite of passage to the big-boy bed son. I thought about the suddenly inadequate with a big-boy pillow and let him choose a bigbarrier around the basement sump pump. boy pillowcase (Diego and a dinosaur, natch).

The thin plastic cords around the cabinets For nearly every night of Evan’s life, I have containing chemicals and cleaners. The two held Evan in a rocking chair, said a prayer with dozen places to fall and hit his head against him, told him a story (always concluding with furniture or corners. “the beginning,” never “the end”) and sang a Then, with the painful clarity of acci- few songs to him (“Winnie the Pooh,” Twinkle dentally biting a jagged slash into one’s own Twinkle Little Star” and “Lullabye and Goodtongue, I felt a chilling certainty: If he made it night”). For his first night in the big boy bed, downstairs, he could not get out through the I laid him down, tucked him in, then kneeled garage, but what if he opened the front door beside the bed and prayed and sang to him, and stepped out into the 12-degree night? If stroking his hair as he fell asleep. the door closed behind him, he’d be stuck in It was the same result as the rocking chair, freezing winds with his pajamas and no one but I missed holding his little form in my arms. to hear him crying for help. My mind’s eye, Just after 2 a.m., I woke up to hear Evan an overachieving bitch in moments like this, crying. I went to his room to see what was pulled back the curtains on a scene of baby wrong, and he said, “I’m afrightened to fall out Evan walking confused around the house, ter- of the big-boy bed.

“No, honey, you mean ‘frightened,’ ” I said, rified of the cold and dark, circling alone until he fell to the ground, where we would find him correcting grammar and vocabulary being one of my occupational hazards. hours later, frosted blue like a Titanic victim.

“No, I mean ascared,” he said.

This all played out in my head as we finI offered to put a row of stuffed animals on ished searching the first floor and basement, with no sign of our beloved and precious boy. guard to protect the perimeter, but Evan asked “Jesus Christ in Heaven,” I thought, trying to come to mom’s room. We don’t like to into be calm as my wife began the search from dulge that occasional request, but my blurry a.m. reasoning decided that he’d fall back the beginning, “no, no, please no.”

Without telling her my thoughts, I brushed asleep and I could carry him back to his bed.

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 5, No. 10. Established 2005.

EDITORIAL Mary Ann Stearns, Design Editor mastearns@toledofreepress.com Brandi Barhite, Special Sections Editor bbarhite@toledofreepress.com Julie Ryan, News Editor jryan@toledofreepress.com ADMINISTRATION Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com

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Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

M.I.A. The persistent searing “eeehhn-eeehhneeehhn” of the electronic alarm shocked me awake five hours later.

“Did you bring Evan over?” my wife asked.

I felt the bed between us, but there was no Evan there.

“He went back to his room,” I slurred.

Shannon slowly crossed the hallway; I heard the door creak open and Shannon returned to our room with unexpected urgency.

“He’s not there,” she said.

I sat up and joined her in yelling for Evan, our calls absorbed and swallowed into the quiet morning air. I looked at Evan’s baby brother Sean, asleep in his crib, and started for the door.

“He’s not even 3,” I thought, as my wife and I called his name and searched for him in the dark.

Our search became more frantic as the minutes ticked by. I stepped barefoot into shoes, pulled on the first jacket I saw and started outside for my grim search. As I stepped through the gate to bound down the stairs, I heard my wife call, “I found him!”

At some point during the night, Evan crawled out of bed, took his pillow and a blanket and crawled between the bathroom door and tub, where he slept contentedly while we searched and panicked away 10 years of our lives.

My wife scooped Evan up and hugged him, hugged him, hugged him.

He said, “I’m awake. I want to eat, please.”

We took him downstairs and fed him.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. His e-mail is mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Postscript — As I was dealing with this minor parenting drama, a Pittsburgh friend and former co-worker, Jim Snively, was grieving over the death of his 12-year-old son, Jacob. Jake died Feb. 27 on his way to a Boy Scouts camp, when a pickup truck ran through a stop sign and collided into the car carrying him. I remember Jim’s absolute love for his children, and this crushing news has me aching for him and his family. Knowing that Jim endured countless such adventures with Jake, and knowing that Jake is no more, breaks my heart in a thousand places.

Our prayers and thoughts are with you, Jim.

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

STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com DISTRIBUTION Charles Campos (419) 241-1700, Ext. 227 Jim Beard • John Dorsey • Mike Driehorst • Lori Golaszewski ccampos@toledofreepress.com Aya Khalil • Vicki L. Kroll • Scott McKimmy • Michael Punsalan PRODUCTION Duane Ramsey • Joel Sensenig • Dave Woolford • Brandon Wray Lad Strayer, Photo Editor Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus Don Curtis, Web master Kelly Heuss, Graphic Design Toledo Free Press is published every Sunday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604 Phone: (419) 241-1700 Fax: (419) 241-8828 www.toledofreepress.com. Subscription rate: $150 /year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2009 with all rights reserved. Publication of advertisements does not imply endorsement of advertisers’ goods or services.

OPINION

A4 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

GUEST COLUMN

MARCH 8, 2009

GUEST COLUMN

Council’s crisis Blogging in shades of clear gray W T

oledo City Council is in the Web page with a link to the 2009 midst of a budget crisis — budget. Unfortunately, even this scrambling over deficit after version is inaccessible: It cannot be searchedelectronically deficit each time new and contains no index information surfaces or instructions for about Toledo’s fiscal laypeople to decipher health. As late as Febits contents. Instead, ruary, council was still it looks like a scanned learning about 2008’s printout of the budget. deficits and newly It is my sincere hope projected deficits for that the 2009 City of 2009. Council memToledo budget was bers did not realize prepared using one or their own ignorance Terry BIEL more computers. And until it became impossible to prevent a crisis. But get- if it was prepared using computers, ting bad news when it’s too late to why can’t an electronic copy be genavert disaster is only a symptom of erated directly, instead of printing an underlying condition. There is a and re-scanning it into a computer? fundamental problem with trans- Shouldn’t we be able to cut out the parency and accessibility of public extra step? After all, the City of Toledo Web site proudly declares us a information in Toledo.

Democracy works best with “city of the future.” well-informed voters and accesA “city of the future” must be sible public information. When committed to transparency and voters are underinformed or when accountability through smart use accurate public information is in- of technology. City council in paraccessible, it is impossible for citi- ticular has a fantastic opportunity to zens to hold leaders accountable. improve transparency and accountIt is also very difficult for those ability by publishing its activities elected officials to make good de- online. At a minimum, every piece cisions, plan for the future and re- of legislation, its revision history and spond appropriately to crisis. the final draft should be on council’s Being underinformed is not Web site. Similarly, the voting record solely the result of apathy. In many of every council member should be cases, red tape emerges over time listed with each piece of legislation, and hinders the accessibility of in- so the public can observe the conformation. For some elected offi- duct of their elected councilmen. cials, red tape is used to deliberately City council attendance records keep so-called public information should be posted as well. Combine away from the very public it be- that with online meeting agendas, longs to. Public-records requests and citizens can decide for themmay be subjected to indefinite legal selves how important missed meetreview, denied on technicalities or ings are. Once attendance and otherwise stalled. In most cases, voting records of every city council public information is not made member are just a click away, transdeliberately inaccessible, but it is parency and accessibility will be rarely convenient to acquire. more in line with our “city of the fuThe City of Toledo 2009 budget ture” moniker. The boost to transis a perfect example. A search of the parency and accessibility will bring city’s Web site for “2009 budget” a similar boost in public accountturns up a phone directory, the ability, and the quality of public budget office homepage, tran- service by our elected officials will scripts and audio for the 2009 State improve with it. of the City Address and the full text Toledo can go further with onand audio for Mayor Finkbeiner’s line, real-time publishing of departpresentation of the 2009 budget to ment account balances, taxes, other the Rotary Club of Greater Toledo. revenues and spending. Doing so The search also turns up other mis- will mean fewer surprises and better cellaneous pages with some combi- planning. Council will no longer be nation of the year “2009” and the blindsided by surprise budget defiword “budget” in their contents. cits from overspending or declining No result makes the 2009 budget tax revenue. available for download.

A Google search for “2009 City Democrat Terry Biel is a candidate of Toledo Budget” is slightly more for Toledo City Council. His Web fruitful. The first result is an NBC24 site is http://terrybiel.com/.

elcome to the 21st century. On March 2, I more on the side of disclosure than not. Too many times, created a good amount of 21st century de- government loves getting the last word in, playing tricks bate on what is appropriate or inappropriate with public information, making sure that you only get what they want you to get. When you have behavior online by posting once-private the opportunity to get something that blog entries from Mayor Carty Finkbeiner’s provides insight into how our government spokesman, Jason Webber, on my public operates, there is a case that it should be site, SwampBubbles.com. This stirred disdisclosed, especially if someone is posting cussion online and in offices around the city; it in a way that can easily become public. some of it was not flattering of Webber and Of course every case should be weighed some of it was not flattering toward me. on its own merits, but I do think that these Someone asked me if I would do the blog entries were worth putting in the same thing the next time this situation came public discussion because there are not up. I told them if it was this particular case, too many first-person accounts of what I would.

Chris MYERS goes on the 22nd floor.

When I became alerted to the issue, If you post something that you think could get you my first thought was that there could be something of public interest: some insight to know what is going on fired, but you are under the false confidence that it will not get out because it says “private” or only your trusted in our government.

I also became aware that Webber’s postings were not friends will see it, then you already are on the wrong such a secret, and this was also confirmed even after I track. There are many ways that things could be accidenposted this the blog entries. Once I heard in a conversa- tally or intentionally disclosed, including accidentally tion that someone else knew about it, I knew it was only allowing someone access, technology failing through a time that it was going to come out. And who knows — it bug, or through the system allowing access. Of course may have come out by an anonymous poster on my site your friends may come and go, and you never know or on another blog. Since I was more interested in the which ones may harbor evil or naive intentions. You transparency aspect of this case, I decided to go ahead or your friends could accidentally forget to log out of a and post the unflattering blog entries, in which Webber computer disclosing private information.

If you are a public person or official talking about described his initial days on the job.

People have high expectations of me and I know that the details of what goes on in a lighthearted way, in a some people are disappointed by my actions. There is a serious or criminal way, you cannot sit there and think knowledge gap between what is posted versus the full that won’t draw interest. If what you said is obtained lesituation, but because I am unable to fill in that knowl- gally, we have the right to see it because your comments/ edge gap, I am willing to accept the consequences of this commentary in front of an audience about your public decision. I think the online community is particularly job is an extension of what you do for a living. Asserting vocal on this because of the belief of privacy rights, and a public right to possibly private comments is a unique I do respect that debate — people should be assured that perspective, but it is one I intend to pursue and establish I am not trolling to try to find the latest dirt on someone as fair game.

Some of you will remain disappointed, but that is a to make the latest story.

If a public person is talking about an elected official consequence of my decision to do this. or things that go on in our government, and if that information is disclosed in a legal format, I would side Chris Myers operates swampbubbles.com

BLOG IT, TOLEDO

Exploring the world of Facebook

By Lisa Renee Ward SPECIAL TO TOLEDO FREE PRESS

T

he lure of Facebook is the ability to connect instantly with friends and family and to reconnect with people that you’d only see every few years, if that. It can, however, be a bit scary to those who have not jumped headfirst onto the Information Highway. There are quite a few blogs out there, most not directly connected to Facebook, that can give you tips, the latest news and for those of you who are a bit more practiced users, ways to get more out of your Facebook experience.

Facebook has an “official” blog that contains news and some information for users. Simply called “The Facebook Blog” (http://blog.facebook.com/), it’s one way the people behind the scenes communicate with the Facebook community. It isn’t, however, very helpful when it comes to how the information is arranged since it’s listed by author name rather than by topic.

“FaceReviews” (http://facereviews.com/) is my favorite blog on social networking. It’s a nice site to keep up to date on the latest news about Facebook as well as

other hot apps such as Twitter. I started reading the site when “The Scobelizer” (scobleizer.com/2008/01/03/ivebeen-kicked-off-of-facebook/) got himself temporarily kicked off Facebook for running a script.

In quick and easy videos, “The Expert Village” (www. expertvillage.com/video-series/1261_facebook-use.htm) will walk you through the steps that will make you a pro-Facebooker in no time at all.

Another great site for news and information about applications, including ones to watch out for, is “All Facebook” (www.allfacebook.com), which describes itself as the “unofficial Facebook resource.” There are also some great tips, on things like how to “hack” your Facebook profile, but what I really like about the site is they warn you about some of the security risks as well.

Now that you have all of this information and tools at your fingertips? Get Facebooking! Look up Toledo Free Press and join its growing fan base for free breaking news updates, polls and behind-the-scenes stories.

Lisa Renee Ward operates the news and blog site Glass City Jungle (www.glasscityjungle.com).

OPINION

MARCH 8, 2009

POLITICS

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A5

GUEST COLUMN

The inevitability City council needs courage of government C “

By Dave Pilliod

SPECIAL TO TOLEDO FREE PRESS

T

here are two distinct trends evolving in America in the 21st century. One is the emergence of a large underclass, perhaps as many as 75 million people, living in substandard conditions with household incomes of less than $25,000 per year. The other trend is the rise in the scope and magnitude of government at all levels. The size of the federal budget will soon be double that of what is was 10 years ago. The two trends are not unrelated.

In the decades-long debate, largely confined to universities and think tanks, the evidence shows that there is a liberal bias in America.

That is to say Americans favor strong and large institutions of government. The dramatic events of the last six months clearly demonstrate that, at their highest levels, both the Republican and Democratic parties favor government intervention in the markets when events seem to spiral out of control. The Troubled Assets Relief Program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “stimulus” bill) provide ample proof that both parties, at their core, are willing to promote large-scale government initiatives when deemed necessary.

President Barack Obama’s pump-priming stimulus package will likely produce, at best, only marginal improvements in the overall economy. There’s very little historical evidence that largescale government spending produces economic growth. President Ford vetoed many spending bills in the wake of the 1974 downturn and by Election Day 1976, the economy had begun to stabilize and Ford nearly won election despite a bruising primary campaign waged by Ronald Reagan.

With deficits stretching out as far as the eye can see, we are facing an unprecedented rise in the role of government in our lives. We are pursuing the same monetary policies the Weimar Republic and the Confederacy embraced. Those two states exist only on the hard drives at CSPAN and PBS. Social Security surpluses that mask the underlying deficit will soon be a thing of the past, and the demographic realities that face

us will usher in an age of stifling demands on our already-strained health care system.

These events raise one inevitable question: Why would a country that has historically celebrated initiative, individual achievement and free markets become so dependent on large government?

The answer goes back to the very origins of our society. The two great forces at work in the history of the United States are largely antithetical to one another. The forces are capitalism and Christianity. Capitalism (the thesis) is the theory that, within the context of freedom, in helping one’s self, society is benefited. Christianity (the antithesis) preaches that we have a moral obligation to help the poor and underprivileged. In essence, the opposite of capitalism. The combination of these two inherently different models of society has resulted in the synthesis of the two. The impersonal welfare state (the synthesis) is the byproduct of the collision between the two major ideas Americans have historically embraced. It is an accommodation that most Americans have come to accept.

Is large government inherently oppressive? The answer is no. The two driving forces in our history are both benign, and the synthesis of the two has proven, since the dawn of the New Deal, to be paternalistic rather than fascistic. After all, there is a qualitative difference between putting someone in a gulag and denying them a building permit because of environmental concerns.

In an e-mail exchange with Frances Fukuyama, the brilliant Johns Hopkins professor and author of “The End of History,” long before the current financial crisis, my dialectical musing were met with a stern academic rebuke. He thought my model more or less was consistent with European history. I disagree for one very simple reason: Christianity’s influence has waned badly in Europe. The events of the past six months have only bolstered my belief that the rise of government in America has an inertia that is rooted in our origins.

Is this the end of history? Probably not. It is more than likely the beginning of history.

Dave Pilliod is a Swanton Village Councilman.

hallenging economic times task. We have eliminated six dihave produced some of rector positions, 144 General Fund America’s greatest leaders positions, and worked to ensure that taxpayer dollars and entrepreneurs. are spent wisely. I have During economic taken a 10 percent cut lows, the true leaders in annual salary. rise up and succeed.

However, due to Fact: More self-made the declining revenue millionaires were crepicture caused by ated during the Great hundreds of layoffs Depression than at in the automotive inany other point in dustry, the jobs lost American history. As our nation faces its Carty FINKBEINER in other economic sectors and the bleak most challenging period since the Depression, we need foreclosure action in the housing strong, able, courageous leaders as market, more cuts must be made.

As President Obama attempts to never before.

Yet, in the early evening of stimulate the economy, we can Tuesday, March 3, the members only be certain of one constant in of Toledo City Council revealed the Toledo community: unless the that while they are a warm group American automotive industry beof individuals, they often lack po- gins to rebound in 2009 and 2010, litical courage. When city council the revenue picture in Toledo will voted down a proposal to amend not be much improved.

As Toledo Free Press goes to Toledo’s tax credit, they not only succumbed to pressure from cit- press, council members are comizen groups, but they dealt a slap piling other ideas that can be used to in the face to 85 percent of Toledo’s balance the budget, since they voted down this tax credit, which would working men and women.

A month ago, my administra- have earned the city more than $6 tion presented what we considered million annually. The tax credit also to be a well thought out plan to would help prevent police layoffs, balance the city’s budget, requiring and higher refuse collection fees few layoffs, and minimal impact on — two options the city may now be basic city services. As part of this forced to undertake.

I stand ready to receive and budget package, we proposed that Toledo residents, who work in other review the ideas presented by city cities, pay their fair share to Toledo council. Yet, by voting down the tax to help pay for the escalating costs credit amendment, the members of of essential services, police and fire council have delayed balancing the city budget, and every day delayed protection in particular.

Presently, if you live in Toledo, puts us deeper in red ink.

Recently, the City of Toledo but work in Oregon, you pay no payroll tax to the City of Toledo. Not exempt employees and members a penny! Even though fire and police of AFSCME Local 7 showed the are on the job 24/7 protecting your courage required of strong leaders home, property and family, you pay by making modest salary and benefit not a cent for that expensive Toledo concessions reflecting our economic service. More than 7,000 Toledo times. Because of their courage, we residents enjoy that gift today, while have been able to keep the vast mathe remaining 104,000 working jority of Toledo employees working.

Toledo cannot afford to have Toledo residents are left to foot the bill. This is not fair, and many other warm, soft leadership at this crucities like Perrysburg, Bowling cial point. If we intend to rise above Green, Findlay, Detroit, Cleveland, these economic conditions that and even Ottawa Hills recognize challenge us — and we will — we this by requiring their citizens, who must have men and women who work outside the city limits, to pay are willing to summon the courage required to make tough decisions for the services they benefit from.

The City of Toledo runs the — even if it means a temporary leanest fiscal ship in the state of loss in popularity.

Thirty years ago, I began my Ohio. We have only 9.2 employees for every 1,000 citizens; compare first term as a member of Toledo that to Cincinnati, which has 21 City Council. Since then, I have employees per 1,000. This admin- proudly served Toledo as vice istration has cut $43 million from mayor, and 12 years as mayor. I the budget since 2006 — no easy learned very early in my political

Thirty years ago, I began my first term as a member of Toledo City Council.

Since then, I have proudly served Toledo as vice mayor, and 12 years as mayor. I learned very early in my political career that those who survive are the ones who have the ability to make decisions that affect the greater good — and then have the courage to stand by that decision.”

career that those who survive are the ones who have the ability to make decisions that affect the greater good — and then have the courage to stand by that decision.

In the days and weeks ahead, city council will be required to make very tough decisions that will affect all Toledoans. There are no easy choices remaining.

I believe Toledo City Council is comprised of men and women who care for this City and its citizens. I hope they collectively rise up to be fine leaders. To do so, they must summon the courage that will not only allow Toledo to begin to recover from this economic depression, but will allow us to move forward with confidence and purposefulness.

The ball is in your court, council members. Stand tall — and remain standing tall. Our citizens need your wisdom — your caring — and your courage.

Carleton S. Finkbeiner is mayor of the City of Toledo. He may be contacted at (419) 245-1001or by e-mail at mayor.toledo@toledo.oh.gov.

A6

SONG OF TOLEDO

INSIDE I CRIME

INSIDE I ECONOMY

Family plea

Wrong direction

FBI looks to solve Robert Wiles kidnapping, page A9

Unemployment numbers hit decades-high percentages, page A10

COMMUNITY

A6

By Brandi Barhite TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR bbarhite@toledofreepress.com

Kyle White was tired of people hating on Toledo.

So, the local singer-songwriter wrote “Glass Cities” to combat the negativity often generated by Toledo residents themselves.

She wrote it even before Toledo Free Press, FOX Toledo and 106.5 The Zone announced they were sponsoring a writing contest to put a positive spin on Toledo.

“I wrote that song eight months ago,” the Toledo native said.

And of course, she plans to enter the contest.

“I love it here. So many people don’t realize what we have here.

It upsets me to hear people to talk badly about the city I love. I wrote it as a protest against that.”

White has performed with various cover bands, acoustic duos, trios and as a solo act. She released her first full-length studio album “Blue holes in the Gray Sky” in December 2007. She is recording her second album, which will include the song, “Glass Cities.”

“I am now a full-time musician,” White said, who has a degree in psychology. “I haven’t had a traditional job in seven years ... it can actually be a career. It did start out slowly, but the beautiful thing about Toledo is the cost of living is so cheap.”

The contest is free and open to amateur and professional songwriters interested in promoting Toledo as a great place to live.

The winner will receive several prizes, including the song being submitted to be named the official song for the City of Toledo and Lucas County for one year. The

winner will also receive free studio recording time from Strawberry Fields Recording Studio in Swanton and will receive stage time at Columbia Gas Smoke on the Water — Ribs for the Red Cross, July 31 through Aug. 2.

Additionally, the winner will receive an opening slot for a national act at Michigan International Speedway in August.

The top five finalists will also appear in profiles in Toledo Free Press and on FOX Toledo, with the winner revealed on the same night the winner of “American Idol” is announced in May.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY JOHN POLLOCK

Songwriting contest seeks to celebrate Toledo

Best deal “I think the prize package is the best deal in North America,” said Bob Grebe, who will be a judge. “For a free entry, you get a vast amount of exposure that you cannot buy.”

Grebe, a musician and national account manager for Job1USA GREBE in Toledo, suggested the contest to Toledo Free Press after reading about the newspaper’s music project, “Legacy: Songs in the Key of Toledo.” The two-CD collection contains historical recordings from or about Toledo. The CD was inspired in part by musical downers like the Randy Sparks song “Saturday Night In Toledo Ohio.”

“Anything that highlights the talent in Ohio is a good thing,” said Toledo City Councilman Tom Waniewski. “That old ‘Saturday Night In Toledo Ohio,’ the first time I heard that, I said, ‘that cannot stay.

■

SINGER/SONGWRITER KYLE WHITE IS WORKING O A NEW CD, WHICH INCLUDES THE TOLEDO-INSPIRED SONG, ‘GLASS CITIES.’

We are not going to assign that song to such a good city.’”

Waniewski will help arrange the proclamation to make the winner’s song the official tune of Toledo for one year. He also will be one of the judges.

“I will be looking for WANIEWSKI folks who have a more intimate knowledge of the city — someone who would have good knowledge of the city and a way to bring out its assets metaphorically,” Waniewski said. “Plus, it needs to have a good beat.”

Sparks speaks Randy Sparks, who wrote “Saturday Night In Toledo Ohio,” penned the song as he traveled through Toledo on a tour in 1967.

It was 10 p.m. and nothing was open when they arrived SPARKS in Toledo. The musicians wanted to bomb the place, but Sparks suggested writing a nasty song about the city instead.

But the song was really nothing more than a simple ditty that happened to be truthful for that mo-

ment in time until John Denver performed it on “The Johnny Carson Show”, Sparks said. It then took on a life of its own.

“I was told that the new waterfront development [Portside] was a direct and expensive answer to my lyrics, and then, of course, when that project began having financial difficulties, I was blamed. Wow. That’s a lot of power for an aging folk singer to wield.”

Maximum exposure Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop said he wants to arrange for the winner to play at an opening concert for the new sports arena.

■ SONG CONTINUES ON A8

Be ready to save a life!

Attend Family First Aid Day on Saturday, March 21.

Learn more at redcrosstoledo.org.

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A8 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

COMMUNITY

MARCH 8, 2009

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Song of Toledo contest: What’s at stake for the winner The winner of the Song of Toledo contest will receive opportunities and exposure:

45-65% OFF

• The top five finalists will receive a video profile on FOX Toledo with reporter Allison Brown, a profile and potential cover story in Toledo Free Press and mentions on 106.5 FM The Zone with Carolyn Stone.

• The song will be submitted to be proclaimed the official song of the City of Toledo and Lucas County for one year.

• The winning artist will recieve free studio time at Strawberry Fields Recording Studio in Swanton.

• The winning artist will receive stage time at this summer’s Columbia Gas Smoke on the Water — Ribs for the Red Cross event.

• The winning artist will open for a national act before a televised August NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway.

• The winner will be revealed during the season finale of FOX’s “American Idol” in May. ■ SONG CONTINUED FROM A6 He said he also would like to see the winner perform at a Mud Hens game. Maximum exposure is the key, he said.

“I want a song that accurately reflects the strengths of our community,” Konop said. “I don’t think it should be propaganda, but it needs to have artistic merit and get at the essence of what our community is all about.”

In addition to promoting unity and sense of pride, Konop said the contest will call attention to the abundance of musical talent in a community the size of Toledo.

“You can go into a bar or club on any Friday or Saturday night and find a very talented singer or band,” he said.

Konop said he would like the contest to become annual, as well as celebrate the diversity of the community. He hopes to see a variety of submissions, including rock, hiphop and country.

“This is a really cool opportunity to highlight a number of positives in our community,” Konop said.

Tell the truth Sparks advises contestants to

“tell the truth.” Don’t attend songwriting clinics and don’t take advice from others.

“If you’re devious enough, dedicated enough to become a songwriter, it’ll happen magically, almost without effort, but you need to put yourself in the right space. Don’t try to write a hit. You cannot know what the fickle public wants or will buy,” Sparks said.

“If you love Toledo, it’s OK to say so, but you might have to find a convoluted way to do that.”

White said she doesn’t write songs to just write them.

“I write songs because it is something I have to get out. I have never been able to write something that is outside of myself.”

The 33-year-old’s dream job would be playing on local islands during the summer and in Key West during the winter. Toledo would always be her home base, though, even if she became famous.

“I am kind of a go-with-the-flow person. I love Toledo and I love living here. I don’t have any aspirations to move to New York.”

The other judges are Columbia Gas Community Relations Manager Chris Kozak; Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S.

Miller; Face of FOX Toledo Julia Johnston; and Carolyn Stone from 106.5 The Zone.

“As a premier Downtown Toledo event, supported by local rib vendors, Smoke on the Water is excited to be a part of this contest which fosters Toledo pride,” Kozak said. “A live performance of the winning KOZAK song, in the heart of Toledo, will be one of the highlights of our event.”

Entry forms for the contest can be accessed at www.toledofreepress. com or picked up at the Toledo Free Press office at 605 Monroe St. Submissions will be accepted through April 3; the top five finalists will be notified before April 10.

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MARCH 8, 2009

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A9

CRIME

FBI, family of kidnap victim issue plea

By Julie Ryan TOLEDO FREE PRESS NEWS EDITOR jryan@toledofreepress.com

The FBI is close to closing the nearly year-old kidnapping case of

Robert Wiles, a Toledo-born 27year-old, and is asking the public for any “grains of information to tip those scales” in their direction.

“The special agents that are investigating this matter are very close

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Wiles was last seen April 1, 2008, in Lakeland, Fla. The investigators are having trouble piecing together his movements and activities after lunchtime. His parents, Thomas and Pamela, found a ransom note April 3. Although Wiles’ parents tried to communicate, Couvertier said, communication by the kidnappers stopped, and they have heard nothing since.

The FBI and Wiles’ family are asking anyone with a gut feeling, hunch or person of suspect to contact the FBI or a third party, such as a clergyman or lawyer.

Pamela said Wiles moved to Melbourne, Fla., in 1987. He returned to Ohio to attend BGSU and was working for the family business, National Flight Services, in Lakeland, Fla., at the time of his kidnapping. The family business is based in Toledo and performs maintenance and repair work on planes across the nation, Thomas said.

Couvertier said the FBI is focusing on specific suspects in Lakeland, Orlando and Melbourne, Fla.

Easter egg hunt to feature helicopter drop TheChurch on Strayer will drop 20,000 plastic eggs onto the church’s property April 11, according to a news release.

“We really wanted to provide something for the children in our community to be excited about this Easter,” said Jake Michalski, children’s pastor at TheChurch on Strayer. “This is an event the entire family can be a part of.”

The eggs will be dropped onto the church’s field, and one egg will contain a $500 prize package for the child’s family.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. and the helicopter egg drop at 3:30 p.m.

Children under 12 years old are welcome to the event.

The church is located in Maumee on Strayer Road. Easter service times are at 5 p.m and 7 p.m. April 11 and 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. April 12.

— Julie Ryan

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They believe the suspects had access to Wiles’ private information at work and were familiar with his work routine.

“We suspect a strong dislike for Robert, his parents or the company and may have even demonstrated some obsession with WILES Robert and his family as well,” Couvertier said.

Thomas said they want to help people who are scared to come forward and will assist them with finances or moving on with their lives.

He said there is a $250,000 reward.

“Literally we just need a couple of grains of information to tip those scales. We are just looking for someone to do the right thing here and say, ‘I have some information,’ and step forward,” Couvertier said.

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COMMUNITY

A10 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

ECONOMY

Unemployment numbers top 14 percent

By Bridget Tharp TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

The staggering figures were released: 14.3 percent of workers in the city of Toledo and 13.3 percent in Lucas County were jobless in January, according to Ohio’s Department of Job & Family Services.

That figure puts January among the worst months for NorthKAPTUR west Ohio job seekers in four decades,topped only by the first three months in 1983. Area unemployment reached 14.5 percent in March 1983.

GERKEN “I’ve been dreading those numbers, just dreading them,” Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur said.

But with the recent elimination of manufacturing and auto-related jobs, the trouble was clear long before those numbers appeared, local officials say.

“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised,” Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken said. “It’s a number we should be shocked by, but it’s a number we saw coming.”

It could be worse.

Huron County suffered the worst job crisis in the state, with 18.3 unemployed in January.

Lucas County’s neighbors, Fulton and Ottawa, recorded 17 percent and 15.3 percent unemployment, respectively.

Why isn’t it better?

Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop points to Cuyahoga County — with only 7.6 percent unemployment — as a model for what should be done here. The county hosts the state’s second most populated city, Cleveland, which had 9.4 percent unemployment in January.

The secret of their lower unemployment, Konop says, is that officials there refused to bank on manufacturing jobs.

“What Cleveland did and what we haven’t done is diversify our economy.

Cleveland invested in health care. We haven’t done a good job there. I think we are starting to, but it’s late in the game,” Konop said.

The county hopes the $5 million from the federal Recovery Bill awarded to Lucas County’s Workforce Development Agency will turn it all around.

The cash will be used to create employment opportunities and retrain the jobless, Gerken said.

Kaptur said she told her fellow legislators that the Toledo area needs special attention during the economic crisis. It was among the first to be slammed by the national economic downturn, she said, because Toledo runs on the sweat of agricultural and factory KONOP workers producing goods and is not insulated by sort of the white-collar “wealth traders” or public officials of New York City, Chicago or even Columbus.

“We get hit. Hit hard, like when a football player gets hit, or a wrestler thrown to the ground,” she said.

The solution lies in diversifying the skills of former manufacturing employees and investing in technological innovations, like green energy, value-added agriculture, and strategic metals, Kaptur said.

With the Center for Photovoltaic Electricity and Hydrogen at the University of Toledo and new green industries emerging here, the area will be the hub of those innovations, Kaptur said.

Gbenga Ajilore, an economics professor at UT who studies the diversity of the work force, said it may be a couple years before college classrooms swell with unemployed workers.

“We are going through a huge structural change,” Ajilore said. “The kind of industry that this area relied on for a long time are not the kind of jobs that are going to be there in the future.”

“I think one of the things that people are realizing is that it’s not enough to have a high school degree,” Ajilore said. “We haven’t seen a different type of student just yet, because you have to figure out, what’s my major going to be, and to help the re-entry students adjust to going back to school.”

Helping businesses to diversify their operations is something the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is doing, said Bill Wersell, director of the Small Business Development Center at the chamber.

UNWELCOME DESIGNATION: Ohio’s highest areas of unemployment Huron County: 18.3%

Trotwood City: 14.1%

Ottawa County: 17%

Defiance County: 14%

Pike County 16.4%

Perry County 13.9%

Morgan County: 16.3%

Wyandot County: 13.9%

Sandusky City: 15.9%

Ross County: 13.8%

Adams County: 15.7%

Van Wert County: 13.7%

Warren City: 15.5%

Noble County: 13.6%

Williams County: 15.4%

Ashtabula County: 13.4%

Fulton County: 15.3%

Mahoning County: 13.4%

Vinton County: 15.2%

Paulding County: 13.4%

Crawford County: 15%

Lucas County: 13.3%

Henry County: 15%

Monroe County: 13.2%

Meigs County: 14.9%

Sandusky County: 13.2%

Trumbull County: 14.7%

Brown County: 13.1%

Youngstown City: 14.4%

Coshocton County: 12.9%

Toledo City: 14.3%

Richland County: 12.9%

Erie County: 14.1%

Columbiana County: 12.8%

Last month, the chamber held a special training and networking event for business owners: “Recession-Proofing Your Business: Local Resources to the Rescue.”

“They’re not expanding their business,” Wersell said of the changes business owners discuss with his organization. “They have to expand their horizons.”

The center may help, for example, by suggesting to manufacturers that may have supplied the automotive

industry to stay relevant by considering marketing to alternative energy companies, Wersell said.

“The upside is that business owners are really having to once again look at their total business, diversify their business so that they are no longer selling to one supplier,” Wersell said. “It will get better. Businesses are really re-adjusting to the changes in the economy. They are learning how to survive with the new challenges.”

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COMMUNITY

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A11

PHILANTHROPY

Auction to benefit high school

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The third annual Knight of the Vine, a benefit for St. Francis de Sales High School, will take place March 10 at Real Seafood Company.

Tom McHugh, executive vice president and general manager of Hiedelberg Distributing Company, said he has helped with the event since it began in 2007.

“For any wine lover or food lover, it’s a must,” he said.

Eric Arsenault, wine and spirits director for Mainstreet Ventures, said the event began when Michael Gibbons, president of Ann Arbor’s Mainstreet Ventures Inc., discussed with Rev. Ron Olszewski, president of St. Francis, how to benefit the school’s scholarship program.

Knight of the Vine was created, and the event’s proceeds benefit the school’s endowment fund.

Arsenault has been organizing the auction lots for Knight of the Vine since December and said they toned down the auction this year to focus on fine wines and winerelated items.

Guests can bid on several trips including a Livermore Valley Golf and Wine Getaway, a week in Paris with Champagne Tours and an Amador Wine Vacation hosted by Terra d’Oro Winery.

“We garner specific lots of rare wines to be auctioned off,” McHugh said. “They are coming from all around the world. We have fabulous brunellos from Italy, some great French bordeaux and we have some cult classics from Napa Valley.”

The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at Real Seafood Company. Mainstreet Ventures Executive Chef Simon Pesusich created a four-course meal, including panroasted Maine scallops and grilled filet medallions.

The auction will follow immediately at Real Seafood Co. with WTOL11’s Jerry Anderson as auctioneer.

Arsenault said they plan to conclude the event at 9 p.m.

Each year the event has raised about $100,000, Arsenault said, an amount they hope to raise this year for St. Francis.

Tickets are $100 per person.

Call (734) 668-6062 or e-mail dmcleod@msventures.net for information and reservations.

— Julie Ryan

FOCUS ON MS

A12 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

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The UAW encourages you to sign-up now for this year’s events at www.nationalmssociety.org or call 1.800.FIGHT.MS

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MARCH 8, 2009

FOCUS ONMS

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A13

GUEST COLUMN

Longtime MS sufferer inspires new patients

Finding hope in MS

By Brandi Barhite

M

y life is becoming a bit cliché: In our kitchen hangs a plaque that reads, “Live Simply, Live Well.” With each bill paid, my husband’s words, “Debt free is the new wealthy” ring true. But if he doesn’t polish each of those gems of wisdom with the motto “Happy wife, happy life,” then they are just annoying.

I can’t decide if it’s the perpetual drone of economic pessimism giving me cabin fever or this endless winter in Northwest Ohio that has me and many grasping for the sunny rays of hope and “change” clichés popularized by our new president.

Ironically, I find escape by stepping into a mental bubble. (Feel free to join me, but risk ridicule from the have-to-know-thelatest news junkies.) It comes in handy whenever the news gets too depressing, Tricia COURTNEY something else breaks, cracks or needs reTISCHLER placing in the house or whenever my MS starts bothering me.

My bubble is a quiet place devoid of news and information. It has no room for self-pity, guilt, critical analysis or “to do” lists. It only provides enough air to breathe, pray and whistle. Some people might name this bubble denial. I call it peace.

I can walk in my mental bubble (much like a hamster) unaffected by my surroundings for a little while, until I have the strength to brave the world that sometimes feels like it might devour me if I don’t run fast enough (and I don’t run unless someone is chasing me).

Refreshed, I begin to see what I missed in the fog of MS and media fatigue. I see how I can provide hope and change. We all can. I’ve seen it.

I see it in our staff at the National MS Society. Tirelessly helping clients with financial assistance (yes, requests are up), or helping them regain some freedom by seeing their car is fit to drive manually (sometimes our legs don’t want to carry us.) I see hope and change when we can provide a client a scooter to get around or even just a friendly ear when no one else is listening.

I see it in a survivor, no really, I mean “Survivor,” as in the CBS series. Former contestant Austin I see how Carty’s mom has MS and he shares the hope and change that has come I can provide to his life thanks to her (Women hope and change. on the Move Luncheon, March 19). I’ve seen it in the faces of those who organize an entire day We all can. of music and food to raise money for the 3,400 in our area with MS I’ve seen it.” … it’s called the MS Jam (March 21). I just call it fun.

I’ve seen hope in the generous donations already coming in for our 20th annual Walk MS (Toledo, March 29). I’ve see it uniquely in our community when, after 20 years, people still ride hundreds of miles during the Reeves Northrup Memorial MS Bike-To-The-Bay (Bike MS: June 27 and 28) to support the programs and services.

The National MS Society provides to those with multiple sclerosis.

And I see change every time I see someone wearing orange for MS Awareness month (March) or an event T-shirt because they rode or walked to help keep others moving.

Most often, I’ve seen hope and change in every person I meet who lives with multiple sclerosis but doesn’t let the pain, fatigue, numbness, confusion, blindness or depression stop them from living and giving.

That should give everyone peace.

“

Tricia Courtney Tischler is the director of Media and Bike MS Promotions for the Northwestern Ohio Chapter of the National MS Society. To learn more about multiple sclerosis and the National MS Society events, programs and services visit oho.nationalMSsociety.org or call 1-800FightMS.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR bbarhite@toledofreepress.com

Sharon Cox of Holland wants those who are newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis to live for tomorrow.

“Do what you can and live a good life,” said the 54-year-old veteran of MS. “Taking the medication is the biggest thing, but don’t be afraid of life. MS is not a death sentence.”

Cox was diagnosed with MS nearly 30 years ago. Medication and knowledge about the disease were limited then, and MRIs to help diagnose the disease weren’t even around, she said.

“I didn’t know anything about MS. Ignorance was bliss. It was just, ‘OK fine, we will just get through it.’”

Cox was pregnant when she found out she had MS. Her right leg was totally numb and got worse until her sixth month, when hormones from the pregnancy helped her feel better, which is typical for women with MS. A turning point for Cox was when a new medicine in the early 1990s, Betaseron, slowed her flareups. Cox said advancement in medicine gives hope to those who are newly diagnosed.

Robert Hannon of Toledo was diagnosed in May. The 50-year-old postal carrier has participated in MS: Bike-To-The-Bay for years because of his passion for bicycling

and to support the cause. He never thought his participation would become personal.

“I told a friend of mine, who is disabled, that I always thought I was an openminded and giving person, but you don’t really realize COX what it really means to be disabled until you are really personally affected.”

Hannon woke up in the spring and had no feeling from his knees down.

He thought it was a pinched nerve and went to a chiropractor, who said he needed to see a neurologist.

“It’s not normal. I don’t know how to explain it,” Hannon said. “It is a pins-and-needles sensation and a tightness; it sort of feels like a tootight bandage.”

Hannon continues to work, but it is challenging because he delivers the mail on foot.

“It is quite a change,” Hannon said. “You really have to look at things a little differently. The amount of effort put forth seems much more extreme afterward. Fatigue is a huge issue. I have to plan things according to a different standard.”

Cox said it’s OK to limit activities.

MS patients shouldn’t apologize for their choices, either. Make the best

decisions possible with the information available at the time, she said.

“It was my choice not to be pregnant again,” Cox said. “Other women have made the choice to become pregnant more than once. Some have seen their symptoms progress, and others have not seen them progress much at all. Likewise, some women who have never been pregnant have had their symptoms progress for no known reason. That is the hardest part of MS. It is very unpredictable.

Cox and Hannon suffer from relapsing-remitting MS. People with this type of MS experience clearly defined attacks of worsening neurologic function. These attacks, called relapses, flare-ups or exacerbations, are followed by partial or complete recovery periods during which no disease progression occurs, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Cox said in the beginning when her exacerbations would clear up, she would think she didn’t have MS. But the flare-ups would return, and one time, she remembers staying in bed for one month.

“Our son was really good when he was little, and when his friends were over, he would say, ‘We have to be quiet today because mom doesn’t feel well,’ ” Cox said.

“When I was first diagnosed, and Andy was a baby, he was my motivation. If I could just get through this and raise him, that would be fine.”

The University of Toledo

FOCUS ON MS

A14 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

Men with MS struggle with lifestyle changes

By Julie Ryan TOLEDO FREE PRESS NEWS EDITOR jryan@toledofreepress.com

When Bob Ludwikowski was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1996, each day became a fight.

He left his full-time management job at UPS and went on full disability in 1997.

“You go from all green lights to no more green lights — they are all yellow,” said 56-year-old Ludwikowski.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 400,000 people battle MS in the United States.

It is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system — the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. As in other autoimmune diseases, MS is significantly more common (at least two to three times) in women than men. Dealing with the disease isn’t any easier, though.

Merle Weiss, 55, was diagnosed with MS 33 years ago.

“I’ve pretty much accepted it. I do whatever I can so that I can get around and that,” said Weiss, who lives in the Toledo area. “I love to travel and go places.”

Many symptoms are attributed to the disease, which affects sufferers differently. Poor vision, loss of memory and a sense of imbalance are just some of the symptoms. Some people diagnosed with MS use a cane or wheelchair to move around.

Weiss said he uses a scooter and has a ramp to get into his car and home.

“My youngest daughter — she’s 14 — doesn’t remember me without having to use a cane or some type of aid when walking,” Bob Schuster said.

Schuster, 48, was diagnosed in 1996, and said his diagnosis came as a relief.

“When I was first diagnosed, I was relieved that they found something because I knew that I wasn’t imagining things. It wasn’t cancer or something more severe. It takes a while for most people to be diagnosed because you have to go through so many tests,” he said.

For men with MS, they lose all, or most of, their ability to play sports — a beloved pastime.

“Basically I just miss playing a lot of sports. Even like bowling and tennis, I can’t really do now,” Weiss said.

Ludwikowski said he used to be active athletically, but playing baseball and racquetball became difficult when his MS affected his balance.

“I just couldn’t do the things I was used to do and it was depressing,” he said. “After being so active, for lack of a better term, A-type personality, I’m still learning how to pull back.”

Weiss, who owned his own grocery store until five years ago, stays busy volunteering. He volunteers at the Stranahan Theater, the Valentine Theatre, The Village Players, and like Ludwikowski and Schuster, volunteers for the National Multiple

Sclerosis Society, Northwestern Ohio Chapter.

“I just try to stay strong and keep going,” Weiss said. “It doesn’t do any good just to lay around or feel sorry about yourself.”

Ludwikowski said staying active and volunteering helps him stay positive and avoid self-pity. He spent time as a counselor at the MS Society, but found himself depressed by the people who had advanced stages of MS. “There are a lot of other people that are a lot worse off than I am,” he said. “If it’s my burden in life to have the MS I have, than it’s a lot better than some of the other alternatives. I try to stay positive and not dwell on the future too much.”

“I guess it’s kind of scary if I do think about it. I don’t dwell on the future; it’s going to be what it’s going to be.

For now, his future revolves around his family: He has two daughters, and one is getting married in August.

“I’m really lucky because my wife, she takes care of everything that I can’t do and she’s very supportive,” he said. “My friends know, too, now. I go on golf trips and they tell me, ‘You might not want to do that, probably don’t want to do that.’

“It was tough for her for a long time,” Ludwikowski said. “She had to adapt to a lot of things, too. One

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of the biggest things was my cognitive memory. She’d say something, and I wouldn’t remember.”

Schuster also battles memory loss and said he will sometimes look at a basic object, such as a towel, and not be able to remember the name.

While their disease has forced these men to give up sports and tone down their daily activities, their ability to fight stays strong.

“You have to keep fighting. I’ve always been like that, I’ve always had that attitude that I won’t get beat.

Eventually it’s going to happen,” Ludwikowski said, pausing. “But, it’s changed my life in a lot of ways. A lot of people have life-changing things happen for different reasons. Maybe this is just the good Lord telling me ‘OK, you’re not so hot.’ I don’t mean looks-wise, but, you know, it’s just a way to wake people up.”

WEISS

MARCH 8, 2009

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SENIORS

A16 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

ACTIVITIES

By Lori Golaszewski TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

The economic downturn is having a favorable impact on public libraries as more people are borrowing books and other materials and utilizing free resources like Internet access.

The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library had an overall circulation of 6.4 million during 2008, a 4 percent increase from 2007, according to Cathy Bartel, manager of circulation.

Book circulation was 4.4 million, almost 3 percent higher than in 2007, while the number of DVDs that were borrowed in 2008 jumped 17 percent, to 1.5 million.

Rhonda Sewell, media relations coordinator, said the library has seen a 60 percent increase in residents age 50 and older using the Retooling Your Life program.

The program aligns residents with librarians and, in a one-on-one setting, shows them how to use a computer for career assistance.

“We will hand walk you through — from what is a mouse to how to send your résumé,” Sewell said.

Many of the residents coming in to use the library’s resources are over the age of 50 and laid off from manufacturing jobs and seeking employment, Sewell said.

Sewell said the library is developing a new senior Web page for toledolibrary.org and said the library reaches many seniors through their outreach services and book caller program.

In addition, 10,000 individuals signed up for library cards in the last half of 2008, Bartel said. The library system has more than 290,000 registered patrons.

The increase in library usage can be attributed to the tough economic times. As more people look for ways to save money and trim expenses from their budgets, they rely on their local library for free resources and programs and as a source of entertainment, according to the American Library Association.

For job seekers, in particular

INSPIRING

those without access to computers and the Internet, the public library is a big draw, because they can take advantage of free Inte r ne t and WiFi access, as well as other j o b hunting m at e WIGGINS rials, said Karen Wiggins, manager of the business-technology department at the Main Library.

Many patrons utilize library computers to open e-mail accounts, search for and apply for jobs online and prepare or update cover letters and résumés.

“Most of the jobs now require you to communicate with them online,” Wiggins said. “If these people don’t have computers at home, then they need to use the library because they can use computers for free.”

In addition, through the library’s Retooling Your Life program, patrons can receive free oneon-one computer assistance for job searching. During designated times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, staff will assist individuals with basic computer skills, as well as help them access career Web sites and polish their résumés.

“A lot of people have very limited computer skills,” Wiggins said. “Some of them have never even used a mouse before, so we’ll walk them through that kind of stuff and get them up to speed, so they can at least get an e-mail account and communicate with these people who maybe do have some jobs open.

“We won’t help them write their résumé, but if they’ve got one written and it needs to be updated or tweaked a little bit, we’ll walk them through that,” she said.

Each Retooling Your Life session lasts an hour, and registration is required. Call the business-

CONNECTING THOUGHTFUL GIVING

Be a part of making our community a better place to live.

We can assist you in meeting your philanthropic goals.

Learn more at www.toledocf.org.

technology department at (419) 259-5209 for more information or to register.

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches also offer free classes in basic computer training, from using a mouse to introductions to word processing and the Internet.

Check with your local branch for dates and times.

Other no-cost programs and events appealing to various tastes and interests also are on tap at the Main Library and its branches. History buffs, for example, can attend ongoing Wolcott House Museum Guild Lecture Series on Mondays at the Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road.

Art aficionados can peruse “The Winds and Words of War,” an exhibition of commemorative World War I posters on display at the Main Library through March 15, while Film FOCUS: An Independent Film Festival gives movie enthusiasts an opportunity to view first-run feature films by indie filmmakers.

Movies are shown in the McMaster Center, Main Library, at 6:45 p.m. on Thursdays.

For more information on library programs and services, visit the Web site www.toledolibrary.org or call (419) 259-5207.

Toledo Free Press news editor Julie Ryan contributed to this report.

PHOTO COURTESY TOLEDO-LUCAS COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

Seniors use of library soars as economy slows

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■ A17

INSIDE I COLUMNS

Online exclusives This week’s columns by Tom Richard, Dock and David Treece and The Retirement Guys are posted at www.toledofreepress.com.

A18

BUSINESS LINK

W W W. T O L E D O F R E E P R E S S . C O M

ECONOMY

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

Public and private sources in Northwest Ohio have submitted more than 500 applications to the state of Ohio for funding projects with federal economic stimulus dollars.

About 300 applications were filed from sources in Lucas County, 123 from Wood County, 85 from Ottawa County and 25 from Fulton County as of Feb. 28.

“It’s a pretty good slice of the pie representing local projects that could be funded by economic stimulus money,” said Steve Weathers, president and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP).

Ohio expects to receive about $8.2 billion in federal stimulus funds that will save or create more than 130,000 jobs and protect essential state services that people and businesses need daily, according to a release from Gov. Ted Strickland’s office.

More than 13,500 applications have been submitted to the Ohio Department of Development on a special Web site created for that purpose at http://recovery.ohio.gov.

The state will use stimulus funds to make targeted investments in critical sectors of the economy that will create jobs and expand business. Funds provided to Ohio through various federal programs will be awarded to public, private and nonprofit entities for selected projects.

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority worked with numerous sources to compile a list of 46 major projects from Northwest Ohio totaling $387 million in requested funds.

The list includes 10 projects from the City of Toledo, 10 from Lucas County, nine from UT, several from the port authority and RGP, and three each from the Toledo Science Center and The Toledo Zoo. UT submitted proposals for nine major projects totaling $190 million, including $40 million for the Alternative Energy Center at the Scott Park Campus. Those projects would create as many as 1,500 jobs, mostly for construction of several new buildings.

Lucas County is seeking $25 million for its Central Power Plant and $5 million for County Courthouse Preservation projects that could create as many as 300 new jobs.

The port authority applied for $6.6 million for the purchase and remediation of the 110-acre Jeep Parkway site. It would be developed as a high-tech industrial manufacturing park as a potential home for companies involved in the manufacturing of alternative energy products.

The City of Toledo’s projects range from $1 million for LED traffic signals to $18 million for municipal buildings retrofit projects. It also asked for $5 million for solar and energy efficiency projects at the Fiberglas Tower in Downtown.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Local public, private sources file for stimulus money

■

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S STIMULUS PLAN HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 500 LOCAL APPLICATIONS FOR FEDERAL MONEY.

RGP worked with several companies to prepare proposals for alternative energy projects totaling $45.5 million from Xunlight, SuGanit Systems, AP Alternatives, Red Lion Bio-Energy and Sphere Energy.

The Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) has received information indicating that Lucas and Wood counties will receive $11.75 million for transportation projects from the federal stimulus. Three townships in Monroe County will receive $704,600 for similar projects.

TMACOG has compiled a list of nearly 100 infrastructure and transportation projects that could be eligible for federal stimulus funds. It is accepting applications for additional projects for federal funding consideration.

In addition, there are separate funds, approximately $8.8 million in the Northwest Ohio region, designated for seaports and transit systems, according to TMACOG officials. The transit funding allocation would be jointly administered by the regional transit systems headed by TARTA. “So many people are asking for funds with great expectations, but will be disappointed when most of the projects receive little or no money from the federal stimulus,” said Con-

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gressman Robert Latta.

He believes that the region could receive the most benefit from funds for clean water projects since one-third of the state’s clean water issues are in Northwest Ohio. Latta represents all or part of 16 counties in that region while Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur represents most of Lucas County, Erie and Ottawa counties and parts of Lorain County that border Lake Erie.

State Sen. Mark Wagoner said “It’s new territory and there are more questions than answers. It’s a balance of power issue.”

One of the questions is how the federal stimulus funds will be allocated by the state, Wagoner said.

Strickland wants to distribute those funds through a state controlling board, and the state legislature claims it is empowered to appropriate state funds by law.

The state controlling board is comprised of seven members, including three senators, three representatives and one member appointed by the governor. Wagoner is a member of the controlling board and also serves as vice chairman of the senate’s finance committee.

“We will see some of those funds in Northwest Ohio and make sure we get our fair share,” Wagoner said.

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■ A19

LIMELIGHT AMERICA

New radio show puts entrepreneurs in ‘limelight’

I

have always been curious about ways about the chase. When people what makes entrepreneurs tick. ask what makes me an entrepreneur, What drives us to do what we I tell them that I’m on fire with ignodo? What keeps us going when the rance, and believe me that is both a blessing and a curse. odds are against us, The impact of being even when our past is a disc jockey playing littered with unsatisAmerica’s Top 40 is still fied dreams? hard to describe. In the When I began my ‘60s and early ‘70s being radio career, little did I a disc jockey was a really know I was beginning big deal. It was truly an a long and often lonely awesome experience. It journey as an entrepreall began with the Beach neur. But looking back, Marvin Gaye and I now understand how Michael SHAW Boys, Manfred “Do-Wahit happened.

Diddy-Diddy” Mann, Radio taught me how to flex my head and use my but for me things quickly changed as imagination, and once that fire was I moved from the studio into sales, lit, I was hooked. A new idea is still promotion and then management.

After several attempts at buying what motivates me more than anything else, even money. For me it’s al- my own radio station, impatience

drove me in other directions, and I forged ahead frantically searching for my pot of gold. Now I feel like the wayward son returning to the one thing he never should have left in the first place. But does my return to radio mean that I failed at everything else? I choose to believe that everything else was just a rehearsal for what is next.

Walter Hayes, a former vicechairman of Ford of Europe believed that “success produces many heroes, and there is never a shortage of fathers willing to claim parenthood.

Only failures become orphans.” I agree. And that is why this column in partnership with a new radio show called Limelight America will feature as many orphans as billionaires.

I have met some remarkable people, and their enthusiasm is a

big part of what keeps me going.

So, I am going to start sharing with the hope I can infect a few of you.

Together we will visit with friends and visionaries and meet new and exciting people.

The mission is a refreshing, positive style of commercial talk radio featuring in-depth conversations with fascinating people in Northwest Ohio and across America.

Many of our guests will be household names, while others will be emerging individuals who are in the process of changing the world. These up-close encounters with business, entertainment, sports, artistic and foundation entrepreneurs promise to be compelling and inspiring.

Limelight America will also feature enticing side orders like “Sentimental Journey” that will look

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back at unforgettable people, places and events. “Brain Gain” will be a continuation of the outstanding Toledo Free Press series about people in Toledo who are in hot pursuit of their own dreams. “Radicals & Visionaries” will present mini-biographies of entrepreneurs who revolutionized the 20th century.

I was fortunate to have a clear and present goal when I was a kid.

There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that radio was where I wanted to be. Broadcasting has changed dramatically since I did my first station break, but I have always believed that being behind the microphone is a privilege and that entertaining and informing the listeners is an undeniable responsibility.

On that note I’ll leave you with a great Charles Osgood line that I just can’t resist borrowing: “See you on the radio.”

Michael Drew Shaw may be contacted at mds@bex.net. Limelight America premieres at 5 a.m. March 11 on Fox Sports Radio 1230 WCWA and at www.limelightamerica.com.

RE/MAX honored The Toledo-based RE/MAX Preferred Associates’ office won the “Highest Total Sales Volume, Large Market Award” and the “Highest Total Transactions Award” in the Central and Northern Ohio Region for 2008.

Realtor Dick Helminiak was the No. 1 producing RE/MAX agent in the region for 2008. Team Tyo, led by Lance Tyo, was the No. 2 producing RE/MAX Team in the Ohio.

Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep creates new jobs Monroe Dodge Chrysler Jeep Superstore in Monroe, Mich., announced a new program March 3 that includes special rebates, discounts and bonus cash adding up to savings of as much as $17,500 per vehicle. The dealer also created new full-time jobs for immediate hire. The program, “Let’s Keep America Working,” is available through the end of the month. Incentives include allowing customers to buy a Jeep Liberty or Dodge Nitro for $11,111, with the purchase of another Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle, and enabling customers to write off 100 percent of the vehicle’s sales tax on their 2009 federal tax returns. The store is seeking applicants for full-time new and used car sales, a special finance manager and an automotive service technician.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.monroedodge.com.

Cardinal hires new athletic director, football coach Joseph Gutilla has been named the new athletic director of the Kateri Catholic School System and head football coach of Cardinal Stritch High School. The Kateri Catholic School System includes Cardinal Stritch High School in Oregon, Sacred Heart and St. Thomas Aquinas Schools in Toledo and St. Jerome School in Walbridge.

“I want the students to understand the ‘big picture’ in sports,” Gutilla said. “We start by building a strong foundation, teaching the students the fundamentals and making sure they have a good time. Winning is a byproduct of that strong foundation.”

SPORTS

A20

COLLEGE SPORTS

By Nicholas Huenefeld TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

Junior defenseman Brian Moore has never scored a point for the BGSU hockey team, but he’s scoring plenty of recognition off the ice.

Moore has been nominated for the Bank of New York Mellon Hockey Humanitarian Award. He was one of 21 nominees nationally for the award, and his mission trip to Haiti was the primary reason for his nomination.

“It is definitely an honor,” Moore said. “At the same time, I want to caution, though, that my intentions are genuine for going [to Haiti] and not to receive the award.

I decided to go on the trip, and everything was set in stone, long before I heard there were awards for all of this.”

Moore went on a mission trip to Haiti in the summer with Active Christians Today, a student organization at BGSU. He helped children by giving away food, painting the compound at the orphanage, distributing toiletries, praying and hosting vacation Bible schools.

“It was a way for me to grow in my faith and develop the kind of character I wanted,” Moore said.

Moore spent 10 days from sun up to sun down helping the less fortunate. “[Haiti] is very run down,”

Moore said. “It’s very disorganized.

Everywhere you go, people are begging for food.”

Moore said the experience taught him about how good it is in America.

“Here in America, it’s ‘How dare we not have three meals per day,’ compared to ‘we’re blessed to have one meal per day’ there,” he said.

The trip also helped keep his lack of scoring in perspective.

“I’m a defenseman for one, and I haven’t had the chance to play much.

It’s not that I’m not capable. It’s just a matter of opportunity.”

Moore played in a combined 15 games during his first two seasons at BGSU. This year, the honors student has played in 25 of 36 games.

Moore usually wakes up around 8 a.m. and has class until 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., then he practices before going home to study. He is taking 16 credit hours this semester as a business prelaw major. He plans to attend law school.

“It’s definitely tough if you don’t like being busy and having that kind of high-paced lifestyle,” Moore said.

“For me it’s easy, because that’s what I like.”

One thing has been tough for Moore: The coaches who recruited him were gone before he arrived on campus. He is a native of Carmel, Ind. “It’s been a character-building time, but I’m thankful and making the best of it,” he said.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY JOHN POLLOCK

BGSU hockey player wins without scoring

■

BRIAN MOORE, OR CARMEL, IND., IS A JUNIOR DEFENSEMAN ON THE BGSU HOCKEY TEAM.

It’s not that Moore hasn’t scored before, either. He has scored plenty in high school and in juniors with the Bozeman Ice Dogs (Montana), where he was a team captain. So, scoring isn’t necessarily at the top of his list.

“It wouldn’t be this monumental experience,” he said. “It’s just a matter of it happening. I hope it wouldn’t feel different than any other game.”

Moore found out about the humanitarian nomination when a friend

texted him a congratulatory note. He has since received congratulations from his family, but hoping to win the award is not what makes him tick. “[My family] kind of understands where my head is with that, so they don’t say much,” he said.

Moore isn’t getting a big head over the nomination, either.

“The other guys nominated are big deals — captains on their teams,” he said. “I didn’t think I would get

nominated. It’s an honor either way.”

The mission trip and the award are in Moore’s rearview mirror as his team focuses on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association tournament the weekend of March 6 versus Ohio State in Columbus.

“We’re definitely struggling, being at the bottom of the league,” he said. “However, we know we’re a good team. It’s just a matter of getting everyone on the same page.”

This Week’s SONIC High School Athletes of the Week Roman Willets, Senior, St. Francis

Erika Schmidt, Senior, Anthony Wayne

Roman is a senior and a member of the St. Francis varsity swim team.

At this year’s Division I boys state swimming championship, he won the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:38.68, one of the fastest times ever recorded in Ohio. He also won the state runner-up in the 100 freestyle with a time of 44.91. He is a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and will swim for the University of Michigan in the 2009-10 season.

Sonic congratulates Roman Willets and the St. Francis swim team for their outstanding performance.

Erika is a senior and a member of the Anthony Wayne girls varsity basketball team. She helped lead the Lady Generals to a 69-46 win against Lima Senior with 21 points. She is a starting guard and is averaging 10.3 points and 2.3 steals per game this year. She has committed to Penn State for track and field for the 2009-2010 season.

Sonic congratulates Erika Schmidt and Anthony Wayne for their outstanding performance.

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■ A21

TV TIME-OUT

PHYSICIAN FOCUS WHAT IS HYPERTENSION? With more than 80 million sufferers, hypertension — or high blood pressure — is the most common cardiovascular disease.

The heart is basically a machine that pumps blood through the arteries to every part of the body. Inside the arteries, when blood pushes against artery walls, it creates force, also known as pressure.

Your “blood pressure” is determined by a physician or nurse using a blood-pressure cuff, which gives a reading of two numbers. The first number is the pressure in the arteries during a heartbeat, and the second is the pressure between beats.

Healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80. Anything over that is sign for concern. The higher you go, the greater your risk for complications.

Thou shall partake in March Madness

I

bubbles, the brackets, the heartache, can turn out to be bad.

The conference tournaments the heart pounding, the Cinderellas and the Big Dance are all reasons will act as your introduction to the narrative. The anwhy the madness of tagonists will be introMarch evokes so much duced here, from conenjoyment when I plop ferences that all sound down in front of my and look the same. big-screen television.

The MAAC and the Envision the entire MAC, the MVC and month unfolding like a MWC are the little plot-twisting narrative engines that would. from week to week.

Every small school in We all know our country will try to protagonists right Ryan FOWLER the squeeze their fet into now are the top teams that slipper and earn in the country. Connecticut, Pittsburgh, North Caro- the invite to the Big Dance.

By March 17, 65 teams will fill lina and as I write this, possibly Memphis, are in position for the out the brackets. The one play-in highly coveted No. 1 seeds. But like game in Dayton will decide which any good story, the good characters antagonist lives and which school’s story line dies for this year.

Two days later, we reach this story’s climax. The first day of the tournament could be considered a holy day for college basketball enthusiasts. There is nothing quite like it. Games tip off at noon, and besides a brief break for your local news (make sure to watch NBC 24 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.), the drama unfolds until midnight.

Adored since 1759, it’s the powerful surge and settle that gives The tournament’s first two days GUINNESS Draught beer its uniqueness. Lovingly poured around the come with such anticipation and world, GUINNESS Draught is one of the best-selling import beers in the appreciation it makes the perfect USA. climax for our story. This is where David beats Goliath as a 15-seed A unique mix of nitrogen and slings a rock into the chest of a carbon dioxide helps create two-seed. Kick your feet in the air GUINNESS Draught’s liquid Hampton, you just beat Iowa State. swirl that tumbles, surges Even better, think back to 2005 and gradually separates into when the jerseys were popping out a black body and smooth in front of your chest. Bucknell was creamy head. The rise and fall of the bubbles has perpoppin’ jerseys and breaking hearts plexed PhD physicists. as it upset No. 3 seed Kansas on the But all you need to focus on first Friday of the tournament. is the taste. With an initial Now, unlike “Choose Your Own malt and caramel flavor, Adventure”, once your team is done, GUINNESS Draught finishes they’re done, no flipping back to see with a dry roasted bitterness. “what if.”

Before you know it, we’re on to GUINNESS Draught is famous the weekend, the round of 32. Not for the legendary two-part as much excitement, but our story pour. First, tilt the glass to 45 begins to head toward a conclusion. degrees and carefully pour The Sweet 16 comes four days until three quarters full. Then place the glass on the bar counter and leave to settle.

Appreciate the opaque shiny black color and creamy off white head. Once the surge With the experts has settled, fill the glass to the brim. It takes about 119.5 seconds to pour the perfect pint. But don’t fret.

It’s worth the wait.

t seems the hot topic is what luxuries you gave up for Lent.

I, the good Catholic boy, have sacrificed pop and fast food (and probably a couple thousand calories) for the next 40 days.

It’s a fair trade considering what He will bless upon us during the month of March.

Some say the Super Bowl is the crème de le crème of sporting events.

Others argue the World Series is the pinnacle of sports excellence in its purist form.

They can have their Super Sunday or their One October.

I’ll enjoy my sports Christmas during a four-week span. Most college basketball connoisseurs affectionately refer to it as March Madness.

The conference tournaments, the

High blood pressure is dangerous because it causes the heart to work harder, which can damage arteries. This contributes to hardening of the arteries and leads to heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.

Several factors that contribute to hypertension are smoking, being overweight, a diet that’s high in salt, stress, and family history. But you can have hypertension without these risk factors.

Because there are usually no physical symptoms, 1 in 3 people who have hypertension don’t know it. So it is important to have your blood pressure checked yearly by a health care provider.

Hypertension is treatable through medication and changes in diet and lifestyle, such as losing weight, quitting smoking and getting enough exercise.

Jason Evans, MD Family Medicine

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later. It’s back to the office for all those employees who called in sick the previous Thursday and Friday.

Brackets have either been highlighted to perfection or thrown away in the trash. Much like our protagonists, the anxiety of the next game is just as unbearable for the person striving for the perfect bracket.

The Elite Eight slices our field and our character total down to only a few. What started off as a complex narrative with different story lines for each of the 65 schools is becoming a spider web of sidebar stories for each of the remaining schools. I like to picture at least one antagonist reach this point in our story.

As March Madness makes way for April’s arrival, we cut the field in half. From the Elite Eight to the Final Four, these schools will travel to Motown for a showdown. Ford Field in Detroit will host the national semifinal and championship game the first weekend in April.

On April 6, in front of a sellout crowd, two characters will meet face to face on 94 feet of endless possibilities until the conclusion is written.

So, do yourself a favor, give up smoking, ice cream and chocolate, but please give in to the madness of March. Anything else would be a sports sin.

Ryan Fowler is the weekend sports anchor at WNWO NBC 24. He can be reached at bgsualum03@hotmail.com.

PLAY AT FULL STRENGTH

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Evans_March09_TFP.indd 1

“

This is where David beats Goliath as a 15 seed slings a rock into the chest of a two seed. Kick your feet in the air Hampton; you just beat Iowa State.”

in sports medicine

Injury Management • Rehabilitation • Performance Enhancement

A22 â– TOLEDO FREE PRESS

WHEELS

MARCH 8, 2009

AUTO SENSE

Covering the basics of spark plug maintenance

I

received an e-mail from a reader while the engine is hot could very asking how to change the spark likely result in damaged threads plugs in his car. Replacing the in the soft aluminum cylinder heads. Repairing the plugs on today’s vedamage could rehicles does deserve quire removing the some thought. The cylinder heads or fact is that finding the at worst, replacing spark plugs on some them. Replacing the of today’s engines can cylinder heads is a leave the do-it-yourself very expensive and home mechanic lost. time-consuming job.

Let’s cover the basics.

Even if your enWhatever the congine incorporates figuration of your enNick SHULTZ cast-iron cylinder gine, it may very likely have aluminum cylinder heads. If heads, you still want to remove the that is the case, make sure you re- plugs when the engine is cool.

If you don’t own a socket that is move and reinstall the spark plugs when the engine is cool. It doesn’t specifically designed for spark plugs, have to be cold, but it shouldn’t be you should pick one up while you’re warm and most definitely not hot. at the parts supplier purchasing Trying to remove the spark plugs your plugs. Do not use a regular

socket that fits the plug. Use the special-purpose spark plug socket only.

While you’re at the parts house, you should pick up a small amount of anti-seize compound as well. We will discuss why in a moment.

Let’s locate your spark plugs. You may likely have an ignition system on your vehicle that does not incorporate a traditional spark plug wire.

This technology is referred to as coil on plug. The spark plug will be lo-

cated beneath the coil. There will be one coil for each spark plug. After removing the coil, you will have access to the spark plug. â– SHULTZ CONTINUES ON A23

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MARCH 8, 2009 ■ SHULTZ CONTINUED FROM A22 The plug itself may be several inches below the coil pack. It will be necessary in most coil-on-plug applications to use a 6-inch extension on top of the spark plug socket in order to reach the plug located deep in the cylinder head. Use a firm, not jerky, circular motion in a counterclockwise direction and remove the plug.

Do the same for each spark plug.

Spark plugs in other type of ignition systems can be located by following the spark plug wire to the plug. Remove the spark plug boot carefully from the spark plug and, if necessary, mark it so you will be sure and put it back on the same spark plug it came off of. Do the same for every plug. Remove each plug as described above.

Organize the spark plugs as

you remove them in a manner that will allow you to identify the cylinder that the spark plug was removed from. After all the plugs are removed, inspect them. You’re looking for plugs that have a different color than the rest. The offcolor plugs indicate some type of a problem in the particular cylinder they came out of. If you don’t have experience reading spark plugs, you

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might want to take them to your local technician and have him or her read them for you.

The next step would be to gap all the new spark plugs. Make sure that the gap is equal on all the plugs and that it is set to the manufacturer’s specifications. During this procedure, you should also make sure that the outer electrode is centered as evenly as possible over the center electrode.

After the plugs are gapped, then you should take a small amount of the anti-seize compound you purchased and apply it to the bottom two threads of the new spark plugs.

Make sure you use a small amount and only apply the compound to the bottom two threads.

Once the plugs are ready, you can begin reinstalling them into the cylinders. I have found that a 6-inch piece of vacuum hose attached to the top electrode of the spark plug enables you to start the plug into the female threads of the

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“

If you don’t have experience reading spark plugs, you might want to take them to your local technician.” cylinder head without fear of crossthreading the plug. I suggest you use this method to get the plugs started.

Once you have the plug started into the cylinder head then go ahead and run them semitight into the head.

After all the plugs are installed in this manner, go back with a torque wrench and torque the plug to the manufacturer’s recommended torque setting. Proper torque of the spark plug is important.

Reconnect any of the spark plug boots or ignition coils you may have removed and start the vehicle and make sure it doesn’t miss-fire.

Once you’re sure the vehicle is idling and running properly, take the vehicle out for a test drive. It is important to operate the vehicle under a normal and a heavy load to determine if the plugs are indeed operating as designed. Once you are satisfied that everything is OK then return to your shop.

A simple job that many take for granted can turn into a nightmare if done improperly. Good luck with your wrenching.

Nick Shultz is an instructor of Automotive Technologies at Owens Community College. He is an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau who specializes in cases involving the Ohio and Michigan Lemon laws. He is a certified master automotive technician by ASE, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Shultz will take automotive technical questions from readers at letters@toledofreepress.com.

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Top-selling vehicles in the United States Associated Press Automakers released February sales figures March 3. These were the top-selling vehicles for the month, with the total number sold.

1. Ford F-series: 23,614 2. Toyota Camry/Solara: 20,634 3. Chevrolet Silverado: 19,788 4. Toyota Corolla/Matrix: 18,103 5. Nissan Altima: 16,002 6. Honda Accord: 15,976 7. Honda Civic: 15,687 8. Dodge Ram: 14,448 9. Honda CR-V: 12,370 10. Chevrolet Malibu: 11,516

WHEELS

A24 â– TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

INDUSTRY

Developer needs help for Goodyear project AKRON (AP) — A private developer in charge of building a $165 million headquarters for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has run into financing problems and will look for help from a public bond offering.

Los Angeles-based Industrial Realty Group is heading a project that includes new Goodyear offices, renovation of existing buildings and a commercial and retail complex. The project, which has an overall cost of $900 million, would keep the nation’s biggest tire maker in Akron, where Goodyear was founded in 1898.

But the developer is struggling to secure financing through banks as credit tightens during a deepening recession, said Summit County Executive Russ Pry. The Summit County Port Authority, an independent economic development agency, has proposed stepping in and issuing up to $16.3 million in taxable, short-term bonds. The bonds with a 5 percent interest rate would be guaranteed by IRG and developer Stuart Lichter.

The county and the city of Akron will review the bond plan.

Mayor Don Plusquellic, speaking by phone from Washington, D.C., said March 3 that he supports the bond idea to reconfigure the financing amid tight credit nationwide. The risk is reasonable in light of Akron’s determination to keep Goodyear’s headquarters amid incentives from other cities, Plusquellic said.

Goodyear remains committed to the development, company spokesman Scott Baughman said. “We still are looking forward to having the agreement finalized and, yes, it has taken longer because of the credit crisis, but we’re still supportive of the overall project,’’ he said.

Under the plan, Goodyear would lease the new headquarters, while its current headquarters and other aging buildings would be sold to IRG, renovated and reused.

IRG had planned to invest $700 million in the project, with local and state governments picking up the rest through tax incentives and loans. The company already has invested $5.3 million, according to the agreement.

If the Goodyear lease isn’t sufficient to pay the debt on the bonds, the county and city would split the shortfall, according to the deal.

Akron Councilman Bruce Kilby has questioned the bond proposal and said he wants more information, including how much Lichter has in the project and how he has tried to raise financing. He said the

city would be held partially responsible if Lichter defaults. “This is a pretty serious step,’’ Kilby said.

Less than two weeks ago, Good-

year announced it planned to cut nearly 5,000 jobs and freeze salaries to reduce costs by $700 million as tire sales have fallen. The company also reported it lost $330 million in the

fourth quarter last year and lost $77 million for the year. Goodyear employs about 3,000 workers in Akron.

Lichter could not be reached for comment.

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■ A25

PRO prepares for 40th Home & Garden Show TOLEDO FREE PRESS NEWS EDITOR jryan@toledfreepress.com

Guests can escape the cold winter and take a walk in the park as they enter the Professional Remodelers Organization Home & Garden Show.

“For the first year, all the landscapers are down the center aisle,” said Reneé Mani, executive secretary at Professional Remodelers Organization (PRO). “All the landscapers are working together to create walkways and a park-like setting.”

The 2009 Home & Garden Show will be March 13, 14 and 15 at the SeaGate Centre and feature more than 15,000 square feet of landscaping displays from Toledo area companies, such as Select Stone Company, Oak Park Landscape and

Water Garden Center, North Branch Nursery & Landscaping and Corsos Flower & Garden Center.

The former Toledo Home Remodelers Association changed its name to PRO in order to reflect its regional membership from Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, according to executive director Mike Shobe.

“This year is our 40th anniversary, and we are doing more for the homeowners,” Mani said. “We are doing a million-dollar roll off, with a throw of the dice.”

After entering the home and garden show, guests can fill out entry forms for the Million Dollar Giveaway sponsored by Modern Builders Supply. Every hour, a name will be drawn, and at noon March 16, the 20 people selected over the weekend will roll the dice

“

for a chance to win a $1 million. If someone spells “Modern” with their dice, they win, Mani said.

Michael Bonnar, an employee of Modern Builders Supply has been a member of PRO for 29 years.

He works at the show, welcoming people and organizing volunteers.

“Our show is different than most because of the landscaping we have there,” he said. “We will have an entire aisle of waterfalls and potted plants. People come down and experience the smell of spring.”

Hatfield Lawn & Landscape donated a $2,500 landscape makeover package. Mani said guests can enter into the drawing at the show.

Flowers and plants will be on display and many can be purchased at the show.

Informational seminars and cooking demonstrations will take

Our show is different because of the landscaping we have there. People come down and experience the smell of spring.”

— Michael Bonnar, Modern Builders Supply place throughout the weekend by some of Toledo’s landscape experts.

Carl Jara, a sand sculptor from Cleveland, will be at the event creating a sand sculpture. Sunday at 3 p.m., kids will be invited to “storm the castle and find hidden treasures,” Mani said.

Booths will showcase windows, siding, garage doors, basement waterproofing, patio rooms, cookware and interior decoration — everything people need to plan building projects, according to Mani.

ABC Supply Co. and Owens Corning are the major sponsors with co-sponsors Modern Builders Supply, Hatfield Lawn & Landscape, Buckeye Cable System and K100 Today’s Best Country, Shobe said.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and children 12 and under are free. Coupons for $1 off and seminar schedules can be found at www.hireaprotoday.com.

The show will take place at the SeaGate Centre on March 13 from 4 to 9 p.m.; March 14 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and March 15 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY JOHN POLLOCK

By Julie Ryan

MIKE SHOBE AND RENEÉ MANI WORK ON THE LAYOUT FOR THE UPCOMING PRO REMODELERS ORGANIZATION SHOW AT SEAGATE CENTRE IN TOLEDO.

■

PROHOME&GARDEN SHOW

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY LAD STRAYER

A26 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

On the web

visit www.arnoldshomeimprovement.com and click on links for more information.

■

JASON ARNOLD HAS OWNED HIS OWN HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY FOR 19 YEARS. HE RECENTLY STARTED ANOTHER BUSINESS, SOLAR SOLUTIONS AND SKYLIGHTS, AT 909 JEFFERSON AVE.

Contractor started young, going strong

By Brandi Barhite TOLEDO FREE PRESS SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR bbarhite@toledofreepress.com

Jason Arnold graduated from high school and became a business owner.

It was an untraditional path and one that caused people to question if he might be a little too young to be hired.

But 19 years later, Arnold’s Home Improvement LLC is a thriving local business known for its quality work and affordable prices, he said.

Arnold has an office at 4253 Lewis Ave. in Toledo, as well as an office in Cincinnati. Satellite offices are located in Monroe and Temperance.

“I heard everyone had a bad year, but we had a very good year last year,” Arnold said.

“We offer a wide brand of services. If one thing slows down, the other things pick up.”

In addition to roofing, siding, windows, gut-

ters and additions, Arnold recently started Solar Solutions and Skylights, 909 Jefferson Ave. “In the middle of March, we leave for solar training for our solar hot water tank systems,” said Sam Villarreal, manager of Solar Solutions and Skylights. “It is a geothermal system so the water flows through the solar panels and goes back into your existing heating system.”

Arnold is the secretary/treasurer of Professional Remodelers Association, formerly Toledo Home Remodelers Association. His companies will have booths at the show, including Solar Solutions and Skylights.

“We determine the best products by research and years of experience and we sell that,” Arnold said.

For instance, he only sells Owens Corning shingles. He favors that brand and said it is good to support local businesses.

The Toledo native graduated from Whitmer

High School in 1990. He worked for a firefighter who wanted to get out of the roofing business. He sold Arnold his equipment and referred his customers to the teen. The business was initially Arnold’s Quality Roofing, which he turned into Arnold’s Home Improvement.

In the beginning, it was just Arnold and a crew of four or five people. Today, he employs 30 to 50 people, depending on the season.

In this economic downturn, customers are focusing on needs, not wants, when it comes to home improvements, he said. Gutters and roofing continue to be the bread and butter of the business. Additions take a backseat when people don’t have expendable income.

“I learned to focus on what we are good at.

We don’t try to branch off and do something that is out of the ordinary,” Arnold said.

Arnold doesn’t want to get so large that his business loses that hands-on touch. He won’t

invest in showrooms, either, because customers like when he comes to them.

“This is where I grew up. It seems like I know half of Toledo.”

Sometimes people still expect to see a man in his 40s or 50s when they hear that Arnold’s business has been around for 19 years. He will be 37 on March 7.

“I am not opposed to hiring someone with more knowledge than me,” he said.

General Manager Mike Marchant said he is one of those “older” people with experience in sales and marketing. Marchant was friends with Arnold prior to starting with the company and wasn’t sure about job security if he came aboard. So, he decided to check out his friend’s business as if he didn’t know him.

“I found out he was secure, stable, successful and well-established in the industry,” Marchant said.

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■ A27

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY JOHN POLLOCK

MARCH 8, 2009

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Membership within the newly renamed Professional Remodelers Organization (PRO) has grown with five new contractors and 11 associate members since last fall.

The independent organization formerly known as the Toledo Home Remodelers Association is celebrating its 40th year as it represents 210 remodeling contractors and associate members from businesses related to the construction and remodeling trade, according to executive director Mike Shobe said.

“We’re here for the community to be sure that local contractors are licensed and professional in serving the remodeling needs of the people,” Shobe said.

Nick Carpenter, owner of A+ Building Maintenance & Home Repair in Toledo joined the organization after attending a meeting in the fall. He became a licensed contractor and decided to become part of the organization that represents the industry and keeps its members informed.

“I pride myself at being professional and always upfront with my customers,” said Carpenter, who has been in the remodeling business since 2001.

Carpenter previously worked as

“

Networking is very strong for associate members who are involved in the organization.”

— Chris Willee, CJ Design Construction a supervisor at a trucking terminal while maintaining some rental properties. The latter activity is what led him to becoming a remodeling contractor.

“My dentist talked me into it after I did some work on his house in exchange for some dental treatment,” he said. “Within six months, I had so much work that I quit my two jobs and started my own business.”

Carpenter’s remodeling business grew by 30 percent in 2008 and is already ahead of last year’s pace by 40 percent. Ninety percent of that business comes from referrals and repeat customers, Carpenter said.

“It creates credibility and represents higher standards of workmanship and service while providing educational and training programs,” said Chris Willee of CJ Design Construction and longtime member.

He also represents Smart Financial Planning, a new associate member.

“Networking is very strong for associate members who are involved in the organization,” Willee said.

Aquila Enterprise in Holland joined PRO recently due to its involvement in the construction and remodeling business, said Ken Amborski, senior vice president.

Aquila manufactures and installs granite, quartz and laminated countertops, installs custom kitchen cabinets, doors and windows in homes. It also is a general contractor of erected steel buildings.

Aquila is related to Lowry Manufacturing, a tool and die company that has operated in the area for 53 years, according to its president Bill Lowry.

Chris Pfleghaar, an area sales representative for Andersen Windows, recently joined PRO to gain exposure to the remodeling contractors in the local market. He has been involved in selling windows for new homes or replacement projects to contractors through local dealers.

Other new contractor members include Concrete Illusions of Ohio in Sylvania and R&D Contractors located in Petersburg, Mich.

New associate members also include Culligan Water of Northwest Ohio, Doors Plus, Invisible Fence, Lars/David Inc., Monroe Furniture Plaza, Mulch World and Rose Pest Solutions.

A28 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

PROHOME&GARDEN SHOW

MARCH 8, 2009

By Julie Ryan TOLEDO FREE PRESS NEWS EDITOR jryan@toledofreepress.com

Spring doesn’t have to be here to start cleaning.

Along with removing brush and leaves from the yard, Margie Black, president of Premier Gardening Services, said gardeners should look for snow mold on the grass because of a long snow covering this year. Look for flattened grass stems and then break up the fungal mat with a wire rake so new grass can grow.

Lorie Lewis, designer and salesperson for James Landscaping & Lawn LLC, said gardeners gather ideas for their lawn and hardscaping by visiting local garden centers or the garden show.

In the meantime, think about the shape of the lawn and whether to have a fertilization-service consultation. She said people are beginning to invest in their homes and lawns as opposed to traveling.

“If you want to make improvements, you can plan for home projects, such as deck, water feature, planting more flowers,” she said.

Lewis said most landscapes last

15 years and then need to be re-landscaped with fresh ideas and planting.

Lewis recommended planting annuals after the frost date, which is typically May 15, but can be as early as May 1. Black said you can also look for the forsythia blooms as a sign to begin uncovering protected plants.

Black said perennials work well in gardens because they will return each year. However, they are more expensive than annuals, and even though annuals will die in the fall, if used properly, they add color to the garden throughout the summer.

“Annuals give you a lot for your money because they give you a lot of bloom all year long. May, June, July, they just keep on going,” Black said.

“Make pockets of annuals; make a big enough pocket to add splash.”

Lewis recommended different flowers for sunny and shady areas. Impatiens, which are annuals, are a No. 1 seller for their color and ability to grow in shady areas, she said. Hostas, a perennial, perform well in shade.

“They’re pretty awesome because you basically plant them and water them and they go to town,” she said.

■ LAWN CONTINUES ON A29

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY LAD STRAYER

Easy, cheap ways to get your lawn ready for spring

■

JAMES LANDSCAPING & LAWN STAFF, FROM LEFT, LUKE HELMINIAK, LORIE LEWIS, MATT SZYMANSKI AND JENNIFER GOETZ.

PROHOME&GARDEN SHOW

MARCH 8, 2009 ■ LAWN CONTINUED FROM A28 In sunny areas, Lewis recom-

mended lilies as many varieties are nonstop bloomers during the summer. Geraniums, with

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some deadheading, will also keep blooming. Knockout roses, although a shrub, add a lot of color, she said.

“Everybody loves knockout roses,” Black said. “They bloom until you get a hard frost and get through winter without a lot of protection.”

Black said geranium roseanne has longevity and hydrangeas will live for years.

Lewis recommended utilizing planter pots to save money. The pot is reusable each year, and using a soil

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

mix and mulching the top will cut down on the maintenance during the summer. The pots also come on wheels and can be moved around for extra enjoyment, she said.

Black said she buys hanging baskets that are already growing and transplants them to a pot. The pots and perennials can be over-wintered in an unheated garage, she said.

“Basically it’s a nice hobby with lots of exercise. It’s work, but it’s also therapeutic,” Lewis said.

■ A29

“

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ARTS LIFE

‘Watchmen’ sequel unlikely; prequel possible (AP) Fans should plan to savor every visual morsel when “Watchmen” swoops into movie theaters March 6 because the subversive superheroes of the landmark comic book series may never return to the big screen.

“There’s no way I would be involved in a sequel or prequel,’’ said director Zack Snyder, who turned the graphic novel “300’’ into a 2007 blockbuster.

While a possible prequel may make financial sense, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays The Comedian, says it would be “creative suicide.”

A31

POP CULTURE

‘Watchmen’ transcends its graphic-novel roots

By Jim Beard TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

A

REVIEW

‘Watchmen’ almost too faithful to book

By Christy Lemire ASSOCIATED PRESS FILM CRITIC

Yes, I’ve read “Watchmen.’’ I understand why it matters culturally, why it’s considered revolutionary in its exploration of flawed superheroes, why it moved you.

It moved me, too. And still — or, rather, because of that — I found director Zack Snyder’s adaptation hugely disappointing, faithful as it is to the 1988 graphic novel.

That rigid reverence should please purists — tiny details from individual comic-book panels are recreated lovingly on the big screen — but it also contributes to the film’s considerable bloat.

At almost three hours, “Watchmen’’ tries to cram in nearly everything writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons originally depicted, but then the ending feels rushed. (And it’s slightly different. That’s all we’ll say.)

Snyder has been hailed as a visionary director — primarily by the studio releasing the movie — but “300’’ and “Watchmen’’ both prove he’s really a skilled mimic, albeit one with visual flair.

“Watchmen,’’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release, is rated R for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language. Running time: 161 minutes.

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s the world hits fever pitch for the “Watchmen” film opening March 6, I’m reminded of its somewhat-humble beginnings — not of what’s become pretentiously known as a “graphic novel” but as a 12-issue comic book series published more than 20 years ago.

It had a rocky gestation and it was often late hitting the stands, but it became a legend in its own right.

The brainchild of British scribe Alan Moore, “Watchmen” was almost canned at its inception. Moore originally wanted to tell a warts-and-all type of superhero story using characters MOORE that DC Comics had just bought from a defunct rival, but a DC editor didn’t think those characters should be visited with the type of death and destruction Moore intended.

So, he and artist Dave Gibbons set about creating their own set of protagonists and found they felt even more free to tear them up one side and down the other. Then, the result was viewed as a sort of bible of deconstructionism.

That is ironic, because with “Watchmen,” Moore intended to take the superhero trope and

break it down, spread it out on the vivisection table and see what he could see — and he managed to come away with a classic.

The irony is that a story that deconstructs superheroes down to their atoms is now, 20 years later, held up as an example of what comic books are and can be.

Now collected in expensive hardcovers as a long narrative with myriad levels, “Watchmen” is used in colleges as a kind of textbook; Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, uses it. A rough and tumble tale full of extreme violence, sex and some uncomfortable views of spandex-clad adventurers is now celebrated the world over.

I was nonplussed when the first few issues hit the stands back in 1986, seeing as it was a radical left turn from the superhero stories I’d loved since childhood. I thought it’d be a quiet blip on the radar.

Now, The New York Times reported that DC Comics has recently printed an additional 900,000 copies and a big-budget theatrical interpretation of it is on our doorstep.

That’s pretty good for a comic book that even its creators were unsure could be finished at one point in its publication.

What an example of superhero fortitude.

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ARTS LIFE

A32 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

HOLLIDAY TRAVELS

We’re gearing up for spring

MARCH 8, 2009

THEATRE

Toledo Rep falls into ‘Rabbit Hole’

By John Dorsey

Roger HOLLIDAY Claudia FISCHER

W

e’re thinking that in about six weeks, God willing and the creeks don’t rise, we’ll load up the SUV — 10 years old and counting — and head north, 250 miles straight as a crow flies, to our log cabin in the woods. That is where we’ll spend most of the summer and much of the fall.

Oh sure, there’ll be a getaway or two, probably a weekend toddle to the tip of the Leelanau Peninsula, where we once did sterling lighthouse duty and where friends have a cottage on Lake Michigan just a couple of hundred beach yards down from Iron Chef Mario Batali’s place.

Talk about hanging with the stars.

Also in the works is another visit to a compound on Batchawana Bay, a charming Canadian corner of Lake Superior, for a promised fishing trip to Pancake Lake — accessible only

by ATV — and with the one-hole outhouse a good 50 yards from the gas-lit cabin. Take the flashlight at night ... and watch out for the bears.

But before that happens, we’ll still have that SUV to load, and a road trip up U.S. 23 and beyond First in, as always, go the Labs, two of them at present: a black 11-year-old called Pocket and her 5-year-old yellow granddaughter, Miss Mimsey, plus their wagbags and their big bag of food, their toys and their grooming supplies. Nothing’s too much for these champions.

There’ll be books, too. A couple of crates of them, at least, because reading is job one up north. The only true sounds in the Huron National Forest come from nature. From the blue jays and the chickadees, the phoebes and the woodpeckers, the chattering of chipmunks, the rustle of wind in the leaves and the regular rippling of Big Creek as it makes its way to the Au Sable a mile or so away.

In the rapidly dwindling space that remains, there must go several other basics necessary for survival in “God’s Country,” so-called by a sign outside Ma Deeter’s log cabin eatery and drinkery. Like sheets and pillow cases for the main and

TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY HOLLIDAY/FISCHER

TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER jdorsey@toledofreepress.com

■

A SPRINGTIME TRADITION: THE LOG CABIN IN THE WOODS, 250 MILES NORTH.

guest cabins, a decent assortment of slightly worn summer clothes that no longer pass muster at home (Oh, how lovely even those are going to feel after our long, long winter.) and plenty of rain and hiking gear: boots, poles, jackets and such.

Then there’s the food and drink.

In order to do our part for the local economy, we only schlep the stuff not normally available at the local supermarket or the nearby Amish country store: Smoked paprika, capers, rice wine vinegar. Our favorite Columbian coffee. A big bottle of extra virgin olive oil and a couple of cases of cheap, drinkable wine.

And, because northern Michigan has such a short growing season, we’ll also cold-case a selection of fresh vegetables to tide us over until the backyard garden ladies show up at the local produce market with their baskets of baby beets and rhubarb, green onions and home-grown lettuces.

And finally, because some of us still have to work to travel (rather than travel to work) we’ll pack a bunch of business things like files, guide books and magazines and a trusty Apple

notebook for the columns, the Googles ... and all those reader e-mails.

Contrast all that with the minimalist clobber we’ll take on an impending three-week trip to England and Scotland, where absolutely everything we could ever need will have to fit into our respective 22-inch carry-ons, an Eagle Creek wheelie and a Rick Steves convertible backpack (Can you guess who carries which one? Maybe not). We’ll also have daypacks, of course, to take on the plane with the extra bits and bobs. For the camera and the iPod, the meds, the toothbrush and the spare just-in-case underwear.

The trip will start serenely enough with a 10-day stay in the London literary village of Hampstead for some sightseeing, nostalgia and family affairs. Then it goes into overdrive heading north. And norther, to Scotland and its upper reaches.

You’ll be hearing from us along the way, God willing and the wee bairns don’t rise ...

E-mail travel columnists Roger Holliday and Claudia Fischer at RogerHolliday@wcnet.org.

2740 Upton Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43606 For Tickets, Call (419) 472-6817 www.thevillageplayers.org

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Sunday, March 15 2:00pm

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will take its patrons on a journey down the rabbit hole on March 13, with its production of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize winning drama.

“Rabbit Hole” features Brad Smith, Michelle Sullivan, Carol Ann Erford, Aggie Alt and Matias Ponce.

Barbara Barkan is directing the production. The play tells the story of one family shattered by tragedy and their search for comfort and a little light at the end of the tunnel.

“As a member of the Rep’s reading committee, I was, of course very familiar with the play. Every season the Rep’s Artistic Director Gloria Moulopoulos opens up opportunities for new directing talent through an application process, and

that’s how I got involved with this production. I think that the intimate nature of the piece and the small size of the cast really lends itself well to the feel of the theater,” Barkan said. “Our pair of lead actors were familiar with the play already, and the rest of our cast prepared themselves coming in. For me this piece is really about hope and loss and the journey that these characters, this one family, goes on throughout the story. I think that anyone who has felt these kind of emotions will have a real understanding of what these characters are going through.”

“Rabbit Hole” runs through March 29. Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, $10 for students 13 and older, and $5 for children. Group rates are available. The Toledo Rep is located at 16 10th St. For more information, call (419) 243-9277 or visit www.toledorep.org.

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ARTS LIFE

MARCH 8, 2009

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A33

Artist’s desire for creative control leads to ‘52’ project, new disc “The idea grew out of coming off a major label experience that was less than stellar and knowing that I can write a lot of music and thinking I’d have to do something unique to really get people’s attention now that I’m independent again and there’s less financial backing,” the singersongwriter said. “I came up with the

By Vicki L. Kroll TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER vkroll@toledofreepress.com

Call it cool, crazy, stressful, inventive. Ari Hest was on a creative streak in 2008. He wrote, recorded, mixed and released one song each week on his Web site, www.arihest.com.

idea to do 52 songs in 52 weeks.”

For a $20 subscription fee, Hest fans found instant gratification each Monday.

And they offered feedback and voted on their favorite tracks. The result: “Twelve Mondays,” which will be released March 10.

“Along the way, [fans] were al-

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lowed to comment on the Web site; they could say what they liked and what they didn’t like,” Hest explained during a phone interview from New York City. “My picks were not exactly those [12], but they were close.”

Columbia Records signed Hest in 2004. The 29-year-old left the label last year after his fifth disc, “The Break-In.” “I’m a bit of a control freak,” he said of the decision to be on his own. “These songs are like my kids or something; I don’t want to have them doctored in any way.”

For “52,” still available online, he found inspiration everywhere.

“I tried to look outside myself more than any album I had done before,” Hest said. “I would look to my friends, I would look to people that I didn’t even know that I would see — I used the experience that they had to fill out some of the lyrical material because it was too difficult

to write just about myself.”

“Dead End Driving” is likely to be the first single from “Twelve Mondays,” he said.

“That is really a song about trying to do things yourself. It’s sort of the story of my musical career, but also I think in times like this when things are very troublesome with the economy HEST and people are losing their jobs, then you start relying on yourself more and that’s a good thing.”

Hest will perform at 8 p.m.

March 19 at The Ark in Ann Arbor.

Tickets are $15. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Singer-songwriter Tim Brantley, touring to support his debut, “Goldtop Heights,” will open the show.

St. Patr Patriick ck’s’s Day Weekend • March 14th-17th

S ERVICE

(During Lent)

• 6-8 oz. of Hand-Breaded, Pan-Fried Cod NO TRANS FAT, NO MSG • Side of Coleslaw • Side of Potato Salad • Tartar Sauce, Lemon • Roll and Butter

$ 99

6

Also Available Lamb & Guiness Stew or Cod in Cream & Bay

Sliced From a Slow-Roasted STEAMSHIP Round of $8.99 lb.

Corned Beef with Cabbage, Red Skin Potatoes, Carrots with Dijon Honey Mustard

$ dinner 99

7

Corned Beef $6.99 lb.

Don’t Forget to Use the Diamond Diner Card!

Spring Dinner

BEER TASTING

Saturday March 21 • 6-8:30pm 5 Courses with Matching Wines featuring Mushroom-Stuffed Walleye and Leg of Lamb Roast $

65 00 per person Limited Seating Reservations Required Contact Chef Bill Kolhoff for more details

• All makes and models • Evening and weekend hours

$10 Credit

FREE

Towards a future Purchase Our free Owner Advantage Rewards Program provides you with 5% credit on all future parts & service purchases.

Ask your Service Advisor to enroll you today.

Car Wash with any purchase or service!

Expires: 3/31/09.

Extra pieces of fish available at extra charge

at the Chef’s Kitchen

WHILE YOU

WAIT .

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Saturday March 14 • 11am-5pm Price: • 50¢ per sample or sample all 6 for $2.50 ••You You can also purchase a full bottle for $1.99 • Must be 21 years or older.

• Valid ID required.

For details contact Dave or Matt (419) 794-4000

“Doesn’t Cost More, Just Tastes Better”

3320 Briarfield Blvd. • Maumee, OH • (419) 794-4000 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. • Sun. 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

WWW.WALTCHURCHILLSMARKET.COM

Available now through 3/15/09 • We reserve the right to limit quantities. • No sales to vendors. • Not responsible for pictorial or typographical errors.

OIL CHANGE Motorcraft® Premium Synthetic Blend Oil & Filter Change

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Up to five quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Taxes, diesel vehicles and disposal fees extra.

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BATTERIES

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after $20 mail-in rebate

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Quick Lane at Brondes Ford Toledo 5545 Secor Road, Toledo, OH 43623

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ARTS LIFE

MARCH 8, 2009

TV LISTINGS

MARCH 8, 2009 Sunday Evening 7 pm ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 MNT 48 MNT 20 A&E COM DISN E! ESN FAM LIF MTV SPK TBS TCM TNT USA

8 pm

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Funniest Home Videos Extreme-Home

Housewives

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Payne

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Half

Half

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››› Freaky Friday (2003) Jamie Lee Curtis.

Montana

Baseball Harry

Sonny

Paid Prog.

Eckhart

Movie

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Candy Girl The Soup Chelsea

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SportsCenter (CC) ››› Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint. (CC) Funniest Home Videos

Augusta, Gone (2006) Mom, Dad and Her (2008) Melora Hardin. (CC) Army Wives (CC)

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Ways Die Ways Die MANswers MANswers ›› Nacho Libre (2006) Jack Black. (CC)

›› Enchanted April

››› Blue Hawaii (1962) Elvis Presley. (CC)

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› In the Mix (2005) House (CC)

›› Step Up (2006) Channing Tatum. (CC) House Hypochondriac. House (CC)

›› Step Up (2006) Channing Tatum. (CC) House (CC) Law & Order: SVU

March 9, 2009

MOVIES

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Entertain

Insider

Fortune

Jeopardy! Big Bang

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Dancing With the Stars (CC) How I Met Two Men

House (N) (CC) Chuck (N) (CC)

Rules

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Masters of Illusion (N) Magics Secrets

Movie

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Masters of Illusion (N) Magics Secrets Intervention “Charles” Intervention “Cristy”

News (N) Scrubs Fam. Guy Punk’d Paranorml Paranorml Paranorml Paranorml

Scrubs

Scrubs

Daily

S. Park

Suite Life E! News

Montana Daily 10

››› Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) Daniel Radcliffe. Harry Potter-Chamber Keep Up Candy Girl Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006, Comedy) Chelsea E! News

Colbert

Futurama S. Park

Charlie Rose (N) (CC)

Futurama Daily

Colbert

College Basketball: Southern Conference Final College Basketball: West Coast Conf. Final

SportsCenter (CC)

’70s Show ’70s Show Secret-Teen

Secret-Teen

The 700 Club (CC)

Wife Swap (CC) The City College

Will-Grace Will-Grace The City College

How I Met How I Met Rita Hedsor Hall College

Kyle XY (N) (CC)

Reba (CC) Wife Swap (CC) The City Hedsor Hall

CSI: Crime Scn

CSI: Crime Scn

›› Stripes (1981, Comedy) Bill Murray, Harold Ramis.

MANswers

Seinfeld

Fam. Guy

Fam. Guy

Sex & City

Seinfeld

Fam. Guy

Fam. Guy

Dr. Kildare’s Victory Law & Order

›› Lured (1947) George Sanders. Premiere.

The Closer (CC) The Closer (CC)

NCIS “Yankee White”

NCIS (CC)

7 pm

7:30

Name Earl Name Earl Seinfeld

›› On Our Merry Way (1948) Harold Saving Grace (CC) Bones (CC)

WWE Monday Night Raw (S Live) (CC)

Scrubs

8:30

9 pm

Burn Notice (CC)

March 11, 2009

MOVIES

8 pm

9:30

Insider

Scrubs

Lost “LaFleur” (CC)

Life on Mars (N) (CC)

Fortune Deal No

Jeopardy! Christine Gary TMZ (N) Lie to Me (N) (CC)

Criminal Minds (N) American Idol (CC)

CSI: NY “Green Piece” News (N) News (N) Seinfeld

Late Show My Wife

News (N)

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News (N)

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Tonight

News (N)

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Alone in the Wilderness Great Performances (CC) World’s Fun Tony Rock Tony Rock Movie

Charlie Rose (N) (CC)

Friends

Friends

World’s Fun

Tony Rock Tony Rock News (N)

Scrubs

Fam. Guy

Punk’d

CSI: Miami “Rio” (CC)

Dog

Bounty Hunter

Dog

Exterm

Exterm

Exterm

Scrubs Suite Life

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Daily Colbert Futurama S. Park ›› An Extremely Goofy Movie Wizards

S. Park Wizards

Martin Daily Life Derek Suite Life

E! News

Daily 10

Bret Michaels

Dog

Hugh Hefner: The E! True Hollywood Story

College Basketball: Big East Second Round

Chelsea

College Basketball: Big East Second Round -- Teams TBA

Colbert Montana E! News SportsCtr.

’70s Show ’70s Show ››› The Family Man (2000) Nicolas Cage, Tea Leoni. (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Christie’s Revenge (2007) Danielle Kind. (CC)

The 700 Club (CC) Will-Grace Will-Grace

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TI

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College

The Real World (CC)

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CSI: Crime Scn

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Payne Payne Payne ››› Brother Rat (1938) (CC)

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The Real World (N)

UFC Fight Night

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Payne Payne Payne Seinfeld ›› Brother Rat and a Baby (1940) (CC)

Sex & City Tugboat

Law & Order

›› Jurassic Park III (2001) Sam Neill. (CC)

Star Wars Star Wars Trust Me (CC)

NCIS “The Immortals”

House “TB or Not TB”

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March 13, 2009

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Nightline Late Show

Deal No

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News (N)

My Wife

Sarah Connor

Seinfeld

Howie Do Howie Do Friday Night Lights (N) Dateline NBC (CC) News (N) Tonight Wash Wk Deadline Bill Moyers Journal (N) Dr. Wayne Dyer: The Power of Intention (CC)

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UFC

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CSI: Miami “Legal” Daily Colbert

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›› Big Fat Liar (2002) (CC)

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Montana

Suite Life

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Candy Girl Keep Up

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Hot Girls-Scary

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College Basketball: Big East Semifinal College Basketball: Big East Semifinal -- Teams TBA SportsCtr. ’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show ’70s Show Funniest Home Videos The 700 Club (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) › Mother, May I Sleep With Danger? (1996)

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TI

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Nitro Cir

Nitro Cir

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CSI: Crime Scn Seinfeld Seinfeld

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Goodbye

›››› Double Indemnity (1944, Crime Drama) ››› Mildred Pierce (1945) Joan Crawford.

Mitchell

Law & Order NCIS “High Seas”

Tuesday Evening 7 pm ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 MNT 48 MNT 20 A&E COM DISN E! ESN FAM LIF MTV SPK TBS TCM TNT USA

DEA Real Vice Real Vice Disorderly Con. ››› Independence Day (1996) (PA) Will Smith, Bill Pullman. (CC)

››› Mission: Impossible III (2006) Tom Cruise. (CC) ››› Mission: Impossible III (2006) House “Hunting” (CC) Monk (CC) Law & Order: SVU House (CC)

7:30

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Homeland-USA

9 pm Scrubs

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American Idol Top 12 finalists perform. (CC) The Biggest Loser (N) (CC)

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Change Your Brain, Change

Discovering Secrets of Vatican

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Street Pat Street Pat Jail (N)

Jail (CC)

Friends Friends CSI: Miami (CC)

Street Pat Street Pat Jail (N) Jail (CC) The First 48 (CC) The First 48 (CC)

Scrubs

Scrubs

Daily

Suite Life E! News

Montana Daily 10

Dadnapped (2009) Emily Osment. Wizards ›› Beauty Shop (2005) Queen Latifah.

Colbert

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Futurama S. Park

Charlie Rose (N) (CC)

Movie News (N) Scrubs Fam. Guy Punk’d Manhunter Manhunter Manhunter Manhunter Lisa Lampanelli (CC) Wizards Keep Up

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Life Derek Suite Life Candy Girl Chelsea

College Basketball: Horizon League Final

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’70s Show ’70s Show Funniest Home Videos Funniest Home Videos Funniest Home Videos The 700 Club (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) A Friend of the Family (2005) Kim Coates.

Will-Grace Will-Grace After Dark From G’s to Gents TI After Dark TI From G’s to Gents (N) From G’s to Gents CSI: Crime Scn

CSI: Crime Scn

Ultimate Knockouts 3 DEA (N)

Seinfeld

Fam. Guy

Fam. Guy

Seinfeld

Fam. Guy

Fam. Guy

Real Vice

Real Vice

The Office The Office Sex & City Sex & City

Scene of the Crime ››› The Bridge at Remagen (1969, Drama) Good Will ››› Ocean’s Eleven (2001) George Clooney. (CC)

››› A Bridge Too Far (1977) Dirk Bogarde.

Trust Me (N) (CC) Saving Grace (CC)

NCIS “Sea Dog” (CC)

House (CC)

House “Acceptance”

House “Autopsy” (CC)

7:30

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Ugly Betty (N) (CC)

Law & Order: SVU

March 12, 2009

MOVIES

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9:30

Insider

Fortune Deal No

Jeopardy! Survivor: Tocantins (N) CSI: Crime Scn Eleventh Hour (N) (CC) News (N) TBA Bones (N) (CC) Hell’s Kitchen (N) (CC) News Seinfeld

Late Show My Wife

News (N)

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Tonight

Name Earl Kath-Kim

Grey’s Anatomy (N)

10 pm 10:30 11 pm 11:30

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The Office 30 Rock

Private Practice (N)

ER “In Times of Old”

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The Osmonds 50th Anniversary Reunion (CC) Achiev Dreams ›› Passenger 57 (1992) Wesley Snipes.

Movie

Charlie Rose (N) (CC)

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Fam. Guy

›› Passenger 57 (1992) Wesley Snipes.

News (N)

The First 48 (CC)

The First 48 (CC)

The Beast (N) (CC)

Scrubs Suite Life

Scrubs Montana

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RENO 911! Daily Life Derek Suite Life

Colbert Montana

E! News

Daily 10

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Girls

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College Basketball: Big East Quarterfinal

The First 48 (N) (CC)

Scrubs

Punk’d

The Beast (CC)

Chelsea

College Basketball: Big East Quarterfinal -- Teams TBA

SportsCtr.

’70s Show ››› Grease (1978, Musical) John Travolta. (CC) Funniest Home Videos The 700 Club (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) Reba (CC) ››› Tin Cup (1996, Comedy) Kevin Costner, Rene Russo. (CC) The Real World (CC)

Making the Band 4

Making the Band 4

CSI: Crime Scn

CSI: Crime Scn

TNA iMPACT! (N) (CC)

Seinfeld Seinfeld Tribute to a Bad Man

Friends Friends Friends Friends ›› Doom (2005) (PA) The Rock. (CC) ››› Rembrandt (1936, Biography) ››› That Hamilton Woman (1941) Vivien Leigh.

MTV Special

NBA Basketball Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs.

NCIS “The Curse”

House “Daddy’s Boy”

House “Spin” (CC)

7 pm

7:30

8:30

Ways Die

NBA Basketball: Cavaliers at Suns

NCIS (CC)

Law & Order: SVU

March 14, 2009

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Making the Band 4 Ways Die

Law & Order

Saturday Evening ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 MNT 48 MNT 20 A&E COM DISN E! ESN FAM LIF MTV SPK TBS TCM TNT USA

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March 10, 2009

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8 pm

Thursday Evening

10 pm 10:30 11 pm 11:30

Entertain Fortune

News (N) News (N) NewsHour Business

734-568-6917

10 pm 10:30 11 pm 11:30

Entertain

The Chopping Block

dancing contest. Among the other footloose celebrities: singers Jewel, paired with Dmitry • Community Based Chaplin, and Lil’ Kim, partnered with Derek actor David Alan Grier, dancing with • Family Hough; Owned The Celebrity Apprentice: The teams are Kym Johnson; and rodeo star Ty Murray hubby), with Chelsie Hightower. challenged to create and costume aSoutheast comic (Jewel’s • Serving Michigan book character and present it to a publisher.

Wednesday Ohio Personalities clash on& theNorthwest men’s team, while 8 p.m. on NBC 24 We Come to You... on the women’s team, one member falls ill, and another is very uncomfortable with her The Chopping Block: Two teams of eight withchallenges competent, compete in culinary for a shot assigned role as the costume model. at the grand prize: a and chance to compassionate Monday open their own restaurant. The first 8 p.m. on ABC 13 professional staff each competition pits them against Dancing With the Stars: Thirteen other to to deliver create a quality menu for host new stars — including Olympic Marco Pierre White to judge by the of life gold medalist Shawn Johnson, end of end the day.

Aftercare. less than 48 17, the youngest competitor ever hours, the contestants must open — team with professional danctheir restaurants for service, to be ers to train and compete in the evaluated by a top food critic from Toledo: 419-720-3340 eighth season of this hit ballroom Atlantic magazine.

Critic’s Choice Every Voice is Heard, Sunday Every Voice is Valued.

9 p.m. on NBC 24

10 pm 10:30 11 pm 11:30

NewsHour Business

Wednesday Evening

ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 MNT 48 MNT 20 A&E COM DISN E! ESN FAM LIF MTV SPK TBS TCM TNT USA

9:30

The Amazing Race 14 Cold Case “Jackals”

7 pm

ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 MNT 48 MNT 20 A&E COM DISN E! ESN FAM LIF MTV SPK TBS TCM TNT USA

9 pm

60 Minutes (CC)

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March 8, 2009

MOVIES

7:30

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Entertainment Tonight Dancing With the Stars (CC) College Basketball NCIS “Agent Afloat” The Mentalist (CC)

Castle (CC) News (CC) Monk (CC) 48 Hours Mystery (CC) News (N) CSI: NY

Raymond

News

My Wife

Cops (N)

Cops (CC) Most Wanted

Seinfeld

MADtv (N) (CC)

News (N) Paid Prog. The Celebrity Apprentice (CC) Law & Order (CC) News (N) The Welk Stars: Through the Years Great Performances (CC) 3 Mo’ Divas (CC) American Idol Rewind ››› The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989) Fam. Guy

Fore

››› The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

CSI: Miami (CC) CSI: Miami “Ambush” Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One for the Road

CSI: Miami “All In” Ralphie May

Cops (CC) Cops (CC) American Idol Rewind ››› Mortal Thoughts (1991) Demi Moore.

CSI: Miami (CC) CSI: Miami (CC) › Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector (CC)

››› Cars (2006) Voices of Owen Wilson. (CC)

Suite Life

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15 Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies

SNL-Farley

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College GameDay College Basketball: Big East Final ›› Notting Hill (1999) Julia Roberts, Hugh Grant. Premiere. (CC)

Suite Life

Phineas

Sat. Night

Cory

Suite Life

Montana

The Soup Chelsea SportsCenter (CC) ››› The Family Man

Plain Truth (2004) Mariska Hargitay. (CC)

›› The Book of Ruth (2004) Christine Lahti.

›› The Book of Ruth

Making the Band 4

TI

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From G’s to Gents

TI

The Real World (CC)

Nitro Cir

Sniper 3 (2004) ›››› Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Mark Hamill. ›› Commando (1985) ›› Men in Black II (2002) (PA) ›› American Pie 2 (2001) Jason Biggs. (CC) American Pie: Band Camp ››› Hell Is for Heroes ›››› Rocky (1976) Sylvester Stallone. (CC)

›› The Great Bank Hoax (1977) Premiere.

›› U.S. Marshals ›››› Saving Private Ryan (1998, War) Tom Hanks, Edward Burns. (CC) Guardian ›› How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) (CC) ›› The Skeleton Key (2005) Kate Hudson.

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COMICS

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GAMES

MARCH 8, 2009

BIFF & RILEY

BY JEFF PAYDEN

DIZZY

BY DEAN HARRIS

March 6-11, 2009

Doug MOATS

Chief Meteorologist

BY ANN RICHMOND FISHER

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Almanac

BY ELIZABETH HAZEL

YOUR TAROTGRAM AND HOROSCOPE

March 8-14, 2009

Events: Mercury enters Pisces (8th), Full Moon in Virgo (10th), Mars enters Pisces (14th)

Clowns

by Ann Fisher

The circus is coming to town, and that means a lot of clowns!

1. Name three things that circus clowns wear as part of their costume.

2. What’s the silliest name you can think of for a clown?

3. What could happen if a clown juggled raw eggs?

4. Some clowns ride unicycles. What is a unicycle?

5. Put these clowns’ names in ABC order: Bert, Andy, Dippy, and Carl.

6. Carla the Clown performed for 10 minutes at the first show and 20 minutes at the second show. How many total minutes did she perform?

7. Think of two more clowns’ names to rhyme with Hobo and Jojo.

8. What animals might a clown ride in the circus?

ANSWERS: 1. hat, wig, red nose, big shoes, etc. 3. the eggs could break 4. a cycle with just one wheel 5. Andy, Bert, Carl, Dippy 6.

30 minutes 7. Coco, Lobo, etc. 8. horse, elephant, etc.

BUZZWORD

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Old boy’s club. The week begins with weird/spooky events; people are on edge. Wednesday and Thursday offer multiple opportunities to use abilities and network effectively. As the weekend arrives, relationships get prickly if idealism clashes with reality.

Work within limits. The days before the full moon could be uncomfortable, as hidden fears or denials are illuminated.

Tensions ease after Wednesday. An abundance of good news arrives, including long-awaited career breakthroughs. Celebrate over the weekend.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

A willing accomplice. Watch and wait as the week begins. The full moon illuminates wants and needs that are out of balance. Effectiveness increases after Wednesday, and outside-the-box ideas and dynamic energy flow freely as the weekend arrives.

Brave defense. You may feel discouraged or disillusioned as the week begins. The full moon reveals flaws in your plans or beliefs, as well as ideas for fixing them. A wise counselor pulls the scales off your eyes after Wednesday.

Embrace your new viewpoint.

Gemini (May 21-June 21)

The big boss. Limited resources cramp big ideas as the week begins. The full moon shows areas of resistance or unpreparedness. Jolts on Thursday may derail plans or compel you to act on immediate priorities. Reflect on your feelings over the weekend.

Cancer (June 22-July 22)

Advance preparations. Health or mechanical issues limit mobility as the week begins. Take it in stride; delays are beneficial. Providential aid, goodwill and resources become available after Wednesday. Travel and reunite with loved ones over the weekend.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

Too many options. Your instincts will tell you if people can be trusted as the week begins. Keep a firm grip on your finances. Favors or good timing will help you achieve what you want after Wednesday, and lowbudget solutions keep money in your pocket.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Willing surrender. The full moon emphasizes responsibilities you’ve assumed in the past several months and tests your commitment. Others express admiration or notice progress. Family members are working through positive transitions as the weekend arrives.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Shedding old skin. Hidden cracks are revealed just where you suspected them as the week begins. This may end some associations. Just as well, because after Wednesday, you’re a hot property. Offers of all kinds flow your way — take the pick of the litter.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Transitional period. Lofty daydreams float through your mind as the full moon approaches, although your inner skeptic bursts those bubbles. After Wednesday, however, some part of those dreams may manifest in reality. Keep hope and faith alive in your heart.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Fast and furious. As the week begins, your options seem limited. The full moon shows where you’re both under- and over-estimating things. Your luck turns after Wednesday. Surprising events open amazing doors on Thursday; the impossible may be possible.

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Multiply like rabbits. Caretaking duties mount as the full moon approaches. What you do out of love is rewarded through other means after Wednesday. A flash of awareness illuminates your inner eye on Thursday and leads to gigantic steps toward self-discovery and inner peace.

Elizabeth Hazel is a professional tarotist-astrologer and author. She gives readings every Wednesday at Attic on Adams above Manos Greek Restaurant. She may be contacted at ehazel@buckeye-express.com (c) 2009

COMICS

MARCH 8, 2009

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Katie Lately ACROSS 1. Lebanese trees?

4. 2008 film starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah and Katie 10. Wastes time 11. Avoids obstacles, in a way 12. On November 4, 2007, Katie participated in this event for the first time 13. Twelve-year school 15. Insult 17. Lose resiliency 19. McCord Road getaway 21. Katie made her Broadway debut in this 2008 revival 24. Finland neighbor 26. PC rival 27. Ukraine capital 32. Not quite curly 33. Katie’s daughter, born in 2006 35. Highly specialized information 36. Pantywaists 37. Katie sang on a 2008 episode of this ABC series 38. Sanger Library, e.g.

DOWN 1. Customers of a professional 2. Thorny problem 3. Vacation destination 5. Overstock rival 6. Winter hand warmer 7. Egg ---8. Where the Torah is studied 9. Jetsam sidekick 14. Prevail 16. Animal hand 17. Stallone nickname 18. Powerhouse on Central, for one 19. Dwarf with specs 20. Query 22. West Coast airport, briefly 23. City just north of Flint 24. Stuck, in a way 25. Sofo’s specialty 28. Forest Whitaker Oscar role 29. Melissa of WTOL-TV 30. Culinary blend 31. Chest component 34. #1 ■ ANSWERS FOUND ON A38

Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A37

FAMILY PRACTICE

9 10

GAMES

Cabin fever hits home

ur house has become a test track for the daily mits. The fact that Jack is beginning to add an extensive physical expressions of our 5-year-old boy. It’s list of field events (long jump/stairway jump, trampoline/ been going on for quite some time now, but the jumping on the bed, discus/throwing things he shouldn’t) to his already extensive track repertoire leads speed and length of his testing parameters me to believe that cabin fever has definitely seem to have intensified as the winter has set in. Oh, the joy. gone on. Each week that brings us closer I see it in the rest of the family, too. Alto spring also brings us closer to an obvious though generally more reserved, our 3-yeartraffic pattern being established in the secold daughter is literally beginning to follow tion of flooring that runs from the front in her big brother’s footsteps. We now have door of our house to the back of our kitchen two children running rampantly through and around the dining room table. the house on a daily basis due to their sheer Jack has been a runner since about the need to expel pent-up winter energy. time we stuck the candle on his first birthday I can’t blame them. Even I, a blanketcake. He just needs to run. And run. And Shannon SZYPERSKI loving, hot chocolate-sipping kind of gal, am run. Although it obviously was not intended to be a place to run laps, our house has always seemed to more than ecstatic when my husband asks if anyone has any accommodate the space requirements of his self-directed interest in going out for a while on a cold winter’s night. Be winter training program. However, his physical growth it to the library, the grocery store or down the street to mail and ever-increasing acceleration accomplishments sud- a letter, I rush to the door like a dog who has just heard its owner grab the leash. Did someone say car ride? Pant, pant, denly seem to be pushing the limits of our little abode.

Apparently, the residents of our house at least seem to pant. I swear I would stick my head out the window on the have accepted the first floor as a cold-weather raceway no way to our destination if temperatures allowed.

How invigorating is a short family jaunt to the outmatter how much it may sound and feel like a 5.0 earthquake. However, a recent visit by grandma and grandpa side world in the midst of winter hibernation? It is a reminded us that not all houses are subjected to such pat- great reminder that there is more to life than TV, the terns of use. “Is this normal?” asked grandpa. Is what Internet and a kindergartner’s indoor track meets. The normal? Oh, are you referring to the incessant scam- frigid chill that chases you back home from behind is pering of size 13 feet back and forth through the house also a great reminder of how lucky you are to step foot in the door of your warm little cabin, no matter how much for hours on end? Yes, that’s perfectly normal. Isn’t it?

There has always been that persistent stereotype of little it seems to have shrunk from December to March. Still, boys that assumes they need to have some sort of continuous the light at the end of the tunnel is a glorious thing.

It is finally that time of year when we are beginning to physical outlet. My husband and I weren’t going to have one of those, though. We were going to have one of the quiet see the sunshine at the end of the long, frozen winter tunnel. little boys who likes to sit in his room, read books and put Hello 50 degrees that will feel like 70 degrees because we are puzzles together. Except that we didn’t; ours is the little boy all used to 20 degrees. Hello bike rides and backyards waiting to aid our children in their pursuits of energy expenditure. with the boundless energy stereotype ... in cartoon form.

Although I very much enjoy the confines of my comfort- Welcome back. The mothers have really missed you. able house for myself and for my children, this winter has no doubt made me a believer that children need to be thrown Shannon Szyperski and her husband Michael are raising out the back door to roam freely as soon as the weather per- two children in Sylvania.

CLASSIFIEDS

A38 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

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419-724-7437 ANSWERS: 2. trapeze-E 3. pushing-S 4. acrobat-R 5. amusing-I 6. chevron-H 7. leopard-R

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Tuesday to Friday until 2:00 PM Pick Up Only - Must Bring Coupon

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Call 419.241.1700, ext 233 to place a Classified Ad!

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7 piece new queen and style dining set. Upholstered chairs, Still in boxes. $450. 419-707-9970

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Microfiber living room 5 piece set. Never used, in box. List $1,499. Sell $575. Hand delivered. 419707-2954.

MISCELLANEOUS GOODS

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■ ANSWERS FROM A36

GENERAL EMPLOYMENT ™

■ ANSWERS FROM A36

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■ CROSSWORD ANSWERS FROM A37 C L I E N T S

E D I D L E Y M M L A

N O W H E R E

O R A A V I S O L L I

A R E E S O A R T P A L WA X Y B T E S S T

S F L O A T S S A L M Y F S U S R I O O N

M A M E A Z H O N G Y S M A G R I N C A W E

D M U P F F N W D I O N C D C R A W E B R

O N O R O D E L E A S S K I D U I A I M I A N

E Y E G S H H I V P A E V O S E T P S C C H

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Visit www.toledofreepress.com

■ A39

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A40 ■ TOLEDO FREE PRESS

MARCH 8, 2009

If you’re not completely satisfied with your current Medicare plan, you may be able to make a change.

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