Toledo Free Press – Aug. 17, 2014 by Toledo Free Press

August 17, 2014

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Opinion

Remembering Robin and into the muck Michael S. Miller points a finger at the men behind the algae water crisis, and Jeff McGinnis reminisces on the life and loss of Robin Williams. page 3

Community

EPA concerns Officials insist EPA worries over conditions at the city’s water treatment plant are unrelated to water advisory. page 6

Community Media

Laura returns Anchor Laura Emerson returns to Toledo TV with new job at NBC24. page 10

Toledo Pride Downtown’s biggest annual event lets its flag fly Aug. 22-24, page 11

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A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

August 17, 2014

ToledoFreePress.com

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

DON LEE

Lighting the fuse

Collins mucks around

he two-and-a-half-day water shut-off caused by toxins released by Lake Erie algae blooms left our community with a need to work together but the impulse to point a few fingers. Many of those accusatory fingers are aimed in the direction of Ed Moore, director of Toledo’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU). But while a closer examination of Moore’s role should result in a retraction of most of those prodding index fingers, Toledoans invested in accountable government should reserve an extended middle finger for his boss, Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins. Moore has worked for the City of Toledo for about 22 years; his survival across changing administrations demonstrates an inclination to place the public over politics. Under Mayor Mike Bell, Moore served as the director of public service; when Collins took office, Moore became the commissioner of engineering services. When Robin Whitney left the city’s employ to work for ProMedica, Moore agreed to Michael S. miller what he undoubtedly knew was the thankless job of DPU director. Public Utilities is a difficult division. It encompasses all services related to water — sewer, treatment, distribution, repairs, billing and engineering services. Many believe, and probably rightfully so, that this division should be split, as its operation is time-consuming and leaves little room for error. Despite the challenges, Moore has accomplished something previous directors have not been able to do: He began to build a relationship with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Before you point a finger, be clear that the recent media attention on the Ohio EPA’s possible takeover of the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant was not based on communications making such threats to the city; it was based on internal memos by staff that had issues with Toledo. The upper levels of administration at the Ohio EPA were reportedly working with Moore and insiders maintain progress was — and is — being made. Moore has said he believes there is overstaffing in some areas of DPU and has cut positions. He has also worked on combining Call City Hall call takers with Public Service customer service reps, which is efficient and the first step toward a 311 call center system. Moore has not been afraid to stand up to the unions or to hold firm under a barrage of unwelcome attention from Toledo City Council members who have personal issues with him because he will terminate people who don’t do their jobs — even, it is rumored, relatives of Council members. During the water crisis, several insiders say Moore did not lose his cool under pressure, as some notable elected leaders did. None of this is to suggest Moore is perfect. There are clearly ongoing issues at the DPU and specifically with the water treatment plant. Moore is captain of that ship, and any algae bloom icebergs it hits are his responsibility. How the next few months unfold will determine whether Moore’s good intentions will repair and stabilize a crucial situation, or whether he will need to be replaced by someone who can calm the waters — literally and figuratively. So for now, retract the fingers of blame pointed at Moore and use that energy to return the one-finger salute Collins is showing you through his calculated diminishment of transparency at the water treatment plant and the favoritism he is showing The Blade. n MILLER CONTINUES ON 4

Pop Goes the culture

he brightest light has dimmed, and our world will for- exposure was through stand-up. Williams first took to the stage in the early 1970s, his wild imagination bursting at the ever be darker for the loss. There are performers whose genius transcends seams every chance he had to be in front of an audience. His natural ability at blending both phystheir chosen art form, individuals who are so ical and verbal punchlines together made his brazenly, blindingly brilliant that their ability presence utterly hypnotic. acts as a one-man revolution, a sign of what But Williams was so much more than just can be done. It is a testament to Robin Wila wacky guy. Though the sheer power of his liams that I am referring to so many different imagination was the battery that drove his aspects of his career — and his life — with engine, his skills as an actor and comedian those last two sentences. were finely honed through years of training. To see him onstage, on television and on Coming out of Juilliard in the late 1970s, film was to regard a talent that felt more like Williams burst onto the Hollywood scene to a force of nature. Williams hit pop culture like find many producers had little clue what to a hurricane, tearing up expectations and rededo with him. fining comedy in the process. There will never, Jeff mcGInnis It took the foresight of Garry Marshall to ever be another like him. That is just one of the reasons why his loss stings so much. In a world where so cast the relatively unknown actor as the alien Mork in an episode of Marshall’s hit nostalgic comedy “Happy Days.” many play like copycats, Williams was a true original. Like many of the iconic figures of comedy, his first real n McGINNIS CONTINUES ON 4 Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 10, No. 33. Established 2005. EDITORIAL James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Danielle Stanton, News Editor dstanton@toledofreepress.com Tom Konecny, Associate Editor tkonecny@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

Remembering Robin

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Opinion

n McGINNIS CONTINUED FROM 3 The character was such a smash that Williams was quickly moved to his own wildly popular spin off, “Mork and Mindy,” which firmly established him as a rising star. The big screen was the next natural step, although no screen could ever be big enough to contain the power of Williams’ creativity. His first starring role was as the iconic sailor man “Popeye” in Robert Altman’s live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon. Throughout the next three decades, he would add multiple iconic characters to his repertoire, from the Genie in “Aladdin” to the father-in-drag in “Mrs. Doubtfire” to the role he was in some ways born to play — Peter Pan, in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook.” Early on, it became apparent that Williams did not want to simply rest on his laurels in over-the-top comedic roles. Though his career featured plenty of fairly standard Hollywood comedies, Williams would routinely pop up in a cutting dramatic role, or a film that wore a frown under its cheerful exterior. His boisterous on-air persona in “Good Morning Vietnam” was tempered by the horrors his character experienced outside the studio. He was quiet and determined in Penny Marshall’s outstanding 1990 drama “Awakenings.” He won an Academy Award for playing the relatively withdrawn mentor to Matt Damon’s hero in 1997’s “Good Will Hunting.” And in 2002, he pulled off one of the best years of his career with chilling turns in Christopher Nolan’s “Insomnia” and possibly the best performance of his career in Mark Romanek’s “One Hour Photo” — all while tearing up the stage with an unforgettable standup tour that culminated in the classic “Live on Broadway” special on HBO. Throughout the years, the impression grew that Williams the man and

August 17, 2014

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com Williams the public persona were not too dissimilar. His regular appearances on talk shows showed that his lightning-quick wit was still a wonder to behold. Johnny Carson chose Williams as one of his last guests at the end of his “Tonight Show” run, and Williams’ appearance on “Inside the Actors Studio” was one of that show’s most popular episodes. Many comics have an “off ” day now and then. Williams, though, was seemingly always “on.” Williams was just as generous with his time toward causes he believed in. He was a regular performer on USO tours. Along with pals Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg, Williams was one of the public faces of “Comic Relief,” a charity which would raise millions for the homeless through shows on HBO. But all this is just listing his accomplishments. The truth is, no summary could possibly capture what Williams — the performer, the comedian, the man — meant to the world. That can be seen in the outpouring of love and grief from hundreds of his fellow performers and millions of fans in the hours following his passing. The idea that we will never again see that wonderful mind at work, that remarkable ability to summon a laugh from nowhere, that smile that always seemed to hide a twinkle of mischief, is too sad to truly contemplate. The world is unfair. No one who could bring such happiness should have to suffer the way he did. We laugh, the saying goes, so that we may not cry. Maybe it is only through remembering the laughter, the brilliance, the joy in bringing joy — maybe only then can we move past our own tears. Goodbye, Robin. And thank you so, so much. O Jeff McGinnis is pop culture editor of Toledo Free Press. Contact him via email at PopGoesJeff@gmail.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR TO THE EDITOR, I enjoyed reading your Aug. 10 cover story on the water crisis. The word “sediment” is mentioned two times in your article. Strangely missing from the evaluation of future water quality and algae blooms is the continuing role of Maumee River-dredged sediment being dumped into Lake Erie. The major contributing factor, in my opinion, is sediment dumping. I have been trying unsuccessfully to get regional officials to address the problem of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dumping sediment in Lake Erie. The Corps of Engineers dredges 800,000 cubic yards of sediment on average annually from the Maumee River and the ship channel. This sediment contains phosphorus and nitrates from farms and sewage treatment from as far away as Indiana. The Corps then uses “open lake” dumping to dispose of these dredged sediments because it is the “least expensive method of disposal.” Tell that to those who during the latest water crisis lost wages, businesses that lost income and the Toledo water customers who face increased water treatment costs. Dredged material dumped into Lake Erie visibly contributes to reduced water quality and provides the necessary ingredients for algae blooms. Continued phosphorus and nitrate loading of Lake Erie will not help improve water quality. We need to permanently keep dredged material out of Lake Erie and not use it as a garbage dump. O — David J. Neuendorff, Toledo

DON LEE

n MILLER CONTINUED FROM 3 Every television station and many other media outlets — including Toledo Free Press — are banging on the door to get cameras and reporters inside the water treatment plant. But through false starts and broken appointments, the Collins administration has locked everyone out — except The Blade, which has been the sole media outlet granted access to the plant since the water crisis. This isn’t a Toledo Free Press issue or even just a media issue; it’s an alarming lack of true transparency for the nearly 500,000 people who depend on the city’s drinking water (“rate payers,” as Collins so coldly labeled you during the initial hours of the crisis). For Collins to deny Toledo Free Press and every Toledo television station access to the water treatment plant while bending over backward to accommodate his pals on Superior Street is a blatant extended middle finger to the area’s “rate payers” — you. Do you trust a politician under fire who makes such an exclusive arrangement concerning such a public issue? Do you trust one media’s reporting, uncorroborated by any other source? Remember this pre-election story?: After a particularly grueling afternoon of cleaning horse stables, young Mick

Collins, the future mayor of Toledo, was greeted by his father, Michael. The older man, an Irish immigrant who braved the Atlantic Ocean to bring his family to America, praised the boy’s work and handed him a pop. Father and son sat down, the elder Irishman nursing a beer. Following a brief silence, the man turned to his son and offered him some blunt advice. “Life is like a card game,” Michael told his son. “And you have one consistent card to play your whole life — the F*** You Card. Your successes in life are defined by when you don’t play that card.” Mayor Finkbeiner — sorry, I mean Collins — is playing that card now, dropping it on all but his favorite media and, most importantly, you. Demand transparency. Demand access. Moore is not off the hook, but he stands in the shadow of a mayor’s extended middle finger, a bird that blocks access, transparency, accountability and fairness. Algae blooms aren’t the only toxins infecting Toledo, and there’s not enough water in the Great Lakes to wash this bad taste out of rate payers’ mouths. O Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

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Algae crisis

August 17, 2014

Officials: Ohio EPA letter unrelated to water crisis By Sarah Ottney

Toledo Free Press Managing Editor

Toledo officials insisted at a news conference Aug. 8 that concern from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over conditions at the city’s water treatment plant are unrelated to the recent water advisory. “The algal bloom caused the issue,” said Department of Public Utilities Director Ed Moore. “The plant did not cause the issue.” The Ohio EPA has raised concerns in a series of letters to city officials. A June 9 letter to Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins from Ohio EPA Director Craig W. Butler stated the condition of Toledo’s Collins Park Water Treatment Plant could “severely impact the City’s ability to provide adequate quantities of safe water to its citizens.” “I cannot underscore boldly enough the precarious condition of Toledo’s drinking water system and the imminent vulnerability to failure,” Butler wrote. The letter also noted the city did not appear to be “on a path to timely comply” with fixing “significant deficiencies,” outlined in previous letters. In an statement emailed by City of Toledo public information officer Lisa Ward on Aug. 7, Collins said Ohio EPA was satisfied with the city’s response and progress on making needed repairs. “The Collins Park Water Treatment Plant has been in need of repairs for many years. I realized the extent of the issues when I toured it in 2011,” Collins wrote. n ALGAE CONTINUES ON 7

sottney@toledofreepress.com

Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins talks to media about the Collins Park Water Treatment Plant on Aug. 8.

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“We have discussed in great detail the June 9th letter with staff of the Ohio EPA and with their Director, Craig Butler including an in person meeting on July 23rd of this year. “Our issues this past weekend are not related to conditions at the water treatment plant, they are directly related to toxic algal blooms. It’s clear that the OEPA was satisfied with our progress and our June 16th response. If we do not continue to focus on the issue of harmful algal blooms, the entire region touching Lake Erie could be impacted.” On Aug. 8, officials said the city and Ohio EPA agree that repairs to the water treatment plant are needed, but disagree on the design and timeline and are working together to resolve those issues. The city’s 20-year plan for repairing the plant will be accelerated to five years, to be completed by 2019, Moore said. Officials also said they realize there were issues with public communication during the water crisis, but have learned from the experience and are working on creating improved communication and emergency response plans. Regarding the testing of water samples, Dr. David Grossman, Commissioner of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, said Toledo’s former water test involved breaking open, or “lysing,” the cells to release all the toxic microcystin inside the algae in the sample. However, confusion occurred after the Ohio EPA ordered an “unlysed” sample to be tested, which would be expected to detect lower levels of microcystin than Toledo’s lysed sample, but in fact showed similar levels. It was discovered that chlorine in the lysed samples was artificially lowering the toxin count to the level of an unlysed sample. When chlorine was removed from the sample — called quenching — the numbers came back as expected. Toledo’s former practice was to test “nonquenched lysed” samples, or water treated with chlorine and cells broken open to release all toxin. The new state standard — developed as a result of Toledo’s water crisis — calls for testing “quenched unlysed” samples, or water with chlorine removed and cells intact. The estimated cost of the water crisis is $270,000, said City Finance Director George Sarantou, which includes $73,000 for Department of Public Utilities overtime pay, $52,000 for Department of Public Services overtime pay, $48,000 Toledo Police Department overtime pay, $10,000 in Sheriff ’s Department overtime pay and $10,000 to fly water samples to Cincinnati, Columbus and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for testing. O

Community

August 17, 2014

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

Veritas Cork & Craft wine bar opens Downtown TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER news@toledofreepress.com

A number of new bars and restaurants have emerged in Toledo’s Downtown in recent years, but the area’s first wine bar splashed onto the scene this week. Veritas Cork & Craft opened its doors to the public for the first time Aug. 11. The privately funded establishment is located in the first floor of the Commodore Perry Apartments on Jefferson Avenue. The watering hole’s grand opening is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 21. “We want to have some time to get all our ducks in a row before we make things too public,” developer Franz Gilis said. “We’re trying to bring to Toledo something it didn’t have before. It’s a unique opportunity.” Gilis is a longtime fixture in the area’s restaurant scene, having spent time as regional manager for Marco’s Pizza and vice president of Zoup! in Maumee. To open the shop, he partnered with Nick Kubiak, a 13-year veteran of the wine industry with a background in retail, wholesale and importing. Acquaintances since childhood, the pair are both 1997 graduates of St. Francis de Sales High School. “With his restaurant and management experience and my time in the wine industry it seemed like a perfect fit,” Kubiak said. Veritas has a room for about 80 customers in a 2,300-square-foot space. It features soft seating, tables, a granite bar and repurposed woodwork. The space is intended to have a contemporary but classic appeal. The 19-story building in which the wine bar resides opened in 1927 as the Commodore Perry Hotel, one of Downtown Toledo’s premier locations that included small shops lining the street level. The building is between Fifth Third Field and the Huntington Center, and just down the street from the SeaGate Convention Centre. It also has a connected parking garage. Renovated and turned into apartments in 1999, a number of bars and restaurants have come and gone since then, making the wine bar the only business in the first floor storefront of the Commodore Perry. The significance of the building and the opportunity for its revival are not lost on Gilis. “The Commodore Perry has a lot of history,” Gilis said. “In Toledo this was the place to be seen in ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s, all the way up to the ’70s and early ’80s. I mean, my parents had their honeymoon here. It’s a great place.” Now within the confines of the

storefront are food and wine that have been carefully selected to acknowledge what various regions of the world have to offer, Kubiak said. The wine bar includes a kitchen serving small plates and appetizer-style dishes, with artisan and locally made products such as cheese, olive oil, vinegar and bread. “There’s nothing like this concept currently in Toledo that I know of,” Kubiak said. “There are other wine bars in the area, but none that offer wines and drinks like we have.” In addition to its bar and lounge, Veritas also features a full-service retail store with 400 wines and over 150 craft beers available for purchase. “To me the retail store is something Downtown really needed,” Gilis said. “There’s 3,000 people that live down here and nowhere to go to buy a bottle of wine or six pack of beer if you want anything besides Bud Light or Coors Light.” The name was inspired by the Latin phrase “In vino veritas,” meaning “There is truth in wine,” Kubiak said. Both partners believe that while the venue has an upscale atmosphere, the environment is such that it allows for a more casual experience as well. “If you’re in jeans and a T-shirt before or after a game or you’re in a three-piece suit after leaving work you can come in here and feel comfortable in the surroundings,” Gilis said. Since Veritas’ opening, Kubiak

toledo free press photo by christie materni

By Nate Pentecost

said he and the staff have encountered overwhelmingly positive feedback from customers as the establishment finds its bearings. Early success has given him confidence heading into the store’s grand opening.

“There’s something for everyone,” he said. “If you want to have something you know and are comfortable with we have it and if you want to try something new, you can do that here.” Veritas is open Monday through Sat-

urday with the retail area opening at 11 a.m. and the lounge seating at 4 p.m. O

On the web

visit facebook.com/toledofreepress for a photo gallery of Veritas wine bar.

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10 Community

August 17, 2014

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

By Tom Konecny

Toledo Free Press Associate Editor tkonecny@toledofreepress.com

Veteran newscaster Laura Emerson, who co-anchored FOX Toledo News from its 1996 inception through 2012, returned to Toledo news on WNWO NBC 24 on Aug. 10. Emerson joins Jim Blue as coanchor during the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, with Blue continuing his joint duties as managing editor. General Manager John Nizamis said Emerson will anchor Sunday through Thursday, with Blue handling Monday through Friday, so that viewers see “a member of our A-team covering all the nights that really matter.” Emerson spent the past three years in Paducah, Kentucky, with NBC affiliate WPSD, where she anchored the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts. Paducah’s TV market size is comparable to Toledo by combining three cities in different states into one market, but Toledo is where Emerson wanted to be. “I’m not here by accident,” Emerson said. “I really want to be here.” Emerson said her former station “had a good news operation,” but the opportunity to return to Toledo and

wnwo NBC 24

Laura Emerson returns to Toledo TV news at NBC 24

LAURA EMERSON work specifically at NBC 24 was too good to pass up. “I see this as an opportunity and it’s going to take a lot of time,” Emerson said. “We have an owner that likes to win, and has turned other stations around. A lot of things are going in the right direction. This station has suffered from some years of neglect. They’ve allowed their news presence to shrink and that’s something we need to rebuild now.” Station officials say they are thrilled to have someone of Emerson’s caliber who knows the area

and who is well respected. “When Laura came into the equation, it made so much sense,” Nizamis said. “And it gives us a little more credibility than bringing in someone new. How can we go wrong with that? I could not be happier, because the level of experience and maturity, coupled with Jim — as we start to surround them with other talent — that they’ll really be role models for our younger talent.” Having worked in Toledo before, Emerson is well aware of NBC 24’s modest position in local television ratings, which makes the task at hand all the more desirable. “I’m in this to eventually make some gains and have some wins,” Emerson said. “One of the reasons I’m not afraid is because I went through the same thing with FOX Toledo. At least here there’s a news presence, and it does have some history, which is more than what we started with at FOX Toledo.” Emerson said she never really wanted to leave Toledo in the first place. As a result of FOX Toledo’s eventual sale to another owner, its news department was closed in 2012 and WTOL-11 assumed a shared services agreement to operate FOX To-

ledo News, forcing Emerson to look elsewhere for work. Emerson was on the cover of the Jan. 1, 2012, Toledo Free Press at the time she was leaving Toledo and moving to a station in Kentucky. Emerson described Paducah as a smaller town experience, but with some similarities. “But I definitely missed the diversity, the shopping, the restaurants, the larger town amenities,” Emerson said. “I miss the art community here, and we had a decent art community in Paducah. (Toledo) has the reputation of being a Rust Belt industrial city from the outside but until people come here they have no idea.” Emerson officially started on the job Aug. 4, and has already run into colleagues enthusiastically welcoming her back to the area. “It’s been reunion week for me,” Emerson said. “I have friends at the other stations. I have an equal number of friends at 11 and 13, and feel more connected to them because of the movement of personnel (after FOX Toledo’s sale in 2012).” NBC 24 also made significant internal moves back in April, bringing in five top level managers

from a Fort Wayne station. “I’ve met all of the people from the Fort Wayne, Indiana station, and it’s exciting to see how cohesive the group is, how they like each other,” Emerson said. “I don’t know how we got so lucky to have a group of people that likes to work together so much. So often in this industry there are people with different goals that don’t get along. Here, they’re on the same page. I think that will service us well in the future.” NBC 24 chose not to offer nonstop daytime news coverage of the recent water crisis on the notion that there wasn’t enough material to sustain the effort. Nizamis said their decision was appreciated by some in the public. “We evaluated our performance on the water crisis against ourselves,” Nizamis said. “The other guys are better equipped to do the things they do. We just want to be better. That’s the kind of progress we’re looking to make. I don’t want to make any bold predictions or promises, because then you start letting people down. We stay in the moment, acknowledge where we are and what we need to do. Hopefully people will start to take notice in the next 60 to 90 days.” O

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12 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

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#TFPpride

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

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Proud to support Toledo Pride 2014 and the LGBT Community.

Toledo Pride 2014 13

August 22-24

Howdy, Everybody!

On behalf of the Tol like to invite you to the edo Pride planning committee, I would weekend of Aug. 22, 23fifth annual Toledo Pride taking place the and 24. Our first Toledo Pride at the Erie Street Marke 2,500 people. In 2011 t in 2010 was att roughly 5,000 people. we moved the event to Promenade Park in Do ended by about In wntow 20 12, it was held at Levis participants. In 2013, Square and we had nean and drew bac k at rly 10,000 Pro me nad e Park, Toledo Pride dre attendees and the Toledo have another weekend Pride committee has been working all yea w almost 15,000 r to make sure we full of great events! The fourth annual Toledo Pride parade kicks off bigger and better than at noon and we events will begin. Thereever. The parade ends at Promenade Park expect it will be where the main wil l be live mu sic, circus acts, female and other awesome ent /m great food and drinks ertainment, which will run until midnight. ale impersonators We will also have churches and nonprofit, family-friendly activities and nearly 100 ven gro up s. Th e ene rgy and support from sponso dors, including and beyond has been am information online at ww azing! You can check out our sponsors and rs from our area get all the event w.toledopride.com. Don’t forget we have the thi rd annual Nite Glo 5K University of Toledo on run and one event is KISS ‘N’ Drag, Aug. 22, with registration beginning at 7 -mile walk at the p.m. Another new Au g. 22 at 9 p.m ., in coo 24, our family-friendly Sunday Funday runs fro peration with 92.5 KISS FM. On Aug. m noo n to 3 p.m. at Promenade Par Toledo is already suc k. bian, gay, bisexual, tra h an accepting city for our LGBTQA (lesnsg end er, questioning and alli nity and we hope this ed) commulove. We are honored toevent is able to give back to the city we all bri ng Tol edo thi s eve all come help make thi s year even bigger andnt, and hope you will for the never-ending sup better. Thank you all port! Sincerely, Lexi Staples Toledo Pride event directo r|

Pride of Toledo Foundation executive director

419.843.2001 • www.gallonlaw.com

LGBT youth and youth perceived to be LGBT Didcontinue You Know? to be at risk for bullying EqualityToledo’s Safe Schools Project • 4 out of 5 LGBT elders say that they don’t trustTo learn more or to develop an anti-bullying council in your school, visit: strives, education thethrough health care system. and advocacy, to create culture of safety willprovided make in assisted www.EqualityToledo.org • LGBTa elders report a fearthat of care schools freeand from harassment, bullying and living nursing care settings. Become part of the solution other forms of violence against any student • 50% of nursing home workers said their colleagues Just one of the many ways we’re working or group of students. would be intolerant of LGBT people. (Outing Age, 2010) together for equality

in our community. Equality Toledo recently received a grant from the Toledo Community Foundation to mplement A Caring Response: Learning to Give Care to LGBT Older Adults. This project will educate our community about the needs of the LGBT elder population and train providers working with our elders to be fair and competent.

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14 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

ToledoFreePress.com

#TFPpride

August 17, 2014

By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

By Danielle Stanton TOLEDO FREE PRESS NEWS EDITOR dstanton@toledofreepress.com

As Toledo Pride celebrates its five-year anniversary Aug. 22-24, organizers are marveling at the way the event has grown almost exponentially since the first Toledo Pride festival was held at Erie Street Market in 2010. Executive Director Lexi Staples said she hoped for 1,000 attendees that first year — a goal even some fellow committee members thought was comically out of reach — but 2,500 people came out to show their support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community. The following year, 5,000 showed up; the third year, 10,000; and last year, 15,000. This year, organizers were reluctant to estimate a number, but said they expect at least 15,000 to possibly as many as 25,000 to participate in the three-day event. “I love being on the committee and watching the festival grow from 2,500 to potentially 25,000, and everybody coming together to support it,” said outreach coordinator Brent Rabie. “It’s gotten bigger more quickly than we could have ever hoped or expected,” Staples said. “It’s just really cool to see the growth.” “It’s our biggest and best year yet,” said marketing coordinator Kelly Heuss. “We definitely raised the bar.”

Growth of support

Food vendor coordinator Nicole

Hayman said she had about eight food vendors last year; this year, the festival will feature 17 vendors, 14 of them local. “Every year we’ve had to seek out food vendors. This year we actually had to turn people away,” said parade coordinator Torie Thorne. “People are starting to take us more seriously. Last year, people ran out of food because they didn’t believe we would actually have that many people. This year, they are like, ‘Oh, we’re prepared. We’ve been preparing all year.’” As the event has grown, so has the number of business sponsorships within the community. Such companies as Fifth Third Bank, Owens Corning, TARTA, Yark Fiat and the Park Inn are participating this year, Heuss said. “It’s really cool because we have really struggled with getting some of those supports in place initially,” Staples said. “When you’re first starting, it’s really hard to convince people that you can run a big event.” Sherry Tripepi, executive director of Equality Toledo, said all of Ohio’s major cities had LGBTQ pride festivals six years ago, but not Toledo. The “remarkable” growth of Toledo Pride, Tripepi said, shows the need was there. “I think overall, as issues rise, there’s always backlash,” she said. “I think especially with the younger generation there’s more acceptance, there’s more pride, there’s more celebration.” Two years ago, 5K coordinator Justin Veigel said about 150 people signed up for the Nite Glo 5K on Friday night; this year, he expects 500 people. n YEAR 5 CONTINUES ON 16

toledo free press photo and cover photo by christie materni

Toledo Pride marks fifth year with biggest weekend yet

members of the 2014 toledo pride committee.

Owens Corning proud sponsor of

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

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August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 15

FIFTH THIRD BANK PROUDLY SPONSORS TOLEDO PRIDE. A strong community creates a bond between us all. It fosters friendship, respect and well-being. And most importantly, we accomplish more together. No one understands this better than we do. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor Toledo Pride.

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16 Toledo Pride 2014 n YEAR 5 CONTINUED FROM 14 “You don’t see it on a day-to-day basis, how much support we have in the community,” Veigel said. “Even over the last five years in this area we’ve seen a lot more support. I’m really excited again about the support this year and it’s really cool to see it grow and change and get better every year.”

The beginning

Toledo Pride started in 2010 with “$900 and a dream,” Thorne said. Shortly after opening lesbian bar OUTSKiRTS — which closed in May — Staples and her mom, Johanna Staples, were talking with Thorne about doing something to give back to the community. “OUTSKiRTS has been the catalyst for a lot of really great [community events] and one of those things is Pride,” Staples said. “I was pretty excited and pretty adamant about it. We just wanted to create something for the city that we didn’t have before.”

August 22-24

After learning local LGBTQ nonprofit Equality Toledo was also interested in organizing a pride event, Staples reached out and they decided to work together using $500 from OUTSKiRTS, $400 from an anonymous donor and lots of volunteer hours. “The first year it was really grassroots. We were making buttons, printing T-shirts. Everything was happening inside the bar,” Staples said. “It was probably seven to 10 of us planning. A few of those people didn’t come back, but a few of those core people have been involved the whole time.” “Equality Toledo wanted to be able to have a place for the LGBT community to come together to be celebrated, to be proud of who we are, to have a safe place to have fun,” Tripepi said. “It absolutely was accomplished.” In 2011, a parade was added. In 2012, the event expanded to three days. In 2013, Sandpiper boat rides were added. This year, organizers added KISS ‘N’ Drag, a charity CD and

ToledoFreePress.com

expanded Sunday Funday to a full day. “Anytime an opportunity presents itself, we’re like, ‘That seems totally cool! We should do that!’” Staples said. “I don’t think we even realize we’re doing it.” The festival acts as a support to people in outlying communities who don’t have an LBGTQ community to go to. “It’s Toledo Pride but it’s definitely

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride a regional event,” Heuss said. “People are proud of it. People really embrace it,” Thorne said. “It’s clearly what was needed.” Many people enjoy Toledo’s event because it’s smaller and more community-oriented than many pride events in larger cities, Staples said. “It feels really community-based here,” she said. “I really like the feel

of our event.” “It’s like a big family reunion,” Thorne said. Most Pride events happen in June so Toledo’s in August marks the end of Pride season. “It’s like the last hurrah of summer,” Thorne said. n YEAR 5 CONTINUES ON 17

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August 17, 2014 n YEAR 5 CONTINUED FROM 16 Heuss said the number of people at last year’s event was almost overwhelming compared to years past. “It’s amazing,” Heuss said. “I was walking on the side of the parade route [last year] and came to Summit Street. There were so many people watching the parade, I almost cried.” “Every year it’s grown so much, it’s awe-inspiring and scary at the same time,” said entertainment coordinator Mandisa Sherife-Kekulah. “What does that mean for next year? It makes you want to pull your hair out, but it

#TFPpride shows there’s so much love.” Staples said she’s excited when she thinks about the future of Toledo Pride. “I’ve talked to Columbus Pride and it’s really neat to get feedback about what’s worked for them because they’ve been doing it so long and get, like, 400,000 people. We’re not even in the same hemisphere,” Staples said. “But they’re at year 30 and we’re at year five, so we might have 400,000 people by year 30, who knows? There’s got to be a plateau point, but I don’t know where that is. I think it’s feasible for us to look at numbers like 50,000 by year 10. That might be something

ToledoFreePress.com

August 22-24

we can easily reach.” Organizers will meet in the coming months to start formulating a game plan for the next five years. “I get excited thinking about what we could do futuristically,” Staples said. “We’re putting together a strategic planning session sometime after the dust has settled on this year’s Pride to get us up to year 10 and figure out where we want to be and what we want to be doing. It’s really exciting. I can’t wait to see where this goes.” Toledo Free Press is media sponsor for Toledo Pride. For more information, visit toledopride.com. O

Toledo Pride 2014 17

Two new Downtown events to bookend Pride weekend By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

New this year at Toledo Pride will be Friday night kickoff party KISS ‘N’ Drag and an extended Sunday Funday, both happening Downtown at Promenade Park. KISS ‘N’ Drag will start at 9 p.m. Aug. 22, immediately following the Nite Glo 5K at the University of Toledo. 92.5 KISS FM hosted KISS ‘N Drag last year at a local bar, but so many people came some had to be turned away, said organizer Phillipe Taylor of “The Morning Rush.” This year, the station partnered with Toledo Pride to host the event at Promenade Park until 1 a.m. The event will feature music by DJ 3 PM and drag performances, including one by Demetrius Nicodemus of “The Morning Rush.” Admission is $8, or $5 with a canned food item with proceeds donated to Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. Attendees must be 18 or older. On Aug. 23, the Toledo Pride parade starts Downtown at noon on Washington Street and ends at Promenade Park, where entertainment will start around 12:45 p.m. and last until midnight. The parade gets bigger each year, said parade coordinator Torie Thorne, and will include motorcyclists, mopeds, floats, mascots including Muddy the Mud Hen and more. New performers this year include Bird’s Eye View Circus Space and TTown Tassels burlesque show. The main drag show will kick off around 10 p.m. Arctic Clam will play around 8 p.m. followed by Eryn Woods, Rye

Rye and Pastele with drag performances between, said Event Director Lexi Staples. Cost is $5 for adults before 7 p.m., $7 after 7 p.m., or $20 for a three-day pass plus T-shirt. Children younger than 18 are free. “Rye Rye did a music video with M.I.A. and is really well-known. Pastele just came off VH1’s “Make A Band Famous.” And Eryn Woods TAYLOR is this poppunker with a mohawk dyed bright ridiculous colors,” Staples said. “We also want to really support local and make sure we have enough time in the day to get a lot of Toledo artists on stage as well. Everyone is a headliner to me.” A CD of the music from past five years of performers will be sold for $7 with proceedings benefiting Pride Center 419, Toledo’s LGBTQ community center located at the Collingwood Arts Center, Staples said. Sunday Funday has also expanded and will feature a full slate of food, drinks and entertainment from 3-10 p.m. Aug. 24 at Promenade Park following the free family-friendly activities planned for noon to 3 p.m. Cost is $3 for adults and free for children younger than 18. Organizers said the event grows each year and this will be their biggest and best yet. “Hopefully everyone comes from the run to KISS ‘N’ Drag,” Thorne said. “It will be a great kickoff to the Saturday event and Sunday will be a good follow-up for the whole weekend. I’m really excited.” O

August 22-24

2014 schedule of activities

Aug. 22:

O 8:30 p.m.: Nite Glo 5K ($18-$23 in advance/$30 day of) and one-mile fun run/walk/roll ($15 in advance, $20 day of) at University of Toledo Centennial Mall, registration starts at 7 p.m. O 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.: KISS ‘N’ Drag kickoff party sponsored by 92.5 KISS FM, at Promenade Park, featuring DJ 3 PM and drag shows. Admission $8, or $5 with a canned food item to benefit Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.

Aug. 23:

O Noon: Parade starts on Washington Street at the intersection of Ontario Street, crosses the Owens Corning bridge at North Summit Street and finishes at Promenade Park. Entrance to Toledo Pride is $5 for adults, $7 after 7 p.m. and free for children younger than 18. O 12:45 p.m.: Breaking Ground O 1:55 p.m.: Drag performances: Gina Arnaz, Porsha Armani O 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.: Sandpiper boat rides, 40 minutes each, dock on the Jefferson Street side of Promenade Park, $6 or two for $10. O 2:20 p.m.: Kids with Knives O 3:35 p.m.: Dumb Easies O 4:50 p.m.: Bird’s Eye View Circus Space contemporary circus acts O 5 p.m.: Drag show: Muffy Fishbasket O 5:20 p.m.: Chavar Dontae O 5:55 p.m.: Drag show: Santana Romero, Makayla Sinclair Styles, Tequila Mockingbird, Feliciana Thunderpussy, Muffy Fishbasket O 6:25 p.m.: Bird’s Eye View Circus Space contemporary circus acts O 6:45 p.m.: Flabongo Nation O 8:10 p.m.: Arctic Clam O 9:30 p.m.: Eryn Woods O 9:55 p.m.: Drag show: Ava Aurora Foxx & Brook Lockhart, Amaya Sexton, Amber Stone O 10:20 p.m.: Rye Rye O 10:45 p.m.: Drag show: Deja D. Dellataro, Bois with Outskirts O 11 p.m.: Pastele O 11:25 p.m.: Drag show: T-Town Tassels, London Asia, Amaya Sexton, Farrah CT

Aug. 24:

O Noon to 3 p.m.: Free Sunday Funday at Promenade Park featuring family-friendly activities for kids. O 3-10 p.m.: Sunday Funday continued at Promenade Park, featuring food, drinks and entertainment, including Steel Wynd, Calvin Green, Johnnie Mae, Tiffany Covington, Sam Tolson, Joe Woods, The Blood Sisters featuring Barbara Payton and Midnight Flowers interspaced with drag performances, magic performances and performances by Bird’s Eye View Circus Space. $3 for adults, free for children younger than 18. See www.toledopride.com for full schedule. All times and events subject to change. O

ToledoFreePress.com

#TFPpride

August 17, 2014

Pastele brings positive energy to Pride By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

When Pastele Pasquelina performs as one of the three headliners at Toledo Pride, it will be her first time in Ohio. The idea to perform at the festival came from her friend from Cleveland who knew the other headliners, Rye Rye and Eryn Woods. A tour snowballed from there and the three artists are also performing together at Pride in Charlotte, North Carolina. Pasquelina jumped at the chance to perform for the gay community, who she feels close to after growing up taking dance and art classes. She said she always had gay friends and frequently goes to gay clubs. “The whole community is so inspiring,” she said. “Everybody should be treated equally and nobody’s different.” The idea that “nobody’s different” inspired Pasquelina’s song “Psycho,” which celebrates originality. Pasquelina wrote the song after a transgender friend committed suicide. “He just felt like he didn’t fit in,” Pasquelina said. “It really moved me. That’s the motivation for the song, that it’s OK to be weird and crazy and different. Embrace it.” The song is a staple for the current tour. Pasquelina comes from a musical family; her mother was a pianist and Pasquelina learned guitar at an early age. “My house is like a ‘Glee’ episode,” she said. “One person starts singing, one person starts doing the harmony and it turns into a dance party.” By the time she was 16, her songs were included in the MTV shows “The Hills,” “The City” and “Jersey Shore,” according to toledopride.com. Pasquelina calls her style of music “hipster pop,” and blurs the lines of mainstream and indie. Her influences include No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bruno Mars. She began cultivating her style during her days at a fashion institute.

hollywoodtoledo

18 Toledo Pride 2014

PASTELE PASQUELINA “Going in and out of Brooklyn and the Village [was like] having this whole cultural experience, meeting all these people who weren’t from the U.S.,” she said. “It kind of stemmed in my music a little bit. I was in a development stage, really trying to focus on my sound. I realized how cultured it became.” Pasquelina said she likes to make uplifting, inspiring music and added there’s a void of that on Top 40 radio right now. “I think the group MAGIC!, who did the song ‘Rude,’ kind of are touching upon it. Their songs are really positive on their album,” Pasquelina said. “But I think there is still a void in the industry for really positive [music.] People think that to be artistic you have to make it dark but I think you can shine a light on something that’s artsy and fun.” Pasquelina’s goals for the future are to do just that: Be on the radio, inspire people and make friends. Pasquelina will perform at 11 p.m. Aug. 23 at Toledo Pride, which is celebrating its fifth year. For more information or the schedule of events, visit toledopride.com. O

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August 17, 2014

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August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 19

Eryn Woods brings color, style to Pride By Jay Hathaway TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

Pop-punk up-and-comer and fashionista Eryn Woods will be bringing her brand of color and style to this year’s Toledo Pride event. The Shreveport, Louisiana, native has been in music almost all her life, and first began to learn to sing through vocal lessons and musical theater. “My family was really involved,” Woods said. “I was singing when I was 3 or 4 years old.” After high school, Woods moved to New York, where she took jobs as a background singer and assisted with other performers. During this time, she met a music producer from Atlanta, ARC, and moved to his city to embark on a solo career. Since then, she has released an album, “Holl.E.Woods,” and released several videos and singles, which have been featured on MTV and VH1. Woods describes her music as “pop-punk,” a product of her personal interests and abilities. “I have a more bubbly pop sound with my vocals, but the music around me is more edgy and hard.” Woods cites many influences, including Cyndi Lauper, Missing Persons and Pat Benatar, as well as pop influences like Madonna and Gwen Stefani. “No Doubt was a really big influence on what my music sounds like today.” Woods is extremely open and involved with her fan base, whom she refers to as “Kupcakes.” Her desire to interact with people, especially those who may feel like outsiders, fuels her ambition to make appearances at Pride events all over the country.

“This is going to be my 10th or 11th Pride event.” “It’s really important to me, because of course, I really don’t look normal. What I stand for is all about individuality and being yourself, and loving you for who God made you to be. It’s OK to be who you are, and people will accept you for who you are, you just have to accept yourself first.” Woods is also an advocate for the anti-bullying movement, and regularly makes appearances to spread the message. “I’ve been to a lot of high schools and middle schools, and visited young people, had lunch with them, to chat with them.” “One girl that I met felt like she was an outcast at her elementary school, which is really crazy, because back in the day at elementary school, I never really thought about things like that.” Woods, who is known for her bright, colorful clothing and mohawk hairdo, understands what it is like to look different than what is considered “normal,” and wants to let others know that uniqueness is not something to be ashamed of. “There have been so many deaths and suicides because of bullying. It’s really important to be able to go and visit these young kids and let them know that if they look different or their family isn’t rich, there’s still a place for them in this world.” In fact, Woods has turned her unique fashion sense into a new branch of her career path, often taking modeling jobs and promoting clothing companies. “I’m trying to make myself more into a brand, and not just a singer. I have so many goals for myself, it’s crazy.” Wherever life takes her, Woods said she will continue to follow her heart. “[My style] has always just been ‘me.’ No one’s ever told me to dress like this or act like this; it’s just always been how I feel and what makes me happy.” Catch Woods at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Toledo Pride. O

Eryn Woods cites such musical influences as Cyndi Lauper. PHOTO COURTESY ERYN WOODS

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20 Toledo Pride 2014

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August 17, 2014

LGBTQ community center marks first year By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

Almost one year ago, a community center focused on the needs of Toledo’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community opened at the Collingwood Arts Center. The space, called Pride Center 419, was a long-held dream of many in Toledo’s LGBTQ community and its organizers hoped to offer a place to hang out, referral services, meeting space, a hygiene pantry, an LGBTQ library and more. “It’s not exactly what we thought it would be, but it’s been so successful in a way we didn’t really expect,” said Toledo Pride Foundation Executive Director Lexi Staples. “We expected to have to run a lot more programming, but I think just the space is what was needed — a safe space for people to be able to use and have their meetings.” Toledo Pride Foundation member Torie Thorne agreed. n CENTER CONTINUES ON 21

Rick Cornett sorts donated hygiene products at Pride Center 419. TOLEDO FREE PRESS FILE PHOTO

August 17, 2014 n CENTER CONTINUED FROM 20 “It’s going not how we thought it would go, but not in a bad way,” she said. “I think because we never had a clear-cut idea of what it would be, it got to turn into what it is without us being like, ‘No, that’s not what we wanted to do.’ You don’t always know what the community needs and it was able to become what was needed kind of on its own.”

The launch

The Pride of Toledo Foundation and Equality Toledo worked in conjunction with various local LGBTQ organizations to launch the center, located in a rented room at the Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd. The center officially opened Sept. 5 and is coordinated

#TFPpride by Sherry Tripepi of Equality Toledo along with Staples and Thorne. The center is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays, staffed by Thorne, during which time people often stop by to pick up or drop off hygiene products, browse the library or drop off donations and more. One limitation has been there isn’t someone available to staff it daily, Tripepi said. “It’s been well-utilized, but I think it definitely has more potential,” Tripepi said. “Hopefully we’ll continue to grow.” A one-year anniversary party for the LGBTQ community and allies is planned for 6-8 p.m. Sept. 11. Refreshments will be served.

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August 22-24

The space gets used an average of 15 times per month, Staples said. Among the groups that have utilized the space are Equality Toledo, Why Marriage Matters Ohio, Young Gay & Proud, Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla, Toledo Pride, Owens Community College Gay Straight Alliance, AIDS Resource Center, Rainbow Area Youth and more. The space has been used for meetings, movie nights, HIV testing, parties and more. Any nonprofit group can use the space for free, Staples said. The group does not have to be affiliated with the LGBTQ community. The space is open for use on a firstcome, first-serve basis by emailing toriethorne78@gmail.com.

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Toledo Pride 2014 21

Besides serving as a meeting space, Pride Center 419 offers an LGBTQ book and video lending library. A hygiene pantry is also available with many free items for both men and women. Donations to the library and the hygiene pantry are welcome. The center also serves as a resource for information and referrals for LGBTQ support groups, churches, charities, health services and more. Any LGBTQ group is welcome to leave brochures, business cards, newsletters, magazines and promotional items. A community bulletin board is also offered to post announcements and notices on upcoming events.

as life skills and life needs for them.” “They need somewhere to go and someone to believe in them. YGP offers a safe place to express what they are going through that day, week, month, year. To be able to have a voice, to not hide behind a curtain of sexuality, to bring a boyfriend and just live, laugh, enjoy. The group’s recent one-year anniversary party included a candlelight vigil for 16-year-old Tyler McIntoush of Toledo, who was shot and killed in July. Although to Coleman’s knowledge McIntoush never attended a YGP meeting, he considered him a member of the group and many of his friends were regular attendees.

Hygiene pantry

Possible safe house

The hygiene pantry has been a much-utilized resource, Staples said. “We thought when we started it we would, and it has definitely turned out to be something that’s very needed,” Staples said. “People can usually get assistance or money to get food, but to get those things to make sure you’re clean and fresh are harder to come by.” One group that regularly uses the space is Young, Gay & Proud (YGP), a peer support group geared toward African-American males ages 13-24 led by co-facilitators Christopher Coleman, Kennyetta White and Marlon Barbour. The group, which is open to anyone, started a year ago with three attendees meeting at Coleman’s home. Now it averages 25 youth at monthly meetings at Pride Center 419, Coleman said. “If they are having problems at home, once a month they can come and be themselves, get some food, some health products, maybe some health services they didn’t know were in the community,” Coleman said. “We try to be a one-stop shop as far

Coleman hopes one day to be able to offer a safe house for local LGBTQ youth without a place to stay. “One of the No. 1 demographics experiencing homelessness not just here but in the country are gay youths,” Coleman said. “In a perfect world, they would come out and their parents would be accepting and talk about it and process it with them, but that’s not always the case. Many are kicked out by those who don’t understand it and don’t want to hear it.” During the upcoming Toledo Pride, a CD of music from the past five years of Toledo Pride will be made and sold for $7 with proceedings benefiting Pride Center 419, Staples said. Other groups, including a men’s support group and a transgender support group, are talking about meeting at the space, Staples said. “There’s talk of all kinds of stuff and I believe people will make it happen,” she said. “We’re very excited to promote our one-year anniversary party and we’re very excited that we’re 1 year old.” O

22 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

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24 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

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August 17, 2014

Sandpiper ‘Pride Ride’ returns to Toledo Pride for second year By Abigail Woods TOLEDO FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER star@toledofreepress.com

A new Toledo tradition will again unite with an established city favorite at this year’s Toledo Pride. For the second year in a row the Sandpiper will offer rides during Toledo Pride weekend. “It’s such an honor to be asked to participate during Pride Week,” said Mary Dalby, owner of the Sandpiper. “Last year went really well and everyone had such a fun time.” The Sandpiper has offered boat

rides to the public down the Maumee River for 30 years. People from all over the region can rent the boat for a variety of occasions or buy tickets to enjoy the beautiful scenery. These are just a few reasons that Toledo Pride organizers wanted to get The Sandpiper on board. Toledo Pride Event Director Lexi Staples said she’s been wanting to get the local cruise boat involved with Toledo Pride since 2011, the first year the event was held Downtown at Promenade Park. “We noticed that the Sandpiper was close by and we really wanted

Guests ride the Sandpiper during last year’s Toledo Pride. PHOTO COURTESY MARY DALBY

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them to get involved,” Staples said. “People really enjoyed themselves and seemed to be excited about it.” Staples said about 60 seats per ride were filled last year and this year they are looking to fill more. “The Sandpiper can fit up to 240 seats and we are hoping to fill every seat for every ride,” she said.

Staples is also hoping to add a twist on a few of the rides. “This year we are in the works of having a drag queen on a few of the rides,” she said. “We are really excited.” Four rides will be offered hourly from 2-5 p.m. Aug. 23. Each ride will be about 40 minutes long. Familyfriendly rides will be offered in the

earlier time slots. Entrance for the Sandpiper is located on the Jefferson Street side of Promenade Park. Tickets are $6 each or two tickets for $10. Children age 3 and younger are free. Riders are able to reserve seats in advance by visiting www. sandpiperboat.com or calling the office at (419) 537-1212. O

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

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August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 25

LGBTQA community resources involved in Toledo Pride AIDS services/ HIV testing AIDS Resource Center Ohio (ARC Ohio)

3450 W. Central Ave., Suite 210, Toledo (419) 241-9444 Ext. 413 www.arcohio.org Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 5:30-7:30 p.m. second Thursdays with resources on living with AIDS, preventing AIDS and testing for AIDS.

Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services

3210 Monroe St., Toledo (419) 383-3741 University of Toledo Medical Center offers free, confidential testing on site 1-3:30 p.m. every Thursday with no appointment necessary.

Men of Color Project of Toledo Inc.

Minority-focused HIV/AIDS outreach and education. For more information, email barbourm@co.lucas.oh.us.

Nuestra Gente Community Projects Inc. (419) 283-0581 HIV testing in Spanish.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio — Toledo Health Center 1301 Jefferson Ave., Toledo (419) 255-1115 Call to schedule an appointment.

Toledo-Lucas County Health Department

STD Clinic 635 N. Erie St., Toledo (419) 213-4150 Free testing available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., no appointment necessary.

Toledo Mpowerment

(419) 241-9444 Ext. 413 www.toledompowerment.com www.facebook.com/ToledoMPowerment Social group for gay/bisexual/transgender men ages 18-29. Also a resource for HIV prevention education, HIV testing site locations and various volunteer opportunities.

University of Toledo Medical Center Ruppert Health Center

3120 Glendale Ave., Toledo (419) 383-3741 Free and confidential testing on the first Monday of each month from 6-8 p.m. with no appointment necessary. Free testing also available at University of Toledo Main Campus Student Medical Center, 2801 W. Bancroft St., 4-6 p.m. third Mondays; Community Care Free Clinic, 2150 S. Bryne Road, 6-9 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays; and Bowling Green State University Field House, 9 a.m. to noon first Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. third Wednesdays.

Legal services University of Toledo College of Law Human Right Project

University of Toledo Main Campus 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo (419) 530-4236 Legal services and advocacy project serving the Toledo area LGBTQA community.

Toledo Center for Equal Justice 525 Jefferson Ave., Toledo (419) 724-0030 www.building4justice.org

Toledo Domestic Partnership Registry

Toledo Clerk of Council’s Office (419) 245-1050 http://toledo.oh.gov/government/city-council/ domestic-partnership/

LGBTQA-friendly religious groups Central United Methodist Church

Meets at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 1201 Madison Ave., Toledo (419) 241-7729 www.centraltoledo.org Sunday coffee hour at 11 a.m. followed by worship at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact office@centraltoledo.org.

Center for Conscious Living

7410 Noward Road, Waterville (419) 878-3175 www.ccltoledo.org A new thought spiritual center with Sunday discussion groups at 9 a.m. and a service on Sundays at 10 a.m.

Faith in Christ Ministries

Meets at America’s Best Value Inn Oregon and Wales roads, Northwood (419) 260-9269 Faith in Christ Ministries on Facebook Services are Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.

First Unitarian Church of Toledo 3205 Glendale Ave., Toledo (419) 381-6999 www.uutoledo.org Services are Sunday mornings at 11 a.m.

The Village Church

Masquerade Ball

Meets inside the Maumee Indoor Theatre 601 Conant St., Maumee (419) 469-8824 www.villageohio.org Services are Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m.

Open to all, this evening of entertainment is a celebration of black pride and culture, featuring masks, costumes, dancing and more. The second annual event will take place in October.

Night life

Men’s Information and Social Club

Bretz Nightclub

Meets 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at various restaurants and other locations. For more information, contact Dean at (419) 475-4922.

2012 Adams St., Toledo (419) 243-1900 Find them on Facebook under Bretz Nightclub.

R House Bar 5534 Secor Road, Toledo (419) 474-2929 Find them on Facebook under R House Bar.

MOJO 115 N. Erie St., Toledo (formerly Ripcord) (567) 315-8333 Find them on Facebook under Mojo’s.

Legends Showclub 117 N. Erie St., Toledo (formerly Blush) (419) 243-1900 Find them on Facebook under Legends Showclub Toledo.

Uptown Downtown 162 N. Main Street, Bowling Green (419) 352-9310 Tuesday nights are gay nights. Find them on Facebook under Uptown Downtown.

Political & activist groups Equality Toledo

Pride Center 419

Collingwood Arts Center 2413 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo LBGTQA community resource center, event space, meeting space, hygiene pantry, LGBT library and more. One-year anniversary party 6-8 p.m. Sept. 11.

Professional Gay Men’s Group

Dinner the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. To join the group list, call Chuck at (419) 841-5550.

Toledo Mpowerment

(419) 241-9444 Ext. 413 www.toledompowerment.com www.facebook.com/ToledoMPowerment Social group for gay/bisexual/transgender men ages 18-29 that meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7-9 p.m. at AIDS Resource Center Ohio.

Support groups AA Acceptance Group

Step One Club (Upstairs) 2434 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo Closed discussions on Thursdays at 8 p.m.

P.O. Box 2659 Toledo, OH 43606 (419) 407-6225 www.equalitytoledo.org LGBTQA civil rights activist organization. For information, email info@equalitytoledo.org.

AA Brothers & Sisters in Sobriety

3167 Doyle St., Toledo (419) 517-6762 www.reformedcatholicchurch.org/holy_cross.htm Masses are Sundays at 10:45 a.m.

Pink Pistols of Toledo Chapter

Bowling Green Lavender Women

St. Lucas Lutheran Church

Toledo National Organization of Women (NOW)

Holy Cross Reformed Catholic Church

745 Walbridge Ave., near South Avenue and Broadway Street, Toledo (419) 243-8189 stlucastoledo.org Services are Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m. (September-May), 9 a.m. (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend) and 10:30 a.m. (year-round).

Trinity Episcopal Church

316 Adams St., Toledo (419) 243-1231 trinitytoledo.org Services are Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday at 12:10 p.m.

Unity of Toledo

3535 Executive Parkway, Toledo (419) 537-1001 unityoftoledo.org For information on services, please contact unityoftoledo@toast.net.

The University Church

4747 Hill Ave., Toledo (419) 534-3080 www.theuniversitychurchtoledo.org Services are Sundays at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

LGBTQA shooting and gun group for armed gays. For more information, visit pinkpistols.org.

People Called Women Bookstore 6060 Renaissance Place, Suite F, Toledo toledonow.org Meets at People Called Women bookstore.

Why Marriage Matters Ohio Grassroots public education campaign to build support for marriage equality. For more information, visit whymarriagematters.org or whymarriagemattersoh.org.

Social groups/clubs Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla “The premier social event for the LGBT community and friends,” the 37th annual dinner-dance and fundraiser for local LGBT groups is set for Dec. 7 at The Toledo Club. For more information, visit hwhcharitygayla.org.

Lavender Triangle Find Lavender Triangle Toledo on Facebook for more information on their events, meeting times and contact information.

Unity of Toledo 3535 Executive Parkway, Toledo Open 12 step on Fridays at 8 p.m.

Grounds for Thought 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green Meet the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Email bglavendarwomen@gmail. com for more information.

Owens Community College Gay Straight Alliance Owens Community College Perrysburg Township Meet 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the Fireside Grille Conference Room in College Hall. For more information, email owensgaystraightalliance@ gmail.com.

PFLAG Toledo (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Park Church 1456 Harvard Blvd., Toledo www.pflagtoledo.org Confidential support groups meet at 7 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. For more information, contact info@pflagtoledo.org.

Rainbow Area Youth (RAY)

(419) 742-2362 www.raytoledo.org Completely confidential social and support group for youth ages 13-19. Call the number listed above and ask for Shannon to find details on meeting times and locations.

Spectrum (UT student organization) University of Toledo Main Campus Student Union Room 3522 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo (419) 530-7975 University of Toledo’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight alliance student organization that meets every Thursday at 8 p.m.

Toledo Rainbow Families

Support group for same-sex families with kids. For more information, contact Heather Swinehart at (567) 525-2142 or h.swinehart@yahoo.com.

Transgender Toledo (419) 494-7330 www.groups.yahoo.com/group/tgtoledo Support group for transgendered individuals, their significant others and their families.

TransOhio (614) 441-8167 www.transohio.org Contact TransOhio for more information. This group supports transgender/ally communities with services, education, support and advocacy.

UT Gay/Lesbian support groups University of Toledo Main Campus UT Counseling Center (419) 530-2426 Groups for Unversity of Toledo students.

Vision (BGSU student organization) Bowling Green State University’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and straight student organization. For meeting dates, times and location, visit “Vision Glbtqaiqa” on Facebook or @BGSUVision on Twitter.

Living with HIV/AIDS Support groups with monthly meetings for men and women. For more information, call Sue Carter at (419) 383-3913 (men) or Michelle Coutcher at (419) 383-4368 (women).

Young, Gay & Proud Support group geared to African-American males age 13-24. Open to all. Meets monthly at Pride Center 419 in the Collingwood Arts Center, 2413 Collingwood Blvd. For more information, contact kennyetta.white@utoledo. edu/(419) 383-3683 or chriscoleman01@aol. com/(419) 283-9188.

Toledo LGBTQA news sources Outlines Toledo www.outlinestoledo.com For more information, contact kelly@outlines toledo.com

TAGALA Newsletter www.tagalaonline.org For more information, contact tagalanewsletter @aol.com

Toledo Free Press www.toledofreepress.com Features “OK 2 BE GAY” columnist Rick Cornett, events coverage, bar listings and more. O Information subject to change. What did we miss? Let us know at star@toledofreepress.com.

26 Toledo Pride 2014

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ToledoFreePress.com

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August 17, 2014

Holiday with Heart fundraiser scheduled for Dec. 7 at Toledo Club By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

For many, the Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla is among the most anticipated events of the year, organizers say, offering an opportunity to raise money for local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) causes while enjoying a fun, fancy evening out. Taglined “the premier social event for LGBT community and friends,” the 37th annual event will take place Dec. 7 at The Toledo Club, 235 14th St. Tickets are $75. “Holiday with Heart is the only formal affair for the local LGBT community and I feel that sets us apart from any others,” Rick Cornett, a member of the group’s board of directors, wrote in an email to Toledo Free Press. “It is nice to get all glammed up and go to The Toledo Club to help raise funds for great causes. I feel it is a perfect way to jumpstart the holiday season in style and meet new people while doing so. We are very proud that we are the oldest and longest lasting LGBT fundraiser in the entire state of Ohio now.” Attendees can expect an elegant evening with a served dinner, dancing, DJ Richie, live entertainment, a photobooth from Grand Lubell Photography, a silent auction and plenty of networking and socializing opportunities, said Cornett, who has attended the event since 1991.

“Tickets go fast and we highly suggest you get your reservations in early to assure you get seated with your group,” he said. “We’ve sold out for the past five years and The Toledo Club maxes out at 300 guests.” Among this year’s beneficiaries are Why Marriage Matters Ohio. “We are very excited to be helping them for the first time,” Cornett said. “They are making great strides to help legalize gay marriage in Ohio and we want to help them achieve this last major hurdle in the gay rights movement for equality for all LGBT people.” Another first-time beneficiary is Mpowerment, a Toledo social group for gay, bisexual and transgender men ages 18-29 as well as resource for HIV prevention education. The remaining funds raised will go to the Holiday with Heart fund at the Toledo Community Foundation. The fund was established in 2011 in memory of Gayla co-founder Dick Flock. So far, more than $27,000 has been raised. Once the goal of $100,000 is met, the fund will be used to support local LGBT causes year-round, Cornett said. “We encourage anyone that can’t attend the Gayla to make a donation toward this fund and remember us in your estate planning, or make a donation in honor of a loved one who has passed,” Cornett said. Many straight allies also attend

the Gayla, committee member Billy Mann said. “It’s a very welcoming atmosphere and a good blend of allies who aren’t necessarily LGBT, such as friends, family, business professionals,” he said. “It’s a really good mix of people.” Mann said he looks forward to

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dressing up and having fun while knowing he’s making a difference by giving back to local charities. “We in the gay community love going out to nightclubs and there’s a great dance scene in Toledo, but we so rarely get to slow dance with a partner and be one-on-one with them. The

Gayla is a nice formal setting for that,” Mann said. “There’s really no other event like it. It really kicks off the holiday party season.” Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of the Gayla. For more information, visit hwhcharitygayla.org. O

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

ToledoFreePress.com

August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 27

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28 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

ToledoFreePress.com

#TFPpride

August 17, 2014

Area man aims to raise funds to re-open private club The Diplomat By Sarah Ottney TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

After disrepair, alleged theft and vandalism forced the closure of private gay men’s club The Diplomat, a local pastor wants to help the owner raise up to $20,000 to repair and reopen the Toledo business. The club, located at 1313 N. Summit St., closed this winter after alleged employee theft made it impossible to make ends meet, said owner Brock Ali. Ali, 28, took over ownership of the Toledo business as well as a Grand Rapids, Michigan, club of the same name about four years ago after his great-uncle, who started both, retired and moved to California with his partner. “It had always been a successful, profitable business,” Ali said. “Things slowly fell into disrepair there (in Toledo) and over this past winter I just had problem after problem after problem. And with the weather, we were slow and short on capital.” Ali, who lives in Grand Rapids, said he struggled to adequately oversee the Toledo location over the winter when he had car trouble and couldn’t make it to Toledo regularly. He said employees at the Toledo club

stole money and flat-screen TVs from the business. “My real problem with Toledo was the workers went in and cleared it out,” Ali said. “They knew I was vulnerable. Stealing money started slow but then I started to notice it more and more. Eventually I had to close it down.” Ali said the employee he asked to file a police report may have been involved with the thefts and he’s not sure a report was ever filed. Toledo Police records for the property show a report of petty theft in November, and reports for disorderly conduct and breaking and entering in October. Ali said the Grand Rapids location opened in 1980 and the Toledo location opened around 1994, offering a sauna, steam room, massage rooms, whirlpool, private rooms and more. The Grand Rapids location is in good condition and doing well, Ali said. The Rev. Dewey Edwards, 50, an openly gay pastor at Temple of Christ Universal Life Church, said he frequented The Diplomat in Toledo since he was a young man. After noticing vandalism, he contacted Ali. “He’s been a customer in the past and tracked me down,” Ali said. “Honestly I haven’t gone and looked at it. I’ve just heard reports of it. I did call the police about that. I just

haven’t really known what to do or where to go about it.” Ali estimates between $10,000 and $20,000 in repairs would be needed to re-open the business. Donations are needed as well as expertise in drywall, painting, roofing, electrical and more. “For me, it would mean a lot to be able to keep the business running for my great-uncle,” Ali said. “He created the business out of a real need for a clean and comfortable atmosphere where guys can get away and socialize and so on. I know there are a lot of customers who utilized that business and it means a lot to them. As a business owner, I want to be able to provide that to them. It shouldn’t have gone the way that it did. Things were so fragile and just in one moment of vulnerability, we got kind of taken advantage of.” That’s why Edwards said he offered to help Ali raise money to preserve the business. “It was just a safe haven and it’s something we need here in Toledo, especially for the younger generation coming up who need somewhere to go,” he said. “And it’s historic. We can fundraise to help bring it back to the way it should be.” For more information, contact Edwards at (567) 218-8731 or hazzard edwards@gmail.com. O

The Diplomat. Now closed, this private gay men’s club, sits on North Summit Street. TOLEDO FREE PRESS PHOTO BY SARAH OTTNEY

join us for our

annual car & bike show in support of Wreaths Across America

Join us for our Annual Car & Bike Show with donations benefiting our local Wreaths Across America efforts to honor the veterans laid to rest at Toledo Memorial Park. No entry fees, and cash prizes.

Wreaths Across America

Jeff Clegg, President of TMP, and Mel Harbaugh, TMP, Sylvania Location Leader, Wreaths Across America, invite you to participate and attend. Please call Mel Harbaugh at 419-346-9192 for more information.

Call us at 419-882-7151 or visit ToledoMemorialPark.com 6382 Monroe Street / Sylvania, Ohio

Sun., August 17 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Toledo Memorial Park Rain date: August 24

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

ToledoFreePress.com

August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 29

LGBTQ community welcomes Legends and Mojo, bids farewell to OUTSKiRTS, Ripcord, Blush

s the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The Toledo LGBTQ community has undergone some major changes within its social scene at three local bars. Toledo’s only lesbian bar, OUTSKiRTS, closed for good in May, leaving a void in Toledo and the surrounding area. The next closest lesbian bar is Stilettos, in Inkster, Michigan. OUTSKiRTS opened July 19, 2008, on Laskey Road in the building that once housed Gilda’s lesbian bar. Gilda’s had a three-anda-half year run before OUTSKiRTS moved in. In July 2011, OUTSKiRTS moved to Lewis Avenue in West Toledo. Owners Lexi Staples and her mother, Johanna Staples, said they are proud of their six-year run with OUTSKiRTS but were ready to move onto other ventures. Lexi and her partner are planning to get married and want to have a baby this year. Recently, Lexi was hired by the Collingwood Arts Center as office manager and events coordinator and she still serves as the president for Toledo Pride Foundation and is director of Pride Center 419. Best of luck to Lexi as she continues to serve the local LGBTQ community with a spirit that is unmatched. We thank you for OUTSKiRTS and all the fun times that created many memories and friendships. Back in February, the Ripcord

bar at 115 N. Erie St. and connecting Blush Showbar were sold by owner Terry Hymore. New management is now in place although there are a few legalities to wrap up before they fully take ownership. Major changes are underway to revamp and rename both bars, but they remain gay establishments. In March, Blush Showbar threw a farewell party ending its fouryear run as Toledo’s only drag club. It was announced at the closing that the new name will be Legends Showclub and it would conRick tinue as a drag performer venue. Many exciting things are planned for this new contemporary club, which is upscale, inviting and warm. The club is decorated in hot pink against a black background, with all new tables, black leatherpadded seats, chrome accent lighting focused on the new stone bar top, new dressing rooms for the performers, newly remodeled restrooms and up-

regional and local drag entertainers. Sunday evenings feature an early show at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Reservations are accepted for large groups by calling (567) 315-8333 and there is usually no cover charge except for special events and fundraisers. Now that Blush has been revamped into Legends, the new management is focusing on transforming Ripcord into a new bar named Mojo. A face-lift just in time for summer has already transformed the patio area. Both bars will receive new fronts, giving them much-needed curb appeal. By mid-fall they plan to close the Ripcord side and start a heavy renovation to update the dark and outdated bar. Once completed, the new complex will be the hot spot in Toledo for the LGBTQ community and allies. With growing mainstream acceptance of LGBTQ people, gay bars not only in Toledo but around the world are quickly vanishing from a culture that once heavily depended on them as their only social outlet with other LGBTQ people. A sluggish economy and smoking bans have also hurt the gay bar scene. The Internet, cellphones and all the other social media outlets today have also contributed to the gay bar slump. Young gays and lesbians today feel less threatened going into straight bars with allies and socializing beyond the gay bar scene.

dated sound and lighting systems. Several new bartenders present young and energetic faces ready to welcome the new customers who will make this the premier drag venue in Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The showclub also features new televisions, allowing video enhancement capabilities for the performers, club TV and movie nights, plus a house DJ. Legends plans to offer Racy, Raunchy Drag Queen Bingo once a month with all proceeds going to a local charity. A new selection of draft craft beers and margaritas “on tap” have been added, plus specialty cocktails inspired by the legendary Marilyn Monroe. Legends Showclub opened to the public in April with a big grand opening weekend featuring entertainers from Logo TV’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Legends is open Thursday through Saturday evenings from 8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. with shows starting at 11 p.m. presenting national,

CORNETT

OK 2B

GAY

Besides Legends Showclub and Mojo, Toledo currently has two other bars serving the LGBTQ community. Bretz at 2012 Adams St. opened in 1987 and is Toledo’s oldest gay bar still in operation. R House bar at 5534 Secor Road in West Toledo opened in 1995 and operates seven days a week. Uptown in Bowling Green goes gay every Tuesday night with drag performances. The number of Toledo gay bars peaked in the early 1970s and many have come and gone over the years, including Caesar’s, Box Office, Key West, Scaramouche, Old Plantation, Silver Slipper, Westgate Lounge, Joshua’s, Gay Pussy Cat, Pendulum, Scenic, Copacabana, Twilight Zone, Club 1901, Blendz, Club Distractions, Warehouse, Club Escape, Blu Jeans, Hooterville, Ivanhoe, Rustler, Club Bable’on, Fascination, Madison Bistro, Camelot, Seahorse and the very short-lived Adamz Lounge that opened last year and closed within three months. Legends Showclub and Mojo will be a breath of fresh air for the local LGBTQ community and we welcome you! For the latest news on Legends Showclub and Mojo, follow them on Facebook. O Rick Cornett is a historian, activist and promoter of the Toledo LGBTQ community serving on the Holiday with Heart Charity and Toledo Pride committees.

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August 22-24

ToledoFreePress.com

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

What’s in a name? For those in trans community, everything By Brooke Cartus Reprinted from Outlook Ohio Magazine www.outlookohio.com

For most of us, the name we are born with is the name that follows us through our lives, from middle-school roll call to newspaper obituaries and everything in between. But what if you’re transgender? Queer? Gender nonconforming? Changing your name can be an emotional experience crippled by legal and familial hurdles. And choosing what name works for the rest of your life is scary; what would your HANSEN name be if you could change it right now? Nathaniel Allen Anderson is a bartender in Columbus’ Short North [Arts District] who was born in Lima and raised in De Graff. His sardonic wit makes him perfect at his job, but being a bartender means he comes out as trans almost every day. Even in such a social environment, Anderson tries to avoid revealing too much. “Unless they are trans, I don’t share

that right away, because they may pry and ask inappropriate questions,” he said. Growing up, Anderson’s little sister called him “Nat” and the nickname stuck, so Nathaniel just seemed like a logical choice for him. His middle name? For Allen County, where he was born. Anderson began hormone therapy and started going as Nathaniel simultaneously. “Since I was going to start exhibiting signs of not being female, I wanted it to be official.” As for changing his driver’s license, things were a little more complicated. “In Ohio, you can’t change the gender on your birth certificate ever,” he said. “And if I want to change the gender marker on my license, a doctor needs to sign off on the change. I don’t have insurance, so right now my license says “Nathaniel Allen Anderson, F” [for female]. Ohio, Idaho and Tennessee are the three remaining states that don’t allow people to change their birth certificate. But many states have strict rules about the types of surgeries or hormones a trans person must trans person must go through before changing the gender on an identification document. Changing names on a license is simple — it’s the same form married couples use to change their last names — but the letters M and F cause se-

rious setbacks. The ID issue affected Anderson when he applied for jobs. “I had job interviews at the beginning of my transition, and it GALVIN was difficult,” he said. “I would go in for a second interview. They would sound hopeful. I would hand them my ID, and I would never hear back.” The issue of conflicting IDs affecting employment is common. The National Center for Transgender Equality reports rampant trans discrimination even in places like San Francisco. If more than 50 percent of transgender people there feel they have been discriminated against, what about Ohio, where state laws barring job discrimination cover neither gender identity nor sexual orientation? Anderson is remarkably nonchalant about his name and really doesn’t mind the nickname “Nat” because he has been called “Nat” since he was a kid. “As long as you respect me for who I am and respect me as male, then it’s fine,” he said. Not everyone in the trans community chooses a name when starting hormones; the process is very personal and

“We are your neighbors, friends and family. Our kids play together.We listen when you are sad, mad and happy — and when you are hungry, we feed you and your family the food that we made with our own two hands.When you are thirsty, we are the first to sit and share a pint and laugh along with you or just offer company. And at the end of the day, we watch the same sunset from the same view.We are local.” – Tony Bilancini, Owner of Swig Restaurant

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ically enough, the only one who doesn’t mess up my pronouns,” he said. Hansen says his identity is now intertwined with his name. ANDERSON “It was weird at first, because I’ve never been called this before. But eventually, it made me feel right and I was really confident about the choice I made,” he said. “I identify very strongly on the gender binary, but when I started off I didn’t. It’s been a step-by-step process, and I’m trying to figure out where the end point is for me.” n NAMES CONTINUES ON 31

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unique to the individual. Silas Hansen, a writer and graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus, changed his name first and then started hormones eight months later. “I didn’t want to start living as male without changing my name or change my name eight times, so I wanted to figure out my name first,” he said. The name he chose is a Danish name. “I found Silas on a list of names that are popular in Denmark. I’m Danish, and that’s a part of my identity I really connect with.” Hansen reached out to his friends when he settled on “Silas.” When that went smoothly, he told his family. He’s from a small town in Western New York, and his name change went surprisingly smoothly. “My 90-year-old grandma is, iron-

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August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

ToledoFreePress.com

n NAMES CONTINUED FROM 30

Supply KidS With A Future We are collecting backpacks and school supplies to be given to kindergarten-age students who might not be able to afford to purchase their needed supplies.

But what about those who identify as genderqueer or gender nonconforming? If they don’t want to change the M or F on their driver’s licenses, how does that affect their lives? Many who identify as trans do not undergo hormone treatment or surgery. Studies show more than 80 percent of self-identified trans women and 98 percent of self-identified trans men do not undergo gender-confirmation surgery. It makes state laws that require documentation of hormone treatments and surgery seem antiquated when it comes to addressing the needs of the growing genderqueer community. As for whether hormones and surgery are necessary, “ask 1,000 people, get 1,000 opinions,” said Shane Morgan, founder and chair of TransOhio, the statewide organization for transgender people. “Not all trans-identified people take

Toledo Pride 2014 31

August 22-24

hormones or pursue any sort of medical transition. So saying to somebody, ‘Wait until you’re on hormones’ or ‘Wait until you have surgery’ promotes exactly what we’re trying to get away from as a community,” Morgan said. Eileen Galvin works at the Columbus College of Art & Design and is a burlesque performer with Crimson Lace Cabaret, a Columbus troupe. For her, gender roles are arbitrary. She has not changed any identification documents but lives the majority of her life under the name Eileen. “In a perfect world, I would be a pansexual genderqueer, two-spirited being,” she said. “But that’s not the world we live in.” She chose her name from a video game she really liked. “The name sounded vintage and Irish and I loved it. I’m a little bit Irish so it was perfect.” Coming out to her family has been difficult because Galvin wasn’t transi-

‘‘

tioning from one stereotypical gender to the other, like male to female. She was coming out as genderqueer, which is an identity outside the binary. However, Galvin’s attitude is remarkably positive. “The last family trip I took was to a place that wasn’t very open minded,” she said. “So I called my sister beforehand and said, ‘I’m having a dilemma. I’m going to see the family, and I only want to pack girl clothes.’ And she replied, ‘Isn’t that what you do normally?’ In some situations I see myself as exclusively female, sometimes androgynous and sometimes more masculine. “It’s tough to explain to family.” For that family trip, Eileen packed all girl clothes, and her family tried their best to be accepting. “You can’t always expect that your family will understand you 100 percent,” she said. “But the conversation is happening, and that’s a step in the right direction. God, I would love for them to throw a ‘she’ in there once in a while! It

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In a perfect world, I would be a pansexual genderqueer, twospirited being. But that’s not the world we live in.

Eileen Galvin

’’

would mean so much to me.” She’d love to hear them call her ‘Eileen’ as well. A name, while it seems arbitrary, holds immense meaning for those who change it. O Outlook Ohio magazine is Ohio’s LGBT monthly magazine, available across the state including in Toledo and Bowling Green. Find out where to pick up a copy or read Outlook online at www.outlookohio. com. Outlook photos by Emma Parker.

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32 Toledo Pride 2014

August 22-24

ToledoFreePress.com

August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

RAY offers space for LGBTQ youth By Matt Liasse Toledo Free Press Star Staff Writer star@toledofreepress.com

Shannon Frye was a member of Rainbow Area Youth (RAY) before becoming its executive director. “I understood that what I was feeling was something that the people that I grew up with would not understand,” Frye said. “I began to feel very set apart and very different from my friends and family and had nowhere to go.” Frye said she was fortunate to have a supportive family, but there are some things they couldn’t prepare her for. Frye was advised to talk to RAY founder Brenda Spurlin. RAY serves as a place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to go to for advice and support. “I think I called her about five times before I was able to actually start talking,” Frye said. “She was very patient, as were all the other volunteers when I first started going to RAY.” As Frye tells kids today, after her first visit she didn’t return to RAY for another two years. “Once I was ready to start talking, the thing I found was that I had a second family,” she said. Spurlin formed RAY in 1997. A mother of a gay child, she met two gay men at a Toledo Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) meeting. Spurlin wanted to be more supportive of her son when she realized there weren’t many options for LGBTQ children, Frye said. Since its formation, the group has served more than 1,500 kids ages 13-

19. The youth who participate are assured confidentiality. “The nature of the group is about creating a safe space — a place for kids to come to feel not only physically safe, but emotionally safe from whatever’s happening in their life,” Frye said.

who you are at 25,” Frye said. “We want them to have a safe place to explore themselves.” Teens interested in attending

meetings or adults interested in volunteering can contact RAY at (419) 7422362 or toledo_ray@yahoo.com. The only prerequisites for volunteers is to

submit to a background check and to be able to listen without judgment. For more information, visit www. raytoledo.org. O

Coming out

Frye said it is not always sound advice to tell a kid to come out. “We live in a world that is ripe with prejudice,” she said. “It’s not always in the kid’s best interests to come out.” Frye said a child being evicted from his or her home is the first concern. Leaders also do not advise kids to come out if they live in a highly homophobic area. “Their safety and well-being is our main concern,” Frye said. “Pursuing that goal above others, we understand that some of our kids cannot come out at certain times, even at times they’re coming to RAY.” Above all, Frye said the group wants to get kids more comfortable being themselves before they make the decision to come out. “Kids are not just coming out to family, [they’re] coming out to friends, coming out to employers, coming out to all different kinds of people all the time,” Frye said. “We hope that they become more comfortable with talking to more people openly about it … but we don’t consider it a tragedy if they don’t come out.” Frye said the group tries to prevent kids from claiming an identity before they are sure who they are. “The first thing we tell the kids is who you are at 15 is not necessarily

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August 17, 2014

#TFPpride

ToledoFreePress.com

August 22-24

Toledo Pride 2014 33

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

August 15-23, 2014

What’s what, where and when in NW Ohio

Compiled by Matt Liasse Events are subject to change.

MUSIC

Bar 145º

thedistilleryonline.com. O Live Trivia with DJ Brandon: Tuesdays. O Name That Tune: Wednesdays. O The Bridges: Aug. 15 and 16.

Doc Watson’s

Featuring burgers, bands and bourbon. $5 cover. 5304 Monroe St. (419) 593-0073 or bar145toledo.com. O My Sister Sarah: Aug. 15. O Dave Carpenter: Aug. 15. O Hello My Name Is: Aug. 16.

Named in honor of the owners’ forefather, this bar and restaurant serves a variety of dishes and entertainment. 1515 S. Byrne Road. (419) 389-6003 or docwatsonstoledo.com. O Sporcle Live Trivia: Thursdays. O Steve Kennedy: 10 p.m. Aug. 15. O Andrew Ellis: 10 p.m. Aug. 16.

Barr’s Public House

Dorr St. Café

Focusing on craft beer, hand-crafted specialty drinks and martinis, a well-rounded wine selection and an eclectic food menu. 3355 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee. (419) 866-8466. O Jason LaPorte: Aug. 15. O Jason Hudson Trio: Aug. 16. O Jason Hudson: Aug. 21.

Bronze Boar

Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s namesake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar.com. O Open mic: Thursdays and Mondays. O Joe Woods Trio: Aug. 15. O Stonehouse: Aug. 16. O Steve Finelli and Oliver Roses: Aug. 18. O Steve Kennedy: Aug. 21.

Dégagé Jazz Café

Signature drinks plus live local performers. 301 River Road, Maumee. $5 weekends for cafe seating. (419) 794-8205 or www.degage jazzcafe.com. O Sheila Landis: Aug. 15. O Skip Turner: Aug. 16. O Gene Parker: Aug. 19 and 20. O Ruth Nichols: Aug. 21.

The Distillery

The mic is open on Sundays, but paid entertainers rock out Fridays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www.

Grab a Reuben or some fish while bobbing your head to some tunes. Southwest corner of Dorr Street at Reynolds Road. (419) 531-4446 or www.dorrstreetcafe.com. O Andrew Ellis: Aug. 15.

Durty Bird

A full bar featuring frozen drinks and multiple happy hours (4-7 p.m.) on weekdays accompany live entertainment four nights a week. 2 S. St. Clair St. (419) 243-2473 or www.yeoldedurtybird.com. O Jeff Stewart: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 15. O Jeff Stewart & the 25s: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 15. O Joe Woods: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 16. O Damen Cook & Friends: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 16. O KMB3: 1-4 p.m. Aug. 17. O Andrew Ellis: 4-6 p.m. Aug. 17. O The New Mondays: 7-10 p.m. Aug. 18. O Lori Lefevre-Johnson: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 19. O Dave Carpenter: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 20. O Andrew Ellis: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 21.

Elixer

This two-man band performs Beatles songs acoustically. www.beatlesebooks.com/elixir. O Table Forty4, 610 Monroe St. 9:30 to 1:30 a.m. Aug. 15.

Frankie’s Inner-City

Toledo’s venue for rock. Tickets vary between

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$5 and $14, unless otherwise noted. 308 Main St. (419) 693-5300 or FrankiesInnerCity.com. O Read’em and Weep, Movehome and Diesel Burner: Aug. 15. O Local Metal Showcase with Portrait of a Plague, Morkast, Blind Haven and American Gothic: Aug. 16. O Passafire: Aug. 20. O Greedy Mistress: Aug. 21.

Jazz on the Maumee

The Art Tatum Jazz Society will provide smooth, cool “Twilight Jazz” along the river, appetizers included. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Grand Plaza Hotel’s Aqua Lounge, 444 N. Summit St. $5-$15. (419) 241-1411 or www.arttatumsociety.com. O Kyle Turner: 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20.

Hollywood Casino Toledo

777 Hollywood Blvd. (419) 661-5200 or www. hollywoodcasinotoledo.com. O Fu5ION: Aug. 15. O The Detour Band: Aug. 16. O Travis Tritt: 9 p.m. Aug. 22, $35

Music at the Market

This 12-concert outdoor series runs in conjunction with the Perrysburg Farmers Market. Commodore School Yard, Perrysburg. 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. O Common Creed: Aug. 21.

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

One2 Lounge at Treo

Live music starts at 7:30 p.m. 5703 Main St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2266 or treosylvania.com. O SWINGMANIA: Aug. 15.

Sponsored by:

O Last Born Sons: Aug. 16.

The Ottawa Tavern

Casual meals and bingo and trivia nights with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com. O Shit-Box Jimmy: 10 p.m. Aug. 15.

SWINGMANIA

With its focus on swing music, Jeff McDonald’s group of musicians provides a peek into another era. (419) 708-0265, (419) 874-0290 or www.swingmania.org. O Trotters Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns, (419) 381-2079: 8 p.m. Tuesdays. O One2 Lounge at Treo, 5703 Main St.: 7:3011:30 p.m. Aug. 15

The Toledo Zoo

2700 Broadway St. (419) 385-4040 or toledozoo.org. O The Moody Blues: Aug. 20.

The Village Idiot

Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www. villageidiotmaumee.com. O The House Band: 6 p.m. Fridays. O Bob Rex Band: 6 p.m. Sundays. O Dooley Wilson: Sundays. O Frankie May and friends: 10 p.m. Mondays. O John Barile & Bobby May: 8 p.m. Tuesdays. O Andrew Ellis: Wednesdays. O The Nu-Tones: Aug. 15. O The Devil Elvis Show: Aug. 16.

Ye Olde Cock n’ Bull

Featuring 30 draught beer selections, daily drink specials and live entertainment daily. 9 N. Huron St. (419) 244-2855 or facebook.com/ cocknbulltoledo. O Danny Mettler hosts Open Mic Night: Wednesdays. O Bobby May and John Barile followed by Breaking Ground: Aug. 15. O Last Call Heroes: Aug. 16. O Dick Lange Blues Jam: Aug. 17.

Thursday, August 21st Steve Kennedy Friday, August 22nd Dave Carpenter & The Jaegler’s Saturday, August 23rd Jeff Stewart & The 25’s

O Joe Woods: Aug. 19. O Captain Sweet Shoes: Aug. 21. …

EVENTS

Actors Collaborative Toledo

The group will sponsor audtions for the upcoming fall season of concert readings. Trinity Episcopal Church, 316 Adams St. 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 17.

Discover the River Cruise

Two hour cruises of the Maumee River. Adults costs $15 and kids younger than 12 are $7. 10 a.m. to noon, Sandpiper boat, Jefferson Street Dock, Jefferson Avenue and Summit Street. (419) 537-1212. Saturdays through Sept. 27.

Meet and Greet

Social Clothing Co. is looking for artists, photographers, freelancers and other creatives as well as brands interested in collaborating with local musicians and charities. More information will be available at 4-8 p.m. Aug. 21 at The Mad Ave Collective, 1600 Madison Ave. or online at www.thesocialclothingco.com.

Summer Fest

Beer, wine, Middle Eastern pastries, Elephant Ears with Arabic coffee, live entertainment, ethnic dancing and children activities will be featured at St. Elias Orthodox Church. Admission and parking is free. 4840 Harroun Road, Sylvania. Noon to 9 p.m. Aug. 16. If you would like your event in The Pulse, contact Matt at mattliasse@gmail.com

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Community 35

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Birmingham Festival celebrates ‘strong ethnic neighborhood’ By Chase Will

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

The 40th annual Birmingham Ethnic Festival will welcome home participants from Hungary, Italy and

across the world. “Everyone talks about coming home for festival, so we decided it would be a good theme” said Becky Ujvagi, who organizes the festival. The weekend-long celebration calls attention to the rich ethnic heritage of

Consaul Street, which was nearly demolished in the 1970s. “Forty years ago there was a proposed overpass which would’ve knocked down all the buildings on one side of the street,” Ujvagi said. “A lot of people in the neighborhood came

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together to stop that from happening, and they all wanted Toledo to know they’re there, so they started the festival to talk about the cultural lifestyle.” This will be the first trip to America for several international participants. A group of these guests will tour Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. One newcomer is folk artist Izbeki Gabriella Cseuz, who will teach traditional embroidery of the Hungary’s Southern Great Plain. Cseuz will also bring an exhibition of folk art from Algyő and Csongrad County artists. The festival’s unofficial kickoff will be the 19th annual waiters race set for 7 p.m. Aug. 15. Teams of four are challenged to carry trays with full pitchers and glasses of beer as quickly as they can without spilling. Ujvagi stated this event used to be on a Saturday night prior to the festival becoming a two-day event. Guests are encouraged to sample ethnic foods offered by vendors from across the globe. A few noteworthy items are stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikas and homemade kolbasz sandwiches. Those worried about overindulging will have plenty of opportunities to burn calories. Ujvagi estimated there will be eight different performing groups, including Hungarian dancers, a Mexican singer

and some Irish bands. The Gyanta Orchestra from New Jersey will perform again this year. This orchestra is one of the premier Hungarian folk music groups in the United States. Modern rock music is featured later in the evenings, with headlining Shout!’ a Beatles tribute. “The interesting area on Saturday night is the Calvin United Church of Christ lot, where Hungarian folk dancers and musicians gather to literally sing and dance the night away,” said Imre Bertalan, an event organizer. Bertalan has been involved with the festival since its second year, after coming to Birmingham as the community organizer and becoming pastor of Calvin United. He remembers the protests that originally overturned plans for the Consaul Street overpass. “It was a very strong ethnic neighborhood. There were instances where people came out of St. Stephen’s Church and out of their homes to stop trucks on the street and protest,” Bertalan said. “We’re super impressed we’ve made it 40 years, and it’s only gotten bigger and better,” Ujvagi said. The festival runs from noon-10 p.m. Aug. 16 and noon-9 p.m. Aug. 17. Admission is free. O

Levis Commons Fine Art Fair to showcase area artists for 10th year For the 10th year, artists from across the country will showcase art at the Levis Commons Fine Art Fair. Levis Commons and the juried fair, sponsored by The Guild of Artists & Artisans, have had a partnership since the outdoor Perrysburg mall’s opening. This year, the two-day event takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 17. “The Perrysburg community has really embraced this event,” said Karen Delhey, marketing director for The Guild of Artists & Artisans. “There’s a very loyal audience that comes back and it continues to grow. They appreciate it and they engage with the artists, which is wonderful. It’s not like that everywhere.” Delhey added that the fair is giving exposure to artists who otherwise wouldn’t have any. At the fair, browsers can meet and talk with each artist. Plenty of media will be featured, including photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, drawing, multimedia, sculpture, fiber, leather, wood, paintings and more. Delhey said it’s hard to view it all. Close to 140 artists are included in the fair, many from Toledo and

surrounding cities. Many have participated in the show previously. Toledo painter Mary Jane Erard has participated in the fair for the past four years. This year, she said, people may notice some differences in her work. “People who know my work best notice that my use of color has become more sophisticated,” she said in an email. “It seems to really resonate with my collectors.” Toledo’s Carolyn Newell will present her glass work at the festival for the first time this year. She will have work ranging in price from $30 to $300. Some of Newell’s work is inspired by the coral she used to see when she was a diver. “My pieces are made of hundreds of pieces of glass to give it the movement and depth and to really bring out the colors,” she said. “I dream it at night and I have to wake up in the morning and figure out how to do it.” The fair will also feature a free children’s activity center presented by the Toledo School for the Arts. For more information, visit leviscommonsfineartfair.com. O — Matt Liasse

36 Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

August 17, 2014

German American Festival welcomes new, old favorites By Matt Liasse

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer news@toledofreepress.com

Grammy-nominated The Alex Meixner Band will headline the 2014 German American Festival (GAF), set for Aug. 22-24 at Oregon’s Oak Shade Grove. Meixner’s program, “Fascinating Rhythms of the World,” dabbles in styles of music including Slavic folk, jazz, pop and classical styles from Latin America, Africa and other sections of Europe. Festival Chairman Tim Pecsenye instantly knew Meixner would fit in at the festival. “He’s a high-energy performer and an excellent musician,” Pecsenye said. “Crowds sure do enjoy him quite a bit.” This will be Meixner’s first time at the festival. Returning performers include Austrian Express, The Brothers Grimm, Euro Express, Jay Fox Band and Polish-American Concert Band, performing on three stages. The festival is celebrating its 49th year complete with bratwursts, ears of sweet corn, sauerkraut, assorted cheeses, pretzels and dinner rolls — all prepared by volunteers. “My favorite thing about the festival is we have no outside vendors,” Pecsenye said. “All of our volunteers prepare the food.” The festival, operated by the German-American Festival Society and sponsored by seven German- and SwissAmerican societies in Toledo, is spread across 10 acres and is intended to promote German and Swiss cultures. General admission is $8. Discount advance purchase admission tickets are available for $7 online at www.germanamericanfestival.net or www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm. Two-day admission is $10 and three-day admission is $15, both available online Festival hours are 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. with a parade and opening ceremonies at 8 p.m. Aug. 22, 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 23 and noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 24.

Activities and contests

Always a crowd favorite, the Hummel Look-Alike contest will take place Sunday afternoon. Children select an M.I. Hummel figurine to dress like and will pose for a panel of judges. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to each age category. “People love kids,” Pecsenye said. “You can dig up a Pavarotti to sing the National Anthem somewhere and then you put a 7-year-old kid that does it instead and people will just think the [kid’s] just wonderful.” Another favorite is the Brezellessen, the pretzel eating competition. The fun will be in the Hofbräu-

halle 9 p.m. Saturday. Other entertainment includes a 50/50 raffle with prizes awarded each evening, rides, face painting, clowns and a free German-language worship service Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Plenty of food will be available including potato pancakes, bratwursts, potato salad, strudels, pastries and more. “There’s no festival that has as many different brats as we do,” Pecsenye said, who enjoys his with sauerkraut and mustard.

Designated driver program

Drinks include plenty of imported beer, including: Augustiner Bräu Maximator, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche Doppelbock, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Ayinger Oktoberfest Bier, Ayinger Weizenbock and more. Cocktails are available as well, including the So Schmeckt Deutschland, a drink that looks like the German flag. Wines, like the Schlink Haus Auslese, Kabinett and Dornfelder, will also be available. In order to be safe, the festival will also include the designated driver program for anyone who is not drinking and over the age of 21. The guests services booth will distribute coupons to those drivers to be used for three discounted 20 oz. soft drinks.

Shuttle service

GAF shuttle tickets are available for $6 and shuttles will depart from various locations in the area. Shuttles will depart from Bar 145,

TGIF

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5305 Monroe St., Berger’s Old Tyme, 1742 W. Laskey Road, Mayfly Tavern, 4532 N. Summit St., Anchor Inn, 4950 Suder Ave., The Attic on Adams, 1701 Adams St., Ye Old Cock ‘n’ Bull, 9 N. Huron St., Belle Wine and Martini Lounge at Levis Commons in Perrysburg

and Lucas County Rec Center, 2901 Key St. Complimentary service is available at Icons Eatery & Entertainment, 3105 Navarre Ave. (from 6 p.m. to close on Aug. 22, 2 p.m. to close on Aug. 23 and noon to close on Aug. 24) and Pub 51, 5110 Woodville Road, Northwood.

Shuttles will run from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 22 and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Aug. 23. The last shuttle departs from pickup locations to the festival grounds at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A special Sunday shuttle will depart from Bar 145 only from 2-10 p.m. O

August 17, 2014

ToledoFreePress.com

Health 37

A Toledo tradition since 2005

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

It started innocently enough: skipping a few morning gym sessions to catch up at work. But soon Toledoan Deb Olejownik was regularly clocking in two hours early. Still falling behind, she started staying late on nights she didn’t have class all while juggling her family’s schedule as well. “I don’t think we intentionally neglect ourselves,” Olejownik said. “It’s just something that happens because we’re pulled in so many different directions,” she said. “We have a tendency to put ourselves on the back burner because we’re taking care of everything else. “Burnout is very pervasive. It affects every aspect of your life, personal and professional. It’s caused from too many pressures and not enough support.” At the time, she’d never heard the term burnout, but when she did, “I couldn’t read enough about it,” she said. Now she and a business partner, Cindy Patterson, help others “battle burnout” through their company DJC Core Consulting. “I didn’t want to have them go

through what I went through,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve suffered from burnout for five weeks, five months or five years — never underestimate the power of burnout, ever.” After a 32-year career with Toledo Public Schools, Olejownik now works as a stress management trainer at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor and Lourdes University. Patterson is a global real estate analyst for Owens Corning with a background in nonprofits. The two clicked immediately after being assigned to work on a project together on the first day of their master’s program at Lourdes University. After graduation, they decided to go into business together. “We are the only consultants in the area who battle burnout,” she said. The symptoms of burnout manifest differently in each person, often in physical symptoms that can seem unrelated, Olejownik said. But the most universal symptom is emotional exhaustion. “They feel like they’re unplugged and they don’t know what to do about it,” Olejownik said. “We teach them to assess where their energy leak may be coming from, what’s causing it and how to put a stop to it.”

A quarter of all drugs prescribed in the U.S. are for stress management, Olejownik said. “That’s shocking,” she said. “That tells me this is really becoming an epidemic.” An eight-week Bouncing Back from Burnout workshop runs 8:30-10 a.m. Thursdays Oct. 2 through Nov. 20, at ITT Technical Institute, 1656 Henthorne Drive, in Maumee. Topics will include identifying core values, the truths of stress and burnout, balance, regaining person power, transforming your thinking, improving your communication IQ and leaving the ashes behind. “We’ve taught each of these courses in this program independently and now for the first time we’re bringing them all together,” Olejownik said. “It’s our most sought-after program.” Emphasis will be on practical skills, which encourage the attendees to develop individual plans for dealing with burnout, Patterson said in an email to Toledo Free Press. “What we hope the attendees learn from the preview is that they are not victims of stress or burnout, but rather have the ability to reclaim their lives and re-establish that balance,” Patterson said. “[As Abraham Lincoln

PHOTO COURTESY DJC CORE CONSULTING

‘Battling burnout’ focus of upcoming workshop in Maumee

Deb Olejownik, left, and Cindy Patterson Of DJC Core Consulting.

said] ‘Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.’ You have to decide to take back control of the situation and determine you will make a change. It’s not enough to desire a life of balance; you need to take concrete steps to get there.” A free 90-minute preview to introduce the course is set for 9-10:30 a.m. Aug. 20, also at ITT Technical Institute. Refreshments will be provided.

Olejownik said she wants to give people hope and help them realize they are not alone. “That’s what I felt like,” Olejownik said. “I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone. I thought no one would understand. You’re not alone. We can help.” For more information or to register, visit djccoreconsulting.com or contact Olejownik at (419) 392-7737 or deb@djccoreconsulting.com. O

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38 Health

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

August 17, 2014

Teen doesn’t let diabetes stand in way of starting business

By Sanya Ali

Toledo Free Press Staff Writer sali@toledofreepress.com

When Hunter Hayes tells strangers he is an entrepreneur, they tend to react with disbelief. But his loved ones know the truth and support him all the way. “My family and friends have been my biggest motivation and supporters of what I do: my business and dreams,” HUnter Hayes Hayes said. Hayes, 17, founded Maumee River Flies & Guide Service in order to share his love of tying flies for flyfishing. He began spending time outdoors with his father at a young age. “I began hunting and fishing as soon as I was old enough to walk,” Hayes said. “My dad, Randy Hayes, first introduced me to the outdoor world: canoeing, camping, hunting and fishing. My dad has shown me everything he knows about them, and he always had an answer for any of my questions.” Hayes began tying flies by chance when he found peacock feathers in his neighbor’s yard. “I asked my dad what I could use them for and, to the best of his knowledge, he explained to me flies and fly fishing,” Hunter said. “I tied

my first fly on a red jig head with peacock hurl on it, and my first cast I caught a bass, and it started snowballing from there.” Hunter’s world changed on Dec. 1, 2005, when he found out he had Type 1 diabetes. He was 9 years old. “It was a hard blow and being so young it was very hard to comprehend,” Hayes said. “I first asked my mom if it was contagious, and then if it was going to kill me. I was terrified, and unsure of what was next.” Instead of letting the illness deter him, Hayes decided to continue living his life. “I have now had [diabetes] for almost nine years and it hasn’t gotten any easier, although I have learned a lot about it and how to monitor and keep my numbers in check with my insulin pump, which I am so thankful for,” Hayes said. When he was in sixth grade, Hayes met renowned fly-tier Chris Helm, his grandfather’s neighbor. “He has taught me so many things with the art of fly fishing and tying, and always has an answer to my questions,” Hayes said. Randy said Hunter played baseball and soccer as a kid, but the outdoors always took precedence over practice. “It was harder to get him out of the pond to go to baseball practice,” Randy said. “The nice thing about this, you can do this the rest of your life. There are not a lot of 50- or

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60-year-old men playing baseball.” Recently, Hunter decided to share his passions with the public. He makes his own ties and sells them through Facebook and his website, www. maumeeriverflies.com. Randy said he wants a profitable future for his son. “I hope he can earn a decent

living doing something outdoors, whether it’s tying flies, guiding, something in the outdoors he loves to do and can earn a decent living at it,” Randy said. Hunter said living with diabetes has been a challenge, but not one he cannot overcome. “Diabetes has never, and will

never slow me down, or stop me from achieving my goals and chasing my dreams,” Hunter said. “I want anyone and everyone that has had diabetes or has been recently diagnosed with it to feel free to contact me for any advice or simply someone to talk to and assure them that they’re not alone.” O

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