Toledo Free Press – Nov. 3, 2013 by Toledo Free Press

Nov. 3, 2013

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

A Toledo tradition since 2005 Connect with us: FREE • ToledoFreePress.com

Change clocks Sunday!

Fall Back

Opinion

Levy support and T-shirt philosophy

Tom Pounds on upcoming levies and Michael S. Miller on smelly T-shirt slogans. page 3

Entrepreneurs

EBE Hall of Fame

Event marks 25 years of local business awards. page 12

Legacy

Torch Awards

Ethical businesses to be honored Nov. 6. page 17

Business Link

Taking flight?

Local investors in talks with city over airport operations. page 20

Swing votes

Election 2013

Star

Her story

Elizabeth Smart to speak at BGSU on Nov. 5. page 21

Call The Low Payment King

Will South Toledo voters turning out for Council candidates SANDY SPANG and ROB LUDEMAN determine the mayor’s race? By Bailey G. Dick, page 6

500

Low Payment King Military Bonus for all veterans*

* Must present TFP ad and military ID. Offer expires Nov. 12, 2013.

SavE UP TO

12,000

on an all New 2013 RaM 1500

The All New

Toledo-Buil 2014 Jee T Cherokeep is here!!

(SelecT MODelS)

Monroe SUPERSTORE • 15160 S. Monroe St. • Monroe, MI • 1-877-284-5107 • www.monroedodge.com

Toledo Free Press

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Publisher’s statement

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

DON LEE

For Issues 2, 24 A

s Lucas County and Toledo voters take to the polls Nov. 5, they will face choices on three levies. I expressed strong support for Issue 1, a renewal levy for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, in the Oct. 20 issue. After much discussion with local business and political leaders, I also urge passage of Issue 2, a replacement levy for the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and Issue 24, the renewal levy for Toledo Public Schools (TPS). Issue 2, which replaces two existing levies and adds one mill for a total of 1.8 mills, supports programs for infants born with developmental disabilities; job training and employment opportunities; transportation services; and residential support services. The Board of Developmental Disabilities has done its work as a steward of public funds with integrity. Its levy request has Thomas F. Pounds been endorsed by the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, Lucas County Commissioners, the AFL-CIO, the Teamsters union and UAW. John Trunk, superintendent of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, told Toledo Free Press the issue was meant to bring the levies up to today’s values, while adding $1 million of funding to support the organization’s programs. “We are certainly going to be continuing to provide vital services to young children, like early intervention programs, [and] support adults in rehabilitation and employment arrangements,” Trunk said. “We will continue to use those tax dollars to help provide residential support that many individuals rely on. More specifically, we will use some of those new dollars to focus on the aging caregiver waiting list.” Also on the ballot this November is Issue 24, a 6.5 mill, five-year renewal levy from TPS. “The levy is an operating levy for us, so it takes care of things like keeping lights on in classrooms to paying teacher salaries,” said TPS communications director Patty Mazur. “It’s also a renewal levy, so people have already budgeted it into their monthly bills.” The levy would reportedly cost the owner of a $60,000 property $104.55 per year. Interim Superintendent Romules Durant has rallied the community and brought a calm and confidence to his initial days in office. There are legitimate ongoing concerns about the TPS Board of Education, but the TPS renewal levy deserves community support. Passing issues 1, 2 and 24 will strengthen our community and illustrate a vote of confidence in Toledo’s future. O Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

LIGHTING THE FUSE

T-shirt philosophy stinks I

t’s popular to think of Walmart as the place to study alcohol-soaked people in their 20s who probably don’t give the lowest common denominator of American be- their prospective one-night stands their real names. My havior and culture; there are entire websites devoted to T-shirt experiences at Meijer are among everyday people going about their everyday lives. tracking and mocking people who walk the It was at an Adrian Meijer a few years aisles while unwittingly displaying way too ago where I saw a man strutting around much skin, abusing their children or shopin the dairy aisle with his two preteen lifting. But I have found many sociological sons. Both of the boys were wearing black oddities at area Meijer stores, particularly T-shirts with the Hooters logo on them; with T-shirt culture. the Father of the Year was rocking a camT-shirts, like bumper stickers, are a lowouflage T-shirt with the phrase “MILF rent way to share your outlook with the Hunter” proudly emblazoned in a sight world. There’s not much room for complexity scope target across his chest. While recogor nuance. T-shirts and bumper stickers were nizing Mr. Sensitive’s right to free speech Twitter long before some people began using Twitter like a 6-year-old uses a squirt gun to Michael S. miller and his freedom to raise his children as he sees best, what a terrible message he is get his mom’s attention. It’s fun reading the “I’d never buy or wear those” T-shirts giving his boys by dressing them and himself in T-shirts at places like the shops at Put-in-Bay. Many feature off-color that stress the objectification of women. or obscene phrases about boobs and beer, but those are for n MILLER CONTINUES ON 4 Thomas F. Pounds, President/Publisher tpounds@toledofreepress.com

A publication of Toledo Free Press, LLC, Vol. 9, No. 44. Established 2005. EDITORIAL James A. Molnar, Design Editor jmolnar@toledofreepress.com Sarah Ottney, Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com Jeff McGinnis, Pop Culture Editor PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES Brent Long, Sales Manager blong@toledofreepress.com • (419) 346-9983 Renee Bergmooser, Senior Sales Representative rbergmooser@toledofreepress.com • (419) 266-0254 Chick Reid, Sales Representative creid@toledofreepress.com • (419) 705-5396 Grant Grisier, Sales Representative ggrisier@toledofreepress.com • (419) 574-2856

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

ADMINISTRATION Pam Burson, Business Manager pburson@toledofreepress.com

STAFF WRITERS news@toledofreepress.com Brandi Barhite • Jeremy Baumhower • Jim Beard • Bailey G. Dick • John Dorsey

DISTRIBUTION (419) 241-1700, Ext. 234 tpounds@toledofreepress.com

Chris Kozak, Staff Writer Emeritus • Lisa Renee Ward, Staff Writer Emeritus

PRODUCTION Joseph Herr, Photographer

Vicki L. Kroll • Don Lee • Matt Liasse • John P. McCartney • Duane Ramsey

COPY EDITORS/PROOFREADERS Darcy Irons, Marisha Pietrowski, Gary Varney

Toledo Free Press is published every Sunday by Toledo Free Press, LLC, 605 Monroe St., Toledo, OH 43604. Subscription rate: $100 /year. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Copyright 2013, all rights reserved. Publication of advertisements does not imply endorsement of advertisers’ goods or services.

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

November 3, 2013

GUEST COLUMN

Collins is better choice Prepare for a safe winter season for city’s unhoused O

isclaimer: I really like Mayor Mike Bell and Councilman D. Michael Collins. During the past two decades, I have spent much time with each. Both are intelligent, conscientious, bullheaded and extremely qualified to lead this city. My vantage point is from the curb level. The difference between the curb level and the policy level is that at the curb, one can see there is an accident every day at a particular corner. But the policymakers wait until they see the stats and then say, “Last Ken year, there was an accident every day at that intersection; we must do something about it.” This discussion is about the direction of public policy in regards to how and where we spend the tax dollars the federal government sends to us earmarked for helping those most in need.

The 101

Emergency shelters are the landing pads. When life forces you out on the street for any reason, the emergency shelters and their staffs help you stabilize and right your course. Transitional shelters are more like inpatient facilities. You want your kid, father, mother, friend, etc., to go there to get their act together. Coordination is required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and there are two acceptable “coordinated assessment” models: “No Wrong Door” and “Central Access.” No Wrong Door means that no matter which shelter you go to in Toledo, the staff is responsible to help get you housed and will help you get to the shelter most suited to your needs. Central Access means you must call 2-1-1 before a shelter can let you in. For example, to comply, St. Paul’s Community Center had to install a phone in the lobby so people needing shelter could call 2-1-1 before entering. This is the requirement taken directly from the manual: “If your agency serves clients who you suspect may be experiencing a housing crisis, please assist them in dialing 2-1-1.”

The debate

Bell said the approach his administration has chosen, the Central Access model, is what HUD legally requires. This is not true. Collins said the approach the shelters have been taking for the past 25 years, No Wrong Door, is the best and most efficient

model. Local shelters concur.

Just the facts

Two years ago, all of the shelters collectively hired a consultant to assess which model was best for this community. The consultant recommended and the shelters voted to implement No Wrong Door. The shelters preferred this approach as they have been using it for 25 years, so the skill set and experience were already in place. All that was needed was designing a universal intake form and then LESLIE training case managers on that form. This approach was much cheaper and much more efficient. Despite the consultant’s recommendation and a nearly unanimous vote from the experts doing the work at the curb, the city’s Department of Neighborhoods decided instead to take $300,000 from the shelters and create two new levels of bureaucracy: United Way of Greater Toledo got $200,000 to hire case managers and the Toledo-Lucas County Homelessness Board got $100,000 for, well, I am not really sure. This caused some shelters to lay off case managers. For two years in a row Toledo City Council, led in part by Collins, fought the administration and was able to secure funds to keep the shelters open. This year, the Department of Neighborhoods and the Homelessness Board inserted a clause in the contracts that if the shelters lobby for funds from Council they need to repay everything they got this year.

How is it working?

According to the Homelessness Board’s third-quarter report, the average length of stay in emergency shelters increased to an average of 49 days, compared with 38 days in Q2, and 37 days in Q1. Short-term recidivism (what I call the failure rate) more than doubled from 3 percent to 7 percent. With the Bethany House domestic violence shelter no longer funded as part of its system, Central Access sent an individual to a shelter two blocks from her abuser. Many view this mayoral election as a referendum on our community’s compassion. If the current public policy direction is successful, shelters will close. I ask, where will the families go if there is no right door? Vote your conscience. O Ken Leslie is founder of 1Matters and Veterans Matter and an advocate for the unhoused.

ur volunteers at the American Red Cross of ness plan. Meet with everyone in the house and Northwest Ohio respond to local disasters identify responsibilities for each person. Decide every single day. We’ve seen the heartache what to do if you’re separated during a disaster or families face when flash floods rise and all of their be- evacuated. Be informed means having the knowllongings are covered in mud and mold. We’ve helped edge and training to react appropriately. Take CPR and first aid training so you neighborhoods pick up the pieces can help save a life. Have emergency after tornadoes swept through and contact cards for everyone in your leveled their homes. We’ve watched family and keep them in your car. first responders pull people, even chilDownload one of our free smartdren, from burning homes. We’ve seen phone apps to learn more. the anguish of lives lost too soon. It’s Before I became involved with because of these things that we urge the Red Cross, I never gave a second you to be prepared for disasters. thought to being prepared. I thought The biggest threat to local families disasters would never happen to me. every day isn’t floods or tornadoes; And if they did, I would be OK. I it’s fire. Last year, we at the Red Cross Tim YENRICK never realized how important it is to responded to more than 600 of them in our community. Most happen during the fall and get a kit, make a plan and be informed. For example, winter months when the weather turns cold and the having copies of your birth certificate, deed and Soheat comes on. They usually take place in the middle cial Security cards is crucial to receiving assistance of the night, too — because of a cooking accident, for- after a fire. If you don’t have these things, it can delay gotten fireplace embers or an overturned space heater. the process for days, weeks or even months. There We urge you to Be Red Cross Ready. The motto are some really smart things, too — like having extra we like to use is, “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be medication, pairs of eyeglasses and food you can Informed.” Get a kit means creating a disaster kit prepare without heating it up. I didn’t think of these specific to your needs. Pack nonperishable food things before, but now I do. On behalf of the Red Cross, we wish you a safe and water, flashlights, blankets, maps of the area, a change of clothing, a first aid kit and more. Visit winter season. O arcbrcr.org to enter your family’s information and find out just how much of everything you need. Tim Yenrick is regional CEO of the American Red Make a plan means having a disaster prepared- Cross of Northwest Ohio.

n MILLER CONTINUED FROM 3 It was in a Monroe County Meijer where I met a man who leaned conspiratorially close to my shopping cart and said, “No offense, but you know those guys were queer, right?” “Pardon?” I asked. “Queen, was queer,” he said with a lowered voice, and I realized he was referring to the black T-shirt my then 4-year-old son was wearing, which featured the band’s name in silver. “You know, I thought you should know if your boy is gonna wear that shirt,” he said. “You want him and his brother to grow up to be men, right?” The man, wearing jeans, a navy blue T-shirt with the “arrow” logo for The Who and a sunburn that was either permanent or extremely recent, playfully traded mock shoulder punches with his son, a thin but tough-looking boy in his early teens. “I’m not sure what else they would grow up to be,” I said. The sunburned man and his son made their way through the line as we did, and as we headed for the door, he made a half-salute and said, “Hey, dude, no offense. God bless.” I stepped closer to him and,

with a wide smile, said, “You know, Pete Townshend and Freddie Mercury had more in common than a love for rock opera and power chords.” I did not look back to see his reaction. Recently, at the Meijer on Central Avenue (I know, I visit a lot of Meijer stores. I could be a secret shopper.) I saw a portly fellow with wild wiry hair walking between aisles with a faded yellow T-shirt with huge letters reading “I (heart) to fart.” It’s amusing that someone somewhere thought they could make money by producing such a T-shirt; it makes me grimace to know there actually is a market for such a product. I suppose the people who see the man walking toward them should be grateful for the warning, and it’s snotty of me to judge the man for his choice of clothing, but is “I (heart) to fart” really the statement you want to make to society? I am not quarreling with the sentiment, but of all the messages and all the thoughts and all the beliefs you could share with us, you opened your T-shirt drawer this morning and chose “I (heart) to fart?” That’s what sums up your notion of a first impres-

sion? Even “Sh*t happens” illustrates a certain Zen approach to life, but what are you adding to the conversation of life when you wear an “I (heart) to fart” T-shirt? It was interesting to me how many people, all of them men, would smile, nod or fist-bump the man as they passed him, as if they were congratulating him for his sartorial bravery. I envisioned a number of them running to their home computers to place their orders for the shirts. What you wear on the boardwalk with other drunk adults is one thing; what you wear to grocery stores where families and kids are is another. If you live with a mental and spiritual mindset that allows you to be at peace while walking around in T-shirts with impolite and uncivil messages on them, nothing I can say will change your mind or change your heart. But, hey, “I (heart) to fart” guy, you might want to consider changing your pants. O Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledo freepress.com.

ToledoFreePress.com

Where you can expect Food to Simply Taste Better!

meat

USDA CHOICE Angus English Roast

369

lb.

Opinion

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Crockery Gourmet Seasoning Packets 2.5 oz. 2/$3

Fresh FarmRaised Atlantic Salmon Steaks lb.

Fresh Select Shucked Oysters $14.99/ lb. Grouper Fillets $9.99/ lb. (Previously Frozen)

PRoduce

GRoceRY

899

Red Bell Peppers or Mini Carrots 1 lb.

Call us Today and Place your order for ALL NATURAL, Free-Range Bowman Landes Turkey or Turkey Breast Perrysburg 419-872-6900 or Maumee 419-794-4000

499

ea.

Bonne Maman Preserves, Jelly or Marmalade 13 oz. 2/$7 Blue Diamond Nut Thins 4.25 oz. 2/$5

Folger’s Coffee 22.6-33.9 oz. or Newman’s Own and Caribou K-Cups 22.6-33.9 oz. or 12 ct.

799

ea.

Prego Pasta Sauce 14.25-24 oz. 3/$5 Jif Peanut Butter 28 oz. $3.99 ea.

Fresh East Coast Cod Fillets $ 10.99 lb.

Sargento Shredded Cheese 5-8oz.

(WCM Dinner Rolls 6-12 ct. 2/$5)

99¢

ea.

5 $10 for

Simply 100% Juices or Cranberry Cocktail 59 oz. 2/$7 Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt 5.3 oz. 10/$10

lb.

WCM In-House Made Betty’s Salad $4.99 ea. WCM In-House Made Macaroni Salad $3.99/ lb.

“Sliced to Order”

Thumann’s Black Forest Ham $ 7.99 lb. (WCM Italian Bread 16 oz. 2/$4)

MacQueen’s Fresh-Pressed Apple Cider 1 Gallon $ 3.99 ea.

WCM Cinnamon Rolls 6 ct. or Walt’s Cookies 6 ct.

fRoZeN

WCM In-House Made Chicken Chunks

2 $6 for

Coto de Hayas 2011 Garnacha Centenaria 750 ml. $17.99 ea. Save $4.00 91 Points & “Smart Buy,” Wine Spectator Toledo’s Great Black Swamp Brewing Co. “ Midnight Sun” 22 oz. bottle $7.99 ea.

599

ea.

Ballreich’s Potato Chips 1 lb. or Unique Pretzels 8-11 oz.

Buy One, Get One FREE! Ruffles or Tostitos Chips 7.5-13 oz. 2/$6 Biscoff European Cookies 8.8 oz. 2/$6

WCM Apple or Dutch Apple Pie 8 in. $ 6.99 ea.

Kellogg’s Special K 11-13.1 oz., Lucky Charms 16 oz., Cinnamon Toast Crunch 16.2 oz., Cheerios 18 oz. or Quaker Instant Oatmeal 8-10 ct.

2 for $6

laRGe selectIoN of GluteN-fRee Items

www.waltchurchillsmarket.com

Facebook @ waltchurchillsmarket » Twitter @ waltchurchills

Effective 11/04/13-11/10/13 » We reserve the right to limit quantities. No sales to vendors. » Not responsible for pictorial or typographical errors.

BeVeRaGes

WINe & BeeR

WCM Assorted Muffins 4 ct. $3.99 ea. WCM Lumpy Cakes or Single Layer White Cake 8 in. $6.99 ea. Tosalet 2009 Priorat 750 ml. $17.99 ea. Save $8.00 90 Points, Wine Advocate

Stouffer’s Family Size Meals 29.5-40 oz.

Healthy Choice or Marie Callender Dinners or Pot Pie 9-19 oz. 2/$5 Breyer’s Ice Cream 1.5 qt. $2.99 ea.

sNacKs

BaKeRY

delIcatesseN

Organic Grape Tomatoes 1 pt. 2/$5 Texas Rio Star Grapefruit 5 lb. bag $3.99 ea.

699

Bragg’s Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar 32 oz.

From Georges Bank, Mass.

daIRY

seafood

WCM In-House Made Kielbasa $3.49/ lb. Beeler’s Bone-In Pork Chops $3.99/ lb.

sPecIaltY foods

November 3, 2013

Pepsi Cola Products 12 oz. 12 pk., 24 oz. 6 pk. or 12 oz. 8 pk.

3 $13 for

Starbuck’s Frappucino 9.5 oz. 4 pk. or Aquafina Water 16.9 oz. 24 pk. $4.99 ea. Coca Cola Products 16.9 oz. 6 pk. 2/$5

Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

November 3, 2013

TOLEDO CITY COUNCIL

By Bailey G. Dick

Toledo Free Press Political Writer bdick@toledofreepress.com

Six spots. Twelve candidates. A dozen candidates are vying for at-large Toledo City Council seats, hoping to bring fresh ideas and familiar names into Council chambers. In this year’s race, a mix of incumbents, names known across the city and newcomers taking their first stab at politics are facing off. Among the candidates are a pair of South Toledoans with a shared vision of the city. Sandy Spang and Rob Ludeman grew up in the same neighborhood; a few years ago, Ludeman nominated Spang for a vacant seat on Council. And while the pair are technically running against each other in the election, they both hope to be elected and see some of South Toledo’s successes implemented throughout the city. Ludeman was the District 2 representative on Council from 1994 to 2007, and was elected to his at-large seat in 2009. He said he enjoyed representing South Toledo’s District 2, but has particularly liked spending the past four years representing the city as a whole. “I enjoy being at-large, and getting into other parts of the city. I want to do that again,” he said. As a veteran Realtor, Ludeman said one of the city’s biggest challenges is dealing with blighted neighborhoods and high occupant turnover rates. “Toledo’s properties are occupied more than 50 percent by renters,” Ludeman said. “Whole neighborhoods need to be redone, and little neighborhood by little neighborhood, we need to re-establish those areas. They need grocery stores, gas stations and coffee houses.” A newcomer to the Toledo political scene, Spang said she knows a thing or two about revitalizing areas with small businesses. Her coffee shop, Plate 21, is located in a commercial strip in South Toledo that sat vacant for years. The duo hopes to bring their respective professional experiences to the political arena. “Rob understands housing needs, and I’m passionate about small business. You need both of those things to have a neighborhood. It’s easy to say South Toledo is solid, but I want to bring that to other neighborhoods, and bring that to the central city,” Spang said. The duo believes the at-large seats are the perfect vehicle for implementing big ideas like neighborhood

redevelopment. “At-large councilmembers are the gatekeepers of long-term vision. With a strong mayor system, we can have new ideas every four years, and ideas are sometimes not brought to fruition. Because Council doesn’t turn over every four years, we need to hold Council accountable for long-term vision,” Spang said. Ludeman said the pair has something else that sets them apart from other candidates: attitude. “We’re approaching this with positivity. We’re not candidates who tell people how bad things are. We know how great of a place Toledo is to raise a family,” Ludeman said. “We are going to approach the next four years positively, and find positive solutions to problems.”

toledo free press photo and cover photo by Christie Materni

South Toledoans could swing mayoral election

Sevens are strong

Looking historically at the way voters in Spang and Ludeman’s native South Toledo show up for elections, there is some speculation that candidates from District 2, which includes mayoral candidate D. Michael Collins, could fare extremely well in the Nov. 5 election. Political pollster Stan Odesky has been forecasting elections in the Toledo area for more than 40 years using precinct turnout data. Odesky said that historically, precincts 16 and 7, which are home to Spang and Ludeman, respectively, have “pretty high” turnout rates. Collins lives in District 7. “The 7s are pretty strong, and 16s are reasonably strong,” Odesky said. Odesky said in the last mayoral election, South Toledo precincts accounted for about 16,500 of the approximately 68,000 votes cast. Ludeman and Spang said they hope to have the backing of their own neighborhoods, and noted that having a South Toledo bloc on City Council could benefit the city. “We have a very strong representation of South Toledo on City Council currently, and that tends to be a very positive thing politically,” Ludeman said. And while neither Spang nor Ludeman could say for sure if a strong South Toledo showing in the City Council race would translate to a victory for the area’s own mayoral candidate, they did say they were excited to work with whomever is elected. “Rob and I will be able to work with either administration, and both candidates want to move the city forward,” Spang said. O

SANDY Spang and Rob Ludeman were among the top vote-getters in the September primary election for CITY Council.

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Community

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Council candidates include incumbents, activists Joe Celusta

What makes Joe Celusta a good candidate for City Council is his compassion, the businessman said in a recent interview. “It’s a matter of walking 10 miles in each person’s shoes,” he said. “I think my workability with Council and my memory and history makes me pretty good. I am not an experienced politician. I’m an experienced businessman.” The first-time candidate calls himself a “jack of all trades and a master of none”; however, he was a business owner for several years and just recently was senior manager of a $1.5 billion company, TrueNorth Energy. “Money and budgets I’m well versed in,” he said. Celusta, 49, wants to be a City Council member “because we need a change,” he said. When Celusta’s employer wanted to build its headquarters in Toledo, the city didn’t just drop the ball — it never picked it up, he said. No one from the city responded to phone calls and the city lost a huge opportunity when TrueNorth built in Brecksville, Ohio, instead, he said. “This is my hometown and nobody’s taking care of it,” he said. “They (City Council) take care of basic ne-

cessities but they’re not out working with citizens. They’re not keeping their ear to the ground.” As a City Council member, Celusta said he would work on fixing Toledo’s many dilapidated homes by involving Habitat for Humanity. There are many that need to be razed, but he said many CELUSTA are repairable. City Council should pay attention to Tampa, Fla., he said, where they have dealt successfully with deteriorated neighborhoods. Celusta will also work toward creating a master plan for Toledo’s utilities, something that is sadly lacking, he said. Right now, he believes water bills are at least 30 percent too high and nobody has a plan for how to reduce them. “My bill for water is as expensive as gas and electric,” Celusta said. “There’s no direction whatsoever in the water department. There’s no transparency.” If he wins, Celusta said he will work with companies to make sure

they reinvest in schools, much like those in Maumee and Perrysburg. “We need to put more money into schools,” he said. Celusta is the fifth generation of his family in Toledo. His great-grandfather sat on City Council and his grandfather was Ollie Czelusta, Toledo mayor in the 1950s. His father was a district attorney and assistant law director for the city and his mother taught ESL for Toledo Public Schools (TPS). Celusta talked about some of the things that made Toledo great, like The Toledo Plan. He said the city was once ranked 13th among the top wealthiest cities and is now ranked 165th among the poorest. “How do you go from richest to poorest?” he said. He promised to work to make the city great again. “I want to use the (same) tools to build a new foundation. I want to bring Toledo to its golden age,” he said. “We don’t have reciprocity any more. We’ve lost all our ethics and I want to bring that back to Toledo. “It’s about bringing Toledo back to Toledo and I think that Council is just paying the bills right now. And it’s time for Council to get active.” O — Danielle Stanton

William Delaney

A new name on the ballot this year is not unfamiliar to the people of Toledo. William Delaney ran his own business for 28 years and now that he’s retired, he wants to turn his efforts to the city. “I don’t want to be a politician; I’m a businessman,” Delaney said. “There’s a lot of problems we have here and I’d like to have a chance to put my two cents in and try to straighten things up.” He has attended City Council meetings for more than a decade, and said he is running as an independent candidate. He said because of this, he is not beholden to the unions or political parties and he will not vote based on those groups’ beliefs. “People know me in this town, know that I fight for their rights,” he said. “I’m honest, I can be trusted. I dig into things. … I have time now to look hard at some situations in town and go to places that sometimes politicians don’t go to.” Delaney said the people of Toledo have been forgotten, and he wants to make a difference for them. “I want to work with the attitude and appearance of this community,” he said. “We need to get people friendly again.”

He suggested putting people in underprivileged parts of the city to work cleaning, painting and restoring their neighborhoods. He said that would improve Toledo’s image and give people work at the same time. Another issue he feels needs addressed is small business fees. “I have an issue with fees DELANEY in this town,” he said. “We are being feed to death as small businesses. They’re unnecessary.” Delaney said small businesses in Toledo pay an annual fire inspection fee that businesses in other Ohio cities do not pay. “[The Bell administration] keeps saying they want to do this one-stop shop and I haven’t seen it,” he said. “People want to get things done and are stymied by fees. It’s just a money grab by the city.” Money is Delaney’s biggest reason for running. He said he wants to find out where the taxpayers’ money is going and he wants to tell the public. n COUNCIL CONTINUES ON 8

It’s like having front Row seats for the best show In town See the best fall color in your Metroparks. Pick up or download an Autumn Adventure brochure and walk at least eight trails before November 18. Walk on your own or register for a guided walk with a naturalist at MetroparksToledo.com. See you on the trail! upComInG EVEnts Red lanterns Aldo Leopold wrote about the beautiful “red lanterns” of the meadows in late autumn. Learn what he was talking about and ponder other quotes by the noted conservationist and author during a walk on the Green Trail. Saturday, November 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Secor, NCNP parking lot Free | Registration

a D V E n t u R E mEtRopaRks of thE tolEDo aREa

sEptEmbER 1 – noVEmbER 18, 2013

metroparks mutts: howl-n-prowl autumn adventure Join fellow dog lovers and start fall off right. This is a special night hike for dogs and their owners to sniff out the scents and sounds of the park in the dark. Dogs must have shots, get along with other dogs and be on standard six foot lead. Sunday, November 17, 7 to 8 p.m. Wildwood Preserve, Metz Visitor Center Free | Reservations

Community

n COUNCIL CONTINUED FROM 7 The current government is not transparent enough for him. “It’s being wasted,” he said. “Our money has been thrown away. We’ve spent $79.2 million on companies that don’t exist, have never gotten started or have just left town and left us holding the bag. … It’s surprising how much money has been spent in this community. We need to spend it on the people.” O — Holly Tuey

Theresa Gabriel

Independent Theresa Gabriel has nearly 50 years of experience in city government. She said her experience will make her a good voice for seniors. “Seniors need a voice and deserve a voice on Toledo City Council and I want to be that voice,” Gabriel said in a recent telephone interview. “That doesn’t mean I won’t serve all other voices, but that is my passion.” A longtime Republican, Gabriel, 76, began in city government in 1963 and has worked for eight mayors. She served as asGABRIEL sistant chief of staff, director of human resources and director of parks and recreation. She was commissioner of Street, Bridges & Harbor and clerk for Toledo Municipal Court. She retired in 2005 but returned when Carty Finkbeiner was re-elected mayor that same year. She said she is not content to just sit behind a desk and give directives. She credits her hard work ethic for her success in city government. “I started as a clerk, making barely $200 a month, so I was moving on up the ladder,” she said. “I didn’t just walk through the door and become a commissioner; I had to work for it. “I love working. I enjoy working with people. That’s just my nature. I’m a people person. I’m a hard taskmaster. I’m not just a person to sit behind a desk and tell you what to do.” Gabriel is running on a platform of public safety, rebuilding infrastructure and revitalizing neighborhoods. Seniors deserve to have safe neighborhoods and should not be afraid to leave their homes at night, she said. Part of that is making sure young people have jobs and are gainfully occupied. A good Council member needs to care about dilapidated houses in the entire city, not just in their district, she said. “I detest when people compare Toledo to Detroit. I detest that,” she said. “Detroit is a metropolis and Toledo is a middle-class city. The idea is to make sure that Toledo never becomes a Detroit.” Gabriel also has more than 20

November 3, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com years’ experience as a business owner. She ran the Peacock Café in UpTown for 22 years before turning it over to her son in 2007. She was the first female president of AFSCME Local 2058 and has more than 30 years’ experience with organized labor. She is also a volunteer for the NAACP. “It seems to me society has changed,” Gabriel said. “It’s all about the almighty dollar. You should be compensated enough to pay your bills and maintain your property but someone has got to help those that can’t. I don’t believe in negative politics,” she said. “I believe I can offer some recommendations and some ideas that would be different than what I’m hearing or reading in the media.” Gabriel said she originally planned to run for mayor but her 97-year-old mother influenced her to run for City Council. “Mother said, ‘You should run for City Council and help senior citizens. And I thought about it and said, ‘You’re right.’ Since I have this knowledge and experience, I said, ‘Mom, that’s what I’ll do.’” O — Danielle Stanton

Adam Martinez

South Toledoan Adam Martinez hopes to retain his at-large Council seat. A native Toledoan and graduate of Lourdes College, Martinez said he became politically involved as a child and has been committed to public service since. Martinez said he is proud of what he has accomplished during his time on Council. “I was an advocate for small businesses, bringing lending when no financial institution would,” Martinez said. “Above all, I was able to work with my fellow colleagues to get things done, and I want to continue to serve.” One platform issue Martinez is paying close attention to is neighborhood redevelopment. As the owner of a rental property in Toledo, Martinez said he sees firsthand the necessity of reinvesting money into struggling neighborhoods. “People need to have a livable place to live, and I always try to practice what I preach. We need to encourage more people to do that,” Martinez said. He said he plans to focus on what he calls “legacy neighborhoods,” areas that are historically important to the city but are now struggling with blight. “It’s essential to revitalize neighborhoods,” Martinez said. “My first four years [on Council] were focused on economic development issues, and over the past few months I started working on big-picture neighborhood issues.” Martinez said the key to turning neighborhoods around are what he calls DINKs, or those in households with a double income and no kids. He said that by incentivizing reinvestment in legacy neighborhoods

and corridors across the city, Toledo can attract DINKs and turn neighborhoods around. Martinez said he was happy with his showing in the primary, MARTINEZ and felt confident about his chances before making an announcement last week that he was supporting Mayor Mike Bell in the mayoral race. “I’d like to believe I will keep my seat, but it depends on voter turnout,” Martinez said. “Since endorsing Bell, I’ve seen an uptick across party lines.” And while Martinez would like to win on a personal level, he said it isn’t about his own victory. “I really enjoy public service and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I don’t do this for the money. But it’s up to the voters to decide if they want to renew my contract,” Martinez said. O — Bailey G. Dick

Jack Ford

The candidate with the biggest office on their resume is former Mayor Jack Ford. Ford served as Toledo’s mayor from 2002-06, and was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives for seven years. Ford has also held a seat on the Toledo Public Schools Board of Education. After a strong showing in the September primary, Ford is hoping to have a similarly successful result in this week’s election. He said he believes voters are attracted to his years of experience in government. “I have experience working at different levels of government, and I’m going to use that experience to make informed decisions while I am on Council, in relation to policy decisions and budget,” Ford said. Many politicians with dozens of years of experience might consider throwing in the towel. But not Ford. He decided to run again after seeing prevailing issues facing Toledo. “I saw the deterioration of housing

in the older neighborhoods, and no one else was talking about it. I decided to make blight a big issue in my campaign, and in a way, it has become one of the big issues in this election,” Ford said. In addition to fighting blight, Ford said there are other things he is focusing on as well. “Financial management of taxpayer funds is always a big FORD issue. Cutting red tape is a big issue for business people who want to start or to continue to grow a business inside Toledo. And we don’t have coordinated efforts on youth programs and crime reduction,” Ford said. And while Ford said his experience will play to his advantage, he was quick to point out that fresh ideas are needed in government as well. n COUNCIL CONTINUES ON 10

$ 99 LARGE Double Topper

Large pizza with cheese and your choice of any 2 toppings

LIMITED TIME OFFERS. PRICES, TAX, DELIVERY AREAS & CHARGES MAY VARY BY LOCATION. EXCLUDES OTHER OFFERS. PARTICIPATING LOCATIONS ONLY.

Imagine their future with you.

November is National Adoption Month. Consider adopting a sibling group from Lucas County Children Services. To learn how, call 419-213-3336 or visit www.lucaskids.net.

9528-713

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

A Toledo tradition since 2005

Community

4420 South Ave. • Toledo, Ohio 43615 • 419-531-4201

10 Community n COUNCIL CONTINUED FROM 8 “I’ve had the broadest experience of anyone running, and experience counts. Some of the decisions made in the future need someone with history to base their decisions on. My experience will help with that, but you need a mix of experience and new people with new ideas,” Ford said. O — Bailey G. Dick

Sean Nestor

Sean Nestor is an Information Technologies professional and Green Party candidate. Nestor made it past the primary in September and said he has been campaigning at a grassroots level during the past several months. “I’ve been doing a lot of human billboarding at busy intersections, canvassing in certain neighborhoods, and chiefly doing word-of-mouth,” Nestor said. Nestor said despite placing 12th in the primary, he is proud of his showing. “You can always be better, but I was happy to be the first NESTOR Green Council candidate to get past the primary,” he said. “One of my goals was to help build resources for the party, and I was endorsed by the Police Patrolman’s Association and the Toledo Firefighters Local 92.” Nestor said endorsements and support, despite not being a member of a major party, gave him a boost of confidence. “It was great news to receive, and some of the biggest motivators to keep going. They knew that we were not fringe candidates screaming weird messages, but that we were running a serious campaign with serious issues,” Nestor said.

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com Some of those issues include taking care of streets, sewers, water treatment facilities and water resources. “Businesses don’t want to come to a town with potholes, sinkholes and boil advisories,” Nestor said. Nestor said he would be a “watchdog on the budget,” who would fight to know details of emergency funding bills before voting on them. Keeping with his Green Party roots, Nestor said he hoped to promote community gardens in the city, following the example of the urban agriculture happening in Cleveland. “It would give people something to do to prevent blight,” Nestor said. “A lot of groups are engaging in this, but we could create a zoning designation, and make sure those places have protection by the city.” Nestor said he is most proud of his fundraising efforts during his campaign. He said he has refused to accept money from PACs or special interest groups, and will only take money from individuals. He said he has raised about $13,000 so far. Nestor said he knows it’s tough for a candidate to jump from 12th place to sixth in the election, but he will use what he has learned from the race in the future. “I plan to persist with my ideas, keep an eye on Council, and call them on issues when they mess up,” Nestor said. “I have built a good relationship with the candidates already, and that will persist after the election.” O — Bailey G. Dick

James Nowak

A lifelong Toledoan and small business lawyer, James Nowak said he is in touch with average citizens. Nowak is a Point Place resident who is a neighborhood business association president and is involved with economic development on Lagrange Street. Nowak said he decided to run after

Homespun Holiday Art & Craft Show Saturday, Nov. 9 • 10-5 Sunday, Nov. 10 • 10-4

seeing Toledo’s loss of population, as well as loss of businesses. “If we don’t do something, they’ll turn off the lights because all the jobs and people are in the suburbs,” Nowak said. “We need to make it easier for people to do business in the NOWAK city. City workers need to be a friend to help, not fine people. A lot of people say the city doesn’t care about them, so they move.” Nowak said his knowledge of small businesses will help change the city’s economic future, and that he hopes to hold government accountable for providing essential services. “One of my pledges is to make sure government is accountable to everybody. We need to fix roads and potholes, and we need to provide good police protection,” Nowak said. He said an incident in his Point Place neighborhood spurred his interest in running for Council. One night this summer, Nowak said, graffiti popped up in the neighborhood overnight and residents became concerned about a lack of police presence. Nowak said the idea of hiring a private security company to patrol city streets seemed absurd to him. Nowak said everyday concerns like his are driving businesses and residents out of the city. “I’ve run my own little business and I’ve lived in the city all my life. I understand what average people and small businesses need and want,” he said. “People are just trying to live and make a living in a city that is really great. And people who come in from out of town are really impressed with the city. We just need to improve our own self-image.” O — Bailey G. Dick For those who follow their own stars: One you can drive.

4280 DeversMB_TFP102_Layout 1 10/1/13 10:42 AM Page 1

Steve Steel

Steve Steel, a native of Oregon, is one of the four incumbents running for re-election to Toledo City Council. Steel, a Democrat, has served on City Council since 2009, appointed to replace Mark Sobczak in July 2009 and retaining his seat in the general election later that year. Before joining Toledo City Council, Steel, who holds a master’s degree in education and a Ph.D in American culture studies from Bowling Green State University, was elected to the board of education for TPS in 2005, serving as board president from 2006-09. As chair of the Youth, Parks, Recreation, Community Relations and Education Committee, Steel has made city beautification a top priority during his four years as councilman at-large. “We looked at new or improving existing recreational opportunities in the city parks in order to provide things that people in Toledo want to do. Specifically, we worked to revitalize youth STEEL programs in the city,” Steel said. Steel has also been influential in implementing Toledo’s Complete Streets program, a new method for planning the city’s infrastructure improvements that not only takes into account automobile traffic but also pedestrian, bicycle and mass transit needs. “Perhaps the biggest thing I’ve been working on for a long time, and it’s finally getting under way, is Toledo Business Express,” Steel said. n COUNCIL CONTINUES ON 11

2014who Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class ForThe those follow their own stars: One you can drive. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class For those who follow their own stars: One you can drive. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class

Stranahan Great Hall 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo Jump start your holiday shopping with handmade cras and gis by our juried craers. Collecting household and pet food items to beneﬁt the Toledo Seagate Food Bank and Planned Pethood. Free Admission & Parking www.toledocraftsmansguild.org • (419) 842-1925

November 3, 2013 AFTER-HOURS

Sick? How to Get Well Soon

Cindy Edwards-Tuttle, FNP-BC Internal Medicine

Getting sick is never convenient. School schedules, long work days and mounting responsibilities can sometimes delay health care, making a neglected health issue worse. Here’s how to make your health a priority: See your primary care provider. Your primary care provider should be your first resource for health care. They know your medical history and understand your health goals. And seeing them regularly may even decrease your need for sick visits. Keeping an established annual visit with your primary care provider is important in the patient-provider relationship to ensure quality care and a healthy life. Know your other healthcare options. If your doctor cannot see you for a same day visit when you’re sick, consider your next best option. ProMedica AfterHours works as an extension of your primary care provider’s office, with the advantage of the same co-pay. ProMedica AfterHours treats non-emergency conditions such as sinus infections, pinkeye and minor illnesses. If your health needs are more urgent, ProMedica Urgent Care and ProMedica St. Luke’s Emergency Express treats minor injuries or emergencies that may require stitches, X-rays or diagnostic studies. Help yourself heal. Download our “Know Where to Go” guide to know your healthcare options for getting well soon.

promedica.org/doctors 5570 Monroe Street • Sylvania, OH • 419-885-5111 • www.vindevers.com 5570 Monroe Street • Sylvania, OH • 419-885-5111 • www.vindevers.com

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

n COUNCIL CONTINUED FROM 10 Modeled after NYC Business Express, Toledo Business Express will provide a user-friendly online portal for business owners to quickly and easily look up things like city ordinances, how to get or renew a permit or how to pay a fee. “If you’re a business owner thinking of moving your operation to Toledo or if you want to, say, open

a coffee shop Downtown, this will tell you what you have to do. You don’t have to come Downtown or come to Government Center. You can do this from your desk.” Toledo is currently competing for a $100,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Development to implement the plan. During the past four years, particularly early in his tenure when the city’s financial hardship was greatest,

H E A R T A N D VA S C U L A R S E R V I C E S

Experts in all areas. Including yours.

877-303-5558

| promedica.org/heart |

THE MIKE BELL

RECORD

Community 11.

A Toledo tradition since 2005 Steel said he worked with fellow Councilmen George Sarantou and Tom Waniewski to “go line by line” to trim the city’s budget. “We squeezed about $2 million to make it as tight as possible,” he said. Steel also wrote legislation that altered a renewal for the Council members’ desktop computers to get them laptops instead. “A city government goes through an unbelievable amount of paper. We’re now able to take our computers with us into meetings, and we don’t have to print off things like agendas. It makes us much more efficient and cost-effective.” Steel also voted to put all city records online so citizens can look up forms, ordinances and past Council meeting minutes from home without using paper. Looking ahead, Steel said he wants to address what he calls the “baseline issues” affecting Toledo, such as job growth, quality city services and public safety. In Steel’s view, the best way to accomplish this is to “make Toledo an eminently livable city” by making it walkable and bike-friendly. “Where we compete with other cities is with our assets that make people want to live here, like the symphony, the museum, the zoo, the waterfront, our sports and our low cost of living. These are major selling points for our city,” he said. Specifically, Steel believes the city should focus on making Toledo a place where young professionals and “creatives” want to live. One way the city has started doing this is by working with The Arts Commission to get artists involved

via financial incentives in Toledo’s infrastructure improvements, such as artist-designed bike racks and the Toledo Poetry Sidewalks project. “Why does every sidewalk or crosswalk have to look the same? Why can’t we make them interesting and unique? This will make our city more interesting, unique and ultimately more attractive,” Steel said. O — Kevin Moore

Larry Sykes

Decades spent in politics and working to benefit the community have led Larry Sykes to Toledo City Council, where he, like many others, is hoping to make a difference. Sykes is a retired vice president of community affairs for Fifth Third Bank, but that is only part of his story. He has served on the TPS Board of Education for the past 14 years, and said he worked on campaigns for former Toledo Mayor Jack Ford and Rep. Marcy Kaptur. “I’m the best qualified to run,” Sykes said. “My life has been dedicated to public service. … I have a plan to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Toledo. Everything I’ve done has been in that direction — to improve quality of life for the citizens.” Sykes said his experience and knowledge will lend themselves to his goal to serve the public. Although he is leaving the school board, he has made contacts there he believes will help him should he move on to City Council. If elected, Sykes said he wants to work on creating jobs for Toledoans of all ages. He said he will reach out

to local, regional and national companies to bring opportunities to the Glass City. For small businesses, he has plans for cutting tax rates. “For businesses with less than 50 people, we could look at cutting taxes in half for the first two years and then reassessing after that,” he said. “That gives them the opportunity to hire more people.” He said he also wants to focus on opportunities for young people in their teens and early 20s. He said he would look into what the job market is calling for and then direct the city’s youth in those directions. Sykes said as a member of City Council, he would seek an increase in police and fire staffing, to be paid for by reallocating funds SYKES already in the city. He said he does not plan to raise taxes. “I’d like to focus the city’s resources on the scourge that is domestic violence,” he said. Sykes said his plan to raise money for the city is to increase the tax base by focusing on economic development. Helping people find work and purchase homes is all part of that plan. Sykes said he has the time to talk to residents and has a hands-on approach to serving the people of Toledo. O — Holly Tuey EDITOR’S NOTE: Council candidate Shaun Enright did not participate in interviews with Toledo Free Press.

The time is

Adult and transfer students: Finish your bachelor’s degree at The University of Toledo Now, get your very own success coach —your personal guide from the first day of classes until graduation. Now, make the most of your transfer credits and life and work experiences. Now, visit our adult and transfer student services in one convenient location in Rocket Hall.

RE-ELECT

MIKE BELL MAYOR

Now, earn scholarships to help cover your cost of books, along with our affordable tuition rates.

Join us for information sessions for UT @TPS program 11/12 at the Lagrange Library from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Paid for by Mike Bell for Toledo, 2513 Portsmouth, Toledo, Ohio 43613, Norman A. Bell Sr., Treasurer

11/19 at the Mott Library from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Apply now for spring semester at utoledo.edu/admission/transfer

12 Business Link

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

November 3, 2013

EBE Hall of Fame

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

This year’s Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence Hall of Fame (EBE HOF) ceremony will mark the 25th year of honoring regional businesses and entrepreneurs for excellence. Larry and Adam Davenport have been the driving force behind the mission since Larry brought Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year awards program to the region in 1989. In 2006, with Ernst & Young’s blessing, his son Adam replaced the program with the newly formed EBE HOF. Larry retired from Ernst & Young in 2007 and is now a principal with Davenport, Hanf and Co. (DHC). Adam is EBE HOF chairman and president of Gorillas & Gazelles, the founding sponsor of EBE HOF. Including this year’s winners, more than 200 individuals from more than 150 companies have been recognized locally, Larry said. “We’ve very, very proud of the opportunity we’ve had to bring companies and their employees forth for recognition over the years,” Larry said. “Many entrepreneurs go their whole lives without receiving any recognition whatsoever, and these are the people who drive the economy.” Larry said he’s especially proud to see his son carrying on his work. “The transition to Gorillas & Gazelles went famously and, as a result, the program has actually grown under their leadership,” Larry said. “It’s a tremendous sense of pride to watch Adam take a program I truly loved and grow it and make it better.” Five area businesses will be honored at this year’s induction ceremony Nov. 7. Networking will start at 5:30 p.m. at The Pinnacle, 1772 Indian Wood Circle, in Maumee, with the ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Tickets are $85. Honored for business excellence will be The Danberry Co. Realtors, Meyer Hill Lynch and Ed Beczynski, owner of The Blarney Irish Pub, Focaccia’s Deli and Café Focaccia’s.

Honored for excellence in family business will be Toft Dairy. Honored for innovation in business will be MAGNETNotes. “This year, our winners range from a real estate agency to a 100-year-old dairy to an inventor,” Adam said. “We find more and more companies each year that are doing spectacular things that a lot of the region might not know about. We’ve already got a couple of nominees in for next year.” Nominees come from businesses within about 60 miles of Toledo and winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges. The winner of the DavenportLongenecker Lifetime Achievement Award for Business Advocacy is announced at the event. “They don’t get any better than our winner this year,” Larry said. “He’s never been honored by us and it’s overdue.” More than 700 people representing more than 300 regional companies attended last year’s ceremony, Adam said. “Every year it is amazing to meet the honorees and hear their inspiring stories,” said Megan Stockburger, owner of Events by Megan and a member of the EBE HOF’s executive committee. “I promise that after attending this event you will walk away refreshed and eager to go back to work.” Scott Libbe, executive vice president of Rudolph|Libbe, has attended the ceremony since 1989, when Fritz Rudolph, who founded Rudolph|Libbe with his brother Phil Rudolph Sr. and cousin Allan Libbe, was recognized with an Entrepreneur of the Year award. “The EBE HOF is a tremendous honor and well-deserved recognition for local businesses. This award does so much to encourage and recognize the courage and hard work of entrepreneurs and family businesses,” Libbe wrote in an email to Toledo Free Press. “It’s exciting to learn about all of the different entrepreneurial and growing businesses here in Northwest Ohio. Years of hard work go into making a business successful, and I enjoy being there to congratulate these committed people and their companies.” John Szuch, executive officer at Signature Bank, also attends the event

toledo free press photo by sarah ottney

Event marks 25 years of local business awards

From left, Adam Davenport, Megan Stockburger and Larry Davenport of tHe ebe hall of fame.

every year. He and Bob Sullivan won an Entrepreneur of the Year award in the mid-1990s for founding Capital Bank. “It’s great there’s an event honoring entrepreneurs because entrepreneurs are the key to the growth of the American economy,” Szuch said. “This event is a real celebration of business. It’s gone through a couple of modifications over the years, but I’m really glad the legacy was carried on from Ernst & Young to Gorillas & Gazelles. It’s an event all the business community looks forward to every year.” Event sponsors are Bowling Green State University’s College of Business and BGSU’s Dallas-Hamilton Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, which focuses on creating student-owned busi-

nesses. “We applaud this year’s winners and know starting and sustaining a business can be a difficult task,” Ray Braun, dean of the College of BusiBRAUN ness and member of the EBE HOF’s executive committee, wrote in an email. “It is important to recognize these business leaders who are creating a better quality of life for Northwest Ohio.” The theme for the 25th anniversary is past, present and future entrepreneurs, said Kirk Kern, director of the Dallas-Hamilton Center and another

EBE HOF executive committee member. “For the past six months we have launched three startup businesses for BGSU students,” KERN Kern wrote in an email. “Those student business owners will be at the EBE event and hopefully will be EBE award winners in the near future.” Other sponsors include DHC, BDO, the Regional Growth Partnership, JobsOhio and the University of Toledo. For more information, visit the website www.ebehof.com. O

Knowing Tomorrow's Endeavors TODAY. Tune in with your MEGA Host Lord Jeffrey Potter Saturdays 8 - 10 AM

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Business Link 13

A Toledo tradition since 2005

EBE honorees reflect diverse business interests

Ed Beczynski is a staple in the Downtown Toledo restaurant scene. The owner of The Blarney Irish Pub, Focaccia’s Deli and Café Focaccia’s recently won a business excellence award from the Entrepreneurial & Business Excellence

(EBE) Hall of Fame. An awards ceremony is set for Nov. 7. Beczynski began his journey into the Downtown eatery business in 1996, when he opened Eddy B’s in the old Toledo Trust Building. “Everybody thought I was crazy to be even looking Downtown, because

W W!

at that time, everybody was moving out of Downtown,” Beczynski said. “There was really nothing going on, but I’ve always been passionate about cities and their downtowns, and decided that Downtown was where I was going to make a future.” Eddy B’s was a breakfast and

OPEN HOUSE GRADES 7-12 Sun., Nov. 10 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

••••

HIGH SCHOOL ✶ Class of 2013 – $18 Million in College Awards PLACEMENT TEST ✶ 5 Ways to Earn College Credit in High School Dec. 7 – 8 a.m. ✶ Largest All-Girls’ Fine Arts Program ✶ All Sports’ Champs 10x in a Row ✶ One-to-One iPad Technology ✶ Thousands of Volunteer Hours

Notre Dame Academy & Junior Academy

BOLD! BRILLIANT! BEAUTIFUL! BLESSED! Grades 7-12 ✶ All Girls ✶ 419-475-9359 ✶ www.nda.org Sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame

ONLINE ONLY AUCTIONS IN TOLEDO - INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES -

BIDDING ENDS: Friday, November 8, 2013 at 11:00 am

lunch staple for years, and in 2001, Beczynski opened Focaccia’s Deli in the HCR ManorCare building, followed by The Blarney Irish Pub at 601 Monroe St. in 2005. Additionally, Beczynski expanded his Focaccia’s brand by opening Café Focaccia’s in the Hylant building last year. He’s also opened up the neighboring space to The Blarney as an event center, which hosts special parties and events. “That space has been really great. Probably every weekend there’s something going on in there. It’s been a great addition to The Blarney.” Beczynski said one of the secrets of his sustained success in Downtown Toledo is surrounding himself with the right people. “There’s no CEOs or business owners that can do it on their own,” he said. “I have great management that has been around me — Barb Reese, who has been with me from day one with Eddy B’s, runs Focaccia’s, Café Focaccia’s and our catering division, and Bill Kline runs The Blarney and the Event Center. You have to have people like that.” Beczynski said it is also important to have mentors to reach out to for advice from time to time. “The big thing is just being surrounded by good people, and listening to them.” Beczynski said he appreciates being honored by the EBE, although

he never thought of himself as “that guy, getting the award.” “I’ve just been a hard worker all my life, and never thought about that.” Beczynski said he is looking to open a new Café Focaccia’s at One SeaGate in the near future, but admits that he may be nearing a self-imposed limit on the number of businesses he can run at one time. “I think I’m done after that,” he said. “It’s just so busy all the time, and I think expanding yourself too much is a risk.” Beczynski said his son Travis, who recently graduated from college, is interested in returning to Toledo to work with his father and his team. Regardless of whether or not father and son decide to expand further, Beczynski is confident he will keep his roots secure in Downtown Toledo. “I still love what I do. It’s a passion, and I love Toledo. That’s why I’m here. If you don’t love [what you do], you’re in trouble. There’s ups and downs in this business, and you’ve got to ride those highs, but be ready for the lows. If you don’t love it, those lows are really tough. If you’re not in it for the long haul and don’t love what you do, you’re wasting your time, because this is a tough business.” For more information, visit the websites theblarneyirishpub.com and focacciasdeli.com. O — Jay Hathaway n EBE CONTINUES ON 14

toledo free press file photo

Ed Beczynski

960 WILLOW AVENUE, Toledo, Ohio 43605, 726 EAST BROADWAY STREET, Toledo, Ohio 43605, 730 EAST BROADWAY STREET, Toledo, Ohio 43605, 861 KINGSTON AVENUE, Toledo, Ohio 43605, and 348 FOURTH STREET, Toledo, Ohio 43605. 263 FERRIS AVENUE, Toledo, Ohio 43608. 1125 NEWBURY STREET, Toledo, Ohio 43609.

Multiple properties – 4 Homes and 3 Duplexes – all selling separately. Great investment opportunity! Current owner has moved out of state and wants to liquidate.

ONLINE BIDDING IS NOW AVAILABLE! View our website to register and place your bid! VIEW A COLOR BROCHURE, REGISTER TO BID, AND MORE DETAILS ONLINE AT

www.pamelaroseauction.com

Carson Helminiak, Auctioneer carson@pamelaroseauction.com

Pamela Rose, Auctioneer CAI AARE pam@pamelaroseauction.com n

Ed Beczynski owns The Blarney Irish Pub, Focaccia’s Deli and Café Focaccia’S.

14. Business Link Danberry Co.

Dick Baker and Lynn Fruth are second-generation owners of The Danberry Co. Realtors, one of the largest realty companies in the Toledo area. As executive vice presidents, the pair gradually bought the company in the mid-1990s. With Toledo as its core market, Danberry does business in nine counties throughout Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Danberry is a real estate brokerage company serving residential, commercial and industrial clients. The company also provides its customers with options related to leasing, rentals and project management. “We work on a consumer-based, agent-centered model that’s designed to meet our clients’ needs,” said Fruth, Danberry’s CEO. Baker, Danberry’s president, added, “We try to be a onestop shop for our customers.” “For example, we’re the leader in corporate moving.” Baker said. “So if you’re a company that is moving and your employees need to relocate, that’s where we come in. We also have a joint venture with Chicago Title for title insurance, and we work with Nationwide for homeowners insurance.” The co-owners attribute Danberry’s position as a regional leader in the real estate industry to its focus on technological innovation. “I think the one thing that has given Danberry a competitive advantage is technology. We’ve seen a shift in technology within the newest generation of customers. They’ve moved away from computers to mobile devices, and we expect them to become

photo by photography by K. Dick

n EBE CONTINUED FROM 13

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

n BACK ROW From left, DANBERRY Co. CEO Lynn Fruth, VP of Brand Development Stan Rinda and President Dick Baker with a family that received help from the Danberry Treasure Chest: Aaron, Maddy and Ashley Smith.

more mobile in the coming months,” Fruth said. “If we stand still, market technology will pass us by,” Baker said. “You can’t design a real estate business for baby boomers and not listen to younger folks who also want to shop.” To meet the demands of customers in their 20s and 30s, the demographic most likely to be looking at buying a home, Danberry has developed a mobile app which includes features that lets users name their real estate agent and look at properties for sale (even non-Danberry properties) in the area. The app also lets users see what properties recently sold for in their neighborhood.

“Even if someone isn’t actively in the market, they still want to know what’s going on in the neighborhood,” Baker said. The company’s website, danberry. com, allows shoppers to create a profile based on their real estate preferences and receive notifications when a matching property goes on the market. “We use a consultative approach, not a selling approach,” Fruth said. “People don’t want to be sold things; they want advisers to help them make informed decisions, and in real estate they want a company that’s meeting the market where the market is.” Danberry’s approach appears to have a strong appeal with the buying public. According to the company,

November 3, 2013

its website has received more visits MAGNETNotes than those of their top 10 competiThe concept for MAGNETNotes tors combined. started in the 1990s, when CEO The Northwest Ohio community Randy Boudouris was asked to help has made Danberry a leader in the invent a replacement for magnetic real estate field, and the owners feel a promotional pieces being used for adneed to give back to the community. vertising by Marco’s Pizza. He began For 19 years, they have exercised the searching for an innovative alternavalue they place on social responsi- tive, which ultimately brought him bility through the Danberry Treasure back to magnets, but with a brandChest, an emergency assistance fund new design. that helps children with serious or “It’s kind of ironic that I set out chronic illnesses and their families in to invent something to replace magcoordination with ProMedica Toledo nets, and ended up in magnetics,” Children’s Hospital. Boudouris said. “When [people] get In 2012, the fund raised more than a magnet, of course the first place $60,000 and helped almost 70 families. they stick it is on the refrigerator. It’s Danberry’s success in the market- a good place to get exposure for an place and the company’s involvement advertiser.” in the community were factors that led However, Boudouris said he to its business excellence award in the began tuning in to some of the EBE HOF. negative feedback he was receiving “There’s no greater honor than to about using magnets to advertise, be recognized by fellow businesses for such as expense and difficulty with a job well done,” Fruth said. O printing. 4267 LCBDD_Levy_QtrPg_TFP113_Layout 1 10/31/13 1:47 PM Page 1 — Kevin Moore n EBE CONTINUES ON 15

ENDORSED BY • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Lucas County Commissioners Citizens Review Committee The Blade Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Toledo Area Small Business Association Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Teamsters Local 20 Carpenters Local 351 P.C.E The Toledo Area UAW-CAP Council Northwestern Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 AFSCME Ohio Council 8 Autism Society of NW Ohio Camp Courageous Harbor Ability Center of Greater Toledo Lucas County Children Services Board Anne Grady Services Corporation Arc of Lucas County Lott Industries Parent Group Maumee Valley Civitan Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West Josina Lott Residential & Community Services Board of Trustees

• Programs for infants born with developmental disabilities • Job training and employment opportunities • Transportation services • Residential support services

This levy would replace 2 levies: • A .3 mill levy originally approved in 1958 and last renewed in 1983. • A .5 mill levy originally passed in 1973 and last renewed in 1984. And we are asking for one additional mill. Specifically, the Board is requesting a replacement levy of 1.8 mills continuing.

Paid for by the Lucas County Developmental Disabilities Levy Committee, 1154 Larc Lane, Toledo, OH 43614. Richard Curley, Treasurer

ToledoFreePress.com

n EBE CONTINUED FROM 14 “That was kind of the impetus for this mission I’ve been on for the last 14 years — to develop a printer-friendly way to make magnetics.” The company was recently named winner of the EBE HOF Innovation in Business award. MAGNETNotes was founded in 2000, and began integrating magBOUDOURIS netics into the printing process. In 2003, the company underwent a series of ownership changes. First, it was bought by the Seiko Corporation, which soon sold it to Cerberus Capital Management and then to Glatfelter, during which time the magnetic paper product it produced was named “MagneCote.” In 2008, Boudouris was semiretired, but becoming increasingly frustrated with the performance of his invention. He began negotiations to take back company ownership and was successful. At the same time, Boudouris began fighting an aggressive form of cancer, all while the economic recession began to take its toll on the U.S., which further complicated his renewed business venture. “They were rough years for me, but we found a way through it,” Boudouris said. “We focused on the quality of our products on the manufacturing side, which is what I had been obsessing

about. In about two to three years, we were able to dramatically improve the quality of our products.” In 2010, MAGNETNotes began concentrating efforts on magnetic enclosures and packaging, which led to a deal with Kraft for use with its gum packaging. Now, with his cancer in remission, Boudouris is looking to expand into the automotive and medical industries with his magnetic packaging designs, as well as set up a laboratory in Toledo to focus on product development. Whatever his future holds, Boudouris said he will maintain his business philosophy of “innovation, innovation, innovation,” which he said has been validated by his award from the EBE. “It’s a big honor to me. It’s a nice thing to be awarded for all the hard work, so it’s greatly appreciated.” Boudouris also said that his success would not be possible without his strong team of 11 employees. “It’s important as the leader of my company that I also am pragmatic enough to know where I’m not good, and to fill those gaps in with people who are. I don’t try to do things that I’m not good at — it frustrates me and keeps me awake at night. I’ve got a great team of employees that supports me well, and a great set of investors as well.” For more information, visit the website magnetnotes.com. O — Jay Hathaway

Meyer Hill Lynch

Meyer Hill Lynch is a Maumeebased information technology (IT) solutions company that specializes in

Business Link 15.

A Toledo tradition since 2005 business computing, computer networking, network security and IT consulting for businesses, local governments and nonprofit organizations. SHICK “Our range of services lets us fill the gaps in a company’s IT department or serve as their sole IT company,” said managing partner Rob Shick. The company offers its services to clients of any size or industry. In the past, it has been hired by banks, law firms, factories, the City of Toledo, Wood County, the Toledo Mud Hens and Walleye and the Toledo Zoo. “Instead of narrowing our services into one industry, we offer a broad base of technology services and if it works for the company, regardless of their industry, we can work with them to meet their needs,” Shick said. The staff at Meyer Hill Lynch hold a wide array of training certifications, which aids the company in its goal of providing full-time or supplemental IT solutions. “It’s hard for companies to hire experts in everything, especially with technology changing so rapidly. We’re able to have a well-trained staff in several areas, which sets up a good model for outsourcing,” Shick said. Meyer Hill Lynch has two new initiatives that address issues in today’s IT marketplace. The first, Total BR, gives customers a means of protecting data and restoring files

photo courtesy TOFT dairy

November 3, 2013

the second and third generations of the toft Family.

almost instantly in the event of a crash. With cloud technology ineffective for the data storage needs of many businesses and investment in backup hardware costly, Total BR offers a monthly service that uses onsite backup as well as a secondary backup from Meyer Hill Lynch’s data center, resulting in uninterrupted access to data, Shick said. The second new program is a service where the IT company essentially steps in as chief information officer for a client with a 24/7 help desk, support staff available for inperson and remote assistance, preventative maintenance and regular planning meetings. “Small and medium businesses can’t afford to hire five or six full-time IT professionals. We can fill that role for the cost of one or two new hires.” Shick views his company’s business excellence award from the EBE HOF as a reflection on his staff. “We’re a quiet company not big

into getting awards, but I think it’s good to recognize the hard work they’ve put in,” he said. For more information, visit the web site www.mhl.com. O — Kevin Moore

Toft Dairy

Eugene Meisler said the secret behind the long legacy of his family’s business, Toft Dairy, is simple: hard work. The Sandusky company, started 113 years ago by his grandparents, is entering its fifth generation and is the oldest operating dairy in the state of Ohio. For its family legacy, product expansion, high-tech innovation and culture that nurtures a familylike environment, Toft Dairy was nominated for and won an Excellence in Family Business award from the EBE HOF. n EBE CONTINUES ON 16

* U.S. Air Force Veteran **Small Business Owner U.S. Air Force Veteran

* Small Business Owner

Pro Business, Pro Neighborhoods, Pro Toledo!

Pro Business, Pro Neighborhoods, Pro Toledo! Remember to Vote November 5, Remember to2013 Vote Adam Martinez helping small businesses create jobs in Toledo by November 5, 2013

cutting red tape and expanding access to money they need to grow.

AdamMartinez Martinez: helping Helping small small businesses in in Toledo Adam businessescreate createjobs jobs Toledo by by cutting red tape and expanding accessto tomoney money they need Adam neighborhoods safer by cleaning up to cutting redMartinez tape andMaking expanding access they need togrow. grow. nuisance properties andneighborhoods holding absentee owners accountable. Adam Martinez: Making safer by cleaning up Adam Martinez Making neighborhoods byaccountable. cleaning up nuisance properties and holding absentee safer owners Adam Martinez supported balancing the budget without raising nuisance properties and holding absentee owners accountable. taxes while protecting essential services public safety . Adam Martinez: Supported balancing the and budget without raising taxes while protecting essential services and public safety. Adam Martinez supported balancing the budget without raising Paid for by the Committee To Elect Adam J. Martinez |Treasurer: Arturo Quintero | Labor Donated taxes while protecting essential services and public safety .

Paid for by the Committee To Elect Adam J. Martinez |Treasurer: Arturo Quintero | Labor Donated

16. Business Link n EBE CONTINUED FROM 15 “I guess it’s kind of a great honor, isn’t it?” said Meisler, president of the Sandusky company. “We feel real proud about it.” The company buys milk from 21 local farmers and pasteurizes it at its plant, producing 18,000 gallons of milk and ice cream a day. It also offers a variety of products including cottage cheese, half and half, chip dip and drinks, including orange, grape, fruit punch, lemonade and iced tea. Toft Dairy began in 1900. Meisler’s maternal grandparents, Christopher and Matilda Toft, delivered milk to the Sandusky area with a horse and buggy. “They had 10-gallon cans of milk they’d bring into town and they dipped it right out of the can and sold it to the customer,” Meisler said. “It was raw milk right from the farm.”

what’s in it for commerce

November 3, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

In 1943, Meisler’s father began making ice cream in 5-gallon containers. The company now has 3,0003,200 customers buying 51 flavors of dipped ice cream at their summer parlor, Meisler said. The company currently employs nine family members from five generations. In 1965, Meisler and his two older brothers bought the company from their parents. In 1985, they brought in their sons and about five years ago they hired their grandsons. They recently redesigned the ice cream containers and introduced a new flavor, Red Velvet Rush, with chunks of red velvet dough and ribbons of cream cheese. Next year, Meisler said, they’ll bring out more new flavors, as they do every year. “We have someone at the plant 365 days a year. They never shut the cows

off,” he said. “None of the Meislers have an eight-hour day of work. We have a lot of help.” The company has a dedicated workforce, he said, with some employees who have worked there for 40 years. “We’re very good to our employees,” he said. “We have profit

sharing, 401(k). I call it a big family.” The dairy was nominated for the award by the University of Toledo Center for Family & Privately-Held Business because it exemplifies all the “best practices of a family business,” said director Debbe Skutch. “They’re privately held, they

have several generations and they have a sense of history and sense of legacy,” Skutch said. “[They were nominated] for the values they bring to our culture.” For more information, visit the website toftddairy.com.O — Danielle Stanton

HAVE YOU BEEN CHECKED?

“ The Chamber gives my small business big influence and buying power along with savings on everything from energy costs to office supplies. I have access to business consultants that help me keep my business strong.” - Roger Kwapich–

Owner & President, Smitty’s Automotive and RV

“ big leverage for small business ” whatsinitformetoledo.com

AN ANNUAL MAMMOGRAM CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE. Mercy Women’s Care Centers offer digital mammography, ultrasound and MRIs with fast, accurate results. The latest TOMO/3D technology is also available at select Mercy locations. For more information and to schedule your appointment at one of our eight* convenient locations, call 888-987-6372. Receive a special gift when you have a mammogram in October or November, while supplies last.

MERCYWEB.ORG OR 888-987-6372 to schedule a mammogram today *Opening Fall 2013: Mercy Imaging Services in Perrysburg. GE Healthcare SensorySuite. The first suite in the nation designed to reduce the anxiety of breast exams.

(419) 243-8191

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Legacy 17.

A Toledo tradition since 2005

TORCH AWARDS

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan will honor area organizations for exemplary and ethical business practices in five categories at its upcoming annual Torch Awards ceremony. The public luncheon is set for 12:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 6165 Levis Commons Blvd., in Perrysburg. Award categories are small business (1-9 employees), medium business (10-49 employees), large business (50149 employees), extra-large business (150-plus employees) and nonprofit. Winners will have demonstrated business practices that exemplify ethics, integrity and exceptional customer service and are chosen by an independent panel of volunteer community leaders, based on criteria established by the BBB, said Marilyn Levine, director of the BBB Foundation. Winners do not have to be members of the BBB, but must have been

in business a minimum of three years and be located in the BBB’s 18-county service area. Winners will receive a trophy handcrafted by local glass artist Mike Wallace. Last year’s event drew about 300 guests, Levine said. Cost is $48 for a single seat, $38 for a member of a charitable organization or $370 for a table of eight. The event will be emceed by Diane Larson of 13abc.

Yvette McGee Brown

This year’s keynote speaker will be former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Yvette McGee Brown, the first African-American woman to serve on the McGEE BROWN state’s highest court. Brown, who was former governor Ted Strickland’s running mate in the 2010 election, is also known for her advocacy of family and children’s issues, having worked with survivors of abuse, children in foster

At Owens, we believe education should be available to everyone. Since 2002, the Owens Community College Foundation has distributed $1.3 million in student scholarships and nearly 60 percent of the scholarship recipients have graduated. With more than 75 percent of these graduates remaining in Northwest Ohio, Owens scholarships help transform lives, impact our communities and grow our economy. To endow a scholarship fund at Owens Community College or to discuss planned giving opportunities, please call the Foundation Office at (567) 661-7184. www.owens.edu/foundation

care, recovering drug addicts and truant students. “She’s an exciting speaker,” Levine said. “Her presentation is very dynamic and very real. She gets it. She’s a person who has come from very little and her focus is helping others. She doesn’t have a lot of name recognition in Northwest Ohio, but she’s so worth hearing and I’m hoping people will take the opportunity.” Also announced during the ceremony will be the winners of two $500 Jim Smythe Memorial Student of Integrity Scholarships, awarded to area high school seniors to further their educations. The winners will read their essays, which detail an ethical situation they encountered and how they handled it. “Overall, I hope attendees come away with a heightened sense of awareness of what the BBB is all about and that they are encouraged to always strive to do better in terms of business and ethical behavior,” Levine said. For information or reservations, call the BBB at (419) 531-3116 or (800) 743-4222 or visit toledo.bbb.org. n BBB CONTINUES ON 19

toledo free press photo by sarah ottney

BBB to honor local ethical businesses Nov. 6

dick eppstein AND MARILYN LEVINE of the better business bureau.

18.. Legacy

November 3, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN

Greatest philanthropy is helping an everyday person I like to donate to good causes. I have given to Easter Seals, National Alliance on Mental Illness and the United Way. But one of my favorite ways to help is to give to regular people who don’t benefit from a nonprofit — people who just need help. I would much rather give someone $20 for a spaghetti dinner benefit than donate money to a foundation, although I certainly appreciate the importance of the latter. But I didn’t realize how much a Kroger gift card, a cash gift or an unexpected check could mean to the other person until my mom, Karen Barhite, became that other person. On June 6, my mother fell down Brandi the steps. She broke her femur, she broke her tibia in several places and she destroyed her kneecap. She endured a five-hour emergency surgery; spent four weeks in a nursing home; and then she moved into my house for four months as she learned to function again, sans a functioning right leg. First she hopped with a walker (no pressure was allowed on her right leg for three months). Then, she used the walker to hobble with both legs. Now, she has progressed to a cane, but her ability to walk quickly — and long distances — will probably never be the same. All along, she has been off work with minimal savings, no sick days and very few vacation days. My dad, a man who became a corrections officer after a 40-year career in tires, makes a modest wage, picking up overtime whenever it is available. The financial worry began in the ambulance that night. But the resulting kindness since her traumatic fall has allowed my 60-year-old mom to focus on her recovery, not

Choose how you want to be

remembered.

her checkbook. Her stepmother, Evelyn Buchholz, gave her a Kroger gift card one month and a check another month to help makes ends meet. My friend, Linda Wilker, gave my mom a set of sheets for the daybed that would be in my family room for her convenience. My sister’s friend, Gwen Weber, made my mom dinner and dessert. When I needed to take my mom for a shower in a handicap-accessible bathroom, Anytime Fitness in Perrysburg allowed us to come in to use the gym’s bathroom, even though no one in my family is a member. BARHITE And the list continues with many other gifts that require anonymity. All of this seemed like more than enough, and then we found out the biggest news yet. On Nov. 9, her employer, Dr. Steven Fox, and her coworkers are hosting a benefit in my mom’s honor. She hasn’t been able to work since the fall because her job requires hours on her feet as a periodontal surgical assistant in a fast-paced environment. At first, my mom said, “I don’t need a benefit. I don’t have cancer.” But Robyn Lashaway, who has worked with my mom for 16 years, insisted my mom needed this, especially since she might never work as many hours again. “I couldn’t imagine if that was me. I couldn’t imagine being off for five months. I wouldn’t be fine,” Lashaway said. Fox’s office staff is incredibly close, she said, and until my mom’s fall, no one has been off work this long. “Your mom might say, ‘It is OK, we are fine,’ but the holidays are coming and I would be so worried about bills,” Lashaway said. n BARHITE CONTINUES ON 19

For more information, please contact us directly:

legacy OF compassion

create a

Wouldn’t you want to be remembered for your generosity and commitment to helping those in need? You can—by providing for the American Red Cross in your will or trust. Including the Red Cross in your estate plans will give you peace of mind—you will enjoy knowing the causes that have meant so much to you will continue to be supported for years to come.

Chris Diefenthaler Major Gifts Officer (419) 329-2375

Join Join +1,000 Local Professionals +1,000 Local Professionals Serving as JA Instructors Serving as JA Instructors

Empower over 22,000 area k-12 youth to own their economic overAchievement 22,000 area k-12 youth to own their economic successEmpower as a Junior instructor.

success as a Junior Achievement instructor.

Annual time commitment as a JA instructor is 5-7 hours, Monday Annual through Friday 8:00am as – 3:00pm. time commitment a JA instructor is 5-7 hours,

Monday through Friday 8:00am – 3:00pm.

Interested? Contact Jeff Bosch at jbosch@janwo.org

Interested? ContactTheir Jeff Bosch at jbosch@janwo.org Your skills. future.

Your skills. Their future.

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

n BARHITE CONTINUED FROM 18 The spaghetti dinner is 5-8 p.m. Nov. 9 at Providence Lutheran Church, 8131 Airport Hwy., Holland. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. Gift baskets will be raffled off. My family and I are overwhelmed by the kindness shown to someone whose cause isn’t tax deductible.

Legacy 19.

A Toledo tradition since 2005

It reminded me of my favorite song this summer, “Gone, Gone, Gone” by Phillip Phillips. I didn’t even realize why I liked the song so much until I really listened to the lyrics: “When you fall like a statue, I’m gon’ be there to catch you, Put you on your feet, you on your feet … You’re my backbone. You’re my cor-

nerstone. You’re my crutch when my legs stop moving.” I can’t say it better than Phillips, so I won’t try, but thank you to everyone who is helping put my mom back on her feet. O Email Toledo Free Press Community Ombudsman Brandi Barhite at bbarhite@toledofreepress.com.

Legacy

ToLedo CoMMuniTy FoundaTion

SoCieTy

reate your own field of dreams through Toledo Community Foundation’s Legacy Society. By creating a permanent charitable fund in your name, you establish a lasting legacy and your gifts make a significant difference in our community. We are thankful for the continued support of the members of the Toledo Community Foundation Legacy Society, and their commitment to making our community better through their generous gifts. Make your mark. Join Toledo Community Foundation’s Legacy Society. For information about our Legacy Society, please contact Ben Imdieke or Bridget Brell Holt at 419.241.5049 or visit www.toledocf.org.

n BBB CONTINUED FROM 17

In Pursuit of Ethics

The BBB recently introduced a new module to its In Pursuit of Ethics series. In Pursuit of Ethics, developed by the local BBB and filmed in the Toledo area, is a series of accredited ethics training videos now being used by more than 50 Better Business Bureaus throughout the U.S. and Canada, Levine said. “It’s spreading and growing, so that’s a good thing,” Levine said. The interactive, discussion-based modules stimulate discussion by presenting realistic ethical dilemmas faced by students and employees. “Everywhere you turn, every aspect of society, you see an erosion of ethical standards,” local BBB President Dick Eppstein told Toledo Free Press in May. “You don’t see the same kind of immediate demand for ethical behavior anymore. We’re always immersed in news of unethical conduct, and we could use a refresher.” The most recent module focuses on bullying in both schools and workplaces. “Right now, there is so much attention focused on bullying in schools and students committing suicide, but the

fact of the matter is a lot of bullying goes on in the workplace as well,” Levine said. “It’s not just a teenage problem.” There are also modules specifically focused on ethics in auto repair, banking, insurance, remodeling and retail and one focused on schools, including cheating and sports. What is right isn’t always easy, Levine said. “Everyone knows the right answers. The question is what would you really do in the situation and how would that affect the people around you,” Levine said. “We have a dynamic discussion, in-depth discussion. It’s an opportunity to talk about it without being judged and hopefully you become more aware of what’s going on around you and how you react. “It takes a lifetime to develop a good reputation and just a few minutes to destroy it,” Levine said. “We see that over and over. You can’t buy trust and respect with money; it’s something you have to earn.” The BBB of Northwestern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan is one of about a dozen BBBs across the country designated a Center for Character Ethics, Levine said. For more information, visit www.bbbethics.org and www.centerforcharacterethics.org. O

MEDIA

Miller to guest host WSPD morning show Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller is slated to guest host “Fred LeFebvre and the Morning News” on 1370 WSPD 6-9 a.m. Nov. 4-8. Some of Miller’s scheduled guests include Mayor Mike Bell and mayoral candidate Toledo City Councilman D. Michael Collins on Nov. 4; Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority CEO and President Paul Toth, Toledo Public Schools Interim Superintendent Romules Durant and Superintendent of the Lucas County Developmental Disabilities Board John Trunk on Nov. 5; Dr. Brian Hoeflinger on Nov. 6; Adam and Larry Davenport of the EBE Hall of Fame and Casey Pogan, marketing director for Levis Commons on Nov. 7; and Chris Kozak of Columbis Gas Ohio and Sam Melden of Food for Thought on Nov. 8. O — Staff Reports

Re-Elect

ROB

LUDEMAN TOLEDO CITY COUNCIL

www.robludemanfortoledo.com

HONEST • CARING • HARDWORKING DEPENDABLE • DEDICATED • EXPERIENCED KEEP COMMON SENSE ON TOLEDO CITY COUNCIL Paid for by Rob Ludeman Campaign Committee – Bill Kepp Chairman – Robert Fehlen Jr. Treasurer – 1865 Glen Ellyn Dr., Toledo, Ohio 43614

20 Business Link

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

November 3, 2013

DEVELOPMENT

By Sarah Ottney

Toledo Free Press Managing Editor sottney@toledofreepress.com

A group of local businessmen has expressed interest in taking over operation of Toledo’s airports. Dock Treece, president of Treece Investment Advisory Corp., and his sons Dock David and Ben said they have been in ongoing talks with the City of DOCK DAVID Toledo and the TREECE To l e d o - L u c a s County Port Authority about privatizing operations at Toledo Express Airport and Toledo Executive Airport, which are owned by the city and operated by the Port Authority. “We have begun talks with both the city and the Port Authority about pursing alternatives for the operations and development of both Toledo Express and Toledo Executive airports,” said Dock David, a partner with the family-owned and operated Toledo firm. He stressed the talks were still in the preliminary stage. “At this point, we’re just exploring alternatives and we don’t know what shape a potential deal might take,” Dock David said. “We are in the early stages of discussions, conducting our due diligence, and we have already encountered significant personal ex-

penses in the process.” Jen Sorgenfrei, public information officer with the City of Toledo, said the men approached the city seeking information, but there has been no firm plan presented. “There have been some meetings and they’ve told us they are interested, but we don’t have a solid proposal on the table that we can vet or take to City Council,” Sorgenfrei said. “So I can’t say we are in talks with anyone to take over at this juncture. They have requested information and we have provided them the information that they have requested so they can put a proposal together.” During a live televised debate Oct. 30 on FOX Toledo, Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller asked Toledo Mayor Mike Bell and challenger D. Michael Collins about the ongoing talks. Both men said they were open to the possibility of privatizing airport operations. “An airport is crucial to be able to develop our area,” Collins said. “New energy may be necessary to kick start [it].” Bell said he had an “open mind” about the proposal. Holly Kemler, communications coordinator for the Port Authority, said the Port has met with the Treeces regarding their interest in purchasing or leasing the airports. “The Port Authority is supportive of any direction the City of Toledo would like to go with respect to the operation of the airports,” Kemler wrote in an email to Toledo Free Press. The Treeces are Toledo Free Press contributors. O

Come to The Blarney ... .. Go From There! e!! e

facebook.com/blarneytoledo

601 Monroe St. Right Across from Fifth Third Field

HAPPY HOUR Mon-Fri 4-7 pm Live Entertainment Thurs-Fri-Sat

TOLEDO EXPRESS AIRPORT

Local investors in talks with City, Port concerning airport operations

Toledo Express Airport is operated by the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and owned by the city of Toledo.

134

DAYS UNTILDAY! ST. PATRICK’S

Friday, Nov. 8th

PREMIER DOWNTOWN EVENT AND ND RECEPTION CENTER

Nine Lives

Saturday, Nov. 9th

MAS FiNA

WE’LL ’L CUST CUSTOMIZE USTOM OMIZ IZE FOR YOU OU

Fundraisers • Holiday Parties • Celebrations Reunions • Sports Banquets • Corporate Retreats Summer Picnics • Employee Appreciation Events Client Appreciation

theblarneyeventcenter.com 419-481-5206

November 3, 2013

ToledoFreePress.com

Star 21

A Toledo tradition since 2005

By Sarah Ottney

TOLEDO FREE PRESS MANAGING EDITOR sottney@toledofreepress.com

Fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart captured the attention of the nation when she was kidnapped from her Utah bedroom in 2002 — and even more so when she was found alive nine months later. Smart will speak in Bowling Green on Nov. 5 as the inaugural speaker in Bowling Green State University’s Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories series, hosted by BGSU Libraries and the Library Advocates Board. “She tells her story with such grace and determination,” said Sara Bushong, dean of University Libraries. “Our hope is that people hear her message of hope and that it can be impactful in their lives in some way.” The event will take place at the BowenThompson Student Union. Dinner starts at 7 p.m., with Smart’s presentation to follow at 8 p.m. Tickets for the dinner and presentation are $50. After the presentation Smart will sign books, which will be available for sale. A 45-minute VIP reception with Smart will start at 6 p.m.; the cost of the predinner reception, dinner, presentation, signed book and VIP parking is $250. Smart will share her experience, which she chronicled in her memoir “My Story,” published in October.

Taken from her bedroom on June 5, 2002, as her younger sister slept beside her, Smart was held captive for nine months by her abductor Brian David Mitchell and his wife Wanda Barzee, who controlled her by threatening to kill her and her family if she tried to escape. In her book, Smart writes that her faith is what sustained her through months of rape and abuse. She was rescued by police March 12, 2003. Mitchell is now serving life in prison while Barzee was sentenced to 15 years. “I remember so many overwhelming feelings and emotions,” Smart wrote in her book. “Terror that is utterly indescribable, even to this day. Embarrassment and shame so deep, I felt as if my very worth had been tossed upon the ground. Despair. Starving hunger. Fatigue and thirst and a nakedness that bares one to the bones. ... All of these memories are a part of me now, the DNA inside me. Indeed, these are the things that have moved and shaped me, sometimes twisting, sometimes wrenching me into the person I am today.” However, Smart said she took advice from her mother to move on and not let her captors take any more of her life than they already had. “I decided very early that I only had one life and that I wasn’t going to waste it,” Smart wrote. “As of this writing I am twenty-five years old. I have been alive for 307 months. Nine of those months were pretty terrible. But 298 of those months have been very good. ... Looking at it that way, I don’t

think I have much to complain about.” Smart, who later graduated from college, served overseas as a Mormon missionary and got married, now serves as president of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which advocates for change and legislation related to child abduction and recovery programs. She also serves as a commentator on missing person and child abduction cases for ABC News. Smart will also speak to a group of BGSU students earlier that day, Bushong said. “She was a university student in Utah not that long ago, so I think she’s really excited to talk to students,” Bushong said. Representatives from Wood County’s SAAFE Center, which advocates for survivors of sexual assault, will be on hand during both events, Bushong said. “At an event like this, feelings surface that might not be expected,” Bushong said. “As people hear Elizabeth Smart’s story and feel the need to talk to someone during the event or after, they will be available.” Bushong said the library plans to offer a speaker once a year or every other year. Proceeds will help fund the libraries’ digitization projects. “There are so many ordinary people out there, but they tell extraordinary stories,” Bushong said. “We’re already thinking of ideas for next year.” For more information, visit www.bgsu.edu/ libraryevent. O

photo courtesy BGSU libraries

Elizabeth Smart to speak at BGSU Nov. 5

ELIZABETH SMART

22 Star

November 3, 2013

A Toledo tradition since 2005 ToledoFreePress.com

FAMILY PRACTICE

This is why we can’t have nice things

new pledge has been circu- until tomorrow. When it is literally the lating in regards to the push by only day of the year that most of us can retailers to move Black Friday agree to take off, it can most definitely to Thanksgiving Thursday. The oath wait until tomorrow. On the other hand, even Thanksreads, “Because I believe in family … I pledge to not shop on Thanks- giving isn’t for everyone. Some congiving. If I’m shopping, someone else sider Thanksgiving to be a celebration of genocide, insensiis working and NOT tive to the history and spending time with ongoing struggles of their family. Everyone Native Americans. For deserves a holiday.” still others, ThanksI’m a big Black giving is simply a reFriday fan. The first minder of the home time I can recall shopand family they don’t ping the day after have, a national celebraThanksgiving was in tion of something that my dad’s hometown is missing from their of Madison, Ohio. My personal lives. A joyous mom, my grandma Shannon SZYPERSKI day for most can be the and various other female family members headed out loneliest of days for others. This is why we can’t have nice to forage together in what would become one of my favorite yearly things. There is no universal agreement in rituals. I instantly felt a sense of kinship with not only the women in my the United States, only perpetual defamily, but with my fellow day-after- bate and reconsideration and cultural dissection. I’d love to say that such an Thanksgiving shoppers. I don’t even care so much about always-open-for-discussion attitude the deals; I just enjoy the excitement fuels our democracy and keeps us and ceremony of it all. I love getting fresh and balanced, but that doesn’t up extra early and heading out into seem to be the case. It just confuses us the cold November chill with left- and takes more than it gives. We all need a day off; we really over Thanksgiving desserts in hand for breakfast. It is the only day of do. All of this constant arguing the year that I take off without my online and at the office and at the children, to bask in a sea of chaos dinner table is completely wearing us out. Perhaps now more than ever, that isn’t mine. As with most things that are won- we need a day of just family, friends derful, however, someone has taken and semi-quiet reflection. As someone who has spent a the initiative to ruin it. The thrill of doors opening early at 6 a.m. has Thanksgiving in the ER with a slowly been pushed further and fur- croupy kid, I can tell you that there ther up. It started with 5 a.m. and then will always be someone working on 4 a.m. and eventually worked its way Thanksgiving. Whether at the hosto midnight. Over the past few years, pital, at the nuclear plant, on the it just kept going and going until it football field or even making dinner finally spilled right over into one of for 20 loved ones, there will never be the most sacred of all American days: a day when we’re all at rest. There never has been. Even setting a day Thanksgiving itself. Yes, Black Friday appears to now aside just for food and family means be Black Thursday. The “black” will no a whole lot of work for someone. Can we at least try, though? Can longer stand for companies shifting their profits into the black, but rather we do our best to put at least one for the death of a once-great tradition. day aside where we focus more on Black Friday as we once knew it is our appreciation than on our consuming? Can we forget the queslikely gone for good. I’m not of the opinion that things tionable history of the thing and just should last forever. I understand that agree that taking as much of a day some things must fall by the way- off as we can is a good thing overall? side in order to make room for other Can we leave the doorbuster deals and low-priced electronics out of it things. Progress is important. Still, coming from someone who for at least 24 hours? Thanksgiving will never be perreally enjoys shopping and really, really enjoys Black Friday shopping, fect. Nothing ever is. Let’s pledge to allow ourselves shopping isn’t progress and it isn’t important. It can almost always wait to have something nice for once,

something that’s more about a simple idea than about our material, consumer selves. If the tradi-

tion still fits, keep it. O

Shannon Szyperski and her husband,

Michael, are raising three children in Sylvania. Email her at letters@toledo freepress.com.

Order yourTurkey! It’s time to

Place your orders today for Fresh Bowman Landes turkey or turkey Breast for thanksgiving! Bowman Landes free range turkeys are raised in the open air and sunshine without antibiotics, and are vegetable fed. To place your order or for more information, contact either location.

Maumee 419-794-4000 • Perrysburg 419-872-6900

www.waltchurchillsmarket.com

Facebook @ waltchurchillsmarket » Twitter @ waltchurchills 3320 Briarfield Blvd., Maumee » 419.794.4000 » Hours: Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun 8 a.m.–9 p.m. 26625 N. Dixie Hwy., Perrysburg » 419.872.6900 » Hours: Mon-Sun 7 a.m.– 10 p.m. Effective 11/04/13-11/10/13 We reserve the right to limit quantities. No sales to vendors. » Not responsible for pictorial or typographical errors.

November 3, 2013

Sunday Morning ABC 13 CBS 11 FOX 36 NBC 24 PBS 30 A&E BRAVO COM DISN ESN FAM FOOD HGTV LIF MTV TBS TCM TNT USA WTO5

8 am

8:30

ToledoFreePress.com

9:30

1 pm

1:30