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How to vote in 2024

By
Paula Wethington
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0
Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail. 

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

  • Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
  • Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
  • Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
  • Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
  • Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Oliver Odendahl
James Johnson
Nivant Dawson
Sydney Stanley
David Case III

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.

Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.

James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.

Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.

Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.

David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident
Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot. 

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3. 

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies. 

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete. 

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

Toledo Air Show returns after six years

By
Stephen Zenner
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Speakers Thomas J. Winston, president and CEO of Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, from left; Col. Curtis Voltz, deputy wing commander of the Ohio National Guard 180th Fighter Wing; and Lance Woodworth, president and CEO of Destination Toledo, watch a video presentation before the start of the press conference. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

Thunderbirds to make appearance at 2025 air show

SWANTON – A loud disruption forced emcee Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker to pause her speech during a press conference at the Grand Aire Hangar. A distant, low-rumble of an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet crescendoed and passed by before she resumed.

It was a fitting disruption during the press conference to announce the 2025 Toledo Air Show to be held in May at the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport in Swanton.

“Military aircraft come here all the time,” reacted Holliker, 180th Fighter Wing public affairs superintendent and chief enlisted manager, as she stood in front of an F-16 on display inside the hangar on Tuesday.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon Model C is seen on static display at the Grand Aire hangar during a press conference to announce the details of the 2025 Toledo Air Show. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)
Thomas J. Winston, president and CEO of the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

The press conference was led by Thomas J. Winston, president and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Col. Curtis Voltz, deputy wing commander of the 180th Fighter Wing, and Lance Woodworth, president and CEO of Destination Toledo.

The press conference was kicked off with a short highlight reel that championed the unbridled power and spirit of pilots and aircraft.

Winston said the Toledo Air Show will be great for the community, and called it a celebration of innovation, skill and in the spirit of aviation.  

“And we have secured the Thunderbirds!” he exclaimed. “We’re happy to have them back after nine years.”

Eight pilots make up the elite United States Air Force Thunderbirds squadron, and more than 100 supporting personnel help make the performance and precision of the Thunderbirds’ aeronautical stunts a memorable and safe occasion.

“We express interest every year,” Winston said about the Toledo Air Show committee’s dedication to bringing large acts to Toledo. He cited this tenacity as the reason for securing the Thunderbirds.

He noted that Toledo’s last air show was in 2019, and that scheduling and availability of flying acts dictate the frequency of the shows.

Col. Curtis Voltz, deputy wing commander of the Ohio National Guard 180th Fighter Wing. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

Other acts confirmed for the event on May 10-11 include performances from Toledo’s own 180th Fighter Wing’s New England pilot Rob Holland, the Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Show, and vintage planes associated with “Class of 45.”

Winston hinted that other potential air show acts were being considered, and that Toledo had representatives at the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada this week vying for other flyers to come to Toledo in May.

“This event is important for our region. It’s a boost to the local economy, showcasing our city and airport to a national audience” said Winston.

Lance Woodworth, president and CEO of Destination Toledo. TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

Woodworth estimated the event would pull in 50-70,000 people for the weekend, and figured about a $1 million in sales would be totaled, based off of the 2016 revenues from the last time the Thunderbirds were in town. 

“While it is big fun, it is big business,” Woodworth said.

In the upcoming weeks, Woodworth said he is looking forward to preparing Toledo for the national stage. And for those who are new to Toledo, he described it as “a first date with our destination,” making it clear he intended to leave a good impression.

“Toledo is for everyone,” he said, citing Toledo’s “midwestern hospitality” as the city’s strongest asset. “It isn’t like that everywhere.”

Holliker explained that the civilian side of the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport will be working together with local first responders to make the event happen.

“We just pull them altogether in one event and it should be pretty seamless because we do this regularly,” she said.

The Toledo Air Show invites military and first responders in uniform and kids 3 and to attend for FREE.

To buy tickets and parking passes: Ticket Office

DAILY DOSE | THE HUMORISTS

By
Don Lee
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Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Felony flag on the play!

To vaccinate kids … or not?

By
Carrie Baker
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(Adobe Stock)

Addressing resistance to childhood vaccinations

The question I am often asked is whether or not parents should vaccinate their children. In fact, in our practice, there seems to be more resistance to vaccinations since COVID. 

I personally feel that one of the reasons there is an increase in resistance is the recent fear that COVID vaccinations were going to be made mandatory across the board. Although my personal stance is in support of the majority of vaccines, I also believe that it should be a parent’s choice. 

In human nature, when we tell somebody they “have to do something,” there is usually resistance and often a reaction to do the opposite. As strongly as I believe in most vaccines, I also feel as strongly that parents should have a choice.

As providers, I believe it is our job to educate parents about the risks and benefits of vaccines. We should be educating them about the diseases vaccines prevent, as well as teaching them about the repercussions of contracting the diseases. That should be in both verbal and written form at all of their well care visits. This is another important reason to have their scheduled well care visits, as set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

I have frequently been asked, especially by other providers, why I will continue to see patients whose parents will not allow their child to be vaccinated. And I have a few reasons. To reiterate, I believe it is the parent’s right to make that choice for their child. It is also not the child’s choice; it is the parent’s choice, so by not seeing the child who are we, as providers, punishing?  

If there are no providers that will see children who are not vaccinated, they will have to resort to using urgent cares and emergency rooms, as this will be the only form of healthcare available to them. Not only does this overwhelm the urgent cares and the emergency rooms for issues that should be seen in primary care office, it is also not good continuity of care for the child. 

Also, in an urgent care or ER, you do not always see the same provider, and there is not a fluent record that can be read and obtained with each visit.  

I think as providers we have to ask ourselves, why did we get into medicine to begin with? For me, it was to take care of patients, and I feel the best way to do that is to provide them with adequate education, good continuity of care, and to be available to them when they are ill. If I do not see unvaccinated children, I am not providing the care I feel is best for them. 

With all that being said, here is why I think children should be vaccinated:

  • Vaccines have been successful, in that we no longer see many of the diseases that used to cause severe illnesses and lasting disabilities. For example, whooping cough, tetanus, polio and meningitis are rarely seen in children anymore.
  • There is a lot of information online that scares parents away from getting vaccines.  Here is a video directly from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ healthychildren.org, where you can also find a lot medically researched information, access to immunization schedules, the specific vaccines and the diseases that they prevent. 

In conclusion, I do support the majority of vaccines, but I also strongly support the parent’s right to choose. I can respect any choice a parent makes, as long as it is an educated choice – and when I say an educated choice, it needs to be one that is made from medically sound, researched information, not from just anything that pops up on a Google search. 

It is our job as providers to present that information and educate our parents, and then allow them to make the choice.

RELATED CONTENT: Children and antibiotics

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Steven J Athanas
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Cartoon by Steven J Athanas for the Toledo Free Press.

Stacy Lewis hosts new golf classic

By
Fred Altvater
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Stacy Lewis will host the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis next year. Lewis is a local LPGA star and a Toledo fan favorite. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)

Toledo’s 40-year LPGA event gets new name, format

SYLVANIA – The annual LPGA Tour as we’ve known it, played on the rolling hills of Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania for 40 years, has come to an end.

The tournament, originally the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, has had several different sponsors over the years. Marathon, Kroger and, most recently the Dana Open, have all supported the Toledo event and helped it generate over $14 million for 215 Toledo area children’s charities.

Next year the tour will be called the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis, and in keeping with the tour’s charity tradition, proceeds from that tournament will be distributed to several Toledo-area children’s charities.

Toledo Classic, Inc. director Judd Silverman said he is very proud of the fact that the tournament has raised that large amount of charity funds.

Dana Classic tournament director Judd Silverman attends the Dana Open Charity Check Luncheon. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)
Chad Bridgman, of McDonald House Charities, accepts a $50,000 check from Sydney Williams during the Dana Open Charity Check Luncheon. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)

“With $335,000 being distributed from the 2024 Dana Open, we hope the total dollars generated will reach over $15 million after the 2025 event,” he said.

The Greater Toledo Classic will be held July 21-27. It’s a dual tournament and will feature 102 EPSON Tour players and 42 familiar LPGA Legends, who Toledo golf fans have watched for years.

It will be contested over 54 holes at Highland Meadows. In a unique twist, one Legends Tour player will be included in each threesome, with two EPSON Tour players, for the final round on Sunday.

Stacy Lewis. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)

Stacy Lewis, born in Toledo, 13-time LPGA winner and captain of the successful Solheim Cup Team the past two years, has participated in and supported the Toledo LPGA tournament since her amateur days at the University of Arkansas.

“It’s an honor to lend my name to this event and keep professional golf and the LPGA in Toledo. Most importantly, this event will celebrate our past while preparing the future LPGA stars,” she said.

“In addition to the dual tournament, we plan on having events for the Legends Tour players to spend time with the younger women to take advantage of a great mentorship opportunity,” she noted.

“We hope those relationships extend far beyond the week of the tournament. This new event is a fantastic opportunity for the golf fans in the Toledo area to see familiar faces from the past 40 years,” Lewis said.

Tournament week will include four pro-ams, the Women’s Leadership Summit, and other events local golf fans have come to enjoy.

Chanettee Wannasean, of Thailand, and tournament director Judd Silverman pose after she won the LPGA Dana Open at Highland Meadows in July. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)

“We are happy to bring the Legends of the LPGA together with the future stars of the LPGA in a never- been-done-before format featuring two tournaments at the same time,” explained Silverman.

“After 40 years, we thought it was time to try something different that will bring back many of the players that have competed in Toledo over the years, along with the up-and-coming future LPGA stars,” he said.

“We’re incredibly grateful to Stacy Lewis agreeing to serve as tournament host. Her exceptional leadership has been on full display the past two years as the U.S. Solheim Cup captain. Her presence will be a huge benefit to the EPSON Tour players.”

American Lucy Li plays in the 2024 Dana Open in July. She finished T13 with -9. Next year, the tournament will be called the Greater Toledo Classic hosted by Stacy Lewis. (Courtesy Photo/Doug Hinebaugh)

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Jerry King
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Cartoon by Jerry King for the Toledo Free Press.

Habitat celebrates 21st build

By
Stephen Zenner
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Carla Savage, with her daughter, Samantha, shows off her new house key after her dedication ceremony.

Owens Corning partners with Habitat to house families

Story by Stephen Zenner | Photos by Lori King

TOLEDO – Clutching a house key and a Bible, Carla Savage took a moment to thank her family and supporters for helping her become the proud owner of a single-story house she helped build on Piddock Rd. in Toledo.

New homeowner Carla Savage wipes a tear as she thanks family and supporters during her Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony.
Carla Savage holds her new house key during the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony for Carla Savage on Dec. 6.

“I thank God for this because without him none of this would be possible in my life. I got to recognize that,” Savage said during her home dedication ceremony on Dec. 6. “I’m just so grateful for all of you for helping me make my dream come true of being a homeowner and for generational wealth for my family.

“I’m proud of myself that I actually did it. There were some days I was ready to throw in the towel,” she admitted as she as she continuously wiped away tears.

The home officially became hers just hours before the ceremony, when she signed paperwork to seal the deal with Habitat for Humanity’s Homeownership Program. The program, in partnership with Owens Corning for more than 20 years, provides a zero-interest mortgage loan to families in need of decent and affordable housing.

Through this partnership, Owens Corning has replaced more than
375 roofs in Lucas County and built 21 homes with MVHFH. Owens
Corning also helps provide shelter around the world through their support
of Habitat for Humanity International.

Staff, donors and volunteers listen as Lauren Clark, of Owens Corning, talks about the build process.
Erin McPartland, executive director for Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity, gives thanks for staff and volunteers.

Erin McPartland kicked off the ceremony by saying she was excited to celebrate Savage’s homeownership journey with her. “Isn’t this a beautiful home? These are just beautiful homes we’re building, and for you Carla, it’s right in time for the holidays, so we’re so excited for this.”

McPartland, executive director of Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHFH), noted that Savage’s build was special because it was the 21st build in partnership with Owens Corning. “Our mission states that we seek to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Owens Corning exemplifies our mission.”

McPartland explained that every year Owens Corning partners with Habitat to help build and preserve homes in the community. She said the impact Owens Corning has on their mission is immeasurable – between the financial and in-kind contributions, and all the employee hours and volunteer engagement they give us. “Your impact can be felt across so many different families, so thank you Owens Corning for all you do. You are God’s love in action.

“And so, while this dedication is a time to love on our donors, Owens Corning and all of our volunteers and staff, it’s also a time to really love on Carla and talk about all the work you put into getting to this point, so, here to do that is Emily,” McPartland said before trading places behind the podium with Emily Buller, program director for MVHFH.

Jan Mills, ReStore donation coordinator, presents Carla Savage, right, with a SOLD tag during the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony for Carla Savage on Dec. 6.

“Alright Carla, so you have been in the program for 26 months. You completed 301 sweat equity hours and attended 18 classes, which talked about home maintenance, financial wellness and lots of other topics about homeownership, so you did awesome,” Buller said to Savage.

“I know there have been times that have been hard during this program, but through it you never gave up,” she continued. “Life hasn’t always been easy for you, but you have a lot of faith, and you pray a lot, and that has gotten you through a ton. I know that home ownership has always been a goal for you, but now, with Samantha, you really wanted to provide that stability for her and a place where she could call home even when she is an adult; she can come home to this place, always.”

During the program Savage was presented with a Bible from her father, Harvey Savage, Jr., who blessed the space, and home-warming gifts from Needle Arts Guild and ReStore.

Lauren Clark, of Owens Corning, gives Carla Savage her house key during the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony for Carla Savage on Dec. 6.
New homeowner Carla Savage thanks God during the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony for Carla Savage on Dec. 6.

“Today’s the day to take a minute, take a deep breath, and celebrate that because you have done the work you have put in the time, and because of that we’re standing in your home,” said Lauren Clarke, strategic marketing leader with Owens Corning and a board member with Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity. 

With those words, Clarke handed Savage her new house key.

“I’m so just grateful it’s over … Jesus, now I gotta move and that’s gonna take about a week or two,” Savage said to laughter. “I’ll start tomorrow but I ain’t gonna be done tomorrow. I know it’s gonna take me at least a week, but I’m grateful and I thank God and I thank all of you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Carla Savage, 2nd from right, and her family pose in front of her new home.

Help! Adulting is NOT working! 

By
Trinity Gonzalez
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0

Be the change: Build society so adults thrive, survive

By Trinity Gonzalez | Toledo resident

Being a young adult in 2024 is truly challenging. Almost every young adult seems to be at a loss on how to manage in today’s society while being completely independent. We are constantly criticized by our elders about being “irresponsible,” with no words of wisdom or  guide on how we can improve upon ourselves.

Although financial independence and personal stability are goals for many, the current economic and social landscape has made this transition increasingly difficult.  

Young adults are also put down by their peers, as well as other adults, about the fact that more and more of us are still living at home. It has become some unspoken rule over the last few years that if you live at home in your 20s, you are “lazy” or “unmotivated,” when it is more common now than ever before.

Expenses have increased so much in the last few years. Being on your own and paying all your bills is a real struggle for most, not just young adults, but we are expected to be able to do it. We are told how lazy we are, but most of us are working 30+ hours a week while in school and managing to pay some bills.

This is why most of us choose to live at home; it is hard to juggle everything while still trying to build a career, all while learning how the adult world really works. Let’s not forget how overall expense prices keep climbing faster than our wages, making financial independence even harder to reach.  

Additionally, inflation has impacted everyday expenses, from groceries to transportation,  squeezing budgets and making even basic living costs challenging to manage. Most of us end up working in basic-wage, entry-level jobs, making saving for the future inevitably hard and not matching the rising costs of everyday goods. This usually makes young adults feel inferior and limits our ability to invest in our own long-term plans.  

Beyond finances, student loan debt looms large. The cost of higher education has left many with significant debt, which hampers our financial mobility as we start out. Although repayment options exist, the weight of this debt affects choices like renting an apartment, buying a car, or starting a family.  

Young adults today are willing and eager to contribute to society and build secure, independent lives, but the economic realities of 2024 make it exceedingly difficult.

Policymakers and communities need to recognize these unique challenges and work to create affordable housing, provide economic support, and consider debt relief measures to help young adults achieve financial independence.

We aren’t looking for handouts, just a fair chance to thrive. Let us all be the change and help create a society where young adults can thrive, not just survive.

The Humorists

By
Don Lee
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0

Cartoonist Don Lee memorializes books at Monarch Comics

Cartoonist Don Lee penned this cartoon to memorialize the books and comics lost at Monarch Comics due to a fire that spread through Colonial Village strip mall, near the intersection of Heatherdowns Blvd. and Key St., in the early morning hours of Dec. 9.

The fire, which also damaged Shawn’s Irish Tavern and Sebastiano’s Italiano Restaurant, caused disruption, but the owner of Monarch Comics, who deemed the store a total loss, vows to return by the beginning of next year, according to their Facebook page.

Monarch Comics has been serving the Northwest Ohio area for over 30 years, providing the best selection of comic books and comic book related items combined with the best service in the area. 

WTOL 11 NEWS STORY ON MONARCH COMICS FIRE

Carl Stone reinvents music

By
David Yonke
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Live computer music composer Carl Stone creates unique songs every time he gives a concert, processing the songs so the details can vary note by note. TFP Photo/David Yonke

Pioneer of live computer compositions performs BGSU concert

BOWLING GREEN – When Carl Stone steps into the spotlight, dressed all in black with black-rimmed glasses and a black fedora, he appears to be a quiet, unassuming, cool jazz cat. You wouldn’t think of him as a disrupter, but beneath his stoic exterior, that’s exactly what he is.

Stone is a 71-year-old artist and composer who, since the 1970s, has been using digital samples and computers to create songs that defy words and musical definitions.

In concert Dec. 2 at Bowling Green State University, Stone’s only instruments were a small laptop computer and an iPad.

Staff and volunteers had to keep adding chairs as more and more people – a total of about 60 – ambled into the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery/Fine Arts Center, vying for vantage points around the partial walls of art displays and a large sculpture in the middle of the floor.

After being introduced by Kurt Doles, director of the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, Stone picked up his iPad, acknowledged the boisterous applause with a nod and a smile but no words, and opened the concert with Kurihara, the first of eight electronic tunes he would spin over the next hour and 15 minutes.

The song floated into the air on gentle waves of rising, falling, climbing and sliding tectonic textures, propelled by steady but spare drumbeats and occasional clicks and crashes, all interwoven with sampled human voices that glided through the rhythmic mix.

Stone stood behind a black-draped table holding the iPad in both hands, touching or sliding a thumb across the screen to change up the mix of prerecorded sounds. He stared intently at the screen as he manipulated his sonic collages, at times bobbing his head, swaying his body to the rhythm, or leaning forward and backward into the musical mix.

Most of the songs presented that night, Stone said later in an interview with the Toledo Free Press, were so new they have not yet been titled.

The second song was startlingly loud and aggressive, a controlled cacophony of electronic samples that started with a snappy drum beat, then quickly plunged into undulating keyboard tones with robotic syntax.

Some of Stone’s compositions featured beats and harmonies built on earthy, world-music foundations, swirling with the funky rhythms and intricate vocal harmonies of Soweto and South African folk music.

Others soared into the stratosphere with baroque elements mixed with waves of sci-fi tones, somewhat like a group of holographic monks chanting in a jungle on Pandora.

Carl Stone presents a concert of live computer music at Bowling Green State University on Dec. 2, 2024. TFP Photo/David Yonke

One of Stone’s new songs began with a snappy jazz drumbeat that segued into layered orchestral samples washing across snippets of “dooby dooby doos” and other vocal slices from the crooner classic Strangers in the Night.

There were always multiple layers of action and tones, rhythm and beats, moods and emotions – sonic collages that could serve as the backdrop for Christopher Nolan’s next Inception.

Stone did not talk about or explain his music to the audience. The only spoken words during the concert were “Thank you” and “Thank you very much” as the audience clapped and cheered at the end of each tune.

In an interview after the concert, Stone said that the iPad is “just a controller” that he uses to adjust the sonic samples.

“I’m mixing, but it’s more than just mixing; it’s live processing,” he said. “So, I have samples that we recorded on the hard drive, and I play them back and manipulate them in real time.”

That combination of recorded samples and live mixes means every song is unique to the moment.

“The pieces at this point are kind of structured, and they are worked out in advance, but the note-by-note details can be different every time,” Stone said.

He noted that none of the vocals in his music are synthesized; they are all sampled.

Stone has won numerous awards for his compositions and has performed concerts around the world. A native of Los Angeles, he divides his time between L.A. and Tokyo.

One of the pioneers of electronic music, Stone said that when he started in the 1970s, he was using synthesizers and tape recorders to compose.

“The technology has evolved so much. Back when I started, you needed a studio that cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment. Now the power of that studio can be found in an iPad app for $25, probably.”

“I loved it,” Amberlin Leonard said after the show. “I’ve been listening to him for a couple of years now. His mixes are so diverse that it creates an interesting world.”

Leonard said she lives in Detroit and made the 90-mile drive to Bowling Green to see Stone live.

“I’m a fashion designer so I really, really like the diversity of his music. That’s how I create fashion, with mixes of different eras and different cultures, so I relate to his music a lot. Most of the time I tend to like his more ethereal mixes and pieces, because it’s lighter, but I’m still moved and inspired by it. But I enjoyed seeing the more loud and intense and chaotic pieces live. It’s probably the most awesome thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

She said that the way Stone used vocal samples on Strangers in the Night reminded her of the way the late DJ Screw sampled Phil Collins‘ vocals on “In the Air Tonight.”

Doles, who said he has been friends with Stone for about 30 years, last brought the composer to BGSU in 2014.

“I like to bring him around every decade or so just to stir things up. I think it’s very important that our students hear what he has to say. Because he uses just a laptop and he uses samples as his primary input, it makes him very unique.”

He added with a laugh that Stone’s compositions sound something like “pop music from Venus.”

More information on Carl Stone can be found online at rlsto.net.
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