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Estar Cohen Project to celebrate debut album ‘Waiting for Dawn’ Dec. 5

By
Toledo Free Press
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Local jazz prodigy Estar Cohen is a young woman who is serious about her art and analytical about how it works, but also passionate and joyful about doing what she loves.

After years of playing together and fine-tuning their sound, her band The Estar Cohen Project released its first CD, “Waiting for Dawn,” earlier this year. A release party for the album will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Toledo Museum of Art, featuring a live performance by the group.

The band has performed together for over two years. Cohen, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Toledo, has spent a lifetime around music. Growing up in Sylvania as part of a family of passionate musicians (her siblings are also dedicated performers), Cohen had plenty of inspiration to follow in their footsteps.

“It wasn’t until a little bit later that I discovered jazz. It wasn’t until I was maybe a sophomore or junior in high school that a friend took me out to Murphy’s [Place], and that’s where I fell in love with the music,” she said.

As she fell in love with the form, Cohen was taken under the wing of musicians like Tad Weed, whose influence she speaks of with warm regard.

“Sometimes people don’t realize all the opportunities that are out there, or things that you can create to get your music performed, or to do them yourself,” she said.

The album is a kind of snapshot of who Cohen is as an artist at this stage of her growth — and how far the band that bears her name has come.

“When we decided that we wanted to record, we were really thinking of documenting this time in our lives, our lives as musicians. And we had been working through these songs, these pieces, through gigs,” Cohen said. “We wanted it to feel kind of diverse. I feel that we covered some different ground from song to song.”

The fact that the band is always growing and evolving — much like jazz itself — means they are in a different place now than when “Waiting for Dawn” was recorded.

“We recorded the album in March, and I think it’s a good representation of what the group was then,” Cohen said. “[But] it feels like we could go in and do those tunes again, and it would be different.”

Yenrick: Stay warm, safe

By
Tim Yenrick
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As I write this, we are more than a week away from Thanksgiving, but there are more than two inches of snow on the ground and forecasted lows in the teens for the foreseeable future. The return of freezing weather means we’ll be grudgingly unpacking gloves, hats and shovels and trying to avoid chilly memories of last winter’s polar vortex.

At the American Red Cross, the return of winter temperatures also means it’s time to remind the community about preparedness and the safe use of heating sources.

We are entering the prime season for home fires, especially those due to alternative sources of heating. Red Cross volunteers in Northwest Ohio respond, on average, to a home fire every 19 hours. In December, January and February the bulk of fires we respond to are due to unsafe and, in many circumstances, unnecessary means of keeping a home warm. The American Red Cross urges families to be cautious when using space heaters and other heating sources, and to make an evacuation plan in case of a home fire or other disaster.

To prevent heating related fires, the American Red Cross offers the following prevention tips to stop heating fires before they start:

· Keep all potential fuel sources (newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs) at least three feet away from heat sources, such as space heaters, fireplaces, and stoves.

· Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

· Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned if necessary.

· If you must use a space heater, place them on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes.

As anyone who has spent time working with us can tell you, responding to these types of disasters and alleviating the suffering that comes as a consequence is a major part of who we are and what we do. The nature of our work is often reactive. Response is at the core of our mission.  

We understand disasters happen, and we are working hard to stress the importance of preparation and prevention. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Preparing for a home fire doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or training, and doesn’t take much time.

In addition to following the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use heating equipment, one of the easiest ways to prepare for a fire is to check that all of your home’s smoke alarms are in good condition. Smoke alarms should be installed outside of each sleeping area and on each level of your home.  

Prevention and preparedness in the winter months also means taking proactive steps to ensure more traditional utilities are uninterrupted. If natural gas or electricity is shut off, substituting ovens, charcoal grills, stoves or candles to heat a home is extremely dangerous and can lead to severe emergency situations. In most cases, these situations are unnecessary to begin with, as help securing home heating is available.

There are several programs to share; however, the first suggestion for every situation is to contact your local utility company at the first sign you may have trouble paying your bill. The sooner they are informed about an issue or problem, the more options there will be for assistance.

Currently, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) offers assistance to families with a household income of up to 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines, or $47,700 for a family of four. For more information, or to find the agency in your county that administers HEAP funding, please contact the Ohio Development Services Agency at 1-800-282-0880.

It is our hope that every household stays warm and safe this winter.

Tim Yenrick is Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Northwestern Ohio.

Pounds: Going gambling

By
Tom Pounds
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After years of starts, stops and speculation, the former Southwyck Mall property will officially have a new owner in the next 30 days. Whether that will be the City of Toledo or a company with plans to develop the site remains to be seen.

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Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins is confident the city will find a buyer within that time frame, despite disappointment over The Andersons’ recent choice of Monclova Township over Southwyck as the site for its new company headquarters. Others, like Councilman Tom Waniewski, aren’t so sure.

Waniewski was one of five members who voted against the $3.25 million purchase during City Council’s Nov. 18 meeting. He told Toledo Free Press he felt the site was too big a gamble with so much taxpayer money on the line.

“To me, purchasing land is a fine line between economic development and economic gambling,” he said. “I think in light of The Andersons pulling out as a possible suitor for that property, we would be taking a gamble.”

Waniewski doesn’t see the city finding a buyer within a year, much less 30 days.

“I hope I’m wrong, but I think that’s a huge gamble with a lot of taxpayer money,” he said.

However, seven Council members believe that gamble is worth taking.

“The things that were attractive about it when it was chosen as a site for the mall still remain attractive about that property,” Councilwoman Sandy Spang told Toledo Free Press. “There are some strong anchors there on Reynolds Road and we need to see that as the prime piece of property it is.”

Some members fear Southwyck’s current owners might jeopardize potential development of the full site by selling off portions along Reynolds Road.

“In order to do aggressive economic development, you have to have  large pieces of land to offer entities that are going to bring jobs in. So there are times when it is prudent to control a piece of property so you can keep it together for a full development,” Spang said. “I’m hopeful it will find a use that will create jobs. If we bring jobs to Toledo, every part of Toledo wins.”

Earlier on Nov. 18, the Lucas County Commissioners announced their intent to purchase the former Hotel Seagate for $1.38 million. Calling the vacant Downtown building an “eyesore and a nuisance,” the commissioners said they planned to demolish it to make room for potential future development. The commissioners did not name names, but said there is one public and one private entity interested in sharing the cost.

Commissioner Pete Gerken called the Hotel Seagate site the next piece of the chessboard in future Downtown redevelopment.

“This is where the action is. We are seizing the day and seizing the moment,” Commissioner Carol Contrada told reporters at a news conference.

Are these pending acquisitions visionary investments or reckless expenditures? It depends on whom you ask. As a business owner who lives and works Downtown, I support efforts for revitalization. And Spang is correct that jobs anywhere in the city are good for everyone in the city — as long as those developers and jobs actually come, and the sites don’t become just two more taxpayer burdens. Time will tell. Here’s hoping these gambles pay off.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at [email protected].

Ohio Theatre helping revitalize city’s North End

By
Toledo Free Press
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When its 1,000 seats opened in Toledo’s Polish Village in 1921, the Ohio Theatre was the largest neighborhood movie theater in the nation.

The theater was a prime gathering place for those in the neighborhood, the area’s largest concentration of people of Polish descent. At the time, it was one of 41 indoor movie houses in Toledo; now only two remain.

Nikki Morey of United North and Ryan Bunch of The Arts Commission inside the Ohio Theatre. Toledo Free Press Photo by Christie Materni

Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Mickey Rooney, William Christopher and Toledo’s own Jamie Farr are just a few of the entertainers who have performed there over the years.

The neighborhood has changed over the years, and the theater has certainly had its share of ups and downs — including lightning destroying its marquee — but throughout it all, neighbors have believed in its potential. With a passion for preserving history and keeping the arts alive in the Polish Village, its operators are giving nearby residents reason for hope.

RELATED: North Toledo celebrates reopening of historic theater

United North is in the midst of a multiyear renovation project that’s breathing new life into the Ohio Theatre and its surrounding Lagrange Street neighborhood.

“We’re looking at it not just as a neighborhood opportunity, but it’s an opportunity for Toledo,” said Nikki Morey, United North’s senior manager of community programming. United North, a community development corporation aimed at improving North Toledo neighborhoods, has operated the theater since purchasing it in 2009.

“We’re reaching out to schools where art has almost been stripped out of the curriculum, but also [aim] to be a catalyst for economic development,” Morey said.

While originally a movie house, the Ohio Theatre was also a place to remain connected to the world. Neighborhood residents got news and information at the theater and revered it as a center of the community.

“We’ve had a lot of conversations about it in this age: How do you build a theater around a sense of community without having that same need?” said Ryan Bunch, performing and literary arts coordinator for The Arts Commission, a local group contracted to keep the theater humming with events.

It took about four years for United North to reopen the theater as the Ohio Theatre and Event Center in July 2013, and some questioned that length of time. Operators maintain that time was well spent on fundraising and developing an action plan, not easy tasks since the theater is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Those efforts paid off as United North unveiled a three-phase plan to re-energize this Lagrange Street landmark. Phase one’s $1.2 million investment involved much behind-the-scenes work:  new lighting, air conditioning and restroom upgrades. Improvements were paid through Better Buildings Initiative funds, private investment and donations, but the theater is operating at a deficit while funds are being paid back.

Phase two has started, and includes new dressing rooms, concession areas and continued electrical and lighting work. United North also hopes to add new furniture and sound system upgrades. Further work on a new façade and marquee is dependent on grants, but could be completed in late 2015 or early 2016.

“We’ve already gotten some good response from the trade union that they would be willing to work with us to utilize the trades and have this as one of their donations in kind,” Morey said. “But we still need to buy the supplies and the marquee.”

The final and largest phase will likely cost around $7 million and encompass a full-scale renovation with new seats and a stage overhaul, though it’s uncertain when that might take place.

Despite all the work still underway, the show must go on, and the theater is now in its second consecutive season.

“Last year, we did a handful of programs to figure out what worked and didn’t,” Bunch said. “This season it was a little more put together.”

Morey believes many people in the region recognize the good that’s coming from a reborn Ohio Theatre.

“They do recognize that this is important,” she said.

Its neighbors do, too.

“I don’t know what you’d do with the thing if someone didn’t restore it,” said Tom Jesionowski, a local resident who serves on the United North board. “Basically, it’s the last operating neighborhood movie theater in Toledo.”

In addition to serving on the board, Jesionowski volunteers his time working around the theater, doing painting and other fix-it-up jobs, as well as some theater promotion. He knows the Ohio Theatre is a critical part of North Toledo.

“It’s kind of like an anchor,” Jesionowski said. “We have a new library in the neighborhood. We have a new bank two doors away, and it’s a fight for survival, like anything. I think probably United North is one of the most successful CDCs (community development corporations) in the area. I don’t know of another as strong as we are. We cover the whole North End, and actually, we were voted No. 1 in the state of Ohio.”

Neighborhood businesses believe in the Ohio Theatre, too, according to Morey. Jaleo Young, owner of J Maes’ Home Cooking, said he feels more secure in his operation thanks to the extra traffic the Ohio Theatre draws to the neighborhood.

“It brings business our way,” Young said. “It just helps and attracts all different types of people, which helps the businesses in the neighborhood. When they have those events, it helps us with business flow. It just attracts people that normally wouldn’t come to this area. They’re seeing that good things are happening on Lagrange Street. It’s a real good thing.”

The capital campaign continues, but Ohio Theatre advocates are aggressively working on a solid slate of events.

“There’s a number of events that are just straight rentals,” Bunch said. “That ranges from dance recitals to a boxing match. So, there’s really a wide range of stuff going on. We’re in our second season and things are up and running more smoothly this year.”

The next event will be The 24-Hour Plays, a performance of short plays written, produced and rehearsed by University of Toledo students in a 24-hour period. The show is set for 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Cost is $3-7.

For more information, visit www.ohiotheatretoledo.org.

McGinnis: Dear Gamergate

By
Jeff McGinnis
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Editor’s Note: This “Open Letter to an Online Movement” was written by Jeff McGinnis in collaboration with Feliza Casano, founder and editor-in-chief of Girls in Capes (girlsin capes.com), and Grendel, author of the YouTube channel and Tumblr WTFHistory (wtfhistory.tumblr.com).

Dear Gamergate:

We write this letter as geeks, feminists and game players.

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We write as individuals who have a passion for pop culture, but also care about the messages it can send, and we work in the hopes that it can improve.

We write believing that video games can impact their players emotionally in ways few art forms can, and should be taken seriously as art. But if they are to cement that place in the public consciousness, their defenders need to do better than react like petulant schoolchildren when others disagree with them.

We write out of anger and sorrow, and the belief that something needs to be said:

Gamergate is a hate movement.

There are many who consider themselves members of the group who will disagree. They will claim we are judging the whole of a varied, nuanced campaign by the actions of its most extreme members, or that we are buying into hyperbole perpetrated by a conspiracy to make a movement about the ethics of gaming journalism look bad.

To believe Gamergate is not a hate movement, one has to ignore the group’s well-documented roots in sexism, hypocrisy and harassment. One has to ignore the fact that a substantial majority of the comments attributed to Gamergate supporters are aimed at female game developers and critics, not the actual journalists whose “ethics” are supposedly in question.

One has to ignore the fact that Gamergate’s supposed “accomplishments” consist mainly of convincing advertisers to pull support from sites that have been critical of the movement — not actually inspiring debate and reform of the supposedly egregious ethical violations they are aimed at.

To believe that the heart of Gamergate does not lie in prejudice and intimidation is to willfully ignore the culture of fear that has enveloped women connected to gaming in the months since it began.

The very idea that the movement is focused on integrity in video game reporting is contradicted by its origins. In August, an 8,000-word screed by a former boyfriend of game developer Zoe Quinn was posted to various websites, its author proclaiming in spectacularly bitter prose how he felt Quinn had mistreated him during their relationship. Among his allegations was that Quinn had cheated on him with Nathan Grayson, a video game reporter who writes for the website Kotaku.

The backlash was swift and furious. The presumption was made that Quinn’s relationship with the Kotaku writer had influenced his coverage of Quinn’s games, and thus she had clearly traded sexual favors for positive press coverage. A firestorm of righteous anger over this alleged violation of ethics quickly began.

Quinn was descended upon by ludicrously angry protests, a concentrated effort to destroy her reputation and threaten her safety. Grayson, the reporter who would have actually committed the alleged violation of ethics, got barely a fraction of the scorn.

But no such ethical violations had occurred. Grayson’s coverage of Quinn was practically nonexistent on Kotaku. The site conducted its own investigation and found no evidence of misconduct. The righteously indignant, though, would not be dissuaded. According to the Gamergate movement, this one non-scandal was clearly indicative of larger corruption within gaming journalism, and it was up to them to expose it. A tweet from “Firefly” actor Adam Baldwin gave the movement its name, hashtag and screed: “Gamergate.”

All of this would be ridiculous if so many lives weren’t being legitimately endangered. In the months since the movement launched, its sanctimonious catch-all philosophy has led to the intensifying of an already troubling streak of misogyny within the gaming community. It’s not just game journalism that troubles these die-hards; it’s anything that they perceive as an attack on gaming in general. Playing is not just a diversion — it’s part of what defines them as an individual. The statement seems to be: “If you criticize gaming, you criticize me.”

As a result, individuals who dare to disagree with Gamergate — or worse, take a stand against prejudice within games or the gaming community — have found themselves increasingly under attack. And no matter how supporters may try to brush off those attackers as “extremists” who don’t represent “real” Gamergaters, the fact is that the most violent and persistent of threats are aimed at women.

Quinn had to flee her home when her personal information was publicized. Video game critic Anita Sarkeesian, who is a vocal activist about the depiction of women in gaming media (and who through sheer

badassness has refused to stop being vocal), suffered similar treatment. She even  had to cancel a speaking engagement at Utah State University in October when a mass shooting threat was called in. Game developer Brianna Wu was tormented for retweeting an anti-Gamergate meme one of her followers had made, inspired by her comments on the subject.

And the danger isn’t limited to those within the gaming community. Journalists and critics faced harassment for the crime of daring to speak in support of Quinn. Even individuals who had done much to further the cause of gaming found themselves under attack: Actress and Web darling Felicia Day wrote a piece on feeling threatened by Gamergate, and how she feared by even mentioning the movement her personal information would be made public. Within an hour, it was.

Supporters of Gamergate dismiss this series of events as either the actions of a small minority of those in the movement or as a conspiracy perpetrated to discredit their message (whatever that message is supposed to be at this point). Both conveniently allow the rank-and-file Gamergaters to keep feeling positive about what they’re doing. It’s not ME, it’s THEM. Or it’s a vast, well-coordinated effort to make me look prejudiced.

This line of thinking is either willful ignorance or elaborate self-deception in regards to the reality of Gamergate’s impact. A study of Twitter activity commissioned by Newsweek found that the majority of tweets that carry the #gamergate hashtag are aimed not at prominent journalists or multimillion dollar game developers — the ones who would be most guilty of the corruption the movement purports to stand against — but instead attack small independent game designers and game critics. And the vast majority of those targets are women.

Quinn was targeted by over 10 times more #gamergate tweets than Grayson. By themselves, Wu and Sarkeesian have been targeted by more #gamergate tweets than all other games journalists combined, according to the Newsweek study.

Either the movement’s supposed “lunatic fringe” is larger than its moderates dare consider, or this is the one of most masterfully coordinated conspiracies to discredit a movement in human history.

And yet “average” members of the movement still insist upon seeing themselves as the persecuted minority. If people involved in the movement wanted to disavow themselves of the exclusionary, misogynistic aspects of it, they are going about it in the worst way possible. By insisting that they are not part of the problem, that it’s merely a few bad apples, and aligning themselves with the “movement,” they create a defense for those using the tag and the movement to spread their vitriol. Better to separate themselves and forge their own movements. Better to refocus.

If you’re so concerned about the ethics of video game journalism, why not consider how gaming media treats women as characters and as players? Why not consider the coverage of game developers and companies and the quality of marketing directed at gamers, and the sexist tones found there? Why not make a new movement, one that includes the women Gamergate targets or discounts? There are too many people shoving all criticism and concerns aside and claiming the media is attempting to silence their crusade — a crusade that is at best misguided tunnelvision, and at worst a sexist witch hunt aimed at driving women away from games.

The tragedy of it all is that it’s working. Several female game makers and writers have announced their departure from the medium. Many of those brave enough to persevere — like Quinn, Sarkeesian and Wu — find themselves the subject of constant, unrelenting threats. Many more who would speak out in support are terrified that they would end up with a target on their own backs.

And those who believe they are defending gaming — either against a journalistic cabal conspiring to (GASP!) tell them slightly biased information about a product, or against the influence of those who dare to suggest games could do some things a little better — those Gamergaters are actually the ones hastening the destruction of the gaming community.

They are solidifying the scathing views of an already pessimistic public.

They are convincing people who might have tried gaming that its supporters are small-minded and prejudicial, and new voices are not welcome.

They are driving away individuals who could bring them new and exciting experiences.

They are telling people — half the world’s population, and half the population of the gaming community whom they could welcome with open arms  — that gaming isn’t a safe place for them.

They have withdrawn so far within an echo chamber of fiddles that they can’t smell how Rome is already burning all around them.

They — you — need to wake up.

Sincerely,

Feliza, Grendel and Jeff

Jeff McGinnis is pop culture editor of Toledo Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @jeffmac813.

Ground broken on Mercy’s new Sylvania Township medical center

By
Toledo Free Press
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Construction for Mercy Medical Center-Sylvania has officially begun.

During a ground breaking event on Nov. 18, plans were detailed at the site of the future facility on the corner of Central Avenue and King Road. The center will feature 12 exam rooms, a laboratory and imaging center providing emergency care services 24-7.

Ground was broken on Mercy’s new Sylvania Township medical center during a ceremony Nov. 18. Toledo Free Press photo by Matt Liasse

The cost of the project is approximately $14.3 million, which includes demolition, construction and equipment.

It’s an exciting day for the people of Sylvania and the surrounding communities, Mercy Health Vice President of Operations Brian Smith said. He added the facility will be closer for the people in the area.

“In just over a year’s time, these residents will not have to drive that far and that’s something we’re honored to bring to this community,” Smith said.

The building will be where Central Elementary School used to be. The school’s cornerstone is being preserved and will be incorporated into the future medical building.

The school’s retired principle Toni Gerber said recognition of the school means a lot.

“When the property was sold, we wanted so much for it to be something that would be important because we felt the work that we did over the years was so important to so many families and so many children,” Gerber said.

The building will be where Central Elementary School used to be. The school’s cornerstone is being preserved and will be incorporated into the future medical building. Toledo Free Press photo by Matt Liasse

By honoring the elementary school, Mercy Board of Trustees Chair Charles Gallagher said a piece of history is being preserved “as a reminder of the past, present and future.”

Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center’s Vice President of Mission and Values Integration Father Joseph Cardone gave his blessing during the ground breaking event.

“As a Catholic institution, it’s important for us to have a blessing,” Marketing and Media Relations Manager Sarah Bednarski said in an email.

The center is expected to open fall 2015.

“There’s a saying that I would share with our staff and it’s: ‘What if our hearts and our hands combined in an occupation? What a wonderful and rich thing that would be,’” Gerber said. “I feel we did that for many, many years and I know that Mercy Health will continue to do that same thing.”

Artist’s rendering courtesy Mercy

County awards legal notice contract to TFP; Blade plans to sue

By
Dock David Treece
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Each year, the Lucas County Auditor’s Office is required by law to publish a list of delinquent land tax notices in a local publication.

During a special meeting Nov. 19, the Lucas County Commissioners voted to award this year’s contract to Toledo Free Press.

“We are pleased to print and distribute this list for the second year,” Toledo Free Press President and Publisher Tom Pounds said. “We are proud that the county chose us for this task and are confident we will do a great job as we did last year.”

The list will be published on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, and will also be available online at toledofreepress.com, in our free digital edition and online at publicnoticesohio.com, as required by state law.

However, The Blade, which also submitted a bid for the contract, has indicated it plans to sue Lucas County over the decision, claiming Toledo Free Press does not qualify as a “newspaper of general circulation” eligible to publish legal notices as set forth in the Ohio Revised Code.

In a statement provided to WTOL, Blade President and General Manager Joe Zerbey said:

“The Blade is disappointed that the Lucas County Auditor, Anita Lopez, recommended that the county’s delinquent tax list be published in the Toledo Free Press.

“Several weeks ago, sales managers from The Blade presented a marketing outline of the overwhelming advantages The Blade offers in paid circulation penetration of required zip codes in Lucas County compared to the free, largely unread Toledo Free Press. All three commissioners and most of the elected office holders, including Auditor Lopez, were present. The presentation showed The Blade has overpowering demographic dominance that best serves the citizens of Lucas County in reading the business of their government and in receiving legal notices that impact them.

“We believe that the Toledo Free Press is not a qualified paper of general circulation for the purposes of publishing this legal advertisement and intend to vigorously pursue the issue legally. The citizens of Lucas County deserve better treatment from their county auditor.”

Earlier this month, Lopez reviewed bids from The Blade and Toledo Free Press and recommended Toledo Free Press’ bid as the “lowest and best.” The final decision was made by the County Commissioners.

Toledo Free Press bid $163,455 to publish the list in its Sunday paper. The Blade bid $377,137 for a weekday publication, or $397,223 to run the first of two lists on a Sunday. Both papers would distribute the list to all affected zip codes, but Toledo Free Press has higher circulation numbers, as verified by independent audit.

Pounds said Toledo Free Press meets all qualifications under the law, which was amended in 2011 to eliminate the link between charging for newspapers and being permitted to publish legal notices. The change opened the legal publication business to any “newspaper of general circulation” that publishes at least once a week and meets other criteria.

In 2012, Lopez sought an opinion on this matter from the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, which ruled, “[Toledo] Free Press would now qualify as a paper of general circulation.”

Toledo Free Press published the county’s delinquent land tax notices list last year at a cost of $168,025, the first time a free weekly newspaper has published Lucas County’s list. According to county records, delinquent land taxes owed in Lucas County were reduced by $10.7 million between January and March.

Between 2009-12, the notices were published by The Blade at an average cost of $321,000. An average of $6.8 million in taxes was collected each year between January and March following the publication of the notices.

Toledo Free Press has also published legal notices for a number of other organizations and municipalities, including the Village of Ottawa Hills, City of Toledo, City of Sylvania, Monclova Township, Lucas County Metropolitan Housing Authority, Toledo Public Schools, Metroparks of Toledo Area and Washtenaw County.

Gayla has heart: 37th annual charity event benefits area LGBT causes

By
Joel Sensenig
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Supporting the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community has been the mission of the Holiday with Heart Charity Gayla for nearly four decades.

While event organizers are pleased with the progress made in this country and region since 1977 — when the first Gayla took place — they know much more work is needed.

The 37th annual event will be  4-11 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St. Tickets are $75. Billed as the premier social event for the Toledo LGBT community, the Gayla’s mission is to develop financial resources to support the Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan LGBT community.

The Holiday With Heart Charity Gayla will be Dec. 7 at The Toledo Club. Photo by Brooks Photography.

The Holiday With Heart Charity Gayla will be Dec. 7 at The Toledo Club. Photo by Brooks Photography.

“Many are shocked that we have lasted 37 years and we are still going strong,” said Rick Cornett, member of the Holiday with Heart board of directors. “The event only gets bigger and bigger each year as LGBT acceptance has reached an all-time high.”

The formal event for ages 18 and older features dinner, a cash bar, dancing, a raffle, a silent auction and networking opportunities. Grand Lubell Photography will provide a photo booth, while Tim Schulien and local restaurateur Pam Weirauch will offer a dessert station.

Jon Paul, aka Amanda Collins, will be MC and hostess. Paul is a makeup artist and cosmetologist who started to do drag performances to raise awareness of AIDS and its effect on families.

This year’s Gayla will benefit two LGBT causes: Why Marriage Matters Ohio and Toledo Mpowerment.

Why Marriage Matters Ohio is a grassroots public education campaign aiming to build support for marriage equality.

“We are eager to help support marriage equality nationwide but want to see it happen here in Ohio first and foremost,” Cornett said. “We now have 33 states with legal gay marriage and I’m ashamed to say Ohio isn’t one of them. When I first came out in 1985 I never thought I would see one state with legal gay marriage in my lifetime. We have come a long way.”

Toledo Mpowerment is a local youth support group for gay, bisexual and transgender men ages 18-29. The agency provides a safe haven for a happy, healthy and educating environment for fun and fellowship while providing education on HIV and safe sex.

Some of the funds raised will also go into the Holiday with Heart Fund at the Toledo Community Foundation. Now standing at about $27,000, funds will be dispersed to local LGBT causes as needed once $100,000 is raised. All funds stay in the region. Last year’s Gayla raised $10,000.

Holiday with Heart committee member Wayne North said the event serves several purposes.

“It serves as a method to generate money to support events and causes that matter to the LGBT community, events that by themselves would probably go largely ignored,” North said. “It provides a very visible public event that allows the general public to see the LGBT community doing something positive, thereby generating public respect, acceptance and legitimacy for the LGBT family. It provides a venue for the various segments of the LGBT community to gather and have a social event and help inspire cohesion and cooperation.”

Cornett said the recent attack on transgender activist Candice Milligan shows the Gayla’s mission is still necessary. Milligan was attacked and robbed Nov. 3 near 13th Street and Madison Avenue in Downtown Toledo. She was released from Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center after spending several days there.

“The local LGBT community has come a long way with gaining acceptance in many areas of Toledo’s society, but we still have a way to go,” Cornett said. “Transgender people are perhaps the most misunderstood group under the LGBT umbrella with little media and education focus on them. We want to support and bring awareness to all who stand under the LGBT umbrella.

“Much still needs to be done within our school systems towardprotecting LGBT youth from bullying and making them feel safe and unafraid to report these verbal and physical attacks.”

Holiday with Heart donated $500 to Milligan to help with her medical bills.

This year’s sponsors include Paramount Advantage; Legends Showclub; Mojo Bar; Gallon, Takacs, Boissoneault & Schaffer Co., LPA; Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP; Toledo Pride Foundation; Hitchings Insurance Agency, Inc.; The University of Toledo; The Flower Market; Grand Lubell Photography; Great Lakes Sound and Lighting; and Pam’s Corner restaurant. Toledo Free Press serves as media sponsor of the event.

For those not able to attend the event, Mojo and Legends are offering $20 tickets for the Little Red Wagon Raffle, which contains more than 20 bottles of Bacardi and Skyy liquors with special barware and items for home bars. Tickets will be sold until Dec. 7.

The Gayla is open to all in the LGBT community as well as its allies. Cornett encourages attendees to get their reservations in early. Reservation deadline is Dec. 3. The event has sold out for several years.

Other committee members are David Bingham, Ed Hoffman, Steve Maenle, Ken-yetta White, Rickie Waugh, Brian O’Connor, Neil Koplitz and Chris Coleman. Billy Mann is a volunteer for the event.

For more information or reservation forms, visit www.HWHcharitygayla.org or call Cornett at (419) 470-3937. O

City Council approves purchase of Southwyck for $3.25M

By
Erin Holden
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Within 30 days, the former Southwyck mall property will have a new owner, either the City of Toledo or a developer the city is hoping to find for the site.

By a 7-5 vote, Toledo City Council approved the purchase of the 58.8-acre site for $3.25 million at its Nov. 18 meeting. Council members Mike Craig, Jack Ford, Theresa Gabriel, Tyrone Riley and Tom Waniewski cast the dissenting votes.

Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins said the city will purchase the site at the end of 30 days unless another buyer can be found.

“It’s not my thought that we are going to hang onto this property. It’s not my thought we are going to give this property away. It is my thought we are going to find a development,” Collins said.

RELATED: Six years since Southwyck closed, but future of site still unclear

The Andersons was among those considering the site, but the Maumee-based company announced Nov. 14 it would build its new headquarters in Monclova Township instead.

“Our focus was realistically on The Andersons up until Friday (Nov. 14),” Collins said. “I thought we had prepared for them a very viable opportunity that would have rewarded both The Andersons corporation and the City of Toledo. However, I have the utmost respect for the decision The Andersons made and we will be moving forward with alternative plans.

“In the next 30 days, we’re going to be aggressively moving on this property,” Collins said. “I fully intend on having our economic development department and director [Matt] Sapara to move aggressively to try to find an end user before the additional 30 days expire.”

Photo by Shawn Rames / Exploring Northwest Ohio from the Sky

Photo by Shawn Rames / Exploring Northwest Ohio from the Sky

Due to the proximity to shopping centers like Levis Commons and Fallen Timbers, retail is unlikely, Collins said, but there has been interest in the site for a research and development center for pharmaceutical companies, a medical facility or medical offices or a corporate campus. The property is also listed on a national search list.

“Those are all ideas not generated by the administration, but generated by people talking to us about [the site],” Collins said. “Those ideas are percolating out there now.”

Collins said it would be fair to say the city has three serious considerations for the site, but declined to elaborate.

“One is a joint situation, [where] if A moves, B moves,” Collins said. “I can’t say much more about it aside from that or I’d be shirking my duties in terms of confidentiality.”

The purchase price is based on a per acre cost of $51,290, which is discounted from the original listing price of $72,900.

Collins said when the current owners were approached — anonymously — with the city’s offer to option the property, they took more than four months to come to terms.

“If that is a true indicator of a business mentality, you can see the stifling effect,” Collins said. “I don’t think the market has the patience to go through that type of a negotiation.”

Councilwoman Sandy Spang, a South Toledo resident and business owner, said she voted yes to the purchase because she believes city control of the property offers the best chance for quality development.

“It was a difficult decision for me,” Spang said. “I am normally in favor of letting the market determine these things, but I was not confident the owners of the property would consider the community’s interest.”

One fear was the current owners would sell off frontage along Reynolds Road, jeopardizing the ability to develop the rest of the site.

“In order to do aggressive economic development, you have to have  large pieces of land to offer entities that are going to bring jobs in,” Spang said. “So there are times when it is prudent to control a piece of property so you can keep it together for a full development.”

Councilwoman Lindsay Webb agreed.

“As a district council person who represents the area where [the former] North Towne [Mall] is, I am familiar with how owners of malls can operate in conjunction to stifle development,” Webb said. “[Southwyck’s owners] did not see eye to eye as to the direction of this site so I think its in the city’s best interest to take control of the site so that the site can be set free for future development.

However, several Council members, including Waniewski, said they voted no because they felt the city was taking too much of a gamble.

“To me, purchasing land is a fine line between economic development and economic gambling,” Waniewski said. “I think in light of The Andersons pulling out as a possible suitor for that property, we would be taking a gamble.”

Waniewski said he isn’t confident the city will find a buyer within a year, much less 30 days. The ordinance stipulates the city has a year to defer making payments on the property

“I hope I’m wrong, but I think that’s a huge gamble with a lot of taxpayer money,” Waniewski said. “That’s not money I want to spend. If someone is interested in that property, the free market will dictate that and then we can still play a role in that. We can still come in and work with the current owners and that’s the approach I favor: Wait till someone shows a strong interest and the city can come in and facilitate that and it doesn’t cost us anything in between.”

Riley said he voted against the purchase because he felt the money could be better spent on roads and other infrastructure projects.

“To use capital improvement dollars on this project when you don’t have an end user or developer on board to develop the site I think is not a prudent decision,” Riley said. “We don’t know exactly when we’re going to have a developer on board or if we’re going to have a developer on board and we’ve tied up $3.2 million of capital improvement funds when we could be using that money to repair and repave roads and rebuild and strengthen our infrastructure.”

Ford said he voted no because he feels the city is already over-committed in projects.

“I felt it was too much money with no purchaser in sight,” Ford said. “It wasn’t quite the time to do that. I think ultimately, either now or later, we’re going to have to do that, but we seem to have so many financial obligations lining up that I just don’t know where the money’s coming from. … I think we need to slow down our obligations and get a few more things done and then take it back up.”

Craig said he voted against the purchase because he believes Council should concentrate on funding neighborhoods.

“Economic development should not be swinging for the fences every time and striking out eight to nine times out of 10. We should be hitting singles and doubles,” Craig said. “Until we start making neighborhoods a better place to live, we’re going to keep losing [population]. That’s what we need to fund — we need to fund neighborhood economic development. That’s one of my priorities.”

However, Collins said he considers investing in Southwyck to be an investment into the neighborhood and said the purchase is meant to stabilize the neighborhood.

“This particular piece of property, when that corridor of our city was bustling and vibrant, it was all based around Southwyck,” Collins said, pointing to other key investment in the area including Clarion Hotel site, Genesis Village, Maumee Valley Country Day School and more.

“We’ve got some major keystones in that whole equation and once we get Southwyck under a development profile that makes sense I think the dominoes will continue to fall and you will see all businesses, such as restaurants, office spaces, that type of thing come in, which will stabilize the neighborhood,” Collins said.

Spang said economic development can be a “long road” but thinks it will pay off in this case.

“The things that were attractive about it when it was chosen as a site for the mall, still remain attractive about that property: proximity to the turnpike, proximity to the expressway, number of rooftops surrounding it,” Spang said. “There are some strong anchors there on Reynolds Road and we need to see that as the prime piece of property it is.

“This is an attractive site — it’s got great infrastructure around it, it’s well situated and I’m hopeful it will find a use that will create jobs,” she said. “If we bring jobs to Toledo, every part of Toledo wins.”

Frostbitten: Collingwood Arts Center seeks heating help with benefit Nov. 29

By
Joel Sensenig
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Winter’s early onset has everyone seeking warmth.

The Collingwood Art Center (CAC), 2413 Collingwood Blvd., is in particular need of heat after two of its three boilers went out last winter. Although the center has received offers from Campbell Mechanical, Campbell Supply and Local 50 of The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry to help with its current boiler and pricing and installation of the new boilers, it will still cost the CAC about $19,000 to properly heat the building.

In an effort to help raise money for the project, CAC is hosting a fundraiser, “Frostbitten: A Variety Show Featuring the Best of CAC” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29. The show will feature performances from groups already performing at CAC, including Birds Eye View Circus, Children’s Theatre Workshop, Charity Drag of Toledo, Loa Fire and the T-Town Tassels.

Advance tickets are $9 each or $15 for a pair. Children 12 and under will be $5. Advance tickets can be purchased at the CAC or online at www.frostbitten.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets will be $12 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.

“We’re in a situation where it’s imperative to get heat in the building in order to continue operating just to keep the businesses that are already in place and to continue to be able to rent the theater,” said Lexi Staples, CAC executive director.

The need for the boilers was particularly disappointing for the center because officials thought the situation had been remedied earlier this year when a group of community members offered to donate and install a boiler that would replace the center’s three older boilers.

When the engineers prepped for installation in September, they discovered it was too large and would be too inefficient for the needs of the CAC.

After discussing ways to raise the money with Erin Garber-Pearson of Birds Eye View Circus, Staples decided to move forward with the “Frostbitten” fundraiser.

“It’s really cool to see the community coming together to support this community space that is so much already but could be so much more,” Staples said.

Garber-Pearson said the circus wants to do whatever it can to help out its performance space.

“We train and perform in the theater,” Garber-Pearson said. “It’s really important to us the CAC theater is warm. We just made an investment in that building in general and want to see it succeed. We will basically do whatever it takes to help support that place.”

Birds Eye View Circus will take some of the top acts from its recent “Toy Chest” show, including acrobatic acts, trapeze, aerial hoop, silks and double silks elements.

“Frostbitten” is just the first of several fundraisers for the boiler project, Staples said. The CAC is also accepting donations online at www.gofundme.com/h9wk3s/.

“From kids’ acts to fire breathing to the circus, it’s going to be a crazy and interesting evening,” Staples said.

The Mission of the CAC is to provide an outlet for creative community involvement while preserving a historic space. For more information about the CAC, visit www.collingwoodartscenter.org.

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