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Ottawa Hills teen remembered as kind, smart, positive

By
Erin Holden
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When the Ottawa Hills High School (OHHS) girls’ basketball team traveled to Gibsonburg on Feb. 7, a familiar face was missing from the student section.

Senior Brian Hoeflinger made it a point to come to every game, home or away, and was known for his exuberant clapping, said classmate Grace Petro, a varsity basketball player.

“He could clap on anything — his leg, his cheeks, other people — and he always dressed up [to match the game’s theme],” Petro said, smiling at the memory. “You just expected him to be at every girls’ game. I think he only missed one game. He was usually one of the only students there. He felt bad the girls’ team didn’t have many supporters. He just loved going to everyone’s games and supporting them.”

Three days after Hoeflinger’s death, Petro teared up instantly at the mention of her friend’s name.

She and the rest of the OHHS community were left in shock Feb. 2 as word spread that the popular 18-year old had been killed in a car accident the night before.

Smart, positive, goofy and kindhearted are words that come up again and again when people describe Hoeflinger. The Ottawa Hills resident, who previously attended St. John’s Jesuit High School, transferred to OHHS for his senior year and seemed to transition seamlessly into the student body, said OHHS Intervention Specialist Sharon Abendroth, whose son Matthew played golf with Hoeflinger.

“He walked into our school less than a year ago, but you couldn’t
tell,” Abendroth said. “He fit into our family very well. It was a natural fit and it felt like he’d been here for years. You couldn’t ask for a better kid to join your school.”

‘A good kid’

Ottawa Hills superintendent Kevin Miller said Hoeflinger was “a good kid involved in good things.”

“He was a very present young man, a great personality,” Miller said. “Just a personality that endeared himself to the people around him. That’s what I know about Brian. He was just a very vibrant young man.

“We’re a small school system,” Miller said. “Our average class size is about 75 and about two-thirds of every class has been here since kindergarten. It can be hard for a new student to come in and fit into the friendships that have been formed for many, many years, but Brian did that with ease.”

Academics were important to Hoeflinger, who carried a 4.5 GPA and made several references on his Twitter account in January to taking advanced placement classes, including AP English and AP Calculus, doing homework and staying up late studying.

Memorial items were placed at the site of the Feb. 1 accident.
Photo by Sarah Ottney

Hoeflinger also displayed a creative side, Miller said, recalling a self-portrait made as part of a digital photography class assignment depicting him crouching beside his golf bag.

“It was unusual and showed a great eye, so he was not only intelligent, but creative,” Miller said.

The OHHS golf team competed at the Division III state golf tournament in October, finishing fourth. Hoeflinger was named first team all-conference and second team all-district.

Abendroth said Hoeflinger was a mentor to her son, a sophomore golfer.

“To my son, he was a leader, a mentor, a great role model, athletically and academically,” Abendroth said. “I don’t know if it’s because he had younger siblings or what, but he was able to connect with kids of all ages. It was a gift he had.”

Hoeflinger has three younger siblings:brother Kevin, 15, and sisters Julie, 14, and Christie, 11.

Although he coached him for only one season at OHHS, golf coach Jim McGill had known Hoeflinger for years through his involvement with the Toledo Junior Golf Association, where Hoeflinger played and McGill is a director.

“Brian was such an awesome kid and an integral part of the team,” Mc-Gill said. “He befriended the entire team, including all the younger kids. He had tremendous golf ability and in terms of being a leader, he led by example and character.”

Senior Elizabeth Noble said everyone at OHHS liked Hoeflinger, even those — like her — who didn’t know him well.

“He was just a happy light in the halls,” Noble said. “All his friends want him to be remembered as the goofy, happy, smiling person he was.”

In honor of Hoeflinger’s goal of attending the University of North Carolina to become an orthodontist, Petro, Noble and the other OHHS cheerleaders wore light blue bows in their hair featuring the initials “BH” and a heart at the boys’ basketball game at Maumee Valley Country Day School on Feb. 5. There was also a moment of silence and many Maumee Valley players wore light blue socks.

Petro and Hoeflinger became fast friends after meeting last spring.

“The one thing he would always tell me is he wanted everyone to love each other and just get along. He was always positive about everything no matter what,” Petro said. “You could really just tell he cared about other people. Obviously everyone cares about others, but you could just tell when he talked to you that he cared about you and others.”

Petro helped organize a surprise party to celebrate Hoeflinger’s Dec. 28 birthday. On the day of the party, Hoeflinger tweeted: “It’s my birthday! I’m 18 years old and happy as hell! Can’t wait to see what the future holds :)”

The accident

Petro and Hoeflinger were both at a friend’s house on Feb. 1, hanging out watching a movie with about a dozen friends after the boys’ basketball game against Cardinal Stritch High School. The two didn’t talk much that night.

At some point, Hoeflinger left the house. Shortly before midnight, he was southbound on Edgehill Road in Ottawa Hills, driving a black 2008 Pontiac G6 registered to his mother, when the vehicle left the west side of the road, struck a tree near a bridge over the Ottawa River and caught fire, said Lt. William Bowers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Toledo post.

The crash was reported at 11:54 p.m. Feb. 1 by Sgt. Mark Kolasinski of the Ottawa Hills Police Department, who came upon the wreck during a routine patrol. According to the police report, Kolasinski found Hoeflinger unconscious in the driver’s seat, wearing a seat belt. He used a fire extinguisher to knock down some flames in the engine compartment before he and several other first-responders from various local departments worked together to free Hoeflinger “just as the vehicle [became] engulfed with flames.”

Shortly after midnight, Petro got a call from a friend who lives near Edgehill Road saying there had been an accident. Petro said her mind immediately jumped to Hoeflinger and she and some friends went out looking for him.

“I feel like we all had a feeling,” Petro said. “We just knew something wasn’t right. We were just hoping he was at someone’s house or somewhere else.”

They drove by the accident site about 12:30 a.m., but couldn’t get too close because police had blocked off the bridge. Besides Ottawa Hills Police, personnel from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Toledo Police, Sylvania Township Police, University of Toledo Police and Toledo Fire and Rescue also responded to the scene.

Petro drove past Hoeflinger’s house a few times, but he didn’t appear to be home. Around 2 a.m., a friend called to tell her Hoeflinger had died.

Hoeflinger had been drinking the night of the crash and was found to have a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.15. The crash remains under investigation.

“Brian made very few mistakes like that in life,” Abendroth said. “He was a hard worker, loved life, great family. Really had some neat goals.”

Vigil

The school’s annual Turnabout Dance, where girls invite guys, was scheduled for Feb. 2. Hoeflinger was planning to attend and had a date, Petro said.

The dance was postponed by school administrators, but the vigil that took place instead was completely student-driven, Miller said.

“Kids find ways to mourn in their own ways and one of those ways was to form a vigil,” Miller said. “If we just kind of step to the side, they will figure out how to get through this together. They were just sharing their thoughts and feelings and taking some time to honor a classmate.”

The vigil was attended by more than 270 people, representing several schools, Petro said. Hoeflinger’s parents, Brian and Cindy Hoeflinger, were also there.

“The enormous outpouring of love and support for Brian and our family has been overwhelming to say the least,” Hoeflinger’s father posted to his wife’s Facebook page Feb. 5. “We are realizing just how many lives one individual can touch in such a short lifetime and in such a positive way. There are no words to describe the appreciation and love we feel for everyone supporting us in this time of intense pain. But the memories of which are being shared with us through Brian’s friends in person and through Facebook are a testament to the love and joy Brian brought to so many people and how he touched their individual lives. Our entire family is realizing that Brian’s death was not in vain because so much good and positive energy has been instilled in so many people he knew. That’s how Brian was and that is how he will always be remembered!”

The family has set up a Brian Hoeflinger Memorial Scholarship Fund through Huntington Bank. No further details were available at press time.

Somber return

The place where Hoeflinger’s vehicle left the road is on a curvy, quiet, wooded street, a little more than a mile drive from his home. Not far away a sign reads, “Please drive slowly, we [heart] our children.”

On Feb. 2, someone spray painted Hoeflinger’s initials and a heart in blue on a tree at the crash site.

By Feb. 5, dozens of flowers had appeared along with a green teddy bear and a stuffed dog. A note affixed to the tree with a pushpin reads “To: Brian, Stay Strong.” An oversized paper card proclaiming “WE [heart] U BRIAN!” contains notes from several schoolmates.

A rock outside Ottawa Hills High School was also spray painted with blue letters reading “RIP BH” on the front, “We [heart] You” on the top and a cross on one side.

The first few days back to school have been somber, Miller said.

“It’s been quiet,” he said. “We’ve tried very hard to bring some normalcy to the students’ lives because that’s very important, that there are activities and just a regular school day they can count on, but we balance that by being very sensitive to their needs. We had 19 counselors in the building on Monday and of course our own counselors remain available. It’s just balancing a sense of normalcy with acute sensitivity to the needs of our students.

“They say it takes a village [to raise a child],” Miller said. “Our entire community has come together to help us deal with this loss. Not just Ottawa Hills, but surrounding communities. His was a wonderful young life full of potential and we’re incredibly sad. When you go on a journey like this, if you can do it together, it makes it a little bit easier.”

Ohio author collects tales of ‘lively nonagenarians’

By
Erin Holden
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A positive attitude and a willingness to try new things were common among the nonagenians Ohio writer and photographer Connie Springer interviewed for a book.

“There’s just a joy of life about them. They’re always ready to experience something new,” Springer said. “They said if they are asked to do something, they can get ready in 10 minutes. They don’t say ‘no’ or turn down an invitation. I thought that was really nice. Even a lot of younger people don’t really do that.”

Ohioan Connie Springer is author of ‘Positively Ninety.’ Photo courtesy of Connie Springer.

Springer, a New Jersey native who has lived in Cincinnati for 27 years, is the author of “Positively Ninety: Interviews with Lively Nonagenarians.” The book was a finalist in the Non-Fiction Narrative category of the 2012 International Book Awards.

Nonagenarians — people age 90 to 99 — comprise less than 1 percentof Ohio’s total population, but their numbers are growing, according to researchers at the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University Ohio. In 2010, there were 76,545 Ohioans age 90 or older; by 2020, more than 100,000 Ohioans are expected to have achieved this milestone.

“It’s fascinating to hear the stories of people,” Springer said. “One woman, who was 98 when I interviewed her, said she only stopped jumping rope a few years before. People do these amazing things. Just because you’re aging doesn’t mean you have to stop what you enjoy.”

Springer conceived of the project after watching her once-vibrant mother isolate herself after the death of her husband, something Springer feels contributed to her dementia and death at age 85.

“Over a decade ago my mother, in her 80s and saddled with dementia, lived in a nursing home surrounded by peers with vacant stares and immobile stances,” Springer wrote in the book’s introduction. “My view of aging became skewed. Do we all end up like this if we live long enough? I needed a different perspective.”

Her first interview was a friend’s 90-year-old neighbor, June, who attributed her long life to an optimistic bent and doing things in moderation, Springer said.

“Don’t dwell on your age,” the woman advised Springer. “Do as I do — just keep your body moving!”

Over a two-year period, Springer met with 27 more “lively nonagenarians,” located through word of mouth. A City of Cincinnati Individual Artist’s Grant helped fund the work.

Most were from the Cincinnati area, but some were from elsewhere, including Detroit, Boston and Washington, D.C. Springer spoke to each person for two to four hours, asking questions about their past, present and aspirations for the future.

She also took a portrait of each person.

Although she didn’t come away with the definitive secret to long life, Springer compiled a list of common characteristics she calls the 20 Personality Traits of Lively Nonagenarians:
O Flexibility (being willing to adapt to
new situations)
O Having a sense of humor
O Living simply
O Taking one day at a time
O Never turning down an invitation
O Doing things in moderation
(particularly in regard to food)
O Getting regular exercise
O Having an optimistic attitude
O Keeping mentally stimulated
O Being open to meeting new people
O Relating to younger people
O Being connected to friends and family
O Involvement in enjoyable activities
O Loving to read
O A “nothing can stop me” outlook
O Sharing and caring
O Not thinking about age
O Being interested in what’s going on
around you
O Never quitting learning
O Being just plain lucky (blessed with
good genes, good health and meaningful
relationships)

“My hunch is that these traits leading to what may be called ‘successful aging’ are not newly gained in later years but rather are ones that these individuals have demonstrated their entire lives,” Springer wrote in the book’s introduction. “Although the traits are probably innate, one might attempt to emulate one or more to change a negative or isolating pattern.”

Springer stayed in contact with many of the interview subjects. Eleven of the 28 have since died, she said.

“I think it was a good experience for them too,” Springer said. “Older people are so often not used for a resource. People don’t ask them questions about their past. It’s such a shame. There’s so much to learn from people’s experiences and how they coped with things. I feel like it benefited both of us as well as future readers and viewers. It’s very inspirational.”

Springer said she often hears from people that the project helped change their outlook on aging.

“They were feeling sorry for themselves and now they feel like, ‘What am I depressed about?’” Springer said. “It just changed their whole perspective.”

A traveling exhibition, currently on display at Northern Kentucky University, features framed color portraits and excerpts of text from the 28 interviews and is available for display.

To order the book or inquire about the traveling exhibit, contact Springer at [email protected] or (513) 871-1677. Cost of the book is $25 plus tax and shipping.

For more information, visit www.conniespringer.com.

Final Cut features new steak, cod, lobster dishes

By
Erin Holden
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Hollywood Casino Toledo Executive Chef Brian Hein will soon debut “the next evolution” of Final Cut Steak & Seafood’s menu, adding a new variety of premium steak as well as cod and lobster dishes, appetizers and more.

Hollywood Casino Toledo Executive Chef Brian Hein and his team have developed several new menu items for Final Cut Steak & Seafood. Toledo Free Press Photo by Joseph Herr.

“It’s phenomenal,” said Hollywood Casino Toledo Director of Food and Beverage Marc Guastella of the new menu. “When we opened I think our product was outstanding, but this is really going to take it to the next level.”

The most significant change is the addition of American Wagyu steak, Hein said.

“It’s what I like to refer to as beef butter. It melts in your mouth,” Hein said. “Its rating (on a scale of 0 to 10) is 10-plus. That’s as high as you can get. It really represents [a tiny percentage] of the cattle in America. Obviously it’s not a steak you’re going to eat every other night, but to experience it is certainly a treat. If you have the opportunity and you’re a beef fan, I would strongly recommend coming in. It’s quite spectacular.”

American Wagyu is known for its high marbling content, which makes it extremely tender, rich and flavorful, Guastella said.

“We’re excited. This makes us very unique.  There’s really not many restaurants that offer that grade of meat,” Guastella said. “You can cut through it with a butter knife. It’s that tender and the flavor is outrageous. It’s just phenomenal steak.”

Final Cut will now offer three tiers of steak: Midwestern corn-fed steer, USDA Prime and American Wagyu.

“We’ve got three levels, which is very unique because a lot of steakhouses have at most two levels of beef,” Guastella said. “To have three levels is incredible and really gives guests at all price points the option to enjoy it.”

American Wagyu will be offered as a 12-ounce Kansas City Strip for $96, a 10-ounce Top Cap Ribeye for $89 or a 5-ounce Top Cap Ribeye for $45.

The meat will come from Idaho-based Snake River Farms, which supplies beef to many well-known  high-end eateries, including California’s The French Laundry and “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto’s eateries.

Another new entrée at Final Cut is the Georges Bank Cod, cooked with Asian noodles in a tagine, an earthenware pot with a cone-shaped lid commonly used in Mediterranean cooking.

“This is a bit unusual because we’re preparing this cod dish in a tagine with Asian fusion in a steakhouse, so we pretty much travel the whole world right there in that one dish,” Hein said, laughing. “The last step is to interject a little bit of applewood smoke into the tagine. Then at the table, you pull off the top and the smoke perfumes right in front of you and just jump starts your senses.”

Cioppino — a seafood stew featuring shrimp, scallops, mussels and crab in a tomato-based broth — is another new entrée.

“The cioppino we actually ran as a special and it was so successful we decided to put that on the menu,” Guastella said. “Especially in the wintertime, there’s nothing better.”

A lamb shank, featuring cipollini onions, wild mushrooms and port wine, is also a classic winter dish, Guastella said.

“The meat just falls off the bone,” he said. “It’s a very rich braised item, perfect for cold weather.”

A Maine Lobster entrée, featuring a one-and-a-half-pound lobster filled with Thermidor stuffing, is also new.

Perhaps the most surprising new appetizer is tater tots.

“We like to have a little fun with our appetizer section,” Hein said. “We pulled out of some of the traditionalist thinking and one of the items we’re putting on there is homemade tater tots. This is an adult version obviously, but we make them from scratch and we present them with homemade jalapeño jam, a mornay sauce and pork crackling from Tank’s Meats in Elmore.”

Another new appetizer is roasted bacon, artisan-cured by Tank’s Meats and featuring a maple glaze, arugula pesto and Russian dressing.

“The Russian dressing is a little bit different,” Hein said. “We put it on an anti-griddle, which is extremely cold, and it actually freezes. That’s how we put it on the plate. Then over the course of eating it, it begins to thaw and gives just a little bit of texture on the plate.”

Other new appetizers include carpaccio, a yellowtail snapper in a grape and leek emulsion, and a lobster chowder, which will replace the lobster bisque.

Sorbet, used to cleanse the palate between courses, is also new.

“We’ll be playing around with flavors, but the ones we have now are pomegranate lime, green tea ginger and lemongrass honey,” Guastella said.

Guastella and Hein said they pride themselves on offering something for everyone.

“We feel like guests are going to be very pleased not only at the quality of the product, but also at the eclectic nature of the menu,” Guastella said. “Our menu is packed. We have very affordable options, but also high-end exclusive options. I doubt there’ll be any option for a guest to say there’s nothing on there that they like.”

For more information, visit hollywoodcasinotoledo.com.

Commissioners to replace Medal of Honor plaque

By
Erin Holden
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After it came to light that two Medal of Honor recipients had been inadvertently omitted from a Lucas County Courthouse plaque listing honorees with local ties, plans are under way to replace the plaque.

The Lucas County Commissioners recently agreed it would be appropriate to replace the plaque, said Commissioner Carol Contrada. Other options considered included modifying the current plaque or installing a second plaque next to the first, she said.

The current Medal of Honor plaque at the Lucas County Courthouse. Toledo Free Press Photo by Sarah Ottney.

“We cannot honor our veterans often enough and the people who have given their service to our community — given their lives to our country in many cases — deserve to be honored and remembered by their communities and by the county,” Contrada said. “This is completely the right thing to do. It is the right thing for all of us to do to remember.”

The current plaque, located on the second floor of the Lucas County Courthouse, was dedicated in 2003 during Ohio’s bicentennial and lists 16 names.

The two missing names — Civil War veteran Christian Albert, who died and is buried in Toledo, and World War II veteran Hulon Whittington, who died in Toledo — were brought to the attention of the commissioners in 2011 by Nick Haupricht. Haupricht is chairman of Remembrance Inc., a local group dedicated to building and refurbishing war memorials in Northwest Ohio.

Haupricht also lobbied for removing the name of Civil War veteran Charles Thompson, who was born in Wood County and appears to have had no connection to Lucas County.

“He is a passionate historian and researcher,” Contrada said of Haupricht. “He brought it to our attention that there were people missing and that someone was on the plaque that shouldn’t be and we immediately tried to figure out what we could do.”

Haupricht, a Vietnam War veteran, said he feels strongly about making sure memorials are accurate and all veterans are honored.

“I’m just trying to get the memorial corrected so our fallen comrades have their names somewhere,” Haupricht said. “It’s important to get things right.”

The historical research process was lengthy, but vital, Contrada said.

“It was frankly surprising that we had something of such permanence that missed two winners,” she said. “We decided the best thing to do was make it right. The historical work was really important. We had to doublecheck names, births, burials, places of enlistment. My opinion is it’s better to be right than fast.”

Contrada said there was some hesitation about removing Thompson’s name, particularly out of concern he would not be honored anywhere else. At the time, Wood County did not have a Medal of Honor memorial. In November, Wood County dedicated a Medal of Honor memorial that includes Thompson’s name, so the commissioners now feel comfortable removing his name from Lucas County’s plaque, Contrada said.

“We don’t know how Charles Thompson ended up on the Lucas County plaque except that, the farther back in time you go, the more difficult it is to have complete and accurate records,” Contrada said. “But now he is honored in the appropriate geographic location and we can move forward.”

The new plaque will list 17 Medal of Honor recipients who served from the Civil War to World War II who were born in, livedin , entered service in, died in or were buried in Lucas County.

The plaque will be made of bronze and cast by Toledo-based Architectural Arts. It will be paid for by the Lucas County Commissioners miscellaneous fund, Contrada said. The new plaque is expected to cost about $3,800.

“We’re very, very enthusiastic about this project,” said Contrada, who estimated the plaque would take three to four weeks to complete once ordered. “I’m looking forward to it being completed and having the record of some really great people from Lucas County corrected.”

Haupricht said he was hoping the new plaque would include more description of the actions leading to each recipient’s Medal of Honor. Contrada said that option was considered, but adding so much text made the metal plaque difficult to read. The commissioners instead plan to display supplementary information about the honorees in a matted frame near the plaque.

“That’s something Fulton County did, which is really cool, and that’s what we plan to do here,” Contrada said. “That way, if people have time and want to linger, they can read fairly detailed descriptions of the recipients. It really is very interesting and I think honors these gentlemen even more.”

Haupricht also said Remembrance Inc. is working on a plan to build a military memorial park in Lucas County that would include memorials for each war. The location will be chosen at a later date from among interested communities, he said.

“That’s down the road, but something we’d like to do,” Haupricht said.

Harbor CEO leaving for position at national firm

By
Erin Holden
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0

Harbor CEO Dale Shreve is leaving the Toledo-based agency this month to take the helm of a national alliance of behavioral health care agencies.

Shreve, who has been with Harbor for 33 years, including 13 years as its CEO, will move to Tallahassee, Fla., for a job as president and CEO of Mental Health Corporations of America (MHCA), an association of about 130 behavioral and mental health care providers, including Harbor.

Dale Shreve is leaving Harbor after 33 years.

Shreve’s last day at Harbor is Jan. 22. John Betts, Harbor’s vice president of adult services, will serve as interim CEO while a national search for a replacement is conducted.

“This comes at a great time for me both personally and professionally,” Shreve said. “[Harbor is] a great organization in great shape and will continue to be successful. It’s just when this dream job and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes along, you’ve got to pull the ring and go for it.”

Shreve said he will miss Harbor, but is excited for the new challenge.

“Harbor is my baby,” Shreve said. “I’ve watched it grow and I’ve been a part of that. I’m going to miss the Toledo community. I’m going to miss the Harbor staff and board. It’s a great group of people and one that has meant a lot to me and my family.

“While [MHCA] continues to be related to health care and behavioral health care, it’s a different aspect of that. I won’t be responsible for day-to-day service activities, but I’ll be responsible to help those organizations do those services as best they can.”

MHCA hosts meetings for professional development and networking.

“By meeting with organizations from different parts of the country that are addressing similar concerns but don’t see themselves as competitors, it allows members to pull together the resources they need to be successful at home,” Shreve said.

The 58-year-old Shreve, a Palmyra, Mich., native, started working at Harbor in 1979 as its assistant director. It was called Community Mental Health Center West then and had about 20 employees and a budget of less than $500,000, Shreve said. Today, Harbor has more than 400 employees in 12 Northwest Ohio locations and a budget of $25 million.

“It was a much different organization when I joined,” Shreve said. “It’s had different names and different roles, but I’ve been here that whole time.”

In 1985, Community Mental Health Center West became the West Center. Then West Center, which served primarily adults, consolidated with the Cummings-Zucker Center, which served primarily children and families, to form Harbor Behavioral Health Care. In 2009, the organization became simply Harbor.

The organization has grown beyond behavioral health to include family medicine, adult day care services for individuals with developmental disabilities, vocational programs for individuals with barriers to employment, programs for children with autism and their families, employee assistance and wellness programs, school partnerships and more.

“As we have grown, we’re serving more people and providing a broader range of services and doing a better job integrating those services and trying to address the complete needs of that individual,” Shreve said.

Harbor is one of five “Medicaid health homes” in Ohio.

“It’s not a physical home, but the concept of wraparound care, making sure you have a �?home’ where things get centralized,” Shreve said. “So often people with mental health problems don’t get the other care they need, so this health home effort is how we’re trying to pull this together. It’s an integrated care approach I believe is so critical in terms of making sure we don’t just talk about someone’s depression or schizophrenia, but tie it into everything else going on with that person.”

Betts, a Bryan native, has worked in the social service field for 39 years, 10 of those in his current position at Harbor.

Shreve and Betts met when they both worked at Harbor when it was known as West Center in the mid-1980s. Betts went on to work at several other social service organizations, including The Zepf Center, Quadco Rehabilitation Center, Lima State Hospital and Lima Juvenile Detention Facility, before returning to Harbor.

“Dale is a good guy, a very good guy,” Betts said. “He’s made Harbor what it is, which in my opinion is the No. 1 behavioral health facility in the surrounding area and, quite frankly, in Ohio. It’s because of his leadership and his vision and his innovation that Harbor is where it’s at.

“He’s definitely going to have a major positive impact on a larger scale at Mental Health Corporations of America by providing his talents to all the different providers throughout the country. Although sad for Harbor, I think it’s an excellent move for him and for the profession.”

Shreve said he is confident in Betts’ leadership ability at Harbor.

“I’ve known John a long time,” Shreve said. “He knows the organization and the staff knows him, so I think he’s very well equipped to step in and keep things going. He’s got the full support of the Harbor board and staff.”

Betts holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and physical education from Bluffton College and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from Bowling Green State University. He also finished his doctoral coursework in psychophysiology at the University of Toledo, but never wrote his dissertation after deciding not to go into teaching after all.

“I’ve always been focused on the whole person,” Betts said. “That’s why I came back to Harbor and that’s why I’m here. I believe very strongly in the mission and vision and values that Harbor holds, which is to provide health, hope, happiness and opportunity for the people we serve and to be the best partner and provider of choice for the people we work with and the people we collaborate with.

“It’s somewhat daunting (to become interim CEO) because you’re taking over from someone who’s done such a nice job for so long, but there’s a lot of new and innovative things going on with Harbor and that makes it exciting.”

Betts is confident Harbor’s future is bright, since Shreve helped build a strong structure that will stand firm regardless of who is at its helm.

“That is Dale’s legacy at Harbor,” Betts said. “He’s built a structure with staff that’s outstanding and a depth of supervisors, managers and administrators that are going to continue Harbor’s mission, vision and values. And I’m sure we will obtain a leader that will continue the concept of innovation so we can continue to lead in the mental health field.”

For more information, visit harbor.org or mhca.com.

Restaurant Week Toledo to feature healthy options

By
Erin Holden
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Eating healthy doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience, say organizers of Restaurant Week Toledo.

Among the healthy dishes planned by local chefs for this year’s event are a sesame-seared Chilean sea bass at Rosie’s Italian Grille, a slow-roasted pork chop stuffed with spiced apples at Bar 145 and a chicken shish tawook sandwich at Poco Piatti.

One of the healthy options at Bar 145

The third annual Restaurant Week Toledo, set for Feb. 21 to March 2, will feature at least one healthy option at each of the 28 participating, locally owned restaurants, said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo.

Participating restaurants are Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Italian Grill, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and The Café), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, TREO, Ventura’s and Zinful.

Each venue will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

The catalyst for making Restaurant Week Toledo healthier was feedback from diners at last year’s event and the commitment was solidified when Medical Mutual signed on as a presenting sponsor, Gorman said.

“We hope people will feel they can participate fully in Restaurant Week Toledo with no regrets,” Gorman said. “We want them to try multiple restaurants and experience new dishes and new flavors all around town and still feel like they are taking care of themselves.”

A healthy diet helps to prevent or lessen the negative effects of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and obesity, said Connie Beutel, manager of health promotion and wellness at Medical Mutual.

“Almost all restaurants have healthy options and a lot of that is about requests. There’s a movement and a trend, recognizing that it is possible to eat out and eat healthy, so I think you’re seeing that a lot more and this is a perfect fit,” Beutel said.

Many people are surprised healthy food can taste as good as less healthy dishes, said Mark Tooman, communications manager for Medical Mutual.

“I hope when people see these healthy options are available, they make the connection that they can eat healthy and still get delicious, tasty options at these restaurants,” Tooman said.

Beutel said she also hopes the healthy options will help people learn to navigate menus and recognize keywords signifying healthier dishes.

“There’s a lot of awareness that will come out just seeing things labeled  as healthy options,” Beutel said. “How it is prepared and what it is will stick in people’s minds that this is healthier.”

Rosie’s Italian Grille

Rosie’s Italian Grille in Toledo plans to offer not just one but three Healthy Option meals on its Restaurant Week Toledo menu.

For lunch ($10 including a small side salad), Rosie’s plans to offer grilled herb chicken with fresh sautéed vegetables marinated with homemade Sicilian herb dressing. For dinner ($20 including a small dinner salad), Rosie’s will offer the grilled herb chicken as well as a Cajun herb grilled Mahi Mahi with fresh vegetables or a sesame-seared Chilean sea bass with fresh vegetables finished with ginger sesame drizzle.

Eric Kish, chef at Rosie’s, said the sea bass is his favorite fish.

Rosie’s owner Phil Barone and chef Eric Kish both called fresh sea bass their favorite fish.

“It’s very moist. You don’t really need to do a lot to it because it’s really flavorful anyway,” Kish said. “It’s very simple and healthy and really tasty.”

The herb marinade is a tweak on an old family recipe.

“It’s very light, not overpowering,” Barone said. “I’ve never found anything better to marinate chicken or fish with. It just gives a little twist, keeps it nice and moist and it’s good for you.”

The Mahi Mahi has a little spice to it, Kish said.

“It’s got that same herb dressing on it, but then we spice it up with some Cajun seasoning as well,” Kish said. “Grilled — that’s the way you want to do it. It’s a steakier fish.”

The herb chicken dish features two 6-ounce pieces of tender chicken.

“It’s simple and healthy,” Kish said. “There’s a lot of flavor, but it’s not bad for you.”

Barone and two of his brothers started Rosie’s more than 30 years ago. The eatery is named after their mother and uses recipes she brought with her from her hometown in Sicily. This year will be the third time Rosie’s has participated in Restaurant Week Toledo.

“It’s grown,” Barone said. “The first year was kind of quiet. Last year, we were very busy and it was fun. I love it when things are hectic. The people I met were very friendly and very complimentary. They really enjoyed Rosie’s, some of them for the first time, which is good for us. It’s why we like to do specials like that, to bring in new people who may not have tried Rosie’s.”

Kish said he was happy to comply with the focus on healthy options.

“It’s what people want, especially now more than ever,” Kish said. “I just think that’s what it’s evolving to more and more. It’s just going to make it that much more popular.”

Bar 145

Chef Robby Lucas of Bar 145 said he enjoyed the challenge of coming up with healthy options.

“No chef likes to be handcuffed and be told, ‘This is what we’re doing,’” Lucas said, laughing. “But every chef likes a challenge so I think if we can get the Bar 145 identity across while staying within those guidelines then we’re better off for it. I definitely got excited for it.”

Lucas came up with an herb-roasted chicken breast with an apple and strawberry winter salad for lunch ($10) and, for dinner ($20), a slow-roasted bone-in pork chop stuffed with spiced apples and served with an arugula salad and a gelato dessert.

“We use an all-natural chicken — hormone-free, antibiotic-free. You can really taste that when you’re eating the meat itself.

“It doesn’t taste processed. It tastes like chicken,” Lucas said, laughing. “As often as people say that, I don’t think people realize what chicken is supposed to taste like.

“With the pork, we actually stuff the pork with the apples and as that cooks together it really infuses the flavor throughout the meat itself.”

Lucas said he’s used to being creative with healthy food because his girlfriend is a vegetarian.

“I assume it gets a little boring being a vegetarian, so I’m always thinking [of new ways to prepare food],” Lucas said and laughed again. “I absolutely love cooking proteins, but vegetables are kind of the unsung heroes in a chef’s world. There’s nothing a chef gets more excited about, especially our vegetables we buy from The Chef’s Garden in Huron. When I open up this crate of Ohio-grown carrots, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and stuff like that, it really gets chefs excited.”

This will be Bar 145’s second year participating in Restaurant Week Toledo. The eatery opened in 2011.

“We had a great response last year,” said Lucas, who worked in Cleveland before moving to Toledo. “Restaurant Week in Cleveland is huge, so when they approached us and said they were doing one in Toledo we absolutely wanted to be part of it and we definitely wanted to do it again this year.”

Bar 145 is known for its burgers, especially its stack-your-own option, but Lucas would love if Restaurant Week Toledo helps spread the word about the rest of Bar 145’s menu, which changes seasonally and offers unexpected twists, such as duck wings in place of chicken wings.

“A lot of times people see bar in our name and they associate us with just bar food. Then they hear the burger in our tagline and think we just do burgers and we are so much more than that,” Lucas said. “Our burgers are great — I stand behind them 100 percent and they are amazing — but our menu encompasses so much more.”

How food is prepared goes a long way toward making it healthy, said Lucas, who started cooking when he was 9 at the Put-in-Bay restaurant his father managed.

“I’m not going to say we’re health-food oriented here, but we serve homemade food from scratch. We don’t have a freezer here. Everything you eat that day is prepared that day,” Lucas said. “Rather than shortening or fat alternatives, we try to use a lot of healthy oils and canola oils that lend themselves well to the flavors we’re trying to accomplish.”

Jake Guthrie, director of operations for Bar 145, recently moved to Toledo from Columbus and said Restaurant Week Toledo brings some of his former city’s “foodie” culture to the Glass City.

“I’m excited. Hopefully it gives people an opportunity to step outside their comfort zone and do something or try something they may not necessarily be prone to do,” Guthrie said. “It’s also one of those things that promote the culinary world in general, where people are excited to go out and dine. And what’s good for one is good for all.”

Poco Piatti

Poco Piatti, featuring Lebanese, Italian and Greek food, is already known for healthy dishes, said Elias Hajjar, owner of the Levis Commons eatery.

The name means “small plates” in Italian and refers to the communal tradition of sharing dishes around the table with everyone trying a little bit of each one.

“Mediterranean food in general is very healthy. We tend to use a lot more olive oil than butter, lots of vegetables, lots of lean meat,” Hajjar said. “We’ve always focused on being healthy and prided ourselves on offering our guests healthy options.”

For lunch ($10), Poco Piatti will offer a choice of chicken shish tawook sandwich, falafel sandwich or poco burger served with a choice of hummus, feta dip or lebanee.

For dinner ($20), diners can choose from two skewers of beef or chicken kabobs or salmon with a side dish. Dinner also includes a choice of chicken wrap, ara-yes or sauteed mushrooms and a dessert.

This is Poco Piatti’s third year participating in Restaurant Week Toledo, and each year has gotten better, Hajjar said.

“We have always believed very strongly in community and eating locally,” he said. “When the opportunity came up to join together with other locally owned restaurants and help charity and promote our businesses at the same time, it was the perfect combination of win-win for us.

“The first year was good, but we were just getting the word out. The second year was much better for all the restaurants.”

Hajjar expects this year to the best yet.

“We’re excited to be a part of it. I really think it’s going to be great.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Newsmakers: Casino answers critics with months of success

By
Erin Holden
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Hollywood Casino Toledo General Manager Richard St. Jean has plenty to be cheerful about as the casino, which opened May 29, marks seven months in business.

Hollywood Casino Toledo General Manager Richard St. Jean reports success during the casino’s first seven months. Toledo Free Press File Photo by Joseph Herr.

Business is brisk while concerns about increased crime, traffic jams and gambling addictions have subsided.

“Early on, we did our best to assure local residents, businesses and government that a lot of what you hear [about casinos] isn’t necessarily true and won’t materialize,” St. Jean said. “[Rossford has had] virtually no incidences associated with those fears, aside from increased traffic on the Toledo side obviously coming up and down 75. And we’ve heard the same thing from [Toledo Police] Chief [Derrick] Diggs and [Toledo]Mayor [Mike] Bell, so all of our efforts to educate and inform everyone early on have now been validated by what they are actually seeing on a day-to-day basis. We’re very pleased they feel more comfortable with this neighbor in their backyard.”

Penn National Gaming, which operates the casino, is happy with the property’s performance, particularly the volumes, St. Jean said.

“Table games, poker and food and beverage in particular have far exceeded our expectations and slots is actually right around where we expected it would be,” St. Jean said.

Gamblers wagered a total of $126.7 million at Toledo’s casino in November, including $113.2 million on slot machines and $13.9 million on table games. Total wagers were down about 9 percent from the $138.8 million wagered in October, which was also down about 9 percent from the $153.1 million wagered in September, according to monthly reports from the Ohio Casino Control Commission. Taxable revenue in November was $13.6 million, down from $14.8 million in October, $15.9 million in September, $17.4 million in August, $19.1 million in July and $20.4 million in June, the casino’s first full month of operation.

“This dip in business month over month as we settle into the fourth quarter of 2012 was absolutely expected and we expect to ramp up as we head into 2013,” St. Jean said. “We looked at what we’ve seen at other grand openings, particularly in the Detroit market, and we’re really following those trends very, very closely.”

St. Jean said he is proud Toledo’s casino fulfilled its pledge to hire 90 percent of its workforce locally and to promote from within. So far, 55 team members have been promoted once, six have been promoted twice and two have been promoted three times.

The casino is exploring adding more entertainment options beyond gaming, such as a riverfront concert series, car show or food and wine festival.

“There’s still somewhat of a perception I hear that you must be a gamer to come to the casino, which is far from the truth,” St. Jean said.

Director of Food and Beverage Marc Guastella said expectations were high for the casino’s four eateries, but he feels all have delivered.

Guastella hopes Final Cut Steak & Seafood will earn a Forbes four-star rating when the next report is released in spring 2013.

“Four stars is very achievable for us and I’m confident we can achieve that,” Guastella said.

Brenda Schwind, vice president of the Rossford Business Association (RBA), said the casino is a “great partner.”

“Everybody I’ve talked to, even people who were really leery of the casino coming in, are impressed with the facility and I’ve heard nothing but good comments,” said Schwind, of Directions Credit Union. “I think people have been very surprised. They’ve proven to be a very good neighbor.”

Rossford Mayor Neil A. MacKinnon III agreed.

“I’ve been in business quite a while now and I know these guys are sincere and they are for real,” MacKinnon said during a recent Rossford City Council meeting. “I consider them friends and I consider them part of the fabric of the community. Their participation in the RBA has been phenomenal.”

Mayor Bell also feels the casino is a positive asset, said Public Information Officer Jen Sorgenfrei.

“The revenues are definitely aiding the city budget and they’ve been a good corporate citizen, contributing to local philanthropy and supporting community organizations,” Sorgenfrei said. “They are still finding their equilibrium, but remain a positive asset to the region.”

There hasn’t been a major influx of crime like many feared, agreed Rossford Police Chief Glenn Goss Sr. and Sgt. Joe Heffernan, who is public information officer for the Toledo Police Department.

“Whenever you have more people, you’re going to have more issues, but we haven’t had any major incidents that you can point your finger at and say, ퟀ�?That’s the casino’s fault,’” Goss said. “It’s still new. We’re still monitoring. We’ll have to wait and see. There could be good and bad down the road, but as far as law enforcement, it hasn’t really affected Rossford directly, which we’re thankful for.”

Penn National recently presented a $200,000 grant to Rossford’s police and fire departments. The company also donated more than $12,000 to help Rossford Police create a K-9 unit.

“I keep hearing people call them good neighbors, like a cliché, but truly they are,” Goss said. “I think we’re really fortunate to have the casino here.”

Bill McFarland, interim superintendent of Rossford Schools, said the district has had no issues with crime or traffic, as some parents feared.

“We really have seen no effect. We hardly know it’s there to be honest with you,” McFarland said.

“The hysteria and paranoia I think has long been forgotten. I think it’s functioning really well and I don’t think it’s having any negative effect on our community at all.”

Larry Eilert, owner of Larry’s Auto Center in Rossford, said he’s pleased with an uptick in business the casino has created.

“I’ve gotten more customers from there, especially the employee side of it,” Eilert said. “There is more traffic — but it’s a good traffic, not a bad traffic.”

Holley Bockelman, who owns Bock’s Place in Rossford with her father Bill Bockelman, said the casino hasn’t helped business as much as they were hoping, but it hasn’t hurt either.

“Really nothing has changed,” Bockelman said. “We thought it would be better. But the people who do come here are faithful. We get some of the casino workers later at night. Very, very seldom the out-of-towners. The locals will sometimes meet here and then go down there for a little gambling, some cocktails, watch a concert and then come back here. So that’s fun.”

Rossford City Councilman Larry Oberdorf Sr. said the casino has proved detractors wrong.

“A lot of people had apprehensions about Penn coming into this community and I think Penn has answered with good qualification all of those apprehensions,” Oberdorf said during a recent Rossford City Council meeting. “We haven’t had the traffic problems we had assumed or any of the other illicit things some people thought would happen. It’s really a professional organization. I’m extremely happy to have them in our locale.”

For more information, visit www.hollywoodcasinotoledo.com.

Donations Sought for Children’s Shopping Event

By
Dock David Treece
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Local nonprofit Feet on the Street is organizing its fourth annual 12 Kids of Christmas shopping event.

Children are recommended for participation in the program by police department members, school employees, social agencies and family shelters, according to a news release.

The event is set for 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 21. The children will be served breakfast at the Toledo Police Patrolman’s Association Hall, featuring appearances by Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald. Afterward, Toledo police officers will help the children shop for Christmas gifts at Meijer.

After shopping, the group will eat lunch and be entertained by a visit from Spike the Toledo Walleye mascot, Christmas music from Kyle White, Jeff Stewart and Johnny Rodriguez, and animals from the Toledo Zoo.

For more information, visit feetonthestreet.org.
— Staff Reports

Local sponsors make Make-A-Wish benefit CD possible

By
Erin Holden
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Art McCormick, of A&D Glass & Mirror, and his daughter Ally McCormick. Toledo Free Press photo.

Joe Choate, plant manager of GM Powertrain Toledo, knows the pain of losing a child, while Art McCormick, president of A&D Glass & Mirror in Perrysburg, is thankful for his family’s continued health.

Both men’s companies provided financial support to “Holiday Wishes 2,” a Make-A-Wish benefit CD organized for the second year by Toledo Free Press Editor in Chief Michael S. Miller.

Also supporting the CD were UAW Local 14, WNWO, 101.5 The River, Levis Commons and Panera Bread.

GM Powertrain Toledo, UAW Local 14 and Panera Bread also sponsored last year’s inaugural benefit CD, a 25-track compilation that raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish.

This year’s two-disc package features 44 tracks contributed by local artists. CDs are available for $15 at area Panera Bread stores and select Levis Commons locations. Digital downloads are also available.

Art McCormick, of A&D Glass & Mirror, with his daughter, Ally McCormick.

Because of the local sponsorship, all proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to help grant wishes for Northwest Ohio children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Make-A-Wish does not receive federal, state or local government funding. Wishes are paid for by donations and donations-in-kind. The average cost of a wish is $8,000.

The mission of Make-A-Wish is especially meaningful to Choate, whose 12-year-old son, Matthew, died of a congenital heart defect in 1989.

Although his son was not involved with Make-A-Wish, Choate later served on the organization’s regional board for several years.

“I know what it’s like to have a very sick child,” Choate said. “I found out about Make-A-Wish way back when. [Matthew] never received a wish, but I was always really curious about what they did and how they did it. When I was transferred to Toledo, I was asked to serve on the board.”

Choate heard about the 2011 “Holiday Wishes” CD project from Eric Slough, former executive director of Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, Northwest Ohio Regional Office.

“Eric was telling me about this idea [for the CD] and expressed the need to find someone to fund some of the costs and we jumped on it from year one,” Choate said. “We wanted to help give people an awareness of what Make-A-Wish is all about and what they do for families and to promote the mission itself. That’s why we’re involved in it. We’re looking for Make-A-Wish to be successful at granting wishes. We’re not looking for it to sell an extra car. We did it to help out Make-A-Wish.”

GM Powertrain Toledo has a community relations board that regularly allocates funds to help support local charities and community organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio, the NAACP and more.

“We’ve been active in the community in a lot of different ways. We stick pretty well to the needs of the community,” Choate said.

“A lot of people in the Toledo area affiliate Toledo with being a Chrysler-Jeep town. We like to get the General Motors name out there too, and make sure people understand we’re a big part of the community as well. The CDs are great. They make nice Christmas gifts. It’s just a unique idea and it’s nice to be able to be associated with that.”

McCormick, whose daughter Ally McCormick is vice president of A&D Glass & Mirror, recently attended a Make-A-Wish fundraiser, where he learned more about the organization and wanted to support it.

“My daughter is partner with me in this company and I just feel very fortunate to have a successful business and a healthy daughter,” McCormick said. “I feel very lucky from the standpoint of having succeeded during the tough times of this economy and am still able to give back. We’re very fortunate.”

McCormick, a Toledo native who has been a Toledo area business owner since 1990, founded A&D Glass & Mirror in 2006. He said he tries to support local nonprofits and organizations, including the YMCA and the Sisters of Notre Dame, whenever possible.

“The opportunity to help arose and Make-A-Wish just seemed to fit into the realm of what we were doing and fit well with me,” McCormick said. “Michael [Miller] was telling me how they do so well with the CDs and being part of that was just a great opportunity for us. Our supporting role is really small compared to others involved, but we’re fortunate to be able to help out where we can. Make-A-Wish is a great organization, it really is. I think it’s very important as a business owner in Northwest Ohio to give back. I try to do everything locally and to give back to my local community.

“It’s a great CD,” McCormick said. “It’s very diverse. It pulls in local talent, which is really great, and again it goes back to the community. That’s what it’s all about, our community. I think as you get older you realize that. Helping each other is the only way you make it through life. We’re very fortunate and lucky to be able to give back.”

Rathbun: Much ado about nothing

By
Gary Rathbun
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I am getting very tired of hearing about the severity of the tax increases and spending cuts that are supposed to take effect, but ultimately won’t, on Jan. 1.

Let’s take a quick look at the term fiscal cliff. Once a person or an object goes over a cliff, it is pretty much an irreversible action. No matter how God-like Congress thinks it is, it cannot reverse time or repeal the law of gravity. So going off a cliff is not a proper analogy. Maybe pothole would be more appropriate, especially in Toledo.

Let’s go with fiscal pothole, since it is less fatal but still something one wants to avoid if possible. Now that we have the proper analogy, let’s look at the numbers that are being thrown around and see if they add up. The fiscal pothole consists of $100 billion in mandatory spending cuts and $400 billion in increased taxes.

The $100 billion in spending cuts is not a cut but merely a decrease in the rate of increase of government spending. Four years ago when President Barack Obama took office the highest annual deficit to date was $500 million under President Bush. Since then we have run annual deficits of more than $1 trillion for four years in a row. Will reducing that by $100 billion or 8 percent of the deficit or less than 4 percent of the annual budget, send us over an irreversible cliff? Doubtful.

Next, the $400 billion in tax increases. While I agree that this is bad for the economy and for growth overall, the negative effect will not be felt on Jan. 1 but it will probably take more than 18 months to fully collect the amount of taxes indicated. That is assuming, of course, that those with high incomes don’t figure out how to avoid being assessed those taxes to begin with.

Every time that a government raises taxes on people they ultimately figure out how to avoid those taxes and consequently the government actually collects less in taxes than it did before the increase. Just ask England.

Furthermore, to illustrate the futility of this discussion of raising taxes on the rich, if President Obama gets his tax increases on the “rich” it will only take 500 years of that increase to pay off the 2011 budget deficit! Five-hundred years to pay off one year of deficit. “It’s about math!”

The bottom line is that this is not about revenue, spending cuts or math; this is about power and ego. All of these politicians are only concerned about their own legacies and re-election prospects. They could not care less about the financial condition of the American people, jobs, the value of our money or America’s place in the world.

The new taxes will affect the stock market in the sense that people will sell holdings before the end of the year and next year, if the law stays in place, dividends and capital gains will be penalized. Every dollar that is taken out of the system in taxes is one more dollar that is not available for capital reinvestment and therefore hurts the overall economy.

Jan. 1 may be an additional fiscal pothole for the taxpayers but we are not going off a cliff because of current tax laws and scheduled spending cuts. One could, however, make the case that we are already over the cliff with a $16.3 trillion anvil tied around our neck. But that’s another topic for another day.

Gary L. Rathbun is the president and CEO of Private Wealth Consultants, LTD. He can be heard weekdays on 1370 WSPD at 4:06 p.m. on “After the Bell” and every Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. throughout Northern Ohio on “Eye on Your Money.” He can be reached at (419) 842-0334 or email him at [email protected].

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