North Toledo Coalition fighting crime by cleaning grime

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April 19, 2015

alfonso-3 — Alfonso Narvaez and Larry Warnimont of the North Toledo Coalition, which has cleaned up 40 properties in the past year. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni.

Alfonso Narvaez is part of a block watch program in the North End, but contrary to what some might think, he believes the tools of crime fighting can be purchased at the Home Depot where he’s employed.

“When you clean up the neighborhood, it controls the crime,” said Narvaez, whose North Toledo Coalition uses plenty of rakes, shovels, chainsaws and mowers to tackle blighted alleys and lots throughout his lifelong neighborhood.

Alfonso Narvaez and Larry Warnimont of the North Toledo Coalition, which has cleaned up 40 properties in the past year. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni.

Narvaez, 23, is spearheading a new wave of cleanup in his neighborhood, an area sandwiched between the Greenbelt Parkway and Summit Street, just immediately north of Downtown Toledo.

In 2010, while still a teenager, Narvaez had had enough of seeing neighborhoods shaped by lack of attention and ran for City Council. His political dream was put on hold, although he’s running for Council again in the May 5 special election, but his door-to-door visits started bearing fruit.

While canvassing, Narvaez ran into Larry Warnimont, a Perrysburg transplant who’s called the North End home since 1972. Before retiring, Warnimont worked as a facilities manager for the Toledo Trust Company.

Narvaez spoke of his desire to clean up the streets, but Warnimont was skeptical. Warnimont had heard plenty of talk before with no follow-through.

Narvaez wouldn’t give up.

“I stood there for a few minutes and I said, ‘You’re going to take me serious,’ and one thing led to another,” Narvaez said. “It’s a great relationship, and [Warnimont’s] the one who started the photo album.”

That photo album is a simple black binder, chock full of before-and-after photos that have caught plenty of attention. Narvaez and Warnimont have attended various city meetings to show off the album and demonstrate what they’ve accomplished over the past five years. The coalition is also working hand-in-hand with various community groups.

“Once we learned to communicate with the different groups in the city, we started taking off,” Warnimont said.

“The city themselves are amazed at what we’ve done,” Narvaez said. “I got a note from [the late] Mayor Collins in December who thanked us then, and we’re still working with the city today.”

Some alleys were so congested with trash and overgrown bushes they couldn’t be used by cars. Now, after a cleanup, a few homeowners have added garage doors.

In the past year alone, the coalition has cleaned up 40 properties and picked up 97 abandoned tires in alleys and streets. On April 18, the group plans to meet at the corner of Ash and Summit streets to conduct a massive I-280 bike path cleanup project, collecting bags of trash and debris.

Narvaez believes that what sets them apart from other block watches is that they give positions and titles to residents, offering responsibility and accountability. For example, Narvaez serves as a block watch captain, his uncle Adam Narvaez is the volunteer coordinator and Warnimont is a project manager.

Warnimont was involved in a related effort during the late ’70s and ’80s, when citizens cruised the neighborhood and contacted police via citizens band radio. But that effort began to slowly fade away, and so did the garbage trucks that once used local alleys.

“What we’ve done in the past five to six years has never been done in this neighborhood,” Narvaez said. “They’re seeing the neighborhood cleaned up for the first time. We get people that stop us all the time and ask what we’re doing, and they say, ‘Wow, it’s never been done.’ We’re not just a block watch, we’re more than that.”

Narvaez said many of his neighbors believe they live in a forgotten area, but should Narvaez earn the voters’ support May 5, he’ll be proud to represent the expansive District 4 on City Council, which includes his North End friends.

“As much as I like politics, to me it doesn’t matter; Republican or Democrat, it’s about putting our neighborhoods first,” said Narvaez, a Republican.

As for Narvaez’s age, he doesn’t believe that’s an issue, because he’s committed to Toledo for good.

“I’m proud to be 23 years old,” Narvaez said. “When I tell people my age, they say ‘He’s a one-hit wonder,’ but by the time the Jamie Farr Park dredging project is done, I’ll be 30 years old. I’m here for the long term. I was born and raised here.”

Warnimont has witnessed Narvaez’s resolve firsthand over the past five years.

“Alfonso, just because he’s 23, doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what’s going on,” he said. “I’ve learned some things from him. We’re just doing what we’re doing and trying to do the best we can.”

UT graduate’s short film heading to Cannes

By

Chase Will

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April 19, 2015

TheChest_NathanElias — Toledo native Nathan Elias’ “The Chest,” a film he co-wrote and co-starred in with Rachel Paulson, has been accepted into the Cannes International Film Festival. Photo courtesy Nathan Elias.

It pays to dream big.

Toledoan Nathan Elias can attest to that. His short film “The Chest” has officially been accepted into the 2015 Cannes International Film Festival.

Toledo native Nathan Elias’ “The Chest,” a film he co-wrote
and co-starred in with Rachel Paulson, has been accepted into
the Cannes International Film Festival. Photo courtesy Nathan Elias.

Elias not only directed the film, but co-wrote and co-starred in it alongside writing partner Rachel Paulson, sister of “American Horror Story” actress Sarah Paulson.

“The Chest” is a dramatic short about three dysfunctional siblings battling over their father’s possessions after his death. Elias plays Oliver, whose manic depression is worsened by his egotistical brother’s taunts.

“When Rachel and I were writing the piece, we tried to write something that was very personal to both of us,” Elias said. “It comes from a person who doesn’t quite know their identity. They know they’re different from their family but can’t quite explain why.”

Acceptance into Cannes is one of the most prestigious honors for filmmakers. The invitation-only event takes place in Cannes, France, each May and has been the launching ground for many careers in show business.

Receiving the email announcement of acceptance sent shockwaves through Elias, who’s been honing his craft for nearly 11 years.

“I had to go online and double-check the email was correct,” he said. “I got it really early in the morning. I think if I would’ve gotten it mid-afternoon I would’ve been jumping for joy, but I was barely conscious when I saw it.”

The acceptance also validated the countless hours put into production, from crowdfunding the project via IndieGoGo.com to highlighting the specificity within each shot during postproduction.

“There was a sigh of relief that the work had paid off,” Elias said. “You always enter a danger zone when you make any artistic piece and put it out into the world. There’s a question of, ‘If I throw this against the wall, will it stick?’ I’ve made projects that don’t stick and never see the light of day.”

Elias is a 2011 film and creative writing graduate of the University of Toledo. He moved to Los Angeles after finding jobs on a few shoots in Ohio, such as doing crew work on 2012’s “Fun Size” and field producing MTV’s reality show “Made.”

Contacts he made on each set told him work was more consistent in Los Angeles. Planning on making film a full-time gig, Elias knew he needed to go west.

Official poster for ‘The Chest.’

“I was in a position where I would travel to different cities just to work on these films and I’d be living out of hotel rooms,” Elias said. “Basically, the money I’d make on set would just pay for these hotel rooms so I could be on set somewhere.”

After meeting Paulson, the duo co-wrote their first short, “Kleptos.” The seven-minute story of a conservative man taught the joys of shoplifting by an enigmatic girl, which Elias also appeared in, was an Official Selection of the 2014 Texas Independent Film Festival.

The experience of acting in the same film he’d co-written fed Elias’s ambition, and he decided he’d direct the next project. This was how they arrived at “The Chest,” which is nearly three times the length of “Kleptos” and was far more demanding in every aspect, Elias said.

“Usually with short films, they tell you to keep them as short as possible, but we kind of wanted to go a risky route and also tell a good story,” Elias said.

Elias and Paulson decided to use “Kleptos” to demonstrate to investors their abilities both behind and in front of the camera. Although much of the film was shot before the online funding campaign ended, the project ended up fully funded.

In making “The Chest,” the duo was joined by Kenneth Bauer, another UT graduate.

Bauer was director of photography for the shoot. He’d met Elias through jobs in Ohio before moving to California and landing a job in the camera department of 2013’s “Parker,” starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez.

“I like working with Nate. He was really precise, a great writer,” Bauer said. “I really admired his work for a while, so after reading the script I really just wanted to be part of it because I knew it would turn out nicely.”

Elias is currently working on a short film based on his fiction story, “Right Now at This Very Moment,” which was published in Birdville Magazine.

Watch the trailer:

For updates on the North American premiere date of “The Chest” and upcoming projects from Elias, visit www.thenathanelias.com.

Record Store Day rocks area music retailers April 18

By

Joel Sensenig

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April 19, 2015

record store-3 — Pat O’Connor, owner of Culture Clash Records, in front of a wall adorned with copies of 24 Gone’s ‘The Spin,’ which the store is releasing for the first time in the U.S. as a Record Store Day exclusive on April 18. Toledo Free Press Star photo by Christie Materni.

Those who only listen to music after clicking “download” may be surprised to know there is an actual thing known as Record Store Day (RSD).

They may be surprised to know there are record stores.

RSD, marking its ninth year April 18, is a celebration of the physical musical experience. Hundreds of albums and special music projects are sold exclusively at independent music stores on the day, which is meant to draw attention to the pleasures of shopping for and buying music that can be held in one’s hands.

“Record Store Day has brought to the forefront the place of the record store in the community,” said Pat O’Connor, owner of Culture Clash Records, 4020 Secor Road. “It’s turned people on to how much fun music is. It’s really highlighted the configuration of the album and brought a collectability essence to it. But basically it’s really just used today to market how fun music is again.”

Pat O’Connor, owner of Culture Clash Records, in front of a wall adorned with copies of 24 Gone’s ‘The Spin,’ which the store is releasing for the first time in the U.S. as a Record Store Day exclusive on April 18. Toledo Free Press Star photo by Christie Materni.

O’Connor is as familiar with the state of the independent record store as anyone. He owned Boogie Records in Westgate Village Shopping Center from 1973 until Feb. 29, 2004. Less than six months later, he opened Culture Clash.

His store is stocking over 300 of the official 400 RSD titles, including 50 copies of the Canadian band 24 Gone’s 1991 album “The Spin,” which is being released by Culture Clash Records. It’s the store’s second vinyl release, behind last year’s “Breaking Glass: Garage Rock from Toledo Ohio.” Avid listeners of 89X (88.7 FM radio station out of Windsor, Ontario) during the mid-1990s will likely recognize the album’s song “Girl of Colours.” The album has never been released in the U.S. nor on vinyl anywhere. It will retail on RSD for $19.99. The Toledo store is selling 50 of the 500 copies made in a one-time pressing of the album.

“I’m really, really pleased with the way it came out: beautiful package, nice blue vinyl,” O’Connor said. “[24 Gone] had a real impact on this area in the mid-’90s because 89X — who was just a force during those ‘alternative’ years — jumped on them, but it was never available in the States. … People around this area were so obsessed with it, they would even have nights where 89X would just play the record straight so people could record it on cassette.”

24 Gone guitarist/songwriter Zeljko Karlica said the band was surprised to hear a record store in Toledo wanted to release the album on vinyl more than two decades after its original release.

“We were very flattered by the interest in our music,” he told Toledo Free Press in an email. “We honestly had no idea the extent of the popularity of ‘The Spin.’ We were so pleased when Pat O’Connor asked us if we would be interested in releasing this limited-edition vinyl, as originally it was to be released on vinyl but then CDs happened and we went with the new format. … It has even prompted us to get together again and possibly do some live performances in your area.”

While Karlica has seen the physical product, he has yet to listen to it.

Official seal of Record Store Day.

There’s a good reason for that.

“I have seen the album and I think it’s beautiful,” he said. “Though I need to get a turntable to listen to it. I should have learned by now that what’s old is new.”

Laura Fredericks, manager of Finders Records, 128 N. Main St., Bowling Green, said last year’s RSD was the store’s largest sales day since it opened in 1971.

“[RSD] continues to give people a reason to go to a store like ours, a physical store, to have the opportunity to browse records, interact with people and not just be a click on your computer or your phone. You get the whole experience — you get to find 10 other things when you went to look for one. … It keeps that need to have a physical experience, just like holding a record.”

In many ways, RSD is a celebration of the vinyl resurgence; most of the releases are records, with only a few CD releases. Metallica is releasing the demo “No Life ‘Til Leather” on cassette.

The increased appreciation of vinyl isn’t a trend O’Connor would have predicted years ago. He’s not complaining.

“It’s just a great way to listen to music,” he said from behind the counter of his store, the 24 Gone album spinning on the turntable behind him. “When you put on a record, you’re basically devoting yourself to listening to that record, so it becomes the activity and not just background. There’s just so much interest in the cover, the cover art, the words.”

The vinyl resurgence has caused Finders to reconfigure its three-room store. It recently dedicated more space in its north room to vinyl, which Fredericks said accounts for about 40 percent of total music sales — a number that is trending upward.

Friendly Beaver Records opened in late 2013 at 136 Main St. on Toledo’s East Side.

“We find that our clientele range from early high school age all the way up to grandparents looking for that certain song that they just can’t find anywhere,” owner Broc Curry said. “With the increase in vinyl sales, people look at music as more of an experience. You have to take the time to buy the record then go home and put it on the turntable and maybe enjoy a cup of coffee and really absorb the music. It really is a great time to be an independent record store and RSD helps tremendously.”

Curry said the store’s first 25 customers will receive free Friendly Beaver T-shirts (which will sell for $5 the rest of the day).

“Supporting RSD also means you are supporting local business, so make sure you check out all of the fine record stores that [the Toledo area] has to offer,” Curry said.

Also participating in RSD are the Allied Record Exchange stores located at 3550 Executive Parkway, 1710 S. Reynolds Road and 1734 W. Laskey Road.

“Nostalgic and nearly abandoned media is not new to us,” said Robin Schultes, sales associate and public relations representative for Allied’s Reynolds Road location, which has sold records, cassettes, reel-to-reels and 8-tracks since opening in 1998.

“Needless to say, Record Store Day is a day of excitement for the new, curious and veteran collectors,” Schultes said.

The Allied stores will feature hundreds of RSD-exclusive releases, 25 percent off all used records and buy-one-get-one-free deals on all $0.25 and $1 LPs.

RamaLama Records, 3151 W. Central Ave., is not participating in official RSD sales but will offer 10 percent off all new items and 20 percent off all used items, as well a whole wall of “deep discounts,” according to owner Rob Kimple.

As it often does, Culture Clash will host an in-store performance on RSD by a new Athens, Ohio, band, Sweet Lil, who just released a four-song EP. The band will make its Toledo debut at approximately 4:30 p.m.

RSD titles are available April 18 on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, including a full list of RSD releases, visit recordstoreday.com or visit the stores’ websites or Facebook pages.

419 Day events celebrate Toledo

By

Joel Sensenig

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April 19, 2015

There are a lot of reasons residents call Toledo home: like family, work, low cost of living and the convenience of a mid-sized city in close proximity to larger metropolitan areas.

Pride seems to be moving up the list, as shown by Toledo-centered events like 419 Day, which celebrates the vitality of the 419 area code on April 19 (4/19).

This year marks the fourth year the day is being celebrated.

Editor’s Note: We thought it would be fun to share some images of 419 locales and let readers see how many they could recognize. Area Instagrammers shared some of their favorite shots and we published a selection on this week’s cover. We looked for a mix of iconic landmarks as well as lesser known locations to make sure even longtime Northwest Ohioans would be challenged. How many do you recognize? See below for answers and photo credits.

Centered in the Downtown and UpTown neighborhoods, 419 Day celebrates Toledo and Northwest Ohio.

The two cornerstones of this year’s day are Artomatic 419! and Maker’s Mart. Artomatic 419! is a three-weekend celebration of arts that began April 11. The event is hosted at One Lake Erie Center, 600 Jefferson Ave., and runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. April 18 and 25. To coincide with 419 Day, Artomatic 419! is also open noon to 5 p.m. April 19.

Maker’s Mart is an indie art and craft fair presented and hosted by Handmade Toledo at 1717 Adams St. The juried fair features handmade goods, including bath products, clothing, jewelry, home goods and paper products.

Maker’s Mart, which began in 2012, is typically a one-day event, but is also being extended for 419 Day. It runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 18 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 19.

Maker’s Mart will feature goods from about 80 vendors in addition to the regular inventory at the adjoining Handmade Toledo’s Maker Shoppe, according to Jessica Crossfield, owner of Handmade Toledo.

The family-friendly event will also feature food trucks, doughnuts from the new company Holey Toledough, as well as coffee from Bleak House Coffee.

Crossfield said Maker’s Mart is an ideal event for 419 Day, and it made sense to extend the event to help celebrate Toledo.

“I think it gets people excited about Toledo — excited about where they live,” she said. “[People] want to do things, and they want to celebrate a little bit by doing more Toledo-y things.”

John Amato will also celebrate Toledo — not that it’s a new thing for him.

His company, Jupmode, a screen-printing business based in Perrysburg originating in 2007, has made its mark on the local clothing scene with its line of T-shirts and sweatshirts, many of which celebrate Toledo pride in some fashion.

Jupmode will be involved with both Artomatic 419! and Maker’s Mart, where it will allow people to make their own “You Will Do Better in Toledo” postcards.

“I think that 419 Day is really what we’re all about, and that’s promoting pride in Toledo,” Amato said. “It’s a somewhat random, fun day where people say, ‘Hey, let’s celebrate Toledo and let’s do something a little bit out of the ordinary to do that.’”

Jupmode will offer 25 percent off its three shirt designs featuring 419 on them (T-shirts will be $15 and sweatshirts $30) through the weekend.

Amato said 419 Day has already evolved and grown since it began, and he sees many signs that Toledo pride is on the rise.

“I absolutely think it’s trending upward,” he said. “There’s evidence of it in a lot of ways. We’re seeing a lot of individuals and organizations move into city limits and back into the Downtown area, in UpTown, in the Warehouse District, in the central business district. … You see a migration back into the city. We have great minor league sports teams that generate a lot of pride in the city. We have a great museum and a great zoo that people recognize as things that are fun to do at any age.”

Amato’s belief in rising Toledo pride is reflected in the number of Toledo-based shirts his company has sold.

“I think a strong indication that city pride is alive and well would be the number of people that want to use the slogan “You Will Do Better in Toledo” on it,” he said. “We print that slogan in different variations for quite a few people. For Restaurant Week, we had ‘You will eat better in Toledo.’ We’ve done ‘You will drink better in Toledo.’ The key to that slogan is the word ‘Toledo.’ People wouldn’t use that slogan if they weren’t proud of where they were, because it identifies with one thing, and that’s Toledo.

“I think you’re seeing a complete renaissance in the city,” Amato said. “I think there’s a ton of opportunity in Toledo. I certainly think our business is proud to be a part of that.”

Jeff Jones has done his part through social media to help those in the 419 area code show their pride in their city and region.

Jones, who has his own photography business, Snap It Photography, is the founder of IGers_Toledo, an Instagram group that has about 4,500 followers. Brandt Chapman is co-founder of the group that started in 2013.

Nearly 20,000 photographs on Instagram have used the #IGers_Toledo hashtag for images “highlighting Toledo’s beauty, one moment at a time,” according to the group’s page.

The group recently held a meet-up that attracted about 90 people from throughout the Midwest.

Attendees shot photographs at numerous places throughout Toledo and the region.

Jones and Chapman are participating in Artomatic 419! and also have an area set up for Instagram users. Ben Morales, a frequent contributor to and supporter of IGers_Toledo, is putting together a group meet-up for 419 Day.

Jones encourages Toledoans to become tourists of their own city. 419 Day is a good reminder of that, he said.

“It’s a day that celebrates our city,” he said. “I feel like there’s a lot of good things in our city but people just have to open their eyes up. … Turn yourself into a tourist. You’ll go to another city and you’re amazed by so many things, but you forget about what’s surrounding you. We encourage people to turn themselves into a tourist for a day and they’ll rediscover the things that are near and cool and fun to go to.

“Our focus with IGers_Toledo is to promote our city, promote the good things, the local things we love,” Jones said. He said he’s also getting ready to launch a website to help accomplish that goal.

Other 419 Day events include:

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: BrunchOmatic 419!, featuring an omelette, mimosa and bloody mary bar at Artomatic 419! Tickets are $30, include a $10 voucher toward the purchase of artwork at the show and must be purchased in advance. A cash bar will be provided by Village on Adams and Bicycle Wheel Expo silent auction curated by Dustin Hostetler. Call The Arts Commission at (419) 254-2787, ext. 15, to find out if tickets are still available.
Noon: IGers_Toledo meet-up at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion courtyard. From 1-3 p.m., the group plans to explore Downtown sites, and possibly conduct a rooftop photography session at 3 p.m.
Noon and 3 p.m.: P. Marie Talent Management presents “419 Summer Dreams,” a kids’ and teens’ fashion show and mini expo at the Toledo Zoo, featuring a runway show, talent contest, vendor tables, raffles and prizes. Mini expo doors open at 11 a.m., with shows at noon and 3 p.m.
3 p.m.: Opening of Corporal Klinger Sportsball Complex at the intersection of Adams and 13th streets. The complex is the first of a series of parks to be opened on Adams Street and will feature a 60-foot oyster-shell sand bocce court, a five-on-five soccer/flag football field and planted seats planted with herbs and edibles provided by Toledo Botanical Garden and the Collingwood Garden.
9 p.m.: 419 Day wrap-up party at Wesley’s, The Attic on Adams and The Ottawa Tavern.

For more information, visit the 419 Day Facebook page.

ANSWERS:

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1) Christ the King Church (photo by Laura Menard)

2) Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve (photo by @littlecoal)

3) University Hall bell tower at University of Toledo (photo by @dkwap21)

4) Bridge over Portage River in Pemberville (photo by @emilyafgordon)

5) Statue along riverfront at Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo (photo by @greynavy)

6) Mural near Junction and Belmont avenues (photo by @hobbes2485)

7) Toledo-Lucas County Main Library (photo by @toledotom)

8) Bridge in Grand Rapids, Ohio (photo by @ethan23brown)

9) Veterans’ Glass City Skyway (photo by @exploringnwo)

10) Owens Corning lobby (photo by Toledo Free Press)

11) Staircase at Standart Lofts (photo by Rajiv Bahl)

12) Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial, Put-in-Bay (photo by Toledo Free Press)

13) Mural at Veritas Cork & Craft (photo by @tenjake)

14) Toledo Amtrak station (photo by @littlecoal)

15) Mural on Collingwood Avenue at Black Kite Coffee (photo by @coreywhodgson)

16) Toledo Museum of Art (photo by @mpollzzie)

17) Art Tatum Celebration Column, Downtown Toledo near Huntington Center (photo by @lrosen1234)

18) “The Spot” at Oak Openings Preserve Metropark (photo by Zak Kolhoff)

19) The Historic Church of St. Patrick (photo by @benmorales)

Cecelia Adams appointed to fill Ford’s vacant Council seat

By

Sarah Ottney

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April 19, 2015

Toledo’s newest City Council member has decades of experience with kids and education. Now she’s looking to transition that skill set to serve the whole of Toledo’s citizens and communities.

Cecelia Adams, a Toledo Public Schools Board of Education member, was appointed April 14 to fill the at-large Toledo City Council seat vacated by Jack Ford, who died last month.

Cecelia Adams

“Quality of education was my goal there,” Adams said of the school board. “Quality in the delivery of city services will be my goal here.”

The party-endorsed Democrat garnered a seven-vote majority and was appointed on the first vote.

Adams was nominated by Councilwoman Theresa Gabriel, an independent, who voted for her along with Democrats Tyrone Riley, Steven Steel, Larry Sykes, Lindsay Webb, Matt Cherry and Mike Craig.

Adams bested 28 other candidates for the seat.

“I think people have a destiny and when something is for you, it just works out,” Adams said. “But at the same time I think I’m prepared. I have the skills, the knowledge, the experience. I have the will to do the work and I’ve exhibited that in every position I’ve ever had, as a teacher, as an administrator, as a school board member. And I intend to put those skills and that will into play here at Council.”

Adams resigned from the school board after winning the seat. She will serve on Council until the seat is filled in the November general election. She said she plans to run for the seat.

Also nominated were Sam Melden, executive director of the Center for Servant Leadership, and Jason Schreiner, a social studies teacher at Whitmer High School.

Melden, an independent, received three votes, from Rob Ludeman, Scott Ramsey and nominator Sandy Spang. Voting for Schreiner, a Democrat, was Tom Waniewski, who nominated him.

The at-large Council seat is actually the second time Adams has filled a seat vacated by Ford. She was elected to his seat on the board of education after poor health prevented him from running for re-election.

“It was a pleasure and honor to serve on the Toledo board of education,” Adams said. “My mother served there many years ago and I was able to follow her footsteps onto that board. It was my great privilege to follow Mr. Ford on the board. … And it is beyond my wildest dreams that I could follow him on City Council. What an honor and a privilege.”

After being sworn in, Adams thanked the Lucas County Democratic Party for its endorsement.

“I intend to hit the floor running. I intend to make you proud and I hope to be able to make Toledo a shining city on a hill,” she said.

Adams was born and raised in Toledo, attending Scott High School before graduating from Bowsher High School and the University of Toledo. She is retired from a 30-year career as an educator and administrator with Toledo Public Schools.

“Toledo is very important to me,” Adams said. “You have opportunities to leave, but I never wanted to. I’ve always wanted to stay here. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be able to help improve our city and make it better because I know how it was when I was a girl and how vibrant Downtown was. I’d like to see us have a vibrant Downtown again. And communities where neighbors know each other. That’s how it was when I grew up and I’d like to see it that way again.”

Improving Toledoans’ quality of life is important to Adams.

“We need to look at [our neighborhoods] and make sure they are places people want to live and that people will be willing to stay,” Adams said. “We have to give our millennials and our high school graduates a reason not only to stay in Toledo but give them places in the city that are attractive to them to live there. I think we can do a better job with that. I’m sure Council is already starting to work on those things anyway. I just want to see how I can help.”

Adams has served on the school board since 2011, including serving as president and vice president. Her term was set to end Dec. 31 and she said she had recently decided to run for re-election in November. But her plans changed when Ford died.

“Nobody expected Mr. Ford to pass away and when he did, I think members of the community started looking around for who might be able to fill that position,” she said. “And so I started getting phone calls.”

At first she was hesitant.

“My initial response was, ‘No, thank you. I’m on the school board,’” Adams said. “I wanted to institutionalize some of the things we’ve been able to get into place. There’s some great things in terms of the momentum that’s behind the school district. And so I said no several times, very, very respectfully. But people kept talking with me until I said, ‘Maybe I better rethink this.’”

With her family’s blessing, she decided to seek the Council seat.

“It was a very difficult decision to make, but it’s just a great opportunity to follow in the footsteps of someone so well-respected in the community,” Adams said. “He was a huge figure in our city, in our state.”

Adams said she thinks Ford would approve.

“He invited me to his home to encourage me to run for the school board so I think he would have invited me to replace him in this position,” Adams said. “Especially with I think having made a difference on the school board; I think he would think I could make a difference here.”

Adams said she admired Ford’s humility.

“He was humble. He had a certain sense of humility about him, with all the education and knowledge he had and how well read he was and a deep thinker. I think that watching him and how he carried himself and how scholarly he was in his approach to his duties as a public servant, those to me were things I think are highly admirable and that’s the approach I’d like to take.”

Council President Steel said Adams’ public service experience and background in education will be appreciated on Council.

“She’s already been an elected official so she understands the process of working through budgets, public budgets in particular, and working through issues in a public body and a public setting. That’s probably first and foremost,” Steel said. “Then she’s had a lifetime serving kids. I think as we think through issues of neighborhoods and parks and economic development, most of the things we think about [focus on] what’s going to be best for the future, to make our community a community of choice so kids who want to stay here have an opportunity to stay here. Her lifetime in education is going to be a great asset.”

Gabriel agreed.

“She’s well-rounded, a very seasoned politician, smooth,” Gabriel said. “She started out as a classroom teacher moving up through the system to become a board member. I think that’s phenomenal. Anyone that can succeed in the public school system can succeed anywhere in the world. She’s going to bring a lot of knowledge and experience to Council.”

Also during the meeting, Council unanimously voted to designate the 4-mile stretch of Nebraska Avenue between Division Street and Byrne Road as Jack Ford Way.

Baumhower: Baseball much more than a way to pass the time

By

Jeremy Baumhower

-

April 12, 2015

brady-and-Hessman — The writer’s son Brady with minor league home run king Mike Hessman at Fifth Third Field in 2008. Hessman, once again playing for the Mud Hens, has hit a career 417 homers in the minor leagues. Photo courtesy Jeremy Baumhower.

My son has always been a professional baseball player. I mean, he’s always played for money and compensation, since he was 4 years old.

Flashback to 11 years ago.

The rules for our front-yard game of catch, were pretty simple; Every time my son would succesfully throw the baseball to my mitt, he would win a $1, and every time he caught the ball, he would earn another.

The first couple of outings, Brady, would make between $5 and $10. We would end the evening session with tense negoiations, with management succefully able to negoitate the sum down, for either ice cream or candy. Over the following weeks and months, our game would continue. The amount of funds my son’s arm would generate, steeply inclined upwards of $100-a-night; but since he was only 4 years-old (without an agent), I was always able to escape with buying baseball cards and M & M’s.

This bribery scheme was hatched with a simple goal and dream; I wanted my “1 in 68,” (1 in 68 children are on the autism spectrum) beautifully-gifted child, to fit in. I believed at the time, that if I could give my son, the love of baseball, specifically the Detroit Tigers — we would have a venue for conversations and a chance to mask his unique traits amongst his peers. Miraculously, it has worked.

The phone rang on a Sunday night, it was a parent of Brady’s Kindergarten classmate. The unexpected solicitor wanted to see if I was interested in coaching T-ball, I have no idea why I was picked, or how many “nos” happened prior. I proudly accepted. The following evening was the night of our inaugural practice. Brady was outfitted in jeans, a Tigers T-shirt, an English “D” cap, and a recently purchased bat. As we walked to the baseball diamond, my son tossed-and-dropped his mitt, with every stride. The first child that arrived moments later, Nick Olnhausen, was wearing a Mud Hens’ tee, white baseball pants, and double-wristbands on each arm. Nick was kind enough to bring his own personal catching equipment and batter’s helmet, in a equally-nice baseball bag.
Many fears of fatherhood failure instantly flooded my soul.

T-Ball evolved into “Coach Pitch,” which turned into “kid-pitch” and eventually travel baseball. My dream for my son, since that first time stepping on the grass at Sylvan Elementary — was for him to love the sport when his body’s coordination would match his size. My bigger fantasy was the hope that he could one-day make his High School team. It wasn’t about potential letters sewn on overpriced jackets, but social acceptance.

When I was nine years old, the Detroit Tigers won the 1984 World Series. The summer leading up to Fall Classic, might have been the greatest for children in Northwest Ohio. There wasn’t a single day we failed to play baseball. Armed with long yellow whiffle ball bats and tennis balls, kids would dream to be Lou Whitaker, Kirk Gibson, Larry Herndon or anyone else in Sparky’s lineup.

My favorite player was the center fielder, Chet Lemon. It wasn’t for Chet’s tenacity on the basepath but for the way he chased down fly balls in the outfield. Number 34 didn’t use the traditional and coach-endorsed method of using two hands. Mr. Lemon used one. I quickly adapted his style, and remember my Dad yelling from the sideline: “Use two hands, Chet Lemon.” My dad was not a fan of his approach to the game.

I knew if my son would find a Tiger of his own, he’d be cursed for life. Brady found #30, Magglio Ordonez. in late 2006. Magglio hit a walk-off home run, that sent Detroit back to the World Series. One of the symptoms of 1-in-68 children is delayed speech.

Brady received a gadget that contained Dan Dickerson’s famous radio call of Magglio’s blast. “Monroe edges off of second .. the one-oh, a swing and a fly ball, left field … it’s deep … it’s WAAAAAY BACK … THE TIGERS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!” My son would play this audio track repeatedly, while mimicking Ordonez’s triumph trot around the bases. He used this movement as a way to calm his brain, something he still does today. It did not take long, but Brady’s speech start catching up.

His love of the Tigers became an obsession. Like most boys, he wasn’t a fan of books, but we started catching him reading (unprompted) and memorizing the back of the Tigers’ baseball cards. The statitsics made sense.

As he learned about the inner-workings of the Major Leagues — the Toledo Mud Hens became the focal point of his education. He got to witness up-and-coming players, rookies, and veterans on a rehab assignment, including non-Tigers like Curt Schilling and Daisuke Matsuzaka. He would witness and interact with the Hens during one of their summer baseball camps, and proceed to see the very same players later take the field in Detroit. Every season, we would take his current team to a Mud Hens game. One of team nights, we were at Fifth Third Field, and watched on the Jumbotron as Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter.

For his ninth birthday, Brady was given the chance to throw a first pitch before a Mud Hens game. He had recently started pitching, was fascinated by the mound and the alleged advantage given to the pros. During his little league games, the distance was 40 feet, and his accuracy was suspect. Imagine a smaller version of Charlie Sheen’s character from Major League — before he got the eyeglasses. With his teammates watching from the stands and two nervous parents watching from the infield. Brady took the ball, climbed the mound and delivered a 60 foot, 6 inch strike. The crowd was appreciative with his effort. As he left the circle, he acknowledged the cheers with a simple tip of the cap, like he’d been there a 1,000 times before.

Over the last decade, the Mud Hens have been a part of our extended family. Going to a ballgame at the corner of Washington and Huron, has felt the same as car-ride to Grandma’s house.

The game of baseball has provided a running topic of conversation between a man and his son. It’s been a shared experience and a way for us to talk about many other things. This pastime has provided normalcy for my “1 in 68” child. Fifth Third Field has been the home of so many breakthroughs — I wouldn’t even know where to start.

Brady celebrated his fifteenth birthday on April 9th. The Mud Hens’ season had yet to reach the Glass City. Five days prior, he pitched from another raised mound — the season opener for his freshmen team. While wearing the #30, Brady threw a complete-game, allowing one run, while striking out nine. It took 85 pitches and his teammates’ bats, to give him his first high school win.

I don’t know where it goes from here, but I am excited to find out what he does next.

Happy Birthday, Jackie!

Ex-Tiger Maroth to mentor Mud Hens arms

By

Jay Hathaway

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April 12, 2015

Mud Hens Pitching Coach Mike Maroth pitched for the Detroit Tigers from 2002-07. He pitched for the Mud Hens in 2001 and 2002. Toledo Free Press photo by Christie Materni.

There is a saying in baseball: “Pitching wins championships.” That seems like simple enough logic, but behind every great pitching staff is a pitching coach. This year, the Mud Hens welcome a familiar face to fill that role in former Tiger and Mud Hens pitcher Mike Maroth.

Maroth played in Toledo during 2001 and 2002, while the team was transitioning from its previous location at the Ned Skelton field in Maumee to its new digs at Fifth Third in downtown Toledo.

“The fans were great,” Maroth recalled.

Maroth went on to pitch for the big league club in Detroit from 2002 to 2007 as a staple to the starting rotation through a few rough years and into the new age of Tiger domination in the American League Central.

Once his time as a player had come to an end, a new opportunity presented itself—one that he had never considered during his time on the mound.

“I never saw myself as a coach while playing,” Maroth said. “I didn’t even entertain the thought, which is crazy, because now it’s what I’m doing and I love it.”

In 2011, Maroth became a coach for Detroit’s class A affiliate, the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

“Once my career was over, I wanted to know some options about staying in professional baseball,” Maroth said. “The opportunity to coach in Lakeland came up. I was living in Orlando, so it was a good fit and opportunity for me to try it out while still living at home. It didn’t have an impact on my family as it would if I were leaving for the summer and not seeing them for extended periods of time. That was very appealing and it allowed me to give it a try and see if I liked it.”

“After I started, it was something I fell in love with doing.”

Despite his relatively short service time as a pitching coach, Maroth has begun to develop his own philosophy to the craft, and he especially emphasizes adaptability to different personalities.

“There are many approaches to coaching,” Maroth explained. “Everyone’s a little bit different. I try to cater to each player separately and evaluate all aspects of pitching, whether it is things like mechanics or their approach is to games. I try to evaluate each pitcher separately, because everyone’s got different strengths and weaknesses, and then I give them feedback.

Maroth said that one of his primary roles as a coach is to provide his pitchers with information and encouragement.

“This game is very much about failure. There’s enough failure that happens in the game, and I want to be someone who is always encouraging to them.”

Maroth said that confidence can sometimes be an issue when working with so many young pitchers trying to work their way up to the majors, but not every case is the same.

“There are guys who are young and very mentally mature and can handle those situations, and there are players who are older and still struggle with handling the mental aspect, the adversity and the pressure. If a pitcher doesn’t have confidence in himself, then it is going to be very difficult for him to do his job. They’ve got to believe in themselves.”

Maroth is excited and optimistic with the roster of players he is working with now that he is back in a Toledo uniform.

“We’ve got a good mix of pitchers,” Maroth said. “We’ve got some junk pitchers, and we’ve got some guys that have been around, and some hard throwers. It’s a real good mix and balance of different styles. That’s always good, because it gives opposing teams some different looks.”

Maroth explained that the Hens pitching staff got an unexpected boost on the other side of the plate when Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday was recently assigned to Toledo to help with handling the Hens staff.

“It’s going to be very valuable having him around,” Maroth said. “He’s a great guy and great catcher. He is going to bring a lot to our staff, because he’s going to know how to work with these guys.”

“Obviously, you like to see him in the big leagues, but to have a guy like that is very valuable. It will really be helpful to these guys, especially those who are at AAA for the first time.”

Maroth also described some of the things he expects from his pitching staff come Opening Day, and he expressed confidence in their ability to perform what is asked of them.

“The most important thing to do as a pitcher is to throw strikes. We’ve got some guys here at spring training who are doing that and are not afraid to attack the plate. I expect them to come out of the pen ready to get hitters out. We’ll have some hard throwers coming into to the game throwing strikes.”

Maroth is also looking forward to seeing some Hens players move up to baseball’s highest level in Detroit.

“I want to help these guys,” Maroth said. “I’m looking forward to watching these guys succeed and move up, and watching them chase their dreams, as I once did, and to help them any way I can.”
“It’s exciting to see their reactions and watch them pursue something they love to do. It was the same thing [for me] when I was at Lakeland, only now when these guys move up, they are going to the big leagues. That’s pretty exciting, because that’s their dream.”

Altvater: Let’s play two!

By

Fred Altvater

-

April 12, 2015

Nothing says the beginning of spring like the crack of a bat or a baseball smacking the leather of a catcher’s mitt. Baseball season is upon us once more. Although the Mud Hens will open 2015 on the road, their first home game is Thursday, April 16, a day/night double header versus the Columbus Clippers.

Every year “Opening Day” becomes one of the most anticipated events in downtown Toledo. Area restaurants will be jammed beyond capacity, numerous impromptu tailgate parties will be held in parking lots around the stadium, as well as, several well-planned and catered affairs.

The Mud Hens have provided the next best thing to major league baseball in Toledo since 1883. Do you know how the Mud Hens got their original name?

In 1896 the local team was called the “Swamp Angels” and played their home games at Bay View Park. The field located outside the city limits was exempt from city Blue Laws, thus beer could be sold for Sunday afternoon contests.

Bay View Park sat near a swamp inhabited by the American Coot, also known as, the Mud Hen. The name stuck and the Toledo Mud Hens have been a professional team since the early days of baseball.

Toledo baseball fans have been able to witness some of the biggest names in the game. Casey Stengel, Jim Thorpe, Bobby Murcer, Kirby Puckett, Curtis Granderson, Doug Fister and Max Scherzer are just a few of the familiar names that have adorned Mud Hen’s rosters over the years.

Toledo native Jamie Farr, as corporal Max Klinger, even wore a Mud Hens baseball cap on the popular television series M*A*S*H.

To the untrained eye baseball seems like an athletic competition in slow motion. The leisurely pace is broken only occasionally by bursts of frantic action, when the batter happens to make contact with the speeding bullet being hurled by the pitcher.

Infielders and outfielders move as if in some time-worn dance to halt the batter’s attempt at taking each base and heading for the safety of home. As the action subsides fans can return to their hot dogs, peanuts and cold beverages to be amazed and discuss the events that just unfolded on the diamond.

True baseball fans understand the mental stress and force of wills being contested with every pitch. Managers are plotting strategy, catchers are taking the measure of each hitter and must be aware of any runner that happens to be on base. Each infielder constantly calculates the angles, spin rate and rotation of the ball should it be hit to them. Outfielders are always jockeying for the perfect position to be able to run down any fly ball hit in their direction.

Kids learn to play baseball at a young age and can relate to their heroes on the field. Every kid thinks that will be him on the diamond someday. Fathers take sons and daughters to the baseball park and cherished memories, of a day spent together, bond the parent and child for life.

I can still remember by father taking me to several Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds games. The memories bring a smile to my face every time I think of them.

Mud Hens fans get the opportunity to watch young players trying to make it onto a major league roster, as well as, a few veterans, who have had a “cup of coffee” in the bigs and are trying to get back.

The Mud Hens have had a very successful relationship as the AAA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers since 1965. Tigers that suffer an injury are often sent down to Toledo for a few games of rehab assignment before heading back to the big club. When the big club suffers an injury to one of its key players, the first place they call for a replacement is Toledo.

This will be the 13^th season opener for Fifth Third Field in downtown Toledo. A successful Mud Hens franchise has done a great deal to help revitalize the area around the ball park and a plethora of dining and entertainment options dot the area. There is no better park in baseball to spend a summer evening than Toledo’s Fifth Third Field.

Whether you watch the game from your seat in the upper deck or stand along the outfield wall, there are no bad seats in Fifth Third Field. If ball park franks aren’t your thing, there are a multitude of food choices available from the vendors inside the ball park that can fill most appetites.

Don’t forget to visit the Mud Hens shop in the right field corner of the stadium. You can never have enough baseball caps and every kid, young or old, can find something to add to their baseball collection.

Toledo baseball fans are indeed lucky to have the Mud Hens. Make some memories with your children. Leave the smart phones, tablets and Ipods at home. Bring them down to the ball park, have a hot dog and maybe even snag a foul ball.

As the late Hall of Fame star, Mr. Chicago Cub, Ernie Banks always said,

“Let’s play two.”

Mud Hens mix flavors with new food offerings

By

Joel Sensenig

-

April 12, 2015

The s’more donut will debut at fifth third field this season at the tom+Chee Kiosk, located in section 113. the treat is among 14 new food offerings the mud hens are introducing For fans. Toledo Free Press photo by Joel Sensenig

Let’s face it: the hot dog will never be too far from the baseball fan’s heart — or stomach.

However, the Mud Hens believe fans can save a bit of stomach real estate for some more adventurous fare.

The team is introducing 14 new items this season, including a couple with significant head-turning appeal.

Inspiration for ballpark food is not hard to come by in today’s foodie culture, according to Dusten Brown, executive chef for A Cut Above Catering, the official catering group of Fifth Third Field.

“A lot of it comes from looking around the country, finding what are the popular things coming out,” he said. “We also have a lot of help from our purveyors, letting us know what items we could mix together.”

One thing Brown mixed together was pork — three different types of pork are present in one of his favorite new dishes: The Triple Play Nacho is available at the stadium’s El Burrito Misterio stand.

“It’s one of my little pet projects,” Brown said. “I am a big fan of pork, and being able to put as many pork products as I can on one item is great.”

The nachos feature “We Be Ribs” pulled pork, bacon, nacho cheese, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers and sour cream. Because two pork products are hardly enough for a plate of pig-centered nachos, pork skins replace the typical tortilla chips here.

Last year, the Mud Hens debuted their Mac & Cheese Dog. This year, the team is trotting out the Mac & Cheese Burger, served at Gilhooley’s.

The pretzel bun makes its debut at the stadium with the Cheddar Peppercorn Sausage, sold at Suds & Wieners. It’s a smoked sausage filled with cheddar cheese and peppercorn, topped with sauerkraut and housed in a pretzel sausage bun.

The Mud Hens didn’t forget dessert.

“I think guests are really going to love the Oreo churros,” said Corey Pleasant, casual dining manager for A Cut Above. “They’re an Oreo pastry, almost with a brownie-like texture to it, but it’s deep fried so it’s got a little crust on the outside and chewy on the inside. The creme [packaged in a separate dipping container] is the same creme that’s on the inside of an Oreo.”

Sure to raise some eyebrows, the Pineapple Habañero Sundae is available at Farr Out Funnels. Featuring fried pieces of pineapple on Toft’s ice cream covered with a habañero glaze and whipped cream, the dessert isn’t what one might assume from the name, Pleasant said.

“I think a lot of people will be shocked with the sundae,” he said. “You have the habañero name in there, so you probably think it’s spicy, but it’s not. It’s more of a sweet glaze.”

Ever wished your s’more around the campfire could be held together by something a bit softer, more delicious and … well, calorie-laden? Try the S’More Donut, which is precisely what it sounds like. The dish is made possible by the Tom+Chee kiosk located in section 113 on the main concourse. The chain restaurant will also feature the Grilled Cheese Donut.

Other new offerings at Fifth Third Field include: Fried Green Tomato Burger (Gilhooley’s); Nutella Poppers (Hen & Hound); Holy Toledo Chicken Sandwich (one-pound grilled chicken breast on a submarine roll with Italian dressing, lettuce, tomato and onion), Red Velvet Cake, House Sirloin, Chili Mac and Chicken Kabobs, all sold at the BirdCage Bar and Grill, a sit-down restaurant on the club level at the stadium.

The Hens are hosting the inaugural Taste of Fifth Third Field on May 8. During the tour, fans will sample eight featured dishes, as well as take home a complimentary souvenir from the Swamp Shop. Tickets are $42 and must be purchased in advance at mudhens. com or by calling the box office at (419) 725-HENS.

As the song says, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack.” Oh, and don’t forget the habañero glaze.

Win or lose, you can count on fans to fill ‘the Fraction’

By

Matt Culbreath

-

April 12, 2015

I could write about how the Mud Hens finished below .500 last year, despite outscoring their opponents. How the team was middling in pitching and near the bottom in both batting and on-base percentage, but absolutely drilled the long ball. I could talk about how power hitting is what failed the Tigers last year, and it could very well be what failed the Hens as well.

But, let’s be truly honest … can you tell me what the Hens record was last year? Can you tell me how many games back they finished? How close they were to the playoffs? Who led the team in home runs? (OK, that one’s a gimme.)

My point isn’t a negative one by any stretch. In fact, it’s an amazing truth of minor league baseball: Win or lose, we always come out to the ballgame.

Last year was an odd year. The Hens were an even 36-36 within the friendly confines of Fifth Third Field last season. The pitching was OK, the batters maybe flied out a little more than they should have.

Still, we came out and watched: 545,000 Hens fans filled out the seats at “the Fraction” in 2014. Average it out across 71 games (one of them was a traditional doubleheader), and that’s nearly 7,700 fans per game in a stadium that seats almost 9,000 (85 percent capacity for the year).

Compare that to our major-league brethren — the Detroit Tigers brought in an average of 36,000 fans a game in a stadium that seats 41,000. That math comes out to 88 percent for the American League Central champs.

Across Lake Erie, it’s a different story: Despite a banner year and finishing five games back of the Tigers (and four games back of wild card and postseason Cinderella Kansas City), the Cleveland Indians were not bringing in the fans. Only 18,400 Tribe fans showed up to a game on average. Only Tampa Bay had worse raw attendance numbers, but with Progressive Field seating 42,000, the Tribe clocked in a major league low of 42 percent average capacity. It’s no wonder that the remodel at the corner of Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street is claiming some 5,800 seats — who needs them?

Sometimes, the sports elitist in me starts to flare up when it comes to Toledoans’ relationship with the Hens and Walleye.

It’s no secret that when a fan walks up to the box office to get a ticket, he or she very likely doesn’t know where the Hens are sitting in the International League standings, or even that they play in the International League at all.

But that’s not why we go to Mud Hens games, is it?

We go down to Fifth Third Field because we support the name on the front of the jersey. We head Downtown because there’s no better way to spend a spring or summer evening than down at the ballpark. We park our butts in the seats because we want to pass the tradition of scoring a baseball game with paper and pencil on to the next generation. I might get a little salty at the between-inning shenanigans, but they’re not for me, they’re for the young ones. And the team? They’re the world famous Toledo Mud Hens, and we’re their world famous fans.

(Also, pork rind nachos are a thing at the Fraction this year. If that doesn’t bump attendance up to 90 percent, then I don’t know you, Toledo.)

“Shaggy” Matt Culbreath is sports director at 1370 WSPD.

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