Forget the song and larger-than-life image — Alice Cooper is a nice guy.

Vincent Furnier was born in Detroit in 1948 and later changed his name to Alice Cooper. He went on to change the music scene, staging theatrical concerts that shocked and rocked.

Cooper will bring his Dirty Diamonds Tour to Stranahan Theater at 8 p.m. July 9. Tickets are $45, $38.50 and $30.

The likeable legend took a few minutes last week from his Phoenix home for an interview.

Toledo Free Press: You’re known for your clever lyrics. When did your love of words begin?

Cooper: Probably when I first started listening to rock. I was a journalism major, so I was always very good with words. I was a good short story writer, so it was easy for me to move right into lyrics, because all you’re doing is putting a story together in three minutes. And the trick is it’s got to fit a certain meter, it’s got to rhyme. I mean, it should rhyme, and it should be clever. So I listened to two of the best songwriters who do that. Chuck Berry was an amazing lyric writer. If he couldn’t figure out a word, he would just make one up. Like he would say “Don’t give me no botheration.” There’s no word “botheration,” but what a great word! And the other one was Ray Davies of The Kinks who wrote “Lola” about a guy who picks up a cross-dresser; it was a great pop song and you really pictured what was going on. So I kind of learned how to write lyrics from that, and I got really good at it. The trick is you write the punch line first. On a song like “I’m 18,” for example, when you’re writing an angst-riddled song — I’m a boy, I’m a man, I’m sexually confused, I can fight in the war but I can’t vote — and normally you’d say “I’m 18 and I just hate it.” And this went “I’m 18 and I like it.”

TFP: As a shock rock icon, you’ve blazed trails for so many. What are you most proud of?

Cooper: I think the fact that people have put up with me for 28, 29 albums and they still support me, they still come to the shows. I think Alice — it’s the character I’m talking about — is woven into Americana. … I think the thing I’m most guilty of is making people use their imaginations. If that’s the worst thing I’ve ever done, well, great. I think an album should make you sit and wonder and think about it. I think a stage show should do that, too.

TFP: Where did the character of Alice

Cooper come from?

Cooper: It was created a long time ago. I was a rock singer, just like every other rock singer. And as an artist, I looked around and — Alice Cooper is not a hero. Look at all the rock heroes. Look at the Paul McCartneys, John Lennons, and the Neil Youngs and the Bruce Springsteens — all rock heroes. Where are the rock villains? And this was at a time when there were no rock villains. And I looked at it as a world of all Peter Pans and no Captain Hooks is not fun. So I gladly became Captain Hook, and I created Alice to be rock’s arch villain. Now there are other villains come and gone, but not this villain. He’s always still here.

TFP: What can Toledo fans expect with the Dirty Diamonds Tour?

Cooper: I would say my show is the closest thing to rock vaudeville or maybe even rock cabaret because there is comedy in the show, there is a certain amount of mock violence. There are parts of the show that are absolutely beautiful, and there are parts of the show that are grotesque. But it’s all done to hard rock music. I look at the lyrics as being the script for the show. If you say “Welcome to My Nightmare,” don’t just say it, give them a nightmare.

TFP: Are you a Detroit Tigers fan?

Cooper: Are you kidding? I’ve been a Tiger fan all my life! I’m just a little bit delirious right now. The fact that they have the best record in baseball — I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. But it would be absolutely amazing if the Tigers won the American League and were in the World Series.

The instant I looked at Project Disaster, I knew it was a Blog it, Toledo blog.  Written by three local Emergency clinicians it is the most comprehensive source of information in one location that I have seen.  In addition to offering information on everything from terrorism to the bird flu, they also offer podcasting.   Even Homeland Security National Updates are provided in a user friendly manner.  Of all the blogs I have featured, this one is a definite recommended one to bookmark.  

Next I’m taking a venture into political blogs that I have not previously highlighted.  First up is one of the newest members of the Toledo area blogosphere, Mark Dansack, the Democratic candidate for Ohio House District 46.  His posts so far have gone into various topics from Education to Endorsements.  Mark created the blog to be able to discuss what is important to Ohioans, especially those who live in District 46.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, an elected official who has been blogging for as long as I have, Toledo City Councilperson Frank Szollosi.  I’ve had many a discussion there and I have learned quite a bit from Frank as well as some of those who participate in comments.  In addition to Szollosi Toledo, Frank has decided to launch a second blog, Szollosi Listens that is designed to be more specific to meeting needs of Toledo residents.  I’m looking forward to seeing his 1975 24’ Argosy Travel Trailer.

Thurber’s Thoughts, the blog of Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber is one I visit often.  This is another great blog to learn and discuss county specific issues as well as other topics.  One recent example is Maggie’s three part series on Lieutenant Governor Candidates during their presentations at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio Summer Conference that she recently attended.  She also uses her blog to get input from Lucas County residents.

If you enjoy more of a satire based look at Toledo politics, this next blog (for adults only) Toledo Tales, might be for you.  There are several different contributors of material but it is overseen by “Subcomandante Bob” who is quite the guy to party with from the stories I’ve heard.  Then again they could just be rumors but, either way, Toledo Tales has become popular in its own right and has been featured on Fark.com on several occasions.

When she’s being political, Lisa Renee can be found on her blog, Glass City Jungle and if you come across a blog you’d like her to know about?  Email her at glasscityjungle@gmail.com.   

Sellers concessions are incentives that can help you buy or sell a home. They have become increasingly common and can benefit both sides of the transaction.

Initially, the reaction to a buyer’s request for a contribution isn’t always favorable to a seller. Some even think it’s improper and clearly do not always understand the benefits.

With the lender’s approval, the seller can contribute funds to the buyer to help cover closing costs, acquisition fees and pre-paid items. The amount should be negotiated in the offer to purchase. Standard underwriting guidelines allow for up to 3 percent seller contribution toward closing costs for a conforming loan and up to 6 percent for a non-conforming loan.

Here’s an example of how it works: You’re a buying a house at $100,000. Let’s say closing costs are going to run about $3,000. So you offer $103,000 and put in the purchase contract that the seller is to pay $3,000 of closing costs. In most cases with the inflated price, the seller nets nearly as much money as if he or she hadn’t paid those costs. The conveyance fee and guaranteed certificate of title would increase by about $18 for the seller in this case (about $3 per thousand in Lucas County). Keep in mind the home must appraise to the higher value as well.

The benefit to the buyer is less money needed to close. They are financing those closing costs by rolling them into their mortgage. That means less cash at the closing table. The seller secures a buyer, encourages a quicker sale and can sometimes get more money for the house since people are often willing to pay more if they can finance more.

Buyers requesting concessions should not be viewed as less qualified or marginally able to afford the home. Many buyers are cash-poor but credit-worthy. Young buyers getting started likely haven’t had time to save. For sellers, it’s a matter of being flexible and allows prospective purchasers more options. Such a maneuver is common in a buyer’s market where sellers must compete and become more creative in trying to close the deal.

If your Realtor suggests a proposition that includes “seller concession,” consider it. Your agent is being creative and will guide you through the process. It can result in a win-win situation for all parties when applied properly.

Have a real estate question? Jody Zink is a licensed Realtor with the Loss Realty Group in Ohio and Michigan. She can be reached at (419) 725-1881 or by visiting www.JodyZinkRealtor.com.

For the last 18 months, Kit Miller’s daughter Trinity, 13, has participated in therapeutic riding at Vail Meadows Equestrian Center in Oregon.  

“She always wanted a pony,” Miller said. “I thought maybe we should find out about horseback riding.”

Miller said she and her husband Bob went to the center to see what it had to offer Trinity, who has cognitive and developmental disabilities.

“It’s unbelievable that she could do things in just four months of riding,” she said. “We noticed her motor skills improved slightly, and she can walk down stairs.”

Miller said her daughter has gained confidence.

“She used to be very passive,” she said. “The riding makes a whole lot of difference in the area of her assertiveness.”

Therapeutic riding is the ability for any disabled person to help strengthen themselves through balance to assist in daily activities, Walter Bell, executive director, said.

Bell said the center opened in 1998 as a non-profit therapeutic

riding center for people with physical and mental disabilities. Now, the center is a for-profit operation.

 “The organization is designed to help disabled people earn some independence,” Bell said. “Our goal is not to have to turn anybody away, and we will work to make it affordable for them.”

Bell said the center offers equipment to assist disabled people onto horses. “We have special saddles for people with special needs,” he said.

Bell said three people typically assist the rider: two side-walkers, who make sure the individual does not fall over, and a leader, who guides the horse. Riders who can balance on their own do not need side-walkers, he said.

The riders groom the horses before they ride. During the one-hour sessions, they walk around an arena to warm their muscles, and they play a series of games including basketball, ‘Simon Says’ and horseshoes to keep their bodies moving. At the end of each class, riders are quizzed on parts of the horse.

Bell said many local doctors recommend the therapy because it is a way to stimulate muscles in the body.

Before a horse can be used for therapeutic riding, it must be certified through the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), Bell said.

Vail Meadows has 10 certified horses. Instructors require certification through NARHA as well.

Toledo Police Sgt. Mike McGee has volunteered at the center for five years.

“It brings a lot of enjoyment for the riders,” he said.

McGee said he has two rules for each class. “First, I want to make sure all riders are safe,” he said. “Then, I want to make sure the riders get enjoyment out of riding.”

Karen Ryan learned about the program from her 22-year-old daughter Jessica’s teacher.

“She thought it would be a good social opportunity for Jessie,” Karen said. “(Jessie) has participated in the program for three years, and it has helped her with her confidence and outlook on life.” Ryan said the riding also has helped stretch Jessie’s muscles and improve her balance.

Annette Textor heard about the center through word-of-mouth.

“I knew a lady who worked there and said it was great for kids with disabilities,” she said. “It helps with posture and coordination.”

Textor’s daughter Megan, 20, has Downs Syndrome.

“It has helped her … to converse with people,” she said. “It has helped her to write legibly and has been a 100 percent benefit.”

Prices for therapeutic riding start at $35 per class for each student. There currently is a 40-person waiting list, Bell said.

In addition to therapeutic riding, Vail Meadows offers horse boarding, independent classes for English and Western riding, horse shows, barrel racing and children’s summer camps.

For more information, call (419) 697-8960 or visit www.vailmeadows.com.

   
The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, together with Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association, the City of Toledo, the Lucas County Commissioners and the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission, held a dedication ceremony for the new Korean War Memorial in the Civic Center Mall June 25.

This public event featured remarks from veterans and local dignitaries. Speakers and invited guests included, Ronald Bowman, Major General U.S. Army (retired); Tina Skeldon Wozniak, president, Board of Lucas County Commissioners; Jack Ford, former mayor; Lou Streb, chapter secretary of the Korean War Veterans; Ed Auerbach, president, Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 131; Chuck Ewing, Korean War Veteran; Clement C Cybulski, Jr., Veterans Service Commission; Dick Madrzykowski, Korean War Veteran; and Mike Duket, Arts Commission Of Greater Toledo.

It was Duket, working closely with the Korean War Veterans Association, and local artist Kenneth M. Thompson, who got the ball rolling on this project on behalf on the Arts Commission, Duket said. “This memorial is one that truly deserves to be here,” he said.

Thompson’s Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Galleries constructed the memorial.  The project was funded by the City of Toledo, the Lucas County Commissioners, the Students of Anthony Wayne Jr. High School, the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association and the Lucas County Veterans Service Commission.

It was the members of Chapter 131, wanting to find as many ways as possible to honor service men and women, who were also responsible for bringing the documentary “Korea: We Called It War” to Toledo’s Ohio Theatre. Veteran Denzil Batson authored of a book of the same name, which helped serve as one of the film’s many sources of inspiration.

The Korean War Memorial is adjacent to the Vietnam Peace Arch in the Civic Center Mall. The Korean War Memorial is open to the public.    

The Blade had its first report in May: “5-year-old boy rescued from Spencer Twp. Pond.” The lifejacket he was wearing had slipped off, and he didn’t know how to swim. A

7-year-old in a Toledo hotel and a teenager in a pond drowned within

24 hours of each other.

Toledo’s stats mirror those on the national level: Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 5-19.

These don’t include boating accidents or alcohol-related deaths. These are people who never learned how to swim, even though they or their parents might think that they are “water-safe”.

Surely, we think, with all of the YMCAs, city pools, swim clubs, cottages and backyard pools there is no excuse not to teach our children this basic skill. A closer look, however, shows a different truth: To be safe, kids need to learn how to swim in water that is over their head, but very few public programs offer this training. Learning how to swim in shallow water is not truly “learning how to swim.” A child gains a false sense of security by playing in a shallow backyard pool or on a sandy beach. They may put their head under or even swim a few feet, but they are not water-safe.

For a child to be “water-safe,” he or she should be able to jump off of a diving board into deep water and swim to the side — time after time after time. Even with that, a child should never be out in a boat on a lake or pond without a proper lifejacket.

Where is a parent who lives in the central city to go?

YMCAs are located in the suburbs. You have to have a membership before you can register and pay for a swim class. The free SPLASH program touted by the Y is only week long and has large groups where each child, in my opinion, gets little personalized instruction. A child needs more time to learn how to save himself in water over his head.

City pools, when they are open, are open for two months out of the year. Most are shallow wading pools or “water parks” intended only to cool kid off in the heat of the summer. There are limited swim lesson programs, and do not, I believe, teach kids what they need to know in deep water.

The University of Toledo pool? Private pools? They are open to private membership and are often costly to join.

Where is a central city parent to go? There are three public programs in the city that offer excellent and inexpensive swim lessons.

The Boys & Girls Club on Detroit Avenue and the Catholic Club on Jefferson Avenue have excellent group lesson programs and are accessible by public transportation. They are listed in the phone book, and the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club is proud to be a partner with them in offering competitive swimming and training.

The Greater Toledo Aquatic Club, located at St Francis de Sales High School, offers year-round swim lessons, both small group and private lessons on Sunday afternoons, in a deep-water pool. GTAC’s sole focus is swimming. GTAC teaches children and adults, including those with disabilities, to swim. I

t is the teaching site for the Toledo Public Schools Special Olympics program, and its prices are the cheapest in town. There’s no membership fee — just register ahead for the classes and come in. It is the “busiest public pool in town,” based upon an independent study by the aquatics firm of Counsilman-Hunsaker of Indianapolis.

Every child in Toledo, which is on the Great Lakes and surrounded by small lakes and ponds, should learn to swim. No matter where you go, make a commitment now to give your child the training that he or she needs to survive in deep water. It’s a matter of life or death.

Keith Kennedy is head coach for the Greater Toledo Aquatic Club and St. Francis DeSales Knights. For more information, visit www.gtacswim.com or call (419) 531-2800.

   
Former UT quarterback Chuck Ealey remains the only quarterback to win 35 games in a row.

Ealey will be presented a plaque for his achievement July 10 at his high school Notre Dame Academy’s Spartan Municipal Stadium in Portsmouth, Ohio.

John Carpenter, a sports memorabilia buff from Firebrick, Ky., pushed for the Portsmouth city council to honor Ealey.

“I went to the city council and asked for a plaque to honor Chuck,” he said. “It’s been long overdue because he never got the recognition he deserved.”

Carpenter said Ealey has a record of 35-0 from 1969-71 at UT and the record will not be beaten anytime soon.

“He was ahead of his time and it was unreal that he never lost a game,” he said. “Matt Leinart came close this year, but he couldn’t do it.”

Carpenter said Ealey, who was 18-0 as a starter in high school, was a perfect 53-0 in both high school and college.

Ealey was never drafted by the National Football League. He played in the Canadian Football League after college and led the Hamilton Tigercats to a Grey Cup in his first season, Carpenter said. Ealey was also named the league’s top rookie and MVP of the Grey Cup in 1972.

“He never lost in grade school either,” Carpenter said. “He was a master with the football.”

Carpenter said he wants Ealey’s legacy to continue.

“I don’t want to lose the history of our sports so younger generations can appreciate what he has accomplished,” he said. “Chuck Ealey is an American hero because he did something unheard of.”

Ealey, now the regional director for Investors Group in Mississauga Ontario, said he is honored his hometown wants to recognize his accomplishments.

“It’s humbling they as a city want to recognize me on that capacity,” he said.

Ealey said it did not matter to him that former University of Southern California quarterback Leinhart came close to breaking his record.

“It didn’t matter to me personally if he would have tied the record,” he said. “To me, it’s not just a quarterback record, but a team record because my teammates have ownership to that record as well.”

Ealey said he is not an American hero as Carpenter claims.

“There are a lot of good athletes who have done extremely well, but the record is not heroic,” he said. “It’s a game of football and as a football player I feel quite honored to hold the record, but education is what allows you to be successful.”

C2Land Productions, a Toledo-based production company, is filming a documentary about Ealey’s career titled “The Wizard of Oohs and Ahs.”

Andy Langenderfer, one of the executive producers, said the documentary should be finished this fall.

The documentary is a series of interviews with players, coaches and those who surrounded Ealey during his career as a quarterback, he said.

“We wanted to show the human drama side besides the football side,” Langenderfer said. “The documentary shows the social aspects of being a black quarterback and all the racial conflicts that occurred during the civil rights movement.”

Langenderfer said the project began July 2004 started out slowly, but has moved ahead at a good pace.

“We are hoping to get national distribution like the Sundance Film Festival or Cannes,” he said. “It would be the ultimate goal to showcase at Sundance.”

Ealey said he was “thrilled” about the idea of a documentary.

“I see it as a platform, not only for the history, but the content has to do with more like education and social issues,” he said.

It wasn’t a flood of biblical proportions, but it did cause local news stations to change June 21 programming.

“At 6:30 p.m. when we typically would go to ‘World News Tonight,’ when it was clear there was flooding and tornado warnings, we blew our primetime lineup and commercials,” Brian Trauring, news director at WTVG, said. “[Covering] severe weather is one of our most important responsibilities.”

At the beginning of the storm, Trauring said, “there was so much inclement weather we couldn’t get our live trucks on the air. We relied on phone coverage then got video in, then live shots. We didn’t go off until 12:05 a.m.”

The station also had live coverage from a helicopter, Trauring said.

“The aerial shots let viewers see how widespread the storm was,” he said.

Jonathan Mitchell, news director for WNWO, said his station’s “process began the day before” the storm hit.

“[Our morning meteorologist] Norm Van Ness came to me and said, ‘This could be a doozie.’ All the numbers were right where they needed to be for a horrible storm. We were prepared.”

Mitchell and his team met at 4 p.m. June 21 and decided to dispatch crews to “get in front of the storm,” he said. “We also had storm checkers calling sheriff departments, restaurants, etc., to take storm reports.”

When the first tornado warning came in, Mitchell said the station followed its own severe weather policy to stay on until the warning expired. “One of the touching points is that technology let us prepare for this. Fifteen years ago, we wouldn’t have been able to do that,” Mitchell said.

Mitch Jacob, news director for WTOL, said the station’s decision to cover the storm for the entire evening was the right one.

“When a storm impacts our immediate viewing area, we do continuous coverage,” he said. “Our job is to make sure our entire viewing area is taken care of.”

WTOL had the same concerns the other stations did.

“We had to make sure our crews were safe; there was a lot of lightning,” Jacob said. “But our crews came back in, and we did live reports.”

Each station reported receiving numerous e-mails and notes thanking them for their coverage.

“We even got a thank you from a guy on Pelee Island who said the Canadian stations weren’t covering the storm,” Mitchell said.

Jacob said, “Viewer response has been unbelievable,” Trauring said.

“We got a few complaints from people because it was the season premiere of ‘Big Brother.’ But, we’ve gotten more positive responses.”

The Greater Toledo Chapter of the American Red Cross has been working since the June 21 storm to stem the tide of homeowner need, said Kristen Cajka, the organization’s communications manager. By Monday morning, the Red Cross had helped 774 families, Cajka said.

“We’re still getting calls. Water damage in basements seems to be the biggest need.”

Fortunately, Cajka said, many people came forward to be trained as volunteers after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans last fall.

“We have about 50 volunteers and 10 staff working on this,” Cajka said, adding that Red Cross offices had extended hours over the weekend.

Cajka said working with United Way, Goodwill and the Salvation Army has been helpful.

“Our phones were out for about 24 hours, so we used the United Way 211 phone system. We’re all working together to make sure people are well-served,” she said.

Cajka emphasized Red Cross disaster services are “always free.” Her office has received reports of people posing as government and/or Red Cross workers asking people for money for services. But she stressed the Red Cross can always use donations.

“Disaster assistance is free because of generous donations,” Cajka said.

Clean-up kits are available from the Red Cross at the No. 14 fire station at Dorr Street and Reynolds Road, Cajka said.

“We’ve given out more than 700,” she said.

To become a volunteer or to make a donation, call (419) 329-2900.

Rain is in the forecast, but Toledoans can breathe a sigh of relief, as meteorologists call for weather much less severe in coming days than the area experienced June 21.

Norm Van Ness, meteorologist for WNWO, said though forecasts call for a chance of rain for most of the week, any storms or rainfall should be scattered and weaker than weather that pounded much of Northwest Ohio June 21 and 22. (See 5-day forecast on page A20).

“Even if we get a thunderstorm with a couple of inches of rain, we’re not looking at a big giant flood like we had last time,” Van Ness said. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to have the deep tropical moisture feed like we had last week.”

Ohio Gov. Bob Taft issued an emergency declaration June 26 for Lucas County due to the storms and flooding June 21 and 22. The county is now eligible for state assistance. Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron and Stark counties also received emergency declarations from Taft.

Disaster assistance, up to $1,500, is available through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for residents who qualify. Up to $750 in disaster assistance is also available for certain elderly and disabled individuals.

According to a press release, $1,500 in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is available to families that include a child or pregnant woman and have evidence of economic need. To be eligible for $750 in disaster assistance, those who do not qualify for TANF assistance must be 55 or older and childless, or receiving certain disability benefits, the release said. These individuals must provide evidence they were impacted by the severe weather and have an economic need to the county department of Job and Family Services, the release said.

The National Weather Service reported storms last week dumped 3.23 inches of precipitation at the Toledo Express Airport. Van Ness, however, said Doppler radar showed up to 6 inches or more of rain in certain spots in the metro-Toledo area. Tornadoes were reported in southeast Michigan, and 56 mph wind gusts and golf ball-size hail pelted northern Ohio, the weather service said.

FirstEnergy reported 193,432 lightning strikes in NW Ohio from 4 p.m. June 21 to 6 a.m. June 22.

“It hit us fast,’’ said Stan Cohara of Valley View, a Cleveland suburb. “It was like someone opened a big faucet.”

The storm June 21 spawned at least two tornadoes in Michigan, one near Manitou Beach and another near Lambertville, just north of the Ohio line. No injuries or major damage were reported, officials said, but about 40,000 people lost power.

Neighborhoods in Toledo’s west and southwest sections were still recovering due to floods that resulted from overflowing creeks and streams, said Mayor Carty Finkbeiner at a June 26 press conference. He said 100 volunteers, many of whom were city employees, worked June 24 to help clear refuse left behind from subsiding floodwaters.

Finkbeiner said volunteers loaded 115 tons of debris onto three city refuse trucks. That effort, combined with those of city street sweepers, accounted for 270 tons of debris.

The city will continue to help in cleanup efforts and assess damages through July 5, Finkbeiner said. Flood damage was significant enough, he said, to qualify Toledo for federal emergency assistance. At least 25 homes not covered by flood insurance with 40 percent structural damage must be reported to make the city eligible. Finkbeiner urged homeowners to first seek assistance from their insurance companies before turning to government sources for relief.

“Do not let those companies tell you that they can’t be of assistance to you,” he said, adding anyone with problems should contact the city’s law department.

City officials have a good assessment of flood damages, Finkbeiner said, but have no idea how much they will cost. He said a complete determination of how many homes met federal assistance requirements would likely be ready by June 29.

To combat future problems in neighborhoods affected by the June 21 storm, Finkbeiner said the city would examine an area near Crawford and Poinsetta avenues that flooded when Shantee Creek overflowed. He said the area suffered from significant floods twice in six years.

“Once I can understand,” Finkbeiner said. “Twice is once too many.”

Columbia Gas of Ohio spokesman Chris Kozak said 117 customers experienced interruption to their service due to the flooding and storms. He said service technicians worked June 24 and 25 to restore service.

Kozak said anyone still needing service restored should call 1 (800) 460-4332 to schedule the next available time for an appointment. He said before workers come out, water should be removed from basements and appliances should be dried and cleared of debris. He said technicians must have clear and safe access to all appliances before restoring service.

About 20,000 Toledo Edison customers lost power at the height of the June 21 storm, said Area Manager Meg Adams. She said crews worked around the clock to restore service. Workers from Pennsylvania assisted in the effort and all power was turned back on by June 24, she said.

Though rain caused water to spill over the banks of a 10-mile creek that cuts through Sylvania’s Highland Meadows Golf Club, the course is again in excellent condition and the LPGA’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic will go on as planned July 10-16, said tournament director Judd Silverman.

He said though parts of holes 2, 8, 10 and 18 were under water after the storms, no greens were damaged and the water has subsided within the creek’s banks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.