Guitarist Bobby Charles said he has always preferred to play rather than sing, so when it came time to cut a CD, naturally he would produce an instrumental. Charles released “Forever and a Day,” on Sept. 11; however, he emphasized the date has nothing to do with the 2001 terrorist attacks. In fact, his music is meant to be “relaxing yet interesting.”

Bobby Charles

“I never really considered myself as a singer and I’ve just always had much more enjoyment expressing my music instrumentally,” he said in a phone interview from his home in Ann Arbor, Mich. “I think sometimes words are limiting, and it was just something I wanted to do.”
A music therapist by day, Charles has practically lived music, tuning his guitar to play a wide variety of genres and venues over the years. He also studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, Calif. (now Musicians Institute) and Michigan State University. Before that, he and friends appeared in local nightclubs, such as the former Kips in west Toledo, playing rock ‘n’ roll until he was 23. At about age 12, Charles related, he and a friend were hanging around when they spontaneously decided to start a band, and two musical careers launched.
“One of us said – I don’t quite remember who said what – ‘You play guitar, and I’ll play drums,’ and that was what we did and we ended up playing music for quite a few years,” he said.
While in Los Angeles, Charles discovered bluegrass, adding to his repertoire. He said he tried to convey his L.A. experiences through the song, “Prairie Dog Companion” on the CD, resulting in the track breaking ranks with the rest of the tunes meant to inspire tranquility rather than a hoedown.
“That just kind of came out; I wasn’t planning on it, but it’s probably the one up-tempo song,” he explained. “I call it the black sheep of the CD. The vibe of the CD was really to create a relaxing yet still interesting CD.”
Other songs include, “Grace,” which plays like a soft ballad, “Morning Dance,” a guitar interlude with soft percussion accompaniment, and “Fly Away Jack,” an uplifting piece with subtle country undertones.
“I’m always writing and have ideas,” Charles said. “Of course, doing projects like this is a pretty big financial commitment, so I kind of want to get this thing off the ground, then I’ll start plugging away at another CD.”

They get asked the questions, “Where did you get your pirate shirts?” and “Were you really born on Feb. 29?” – and they love it.
Abby Powell, Tyler Thompson and Cory Clines are in the midst of 62 performances of an abridged version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera, “Pirates of Penzance.” Between March 30 and May 29, their crammed schedule will take them to kindergarten through sixth grade students all over Toledo, and even up to Michigan. Hired by the Toledo Opera as part of the Opera on Wheels program, these artists all say they enjoy the opportunity to teach youth about opera.
“I hate the idea that art and opera are for the elite,” Powell, a soprano, said. “Because of the audience, this is one of the best shows of my life.”
Loviah Aldinger, director of marketing and education for the Toledo Opera, said the program began in 1985 and each year she looks for a solid plot line and structure to keep the older students involved. Following the performance is a Q & A session.
“It’s a wonderful way for children to see an art form they are not familiar with and to hear the voice used as an instrument – with no microphone,” Aldinger said.
Donna Wipfli, the music teacher at Ottawa Hills Elementary School, hosted Opera on Wheels on April 17.
“I think there is nothing like real, live people who make their living by performing for students,” Wipfli said. “Students gain so much from musicians when they can see them, touch their costumes, interact with them.”
Clines, a bass-baritone, was asked to direct the opera one and a half weeks before the tour started. He went into a studio Downtown, taking notes and deciding how to stage the opera. Thompson and Powell arrived two and a half days before the show – very little time, they said, to stage a 45-minute production.
“The idea was to keep it as fun as possible – you’ll see it’s slap-sticky – but also fun for us,” Clines said.
The trio agreed they perform differently every day.
Thompson, a tenor who began singing opera when he was 20 years old, said he likes the opportunity to teach children that opera can be for all ages.
“Most kids see opera as being something that’s completely boring and only interesting for someone over the age of 75,” Thompson said.
Powell said one experience “almost made me cry” at the beginning of the tour. She said they were crunched for time and couldn’t answer a young girl’s question during the Q & A session. Undeterred, the young girl came up to Powell after, asked her about her dress and gave her a bouquet.
Reservations are made in June or September for the coming year. The cost is $500, and Aldinger said many schools receive financial assistance from donors or sponsors. For more information, call the Toledo Opera at (419) 255-7464.

I feel like I have been blasted back into the Stone Age. Not in the postnuclear holocaust sense, but in the cyber sense. My computer – my guide, my strength, my working partner – has been pirated by a character named Conficker. Conficker is a computer worm nastier and craftier than anything Bluebeard could have conjured while swashbuckling his way through the Caribbean.
Before I get into the details, lemme tell ya just how much this intrusion has me hating life at this moment. If you’re still using your computer as a novelty to play games, make buddies on Facebook and forward jokes on e-mail, you can’t relate. But if you use your computer daily to manage your company’s bank accounts, calculate the costs and value of deals and in general run your business, you feel my pain. It’s like running a delivery service and having some punk kids put sugar in your fleet’s gas tanks. The out-of-pocket repair expense isn’t huge, but you’re practically out of business for days. Your livelihood is sidelined.
The first thing Conficker does is – are you ready for this? – turns off your antivirus program so it can have its way with your computer. Talk about playing dirty. Then it behaves like the uninvited guest who walks into your house, grabs a beer from your fridge and sets himself up in your La-Z-Boy with your TV remote, watching what he wants to watch, turning your appliances on and off and unplugging your phone so that you can’t call the police and have him removed. The word “helpless” comes to mind.
Misery loves company, and I found I’m in good company. On Jan. 15, the French Air Force grounded all of its planes at several bases after Conficker blocked downloading of flight plans. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence was also hit. Members of England’s House of Commons were warned not to share flash drives lest Conficker spread. And I read that the computers at the University of Utah have been “Confickered.” Conficker is world traveler that’s globally despised.
My first thought was that this Conficker worm was the work of some “needs a life” geek who doles out French fries by day and creates malicious software in his parents’ basement by night. But the word around the computer water cooler is that it was created by the Chinese military. Whoever it was, I want to see them rooted out, then tarred and feathered. The investigative methods should start with waterboarding and get nastier from there. They should be charged for every computer their brainchild worm infected and every business affected. That’s 15 million. Here’s my list of charges:

• Felony Vandalism: You broke my stuff for fun. Under the Ohio Revised Code, you could be looking at two years hard time.
• Burglary: You entered my space with malicious intent. Add a maximum 10 years.
• Kidnapping: You barred me from getting help. Ten more years.
• Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO statute): You did all of this in collusion with others. That can increase your prison time exponentially. Now you’re really screwed.

Following my personal sentencing guidelines, the Conficker creator would be handed a concurrent sentence of 22 years for each of the 15 million computers affected as of January. That’s 330 million years behind bars. As one of the victims, I suppose I’d be satisfied with that.
Meanwhile, life goes on, or more accurately, reverts to a simpler, less productive time. I’ve been using pens and pencils. I’m looking through my stacks of business cards for phone numbers. I’ve even been reduced to using a typewriter (I found one) while my computer is in IT triage.
Once my computer is up and running, one of my first stops will be Facebook. I need to make some more really good friends among IT professionals who can help me keep this from happening again.

E-mail columnist Jim Harpen at letters@toledofreepress.com.

Three non-profit organizations held events showcasing their arts programming and honoring those who are dedicated to continuing the presence of art in the community.

WGTE Public Media held a special concert at Murphys’ Place to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the public radio show, Jazz Spectrum 91. The event also honored Fritz Byers, the show founder and host, who brought great jazz music to the region and educated the community on the art form.

ACGT's Marc Folk with his work at "Artomatic 419!"

The tribute concert and celebration featured the UT Jazz ensemble accompanied by renown saxophonist, Sonny Fortune. The event was made possible by support of several local businesses including: Murphy’s, University of Toledo, the Optical Shop and Toledo Audiology/Ear, Nose and Throat.

The Toledo Ballet’s “Révérence” gala celebrated 70 years of dance at the school and in the community. The special event also honored Marie Bollinger Vogt, founder of the Toledo Ballet. In 1939, Vogt started the dance school and ballet company, which has touched the lives of tens of thousands of young dancers as well as countless community members through performance and education programs.

The anniversary of the Toledo Ballet was marked by well-deserved praise, commendations and proclamations from government officials. Perhaps the most distinguished accomplishment is that the Toledo Ballet has not missed a Nutcracker performance in its entire 70 year history. This makes the company’s performance the longest running annual performance of the Nutcracker in the nation.

“It was Marie’s resolve and ability to overcome any impediments that kept those productions uninterrupted from year to year,” said Bob Bell, president and CEO of the Toledo Symphony.

Révérence chairwoman, Condessa Croninger said that the event raised an estimated $57,000 which will be used to start a special endowment fund to honor the legacy of Vogt to perpetuate the legacy of dance in our community.

The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo held the third Artomatic 419. The event is an opportunity for local artists, in all different stages of their careers, to share their talents, new ideas, current projects and artistic collaborations within the community. This is a free event for artists as well as patrons of the arts.

Generous individuals and businesses sponsor the grassroots event making it possible and keeping the admission and exhibition space free. There were 20 companies providing cash and in kind support of the event including: the Oliver House, Markey’s Audio Visual, and Above the Shop Studios. Artomatic 419 has two more open Saturday event dates, April 25 and May 2. Visit artomatic.org for more information.

Christine Senack is a Toledo-based consultant helping non-profit organizations, businesses and individuals work smarter together for the greater good of our community. On occasion she also presents the TMZ Report on FOX Toledo News First at 4. Connect with her on www.facebook.com or follow at www.twitter.com/csenack

Upcoming Events

May 2 Paw Hoorah. Enjoy cocktails and your gourmet grazing delights while bidding on hundreds of silent auction items at. Proceeds benefit Planned Pethood’s low-cost spay/neuter programs. Tickets are $60 with a cash bar. Country club casual attire. Call (419)826-fixx or visit plannedpethood.org for more information.

May 16 Raise Some Cash. Back for a second year, this event is organized by members of Augsburg Lutheran Church to benefit the Feed Your Neighbor pantry in the 43612 zipcode. The will be held at the Blarney and features several popular local bands, and each act is slated to perform at least one song by Johnny Cash. Casual attire. $5 cover charge. For more information call 419.410.1117.

In “The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It,” a quirky cast of characters performs William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” to an “imaginary audience.” Since the play calls for thirty-three different parts, and there are only seven actors, the Curate (Bill Toth) has the actors play many different roles. This play is more about the characters’ antics than their attempt at “As You Like It.” As soon as the play began, the actors induced chortles from the audience. As Rosalind, the stage director, the chorus, and a deer, Sarah Wurzinger was riotous.
When Celia (Alisha Bond) asked the Curate how the ensemble would do the show since Rosalind was crazy, Wurzinger smiled and nodded in agreement. Wurzinger’s acknowledgement of being “off her rocker” made the audience guffaw in amusement. When Wurtzinger smiled and waved to the “imaginary audience,” the actual audience could see that Rosalind was as kooky as she seemed. When the stage director told the audience that Celia and Rosalind meet to discuss “life, love and professional wrestling!” Wurtzinger’s theatrical pronunciations and gestures sent the audience rollicking with laughter. When the stage director asked the audience “Did that scene seem irrelevant to you?” Wurtzinger’s upbeat tone had the audience falling off their seats. As Celia, Alisha Bond was hysterical.
When Celia was literally dragged by the Curate to be in the production, the way Bond cried “I want to go home!” made the audience chortle. Once well into “As You Like It,” Celia would put on a huge brown wig to play “Phoebe.” The transition from Celia to Phoebe was instantaneous. As Phoebe, Bond would speak with a strong southern accent. This southern accent was comical to hear in Shakespearean dialogue. While wearing this wig, Bond would theatrically wink and smile at Audrey (Lydia Clark). Bond’s flirtatious depiction of Phoebe made the audience cackle hysterically. As the clown, John Toth was also risible.
While the other actors began performing the play, the clown played “Wipe Out” on an acoustic guitar. Toth’s grin at their annoyance quickly made the clown a lovable character. As a wrestler who fights against Orlando (Jon Masters), Toth spoke in a deep voice to imitate professional wrestlers. When Toth loudly screamed “This is Shakespeare!” in one of his wrestling moves, he sent the audience aching with laughter. When the clown asked nearby characters “do you believe this?” upon seeing Oliver (Nathan Aschliman) profess his love for Aliena (Alsiha Bond), Toth’s sarcastic tone sent the audience howling. The technical elements were also executed well.
The setting was an empty stage with three chests of props and outfits in them. The props included a large brown wig, a wrestler’s mask and belt, among other items. There were tall movable trees, which were used for the forest of Arden. At the beginning of the second act, orchestra music played. This music was comically ironic, since it would normally be heard at a professional or well-prepared production of “As You Like It,” and the characters’ production was neither. A red spotlight was put on Amiens (Nathan Aschliman) when he attempted Jaques’ “All the world’s a stage” monologue. This red light symbolized the pressure the actor who gives this monologue unavoidably experiences.
While this play is farcical, it has a poignant message.
“The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It” is about characters who are struggling to memorize their lines, have serious flaws, and are wondering about who they are. In other words, they are just like us. Each of us has “lines” we are struggling to understand, and each person has a role to play in the world. This play marked Jeremy Meier’s directorial debut at Owens Community College. If this production is any indication of future student productions at Owens Community College, the college’s theatre department has a bright future.

In the way to work the other day, I had a terrible headache so I stopped at the Wal-Mart near the expressway exit with the intent of getting a bottle of aspirin.
The aisle containing the aspirin is situated not too far from the automotive section, so naturally I found myself side-tracked down the row after row of automotive-related products. I believe it was in the second aisle of engine oil additives that the epiphany hit me. Granted this sudden realization of the greater meaning of automotive sciences may have been aided by the numbed state of my intellect brought on by the pounding headache. Nonetheless, it was an epiphany just the same, and that clarity of meaning still remains with me long after the aspirin has quelled my headache.
I believe that, perhaps for the first time in my career, I became aware of the vast quantities of additives that are available for our automotive systems. Most of these automotive oil, fuel, transmission and coolant additives claim to solve the various mechanical abnormalities that plague our vehicles.
If your car lacks power, there are products on those shelves that will restore your engine’s lost power and even give you a 20 to 30 percent increase above that amount your vehicle had when it was new. Is fuel mileage an issue? Just pick a can of miracle juice off the shelf and, depending on how much money you want to spend, you can get an extra three to 10 miles per gallon. If your car is running rough you don’t need to waste money on a technician. You can buy a Tune-Up in a can for just $8.95. The deluxe Tune-Up can be had for an additional $5. Don’t worry about your transmission slipping. There are several cans of Trans Glue that will fixer-up for ya!

Just dump a can in the transmission and all will be well. The magic glue will only set you back $19.95 for the first treatment or $34.95 for the complete kit. This is far less money than the local transmission shop is going to charge.
I am not sure why I had not noticed them before. Perhaps I was aware of them subconsciously but, similar to an annoying ache in our bodies, I’d simply deny their existence.
Whatever my reasons were before my awakening, I can no longer ignore that there are huge numbers of additives available to the public. Nearly all of those products have absolutely no value whatsoever and are a waste of hard-earned money. The unfortunate reality is they may damage your engine or fuel system irreparably. Instead of a minor transmission repair, you might end up with a major overhaul as a result of their use. The sheer number of different products on the market stuns me even as I write this column.
The claims that most of these product manufacturers make is pretty amazing. “You can get up to 20 percent increase in horsepower” or “a 10 to 25 percent increase in fuel efficiency” are just a couple of the ads you will find on the product packaging.
In some cases, the packaging that these miracle products come in must surely cost more to produce than the products themselves. The scientific evidence found on many of the products must rival that presented within Scientific American magazine. At least it appears that way to a reader who is unaware of the ridiculous claims being made. As I read the evidence presented on the packaging, I found myself beginning to believe much of the hype myself. The techno babble makes it sound so convincing.
Many of these products have endorsements from some pretty big names from within the automotive industry. I am reminded that Tiger Woods is paid millions of dollars to wear Nike clothing. Do you really think these celebrities are endorsing these products out of the graciousness of their hearts?
Nonetheless, regardless of the endorsements and nonscientific evidence, I managed to leave the store without so much as a single purchase of these miracle products. I did, however, buy that bottle of aspirin that I now needed more than ever.
I wrote down several of the names of those products before I left the store and began my research almost immediately upon returning to my office. What I found, I hope, will astound you.
I now know that many of these products have been tested either by independent testing labs hired by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In nearly every case, no enhanced engine performance or fuel efficiency was noticed by the testing facilities, and in many cases, the exact opposite occurred. In some of the products, engine damage and catastrophic engine failure occurred as a result of their use.

My research showed that the FTC had brought legal action against many familiar name-brand products, and many unfamiliar products as well, regarding their claims and in many cases had settled for millions of dollars in damages out of court. It is clear that the billions of dollars being made off these products each year could warrant such large cash settlements by the additive manufacturers.
The simple fact is that engine oil manufacturers spend huge amounts of money on research and development of their respective products. The balance of chemicals within their oils is tightly controlled from one batch of oil to the next. The primary reason is that the crude stock from which these high-tech oils are refined varies dramatically from one shipment of crude to another. Therefore, each of the oil manufacturers finds themselves continuously adjusting the mixture in order to achieve the desired concentrations of specific chemical ingredients based on the crude stock they receive.
Adding an aftermarket oil additive upsets the balance of these oils and in a worst-case scenario can end up creating a fluid that very rapidly destroys your engine. Unfortunately, in many cases, the results of the additives adverse effects cannot be immediately seen. The integrity of your fuel and oil systems deteriorates gradually over time.
Fuel additives have the same inherent problems. If you really want to clean your injectors, try upgrading the fuel you purchase for a short period of time or have them professionally cleaned by a competent technician with proper equipment. Adding one of the many snake oils on the market could end up costing you major amounts of money.
I realize that there are many car buffs out there that have used some of these products for years with varying degrees of success. They may tell you I am crazy and this or that product really works. Unfortunately, legitimate scientific research does not support their claims.
This is not to say that all additives are bad. There are a few legitimate products on the market that were designed for specific purposes. You will find that those products do not make unrealistic claims, and their manufacturers strongly urge you to use their products only as they direct and usually only for a short period of time.
Please remember that most of the FTC law suits came about because huge fleets had used these products in an attempt to increase fuel mileage or engine longevity only to find that the exact opposite occurred. The snake oils and elixirs cost those fleets millions of dollars in repairs and lost revenues.
I hope Toledo Free Press readers are not caught up by all these wild claims and hype.

Nick Shultz is an instructor of Automotive Technologies at Owens Community College. He is an arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau who specializes in cases involving the Ohio and Michigan Lemon laws. He is a certified master automotive technician by ASE, General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Shultz, a Toledo native, will take questions at letters@toledofreepress.com.

Michael Stolarczyk first set foot in Toledo’s Amtrak Station on a cold and rainy April 21. He walked around the waiting area with his hands behind his back and observed the little details of the building, taking special interest in the 1950s-style benches.
He was impressed.

Michael Stolarczyk

Still in his first month as president of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Stolarczyk had already visited the other major Port Authority sites: the Toledo Express Airport, facilities and docks. And in his mind, he is still formulating a goal for the Port Authority.
“If I had any goal, it would be that we got to capitalize on some of the natural things that we have here,” Stolarczyk said. “I mean, it’s a confluence of three major highways, a confluence of three major rail carriers, a fantastic airport for not only passenger travel but also one of the largest cargo lines in the United States. I think that it’s impressive that Toledo is in the top 50 cargo hubs in the whole world.”
Stolarczyk said he wants to accentuate the assets Toledo already has.
Avoiding the “pie in the sky”
It’s no secret the economy is declining, but Stolarczyk believes in remaining flexible during the downturn and gearing up for it to bounce back.
“I think it’s the right time to take some aggressive steps when the economy is down so that when it bounces back we’ll be ahead of the curve,” he said.
Part of that, he said, is to be openminded to new forms of business.
“It’s not necessarily what’s manufactured here back in the day, or what is consumed here, I think what the Port Authority really wants to do is create a platform where whatever transits here, that we touch during the transit, and we generate income and we generate jobs,” Stolarczyk said.
Stolarczyk said there’s no reason Toledo cannot be like Columbus or Minneapolis – especially considering i’s proximity to Canada.
He also believes creating jobs in the city is a reasonable goal – as long as people avoid “pie in the sky” ideas.
“But we have to be careful to separate the hype from the reality,” he said. “I think it’s very important to stay grounded in reality.”
The support
Part of Stolarczyk’s positive attitude toward creating more jobs, and his ability to stay grounded in reality, comes from his parents, he said.
Three of his four grandparents are first-generation Polish immigrants – one grandmother was second-generation. His grandfather was a coal miner on the Ohio River, and Stolarczyk said much of his work ethic came from his mother, “a coal miner’s daughter.”
Stolarczyk has been married to his wife Pamela for 16 years and raised three children – all born in different countries. His eldest son was born in Hong Kong while Stolarczyk was working for Maersk Hong Kong Limited. His second son was born in Danberry, Conn., his only child with a U.S. birth certificate, and his daughter was born in Prague, Czech Republic.
Due to his work over the years, the family has lived in eight different houses, he said. His wife and children are now in Westerville, near Columbus, finishing the school year and getting the house ready for the real estate market in May. They hope to be relocated to Toledo in time for the school year.
But having lived in Asia and Europe has challenged the family in many ways.
“Coming back to the states in 2004 was probably our most difficult transition. I think we’re still having the effects of that transition. We left in 1999, pre-9/11, and we came back to a country that simply was not the one we left.”
He leaves Toledo, and his apartment at Commodore Perry Apartments, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Stolarczyk said he spends time supporting his kids’ school and sporting endeavors over the weekend and leaves for Toledo at 4 a.m. Monday – making it back to Toledo in time for the weekly meetings at 7:30 a.m. at the Port Authority.
The decision
Port Authority Chairman Bill Carroll said he believes Stolarczyk will continue to move the Port Authority forward and use the momentum it has from recent stimulus package funding.
“He seemed to have the enthusiasm that we liked and the experience we wanted. I think it was really important that he wanted the job,” Carroll said. “He’s a very enthusiastic individual, and I think we need that type of leader at the Port Authority.”
Stolarczyk said he faced an “arduous” six-month interview process before taking the position March 13. But he likes the challenge because he said he recognized his outsider status and believes he will have more perspective to create solutions for some of Toledo’s problems.
“When you are inside of something for so long, being a business man in Toledo, being a bank in Toledo, being in the Port Authority, … you take it for granted and you think it’s just one thing,” he said. “But coming from the outside in, it’s just amazing what we have to offer and how it probably, for whatever reason, not being negative but really more forward-looking, it just hasn’t been packaged or utilized yet.”
Stolarczyk is meeting on an individual basis for introductory meetings with Toledoans involved with the Port Authority – from police officers at the airport to city council members.
“I looked at all these pieces of the puzzle, and they just need to be put together in the right way,” he said.
The pieces
The Port Authority, and now Stolarczyk, works with aviation, maritime and development in Toledo, said Matt Sapara, director of development for the Port Authority. IRONHEAD Marine Inc. have a new high-bay facility at the Toledo Shipyard; Midwest Terminals of Toledo International, Cedar Point Developers, Amtrak and dozens of other companies partner with the Port Authority, Sapara said.
Stolarczyk said the Port Authority is also waiting to receive stimulus package funding and plotting how it will be used.
One place is the Midwest Terminals, where Stolarczyk pointed out cranes from the 1940s, sea walls to be reinforced and clean up at the dockyard.
He also hopes to research energy efficiency and discover the results of the Port Authority’s solar field near the Toledo Express Airport, which will produce two megawatts of power. Sapara said the Port will also put up a meteorological tower by the end of summer at Midwest Terminals. The tower will be a test to see if windmills can be used at the location for wind energy.
Developments are also key to the Port Authority. It invested $500,000 in 100 acres of land to develop in Oregon and hope to make 20 percent off their investment. Thirteen acres of the land is already developed. Sapara said there is a 350-acre chunk of land at the south end of the airport after they bought up residential land. The land remains mostly undeveloped, but Sapara said people are interested in developing it.
“We sift a lot of information and probably on a daily basis we have people connect with the Port Authority,” Sapara said. “We get offers and ideas on the hour every day. It’s about how we evaluate the viability, how we evaluate the organizations that present the opportunities.”
The hope
Stolarczyk said the goal is for the honeymoon to never end. Meaning, he wants to perform his job well, help the community, grow the Port Authority and keep the “honeymoon” feel of beginning a new job going.
“I would say that, if we do what is intended, i.e., speak with one voice, brand ourselves, focus on incubating businesses and jobs and the transportation node here – all forms of it – I’ll be here for a long time,” he said. “I can tell you that if I don’t personally accomplish those goals, the community and the board will tire.”

A record crowd of more than 13,000 people filled Fifth Third Field for the Mud Hens home opener on April 16.
You would have never known it.
I say “people” and not “fans” because of what I witnessed throughout the game.
Granted, there were baseball purists in attendance, no doubt, with pencil and scorecard in hand, following the action intently.
Then, you had the social butterflies who fluttered around the stadium as if the Inverness Golf Club moved Downtown.
I made the joke the day before that I was going to count how many “fans” were texting, instead of actually watching the game.
By the time I left in the eighth inning to head back to NBC24, I only wished they were texting. Maybe they would have actually been in their seats or in the outfield picnic area soaking up the sunshine.
So many people were inside the upper deck suite area, you would have thought we were in the midst of a two-hour rain delay.
Walking through the concourse was an obstacle course full of bodies. I was making so many cuts back and forth to avoid crashing into Capt. Oblivious, I felt like a wide receiver running a route to get open down field.
Now, I am all for having a good time and a few cold ones, but this day is not about you.
As much as the person you were talking to loves to hear the latest edition of “How much ya bench” or how your portfolio is surviving during tough times, save it for the backyard barbecue. This is Opening Day.
This is a day for you to be the 10th player in the lineup. This is your chance to cheer on your home team in a city that hasn’t had a lot to cheer about in recent months.
The Mud Hens players feed off of the crowd and the excitement they bring to the ballpark. That’s where the term home field advantage comes from. How are they suppose to do that with you inside surrounded by 500 more people who could be adding to that advantage?
Let’s say, for instance, everyday jobs were treated like professional sports. Every day at the law office, thousands of fans show up to support you. They are chanting, “File that brief, file that brief,” or “Thank you lawyers, thank you lawyers!” After a while, you start to feed off of it.
Then, right when a big case comes your way, your fans, your home office advantage disappears to the break room, and they are drinking all your coffee.
That’s what I saw on Opening Day at Fifth Third Field. Hundreds of fans nose deep in a frosty beverage, paying zero attention to the game from the suite concourse, while the work was being done on the field.
Just remember who made this setting a social party again. You think Ned Skeldon Stadium would have been a beehive of activity on Opening Day with a franchise on the verge of another 100-loss season.
The Mud Hens success over the past seven seasons has brought the party back Downtown. Let’s not waste the winning when we have it.
There is major league talent on this roster, and you are watching it for a discounted price. The Mike Hessmans, Ryan Raburns and Brent Clevlens will not be in the Glass City forever.
All I’m asking is that you pass the love onto these players when you are at the game. The beer won’t run out. Your neighbor will still be there to brag about little Jimmy’s 4.0 GPA. And let’s face it, nobody’s portfolio is strong these days.
So, sit back for a few hours, let the Mud Hens do the work and let the sun hit your face.
It’s baseball season in Toledo, and the fans are just as important as the players.
Now, I just have to learn how to text message while wearing a foam finger.

Ryan Fowler is the weekend sports anchor for NBC24. He can be reached at bgsualum03@hotmail.com, and be sure to follow him and Adam Meyer at http://twitter.com/adamryan419.

During the past six months I’ve said it again and again, but this just needs repeating: This current pain in the market is much closer to being over than most people think. The markets are seeing prices that remain irrationally low and what we see now is a buying opportunity that only comes along every 30 years or so.
In fact, this same claim is being made by a growing number of financial professionals, many of whom were saying a year ago that credit was too lose and the housing market was ready to cave in. Now these same professionals are saying that things will get better, and sooner rather than later.
In fact, with surprisingly positive economic numbers coming out, it’s becoming apparent that the prime reason the markets aren’t already improving is that, unfortunately, fear is getting the best of people. They remain convinced that the Dow is going to zero and the world is coming to an end. And yet more than 90 percent of the U.S. population is still employed and, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Gross Domestic Product is less than 6 percent off its peak set late last year. The fact is that, as bad as things are, the current situation isn’t as dire as many previous crises.
At this point, the advice we hope to convey to readers how important it is that they not hide from this opportunity. We have said before and still believe that we are about to witness one of the greatest shifts of wealth in our countries history. Don’t get caught on the sidelines. Speak with a financial professional who is knowledgeable and trustworthy so that you can take advantage of the coming recovery.
Recently, attention has been drawn to automotive retirees and the risk they see of losing their pensions if their former employers go into bankruptcy. Unfortunately this is a very real risk for a lot of people, not just automotive retirees, but anyone drawing a pension, including public employees. We strongly encourage them to get informed on the subject. In fact, it was recently discovered that the State Teachers Retirement Systems of Ohio, the pension fund for Ohio teachers, is in terrible financial shape.
So please, if you or someone that you know is in this or a similar situation, please talk to someone knowledgeable and independent of the former employer. It’s very important that this person, preferably a financial professional, be an independent third party that can provide an objective opinion on the former employer and its likelihood of surviving the remainder of this recession.
Dock David Treece is a stockbroker licensed with FINRA. He works for Treece Financial Services Corp., www.TreeceInvestments.com. The above information is the express opinion of Dock David Treece and should not be used without outside verification.

As any former film photographer knows, taking digital pictures is easy in comparison. It’s because of this “ease” that we’re left stranded “after capture.” Whether the issue is a dozen memory cards full of images (because it’s easier to buy a new card than download the old) or you haven’t gotten around to learning how to use photo-editing software to correct the redeye.

Having so many pictures leads to a couple of problems (none of which would be proclaimed by most film enthusiasts). The first is a management problem-what do I do with all these pictures? And, second-a quality problem-what do I do with all the pictures that are not quite right (probably because I have not taken the time to read the 200-page manual that came with my camera).

So what is one to do to manage and fix all these images?

If you use a Mac, you probably have iPhoto, which comes with most new Macs (this is what I usually use). But the majority of computer users have Windows, so what is available for them — beyond that folder called “Pictures?”

Say hello to Picasa, which solves both of these problems-it is a photo management system to organize your images as well as a photo manipulation tool to quickly change, or better yet, improve your images.

Until recently, Picasa was only available for PC/Windows users. Now, newer Mac users (with Intel-based processors) can also break free from Apple, if they desire, and go with Picasa beta… or use both!

So what’s so exciting about Picasa (besides the aptly cute name)? Here’s a run-down, which Google summarizes with – Organize, Edit, Create, Share:

• Free! – As with most of my favorite tech tools, Picasa is free. It’s from Google and the PC/Win version has been fairly popular for a few years now;
• Organize (see Image 1) – By creating folders by subjects or dates, you can easily manage your images (Picasa creates dated folders automatically, where pictures are displayed as small thumbnail images for quick viewing);
  

  Image 1

• Edit (see Image 2) – With a click of a button or simple sliders and tools, you can retouch photos, remove redeye, create emotion with sepia, black & white, or soft focus, or try the one-click “I’m feeling lucky” for general light and color adjustments; there’s also now a text tool for you to add titles right onto your images and even a “crop suggestor” that gives you options to pick from;
• Create – Now that you have all these amazing pictures, it’s easy to create photo collages, email snapshots, send away for prints (or print your own), books, make movies (share to YouTube or elsewhere), web albums, photo CDs, slideshows, geo-tagging, photo gifts, and more! (But note that the books, send-away prints, and gifts are not free – but the convenience is possibly well worth the cost!); and
  

  Image 2

• Share – If you so desire, you can upload selected pictures to Picasa Web Albums for online viewing; with a click of the Share button and a few selections, you can make friends, family, or colleagues aware of your latest happenings or artistic creations (but private or public is your choice)

Just like any other free tool or one that uses web-based technologies (that the all-mighty Google is famous for) there are some things to be aware of or possibly concerned with, depending on your needs, preferences, or level of paranoia. The ability to post pictures online can be both a blessing and a curse. Be sure to think carefully about what you make public on the Web Albums as well as share publicly with others. And, as with any online technology, even though you may select “private,” the fact that it’s hosted on the web makes it “possibly-not-as-private-as-you-might-think-or-want”-just be careful!

As a “mostly Mac” user, I have always liked iPhoto-it’s not perfect, it’s certainly not Photoshop or Lightroom, and likewise, neither is Picasa. But for Windows users, Picasa is well worth the free price tag, if at the very least, to be used as an organized dumping ground for all those digital pictures!

Now if you can only find the time to get all those pictures into Picasa! Good luck and set them free!

For the visual learners, here are some videos:

Video of Picasa 3 for Windows XP/Vista (5 min.)

Video of Picasa beta for Mac (2.5 min.)