The Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic (JFOCC) provides a week of great sports entertainment, a variety of social events and a much-needed economic boost to the region.
However, beyond all of this, the true mission of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic is to raise money for the children’s charities of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The tournament has successfully met that mission throughout its 25-year history.
“During the past 25 years, the JFOCC has given back $6.2 million to more than 100 charities in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan,” said Judd Silverman, tournament director.
Charities are chosen through a highly competitive grant process. According to the application for funds, the JFOCC grantees seek charities that meet the emerging needs of youth with innovative programs that have a high probability of solving community problems.
One of this year’s chosen charities is Mobile Meals, which is venturing beyond its well-known service of providing home delivery of meals to the elderly. Mobile Meals is receiving JFOCC funds for its new Weekender Program.
“Mobile Meals of Toledo is thrilled to be a part of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic this year with our new Weekender Program,” said Carolyn Fox, director of development. “The Weekender Program provides food to children who would otherwise receive inadequate nourishment over the weekend.”
The Weekender Program serves the children in three inner-city elementary schools giving each student a bag of food to take home every Friday afternoon during the school year, thus supplementing their weekend nutrition.
Another charity selected to receive funds from the tournament proceeds is the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. According to Marc Folk, executive director, funds received from the JFOCC will be directed to the Young Artist at Work Program (YAAW).
YAAW was started 15 years ago and provides summer employment to area youth. The projects range from dance projects to murals. Among the many projects led by professional artists, JFOCC funds will be used to underwrite the creation of 10 benches to be placed in the Arts Zone in Downtown. The creative and visually interesting benches will give directional signage to galleries and amenities in the Arts Zone.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Jamie Farr Tournament,” Folk said. “Given the economy and cuts in funding, this specific program would not happen this year without their support.”
Charities selected for 2009 are Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, Central City Ministry, Easter Seals Northern Ohio, Gabby’s Ladder, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Mobile Meals of Toledo, Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation, Rusty’s House and YWCA of Greater Toledo.

Additionally, the Ronald McDonald House has been the tournament’s permanent charity. In 1995, the JFOCC began funding a scholarship program for college students as well.

Christine Senack is a Toledo-based consultant helping nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals work smarter for the greater good of our community. On occasion, she presents the TMZ report on FOX Toledo News First at 4. Connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Upcoming events
July 11: Kickball Tournament.  Have some old school fun while raising funds for the Miracle League of Northwest Ohio. Visit mlnwo.org for more information.
July 18: A Midsummer Night Up On The Roof.  Watch the sun set and the moon rise while enjoying dancing, a grazing buffet, cash bar and other activities. The event will benefit the youth programs of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, including the Summer Reading Program. Casual cocktail attire. Tickets are $75.  For more information, call (419) 259-5123.

Comedian Tom Dreesen and singing impressionist Scott Record will entertain at The Hylant Group Gala Dinner and Show scheduled to start at 6 p.m. June 30, according to a press release.
The gala is being billed as “An Evening of Laughter” and will be hosted at the SeaGate Convention Centre.
This will be Dreesen’s third time performing as part of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic — the gala being one of the signature events. Dressen performed at the first and 20th year of the golf classic.
“I love making people laugh, so every time I go on the stage, it’s exciting,” Dreesen said.
Dreesen appeared 61 times on “The Tonight Show” and appears on the “Late Show with David Letterman” every three months. He has hosted the show in Letterman’s absence.
“Hosting the ‘Letterman Show’ was fun, but obviously touring with Frank Sinatra for 14 years was truly exciting,” he said.
Dreesen prepares before a performance by researching the community so he can relate to the audience.
“I’m a veteran standup comedian. I have a lot of material in my brain,” he said. “It always helps any comedian to do research about the area he’s going to appear.”
In September, Dreesen will celebrate his 40th year as a performer.
“I’ve worked with the greatest names,” he said. “All of them have unique personalities.”     `
Some of those names include Elton John, Johnny Carson, Smokey Robinson, Jay Leno, Bon Jovi, and Sammy Davis Jr. Although Dreesen is a veteran performer, he still gets excited before a show.
“It’s nice to have a little excitement before a show … I don’t think of it as nerves. I think of it as excitement and anticipation — looking forward to going out there.”
Other than performing, Dreesen has a passion for golf and is looking forward to the Jamie Farr event.
“Jamie Farr is a friend and has been a friend for years,” he said.
Dreesen grew up with eight brothers and sisters and helped support his family by shining shoes and carrying bags for golfers.
“I grew up raggedy poor,” he said. “Golf holds a special place in my heart … I have a fondness for golf events.”
The other gala performer will be Record, a singing comedy impressionist. His versatile acts have set him up to be one of the most requested show headliners in the cruise entertainment industry, a press release stated.
Tickets to the gala, which are $235, can be purchased by calling (419) 531-3277. Proceeds will benefit 12 Toledo area children charities, according to Judd Silverman, tournament director.
The evening beings at 6 p.m. with a cash bar cocktail hour and silent auction and gala. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. with the entertainment set for 8:30 p.m.

I was surprised when my husband decided to forgo a lazy Father’s Day at home and, instead, suggested that we all check out the new Nature’s Neighborhood children’s area at the zoo. A warm and sunny holiday Sunday didn’t seem like the ideal time to take in a new sight for a crowd-leery family such as ours. Still, Father’s Day is one of the very few days of the year I feel especially obligated to keep my two cents to myself in order to prove to our children that Dad really should be able to do what he wants on his special day.
I have been to The Toledo Zoo more times than I can count, and over my lifetime I have enjoyed watching its tremendous evolution. My earliest memory of the zoo involves staring in amazement at a mountainous wonder comparable in size and detail to Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest, yet standing smack dab in an otherwise flat Northwest Ohio. It was curiously teeming with real mountain lions prowling its crests and slopes … except that it wasn’t. My child’s eye memory has failed me in part, as in reality I was staring at a much lesser mountain-like rock pile stocked only with meandering sheep and monkeys rather than mountain lions. I was amazed nonetheless.
I have no trouble remembering the city’s excitement in welcoming the Chinese pandas for their much-anticipated summer of 1988 visit. My family caught a glimpse of Le Le and Nan Nan the same way we caught a glimpse of the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives Building, by begging the gatekeeper to let us take just a quick peek in spite of our last-minute, closing-time arrival. Thankfully, we were able to sneak in our panda fix before their return trip to China, as the commemorative McDonald’s mugs bearing their images just couldn’t do justice to the actual creatures.
Thanks to the incredible changes at the zoo over the years and its playful mixing of the old with the new, I have experienced the fear of being eaten and the joy of eating both under the same roof, yet decades apart, in what was once the Lion House, but is now the Carnivore Cafe.  I have had the pleasure of witnessing the zoo’s residents move on up from tenement housing to luxury, open-air living. I have seen the old train and tunnel step aside for a bigger and better zoo experience. Though, I have to admit, mainly due to personal nostalgia, I preferred the old ones to the new.
It is odd for me to think that my children will have no memory of the zoo train I grew up loving or the thrill of the helicopter ride, or that feeling that someone or something may leap out at any moment from the shadows of the half-magnificent, half-terrifying underground parking lot tunnel. What we no doubt will remember together is the Father’s Day our family first stepped foot in Nature’s Neighborhood.
As we arrived at the threshold of Nature’s Neighborhood for the first time, my excitement surely matched the excitement I felt the first time I marveled at the Hippoquarium or stood against the glass as a polar bear rubbed up against it only inches away on the other side.  Nature’s Neighborhood immediately revealed itself to be the next best thing in The Toledo Zoo’s long-standing, star-studded lineup.
I admit that my memory of the old children’s area is somewhat negatively tainted by an incident involving gravel, blood, goat feces and my very young son. Yet, my appreciation for the new area goes far beyond the chance to leave a single bad memory behind. Watching my children splash around in The Play Stream, dress up as bees in The Forest and climb to new heights in The Tree House quickly convinced me that we have years of great Toledo Zoo memories ahead of us.
Nature’s Neighborhood is the kind of place I would see online and hope to take my children to one day.  How lucky we are to have such a grand addition to an already first-rate institution right here in our own backyard.  Our neighborhood no doubt owes a great big welcome to Nature’s Neighborhood, for we will  be friends for years to come.

Shannon Szyperski and her husband Michael are raising three children in Sylvania. E-mail her at letters@toledofreepress.com.

Can you name the five wealthiest people in the world? Or the last three Heisman trophy winners? Or two Nobel Prize winners? Even though they’re the best in their fields, few of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

Now, name a teacher who had a positive influence when you were in school, or a friend who helped you through a difficult time. An important part of an entrepreneur’s spirit is a willingness to help others, even in small ways that, at the time don’t seem like much.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Anita Roddick, the founder of a global cosmetics business called The Body Shop, Limited. “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.”

And speaking of small things, almost a hundred years ago an Ohio family business was started that made candy for dummies. Actually, they made lollipops called, well you know…

The Spangler Candy Company now identifies itself as The Dum Dums Company, the nation’s second largest candy cane, lollipop and circus peanut manufacturer, and the 18th largest confectionery manufacturer in the U.S. With an accounting and finance background, the company’s CEO developed strategic review and evaluation programs that kept the family business on the grow. As they say, good things often come in small packages.

So what do small packages have to do with farm animals? Nothing. I’m just looking for a transition into this next true story about an entrepreneur named Beaver who made it big with pigs and bunnies, but I can’t think of one. I’m seeing 85 and partly cloudy out my window and I just can’t seem to concentrate today. The Summertime Blues by Eddie Cochran keeps running through my head. Perhaps I need something cold.

Anyway, in 1984, Donald Beaver filled his wife’s panty hose with cat litter. Really. This is true. The snake-like device was wrapped around a leaky factory machine to act as a diaper. Mr. Beaver named it the “Pig” absorbent sock. From that prototype came the New Pig line of environmental spill cleanup products.

Mr. Beaver won Business Week’s best new industrial product of the year award for another cleaning device, an electrostatic dust cloth called the Dust Bunny. Like Casey Stengel used to say, if you don’t believe me, you can look it up!

One of the things I like best about summer is cooking up my family-famous “Uncle Mike’s Baked Beans”. One of my ingredients is just the right amount of tomato soup which I also use in my autumn recipe for “Uncle Mike’s Sloppy Joes”. I actually tried to start a frozen sloppy joe food company once and … well, that’s another story for another time.

I use canned tomato soup. Cans have been around for a long time. Now made of lightweight aluminum, the original tin can was born around 200 years ago, exactly when nobody seems to know for sure.

In 1869, a Philadelphia produce agent who was convinced there was a bright future for canned foods bought into a Camden cannery and started packing little tins with mincemeat. By 1898 the entrepreneur from Philly had bought out his partner, developed a new product line and introduced the now familiar red and white label inspired by Cornell’s football uniforms.

He believed it then and they’re still saying it today, Joseph “Campbell’s soup is good food.”

By the way, knowing just how much tomato soup to use is my trade secret. I’m willing to sell for the right price.

Listen to Limelight America online at www.limelightamerica.com.

E-mail Michael Drew Shaw at mds@limelightamerica.com.

Congratulations to the 10 cities — Phoenix, Ariz.; Inglewood, Calif.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Richmond, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Sommerville, Mass.; Albany, N.Y.; Kinston, N.C.; Statesville, N.C.; and Caroline County, Va. — that were named 2009’s All-America cities by the National Civic League. While Toledo did not make the cut this year, the competition brought out some interesting elements of our city’s personality.
On one hand, money was raised so nearly 40 people could travel to Tampa to make a presentation to the judging committee. Citizens young and old came together to cheer about Toledo and try to bring home some glory. These people put aside politics and tried to spread some goodwill.
On the other hand, some used the competition as an opportunity to scorn and mock those who tried to do something positive. There is a persistent, yet unproven, rumor that one local organization spent time and energy contacting the awards committee in Tampa to make a case against Toledo being an All-America city; the National Civic League assures us such efforts do not impact the process, and we have to take them at their word.
By the way, Toledo Free Press is pursuing that rumor, and we will get to the bottom of it.
Would an All-America designation immediately create jobs, fill local pockets with money or put police back on the street? Of course not. But this is an area that could use some good news and national recognition — for the right reasons — and a thank you is due to the companies and citizens that gave it their best shot.
Such designations are clearly not a life-or-death pursuit, but be wary of those who describe awards such as All-America City as “lipstick on a pig” — they may want to convey the award as shallow window dressing, but think about their base comparison of Toledo to a pig. If that is how they feel, they should lift their own snouts out of the trough and take a more informed look around, past the tempest-in-a-teapot controversies and into the lives of the people who live and work here because they love and respect their city.
It may not be in vogue to be proud of our city, but remember: politicians and media people come and go; the city stands long after those factions disappear, and the city stands as an eternal All-America candidate, whether the actual award comes home or not.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

The musical “Mamma Mia” blends twenty-two songs of the Swedish pop band ABBA with a romp about a girl named Sophie Sheridan (Liana Hunt), who is about to be married. Unbeknownst to her mother, Donna (Michelle Dawson), Sophie invites her mother’s three former heartthrobs (played by John Hemphill, Martin Kildare, and Michael Aaron Lindner), in hopes to discover her father. Smoothly integrated songs, a meticulous technical crew, and memorable performances made the Stranahan theatre’s latest production of “Mamma Mia” a success. Before the production began, the audience was transported to a maritime setting.

On the stage was a curtain of waves. This curtain was cerulean blue and navy blue, and was filled with horizontal waves. Surrounding these waves was a turquoise frame, which had two vertical lines, one on each side of the stage, and a horizontal line going across the top of the stage. These framed waves made the audience feel like they were underwater. With an abrupt crash of thunder, “Mamma Mia” began.

The overture made the audience feel like they were at an ABBA concert. A loud melody from an electric guitar swiftly took hold of the audience’s ears. As the lights slowly dimmed, the guitar melody mixed with a piano, followed by an integration of drums. As the overture played, light and shadow effects gave the waves a rippling effect. The setting took the audience to a Greek island getaway.

The ruins of two circular buildings stood on center stage. The slant and cream color of these buildings made them look ancient. Each of these towers had a blue door under an overhang. Throughout the production, these towers were turned around to reveal different locations of the Sheridan’s island getaway. The unconfined setting enhanced the production’s nautical atmosphere. Michelle Dawson was a standout.

As many people know, Donna Sheridan was played by Meryl Streep in last year’s film adaptation. Instead of imitating Meryl Streep’s performance, Dawson gave the audience her own take on Donna. When Donna said “that eyesore is going to be my casino,” Dawson’s determined smile and concentration toward a far away landmark made the audience believe her. In the song “Money Money Money,” Dawson’s quick shuffling and dice-shaking gestures made it look like Donna was actually gambling. In this song, Dawson’s low pitch was perfect. Dawson continued to wow the audience with every number she sang.

In song “Mamma Mia,” Donna is surrounded by her former lovers, and cannot imagine why she left any of them. As she sang, Dawson leaned against a door for support. Dawson then slowly sank to the ground. This sinking conveyed the oppressing forces of her past memories and regret. When Dawson turned her head from side to side in panic, it appeared as though murderers were on either side of her. When Dawson sang “Just one look,” her pitch was high, and the words trembled. This trembling conveyed how just looking at her former lovers makes Donna feel the same longing she felt when she first fell in love with them. While Liana Hunt was also entertaining, her voice hit a couple sour notes.

In the song “Honey Honey,” Hunt’s smile and excited visage made the audience eager to hear what Sophie’s mother wrote in her diary. At the beginning of the production, in the song “I Have a Dream,” Hunt spoke the words “even if you fail.” Speaking these words emphasized the idea that it is never too late to succeed or make one’s dreams a reality. When Sophie sang “Lay All Your Love on Me,” Hunt stayed in the same chord when she needed to go higher. Had Hunt changed the chords as she sang, she would have hit all the right notes. Hunt sang Sophie’s other songs without faltering. As Sophie’s outrageous aunt Rosie, Kittra Wynn Coomer was hilarious.

Coomer latched on to the audience’s funny bone, and never let go. When Rosie sang “Chiquitita tell me what’s wrong” in the song “Chiquitita,” Coomer put her hands on her waist to convey the power and respect Rosie has as a close friend of Donna. Coomer also used her build to her advantage. When Donna, Rosie and Tanya (Rachel Tyler) sang “Dancing Queen,” Donna jumped up in a dance step, and Tanya followed in succession. When Rosie attempted this move, Coomer arched her back, widened her eyes and mouthed a swear word to convey throwing her back out. When Donna and Tanya went to do this move again, Coomer just threw her arms up and gave the two other woman a look that said “That’s all I’m doing. Deal with it.” As Sam Carmichael, one of Sophie’s potential fathers, John Hemphill delivered a memorable performance.

In the song “S.O.S.,” Donna and Sam sing about how they miss each other’s love and company. Through subtle movements, Hemphill made the audience share Sam’s feelings of despair. When Hemphill narrowed his eyebrows and slightly shook his head, he conveyed Sam’s longing for the relationship he once shared with Donna. Hemphill made Sam a relatable, sensitive man simply by looking down and fidgeting with a chair. While most of “Mamma Mia’s” songs give insight into the characters’ thoughts and personalities, “Mamma Mia’s” largest weakness is the songs that lose its focus.

Even though “Knowing Me, Knowing You” allows the audience to see how hard it was for Sam to break up with Donna, it is an unnecessary number. Sam’s dialogue and the other songs he sings vividly reveal that it was difficult for him to break up with her. In this song, there is an awkward moment where Sam kneels down next to Sophie while he sings the words “breaking up is hard to do.” What makes this blocking awkward is that it looks like Sam is breaking up with Sophie. The song “The Name of the Game” should have been reduced to just a couple lines of dialogue, since it merely informs the audience that Bill Austin (Martin Kildare) believes that he is Sophie’s father.

The premise of “Mamma Mia” sounds like it should be a theatrical train wreck. Since ABBA’s songs were not originally written for a musical, a person might not guess that many of their hits could be so smoothly integrated into one. Most of the songs tie in to the characters and plot so strongly that it is hard to believe that these songs were not originally written for “Mamma Mia.” Even though “Mamma Mia” is about a girl discovering her own identity, it is also about the choices we make in life, and how we deal with the consequences. The cast had the entire house clapping to the songs, and dancing long after the final scene.

It is improbable and unconventional that the sitting chairman of a political party would be the kick start to the beginning of a third party, but there is a movement afoot providing an alternative to the traditional Republican and Democratic ballot choices.
Multi-tasking, killing two birds with one stone, Jon Stainbrook is juggling the responsibilities of two political movements. While running the Lucas County Republican Party (LCRP), he is advancing a third option. What is more noteworthy than one man advancing two separate political movements is that Stainbrook is advancing the third party unintentionally.
Stainbrook’s nightmarish actions and lackluster strategy for the LCRP is helping third-party efforts gain traction. Claiming to be fiscal conservatives — a basic tenant of the Republican Party — Tricia Lyons of Teamwork Toledo announced, “We are all running as independents because we don’t want to be tied to either party.”
It is disappointing that Teamwork Toledo wants nothing to do with Stainbrook and the LCRP, despite the general philosophical similarities shared between Teamwork Toledo and Republicans. Chairman Stainbrook exposed his disdain for fiscal conservatism as the property-less Republican pushed his party to endorse property tax levies in 2008.
The recent Lucas County Republican Clubs Charity Dinner, which benefited the Toledo Seagate Foodbank, was accompanied by much drama. Worse than no-showing after threatening to sue over the first scheduling of the charity, Stainbrook and other associates reportedly called fellow Republicans to dissuade them from attending the charity dinner.
Kate Boyd, an active Republican, has donated time and money to previous Republican campaigns, but not any longer. After receiving her invitation to the charity dinner, she says she was called by a man identifying himself from the LCRP. Although he was not forthcoming with his full name, she did learn to whom she was speaking, after he gave his spiel on why she should not attend the charity dinner. The sole purpose of the call was to convince Boyd to avoid the charity.
No matter what type of in-party drama is playing on the local political stage, when a chairman and his acquaintances organize to discourage attendance to a charity event, a new level of childishness has been established.
Chairman Stainbrook does have a tough job as the leader of the doomed minority in Lucas County, but his approach has made a dwindling party sink lower. Stainbrook is a detriment to his own party.  As leader, it is rare for him to attack a Democrat; instead, he has focused his power trip on threatening and attacking fellow Republicans, such as Patrick Kriner.
With a Democrat mayor’s approval numbers at the bottom of the Maumee, Stainbrook has an easy target. Finkbeiner’s third mayoral term has been a dismal failure, yet Stainbrook has not publicly criticized the failure known as Finkbeiner. He has, however, taken time out of his hectic schedule to threaten the mayor of Waterville, Derek Merrin, that if Merrin would not quit complaining that Stainbrook was violating party bylaws in the way an important meeting was announced, Stainbrook would personally and maliciously “smear” Merrin in the press.
Stainbrook has been an utter failure in raising money and fielding candidates. His fundraising has been dismal, as the party is barely holding onto its Downtown Toledo headquarters.
Stainbrook has suffered his own political defeats, engineered the thumping of council candidate Joe Kidd and failed to meet filing deadlines for Jan Scotland, keeping Scotland off the 2008 ballot.
Actions speak louder than words, and Stainbrook’s actions are growing hoarse, shouting “Forget the LCRP!” There’s no other way to interpret the self-destructive shrieks that echo loudly off Toledo’s political landscape. It is clear the party chairman cares not for his own party. His advancement of alternative ballot options have become his focus.
Why else would Stainbrook do so much to embarrass his party?

E-mail columnist Tom Morrissey at letters@toledofreepress.com.

The 25th anniversary Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic (JFOCC) will feature a record amount of top LPGA golfers, among them the No. 1 ranked women’s golfer in the world, Lorena Ochoa from Guadalajara, Mexico.
The classic begins June 29 through July 5 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania and is presented by Kroger.
“We have all 10 of the top 10 women golfers, and 48 of the top 50 will be on our field,” said Judd Silverman, founder and tournament director.
Defending champ Paula Creamer and last year’s runner-up Morgan Pressel have committed.”
“This field is by far the best we’ve ever had with a 72-hole tournament,” he said.
The tournament will not only feature LPGA heavyweights, but also newcomers to the professional golfing scene, such as LPGA rookie Michelle Wie and 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship winner Brittany Lincicome.
“Some other notable players we’re going to have are Cristie Kerr, Natalie Gulbis, and five-time winner Se Ri Pak,” Silverman said.
Cristie Kerr is currently ranked No. 1 on the LPGA Money List at $789,900, trailed by fellow Farr Classic participants In-Kyung Kim at $738,512, and Lorena Ochoa at $711,105, according to the official LPGA Web site.
“We’re hopeful that this year’s tournament will be successful as past events as we’re raising money for 12 area children’s charities,” Silverman said.
The tournament also contributes annually to the JFOCC Scholarship Fund of the Toledo Community Foundation, a $3,000 scholarship for tuition for high school seniors from Northwest Ohio or Southeast Michigan who have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA, according to the tournament’s official Web site.
Director of Operations Sandy White said the tournament gives the community a boost.
“It brings people in from out of town and generates dollars for the community as people stay in our hotels,” White said. “It showcases the community because people can see Toledo on the course and on national television.

Aries (March 21-April 19)
Minor irritations. Gathering clues helps you establish patterns or evidence as the week begins. Outreach to worldly connections speeds opportunities on Tuesday; domestic issues cause conflicting viewpoints after Wednesday. The holiday weekend brings intense experiences.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Sacred portals. Creative efforts can be completed as the week begins, and good news arrives on Tuesday. After Wednesday, career matters can flourish, while emotions and health are sources of struggle. Neighborhood safety is a priority over the holiday weekend.
Gemini (May 21-June 21)
Sparkling lights. Your attention moves from domestic to personal and professional matters on Tuesday. Big leaps and opportunities are at hand midweek, some from unexpected sources. Weekend gatherings assemble an unusual mix of family and friends. 
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
Go boldly forward. A long-term plan is put into motion as the week begins. Your phone rings non-stop midweek, with a mix of joys and disappointments reported. Short journeys are favored over the weekend, especially if you’re visiting old friends.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Happy journey. An unusual teacher or leader you’re in contact with has a change of status this week. You’re extremely busy midweek, as demands for your time and energy come from different directions. Be flexible with holiday plans, as last-minute changes are likely.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Dancing on air. You can solidify your position through assessments of past performance early this week, and possibly gain financial improvements. Midweek events arouse strong but contradictory feelings. Listen carefully, search for facts and avoid hasty conclusions.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
A generous sponsor. Both established and new relationships prove beneficial. Singular advantages or offers roll through the door on Tuesday. Prior commitments may need to be rearranged; get ready to do some speedy, fancy footwork to make the most of your options.
Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
What a shocker! Changes in your home or family create unexpected benefits as the week begins. Unforeseen midweek events can have a domino effect on social circles. It may take a while to sort out who did what to whom. Buying into the high drama is optional.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)
Around the world. Your accomplishments and reputation lure offers into your hands; plum deals fall into your lap on Tuesday. Instability you’ve long suspected hits the surface on Wednesday. Follow through with items on your own agenda over the holiday weekend.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)
Too much information. New avenues for gain or security appear early this week and give you an ace in the hole if you need one. People have conflicting ideas about how resources should be used midweek. Children or pets need extra supervision over the weekend.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
Friendly exchanges. Negotiate and conclude excellent agreements as the week begins. After Wednesday, people near you may be in disarray or create problems you feel obliged to fix. Don’t let messy situations prevent you from enjoying parties over the holiday weekend.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Zaps and zingers. Good plans are getting off the ground as the week begins, but your feelings on more personal matters could change without warning midweek. You’ll enjoy the holiday more if you share the work and allow others to contribute to party plans.

When members of the Toledo International Youth Orchestra (TIYO) arrive in Tanzania, tour guide David Kimea will be there to greet them.
The native will accompany the young musicians and their chaperones “to make sure everything runs smoothly,” he wrote in an e-mail to the Toledo Free Press.
Kimea started IYLA Tours & Safaris in Tanga one and half years ago and has served 100 clients, “as the financial times in the world has not been too good,” he stated.
Before opening his own company, he worked with his uncles in Arusha for about 10 years. There, he arranged similar tours; safari tours and Kilimanjaro climbing for small and large groups, he said.
Kimea plans to take TIYO through several cities, including Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo, Stone Town in Zanzibar, Jambiani in Zanzibar, Tanga and Arusha.
The group will also pass by Moshi, “and if they are lucky and the sky is clear, they will see Kilimanjaro,” he said.
“It is a lot of places, and the distances between them are huge, so it will be a very packed eight days,” he said in his e-mail. “If it was up to me, I would do this schedule over a longer period of time, maybe two weeks or three weeks.”
TIYO leaves for Tanga, Tanzania, on June 28, but won’t arrive in Africa until June 30 because of the time difference and a layover in London.
The main objective of the trip is to perform for the natives and give musical lessons to the children. TIYO already raised money to have a music classroom built at Toledo Secondary School in Tanga, which is Toledo’s sister city.
Kimea said he put up the travel schedule together with the help of John Henry Fullen of Toledo Sister Cities International, as well as Rachel Dove, an UT graduate who has lived in Tanzania for the past year. They arranged meetings with the schools and officials in Tanga, Bagamoyo, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam.
From a tourist’s point of view, Kimea said the safari to Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, as well as the dolphin tour will be highlights of the trip. On the safari, TIYO will see “the big five,” if they are lucky, which are lions, buffalos, rhinos, leopards and elephants, he said. Those on the trip will sleep in a camp area while on safari, and cooks will prepare dinner on an open fire in the camp area.
The Ngorongoro Crater is home to a massive amount of animals in a relatively small area, which used to be a volcanic crater several hundred years ago, but today is one of the most beautiful, green areas in the country, Kimea said.
One of the biggest fears for travelers is being robbed.
“Many tourists are very scared of that when travelling to an African country and it is understandable as it is a poor country,” he said. “I calm them down by saying that they should leave valuables at the hotel and only walk around with a small amount of cash and not flash their money around. Also, that they should be careful showing off their fancy mobiles and cameras in crowded places.”
For the most part, a trip to Tanzania is affordable if tourists are used to backpacking and staying in low-budget hotels, Kimea said. The price goes up as tourists ask for diving excursions and luxury tours.
Kimea said not many residents make their living through tourism in Tanga, unlike Arusha, which is close to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and in Moshi, where tourists can climb Kilimanjaro.
“The tourism in Tanga is currently developing, but it has not reached the level of tourism that you may find in other places in Tanzania,” he said. “In a few years, I think Tanga will have a greater position in the tourism sector than today, as many hotels are being built, a new harbor is planned, tourism networks are being sat up and people are starting to hear more about Tanga and the underestimated places and untouched nature you find in this region.”
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