TO THE EDITOR,

Recently, I received a letter from one of Toledo’s major insurance providers. It told me how financially draining it would be to have a major illness with no insurance and why they could be trusted with my health and peace of mind.
The irony was that I already have a relationship with that particular company. I had their coverage during 2008, when I had a cancer scare. Upon my doctor’s advice — and after checking with HR at work — I scheduled an MRI. The good news: no cancer. The bad news: a $4,000 bill that’s been hanging over my head ever since because of a denied claim — from the same people who now want to sell me peace of mind. Thanks for the concern — let me get back with you once my appeal is resolved.
This is the problem with America’s insurance system. Regular people like me get stiffed on a regular basis because the profit motive outweighs concern for anyone’s health. And yet I’m lucky to have a job that provides insurance at all. The United States needs to catch up with every other industrialized nation and provide reliable health insurance to every citizen. Period.
PEG MORRISON, Toledo

Kaylee Halko couldn’t wait for Aug. 21. She wore a pink shirt and tennis shoes, black shorts, a white hat with a pink ribbon on it and a white sweatshirt. The 6-year-old grabbed her Barbie backpack and headed to the bus stop with her brother, Jacob, 8.
She climbed aboard bus No. 32 bound for Monclova Primary School for her first day of kindergarten.
Millions will get a glimpse of her big day. A documentary on Kaylee is being filmed for TLC, which plans a December premiere. The working title of the film is “Old Before Their Time.” TLC released this description: “This one-hour documentary follows the extraordinary stories of two young girls suffering from progeria and the hope of finding a cure for this rare disorder, which causes the body to age eight to 10 times faster than normal.”
It took almost three months for Tim and Marla Halko to decide if their daughter and three sons would be in the documentary.
“We wanted to make sure it was the right thing for us and what kind of story it would be,” Marla said. “It’s basically how Kaylee lives, and it’s going to address progeria. We thought that would be a good way for people to learn about the disease.”

Cameraman Sean Lewis, left, and producer Suemay Oram, far right, interview Kaylee Halko for the upcoming TLC documentary.

“It’ll focus more on the fact that — besides looks — she’s your typical, normal 6-year-old. I think that’s what they’ll see,” Tim said. “She’s as goofy as any other 6-year-old.”
Filming Kaylee’s story are director and producer Suemay Oram and cameraman Sean Lewis. They are freelancers working for Blink Films of London.
“We haven’t been to school yet as it was Kaylee’s first day, and we thought it would be best if she just did it by herself without any of us there,” Oram said. “We filmed her getting on the bus, though. I think that was the biggest thing for her, to get on the bus with the older kids.”
“Kaylee wanted the bus. I wasn’t sure. But she did it. She went up and down those steps; she did fine,” Marla said. “It made me nervous, but it’s been a big deal since last year — she wanted to ride the bus.”
No challenge is too big for Kaylee, who stands about 36 inches tall and weighs 21 pounds.
She is one of 53 children in the world who has progeria, a rare, fatal condition characterized by accelerated aging caused by a gene mutation. The disorder has a reported incidence of about one in 4 million to 8 million newborns, according to the Progeria Research Foundation Inc. Signs of progeria include growth failure, loss of body fat and hair, stiff joints, aged-looking skin, hip dislocation, generalized atherosclerosis, heart disease and stroke. Children with the condition die of heart disease at an average age of 13.
Kaylee started the first clinical drug trial for progeria in 2007 and will begin a new triple-drug trial this month.
And she loves the camera.
“Kaylee is a comedian,” Oram said. “She is very, very funny and very approachable and very adventurous; she’s not scared of anything.”
“I think all the kids like [being in the documentary]. Kaylee thinks she’s a star,” Marla said.
Oram and Lewis were in Toledo one week in August. They hung out at the Halko home in Monclova, followed the family around town and to Cedar Point, and visited the University of Michigan to talk to the doctor who diagnosed Kaylee in 2004.
“I hope people get to know Kaylee — I think that’s the main point — and for people to understand progeria,” Oram said. “Maybe when they see Kaylee, they won’t stare, they think, ‘Oh, she’s got progeria, I understand what that is.’ I think that’s important — they get to know her, raising awareness, getting to know the family.”
Oram and Lewis seemed at home with the Halkos. After eating dinner, both put their plates and utensils in the dishwasher. And while Lewis got the camera ready, Oram showed Brendan, 9, a magic trick with a deck of cards.
Outside, Oram told the family they were going to film portrait shots. After she arranged everyone, Kaylee kept making faces.
Tim said, “Kaylee! K-Ray, it’s time to be serious!”
“You want to look beautiful, Kaylee, not crazy, beautiful,” Marla coaxed.
“The Halkos are an awesome, awesome family. I’ve had more fun on this shoot than I’ve had on pretty much any shoot,” Lewis said. “I hope [the documentary] gives a greater understanding of progeria and really what a lovely girl Kaylee is and the support the community gives to the Halkos and what it is to strive for a cure.”
Oram and Lewis will return to finish filming next month. They’ll be here for Kaylee’s Course, the fourth annual race for progeria, which will start at 10 a.m. Oct. 10 at Monclova Primary School, 8035 Monclova Road.
Cost for the 5K run/2-mile walk is $12 for those who register in advance and $15 the day of the event; children 10 and younger are free. Registration begins at 9 a.m. race day. A silent auction also will be held. Proceeds will go to the Progeria Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering treatments and a cure for the condition.
Last year, about 300 people braved the heavy rain and hit the trail. About $40,000 was raised. The Halkos have raised $110,000 in three years.
Participants who register early will receive a T-shirt designed by Kaylee’s older brother, T.J., 11.
Register via e-mail to Tim and Marla at tmhalko@msn.com. Silent auction items and sponsorships also are needed.

Triple-drug trial for progeria commences

From left, Jacob, Brendan and T.J. with their sister Kaylee.

As the first clinical drug trial for progeria winds down, researchers are gearing up for round two.
Kaylee Halko is one of 28 children from 16 countries in the first trial. She has been treated with farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI) for two years. Researchers hope FTI prevents a molecule known as the farnseyl group from attaching to the progerin protein, improving or stopping the disease, according to the Progeria Research Foundation Inc.
Studies showed FTI improved bone density, reduced bone fractures, delayed the onset of the condition, and helped with weight gain in a mouse model of progeria.
Results are expected to be published in April, according to Audrey Gordon, president and executive director of the Progeria Research Foundation.
“Right now we do have treatment recommendations, but they’re more for quality of life types of things — some nutrition to get more weight on the children and aspirin to help with their heart, and occupational and physical therapy for their stiff joints,” she said. “So while those are all great treatments that do help somewhat, to have a drug treatment be effective in some way would be history-making and would be extremely exciting for everyone involved. We won’t know until [the results are] formally published.”
Meanwhile, researchers have added two drugs — pravastatin and zoledronate — to the assault.
“After the first trial started, new studies came out that said, ‘hey, we think there are two other drugs that may be helpful that attack this mutant protein at different places along the pathway than the FTI drug,’” Gordon explained. “I call it the triple whammy; we hope all three of these drugs work together well and are even more effective than the current FTI drug that’s being used now.”
When Kaylee goes to the Children’s Hospital Boston this month for her final visit for the first trial, she’ll start the triple-drug trial.
“We’re really not wasting any time,” Gordon said. “We’re just really excited to move right into this [trial], to not have to wait a couple more years for another trial to be started.”
Kaylee will be one of 45 children in the new study who will be monitored by researchers from Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital — all Harvard University institutions — and their local doctors. Investigators from the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, UCLA and the National Institutes of Health also are involved with the trial.
The Progeria Research Foundation raised $2 million for the first trial and needs $1.7 million for the new study.
“Close to 90 cents of every dollar goes to our programs, goes to the medical research, to the trials, to the grants, to raise awareness. That’s a very high percentage compared to some other charities,” Gordon said.
‘We’ve accomplished so much in such a short time with so little money. In 10 years, [we’ve raised] about $7 million,” she said.
Since 1999, the nonprofit foundation has discovered the LMNA gene causes progeria; established a test to determine if children have progeria; started cell and tissue banks; and raised funds and launched the first clinical drug trial.
“[Funding is a] bit of a challenge, but we’ve never not met a challenge, so we’re really excited about just keeping on going,” Gordon said.

On Sept. 17 the Joint Utility and Social Services Committee (JUSSC) offered a variety of assistance programs to local families.
The JUSSC Information Assistance Fair  at the Erie Street Market featured more than 25 local agencies offering services from legal food assistance and everything between.
Columbia Gas is a member of the JUSSC and was at the fair to help people maintain gas service, spokesman Chris Kozak said.
“We’re willing to do everything we can,” Kozak said. But it’s important the people call if they have an issue as soon as possible.
“We can’t tell from looking at our screens if you’ve lost your job,” he said.
Another benefit of the fair was the range of help offered. For example, Kozak said, the Aids Resource Center can help pay medical bills, freeing up money for utilities.
People might not think of that connection immediately, Kozak said.  “We have a lot of people who haven’t been in this situation before.”
Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Toledo is offering a “health and safety and energy efficiency program,” spokeswoman Kevena Cooke said.
The weatherization program, funded by Toledo Edison, Columbia Gas, the State of Ohio and the Federal Department of Energy sends representatives into homes to perform an energy audit, Cooke said.
In addition to blowing cellulose insulation into the walls, they test the efficiency and safety of appliances, she said.
Many people were able to take advantage of the services offered by the fair.  A Toledo resident came to the fair to explore all the opportunities Toledo has to offer.
She found everything she needed and has it in her bag, she said.
The fair format made finding help much easier, said another resident, who needed help with utility payments and bills.
To apply for the NHS weatherization program, call (419) 691-2900 to request an application.
Walden Wilson, JUSSC chairman, in a Sept. 13 Toledo Free Press guest column, said, “In June, we hosted a similar event and drew more than 3,000 in a dynamic demonstration of just how many need help at this time.
“The member organizations of the JUSSC decided to expand the June event, offering information for many, many impactful areas, including utility bills, housing, real estate taxes, foreclosure prevention, home repair and weatherization, home purchasing, rental assistance, food, medical assistance, legal aid, employment and many more.”

Editor’s note: Chris Kozak is an occasional contributor to the Toledo Free Press Arts & Life section.

This year, I found people speaking Simlish at the Electronic Arts’ Blogger’s Day event in Redwood City, California.

One of several highlights was the Simlish recording session segment with audio director Robi Kauker, MySims voice/sound director Marielle Jakobsons, audio specialist Christopher Davidson and Sims voice director Bill Cameron. The The Sims3 World Adventures expansion pack (releasing in November 2009).

Simlish remains a very creative and entertaining idea that saves EA immense translation costs every year. You will even find musicians like Nelly Furtado in Simlish songs for the World Adventures expansion.

Look for more EA videos and special previews coming soon.

Since the night of Sept. 15, Glass City Jungle, one of Toledo’s most popular political blogs, has been experiencing technical issues that have kept manyreaders from connecting.  Blog operator Lisa Renee Ward told Toledo Free Press Sept. 17 that while her hosting provider is working on the problem, it may be a day or two before things return to normal.  ”The number of e-mails and phone calls I’ve received from those concerned about site not being available surpassed what I expected,” said Ward.

Glass City Jungle has been in operation since 2006 when Ward decided to put more of her focus on local politics instead of the national political scene she had previously put most of her focus on.  Ward is also the fact checker for Toledo Free Press and can be seen on FOX Toledo’s Rant & Rave.

Cedar Creek Church will offer Christian perspective on a timely topic Sept. 17 when it brings author and lecturer Ray Hilbert to its Toledo Campus.

After making his way through corporate America and taking on two businesses of his own with varying success, Hilbert said he asked himself, “As a Christian, what does it look like to try to be in the marketplace and honor my own principles and my Christian faith in both good times and bad?”

Hilbert

While delving deeper into how his Christian faith played a role in his business life and the business lives of others, Hilbert said he wondered, “What did that look like as a Christian person in business, to not only just have to deal with the realities of success and failure in business, but ultimately what does it look like to integrate my faith into those decisions?”

Hilbert said eh decided to not only answer his questions for himself, but also for his fellow Christian business owners and leaders, by founding Truth@Work, an organization whose mission is to bring Christian values into a place where they are often left at the door: work. Truth@Work’s vision promises to “change the way America works by bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the marketplace.”

In light of the recent downturn in the economy, Hilbert stresses an even greater need for keeping the faith at work as businesses face hard times.

“We began to really notice that almost all conversations were predominantly around the issues of what was bad and what was wrong. And then, frankly, the word that kept creeping up was ‘fear‘,” Hilbert said. “There was tremendous fear about what was going to happen in their future.”

Hilbert recognized a need for helping Christian business owners and leaders put their fears to rest through their Christian principles at this economically trying time.

“Because of that theme we really began to realize that, hey, we needed to maybe put together a presentation to help these individuals acknowledge the feelings that they were going through, but then, more importantly, how to address them,” he explains.

Hilbert’s answer for combating the issue is “Trusting God in This Economy,” which he will be bringing to Toledo this week.

Hilbert has been offering the seminar for about nine months and describes it by saying, “It’s kind of like a Christian business leaders’ guide to overcoming fear.”

Seminar attendees are encouraged to acknowledge the fear they are experiencing as well as recognize how it effects them as business leaders and as people. Hilbert also says that he offers his audience “strategies and techniques that we as Christians in business can implement to address the fear.”

Although his presentation deals with a common sentiment, Hilbert’s message is aimed at the Christian business community.

“Obviously any human being deals with fear,” Hilbert said. “This specific session is designed for those Christians who own or run businesses or organizations who are really dealing with the fear and the uncertainty of the future.”

During the session, Hilbert tells business owners and leaders to “rethink where their energy is going, where their thought processes are, what they’re choosing to dwell on and think about.” A large part of the seminar is asking them to consider the question, “Is it fear or is it faith for what God has for us in the future?”

Hilbert will deliver his message, “Trusting God in This Economy” this Sept.17, from 8 a.m. to noon at Cedar Creek Church’s Toledo Campus, 2600 W. Sylvania Ave. Tickets are $49. To register for this event, visit www.trustgod.eventbrite.com.

UT Rockets football players and fans are gearing up for a showdown with the OSU Buckeyes at the Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 19 at noon.
For those traveling to the Rocket’s home game alone or with friends or family, for the day or for the weekend, Cleveland has something fun to offer every Toledoan.
Family fun
“Certainly, if you’re coming all this way, you have to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” said Tami Brown, vice president of marketing for Positively Cleveland. Two exhibits are being featured, Bruce Springsteen and Woodstock’s 40th anniversary.
Near the Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center features interactive science experiments and promises great family fun. Close by, the William Mather ship is an old oar boat open for tours that are amazing, Brown said.
“If you’re looking for something quirky, there’s the Christmas Story house,” she said. The house, where the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story” was filmed, has been restored to look exactly like the film, and there is a museum across the street, a 10-minute drive from downtown to Tremont.

Cleveland Browns Stadium

“If you’re looking for good food, and you get here early enough on Saturday, the West Side Market is [a great place for] local fresh food and produce … and ethnic food from Greek to Middle Eastern,” Brown said. Less than 10 minutes by car from the Cleveland Browns Stadium, the West Side Market is the largest indoor/outdoor market in the country, featuring 180 booths, according to information provided by Positively Cleveland Communications Coordinator Lexi Robinson-Hotchkiss.
There is no shortage of places to go for dinner and celebrating after the game, either. Robinson-Hotchkiss labeled four of Cleveland’s distinct regions.
Trendy Lakewood
In Lakewood, which is a 10-15 minute drive from the stadium, Melt Bar & Grilled tops Robinson-Hotchkiss’ list of “must-go” places. She described the restaurant, which features more than 20 variations of the grilled cheese sandwich, as “awesome, awesome, awesome,” but cautioned, “give yourself some time as there is almost always a wait.”
Lakewood is also home of Buckeye Beer Engine, a restaurant with more than 20 local beers and microbrews on tap, but that may be a hot spot for Buckeye fans, Brown said.
Great Lakes Brewery
Just across the Cuyahoga River, less than 10 minutes by car from Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Great Lakes Brewery is home to many award winning microbrews, Brown said.
Among Robinson-Hotchkiss’ favorite places in the area are the Prosperity Social Club, “a very cool bar with a retro vibe,” and the Garage Bar, “my all-time favorite bar — slightly ‘biker-esque’ and slightly ‘hair metal,’” she said in an e-mail.
Warehouse District
The Warehouse District is an easy walk from Stadium, Brown said, and features restaurants and nice clubs.
Among the restaurants in the Warehouse District, XO Prime Steaks often attracts A-list celebrities and professional athletes and the Cleveland ChopHouse and Brewery allows patrons to fill up one half gallon growlers with their house beer for $7, according to information provided by Robinson-Hotchkiss.
The Liquid Fusion Café and the Velvet Dog are two dance clubs in the area, Brown said.
East Fourth Street
East Fourth Street is the place for sports bars and eating. At The Corner Alley, patrons can bowl, while having a martini, Brown said, and Flannery’s is a “good old fashioned Irish bar.” Other places of interest include the Wonder Bar, a jazz bar, and Pickwick and Frolic, home of the comedy club Hilarities.
Music
“Music is what Cleveland is all about,” Brown said. The House of Blues will feature the Mega ’80s cover band Sept. 18 for those in town for the weekend.
iPhonic, a local hip hop/alternative band, will play the Agora Theater Sept. 19.
There is music all the time for fans at The Beachland Ballroom, a half hour east of the stadium, Brown said. Sondre Lerche and Hugh Cromwell, of The Stranglers, will perform Sept. 18, and Joshua Radin and Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Phonics will be featured on Sept. 19.
The Grog Shop hosts mostly local, indie talent and has live music nearly every night of the week, Brown said. The Clarks will perform Sept. 18 and The Paul Green School of Rock performing “LA Rock” and Tobacco Sept 19.
Nighttown is a hot jazz club voted one of the top 100 jazz clubs in the world by Down Beat magazine, Brown said, and has live music nearly every night.
Downtown
Whether food, music or family fun tickles your fancy, downtown Cleveland has something to offer to everyone. And for die-hard football fans, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton may offer the perfect addition to your football weekend getaway.
For more details, visit www.positivelycleveland.com/09ut_hotels

Cleveland hotels filling up for UT/OSU weekend

Toledo Rockets fans are beginning to finalize their plans for the weekend of the Sept. 19 when the Rockets take on the OSU Buckeyes at the Cleveland Browns Stadium, said Carrie Borisa, director of sales for the Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown.
“Hotels are filling up so hurry,” she said. “We have limited rooms and people are booking.”
The Doubletree Hotel, which is a five-minute walk from the stadium, also offers guests a complimentary shuttle to any restaurants or bars in downtown Cleveland.
The Doubletree is also in walking distance to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Great Lakes Science Center.
The Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre Hotel and the Hampton Inn are about three blocks from Browns Stadium.
Tami Brown, vice president of marketing for Positively Cleveland, has complied a list of hotels and room prices for the game, as well as lots of entertainment ideas at www.positivelycleveland.com/09ut_hotels.

Hotel guide for UT/OSU weekend in Downtown Cleveland

Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown
Two blocks from Browns Stadium — Rate: $109
1111 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 241-5100
Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre Hotel
Three blocks from Browns Stadium — Rate: $109 (plus $12 parking)
777 St. Clair Ave. N.E., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 373-3310
Hampton Inn Cleveland-Downtown
Three blocks from Browns Stadium — Rate: $82
1460 East 9th St., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 241-6600
Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade
Six blocks from Browns Stadium — Rate from $119
420 Superior Ave., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 575-1234
Embassy Suites
Rate: $109 (includes breakfast)
1701 E. 12 St., Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 523-8000
Residence Inn by Marriott, Cleveland Downtown
Nine blocks from Browns Stadium — Rate: $129 (includes breakfast)
527 Prospect Ave. East, Cleveland, OH 44115, (216) 535-4150
Radisson Hotel Cleveland-Gateway
Rate: $139 (includes valet parking)
651 Huron Road, Cleveland, OH 44115, (216) 377-9000
Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown
Rate: $99 (plus $8 parking)
1100 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland, OH 44115, (216) 658-6400
Source: Positively Cleveland

Looking around our community, it’s not difficult to see that many, many people need help. Help with putting food on the table, help paying bills, help finding a job, help staying in a house.
Help is a broad term and the need in our community is just as expansive. I’m excited to chair the Joint Utility and Social Services Committee (JUSSC), a Northwest Ohio collection of agencies and area utility companies that meet regularly to share information and pool assistance resources available within our community.
We see, firsthand, the extent of need in our community. But we also know that there are resources, albeit sometimes limited, to offer assistance.
We also see new faces, new families, turning to social service agencies for help. Families who are unaware of the kinds of assistance that is available, unsure where to turn or who to ask; they only know that they need help.
On Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Erie Street Market (237 South Erie St.) nearly 30 member organizations of the JUSSC will come together for an Information Assistance Fair. Through the generosity of our media partner, Toledo Free Press, there is an advertisement in this edition that contains a full list of the participating organizations.
This program is free and open to everyone.
Our goal is to put the agencies that offer help and those in our community in need in the same room. A one-stop shopping, if you will, of local aid and assistance programs. We don’t want folks to show up waving bills and looking to have them paid. But we’ll offer places, suggestions and opportunities where there may be assistance available.
In June, we hosted a similar event and drew more than 3,000 in a dynamic demonstration of just how many need help at this time. The member organizations of the JUSSC decided to expand the June event, offering information for many, many impactful areas, including utility bills, housing, real estate taxes, foreclosure prevention, home repair and weatherization, home purchasing, rental assistance, food, medical assistance, legal aid, employment and many more.
There is help available, but it’s a two-way street.

The JUSSC can provide options to cover needs that may free up funds. For example: you many not qualify for utility bill assistance, but could receive food vouchers. You may qualify for home weatherization, which could lower home energy bills. You may qualify for assistance as a veteran that you may not have been aware you were eligible. And with the expanded need, some guidelines for aid, most of which are based on the federal poverty guidelines, have increased; some as much as 200-percent of the federal poverty guidelines, which for a family of four is $44,100.
I see the need in our community every day. I also know that the member organizations of the JUSSC are ready and willing to help; to point you in the right directions. I invite everyone to join us at the Erie Street Market on Thursday, September 17 to see what help is available. Through the generous support of Feed Lucas County Children, Inc., a free hot lunch for children 18 and under will be provided from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This is a time when our community needs to come together. While I am saddened that there are so many in our community in need of help, I am proud that those involved with the JUSSC have stepped forward and offered a beacon of hope.

Walden Wilson is JUSSC chairman.

Keith Wilkowski said Sept. 15 he was “grateful and humbled by the support shown to him by Toledo voters and that his message of change, as well as the focus on economic development resonated.”
He stated he thought everyone was shocked by the lower voter turnout and that meant that he and others had to work even harder to increase voter turnout for November.
Mayoral candidate Ben Konop was seen at Michael’s on Monroe Street, congratulating candidate Wilkowski on the primary win.
Candidate Jim Moody was seen at The Docks congratulating candidate Mike Bell.
Bell said he was ready for the next round of campaigning.
“I am feeling very good about tonight. We have worked very hard. We had more to overcome than our Democratic opponents because of our independent status, but I am extremely happy for the direction the city is moving toward,” Bell said Sept. 15. “We can reach across the aisle.”
Bell said he will “get on his motorcycle tomorrow morning and think about what went well and what needs to be worked on. I’m looking forward to the battle.”
Wilkowski said his campaign delivered a message to neighborhoods that “we can turn this economy around — there are things that we can do to put Toledoans to work; that message resonated with voters and I am very, very grateful for all of the hard work that was done on this campaign; and we’re going to continue to work all the way to November and then after that on behalf of the citizens of Toledo to make this a great place, a great city again.”
Toledo City Council President Joe McNamara commented on the failure of Issue 1: “Safety first voters were unable to overcome Carty Finkbeiner’s loud and well-funded misinformation campaign in this election; I still believe this change in the allocation is needed to address the  city’s financial crisis and to prevent large scale police layoffs. City Council has taken action this year to reduce the deficit by  millions, while Mayor Finkbeiner has rejected every solution to balance the budget presented by Council that would not raise taxes on the  middle class families of Toledo.  As we move forward, Council members will continue to work together to enact bipartisan budget solutions that put public safety first.”
McNamara thanked Toledo voters for supporting him in the primary and stated he will continue to work hard to come up with responsible budget solutions for Toledo’s financial crisis.  He said “while everyone said the numbers were going to be low, it’s disappointing because our city is in financial crisis and new leadership is needed.”
McNamara said he was pleased with Wilkowski moving into the general election.
“I think Keith has the best ideas to promote job growth and I share his vision for future economic development,”  he said.
In 2005, Wilkowski finished third with a voter turnout of 22.2 percent against two former mayors, Carty Finkbeiner and Jack Ford.  Wilkowski ended up with 23 percent of the vote, which put him close to Ford’s 26 percent, but not enough to move on to the No. 2 spot.
For 2009, Wilkowski announced his mayoral intentions much sooner than in 2005 and had a more organized campaign, taking in what worked for the Obama campaign and relying on some of the same volunteer base that was involved with the Toledoans for Obama effort.  The Wilkowski campaign was successful with fundraising and was one of the few mayoral campaigns that had a major television ad campaign, though he was never labeled as the front runner.
Most of the polling done before D. Michael Collins entered the race indicated Michael Bell would be the top finisher.
The Lucas County Board of Elections is predicting 18.45 percent voter turnout. The Lucas County Board of Elections is reporting these unofficial results:
n Wilkowski first for Toledo Mayor: 11,214. Bell in second place: 10,543. Jim Moody in third: 5,582.
n Issue 1 (Change 3/4 percent Tax Allocation) failed 19,318 to 16,484.
n Issue 2 (Nine is Fine) failed 18,537 to 16,648.
n City council candidates:
Rob Ludeman: 17,569
George Sarantou: 17,514
Joe McNamara: 17,447
Phil Copeland: 12,731
Steven Steel: 9,869
Polly Taylor-Gerken: 9,382
Adam Martinez: 7,724
Kevin Milliken: 7,462
Constantine Stamos: 5,597
Terry Shankland: 5,561
Tricia Lyons: 5,543
Terry Biel: 5,394

Walker Family Funeral Homes is offering an alternative to traditional formal funeral services.

Keith Walker, president and director, said he sees more and more families who don’t have a church or aren’t as involved in church.

“The purpose is to try to find a way to connect to people who have had a loss but don’t have that church system of support,” he said.

So, Walker Family Funeral Homes sent Sharon Williams to a special training session to learn to make “the funeral super meaningful for the family,” Walker said.

Williams spends time with family prior to the funeral and takes note of the deceased’s likes and interests and creates a very special, meaningful and engaging service, Walker said.

Services often include poetry or song that were special and involve relatives, reading a story or sharing a memory.

At a funeral for a fisherman, Williams passed around a bag of fishing lures for mourners to take in his memory, Walker said.

“There’s a need for this in the Toledo area,” he said.

For more information, call Walker Family Funeral Homes at (419) 841-2422.