Luke Shaffer, a Northwest Ohio native, earned a golden ticket to Hollywood in “American Idol Season 9.”

Shaffer, who tried out for the show in Louisville, Ky., last year, showcased his vocals to the judges in Boston, Mass. Shaffer sang “Fall For You” by Secondhand Serenade and was voted to advance to the Los Angeles auditions.

Shaffer graduated in 2003 from Eastwood High School in Pemberville and attended BGSU, graduating in 2007. Currently, he resides in New York.

View Shaffer’s “American Idol” post-audition interview here.
His clip from the show can be found here.

“Clothing Your Community” has collected 40 tons of clothing since its campaign kicked off on Dec. 28.
“The amount collected affirms we live in a generous community. Every time the community is challenged with a need, it steps up,” said Dan Rogers, president and CEO of Cherry Street Mission.

Volunteers sort through clothes at the Cherry Street Mission.

The drive is collecting clothes from now until Jan. 23 at area Fifth Third Banks, LaSalle Cleaners, The Andersons, YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo and Cherry Street Mission Ministries LifeBridge Center.
“Clothing your Community” is accepting all different types of gently used clothing, from children’s uniforms, boots, scarves and coats to adult clothing, Rogers said.
Cherry Street Mission will distribute the clothing Feb. 12 through Feb. 14 at the LifeBridge Center.
For information about how to volunteer call Cherry Street Mission Ministries at (419) 242-5141 ext.100.
Toy drive
The Town Center at Levis Commons is collecting gently used toys for the Toledo Day Nursery.
The drive, “Play it Forward,” will be collecting toys in front of the movie theater at Levis Commons from noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 through Jan 24.
Donated toys should be plastic, clean, in working order and have fresh batteries installed when applicable.
“We are looking forward to helping the Toledo Day Nursery and the children they serve,” said Casey Pogan marketing director for The Town Center at Levis Commons, Hill Partners Inc. “Our shoppers have always been so gracious. We expect that to be the case in this event as well.”
The drive needs volunteers to help collect and clean the toys. Shifts are Jan. 22 through Jan. 24 from noon to 3 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to collect toys and Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon to help clean toys. Volunteers should contact Levis Commons at (419) 931-8888.
Toledo Day Nursery is an early-childhood program that helps nearly 400 Toledo families each year.

On Christmas night, my daughter Sarah was hit and killed by a wrong-way driver on I-475 while on her way to work. She was an ER nurse at Bay Park Community Hospital, and as a supervisor, she was filling in for someone for a couple of hours, since she didn’t want to call someone else in on Christmas night. Her fiance and daughter were already asleep, so she decided she’d work the couple of hours it would take.
I’m not going to waste space raging against the other driver. The law and God will take care of his fate. What I want to write about is the aftermath of such a tragedy.
After receiving a phone call from the police at 4:46 a.m., I was asked to come to Sarah’s apartment. I didn’t even put on my glasses, and may have broken the law myself in my haste to get there, not having any idea who or how many people were involved in what had happened. A million scenarios played in my mind. When I arrived and was informed of her death, I had to get my 8-year-old granddaughter up, and along with her distraught fiance, go to my house to tell her what had happened. She didn’t break down or go into hysterics, she just quietly cried and then she and Grammy went upstairs to lie down.
At dawn, a friend of all three of my children, a Toledo policeman, brought coffee and doughnuts and much-appreciated information to us. Not long after, friends and neighbors and co-workers of Sarah’s began to bring food, love and condolences to the house. Her nurse friends went into high gear to take care of virtually everything they could think of that we could not. I’m an organizer, but we’ve got nothing on these ladies. They truly gave us a profound new understanding of the term “caregivers.”
Within hours, they set up a memorial fund for our granddaughter’s college, brought food, took care of her cats and a hundred other things that needed done. Myriad friends, family members and old classmates came and offered their assistance. They said that’s what Sarah would have done when confronted with a situation like this.
We can’t even begin to thank everyone, who even if they don’t feel they did anything, truly did just by being there or calling or writing.
Our beautiful granddaughter Emma stepped right into the role her mother played. As we cried, she walked around with a box of tissues, patting everyone on the arm and telling them it would be OK. She has always been just like her mom, and her mom did a good job of teaching her what the important things in life are.
At the funeral home, we saw how our daughter touched so many lives that we were unaware of, and how she surrounded herself with people who cared for others as much as she did. From kindergarten to the present, through all phases of her life, she made and kept friends. Dozens of people told me, her mother, her brother and sister and Emma, of little and big things that she had done that made a difference in their lives.
We have always been proud of our daughter, as we are of all three of our remarkable children. Any sane thinking person would, I think, like to think that they made a difference, and left the world a better place than they found it. If there’s any consolation out of this whole thing, I now truly believe Sarah did that, and hope that she’s watching her daughter continue the legacy that she left behind.
We have pain that will never go away, but day by day we learn to live with it. We may have lost a daughter, but we gained dozens of adopted sons and daughters, who have promised to help Emma remember the high hopes and dreams her mom had for her, and to never forget that she was Sarah’s greatest achievement. All of our family will make sure as well that she is always surrounded by loving and caring people. Her mother liked to set goals for herself, and invariably achieved them. I can already see much of that drive in Emma. She’s very much her mother’s daughter, and having her around is like having a large piece of Sarah still with us.
If there is anything to learn from this, other than the obvious, it’s that you should hold on to your loved ones with all your heart. I don’t have much for major accomplishments in life, other than a 37-year marriage to a wonderful wife, mother and Grammy, and having three of the finest children any parent could ask for. While one has been taken, she’ll continue to influence all of our family until we join her. Don’t take your family and friends for granted. Keep in touch with as many as you can. That’s what Sarah would have wanted.

E-mail columnist Don Burnard at letters@toledofreepress.com.

A handful of area attractions have redefined winter fun by finding a cure for cabin fever and keeping the water nice and warm. Indoor waterparks have become popular attractions in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, and with three such attractions in Sandusky, one in Dundee and one in Maumee, residents are never far from a “staycation.”
Sandusky
The region’s hot spot is Sandusky, which has three state-of-the-art indoor waterparks. Great Wolf Lodge was the first to open in 2001. This 33,000 square-foot attraction features three pools, nine waterslides and two whirlpools, as well as Fort Mackenzie, a four-story tree house featuring a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket that cascades water onto guests every few minutes.
According to public relations manager Jennifer Beranek, Great Wolf Lodge is not as crowded as some other waterparks because the park is only open to its overnight guests.
“It’s more of an open feeling for (our guests) just because it’s not as crowded,” she said. Although lodge check-in is not until 4 p.m., guests may arrive as early as 1 p.m. to enjoy the park. Checkout is 11 a.m., but guests have access to the waterpark until it closes that day. According to Beranek, certain birthday party packages are available so families can have access to the waterpark without spending the night.
Great Wolf Lodge also offers group packages for business meetings, class trips and youth groups. Catering services are available, and the lodge has 5,000 square feet of meeting space. The lodge also features dining services, a fitness center and arcade, as well as educational opportunities for children and storytime each night.
The waterpark’s hours and special promotions can be found at the Great Wolf Lodge Web site, www.greatwolf.com/sandusky.
Another option in Sandusky is Castaway Bay, a 38,000-square-foot park owned by Cedar Fair, the parent company of Cedar Point. This park features a 100,000-gallon wave pool, three indoor/outdoor waterslides, a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket and Rendezvous Run, a 35-foot-high water roller coaster. The resort also offers dining, shopping, a spa and rooms for birthday parties and business meetings.
Two additional features are Camp Castaway and Club Castaway, which provide activities for younger and older children.
“Everything you need for a one-stop family getaway is right here at Castaway Bay,” said director of public relations Robin Innes. “It has a lot of different facilities that provide a lot of entertainment to everyone.”
The resort, which opened in 2005, has 238 hotel rooms and suites. An overnight stay is not required for park entrance. Day passes are $29 or $15 after 5 p.m. Room rates, park hours and promotions can be found at www.castawaybay.com.
By far the largest waterpark in the area is Kalahari Resort, also in the Sandusky area. The original park opened in 2005, but with a massive expansion in 2008, this attraction became the largest indoor waterpark in the country. This Africa-themed park is an immense 173,000 square feet and features 17 water rides, including slides, a roller coaster and surfing pool.
“Probably the No. 1 interest of our guests is that we have the largest indoor waterpark,” said Kalahari spokeswoman Shannon McCarthy.
Guests have access to amenities, such as the spa, fitness room, miniature golf, dining, shopping and arcade. The resort has 882 overnight rooms and suites, including 192 condos.
Kalahari also touts a 95,000-square-foot conference center capable of hosting functions both large and small and ranging from corporate conventions and weddings to board meetings and birthday parties.
Day passes are available for $39 Monday through Thursday ($29 after 5 p.m.) and $42 Friday through Sunday ($32 after 5 p.m.). Waterpark admission is included for overnight guests. Room rates, promotions and hours are available at www.kalahariresorts.com.
Dundee
Splash Universe, located next to Cabela’s, is another winter fun option for area residents. This park opened in 2007 and has many attractions for all ages. The Lil’ Squirt Pool is available for the youngest swimmers, while the Hot Springs hot tub provides parents with some relaxation. More adventurous swimmers can enjoy the tree house, 500-gallon tipping bucket, and indoor/outdoor waterslides.
“We try to have enough going on all the time,” said regional director of sales and marketing Jan Taber. “Our whole focus is on families and kids.”
Once on dry land, swimmers can enjoy the arcade, resort restaurant and gift shop.
Splash Universe is connected to the Holiday Inn Express Dundee, which has 163 themed rooms and suites to accompany the waterpark, but an overnight stay is not required for park admission. A full-day pass is $31.95, while a half-day pass is $24.95.
The half-day rate applies after
3 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and after 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Taber said that Splash Universe has the highest safety rating available for waterparks.
“Ours is the highest certification you can get, which makes a huge difference when it’s the safety of your children,” she said.
Room rates and promotions are at http://riverrun.splashuniverse.com.
Maumee
Splash Bay Indoor Waterpark is the closest such attraction to Toledo. This park, which opened in 2007, is also attached to a Holiday Inn Express and offers families with a local winter fun option. The central attraction is Fort Meigs, a multistory tree house with slides and a tipping bucket. Splash Bay also features indoor/outdoor waterslides, a lazy river and an activity pool for young swimmers.
“There really is something for every person,” waterpark supervisor Mary Cannella said.
Splash Bay also offers a snack bar and restaurant, in addition to an arcade and fitness center. The resort has meeting space for up to 150 people. Cannella said Toledoans should support their community by visiting Splash Bay instead of travelling to an out-of-town waterpark.
“We’re offering something to the local community. A lot of people don’t realize we have this amenity so close,” she said. “We are a little bit more affordable. We have extremely nice rooms. Our staff knows how to treat their guests.”
Cannella said parents appreciate the openness of the park, which allows them to supervise their children without many vision barriers.
The resort offers 108 rooms and suites for its guests. Day passes are available depending upon waterpark occupancy. Information is available online at www.splashbayresort.com and reservations can be made at www.holidayinn.com.

A struggling local economy hasn’t kept some entrepreneurs from opening new businesses. The old economics adage that no matter the market condition there are always opportunities for success remains true, even in a business climate as stagnant as the one in Lucas County.
This was part of the thinking that brought veteran financial advisors Neil Garrison, Richard Bohn, Gregory
Shemas, Thomas Briggs and David Sattler together in April to form NWQ Wealth Partners. The firm, in the King’s Pointe business park off McCord Road in West Toledo, is affiliated with Raymond James of Tampa, Fla., one of the country’s more successful financial services companies. It’s the company’s first Toledo office. [There is a Raymond James affiliate in Perrysburg.]
NWQ’s five partners, with 83 years experience in the field with mostly large brokerage firms, said they decided to start their own, smaller company, in part, to gain more independence in choosing their clients and the sort of services they want to offer.
For instance, although securities trading is an important part of their business, the group has carved out a niche in financial planning, with a particular focus on 401(k) and IRA management.
“Toledo is not New York, Chicago, Miami or Dallas,” said Briggs. “People here need a particular type of representation in financial planning.”
On that subject, one part of NWQ’s early success has been Toledo’s high unemployment rate, according to the brokers.  As a result, the group is seeing an unusual number of requests to help the recently unemployed with their 401(k)s.
“Unfortunately, people are losing their jobs,” Garrison said. “They’re seeking advice on how to go from where they are at this point in their lives to their retirement years.”
“We found a niche where we can help some people,” Bohn said.
The help usually begins with rolling a 401(k) into an IRA, according to Sattler. “Then we help them manage the IRA account.”
What makes NWQ different from the larger investment firms is that although the brokers are independent contractors they often work together assisting with one another’s accounts, Shemas said.
“The synergy here is great. We all help each other,” said Shemas, whose strength is securities trading. “If I have a client who needs help with his 401(k), I can go to Dave [Sattler] and bring him on board. Our clients are telling us, ‘I want more people looking at my account so I can get various opinions and viewpoints on how I should be invested.’ ”
The brokers say the affiliation with Raymond James has been a boost to their business as well, since the company was not impacted by the economic fallout in the industry that resulted in a number of mergers among the large financial companies, such as Merrill Lynch/Bank of America, Morgan Stanley/Smith-Barney and Wells Fargo/UBS.
“Raymond James turned a profit in a year [2008] when everyone else was losing money,” Garrison said. “The advantage for us is the company has the financial resources to provide us with the technical and planning support we need to be successful.”
Another advantage, NWQ’s brokers believe, was the group’s decision to locate in suburban Toledo, rather than Downtown.
“Our goal was to create a comfortable environment,” Bohn said. “When you walk into our office it’s like walking into your living room. Also, we wanted a convenient location. It’s easy for our clients to park their vehicles and walk into our office.”
The firm currently occupies 3,028 square feet of space, but has an option to add an additional 1,600 square feet should the business grow. Based on the first nine months, the brokers believe expansion is a possibility.
“So far, it’s going extremely well,” Briggs said.

President Obama is pushing the passage of the third Stimulus Package in the last three years. This third annual stimulus bill comes on the heels of the $152 billion stimulus of 2008 under President Bush which attempted to jump start the economy by giving taxpayers some cash back in the hopes that they would spend it and thereby create jobs. 2009 saw a $787 billion stimulus package under newly elected President Obama which attempted to jump start the economy by creating infrastructure projects that would create jobs. This latest and more modest effort, one which has currently passed the House, looks for an additional $75 billion (as the stimulus package of 2009 did) for infrastructure projects that would create jobs.

If it passes the Senate and as signed into law by the President, it would bring the total costs of such packages in this country to just over $1 trillion dollars. Now I know that a trillion dollars is not what it used to be these days, but shouldn’t one question the spending of yet another $75 billion when such spending during the prior two years of some $939 billion saw unemployment go from an average of between 5% and 7.5% in 2008 to 10% as we begin 2010.

Many will say that without these stimulus packages, the situation could have been much worse. On the other hand, the point could equally be made that without these stimulus packages, the situation could have been much better as well. The truth of the matter is that since both previous stimulus packages sailed through Congress with nary a hiccup and were quickly implemented, we don’t know what effect their lack would have had on the economy. We do know however that many businesses still proceeded to lay off workers as cost cutting measures after the stimulus, contributing to the rising unemployment rather than reducing it. We also know that the money steered to the banks (and things that became banks) in order to free up money lending, did not in fact do so.

If history has shown us anything, it is that similar funding and projects attempted by FDR during the Great Depression, while they did produce some magnificent monuments to profligate government spending, did nothing to promote long term economic growth or alleviate a similar economic situation. Further, many historians and economists believe that the excessive spending and regulation done by the federal government (and the debt incurred) prolonged the agony of the period far beyond what it would have been if left alone.

So we must ask ourselves, what it is that’s hindering the economic growth and the creation of jobs in this country. Could it be uncertainty over the level of employee regulation and obligation under the health care legislation currently in conference in Congress? Could it be additonal uncertainty about “cap and trade” legislation lined up right behind it, legislation that at this point permits no real understanding of the impact on the costs of doing business in this country? Could it be concern over the rising cost of energy in this country and the yet unknown costs to business that will be mandated by the EPA’s decision to force monitoring and regulation of the production of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases?

Could we say that the actual situation be even more insidious and far more dire, with both the last and current Administrations proving themselves all too willing to bail out the speculators and banking interests in this country? Could it be that far too many of those making the decisions about the regulation of the financial industry in Congress and those performing a similar role in the monetary policy in this country are products of the very system that created the current crisis, or rational to believe that those formerly involved either in management or lobbying position in the banking industry are those best able to keep their former friends and employers in check?

What we can say however, is that if we are to continue to use the automotive example that government and the media have presented for the last two plus years to describe this rather poor attempt to manipulate and control economic recovery in this country (regardless of the methods and motives), then perhaps we need to complete the analogy. If you have a car that regularly needs to be jump started in order to keep it going, you would at the least replace the battery to solve the problem. You might even consider replacing the car to eliminate the problem once and for all. What you would not do however, is continue to jump start an improperly functioning vehicle in the vague hope that the problem would simply go away.

Tim Higgins blogs at http://justblowingsmoke.blogspot.com/.

When Richard Marx released his self-titled debut in 1987, he hoped to sell enough records to make another album.
He did. More than three million copies, thanks to “Don’t Mean Nothing,” “Should Have Known Better,”  “Endless Summer Nights” and “Hold on to the Nights.”
“Satisfied,” “Right Here Waiting” and “Angelina” from his 1989 follow-up, “Repeat Offender,” made him the first male solo artist to have his first seven singles hit the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“It’s pretty much a blur and not because of drugs or booze because I was always pretty clean — when it comes to drugs, I’m still a drug virgin — it was just an immense amount of work,” Marx said of his success. “I toured for 30 months out of the first three years of my recording career.”
The singer-songwriter had a plan.

Richard Marx

“When I was having success, I felt like I was kicking and scratching and biting my way to having a career,” he said during a phone call from his Chicago home. “It was never about having a hit song or a hit record, it was about trying to carve out a hit career for myself.
“I knew even then that probably the best way for me to do that is what ultimately did happen. I had about 10 years of hits as a singer, and when that really slowed down to a crawl, instead of sort of just fading away, I put all my energy into writing and producing other people because that’s really how I started.”
Marx wrote “This I Promise You“ for N’Sync and co-wrote “Better Life” with Keith Urban. And in 2004, Marx and Luther Vandross won the Song of the Year Grammy for “Dance With My Father.”
“I just feel lucky that I’ve had quite a few hits since the peak of my singing career as a writer and producer for other people. That also allows me to work in so many different genres that I wouldn’t be able to do as a singer. As a singer, you can’t do a country record one year and an R&B record the next year,” Marx said. “But as a writer and a producer, I could do all those things, so that’s really great fun.”
And he’s having a blast performing. In 2006, he played in Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band.
“For me being the age I am and what I grew up with and The Beatles’ influence on all of us, to have 22 nights where I would look behind me and I’d be singing my songs, ‘Don’t Mean Nothing’ and ‘Should Have Known Better,’ and I would turn around and Ringo Starr is playing drums to my songs, it was just kind of mind-blowing,” the 46-year-old said. “And it was great fun for me to play on his great catalog of songs.”
Marx and Starr wrote a song, “Mystery of the Night,” which will be on Starr’s new disc to be released this year.
And Marx has been working with Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon. The two have performed acoustically as Duo.
“We’re playing a Duo show the night before I come to Toledo, so he’s going to come with me and play in the band in the Toledo show, and we’ll probably do at least one song as a duo that night as well with the orchestra,” he said.
Marx will take the stage with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Jan. 23 at Stranahan Theater. Tickets range from $35 to $75.

Most everybody has a New Year’s resolution, and just about, all of them pertain to living a healthier lifestyle. Maybe this year on the top of your resolution list  should be giving yourself a new look to match your healthier body. Just a few changes will have you feeling like a brand-new you.  This is one resolution you can make without spending a fortune, but look like you did.
We have a few great ideas to make this look simple and fun. For starters, try to get rid of anything old that you have a hard time parting with.
Anything that doesn’t fit right whether too big or too small, give it away. You know that old shirt that is an oldie but goody, even with that tiny stain, toss it. When you are done, throwing all the old out, you will feel like you have a brand new wardrobe, because all the old  is no longer sitting on top of all you’re good clothes. This will be much easier for men, but after women do it, we promise it feels like therapy.
Who needs to spend money on shopping therapy when you can uncover a brand-new looking closet at home? When you toss old things be sure to donate them to others who could use them to create their new look. If you want to make a purchase to add to your look, a belt or new scarf would be a great addition. Jewelry is a great way to sass up any outfit when looking for a little change.
With the new year why not give yourself a chance to change your hair and makeup. These can be small changes that make a big difference.  Every woman, teenager and little girl has a picture of a new style they love but are a bit nervous to try. Be bold and try this new look. If your stylist says that it will fit your face shape and skin color, go for it. Changing the cut and color of your hair might be just what the doctor ordered. Darken your hair and become that intriguing vixen you have always wanted to be or go lighter for a blond goddess look sure to turn heads. Some salons offer a complimentary makeup application after a new hair color to show you the colors to complement your new look.
This is a great way to try new makeup colors before you make a purchase. Makeup is a great way to add a change to your new look with out spending too much.
If you have a preteen in your family this is the perfect time to check into getting them a makeup lesson to show them how to apply and how much is appropriate.
For all the men who think that changing looks are only for the females, we have news for you. It is a quick snip, hair color, wax and possibly a few new purchases away. We are here to tell you that there is no excuse because all this can be done in less than a day. Take a trip to a salon after you clean up your face at home with a razor.
When you are at the salon, change your cut, and maybe try color or waxing.  If you are married, or have a significant other, they will love it! When you leave the salon go shopping buy an updated pair of jeans that fit you just right and the sexiest shirt you can find to go with it.
Now that we have all of Toledo learning how to improve their new look for the new year, we must celebrate and enjoy the view while we go out for a night on the town. Keep up with your look and do not forget that you will feel better in 2010, if you look better. Have a great new year and enjoy experimenting with new looks.

Ali and Alli are beauty experts at NRGIE Salon & Spa in Rossford, Ohio. To contact them or ask them a fashion or beauty question, write them at letters@toledofreepress.com.

Sunshine may be the best disinfectant when it comes to government transparency, but you can’t just peek through the curtains to let the sun really shine in.
Toledo City Council meetings are televised and covered in the media, but most of the items council votes “yes” or “no” on are discussed in more detail in committees and agenda review.
The formal budget for the City of Toledo has to be approved by March 31. This means legislation for a temporary appropriation of funding must be approved monthly until then or Toledo will not be able to operate. The funding request for February was one agenda item for the Jan. 12 Agenda Review meeting.
The former Finkbeiner administration’s 2010 budget proposal averages to more than $45 million for each month in estimated expenditures; about $20 million is general fund items. The expected income tax revenue for all of 2010 ranges from a low of $129 million to about $147 million.
Councilman Steve Steel said he was uncomfortable with the dollar amounts of these temporary requests. He said they needed an “appropriate amount to appropriate” instead of “money based on fiction” that still included a trash fee increase and the reduction in the tax credit for those who work outside of Toledo, which council has refused to pass.
Council member George Sarantou said that as the Bell administration had just taken office, “It’s my understanding that the Bell administration is spending far less than
$20 million [from the general fund] in January.”
Steve Herwat, deputy mayor of operations, said, “I am the gatekeeper of expenditures for purchase orders.”  He said he was only approving vital general fund items, such as fuel for city vehicles. Herwat also said the trash fee and the tax credit reduction were not recommendations from the Bell administration.
Councilman D. Michael Collins took issue with the time frame Herwat laid out for Bell’s “CSI” financial team to assist in the revised Bell budget, considering at that time the team had not met. Collins said, “Time is not our ally on this issue … 45 days is not acceptable.”
Herwat said, “As soon as we have a number on the 22nd floor, and we have documentation, it will be provided to members of council at the same time. We  aren’t going to be operating in a vacuum until the end of February, but realistically it’s going to take us as a new administration that long to get a total balanced budget document together.”
Legislation to create a Toledo Dog Warden Advisory committee from members Steel, Rob Ludeman and Joe McNamara was also debated at length at the Jan. 12 Agenda Review. The stated goal was to create an advisory committee reviewing Toledo’s current vicious dog ordinance since the County Dog Warden advisory group was not charged with Toledo ordinance issues.
Council members Lindsay Webb and Adam Martinez stressed the need for neighborhood residents to be on this advisory committee. Webb questioned the need for this issue to be a priority, saying it appears politically motivated.
Collins wants the city to consider an animal control officer within the Toledo Police Department. Herwat confirmed there had been discussion on that; Maumee and Perrysburg have an animal control officer.
Councilman Michael Ashford raised the unenforced cat ordinance and the huge feral cat problem in parts of Toledo. He said, “let’s be objective about how we are going to address animal care issues in the City of Toledo.”
Council President Wilma Brown said, “We all knew we have a budget to address and I would hope that dogs and cats won’t take precedence over you guys working on this budget.”
There are six council meetings between now and March 31. These next few weeks will be a test of the ability of council and the Bell administration to work through reviewing and coming up with an approved balanced budget. The opportunity for public input needs to be offered soon.

Lisa Renee Ward is Toledo Free Press fact checker and operator of Glass City Jungle.

WRSCradio.com, one of Northwest Ohio’s first Internet radio stations, was founded by Alan Singlar, Mark Reeves and Rick Waldron for Toledo sports fans seeking a local twist.
“We had a vision in the beginning to just have a 24/7 radio station,” Waldron said. “We had a song library put together, and we had local and national news updates to run to start.”
But the three men saw a greater potential for the Oregon-based station.
“People kept telling us to hop on high school sports because of how big they are in this area,” Waldron said. “So we decided to go in that direction.”
WRSCradio.com works with six area high schools — Clay, Whitmer, Lake, Rossford, Northwood and Genoa — and broadcasts the schools’ athletic competitions in various sports.  Football was a big draw for the station during the fall sports season. WRSC radio.com broadcasted the games  live so fans of the schools were able to listen to the games.

From left,, Rick Waldron, Mark Reeves and Alan Singlar of WRSCradio.com.

“You could go on our Web site and choose any of the schools to listen to their games on any given Friday or Saturday,” Singlar said.
But it has not been all pigskin on the airwaves for the station. The station is the flagship station for the Northwest Hockey Conference (NHC), which consists of 18 teams, and landed the NABF College World Series, which took place at Ned Skeldon Stadium.
“The college baseball tournament provided us with a chance to circulate our name a little more,” Waldron said. “We had a mother of one of the kids listening to us in Perth, Australia. Then, we found out that because one of the managers of one of the teams worked for the New York Mets, and we had the whole Mets office listening to us cover the game. They provided us with positive feedback and that has helped us create a marketing footprint.”
Local high school sports have been the major draw.
“We had in excess of 250,000 hits to our site during the high school games,” Singlar said. “That tells us that people are out there listening to us.”
Each of the participant schools will have its own Web page and the station will use its Web site to showcase community events, restaurants and business establishments and to use the station’s Web site as a cross promotional tool.
“We are working to impact the Toledo area, but do it on a community level,” Reeves said. “We want to be on a different level. We want to be on that personal level within the community that other stations have not gotten to.”
No matter where the station goes, Reeves, Singlar and Waldron said the future is bright for WRSCradio.com
“The possibilities are endless,” Singlar said. “We want to take care of the local Toledo area first, but we feel that this could be huge for us.”