Barb Brotzki raised four children and worked part time as a self-taught bookkeeper, but returned to school to complete her education after her last child graduated from high school in 2006.
“I had a real hunger for education following the example of my mother who went back to school at age 60,” she said.
At age 52, Brotzki graduated from the honors program at Owens with an associate degree in pre-business. She completed the requirements for her degree in December, but continued to take classes to graduate with her class in May.
She also stayed because she is the only student on the search committee for a new president at Owens.
After narrowing the search to two finalists, the committee is planning to reconvene June 10 to begin reviewing additional candidates for interviews.
“It’s been very time-consuming but I’m honored to serve and it’s been a great opportunity to learn about the inner-workings of academia,” Brotzki said.
At Owens, Brotzki was active in student government, the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Black Student Union and Red Cross Club at Owens.
She earned a 3.86 GPA in the honors program, while working part time as financial and officer administrator for Toepfer Environmental Services in Toledo. Her employer allowed her to work flexible hours to accommodate her classes at Owens.
Brotzki plans to continue her education this fall at UT’s College of Business to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She wants to use her education to help people through her missionary work.
Her daughter wanted to go on a missionary trip with their church at age 16. Brotzki didn’t want her going alone so she accompanied her. It would become the first of several trips she would make to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Philippines for missionary work through religious and social organizations.
“I think everyone should go on a mission trip to appreciate how much we have in the U.S. and how blessed we are to have it,” she said.

Brotzki

“We can’t bring our way of life to the rest of the world. You have to work with their world to help them become more self-sufficient. They’re doing their very best to get by.”
Brotzki visited Guatemala in 2009 as part of a mission trip where she assisted at a local feeding center that provided children with a balanced meal for six days each week. She also became involved in teaching people how to sew in a missionary school there.
The mission administrators approached Brotzki about preparing a sewing manual that could be used to train missionaries how to sew and teach people to do it. She said such skills are important for financial and personal reasons.
“They can use sewing to make items, such as clothes, curtains, pillows and rugs for their homes and to sell them to help support their families by selling those items.”
As part of the honors program at Owens, each student is required to participate in an independent study class and complete an honors project that focuses on campus or community outreach. Brotzki created a basic sewing manual titled, “Anyone Can Learn to Sew,” for her project.
She plans to use an updated version, which she is translating into Spanish, to train missionaries and people in Guatemala.
She is making another trip there to work in a missionary school and a Mayan village.
In the past, Brotzki has gone to Central America with interpreters. She took Spanish at Owens learning to read and write it. She is working with a neighbor who speaks Spanish to learn how to speak that language fluently.
“I needed more education for opportunities in missionary work. Education is the key for them to get out of poverty.”
Brotzki said she believes that people need to help those at home, as well as in other countries.
She has volunteered at the Church on Strayer in Maumee to make food baskets for the NOEL project through the United Way and book bags for Operation Backpacks.
Brotzki grew up in Sandusky where she married her high school sweetheart, Paul, 32 years ago. The couple has one daughter, three sons and one grandchild.
They moved their family to the Toledo area from Sandusky 10 years ago. He works as treasurer for the Maumee School District.
“You have to sacrifice a lot to go back to school and my family has been very supportive.”

For $11, fans of Hawthorne Heights can see the band in concert — and get a copy of their disc, “Skeletons,” due out June 1.

“Entertainment is kind of a luxury; you don’t really have to do it to survive. So a lot of people can’t afford to, so we try to make it as affordable as possible while also throwing our music in there,” said singer and guitarist JT Woodruff. “So you get the chance to hear the band play a nice, long, live show and get 13 songs from the new record plus another two additional that are exclusive to this tour.

“I guess we just really wanted to make sure that almost whoever wanted to go could come out and meet us and have a good time.”

Hawthorne Heights will be at Headliners June 4. Opening will be The Audition, The Story Changes, The Comeback and The Fight Within. Doors open at 6 p.m.

“I really look forward to going to Toledo. It’s a really cool city; it’s only three and a half hours up the road for us, and we can go to Tony Packo’s,” Woodruff said during a call from Cincinnati.

Woodruff, lead guitarist Micah Carli, guitarist Casey Calvert, bassist Matt Ridenour and drummer Eron Bucciarelli formed the group in 2001 in Dayton, Ohio. Their 2004 debut, “The Silence in Black and White,” went platinum and featured the single, “Ohio is for Lovers.” The band’s 2006 follow-up, “If Only You Were Lonely,” included the hit, “Saying Sorry.”

In 2007, Calvert died at age 26 from an accidental mixture of prescription drugs.

“He’s definitely always there with us,” Woodruff said. “Every time we get together, it brings back memories; every time we play a show, it brings back memories, but most of the memories are really good and really fond memories, so it’s good for us.”

Woodruff added there’s a special dedication for Calvert on “Skeletons.”

The new disc on Wind-up Records contains some moving tracks.

“ ‘Bring You Back’ is about a bunch of different emotions all rolled together — losing people you’re close to, losing people you’re not close to — it’s sad either way,” Woodruff said.

“ ‘Boy’ is probably the toughest song lyrically that I’ve ever written because it is specifically about parts of my life and not very good parts of my life,” he said. “I just wanted it to be really genuine and really just kind of write about being a divorced kid growing up.”

The singer-songwriter is willing to open up for fans.

“It would be great if people would make a personal connection with the lyrics,” Woodruff said. “I would love for each song to mean something to everyone even if it’s not the same meaning; I like for people to make their own assessments and sometimes that meaning is just fun, you know. I don’t think it has to be serious even though a lot of times it seems like that.

“Music sometimes should just be turn your head off and go away to a different place while listening to a great record. I know people can do that with our music. I hope that it makes people think; I hope it makes people follow what they want to follow, whatever that is.”

www.hawthorneheights.com

Last week in “Bracing for a Breakdown” I wrote that the market seemed to be hinting that its correction was not yet over, and that investors might be wise to approach equities with caution. Since then the Dow is down about 400 points after trading down four of the past five days.

While this correction may not be over yet, as the market moves lower the chances of prices continuing lower will diminish. In other words, since the market is lower than it was last week, the chances of it continuing down over the next week are relatively lower.

After all, between the Flash Crash earlier this month and the market’s recent correction, market prices have come down significantly. Investors need to remember that corrections, like bubbles, don’t last forever.

Even more importantly in looking forward, the market has not declined in uniform fashion. Some sectors have experienced declines far more dramatic than others. As an example, oil stocks have been hit far harder than those of companies which mine precious metals. Whichever of these two sectors seems better, given the circumstances, is a matter of basic investing philosophy.

Given current price and earnings levels, equities in aggregate are certainly not cheap – hence the calls for a correction. However, there are some sectors of the economy whose prices may represent buying opportunities. Money managers with a sector-orientation spend considerable time looking for such opportunities and take advantage of them whenever possible.

Since the correction began, there has been a growing level of uncertainty in the market. Before the market started down, sentiment among professional money managers was approximately 80% bullish. It took just 13 trading days for that number to fall to 45% BEARISH. What this means is that advisors began by recommending that their clients be 80% invested in the market, to recommending 13 days later that clients use 45% of their portfolios to short the market (bet that it will go down)(The Bearish Bandwagon, Hulbert, MarketWatch.com).

During the same time the S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) experienced a sharp rally, indicative of increasing worries about the market’s prospects going forward. Granted, of course, the VIX had declined before the crash, to pre-2008 levels, revealing a great deal of complacency in the market. Since its recent rally, the VIX has reached levels only attained four times in the past ten years, each of which represented relative buying opportunities.

Also contributing to growing uncertainty are geopolitical circumstances currently emerging around the world. While the troubles facing Europe, the potential breakdown of the European Union, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the prospects of sweeping financial reform legislation coming out of Washington are becoming old news, there are new stories developing every day.

Case in point: Tensions between North and South Korea are flaring up again in spectacular fashion. Of course, let’s also not forget the recent violence in Jamaica or recent political turmoil as election season approaches. Included therein are the accusations Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak has leveled against the Obama Administration, whose approval rating continues to fall (charge which could prove to be an impeachable offense, if substantiated).

While the markets are obviously facing considerable obstacles going forward, there have also some great developments that shouldn’t be underestimated. First and foremost, the manufacturing sector appears to be continuing its recent improvement, particularly in the United States as the recent trend of “on-shoring,” which we first mentioned a year or so ago, begins to pick up steam.

In fact, there have been several stories lately of Chinese businesses opening plants HERE because they are more economical. Who would’ve thought they’d ever live to see the day when the Chinese turned to Americans for our cheap manufacturing?

The world in which we now find ourselves is most certainly an interesting place. Whether from an economic, financial, geopolitical, or industrial perspective, the world is constantly changing. Although it’s certainly difficult to assemble the ever-changing pieces of a faded puzzle, the task remains necessary none-the-less.

Dock David Treece is a stockbroker licensed with FINRA. He works for Treece Financial Services Corp. and also serves as editor of the financial news site Green Faucet and as a business commentator for Toledo Free Press. The above information is the express opinion of Dock David Treece and should not be construed as investment advice or used without outside verification.

The re-Americanization of the Indianapolis 500 is mired in a mega pothole at the corner of Georgetown and 16th in Indianapolis, site of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and no help is on the way.

America’s bastion of open-wheel racing, its field of dreams for so many young racers is this country has been overrun by foreign objects, legal aliens and the like.

It’s now the International 500. Those once indigenous to Indy, native American open-wheel racers, are on the outside looking in or on the inside looking at virtually no chance of winning this weekend’s 94th running of the Indy 500.

A record low nine American-born drivers are in this year’s 33-car field. It’s not an aberration. It’s a trend.

The previous record low was 11 established last year. There were only 13 in 2008 and 14 in 1995, the first year of the split in open-wheel racing. That’s when former Speedway president Tony George formed the Indy Racing League. That‘s when he dangled his Indy 500 in front of the established CART organization, stating in principle, “You might think you don’t need me now, but eventually you’ll be back because I own the only race in town.”

He was right. The CART folks thought they could survive without Indy. They couldn‘t. Their sponsors wouldn’t allow it. They’re all back at the Brickyard , with one exception, Tony George, who was recently deposed, his mother and three sisters kicking him off the board of directors at Indy. George is still somewhere on the grounds as a partial team owner with stepson Ed Carpenter as his driver.

A.J. Foyt, one of three drivers, including Rick Mears and Al Unser, to win a record four Indy 500s, has often said, “The drivers don’t make Indy, Indy makes the drivers.” Much to Foyt’s chagrin, the latest driver Indy is making is Helio Castroneves, one of eight Brazilians in this year’s field. He‘ll start from the pole and is the odds-on favorite to win this year’s race and join the all-American threesome of four-time winners.

What has also become a disturbing trend is that those among the most promising young American drivers, namely Graham Rahal, son of 1986 Indy champion Bobby, and another proven winner, Ryan Hunter-Reay, don’t even have full-time rides this season.

The only two Americans with full-time rides are Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick, the series’ most popular driver, at least until last weekend when she was booed for passing the blame to her team for her very disappointing 23rd qualifying position over the track public address system. That left her somewhat surprised and maybe hastened her departure to NASCAR where blameworthiness abounds.

The IRL has failed to develop an American driver capable of contending for victories and championships since Sam Hornish left for NASCAR full-time in 2008. The Defiance, OH., driver had won three IndyCar titles and the Indy 500 in 2006.

Patrick is one of a record four women in this year’s 33-car field. Since George’s IRL plan eventually didn’t set well with the female members of his family maybe he can get back in their good graces with the promotion of an Indy 500 Powder Puff Derby.

“Today, NASCAR took a great chunk of the attention,” explained Castroneves, seeking his second consecutive Indy 500 victory. “All the American talent, it’s focused more in that direction. It’s a little bit of lack of option. The IndyCar Series has go-karts, Indy Lights and IndyCar. You can’t just jump into a prototype car and then to Indy Lights and IndyCar. It’s a little bit difficult. So the option is going to other places, like Europe or [Brazil], to develop those skills.

“I‘m sure in the next few years you‘re going to be seeing American talent, drivers, rising again.”

Or not unless more American-born drivers are able to exploit their roots.

IndyCar has helped create the closeout of American drivers by including more road courses and temporary street courses which now outnumber ovals on its schedule. It’s the new marketing technique of taking the races to the people since bringing the people to the races has failed.

The American community of open-wheel racing is all about ovals, which was the original footprint of the IRL as advertised by George.

When all is said and done, the barbs tossed, the diversity reproached and George berated still again, the Indy 500 is still, “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” bar none.

Castroneves said he saw Jesus three times while driving on the edge during qualifying, Patrick heard boos for the first time and Tony Kanahan cried after crashing twice before finally making the field. Indy is still the epitome of emotion when it comes to racing. It‘s the motherland, native sons or not.

Entertainment Weekly: Nice guys finish first

Billboard: Lee DeWyze Wins ‘American Idol’

USA Today: ‘American Idol’ crowns Lee Dewyze, salutes Simon Cowell

MTV: Lee Wins The ‘Season Of The Girl’

Chicago Tribune: DeWyze won the show, but Bowersox will have a better career

New York Times: Our Unanswered Questions About the ‘American Idol’ Finale

A digital version of Toledo Free Press is now available:

Link to Toledo Free Press Issuu profile here.

At the Trinity United Church of Christ in Elliston, Crystal Bowersox will always be an American Idol.
“She is doing something good, inspiring us that dreams do come true,” said Amber Gahler, coordinator of Bowerstock in Ottawa County. “She’s still an Idol in our eyes. And will still be successful.”
When Lee DeWyze was announced “American Idol,” the church gym was quiet, besides the sound of the TV. However, when Crystal was named the “America Idol” runner up the gym erupted with applause for their hometown girl. Despite the loss, the church dropped balloons and streamers for Crystal.
“We had an inkling to the result. But she’s still a winner. She’s still going to have a great career,” said Alice Bowersox, Crystal’s grandmother.
Keith Bowersox, Crystal’s grandfather said he had read on Dialidol.com that DeWyze would win so it was no shock.
“What I think is the mothers let the little kiddies and the tweenies and the teenie boppers go to bed and they didn’t take their phones. Talent wise the guy is good, but she’s great. Popularity-wise with the females, he won,” Keith said.
In spite of Crystal being named runner-up, Keith said the whole experience has been a “hoot” and her career will blossom.
“I don’t think it matters that she’s the runner-up, really. She’s awesome and always has been,” said Harmony Wagner, Crystal’s first cousin.
“It’s so surreal. I knew she’d go far,” said Heather Wagner, another cousin. “I’m not disappointed at all, she’s going to do great things with her talent.
In addition to family members, more than 400 people were in attendance to cheer on Crystal.
The Big Nut, OSU fan Jon Peters, was asked to come to the finale to help raise money for Diabetes Youth Services (DYS). Peters formerly attended the church.
“There’s so much love for Crystal here. I wanted to help raise money for her services. It’s an amazing small town big story. It’s amazing she made it into the top two,” Peters said. “They’re both winners. There is no loser. They both have huge big careers ahead of them.”
Kim Sivert of Elmore voted for Crystal for more than two hours. She came to the event to see Crystal win, but was still happy for the Northwest Ohio native.
“We loved Crystal from the beginning. For her to win it would be icing on the cake, but she’s already No. 1 in our eyes,” said Tracy Dresser, a volunteer who has been selling Crystal T-shirts each week for DYS.
The church has hosted viewing parties for the local “Idol” since the season began. More than $5,000 has been presented to DYS from T-shirt sales, and the church hopes to present more money in the future.

It’s 10:15 p.m. May 26 and the Huntington Center is almost empty.
Sixteen minutes ago, several hundred people clenched their fists, gritted their teeth, whispered their final prayers and squeezed their eyes shut as “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest opened his mouth to say the name they had all been dreading: “Lee DeWyze.”
A few scattered boos, a few fists in the air, and the place evacuated.
“I’m shocked, I’m really shocked, I thought she had it in the bag,” said Michelle Larrow, voicing a belief everyone seemed to share.
“I think she knew,” said Kathy Belsoie. “She was breaking down before the announcement was even made.”
Belsoie had a unique reason to be disappointed. She taught one of the classes Crystal took while attending the Toledo School for the Arts.
She recalls that Crystal was an outgoing, creative student who was always interested in those around her.
“I would give her an assignment, and she wouldn’t say anything. And she would come back with something especially creative,” she said.
Belsoie remembered that Crystal always seemed comfortable onstage.
“She loved it. She moved with ease. It doesn’t matter, she’s going to have a wonderful career. We’re going to buy her CD.”
Her daughter, Kelly Perz, was bitter.
“I’m disappointed, because I think it was a lot of young girls voting for Lee DeWyze,” Perz said. “The true talent is Crystal.”
A group of students from Crystal’s school echoed Perz’s sentiment: More girls voted than guys, and girls voted for the cute boy. That’s just the nature of ‘American Idol’.”
“She’ll still go places,” said Ben Abbott, one of the students.
“I think she’ll still have a better career,” added Kiley Brandon.
The other students agreed. They said Crystal will do just fine without “Idol’s” help.
Another theory explaining Crystal’s shocking defeat surfaced:
“It sucks!” said Paul Kruthaup. “I think that she did a better job, but he comes from a larger city, so he got more votes. That’s the way the game goes.”
Many looked shell-shocked.
“The wrong person won,” said Todd Gague flatly. “Who knows? You can’t really say why. Yeah, Chicago is big, but Ohio is bigger than Illinois. Who knows?”
“It was awful,” said Kim Webb. “I just can’t believe she lost. She did so much better than him. I can’t believe she lost.”
But for the Toledoans who trudge daway from the new arena, lighting cigarettes, holding hands, and wiping a few stray tears, all hope was not lost.
“She’s already a winner with us,” said Mayor Mike Bell before the show began. “This is just a big celebration — a continuation of a celebration we already started.”
Daniella Fioes maintained an optimistic attitude.
“I still think she should have won, but she did very good — excellent. She got goods. I know a lot of people wouldn’t have tried out,” she said.
But despite her defeat, Crystal brought hope. Before the show began, two women explained how.
“She just brought us all up,” said Robin Sopko, who carried a sign thanking Crystal for helping her out of her midlife crisis.
Her friend, Jennifer Couteure, added, “Her name should be Mama Sunshine.”
Two wheelchair-bound women, Debbie Taylor and Yolanda Calhoun, waited outside of the arena for hours before the presentation of the show began so they could find places from which to watch.
“She’s the best belly-acher I’ve ever heard!” said Calhoun, referring to Crystal’s singing style.
Lori Ortman is also optimistic.
“I think she’ll make it in the business anyway, so she’ll be OK,” she said.

After it was announced that Crystal Bowersox finished as “American Idol,” runner-up, Toledo Free Press contacted a number of local and national entertainment sources. Here’s what they had to say:
Gary Yoder, general manager of FOX Toledo: “It’s been a wonderful journey for Northwest Ohio, that Crystal is a wonderful talent that we’ve enjoyed. We look forward to many years of following her career. It put us on the map. It showed Northwest Ohio in a very positive light. It gave us a shot in the arm when we were at times in a weak economy in a tough part of the country. Crystal gave a lot of people hope. Hopefully she’s a stepping stone to rebuilding Northwest Ohio. She finally gave us something positive. I think she’ll be very successful musically. I’ll be one of the first ones in line to buy some music.”
Candice Coleman, Toledo-area “American Idol” semifinalist, season 2: “We were cheated, first of all, because she was far, far, far better than everybody else, but I just feel like Toledo’s still gonna love and embrace her, and she’s still gonna be in Toledo’s eyes our ‘American Idol.’ She’s gonna be famous nationally. She’s gonna be fine. She was heads above everybody else. It was like black and white. It was like comparing day and night. I don’t understand how this happened. I just can’t believe it, that’s all. I’m shocked.”
Andrew Zepeda, radio host for 92.5 KISS FM morning show: “Shocked. I can’t believe it. I talked to a dozen people before the show, all of the contest’s former Idols, some who made the top 12 but didn’t make it to the top two … everyone was saying it was Crystal’s night. There was one moment on the red carpet when I thought things were turning just a little bit, because elast year, Adam Lambert, everybody said he was gonna win … in the end of course, he doesn’t win, and I was just starting to feel that way. Everybody was so Crystal, Crystal, Crystal … the coasts are different than the Midwest. For once, the spotlight has a positive shine on Toledo. No matter what, it’s so good for Toledo. She’s a good representation for our area.”
Jeff McGinnis, pop culture columnist for Toledo Free Press Star: “Crystal was done in by a very specific demographic vote that was voting for the cute guy. It was important to note that really, this might be the best possible thing for her career … that’s gonna get her a ton of sympathy in the months and years to come. It might be best for her. How many of these [former Idol winners] drifted off into obscurity? Nothing she did let the area down in any way, shape or form. She stuck it out to the bitter end. She performed best of anybody. We all know that she did. There’s nothing Toledo has to take away from this negative in any way, shape, or form.”
Carlos Diaz, “Extra” reporter: “I’m shocked that she lost. I’m absolutely shocked, because she has one of the best voices that I’ve ever heard. She’s effortless. She was in a whole other league, and I tell you what, all you have to do is look at last year. Adam Lambert finished second, and he’s the bigger star now. It’s come to the point of ‘American Idol’ that winning is not the end all be all. She was the most talented person by far. And she is gonna have the better career by far. Wednesday night meant absolutely nothing in the career path of Crystal Bowersox. She will be a star regardless. I think it shows how one person and the dreams of one person can rally an entire community. It just goes to show that there’s talent in all portions of America. Talent is not just in L.A. or New York; talent is in every nook and cranny of America. You don’t have to go to the coast to find the most talented people…and Crystal is proof. She already is a star.”
Monica Herrera, associate editor, Billboard magazine: “I think she’ll definitely be successful. There will be people wanting to collaborate with her after the show. I think she’ll end up making a pretty strong album. It’s really tough for a female contestant to win ‘Idol’ nowadays. We haven’t seen a female win since 2007. We’ve seen three kinds of male rocker types in a row. I’m not sure what that says. I think based on last night’s performance, she should have won.”
Adam Bryant, TV Guide senior editor: “I think she was head and shoulders above the rest. As an artist she’s great, and she’s far ahead of most of the competition this year. I don’t think you can judge what’s fair and what’s not fair when you turn it over to America. Crystal was leading very early on the last few weeks. After last night’s performances, when Lee faltered a bit … she knocked it out of the park, especially with ‘Up to the Mountain.’ You can’t rule out … reaching a young female audience. Lee appeals to those types … it’s gonna be harder and harder for women to win this competition. Crystal, whether or not she won, she was the Adam Lambert of the season. She was the judges’ favorite from the beginning.”
Richard Lawson, Staff Writer, Gawker: “While Crystal was the more technically proficient singer, Lee better fit the complete ‘Idol’ bill: the cute underdog with an ever-growing teen girl fanbase. This is probably ultimately better for Crystal, as she’ll hopefully have a little more freedom when she makes her record.
Not everyone is a Bowersox fan. Dave Marsh, biographer of The Who and Bruce Springsteen and an influential voter for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, told Toledo Free Press that Bowersox does not measure up to other famous Toledo musicians.
“She’s not one percent as interesting or talented as Lyfe Jennings — that I can tell you for sure. She’s not one percent as interesting or talented as Tom Scholz [of Boston]. Anybody could figure that out,” he said. “Must we descend to the point where I am also praising a member of Weezer?”
Marsh said he is working on a book called “American Idol is Evil.”

“She’s done beautifully,” said Frankie May, when reached via telephone after “American Idol” concluded May 26. “She has remained true to herself and I know that she loves everyone who has given her so much love and support. Crystal is going to do great things.”
May had not talked to her yet, but said he thinks she’s doing fine since that’s her personality.
May, a bassist who has performed with Bowersox in Toledo and is a friend, is in L.A. for the season finale of “American Idol.”
“She’s a great musician. I love her songs. I mean the covers that we did, she’d make her own. But, the area she really did shine was with her own original music,” he said.
May, who had connections to Bowersox through his parents and her grandparents, first met Bowersox 10 years ago when she was playing with his father, Bobby May, at Papa’s Tavern.
The pair have jammed with each other since their first meeting. Playing together before Bowersox moved to Chicago and after she moved back to Toledo, he said.
The duo has played at the Village Idiot, Papa’s Tavern, Nagoya Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi and others. Performing around town at various venues, crowds seemed receptive to Bowersox’s music, May said.
“We had a lot of regulars. A lot of people who enjoyed [the performances], even people who were just passing through. We got a very positive response,” he said.
May thought some of the best shows, Bowersox and he had were on Monday nights at the Village Idiot when the two were in tune with each other and the crowd.
In addition to local bars, May played alongside Bowersox at Bowerstock in Ottawa County when she returned for her hometown visit May 14.
It was surprising when Bowersox auditioned for “Idol,” but it was amazing when she made it, May said.
“I was glad to see she got on when she did. She’s a seasoned artist and I know she will do well,” he said.
“It’s awesome seeing her on TV. She deserves recognition that she’s getting. I’m extremely hopeful for her and this competition. But, I  know that even if she were to get cut today, there is a lot more on the horizon for her now that she has received this exposure.”