Editor’s Note: Toledo Free Press, United Way of Greater Toledo and 13abc’s “Bridges” with Doni Miller are profiling 12 education initiative programs in Northwest Ohio. This is the seventh story in the series.

In 2005, a new high school opened through a partnership with the University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools (TPS) and a grant through the Gates Foundation. It serves 100 students.
Aimed at students who generally would not be prepared for higher education and students who are not native English speakers, Toledo Early College High School (TECHS) provides students with the chance to begin earning college credit while still in high school.
In its second year, amidst the failing ratings of TPS, TECHS earned an “excellent” rating.
The school is located on UT’s Scott Park campus and students are able to use the UT bus system to take first-year college classes on the main campus. In some cases, the high school faculty, who all must have a master’s degree, is trained to teach college-level courses so students can stay within the high school.
In the long run, it benefits the state because it is only funding potentially six to seven years of education instead of eight, or the traditional four years of high school and four (or more) years of college, said Tom Brady, chair of the TECHS Governance Board.
“While everyone probably can’t do that, many could and it would save families and the state money in the end,” he said.
Brady said when the first graduating class went to college, most went to UT and did well.
“That’s the kind of thing, where you get a chance to make that happen, it’s something that is a good thing,” Brady said.
These students weren’t just going to college as an average freshman — the high school gives students the opportunity to graduate with one to two years of college coursework already completed.
Robin Wheatley, TECHS principal, said that a graduate from the first freshman class graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UT in December 2010 and there are other students who will be graduating with their bachelor’s this spring and fall. All of the students will be 20 years old at most.
Historically, Brady said schools like TECHS are not full of the “brightest students” from the district, but the faculty and resources from the high school and UT help them do their best in preparation for life beyond high school.
“The fact that early college high school and Toledo Technology Academy have been able to take kids that are pretty average and make them successful is one of the real bright spots,” Brady said.
For the majority of the students who choose to stay at UT, they receive several benefits.
“You don’t have to learn a new campus, you know the professors, you can figure out what’s a good course for you to take and what the expectations are,” Dr. Wheatley said.
But the school and its students are facing some challenges as well.
A major worry for the TECHS faculty and students is that the grant from the Gates Foundation ran out.
One of the proposed budget cuts for TPS last year, Brady said, was to eliminate TECHS.
Then there are the problems that stem from the limited funding: busing students to and from school, some of which are from suburban districts, not just TPS; paying the tuition for the UT classes; procuring textbooks for the UT classes; and recruiting and keeping students in a school that is not a traditional high school.
“These schools need to survive because even though they may appear as extra expenses, they are the bright lights,” Brady said.
The school tries to enroll 100 students each year in the freshman class, but when some kids come to a school like this, they decide along the way that it’s not for them, Brady said. The coursework is more difficult and it does not have all of the same extracurricular activities, such as a football team. It is possible that the class size can drop down to 60.
However, the school still has a competitive quiz bowl team, yearbook staff, Youth to Youth, drama club, chess club, a community dance troupe and an American Sign Language club, to name a few, Wheatley said.
Another worry for parents is affect the funding limitations could have. They could lose transportation to school or the school could close before their child has graduated.
Brady said the school is trying to work on its marketing through advertising and using resources from UT. They are on both the university’s website as well as the TPS website.
Despite the struggles, the school is continuing onward and doing what it does best — preparing students to be successful college students and beyond.
Being located on the UT campus, students are able to take part in the university’s programs, such as cultural events and career fairs.
Recruitment for TECHS is through April 4. For more information, visit the website toledoearlycollege.org.

Fundraising efforts continue for the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Tribute Memorial and Park, which will be at the foot of the bridge on Front Street in East Toledo.
The Tribute Memorial and Park project will recognize those who made the bridge possible. The final preparations are being made for the official dedication of the memorial and park April 28, coinciding with National Workers’ Memorial Day.
The memorial will honor the five tradesmen who lost their lives during construction of the signature bridge that now provides the I-280 Maumee River crossing.
Feb. 16 marked the seventh anniversary of the death of four workers from Ironworkers Union Local 55 including Arden Clark II, Robert Lipinski Jr., Michael Moreau and Michael Phillips.
Andrew Burris, a member of Carpenters Union Local 1138, died April 19, 2007, when the platform on which he was working detached from the bridge and he fell to the ground. The skyway bridge opened to the public in June 2007.
The site, formerly Ravine Park II, was selected by a community group with public input for its unique view of the skyway and close proximity to the location of the accident that killed the four Ironworkers in 2004.
“It is a well-thought out memorial conceptually relating to the bridge that has become a symbol of the city,” said Dan Hernandez, coordinator of Art in Public Places for the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.
The Tribute Memorial sculpture, designed by Chicago artist Evan Lewis, will feature four columns, mimicking the columns of the bridge. Two large kinetic elements at the top of the extended columns will move continuously in the wind symbolizing the constant effort of the workers who helped build the bridge.
The sculpture will stand 40 feet tall in a plaza at the center of the park, providing a unique vantage point to view the bridge and reflect on the project. It will become part of the City of Toledo’s One Percent for Art Collection.
The names of the workers who died working on the project will be engraved on a plaque at the base of the sculpture.
“We are providing the community with opportunities to add their signature imprint to this historic monument,” said Marc Folk, executive director of the Arts Commission. “The contributions will be recognized with a personalized brick paver or bench that will help us complete this wonderful tribute.”
The plaza around the sculpture will feature a combination of 4-by-8-inch square brick pavers so individuals and organizations can personalize their support of the memorial.
The smaller bricks engraved with three lines of text are available for $50 to $124; the larger pavers for $125 to $499.
Patrons can purchase the larger brick engraved with a company logo or up to six lines of text for $500 to $999. Landscaping bricks with the same content will be sold for $1,000 to $2,400. A bench plus a small brick can be purchased for $2,500 to $4,999 and a bench with a larger brick for $5,000 and up.
The total anticipated cost of Tribute Park and the memorial sculpture will fall between $270,000 and $290,000 depending on the success of the final fundraising appeal. Secured funding of $237,000 will cover the cost of the sculpture and some of the landscaping, Hernandez said.
Those funds leave a balance of $33,000 to $53,000. The number of benches, lamp posts and trees for the project will be adjusted to fit the funds raised, Hernandez said.
“All the funds that we raise will be used for the Tribute Memorial,” Folk said.
All contributions will be recognized in the Tribute Memorial Park Dedication Program.
The Tribute Memorial and Park were developed by the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway Tribute Committee, co-chaired by Joe Blaze and John Crandall.
To contribute or learn more about Tribute Park, contact the Arts Commission at (419) 254-2787 or visit its website at www.acgt.org.

Mayor Mike Bell has rearranged his administration following the departure of Deputy Mayor of External Relations Dean Monske.

Monske is leaving the city after he accepted the position of president/CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP). Tom Crothers, the city’s current director of public utilities, will replace Monske as the new deputy mayor of external relations.

“We looked at [Crothers'] ability not only to have a good understanding of the City of Toledo itself and how it functions, but he also has a very good understanding for what needs to be done from the standpoint of Downtown development,” Bell said during a Feb. 25 news conference.

Monske

Bell said Crothers has a “great relationship with business people inside Toledo.” With Crothers’ previous experience and with help from the current economic development staff the city should be able to continue moving forward, Bell said.

Crothers said with Monske at the RGP, economic development will be where it needs to be; in the private sector. Crothers also noted, however, that the city does have a role in economic development.

“The city has a role to play and that’s to be a facilitator. How do we remove impediments to progress on the part of particularly small business to make them successful, to help them be a success? We can’t make them successful, but what we can do is remove some of those impediments to be successful,” he said.

Crothers said he plans on working with the RGP, LCIC, the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority, NORED as well as Wood County and Fulton County.

Crothers is also comfortable working with individuals internationally and domestically, he said. Monske, however, will go with Bell on his next trip to China, Crothers said.

“The private sector with the government working together in concert will bring new dollars into our community,” he said.

In addition to economic development, Crothers will oversee the department of neighborhoods as well as the city inspection bureau.

David Welch, current director of public service, will replace Crothers as the new director of public utilities. Welch had previously worked in public utilities before working in the department of public service.

Welch will be replaced by his second in command Ed Moore, current commissioner of streets, bridges and harbor. Moore will serve as the director of public service and he’ll be supported by David Pratt in his old position as commissioner. Pratt previously with Moore as manager of streets, bridges and harbor.

“We feel that we have stabilized each vacancy that we had with people who have experience and we believe that is a good thing,” Bell said.

Bell also announced that Shirley Green, current director of public safety, will expand her duties. Green will become the new deputy mayor of public safety and personnel and oversee not only the police and fire services, but human resources and affirmative action for the city.

“Although I hate losing Dean… I believe that we have ramped this up and by the time this is over with possibly we’ll be stronger than we were before,” Bell said.

The city will transition its employees to their new positions during the next few weeks. Everyone is expected to officially start their roles March 14, Crothers said.

The city said it has not established salaries for its employees changing departments or positions.

Monske named RGP president

Dean Monske was introduced as the new president/CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership at a news conference Feb. 25 in Downtown Toledo.

After a four-month search that produced 36 candidates, seven from the local area, RGP’s board of directors chosen one of the locals, Monske, to lead the economic development organization.

Monske will leave his post as deputy mayor for external affairs with the City of Toledo to assume his new position with RGP on March 14, according to David Waterman, chairman of the RGP board who introduced him to the media.

“I’m honored and excited to accept this position and I promise to continue the collaborative effort in this region that makes it a great place to live,” said Monske, a Toledo native and graduate of DeVilbiss High School.

Monske returns to RGP after serving as its vice president from 2006 until 2010 when he joined Mayor Mike Bell’s staff. He previously served as executive director of the Oregon Economic Development Foundation from 2000 to 2006.

Monske’s local background and experience was a “very big factor” in the board’s decision to choose him to lead RGP, according to Waterman.

“He can hit the ground running. He did a great job for the City of Toledo. He has all the local knowledge that we value, understands the leadership in the community, and has the ability to interact with that group,” Waterman said.

He thanked Mayor Bell for his cooperation and understanding during the process with Monske as an obvious candidate to replace Steve Weathers who left the position last October to accept a similar post in Savannah, Ga.

“I lost a deputy mayor but I’m gaining another ally. It’s a great thing for Dean. I believe he will be a great asset to RGP and regional development. It takes a team to make it work and we’re working to make our region stronger,” Bell said.

Monske, who is married to Sharon Speyer, Northwest Ohio Region President for Huntington Bank, said he told Mayor Bell, “I’m not leaving. I’m just moving a couple of blocks over and we’re still going to be partners.”

“Mayor Bell has been absolutely phenomenal to work with. My expectations of that job were exceeded ten-fold,” he said.

“I’m very happy for Dean. We became friends and I will miss him. I think the process worked to pick Dean for the job,” Bell said.

“Regional development is vital in economic development efforts. There’s a greater spirit of regionalism in this area now and we look forward to doing great things here,” Waterman said.

— Duane Ramsey

The Feb. 27 Toledo Free Press, featuring a cover story on Criss Angel and a Las Vegas trip giveaway, is available as an electronic edition.

Toledo City Councilman Joe McNamara, at a Feb. 17 news conference, called for FirstEnergy to invest in solar energy. Specifically, he pointed to a 2008 state law (Senate Bill 221) that requires Ohio electric companies to develop renewable energies, with an emphasis on solar energy. The law mandates that a percentage of the companies’ electric distribution come from solar energy, or that the companies purchase Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) from other generators.
FirstEnergy has asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to excuse it from 2009 benchmarks as it said it could not find enough Ohio SRECs to purchase to meet the standard set by SB 221.
McNamara will chair a hearing of the Utilities and Public Service Committee on Feb. 28.
“I am publicly inviting FirstEnergy to attend this hearing and participate in the conversation,” McNamara said. “While the FirstEnergy subsidiaries legally have to answer to the PUCO for their failure to invest in solar, they ultimately have to answer to the communities to whom they serve. Investing in solar equals jobs. FirstEnergy should be a good community partner and invest in Toledo jobs.” (Read McNamara’s comments on page A4)
I met with McNamara on Feb. 18 to talk about his news conference. He has a long history of fighting for alternative energy and his actions on this topic are consistent with those efforts. McNamara has done his homework on the numbers, although as a businessman I would have preferred more direct communication between the councilman and the utility company before he went public to embarrass FirstEnergy with his criticism.
FirstEnergy, like its Columbia Gas of Ohio counterpart, is an easy target for politicians. Utility companies are businesses, but public perception often assumes they should be benevolent providers. It has long been a popular misconception that Northwest Ohio suffers from the state’s highest utility rates, a demonstrable falsehood. Now, the advent of alternative energy offers another stick to swing at the utility piñata.
First and foremost, it is important to note that I oppose any government effort to force one industry to subsidize its de facto competition. But it is the law, for now, and therefore must be respected. The PUCO has the responsibility to enforce compliance, and will undoubtedly hold FirstEnergy accountable.
But for McNamara, this is dicey territory in terms of Toledo’s business image and its need to connect the ways of today with the ways of tomorrow. And this week’s news that First Solar may be looking to open a factory in Arizona — coupled with news that Xunlight opened its new factory in China — makes me wonder just how dedicated the solar energy industry is to Northwest Ohio.
FirstEnergy is heavily regulated and watched by the government and the public. But it is still a business, and should enjoy the rights of any American business to make its investments and serve its shareholders as it sees fit, without excessive interference or bullying.

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

Investment in solar energy equals jobs for Toledo. We have received national recognition as a hub for solar energy. Public institutions like the City of Toledo, the University of Toledo and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority are all working on economic development opportunities related to renewable energy. On the private side, companies like Xunlight and First Solar have attracted investment and created jobs.
Unfortunately, a very important missing partner in this growing opportunity is FirstEnergy and its wholly owned subsidiary Toledo Edison. What is most perplexing about FirstEnergy’s lack of investment in solar energy is the fact that it is legally obligated to participate in the industry.
In 2008, the General Assembly passed a set of new laws mandating increased use of renewable energies. This legislation is frequently referred to as SB 221. Among the various requirements of SB 221 are solar benchmarks that mandate certain percentages of the electricity distributed by an electric distribution company (like Toledo Edison) to be generated from solar. The solar percentage gradually increases each year until 2024.
An electric utility company need not actually generate the electrons itself, but can elect instead to buy what are called Solar Renewable Energy Credits or SRECs from other generators. Other generators can include small and large businesses, nonprofit institutions such as the Toledo Museum of Art, or homeowners. The creation of SRECs made a very flexible market for the electric distribution companies to meet the requirements of SB 221, but still promote the demand for more solar energy.
FirstEnergy has two other electric distribution subsidiaries in Ohio: the Ohio Edison Company and The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company. All three subsidiaries failed to meet the solar benchmarks required by state law. For Toledo Edison, this is the second year in a row the company has failed to obtain the necessary SRECs. Last month the FirstEnergy subsidiaries filed a request with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to be excused from the 2010 solar requirements.
According to its application, the FirstEnergy subsidiaries issued Requests for Proposals to buy Ohio SRECs. Through this process they obtained 112 SRECs out of the 3206 SRECs it was legally obligated to obtain. FirstEnergy complains that the “Ohio SREC market is constrained,” but it did nothing to facilitate the growth of this market. Where other electric distribution companies entered into long-term power purchase agreements, which helped finance the construction of new solar arrays and the consequent production of new SRECs, FirstEnergy “considered long term contracts but could not negotiate a contract that would provide SRECs for the 2010 calendar year.”
In other words, FirstEnergy attempted to buy SRECs that were already on the market, but did nothing to create new solar projects and new 2010 SRECs. The entire point of SB 221 was to foster the market for solar by requiring electric distribution companies to invest resources in obtaining SRECs.
Compare FirstEnergy’s approach with that of American Electric Power (AEP). AEP entered into a long-term contract with a company who built a 10 megawatt solar field 90 minutes south of Toledo. The solar panels used to build the array were manufactured by First Solar. In other words, an electric company that does not even serve the Toledo area has done more to create jobs in the Toledo area than our very own Toledo Edison.
The 2010 solar benchmarks were met by other Ohio electric distribution companies. But unsurprisingly, all three of FirstEnergy’s subsidiaries failed to comply with the law.
Investing in solar power is particularly important to Toledo because of the opportunity to create jobs. In the past, FirstEnergy has helped Toledo with economic development and financial issues.
For example, in 2009, FirstEnergy Solutions contributed $3.2 million to reduce the city’s budget deficit in exchange for an electric aggregation contract extension. However, when it comes to solar energy, FirstEnergy just can’t see the light.
Representatives from Toledo Edison and FirstEnergy have made statements clearly indicating that the company does not support solar. For example, Trent Smith has stated that the economics of solar power are not viable in the Toledo area. FirstEnergy spokeswoman Ellen Raines stated that “[w]e don’t believe we have the expertise to be a solar developer.” How can a company that runs multiple nuclear power plants not be able to find the resources and expertise to develop legally mandated solar arrays?
While FirstEnergy may ultimately be fined by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio for failing to invest in solar, the real loss are the Toledo jobs that would have been created had FirstEnergy complied with the law. I sincerely hope that FirstEnergy will reverse its intransigence toward SB 221 and begin to actively invest in Toledo solar jobs.

Joe McNamara is a Toledo City Councilman. E-mail him at joe.mcnamara@toledo.oh.gov.

Boring
Please Mike! We want to read about ur opinions in toledo! not your childhood trauma! save that for a shrink or dear abby. also we dont care about your stories about raising kids. most of us have been there or there! save that for your facebook friends or social circles. free press is excellant read till u go off on your me first articles. just tellin u what my friends and customers talk about when we discussing free press.
MARK

Dear Mark,
Your letter reminds me of a harsh and traumatic beating I once received from my abusive parents.
Just kidding; thanks for the feedback.
I understand that not everyone cares about my boring traumas and my boring kids. But when considering a body of work, those insights are meant to provide context for the stances I take on Toledo issues.
Your life should shape your politics, not the other way around.
I have always been inspired and influenced by John Lennon’s work. It fascinates me that he could write universal anthems such as “Imagine” and political rockers such as “Revolution” and “Power to the People,” and then produce personal and intimate songs, such as “In My Life,” “Woman” and his song for his son, “Beautiful Boy.”
Knowing that Lennon was capable of such sentiment and love makes his anger and outrage at injustice that much more powerful, and that has always been my model. (I understand and accept that I will forever fall short of that model; I say that to spare you the trouble.)
The narrative arc of a weekly column is never about any single week; it should be about a continuing relationship between the writer and the readers which allows for the travels and tangents found in life.
Plus, my kids are so darn cute and I love them and I am excited to talk about them and their impact. The moments I  think of as personal and unique are often the most universal, and that dichotomy is compelling.
The specific column you are referring to, which talked about the Showcase Cinemas on Secor being demolished, addressed how my background and the changes in Toledo are intertwined for me. When I write about the impact it has when a mall, school or movie theater is torn down, I am writing about Toledo. If I draw a parallel between a long-ago beatdown and a current event, I am connecting the dots, not as self-therapy, but as an attempt to connect with you.
I occasionally hear from readers like you who are not in the least interested in my boring ups and downs. That does not offend me.
In fact, I am thinking about instituting a ratings system or reader advisory that marks columns dealing with my boring life issues. That way, when you open to Page A3, you would see a big letter “I,” and you could say to yourself, “Oh, Mr. I-Was-Beaten-As-A-Child is writing about his inability to cope with losing a movie theater. Boo-freakin’-hoo. I’m going to see what Dock David Treece wrote this week.”
That should save you some time!
Of course, the downside is that you are going to miss reading these upcoming columns:

• I find my first gray hair (hint: it wasn’t on my head)
• The Day the Goldfish Died
• Potty training Sean: No. 1 step up, No. 2 step back
• I run into a woman who dumped me in college (three-part series)
• Evan skins his knee
• Some assembly required: How the trampoline almost ruined Christmas
• Why did only 20 percent of my Facebook friends wish me a Happy Birthday?
• Fretting about 50 (in five years)
• I still like “Star Wars,” but the old school “Star Wars,” not the newer movies or clone cartoons
• Why The Blade sucks (Chapter 89)

MM

P.S. — I sent your letter and my plea for understanding to Dear Abby on Jan. 26. So far, she has not replied. But there might be 800 words on how devastating her withholding attention and approval is to my fragile psyche.

Brian Wilson’s monkey business
Michael,
Brian Wilson was wrong. You can dice it and slice it anyway you want but it will not change the fact that he used a very poor analogy to try and make whatever point he was trying to make. I have known Tom Troy for many years. He is a very fine, honest, and reputable reporter. I read your column regularly and agree with you most of the time. However, in this instance, you backed the wrong “horse.” Cut your losses and move on.
Chief Mike Navarre
Toledo Police Department

Dear Chief Navarre,
I sincerely hope you never find yourself on the wrong end of Tom Troy’s “fine, honest and reputable” reporting.
MM

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Call him at (419) 241-1700 or e-mail him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

See below for details on contest to win a free trip to Las Vegas to see Criss Angel “BeLIEve”

Nothing is impossible. Just ask Criss Angel.
The magician has emerged from being buried alive, levitated crowds, strolled up and down the sides of high-rise buildings, made a 4-ton elephant disappear, and escaped from being handcuffed and nailed in a coffin before it was pulled through a woodchipper.
It’s all a walk on water for the 43-year-old artist.

Criss Angel

“If anyone has a dream and they work for it, they can absolutely achieve their dream if they believe,” Angel said.

“Much of what I do is just pure illusion; some of it is completely legitimate, like when I hung by the fish hooks [suspended from a helicopter over the Valley of Fire in Nevada],” he said. “I think, as an entertainer, what’s important for me to do is take the spectators from their reality, their trials and tribulations that they deal with every day in their lives, and kind of put them in a world where anything is possible and allow them to have that escape.”
Fans of the “Mindfreak” star have the chance to see “Criss Angel Believe” featuring Cirque du Soleil at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
“‘Believe’ is an experience that takes ‘Mindfreak,’ takes the illusions of things that people are blown away by and presents them onstage in a 15,034-foot venue,” Angel said during a call from Serenity, his Vegas home.
“I have this theatrical format that
I can take ‘Mindfreak’ illusions and present them in a way that’s just a whole different level because of the use of video projection, lighting, pyrotechnics, special effects, music in this very interactive experience — things happen over your head, behind you, on the side of you, in front of you.
“A lot of people are skeptical when they watch me on TV. They’re like, ‘Oh it has to be trick photography, it can’t be done live,’” he said. “When they have the opportunity to come see ‘Believe,’ they actually see 40 illusions performed live right in front of their face.”
The dazzling visual spectacle includes a Cirque du Soleil troupe that assists Angel.
“You’ll see illusions that I performed on television like the cutting in half without any boxes and cloaks and covers of any kind. It’s the most provocative cutting in half of a girl in the history of the art,” he said. “And you also see me do many different forms of levitation.”
Angel said he’s been a fan of Cirque du Soleil since the 1980s.
“I first saw their television special on HBO, and I was completely enamored by the magic they created without performing any magic tricks or illusions; it was the magic of emotion, and it was about seeing an art form presented in a completely different way with tableaus and theatrics,” he mused.
“I try to present my magic as a different type of art form,” he said. “I have a music background; I try to combine both and try to present something more provocative, something that isn’t typical.”
Millions are watching the “Believe” co-writer and star, who was recently named magician of the decade by the International Magicians Society.
“I’ve been very blessed to do six seasons of “Mindfreak.” That’s over 100 episodes. It’s the longest-running magic program in television history on primetime in the U.S., so I’m pretty proud of that,” Angel said.
Season seven remains in limbo.
“If I do ‘Mindfreak,’ it’s going to be raw, it’s definitely going to be back to the roots, and it’s going to be very provocative and it’s going to be scary and it’s going to be probably a lot darker,” he said. “But I haven’t solidified a deal yet.”
Known for harrowing, dangerous stunts, Angel said the ideas come from dreams and nightmares.
“I’m very much inspired by those things that I have the desire to see. And I usually dream these things up when I’m in bed, in the shower or driving in the car,” he said.
And how does the man prepare for being run over by a steamroller while lying on broken glass?
Angel credited his crew, which plans for things that could go wrong, and added, “It’s all about physical preparation, mental preparation and even being at peace spiritually with yourself. Because when situations arise, I can never react in a way where I lose control or my cool because that could cost my life.”
He believes the risks are worth it.
“Magic for me is just a vehicle to connect to people. When you connect to people, when you have a true emotional connection to them, that’s the truest form of magic; that trumps any trick that you can possibly do.”

Win a free trip to see Criss Angel in Las Vegas

1. The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) and Toledo Free Press are offering you the chance to win one of 12 prize packages.

• One Grand Prize Winner: Two round-trip airline tickets from Toledo to Las Vegas; a two-night stay for two people at the Luxor Hotel; two tickets to the CRISS ANGEL “BeLIEve” show at the Luxor Hotel. Prizes courtesy Luxor Hotel, Cirque du Soleil, Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, American Airlines. Media partner: 13abc. Winner is responsible for transportation and meals in Las Vegas.
• Prize packages also will be awarded to entrants randomly selected for second place and others:
• One First-Place Prize: Family four pack of tickets (two adult/two children) to “The Egypt Experience” and “The Baroque World of Fernando Botero” exhibitions plus a $50 Toledo Museum of Art gift card ($106 value).
• Ten Second-Place Prizes: Two adult combination tickets to “The Egypt Experience” and “The Baroque World of Fernando Botero” exhibitions ($40 value).

How to enter: Sweepstakes begins at midnight on Monday, Feb. 28, and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2011.  Persons are eligible to win one of the above-mentioned prize packages by filling out the entry form at contest.toledomuseum.org or in person at the Museum’s Information Desk. A maximum of one online entry per week and one in-person entry per day will be accepted. The Toledo Museum of Art is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected entries. Entrants must live within 100 miles of the Toledo Museum of Art and be 18 years of age or older in order to be awarded a prize. Winner of Las Vegas trip must be 21 years of age per hotel/casino policy. Winners will be selected on or about March 17, in a random drawing of all eligible entries received.

WSPD talk show host Brian Wilson said he hopes members of the Toledo Public Schools Board (TPS) of Education attend a screening of “Kids Aren’t Cars,” which addresses problems found in public schools.
1370 WSPD is promoting the showing, which is at 7 p.m on March 2 at the Maumee Indoor Theatre. Brian Wilson, WSPD news director and program director, said the station decided to promote the film after interviewing the film’s director and writer, Kyle Olson.
“It’s reflective of a theme; don’t put kids in an education system like they are on an assembly line,” Wilson said. “The mission of the station is to change the culture of Toledo. The film directs attention to problems that are embedded at Toledo Public Schools. We hope that the TPS board can all manage to arrange their schedule to make the event.”
Wilson said the film shows America’s “one-size-fits-all” agenda and accuses schools of graduating some students who cannot read or perform basic math — all to benefit school labor unions rather than the students.
Olson is the founder and CEO of the Education Action Group Foundation and promotes “sensible education reform,” according to his website, kyleolson.org. He will attend the Toledo premiere.
Olson said he worked on “Kids Aren’t Cars” for 18 months and “quite a lot of research went into making it.”
“One interview would lead to the next,” Olson said. “It kind of snowballed.”
The film focuses on Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, but he said the issues discussed in the film also hold true for other states, including Ohio.
Olson said he became interested in making a change because of his child, who will soon be starting kindergarten. Olson attended a public school in Michigan. He said he believes education is important, especially since it’s usually the “largest piece of budgets and schools are not improving.”
Wilson said the problems Toledo schools face are a “public embarrassment.” He said some schools have been on scholastic probation for a number of years yet students still receive diplomas.
“What the hell kind of education does that kid have?” Wilson said. “No one is going to want to move [to Toledo] if the school system sucks.”

Vin Devers Autohaus of Sylvania held a ground-breaking ceremony Feb. 24 for a $1.2 million renovation of its dealership on Monroe Street.
The new Mercedes-Benz and Audi dealership will be one of the first in the country to use the latest suggested floor plans from the two leading German auto manufacturers.
Paul Devers, president of the family owned dealership, said he was pleased to be one of the first dealers in the country to implement the new building designs.

Paul Devers

“It’s our goal to become the largest Mercedes-Benz/ Audi dealership in the state of Ohio,” Devers said.
“We’ve seen our sales expand and to continue that growth, we wanted to offer our customers an automotive buying experience that is as exciting as the cars we sell,” he said.
The new dealership will introduce a new concept, automotive boutique centers, which will offer unique automotive-related products for sale to consumers.
The renovation will add a new service entrance, a new-vehicle purchase delivery center, separate showrooms for Audi and Mercedes-Benz brands and customer-friendly service waiting centers.
Upon completion of the renovation scheduled for the summer, the dealership will meet all qualifications to receive the highly regarded Audi R8 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter dealer franchises, Devers said.
Rudolph|Libbe of Walbridge will serve as the general contractor for the construction project.
With the expansion of the dealership, Vin Devers Autohaus will provide additional jobs with a new total of approximately 75 full-time employees, according to Devers.
Vin Devers, founder of the family business, opened his first auto dealership in downtown Sylvania in 1956. The family also operated the former Vin Devers Lincoln-Mercury on Monroe Street, now Franklin Park Lincoln-Mercury, and Vin Devers Dodge on Telegraph Road before returning to Sylvania to open Vin Devers Autohaus.