In “The 3rd Birthday,” (Square Enix) “Twisted” monsters take Manhattan as “Parasite Eve” heroine Aya Brea, part of a special team trying to save humanity, fights back. Her character abilities still fall within the “special power” realm, but “Parasite Eve II” (2000) fans should not expect a straight sequel. Great cutscenes and familiar music will please veteran fans, but do not expect much continuation from previous games or easy explanations bridging Aya’s past into her challenges.

This PlayStation Portable third person sci-fi shooter has auto-aim, boss fights, desirable unlockables and tense action sequences. Highly accessible content and strong cutscenes throughout the game. The special overdrive features lets players take over beings in the game, which can be great for misdirection moves against enemies. OE chips provide special powers when combined with Aya’s DNA board. Aya gets some help from other characters, like a mild Crossfire feature where allies concentrate their firepower, but mastering her abilities always packs a more potent punch.
Players can resolve initial lagging camera issues in the sensitivity settings, though boss fight sequences can limit and even block views at times. The customization options boost the replay value, which easily has a double-digit hour tally at the core. The top-notch visual and production values make this PSP game an essential addition for fans and RPG/shooter players. Hardcore players should beat the game twice for a special sequence after the ending credits.
The upcoming Twisted Edition will include a 48-page “CTI Confidential” art book, two “deluxe” lithographs and an Aya Brea costume code for Square Enix’s other current release “Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.” Special note: this exclusive code is included inside first run copies of these “Dissidia” games. A mobile game version also planned (***1/2, rated M (mature) for blood, partial nudity, strong language, and violence).

James Leftwich, newly appointed director of the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), spoke about “Leveraging Entrepreneurship in a Challenging Economy,” at an April 25 luncheon at the Hilton Toledo.
“We have to stop the job loss in Ohio and make smart investments in what we have by doing a better job of leveraging it and attracting new jobs,” Leftwich said.
JobsOhio, a new private non-profit organization, was created to run economic development in Ohio. It will focus on creating jobs with limited resources, said Leftwich, who was appointed to the position March 28.
As director, he oversees the daily operations of the ODOD and works closely with Mark Kvamme, director of job creation for Gov. John Kasich, to revitalize the state’s economic development and enhance Ohio’s business climate.

From left, Brian Bucher, regional president of PNC Bank, James Leftwich, director of the Ohio Department of development and Anand Kunnathur of UT.

“We will focus on developing a stronger collaboration with all departments of the state, linking with federal and local resources to create the best business climate for entrepreneurs in Ohio,” Leftwich said.
He reported that Ohio was recently rated as having the third best business climate overall and ninth best business climate for entrepreneurs in the U.S.
“It’s not enough. We have to get past what’s been holding us back in the past and move forward. It’s going to be a fast-moving train,” Leftwich said.
“We’re going to work with regional partners that have a vested interest in what happens there and focus on strategic growth areas in Ohio.”
He indicated that the Regional Growth Partnership will be the lead partner in the Northwest Ohio region’s effort to build a network of business, academia and government. He said they already met with regional partners from across Ohio to outline how the state will work with them.
Leftwich said that Northwest Ohio has many assets and specifically mentioned manufacturing services, great logistics and distribution networks.
“We’re going to take those assets and work very closely with regional partners in Northwest Ohio to enable them to grow,” he said.
“How do we compete against states like Indiana that offer companies money in addition to the usual incentives to locate there?” Hans Rosebrock, manager of economic development in Ohio for FirstEnergy, asked Leftwich.
“It’s a touch challenge. We’ve got to find creative ways to do it using our strengths,” Leftwich said.
He cited partnering university research with industry to take technology to market by using the Third Frontier Program with another round of funding in 2011.
Ohio needs to make smart investments in alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and medical devices to create more high tech jobs, he said.
Prior to his appointment, Leftwich served as president and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, that region’s principal economic development organization. He led its economic development initiatives that resulted in the creation of more than 18,500 jobs and $1.5 billion of capital investment in that region.
The luncheon was presented by the UT College of Business and Innovation and PNC Bank.
“It was a valuable opportunity for business leaders to hear from the new director of the Ohio Department of Development,” said Brian Bucher, regional president for PNC Bank. “We are committed to providing critical resources to benefit entrepreneurs in the Toledo-area business community.”
Prior to his luncheon presentation, Leftwich participated in a discussion with about 40 local business leaders facilitated by Clint Longenecker, Stranahan Professor of leadership and organizational excellence at UT.
“We were very impressed with Jim Leftwich and had a very cordial meeting with him. He was not a typical government official meeting with business people. It was like a discussion around the family dinner table,” Longenecker said.
Leftwich is aware that Ohio needs to make it easier for business to get things done here, Longenecker said.
“Coming from Dayton and being an analytical guy, he understands what we’re up against in Toledo, competing with the three Cs (Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus) for economic development funding,” Longenecker said.
The College of Business and Innovation organized the discussion so people could meet him and he could learn about the needs of Northwest Ohio, he said.

David Eichenberg is rapidly becoming one of the hottest artists in the United Kingdom while working out of a studio in Downtown Toledo.
“You can live anywhere now and still have access to a global market,” Eichenberg said. “I’m pretty comfortable in Toledo. I grew up in Sylvania. This is a great area.”
He is one of 55 artists featured in this year’s BP Award Portrait Exhibition in London after winning third place in 2010 along with 7,000 pounds. In 2009, he represented Ohio as a finalist in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

David Eichenberg

“After the BP award last year, Go Figurative approached me and asked me if I wanted to be a poster child for their company so they could brand me,” he said. “It’s been a great experience and is unlike anything here.”
Go Figurative was co-founded by Sally Perry and Janine Collins. The London-based company promotes all forms of figurative art.
“It’s the dream every artist has where your job is to be in the studio making work,” Eichenberg said. “They take care of everything else. It baffles me they take only 47 percent. Here it is 50 percent, and you can’t get a gallery to send out an email when you win an award or tell you who bought a piece. It’s a totally different vibe.”
Eichenberg’s success overseas has adjusted his perspective on being an American in the 21st century.
“I always had the sense that everybody is the same no matter what country you live in,” he said. “There isn’t as much of a difference now.”
For his art, Eichenberg manipulates a snapshot on the computer then does a carbon transfer off a printout to use in his paintings. He has been labeled a photorealist, but he views his art as realism.

“Jade” (The Rehearsal) Oil on Panel 22” x 22”, 2011 by David Eichenberg ILLUSTRATION COURTESY DAVID EICHENBERG

“It may look photographic when I’m finished but it’s not,” he said. “An art writer from the UK categorized me as an intuitive artist. I’m pulling things that are relevant out of my life. It’s not a formula. It’s realism figurative. I don’t have any desire to be a great figure painter. I use the figure to pull the viewer in, because people are attracted to figurative work. Once I have their attention, then I can deal with other issues. I just use it as a tool.”
Eichenberg has left his mark on the art scene in Toledo with more than his paintings. He oversaw the Toledo Museum of Art’s move to the Glass Pavilion and helped organize the “It’s Raining Frogs” art project.
“There’s always a feeling as an artist that you want to be involved in the arts in your community,” he said. “I still have that. I don’t sell much locally, but I want to keep those venues open.”
Eichenberg nearly missed his calling by spending his freshman year at the University of Toledo majoring in physical therapy. After seeing an elderly patient die, he decided to change course.
“I couldn’t deal with that on a daily basis,” Eichenberg said. “I took some time off. It was my mother-in-law who convinced me to take an art class. I took an art history class and was hooked.”
Eichenberg almost missed his calling again by majoring in sculpture with a minor in painting.
“My painting in school was horrible,” he said. “I was an abstract expressionist. It was very loose and nothing representational.
“I took a sculpture class with Tom Lingeman and really liked the open approach he took to it. I was pretty successful, but it just wasn’t fulfilling. I couldn’t get rid of my mental blocks. I wanted to do a lot of realism, and I just don’t have the technique or training to do that.”
This led Eichenberg to the realization his true passion lies in painting.
“I sat down one day and had to make the decision to go get a job or do what I wanted to do since I first took an art history course,” he said. “I locked myself in the basement at my old house. I looked through books and talked to people to figure out how to do what I wanted.”
While Eichenberg was his own worst critic starting out, his wife saw potential from the start.
“She said something to me after the first couple of my paintings that are similar to what I do now,” Eichenberg said. “She said I could be a pretty good regional sculptor, or I could be a much better international painter. It opened my eyes. You don’t see it when you’re doing it. I was hoping she was onto something and went from there.”
Eichenberg’s wife has also been an inspiration on the canvas along with their two daughters.
“They are comfortable images to work with because you know their features without having to look at imagery,” he said. “If you paint something wrong, you know it’s wrong. I catch myself correcting things nobody else would ever know were wrong.”
Despite his recent success, Eichenberg plans to continue developing as an artist.
“I don’t want to be like a Monet where I crank out hundreds of the same image slightly changed,” he said. “I want it to constantly be evolving so my work doesn’t become stagnant. Each piece should be better than the last. That’s my goal. Now I have a bigger body of work and it’s all starting to fall in line. People are starting to see a progression throughout the work.”
Visit DavidEichenberg.com for more information on the artist.

First Solar is partnering with Owens Community College to begin a new training program April 27 for nearly 450 employees at its Perrysburg plant over the next year.

First Solar received a $1 million grant through Ohio’s Energizing Careers Grant program for alternative energy companies in September of 2010. The Workforce and Community Services staff at Owens assisted the company on its application for the grant and helped to develop and implement the training program.

“Since September, we’ve been designing and planning the program with the first course in continuous improvement and empowered career development,” said Eric Levos, training manager for North America at First Solar.

The training programs must include continuous improvement, supervisory leadership and technical skills development to qualify for the state grant, he said.

“One of First Solar’s core values is ‘continuous improvement’ along with a key behavior of self-awareness and learning,” said Todd Spangler, plant manager in Perrysburg.

“The continuous improvement workshop is a great tool to allow our production team to develop in these areas. Associate development opportunities such as this help First Solar to build a team capable of enabling a world powered by clean, affordable solar electricity,” he said.

The one-day workshop focuses on continuous improvement and empowered career development. The first workshops of 20 associates each were conducted April 27 and 28 to begin the process of training 400 production operators and about 40 people from finance, human resources, supply chain, and environmental health and safety areas.

Continuous improvement introduces associates to the origins of the subject with an application-based, systems-thinking stimulation with a primary measurement using statistical process control. It includes an exercise to build a simulated production line with Legos to understand how the entire system as a whole operates.

Carl Dettmer of Owens (left) and Eric Levos of First Solar prepare for the first training session in the learning center at First Solar.

“The hands-on exercise prepares them to think about how their work affects the whole production system. We want our people to understand systems thinking. It supports one of our core behaviors to think globally,” Levos said.

Empowered career development focuses on options for associates to strengthen their knowledge in their current position or strategies for taking control of their career and qualify for another position.

“We want to retain our associates and help them to advance and embrace life’s learning experiences. We encourage associates to take control of their career. We don’t want them to just have a job. We want them to have a career,” Levos said.

First Solar associates with at least six months of service qualify for up to $5,250 in tuition assistance per year for external education. They are encouraged to take courses and earn degrees at Owens or other colleges and universities, Levos said.

“First Solar has prided itself to grow its associates’ knowledge, skills and abilities faster than it is building its business by taking advantage of internal and external educational programs,” he said.

The training staff at First Solar has been working to train facilitators provided by Owens to educate its associates. Owens provides trainers for the customized training from more than 200 educators, administrators, and independent consultants all with business experience in addition to an educational background.

“We’ll find the right talent for the training desired by each client,” said Carl Dettmer, director of program development for Workforce and Community Services at Owens.

“We’ve taken it to a new level working with First Solar to make the community stronger through work force training.”

First Solar is the largest manufacturer of thin film solar modules, having expanded its manufacturing capacity to an annualized run rate of 62.6 MW per line in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company reports that it will reach a total expected capacity of more than 2.3 GW by the end of 2011.

Kate Middleton will spend the night before her wedding in a hotel with family instead of at a royal residence.

The princess-to-be and the other royals will ride to the ceremony at Westminster Abbey by car instead of horse-drawn carriage.

Middleton and Prince William have chosen to call her younger sister, Philippa, the Maid of Honor and his younger brother, Prince Henry, the Best Man. Attendants are typically referred to simply as “supporters.”

These are among the breaks in royal wedding tradition pointed out by Franklin University professor Christine D. Myers at a recent presentation titled “Royal Weddings: Now and Then.” The lecture was hosted by the Sylvania Senior Center as part of the center’s Silver Scholars series.

Myers, who also teaches Lifelong Learning courses for Lourdes College in Sylvania, has followed and researched the royal family for years. She shares a birthday with Prince William and will be among those lining the London streets on April 29 hoping for a glimpse of the royal couple on their wedding day.

Other ways that Will and Kate’s wedding will differ from past royal nuptials include:

• The day will be broadcast live via the British Monarchy’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/user/TheRoyalChannel).
• The procession to the Abbey will not pass through Trafalgar Square.
• Following the wedding (1,900 guests) and traditional lunch reception (600 guests), Will and Kate will also host an evening reception for 300 guests.
• The wedding cake will be the traditional multi-tiered brandy-soaked fruitcake, but Will has also requested a groom’s cake, a favorite no-bake chocolate biscuit cake from a royal family recipe.

Instead of leaving for their honeymoon April 29, Will and Kate will spend their wedding night in London and leave the following day.
Royal weddings were fairly private until after World War I, Myers said. Today they are watched by millions. An estimated 750 million viewers worldwide tuned into Charles and Diana’s July 29, 1981, wedding, according to the BBC.

A recent survey by PriceGrabber, however, found 77 percent of its U.S. online survey respondents did not plan to watch live coverage of Will and Kate’s wedding and 72 percent of did not plan to watch coverage at all.

A New York Times/CBS News survey found only 6 percent of Americans polled were following royal wedding news very closely with an additional 22 percent following somewhat closely; 38 percent said they weren’t interested at all.

A third of women under 40 and 40 percent of women 40 and older were following news of the wedding at least somewhat closely, the poll found, but half of men are not following at all.

The wedding has elicited inevitable comparisons with Princess Diana – starting with Will’s proposal to Kate using his mother’s ring.

Will and Kate’s wedding will be much smaller than his parents’. Since Charles was a direct heir to the throne, all heads of state were invited, ballooning the guest list to 3,500, Myers said. This time, only political leaders in the British Commonwealth got invitations, meaning President Obama was not invited.

Charles and Diana were married at St. Paul’s Cathedral instead of Westminster Abbey, surprising some souvenir makers. Items listing the Abbey as their ceremony location are quite valuable today, Myers said.

Although they will arrive at the Abbey by car, Will and Kate will leave in the same carriage used by Charles and Diana and all royal weddings since 1902.

Television coverage on April 29 will begin at 3 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, with the hour-long wedding starting at 6 a.m. EST. Time in London is five hours ahead.

Things to watch for include:

• Titles to be bestowed by the Queen. Kate will automatically become Princess William, but the queen could choose to make her a princess in her own right, though that is rare on a wedding day, Myers said. The prince will likely be named a duke or earl.
• Kate’s outfit. International speculation has raged for months about what she will wear and the length of her train. Diana’s was 25 feet long.
• The vows. Diana omitted “to obey” from her vows and Kate plans to do the same. Also watch Kate’s pronunciation of Will’s name, Myers said. Diana had a famous gaffe during her vows – transposing two of Charles’ names. Sarah Ferguson also stumbled over Prince Andrew’s name during their wedding in 1986. Will’s full name is William Arthur Philip Louis (pronounced “Louie”).
• The music. One likely hymn will be Diana’s favorite, “I Vow to Thee My Country,” which was sung at her wedding as well as her funeral at the Abbey in 1997.
• The rings. Will has opted not to wear a wedding ring. Kate’s wedding band will be made from rare Welsh gold.
• The attendants. It is common for British wedding parties to consist of young children instead of peers, Myers said. Besides their Maid of Honor and Best Man, Will and Kate will have four bridesmaids (ranging in age from 3 to 8) and two page boys (ages 8 and 10).
• The guests. One royal snub was the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, former wife of Prince Andrew.

For more information, visit www.officialroyalwedding2011.org.

Royal Wedding Time Schedule

All times are Eastern Standard Time. London time is five hours ahead.

BBC America and most other networks will begin television coverage at 3 a.m. EST Friday, April 29.

3 a.m.: Announcement of any titles Queen Elizabeth will bestow on William and Kate.

3:15 a.m.: Guests begin arriving at Westminster Abbey.

5:10 a.m.: Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House by car.

5:20 a.m.: Foreign royal families arrive at the Abbey from Buckingham Palace. Kate’s mother and brother leave the hotel.

5:25 a.m.: “Junior royals” depart Buckingham Palace.

5:38 a.m.: Prince Charles and wife Camilla leave Clarence House.

5:40 a.m.: “Senior royals” arrive at the Abbey.

5:42 a.m.: Charles and Camilla arrive at the Abbey from Clarence House.

5:45 a.m.: The Queen and husband Prince Phillip arrive at the Abbey from Buckingham Palace.

5:48 a.m.: Kate’s sister, Pippa, the other bridesmaids and page boys leave the hotel.

5:51 a.m.: Kate and her father leave the hotel by car.

6 a.m.: Wedding ceremony begins.

7:05 a.m.: Service concludes with the signing of the register in the Shrine of Edward the Confessor. The signing of the register – not the vows – is what makes the marriage official.

7:15 a.m.: Will and Kate leave the church by horse-drawn carriage, followed by a mounted escort, then Prince Harry, Pippa, the bridesmaids and pageboys, followed by Charles and Camilla, followed by the Queen and Prince Phillip.

7:30 a.m.: Newlyweds arrive at Buckingham Palace.

8:25 a.m.: Windsor and Middleton families emerge on the balcony.

8:30 a.m.: Fly-by from the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

— Source: BBC

Although the store is still a project in process, Jackie Grey and Cindy Below’s store in Woodville Mall is expected to open April 30.
The store is a blend of a variety of ideas, ranging from a market that recruits and sells the work of local artists, two dance studios, a bookstore and a coffee shop.
“I want a place where people can come and either sell their creative artistic wares, or be creative and artistic in their dance, it’s probably mostly about creativity and artistry and just wellness,” Grey said. “That is wellness, being creative.”
INPROCESS started as a small business where local artists could sell their work, grew with the addition of the dance studio that offers zumba and belly dancing, and expanded to the coffee shop and bookstore behind the initial space. The store is still looking for instructors in ballet and yoga.

INPROCESS at Woodville Mall.

Grey said she and Below have been working to reach out to the local artists by meeting them at shows such as Artomatic419! Word has been spreading quickly.
“We went out to Sylvania the other day and found out they already heard about us. It was through another artist who is putting her photography on display here, but still. Every once in a while I’ll get an email from someone saying they were interested in our store and then in comes more art.”
Grey and Below were both working for Behavioral Connections of Wood County. Below was laid off last summer and Grey was only working part time. The two talked about their business idea and “we just decided to go for it. So we both jumped.”
Although they plan to open soon, Below said the store will always be changing because of new artists coming in to sell their work, this concept of constant fluctuation inspired the store’s name.
With its grand opening set for April 30, INPROCESS is one of 30 new small businesses opening at Woodville Mall by May, and businesses are continuing to express interest.
Juanita Jones, manager of Woodville Mall, said when she first was hired, the mall was desolate. However, during her tenure, she now has 35 total leases.
“It literally brought tears to my eyes when I saw how many people were walking through the mall. I’m telling you, it’s coming alive,” Jones said. “This community has embraced me with open arms. I give it my all and they encourage me, they’re happy and they are definitely seeing a change that this mall is coming back.”
Jones said one of the biggest incentives for local businesses starting at Woodville is the cheap rent, offering opportunities for entrepreneurs such as Grey and Below.
“This is a great opportunity for people who would want to open up a business,” she said. “We’re giving people the opportunity to do that and our prices are so reasonable. It opens up big doors for people to do some things.”
Jones’ work to turn the once empty mall around includes monthly events such as “the biggest farmers market,” involving farmers from the east side area of Toledo and summer car shows.
She added she is investing in her mall by opening her own restaurant that blends Southern-style soul food with Italian.

Local experts envision Kate Middleton’s gown

Kate and William

Kate Middleton, a former accessories buyer known for her modern fashion sense, will wed Prince William on April 29 in a church ceremony steeped in royal tradition and decorum. One of the hottest topics of speculation surrounding the upcoming nuptials is how the bride-to-be’s outfit will walk the line between traditional and modern styles. Here are some predictions from a few Toledo Free Press Star fashionistas as well as some local bridal shops.
Brittany Craig, principal event designer and coordinator for Crowning Celebrations and Toledo Free Press columnist: If you look at all the royal women before Kate, they were very modest with long sleeves, high necklines, full skirts and even fullness hiding the figure like in Diana’s full skirt and puffy sleeves. While the princess ball gown is coming back in, it’s not Kate’s style. I think she will wear something form-hugging, but modest along the neckline.
Kate likes her accessories. So I think she will accentuate her gown with floral appliqués and an over-the-top veil. Instead of length in the train, I can see her adding length in her veil for that added drama. But this won’t be Kate’s only wedding dress. Kate will stay conservative for her ceremony and the Queen’s reception. I think she will change for the dinner hosted by Prince Charles. This second avant-garde dress will be more fashion-forward, showing more skin, with more accessories, fabric treatments and beading. It’s not uncommon for royal wedding gowns to have pearls, crystals and even diamonds sewn on.
Kate McComb, Toledo Free Press Star fashion writer: Kate Middleton’s dress will have a mix of traditional elegance and more contemporary elements that make it unique. She must wear something that covers her shoulders to maintain Westminster Abbey’s dress code. At first, I was thinking little cap sleeves, but now I’d like to see a shrug. I would be happy if the fashion industry’s prediction that Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen, will be the designer is true.
Sarita Wrighten, seamstress at Sew-N-Such in Toledo: My thought is she will go with classic, but with a modern twist and a little edge. That’s where she can make a statement. I think she’ll keep some of the tradition, probably with the long train to re-create the Princess Di thing and then add a few more details and bling. I see her adding just a little pizzazz. She tends to wear things that are a little more form-fitting, so I don’t think she’s going to go with a huge Cinderella-type dress. The only thing I haven’t thought about is what kind of veil she will have. That will end up being a bigger surprise than most people expect.
Candy Henkle, bridal consultant at Atlas Bridal in Toledo: I think she’s going to end up going with a traditional-style dress, a tight-fitted bodice, A-line with an extremely long train. I think it’s going to be darn close to what Princess Diana wore although I think the princess had sleeves and I don’t think we’re going to see sleeves. But maybe — it is a royal wedding.
Lesia McHugh, owner of Dream Designs Bridal Outlet in Sylvania: I think it’s going to be a mermaid style but one shoulder with flowers on it because she’s pretty much her own self. She does everything different from everyone else and doesn’t follow trends. I don’t think she’ll do anything like Princess Di. Maybe a birdcage veil but something bigger and a little fancier.

Local couple shares princely weekend

Although it wasn’t planned, one local couple hopes tying the knot the same weekend as the royal wedding will make their anniversary that much more memorable in years to come.
Kate Hoetzl, 28, of Toledo and Andrew Klein, 27, formerly of Waterville, are getting married in Toledo on April 30, the day after Prince William and Kate Middleton.
“It may make it more memorable looking back 40 years from now,” Hoetzl said via email. “However, our own wedding is so exciting for both of us that it would be hard to make the weekend any more memorable.”

Kate and Andrew.

The couple, who met in high school, said they have received comments from friends and family about sharing their wedding weekend with royalty — especially since Hoetzl shares a first name with the princess-to-be. Hoetzl, who will graduate from the University of Toledo College of Medicine this summer, said she and Klein have had their date chosen for more than a year.
“We found out it would be the same weekend the same time the rest of the world did and were impressed how quickly they could put together such a large, historic event,” Hoetzl said. Will and Kate got engaged six months ago in October.
Klein said he didn’t realize their date would be the same weekend until media coverage started ramping up recently.
“I’ve been getting a lot of, ‘You’re getting married next week, right? The same time as the royal couple’?” lately,” Klein said via email from his home in Texas. “It’s not really annoying, but I do make a point of saying we didn’t plan it that way.”
“I just hope William and Kate have time on Sunday morning to catch the media coverage of our wedding,” Klein joked. “I’m sure they’re giving a similar interview over there about our wedding being so close to theirs.”

Swanton woman shares name with bride-to-be

Life got a bit surreal for one Swanton resident as royal wedding fever swept the globe last year.
That’s because her name is Kate Middleton, the same as William’s fianceé.
Ever since the Prince of Wales popped the question, the 23-year-old Middleton said she’s gotten odd looks when she signs her name or shows her ID.
“Whenever I sign my name to anything people are like ‘Really? That’s your name?’ and kind of question it,” Middleton said. “It’s odd when people look for five minutes at my driver’s license. I start to think there’s a problem, but it’s just the same name as someone famous now. Her name is all over now and it’s more of a household name. It’s kind of weird for me because I don’t really think about it.”

Kate Middleton

Middleton’s family calls her Kate, but most people know her as Katie. Her full name is Kaitlyn.
“I go by Katie most of the time and I’ve stuck to that because people sometimes don’t make the connection for a few minutes,” said Middleton, a case manager at the Zepf Center in Toledo. “There are a lot of random jokes, like “Marrying a prince? Good catch!’ or ‘Why are you still here?’ Sometimes I don’t even know what they are talking about. Then they’re like, ‘Aren’t you getting married in England?’”
Middleton said she’s been following the royal romance and plans to tune into the wedding.
“I plan to watch it for sure. My mom is probably the biggest fan of it and probably the biggest joking person about it. She says, ‘We gotta watch your wedding!’” Middleton said.
Middleton’s best friend is getting married April 30, the day after Will and Kate’s big day.
“People are talking about that a lot, joking that it’s a competition for the most important wedding,” Middleton said. “There will be a Kate Middleton in attendance at both.”
When Middleton, who was previously married, returned to her maiden name she said she would never change it again.
“Now I’m not sure,” she said, laughing. “But I’m sure it will die down and she will fade out of the spotlight a little bit.”
Would Middleton like to marry a prince?
“I don’t know; that’s a funny question,” Middleton said. “Is the prince a decent guy? If he’s a good guy, yeah, but I wouldn’t marry him just because he’s a prince.”

Royal Wedding Time Schedule

All times are Eastern Standard Time. London time is five hours ahead.

BBC America and most other networks will begin television coverage at 3 a.m. EST Friday, April 29.

3 a.m.: Announcement of any titles Queen Elizabeth will bestow on William and Kate.

3:15 a.m.: Guests begin arriving at Westminster Abbey.

5:10 a.m.: Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House by car.

5:20 a.m.: Foreign royal families arrive at the Abbey from Buckingham Palace. Kate’s mother and brother leave the hotel.

5:25 a.m.: “Junior royals” depart Buckingham Palace.

5:38 a.m.: Prince Charles and wife Camilla leave Clarence House.

5:40 a.m.: “Senior royals” arrive at the Abbey.

5:42 a.m.: Charles and Camilla arrive at the Abbey from Clarence House.

5:45 a.m.: The Queen and husband Prince Phillip arrive at the Abbey from Buckingham Palace.

5:48 a.m.: Kate’s sister, Pippa, the other bridesmaids and page boys leave the hotel.

5:51 a.m.: Kate and her father leave the hotel by car.

6 a.m.: Wedding ceremony begins.

7:05 a.m.: Service concludes with the signing of the register in the Shrine of Edward the Confessor. The signing of the register – not the vows – is what makes the marriage official.

7:15 a.m.: Will and Kate leave the church by horse-drawn carriage, followed by a mounted escort, then Prince Harry, Pippa, the bridesmaids and pageboys, followed by Charles and Camilla, followed by the Queen and Prince Phillip.

7:30 a.m.: Newlyweds arrive at Buckingham Palace.

8:25 a.m.: Windsor and Middleton families emerge on the balcony.

8:30 a.m.: Fly-by from the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

— Source: BBC

Described as whimsical, quirky, joyous and exuberant, Ian Axel will bare his heart to Toledo when he brings his piano-pop ballads to Frankie’s on April 30.
Axel, who has been compared to Ben Kweller, Ben Folds, Sufjan Stevens — even Elton John — said he’s never sure how to describe his shows.
“I get that question all the time and I never know how to answer,” Axel told Toledo Free Press Star from his home in New York City. “It’s theatrical, heartfelt, piano-based pop music. It’s honest. I’m trying to be as open as I can. I’m a very emotional human being. I’m a very open person so I don’t really hold anything back, which could be good or bad.”
Last year at this time, Axel was working at an Apple store and playing music on the side. When Apple added his music to its in-store playlist, it opened the door to bigger opportunities.
Since then, tracks from his debut album, “This Is The New Year,” have been heard on MTV’s “The Real World,” “Keeping up With the Kardashians,” “The Hills” and “I Used To Be Fat” as well as CW’s “One Tree Hill” and ABC’s “Private Practice” and “Good Morning America.”
“This Is The New Year,” which was released online in February and in stores earlier this month via tinyOGRE Entertainment, “celebrates relationships, personal transformation and fresh starts,” according to Axel’s website.

Ian Axel

“It just encompasses a new beginning and having closure in areas of your life, and really remembering that the pains right now will get better,” Axel said. “Change is constant. I think about that every day. It’s a good reminder.”
The album features bassist Chris Kuffner (Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michelson) and drummer Adam Christgau (Sia, Joshua Radin) as well as a cast of friends, including vocals by Chad Vaccarino, who will accompany him to Toledo.
“We write all the songs together and he sings on a bunch,” Axel said. “He hates it when I say this, but I think of him as Robin [to my Batman]. But not in a bad way. He’s a superhero. When he comes up on stage, it brings it to a different place.”
The Fair Lawn, N.J., native grew up playing the piano and writing songs — a video of 3-year-old Axel at the piano can be found on YouTube — but didn’t sing until college, when Vaccarino overheard him humming while writing and insisted he sing.
“I wanted to sing, but didn’t think I ever could sing and never thought to try,” said Axel, who majored in music business at New York University. “It’s completely changed my life.”
Still, he said it took him years before singing felt natural.
“It didn’t feel like my voice was an extension of me like I felt with the piano, but it’s definitely more natural now,” Axel said. “I started playing piano when I started speaking. When I play I can kind of shut off my mind. I can’t really explain it. I just get the gears going and then leave it alone, take my brain and do something else with it. I just started doing that with my voice and I feel like I can do it a little.
“With music or with anything creative I just feel like it’s all there available to us, coming from another dimension, and if we can stop our minds, stop thinking and allow those things to flow through us, [we can access it.]”
Working with a voice coach has helped his confidence and technique and he also recently started studying the piano techniques of Randy Newman.
“I’m challenging myself again,” Axel said. “I felt like I hit a wall there for a while. I feel like I’m having a breakthrough for the first time in years.”
A painful breakup offered plenty of material to jumpstart his songwriting.
“I got heartbroken like crazy and started writing all this tormented soul, dark, dreamy stuff, like a dark, beautiful place I could escape to,” Axel said. “I only recorded a few of those, but I have a whole slew of ideas. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them. It might become a musical in the future.”
His current favorite song is “Say Something,” in which he reluctantly accepts the end of a relationship with a girl he would have followed anywhere.
“Maybe it’s because it’s the most recent song off the album that I wrote. The wounds that inspired that song are fresher. It’s still something I’m very much going through,” Axel said. “But I believe people are mainly good at the core and in life you enter into relationships and you’re supposed to know these certain people because they help you grow.”
Axel said his greatest satisfaction is when people feel a connection with one of his songs.
“Honestly if anyone can connect to any part of it, that’s what it’s all about for me,” Axel said. “I don’t want to feel like I’m alone and no one does. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m writing in the first place. Maybe that’s the root of it. I think that’s close to it. Just the fact that I write these songs in my room, feeling like I’m separate from the world … just to be able to play that at a show and someone [connects to it], it blows my mind.”
Doors open at 5 p.m. April 30 at Frankie’s, 308 Main St. Cost is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. We Were Like Rockets and Jeff Bugert will open.
For more information, visit the website www.ianaxel.com.

Rachel Richardson hates when people speak badly about Toledo.

By founding Art Corner Toledo, she aims to revitalize Uptown and Downtown Toledo, and believes “a piece of art can be a cornerstone [for that.]”

All she sees in Toledo is beautiful people and opportunities, she said.

“We cannot help but want to change the world,” Richardson said.

Since it was formed in March 2010, ACT’s main goal is to create partnerships between artists and activists to promote Toledo. The organization creates visual depictions of the activism happening in the city.

This weekend, at the Manos’ Garden on Jackson Street, ACT’s first collaborative project will be unveiled. The project partnered artist Har Simrit Singh and Toledo GROWs, a community gardening outreach program.

Singh, known for his graffiti-style art, and Richardson met last spring at an art show. Richardson admired his many pictures of trees.

Richardson, with Toledo GROWs, then contacted Manos Garden, who “didn’t hesitate for half a second” in letting Singh paint on a wall at the garden.

He began painting last summer, and the unveiling was saved until now for weather reasons. This Saturday, guests are encouraged to see what the partnership came up with.

The event will be at Manos Garden and guests are encouraged to help work in the garden while there. There will be entertainment provided as well, Richardson said.

“People should come with a yearning to get their hands dirty,” Richardson said.

Other events are also planned, including a partnership between artist Anthony McCarty and Independent Advocates, a social change organization.

Richardson would not share what the mural looked like, because she wants people to attend the event to see it.

The unveiling will be April 30 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

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