On May 21, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognized KeyBank as the top SBA Large 7(a) Lender of the Year in a ceremony to kick off Small Business Week in Washington, D.C.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills presented the SBA’s highest award to KeyBank representatives Mike Toth, senior vice president and business banking head, and John Moshier, senior vice president and national SBA manager. This is KeyBank’s first award from the SBA on a national scale, but Key has received several district awards, Key community bank public relations spokesperson Drez Jennings said.

“Financial assistance and entrepreneurial counseling and training are the foundation for SBA’s mission of helping small businesses start, grow and succeed,” Mills said in a news release on sba.gov. “In a sense, this is how dreams are made for entrepreneurs across the country, and their contributions to our nation’s economic strength are vast. We welcome the opportunity to honor these award winners.”

The 7(a) Loan Program, for which KeyBank was honored, “includes financial help for businesses with special requirements. For example, funds are available for loans to businesses that handle exports to foreign countries, businesses that operate in rural areas, and for other very specific purposes,” the SBA said.

The KeyBank news release said that the criteria for the award consists of factors such as “portfolio performance, year over year growth in loan approval volume and on lender size, and ongoing commitment to the growth and expansion of small businesses.”

“We have deep insight into our clients’ business challenges and exceptional understanding of the many ways the SBA can help them,” Moshier said.

The Cleveland-based national bank was recognized for its nearly 31 percent growth in SBA-backed loans and more than 90 percent increase in SBA gross dollars approved in fiscal year 2011, according to the sba.gov news release.

One example of small business initiative Jennings said helped KeyBank achieve this award “is the work we’ve done with our client Northcoast Inn II in Sandusky. … SBA is the right fit because the client is in succession transition as his three children are taking on additional responsibility in the business. … The SBA loan provided them the ability to fix the interest rates for 10 years and have a loan that will not balloon. It gives them the peace of mind that the next generation will be successful.”

Moshier said that KeyBank is one of only four banks to consistently place in the nation’s top 30 SBA lenders. Also, KeyBank is expected to achieve its goal of lending $5 billion to small businesses well before its deadline in 2014, Moshier said.

KeyBank was founded more than 160 years ago and as of December 31, 2011, has assets of approximately $89 billion, the KeyBank news release said. The bank provides services to individuals and small businesses in 14 states, along with corporate and investment products to select industries throughout the U.S., the news release said.

“The SBA honor highlights our ability to identify creative ways to support the capital needs of our clients through different economic cycles, and reinforces our passion for prudently supporting the growth of our clients and our economy,” Toth said. “It is a great honor to be recognized by the SBA, and an even greater honor to be able to help our clients thrive.”

There are three categories for lenders, and approximately 20 other categories of awards that will be given at this year’s National Small Business Week in Washington, D.C., Jennings said. When asked by the SBA what they are hoping to gain in this week, Toth and Mosheir said, “Learning small business’ best practices and helping to begin nominating next year’s award winners.”

We’ve covered the latest technology inside, the food, the pastries and the employee orientation. Now it’s time for a tour, just ahead of the May 29 open of Hollywood Casino Toledo.

Here are some of the photos from the May 21 media tour:

Crews put the finishing touches on Hollywood Casino Toledo inside and out. The casino is being constructed on a 44-acre site just west of I-75.

The front doors are ready to greets visitors starting May 29.

Tables are ready for cards and chips.

The design and decor reflects the glitz and glamour of 1930s art deco Hollywood.

More than 1,300 full-time and part-time employees are ready for visitors. The annual estimated attendance is 2.8 million.

Casino General Manager Richard St. Jean, right, watches as employees practice.

Some of the 2,000 electronic gaming machines include movie-themed slots.

One of four restaurants at the casino is Epic Buffet, a 260-seat Las Vegas-style buffet.

To view more photos from inside the Hollywood Casino Toledo, go to our Facebook album. We also have a Facebook photo album from January.

Home video review by Michael Siebenaler

“One For The Money” (Lionsgate)

Based on the 1994 book of the same name by Janet Evanovich, the action-comedy “One for the Money” stars Katherine Heigl as the lead character Stephanie Plum, a down-on-her-luck ex-lingerie sales clerk who now tackles the tough bail bonds business. Heigl keeps Stephanie’s character authenticity by wearing a wig for the role and performing a decent New Jersey accent while her natural personal appeal resonates in each scene. She always keeps the audience on her side except for an odd reaction after a car bomb scene, but recovers with compelling emotional reactions to an injured friend and grisly discovery (implied, but not shown). Ranger, played by Daniel Sunjata, shows Stephanie the ropes and is also described as “the statue of David by Michelangelo, if you dipped him in caramel and strapped some heat on him.”

Stephanie’s assignments eventually lead to her main target/past love interest Joe Morelli, played by Irish actor Jason O’Mara. Their past relationship picks up again as Joe, an ex-cop, is suspected of murder and misses his related court date. Their on-screen chemistry works as the unconventional plot often surprises viewers where they meet throughout the plot while always hinting at their eventual partnership. Supporting cast members Debbie Reynolds, as Stephanie’s grandmother, and John Leguizamo, as a shady fighter manager Jimmy Alpha, impress, but it’s Sherri Shepherd who takes the pot as Lula, a memorable prostitute who helps Stephanie discover the truth behind this murder mystery.

Extra features include a great gag reel, theatrical trailer, one deleted scene, and two featurettes – “Bond Girls: Kicking A** in the Bail Bonds Industry”, which includes some rated R language while expanding the bail bonds process beyond the film, and “Making the Money: Behind the Scenes” featuring the stars, author Evanovich and director Julie Anne Robinson who puts together an amazing movie except for the bad sound in a kitchen scene with Stephanie and Joe. Hopefully filmmakers will continue future movie installments from the book sequels that include “Two for the Dough” and “Three to Get Deadly”. Recommended (***) and rated PG-13 for violence, language, partial nudity, sexual references, and some drug material.

On the morning of May 18, zoo enthusiasts of all ages excitedly awaited the grand opening of the Toledo Zoo’s newest exhibit, Tembo Trail. African music played in the background as the sun shined on zoo employees, school groups, sponsors, community leaders and others, all anticipating the grand finale of the Zoo’s four-year project.

Jodi Haney, program committee member and Zoo consultant, has attended the Zoo regularly since she was a child and makes an effort to attend every exhibit opening.

“I find the Zoo just as mesmerizing now as I did as a child,” Haney said.

Toledo Zoo Executive Director and CEO Anne Baker.

“My favorite animals are monkeys, elephants, cheetahs and especially lions,” said Holden Folk, a kindergarten student who attended the grand opening event with his dad. “But I’m most excited about seeing the elephants.”

Folk certainly was excited, as he planned and plotted every move to sneak into the exhibit to be closer to elephants Louie, Lucas, Twiggy and Renee. However, Folk waited patiently to experience Tembo Trail at the proper entrance. What viewers learn when they enter Tembo Trail is that break-ins are unnecessary in getting up-close and personal with the energetic mammals.

“Visitors see everything,” said Executive Director and CEO Anne Baker.

“Seeing everything” means viewing the spacious elephant enclosure from three of its four sides, and witnessing the indoor “Bull barn,” in which trainers clean, feed and care for the animals.

After seeing the exhibit for the first time, zoo volunteer Stephanie LaPare said, without hesitation, that the most impressive part of the exhibit was the “ample space for the elephants” and the ability for guests to see the elephants year-round in the “Bull barn.”

Baby Lucas tears down a paper banner at the opening of Tembo Trail.

“These are some of the fittest elephants in the country, as verified by independent observers,” Baker said.

Baby Lucas certainly displayed his active and playful nature when he tore down the banner of his exhibit as a group watched and laughed uproariously. Olivia Harwell, who witnessed the event from the shoulders of her father, Aaron, cited this as the favorite part of her day. Aaron said that he had visited the elephant enclosure a couple of times before, but going back through Tembo Trail was really great.

Upon entering the trail, a slender-snouted crocodile greets visitors before they travel to the indoor aquarium portion, where hippopotamuses and otters are found. Then the trail winds outside to the main event, where guests “ooh” and “ah” at the elephants as they search for food and explore their interactive environment. The next part of the trail is a roofed walkway where guests can see the hippos and otters to their left, and more of the elephants to their right. A crossroad greets guests next, and one path leads to the White Rhinoceroses while the other leads to the Meerkats, white Lions and “Bull barn.”

Toledo Free Press photos by Joseph Herr.

“Whatever we can do to use natural energy, we do,” LaPare said.

Grand opening events took place at the Zoo all weekend. Find more information at toledozoo.org.

They might walk the streets of Shanghai one week and drive across the Midwest the next.
But on May 31, some top business leaders and consultants will be at the Toledo Club to talk about Chinese-U.S. business relations.
Toledo-based marketing and communications firm Becker|CMCA, Toledo Free Press, Communica, The Hylant Group, Sinn Consulting, Wei Shen, Inc. and Brennan, Manna & Diamond are sponsoring the China Business Summit. The conference, running from 8:30-11:30 a.m., will present a panel of experts to discuss economic opportunities in China, the legal and financial hurdles to overcome when businesses cross borders and the differences in etiquette between American and Chinese business people.
Becker|CMCA sought to conduct the event because the firm has helped a number of large businesses expand to China. BASF is one of the many clients that Communica advertising designers have helped to saturate the Chinese market. George Becker, president of the company, and Jim Rush, senior vice president and partner for Communica, said the collaborative targets mid-size cities in China.
“The cross-border traffic just started moving up pretty recently,” said Wei Shen, who started BridgeConnect LLC. “I think both parties started to appreciate more of each other and had time to recognize the differences because both sides realize they need each other. It’s a gradual progression.”

Jessica Xie, vice president of the Hylant Group, and Jim Rush, senior vice president of Communica.

Shen led the General Motor’s marketing team that took the Buick to China. But before she left her Shanghai home 25 years ago, such a large-scale international business move would have hardly seemed possible. Shen said the country around her was impoverished before she fled, as many of her younger years were marked by the government’s tight grip on the borders.
She left the country in the late 1980s with the maximum amount of cash the government permitted her to take: the equivalent of $40.
Jessie Xie, vice president of the Hylant Group, moved to the U.S. from China in 1998. The maximum amount she and others were permitted to take was $10,000 — an example of how quickly China has changed, she said.
Both will present at the business summit, along with William Sinn, president of Sinn & Co., a consultant company that specializes in establishing operations and distribution networks in China. John Tang, head of the Shanghai-based China Practice of Brennan, Manna & Diamond, will also speak.
Tang helps American businesses maneuver through licensing and networking in China and helps Chinese businesses sort out regulations and new concepts in America. Even as borders become more fluid, Americans have a tougher time setting up a business in China than Chinese business people do in the U.S., he said.
“In China, the law is not very clear and a lot of it is based on relationships and who you know over there,” Tang said. “Knowing the law is half the battle. Getting that business license is not a right, it’s a privilege.”
That’s because the government sets a minimum on the amount of registered capital your new business could start with, he said. For example, an American seeking a business license in China would likely get rejected if he or she registered only $10,000.
It helps to know officials, particularly the Chinese equivalent to the secretary of state, to get your business recognized, he said.
Chinese businesses moving to America have quite the learning curve too. The financial structure of business is simpler in China, and derivatives and credit swapping is a foreign concept, he said.
Collaborating with American businesses has also led to a concept new to many Chinese business owners: liability insurance. Xie counsels some clients who expand their business to the United States and are now
required by law to buy liability insurance, such as businesses in the automotive industry. They often question why they have to buy product liability insurance if they know their product is a quality one, and if they know their parent company in China could cover any losses in the future, she said.
“It’s an expense — Chinese culture is such that we value savings and we don’t like to spend money,” Xie said. “They don’t see the value of buying insurance.”
Cultural differences between the two nations can also complicate business deals. When an American businessperson visits China to sign a deal with prospective partners, his or her initial visit may be a shock. The first four or five days of the meeting might involve tours, meals together and mingling — with no business talk at all. This is because Chinese businesspeople want to build relationships and become friends with their partners; they want to trust someone before they sign over money, Tang said.
On the other hand, when a Chinese businessperson comes to America, he or she might feel extremely rushed and uncomfortable when the American starts gabbing about money right away.
“They (Americans) can still come across as very arrogant,” Shen said.
The American recession saw a jump in Chinese investment that continues to this day. As real estate was cheaper, Tang said many Chinese saw the recession as an opportunity. Whether they took incentives from the government to expand overseas or whether they saw the opportunity to collect assets quickly, setting up shop here became alluring quickly, Tang said.
Programs such as the EB-5 visa, which offers a speedy track to permanent residency in exchange for $500,000-$1 million of investment in an American business endeavor, also helped draw interest.
EB-5 visas have existed for about 20 years but are growing in popularity. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services fielded at least 3,805 petitions from prospective foreign investors in 2011. Fewer than 800 bids were made four years prior.
Tang said individuals looking for a safe place to invest their money are more likely to take advantage of this than are large corporations.
Despite the obstacles in the beginning, the allure of starting a business in China is undeniable if not essential to success, he said.
“The biggest incentive is that China is the largest market in the world — it’s a no-brainer,” he said. “Even for domestic businesses, they can’t think they’re going to just stay domestic because their competitors are going global. In order to stay competitive, they have to think globally.”
Shen said walling up financial borders and suspicion of international business taking root in the U.S. hinder the well-being of both the U.S. and the Chinese economies.
“We need each other,” she said.

“No, it’s not Hallmark. It’s much better,” reads one of the stamps for sale at the recently opened Bayer’s Pampered Stampers.

One crafty lady, Melissa Bayer, runs Bayer’s Pampered Stampers, which stocks items needed for scrapbooking and cardmaking in addition to offering a variety of classes and demonstrations.

“It’s a lot of fun and my business is selling all these little things that makes your life easier when you’re trying to make a card or whatever,” Bayer said.

Melissa’s husband, Mike, is the owner of the nearby Bayer Wood Products and Bayer Hardware. Although business is entrenched in her husband’s family, this is Melissa’s first foray into having her own.

“I just told my husband the other day, ‘Gosh, I’m having a good time.’ He said, ‘Sure hope you make some money at it,’” Bayer said with a laugh. Bayer is also a registered nurse who still visits clients on her off-days and in the evenings.

Bayer took on many of the clients of the recently closed Baas Jct. Rubber Stamps. The former owner of Baas Jct. Rubber Stamps had approached Mike about taking over her store once she retired. When Mike wasn’t interested, Bayer jumped at the chance.

“She had everything; she had inventory, she had displays, she had contacts,” Bayer said of the former owner.

Bayer’s Pampered Stampers will also take over some of the inventory of the soon-to-close First Impressions in Sylvania.

“[Toledo] used to have a lot of scrapbooking stores and a lot of stamp stores. When the economy kind of tanked, a lot of those stores went under,” Bayer said.

While Bayer is confident in her new business, her biggest issue is getting people to realize her store is there. “Every time someone new comes in and every day someone new comes in, they say, ‘I didn’t know you were here,’ ” she said of her business, which could double for a house. Bayer also recently added some rockers on the porch to increase the homey feel.

“I’m really happy with where we are right now. I think if people were aware, we’d be much, much busier,” she added.

Despite opening a business in the recession, Bayer is optimistic. “I just love this stuff and I know there’s a lot of people who love this stuff besides me,” she said.

The variety in Bayer’s store should help – she has everything from basic glue dots to a Cricut cutting machine on-site. The “make and take” card sessions she offers on most Thursdays have also proven popular. For $1, customers can make a card out of precut paper that they can take home. In addition, Bayer’s Pampered Stampers offers free demonstrations at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays throughout the month.

Bayer has also hired instructors to come and teach in the upstairs classroom at the store. For $20, students can learn how to make a scrapbooking layout and for $15, they can attend a special cardmaking/craft class. No experience is needed.

“You sit around and you talk and you visit. It’s fun; it’s a nice way to pass the time,” Bayer said. “When you get it all done, it’s like, ‘I did that.’ ”

A friend first introduced Bayer to the social nature of cardmaking about 20 years ago. “She took me to her basement; she had tons of stamps, and inks and papers, just the neatest stuff. I just love the stuff,” Bayer recalled.

The store also offers perks like coupon week once a month where coupons from the likes of Michaels and Hobby Lobby will be honored. A stamp of the month club gives patrons the chance to get 40 percent off a stamp of their choice every month as well.

Bayer’s Pampered Stampers is at 1620 Ralston Circle. Hours are noon-7 Tuesdays through Thursdays and noon-4 Saturdays. A grand opening week starts May 20, featuring promotions and a guest instructor. Visit www.facebook.com/pages/Bayers-Pampered-Stampers or call (419) 724- 9516 for more information and dates.

A Central Michigan loss on May 18 clinched the Mid-American Conference West Division regular season championship for the Rockets.

Turns out they wouldn’t have needed the help anyway.

Toledo swept Eastern Michigan this weekend on the way to its first title in school history, culminating in a 12-5 victory on May 19 at Scott Park.

The Rockets finished the season winning six straight conference games, running their record to 30-25 on the season with a 19-8 record in league play. With the sweep over the Eagles (24-29, 14-13 MAC), Toledo earns the No. 2 seed in the MAC Tournament and will take on No. 7 Miami (28-27, 12-15) in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament at 4 p.m. May 23 in Avon. The victor will take on the winner of No. 3 Central Michigan (30-27, 17-10) vs. No. 6 EMU at 7:30 p.m. May 24.

Junior third baseman Wes White, taken by Zach Davis

Against the Eagles, junior third baseman Wes White led an offense that racked up 12 hits on the way to the victory. White recorded a team-high three hits in four at bats while driving home three runs on the day. Senior first baseman Mark Lapikas (2 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI) also made his mark, recording a pair of runs scored and RBI. Freshman right fielder Dan Zuchowski (1 for 3, 2 R) and junior designated hitter Jeff Cola (2 for 5, 2 R, RBI) each scored twice.

Starter Mike Hamann (3-5, 5.80 ERA) won his third victory in his last six starts after going 0-4 in his first eight. The junior allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits over the course of five innings to pick up the win.

Freshman Andrew Marra relieved Hamann and gave up two runs in the sixth as Toledo’s lead was trimmed to 5-3. Classmate Alec Schmenk struck out three in the seventh before giving way to mid-week starter Jared Locke, as he got in two perfect innings of work to close out the game.

The tournament matchups are posted at the Mid-American Conference website.

Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Tweeners, and Millennialism, how does golf fit into the flat-billed caps, hip huggers and wild colors of the next generation of golfer?

The ’50s and ’60s country club atmosphere of weekend Calcutta, Saturday night dinner and dance to follow are completely out of vogue with the skate boarders, roller bladers, and dirt bike riding set.

Is Rickie Fowler the bridge that can bring the younger set into the “Golf Kingdom”?

Tiger Woods is responsible for the current plethora of athletically fit, long-driving, smooth-putting, crop of over-achieving under 30 professional golfers.

Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Nick Watney, and Bill Haas were teenagers watching Tiger accomplish Herculean feats with a golf club in his hands and garner the sports world’s attention, as well as truckloads of money along the way.

Is Rickie Fowler going to be able to influence teenagers of today to leave their lacrosse sticks, soccer balls, and other sports paraphernalia behind and pick up some golf clubs and beat balls?

It is already happening.

Look at Rickie’s gallery at any PGA golf tournament and you will see several youngsters wearing the backwards hat, brightly plumed Puma golf wardrobe and following Rickie’s every move.

Everyone knows that the golf business has been in a slump ever since the economic bust of 2007. Golf courses need new players, men, women, boys and girls to pay green fees and buy golf merchandise from the pro shop.

Rickie Fowler and to some extent Rory McIlroy can provide the impetus to bring a younger crowd out to the golf course.

An ongoing head-to-head competition between Rickie and Rory in the majors over the next few years would be even better.

The next time you want to criticize Rickie Fowler for the flamboyant golf wear, the cap worn backwards or the scraggy facial hair, remember he may be exactly what can bring your kids to the golf course.

Trust me there is nothing better in the world than playing golf with your children.

Good luck, Rickie.

For more golf tips and video, visit www.toledoohiogolflessons.com. Follow on Twitter: @tolohgolfr.

The abandoned rental car of Jonathan Elwell, 44, of Shillington, Pa., was found off of Highway 30 in Crawford County, Iowa, on April 20.

Since then, police have been trying to locate Elwell, who rented the car near his home on April 14 for a planned trip to Ohio, said his sister, Joy Elwell, of Tioga, Pa.

“When he rented the car, he told (the rental company) he was going to Ohio,” Ms. Elwell said. “He didn’t say where in Ohio.”

“His mother grew up in Ohio, so there are ties back to Ohio,” said Linda Neff, Mr. Elwell’s first cousin from Milwaukee, Wis. “His maternal grandparents are buried in Ohio, so it would make sense for him to go there. … But he was several states west of Ohio.”

Mr. Elwell rented the car because he traveled around Shillington by bike and didn’t own a vehicle, Ms. Elwell said. The car was found locked, with his clothing and belongings inside and his bicycle in the trunk.

Jonathan Elwell

“It was normal for Jonathan to bring a bike when he came and visited us,” said Ms. Elwell, who lives about three and a half to four hours north of Mr. Elwell. “He would ride the bike once he got here and wouldn’t drive the car.”

Mr. Elwell rented the car in Reading, Pa., a town near his home, and scheduled to return it on April 21. Someone thinks they saw him in Shillington on April 17, but it has not been confirmed, Ms. Elwell said. The last place Mr. Elwell’s whereabouts are known is Carroll County, Iowa, on April 18, Neff said.

“That was the last time a purchase was made,” Neff said. “A receipt was found in the rental vehicle. There is surveillance tape from the convenience store of that transaction.”

There has been no activity on credit or debit cards since then, and nobody has been able to reach him by cell phone, which was not found in the car, Ms. Elwell said.

“He is a single man, he was on holiday from his job, he was taking a driving trip,” Neff said. “All of his bills were paid, all of his rent was paid through May 15. He was supposed to report back to work on the 27th (of April).”

Mr. Elwell worked out of his apartment for a company that does phone surveys, Neff said.

Neff and her husband helped a team of volunteers (Star 1) search the area around and north of where the car was found in western Iowa on May 12. The group consisted of nine people and two specially trained cadaver dogs, led by Sheriff Jim Steinkuehler of Crawford County. The Crawford County Police have been working with the Shillington Police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on this case, Neff said.

“The sheriff in Crawford County has gone above and beyond,” Neff said. “He has been a real God-send to our family.”

While Mr. Elwell was not found in the search, Neff said that the “searchers last weekend were another piece of the puzzle and another stone we are turning over.” Neff, Ms. Elwell and all other family members and friends have made it their mission “to turn over every single stone there is,” Neff said.

Currently, police are investigating the possibility of Mr. Elwell’s connection with The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, which is a seven-day bicycle race in Iowa that occurs every year. Officials are trying to find out if Mr. Elwell had participated in this race in the past, since he was such an avid bicyclist, Neff said.

“It’s difficult to get information,” Neff said. “The RAGBRAI organization cannot release names of who participated last year.”

Ms. Elwell said that because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, it is difficult to retrieve information about Mr. Elwell possibly being at a hospital somewhere.

“Any information, no matter how insignificant, can help,” Ms. Elwell said. “(Jonathan’s) mother … wants to know where her baby is.”

If anyone has any information regarding Jonathan Elwell, who is described as being 6-foot-2, 180 pounds and balding with blue eyes and acne scarring, they are asked to contact the Crawford County Sheriff’s office at (712) 263-2146.

Several years ago I helped a friend paint his house. The idea of sacrificing a whole day off from work, to work; made me balk at first. However, I succumbed out of loyalty toward our friendship and the 12-pack he offered as payment. Vices do have an inherent lure, don’t they? Well, there was a bit of that in the U.S. armed forces during the War of 1812.

Alcohol consumption in our new, emerging country was widespread and prolific and there were few restrictions of its use in the military. In fact, it was used as an incentive to serve. At our own Fort Meigs, and other fortresses in our area, it was pretty standard procedure for every man to receive a gil of whisky or rum per day. A gil? Well, that’s four ounces, or what they called a “quarter-pint,” of hard liquor, packing at least a 100-proof wallop.

Don’t get the wrong idea, there was plenty of patriotism in the 1812 military and militia, and it wasn’t the simple lure of free booze that prompted them to risk their lives, but it did help make up for other deficiencies. Our young government was frequently lax in providing the troops with some vital items like clothing, firearms and even their pay. Alcohol, however, was almost always in-stock even if food wasn’t — the officers made certain of it. The warmth of a few shots probably saved more than a few lives of men who were nearly frozen in threadbare linen shirts during brutal wilderness winters. And wounded soldiers drew courage from it as they faced battlefield amputations and surgeries with no other anesthesia.

Consider that the attack of Fort Meigs came predominantly in the form of British cannonballs being fired across the Maumee River at our fortress. Their arsenal seemed limitless, ours very sparse. What to do? Well, our commander, Gen. William Harrison, offered an extra gil to any man who dared retrieve an enemy cannon ball that had missed its mark. Hundreds of balls were thus recovered.

Now it wasn’t that all these men were alcoholics, though surely many had built up a decent tolerance. Early Americans were raised on alcohol. The reason was not simply for the obvious pleasure. It was primarily a matter of health. Water was often contaminated with all sorts of bacteria and viruses causing disease and death. The frontiersmen didn’t quite understand the specifics, but they found that drinking fermented water solved many of their disease issues, and it sure tasted better.

Since our founding, until temperance movements began to have an influence around 1830, many families on the frontier had their own beer brewing equipment. On a weekly basis, the woman of the house would typically make a batch of hard cider or “small beer,” a low-alcohol stout sweetened with molasses. Men, women and children would routinely have a pint for breakfast. Men would usually have a pint or two at midday, again at dinner, and of course a nightcap.

Although regular drinking was a way of life, drunkenness was seriously frowned upon. There were severe penalties for a sentry who jeopardized numerous lives by being found drunk at his post. And no villages wanted a town drunk causing a ruckus. In a bit of irony, the use of spirits instead of water for health reasons, when consumed in excess, caused those individuals to lose any sense of hygiene, thus making them susceptible to life-threatening germs anyway.

Still another reason for regular consumption of whisky, rum, cider and beer was that it was the only way to keep the abundant excesses of corn, sugarcane, fruit and grains preserved. For the locals on the frontier, a drink was a cheap commodity, but it was also a very lucrative “export” to the East Coast.

Breweries making full-strength stout sprang up everywhere as the country grew. By 1810, 132 of them were in operation in the U.S. It wasn’t until 1838 that the first brewery in the Toledo area began selling its Buckeye beer at Consaul and Front streets, still a landmark today as the home of Tony Packo’s restaurant.

Frank Kuron is author of the War of 1812 book, “Thus Fell Tecumseh.” Email him at kuronpubs@bex.net

Bugle Call: upcoming events

• Visit Fort Meigs May 26-27 and see recreated battles, musket and artillery demonstrations, and camp life demonstrations during their “1st Siege 1813: War of 1812 Re-enactment & Memorial Day Ceremony.” On Memorial Day, a special wreath-laying ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. in front of the monument within the fort.
• Visit Fort Meigs June 2 for a beautiful, musical summer evening in commemoration of the bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the 50th anniversary of the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra as it performs Melodies on the Maumee, a celebration concert.
  Visit www.fortmeigs.org or call (419) 874-4121 for complete details about all upcoming events.

I’ve been a big fan of baby names since at least my teenage years, even receiving a much-wanted book of baby names for Christmas one year. Thankfully, I grew up in the age before teen pregnancy pacts and “Teen Mom” became popularized from sea to shining sea. If my teenage daughter asked for a baby name book today, I would likely place a book titled “Your Parents Aren’t Ready for Grandkids Yet” under the tree instead, just in case that was the real motivation.

I pored over baby name book after baby name book long before I actually had reason to pick a name out. Through my appellation exploration, I found that I seemed to like familiar names with common spellings that weren’t too popular. I wanted to be distinct without being eccentric for my own children and was more than confident that I had a stellar list of contenders chosen by the time I was set to deliver my first child.

We named him Jack Michael.

I can only assume that the reason my husband, Mike, and I ultimately landed on the name “Jack” is likely the same reason that so many other parents landed on the same name — it’s the only one we could agree on. I was set on “Lincoln” and Mike was set on “Nicholas,” so we obviously went with “Jack.” That’s just what you do when you’re off in two different directions, because who doesn’t like a kid named Jack?

Against my original judgment, our son entered school life with a fairly common name that we assumed would surely cause him to henceforth be known as “Jack S.” Surprisingly, upon entering preschool he didn’t become “Jack S.” (which was just as well since I eventually figured out that it kind of sounds like “jackass”). There was another Jack, but he just happened to also be a “Jack S.” Thus, my son went through two years of preschool as “Jack Szyperski.”

Even though there wasn’t a Lincoln in sight, I actually became quite comfortable with the conventional nature of the name “Jack.” While I was pregnant, my husband had done the seemingly impossible and sold me on choosing a nondescript name with five simple words, “but he’ll be our Jack.” The name actually fits him to a tee, and, regardless of how many other Jacks there are in the world, he is and always will be our Jack.

After experiencing my own epiphany about commonplace names, I was a bit dismayed to read the comments regarding this year’s top baby names. Commenters seemed overwhelmingly relieved when names they had chosen for their children did not show up on the list. Reading things like, “Thank God my kids names aren’t on that list!,” “Ugh, I specifically chose Noah because it wasn’t on the list at the time. Damnit!” and “I am always THRILLED to see my daughter’s name not show up! I don’t even want to see it in the top 100.” made we wonder what in the world is wrong with us.

I realize that online comment sections are generally to the pulse of society what “In Touch Magazine” is to the state of world affairs, but they do hold some sort of insight into American thought. I find it interesting that the popularity of a baby name could evoke such outrage and disappointment among our people. I understand that a tenet of our culture is supposed to be individuality, but I honestly think we need to take it down a notch.

Both “Jack” (actually “Jackson”) and “Michael” showed up on the list of “The Most Hated Baby Names in America” that recently made the Internet rounds. As a longterm, self-admitted name snob, I have to say that I felt neither upset nor victorious that the rest of the country supposedly doesn’t care for my son’s name. As obsessed as I am with name lists, they surely have no bearing on how I feel about my children’s names. This may be a shocking revelation, but I picked them because I like them.

Yes, my older daughter was semi-named after “Elaine” on “Seinfeld” (much to the chagrin of a nurse in the hospital who deemed the character too sarcastic to name a baby after) and, yes, my youngest daughter, Lucille, does have what some may consider to be an “old lady” name. Yet, “Laney” and “Lucy” seem to suit them just fine. Besides, I’ve found that it isn’t the name that makes the kid but rather the kid that makes the name. Whether their names are one in 6 billion or one of 6 billion, I love them just the same.

Shannon and her husband, Michael, are raising three children in Sylvania. E-mail her at letters@toledofreepress.com.

The Rockets secured the first Mid-American Conference West Division regular season championship in school history on May 18 when they topped Eastern Michigan 5-2 at Scott Park.

Toledo (29-25, 18-8 MAC) eliminated the Eagles (24-28, 14-12) from contention for the title the previous day and went into the game just one game ahead of Central Michigan. A victory over EMU combined with a Chippewas loss, however, clinched the first ever championship for the Rockets.

“Our guys played really well today with a really complete game,” UT head coach Cory Mee said. “It was a big win for us.”

“It’s amazing,” senior starter Matt Kuna said. “It’s what I came here to do when I signed five years ago. Doing that today is just a lot of fun to say that I was a part of it.”

Leading UT to victory was Kuna (7-1, 2.51 ERA) who stifled Eagles hitters all day on his way to earning his team-leading seventh victory of the year. The senior threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five.

“Matt was outstanding,” Mee said. “He did exactly what he does, filling the strike zone up, and really puts the pressure on the hitters. I just love the way he pitches, and I think our guys love playing behind him, too.”

With a 5-0 lead going into the ninth, the game got a bit more interesting as Eastern Michigan got to senior reliever Alex Radon, who left the game, giving up two runs in 1.1 innings. Junior Cody Umbright, however, sealed the contest, getting the next two batters out to secure the title for Toledo.

At the plate, junior designated hitter Matt Delewski went 2 for 4 while crossing the plate twice and driving in one. Freshman shortstop Nate Langhals (1 for 2, 2 RBI) drove home a team-high two runs while senior second baseman Joe Corfman (2 for 4, RBI) and sophomore catcher James Miglin (2 for 4, R) each recorded a pair of hits.

With the title secured, the Rockets will finish off the three-game series against EMU looking for the sweep at 1 p.m. May 19. Junior starter Mike Hamann (2-5, 6.08 ERA) will take the mound looking to bring Toledo its sixth straight conference victory.

The University of Toledo was named as the top women’s athletic program in the Mid-American Conference in 2012 this week, being awarded with the Jacoby Trophy.

“This is a tremendous milestone for our program,” said UT athletic director Mike O’Brien. “The student-athletes and coaches in our women’s programs have truly earned their recognition as the best in the Mid-American Conference. We are extremely proud of everything they have accomplished and congratulate them for this historic achievement.”

Jacoby Trophy, courtesy of UT Athletics

This is the first time in the award’s 30 years that the Rockets have won the trophy, previously finishing a program-high fourth place the past three seasons. They scored an average of 9.28 points per team, ahead of Central Michigan (9.06), Miami (8.78) and Ohio (8.44). Points are awarded based on each school’s finish, with the overall total divided by the number of sports sponsored by each school.

Helping Toledo win the Jacoby Trophy were three different programs that earned the MAC championship: cross country, soccer and swimming and diving. The cross country and soccer team each earned their fourth conference titles, with the soccer team netting a league record, and the swimming and diving team won its second championship in three seasons.

The Rockets also shared in its third consecutive MAC West Division regular season championship in women’s basketball while both the indoor and outdoor track and field teams finished a program-best second place. The UT women’s golf team came in third in the league for its second top-three finish in three seasons. The softball team finished in eighth place, but improved, making the MAC Tournament for the first time since 1997.

Last week I wrote a piece titled “Eliminating the 2013 Deficit Without Raising Taxes,” and per the request of a few readers the sources used in my research are cited in the comment feed on that article. My goal was simple; eliminate the proposed 2013 deficit of $901 billion without raising taxes, cutting Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. This week, I wanted to follow up with why each cut was made and any impact they may have (not all cuts made are detailed in this piece due to length restrictions).

The cuts made to congressional salaries were not a substantial cut (savings of $67.9 million), but merely a cut due to principle. A congressman/woman in no way deserves to take triple the U.S. median household income out of the tax pool for merely representing the citizens. Serving as a U.S. elected official should be an honor, not a career.

I cut the broadly labeled “defense budget” by 25 percent, which resulted in savings of $223.75 billion, and also found $11 billion in wasteful spending in Iraq between 2007 to present. By decreasing the military budget, we will have less money to operate overseas bases (some of which will need to be shut down) and less money available for research and development. Specifically what within the military would I cut? It is difficult to say; it is definitely something that I would want input from service members about. However, as I mentioned before, if any military personnel were to see pay cuts as a result of these budget constraints, I would immediately see to it that their pay was not affected. I stand by what I said in the last article; a federal government should promote interstate commerce and provide a sound national defense above all else.

I cut unemployment insurance as an incentive for individuals to get back to work. Several areas of the economy are very understaffed at the moment, but the problem is that they are not able to hire competent employees or employees able to pass drug tests (this is what we have had several employers tell us regarding their personal employment situations). I would be more inclined to reduce the cuts to unemployment if instead of giving recipients cash they were given vouchers to attend a trade school to learn a skill during their 99 weeks of unemployment. Then, upon completion, the unemployed would ideally have obtained a highly lucrative skill as opposed to sitting around waiting and drying up the tax pool.

Numerous programs that I chose to cut either receive alternative funding, have failed to meet their objectives or simply do not require as large a budget as they once had. Pardon my shorthand, but they are as follows;

• NASA, cut by nearly 90 percent to $2 billion: The U.S. is no longer sending shuttles to space, thus a large budget is not necessary anymore
• Treasury Department, cut by 85 percent to $2 billion: This cut would hopefully resolve in the IRS restructuring and the U.S. pursuing a more efficient and coherent tax code.
• Department of Transportation, cut by half to $34 billion: As I mentioned, the federal government should promote interstate commerce, but sacrifices must be made, and while their cut is severe it is not threatening to their overall objective to keep our infrastructure safe (anybody remember “Shovel Ready Jobs?”)
• Health and Human Services, cut 98 percent to $1.4 billion: funds will pursue heavily debated Affordable Care Act initiatives and grants associated with public health issues. In times of a mounting deficit, we as a nation need to rely on states to fund and pursue these initiatives, not the federal government.
• The State Department, cut 99 percent to $600 million: a large portion of these funds go toward providing international aid. When we have individuals struggling in our own country we cannot continue to finance aid for foreign nations. We should call upon citizens to seek out charities and donate as opposed to sending tax dollars overseas.

The remaining list includes agencies and organizations that would be defunded altogether due to their incompetence or that they already receive alternative funding. These include Housing and Urban Development, which receives additional funding through HUD fees on home sales; the Department of Education, which funds schools with local levies or chooses to promote a pro-charter school agenda; the Department of Energy (states and the private sector can — and should — fund clean energy research); Overseas Contingency Operations, since we cannot logically fund our allies when we cannot fund our own government; and the Department of Labor, which is clearly an ineffective organization seeing as how we have seen little to no unemployment recovery.

There were cuts that were very difficult to make, and there were cuts that that should have been made a long time ago. The fact of the matter is that when attempting to balance a budget deficit EVERYONE must make sacrifices and learn to operate with limited resources and finances. It is a task that must be completed to ensure the financial viability of our nation, but not one that will come without scrutiny and opposition. Nobody wants to see their funding disappear, but when push comes to shove this proposed budget cuts funding all across the board all without altering taxes or touching The Big 3, Social Security Medicare and Medicaid. It is time for this country to balance the budget, for the first time since President Clinton, and get this country back on track as the world’s economic superpower.

Ben Treece is a 2009 graduate from the University of Miami (Fla.) with a bachelor of business administration degree in international finance and marketing. He is a partner with Treece Investment Advisory Corp (www.TreeceInvestments.com) and a stockbroker licensed with FINRA, working for Treece Financial Services Corp. The above information is the express opinion of Ben Treece and should not be construed as investment advice or used without outside verification.

In the late 1800s, Prime Minister Abraham Kuyper of the Netherlands posited an organizational hierarchy now known as “Sphere Sovereignty.” Kuyper argued that every “sphere” of life (family, government, church, labor, art, individual, community, etc.) held the mark of the Creator in design and intent, and as such, each sphere should operate within their own sovereign rules and parameters. What that means in modern times is often subject to debate; however, Kuyper’s work and his sources are well worth study.

Perhaps the greatest known and most misunderstood source of sphere sovereignty may be found in a letter written in 1802 by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association. In this early time of our nation, the breadth and scope of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights was untested, and unknown. The DBA and Jefferson exchange multiple letters on the subject of what it meant to have the freedom of religion. Jefferson noted, “… I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”

Jefferson was indicating the sovereignty of God over matters of religion and faith. His attempts to assuage the fears of the religious associations were based on the social contracts as proposed in the 1600s by English philosopher and physician John Locke. Locke recognized a realm of authority for civil government, and drew a clear separation between that and the sphere of authority of “individual conscience.” In short, the state should have no authority on matters of religion as the realm of social conscience is to be determined between God and Man alone. The sphere of religion is not to be ruled by civil authority.

This concept stood in stark contrast not to the application of religion to matters of state but to the authority of state over matters of religion. From the Puritans, to the Pilgrims, individuals sought the sacred rights of conscience, traveling from land to land to find a home where they may practice religion as they chose, free from the dictates of lords and kings serving dual roles of heads of state and church. James Madison even noted the theory of sphere sovereignty would not only serve to provide religious freedom, it would strengthen both spheres. “We are teaching the world the great truth that governments do better without kings and nobles than with them. The merit will be doubled by the other lesson that religion flourishes in greater purity, without than with the aid of government.”

Perhaps our greatest lesson comes from history’s greatest teacher. This man taught often in the presence of the religious leaders of the time. He taught of obedience to God, and the sovereignty of God over all of the social spheres of life. His teachings were controversial. His teachings divided families, overthrew empires and cost him a painful death. The religious leaders were in fear of losing their control over the sphere of religion. As they often did, they crossed the line, attempting to use the civil authority to do what they could not do under their own.

“Teacher, is it right to pay taxes?” they asked.

The teacher replied, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? Here, show me a coin used for the tax. Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”

“Caesar’s,” they replied.

“Then render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Render unto God what belongs to God.” He answered.

This lesson rings true from the teachings of Jesus Christ, through the studies of Locke, to the guarantee of freedoms within our Constitution. Our challenge is not only to remain true to the meanings and purpose of sphere sovereignty, but to recognize the sovereignty of God. No Caesar, or king, no state or country may long stand without this basic truth. As Benjamin Franklin warned his fellow founding fathers, “We have been assured, sir, in the sacred writings, that ‘except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.”

As we continue to build monuments to ourselves and our egos, and push God out of all of our spheres, we would do well to remember these words.