WE E K E N DTHE COURIER R E V I E W T I M E S

Arts & Entertainment 2 & 3 | Food 4 | Comics 5

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018

W E E K E N D D O C TO R

Gastroesophageal reflux disease keeps coming up | E6

F I E L D N OT E S

Ohio bobcats are starting to make a comeback | E3

Jukebox Life Starring

Jarrod SpectorA One Man Jukebox MusicalMarch 9, 2018 • 7:30PM

NY Gilbert & Sullivan Players in

Piratesof PenzanceThe Very Model of Gilbert & SullivanMarch 16, 2018 • 7:30PM 2017-2018 SEASON SPONSOR OHIO LOGISTICS

419-423-2787 MarathonCenterArts.org

“Lend Me A Tenor,” the comedy/farce written by Ken Ludwig, comes to the Fort Find-lay Playhouse stage Feb. 22-25 and March 1-3.

Sunday shows begin at 5 p.m., with all other performances at 8 p.m.

A sensation on Broadway and in London’s West End, the screwball comedy’s story is set in 1934. Saunders (m James Foust), the manager of the Cleveland Grand Opera company, is ready to present Tito Morelli (Patrick Davis), the world’s most famous tenor, as the star of the one-night-only opera, “Otello.”

He arrives with his hot-blooded Italian wife Maria (Kedryn Roether) and a terrible stomachache from eating too much while traveling. With his girlfriend Maggie (Samantha

Henry), the opera guild’s presi-dent Julia (Jean Daniel) and the opera’s resident diva Diana (Lori Foster) all trying to finagle a private meeting with Morelli, Saunders’ beleaguered assistant Max (Andy Conway) has his hands full.

Through a series of mishaps, including the hotel’s bellhop (Ron Dutton) popping in and out of the room, Morelli is given a double dose of tranquilizers and passes out. In a frantic attempt to salvage the evening, Saun-ders persuades Max to get into Morelli’s Otello costume and fool the audience into thinking he’s Il Stupendo.

Max succeeds admirably, but Morelli comes to and gets into his other costume, ready to perform. Now, two Otellos are running around in costume and two women are running around in lingerie, each thinking she is with Il Stupendo.

Tickets go on sale to the public for $12 each on Monday and can be bought online at www.fortfindlayplayhouse.org, by phone at 567-525-3636, or in person at the box office inside the playhouse from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednes-day. Unreserved seats will be available at the door on show nights on a cash- or check-only basis.

Buddy the Elf will serve as the caller at the University of Find-lay’s Celebrity Bingo at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16.

Rob Iberg will impersonate the childlike, sugar-loving star of the 2003 holiday comedy, “Elf,” where Will Ferrell plays a human raised by elves that has developed an incomparable sense of Christmas spirit.

Iberg is a Florida-based professional performer and imperson-ator. He often performs live at popular Orlando, Florida, attrac-tions, as well as television and film, along with multiple nationally airing commercials.

At the Sunburst Celebrity Impersonators ceremony, Iberg has been awarded multiple honors over the years for his ability to transform himself into a wide range of characters, including Johnny Depp, Jim Carrey, Christopher Lloyd, Bill Murray and President Donald Trump. He previously performed at UF as Ron Burgundy, the main character of another Will Ferrell comedy, “Anchorman.”

Admission will be $5 at the door, and free for those with a valid University of Findlay I.D. The event, which will be held in the Alumni Memorial Union’s Multipurpose Room and include snacks (while they last) and prizes, is rated PG-13. No children under age 13 will be admitted.

Celebrity Bingo is presented by UF’s Student Activities Board, an extension of the Office of Student Activities, Commuter Ser-vices and Leadership Development. Student Activities Board is a student board that strives to bring diverse entertainment to campus. Call 419-434-4606 for more information.

Fort Findlay farce captures an ill-fated attempt to stage an Italian opera

KEVIN BEAN / The Courier & Review TimesANDY CONWAY, Kedryn Roether (top row, l-r), Samantha Henry, Patrick Davis and Lori Foster star in Fort Findlay Playhouse’s production of “Lend Me A Tenor,” being performed Feb. 22-March 3 at the playhouse.

Buddy the Elf is UF’s Celebrity Bingo’s special

guest on Feb. 16

Photo providedSON OF A nutcracker! Buddy the Elf (aka actor Rob Iberg, left) will host this year’s Celebrity Bingo night Feb. 16 at the University of Findlay’s Alumni Memorial Union.

By LINDSEY BAHR AP FILM WRITER

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — For Ryan Coogler, the essence of “Black Panther” came down to one question: What does it mean to be African?

The Oakland-born filmmaker of both “Creed” and “Fruitvale Station” had been given the gar-gantuan task of shepherding Mar-vel’s iconic superhero to the big screen, with a budget five times bigger than he’d ever had, Hol-lywood’s most powerful studio behind him and the freedom to make “Black Panther” as personal as he wanted. Coogler had made his name creating films about the black experience, but both were about the black American expe-rience. “Black Panther,” which opens nationwide next week, was an African story and when Coogler signed on for the movie, he’d never been.

Now, he’d finally get his chance. “This is the most personal

film I’ve ever made, which is the strangest statement to say because I only make films that are per-sonal,” Coogler said. “This film for me started with this question of, ‘What does it mean to be African?’ It’s a question that I’ve always had since I learned I was black, since my parents sat me down and told me what that was. I didn’t totally understand what that meant. As a kid you’re like, well wait, why? Like, so wait we’re from Africa? What’s that?

“I’m 31 years old and I realized I never really took time to grapple with what it means to be African. This film gave me the chance to do that,” he said.

When the wheels touched down in Cape Town, South Africa,

Coogler remembers being over-come with a visceral feeling that he still can’t put words to. He went to Table Mountain and thought, “I could be buried here.” In Nairobi he saw a Maasai man, wearing traditional clothes and speaking on a cellphone. “That’s Wakanda,” he thought. “That’s Afrofuturism.”

And that’s what he set out to translate into the language of cinema in “Black Panther.” It’s the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and based on 50-year-old Stan Lee and Jack Kirby-created material, sure, but this is far from being just another superhero movie.

Wakanda, a fictional Afri-can nation, is an insulated, uncolonized and technologically advanced country that’s both deeply traditional and dazzlingly modern. “Black Panther” paints a multifaceted portrait of a nation in flux, as T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) ascends to the throne following his father’s death.

Actress Danai Gurira (“The Walking Dead”), who plays Okoye, the general of the Wakanda war-riors known as the Dora Milaje, grew up mostly in Zimbabwe. She said she was “giddy” with “child-like joy” when she understood how Coogler intended to show Africa and its inhabitants like Okoye, the spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and the scientist Shuri (Letitia Wright) — and those are just the women.

“‘Black Panther’ creates a precedent that kills the ability of folks to misrepresent and distort the continent,” Gurira said. “The things that it checks off: Complex African female characters; African language on a big screen; African characters who are varied in many different ways and heroic; The heroism of Africans for themselves and not needing a white hero — go figure — to reach their goals; Cel-ebrating so many specific African cultural-isms. No one can really now try to put forth some prod-

uct where Africa is seen begging for a white superhero to come and save it.”

“Black Panther” has the mak-ings of an all-out cultural event.

“It’s the biggest, blackest movie that’s ever been made,” said vet-eran journalist and television writer Marc Bernardin.

And it’s already signaling a seismic shift that that could make an impact big enough to change the entertainment industry — not that it hasn’t taken decades to get the African King and warrior to the big screen. Wesley Snipes tried for years to get a “Black Panther” film off the ground, bumping up against antiquated thinking about how “black movies don’t travel” (code for a film’s potential to make money internationally). Even in

the modern Kevin Feige-led super-hero era, where seemingly every comic book character is fair game for a film, T’Challa was pretty far down on Marvel’s list (“Ant-Man” and two “Guardians of the Galaxy” films came first). But Marvel had a plan, and introduced T’Challa in a small but impactful part in “Captain America: Civil War” to set up the stand-alone film.

Of course only time will tell if “Black Panther” is a turning point or an anomaly. For now, Coogler just hopes people like it.

“My experiences when I was there on that trip eased a lot of questions that I had, a lot of pain that I had. And I tried to put all that into the movie,” Coogler said. “I don’t want to let the audience down.”

‘Black Panther’ takes blockbusters to AfricaFilm could be an all-out cultural event

Courtesy of Marvel Studios-DisneyLUPITA NYONG’O (left) and Chadwick Boseman star in the film “Black Panther.”

EventsBEACH BASHToday

Findlay’s own Reunion Band will bring its style of ’60s and ’70s rock and roll to the Elks Beach Bash con-cert that will benefit many Findlay-based charities. The event includes several raffles, light hors d’oeuvres, desserts and a cash bar, with attend-ees encouraged to wear flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts. Admission: $7 at the door. Time: 7 to 11 p.m., doors open at 6. Location: Findlay Elks Lodge banquet hall, 900 W. Melrose Ave. Information: Jeff Jenson at 419-889-5527.

CASINO ROYALE FUNDRAISERToday

The Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Services’ Casino Royale Fundraiser features heavy hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, a photo booth, a reverse raffle and live music by Jersey — The Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band. Each reverse raffle ticket offers a chance to win $2,000 and admits two people into the fundraiser. Admission: $100 for one reverse raffle ticket; $500 to reserve a table for eight with four tickets; $1,000 to sponsor event with special table, four tickets and a chance to win an additional ticket. Time: 6 p.m. Location: Camden Falls, 2460 Ohio 231 S, Tiffin. Information: Reach the chamber for tickets at 419-447-4141 or email dmartorana@tiffinchamber.com.

GLASS CITY BLACK COMIX ARTS FESTToday

The Glass City Black Comix Arts Fest celebrates and supports black comic book creators from around the world in their effort to tell compel-ling, uplifting and fantastic stories. The festival aims to educate comic book fans about the work available by black comic artists and spread the word that all audiences deserve representation and to be present as subjects in the comic arts and popu-lar culture. Admission: Free. Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St. Information: Reach the library at 419-259-5200.

ANIMARATHON XVIToday and Sunday

Animarathon is a family-friendly celebration of Japanese animation and media, along with “nerd culture.” It features panels, cosplay contests, a Kawaii Kafé, an artist’s alley, anime screenings, special guests, tabletop and video games, a rave, and more. Admission: $7 for Bowling Green State University students; $10 for general admission at the door. Time: 9 a.m. to midnight today, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Location: BGSU Bowen-Thompson Student Union, Bowling Green. Information: Check https://animarathon.com/ for a more detailed schedule.

GENEALOGY CLASSFeb. 17

The first class of the “Learning About Your Past” series will give an overview on how to create an online family tree with an Ancestry.com subscription. Becky Hill, head librarian at the Hayes Presidential Library and an experienced genealo-gist, leads these classes. Admission: $10, can be paid at the door or online. Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Location: The Rutherford B. Hayes Presiden-tial Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. Infor-mation: 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

FROZEN IN TIMEFeb. 17

Sauder Village’s Frozen in Time Festival will feature ice-carving demonstrations, ice princesses and princes, old-fashioned toys, snacks, trolley rides, nature walks, craft

activities, a maple-syrup history lesson, hot cocoa and more. Admis-sion: $13 adults, $7 students, free for kids 3 and under. Time: 1 to 5 p.m. Location: Sauder Village, 22611 Ohio 2, Archbold. Information: 800-590-9755 or visit www.saudervillage.org.

SLEIGH RIDESFeb. 17-19

South Creek Clydesdales will offer horse-drawn sleigh and trolley rides through the wooded estate of President Rutherford B. Hayes, snow or no snow, though rides will be can-celed in the event of thunderstorms and below-zero wind chill. Rides are given on a first-come, first-served basis, and no reservations are taken. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk. Admission: $3, free for kids 2 and younger. Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Location: The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. Information: 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

‘CHASING LIGHT’Feb. 28

Amanda Lucidon, the only female photographer during the Obama Administration and the 12th female White House photographer in his-tory, will conclude an exhibit of her work (running now) called “Chas-ing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photogra-pher,” with an interview with WGTE radio personality Haley Taylor, and be followed with an audience Q&A. Guests to the interview are asked to RSVP, so a door count can be taken, and admission is first-come, first-served. Because the event was rescheduled, those who have RSVPed are asked to do so again. Admission: Free. Time: 7 p.m., doors open at 6:15 p.m. Location: 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo. Information: RSVP online through Eventbrite.com, or through any Toledo Lucas County Public Library location. Call the library at 419-259-5200 for more info.

GREATER TOLEDO TRAIN & TOY SHOW March 11

This show features over 250 deal-ers bringing toy and model trains of all gauges and manufacturers as well as toys from all eras: plastic, tin, die-cast, pop culture and more. Free appraisals and repair advice will be offered on site, as well as original parts for sale. Many lay-outs and exhibits will operate all day, including the “Lego Big City” layout featuring Toledo’s 1 Govern-ment Center building and demon-strations from Toledo Technology Academy’s award-winning robotics team. Admission: $6, early bird tickets $10, children 12 and under free. Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., early bird admission at 9 a.m. Location: Owens Community College Student Health and Activities Center, 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg. Informa-tion: Cassie Tinta at 419-908-2895 or cassietinta@gmail.com.

MONSTER JAMMarch 16 to 18

World-class drivers will drive their monster trucks, all-terrain vehicles and Speedsters into Toledo to compete in obstacle-course races, donut contests, two-wheel stunt chal-lenges, and more. Admission: $15 to $78. Time: 7 p.m. March 16 and 17, 2 p.m. March 17 and 18, gates open 1 hour prior to the show. Location: Huntington Center, 500 Jefferson Ave., Toledo. Information: 419-321-5007 or www.huntingtoncenterto-ledo.com and www.monsterjam.com.

BETSY STRUXNESSMarch 19

Tiffin University’s Celebrating CulTUral Uniqueness presents Broadway actress Betsy Struxness, who will discuss her work on pro-ductions like “Hamilton,” “Wicked,”

“Memphis,” “Leap of Faith,” “Scan-dalous” and “Matilda.” She is also an accomplished photographer of landscapes and portraits. Admission: Free, but seats are limited. Time: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Location: Marion Center, Tiffin University, corner of Wall and Miami streets. Information: To register for the event, visit www.tiffin.edu/about/ataglance/ccu/guest-speaker.

‘WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY?’April 21

“Whose LIVE Anyway?” is a com-pletely improvised 90-minute show of comedy games, scenes and songs in the same format of TV’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Heavily based on audience suggestions and participa-tion, some spectators may be asked to join the cast onstage, which con-sists of Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray. All ages are welcome. Admission: $38 to $58. Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. Information: 419-259-5200 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Music‘CARNIVAL OF COLORS’Today

Crafton Beck will lead the Lima Symphony Orchestra in a glitter-ing “Carnival of Colors,” with per-formances of “Petrouchka” by Igor Stravinksy as well as Richard Wag-ner’s mystical “Entrance of the Gods” from “Das Rheingold.” Connor Mikula will be the featured saxo-phone soloist, performing Jacques Ibert’s “Concertino da Camera” and Glazunov’s Concerto for Saxophone in E-flat major, which features ele-ments of folk music. Admission: $25 and $30 for adults, $10 and $15 for students. Time: 7:30 p.m. Loca-tion: Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center, 7 Public Square, Lima. Information: Reach the box office at 419-224-1552.

MJ LIVE!Today

The No. 1 Michael Jackson tribute show in the world re-creates the King of Pop’s reign with a theatrical stage production featuring visual effects, a live band and a team of dancers to accompany rotating Jackson imper-sonators Justin Dean, Jalles Franca and Tony Kouns. In addition to his solo songs, there will be a Jackson 5 segment inspired by Soul Train. Admission: $25 to $45. Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Niswonger Perform-ing Arts Center, 10700 Ohio 118 S, Van Wert. Information: 419-238-6722 or www.npacvw.org.

‘LOVE IS IN THE AIR’Feb. 15

This “Thursdays at Yoder” event will feature live music by Bluffton University’s faculty and students; hors d’oeuvres and desserts pre-pared by the Bluffton University Nutrition Association; and compli-mentary child care. Admission: $20 per person, $150 for table of eight. Time: Two seating options, 6 and 8 p.m. Location: Yoder Recital Hall lobby, Bluffton University. Informa-tion: Buy tickets through Jodi Diller at 419-358-3347. Seating is limited.

WINTER CONCERTFeb. 18

The Bluffton University Concert Band will host an instrumental con-

cert featuring original and arranged compositions, including Brian Sadler’s “Action Brass”; Gordon Jacob’s wind-band composition, “An Original Suite”; and Brant Kar-rick’s “They Shall Run and Be Free,” inspired by his visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati. Admission: Free. Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: Yoder Recital Hall, Bluffton Univer-sity. Information: Tricia Bell at 419-371-0464.

DANIEL O’DONNELLFeb. 22

One of Ireland’s best-loved art-ists, Daniel O’Donnell burst into U.S. superstardom with his first-ever PBS special, 2002’s “The Daniel O’Donnell Show,” and went on to record 12 more specials, with “Stand Beside Me” released in 2013. He became the first recording artist in the history of the U.K. Artist Album Chart to have charted at least one new album every year since 1988, and he has been recognized with an honorary MBE from Queen Eliza-beth. Admission: $53 to $93. Time: 3 p.m. Location: Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd., Toledo. Information: 419-381-8851, www.stranahantheater.org.

PAM TILLISMarch 3

Pam Tillis, country singer-song-writer, member of the Grand Ole Opry and daughter of Mel Tillis, is known for chart toppers that include “Shake the Sugar Tree,” “Mi Vida Loca,” “When You Walk In The Room,” “In Between Dances,” “Don’t Tell Me What To Do,” and “Maybe It Was Memphis.” Admission: $30 and $35. Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Clyde High School Auditorium, 1015 Race St., Clyde. Information: Tickets can be purchased at the Clyde-Green Springs Board of Education Office or by calling 419-547-0588.

Theater‘THE LANGUAGE ARCHIVE’Feb. 15-17, 22-24

Bowling Green State Univer-sity’s theater department presents playwright Julia Cho’s comedy about a scholar of dead or dying languages who finds it impossible to verbalize love in any of the obscure languages he has mas-tered, and who may feel more affec-tion for language than for people. Admission: Advance tickets $15 for adults; $5 for BGSU students; $20 for all tickets at the door. Time: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 17 and 24, 8 p.m. all other dates. Location: BGSU Wolfe Center for the Arts’ Eva Marie Saint Theatre, Bowl-ing Green. Information: Reach the box office at 419-372-8171 between noon and 6 p.m. weekdays or buy tickets at www.bgsu.edu/arts.

‘THE BELLE OF AMHERST’Feb. 16

Jennifer Burke will perform the one-woman show that explores the secrets, eccentricities and passions of the famous poet Emily Dickin-son, recounting her relationships with family and friends through letters and diaries she wrote. Admission: General admission is $10, subscribers are $5. Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Gundlach Theatre, Heidelberg University, Tiffin. Infor-mation: 419-448-2305 and www.gundlachtheatre.org.

‘AMAZING GRACE’Feb. 16

This original musical is based on the true story of the man who wrote the famous Christian hymn. John Newton is a musically tal-ented young Englishman who is torn between following in the footsteps of his slave-trader father or embracing the more compas-sionate views of his childhood sweetheart. He ends up traveling the high seas, where a moment of self-reckoning inspires him to pen “Amazing Grace.” Admission: $35 to $45. Time: 7:30 p.m. Loca-tion: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 Ohio 118 S, Van Wert. Information: 419-238-6722 or www.npacvw.org.

‘DEATHTRAP’Feb. 16-17, 24-25

This suspenseful production written by Ira Levin follows a Broadway playwright with writer’s block that comes across a potential hit script by a young student. The playwright devises a plan to share credit with the younger scribe, lead-ing to an abundance of thrills and laughter. Admission: $12 adults, $8 students. Time: 2 p.m. Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m. all other dates. Location: The Ritz Theatre, 30 S. Washington St., Tiffin. Information: 419-448-8544 or www.ritztheatre.org.

‘CINDERELLA’March 3

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of “The Sound of Music” that features a contempo-rary take on the classic tale. The lush production carries an orches-tra, transformations and new twists in the story that includes the songs “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “10 Minutes Ago.” Admission: $35 to $75. Time: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Loca-tion: Niswonger Performing Arts Center, 10700 Ohio 118 S, Van Wert. Information: 419-238-6722 or www.npacvw.org.

‘PHOTOGRAPH 51’March 9-10, 16-18, 22-25

Winner of the 2016 WhatsOn-Stage award, “Photograph 51” is about science, ambition, isola-tion, the race for greatness, and the unique challenges of a woman operating in a field dominated by men. The show follows the true story of British scientist Rosalind Franklin and her role in the discov-ery of DNA’s double helix structure. Admission: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors. Time: Sunday shows at 2:30 p.m., all others are 8 p.m. Location: Toledo Repertoire The-atre 10th Street Stage, 16 10th St., Toledo. Information: 419-243-9277 or www.toledorep.org.

ExhibitsPHOTO EXHIBITThrough today

The ArtSpace/Lima Photog-raphy Club’s annual juried exhibit features 88 photographs from 77 artists from a 100-mile radius around Lima. Photo categories are animals, architecture, land-scape, plants, portrait, still life, and miscellaneous. Admission: Free. Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Loca-tion: ArtSpace/Lima, Ellen Nelson Gallery, 65-67 Town Square, Lima. Information: Bill Sullivan at 419-222-1721 or www.artspacelima.com.

‘GLORIOUS SPLENDOR’Through Feb. 18

“Glorious Splendor: Treasures of Early Christian Art” features approximately 30 masterpieces of late Roman art and explores their importance in Western art and cul-ture. Works include a large silver paten showing the earliest sur-viving image of the Communion of the Apostles (542 A.D.) and a gold pendant cross with openwork decoration and sapphires (sixth- to early-seventh century A.D.). Admission: Free. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Loca-tion: Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo. Information: 419-255-8000 or www.toledomu-seum.org.

‘ART AS ACTIVISM’Through Feb. 22

“Art as Activism” displays art-

work that questions and addresses political and social issues, featuring activist and dissident artists from Cuba, New York, Melbourne (Aus-tralia), Mexico, various parts of the U.S., and Findlay. Admission: Free. Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Satur-day. Location: Findlay Art League, 117 W. Crawford St. Information: Philip Sugden at 419-422-0498 or sugdenp@bluffton.edu.

GOSHEN COLLEGE EXHIBITThrough Feb. 23

An exhibit featuring the work of art professors from Goshen College includes work from Randy Horst, professor of art; Merrill Krabill, professor of art; and John Mishler, associate professor of art. Their work examines individualism, spirituality and gracefulness. An artists’ reception will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission: Free. Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. week-days, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Location: Grace Albrecht Gallery, Sauder Visual Arts Center, Bluffton University. Information: Tricia Bell at 419-358-3285.

‘ICE FOR EVERYBODY’Through Feb. 25

“‘Ice for Everybody’: Lake Erie and America’s Ice Harvest-ing Industry” explains the story of how the Sandusky area became the center of a century-long indus-try that changed the way Ameri-cans lived. Cold beverages, frozen treats and refrigerated perishables were once the exclusive luxury of the affluent. Beginning in the early 19th century, the ice harvesting industry revolutionized the lives of common people by providing them with cheap, abundant ice. Admission: $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for ages 60 and older, $3 for kids ages 6 to 12, free for kids under 5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Location: The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums, Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fre-mont. Information: 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org.

‘FIRED UP’Through March 18

Women faced an uphill battle for recognition of their contributions and work when glass became a seri-ous artistic medium in the 1960s. “Fired Up: Contemporary Glass by Women Artists” showcases more than 50 objects spanning nearly six decades created by the women who now rank among the most innova-tive and celebrated glass artists. Admission: Free. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Loca-tion: Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St., Toledo. Information: 419-255-8000 or www.toledomu-seum.org.

Ticket WatchTickets are now on sale for the

following events: Little Big Town with special

guest Kacey Musgraves — Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Huntington Center, Toledo. $37-$208; 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Kid Rock — Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m., Nationwide Arena, Colum-bus. $39.50-$129.50; 614-246-2000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Bl a ke Shelton , Bret t Eldredge, Carly Pearce and Trace Adkins — March 15, 7 p.m., Nationwide Arena, Colum-bus. $55- $95; 614-246 -2000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Alan Jackson — March 23, 7:30 p.m., Huntington Center, Toledo. $39.99-$129.99; 419-321-5007 or www.huntingtoncenter-toledo.com, www.ticketmaster.com.

Ron White — March 23, 8 p.m., Sandusky State Theatre. $54.75 and $64.75; 419-626-1950, www.sanduskystate.com.

P!NK with special guest Bleachers — March 25, 7:30 p.m., Little Caesars Arena, Detroit. $47-$518; 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Brad Paisley — April 5, 7 p.m., Schottenstein Center, Columbus. $29.99-$189; 614-292-3231, www.ticketmaster.com.

Jack White — April 19, 8 p.m., Little Caesar’s Arena, Detroit. $39- $395; 800 -745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.

Photo providedSET SAIL with John Newton as he finds the inspiration to pen the well-known hymn, “Amazing Grace,” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Van Wert.

Your guide to fun in our areaT h e r e ' s a l w a y s s o m e t h i n g t o d o !

THE COURIER & REVIEW TIMESSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018E2

Home: Stay SMART, get more organized

By KAREN McDOUGALL

Peg Meents’ column, “Start the new year off SMART,” has helped me put a few things into perspective. As I look forward to a positive attitude and SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely) goals, getting organized is my plan for 2018.

I think we all want to become more organized, whether our home is neat and tidy. We also would like more healthy meals on the table or to incorporate more physical activity into our day.

But how do we go about doing that?We each have our own work styles. Some like to jump in and start work-

ing, while others may be list people. People who make lists have a 90-percent

See HOME, Page E6

THE COURIER & REVIEW TIMESSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018 E3

Ohio bobcats make comeback

B obcats once wandered throughout Ohio but, as more people settled in the state, the numbers

diminished. Much of its habitat had been altered or destroyed and the species was often considered an unfavorable interloper on family homesteads.

By 1850, they were gone.The bobcat is one of seven wild-

cat species found in North America, belonging to the scientific family Felidae, the same as that kitty on the front porch.

They began to repopulate Ohio in the mid-1900s. Since then, bobcat sightings have increased each year.

Mr. Bob has returned home.The bobcat has short, soft, dense

fur that varies from light gray, yel-lowish brown, buff, brown, and red-dish brown on the upper parts of the body. The fur on the middle of the back is frequently darker than on the sides. Underneath, they’re whitish with dark spots or bars. The back of the bobcat’s ears are black with white spots and the tip of the ears and the bobcat’s tail are black.

Unlike its cousin, the African lion, the bobcat does not travel in a pride. It sticks to the life of a loner, staking out its territory and maintaining a low profile. Adult females have an extremely low tolerance for females that wander into their home range. Males are more open minded with other males that creep into their domain.

As carnivores, bobcats feed on insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds and a variety of mammals, even up to the size of deer. Like many cats, they’re patient hunters that prefer to lie in wait and pounce when their prey comes close. If their target spots the cat early and makes a run for it, the wildcat will usually give up the chase quickly, rarely beyond 60 feet.

Breeding normally happens from February through May. The gesta-tion period lasts approximately 63 days, with females willing to use a variety of areas to birth their young; from rocky overhangs to snags, deadfalls and old dens. Newborns resemble the kittens most of us have seen on the farm — totally furred, eyes closed, completely helpless and utterly dependent upon mom for survival.

Litters average from one to six, with two being typical. Their eyes

will open by around 10 days and they are fully weaned at eight weeks. Like the house cat, as they grow, they learn the ropes of survival while playing pouncing and hunting games with their littermates and tagging after mom during short exploratory trips from their hide. They will be ready to go out on their own by the following late fall or winter.

Bobcats typically have one litter per year, but will produce a second if the first is lost. As for the names of the family group, males are called toms, females are queens and the kit-tens are, well, kittens.

The majority of reported bobcat sightings prior to 2010 occurred in and around Noble County but, since then, reports have been made in 86 of Ohio’s 88 counties. From 1970 through 2013, there were 1,002 veri-fied reports.

During the same period, a total of 2,175 unverified bobcat sightings were received — 226 of the sightings were received in 2013, compared to 242 unverified reports in 2012. There were unverified sightings from 61 counties during 2013 and from 86 counties since 1970. Unveri-fied reports were obtained primarily through Endangered/Uncommon Species Observation Cards.

The Division of Wildlife’s research prompted the removal of the bobcat from the Endangered and Threatened Species in Ohio list in July 2014, though it remains pro-tected (no harvest season). This may soon change.

Populations continue to increase around the state with nearly 500 con-firmed sightings in 2017. The Ohio State Trappers Association (OSTA), a group that provided a great deal of help during the research and recov-ery plan of the bobcat, is asking the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW)

to consider opening a trapping season for the cat.

“With the need for demographic data for a bobcat population model and to estimate harvest rates, it only makes sense to ask for a range and limit specific season for trapping bobcats, not only to allow for use of this renewable natural resource, but also to provide the avenue for carcass collection needed for this research … if the wildlife professionals of the ODOW feel opening a bobcat season of some type … would be a proper change, we fully support, and are confident with, the ODOW’s decision,” the OSTA’s proclamation reads.

Bobcats, while currently pro-tected, are sometimes caught by trappers who are targeting other furbearers. Every attempt is made to release the animals unharmed and notification and details are relayed to wildlife biologists. A limited season will allow the use of a valuable resource while providing important information about the state wildcat population’s health, distribution and expansion.

“In a civilized and culti-vated country, wild animals only continue to exist at all when preserved by sportsmen.” — Theodore Roosevelt

Along the wayThe current administration of

the Division of Wildlife received a wake-up call following their pro-nouncement that they would be cut-ting funding used for programming by Ohio’s sportsmen’s clubs (outlined in The Courier’s Feb. 3 Field Notes column).

Many thanks to the U.S. Sports-men’s Alliance for helping to get the word out and to Ryan Smith, chair-man of the House Finance Commit-

tee, and to other House and Senate members who listened to the sports-men of Ohio.

Due to this intervention, ODNR Chief Mike Miller had to walk back that poorly conceived plan and will need to look for other ways to grab the sportsmen’s dollars from our license purchases, plans that are certainly in the works and will be reported.

Step outside• Today and Sunday: Columbus

Fishing Expo, the Midwest’s premier fishing expo, Ohio Expo Center, Ohio State Fairgrounds. Runs today from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Today: Chili Cook-Off, 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the University of Find-lay Koehler Center. This is Cancer Patient Services’ biggest fundraiser. Admission for adults is $10, ages 6 to 12 is $5 and kids 5 and under are free.

• Sunday to March 18: Winter Trap League, Fostoria United Sports-men’s Club, 1324 U.S. 23 N, Fostoria. Traps open at 9 a.m., program starts at 10 a.m. It’s open to the public with no early sign-up needed, though a five-person squad is required. For information, 419-435-4953.

• Sunday: Sporting clays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay.

• Feb. 17: Sportsman’s Day, Heri-tage Christian Union Church, 15738 Ohio 37, Forest. Enjoy vendors, dis-plays, dinner and door prizes. Event includes an outdoor tent featuring an introduction to archery with Adam Ray and Bowtech; the seminars “Hunting Big Northerns” by Eagle Creek Lodge, Ontario; “Buck Hunt-ing 101” by Dr. William Knapp; and critter calling with Dick Scheidt of Quaker Boy calls. Three fishing trips to Red Lake, Ontario and women’s Lake Erie perch fishing trips spon-sored by Tibbels Charters will be among the door prizes. This event is free and open to the public except for a $5 donation for lunch. Vendors will be offering items for purchase. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., seminars run from 11 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., music and presentation follow, then prizes will be drawn. Must be in attendance to win. For information, call 419-273-2089.

Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay.

Photo providedJEFF HUSTON caught this curious cat exploring Guernsey County.

Mental Health MomentBy ASHLEY JACOBUS

Counseling individuals with special needs (autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, etc.) is a very special topic. This population has unique needs and stressors most neurotypical (i.e. “normal”) people do not understand.

If you are someone who cares for an individual diagnosed with a special need, concern for his or her well-being is likely to be a stressor of your own.

It is beautiful to care and want the best for someone you love. But what do you do when what you think is best does not align with what he or she wants? How do you determine the best forward motion for supporting your loved one?

A common belief is that counseling is only for those experiencing emotional difficulty and concerning behavior. However, a great deal of the therapeutic process involves identify-ing what is most important to the client and helping his or her support system to become supportive in the most helpful ways.

This especially applies when those goals and desires are not shared.

While the majority of the population seems to enjoy and prefer a sense of community, many individuals diagnosed on the autism spectrum, for example, find crowded spaces and interaction with others overwhelming and stressful.

You would be wise to keep this in mind the next time you see a person, child or adult, experiencing a “meltdown” in the grocery store.

Instead of blaming the parent or child, you might be thankful for simply being annoyed by the crowded aisles and long checkout lanes. A simple “Is there anything I can do to help?” could go much further than you could possibly imagine.

The stress incurred by such situations is one reason why those diagnosed with special needs and their family members/caregiv-ers enter the world of counseling. Accepting that a loved one does not value your highest priorities can be difficult to understand. The counseling process can help get all team members on the same page, which results in closer relationships and a higher quality of life for all involved.

Jacobus is a licensed professional counselor and owner of Sunshine Institute, Findlay. If there is a mental health ques-tion, please write to: Mental Health Moment, The Courier, P.O. Box 609, Findlay 45839.

Jacobus

Lettuce had a 3-inch lizard in it KITTERY, Maine (AP) — A

Maine woman who prepared a salad says she realized after a couple of bites that her fork was stuck in a 3-inch lizard, minus the tail.

After vomiting and getting over her shock, Michelle Carr, a nurse from Kittery, said she feared she could have ingested harmful bac-teria. A biologist friend believes she found a blue-bellied lizard from California.

Carr said she bought a bag of

store-brand romaine lettuce at a supermarket in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on Jan. 26. The let-tuce was distributed by a Cali-fornia company. A supermarket spokeswoman said it notified the supplier.

Carr also called the state Health Department. A spokesman said because the lettuce was pack-aged and shipped from another state, any investigation would be conducted by the Food and Drug Administration.

FOODTHE COURIER & REVIEW TIMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018E4

By MELISSA D’ARABIANASSOCIATED PRESS

I owe the idea to well-meaning fans, who over the years would approach me to thank me for the genius of making 10-minute meals. I never had the heart to correct them: I hosted Ten Dollar Dinners.

Ten-minute meals, I always mused, would be about a thou-sand versions of PB&J, which sounded like hard television to pitch to my producer. But the idea marinated. And then it became a challenge: What could I make in 10 minutes that wouldn’t be a PB&J (no disrespect to the sand-wich anthem of my childhood)?

While most of my recipes are weeknight friendly — that’s simply how I cook with four kiddos to feed before the activ-

ity flurry — I decided to create recipes that were extra-quick for those nights when even a half hour seems impossible to find.

This recipe is one of the din-ners that came from this project. Ten-Minute Tortilla Soup is fill-ing comfort food that I feel good about serving my family. It’s simple but tasty, and my kids love it.

I’ll caveat the 10 minutes by saying that the dinner does take advantage of some prepared items, such as purchased salsa, canned black beans and left-over chicken. But these items are healthy pantry staples that you probably have on hand, and have a long shelf life, including the chicken: freezing up chicken leftovers or rotisserie chicken for weeknight dinners is an excel-lent habit for weeknight cooks anyway. And, the recipe is pretty flexible. Skip the cheese and add avocado cubes, if you prefer, or if that’s what you have on hand. Use ground beef instead of chicken. Make it spicy or mild. However you choose, I promise you this: it will be quick.

BY THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

Mexico has identified more than 50 different moles, but a mole is really whatever you want your sauce to be.

Of course, this traditional Mole Poblano is the most well-known variety, so it’s a perfect representation of Mexico’s culi-nary tradition.

If you’re looking at the ingre-dient list and thinking, “Wow, that’s a lot of ingredients,” you’re right. This complex sauce is not something you can throw together quickly on a Wednes-day night, but for a special occasion, it is well worth the effort. Luckily, the sauce can be made ahead of time and frozen, which means any weeknight can become that special occasion.

Not all moles contain choc-

olate, but this recipe calls for Mexican chocolate, a unique ingredient you can easily find at Latin American markets or from online retailers. Cacao, the large bean from which chocolate is produced, is native to Mexico, and chocolate has a long history in the many ancient cultures of the region. Today, Mexican chocolate is unique in that it contains cinnamon and other spices, and helps bring out the flavors of the mole.

You may not use dried chiles every day, but they offer a more intense flavor than their fresh counterparts. Just like the choc-olate, they are abundant at mar-kets if you know where to look. Dried chiles should be toasted and then soaked, to help break down the tough skin before cooking.

BY THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

If you’ve spent much time traveling in Mexico or the southwestern United States, you may have seen folks enjoying an agua fresca on a hot day. Agua frescas are simply water blended with sugar, fresh fruit, seeds (like chia) or dried flowers to make a refresh-ing, nonalcoholic drink.

Fruits like lime, pineapple and water-melon are all popular in agua frescas, but none is more recognizable than the jewel-toned water of the hibiscus flower. Known across the region as agua de Jamaica, hibis-cus aqua frescas are sweet and floral.

The hibiscus’ use in traditional Latin American cooking doesn’t stop there. In

Mexico, the bright red flower can be found in everything from tacos to quesadillas, salsas, liquors and desserts.

Martin Matysik, a chef at the Culinary Institute of America, makes a hibiscus mar-garita, combining two of Mexico’s most beloved beverages for an all-weather cock-tail. In this recipe we’ve used mescal, the earthier cousin to tequila. It’s a distilled spirit derived from the agave plant and has many regional styles.

You’ll also notice that the recipe includes honey liqueur, which should be available at most liquor stores. If you can’t find it, just omit it and add a dash of honey, which will provide the light sweetness and rich flavor that helps round out the tartness in the cock-

tail. Experiment with fragrant and floral honeys, like orange blossom.

Since this drink is otherwise sweetened, use unsweetened hibiscus water. If you’d like, you can make a big batch (use about 1 cup of dried flowers for every 3 cups of water), reserve some for the cocktail, and sweeten the rest to make a classic agua de Jamaica. Sweeten it to taste with simple syrup or agave syrup. The mixture also makes the perfect popsicle.

Dried hibiscus flowers can be purchased online, but you’re likely to pay a premium. If you have a local market that specializes in Mexican or Latin American products, you will almost certainly find hibiscus flow-ers and other regional delicacies. Because if you’re making margaritas, tacos can’t be far behind!

Hibiscus Margarita

Servings: 1Start to finish: 5 minutes active, 4 hours inactive

1 lime wedge, for preparing glasses (optional)Smoked vanilla salt, for garnish (optional)2 ounces hibiscus water (recipe below)1 ounce mescal1 ounce honey liqueur½ ounce orange liqueur1 ounce agave syrup½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juiceSliced limes, for garnishVanilla beans, for garnish (optional)

Prepare a tall glass by wiping the lime wedge around the top rim. Dip the rim of the glass in smoked salt, fill with ice, and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the hibiscus water, mescal, honey liqueur, orange liqueur, agave syrup and lime juice. Shake vigorously, then strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with lime and vanilla beans, if using, before serving.

Hibiscus Water

Makes 8 servings (about 2 cups)

2 cups water2/3 cup dried hibiscus flowers

In a large pitcher or container, combine the water and flow-ers. Set aside to soak for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Drain in a fine mesh sieve, using a wooden spoon to press out all of the liquid, and discard the flowers.

Mole Poblano

Servings: 8; Start to finish: 2 hours, 45 minutes(Active time: 2 hours)

¼ cup lard or unsalted butter (½ stick)4 mulato chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved2 ancho chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved3 pasilla chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved2 chipotle chiles, wiped clean, seeds and veins removed, seeds reserved2 Roma tomatoes, quartered3 tomatillos, quartered¼ cup raisins10 whole almonds¼ cup pumpkin seeds¼ cup sesame seeds2 tablespoons peanuts2 tablespoons pecans1 stale corn tortilla½ white onion, halved2 garlic cloves, unpeeled5 black peppercorns1 whole clove1 Mexican canela stick or cinnamon stick (about 1 inch)¼ teaspoon coriander seeds¼ teaspoon anise seeds3 tablespoon canola oil2 cups chicken broth2 ounces Mexican chocolate, roughly chopped¼ cup sugarSalt, to taste

Heat the lard in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the mulato chiles and fry until the chiles begin to blister and change color, about 2 minutes on each side. Use tongs to transfer to a large, heat-safe bowl. Repeat the process with the ancho, pasilla and chipotle chiles. Fill the bowl with enough hot water to cover the chiles and set aside to soak for 15 minutes.

Drain the chiles and transfer to a blender. Blend, adding water as needed, until a smooth puree forms. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and set aside.

In the same pot, add the tomatoes and tomatillos and fry until soft, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside. Add the raisins and fry until plump, about 1 minute. Transfer to the bowl with the tomatoes. Repeat the process with the almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, peanuts, pecans, tortilla and reserved chile seeds. Set aside 1 table-spoon of the lard.

Meanwhile, in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, cook the onion and garlic until the papery skin of the garlic turns brown, about 3 minutes. Carefully remove the skin, then return to the skillet and cook until the vegetables are soft and blackened all over, about 4 minutes.

Add the reserved lard to a small skillet over low heat. Add the black pepper, cloves, canela, coriander and anise seeds and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Transfer the reserved vegetables, seeds, tortilla and spices to a blender and purée, adding water as needed, until smooth. Strain through a sieve and set aside.

Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the reserved chili puree and cook until it deepens in color and you can see the bottom of the pan when scraped with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Add the strained vegetable and spice mixture. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stir-ring occasionally, until the mole thickens, about 45 minutes.

Add chicken broth and continue cooking until the mole coats the back of a spoon, about 30 minutes. Add the choco-late and continue cooking, about 30 minutes. Add half of the sugar, the remaining to your taste.

Season with salt, to taste.Serve the mole over poached chicken or turkey, with

warmed corn tortillas and toasted sesame seeds for garnish.

Chocolate and chiles come together into a traditional, complex sauce

PHIL MANSFIELD / For the Associated PressMOLE MAY be a complex sauce to make, but it can be totally worth the effort. This traditional Mole Poblano is a perfect representation of Mexico’s culinary traditions.

Hibiscus margaritas blend 2 Mexican favorites

PHIL MANSFIELD / For the Associated PressHIBISCUS FLOWERS can do a lot more than smell nice and look pretty – they also make for a refreshing margarita! Combined with mescal and honey, orange and agave liqueurs, the dried petals make for a sweet, floral alcoholic beverage.

Ten-Minute Tortilla Soup

Servings: 4; Start to finish: 10 minutes.

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth4 corn tortillas (about 5-inch diameter), cut into quarters½ cup prepared mild (or medium) red salsa¼ cup prepared mild (or medium) green salsa1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice1 cup cooked black beans, rinsed and drained if canned1 cup shredded or cubed cooked chicken¼ cup plain lowfat Greek yogurt¼ cup shredded jack cheese1 tablespoon pepitas (pumpkin seeds), or other seed or crushed tortilla chipfresh cilantro for garnish, if desired

Heat the broth and tortillas in a saucepan over medium -high-heat to simmer, 1-2 minutes to soften the tortilla.

Pour the mixture into a blender and add the salsas and lime juice. Very carefully blend the mixture until smooth, about 1 minute. (Do not fill the blender more than halfway with hot liquids and do not cover the blender completely; use a kitchen towel to help.) Pour the mixture back into the pan, add the chicken and beans and reheat for another 2 minutes on medium-high heat.

Pour the soup into individual bowls and top with the yogurt, cheese, pepitas and cilantro.

Ten-Minute Tortilla Soup is filling comfort food — fast

MELISSA d’ARABIAN / For the Associated PressNEED A NICE dinner in the next 10 minutes? No problem! This tortilla soup takes advantage of a lot of healthy pantry staples and, with minimal effort, you’ve got a hot meal for the whole family.

WEEKEND COMICS E 5

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THE COURIER & REVIEW TIMESSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018

Fostoria plant sets spark plug production record

G E N E K I N NThe following news items first appeared in the Fostoria Review-Times in April of 1955:

A new one -month production record, breaking one set nearly five years ago, was attained by the Electric Auto-Lite Company’s spark plug division plant in Fostoria, in March, according to Robert Twells, vice president and plant manager.

Auto-Lite’s spark plug plant here last month surpassed the previous record high production peak set in August, 1950, by more than eight percent, he said.

M a nu f ac t u re of spark plugs for replacement sales was largely respon-sible for the new overall production mark. Spark plugs destined for export shipment were turned out at a rate 21 percent higher that in August of 1950.

“Tomahawk Tango” has been chosen as the permanent and traditional name for the all-sports dance given annually by the Fostoria Athletic Booster Club in honor of the Fostoria High school and St. Wendelin High school ath-letes and cheerleaders.

Officials of the Booster club met at the Hi-Jinx, Monday eve-ning, with representatives of the Redmen and Mohawk athletic teams and their cheerleaders to discuss plans for the dance. It will be held in the Fostoria High school gymnasium on Friday eve-ning, April 22.

Mel Murray, manager of radio station WFOB, is feeling pretty happy over the fact that he has been invited to the National Insti-tute for Radio and Television, in

Columbus, next week, to appear on a panel discussion with two of the nation’s foremost educa-tors.

The discussion will be on the subject, “Radio Training in Colleges and Universi-ties.”

The educators on the panel will be Dr. Harri-son B. Summers, head of

the radio speech depart-ment at Ohio State University, who for-merly was a vice-president of the National Broad-casting System and Dr. Forrest Whan, Kansas State College, author of sev-eral books on radio educa-tion.

M r . Murray and

John Tinnea, of Station KWK, St. Louis, Mo., wi l l be the radio men on

the panel. The discussion

will be held one week from today, April 14.

The National Institute for Radio and Television was estab-lished by the Ohio State Univer-sity, 10 years ago, and annually is well attended by educators and broadcasters from throughout the entire nation.

This year ’s inst itute, a three-day session, will be held at the Deshler-Hilton Hotel in Columbus.

Mrs. Richard Lyon, Amsden, is one of the group of 14 Americans, “The Friendly Farmers,” being directed on an agricultural tour of Europe by Louis Bromfield, the famous Ohio author-farmer. The Bromfield party now is in France and thus far, has visited agricultural places of interest in Denmark, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.

Art Buchwald, an American columnist in Paris, interviewed Bromfield and reported the fol-lowing statement from the Ohio squire: “It’s quite a group — farm-ers, widows and even the lady president of a Kansas bank, and they’re all having a great time.”

Funeral plans for a North Baltimore man were called off, quite abruptly, Friday, after the “deceased” was found to be alive. Charles Lloyd, an employee of the Rippeth Funeral Home, said he received a telephone call about 9 o’clock Friday morning, to render professional services.

Mr. Lloyd, and an assistant went to the North Baltimore home where all arrangements were made for the funeral. Later, the two men went to the bedroom to remove the body. There, Mr. Lloyd, a former Navy medical corpsman, detected signs of life and quickly notified members of the family. The man, whose identity was not revealed, was rushed to a hospital where physicians said he had a fair chance for recovery.

Betty King, 20, who lives east of Fostoria, was admitted to Fos-toria City Hospital Friday for inju-ries received in a freak accident. Helping her family move, she was riding on top of four mattresses, being transported on a trailer, on a township road about eight miles northeast of Fostoria. Suddenly a gust of wind picked up the mat-tresses and blew them and the rider off the trailer, onto the road.

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that the chemicals we use to unclog backed-up drains are harmful to our health and the environment. Can you suggest safer alternative products or methods?

—Amy Smith, Rome, NY

Chemical drain clog removers do contain some pretty harmful stuff. The three main types available to consumers — caustic, oxidizing and acid — work by using harsh chemicals that heat up clogs to melt the congealed grease impeding the outflow.

All three are acutely toxic to humans and animals if swallowed, and coming into contact with them can burn your eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Even the fumes can cause respiratory distress.

These chemicals can also explode inside your home’s pipes — espe-cially if inadvertently mixed with other chemicals or cleaners.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to look hard to find drain clog removal for-mulations that don’t come with big risks.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) Guide to Healthy Cleaning gives drain clog removers

from the likes of Amway, Clorox, CVS, Drano, Liquid Plumr and Safe-way an “F” grade, given their toxicity to humans and animals and harsh-ness to the environment.

And don’t be fooled by a product’s branding, as an eco-friendly name can sometimes belie toxic ingredi-ents. To wit, EWG also gave an “F” to Up and Up Drain Pipe Opener and Earthworm Family-Safe Drain Cleaner for their environmental and health dangers.

EWG found that a few products — Biokleen Bac-Out Drain Care Gel, Drainbo The Natural Solution Natu-ral Drain Cleaner and Earth Friendly Products’ Earth Enzymes Drain Opener — did a decent job unclog-ging drains without using especially toxic chemicals, but it’s always better to try to avoid the problem in the first place.

In the kitchen, refrain from put-ting eggshells, coffee grounds, pasta, potato peels, rice, flour, produce stickers, paint and cleaning prod-ucts down your sink drain, even if you have a garbage disposal. As for keeping grease out of the drain, try to scrape or mop it up with a paper towel and throw it away. Also, keep-ing your garbage disposal clean —

pour a little dish detergent down the drain and run the disposal under cold water for a minute or two each night after doing the dishes — will also prevent back-ups.

As for the bathroom sink, shower or tub, hair — whether from dad’s shaving or sister’s styling — is likely the chief suspect in clogs. A hair catcher like the TubShroom (or SinkShroom or ShowerShroom) could help. This ingenious little mushroom-shaped device pops into the drain and attracts and coils hairs around itself before problems start. Pop it out every couple of weeks, peel off and dispose of the collected hair in the garbage, and start the process all over again.

A little preventive maintenance goes a long way to keep drains clear. Health and wellness site Mercola.com suggests filling sinks with a mix of white vinegar and warm water, then releasing the drain so this all-natural dynamic cleaning duo can do its work degreasing your outflow pipes. If the drain still runs slowly, pour in several tablespoons of baking soda followed by a white vinegar chaser.

Stopping drain clogs naturally

PHOTO PROVIDEDTHE TUBSHROOM (or SinkShroom or ShowerShroom) can help prevent clogs from hair. This mushroom-shaped device pops into the drain and attracts and coils hairs around itself before problems start. Pop it out every couple of weeks, peel off and dispose of the collected hair in the garbage, and start the process all over again.

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THE COURIER & REVIEW TIMESSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2018E6

By DR. JESSICA REYNOLDS

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease that causes the contents of your stomach to repeatedly come up into your esophagus, causing pain and heartburn. It is caused by the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, the muscle that allows food to travel from your esophagus and to your stomach when you swallow. This relaxation allows contents to travel back up to the esophagus instead of remaining in the stomach.

GERD affects nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population. Anyone can develop GERD at any age, but there are factors that increase the likelihood of its development.

Those who are overweight and/or struggle with obesity are more likely to obtain GERD than those who are a healthy weight. Addition-ally, smokers or those heavily exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance of GERD develop-ment. It’s also common for pregnant women to expe-rience GERD. Even something as simple as ingesting certain medications can cause GERD to develop. These factors are just a few of the many possible reasons GERD occurs in individuals but, unfortunately, many cases of GERD have unknown causes.

Several complications can occur if GERD goes untreated for an extended period of time, so it’s impor-tant that GERD patients seek treatment as soon as possible.

Complications that result from untreated GERD include:

• Damage to the esophagus • Inflammation and narrowing of the esophagus• Respiratory problemsAlthough not all GERD patients experience heart-

burn, it remains the most common symptom of GERD, along with tasting food or acid in the back of the mouth.

Other symptoms of GERD include:

• Bad breath• Chest or abdominal pain• Difficulty or pain when swallowing• Nausea• Teeth erosion • Vomiting Several of these symptoms can be managed with

over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes such as avoiding greasy or spicy foods. These foods include chocolate, peppermint, coffee, tomatoes and alcoholic beverages. Eating smaller portions, not smoking and losing weight, if necessary, can also help treat GERD symptoms.

If symptoms do not improve after basic managing techniques have been attempted, doctors may prescribe medication or suggest surgery as treatment.

Endoscopic procedures and minimally invasive sur-gery will sometimes be performed on patients with chronic GERD to relieve their symptoms. Stretta ther-apy is one of these procedures and uses radio frequency to strengthen the muscles that connect the stomach and the esophagus to prevent acid from entering the esophagus.

If therapy fails to relieve GERD symptoms, surgery may be necessary. LINX is a minimally invasive surgery that is commonly used on patients with chronic GERD. This procedure involves placing a band with magnetic beads around the esophagus to encourage the muscles to stay tight until the patient swallows. When swallow-ing occurs, the magnetic beads expand and allow food and liquids to pass into the stomach normally before tightening again.

Treating GERD prevents complications from occur-ring in the future and makes the patient more comfort-able in everyday life. If you experience GERD, ask your health care provider about what treatments will work best for you.

Reynolds practices at Surgical Associates of North-west Ohio, an affiliate of Blanchard Valley Health System. Questions for Blanchard Valley Health System experts may be sent to Weekend Doctor, The Courier, P.O. Box 609, Findlay 45839.

Reynolds

Weekend Doctor

higher success rate of getting their tasks done than those who don’t.

I’ve heard of people taking pic-tures of their rooms, closets or draw-ers so they can see these areas from a different perspective. The picture helps them visualize the problem and, hopefully, find the solution.

So, once we discover we have clutter issues, we need to create a plan. The best plan is to understand what you want to accomplish and how are you getting there.

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you haven’t used it or worn it in a year, get rid of it.”

So, maybe if we start with three containers and label them “put away,” “throw away,” and “give away,” the

task could get easier.No matter what, it’s hard to let go

of something we might need or use. I’ve been doing this little trick and

it seems to help: I set the kitchen buzzer for 15

minutes and start to tackle a project — a closet or drawer to just picking up a room. When the buzzer goes off, I’m either done or go another 15 min-utes. It’s amazing how much you can get done when you are going against the clock.

Divide big jobs into smaller ones — don’t wait to clean the whole refrigerator at one time, divide it up. While doing dinner dishes, take a shelf or drawer and clean it.

By the end of the week, the inside and outside will sparkle. This would also be a great time to see if you have anything that’s outdated and pitch it.

This can be done for all kinds of tasks. Why not start cleaning the kitchen drawers or cupboards? It’s

amazing how many things might be broken, chipped or not used, offering a great time to sort and downsize.

Set a time and say, “OK, I’m going to try and get my drawers, closets and cupboards cleaned and organized in five weeks. I’m going to spend 15 minutes each evening Monday through Thursday working on this task. The things I’m going to donate will go to CHOPIN Hall, Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Don’t get discouraged if things are taking longer than you think it should. Be SMART and have a posi-tive attitude, because the end result is a well-organized home.

Once everything has a place, you’ll be able to keep up with main-taining a neat and tidy home.

McDougall is the SNAP-Ed pro-gram assistant at the Ohio State University Extension of Hancock County.

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