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City Council Approves Job Retention Grant For Surface Combustion

BY NANCY GAGNET — MIRROR REPORTER
Maumee City Council approved a job retention grant for Surface Combustion at its September 15 meeting.
Council voted in favor of a request by city administrator and safety director John Jezak to award the $120,000 grant, to be paid in annual increments of $12,000 for the next 10 years.
In exchange for the grant benefits, the company is required to maintain an anticipated annual payroll of $4.5 million for 84 full-time employees over a 15-year period. Failure by Surface Combustion to abide by this commitment may require the company to reimburse the city.
Jezak said the agreement would benefit both parties.
“Extending the incentive to Surface Combustion will help to ensure that 84 high-tech and high-wage jobs remain in the city of Maumee,” he said. “In exchange for the 10 years of job grant payments to the company totaling no more than $120,000, the city will reap at least $480,000 in income tax revenues and obtain a commitment from the company to remain in the community for 15 years.
“In short, it is a win-win proposition for both parties.”
According to Jezak, payment will commence in January 2010.
Surface Combustion is a 100-year-old company that supplies support and equipment for the heat treating industry. The company has received more than 645 patents and 75 registered trademarks for its technical accomplishments.
The company is headquartered at 1700 Indianwood Circle in Maumee. It also has a manufacturing facility in Farnsworth Industrial Park in Waterville.
Surface Combustion president and chief executive Bill Bernard expressed his appreciation to council.
“Thank you. We love Maumee – it’s a great place to raise a family,” he said.
Also at the meeting, council members:
• Approved the appointments of Joseph Hunyor, Daniel Bryan, Stephen Sczesny and Scott Erdman to the position of firefighter, bringing the fire division staff to full strength at 55.
• Approved the re-appointment of Conrad Kolbow Jr. to the parks and recreation advisory commission for an additional three-year term that expires August 31, 2011.
• Referred a request for a computer system upgrade to the finance committee for review.
• Approved legislation for levying property tax millage.
• Approved a noise ordinance waiver and street closures for the Holiday Light Parade and 5K run scheduled for November 29 from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m.
• Accepted the donation of a freezer from Appliance Center for the Rolf Park concession stand.
• Approved the issuance and sale of a $161,800 bond to pay the cost to construct storm sewers.
• Authorized the employment of G.M. Barton Survey.

The next Maumee City Council meeting is scheduled on Monday, October 6. The committee of the whole meets at 7:00 p.m., and the regular council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.


PUBLIC NOTICE: Sandusky, Toledo and Maumee Public Hearings
To Be Held On Proposed FirstEnergy Rate Increase

October 5 Fund-Raiser To Benefit Briarfield Café Owner Judy Katafiasz

BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
“In every dream I’m walking,” Judy Katafiasz said. “But I’m looking for my wheelchair.”
It’s been six years since Judy, who has secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, took a step behind a walker.
A familiar face at her family’s restaurant, Briarfield Café, Judy dreams of taking a few steps after receiving treatment in November.
“It’s like riding a bike. You don’t forget,” she said of walking.
Family and friends are organizing a fund-raiser on Sunday, October 5 to help send Judy to Costa Rica, where she will undergo autologous haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
Using stem cells from donated umbilical cords, the treatments, along with therapy and lodging, will cost approximately $40,000.
While the treatment is being tested in the United States, it’s been used in Mexico and Israel for several years and shown positive results.
“It will be a lot of work for Judy,” her husband Dave said. “There will be two weeks of extensive physical therapy after the stem cell treatments. For someone who hasn’t moved in eight years, those muscles will hurt. It will be tough on her.”
As usual, Judy takes the optimistic approach.
“I could come home and find that my fatigue and pain are better, especially if I keep up with physical therapy. Three to six months later I may really see the biggest improvement,” she said.
At age 29, the 1976 Maumee High School graduate (maiden name Settles) and mother of two found out she had multiple sclerosis. She had to stop working at her job at the then-Medical College of Ohio about 10 years ago as the disease began progressing more rapidly and she learned she had lesions on her spine.
For a while, she was able to walk with a walker. Now just a few fingers on the 49-year-old woman’s right hand work, enough to operate the switch on her electric wheelchair.
Those who see her at Briarfield Café might be surprised to know that she is in pain, particularly because she warmly greets customers and keeps up with their lives.
“I try to stay upbeat and positive. This is what I am.,” Judy said.
As her multiple sclerosis progressed, Dave, her primary caregiver, decided to parlay his years of experience in food service and catering and opened up the restaurant. This way, he can be nearby to help Judy, while at the same time getting her out of the house.
“I couldn’t stay home alone,” she said. “If I just laid there, I’d probably get worse.”
Even at the restaurant, she is often fatigued before the lunch hour, Dave said. If the treatment can ease some of the pain and tiredness, it will be worth it, Judy added.
“Any way we can make it better so I can keep a smile on my face and make a difference in this world,” she said.
Judy and Dave have two daughters, Jennifer and Jody, who live in the Cincinnati area. They are organizing the benefit gala on October 5 from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, 2255 Central Grove in Toledo, off the Anthony Wayne Trail.
Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Festivities include music by Johnny Rodriguez, a reverse raffle, silent auction and 50/50 raffle.
For more information about making donations or the benefit event, contact Jennifer Sargent at jkatsargent@yahoo.com.
Donations may be made to an account set up at Fifth Third Bank or mailed to Judy Katafiasz Benefit Gala, c/o Jennifer Sargent, 7901 Maple Leaf Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.


Annual Waterville Roche De Boeuf Festival To Offer Fun For All Ages

BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Expanded children’s activities, plenty of free entertainment, a larger motorcycle and car show and nearly 200 vendors will fill the streets of Waterville on Saturday during the 35th annual Roche de Boeuf Festival.
COSI flight experiments, an Anthony Wayne YMCA craft table, a sand play area, and story and puppet shows are just some of the free activities offered in the parking lot between Zion Lutheran Church and the Waterville Chamber of Commerce. Zion will also host several free games for children.
Other kids’ activities include midway games on Farnsworth, a carnival in the Waterville School parking lot, inflatables behind Peddler’s Alley and a small animal exhibit by the Toledo Zoo at the old Waterville School.
The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. from the corner of North Street and River Road, heading south on River Road to Waterworks Park.
The performing stage near Zion and the chamber office has a lineup that includes Roger’s Dance Studio at 11:30 a.m., Dance Centre of Northwest Ohio at 12:30 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., Aegela Centers for Middle Eastern Dance (belly dancing) at 1:30 p.m. and the Maumee Senior Singers at 3:15 p.m.
Elvis impersonator Bob Rosencrantz and his son will roam the festival from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and a clown will create balloon animals from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., said chamber member Jo McElheney.
Third Street on both sides will be jammed with vendors – from crafters to businesses – on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., said Dawn Bly, executive director of the Waterville Chamber of Commerce.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles will fill the Jo-Jo’s Original Pizzeria parking lot at South and Third streets for an expanded car show that now includes motorcycles and monster trucks, said chamber member Louann Artiaga.
Check-in for the show begins at 9:00 a.m. and the public can vote from noon to 3:00 p.m. The $10.00 day-of-show entrance fee includes a dash card and goodie bags for the first 100 vehicles.
The band Alter Ego will play from noon to 3:30 p.m., and Milan Dragway will display race cars.
Parking for the Roche de Boeuf Festival is available at Something Special Learning Center and LifePointe Church on SR 64 just west of Waterville. Shuttles will arrive beginning at 9:00 a.m. to pick up festival goers for delivery to the BP Station. Shuttles stop running at 4:30 p.m. Handicap-accessible parking is available in the village and First Federal of Delta parking lots.
A pre-Roche de Boeuf Party will take place on Friday from 6:00 p.m. to midnight on the newly renovated Third Street.
The Rotary and Mad Anthony’s are sponsoring the 21-and-over event, which will feature music from The Transitions, a cornhole tournament and plenty of food and drinks.

Waterville Historical Society Features Lost Arts At Festival

BY BECKY JACOBS — MIRROR REPORTER
The Waterville Historical Society will feature a variety of lost arts demonstrations during Waterville’s annual Roche de Boeuf festival on Saturday, September 27.
According to lost arts chairman Janice Braida, the society will host many artists and events on the Robbins House Museum grounds, 118 S. River Rd., throughout the day.
Joyce Redman, a third-generation silhouette artist, is new to the festival this year. She will be featured from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Redman has been hand-cutting silhouettes for more than 20 years, creating one-of-a-kind heirlooms for framing or scrapbooking.
Festival goers will have the opportunity to observe as she creates the silhouettes from profile in the folk art tradition.
The cost will be $20.00 per silhouette. A duplicate copy may be purchased for $10.00.
An old-fashioned taffy pull will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Taffy man Amos Campbell of Brunswick, Ohio, will demonstrate the art of sorghum taffy-pulling by hand and explain its history as participants stretch taffy candy and cover an apple to take home.
Also featured throughout the day will be Brad Kepler, Great Lakes minstrel. He will entertain with American and Celtic folk songs. CDs will be available for purchase.
Historic interpreters of American Indian and early American life from the Seven Eagles Historical Center will provide insight into the Maumee Valley frontier history and offer trade wares for sale throughout the day.
“Fabulous Fall Flower Arrangements” will be demonstrated at 11:30 a.m.
Claudia Trabbic, manager and floral designer for Bartz Viviano at Levis Commons, will create fall flower arrangements using seasonal fruits and flowers. She will incorporate pumpkins, gourds and mums into table arrangements, which will be available for sale.
“Dressing A Victorian Lady” returns to the festival as Kathleen Dowd, proprietor of Heritage Rose, will demonstrate and explain her reproduction Victorian apparel at 1:00 p.m.
Dowd will begin with underpinnings (a.k.a. a corset) and continue to a finished costume, explaining the ritual and fashion dos and don’ts of the day.
Also on hand will be demonstrations of spinning by Rhonda Mokri, weaving by Susan Cayton, chair caning by Roy Seiple, quilting by Ruth Hasselman, felting by Denise Carter, lace making by Carrie Baum, Victorian to 20th-century beading by Claudia Trabbic and Early American beading by Jane Largent.
Hands-on activities for kids include “Little Folk Art” craft activities designed for children ages 3 to 5.
Hand tracing will be a fun activity for the youngsters. Both hands and hearts are common folk art motifs, and this activity uses both shapes to create a paper keepsake for framing, scrapbooking or refrigerator posting.
Rope making will also be a part of the kids’ activities. Children will be taught how to twist lengths of twine to create a sturdy rope to take home. The cost is $2.00.
Older kids will enjoy the art of tinsmithing. A hand-punched tin ornament featuring a farm animal or a star will be made.
A special lost art attraction this year will be a coloring contest.
Kids can color a mid-20th-century barn symbol, an American folk art icon, and enter it in a Waterville Historical Society contest for a chance to win prizes.
Age categories include 5 and under, 6 to 9 and 10 to 14.
The entry sheets to color are available at the Anthony Wayne Area YMCA, 808 Michigan Ave., Waterville, or from the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce, 122 Farnsworth Rd.
All coloring contest entries must be turned in during the festival at the Robbins House Museum.

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