A.W. Students Earn Honors During DECA Fall Frenzy
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
Dressed in blue blazers and dress clothes, Anthony Wayne High School seniors Cassie Fowler, Summer Savage and Josh Wilson look ready for a job interview.
Instead, they were waiting to find out what apparel and merchandising business challenge to solve.
“We’re relying on her,” Cassie said, referring to Summer. As a customer service associate at J.C. Penney, Summer works as a cashier and in the fitting rooms.
“I get a lot of my ideas from J.C. Penney. They are very good with customer service. It definitely has helped me with DECA” Summer said.
Students from eight area high schools were challenged with real-world business scenarios on September 28 during the DECA Fall Frenzy at Owens Community College. DECA, which stands for Distributive Education Clubs of America, is a national organization in its 75th year.
A collaborative effort between Owens and Penta Career Center, Fall Frenzy tested students’ knowledge and skills in marketing, merchandising, management and entrepreneurship – in scenarios ranging from apparel and accessories to sports, food service and e-commerce.
“Our case was recruiting online,” said Katrina Scott, who along with teammates Christy Wojtach and Cameron Myler had to figure out their best option.
To prepare for this first of several upcoming DECA events, the teens practiced interviewing and researching topics in the classroom, and memorizing facts about DECA, said Becky Stutz, marketing education teacher for the Penta Career Center Satellite at Anthony Wayne High School.
Throughout the year, students will also focus on projects that involve meeting with local business owners, putting together presentations and getting on-the-job experience.
At the other side of the table during the Fall Frenzy were several former DECA students, including Maumee graduate Christina McCain, who earned her marketing degree from University of Toledo before working as a distribution manager for Libbey Glass.
“DECA is good at teaching self esteem and confidence in speaking to people,” McCain said. “It helped me to feel prepared when speaking in front of people in class or going for a job interview.”
The Anthony Wayne teams earned two second and one third place award:
• Aaron Podbielniak, Mike Kaptur and Matt Trautlein, second place, food marketing.
• Brandon Albritton, Joe Henry and Jimmy Reyes, second place, sports team.
• Summer Savage, Josh Wilson and Cassie Fowler, third place, apparel team.

Board To Develop Architectural Standards For SR 64 Overlay
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
With the opening of the SR 64 and US 24 interchange less than a year away, Waterville Township’s newly formed architectural review board is busily working to map out standards for businesses that want to locate on the 1.2-mile corridor between Whitehouse and Waterville.
Property standards officer Jim Fischer told township trustees during their September 28 meeting that the board has been meeting regularly with consultant John Widmer, a registered professional planner who retired after 32 years with the Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission.
Widmer has been researching other townships that are suburbanizing and planning highway corridor overlay districts.
The district – which is a strip along SR 64 between Whitehouse and Waterville – was established last year. It is currently zoned agricultural or residential, Fischer said. Any business that wants to build would need to get land rezoned, based on what is outlined in the township’s land use plan.
Once a business is approved, the architectural review board will review plans for landscaping and building type, Widmer said.
One of the main objectives is for the township’s portion of the corridor to be uniform with sections of the overlay located in Waterville and Whitehouse.
“We want to have similar setbacks and landscaping in all three areas,” Widmer said.
The four architectural review board members include Glenn Banas, Rich Hertzfeld, Karen Schneider and Fischer. Trustees approved Fischer’s recommendation to appoint a fifth person to the board once the standards are finished. The board then will have an odd number when voting on proposed architectural and landscaping plans.
The trustees also agreed to pay each member $30.00 per meeting.
“They’re doing an awful lot of work, more than a volunteer. They’re preparing us for the future. We’re very thankful for their work and effort,” trustee Brett Warner said.
During the meeting, trustees also:
• Approved amounts and rates for 2012, which fiscal officer Kay Ann Robertson estimated will bring in $519,000.
• Approved a letter that the county engineer’s office will send to Davis Road residents, informing them of setback requirements before road reconstruction in 2012.
• Heard that the county is getting quotes on costs for widening the berm on Noward Road by two feet.
• Heard that a Neapolis-Waterville Road resident is experiencing a sinkhole under the driveway in the right of way. Trustee Kyle Hertzfeld agreed to investigate.
• Heard from zoning inspector Eric Gay that he’s been in contact with engineering firm Mannik & Smith regarding plans for Yark Whitehouse.
• Discussed a church’s interest in buying property it has been utilizing off Noward Road.
• Discussed the condition of property bound by Kroger, US 24 and SR 64.
• Heard that solicitor Walt Celley is working on a joint economic development district agreement with the city of Waterville.
• Heard that Celley will try to contact the new owners of the Coventry Glen subdivision.
• Discussed a need for a township resident to serve on the board that oversees the JEDD with Whitehouse.
• Agreed to offer $9.00 per hour to a part-time maintenance employee, when hired.

The next regular Waterville Township trustees’ meeting is Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m.