Cinco de Mayo Celebration...
Reserve the Date: Friday, May 6th for our first ever Cinco de Mayo Community Party.  Instead of the usual Appetizers and BYOB on the first Friday of each month, the first Friday in May will herald in Spring with gusto!  A Mexican buffet ($5) and Margaritas ($2) will be featured along with a Mariachi sound track in the background.

Don't miss out on the festivities.  Join your QE neighbors in welcoming Spring.

Friday ~ Apr 1 ~ 5:30 PM Monthly Residents' Social Hour ^* - BYOB - No Foolin'
      As always, you're invited to join your fellow residents for a fun time in our Clubhouse.

Tuesday ~ Apr 19 ~ 6:00 PM Monthly Board of Directors' Meeting - Owners Welcome

Friday ~ May 6 ~ 5:30 PM Cinco de Mayo Social Hour
     Buffet ($5) - Bring your own Beverage or buy Margaritas ($2).

Tuesday ~ May 17 ~ 7:00 PM Annual Owners' Meeting & Election of Board Members
      - ALL Owners should Attend.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - Our Board of Directors met at their regular monthly meeting.  Sid Trigillis presided and all members were present along with Mr. Dave Brown, representing Seaway Asset Management.  Here are topics of interest from that meeting... *

• Trash Removal Service...  The topic of Trash Removal and Recycling was discussed at length.   Our current service is by Republic, who indicated that they may be willing to reduce the cost for pick-up and disposal in lieu of our going to the City of Sylvania for this service.  All Star Disposal expressed an interest in providing the service at the same low price and included Recycling Service AND return of the containers to the vicinity of your garage after pick-up. It was moved and seconded to leave Republic and begin using the services of All Star Disposal.  (ASD uses only one can for garbage and recyclables and sorts at their facility.  No separate Recycle Containers needed.)
  
  
• Future Stone Work...  Several properties have deteriorating Stone near the ground line that has been brought to the attention of the Board.  Cutting off stone that is below grade in contact with the soil/mulch will be done and in at least one case, crumbling mortar at the intersection of the foundation block and the floor slab will be repaired using the high grade caulking rather than additional mortar which will fail again, if used for the repair.  If you have Stone or concrete repairs that need attention, please bring them to the attention of Sid Tregillis.
  
  
• NO Mulch in 2016...  It was decided that applying Bark Mulch to the Limited Common Areas (Flower Beds) around each unit annually was excessive and was contributing to water intrusion into some units as well as damage to exterior mortar and stone.  Therefore, new Bark Mulch will only be applied every other year, skipping 2016 and resuming again in the spring of 2017.  The Board asks that if you have mulch piled up against your exterior stone, you rake it away from the building so that it is BELOW the line of the stone.
  
  

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 - Our Board of Directors met again at their regular monthly meeting.  Sid Trigillis presided and all members except Carol Martin were present along with Mr. Dave Brown, representing Seaway Asset Management.  Here are topics of interest from that meeting... *

• Trash Removal Service...  Dave Brown reported that the current contract with Republic extends through the end of 2016 at which time it is subject to automatic renewal unless 60 days prior written notice is given.  We will negotiate a contract with All Star Disposal before serving notice to Republic.  If for some reason, ASD will not honor its offer as described at our last meeting, the Board will continue with Republic as a fall back position.  The Board anticipates a seamless transition from Republic to ASD at the end of this year.
  
  
• Water Rate Increase...  The City of Sylvania has announced an increase in the cost of water supplied to it customers.  The increase will be $1.39/thousand gallon used going from $6.70 to $8.09 per thousand on water only, not sewage.  This is a 20% increase.  This charge applies to all water used, including our lawn sprinkler system.  The Board decided that this increase could be included in our budget without causing any additional increase in the monthly HOA Fees.
  
  
• Pool Opening... The Board approved the opening of our Swimming Pool for Memorial Day Weekend.  Dave Brown will contact the company which did the repairs last year and will arrange for them to open the pool on or before Friday, May 27th to have it ready for the 3 day holiday weekend beginning May 28th.
  
  
• Annual Meeting...  May 17, 2016 at 7:00 PM was set as the date for the next Annual Meeting.  Owners are encouraged to attend.  (Robert's Rules of Order will be observed.)  There are TWO seats on the Board (Richard Townes' and Sid Trigilis') coming open in May.  Nominations for these seats will be entertained and a vote will be taken.  These positions are for the normal 3 year terms, ending in May 2019.  A reminder letter will be sent to all owners before the end of April.  Watch for it in your regular mail.

Minor Problems...  There have been several complaints by owners which the Board discussed at length.  

      Use of the Clubhouse & Pool by Unaccompanied Minors  Our Owners handbook reminds all Owners that Minors (17 & under) MUST be accompanied by an Adult Owner (or Renter) at all times when they are using the Pool OR the Clubhouse.  This includes the adult's responsibility to clean up and return the facility to the same neat and orderly condition in which it should always be left.  If you observe this, please notify Dave Brown.

      Feeding Critters  While you are free to feed Birds and other critters near your unit, several complaints have been received at one or more residents have been leaving bread, crackers and such near the mailboxes. This attracts unwanted vermin (including Canadian Geese) to the area as well as being a hazard to pets being walked nearby. Please DO NOT leave food in the area around the mailboxes.

      Speed Limits   The Board requested that we remind everyone that Speeding within the development will NOT be tolerated or ignored.  There are pedestrians walking in the streets and Children/Grandchildren playing outdoors all the time. With longer days, we will have pedestrians walking, skateboarding, roller blading and cycling at all times of day.  Remember too, that visibility can be poor with sunrises and sunsets causing blinding glare.  Speed bumps were discussed as a last resort.

* -- DISCLAIMER:   Every effort has been made to be as accurate as possible in reporting events and writing this newsletter but it is the responsibility of the reader to verify all information before acting on anything of legal consequence.

No Garbage Pick-Up on Memorial Day

According to the Republic Service's website, there will be NO pick-up on Monday, May 30th, 2016 in observance of Memorial Day and the three day weekend holiday.  The pick-up will occur at the regular time on Tuesday, May 31st.

Coming to your Inbox Soon...

From time to time it has been necessary to alert our Owners to some information.  To make this easier and more timely, we will be sending out Email Alerts between Newsletters.  These alerts will advise of things like Delayed Garbage Pickups, Snow Plowing/DeIcing, last minute changes to schedules, Workers in the complex on Official Business, etc.  They will be INFREQUENT and only used when necessary.  Hopefully, most of you check incoming Email often enough to make this new Email service a valued addition to how we communicate with our Owners.

Sylvania Twp. has instituted a free ALERT SYSTEM to send out text or email alerts to subscribing citizens about Police & Fire Emergencies, Road Closures, Public Meetings, Scheduled Pickups, and Other Information.   More Info...

News and Weather on your Phone or Tablet, 24/7.   Never be caught off guard again.   News App...    Weather App...

Easter Egg Salad "BLT" Wraps

Serves 4
15 Minutes Prep & Done

Ingredients:
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Yellow Mustard
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
8 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
4 flour tortillas (8 inch)
4 lettuce leaves
4 slices cooked Thick Cut Bacon

Mix mayo, mustard and red pepper in medium bowl until blended.  Stir in eggs and onions.

Top tortillas with lettuce, egg salad and bacon.  Fold in both sides of each tortilla, then roll up, starting at the bottom.  

Beer Braised Cabbage with Bacon

Serves 8
15 Minutes Prep & 30 Minutes Cooking

Ingredients:
6 slices Thick Cut Bacon
1 Cup Chopped Yellow Onion
! Medium Green Cabbage
     About 2 pounds
12 oz.Bottle or Can of Beer
     Lager or light in color
Kosher Salt
Ground Black Pepper

Slice Onion into strips.  Quarter Cabbage, core & slice into slaw style strips.  
Heat a large, heavy pan or Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until almost crisp, turning as needed, 5 to 6 minutes in all.  Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.   Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of drippings.  Add Onions and saute for 5 minutes or until golder brown.  
Add Cabbage, toss occasionally, until the cabbage begins to wilt and is well mixed with onions.
Add beer, partially cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and the liquid is evaporated.
Crumble the bacon and stir into the cabbage.  Salt & Pepper to taste.

If you have a favorite recipe to share, let us know.  Send an email to me at MikeZets@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.

Table of Contents

Restaurant Reviews...

BRAVO! Cucina Italiana...
5001 Monroe - Franklin Park Mall   (419) 472-1200
Visited: 2-6-16
I made on-line reservations 3 days in advance for a busy Friday Evening at 7:00 PM.   I requested a quiet table for two, away from the hustle and bustle of the Main Dining Room.   We arrived at 6:54 to a crowd of at least 20 people waiting in the lobby area for a table holding flashing vibrating things in their hands.  Can you say BUSY?  I told the Host my name and in seconds, I was walking to my table.  If "looks could kill", I would have burst into flames.  You could almost hear the question, "Who are those two?"

The wait staff was attentive, working in the background but never more than a step or two away.  Service was impeccable.  Drinks before dinner came quickly.  The lobster bisque was too delicious for Toledo.  It was thick with a creaminess the lingered on the senses.   The Entrees arrived quickly and were at exactly the right temp.  My Chicken Scallopini was delicious and a generous portion.   I could not have left hungry.  I had no room for dessert.

The Manager stopped by to wish us a "Happy Anniversary" and to make sure everything was perfect for us on our "Special Day."  He had read my reservation request and remembered that it was our Anniversary.   He took time to chat and wish us many more. I've eaten in the best restaurants on 3 Continents and this Bravo is very strong competition for the best of them.  You won't be disappointed.  The prices were spot on for value and less than I expected.   And don't be afraid to use OpenTable.com to make a reservation.  It's the ONLY way to go.  Thank you, Bravo for a memorable dining experience.

February 18, 2016 by Bridget Small
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
      Robocalls can be more annoying than a lingering head cold.  Recently, some people got phone calls that seemed to be about health insurance and the Health Insurance Marketplace, but the calls were a con.  The callers were trying to get personal information.  People who work in the Marketplace don’t make cold calls, and they NEVER ask for personal information.  If you get a call like this, hang up.

     The caller IDs showed up with a local area code.  The recorded message sounded urgent: “You need to buy health insurance or face a fine. To learn more, press 1.”  A person who works in the Health Insurance Marketplace got the call and knew it was phony, so she pressed 1.  The operator claimed to ‘work with the law,’ and asked for the person’s full name, date of birth, phone number, income information and Social Security number.  The person who got the call knew it was nonsense, so she hung up and contacted the FTC.

     If you get a recorded sales call, but you didn’t give the caller written permission to call you, the call is illegal.   Don’t press 1 to speak to the operator or to get your name taken off some list, and don’t give any personal information.  If you respond, you’ll probably get more calls.  If you want information about health insurance in your state, visit HealthCare.gov.  If you get a call like this, HANG UP!  Immediately. and then report it to the FTC.

When is a REBATE not a Rebate?

     That's an easy question to answer...  When you get taken at Mernards®  for 11% of your purchase.  They will tell you that you are getting a Rebate when instead, all Mernards does is HOLD 11% of your money until you mail-in the required receipt and rebate form(s) and after holding your 11% for 6 to 8 weeks (interest free), they return it to you in the form of a Merchandise Credit Card that is ONLY usable for aditional In-Store purchases, not even against on-line purchases.
     YOU are responsible for getting the form at the store's Service Center or printing it from their website and then mailing it in.  YOU must wait 6 to 8 weeks for them to send you YOUR money back and then YOU can only redeem the quasi-rebate by buying additional merchandise on another visit to their store.  The rebate is NOT redeemable for cash, only additional merchandise (for which they will issue you another Rebate.)  And so, the cycle begins yet again.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

From My Garden

By editor, Mike Zets

     It's that time of year again when the days have warmed and everything is fresh and green.  Winter is a memory and I start to itch to get my fingers in the soil again.  If you get the same Cabin Fever that I do and want to get started NOW, here are a few things you can do to get started for the new season...

• When it's dry enough, 'top dress' beds with compost, well-seasoned manure, or Top Soil enriched with Fertilizer and 'soil lightening' material such as vermiculite in preparation for planting.  Resist the urge to dig the bed; established beds have a complex soil ecosystem which is best left undisturbed.   Nutrients added from the top of the bed will work their way down into the soil.



• Remove stakes or relax wires installed on trees planted last fall.  Allowing a little swaying of tree stems results in sturdy yet resilient plants.



• Trellises and fencing are also easiest to repair in early spring, with less plant growth to work around and fewer roots to disturb.



• Plan your Spring Planting NOW.  Envision where you want to add Perennials and where you will still have room to plant Annuals when they start showing up at the local Garden Centers.  Walk around your yard and look for empty spaces to fill.  Those in front will do well with low, spreading plants.  Those spaces nearer the house will do well with taller plants or vining plants on trellises.  Most of all, don't be afraid to give Flower Gardening a try.  Start modestly and 'grow' your garden and your confidence all summer long.

Annuals or Perennials

     You have one very big decision to make as you begin your garden.  Do you plant expensive Perennials that will come back year after year, or do you plant fast blooming, inexpensive Annuals that will only be around until the first frost?  Make no mistake. Neither is guaranteed to be successful or look good in your garden.  Some plants don't like the spot you've so carefully chosen for them.  Others will need more or less water, sun, shade or fertilizer than you supply.  Some do well in clay, others need loamy or sandy soils.

     I tend to favor Perennials.  They do cost a lot more than Annuals but they offset the investment by being in the garden for many years given the proper light, moisture and soil conditions.   Some perennial need one or more seasons to mature before making a respectable contribution to your garden's beauty.  Read the labels and carefully follow planting instructions for each one.

     Annuals, however, have a special place in my heart.  They provide instant color, tons of blooms and grow to fill in all those otherwise bare spots between evergreens and perennials.  Again, pay attention to the labels.  They give you a picture of the mature plant plus planting instructions on Sun vs. Shade, the mature plant's height and width, recommended spacing, its blooming period (just once or all season long), and it's growing habits (does it creep, vine, or is it compact and upright, etc.).  I also like to stick those plant labels in the ground next to the plants so that I can remember all season what each one was, especially when I go to buy more next spring.

     When it comes right down to it, plant selection is strictly a matter of personal choice.  Colors, style of blossoms, size of plant... All of these things make picking the 'right' plants for YOUR garden a choice that only YOU can make.  Be creative, experiment, browse through gardening magazines for inspiration but most of all get out there and dig in.  Large or small, gardens can be relaxing, rewarding, good exercise and a source of pride and enjoyment all year long.

Sun or Shade

     One thing's for sure.  Here at Quarry's Edge we all have sun AND shade to deal with.  In the front of your unit or in the rear; maybe even along the side; we have varying conditions.   Plant labels will specify what level of sunshine the plant needs... Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade or Shade.   The fastest 'Road to Ruin' with a plant is to put it where it doesn't get what it needs.  First of all, remember that ALL plants need light to live.  That's what photosynthesis is all about.  Plants use sunlight to grow.  Some plants just need more or less sunlight than others but they all need it in the right amount.

     So the next thing you have to do is get a clear mental picture of where the sun shines and for how long in each area of your garden.  Does this spot get Full Sun?  All day?  Or just in the morning or afternoon?  With that information, you're ready for a trip to the Garden Center to look around.

     Right plant, right place.  Often we fall for a flower on looks alone, regardless of whether we can give it what it needs.  But you will have most success with both annuals and perennials if you first figure out what kind of site you have -- how much sun, what kind of soil, how close to the hose, how much work you are willing to put in -- and then look for a plant that fits.

     Gardens in Full Sun or Partially Sunny locations are the easiest for which to plan and find specimens .  Almost ALL Annuals will thrive in a sunny location.  Marigolds come in a wide variety of colors and floral shadings.  They love the sunny side of the street.  

     Recommended Annuals for Sunny locations include: Alyssum, Angelonia, Begonia, Calibrachoa, Celosia, Coleus, Cosmos, Diascia, Impatiens, Marigold, Petunia, Salvia, Sunflower, Verbena, Vinca, and Zinnia.  

Some favorites...

Alysum, Dwarf Nasturtium, Verbena
     As the weather warms, pollinators become more active. Y you’ll see tiny bees, wasps, and other insects flitting around.  Hummingbirds come back to visit, and birds hop around scrounging for whatever seeds and small creatures the bare spring soil has to offer.  Do your part by planting these spring-flowering plants that will provide much-needed nectar for pollinators before summer flowers kick into high gear.  You’ll be rewarded by a fantastic display of wildlife in the garden.

Clematis
Tall, 6-10' tall plant (with trellis or post to support this woody, vining perennial) produces an early and lasting display of gorgeous grape purple to violet flowers.  Flowering in masses from May & June to September, tall plants add magic to any structure in the garden.  Great cut flowers.  Sun to part shade.  (Exercise care in this selection.  There are varieties which only bloom once in September.   You want the 'ever-blooming' variety.

     Shade Gardens  Don't be afraid of the shade. Like their solar opposite, sun gardens, with their vibrant oranges and eye-popping reds, shade gardens have their own special appeal.   Shade gardens with their predominance of lush and lazy greens have a natural physical and ethereal attractiveness.

     On even the hottest and most humid of days, the soft yellows and quiet turquoises of the shade garden linger patiently under cool, wide leaves.  After a busy day a stroll through a shade garden can relieve stress.  Shade gardens can also be places of calm meditation.

     Growing an attractive shade garden may at first appear challenging for some, but finding the appropriate balance between two concepts will help guarantee success: Focus on foliage and plant en mass.  Look for shade plants that have colored foliage or interesting textures or leaf shapes.   Contrast the elliptical long leaf of a Hosta with the feathery leaf of a fern.  Angular Bleeding Heart or Astilbe leaves dance nicely above the rounded, larger and darker leaves of Lady’s Mantle.

When a single specimen is planted alone, it tends to be lost in the shade garden.  Many flowers on shade perennials are small and delicate, therefore, large masses are more effective.  Think of perennials as ground cover in the shade.  Let them fill in the planting bed completely.  Plant to create curving shapes.  Shade is NOT a place for rows of little plant soldiers in straight lines.

Most shade perennials bloom early in spring before the trees leaf out.  So season-long color has to be found in foliage.  Using white in shade is popular as it stands out nicely because of the contrast.   A white centered Hosta pairs wonderfully with the taller feathery fern.  In a shade garden, slices of setting sun sometimes pierce the shade, lighting up a drift of ferns and making them shimmer like fireworks in the breeze.  More than one couple has been inspired to hold hands and take a walk down a hosta-lined path.  Hydrangeas make the perfect setting for sipping a favorite wine to the sound of friends' laughter.

Pots, Containers or in the Ground...

     Now that you've decided on WHAT to plant and WHERE to plant it, you have a few more things to consider.  Do you want to put your new friends in a permanent or temporary location?   Obviously, Perennials should find a permanent place in the ground but with Annuals you have a few choices...   Containers, Hanging Baskets, Window Boxes on your fences, and Planters or Pots on the ground or setting on a patio table, etc.  The choices are almost endless.  BUT... Whatever you do, you should almost never leave your new friends in the small garden pots in which they came home.  The exception being Hanging Baskets and Containers assembled by a Garden Center.

     When you get them home, make sure to water them well and let them rest out of direct sun for a bit to recover from the trip.  Then, if you're going to put them in a Container or Larger Pot, put some stones or sections of a broken clay pot over the drainage holes in the very bottom of the pot and loosely fill the pot about 3/4 full with a high quality commercial potting soil.  Make a cavity in the soil about the size of the plant's pot, gently remove the plant from its shipping pot, spread apart the roots with your fingers and place the plant in its new home.  Scoot the potting soil around the root ball but do not overly compress the roots or the soil near them.  Cover the root ball with a THIN layer of soil and you're done.   One plant transferred to a new home.

     If you're transferring into the Ground, things are just a bit different.  Dig a hole at least twice as wide and twice as deep as the garden center pot.  put the removed soil aside.   We wont be using it to fill in the new hole.  Instead, fill the bottom of the new hole with a high quality, commercial Garden or Planting Soil.  Don't compact the soil too much.  Remove the plant from its pot, fluff the root ball and place it in the hole so that the top of the root ball is LEVEL with the top of the undisturbed ground around the plant and then, fill in the rest of the hole with more Garden Soil.   Whatever you do, do NOT create a depression around the new plant where water can collect and rot away your new addition. In the heavy clay soil around QE, digging a hole is like making a clay pot around the plant.  If it's too small, the plant will become root bound even though it's in open ground.  The idea is to give your young plant room to easily send out new roots into soft soil, not make them fight to break through the clay walls of a small hole in order to grow.

Fertilizer

     One thing is for sure.  The absolute key to success in flower gardening is to provide nutrients in the form of Fertilizer for your garden.  You can't expect your garden to flourish if you don't feed it.  What, When and how Much then becomes the primary questions for most gardeners.   I'm going to assume that you have no real objections to using a commercial fertilizer on your flower beds.   If you want to stay "Organic", I wish you good luck and leave the research to you.

Fertilizers come in either granular or liquid form with varying amounts of different nutrients in an almost endless array of combinations.  If you pay attention to the labeling, you will find Three Numbers the tell you everything you need to know about that particular fertilizer.  Pay less attention to what the manufacturer says their product does while making sure you read and understand those three numbers.  They tell you exactly what's inside the bag or bottle.  The only other things you need to know from the label are what size area will be covered and how to apply it.  Here's what those numbers mean...

The numbers represent the primary nutrients inside.  They are...

Nitrogen(N) is essential for plant growth.  It promotes new growth of leaves and stems.  It's what makes things green. It also contributes to the breakdown of other organic material (like bark mulch) in the garden.   Without extra Nitrogen, whatever nitrogen is in the soil will be absorbed by decaying organics and not be available to your new plants for growth.

Phosphorus(P) promotes healthy root growth and stimulates flowering.  More and larger blooms are what we're looking for in any flower bed.  Introducing phosphorus in your fertilizer will promote both.


Potassium(K) is important for the plants overall health.  It strengthens stems and leaves, making the plant more robust and less likely to succumb to drought.

Since we're applying fertilizer for the express purpose of improving our Flower Beds, I prefer to use a blend specifically formulated for flowers.  I have found a "Bloom Booster" with a 12-9-6 formulation that works very well.  A more common blend is 12-4-8 and can be just as effective.  Just be sure that you choose one that is for flowers and not for Lawn or Vegetables.

     So the next questions are When and How Much.  For the When part, read the label.  It will usually tell you in plain English just how often to apply the product.   As for the How Much, you're not alone if you read "Square Feet" and your eyes start to roll back into your head.   Calculating how many square feet of bed space isn't too difficult but applying "5 Lbs/1,000 Sq.Ft." can easily send the best of us into a catatonic state.

I have a really neat solution to the problem.  I found a liquid dispenser that Automatically measures out the correct amount of fertilizer for me.  It mounts on the faucet (Hose Bib) and I screw my garden hose onto it.   There is a separate shutoff valve that allows me to easily turn fertilizer application on or off while never having to connect or disconnect the hose.  I can even change out an empty bottle for the next full one without even having to mess with the hose connection.  Fertilizing couldn't be easier.  Now, whenever I need to apply fertilizer, I just flip a quarter turn valve and I'm in business.  No fuss.  No muss.  And NO MEASURING!

     For those of you who might want a smaller approach to "No Fuss Fertilizing", I have just the thing.  You might have to search a bit at the big box store but they make a Single serving packet of water soluble Plant Food that is just enough for a watering can.  Rip open the packet, dump it into a watering can and you're ready to water a hanging basket or flower pot with minimum fuss.  No hoses.   No hard work.  Just the right solution for a beginning gardener with a few new friends on the patio.

      There is a beloved Resident here in Quarry's Edge who knows more about University of Toledo football than head coach Matt Campbell.  And just about everybody else.  Max Gerber (Fossil Lane) became UT’s first full-time Sports Information Director in March of 1960.  Clive Rush was the football coach.  The fiery Eddie Melvin, called the Iron Duke, coached men’s basketball.  Frank X. Lauterbur landed in town to replace Rush in ’63.  Bob Nichols became the basketball coach in ’65.  Nothing would be the same on UT’s campus, or for the Rockets’ publicist, when those guys started cranking out winning, championship teams.

Of course, they are mostly gone now.  All but one.  Max Gerber was a pioneer.  He began publishing what he called “dope books,” a forerunner to the current, tabletop media guides.  And when he wasn’t working on those books, he was helping write the book on his profession.

Max retired after 29 years on the job in the late ’80s because, he insisted, computerization was coming to his business and it scared him half to death.  The irony is that more than a quarter-century later, Gerber is alive and well and far more computer savvy than most of us.

Max, meanwhile, remains among the big names in UT sports history.  He’s in the Varsity T Hall of Fame, and shortly after the Glass Bowl renovation in the early 1990s, the large section in the middle of the third floor of the Press Tower was christened the Max E. Gerber Media Center.  There’s plenty of signage and a big plaque on the entry wall, so it’s hard to miss the name of the venue in which today's Sports Reporters work.   You have to wonder if, during Rocket football games, younger reporters have any idea that the older gent seated in the back row is Max E. himself.

Max faithfully served the University of Toledo as its Sports Information Director for almost 3 decades.  He is a native of Jackson Center, Ohio, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Capital University in 1950.  He spent the next seven years teaching at McKinley High School in Columbus, and the next three working on the editorial staff of The Ohio State University.  He came to the University of Toledo in August of 1960.   He redefined the position of UT Sports Information Director, setting standards and developing policies that are followed to this day.  He received the Spencer Award for Editorial Excellence for his work on the 1968 football programs, among many other national awards for excellence in public relations.  He is recognized nationally among the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as an authority in athletic public relations.  During his tenure, Rocket teams won 24 Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles.

Max was also a part of one of the longest football winning streaks (35 games) of any Sports Information Director in his history.  He retired from the University of Toledo in March of 1988.

Next time you see Max, be sure to get his autograph and his prediction on the next MAC Championship Team.

Our thanks to the Toledo Blade™ and Dave Hackenberg, Blade Sports Columnist, for this information.

Nikki Martin

     Here is Nikki's story.  Eleven years ago my son kept telling me I needed a dog after being left alone.  At the time I was working 12 hour shifts.

     One weekend I was visiting a friend at a campground.   They were having a garage sale at all the campsites and he and I were going around on his golf cart drinking beer when we came across Nikki for sale.  She was really struggling to get to me and I thought "this dog really likes me" (since then, I have come to realize she does it to all humans, so I was not that special after all).  So under the influence of alcohol, I put a deposit on her.  The next day, sober, I wondered what in the world I had done!!  I can honestly say I have never regretted it.

     She has had two accidents in the house in 11 years.  When I was working, she would go almost 13 hours without being let out.  She is very loving and obedient.  I don't think I would ever get another dog.  I feel like I have had the best.  I love her dearly.  So Happy 11th Birthday, Nikki.  May we grow old together a few more years.

[Ed. - Have your own story?  Send in the info via Email to MikeZets@gmail.com  Give us details and we'll share them with the whole community.]

      Like it or not, we're becoming a paperless society.   This newsletter is just another example.   We really want you to be able to enjoy the future editions of the newsletter but WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS to make that happen.

Your privacy is paramount to us.   Just like Unlisted numbers for phones before cell phones took over the world, you should be able to have an UNLISTED Email address that you only give to those who will respect your privacy.  No Unsolicited Email.   No Junk Mail.   Just a newsletter about every other month from Quarry's Edge.

      The email address you provide will NOT be sold, loaned, rented or shared with anyone, ever.   And it will NOT be published in our Community Directory unless you specifically tell us to do so.

If you have NEWS, INFORMATION, RECIPES or PHOTOS you would like to share with your fellow residents in this Newsletter send us a note at MikeZets@gmail.com.  We'd be happy to include it in our next issue.