It was early on a cold, dark morning and I couldn’t figure out what the retirement-aged gentleman was doing pulling hockey equipment from his car in the parking lot at Tamo-O-Shanter. Perhaps delivering gear to his grandson in time for pre-dawn high school practice? Taking stuff to the re-sale shop? A break-in? Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Based on opinion polls and newspaper headlines, a growing number of American voters believe that politics is a dirty, dysfunctional and disreputable business. Only four percent of the public says our political system works well. Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Lifelong Sylvania resident Dave Spiess is known as an upstanding community leader; elected member of the school board for 16 years (and president for three), former chair of SAJRD, trustee of the Sylvania Recreation District, and respected health insurance consultant.
But once a year Dave goes undercover and emerges on Halloween night as … Count Dracula or some other ghoulish character. No matter what the weather, he spends all evening in his elaborately decorated front yard surrounded by eerie lights, spooky action figures, a 12-foot skeleton and scary sound effects. Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Many in the corporate world believe it takes up to six months to “onboard” a new leader. Dr. William Bisset, the new president at Lourdes University, hasn’t had that luxury. He arrived as universities nationwide face rising costs, shrinking enrollment, and greater “competition” from alternative career paths that bypass post-high school education. Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
I’m a regular at the Lowe’s store on West Central Avenue and have gotten to know customer service specialist Helen Perkins, who has been at the store since it opened 21 years ago. She is always friendly, energetic, helpful—and I found out recently that she’s also 83! Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Summer vacation is drawing to a close soon for families with kids returning to school. And the most consistent symbol that classes will be back in session may be the yellow buses crisscrossing neighborhoods to deliver their precious cargo. Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
There’s a theme that I’m picking up lately from women acquaintances when I’m out and about—at the gym, neighborhood gatherings, picking up my dry cleaning. I don’t hear it from all women, nor even a majority. But it comes up often enough that it shouldn’t be ignored. Continue reading MARK LUETKE
There’s a new thing in the celebrity culture right now that is getting quite a bit of hype. It’s the idea of “Girl Dads.” It emerged as a social media hashtag in 2020 after the death of LA Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter who both perished in a helicopter crash. An ESPN reporter mentioned that Bryant once spoke about his pride in raising daughters (he had four in all), “I would have five more girls if I could. I’m a girl dad.” After the segment aired, other celebrities raced to share online photos of themselves with their own daughters. Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
Nearly 57 years ago, just before Christmas, two young businessmen (and future Sylvania residents) were enjoying a night on the town when their discussion took a serious turn. How could “self-made men” like themselves help less fortunate local families who “fell through the cracks” at local social service agencies? Continue reading MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
A Lourdes University sports team brought home a conference championship last month. Some people probably won’t think the win is that big of a deal. Others may even question if the team members are real athletes. Read this column, and I will convince you otherwise. Continue reading Esports delivers success at Lourdes
