Walk along Main Street today and it’s hard to miss the new vibe: more foot traffic, an interesting mix of locally-owned storefronts, a neighborhood with both intimacy and big city energy. Downtown Sylvania is growing up. Continue reading
Category: ►LOOKING SIDEWAYS—MARK LUETKE
January triggers post-holiday blues
Now that we’re more than halfway through January, I need to ask, how is everyone feeling? If your response is “kind of down” or “a little blue”…you’re not alone. Continue reading January triggers post-holiday blues
Artist invasion creates interest, buzz
MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS In a few weeks Sylvania will experience a new invasion of more than 125 professional artists who will be painting for four days in streets, parks and front yards all over town. Sponsored by the Red Bird Sylvania arts organization, the second Plein Air festival will again feature artists working outside on July 28-31, followed by a sale of their art … Continue reading Artist invasion creates interest, buzz
MARK LUETKE LOOKING SIDEWAYS
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
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
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
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
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
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
MARK LUETKE
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