Saturday, July 4th, 2009Weekend: Dogpawlooza! Hancock Park District will host the third annual Dogpawlooza on Saturday, July 11 at Riverbend Recreation Area. more >>Weekend: Get Out! Your guide to fun in our areaFamily Fun more >>Weekend column: 'Temporary' guests ruling the houseBy JAIME MALLOY more >>Weekend column: July 4 a chance to teach kids about patriotismBy SUSAN RUSSELL more >>Weekend DoctorBy Dr. Thomas F. Vail more >>Weekend travel: Le Metro vital to ParisThe "City of Lights" is known for history and art, the Louvre museum and the Eiffel Tower. But perhaps Paris' most intriguing and vital site lies mostly under the streets, hidden from view. more >>Alumni group buys Antioch CollegeDAYTON (AP) -- Antioch University agreed Tuesday to transfer the campus of financially strapped Antioch College to an alumni group that plans to turn it into an independent school. more >>Local News Weekend: Dogpawlooza!Hancock Park District will host the third annual Dogpawlooza on Saturday, July 11 at Riverbend Recreation Area. All activities will take place in or near the K-9 Field of Dreams Dog Park at Riverbend Recreation Area, located at 16618 Township 208, off Ohio 568 to Township 241, east of Findlay. Kicking off Dogpawlooza will be a free demonstration provided by the Assistance Dogs of America at 9 a.m. near the Riverbend K-9 Field of Dreams. The demonstration will be given by Glenwood Middle School Principal David Alvarado and Jenny Barlos, president of Assistance Dogs of America, with assistance dog Hayden. Hayden is a black Labrador retriever and has been at the Glenwood School since October, providing both assistance and therapy to the students. Assistance Dogs of America therapy dogs offer comfort and companionship to children and adults in schools and nursing homes, and individuals with developmental disabilities, to assist with an individual's daily needs. Several contests will be held in the "Furry Fun Show." Dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds can enter categories like Most Creative Trick, Looks Most Like Owner, Best Costume, Funniest Costume, Best Tail Wags and more. Winners receive first- through third-place rosettes. Registration for the "Furry Fun Show" takes place from 8-8:45 a.m. The first 50 entrants will receive a free "Doggy Bag" stuffed with goodies. Dog owners can also enter the "Top Dog" Photo Contest. Spectators at the event will decide the winner as they vote for their favorite picture at Dogpawlooza. The winner will receive a $50 cash prize courtesy of Hancock Friends of the Parks. The photo will be used in future HPD promotional materials. Registration deadline to enter the "Top Dog" Photo Contest is Thursday, July 9 at 4:30 p.m. Entry forms with contest rules can be picked up at the HPD office at 1424 E. Main Cross St., Findlay, or downloaded at www.hancockparks.com. Food will be available to spectators courtesy of the Humane Society of Hancock County. Other features of Dogpawlooza will include a "Doggy Splash Zone," where dogs can cool off; local business displays; and door prizes from The Dog House Inn, Findlay Animal Hospital, Foxy Pet Sitting, Science Diet -- Hill's Pet Nutrition and VCA Animal Medical Center. Spectators and entrants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on to watch the festivities. For more information about Dogpawlooza or other upcoming programs, visit www.hancockparks.com or call the HPD office at 419-425-PARK. On the Net: Assistance Dogs of America: www.adai.org. Weekend: Get Out! Your guide to fun in our area Family Fun KUTZTOWN FOLK FESTIVAL July 3-5 The 60th annual Kutztown Folk Festival, the oldest continuously-operated folklife festival in America, will be held July 3-5 at Kutztown (Pa.) Fairgrounds. Location: 225 N. White Oak St. Information: www.kutztownfestival.com. FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4 During a special Naturalization Ceremony at Sauder Village at 11 a.m. July 4, guests will have the opportunity to celebrate as 41 people become new U.S. citizens. Other activities will include a reading of the Declaration of Independence, music, old-fashioned games, hand-cranked ice cream and free admission for military personnel. Admission: $12.50 adults, $6.50 students. Location: 22611 Ohio 2, Archbold. Information: 1-800-590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org. INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT July 4 The Toledo Symphony Concert Band will perform at 2 p.m. July 4 at Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont. Concert goers should bring lawn chairs or blankets. Location: corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues. Information: 1-800-998-PRES or www.rbhayes.org. INDEPENDENCE DAY AT FORT MEIGS July 4-5 Visit Fort Meigs on July 4-5 and see where Ohio's independence was secured during the War of 1812. A recreation of an 1813 Independence Day celebration will be held at 2 p.m. July 4. Hours: 12-5 p.m. July 4, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 5. Admission: adults $9, students $5, Ohio Historical Society members $1, and children 5 and under are free. Location: 29100 W. River Road, Perrysburg. Information: Information: 1-800-283-8916 or www.fortmeigs.org. DISCOVERY STORY: CICADAS July 6 For children ages 3-6 with an adult companion. Includes story, activities and a craft all about cicadas. Hours: 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Location: Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center, 1400 Oakwoods Lane, Findlay. Information: 419-425-PARK or www.hancockparks.com. FULL MOON HIKE July 7 Fireflies, bats, moths and crickets should be out in numbers during this mid-summer full moon hike at Oakwoods Nature Preserve. Meet at the main bulletin board by the parking lot at 9 p.m. Location: 1400 Oakwoods Lane, Findlay. Information: 419-425-PARK or www.hancockparks.com. Music BLOSSOM FESTIVAL BAND July 3-4 Blossom Festival Band will perform at 8 p.m. July 3 and 4 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. Tickets: $19-$42. Location: 1145 W. Steels Corners Road. Information: 330-920-8040 or www.livenation.com. MIKE WHITTY JAZZ TRIO July 5 The Mike Whitty Jazz Trio will perform from 5-8 p.m. July 5 at Fins Seafood & Grille. Location: 1801 Broad Ave., Findlay. Information: 419-429-1900. IL DIVO July 6 Il Divo will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 6 at Wolstein Center in Cleveland. Tickets: $51.75-$126.75. Location: 2000 Prospect Ave. Information: 216-687-9292 or www.ticketmaster.com. THE CAB July 7 The Cab will perform at 6 p.m. July 7 at the Grog Shop in Cleveland. Tickets: $12. Location: 2785 Euclid Heights Blvd. Information: 216-321-5588 or www.ticketmaster.com. VAN'S WARPED TOUR July 9 The Van's Warped Tour will be at the Time Warner Cable Amphitheater in Cleveland at 12 p.m. July 9. Location: 1887 W. Third St. Tickets: $37.25. Information: 216-522-4822 or www.livenation.com. RYAN CABRERA July 9 Ryan Cabrera will perform at 9 p.m. July 9 at House of Blues in Cleveland. Tickets: $10. Location: 308 Euclid Ave. Information: 216-523-2583 or www.ticketmaster.com. KID ROCK WITH LYNYRD SKYNYRD July 10 Kid Rock will perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd at 6:30 p.m. July 10 at Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. Tickets: $26-$236. Location: 1145 W. Steels Corners Road. Information: 330-920-8040 or www.livenation.com. Exhibits 'THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF SUSAN MILLER CORMIER' July 4-Aug. 15 The Wassenberg Art Center in Van Wert, will present "The Photography of Susan Miller Cormier," opening July 4 and running through Aug. 15. Hours: 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Admission: free. Location: 643 S. Washington St. Information: 1-888-238-3837 or www.vanwert.com/wassenberg. 'OPEN 24: ART AT THE DINER' Through July 11 "Open 24: Art at the Diner" will run through July 11 at Main Street Deli in Findlay. Exhibit features artwork by local artists Val Escobedo, Sharon Hammer Baker, Dave Kent, Adam Poe and Marianna Hofer, and looks at diners and the people and objects that make up diner culture. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Location: 513 S. Main St. Admission: free. Information: 419-788-5044. TERRIFIC TEENS Through July 18 Visitors can be immersed in the lives of Northwest Ohio's teenagers from the 1930s through the 1960s as Owens Community College, the Wood County Historical Center and Museum and Bowling Green Area School District present a collection of teenage personal accounts and historical artifacts as part of the Terrific Teens Historical Exhibit. Admission: free. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Location: Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery, Perrysburg Township. Information: 1-800-GO-OWENS, ext. 2721 or www.owens.edu. FIRST LADY STYLE Through Aug. 2 The White House Gowns Exhibit brings together 29 original and reproduction gowns worn by American First Ladies at the Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont. Location: Corner Hayes and Buckland. Admission: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 12-5 p.m. Sunday. Information: 419-332-2081 or www.rbhayes.org. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL Through Aug. 23 "Women Are Beautiful," an exhibition of images by mid-century American street photographer Garry Winogrand, will be on view through Aug. 23 at Cincinnati Art Museum. Admission: free. Location: 953 Eden Park Drive. Information: 513-639-2995 or cincinnatiartmuseum.org. 'BESSIE POTTER VONNOIH: SCULPTOR OF WOMEN' Through Sept. 6 "Bessie Potter Vonnoh: Sculptor of Women" will be on view through Sept. 6 at Cincinnati Art Museum. The exhibit, the first dedicated to the work of Vonnoh, features 35 sculptures from 1895-1930 and two portraits of the artist by her painter-husband, Robert Vonnoh. Location: 953 Eden Park Drive. Cost: $4 parking fee for general admission. Information: 513-639-2995 or www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org. ART WALK Through September The Arts Zone and Warehouse District in downtown Toledo will come alive as its galleries and artist studios open to the public every third Thursday through September. Hours: 6-9 p.m. Information: 419-254-2787 or www.acgt.org. WARRIOR AIRMEN Through Dec. 31 The Warrior Airmen Exhibit presents the role of Air Force Airmen on the ground and in the air in Afghanistan and Iraq, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force through Dec. 31. Cost: free. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Location: 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB, near Dayton. Information: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. 100 MISSIONS UP NORTH Through Dec. 31 A large exhibit showcases the history and traditions of Air Force Airmen flying hazardous missions over North Vietnam during the Southeast Asia War. Cost: free. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Location: 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Patterson AFB, near Dayton. Information: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil. Ticket Watch Tickets are now on sale for the following events: • Collective Soul and Gavin DeGraw -- July 11, 6:30 p.m.; Lifestyle Communities Pavilion, Columbus; $25; 614-461-LIVE, ext. 101 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Aretha Franklin -- July 11, 7:30 p.m.; Fox Theater, Detroit; $45-$50; 313-471-6611 or www.ticketmaster.com. • LFO -- July 11, 9 p.m.; Musica, Akron; $25; www.akronmusica.com or www.ticketmaster.com. • Family Force 5 -- July 12, 7 p.m.; Musica, Cleveland; $13; www.ticketmaster.com. • Green Day -- July 14, 7:30 p.m.; Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan; $25-$49.50; 248-377-0100 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Taylor Swift -- July 17, 7:30 p.m.; Schottenstein Center, Columbus; $20-$49.50; 800-273-6201 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Beyoncé -- July 18, 7:30 p.m.; Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan; $20.75-$110.75; 248-377-0100 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Live -- July 18, 8 p.m.; House of Blues, Cleveland; $35; 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. • John Legend with India.Arie -- July 20, 7 p.m.; Toledo Zoo; $40.50-$70.50; 800-745-3000 or www.livenation • The Jonas Brothers -- July 26, 7 p.m.; Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan; $29.50-$89.50; 248-377-0100 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- July 28, 7 p.m.; House of Blues, Cleveland; $28; 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Demi Lovato -- July 29, 7 p.m.; Wolstein Center, Cleveland; $37.50-$47.50; 216-687-9292 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Incubus -- July 29, 8 p.m.; Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, Cleveland; $42.50; 877-598-8703 or www.livenation.com. • Dave Matthews Band -- July 29, 7 p.m.; Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls; $40 and $70; 330-920-8040 or www.livenation.com. • Sugar Ray -- July 29, 8 p.m.; House of Blues, Cleveland; $24.50; 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Kelly Clarkson -- July 29, 7 p.m.; Celeste Center, Columbus; $36; 1-888-OHO-EXPO or www.ticketmaster.com. • Jeff Dunham -- July 30, 7 p.m.; Celeste Center, Columbus; $38; 1-888-OHO-EXPO or www.ticketmaster.com. • Rascal Flatts with Darius Rucker -- Aug. 7, 8 p.m.; Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls; $31 and $71; 330-920-8040 or www.livenation.com. • Lil Wayne -- Aug 6., 7 p.m.; Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls; $79.75; 330-920-8040 or www.livenation.com. • The Moody Blues -- Aug. 11, 8 p.m.; Nautica Pavilion, Cleveland; $29.50-$79.50; 877-598-8703 or www.livenation.com. • Edwin McCain -- Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m.; House of Blues, Cleveland; $19; 216-523-2583 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Blue Oyster Cult -- Aug. 14, 8:30 p.m. House of Blues, Cleveland; $25; 216-523-2583 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Nickelback -- Aug. 14, 6 p.m.; Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, Cleveland; $83; 216-522-4822 or www.livenation.com. • Jamie Foxx -- Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m., Wolstein Center, Cleveland; $47.75-$57.75; 216-687-9292 or www.ticketmaster.com. • AC/DC -- Aug. 16, 7:30 p.m.; Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan; $92.50; 248-377-0100 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Jason Mraz -- Aug. 17, 7 p.m.; Time Warner Cable Amphitheater, Cleveland; $35; 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com. • Cirque du Soliel: Saltimbanco -- Aug. 23, 5 p.m.; Nationwide Arena, Columbus; $45-$95; 800-645-2657 or www.ticketmaster.com. • American Idols Live -- Aug. 25, 7 p.m.; Schottenstein Center, Columbus; $37.50-$66.50; 800-GO-BUCKS or www.ticketmaster.com. • Creed -- Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls; $65; 800-745-3000 or www.livenation.com. • Journey -- Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Schottenstein Center, Columbus; $22-$124.50; 800-GO-BUCKS or www.ticketmaster.com. • "The Phantom of the Opera" -- Sept. 8, 8 p.m.; Detroit Opera House; $21.50-$71.50; 313-237-SING or www.ticketmaster.com. • David Cook -- Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m.; House of Blues, Cleveland; $31; 216-523-2583 or www.ticketmaster.com. • Kings of Leon -- Sept. 23, 8 p.m.; Schottenstein Center, Columbus; $42; 800-273-6201 or www.ticketmaster.com. These items are listed weekly from information provided to The Courier and the Review Times. To be considered for submission, information must be received by noon the Monday before intended publication. For additional events, visit www.thecourier.com or www.reviewtimes.com. To include an event in this calendar, send an e-mail to getout@thecourier.com or write to P.O. Box 609, Findlay, Ohio 45839-06309. Weekend column: 'Temporary' guests ruling the house By JAIME MALLOY We found them on a pile of logs, neglected since winter, in the corner of our backyard. Actually, our dogs found them. Not as young and spry as they used to be, our two golden retrievers who ordinarily spend their time in perpetual nap mode began to bark, whine and wiggle like puppies every time they neared the wood pile. My mom was convinced that we had mice. Or perhaps rabbits. Or maybe an excessively large squirrel community happened to congregate frequently near our wood pile. The enigmatic “being” on the woodpile turned into a sort of joke and after a while we wondered if our dogs had gone crazy from too many hours spent lolling around on the kitchen floor. Yet the mysterious Backyard Beast could not stay hidden forever. Suddenly, after a month or two of successfully dodging our curious searches, the creature evolved into five tiny balls of kitteny fluff complete with a rather large and rather intimidating mother. The next thing I knew, there were five kittens living in a makeshift cage in our garage. Not long after, they were living in a back room in our house. My parents had managed to stealthily snatch the Backyard Beast from its perch on top of the woodpile and transport it to the vet for the appropriate shots. And while the mother was released back into the wilderness of our backyard due to her blatant disapproval of the thought of living within walls, the rest of the rascals joined our family. Though my parents insist that their stay is only “temporary,” the kittens are quickly losing their youthful fluff and going nowhere. While my family has not yet managed to part with even one furry feline, our dogs are less than thrilled with their new housemates. And I may be imagining it, but they seem to regard the woodpile with a slight degree of scorn every time they pass it, cursing the day their fervent tail wagging brought the kittens' existence to our attention. For not only have the kittens stolen the coveted pet limelight, they also turned out to be more than our dogs bargained for. Fearing that two 100-pound dogs might do some damage to five tiny kittens if enticed, the two parties were kept in separate parts of the house initially, for the good of the cats. Our concerns, however, have drastically changed. Upon meeting the dogs for the first time, each kitten morphed into a monstrous little orb of furry fire. Hunching up their tiny backs and puffing out their chests, they bared their teeth menacingly enough to make me doubt the sweetly innocent looks they had been doling out just moments before. And although they could surely squash each kitten with a flick of the paw or a twitch of the tail, our dogs were petrified. Now, if a kitten-turned-monster happens to cross the path of a dog-turned-chicken, one glance is all it takes for the dog's laziness to evaporate, sending it scuttling haphazardly out of the room. Our new housemates may be minute, but against two huge canines they have proven to be a force to be reckoned with. It may be the size of the fight in the dog that matters, but in this case our dogs have fight the size of a grain of sand. And up against this, the size of the cat in the fight is obviously inconsequential. While I can't promise we will agree to parting with any of our new friends, anyone looking for a new kitten would be loved forever by our skittishly scared dogs for taking one off of their shaking paws. Jaime Malloy is a junior at Ohio State University and a 2007 graduate of Findlay High School. Weekend column: July 4 a chance to teach kids about patriotism By SUSAN RUSSELL Most children associate the Fourth of July with parades, ball games, picnics and fireworks. As they begin to study history in school they realize that it is also known as Independence Day and the day we recognize when Congress finally approved the Declaration of Independence. Patriotism seems to be an appropriate topic for this time of year. What can we, as parents, do to teach our children to be patriotic? The flag is a great place to start. This is one of the most important symbols that are respected by all Americans. Respect for the flag is something that is taught by parents through example. A few simple rules of flag etiquette that should be followed include: • Display from sunrise to sunset • Do not fly the flag in rainy or stormy weather unless for a special reason • Never allow the flag to touch the floor or ground • Males remove hats and all put their right hand over their heart. (Those in uniform salute) • Flag should not be used as draping • Always stand silently as the flag passes by • Should be raised briskly and lowered slowly Flag activities that can be done with your children might include teaching proper folding of the flag. Practice as a family and explain the significance. Learn the Pledge of Allegiance and talk about the meaning. When holidays such as the Fourth of July come around, use this as a teaching opportunity. This is an excellent time to share a little history of how this country evolved. Our holidays are more than a day off work. Vacations are a good time to visit historical places. My family vacations that are most memorable included trips to Washington, D.C.; Mount Rushmore in South Dakota; and Boston. All locations offer tours of historical sites and memorials. Washington, D.C. is an inexpensive trip because many places have no admission fees. A call to legislators and senators will result in personal guided tours of the Capitol Building. Most children in the fourth grade or older will find this trip to be an experience to remember. As they begin to study history in school, it becomes real to them. Who can't find something of interest in one of the Smithsonian Museums? In the United States, respect for others is a huge part of patriotism. We live in a diverse country that believes in the dignity of each individual. Respect for others is taught to children through example. This can be done simply by helping others. Several activities may be done with children to teach about our country. Children may draw on construction paper the United States, and then cut it out. Allow them to label any of the states they are familiar with. Ask them to picture the shape of the state they live in. Use a globe or map to talk about where we are located. Gather old magazines and create a collage of pictures which describe the United States. Glue them in the shape of our country. Talk about what it means to be an American. Discuss national symbols. The bald eagle would be an interesting symbol to research together. Lots of pictures and information are available via the Internet. Teaching patriotism to children comes down to teaching them to be responsible citizens. When I was in elementary school, I remember the box on my report card that held an S for Satisfactory or U for Unsatisfactory in the area of citizenship. It was important 30 years ago, and it's important in 2009. As we celebrate Independence Day this year, take the opportunity to share important lessons with your children about the United States of America, patriotism and citizenship. Russell is extension educator, 4-H Youth Development, for Ohio State University, Hancock County. She can be reached at 419-422-3851, via e-mail at russell.388@osu.edu or online at http://hancock.osu.edu. Weekend Doctor By Dr. Thomas F. Vail Both long-distance runners and casual joggers can improve their performance by keeping their feet in top condition and taking steps to control foot problems common in runners. The human foot is a biological masterpiece that can endure the stress of daily activity. For runners, the feet are more vulnerable to injury than any other part of the body. Runners should watch for signs of foot problems that can slow them down if not treated promptly. The most common complaint from runners is heel pain. This condition, also called plantar fasciitis, is frequently caused by inflammation of the ligament that holds up the arch. Heel pain can result from faulty mechanics and overpronation, when pressure is unequally applied to the inside of the foot. It can also be caused by wearing running shoes that are worn out or too soft. At the first sign of heel pain, runners should do stretching exercises, wear sturdier shoes and use arch supports. In some cases, icing and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can help. If heel pain continues, custom orthotics, injections or physical therapy might be required. Normally, surgery isn't considered unless heel pain persists for more than a year and conservative treatment fails to bring relief. Neuromas and tendonitis are other common foot problems that affect runners. A neuroma is a pinched nerve between the toes that can cause pain, numbness and a burning sensation in the ball of the foot. Overly flexible shoes are often the cause; padding, orthotics or injections are usually effective. Sometimes, surgery is recommended if pain between the toes continues for more than six months. Serious runners can also be sidelined by tendonitis, as can overzealous beginners who try too much too soon. There are several forms of tendonitis that affect the Achilles and other areas; all are treated with rest, icing, stretching, anti-inflammatory medications, and sometimes orthotics or physical therapy. A common myth among athletes is that it's not possible to walk or run if a bone in the foot is fractured. I often hear surprised patients say, “It can't be broken; I can walk on it.” That's dead wrong, especially with stress fractures, when pain and swelling might not occur for a few days. If a fracture or sprain is suspected, I advise runners to remember the acronym “RICE,” referring to rest, ice, compression and elevation. If pain and swelling continues after following RICE for three or four days, see a foot and ankle surgeon for an X-ray and proper diagnosis. Vail is with Advanced Footcare Clinic, Findlay. Questions for Blanchard Valley Health System doctors may be sent to weekend@thecourier.com, or to Weekend, The Courier, P.O. Box 609, Findlay, OH 45839-0609. Weekend travel: Le Metro vital to Paris By TY THAXTON For The Courier The "City of Lights" is known for history and art, the Louvre museum and the Eiffel Tower. But perhaps Paris' most intriguing and vital site lies mostly under the streets, hidden from view. Le Métro, or Métropolitain, is an enormous subway system with 384 stations spread out over 41 square miles of metropolitan Paris. By contrast, New York City subways runs 468 stations over 240 square miles. Paris is full of places for tourists to see, like Notre Dame de Paris, the Arc de Triomphe and Napoleon's Tomb, just to name a few. It would take a lot of walking to visit them without the Métro because streets are often jammed with Parisian drivers in a hurry. One ticket, or "t+," at any station costs $2.20, and there are ticket machines at the entrance of every station. There are 14 lines running through the city and into the suburbs. First-time visitors can find the Métro quite intimidating and confusing, especially with lines seeming to intersect everywhere for transfers. The challenge is finding where to switch lines to make for the shortest and fastest ride possible. It's not hard to pick out tourists in a station. While Parisians get their ticket and go, tourists get their tickets and proceed over to the large map of the Métro. Often, the most crowded part of the Métro, besides the trains, is the ticket and map area. In the stations closer to downtown Paris or around large tourist attractions, the number of passengers can make for a challenge for a seat. Often, the only option is to stand and wait. Standing on the train is generally not a problem, but people brace themselves when the train starts and stops. Parisians don't appear to be in a big hurry underground. They keep to themselves, reading magazines or newspapers, talking or texting, or listening to their MP3 players. In the Métro, at least, the myth about the rude Frenchman is just that; a myth. Many Parisians are quite friendly and speak English reasonably well. They are usually willing to help tourists in need of directions or translations. So, the rides are often quiet with the exception of the occasional screech from the loud metal wheels grinding on the rails, or the accordion player strolling up and down the walkway looking for spare change. Homeless people are not a problem on the trains. Occasionally there may be a homeless person sitting on the steps leading down from the city to the station, or on a bench in the station, but it is not common. Pick-pocketing, however, is a problem. In some stations, there are signs informing passengers to be aware for them. Otherwise, police say, there is rarely serious crime in the Métro. Paris' Métro is also a home to art in some stations, where walls are decorated in colorful tile. The decorations date back to the building of the stations around 1900, but special treatment has been given to some of the more significant stops, including the Louvre-Rivoli station. There, copies of masterpieces in the Museum are on display. In many of the older stations, the design is a white tile with the station name displayed in white framed in a blue background, originally designed to brighten the station because the lights were so dim. Still, these stations appear very dark. But some parts of the Métro are above ground and, on sunny days, traveling out of the cold, dark tunnel into the light can be blinding. On the other hand, one's ears may pop in the tunnel. The Métro, which began construction in 1900, is the second oldest subway system in the world, only behind the London Underground, built in the 1860s. It serves approximately 4.5 million people per day, making in the second busiest subway system in Europe, only behind the Moscow Métro which serves 7 million people per day. Thaxton, of Kenton, is a senior at University of Findlay. Alumni group buys Antioch College DAYTON (AP) -- Antioch University agreed Tuesday to transfer the campus of financially strapped Antioch College to an alumni group that plans to turn it into an independent school. But any reopening of Antioch College is at least two years away and hinges on a list of conditions. The university temporarily closed the Yellow Springs college a year ago because of financial problems caused by declining enrollment, a heavy dependence on tuition and a small endowment. Antioch College is known for its pioneering academic programs that produce students with a passion for social activism. The college was the flagship of Antioch University, which also has campuses in Seattle, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Keene, N.H. The alumni group, called the Antioch College Continuation Corp., has agreed to pay the university $6 million for the campus, located about 15 miles east of Dayton, and the college's endowment. The transfer of assets cannot occur until a list of conditions have been met, including approval from the state attorney general's office and university bond holders. The target date to implement the agreement is Aug. 31. The alumni group said it would be about two years before the college could accept students because it will take that long to get regulatory approval, fix the campus and put the educational program in place. “While our journey has been long and difficult -- and is not yet complete -- we are committed to continuing the hard work ahead to complete the transaction,” said Art Zucker, board chairman for the university. Claire Van Ummersen, vice president of the American Council on Education's Center for Effective Leadership, which offers development programs for higher-education administrators, said it's unusual for a group of alumni to buy a college. Van Ummersen said the group will face challenging tasks that will take time to accomplish, including hiring people to run the college, raising money in a difficult economic environment and launching a marketing campaign. The college is the alma mater of Coretta Scott King, “Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling and two Nobel Prize winners. It didn't give grades, encouraged students to develop their own study plans and combined academic learning with experience through a co-op program in which students leave campus to work in various fields. Matthew Derr, chief transition officer for the alumni group, said the Antioch educational model will evolve but will remain a rigorous liberal-arts program with the co-op component. Derr said fewer than 100 students likely will be enrolled the first year. And only some of the existing campus buildings will be used when the college reopens. New faculty members will be hired, along with some who taught at Antioch previously. Students and graduates have a fierce allegiance to the college, citing the co-op program, the friendships they formed and the school's track record of producing notable graduates. After each graduation ceremony, graduates recited in unison the phrase coined by the late school President Horace Mann, an educator and a statesman who advanced the cause of universal, nonsectarian public schools: “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” Over the years, activism and civil disobedience became part of the school's fabric, with anti-war protests and weekly peace vigils in the 1960s. In 1994, students took over a campus building to protest plans to turn it into an admissions office instead of a student-activity center. On the Net: Antioch College: www.antioch-college.edu/ |
IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.
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Todd Lucas,the direct answer to your question is "NO". My...