On the Side

Service from a Celeb

Hancock Regional Planning Commission grant coordinator Lydia Mihalik can run a 5K and arrange flood-blighted property purchases using federal grant money like nobody's business. Findlay attorney Phil Rooney knows his zoning laws and German beers. But can they make a mean margarita on the rocks or hustle chicken wings?

To wrap up its 2009 campaign, the fundraising geniuses over at United Way of Hancock County have organized "Celebrity Server Week," which should be entertaining.

Here's the schedule:

Monday, Nov. 30, 5-7 p.m.: Lydia and Hancock County Commissioner Ed Ingold at the West End Tavern, 506 W. Main Cross St.

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7-9 p.m.: Judge Reg Routson at Coffee Amici, 328 S. Main St.

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 5-7 p.m.: Rooney and attorney Matt Klein at The Gathering, 114 E. Main Cross St.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 5-7 p.m.: Cooper Tire execs at Fricker's, 1410 W. Main Cross St.; and First Federal execs at Tavern at the Inn (Findlay Inn & Conference Center), 200 E. Main Cross St.

Friday, Dec. 4, 5-7 p.m.: Paul Kramer, Scott Malaney and Frank Guglielmi at Findlay Country Club, 1500 Country Club Drive.

According to their news release, the public is invited to attend/heckle/telltheirlifestory at all establishments during those times. The Country Club will even have free hors d'oeuvres. Tips will go to United Way.

It appears to me that Routson has landed the easy gig.

I wonder if Ingold knows how to make a Redheaded Slut...

Hoorah for Free Food (and not MRE's)

I salute you, Bloomin' Onion, for offering your greasy, spicy, deep fried, horsy-type sauce accompanied self up for free consumption by some of our nation's best. You are indeed a king among onions for your delicious generosity. You'll even by served with a free beverage.

There are others who should be commended for pledging to feed vets and active duty personnel on and near Veterans' Day. More than I can recognize here, but I'll name a few more, just for good measure.

Aside from the free Bloomin' Onion and drink deal on Veteran's Day, which falls on Wednesday this week, Applebee's is offering to feed such individuals a whole meal if they can show proof of active or vet status. Meals to choose from aren't anything to scoff at, either. They include three-cheese penne, fire pit bacon burger, fiesta lime chicken, chicken tenders platter, 7-oz. sirloin steadk, and oriental chicken salad.

For dessert, Krispy Kreme franchises will hand over one free donut of any variety to our servicemen and women.

And on Monday, Nov. 16, Golden Corrals across the country will offer free buffets to those who have risked their lives to preserve our freedoms. According to the company's website, it has offered more than 2.2 million free meals to veterans over the years, and contributed more than $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization. Yee haw, GC!

So if you have the opportunity, thank a vet or active duty military person for all they've done for us. And if you have the inclination, buy them a beer to go with that burger or a coffee to go with that donut.

That's my bag, baby

It's a fact - physical exertion in the great outdoors makes you hungry. And more of us should be ravenous these days, thanks to the City of Findlay's leaf pickup cessation. A beautiful fall Sunday found me and The Spouse performing the annual back breaking chore for five hours prior to the additional labor of carting it all away. Here we have a lovely photo of some of the 31, 39-gallon lawn bags we managed to fill; we're still waiting for the rest of the leaves to fall from a neighbor's tree. Ironically, all of the big trees that surround our property are other people's trees, and yet they shed their bounty onto our "parklike setting" moreso than in the yards they grow in. My favorite part of the day was when one of those neighbors, perhaps inspired by us, ventured outside, but blew all of his leaves into the street, knowing full well that they'll end up in our yard...

Afterward, I suprisingly still had enough good will and stamina to bake a pie with some of those honeycrisps that all the stores have been begging us to buy this season. I prefer granny smiths for a straight up snack, but the honeycrisps baked well. The Spouse, seemingly not fond of baked goods I spend hours slaving to fix, made sure to have a piece after dinner. Smart move on his part to just eat some of the damn pie rather than face my wrath.

Are any of you honecrisp fans or do you think that, like leaf raking, they're overrated?