Will these faces sway you?

I've long been a fan of the 1970s and '80s television show "M*A*S*H."

Hawkeye is my favorite character, but the cross-dressing antics of Klinger always earn a chuckle. Until Drew Carey hit the scene, Klinger's portrayer, Jamie Farr, might have been the most famous Ohioan (he's a Toledo native) in Hollywood.

You'll be seeing a lot more of Farr starting today, because he is one of the stars in a new campaign to boost a drive for a statewide gambling issue for the Nov. 4 ballot.

The initiative seeks to allow a $600 million resort/casino in Clinton County.

Others who will take part in spots as part of the campaign are Vicki Lawrence, from "The Carol Burnett Show" and "Mama's Family"; Dwayne Hickman, who portrayed Dobie Gillis in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis"; and Gary Owens, the cooky announcer from "Laugh in" and "The Gong Show."

The question is whether these faces of television long ago will sway voters who already have declined to permit gambling in the state numerous times? I know that most of my friends won't know who these people are. Maybe MyOhioNow, which is responsible for the campaign, should go back to the drawing board and find more familiar faces.

Check out the commercials at myohionow.com.

A little help — before the emergency

It's easy to think you know what to do when there's a tornado warning.

Most people, if they're like me, do absolutely nothing. They assume that it's all a mistake, or that the storm will stay south, or north, or whatever direction it happens to be reported to be.

It's a good thing we have programs in our schools that teach children what to do — because they won't learn it from us.

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week, and we're encouraged to make safety plans in the event of an emergency such as tornados.

To drive home the point, I spent a little time with third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Eastlake getting a lesson in tornados and how to respond if one suddenly is barreling down on you.

Log on to www.News-Herald.com to get their advice and learn what a tornado is and what it really does.

A beautiful night for basketball

No, that's not the line Joe Tait made famous when he was the radio announcer for the Indians during the late 1970s and '80s, but it's fitting for Wednesday's Cavaliers game at Quicken Loans Arena.

Tait marks his 3,000th game as the play-by-play announcer for the Cavs. He's been with the team for 35 years, missing just 2 of the team's seasons.

For me, Cleveland sports isn't sports without Joe Tait. I still miss him calling Tribe games, when each broadcast started with his trademark phrase, "It's a beautiful night for baseball." It could have been a rain delay, or 100 degrees, but it indeed was beautiful if Tait was calling the game.

His voice still booms as he follows each pass, steal and rebound, providing enough detail that it seems you're sitting in the stands watching the game.

I'll tune in to Wednesday's game and share in the moment, thankful that Tait's still the voice of Cleveland sports.

Barely two days left

It's March, so there must be madness.

Of course, that means that it's time for the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. Yes, it's a long name for "the only thing that really matters until the end of the Final Four."

We've got our own office pool, and surely you do too. The various techniques of the competitors are fun to study, whether it's the mad point-counter, or the woman with two colors of highlighters — one for losers; the other for the winners.

Enter often, and pick a few upsets. At least that's the advice of Vegas Vic, who writes a sports gaming column that appears regularly in The News-Herald.

I spent about a half-hour interviewing him last week, just days before the bracket was released, and he stressed that those entering pools should play as many brackets as they can afford and be willing to take a few chances.

He gave many insights into technique and even some tips on which teams might be good picks. The video is online at www.News-Herald.com through Thursday afternoon, so if you're looking for a little professional advice, turn to Vegas Vic.

How could Vegas bring anything but good luck?

Looking for a good man, and woman

No, not me.

A group of area businesses have been hunting since the beginning of the year for a couple who will be marrying sometime in 2009, because they want to help them receive the wedding of their dreams.

There's a catch, however.

At least one member of the couple must have served or be active duty in the U.S. military.

The contest is called "Operation Wedding," and it's ongoing until March 31 through Rad Productions, a photography and video services company reachable at info@radproductions.org.

The company has enlisted the services of area businesses such as Jenniffer & Co. beauty salon of Mentor, Expressions Bridal, Marino Brothers disc jockeys, and Michelle's Eden Invitations and Announcements.

Those interested in providing a detailed account of why they should receive these services should e-mail the first and last name of the bride and groom, wedding date and location, phone numbers, addresses and e-mail addresses of the couple and the nominating person, a recent photo of the couple and the story detailing why they're deserving.

Submit to info@radproductions.org, and voting will take place in April. To see more information on this contest, go to radproductions.org/blog/?p=345.

Something in the W-A-T-E-R?

Michael Girbino of West Geauga Middle School knows how to spell all the words I'm about to use.

He'd better, because today he won his third trip to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The bee takes place the last week of May.

Michael is part of a long tradition of Geauga County spellers who've won the Tri-County Bee, which is the qualifier for the national bee. The News-Herald sponsors the Tri-County winner's trip to Washington.

A few years ago, a photograph of another Geauga speller was used in newspapers around the country. It showed Sammy Totino just a few seconds after he missed a word on the second day of that year's bee. The look on his face was priceless. Head tilted to the side, he appeared as though he was thinking to himself, "UGH!!"

In the office today, we discussed how we've seen Michael mature before our eyes, in pictures of his various appearances at bees through the years.

We're hoping Michael finds S-U-C-C-E-S-S in Washington. We hope he has T-H-R-I-L-L-S to last a lifetime.

Bring home a V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

A solution, please

A well-known, dirty little secret has emerged from this week's multiple-part Associated Press series on drinking water contaminated with pharmaceuticals.

A caller, Sara Hallstrom of Willoughby, today asked me point-blank, "what am I supposed to do with the 150 Coumadin pills that the doctor told me I shouldn't take?" She said that when she asked the doctor what she should do, he simply told her, "flush them down the toilet."

I'd never heard that before. I learn so many new things at The News-Herald.

Apparently, this practice is very common. A co-worker told me that a pharmacist has told her the same thing. The idea is that by flushing them, you reduce the chance that they'll be found in your trash and end up in the hands of drug dealers.

Too bad the alternative to drug dealers is ending up in my drinking glass before being ingested with my dinner.

I've decided Americans, to protect themselves, need to develop a system by which unused and unneeded prescription drugs can then be collected and given to those who need them but can't afford them. We all know someone who can't afford the medicine they require. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to get them the help they really need — free access to the pills they require?

I'm not sure how to go about this, but the barrier has long been concerns about tampering. So, obviously, the first step in the process would be ensuring the donated pills are safe.

Maybe we can write to our congressmen and women and push the idea. Apparently, our health depends on it.