Mary Beth Zolik has been part of morning radio in Toledo for over 25 years. In the fall of 2005, she was inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame, along with her now happily retired partner, Jack Mitchell. And now Mary Beth looks forward to many more years of morning radio fun with Rick Woodell!
Although Mary Beth grew up in Detroit, it is Toledo that feels like home, especially since she and her husband, Terry, are raising their family here. Their children, Tara, Derek and Cullin were all born here and are all in school now. With grade school, high school and college tuitions all looming, it's no wonder Mary Beth looks forward to many more years working on 101.5 the River. "Miles to go before I sleep!"
When not transporting her busy children hither and yon, Mary Beth enjoys napping, a good long walk, reading anything and everything and playing with the family dogs...oh, and more napping.
"Getting up at 4am is the hardest part of what I do. But I love what I do and feel so blessed. My husband says the only person who has a better job than mine is the woman who reads the lottery balls on TV!"
Rick's BIO
Rick Woodell was born and raised in Macon, Georgia, attended the community college there and eventually the University of Georgia before embarking on a 35 year broadcasting career. Rick has worked in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Texas and been a part of the programming of radio stations in Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado and California.
Before moving to Toledo, Rick was a highly rated morning show host in Greenville, South Carolina and was co-host of "Talk of the Town," a 30 minute television travel show for Charter Communications that covered Georgia, North and South Carolina. Rick and his wife Carla moved to Toledo so he could rekindle his love for morning radio.
Rick and Carla have 4 "kids." One is Siamese...Cyan, 6 pounds of furry fury, Grayson, a loveable Gray stray from the Humane society, Frank a mini Dachshund rescue and the latest addition, Bill Blitzen, a rescued Greyhoud.. Rick's son, Alex, graduated college in South Carolina and is continuing his education at the Medical College of South Carolina-Charleston.
Rick's continued love for charity work and civic pride keeps him active in the community.
"We've been here for over 5 years now. As Carla and I continue to travel the area, we're amazed at the eagerness of people to welcome us Southerners. It really makes us feel at home."
Featured Visitors
Kaylee Halko visits Mary Beth and Rick Kaylee Interview Part 1 Kaylee Interview Part 2
Today's 80's rewind was Don't Lose My Number by Phil Collins...(or Billy, Don't lose my number)...altho, Rick thought it was Ricki Don't Lose That Number...but that is by Steely Dan. Fortunately Vicky from Sylvania knew the correct answer...and won Hafner Flowers and basketball tickets to the UT Rockets versus Ohio University.
Alison from the Heart Association paid a visit this morning to encourage everyone to wear red today...in an effort to get women to take better care of their hearts. More women die from heart disease than all forms of cancer combined. And 90% of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease. To learn more go to the AHA website: www.GoRedForWomen.org And mark your calendar for March 10th...for the Heart Gala at the Pinnacle...where Rick will be the evening's emcee.
Speaking of a healthy heart...there is an interesting article at the River homepage today about drinking diet beverages and the risk for heart disease. Apparently the pause that refreshes is not that afterall!
The average mom does this 122 times a year? So many possibilities...but it is... Asks their children to clean their rooms. If you have a great plan for accomplishing this, Mary Beth and Rick would like to hear from you Monday morning.
And of course, we want to hear from you on Monday...in the aftermath of the SuperBowl...so what was your favorite commercial. Give us a call after 8am.
The Perfect Super Bowl Plan!
Friday 02-03-2012 5:41am ET
Your party is only as good as your planning! Here are some tips for the PERFECT Super Bowl party!
MB and R
Throw The Perfect Super Bowl 2012 Party: 7 Entertaining Tips
Ah, the Super Bowl is back! The one night where potato chips, pretzels and beer are the preferred foods to serve and you don't even have to worry about small talk since everyone's eyes will be glued to the TV. Easy, right? Eh, not so fast!
We've all been to the parties where open bags of chips, cans of beer and anonymous bowls of mystery dip were the call of order. And while there really is nothing wrong with that -- who doesn't like French onion dip -- this effortless entertaining can have its own hassles. Like people knocking over bags, getting salsa on the floor and mixing up their beer cans. Also, since there are few reasons to throw parties, it's fun to try something a little unexpected. Especially when the game is an epic re-match like this one (ahem...flash back four years when the Giants stopped the Patriots from a 19-0 season). Okay, our office is in New York, we had to mention it one time -- but, back to decor. [EDITOR'S NOTE FROM BRIE DYAS: Some of us are Steelers fans, ahem.]
Simple changes like creating a buffet table or arranging the seats beforehand can do wonders for making your party feel like something new. So, keep reading for seven easy ways to upgrade your Super Bowl party, because hey, the TV doesn't have to be the only thing people take note of!
Arrange your seats in advance. Avoid the haphazard run for dining room seats seconds before the game begins by bringing your extra seats into the TV room before your guests arrive. This way you can arrange the chairs to ensure that everyone will not only have a great view of the game, but will also have avenues of escape for bathroom breaks, drink refills or a second-round of dinner.
Know your colors. The Patriots are the home team, so they'll be in blue while the Giants play in white. For the ambivalent hostess who doesn't want to choose sides, decorate with red since both teams have hints of the color on their uniforms. For a simple accent, put ribbon around a vase and find some fresh flowers in the right color -- perfect for the coffee table!
Put together a buffet table. Rather than plopping everything on the coffee table for easy access, display the food and drinks along the kitchen or dining room table. (Or, relocate whatever table is most convenient to your living room to bring the snacks closer.) No one will be reaching over one another for food, which means fewer spills and a faster serving time so no one misses any part of the big game.
Change up your food. A takeout pizza is nice, but homemade tailgate favorites will be a little more filling. If you have a slow cooker, root beer pulled pork or spicy beef chili still fit the football mood, but add an extra-flavorful food option your friends will love (and are incredibly easy to make!). If you don't have a slow cooker, balance takeout and snack foods with easy homemade accents, like homemade dips -- this jalapeno dip looks especially to die for!
Ditch the chip bags. We've all known people who treat the bag of tortilla chips as their personal property. A communal bowl is a little less easy to hog and the addition of a big serving spoon makes it a little more civil than grabbing handfuls of snacks.
Opt for a mini-keg. It's practical: With only one option, guests won't be able to complain about the absence of their favorite brew and you'll accumulate less trash. If you have them, put glass mugs in the freezer overnight. The icy cold cups will not only keep the booze from becoming luke warm, but will also give the party a great pub-like feel.
Utilize free printables. Skip the trip to the party store--There are crafty people all over the web creating free printable decorations out of the kindness of their own hearts. Let's take them up on this offer! If you're not sure where to start looking, click here for a whole slideshow of fantastic options.
How Much?!
Friday 02-03-2012 5:37am ET
In the world of mega-millions for entertainers, this seems ridiculous!
MB and R
Beyonce On 'The X Factor'? Simon Cowell Reportedly Offers Her Millions
First Posted: 02/ 2/2012 2:40 pm
If your coffers are as well-stacked as Simon Cowell's, you might as well reach for the stars. Rumor has it that the 'X Factor' proprietor has offered Beyonce an astounding $500 million to join the show as a judge.
Nothing is confirmed and the number feels too high to be believed, but MediaTakeout claims their source is well-placed within Cowell's camp. For his part, reality TV's Grinch-in-chief is said to be desperate to breathe new fire into the show.
As soon as news of this week's 'Factor' shakeup broke, the Twitterverse exploded in a smattering of rumors. Over the past few days, Beyonce, Perez Hilton and Mariah Carey have risen to the top of the rumor crop.
Fox's firing of Paula Abdul is particularly interesting, given that sources are whispering that the longtime "Idol" and "Factor" judge was removed for being too easy on contestants. Given that Hilton has made his new career out of being nice and neither Beyonce nor Mariah Carey are known as particularly acerbic personalities.
All of this is, of course, without mention of the fact that Beyonce and Jay-Z are new parents. While Jay-Z may be content releasing songs about daughter Blue Ivy Carter, Beyonce hasn't given any indication that she's either willing or ready to take on such a high profile gig.
Regardless, it's abundantly clear that the show is going through a major, make-or-break reset. The pressure's on for Cowell, who walked away from "American Idol" and bet his American TV career on "The X Factor," poaching Abdul and effectively crippling the nation's most popular television show
Dog Springs into Action
Friday 02-03-2012 5:34am ET
More proof that "dumb aninmals" are far from "dumb!" Another reason dogs are man's (and woman's) best friend.
MB and R
Arizona Author Bethe Bennett Saved By Dog Who Brought Her Phone, Paper
An elderly Arizona woman and author who suffered a harsh fall last Friday is alive and recovering at a nearby hospital thanks to her service dog Danny, who not only helped her regain consciousness but also brought her the tools she needed to call for help, ABC News reports.
An author and dog-lover from Glendale, Ariz., Bennett writes stories about the foster dogs she takes in under the penname "Bessie Mac," according to ABC News 15 Arizona.
Last Friday, one of the foster dogs -- a Miniature Schnauzer named Danny -- returned Bennett's favor by saving her life.
After slipping on a tile floor and breaking her femur on Friday, Bennett lay unconscious on the floor of her home.
She woke up after being licked by Danny and remembered that no visitors where scheduled to arrive until the following Tuesday.
That's when Danny sprang into action, knocking over the telephone and nudging toward Bennett. When she asked him to bring her paper, Danny brought over five pieces, including one with neighbors' phone numbers.
Bennett called 911 and then neighbors, who located a spare key and let paramedics into the house. She was then rushed to Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, where she is now in recovery.
Now she plans to tell Danny's story in the next installment of her "Forever Home" series
According to the series' website, Bennett has been an animal-lover since childhood and after taking in foster animals from the Arizona Schnauzer rescue.
The joy and love that each of [the dogs] has brought to my life is unexplainable. It is always hard to let them go on to their forever homes, but when they come to you sad, broken-hearted dogs and leave as happy, playful dogs to their forever homes, it’s such a great feeling. My volunteering friend sent me on a journey that has truly been a blessing. Fostering rescue dogs has given me a greater depth of understanding the true meanings of unconditional love, loyalty, responsibility, and trust.
Thursday on the River
Thursday 02-02-2012 10:14am ET
Some conflicting ground hog reports this morning...Punxatawney Phil saw his shadow, so 6 more weeks of winter...for Pennsylvania anyway. Buckeye Chuck and Michigan Woody did not see their shadows...so Ohio and Michigan should see an early Spring.
Wow...very surprised by at least one Facebook friend, Amy, who agreed with our myths of marriage segment...that said...if you have an affair, keep it to yourself...assuming it was a one time mistake...no need to break the trust and heart of your spouse. Kind of like don't ask, don't tell. Apparently, the truth will not set you free.
So how many of your apps do you really use...our survey says...maybe 4 or 5 about once a week...even tho there are many more on the cellphone that don't get used. Of course, everybody used iheart radio all the time!
Joni, the coupon lady will visit tomorrow morning between 7 and 8...and will tell us about her new book deal with TLC. You can learn about her coupon deals at her website: www.freetastesgood.com
After 8 tomorrow...Rick will have some alternatives for people who have no interest in anything related to the Superbowl this weekend.
And don't forget tomorrow is Wear Red day for the American Heart Association...and Alison from the AHA will drop by with reminders for keeping yourself healthy.
Sunday's Best
Thursday 02-02-2012 5:44am ET
It's almost time to watch Sunday's Best! No, not the game, the commercials. Here is one that we think only aired once, but it could be one of the best ones ever. It's for Bud Lite.
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© 2012
First Posted: 02/ 2/2012 2:40 pm