The New York Auto Show is a busy time for smart CEO Dr. Annette Winkler. But she uses her short break to take a smart for two electric drive on a little tour around town. Starting this May, the e-car will be for sale in the U.S. Next, it's off to the Meatpacking District filled with boutiques, the Apple store and restaurants that will satisfy everyone's taste. The smart swiftly navigates through the neighborhood that is known for its high-line park that runs underneath the trendy Standard Hotel. Parking is scarce, but the smart fits right in to even the tiniest spot. New York is actively preparing for electric cars and wants to add 10,000 public parking spots for e-cars over the next seven years. And out of about 100 existing charging stations, one is located in the gallery district of neighboring Chelsea. It's there that Annette Winkler wants to plug in her smart fortwo electric drive while she takes a walk. Annette Winkler was able to recharge her electric smart a little bit during her tour of the city, And now it's time to head back to the Auto Show.
Fletcher Word—A Different Shade of News Fletcher Word will be sharing his viewpoint on the issues facing Toledo’s Black Community and his effort to provide a minority voice in the local media. Mr. Word is the co- owner and publisher of The Sojourner’s Truth, a weekly newspaper that serves the northwest Ohio area and brings its readers information about the local, state, and national African-American community. The Truth has been publishing in Toledo for almost 11 years and has expanded its readership during that time to over
65,000. In 2008, the newspaper opened The Truth Art Gallery in its offices in the downtown area. The 2,000 square-foot gallery features the works of local artists. Fletcher Word is a native of New York City and was reared in the Washington, D.C. area. He attended Harvard College graduating with a degree in government. The father of two, Fletcher Word has been a resident of Ohio for more than 25 years. He serves on the executive committees of the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association, The Greater Toledo Urban League, Center of Hope Family Services and is a board member of the Toledo Museum of Art Cultural Diversity Committee. In addition to his duties with The Truth, Word is also a frequent contributor on local television shows as a political analyst. In January 2012, Word started Toledo Reads, a monthly publication that focuses solely on education and literacy.