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How to vote in 2024

By
Paula Wethington
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Lucas Zielinksi, with Turning Point USA, hands Amelia Mathkour, a music, business and tech major at Owens Community College, a pamphlet about voting registration. Zielinksi said he was on campus for the day to help students register to vote. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

Toledo – With Election Day a month away, preparations are in full swing at the Lucas County Board of Elections office.

“We’re up and running and getting everything ready,” said Timothy Monaco, deputy director of the elections office. “It’s a wonderful time. It’s important to exercise your right to vote.”

Logistics that the staff and officers have been handling for weeks on behalf of Lucas County’s 303 voting precincts include preparing ballots, training precinct election officials, and getting early voting dates and times posted on their website.

Monaco said the most commonly asked question from voters during the past couple of weeks has been when absentee ballots will arrive in the mail. 

Here’s the answer: Ohio voters can look for the absentee ballots starting Oct. 8, which is one day after registration ends for the Nov. 5 election.

The Lucas County Board of Elections staff doesn’t give predictions on voter turnout, Monaco said. But, according to state election records, 67 percent of registered Lucas County voters participated in the 2020 presidential election, and 66 percent did so in the 2016 presidential election. This participation includes absentee voting, early in-person voting and traditional Election Day voting.

Those choices are meant to help all eligible voters participate, whether they prefer going in person to a local polling site or to cast a ballot before they travel out of town.

“It’s important to make your plan as to who you are going to vote for,” Monaco said. “Make sure you make a plan and know what is on your ballot.”

While the presidential campaign is the key race of the Nov. 5 election, there are also races in Lucas County for local judges and city officials. For those who want to see the list ahead of time, ballot proofs are available for review on the election board’s website.

“Ballots will be three pages for everyone and four pages for some,” Monaco said.

While some people remember how they wish to vote when going to the polls, others find it helpful to bring paper notes or refer to a list on their phone, Monaco said. “Some folks really come prepared,” he said.

“It’s also important to be respectful at the location,” he added, referring to an Ohio law that prohibits photos of marked ballots. “We do ask that you limit cell phone use at the ballot.”

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

  • Military and overseas civilian voting: Started Sept. 20.
  • Voter registration deadline: 9 p.m. Oct. 7.
  • Early in-person voting season: Oct. 8.-Nov. 3.
  • Absentee ballot postmark deadline: Nov. 4.
  • Election Day: Nov. 5.

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

Oliver Odendahl
James Johnson
Nivant Dawson
Sydney Stanley
David Case III

Voting is not my main concern, but it is pretty important because it is the future of America and I would like to have a say in what is gonna be my future. I usually try to vote on voting day, if I can’t I’ll do the absentee ballot.

Oliver Odendahl | EMT Major | Tontogany Resident

I am not a registered voter. If I was to lie to you I’d say yes. But honestly, I don’t have enough time … it’s not really a main priority, even though it should be. I do plan on voting at some point, maybe when I’m in my adult phase. Even though I’m not a registered voter I do think voting is important because it basically determines the society and the rules and regulations we live by.

James Johnson | Broadcast Media Technology Major | Toledo Resident

I’d say voting is very important. There’s certain aspects of it that do feel sort of depressing, when you think about it, because a lot of people would say people voting normally wouldn’t matter because of a small majority in the Electoral College – their votes matter 100 times more than your own. That’s what it feels like at least from what I know. It does feel a little degrading knowing that’s going to happen.

Nivant Dawson | Business Major | Toledo Resident

I think voting is important, but I’m not exactly sure why it’s important. I mean, there’s a lot of things that come from it. You’re voting for someone that you’re putting your trust and you’re faith into to guide us all in the right direction, but we just all don’t know what that direction is yet. So, we’re just kind of free-balling it, in a way. So, I don’t know … I’ve never voted before but this will be interesting. I really don’t know what all is involved. I just have a lot to learn about voting – like what I should be looking for in the leader I’m going to be voting for. So, yeah, it’s coming up soon. There’s a lot to learn.

Sydney Stanley | Chemistry Major | Millbury Resident

Voting is very important, especially in this day and age, when everything’s going on.

David Chase III | Literature Major | Toledo Resident
Registration details

Ohio voters must be registered by 9 p.m. Oct. 7 to be eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election.

Residents can register to vote, look up voter registration, change their address, find an early voting location, look up Election Day polling location or track an absentee ballot at VoteOhio.gov.

Photo ID requirement

Bring your photo ID when voting. The options are:

- Current Ohio driver’s license or State of Ohio ID card.

- Interim ID form issued by Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

- U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.

A registered voter who has changed his or her name since the photo ID was issued will need to show proof of legal name change and sign a form. A photo ID card can show a former address if a current address is on file with the voting records. If you forget a photo ID, you can request a provisional ballot. 

How to vote absentee

An absentee ballot in Ohio needs to be requested, signed, dated and submitted for each election. Military personnel and civilian overseas voters can file one application for all elections happening in a given year.

The application asks for the number on your Ohio driver’s license or Ohio ID card, last four digits of your social security number, or a photocopy of other eligible ID such as a U.S. passport or military ID.

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 4 and can be hand delivered to the Board of Elections on Nov. 5.

Additional instructions are on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website.

In-person early voting

Ohio’s in-person early voting season begins Oct. 8 and ends Nov. 3. 

The Lucas County Early Vote Center is at 3737 W. Sylvania Ave. Suite 121 Entrance C (at the rear of the Lucas County Board of Elections building) in west Toledo.

Voting times and dates can be found at LucasCountyOhioVotes.gov.

Election Day voting

Polling sites are open in Ohio from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5. You can look up your polling location at VoteOhio.Gov.

What’s on the ballot?

A “ballot proof” is available for review on the Lucas County Board of Elections page. It lists candidates and ballot issues by precinct, so voters know what to expect.

For example: Six president/vice president candidate teams have declared in Ohio, with an additional write-in option available. Other candidate races include U.S. Senator, Lucas County Sheriff and openings on Toledo City Council.

Ohio Issue 1 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that has gained a lot of attention. This issue, if approved, would designate a redistricting commission to draw state legislative and congressional districts.

There are other issues locally, such as a proposed bond issue for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library and a tax renewal request from the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority.

Are ballot “selfies” allowed?

Ohio does not permit photos to be taken of a marked ballot. It’s actually a fifth-degree felony should that take place, according to Ohio law.

The “I Voted” Sticker

A traditionally popular way to showcase voter participation is through an “I voted” sticker, picked up on Election Day at the polling site.

Ohio’s current “I Voted” sticker design was adopted in 2019 through a student art contest. A red squiggle depicts a map of Ohio, nestled in a blue circle outline, with the phrase “Ohio Voted.”

Voters are invited to download the image to share on social media at the Ohio Secretary of State website. That website also has also a “future voter” coloring page for children available for download.

Is campaigning allowed at election sites?

Ohio does not allow election campaigning, also known as electioneering, within 100 feet of a voting site. This means no campaigning messages on attire such as shirts or hats, Monaco said.

Two small United States flags are placed at each voting site to designate the “neutral” zone where this applies. 

Where is the Board of Elections office?

If you need to visit the Lucas County Board of Elections regarding a voting matter, that office moved about two years ago from its former location at One Government Center to 3737 W. Sylvania Road in West Toledo.

When are election numbers official?

Ballots cast on Election Day will be delivered in person to the Lucas County Board of Elections for the counting procedures.

There will be numbers reported after that count is complete. 

The Ohio Secretary of State does not consider voter counts to be official until two or three weeks later, after provisional ballots are accounted for and to give time for absentee ballots to arrive that met the postmark deadline.

Senate Bill 56 passed by Ohio Senate

By
Jim Ickes
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Cannabis businesses in Michigan have collected over $1 billion in tax revenue. This company is in Monroe, Mich., about 17 miles north of the Ohio border. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Bill holds Ohio’s cannabis industry hostage

In 2023, Ohioans voted to legalize adult-use cannabis, anticipating economic growth, job creation and increased tax revenue. However, on Feb. 26, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 56 (SB 56), a measure that threatens to undermine this potential by imposing restrictive regulations that could stifle the burgeoning industry.

The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives and, if approved, will head to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk for final approval.

Rather than addressing real concerns, SB 56 serves as a ransom note to Ohio’s cannabis industry—politicians are fully aware of the economic promise of adult-use cannabis, yet they are using unnecessary regulations and excessive taxation to hold that promise hostage.

Ohio’s cannabis market: Billion-dollar industry in jeopardy

Economic projections for Ohio’s adult-use cannabis market are substantial. BDSA, a cannabis market intelligence firm, estimates that combined medical and adult-use sales in Ohio could reach $1.65 billion by 2027. Industry analysts suggest the market could eventually grow to $4 billion, aligning with per capita sales in Midwestern states like Michigan.

However, SB 56 introduces major obstacles to this growth by imposing unnecessary restrictions, including:

  • Increasing the cannabis excise tax from 10 percent to 15 percent, making Ohio’s tax structure one of the highest in the midwest.
  • Reducing the number of home-grown plants from 12 to six.
  • Placing limits on THC concentration in legal cannabis products.
  • Eliminating the social equity program, which was designed to reinvest tax revenue into communities most impacted by past cannabis prohibition.

    These changes not only disregard voter intent but also create a hostile business environment that will drive consumers to other states. Looking at other midwestern states provides insight into what Ohio stands to lose if SB 56 is enacted.
House of Dank advertises on an I-75 North billboard in Michigan near the Ohio border. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Michigan, with a population of 10 million, legalized adult-use cannabis in 2019 and has since collected over $1 billion in tax revenue. Cannabis tax revenue supports schools, roads and local governments, demonstrating the tangible benefits of a well-regulated market.

Missouri, with a population of 6.2 million, generated $1.4 billion in cannabis sales within two years of legalization—outpacing many states with older programs.

Ohio’s population is 11.8 million, meaning its cannabis market could be even larger. However, SB 56’s strict marketing rules, high taxes and excessive regulations will make Ohio’s cannabis more expensive than in midwestern states, like Michigan and Missouri. This will only push consumers to Michigan, where cannabis is cheaper and more accessible.

An employee at Rise Medical & Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Toledo on Monroe St. checks in a customer on the first day of legal cannabis sales in Ohio. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

SB 56 is a solution in search of a problem

Supporters of SB 56 claim that additional regulations are needed to prevent societal harm. However, there is no evidence that adult-use cannabis legalization has caused a negative societal impact in Ohio or other states. In fact, research from multiple studies, including those sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), shows that:

  • Youth cannabis consumption has not increased in states where cannabis is legal. Studies show that teenage cannabis use has either remained the same or declined post-legalization.
  • Arrests for cannabis-related offenses have decreased significantly, allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes.
  • Cannabis legalization has not led to an increase in violent crime, contradicting claims from opponents of legalization.

Despite this scientific evidence, Ohio lawmakers continue to push the same outdated “Reefer Madness” rhetoric, painting cannabis as a public health threat while ignoring the well-documented dangers of alcohol, which kills thousands of children and young adults every year through alcohol poisoning, impaired driving and related accidents.

Conclusion: SB 56 must be stopped

The Ohio Senate’s passage of SB 56 last month represents a blatant attempt to undermine the will of the voters and weaken the state’s economic potential. The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives, where lawmakers have the opportunity to reject this misguided legislation. If it passes the House, DeWine will have to decide whether to support Ohio’s economic future or cave to baseless fear mongering.

Ohio has the chance to create one of the strongest cannabis markets in the midwest, but SB 56 threatens to send consumers and tax revenue elsewhere.

Lawmakers must vote against this bill to protect Ohio’s cannabis industry, honor the will of the voters, and ensure that Ohio does not fall behind while other states thrive.

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JERRY KING: CATINNITUS

By
Jerry King
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A REVIEW: The Last Showgirl

By
Ian Hubbard
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Jamie Lee Curtis as Annette, (from left) Pamela Anderson as Shelly, and Dave Bautista as Eddie. (Royalty Free Images)

No Oscar nomination .. but thumbs up anyway

Had you told me at any point in the last x-amount of time that Pamela Anderson would give a fantastic performance in a narrative feature directed by Gia Coppola, a descendant of the Coppolas … well, I guess I wouldn’t quite know how to decipher that information. 

Not that Anderson wasn’t capable of the work; she was a prime target of a stereotype for her time. Do you remember the ’90s? She was a typecast from the get-go: The buxom blonde running alongside David Hasselhoff in Baywatch, the trophy rockstar wife and prized fantasy of many early-internet lumps who spent hours fidgeting with AOL.

Had she been given the chance to shine in a serious role, it wouldn’t have made a dent, save for the gossip columns taking her to task for even trying. Does Barb Wire even count? She was doomed out of the chute, never given the chance to actually show her talent. 

If she had filmed a few good roles and fallen into character roles, as is the usual arc for show business, her performance would be adorned with the tired acclaim of “She’s a revelation” or “Her performance is a resurrection.” Boy, do people love throwing those phrases around without knowing where they will land. 

Joke’s on them. Anderson’s performance in the The Last Showgirl, a 2024 drama film written by Kate Gersten, is worthy of such praise, without the “Oh hey, where did you go?” pretense. You finally get to see Anderson act her ass off in a prime role. 

Shelly is the last member of a once-prestigious Vegas showgirl act, clinging to the past as the show is canceled after 30+ years. She has nothing to fall back on, thanks to ignoring Father Time. Her motherly advice to the younger dancers is follow the tales of her glory days. 

But nostalgia doesn’t pay the bills. 

Yet, it’s that nostalgia that keeps Shelly coming back and has been all these years, even as her facade of reality crashes and she’s left to sift through the detritus. 

She can’t pronounce her estranged daughter’s name during a desperate phone call; her costume snags in the next night’s show; her knees buckle on the way to the stage the night after; and she’s given the “old timer” treatment by the younger roster. 

All the while, she has Annette (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in a scene-chewing performance) as her mother hen. Annette was a former head of the show-line but became the jaded Casino cocktail waitress covered in fake bronze who chain-smokes, boozes and spits pearls at the youngsters. 

Curtis nails her role. As the cantankerous stateswoman, she bites into her cigarettes and stares bullets into a past she refuses to talk about. Especially with Eddie, the showrunner played by Dave Bautista. 

His role was a weird case. He was miscast, but I liked what he brought to the character. The character would’ve been easy to turn into the hackneyed club owner trope. At best, you’ll get Ben Gazzara in Killing of a Chinese Bookie. 

Bautista goes in the opposite direction, portraying Eddie like a dog giving you the innocent (but guilty) eyes. He can’t look up, and any time he’s scolded, he always looks away.  

But all tracks lead back to Pamela.

Shelly in the dressing room. (Royalty Free Image)

Great work eclipses the hands to whom the little golden statue is gifted. Anderson’s performance walks the thin line between child-like wonder and lashing out at what’s left when the curtain falls on her character. 

You can tell she’s done her homework. Her performance blends the right mix of childlike wonder and the refusal to give in to her seeping reality. I was reminded of Ellen Burstyn in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler, with a touch of Naomi Watts in Mulholland Dr. Anderson has cited Barbara Loden’s Wanda as a massive influence as well.  

Is ‘The Last Showgirl’ a great film? The film didn’t receive a single Oscar nomination, but time, as always, will be the judge. I believe 20 years is the right amount of time to pass and to come back to an argument in full view.

Is Pamela Anderson’s performance terrific? I’ll put 10 toes in the ground and say “Yes,” despite her best actress nomination snub.

Stinky skunk cabbage emerges

By
Art Weber
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Mother Nature doesn’t pay much attention to winter weather advisories.

She’s already preparing for the arrival of spring. Though winter may look silent and frozen, there’s new life stirring under the snow and ice.

In the forest, the layers of fallen leaves are a nurturing blanket. Already, the first new growth of the year has emerged and is pushing through that blanket. If it hasn’t already, it will soon flower and announce its presence with a mildly unpleasant odor.

One up-close whiff and you’ll know why it’s called skunk cabbage, even though it’s not a member of the cabbage family, and it doesn’t smell like a skunk.

The plant is uniquely suited for survival in the coming weeks of winter weather, even providing an organically heated sheath to protect its flowers.

Look for it along small streams, and in the sloughs and seeps of the Oak Openings Region. 

Collingwood Arts Center to host annual burlesque shows

By
Rachel Boes
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An audience watches a performer at the Speakeasy at Collingwood Arts Center in Toledo. (Courtesy Photo)

TOLEDO – Many forms of dance performance have toed the line between art and smut, but none compare to burlesque. The midwest’s love-hate relationship with the glamorous and sultry shows has resulted in crowds of performers moving in and out of cities, and with venues going in and out of business. Toledo is no exception.

Jess Worley. (Courtesy Photo/Nicole Alef|Moonrise Photography)

Burlesque has a storied home in the Glass City. Most famously, it was host to Town Hall Burlesque Theatre, a venue operational in the late 1960s. Madamed and founded by Rose La Rose, an accomplished burlesque performer who earned her fame at the infamous New York venue Minsky’s, Town Hall was classy.

However, its original intention of creating luxury shows, like Minsky’s, was short-lived. Soon, adult films made their way into the theatre, its purpose changed, and it was demolished in 1968. 

Today, burlesque shows are hard to come by in the city. The Collingwood Arts Center is changing that. The arts center recently hosted a speakeasy event, advertising burlesque performers. I witnessed a packed house, with multi-genre burlesque performances and the brooding atmosphere of a speakeasy. 

The arts center plans to make the event an annual occurrence, a silver lining for performers like Morris and Worley, both of whom seek to land in more venues around the Toledo area. But can the negative assumptions about burlesque be changed? Jess thinks so. 

The Victorian building has a lived-in atmosphere, transporting us to another time as I was led down a long, dark hallway in the basement of the Collingwood. Within an entirely black room, decorated in a classic burlesque theatre motif, there was a cash bar and Al Capone’s Vault (stacked with lottery tickets for a lucky winner). 

Gina Arnez. (Courtesy Photo)

Ruby Jade, Ada Atomic and Gina Arnez took the stage and wowed the audience with bumps, grinds and reveals. The audience generously handed out tips and wooed at their moves.

Jess Worley said the only place she’s seen burlesque performed in Toledo is the Collingwood Arts Center at the Speakeasy event. “It was incredible and I love the venue.”

The Toledo native has been a burlesque performer since 2021, though her performances have been restricted to Detroit because of the lack of demand for the art in our city. It’s been her mission to establish it here.

Worley has performed her routines at venues, like Detroit’s Northern Lights Lounge, Planet Ant and New Dodge Lounge. She has described her acts as fitting into two genres.

“I do a lot of classic, glamorous burlesque, but I do more nerdlesque recently,” she said. Nerdlesque refers to performers dressed as glamorized characters whose routines are filled with comedic tease and suggestion. 

Worley’s version had the crowd rolling. Donning a token Guy Fieri flaming button up, wig and mustache, she flaunts on top of a giant, plush cheeseburger to a great track.

“My friend mashed the songs together for me, a hip-hop song called ‘Guy Fieri’ and ‘Cherry Pie,’ of course,” Worley said.

If anyone takes props and costuming seriously, it’s burlesque performers. Worley’s cheeseburger prop made from a large ottoman was lovingly crafted by her and her dad on Father’s Day. 

The performers at the Speakeasy were no different.

Gene Morris as Liza Minelli. (Courtesy Photo)

Gene Morris, whose stage persona, Gina Arnez, dons a sparkling boa, said he wouldn’t call himself a burlesque performer. “I’m more of a female impersonator. When I started, people started telling me I reminded them of Liza Minelli, so I began doing her cabaret numbers.”

Morris is a Collingwood Arts Center advocate and has performed at several of their fundraising events. Although the act’s debut was on the main stage, this was the first performance of Gina’s in the underground theatre. “It was a really well-organized event and a lot of fun. The attendance was the best I’ve seen, the room was packed.” 

Gina Arnez, winner of Mrs. Amateur Great Lakes 1999, has been dancing around Toledo for some time.

David Morris, left, with husband, Gene. (Courtesy Photo)

“I’m originally from Morgantown, West Va. I moved to Toledo in ’94 for a job. I met my current husband, David, when I moved up here, and we’ve been together for 30 years now – married 11. We used to go to Caesar’s Show Bar all the time for a night out and I said well, I’d like to try that. I was 36 at the time and that’s kind of late to start performing, but he encouraged me to do so.

“When I’m on stage a lot of people don’t recognize me. When I’m not presenting as Gina, I’m quiet and reserved. When I’m on stage as Gina, I’m a completely changed person,” he explained.

“Burlesque has a bad reputation; a majority of people associate it with strippers. Yes, but it’s an art form. It’s not for the male gaze – it’s for the female gaze. I don’t make my costumes for the men. I make them for the girls, gays and theys. It’s about rebellion and protest, this is my body and I’m going to show it how I want to.” 

The crowds at the Collingwood Arts Center’s Speakeasy event are a testament to the demand of bringing burlesque back to Toledo. Although we may never see another exclusively burlesque venue like Town Hall, venues like the arts center are vital, living hubs for these forms of expression.  

Warren Haynes concert at Stranahan raises funds for hurricane relief

By
Max Alfonso
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The Warren Haynes Band performs at the Stanahan Theater. Haynes is from Nashville, N.C.,so $1 from each ticket goes to hurricane relief in his hometown. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)

TOLEDO – The Warren Haynes band rolled through Toledo as part of their winter tour last month, giving locals an opportunity to not only enjoy the show but contribute to hurricane relief funds.                            

Asheville, N.C., native Warren Haynes and his band made a stop at the Stranahan Theater, the band’s third stop on the Million Voices Whisper tour 2025. A donation of $1 from each ticket sold went toward the hurricane relief fund in Asheville.

Warren Haynes. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
Saxophone player Greg Osby. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)

Last November, Warren Haynes performed alongside the Dave Matthews Band at Madison Square Garden, and money from the concert was to be donated to the hurricane relief funds in North Carolina and Florida. The show was sold out, and over $4.5 million was raised.

The MSG show included ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorships, and direct donations all contributed to the relief fund. The winter tour is focused solely on ticket sales as part of the donations to support the cause.

The fans at the Stranahan Theater were very happy to see Haynes perform, and by the end of the show, fans were standing and singing along. Between sets, there were interjections of “We love you, Warren!” which he would acknowledged.

Haynes performed songs from his new album Million Voices Whisper that he released last November, but he also played classics like Tear me Down and Soulshine.

It hasn’t been made public yet how much money was raised for the concert; that will be accounted for once the tour is complete. While the music itself was the driving force behind the crowd’s enjoyment, the love for Haynes’ and the support for his hometown of Asheville through its continued disaster relief efforts was palpable.

Warren Haynes fans shop for memorabilia. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)

BGSU football head coach Scot Loeffler trades a falcon for eagle

By
Lori King
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On The Flyby Sports Podcast, co-hosts and school rivals Chas McNeil and Max Alfonso dive deep into the longtime rivalry between the Falcons and Rockets in all sports, including stats, scores and predictions.

For this episode, McNeil breaks the news that BGSU football head coach Scot Loeffler departs BGSU after six seasons after leading the Falcons to three straight bowl games. Loeffler will be the quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Main topic is conference shakeups, but they also recap this past week’s sports news and update you on the playing schedule for the coming week.

New episodes of the The Flyby Sports Podcast drop every Saturday.

The Flyby Sports Podcast is a production of the⁠⁠⁠ Toledo Free Press⁠⁠.

Max Alfonso, left, and Chas McNeil host The Flyby Podcast in the Toledo Free Press podcast room. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

NEW! Toledo-area Winter Activity Guide

By
Katie Siebenaller
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Side Cut Metropark in Maumee on Feb. 17. (Courtesy Photo/Toledo Metroparks)

Though there’s warmth on the horizon, winter isn’t over quite yet, so check out our comprehensive winter guide. March is unpredictable, so there’s still hope for snow activities.

Stay tuned for a spring guide that’s currently being developed. Updates will we added as the year progresses, and we’ll have summer and fall guides, too!

Winter Guide

Parks

Metroparks Toledo

Metroparks Toledo locations across Northwest Ohio offer a plethora of winter activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and winter hiking. Oak Openings Preserve’s Cannaley Treehouse Village is open year-round — a unique winter getaway — and Glass City Metropark hosts ice skating and ice bocce at The Ribbon.

419-407-9700 | Hours: 7 a.m. to dark every day
Glass City Metropark. (Courtesy Photo/Toledo Metroparks)

Maumee Bay State Park

Enjoy sledding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and winter nature hikes at Maumee Bay State Park. The park also offers indoor lodging and cabins during the winter months.

419-836-7758 | 1400 State Park Rd, Oregon

Maumee State Forest

Maumee State Forest is comprised of 3,332 acres in Fulton, Henry and Lucas counties. Maumee State Forest features a 2-mile self-guided hike/interpretive trail called the Stewardship Trail, 66 miles of unmarked firelanes for hiking, eight miles of bridle trails, eight miles of APV trails, a tree improvement/research and chestnut tree area, and wet-sedge meadow.

3390 County Rd. D, Swanton

Ottawa & Jermain Parks
Ottawa Park is Toledo’s largest regional park. It’s home to Northwest Ohio’s only open-air ice rink, available for ice skating and hockey. Call to check availability and visit the rink’s website for program information and admission fees.

Winter park goers have plenty of options for fun at Ottawa & Jermain Parks — ice skating, hockey, cross-country skiing and three sledding hills of varying size and steepness.

419-885-1167 | 2015 Parkside Dr., Toledo

Toledo Zoo & Aquarium
The Toledo Zoo & Aquarium has a full calendar of activities and events, including their famous annual Lights Before Christmas, in addition to all of their regular exhibits. Check website for membership and ticket information.

419-385-5721 | 2 Hippo Way, Toledo

Toledo Farmers’ Market
Stroll through the Toledo Farmers’ Market to find fresh produce, breads and sweet treats, homemade gifts and more from local vendors.

419-255-6765 | 525 Market St., Toledo | Hours: Saturdays (November-April) 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sledding

Conneaut Park Sledding Hill
A hotspot in BG for sledding, the hill was once the city’s reservoir system.

Conneaut and Haskins Rd., Bowling Green | 419-354-6223

Rivercrest Park

419-872-8020 | 13761 Eckel Junction Rd., Perrysburg

Sylvan Prairie Park

Visit the new and improved sled hill and enjoy three different slopes.

8601 Brint Rd., Sylvania | Hours: 7:30am-90 minutes before sunset

Northview High School

A fun ride for all ages, the sled hill at Northview High School is long, moderately sloped and lit at night from the school parking lot.

419-824-8570 | 5403 Silica Dr., Sylvania

Harroun Community Park

Harroun Community Park is home to two different sled hills: one steep with grooves and bumps along the way for a thrilling ride, and the other hill, located near the Lathrop House, offers a tamer ride for the little ones.

419-885-8733 | 5500 Main St., Sylvania (at the rear of St. Joseph Church parking lot)

Navarre Park

Sledding at Navarre Park is fun for all ages, with a hill that varies in steepness and bumps.

1001 White St., Toledo

Homecoming Hill at Homecoming Park

Homecoming Hill boasts a long and fast ride with its moderate slope.

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Rock’n’roll and the alcohol demon

By
Steven J Athanas
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Steven J Athanas. (Courtesy Photo)

… Wherein our hero comes forth with (some of) his vulnerabilities

From the memories of former Homewreckers band front man Steven J Athanas

If female charm was something that steered my libidinous map in the ‘70s, ‘80s and beyond, it wasn’t my only vice. My carcass was ripe with shortcomings, cravings, challenges that consistently threw me off my path … see, that’s the thing about vices; you can never have too many – or so you think.

When one works in an environment where spirits (of the alcoholic variety) are dominant, where the establishment itself is maintained through the sale and consumption of said spirits … well, it’s oh so easy to fall prey to its charms.

I think we can all agree that the whole nightclub scene has always been aligned with liquor – to the point of being nearly non-existent without it. Kinda stating the obvious, I suppose.

“Oh, demon alcohol, sad memories I can’t recall,
who thought I would fall, a slave to demon alcohol?

Ray Davies, lead singer of The Kinks

To an extent, this codependency is true of rock’n’roll. Take the holiest of holies, the Catholic Church. Their summer festivals would be pretty lame if not for the pairing up of rock’n’roll and beer. I’ve been there; I speak from experience. Many’s the time that the “king pole” that holds up the tent (I had to Google that one) was transitioned into a makeshift stripper’s pole. How many “Hail Marys” to cleanse your soul of that?

So it’s quite a challenge to not succumb, when you’re in the thick of it. And to add to that, quite often we got our drinks free! At Howard’s Club H in Bowling Green, I had a signal for one of the bartenders. If I positioned my hand like I was gonna shoot myself in the head, it meant “Gimme a shot!” So easy. Honestly? There were nights I had no business driving home from BG.

As a matter of fact, there once was a time I was driving home around 3 a.m., inebriated, and I heard the sirens. The officer got out of his car, walked up to my car and asked, “Is there a reason you were going so fast?”

I, of course, was frantic. I’m not sure why I said it, but I responded “‘Cuz I got real bad diarrhea.”

He laughed and said, “Get outta here.”

A close one, for sure.

I mean, the term itself, bar band, pretty much says it all. I won’t pretend to be some sort of sociological analyst, but I would think that most musicians in that situation would be vulnerable, to one degree or another. There were some nights when the band’s bar tab came frighteningly close to surpassing our fee!

The Homewreckers once had a sax player who had a drinking problem. Our relationship went back to when I was a kid, as this guy’s family grew up next to my family in the Colony. We were neighbors. He was older than me, and I would hear him practicing in the summer when the windows were open. I was entranced.

Wayne Cochran: The dude that our sax player played with. How y’not gonna run a pic of that ‘do???!? (Courtesy Photo)

Truth be told, Bobby was influential in getting me into rock’n’roll. He had played with Wayne Cochran and others of note, and got a lot of his chops from playing the bars in the French Quarter in New Orleans, which some might call the drinking capital of the U.S.

When he joined the band, it was sadly the old cliché: He drank like a fish. The amazing thing was it didn’t affect his playing! He was a great saxophonist in spite of his drinking. I’d never encountered anything like it. He bitched about having to play Clarence Clemons’ sax work on Rosalita. “That guy sucks,” he’d grumble, but he’d always nail it.

We once played a weekend gig on Catawba Island, and they gave us a few cabins to stay in. One day we rehearsed in the afternoon at the club. When we got back to the cabins they were unexpectedly locked and we had no keys. The sax player, already three sheets, yelled and bitched, then finally, after waiting too long, just ripped the door off the hinges.

The amazing thing was we didn’t get fired for his stunt. We chose to not let the club owner know until the end of the gig, and the repair bill was taken out of his pay (all of it).

So you might be asking: What about me? 

I am not ready to spill all my beans (or grapes, as the case may be); it’s too close to the bone, the word “uncomfortable” comes to mind. Does that surprise you?

My parents were both heavy partiers. We had an in-ground swimming pool in our backyard in Old Orchard, and many a night there would be wild revelry from my parents and their friends. It’s fair to say that liquor was always around in my life.

Still, it would be misleading to put that all on my folks. The people I hung with, playing in bars for five decades, the availability of booze…it drew me in. I mean, I don’t wake up craving a screwdriver first thing in the morning, never had a DUI, don’t get sloppy drunk (anymore), but I will have a glass or two of wine with dinner on most nights.

Steven J Athanas (Courtesy Photo)

Having said all that, yes, there was a time when I would get pretty shit-faced way too often. The question became, “What am I gonna punish my liver with tonight?” Getting it free in the bars and then going to after-hour parties, well it was pretty wild – what I recall of it.

I do recall an incident when I was with The Raisin Band. We were on the road, somewhere in the Deep South, and we had a night off between gigs. On a warm summer night, we ventured to the liquor store and picked up a bottle of Rebel Yell (seemed apropos). After consuming no small amount, a couple of the guys decided to take a ride to get some food: not the best idea. The rest of us continued partying, and after awhile the two returned and they had a stop light! They had somehow taken down an actual traffic stop light and brought it back to the room, laughing their asses off. No inhibitions there!

But here I am, still vertical to the planet, able to function as a (somewhat) normal human being. There is/was no AA, no interventions, no come-to-Jesus moment for all of this. All of those wild, wild times, putting Life on the line, all that wild abandon, just lost its charm for me. I sure as hell don’t think I’m any kind of Superman, able to leap tall vices in a single bound, it just happened, and I’m thankful for that. My therapist would probably tell me I’m full of shit, but that’s where I’m at and I’m sticking to my story.

At this stage, it goes without saying I am very lucky for all the stupid shit I got away with. They’re good stories, I think, and the reason I write this column. As we all know, some of us aren’t so lucky.

Anyway, I gotta wrap this up, ‘cuz as they always say, “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere …”

Jus’ kiddin’.

RELATED CONTENT: Confessions of a rock’n’roller girlaholic)

Steven J Athanas: Netanyahu

By
Lori King
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