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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.

Susie’s Coats, other charities collect warm clothes for TPS students

By
Stephen Zenner
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Valerie, 6, puts on a holiday head band with lights during a Holiday party and coat distribution at Escuela SMART Academy. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – Changes in weather make for changes in wardrobe, but quickly sprouting kids can easily outgrow clothes from the previous year. As it gets colder, there is a pipeline of organizations at the forefront of providing warm clothes for kids.

“We held our distribution in November, when 904 children passed through our doors, and it [their supply] wasn’t enough,” said Susan Perry, executive director of Susie’s Coats for Kids, about the need in the Toledo area.

Rising to meet the need, Susie’s Coats teamed up with Holland, Ohio company Designetics, which specializes in fluid applicators for manufacturing companies, and their humanitarian arm, Care for Kids, a nonprofit founded in 2020.

Sydney Williams, president of Designetics, said their first year getting Care for Kids up and running included a Trunk or Treat in the fall, but by the next year, “they [the kids] didn’t need candy, they needed coats.” 

Sydney Williams, president of Designetics, left, stands with Susan Perry, founder and executive director of Susie’s Coats for Kids and Hannah’s Socks, while they hold coats before a Holiday party and coat distribution at Escuela SMART Academy on Monday. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Simon, 6, receives a coat during the holiday party. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Perry became aware of northwest Ohio’s need to clothe children two decades ago and has worked doggedly to provide more resources to children. 

The nonprofit’s main goal is to make sure kids have well-fitting and presentable coats without holes or tears when winter rolls around. Susie’s Coats’ primary storehouse is based in Millbury, but the nonprofit has 35 ‘coat closets’ within a 45-mile radius of Toledo, most of them based in elementary schools. 

Perry said her nonprofit has experienced exponential growth since it began, and just last year merged with Hannah’s Socks, who shares a similar goal. Between the two nonprofits, Perry said 224,102 items of warm apparel, including coats, gloves and socks, have been distributed this year. 

One distribution site was at Escuela SMART Academy in south Toledo, where Susie’s Coats, Designetics and the Toledo Zoo on Monday handed out winter-wear, along with other holiday items, during the Escuela holiday party.

“We know there’s a big need in our community, and we know it’s cold,” said Martha Ohashi, school nurse for Escuela SMART Academy. 

Ohashi reminds teachers to be aware of kids consistently coming to school without warm clothes. “When the child comes into my office [after being recommended by a teacher], I make a call to their home, and I try to connect them to resources,” she said. 

School nurse Martha Ohashi directs students through the coat distribution line during a Holiday party and coat distribution at Escuela SMART Academy on Monday.

Linda Ruiz-Bringman, assistant superintendent of student, family and community engagement for Toledo Public Schools (TPS), is focused on meeting the needs of children throughout TPS, so that the students can perform well in school.

“The need is great within the Toledo area,” Ruiz-Bringman said. Because of this need, all TPS nurses have essential items on hand, ranging from clothes to hygiene items. “We are always engaging with families. Families will reach out to us and our department.”

The Community Engagement Department deals with a host of different issues, including students lacking food, access to internet, clothing or even basic access to utilities in their homes. 

Information from schools and classrooms largely impact how aid gets to children. Perry’s organization has its hands full partnering with nonprofits and businesses to provide items, but relies largely on TPS’s reporting to decide where to distribute items and setup closets.

Rolando, 6, smiles while standing in line for warm clothes during a Holiday party.
Ava, 5, waits in line to receive items during a holiday party and coat distribution at Escuela SMART Academy on Monday.

Natasha Allen, principal of Escuela SMART Academy, is well aware of the needs of her students, and estimated about 180 of her 285 students were in need of coats this year. Over the past four years at the academy, she said there is always a need for coats, and that each year at least half of the students need them. 

“We’re just grateful to have them … so our kids can do well,” the principal said, and firmly added that “the students in need of coats are getting coats.”

As students at Escuela filed into the holiday party, grabbed holiday items and colorful socks, nurse Ohashi checked the names of students who needed coats with the size of coat that would fit them. Volunteers from the Perrysburg Knights of Columbus sorted through boxes of warm clothing items, and then handed them to students, who received them with smiles.

“We won’t stop,” Allen said resolutely, adding that the school would find other ways to support their kids if the need increases or the support dries up. 

“We support the whole child, and that includes their family,” she said.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Don Lee
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Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for Toledo Free Press.

Unorthodox Christmas movie list

By
Ian Hubbard
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A few years ago, my wife had the great idea of watching what we jokingly termed the ‘Not-So-Christmasy’ list. Since then, our tradition has caught on with friends and family. Some of those recommendations are listed below should you ever wish to veer off the beaten path.

Caveat – I must confront the elephant in the room and forego the obvious argument for Die Hard as a Christmas movie. Because deep down in the depths of our hearts, we can all acknowledge the 1988 action classic is the new gold standard for the holiday must-watch. I mean, is it really Christmas unless we see Hans Gruber fall from the peak of Nakatomi Plaza and see John McClane emerge victorious? I don’t think so.  

Eyes Wide Shut (1999): Stanley Kubrick’s swan song has garnered heaps of praise and rebuke since its release for its cold temperament; matching the cool hues of the Christmas lights and décor, which fill almost each individual shot of the film (a technique of on–screen lighting Kubrick used in his films). Between the sexual doubt sown between Bill and Alice Hartford (played by Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman) and Bill’s odyssey into the abyss, the film is a masterful tale about the pitfalls of marriage gone awry.  

Stalag 17 (1953): An all-time personal favorite, this chamber piece from Billy Wilder portrays the lives of American POWs in the German camp of the title name. As Christmas approaches in 1944, the occupants of Barracks 4 play cat and mouse to find if there really is a spy hiding amongst them in the wake of a botched escape of two of their comrades. Led by William Holden as the acerbic and opportunistic Sgt. JJ Sefton (the role that nabbed him the Oscar), this beautifully scripted comedy/thriller builds to an unforgettable climax where the ultimate Christmas present is gifted at the feet of the camp commandant. 

Bad Santa (2003): Speaking of Oscars, I will die on the hill that Billy Bob Thornton deserved a nomination for his performance as scuzzy con-man Willie T. Stokes in this early 2000s comedy gem from Terry Zwigoff. With the help of his hilarious counterpart, played by Tony Cox, Thornton looks to make one last score as a drunken mall Santa before retiring to a life of buggery and cirrhosis. That is, before meeting the adolescent Thurman Murman – arguably the most endearing slab of innocence put on screen. 

Fanny & Alexander (1982): For Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, whose repertoire was heavy with themes of psychological despair, war and the psyche of the sexes, this late-career landmark may be the most life affirming film he ever made. Centering on the eponymous siblings, the film plays out in the dreamscape of childhood while traversing familial issues in the early 1900s. Having only engaged with Bergman’s work within the last decade, I expected the usual emotional sledgehammer but found this film to have a delicate touch, even given the similar terrain.

Batman Returns (1992): The argument for this being a Christmas film has been the sequel to the argument for Die Hard in recent years. Even as it’s the darkest of all the Batman movies, the themes and mise-en-scene are all in place for a favorable argument. From the Penguin (a brilliant Danny DeVito) and evil Max Schreck (Christopher Walken) as the Krampus of Gotham City, the belle falling into the exploding tree, Michelle Pfeiffer’s scene stealing role as the anarchic Catwoman and Michael Keaton’s Batman shoveling his hero complex through the snows of Gotham, the film proves a worthy sequel to the 1989 blockbuster.

Trading Places (1983): One-part A Christmas Carol and one-part satirical send-up of early 80s Reaganomics, this social experiment in class was the peak of director John Landis’ run that began with 1978’s Animal House. Dan Aykroyd as the soulless stockbroker is a masterclass in one-arc storytelling. Together with prime Eddie Murphy as the lowly grifter, Jamie Lee Curtis as the hooker with a heart of gold, and a strong comedic supporting cast, this film holds up to the test of culture due to its always timely comedic punches. 

Black Christmas (1974): Lastly, a cult classic from director Bob Clarke, the same director who gave us A Christmas Story a decade later. The film’s plot is as simple as can be: an unnamed, faceless killer stalks sorority girls, mainly Olivia Hussey and Margot Kidder, while on Christmas break in a “the call is coming from inside the house” scenario. Taking its cues from both the Italian Giallo genre and the Alfred Hitchcock school of dread, this low–budget horror film was a great influence on later classics like John Carpenter’s Halloween (1977) and Friday the 13th (1980).

Toledo Firefighters Local 92 donates to MLK Kitchen for the Poor

By
Stephen Zenner
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Rachel Doran-Baker, from left, Garrett Daugherty, both firefighter paramedics with Toledo Firefighters Local 92, Phil Moline, vice president for Local 92, Harvey Savage Jr., executive director for MLK Kitchen for the Poor, and Joe Cira, president-elect and current secretary treasurer for Local 92, present a check to the MLK Kitchen for the Poor on Wednesday. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – The Junction neighborhood, just west of downtown, has been the focus of numerous revitalization efforts, but one of the lifelines to this community has stayed active since 1969.

The late reverend Harvey Savage Sr. didn’t need a sign from above to start feeding the poor; he looked out his back window. 

“He was inspired by a man eating out of the garbage in the back yard,” recalled Harvey Savage Jr. “He invited the guy inside, and said, ‘We need to be feeding people.’”

Out of that moment, Savage Sr. decided to start the MLK Kitchen for the Poor.

Harvey Savage Jr., executive director for MLK Kitchen for the Poor. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Toledo Firefighters Local 92 presented this check to the MLK Kitchen for the Poor in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

More than 50 years later, the mission is the same, but Savage Jr., executive director for the MLK Kitchen at 650 Vance St., said that it, “seems like the need is greater now than then.”

Savage, Jr. puts the rough estimate of the amount of people fed by the kitchen each day at 300, and the increased need in the community has been “somewhat gradual. You see more people you haven’t seen before.” 

Seniors are the demographic he noticed were most affected. “To live off of social security is not enough with the cost of food and utilities,” he said. 

To help offset the increased need, the Toledo Firefighters’ Union Local 92 donated $7,000 on Wednesday as the kitchen heads into a busy time of year. 

“I can’t remember not getting a check [from the firefighters’ union],” Savage Jr. said, but noted this check was much more substantial than what the firefighters regularly give.

Generally, the union takes a percentage of the firefighters’ checks and uses the money to support numerous charities in Toledo with those funds.

Phil Moline, vice president for the Local 92, said that usually the amount is between $500-1000, but this year a retired union member’s mother passed away and allocated $3,500 to be given to the MLK Kitchen. 

“He [the retired union member] asked for it to be given and matched,” Moline said. And the union was happy to help out. 

“We go into a lot of homes and environments, so we know this neighborhood,” Moline went on to say. “We’ve always had a lot of people in this neighborhood, and we know this charity.”

The union body elected to match the $3,500 to the MLK Kitchen, and Savage Jr. said the funds would go to operating costs and paying utility bills for the kitchen.

“This is our backyard,” said Joe Cira, president-elect and current secretary treasurer of Local 92. “Their [the kitchen’s] margins are so thin, and they’re not a business. When the cost of groceries goes up it affects everybody else.” 

MLK Kitchen for the Poor. (Photo by Stephen Zenner)

With that, Cira encouraged people to give to local charities and thanked the MLK Kitchen for their work in the Junction neighborhood. 

“Firefighters have been great within the community, no matter what happens,” Savage Jr. said.

Food distributions occur Monday through Thursday, and the Kitchen is planning a large Christmas party on Dec. 23 at noon. 

“All kids will get a gift, and we’ll have a Santa Claus,” Savage Jr. exclaimed. 

To donate or volunteer with the MLK Kitchen for the Poor, go to kitchenforthepoor.org, reach out to them at 419.241.2596, or email them at mlk.kitchen@att.net.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Steven J Athanas
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Bad homophone cartoon by Steven J Athanas for the Toledo Free Press.

RKP preserves historical buildings

By
Julie Pompa
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The Overmyer, an RKP luxury apartment renovation project in Toledo that was a finalist in the Best Commercial Rehabilitation Project (large city). (Courtesy Photos/RKP)

Overmyer Lofts: Economic development winner

TOLEDO – Where are the places in your community that are important to you? That question has long been guiding (and perplexing) community development and planning leaders.

Most cities are comprised of a variety of communities – their downtowns, neighborhoods, suburbs and rural areas. But what actually defines those communities? And which communities take priority?

Matt Wiederhold. (Courtesy Photo)

Matt Wiederhold, executive director of Heritage Ohio (and a Toledo resident), says that community is a combination of the people and places that are there. “Older buildings can bring that sense of place,” he said. 

Preservation magazine editor-in-chief Dennis Hockman explains that while people are more important than the things in a community, “the spirit of the people – the heartbeat of the community – is in the old things.”

In the Toledo area, these community treasures are not difficult to find.

“People like buildings that are unique and historic,” Wiederhold said. His organization, Heritage Ohio, leads economic development and sustainability efforts around the state through preservation of historic buildings and promotion of cultural tourism. In addition, Heritage Ohio offers the Ohio Main Street Program to revitalize and improve downtown or central business districts around the state. 

Improving our communities and neighborhoods

The Ohio Main Street Program helps cities improve all aspects of their downtown or central business district, including economic management, historic preservation and beautification, scaled to a community’s local resources and conditions.

In fact, Wiederhold wrote one of the first Ohio Main Street Program’s models about Toledo’s UpTown area (specifically the Adams Street area). Current area projects include Sylvania’s Red Bird District, the Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau and the Downtown Fremont project.

The Overmyer Lofts exterior.
The Overmyer Lofts interior.

Heritage Ohio’s annual conference honors preservation projects with awards for commercial rehabilitation and other projects in large and small cities, along with craftspeople in the field.

Awards have been presented locally to St. Clair Village in 2005 for Best Commercial Rehabilitation, Scott High School’s 2012 renovation for Best Public/Private Partnerships, and an honorable mention for the Toledo Continental Baking Company in 2022 for Best Commercial Rehabilitation Project (large city).

This year, The Overmyer project in downtown Toledo was a finalist in the Best Commercial Rehabilitation Project (large city). Projects are evaluated on their creativity, impact on community, collaboration, adherence to national rehabilitation standards and quality of the final project.

The Overmyer luxury apartments in downtown Toledo is one of several projects developed here by RKP Group (Detroit), such as the Standart Lofts, the Berdan and Fort Industry Square, among others.

“We have invested $150 million in this community, creating 350 downtown apartments and 400 new jobs,” said Kevin Prater, RKP principal and a Toledo resident.

The Overmyer Lofts, which Prater says attracts the majority of its renters from outside of the city, earned a 2024 Preservation Merit Award from the Ohio Historic Preservation Office. The project is also the subject of a Lucas County lawsuit about renovation funds used in the project, which was the former Commerce Paper Co.

Kevin Prater. (Courtesy Photo)

Preservation vs. renovation

“Preservation is very important,” said Wiederhold. “I look at an old building as a living structure. It can’t repair itself; it needs to be maintained. It is almost always cheaper to repair an existing structure.”

And in the 20 years Wiederhold lived outside of Toledo (he returned in 2001), he has seen many good projects happening, especially in the Warehouse District of downtown Toledo.

The city has also been involved in many renovation projects, such as converting the North Towne Mall and Southwyck Mall sites to industrial and commercial locations, gaining a $28 million grant for the RIVER East Toledo project and undertaking infrastructure improvements in several city neighborhoods.

Wiederhold remains steadfast about using existing buildings for renovation. “I’m thrilled that the city (of Toledo) values preservation, because once a historic building is gone, it’s never coming back,” Wiederhold said.

Prater agrees. “The future (of development) could be very bright in Toledo,” he said.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Jerry King
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Cartoon by Jerry King for the Toledo Free Press.

Toledo moves forward with sustainability, greenhouse gas control

By
Steve Roberts
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Fire Station 21 was built at the corner of South Detroit and Glendale avenues, and has been in service non-stop since 1931. The station is set to get window upgrade as part of an energy efficiency plan through the City of Toledo. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

The sustainability manager for the City of Toledo, Dana Reising, recently discussed with the Toledo Free Press the various sustainability initiatives she’s currently leading.

FOOD COMPOSTING

Food composting is one of those initiatives. Launched a year ago, it has collaborative support with Metroparks Toledo, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful (KTLCB) and three Toledo city council members (Nick Komives, Theresa Gadus and Sam Melden).

The city has also partnered with GoZERO Services for a one-year trial program. GoZERO is a company that provides convenient food waste compost services and support.

“When we first started exploring GoZERO as a potential partner for our composting pilot program, they were an attractive option because they have worked with companies and organizations of all sizes,” Meldon said.

Several organic composting bins are available inside Glass City Park’s Market Hall near downtown Toledo. Patrons at Poco Piatti can compost their plates, utensils, cups and even silverware. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

“The key to this pilot program is taking this in phases, and making sure we walk before we run. I hope this turns into a city-wide operation where everyone has easy access, but we have to prove the case first,” he noted.

Reising explained that composting is important because, “First of all, it makes you a lot more aware of how much food you are wasting. When I personally started composting this past year, I felt I have so much compost now; I need to garden more.

“And it made me think that I really need to be a lot more conscientious when I purchase food. Is this something that I will use in time, or will it go to waste?,” she said.

A massive amount of food is thrown away in the U.S. every year. In 2022, around 88.7 million tons of food were wasted, making up about 38 percent of the nation’s food supply. Individuals added to this waste primarily in restaurants, grocery stores and households. On average, each person threw out 349 pounds of food in 2022.

Reisling then mentioned that food waste that gets landfilled produces methane, and methane emissions from human actions cause 30 percent of global warming. Methane is a greenhouse gas with 80 times the ability to trap heat as compared to carbon dioxide during its first two decades in the atmosphere. According to the EPA, nearly 60 percent of landfill methane emissions are from food.

She added that you can also use the compost for plants that sequester carbon, so it helps with the whole carbon cycle.

The three sites for the composting drop off program are located at:

  1. Swan Creek Preserve Metropark
  2. Glass City Metropark
  3. Toledo Botanical Garden Metropark

Keep Toledo Lucas County Beautiful has instructions about how to participate in this program at Composting.

Reisling said she is very enthusiastic about this program and that’s it’s been going great. During its first year, the program diverted more than 60,000 pounds of food waste.

“2025 will be the second year of the pilot program. We are looking at options for making it permanent,” she noted.

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

Another topic we covered was the Climate Action Plan. This plan outlines clear steps and goals for Toledo to lower greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for climate change effects. Reisling is the project manager for this effort.

“We hired Nutter Consulting to help us with developing the plan. We did a comprehensive plan review, so we looked at all of the projects and plans that the city has already completed and projects that we’re already implementing. And then we worked on doing a greenhouse gas inventory – this is getting close to final draft stage,” she explained.

Dana Reising. (TFP Photo/Steve Roberts)

“We also had an internal visioning workshop, in which we brought city leaders and directors together and asked them initial questions about climate action and sustainability in their roles,” she continued. “They provided input on what they have already accomplished and what they wish to accomplish in the future.

“Now, we’re compiling that information and taking note of the ideas that received the most votes and the most consensus to begin outlining a plan,” which should be completed in 2025.

Other Ohio communities that have developed Climate Action Plans include: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Akron, Dayton and Bowling Green.

PURCHASING EVs TO REPLACE THE CITY’S OLDEST VEHICLES

At a recent Toledo city council meeting, Komives, assisted by his legislative aide Evan Snapp and Reising, presented a resolution (R-583-24) to replace the city’s oldest vehicles with electric ones.

And on Wednesday, that resolution declaring the intent of the Toledo City Council to replace the City Fleet’s oldest, least efficient vehicles with efficient and cost-effective Electric Vehicles passed with unanimous city council support.

Research has shown that EVs are cheaper to run and cost less to maintain. “A 2023 Consumer Reports study concluded that owning an EV can save drivers between $6,000 and $12,000 over the vehicle’s lifespan, compared to a similar gas-powered model.”

Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and Dublin have electric vehicles in their fleets. The Bowling Green police division uses hybrids.

Not mentioned in the discussion of this resolution is the reality that the exhaust from gas powered vehicles is a health hazard. 17,000 – 20,000 people are killed annually in the U.S. by this toxin.                                                                                              

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Reising discussed that a greenhouse gas inventory in 2023 showed that at lot of excess gas emissions were from the city’s facilities due to inefficient use of electricity and natural gas. She indicated that they were considering several projects to address a few of the community centers and fire stations in need of work.

“There are also some buildings that the city has that have original electrical and the roof has failed, so we’re trying to get these buildings back in healthy operating condition, and then maybe we will start looking at things like renewable energy heat pumps,” she said.

Reisling also indicated that one of the other issues they are working on right now is converting to LED lighting.

“That’s done a lot of good … so far. They are also making sure that our buildings are well insulated and considering other strategies, like perhaps when it’s time to replace the roof, we make sure it’s a white roof to save energy, or even looking to potentially doing green roofs,” she suggested.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Don Lee
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Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Grant helps renovate Whitney Manor

By
Dennis Bova
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The front entrance of Whitney Manor. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

TOLEDO – Unison Health has received a $300,000 grant to renovate Whitney Manor, not only saving a part of Toledo’s architectural history, but also – and more importantly – saving lives.

Unison will use the grant, received from Ohio’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund, to provide permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals with chronic mental illness.

“By addressing the root causes of homelessness, such as untreated mental illness and a lack of stable housing, we can make a real difference in the lives of those who are the most vulnerable,” explained Jeff DeLay, Unison’s president and CEO,

Unison acquired Whitney Manor, on North Cove Boulevard near the intersection of Monroe St. and Upton Ave., from the City of Toledo in 2023, and has been working with state and local officials to raise money for renovation and raise awareness of the need to provide supported housing.

At first, Unison lodged individuals in need there, but after a few months it became clear the roughly century-old building was unlivable. “We moved everybody into hotels for up to six months,” DeLay said. “We worked with every individual to get them into supported housing.”

In the meantime, other funds arrived, and Unison has put them to use. “We redid the roof, put in new windows and doors, updated the exterior lighting for safety,” DeLay said.

Whitney Manor. (TFP Photo/Lori King)
Replaced windows at the Whitney Manor. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

With the grant, he said there’ll be a full upgrade of all electrical components, plumbing, heating and cooling. The timeline is for work to begin in April and end in May of 2026.

“The bones are super strong,” DeLay said of the manor. “There’s a lot of character we want to preserve.” Yet, he said, “We made the decision to do a full interior renovation. It’s going to be a brand-new building on the inside.”

The plan is for the manor to house 20 individuals in 1,000-square-foot apartments, with Unison staff available “to help them take care of whatever needs they have – to support that individual to keep them living independently.”

Unison said Whitney Manor will provide a continuum of care that includes mental health services, substance use treatment and workforce skills training, all of which is an integrated approach to put individuals on a path toward recovery and stability.

The grant was awarded through bipartisan support from Northwest Ohio’s Senate and House lawmakers.

“I was proud to support Unison Health’s Whitney Manor project,” said State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green). “This project will be transformational and have a positive impact on the community for generations to come.”

Michele Grim. (Courtesy Photo)

State Rep. Michele Grim (D-Toledo) said the project “is a welcome display of the state’s support for the continued preservation of historic communities and structures. It’s a fantastic opportunity that we can preserve this historic building while using it for the purpose of rehabilitation and housing. It is my hope that Whitney Manor will stand as an example for future opportunities.”

Grim added, “Many members of the General Assembly, regardless of party, understand the importance of supporting our most vulnerable Ohioans and how a lack of resources makes the road to recovery all the more difficult.”

More funds are needed, but DeLay said they are on the way. A $1.5 million grant is pending, and after the first of the year fundraising efforts will begin to secure $1 million to $1.5 million.

“Toledo has a lot of abandoned buildings,” he said. “We did not want this to be another.”

He added that Unison’s partnership with the city and other entities is significant. “This is an exciting project.”

DeLay said the project sends a message: “Let’s be creative and help some of the most vulnerable individuals in the community, but at the same time save the legacy of what made Toledo a beautiful city.

“It’s not just about renovating a hundred-year-old building, but raising the awareness of the homeless, especially during winter months.”

Whitney Manor. (TFP Photo/Lori King)
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