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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.

Don Lee: RIP Pope Francis

By
Don Lee
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Pope Francis ascents to the light after death on April 21, 2025.

Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church and pope to the people, dies April 21 at the age of 88.

Toledo man invents exercise machine

By
Max Alfonso
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Eddie Jones with his Easy Jump workout machine. (Courtesy Photo)

TOLEDO – In 2022, Toledo native Eddie Jones was at his home when an idea struck him. Three days later, he had the Easy Jump sketched out – the impetus for a workout machine that doesn’t require laying down or standing up, and you can do workouts in any position. 

Jones is a 15-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran. Once he left the military, he then worked 30 years as a locomotive engineer and retired last May.

When describing Easy Jump, one phrase comes to his mind: You can work your core without the floor. The workout offers a new alternative for people who can’t get on the floor very easily.

“You can work your core in an upright or midrange position very easily [with the machine],” said Jones, adding that it’s helpful to people who are working from home. If someone wants to get a quick workout, they can swiftly move from exercise to exercise.

David Hitt, who has known Eddie for a long time, was a big help in the testing of the product, which can be installed at home, the office or a gym.

Eddie Jones works out on the Easy Jump that he invented. (Courtesy Photo)

“Myself and several fitness trainers went through the evolution of different exercises that can be performed using the Easy Jump to see how effective the exercises were, and everything seemed to go really well with that process,” Hitt said.

Easy Jump also offers many other features, like tension bands to do bicep and triceps workouts, as well as bars on the side that are popular for dips. There are also tension bands on the bottom for leg workouts. 

Jones said he designed the machine for more “seasoned” exercisers, but says anyone can get use out of the Easy Jump, even for rehabilitation. But younger people typically don’t have issues getting on the floor.

“You can sit in a basic household chair and do these exercises with ease,” Jones said.

The Easy Jump is mounted against a wall, so it won’t take up any unnecessary space no matter where you have it.

Jones said he is taking the process day by day. He has sent out letters and contacted many places about his product. He said just recently he has reached out to Dicks Sporting Goods and is awaiting their response.

The Easy Jump. (Courtesy Photo)

Jerry King: Sugar Diet

By
Jerry King
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Dark-eyed juncos soon to flitter north

By
Art Weber
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Winter meets spring in this image, as a handsome dark-eyed junco perches in a cherry
tree dripping in blossoms.

Dark-eyed juncos are common here throughout our colder months, but the species is moving north for the summer nesting season. They are nicknamed “snowbird” because when they return after September, our first snowfall typically isn’t too long after. Juncos are common in our metroparks in the winter.

Juncos are sparrows that eat seeds, nest on the ground and live in the forests. They are identified by a rounded head, a short, stout bill and fairly long, bright white tail feathers.

This one was photographed in the Oak Openings.

Jefferson Center renovated, renamed

By
Stephen Zenner
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(left to right) Mike Smith, Bob Staifer and William McGuire, furniture installers for G.D.Y. (Gary Dean Young) Furniture Installations, setup work stations for Wurtec, a leading provider of elevator components and tools, inside the newly renovated Jefferson Center/Innovation Post. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – For nearly a quarter century, the stone building on Jefferson Ave. has remained vacant, until now. 

Bitwise Industries, a company dealing with computer programming, was working on turning what was the Jefferson Center, a vocational school for Toledo Public Schools that closed in 2000, into its Toledo campus. But that plan ended when the founders of Bitwise Industries were sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud. 

“There are a lot of people that felt once this Bitwise thing collapsed that this building was doomed, and that it would just sit unoccupied and deteriorate,” said Tim Schlatler, managing director of SVN Ascension Commercial Realty, who manages and leases the property for its owner, ProMedica. 

“Our role started once the building [renovation] was complete, and our role was to identify and secure tenants for the space,” he said. 

Tim Schlachter, the managing director for SVN- Ascension Commercial Realty, inside the newly renovated Jefferson Center/Innovation Post. (TFP photo/Stephen Zenner)

After laying low since the Bitwise deal fell through, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the end of February with the mayor, Lucas County commissioners and representatives from the first four tenants: Wurtec, WorkSpring, Junior Achievement of Northwest Ohio and SEGULA Technologies USA. 

A new name for the building was revealed at the ribbon cutting: The Innovation Post. 

“There’s 110,000 square feet of space that’s finished inside the building, of which 77,000 square feet would be occupiable office space,” Schlatler said. “The difference between 110 and 77,000 [square feet] would be restrooms, pantry areas, circulation areas [and] mechanical, so we’d call that the common space.

“Of the space we have available to lease, we have now 65 percent of it leased, so we have 35 percent remaining. That’s what we continue to work on, to fill the remaining space,” he noted.

The main atrium inside the newly renovated Jefferson Center/Innovation Post. (TFP photo/Stephen Zenner)

Securing those first four tenants were necessary to meet the operational cost of the building, and since the announcement more companies have signed on, excited to see what’s next for Toledo. 

“We had these conversations, and said to them [the first four] as a group, ‘If all of you commit, we can get this done,’” said Schlatler. 

Schlatler’s own company, SVN, will be moving into the Innovation Post, along with Presidio (an IT company), Mud Maintenance (the janitorial staffing company for the Innovation Post and other properties), ProMedica’s IT training division, ProMedica’s security training division and groundUp Creative Agency (a marketing company).

“Business cards have been traded,” said Blake Pilgrim, president of Wurtec, the company taking up the entire third floor, which is the largest amount of space in the Innovation Post. “It’s important for us to be a part of a community that drives innovation, and it’s equally important to see Toledo prosper.”

The entrance to the third floor where Wurtec, a leading provider of elevator components and tools, will move in. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“It’s the start of a new community, really. This innovative community is coming together under one roof to cross-pollinate,” Pilgram added.

The large atrium of the Innovation Post is marked by a downstairs cafe, a large stairwell with sitting areas along its side and glass walls, fostering a sense of community across the three floors. 

“There’s no doubt that some of our engineers will be talking with other engineers [from another company], and they’ll be like, ‘Oh, wow, you guys invested in this software, you know; we should look at that,’” Pilgrim said, about his hope for building community innovation.

Pilgrim thanked SVN and Brandon Sehlhorst, the commissioner of economic development for the City of Toledo, for vision casting what the area around the Innovation Post may begin to look like with the development of these companies downtown. 

“We’re bringing 60 to 70 high paying, office positions into that area of our community, and their ability to spend money, whether it be on restaurants or shopping or those sort of things I think, drives other people to continue to invest in that portion of our community,” Pilgrim said. 

Wurtec and WorkSpring are preparing to move into the new space May 1. 

“The first install is Wurtec,” said John McNerney, owner of McNerney and Sons, who oversees the installation of the office space. 

“Each business has their own look and feel of how they want it,” he said, as workers secured workstations on the third floor of the Innovation Post.

Schlatler provided the following diagrams of the Innovation Post, illustrating available areas for rent that range from $375 to $3,925 per month.

Learn more about the property here.

Garden Level
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor

Happenings Calendar

By
Press Release
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Pexels photo by Markus Winkler

(Happenings are compiled from press releases and placed in order of occurring dates)

NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY

HAPPENINGS

Owens hosts STEM Expo Day for local high school students

PERRYSBURG – High school students and groups will be at the Owens Community College Dana Center for STEM Expo Day, an opportunity for them to learn about in-demand careers and programs, tour the Dana Center and receive assistance filling out an application for Owens.

They will receive information on programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Skilled
Trades, Transportation Technologies and Computer and Information Systems, along with information on internship opportunities and short-term credentials.

This is an opportunity for students to see the high-tech labs at the Dana Center, learn about the hands-on opportunities Owens provides, check out the welding bays at the Welding Center and learn more about careers in advanced manufacturing.

Tuesday, April 22 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Dana Center at 458 Depot Rd. in Perrysburg.

UToledo historian to discuss Berlin’s New Synagogue

The University of Toledo’s Dr. Barry Jackisch will discuss Berlin’s New Synagogue during the Philip Markowicz Annual Lecture in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies. 

The free, public lecture is presented by the College of Arts and Letters and supported by the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Greater Toledo.

Dr. Barry Jackisch

In his lecture titled “Berlin’s New Synagogue: An Historical Appreciation, 1850-Present,” Jackisch, an associate professor of history and the Philip Markowicz Endowed Professor in Judaism and Jewish Biblical Studies, will explore the history of the well-known synagogue in the broader context of the history of Judaism in Berlin. 

Berlin’s New Synagogue was built in the mid-19th century as a prominent house of worship for the city’s growing Jewish community, and its history spans Nazi attacks, Allied bombings and four decades in Communist East Berlin. Today it houses both a small-scale religious space and the Centrum Judaicum, a museum and center that preserves Jewish memory and tradition in Berlin.

The Philip Markowicz lecture and endowed professorship honor their namesake Toledoan, who with his wife, Ruth, emigrated to the United States after losing nearly all of his family in the Holocaust. Markowicz went on to establish a thriving electronics business in Toledo and publish two books through the UToledo Press: “My Three Lives,” an autobiography, and “Losing God in Translation,” a study of the Hebrew Bible. 

Tuesday, April 22 at 7 p.m. in UToledo’s Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall.
> Visitor parking for the annual lecture is free in Area 12, excluding disability, metered and reserved spaces.

Inaugural Firecracker 5K Run/Walk honors Sterling “Butch” Rahe

Springfield Township’s SUMMER SERIES 2025 will kick off this year on June 28 with the inaugural FIRECRACKER 5K Run/Walk to honor the memory of Pvt. Sterling “Butch” Rahe. 

On April 22, township trustees, representatives from the Springfield Township and Toledo fire departments, members of Butch’s family, and event sponsors will gather to honor Butch’s memory by offering complete details about the event and announce the opening of registration for the 5K Run/Walk.

Tuesday, April 22 at 1:15 in Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park > Press Conference
June 28: 5K > Run/Walk

Owens hosts author Sara Novic during The BIG Read discussion

Owens Community College will host New York Times bestselling author Sara Novic, author of this year’s The BIG Read book “True Biz.” Novic will be at both Owens campuses for discussion about her book and signings of copies.

Novic holds an MFA in fiction and literary translation from Columbia University, and is an instructor of Deaf studies and creative writing. The BIG Read brings awareness of different perspectives through books and accompanying activities on campus and in our surrounding communities.

This year’s BIG Read explored Deaf culture, history of Deaf culture and
struggle for rights, Deaf community, American Sign Language and other communication of deaf or hard of hearing individuals, challenges deaf and hard of hearing individuals face in a world built on being able to hear, the privilege of hearing and ableism.

Thursday, April 24 at 10 a.m. in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts Theatre (Toledo-area Campus) | 3:30 p.m at the Education Center, Room 111 (Findlay-area Campus)

Spring Plant Exchanges offers plant swap, supplies

Wood County Plant Exchange – April 26
Wood County Fairgrounds Home & Garden Building at 13800 Poe Rd. in Bowling Green. Drop off labeled, weed-free plants and gently used garden items starting at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers will sort donations while guests browse informational booths and enjoy making new garden friends. The giveaway begins at 10 a.m. Attendees receive at least three free plants, with extras for those who donate plants. Info: 419-354-9050 or the Wood County Plant Exchange Facebook Page.

Toledo Plant Exchange – May 3
Lucas County Fairgrounds, 1406 Key St., Maumee (Main Entrance, Arts & Crafts Building). Donations begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the exchange from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Each attendee gets five free plants, with more for those who contribute plants. Visit informational booths and connect with fellow gardeners. Info: 419-578-6783 or the Toledo Plant Exchange Facebook page.

TARTA connects runners, fans to Glass City Marathon

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA)’s special event transportation to
the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is back, putting competitors, their families
and fans in touch with one of the Toledo’s biggest events.

As thousands of runners get ready to compete in Toledo, they’ll be able to take
advantage of free transportation to and from the race from area hotels. TARTA will
provide direct transportation to near the starting line at the University of Toledo on
race day, Sunday, April 27.
Buses will depart from:
 Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel (444 N. Summit Street, Toledo) at 5 a.m.
and 5:50 a.m.
 Hilton Garden Inn Toledo Downtown (101 N. Summit Street, Toledo) at 5 a.m.
and 5:50 a.m.
 Secor Road (stop in front of Fusian at 3504 Secor Road, Toledo) at 4:50 a.m.,
5:20 a.m. and 5:50 a.m.
 Courtyard by Marriott Toledo Airport Holland (1435 E. Mall Drive, Holland) at 5
a.m. and 5:50 a.m.

Return rides to each of the hotels from the University of Toledo Transit Center on S.
Towerview Blvd. will leave at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

While runners can access the service for free, trips at the same time will be available
for $1.50 to those not competing in the Marathon.

Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art comes to TMA

TOLEDO – Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art, the first major exhibition of Ruysch’s art, will be on view beginning in April. Featuring over 100 works—including paintings, botanical books and drawings, and plant and animal specimens, the exhibition explores Ruysch’s extraordinary career and the intersection of art, science, and natural history.  

The visitor’s experience with the exhibition is enhanced with interactive and educational elements including an audio guide, an audio description tour, a digital species map, tactile and scent features, a printed exhibition guide, and a fully illustrated catalogue available for purchase. 

Highlights of the exhibition include:  

  • Several important Ruysch paintings from major international collections that have rarely or never been on public view. 
  • A reunion of Flower Still Life (c.1716–1720), TMA’s Ruysch masterpiece, and its long-separated pendant, Still Life with Fruit, Bird’s Nest and Insects (1716), from Dudmaston Hall in England.  
  • Three portraits of Ruysch, including a family portrait with her husband and youngest son and a recently discovered portrait of the artist in her studio.  
  • Works by Ruysch’s sister Anna, also a talented flower painter who experienced a far shorter career than Ruysch.  (04/09)
April 12-July 27 in the Levis Gallery in the Edward B Green Beaux-Arts Building on the campus of TMA. Tickets to the exhibition are $10 per visitor and free for TMA members. General admission to the museum and parking are free to all visitors.

Northwest Ohio gears up for Glass Recycling Blitz

NORTHWEST OHIO – The Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC) announced the Northwest Ohio Glass Recycling Blitz, a week-long event dedicated to raising awareness and increasing participation in glass recycling.

Throughout the week, designated collection sites will be set up across Lucas and
Wood Counties to make recycling more accessible for residents. Additional site details will
be announced soon.

The Glass Recycling Blitz aims to educate the community on the benefits of keeping glass out of landfills and encourage residents to adopt more sustainable waste management habits. Participants are invited to bring glass bottles only (excluding non-recyclable glass materials such as windows, Pyrex, and fiberglass).

April 16-22, with a kickoff event on April 16 at 1 p.m. to officially launch the
initiative, which takes place at the OI Perrysburg Levis Commons Campus Plaza 3 Parking Lot, an established public glass recycling drop-off location.

ProMedica community event highlights recovering from aphasia

April 24 – Stroke Support Group – ​The ProMedica Stroke Support Group will discuss recovering with aphasia with the University of Michigan Aphasia Program. The support group will take place at the ProMedica Flower Hospital Conference Center (5200 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560) beginning at 4:30 p.m. Stroke survivors, caregivers and supporters are all encouraged to attend. No registration is required.

Local TEDx event features 10 Toledo-area high school students

TOLEDO – A TEDx event featuring 10 local high school student speakers is just around the corner. The event is free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided.

This year’s co-organizers of TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchool are junior Layan Ridi and senior Daivik Patel.
“This event has become a large, impactful event where students and adults all come together to engage in discussions in a night of entertainment and education,” said Ridi

This year’s speakers will each give up to a 15-minute talk. All talks take place on the main stage of the school’s Millennium Theatre. The speakers, schools and topics are:
● Marah Ariss, Perrysburg High School, 11th grade: “Special Needs Awareness”
● Alex Ban, Perrysburg High School, 10th grade: “The Troubled Teen Industry”
● Andy Caillaux, Maumee Valley Country Day School, 11th grade: “Lifting More than
Weights”
● Adhya Duggal, William Mason High School, 11th grade: “Octopus: What We Can Learn
from the Deep Sea Creature”
● Arsalan Failsal, St. John’s Jesuit, 11th grade: “How Stories Shape our Perception of
Morality”
● David Liu, Sylvania Southview, 12th grade: “Seven Deadly Frames”
● Baraah Mansour, Maumee High School, 12th grade: “Surviving Life; Independence vs.
Self Reliance”

Friday, April 25 from 5-8 p.m. on the campus of Maumee Valley Country Day School.

Maumee Valley’s Afro-Am Club presents Annual Afro-Am Dinner

TOLEDO – Maumee Valley Country Day School’s Afro-Am Club announced the return of its annual event, the Afro-Am Dinner. This celebration delivers an evening of cultural enrichment and community engagement.

Aligned with the spirit of Black History Month, the Afro-Am Dinner serves as a platform to honor and celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of the African American community. This year, the event’s theme mirrors that of the national theme: “African Americans and Labor.” The 2025 theme highlights the transformative impact of Black workers—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled—on U.S. history, culture, and social progress.

The Afro-Am Dinner is open to the public.

Thursday, May 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the school’s Dining Hall. 

Tickets are $10 per person and all proceeds benefit the Afro-Am Club. Additional donations will be accepted at the door. Register HERE or visit the website for more details.

Toledo Opera to Hold Children’s Chorus Auditions for Carmen

TOLEDO – Toledo Opera is seeking boys and girls ages 9-14 with unchanged voices to sing in the children’s chorus of Carmen (August – October 2024 commitment).

Bizet’s sizzling epic of dark passion, Carmen, tells the story of a fierce woman who lives life on her own terms – and the men who can’t let her go. Don José, a soldier drawn into her orbit, abandons everything for Carmen’s love, only to find himself consumed by jealousy when her attentions shift to the dashing bullfighter, Escamillo.

With its twisting tale of romance, deceit, and disaster set to magnetic melodies, Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen, has become one of the world’s most celebrated operas. Featuring some of the most popular music to ever grace the opera stage, Carmen brings every aspect of Bizet’s thrilling tale to life, from its tantalizing beginning to its devastating climax. Under the baton of Adam Turner (Toledo Opera’s Il Trovatore and Roméo & Juliet), Toledo Opera’s vibrant original production is not to be missed.

Rehearsals will take place on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Toledo Opera Offices. To schedule an audition, please email James Norman at jnorman@toledopera.org.

Auditions: Saturday, May 17 from 10 a.m., and on Sunday, May 18 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
> Auditions will be held at Toledo Opera Offices, 425 Jefferson Ave., Suite 601.

Steven J Athanas: Era’c’e

By
Steven J Athanas
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Erase (bad homophone) / The letter E in a race to the finish line. Cartoon by Steven J Athanas.

Literature, caffeine: The perfect blend

By
Andrew Helkowski
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0
Novel Blends carry a large variety of books, from faith-based nonfiction to popular bestselling fiction. (TFP Photo/Andrew Helkowski)

Christian-based bookstore open to everyone

BOWLING GREEN – Coffee is indispensable for many, and it is especially so for college students, like those at Bowling Green State University. Coffee and reading…what could be a better fit for a college town?

Novel Blends, a local shop, has hit on the perfect niche.

Novel Blends is downtown BG coffee shop with a Christianity-centric atmosphere. (TFP Photo/Andrew Helkowski)

In an average coffee shop, there’s the counter to order and a handful of tables and chairs, but not much else. But upon entering this store, there are books lining the walls on both sides, and heading back there are more places to sit. It feels like stepping into a library, where the possibilities for reading are endless.

April Hickman, a frequent customer at Novel Blends, said she loves it here “because it’s beautiful, I really like the rustic feel.” 

Many coffee shops aren’t looking to keep people staying around longer than their last sip, and that is what manager Sean Stoepler believes sets Novel Blends apart from the rest.

Stoepler said, “We have a homey vibe, and we don’t want anybody to feel uncomfortable here.” Along with the bookshelves in the store, there are several comfortable chairs and even a few couches spread around.

Novel Blends carry a large variety of books, from faith-based nonfiction to popular bestselling fiction. (TFP Photo/Andrew Helkowski)

Stoepler also spoke about the history of the shop. Business has been growing slowly, but they are busy, with customers coming in consistently. “It opened in 2021, and we’ve been steadily growing since – up 20-30 percent since we opened.”

The idea for Novel Blends was spawned by Stoepler’s father, Michael Stoepler, who wanted a place for his children to go. He wanted the spot to appeal to all sorts of people, including Christians.

“He wanted a shop that could act as a safe place for Christians to go and feel comfortable, and of course we’re welcoming to everybody,” Sean explained. 

The owners of the shop are Christians, and they wanted their shop to fit that vibe for others who share their beliefs. There are some religious books stocked on the shelves, and Bible study groups love to meet in Novel Blends. Visitors will even hear contemporary Christian music piping through the speakers.

“We’re Christians and I really like how this place makes me feel welcome. I also think it’s good that they’re inclusive of everybody, not just Christians,” Hickman said. Novel Blends extends their hands to everybody who comes in.

Novel Blends offers coffee selections from a few producers, including Catholic Coffee Roasters. (TFP Photo/Andrew Helkowski)

Novel Blends carry a large variety of books, from faith-based nonfiction to popular bestselling fiction. The large sitting area is very inviting and encourages people to relax. The guitar and art on the wall attract people to the shop. 

Students come to study, bringing their laptops and drinking coffee. Many other people come to find a good book from the shelves and read to unwind from the stressors of life. Some parents like to bring their kids, and some people like to go on their own.

Novel Blends hosts a variety of events, as well. Those events include, but are not limited, to Bible studies, book clubs and counseling groups. You can follow them on Instagram for more information on upcoming events and new menu items. 

Jerry King: Human Update

By
Jerry King
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0

UT held Q&A to address fear of SEVIS record terminations

By
Stephen Zenner
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0
Maryam Sediqe talks about the many reasons why the government might terminate a [SEVIS] record. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – Anxiety and uncertainty marked an impromptu Q&A held by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISSS) on the campus of the University of Toledo last Thursday, April 10. 

About 200 students attended the event, originally meant to be held in the Snyder Memorial Building, but student demand forced the university administration to switch the location of the Q&A at the last minute to a larger room in the Health & Human Services building. 

Addressing a room of nervous students, Sammy J. Spann, Ph.D., senior associate vice president and dean of students for the University of Toledo, opened up the session with reassurances, saying among other affirmations, “You are not alone,” before handing over the session to the OISSS department. 

Sammy J. Spann, senior associate vice president and dean of students for the University of Toledo, assures the students that “you are not alone.” (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

According to Spann, the Q&A was a direct request from the student body, a reaction to the handful of students who had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record terminated.

SEVIS is the online record and status that allows nonimmigrant students to apply for and hold F-1 or M-1 Visas to study academically or vocationally inside the United States. 

University of Toledo employees admitted that having a student’s SEVIS canceled in the middle of a semester was abnormal. 

“I never used to check our SEVIS records,” said Jessica Bergman, manager of immigration compliance for UT, and added, “But we are checking them now; refreshing it everyday, many times a day.”

Bergman and Maryam Sediqe, J.D., the assistant director of the Center for International Studies and Programs at the UT, led most of the Q&A, and opened up the discussion by explaining that there are “many reasons why the government might terminate a [SEVIS] record.” 

The two women said that, unfortunately, even under normal circumstances, the University would not be privy to the specifics about why a SEVIS record might be terminated. “Sometimes they give you a reason, but it’s not a specific reason,” Bergman said. 

She added, “We’re not hearing anything from the government,” and told the students that the university was in contact with other institutions to cross-reference their information in hopes of deciphering any patterns. 

In the face of so much uncertainty, OISSS recommended their students err on the side of caution until more information becomes available.

“I know students make mistakes,” Bergman said to the crowd. “But we don’t know how or why they picked [these students].”

Bergman and Sediqe cautioned the students to keep their records clean, even to avoid traffic violations; to be aware of what they post on social media; to avoid making waves that might be used against the students in any way; and for the students to avoid traveling right now. 

Xinren Yu, director of the Center for International Studies and programs at the University of Toledo, addresses students during a Q&A concerning developments for international students. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Spann confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers had not been seen on campus as of the meeting. 

“We have chaos all the time,” Spann said. “We’re learning how to navigate through this chaos.” And he reminded students that “the history of America has been way worse.”

Bergman and Sediqe told students if their SEVIS record was terminated, they would be contacted through the email the student used to apply for their current visa. 

OISSS recommended all students familiarize themselves with immigration attorneys in the area, and said that the university had their own immigration attorneys to help students as long as they held status. 

No students wished to share any information with the Toledo Free Press, but one student asked during the Q&A if the university would cover the costs of an immigration attorney or provide one to students if their SEVIS record was terminated. Bergman answered that the university would not provide an attorney in this circumstance, but that the university would recommend immigration attorneys to the students if their SEVIS record was terminated.

Sediqe told the students to carry all their travel documents with them, including their passport, visa and I-94, etc., or at the very least to carry copies of important documents in case an individual from ICE did stop them. 

To verify to the officer, in the event that a student was stopped, Sediqe told students to ask for the officer’s badge, and said, “People can impersonate officers, and they have to show you their badge.” 

She told students that their documents would have to be turned over to ICE for inspection if requested, but that ICE officers needed a warrant to search any place or items. 

A delineation was made between the public parts of the university, where ICE would have access without needing a warrant, and private parts of the university, like classrooms and dormitories, where ICE officials would need a warrant signed by a judge. 

Even with all the information, students were visibly uneasy, and a young woman expressed that fear during the Q&A.

“I’m trying to have all my bases covered, even though I haven’t done anything wrong,” she said.

Jessica Bergman addresses students during a Q&A. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

OISSS tried to reassure the students, saying they had the backing of the provost to do everything in their power to keep the students in the country, and if staying in the United States was not possible, the university would try to help the students finish their degree, regardless of what country they were in. 

When answering student’s questions, Bergman said the university had been able to cover the cost of a plane ticket back country of origin for one of the students who had their SEVIS records terminated. Bergman could not guarantee this type of help to all students, and said that the university would evaluate what they could do for students on a case-by-case basis.

“Maintaining your status…that’s the most important thing right now,” Sediqe said, and recommended students be prudent and continue attending classes to finish out the semester. 

“There’s nothing special, except to carry all your documents with you, and maintain your status,” she said.

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