spot_img
54.2 F
Toledo
Saturday, November 2, 2024

Subscribe

Story Tip Line

Home Blog

How to vote in 2024

By
Paula Wethington
-
0
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.

Daily Dose|The Humorist

By
Don Lee
-
1
Cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Ohio Voters Bill of Rights

By
Signal Statewide
-
0
If the amendment passes, it will allow counties to offer as many 24-hour secure drop boxes as they deem necessary. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Ohio Supreme Court removes obstacle to proposed voting rights amendment

(This story was originally published by Signal Cleveland. Sign up for their free newsletters at SignalOhio.org/StateSignals.)

By Frank W. Lewis | Signal Cleveland

OHIO – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost cannot hold up the progress of a proposed amendment – the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights – to the state constitution based on its title, according to a unanimous Ohio Supreme Court decision released on Wednesday.

Backers of the proposed amendment had hoped to get it on the ballot this year. But after Yost rejected their summary language a second time in January, they sued him. They asked the court for an expedited hearing schedule, in order to meet the other deadlines for the 2024 election, but the court declined.

The summary is what supporters of an amendment show to people when they’re gathering signatures on petitions, another step in the process of getting an amendment on the ballot. That’s why state law requires that the summary be a “fair and truthful statement” about the proposed changes to the constitution. The law also gives the attorney general sole discretion over determining that.

But the law does not give the AG power to reject the summary based on its title, the court said in its decision, which devoted several pages to parsing the meanings of “title” and “summary” and whether the relevant law covers both.

“A ‘title’ is not the same thing as a ‘summary,’ and the current statute unambiguously tasks the attorney general with examining only the latter,” the court stated.

Amendment backers didn’t get everything they wanted from Ohio Supreme Court

The court did not order Yost to approve the summary, as backers of the amendment had asked, because it was not clear to the court if Yost had even evaluated it. His rejection letter stated that the title “is sufficient on its own to reject this petition.”

Yost has 10 days to “determine whether the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed amendment, and, if so, certify and forward the submitted petition to the Ohio Ballot Board,” according to the court’s decision.

“The Supreme Court has now answered this question [about titles], which had not before been answered,” Yost said in a statement provided by his office on Wednesday. “My duty is to comply, and I shall. If the legislature intended something different, it is up to them to change the statue.”

The organizations backing the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights — Ohio Organizing Collaborative, Ohio NAACP, the A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Ohio Unity Coalition — had not released a statement at time of publication. When they do, Signal Cleveland will update this article.

What would the Ohio Voters Bill of Rights do? 

If passed, the amendment would make significant changes to voting in Ohio:

• Allow unregistered people to register and vote on the same day during the early-voting period or on Election Day.

•Add school-issued photo identification cards to the list of acceptable documents for proving ID.

• Allow people who don’t have a photo ID to vote by signing a “declaration under penalty of perjury attesting to their identity.”

• Require the state to cover the cost of postage for mail-in balloting and to create a system for tracking mail-in ballot applications and ballots so that voters can be notified if they’ve made a mistake in time to correct it.

• Permanently establish the days and hours for early voting but also allow counties to offer more hours and multiple locations and as many 24-hour secure drop boxes as they deem necessary.

The amendment would also remove a section added in 1851 that states: “No idiot, or insane persons, shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector.”

(Signal Statewide is a nonprofit news organization covering government, education, health, economy and public safety.)

Ohio Issue 1 explained

By
Paula Wethington
-
0
(TFP Photo/Lori King)

Geographic district boundary selection on the ballot

OHIO – You might know who your congressional representative or state legislator is, but do you know how your community gets assigned to its district?

The process of who makes those decisions is the focus of Ohio Issue 1, a state-wide ballot issue that will determine who draws the geographic district boundaries for future elections. 

The Citizens Not Politicians committee urges a yes vote on Ohio Issue 1, while the Ohio Works committee urges a no vote. 

What does redistricting mean?

The taking of the census every 10 years begins a timeline by which population trends are vetted and district boundaries are reconsidered for the House of Representative seats. The House is currently at 435 members, and Ohio has 15 of those seats.

In a parallel arrangement, the Ohio legislature has 33 Senate seats and 99 House seats, with census population counts among the factors used to draw the districts.

Redistricting determines who appears on the ballot in specific geographic areas. Voters may be included in an area with shared political opinions, but also might find the opposite. And each time a district boundary is reset, some voters will learn they were placed in a different district for future election cycles.

What does gerrymandering mean?

Ohio’s current political climate trends republican, and many of the statewide officials now in office are of that party. This was not always the case: Ohio’s presidential voting history is actually mixed. In most presidential elections during the past 50 years, the state has voted with whomever was the overall winner.

Jen Miller

Regardless of statewide or national voting patterns, the political personality of individual districts depends on who lives in those communities. Accusations of gerrymandering, the intention to provide an unfair advantage to one party over another through district boundaries, have long been part of Ohio politics. 

“We started fighting gerrymandering in the 1960s,” said Jen Miller, from the League of Women Voters of Ohio. “Whatever party is in power wants to keep that power.”

Miller said when a district is tilted too much toward one political persuasion, “it makes it nearly impossible to hold politicians accountable.” 

Both statewide campaigns claim their respective stance is meant to deter that situation.

How was redistricting handled recently?

The Ohio Redistricting Commission, created in 2015 with seven elected and appointed members, including the state governor and state auditor, was tasked with redrawing districts for Ohio’s legislative seats under rules approved that year by Ohio voters. Another ballot issue in 2018 addressed the congressional seat allocation. 

The maps the commission proposed for the state and congressional seats resulted in multiple lawsuits and years of litigation. That commission has disbanded; its last meeting was in fall 2023. 

What would Issue 1 do?

The decision before voters in the Nov. 5 election involves who will draw future boundaries and sets limits on court appeals of the maps.

If Ohio Issue 1 is approved, the newly formed commission will have 15 appointees: five republicans, five democrats and five independent voters. Current and former politicians, along with lobbyists, could not serve on the commission. 

The selection process includes retired judges interviewing potential candidates and then randomly drawing names from among the finalists. 

Support for Issue 1

Citizens Not Politicians is the group in favor of Issue 1, with “end gerrymandering” as its campaign phrase. 

“When politicians draw biased voting districts to ensure their own re-election, it’s called gerrymandering, and independent, nonpartisan experts have found that Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in America,” the committee’s ballot statement says.

Melissa Portala

Melissa Portala, of Toledo, is one of the volunteers working on behalf of the Issue 1 campaign, and said the campaign is “a very bipartisan issue,” citing the list of people and organizations who have issued endorsements.

“I think it is time for the voters to pick the politicians instead of the politicians to pick the voters,” Portala said. “This gerrymandering leads to extremism. It’s very difficult to compete.”

When she is speaking to voters, Portala often shows district maps to illustrate her point, explaining that “not doing anything leaves the gerrymandering in place.”

Miller said the League of Women Voters supports Issue 1, just as it supported anti-gerrymandering efforts in the past. She said leaving politicians involved in mapping discussions, as has traditionally been done, results in concerns about fairness and accountability.

“Voters overwhelmingly have supported this amendment,” she added.

The Lucas County Democratic Party has a “Vote yes on Issue 1” message on its website.

Opposition to Issue 1

Ohio Works is the group opposing Issue 1, with “Vote no Issue 1” as its campaign phrase.

“Issue 1 is nothing more than a partisan power grab by elite, out-of-state special interests who want to rig Ohio’s elections and impose gerrymandering into Ohio’s constitution,” its official campaign statement said.

Josh Williams

Ohio Rep. Josh Williams, a republican whose District 41 includes part of Lucas County, said his concerns include potential impact on minority representation in the statehouse. He pointed to Michigan’s redistricting efforts as an example: “It resulted in cutting up minority communities in an effort to create more democratic districts,” he said about the Michigan maps.

Williams also opposes Issue 1 because of what he sees as lack of accountability. Since the commission members were not voted in, they can’t be voted out. There also are limits on what the courts can do should a map be challenged.

“It literally removes the jurisdiction of our courts to review maps,” he explained.

Another reason he cited is the emphasis on the two major parties in the plan, with its five republicans and five democrats in the commission. “It disenfranchises independent voters. What about our third party candidates?” he asked.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Steven J Athanas
-
0

Homophone cartoon by Steven J Athanas for the Toledo Free Press.

Racing for Recovery

By
Au'Ree Antoinette
-
0
More than 500 participants take off at the start of Racing for Recovery's Rockin’ Rossford 5K. The race/walk is a celebration of supporting sobriety.

Personal struggle with addiction inspires race organizer

Story and photos by Au’Ree Antoinette

ROSSFORD – It’s not everyday you see hundreds of people running up and down Superior St. in Rossford before sunrise. But that was the scene on Saturday as more than 500 runners arrived at the intersection of Superior and Osborne to take on Racing for Recovery’s Annual Rockin’ Rossford 5k + 1 mile celebration.

This event attracted runners, spectators and supporters, all uniting in advocacy for recovery from substance abuse disorders.

Will Bainter was the first to register for this 5k, making his bib number crossing No. 1. He crossed the finish line with a time of 23:10, making him the 50th person to complete the race.

The Racing for Recovery’s 5k is not merely an athletic event — it’s a powerful symbol of resilience and community in the face of addiction. Established 23 years ago by Todd Crandell, this organization’s mission is rooted in his personal journey to overcome drug and alcohol abuse. After 13 years of abuse, Crandell began to embark on his journey to recovery.

“Racing for recovery was started because I was given a gift and an opportunity to stop using drugs, and then utilize all the good things that were happening in my life in service to other people,” Crandell shared.

Among those good things were Crandell’s 122 successful Ironman races. “Ironman is what led to forming Racing for Recovery” he recounted. As stated in his biography on the Racing for Recovery website, these races laid the foundation for his first intensive out-patient group. 

James Cordray, left, and Jason Portala talk as they catch their breath after being the 58th and 59th finishers.

Despite his success story, Crandell acknowledged that the efforts extend far beyond himself. “I may have been the guy to start it, but I could not do it without the Racing to Recovering staff and the city of Rossford; it truly takes a village to do this work.”

One prominent example of the program’s impact is the journey of Adam Custer. “Adam is a success story as well. He came to us, got help, and now he works for us and is like my righthand man. That’s what Racing for Recovery does. Adam and so many of our staff resemble what was in my heart when I created this is 2001.”

Racing for Recovery’s mission is not just about substance abuse recovery; it also emphasizes the importance of embarking on a wellness journey that integrates mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health. They aim to help individuals and their families thrive and foster a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle.

They offer several services, such as mental health support, addiction counseling, physical wellness activities, nutrition education and spiritual guidance.

They also host a live-streamed support group every Thursday at 5:30 p.m., allowing global access. Those attending in person receive a free plant-based dinner, further supporting the organization’s commitment to holistic well-being.

This race was meaningful to many people, including regular 5k runner and veteran Marine, Jason Portala. “This is my third time [running the race]. My buddy and I, Steve, try to do four to six 5k’s a year. I am a recovering alcoholic. It’s been almost 21 years since I had a drink, so I can definitely support this effort,” said Portala. 

Angel Burns, left, and Megan Claybough watch as Heather Radosti and Zander Puttman cross the finish line. Puttman has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy, but it didn’t stop him from finishing this race.
Left to right, Megan Claybough and Heather Radosti embrace each other in celebration to Zander Puttman’s finish. At right, Angel Burns embraced Puttman.

Another powerful victory was made as 17-year-old Zander Putman crossed the finish line with his mother, Heather Radosti. Zander has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that has made finishing this race extremely difficult. On Saturday, not only did he complete the walk, he walked the entire time. This accomplishment brought tears of joy to the Putman and Radosti families.

“We usually use the wheelchair to push him through,” said Radosti. “I’ve actually done 100 miles with him, and it started with this race. We’ve done the mile walk before, and he’s had so much trouble – he was even past the cut-off for this the last time we tried it. Seeing him actually get the mile is like the hugest thing because he struggles a lot.”

Portala, reflecting on his journey, offered advice to anyone struggling.

“If you’re struggling with anything, get out and talk to somebody — even if they don’t say anything back. Just saying it and going through the motions will help you tremendously. Working out isn’t just for physical [well-being]; it’s for your mental health and releases that negative energy.”

“If you need services, call us or walk in. We accommodate anybody who needs our help,” Crandell said. 

The organization can be reached at 419-824-8462, or by email at support@racingforrecovery.org. For more information, visit their website.

Racing for Recovery’s facility is located at 6202 Trust Dr. in Holland. It's staffed by licensed and educated clinicians who are ready to help people take their first steps toward recovery.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Jerry King
-
0

Cartoon by Jerry King.

Jill of All Trades

By
Jeremy Schneider
-
0
St. Ursula’s CK Kramer reacts to cutting through aluminum with a hack saw during the Jill of All Trades at the Dana Center at Owens Community College. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Program inspires young women to pursue skilled trades

PERRYSBURG – Owens Community College hosted more than 80 students from 10 area high schools Thursday for Jill of All Trades, an event that focused on learning about skilled trades.

“We’re excited to provide this chance for young people to explore a future in the skilled trades,” Owens president Dr. Dione D. Somerville said. “With the help of Jill of All Trades, we believe its our mission to expose young people to potential careers and all of the things they could do with a future in the skilled trades.”

Mia Hoskinson helps her classmate Marquella Hernandez guide a robot to drop an object in a designated spot. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Jill of All Trades was started in 2014 in Canada, providing hands-on experiences to young women in grades 9-12, and introducing them to the possibilities of a career in skilled trades. Owens is the only institution in the United States to host the event.

Students were split into 12 groups, with each participating in three different workshops. Held at the Dana Center, Welding Design Center and Transportation Technology buildings on the Toledo-area campus, workshop topics included robotics, welding, CNC/machining, auto service and repair, crane rigging and diesel technology.

Wearing an orange long-sleeved shirt with Jill of All Trades embossed on the front, St. Ursula’s CK Kramer said she was there to “properly explore all of my options before fully committing to something.

“My dad used to take me to the Home Depot building workshops when I was a kid and that made me really like doing stuff with my hands and building things, so that was probably a big influence,” said Kramer.

During the event, she was placed in the Robotic Rebels group, where she learned how to code robots.

She said she learned that coding robots is very difficult but liked working with machines. In one of the workshops, she used a hack saw to cut through aluminum. “I liked that because it was more hands on than the robots.

“It was very fun and I hope they do it again next year,” Kramer said.

Gabrielle Olaf, left, maintenance supervisor at Magna (Laconia, Mich.), teaches students how to operate a robot. (TFP Photo/Lori King)
Robyn Perry, who works for the Office of Admissions, leads the Mighty Machinists to their next destination during the Jill of All Trades at the Dana Center at Owens Community College. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

The goal of the program was to address the skilled trades workforce needs of the future, an issue Owens is at the forefront of, with its wide variety of programs, certificates and associates degrees.

“High school students and their parents have this idea that you need to spend a lot of money and go to a four-year college, but that’s just not true,” said Owens director of Admissions Erin Kramer.

“We have programs, certificates and two-year programs at Owens that can help young people achieve their dreams and goals for their futures,” she added.

Students began and ended their day at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, where program sponsors were set up with information about working in the trades.

Violet Kirkland is taught computer science by Gary Weaver. (TFP Photo/Lori King)
Sponsors of the event were presenting sponsor Buckeye Broadband, Owens Corning, Magna, Enbridge, Mechanical Contractors Association of Northwest Ohio, Hancock Steel, First Solar, The Andersons, First Energy, Advanced Technology Consultants, Dunbar, Rudolph Libbe Group, Taylor Automotive Family, HIAB, Air Force One, Principle Business Enterprises, Barnes, University of Findlay, A-Gas and Integrated Systems Technologies.

To learn more about the Owens School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, please visit owens.edu/stem.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Don Lee
-
0

Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Daily Dose | The Humorists

By
Don Lee
-
0

Editorial cartoon by Don Lee for the Toledo Free Press.

Finding love at Romance-Con

By
Julie Pompa
-
0
L.B. August’s new romance fantasy book, In The Shadows. (Courtesy Photo)

Main library transforms into the mecca of romance

TOLEDO – What type of romance novel disciple are you? You’ve dabbled in the art form in the past. You’ve read Fifty Shades of Gray but you’re not sure where to go next. You always got a novel with you, and you read every chance you get. You’re waiting by your Kindle (or at the library) for the next release. Or, you’re actually writing your first romance novel right now!

If you relate in any way to any of these scenarios, Romance-Con is the place for you! On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Main Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) transforms downtown Toledo into the Mecca of everything Romance Novel. This free celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. throughout the library.

Romance novels available at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. (Courtesy Photo)

“Romance authors love meeting their fans and other authors,” explained Allison Fiscus, adult services coordinator with TLCPL and organizer of Romance-Con. “Romance-Con is the ideal spot to listen to these people and their passion, and share that passion with one another.”

Findlay-based author L. B. August is excited to meet readers and authors at Romance-Con. “I’m going in with an open mind, to meet people and to talk about books,” the first-time author said.

She took an unusual path to writing her new book, In The Shadows (which she identifies as “Romantasy” – a combination of romance and fantasy).

“I was looking for really strong female characters but they seemed hard to find, so I just created my own,” August said. It took her a year to write her book, publishing it in early 2024. At Romance-Con, she’ll be part of a paranormal authors’ panel.

A sample of local love and heartbreak letters at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. (Courtesy Photo)

Planning for an epic day

Romance-Con is the result of a great deal of planning. Fiscus pondered a Comic-Con-type event for romance novels and novelists as soon as she arrived at TLCPL in 2004. The planning took on a more serious tone after the pandemic in 2021, when she moved into her current position. And rightly so; romance novels represent 52 percent of book sales and are the highest-earning genre of fiction writing (estimated at more than $1 billion). In 10 years, romance readers have changed from women ages 35 to 54 to women between the ages of 18 and 54.

The romance genre has been ignored in the publishing industry and maligned by authors for years. But the genre has consistently grown and diversified, breaking the barriers of publishing (most are self-published).

Romance genres range from contemporary, literary and historic, to religious, gothic and paranormal; from young and “new” adult, to minority, military and LBGTQ. And there is a very strong support system for romance writers in the Toledo area, featuring writing sessions, networking, inspiration and support.

“We’re absolutely feral for the genre here,” said Fiscus, “and the Main Library is the perfect spot for Romance-Com.”

The festival will take over the entire library, with feature presentations in the McMaster Center and meeting rooms 1 and 2, and an author fair throughout the main floor. “The Main Library is a destination in itself, and downtown businesses are taking part too,” Fiscus said.

A sampling of Romance-Con items available at the Jupmode pop-up shop. (Courtesy Photo)

Talks, hunts and merch 

Romance-Con’s featured talks include nationally recognized romance writer Abby Jimenez, author of Just for the Summer, as well as Kimberly Lemming, Kathryn Moon, CM Nascosta, Jo Segura and Julie Soto. The seating for all of these talks is full, but day-of wait-lines will be available to fill no-show seats. 

In addition, fans will find a wide range of activities to satisfy their appetites for everything romance:

  • An author fair where fans can meet their favorite authors
  • A Love & Friendship scavenger hunt for kids
  • Button making, featuring a “choose your trope” theme
  • Book cover photo shoot for all those Fabio-esque characters
  • A Lovers’ Era library exhibit of items about love and heartbreak from across the years
  • A wide range of panel discussions of such topics as historical romance, creating tension in stories, becoming a romance author, writing romantic (and hot) scenes, celebrating queer love, general writing tips and editing, etc.
  • Social media for romance writers
  • A live podcast of Black Romance Has A History
  • Researching romance with the BGSU Popular Culture Library
  • Tarot readings
  • Genre specialty sessions – diversity, fantasy and paranormal writing

“Writing is such a solitary life,” author August said. “I love the indy writing community around the world, and I’m honored to be accepted and asked to participate in Romance-Con. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone involved.”

Food trucks will be available, and local businesses will have specials and discounts throughout the day. In addition, Jupmode will have a pop-up shop with Romance-Con-themed merchandise. Check out the library’s website for all the times and details.

123...23Page 1 of 23
spot_img

The Toledo Free Press is a project of Toledo Integrated Media Education.

Company

Trending

Categories

© Copyright 2024 - Toledo Free Press