How to vote in 2024

By

-

October 3, 2024

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?

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.

Literature, caffeine: The perfect blend

By

Andrew Helkowski

-

April 19, 2025

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

-

April 18, 2025

0

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

By

Stephen Zenner

-

April 18, 2025

0

20250410 SEVIS UT 8384 — 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.

Navigating a refugee resettlement in Toledo

By

Stephen Zenner

-

April 18, 2025

0

Photos received from Diana Altheyab of her family in Jordan. (Courtesy Photo)

What one family and nonprofits are experiencing in 2025

TOLEDO – After fleeing Syria and its civil war, Mrs. Alnimer was ready to be reunited with her daughter, Diana Altheyab, in Toledo.

“When they opened the Welcome Corps program I directly applied for my family,” Altheyab said about the finishing touches on the refugee resettlement process she initiated. She expected her mother, sister and brother to arrive in Toledo very soon. “I received the schedule.”

Through a 2023 State Department program called Welcome Corps, five or more U.S. citizens could work with the government to sponsor refugees to be resettled in communities across the United States. Beginning in early 2024, Altheyab organized a number of her fellow U.S. citizens to take the place of a traditional refugee resettlement agency.

“It’s private citizens getting to choose their next neighbors and saying, ‘We want this and we’re willing to flip the bill for the federal government to be able to welcome refugees,’” explained Annie Nolte-Henning, executive director of Community Sponsorship Hub (CSH), a national nonprofit coordinating private sponsorship and traditional refugee resettlement across the United States.

Refugee resettlement, whether private or through an agency, lasts 90 days and involves “ensuring people have housing, getting kids enrolled in school, helping mom and dad find a job,” Nolte-Henning said.

Seven refugees, including three immediate family members and their families, were part of the process started by Altheyab, who raised the money to get her family to safety at the price of $2,375 per refugee, the price as of fiscal year 2023.

Preparations were made for the move to Toledo, including housing and furnishings. And on the refugees’ side, Altheyab’s family began to sell off their belongings in Jordan, where they have been staying as refugees for over a decade.

But what was supposed to be wind in the sails for Altheyab ended up deflating her hope.

“They sent me an email to confirm the money,” she said about the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). And there was one last Zoom call “to confirm that I want them [her family] to come here or not.

“I scheduled [their trip] on the 23rd (of January), then they, they cancel[ed] it the same day,” she lamented. “It was such a shock for me.”

Closed borders

“Overnight and without notice, the entire humanitarian infrastructure that supports newly arrived refugees in the U.S. was dismantled,” said Nolte-Henning. “It was a shock to the system. We were all bracing for something. It just … a stop work order was not what we were bracing for.”

Six executive orders came down from the office of the president on January 20, on President Donald J. Trump’s first day of his second term, locking down the borders of the United States for at least 90 days. Refugee resettlement agencies were ordered to stop their work and roll back provisions and protections for immigrants.

Originally, on the executive orders themselves, these changes were set to take effect on Jan. 27, so Altheyab had moved quickly to get those seven people on a plane to the U.S. before the borders closed.

But without warning, the effective date of the executive orders was moved up to the 23rd.

“My group there in Jordan, they finished everything,” Altheyab said about the long process her family went through to legally and successfully be approved to immigrate to the United States as refugees. The only thing left after the Zoom orientation was booking the flight.

Her mother, brothers and sister were approved as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), then screened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), screened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and then coordinated travel with the State Department, USCIS.

Altheyab said she was so despondent about not being reunited with her family that she spent two days sick in bed. “I was frustrated by this.”

The scramble

The abrupt nature of Trump’s executive orders transitively cut out most traditional refugee resettlement infrastructure by eliminating what the resettlement nonprofits do.

A card written in English and eight other languages detailing the position and rights of the people at Water For Ishmael (WFI), an English as a second language non-profit. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“I lost 85 percent of my workforce,” Nolte-Henning said about her organization, which, in the past, received money from the federal government to resettle individuals.

“The stop work order essentially means that you can’t implement the work, and you cannot charge against your grant to do the work,” so layoffs were the next step.

And then, after downsizing, Nolte-Henning pivoted her organization to help refugees inside the U.S. who had been dropped by their resettlement agencies, and to help Afghans overseas who have Special Immigrant Visas, a program that has not been halted by the Trump administration, yet.

“It’s not just about admissions being suspended, but it has also cut off vital services to refugees who have already lawfully arrived in the U.S,” said Nolte-Henning.

Janelle Metzger, founder and CEO of Water for Ishmael. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

A federal judge attempted to block the complete halt of refugee admissions. The judge said halting all refugee admissions would cause, ”irreparable harms, including refugees stranded after selling their possessions, agencies laying off hundreds of staff, and family reunifications suspended indefinitely.”

Thousands of refugees who came to the U.S. before late January were left without the guidance they would have traditionally received from resettlement agencies.

“So we’re prepared to take on local cases, if needed, of people that are left without case workers or without services that they need,” said Janelle Metzger, executive director and founder of Water For Ishmael (WFI), an English as a Second Language nonprofit (ESL).

Altheyab’s journey: The siege of Homs

Altheyab’s own journey to the United States took four years since she was forced from her home in Homs, Syria.

Luckily, she and her immediate family made it to Toledo in 2016, right before the so-called “Muslim ban.” Before coming state-side, Altheyab lived in Jordan for two and half years, and spent the other one-and-a-half years looking for somewhere safe inside Syria.

Homs was heavily bombed, forcing her and her husband to flee with their children, all five-years-old or younger. Hezbollah, Russia and the Syrian Social Nationalist Party, a fascist relic leftover from World War II, all had documented war activity near Homs.

“I have three baby kids, and we were so young, we were scared, and we had no home,” Altheyab said, recalling the tumultuous time. “We were scared from the killing,” she said, as she told of stories of soldiers forced to kill family members to prove their loyalty to Assad.

Eventually, the violence became unavoidable and began to unfold around the family as resources became scarce.

“So, this car came from Damascus … to sell these groceries,” she said as she began to explain that violence started to break out around the limited commodities of food.

“That’s the day we decided, yes, we have to flee to Jordan, because we had three babies. I had, like five and three and two months [old].”

Refugee living

Under the protection of the United Nations, the couple and their children tried to make the most of a time with little forward progress in sight as they navigated life as refugees in Jordan.

Altheyab did her best to educate her children on her own, providing for them with food while her husband looked for work.

But work was not readily available for Syrians living in Jordan, and Altheyab’s husband was forced to work for rebated wages, with no work protections and no guarantee he would be paid at the end of his work.

“If you are [a] refugee there [in Jordan], you feel like people look [at] you, always, like you are a refugee,” Altheyab said. “As a refugee, you cannot work as you want, you cannot study as you want. People look [at] you, especially in Jordan and Syria.”

“We are a similar culture and similar language, but we also have discrimination,” she said.

The United Nations offered Altheyab an opportunity to go to America, and she accepted. Two and a half years later, after extensive screenings by the UN and the USA, Altheyab, her husband and her three children were able to make it to Northwest Ohio.

Shifting sands: refugee policy in the U.S.

“To be here in America, to be honest, it’s very safe and we have our rights,” Altheyab said. “We feel we are human here, so we decided to come here.”

Soon after Altheyab and her family arrived in the United States, Trump instituted the executive order that halted travel from many Middle Eastern countries, and he specifically barred Syrian refugee resettlement to the United States, blocking the rest of Altheyab’s family from coming in 2017.

Presidents set the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States in a given year, known as the Refugee Ceiling.

The Refugee Ceiling for 2017 was initially set by President Barack Obama at 110,000 refugees, but was cut by over half, down to 50,000 total refugees allowed to enter the United States that year by Trump, the new president.

Over the four years of the first Trump administration, the Refugee Ceiling lowered down to the lowest Refugee Ceiling in United States history, at 15,000 refugees allowed to be resettled for 2021.

When Joe Biden got into office, he responded by hiking the Refugee Ceiling up to 62,500, in May of 2021. But the four years of the Trump administration had already damaged the nonprofit infrastructure responsible for doing the work of resettling refugees.

“We were really undermined, and then you know, it declined from there with our all-time-low under Trump,” said Angela Plummer, executive director of Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS), when asked about how the first Trump administration had affected her organization during that time.

CRIS is a traditional refugee resettlement agency that helps refugees secure housing, find jobs, enroll in school and integrate into the social areas where the refugees have been relocated.

Of the 900 refugees CRIS was set to resettle in 2017, after the changes from the Trump administration, only 300 were able to make it to the United States that year, and their numbers declined each year as the Trump administration continued to lower the Refugee Ceiling.

And even though Biden raised the Refugee Ceiling to 125,000 in 2022, only 25,000 refugees were resettled in the U.S. that year because the resettlement agencies were not able to build back as quickly as they had been cut.

“You can’t just stop and start people,” Plummer said, adding that people stopped years ago had built their lives elsewhere.

The government gives CRIS $1,273 per refugee to spend on that refugee’s behalf, and help them resettle within the first 90 days of the refugees’ time inside the United States.

“It’s not like this is just a government-funded program. It doesn’t work; I mean, we have to find other funds to make sure people can pay all of their rents, especially as I noted, since the per capita amount [the amount of funding per refugee] hasn’t been going up for some time,” Plummer said. “And that $1,273 amount is for all 90 days.”

Plummer said that “it really impacts having an economy of scale. I mean, you can run a much more efficient program at a certain level,” with a certain number of people.

Efficiency and ease of process were not priorities for the Trump administration.

“They threw in new bureaucratic requirements that, in my opinion, did nothing but bog down the system,” Plummer said.

“Instead of refugees having to provide five years worth of addresses, now they wanted 10 years, [and there were] new forms being required…so it’s just putting all kinds of people who had already been screened through the system, like back into a pile of needing to go through security clearances, and things ground to a halt.

“After you had the very overt, ‘we’re not going to allow these people from these countries to come,’ then you had all this stuff behind the scenes, that was kind of the bureaucratic method of stalling.”

Luck of the draw

Just before the refugee system began to get bogged down, Altheyab got in with her immediate family, but the rest of her extended family (mother, father, sister brother) were not so lucky.

An already overburdened and actively undermined system did make room for 6 million displaced Syrian refugees, and effectively stopped Altheyab’s family from uniting with her on U.S. soil.

Biden, in reaction to the rising worldwide refugee population, revitalized a private sponsorship model for resettlement, first with a prototype for Afghans, called Sponsor Circle, then for Ukrainians with the 4UA program, and finally to all formal refugees through the Welcome Corps program in 2023.

Through private sponsorship and Welcome Corps, American citizens were able to partner with the State Department to bring refugees to the United States with private funding.

“So when they opened the Welcome Corps program I directly applied for my family,” Altheyab said.

This was the first time in nearly ten years Altheyab had an opportunity to actively participate in the process of bringing her family to America.

Even though Welcome Corps launched in early 2023, the organization Altheyab went through, Water For Ishmael only got their certification as a Private Sponsor Organization in the first quarter of 2024, and then a year later the program was shut down.

But then, on Trump’s very first day in office, the president put a halt on all new refugee resettlement, and Altheyab’s dreams of reunification were disrupted.

No longer welcome

“We can’t call anything we do Welcome Corps right now, because we did get a cease and desist order from Washington,” said Metzger, who was integral in pushing her organization to receive the Private Sponsorship Organization certification.

“Right now, the federal government isn’t guaranteeing [that] any refugee who’s already here [in the United States] gets provided the services that they need,” said Scott Andrews, formerly the director of the Private Sponsor Groups, who oversaw the groups of five or more resettling refugees.

Scott Andrews, the director of Water for Ishmael’s (WFI) Private Sponsor Organization (PSO. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Since the interview with Andrews, the Welcome Corps program has been completely dismantled and Andrews works as the director of operations for WFI now.

“The message was simply, ‘You need to stop all work that you’re doing right now,’” said Andrews.

“You can imagine if you just arrived a few days ago as a refugee, you don’t speak the language and you just found out that the accommodation you were promised is gone. You have no place to stay; you have no source of income; you have no job; and you’re just supposed to wander the streets? This is not good for our communities,” Andrews said.

“If this is a money thing [where federal grants are lost], we can sort that out,” Andrews said, but he was unsure if the federal government would forcefully try to stop the organization from helping refugees already in the United States because of the ambiguity of the communications.

Hold please

Even though all refugee resettlement initiatives have been paused with the exception of Special Immigrant Visa holders, technically not refugees, Altheyab holds out hope for her family.

One of the executive orders details that Trump will reconsider allowing refugees into the United States after 90 days from the executive order, April 20, and that is where Altheyab’s hope lies.

After the 90 days, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State will submit a report on “…whether resumption of entry of refugees into the United States under the USRAP (United States Refugee Admissions Program) would be in the interests of the United States…”

Photos received from Diana Altheyab of her family in Jordan. From right to left Altheyab’s mother, sister, brother, and Altheyab’s sister-in-law and nephew. Altheyab requested that all women’s faces be blurred. (Courtesy Photo)

“I hope this action can change before the 90 days,” Altheyab said. “Because my family…they sell everything,” in anticipation of leaving Jordan.

“I sent something to Marcy Kaptur [the U.S. Representative from Ohio’s 9th district]. I send every day,” she said about asking for help in getting the rest of her family into the United States.

Altheyab’s mother, brother and sister have been waiting in Jordan for the hostilities to subside in Syria since 2012, and the recent takeover of Syria by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has not brought a peaceful conclusion to the war.

Revenge killings, massacres of civilians and ethnic cleansing have already been a hallmark of the HTS takeover, and it is unclear if Syria will stabilize its political situation anytime soon.

And it’s anticipated that, at the very least, Trump will significantly decrease refugee admissions.

“I hope Mr. Trump [will] change his mind about bringing refugees, especially Welcome Corps, because it’s our own money, it’s our responsibility, so we decided to bring these people, we know these people. It’s our family,” Altheyab said.

Happenings Calendar

By

Press Release

-

April 18, 2025

0

news shorts graphic — 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

Times, Crimes, and the Tenderloin: In Pre-Pohibition book signing

TOLEDO – The author of Times, Crimes, and the Tenderloin: In Pre-Pohibition is holding a free book signing at the Toledo Police Museum.

This new book by Doug Tracy reveals forgotten stories of Toledo’s vice zone through the eyes of a compassionate detective. The book brings to life the gritty history of Toledo’s notorious Tenderloin District, a seedy neighborhood populated by brothels, saloons, gambling dens and street criminals.

This true-crime collection of stories, inspired by the personal memoirs of Tracy, the captain of detectives, provides an intimate look at life in the heart of one of Toledo’s most infamous neighborhoods during the early 1900s.

Today, as the buildings of the Tenderloin have been replaced by shops, condos and restaurants, the past remains alive through the stories of Tracy’s courage, empathy and steadfast commitment to justice. It’s a must-read for history enthusiasts, true-crime fans, and those intrigued by the untold stories of America’s early 20th century.

Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m. at the Toledo Police Museum. There will be light refreshments available.

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

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, OH– 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.

Imagination Station summer camps are on sale

TOLEDO – Where can you be a Hollywood director one week, a magician the next and a time traveler the week after? The only correct answer: Imagination Station’s Summer Camps —now on sale.

With two new camp experiences this year, there’s an adventure for every explorer. Plus, Imagination Station is bringing back fan favorites, making them bigger and better than ever.

Imagination Station’s camps keep kids engaged in learning all summer long with interactive and immersive experiences. From launching rockets to engineering original inventions, every week is packed with hands-on STEAM learning that sparks creativity and is full of fun.

June - August at the Imagination Station. To register, CLICK HERE. 
More information about camp including registration, pricing and scholarships can be found HERE.

Lucas SWCD offers fish fingerling sale for spring pond stocking

LUCAS COUNTY – The Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (Lucas SWCD) has partnered with Fender’s Fish Hatchery (Baltic, OH) to offer new and established pond owners the opportunity to stock their ponds conveniently and at a low cost.

Five different types of fish fingerlings, ranging 1” to 6” in size depending on species, are available through the sale for $1.40 or less per fish. The species include Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, and Fathead Minnows. Also available through the sale is Nature’s Pond Conditioner, an all-natural solution to reduce pond muck and improve overall water quality in a pond. It is available in a 1-gallon and 5-gallon size.

The deadline to place an order is May 6. The pick-up date is Tuesday, May 13 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Lucas County Fairgrounds. To place an order, visit the website (www.LucasSWCD.org/fishsale) or stop by the office in Toledo. This sale requires pre-ordering — cash, check, or credit card is accepted.

Contact office at (419) 893-1966 or visit the Lucas SWCD website.

Goaldiggers: Miracle on Main Street

By

Mark Griffin

-

April 17, 2025

0

Fans interact with Goaldigger players and family members. (TFP Photo/Lori King) — Fans interact with Goaldigger players and family members at the 50th Anniversary of the 1975 'Miracle on Main Street' team. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

TOLEDO – A majority of sports fans of a certain age are familiar with the U.S. hockey team’s “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. And they probably remember New York’s “Miracle Mets,” who came out of nowhere to beat the Baltimore Orioles to win the 1969 World Series.

Barry Manilow’s smash hit, “It’s a Miracle,” debuted in 1974. That same year, an expansion hockey team from Toledo would complete what local hockey fans thought was a million-to-one shot at the end of the 1974-75 season – win the Turner Cup championship trophy.

That season – particularly the Goaldiggers’ surprising playoff run – has been fondly referred to as “The Miracle on Main Street” ever since.

Eleven players and family members from the 1974-75 team returned to downtown Toledo on April 13 for a meet-and-greet at Imagination Station, celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the Miracle on Main Street. Fans got signed autographs from the players and took photos with the Turner Cup, which was on loan from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

The Goaldiggers were young and led by a fiery Canadian-born coach named Ted Garvin, who coached the Detroit Red Wings a year earlier, only to get fired 11 games into the season. The Goaldiggers sloshed through the 1974-75 regular season, finishing with a 34-38-4 record and a third-place finish in the 11-team International Hockey League’s South Division.

John Martin, then a 6-foot, 200-pound left wing, was moved to defenseman by Garvin 15 games into that season. Martin played college hockey at Providence College.

Goaldigger fan Don Kier holds onto his hockey puck as he talks to former Goaldiggers. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Former Goaldigger Chuck Hart signs an autograph for Don Kier, who attended the game when the Goaldiggers won the Turner cup in 1975. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

“I grew up playing forward,” said Martin, 75. “Defense was not my best position. I loved it here in Toledo. The players, the fans…the reception we got was outstanding. The fans were unbelievable that year, their passion with hockey and towards us.”

Martin has fond memories of the Goaldiggers playing their home games at the old Sports Arena, located on Main Street in East Toledo. The Sports Arena was demolished in 2007.

“When I was at Providence we played at the Rhode Island Auditorium, which was similar to the Sports Arena,” Martin said. “Our fans were very friendly to us, but not to the other team. We gave everything we had and those fans gave us everything they had.”

One of those fans was Don Kier, 71, who attended the meet and greet at Imagination Station. He was a die-hard Goaldiggers fan back in the day. Kier was studying journalism at the University of Toledo when the Goaldiggers won the Cup in 1975. He still has a photo of the Goaldiggers’ players raising the trophy after winning the Cup in 1978.

“We would go downtown to the hockey games and sit in section 104, behind Eddie Rutherford, the organist,” said Kier, who is also a huge Toledo Walleye fan. “We finished towards the bottom of the division [in ‘75] and came out of nowhere to win the Cup“We had two very good goalies in Ted Tucker and Pierre Chagnon. Tucker was in net in game 7 [of the Cup finals], and it was his birthday. Ted Garvin knew how to motivate the team and how to motivate the fans. He was a coach and showman in one.”

Travis Tucker takes a photo of his father’s name on the Turner Cup. His father, Ted Tucker, played for the Goaldiggers in the 1976-77 and 1980-81 seasons. He said he sent a photo to his sisters. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

The Goaldiggers beat the Columbus Owls in five games in the first round of the playoffs to set up a best-of-seven semifinal series with the South Division champion Dayton Gems.

Toledo inexplicably won that series in six games to advance to the Cup finals against the Saginaw Gears, who had the home-ice advantage in the series.

“Ted came up with another system for the playoffs,” Martin said. “We went more defense – one player was on the offensive end and two players stayed back. It was a different style. NHL teams used that, but these (playoff) teams never saw us do that.

“When Ted coached us, he coached us to get us into the playoffs,” Martin added. “We were a first-year team, so he wanted us to get in the playoffs and win it.”

Doug Mahood was a 5-11, 220-pound right wing for the Goaldiggers. He was raised in the tiny town of Teeswater, Ontario, Canada, and played for Toledo for two seasons before getting traded to Port Huron in 1977.

Mahood was a member of the Goaldiggers’ infamous “Murder Inc.” line in 1974-75. Mahood, at right wing, Willie Trognitz at left wing and the late Paul Tantardini at center formed a formidable trio.

1975 Goaldiggers player Doug Mahood hits pucks into the net in the hockey play area at the Imagination Station. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

“We were tough,” Mahood said. “I was tough and good in the corners, winning battles. I was intimidating, a good checker.”

Mahood said he never had an issue with Garvin’s coaching style. Garvin passed away in 1992 at age 69.

“He was phenomenal,” Mahood said. “He knew when to pat you on the back or kick you in the butt, and he never held a grudge. You knew where you stood.”

The Saginaw Gears finished third in the IHL’s North Division in 1974-75. They were a third-year franchise coming off a surprise run to the Turner Cup finals the previous season.

Standing next to the Turner Cup, Mike Poddany, of Oregon, wears his Toledo Hornets shirt during the Goaldiggers meet and greet. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

In essence, the ‘75 Turner Cup finals featured two third-place teams that got hot when it mattered. The Gears went 43-29-3 during the regular season and had an advantage in the fact that if the finals went to seven games, Game 7 would be played in Saginaw.

It was.

Toledo won Game 6, 7-3, to set up the championship game. On May 7, 1975, the Goaldiggers beat the Gears, 6-5, on center Juri Kudrasovs’ eventual game-winning goal with 4:45 left in the third period. Ironically, Kudrasovs, a native of Brampton, Ontario, played for the Gears the previous two seasons.

Former Toledo sportscaster Jim Mengel, who covered the Goaldiggers and worked weekends for Toledo Channel 13, was at Game 7 and watched Kudrasovs’ shot hit the back of the net.

“When they started the season, they were rough,” Mengel recalled. “Then Garvin paid more attention to winning games. Toledo fans weren’t there just for fights. I don’t like to predict, but I knew it was going to be tough.”

Mengel shared what went through his mind when Toledo scored with 4:45 left against the Gears. “I was rooting for the Goaldiggers. I thought, ‘This is going to be the longest four minutes and 45 seconds in existence.’ ”

The Stiles family talks to former Goaldigger Donny Craig. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

Toledo held on when a Saginaw shot bounced off the Goaldiggers’ goal post with five seconds left in the game.

An estimated 10,000 Goaldiggers fans took to the streets downtown to celebrate that night, surrounding the Sports Arena as Tiedtke’s department store literally went up in flames, two years after it closed.

The players were thrilled with the fans’ turnout. To quote the lyrics from Manilow’s hit 1974 song: And, baby, there’ll be dancin’ in the street.

“I was 22 and our team doctor told me to savor every minute, and that I would remember this my whole life,” Mahood said. “Other than getting married and having children, that was the most special time of my life.”

Mahood retired from hockey following the 1977 season and has lived in Toledo ever since.

“Toledo,” he said. “has always been good to me.”

ANNOUNCEMENT: The HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever exhibition is officially extended through August 31 at Imagination Station. HOCKEY: Faster than Ever is a traveling exhibition produced and toured internationally by Flying Fish in collaboration with the Montréal Science Centre and supported by the NHL and NHLPA.

Photos by Lori King

Fans are greeted with a hockey display at the Imagination Station.

Monclova residents Addison Farah, 8, and her brother Lucas, 5, play Super Chef. Lucas plays hockey and is the reason for the visit.

Sporting his 1975 Turner Cup championship ring, Goaldigger Jim McCabe signs an autograph.

Ruthie Tantardini signs autographs for fans. She was the wife of Goaldigger Paul Tantardina, who passed away 19 years ago.

Hockey fan Jay Nick speaks with family members of former Goaldigger players. Nick is wearing a No. 23 Barry Scully Goaldigger jersey from the 1982-83 season. Nick and his mother had seats next to the bench.

Alex Stiles gets a close-up look at Donny Craig’s championship ring.

Matt Killam: Issue 8 renewal levy for Toledo Metroparks

By

Lori King

-

April 16, 2025

0

On this episode of Behind the Byline, host Jaden Jefferson has a conversation with Matt Killam about Issue 8, a renewal operating levy on the May 6 primary ballot.

This issue replaces the current property tax levy for the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area (Metroparks Toledo) before the old levy expires in 2028. The levy is for “operating, improving, conserving and protecting” parks and Metropark lands.

Killam, the Metroparks Toledo’s chief external relations officer, talks about:

what the levy will do for Toledo Metroparks, and how much it will cost Lucas County voters
caring for 19 parks and 13,000 acres, and maintaining the “best park system in the country”
an upcoming Ohio house bill, if passed, will take away the ability to use the word “replacement” in the levy language
the value of the Metroparks’ green space and conservation efforts
how the Toledo Metroparks got started and where it’s going from here

New episodes of the Behind the Byline drop every Wednesday on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Pod Station⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Behind the Byline is a production of the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Toledo Free Press.⁠

Rockets take on Wolverines at 5/3rd

By

Max Alfonso

-

April 16, 2025

0

COLLEGE BASEBALL: APR 15 Michigan vs. Toledo — Toledo catcher Josh Cote puts a late tag onto Michigan’s Mitch Voit as he slides safely into home plate during the game between the Rockets and Wolverines on March 15 at Fifth Third Field in Toledo. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

TOLEDO – The Toledo Rockets hosted the Michigan Wolverines in a chilly midweek battle at Fifth Third field in downtown Toledo Tuesday.

The Rockets came into the game flying high after a series win against Eastern Michigan, while the Wolverines came into the Glass City after winning six straight games.

The two teams last met in Ann Arbor at Ray Fisher Stadium on March 11, where the Big 10 school won 6-4.

The second matchup wasn’t any better for Toledo. The Rockets’ performance, highlighted by bad defense and an offense that has been near the bottom of the MAC statistically all season, led to a 10-0 shutout defeat in a 7-inning run rule.

Toledo players, who are bundled up for the cold weather, watch the action on the field. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

A split fan base bundled up for the cold weather. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

This is the second straight year Toledo hosted Michigan at Fifth Third Field. Last year, Michigan won 6-4.

Michigan had 10 runs on 11 hits and broke the game open in the 5^th on a three-run home run by Jeter Ybarra. Michigan starter Cade Connolly went 6 innings before giving the ball off to Dylan Vigue to close the game in the 7^th.

Toledo entered the game ranking last in the MAC with a team batting average of just .215, while Northern Illinois sat one spot ahead 37 points higher at .252. Toledo could only muster one hit, and it was an infield hit to the first baseman, where the pitcher was late getting to the bag at first.

Toledo drops to 13-22 and hosts Western Michigan this weekend in a huge series. UT is looking to return to the MAC tournament in late May, but needs wins as the season winds down.

UToledo head coach Rob Reinstetle hopes this loss doesn’t set his team back mentally before the weekend series against Western Michigan.

Toledo relief pitcher Ryan Hughes delivers a pitch. (TFP Photo/Scott W. Grau)

“I just told the team you have to wipe this away as quickly as you possibly can,” Reinstetle said. “We gotta win these weekend games in the MAC and put ourselves in a position to get to that tournament.”

Toledo is 8^th currently in the MAC, Western Michigan is 7^th. The top six teams make the MAC tournament.

Reinstetle hopes that the offense gets hot as the weather warms up, but isn’t using the cold weather as an excuse.

Last year, Toledo was second in the MAC with 89 homers, this year they’re 9th with only 24, and last in doubles with 41.

Despite Tuesdays result, the pitching has been rock solid for Toledo all year, ranking second in the MAC with a 5.65 ERA and a 5.38 ERA in conference play, which is good enough for 4th.

A crowd of just over 900 people sat in cold windy weather, but Jane Ramsey and her husband Duane Ramsey have been Toledo supporters for a long time and would like to see more games downtown, even though they do attend games at Scott Park.

“I like the fact that it’s here,” Jane Ramsey said. “I like it cause the seats are great, I can sit under the awning. I like the concessions. I just like everything about here.”

“We’ve already got tickets for the BG-UT game,” she added. The rivals play May 2 at 7 p.m. at Fifth Third field for the 4th straight year. The next two games of that series will be at Scott Park.