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How to vote in 2024

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

Lucas County Board of Elections explains voting details, process

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Many other election details are explained at lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Election calendar

Key dates for the November 5 election:

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

CAMPUS TALK

OWENS COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SOUND OFF ABOUT VOTING

Question: How important is voting to you?

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.

Norma Ramos-Prater: Victim advocate for the people

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Norma Ramos-Prater, Hispanic-Latino outreach coordinator for the Toledo-Lucas County Victim Witness Assistance Program, left, meets with a client in Domestic Relations Court on April 1. Ramos-Prater specializes in helping victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – Sparsely populated with furniture bolted to the floor and a grayscale palette, the waiting room for the Domestic Relations Court at 429 N. Michigan St. is quiet.

Attorneys speak privately with their clients in soundproof rooms with glass dividers, while others sit in silence, waiting to go before the court. 

Present in the sea of waiting is the woman Norma Ramos-Prater came to see. Ramos-Prater, the Hispanic Latino outreach coordinator for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, embraces the woman with a smile, holds her hand and admires her nails.

Norma Ramos-Prater admires the nails of a client she met in Domestic Relations Court on April 1. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“She’s shaking,” Ramos-Prater says, squeezing her hand as a few tears escape the young woman’s eyes. The two of them almost have the same uniform – black dresses, braided hair and grave expressions.

The young woman, whose identity is best left unknown, is seeking a divorce and alleging domestic violence. Ramos-Prater is there to translate, provide emotional support and guide the woman through the process.  

On the other side of the room, the woman’s husband is visible, also waiting, but then the judge moves the court date back to reconvene at another time. 

The victim’s advocate role within the Victim Assistance Program has been around for a number of years. In 1984, Ohio passed the State Victims Assistance Act (SVAA) in coordination with the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), which set aside funding and resources to help people who have had crimes perpetrated against them.

Norma Ramos-Prater sits in her office inside the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center in Toledo on Tuesday April 1, 2025. Ramos-Prater chose to setup her office in the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center to be more approachable to the community she serves. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“The work those men and women do at the prosecutor’s office is nothing less than God’s work,” said Matt Cherry, who learned firsthand how important that work is when he was assisted during a court case by Joan Coleman, a strong leader in Lucas County victim’s advocacy, who died in 2023 at the age of 91.

After an altercation at a party, Cherry, then 16 years old, and one of his friends decided to leave the gathering when “the individual who was throwing the house party ran off his front porch and unloaded on our vehicle. Unfortunately, my best friend didn’t make it.”

With a bullet to his leg, Cherry, now 45, was able to physically heal, but said reliving the experience in court was “devastating.”  

Vera Sanders, director of Victim Services for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, spoke from her 28 years of experience, and described the judicial process as “not victim friendly. A lot of the victims don’t understand how to maneuver or how to get through the criminal justice process without that [victim] advocate being there to help.”

Sanders attributed part of the difficulty with of the judicial process to the necessary investigative nature of fair trials. 

“It is set up as innocent until proven guilty, and so the defendants have to have rights,” she said, and this means victims may have to relive much of the worst moments of their lives as courts come to their own conclusions. 

The other difficulty for victims is understanding and trusting the process involved with the judiciary, a hard task for anyone who isn’t trained in court processes.  

“She was there and able to explain things to me and able to console me in a way that was different than what my parents and my family could do because she knew what the events were going to be,” Cherry said of Coleman. “And she knew others that went through the exact same thing I did.”

Unfortunately, not all communities or individuals report crimes, and the Latino community has suffered disproportionately due to a declining trust in law enforcement. 

A 2013 survey of Latino populations across counties in California, Illinois, Arizona and Texas showed 70 percent of undocumented immigrants were less likely to report being a victim of a crime than other victims.

“They have the same rights as any human being has,” Ramos-Prater said. “And that’s one of the things that I try to educate everyone that comes to me, to let them know they have rights.”

An article in the Journal of Social Work, also published in 2013, found that the entire Latino population had a declining trust in law enforcement, regardless of immigration status or citizenship.

In an attempt to bridge trust, specifically with the Latino population in Toledo, the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office, led by Julia Bates, curated Ramos-Prater’s position as the Hispanic Latino Outreach coordinator, a specialized victim’s advocate position designed to help victims who are apt to slip through the cracks within the justice system. 

Norma Ramos-Prater receives an award from the City of Toledo during the State of the City Address at Tower on the Maumee’s 13th floor in downtown Toledo on March 5. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Sanders lauded Ramos-Prater for her work as an advocate and for her ability to reach people.

“She’s actually a lifesaver for that community. There’s nowhere in the Latino community that they’re just not raving about what Norma has done and what she means to that community.”

Traditionally, victim’s advocates are tied closely to the court process, but Ramos-Prater also makes herself visible through community events, teaching English and Spanish classes at a local South Toledo Church, and personally familiarizing herself with resources her clients may use in the future. 

We don’t trust. They need to see you involved in the community to trust. Sometimes they don’t even give you the right name.

Norma Ramos-Prater

For the past six years, Ramos-Prater has setup her office inside the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center, located at 1225 Broadway St., to make herself available to the community in a less formal setting. 

Norma Ramos-Prater teaches English at St. Lucas Lutheran Church on Dec. 12, 2024. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“To get the community involved, you have to get involved in the community,” said Theresa Johnson, an outreach coordinator for St. Lucas Lutheran Church, where Ramos-Prater teaches language classes. Just down the hall from the classes, attendees can also benefit from a free lunch program, free blankets, bookbags, personal hygiene kits, a food pantry, a second-hand store and an Alcoholics Anonymous group. 

According to Ramos-Prater, a victim’s main challenges are childcare, language and transportation difficulties, and she does “a little bit of everything,” sometimes beyond victim relief because “the need is so much.”

A woman Ramos-Prater has been helping for years, Mercedes Aguirre, an American citizen living in South Toledo, had problems getting her daughter the medical attention she needed. 

Norma Ramos-Prater looks over scheduling details with Mercedes Aguirre in Aguirre’s South Toledo home on April 1. Ramos-Prater coordinates (TARTA) schedules for Aguirre’s daughter. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Mercedes Aguirre shows a picture of her daughter, Sofia, 15, as Norma Ramos-Prater looks over scheduling details for public transportation. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“I referred them to the board of disability many years ago,” Ramos-Prater said. 

Aguirre’s 15-year-old daughter had complications with a chronic condition and needed help coordinating transportation through the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA), as well as translation for the doctor.  

It is small gestures like these, where Ramos-Prater is willing to meet everyday people where they are, in their homes if necessary, and connect them with an array of resources that builds trust within the South Toledo community. 

And to keep that trust Ramos-Prater does her homework before she recommends a service or a group to her clients. 

“I have to find out which agencies provide services to them, [and] if they are Spanish speaking,” and then, “I act like I’m the one [getting services] to make sure that my victims are not victimized again.

“I went through that free clinic to see how they treated them. And now I know that my victims will get medical treatment at the free clinic and they’re going to be treated properly.”

This is especially important for victims of domestic violence. Ramos-Prater often discovers domestic violence situations tangentially, when an individual needs help with some other service.

Ramos-Prater recalled telling a woman facing domestic violence that she had the right to have a protection order.

“A lot of women don’t know that. They don’t know that they have those rights. Nobody has the right to abuse them.”

The Latino Outreach coordinator is a valued position, and for the moment, is secure for the immediate future. Part of what allows the program to have this added security is diversified funding sources by local, state and federal entities. 

40 percent of federal VOCA funds are on the chopping block. $140,000 was set for this last year, and the upcoming year is looking to have that $140,000 shaved down to $84,000. 

Regardless, Ramos-Prater has not been phased by the changes in government, “We’re gonna’ keep pushing forward,” she told the Toledo Free Press. “Our office is gonna’ help victims of crime.”

Norma Ramos-Prater, the Hispanic-Latino outreach coordinator for the Toledo-Lucas County Victim Witness Assistance Program, meets with a client at Domestic Relations Court. Ramos-Prater specializes in helping victims of crimes, regardless of their immigration status. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

NBC’s ‘The Paper’ inspired by Toledo newsrooms

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Stephen Gullette, marketing and social media specialist for JŪPMODE, points out designs NBC requested to use in their new show, The Paper. About a year ago, Gullette was in correspondence with NBC, who used JŪPMODE designs to create the set for the new sequel to the 2000’s hit The Office.

TOLEDO – A new spinoff to the beloved sitcom The Office was announced this month by NBCUniversal, and it’s gearing up for its first season debut on Peacock in September. 

The new series, called The Paper, is the successor to producer Greg Daniels’ signature mockumentary style, but the location has now moved on from the Electric City (Scranton, Penn.) to the Glass City for a story centered around local journalism. 

During the search for the location, FilmToledo was told the production had toured a number of different Midwest newsrooms to find a home for the new show, but was not definitively told Toledo would be the chosen location.

According to cleveland.com, “Editor Chris Quinn [of cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer] disclosed that producers of The Paper had approached his organization about getting Cleveland materials for use in the mockumentary series.” He told NBC “no.”

In short, “We were not going to be the subject of buffoonery,” Quinn said. 

For now, it’s uncertain how far the search for a new location went, but production for The Paper started reaching out to a variety of Toledo fixtures in spring 2024, starting with the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, who directed the sitcom team towards FilmToledo.

“It was really like an educational session for them, because they really didn’t know Toledo too well, but they really wanted to get it right,” said Michael DeSanto, executive director of FilmToledo.

Michael DeSanto. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“At the time, we didn’t know that it was called The Paper. We knew it was connected with The Office, being written and produced by Greg Daniels and his team. But obviously, they couldn’t go into too much detail, but we already had a pretty good idea of what the project was about.

“Most of their work was done last year,” DeSanto said. “But they had gone into the [Toledo] City Paper and The Blade [for] a little bit for research, and from what we’ve heard, they did pop in to film a couple things.”

Riley Runnells was the editor of the Toledo City Paper at the time, and she got to meet one of her favorite actors during NBC’s fact-finding tour of Ohio’s fourth largest city.

“It was actually very random,” Runnells said. “It was presented to me via email that they [NBC] were researching for a show that they were putting together, and it was going to be about journalists in the Midwest.

“They came across my work online, and they wanted to shadow me, or they wanted to have their actor come in and shadow me for a day to see the logistics of running a newsroom.”

Domhnall Gleeson, the lead for the new NBC show, The Paper, shadows and interacts with Riley Runnels, the editor for the Toledo City Paper, at the Toledo City Paper office in Downtown Toledo, Ohio on June 12, 2024.

To Runnells’ surprise, Domnhall Gleeson, the lead in the 2013 movie About Time and the new lead for The Paper, showed up on the Toledo City Paper’s doorstep without any sort of entourage. 

“I am a very, very big fan of his,” Runnells admitted. “I was expecting, you know, maybe a writer or a producer or somebody from the show to come in, but I did not expect the lead actor to come in. It was so exciting.”

Runnells went through her day as normally as she could, considering a famous actor following her, and then spent at least two hours giving Gleeson an in-depth understanding of the relationship she had with her newsroom. 

Michael Koman, one of the show-runners for the show, reportedly visited The Blade, according to Runnells. 

More vaguely, DeSanto also mentioned that NBC visited The Blade, Toledo’s oldest newsroom, although this visit seemed to happen before FilmToledo or the Toledo City Paper were aware of the project, according to a Blade article. It states, “Kim Bates, executive editor of The Blade, said writers for the show were at The Blade in December 2023, during which time they spoke with a variety of newsroom employees.”

Gleeson’s visit to Toledo happened in June 2024, so that may be an indication of what kind of newsroom is represented in The Paper

No one except the NBC execs will truly know what The Paper will be like until it releases, but Runnells did not share cleveland.com‘s fears of being the butt of a joke. 

“I think it shows a great deal of maturity to be able to laugh at yourself,” she said. “I’m certain that there will be some shots taken at the community, but I think what really makes that okay and what will make that funny is that they will also have a lot of really heartfelt moments regarding Toledo.

“There’s definitely going to be that pride for the local element, because you can’t have a show about a local newspaper and not have at least some of the characters be really passionate about where we’re living.”

One of the original cast members, Oscar Nuñez, who played the accountant Oscar Martinez on The Office, serves as a throughline between the two shows; he was reported to have told The Hollywood Reporter that he wanted the show to take place in a more cosmopolitan setting. 

“Greg heard me and moved Oscar to Toledo, Ohio, which has three times the population of Scranton,” Nuñez said. “So it’s nice to be heard.”

A single still photograph has been released from the show, with lead actor Gleeson appearing to stand on top of a desk, and is presumed to be the newsroom for the Toledo Truth Teller, serving as an early glimpse into what will come out in the fall. 

The set looks similar to that of The Office, with a few different set choices, as Toledo’s own JŪPMODE noticed. 

Stephen Gullette, 29, the marketing and social media specialist for JŪPMODE. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

“You can see it in the bottom right corner. It’s blurry, but that was cool,” said Stephen Gullette, the marketing and social media specialist for JŪPMODE, as he pointed to one of the JŪPMODE designed mugs visible in a shared photo of the show’s upcoming production.

“I noticed it this morning,” he said the day after NBCUniversal announced the show. 

“They had searched on our website a couple of items they wanted,” and asked him if they could use those items for the show. “I’m excited. We were talking this morning about how they might portray it [Toledo].” 

Gullette said he was a bit worried about Toledo getting a portrayal like the one on the Netflix show A.P. Bio, which he said took a number of jabs at the city. Undeniably, he said, the show will poke fun at Toledo, but hopefully, “nothing too serious.” 

However, JŪPMODE’s retail art director, Shannon Mossing, who designed much of the Toledo specific merchandise the studio chose, said it was exciting and she was honored to have her designs in the show which represented Toledo. 

Another Toledo businesses contacted by the studio was local coffeeshop Black Kite, whose general manager, Emerson Dupont, said, “I gave them a bunch of cups,” for reference. 

The Toledo Free Press was not contacted by the show because it wasn’t in operation yet. The TFP website didn’t officially go live until August 2024, months after Gleeson’s visit.

Either way, it’s clear there will be at least an attempt to portray Toledo in a genuine way, served up alongside a tongue-in-cheek snapshot of the floundering print local news industry. 

You might see these JŪPMODE products on the show, The Paper, when it debuts in September. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Young birders club leads field trip

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OAK HARBOR— When the Ohio Young Birders Club (OYBC) led a free youth field trip May 17 at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, the Toledo Free Press was on hand to chat with some of the youngest birders in attendance at the Biggest Week in American Birding.

The mission of OYBC, a program of Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), is to encourage, educate and empower youth conservation leaders. Members participate in field trips and service projects and present an annual conference.

Some of the birds the youth spotted on their hike included a bald eagle on its nest, a common nighthawk, a mourning warbler, Baltimore orioles, yellow warblers and warbling vireos.

Students were accompanied by several adults, including Jamie Cunningham, education director and statewide coordinator for OYBC, and Kenn Kaufman, renowned birding expert behind the Kaufman Field Guide series. Kaufman said he was there to lend support and answer questions while the young people took the lead. 

Kaufman is married to Kimberly Kaufman, executive director of BSBO, who played a key role in starting the OYBC in 2006 after a few young people came to BSBO staff searching for a youth birding organization. When they couldn’t find one, they decided to create one.

“Rather than try to tell the kids what the club would do, we just asked, what would you like this club to be?” recalled Kenn Kaufman. “So, they named it; they came up with the ideas for the programs.”  

At the first annual conference, Kaufman said all the speakers, including the keynote, were under the age of 20.

“And so it’s been a principle of the Ohio Young Birders Club ever since that it’s an organization where the young people can shine,” he noted. “It’s not adults taking kids around and lecturing to them.”

The OYBC has become a model for youth birding programs around the country, with BSBO staff helping to create similar programs in more than 20 states and two other countries. The group offered two free field trips for birders under the age of 18 during this year’s Biggest Week in American Birding, the festival organized by the BSBO.

Don Lee: Tangle Free

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Factory farms: The negative impact on human health, livestock

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Pigs in pens. (Courtesy Photo/Mark Stebnicki/Pexels.com)
This is a limited series on farming. The next story will focus on local family farms.

(⚠️ Content Warning: This story contains descriptions of animal cruelty and graphic conditions inside factory farms, which some readers may find disturbing.)

Americans eat a lot of meat. We each eat an average of 116 pounds of chicken, 84 pounds of beef and 66 pounds of pork, annually. To be able to consume as much meat as we do, we rely on factory farms. There are presently 24,000 factory farms that raise approximately 1.7 billion animals in the United States. 

A factory farm is a large-scale facility where animals like cows, pigs and chickens live primarily indoors in crowded conditions. These farms focus on boosting production while cutting down on costs. Factory farms are also called concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. Here, animals are often kept in tight spaces and raised in bulk to meet high demand.

The EPA’s 2020 report on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) recorded 257 permitted sites in Ohio. However, the real number could be much higher when considering facilities that operate without permits. Pinpointing the exact count of CAFOs in Ohio remains a challenge. A map of CAFOs in the Western Lake Erie Basin can be found here.

Effect of factory farms on human health

Dr. Kathleen Longo, from Ann Arbor, who is board-certified in internal medicine and worked at the VA in primary care, now volunteers for organizations like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Mercy for Animals. I interviewed Longo about the impact of factory farms on human health.

The first topic we discussed was the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Longo felt that “they use so many antibiotics in the farmed animals because they’re so confined in small spaces that they can get skin diseases and they can get diarrhea, and it passes quickly to the other animals. So, once those antibiotics are used in livestock farming, it promotes the bacteria to become more resistant. And so, then, that’s less antibiotics that we can use for humans.”

Dr. Kathleen Longo. (Courtesy Photo)

We then talked about diseases that can be spread by animals, or zoonotic diseases. Factory farms often crowd animals together and lack proper sanitation. These settings help diseases that move from animals to animals and spread quickly. 

Swine flu, avian flu, salmonella and MRSA are found in this type of facility. In fact, about three out of every four new infectious diseases come from animals. Large-scale animal farming has played a significant part in their spread.

In regard to pollution and health, Longo stated that “when you think about the factory farm runoff into the water and into the soil, all their fecal organisms from the animals pollute the surrounding water and pollute the surrounding soil, so that is a chance for it to contaminate the food products, or contaminate a farmer’s field and contaminate your water supply.”

Wastewater runoff can also include nitrites, heavy metals and pesticide residues. These substances have been linked to cancer and reproductive issues in surrounding communities.

Factory farms also release gases, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, into the atmosphere. These emissions can cause breathing problems, including asthma and bronchitis, among workers and people living nearby.

Concerning foodborne illnesses, animals kept in factory farms often face stressful environments, which weakens their ability to fight off infections, such as Salmonella and E. coli. This raises the risk that these bacteria will end up in meat and dairy products. Worldwide, about 35 percent of foodborne illnesses are tied to meat, dairy or eggs from these farming systems.

Working on a factory farm can be challenging. Factory farm workers often experience dangerous job conditions. They face a higher risk of injuries, breathing problems like chronic bronchitis, and mental strain due to weak labor protections.

Negative effect on farm animals

Another source for this story was Dr. Tim Reichard. Reichard served for 22 years as chief veterinarian at the Toledo Zoo and was a member and chairman of the Animal Welfare Committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Reichard grew up on a small dairy farm in western Pennsylvania, and, at that time, his family had a herd of 40 cows.

He believes very strongly that animals are not treated well at factory farms. In response to the poor treatment of animals, Reichard focuses on animal rights and promotes the Five Freedoms for Livestock. The Five Freedoms for Livestock (Figure 1) are internationally recognized principles for evaluating and promoting animal welfare.

Figure 1. Five Freedoms for Livestock. (Graphic Credit/Steve Roberts)

These guidelines are often seen as the standard for humane treatment and have been adopted by groups like the American Veterinary Medical Association, the World Organization for Animal Health, the ASPCA and American Humane. They aim to guide farmers, veterinarians and policymakers in creating better living conditions for animals while considering the practical challenges of farming systems.

Managing a factory farm involves confining large numbers of animals, such as cows, pigs and chickens, in highly constricted crowded environments, like cages, stalls, barns or feedlots to produce meat, milk and eggs.

In reality, the farming industry often treats animals as if they were unfeeling assets rather than the intelligent, complex and emotional creatures they are. Most of us do not get to know what they’re like since we only know them as meat from the grocery store. 

Because of these issues, there is resistance to factory farms across the country. Locally, Lake Erie Advocates, Lake Erie Waterkeepers, Wood County Citizens Opposed to Factory Farms and the Environmental Law & Policy Center have been fighting factory farms for many years.

“When they’re kept in those small areas, and a lot of times they’re on wire, it affects the bottom of their feet – the leg deformities and so forth that occur from being in that environment – they can barely stand anymore. It leads to arthritis,” Reichard said.

Confinement of animals on factory farms

Extreme confinement is a characteristic of factory farming that leads to boredom, frustration, stress and other serious concerns.

As Reichard mentioned, hens raised for egg production are often kept in battery cages – small enclosures made of wire. Each hen is given a floor area equal to the size of a sheet of printer paper, and the cages are usually about 15 inches tall. This small space prevents the birds from fully spreading their wings without hitting the cage walls or other birds. As a result, these cages restrict nearly all of a chicken’s natural behaviors, such as dust-bathing, nesting and scratching.

Cattle eat in mass. (Courtesy Photo/Mark Stebnicki/Pexels.com)

Cattle raised for beef often begin life grazing on open land, eating a traditional diet. This period ends around one year of age when they are taken to the (CAFOs). These facilities are densely packed indoor spaces, where cattle are fed mainly corn until slaughter. The overcrowding, poor sanitation and low-quality feed contribute to significant health issues. There is an increased risk of bacterial infections, prompting the routine use of antibiotics and hormones. These are used to maintain health and ensure the cattle reach the desired slaughter weight.

Most pigs raised for meat production in the United States live indoors in confined, overcrowded facilities.

Dr. Tim Reichard. (TFP Photo/Steve Roberts)

Pregnant sows are commonly kept in gestation crates for their four-month long pregnancies. These cramped enclosures are so small that the animals can only stand or lie down and cannot turn around. As well as limiting movement, these crates deprive the sows of mental and physical stimulation.

Shortly before giving birth, sows are moved to farrowing crates. These enclosures are also restrictive, with the added restriction of little contact between mother pigs and their piglets, except for nursing. Once the piglets are weaned, the sows are re-impregnated and go through the same cycle of confinement and stress, repeating this process until they are sent to slaughter.

“With swine operations, it’s concrete or mats or whatever, because you have to have a method to clean them out,” said Reichard. “And being in that situation, it leads to a lot of a lot of arthritis, and just if you can imagine where you can barely, barely move around.”

Also concerning to Reichard was that “chickens and pigs kept inside could be seriously overheated without adequate cooling in summer temperatures.”

Painful procedures on factory farms

Animals are often subjected to painful procedures while they are kept in overcrowded conditions, including during transport. When animals retain their beaks, horns or tails, they may unintentionally or intentionally injure one another. To prevent this, practices, like dehorning cattle, trimming chickens’ beaks and docking the tails of pigs, are carried out. These procedures are typically done without providing any form of pain relief.

Cattle are treated at an early age to prevent horn growth. For very young calves, disbudding (removing horn-producing cells) is done by using a hot iron or caustic paste before horns begin to develop. Reichard prefers that the caustic paste not be used since it can run into calves’ eyes. When the horn tissue has attached to the skull, cutting through the bone (dehorning) may be required. Disbudding is usually preferred over dehorning as it is less invasive, carries fewer risks, and is less painful. Even disbudding can cause prolonged pain lasting weeks or months.

Farmers disbud or dehorn cattle to reduce the chances of horn-related injuries. Horns can cause bruising during transport and pose risks to other animals and handlers on the farm.

Historically, tail docking has been performed on pigs, sheep, dairy cattle, and cattle reared on feedlots with slatted floors. The procedure has fallen out of favor with cattle.

Pig producers commonly dock tails to reduce the risk of tail biting and chewing among pigs in shared pens. Tail biting can be problematic because it can cause infection, reduce weight gain and increase the need for veterinary care. 

Tail docking is typically carried out within the first week of life, often along with other procedures, such as castration, teeth clipping and ear notching. In piglets, scissors, sharp instruments or a hot knife are often used to remove most of the tail.

Beak trimming, also called debeaking, is performed on chickens raised for laying eggs and breeding stock used for meat production. The procedure involves removing a portion of the beak using either a heated blade or a high-intensity infrared light. Typically, between one-third and two-thirds of the beak is removed. 

Chickens in cage. (Stock Photo/Cotton Bro Studio/Pexels.com)

The primary purpose of beak trimming is to decrease the pecking of feathers, wattles and combs. According to Reichard, the debeaking is also done “because chickens in confinement will go after each other if there’s a little bit of blood, so they can kill each other.” 

One of Reichard’s frustrations is with the USDA Animal Welfare Act (AWA), enacted in 1966, that addresses animal well-being. It is the primary federal law in the United States regulating the treatment of animals in research, exhibition, transportation and commercial sale. The act addresses housing, handling, sanitation, food and water, veterinary care, exercise and psychological well-being, except for farm animals. Reichard expressed great concern that the USDA Animal Welfare Act does not cover farm animals used for food or fiber.

In summation, factory farming treats animals inhumanely by overcrowding, forcing animals to live in uncomfortable environments and performing painful procedures to make them more manageable. Factory farming also poses serious risks to human health through environmental contamination, disease proliferation, antibiotic resistance and zoonotic diseases. 

Garmin selects Toledo for 1st Marathon Series

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Runners will traverse through the Old West End, a popular Toledo neighborhood. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Training by Dave’s Running Shop begins May 19

TOLEDO – If you missed running in the 48th Mercy Health Glass City Marathon in April — or perhaps you want to compete in two marathons here in the same calendar year — don’t fret. You’ll get another chance to navigate Toledo’s fast, flat terrain when Garmin hosts its first Garmin Marathon Series on Sept. 21.

Garmin, a Kansas City global company known for its GPS running watches, satellite communicators and vehicle dash cams, is partnering with Run Toledo to host “a world-class event right in your own backyard,” according to Elliott Scott, Garmin’s lead public relations specialist, who was in Toledo last month to scout out the area and meet contacts.

The premier running event will include a full marathon, half-marathon, 10K and 5K, and is designed to accommodate runners of all levels, from beginners to elite athletes. The USA Track & Field (USATF) certified course will take runners to the Toledo Zoo and Toledo Museum of Art, and through the Glass City Metropark, Rossford, Perrysburg and Maumee. The race will start and finish at Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo.

The Toledo Zoo will be a featured location along the course. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

The series will be preceded by a free two-day expo at the Glass City Convention Center and will culminate with a finish line festival featuring food trucks.

Scott added that Garmin is also exploring a charitable partnership to give back to the community, and “to identify a cause that makes sense and is something we can support.”

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

He noted that the idea to host Garmin’s first marathon series sprouted during a discussion among Garmin executives about how to celebrate runners. He explained that their conversation focused on doing something meaningful and authentic that would allow them to tell the Garmin story in a new way.

“We sponsor races all over the world – and that’s great, we’ll continue doing that – but let’s produce something on our own,” he said, recalling the company’s decision to produce their own race. “Let’s have the freedom to dream big and create something really unique within running, and so that’s where it started.”

From there, Garmin surveyed several U.S. cities and considered various cultural and aesthetic factors, like a fast, flat course terrain which would attract a wide variety of runners of all skill levels. They also took existing race schedules into account; Garmin wanted to be an additional race and not a substitute.

Scott noted that the race heavily depends on collaboration with public entities in Toledo as well. He said Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, Lucas County commissioner Pete Gerken, Destination Toledo and Run Toledo were all enthusiastic about the idea, and shared a vision for what it could become a driver of awareness and tourism for the city.

When we came to them [city leaders] with this idea, they bought into it very quickly. You really need your city and county partners to be enthusiastic and engaged in it, and that was, I think, what put Toledo over the top.

Elliott Scott

“Toledo has a great running community and a beautiful river front, and that’s exciting. Think about people coming here and experiencing a city they might never have been before. I can say from the races I’ve ran that there is no cooler way to discover a city than to run a marathon and see 26 miles of it,” Scott exclaimed.

Run Toledo oversees ‘nuts and bolts’

While Garmin will handle marketing and atmosphere, Run Toledo will be the race management company in charge of the “nuts and bolts,” according to Clint McCormick, Run Toledo’s senior event director and chief operator.

A division of Dave’s Running Shop, Run Toledo has been managing and developing short and long running and multi-sport races in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan since 2009.

Clint McCormick. (Courtesy Photo)

Run Toledo, which also manages the Glass City Marathon, Run the 419 Series and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure signature events, will oversee course design, operations, logistics and coordination with law enforcement. Run Toledo will also play a key role in recruiting local vendors and volunteers, and bring in other partners, like sports medicine and pace teams.

Aside from the timing — one in spring, the other in fall — McCormick noted a key difference between the Garmin and Glass City marathons will be the level of corporate sponsorship with the Garmin brand. Garmin will not only focus on running, but also highlight its wide range of products and divisions during the two-day trade show, which McCormick likened to Jeep Fest. It will be a celebration of lifestyle, technology and community.

“While Garmin is an international name, the focus will be on the local community,” he emphasized. “I think that’s where we [Run Toledo] play a huge role in making that happen. I think our partnership plays out nicely.”

Run Toledo is also providing a tailored training program for the Garmin Marathon Series. Through Dave’s Training Programs, the largest training program in the region, runners can sign up for a training program beginning May 19.

Registration for the Garmin Marathon Series, expected to attract 10,000 participants, is currently open for all distances; Scott advises that runners should sign up now for two reasons: There’s an incremental price increase as the race date nears, and certain distances could sell out.

“So, it’s better to secure your spot now because it is completely possible, and even likely, that it will be sold out by the time race day comes around,” Scott noted, adding that the cost to enter the race is competitive.

“We see [the series] as an opportunity to make it a really special environment that people remember, and we hope it becomes one of their favorite races.”

Runners: To register for the race, CLICK HERE.
The race will start and finish at Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo. (TFP Photo/Lori King)