TOLEDO – This is the season of high school graduations and the activities that go with it. As students, parents, and families enjoy the accomplishment, it is also time to think about the next chapters of life. Graduates, this marks the completion of the first major chapter of your lives; you have worked hard, overcome challenges, and reached an important milestone that deserves to be celebrated.
As you move forward, the next chapter will lead you toward college, skilled trades, military service, entrepreneurship, or the workforce. Each new opportunity ahead of you will help shape your future and open doors to new experiences and growth.
Another import chapter in life will be building meaningful relationships and creating a strong support system of family and life friends who will encourage and stand beside you through every season of life.
Dr. Stredrick, Superintendent of Maritime Academy, marches in the graduation procession. (Courtesy photo by Jim Rush)
I also want to say that parents, families, teachers, and mentors have given guidance, encouragement, and sacrifices to help you as graduates reach this point. Dr. Misha Stredrick, Superintendent of Maritime Academy, reminds us that many of our high school graduates are first-generation graduate students.
Kate Fineske, Executive Director of Museum of the Great Lakes, who was the graduation speaker for Maritime Academy told students that “success is rarely linear. Life is not a straight line; life is like water – you must navigate currents of change.”
Fineske went on to advise students not to let social media guide their lives. Most people on social media are no smarter than you, she said, adding details about her own life’s challenges as a way of saying to students that life is not perfect.
Kate Fineke, the keynote speaker at Maritime’s graduation. (Courtesy photo by Jim Rush)
Additionally, I cannot end this article without encouraging these new voters to make their voices heard. I heard Xernona Clayton (who the first Black TV show) speak in Atlanta, and she talked about the need to vote. She also said students should always do the right thing and treat people right. She said that, in the past, Grady Hospital in Atlanta would only let Black women have babies in that hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This is the kind of issue that reflects what voting is all about. Clayton had an impact on the Ku Klux Klan by treating the Grand Dragon as a person and not someone to fear. Her message about voting and treating people right will help graduates in their life journey.
Graduates of all schools, continue pursuing your dreams with courage and determination. Believe in yourselves, work hard, and never stop striving for excellence, because you absolutely have the ability to achieve great things in life.
Dr. Stredrick said that 24 seniors graduated from Maritime this year. Their salutatorian was Fernanda Fernandez and their valedictorian was Dontae Osley.
Maritime Academy offers career paths in culinary arts, arts, business, college preparation, and health care.
TOLEDO – Imagine that you are a participant in an experimental drug trial, leading to a severe reaction. You instinctively call 911 for help, but when they arrive, instead of taking you to the hospital, they put you in an overnight jail cell. This was the experience of Kay Anderson, the founder and executive director of the Northwest Ohio Innocence Clinic (NWOIC).
Kay Anderson sits at her desk replying to emails. Kay works with numerous legal minds, including many professors from UToledo. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells)
While Anderson was never charged for the possession of the drug she was testing, she still faced a possible 20-year conviction. Many like her have much worse outcomes. Anderson had a friend who was convicted for a crime years later, and she saw that evidence used in his case had disappeared. After working with the Ohio Innocence Project, Anderson decided that Lucas County needed something similar.
NWOIC was founded as a non-profit organization with the goal of raising awareness to both prosecutors and the public of legitimate claims of innocence in Northwestern Ohio. Since its founding, the clinic has worked on 30 cases that warrant an investigation. The clinic works closely with the University of Toledo, where many law and criminal justice students get involved. Along with them, many individuals from outside the university also join the organization.
Kay Anderson has been involved in the legal world since her time as a private investigator. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells)
“We have people that are just psych majors, and people that aren’t even students,” remarked Esther Goldstein, a recent UToledo graduate. “We have an electrician… they’re just family members of people who have been wrongfully convicted, and they want to help out and learn what they can do on their own in their own time.”
The main focus of the NWOIC is to educate individuals in the community on the justice system and how to investigate potential claims of innocence. Anderson leads Zoom calls and in-person meetings where she teaches her students the basics. From public record searches, skiptracing (learn more about this in the video interview) and document requests, Anderson hopes to impart the knowledge that someone would need to find second chances for convicts.
A stack of documents sits on a desk inside of Kay Anderson’s home office. The NWOIC is a place where anyone can learn to investigate wrongful convictions. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells
At the heart of investigating claims of innocence are Brady Claims, evidence that is found after a conviction that can alter a verdict. Anderson aims to teach her students how to find these, as they are the basis for overturning wrongful convictions. Many are found through public record requests, something that Anderson has found increasingly hard to do.
Along with finding claims of innocence, individuals who get involved in the NWOIC learn valuable life skills that will aid them long after they leave the clinic. Goldstein found that her experience would be put to good use in her career in public defense.
“I’m gonna be an attorney eventually, and I’ll have to communicate with clients or all sorts of people, victims, you know? And it’s important to have those communication skills, especially in this type of field because you’re working with all sorts of people, different education levels, different backgrounds. So it’s important to be able to communicate on a wide variety and scale.”
A poster of known wrongful convictions in Lucas County adorns Kay Anderson’s wall in her home office. Kay founded the NWOIC after her experience with a potential wrongful conviction. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells)
Anderson also spoke about the Joel Terry case. In 2018, Terry was convicted on multiple counts of raping his daughter. DNA evidence that was tested pointed to a male, but no specific male. The way that the prosecution delivered the case, the jury convicted Joel, and he received multiple life sentences. A few years later, that same evidence was retested, and the new test showed that Joel was not a match. Due to this, Joel was released on bond last November.
“His whole family was there and they all celebrated… his daughter, who’s one of our interns, was crying. Everyone was so excited and cheering and you could feel it in the courtroom,” reminisced Goldstein. “You could feel how powerful that moment was and how much it meant. His case isn’t resolved yet, but just being able to celebrate Christmas with his family meant so much to him, and it meant so much to us just to be able to be in the courtroom and share that moment. So, it’s those small victories or those small moments [that] are big victories. and we don’t get a lot of them.”
Fighting a system that seems to routinely work against those who are disadvantaged is something Anderson and her students are constantly engaging in. She feels that, recently, many steps have been taken to further limit the access the public has to records. To her, the deck is stacked against the truth, but she continues to make it her mission to bring wrongful convictions to light.
Learn more about the Northwest Ohio Innocence Clinic here.
On the return of TFP Weekend, Jaden Jefferson speaks to Brian Price, founder and CEO of the group Americans for Political Tolerance. Price shares his thoughts on how to improve civic engagement, make elected officials more accountable to their constituents, reduce polarization, and combat apathy toward the democratic process.
Jefferson also gets Price’s perspective on what “working together” looks like — in the current context — as political debate is increasingly shaped by differing views of morality, rather than policy.
Brian Price speaks with an interested attendee at a May Primary event about his organization, Americans for Political Tolerance. (Courtesy photo)
Last year's Old West End Festival parade. (Courtesy photo)
TOLEDO – Nothing sets the tone for summer like the parade, house tours and musical performances of the Old West End Festival (OWEF), on the first weekend in June.
The evening of Friday, June 5, kicks off the 53rd Old West End Festival and it continues through Sunday, June 7.
2025 Old West End Festival horseman at the parade. (Courtesy photo)
Friday, June 5
Arboretum Concert
On Friday evening, three bands will play at the Agnes Reynolds Jackson Arboretum, at the intersection of Delaware and Robinwood Avenues, easing festival-goers into the OWE experience.
6 p.m. The Ready, Reaction, Dance Rock 7 p.m.The Sympathy Orchestra, Progressive Rock 8:30 p.m.The Zimmerman Twins, Rock
Also on Friday night, there will be a 60-90 minute Glow Roll bike ride meetup at 8:30 p.m. at 2860 Glenwood Ave.; the ride itself begins at 9 p.m.
The annual King Wamba Parade is full of performers and elaborate floats. (Courtesy photo)
Saturday, June 6
Old West End Stampede 2026 (5K)
The Old West End Stampede 2026 (5K) walk/race will begin at 8:45 a.m. at 2499 Collingwood Blvd. Packet pickup and registration begins at 7:30 a.m. insideBlack Kite Coffee, at the intersection of Collingwood Blvd. and Delaware Ave.
The run is planned to end right before the most recognizable staple of the OWEF – the parade.
King Wamba Parade
For two decades, the King Wamba Parade, an iconic procession for King Wamba and Queen Sancha, has been the crowning feature of the OWEF.
Two OWE neighborhood, community-minded individuals are chosen each year as the king and queen to lead the parade through the streets of the neighborhood.
Starting at 10 a.m. the two set out from Robinwood Ave. and Collins St., and stop the procession at Collingwood Blvd. and Floyd St.
The parade culminates with the couple’s coronation on the steps of the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA).
Following the coronation, a commemorative OWEF song, “Festival Time in the Old West End” by Eric Stihls, will have its first full-band debut on the TMA steps at noon.
Saturday music schedule at the Arboretum (at the intersection of Delaware and Robinwood Avenues):
NoonArctic Clam, Rock 1 p.m.Slacker Vibes, Outlaw Indie 2 p.m.Ryan Roth, Rust Belt Americana 3 p.m.Science Class, Rock/Hip-Hop 4 p.m.Horselover, Alt Rock 5 p.m.Goalpost, Alternative Rock 6 p.m.Tasty Bits, OH-CAL Reggae 7 p.m.Funk Factory, Feel Good Music 8:30 p.m.Flex Arcana and the Softshell Armadillos, Psychedelic Honky Tonk
Saturdaymusic schedule at the Art Fair Stage (at the intersection of Parkwood and Woodruff Avenues):
1:00 Agele Middleastern Dancers, Dances of Egypt & N. Africa 2:00 Cheap Spirits, Grunge/Soul 3:00 Rick Flores, Solo Acoustic 4:00 Blake Lehman, Indie Folk 5:00 New Moon Folk, Rock, & Blues
The Arboretum and Marketplace will have many food trucks and vendors to choose from. (Courtesy photo)
Sunday, June 7
Sunday music schedule at the Arboretum (at the intersection of Delaware and Robinwood Avenues):
NoonBlack Swamp Union, Grungy Blues 1 p.m.Elmhurst, Electronic 2 p.m.Chloe & The Steel Strings, Americana 3 p.m.Adrian J. Smith, Original Acoustic Rock 4 p.m.Sky Watchers, Alternative Psych-Rock
Sunday music schedule at the Art Fair Stage (at the intersection of Parkwood and Woodruff Avenues):
NoonKeen Garrity, Alt Country 1 p.m.Sankofa Sounds, Afro-funk Fusion 2 p.m.Refuge, Christian Rock 3 p.m. Rob Storm, Acoustic Rock 4 p.m.Chris Salyer, Country/Americana
Saturday and Sunday at the OWE Festival will feature many activities like a bounce house, clown, and crafts. (Courtesy photo)
Saturday & Sunday
General OWEF activities
Vendors will surround the TMA’s Glass Pavilion for the regular Art Fair, and in-between Scottwood and Robinwood Avenues on Woodruff Ave. will be the Marketplace. These groupings of vendors include various makers, food trucks and will include a performance stage, at the intersection of Parkwood and Woodruff Avenues.
The Art Fair and Marketplace will both run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Yard sales and house shows
Separately, throughout the wood-named streets (i.e. Robinwood, Scottwood, Parkwood, etc.), yard sales will line the OWE neighborhood with various house shows for music.
Arboretum
The other food and music hub will be at the Arboretum with the Beer Garden, an area with an assortment of food trucks. The list of those trucks and performances are listed below.
The Arboretum is open from noon-10 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Children’s activities
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the TMA and Glass Pavilion will also have the following kids activities available:
Family Center Make & Take Art by the TMA, Science on the Road by Imagination Station, Jimbo the Clown of Herdsmen Puppets will be making balloon animals, Jude Arlo Hart will be face-painting and there will be an obstacle course bounce house.
House Tours
House tours will be in full swing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Presale tickets before May 31 cost $20, and after the May deadline they cost $25 per person, with kids under 12-year-old touring for free with an adult.
Houses available for tours:
The Lathrop Duplex 2308 Robinwood
A 1920 Arts & Crafts style home with 2 sunrooms, rounded walls and beautiful hardwood floors built for George W. Lathrop.
The Schaal/Miklovich House 2711 Robinwood
This 1907 build is a charming adaptation of a traditional four square home featuring original woodwork and coppered glass china cabinets.
The Delaware Revitalization Project 624 Delaware
624 Delaware
An eclectic 1902 Spanish Shake house that has been saved from demolition and is now ready to welcome its next owner.
The McCallum House 619 Acklin
This 1893 Victorian Folk design home was the first of the “quads’ and built as an investment property. Features include a fireplace and four bedrooms.
The Bissel/Walker/Cope House 624 Virginia
An 1887 Gothic, shake house with an unusual asymmetric layout. The diamond muntin windows and quirky attic space are truly original.
Collingwood Presbyterian Church 2108 Collingwood
This 1879 church is one of the few that remains active on what was once known as “The Avenue of Churches.” The grand 1904 sanctuary together with the 1923 addition known as the Community House take up an entire block.
Sunday tour hours at Collingwood Presbyterian will be noon-5pm.
This 1911 barn at the corner of Dutch and Waterville Monclova Road was purchased by Waterville Township in April. The trustees agreed to hire a company to reside the barn in order to preserve its integrity. The barn will be used to store equipment. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP – Exterior renovations to a landmark barn are set to start this summer.
The 1911barn was among three Dutch Road parcels along U.S. 24 that were purchased by Waterville Township in April for a total of $138,385. The township plans to move forward with having the barn’s outer shell covered in metal in order to preserve a structure that is otherwise in good condition.
Trustee Toby Miller obtained quotes from three specialists – E & R Roofing and Heritage Construction and Renovations – who recommend the siding in order to make the building watertight and to keep animals out, he told trustees during their May 27 meeting. E & R Roofing also included a quote for replacing the exterior with wood, which would be more authentic but would necessitate painting every five to seven years.
All three quotes also include work on the doors, windows and roof, and range from $76,000 to $87,000. Trustees approved a budget of up to $80,000 and authorized Fiscal Officer Jeanne Taylor to obtain information on insurance and Workers Compensation and to negotiate a contract with one of the three.
“I want to know potential uses and how it will benefit the township,” said Trustee Julie Theroux.
Miller said the facility can be used for the storage of equipment for the township, county and Klumm Brothers, which plows the non-county roads. But to allow its use for public gatherings would require extensive renovations inside, as well as adding fire protection.
“If you look at our comprehensive plan, there are a lot of folks who would like to see a public space that could be used by people in the township – like a park. We have to consider the cost. We can maintain the outside of the barn to keep it structurally sound. That will give us time to consider what else we could do,” he said.
Funds for the renovations will come from the gas tax and road funds, since the facility will be used to store road equipment, including a new $15,166 mower from D&R Outdoor Power Equipment and a trailer. The township contracts with the county to mow roadways, but instead can now contract with township residents to provide that service.
Trustees Julie Theroux, Kyle Hertzfeld and Toby Miller, along with zoning inspector Jim Fischer, prepare for the May 27 meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
During the meeting, the trustees also:
-Heard that a draft of the Land Use Plan update is posted at watervilletownship.com and that a final version should be ready for review in June.
-Discussed the zoning fees, which the township Zoning Commission reviewed, and made recommendations on changes. The commission sent its proposal to the county for review, but is seeking input from trustees on what to charge for an off-premise electronic sign.
The current, nonrefundable application fee for such signs is set at $10,000, which the commission and zoning inspector think is unreasonably high. Dan Bollin and James Moline, who own Dutch Self Storage, would like to install an electronic billboard along U.S. 24 to promote other businesses and include safety alerts, but are awaiting news on what that zoning fee will be. Trustees agreed to wait for the county’s recommendations before discussing and voting on it.
-Learned that trustees are working with Whitehouse to amend its existing annexation agreement and to coordinate a joint economic development district. The annexation agreement is expected to be presented for a vote during the June 24 meeting.
-Heard Miller say that he and his neighbors received notices from the Lucas County Engineer asking to inspect ditches in order to charge an assessment for their maintenance. He learned that those notices went out by mistake, as the township is covering the cost of ditch maintenance in Swan Creek Watershed using the $62,000 remaining in stormwater maintenance fees. The township can do this maintenance themselves or hire someone to do it – or the county could use these funds to do the work.
-Heard that the police department is set to receive a $5,000 Safety First Grant from Norfolk Southern. Chief Kevin Smith said that former officer Joel Turner – who now works for the railroad – alerted him to the grant opportunity. The funds will be used toward radio equipment.
-Learned that Anthony Wayne High School 2025 graduate Marissa Galton is interested in an unpaid internship with the township police. Smith will check with the insurance company on liability.
-Viewed a video taken by Miller from his back deck, showing a Nexus pipeline blow down – when a large quantity of gas is released into the air. Nexus or Enbridge are supposed to contact local public safety officials prior to the blowdown but did not. He called the hotline number on the township website, but that number and several others are disconnected. Eventually he found an Enbridge representative who promised to provide an emergency number. Enbridge owns the Nexus pipeline and the compressor station on Moosman Drive.
-Approved a $57,530 contract with Premier Patching to do crack repairs in 25 locations throughout the township.
-Learned that the Lucas County Planning Commission will review the township’s proposed zoning text changes governing data centers and other large facilities during its Wednesday, June 24 9 a.m. meeting at 1 Government Center in Toledo.
-Listened to Todd Heller, a member of the Data Center Advisory Committee, ask whether Bill Burkett – a member of the township zoning commission and an employee of Regional Growth Partnership – would be recusing himself from a vote on the zoning text amendments, especially in light of the fact that Burkett voted to forward the proposal to the county during a May 12 special meeting. Heller said that’s a direct conflict and asked trustees what they would do. Trustee Kyle Hertzfeld suggested he contact the Ohio Ethics Commission for clarification.
-Answered questions from Whitehouse resident Leslie Harper, who read the moratorium and proposed zoning language changes to govern data center and other large facilities.
-Discussed Lyn Cox‘s question about what happens if an applicant makes a request to rezone a property to M-3 and only two trustees are voting. Hertzfeld has stated that he will recuse himself because relatives own land in the area that has generated interest from a data center developer. If Trustees Theroux and Miller have a split vote, no zoning change could take place. Two votes at a minimum are needed to pass a zoning change, Miller said.
Annually the Memorial Tournament selects an honoree and this year’s honorees are two-time major champion David Graham (pictured here) and former St. Andrews professional Allan Robertson. (Courtesy photo)
DUBLIN, OHIO – The Memorial Tournament is once again set to be contested at Muirfield Village Golf Club, June 4-7. The event, one of nine Signature tournaments on the PGA Tour with a $20 million purse, always draws a star-studded field.
First played in 1976, the Memorial has seen 36 different winners, 85 honorees and generated more than $56 million for Nicklaus Charities and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Thus far, they have received commitments from world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood and Gary Woodland.
In his last four starts at the Memorial, Scheffler has recorded two third-place finishes and is working on a three-peat, having won the tournament in both 2024 and 2025.
Matsuyama was the youngest winner ever of the Memorial, as well as the first Japanese player to win there, when he grabbed the title in 2014.
Fleetwood is one of the most elite ball strikers in the world. He has always been a solid performer for the European Ryder Cup Team and won the 2025 Tour Championship.
Woodland earned an emotional fifth career PGA Tour victory recently at the Texas Children’s Houston Open. He publicly revealed in March at THE PLAYERS Championship that he had been diagnosed with PTSD following brain surgery he underwent in September 2023. It was his first win since capturing his U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach.
Other names that will probably be in Dublin for the tournament include Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Cam Young, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.
Annually, the Memorial Tournament selects an honoree; this year’s honorees are two-time major champion David Graham and former St. Andrews professional Allan Robertson.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Memorial founded and hosted by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Graham and Robertson will be honored at the presentation ceremony, Wednesday, June 3.
David Graham, from Australia, won eight times on the PGA TOUR, including the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills and the 1981 U.S. Open at Merion. Both major victories came on storied courses that validated his longtime goal of becoming a world-class player.
The Aussie won the 1980 Memorial Tournamentbeating another major champion Tom Watson by a single stroke, making birdies on three of his final four holes.
Jack Nicklaus. (Photo by Fred Altvater)
“This is one of the greatest honors I have ever received,” said Graham, 79, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2015. “I’m just tickled to death as a past winner of the Memorial and a proud Muirfield Village Golf Club member to have been selected by the Captains Club. It’s even more rewarding to know that this was a decision by such a distinguished committee. This is a really special honor, especially having a close relationship with Jack Nicklaus.”
A member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Graham is credited with 36 professional wins on six different continents. He also won five times on the PGA TOUR Champions before retiring in 2004. He served as the captain of the International Team in the first Presidents Cup in 1994 and for years was a member of the Masters Tournament Cup and Tee Committee responsible for setting up the course at Augusta National Golf Club. He also has designed golf courses, predominantly in the U.S.
Among the honors he has received include the Order of Australia by Queen Elizabeth II in 1992 for contributions to the game. He is a member of the Australian Sports Hall of Fame and the Australian Golf Hall of Fame as well as the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Born St. Andrews, in 1815, Allan Robertson followed his father and grandfather into golf. Both men served as caddies at the Old Course at St. Andrews and were accomplished feathery ball-makers. His father, Davie, was one of Scotland’s top players.
Robertson became known as one of the finest feathery ball makers in Scotland. Old Tom Morris worked as an apprentice in Robertson’s shop. Ultimately, it was his skill as a player that set Robertson apart, and he reigned over the game for nearly two decades. He was known to be practically unbeatable in challenge matches, either alone or with Morris as his partner. Robertson also contributed to golf as a caddie, inventor, keeper of the green and course designer. Among his credits are improvements to the Old Course and 10 holes at Carnoustie Golf Links.
Charles Blair Macdonald, a trailblazer in American golf, once said, “Allan Robertson was the best-known golfer of his generation and generally thought to have been the greatest player of his day.”
Robertson died on Sept. 1, 1859, in St. Andrews at age 43 after an attack of jaundice. His prowess as a golfer was so profound that his passing inspired golfers at Prestwick Golf Club to institute a competition to determine who would succeed Robertson as the best player, or “Champion Golfer.” Thus was born The Open Championship.
A plaque in his honor was dedicated only a few weeks ago at St. Andrews. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
The 2026 Memorial Tournament presented by Workday will celebrate the Tournament’s 50th anniversary June 4-7. For ticket information, visit thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700.
Morgan Lindsey, Izzy Geha and Kaleigh Glesser install a plant in the prairie. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
A section of land along Blue Creek – long used for overflow parking during Anthony Wayne football games – is being transformed into a living classroom.
Over the past several months, Anthony Wayne Junior High School students have planted and watched the progress of a prairie that will provide food and shelter for native animals.
“I didn’t realize how much prairies helped,” said seventh-grader Crosby Caskey, watching on May 22 as his classmates fanned out onto grass that was planted in early March. “I have an interest in native plants. Just seeing them providing for animals is awesome.”
Anthony Wayne Junior High students search for pre-dug holes in which to place native plants in a prairie that is in its first year. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Kneeling in the grass, Reece Bueher took an aster and tamped it into the ground. While he was a student at Waterville Primary School, Reece was often involved with that school’s land lab.
“It took a while for it to come together,” Reece recalled of the Waterville prairie, which now serves as an educational resource for students.
It was seeing the success of Waterville Primary’s land lab that inspired junior high principal Jordan LeFevre to apply for his school to be a part of Project PRAIRIE, which is made possible through the Toledo Zoo’s Education Department in coordination with Wild Toledo and a grant from Owens Corning.
Last year, LeFevre learned that the school was accepted into the program, which includes standards-based curriculum for teachers to use in educating students about the prairie. The junior high prairie is now one of 160 planted outside schools, businesses and communities throughout the northwest Ohio area in the last 13 years.
“Knowing how much Waterville uses their land lab, and seeing kids being able to get outside and experience it, I can see opportunities for science classes to do studies here,” LeFevre said. “It’s experiential type learning.”
Nolan Barnaby, Caleb Duggan, Sammer Elmays and Gabe Mendoza prepare to put some native plants into the prairie. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Last fall, a long patch of grass just south of the middle school parking lot was cleared. In early March, Toledo Zoo educators arrived with native grass seed for students to plant.
“With the freezing and thawing, the seed coating around the grass seeds will open up just like an egg for the grasses to grow nice and tall,” Toledo Zoo educator Alex Burris told the shivering students during that first visit.
And grow tall it did. As the students returned last week to add wildflowers, milkweed and other native plants, they had to search for the pre-dug holes that Toledo Zoo educators had made among the grass.
Bradley Dean, a self-described “green thumb,” has planted sunflowers, herbs and deep flowers that attract hummingbirds in his yard, but this was his first experience in planting a prairie. Just being outdoors during the school day is a bonus, said Bradley, who is a Counselor in Training for the Metroparks – helping with outdoor and nature education.
Even as Bradley and the other eighth-graders move on to the high school, they will have opportunities to visit the prairie to observe its progress. LeFevre said he can envision all students in grades 7-12 gaining insight from the prairie, including those interested in STEM, the environment and even Principles of Food classes. It’s also a prime example for the community to witness a change.
Audra Buckenmeyer accepts a handful of seeds from a Toledo Zoo educator during an early March planting of a prairie on the Anthony Wayne Local Schools’ Finzel Road campus. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Native plants can absorb run-off and nutrients that would otherwise wind up in the water supply, said Ryan Walsh, Ph.D., director of plant conservation for Toledo Zoo.
“The deep root systems of native plants stabilize soils and hep the plant absorb harmful CO2 that would otherwise contribute to climate change. Humans benefit from all of these ecosystem services provided by native plants as well as the positive psychological benefits that are known to come from exposure to natural areas,” Walsh said.
Native plants are adapted to the area and are easy to grow. Some native plants can serve as host plants for up to 10 different species at a time, he said.
Max Kleiboemer checks out a sign that illustrates the actual size of a big bluestem and its roots – one of several native plants that make up prairies in our area. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
“Planting milkweed probably results in the biggest visible change. Even a single milkweed plant can attract breeding monarchs to a yard,” Walsh said. “Milkweed also plays host to the milkweed beetle and milkweed aphid, making them a tiny ecosystem in themselves.”
Even small changes, like a small garden, can have big impacts on local biodiversity, he said.
“We encourage our customers to watch their plants and listen. A prairie or native garden can actually be quite loud with all of the insects buzzing and the animals foraging. Native gardens quite literally buzz with life.”
For property owners who want to add native plants, visit wildtoledo.org.
Ryder Matney and Grant Klewer get their fingernails dirty while placing a native plant in the ground. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Standing next to a Wild Toledo sign announcing the prairie are (from left) Aiden Johnson, Enzo Cottier, Tenley Smith, Grace Holland, Bella Kerschner and Talya Tokmak. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Killdeer eggs in Temperance, Mich. (Photo by Metroparks Toledo Nature Photographer Art Weber)
Look very closely at this image until you see them…
Mother Nature has endowed its creatures with a wondrous array of adaptations to fill every niche. Some species are outliers, possessing survival techniques well outside the norm.
Count the killdeer, an attractive upland shorebird with a piercing call that sounds like “kill-deer,” among those outliers. Within hours of hatching, their young are ready to run and begin feeding themselves by mimicking their parents’ foraging techniques.
Their nests are virtually non-existent because, well, they don’t really need them. The adult female lays her well-camouflaged eggs directly on the ground in a spot that’s often little more than an exposed scrape in gravel or short vegetation.
Your best indicator a nest is nearby is the arrival of one of the adults performing a famously overly dramatic broken-wing display intended to lure would-be predators away from the nest.
Josh Hartbarger, center, is joined by his father, Rory, wife Nikki and daughters Josie and Valerie following the May 19 Whitehouse Village Council meeting, where he was commended for his 25 years of service. Hartbarger is set to begin a new position as administrator with the city of Maumee on June 1. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
WHITEHOUSE – The 13 Anthony Wayne High School students attending the May 19 Whitehouse Village Council meeting for AP Government class witnessed first-hand how public servants can make a difference.
As Josh Hartbarger prepares to conclude his 25-year career with the village – one that started as a volunteer firefighter and concluded as deputy administrator and chief operating officer – Council passed a resolution commending him for his meritorious service.
While he will remain a village resident, Hartbarger will begin a new chapter in his career as administrator for the City of Maumee. Village Administrator Jordan Daugherty said he’s always known that Hartbarger was destined for something big.
“Josh’s leadership here has done more than direct operations or manage programs – it has inspired others to grow professionally, to pursue excellence in public safety and to deepen their commitment to public service,” Mayor Rich Bingham said.
He noted that since taking his most recent role as COO and deputy administrator, Hartbarger has brought steadiness, strong administrative skills and clear communication – elevating day-to-day operations by mentoring staff, refining systems and modeling professionalism that is expected from public servants.
“He is known across departments and among residents as dedicated, respected, a thoughtful communicator and a mentor – a public servant who blends administrative skill with a genuine concern for people,” Bingham continued.
Anthony Wayne High School AP Government students gather outside Whitehouse Village Hall on May 19, following the village council meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Council members also weighed in. Carrie Tuohy said her first months in office were “scary” but that Hartbarger allows everyone to have a voice and feel heard. Steve Fine said Hartbarger’s service and leadership served as a role model. Joe Bublick noted that Hartbarger is respected throughout the community. And Larry Yunker said he’s enjoyed seeing Hartbarger progress in the 20 years since they first met while Yunker was applying for grants for the fire department.
“I wish I could have met you sooner,” said Council Member Dave Riggenbach.
Council Member Louann Artiaga first met Hartbarger when he was third-grader in Barb Smigelski’s Whitehouse Primary School classroom, which approached council in the early 1990s to ask that the village open a public library. When the non-profit Whitehouse Library opened years later, Hartbarger was one of the first board members.
“Who Josh Hartbarger is to me: a man of principal and many virtues. It has been my honor to watch you grow as a man, friend and community leader,” Artiaga said.
One reason why Hartbarger has been able to shine is because of the support he’s had over the years from an excellent staff, elected officials and residents, noted former council member Rebecca Conklin Kleiboemer.
“One of the best legacies you can do for him is to continue that spirit and work together,” she advised. “They’re big shoes to fill, but you have such great people here.”
Hartbarger thanked the village, administration and elected officials for their support, and credited his parents, wife Nikki, and daughters Josie and Valerie, who put up with his time spent away from the family. He also noted that Smigelski’s letters over the years have continued to inspire him to “build bridges.”
During the meeting, council also:
-Heard that the village received $258,000 in Ohio Public Works Commission funding for resurfacing in Steeplechase, Blue Prairie, Belmont Circle and Stockton Avenue.
-Listened to Police Chief Allan Baer thank the students who participated in a joint rescue task force training at the high school – designed to give police and fire/EMS personnel realistic scenarios that involve mass casualties in order to streamline communications and response times. The 20 students acted as victims – screaming and acting so realistically that it elevated his blood pressure, Baer said.
-Heard Fire Chief Jason Francis say that Dave Beakas will resign effective May 31 after 34 years in the fire service. He will be recognized on June 3.
-Listened to Tuohy ask about Bingham’s comment, during a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, that he could serve as a tie-breaker if Council is split 3-3 on a vote regarding employee benefit changes. Since the COW meeting is a discussion led by the council president, Tuohy and Yunker said Bingham should not have a vote. Law Director Kevin Heban said Council only votes during council meetings, but that he would need to research Bingham could break a tie on decisions made on whether to forward a recommendation from COW meetings to a full vote at council.
-Heard that the village needs to reline a section of sewer, which comes with a price tag of $1.2 million. Staff is looking for grants to cover the cost, but may consider a low interest loan.
-Discussed a request for a speed study on Oak Brook Drive, as development of Country Meadows South will access Oak Brook through a Temperance Street stub. The current concern from many Oak Brook residents is speeding, and a speed camera can be used to provide data to determine if a future speed study is needed. If it is, the developer could be required to pay for the study.
-Heard that Council is considering reinstating a Design Review Board to govern standards in the downtown area.
PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP – Providence Township is getting help from its neighbors to the east.
Concerned that a data center might land in the area, trustees asked Waterville Township Trustee Toby Miller to share details on his township’s push to adopt a new M-3 zoning designation – and amend its M-2 and M-1 zoning language – rather than using a conditional use permit process put into place last year.
During their May 20 meeting, Providence Township trustees listened as Miller outlined how his township put a one-year moratorium in place Dec. 17 and has since formed a Data Center Advisory Committee. Through the committee’s research and advice from the planner leading the township’s land use plan update, Waterville Township agreed to move forward with a change in how it will handle requests from data center developers or other large, campus-style high energy usage facilities.
Using a conditional use permit (CUP) for such large entities is problematic for a few reasons, Miller said. First, the process bypasses trustees –elected officials who meet regularly – and puts the decision in the hands of Board of Zoning Appeals members, who are appointed officials who only meet when needed.
Also, a CUP is considered an administrative process, and therefore cannot by challenged by citizens. On the other hand, a decision to rezone property to M-3 could be appealed by residents, who could file a referendum by collecting signatures from 10 percent of registered voters who voted in the last election.
“This is a major change switching from a conditional use permit to actual zoning,” he said.
The 67-page document outlining proposed changes to the zoning resolution includes regulations for sound, light, setbacks, landscaping and other aspects. It also sets fees of $500 an acre just to apply for rezoning, plus a large escrow that would be used in the event that the facility was not finished, abandoned early or if the operators do not comply with regulations.
“What we’ve seen in Middleton Township and found in our research is that it’s never Microsoft or Apple coming in with a single permit – it’s 27 LLCs splitting it into dozens of permits,” he said. “In this resolution, we make it to where they have to submit an integrated plan.”
That means even if multiple entities are handling portions of a large project, the entire project has to be presented with a plan for all phases of construction so that all the rules apply across the board, Miller said.
Trustees spoke with Miller about how to integrate the new language into their existing zoning resolution, and Miller offered to help in that process. Providence Township had already been undergoing an overhaul of its zoning resolution when Jim Fischer – who serves as zoning inspector for both townships – suggested they look at following Waterville Township’s lead to add M-3.
Monclova Township and Spencer Township are also watching to see how the Lucas County Plan Commission and staff receive the proposed language changes. During a recent meeting, Monclova Township Trustee Barbara Lang thanked Waterville Township for taking a different approach that could provide more protection.
“We’ll see how comfortable everyone is with the language,” Providence Township Trustee Steve Kendall told Miller during the meeting. “We’re obviously aware that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. People on the township line have been asking if it will be across the road.”
While no applications have been submitted, the southern half of Waterville Township has plenty of farmland. Its dividing line with Providence Township is Hertzfeld Road.
Making the zoning regulations the same in both townships will solve future problems that may develop, Kendall said. Trustee Lee Bialecki agreed, noting that moving on changes soon makes sense.
“That way if something breaks loose we’re all on the same page,” Bialecki said.
Without having any language governing data centers on the books, Providence Township approved a one-year moratorium on April 15, and asked Fischer to seek out advice. Miller recommended that trustees and residents who are interested in more details on the proposed zoning language should look at watervilletownship.com for the full report and a presentation made during a May 12 meeting. The next step is for the county to review the report and make recommendations. A series of public hearings will take place at the county and township level in the months to follow.
During the meeting, trustees also:
-Heard Jim Stang, zoning commission chair, ask why trustees are looking at replacing a 10-year-old dump truck. With the price of new vehicles skyrocketing, he said trustees should consider the number of miles and usage of the truck rather than just replacing vehicles every 10 years. Bialecki said keeping the fleet in good working order is vital to ensure roads are cleared in emergencies. He added that waiting would result in a lower trade-in value as well.
-Discussed a Berridge Road resident’s request for another extension – this time until Dec. 30 – to complete an accessory building that is under construction. The building was to be complete April 30, but due to delays they asked for a June 30 extension. Trustees agreed to wait until the property owner could come to a meeting to answer questions before deciding on issuing another extension.
-Heard an update from Fire Chief Richard Triggs on options for repairing or replacing the 2022 ambulance damaged in a Feb. 18 accident by another driver. He is also reviewing with Fiscal Officer Julie Ludwig the insurance coverage amounts for all vehicles and equipment.
