Artist Dean Davis holds a board that he used as a guide while painting the 1843 canal boat, Albert White, on a wall on Mechanic Street in Waterville. It is one of five images that are part of a mural commissioned by the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission.
WATERVILLE – It’s been 183 years since the Albert White passed through Waterville on its way from Fort Wayne to Toledo, signaling the opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal. Filled in during the 1920s and 1930s, the canal later became the Anthony Wayne Trail.
Now, a painting of that first canal boat adorns a wall on Mechanic Street, which once served as a millrace from the canal to the Maumee River. Earlier this week, artist Dean Davis began sketching the second of five images that will adorn the 80-foot-by-18-foot wall under a “Welcome To Waterville” banner – all part of the city’s first public mural.
“We’ve been talking about public art for a while. It’s a really important piece of the community and gives everybody an opportunity to engage and have conversations about it,” said Lisa Exner, vice president of the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission (AWAAC). “It helps boost pride in the community.”
With $7,000 from AWAAC fundraising and a $5,000 donation from the Waterville Community Foundation, plus the blessing of building owner Scott Prephan, the AWAAC sought out Davis, who is known for his work on the Glass City River Wall, Holcim Silos, Weckerly Road America 250 barn and nearly 100 other murals in northwest Ohio and beyond.
The mural ties in beautifully with America’s 250 celebration – recognizing Waterville’s history and future.
“We had a conversation about the rich history in Waterville. We started with 20 photos and discussed each one. We picked out the ones that show how Waterville started, and how it looks to the future,” Exner said.
In addition to the canal boat, the mural will include Native American Chief Little Turtle, Wakeman Hall, the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge and an American eagle in flight.
Artist Dean Davis utilizes a Meta headset to trace his original images onto the wall in preparation for painting.
Wearing a Meta headset, Davis quickly marked in the lines for where he will paint the Wakeman Hall exterior, using spray paint and an air brush. The augmented reality (AR) glasses are a game changer, Davis said, eliminating the need to go to a scene at night to use a projector to trace the image on the wall.
“My philosophy is to adapt and learn rather than trying to buck technology,” he said, talking as he sketched. “Now I can put in my workday and not wake up at 3 a.m. to project on the wall when it’s dark.”
Davis worked with AWAAC and Waterville’s Historic District Commission, then drew the rendering in his Art Farm studio just a few minutes away from downtown Waterville. As he draws, and then paints on the prepped wall, he’ll make minor adjustments to give the mural more life, such as making the edges to the “photographs” pop more.
This is the first time Davis has worked with the AWAAC, but he’s familiar with the group and its multiple events.
“These people really are artists, and I think that’s got a lot of merit. Working with these people has been a game changer,” he said. “I think Waterville is looking at public art with a different lens.”
Davis is involved in the 100 Works of Art initiative, a long-term effort to install murals throughout Lucas County. He is also the founder of River Gallery Studio, an artist-led initiative dedicated to creating sustainable pathways for young artists to stay and thrive in the Toledo area. He often works with youth in area schools, including Anthony Wayne. Last year he finished a mural on the wall near Monclova Primary School, incorporating ideas from students.
While this is the first public art piece commissioned by the AWAAC, more plans are on the horizon. Five kinetic wind sculptures from Utah artist Lyman Whitaker will arrive in the city in a few weeks, and be installed along the Maumee River near the Parker Square overlook.
“We certainly would like to contribute to the beauty of all three communities in the Anthony Wayne area, along with other places. Right now we’ve started with Waterville, and we hope we will see some more public artwork,” Exner said.
Davis expects to complete painting the project by the end of May.
A male ruby-throated hummingbird. (Photo by Metroparks Toledo nature photographer Art Weber)
Among all the wonderful hubbub over bird migration comes word that our smallest breeding bird and arguably most amazing summer resident has returned from wintering grounds as far away as South America.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are back, visiting specially designed feeders all over the area. Keep those feeders fresh, clean, and full of properly mixed sugar water – no red dye please – and they’ll be with you all summer.
For obvious reasons, they’re nicknamed Mother Nature’s flying jewels, but don’t be fooled into thinking they’re gentle little creatures. Their demeanor is more barroom brawler than elegant and refined, especially if they’re defending a feeder they’ve staked out as their own.
Though they readily come to feeders, they’re perfectly capable of fending for themselves, nectaring on their preferred tubed flowers and feeding on insects they catch themselves or steal from spider webs.
They’re truly fascinating birds. It’s well worth taking a few minutes to learn more about them. Viewing them is a sure thing at the various Windows on Wildlife in your Metroparks. Look for them in Wildwood Preserve, Pearson, Swan Creek Preserve, Side Cut, Secor, and Oak Openings Preserve.
Monclova Township fiscal officer Gavin Pike and trustees Barbara Lang, Chuck Hoecherl and Deborah Stevens-Laux share a laugh with new administrator Michael Hampton II during the May 4 meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
MONCLOVA TOWNSHIP – Two data center opponents want Monclova Township Trustee Barbara Lang to resign, citing a lack of trust and what Waterside resident Risa Sindel calls Lang’s “evasive, dishonest, dismissive tone throughout meetings the last seven months.”
During the April 20 and May 4 meetings, both Lyn Cox and Sindel addressed the board during the public comments section. During the May 4 meeting, Sindel accused Lang and Fiscal Officer Gavin Pike of not being truthful about participating in data center meetings.
“I don’t plan to resign. My thoughtful reaction is that I’m doing a great job protecting the residents of Monclova. My 20 years of service speaks to that,” Lang said.
Lyn Cox asked Monclova Township trustee Barbara Lang to resign during the April 20 meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
It was early 2025 when Monclova Township trustees began holding public hearings about plans to amend their zoning text to make data centers a permissible use in agriculturally-zoned areas, with issuance of a conditional use permit – a process that requires multiple levels of review and public hearings.
Trustee Chuck Hoecherl explained during a March 31 meeting that the township didn’t have any data center requests pending, but that trustees had heard that site selectors were looking at the township. No one provided testimony against the text amendment, so trustees agreed to move forward with the change, noting that it would give them more control over aspects of data centers such as setbacks, lighting, sound and other factors written in as conditions.
In August, when Cox first learned that Monclova and other communities were being eyed for potential data center sites, she obtained marketing materials from Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) and the county. She created the Facebook page AW-CRAP (Anthony Wayne Area Community Response Awareness Group) and posted those materials. Soon, residents began coming to Monclova Township trustees meetings to ask questions – including Sindel, who said she was alarmed by what she learned.
“I have a strong research background. The public health impact aspect is what gets me concerned,” Sindel said.
So when Sindel heard that Lang, Pike and Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski were on the agenda for the monthly Hot Topics program in her Waterside community, Sindel urged the meeting organizer to add data centers as a last-minute topic. Nearly 100 residents were in attendance.
“When asked if there were any conversations or considerations of a data center deal for Monclova, and/or specifically adjacent to Waterside, both Pike and Lang denied they knew anything, denied any meetings, and claimed to ‘not even know much about data centers,'” Sindel said. “It was clear at the time that Monclova residents were not being given the whole story, but were being manipulatively silenced.”
Risa Sindel asked Barbara Lang to resign from the Monclova Township Board of Trustees during their May 4 meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
During the May 4 meeting, Sindel asked about maps showing a potential data center. Pike said the renderings she referred to are just marketing materials created by the landowner, not a map. He confirmed after the trustees’ meeting that he did attend two meetings where the topic came up, but not in the way that Sindel and Cox assume.
As fiscal officer, Pike is not a voting member of the board, but attends meetings with outside entities to gather information, as he has relevant experience in business, real estate and finance.
“Did I have two meetings? Yes. One was administrative and the other was marketing,” he said.
In Spring 2025, Pike and Hoecherl met with Maumee’s now-retired administrator, Patrick Burtch, and former mayor Jim MacDonald, to look at how the two communities could work together, including the possibility of forming a joint economic development zone along Black Road, the dividing line between the township and the city.
“It wasn’t, ‘This data center is coming in and how do we work with them.’ It was, ‘If something comes in, what do we do?’ It was the first time I remember working with Maumee on a common goal,” Pike said, adding that he felt it was productive to open up a discussion with Maumee since the township is working to avoid further annexation by the city.
In fall 2025, Pike was asked to attend another meeting with an Isaac Land Investments representative, RGP and the city, but said he was handed a marketing piece – a mockup of what a data center might look like on mall-area land owned by Isaac. Once he saw what the meeting was about, Pike said he left after about seven minutes.
“We never met with a developer. A meeting with a land owner is a huge difference from a meeting with a developer – that’s when things start to get real,” he said.
He likens the meeting to the time, several years ago, that an Isaac rep approached him and his partners in Urban Air to propose locating their entertainment business near the mall. He was shown a professional rendering as a sales pitch. Urban Air later located in south Toledo.
Pike said he doesn’t believe a data center would come to the township, and definitely not on mall-area land that is bisected by Black Road and a railroad line. Conversations around potential developments are common, but 90 percent of the time, never come to fruition, he added.
“Those are the two meetings they were talking about. None of them have any significance because there wasn’t any end user,” Pike said, adding that Lang was not in attendance at either of those meetings.
But Cox and Sindel believe the two haven’t been forthright with their knowledge on data center proposals. Sindel said Pike and Lang have used semantics when answering questions during public meetings, such as saying, “We did not talk to a data center developer” instead of answering the more broad question of whether the township has had any discussions with any officials, economic development professionals or property owners about a potential deal with a data center.
“My overarching problem with the trustees, and Barb in particular, is that when considering a project which has the potential to fundamentally change the very character of the township, and is contrary to the land use comprehensive plan, residents should be brought into the discussion earlier,” Cox said. “We know of several meetings where data centers were discussed and we were provided maps by other attendees of those meetings. This, after being told by Barb that there were no discussions going on, that there were no maps. They revealed the existence of the meetings only after we pushed the issue. We feel like we are fighting a potential developer and our own trustees.”
Pike has his own frustrations, stating that he feels that Cox and Sindel are purposefully misrepresenting what he said. The AW-CRAP Facebook page is full of mistruths, he asserts, yet those are not corrected even when Cox is presented with facts.
“How do you prove to the public that you’re not doing something they believe you’re doing?” he asked, noting that trustees even went so far as to have their law director, Dawn Sanderson, draw up legislation – passed by all three trustees – stating that no one in the township has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with anyone about a data center development.
During the meetings, Lang said the trustees have made improvements to accommodate and answer questions from the audience. The microphones were improved so residents can hear better, seating was added for the larger crowds, and the agendas are more detailed.
“Everything they’ve suggested, we’ve implemented to make the meeting more effective, transparent and efficient,” she said. “We’re hearing them and taking action.”
While they appreciate those efforts, Cox and Sindel say Lang’s behavior during meetings continues to be unprofessional, citing instances where she has to put herself in a “time out” after getting frustrated and addressing the audience in what they see as rude manner.
“She has publicly disparaged members of the community for having shown concern over the data center issue. Her clearly visible disdain for concerned citizens is clear,” Sindel said.
“I feel she is a loose cannon, without the emotional maturity and the intellectual curiosity to perform the job as trustee. Her words, body language with the eye rolls, heavy sighs, looks of exasperation, head shaking and demonstration of annoyance is disgusting,” Cox added.
Both women said they trust Hoecherl and new Trustee Debbie Stevens-Laux to respectfully listen to constituents. Lang said she believes she’s targeted because she won’t openly state her opposition to data centers because she’s trying to remain neutral.
“Did I sigh? I apologized. I will try hard to have a neutral face. Do I pull it off every time? I’m not a practiced and polished politician. I am your neighbor. So if I don’t say it completely correctly, it doesn’t mean I’m lying. It means I’m not following a script,” Lang said of the times she’s been visibly rattled.
While the township is currently three months into a 12-month moratorium on data centers – and a housing development is now being eyed for land on Black Road initially thought to be considered for a data center – Sindel said she remains concerned that the trustees might be seduced into deal with another developer.
“I do not see – given seven months of consistent, negative behavior – that Lang would protect or preserve our township while welcoming responsible economic development,” Sindel said, noting that she’s not only fighting for Monclova Township, but all of Ohio. “I do not want to see Ohio further become big tech billionaires’ dirty, toxic broom closet. There must be responsible tech development. That is not happening at this time.”
So is there a way forward to mend differences between the anti-data center representatives, Lang and Pike?
Both Lang and Pike said they’re not comfortable speaking with Cox or Sindel, who they believe misconstrue their words. Sindel said a path forward can only happen if there is “a respectful and open approach of transparency and honesty.”
“Barb has shown us who she is. I go by the adage: when a person shows you who they are, believe them. There is no way forward with her,” Cox said.
Both Cox and Sindel said they will likely continue to ask for Lang’s resignation during the meetings.
“You can come to every meeting and make my life miserable, but I’m still doing my job. I would be really worried about this if I had done something wrong, but I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong. I haven’t had any secret meetings or taken a payout. None of that happened,” Lang said. “Monclova Township is great because we as leaders care so much about the job we are doing.”
Bruce Baginski, of Monclova Township, sits with an anti data center pin during a Waterville Township Zoning Commission Board Special Meeting at Waterville Presbyterian Church (611 Farnsworth Rd., Waterville) on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP – Waterville Township has everything a data center needs: abundant land and easy access to water and electricity. If approved by the trustees later this summer, the township will also have more thorough zoning regulations in place to handle such facilities.
“The committee did not give up any ground. We want to protect the rights of residents,” said Brian Gowing, one of several residents on the township’s Data Center Advisory Committee, which was formed soon after a one-year moratorium was approved in December.
Risa Sindel, sits next to Bruce Baginski, of Monclova Township. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Over the past several months, multiple meetings and intense homework with each committee member researching areas including water, electricity, environment and other impacts, the DCAC dug into zoning codes and the Ohio Revised Code – all with a goal of beefing up the township’s zoning resolution to prepare for a data center or similar high-impact facility.
“Hopefully it dissuades a data center from coming in, but if a data center does come in, they have a lot of hurdles to jump through and a lot of money they’re going to have to put out,” Gowing told an audience gathered during a special May 12 zoning commission meeting.
Last year, the township’s board of trustees – recognizing that a data center developer might want to locate in the area – approved a change to its zoning resolution, allowing such facilities on agriculturally-zoned land with the issuance of a conditional use permit. Facing pushback and questions from dozens of residents, the trustees approved a one-year moratorium to give the township time to research and come up with recommendations, said Trustee Toby Miller.
Toby Miller, Waterville Township trustee, said that facing pushback and questions from dozens of residents, the trustees approved a one-year moratorium on data centers to give the township time to research and come up with recommendations. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
At the same time, the township has been undergoing a thorough review of its 2010 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, utilizing Reveille Ltd. of Bowling Green. In the process, Reveille recommended looking at adding an M-3 Campus Industrial District to its zoning resolution, and to amend its existing M-1 and M-2 industrial district regulations to include tiers that are based on electrical capacity and overall impact.
During the meeting, Miller shared a presentation outlining the proposed amendments to the zoning resolution, and noted that the presentation, along with the 65-page resolution and a draft copy of the land use plan update – which is still in progress – will be posted atwatervilletownship.com and on the township’s Facebook page.
While the Zoning Commission already sent the resolution to the Lucas County Plan Commission on May 10 – in order to get on the LCPC agenda for Wednesday, June 24 – commission members Bill Burkett, Shelly Hayes, Bob Long, Keith Moosman, Cathy Vorst and alternate Jon Poponak listened and asked questions during Miller’s presentation. He noted that the meeting is just the initial step in a process that will involve opportunities for public input at the county and township level before the trustees vote on the change later this summer. DCAC members Gowing, Rebecca Wooten, Robert Seeman, Todd Heller, Todd Kerschner and Russ Schifferly also reviewed the resolution.
(Left to right) Jon Poponak, alternate zoning board member, Cathy Vorst, vice chair zoning board member, Keith Moosman, chair of the zoning board, Shelly Hayes, zoning board member, and Bill Burkett, zoning board member, address concerns. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
The zoning will not only regulate data centers, but large-scale, high-impact, campus-style industrial developments such as power plants, utility yards and battery storage systems. It will replace the current data center language that requires a conditional use permit – a decision that would rest with the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).
Miller pointed out that while the BZA members are all dedicated and knowledgeable, they are not elected officials. And the conditional use permit is considered an administrative action, and therefore not subject to a referendum by citizens. By requiring a developer to apply for a zoning change, citizens can submit 327 signatures on a petition to put any zoning change decision on the ballot as a referendum.
“Ultimately this puts us in a position of giving residents more say on what happens here,” Miller said.
The new zoning resolution covers every possible impact, including electrical demand, water use, construction traffic, noise, lighting, stormwater, emergency services, environment, buffers and setbacks, wildlife, traffic, and how to ensure that the site can be restored at the end of the facility’s use, Miller said
Keith Moosman, the chair of the Waterville Township Zoning Board. AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Any developer that wants to build a data center or other large facility will need to apply for rezoning land to M-3, and pay a nonrefundable $500 per acre. In addition, the developer would need to put 1 percent of the total cost of the project into escrow. This would be used if the developer doesn’t comply with those requirements.
“This gives us a pool of money to ensure compliance without dipping into township funds,” Miller said.
Resident Lisa Haberstock asked for more details on how the escrow could be used. Miller said it could cover property restoration, fixing water wells and putting up noise barriers – actions the developer should do as a good neighbor – but could be covered through escrow if the developer did not follow through.
Burkett recalled that when the U.S. 24 bypass was constructed in 2011-12, residents were concerned about the impact of borrow pits on the water table. The township asked that residents get a baseline study on their wells before construction. He recommends residents who are concerned about the impact of a large facility on their wells to do the same, in order to be able to prove any changes.
DCAC member Seeman, whose area of focus is water consumption, noted that data centers can use 500,000 to one million gallons a day, with 80 percent of that cooling water evaporating. The amendment under consideration requires a closed-circuit, non-evaporative system, he said.
Brian Gowing, of Waterville Township, is one of several residents on the township’s Data Center Advisory Committee. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
“I think overall we tried to make sure that anybody who tries to build a data center would be using best practices,” Seeman said.
Many residents also fear what will happen in the event of a power outage, and whether a data center would have its service restored first, Moosman said.
“A facility of this scale will have its own power generation,” Miller said, but acknowledged that the resolution doesn’t talk about the process of restoring power, as that’s up to First Energy. “The whole point of the power items in here are to prevent impact to residents’ power. They [developers] have to provide their own power, protection and backup to not impact the residents.”
Several residents in the audience shared concerns about data centers. Haberstock said she’s worried about the impact of a large development on some of the state’s best farmland, the chemicals in the air and soil, and dewatering of the area.
Brent Myer noted that while a 1 mw generator uses a 6-inch exhaust valve, a 300 mw generator would require a huge exhaust valve, and he is concerned about coal and natural gas emissions and their impacts on pediatric cancer rates.
Joe Ballmer, of Monclova, talks about how large industrial projects should be far away from residential zoning. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Joe Ballmer, a retiree who previously built industrial projects around the world, including data centers, said he believes data centers belong near refineries or the port, not near homes.
Doug Lashaway, a Schadel Road resident, asked whether the resolution could include protections for homeowners who will be adjacent to such facilities. Legally, price protections cannot be put in place, Miller said.
“The best we can do is property setbacks, because that’s a zoning issue,” he said.
Also addressing the zoning commission were Lyn Cox, Jason Bailey and Leslie Harper, who shared that the fracking industry in southeast Ohio used LLCs to shield itself from responsibility for impacts.
The next step for the resolution – and opportunities for public comment – are expected to be during the Wednesday, June 24 Lucas County Plan Commission meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. at 1 Government Center in Toledo.
Doug Lashuay, a Schadel Road resident, asked whether the resolution could include protections for homeowners who will be adjacent to such facilities. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Judge McConnell (front right), Dr Marie Bush (second from left), Will Lucas and Paul Hubbard (both in (back), along with Thomas Winston his wife, all enjoyed a jazz night at Lucille's, a Toledo Alpha Phi Boule gathering. (Courtesy photo)
TOLEDO – Toledo Alpha Phi Boule enjoyed a night of jazz at Lucille’s in the Tolhouse, recently, regaled by the music of well-known flutist Alexander Zonjic and his band.
Performer Alexander Zonjic is a well-known flutist. (Courtesy photo)
Grand Sire Archon President Rodney Eason said, “Tolhouse and Lucille’s Lounge represent more than just a social club. It’s a place where music, conversation, and community come together with its unique atmosphere and Lucille’s signature jazz sound. Tolhouse has become a destination for people looking for an unforgettable experience. We were honored to support and had an incredible evening.”
Archon Judge C. Allen McConnell added that “the evening with Boule members at the Tolhouse was filled with wonderful food and relaxation. The music provided by Alexander Zonjic was delightful and enjoyable. If he is in town again, he will be on my priority list.”
Toledo has a rich jazz history, emerging as a major hub between Detroit and Chicago; from the 1910s to 1960s Toledo produced legends like pianist Art Tatum, Jon Hendricks and Jean Holden. Before Lucille’s became Toledo’s premiere jazz club, there was The Waiters and Bellman Club, Rusty’s, and Murphy’s.
Alexander Zonjic and his band perform at Lucille’s at TolHouse. (Courtesy photo)
I asked Archon Will Lucas, the owner of the Tolhouse and Lucille’s, for his thoughts.
“We are in the final weeks of the 2025 to 2026 season of live music at Lucille’s, and it’s been another incredible year of amazing performances from both local and national acts. Lucille’s Jazz Lounge continues to be a place where talent wants to play, and Toledo is a place that they find welcoming audiences hungry for great live preperformances. Ahead we plan to go harder on our cocktails and food menus and even introduce an all-new wine program. Nights at Lucille’s, whether date night or solo nights out, are always a good time. We want to ensure they are unforgettable.”
Nights like this one prove that Toledo is still a jazz hub and Lucille’s is the place to go.
Beth Espy, National Girlfriend President, attends the 65th Anniversary dinner at Brandywine Country Club. (Courtesy photo)
MAUMEE – The Toledo Chapter of Girl Friends celebrated their 65th anniversary at Brandywine County Club and Golf Club. The Girl Friends also hosted an Empowering Women in the workplace brunch. At the Brandywine Dinner dance where most of the women were dressed in gold, over 200 people enjoyed a decadent meal of salmon or chicken, as well as a reasonably priced cash bar.
Caroline Lewis was the chair of the dinner dance. The DJ kept the dance floor active with line dances, while greetings were given by Lisa Dubose, the Girl Friends president, and Dr. Marie Bush, a past Girl Friend President. Elgin Rogers gave a resolution from the State of Ohio and Mike Ashford gave an address on behalf of Lucas County.
The National President of the Girl Friends, Elizabeth (Beth) Espy, flew in from Atlanta to speak. Espy has roots in Toledo; her grandfather was Dr. Duffy, a dentist and a member of Toledo Boule. Espy’s grandmother, Helen Duffy, was a founding member of the Toledo Girl Friends, a group sponsored by Detroit and Cincinnati Girl Friends.
The Girl Friends is one of the oldest social organizations of African American Women in the United States, founded in New York City in 1927 with the purpose of facilitating friendship, social activities, and local civic services. The Toledo Girl Friends was installed November 12, 1960.
The Toledo Girl Friends have an Endowed Scholarship at UT, they have sponsored the Alvin Ailey Dance Troop here in Toledo, and they have partnered with The Buffalo Soldiers, Kitchen for the Poor and Mom’s House, as well as many other Toledo civic projects. They are a member of the NAACP, Toledo Art Museum and UNCF.
Toledo Works, a program on The Local Thread, is hosted by Jaden Jefferson (far right). He interviews Kate McGuckin from the Toledo WIC program for the first episode as producer Chris Peiffer records the episode. Toledo Works is the program by the Toledo Free Press. (TFP photo by Erin Holden)
TOLEDO- In January of this year, WGTE Public Media launched a series called The Local Thread, a project that details the work of various organizations in the Toledo area. The project is formatted as a podcast/radio show that empowers local people and local media — including La Prensa, The Sojourner’s Truth, and the Toledo Free Press — to tell their stories. The shows affiliated with The Local Thread were airing on weeknights from 7 – 8 p.m, and they have been successful in their mission to unite the voices of Toledo.
Marcus Harrison (far left) and interviewees in front of the WGTE Public Media poster after a podcast recording for The Local Thread. (Courtesy photo)
Marcus Harrison — the director of communications and marketing at WGTE Public Media — said that The Local Thread has caught the attention of a significant number of people over the past few months.
“All of the programs have engaged a good number of people within their respective content. This was the goal of the entire project. The good thing is, each program offers something different from equally important pockets of the community.”
While the diversity of conversation has been pivotal for The Local Thread’s success, Harrisonemphasized that the way the project has been marketed to consumers cannot go unmentioned.
“By utilizing YouTube shorts and social media clips, we offer snippets of each podcast recording for potential listeners to consume, with the hope that they go on to listen to the full podcast. Since The Local Thread began, we have definitely seen growth in overall listenership and engagement of this series.”
WGTE Public Media has helped local papers expand their reach. Fletcher Word — the owner and publisher of The Sojourner’s Truth newspaper — explained that The Local Thread’s decision to talk with his team has improved audience engagement. Word’s paper highlights the Black community in Toledo, focusing on topics including government, health, education, and social events. The paper is available in both print and online.
Chris Peiffer (far right) records a podcast with the team from La Prensa. (Courtesy photo)
“We believe that this has been a successful experience for the paper, for the staff and for the guests we have had the chance to interview on air. We have received much feedback from listeners who have also enjoyed the show.”
The Local Thread has connected Toledoans and others in northwest Ohio, but Harrison noted that WGTE has plans for expanding the program to broader audiences in the future.
“We would love to expand The Local Thread to feature other organizations that reach a wide range of people… We are open to discussing further partnerships with other entities as long as it makes sense. We all have a story to tell, and it is our job to engage the public with timely information and topics.”
Harrison added that without listening to what Toledoans desire out of their media, The Local Thread would not have prospered.
“WGTE’s plan for improving The Local Thread involves listening to the public as well as our partners. We believe listening is the most important aspect to any type of improvement. We will continue to work with like-minded organizations that are willing to utilize our platform for getting their message out there to the local community.”
Listeners can find all of the Local Thread programs, including Toledo Works (the show produced by the Toledo Free Press) here.
A Larger Blue Flag Iris in the Oak Openings region. (Photo by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo)
As the spring season marches on and the woodland canopy fills with leaves shading the forest floor, our wildflowers are responding with sort of a migration, too.
Many of our woodland wildflowers have already had their days, exploding with blooms in April and May.
As late spring and summer take hold, it’s time for the wildflowers along our waterways, wet and dry meadows, and prairies to start showing off.
Shown here is the showy bloom of larger blue flag, a member of the iris family that, though it’s a wildflower, resembles a garden iris. Look for it in late May in our marshes and open wet areas, blooming atop sword-like leaves as much as three feet tall. This image was captured in the Oak Openings Region.
The variety of wildflowers to be seen along our region’s roadsides and nature trails is truly amazing. The colorful parade of blooms that started with the first warm days of spring will keep changing and pleasing us well into the fall.
Oliver Hazard performed to a packed Third Street in downtown Waterville in 2025. The annual Oliver Hazard Day, returning on August 15, is one of several live music events slated for the Anthony Wayne area this summer. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Get ready for a summer full of music in the Anthony Wayne area. Waterville and Whitehouse are hosting several outdoor music events, so no need to fill up the tank – just put on your dancing shoes!
The Chris Shutters Band will kick off the Whitehouse Summer Concert Series on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Thursday, May 21
Whitehouse launches its summer concert series with the Chris Shutters Band in Whitehouse Park, with live music, food trucks, vendors and a designated beverage area for 21 and older. The evening begins at 5 p.m., with music at 6 p.m. The event is free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Athens Wheeler will take the stage in the Conrad Park Pavilion on Tuesday, June 9 at 5:30 p.n. for the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission’s first Eats & Beats Food Truck Tuesday. (Courtesy photo)
Tuesday, June 9
Athens Wheeler takes the stage for the first Eats & Beats Food Truck Tuesday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. in Conrad Park. Hosted by the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission, the free events feature food trucks, kids activities and crafts, and live music in the pavilion. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Bring the kids or grandkids to enjoy the playground, music and activities.
June 11-13
Baja Fog will perform in the beer garden at Whitehouse Cherry Fest on Thursday, June 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m. (Courtesy photo)
The 43rd annual Whitehouse Cherry Fest, June 11-13 in downtown Whitehouse, will feature live music on several stages throughout the three-day festival. Tickets to shows in the beer tent are $5, while pavilion shows are free. Seating is available for both stages.
Thursday, June 11
Baja Fog takes the stage in the beer garden at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Justin Marchand Band at 8 p.m.
Grit and Glass will perform on Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m. in Whitehouse Park. (Courtesy photo)
Thursday, June 18
Country band Grit and Glass takes the stage at the Whitehouse Park Pavilion at 6 p.m. as the second in the village’s summer concert series. The fun begins at 5 p.m. with food trucks, vendors and a designated beverage area for 21 and older. The event is free, but bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the show.
Tuesday, July 14
Hit & Run, a Waterville-based band that blends jazz and alternative rock, will perform as part of a special Eats & Beats in conjunction with The America 250 – Waterville Committee’s Kids Dig History event. Area organizations will set up booths with educational and fun activities for kids (and adults) to explore history, with guides in historical attire. The music, food trucks and activities will be in Waterville’s Conrad Park from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Hit & Run will perform at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14 at Conrad Park in Waterville. (Courtesy photo)
Thursday, July 16
Abbigale Rose & The Highlights finish off the free Whitehouse summer concert series, held in Whitehouse Park beginning at 5 p.m. with food trucks, vendors and a designated beverage area for 21 and older. Abbigale takes the stage at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket for this free event.
Abbigale Rose & The Highlights will perform at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 16 in Whitehouse Park. (Courtesy photo)
Saturday, July 25
The Anthony Wayne Area Rotary Club is hosting its 11th annual Blues, Brews and Brats festival in downtown Waterville, on Third Street and Farnsworth Road. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and music begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $25 for three great acts, including Mud Morganfield, the eldest son of blues great Muddy Waters. Toronto-based Bywater Call is a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock outfit. Fans will also enjoy a Toledo Rhythm and Blues All Star show featuring The Good, The Bad and The Blues, Bobby G, Sisters of Thunder and Ramona Collins. Bring a lawn chair. The event benefits Rotary programs including scholarships for high school students. For information, visit awarotarybbb.com.
Tuesday, August 11
The finale of the Eats & Beats events at Conrad Park in Waterville will feature Pop’s Garage, a five-piece top 40 dance party band. Bring a chair or plan on dancing. Enjoy food trucks, kids activities and crafts, as well as vendors. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 15
Waterville’s own indie-folk band Oliver Hazard has been touring the globe and releasing new music, but is returning to town for a day filled with music. In addition to Oliver Hazard, bands in the lineup include Briscoe, Tors and Olive Klug. Jon Zenz will do some vinyl spinning. And Tayler Meinen will complete a mural during the festival. Doors open at 4:15 p.m. on S. Third St. in downtown Waterville. For ticket information, visit oliverhazardday.com.
Oliver Hazard is back in town for the Oliver Hazard Day indie-folk festival in downtown Waterville on Saturday, August 15. Visit oliverhazardday.com for the band lineup and ticket information. (Courtesy photo)DJ Jon Zenz will spin vinyl during Oliver Hazard Day. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
The Valhalla subdivision is one of 24 communities in Monclova Township with plats that are not under the Lucas County stormwater permit. Monclova Township trustees are considering adding these plat to the permit, in order to be prepared if an issue arises. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
MONCLOVA TOWNSHIP – In the 24 Monclova Township subdivisions not currently under a county drainage maintenance plan, when a retention pond is overflowing or a pipe is blocked, questions often arise as to who is responsible for fixing it.
So township trustees invited Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski to their May 4 meeting to explain.
Monclova Township is among the nine townships covered under the county’s stormwater permit – which ensures that best management practices are used to remove pollutants and sedimentation from entering the natural waterways. Keeping a stormwater retention pond maintained is vital to preventing issues, Pniewski said.
Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski attended the May 4 Monclova Township trustees’ meeting to explain the process, and reason behind joining the county’s stormwater permit. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Many developments built before 2012 have homeowners associations (HOAs) that hold the permit, and the responsibility, for maintaining those facilities, Pniewski said. So any work necessary to keep water flowing falls on the HOA and its residents.
“So I live in my subdivision and my HOA is in charge of all the pond maintenance. The pond might have fish and boats, but they’re really stormwater ponds,” said Trustee Barbara Lang.
Pniewski agreed, noting that even ponds that look recreational are primarily built to control stormwater. If a pond is overflowing or flooding, the first call should be to the HOA to find out why it’s not being maintained.
“Some HOAs are very engaged, like Waterside. There are people and board members who are very knowledgeable,” Pniewski said. “Others are not, and people call us to ask who is responsible, so it becomes an education on how it works.”
When the county or township gets a call about flooding, it’s usually as a result of a clogged pipe, improperly maintained pond or homeowners filling in swales that are meant to keep the yard draining properly. Typically a subdivision has a back yard drain for every three parcels, with an easement for crews to access to do maintenance.
If the HOA doesn’t know how, or fails to maintain it, the county can step in to fix the problem, and place the cost for that maintenance on the residents’ tax bill. All it takes is one benefitting property owner to petition the county to have the neighborhood be part of the county’s permit. The township, which owns the roadways in these subdivisions, can petition the Lucas County Commissioners.
“I’m always of the opinion that it’s better for the government to have the ability to step in and help the residents. Without the petition, we don’t have the ability to do that,” Pniewski said.
Even with the petition in place, the HOA can still handle their own maintenance or hire someone to do it. The benefit of being under petition is that if the HOA is not meeting those best management practices and the residents are suffering from the impact of a lack of care for those facilities, the county is then permitted to step in to help.
Lucas County stormwater supervisor Matt McFadden provided a list of the subdivisions with plats that are not under a county drainage maintenance plan. Some include just a small group of homes that are not typically considered a subdivision, such as Oak Shade Acres on LaPlante Road or Sager Woods on Whitehouse Spencer. Others are more noticeable, including Brandywine, Blystone Valley and Crosscreek Woods, Hidden Ridge, Keystone Business Park, the Quarry, Stonebrooke Farms and Valhalla.
If interested, the township could file a petition with the commissioners, which would consider information presented by the Lucas County Engineer, including photos and statements from property owners affected by the lack of maintenance. Once the petition is filed, there are a series of hearings on the with the Lucas County Commissioners.
First, a virtual view of the facilities followed by a public hearing would be held for others to weigh in. After the hearing, the county engineer would determine how potential future maintenance assessments would be partitioned between property owners. A final hearing would then be held to confirm the petition. After the petition is approved, the county would follow up by inspecting each petitioned property annually to ensure compliance. If work is required for maintenance to keep in compliance with the stormwater permit, the HOA would first be contacted to perform maintenance. If not performed, the county could then perform the repairs with the cost assessed to residents.
The trustees discussed how to move forward, with Lang suggesting that a special meeting would be idea in order to not blindside residents in those subdivisions. Trustee Chuck Hoecherl asked whether the Lucas County Commissioners could host a hearing at the township to make it easier for residents to attend, as commissioner meetings are held downtown on weekdays.
Moving forward with putting these communities under the county permit makes sense, Lang said.
“When something goes wrong, we should be prepared to take care of it,” she said.
During the meeting, the board also:
-Welcomed new administrator Mike Hampton, whose first day on the job was May 1.
-Heard Hampton say that the chief inspector for the county engineer’s office set a start date for the Monclova Road and Albon Road roundabout construction at June 1 – pushed back due to First Energy’s need to relocate utilities. Hampton has resolved concerns about first responder access during the construction, with a pathway for emergency vehicles only. Once this construction is finished – in about 30 to 45 days – work will begin on a second roundabout in front of Monclova Primary School at Waterville Monclova and Monclova roads.
-Thanked Lamar Advertising for allowing the township to use the bottom portion of a billboard sign on U.S. 20 near Strayer Road to install a “Welcome to Monclova Township” sign at no cost. Trustee Hoecherl said that Yarder Manufacturing has two static billboards on its property along I-475/U.S. 23 that it is planning to replace with a digital billboard, and the township could utilize it for messaging on events or safety issues.
-Agreed to purchase a new server from TrioTech for $15,825 to replace a 2016 server that is running out of space.
-Set a public hearing for the 2027 budget during the Monday, June 15 meeting.
-Heard resident Risa Sindel question Lang and Fiscal Officer Gavin Pike about any meetings they might have had about data centers. Sindel also asked Lang to resign, citing a lack of trust. Lang said she would not step down but urged residents to speak with her if they had concerns.
