Protestors block 180th gate
Veterans for Peace protest, deliver letter to ANGB base
Story and photos by Lori King
SWANTON – Armed with a letter secured in a manila envelope, two dozen members of Veterans for Peace and the Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition marched to the front gate of the 180th Fighter Wing on Tuesday to present it to base commander Col. Chad E. Holeski.
The intent was not only to deliver the 11-page letter, but “to get the attention our federal government – to stop it from illegally involving genocide that’s ongoing in Gaza. This is a very serious time,” Terry Lodge said moments before heading to the front gate on Eber Rd.
“The United States is involved indirectly in two major wars, and there are saber-rattlings of nuclear weapons going on. The genocide in Israel is unspeakable. There are anywhere from 50,000 to perhaps 200,000 people dead,” claimed Lodge, who was the letter carrier and a Veterans for Peace member.
“We’re going to deliver a letter to the base commander explaining why we’re here. Since the federal government seems to not be responsive to the majority of the public that is against the genocide and the U.S. involvement in the Middle East to defend Israel, that’s why we’re here … to send a message,” Lodge said.
Lodge, who is not a veteran, was accompanied by 22 other concerned citizens, including Mike Ferner, the national director of Veterans for Peace. The anti-war group is a global organization of military veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using their experiences and lifting their voices.
Ferner, a Navy veteran, said they were not only there to give the letter to the commanding officer, but to inform him of several federal laws violated by participating in the genocide that’s currently happening in Gaza. He accused the 180th of being a part of the military establishment, which is helping to supply arms to Israel and repair their engines.
“After we deliver that letter, a few of us are going to sit down in the driveway to prevent operations here and do our best to enforce the law that nobody else is enforcing,” he said.
The demonstration was part of a national September Days of Solidarity with the People of Palestine campaign. One of the actions was to deliver the VFP letter, which lists U.S. laws government employees and weapons makers violate with arms shipment to Israel. Toledo participants joined protestors in 25 other cities to deliver, or attempt to deliver, the letter.
As part of the demonstration, the group blocked the entrance to the national guard base as they chanted and sang songs, which were, at times, drowned out by the thundering engine noise of F-16 jets flying overhead.
They also held signs and banners. A few of the signs read: ‘No defense of Israeli, U.S. genocide; No defense of genocide; Stop US military aid to Israel; and No more $$$$ to Israel for weapons.
Ferner predicted arrests would be made. However, that didn’t happen. One of the four deputy sheriffs on scene told the group they had every right to protest, and that they were more worried about their safety.
After nearly 20 minutes of protesting, Chief Master Sgt. Russell Bacon approached the group. Lodge tried to give him the letter but Bacon refused to accept it. He told Lodge he didn’t have authorization.
Meanwhile, deputies unsuccessfully tried to persuade the protestors from blocking the driveway. Ferner and Nancy Larson ignored them and knelt in front of cars trying to enter the base, forcing them to back up and drive around them on the grass. A few drivers showed signs of frustration by flipping them off and calling them idiots.
After about 90 minutes, Bacon, with the unit’s Security Forces Squadron, accepted it from Lodge and the group dispersed.
“Just at the end, I walked over to him, we shook hands and he said thanks. That was it,” explained Lodge. “But it’s absurd. This is typical. It’s such a symbolic way of saying ‘We don’t want to hear your message. There’s nothing to talk about.’ The military better start listening. They got to.”
When contacted by the Toledo Free Press in response to the demonstration, 180th Public Affairs superintendent Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker confirmed that the commander was not on base at the time. She then gave this official statement:
“The Ohio Air National Guard supports state and federal missions as directed by the governor of Ohio and the president of the United States. For operational security purposes, we are not authorized to disclose this mission.”
Holliker offered the phone number to the Air Force Press Desk because, she said, the protestors weren’t specifically targeting the 180th Fighter Wing, but the Department of Defense.
Daily Dose | The Humorist
Editorial cartoon is in response to the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, held in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Learn the power of words
Lourdes University, MultiFaith Council to co-host Be the Light conference
SYLVANIA – Residents looking for ways to counter political polarization and other divisions are invited to a free conference themed around The Power of Words this Sunday.
The second annual Be the Light conference will be held Sept. 15 from 2-5 p.m. at the Franciscan Center of Lourdes University in Sylvania. The event kicks off with a keynote speech on The Psychological Costs and Benefits to Social Media from Dr. Jason Rose, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Toledo.
There will also be a 15-20 minute presentation by Sam Nelson on the tension between free speech and hate speech. Sam Nelson is an associate professor of Political Science & Public Administration at the UToledo.
The MultiFaith Council is co-sponsoring the conference with Lourdes University and the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania. The theme was chosen “in light of the current climate in our country where it seems like it’s impossible to disagree without descending into conversations that don’t generate anything productive,” said Sr. Barbara Vano, a Sylvania Franciscan and vice president for Mission and Ministry at Lourdes.
“People aren’t listening to each other; they’re shouting at each other. ‘If I don’t agree with you, you’re wrong, I’m right, end of conversation,’” she said.
Breakout sessions are to specifically explore the role language and communication play in perpetuating violence.
“How does hate speech create narratives that then influence people’s beliefs and behaviors?” asked Jennifer Vasquez, executive director of the MultiFaith Council of Northwest Ohio.
“A really obvious example in the news is immigration,” she said. “The language that is used and the stories that are told about immigrants tell a particular story that leads people to act a certain way. So how do you tell a story that is welcoming and inclusive and curious about others?”
Guests attending the conference can choose two breakout sessions. Topics include:
- Telling Immigration Stories with Shared Values, presented by Christina Staats, National Immigration Forum
- Islamophobia and the Media, presented by Fadia M. Abaza, MD, a local leader in the Muslim community who serves as director of ING MidWest, a nonprofit pursuing peace and countering all forms of bigotry through education and interfaith engagement
- The Political Polarization Crisis — What Can We Do?, presented by Nancy Miranda, Braver Angels Ohio State coordinator, who is to share a technique used for talking to people across the political divide;
- The Story Told in White Christian Nationalism, presented by Deacon Nick Bates, JD, Hunger Network of Ohio
- Art: Communicating Sorrow without Words, presented by Detroit artist Evelyn Hoey, who will share about her journey creating art that explores the issue of gun violence in the U.S.;
- Practicing Nonviolence: Practical Strategies and Practices for De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations, presented by The Rev. Gayle Catinella, St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church.
Advance registration allows for guests to have first choice of breakout sessions, but walk-ins are permitted.
Vano said she hopes the event helps raise awareness of how communication can be used to limit violence and bring healing.
“Our current culture is just, unfortunately, rife with hate speech,” she added. “I think all of us benefit from just being made a little more conscious of how our speech, how the words we say and the way we say them can so much impact people.”
75 years of Sunshine
Girl Named Tom celebrates Sunshine Communities’ 75th anniversary
Story and photos by Kyle Brown
Maumee – To celebrate 75 years of supporting individuals with developmental disabilities of all ages in Northwest Ohio, Sunshine Communities closed out the year-long festivities with a concert headlined by local band and The Voice winner Girl Named Tom.
The band is a trio of siblings (Bekah, Joshua and Caleb Liechty) from Pettisville, Ohio who won the NBC reality TV show on Dec. 14, 2021. They returned home to celebrate Sunshine’s anniversary in Downtown Maumee on Saturday night.
People flooded into Maumee to hear the now-famous band, as well as eat at food trucks and shop at merchandise vender booths and open storefronts on Conant and surrounding streets.
Before opening band Chloe and The Steel Strings took the stage at 5:30 p.m., I caught up with Toledoan Joel Shenk, a Sunshine Communities board member for five years. He said he was happy to support Sunshine in an event like this.
“The community knows Sunshine pretty well. The legacy of important work and supporting the needs of our community is what Sunshine is all about,” he said. “The mission to create a community, not only with the people of our organization but with the greater Maumee community, as well, is what Sunshine’s about.”
Shenk was accompanied by his wife and two daughters, Roslyn and Lizzy, who had seen a few of Girl Named Tom performances on The Voice.
Girl Named Tom also met with me to discuss what led them to celebrate the anniversary and why they enjoy coming back to the area for local shows.
“We’re always looking for new opportunities to come back here, but we have to be strategic about spacing it out right. We don’t want to be overplaying our hometown … even our hometown can get tired of us,” they quipped.
When Sunshine reached out to propose a date, we were like, ‘Whoa!’ This early fall time looked really nice and it just kind of worked. The two worlds came together at the right time.
Girl Named Tom
The band also talked about their upbringing and how the Mennonite faith they share aligned with “what Sunshine does as a whole.”
Girl Named Tom commented that their dad was a chair member in the organizing of the Black Swamp Benefits, where they would help raise funds that went to Sunshine Communities. “I don’t know how helpful we were, but we were in the dunk tank, and the foosball tournament was always a classic!”
When it came to why they enjoy doing hometown shows, their response was, “This community raised us in many ways, so we want to keep those roots strong in this community. They were the first believers in what we had. They said ‘You have something special in the three of you, and you should take this as far as you can!'”
The band said they are always evolving and changing as a band and musicians, and that it is always nice to come back and display where they are now, and keep the community invested on where they are going.
The main event began shortly after 7 p.m., a presentation of $5,000 to Sunshine from Centurions MC and a three-song performance from Sunshine’s Bell Choir.
When Girl Named Tom took the stage there was a huge standing ovation. It was very apparent from the start how well loved the band is around this area. Throughout the night, Bekah, Joshua and Caleb would stop and chat with the crowd. Sometimes it would be about the background of the next song, and other times to ask the crowd questions, such as “Who knew of us before we went on and won The Voice?” Looking around, it was apparent much of the audience were fans.
When the band sang their song, In Your Shoes, they mentioned how the song related to Sunshine and it’s mission, saying, “It encapsulates Sunshine perfectly.”
Near the end of the night, fans got up and danced near the front of the stage when the band played their hit song Get a Little Lost. As people saw how happy it made the band, more joined in. By the end of the song, the area near the front of the stage was filled with people dancing, jumping and singing along. And lead vocalist Bekah greeted fans while continuing to perform.
The crowd size was astounding. Hundreds of people filled the streets, all the way back to Georgette’s coffee shop. A very receptive crowd appeared constantly cheered and clapped during songs. When Bekah announced that 15 percent of each merch sale would be donated back to Sunshine, the fans made it known they appreciated the gesture.
A final bow came after a two-song encore, signaling an end to a great turnout to celebrate Sunshine’s 75th birthday.
As the crowd filed out, a fan from Pettisville, who wanted to remain anonymous, said that it was “one the the best local shows they have put on in the last five years. To see how much they have grown as musicians, it’s inspirational. Then, to be supportive of Sunshine and give back to their roots, how can you not love them!”
Daily Dose | The Humorist
Celebrate artistry work of cartoonist Steven J Athanas at local exhibition
A Series: Reproductive care
Bella Vita Network is a local option in a post-Roe era
This is the first of a limited series. The Toledo Free Press will be reporting on stories about reproductive healthcare options and care for women in the Toledo area.
Story and photos by Erin Holden
TOLEDO – As we all should know by now, there are many different circumstances under which a woman might consider abortion. The question is, as the Ohio state law stands at this time, what are your options when you aren’t sure how to proceed?
For local women who aren’t established with an OB-GYN, the first step might be to do online research about her options in Toledo, and there is a lot to sift through.
The November 2023 election and the Heartbeat Bill
First, a little background on recent legislation. Senate Bill 23, also known as the Heartbeat Bill, became law in 2019, prohibiting abortion once there is detectable cardiac activity (the only exceptions are in the cases of rape and incest). That can be as early as six weeks.
After Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, it took effect. However, last November’s approval of Issue 1 put a halt to the six-week limit, enshrining the right to abortion up to the point of fetal viability. At this time, it is now legal to have an abortion up to 21 weeks and six days, though you have to receive parental permission if you are under the age of 18 (unless you can get a judicial bypass).
Exceptions for receiving an abortion after that gestational period include saving the pregnant individual’s life, or preventing other serious consequences to their health.
Abortion Access in Toledo
There is only one abortion clinic in Toledo: Toledo Women’s Center, which used to be more commonly known as Capital Care of Toledo. They do not perform procedural abortions at this time, but provide the abortion pill, per their website, at five weeks to 11.6 weeks gestation. They have a sister clinic in Cuyahoga Falls, Northeast Ohio Women’s Center, that provides procedural abortions from five to 16.5 weeks.
Outside of this local option, the abortion pill can be ordered from various websites and delivered to women who need it.
The Pregnancy Center
Once you get past the results for the single Toledo clinic that provides abortions, resources from Planned Parenthood, and so on, The Pregnancy Center comes up as one of the first-page options for anyone researching abortion in Toledo. They have extensive information about abortion regulations and are very clear that they themselves do not perform abortions.
The Toledo Free Press sat down with Savannah Marten, executive director of the Bella Vita Network, a nonprofit organization that operates The Pregnancy Center, to learn more about the center.
“We have what we would call a holistic assessment. We know that pregnancy affects a woman’s entire being, and I think when we look at the healthcare industry as a whole, it tends to be about how is this affecting this person physically?,” Marten explained.
“But it affects their relationships, their emotions, their jobs, their socioeconomic status … so the first thing we do is a holistic assessment that gauges where this woman is in all of these areas,” she said.
The services the Center provides are free and include information about abortion, pregnancy tests, a limited ultrasound, community support and referrals to help with the pregnant individual’s next steps, and pregnancy classes.
They even have resources for postpartum and beyond, like childcare, lactation consulting and necessary items from diapers to clothes. All of it is free, and the organization does not take government funding.
The Pregnancy Center website does not include any language like “prolife” or espouse any religious affiliation, but the Bella Vita Network (bellavita.org) is more direct. On the homepage, it states:
Bella Vita Network is a Christ-centered organization, transforming the prolife movement by collaborating with like-minded organizations to boldly provide sustainable solutions that empower and equip individuals and organizations to make abortion unthinkable in our community and country.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Bella Vita funds The Pregnancy Center, The Haven (a support organization for women who struggle with having had an abortion, as well as their partners), and Soul Purpose. The latter is an outreach program that focuses on abortion prevention through methods like “abstinence education” and “pro-life advocating” on college campuses (bellavita.org/outreach). The University of Toledo has a chapter.
Marten stresses that the Center trains their staff to be cognizant of biases, to inform patients of all options, including abortion, and to take a nonjudgemental approach to all intakes. She said she even hears from patients who decided an abortion was the best path, and that they appreciated the support they received at the Center while they grappled with their decision.
“They know that we’re a life-affirming organization,” Marten said, indicating their transparency. “They know that we’re a faith-based organization. They know that we don’t provide abortions. It’s on the website.”
When it comes to the language on the Bella Vita site, specifically the description on its homepage, Marten said, “We actually call that our brand positioning statement. The reason we call that ‘brand positioning’ versus ‘mission’ is that ‘position’ is a posture you take, whereas ‘mission’ is something you do. And we believe it’s such a massive conversation…that everyone, including us, are trying to get our arms around when we say that we want to make abortion unthinkable.”
She notes that The Haven is located next to the Toledo Women’s Center and that the organizations “have a great relationship. We have an awesome relationship with the abortion facility there. I know that they show up every single day and do what they do because they feel just as passionate as we do.”
The Toledo Women’s Center could not be reached for comment by the publishing of this story.
Expansion plans
If you’ve passed by The Pregnancy Center location at 716 N. Westwood Ave., you’ve likely noticed heavy construction. Marten notes there is a facility being built that will include the presence of Jobs and Family Services to create easy appointments for Medicaid enrollment. It will also include a shared space for the local nonprofit Mom’s House, which will provide childcare for up to 56 children. If a mom is at an appointment at the Center, she can have the option for childcare.
All of this expansion creates a one-stop-shop for struggling pregnant women who don’t have the resources to go to several different locations for assistance, though after receiving an ultrasound clients are immediately funneled into a system of care, whether they decide to go through with the pregnancy, or if they have complications, like an ectopic pregnancy.
The Pregnancy Center website states that it informs women about their three options if they are, in fact, pregnant. Marten clarifies that those are “carry and parent, make an adoption plan or have an abortion.”
When asked for expansion on the Bella Vita description of the Pregnancy Center’s purpose, which is to “share the truth about abortion and empower her to choose life for her unborn baby through services, counseling and abortion education,” Marten replied that “we will go over what is widely agreed upon as the potential risks.”
“We do see that go up again with the sale of the abortion pill,” she said. “There are bad actor websites. We want to make sure that, wherever she is, whether she’s walking through doors of an abortion facility or ordering those pills online, she understands the potential risks that are associated with it, just like any other medical procedure. When we share those risks, we’re never doing it in a way that is ‘this is what will happen to you.’
“We want them to think long-term about how they are going to feel about this decision. What do you believe about this? How do you anticipate this decision affecting all areas of your life?” Marten said.
Showcasing Toledo development
Ohio economic developer annual summit held in Toledo for first time
TOLEDO – Toledo gained expanded business acumen from across the state when the Ohio Economic Development Association Annual Summit took place Wednesday through Friday in the heart of downtown.
It was the first time the professional summit was held outside of Columbus, and Thomas J. Winston, president and CEO of Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, was among the key reasons why. The summit, attended by over 450 people, hosted its meetings at the Glass City Center, where windows in the conference center provided views of Fifth Third Field and other landmarks.
Winston, who is also the 2024 chairperson of the Ohio Economic Development Association board of directors, explained that it is important to show and demonstrate the vibrancy of economic development across the state.
His idea got support, and while the 2025 site has not been determined the Toledo venue was certainly popular.
“It’s been a great success. We’ve had record attendance,” exclaimed Mark Barbash, executive director of Ohio Economic Development Institute.
OEDA represents more than 600 economic development professionals in the state, from both the public and private sectors, and in fields ranging from utilities to city planning.
“Everyone has some connection with economic development,” Barbash said.
This year’s theme was Empowering Growth: Unleashing Ohio’s Innovation Economy in Your Community.
The schedule included a luncheon speech from U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio District 9, who presented on the role of economic development toward Ohio’s future.
Other speakers included Nathan Ohle, president of the International Economic Development Council; Yvette Brown, former Ohio State Supreme Court justice; and Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.
The session topics included:
- Considering water resources in economic growth
- ProMedica’s community partnerships in the Toledo area
- A discussion on middle housing, such as small apartment buildings
Social events included a Maumee River cruise on The Sandpiper.
The attendees could earn continuing education credit hours for Ohio economic developer certification through this conference.
“People are both encouraged by economic growth that is occurring, but they still understand there are challenges,” Barbash said as the conference began its last day.
Those who said they were impressed with the venue and programming included Perry Surber, business development manager at the Cincinnati office of Patriot Engineering and Environmental Inc. His company is based in Indianapolis.
Surber said he signed up to meet economic development professionals from across Ohio. The clients his company works with are normally busy at their home offices, but a professional conference allows more time to network and learn about upcoming projects.
It was also his first time visiting downtown Toledo.
Surber said he had passed through via I-75 numerous times while traveling into Michigan, but never had a reason to stop in the city. During conference breaks, he walked around downtown to see first-hand the city’s development and revitalization projects.
While Surber joked that the beautiful weather certainly helped with his good impressions, this initial visit will certainly not be his last.
“It made me want to come back,” he said.
TPS dress, suit resale
Start High School hosts former attire dress sale for homecoming, prom seasons
TOLEDO – A bright orange, long dress with a sari-style top is among the hundreds of dresses senior Raniyah Rogers and her classmates at Start High School have prepped ahead of a formal attire resale.
The My Sister’s Closet dress resale officially takes place twice a year, just ahead of the high school homecoming and prom seasons. It is hosted by Start Fashion Marketing – DECA II Club as a fundraiser for club projects and trips, such as attending a sewing and quilt expo later this fall at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich.
The fashion marketing students and their teacher, Robinetta West, gave a show and tell ahead of the sale on Wednesday to news media.
Sorting and other preparations had been taking place for days, Raniyah said, although the students got somewhat of a head start in the spring.
“We get to organize the dresses, try them on,” senior Samantha Zadrazil said about the preparation time.
While Start’s fall sale is early this year, so are some of the dances. Start High School, for example, will host its homecoming on Sept. 28 with the theme of Bollywood.
In the meantime, West said the resale will expand this year into a year-round opportunity, with pictures of formal attire to be posted on the school’s website that can be purchased between the in-person sales.
“We’re always looking for donations,” West said. Gently-used formal attire, such as dresses, shoes, suits and ties are accepted in all styles, sizes and lengths.
Memorable pieces donated this year include bright yellow stiletto heels and a gown that was clearly a wedding dress. Start senior Kristian Woods-Boykin said someone even donated a pair of Kade Spade brand shoes.
Raniyah said “old is the new” among today’s high school girls who like fashions from the ’80s and ’90s; and Kristian gave a mention to Regency-era styles inspired by the show Bridgerton.
However, high school boys tend to favor modern and trendy formal attire. With that in mind, the DECA students tried different combinations of a shirt, tie, vest and jacket on a display mannequin as they considered how to present such a look.
“Always take a risk,” Kristian noted about the options.
By the way, the mannequins were donated as well.
The intent of the resale, in addition to practical experience for students who are considering retail or fashion careers, is to provide area high schoolers with affordable, special occasion attire.
It’s not just students from Toledo Public Schools who benefit. Over the years, shoppers have come from Whitmer High School in Washington Local School District; St. Ursula Academy and Central Catholic High School in Toledo; and State Line Christian School in Temperance, Mich. Shoppers also come from Defiance, Findlay and even Akron.
Sale date and time
The My Sister’s Closet sale takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-8 in the main lobby of Start High School located at 2010 Tremainsville Road in Toledo.
Dresses sell for $25 each, with varying prices on other attire. Cash only.
