Bluegrass in Super Class Winterfest
OREGON – The fast tempo and sweet, harmonious sounds of mandolin, bass, banjo and guitar have traveled from the tip top of the Appalachian Mountains, down the plains of Kentucky, and landed right here at the Maumee Bay Lodge.
Larry Efaw, mandolinist of the Larry Efaw & Bluegrass Mountaineers, started the annual Bluegrass in Super Class Winterfest 36 years ago with his wife, Lisa.
“We started this for the love of the music,” said Efaw.
Being a musician himself and having family and friends of the same accord, it seemed natural to bring everyone together and jam.
Originating in the rural south in the 1930s, bluegrass is traditionally acoustic and includes banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin and bass. Unlike country music, bluegrass is high-pitched, with each musician taking turns playing the melody while the other band members provide the backing. As the father of bluegrass Bill Monroe acutely described, bluegrass has a high, lonesome sound.
“This started as a family event, and we want that to continue. I started playing music with my dad 60 years ago; being on stage with dad so long this really makes me miss him,” said Efaw.
The Efaw family isn’t the only family with bluegrass roots; many of the other bands on the roster for the Bluegrass in Superclass formed with family members.
Kicking off the event Thursday was the Ottawa County Bluegrass Band, with brothers Joe and Denny Mitchell from Port Clinton. The Mitchells are known throughout Ottawa County and beyond for their family’s musical talents. In the 1990s, Joe (banjo) and Denny (guitar) played bluegrass with their dad, Joe, who played the mandolin, but he has since passed.
Other members of the band include Danny Bryant on mandolin, who currently lives in Fostoria and is from Whitesburg, Kentucky, and Simon Edwards on upright bass, who currently lives in Waterville and is from Flat Gap, Kentucky.
The familial bonds and sense of community are strong among these musicians and festival goers; so strong that every year the festival gives back to the community with its earnings. This year, proceeds from the festival will go to the American Brain Tumor Association and, specifically, to one local individual suffering from brain cancer.
Efaw also said one of the goals of the festival is to bring national acts to northwest Ohio. At this year’s festival, Rhonda Vincent will perform on Saturday, which is the last day of the festival. Vincent is the Grammy winning Queen of Bluegrass and is a Grand Ole Opry member. Her career also started in her family’s band, The Sally Mountain Show.
The weekend lineup:
Friday:
- Little Roy & Lizzy Show
- Harbourtown
- Lorraine Jordan & Carolina Road
- Larry Efaw & Bluegrass Mountaineers
- Open Highway
Saturday:
- Rhonda Vincent & Rage
- New Outlook
- Dean Osborne Band
- Larry Efaw & Bluegrass Mountaineers
- 7 Mile Bluegrass
The Bluegrass in Superclass Winterfest ran from Jan. 9-11 at the Maumee Bay State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Oregon.
TPS magnet programs provide ingenuity, innovation, exploration
Story by Nate Light | Photos by Lori King
Toledo Public Schools (TPS) has taken a bold step into the future of education with its seven magnet programs offering students an opportunity to explore specialized fields of study and gain hands-on experience in emerging industries.
Each school focuses on a unique industry or specialization, ranging from aerospace technology, pre-medical health sciences and early college prep to engineering. This wide variety allows students to choose the specialization that interests them. It also allows teaching professionals to partner with industry leaders, designing a curriculum tailored to industry needs.
Jim Gault, the executive director of curriculum, highlighted that “we have partnerships with General Motors, Tesla and other organizations. All the students there do a capstone senior project, where they actually go and are working in various agencies and shops on engineering projects.”
In 2023, Toledo Early College’s state assessment placed them in the top 2 percent of schools nationwide and as the #1 magnet school in Ohio, with Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering ranking in the top 5 percent of schools nationwide. The most recent assessment granted TPS a number of 5-star ratings.
The Toledo Academy of Technology campus was nothing short of impressive. From electronics circuitry and electric vehicles, to advanced manufacturing techniques, robotics, 3D printing and mock wind turbines, the facilities and programs are setting students up for success in the 21st century workforce.
Electric vehicles: Driving the future
The academy’s curriculum doesn’t only focus on traditional electronics. Students also dive into the world of electric vehicles (EVs), a rapidly growing industry. In well-equipped workshops, learners explore the mechanics of EVs, batteries, motors and the technologies that drive these machines.
With hands-on projects, like converting an old gas Corvette into an electric vehicle, and a training car directly from Tesla, these students are offered a unique perspective on emerging industries. By exposing students to such cutting-edge fields, TPS ensures its graduates are prepared for careers in automotive innovation and clean energy solutions.
Students also learn critical safety protocols, such as how to identify and shut down high-voltage kill switches in EVs during emergencies. This training emphasizes the importance of safety in working with powerful electrical systems and ensures students can handle potentially dangerous situations confidently and effectively.
Advanced manufacturing: Milling machines and 3D printing
Another exciting highlight of the Toledo Academy of Technology is its focus on advanced manufacturing. The school boasts industrial grade milling machine and a host of 3D printers, enabling students to bring their ideas to life through precision machining and digital design.
Whether it’s creating prototypes or learning about industrial production processes, students are provided with hands-on experience in a field that is integral to manufacturing and engineering careers.
In particular, the use of 3D printing offers students a creative and technological edge. From designing parts in computer-aided design software to watching their models materialize layer by layer, the program fosters innovation while teaching critical skills that align with the demands of today’s industries.
Learning with FANUC robots
A unique aspect of the academy’s program is its inclusion of FANUC robots, a staple in traditional automotive engineering and manufacturing. These robots are widely used in industrial settings for tasks such as assembly, welding, and material handling. Students are taught to program and operate these sophisticated machines, gaining firsthand experience with technology that powers modern production lines. This exposure not only enhances their technical knowledge but also equips them with skills highly sought after in the automotive and manufacturing industries.
A modern hub for hands-on learning
The Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering stands as a beacon of innovation in education. The school is equipped with cutting-edge facilities designed to immerse students in real-world, technical learning environments with machinery and technology that mirror industry-level projects.
One standout feature of the academy is its focus on electronic circuitry. Students work on intricate circuit boards, learning to build, troubleshoot, and design systems that reflect the foundational skills needed for careers in electronics and electrical engineering. This hands-on approach allows students to apply theoretical concepts while fostering problem-solving.
Preparing students for tomorrow
These programs are especially critical in a time when STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) are driving economic growth. By integrating STEM-focused curricula into their magnet programs, TPS is positioning students to become future leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers in a competitive global economy.
“These schools are very diverse,” added Gault. “You will have students from the city, from the suburb, and rural areas. You will have economically disadvantaged students, and students who are enriched from a financial background. Students of different races and religions. And I think that also plays well into the success of these schools. I think those different perspectives, and having to work together around projects and teamwork, lead to students being able to think critically. And if students are thinking critically, they will pass any test from the Department of Education.”
TPS’s commitment to hands-on, specialized learning is a testament to their vision for the future, and the results are already evident. The future is here, and it’s being built in Toledo classrooms.
Italian Bowl XLIV returns to UToledo’s Glass Bowl
Most sports fans around the globe call it “football.” In the United States we call it soccer. So, what does one say when Italians play American football? Un pomeriggio fantastico!
During World War II, American servicemen stationed in Europe played American football all over the region, including Italy and France, for relaxation. American football in Italy achieved its present fame thanks to the inaugural “Spaghetti Bowl” on Jan. 1, 1945.
The game between the U.S. Fifth Army Krautclouters and Twelfth Air Force Bridgebusters was played in front of 20,000 fans at Stadio Giovanni Berta in Florence.
Army won the game 20-0.
For decades, Italians playing American football have competed for their own Super Bowl, the Italian Bowl Championship, which determines the league champion of the Italian Football League (IFL).
On July 1, 2023, the IFL championship was played on American soil for the first time in 40 years at the University of Toledo’s Glass Bowl. The Parma Panthers defeated defending champion Firenze Guelfi for the Italian Bowl XLII title in front of an estimated 10,000 fans, many of whom made the trip from Italy.
And in June, it’s coming back. The Italian Bowl is returning to Toledo!
At a press conference Wednesday at the University of Toledo, game organizers and local and state officials met at the Grogan Room at Savage Hall to announce that Italian Bowl XLIV will be played at the Glass Bowl.
Events related to the Italian Bowl will begin in March and culminate with the game on June 28. Italian Bowl XLIV will be televised live on BCSN, which will also televise IFL regular-season games.
Geoff Shook, president of Buckeye Broadband, said the 2023 Italian Bowl at UT “was an absolutely phenomenal success.
“The community embraced it,” he said. “So much so that when the next opportunity came around, the IFL was happy to meet with us and happy to take advantage of our invitation to come back. I love the fact we have the opportunity to work with other business leaders and help promote Toledo.”
Shook added that the genesis of this event coming to Toledo two years ago can be attributed to “Nick Eyde’s vision.”
Eyde, a Lansing, Mich., native and Toledo real estate executive, played quarterback at a small college in Minnesota before going on to play five seasons in the IFL and two seasons in the Austrian League.
Eyde formed partnerships with community leaders, including the University of Toledo and BCSN, to help bring the Italian Bowl to the Glass City in 2023.
“It’s exciting for me,” Eyde said. “It’s a huge part of my life. Coming back to Toledo and playing in the Glass Bowl at the University of Toledo’s campus; it’s very special.”
Eyde gave a shout out to BCSN for televising IFL games, and he thanked UT director of athletics Bryan Blair “for being such a big proponent of this, as well.”
The partners here locally – I just cannot say enough. A lot of good things continue to happen and I’m excited to bring the Italian Bowl back on June 28.
Nick Eyde
“The partners here locally, I just cannot say enough,” Eyde said. “A lot of good things continue to happen and I’m excited to bring the Italian Bowl back on June 28.”
Blair said the university couldn’t be more excited to host an event like this, “not only for the city but for our campus and its beauty and all it has to offer.
“The Italian Bowl is going to invite not only this region but the entire world to ask more questions about what is Toledo?” Blair said. “Why Toledo … and why not Toledo and all the amazing things that, in my two and a half years here, I’ve found out about this amazing community.”
State senator Theresa Gavarone, from Bowling Green, expressed how excited she is to bring an international event, such as the Italian Bowl, back to Toledo.
“When you can bring people and countries together through sports, it can be a really great unifier,” Gavarone said. “We can start to build upon relationships. You’ve heard about the immediate economic impact of bringing Italy, this Italian game, here to our community.”
She noted the long-term benefits of those relationships really cannot be overstated. “This is an incredible opportunity to show leaders and business leaders what we’ve got here in Ohio.”
Perrysburg nurse shares Ukraine experience in former homeland
PERRYSBURG – Mila Buria is a Perrysburg nurse who lives a double life. Although she lives the American Dream here in the States, her family, friends and community live in a state of tension and fear back in the land where Buria was born and raised — Ukraine.
“First of all, when I came back everyone would say ‘Welcome home! Welcome home!’ But it’s not my home,” Buria said.
“My home is not in Ukraine. It is not in the U.S. either, even though I am a citizen. When you deeply know the Heavenly Father, there is only one permanent home. It is where He is,” Buria said passionately with expressive hands and a wide smile.
Buria originally came to the U.S. as an exchange student studying English at Owen’s Community College. In 2022 she returned to school at Mercy College of Ohio to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Remaining in connection with her biological family and childhood friends, Buria understood the intensity of the attacks taking place on their land and began praying and searching for a way to help.
Buria said that God led her to the nonprofit, Global Care Force, to share the faith and bring comfort and care to those suffering from the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to the Global Care Force website, the organization has been dedicated to transforming lives through volunteerism since 2020. Today, they have placed hundreds of volunteers in various places around the globe, such as Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, Syria, Ukraine and more. The organization has contributed over 15,000 service hours to more than 250,000 people.
“Compassionate volunteers like Mila Buria are often the only option for Ukrainians to receive medical care,” said Global Care Force CEO Scott Oberkrom.
“Our volunteers generously give their time and expertise, and they also raise money to cover the costs of the medications they dispense. Global Care Force deploys volunteer teams regularly to ensure the patients receive consistent care, providing a lifeline greatly appreciated by the Ukrainian people.”
After undergoing the interview process and raising $6,500 herself, Buria returned to Ukraine as a volunteer through Global Care Force in September 2024.
During Buria’s approximate two weeks of medical assistance, she went beyond tending to her patients’ physical needs — she also focused on their spirits, she said.
Detailing her days, Buria would wake up at 7:30 a.m. most days and arrive at a previously Russian-occupied village to begin work at 10 a.m. While at work, she checked vitals, cared for the patients and even lent them a listening ear when needed.
Buria’s patients shared their physical and mental pain with her in hopes of relief. She recalled one lady who had to flee from the place where she lived because of the attacks and fight there.
“She lost everything she had, including her family. Only her daughter was left with her. She said she didn’t just lose her family, but also she saw how the parts from the bodies of her loved ones went in the air during the explosion.”
The kinds of conditions Buria treated ranged from as minor as insomnia to as major as heart failure, PTSD, diabetes and respiratory issues.
During some work days, the Global Care Force team would travel to a second occupied village. On these days, Buria couldn’t eat dinner until 9 p.m.
“There was another patient who had to build shelter underground to protect herself. She told me she was supposed to be lined up and shot like the others, but she somehow made it. It’s a miracle she was alive and came to me,” Buria shared.
For those who came in anguish, Buria consoled their souls with a hug — no words, just a hug, she said.
Once all the volunteering days were completed, Buria stayed in Ukraine to visit her family and friends for additional time. While out catching up with her relatives, a missile exploded near them.
“It was loud. The ground vibrated and the building was shaking. I remember asking myself, ‘What’s next? Am I still alive?’” Buria recalled.
“There was nowhere to run, no safe spaces. If you were outside, people just laid down, then got up and proceeded to walk away like it was normal. If you were inside, you just pray,” she said.
The Russia-Ukraine war began back in 2014, but in February 2022, following the Russian Federation’s invasion, a full-scale war erupted. In only two of the 10 years of conflict, from 2022 to 2024, nearly 4 million people have been internally displaced and affected, another 6.8 million people have migrated to neighboring countries and 14.6 million people remain in need of assistance, according to the USA for The UN Refugee Agency.
Although Buria grew up with an understanding of religion, only after 2019 did she devote her life to her faith.
She said that God’s grace is one way she was able to return to the U.S. and lead a (for the most part) ordinary life.
“Coming back to the U.S., it’s a totally different world. Like yes, there are terrible things here too, like shootings, but in Ukraine, the attacks are frequent, unknowing and only getting worse to this day,” Buria revealed.
Getting back into her daily routines, Buria resumed work and tended to her family. Despite witnessing and enduring extreme violence, as well as caring for victims, she said she embodies peace through her faith, staying in contact with her family and seeking ways to continue to support the Ukrainian people.
“I fear God more than I fear the war,” she said.
Those interested in helping the Ukrainian people can visit the Global Care Force website to either volunteer, donate or sponsor a volunteer. These actions go straight to funding medical supplies to aid communities. As their mission says, “Whatever it takes.”
Engage Toledo: 24/7 call center for city service requests, issues
Once upon a time in the not too distant past, a call to the City of Toledo’s hotline – (419) 936-2020 – was considered a dead end. Former Toledo mayor Mike Collins set out to fix it as a top priority for his incoming administration.
After Mike’s passing, Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson picked up where the Collins administration left off. But alas, progress was slow. Paula sardonically called the city’s hot-line a “419-936-Black-Hole.” Many things went in and few came back out. Enter Jennifer Jaqua, Toledo’s commissioner of Customer Service and Engagement.
I ran into Jenny at a Toledo Walleye game recently and told her to keep up the good work for expeditiously taking care of a few calls I made to Engage Toledo recently (road kill near the Ottawa Park walking path and a water line leak on Kenwood Blvd.).
She thanked me and mentioned that Engage Toledo was recently approached by the City of Rochester, New York, inquiring how Toledo’s call center made such a dramatic turnaround. When other cities are asking how Toledo does it, it’s a story worth telling. I requested and was granted an interview with Jenny about Engage Toledo’s success story.
From my time on city council, I knew Jenny started with the City of Toledo as a legislative aide for city council in 2005. She was well-suited for this position after a very successful tenure as an overseas flight attendant for a major airline. Customer service came naturally for her. In 2011, Mayor Mike Bell appointed Jenny to manager of the Public Utilities Administration call center, which was responsible for dealing with incoming calls from citizens for water and sewer service issues.
Things were improving but persistent problems remained. Then a rain event occurred in 2015, of which Jenny said, “I’ll never forget those dates, June 26-27, when it rained for 48 hours straight.”
Calls were coming in from all over the city reporting flooding, sewer and all types of issues overwhelming the capabilities of the staff and telephone system. According to Jenny, the city administration conducted a debriefing about the problems with the current system and ideas for improvement. At the conclusion of that meeting, Mayor Hicks-Hudson and Public Utilities director Ed Moore told Jenny, “Congratulations, you have just become our manager of a city-wide 24 hour call center.”
Four months later, through the efforts of Public Utilities commissioner Abby Arnold and Jenny, Engage Toledo was created. During the first year, Engage Toledo took in about 70,000 calls for service. Fast forward to 2023, when Engage Toledo received 138,690 inbound calls for service. Here’s how the system works.
The average call is about 3½ minutes in length. The call taker usually asks the caller three to five questions and the request is assigned a reference number. The request for service is automatically sent to the division effected. From there, the on-duty foreman or supervisor assigned prioritizes the requests based on urgency. Water line breaks, traffic lights out, and matters of public safety receive immediate attention.
Jenny explained that every department has its own timeline for investigating requests for service with some departments having staff on duty 24/7 to handle requests, such as water in basement or debris in the roadway. On average, requests are initially investigated within 24-72 hours. In some instances, the initial investigation must be followed up by work orders to complete the request.
She went on to say that every division in the city has the capability to monitor all the calls received through Engage Toledo. For example, the police department monitors the frequency of reported residential speeding and uses that data to determine where to assign their crews for speed enforcement. Sometimes requests take longer to resolve, such as when it is necessary to track down the owner of a nuisance property or seek determinations from the Municipal Court process.
The most frequent calls are questions about the city income tax process, followed by code compliance issues. Some calls can be quite unique, such as, “there is a rooster on my car” or “I dropped my keys down the sewer grate.” Progress on requests for service can be checked using the reference number if the resident isn’t already notified of the resolved issue in the system.
She noted that in 2020, the Kapszukiewicz administration, recognizing the important resource Engage Toledo had become for the entire operation of the city, moved Engage Toledo from the Department of Public Utilities to the Department of Information Technologies so that, at an organizational level, we support all the city divisions.
With that move, Jenny was promoted to commissioner of customer service and engagement.
Asked for her final thoughts from 90 minute discussion as to the evolution of Engage Toledo, she went on to state, “I believe that Engage Toledo has brought trust and confidence.
“When a resident contacts Engage Toledo about a concern, it is in our tracking system; the city knows about, follows up and investigates the concern. Whereas before, residents didn’t have confidence that the city would address an issue. Now we can track everything, see pictures, detailed comments from the division and PDFs of communication on the topic.
“This [improved trust] is reflected in the doubling of our requests for service since its beginning. It is trust and confidence that is connecting the residents to the city services,” she stressed, “If you see an issue in the city, don’t assume the city knows about it. Take the time to report it to Engage Toledo.”
All citizens should heed Commissioner Jaqua’s advice. I know I shall continue to do so.
How to contact Engage Toledo
Residents do not need to know all phone numbers of the different city departments ... just one! Here are several ways to engage:
- Call 419-936-2020 | 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Email at engagetoledo@toledo.oh.gov.
- Visit the website, toledo.oh.gov/engage, and create a service request through the customer service portal.
- Download the Engage Toledo mobile app at toledo.oh.gov/app.
- And soon, city council will consider approval of software called Chat Bot, where residents can ask questions on the city’s website and opt in to be able to text service requests.
