The Ohio General Assembly reconvened on Wednesday after taking a couple weeks off for an Easter break. Senate Bill 86 is one noteworthy bill that advanced.
The Ohio Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 86, which restricts the sale of hemp-derived THC products known as Delta-8 (I think of them as “Diet Weed.”) These products emerged via a loophole in the 2018 federal farm bill, which was meant to legalize industrial hemp production.
The bill says “intoxicating hemp” products must be sold in state-licensed marijuana dispensaries, although the legislation makes an exception for “drinkable cannabinoid products,” AKA THC beverages. Businesses with retail liquor licenses (bars, grocery stores, carryout stores) would be allowed to sell them to people 21 and up. It also sets quality and testing standards the products must meet.
The bill now heads to the House, which is considering its own proposal to regulate intoxicating hemp. The House version, unlike the Senate version, doesn’t contain language allowing THC beverages to be sold outside of dispensaries. (Legislative leaders said Wednesday that how the state deals with THC products could get pulled into the budget bill.)
Gov. Mike DeWine has been calling on the legislature to ban Delta-8 for over a year, calling the products a risk to children. But it looks more like lawmakers will regulate it in a manner similar to recreational marijuana or even alcohol.
The bill’s supporters said Wednesday it will keep THC products out of the hands of kids but still keep the drinks easily available for adults 21 and up.
“I’ve never tried them, but everybody tells me they’re the hip new thing,” said State Sen. Bill Demora, a Columbus Democrat.
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Adult coots gather on top of a muskrat cabin at Howard Marsh Metropark. (TFP Photo/Art Weber)
Issue 8 won’t raise our tax rate, but it will keep one of the most important institutions in Northwest Ohio, our metroparks system, operating for another 10 years. That’s why I am supporting the Toledo Metroparks’ request for a 1.4-mill, 10-year replacement levy on the May 6 ballot.
A great egret at Side Cut Metropark. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)
The 1.4-mill levy was first approved by voters in 2007 and renewed with overwhelming support in 2017. Throughout those 18 years, Metroparks has collected the tax based on 2007 property values. The replacement levy would be on today’s values, amounting to an increase of $1.60 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home.
One of the reasons I support Issue 8 is that Metroparks has lived within its means despite rising costs and skyrocketing demand from visitors over the last two decades. They have achieved this by bringing home federal grants that would have otherwise gone to other communities to fund their parks and trails.
Since the levy was renewed in 2017, the park system has delivered on its promise to place a clean, safe, natural metropark within five miles of every home in Lucas County. The community has responded, with park visitation increasing a whopping 62 percent in just the last seven years.
Metroparks Toledo is so highly regarded nationally that in 2020 it was named the No. 1 large park system in America by park and recreation trade associations.
We are fortunate to have 19 Metroparks open every day of the year – 7 a.m. until dark – without an admission free. Regional parks provide healthy places to gather and recreate. They beautify our community, enhance our property values and attract tourists who contribute millions of dollars to our local economy.
Quality of life attributes such as parks are not only nice to have, but a must-have today to attract and retain talented young people that local businesses need. That is why the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce is among more than two dozen organizations that have endorsed Issue 8.
The first wave of chorus frogs has emerged and are singing for mates in our vernal pools. A wonderful place to hear them is along the Wabash-Cannonball Trail. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)
Even if you never step foot in one of the parks, they are working for you every day, helping to keep our air and water clean, retaining storm water and providing wildlife habitat.
Since Lucas became a county in 1835, we have lost nearly 90 percent of our original woodlands and wetlands. Metroparks preserves just 5.5 percent of the land in the county, protecting the best of what little remains of our natural history for this and future generations.
Think of a Metropark as a park within a preserve. Eighty percent of Metroparks land is maintained as natural areas. Within the 20 percent devoted to parkland, the Metroparks staff has done a masterful job of developing innovative programs and facilities that provide free or low-cost entertainment for families year-round.
More than 100,000 people a year participate in nature walks, summer camps, outdoor skills classes, such as tree climbing and kayaking and special events.
I hope you will join me in supporting Issue 8 because Metroparks support our community in so many ways, every day.
The Maumee River channel above Farnsworth Metropark at Weir Rapids in Waterville. (Courtesy Photo/Art Weber)
Celloist Julian Beatty-Duarte, a sophomore at Maumee Valley Country High School, plays Bach Cello Suite No.1 between speakers. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)
TOLEDO – In an auditorium filled with proud parents, students, teachers and community members, 10 high school students captivated their audience with eloquent prose and sound.
The students presented topics ranging from raising awareness for social issues to self-improvement tips.
“TEDx is a great opportunity for local people to speak their mind about different topics and social issues,” said speaker Alex Ban, a sophomore at Perrysburg High School. “This was a really great opportunity for me to speak in front of a public audience and make my mark.”
Alex Ban talks about the Troubles of the Troubled Teen Industry. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)
Ban’s topic was about how the troubled teen industry institutionalizes child abuse.
“Last summer, I was browsing the news and I saw these two little kids getting abused at this camp center, which struck a heartstring for me,” Ban said. “There are over 200,000 kids in these facilities, so I really wanted to speak out and seek justice for them.”
Between speakers, audience members were lulled with “Bach Cello Suite No.1” from celloist Julian Beatty-Duarte and “Mia and Sebastian’s Theme” from pianist Oliver Kiehl, both MVCDS students.
This is the third consecutive year MVCDS has hosted TEDx. While the program originally began in 2016, it stopped due to the COVID pandemic.
Layan Ridid, left, and Daivik Patel introduce the TEDx speakers for the evening. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)
“Layan brought the idea to me of bringing this chapter to our community. And we both fell in love with it really quick and decided to bring it back,” said senior TEDx Maumee ValleyCountry Day School co-president Daivik Patel.
Junior co-president Layan Ridi said she and Patel have gone to school together since seventh grade.
“Public speaking has always been a passion of ours. I remember doing presentations with Daivik since we were little, and having that opportunity to give other students their voice was really important to both of us,” Ridi said.
Students’ topics were evaluated, and the best ones proceeded to the interview process.
“We had applications from 20 to 30 local high schoolers,” noted Ridi.
Chosen speakers are assigned a liaison to assist them with practicing, perfecting and memorizing their speeches.
The 15 liaisons at this year’s event also assisted with various activity tables during the multiple intermissions between speakers, and set up the free Chipotle dinner provided to attendees.
MVCDS pays for the event through business donations, withS&G Stores being this year’s sponsor.
“There’s a lot of valuable high school students in our community, and we wanted to allow them to bring their voice and their ideas to the stage,” Patel said.
“One of the biggest passions of my life has always been community. And this event is really centered around community and how can we engage with one another and discuss these diverse topics that our speakers are bringing to the table.”
Speakers:
Marah Ariss, Perrysburg High School, 11th grade: “Special Needs Awareness”
Alex Ban, Perrysburg High School, 10th grade: “The Troubled Teen Industry”
Andy Caillaux, Maumee Valley Country Day School, 11th grade: “Lifting More than Weights”
Adhya Duggal, William Mason High School, 11th grade: “Octopus: What We Can Learn from the Deep Sea Creature”
Arsalan Faisal, St. John’s Jesuit, 11th grade: “How Stories Shape our Perception of Morality”
David Liu, Sylvania Southview, 12th grade: “Seven Deadly Frames”
Baraah Mansour, Maumee High School, 12th grade: “Surviving Life; Independence vs. Self-Reliance”
Steve Broderick helps his daughter, Isla, navigate the gross motor gym at the DOT Playspace. (Courtesy Photo)
Occupational therapist offers calming space for kids to play
TOLEDO – The average play space can be overwhelming and loud for children with sensory sensitivities. But there is an alternative place where these kids can play. With the opening of Defying Odds Therapy Playspace (DOT), kids of all abilities can play and even receive therapy.
The gym features an interactive piano wall. Children can press to activate the keys to make music, or it can be set to make animal sounds and car/truck sounds. (Courtesy Photo)
Headphones are available for those with sound sensibilities. (Courtesy Photo)
The DOT, located at 6544 W. Central Ave., was founded by pediatric occupational therapist Erica Zimmerman, whose expansion of the existing office and has been in the works for about two years. DOT Playspace combines play, therapy and learning all in one place.
Zimmerman added that much of her inspiration for starting the project was her son. “I wanted a place where I could bring my son to work and he could play,” she said.
Nicole Whitaker brings her two-and-a-half-year-old son, Ellis, to the DOT Playspace. She said that Ellis is one of three boys, and he can be shy, so the play area is a great place for him to spread his wings without the chaos of some other area playspaces for kids his age.
“He also is doing speech therapy, so with Erica’s background in occupational therapy, I knew that she would probably have a lot of really great sensory things,” Whitaker said.
“It’s not just a play space with a bunch of toys. It’s actually thoughtfully planned for kids’ sensory output and input, and to really spark them into not just playing, but learning, as well. That’s why I go there.”
Though the space offers equipment that is ideal for children under five years of age, Whitaker takes all three of her kids, who range from two to nine.
“I think she’s [Zimmerman’s] going to have even more for the bigger kids coming soon. She doesn’t even have all of the play structures delivered yet, so there’ll be even more. But I think it’s good for for all kids, honestly.”
Nicole Whitaker
The indoor space offers a wide variety of things to do, like climbing structures, slides, swings and sensory friendly rooms. During the design process, a couple of people with autism were brought in to give their opinion on the play structures. The design of DOT’s interior is meant to be calming, with soft pastel decor and white walls, while other play spaces have really bright colors, which can be overstimulating.
“I’ve worked with a lot of families who had children with developmental disabilities,” Zimmerman said. “There aren’t many places to bring them.”
DOT is inclusive for all children, not just limited to children with developmental disabilities.
“We really weren’t taking her places [before taking her to the Playspace] because places didn’t feel like they would be conducive to her,” said Broderick. “She can get really overwhelmed by a lot of loud noise, and just doesn’t have the stamina to play all the time, especially with other kids there; it’s a lot of gross motor work. She goes through fatigue and it tires her out.”
Steve and Devon Broderick hold their daughter, Isla, at the DOT Playspace.Isla Broderick plays at the DOT Playspace.
Devon Broderick brings her 18-month old daughter Isla to the DOT. Isla has single-sided deafness, making the calming aspect of the facility especially appealing to the Broderick family.
Broderick notes that the Playspace is ideal for letting small children explore and play while parents relax. And when children do get overstimulated, there is a sensory room with a bubble wall and dim lighting they can use as a reset. Without this kind of setup, Broderick would often feel compelled to go home when Isla became overwhelmed during play. The DOT Playspace makes it possible for kids to spend more time playing after they calm down.
The space is broken up into three separate rooms with different purposes:
The sensory room is quiet and calm, a great place for children to unwind and relax.
The motor gym is more high energy, hosting play structures.
The creative cafe is a place where children and their parents can eat together. There are also art stations set up to encourage creativity.
Julia Hage, director of mission advancement at Anne Grady Services, speaks to attendees at the Coffee for a Cause event.
Coffee for a Cause highlights need for volunteers, donations
PERRYSBURG – Every year, Anne Grady Services hosts Coffee for a Cause, an event that raises awareness and fosters inclusion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the community.
Attendees at the Ann Grady Coffee for a Cause event. (TFP photo/Hannah Sellers)
Julia Hage, director of mission advancement at Ann Grady Services. (TFP photo/Hannah Sellers)
During the Coffee for a Cause event, it was announced that Noah’s House would reopen after a long respite.
“Ever since we had to pause this service during Covid, I have received endless calls from families in need of respite care,” said Julia Hage, director of mission advancement.
Not only is respite care on the horizon, but already individuals with intellectual disabilities have been taking advantage of the new therapy pool at Anne Grady Services.
At the event, a video played on screen showing the large, bright smiles on the faces of individuals splashing in the water and feeling freedom. Wheelchair users and others with physical disabilities are weightless in the water, a relief from pain that creates greater mobility.
Jim Weisz, who attended the event, said “hearing the impact the Anne Grady staff has on the lives of residents is inspiring and uplifting, especially given the current climate we live in. There is good in this world, and it’s right in our backyard.”
With the re-opening of the respite care, Anne Grady Services is doubling their efforts on fundraising for the Noah’s House Scholarship Fund, which assists families who cannot afford $300 per day for respite care services. Not only is respite care vital for caretakers, but it is very important for those with disabilities, as well.
Julia Hage, left, listens to Doug Homer, chief financial officer at Designetics, Inc., during the event. (TFP photo/Hannah Sellers)
Receiving outside care opens the doors to new opportunities, like outings into the community, interest based programs, relationship building, and high quality medical care.
BOWLING GREEN – Despite contrary perceptions, research increasingly shows that divorce of couples at or over age 50 has risen significantly, despite overall divorce rates decreasing in the U.S.
This phenomenon is called gray divorce, something studied byBowling Green State University (BGSU) professors Susan Brown and I-Fen Lin.
While the phrase was coined locally by the two researchers, it is now nationally used by prominent sources such asPsychology Today,USA Today andForbes.
Brown and Lin began researching gray divorce in 2010 after a conversation about the divorce of Al and Tipper Gore made them wonder, “What makes people get divorced after 40 years of marriage?”
They didn’t expect to discover this was not as uncommon as they’d previously thought.
What started as a hallway conversation soon became a 15-year research project that is still ongoing.
BGSU professor Susan Brown.BGSU professor I-Fen Lin.
“The divorce rate overall for the entire adult population of the United States has been declining, so it peaked in 1979,” Brown said. “We were really shocked to find out that it was actually increasing for older people and that it doubled between 1990 and 2010.”
Lin explained that gray divorce research can give context to how it will affect divorcées, particularly women.
“Our research findings have very important implications. We find that [with] the economic well-being after gray divorce, there’s a big drop for women but there’s a smaller decrease for men’s well-being,” Lin said. “People who experience gray divorce, they experience economic decline, and they don’t really have a lot of work years to recuperate.”
Brown pointed out that a factor of this recuperation has to do with the accumulation of wealth and assets to split, including Social Security money.
“Somebody who’s 60 or 65 years old and getting divorced…it’s very different than if you’re getting divorced when you’re 30 or 35,” Brown said. “When you’re young, you’ve got your whole adult life course ahead of you to make up for those financial losses…Whereas by the time you get into later life, people have had decades to accumulate assets.”
“We found that we can follow people for up to a decade after their gray divorce and they still haven’t recovered economically,” Brown said.
According to Brown, their research could influence policy decisions related to these economic issues.
“Your marital experiences during adulthood are related to your poverty status as an older adult. We think of Social Security as something that’s going to lift you out of poverty. But for a lot of older people, it’s sustaining them in poverty, and that’s particularly true for a gray divorced woman. 27 percent of them are living below the poverty line, even though they’re receiving Social Security,” Brown said.
Brown said some of the problems that arise for people who have experienced gray divorce are because of the assumptions made by those who created the system; firstly, that people wouldn’t divorce, and secondly, that a traditional nuclear family would remain a social norm.
“We’ve set our systems with these assumptions about what types of family support most people would have,” Brown said.
All these factors beg the question, why would someone get a gray divorce?
Along with more acceptance of divorce is our changing expectations of what constitutes a good marriage. It’s more about thinking about marriage from an individualized perspective. What is this marriage doing for me? Am I happy in this marriage? Am I fulfilled in this? And if I’m not, then getting divorced is acceptable.
Susan Brown | BGSU Professor
Gray divorce can’t be attributed just to one factor, however.
In later life, there are questions of who will be caregivers of the old. Brown said some spouses do not want to be caregivers, a factor that may lead to gray divorce increase.
Lin said increased lifespan may be another reason.
Despite all these reasons, Lin and Brown suspect the gray divorce trend is generation-specific.
“Susan and I still keep track of this gray divorce rate for the next few years to see the trend. But we suspect it’s more likely a baby boomer phenomenon,” Lin said.
In addition to divorce being more socially acceptable, so are other non-marriage options such as cohabitation.
Lin said gray divorce may not be as prevalent in the newer generations because they choose options alternative to marriage.
More information about Brown and Lin’s research can be found onhere.
