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Shops at Blue Creek welcome three new tenants

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Green Alchemy owner Heather Perry stands amid the numerous plants and related products in the new "curated plant boutique" now open in the Shops at Blue Creek in Whitehouse. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Green Alchemy, Top Me Off Refill Shop and Turner Martial Arts

WHITEHOUSE – The Shops at Blue Creek in Whitehouse welcomed three new businesses this month, with an Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration planned for Saturday, May 2, said plaza owner Sara Smith.

Green Alchemy, Top Me Off Refill Shop and Turner Martial Arts have taken over space once occupied by Spotlight Dance Studio, which moved to Holland. Read below for profiles of all three, plus information on more businesses set to open elsewhere in Whitehouse.

Lauren Swartz and Evan Hardek peruse the plants in Green Alchemy. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Green Alchemy

Walking into Green Alchemy on a dreary morning, Lenah Ali took a deep breath and took in the abundant plants, orange walls and flowing fountain.

“It’s such a great vibe in here,” she shared with Heather Perry, the owner of the newly-opened plant boutique.

The term “green alchemy” has a variety of interpretations. In alchemy, the color green holds strong symbolic significance, as it is linked to transformation and growth, Perry explained. It is often associated with the “green lion” – an emblematic figure representing a corrosive substance capable of devouring metals to reveal hidden gold. On a biological level, green alchemy is the literal process of plants turning sunlight (energy) into living matter.

“In essence, green alchemy is an untamed, raw energy of nature that provides the necessary force to break down, purify and nourish new life and higher awareness,” she said.

A stand of tropical plants welcomes customers into Green Alchemy. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Plants have many benefits, including aesthetics, air purifying and promoting an improved mental state. During the pandemic, people discovered plants as a way to bring hope and joy, and provide a feeling of purpose in raising and caring and propagating plants, Perry said.

From air plants and cacti to succulents and fiddleleaf figs, Green Alchemy is filled with hundreds of varieties of plants, pots and the soil, fertilizer and other products needed to care for them. Plant-themed puzzles, books and artwork are sprinkled in, along with aromatic candles in the shape of plants. 

“People can come in and sit on the sofa and listen to the fountain and just enjoy the plants,” Perry said.

As a child, Perry looked forward to growing season as she assisted her grandfather in selecting seeds from a catalogue, and every step of the way from planting to harvesting. Later, while living in Colorado in 2000, Perry bought out the entire indoor house plant stock of a nearby nursery that was going out of business.

“It was a ridiculous amount of plants, but I knew they needed a home. I didn’t know what they were, so I had to branch out from my skill set and knowledge and research each one to know how to properly care for them,” she said. “That’s how I really started learning how to make them thrive. I was able to keep them alive and propagate them. And I had this huge, thriving community inside my house, providing air purifying benefits and aesthetics.”

The plants in the shop come from a variety of sources, including propagation from her home stock of more than 200 plants. Others come from local greenhouses. And the rare varieties are from reputable greenhouses in California and Florida.

With her experience, Perry is able to answer most customer questions, including:

•What plants do well in low-light areas?

•What are the best plants for air purifying?

•What plants are carnivorous – those that eat gnats and flies?

•Do air plants need to be watered? 

•Which plants are pet safe?

•How often should a plant be fertilized and watered?

•What type of soil and light should this plant get?

•What plants can be placed outdoors in the summer and returned indoors in the winter?

•What can be used to treat for pests such as spider mites, thrips, gnats and scale?

Green Alchemy stocks a line of organic soil, fertilizer and other products for plants. While researching information on plants, Perry suggests being cautious about advice from plant influencers who are pushing particular products.

“It’s important for people to know that what works for influencers doesn’t always work for your house, your environment and your means to take care of this plant. It’s important to not get overwhelmed by social media making it so much more complicated and costly than it needs to be,” she said.

Through classes and interactions with customers, Perry is happy to provide instruction on plant care. Some of her upcoming events include plant bingo on Friday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. And she’s working on plans for a succulent potting class, Plant Survival 101 and other events. Groups from school and area clubs are welcome to use the space for events as well.

With the opening of Green Alchemy, the plaza is now filled with many businesses that attract all ages and promote sustainable living and transformation, Perry noted. The nearby Top Me Off Refill Shop and Dahlia Beauty Bar use all natural products. Goodwill promotes reusing and recycling goods. And Perry’s own Age of Aquarius crystal shop attracts a loyal following.

“We’re making this a destination for people to come to Whitehouse to shop,” Perry said.

For information, visit greenalchemyllc.com and Green Alchemy, LLC on Facebook, or call 419-877-8080.

Top Me Off Refill Shop co-owners Stacy Krawetzke and Tiffany Spalding offer a simple, environmentally-friendly way to purchase all natural household and personal products. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Top Me Off Refill Shop

Judging by the packed April 13 opening event for Top Me Off Refill Shop, founders and friends Stacy Krawetzke and Tiffany Spalding are not alone in their desire to find natural, chemical free products.

The base of the business is just as it sounds: a simple way to refill clean, dry containers with eco-conscious household products. This includes shampoo and conditioner, body wash and hand soap, laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaners and other home and personal care items for $1.10 an ounce. Glass, ceramic and plastic containers that are BPA and BPS free are preferred. Top Me Off uses 100 percent clean, plant-based products with no dyes or fragrances from Rustic Strength.

“Our own personal health journeys led us to this,” said Spalding, who took classes and became a health coach. “I realized that it’s not just what you’re eating and the supplements you’re taking, but it’s also the products you’re using on your skin.”

Krawetzke is a nutrition coach, but she began looking beyond the food, including at the chemicals used inside the home, from laundry soap to shampoos.

“For us, it’s about helping families navigate health journeys in the cleanest way possible,” she said.

With connections from running health and wellness events in the community, the two decided to also welcome in many of the vendors they’ve met over the years, to fill the shop with a variety of products and gifts that follow their same philosophy.

Beekeeper Terri Hart of Swanton stocked a shelf with honey, including hot honey flavors like espresso, strawberry and elderberry. K&B Elderberry Acres of Wauseon offers elderflowers, dried elderberries and elderberry tea – all great for adding antioxidants into the diet. Bubbles and Hugs is a Northwood-based mother-daughter team that makes bath bombs, shower steamers, body scrubs and lotion in a tin. Luminous Arrows has a full line of tallow-based natural skin care products.

“A lot of our girls in here are farmers and they do a lot of nose-to-tail farming. If they don’t eat it, they use it. The tallow, the milk, the whatever. No waste, ecofriendly in itself,” Krawetzke said.

Monarch Ranch LLC owner Brianna Vanlerberg has loofah products in the shop. Grown on a vine hung on an arch, it’s harvested in late fall when completely dried. Monarch Ranch also produces goat milk lotion, magnesium spray, beard and hair oil and clean perfume.

Pamsie Co. has plastic-free storage bags that keep food fresh without the microplastics, as well as small batch skincare and candles. Marcus Sanchez of Waterville has a display rack for his Kindlewood Apparel Co., with ultra-soft Supima cotton T-shirts, sweatshirts and pants that are certified organic and responsibly sourced. Ten-year-old Journee decided to make her own organic lip gloss when her mom decided to go on a chemical healing journey after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Joe Keil, a retired police officer, turned to agriculture. He now raises goats for milk used in soaps created at Bad Creek Barns in Fulton County.

Herbalstead Ohio founder Christen Largent is one of several local vendors with products available inside Top Me Off Refill Shop. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Herbalstead Ohio founder Christen Largent has developed a following since launching her Waterville Township-based farm business a decade ago. Largent learned how to plant, nurture and growth a garden, including herbal plants, while growing up on her family’s homestead in Pennsylvania. 

“We were the uncool, nerdy family,” she laughed.

Now, as an herbalist, she relies on those “old ways” – using natural produce and herbs – to not only keep her family healthy, but to empower the community. She offers herbal extracts and body care products, fresh and dried herbs and tea blends, plants and seeds, and gardening and herbal classes.

“Herbs have become very important in our world for sustained health, so we chose to eliminate the supply chain and grow our own local herb farm,” she said. “Herbs are definitely a better alternative to chemicals.” 

In addition to offering products that are frequency infused, Unscripted You founder Andrea Knapp provides emotional body coding sessions. She is one of several local guests who will offer classes in Top Me Off over the coming months. 

For more information on hours and products, visit tmo-refillshop.com or email [email protected].

Turner Martial Arts

As a mom, Shelley Szparka has seen how martial arts have helped her 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter grow in confidence. As a blackbelt in karate, she’s experienced that growth herself. And as an instructor with Turner Martial Arts, Szparka’s goal is help her students grow and succeed.

“We are all about creating inspired leaders through the martial arts. Our goal is to help kids, and adults, become more confident, strong, disciplined and focused,” she said. “As they develop those traits, they carry them throughout their lives. The whole black belt mentality allows them to be stellar students, in other sports and in other areas of their lives.”

After teaching in Dan Turner’s studio for the past three years, Szparka has recently launched a new Whitehouse location of Turner Martial Arts in the Shops at Blue Creek. Classes for children, teens and adults are already underway most evenings, and more classes will be added as enrollment grows, she said.

What sets Turner apart from other martial arts studios? The entire staff takes its craft seriously, said Szparka, who is a two-time national champion and a three-time world silver medalist.

“We bring that passion and love to help students to rise to be at elite levels too,” she said, noting that the Anthony Wayne High School‘s success in multiple sports sets a high standard for the community.

While Szparka taught college composition at the University of Toledo and Owens Community College, she was also teaching kickboxing in local studios. It wasn’t until her son, Jack, and daughter, Lily, were taking classes with Turner Martial Arts that she even took her first karate class.

“I was a mom in the stands until Mr. Turner said, ‘Are you ready yet?’ I started karate at 37. And I earned my black belt at 40,” she said.

After teaching for Turner, they both decided it was time to add a second location. While driving around the Toledo area, both agreed that Anthony Wayne area just felt like home, she said.

“Whitehouse and Waterville are like a Hallmark neighborhood,” she said. “There’s something calming, relaxing, friendly and down-to-earth about this area. Sylvania and Toledo are so busy. This area gives you a moment to take a breath, calm down and feel at peace.”

So when Shops at Blue Creek owner Sara Smith contacted Turner and Szparka about an available spot, the answer was an immediate ‘yes.’

Shelley Szparka leads the new Turner Martial Arts location in the Shops at Blue Creek. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Standing barefoot on a green mat, Szparka points to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mural on the back wall. Among the turtles are AW-area landmarks. Along another wall are chairs for spectators to watch practice. Children are taught American Style Karate style with self defense rooted in Krav Maga – the focus of teaching for teens and adults.

“Krav Maga is highly self-defense based. We teach simple principles and techniques that keep people safe,” she said. “Our creed is, ‘I’ll use my common sense before my self-defense.'”

That means explaining when a physical response is needed. Every October, Turner offers a bullying defense program to help students build confidence and skills to handle any situation.

For those interested in trying out a class, Szparka is offering free trial lessons. To find out more, visit tmaanthonywayne.com, email [email protected] or call 419-309-8574.

Administrator Harold Grim retires

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Harold Grim is retiring after 25 years as Monclova Township administrator. (Courtesy photo)

Plus other recent news from Monclova Township

MONCLOVA TOWNSHIP – After 25 years as Monclova Township’s first full-time administrator, Harold Grim has turned in his last memo.

“I would like to leave believing I have made a difference. I will miss working with this extraordinary group of dedicated individuals who take their job working for Monclova Township very seriously,” Grim wrote in what he estimated to be his 600th memo to trustees – presented during the twice-a-month meetings.

While Grim wasn’t present during the April 20 meeting, the trustees approved a proclamation honoring him on his retirement. Under Grim’s direction, the township has experienced significant growth while maintaining a high standard of service, ensuring that the needs of residents have been met with care, efficiency and foresight, the resolution notes.

Grim oversaw the successful conversion of the administrative offices and fire station into one complex; the expansion and enhancement of services including fall leaf collection, yard-waste drop-off, curbside recycling; and the expansion of township parks.

“Through countless projects, daily operations and steadfast management, Mr. Grim has ensured that Monclova Township remains responsive, responsible and focused on public service,” the trustees stated

Grim’s retirement is effective April 29, with his last day in the office on April 23. 

Michael Hampton II is set to take over as administrator on May 1. (Courtesy photo)

Earlier this year, the trustees agreed to hire Michael Hampton II, who is retiring from the role of Springfield Township administrator on April 30, as director of safety services, zoning and special projects. Trustees voted to revoke that contract and instead offer a contract with Hampton to serve as administrator beginning on May 1. 

During the meeting, the trustees also:

-Heard Road Superintendent Doug Holland share research on expanding the Keener Road playground to include a structure for children ages 2-12. The current equipment is geared to ages 8-18. He shared a quote for $50,000 for equipment that includes three slides and climbing structures. The playground area with mulch will need to be expanded to make room for a new structure. While trustees approved the expenditure, Holland said he plans to discuss it with Hampton before moving forward.

The Keener Park playground has structures for ages 8-18, so road superintendent Doug Holland is proposing an additional structure for ages 2-12. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

-Listened to Holland outline options for reducing the amount of gravel tracked onto the Keener Park pickleball courts, which results in cracks that allow water to seep in and damage the court surface. Trustees approved an $80,500 contract with the Dotson Company of Whitehouse to replace the gravel with a concrete pad for picnic tables and bleachers, install a concrete path from the courts to the parking lot, and make drainage improvements. This will also be discussed with Hampton before moving forward.

-Heard Holland outline plans for a columbarium at Roth Cemetery, including the niches for ashes, textured concrete and four benches. Trustees approved $45,600 for two 48-niche columbariums from Maumee Valley Memorials and $56,280 to Dotson Company for concrete work.

The township is eyeing solutions to prevent gravel from tracking into the Keener Road pickleball courts. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

-Thanked retiring part-time firefighter Tricia Anderson for more than 25 years of service.

-Approved a street lighting district for Stoney Creek Plat 5 lots 155 through 181. This will include six LED lights at a cost of $10,433.57. The developer issued a check to cover the costs.

-Approved a $1.3 million contract with Bowers Asphalt and Paving for resurfacing Wrenwood, The Ridge at Wrenwood and Keystone Drive.

-Agreed to play $160,500 to Gerkin Paving for the township’s portion of a joint project with the county to apply a thin overlay on portions of Monclova Road affected by last year’s sanitary sewer installation. This is 80 percent of the total project cost.

-Heard that the county will remove the sign in front of the administration building, as it is affected by construction of the Albon and Monclova road roundabout project. The county paid $61,900 to the township to replace the structure, as reinstalling the old one would cost more than it is worth. Administrative Assistant Kathleen Kuns is researching options for replacement signage.

-Learned that James Moline Builders is working with the county and the township on a proposed housing development at 5371 Waterville Monclova Road. The development would have 23 acreage lots on 39 acres between Black and Waterville Monclova roads, south of the Wabash Cannonball South Fork Trail. Construction of streets is to start this summer.

-Learned that a site plan is soon to be submitted for a new Casey’s Gas Station at 3739 Briarfield Boulevard.

-Heard Zoning Administrator Eric Wagner say that Lamar Advertising is offering to give the township space on the post of a large billboard sign being redesigned at 6644 Maumee-Western Rd. A representative shared potential layouts that would include a welcome sign.

-Listened to Law Director Dawn Sanderson say that she’s been asked about the hiring process for the township. The board is not legally required to post job openings, and has leeway in how to conduct hiring, she said. The fire chief has authorization to post regularly for firefighters and EMS employees. 

-Listened to Wagner say that four proposed zoning text amendments were slated for the Lucas County Plan Commission’s April 22 meeting, and will then come back to the township Zoning Commission for review in May and the trustees in June.

-Heard that the fire department responded to 232 incidents in March.

-Learned that applications are being accepted for children entering kindergarten in the fall to attend either a morning or afternoon Safety Township program, June 8-12. Sign up forms are available at monclovatwp.org.

-Heard resident Lyn Cox call for Barbara Lang to resign, saying that she had no confidence in Lang’s ability to make an informed decision. Lang said she won’t resign, and invited anyone who wanted to address their concerns with her to let her know.

Providence Township passes data center moratorium

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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The new Providence Township Fire and Rescue water tender is replacing a 1984 vehicle (right). The new truck arrived on April 19. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP – Before unanimously passing a 12-month moratorium on the construction of data centers, Providence Township trustees had little discussion – but several residents shared their thoughts prior to the April 15 vote.

“One of the big concerns for us on the east side of the township is the potential for data centers,” said Schadel Road resident Jeff Rice, noting that Shawnee Township near Lima just approved an 18-month moratorium on data centers and large energy projects. 

“If you’re passing a moratorium, can we – during that time – look at how to finalize permanent ways to keep them out of our area?” asked Sara Smith, asking the trustees if they were looking at data centers as a way to generate income, or were opposed. “I think we should be proactive and look at what others are doing. This is a song and dance by people waving shiny dollars at our local government. You guys represent us.”

The trustees used the Waterville Township language in creating a 12-month moratorium, and will follow the suggestions coming out of their neighboring township’s data center committee when it comes to upgrading its zoning regulations to address concerns. 

During the meeting, the trustees also:

-Heard trustee Steve Kendall say that the 911 Regional Council of Governments (RCOG) is asking for an additional .8-mills, placing a 5-year levy on the ballot to fund public communications. The current levy ends on December 31, and the RCOG does not have a contingency plan if the levy fails or if voters approve abolishing property taxes.

The township’s proportional share for 911 dispatching in 2027 was just approved at .2055 percent, based on 3,995 incidents over a four-year period. That’s an increase from .1989 percent in 2026 – for a total cost to the township of $31,556. Kendall also noted that the RCOG committee is looking at next generation 911 communications that is linked statewide and includes videos so first responders can see a crash or fire before arriving on scene. 

-Discussed issues with sinkholes and drainage tiles along Neapolis-Waterville Road. Superintendent Kevin Keifer is working with the county to see about getting the ditch cleared to prevent backflow. 

-Heard residents Jeff Rice and Sara Smith ask that the county not eliminate the sirens for weather alerts, as not everyone keeps their phone on – including those who don’t have cell phones. 

–Listened to Rice ask that trustees consider giving AE Electric an opportunity to repair issues with fuel tank hookups that are now being passed on to another electrical contractor.

-Discussed the county’s plan to clear ditches in the township, starting with large logjams and then doing sediment removal and clearing downstream first.

-Agreed that, when repaving Manore Road, the county should replace the first four feet of the four concrete driveways along that section with four feet of asphalt. Homeowners are not supposed to use concrete in the right of way.

-Heard that the new fire truck was arriving on April 19.

-Learned from Fire Chief Rick Triggs that the ambulance damaged in a February accident will need to be rebuilt on a new chassis, and that Stryker is requiring that the power cot and loading system for the ambulance be replaced, at an estimated $20,000 each. This will be covered by the insurance company of the driver that hit the ambulance.

Toledo Works: Northwest Ohio Votes

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Toledo Free Press
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Episode 12 of Toledo Works

This week on Toledo Works, host Jaden Jefferson sits down with two area county board of elections directors: LaVera Scott from Lucas County and Julie Baumgardner from Wood County. It’s a conversation focusing on the role everyday people people play in making our elections happen, as well as the challenges facing local elections officials.

Everywhere in Toledo, you’ll find people who play a role in making our city tick – from hospitals and factories to restaurants and art galleries – and behind every person is a story. Our program, Toledo Works, highlights those stories from workers’ firsthand accounts. Each week, Toledo Free Press hosts Jaden Jefferson and Stephen Zenner focus on a different topic within the Toledo workforce, exploring their day-to-day challenges and triumphs.

Wild Side: Turkey vultures ride the thermals

By
Art Weber
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A turkey vulture at Side Cut Metropark along the Maumee River. (Photo by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo)

The return of longer days means more sunshine and the return of thermals – those columns of rising air that our birds of prey and scavenges love to ride and glide.

No species loves the return of strong thermals more than turkey vultures, which are likely at the highest numbers of the year right now as they migrate through our area. You’ll see them circling and circling with hardly a wingbeat. 

They’re hard to miss. Turkey vultures are big and blackish with wingspans of about six feet, approximately the same as our bald eagles. Unlike our eagles, vultures are clumsy fliers, rocking and tilting as they circle and soar overhead. While you’re likely to see them overhead, they’ll also gather in roosts in tall trees, and feeding on road kills. 

Feeding on dead animals is what they do. They’re scavengers. They’re Mother Nature’s clean-up crew, well-adapted for the job of safely consuming and digesting bacteria-infested carrion. Adults sport a featherless bright red head that, while some consider it creepy looking, serves the practical function of allowing the birds to reach into a carcass without the rotting meat sticking to feathers.

Everything in nature has function and purpose, and the turkey vulture is an important part of the balance. 

Toledo Tattoo Festival returns

By
Steven Bieber
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Tattoo artist Frankie Williams hard at work. (Courtesy photo)

Glass City Center will feature hundreds of artists

TOLEDO – There are several reasons why someone might want a tattoo. Some people use them as a way to pay homage to a family member or a pet, some want to make an ideological statement, and others want to express a facet of their interests. While anyone can go into a tattoo parlor, some people want a broader experience. That’s where the Toledo Tattoo Festival comes in.

From May 1-3, the Glass City Center will host the fourth annual Toledo Tattoo Festival. The event will feature more than 200 tattoo artists from Toledo and around the world. There will be vendors selling merchandise, contests, and opportunities to schedule a tattoo or get one from artists during the festival.

From May 1-3, the Glass City Center will host the fourth annual Toledo Tattoo Festival. (Courtesy photo)

Quinn Hurley, director of operations for Tattoo Fest, is in charge of talking to artists, setting up the room, and communicating with the Lucas County Health Department. He also answers questions about the event when someone reaches out.

He said the idea for the festival started in 2019, and the first one was held in Fort Wayne, Ind. Since then, the event has been held in a variety of cities, but Toledo remains the second-longest-running city. The group Hurley used to manage, Studio 13 Tattoo in Fort Wayne, used to have a location in Toledo, which is why the city was chosen for the Tattoo Festival.

Hurley said there is no one reason why someone might choose to become a tattoo artist, but you have to have an appreciation for art, and it’s a lot of work.

“It is one of the best careers that somebody can go in to do art for a living. There’s not going to be a ton of places out there that are hiring artists for a job, and tattooing kind of provides that,” he said. “It is a lot of work…Talk to any tattooer, and they’ll tell you about all the trials and tribulations, the successes and failures that they had learning to be a great tattoo artist. Everybody’s experience is different, but I think first and foremost, it’s a love of art, and there’s a culture around tattooing that I think is pretty alluring for a lot of people.”

Hurley noted that, in the past, tattoos were considered more taboo, but now that society is more accepting of them, the industry has continued to grow. More people from different walks of life get tattoos instead of just one specific demographic.

“It’s just grown and grown and grown. Which means when you find people that look like you that are tattooing, you’re more likely to get tattooed. It’s not as scary as it once was.”

From left to right, tattoo artists Jake Farris, Jordi Pla, Joshua Ross, and Dave Tevenal. (Courtesy photo)

One of the biggest reasons for having Tattoo Fest is to build a community. Hurley said an event like this brings people from the same industry together to connect with people in a city they otherwise may not have visited.

Hurley said Tattoo Fest is a great way for someone who wants a tattoo, either for the first time or to add another one, because it gives them a chance to walk around, see different styles, and talk to artists at their booths. It is also great for someone who is too intimidated to walk into a tattoo shop.

The event is family-friendly, but you must be 18 or older to get a tattoo. A single-day pass is $25, and a three-day pass is $65.

Garrett Smith heads to U.S. Naval Academy

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Garrett Smith, an Anthony Wayne High School senior, will head to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. after graduation. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Garrett Smith, an Anthony Wayne High School senior, is heading to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. 

As the youngest of four sons of Bruce and Victoria Smith of Monclova Township, Garrett was influenced in part by his brothers – AW grads Cameron (2018), Cayden (2021) and Roray (2022). All three chose the USNA and have shared stories with Garrett.

Like his brothers, Garrett has a resume filled with AP classes, student clubs – including DECA – the Anthony Wayne Rotary’s Interact Club, student council and National Honor Society. Throughout school, he has also run cross country and been a member of the swimming and lacrosse teams. In the community, Garrett is part of the Waterville Historical Society’s Student Advisory Council, working with other high school students to prepare programming on local history to present to all district third-graders each spring.

As an Eagle Scout with Troop 104 of St. Joseph’s in Maumee, Garrett built raised beds for the Anthony Wayne High School Family and Consumer Sciences classes, earning his Eagle Scout rank. He has participated in the Scouts National Youth Leadership Training Program for the past four summers.

During a visit to the USNA Summer Seminar last summer, Garrett was able to see up close what life is like in the academy.

“Everyone seemed so enthusiastic, energetic and had such a positive attitude. It’s an infectious environment to be a part of. I was able to meet people from all 50 states, from all sizes of towns and cities, and there were a lot of new perspectives and leadership styles,” Garrett said.

That experience is what led him to apply for the USNA – a process that included a Congressional nomination by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo).

“I want to thank the many teachers that have encouraged and supported me throughout the process, as well as Marcy Kaptur,” Garrett said.

He will report for Plebe Summer on June 24.

Hyperscale data center eyed for Waterville Township

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Dave and Amy Lindquist farm 400 acres and live on Finzel Road. Nearby is their son and daughter-in-law - right in front of where a data center project is expected to be built. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP – Looking east from their front yard, Dave and Amy Lindquist gazed past the open farmland across Finzel Road to the semis traversing U.S. 24 in the distance.

When the highway was completed in 2012, it changed the landscape of the rural Waterville Township. Now, with news that a developer is eyeing 1,000 to 1,400 acres south of Neapolis-Waterville road for a hyperscale data center, residents are bracing for a project they believe will have even more of an impact than the highway bypass.

“I hope this doesn’t go in, because I think it will ruin Waterville Township,” Dave said, after listening to township trustees share details during their April 22 meeting.

Pointing to her T-shirt motto “Faith Over Fear,” Amy said she’s shed many tears and said many prayers that a data center doesn’t come to their rural neighborhood, which she describes as tight-knit and friendly. 

Keith and Brenda Moosman stand in front of the dream home and business they built 16 years ago near the corner of Neapolis-Waterville and Finzel roads. Both worry about the impact of a data center on the community. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Among her neighbors are Keith and Brenda Moosman, who built their dream home – along with barns for his home-based business – on Neapolis-Waterville Road 16 years ago. Now he’s wondering whether a data center will be in his back yard.

“Why here? Why not away from people? Would you like a manufacturing plant in your back yard?” Keith asked.

Pointing to the west, he named his neighbors, who will all be affected if a hyperscale data center comes in. While the landowners who were contacted about selling might know what is going to happen, the property owners surrounding the area are left in the dark, and with a lot of stress.

Not only would it be difficult to find the same setting elsewhere to rebuilt a home and business, getting a fair market value from their home will be a challenge if such a project comes to fruition, Keith said. And his neighbors, including a family that just paid $2.4 million for a home down the street, share that same concern, he said.

“It’s wrenching. I’ve spent a lot of late nights wondering ‘what ifs,'” Moosman said.

Trustees Kyle Hertzfeld, Toby Miller and Julie Theroux shared on April 22 how an unknown company wants to build a hyperscale data center in the township. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

As chair of the township zoning commission, Moosman knows that board of trustees – including Kyle Hertzfeld, Toby Miller and Julie Theroux – are doing what they can, but as a small township with little funding, only so much can be done when facing a large industry that is prepared to offer farmers $1 million an acre.

During their regular April 22 meeting, held in Waterville First Presbyterian Church to accommodate a large crowd, the trustees finally confirmed what has been rumored for more than a year.

“Yes, there is a company interested in building a data center in Waterville Township.  We don’t know who,” Miller said, adding that the township’s abundant land and access to water, electricity, the Nexus gas transmission pipeline and U.S. 24 makes the area very attractive.

Only seven companies do hyperscale facilities, and he suspects it could be Microsoft or Apple, as Meta and Google have facilities elsewhere.

“We won’t know who it is until the day it happens,” Miller said, explaining that nondisclosure agreements prevent those owning the land from sharing information.

The trustees have been preparing for this possibility over the past year, first requiring that a data center only be allowed on agricultural land with a conditional use permit (CUP), which allows the township to stipulate conditions on lighting, landscaping, sound, vibrations, setbacks and more. 

In December, the board approved a 12-month moratorium and formed a Data Center Advisory Committee (DCAC) consisting of not just township officials but many residents. The group meets monthly to come up with recommendations to strengthen the zoning code and provide protections, such as requiring the developer to invest in $1 million or higher escrow to return the land to its original condition if the facility is abandoned. 

The group is also applying to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to request habitat studies of nesting and hunting areas for bald eagles and golden eagles.

Pulling up a video on his phone, Keith shows a bald eagle consuming a large fish by his neighbors pond. On Hertzfeld Road, Brett Warner has covered his chicken run to protect them from eagles who come in for dinner on a regular basis.

“We have collected data showing there’s a lot of eagles in this area,” Miller said, noting that such studies by the state or federal agencies could take years to complete.

While working every angle to protect the township, the trustees hired two Columbus law firms to provide guidance on what is legal to do. 

“We are doing everything possible within the law. It would be super nice if the state gave us authority, as residents, to say we don’t want this,” Miller said. 

The township cannot ban data centers, because it’s illegal to tell a property owner what he or she can do with their land.

“We live in a free country, and property owners have rights. As long as they’re within the law, they can do whatever they want with their property,” he added. “Our understanding from multiple attorneys and the Lucas County prosecutor is that banning data centers is not a legal option. We do that, and we would be immediately sued. And we don’t have the funds to defend ourselves.”

The recommendations from the DCAC will be presented within the next few months during public meetings at the township and county level, with comments welcome at each step of the way. Miller estimates it will take at least 120 days for those changes to the zoning code to be approved.

“We’re doing everything and anything we can to protect the residents,” Miller said, explaining that the year-long moratorium is allowing the board to put these measures in place. Any data center CUP application received before December 17 can be rejected, but the township cannot extend its moratorium without the expectations of legal action.

During a public comment section, several residents asked about how to control the impacts on wells, the environment and housing values. 

Janice Braida asked whether Miller or his fellow trustees, Hertzfeld and Theroux, stand to benefit from a data center.

“No,” Theroux said.

“”I don’t have MOUS or NSAs or land options. I live on Hertzfeld. And between Hertzfeld and U.S. 24 is generally where we think it will be. I stand to be screwed quite substantially,” said Miller.

Hertzfeld said he doesn’t want a data center, but can’t vote, as he has extended family members that might benefit.

Warner, who served as a trustee for 10 years along Kyle, beginning in 2005, remembers the two of them sitting in that same church basement, accompanied by the late Les Disher, as residents rallied against plans to reroute U.S. 24 through Waterville Township. Later, the board and community tried to stop the Nexus pipeline. Now he can look out his window and see both, Warner said.

“The board did everything we could to make sure it was done right. We realized we could steer the car, but there was no way to step on the brakes,” Warner told the audience gathered on April 22. “This is what this board is doing now. If you’re coming to rant, this is the wrong place. They are on your side and then some.”

The Lindquists and Moosmans understand that trustees are doing what they can, but fear for the impact on their community – one in which neighbors know each other and appreciate that farmland is valuable.

“People have to eat,” said Dave, who farms 400 acres in the area.

Keith saw his cousins Ronald and Dorothy lose their home to the U.S. 24 bypass and understands how such a project can interrupt families that have lived in the township for generations.

“You can’t pay for memories,” Brenda said, noting that while a few farmers stand to gain from the sale, many more will see their dreams for their future generations to stay in the township be shattered.

While the Moosmans don’t have an anti-data center sign in front of their home, as Keith avoids being political, most of their neighbors do. Lyn Cox, founder of the AW-CRAP Facebook page that is dedicated to fighting data centers – including distributing signs – urged residents to sign a petition to amend the Ohio Constitution to ban the construction of data centers that consume over 25 megawatts of energy per month.

According to Conserve Ohio, 25 mw is “the threshold between a manageable, community-friendly facility and an industrial scale data center that can use as much power as a small town.” 

Ohio currently ranks fourth in the nation for the number of data centers. For hyperscale centers, Ohio comes in at No. 2. 

“Ohio has done it’s share. If they want to put in more data centers, there’s 49 more states. Find another,” Cox said. “We can decide what we want Ohio to look like. 

She urged residents to help gather signatures by downloading a petition at conserveohio.com, or visit the AW-CRAP Facebook page.

Petition gatherers are also attending local municipal meetings and will be on hand during the June 9 Eats and Beats Food Truck Tuesday event at Conrad Park and the June 11-13 Cherry Fest in Whitehouse.

Toledo Works: Top interviews from the series

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Toledo Free Press
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Episode 11 of Toledo Works is our “Best Of”

In this week’s episode of Toledo Works, we’re featuring some of our favorite interviews. Our “Best Of” that includes Jaden Jefferson‘s conversations with London Mitchell of the Toledo History Museum and Tonya Scherf of Food for Thought, as well as Stephen Zenner‘s discussion with photographer Jay “Dirty Kics” Dickerson.

Everywhere in Toledo, you’ll find people who play a role in making our city tick – from hospitals and factories to restaurants and art galleries – and behind every person is a story. Our program, Toledo Works, highlights those stories from workers’ firsthand accounts. Each week, Toledo Free Press hosts Jaden Jefferson and Stephen Zenner focus on a different topic within the Toledo workforce, exploring their day-to-day challenges and triumphs.

Waterville gets educated on First Energy

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Karen Gerhardinger
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First Energy local engagement specialist Victor Coleman Jr. answers questions from Waterville City Council during its April 13 meeting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WATERVILLE – With a list of 65 lights that need to be replaced or repaired, Waterville City Council welcomed First Energy local engagement specialist Victor Coleman Jr. to its April 13 meeting to answer numerous questions.

When city staff or residents see a downed pole or non-working light, the first step is to call Toledo Edison – a subsidiary of First Energy. Once a call is made, Edison creates a log with the exact location and issue. Reporting it more than once does not bump that call up the list, Coleman said.

Once the call comes in, a team arrives to determine if it’s a simple repair, such as a replacement bulb or pole, or more complicated, such as damaged underground line.

“We’re finding in the suburbs that someone is boring for new infrastructure and nicks our lines. If there are multiple lines out on one street, that tells me the lines are nicked,” Coleman said, adding that it likely explains issues on Pray Boulevard, where multiple lights have been out at once. 

In that case, a contractor needs to be hired to run a new line to repair those lights – and that’s a more lengthy process. If it takes longer than eight weeks to see any action, Coleman recommended that staff contact him.

Council President Todd Borowski asked about the condition of the substation, which Coleman said he imagines will be upgraded soon. Scott Jahns asked about the more frequent outages and if it’s related to the substation.

“Every outage is different,” Coleman said, noting that it could be related to something as simple as a squirrel causing damage or a more complicated problem due to the substation.

Jahns also asked about the replacement of old lights with LED lights, and having multiple types of lights in one neighborhood.

“We’re trying to create a plan to target areas so they’re not mismatched, and figure out which communities to do first,” Coleman said, adding that the goal is to have the same lights in one area.

One of the challenges that First Energy is facing is due to a backorder of parts that started during the pandemic – including a 40-month waitlist for some. 

“Fiberglass poles are my biggest headache. If anyone wants to start a business…we can’t seem to get them fast enough. That’s where a lot of our backlog comes from,” Coleman said.

Council members and Mayor Tim Pedro also asked questions about specific equipment and how First Energy is working to create smart infrastructure, which Coleman said is an ongoing goal for the company. 

Electric bills now display comparisons for usage for each customer, and Council Member Mary Duncan said she appreciated knowing when she’s using more or less. This is automatically included on the bills as a goal to educate customers, Coleman said.

During the meeting, council also:

•Reviewed the final drawing of a mural that will be painted by Dean Davis on the wall of a commercial building on Mechanic Street. The mural project is sponsored by the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Commission (AWAAC), which is providing the $10,000 to $12,000 in funding – not taxpayer dollars. The 80-foot wide by 18-foot tall mural is meant to draw the attention of those passing by and to enhance the downtown area, said AWAAC Vice President Lisa Exner. Work is expected to begin around May 7.

Rendering by Dean Davis.

•Listened to N. Sixth Street resident Mark Weibler ask about the city’s plans for roadways without curbs, including his street and Canal Road. While the city did bring the berm up, as he requested a few years ago, stone was used, and that allows water to get under the base of roadways and cause erosion. Administrator Jon Gochenour said that Canal Road will be repaved and widened this year with an extra berm. The entire area around Sixth Street is old and in need of berms and other work. About $100,000 of work is planned, Gochenour added.

•Listened to Leslie Harper and Leitra Harper caution about the use of gas-fired power plants and the impact of emissions. Both are concerned about a potential plant for a data center and such plants creating pollution in the community.

•Heard Lisa Haberstock asked Pedro what action has been taken to study data centers during a six-month moratorium that ends in May. No committee has been formed, Pedro said. Instead, he and council members have toured data centers in New Albany and met with local officials while watching legislation proposed at the state level. Haberstock asked where to find updates and feedback on that progress, and Pedro said she should call him after the meeting. 

•Answered questions from Dana Rae Drive resident Brian Glonek about plans for two parcels that the city plans to transfer to the Waterville Community Improvement Corporation in order to sell at a more competitive rate. Mayor Pedro said Council wants to hear developer proposals for housing and recreation, not commercial and industrial uses on land that long ago was slated for an industrial park. A final reading and legislative action is expected on Monday, April 27.

•Heard that $100,000 in sidewalk repairs are planned for this year, starting with the ones deemed most deficient. Gochenour said some sidewalk repairs will have to wait because of utilities underneath that need to be repaired first.

•Learned that Gochenour is taking proposals from several refuse and recycling companies, and these will be presented to the Public Works Committee for review before coming back to council for a decision in May.

•Learned that Partners for Clean Streams had a cleanup day on April 9 to remove trash from dumpsters near the Kroger on Pray Boulevard. 

•Heard that a farmers market and flea market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of May, June, July and August at Parker Square.

•Heard Jahns ask about the retention pond on the Toledo Port Authority-owned land on Farnsworth Road behind the industrial park. Residents are concerned about the depth and proximity to the road and the danger for children in the nearby Mill Creek neighborhood. The developer is planning to install fencing, Gochenour said.

•Congratulated the Tree Commission for earning the Tree City USA and Growth Award this year for going above and beyond in community forest management.

•Learned that Kroger is rededicating its store after a remodel, with a celebration on Friday, April 24 at 9:45 a.m.

•Heard that the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a grand opening with the new owners of Ultra Car Wash on Pray Boulevard on Friday, May 8 from 4 to 7 p.m.

•Heard Pedro say that while Gov. Mike DeWine turned down a request for a pause on the demolition of the Roche de Boeuf Bridge, that he is meeting with the Save The Bridge Association and still working on ideas as the Ohio Department of Transportation reviews bids for its demolition.

•Held a first reading on an ordinance to renew a five-year franchise agreement with Waterville Gas and Oil company to transmit and supply gas in the city. A second ordinance covers the price includes a $2.00 per month increase in the customer charge from $12.50 to $14.50, plus a decrease in the volumetric rate from $7.55 to $6.724 per thousand cubic feet.

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