Maumee deals with ordinance
Maumee lays groundwork for sewer ordinance repair reimbursement
MAUMEE – Maumee residents received positive news during the city council meeting on Tuesday. The council voted 5-2 to authorize city administrator Patrick Burtch to set parameters and approve a grant program for residents who had their sewer system fixed or replaced under the sewer ordinance.
The city originally passed a sewer ordinance on June 17, requiring homeowners to schedule an inspection of their property at the time of sale or as requested, and pay for the repairs within 90 days of inspection. Some residents were facing the possibility of spending thousands of dollars repairing their homes. The sudden financial burden drew backlash from residents.
The backlash persuaded the city council to repeal the sewer ordinance on July 31, roughly six weeks after it was passed. Mayor James MacDonald explained the discontent of the citizens and looked at how the sewer ordinance would impact the total expense of every household. He says the city plans to gather citizen input.
The sewer ordinance was originally passed in response to the EPA’s mandate that Maumee eliminate the inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the sewers. MacDonald said the city continues to be in contact with the EPA but shared his difficulty with them.
“The thing about the EPA is they won’t tell you how to fix the problem,” he said. “They’ll just tell you that you have a goal post to meet.”
MacDonald also explained the grant system that the city approved.
“While that original ordinance was in place, some people actually conveyed their property and had work done on their property in order to sell their house,” he said.
“What we want to do is make right with any expenses that they incurred in the city right away not on their private property, to rectify that they had to move while that ordinance was in effect and then it got repealed.”
When asked about a new ordinance, MacDonald said the city is in information-gathering mode right now.
The next step for the city council is to hold the remaining community roundtables to gather information from Maumee residents. The roundtables are at 6 p.m. on Aug. 22, 27 and 29. To attend you must register and be a Maumee resident.
TPS back at school (mostly)
TPS superintendent Dr. Romules Durant visits Escuela Smart Academy
TOLEDO – Holding a gigantic and oversized yellow pencil and with the Toledo Public Schools superintendent kneeling by his side, Dylan Marcelo, 5, scribbled his signature on a contract, becoming the newest student to sign with the Escuela Smart Academy.
The signing is an unofficial and fun way for students to feel welcomed to their bilingual school, which opened its doors on Monday to phased-in preschoolers and kindergarteners and grades 1-6. Dr. Romules Durant was on hand to witness several signings.
Durant also visited a first-grade classroom, where students became excited when their teacher, Jennifer Wagner, asked if they remembered his previous visit when he read Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat … dressed as its namesake.
Escuela Smart Academy was a charter school before TPS pulled it into the school system in 2019. Principal Natasha Allen said coming from a charter to public school provided a lot of opportunities and resources for students, families, staff and teachers.
Allen, who’s been the principal for nearly four years, said half of the 290 students are learning English as a second language, and 75 percent are Latino. Many of the faculty are bilingual, and if they are not they’re still familiar with the culture and know Spanish. There is also a dedicated Spanish teacher.
As the doors opened to the students and they walked in the building for the start of their first day, they were greeted with a community cheering section to celebrate their return to school.
“It’s just a wonderful school and environment and I’m excited to be here with our families and our Latino culture,” proclaimed Allen. “The families are amazing and the engagement at family events is wonderful.
“Our kids like coming to school and smile pretty much every day because it’s a really great place and they feel accepted,” she said.
Back-to-school dates for TPS students are scattered. Grades 1-9 reported Monday; Grade 10 reports on Tuesday; Grades 11-12 on Wednesday; and Wednesday, Aug. 28, is the first full day for all pre-school and kindergarteners.
Daily Dose | The Humorist
The Democratic National Convention begins Aug. 19 in Chicago.
Jikoni: Restaurant in a truck
Jikoni serves up more than East African cuisine
TOLEDO – For my first column, I want to introduce Jikoni, a local food truck bringing East African cuisine to the masses. I caught up to them at Toledo Botanical Garden’s Crosby Arts Festival.
Jikoni means “kitchen” in Swahili, which is the language most prominent in East Africa. Chef and owner Tom Otieno hails from Kenya and crafts popular dishes similar to those served in East Africa, South America and Afghanistan.
Using fresh ground spices for vibrant flavor, Jikoni offers a curated collection of savory bowls, including pilau chicken and red bean curry over coconut rice and pilau rice, along with chapati (soft flatbread) and samosas. For dessert, Jikoni offers a selection of savory sweets, including cardamon coffee cake and mango tarts. Rich flavors are built using a combination of cardamon, ginger, cumin, black pepper corns and cinnamon. Fresh cilantro, green onions, carrots and tomatoes embellish these dishes.
Jikoni uses a commissary kitchen to prepare food to better execute food service. Marinating ingredients overnight, roasting and braising in the morning, and assembling relishes and fresh chutneys before heading out are keys to quick service and repeat customers. All the meats are prepared in advance and kept warm at safe holding temperatures for service, then packed in insulated travel containers taken to the destination.
Jikoni is a tow-behind trailer with limited space, so the menu is limited to just a few options. Fast service is their priority, averaging five orders per minute at peak speed. Otieno said that “long lines are no indication of quality, but more of an operator’s process.”
Before catering large events, communication with organizers is important for a successful day. They inform vendors with metrics specific to attendance, weather, cost and permitting. Electricity is often provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Having electricity allows for overnight storage in onboard refrigerators, minimizing back and forth.
Site selection is one of the most important considerations because friers and grills create heat, and weather can be hot and humid. It helps to park in shade with open windows for cross-ventilation. It is also best to not be located in corners where hungry shoppers pass other vendors whose lines extend in front of the truck. Menus can be tailored to specific tastes or account for allergies or gluten intolerance.
Operating a food truck is erratic. Retaining help is difficult with no formal schedule. Jikoni relies on referrals and collegiate labor for assistance. For big events on long weekends, it is common to miss sleep due to long days and so much preparation.
Like any business, it helps to have a bookkeeper who can record expenses and income, and file taxes. Without a formal location, constant marketing is critical for notifying people where and when they operate. Having a trusted partner would be a big advantage, and Otieno has been working to bring his sister to the United States to aid in the operation. She knows the history of the food, the way it is supposed to taste and be presented and can answer questions.
Jikoni also offers cooking classes, private in-home dinner parties and catering for large organizations. Jikoni will be releasing a new line of graphic t-shirts and sweatshirts in the next couple weeks and have plans to launch a redesigned website later this year.
You can find them on Instagram and Facebook (Jikoni Toledo) and on the StreetFoodFinder app and website.
CommUNITY through film
CommUNITY Film Fest
MAUMEE – To showcase amateur films created by individuals with developmental disabilities, the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, FilmToledo and Maumee Valley Partners for Inclusion teamed up to present the 10th annual CommUNITY Film Fest on Sunday at the Maumee Indoor Theater.
The Film Fest is a competition among filmmakers to create short films that cover various topics, including challenging their life assumptions, promoting inclusion, educating the community about who they are, and how you can contribute to your community.
The 2-5-minute mini docs were the film fest finalists. Filmmakers expressed themselves in several different ways. Many of the entries highlighted a day-in-the-life of the filmmaker, while others created a slideshow of themselves or a video with music playing over the film. Other entries that stood out were a music video and an animated short film.
During intermission, guests were treated to a performance by members of the iDance Adaptive Performing Arts Center.
Lori Balogh, Community Inclusion and Employment manager for Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, explained that their organization supports from birth to death about 4,400 individuals with disabilities throughout Lucas County. It also provides quality-of-life services, such as improving independent living skills, giving to donation centers and helping people look for jobs.
The board begins to help filmmakers with their projects as early as January. If a filmmaker wants to do something simple, the Board of Developmental Disabilities can help. If it is complex, they will reach out to another organization that is part of the festival.
FilmToledo is the film commission that covers Toledo and Northwest Ohio. As a regional film commission, they have two main roles, to bring film productions to the region to help boost the economy in the film industry and to educate and train people to work in the film industry.
Michael DeSanto, executive director at FilmToledo, explained what his organization contributes to the festival.
“We connect the individuals who want to make films with professional filmmakers and give them the resources they need to fulfill what’s in their imagination,” he said.
Desanto also explained why he thinks it is important to help these individuals create the films for the festival.
“It’s showcasing the lives of people with disabilities, that they are just as motivated and dedicated to get into film. Some people just want to showcase what their regular everyday lives are, and removing that stigma and showcasing what people with disabilities are doing and can do.”
Barbara Robinson was one of the many attendees. She said she has worked with people with disabilities for 32 years, and explained what she thought people learned from the festival, that “everybody is their own person and you should appreciate everybody.”
The CommUNITY Film Fest ended with an award ceremony, with 17 finalists taking home awards.
Open-air market at dusk
The Toledo Night Market is ‘the magic of Toledo after dark’
TOLEDO – The Toledo Night Market neared its end of the season as it turned off the lights Saturday night for the second-to-last time.
It was a large turnout as people shopped at many food and artisan booths at the Toledo Farmers’ Market.
Jen Tighe and Jill Barnett, of Erie Cotton Candy Co., said they were both sad to see the night market closing next month.
Susan Imes, owner of Susie Lynn’s Lemonade, said she will close up the shop in October but is looking forward to the upcoming season in 2025.
The Skittle Bots, a local award-winning Toledo band that plays top hits from the 90’s, also rocked the crowd, who sang and danced on a mini dance floor.
The final open-air night market is Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. There is a $5 admission, and features more than 85 artisans and small businesses, food trucks and crafted drinks.
