Gracie Hunter (left) and Hannah Tam (right). (TFP photo by Lucas)
TOLEDO – From November of last year to early March, students from around the Toledo area will be pursuing a philanthropic goal of raising as much money as possible for Blood Cancer United (BCU), a fundraising program designed to raise both funds and awareness for blood cancer, a disease that is most commonly recognized in conditions like lymphoma and leukemia.
An estimated 1,759,461 people in the U.S. are living with or in remission from leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), per BCU’s website.
This year, a pair of students from Notre Dame Academy are striving to reach their goal by their March 7 deadline. Sophomores Gracie Hunter and Hannah Tam are friends that met in their freshman year at Notre Dame, and together they decided that this year they were going to participate in BCU. The pair talked about what motivated them to participate in the challenge.
“We’d seen people do it before, and the amount of money they raised. [We saw] the impact it had. We just thought it would be something cool to do,” said Hunter.
Staying motivated is always necessary, and the daunting goal of $100,000 is enough motivation for the pair to keep working, but BCU also offers other incentives for the students participating. Along with fiscal rewards like trips to New York, BCU also offers letters of recommendations from the CEO, but the most sought-after reward is the title of National Student Visionaries of the Year. The title is awarded to the team that can raise the most money for the year.
Hannah and Gracie hold a sign to celebrate the beginning of their campaign in November of last year. (Courtesy photo)
But apart from fiscal rewards and letters from business executives, Hunter and Tam felt they have learned invaluable life skills that they feel will prepare them for the real world. Through coming up with pitches to convince companies to donate and coordinating those meetings, the pair has learned more than just how to fundraise.
“I think I’ve learned how to talk to adults and be confident, because before, I would never have been able to do something like this,” said Hunter. “Like sending a random email out, asking for thousands of dollars, and giving a pitch to a big company. I’ve gained skills through the program.”
Early on, the two found that even when pursuing an altruistic goal like raising money, frustrations still arise. Trying to find ways to approach donors and occasionally hearing only radio silence in response was deterring to say the least.
“I think the hardest part is just knowing where to start and what to start doing,” Tam remarked. “And I think it is frustrating when you reach out to some potential donors and they don’t even give anything that you expected.”
To help students find opportunities, BCU occasionally sends out “challenges” for participants. One of these challenges that the pair had participated in was sending the most emails in the month of November. Their reward for winning this challenge was the opportunity to pitch a meeting to a local company to ask for donations. Challenges like these, according to the two, help keep participants focused and give them direction.
For Hannah and Gracie, this challenge has developed a lot from an initially vague interest in the fundraiser to a nearly half-year long journey of growth and determination to raise as much money as possible. If you are interested in learning more about this project, visit their donation page.
A bag of goodies that the duo have received during their campaign. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells)
A Blood Moon, captured by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo.
They call it a Blood Moon, a phenomenon that briefly turns the bright white appearance of our full moon a dark – or blood – red.
There’s nothing magical at work; it’s simply a total eclipse that will occur when our earth is positioned just right between the sun and the moon. The deep red occurs when the moon is totally covered with earth’s shadow, and it’s only the sunlight’s long red wavelengths that can bend to reach it.
The only total eclipse – solar or lunar — we’ll see this year will occur in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 3. Maximum coverage will be about 6:33 a.m. Provided the skies are clear, best viewing will be in dark-sky locations with minimal light pollution. Metroparks will host a special free program for viewing at Howard Marsh Metropark. For program information and to register visit MetroparksToledo.com and search for “Star Struck: Total Lunar Eclipse.”
Robert Hawkins, a retired resident of the mobile home park, shows a home a few spots down from his home that is in poor condition at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park in Swanton, Ohio on Saturday January 17, 2026. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
SWANTON TOWNSHIP – Looking out his back patio door at the frozen Arrowhead Lake last month, Army veteran Robert Hawkins recalled the reasons why he moved to the Swanton Township mobile home community years ago: affordable rent, friendly neighbors and a view of the lake.
A retiree, Hawkins invested $8,000 into fixing up a $100 mobile home in Arrowhead Lake Mobile Home Park (ALMHP), where he lives with his Shih Tzu, Mia. While he’s invested in his home, Hawkins points out that many have been abandoned and left to deteriorate, many turned over to the park’s owner but not maintained.
Robert Hawkins, a resident of Arrowhead Lake and retired Army veteran, holds his dog, Mia, 7, in a reclining chair inside of his home at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Hawkins is one of several residents – some speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions from the management – who have lived in ALMHP for years, but have seen a more rapid change in the past decade: climbing lot rents, additional garbage and water utility fees, deteriorating property conditions and numerous water boil advisories due to water line breaks on a system that the Ohio EPA has said must be repaired or replaced.
“There are many layers to the problems here,” said Kim Middleton, who has lived in the park since 1997.
Located on S.R. 295 between the Ohio Turnpike and the railroad tracks, Arrowhead Lake Mobile Home Park was originally a campground, with the lake created when the Ohio Turnpike was built in the 1950s. With large trees and an aerator in the pond, the park was clean and well kept while it was under private ownership, Middleton said. Now just 45 percent of the 285 lots are occupied, and many of the vacant homes have multiple violations.
Zoning Violations
For two years ending on Dec. 31, Middleton served as the Swanton Township zoning inspector, so she understands code violations. On December 19 – shortly before she resigned – Middleton sent a six-page letter from Swanton Township, detailing “multiple reports and complaints concerning the deplorable conditions,” to the three entities involved with the park. Arrowhead Lake LLC purchased the property in 2017 for $4,057,900. The park’s owner, MHC Capital and management company, FTI Management, are both based in Los Angeles. Requests to speak with representatives from these companies were not returned.
“Arrowhead Lake” on water facility at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
The six-page letter from Swanton Township, dated Dec. 19, 2025, details “multiple reports and complaints concerning the deplorable conditions.”
“The complaints include conditions which invite both vagrants and an abundance of nuisance critters. Residents have reported trespassers to local law enforcement on several occasions. Nuisance critters have taken up residence in the vacant/abandoned homes, causing damage to properties and health risks to residents,” the letter states, detailing raccoons, squirrels, opossums, vermin and feral cats.
The letter lists 69 properties, the majority of which have been vacant for over five years, that need to be repaired, made habitable, or removed. The violations include missing skirting, overgrown vegetation and trees, fire damage, accumulated junk and refuse, inoperable vehicles, and homes that are no longer habitable due to fire, natural disaster or other physical deterioration.
The county requires that no structures, planting, fencing or mounding be within 25 feet of ditches and creeks, but Wiregrass Creek is filled with growth and debris, the letter states.
“They just let the weed trees grow up through the homes and porches,” Middleton said, pointing out several homes overgrown with weed trees. “They say that their maintenance man walks the park daily. If he did, he would see all these things.”
Vacant mobile home left in poor condition at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Trees Posing Danger
“One of our biggest issues here is dead, decaying, falling trees,” Middleton said. “They don’t want to spend the money to take care of anything. They think we’re just complaining, but I’ll show you why.”
Mobile home left in poor condition at Arrowhead Lake. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
She drives past a home where, on Dec. 29, a large tree fell through the roof, narrowly missing a sleeping occupant. Management states that residents are responsible for caring for the first 10 feet of a tree from the ground up, Middleton said. This one was huge, and crushed the roof, leaving gaping holes and dangling wires. Middleton said the park manager told the family to use space heaters to stay warm. So she contacted the Springfield Township Fire Department for help. Fire Inspector Scott Bockelman and Assistant Chief Andrew Sauder came out to look.
“Scott is everyone’s hero here,” she said, noting that Bockelman stayed on the phone with the FTI corporate office until he had assurances that the family could be located into a different home. The family was provided a vacant home, but Middleton learned a few days later that it didn’t have water due to a leaky water tank – an issue she pushed management to rectify.
Water Issues
Two residents filed suit against Arrowhead, FTI and MHC for failing to comply with their obligations to operate a public water system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. From July 2015 through February 2020, the property owners failed to properly maintain the system, resulting in water failing to meet basic hardness, radionuclide and chlorination standards, according to a U.S. District Court filing. The company was ordered to take several actions to address multiple violations, including replacing the deteriorating clear well – a storage tank for water – and doing regular testing on the water. While some smaller measures were completed, the clearwell remains unchanged.
(AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Last July, the Ohio EPA sent a notice of violation to FTI Property Management following a sanitary survey showing multiple violations still outstanding. In December, FTI’s environmental compliance department informed the EPA that, instead of repairing or replacing the clear well, it instead plans to hook up to City of Toledo water with a private line that will run under the railroad tracks – once it has permission from the railroad for access and has approval from the Lucas County Sanitary Engineer of its design. On Jan. 8, the EPA sent the park owners a notice of violation (NOV) for elevated levels of hardness in its water supply and for not providing enough bottled water – at least one gallon per person per day – which is required as part of its contingency plan.
Dina Pierce, an Ohio EPA spokesperson, said the EPA received an after-action report from ALMHP about the Jan. 8 NOV on Feb. 6.
“According to the after-action report, increased water hardness was caused by a blockage in a water-softening system line. The blockage was removed, the line was repaired, and the water hardness has returned to an acceptable level,” Pierce said. “Ohio EPA is working with the park to revise its contingency plan for responding to elevated hardness levels regarding notifying residents and providing bottled water. The facility continues to work with Toledo and the Lucas County Sanitary Engineer’s Office to connect to the city’s public water system.”
Several residents shared a concern that their problems won’t end if the park hooks up to city water. Many of the lines are original from when it was a campground, and could burst under the pressure of city water. One resident said a mainline has burst under her home twice, causing extensive damage.
On Jan. 31, residents were notified that an emergency main line water repair was taking place, and that all water would be shut off. Water would need to be boiled as “disease-causing organisms may have entered the water supply.”
Many residents share a sense of frustration for the ongoing problems.
“It’s stall, avoid, play dumb, say you’re waiting on estimates. The EPA is just as guilty as Arrowhead. The EPA doesn’t hold them accountable. They give them firm deadlines and say there are consequences, but they don’t follow through,” said one resident.
Hawkins, like many others, resorts to spending money on buying bottled water for drinking and brushing his teeth. But that doesn’t replace the water he uses to shower.
“My skin is bad, dried out. You flush the toilet and it smells like bleach,” he said.
(AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Laurie Langenderfer, who has lived in the park since 1998, recently spent $800 for a plumber to analyze every pipe under her home, trying to determine why her water usage doubled in the fall and winter to over 11,000 gallons a month.
“He went to the park office to say that he checked it from one end of the home to another, and there is no leak – he thinks it’s a main line,” she said, noting that a main line should be repaired by the park.
To save from using too much water, she fills jugs at work, buys bottled water and has cut back on shower usage and toilet flushing. In the meantime, she’s still trying to come up with $499.66 that Universal Utilities – the third party billing company for water – said is due March 4. And while the water bill is high, her sewer rates have doubled as well, Langenderfer said.
Several residents noted that the community’s two wastewater treatment plants that, on warm days, can have an overwhelming odor. One resident said she took a photo of what appeared to be raw sewage on the ground near the treatment plant at the front of the community.
What can be done?
As of Feb. 16, the company missed the Jan. 20 deadline set by the township to correct the dozens of issues. Mike Nowicki, the Swanton Township trustee handling zoning until a new inspector is appointed, confirmed that he has not received any response from the owners. So he’s asked the county’s assistant prosecuting attorney, John Borell, for help.
If a zoning violation is not appealed to the Board of Zoning Appeals or corrected, typically the next step is for the township would be to file an action in Common Pleas Court, Borell advised.
“We will have to look for ways to correct the situation without cooperation from the owners. The fact that the situation involves mobile homes…it is a little more legally complicated,” he said.
Manufactured homes are regulated by the Ohio Department of Commerce, more specifically the Manufactured Homes Program and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4781-Manufactured Homes, said Springfield Township Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Sauder.
“The Ohio Fire Code has not completely identified these properties and their requirements as it has other commercial or multi-residential structures,” Sauder said, adding that the Fire Prevention Bureau is limited to fire lanes, turning radius and private water mains when it comes to enforcement of mobile home communities.
“Unfortunately, there is no local governmental agency that would take immediate action such as the Lucas County Building Regulations or local zoning departments as they are not the Authority Having Jurisdiction,” he added.
He recommends that the township enact a property maintenance code, which would allow the local zoning department to take action rather than rely on other governmental agencies like the health department to deal with rodent infestations, for example.
Referring to the fallen tree on the home in Arrowhead Lake in December, Sauder said such a property maintenance code would allow the township to take immediate action on health, safety and security, as opposed to awaiting action from the state.
Robert Hawkins, a resident of Arrowhead Lake mobile home park, shows different ways he has attempted to clean up his neighborhood at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Franklin Freytag, public information officer for the Department of Commerce, said the Division of Industrial Compliance regulates the development and maintenance of the physical premises and infrastructure of manufactured home parks.
“While the division has exclusive authority to license manufactured home park operators, it’s important to note that numerous other governmental entities can have regulatory authority over a manufactured home park or part of a park,” Freytag said, referring to the Ohio EPA’s jurisdiction of the water system as an example.
He confirmed that Arrowhead MHC, LLC does have an active operator license, which is required for each calendar year. Every park is inspected for compliance with the Division of Industrial Compliance’s rules, but renewal of a license is not contingent or tied in with such an inspection – but any violations found during an inspection could be cited and issued to the park operator for correction, he said.
Kim Middleton, a resident of Arrowhead Lake and retired code enforcement worker, showed AWFP different mobile homes left in poor condition at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park in Swanton, Ohio on Saturday January 17, 2026. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
Increasing Costs
Many of the residents in Arrowhead Lake have lived there for decades. While it was privately owned, the sense of community was strong and the cost of living affordable, they agree. And then the park went through several ownership changes. With each one, fees went up.
Langenderfer, a widow on a fixed income, pointed out that she has to pay a pet fee for her dog, even though she owns her home. When she first moved in, the water and garbage were included in the rent.
In January, FTI Property Management notified residents that rents were increasing from $454 to $527 a month, to cover the cost of park maintenance. A new fee for utility monitoring was added a few years ago, and garbage rates are increasing for the park, which doesn’t use the township’s pickup.
“A lot of people here live on very fixed incomes. That increase of $58 for rent and trash pickup will put a lot of people in a very serious financial bind. The ever-increasing price of water and sewer isn’t helping anything,” said Middleton.
Despite the problems, Hawkins said he can’t imagine moving. Finding another place with low rent and a great view would be a challenge. And he likes his neighbors, including fellow veterans. Middleton and her husband plan to move to Michigan after retiring in a few years.
“Our kids are mad at us for not moving years ago. Our home is paid for, and all we pay for is the lot,” she said. “We’ve been fighting this for a while. I’m not going to stop just because I know we’re moving.”
MHC Capital is owned by Kwame Granderson, a Harvard-educated real estate attorney who owns hundreds of mobile home communities, and who hosts seminars for vetted investors to learn how to “acquire communities at favorable prices at favorable prices from largely mom and pop sellers with unsophisticated management who are nearing retirement and lack access to capital,” according to an MHC Capital investment overview. MHC owns 22 communities in the tri-state area, including Arrowhead Lake, Grand Rapids Estates, Sylvania Estates and and Twinwall Mobile Home Community in Toledo.
While MHC might be focused on making a profit, Arrowhead’s residents just want them to make things right: provide clean, safe drinking water; fix the sewage system; take out the dangerous trees; and haul out or fix the decrepit homes.
Th creek at Arrowhead Lake mobile home park is green. (AWFP photo by Stephen Zenner)
The aftermath of the crash that took Joey's life. (Courtesy photo)
On Monday, September 20, 2010, we were sitting in the living room watching Swamp People, one of my son Joey’s favorite shows. He was a mama’s boy and a gentle giant at six foot three.
Joey was a senior at Piqua High School and planned to go on a farm science trip with friends the next day. I went to bed early because I had to be up at 3 a.m. for my nursing shift, so I told my boys goodnight and that I loved them. As I walked away, Joey said, “I love you too, Mom.”
The next morning a friend asked to take Joey’s place on the trip. My husband Ron was off work and decided to drive to Dayton with Joey to pick up a riding lawn mower, something Joey would have turned into a demolition derby project, one of his favorite hobbies.
At 1:45 p.m., I received a call from my sister Penny, a State Trooper. She never called me at work. She told me to meet her at the BMV in Troy. When I arrived, Penny and two other troopers were waiting, unable to look at me. I remember asking, “Why does my heart tell my feet to run?”
Laura’s son, Joey. (Courtesy photo)
Penny finally told me there had been a serious crash involving Ron and Joey. Ron had been Care Flighted, and they did not know if he would survive. Then she told me my son Joey was gone.
How do you go from kissing your child goodnight to being told you will never see them again? Joey was dead.
That same morning, a woman named Leanne had bought compressed air at Meijer, inhaled it in the parking lot, and then chose to drive. Impaired, she crossed the center line on State Route 718 and hit our truck head on at nearly 80 miles per hour.
Joey tried to avoid her by steering into the ditch, but she struck them driver-to-driver. The impact tore the truck apart. Joey was ejected, broke his neck, and died instantly. Ron survived, but with lasting injuries, including multiple fractures to his back.
There was no hospital goodbye, no final moment. Joey’s senior year never came. No prom. No graduation. A funeral 70 years too soon.
I kissed my son goodbye and walked away knowing nothing could fix what had happened. The smile that lit up every room, the laugh that brightened every day, the mama’s boy who gave the best hugs, the big brother to Brian, gone in an instant.
Our family will never be the same. A piece of each of us died with him. His death was completely preventable. If Leanne had simply taken the compressed air home, she would not have been impaired. She spent only an hour in a holding cell before being released. She died later that year from a drug overdose.
The HALT Drunk Driving Law, passed by Congress in 2021 with bipartisan support, requires new vehicles to include technology that can detect and stop impaired driving before it begins. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimates it will save more than 10,000 lives every year. Joey would have been one of those lives saved.
Yet more than four years later, the federal government has missed multiple deadlines to implement this law. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) continues to question why sober drivers should have impaired-driving prevention technology in their vehicles.
Joey wasn’t impaired when the crash took his life and that’s exactly why this technology matters. Impaired driving threatens everyone on the road. The only ones who need to worry about this law are impaired drivers. The technology exists. The solutions are ready.
I urge my fellow Ohioans to contact lawmakers and tell them to support the HALT Law and demand its implementation.
This is not about politics. It is about preventing families from experiencing the heartbreak that shattered ours. Every day of delay risks another preventable tragedy. Every day risks another family losing their Joey.
Members of the Save the Bridge Association, including (from left) Olivia Murphy, Barb Bruno, Frank Butwin and Janice Braida, are working to save the 118-year-old Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
WATERVILLE – With a little more than a month left before the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) seeks bids to demolish the 118-year-old Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge, a volunteer group is seeking another reprieve from Gov. Mike DeWine.
“We’re still fighting to save our bridge,” said Save The Bridge Association (STBA) President Barb Bruno, addressing Waterville City Council on Feb. 9. Bruno, along with STBA member Janice Braida and Secretary Dave Weber, encouraged council to sign a letter of support in asking DeWine for an extension.
On April 7, 2025, DeWine issued a one-year halt on the demolition of the bridge, just days before ODOT was set to seek bids. In following months, the STBA was formed as a 501c3, with volunteers focusing on finding alternatives to demolition, including new construction methods for preserving the 12-arched bridge, grant funding and nominating the structure for Historic Civil Engineering National Landmark Status with the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE).
“ODOT sees the bridge as a problem. We see it as an asset,” said Braida, adding that it has become an iconic symbol of the city, even featuring prominently on the city’s logo.
In a summary of the progress made by the STBA, Weber states that ODOT stopped helping the group find alternatives, and instead has been focused on transferring ownership to another political entity.
“We were only recently informed of the importance of ODOT not owning this bridge, so we need more time to find an owner. We spent our time mostly on evaluating alternatives,” he stated in the memo.
“It’s a heavy lift to expect a citizens group to find a new owner in eight months,” Braida added, noting that the group has contacted several organizations, including the city, to see if any would have interest in taking ownership.
“It was made clear in the first meeting that whether the bridge comes down or not, ODOT will not be the owner of the property,” countered ODOT District 2 Director Pat McColley. “A government entity needs to be identified and the transfer of the property, including the bridge, needs to take place before demolition bids open.”
The project to demolish the structure is currently scheduled to be placed out for bid in April, with demolition work beginning after June 1.
The city of Waterville obtained a grant to build a pedestrian walkway and overlook using two piers along South River Road. (Courtesy rendering)
Designed by Daniel Luten of Indianapolis, the 13-arch concrete bridge includes spandrels, arches and piers – including one that rests atop an outcrop of erosion-resistant limestone named “Rock of Beef” or “Buffalo Rock” by French traders. The rock was used as a meeting place by Native Americans prior to the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers. About a third of its mass was removed during construction in 1908.
Originally used as an interurban trolley line for the Ohio Electric Company, the bridge was abandoned in 1937, although used briefly for automotive traffic in the 1940s when the Waterville bridge was damaged and steel for repairs wasn’t available. In 1972, the bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a Registered Historic Place with the National Park Service and a state of Ohio Designated Historic Space.
In the years since, the bridge served as a party spot for teenagers, a backdrop for photos and paintings, and a place to explore when the river is low. With its impending designation as the Maumee River Water Trail, Waterville City Council began discussing concerns for the safety of boaters. Chunks of the bridge rest in the river, while others dangle from rebar. The city shared its concerns with ODOT in 2017. At the time, the bridge was thought to be owned by the city. Instead, it’s owned by the state.
Through engineering studies and core samples, those concerns were confirmed: the bridge was in dire shape. In 2019, ODOT presented multiple alternatives, ranging from complete rehabilitation (removing and replacing it) for $15 million, $3.9 million to save one arch, or $2.2 million to remove it. ODOT also tried to sell the bridge at an auction, but the potential buyers were unable to prove an ability to insure and secure the bridge.
“The bridge has continued to deteriorate over the years, including since the original feasibility study was performed, as evident by the common eye,” McColley said.
Simply placing signs underneath to divert water traffic will not alleviate the state’s liability to the Army Corps of Engineers or the safety of the public, which is why the bridge is slated for destruction, he said.
Weber, a retired engineer, said other ideas were not explored in full, such as securing the bridge using a technique involving carbon fiber reinforced polymer to keep the pieces in place. A $135,000 investment into testing the strength of the bridge and designing the mothballing process would be worth the effort to save a landmark, Weber said. He estimates that the work could be done for $1.7 million.
“The reference estimate was created by a private citizen, not a professional engineer, and ODOT has a very low level of confidence in the figures proposed in the estimate,” McColley responded, adding that ODOT looked at many alternatives, including mothballing.
One outcome of last year’s delay is that the city had time to apply for a grant for a pedestrian bridge and overlook using two abutments. Waterville received a $557,652 federal grant to cover 80 percent of the cost of the Roche de Boeuf Overlook and Shared Use Path Improvement Project, said City Administrator Jon Gochenour. Two of the existing bridge abutments – on the north and south sides of South River Road – will be used to create an overlook of the Maumee River and the Roche de Boeuf Island.
“The project will recognize the historical and cultural significance of the site to Native Americans and the historical development of the State of Ohio and the United States,” Gochenour said. “The site will be connected to the city’s existing shared use path system on the Anthony Wayne Trail and to the pedestrian path system of Farnsworth Metropark.”
While the project will save a portion of the Roche de Boeuf Bridge, the city still supports local efforts to save the entire bridge, Gochenour said.
STBA submitted its nomination for the bridge for Historic Civil Engineering National Landmark Status with the ASCE on Feb. 6. The bridge would be the first multi-arch concrete bridge to be recognized by the ASCE and the second oldest reinforced concrete arch bridge recognized by ASCE in the world.
“The interurban bridge was an engineering first it its day,” Weber said. “This bridge deserves a preservation plan – something we are fighting to make happen.”
New board member Amy Barrett (center) was joined by her family prior to being sworn into office. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Anthony Wayne Local Schools now has a new partner in supporting and promoting academic, artistic and athletic excellence.
Generals for Generations Foundation is a new 501c3 nonprofit organization designed to connect generations of Generals in support of those efforts, Foundation Board President Mike O’Shea told Anthony Wayne Board of Education during its Feb. 9 meeting.
“We don’t aim to maintain what already exists but to make it better,” O’Shea said.
In addition to serving as pastor at Waterville Community Church and raising three children in the district, O’Shea has served as a substitute teacher, bus driver, coach and member of a crisis response team during his 13 years of living in the district. It was during his experience as a member of the AW For Kids levy campaign in 2024 – one that failed by just a few votes – that O’Shea realized more needed to be done.
“It opened my eyes to the hard reality of school funding. If a district like Anthony Wayne wants to fund innovative programs to keep pace with evolving student needs, it will have to be done privately,” he said.
“It’s important to recognize that this is a private philanthropy that aims to have a strategic partnership with the school. It is neither beholden to the school board and district leadership, nor is it a rogue agency doing its own thing regardless of the school’s strategic plans. We hope that there is a great working relationship between the foundation and schools to identify innovative projects and programs, and then fund those privately,” he added.
O’Shea credits Superintendent Kevin Herman for having the vision to move forward with the foundation. In August 2025, a core group began working with Jenny Perin of Shift Consulting to prepare the framework for the foundation along with a system of fund development, alumni relations, communications, donor stewardship and donor recognition. Throughout last fall, representatives met with community members with a reputation for demonstrating pride and support of the district. These individuals will make an impact on the success of the foundation through volunteerism, philanthropy and strategic guidance.
“The purpose is to build a concentric circle, with a broader network of ambassadors,” O’Shea said.
In addition to O’Shea, the Generals for Generations board includes Angie Barney, Jen Harder, Tom Hertzfeld, Jason Hood, Shaunacy Miller, Andrew Nowicki, Lisa Schaller, Jon Schwanz, Jamie Smeltzer and Trey Tollstam.
Mike O’Shea is the first president of the board of directors for the new Generals for Generations Foundation. He spoke to the board about the goals of the nonprofit organization. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
By the end of this year, the goal is to identify a flagship program that no other philanthropic organization in the AW area would be able to do, O’Shea said. Over the next three years, Generals for Generations should be ready to fund and execute that program.
In 50 years, O’Shea envisions Generals for Generations to have built up a $50 million to $75 million endowment that generates $3 million a year for innovative programs – all managed professionally be a day-to-day director and supervised by a board of trustees.
“It’s been an absolute joy working with Mike. His expertise in this area has helped us move the entire idea of a foundation forward,” Herman said. “The 10 individuals on this board have a lot of strengths and expertise in different areas. They are motivated. I’m very excited about the possibilities of where this foundation will be down the road. I’m thankful to Mike and the board for getting us to this spot.”
During the meeting, the board also:
-Welcomed new member Amy Barrett, who took the oath of office.
-Listened to an update on the financial forecast from Treasurer Kerri Johnson, who also outlined the potential impact of house bills on school finances.
-Approved overnight trips, including the varsity baseball team’s trip to Destin, Fla. and Fort Walton Beach, Fla. to participate in spring training on March 28; and the varsity softball team’s spring training trip to Orange Beach, Ala. March 29 through April 3. Costs will be paid for through fundraising. Students will travel with their families.
-Thanked retiring bus driver Barry Vincent and special education aide Shelly Bankey for their service. The board also approved the resignation of third grade teacher Lauren Dusseau at the end of the school year and the resignation of food service worker Melissa Pavlovic.
-Approved the early graduation of Donny Skiver with the class of 2026.
-Authorized Johnson to advertise for three 84-passenger school buses.
-Accepted the Ohio Attorney Generals Safety Grant of $17,109, which will be used to fund the high school’s facility dog, Jasper, and other school facility dogs in the district.
-Thanked high school teacher Bryan DeKay and his students for creating new 3-D printed name plates for the board members.
-Congratulated the high school dance and cheer teams for their winning Game Day routines. Dance took first place in the state competition while the cheerleading team won in the America’s Cup competition.
-Listened to residents Lyn Cox and Joe Ballmer speak about possible impacts of a data center on the school district’s finances. Both stated that any tax incentive offered by a data center developer might seem like a good deal but, in reality, would destroy property values in the district – thus driving down the district’s portion of property tax revenues, they said. Herman said that the district has not been approached by anyone proposing a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement or any other incentive for a data center.
Fans get up close and personal with musicians at the 17th Annual Acoustics for Autism in 2025. (Courtesy photo by Toni with an eye)
MAUMEE – The 19th annual Acoustics for Autism event will be held on March 1, bringing the community together for a fun-filled day with music, family, friends and impact.
Acoustics for Autism is a free music festival in Uptown Maumee that is open to all ages. The festival was created to raise awareness for Project iAmto help provide resources, scholarships and opportunities for local families impacted by autism.
Nicole Khoury, organizer of Acoustics for Autism, performs with her band Arctic Clam in 2024. (Courtesy photo by Toni with an eye)
Nicole Khoury, the founder and executive director of Project iAm, said the organization was launched in 2008 and has been supporting families ever since.
“I saw a need for people in the area, families living with out-of-pocket expenses for autism spectrum disorders,” Khoury said. “We did a concert one time and raised about $10,000. 19 years later, we are still doing it.”
The festival contains local and regional musicians who perform across 10 stages. This year’s festival features a variety of bands, and live music will begin at 11:45 a.m. on select stages.
“There are 107 bands, such as Arctic Clam, The Skittle Bots, Distant Cousinz, The Grape Smugglers, Not Fast Enuff, Blitzen and The Beef Carvers,” Khoury said.
Jeff Stewart, one of the performers, said he has been with Acoustics for Autism since the beginning, and it means everything to be able to perform there.
“I love performing because I get to connect with people who haven’t seen me play in a while,” Stewart said. “It’s a beautiful day of the year.”
Festival goers may wonder how the event makes money if admission is free. Funds are raised from things like the silent auction that will go live Feb. 23, merchandise that people love year after year, beer sales, activities and raffles.
All event proceeds go towards families living with autism spectrum disorders. Khoury said all of the money raised goes into a scholarship fund as people apply and are granted scholarships, and over $1.3 million has been distributed since the organization started.
There are three different kid-centric areas for parents to choose from, and each area is filled with different activities tailored to the type of environment kids would prefer to be in. These areas either have a busy environment with other kids and music, a quiet environment with sensory-friendly activities, or a calm environment with crafts and light acoustic music.
“In the Maumee Indoor Theatre, we have a sensory family area for families that is first-come, first-served,” Khoury said. “Musicians will be doing a music therapy demo, and the movie ‘Trolls Band Together’ will be shown.”
To help with traffic, shuttles are being provided from three convenient locations. Shuttle pick-up and drop-off is being offered at the Hollywood Casino, Leroy and Margaret’s and the Anderson’s Old Lot.
The shuttle at the Hollywood Casino is free for festival goers, while the shuttle at Leroy and Margaret’s is free with a minimum $10 purchase inside, or $10 cash for a round-trip. The shuttle at Anderson’s Old Lot costs $5 cash for a round trip.
Stewart said Acoustics for Autism is a beautiful opportunity if people are looking to experience a community inititative, meet great people, and come across a lot of different food trucks and local businesses.
“I think now more than ever, community is important, and I think we’re all yearning for that,” Stewart said. “We’ve raised so much money for these kids, and at the end of the day, that’s the important thing.
Khoury said Acoustics for Autism is the only event of its kind, and a pure love fest where everyone has a good time. To learn more about Acoustics for Autism, visit acousticsforautism.com.
Changes are afoot in the Anthony Wayne area, and not just in Waterville or Whitehouse. The area’s four townships – Monclova, Providence, Swanton and Waterville – are welcoming new businesses and improvements over the next few years. Here’s a look at some of the projects under way.
Providence Township
Golfers of all abilities can play more than 2,000 courses from all over the world – from inside the soon-to-open Robertsims in downtown Neapolis.
Last fall, longtime township residents and Anthony Wayne graduates Scott and Beth Robertson were with friends, brainstorming “what ifs” for the former pizza shop at the corner of Main Street and Neapolis-Waterville Road. Pretty soon, someone suggested golf simulators.
“Our friends said, ‘Your family should do that – you’re a bunch of golf nuts,'” Scott said. “We talked about it … and saw an opportunity for a small family business.”
The Robertsons have six adult children – Joseph, Kitty, Jane, Ellie, Charlie and Ted – who all graduated from Anthony Wayne. Ted was a member of the General’s state-winning 2023 golf team. Charlie played in the state title-run in the two years prior. Both play for Lourdes University, and regularly use golf simulators to improve their game.
“We leaned on the boys’ knowledge. They see more simulation golf than I do,” said Scott.
The Roberstons teamed up with Carson and Wilson Bales of Clarity Golf, a Waterville-based company that installs simulators throughout the United States and abroad. The Bales will soon be installing the Uneekor EYE X02 with GSPro Software in the four bays where up to four players can convene to hit into a 10-foot by 15-foot screen.
“This a premium product,” Joseph said, noting that it uses three high-speed cameras for extensive ball and club data.
In the middle of the four bays will be tables and chairs so up to 24 golfers – such as those in leagues or parties – can gather and enjoy drinks, snacks and camaraderie. Although Robertsims will not operate a kitchen, it has a liquor license and will sell beverages in cans and bottles, along with snacks.
“Friendly is our biggest intention. We want to set ourselves apart, being a family-run business,” Beth said. “We want leagues, and we want it to be a ton of fun for the community. Anybody can do simulator golf. You don’t have to be a golfer.”
All six Robertson kids worked at White Pines Golf Course, where Ellie is a manager. The two entities are not affiliated, but will promote one another to customers.
“Because golfers are nuts and don’t want to stop when it gets cold…why not play in 70 degree indoor temperature all winter?” Scott said.
During warmer months, food trucks, picnic tables and outdoor games will be added outdoors to attract families or those who are taking a break from the Wabash Cannonball Trail that is just a putt away from Robertsims.
The Robertson family is set to open Robertsims – an indoor golf simulator facility – in Neapolis this spring. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
The Robertson family is set to open Robertsims – an indoor golf simulator facility – in Neapolis this spring.
Swanton Township
The Greens at Oak Openings – set on seven acres at the southwest corner of S.R. 295 and Airport Highway – will open this spring with a mini golf operation and a family-oriented restaurant.
Walking through the former Charlie’s Restaurant space last week, owner/operator Kevin Martin, his wife, Mandi, and their five children – Serafina, Jamey, Nolan, Griffin and Frankie – headed to the large “nest” in the party room. Soon other play areas will be set up, along with leather sofas and comfortable chairs where adults can relax and socialize while allowing children to play.
“We wanted to create a space where families can get together and mingle and play and not be at someone’s house,” Kevin said.
When finished, the main restaurant area will feature booths, houseplants and lots of sunlight, where patrons can enjoy food from Scorecard Eatery – with healthy options like salads and baked potatoes – as well as Jo-Jo’s Pizzeria, hard-dipped ice cream from Tee Time Treats and a cup of java from Revival Coffee Co. The restaurant will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The greens for the mini golf course are set up, and this spring, the Martins plan to landscape the area with plants, flowers, bushes and trees found in the greater Oak Openings region.
“We want to fully capture what the Oak Openings looks like,” Kevin said.
Owning a restaurant and golf course is not something that Kevin considered during his 10 years of working for his in-law’s company, Foundation Steel. But as the family watched Charlie’s close, an idea began to form on a way to serve the community, he said. The positive responses the family has received so far have been awesome, Kevin added.
A few more projects are planned for the remaining acreage around the restaurant and mini golf. For now, those are under wraps, he said.
The Martin family, including Kevin, Mandi and their children (from left) Jamey, Nolan, Serafina, Griffin and the youngest, Frankie, are excited to open the Greens at Oak Openings this spring. The operation includes The Nest – a restaurant with a play area for kids – as well as a mini golf operation. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
Superior Made RV Resort, at 4035 S. Berkey Southern Rd., will host its grand opening on Friday, June 12 at noon. Alicia and Nate Lawson, and their daughters, Shirley Roland and Arlinda Self, have been working to transform the former Big Sandy Campground into a destination resort, with 200 spaces for RVs – including 40 for overnight stays and 160 for seasonal campers – as well as rentable cabins.
Superior Made RV Resort is the first African American-owned RV resort in Ohio, and it answers a need that was stoked during the pandemic, when interest in camping spiked among those who had never thought about camping before.
“We’re full when it comes to seasonal sites,” said Alicia. “Of those seasonal site campers, 52 are occupied by African Americans and have never camped before – this is the first time stepping into a campground.”
After taking ownership last year, the Lawsons have repaved every street in the park, installed a new, larger playground, and cleaned up the campground. As the weather clears, work will continue on the beach area, with new sand, four large fire pits and seating areas, a stage for concerts, and lighting.
The Lawsons polled their seasonal campers on what to name the beach. The result: a sign with Harmony Beach will be posted when the area is complete. It’s an idea that reflects not just the music, but the ambience – a way to express that campers of multiple cultures can come together and relax, she said.
Next on the to-do list is renovating the office and the patio areas in preparation for a long-term goal of installing a new pool.
This AI-generated rendering shows an example of what the beach area of Superior Made RV Resort will look like when finished later this spring. (Courtesy rendering)
Oak Openings is the area’s largest Metropark, and much of it is within Swanton Township. A total of 428,000 visits were logged in the park last year, said spokesman Scott Carpenter.
This year, Oak Openings will have several improvements, including a new furnace and restroom upgrades in the Buehner Center; several footbridge and a Blue Trail boardwalk replacement; a hiking trail staircase replacement; berm improvements along Oak Openings Parkway; Evergreen Lake dam control improvements; and stone pull-off parking areas on Wilkins and Girdham roads. Last month, Swanton Township trustees removed more than 40 “no parking” signs that had been placed without authorization along a section of Girdham Road that is often used by those who appreciate the rare birds that fly through the area each spring.
Monclova Township
With a population of more than 16,000, Monclova Township is among the fastest-growing areas in Lucas County. And while most of that growth is around I-475 or in subdivisions, Monclova’s downtown has remained largely the same. That’s all about to change. The completion of a long-awaited sanitary sewer line along Monclova Road last year now opens up opportunities for commercial growth.
In a resident survey for the 2022 land use plan update, the creation of an “Olde Monclova” in the downtown area emerged as a top priority. Reveille Ltd., which led the plan update, provided renderings of what that might look like once a mini roundabout at Monclova and Waterville Monclova roads is completed this July.
Dave Kerscher‘s father, Duane, purchased just under three acres in downtown Monclova in the 1970s. Over the decades, he saw businesses close, the old Monclova school sit empty and the 1901 Monclova Country Church get moved to the Wolcott Heritage Center. In the late 1990s, a group of volunteers began renovating the old school into the community center, and, in 2005, the original post office that sat on the Kercher’s property was moved to the community center property and rebuilt, block by block.
“My dad’s vision was to someday bring the downtown Monclova area back to life with a commercial development that would offer services to the public, as he once remembered,” Kerscher said. “With the sewer line in and the roundabout going in this summer, the whole area will be finalized. I will bring some partners in to develop the land into a mixed use. I’d love to partner with Monclova Township, if they’re willing, to generate something special for the good of the township and its people. We’ll try to bring downtown Monclova back to life as it was decades ago. It’s been a long time coming back. “
The township owns a .15-acre parcel to the west of Kercher’s, and last year purchased an additional two acres to the west of that – commercially zoned land with an 1875 home next to Freeze Daddy’s. While Kerscher’s land is large enough for a mixed use development, he’s open to working with the township on designing something that’s tastefully done, with an old town feel.
In addition to a revitalized downtown, some of the other priorities outlined in the land use plan – which guides township decisions – include improved recreational opportunities, low-density housing and farmland preservation.
The township has invested into Keener Park over the past few years, including a sledding hill, walking path, and screening and lights for the much-used pickleball courts. Last year a gravel path was added to the front of the township administration building to connect Homecoming Park to Monclova Road. The township is also looking at other options for increasing connectivity with sidewalks and multi-use paths.
The Cannonball Prairie Metropark, located on Monclova Road between Weckerly and Eber, opened in 2020 and includes a walking path, prairie, a pond for boating and three campsites, along with a connection to the Wabash Cannonball North Fork Trail. The park had about 31,000 visits last year, said Carpenter.
Monclova sees consistent housing growth, with a total of 38 permits for new homes issued last year, said Zoning Administrator Eric Wagner, noting that some are on acreage parcels while others are in growing subdivisions like Stoney Creek, Rutherford and Stonegate. With 16 applications for housing permits so far this year, Wagner said he expects to see an increase for 2026. This includes villas on the southern two corners of Albon and US 20A, and homes in the new Maumee Western Estates, among others. Preliminary plans also call for a subdivision with acreage lots across from Otterbein on Black Road.
As a member of a small Monclova Township agricultural community, the newest trustee, Deborah Stevens-Laux, has seen the amount of available farmland shrink over the years. She notes that the Ryans, Ploceks, Plymales and Zwyers are among the farming families who remain, as the Scott family sold over 350 acres in 2024.
“We’d like to see farmland stay farmland, but it won’t stay that way forever. People also want to be able to sell their property. No one will judge anyone for sticking it out or for selling,” she said. “The same group of farmers are trying to make a living, and there’s only so much you can buy or lease.”
When she was running for trustee, Stevens-Laux said one of requests she heard most often was transparency – to make sure residents are informed of meeting times, agendas and minutes. The township is now offering more details on agendas posted at monclovatwp.org and is utilizing the MyMonclova app for sharing meeting information.
This summer, the township will see construction of four new roundabouts, including:
•Albon Road at Monclova Road, 45 days from April 13-June 6
•Monclova Road at Waterville-Monclova Road, 40 days from June 8 to July 18
•U.S. 20A at Albon, 60 days from Aug. 1 to Oct. 18
•U.S. 20A at Strayer, 60 days beginning Aug. 1
Since the U.S.20A interchange was opened last August, interest in available land around the corridor has greatly increased, Trustee Chuck Hoecherl said.
Some of the projects planned around the interchange and U.S. 20A include:
•A golf simulator at 3661 Briarfield Blvd.
•A Casey’s gas station and convenience store at the northeast corner of Briarfield and U.S. 20A.
•Two flex space rental commercial buildings on U.S.20A, just west of Strayer Rd.
•A 14-acre property at 0 Strayer Rd., south of U.S. 20A, is being eyed for an 83,050-square-foot warehouse building.
Other projects in the works:
•Yarder Manufacturing expects to move into its new 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility on Riverfort Drive. Vice President Matt Yarder expects that other announcements for tenants of the new Legacy Business Park will be forthcoming.
• Redemption Church will build a 5,570-square foot fellowship hall on land that was recently purchased adjacent to their Salisbury Road property.
• Housing is planned for around the three hard corners of U.S. 20A and Albon – which are targeted for commercial. The northeast corner is being considered for a gas station and convenience store.
•Two new buildings are planned for Zero Gravity Trailer Sales at 10600 and 10611 Airport Highway.
•Tigon Golf Carts, 10420 Airport Highway, is expected to open in March. The company sells and services new and used carts, including street-legal, non-street-legal, and utility carts.
Waterville Township
This has been a busy year for Waterville Township Zoning Inspector Jim Fischer, who writes permits for homes, additions, accessory buildings, solar fields, fences, swimming pools and commercial buildings – in addition to following up on zoning complaints.
In 2025, he wrote 60 permits, including for 34 new homes. That’s up from 30 in 2024, 15 in 2023 and 6 in 2022.
By this time next year, the township will welcome at least 70 new 55-and-older residents, as construction is set to begin on the three-story Waterville Senior Lofts. The independent living apartment building represents a $21.5 million investment in the township, said Pivotal Senior Vice President of Development Pete Schwiegeraht.
Located off Waterville Monclova Road along U.S. 24, at 7830 Kay Drive, Waterville Senior Lofts will have one- and two-bedroom apartments, on-site management, a community room, fitness center, business center, outdoor picnic shelter and community gardens, he said.
“Construction will take about 13 months. We hope to have the building open in the first quarter of 2027,” Schwiegeraht said.
Like the nearby Whitehouse Square Senior Villages, Whitehouse Square Townhomes and Trailside Lofts in Maumee, the construction costs use state housing tax credits in order set rents at below market rate – at 80 percent of the area median income.
“There is very little access to reasonably-priced senior housing options in the Anthony Wayne area,” Schwiegeraht said. “This is an attractive area where seniors want to be – with good services and programming. We’re trying to serve the area with additional senior housing, to give them a product that allows them to age in place.”
The lofts will have a full-time manager and service technician and a part-time senior service coordinator to plan programs and events, including transportation to area stores and events. A new landing page, at pivotal-communities.com/properties/waterville-senior-lofts includes leasing information.
Construction will soon begin on a three-story, 70-unit Waterville Senior Lofts on Kay Drive in Waterville Township. (Courtesy rendering)
Just to the north, work on Fairway Village’s rental villas continues. And to the west, plans are underway for Walden, a single-family home subdivision that includes 71 homes in Waterville Township and 34 homes in Monclova Township – accessible off Dutch through Coventry Glen and off Stitt through Crimson Hollow.
Along Dutch Road, a self-storage facility is being constructed, and Geddis Paving and Excavating purchased the corner at Waterville Monclova Road, with plans to backfill the borrow pit.
To encourage business growth, the township is reactivating a dormant joint economic development district (JEDD) with Whitehouse, said Trustee Julie Theroux. With a JEDD, properties that agree to participate have an income tax collected from employees. Those funds are reinvested into the JEDD areas, which could include anywhere in the township. While the township cannot collect an income tax by law, a village or city can, and these partnerships are common in the area as a way to generate funds for infrastructure improvements in growing areas.
“It’s a win for property owners, the township and the village of Whitehouse,” Theroux said.
“We want to work jointly with our neighbors to bring in businesses and the kind of growth outlined in our land use plan. We haven’t seen the kind of commercial growth as other townships, but we know it’s coming, and we don’t want to be behind the eight ball.”
Once the areas of focus are outlined, Theroux said the JEDD members will work to attract businesses that residents want. A portion of the proceeds are used for improvements to further that business growth.
“This should be community driven and something that is a benefit to the whole township,” she said.
The JEDD could include areas along S.R, 64, Dutch Road, River Road and S.R. 295, but the 64 corridor is a priority, with a need for a long-term vision on how to handle increases in traffic. Theroux said she’d like to see the Lucas County Engineer, Ohio Department of Transportation and area municipalities work together to plan for the future.
“We need to look at what’s feasible. What I envision is a mixed commercial area with shops and restaurants, walking trails and a little sports facility.”
The township is currently updating its land use plan, which will serve as a guide to growth over the next 10 years. Trustee Toby Miller said that the township – with its available land and access to electric, gas and water – is attractive.
“There definitely is interest because of all those factors coming together. That’s why we’re revising our land use plan to make sure everybody has their input as far as how we want to zone and regulate these things,” Miller said. “What do we want to encourage or discourage, while maintaining the personality of the township and letting landowners do what they want with their land, within reason.”
Data centers have been at the forefront of discussions, and trustees in December imposed a 12-month moratorium to provide time for detailed research into potential impacts and how to regulate them. During the January meeting, trustees agreed to form an 8 to 10 member citizens committee to do a detailed study and make recommendations on what types of environmental and zoning regulations should be put into place.
“We have to live within the rules that the state and county put on us. I don’t think we have the legal authority to ban them outright, but we can absolutely put in all the things that we feel are requirements for us to consider,” Miller said.
In the coming year, Miller said trustees plan to analyze all their costs and look at ways to optimize every dollar. The November passage of a levy to raise $398,000 a year – beginning in 2027 – will help with sustaining the 24/7 police coverage and other services, but the township needs to continue working toward more sustainable income without another levy, he said.
TOLEDO- In November 2018, the CEO of Hope Toledo, John Jones, former mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, and the Social Determinants of Health team at Promedica Hospital sought to improve the accessibility of education for Toledo youth. In meeting rooms full of caring teachers, administrators, and public officials, the problem wasn’t a lack of attention to the cause; it was a lack of organization.
John Jones, CEO of Hope Toledo. (Courtesy photo)
With the audacious goal of helping children from pre-kindergarten age to seniors in high school, Jones knew there needed to be a centralized organization where effort and funding could be allocated to each group.
“I went to my folks at Promedica and said, ‘Hey… Let’s get in the same room and let’s build something that we don’t see in the nation,’ said Jones.
And Hope Toledo was born, a nonprofit that ensures children’s access to education in the early years of their life, and an incentive to students who are looking to pursue post-secondary education.
One of these early incentives came via the Promise Scholarship Program—a full-tuition scholarship offered to the Start High School graduating classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022. Hope Toledo’s various partnerships funded this scholarship. However, with COVID-19 pausing higher education and the 2020 income tax levy failing to pass, Hope Toledo was forced to pivot their funding initiatives for both pre-kindergarten students and post-secondary students.
In the midst of this chaos, Promedica stepped in to support the pre-kindergarten side. However, the Promise Scholarship Fund could only be maintained until 2022.
“Even though the ballot measure didn’t pass, Promedica stepped up and said, ‘You know what? We want to see something fly here…’ They supported the first school year of pre-k classes with 10 providers, and we maintained that momentum to start the second year with 20 providers,” Jones stated.
Despite the financial hardships, Hope Toledo provided scholarships to 210 Start High School students and continues to provide pre-kindergarten education to approximately 1,100 students. In the 2025-2026 school year, Hope Toledo aims to provide education to an additional 500 children. While Hope Toledo has found success in their efforts, how can they stay afloat without more funding? Jones claims that they need help from the Toledo community to continue their work.
“No community — and I can say that, and I very rarely use absolute statements— no community does it at scale without public dollars. Private dollars, while wonderful, are just not enough to last in perpetuity, to fully fund the number of kids who need access to education. And that’s because of the cost,” Jones replied.
With the national average cost of pre-kindergarten in the U.S at $12,000 a year, Hope Toledo finds it difficult to find families who are willing to invest in their program. Although Hope Toledo provides income-based tuition assistance to families, the cost of living is too high for people to make the jump. How do you get families to invest in Hope Toledo, given that education seems unaffordable? According to Jones, you have to get people to understand that an investment in education at an early age is a long-term economic driver for the community.
“What Hope is trying to do over the last, particularly two years, I would say, almost three, is we’ve tried to change the narrative… I would much rather pay $15,000 now to support a community-wide effort to ensure children have access to early childhood education, which puts them on a positive trajectory. We as a community should want to pay $15,000 per kid as opposed to $60,000 to put them in juvenile detention.”
Julia Meyers, director of Toledo Day Nursery. (Courtesy photo)
Who they have helped:
Julia Myers, Co-Executive Director of Toledo Day Nursery, said that Hope Toledo’s impact on her work has been invaluable.
“Hope Toledo has facilitated the sharing of resources among providers, enabling us to access materials previously unavailable to some. This has been instrumental in our efforts to prioritize universal prekindergarten and emphasize its importance now more than ever. The state funding has been a hot topic, and the changes it has brought to our programs have posed challenges… Many providers are still struggling to navigate these changes. However, Hope Toledo has provided us with a platform where our voices can be heard.”
Camille Harris, owner of All 4 Kids LLC and All 4 Kids 2. (Courtesy photo)
Camille Harris, owner and operator of All 4 Kids LLC and All 4 Kids 2, notes that Hope Toledo has provided children with educational opportunities that were not available before their partnership.
“We now have better outreach to the community, and we have a better relationship with Toledo Public Schools. I struggled with that for nine years before Hope Toledo.”
However, Harris emphasizes that the community cannot stop advocating for more funding toward education.
“We need extra dollars from the county and the city to make this cohesive.” Read more about Hope Toledo’s mission here.
