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Meta and more: RGP seeks to land data centers to meet AI boom

By
David Yonke
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Will Turner, Managing Director of the Upterra Group, announced $1 million in grants to develop programs for high school students to prepare for careers in the trades. (TFP photo by David Yonke)

TOLEDO – Northwest Ohio has everything in place for high-tech firms to build hyperscale data centers to meet the needs of the rapidly growing artificial intelligence market, according to state and local development officials.

Citing Meta’s $800 million data center now under construction in Wood County as one notable success story, speakers at the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) of Northwest Ohio’s annual meeting, held in the Glass City Convention Center on March 5, said they were concerned about the spread of “misinformation” regarding data centers.

Speakers spotlighted numerous job- and revenue-creating projects developed throughout the 17-county region in 2025, resulting in 4,895 new jobs, 16,177 retained jobs, and $3.3 billion in capital investments.

But they also focused on the future, stressing the potential positive impact of luring new large-scale data centers to the area.

“There has been an incredible amount of talk surrounding data centers recently, and unfortunately, much of that talk has been misinformation,” said Dean Monske, president and CEO of the RGP.

“RGP has diligently been trying to overcome that misinformation for well over a year now, and we thought it was extremely important to use this platform today to educate and inform all of you about the facts and benefits we see from our region,” he added.

Gary Thompson, executive vice president of the Regional Growth Partnership of Northwest Ohio, discussed the future of Artificial Intelligence and Hyperscale Data Centers at the RGP’s 2026 annual meeting held Thursday, March 5, at the Glass City Center in downtown Toledo. (TFP photo by David Yonke)

More hyperscale data centers will be needed to meet the soaring AI market, which is expected to grow globally from $189 billion in 2023 to $4.8 trillion by 2033, according to Forbes magazine.

Monske introduced Gary Thompson, RGP executive vice president, who has been leading the group’s efforts on data centers for four years.

“Whether you like data centers or not, I hope you can at least see why our region is a suitable host for the industry,” Thompson said. 

Among the factors cited in northwest Ohio’s favor:

-Flat, affordable land near power infrastructure

  • -Abundant, cost-effective natural gas from multiple sources
  • -70 million gallons a day of excess water capacity in Toledo alone
  • -35-plus colleges and universities providing “a built-in tech talent pipeline”
  • Thompson said he is “perplexed” by much of the opposition to hyperscale data centers, saying social media have given opponents “a very loud voice.” 

One misperception, he said, is that data centers produce a loud, constant, annoying hum that can be heard throughout the neighborhood. 

While that may be true of “chicken coop crypto mining” facilities, it is not true of the type of high-tech centers the RGP is seeking to attract, he said.

“I have stood in front of hyperscale data centers in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, in the sun, in the rain, in the wind, in the snow; they don’t make any noise,” Thompson said. 

About 700 people attended the Regional Growth Partnership of Northwest Ohio’s 2026 annual meeting on Thursday, March 5, in the Glass City Center. (TFP photo by David Yonke)

He showed the crowd of 700 a video of a crypto mining facility consisting of a series of pole barns with openings for fans that produced a constant noise registering 84 decibels on a hand-held device, equivalent to the noise level of a gas-powered lawn mower. 

In contrast, he showed a sleek, self-contained modern building like the one Meta is building in Middleton Township, north of Bowling Green, adding that such facilities have sound buffers and barriers that keep noise levels low.

“I think we can all agree that the ‘chicken coop crypto mining operation’ in the video is loud, obnoxious, ugly, undesirable, it’s not creating any jobs, it’s unwelcoming, it’s a nuisance… Let me be very clear, no one at the RGP or our utility partners are looking to attract crypto mining.”

He asserted that every northwest Ohio community has zoning ordinances that would make such a facility illegal. “They would not be able to get a building permit.”

An RGP handout said the Meta facility will employ more than 1,000 construction jobs with work on the project extending for 10 years – “not a quick build-and-leave” project.

Data centers create between 100 and 150 high-paying jobs and draw additional white-color tech companies to the region.

The handout sheet said hyperscale data centers construct “behind-the-scenes power plants that are privately funded and don’t impact ratepayers – they can actually add resilience to the grid.”

Thompson added that the facilities use “closed-loop cooling” that circulates about 30,000 gallons of water a day. “That’s equivalent to two Hampton Inn hotels.”

He said hyperscale data centers require between 200 and 1,000 acres of land, and that there is no shortage of available land in Ohio.

“To put data centers in perspective, if northwest Ohio landed 10 hyperscale data centers that are built on 1,000-acre campuses, we would use only three-tenths of 1 percent of the total farmland in our region,” Thompson said.

Chase Eikenbary, vice president of project management for the RGP, said there were 13 new projects in agriculture and food sciences in Northwest Ohio in 2025, creating 384 new jobs and $421 million in investments.

“Everyone in northwest Ohio is a farmer, loves a farmer, or loves what they do,” she said.

She said Marsha’s Buckeyes, based in Perrysburg, has received a grant to expand.

In the field of advanced manufacturing, Eikenbary said there were 60 new projects that created 2,528 jobs and brought in $1.8 billion in investments. Among the advanced manufacturing companies listed were Whirlpool, Nooter, Revere Plastics, and First Quality.

Eikenbary also spotlighted SmartSolve Industries, which is building a 10,000-square-foot research and development facility in Bowling Green with an investment of $3.6 million, creating 30 new jobs.

J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio, told the crowd that northwest Ohio led the state in creating new jobs in 2025. He praised local businessmen and developers for their “unity and willingness to come together and work together on common economic development efforts.”

Whitehouse considers rezoning for subdivision

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Whitehouse law director Kevin Heban (left) and chief operating officer Josh Hartbarger (right) listen to administrator Jordan Daugherty outline the rezoning process. (AWFP photo by Lucas Sells)

WHITEHOUSE – For 18 months, Artisan Craftbuilt Homes principal Charles Grass has sought to rezone 37.99 acres of farmland at 11320 Archbold Whitehouse Rd. to construct single family homes. Currently zoned S-1 Suburban, which has bigger lots, Grass initially asked for the more dense R-3, then, most recently, R-2 with a Planned Unit Development (PUD) – both of which were denied. On March 3, Grass listened as Whitehouse Village Council held a public hearing for his third attempt at rezoning, this time to an R-2.

Residents Jeff Heaney, Lisa Forwerck and Craig Whitman were among the residents who testified, citing concerns that the addition of homes Country Meadows South will impact traffic on Waterville Street and S.R. 64 (Centerville Street).

Centerville Street resident Jeff Heaney shares concerns about how the proposed subdivision will increase traffic. (AWFP photo by Lucas Sells)

“I think R-2 is way too dense. Traffic is going to be terrible. We don’t need more cars coming out near Westwyck,” said Whitman, who lives on Centerville. “It should be R-1 at a minimum.”

Oak Crossing Lane resident Tom Metzger asked for renderings of the neighborhood, and whether council would have access to plans and information like traffic studies before making a decision on the rezoning.

Administrator Jordan Daugherty explained that a zoning change is the first step, and gives the developer a framework to know how to develop a plat – a drawing that shows the layout of homes. 

While Grass presented a potential plat to the Planning Commission on March 2, to get feedback on the design, those drawings for Country Meadows South Plat 1 were for discussion only. The renderings show Plat 1 with 21 lots on 20.4 acres, with lot sizes of 15,000 to 22,519 square feet. In total, Grass plans 37 lots on land bisected by Lone Oak Ditch. The southern portion will connect to West, Temperance and Waterville streets. A northern plat will eventually be platted will include curb cuts into S.R. 64.

Council member Carrie Tuohy, who lives on Temperance Street, said she’s concerned about the connection to her neighborhood, noting that it doesn’t have sidewalks and children play in the street. An increase in traffic will impact kids’ safety, she said.

Council’s objective is to determine whether R-2 is appropriate zoning for that land. It is surrounded by land that is zoned both R-2 and R-3, as well as M-2 manufacturing. A vote on the rezoning is slated for Tuesday, March 17 during the regular council meeting.

Artisan Craftbuilt Homes’ principal Charles Grass listens during a March 3 public hearing on rezoning 37.99
acres for the proposed Country Meadows South. (AWFP photo by Lucas Sells)

During the March 3 and Feb. 17 meetings, Whitehouse council also:

-Learned that the Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce is working with the village to plan the June 11-13 Cherry Fest. Chamber President Zak Weimer and Board Member Joe Carter are working on plans for an enhanced Military Night and opening ceremony on Thursday, June 11, with funds from the beer and wine tent assisting the nonprofit Task Force 20. Additional musical performances are planned throughout the festival, which includes a Saturday, June 13 parade that steps off at 1 p.m.

-Heard that the mayor and council will be hosting an open session with residents at the Buzz Diner on Saturday, March 14 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. 

-Learned that the Easter Egg Hunt will take place on Saturday, March 21 at the Whitehouse American Legion at 10 a.m.

-Listened to Mayor Rich Bingham declare March as Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Month in Whitehouse.

-Agreed to renew Paramount health insurance plans with a six percent increase. 

-Approved a lease agreement with Brian Carroll to operate General’s Ice Cream out of the village-owned building.

Oak Crossing Lane resident Tom Metzger listens to the administrator explain the process for site plan approval. (AWFP photo by Lucas Sells)

-Adopted a cybersecurity and information security policy manual.

-Learned that Arbor Day festivities, in conjunction with Whitehouse Primary School third-graders, are set for Wednesday, April 29 at 1 p.m. in Whitehouse Park, with a rain date of Monday, May 4.

-Heard Fire Chief Jason Francis say that four part-time employees and one volunteer have been added to the roster.

-Approved the use of Whitehouse Park for Jon and Babs Marshall to host Ernie’s Angels-NW Ohio, a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northwest Ohio, on Sunday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Named for Babs’ father, Ernie Colon, who lost his battle with Alzheimer’s in 2018, the event includes more than 100 classic cars, food trucks, a DJ and vendors. 

-Approved the use of village streets for two Run Toledo events: the Southfork Duathlon on Wednesday, May 27 and the Whitehouse Multi-Sport Festival on Saturday, June 20.

Toledo Works: Inside Toledo’s museums

By
Toledo Free Press
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Episode 3 of Toledo Works

Jaden Jefferson explores what it’s like to curate, conserve, and educate vistors from Toledo’s museums. In this episode, he focuses on Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo History Museum, and the Museum of the Great Lakes.

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: Changing of the guard

By
Art Weber
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Dark-eyed junco. (Photo by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo)

The calendar says it’s March, which means the Vernal Equinox – the official start of spring – is not far off. This year it’s Tuesday, March 20 at 10:46 a.m. Eastern Time.

That doesn’t mean wildflowers will be suddenly blooming and warblers will be headed north right away. Spring’s arrival is a process, a wonderful process that anyone who enjoys the outdoors and nature revels in.

It’s also a reminder that it won’t be long before some species we’ve come to enjoy at our backyard feeding stations will be leaving us and heading north. That list is short compared to the number of species that will be migrating our way soon. 

Still, they’ve kept us company through the depths of winter. The dark-eyed junco is a favorite that will be leaving us in the coming weeks, same for purple finch and tree sparrow. 

Enjoy them while you can and keep your bird books and binoculars handy for the magnificent show that will follow.

New poll of Ohio voters offers insight

By
Jaden Jefferson
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(TFP image by Jaden Jefferson)

Statewide sentiments on the economy, immigration, and democracy

TOLEDO – In 2024’s presidential election, Donald Trump carried Ohio – once a battleground – by 11 points, his largest margin of victory in the state. However, a new poll from Bowling Green State University finds that Ohio voters, despite the state’s strong Republican lean, aren’t pleased with everything Trump has done during his first year back in office.

The poll puts Trump’s approval rating at 41 percent, with “a net favorability rating of -19.” 59 percent of those polled, nearly six in ten, believe the country is on the “wrong track,” while only 34 percent viewed things as headed in the right direction.

Midterm issues in focus

It is a midterm election year. For the GOP, that means playing defense if the party is to retain control over the House of Representatives and Senate. For the president himself, that’s the difference between completing his agenda and spending his final two years in office as a lame duck.

But in this economy, in a literal sense, staying in control of Congress is not going to be an easy feat for Republicans. Over half of those polled, 55 percent, believe the economy has gotten worse under President Trump.

Asked to identify the three issues of greatest importance to them, the most frequent responses of those polled were: the economy (42 percent), threats to democracy (32 percent), healthcare (31 percent), immigration (31 percent), and inflation (29 percent). As this and other polls demonstrate, quite clearly, the economy will dominate the midterms.

Ohioans not completely sold on tariffs 

Because the economy is of such concern to voters, it’s worth taking a look at how they feel toward the president’s tariffs, a key tenet of his economic policy. In this poll, nearly 60 percent oppose them. An overwhelming majority, 72 percent, believe they will be to the benefit of wealthy people. 66 percent see them as benefitting large corporations.

Important to the popularity of any economic policy is how the median earner feels about it. 69 percent aren’t convinced they’ll directly benefit from Trump’s tariffs. 67 percent believe that neither small businesses, nor labor unions, will benefit. 65 percent don’t think the working class will benefit, while 64 percent say the same about the middle class. Notably, given Ohio’s place in the auto industry, just over half of voters – 56 percent – don’t believe the auto industry stands to benefit from the president’s tariffs.

The party with the advantage

It’s not new for the party in the White House to lose popularity ahead of the midterms, or control of Congress, as a result. In the generic ballot, Democrats have an eight-point advantage over Republicans, with the party – according Dr. Robert Alexander, professor of political science at BGSU – “in a good position to make gains in this year’s midterm election,” based on the university’s polling.

An issue that’s expected to drive Democratic turnout in this year’s midterms: eagerness among the party’s base for checks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration, in the midst of a major deportation push, has ramped up ICE operations across the country. Minneapolis, Minn. – which was the target of a multi-agency operation – ended with the deaths of two U.S. citizens, killed by immigration agents, during separate incidents.

In this poll, 90 percent said they’ve been following ICE operations under Trump’s second term. Around 60 percent oppose agents wearing masks, something Democrats are hoping to change in negotiations to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Two-thirds also oppose agents driving in unmarked vehicles, as well as the raids overall. One-fifth of those polled said they know someone who’s participated in a protest against ICE, while one-tenth said they have themselves.

Voters worry about democracy and constitutional rights

64 percent of poll respondents said they believe checks and balances “are currently not effective,” 57 percent said they’re dissatisfied with the state of democracy in the U.S., and 45 percent believe the executive branch has too much power.

Concern about democracy also spilled over into constitutional matters. 58 percent believe freedom from unreasonable search and seizure is “under threat,” while 57 percent said the same about freedom of speech, 55 percent about freedom of the press, and a slight majority, 51 percent, about freedom of assembly.

Inverness finally gets another U.S. Open

By
Fred Altvater
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The United State Golf Association (USGA) announced that Inverness will be the host for the 2045 U.S. Open. (Courtesy photo)

TOLEDO – The Inverness Club, in Toledo, has hosted four U.S. Opens (1920, 1931, 1957, 1979), two PGA Championships (1986, 1993), two U.S. Senior Opens (2003, 2011), plus a U.S. Amateur, U.S. Junior Amateur, and most recently the 2021 Solheim Cup. 

The 1920 U.S. Open was significant, as it was the first time the young Bobby Jones played in the event, finishing tied for eighth. Ted Ray won that year’s U.S. Open with Harry Vardon finishing runner-up.

George Von Elm and Billy Burke were tied at the end of regulation in the 1931 U.S. Open. They were still tied after 36 holes and had to return the next day to play another 36-hole playoff, which Burke won by a single stroke. 72 holes of regulation, plus 72 holes in playoff meant that the duo had played 144 holes of golf over five days. It is the longest playoff in golf history. 

A 17-year-old Jack Nicklaus played in his first U.S. Open in the 1957 tournament. He missed the cut, but the Golden Bear went on to win four U.S. Opens and 18 major championships. The defending U.S. Open champion, Carey Middlecoff lost an 18-hole playoff to Dick Mayer to grab the trophy.

In 1979, Hale Irwin defeated Jerry Pate and Gary Player to win his second of three U.S. Open titles. 

Greg Norman does not have fond memories of the Inverness Club. In the 1986 PGA Championship, he held a four-stroke lead after 54 holes, but struggled on the final day and Bob Tway holed a miraculous bunker shot on the 72nd hole to edge out the Great White Shark.  

The PGA Championship returned to Inverness in 1993, and Norman was tied with Paul Azinger after 72 holes of regulation play. Azinger won on the second playoff hole and Norman had once again come close, but failed to grab a major. 

The Inverness Club was completely renovated in 2019 and continues to be considered one of the great old courses in the country. (Courtesy photo)

With this resume of great golf, the Inverness Club has longed for a return of a major championship. The Club was completely renovated in 2019 and continues to be considered one of the great old courses in the country.

The United State Golf Association (USGA) announced that Inverness will be the host for the 2045 U.S. Open. With the success of the Solheim Cup in 2021, Toledo and Inverness proved that they can host a big-time event. For Toledo, it will be a huge economic boost and showcase the city at its best. 

Inverness has seen its share of historic events, and more history will be made when the U.S. Open returns to the historic club in 2045. 

Toledo City Council votes “no” to leasing part of Detwiler lot

By
Stephen Zenner
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Janice Flahiff, Christine Frakes and Carlton Surtman, all members of the Save Bay View Retirees Golf Course! group came to a Toledo City Council Meeting to oppose renting part of the parking lot of a park to The Toledo Edison Company at 1 Government Center in downtown Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – In a six-to-four vote, Toledo City Council resolved not to lease part of the parking lot at Detwiler Park to The Toledo Edison Company for temporary storage. 

Before being given over to a vote, District 6 Council Member Theresa Morris said, “Yes, this lighting project needs to happen over in the Regina Manor area, but if we start renting out our green spaces. It’s a very slippery slope, and I would urge my colleagues to not support this ordinance.” 

Theresa Morris, Toledo City Council Member for District 6, speaks on losing part of the Bay View Golf Course to an update for the waste water treatment plant during the Toledo City Council meeting. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

Morris referenced the history of how the city of Toledo acquired the land, and used its history to support voting against Ordinance 034-26.

“All I can think of is that, you know George and Abraham Detwiler, when they donated 200 acres to the city of Toledo in 1925 that they decided that they were going to keep that as public space, not necessarily getting that or renting it out to the highest bidder.”

Voting was as follows: 

John Hobbs III – Yes

Brittany Jones – No

Nick Komives – Yes

Erin Kramer – No

Cerssandra McPherson – No 

Sam Melden – Yes

Theresa Morris – No 

George Sarantou – No 

Vanice Williams – Yes 

Mac Driscoll – No 

Council Members Theresa Gadus and Adam Martinez were both absent from the meeting. 

At the ordinance’s defeat, about two dozen individuals wearing green quietly celebrated.

“It’s at least a small victory, in that we defeated the use of that little area to be given for usage for Toledo Edison,” said Christine Frakes, a Point Place resident and member of Save Bay View Retirees Golf Course!

Frakes and other community members have been attempting to change the City of Toledo’s direction on expanding the Bay View Water Reclamation Plant into parts of the Bay View Retirees Golf Course.

“Some years ago, there used to be 18 holes out there. It got knocked down to 11, and now they’re going to be left with four holes, which essentially kills the golf course,” Frakes said. 

John Hobbs III, Toledo City Council Member for District 1, sings the national anthem during the Toledo City Council meeting. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

Voting down the lease option factors into the larger issue with the golf course, but Frakes had difficulty characterizing the defeat of the ordinance as a “small victory.” 

“It’s just we don’t feel like it’s fair.”

Procession

This week the national anthem was sung by City Council Member John Hobbs III, District 1, who was complimented on his singing voice by Sam Melden, District 5, during his closing remarks. “What was not surprising to me was when the dulcet tones of Councilman Hobbs rung out through the chambers,” Melden said, starting off his waxing closing remarks. 

After completing the three formal ceremonies, a prayer, the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem, Hobbs thanked Father Geoffrey Rose of St. Francis De Sales private high school, and said, “I’m so thankful he was here today, and you can always feel good when there’s another Knight in the house.”

Then two high schoolers from Whitmer, Zack Aubrey and Anthony Mitchell, were honored for demonstrating exceptional bravery while responding to a car accident. 

“After witnessing the crash, they acted without hesitation, putting their own safety at risk to assist the driver trapped inside a severely damaged vehicle,” said Julie Gibbons, the clerk of Toledo City Council, announcing the recognition. 

Zack Aubry and Anthony Mitchell, two high schoolers from Whitmer high school, are honored for assisting individuals after a car accident during the Toledo City Council meeting. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

Meghan Ragle was appointed for a three-year term to the Toledo-Lucas County Commission on Disabilities.

Linzey Link replaced Beth Holt on the Home Improvement Home Remodeling Board of Control (HIHRBC), a three year appointment. 

And Dean Frederick was reappointed to the HIHRBC as well. 

Legislation

Ordinances 51-26, 57-26 through 64-26 all passed, and ordinances 65-26 through 70-26 were given their first read.

Council Member, At-Large, Mac Driscoll, spoke before ordinances 71 and 72, stating that they depended on the 2026 budget passing. The city’s budget has not yet passed, so Driscoll recommended holding the two ordinances. 71/72 were simply given a first reading, like the preceding ordinances. 

O-73-26 to O-81-26 all passed. 

Closing remarks

Hobbs was the first to finish the meeting with his remarks, and used his time to honor the late Gladys West, an African American mathematician who paved the way for GPS technologies. 

Multiple members of council noted the end of Black History Month (February), and the beginning of Women’s History Month (March).

Cerssandra McPherson, Toledo City Council Member At-Large, says her closing remarks during the Toledo City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

“We Buy Houses” signs were highlighted by At-Large Council Member Cerssandra McPherson, who spoke against them as corporate interests targeting low-income households.

McPherson said she turned the signs over to the city’s law department and beautification department, and closed the subject with these strong words: “We are not up for sale. Toledo is not up for sale. Not like that.”

Black History Month was another topic McPherson spoke on. “It angers me that they want to delete us from the history. The president wants to just delete us. It’s an insult to my great-grandparents who were slaves.” 

McPherson didn’t cite any specific incident she was speaking against. It should be noted that Black History Month was not observed officially by federal agencies, as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts against Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs. A number of customary observances including “Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other ‘special observances…’” were flagged in a memo discouraging celebrations in an official capacity. 

Councilwoman McPherson closed with this personal resolution: “I will not keep silent, but I will pray for those that are ignorant when it comes to this – African Americans of [the] United States that live, breathe, work, contribute, and [have] for many, many years.”

Ohio Virtual Academy teacher creates Cardinal Cafe

By
London Dennie
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0
Karen Bacon is a special education transition liaison for the Ohio Virtual Academy, where she helps students prepare for college, trade school, military service or the workforce. (TFP photo by Lucas Sells)

The workforce training program that helped win her an award

MAUMEE – A teacher from Ohio Virtual Academy was named Best K-12 Teacher in the ninth annual Tech Edvocate Awards in 2025, a recognition of her leadership and innovation in the classroom. 

Bacon is a special education transition liaison for the Ohio Virtual Academy, where she helps students prepare for college, trade school, military service or the workforce. 

“I started with Ohio Virtual Academy about eight years ago, and it has been a wonderful experience,” Bacon said. “I love this job because it gives me that freedom and creativity to work with special education students and talk about different skills they will need to prepare for the future.” 

Karen Bacon is a resident of Wapakoneta, and she has a Master of Education from the University of Findlay and a certification in middle school language arts and science. Before she taught at Ohio Virtual Academy, she was a French teacher at Lima Central Catholic High School. 

“I kind of got into the whole education thing just starting with being a French teacher,” Bacon said. “I just loved being around the kids and being able to explore the culture and the language with the students that I had.” 

Bacon is the creator of the academy’s Cardinal Café, a virtual coffee shop created through K12 Zone that provides students with hands-on workforce training. 

“The Cardinal Café was something that came about last year, where I was thinking, how can I prepare my students for different jobs in this online environment?” Bacon said. “So I thought, maybe if I design a café, we can go over all the skills within there.” 

Within the interactive online environment, students can apply and interview for barista roles, manage orders and money and practice workplace etiquette. Bacon said her students love the café, and it’s a fun way for them to learn. 

The Cardinal Café has proven to be an effective platform for educating students about the workforce. Since the program was created, other teachers have expanded the Cardinal Café, creating more environments for the students to interact with and learn more skills.

“This school year, all my other teammates and I decided that everyone should do one and have something different, so it’s kind of grown into a whole realm after I did the café,” Bacon said. “We came up with a grocery store, a fitness center, and during Christmas time, I did a bakery.” 

The Tech Edvocate Awards recognize leading education technology companies, products and individuals, highlighting innovations that improve teaching and learning. Bacon said winning the award was a fun and exciting opportunity. 

“For me, the award encompasses myself, my students and even my team,” she said. 

Bacon said she has learned a lot working in special education, and that being able to connect with her students through the café has been meaningful. 

“I’ve learned just to listen to what they need to be successful, and have the understanding that all of my students are super unique and have individual needs,” she said. “If I’m listening and working with them, I can definitely help them achieve what they want to do, and I’ve definitely learned that through the café. 

Bacon said she loves working in the K-12 environment and working for Ohio Virtual Academy. 

“I always like to stress that there’s more to the job than just Zoom and PowerPoints,” she said. “It’s always opening the doors for me to find different ways to be creative and do things that are fun for them and their learning.”

Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide: Josh Williams runs for District 9

By
Jaden Jefferson
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0

TOLEDO – Jaden Jefferson sits down with Representative Josh Williams to discuss his viewpoints ahead of the 2026 November election. To find the longer version of this video, make sure to visit Spotify for the Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide podcast below:

Waterville Council: Save the Bridge Association continues push

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Members of the Save the Bridge Association, including (from left) Janice Braida, Frank Butwin, Barb Bruno and Dave Weber, speak to Waterville City Council on Feb. 23, seeking help to save the Roche De Boeuf Interurban Bridge. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WATERVILLE – “We are still in the fight,” Save The Bridge Association member Barb Bruno announced to Waterville City Council during its Feb. 23 meeting.

Flanked by fellow STBA members Janice Braida, Frank Butwin and Dave Weber, Bruno said the group wants the public to know that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) plans to seek bids for the demolition of the 118-year-old Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge this spring.

Last year, ODOT was about to go out for bids when Gov. Mike DeWine issued a one-year reprieve so that STBA could research other options. That year ends in early April, and STBA wants Waterville City Council and Mayor Tim Pedro to contact DeWine to ask for another year. 

“We were charged a year ago with finding an alternative. That’s a monumental task,” Bruno said. “We’ve done a good job of searching out every viable option possible. The latest one is pushing for another pause, because maybe the state can maintain ownership and someone else can be the administrator.”

If the city, ODOT or Metroparks would be willing to serve as administrator for the state-owned bridge, they could qualify for federal funding to at least preserve the bridge. 

“Is the city willing to go to ODOT and say we will be willing to be administrator? That would give us $5 million to put in the bank,” Weber said. “We’re at crunch time now. You don’t want to wait until they send out for quotes to demolish the bridge. Can council tonight step forward and propose a resolution to vote on it so we know?”

Council has been fully supportive from day one, Pedro said, but he believes it would be premature to vote on a resolution to have the city serve as administrator. 

“I think the law director would have to do some research and let things shake out a little bit,” Pedro said. “We need to have details and do some research for a meeting or two. We just can’t make a decision tonight.”

Weber pushed back at Pedro, pointing out that STBA asked three weeks ago for the mayor to call the governor, and wondered why it hadn’t taken place yet. 

“We’re down to weeks. There are going to be bulldozers rolling in here really soon,” Weber said.

But Pedro said he planned to call soon, just as he did last year- a move that garnered the one-year extension.

Braida said she appreciated the efforts by council and the mayor to do what’s best for Waterville, but urged the council members to use their influence to save what she calls an iconic site.

“We’ve been given the opportunity to save the bridge. Local history is the foundation of community identity. When you think of sites in Waterville, the first one is the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge. The second is the Columbian House. These are treasures we have here, that contribute to our uniqueness. We’re begging for it not to be torn down.” 

During the meeting, council also:

-Approved a $40,000 with Pyrotecnico to provide fireworks for the Saturday, July 4 Independence Day celebration at Prairie Trail Park and Waterville Primary School. This is an increase from last year’s $27,349 price, to ensure a larger display for America’s 250th anniversary. The rain date is Sunday, July 5.

-Listened to Michelle Smith, executive director of the Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce, detail plans for upcoming events, including the Saturday, March 21 A Toast to America 250 Wine, Bourbon and Fine Art Auction at Nazareth Hall. Tickets are on sale at watervillechamber.com through Friday, March 6.

-Heard resident Terri Massucci share plans for the Saturday, March 28 Easter Egg Hunt at Conrad Park. Donuts, coffee and hot cocoa will be served at 10 a.m. The Easter bunny arrives in time for the 11 a.m. hunt, which will have four age levels (0-3, 4-6, 6-9 and 10+) with 1,000 eggs per level. Some eggs will have prize tickets. An adult basket raffle will benefit Hooves Equine Therapy. A scavenger hunt, in which families can look for giant eggs in area business windows, will take place in the weeks leading up to the hunt. Forms are available at the Waterville Library.

-Welcomed Scott Sands, northwest Ohio liaison for Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber, who delivered a certificate recognizing the city for excellence in accountability to taxpayers. He thanked finance director Tiffany Bachman, Administrator Jon Gochenour and the finance staff for their work.

Scott Sands (right) presented a certificate to city finance director Tiffany Bachman, in recognition of the city’s excellence in accounting. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

-Heard that an updated city website should be ready this week.

-Checked out the new e-bike that the police department will use on shared use paths and other areas of town. Police Chief Joe Valvano said trained bike officers will use the bike at community events and speak to youth about proper usage in town.

-Heard an update on how the city is seeking information during a six-month moratorium on data centers. Pedro said several house bills related to data centers are pending in the Statehouse.

-Congratulated Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley, a Waterville resident who was named Engineer of the Year for 2026. 

-Approved a $356,000 contract with Berglund Construction Company to improve the exterior of the 25-year-old fire station, including brick replacement, acid cleaning, roof panel and gutter replacement and other repairs. 

Waterville Police Chief Joe Valvano and officer Franklin Cigoy stand by the new e-bike that will be used in the city. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

-Awarded a $339,071 contract with DGL Consulting Engineers to perform construction engineering services for the Waterville Monclova Road widening improvement project. This includes $32,831 for TTL Engineering Services to do construction testing services. Pedro abstained as he is a consultant who formerly worked for TTL.

-Approved a contract with Green Meadow Acres LLC of Perrysburg to lease 100 acres of city-owned agricultural land at 6730 and 6824 Anthony Wayne Trail for $337 per acre.

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