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Helping kids with Sanfilippo Syndrome: Fundraiser deadline Dec. 1

By
Mark Griffin
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Simon has a rare, genetic condition called San Filippo Syndrome.

TOLEDO – Alina Gorniak and her husband, Jeremy Croke, both native Toledoans, were about to be parents to a brand new baby boy they planned to name Simon.

It was May 15, 2016, and the delivery went as planned. Soon after, Gorniak, a well-educated woman, could feel that some things were not adding up.

“I have that momma sense,” Gorniak said. “As soon as he was born, I thought something was not right. The initial sign was breast feeding. It was like a square peg in a round hole. Something was not working. Then, he wasn’t meeting his milestones: is he rolling over, is he babbling, is he taking his first steps?

“During that first year, going to wellness checks at the pediatrician’s office, they would say he could be on the tail end of the bell curves,” she continued. “We held onto hope for that until about 10 months.”

Around that time, Gorniak said Simon was gifted a tambourine by his uncle. It wasn’t long before Simon “started spinning the tambourine on the ground, almost like he had been doing that the previous 10 months,” Gorniak said, recalling Simon’s instant knack for the activity.

“We thought maybe he was on the autism spectrum,” she said. “The pediatrician said Simon was too young for them to make that diagnosis. By 12 months, he was just not hitting milestones.”

Ultimately, Simon was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called Sanfilippo Syndrome (Type B). Google this disorder to learn about the disease – there are several types. It “is a form of neurodegenerative disease that typically begins showing symptoms in early childhood, such as developmental delays, behavioral problems, and sleep disturbances. That is then followed by severe cognitive decline, loss of motor skills, and a shortened life expectancy.”

Alina Gorniak is the primary caregiver and mother of Simon. A cancer survivor herself, she has learned to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and fundraising to help find a cure.

Children diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B have a life expectancy of 12-17 years.

Simon, who is non-verbal, wears a Boston brace, which is primarily used for scoliosis, 16 hours a day. He attends 20-plus therapy hours and/or medical appointments a week – from geneticists to ophthalmologists, to ear, nose and throat specialists, audiologists, and orthopedic specialists.

Simon also wears hearing aids because he cannot hear high-frequency sounds. On a side note, Simon also loves blueberries, and his favorite TV show is Signing Time!

Toledo natives move to Texas

Gorniak, 49, and Croke, 46, graduated from Central Catholic and Northview high schools in 1995 and 1998, respectively. They have lived in Austin, Texas, since 2007.

“We go back to Toledo approximately six weeks each year, definitely in July and for two weeks at the end of December,” Gorniak said. “Both sets of our parents live in the Toledo area.”

Gorniak has a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University. She is Simon’s primary caregiver. Jeremy works in sales with NetSuite.

“We knew we had found each other after two months of dating, and then he said he’s moving to Austin,” Gorniak said of their relationship. “I told him, ‘I can’t tell you what to do, but if you hold off a while I might move with you.’ I was a teacher at Springfield High School at the time.

“We went to Austin and he proposed and we moved within a few months.”

The family, now based in Austin, Texas, still comes to Toledo for at least six weeks out of the year to see family.

Gorniak said their family is blessed to have a one-parent income and still be able to care for their son at home.

“Fortunately, my husband’s income can afford me to be to Simon’s primary caregiver,” she said. “The role I have, how expensive it would be to hire someone to take Simon to all these medical appointments…He’s 100 percent dependent on us.

“Looking at him, if you didn’t know he had this condition, you wouldn’t think about it,” she said. “He has a great smile, engaging eye contact … Unless he’s in significant pain, he’s a happy guy. We do everything we can to maintain his skills or anything he can do independently. We want to maintain that, as well as his dignity, with the absolute hope that as research catches up to the condition, it can hold him where he is, if not regain some aspects he has lost over the years.”

One painful aspect of Sanfilippo Syndrome is the fact that the disease is genetic, meaning it can be passed down from generation to generation. Gorniak and her husband did not realize this until their son was diagnosed and they were tested.

“We are carriers of the condition, a genetic condition, but we didn’t know that,” Gorniak said. “We had no symptoms that showed we were carriers of the condition; the chance of having a child that has Sanfilippo Syndrome, when both parents are carriers, is only 25 percent.”

Sanfilippo Type B fundraising deadline is Dec. 1

Alina Gorniak and Jeremy Croke, along with several other families across the country who have children with Sanfilippo Syndrome Type B, are part of a fundraising effort to reach a goal of $3.8 million that would go to fund the production of the tralesinidase alfa, an investigational enzyme replacement therapy.

The fundraising effort ends Dec. 1.

“We’re not naive that there’s going to be anything miraculous,” Gorniak said. “This is a treatment, not a cure. This is the best thing available and it is proving to be safe and effective in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for enzyme replacement.”

“Simon has been waiting nine years – his entire life – for FDA approval for treatment. This program is within reach. We are so close to our $3.8 million goal to reach by the end of the month. We only need $600,000 to reach that goal.”

Gorniak said as many as 14 children would receive treatment if the five-week fundraising goal is reached.

“If we do not make the deadline, the biopharmaceutical company won’t have the funds to help 14 kids, so the money will be held for some some future opportunity,” Gorniak said. “I am so optimistic we will make this goal. I don’t forsee that this is not going to be an option for us. I just feel we are going to hit our goal.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the fundraiser can go online to HelpSimon.com, which leads to a Go Fund Me page. Donations are tax deductible.

Lamar Advertising Company, which has offices in Toledo, is donating five billboard advertisements around Toledo for the fundraising effort. Gorniak said Lamar has also put up billboards in Austin, New York, Pennsylvania and Louisiana.

“Lamar has been so generous and amazing for us and other parents around the country,” Gorniak said.

To learn more about Sanfilippo Syndrome visit curesanfilippofoundation.org.

Celebrating a Wild Turkey Day

By
Art Weber
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These big gobblers were photographed in January strutting their stuff in Oak Openings. (Photo by Metroparks Toledo nature photographer Art Weber)

Wild turkeys are big beautiful birds, and they are also our largest upland bird. It wasn’t so long ago that there were no turkeys in Northwest Ohio. They disappeared from Ohio over 100 years ago, but have made a comeback thanks to an aggressive Ohio Division of Wildlife effort to reintroduce them. They’ve thrived locally since they were reintroduced in Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in 2000.

Look for them in Metroparks Toledo, especially the Oak Openings Region.

Jon Richardson: 33rd rector of Trinity Episcopal Church

By
Gaven Hafner
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Bishop Anne B. Jolly installed Jon M. Richardson as the 33rd rector of Trinity Episcopal Church (TFP photo by Gaven Hafner)

TOLEDO– Trinity Episcopal Church marked a historic moment for the 183-year-old church. On Nov. 8, faith leaders and the local community gathered for the formal installation of the Rev. Jon M. Richardson as the church’s 33rd rector. The celebration, rooted in long standing Episcopal tradition, served as both a milestone for the congregation and a reflection of the church’s identity of being progressive and inclusive.

The installation marks a new chapter in the church’s long and evolving history. From 2018 to 2023, the congregation was led by the Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Grey, whose departure left a significant transition ahead.

“When our previous priest left, they [the bishop’s office] were very tuned into this and wanted to make sure that we weren’t essentially a ship without a captain,” said Trinity’s operations manager, Heather Meyer.

To guide the parish through that period, the Rev. Dr. Stephen H. Applegate served as interim priest from 2023 to 2025, providing stability and leadership until a permanent rector could be appointed. “He transitioned everything beautifully for Jon,” Meyer said.

(TFP photo by Gaven Hafner)

Richardson, who began his ministry at Trinity on Mar. 16, explained the significance of the ceremony.

“It is the tradition in the Episcopal Church when a priest begins a new ministry that the congregation celebrates their ministry, and particularly as it relates to having a new priest, the bishop will be present… One of the roles of the service is that she officially makes me the rector, he said. Though symbolic, the service carried weight by involving nearly 70 participants, from clergy and bishop Anne B. Jolly to musicians and choir members.

Richardson explains the Episcopal Church as “reformed Catholic,” noting that it is “very much like our Roman Catholic siblings, but we are independent and autonomous.” He adds that Episcopal dioceses are “sort of like regions,” led by bishops who are “elected by the congregations.”

Music, a defining element of Trinity’s culture, played a prominent role in the celebration. Before the event, Richardson said the program would include “all kinds of really fun things, not limiting ourselves to sacred music. We find the sacred in the secular, and we’re gonna have all kinds of music, from old fashioned hymns to a song by Jewel.”

Meyer, who has been with the church for seven years, noted that this eclectic musical identity is nothing new. “Music has always been such an incredible pillar here at Trinity… and it’s something that Trinity’s been known for,” she said.

Rev. Jon M. Richardson and Bishop Anne B. Jolly pray (TFP photo by Gaven Hafner)

Founded in 1842, Trinity Episcopal Church has long been a part of downtown’s architecture. Even during decades of urban decline, the congregation chose not to relocate.

“Back in the ’70s, the congregation had to make some tough choices as to whether they wanted to stay downtown… and they took a vote, and it was a unanimous vote that they were going nowhere,” Meyer said.

Today, much of the church’s energy centers on community and outreach. After the events ceremony, the church provided food and refreshments. Every Sunday, Trinity serves a hot breakfast to anyone in need.

“We’re averaging, I want to say, about 95 people a week. There’s no strings attached. You don’t have to come to church,” Meyer said. 

Even more important than the meal, Meyer noted, is the dignity offered through personal connection. “We ask them their name… And so when somebody comes back, the ability to be able to call them by their first name….it may be some of the only interaction some folks get in a given time,” Meyer said.

After the ceremony the congregation enjoyed a meal to celebrate the momentous occasion. (TFP photo by Gaven Hafner)

For Richardson, one of the congregation’s most meaningful strengths is the diversity within worship itself. “One of the things I get most excited about is when we welcome our less secure neighbors in worship… I love the diversity that shows,” he said.

Trinity collaborates with several organizations, including Toledo Streets Newspaper, Actors Collaborative Toledo, Food for Thought pantry, and local artists and musicians who use the space for performances. 

Richardson’s path to Trinity began with a search for a community that reflected his values. He recalled first reading the church’s profile. “The first words I saw were progressive, inclusive, creative…and I was like, ‘Ah, these are my people. This is who I should be with.’”

With the Rev. Jon M. Richardson now officially in place as the new rector, Trinity Episcopal Church enters its next era.

Toledo Refining Company’s commitment to fighting food insecurity

By
Toledo Free Press
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(Photo by Doug Hinebaugh)

During the monthly Food for Thought pantry distribution, Toledo Refining Company (TRC) announced a $50,000 commitment to four local organizations to help fight against food insecurity.

“We know our neighbors here in East Toledo and Oregon alike face food insecurity daily,” said Erica Halada, the community relations advisor for Toledo Refining Company. But that was before the holidays, before the government shutdown. “We knew by talking to our partners…all of those who serve the community in that way have really been emphasizing that need.” 

“And so we, as a company, decided that this was something we had to do for our neighbors in addressing that [food insecurity],” she said. “And a $50,000 investment came out of that conversation.”

(Photo by Doug Hinebaugh)

Monetary assistance was given to four organizations: Oregon Senior Center, East Toledo Senior Center, ProMedica Bay Park Hospital’s Food Clinic, and Helping Hands of St. Louis.

“TRC’s recent commitment to us and the other local organizations shows that they are in the community. It is not just about the donation; it is truly about making a difference for the families that we serve on a daily basis,” said Jodi Gross, the executive director for the East Toledo Family Center.

The donations affect the 43605 and 43616 area codes, Northwood and Oregon, Ohio. 

Gross confirmed the rising challenges facing the area. “We have seen an increase in serving our families; this funding will allow us to meet the needs.”

ProMedica Bay Park Hospital’s President Matt Hammond also weighed in on food insecurity as reported by The Sojourner’s Truth. “Access to healthy food is as important as access to medication,” Hammond said. “Food insecurity is not just a social issue; it is a health issue.”

One day shy of a week after this commitment was made, the federal government shutdown ended on Nov. 12.

In a public statement recorded on WTOL 11 Scott Hayes, the director of Midwest government relations and strategic communications for PBF Energy, the overarching company for TRC, said of food insecurity, “It’s not just happening some other place, it’s happening right here, and we’re all just a few paychecks away from food insecurity.”

In an Instagram post, the City of Oregon, Ohio @oregonohio thanked both Hayes and Halada for their community support. 

“It’s one thing to say you care about the community. It’s another to show up the way this team does,” the post read, and then thanked the two representatives of TRC. 

Opinion: How virtual education helps Ohio’s military families 

By
Kristin Stewart
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Pexels photo by August de Richelieu

Every November, as the nation honors the service and sacrifice of its veterans and military families, it also serves as a reminder that the life of a military family is unlike most others. Frequent moves and deployments can disrupt friendships and routines. It can also affect academic continuity. 

Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA) recognizes the unique challenges that come with being part of a military family, and we are proud to be designated as a Purple Star school for our commitment to supporting military-connected students. The Purple Star designation is awarded by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and recognizes schools that demonstrate a major commitment to students and families connected to the nation’s military. 

Adapting to military life starts with understanding 

Military families know what it means to adapt because their children have often attended multiple schools before high school. Many times, that also includes moving mid-year due to relocations or new assignments.  

Virtual education also provides students with a sense of consistency at a time when their lives may be filled with constant change. Instead of starting over at a new school every time their family receives new orders, the education they receive at OHVA moves with them.

Students can continue their classes, keep their routines, and stay connected to their teachers and classmates even if they relocate across the state or transition through temporary housing. This continuity helps reduce the academic and emotional disruptions that often come with frequent moves, giving military-connected students a stable learning environment no matter where they go. 

How OHVA honors service 

OHVA’s Purple Star recognition is also part of a broader culture of respect and appreciation. The school employs several veterans on its staff, and their experiences have helped shape the empathy and insight behind the program.  

Many of the staff who have served in the military frequently share their stories of sacrifice and what military life actually looks like. That perspective has helped the school better understand the need for stronger support.  

In addition, those veterans on staff also play a hands-on role in the school’s programming. For example, they often lead Veterans Day assemblies and speak directly to students about service, leadership and gratitude. That type of involvement helps bridge the gap between classroom lessons and lived experience. It also helps to inspire students to appreciate the values of commitment and community. 

Celebrating those who serve as well as those who aspire to 

Support at OHVA extends beyond current and former military families. The school celebrates students who plan to enter the armed forces through its “Wall of Honor.” By featuring this wall, OHVA highlights its commitment to recognizing students’ dedication to service and honoring their decision to pursue military careers. 

OHVA’s recognition of military service extends to other outreach projects run by the school. Each year, members of OHVA’s Middle School National Honor Society lead a service initiative to send hundreds of thank-you cards to veterans and active-duty servicemembers. A simple gesture like that really resonates deeply with those who receive the cards and is another way students learn the importance of giving back.  

A full circle of support 

OHVA’s Purple Star programming has evolved to embrace even more of the extended military community. It began as a resource for active-duty families, but now includes veterans, future servicemembers, and students recognized by the daughters of the American Revolution for their academic achievement and civic engagement.  

This full network of support is reflective of the school’s commitment to ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and set up for success. For military families especially, that means helping them feel connected no matter where they are. 

As we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month, OHVA is proud of its commitment to those who serve and sacrifice for their country. By offering a flexible and stable virtual learning environment, military-connected students can learn, thrive, and succeed, from anywhere. 

Letter to the editor: A time for the greater good

By
Clinton Longenecker
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I have always been fascinated by John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address when he stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Most historians agree this was President Kennedy’s call for Americans to do what is right for the greater good of country and community. His statement is compelling because it strongly suggests that individual Americans can and do make a significant difference in the cultural fabric of American society.

As a professor and researcher of leadership, I have had a career of exploring how to take words and translate them into actions. With that backdrop, for the past six months, I have done an informal survey of over 120 people from all walks of life asking them this important question: “What is your responsibility to make our community, and by extension our country, a better place?”

What started out as a philosophical question quickly turned into a very practical set of responses. Some were pretty obvious, while others really made me think because of their personal nature. Let’s open with “the big three do’s” mentioned by virtually everyone. 

  • Be an informed voter and take the time to vote. Yet, U.S. voter turnout for local elections hovers around 20 percent; off-year national elections 40 percent, and around 60 percent for presidential elections. Room for improvement as a society.
  • Pay your taxes (as painful as that might be). We all know taxes provide revenue for federal, local, and state governments to fund essential services that include highways, police, education, the justice system, social services, and national defense, among others. We all benefit from these manifold services that we could not efficiently provide for ourselves.
  • Know and obey the laws. Obeying the law ensures social order, protects individuals and property, and provides a framework for resolving disputes, preventing harm, and upholding fundamental rights. Obeying vehicular laws keeps our roads safer. When people obey the law, our country is a better place for everyone.

But then responses shifted from the “big picture” to our individual lives. 

  • Keep your marriage strong. Research shows that strong and stable marriages improve financial stability, physical/mental/emotional health, health in old age, overall longevity and healthier kids.
  • If you have children, intentionally nurture them. Research shows that the future of most societies is dictated by how well parents raise their children physically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually. Healthy children are our country’s future!
  • Practice common courtesy and be kind. Whether driving, shopping, out to eat, or in your home, common courtesy or being polite and respectful of others fosters a sense of mutual caring, cohesion, and well-being. Most people truly respect, need, and appreciate kindness, including grace or being given the benefit of doubt, which is more important today than ever. And it is free.
  • Help those less fortunate than yourself. Lending a helping hand to a neighbor or stranger in need or regularly volunteering to help others in our community are important/meaningful ways to share our time, talent, and treasure to serve others. This service makes the community stronger while providing us with great personal satisfaction.
  • Be neighborly to your neighbors. Being friendly, helpful, and respectful to those who live nearby creates a greater sense of community, neighborhood ownership, safety, and a willingness to look after each other. Friendliness is also free.
  • Respect diversity of opinion. Living in the information age, our society has become polarized and we have lost our ability to listen to each other and have respectful dialogue. To solve real problems and build real solutions requires open minds and meaningful discussion, whether at home, work, or in the community.
  • Don’t litter. Do recycle. These simple actions offer numerous environmental and social benefits, including reducing pollution, conserving natural resources, promoting a cleaner healthier environment, protecting property values and encouraging safety for everyone while requiring very little effort.

In the end, many would say that these “societal do’s” are simply common sense. But I would add if people collectively engaged in these individual activities their community would be a safer, friendlier, stronger, and more attractive place for people to live and work.

At your next family gathering, ask JKF’s question and see what you might learn. I am confident that you will have a very meaningful conversation benefiting not only the people in your circle, but also our community as a whole when we take action on these important practices.  We all have the wonderful power to be better doers.

TFP Weekend: TPS Superintendent Romules Durant

By
Jaden Jefferson
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TOLEDO – On this episode of TFP Weekend, Toledo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Romules Durant sits down for a wide-ranging conversation on issues from the district level to education at large.

On its latest state report card, TPS received two out of five stars from the state, with challenges including early literacy and graduation, among others. With regard to early literacy, Dr. Durant says “We are one of the only urban districts to not have universal pre-K,” adding, “the United States is one of the only industrialized countries to not support early childhood education in the way they do in other places.” He says there are nearly 10,000 kids in this area who are eligible for pre-K — but only around 3,000 are being served.

Among the other challenges facing the district is chronic absenteeism. TPS’ current rate is 38.9 percent, though Dr. Durant says it was higher in the years that directly followed the pandemic. As a result of COVID-19 concerns, he says, “people started to look at school as not necessarily being mandatory and treated it that way.”

Asked about the relationship between TPS and the state, and if the district is receiving the support it needs, Dr. Durant pointed to funding. He said legislators in Columbus, by not following 2020’s Fair School Funding Plan in the last budget cycle, left “Toledo Public Schools with a 24 million-dollar deficit that we have to balance.” 

An ongoing debate about education, not only in Ohio but nationwide, has been school vouchers: if students should be able to take the dollars supporting their education at a   public school to a private one. On the question of if private school vouchers can coexist with traditional public school funding, the superintendent said, “If you’re going to allow it, to have it coexist, then it should coexist on the same playing field.”

He said, “I’m all for school choice,” but added that private schools should be subject to the same scrutiny as public districts, including assessments and transparency requirements.

Outside of the challenges that face TPS, Dr. Durant says the district’s ‘magnet’ schools — schools that have a specific career focus — are yielding positive results. He also has optimism about the future of the years-long partnership between TPS and the University of Toledo. The district is transforming the university’s former Scott Park campus into educational and recreational facilities.

Another issue covered in this ‘TFP Weekend’ episode was socioeconomic factors, and how they affect the lived experiences — and in turn, performance — of students. To hear more on that, and other matters, listen or watch the full interview at our YouTube and Spotify channels.

*Edited by Stephen Zenner; special thanks to the Toledo Tech Loft for use of their space to produce this podcast episode.

Green Bears add to rich history in postseason

By
Mark Griffin
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Ottawa Hills High School players and coaches pose for a photo following the Green Bears' 5-1 loss to top-ranked Cincinnati Summit Country Day in the Division V state championship match Nov. 10 at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Hills Senior High School)
Preparation was key to Ottawa Hills’ boys run to state soccer championship match

OTTAWA HILLS – The old guy whose face is pictured on the $100 bill once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Second-year head coach JR Hall and his coaching staff on the Ottawa Hills High School boys soccer team made sure Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote never applied to the Green Bears this fall, particularly when they entered the postseason tournament.

“We were definitely prepared and we knew what we had to do,” junior defensive midfielder Gabe Grimm said. “We knew our positions, where to be on the field … they really got us ready for that in practice. They weren’t too hard on us. We wanted to have fun. We enjoyed our time at practices and we got the job done when we needed to.”

Ottawa Hills head coach Rodclif “JR” Hall, center, and assistant coaches Drew Hoffman, right, and Jakob Walther after the Green Bears’ state championship match against Cincinnati Summit Country Day on Nov. 10 in Columbus. The Green Bears have competed in the state semifinals or finals eight times in the past 17 years. (Photo courtesy of Ottawa Hills Senior High School)

Ottawa Hills, a Division V program, played a challenging schedule during the regular season. Close losses or ties against bigger D-I programs like St. John’s Jesuit, St. Francis de Sales, Southview, Northview, Springfield, and Findlay contributed to the Green Bears’ 6-9-2 record.

It also got them prepared for what was to come.

“It toughened us up,” senior center-back Jaiden Dubois said. “We played great competition. We did end up losing most of those games, but playing against better teams, we were prepared for being down and playing in harder circumstances. In the tournament, we were prepared for those circumstances.”

Ottawa Hills’ boys soccer tradition is well known around the state and Northwest Ohio in particular. The Bears, competing in the smallest school division, have advanced to the state semifinals eight times in 17 years. The 2008 team, coached by Greg McElroy, finished 20-3-0 and capped off that season with a 1-0 win over Worthington Christian in the D-III state championship match.

The Bears lost in the D-III state finals in 2017 and 2022, and lost in the semifinals in 2010, 2012, 2020 and 2021.

“There definitely is pressure, knowing we have such a good program that has been successful in the past,” Dubois said. “In the preseason we often see (former) players come back and they play with us.”

Grimm said every Ottawa Hills player is “more than aware” of the school’s past soccer success in the postseason. He said the current players feel like it is their job to “keep it rolling.”

“We know Ottawa Hills has been a great soccer school for many years,” said Grimm, who also plays shortstop on the baseball team. “Going into this year, we didn’t think we were going to live up to that. We went up against all odds. We didn’t think we had the strongest team, but when we played St. Francis and St. John’s, that showed us we can compete with these teams.

“They were all very close games until the very end. They definitely knew what Ottawa Hills soccer is. They don’t think of us as an easy game at all.”

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Hills)

One game at a time

In Hall, the Green Bears have a coach who embraces that tradition.

A native of Jamaica, Hall’s hometown was battered by Hurricane Melissa on Oct. 28. He moved to the U.S. in 2009 and played forward at Owens Community College and Bowling Green State University.

Hall was an assistant coach at Ottawa Hills from 2021-23 and last season, in his first year as head coach, took the Bears to the regional semifinals where they lost 1-0 to Van Buren. Hall said his goal this season was “to take it one game at a time.”

“My sole concentration is the game we are playing,” Hall said. “My experience is to play it game by game. In the postseason we had fairly good information on the teams we were playing, and I was able to set up our team in a way we could be competitive.”

The Green Bears had four seniors, three of whom were starters, but two of those seniors were injured at some point during the season. Ottawa Hills relied on its defense the entire time.

“Defense was the thing that carried our team,” Hall said. “The games we lost big are the games where our defense made mistakes. Defense was definitely a strong point of our season.”

Hall said the fact that the Green Bears, who took second place in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference behind Maumee Valley Country Day School, earned a No. 1 seed in the Northwest 2 sectional/district was a sign of respect.

“We weren’t surprised,” Hall said. “We played St. John’s, St. Francis, Findlay, Northview, and Southview and it helped us a lot. Playing those tough games at the end really encouraged the boys.”

The Green Bears opened the postseason with an 8-0 rout of Woodmore on Oct. 18. The Wildcats never had a chance.

“The coaching staff did an amazing job,” Dubois said. “For that first game, we did so much to prepare and went through so many drills for our shooting, and it showed.”

The Bears followed that with wins over Mansfield Christian (1-0), Ottoville (2-1), and Fort Jennings (5-1) before avenging a regular season loss to Maumee Valley with a 3-2 win over the Hawks in the regional finals.

(Photo courtesy of Ottawa Hills)

Know who you’re playing

Ottawa Hills beat Kidron Central Christian, 1-0, in the state semifinal match in Sandusky, setting up the title match against top-ranked Cincinnati Summit Country Day, which needed overtime to beat Milford Center Fairbanks, 2-1, in the other state semifinal.

“We knew who we were playing,” Grimm said. “They were a great team and we had to come out hard. We already did the hard job by making it to that game. We just had to go out there and try to win it now.”

Hall said he knew what the Green Bears were up against. Summit Country Day had outscored its previous three opponents 8-1, and the Silver Knights’ girls’ team won the D-IV state title, its third straight, three days earlier.

“We were playing against a team where 80 to 90 percent of their players play Club,” Hall said. “We don’t have a lot of players who play Club. We have a school where players run track or play baseball after soccer is finished. We were happy that our boys could do this against a school that has 80 to 90 percent of their players in Club.”

Summit Country Day, which won its ninth state title, scored twice in the 20th minute of the match to take a 2-0 lead. The goals came 27 seconds apart. Ottawa Hills went on to a 5-1 loss and avoided a shutout when junior midfielder Ibraheem Alaani converted a free kick into the upper right corner in the 74th minute.

“Ibraheem had been practicing that kick in the postseason, either before or after practice,” Hall said.

Sophomore keeper Burke Pfeiffer made eight saves for the Bears, who had a 14-1 disadvantage in shots on goal.

“Summit was way ahead of us that game,” Grimm said, “but we didn’t give up. We got that one goal. After the game, no one was really devastated. We were all proud of ourselves and we were happy to be playing in that game.”

Dubois said playing for a state championship “meant everything,” and he and his teammates never sulked after falling short in the finals.

“It was a major accomplishment, even though we didn’t win it,” he said. “It was an amazing season. We had to work together to accomplish our goals. It really is a brotherhood and we all love each other.”

Senior forward Avi Hanusz led the Bears (12-10-2) with 14 goals this season, while sophomore right wing Savio Deigar and junior attacking midfielder Andy He had eight goals apiece.

Grimm and right/left wing Archie Talbott scored five goals each, Talbott had a team-high nine assists, Deigar had six assists, and Pfeiffer had 82 saves in goal. The Green Bears posted seven shutouts.

“I will remember the joy and togetherness and bond from the boys at practice and in games,” Hall said. “The final was just the cherry on top, to have that bond and family from what I saw every day. They know how hard they worked during the season and they did everything they had to during the season.”

Grimm said the team became “a complete family” during the season.

“With every win or loss, we knew we would come together and we knew what to do to get the job done,” Grimm said. “We had the most fun this year and that helped us go far in the playoffs.

“It’s one thing to take things seriously, but you have to have fun while you’re doing it.”

Winter woodland walks: oaks and beech trees

By
Art Weber
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American beech, Secor Metropark. (By Metroparks Toledo nature photographer Art Weber)

All the leaves are down. Or are they?


We usually think of fall as the last hurrah for leaves. And it’s true that by now most of
our leaves have fallen and the woodlands have a barren look. But there are hangers-on. Oaks and beech mostly, trees that have an extra strong connection to their leaves, even when they’re trying to let them drop.


Fall is transition time for deciduous trees, a time to prepare to go dormant for the
winter months by absorbing and storing the nutrients in chlorophyll. Once that’s done,
the tree forms a layer of scar tissue at the base of each leaf, which results in the leaf
detaching and eventually falling to the ground. Losing leaves is an amazing adaptation
for surviving the freezing temperatures of the winter months.


Some leaves, notably those of oaks and beech, can remain stubbornly attached
until spring. Even though these leaves have been cut off and dried, the connection
remains strong enough to hang on much longer than other species.


Oaks and beech are important trees in our forests, providing beechnuts and
acorns as well as excellent den and nesting sites for wildlife. On winter woodland walks, look for the leaves hanging on, especially the copper-colored beech, like this one photographed after a January snowfall in Secor Metropark.

Just the facts: Data Centers in Our Backyard

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Jerry Anderson emceed “Under the Spotlight: Data Centers In Our Backyard” on Nov. 20 at Anthony Wayne High School. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WHITEHOUSE – Just the facts – that’s what many community members were seeking as they prepared to listen to a panel of experts during the Nov. 20 “Data Centers In Our Backyard” forum.

“I’m going to keep an open mind and listen. It’s easy to come up with notions…when you haven’t read all the facts,” said Matt Reed as he sat in the Anthony Wayne High School auditorium awaiting the start of a panel discussion hosted by WGTE, Regional Growth Partnership and Lucas County Economic Development Corporation.

Matt and Meghan Reed, of Monclova Township, prepared to listen to a variety of viewpoints on
data centers. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Matt and his wife, Meghan Reed, moved from South Toledo to Monclova Township in March, and a few months later heard about data centers being proposed in the area.

“It’s so hard to differentiate fact from opinion. I was hoping this would have more unbiased fact,” said Meghan, noting that she has no preconceived notion on data centers.

Dale Knepper has seen, during the 18 years he served as Waterville’s finance director, how emotional issues can prevent people from seeing the facts.

“When it comes to financial issues, sometimes you can lay the facts in front of people, but if they have their mind made up, there’s nothing you can do,” he said. “We have to look at everything. If a data center isn’t here, and moves to Fulton County, it’s still using the water and electrical sources, but we’re not going to get the benefits.”

“I heard some rumors, but I want to get clarification,” said Waterville Township resident Steve Eberly, who has property along Noward Road, noting that he was particularly interested in the impact of data centers on water and electricity – especially since he has a well.

“Right now, I’m not holding up a sign protesting, but I’m more than a little interested in what that could mean.”

The panel for the data center forum included (from left) Mark Frye, Gary Thompson, Matt Heyrman, emcee Jerry Anderson, Mark Patton, Helena Volzer, Karen Winn and Will Turner. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

While opponents of data centers have hosted town halls and crammed local municipal meetings to voice their opinions, the Nov. 20 forum was the first of its kind to include representatives sharing multiple perspectives: Mark Frye, Palmer Energy; Gary Thompson, Regional Growth Partnership (RGP); Matt Heyrman, Lucas County Economic Development Corporation (LCEDC); Will Turner, a site selector for data centers; Helena Volzer, Alliance for the Great Lakes; Karen Winn, a Richfield Township property owner; and Middleton Township resident Mark Patton.

The forum was emceed by former WTOL11 anchor Jerry Anderson, a Bowling Green resident who often drives by the giant Meta data center development taking a square mile on S.R. 582 between S.R. 25 and I-75 in Middleton Township. The community wasn’t aware of the project until dirt was being moved, Anderson said.

“We didn’t have forums like this one,” Anderson said.

During the 90-minute meeting, Anderson asked questions about the impact data centers would have on the electrical grid and bills, water quality and sustainability, home values, farmland and the economy. 

When it comes to water, Turner said the older model data centers used millions of gallons a day, but the centers in development will use just 20,000 to 30,000 gallons a day.

“When you look up data centers and water, you’re getting old technology – water guzzlers. There’s a tremendous advantage in closed loop systems. They’re more efficient, and quieter.”

At least two members of the audience remain concerned about water – especially upon hearing Volzer say that more studies are needed to see the long-term impact of data centers on the Great Lakes.

Christina Egan, a Monclova Township resident, said Taylor’s explanation of a closed loop water system didn’t assuage her concerns about the need to have enough clean water for future generations. Water is also on the mind of University of Toledo sophomore Kylie Woodward.

University of Toledo sophomore Kylie Woodward and Abbas Kondil came to the forum to hear
about the impact of data centers on the Great Lakes. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

“I’m against AI to begin with. It’s threatening the Great Lakes if we build a data center near it,” Woodward said. “Once it’s gone, it’s gone. It’s not an infinite source.”

Data centers need water for cooling the servers inside, but also to cool the turbines that generate power to run the data centers, Volzer said. 

“Every Great Lakes state is adding data centers,” she said, noting that other high tech industries and agriculture are the biggest users of water. “Whether we have enough water to sustain them is a good question. Demand studies are a good way to look at the question. We need more research.”

Data centers use a lot of electricity, said Frye, explaining that a hyper-scale center could use up to 500 megawatts, or the amount needed to power 500,000 homes. Most of the existing data centers are connected to the grid, but the trend now is BYOG – bring your own generation. Before connecting to the grid, data center developers need to go through detailed load studies to determine if the project will adversely impact other users on the grid.

American Electric Power (AEP) in Columbus asked the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to create a data center tariff to pay for transmission infrastructure, and Frye suspects that First Energy will do the same.

“This is part of the protections being built into the regulatory infrastructure,” Frye said. 

Anderson cited a detailed Ohio Chamber of Commerce report on the economic impact of data centers in 2024: supporting 95,000 jobs and contributing $11.8 billion to Ohio’s GDP. The industry is projected to support over 132,000 jobs and contribute $20.2 billion to the Ohio economy by 2030.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 8 gathered prior to the
forum, where they sought confirmation that any large project would use union labor. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

Terry Short, a 2000 Anthony Wayne High School graduate and an electrician with the IBEW Local 8, said he’s dismayed when he reads people who dismiss those jobs as just temporary.

“We choose these careers. It’s what we do for a living. We’ve all made a career out of a temporary job,” Short said. 

Short was joined by several members of the IBEW, including Tom Enright and Josh Abernathy, who sat in the front row to listen to the presentation. Finding projects for new apprentices and experienced electricians is a priority, they said. The Meta project, as an example, employees 300 to 400 electricians and 280 low voltage workers – those who install cabling, fire alarm and camera systems, for example.

“This will allow us to take in more apprentices and give them a great job, a great education and great benefits,” Enright said.

As the economy ebbs and flows, so do opportunities for apprentices, Abernathy said. 

Is there a way to grow jobs in a state with a declining population – Anderson asked – one that’s heavily reliant on the automotive and agricultural sectors?

“It’s really up to the community,” Thompson said, noting that data centers will not locate where they’re not welcome. That comment brought jeers from the audience members holding ‘No Data Center’ signs. 

“Society and the economy is changing. We are a manufacturing society. All manufacturers are putting AI into their process. They need computation power to do that,” Thompson continued. “Manufacturers need data centers or we will lose our manufacturing base.”

The county and RGP work with communities to look at how to balance quality of life with wealth creation, Heyrman said. That can be done with proper zoning and negotiating an agreement that ensures tax benefits come to the community.

For Winn, who is part of a six-generation farm family in Richfield Township, even a $200,000 an acre offer couldn’t pay for the value of rich farmland and a sense of family and community. 

Richfield Township is now moving away from zoning to allow data centers and advanced manufacturing, but several local jurisdictions have adopted language to allow and regulate the projects. The final decision comes down to township trustees, boards and councils.

To watch the town hall, visit wgte.org/livestream.

Protesting data centers are (from left) Bruce Baginski, Susan Mann, Bernadette McCualsky and
Debbie Rinker. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)
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