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Inside Toledo City Council: Sept. 9

By
Stephen Zenner
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Vanice Williams, Toledo City Council Member for District 4, speaks to the bravery of Justin Scott Slater, a west Toledoan recognized for extraordinary heroism, during a Toledo City Council meeting in downtown Toledo, on Tuesday September 9, 2025. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – Tuesday was a busy City Council meeting with a delayed action on kratom in Toledo, dissent in the council on approving amendments to the operating and capital improvement budgets and a failed attempt to repeal an ordinance from the year 2000. 

Recognitions

Before any of the local legislation was touched, Justin Scott Slater, a west Toledoan, was recognized for extraordinary heroism by council and the Carnegie Hero Commission. 

Justin Scott Slater, a west Toledoan, stands for a photo while he is recognized by City Council and the Carnegie Hero Fund. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

Slater saved a woman from drowning in the Maumee River in July 2024, and now has been officially honored by his hometown and is a Carnegie Medal recipient. 

Afterwards, a council member’s mother, Kenyetta Gable-Jones, was recognized for retiring from General Motors after 40 years. Council Member Brittany Jones, At-Large, surprised her mother with the recognition that brought tears of joy to Gable-Jones’ eyes. Other council members spoke of Gable-Jones’ impact, but a heart-to-heart wrapped up the recognition as Jones and Gable-Jones expressed how much the family members meant to one another. 

Appointments

These two heartfelt recognitions led directly into appointments to two commissions and a corporation: 

Kwinlyn Tyler was appointed to the Human Resources Commission for one year from the appointment.

Elaina Hernandez replaced Sue Cuevas on the Latino Affairs Commission. Her appointment will end Oct. 9, 2027. 

And five individuals were appointed to the Toledo Community Improvement Corporation: Tyran Boyd, two years; Matthew Heyrman, two years; David Mann, one year; Julia Randles, three years; and Timothy Schlachter, four years.  

Kenyetta Gable-Jones, the mother of Brittany Jones (City Council At-Large) and an employee of General Motors for 40 years, is recognized by City Council. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

Kratom

Then Resolution 350 and Ordinance 351 addressed how Toledo would classify and regulate the pain medication kratom, which Council Member Sam Melden, District 5, explained. 

According to Melden many people had come forward during the Public Safety Hearing on kratom to say that using natural leaf kratom was a way for them to manage pain.

“We hear that need, so let’s move towards the healthiest safest use of that pain medication, the way we would anything else,” he said. “So many pain medications are regulated, and it brings it online for more patients to use when they need it.”

The resolution introduced concerning kratom classified it as a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and was passed. 

Ordinance 351, banning kratom in Toledo, Melden held, because “We believe, following Gov. DeWine’s direction, that the state will take action, meaning we do not need to ban it locally.” 

If DeWine chose not to ban kratom, Melden said they would have to decide what happens in Toledo, “and govern ourselves,” but not indicating an outright solution.

Budget Amendments

$125,000 from the General Fund was approved for the consultant for local landmark designations in Ordinance 362. Council Member At-Large George Sarantou made the motion to amend, and was the only council member to oppose the amendment. 

Denied repeal

Likewise, Council Member for District 2, Adam Martinez, was alone in asking for the repeal of Ordinance 303-00. O-303-00 allows for the area around 0 South Byrne to be automatically rezoned to light industrial if certain criteria are met.

The current owner to the area concerning O-303-00, Michael Kott, attempted to have the area rezoned to light industrial in 2021. Back then, Kott wanted to move his business, Clean Wood Recycling, Inc., into the neighborhood. Clean Wood Recycling, located on West Bancroft Street, makes mulch, and the neighborhood opposed the attempted zone change, leading to its failure before council. 

This past summer, the same disputed area failed to get the same zone change for the company Rocky Ridge Development LLC to mine there. 

Bill Hoag, who owns houses near 0 South Byrne, noticed a house had changed hands over the summer. 

With the new ownership of this home, Hoag thinks Kott has what he needs to rezone the area automatically without bringing it before city council. 

Martinez explained his thoughts behind repealing the legislation. “You can put anything on there that falls in the guidelines of light industrial with no communication from the surrounding neighbors or businesses,” as the ordinance from the year 2000 stands.  

“All I was asking is to repeal a 25-year-old piece of legislation that no longer is relevant to what is existing now.”

At the last council meeting, Council Member John Hobbs III, District 1, said he took the repeal legislation, O-389-25, “as a strong form of disrespect,” since he was not consulted beforehand about legislation affecting his district alone. 

This set him up against Martinez, who pioneered the legislation and also said he had emailed and called Hobbs before the ordinance was considered in the previous meeting. 

11 “no” votes followed O-389-25, including Mac Driscoll, Council Member At-Large, who initially sponsored the ordinance along with Martinez. 

Wade Kapszukiewicz, the mayor of Toledo, speaks with John Hobbs III, Toledo City Council Member for District 1, and Carrie Hartman, Toledo City Council Member At-Large and President of Toledo City Council. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

When council had finished, President of Toledo City Council and Council Member At-Large, Carrie Hartman, addressed the press on behalf of the majority of council: “That single ordinance will not be studied in zoning and planning, but a broader study of the past legislation will be studied instead.”

While Hartman said “It [O-303-00] does, in fact, allow for skipping of some zoning and planning processes and hearings. I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.”

She said the repeal legislation brought by Martinez was “too punitive to single out one property when we know that there are probably 200-300 properties that have had this [kind of] legislation passed back in the 90s.

“I am opposed to singling out one property owner, specifically based on, I think, faulty information; it feels punitive. It feels retaliatory, and I think we need to step back and study all of these parcels instead of just one.”

Without opening up the books on all properties and legacy legislations of this kind, Hartman said the city might run into a lawsuit for singling out a specific property owner.

Hoag had come to the meeting with residents of the south Toledo neighborhood and Toledo mayoral candidate, Roberto Torres. 

“That type of business going in there, that’s no different than Rocky Ridge. It’s actually worse,” Hoag said as he worried about the land being rezoned to light industrial without feedback from residents. 

The day before council, the plan commission told the Toledo Free Press there was no queued attempt on record to rezone the 0 South Byrne area to light industrial using 0-303-00. 

“I was hoping it [O-389-00] was going to go back to committee if the vote wasn’t going to fly,” Hoag elaborated. 

When asked why Martinez didn’t ask for the ordinance to go back to committee, Martinez said he didn’t have the votes.  

“It was 11-to-one vote, so at some point you got to lick your wounds and move on,” he said, and repeated that he wasn’t trying to “impede on anyone’s turf.”

“I seriously thought this was a non-issue,” Martinez said. “And I was trying to give a voice back to a neighborhood and community that have been ignored.”

Artomatic 419 returns to Erie Street Market

By
Allyson Ritchey
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(Photo courtesy of The Arts Commission)

TOLEDO – Toledo is a city with art in its DNA. For years, the Toledo Museum of Art has anchored a thriving creative scene, but its heartbeat often pulses through more unconventional spaces. Artomatic 419, a beloved, grassroots festival that once drew a cult following, went quiet after 2015. Now, after a decade-long hiatus, the festival is returning to the Erie Street Market with its original mission: to transform an underutilized building into a vibrant hub of creativity and to fill the city with art once again.

(Photo courtesy of The Arts Commission)

The event’s unique, non-juried model is central to its enduring appeal. As Chloe Nousias, the festival’s marketing and communications manager, explains, the event is built on a culture of inclusivity and experimentation. 

“We really tried to make it clear that it’s for anyone and everyone, and we want people to get experimental,” she said. “It’s a place to try things you might not have tried before, have anywhere else to try them.”

This open-door policy has attracted a wide range of talent, from seasoned professionals to first-time exhibitors. With over 200 artists participating, the sheer volume and variety of work on display will be a testament to Toledo’s diverse creative landscape. The festival will showcase everything from painters and photographers to poets and filmmakers, all sharing a single space in what Nousias calls an embodiment of the city’s “fun, weird personality” and its “DIY culture.” The atmosphere is meant to encourage conversation and connection, helping to foster a stronger artistic community in Toledo.

Photos courtesy of The Arts Commission

The decision to bring the event back was a direct response to a demand from the community itself. According to Tess Healy, the Artomatic 419 & events manager, the festival’s grassroots feeling resonated deeply with local artists, many of whom credit the event with helping to launch their careers. 

This community-driven approach means the artists aren’t just exhibitors; they are collaborators and even laborers in the creation of the event. Healy, who is a working glass artist herself, understands this dual role well.

“I don’t have an official events management background,” she noted, “but as a background, as an artist, it really helps me with the installation side of stuff, and I can kind of realistically help them.”

Healy’s passion is unmistakable, especially when discussing the massive logistical effort required to transform the Erie Street Market. 

“We have walls for our event, so that’s very exciting,” she said, acknowledging the hard work involved. Her hands-on experience, honed partly at the Toledo Museum’s Glass Pavilion, gives her a unique perspective on the challenges and rewards of putting on a show of this scale.

Amy Beeler, an artist who will be at Artomatic 419, stands with her jewlery work at Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green, Ohio. (TFP Photo by Allyson Ritchey)

One of the most powerful testaments to Artomatic 419’s impact is the story of Amy Beeler. A well-respected fiber and jewelry artist with a current show at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Community Gallery, Beeler remembers the festival as a career launchpad.

“Artomatic is always so much fun and exciting to be part of,” she said. It was through the festival that she, fresh out of her BFA program at Bowling Green State University, met many of the people who are still part of her local community of artists today. 

“It’s not just visual artists. You’ll meet people that are working on film, you’ll meet the poets and the writers,” she explained.

For Beeler, the event’s return is a welcome chance to reconnect and to experience the creative energy firsthand. This year, she’s bringing a unique installation piece and hopes the event continues to be a source of inspiration for new artists and a beautiful way for the city to support its own. Her journey, from a first-time exhibitor to a featured artist, is a perfect illustration of the festival’s tenacious legacy.

While the art is the focus, the true magic of Artomatic 419 lies in its ability to bring people together. Healy hopes the event helps to build connections, especially in a world that has seen so much isolation. 

“We’re still seeing reactions from COVID where people were just like holed up in their houses and missing community,” she said. “Just having a space where people can connect, I think, just always has a lasting effect.”

Attendees can experience this firsthand throughout the weekend. Friday will serve as a relaxed artist mixer with a DJ, a perfect time for mingling and networking. Saturday and Sunday will be full of performances, with a constant flow of action. This vibrant atmosphere, paired with the free entry, ensures the event is accessible to everyone.

At its core, Artomatic 419 is more than a festival–it is an act of community building. It is a bold, artistic statement that celebrates not only the art itself, but the people who create it and the city that supports them. 

Location: Erie Street Market, 201 S. Erie Street

Dates & Times:

  • Friday, Sept. 19: 5 – 9 p.m.
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: 2 – 10 p.m.
  • Sunday, Sept. 21: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Ben Morales

Latino Day to honor scholarship recipients

By
Kevin Milliken
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Latino Scholarship Day at the final Toledo Mud Hens home game of the season on Sunday, Sept. 14, will include pregame scholarship presentations to four Latino college students.

Four students of Latino descent received financial help in pursuit of the higher education: two $1,000 scholarships from the Spanish American Organization (SAO) and two additional awards from Lourdes University.

One of the SAO scholarship recipients is Selena Garcia, a junior at the University of Cincinnati majoring in marketing. The Oregon, Ohio resident carries a 3.4 GPA and has achieved the Dean’s List during three of four semesters of college so far. 

“My personal and professional goals are rooted in representation and impact,” Garcia wrote in her application. “I aim to build a career in marketing where I can elevate underrepresented voices and tell stories that matter. Eventually, I hope to work with organizations focused on community outreach, cultural empowerment or education.”

Garcia revealed she once struggled with her Latino heritage and embracing her identity. She admitted she would even go so far as to wear long sleeves and avoid the sun to feel like she fit in with her peers. But as she grew older, she learned to celebrate her heritage as she increased her cultural awareness.

“Now I see my Mexican heritage as one of my greatest strengths,” she wrote. “I celebrate my roots proudly and work to empower others to do the same. I’ve grown into a leader who wants to uplift younger students and remind them that our culture is something to be proud of. As efforts around DEI begin to fade on college campuses, I am more committed than ever to being part of the solution—through advocacy, visibility, and action.”

The second scholarship recipient is Toledo native Emerson Castillo, now a sophomore at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Central Catholic High School graduate carries a 3.4 GPA while majoring in pre-med and psychology with the goal of becoming a forensic psychiatrist upon graduation.

Castillo played lacrosse and volleyball while in high school but suffered two ACL tears as a student athlete. But she told the scholarship selection committee that those serious injuries taught her valuable lessons she has carried into her college academic success so far.

“I learned discipline and dedication. I also learned that it’s okay to fail, as long as you get back up and try again,” she wrote in her application. “Finally, I learned to never give up.”

Two Lourdes University students of Latino descent also will receive scholarships through the school. Jordy Rengifo-Poma and Mariah Shirey will receive ceremonial checks near home plate alongside the SAO recipients during pregame festivities.

Latino Day will begin with a parade outside Fifth Third Field at noon on Sept. 14. The game that day coincides with the start of Latino Heritage Month, which runs September 15 to October 15. The ballgame between the Mud Hens and Louisville Bats will follow the pregame scholarship presentations at 2:05 p.m. Latino Day tickets are $20 each and can be purchased here. Those game tickets also gain participants entrance to a 4 p.m. postgame concert at Hensville featuring Grupo Motivo.

Waterville Township approves data center language

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Waterville Township trustees (from left) Kim Anderson, Kyle Hertzfeld and Julie Theroux approved the addition of language to the zoning resolution that would allow data centers to build in agriculturally-zoned land with a conditional use permit. (TFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

And other news from the Anthony Wayne area

The Waterville Planning Commission recommends approving a preliminary site plan and conditional use permit for Meijer to build a new store. Waterville Township approves adding language that would allow data centers in agriculturally-zoned areas. Whitehouse is teaming up with Hope United Methodist Church to provide an Anthony Wayne Community Senior Connection program every Saturday. Finally, Monclova approved the rezoning of property on Monclova Road to C-1 Commercial. These are a few of the updates from the Anthony Wayne area meetings over the past month.

WATERVILLE – Meijer Plans To Break Ground on Waterville Store In 2025

(Rendering courtesy of Meijer)

For over a decade, Meijer has owned 25 acres on the southwest corner of S. Pray Boulevard and S.R. 64 in Waterville, and they’ve been waiting for the right time to build.

If Waterville City Council approves a conditional use permit and site plan, Meijer may break ground on a new 159,935-square-foot store by the end of the year.

During a September 3 Waterville Planning Commission meeting, Brian Smallwood, a project engineer with Woolpert, and Courtney Magaluk, a project engineer with Meijer, presented a preliminary site plan and requested a conditional use permit for the store.

Meijer’s plans include grocery and home goods areas, a pharmacy with a drive-thru, garden center and an online pickup area, as well as a 3,660-square-foot gas station and convenience store. Another outlot is being marketed by Meijer to attract a sit-down restaurant.

“We’re anticipating, hopefully, to move dirt this year – mainly to fill in that pond in preparation for larger earthwork,” Smallwood said, referring to a 57,000-cubic-yard pond that is up to 25 feet deep in the middle. Once the site is ready, he expects the construction on the building to begin in the spring, with an opening by mid-2027.

The planning commission members, including Dennis Birkemeier, Will Burns, Dave Kerscher, Doug Parrish and John Wasserman – along with administrator Jon Gochenour and law director Kati Tharp – reviewed the plans, traffic study and suggestions from the city’s engineering firm, Proudfoot Associates. 

Parrish suggested increasing the number of landscaped traffic islands in the parking lot and asked detailed questions about setbacks, the turn radius in the gas station and connecting the shared use path from the intersection to the store. He also homed in on the exterior look, which currently includes three different gray colors, textured concrete and a weathered wood look. The commission agreed that adding more accents to the exterior, especially on the pick-up side that faces S.R. 64, would be beneficial. Magaluk agreed to ask the architects to add accents before presenting a revised site plan.

The commission and Smallwood also discussed working with Ohio Department of Transportation on changes to the U.S. 24/S.R. 64 interchange and adding right-turn only lanes in and out of S. Pray Boulevard, before unanimously recommending approval of the site plan and conditional use permit. 

During the August 25 meeting, Waterville City Council:

•Denied a request to rezone 9 acres at 9055 Waterville Swanton Rd. (S.R. 64) from A-1 Agricultural to C-4 Highway Commercial for a QuikTrip convenience store and semi-truck center. 

•Held a second reading on a change that would allow data centers in M-1 Light Industrial districts with additional setback requirements from residential areas.

•Approved a memo of understanding with the firefighters union to increase wages by 5 percent – matching the same increase granted to the police in November 2024.

•Listened to Waterville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director Michelle Smith outline plans for the Saturday, Sept. 27 Roche de Boeuf Festival. The city will contribute $7,000 for the festival, which will have a children’s area with a rock climbing wall and other activities in Parker Square, live music on N. Third Street, vendors and a 10 a.m. parade.

•Heard Dave Weber, of the Save the Bridge Association, ask for the city for assistance in efforts to save the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge.

Waterville Township

Waterville Township trustees unanimously approved the addition of data centers to its zoning resolution during its August 27 meeting.

“We want to get this in the zoning book so that if or when it happens we would have the ability to control the process,” said trustee Julie Theroux. “This would protect us as a township.”

Data centers are now permitted on agriculturally-zoned property with a conditional use permit. To obtain that permit would require at least three public hearings and allow the township to stipulate setbacks, landscaping, lighting and other factors. Currently, the township does not have a request for a data center but is preparing for the eventuality, trustees said.

“We know the buzzards are circling,” trustee Kim Anderson said of the interest in sites for data centers. 

Residents Tony and Janice Braida and William Walborn shared concerns about potential impacts of data centers.

“We came to say that we think it’s a bad idea; it opens a Pandora’s box,” Janice said, citing instances in other states where residents are impacted by a constant hum from rooftop fans and generators. She also cited concerns about light pollution, electrical shortages and potentially higher property taxes. 

“Just because other communities are trying to make way for data centers doesn’t mean it’s right for us,” Tony Braida said.

Evan Morrison, a representative from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 8, touted the benefits of bringing a data center to the area, including the opportunity to employ 400 to 800 electricians and other trades workers in the construction process. He applauded the township’s decision to put language into place now, rather than when a developer’s attorney is at the door. He also noted that developers of data centers are committed to being good neighbors.

Walborn asked why anyone would want a data center in a small township, other than for the economic benefits. 

“At what price to get the tax base? What I see in Middleton Township is atrocious. I’m in favor of taxes and economics, but do we need it here? And how long do one of these complexes last? Someone will tear it up when it is antiquated,” Walborn said.

Morrison said the taxes will benefit the schools and the township, using PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreements. For Waterville Township, which hasn’t been able to pass a levy to support its General Fund and police, this could be a benefit.

“This is about making the right decision for the township,” Morrison said.

Janice Braida said that she wished more community members had come to the meeting to share input before the trustees made a decision. 

During the meeting, the trustees also:

•Heard that residents have been sent postcards to take a survey about the township as it prepares to update its land use plan. A link is available at watervilletwp.com and on the Township of Waterville Police Facebook page.

•Appointed Steve Reinbolt as an alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals and Jonathan Poponak as an alternate to the Zoning Commission.

•Heard that the Lucas County Planning Commission recommended approving a zoning change for the Jenny Rogers property – land north of Dutch Road between Coventry Glen and U.S. 24. –with 28 conditions. The township zoning commission will review the rezoning request for Walden subdivision and forward it to the trustees.

Monclova

Monclova Township trustees approved the rezoning of 4.4 acres at 6740 Monclova Road from Agricultural/Residential to C-1 Commercial. During the Sept. 2 meeting, trustees noted that the property is across from Rolled Alloys, which is zoned industrial, and near the Friendship Store and other commercial uses. 

“It is in an area that has grown commercially around it,” said trustee Barbara Lang of the farmland, which is currently being marketed for sale.

During the meeting, the trustees also:

•Voted 2-1, with Trudy Vicary dissenting, to hire Kendall Linnenkugel as a firefighter/EMT. She currently works as an EMT and as a color analyst for Toledo Walleye hockey.

•Set a public hearing for Monday, Sept. 15 at 5:30 p.m. for a request to rezone 8350 Stitt Road from Agricultural to Suburban Residential.

Whitehouse

Whitehouse is partnering with Hope United Methodist Church for the Anthony Wayne Area Senior Connection – a program that will be held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at 10610 Waterville Street in Whitehouse, beginning on September 20.

Open to all area senior citizens, Senior Connection will include a continental breakfast, wellness checks and weekly activities that will be announced on the Whitehouse and Hope Facebook pages. 

419 MusicFest rocks out for first responders

By
Justo Hernandez
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The Ziehr family—Fire Chief Jonathon, Annie, Stella, and Sophia—with Tim Croak, CEO of Croak Capital, at the 2024 419 MusicFest in Springfield Township's Community Homecoming Park. (Photo courtesy of Kristina White)

HOLLAND — This year’s 6th annual 419 MusicFest is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, at Community Homecoming Park on Angola Road. As the grand finale of Springfield Township’s Summer Series 2025, the free event will offer a day of music with a lineup of 11 vibrant local artists. Beyond the stage, the festival is a critical lifeline for the community, with all proceeds going toward two vital causes: funding firefighter mental health initiatives and supporting the H.E.R.O. (Health, Education, Resources, and Outreach) Program.

For Springfield Township Fire Chief Jonathan Ziehr, the mission is deeply personal. He describes the fire department’s personnel as their #1 asset and highlights the growing mental health crisis in the profession. 

“Firefighter suicides are now more likely than dying in the line of duty,” Chief Ziehr said.  “That’s an unacceptable statistic to me personally.”

The trauma firefighters endure daily is a contributing factor. From responding to car accidents to witnessing the aftermath of fires and other emergencies, these experiences have a compounding effect on their mental health.

The funds raised at 419 MusicFest go directly to the Springfield Township Firefighters Union Local 3544. This 501(c)(3) nonprofit helps cover out-of-pocket co-pays for counseling sessions, which can range from $40 to $100 per visit. “We need to do something to combat these negative effects on our personnel,” Chief Ziehr emphasized.

The festival also continues its support for the H.E.R.O. program, which helps elderly community members who need assistance to live safely and independently in their homes. The program allows the department to provide crucial support beyond emergencies, from installing grab bars to providing slip-resistant mats. “This allows those individuals to continue to have their own independence, and live at their residence of their choice,” he said.

This year’s event marks a new chapter, with Springfield Township taking the lead on operations. Founder Todd Boatfield remains actively involved, and his dedication was instrumental in creating a festival where “you can party with a purpose,” as event organizers Kristina White and Rachel Geiger have noted. The event is a chance for the community to connect with its first responders. 

As White said, “The fire department is not an entity. It is a family.” 

Township residents enjoying 419 Music Fest at Community Homecoming Park, Summer 2024. (Photo courtesy of Kristina White)

419 MusicFest also supports the families of the Springfield Township Fire Department’s personnel. For over two decades, the department has provided scholarships to the children of its personnel. Chief Ziehr proudly shared that his small department has given out over 50 scholarships in the past 20 years, with three to four students awarded annually. The scholarships can be used for any career path, reflecting the department’s investment in the future of their families.

The MusicFest promises a day of non-stop entertainment with a full lineup of 11 top local artists. Attendees can bring blankets, lawn chairs, and small pop-up tents to enjoy the music. The theme of community and family will be on full display. The music kicks off at noon and features sets from fan favorites like Piggyback Jones and the beloved Leadfoot Granny, who will close out the night at 10 p.m.

The roster also includes a special performance from Thee Andi Jo Experience, led by Springfield High School alumni, Andi Jo Taylor. Taylor is both a singer and an actress, having recently played the role of Emma in The Lifeguards (2024), a movie filmed in Toledo. Her performance is a special full-circle moment for now-Trustee Chair Rachel Geiger, who handed Taylor her high school diploma when Geiger served on the Springfield school board. Geiger is proud to see a former student thriving as a Glass City star.

With free admission, free parking, and a variety of food trucks, the 419 MusicFest is a chance for the entire community to come together. Attendees can support the cause through beverage and merchandise purchases, as well as easy QR code donations available throughout the park. Digital screens set up throughout the park will ensure a great view of the stage from anywhere. With nearly 70 sponsors and a dedicated team, the 419 MusicFest is set to be a powerful and memorable day of community, music, and giving back.

Mercy Health et al. weigh in on mediation efforts with ProMedica

By
Toledo area community leaders
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Mercy Health and Nationwide have recently agreed to participate in mediation to build a productive and inclusive path forward for comprehensive pediatric care in the Toledo community. ProMedica indicated it is not inclined to participate in mediation while claims against it remain pending.

Compassionate healthcare for every child and every family requires meaningful collaboration, shared accountability, and a collective commitment to putting children first. While the path to partnership has not always been easy, the growing complexity of pediatric care makes it clear that working together is essential.

Since 2019, collaboration between Mercy Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital has helped improve pediatric care within our community in meaningful ways. Families in our region have seen expanded access to care, new pediatric specialists, and broader services that meet children where they are. These outcomes are proof that when institutions align around a common purpose, real progress is possible.

At the same time, recent tensions have raised concern and threatened to slow the momentum of this important work. As a greater community, we recognize those concerns. We also know that no single organization can meet the needs of our children alone. It will take a unified approach to move forward. That approach must be grounded in transparency, cooperation and the inclusion of all.

We are encouraged that dialogue has resumed. We thank Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and Tina Butts of The Movement for their leadership in bringing stakeholders back to the table. Their efforts show what is possible when trusted voices step forward with courage and clarity to keep the focus where it belongs: on the children and families of this community.

Now, with that foundation reestablished, we call on ProMedica Health System to join Mercy Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in charting the next phase of pediatric care in northwest Ohio. A stronger future is within reach, but only if we continue this work together.

We stand united in support of a renewed, transparent, and inclusive partnership that places children at the center of every decision. Let us move forward as one community, committed to a shared vision of building a better community.

Through sincere collaboration and with transparency among all three health systems, our entire community stands to benefit. The time is now.

Michael Alexander AFL/ CIO / UAW Community Services
Balhinder Brar, M.D. Nephrologist Chief of Staff Elect, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center

David Fleetwood
President, Northwest Ohio Building Trades, Business Manager Laborers Local 500, President, Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO

Paula Hicks-Hudson
Ohio Senator, 11th District

John Leskovan, D.O.
Chief of Staff, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center
Trauma Director, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center

Miguel Morillo, M.D.
Pediatric Anesthesiologist
Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center

Susan Pratt R.N.
President Local 2213
Professional Registered Nurse

Vanice Williams
Council Member
Toledo City Council, District 4

Robert Baxter President Mercy Health Toledo
Tina Butts President The Movement

Pete Gerken
Lucas County Commissioner

David Johnson, M.D.
Emergency Room Medical Director
Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center

Anita Lopez, Esq.
Lucas County Commissioner

David Paolini, M.D.
Vascular Surgeon
Section Chief, Vascular and Cardiovascular Surgery

Gina Skolmowski
Chair, Mercy Health North Board &
Executive Vice President, Enterprise Strategy, Risk and Quality, NAMSA

Benjamin Boothby, D.O. Orthopedic Traumatologist Assistant Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program Director, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center
Kevin Dalton President Toledo Federation of Teachers, Local 250
Dave Green
Region 2B Director
United Auto Workers (UAW)

Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor – City of Toledo

Doni Miller
Chief Executive Officer
Neighborhood Health Association

Seth Phillips, D.O.
Orthopedic Traumatologist Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program Director, Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center

Lisa Sobecki
Lucas County Commissioner

Dr. Joel Voss: Great Decisions Foreign Policy Speaker Series

By
Jaden Jefferson
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In this week’s episode of Behind the Byline, Jaden speaks with Dr. Joel Voss, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toledo, about the lecture series that kicked off early this month. The series includes foreign policy topics like climate change, AI, U.S. and China relations, and much more.

To hear Dr. Voss and Jaden talk about the importance of the series, give it a listen.

*Editing by Stephen Zenner.

Know Your Rights: ABLE’s educational events

By
Stephen Zenner
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Jennifer Martinez, the supervising attorney with the education practice group, and Emily Desmond, the communications specialist for Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), at the ABLE office in downtown Toledo on Wednesday Sept. 3, 2025. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – This Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the West Toledo Branch Library, the legal advocacy group Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) will be hosting Education Legal Assistance Sessions for parents of children with disabilities.

ABLE is promoting the event as a “Know Your Rights” instructional presentation for parents.

Attorneys from ABLE will be present to answer questions about navigating the public school system with a child with a disability. 

“We’re doing an overview of children’s rights in school systems, particularly related to discipline and students who have disabilities,” said Jennifer Martinez, one of the supervising attorneys with the education practice group from ABLE. 

Jennifer Martinez at the office space for ABLE. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

“We focus on making sure kids in lower economic communities have access to public education, that they are being identified properly when they have disabilities, and most importantly, if they’re being disciplined, that they [the school] are following the due process that they’re supposed to.”

Attorneys present will go over all the federal laws for children with disabilities, and will be available to help parents understand how to navigate the school system with their child.

“If your child does have a disability, the school has a duty to identify that they [the child(ren)] have that disability and then to provide them [the child(ren)] with an evaluation to see if they need further services,” Martinez said.

The latter half of the session will function similarly to a Q&A. The first half hour to 45 minutes Martinez said would be a presentation, “and then we open it up to questions.” 

“We also explain to them [the parents] a little bit about what our office does, and the fact that they can get free legal representation through our office if they qualify,” Martinez said. If individuals have many questions or more in depth, “specific legal issues that they want to talk to us about further, we’ll probably have them schedule an intake appointment.” 

These sessions, Martinez stressed, were for general advice/help specifically with children enrolled in the public school system. Private schools are not bound by the same rules as public schools, she said. 

Emily Desmond at the ABLE office in downtown Toledo. (TFP photo by Stephen Zenner)

During these general sessions, Martinez said one of the main goals is to at least begin each parent or guardian on the right path for their situation. 

ABLE leads two sessions each month at a different library, and has been rotating across Toledo to accommodate parents at their respective libraries. 

ABLE Communications Specialist Emily Desmond said, “We were trying to reach out, move around the different neighborhoods to meet people where they’re at.”

These events do not require advanced notice for attendance, and are open to all parents, guardians and caregivers of students k-12. 

West Toledo Branch Library

Tuesday, Sept. 9, 6 – 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m. – noon

South Branch Library

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6 – 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 10 a.m. – noon

More information is available here.

Multifaith Council seeks common spiritual ground 

By
Laurie Bertke
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Brother Washington Muhummad of the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio greets Delise Brown and Amarrah Smith, 5, at Glass City Metropark. (TFP photo by Laurie Bertke)

TOLEDO— The gathering had all the vibes of a traditional church picnic. Guests mingled, greeting old friends with hugs while eagerly introducing themselves to strangers and sharing animated conversations over hot dogs, potluck sides and cold drinks under a park shelter at Glass City Metropark.

What made this annual picnic the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio (MFC) hosted in August unique was that those attending represented a cross section of religious traditions rather than one faith community. Members of the group share a commitment to cultivating friendships and finding common ground in shared values. 

“What I like about the mission is that you see the unity in diversity. And that is one of the central tenants of my faith,” said Dipti Vyas, a member of the Hindu Temple of Toledo who serves as vice-chair of the MFC board. That ability is something Vyas said she feels is needed now more than ever, at a time in the country where more emphasis is often placed on differences.

Dipti Vyas, vice-chair of the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio’s board, greets other members at the group’s annual picnic. (TFP photo by Laurie Bertke)

Brother Washington Muhummad, a member of the Nation of Islam and the MFC’s advisory board, echoed that sentiment.

“As we live in a divisive world, the MFC has taken the counter approach that we’re not going to hate, we’re not going to exclude, we’re not going to believe the lies that are told to us about our neighbors,” he said. “And we’re going to fearlessly organize events based in peace, not based in religious dogma.”

Gesturing at the people chatting at picnic tables around him, Muhummad said members of the MFC put their “petty differences” aside to celebrate and appreciate humanity and hopefully take their experiences into other avenues of their lives. 

“No one here is an evangelizer,” Muhummad added. “No one here is trying to convert somebody. You’d be hard pressed to find an ugly religious debate here.” 

No proselytizing is an important rule of the MFC. “You cannot come to Multifaith Council and try to convert somebody else to your religion,” said Angie Fitzpatrick, MFC program manager. “We are here to share our own unique path, and we share it because we believe that all of our paths have value. No path is greater than another path or better than another path. And we share it to understand each other better, not to convert.”

Lauraine Carpenter, left, serves as board president for the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio and Angie Fitzpatrick recently joined the organization as its program manager. (TFP photo by Laurie Bertke)

Creating bonds of respect and friendship

Founded in 2001 amidst a wave of Islamophobia that followed 9/11, the MFC was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2003. The group has about 230 members and counts among them Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sufis, Baháʼís, Unitarians, pagans and practitioners of Native American spiritual traditions. It also welcomes agnostics, atheists and seekers who do not claim a spiritual tradition of their own. 

Leadership is predominantly driven by lay people and almost everyone involved with the group is a volunteer. Programming mostly revolves around education and service, and the council has sponsored prayer events, Habitat for Humanity builds, and men’s and women’s groups to develop friendships among people of different faiths. 

Judy Trautman, who co-founded the MFC with her late husband, Woody Trautman, said the original vision was to create bonds of respect and friendship among diverse faiths in order to work for the community. “It’s almost familial,” she said. 

“We’re so lucky in this area, we have so many faiths,” Trautman added. “We learn so much from each other. It’s the best kind of education because people are engaged and are together.”

Judy Trautman at MFC Picnic. (TFP photo by Laurie Bertke)

For many years, the MFC has hosted a multifaith prayer service known as Blessings of Diversity, where representatives from various faith traditions share sacred writings, music and poetry around a different theme each month. The next service is to be held Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. as a local observance of the International Day of Peace, and will include local representatives from 10 different religions. 

Lauraine Carpenter first got involved as a musician at the Blessings of Diversity services about 10 years ago at the invitation of Trautman. Her experiences there have been among the most enriching and educational for her. 

“So many different religions share so many core values. And that’s not to say that we’re all the same. We’re not. We have our differences and they’re important,” said Carpenter, who took over as board chair for MFC about two years ago. “But when you go to a Blessings of Diversity service and you hear everyone’s perspective on love or on service or any topic, we’re so similar in our souls, in our hearts. And it brings us comfort. It brings us security, safety. It makes us feel like we can breathe. And that’s worth so much.”

Lauraine Carpenter, left, and Peg Faulmann lead prayer at the Multifaith Council of Northwest Ohio’s annual picnic Aug. 10 at Glass City Metropark. (TFP photo by Laurie Bertke)

Planning for the future

The council has been in a period of transition since Trautman stepped down from leadership about two years ago due to health issues. She remains involved in an advisory role but said she doesn’t want to stymie fresh ideas. “I think we probably do need some new approaches,” she added.

Fitzpatrick recently came on board to help lead the MFC through a strategic planning process to reevaluate the MFC’s mission and vision and assess where they can make the most impact in light of the current religious landscape. 

“I think she’s doing the right things, in that she’s really asking people where they want us to go as a council,” said Trautman. 

With a background in higher education programming that included gender equity, social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion work, Fitzpatrick brings an interesting lens to the task. 

Raised as an evangelical Christian, she said she left the Southern Baptist Church at age 18 because she disagreed with its teachings around people of other religions and people who were LGBTQ. 

Despite those differences of opinion, she still expressed appreciation for the church community she experienced as a child and fondly recalled hanging out with other kids at Vacation Bible School and Sunday potlucks with watermelon, casseroles and iced tea. 

“There’s something about the community of church that you can’t really find in other places. It’s a really unique, special thing. And that’s, I think, what makes it heartbreaking when people realize, ‘our values aren’t as aligned as I thought they were,’” she said. 

She now describes herself as an agnostic who is “still in discovery mode,” and most recently began attending a Unitarian Universalist church. .

“I’ve been meeting more and more people — Christian, Muslim, Jewish, people of all faiths who are so welcoming. And I think that’s what the Multifaith Council represents, is people of all faiths who believe that regardless of your personal faith or spiritual journey, you have a place in this community,” said Fitzpatrick. “So it kind of feels like a spiritual home for me, too.”

When the MFC kicked off its strategic planning process with an all-member meeting in July, Fitzpatrick said some of the shared values that came up included compassion, diversity, inclusion, service and peace. 

Those same values were at the heart of the council from the beginning, but Fitzpatrick said they are now looking at examples of activities other interfaith organizations are doing to reevaluate how they can respond to the current needs of Northwest Ohio. 

Longtime council members expressed a desire to find new ways to engage younger generations.

“Woody was way ahead of his time because he always said ‘all faiths and none,’” said Trautman. “We have a growing number of young people who don’t identify with a particular tradition, but they call themselves spiritual.”

One of the statistics that most surprised Fitzpatrick from a recent Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study was that 44 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds are religiously unaffiliated, compared to 22 percent of people ages 50 to 64. “That’s a massive difference,” she said. 

Fitzpatrick noted that faith still ranked among the top five values across all age groups, though the place of it shifts between the generations. She was surprised to see faith ranks so high while church attendance continues to decline. 

“One of the things that I’m interested in finding out through our strategic planning process is why aren’t people my age going to church, at least here in the Toledo area?” said Fitzpatrick, who at 44 describes herself as an older Millennial. “And if they are looking for some kind of spiritual home or spiritual community, could the Multifaith Council in fact provide that space?”

She suggested the MFC could play a role as a facilitator for helping people explore different churches, temples, mosques, synagogues and faith traditions. 

“I think this organization is a wonderful space for people of all ages to celebrate the diversity of faiths in our community and to even explore their own spiritual path,” she added.

Better Know a Business: D1 Training opens in Toledo

By
Steven Bieber
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A D1 training facility is set to open in Toledo in November. (Courtesy photo)

Athletic training center comes to the Glass City

TOLEDO – For any aspiring athlete, physical fitness is crucial to achieving goals, whether that involves maintaining health or pursuing professional success. Many people benefit from extra coaching to reach their life or career ambitions.

One company aiming to provide that support is D1 Training, an athletic training facility offering a range of programs for athletes ages 7 and up. The company will open a new location in Toledo at 4400 Heatherdowns Blvd., Suite 2A, scheduled for November 17.

Founded in 2001 to train students striving to become Division 1 athletes, D1 initially focused on junior high and high school students. Since then, it has expanded to more than 170 locations nationwide. According to its website, D1 has trained over 100 NFL draft picks; 1,000 professional athletes; 3,000 collegiate athletes; 100,000 students annually; and more than two million people overall.

The Toledo location will be owned by Tyson and Sara Stoll, longtime residents who have lived in the city for more than 30 years. They will join franchisees like NBA star Chris Paul and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

(Left to right) Sarah Stoll, Tim Tebow and Tyson Stoll. (Courtesy photo)

Tyson is an avid CrossFit athlete who has completed three full marathons. He credits fitness with transforming every aspect of his life. 

With over three decades of automotive and operations experience at Chrysler, Mobis North America, and Amazon, Tyson has a wealth of automotive and operations leadership experience, while Sarah has been in sales management for 25 years and now serves as the national director for Soul Purpose and Bella Vita Network campus director at the University of Toledo. As a result of their experience, knowledge, passion for fitness, and commitment to Toledo, they entered the fitness industry. 

The couple began pursuing the franchise in November 2024. After considering multiple sites and months of negotiations, they finalized the lease earlier this year.

D1 Training offers a variety of programs tailored to different ages and goals. For younger athletes, Rookie Training (ages 7–11) teaches the basics of athleticism, speed and healthy habits. The Developmental Curriculum (ages 12–14) and Prep Program (ages 15–18) progressively build on those skills with more advanced training.

For collegiate athletes, D1 can work directly with teams on their campuses. Adults also have options, from group workouts to one-on-one personal training. Whether participants are pursuing athletic performance, weight loss, or simply staying active, programs are designed to be customized to individual goals.

Pricing varies depending on training needs. Before costs are discussed, participants complete a free workout and consultation.

“This gives us a chance to understand your current fitness level and your goals—whether it’s weight loss, strength building, athletic performance, or injury recovery—and what kind of training structure fits you best,” Tyson said. “Only then can we recommend the right program and provide accurate pricing tailored to your needs.”

No pricing information is available on the website because, as Tyson explained, “at D1 Training, we approach fitness the same way a doctor approaches your health. A doctor wouldn’t prescribe medication or quote treatment costs without first understanding your symptoms, goals and overall condition. Similarly, we don’t offer one-size-fits-all pricing because every athlete’s journey is unique.”

Tyson said that D1 Training provides coaches trained to work with youth, adults and elite athletes. They hold NSCA-CSCS, NSCA-CPT, NASM-CPT/PES or USAW-Level 1 certifications. This is done to ensure that everyone will have expert guidance for every step of their journey.

Both Tyson and Sarah emphasized the community aspect they hope to foster with D1 Training.

“We love working in the community, and D1 gives us the chance to help people reach their goals, no matter how big or small,” said Tyson in a press release. “We fell in love with D1 Training because it serves all ages and gives people the opportunity to build the confidence they need to be successful on and off the field.”

While the location does not open until November, memberships can already be purchased on the D1 Training Toledo website.

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