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Ann Aguirre brings a little ‘Hocus Pocus’ to Toledo

By
Allyson Ritchey
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Ann Aguirre's novle is a fantasy romance that follows Thea Winter, a changeling who was stolen from the mortal world as an infant and raised by a pragmatic hobgoblin. (Courtesy image)

TOLEDO – When the real world feels overwhelming, author Ann Aguirre wants readers to have somewhere else to go. 

Aguirre, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, will bring that philosophy to Toledo on Thursday, Sept. 3, when she visits the Toledo Main Branch Library for an Authors! event celebrating her newest novel, The Hocus Pocus Handbook.

The fantasy romance follows Thea Winter, a changeling who was stolen from the mortal world as an infant and raised by a pragmatic hobgoblin. She is caught in an unwanted marriage of convenience, but when her spouse runs away, she has to find him. Her search pairs her with Kerboros, a reserved enforcer known as the Winter’s Hound.

The resulting story combines fae courts, wildcraft magic and a slow-burning romance between two characters who could hardly be more different.

For Aguirre, however, the book’s world was not something she meticulously planned before writing. Instead, she said, her characters taught her about the world as the story unfolded.

“Everything I learn about my world comes from my characters,” Aguirre said. “So I just start writing, and they tell me things.” 

This approach became particularly important with Kerboros.

Aguirre initially intended a different romantic dynamic for Thea, but eventually realized she was forcing the story in a direction that it didn’t want to go.

“I wrote the entire first act pushing the wrong dynamic, and I had to eat the first act of the book because I just had it so wrong,” Aguirre said.

Once she stopped pushing the story in that direction, Kerboros took over.

“He stole the book,” Aguirre said.

Novelist Ann Aguirre, who said she is particularly excited to return to Toledo where she previously appeared for a signing roughly a decade ago. (Courtesy photo)

Kerboros and Thea eventually developed the kind of contrasting personalities familiar to romance readers: Thea is energetic and outgoing, while Kerboros is quiet and reserved. Aguirre said the slow-burn relationship was one of the most enjoyable parts of writing the book.

But the romance is only one piece of the story.

Found family has been a recurring theme throughout Aguirre’s work, and she said it resonates because people can choose the relationships they build outside of their biological families.

“No matter how much you love your biological family, you did not choose them,” Aguirre said.

The book also explores what it means to be an outsider. Kerberos is a Native Fae who has become powerless and isolated under the control of the Winter Court, while Thea is an outsider by birth who nevertheless considers the fae realm her home.

Aguirre described Thea’s story as, in many ways, an immigration and naturalization story.

“She is not Native Fae,” Aguirre said. “So, for people to say you’re not one of us, you don’t look like us, it’s just kind of heartbreaking for her because this is her home, and this is all she knows.” 

Those themes ultimately connect to what Aguirre hopes readers find in her books.

“I hope that when they finish the Hocus Pocus Handbook, that they feel seen, and they feel safe, and they feel a little happier than they were when they began,” she said.

Aguirre said she wants her books to be a “soft spot” for readers – a place where they can step away from the intensity of everyday life and find comfort in a story.

“I just really want people to feel that my books are a safe space,” she said, “and that the happy ending is not optional.”

Aguirre said she has always had a strong connection to libraries.

Growing up in rural Indiana, she recalled walking along a four-lane highway to reach her local library, carrying a backpack full of books to return for more.

She said she is particularly excited to return to Toledo where she previously appeared for a signing roughly a decade ago.

“Everyone was just so nice and so welcoming and so friendly,” Aguirre said. “So I am excited about the warmth and chatting with readers again.”

Aguirre will appear at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Toledo Main Branch Library. The event includes a 45-minute presentation followed by an audience Q&A. Each ticket includes a first-edition hardcover copy of The Hocus Pocus Handbook. Aguirre will also be available for a limited book signing following the presentation. General admission seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available online through the library’s Authors! program.

‘That Michael Jackson kid’ continues to inspire

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Jackson Price has made a name for himself in his Michael Jackson tribute performances. (Courtesy photo)

MAUMEE – Michael Jackson was six years old when he took the stage as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, launching a solo career that made him one of the top artists of all time.

Jackson Price was six years old when he made his first public debut, dancing to Michael Jackson’s music during a Relay for Life event, and has continually widened his fan base.

Now 23 and a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University, Price is known as “that Michael Jackson kid,” having performed the King of Pop’s signature moves hundreds of times – from impromptu dancing in the Whitehouse Park pavilion and in his hometown of Waterville, to OSU basketball halftime shows, festivals, birthday parties and solo events.

Jackson Price’s first public performance as Michael Jackson was as a six-year-old at Relay for Life. (Courtesy photo)

On Aug. 29 – Michael Jackson’s birthday – Price will take to the stage at the Maumee Indoor Theater to a sold-out show of 490. 

“When I was younger, I never would have thought that the Maumee Indoor was something I could do,” he said.

In 2021, after graduating from St. Francis de Sales, he hosted a graduation party performance at the Maumee Indoor for his friends and followers, and counted about 100. After earning his education degree from BGSU this spring, he decided to keep the tradition going by booking the Maumee Indoor again. But this time, he has dancers from Evolve Dance Studio – Elliot Worthington, Kennedy Worthington, Italia Burciaga, Jayla Garland and MaKayla Cox – backing him up. Elliot taught him some new dance moves and helped him up his game. And that’s what he wants.

“Michael said to study the greats and be greater. I’m trying to learn new stuff and put myself out there,” Price said.

Jackson Price is performing with dancers from Evolve during a sold-out August 29 show at Maumee Indoor. (Courtesy photo)

The show will also feature lighting and sound like he’s not had before, as 2025 Anthony Wayne High School graduate Devin Schroeder has joined the team.

“Devin has added a performance dimension I’ve not had before,” Price said.

For those who didn’t get tickets in time for the Maumee Indoor, Price promises that he’s already got his sights set on offering bigger shows. His goals include filling the 900-seat Valentine and the 2,400 seat Stranahan. But his motivation to go bigger isn’t for the fame or fortune, but rather to spread what he sees as Michael Jackson’s message.

“I take every day as an opportunity to be there and be present and be grateful for the opportunity that God’s allowing me to do this,” he said. “It’s using the power of dance to spread love and to unite people. Michael’s music is so powerful. His music touches people around the world –  young, old and fans that haven’t even been born yet.”

Most of Jackson Price’s moves were self-taught by watching videos and then practicing in front of a mirror. (Courtesy photo)

Growing up, Price’s family listened to Michael Jackson music, but the first time he saw the “Thriller” video, he was hooked.

“I remember looking at that video and thinking that it was me – because he was brown and had the same hair. It was something about seeing a person of color doing something so encouraging and uplifting. I wanted to be just like him,” recalled Price.

While he took a few dance lessons as a kid, most of his moves were self-taught by watching videos and then practicing in front of a mirror. 

“I taught myself how to dance and learned all of Michael’s moves – his facial expressions, how he moves his shoulders, and even where to point my finger,” he said. 

As a student at Lial Catholic School, he would urge his friends to get on the counter in the bathroom and make beats. On the playground, he preferred working on his dance moves to playing games. As a freshman at St. Francis, he was in the locker room with members of the basketball team, and they were talking about what each of them had gotten for Christmas.

“I told them I got a new Michael Jackson jacket. They all started laughing,” he recalled. “I told them that I do Michael Jackson performances. They didn’t believe me, so I did a move. The coach saw and said, ‘You should do that at the varsity halftime.’ That was the biggest game of our schedule, playing our rival to a packed house. Ever since then I started getting gigs. I became ‘that Michael Jackson kid.’ The rest has led to here.”

The foundation of his shows was in busking – setting up a portable screen to serve as a changing room, and performing in public areas, then birthday parties, weddings, fundraisers, nursing home and schools. Later, he added bigger shows, like Hollywood Casino, the Novi, Mich. BBQ Fest and a gig in Florida that’s come up on Halloween weekend.

Preparing for a show as big as the Maumee Indoor has meant working even harder to perfect each move. Michael Jackson was a perfectionist, and was clean and precise in every move.

“I run through it so many times until it’s second nature. Every time I find things that I can do better. I want to be the best that I can be. And I want it to show on stage.”

While he has his sights set on Toledo venues, Price said his hope is to one day get to Las Vegas or Broadway or Hollywood, especially now that he has an agent. 

“I want to keep inspiring people. The main reason I dance is to help people find their dream. To tell them that you can do what you want to do. If you love it, you will become it.”

Wild Side: Buckeyes appear in time for football season

By
Art Weber
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Buckeye tree, photographed by Art Weber, nature photographer for Metroparks Toledo.

Buckeye trees are getting ready for football season as well. And by the look of these thick bristled husks, it appears that they will open and our buckeye nuts will drop in plenty of time for Ohio State’s first coin flip on Sept. 5.

Commonly referred to as nuts, like the acorns of our oaks, botanically speaking, buckeyes are actually seeds. They are distinctive, large, shiny dark brown seeds with a cream-colored spot. That spot, it’s said, gives the seed the appearance of a buck’s eye.

Buckeyes aren’t edible. They’re toxic for humans, pets, and most wildlife. 

Look for buckeye trees in bottomlands along our rivers and streams where they’re among the first to get their leaves in spring and to change color in fall. Those attractive buckeye seeds float, which means they can be carried downstream and take root in new locations.

Clay McLeod Chapman’s ‘horrormance’: Devil Inside

By
Allyson Ritchey
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Clay McLeod Chapman will bring his horror-romance - Devil Inside - to Toledo on Thursday, Aug. 27, when he appears at the Toledo Main Branch Library’s Authors! Series. (Courtesy image)

TOLEDO– For horror author Clay McLeod Chapman, there may be nothing more frightening than falling in love.

That idea is at the center of his newest novel, Devil Inside, a horror-romance Chapman describes as a “horrormance”- a blend of two genres that, despite their differences, have more in common than readers might expect.

Chapman will bring that story to Toledo on Thursday, Aug. 27, when he appears at the Toledo Main Branch Library’s Authors! Series.

“I think there isn’t anything scarier than love,” Chapman said. “When we talk about falling in love, we’re talking about making ourselves vulnerable, kind of letting our defenses down, bringing somebody else in.”

Devil Inside, released Aug. 11, opens with Jordan, who – dying in a traumatic accident – spends about two-and-a-half minutes in hell before being resuscitated. When he returns to the living, he begins questioning what is real – and what may be happening inside his own mind.

Then he meets Lilith.

The two form an immediate connection, but Lilith is not exactly who she appears to be. After she disappears following a passionate night together, Jordan searches for her, only to encounter another woman claiming to be Lilith, one who looks different but knows intimate details about him.

As Jordan tries to understand the mysterious woman and his own increasingly distorted reality, the story explores possession, desire, bodily autonomy and the risks of allowing another person to grow too close.

“Love is really scary,” Chapman said. “This idea of – am I going to find my soulmate? Am I going to be alone for the rest of my life? Is there someone else out there for me?” (Courtesy photo)

For Chapman, putting horror and romance together was not necessarily a radical idea.

“Romance in horror has existed since the dawn of storytelling,” he said, pointing to stories such as Dracula and Frankenstein.

Instead, Chapman said he was interested in what happens when the familiar beats of a romance are placed inside a horror story.

The novel follows the structure of a romance, including a happily-ever-after ending. But Chapman said that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone in the story gets a happy ending.

“Happily ever after for our main characters doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a happily ever after for anybody else in the book,” he said.

“I feel like this book is essentially a horror story embedded in the structure of a romance novel,” he said.

That tension also allows Chapman to explore the darker side of wanting to be loved.

Chapman said the book also asks questions about obsession, toxic relationships, consent and bodily autonomy.

“Love is really scary,” he said. “This idea of – am I going to find my soulmate? Am I going to be alone for the rest of my life? Is there someone else out there for me?”

Even after writing multiple horror novels, Chapman said love remains one of the things that scares him the most.

“Human connection is such a kind of fraught territory,” he said.

That does not mean Devil Inside is entirely bleak.

Chapman also uses comedy throughout the novel, something he said can give readers a moment to relax before the horror returns.

“If horror is just completely opaque and suffocating, your readers start to lose a certain momentum,” he said.

Comedy gives readers a chance to exhale, Chapman said – and then lowers their guard.

“That’s when the really spooky thing happens,” he said.

The novel is also grounded in a place Chapman knows well: Richmond, Va., where he grew up.

Chapman said setting the story in a familiar place gave him a sense of security while writing about characters and situations that were anything but safe.

“I wanted Richmond to feel like just as much of a character as the actual people are,” he said.

Chapman, whose previous books include Ghost Eaters, What Kind of Mother? and Whisper Down the Lane, said he is looking forward to bringing Devil Inside to Toledo and meeting readers in person.

He said getting people to leave their homes and attend an author event is meaningful in itself.

“Anybody asking people to come out to anything is such a big ask,” Chapman said. “Who wants to leave the comfort of their own home when they can just Netflix and chill?”

For readers willing to take a chance on the genre mashup, Chapman said he hopes they will come away questioning the people – and perhaps the demons – around them.

“I hope they walk away from this with this idea of giving everybody they pass on the street a little side eye,” he said. “Is there maybe a little demonic something or a little devilish something inside that person?”

“And watch out for your own kind of inner demons,” he said.

Chapman will appear at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library Main Library at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. The event includes a 45-minute discussion followed by a brief audience Q&A. Each ticket includes a copy of Devil Inside, and Chapman will participate in a limited book signing following the presentation.

Toledo Free Press Voter’s Guide: Ohio’s 41st House District

By
Jaden Jefferson
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(Map courtesy of Ballotpedia)

Republican Ian Chamberlin is running against Democrat Erika White

The 41st District is one of 99 in the Ohio House of Representatives. The district — which encompasses part of Toledo, as well as the whole of Maumee, Holland, and Springfield Township — is currently represented by Democrat Erika White.

Ian Chamberlin, a Republican, is seeking to unseat Rep. White. In this one-on-one interview, he shares his perspective on property taxes, school funding, and data centers.

Rep. White was first elected in 2024 and is seeking a second, two-year term representing the district. In this one-on-one interview, she discusses her legislative approach to property taxes, in addition to school funding and data centers.

Waterville receives construction project updates

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Rex Childers, of the Save the Bridge Association, took this photo of work being done on the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge from the balcony of Heritage Village Waterville. He described the work by Kokosing's operators as similar to ballet as they gently remove the dirt on top of the arches. (Courtesy photo)

WATERVILLE – Orange is a common color in Waterville these days – and that’s a trend that will continue into next year, with construction on roadways, the Roche de Boeuf Interurban Bridge, Meijer, Circle K and other areas either planned or currently in the works.

During the Aug. 24 Waterville City Council meeting, Administrator Jon Gochenour, Mayor Tim Pedro and Save the Bridge Association’s Rex Childers shared updates on these projects.

The Roche de Boeuf Bridge is undergoing selective demolition, with Kokosing operators carefully removing dirt from on top of the arches of the 118-year-old concrete structure. The goal is to remove the dirt and take down the falling spandrel walls in order to save the arches and piers as a base for a future pedestrian and bike bridge, Childers said.

“It’s very impressive seeing the operators take care with the scrape,” he said of the work that’s been done to four arches to date. “They’re reaching in halfway and gently pulling…they’re taking their time. It’s like ballet, seeing these guys at work.”

STBA is doing fundraising to help the city pay for studies and bridge engineers. Childers also said that Bowling Green State University departments are offering to help with grant writing, communications and other areas as STBA moves forward with plans for the path to link Lucas and Wood counties. Ohio Department of Transportation District 2 has a timelapse video with updates of the bridge project posted on its YouTube channel.

The Waterville Monclova Road widening project is progressing, with the installation of 10 residential concrete driveway approaches, concrete curb and gutter approaches and the extension of a concrete island at Farmview. This week, crews will be doing topsoil restoration and grading, with plans to begin paving and finishing asphalt driveways beginning in the next week. The project is on schedule to be completed by Oct. 5, Gochenour said.

Meijer is moving forward with the installation of two right-turn lanes between the S. Pray Boulevard store and S.R. 64, beginning after Labor Day, Gochenour reported. Work will begin on the south side of S.R. 64, with the addition of a 600-foot eastbound lane from U.S. 24 to S. Pray Blvd.

Next will be a 480-foot westbound right turn lane on the north side onto U.S. 24. Council also approved a signal agreement with Meijer to cover the design and construction of a traffic signal at the eastbound on/off ramp with U.S. 24, at a cost of $295,000. The city will undertake the work and be reimbursed by Meijer.

“Meijer is investing approximately $850,000 in this project. They are paying 100 percent of the cost of the two turn lanes,” Gochenour said. He estimates that the work will be completed by Nov. 24, depending on the weather. The Meijer store is expected to open Memorial Day weekend 2027. 

Circle K has long discussed making improvements to its gas station and convenience store at 103 Anthony Wayne Trail, but “seem serious” about beginning the work now, Pedro said. They are looking at removing the diesel pump island and canopy and reconfiguring it with eight gas pumping stations and installing one diesel pump on the north side.

Also beginning soon will be the replacement or mud-jacking of 275 sidewalk panels on Fourth and Fifth streets from Farnsworth to Elm, and on Second Street between the south and north dead ends. The project will also include the replacement of 16 ADA ramps. The $98,635 project is being funded with a $90,000 grant.

During the meeting, council also:

-Heard that registration for the 20th annual, and final, fishing derby – set for Saturday, Aug. 29 – is full, with 68 children set to attend.

-Learned that the city will be hosted a pre-Roche de Boeuf party on Friday, Sept. 18, with a band – The Bridges – performing at 7 p.m. in Parker Square, where food trucks and a beer truck will be set up until 9:30 p.m. Scout Troop 101 will also be hosting a Run de Boeuf 5k and kids run sponsored by the city, scouts and Second Sole. For information, visit RunSignUp.com/RDB.

-Welcomed Jacob Hires, a Scout attending the meaning for communication merit badge. He is a student at Aerospace & Natural Science Academy of Toledo (ANSAT) at Toledo Express Airport and plans to become an aircraft mechanic.

-Listened to Michigan Avenue resident Rob Morrin ask whether the city plans any safety improvements for the intersection of Michigan, Farnsworth and Fourth Street – known as the Point. In his 15 years living in the area, Morrin said he’s seen many close calls, especially with the increase in traffic. “It’s designed for 1910 with horses,” he said. Pedro asked the administrator and engineer to take a look at it.

-Heard that the City of Bowling Green – which supplies Waterville with water – has issued a drinking water notice for failing to comply with corrosion control treatments. In a statement posted on the BG website, which will be shared with Waterville customers, this is not an emergency.

The Ohio EPA required notification regarding a 29-day period between January and June when the water’s orthophosphate content fell slightly below the acceptable range. Orthophosphate is a naturally occurring substance that keeps the pH levels within an acceptable range, Gochenour said. Because BG didn’t get its test samples back from a third-party lab and report in time to the EPA, the issue is a testing violation, not a health emergency. BG is looking at establishing in-house testing in its own labs in order to eliminate any delays. Waterville will send out a notice to customers with the next water bill.

-Heard that ARS will offer unlimited curbside bulk pickup on Saturday, Oct. 10 beginning at 7 a.m., for the whole city. Bagged items will not be accepted, as these will fit in a garbage can. The pickup is designed for items that are too large or bulky to fit in a toter, Gochenour said.

-Approved the appointment of Kristin Niese to the Parks and Recreation Committee.

-Heard that the city is in discussion with Metroparks Toledo about teaming up on an inclusive park. Pedro said the Metroparks are in the process of upgrading parks, including Farnsworth.

-Learned from Police Chief Joe Valvano that the department responded to 258 incidents in July.  He also urged residents to remember to close their garage doors, as officers have seen several remain open overnight.

-Heard Pedro encourage citizens to go check out the new kinetic wind sculptures that were added to Parker Square near the river. Installed by the city, the sculptures were provided by the Anthony Wayne Area Arts Association thanks to a donation by Diana Waugh on behalf of the Waugh family, including the late Gary Waugh.

Kinetic wind sculptures in Parker Square were installed earlier this month, thanks to a donation from the family of Diana and Gary Waugh. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

-Heard that the fire department made 127 runs in July, including 109 EMS, 10 motor vehicle accidents, seven fires and one hazmat situation. Year-to-date, the department has responded to 742 calls, up from 689 year to date in 2025.

-Heard Wayne Wagner ask that the city put in place a rental or lease agreement for the Wakeman Hall parking lot, which the city will be paving this fall. 

-Listened to Pedro say that citizens called him with concerns about Cedar Lane residents blowing grass into the roadway, which is hazardous to motorcyclists and bicyclists, and about residents not picking up dog droppings in the Mill Creek neighborhood.

-Approved a one-year contract with Hylant Administrative Services, administrator of the Ohio Government Risk Management Plan for comprehensive property, casualty and liability insurance. The rate increased $4,400 to $72,523 due to the need to insure two new fire vehicles and one new police vehicle; the addition of $40,000 in drone equipment; and a large claim – in which a driver backed into a light pole in front of Mad Anthony’s, causing $10,600 in damage. That accident was not caught on video or a license plate reader, so the city’s insurance will pay for it.

-Authorized Gochenour to apply for an Ohio Public Works Commission grant for replacement of 1,600 feet of 8-inch waterline under the Waterville Primary School back parking lot to the water tower. The city will seek bids for the estimated $315,000 project in early 2027 for work in the spring.

Seven apply for Whitehouse Council seat

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Council chambers at Whitehouse Village Hall. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WHITEHOUSE – Seven candidates submitted applications to fill the remainder of Whitehouse Village Council member Louann Artiaga‘s term.

Village Administrator Jordan Daugherty reported that he received applications from Nikki Hartbarger, Jeffrey Heaney, Jake Heilmann, Melissa (Lisa) Morrison, Thomas Teknipp, David Urbanowski and Alyssa Noel Vossen.

The Anthony Wayne Free Press compiled brief bios of the candidates, based on the applications submitted to the village.

Nikki Hartbarger. (Courtesy photo)

Nikki Hartbarger is a senior financial close consultant for SandPoint Consulting, assisting clients with implementing and utilizing BlackLine software. She has an extensive background in accounting and business. Hartbarger earned a BBA in accounting from Siena Heights University and a master of business administration from the University of Toledo.

A resident of Whitehouse since 2008, Hartbarger has been involved in the community, including as president of the Whitehouse Parents Club for Whitehouse Primary School since 2019, and as a planning volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation of Toledo.

Currently the clerk of council for the village, Hartbarger attends all council and Committee of the Whole meetings, recording notes and formatting minutes for the record. This has allowed her to gain a unique understanding of the council rules, regulations and parliamentary process. Hartbarger said she would like to contribute to discussions and decisions that shape the future of the community.

Jeff Heaney. (Courtesy photo)

Jeffrey Heaney is a journeyman sheet metal worker and a member of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association I.U. No. 33 in Toledo, for which he served as organizer. That experience provided him with opportunities to communicate with elected and government officials, including reviewing and changing the Toledo building codes and speaking with workers throughout the area.

A Macomber-Whitney High School graduate, Heaney has earned several certifications and credentials over the years, working as a machinist and material handler before serving a five-year apprenticeship and earning his sheet metal worker’s journeyman’s card. 

A resident of Whitehouse for 18 years, Heaney regularly enjoys village activities and celebrations and has more recently begun attending village council and planning commission meetings on a regular basis.

“The village offers a strong sense of community, and we are proud to be among its residents,” Heaney said.

Jake Heilmann. (Courtesy photo)

Jake Heilmann is the owner/operator of Heilmann Farms and Heilmann Seed Sales, representing Beck’s Hybrid Seed. He has two decades of experience in managing businesses, solving problems and working with people, he said.

Born and raised in Whitehouse, Heilmann is a 2002 Anthony Wayne High School graduate who earned an associate’s degree in fire services from Owens Community College, and graduated from the Department of Defense Fire Academy. He was a member of the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department from 2002-2008. He served six years with the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing providing fire protection and crash rescue. He was deployed to Baghdad in 2007 and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 2009.

He current serves as the Savanna Lake Homeowners Association president and previously was involved with the Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce and Lucas County Farm Bureau.

Melissa (Lisa) Morrison is a middle school teacher with Bowling Green Christian Academy and has experience serving area schools and nonprofit organizations. A Whitmer High School graduate, she earned a B.A. in liberal arts from Bowling Green State University.

A 22-year resident of Whitehouse, she noted that the village has done well at managing the small-town feel even as new businesses and residential areas are added.

“It’s my hope that we can continue that course even when we become a city,” she said.

Her goal as a council member would be to grow carefully, with an eye on the future and a heart for the past, she said. Her interests include parks and recreation, youth development, Metroparks and Toledo-Lucas County Public Library issues, the Fallen Timbers Union Cemetery District and being a voice for residents, she said.

Thomas Teknipp. (Courtesy photo)

Thomas Teknipp recently became a manager of Yard Ninjas, a company that takes care of pet waste removal, lawn care and landscaping, but brings experience in management, logistics, compliance, safety and training with Amazon, as well as serving as a remote instructor and substitute teacher. He has a B.A. in creative writing from the University of Toledo.

A resident of Whitehouse for five years, Teknipp said he is ready to “step up, get involved and help make the decisions that shape our community.” 

He describes his approach as straightforward and dedicated.

“Running a village takes common sense, responsible planning, and a commitment to doing what is best for the people who live here,” he said. “I want to help maintain what makes Whitehouse great while making smart, responsible plans for our future.”

David Urbanowski. (Courtesy photo)

David Urbanowski has spent his career working in engineering testing and materials inspection, including 15 years as a supervisor, working on a variety of construction projects, including local roads and highways. In his time on job sites and in meetings with engineers, contractors and city workers, he has learned how to listen to different points of view and solve problems in practical ways.

Urbanowski and his family have lived in the Anthony Wayne area for 25 years and in Whitehouse for three years. His children graduated from Anthony Wayne and his grandchildren attend school in the district.

“I care a lot about this town and want to help keep it a great place for families to live,” he said. “On council, I will bring an honest, fair, and common-sense approach to every decision.”

Alyssa Noel Vossen. (Courtesy photo)

Alyssa Noel Vossen recently served as a hearing officer for the Lucas County Board of Revision, researching and hearing cases on property values – a position that required reviewing evidence and hearing testimony from residents. She previously served as a field organizer for the Ohio Democratic Party and as an intern for Sen. Robert P. Casey II (D-Pennsylvania) while earning a B.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania. While in school, she co-authored the book Philadelphia: Capital of the Eighteenth Century.

Growing up in Whitehouse and graduating from Anthony Wayne High School in 2020, Vossen said she has fond memories of attending Cherry Fest, working for local businesses and exploring the quarry.

“Although I am younger than many of those serving in local government, I believe I would bring enthusiasm, a fresh perspective and a sincere commitment to the village,” she said.

Council President Steve Fine explained that council members will review the resumes and discuss them during the Sept. 1 meeting, with a goal of selecting which candidates to interview during a special meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Artiaga submitted her resignation on Aug. 11, after more than 16 years of serving on council in both the 1990s and from April 2012 until earlier this month.

Council has 30 days to appoint her replacement to fill her position until the next election in November 2027. If council does not make a decision by then, Mayor Rich Bingham would make the appointment.

Waterville Township sets public hearings

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Township crews recently mowed along Kay Drive – where Waterville Senior Lofts is under construction - and uncovered garbage and large items that have been dumped. The township is looking into signage and trail cameras to prevent dumping. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

WATERVILLE TOWNSHIP – Billboards and data centers will be the focus of two upcoming Waterville Township Zoning Commission public hearings.

During the commission’s Aug. 17 meeting, a date was set to hear public comment on a proposed change to the zoning amendment to allow up to two electronic billboards along U.S. 24. The Lucas County Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval on July 22. 

Dutch Road Storage is seeking to erect an off-site double-sided billboard with a face area of 20 feet by 33.5 feet and 35 feet in height. Lucas County Plan Commission Senior Planner Molly Maguire recommended not approving the change, calling billboards “blight.” Jerry Parker, the attorney representing the storage facility owners Dan Bollin and Jim Moline, said the billboard – in addition to providing advertising opportunities – would provide space for public messages like traffic notifications and Amber Alerts. If approved, it would be the first billboard in the township.

The public hearing on billboards will be held on Monday, Aug 31 at 7 p.m. at Waterville First Presbyterian Church, 611 Farnsworth Rd. Information about the proposal will be posted on township website and Facebook page.

Waterville Township is considering whether to allow up to two electronic billboards along U.S. 24. The owners of Dutch Road Storage (across the highway) want to use the billboard to promote area businesses and share public information. A public hearing is set for Aug. 31. (AWFP photo by Karen Gerhardinger)

The commission also set a public hearing to review the most recent recommendations for a zoning text amendment that would regulate data centers and other large campus-style developments. Trustee Toby Miller explained that Columbus-based attorneys and Lucas County Assistant Prosecutor John Borell made changes to the 67-page original proposal, and the public hearing will allow residents to weigh in on those changes before they are reviewed by the Board of Trustees.

“The most significant change was from a straight M-3 zoning to being a Planned District M-3,” Miller said. “Our attorneys said Planned District gives us stronger arguments and is more defensible.”

The changes include a requirement for a development plan, remediation plan and escrow, he added. 

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept.14 in Waterville First Presbyterian Church, 611 Farnsworth Rd. 

A fee schedule for both billboards and the data center language has not yet been decided, and Zoning Chair Keith Moosman said both would be considered during the next regular meeting, Monday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. at the township hall, 621 Farnsworth Rd.

During the meeting, the zoning commission also:

-Heard Miller say that he’s contacted Spectrum about complaints regarding the installation of fiber optic cable along Noward Road. Several properties were not remediated, work was done outside of acceptable work hours, and in some cases the road was cut and not repaired properly, setting up the road for erosion. 

“We paid a lot to redo Noward Road – more than we should have,” Miller said, referring to repaving that was necessary after the Nexus pipeline and U.S. 24 crews used the road during construction. “I don’t think our residents should be on the hook for fixing Noward if they leave a void under the road and it starts sinking.”

Miller said he’s asked the Lucas County engineer to issue violations for each instance and to demand remediation.

-Discussed how to handle trees that impede the line of vision on the northwest corner of Finzel and Neapolis-Waterville. Moosman said he would talk to the property owner.

-Heard that ODOT plans to start construction of a roundabout at Noward and S.R. 64 next year.

-Listened to resident Karen Schneider ask several questions about the proposed data center zoning resolution, including remediation, penalties for noncompliance, the right for referendum and extending the radius considered when looking at impacts on wells.

-Listened to Miller say that crews have caught up on mowing along roadways. In the process, they uncovered a lot of dumping along Kay Drive – near Greenlock Self Storage and the Waterville Senior Lofts. No dumping signs and trail cameras will be installed.

Medal Of Honor recipient to share ‘A Life Worth Fighting For’

By
Karen Gerhardinger
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Kyle Carpenter, the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, will be the keynote speaker during the Saturday, September 12 Veterans Award Banquet. Carpenter saved the life of a fellow Marine on November 21, 2010, during a grenade explosion that caused life-threatening injuries. Now an author and speaker, Carpenter shares his story of resilience and determination to build a life worth fighting for. (Courtesy photo)

TOLEDO – As a kid, Kyle Carpenter wanted to be a superhero – insisting that his dad draw the Superman logo on his chest, in permanent marker, as soon as the prior one faded. 

“I was fearless, restless, reckless, relentless,” he says of his young self in his 2019 book, You Are Worth It, Building a Life Worth Fighting For.

When he was in high school, Carpenter heard Marine veteran Clebe McClary, who – despite losing an eye and part of his arm from a grenade in Vietnam – ran a nonprofit to help military families. The teenager was impressed not by the battles McClary fought, but by the aging man’s spirit and how someone who had been through so much could create an incredible life “not only in spite of, but because of his experiences.”

“I had no idea what life was going to throw at me, but I knew that I wanted to meet whatever challenges came my way with the same grace, determination and passion as Clebe,” Carpenter shared in his book. 

Life had a lot of surprises for Carpenter, who joined the Marines in January 2009 and, in the fall of 2010, was serving as an automatic rifleman with Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operating Enduring Freedom. Just a few months later, he was on a rooftop with his best friend, Marine Nick Eufrazio, when grenades began landing in the compound where his unit was stationed. 

“The last thing I remember clearly is laughing with Nick before starting to move toward something,” he wrote.

That “something” was a grenade that he dove on top of, saving Eufrazio’s life. It was an action that earned Carpenter the Medal of Honor four years later. 

“Nobody goes into a battle with the goal of receiving a medal for valor, much less the Medal of Honor. No one hopes that their squad or their buddies end up in such a perilous situation that trying to save lives becomes necessary. The Medal of Honor is not something people seek, plain and simple,” Carpenter said.

In 2019, Kyle Carpenter, along with Don Yaeger, published his memoir. (Courtesy photo)

In his memoir, Carpenter shares how he rebuilt his life in the aftermath of that incident – the the loss of an eye, reconstruction of his jaw and arm, dozens of surgeries and chronic pain – into a one of determination, gratefulness and even joy. Not only did he survive, but Carpenter learned to thrive, earning his. B.A. from South Carolina University, running marathons and speaking to groups around the world. Through it all, he has remained in awe of the support he’s received from his fellow Marines, veterans organizations, medical personnel and complete strangers. Even “Bobby from Pakistan,” the Uber driver who wanted to know Carpenter’s story, then thanked him for his service.

“That day, on the way to the airport, I responded as I never had before. I replied, ‘You’re worth it,'” Carpenter shared in the book. “In that moment, I wanted him to know that his family, his freedom, his rights, just the simple fact that he was a human being, meant that he was worth sacrificing for…and that’s what I have come to realize serving in the military means to me.”

As he reflected on what he said, “You’re worth it,” Carpenter has repeated that phrase often, understanding that all humans have inherent worth. 

“If we don’t spend our time on this earth looking out for one another, what are we really doing with our lives?”

Carpenter’s story resonated with Task Force 20 founder Jason Graven. So he booked the Glass City Center, and Carpenter, for the nonprofit organization’s 6th Annual Veterans Awards Banquet at Glass City Center on Saturday, Sept 12. While the banquet has always hosted a speaker, this is the first time for a Medal of Honor recipient, Graven said.

“It’s quite impressive who he is as a person. He is the epitome of what it means to be of service to others,” Graven said. “Kyle is the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor. He’s coming across the country to speak here. I think it’s a big deal.”

Task Force 20 founder Jason Graven shares how the nonprofit organization he founded a decade ago has assisted more than 350 veterans with gym memberships and camaraderie. (Courtesy photo)

Carpenter will speak for 30 to 45 minutes and open the floor up for Q&A. The evening will also include the presentation of three awards: Veteran of the Year, Civilian of the Year and Veteran Organization of the Year. The Veterans Award Banquet is an opportunity to celebrate the efforts of individuals and organizations supporting veterans, Graven said.

Graven, an Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, formed the nonprofit Task Force 20 a decade ago as a way to combat the rising veteran suicide rate. At the time, more than 20 veterans a day were lost to suicide. As Graven got back into going to the gym, he found that not only was he losing weight and getting into shape, but he was building confidence, forming friendships and improving his mental health.

“I thought, ‘This is working for me. Why wouldn’t it work for others?’ I just wanted to help people get healthy like I had. To stop the bad thoughts. At the end of the day, we’re a suicide prevention program,” Graven said.

Collaborating with area gyms, donors and veterans, Task Force 20 has provided more than 350 one-year gym memberships in the past 10 years.

“I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to do in the last 10 years. When I look at the big picture, I see a lot of people’s lives affected in big ways.”

While the suicide rate among veterans has decreased to 17.6, that’s still too many, Graven said. His goal for the next 10 years is to have more of a national presence and to help another 350 veterans live a healthier life. Partnerships with veterans organizations and supporters make that possible. 

“We believe that to really attack the veteran suicide epidemic and get those numbers lower, everyone needs to work together in the community to achieve that goal,” he said.

Every year, TF20 collaborates with partners to present its annual Operation: Stronger Together 5k and Gaven A. Smith Veteran Resource Event, and is working on the Lasting Cost of War Memorial and a Veterans parking space project. 

This is the sixth annual Veteran Awards Banquet. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a cash bar and social hour followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Carpenter will take the stage at 7:15 p.m., followed by awards. Tickets are $95 per person. For information, visit tf20.org.

A Walk in the Park with Artists

By
Erin Holden
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Erin Holden gets a lesson in photography at the Toledo Botanical Garden with Chris Boesel, then tries her hand at plein air painting with local artist Aaron Bivins. This episode is focused on finding inspiration to get creative, whether you are an emerging artist, or a seasoned professional like Chris and Aaron.

This is the seventh episode of A Walk in the Park with, a WGTE Public Media and Metroparks Toledo collaboration hosted and produced by Erin. Join her as she explores everyday life in Toledo’s Metroparks. In each episode, Erin interviews different park visitors – runners, teachers, artists, parents and more – revealing the many ways people connect with nature. You’ll hear personal stories about people’s relationships with our parks and the activities they cherish. Erin also documents her journey along the way, reflecting on the insights she gains from each experience.

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