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Dr. Linda Rouillard: UToledo Program Cuts

By
Lori King
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Dr. Linda Rouillard, a UToledo French professor, attends the anti-SB 1 protest on March 20. (TFP Photo/Lori King)

On this episode of Behind the Byline, host Jaden Jefferson sits down with University of Toledo professor Dr. Linda Rouillard to discuss Ohio Senate Bill 1 and how the University of Toledo responded to the new law.

The bill, signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in March, bans diversity, equity, and inclusion activities at public higher education institutions; prevents faculty from striking; requires the elimination of programs producing fewer than five graduates in a three-year span; and makes many other changes.

Rouillard offers her personal perspective on:

• recent cuts to programs at Utoledo in response to the bill’s passage, and how that will lead to a “direct path to the bottom”

• how “righting a wrong by creating another wrong” could negatively impact students statewide and their educational experience

• the challenge of critically analyzing subject matter under the new law and what role the university experience can play in a student’s development

• and how UToledo is creating workers for industrial needs while sacrificing critical thinking

New episodes of the Behind the Byline drop every week on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pod Station⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Behind the Byline is a production of the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Toledo Free Press.⁠

Don Lee: Convenient Coincidence

By
Don Lee
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The dismantling of Department of Education: How it could impact TPS

By
Mary Helen Delisle
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TOLEDO – When President Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 20, effectively dismantling the Department of Education (DoE), he brought change to the U.S. education system as a whole.

The problem is that no one seems to know exactly how this cut will affect local schools throughout the United States, including Toledo Public Schools.

According to section one of Trump’s executive order: “Closing the Department of Education would provide children and their families the opportunity to escape a system that is failing them.”

While the idea is to return power to the states and the state education departments, the tasks have yet to be redistributed.

Another problem is that DoE is known largely for its role in providing funding to state schools.

Section two (a) of Trump’s executive order states: “The Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.”

But what, exactly, does that mean? As of April 8, Toledo Public Schools (TPS) had received no information from the government about the effects on local schools or funding, according to TPS communications coordinator Robert Wiercinski.

Section 2 part (b) of the executive order has this to say about the effects to school funding: “The Secretary of Education shall ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with Federal law and Administration policy, including the requirement that any program or activity receiving Federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”

Breakdown of school funding from the 2019-2020 school year.
 

Despite the termination of funds to DEI programs, which primarily affects higher education, the order does not specifically mention how the tasks of the DoE will be redistributed or how schools will continue to receive their federal funding.

In the 2019-2020 school year, 7.6 percent of school funding came from the federal government, according to USA Facts, with the remaining 92.4 percent coming from state and local tax dollars.

While school funding has not yet been affected, Toledo Federation of Teachers (TFT) board member Dan Fray said it is a concern.

“We [TFT] are not really actively protesting anything as much as we’re just trying to get the message out that we need fair funding,” Fray said.

Fray has been a TPS teacher for the past 28 years and is in charge of member engagement, retention and development at TFT.

Dan Fray (Courtesy Photo)

He explained that federal funding for Toledo schools typically goes to help with career tech and early childhood education programs.

“We’ve already had our kids be affected by some of the cuts from the federal administration early on,” Fray said. “Not too long after Inauguration Day, there was a lot of executive orders pausing funding for different programs.

“We had field trips that had to get cancelled because the organizations that were funding the field trips for the students thought they were losing their funding,” Fray said.

While the organizations later realized their funding was not actually lost, the panic surrounding the executive orders caused some students to miss the experience.

Fray also mentioned that federal funding helps TPS with Title One.

“Title One is a federal program that provides assistance to school districts and schools with a high percentage of low-income families, which Toledo does qualify,” Fray said.

If TPS funding were to be affected by the DoE cut, Fray worries that rather than just the federally funded programs being cut, the pool of money for all school programs will simply be diluted.

“My bigger concern is that all of them lose a little bit [of funding], such that all of them lose their effectiveness,” Fray said.

Regardless of what happens, Fray noted that TFT’s primary concern is for the students.

“Hopefully, if you’re a kid sitting in a second or third or eighth grade or high school classroom in Toledo, you never realize that this all happened. The school district and the Union and everybody, the community, all work together such that even if there is cuts, our students don’t notice it,” Fray said.

“That’s the end goal – just to make sure our kids go to school in a safe and rich learning environment, loved by their teachers and supported by the district and the community. And they don’t even realize that the Department of Education got cut,” Fray said.

Steven J Athanas: Pier Circle

By
Steven J Athanas
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New life for the Ottawa Tavern?

By
David Yonke
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The abandoned Ottawa Tavern at 1815 Adams St. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

Iconic Toledo club set to reopen, but owner keeps options open

TOLEDO – The Ottawa Tavern, a beloved and historic local nightclub in Downtown Toledo, has a new lease on life.

With their debut show post-reopening now on the books for Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. with Gyasi headlining following by Dagger Polyester and Leadfoot Granny, the OT is back in business after a delay early this month.

“I’m not fully sure what we’re doing with it,” said Broc Curry, the new owner of the OT, as it’s fondly called, in an interview. “We’re just playing it very slow.”

Curry has been promoting concerts in Toledo for more than 25 years, most notably at his other iconic club, Frankie’s in East Toledo. He promoted his first concert in his hometown of Bowling Green when he was just 14.

Curry’s track record and connections in the music world would easily pave the way for the Ottawa Tavern’s return to a vibrant music scene – if that’s the path he chooses.

He had planned to hold a pop-up emo concert at the renovated club on April 1 as a way “let people come back into the space,” but had to cancel the show at the last minute when the city’s health department said he needed to file for a new license.

Curry said he is taking “baby steps ” as he looks at all options for the building. “Which direction we go … I’m not too sure yet.”

The Homewreckers, with lead singer Steven J. Athanas, third from left, drew packed crowds to the Ottawa Tavern for more 20 years. (Courtesy Photo/Steven J. Athanas)

He took the same slow approach with Frankie’s, which closed in 2020 and reopened in July 2023. At first, Frankie’s held just a few concerts a month. But the club on East Main Street has gained momentum, and Frankie’s is now hosting 15 or more shows monthly.

“We’re pretty much open half the month right now, which is way more than I expected to be open again,” Curry said of Frankie’s. “But people want to play shows. People want to come to shows. Touring bands want to make a stop in Toledo, and we’re definitely super busy now.”

The reason Frankie’s has been so busy and successful is simple: Curry’s love of music.

“The people that make it a lasting endeavor are truly music people. It can’t be about money. In fact, you can end up losing a bunch of money. It can’t be about anything but the music. I’m just that guy. Since I was a kid, getting my ZZ Top and Stray Cats tapes at Finders Records; I just freaking love music.”

It’s possible the Ottawa Tavern will follow the same slow-but-steady path to building up its live music schedule, but Curry wants to keep his multiple business interests in balance and his options open.

In addition to owning two clubs, Curry owns the record and media store Your Music Exchange on Laskey Rd. in Toledo, two other record and media stores in Ann Arbor, and is getting ready to open a second Toledo shop. On top of that, he sells the most records through his online sites.

“My normal job is my record stores; the concerts are still very much my side business. But we have a small, dedicated staff. They are pulled in all sorts of directions and work long hours, but they love what they do. So you know, when you love what you do it’s not like work, right?”

Uptown building cleaned and painted

Getting the Ottawa Tavern ready was an “all hands on deck” effort by his staff at Innovation Concerts, with the team pitching in to clean and “whitebox” the building by painting the interior a neutral light gray.

There are plenty of options now for the Adams Street building, which has the potential to be a concert venue, a restaurant, a combination of the two, or a retail store run by Curry or another local entrepreneur.

The Ottawa Tavern on Adams St. in 2025. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
The Ottawa Tavern on W. Bancroft St. in 1929. (Courtesy Photo/Toledo-Lucas County Public Library)

Curry is well aware of the Ottawa Tavern’s place in local history, especially its contributions to the local music scene. “I’ve heard stories over the years. I know it meant a lot to a group of people. It was kind of like the Cheers of Toledo, in a way, where everybody knows your name.”

The OT was one of the most popular clubs in Northwest Ohio at its original location, 1846 W. Bancroft St., near the University of Toledo. For decades it had a diverse clientele, ranging from college students and professors to golfers and tennis players dropping by after playing at nearby Ottawa Park. Monday night poetry readings regularly drew 50 to 60 people.

Originally built as the Commerce Guardian Trust & Savings Bank in 1929, it was transformed into a restaurant and renamed the Westmoreland Inn in 1934. A grand reopening in 1937 featured music by Whitey Walls and his Rhythm Boys, with Chinese and American food on the menu.

Renamed the Ottawa Tavern in 1942

The venue was renamed the Ottawa Tavern by Clarence Bihl, who bought the Westmoreland and held a grand opening of the OT on Jan. 17, 1942.

Its modern heyday as a music venue and social hotspot began in the late 1980s and continued through the mid-90s.

Owner Pat Hanley hired Therese King, who had run a number of restaurants and was plugged into the music scene, to manage the club in April 1991.

“It was very, very slow at the time,” King said. “That’s why he called me to manage it. I booked the bands, did the ordering. Pat gave me free reign to get it going again.”

She booked other top local and regional acts including the Homewreckers, Generra Pantera, The Flecks, Groovemaster, Pat Lewandowski, the Stain, and the Love Zombies.

Tiny Tim relaxes at a house party after his concert at the Ottawa Tavern on West Bancroft Street in 1984. (Courtesy Photo/John Gibbs Rockwood)

National touring band the Dynatones played there, with Toledoan Walter “Shufflesworth” Salwitz on drums, and the famously eccentric singer Tiny Tim performed a concert at the OT in 1984, even getting an honorary key to the city presented by then-Mayor Donna Owens.

“We had the opportunity to back up Tiny Tim at the Ottawa Tavern,” recalled Steven J. Athanas, who was the lead singer of the Homewreckers. “That was a hoot. I remember Tiny Tim giving me a heart-to-heart about relationships.”

The OT had a fire-code capacity of 167 people, which it reached almost every night.

“I did a lot of promoting,” King said. “I’d go to the party in the park and do flyers. It’s so easy now with the internet and social media, but back then it was just handing out flyers. But I loved it.”

She said the Homewreckers played regularly and were one of the club’s biggest draws.

“People would call and say, ‘Are the Homewreckers there tonight?’ There was no internet then, so everybody would just call on the phone.”

Athanas, who fronted a number of popular bands and now is a columnist and cartoonist for the Toledo Free Press, said “it was always fun” to play at the OT.

“Our band was together twenty-bleeping-plus-years and we played the OT a good portion of that time,” he recalled. “They wanted us to be the house band and so did the Pub, which was down the street. They fought over us.”

With a horn section, the Homewreckers had seven or eight people on the stage. Just squeezing everybody onto the OT’s small stage was a challenge.

Holidays were epic at the OT.

“The Wednesday before Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve people would be lined up out the door and around the building,” Athanas said.

King said there were nights when Generra Pantera was playing at the Ottawa Tavern and The Flecks were playing a few miles away at the Pub, once known as the Brass Bell, “and they would switch for a set. The Flecks would run down to the OT and Generra Pantera would run over to the Pub, play a set, and then go back. Can you imagine?”

The stolen stuffed-crow caper

King recalled some of the unique features of the OT, including a phone booth and a pair of stuffed crows.

“Someone stole one of the crows. Pat was so mad. He made up a wanted poster for the return of the stolen crow. I found out who did it and told him to just bring it back. One night there was a knock on my door and when I opened it, there was the missing crow.”

Hanley closed the Ottawa Tavern on June 30, 1996.

“I was distraught that night,” King said. “Everybody was so sad. People starting taking stuff off the walls that night – people who didn’t care about the place.”

The Bancroft Street building burned down on Jan. 14, 1999. Fire and police officials suspected arson. There was a strong odor of gas and an empty gas can in the basement, according to a police report.

Firefighters were unable to save the building, which burned in the early morning when the wind-chill factor was 30 below zero.

That was the end of an era, but the club experienced new life when accountant Tom Baird bought a building on Adams St. in Toledo’s Uptown neighborhood in May 2006 and found that the name Ottawa Tavern was available.

He tapped into the public’s nostalgia for the Ottawa Tavern when the new incarnation opened at 1817 Adams St.

King credited Adam Sattler for helping Baird get the OT going again as well as developing the Uptown area.

“It was an exciting time when they decided to open the club on Adams,” said King. “It was a very, very vibrant bar.”

The Uptown venue experienced some roller-coaster years until last December, when the former owner, Curry’s predecessor, shut it down with no advance notice.

Patrons and local musicians were left in the dark, stunned and disappointed and wondering what happened. Dozens of people vented their anger and dismay by posting comments on social media sites.

“I think it’s important to move forward and not dwell on the controversy,” Curry said, pointing out that whatever happened occurred before he bought the club. “I think people have forgotten about it, and they just want it back.”

King said she’s glad that the Ottawa Tavern has new life and hopes it becomes a thriving music scene once again.

But nothing will capture the magic of the original OT on West Bancroft, she said.

“So many different personalities brought that place to life. We didn’t know at the time that it was the club’s heyday, we were too busy working and having fun.”

Jerry King: Fridge Magnet Alert

By
Jerry King
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Downtown Toledo developments: Partnerships with ConnecToledo

By
Stephen Zenner
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Cheryl Hardy-Dillin, community engagement specialist for ConnecToledo, speaks during a press conference at the Glass City Pavilion in the Glass City Metropark in Toledo, Ohio on April 23. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

TOLEDO – Outside the Glass City Pavilion, the progress of the Glass City Metropark was on full display as Cheryl Hardy-Dillin spoke on improvements to Toledo’s downtown experience.

“We want downtown Toledo to be a place where you choose to come and enjoy yourself,” she said, highlighting the parks, sports events and musical happenings on the docket for this summer season. 

“Events are not new to downtown,” Hardy-Dillin said, but admitted that the coordination between venues, businesses and other organizations has not always made the most of people’s time at the city center.

Hardy-Dillin, the community engagement specialist for ConnecToledo, spoke on economic development that could be easily accessed through creating reasons for people to come and stay — downtown.

“When you take the people that you bring to that entertainment venue, and then push them into the businesses and restaurants and buildings here intentionally…that then drives economic development.

For example, she said concerts in Promenade Park will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. which leads into other happenings. “We’re designing experiences that tie together.

“When the Metroparks has something going on over on this side of the river, we’ll be announcing what’s happening over here on our side of the river,” Hardy-Dillon said.

These planning initiatives were unveiled just as Toledo City Council approved $50,000 from the city’s general fund the day before for the 2025 Concert Series at Promenade park, under Oordinance 164-25. 

Michael Keedy, chief engagement and enterprise officer for Metroparks Toledo. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

The Promenade Park free concert series is a stimulus effort, in coordination with ConnecToledo, to get people downtown. City leaders and investors are hoping these kinds of events will lead to further revitalization of Toledo.

“Every concert, every gathering, every celebration, is intentional. It’s meant to draw people into the heart of the city and then push them into our local businesses,” Hardy-Dillin said, and then she pointed to the effect these kinds of coordinated programs could have. 

“If we got a couple thousand people a week [downtown], and each person spent $35, we would reinvest a million and a half dollars [a year] into downtown Toledo.”

Matt Rubin, chairman of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District, said these kinds of reinvestments create civic pride for Toledo. 

He noted that there’s been significant investment into downtown, over $2 billion over the last five years. 

“We really need these events and activation efforts to bring people downtown so they can see and can be proud of their city,” he said.

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz weighed in with his own experience about being ‘nagged’ to bring back Party in the Park.

Truly, for eight years: ‘When are we going to bring Party in the Park back?’ It takes a little coordination and momentum to pull it off, but we’re finally doing that. It’s more than just nostalgia: It’s forward looking.”

Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz

A number of new events are on the horizon, including Party in the Park, Lunch at Levis and Wellness at the Square schedules. 

Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz highlights local staples of the 419 and touted new economic development plan for downtown. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)

For a more expansive list of events happening in Toledo, checkout downtowntoledo.org

2025 Party in the Park Schedule

Free Concert Series & Family-Friendly Events

Where: Promenade Park | When: Friday Evenings

Opening Acts: 6–7 p.m., unless otherwise noted

Main Acts: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted

Friday, May 30 | Zack Attack Band & Opener: Triplette’s

Friday, June 6 | Beef Carvers & Opener: The 25’s

Friday, June 13 | Hot Air Balloon Glow collaborative event at Promenade Park & Glass City Riverwalk Promenade Park: The Grape Smugglers (8-10 p.m.) & Opener: Mizer Vossen Project (6 p.m.);

Glass City Riverwalk: Hollywood Connection Band (7-10 p.m.)

Friday, June 20 | Distant Cousinz & Opener: Wall Music – Juneteenth Celebration presented by TARTA

Friday, June 27 | North of Nashville & Opener: J.T. Hayden

Friday, July 4 | City of Toledo Fireworks*

Friday, July 11 | Arctic Clam & Opener: Nikki D and the Sisters of Thunder

Friday, July 18 | The Day Drinkers & Opener: Funk Factory

Friday, July 25 | The Skittlebots & Opener: Daisy Chain – Christmas in July

Friday, Aug. 1 | Jeep Fest Activities*

Friday, Aug. 8 | Greggie and the Jets (Elton John Tribute) & Opener: Venyx

Friday, Aug. 15 | Toledo Pride Activities*

Friday, Aug. 22 | 90s R&B Jam – DJ Lyte N Rod, Wall Music & Friends, Hosted by Big Trice

Friday, Aug. 29 | The Ultimate Garth Brooks Tribute Band & Opener: Ashley Martin Band (8–10 p.m.); Drone Show at 10pm – “Thank You Toledo” Appreciation Night

*Note: Events marked with an asterisk are supported, but not directly programmed by ConnecToledo

20th Anniversary of Lunch at Levis

Grab takeout from a local restaurant or food truck and enjoy free live music and fun at this lunchtime event series!

When: June 5 to Oct. 2, 2025
Every Thursday afternoon from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Where:  Levis Square Park

2025 Food Truck Lineup

Baba’s Eats, Beastro Burger, Deets BBQ, Falafel King, Fat Boyz, Lyles Crepes, The Loaded Chicken, Wanna Make ‘Er Loaded, Trip ‘n Biscuits, Stubborn Brother, Naan Stop Kebap, Better Than Yo Mama’s, Casero Kitchen, PM Frosted Fantasies, BD’s Lemonade King, Bean Crazy 419 & Guac Shop

Thursday, June 5 – Kickoff Event | DJ Jon Zenz

Thursday, June 12 | Michael Corwin

Thursday, June 19 – Juneteenth Celebration | Distant Cousinz Trio

Thursday, June 26 | Chris Knopp

Thursday, July 3 – Independence Day Event | Shane Piasecki

Thursday, July 10 | New Moon

Thursday, July 17 | Ben DeLong

Thursday, July 24 – Christmas in July Event | Arctic Clam

Thursday, July 31 | Chloe & The Steel Strings

Thursday, Aug. 7 | Mud Hens Hype Bash

Thursday, Aug. 14 | Chavar Dontae

Thursday, Aug. 21 – Local Vendor Market | Tim Oehlers

Thursday, Aug. 28 | Water Street Band

Thursday, Sept. 4 – UT Football Hype Bash | DJ Super Nathan

Thursday, Sept. 11 | Terry & Charlie

Thursday, Sept. 18 | Ora Pettaway

Thursday, Sept. 25 | Tony Salazar

Thursday, Oct. 2 | DJ Jon Zenz

Wellness at the Square Schedule

Free yoga and fitness classes. All fitness levels welcome!

When: Saturday Mornings from 11 a.m. – noon

Where: Levis Square Park

Saturday, Aug. 9 | Yoga led by Toledo Mindfulness Institute

Saturday, Aug. 16 | Strength Training led by The Standard Fitness Academy

Saturday, Aug. 23 | Yoga led by Danielle Nolff

Saturday, Aug. 30 | Strength Training led by Gamefit HQ

Saturday, Sept. 6 | Mindful Fitness led by Toledo Mindfulness Institute

Saturday, Sept. 13 | Yoga led by Parting Clouds Yoga

Saturday, Sept. 20 | Strength Training led by The Standard Fitness Academy

Saturday, Sept. 27 | Yoga led by Parting Clouds Yoga

Announcement Briefs

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Press Release
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Pexels photo by Markus Winkler

(Announcements are compiled from press releases and in order received)

NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Toledo Opera selects resident artists for 2025-2026 season

TOLEDO – Toledo Opera will welcome Sarah Rachel Bacani (soprano), Danielle Casós (mezzo soprano), Brady DelVecchio (tenor) Rick Hale (baritone), and Yura Jang (pianist) as Resident Artists for the 2025-2026 season.

All five will serve as touring artists for the Opera on Wheels program, which travels extensively, visiting local educational institutions and bringing live opera to the furthest reaches of the Toledo area. Annually, the program is performed for 20,000 students from Findlay to Ann Arbor and Sandusky to Archbold.

This season, the traveling production will be an original children’s opera: The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish. Joshua Borths, of James Madison University School of Music, wrote the score and libretto. James M. Norman, Toledo Opera’s general director, will direct the production.

The five will also perform Toledo Opera’s fall and spring tours of Opera ‘Round Town (formerly Opera Outdoors) – a series of pop-up live performances at community hubs throughout Toledo. Vocal selections from the classical repertoire, along with musical theater and other American standards will be heard in the fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026.

The Resident Artists will also sing smaller roles in Toledo Opera’s mainstage productions of Carmen and The Elixir of Love which are slated for this season.

For more information about the 2025-2026 Resident Artists and/or Opera on Wheels, visit toledoopera.org. (05/17)

UToledo to host more than a dozen summer camps

TOLEDO – The University of Toledo will host more than a dozen summer camps for kids to hone their athletic skills, explore their educational interests, build up their musical chops or simply have fun playing and learning with peers.

Information about UToledo’s summer camp programs, along with fee information and registration deadlines, is available on the University camp calendar.

Many of this summer’s camps are specifically designed to introduce high school students to potential areas of study after graduation.

The College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Services, the College of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences all have summer camps aimed at allowing high school students to explore careers in those fields and get a glimpse of what they could expect as undergraduate students at UToledo.

For younger children, the Office of Recreational Services will host its annual Kids Camp, which features arts and crafts, multiple field trips, guest speakers, sports, swimming and more. Open to kids between the ages of 5 and 12, the camp begins Monday, June 2, and runs nine weeks through Friday, Aug. 1. Campers must register for each week individually.

Rocket Athletics also is hosting multiple camps this summer for elementary school children. Additional camps include an orchestra workshop, a guitar camp, a drum major camp and camps for high school students interested in neurosciences or bioinformatics. (05/17)

BGSU students, military members selected for distinguished National Veterans Leadership Foundation fellowship

BOWLING GREEN – Two Bowling Green State University students, who also serve as active military members, are among a select group of students from more than 75 colleges and universities nationwide recently chosen to participate in the distinguished National Veterans Leadership Foundation (NVFL) program.

Currently serving in the Ohio Army National Guard, Christopher Ogle and Grant Hayden were selected in part for their leadership and service-oriented support offered to fellow service members through their work in the BGSU Office of Nontraditional and Military Student Services (NTMSS).

As NVLF fellows, Ogle and Hayden will collaborate with BGSU – ranked the No. 1 university in the Midwest for veteran and active military students – on initiatives to improve support for military-connected students and join a national network of dedicated advocates.

As a staff sergeant and combat medic specialist/emergency care sergeant from Westerville, Ohio, Ogle has had his education interrupted by deployments. Despite pausing his education, Ogle credits his success to the supportive staff in the NTMSS office.

After visiting BGSU in 2019 with his now-wife, Hayden fell in love with the campus and the tight-knit community of Bowling Green. He is a combat medic from Centerburg, Ohio. (05/17)

Mom’s House, Pregnancy Center celebrate new Laurie’s Place

TOLEDO – Today, one year after breaking ground, Mom’s House and The Pregnancy Center celebrated the grand opening of Laurie’s Place, a collaborative new space designed to empower and support Toledo families. The milestone marked the culmination of a shared vision and a year of progress made possible by generous donors and unwavering community support.

Located at 722 N. Westwood Ave., Laurie’s Place will serve as a second location for Mom’s House and a new hub for The Pregnancy Center’s expanded services. Together, the organizations aim to remove barriers for single parents and families—providing access to free early childhood education, parenting resources, life skills training, and wraparound support. While this is a collaborative effort, Mom’s House and The Pregnancy Center remain two separate, independent organizations. Their partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration—each bringing their unique strengths to better serve the community.

Laurie’s Place was named in honor of Laurie Moore, whose legacy of love and caregiving inspired the project. Her husband, Bob Moore, provided an anchor gift to the organizations’ “Rattle the Stars” capital campaign, setting the foundation for what would become a $12.1 million community endeavor. Thanks to the generosity of 390 donors, the campaign reached its goal and brought the vision to life.

A central feature of the new facility is the TO-GET-HER space—a revolutionary concept that allows community partners to deliver services under one roof. This model streamlines access to care and resources for families, creating a more holistic and accessible support system.

To learn more about Laurie’s Place and the continued efforts of the “Rattle the Stars” campaign, visit rattlethestarstoledo.org. (05/14)

BGSU professor selected as 48th Probst Memorial Lecturer

BOWLING GREEN – A Bowling Green State University researcher recently joined a notable list of Nobel laureates after being selected as the guest speaker for the 48th William J. Probst Memorial Lecture, recognizing their expertise and advancements in the field of photochemistry.

Dr. Jayaraman Sivaguru, a distinguished university professor in the Department of Chemistry and world-renowned BGSU Center for Photochemical Sciences, has dedicated his career to advancing research in photochemical sciences, working with Fortune 500 companies and collaborating with industries to solve real-world problems.

As part of this year’s lecture at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Sivaguru presented “Lessons from Light for Life and Leisure” and “Harnessing the Power of Light to Drive Chemical Changes.”

Sivaguru’s impact on the science field goes beyond his classroom each year when he engages with local school districts through the PICNICS program at BGSU.

Open to high school students, Sivaguru and BGSU students offer a six-week science-based experience that empowers high school students to engage in real-world, cutting-edge research in BGSU science labs. Students conduct daily laboratory activities before presenting their findings at a public event.

Sivaguru is slated to present at the prestigious Gordon Conference later this year and will also co-organize the Pacifichem Symposium on “Photosciences in Molecular and Supramolecular Scaffolds” hosted by the International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies. (05/14)

Place your bet on Imagination Station‘s All In for Science

No beginner’s luck needed! It’s time to go All In for Science at Imagination Station’s Celebrity Wait fundraiser on Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m.

Enjoy a four-course meal at the Hollywood Casino’s renowned Regalo restaurant, served by our local celebrity waiters—community leaders and changemakers who believe in the power of STEAM.

What: Imagination Station’s Celebrity Wait fundraiser

When: Tuesday, June 10 | 6 p.m.

Where: The Hollywood Casino | Regalo

Throughout the night, you’ll be treated to an evening of specials prepared by Regalo’s culinary team. However, the real jackpot of the night is the support raised for Imagination Station. Proceeds from the night go right back to the science center, strengthening and expanding programming and community outreach, helping Imagination Station fuel the dreams of future scientists and innovators.

Get ready to have a winning night for STEAM and go ALL IN for a brighter future.

To purchase tickets for Celebrity Wait or make a donation to the science center, visit imaginationstationtoledo.org. (05/14)

Gavarone recognizes Wood County Public Library’s anniversary

COLUMBUS — State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) recognized the Wood County District Public Library for reaching the significant milestone of a 150th anniversary.

“Times have changed but this library has changed with the times,” said Gavarone. “This facility is still an invaluable resource for our community, and we anticipate it will be a beneficial and loved neighbor for at least another century and more.”

The library has become much more than simply a place to borrow a book. It now offers “150 Things To Do,” which include using a 3D printer, getting help earning a GED, and renting movies for free. Click here for a full list of activities the library offers. 

The Wood County District Public Library is the earliest known public library in Bowling Green, established in 1875. The library initially moved around to different locations, largely dependent upon who was serving as librarian at the time. (05/11)

Kristaun Self sentenced for fatal shooting, arson

TOLEDO – Lucas County prosecuting attorney Julia R. Bates announced that on May 9, a Lucas County Common Pleas Court judge sentenced Kristaun Self to 25 years in prison.

In State of Ohio v. Kristaun Self, the defendant pleaded guilty to five charges: involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery with a gun specification, aggravated arson, tampering with evidence and the abuse of a corpse.

On Nov. 8, 2023, Self met Josiah Gill on Esther St. in Toledo to trade handguns. Self then shot Gill and set his body on fire in the back seat of Gill’s car beneath the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway. Because Self was a juvenile at the time of the offense, he would have been eligible for parole after 25 years under Ohio law.

This was a brutal and deliberate crime,” Lucas County Prosecuting Attorney Julia R. Bates said. “The defendant chose violence, destruction and concealment over basic human decency. I hope Josiah Gill’s family can find a degree of peace and that his memory lives in their hearts.”

Assistant Lucas County prosecutors Joe Gerber and David J. Borell led the prosecution. (05/11)

Happenings Calendar

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Press Release
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Pexels photo by Bich Tran

(Happenings are compiled from press releases and placed in order of occurring dates)

NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY

HAPPENINGS

Harp Gathering 2025 at Sauder Village

ARCHBOLD – Harpists and harp enthusiasts are gathering for a weekend of festival workshops, concerts and a vendor hall, beginning Friday afternoon and continuing until Sunday morning.

There will be about 25 workshops, including three from Toledo’s own Denise Grupp-Verbon; Seven concerts; a Sunday Devotion led by Jo Lynn Rhodes; and a Grand Prize – a HG30 Lever Harp with a case.

Joining us this year will be: Kim Robertson, Christina Tourin, Stephanie Claussen, Karen Peterson, Beth Stockdell, Tapestry (Denise & Michael Grupp-Verbon), Deette Bunn, Carol Kappus, Jo Lynn Rhodes, Joy Slavens, Pat Tait, and more to be announced.

May 15-18 at Sauder Village's Heritage Inn in Archbold. For information, go to website.

Opera Presents: Opera Cabaret

TOLEDO — Toledo Opera will present the second installation of Opera Cabaret on May 17. The event will feature performances by the Toledo Opera Resident Artists and members of the Toledo Opera Chorus.

Opera Cabaret will be hosted by Toledo Opera Artistic director Kevin Bylsma. Refreshments will be provided, and this event is free and open to the public. A freewill donation will be accepted on the evening of the event, and will be used to sustain and develop the Toledo Opera Chorus.

For Toledo Opera artistic director, Kevin Bylsma, the return of Opera Cabaret is both a celebration of local talent and a chance to connect more personally with the community.

Opera Cabaret is a new performance series developed by Toledo Opera to spotlight the artistry and talent of the Toledo Opera Chorus. The program was conceived following the company’s production of South Pacific, which featured a small and specialized ensemble. In response, the artistic staff created Opera Cabaret as a platform to fully showcase the chorus – a group regarded as the heart of Toledo Opera. Comprised of regional and local professional singers, the Toledo Opera Chorus plays an essential role in bringing each mainstage production to life.

These dedicated artists generously contribute their time, talent, and passion to the company. Opera Cabaret offers them the opportunity to shine in a more intimate setting, while also deepening connections with the community through varied vocal selections and engaging performances.

Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. at the Toledo Opera offices (425 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 601 in Toledo. For more information, visit toledoopera.org. For media access, please contact Rachael Cammarn at rcammarn@toledoopera.org.

Experience TARTA job fair held for TARTA job candidates

TOLEDO – The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) continues to look for dedicated, career-minded individuals with a passion for connecting people to their communities.

At the Experience TARTA event, job seekers can complete applications, speak with
TARTA’s Human Resources team about open positions, and even drive a bus through
a secured course.

TARTA is currently hiring fixed line operators, a maintenance supervisor and utility
mechanics, but those interested in other jobs may still come to the event to speak
with HR personnel about the benefits of working for TARTA.

“It isn’t just about being able to give driving a bus a try; we want anyone who is
interested in helping our community by pursuing a career in transit to join us and get
a sense of what it’s like to be on Team TARTA,” Barrera-Richards said.

Applicants who want to drive the bus at this event:
 Be at least 21 years old
 Have a high school diploma or GED
 Have a valid operator’s license with no more than two points in the last three years.

Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. to noon at 1127 W. Central Avenue in Toledo –

Disabled Women Make History (and Art) returns to TMA

TOLEDO – The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA), in partnership with the Disability EmpowHer Network, is proud to present the fourth annual Disabled Women Make History (and Art) exhibition.

This vibrant event showcases the work of 20 selected artists with disabilities and provides an opportunity for the public to meet the artists, view their work, and celebrate the intersection of art, identity and advocacy. 

More than 90 artists applied to participate this year, working across various mediums including painting, sculpture, fiber, and mixed media. A quick program will kick off the evening, followed by time for guests to mingle with artists and explore the exhibition. Light refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. 

“This event is about more than displaying beautiful and compelling artwork—it’s about community, representation, and providing a platform for voices that are too often unheard,” said Katie Shelley, TMA’s Conda Family Manager of Access Initiatives. “These artists are sharing not just their creativity, but also their lived experiences. That’s powerful.” 

Disability EmpowHer Network director of programs Sophie Poost added, “When disabled women are given space to tell their stories through art, the impact is transformative—not only for the artists, but for every visitor who experiences the exhibition. This program empowers artists to lead, speak up, and make history through their work.”  

As part of the program, artists will participate in workshops the day of the exhibition, including a session on pricing their artwork for sale and a public speaking workshop designed to build professional and personal confidence. 

Disabled Women Make History (and Art) is made possible in part through the generosity of the Ohio Olmstead Task Force and the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council.

Saturday, May 17, 6–8 p.m. in the TMA Glass Pavilion.

Imagination Station May events: Hockey, Wicked, art and music

> HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever | All Day | Free for Members, $5 for non-members | Buy Tickets

Don’t hang up your skates just yet, T-town! HOCKEY: Faster Than Ever is now extended through August 31. You can score a visit to the coolest exhibit all summer long and see a power play of science and sport.

> Wicked Sing-Along | May 17, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Buy Tickets

Imagination Station is turning into Shiz University for one day only that will give you a chance to fly! Join us for two special sing-along showings of the most pop-u-lar movie out there.

> Colleen Welsch: May 16-18 | All Day

Step inside a real music production studio at Imagination Station with music producer, singer-songwriter Colleen Welsch. Visitors will explore the technology and science behind sound recording as they make their very own song.

Toledo Opera to Hold Children’s Chorus Auditions for Carmen

TOLEDO – Toledo Opera is seeking boys and girls ages 9-14 with unchanged voices to sing in the children’s chorus of Carmen (August – October 2024 commitment).

Bizet’s sizzling epic of dark passion, Carmen, tells the story of a fierce woman who lives life on her own terms – and the men who can’t let her go. Don José, a soldier drawn into her orbit, abandons everything for Carmen’s love, only to find himself consumed by jealousy when her attentions shift to the dashing bullfighter, Escamillo.

With its twisting tale of romance, deceit, and disaster set to magnetic melodies, Bizet’s masterpiece, Carmen, has become one of the world’s most celebrated operas. Featuring some of the most popular music to ever grace the opera stage, Carmen brings every aspect of Bizet’s thrilling tale to life, from its tantalizing beginning to its devastating climax. Under the baton of Adam Turner (Toledo Opera’s Il Trovatore and Roméo & Juliet), Toledo Opera’s vibrant original production is not to be missed.

Rehearsals will take place on Sundays from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. at the Toledo Opera Offices. To schedule an audition, please email James Norman at jnorman@toledopera.org.

Auditions: Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m., and on Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.
> Auditions will be held at Toledo Opera Offices, 425 Jefferson Ave., Suite 601.

Imagination Station unveils mural by St. Ursula Academy students

TOLEDO – Imagination Station is thrilled to unveil a brand-new mural at the science center designed and created by St. Ursula Academy students on Monday, May 19 at 5:30pm.

The new mural updates and brightens Imagination Station’s Exploration Center—a seating area outside Atomic Café, that’s a popular place for students, families and visitors to gather. The artwork spans three walls and highlights STEAM by using scientific imagery, inspiring phrasing and unique elements of design to empower the next generation of scientists.

The installation was created by students in the St. Ursula Academy Community Art and Production class, led by instructor Caroline Jardine. In January, students began meeting with Imagination Station to brainstorm designs and concepts for the large-scale project.

While the entire project symbolizes science and technology, the main focal point showcases Imagination Station’s mission statement—Empower Everyone to Explore the Sciences—a representation of the science center’s role in inspiring the future leaders in STEAM.

The mural unveiling will take place in Imagination Station’s Exploration Center. St. Ursula faculty, board members students and their families will be in attendance.

James A. Huber Teen Center to assemble, present comfort kits

The James A. Huber Teen Center Keystone Club will pack and present comfort kits to Lucas County Children Services, Ronald McDonald House and the La Posada Family Shelter on Monday, May 19 at 4:15 p.m. at the Rogers High School cafeteria.

The project is part of the Keystone Club’s Fuzzy Friends service project to provide stuffed animals, complete with names and backstories, and other items to children in times of stress. The Keystone Club is a Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo program providing leadership development and community service opportunities for young people ages 14 to 18.

The project is funded by The Bigger than Basketball Program, a collaborative effort between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland-Cliffs.

The Arts Commission to Launch New Project Grant in 2025

TOLEDO – The Arts Commission has announced a new Project Grant pilot program in 2025.

In a press release, The Arts Commission stated that it “deeply values the vibrant and diverse creative community that defines Toledo. We recognize the important role artists play in shaping the city’s identity and are dedicated to supporting their growth and sustainability.”

Through its granting programs, The Arts Commission offers direct support to artists at different stages of their careers, helping them pursue new projects, develop their creative practice, and contribute to the region’s cultural landscape.

The Project Grant is a competitive program offering financial support to artists of all mediums to create or complete original works of art that show artistic growth and creative experimentation. Emerging, mid-career, and established artists are encouraged to apply.

Eligible categories of support related to the creation and completion of a creative project include materials and supplies, equipment, and project support. Artists may request funding at the $2,000, $2,500, or $3,000 level. Requested grant amounts should not exceed $3,000.

Individual artists and members of artist collectives with a current residence or creative studio within 30 miles of downtown Toledo may be eligible.

Grant guidelines and the application link can be found on The Arts Commission’s website theartscommission.org.

Applications open Monday, May 19, and must be submitted before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.

Life Keep Living It Concert & Wellness Expo

TOLEDO – Center of Hope Family Services is hosting Life Keep Living It, a free community concert and mental health wellness expo at the Warren AME Church. The event is on Saturday, May 24, 2025. It’s free and open to the public.

This uplifting event aims to equip Toledo residents with practical tools for preserving mental well-being, reducing the risk of suicide and opioid abuse, and connecting to education, workforce, and wellness resources for children and adults.

Featured performances include Grammy-nominated gospel artist Darius Brooks and Grammy-winning legend Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark.

Miller Ferries honor American veterans on Memorial Day weekend

Put-in-Bay – Miller Ferries will offer active U.S. military personnel and American veterans free passenger fare in honor of Memorial Day. Military personnel and veterans are asked to please present military identification at the Miller Ferry ticket booths in order to receive a free round trip passenger ticket to Put-in-Bay or Middle Bass Island.

On May 26, the National Park Service’s Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial on Put-in-Bay will have a Memorial Day Ceremony. It will pay tribute to everyone who has defended the United States of America – from the Revolutionary War to the Afghanistan War.

Saturday, May 24 through Monday, May 26. 
> For ferry schedules, visit MillerFerry.com.

TPS rallies to combat absenteeism

By
Mary Helen Delisle
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Oakdale Elementary gym teacher Steve Thurn demonstrates how to use Lü Interactive Systems. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)

Oakdale Elementary participates in “making every day count”

TOLEDO – Public school attendance has dropped nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic and, for most schools, has never returned to pre-COVID levels. Toledo Public Schools (TPS) decided it was time for that to change.  

TPS started an attendance incentive program in elementary schools, called Let’s Make Every Day Count, which rewards students for consistently showing up to class. 

These incentives range from tickets to professional basketball games and ice skating trips to prizes, like drones.

Let’s Make Every Day Count is provided by a grant partnership program that uses outside funds rather than district tax dollars.

“I’m not going to turn down an incentive program for any kid. And if the district wants to be a part of it and it helps us save funds, we’re going to be a part of that process here at school because we are always looking for funds here at East Toledo,” said Oakdale Elementary principal Robert Yenrick. 

Oakdale Elementary principal Robert Yenrick has been working to increase attendance in Toledo Public Schools. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)

 Yenrick said these programs have occurred for the last two years but have picked up significantly this past year.

Chronic absenteeism, characterized in Ohio as missing 15 or more days of school, has many negative outcomes for a child’s learning experience.

Rates of illiteracy and dropping out of school greatly increase for chronically absent students, the AP News reports. Oakdale’s 35 percent chronic absenteeism rate is caused by many factors.

“Homelessness is a big issue for some schools and families,” Yenrick said.

With homelessness and poverty often comes a lack of transportation. Oakdale has worked to fill this need with a behavior partners group called New Concepts, which helps impoverished students and/or students who lack transportation get to school. But without community support, programs like New Concepts cannot succeed.

“There are all kinds of needs people have. And we have needs as a school, too,” said Yenrick.

Community members can get involved by making meals for food-insecure families, participating in the New Concepts program, tutoring, moderating recess, or making meals for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Without community support, extra work and financial burden falls on Oakdale teachers.

“We had a Lego club with no Legos,” Yenrick said.

Lego purchasing was left to the Lego Club teacher’s own dime.

Yenrick encouraged community involvement, saying it could help support student education and well-being and alleviate some of the burden that falls on teachers.

Kenise Winfree works in the kindness room at Oakdale Elementary, a place where students can come to do crafts and unwind if they’re having a rough day. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)

While community involvement can be increased with a little encouragement, some factors of absenteeism, such as illness, are a little harder to control.

Yenrick said that for students who get multiple viruses during the academic year, those 15 absent days add up quickly. Despite the challenges, Oakdale works to make learning fun for students and encourages them to attend class.

One way Oakdale has done this is by implementing Lü Interactive Systems, a learning game system that projects onto the gym wall.

“It [Lü] is the first one in an urban school in the northern part of the state. All the others are [in] suburban schools,” Yenrick said.

Students can play games on Lü that have learning or exercise benefits, such as interactive math games and dance games that can be played during gym class.

Oakdale gym teacher Steve Thurn said he watches the kids come alive when they play the Lü dance game.

Thurn said tutors also use the game to help children struggling with particular school subjects, such as memorizing multiples of five. Lü’s interactive math games help students have fun while also improving their education.

Oakdale Elementary School in Toledo. (TFP Photo/Mary Helen DeLisle)

Oakdale also encourages the balance of learning and fun by sending kids to camp through a YMCA program.

“We’re looking to get businesses to do sixth-grade camp,” Yenrick said. “I’m trying to raise money for the majority of the Eastside schools to go to camp through sixth grade. I want these kids to experience a portion of life that’s just different than what they see every day, and give them the chance to say ‘Hey, there’s a different world out here that I don’t know.’”

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