On this episode of Behind the Byline, host Jaden Jefferson has a conversation with Jim Ickes. Ickes is an attorney with Zuber Lawler, a national cannabis law firm.
Ickes is the Cannabis News columnist for the Toledo Free Press. He’s also the podcast host for Going Global for Global Cannabis Times, and is on the board of directors for the Cannabis Beverage Association.
Talking points include:
why Ickes termed the cannabis industry MAGAjuana
the explanation of the 2018 Farm Bill, Ohio SB 56 and Ohio HB 160
the high cost of doing business in the cannabis industry
the rise of beverages that contain hemp
de-stigmatizing cannabis usage
New episodes of the Behind the Byline drop every Wednesday.
Hemp and alcoholic beverages: Cycling Frog has 5mg THC and 10mg CBD; High Level is a Toledo distillery and contains no hemp; Botanical Brewing Company’s Delta 9 is 10 mg hemp-derived legal 3%, brewed in Florida.(TFP Photo/Lori King)
In 2018, the Agriculture Improvement Act, commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill, was enacted, removing low-dose cannabis plants from the Controlled Substances Act by defining hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis.
This bipartisan legislation established a clear legal framework for hemp-derived products, enabling the emergence of a new consumer category—low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages.
I’ve coined the term “MAGAjuana” to describe this phenomenon, reflecting the bipartisan coalition that supported hemp legalization—leading to a thriving national market for low-dose, responsibly regulated THC beverages.
The Rise of Low-Dose THC Beverages
Since the passage of the farm bill, states have taken different approaches to regulating hemp-derived THC products. Some, like Minnesota, have embraced a structured regulatory framework that allows the sale of low-dose THC beverages (up to 5 mg per serving) in general retail settings, including bars and restaurants.
Cycling Frog Wild Cherry has 5mg THC and 10mg CBD and is an adult use consumable hemp product. (TFP Photo/Lori King)
Minnesota 2022 Law: Minnesota set the standard for integrating hemp-derived THC into mainstream retail while ensuring product safety, testing and responsible consumption. Just two years in, the market has already generated over $200 million in sales, showing the economic potential of a well-regulated system.
Missouri SB 54 – Pending: Missouri lawmakers have proposed a bill to allow up to 5 mg THC per serving in retail stores, while keeping higher-dose products in dispensaries. If passed, Missouri would adopt a hybrid approach, recognizing the public demand for THC beverages while maintaining a regulated marketplace.
Low-dose THC beverages are gaining popularity as an alternative to alcohol, creating economic opportunities for bars, restaurants and retailers while providing consumers with new social and wellness choices.
Kentucky SB 202: This state bill is a more balanced regulatory approach. While Ohio’s HB 160 seeks to heavily restrict low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages, Kentucky is moving in a different direction. The Kentucky Senate recently passed SB 202, a bill that creates a regulated market for cannabis-infused beverages with clear licensing requirements.
Key provisions of Kentucky’s SB 202 includes:
Legalizes cannabis-infused beverages with up to 5 mg THC per serving
Implements a three-tier distribution system, similar to alcohol regulation, requiring licensed manufacturers, distributors, and retailers
Restricts sales to package liquor stores in wet territories only, banning sales in bars, restaurants and grocery stores
Requires licensing and regulation by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control
Mandates a study by the University of Kentucky Cannabis Center on the safety, distribution, and effects of cannabis beverages
Includes an emergency clause, making it law upon the Governor’s signature.
Ohio HB 160 is Ohio’s move to shut down low-dose THC beverages. While Kentucky is creating a structured regulatory framework for cannabis beverages, Ohio is moving toward prohibition. HB 160, recently introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives, proposes severe restrictions on hemp-derived THC products, effectively eliminating the state’s emerging low-dose cannabis beverage market.
What HB 160 Would Do:
Caps THC content at 0.5 mg per serving and 2 mg per package, making current low-dose THC beverages illegal overnight
Repeals Ohio’s existing hemp laws (Chapter 3780) and consolidates regulation under Chapter 3796, treating hemp-derived products the same as marijuana
Restricts THC beverage sales to licensed dispensaries only, removing them from bars, restaurants, and general retail stores
Introduces new taxes on adult-use cannabis, signaling a broader move toward state-controlled cannabis sales while eliminating hemp-derived competitors.
If passed, HB 160 would end Ohio’s low-dose THC beverage market before it fully develops, cutting off small businesses, farmers and retailers from participating in one of the fastest-growing consumer industries in the country.
HB 160 would shut Ohio out of a global market shift
Beyond local economic impact, restricting low-dose THC beverages will have ripple effects on Ohio’s alcohol industry, bars and restaurants.
Botanical Brewing Company’s Delta 9 is 10 mg hemp-derived legal 3% and brewed in Florida.(TFP Photo/Lori King)
American alcohol brands are being removed from Canadian stores due to the growing U.S.-Canada trade war, making domestic growth strategies more critical. Cannabis beverages are an emerging revenue stream that alcohol companies and hospitality businesses need to offset lagging beer and liquor sales.
Restricting these products in Ohio closes doors for bars, restaurants and alcohol companies seeking to compete in a rapidly evolving market.
Ohio needs a balanced approach. The 2018 Farm Bill created a clear legal framework for hemp-derived products, and many states are taking measured steps to ensure product safety while supporting economic growth. HB 160 does not enhance consumer protections—it restricts retail access to low-dose THC beverages while favoring dispensary-only sales, even though Ohio’s state-licensed cannabis businesses already have the ability to produce and sell these products using cannabinoids derived from cannabis plants within the regulated supply chain.
Instead of imposing unnecessary restrictions, Ohio should consider a balanced approach that:
Ensures consumer safety through testing and labeling
Maintains retail access to responsibly regulated low-dose THC beverages
Supports both dispensaries and general retail in providing consumer choices
The future of MAGAjuana in Ohio
Ohio is at a crossroads. It can embrace the growing market for low-dose THC beverages, supporting small businesses, economic development, and consumer choice—or it can pass HB 160 and shut down an industry that is flourishing in other states.
The 2018 Farm Bill set the stage for regulated hemp-derived products, and Ohio’s response will determine whether it moves forward with the national market—or gets left behind.
By contrast, Kentucky’s SB 202 provides a model for regulated cannabis beverage sales, striking a balance between market opportunity and oversight. If Ohio continues down the path of HB 160, it risks ceding market leadership to its neighbors and shutting out local businesses from a billion-dollar industry.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz gives his 2025 State of the City Address on the 13th floor of Tower of Maumee in downtown Toledo on Wednesday. The mayor’s speech revolved around converting old downtown historical sites into housing, like the Tower on the Maumee. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Confident of his achievements so far, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz topped off the end of his State of the City Address with an announcement that he was running for a third term.
A third consecutive mayoral term wasn’t even an option until November 2024, when Issue 9 passed, amending Toledo’s charter to allow three consecutive terms for the strong mayor position.
“We’ve done a lot, we’ve made progress, but there is more that we can do together and that is why tonight I am formally announcing my candidacy for mayor,” he declared as he stood in an industrial zone on the 13th floor of the Tower on the Maumee in downtown Toledo on March 5.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz spoke on his achievements, his vision for converting downtown historical buildings into housing and announced his candidacy for a third term as mayor. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Four success points
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz funneled his successes over his first two terms into four major categories, citing them as progress in Toledo since he took office:
1. Public Safety a. Declining crime rates 1. Expanded police 2. Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (MONSE) 2. Economic & Community Development a. Site Selection Magazine has placed Toledo in the top 10 places in the nation for business investment for year b. The completion of the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA c. Riverwalk and Glass City Metropark 1. Completion of the Metropark has brought in people from surrounding areas. 2. The Metropark has already facilitated growth in the surrounding neighborhoods d. Toledo Pickle has opened in the Vistula neighborhood e. Revitalization of the Jefferson Center. 3. Infrastructure a. Improved roads b. All lead water-lines should be removed by 2026. 4. Financial Stability a. Increased bond rating for the city of Toledo b. An increased savings in the "rainy day fund" from $4 million to $60 million.
A fake edition of the Toledo Times is placed on the seats of all chairs during Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s State of the City Address. The headlines are upbeat and commemorate an idealized Toledo in the year 2040. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Kapszukiewicz ended his address by vision casting about growing Toledo’s population again, which would raise the city’s revenue without raising taxes.
“It is time for Toledo to grow,” he said. “If Detroit can grow, it is time for Toledo. There’s no more excuses.”
Identifying lack of available housing as part of what was perpetuating Toledo’s population decline, Kapszukiewicz said “there is a demand for housing in Toledo,” and referenced a Housing and Community Development report.
He noted that the 2021 housing study identified a current need and a demand for 10,000 additional units of housing.
Kapszukiewicz cited Toledo’s 30 percent vacancy rate as far above the national average of 20 percent, and showed a picture of the Franklin Park Mall with the caption, Downtown vacancy greater than size of Franklin Park Mall.
Slide from Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s presentation for the State of the City address. (Courtesy Slide)
“So, you can think of the core of our city as having two Franklin Park malls’ amount of [vacant] space,” he said. The study reported about 3 million square feet of vacant space in downtown Toledo.
“We have the ability to solve both problems at once if we can do a better job converting spaces like this,” Kapszukiewicz said, referring to standing up on the 13th floor of the Tower on the Maumee.
“That is what Nick Eyde is doing in this space. It used to be office space. It’s going to be a place where people are going to live,” he said.
Kapszukiewicz said he and Toledo city council were working on a proposal that would put about $25 million towards revitalizing historic sites in the same way the city helped restore these formerly vacant buildings: The Hillcrest, Commodore Perry and the LaSalle.
Toledo city council member at-large Mac Driscoll commented after the mayor’s address that “we absolutely have to build more housing in the city Toledo.
“If we’re not growing, we’re not going anywhere as a region. We’re not going to get second looks from an economic development perspective if we don’t have the population. We [have]-got to grow our tax base,” Driscoll said. “There’s things we can’t do because we don’t have enough taxpayers in the city, so we have got to build more housing in the city of Toledo in order to grow our population.”
Kayson Alexander, 8, Jack Strancar, 7, and Rylee Robison, 7, all Elmhurst Alexander students, look out the window of the Tower on the Maumee’s 13th floor before the Mayor’s State of the City Address. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Paul Komisarek, chairman of political development for the Lucas County Republicans, criticized Kapszukiewicz, saying the mayor used the State of the City Address to campaign for his third term.
Komisarek expressed dissatisfaction with Kapszukiewicz’s ability to attract economic investment into Toledo.
“What economic development has improved all the wonderful individual neighborhoods in the City of Toledo?” Komisarek asked, as he questioned Kapszukiewicz’s past two terms.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announces his candidacy for a third term as mayor. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Maxwell Kelso leads a game of Dungeons and Dragons. (TFP Photo/Hannah Sellers)
HOLLAND –Marshall Jones dreamed of owning his own game shop ever since he was a child. In May of 2017, his wish came true when he and his wife, Robin Jones, opened Dragon’s Roost Coffee and Games, a coffee shop, game store and gathering place.
“Our ultimate goal was to have a good community. We wanted to break the mold and create a safe, inclusive place for all players and non-players,” Marshall Jones explained.
Dragon’s Roost Coffee & Games in Holland, Ohio. (TFP Photo/Hannah Sellers)
Alice Calvillo works at the counter as a barista. (TFP Photo/Hannah Sellers)
He said it’s important to him to welcome people at all levels of gaming experience and backgrounds of life. This locally owned business is a family affair, as you can find the husband and wife running the store with their granddaughter, Alice Calvillo, who works at the counter as barista.
“I’ve been here since I was 15. I love our customers and I’ve seen this place grow,” Calvillo shared.
The owners assure that anyone can walk into Dragon’s Roost and find something they enjoy, from the large selection of games, to the Hobby Station for painting miniatures, books on gaming lore, delicious drinks and bakery treats. The walls are covered in game-themed posters and art. Their menu boasts seasonal flavors, as well as signature favorites.
“I recommend the Han Solo,” Marshall Jones said about the raspberry café mocha. Another customer favorite is the Chewbacca, a caramel and toasted marshmallow café mocha with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
The atmosphere inside Dragon’s Roost is just what Marshall Jones planned: Welcoming and familiar as people gather to have adventures while empowering their imaginations.
Maxwell Kelso is one of the regulars at Dragon’s Roost. When he brought his idea of one-shot Dungeons and Dragons sessions (a popular tabletop role playing game) to the owner, Marshall Jones encouraged the idea wholeheartedly.
“He comes in and does all the voices and really makes an atmosphere for the players,” he said about Kelso.
There are game maps and a multitude of terrain sets free for anyone to use, and game clubs are encouraged to come in. For a full list of events, a calendar is released monthly.
“If you don’t think you are a gamer, you just haven’t found the right game yet,” Marshall Jones teases.
As more customers arrived, the shop filled with greetings and laughter as they found their spots at a game table, browsing the shelves at the Hobby Table or in the coffee shop. It is apparent that Dragon’s Roost acts as a second home to many.
Maxwell Kelso is one of the regulars at Dragon’s Roost. He brought his idea of one-shot Dungeons and Dragons sessions (a popular tabletop role playing game) to the store. (TFP Photo/Hannah Sellers)
A gamer plays Dungeons and Dragons. (TFP Photo/Hannah Sellers)
Kelso is excited at how well his sessions have taken off in just a few short months. He hopes that his Dungeon Master skills will bring in a new crowd of players that have been previously intimidated about getting into the game.
“I wanted to make Dungeons and Dragons accessible to more players. I put in the work and provide stat blocks so that more time can be spent on gameplay,” Kelso added.
Players of all skill levels and ages are invited to join gameplay, whether it is their first time or they have played for years. “It’s exhilarating when new players walk in and come up with crazy ideas I’ve never thought of before,” Kelso stated.
Kelso encourages players to join him as a cleric, a dwarf, a barbarian or any other number of characters for a few hours. “There are no strings attached. There is always a new adventure to be had.” He said he’s happy to have found a comfortable home for his growing group to gather on Sundays at 1 p.m.
“You do not have to have played this game before. You don’t need anything but an open attitude,” Kelso exclaimed.
Dragon’s Roost Coffee and Games in Holland, Ohio. (TFP Photos/Hannah Sellers)
Maxwell Kelso leads a game of Dungeons and Dragons.
Partners for Clean Streams volunteers clean up the Delaware Island along the Maumee River in Toledo. (Courtesy Photo/Partners for Clean Streams)
For environmentally minded locals who want to make a difference in our community, there are several ways to get involved. We’ve compiled a list of five organizations that are seeking volunteers.
Partners for Clean Streams
“Partners for clean streams is a coalition of citizens, government agencies, businesses and industries working towards restoring the quality of water,” said executive director Jesse Stock. “Our mission is primarily the removal of debris in and alongside our waterways.
“Seeing families, especially those with kids under 18, helping out gives me a lot of hope. It’s inspiring to see their enthusiasm,” said Stock. “We have a year-round debris removal program, but what we’re most known for is an annual event in September that we’ve held for 28 years.”
Partners for Clean Streams also marks storm drains, removes fishing debris from the Maumee River and monitors water quality.
To sign up for these activities, visit their websitehere. Reach out to admin@partnersforcleanstreams.org or 419-874-0727 for more information.
Black Swamp Conservancy
The mission of Black Swamp Conservancy is to preserve and enhance natural habitats and family farms in northwest Ohio for the benefit of current and future generations.
“We preserve over 22,000 acres at this time, more than 180 properties,” said Laura Rodriguez, events and education manager for Black Swamp Conservancy. A lot of the acreage includes family farms in Northwest Ohio, as well as natural habitats.
The conservancy restores strategically located properties back to their natural ecosystem, which could help in filtering water coming off of farm fields before it goes into a ditch, stream or river. The goal is stopping it before it lands in Lake Erie. This also helps increase biodiversity and natural habitat.
There are seasonal nature walks, along with gardening and photography workshops. On Wednesdays during the summer, there is the Paddle and Groove event, featuring live music from a pontoon while kayaking or canoeing downtown on the Maumee River.
Help out by removing invasive plants, planting beneficials, maintaining trails, improving habitats, office tasks, and planning or working at events.
The mission of CCL Perrysburg is to promote a legislative climate solution, the Carbon Fee and Dividend policy. The CCL also builds awareness about the present state of the climate.
Bob Clark-Phelps, Karen Soubeyrand and Charlotte Reith lobby in Washington D.C. for Citizen Climate Lobby. (Courtesy Photo)
“We can actually solve this problem through the policy, working together and being bipartisan. Climate change affects us all. Instead of arguing with each other, why don’t we work together and find solutions?” reasoned Rob Schuster, CCL’s chair.
“Citizens’ Climate Lobby – Perrysburg is totally powered by volunteers. We train members of the group to join in actions including lobbying politicians in northwest Ohio and Washington D.C., community tabling, and writing letters to the editor. There is also an easy monthly activity, such as writing a brief email to your congressman,” he explained.
Meetings are the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Way Public Library in Perrysburg. Zoom is available.
Google Citizens Climate Lobby, click the join CCL button, provide your information, and it will bring you to our chapter page or email Rob at robshue7@gmail.com
Climate Reality Project: NW Ohio Chapter (CRP)
“Our mission is to be the voice of reality about climate change in northwest Ohio by educating about the state of climate change and the need for individual and policy action,” said the organization’s co-chair, Julie Shapiro.
Climate Reality Project members Dennis Slotnick and Alicia Smith attend the How to Power a City movie, hosted by CRP. (Courtesy Photo)
For years, Climate Reality delivered climate presentations to civic groups, churches and clubs, and lobbied politicians to bring about policy change.
“We have expanded and now we collaborate with other groups to do projects such as EcoFest Toledo and movie events,” she said.
“We have a library tour targeting climate topics specific to their area. We did one at the Mott branch library about the urban heat island effect and what to do about it. The next one, at the Oregon library will focus on the impact of the changing climate on agriculture.
“We are a volunteer organization, so we need all kinds of help with our projects and welcome people openly,” noted Shapiro.
The group usually meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Toledo libraries, primarily the Sanger branch. Keep up to date with their meetings and events by following the group on Facebook. To get involved, email julie.shapiro@outlook.com.
Lake Erie Advocates
LEA defends Lake Erie from assaults by animal factories and other polluting sources to sustain the lake’s health for all life that depends on it.
“Since the water crisis in 2014…we have not had a moratorium on more manure…but five million more animals had been added,” said Sue Carter, an activist involved in LEA.
“I mean, the best thing to do is just show up at a meeting. There’ll be something to do, because there’s always going to be some place to put your body with a sign, or to go to a meeting and learn more, or speak out someplace or confront a politician.”
From its beginnings, LEA has confronted politicians, taught at schools, done demonstrations and put up billboards.
The best way to join this group is to attend a meeting. You can also go to lakeerieadvocates.org and subscribe for updates.
Public meetings take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., and held at Grace Lutheran Church, 4441 Monroe St, Toledo.
Lake Erie Advocate members Mike Ferner, from left, Sue Carter and Mary Meyers march for a clean Lake Erie in 2024. (Courtesy Photo)
This is an ongoing list of volunteer opportunities that will be updated throughout the year as we receive more updates.Bookmark it!
Unveiled Falcon birds celebrate their outing: From left - Kyle Negin: Danielle Cain; Will McLean; Lilah Nye; Cam Drake; and Hannah Super. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
BOWLING GREEN – When you think about Bowling Green State University, your mind might wander to school colors or the fight song, but for sports fans it’s undoubtedly the falcon.
When it comes to bringing the bird of prey to life, nobody does it better than students in the mascot costumes of Freddie and Frieda Falcon.
Near the end of every basketball season, the masked birds get the spotlight they deserve. One of those birds is Danielle Cain, unveiled to Falcon fans after BGSU’s home rivalry game against Toledo on Feb. 22.
Danielle Cain is unveiled to fans, family and friends. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
“Once I was at the game, I was very anxious watching the clock. The timer was going down very fast for some reason. Even when I got to interact with the crowd, it felt like I was only out there for five minutes before I had to go back and get ready for my reveal,” Cain recalled that day.
Cain, a senior majoring in criminal justice, was joined at the Battle of I-75 game by five other students who had to hide their “secret identity” from family, friends and the public for a year: Cam Drake; Will McLean; Kyle Negin; Lilah Nye; and Hannah Super.
“I’d say the closest I’ve been to being caught was there was a period where I had a lot of events in a row and I missed some scholarship things,” junior Hannah Super admitted. “So a lot of people were looking for me and questioning where I was and if I was actually where I said I was.”
Hannah Super is a junior pursuing a degree in communication with a minor in leadership and a member of the 2022 Sidney A. Ribeau President’s Leadership Academy cohort.
The stress these students experience by having a double life is not lost on director of spirit Tyler Bill, Bowling Green’s coordinator of Spirit Programs.
The tradition has long been a part of BGSU history, beginning in 1950 when Freddie Falcon debuted during a home basketball game against Ohio University. Frieda first joined Freddie in 1966 as Mrs. Freddie Falcon and was then reintroduced in 1980 as Freddie’s little sister and sidekick.
This year marks a milestone as Freddie Falcon turns 75 years old. The university is celebrating with a birthday bash during Homecoming in September.
“We have a bunch of events planned, essentially leading up to reveal, that get them connected with alums and get them to be able to tell their stories and get their jitters out before reveal,” Bill explained.
Despite it not being the first time Bill has walked a “flock” of Freddies and Friedas through an event like this, Bill said that the enjoyment of seeing the student’s hard work pay off never gets old.
Lilah Nye is a senior studying adolescent to young adult integrated math education from Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Nye is a student teacher for seventh-grade math at Donnell Middle School in Findlay. She’s also a campus tour guide and Honors College ambassador. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
Cam Drake is a senior studying middle childhood education and is currently student teaching in fifth grade at Otsego Elementary School in Tontogany, Ohio, near Bowling Green. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
“I feel like a very proud parent; it’s really crazy to think of where they start and where they end up. Throughout the year, it’s never been about them, it’s been about giving back,” Bill said. “It’s really nice for them to get their flowers and be applauded for all that they do; this crew has already done 900 hours in suits in over 300 events, which is tremendous.”
With the sheer time commitment being massive for a single year, it should come as no surprise that the concept of being Freddie and Frieda sticks in the identities of the students for the rest of their lives.
Many Frieda and Freddie alumni attended the Feb. 22 game to show their love and support to the current mascots, including Bailee Phillips, who was Frieda Falcon from 2017-2018.
“This is my first year being back at reveal since 2020. It’s really cool seeing a lot of my friends that I haven’t seen in a long time. The birds actually came to my wedding. One of my bridesmaids was Frieda, so honestly, BG is a huge part of me,” Phillips said.
Kyle Negin is a senior pursuing a degree in marketing and business analytics. He is a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and serves on the executive boards of the Inter-fraternity Council and Bikes 4 Tikes. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
Throughout the event, it was clear that the falcons not only represented BGSU, but also a community with a shared experience and singular goal – to make people smile and cheer.
“Being able to see that one person that may not seem too happy or too in the mood and make them smile…any change that you can do to give them a positive experience leaves a special place in your heart,” said Freddie Kyle Negin said.
The application to be Freddie and Frieda for the next season is now closed – applications ended on Feb. 26 at midnight. But that means that the next Freddie or Frieda could be anyone, even a close friend.
The birds will be on the court a few more times during the MAC Tournament at Rocket Arena in Cleveland: - Women: No. 6 BGSU will play against No. 3 Buffalo in the quarterfinals on March 12 (Game 4). - Men: #8 seed BGSU will take on No. 1 Akron in the quarterfinals on March 13 at 11 a.m. (Game 1)
Will McLean is a senior studying finance and business analytics. He is a member of Alpha Tau Omega and serves on the Inter-fraternity council executive board. (TFP Photo/Kyle Brown)
People play basketball on the new courts during opening day at the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA in the Warren-Sherman neighborhood. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
TOLEDO – Residents of the Warren Sherman neighborhood and the City of Toledo celebrated opening day at the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA on Wednesday.
A full parking lot was a positive sign as people circled the lot looking for spaces to park for the highly anticipated grand opening.
“I think we broke records for any of our grand openings,” exclaimed Melinda Hunt, membership director for the new YMCA. Hunt, who has worked with the YMCA for more than two decades, said she’d never seen such a response to a new YMCA building at 200 E. Bancroft St.
“We sold 50 memberships today. The turnout was huge!” she said.
Melinda Hunt, membership director for the new Wayman D. Palmer YMCA. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Len Hicks plays pool during opening day. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
The YMCA of Greater Toledo is also celebrating 160 years of service in Toledo.
Len Hicks, of north Toledo, described the state-of-the-art facility as “roomy. It looks comfy. It looks friendly,” he said as he knocked the pool balls around in the lobby.
The shine on the floors and clean white walls were a welcome sight to the hundreds of community members who walked through the Y’s front doors.
“I take it that this Y is going to be very successful,” Hunt said.
When asked why the community responded so strongly to this central Toledo YMCA, Hunt responded that “we’ve never had anything like this in this area.”
The previous Wayman D. Palmer YMCA, just a few yards from the new one, was not a full service facility and lacked many amenities, most noticeably a swimming pool.
Back in fall of 2023, during the groundbreaking for the new building, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said during the planning for this community project that he was not interested in cutting any corners for the Warren-Sherman neighborhood facility.
$28.7 million later, the pool, the one part of the building still not completely finished, was the main sticking point Kapszukiewicz said he fought for, and that the community seemed to be most excited for.
Orlondo Cotter. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
“I love the fact they have a pool put in there because we never had one,” said Dymon Carter, of north Toledo, as she watched her sister’s kids in the Kids Zone, one of the most dramatic updates in the new facility.
Comparing to the old building to the new one, Orlondo Cotter, the Kids Zone family coordinator, said the new facility was “lightyears” ahead of the older version.
“You know, when you have a 50-year-old building, you have 50-year old-problems,” she said. “We had leaks. We had that ‘old building smell,’ all the lovely old things that you get with an old building.”
“But also, we didn’t have a play structure. We didn’t have new computers,” she added.
Upon entering the new facility, guests and members will see a cardio and strength building area straight ahead; to the left is a family locker-room with custom code lockers and personal changing rooms leading to the pool, which is set to open in May.
When visitors turn right upon entering the building, they will enter the NAACP-specified basketball courts, the new Kids Zone (daycare), complete with a slide indoor playground, and a computer lab setup for gaming and for help with school and activity rooms for exercise classes.
“So, I’m a little emotional, because if you’ve seen what our facility looked like over there versus now … this is amazing,” said Lydia Falls, the membership experience wellness director for the new YMCA.
Rahsan Wilson, director of programming for the Wayman D. Palmer YMCA, plays games in the computer lab with kids during opening day. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
Lydia Falls, membership experience wellness director. (TFP Photo/Stephen Zenner)
“Being in the facility [that is] clean, being able to have a swimming pool, you know, for the community,” was noticeably meaningful to Falls on a personal, meaningful and emotional level.
“The building was leaking. It was falling apart,” she said as she described the old Wayman D. Palmer. “Our heating system was crazy, because one minute it will heat the room, and next minute it had, like, the air conditioning on. This is so much better.”
The Wayman D. Palmer YMCA will also replace the Summit Street YMCA in downtown.
March 14 will be the last day for the Summit Street YMCA. The equipment from the Summit Street facility will be moved to the new facility, which will host a Head Start Program and a food pantry, “…so we will be feeding the homeless,” said Falls. “We also have a washer and dryer so people can come and wash their clothes.
“I like the fact that we have this here because we are trying to customize for the community,” she said. “This Y is unique.”
This Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., the YMCA will host a welcome event with Live Remote with The Juice, membership give-a-ways, free swag, group exercise demos, Cherry Street Second Helping food truck and tours available all-day.
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. | Saturday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Sunday from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Iulian Berindean, 3, from front, plays in the kid zone with Daniel Carter, 3, and Navaeh Carter, 2, during opening day. (TFP Photos/Stephen Zenner)
Iulian Berindean, 3, plays in the kid zone.
Daniel Carter, 3, and Navaeh Carter, 2, play in the kid zone.
