New life for the Ottawa Tavern?
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
Downtown Toledo developments: Partnerships with ConnecToledo
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.
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.
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
(Announcements are compiled from press releases and in order received)
NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY
FirstEnergy enhances vegetation management with LiDAR
FirstEnergy has deployed sophisticated technology, called Advanced Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology, across its six-state service area to more effectively manage hard-to reach trees and vegetation along 7,100 miles of high-voltage power lines – aiming to prevent or minimize the impact of power outages, particularly during severe weather. The work began this month and will continue through the fall.
LiDAR inspections are conducted using helicopters equipped with laser-based sensors that scan the landscape from above. As the aircraft flies along the power line corridors, the system emits rapid laser pulses toward the ground and surrounding objects. These pulses bounce back to the sensor, providing detailed distance measurements that are used to create a highly accurate, 3D map of the terrain, power lines and nearby vegetation.
This process allows FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries to proactively identify trees and other vegetation that may be encroaching on power lines – data that’s often difficult or dangerous to collect using traditional foot patrols. The LiDAR patrols create a more efficient way to review company rights-of-way. Once collected, the LiDAR data is analyzed to highlight areas that require maintenance, ensuring trees are trimmed before they can pose a threat to service reliability, particularly during severe weather.
FirstEnergy first piloted LiDAR in 2016 and has since used it to inspect more than 100,000 miles of transmission lines. The technology has reduced the need for manual patrols and surveillance flights by up to 50 percent while also enhancing companywide collaboration across departments like engineering and maintenance.
As these inspections are completed, the associated vegetation work will be completed on transmission line corridors in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
Lucille F. Gorski to be posthumously awarded the Partners in Excellence Award by Opera Volunteers International
TOLEDO – Opera Volunteers International will present the Partners in Excellence Award in honor of Lucille “Luci” F. Gorski on Thursday, May 22 at the 2025 OPERA America Conference in Memphis, TN.
Gorski’s nomination came about from Toledo Opera Guild, led by co-presidents Barbara J. Brown and Celinda Niggemyer. Rachael Cammarn, Toledo Opera director of marketing and communications, will accept the award on behalf of Toledo Opera and the Gorski family.
As a major donor, Gorski’s support ensured the financial stability of Toledo Opera for decades. Together with her husband, Theodore “Ted” Gorski, she established the Toledo Opera Endowment with a $1 million matching gift, laying the financial groundwork that continues to sustain Toledo Opera today. In recognition of their extraordinary generosity, this $2M fund was named the Lucille F. Gorski Endowment, a lasting tribute to her commitment to securing the future of opera in our community.
Gorski’s leadership within the opera community began decades earlier. In the 1980s, she served on the Toledo Opera Guild board, playing an active role in advancing the organization’s mission. Her visionary thinking was evident when she chaired the 25th anniversary Sapphire Ball, where she pioneered the use of corporate sponsorships, dramatically increasing fundraising efforts. This innovative approach laid the groundwork for future financial sustainability and elevated Toledo Opera’s ability to serve the region.
Luci and Ted passed their love of opera onto their son, Joel, who currently serves as the president of the Toledo Opera Board, and his wife, Clare, who co-chaired the 50th Anniversary Sapphire Ball and is a current Toledo Opera Guild board member. (05/19)
Springfield Township to celebrate the impact of Girl Scouts
HOLLAND – Ask any Girl Scout and you will quickly learn that the program does more that teach cookie-selling skills.
It empowers each participant to find a way to dream big and do good. From reaching the outer limits of space to stocking their local food pantry, there is no challenge too big or need too small for a Girl Scout to tackle. For over a century, girls have found a way to create a better future for themselves, their communities, and the world.
So, the Springfield Township Trustees want to both celebrate and amplify the importance of these problem solvers, go-getters, dreamers and doers who are creating a better future for us all.
On Tuesday, May 20 at 5 p.m., Township trustee chairman Rachel Geiger, the mother of past scouts, will proclaim a Springfield Township Girl Scouts’ Day.
Geiger said, “Like everyone, I look forward every year to the arrival of my Girl Scout cookies. But through my daughter Destinie’s participation in the program, I know that the curriculum equips young ladies with with resources and information that help them identify a variety of opportunities to improve our communities. Once they find their passions, the girls are supported to step away from the sidelines to turn their passions into action.”
She said that last year, Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) announced a new partnership with the League of Women Voters (LWVEF) across the country, building long histories of civic engagement. The new partnership now connects local League members and Girl Scout councils to learn, explore needs, overcome barriers, earn civics badges, awards and more. (05/19)
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)
Happenings Calendar
(Happenings are compiled from press releases and placed in order of occurring dates)
NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY
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.
The Ability Center announces Together We Move
SYLVANIA – The Ability Center announceD Together We Move, a community movement that will bring people of all abilities together at Glass City Metropark–Market Hall on Sunday, June 1.
This free, inclusive and family-friendly event invites attendees to celebrate the power of movement—together. Participants will be welcomed into an atmosphere of connection, empowerment, and possibility.
“At the heart of Together We Move is a simple yet powerful belief: when we move together, we grow together,” said Maggie Dreier, director of Independent Living. “This event is about more than movement—it’s about building a future shaped by inclusion, strength, and the stories we share.”
What to Expect:
• Interactive Movement Path – Explore a half-mile, paved trail at your own pace, with an optional unpaved route extending up to a mile.
• Adaptive Activities – Participate in adaptive sports, a dance party, and more inclusive movement experiences.
• Special Guest Speaker – Be inspired by elite adaptive athlete and inclusion expert, Jacob Pacheco, as he shares his journey and vision for inclusive empowerment.
• Local Resources – Connect with adaptive sport programs, service providers, and organizations driving accessibility forward.
• Community Engagement – Contribute to our interactive board and share your hopes, dreams, and truths.
• Refreshments and Merchandise– Enjoy food and drinks available for purchase from The Garden by Poco Piatti. Together We Move t-shirts will also be available for purchase.
• Accessibility First – The event will feature paved paths, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, ASL interpreters, and CART captioning to ensure a welcoming experience for all.
Together We Move is free to attend and open to the public. Advance registration is encouraged to help us prepare for a truly inclusive day of movement, motivation and momentum.
Registration opens at 9 a.m., with the event officially kicking off at 10 a.m.
TPS rallies to combat absenteeism
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.
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.
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 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.’”
UToledo to cut multiple undergrad programs to comply with SB 1
This story was originally published on WTOL, a media partner of the Toledo Free Press.
By Troy Gingerich | WTOL
TOLEDO — The University of Toledo announced plans to suspend admission to several undergraduate degree programs to comply with recently passed Senate Bill 1 in Ohio, and cuts to other degree programs as part of a “prioritization process.”
UToledo plans to phase out several low-enrollment degree programs starting with the 2025-26 academic year. While admissions to these programs will be suspended, the university says students already enrolled in these programs will be able to finish their degrees without interruption.
The university says the prioritization process is in response to a “challenging time in higher education,” as colleges are dealing with a declining population of high school graduates entering college, current student retention challenges and rising costs of operation.
“This effort is aligned with the UToledo Reimagined strategic plan that includes the stated goal to deliver relevant and innovative academic programs,” the university’s website says.
“While there may be some immediate cost savings, the goals of this effort are more focused on growth as UToledo’s student enrollment, retention and graduation rates improve as the University becomes more competitive.”
UToledo says the Office of the Provost worked alongside college deans to evaluate programs based on several factors, such as student and workforce demand, accreditation requirements and the potential to offer courses as minors or certificates instead.
Courses in the affected areas will still be available as part of the university’s core curriculum or as components of minors and certificates, the university says.
The timing of these moves coincides with new state requirements. Ohio Senate Bill 1, recently signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine, mandates that universities eliminate undergraduate programs that consistently graduate fewer than five students per year over a three-year span.
Undergraduate programs being suspended to comply with SB 1:
- Bachelor of Arts in Africana Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Data Analytics
- Bachelor of Arts in Disability Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
- Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish
- Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies
The programs remain available as minors for students still interested in these areas of study, the university says.
Several other degree programs will be suspended as part of the provost’s review of the recommendations of the Program Reallocation and Investment Committee:
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership and Management
- Bachelor of Science in Health Information Administration
- Master of Arts in Philosophy
- Master of Arts in Sociology
- Master of Education in Educational Research and Measurement
- Master of Education in Educational Technology
- Master of Education in Educational Psychology
- Master of Music in Music Performance
- Master of Science in Geology
- Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Early Childhood
- Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction: Educational Technology
- Ph.D. in Foundations of Education: Research and Measurement
For more information on the Academic Program Prioritization, visit the university's website.
