Owens earns accreditation
Early Childhood Education program continues legacy
PERRYSBURG – The Owens Community College Department of Teacher Education and Human Services has received a seven-year accreditation for its Early Childhood Education Technology program through the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
Owens was the first institution in the state to receive NAEYC accreditation more than 20 years ago, and it is still one of only three in Ohio to have the designation. Across the United States and Canada, Owens has one of 214 accredited programs.
“We’re pretty proud of that,” said Michelle Arbogast, chair for Teacher Education and Human Services. “Their standards are tough. They look at everything from your college president to your curriculum to your admissions, your faculty, your support services. It’s very thorough.
“It’s validated all of the hard work and preparation, that we know our students are prepared when they leave here,” Arbogast said.
In addition to the associate degree in Early Childhood Education Technology, the Department of Teacher Education and Human Services offers degrees in Community & Family Service, Education Transfer Concentration and Social Work Transfer Pathway, and certificates in Advanced Instructional Technology and Design, ASL Interpreter Preparation and Foundations in Instructional Technology and Design.
The YWCA of Northwest Ohio and Owens have a partnership allowing students in the YWCA program to transition into the Owens Early Childhood Education program. Upon completion of the CDA certification, students can receive up to six credit hours of college credit toward their Early Childhood Education associate degree.
According to a news release from NAEYC, the accreditation “serves as a mechanism for ensuring a consistent and high level of program quality.” The organization sets “national standards for programs that prepare early childhood teachers of children from birth through age 8.”
To retain accreditation, programs must demonstrate the following:
- They meet NAEYC’s standards
- Respond to the unique needs of their degree candidates and communities
- Provide intentional learning experiences to allow their degree candidates to obtain the knowledge and skills to be effective
- Continually assess and reflect on their degree candidates’ performance.
While the Owens program is reaccredited through 2029, there are annual and biannual reports it must submit to NAEYC.
Arbogast said the bulk of the work came down to her and fellow Teacher Education and Human Services faculty, professor Mindy Gray from the Findlay-area Campus and adjunct instructors Kimberley Fisher, Belinda Costin and Nehama Miller.
However, she said the process involved the entire team.
“It took a little bit of everybody, from the president to our faculty and secretary and staff,” Arbogast said.
Arbogast said NAEYC commended the Owens team for how thoroughly it reviewed its program. The first report they submitted was 118 pages.
“It’s such an introspective on your program that you not only look at where you are now but what is the vision for the program going forward,” Arbogast said. “It validated the things we do well, our team and the support system we have at Owens.”
For more information on the Owens Department of Teacher Education and Human Services, visit Teacher Education.
Padua Center perseveres
Empowering education in Toledo’s Junction neighborhood
Story and photos by Laurie Bertke
TOLEDO— Since its founding in 2006, the Padua Center has gone through several phases, and a few programs have come and gone. Two things that have remained consistent have been its focus on education and the steady leadership and guidance of its director, Sister Virginia Welsh.
The huge brick home that stands in the shadow of St. Anthony Church was originally built in 1906 to house Catholic priests who served the Polish immigrants of the Toledo neighborhood, then known as Kuhschwanz.
A century later, the Gothic-style church, with its iconic 250-foot steeple, was no longer operational, and Sister Virginia Welsh was tasked with developing a new mission for the old rectory on Nebraska Ave.
The Diocese of Toledo wanted to keep a Catholic presence in Toledo’s Junction neighborhood, but Welsh told representatives from the Diocese of Toledo that she was not interested in operating a social service agency that gave away food, clothes and money for bills.
“I was originally trained as an educator, and if we’re going to change it so people aren’t coming here every month looking for food and all that; we have to educate,” she recalls saying.
Thus, the Padua Center and one of its central programs were born. Welsh, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, began planning for after-school programming in October 2006, and the center welcomed the first children the following January.
Today, 23 attending K-8 at nearby public, private and charter schools are enrolled in “Nia,” a free after-school tuturing program. Daily transportation to the center is included.
Many of those students attended the annual Peaces of Art Celebration held Oct. 6 at the Sullivan Center at Gesu Church, which serves as a primary fundraiser for the Padua Center. The youth greeted guests and witnessed a live auction of artwork they created for the event, which raised around $20,000. The center is entirely funding by grants and donations.
Community activist and former Toledo mayor Carty Finkbeiner was first introduced to the Padua Center at this event years ago. He later joined its board, and says one of the most important things the center does is to teach young people to respect themselves and others.
“It all starts with respecting yourself,” said Finkbeiner. “That’s what I think our program is teaching — one human being to respect another. Not to be afraid of another, but to be respectful and caring; and as long as you’re respectful and caring in this world, you’re going to get along and there’s going to be a place for you.”
Prioritizing youth and education
Padua Board president Dennis Jarrett notes that all of its youth programs are offered free of charge to participants. “We reach out to youth — that’s our number one priority — and families,” he said. “Everything we do is aimed at empowering people from the community to achieve maximum potential.”
On a recent Monday afternoon, the third floor of the center was filled with the voices of children. In one room, four kindergarteners gathered around a Henry and Mudge book, following the words along to an audio recording of the story. In another, volunteer Donna Kwik-LeFebvre assisted third-grader Indica Rudolph and fourth-grader Ices Nicholson with their homework.
For those students who finished their homework, it was Reading Day in another room. Tutoring director Teresa Allen plans different assignments daily to help the children practice core skills in subjects, such as math and language arts.
Most of the children come from economically disadvantaged families, and Welsh says they strive to expose the kids to a variety of new experiences. Free summer camps are offered in the summertime, and they include field trips to parks, museums and other cultural spots in the region.
Weather permitting, there is usually time to play outside and visit with the center’s flock of chickens. Toward the end of the afternoon, the children gather for a light supper provided by Connecting Kids to Meals, and by 5:30 p.m. parents arrive to take them home.
Fostering a sense of care for the environment in the children is another integral part of the center’s mission. Over the years, it has acquired enough adjacent vacant lots from the Lucas County Land Bank to create the Ujima Park and Garden at the corner of Junction and Nebraska. Crops produced in the garden beds and the hoop house are sold at the Toledo Farmer’s Market and used by neighbors. Gardening programs for the children are held in the summer.
Along with its youth programs, the center hosts meetings for a neighborhood concerns group, and provides office space for several other community organizations and charities.
Operating on faith
After starting out under the umbrella of the Diocese of Toledo, the Padua Center became affiliated with nearby St. Martin de Porres Parish in 2008. At one point, it was in danger of being demolished with the crumbling St. Anthony Church, but public outcry in 2018 saved both the church and the center from the wrecking ball. The Diocese of Toledo bequeathed both properties to the Lucas County Land Bank, which in turn deeded the rectory to the Padua Center.
Around this time, the Padua Center became an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Welsh — known by all as Sr. Ginny — has remained as the part-time director, while also serving as pastoral leader of St. Martin de Porres. A small, dedicated group of part-time employees and volunteers assist her in carrying out the Padua Center’s mission.
Maintaining a building that is more than 100 years old is no easy task. There is rarely money for anything extra. “It’s a tight budget. I write a lot of grants,” said Welsh. “The most important thing is the kids are getting a good experience.”
She recalls one time when she didn’t know how she was going to make the next payroll, then she came into her office after a board meeting to find a check for $25,000 on her desk. “You just have to operate on faith. You can’t worry about it,” she said.
Welsh is modest when asked about the impact the center has had over the years. In the interview, she keeps returning to discussing areas she would like to see developed further — more programs to connect children to the environment; more volunteers to help with education; more engagement with neighbors.
But she also tells a story about a day when she was working in the garden and someone suddenly approached her while she had her back turned.
“I turned and it was one of our little kids who had gone away, gone to the Army and gotten out of the Army,” Welsh recalled. “He came back and he saw me and he grabbed me and gave me a big hug. The kids do come back sometimes.”
Nature’s Nursery Critter Crawl
Creepy and spooky, but important to our environment
WATERVILLE – Some animals are just naturally spooky, eerie and even downright scary, but that doesn’t mean they should be feared or – worse yet – mistreated. That’s why Nature’s Nursery and BluSky Renovation are inviting the public to meet up close and personal the animals most associated with Halloween.
Critter Crawl will be from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at BluSky’s facility at 1300 Michigan St. in Waterville. It’s family friendly and free, but guests are encouraged to donate an item to Nature’s Nursery.
The purpose of the event is to have the public “learn about and interact with a variety of animals that don’t always get the love they deserve: bats, toads, snakes and more,” said Allison Aey, Nature’s Nursery executive director. “While often associated with the spookiness of Halloween and fall, these animals are not nearly as scary as the season portrays them to be.”
Nature’s Nursery is a local nonprofit that provides care for injured, orphaned or ailing wild animals, and conducts conservation educational programs for the public. Its wildlife experts will be at Critter Crawl to “introduce you to these fascinating creatures, bust some myths and give you a chance to meet them up close,” Aey said.
“Bats get such a bad rap,” she said, adding they’re good for the ecosystem because they eat insects that harm crops. The local bat population is down about 80 percent in Northwest Ohio, she said, which has resulted in a rise in insects. Farmers are using more pesticides to kill the bugs, “but pesticides are bad for crops and other insects, and they run into waterways,” she explained.
According to Aey, misunderstanding of bats and other creatures the public tends to fear leads to their being trapped or killed “because people don’t understand their purpose to the ecosystem. Our goal is to teach people that they’re not so scary and not so creepy and the value they bring to the environment.”
Nature’s Nursery’s wildlife experts will share fun facts and give informative talks.
BluSky is opening its site for the event, not only for people to see and learn about the animals, but to showcase its facility. BluSky restores homes damaged by floods, fires and other disasters. BluSky representatives will provide pumpkin decorating, coloring and other fun activities.
Brittany Bostdorff, BluSky’s business development manager, said that in December longtime company J&R Restoration became part of BluSky, a national business. “We want to show the Waterville community that we’re still the same people, the same company,” she said. “We’ve just grown.”
Bostdorff added, “We want to show people our space and have them get to know us, see the animals, get to know Nature’s Nursery; they can always use more donations. We are excited for that exposure for both of us.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring items such as paper towels, cleaning supplies, wood chip animal bedding, piddle pads and grocery store gift cards to help Nature’s Nursery.
Aey said Nature’s Nursery rescues, rehabilitates and releases into the wild about 3,000 animals a year. In its busy season, as many as 800 animals are at their facility at one time. The nonprofit is transitioning from its longtime Whitehouse base to its new location in Waterville.
“We want to teach people to have a cautious respect for these animals, not a fear,” Aey said. “They’re still wide animals, and they can bite. If you see them in the wild, appreciate them, but let them be. Understand the job they do in the environment.”
Nature's Nursery's mission: To improve the well-being of Northwest Ohio wildlife populations and habitats through public education and rehabilitation with an emphasis on coexistence.
Sylvania hosts fall fest
Businesses, community gather for parade, crafts, games
Story and photos by Steven Bieber
SYLVANIA – Thousands of people gathered on Main Street this weekend for fun, live music and a parade at the 38th annual Sylvania Fall Festival.
A highlight of the weekend fest was the Nite Lite Farmers Market, featuring crafts and vendor booths illuminated by colorful, festive lights. There were about 65 booths on Saturday and 100 on Sunday, including Sweet Stache Farms, Shaman and the Bear, Timbo’s Licorice Ropes and A&J Landscape.
Attendees could participate in the 4th annual cornhole tournament and the annual Dino Dash, which involved young kids and adults dressed in dinosaur costumes and competing in races. There was also a Trick or Treat on Main Street and a Pumpkin Patch for the kids.
The main event of the festival was the annual parade, which showcased approximately 30 organizations from the community. Town crier Mike Lieber was the grand marshal, and participants included Sylvania Mayor Craig Stough; marching bands from Northview, Southview and Evergreen; Lourdes University cheerleaders; and dinos.
Tiffany Bosch, president and CEO of the Sylvania Chamber of Commerce since 2021, said this is a good time to hold the fest.
“I think it’s a fun time of the year in the midwest. The leaves are changing; there’s a huge push for apples, apple cider, pumpkins, pumpkin spice lattes; and it’s just a fun time that everybody really enjoys before the holidays,” she exclaimed.
Bosch discussed how the festival has grown and its ability to bring people from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan together.
“It’s a great way for us to highlight Sylvania during a very busy time of the year for festivals and markets,” she said.
Although the festival has been going on for 38 years, the Chamber of Commerce has been coordinating the festival since 2017. Bosch explained that it’s their job to help facilitate the committee that involves community members, organizations, and first responders.
Bosch said the festival is good for Sylvania because it puts the city on the map.
“There’s tens of thousands of people from all over who come enjoy this. It’s not just for our residents, but it’s a way for Sylvania to be highlighted,” she said.
“They might not purchase anything that day, but they’re coming back. There is huge tourism, and visitors push from outside of the Sylvania area that attend, so it’s a great way for us to highlight our community and really showcase who we are every year.”
Bosch added that the festival offers something for everyone. The Saturday Nite Lite Farmers Market could make for a great date night, while the events on Sunday make for a great family outing with the kids. She also mentioned that the parade gets bigger every year.
Don and Lori Claar traveled from Northwood to attend the festival and watched the parade. The couple heard about it from a friend who owns Olive’s on Main restaurant.
Don said the festival is “something to do on a nice, beautiful day like this. I couldn’t just sit around watching football.”
Trick-or-Treat 2024
Here’s when and where to find the Halloween treats
Whether your family enjoys traditional neighborhood trick-or-treating or attending trunk-or-treat parties, there are plenty of Halloween treats to be found in the Toledo area during October. Below is our roundup of events for 2024.
Toledo-area Trick or Treat Times
The city of Toledo, and most of the surrounding communities in northwest Ohio, have traditionally set neighborhood trick or treat times for Oct. 31.
Those who wish to welcome visitors are asked to turn on their porch lights.
Local officials urge motorists to be on the lookout for children who may be crossing the streets in costumes after dusk; sunset will happen about 6:30 p.m. that night. Some streets might also be closed to vehicle traffic during trick-or-treat times, particularly in Ottawa Hills, which has made an announcement to that affect.
The following times are posted on the city/village/chamber of commerce websites, on social media or were confirmed by phone calls.
Grand Rapids: 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26, activities following at fire hall, 1776 Wapakoneta Rd.
Bowling Green: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Genoa: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Holland: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Ottawa Hills: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Luckey: 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Maumee: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Northwood: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Oregon: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Perrysburg: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Rossford: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Springfield Township: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Swanton: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.
Sylvania: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Toledo: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Wauseon: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
Whitehouse: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Trunk or Treat and Halloween parties
Here are some of the family Halloween activities in the Toledo area that are publicly posted on websites or social media by city offices, chambers of commerce or the host sites. All are free admission, except where otherwise noted.
A trunk-or-treat features decorated cars in a parking lot amid a tailgate party atmosphere.
Oct. 22
Maumee Chamber Trunk-or-Treat, 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22, Appliance Center parking lot, 321 Illinois Ave., Maumee.
Oct. 23
Trunk or Treat, 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 23, Majestic Care of Toledo, 131 N. Wheeling St., Toledo.
U-Haul Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23, U-Haul Moving & Storage, 1739 W Alexis Rd., Toledo.
OFats Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 23, OFats Auto Spa, 5242 Angola Rd., Toledo. Face painting, music, candy.
Trunk or Treat Extravaganza, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Genoa Retirement Village, 300 Cherry St., Genoa.
Oct. 24
Trunk or Treat, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 24, Franciscan Care Center, 4111 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., Toledo. Photo opportunities, snacks, concessions, candy.
Fall Fur All Family Night, 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24, Toledo Zoo. Live performances, bounce house, character meet and greets. Admission fees apply. Details at toledozoo.org.
Trunk or Treat, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24, Zepf Center, 424 W. Woodruff Ave., Toledo.
Indoor Trunk or Treat, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 24, Jim White Toyota, 6123 W. Central Ave., Toledo. Visits with characters, University of Toledo Lady Rockets basketball players, food trucks.
Oct. 26
Muddy and Muddona’s Trick or Treat Trail, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Fifth Third Field, 24 N. Huron St., Toledo. Snacks, photo sessions, magicians, haunted rides, candy. Admission fees apply. Details at hensvilletoledo.com.
Trunk or Treat, hosted by Iron Bandogs – Glass City Chapter, supported by Toledo Women Together, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26, 1758 Sylvania Ave., Toledo. Pumpkin painting, snacks, concessions, candy.
Halloween Hoopla, 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 26, Main Street, downtown Swanton. Hosted by Swanton Lions Club, local businesses and community volunteers.
Trunk or Treat, 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 26, Lucas County Canine & Control’s care center, 410 S. Erie St., Toledo. Food truck, photo sessions, games, candy. Pets welcome.
Chosen Kids’ Trunk & Treat, 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, The Docks at International Park, 20 Main St., Toledo.
Trunk or Treat, hosted by East Toledo Family Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 26, Waite High School, 301 Morrison Dr., Toledo. Intended for children age 13 and younger.
Trunk or Treat, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26, Toledo First Assembly of God, 2324 W. Alexis Road Toledo.
Trunk or Treat, 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26, 1907 N. Reynolds Road, Toledo. Hosted by Luck Landscaping. Snacks, food trucks, games, candy.
Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 26, The Coughie Shop, 2053 Woodville Rd., Oregon.
Trunk or Treat, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Genoa Trinity United Methodist Church, 313 S. Main St., Genoa.
Oct. 27
Trunk or Treat, 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 27, 4346 Secor Rd., Toledo. Hosted by A Village Learning Center and Spin and Splat Art Studio. Snacks, face painting, crafts, vendors. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Trunk or Treat, 1 to 3 p.m. Oct 27, Refined Gaming, 5960 Angola Rd., Toledo.
Trunk or Treat, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 27, Compassion Toledo, 3327 Airport Hwy., Toledo. “Nothing scary here, just fun,” the announcement said.
Trunk or Treat, 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 27, UAW Local 12 Union Hall, 23009 Ashlane Ave., Toledo. Hosted by Local 12 Women’s Committee.
Trunk or Treat, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 27, St. Petri Lutheran Church, 3120 S. Byrne Road, Toledo. Snacks, candy.
Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat, noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27, St. Mark Lutheran Church, 611 Woodville Rd., Toledo. Costume parade, scavenger hunt, crafts, lunch, candy.
Trunk or Treat, 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 27, Swanton American Legion, 200 S. Hallett Ave., Swanton.
Oct. 29
Trick-or-Treat, 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 29, participating businesses in Uptown Maumee. Hosted by Maumee Uptown Business Association.
Halloween Trunk or Treat, 6 p.m. Oct. 29, hosted by United Steelworkers Local 1, USW Local Hall, 2910 Consaul St., Toledo.
Trick or Treat, 6 p.m. Oct. 29, Landings of Oregon, 3450 Seaman Rd., Oregon.
Oct. 30
Trunk or Treat, 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 30, hosted by Famed Studios, Spyda’s 3-D Complex, 2610 W. Central Ave., Toledo. Bounce house, games, snacks, candy.
Oct. 31
Wauseon Trunk or Treat, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31, Fulton Street, Wauseon. This is just before trick or treat begins.
Whitehouse Halloween activities start at 5 p.m., Oct. 31, Village Park, 6751 Providence St., Whitehouse. Trick or treat at nearby businesses. This is just before neighborhood trick or treat begins.
Trunk or Treat in the Old South End, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, 1 Aurora L. Gonzalez Dr., Toledo. Hosted by Vision Church South Toledo Campus and Vision Church Waterville Campus.
Hands-free law working
Distracted fatal crashes dropped 19% in past year
MAUMEE – Just one year after Ohio’s hands-free motor vehicle law took effect, it appears drivers are heeding the call.
Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Ryan Purpura said during a press conference on Tuesday at the ODOT Maumee garage that the effectiveness of the distracted driving law has been “truly successful.”
He credits the success to a six-month educational campaign conducted by law enforcement, which took place between April, when the law passed, and October 2023, when it went into effect.
The Patrol reported a 19-percent reduction in fatal crashes attributed to distracted driving over the previous year, despite issuing 25,000 citations this year. He also noted there were 15,400 fewer crashes.
For those unfamiliar with the law, it prohibits drivers from dialing a phone number, updating or browsing social media, browsing online, playing games, sending text messages, video calling or FaceTime, watching videos, or recording or streaming videos.
Drivers over the age of 18 can use hands-free devices that includes speakerphone in the cradle, earpiece, wireless headset, electronic watch and connecting a phone to the vehicle. These devices can only be activated or deactivated with a single touch or swipe.
Purpura pointed out that distracted driving is not limited to electronic equipment. A driver could be day dreaming, reaching for something, applying makeup or eating.
“Anything that takes your eyes off the road is considered distracted driving,” he said.
There are a few exceptions. Drivers may use their phone to report an emergency or when parked on the side of the road.
Purpura, a spokesman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Heather Jendruch, ODOT highway technician, urge drivers to put down their phones and stay focused on the road. It is especially important when driving in construction zones, particularly when crews are working at night, Jendruch advised.
“Pay attention. It’s not only our lives, but theirs too,” she added, “It’s important to be safe. We all want to get home safely at the end of the day.”
To learn more about the hands-free law, go to HANDS FREE.
