DON’T START NO STUFF, WON’T BE NO STUFF. RuthAnn Montaine (rmontaine@adamsstreetpublishing.com)
DONT’T LET PEOPLE QUESTION YOUR CHARACTER. Art/Production
Production Manager: Imani Lateef (imani@adamsstreetpublishing.com)
I SAID I WAS THE GREATEST... I NEVER SAID I WAS THE SMARTEST.
Senior Designer: Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) AS IT SHOULD BE.
Digital Media Manager: Nathaniel Light (digitalmedia@adamsstreetpublishing.com) LIGHT IT UP!
Social Media Manager: Margot Jacobs (margot@adamsstreetpublishing.com) YOU CAN TRUST HER WITH THE AUX CORD. MPJ 4 PREZ!
Administration
Accounting: Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@toledocitypaper.com) BECAUSE MORALS MATTER
Distribution: Karena Adams (distribution@toledocitypaper.com) PULLING INVOICES FOR AN AUDIT AT SHORTWAY BUS LINES.
Dog-Friendly
MARKETPLACE CHANGES UPDATES IN LOCAL BUSINESS
Amma’s Indian Kitchen is opening soon with classic dishes such as butter chicken, biryani, samosas, chicken tikka masala, chaat, curry and more. 7629 W. Sylvania. ammasindiankitchen. com
Avestruz is a new Mexican restaurant located in Ostrich Towne in Toledo’s Historic Vistula District, had a soft opening the first weekend of September with a projected opening date of mid October. 915 N Summit St. Suite 101.
Hand & Stone Massage opened a new location in Perrysburg,12301 Eckel Junction Road, Suite 200. The company specializes in the highest quality massage and facial services. handandstoneperrysburg.com
Jed’s on Douglas in Toledo has moved locations to 2600 W Sylvania Ave. Previously Backyard BBQ, Jed’s serves wings, burgers, pizza, drinks or their famous fireballs. facebook.com/ JedsDouglas
Koi Sushi All You Can Eat recently opened on Dorr Street for lunch and dinner with all you can eat sushi. Take out and a la carte lunch is also available. koisushitoledo.com
Saba’s Uncommon Bar & Grill is open and hiring for all positions. Located on 6023 Manley Road in Maumee. Fulltime, part-time and flexible hours with competitive wages. sabasuncommon. com
Sam’s Mediterranean Grill opened for business at 332 N Erie St. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. In the former Hotbox Bistro.
samsgrills.com
Side Cuts on Dudley Street in Maumee recently opened for business. This new sandwich spot offers homemade sandwiches. Open for lunch Wednesday through Monday. facebook.com/ profile.php
The Country Palace was the second bar and live music venue owned by Toledo businessman Duane Abbajay. Nashville singer Hal Bynum wrote about a domestic encounter between a husband and wife referencing “at a bar in Toledo,” in the Kenny Rodgers made famous song “Lucille.” Currently, the building is owned by IBC, INC and has a $40,000 facade improvement grant and a $75,000 White Box grant.
The Curry Lounge brings traditional Indian cuisine to Bowling Green, 434 Wooster St. Suite B. Beyond tasting the heritage of Indian culture, it provides a full bar with an expansive drink menu. thecurryloungebg.com
Toledo Mindfulness Institute now has a physical location. Memberships will be offered with community lecture series, concert series, weekly sound baths, yoga classes, mindfulness training and support groups. 5648 Main St., Sylvania. toledomindfulnessinstitute.com
Whiskey Red Saloon opened this past summer in the historic Commodore Perry building in Downtown Toledo, 505 Jefferson Ave., #101. The bar offers dancing and drinks. Whiskey Red Saloon on Facebook
Know of any changes in the area? Send them to editor@adamsstreetpublishing.com
Rock and Remember
CITY POLITICS
Fix the damn roads. But faster.
By Johnny Hildo
Global climate change is no joke.
The impacts are impossible to ignore. Unprecedentedly intense rain events overwhelm city sewer capacity. High winds and intense storms topple trees and power lines. Intense heat pushes HVAC systems to the breaking point.
Add to that list one more devastating impact. Road construction in T-Town has become a never-ending, year-round pox on humanity.
Roads closed
Time was, there was a road construction season. Like, from April-ish through late September or thereabouts. The dreaded orange barrels would spring up with the spring flowers, and disappear with the falling leaves.
We could count on barrel-free fall and winter. Now we barely have a winter, falls are milder than ever, and there is nothing to prevent ceaseless road construction in our fair environs.
We get it. Road repair was neglected for decades, and axle-busting streets looked more like crater-strewn moonscapes than actual pavement. Something had to give.
Toledo voters passed a quarter percent income tax hike in twenty twenty specifically dedicated to road repair to address this problem. The question is, do we have the capacity to fix the damn roads with any sense of urgency?
Those of you who commute using Lewis Ave know the answer. A resounding heck to the no. Lewis was a one-way nightmare for what seemed like years. This past summer all improvements looked complete, yet the barrels just sat there. The new road is a beaut, but did it really take years to get ‘er done?
And then there’s the ongoing hellscape that once was the Broadway cor-
ridor in the Old South End. It’s one-way inbound and has been for months, with little apparent progress. Local businesses are suffering, residents are forced to go the wrong way on adjacent one-way streets to get home, and the area is a literal mess. With no end in sight.
It reminds us of the improvements to downtown’s Levis Square. The City promised it would be a quick project, with completion in time for July Fourth. Then in time for JeepFest in August. Weeks went by with no progress. Finally in September the work was complete. nd now there’s the closure of the intersection of Summit and Cherry, with additional pavement work on the King Bridge. Just when we thought the construction season was drawing to a close, instead a new sprouting of barrels. In September. With attendant traffic nightmares throughout the area.
The City says it will be complete by early next year. Umm, sure. See Levis Square above.
Stop the madness
What gives, Wade?
Look, we get the need for road improvements. Toledo voters agreed to levy income taxes for that purpose not once but twice.
But can we catch a seasonal break from the madness?
Fix the roads.
But for the love of all that’s righteous, get it over with.
2024 GUIDE AWARDS DINING GUIDE DINING
Toledo City Paper opened up a two-month voting period to Toledoans at large for the best places, plates, potions and people in the restaurant industry. In June and July, we received over 10,000 votes from more than 1,000 people, letting the people become the authority on Toledo’s best of the best in dining.
PLACES
Restaurant: Overall Mancy’s Steak House
953 Phillips Ave.
419-476-4154
Mancyssteakhouse.com
Runner Up: Final Cut hollywoodcasinotoledo.com
Restaurant: Inexpensive (under $10)
Rudy’s Hot Dog
Various locations
419-472-4813
Rudyshotdog.com
Runner Up: Zingo’s Mediterranean eatzingos.com
Best ‘Splurge’ Restaurant
Final Cut
1968 Miami St. 419-661-5200 hollywoodcasinotoledo.com
Runner Up: The Chop House
The Chop House Toledo on Facebook
Best View
The Heights
444 N Summit St. 419-243-7565
Theheightstoledo.com
Runner Up: Real Seafood Company Realseafoodcorestaurant.com
Best Outdoor Patio/Dining
Real Seafood Company 22 Main St. 419-697-5427
Realseafoodcorestaurant.com
Runner Up: Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar soukkitchenbar.com
Champion of Local Farm to Table
Cork & Knife Provisions
First-Date Restaurant
Claude’s Prime Seafood
5103 Levis Commons Blvd 419-931-6050
claudesprimeseafood.com
Runner Up: Basil Pizza & Wine Bar basilpizzaandwinebar.com
Mom & Pop Restaurant
Schmucker’s Restaurant 2103 N. Reynolds Road 419-535-9116
schmuckersrestaurant.com/contact
Runner Up: MaMa’s Kitchen mamaskitchen.online
224 S Erie St. 419-664-6946 corkandknifeprovisions.com
Runner Up: Registry Bistro Registrybistro.com
Pet-Friendly Patio
Ye Olde Durty Bird 2 S St Clair St. 419-243-2473
Yeoldedurtybird.com
Runner Up: Basil Pizza & Wine Bar basilpizzaandwinebar.com
Runner Up: Ciao! Italian Restaurant Ciaorestaurant.com
Chinese Restaurant
QQ Kitchen
3324 Secor Road #4 419-720-8703
Qqkitchen.com
Runner Up: Jing Chuan Chinese Restaurant Jingchuanrestaurant.com
Mediterranean Restaurant Byblos 1050 S Reynolds Road 419-382-1600 byblostoledo.com
Runner Up: Souk Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar soukkitchenbar.com
Indian Restaurant
Tandoor Cuisine of India 2247 S Reynolds Road 419-385-7467
Tandooroftoledo.com
Runner Up: Star of India starofindiafood.com
Best Food Truck
Frankly Plant Based Kitchen 740-407-5808 franklypbk.com
Frankly Plant Based Kitchen is a story about two vegans opening a food truck, taking on cruise ships and circus concessions, then moving back home to Ohio to start all over again. Owner Dustin moved from Ohio to Texas with his girl, Meara, and enrolled in a vegan/vegetarian culinary program. Dustin and Meara realized that they wanted their own food truck which resulted in a vegan hot dog truck that lasted three years, until they began traveling with a circus selling food. When the pandemic hit, they revisited their dreams of bringing vegan hot dogs home to Ohio. Called Frankly Plant Based Kitchen, or Frankly for short, Dustin and Meara strive to make the best food to serve to you wherever they set up.
Urban Pine Winery 3415 Briarfield Blvd. 567-703-1281 urbanpinewinery.com
Runner Up: Gideon Owen Wine Company gideonowenwine.com
Locally-Brewed Beer
Maumee Bay Brewing Company 27 Broadway St. 419-243-1302
Mbaybrew.com
Established in 1995, the Maumee Bay Brewing Co. is Toledo’s original craft brewery. Located under the High Level Bridge in the Oliver House, MBBC makes tasty beers and ciders in its 15 BBL copper brewhouse on display in the main brewpub. The restaurant and brewery offers beers comparable to big brands, as well as a slew of creative brews including Buckeye Lager, MacQueen’s Hard Cider, Creature from the Algae Bloom, Mango Jerry Twisted Tango, Pumpkin Spiced Lager and more.
Runner Up: Oncore Brewing Oncorebrewing.com
PLATES
Ramen/Pho
Kato Ramen
40 S St Clair St. 419-469-8929
Katoramen.com
Runner Up: Phoxy Pho Phoxy Pho on Instagram
Creative Burger
Ye Olde Durty Bird
2 S St Clair St. 419-243-2473
Yeoldedurtybird.com
Runner Up: Bar 145 Bar-145.com
Chicken & Waffles
Inside the Five Brewing 5703 Main St. 567-408-7212
Insidethefivebrewing.com
Runner Up: Focaccia’s Focaccias419.com
Place To Buy Local Beer
Harvest
8060 Airport Hwy 419-491-0049
Harvestinholland.com
Runner Up: Walt Churchill’s Market waltchurchillsmarket.com
Place To Drink Local Beer
Maumee Bay Brewing Company 27 Broadway St. 419-243-1302
Mbaybrew.com
Runner Up: The Casual Pint Toledo.thecasualpint.com
Bloody Mary
Mail Pouch Saloon 14260 Airport Highway 419-825-5502
Eatmailpouch.com
Runner Up: Leroy & Margaret’s
Margarita
Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant 7742 W Bancroft St. 419-841-7523
Venturasmexicanrestaurant.com
Runner Up: Lupita’s Cantina lupitas-mexican.com
Martini
Basil Pizza & Wine Bar 3145 Hollister Lane 419-873-6218
basilpizzaandwinebar.com
Runner Up: Barr’s Public House barrspublichouse.com
Runner Up: Shorty’s True American Roadhouse Shortystoledo.com
Chili Dogs
Rudy’s Hot Dogs
Various locations 419-472-4813 rudyshotdog.com
Runner Up: Duce’s Dawgs Ducesdawgs.com
Nachos
Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant 7742 W Bancroft St. 419-841-7523 Venturasmexicanrestaurant.com
Runner Up: Loma Linda Lomalindamexican.com
Creative Pizzas
The Village Idiot 309 Conant St. 419-893-7281 Villageidiotmaumee.com
Located in Uptown Maumee, The Village Idiot is a bar and restaurant voted by City Paper readers as Toledo’s Best Pizza along with Best Local Venue and boasts live music 365 days a year, hosting popular national acts, as well as local talent. Customers who come for a show can also enjoy a selection of craft beer and a wide array of regular and creative pizzas, including Hawaiian, Tuscan, Pickle and the “Chef Surprise” – chef’s choice.
Runner Up: Basil Pizza & Wine Bar basilpizzaandwinebar.com
Wings Frogtown Johnnie’s 6725 Central Ave. 419-863-2297
Frogtownjohnniesbarandgrille.com
Runner Up: Sidelines Sports Eatery and Pub sidelinessportseatery.com
Desserts
LeeAna’s Bananas Waterville 419-419-9477
LeeAna’s Bananas on Facebook Runner Up: Vegan Taste vegantastetoledo.com
Gluten-Free Options
Frankly Plant Based Kitchen 740-407-5808 franklypbk.com
Runner Up: Mindful Table atthemindfultable.com
Vegan/Vegetarian Options
Frankly Plant Based Kitchen 740-407-5808 franklypbk.com
Espresso Tonic, Brew House Various locations 567-600-7029
Brew House Downtown on Facebook
Runner Up: Parma’s a B*tch, Maybe Cheese Born With It Maybecheesebornwithit.com
Most Instagram-Worthy Plates
Benchmark Restaurant
130 Levis Commons Blvd. 419-873-6590 benchmark-restaurant.com
Runner Up: The Icy Paw LLC The Icy Paw LLC on Instagram
Best Place for Family Meal Deals
Best Place for Gyros
Pasta
Comfort Food Schmucker’s Restaurant
2103 N. Reynolds Road 419-535-9116
schmuckersrestaurant.com/contact
Runner
Sandwiches
Harvest 8060 Airport Hwy 419-491-0049
Harvestinholland.com
Runner
Local Artisanal Food
All Crumbs Artisan Bakery 1109 Adams St. 567-377-8999
Allcrumbs.square.site
Runner Up: Vegan Taste vegantastetoledo.com
Local Condiment
Garlic Expressions
25621 Fort Meigs Road 419-874-2369
garlicexpressions.com
Runner Up: Good Boy Salsa Good Boy’s Salsa on Instagram
It’s that time of year again – elections are in full swing and people are heading to the polls to do their civic duty by voting. If you are not yet registered to vote, the deadline is Oct. 7. City Paper has compiled a list of candidates and information about them to help prepare you for voting in November. Want to learn more about who you’re voting for? Read on.
Janet Amid, a local astrology expert, gave readings about the birth dates of a handful of candidates, discussing characteristics based on the stars.
Tom pruss
EXPERIENCE
Currently, business owner (NorthCoast Print Mail Marketing), Vice President-Northwest Ohio Polish Cultural Center
PLATFORM ISSUES
Healthcare: Healthcare costs are skyrocketing due to government overreach. By embracing market-driven options like Direct Primary Care and reforming drug approval processes, we can lower prices and increase access. More choices mean lower costs!
Public safety: You deserve the right to protect yourself from violence. History shows that gun control has often been used to limit the ability of vulnerable groups like you to defend yourself. I’m committed to ensuring you can exercise your right to self-defense, appointing judges who uphold this right, and fighting against any restrictions that undermine your safety. Let’s keep our communities secure and support your right to protection.
Education: To fix education, we need to cut federal involvement. Abolish the Department of Education, return funds to states and taxpayers, and get the government out of student loans to drive down costs.
Immigration: Our immigration system is outdated and inefficient. It’s time to break the partisan gridlock and simplify the process so immigrants can come, work, and thrive as part of our communities. Immigrants built America, and they’re key to its future.
Economy: Americans are struggling in an economy where the government and special interests dictate the rules. To end these cycles of economic crises, we must reduce government interference and let individuals decide how to spend their hard-earned money, sparking real innovation.
Born Jan. 31. Tom was born with his Sun and Mercury (thought) in the innovative, unconventional sign of Aquarius. His communication style is sharp, forward thinking, independent and clearly justice-driven. His ideals are freedom and social progress. He values independence rather than having too much government control.
EXPERIENCE
U.S. Representative, Ohio’s 9th District, 1983-present
Founder and Secretary-Treasurer, National Consumer Co-operative Bank, 1980-1981
Urban Advisor to the President of the United States, 1977-1979 Planning Director, Community 21, Chicago, IL, 1974-1977
Urban Planner, Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commission, 1968-1973
PLATFORM ISSUES
Economy : As a congressional sponsor of the Inflation Reduction Act, I will continue my efforts to lower the cost of living for all Americans, including in the cost of everyday items such as groceries, gas and utilities. We must also make healthcare affordable for all, lower the cost of prescription drugs and groceries, and create high-wage jobs that people can raise a family on.
Public safety: I am honored to have the endorsement of police and fire including the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police and the Toledo and International Firefighters unions. Our first responders are on the frontlines keeping our communities safe. I have worked hand-in-glove with law enforcement to make sure they have the resources they need to reduce violent crime, get fentanyl off our streets and protect themselves and our community.
Women’s Reproductive Health: A woman’s health decisions must be between her and her doctor, not the government or criminal justice system. I oppose a national abortion ban, especially a ban that would not make exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother. The criminalization of reproductive health care must be fought in every instance.
Immigration: I support secure borders and legal immigration. I have voted to improve and expand border security, to hire more than 10,000 border agents and to enable military presence at the border if needed. I believe in deploying cutting-edge technology to monitor crossings, and have voted to deliver resources necessary to our Customs and Border Patrol agents. Just as the answer is not separating children from parents at the border, I know an orderly approach that prioritizes the security of the United States must be put in place. I’ve voted to lock up drug traffickers bringing fentanyl into our communities.
Born June 17. Born under the sign of Gemini, she’s a versatile thinker, quick and always willing to learn. Though very conservative inwardly, a traditionalist at heart, she’s always aware of the larger picture, and willing to look at situations from various angles –always looking for the greater good. Marcy’s intellectual agility and her ability to adapt to policies, in this shifting political climate shows through her continued success.
Sherrod Brown
EXPERIENCE
Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio Secretary of State, U.S. House of Representatives,
Chair of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.
PLATFORM ISSUES
I’ve spent my career fighting for the Dignity of Work – the idea that hard work should pay off for everyone, no matter who you are, where you live, or what kind of work you do. I’ll always do what’s right for Ohio – whether that means standing up to drug companies to lower the cost of prescription drugs for people on Medicare, standing up to special interests and corporations to lower costs and cut taxes for middle class families, or taking on presidents of both parties to fight bad trade deals that hurt Ohio workers.
For too many Ohioans, hard work isn’t paying off like it should. Every time people go to the grocery store they’re paying for stock buybacks and CEO bonuses. Corporations have too much power in the economy, and they use it to squeeze the workers who make their companies successful, while funneling all the profits to the top – whether through corporate outsourcing or corporate price gouging. We need to keep working to lower prices for Ohioans, cut taxes for Ohio families with a permanent expanded Child Tax Credit, lower the cost of housing, and make it
u.s. senate
easier for workers to join a union. We also need to make more in America –and there’s no better place to do that than Ohio. That’s why I’m working to grow new industries in Ohio and create good-paying, middle class jobs.
We need to secure our southern border and continue our work to keep dangerous drugs like fentanyl out of Ohio communities. I voted for the strongest bipartisan border security bill in decades that was written by Republicans and Democrats and supported by border patrol agents, and will support it again in my next term. I’m working with Republicans and Democrats to secure the southern border, crack down on fentanyl trafficking, and ensure that border patrol agents have the resources they need. I worked with the Wood County Sheriff Wasylyshyn and Lucas County Sheriff Navarre to pass into law the FEND Off
Fentanyl Act which will save lives in Ohio by cracking down on dangerous fentanyl at its sources – the chemical suppliers in China and the drug cartels in Mexico.
We also need to make sure Ohioans have access to quality, affordable healthcare and protect women’s right to make their own healthcare decisions. While I stand with the majority of Ohioans who made it clear that a woman’s healthcare decisions should be between her and her doctor, my opponent supports overturning the will of Ohioans with a national abortion ban and has said that he is “100% pro-life with no exceptions.”
As the longest serving Ohioan on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I am continuing our work to deliver for Ohio veterans, servicemembers, and their families. I led the years-long fight to pass the PACT Act to ensure Ohio veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
during their service get the health care they deserve. We also need to make sure our public safety officials – police officers, firefighters, and EMTs – have the tools at their disposal to keep our communities safe, and I have led efforts to make sure our police officers have the funding and resources they need. I will continue fighting to pass my Social Security Fairness Act to make sure law enforcement – along with other public employees – can retire with the full benefits they earned and to improve recruitment efforts.
I am also working to pass another Farm Bill that invests in Ohio farmers and ensures taxpayer support is targeted to local Ohio farmers, not corporate agribusinesses.
I’ll work with anyone to deliver for Ohio and stand up to anyone who gets in the way. That’s how I’ve always done this job, and that’s why I’m running for reelection.
Bernie Moreno
NO RESPONSE SUBMITTED
As your Lucas County Juvenile Court Judge, I have been dedicated to serving our community with fairness, integrity, and compassion. During my time as judge, I have worked to ensure that every child and family who comes before the court is treated with respect and given a fair opportunity to be heard. My focus has always been on rehabilitation, not just punishment, while prioritizing the safety and well-being of our children. I am committed to making decisions that protect our community and help our youth turn their lives around. I ask for your continued support so that together, we can keep working toward a safer, stronger future for all families in Lucas County.
anita lopez
EXPERIENCE
Lucas County Commissioner
PLATFORM ISSUES
Economic Development: Assistance to businesses to create more jobs in Lucas County.
Better fiscal controls over County spending.
Accessibility: Being available to all citizens and businesses to seek their input and guidance on major decisions facing the county.
county commissioner
Born Aug. 7, Anita was born under the sign of Leo, a bold and confident, charismatic sign. Though on the flip-side, her Mercury, which rules communication in the sign of Virgo, tends to tone down her energetic outward personification. Her mercury in Virgo brings with it a sharp analytical mind, in sync with her Sun in Leo as well as her Saturn (structure) in Taurus. She focuses on details, policies and methodical solutions.
john rozic NO RESPONSE SUBMITTED
MARCY KAPTUR
GEORGE FLOYD POLICE REFORM BILL
DON’T DEFUND POLICE-REFORM THEM. I DON’T NEED SPEECHES, I NEED ACTION. PUT IT BACK ON THE TABLE, AND GET IT DONE. MARCY, YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, AND WE NEED REAL POLICE REFORM. IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO STEP UP. “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW” (I HOPE SO). GUESS WHAT MARCY, YOU WON’T GET MY VOTE IN NOV. “CAN YOU HERE ME NOW” (I HOPE YOU DO).
BLACK LIVES MATTER “I CANT’ BREATHE”
PAID FOR BY: HAROLD HARRIS
pete gerken
EXPERIENCE
I started working on the assembly line at Jeep in 1976, became a union representative for UAW Local 12 in 1985
I was appointed to an at-large seat on Toledo City Council in 1996. I served on Toledo City Council for eight years and chaired the Environmental, Utilities and Public Service Committee.
In 2004 I was elected Lucas County Commissioner, and I currently serve as President of the Board.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Economy: Economic development, affordable housing and water quality are among my top priorities for Lucas County.
I have a proven track record of both leading and supporting economic development projects in our community. We built the Huntington Center downtown in 2009, a transformative project that allows Toledo to host sports, concerts and other events year round. The Commissioners forged a public-private partnership that led to the 2016 opening of Hensville, a $19 million mixed-use entertainment district that solidified Toledo’s renaissance. We continued that momentum by investing in a much-needed renovation of our downtown convention center and adjoining hotel, positioning Lucas County for increased tourism and investment.
My experience in office has taught me that partnerships are key. I’ve built relationships with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, the City of Toledo, our community’s incredible workforce and the private sector to bring important projects to fruition. All of these develop-
Tom Waniewski
EXPERIENCE
Catholic Diocese of Toledo (Development Director): 2019 – 2023
Toledo City Council (Councilman): 2007 – 2019
WTOL (Producer): 2005 – 2007
Access Toledo Internet (Founder): 1996 – 2005
WTVG (Reporter/Producer): 1980 - 1996
PLATFORM ISSUES
Healthcare: The county oversees the Mental Health Board, the Homelessness Board and the Children’s Service Board, so from a mental and emotional health standpoint, we need a strong county. I would make sure the appropriations for those services are adequate, accurate and effective.
Public safety: Under the current leadership, funding to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) has been cut, redirected and misguided. Voters passed a levy in the 1990’s. I WILL make sure the money voters appropriated for these services isn’t
ments not only bring revenue into our community, they also make Lucas County a more enriching place to live. In order to ensure economic stability for all Lucas County families, we must prioritize affordable housing. During my time as Lucas County Commissioner I’ve supported developments in workforce housing, senior housing and permanent supportive housing, and I will continue to do so if reelected. Every family has the right to dignified, safe, affordable housing in Lucas County.
BORN FEB. 4 under the sign of Aquarius, along with his mercury (communication sign), also in Aquarius, a progressive thinker, somewhat having unconventional ideas, an excellent communicator, who is somewhat complex. From what I can tell, with his Sun and Mercury (thoughts) conjunct in Aquarius, he’s going to be clearly focused on future technology as well as humanitarian efforts.
used for building a jail like the current Ponzi scheme being operated by the current office holder.
Education: Lucas County, by collecting property taxes, funds public schools. I will seek to work with educators to make sure funding is appropriate. I am especially interested to see how much of those tax dollars are actually spent on teaching children good basics of math, science and literature. But, I will also make an effort to tout the Building Trades for students who want an alternative to post-secondary education. Immigration: Legal immigration is ALWAYS welcome. I will eliminate Lucas County as an Illegal Immigration Drop Off County so as not to burden our social service system and our neighborhoods.
TOLEDO CHARTER AMENDMENT TIME TO DRAIN THE SWAMP VOTE-NO OCT/NOV 2024 TIME’S UP WADE-”YOU’RE FIRED”
ISSUE
TOLEDO CHARTER READS 2 TERMS/8 YEARS FOR MAYOR, YOU DON’T CHANGE THE RULES/ CHARTER, BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO LEAVE YOUR JOB. TOLEDO VOTE-NO OCT/NOV 5 PAID FOR BY:
erika white
EXPERIENCE
I have worked for Ohio Bell/AT&T for over 30 years. I have also served as an officer and the President of Communication Workers of America Local 4319 for the past 16 years.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Healthcare: Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Every Ohioan should have equitable access to affordable healthcare.
Public safety: As the wife of a firefighter, I understand the dangers our public safety officers face. We must continue to provide the resources they need to keep our communities safe. Our safety forces should go to work everyday, facing the dangers that they do, knowing their access to healthcare and workers compensation is secure. Also knowing that their families will be taken care of, should anything happen to them.
There are people behind the masks and badges who serve our community, which means that they have to be taken care of just as we should for any other worker. All they want to do is go home to their families at the end of their shift.
Education: Public education is the backbone of our competitive workforce. For too long, we have underfunded our
Josiah Leinbach
EXPERIENCE
I earned a B.A. In History from Hillsdale College. At Hillsdale College, I served as a Winston Churchill Fellow in History and Politics.
I worked for a high-tech digital marketing firm for a year out of college, and am now earning two master’s degrees at BGSU (M.S. In Applied Statistics, M.A. In Economics), where I have worked as a Graduate Research Assistant, doing work in several areas, including Artificial Intelligence.
Politically, I have worked on local and state campaigns my entire life, coming from three previous generations of elected officials. I aim to be generation number four.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Increased housing supply: Homeownership is one of the most important steps in wealth-accumulation, and also a benchmark for personal independence. With home prices reaching record levels, we must find ways to make housing more affordable for new homebuyers. But rather than government subsidies, which often distort both housing supply and demand, we should do things like remove overly restrictive
public school system. It is a moral imperative that we properly fund our public school systems and higher education institutions. My aspirations for K-12 and higher education are to improve the quality of our education by focusing on fair funding for our public schools. Providing our teachers and staff with better pay and working conditions, respecting their contractual rights, and reducing our class sizes to a ratio that provides students the ability to really connect with their teachers and their environment instead of getting lost in the classroom.
Simply put, we have to support and listen to teachers and educators more.
zoning laws and building codes, and instead institute property tax abatements for converting vacant downtown office buildings into residential apartments.
Paid parental leave: As the costs of raising children increase and birth rates fall, the government should lend support to new parents through a state-sponsored paid parental leave program available to both mothers and fathers. This would be a flat-rate perchild policy funded by discretionary Medicaid spending and a small tax on recreational marijuana. The 12 weeks of paid leave could be split in any combination between the mother and father.
Doing so creates a ripple effect of uplifting the students and helping them reach their full potential.
Immigration: Immigrants have made vast contributions to this country. Many have become US citizens and are proud of their US citizenship. Toledo recently achieved the status of Certified Welcoming for Immigrants, New Americans, and Refugees by the national non-profit Welcome America. We value diversity and inclusion, welcome cultural diversity, and recognize immigrants’ contributions to our community. Every year, the Multi-Cultural Twilight Market showcases local, BIPOC+, women+, and immigrant-owned small businesses. I am proud to support this event every year.
Economy: Workers are the backbone of our economy, not Wall Street. For far too long, corporations have kept prices inflated to boost their profits while working and middle-class folks fight harder and harder to stretch their paycheck. We must continue to foster an environment that is good for business and workers. Workforce development is currently one of the biggest challenges to recruitment in Ohio. Often, people view Ohio as not competitive or even prohibitive to women, people of color, and the LGBTQ community. We must correct this.
With more competitive wages, workers will want to live in Ohio. And from that, we will gain a more competitive workforce, which, in turn, will make us more attractive to companies that want to locate here.
A rising tide lifts all boats; but, we must also remember those boats stuck at the bottom.
Other not listed here: A woman’s right to choose what healthcare decisions she makes in consultation with her doctor is her choice. It is a health decision, it can be an economic decision, it can be a decision to save her own life. When I am in the statehouse, women should know that they will always have a strong advocate for their freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. I mentioned earlier, but would like to highlight, my focus on equality for mental health and disabilities resources. This is a core foundation of my campaign and I intend to champion this issue at the statehouse. Mental health and addiction has touched almost every Ohio family. And COVID highlighted the weaknesses we need to address here in Lucas County. Whether it’s a drug addiction, depression or anxiety and so much more, we must prioritize dedicated resources to address mental health issues.
Eliminating marriage penalties: Marriage penalties encourage cohabitation and out-of-wedlock births. Eliminating these marriage penalties in our tax code and benefit programs would increase marriage rates, especially for low-income couples, whom marriage penalties hurt most. As consequences of higher marriage rates, we would see higher birth rates and lower poverty rates.
State rail network: Ohio has the second-most miles of railroad per square mile, but has comparatively little passenger rail. Columbus is the largest metro-area in the US without an Amtrak line. Inter-city public transit is vital to mobility and economic growth. I would propose the state of Ohio plan for a state rail-network like that which exists in VA and NC.
Sabbath protections for workers: States used to have Sabbath laws as a way to protect workers’ time off, as well as to allow for more involvement in religious and civil society. I would advocate for a reinstitution of state-wide Sabbath law.
Revitalized urban architecture and infrastructure: Our cities used to be filled with aesthetically beautiful buildings, built to last for centuries. Now, we treat our buildings the same way we treat most other things: as disposable goods to be tossed aside when the newer, cooler thing comes around. This has increased waste and carbon emissions. Furthermore, we made our cities car-centric rather than people-centric. Thinking of our cities in such utilitarian terms has had consequences, and I aim to reverse that. I would require that all renovations to government buildings be done in accordance with the principles of classical architecture. Also, I would advocate that downtown businesses which do the same receive tax-credits. Finally, I would push to establish classical architecture programs at our state universities and a fine stone-masonry school in Ohio.
michele grim wendi hendricks
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Current: State Representative
House District 43
Previous: Toledo City Council
At-Large
PLATFORM ISSUES
As state representative for House District 43, I have put jobs first and secured crucial investments in local infrastructure, innovation and education to create and project good jobs, bolster our manufacturing economy and prepare our workforce and students for high-wage careers.
I am also standing up for families by fighting to end corporate price-gouging and hidden junk fees and by pushing reforms to lower energy bills and to rein in skyrocketing healthcare and prescription drugs.
I have been a champion for women and girls and leading in the struggles for reproductive rights, to support and empower survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and for equal pay and economic opportunity.
I have owned a small business for the last 27 years in Toledo called Starbound Models and Talent. I mentor children and adults, getting them ready to be in the entertainment industry.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Public safety: I have been endorsed by the Toledo Patrolmen Association (TPPA) and the Toledo Police Commanders Association (TCPOA). This endorsement is a testament to my dedication and commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of my District #43 residents.Recently, I have heard concerns from constituents in my district regarding their fear of going to Franklin Park Mall and other areas in Toledo. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed promptly. No one should feel afraid or unsafe in their own community. I am determined to make a positive change and create a safer environment for all residents. I will work closely with the TPPA and the TCPOA to develop and implement effective strategies to combat crime, increase police presence and improve overall public safety in our district. Together, we can make a difference and restore everyone’s sense of security.
Education: It is clear that there is a need for improved communication between parents and schools. I am committed to bridging this gap
and ensuring that all parents are well-informed about their children’s progress and activities at school. It is very disturbing to see how low the scores were in the last report for Toledo. We need to give the schools the tools they need to ensure a good education for everyone.
Immigration: It has been a significant burden on Ohio to accommodate immigrants in our state. Therefore, it is crucial for us to establish stronger laws to address this issue effectively. Many individuals I have spoken with express their disagreement with Ohio cities becoming sanctuary cities. The majority believes that prioritizing assistance to our own citizens should take precedence before opening our doors to others.
Adrian College - Adjunct Criminal Justice Professor (2020-present)
PLATFORM ISSUES
Reforming Ohio’s Economy: A path to prosperity in Ohio starts with lower taxes and transparency in government spending.
Border Security and Criminal Enforcement in Ohio: With the current open border policies all states have become border states. Our resources should be spent on hard-working Americans and our veterans.
Community Safety: We have to provide the resources for our communities to be safe and free from violence.
Job Creation and Workforce Development: With proper investment in a skilled workforce Ohio will be a destination for business growth.
Education: Our kids deserve the opportunity to have a quality education regardless of where they live.
Parental Rights: Parents, not the government, should determine what morals are instilled in their children.
Criminal Justice Reform: Ohio should focus its resources on investigating and convicting violent offenders, repeat offenders, and sexually motivated offenders.
Protecting Ohioans’ Right to Bear Arms: Individual Ohioans have a constitutional right to protect themselves and that right should not depend on which party is in power.
FIGHTING FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND PERSONAL FREEDOM
PUBLIC EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
Dave was a Lucas County employee for 27 years, during which time he was a dues-paying member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union Local 544 and soon became steward for his department – an important first experience advocating for others.
In 2008, Dave retired from the County and became a Staff Representative for AFSCME Ohio Council 8; he retired in 2020, but returned to AFSCME as a consultant in 2023.
Dave served as Ward Chair for Lucas County Democrats when he resided in Toledo, and he’s currently Ward Chair in Monclova township.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Personal freedom: I believe every woman has the fundamental human right to decide for herself if and when she will become a mother, and any government role or intervention to restrict reproductive freedom goes against my values. I will fight to keep abortion safe and legal in Ohio. I believe we all have the right to pursue happiness and live as our authentic selves. Harmful “bathroom bills” targeting transgender students, like the one Ohio Republicans prioritized passing this year, do nothing to protect students, and only further marginalize a community already at greater risk of violence and discrimination. My opponent states that “boys can never become girls, so boys should not be in girls locker rooms,” which is an ignorant perspective that shows he views trans youth as predators, rather than kids who simply want to live as their authentic selves.
Public education: I believe we need to strengthen public education, and that no public dollars should go to private schools unless they are held to the same academic and transparency standards as any public school. Through Ohio’s EdChoice and EdChoice expansion programs, Ohio public tax monies intended for Public Schools are being handed over to parochial and
CORRUPTION
other private schools. During the 20232024 school year, taxpayers helped pay tuition for students attending a long list of private schools including the top three Toledo-area recipients of public funds. Due to the irresponsible actions of Statehouse Republicans, a family of four with an annual income of $135,000 is handed $8,408 to attend non-public schools. They call it a “scholarship.” I call it a taxpayer-supplied handout, while public school boards have to keep asking voters for more money in levies.
Public safety: Research shows there is a direct correlation between Ohio’s extremely lax gun laws and the rise in gun deaths, and it’s past time we met this crisis with real action. Let’s start by reactivating the assault weapons ban of 1994 that expired in 2004. Then, we need “Red Flag” laws that are actually enforced.
Voting rights:
In Ohio, I am troubled by the disconnect between elected officials and the desires of the middle class and working people. The attack on voters’ rights in August 2023 demonstrates that, for some politicians, what their constituents want simply does not outweigh their own desire to retain power. It is the responsibility of a state representative to protect the vote not to dismantle it through legislation.
Robert J. Jones, Jr.
EXPERIENCE
2023-present: Judge, Lucas County
Accountability: Holding youth accountable for their decisions
Amy Stoner
EXPERIENCE
1/2024- present: Assistant Public Defender, Toledo Legal Aid Society
4/2022-1/2024: Magistrate, Lucas County Juvenile Court (I was required to resign my Magistrate position in order to run for Judge)
5/2000-4/2022: Assistant Public Defender, Toledo Legal Aid Society
5/2000-4/2022: Solo PractitionerAmy E. Stoner Attorney at Lawfocused on family law including juvenile delinquency, parental rights, dependency, abuse and neglect matters as well as guardian ad litem work, criminal defense and
more supportive and effective system that promotes positive development and stability for our youth and families and creates safer communities and neighborhoods.
What is a special focus or
and ultimately contribute to better outcomes for children.
Additionally, there has been a notable increase in mental health and substance abuse issues among juveniles involved in the court system. Addressing these issues is critical because they often contribute to delinquent behavior and can significantly impact a young person’s development and future prospects. By integrating mental health assessments and substance abuse treatment into the court process, we can provide targeted support that addresses these root causes, promotes rehabilitation and reduces recidivism.
Furthermore, I would also emphasize the importance of continually researching and evaluating our current approaches to juvenile delinquency. By analyzing
Subject: The Real State of The City Toledo/For 6 Years
1. MAYOR WADE KAPSZUKIEWICZ
2. OCT, NOV 2024 / ISSUE 9 , IT’S ALL
ABOUT WADE.
Let’s go back in time Toledo lets go back to 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. That’s when things started to get bad. WADE has taxed the VOTErs of Toledo every year. It all started with Pre-K and Roads on the ballot. It failed. Then WADE said I need money. Let’s raise taxes on the rich, middle class, poor and seniors, we need more tax dollars. To fix the problem. He wants to raise your taxes, so he can keep spending your tax dollars. Shame on you WADE and City Council (just stop it).
Year 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, rise in crime to a record high, for the city of Toledo (no one is safe). Gangs and drug dealers, rise to power, all over the city; North, South, East and West Toledo. Homicides and shootings were up, where was WADE? 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 corruption in City Government/City Council. Where was WADE? All this happened on his watch. Get this, WADE did not take responsibility. So was WADE in charge? Or was the drug dealers and gangs, running One Goverment Center/City Council? You tell me, Toledo. You deserve better. Yes, WADE was sleeping on the job. (Wake up WADE). Let’s not forget, when WADE can’t get his way, he won’t talk to anyone (City Council). He turns off his phone. What a big baby (having a fit).
2023/Roads/Streets of Toledo, start with the worst/bad roads first. Well guess what, Toledo, WADE made sure his section of the street, Meadowwood, was the first on the list to be repaved/resurfaced. It should be the last road/street to be done in Old Orchard, Toledo. He lied to you Toledo and took care of WADE. (Old Orchard has the best roads in Toledo). And don’t forget, WADE said, if you don’t get a new water meter, the city of Toledo will turn off your water. And, no more free parking at lunch time, when you come downtown for lunch. Pay up, or get a ticket. WADE, I need more tax dollars (tax and spend WADE). But he said, I got your back Toledo I’m looking out for you. I don’t think so.
Back to (NOV 2024) Toledo I need you to VOTE-NO,NO, AND-NO-ON ISSUE 9 in OCT/NOV 2024 election. We need a real leader.
P.S. #1) remember (8 NOV 2022) issue 21 Toledo charter amendment (100% percent pork). Toledo you stepped up, and you VOTED NO. You killed issue 21 . Now it’s time to finish the job. VOTE down issue 9 VOTE NO KILL ISSUE 9 and end tax and spend. Let’s move on to better days Toledo.
P.S. #2) WADE, you’re fired, you did your two terms (now get the bleep out). So Toledo, go to the polls, and VOTE and drain the swamp at one Government Center. Take back your city Toledo, it’s time. YOUR VOTE MATTERS (VOTE). We don’t like dictators and we don’t like kings, we like term limits. Toledo charter amendment, reads, two terms, eight years. When you took the job, you knew the rules. But now you want to change the rules/term limits, so you can keep your job. (Shame on you WADE). VOTE NO TOLEDO ISSUE 9 OCT/ NOV 2024 “TIMES UP WADE” YOU’RE FIRED. Aug 2024/When our first responders/firefighters needed help with better working/ living conditions, WADE turned his back on them and walked away from the table, and did not give them what they needed to improve their working/living conditions (shame on you WADE). Toledo VOTE NOTOLEDO! CHARTER AMENDMENT.
EXPERIENCE
Current employment – Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Lucas County.
Previous legal experience includes public and private criminal defense as well as civil litigation in medical malpractice defense.
Also, a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
PLATFORM ISSUES
Special focus or program for the Court that you would like to implement: Mental health issues are not being adequately addressed by the court system. As Judge, I intend to establish a Supreme Court of Ohio certified Mental Health Specialized Docket in the Lucas County Common Pleas Court. My court will balance mental health assessment and treatment with criminal accountability and punishment. The Mental Health Specialized Docket will redirect appropriate candidates through a court-based treatment plan. This will create community benefits including:
1) Reducing an individual’s future contact with the criminal justice system,
2) Improving collaboration between the criminal justice and mental health entities,
3) Reducing jail costs and case processing time,
4) Increasing the individual’s connection with treatment and support services, and
5) Educating practitioners and community members about the experiences of people with mental illness.
EXPERIENCE
Toledo Legal Aid - Public Defender: current
Senior Assistant Attorney General May- December 2023
Magistrate Toledo Municipal Court: 2018-May 2023
Assistant Public Defender: 2013-2018; Agnew Law Office, LLC: 2010-May 2023; Agnew & France, LLC: 2008-2010
Lucas County Prosecutor, Juvenile Division (Legal Intern): 2005-2006
PLATFORM ISSUES
I am committed to a court that is fair, firm and just. I want people to see equal justice being applied at every stage of a case, whether it is civil or criminal, but to understand there may be a need for firm consequences to keep our community safe.
Marcy Kaptur for Congress
we got issues
By Toledo City Paper Staff
While the upcoming election to determine the next US President gets all the air time, a plethora of local issues will also appear on this November’s ballot. Here’s a rundown of some of the more consequential issues for citizens in the Toledo area. The costs quoted are per $100,000 of assessed value over each calendar year.
Issue 9: Extending term limits for the Toledo Mayor from the current two terms to three terms, or from eight years to twelve. A “Yes” vote would extend the term; a “No” vote would retain the current limits.
Issue 19: Two new property taxes for Toledo Public Schools. The first is a ninety-nine million dollar bond issue for facilities construction and improvement at 2.018 mills. It is expected to cost taxpayers about seventy-one dollars for every one hundred thousand in assessed value. The other is a new 3.8 mills for operations, at a cost of about one hundred and thirty-three dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed value. A “Yes” vote would result in a new 5.82 millage at a total cost of about two hundred and four dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed property value.
Issue 20: A replacement levy for new money for the Sylvania Joint Recreation District, specific to voters in Sylvania and Sylvania Township. It is a 1.25 mill levy at a cost of forty-four dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed value. As a replacement levy, the millage remains the
same but the amount of money collected will increase based on any increase in assessed property value. ( A renewal levy is pegged to the tax amount at the time the levy was first passed, adjusting the effective millage downward with an increase in assessed value to keep the money the same. This is based on a 1975 law known as House Bill 920 )
Issue 24: A bond issue for new facilities money for the Toledo-Lucas County Library system. The one-mill levy is estimated to cost thirty-five dollars per one hundred thousand dollars in assessed value.
Issue 28: A 0.4 mill renewal levy for operations of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, which is responsible for the port, airports, other facilities and programs related to economic development. The estimated cost is eight dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed value.
Issue 29: A one-mill levy for Lucas County Senior Services, which includes a .75 mill renewal and a new .25 mill levy. The total cost is estimated at thirty dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed value.
Issue 30: A new 1.5 mill levy for Lucas County Children’s Services, at a cost of fifty three dollars per one hundred thousand in assessed value.
Ohio Issue 1
Anti-Gerrymandering initiative: what you need to know
What is “gerrymandering?”
Gerrymandering, so called after a pioneer in Nineteenth Century US politics by Elbridge Gerry, means drawing boundaries of legislative districts to explicitly benefit one major political party to the detriment of the other.
Do district boundaries change? Why do they change? Ohio currently has fifteen representatives in the US House and ninety nine members of the Ohio House. Boundaries are generally drawn to equalize the number of voters in the legislative districts that elect these legislators. The lines are redrawn at least after each decennial census as population centers shift within the state. This is termed “redistricting.”
Who draws the new boundaries? Do they have to follow any rules? Prior to twenty fifteen, Ohio elected officials at the statewide level were tasked with drawing district lines. It was common that one major political party dominated these offices, and drew the lines specifically to maximize the number of representatives from their political party elected to office. This was done by carefully drawing boundaries to split the votes of their political opponents into separate districts, diluting their voting power, or concentrating them into a few districts while diluting their power elsewhere. There were no explicit rules to prevent this political gerrymandering, and the US Supreme Court has refused to intervene unless the gerrymandering can be shown to have disparate impact based on race or color.
Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed initiatives in 2015 and 2018 to create a new redistricting board composed of both elected Republicans and Democrats to draw new boundaries. The initiatives aso created rules for drawing the lines, and stated that new maps must be approved by both Republicans and Democrats on the board. Otherwise they would be redrawn in four years.
Political infighting over the drawing of districts. However, after the 2020 census, the process became mired in political infighting. The Republican majority on the redistricting board tried to ram through gerrymandered districts. The Ohio
Supreme Court ruled that these districts violated the new rules not once, but seven times. Eventually a federal court allowed what it characterized as the least bad of the gerrymandered maps.
What is the result of gerrymandering on representation? Recent statewide elections for President and US Senate have been won by Republican candidates with about fifty three percent of the vote. By contrast, because of gerrymandering, the Ohio House is over two-thirds Republican, and the Ohio Senate is nearly eighty percent Republican. Two thirds of Ohio’s delegation to the US House is Republican. Most of these districts are not competitive, that is do not have contested races with competing candidates from both parties, and many are uncontested in general elections.
What would Issue 1 do to address gerrymandering? Issue 1 would create an independent fifteen-member citizen-led redistricting commission and establish new rules for redistricting. It removes politicians from the process. Many states have adopted similar plans, including Michigan, resulting in elimination of gerrymandered districts, more competitive elections, and better legislative representation.
Issue 1 has been endorsed by The Ohio Democratic Party; labor unions, including the Ohio AFL-CIO, the IAFF, AFSCME, SEIU, CWA, OEA, OFT, and the Teamsters; the League of Women Voters of Ohio; the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio; the Ohio NAACP; and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.
Issue 1 is opposed by the Ohio Republican Party and prominent elected Republicans including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine; Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman; US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson; and others.
TOLEDO CITY PAPER
Weddings
By Erin Holden
Our fall Wedding Guide focuses on the anticipation of wedding festivities with romantic proposal stories that include a zipline, a tattoo parlor and other creative approaches to popping the question.
The Guide also offers up ideas for including pets AND kids in your wedding. Take notes if you’re in the middle of wedding planning. There’s plenty of inspiration here for you and your partner for your big day.
Danny Watson + Hannah Sellers TOLEDO
Engaged on September 1, 2023
Where and how did the two of you meet? We met coincidentally (really though, much more akin to providence if you ask me) at a writer’s group. I had left teaching for a year to pursue writing, and Hannah, who I refer to as Dearest, rekindled her old passion for prose through the trials she had been facing lately. The written word is ubiquitously redemptive and inviting amidst the trials of life.
What was the moment you realized there was something special about her? The first moment I made eye contact with her. Apparently, we had been dodging each other at “group,” as we call it, both having attended multiple times without crossing paths. I’ll never forget the first time I saw her. I made eye contact, and saw a golden fire in her eyes. The look in her eyes intimidated, but welcomed, me. I felt too scared to initiate a conversation, but still wanted to interact. The sense of fear came from being seen for the first time in a way I’d never experienced before. She saw me, and I saw her. That started everything.
How long had you been together when you became engaged? We had been together for around seven months by the time I proposed. I bought the ring after six. I moved in after five. I told her I loved her after the first month. I had been in love with her since long before we began dating. Love is that way. It’s a force of nature, and it has a life of its own.
How did you propose? We went ziplining in Hocking Hills. We were on a platform in the trees, beside a running river, at sunset.
As we arrived at the ziplining place and started to get out of the car, I tried to think of where I could keep the ring. I snuck it into my sock. The ring bounced
around a bit before settling under the arch of my foot. Where we went ziplining had a course plotted through the trees and people participating would zip from platform to platform. There was a single walking section that ran over a rocky pathway. Perfect. So, as we walked along this rocky trail, I complained that I had a rock in my shoe. She suspected nothing. Five more platforms to go until the last platform, I got to zipline first, and when I got across to the platform, I let the guide know what was going on. He’s got a camera. Perfect. He allowed us to be the last people on the platform for some privacy. He made it happen. The final platform, and my gut began to soar. Everyone rappels down off the platform, leaving, the guide, Hannah and myself. As she sets herself up to rappel down, I tear through my sock to get to the ring. Her back is turned and I say, “Wait”. She turns to see me on my knee. That look that first drew me to her, the fire in her eyes, flares up even brighter. I ask “ will you marry me?”
What moment are you most looking forward to on your wedding day? I am absolutely looking forward to seeing Hannah in her dress. The next is holding hands with her under the arch, and seeing the gold in her eyes flare as we say, “I do.”
What are the moments you’re looking forward to in your life as a married couple? The moments are going to be daily. Coffee in the dark mornings, late nights adding commentary to our favorite, and cringey movies. I’m excited to travel, and see new things through the shared eyes of love together.
PHOTO CREDIT: ABBY LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY
Mr. Reuben Jay Furr II +
Mrs. Aleshia Leslye Furr TOLEDO
Married on June 12, 2021
Aleshiaand Reuben were featured in a past City Paper wedding guide. We caught up with them to get more details on their engagement and they were happy to share!
How did you meet? We first saw each other at a club called Evolution and exchanged a brief wave. Later that evening, I realized we were Facebook friends, so I sent him a message.
Aleshia, what was the moment you realized there was something special about Jay? After our first date. I felt like we both wanted the same things in life, and he made me very comfortable in being open with him.
Jay, what did you notice about Aleshia when you first met her?
The day I waved at her and the way she smiled and waved back at me…I knew then she had a heart. From our first date, I wanted to know so much more as I was so intrigued by her character and love for life. I knew at that moment she was special.
Who popped the question, and how? Jay popped the question at his aunt’s house during our monthly family dinner. It was Sunday, February 16, 2020, and what started out as a normal family dinner ended with him surprising me by proposing after we were playing the Just Dance game on the Nintendo Switch. I really should’ve guessed because, as we were playing, everyone was recording us. But I am so competitive that I just thought everyone wanted to record me beating him! Right after the game was over, I handed off my controller, turned around and he was on one knee. Then I looked around and my mom and other family members just popped up out of nowhere.
What moment did you most appreciate on your wedding day?
The overwhelming moment when we saw each other, committing to one another before God, and being able to spend our special day with all of our close family and friends. The memories of that day will always remain with us.
What are the moments you’ve enjoyed most in your life as a married couple so far?
Traveling with each other and our family, enjoying our date nights, in and outside of the house, discovering new shows to watch with each other, each and everyday coming home to one another and us continuing to grow personally and professionally together.
Sarah Bodi + Josh Mattoni
Engaged on December 10, 2023
Wedding Date: Fall 2025
“My fiance, Joshua, worked with Brick House Tattoo company to surprise me with a proposal. He worked with the artist and shop owner to stage a tattoo consultation for my Christmas present. We went in and the artist went back to “grab her stencil” and when she went to the back of the shop, our song started playing over the speakers. I looked at Josh and smiled, thinking “What are the odds?” then the artist came out to show me the stencil. It was a marriage proposal! Two of our kids and my sister and brother-in-law came out from the back as an extra surprise!
Joshua’s proposal is one of my favorite memories, and knowing he went to those lengths to organize it, keep it a surprise, AND keep it completely in line with my style and personality means the world to me!”
Wedding Etiquette for Parents Attending with Kids
Attending a wedding with kids can be delightful, yet challenging. Taking them along may be better than leaving them at home. Sometimes, you may not have another alternative. It’s also good for the kids to learn proper etiquette for attending events, and what better way to master etiquette than first-hand experience? Lessons, learned by experience, become more tangible and memorable for children. Here’s a quick guide to wedding etiquette for parents of young children:
Check the invitation
Only take your kids along to the wedding if your invitation clearly says that children are welcome. Do not assume that they are invited, and do not take them along if they are not expressly invited. The invitation card may also include special instructions if the kids have been invited, so be mindful of those instructions.
If you are unclear about a matter, it’s better to contact the hosts and clarify with them. You could call and ask if there are any arrangements for the kids at the venue, or if you are expected to make any arrangements. There are plenty of receptions that welcome children these days but you should clarify ahead of time to understand your options.
Respect the wishes of the couple if they haven’t invited the children. Don’t create unnecessary challenges for the couple’s special day.
Let the couple know
It’s good etiquette to RSVP promptly, but it’s even more important when children have been invited. Let the couple know in a timely manner. Indicate the number of children and adults separately, which will help the couple make the necessary arrangements.
Prepare your little ones
Your kids may be assigned some tasks if you’re close to the marital couple. If that is the case, ensure that your kids attend the rehearsals and are ready for the part that they are to play in the wedding ceremony. When children are prepared, they are less likely to panic and won’t have to be prodded to play their role. The kids may also feel more
involved and enthusiastic about the wedding when they have an assigned role to play.
You will likely have to coach your child regarding etiquette at events like this. Make sure they know what behavior is expected of them during the ceremony and at the reception.
Establish clear ‘dos and don’ts’ with your children, but don’t just make it about rules. Sit with them and explain to them the importance of good behavior at special events and the need to respect the couple and the guests. Provide them with specific examples of what’s acceptable and what’s not. Inform your child about areas that are off-limits for them, especially in an outdoor place. If they’re really young, a bit of role-play might help them understand better. Finally, let them know the rewards they can expect if they adhere to the ‘dos’ and the consequences for the ‘don’ts’.
Plan for the day
Use the wedding timeline or schedule as a base and plan age-appropriate activities for your kids. This will help keep them occupied and entertained during the times that they’re more likely to be idle, bored or frustrated. If you’re not prepared for those times, the kids could potentially act out by whining, crying, or misbehaving. Pack a special bag for them with their favorite toys, some snacks and maybe a book or two.
Dress the kids for the occasion
Ensure that the kids’ outfits are ageappropriate and comfortable. If they’re playing a role in the wedding, make sure they’re dressed for the part. Pay as much attention to the kids’ outfits as you would to your own.
Ensure that their outfits are suitable for the venue and also align with the theme and dress code set by the couple. If there’s a possibility of rain or the weather turning cold, you may need to carry light waterproof jackets along or dress them in layers.
Take into consideration the likes and dislikes of your child when picking outfits. Including your child in selecting an outfit might make them look forward to the wedding more enthusiastically.
Wrapping up
After the wedding, you can have a debriefing session, where your kids discuss their observations and experiences. You can use this opportunity to reinforce lessons learned and address any questions. Reinforce good behavior with praise and rewards. Training your kids in this way helps you, and the kids, have a great time at events and weddings. The next time you receive a wedding invitation for you and the kids, you, and they, will know what to do!
Among their many services - dog walking, overnight pet-sitting, medicine administration and more - Fetch! Includes three packages available for wedding services. If you book with them, they’ll start the process three weeks in advance of your wedding day to make sure you and your pet are prepared. That begins with meeting the company’s owner (Leasa Lee-Hite) and the concierge who will be working with your pet. With their services, you’ll receive three hours of transportation, plus care before, during and after the ceremony. To request the service and get the run-down of the three packages, visit their website.
In recent years, Toledo photographer Rebecca Trumbull has made a name for herself with pet photography. If you follow her on social media, you will quickly get a sense for her experience working with animals, getting them to trust her, and getting them to pose for pictures (no easy feat!). Her pet portfolio includes cats, dogs, horses, goats, snakes and turtles. If you are looking for a photographer who won’t shy away from working with your furry (or scaly) friend, Trumbull and her business partner, Jessica, are a willing choice. Below is their take on what to expect if you choose their service for your pet-centric engagement photos:
“When working with couples and their dogs, our top priority is making sure everyone feels comfortable. We ask a lot of questions about the dogs to learn their personalities and what motivates them. We also find out about any dietary restrictions or behavior quirks. Dogs are such a big part of the family, and they deserve to be included in the celebration. The goal for any couple’s engagement photos is to document their relationship with each other and the way it positively impacts their relationship with their pups.”
Budding Paws
567-200-1175 • buddingpaws.com
Kayla Cornell’s Budding Paws offers behavioral training, and she even has a special service for wedding ceremonies. “Usually when couples want to include their dog, the responsibility falls on family members or the bridal party to handle the dog and take care of its needs,” she says. “This often restricts the ability for that guest to relax and fully enjoy the wedding.” By having a professional trainer work with your pup, you can relax and enjoy the day.
Budding Paws includes a consultation, run-through at rehearsal, and assistance on your wedding day for two hours, which covers chaperoning, photo assistance, and ceremony handling.
Brandon and Stephanie Wood with Cooper and Buddy
TRUMBULL PHOTOGRAPHY
PHOTO BY SWATCH STUDIOS
CONTINUED
Wedding Day Mishaps
Tales from Toledo
By Erin Holden
It’s rare to speak to a couple who experienced the perfect wedding day. There’s almost always something that could have gone better. During the cutting of the cake tradition at my own wedding, we realized that no one had brought anything to cut it. Surrounded by a photographer and many onlookers, my husband grabbed a fistful of cake with his bare hand and fed it to me like a barbarian. It was glorious, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
I share this because perfectionism can really bring down your vibe if you get too fixated on every detail. Several of you, from bridesmaids and family members to wedding industry professionals, shared a few newlywed moments that struck them as not ideal. Do you have more to share? Comment on our Facebook page to weigh in! We love to be scandalized.
Fit to be tied
You can never be too prepared when it comes to complicated formalwear. One groom found this out the hard way when he couldn’t figure out his tie just before the ceremony. “The groom didn’t get his bow tie pre-tied… they [members of the wedding party] spent about an hour watching YouTube tutorials and trying to get it tied,” recalls one of the wedding photographers at the event, Rebecca Trumbull. “The boys were the late ones that day.”
Grooms gone wild
Weddings can be stressful, but you can’t let it turn you into a holy terror for venue staff. One Toledo native, Cathy Hill, used to work at various banquet halls like Sun Oil Recreation Center in
Genoa. “One night, the groom called the bartender a ‘fat hog,’ so we told him to get away from the bar. He got so mad that he threw his drink against the wall, then knocked over the coffee pot,” she says. “So the bar closed down! The bride’s mother asked how we could reopen it, and we said ‘As long as they keep him away from the bar…’ so they did, and the rest of the evening was fine.”
Lowered expectations
Partying hard to celebrate on the wedding day is a given for many of us. Pulling an all-nighter just before the big day? Not recommended, as one Toledo bride found out. “My husband’s oldest brother and best man at our wedding told my husband right before the ceremony, ‘I quit drinking at 2pm so I’d be sober for the ceremony.’ He had been drinking since the rehearsal dinner the night before.”
Crossing the line
Your friends are there to support you on your wedding day…that doesn’t mean you can treat them like servants in a pe-
riod drama! One former bridesmaid, Laura Stiefel, had enough after this interaction:
“I was a bridesmaid for a friend who I had originally thought was the nicest person I had ever met,” she says. “About half an hour before her wedding was about to start, she handed me liquid eyeliner and asked me to do her eye makeup like I had done mine. I tried to beg off the assignment, but she insisted. After she looked in the mirror, she started having a complete fit…screaming, stomping and telling me it didn’t look like her. I must be the worst bridesmaid in the world because I told her she had two choices: she could either call off the wedding or wash her face.”
CARICATURE ARTIST
CHOW LINE
Gourmet Ghosts
Haunted dining in Toledo
By Steven Sloan
The days are getting shorter…The evenings darker earlier…And the ghosts and specters of Toledo… hungrier. And those apparitions have many local choices, because Toledo has more than its fair share of haunted restaurants, coffee shops and bars. With Halloween creeping ever nearer, we thought we’d offer you a guide to some of the spookiest spots in the Glass City.
Levi and Lilac’s Whiskey Room and Coffee Pub
A Toledo Landmark with a Haunted History
301 River Road. 567-402-4308. leviandlilacs.com
The “Governor’s Inn” building at 301 River Road in Maumee is “the oldest building in Lucas County” according to Levi and Lilac’s claim and the Coffee Pub/Whiskey Room (coffee shop and whiskeyforward bar, for the uninitiated) is the landmark’s latest tenant. As many old, famous places do, the building has attracted a number of unsubstantiated and eerie legends. From famous guests like (allegedly) Abraham Lincoln to a tunnel that served as a stopping place on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War and an illicit route for Canadian liquor runners during prohibition, as Levi and Lilac’s says, the building has “seen it all.”
And the Governor’s Inn is apparently the proud owner of at least two ghosts - ones who almost certainly give their name to the building’s latest occupants. First is the “Lilac Lady,” about whom little is known other than the fact that she “walks around spreading the smell of lilacs.” The other spirit is none other than the spirit of the building’s departed first owner, Levi Beebe, who allegedly enjoys a drink so much that he hangs around the bar area.
Spaghetti Warehouse
Spooky with a Chance of Meatballs? 42 S. Superior St. 419-255-5038. meatballs.com/locations/toledooh
One of the most proudly haunted eateries in Toledo is downtown’s Spaghetti Warehouse. According to the team, basically the entire chain is haunted, with the locations routinely making the “most haunted” lists in their respective cities. General manager, Chad, attests that he’s “heard knocks on [his] office door” and had a “clearly dead” lightbulb that he’d just removed “light up in [his] hand.”
Spaghetti Warehouse also partners with Toledo-based Paranormal Spirit Encounters Investigations for a dinner and ghost hunt. 2024 dates aren’t yet available, but it typically takes place from late September through October. If you’re looking for a more curated supernatural experience, this might be the way to go.
Olive’s on Main
Haunted by Ohio’s First Serial Killer 5629 Main St. Sylvania 419-517-4448. facebook.com/p/Olives-onMain-61556546653183
For those interested in the darker side of Toledo’s spectered establishments, Christopher Tillman highlighted Olive’s on Main, a diner in Sylvania. Per Tillman, Haunted Toledo investigated the restaurant back when it was still called Executive on the Main.
Allegedly, it shares a history with many places in the Toledo suburb that are haunted by Return Ward, “Ohio’s first serial killer” and his victim, Olive, his third wife. The latter, in particular, is apparently the one who is seen most often. In a 2018 YouTube video, Haunted Toledo’s Sarah Chelten recounted examples of sightings by workers, patrons and, surprisingly, even people walking by and looking in the diner window. Interestingly, while it used to be believed that Ward murdered Olive “on the spot where [Olive’s] sits today,” further research has since demonstrated that this wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, people still continue to “come forward with claims of seeing a phantom woman in white” haunting the local eatery.
Oliver House
Maumee Bay Brewing Shares Its Home with Spooky Roommates 27 Broadway St. 419-243-1302. mbaybrew.com
If you like your boos with a side of brews, head down to the Maumee River to Maumee Bay Brewing Company. The beer maker’s home, the Oliver House, is a Toledo landmark and comes with its own share of ghost stories. Maumee Bay claims that its employees have seen a number of different specters, like “a former ship captain, a woman in a white dress, and other friends of years gone by.” Like many of the establishments on this list, Maumee Bay is very proud of its building and its history and hosts a “yearly ghost ceremony” and numerous spirit-themed events.
Wandering Bean Coffee Company
Ghosts Need Caffeine, Too! 1119 W Sylvania Ave. 419-469-5960. facebook.com/WanderingBean
If you’re more of a morning person, the basement of the roastery at Wandering Bean Coffee Company seems to be a hotbed of ghoulish activity, which makes sense to the Wandering Bean’s team, as the building housing them used to be a funeral home. “I can tell you beyond a doubt that we have seen things in there,” said a member of the Wandering Bean’s team.
At the time of this writing, the building is fresh off an investigation by Haunted Toledo - a local paranormal investigation group - who came away with some pretty spooky findings, including a presence with an apparent fixation on Haunted Toledo’s Electromagnetic Field tripwire. Christopher Tillman of Haunted Toledo said, “The investigation was pretty active. Wandering Bean definitely has a ‘visitor’ in the building.”
Know of any we missed? Contact us at editor@adamsstreetpublishing.com
POPPERS
Burn & Bite Cigar
Festival
Welcoming local aficionados and curious minds alike, Burn & Bite is a weeklong series of events that culminates in The Grand Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, from noon to 7 pm, which celebrates Toledo’s vibrant cigar culture. The community is invited to unique and discounted adventures at local businesses and eateries, with fun experiences at cigar shops. Join TolHouse, 1447 N Summit St., to learn about and enjoy premium cigars and foods. A portion of proceeds from each ticket sold go to support The Program Inc. Tickets start at $100 on Eventbrite.
Bewitched
on Bourbon Street
Head to Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 pm for this event, where Bourbon Street’s infamous lore meets the best of Creole & Cajun cuisine this October. Join the Cooper’s Hawk Wine Club for gumbo, grits and a celebratory anniversary wine with a classic beignet for dessert. Event is 21+ and reservations must be made 48 hours prior. Note, you’ll be seated with guests outside of your party during the event. 4705 Talmadge Road. $79. Tickets on Eventbrite.
Blake’s Cider Tasting at Flip The Table
On Sunday, Oct. 6 at 4 pm, head to Flip the Table, 3136 Central Ave., for an event filled with games and taste-testing. Blake’s, a Michigan-based, award-winning cider producer, will have hard cider flights with Gust Brothers donuts. Walk-ins are welcome, but space is not guaranteed. Participants must be 21+, and normal game play will be available along with the event. Tickets $16 on simpletix.com.
Spooktacular Screenings
Movie events to enjoy your Halloween season
By Kaylin Pickett
The season is ripe for a Halloween fright night. Looking to celebrate the spooky season through a favorite Halloween movie? Toledo has several film events for you.
Screening of Halloween 48-Hour Film Projects
This Halloween, BGSU is hosting its Halloween 48-Hour Film Projects from 8 pm to 9 pm. The 48 Hour Film Project is a chance for people to test their filmmaking skills by creating a movie in just a weekend. It is a global event that happens in over 100 cities. The screening will be in the Wolfe Center for the Arts. The event features a costume contest along with a number of Halloween films. It is arranged by BG Reel, the student organization that is in charge of the annual BGSU Film and Media Festival.
For more information visit bgsu.edu.
Northwood Ohio’s Annual Fall Festival
Northwood’s Fall Festival will be held Oct. 12, beginning at 11 am with the parade which will start at Great Eastern Shopping Center and moves down Woodville Road to Mary Street ending in Central Park. The kids area is open from noon to 6 pm, vendors are open from noon till 5 pm with multiple special events throughout the day. The movie screening will begin at 6:30 pm followed by a firework display at 7:45 pm.
For more information visit their Facebook at Northwood Ohio Fall Festival.
Movie and A Craft
NOTES THEATER APPEAL REEL
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is hosting an arts and crafts event at several branches with a Halloween movie on various days in Oct. Kids from ages six to 17 can work on a craft while enjoying a Halloween movie. The movies include classics like The Corpse Bride, Coco, Coraline, Hotel Transylvania and Hocus Pocus.
For more information visit toledolibrary.org.
Pumpkin Decorating & a Movie
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is hosting a pumpkin decorating event while featuring a scary movie. The event is for teens ages 11 to 17. The event will be hosted by several different branches on various days throughout October. The movies will include Lisa Frankenstein and The Corpse Bride, on alternating days of the event.
Classic Movies at Oregon Library
The Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s Oregon Branch shows a classic movie monthly. On Oct. 22 they are showing the classic horror movie Psycho (1960) from 2 pm to 5 pm. The event will be held in Meeting Room A which can hold a maximum of 75 people. The movie is rated R so the event is exclusive to people 18 years old or older.
For more information visit toledolibrary.org.
Waterville Playshop presents The Sound of Music
Waterville Playshop presents The Sound of Music on Friday, Oct. 25, Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Maumee Indoor Theater directed by Tammy Fitch. Enjoy a classic broadway musical put on by a production company that has been entertaining for over 70 years. Times and ticket prices vary, check watervil-
3B Productions presents The Prom
3B productions is presenting The Prom, a fun musical featuring love and acceptance. Friday. Oct. 11, Saturday, Oct. 12 at 8 pm and Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2:30 pm at the Maumee Indoor Theater. Tickets are $20. 3bproductions.org
BOOK NOTES CITY PAGES
Thomas S. Tharp’s
My Other Lives
The debut author releases collection of short stories
By Kaylin Pickett
Local author Thomas S. Tharp released his first collection of short stories in May titled My Other Lives, consisting of 10 stories that Tharp has been working on since 2014.
Tharp began as a visual artist before he started writing fiction. Many of his stories resemble his drawings with their ability to evoke the mysterious and unexplainable. The inspiration for most of his work comes from his own life experiences, observations and interpretations.
“They’re just ideas that occurred to me. Usually, it has to do with something unusual going on that I can attribute a different definition to,” Tharp said.
Unusual perspective
The collection explores the oddities of human behavior in the form of impressionistic and surreal stories. Using the magical and stark realism of modern life Tharp brings forward his unusual perspective on life in a thoughtprovoking and creative way.
Relating occurrences
This is the first collection of Tharp’s stories and what he considers an introduction to his writing. These first stories are more accessible and have received good feedback from his friends and family. The second collection, which he plans on releasing in the next year, has more abstract and dark stories.
There is often a theme that can be found within Tharp’s short stories. The first story of My Other Lives, “The Mark,” centers around people’s belief in superstition and how in the end it’s just superstition.
Another story that Tharp believes stands out amongst the rest is “Borrowed Time” a story about a man who is slowly losing his memory. In the story, the reader follows the man through the descent of losing his memories.
After building his collection of short stories over ten years he finally decided to take the step to have his work published shortly after his retirement. Tharp and his friend Kevin Lyle worked on getting his stories self-published through Amazon so that Tharp’s work could be preserved and shared with the world.
“The primary reason is because I’m getting old and everything’s on my computer. What happens if the computer is gone? I never existed,” Tharp said. “So first and foremost is to put a marker down and say ‘this is what he did.’”
Tharp also used the book to pay tribute to his brother, Michael K. Tharp’s, art. The cover art is a portion of his construction Cosmological Model #3. The art piece is a mechanism that represents the opposite of the “the Almighty” hand, but rather fate randomly reaching down and affecting aspects of people’s lives.
His work “A Bed of Letters” is also an example of how he takes occurrences from real life and turns them into his stories. One day he read about a man living in kitchen cabinets for 14 years and used this as inspiration for the story. He takes events like these and adds his darker twists to them.
Tharp writes to explore the mystery and magic behind events whether they are real or fictional. He writes to reveal what is behind that “imaginary curtain.” “I do not write to tell you what you already know or to document the familiar,” he said.
Tharp also has a few longer stories that he hopes to publish in the future. In one of these stories, he stays with his theme of writing about the unknown in the form of a detective novel, drifting away from the usual mystery-solving path of the story and instead focusing on the different events that occur around the detective.
My Other Lives is available for purchase on Amazon in paperback for $9.95 or on Kindle for $4.95. For more information and to purchase My Other Lives visit amazon.com
Fall Book Clubs
Toledo’s Silent Book Club October meeting
The October meeting of the Silent Book Club is Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10:30 am at Earth Coffeehouse & Cafe, 1447 N Summit St. Bring your physical book or e-book, no matter the genre, and meet up for a read along with fellow book lovers. No discussions, homework, pressure or judgments involved. Toledo Silent Book Club on Facebook
Toledo Library’s Big Idea Book Club
The Kent Library hosts a discussion group dedicated to diverse voices, perspectives and authors, aiming to construct meaningful conversations about anti-racism and embracing diversity. Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 pm, head to the Kent Computer Training Room, 3101 Collingwood Blvd., to discuss Jazz by Toni Morrison. toledolibrary.org
Point Place
October Book Club
The Point Place Book Club features good conversation, friendly faces and great books, looking to respectfully and engagingly discuss the content. On Thursday, Oct. 10 at 2 pm, head to the Point Place Library’s Large Meeting Room, 2727 117th St., to discuss Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. toledolibrary.org
NAMI Greater Toledo’s Creative Expressions
NAMI of Greater Toledo developed a program called Creative Expressions. It features workshops designed for people experiencing mental health struggles, giving them an opportunity to connect with family and friends. Workshops are free and offered in-person or virtually. Create Now is intended for ages 15 and up with pre registration required. It takes place on the third Thursday of every month from 5:15 pm to 7:15 pm at the Main Library. Contact kzientek@ namitoledo.org
Red Bird Art Walk
First Fridays is a monthly festival located in Downtown Sylvania where businesses come together to celebrate friends, neighbors and consumers. Enjoy art, live music, food and friends. October’s First Friday lands on Oct. 4 from 5 pm to 8 pm. redbirdsylvania.org
Spring Exhibition: Bailes!
From Tuesday, Oct. 1 from Friday, Oct. 11 at 10 am to 2 pm the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center, 122 Broadway St., will put on The Jose Martinez Memorial Galeria daily. Come celebrate the traditional folkloric dance, with entry based on donations. For small tours, appointments or large groups, contact events.sqacc@gmail.com
ART EVENTS
ON-GOING
“Life After Life” - The Art Of Steven J Athanas Athanas has lived a creator’s life since his early teens. Originally a stage and musical performer, he moved into the visual arts, allowing his quirky imagination room to roam across various media with an eye on the quirkiness of the English language. Runs through Oct. 18. University of Toledo - Carlson Library, 2801 W Bancroft St. utoledo.edu/library
FRIDAY, Oct. 4
October Red Bird First Friday Art Walk Come celebrate Oktoberfest with Heritage Sylvania at Red Birds First Friday Art Walk. In partnership with Tree City Market, Red Bird brings you the Tree City Makers Mart taking place in the back gathering space and Carriage House. Come by and shop over 16 vendors. 5pm. Main Street, Downtown Sylvania. redbirdsylvania.org
Color, Chaos and Harmony
Head to Hudson Gallery for an exhibition of new work by four contemporary artists working in abstraction, including Kathleen Pahl, Doug Salveson, Skot Horn and John McLaughlin. Runs through Nov. 12. Opening night 5pm-8pm. General viewing Tuesday through Friday, 10am-6pm, Saturday, 10am-3pm. 5645 N Main St. hudsongallery.net
SUNDAY, Oct. 20
Coffee + Candles | Candle Making Experience
Choose your coffee candle base from Callisto Terra’s selection. You’ll get to pipe candle wax on top of your coffee candle using piping tools. Choose the best timeframe for your group. $10 per person to reserve spot, pay the remaining $30 after the class for your work. Noon. 5223 Hill Ave. callistoterra.com
WED, Oct. 16
Paint Your Partner!
Head to Maumee Bay Brewing Co. where you and your partner can unleash your inner artists! Grab a brush, pick your colors, and let your imagination run wild as you paint together. No experience needed. There will be prizes available to win. $45 ticket includes all materials and light grazing for you and your partner. 6pm. 27 Broadway St. mbaybrew.com
FRIDAY, Oct. 25
Haunted Paint & Sip with Flashlight Tour
Head to the Toledo Museum of Art to Immerse yourself in the surreal world of Joan Miró with a paint and sip experience. The event begins with a guided painting session where you’ll recreate Miró’s iconic artwork, “Women Haunted by the Passage of the BirdDragonfly,” guided by an experienced artist. All art supplies will be provided, and no prior painting experience is necessary. $75 non-members, 10% off for members. 7pm. 2445 Monroe St. toledomuseum.org
ART TO HEART
TMA’s “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” Exhibition
The African country’s artistic heritage from manuscripts to NFTs
By Faith Baker
The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) has brought national exhibition history to Northwest Ohio through Nov. 10, featuring “Ethiopia at the Crossroads,” the first major US exhibition showcasing Ethiopian art through a global lens and recounting the country’s artistic heritage from its genesis to today — 1,750 years’ worth.
Tickets cost $10 per person, while admission for TMA members is complimentary. Museum entry for everyone is always free.
What is on display?
Located in the Green Building’s Levis Gallery, TMA’s landmark exhibition will feature more than 225 items, ranging from devotional paintings and metalwork to sculptures by contemporary Ethiopian artists and the Ethiopian diaspora, including Julie Mehretu. The Museum’s recent acquisitions, including a pivotal 15th-century Ethiopian manuscript, and international loans from artform-blending artists such as Fre Seyon, will also be part of the showcase. These different artistic mediums reflect Ethiopia’s diversity and reach, which stretches beyond the continent to touch Europe and Asia.
One of the installations is the “House of Yatreda” from artist collective Yatreda: ያጥሬዳ, TMA’s 2024 digital artist in residency. Presenting the past in a contemporary way by fusing ancient Ethiopian traditions with blockchain technology, these pieces give a glimpse into the newly developed ways art is being made and consumed, offering everything from the animated “Abyssinian Queen” to a coffee ceremony that stresses the importance of the cup of joe to the African country.
For those who want to gain more background before viewing the exhibition, TMA has hosted a slew of educational programs. On Saturday October 19, 2-3 p.m., the museum will host “Rock-Hewn Churches and Sacred Groves: Architecture as the Home of Religion and Art in Ethiopia” by Michael Gervers, Ph.D., Professor of History and Art History, University of Toronto.
How did this exhibition come to life?
Curated by the Walters Art Museum’s Christine Sciacca and for TMA by assistant director of strategic initiatives Sophie Ong, this showcase is facilitated by two grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom and one from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The exhibition will also feature an accompanying illustrated catalog from Walters.
TMA is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. To learn more about “Ethiopia at the Crossroads” and TMA’s other works on display, call 419-255-8000 or visit TMA’s website.
Yatreda: ያጥሬዳ Ethiopian, established 2021 Mother of Menelik 2023. Non-fungible token of single-channel video. Courtesy of 776 Private Collection
Folding Processional Icon in the Shape of a Fan Ethiopian (Artist) late 15th century (Stephanite) ink and paint on parchment, thread (Ethiopia)
METRO MUSIC
FRI, OCT. 11 Frankie’s:
Wheelin on the Rocks: Celebration of Life
WED, OCT. 16
Slater’s Food & Spirits: Jazz Night
The Heights: Wine & Jazz Wednesdays (jazz)
Wheelin on the Rocks: Black Ice Jam Band (rock)
The Village Idiot: Caswell & Co. (rock)
May (acoustic)THUR, OCT. 17
Libbey House: Florence Scott Libbey Chamber Series (classical)
FRI, OCT. 18
The Ottawa Tavern: Stick to Your Guns & Bane (punk)
Bier Stube: Mizer Vossen Project (rock)
Quenched & Tempered Brewing Co.: P3K (rock)
Huntington Center: For King + Country (Christian)
Lucille’s Jazz Lounge: Jo Serrapere (singer songwriter)
Levi & Lilac’s Whiskey Room: Rick Caswell (acoustic)
The Valentine Theatre: Tosca (opera)
Hollywood Casino: D-Tour Band (pop rock)
Kickstand Saloon: Middle Age Arcade (rock)
Frankie’s: The Quasi Kings (rock)
The Village Idiot: House Band, The Trip-lettes (rock)
Benfield
SAT, OCT. 19
Source at Frankie’s
Fun Size Productions presents Source with other special guests at Frankie’s Toledo Wednesday, Oct. 9. Guests include Nu Audio, Horse Lover and In Rhythm. Tickets presale $12, $15 day of show. Doors at 7 pm, show at 7:30 pm. 308 Main St. Tickets on etix. frankiestoledo.com
Abbigale at Urban Pine
Urban Pine Winery & Eatery is a family-owned and female-operated business. It is a space to relax, enjoy life and create memories with friends, family and business associates. Live music by Abbigale throughout the month of October. She is a Best of Toledo Award winner, singer and jazz artist. Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at 1:30 pm. 3415 Briarfield Blvd. urbanpinewinery.com
Music in the Garden 577 Foundation
Music in the Garden occurs every second Saturday of the month hosted by the 577 Foundation. Select areas of Virginia’s House will be open to tour 11 am to 3 pm. Live music, food trucks and fun outside activities. Saturday, Oct. 12 Chloe & the Steel Strings take the 577 Outdoor Stage from 11 am to 1 pm. After, The Funk Trio will play soulful tunes from 2 pm to 3 pm. Limited seating available, and bringing a blanket is encouraged. 577 East Front St. 577foundation.org
WED, OCT. 23
THUR, OCT. 24
FRI, OCT. 25
(rock)
Hollywood Casino: Distant Cousinz (pop rock)
Kickstand Saloon: String Theory (rock) The Village Idiot: Hullabaloo, Them Oh Boys (rock)
SUN, OCT. 20
The Valentine Theatre: Tosca (opera) The Village Idiot: Jazz
Levi & Lilac’s Whiskey Room: Jake Pilewski (acoustic)
The Village Idiot: Jordan & Josh (acoustic)
TUE, OCT. 15
Urban Pine Winery: Abbigale (blues) Lucille’s Jazz Lounge: Tumbao Bravo (jazz) The Village Idiot: Kyle Smithers (acoustic)
THE BIG TO DO
TUESDAY, Oct. 1
[social causes]
Northwest Ohio Silent Witness Project Unveiling Ceremony - The Silent Witness Project Unveiling is a solemn ceremony recounts the stories of women and girls whose lives ended due to domestic violence. 6-8pm. Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. toledolibrary.org. Free
THUR, Oct. 3
[zoos & animals]
U at the Zoo | College Night - Enjoy a wild night where students can unwind and roam the Toledo Zoo. $20-$25. 4-9pm The Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way. toledozoo.org
FRIDAY, Oct. 4
[live music]
4:19 A.M. Launch Party - 4:19 Artist Management Launch Party with performances by The Heartthrobs, The Currents, Bear The Moon, Lauren Blackford and Daisy Chain. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. $10-$15. 6pm. The Ottawa Tavern, 1817 Adams St.
SAT, Oct. 5
[fundraisers]
Toledo Out of The Darkness Walk - Join a walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to raise awareness and raise funds. 9:30am-1pm. Promenade Park, 400 Water St. supporting.afsp.org
[fall, festivals & fairs]
Pumpkin Palooza - Enjoy games, $2 pumpkins, fall decor for your home and lots of Fall fun. 10am-6pm. Also on Sunday, Oct. 6, 10am-6pm. Keil’s Produce and Greenhouse, 3587 US Hwy 20A, Swanton. keilsgreenhouse.com
[farms]
Heritage Farm Fest - Enjoy a sustainably-grown and holistically-raised lunch, wagon rides, live music, hands-on history stations and more. 11am-3pm. Carter Historic Farm, 18331 Carter Rd., Bowling Green. wcparks.org. Free
[fundraisers]
The BASH - Imagination Station’s annual fundraiser is taking you to a galaxy far, far away filled with intergalactic science experiments, cosmic cocktails at the Cantina and exotic delicacies. $125. Imagination Station, 1 Discovery Way. imaginationstationtoledo.org
MONDAY, Oct. 7
[multicultural]
Universal Worship - Nine faith traditions share readings, songs and poems on the theme of “Non-Violence” during Ohio Nonviolence Week. 6-7pm. First Unitarian Church of Toledo, 3205 Glendale Ave. multifaithcouncil.org
TUESDAY, Oct. 8
[author events]
An Evening with David Brooks - Brooks, a nationally-renowned commentator and columnist speaks about his current book, How to Know a Person. Tickets on Eventbrite. $25. 7pm. Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania.
WED, Oct. 9
[crafts, home & garden]
Build Your Own Graveyard Garden - Dive into the spooky spirit with an exclusive Halloween succulent garden class, where you’ll learn to create stunning arrangements using vintage glassware. Ticketed. $50. 5pm. Happy Houseplant Co., 3440 Airport Hwy. happyhouseplantco. wixsite.com
[author events]
Authors! with Anna Rasche -Author Anna Rasche will discuss her book The Stone Witch of Florence. At each program, authors speak for about forty-five minutes, followed by a short question and answer session. A hardcover copy of the book is included with your ticket purchase. Tickets on Eventbrite. $24. Main Library, 325 N Michigan St. toledolibrary.org
FRIDAY, Oct. 11
[wine, author events]
Love & Terror - An evening of spooky stories, sexy yarns and thrilling tales. Meet your favorite authors and enjoy a glass of wine. Tickets on Eventbrite. 6-10pm. Benfield Wines, 102 N. Main St., Swanton. gatheringvolumes.com
SAT, Oct. 12
[nature & wildlife]
Sturgeon Fest - Join Toledo Zoo staff and partners at the annual sturgeon release. Sponsor a Lake Sturgeon, release a fish (no cost) and enjoy family-friendly activities. 10am-1pm. City of Toledo Boat Launch, 2700 Broadway St. toledozoo.org
[festivals & fairs]
Oak Harbor Apple Festival - Featuring pageants, classic cars, a parade and more. 10am-9pm. Also on Sunday, Oct. 13, 10am-6pm. Downtown Oak Harbor. oakharborapplefestival.com
[festivals & fairs]
Northwood Fall Festival - Enjoy vendors, a classic car show, live music and more. Noon-7pm. Central Park, 6010 Wales Rd., Northwood. @northwoodcommunitycares
[markets & shopping]
Ohio Vintage Fest 11 - Shop with over 50 vendors selling primarily vintage clothing as well vintage home goods, vinyl records, toys, collectibles and other vintage items. $5-$10. Noon-5pm. Glass City Center, 401 Jefferson Ave. @ohiovintagefest
[galas & formal occasions]
The Queen’s Masquerade Ball: A Bridgerton Experience - Step into a world of elegance and mystery at The Queen’s Masquerade Ball, Toledo’s first Bridgerton-inspired ball. $90-$200. 7pm. Glass City Center, 410 Jefferson Ave., kamilahbrown.com
WED, Oct. 16
[fundraisers]
The Animal Masquerade And Moore - Come masquerade as your favorite animal with a costume, mask or animal print to support the work of Nature’s Nursery and the legacy of David Moore. $80-$500. 5:30pm. Nature’s Nursery, 7541 Dutch Rd., Waterville. natures-nursery.org
THUR, Oct. 17
[learning]
Lunch & Learn - Holiday Cookie Festival - The holidays will be here before you know it. Get prepared at HeArt Gallery’s annual cookie festival with demos, speakers, a luncheon and more. Reservations are appreciated to kate@stpaulstoledo. org. Noon-1:30pm. HeArt Galleries & Studio, 428 N. Erie St. heartgalleryandstudios.com
FRIDAY, Oct. 18
[Halloween]
Eerie Manor Tours - Roam through over 30 hauntingly decorated spaces at the Manor House through Saturday, Oct. 26. 2-8pm. Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave. metroparkstoledo.com. Free.
[film]
The Ride to Nowhere Hometown Debut - This new coming of age film tells the story about a young man named Jimmy (Played by UT Alum Ben Kunec), who embarks on a roadtrip to visit an old crush, Courtney (Played by BGSU Alum Leigh Yenrick). Tickets on Eventbrite. $10. Imagination Station, 1 Discovery Way. [opera]
Tosca - With Puccini’s richly romantic score, Tosca is one of the world’s most loved operas. $39-$139. 7:30pm. Also on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2pm. toledoopera.org
SAT, Oct. 19
[handicraft markets]
Bewitched Harvest Art & Craft Show - Hosted by the Toledo Craftsman’s Guild. Shop for unique handcrafted items from juried crafters. 9am-4pm. Also on Sunday, Oct. 20, 11am-4pm. The Premier, 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd. toledocraftsmansguild.org
[craft beer, pottery]
Pints & Pottery - Kayla Kirk from Charmed Ceramics will run this workshop where you can build your own pint mugs while sipping on beermosas. Tickets on Eventbrite. $75. 10am-noon. Quenched & Tempered Brewing Company, 1210 Jackson St. quenchedandtempered.com
[jazz]
Discovering Art Tatum: Jewels in the Treasure Box Celebrate the debut of previously unreleased music by the Toledo virtuoso Art Tatum with an album discussion with selected musical snippets from the newest album & DIY crafts. 1-3:30pm. Kent Branch Library, 3101 Collingwood Blvd. toledolibrary. org. Free
Sylvania Fall Festival
Celebrate all things autumn at the 38th Annual Sylvania Fall Festival. Enjoy the evening filled with the finest fall market vendors, Trick or Treat on Main Street, a Pumpkin Patch, live music, food trucks and fall desserts. Come to Downtown Sylvania Saturday, Oct. 19, 4 pm to 10 pm and Sunday, Oct. 20,10 am to 4 pm, with the parade beginning at 1 pm. Contact Brigid Steele at Admin@sylvaniachamer.org with questions. Free to the public. sylvaniachambers.org
Toledo Halloween Bar Crawl
Saturday, Oct. 26 from 4 pm to midnight join thousands of crawlers at the Toledo Bar Crawl. Dress up for the $1,000 costume contest and get spooky with exclusive drink and food specials. 2-3 drinks or shots included! Bar Crawl’s check in starts at Ye Olde Cock N Bull, Mid Party at 7 pm and After Party at 10 pm at The Alleyway to enjoy DJs and even more drinks. No cover fees at all participating bars and vendors. crawlwith.us
[festivals & street fairs]
Sylvania Fall Festival - Event-goers can enjoy local craft booths, live music, the annual parade and so much more. 4-10pm. Also on Sunday, Oct. 20, 10am-4pm. Downtown Sylvania. sylvaniachamber.org
[science museums, Halloween]
Harvest Fest
Daily through October, the Toledo Zoo gives you Harvest Fest. Open daily, Monday-Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm, Zoo closes at 5 pm. Thursday and Friday 10 am to 8 pm, Zoo closes at 9 pm. Festival will feature giant pumpkin displays, pumpkin animal displays, seasonal food and beverages and autumn-inspired activities. Fall into the fun at the Toledo Zoo, general admission ticket required. 2 Hippo Way. toledozoo.org
Science After Dark: Zombies -Get ready to eat, drink, and be scary at Science After Dark: Zombies. Additional experiences like the Sheep Brain Dissection Workshop ($20) and the Corpse Reviver Cocktail Class ($15) are also available. $20. 6-10pm. Imagination Station, 1 Discovery Way. imaginationstationtoledo.org
[improv]
Whose Live Anyway? -90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions with Whose Line Is It Anyway cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis and Joel Murray. $57-$67. Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. stranahantheater.com
[Halloween, parties & reunions]
Back from the G’Rave’ 21+ Halloween Costume Party - Join Downtown Perrysburg, Inc. for the annual Halloween Bash with live entertainment, zombified adult refreshments and the opportunity to win great prizes. 7:30-11pm. Schaller Memorial, 130 W. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. downtownperrysburg.org
WED, Oct. 23
[health & wellness]
Ignite Your Passion for Wellness Expo - Connect with experts at this wellness expo. Optional Core Life Eatery lunch additional $15. Registration closes October 4th. $40. 9am4pm. Birchwood Meadow Event Venue, 10 Turtle Creek Circle, Swanton. simplycultivated.com
THUR, Oct. 24
[floristry]
Witches Night Out at Beautiful Blooms - A bewitching time designing a Halloween themed floral arrangement. Don’t forget to dress up in your best witchy attire for a chance to win a prize. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. 6-7:30pm. Tickets $49.95. Beautiful Blooms by Jen, 5675 Main St., Sylvania. beautifulbloomsbyjen.com
[book clubs]
Pages & Pints - Enjoy a pint while discussing The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel. 7pm. Quenched & Tempered Brewing Company, 1210 Jackson St. quenchedandtempered.com
FRIDAY, Oct. 25
[Halloween]
Woodland Lane Cemetery - The beloved Halloween display returns with costume contests, miniature golf, scavenger hunt, festive treats, seasonal beverages, music and more. $3-$5. 4-9pm. Also on Saturday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 27, 1-9pm. Monday, Oct. 28, Tuesday, Oct. 29 and Wednesday, Oct. 30, 4-9pm. Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania. centennialterrace.org
[bars]
Fright Night Bar Crawl - A frightful feast of spooky excitement and fantastic drink deals. 5-11pm. Bronze Boar, 20 South Huron St. pubcrawls.com
[markets & shopping]
The Village @ Night - In partnership with Tree City Market, join Heritage Sylvania in the village for a night of shopping, music, food and fun. 2-10pm. Sylvania Historical Village, 5717 North Main St., Sylvania. heritagesylvania.org
[galas & formal occasions] 4th Annual THE BLAK GALA - Celebrate the 4th Annual BLAK GALA, a night of music and entertainment honoring Jennifer Bice Bohnsack & Isaiah 117 House. Tickets are available on Eventbrite. $65-$700. 6-11pm. The Premier, 4480 Heatherdowns Blvd.
[fundraisers]
Toledo’s PET Bull Project Presents: A Starry Night - A tail-wagging talent show with special guest host Lissa Guyton. $65-$450. 6:30-9:30pm. Tamaron Country Club, 2162 W. Alexis Rd. toledospetbullproject.com
SUNDAY, Oct. 27
[gardening]
Putting Your Garden to Bed: Do’s and Dont’s of Fall Landscaping - The Toledo Zoo’s horticulture staff share tips on winterizing your gardens. $15-$35. 9:30am-11am. The Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way. toledozoo.org
THUR, Oct. 31
[bars]
Herbs of the Cauldron - A unique class exploring the truth behind the stereotypes & symbolism of witches, healers, naturalists, counselors and wise women. $25. 6-7:30pm. The 577 Foundation, 577 East Front St., Perrysburg. 577foundation.org
Looking for a quick change of scenery and a taste of something different? Visit toledocitypaper.com or check out our sister Current magazine (covering Ann Arbor), at ecurrent.com, to explore film, art, music and more
SAT, Oct. 19
Monster’s Ball
Detroit’s biggest Halloween party featuring DJs and performances by Haunted Circus Performers throughout the Russell. Ticketed. $60-$150. 8pm-2am. The Russell Industrial Center, 1600 Clay St., Detroit, MI. monstersballde-
THURS-SUN, Oct. 3-27
Glenore Trails: Enchanted Michigan’s illuminated forest has transformed once again! Introducing Glenlore Trails’ most captivating experience yet—Enchanted! Prepare to immerse yourself in a spellbinding night walk like no other. Ticketed. $12-$20. 8:30pm. 3860 Newton Rd, Commerce Charter Twp, MI. glenloretrails.com
SAT, Oct. 28
HighBall Halloween HighBall Halloween is the nation’s most elaborate costume party. This yearly event for the Halloween season bridges runway style with the culture of the Short
Jason Updegraff, Jeremy Conner, John Zito and Cody Steiner.
Sarah Beth Anderson, Mimi Chambers and Rachel Adams.
John Keaton and Ron Bell.
Serenity and Sephora Johns with Jazzie Rivers.
SPEAK THE STARS CROSS WORD
JUST FOLKS
Brendan Emmett Quigley
Across
1. Prophet swallowed by a big fish
6. Stand ready
11. Stubborn one
14. 1999-2004 Oldsmobile model
15. Three-stripe soldier, informally
16. Dispensary product
17. Sleep on it
19. Magic org.
20. Graphic design deg.
21. Bailiwick
22. Turn
23. 1978 #1 Donna Summer hit
28. Most dear
30. Nobel Prize subj.
31. Have an edge against
32. It’s bad in Bogota
33. Wedding announcement?
36. Law firm bigwig
41. Morsel
42. Representative Schiff
43. “O.K.”
44. Pace
45. Candy family with famous boxed chocolates
48. Place to be pampered
52. Start to freeze?
53. Woman’s name that sounds like two letters
54. “More later,” on a sched.
57. Fizzle out
58. Saxophonist who played with James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic
62. Swallowed
63. Garlicky mayonnaise
64. Piece maker
65. Tourist’s aid
66. Clothesline alternative
67. Goes up and down
Down
1. Door sidepost
2. Norwegian king
3. Total after expenses 4. Skill 5. He wrote the “Odes”
6. Make a claim
7. Attended
8. Dada’s founder
9. Grocery chain letters
10. “Ideas worth spreading” grp. 11. Breathing problem
12. Judicious
13. Utter
18. Memorable periods
22. Work-from-home tech aid
24. “The Thin Man” pooch
25. Multitude
26. Golden State Bruins
27. Engine sound
28. Paintballer’s outfit, briefly
29. Letter-shaped beam: Hyph.
32. “The Wizard of Oz” studio
33. It’s to the right of backspace on some PCs
34. Lots of bucks
35. They’re found in veins
37. Showy
38. “Cool, Daddy-o!”
39. Scruff
40. DVR system
44. Its theme was “Who Are You”
45. ___-faire
46. Booking.com booking
47. Notorious cow owner
48. Address for a lady
49. “West Side Story” role
50. Brew
51. “Nope” director
55. “Eso ___” (Paul Anka hit)
56. Son of Zeus
58. Nuts or bananas
59. Tune
60. Not forthright
61. Stutz contemporary
by Janet Amid
LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23) The sun’s entrance into the air sign of Libra marks the autumnal equinox, a time when day and night are equal in length – fitting for a sign that champions fairness and equality. Libra folks are the peacemakers of the zodiac, creative and social. This is a wonderful transit for making new friends – or even perhaps meeting the love of your life. While things may feel quiet, these changing celestial tides are making a major impact on many of you. The Libra sun is a perfect harmony of seasons, a delicate balance of light and dark, that magical moment where day and night are perfectly equal and everything is still. Relish in it. It might be time for you to revisit past lessons, refine your understanding of the big picture. In addition to all of this, the sun transiting in your own sign encourages you to seek clarity in your relationships and partnerships.
Aries (March 21 - April 20) The arena of relationships can be quite interesting this month, highly charged with passion, intensity and a strong desire to work through the wrinkles. In your heart of hearts you’ll want a close intimate relationship with an equal, but your past experiences may have caused such pain, therefore making a clear decision to create some personal space for yourself. However in the end, it all prevails as the transiting sun in Libra sheds light. Though Jupiter in retrograde may caution your own delivery in how you handle the situations at hand.
Taurus (April 21 - May 21) The sun now in Venus-ruled Libra harmonizes in your area of responsibilities. Jupiter retrograding in your money house along with the sun in Libra moving into Scorpio highlights a period of reflection and the need to reassess finances, resources and values. You may experience delays or slow progress in financial growth, but this offers you a time to review spending habits and investments.
Gemini (May 22 - June 21) As Jupiter, the planet of gain, retrogrades in your own sign, you are encouraged to look beneath the surface and confront hidden feelings and patterns. This month opens the way for you to realign your goals and self-purpose. The month ahead also asks you to reassess personal choices and life’s directives. With the sun in Libra moving into Scorpio, the shift could also take you into a more reflective place of awareness where money is involved.
Cancer (June 22 - July 21) This month signals a time to be aware of hidden messages, deeper reflection and spiritual awareness. You may at this time be drawn to revisit old patterns or past situations that need resolution or healing. With the sun in Libra, moving into Scorpio, this could intensify your inner journey, pushing you to focus on matters relating to home and friendships. A potent period, with hopeful results.
Leo (July 24 - Aug. 23) So much of your life depends on what you give to other people, as your heart runs over with sentiment. This is clearly a time to pay better attention to your own needs and priorities. Changes are imminent, but much for the better. In addition, Leos generally do everything in a big way, so it’s time to curtail your spending. More importantly, take care when dealing with property or business matters. Read between the lines.
Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23) Jupiter retrograding your career house brings a time of reflection and reassessment in your work life. You may find that your career growth or advancement feels delayed or slower than usual but this offers you the opportunity to rethink your long term goals. Perhaps, it’s time to reevaluate whether your current path aligns with your broader vision for success, or is it time to fine tune your strategies? Also, as the sun transits from Libra to Scorpio this adds an added layer, as you are encouraged to dig beneath the surface of your career aspirations.
Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) It’s all about letting go of matters that have held you back, and hopefully allo ing you to move forward. This is about clarity on every level. Get yourself situated then you should be in fine form and ready to meet any of the challenges ahead. Also, your area of friendships may go through a turning point. You may find yourself feeling a bit more obligated than usual, as the demands from others could cause you to retreat back into your head.
Sagittarius (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) This is actually an interesting period in your life as the planets challenge you, both personal and work related. This is your time to actually take the bull by the horns and proceed full speed ahead. It’s all about you having the presence of mind to make changes within yourself. Also, your love life may shift a bit, as your tolerance level may cause you to question as Jupiter retrogrades in your area of partners.
Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) A mixture of challenging yet interesting aspects are transiting your natal sun, providing you with the wherewithal to make changes you should make. Specifically speaking, your money may undergo a shift as you find yourself pulling from different resources. Your relationships may feel a bit unsettled causing you to question yourself. By the end of this month you will feel as though you are able to take on any endeavor. Also, Jupiter’s retrograde in your health house signals a time to pay attention.
Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) Pay special attention to your own instincts and focus on what really matters, as the retrograde of Jupiter in Gemini can bring to light actions followed by words and statements that you have held back. So be careful as to how you present yourself to others. This can and will be a prosperous month for you as long as you walk the talk. A strong yet fruitful stage in your life is about to begin, more so in areas of family and job. It’s up to you to follow the path. It will lead you in the right direction.
Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20) This month signals the time to reflect on your domestic life: family dynamics and emotional foundation. You may decide to reevaluate your present home environment, or consider changes in your living situation. Or perhaps, resolve family matters that may have been left on the back burner. Deeper exploration of what makes you feel secure and nurtured is paramount during this transit, with the sun in Libra moving into Scorpio as the focus shifts from balancing relationships to a more intense outlook on life in general. This is a period of ideal emotional changes.
Janet Amid can be heard Monday mornings from 8:10-8:20 am on 93.5 FM. Every second Wednesday on 96.7 CLASSIC HITS and every other Wednesday morning from 7:30-8:30 am. 419-882-5510 or JanetAmid@aol.com
GET HEALTHY CLASSIFIEDS
Ignite Your Passion for Wellness Expo
Dive into a world of wellness at the Ignite Your Passion for Wellness Expo hosted by Simply Cultivated LLC on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Birchwood Meadow Event Venue, 10 Turtle Creek Circle in Swaton. Tickets are $40 plus an optional $15 for a Core Life lunch. Connect with industry experts and learn how to elevate your health. simplycultivated.com
Reiki Certification
The Modern Mystic: A Spiritual Retreat Experience is offering Reiki certification and training for Reiki levels I send II training. These sessions are led by Spiritual Medium and Reiki Master, Billie Hayward. Find new ways to align within yourself. Join the class Sunday, Oct. 27 at noon to 4 pm in Downtown Toledo. Tickets are $60. Go to billiehayward.com or contact voicesbeyondtheveil@gmail.com to register.
MS Support Group
Promedica’s monthly Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group is the first Wednesday of the month, Oct. 2. Come to the Promedica Neuroscience Center, 2130 W. Central Ave. in Toledo at 6 pm to 7:15 pm. Put on to provide a network of support for people living with MS. Open and free to the public and caregivers are welcomed. No reservations needed. promedica.
LAWN SERVICE
GREENER PASTURES LAWN SERVICE Offering mowing, trimming and leaf clean-up. First cut free! Seniors $25. Small lawns only please. If interested, call Ken at (419) 578-8134 HOME
IMPROVEMENT
AL’S DECK AND FENCE. Business in Toledo area specializing in fence repair, and installation as well as deck repair, maintenance, and staining. Free estimates. Text or call (419) 450-7202
FOR SALE
SWITCH AND SAVE UP TO $250/ YEAR ON YOUR TALK, TEXT AND DATA. No contract and no hidden fees. Unlimited talk and text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based customer service. For more information, call 1-888-684-1169
HEALTH/MEDICAL
DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-877-553-1891 www. dental50plus.com/ macnet #6258
HEALTH/MEDICAL
DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER and 65+? You may qualify for a substantial cash award. NO obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!! Call 24/7, 1-866-590-5563
HEALTH/MEDICAL
STROKE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Association. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer - 5 screenings for just $149. Call 1-866-518-8391
www.ToledoDollShow.net Toledo@DollShows.net ~ (520) 270-0179 AZ MST
MOBILITY!
IMPROVEMENT
We can help you find out!
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) is offering eligible property owners a free lead risk assessment. Services are provided by the Lead Risk Assessment Demonstration Project. Registration is easy. You may also utilize qualifying assessments to complete the City of Toledo’s Lead Safe Certification. Let us, help you, keep families lead safe!
You must meet the following qualifications:
• Your property was built prior to 1978.
For more information please email: leadrisk@lucasmha.org
To schedule a free assessment, please register at the link below and we will contact you.
Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/ g WMZsmUW345
• Property is currently occupied or scheduled to be occupied by a HCVP tenant with at least one child under age six.
