u/seannestor

• On Monday, the American Numismatic Society held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new location at 1838 Parkwood Ave., the Professional Arts Building across the street from the Toledo Museum of Art. A $25 million renovation is underway for the building, which will act as headquarters for the organization previously based in Manhattan and will feature a Money Museum holding one of the world’s largest money collections. The building is expected to open to the public by December 2028.

• Also on Monday, City of Toledo Chief of Housing and Neighborhood Sustainability Rosalyn Clemens acknowledged that the city should have advertised the Swayne Field pop-up market program better, allowing more area businesses an opportunity to bid for the pilot, which provided $15,000/week for ten weeks to provide a produce stand at the Englewood-area shopping center. Only one business, Al Peake and Sons, submitted a bid after being engaged by the city about it directly over 18 months ago.

• On Tuesday, several county departments expressed their inability to meet a request to cut their budgets by 13% in 2027, citing serious risks to performance. For example, the Toledo Legal Aid Society (public defender’s office) stated that the reduction in personnel would prevent it from meeting state and federal workload and caseload standards. County Commissioners are requesting the cuts in order to avoid a projected $27 million deficit, citing state and federal funding cuts.

• Also on Tuesday, early voting for the November general election began. For information about candidates on the ballot, visit https://toledofreepress.com/toledo-free-press-voters-guide-2026-general-election/

• In further Tuesday news, ProMedica announced a management affiliation agreement with Henry County Hospital which would be finalized by month’s end.

• On Wednesday, the Metroparks Toledo board voted to assist local nonprofit the Black Swamp Conservancy with its effort to acquire Mouse Island, a seven-acre island in Ottawa County once owned by U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes as a summer home, for $3.2 million by way of a grant application for $1.35 million from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

• Also on Wednesday, Toledo Museum of Art Director Adam Levine announced that the museum had received $300,000 from the KeyBank Foundation to assist in its community outreach efforts.

• On Thursday, officials at Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School announced that it would close at the end of December, citing several years of declining enrollment and revenues. First opened in 1961, the high school currently has just 69 students, which the school hopes to transfer to Central Catholic High School.

• Also on Thursday, the Historic Woodlawn Cemetery and Arboretum held its 150th anniversary celebration. Over 80,000 Toledoans are interred at the cemetery, including several politicians and notable names such as the Libbey, Secor, and Stranhan families. Woodlawn also has more than 2,000 trees from 138 distinct species.

• Toledo Public Schools (TPS) and Washington Local Schools (WLS) have signed a new one-year contract with the Toledo Police Department for school resource officers, under which the school districts will cover half the salary costs. TPS is electing to change the number of offices from six to three and pay approximately $139,000, while WLS will change the number of officers from one to two and pay approximately $94,000.

• Toledo Public Schools (TPS) is seeking to shift more of its bus fleet to using propane instead of diesel, as propane currently costs the district $1.68/gallon compared to closer to $4.68/gallon for diesel. The fleet is currently comprised of 78 propane buses, 58 diesel buses, and 12 electric buses.

• Princeton University’s Eviction Lab has found that eviction filings in Toledo numbered 621 in July, the highest level since they began keeping track of the filings in January 2020. The lab also found that Toledo’s eviction rate in the last year is 11%, higher than the national average, which is between 7-8%.

• The former Hotel Lorraine building at 1117 Jefferson Avenue has been purchased by a new owner, DR Estates LLC, for $200,000. The previous owner, Zoeva Tower LLC, purchased the building for $1.1 million in 2023 but did not update it, eventually undergoing tax foreclosure after failing to pay nearly $100,000 in property taxes.

• Local businessman Nick Eyde will receive the Italian Reputation Award this Saturday (October 10) at a ceremony held in New York City at Carnegie Hall. Eyde, of Geyde Development Co., was the major driver behind the successful effort to bring the Italian Bowl to Toledo in 2023 and 2025.

• EatWell Cafe, located at the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.), will extend its hours to be open from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The restaurant uses a community supported model, where individuals can pay for their meal with a financial donation or by aiding with the cooking.

• This Sunday (October 11) at 1 p.m., Professor Norman Finkelstein, author of the new book “Gaza’s Gravediggers”, will speak and conduct a book signing event at the Franciscan Center (6832 Convent Blvd. in Sylvania).

• Next Tuesday (October 13) at 2 p.m., Toledo City Council will review a resolution sponsored by five council members (Driscoll, Gadus, Jones, Komives, Kramer) which would ask the Mayor to terminate its contract with Flock and remove all Flock cameras in the city. The resolution is scheduled to be voted on October 20.

• Next Wednesday (October 14) from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., At-Large Toledo City Council member Erin Kramer will host an open-ended public meeting for residents to bring up any relevant concerns to her at the Kent Branch Library (3101 Collingwood Blvd.)

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, Toledo Free Press

From Abriendo Puertas para Soluciones

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council voted unanimously to audit the city’s Flock cameras; unanimously to add a local licensing requirement for hotels and motels; and voted 1-8 against a recycling audit contract with GT Environmental Inc., with Melden casting the lone vote in favor. Jones, Komives, and McPherson were absent.

• On Wednesday, the Metroparks Toledo board voted unanimously to approve $300,000 to Kokosing Construction Company for preconstruction work on Vistula Metropark, a $24 million project set to begin construction next year; $168,000 for new tasers for park rangers; and $81,680 to improve habitat at Howard Marsh Metropark.

• On Thursday, Toledo City Council’s Housing, Community Development, & Public Health Committee held a public hearing regarding an ordinance (O-399-26) protecting tenants from landlord retaliation. The ordinance, if passed, would require landlords to provide good causes for evictions and rent increases against tenants who report property issues or form tenant unions, under penalty of a second degree misdemeanor.

• Also on Thursday, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) board voted to designate Monroe Street as a rapid transit corridor. If developed, dedicated lanes for busses would be created on Monroe Street with platform-level boarding at stops and service occurring as frequently as every fifteen minutes.

• In further Thursday news, the University of Toledo held a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling an expansion of a solar panel array using $530,000 from the Student Green Fund to increase the generating power from 330 kilowatts to 750 kilowatts. The array was first built in 2020 with $350,000 from the Student Green Fund.

• On Friday, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced that the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will receive a $1.36 million grant from its Workforce Mobility Partnership program, allowing it to add 27 new bus-stop shelters and renovate 28 others.

• Local Democratic Party organizations, including the Lucas County Democratic Party, the Wood County Democratic Party, the Lucas County Stonewall Democrats, and the Lucas County Young Democrats have published statements condemning recent television ads by Democratic U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur that use anti-transgender talking points.

• Toledo Fire Chief Allison Armstrong was seriously injured in a car accident in Colorado on September 18 while attending an annual memorial for fallen firefighters. Armstrong’s injuried included a fractured sternum, fractured back, whiplash, and bruises. Assistant Chief John Kaminski is running operations while she recovers.

• FOX 36/WUPW will begin airing news and weather coverage from 13ABC beginning Monday, September 28. WUPW previously aired news and weather from WTOL 11 through a shared services agreement signed in 2012.

• Lucas County residents can determine how much upcoming property tax levies will cost them using the the Lucas County Auditor’s levy estimator. To use the tool, visit https://www.lucascountyohioauditor.gov/areis, search for your property by address under “Property search”, and click “Levy Estimator” on the left-hand side.

• This Saturday (September 26) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will host a Genealogy and Local History Fair at the Main Library (325 N. Michigan St.). For more information, visit https://www.toledolibrary.org/genealogyfair/

• Also this Saturday (September 26) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Toledo Repair Café will host a free repair clinic at the Sanger Branch Library (3030 Central Ave.). Anyone can bring in items for repair at no cost, including appliances, bicycles, clothing, computers, jewelry, and lamps.

• Next Tuesday (September 29) from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., At-Large Toledo City Council member Erin Kramer will host an open-ended public meeting for residents to bring up any relevant concerns to her at the Locke Branch Library (703 Miami St.)

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC

• On Sunday, the Toledo Zoo sent an email to affected families indicating its intent to cease its Advocates for Disabilities and Partner Team (ADaPT) program for youth with disabilities on September 30, citing lack of staff and funding. The program, in place since 2013, serves 63 of the Zoo’s approximately 400 ZOOTeen members.

• On Monday, Governor DeWine announced that a $2 million grant from the state’s Residential Economic Development District program has been approved for water and sewer line repairs at the historic Spitzer building in downtown Toledo, part of the Lucas County Land Bank’s “Four Corners” project.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council reviewed a proposal sponsored by Gadus, Martinez, and Morris to establish a local license requirement for hotels and motels. If approved, licenses would be granted to business that are up to date on their taxes, comply with the city’s codes, are in good standing with the Health Department, hold necessary state permits and licenses, and pay an annual $400 license fee to cover the cost of inspections. Licenses would not transfer in the event of a sale.

• Also on Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce released its annual “report card” rating school districts across the state. Toledo Public Schools (TPS) received two stars and Washington Local Schools (WLS) received three stars in a five-star system. Two schools within the TPS system, Toledo Early College High School and the Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering received five stars, while Grove Patterson Academy, Toledo Aerospace and Natural Science Academy, and Toledo Pre-medical and Health Science Academy received four-and-a-half stars.

• On Wednesday, Toledo Prosecutor Rebecca Facey announced the launch of a dashboard providing data and statistics on over 90,000 criminal and traffic cases that have been prosecuted in Toledo Municipal Court since 2018. To view the dashboard, visit https://toledo.prosecutiondata.org/

• On Thursday, several residents spoke against the addition of more Flock cameras at a Toledo City Council Public Safety & Criminal Justice Reform committee. The committee ultimately decided to hold current Flock camera proposals in committee until an audit of how the cameras are being used is completed.

• Also on Thursday, Unison Health held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Whitney Manor, which will provide twenty one-bedroom apartments for the chronically homeless. Originally built in 1925, the Whitney Manor renovation took three years and approximately $5 million to complete.

• In further Thursday news, a Lucas County grand jury indicted two people for defrauding 19 investors out of a total of $1.7 million. 70-year-old licensed investment advisor George Flanner of Toledo is charged with 66 felonies while 69-year-old investment fund manager Kristin Holcomb of Chelsea, Michigan is charged with 49.

• Credit ratings agency S&P recently affirmed Lucas County as having an AA credit rating, while a competing agency, Moody’s, affirmed an Aa2 credit rating. In both agency’s rating systems, these ratings are the third highest and indicate that high grade investment opportunities.

• The Lucas County Conviction Integrity Unit has resulted in a new trial for Joel Terry, a man who was sentenced in 2019 to 75 years to life in prison for a case involving the rape of a child under 10 years of age. Doubts about DNA evidence have resulted in a new trial scheduled for February 8, 2027.

• The Lucas County Board of Elections is hiring poll workers for the upcoming general election. Eligible candidates must be registered to vote in Lucas county, able to read and write English, and must not have been convicted of a felony. To learn more or to apply, visit https://www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov/poll_workers/index.php

• Fall enrollment at the University of Toledo stands at 14,029, down 1.8% from 14,290 in fall 2025. Bowling Green State University’s enrollment stands at 20,799, up 2% from 20,383 in fall 2025. Owens Community College’s enrollment stands at 7,652, a 3.1% increase from 7,423 in fall 2025 and its highest enrollment since 2020.

• Vice President of Research & Innovation at the University of Toledo Grace Bochenek is seeking to establish an Artificial Intelligence (AI) institute at the university that would incorporate AI into research and education across its departments.

• North Toledo chemical manufacturing facility Perstorp Polyols announced plans to close by July 1, 2027, impacting an estimated 130 employees at the plant.

• Avestruz, a Mexican restaurant in the Vistula-based Ostrich Towne development, is reopening soon under chef Sly Robinson. The restaurant, first opened in 2024 under chef Aaron Lawson, closed in November 2025.

• Tenants at Saxon House apartments have formed a tenant union, the Saxon House Tenants’ Association, in response to ongoing building neglect that has included plumbing issues, water leaks, and the growth of black mold. An out-of-state building owner went into tax foreclosure in January, resulting in courts appointing Georgia-based receiver, GlassRatner, responsible for the property. The tenant association has obtained an attorney and is currently pursuing legal action.

• This Saturday (September 19) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the North Toledo Coalition will host a free pancake breakfast and discuss neighborhood issues at Jamie Farr Park (2140 N. Summit St.)

• Next Thursday (September 24) from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., At-Large Toledo City Council member Erin Kramer will host an open-ended public meeting for residents to bring up any relevant concerns to her at the Sanger Branch Library (3030 Central Ave.)

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

The future of journalism in Toledo is at stake. The Toledo Blade is for sale, and could shutter at the end of the year.

For everyone who enjoys This Week in Toledo, keep in mind that The Blade has always been my primary source for content. Without The Blade (or a print operation of similar capacity), there won't be much to report - and not because things didn't happen in Toledo, but because there weren't reporters on someone's staff to write about it

I imagine future students, researchers, and journalists trying to write about Toledo and treating the years 2027 and onward as a black hole because there was no longer a newspaper of record. Despite living in the "information age", it will be easier to know what happened in Toledo in 1867 or 1934 than it will be to know what happened in 2030.

I believe every single person who takes pride in Toledo has to come together and determine how we're going to ensure that local journalism continues to exist - which means, to be funded.

When I worked to bring back the Toledo Free Press in 2024, I did so understanding the future of local news was bleak. I wanted to ensure that no matter what happened with the Blade, there would always be an outlet that could publish high-quality local news to the public.

The Toledo Free Press is working to build a coalition with other local news outlets, including the Sojourner's Truth and La Prensa, to meet with the area's philanthropic community and develop a strategy for keeping local journalism alive in our city. This coalition will be meeting with the Toledo Community Foundation soon to explore options, particularly through partnership with national groups like PressForward that exist for precisely these moments.

In the meantime, we need everyone who is interested in supporting journalism to let us know who they are by filling out the Google form included in this post. If you can contribute finances, big or small, we want to know who you are. If you are an experienced journalist committed to continuing your coverage of Toledo, we want to know who you are.

My experience as an organizer informs my understanding of this truth: we can have anything we want, as long as we are willing to work for it. We can have excellent, high-quality journalism - if we are willing to come together and fight for what it takes to make that happen.

I hope you'll join our coalition to make that happen.

"Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." -Thomas Jefferson

Here is the official statement from the Toledo Free Press:

"Moments ago, Block Communications announced its intention to sell the Blade’s assets. If they are unable to do so, the final edition of the paper will be published on Dec. 31.

The news that The Blade could potentially close its doors - after 190 plus years of being the paper of record in Toledo - would have a monumental impact on local journalism. The Toledo Free Press is here to ensure local journalism stays alive. We need community participation to make that happen. If you are passionate about keeping local news alive, reach out about ways you can help:

*As a donor

*As an organization who would like to become a sponsor

*As a journalist/editorial team member who can contribute to our body of work

Please fill out this form if you are interested in helping us with our mission: https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSdwmRxe_oJu.../viewform

Local news coverage is not a luxury; it is a necessity. According to a recent report by Rebuild Local News, a decrease in local news coverage leads to less civic engagement, more waste in government spending, and tax increases as a result. Lack of accountability has measurable results. Read more about the study here: https://toledofreepress.com/loss-of-local-news-is-making.../

Thank you, as always, for your support of our free nonprofit news source."

• On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a bulletin stating that the algal bloom in Western Lake Erie had reached 480 square miles in size, the largest it has been this summer. People are advised to keep pets away from water where scum has formed.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council voted 11-0 to approve $16 million to complete phase two of sewer repairs on Arlington Avenue; voted 10-1 to approve a seven-year lease at 1640 Sylvania Ave. for a new police substation in West Toledo, with Martinez dissenting and Driscoll absent; and deferred a vote on expanding Flock camera usage in and around schools in District 2 to the council’s public safety committee for a future hearing.

• Also on Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners voted to reissue $25.85 million in bonds for the downtown Hilton Garden Inn hotel, as well as to pay off $12.4 million in principal on the hotel’s debt using a $10.1 million transfer from the general fund to the Capital Project Fund, which already had $2.3 million. Lucas County’s economic development corporation owns 20% of the hotel, while Continental Development Ventures and First Hospitality Group owns the remaining 80%.

• On Wednesday, Mayor Kapszukiewicz announced that the City of Toledo would receive $20 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) fund for infrastructure improvements as part of its “Connecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity” project.

• Also on Wednesday, Republican candidate for Ohio House District 43 David Karmol filed a taxpayer lawsuit alleging that Lucas County Probate Judge Jack Puffenberger, a Democrat, spent $60,000 in public funds on television ads promoting his family name while his son, Tom Puffenberger, is on the ballot to replace his father as Probate Judge. The ads, officially described as an educational campaign explaining the functions of the probate court, repeatedly reference “Judge Puffenberger”.

• On Thursday, Toledo City Council members held a press event calling for residents impacted by last week’s explosion at Brent Industries in South Toledo to share their concerns at council’s Sustainability and Beautification Committee meeting next Wednesday, September 2 at 5 p.m. in council chambers at One Government Center.

• Also on Thursday, Reichle Klein Group announced that One SeaGate, the 32-story, 653,000-square-foot former Owens-Illinois headquarters that makes up a key part of the Toledo skyline, has been sold to local investors. Operations in the building will not change, and details about the investors will be announced in coming weeks.

• In further Thursday news, the Cherry Street Mission held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new thrift store, “Cherry Street Thrift”, at 2559 S. Reynolds Road. Donations can take place at the store or at the mission itself (1501 Monroe St.), and sales at the store benefit the homeless population served by the mission.

• Following an investigation by WTOL, the City of Toledo is now altering its policies regarding reimbursement to property owners whose homes have been damaged by city-funded demolitions on adjacent properties. Though state law prevents the city from being legally required to compensate property owners in these circumstances, funds from the city’s $2.9 million Nuisance Abatement Trust Fund will now be used to settle such claims more often. Of 27 claims filed in fifteen months, only one had seen reimbursement prior to the investigation; the city has since approved another two, with a pledge to review and approve more.

• The City of Toledo is now five years in to “Vision Zero”, a ten-year project to eliminate all preventable traffic fatalities in Toledo using road design, crosswalk improvements, and dedicated bike lanes. When the project began in 2021, the city saw 177 serious traffic injuries and 44 fatalities; in 2025, the city saw 140 serious traffic injuries and 23 fatalities. As of August 1 of this year, the city has seen 97 serious injuries and 12 fatalities.

• Toledo City Council is considering a proposal that would bill property owners in Toledo for costs incurred by the city while mowing their overgrown lawns. Between June 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026, the city has spent approximately $900,000 to clean up overgrown grass and weeds on more than 2,700 properties.

• Residents at Saxon House apartments are struggling to receive basic maintenance and repairs after the unknown out-of-state owner ceased paying taxes, resulting in foreclosure and placement under a Georgia-based receiver named GlassRatner. GlassRatner then hired Toledo Management Company, who subsequently exited the contract with GlassRatner after a series of troubling behaviors including not being provided with the leases and frequently changing points of contact.

• The Heather Downs Country Club at 3910 Heatherdowns Blvd. is up for sale at a cost of $2,650,000. Golfer Tony Garzony purchased the historic 144-acre golf course in 2023 for $750,000 and has since spent $350,000 in improvements. He is committed to ensuring that it remains a golf course regardless of who purchases the property.

• The City of Toledo and the Arts Commission are soliciting feedback about proposed artistic designs on two new water towers being built in the city. To view the designs and register your feedback, visit https://www.surveyhero.com/c/tf437b4z

• This Sunday (August 30) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Women of the Old West End (WOWE) will hold a rededication ceremony celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Old West End Commons at Bancroft St. and Robinwood Ave. The park, the first of its kind in the Old West End, was created through community advocacy led by WOWE.

• Next Tuesday (September 2) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., an outreach event for the City of Toledo’s Fresh Start program, which provides financial assistance to residents who are past-due on their water bills, will be held at Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center (1225 Broadway St.). For more information, visit https://toledo.oh.gov/financial-assistance

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

• On Tuesday, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken held a press event calling for a pause on use and an independent audit of the county’s Flock cameras after initial data received from the Lucas County Sheriff’s office showed other law enforcement agencies accessing camera data over 900,000 times in one month. Approximately 90,000 of these searches came from Texas, with Houston police searching Lucas County cameras over 71,000 times, Texas DPS 13,000 times, and Harris County over 10,000 times.

• Also on Tuesday, an explosion at 4:49 a.m. at an industrial laundry facility in South Toledo, Brent Industries, killed two people. Heladio Garcia Perez, aged 46, and Mary Allen, aged 64 passed away from blunt force trauma. The source of the explosion is still under investigation.

• In further Tuesday news, a hazardous materials evacuation order was issued for a half-mile radius of the 300 block of George Hardy Drive after a 20-foot tank of molten sulfur caught fire at the Shelly Liquid facility in East Toledo. No injuries are reported.

• On Wednesday morning, a small fire broke out at the former St. Anthony’s Church being redeveloped by the Lucas County Land Bank. No one was inside the building and no injuries are reported. The fire is not being investigated.

• Also on Wednesday, Lucas County Sheriff Mike Navarre enabled the optional “transparency portal” for Flock cameras operated by Lucas County in response to privacy concerns raised the previous day by Commissioner Gerken. The portal can be viewed here: https://transparency.flocksafety.com/lucas-county-oh-so

• In further Wednesday news, local and federal government officials announced that Toledo was one of four U.S. cities chosen to pilot the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Great Health for America” program to combat chronic disease. As a result, the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department will receive $4 million in funding for two years to study selected neighborhoods and schools for risks contributing to chronic disease in an attempt to identify what resources are needed.

• On Thursday, NAI Harmon announced that it is soliciting tenants for the Spitzer Building, one of the historic “Four Corners” buildings recently renovated through the Lucas County Land Bank. When completed in late 2027, the building will have 162 apartments and ground-floor commercial space for restaurants and shops.

• Also on Thursday, The Stranahan held a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling 2,269 new seats. The South Toledo theater is now Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant with 46 handicap-accessible seats. The last time seats were replaced in the theater was approximately 35-40 years ago.

• On Friday, a fire broke out at the former Mount Vernon Elementary School at 825 N. Byrne Road. No one was inside the building and no injuries are reported. The school has been closed since 2006. The source of the fire remains under investigation.

• Also on Friday, Geddis Paving & Excavation Inc. celebrated its 80th anniversary in business. Founded in 1946, the business is poised to be run by the same family for three consecutive generations.

• Seeger Metals & Plastics Inc., a North Toledo materials distributor, recently celebrated its 145th anniversary in business. Established in 1881, the business has been run the same family for six generations, generates $5 million in revenue annually, and employees nine people.

• The University of Toledo (UT) received grants totaling $1.8 million for scientific research, including $984,496 from the National Science Foundation and $795,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for an analytical mass spectrometer to identify harmful algal blooms and $50,000 from the National Science Foundation for studying early osteoporosis risk prevention.

• The University of Toledo (UT) has received $2 million in scholarship funds for students seeking to become behavioral health professionals. The grants are through the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship Program, a fund developed by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health.

• Laneda Jones of Southwyck Place Apartments recently saw their basement fill with raw sewage after the property managers, Denizen Management, failed to resolve plumbing issues in an adjacent unit. After initially refusing to clean the basement, Denizen cleared the standing water but left the sewage and suggested the tenant clean the remainder themselves. Following a news story by 13ABC, a disinfectant company was sent to the property.

• A WTOL investigation found that over a fifteen month period, the City of Toledo conducted 327 house demolitions, 62 of which involved reports of damage to nearby houses. Of those reports, 27 became resident complaints, and only one resulted in compensation - $11,452.38 to a homeowner on Fulton Street. Further, the payment came from the city’s Nuisance Abatement Trust Fund, which had a balance of $2,393,450.80 by the end of 2025 - up from $1,763,508.40 in 2024 and $1,037,319.52 in 2023.

• Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE) is being sued by former employee Denise Ford Saxon for wrongful termination after Saxon took leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Representatives from the ABLE League of Justice connect the termination to others that have taken place since the union formed last year.

• This Saturday (August 22) from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the North Toledo Coalition and Norf-End Neighbors are asking volunteers to assist with a neighborhood cleanup. Those interested should arrive at Salem Lutheran Church (1127 N. Huron St.)

• Also this Saturday (August 22) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Toledo Repair Café will host a free repair clinic at the Kent Branch Library (3101 Collingwood Blvd.). Anyone can bring in items for repair at no cost, including appliances, bicycles, clothing, computers, jewelry, and lamps.

• Next Tuesday (August 25), Toledo City Council is scheduled to vote on a measure to install several new Flock cameras pointed at schools in District 2, as well as cover the cost of schools linking their security cameras to the national Flock database. Council is also scheduled to vote on renewing gang-tracking software from Netlucent’s Ensemble Group used by police for three years at an annual cost of $35,000.

• Next Wednesday (August 26) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon), Legal Aid of Western Ohio will host a free eviction sealing clinic at the Toledo Municipal Court (555 N. Erie St.). In many cases, renters can have past evictions removed from public view. To register, call 419-724-0460 or visit https://www.legalaidline.org/.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL, Toledo Free Press

• On Monday, Lourdes University filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Sisters of St. Francis have provided $1.43 million to ensure that laid-off employees receive the severance pay they have been promised. The university’s largest unsecured creditor is Toledo-based Signature Bank, which the university owes $4.64 million to.

• On Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners voted to approve the demolition of the former Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4) building at 410 S. Erie Street at a cost of $202,500. The commissioners also approved a contract with Averhealth to provide drug testing service to the Lucas County Common Pleas court, which is estimated to save the county $133,000 annually. Lastly, commissioners approved a new contract between the Lucas County Common Pleas Court and Toledo Municipal Court that will require Toledo to reimburse county staff for their time drawing and managing jury selections, increasing their annual fee from $7,000 to $37,000.

• On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced a $37.6 million investment in cleaning up Toledo waterways, including $34 million in dredging the Maumee River between Seneca Petroleum Marine Terminal and the Ironville Marine Terminal, and $2.6 million to improve Ottawa River.

• Also on Wednesday, State Representative for District 42 Elgin Rogers was arrested in Ottawa County on charges of operating a vehicle under the influence, driving too slow, and improper handling of a firearm. Court documents state that Rogers had a loaded gun between the driver’s seat and center console of his car.

• On Thursday, the Toledo Plan Commission approved plans for a 72,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 5315 Stickney Ave. from Bohl Enterprises, a crane and forklift equipment provider. Bohl intends to spend $10.6 million on the development which would sustain 36 jobs. The commission also approved a local landmark designation for the Dura Building at 4500 N. Detroit Ave. Owners IBC Inc. intend to leverage the designation in the pursuit of state and federal historic tax credits.

• Also on Thursday, a large sculpture of a pickleball eight feet in diameter was unveiled next to the Toledo Pickle Company. The sculpture was created by local artist Dean Davis as his 18th work in his initiative to bring 100 works of public art to Lucas County. It is thought to be the largest pickleball in the world.

• On Friday, Toledo Public Schools’ (TPS) Budget and Finance Stabilization and Operations Committee met to review the state of the district’s finances. TPS treasurer Ryan Lockwood stated that if the levy before Toledo voters this November does not pass, the district would face a $17 million deficit requiring more cuts by 2029.

• Also on Friday, Toledo Pride kicked off three days of activities in downtown Toledo celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. For a detailed list of activities and events, visit https://toledopride.com/

• The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is providing the City of Toledo with $816,834 in funding to fix sidewalk gaps near Shoreland Elementary School as part of its Safe Routes to Schools program.

• Toledo City Council is preparing to vote on approving a seven-year lease with Highland Ventures Real Estate LLC for a new police substation in West Toledo at 1640 Sylvania Avenue. The lease would cost $45,000 annually and would include $471,000 for repairs, maintenance, upgrades, and equipment.

• The City of Toledo continues work on the Arlington Avenue sinkhole that opened up in September 2024. Phase one, repairing the sewers between Francis and Woodsdale, is nearing completion, while phase two, repairing the sewers between Francis and Detroit, requires Toledo City Council to first approve a $16 million loan.

• City pools are closing for the season approximately ten days earlier than they did last year due to budget constraints and lifeguard staffing. Navarre, Pickford, Roosevelt, and Wilson pools closed for the season on August 9, while the Jamie Farr Splash Pad and Willys Pool will close for the season August 16.

• Lucas County Treasurer Lindsay Webb has stated her intention to cash out all $46 million in Lucas County’s investments that will mature through the end of the year, including $5 million in Israeli bonds, in order to ensure that the county has sufficient cash on hand amid a looming budget crunch.

• Lucas County has currently spent $230,000 and counting on legal defense for a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by 19 female corrections officers in 2023. The suit alleges inadequate protection by county and jail officials from “severe and pervasive” sexual harassment by male inmates at the Lucas County Corrections Center.

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will remove approximately 750,000 cubic yards of materials from the Maumee River federal navigation channel this fall between September and December. It will be the largest dredging operation in the Great Lakes this year and is funded with a two-year, $11.1 million contract.

• Local business owner Loui Ridi, of Ridi Stores, stated that Israeli settlers have put his West Bank home, which he built in 2003, under siege. His brother and nephew who live there have had their power lines cut and are rationing food and water while the settlers attack anyone attempting to leave the home or come near it.

• Local education nonprofit HOPE Toledo has received a $350,000 donation from the Bainum Family to continue operations. An audit of the organization’s finances completed in June found that unstable funding and negative cash flow would likely result in the nonprofit ceasing operations by 2027. The organization, which previously provided vouchers for Toledo-area pre-kindergarten providers, will now scale back and focus on advocacy and community-building.

• The Aurora Project, which provides shelter for homeless mothers and their children, is seeking to raise $400,000 as part of its “40 Years Forward” campaign commemorating its 40 years in operation with the intention of operating for another 40 years. To donate, visit https://auroraprojectinc.org/40-years-forward/

• Residents at recovery home Keep It Simple House say that they are being asked to leave and find new housing by Sunday due to certain buildings owned by the operation being shut down. The move follows a new executive order signed by Governor DeWine on Monday increasing oversight of drug use treatment facilities in Ohio.

• This Saturday (August 15) from 1 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., the 5th Annual Glass City Jazz Fest will take place at the Glass City Metropark (983 Front St.). This free concert will feature several notable jazz acts from around the country. For more information, visit https://glasscityjazzfest.com/

• Next Monday (August 17) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Lucas County Democratic Party is hosting a “Bench to the Block” event at the Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center (1225 Broadway St.). The free event will feature several elected judges discussing how the courts impact our community and answering audience questions.

• Also next Monday (August 17), Goodwill Industries of Northwest Ohio will open its first outlet store at 2021 S. Reynolds Road. Unlike their regular stores, Goodwill’s outlet stores price objects by the pound rather than by item. The store will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

• Next Tuesday (August 18) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., an outreach event for the City of Toledo’s Fresh Start program, which provides financial assistance to residents who are past-due on their water bills, will be held at Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church (640 Indiana Ave.). For more information, visit https://toledo.oh.gov/financial-assistance

• Next Thursday (August 20) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will host a free concert by Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts in the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.) atrium as part of its “Live at the Library” summer concert series. For more information, visit https://toledolibrary.org/music.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

• On Sunday (August 2), U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur and her campaign manager were hospitalized after being injured in a car accident. The vehicle that struck them fled the scene and has yet to be identified. Kaptur is stable but still healing from her injuries at a rehabilitation center.

• On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released an estimate showing the algal bloom in Lake Erie has grown to a size of 200 square miles - twice as large as it was on July 27.

• On Tuesday, a delegation from Toledo, Spain including Mayor Carlos Velázquez arrived in Toledo, Ohio to spend a week enjoying cultural activities in honor of the 95th anniversary of the “sister city” relationship between the two cities, widely considered to be the first such relationship in the world.

• Also on Tuesday, Lucas County 911 services experienced an outage lasting from approximately 1:40 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. Residents signed up for Lucas County’s text alert system were notified of the outage and instructed to call a different ten-digit number during the outage. No reason for the outage has been given.

• On Thursday, officials with Washington Local Schools (WLS) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Whitmer Middle School at 3547 Quast Lane. The three-story, 200,000-square-foot building took four years and $80 million to construct. It will serve 1,500 students in the district when it opens for the school year August 19.

• Also on Thursday, a fire broke out at the OmniSource scrap metal recycling facility on North Detroit Avenue. A cause for the fire has not been determined.

• On Friday, Toledo Police announced that a Flock camera had been cut down near Dorr Street and Joyce Lane on August 1. The cameras, which have been implemented in public spaces in several U.S. cities over the last few years, have garnered controversy for the company’s pooling of recorded data in a searchable national database.

• Also on Friday, the Ohio sales tax holiday began and runs through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. This year, the sales tax holiday - during which sales tax is not collected on certain items - includes clothing priced at $75 or under per item as well as school supplies and instructional materials priced at $20 or less per item.

• The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department has launched an online dashboard to track cyclosporiasis cases in northwest Ohio. To view the dashboard, visit https://lucascountyhealth.com/cyclo/

• The City of Toledo is accepting applications for its youth employment initiative through August 28 at 5 p.m. Up to 20 individuals between 16 and 24 years of age who reside in Toledo and meet income eligibility requirements will receive paid work experience through local employers and city departments. Priority will be given to residents of the Junction, Englewood, and Old South End neighborhoods. To apply, visit https://forms.office.com/r/CDm8muDfbg

• Toledo Police announced that they will be removing two resource officers from duty in Toledo Public Schools high schools and placing them on patrol, citing limited resources within the department. Scott, Start, and Woodward high schools will continue to have resource officers stationed in them.

• This Saturday (August 8) at 10 a.m., an All-Jeep Parade with over 1,400 Jeeps will take place beginning at Monroe and Huron Streets in downtown Toledo. The event is part of the annual Jeep Fest, which began Thursday, August 6 and continues through Sunday, August 9. For more information, visit https://toledojeepfest.com/

• Also this Saturday (August 8) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friends of the Library will be hosting a book sale featuring over 30,000 gently used books, CDs, DVDs, records, 8-track tapes, and board games at 1301 N. Reynolds Road. Each book is $1 or $8 for an entire bag.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

• On Tuesday, the Toledo Public School (TPS) board voted to place a five-year, 6.9-mill property tax levy on the November general election ballot. If passed, the measure will cost a homeowner $242 for every $100,000 in home value and is estimated to raise $22.8 million for the district annually.

• On Wednesday, ProMedica announced plans to open a 12,000-square-foot medical facility in Perrysburg that would include both a full-service emergency room and an urgent care. Services available will include CT scans, X-rays, ultrasounds, and lab tests. The facility is expected to open as soon as Fall 2027.

• Also on Wednesday, the City of Toledo announced that it had won a $60,000 grant from the GM on Main Street program of General Motors for an interim traffic-calming and pedestrian safety project along North Summit Street in the Vistula neighborhood.

• On Thursday, it was announced that the City of Toledo would receive a $1,135,586 grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Improvement program, which will be used to fund a project created a bike lane on Spielbusch Avenue and to make permanent the bike lanes on Michigan and Erie Streets.

• Also on Thursday, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced its preferred route for a connector between U.S. 23 and I-71, designed to expedite traffic between Toledo and Columbus. Though route, estimated to cost between $600 and $700 million, has yet not received funding and is only an exploration of possibility.

• In further Thursday news, Tony Packo’s announced the opening of the Tony Packo’s History Museum inside the Original Tony Packo’s in East Toledo, at 1902 Front Street. The museum will include memorabilia and artifacts as well as offering guided tours that last 60-75 minutes.

• Federal politicians from around the Great Lakes are raising concerns about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issuing a stop-work order on the construction of a barrier near Chicago designed to keep invasive carp from entering Lake Erie and damaging the ecosystem. No reason has yet been given for the stoppage.

• Lucas County officials are requesting that all county departments make cuts to their 2027 proposed budgets in order to meet a 13% reduction in the county’s general fund. The reduction is proposed in response to an estimated $27 million deficit brought about by increases in healthcare costs, debt service on the Lucas County Jail, and administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

• Residents of Point Place are complaining about debris left behind when the City of Toledo demolished a former fire station at 3530 Suder Avenue in May. The former station was closed in 1980 and had been used as a boxing gym until 2020 when structural issues resulted in its closure.

• A “Public Land Opportunities Dashboard” has been launched, allowing residents and potential developers to identify vacant land owned by either the City of Toledo or the Lucas County Land Bank that is available for purchase. To see the dashboard, visit https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/eacc66bcdca54a1bbcb070aea9c1f397

• A report by the Toledo Blade found that the City of Toledo is not enforcing its own law against rental discrimination based on source of income, which requires landlords to accept housing choice vouchers (formerly known as Section 8 vouchers). The law was enacted in 2021.

• An investigation by 13ABC’s I-Team found that the Toledo Police Department is still using ShotSpotter ballistics detection technology even though their contract with the company expired June 24.

• The City of Toledo’s Environmental Services department is investigating the sudden death of several fish in the pond at Sleepy Hollow Park, near Dorr and Richards. Current suspicions fault local water quality conditions, specifically elevated water temperatures and low dissolved oxygen levels.

• The Ohio Lake Erie Commissions is seeking public input through August 14 regarding efforts to keep Maumee Bay State Park clean of beach bacteria and toxic algal blooms. To submit comment, email Cherie.Blair@epa.ohio.gov and for more information, visit https://lakeerie.ohio.gov/

• Next Monday (August 3) from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Northwest Ohio Worker Center, a project of Toledo Area Jobs with Justice, will launch with a Wage Theft Clinic at the Mott Branch Library (1010 Dorr St.). Workers who may have been shorted money by their employer can receive free assistance with getting their money back.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC

• On Wednesday, city officials announced that Toledo Police Chief Michael Troendle will retire effective November 1. He will be replaced with Assistant Chief Kevin Braun.

• Also on Wednesday, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken submitted a request for 150 beds at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio (CCNO) in 2027. The county currently pays for 170 beds at a cost of $70 per bed per day, regardless of whether or not the bed is filled with an inmate. The move should save Lucas County over $500,000/year, with the number chosen based on the county’s annual average usage to be 141 beds in 2025.

• In further Wednesday news, a grand jury indicted Toledo Firefighter DeAndre Ware on charges of stealing more than $1,000 from the house funds at Toledo Fire & Rescue Station 4. He is facing a fifth-degree felony charge for theft and a fourth-degree felony charge for telecommunications fraud.

• The eXtreme Roller Hockey League (XRHL) announced on Wednesday that it would cease operations effective immediately. The league was set to debut at the Huntington Center July 31, but shut down before beginning citing budgetary shortfalls. At least one sponsor is currently seeking a refund for their investment.

• On Thursday, The Family & Child Abuse Prevention Center announced that it would shut down its Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program immediately, citing funding shortfalls. The nonprofit ended 2025 with a $121,000 deficit and has seen a reduction of over $300,000/year from federal funding through the Victims of Crime Act.

• A new report from Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio found that a full-time worker in Toledo must make $20.69/hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment at fair market rate, though their average wage is $18.41. The same report found that in 2020, a worker in Toledo needed to make $14.75/hour but averaged $13.53/hour.

• Following the recent cyclosporiasis outbreak, local urban farmers have set up a weekly produce membership program called “Farmers Bag Toledo” that provides its members with a bag of fresh produce every Friday. For more information, visit https://www.sharedlegacyfarms.com/the-farmers-bag-toledo/

• Local microbrewery Funky Turtle recently opened its first taproom at 1921 Tremainsville Road. It is open every day from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• This Saturday (July 25) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Toledo Repair Café will host a free repair clinic at the Mott Branch Library (1010 Dorr St.). Anyone can bring in items for repair at no cost, including appliances, bicycles, clothing, computers, jewelry, and lamps.

• This Sunday (July 26) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the UT Alumni Association will host the 33rd annual Art on the Mall event at the University of Toledo Centennial Mall. More than 100 artists will have booths at the event, and free parking on campus will be available in several designated areas.

• Next Monday (July 27) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) will hold a free educational event about child abuse and neglect entitled “Safe Children, Safe Families” at the West Toledo Library (1320 W. Sylvania Ave.).

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL, Toledo Free Press

Hello everyone! I've been working with a team of people for the last couple of years to start a worker center in Toledo. We're finally launching with our first event, a wage theft clinic taking place at Mott Branch Library on August 3.

If you're new to the concept of worker centers, you're not alone. Worker centers are community-based and community-led organizations that engage in a combination of service, advocacy, and organizing to provide support to low-wage workers.

We have plans for more events in the future, including collective bargaining training for high school students, know your rights trainings, and social gatherings where the union-curious can meet with union organizers in a casual, no-pressure environment to learn more about what forming a union might look like for them.

I'm hoping that if anyone here is a victim of wage theft that they will come to our clinic on August 3. Our team of volunteers have been trained in how to identify wage theft, as well as several ways to get the money that is owed to you back in your pockets.

Please spread this flyer around to anyone you know who may be interested. Also, we have a Spanish-language flyer as well.

• On Monday, Toledo-based U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Helmick granted a preliminary injunction in favor of ten hemp companies challenging the Constitutionality of Senate Bill 56 (SB56), a state law tightening restrictions on marijuana and hemp passed in 2025. The injunction prevents the state from enforcing SB56's provisions against the sale, distribution, or consumption of hemp products made outside of Ohio.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council voted 8-2 in favor of removing the honorary designation of “Msgr. Jerome Schmit Way” on a portion of St. Clair Street from Washington to Monroe Street, with Hobbs and Williams dissenting and Jones and Kramer absent. Council also voted to place a 0.25% income tax increase levy dedicated to public safety on the November general election ballot, along with three separate charter amendments: one allowing Toledo City Council to hire and manage its own employees, another to clarifying the charter amendment process, and a third create rules for write-in candidates.

• Also on Tuesday, the Toledo Public Schools (TPS) board voted to seek placing a 6.9-mill property tax levy on the November general election ballot. If approved, the levy would should bring the district $22.8 million annually for the next five years, preventing the district from engaging in deficit spending through 2030.

• In further Tuesday news, the Lucas County Commissioners approved placing a 3.0-mill property tax levy for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library on the November general election ballot. If approved, the levy would generate $34 million in annual revenue for the library system for five years. Commissioners also approved placing a 0.17-mill property tax levy for the Imagination Station on the same ballot which would generate $1.35 million in annual revenue for the science center if approved.

• On Thursday, it was announced that the Zepf Center would receive two grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service. The local mental health agency's Homeless Outreach and Person-centered Engagement project will receive $500,000 while their behavioral health clinic will receive $1 million.

• The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department has condemned multiple units at the Oakwood Townhomes and Villas complex following inspections conducted after receiving complaints about living conditions. The inspectors found no heat, leaking AC units, and melted electrical outlets, deeming the properties a significant health risk.

• The Lucas County Prosecutor's Office is expanding the scope of its Conviction Integrity Unit to allow referrals from attorneys who believe their client may have been wrongly convicted. First established in 2024, the unit reviews past convictions for credible claims of actual innocence supported by new evidence.

• Agenda Sports Bar on Matzinger Road is reopening after being shut down for a year by the City of Toledo for being a nuisance business after a July 2025 shooting outside the bar killed two and injured two others. An Ohio Court of Appeals decision found that while the bar was closed in July 2025 and the Toledo Municipal Court affirmed the closure in October 2025, the business could not be ordered closed for more than one year, allowing it to reopen in July 2026 rather than October 2026.

• Toledo Schools for the Arts released a statement stating that while they are considering connecting their security camera feed to Toledo Police, they do not plan to install Flock cameras or connect their camera feed to Flock's nationwide mass surveillance database through Toledo Police's contract.

• This Saturday (July 18) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Imagination Station (1 Discovery Way) will offer free admission. Movies in the KeyBank Discovery Theater are not included in admission.

• Next Tuesday (July 21) from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Lucas County Children Services will host an information meeting for prospective parents of foster children at the Locke Branch Library (703 Miami St.). Registration is required.

• Next Thursday (July 23) from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday (July 24) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Junction Coalition will host a public health symposium at the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan Ave.). For more information, visit https://www.junctioncoalition419.org/lead-symposium

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

HOW DID THEY VOTE: O-306-26 Removing the Honorary Designation of “Msgr. Jerome Schmit Way” on a portion of St. Clair Street from Washington to Monroe Street (7/14/26)

• Summary & Background: "Ordinance 163-01 in 2001 designated that portion of St. Clair Street from Washington to Monroe Street as Msgr. Jerome Schmit Way; a request was presented by Claudia Vercellotti and SNAP, to the Board of Honor to remove the sign; and The Board of Honor met twice, once on May 7, 2026 and once on June 18th and by a 3-2 vote recommended the removal of the sign."

• Full text of proposed ordinance

• YES Votes: Driscoll, Gadus, Komives, Martinez, Melden, Morris, McPherson, Sarantou ( 8 )

• NO Votes: Hobbs, Williams ( 2 )

• ABSENT: Jones, Kramer ( 2 )

• OUTCOME: Passed ( 8 - 2 )

• WTOL: Toledo Board of Honor recommends removal of Monsignor Jerome Schmit street sign - 6/18/26

Quotes: "The sign honors Schmit for his role in helping bring baseball back to Toledo. But Pahl’s family and advocates say the public honor should be removed because Schmit was one of three men who interrupted the police interrogation of Father Gerald Robinson in 1980, shortly after Pahl was found murdered inside the chapel at the former Mercy Hospital.

Robinson, a Catholic priest, was not arrested at the time. He was convicted in 2006 of murdering Pahl and died in prison."

"The submitted materials include at least 17 letters or statements of support from advocates, clergy, journalists and people connected to the Robinson case. Those providing letters include Lucas County Prosecutor Julia Bates, retired cold case investigator Tom Ross, author and journalist David Yonke, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Sallah and Father Stephen Stanbery, a retired Toledo Catholic diocesan priest.

The letters argue that Schmit’s role in the 1980 investigation should outweigh the civic contributions that led to the sign being installed. They also all allege that the Catholic Church interfered with the investigation and delayed justice.

Vercellotti and Pahl have long argued that Schmit helped derail the original investigation into Pahl’s murder. Police had focused on Robinson in 1980, but the questioning ended after Schmit, Deputy Chief Ray Vetter and attorney Henry Hershell entered the Safety Building. Robinson left with Hershell. Investigators say that interview effectively ended the 1980 investigation.

The case went cold for more than two decades."

• WTOL: Toledo City Council votes to remove honorary Monsignor Jerome Schmit street sign - 7/14/26

Quote: "Supporters of Schmit argued the longtime Catholic leader devoted his life to serving Toledo, including building a robust CYO program and helping to bring the Toledo Mud Hens downtown, and should not be judged based on allegations surrounding another man's crimes.

'The Diocese of Toledo stands behind Monsignor Jerome Schmidt as an honored Toledo citizen and worthy of acknowledgment,' diocesan general counsel Tom Antonini told the Honor Board. 'No competent authority has ever suggested that Monsignor Schmidt ever engaged in any wrongdoing.'

Before the vote, the Diocese of Toledo urged council members to preserve the honorary sign, saying the campaign to remove it was based on 'allegations and assumptions' rather than established facts. The diocese said there had been no credible investigation or authoritative finding that Schmit acted illegally or inappropriately and argued that his reputation should not be damaged without clear and compelling evidence."

• E-mails of council members:

john.hobbs@toledo.oh.gov

adam.martinez@toledo.oh.gov

theresa.gadus@toledo.oh.gov

vanice.williams@toledo.oh.gov

sam.melden@toledo.oh.gov

theresa.morris@toledo.oh.gov

mac.driscoll@toledo.oh.gov

brittany.jones@toledo.oh.gov

nick.komives@toledo.oh.gov

erin.kramer@toledo.oh.gov

cerssandra.mcpherson@toledo.oh.gov

george.sarantou@toledo.oh.gov

• On Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners unveiled their 2025 report, which highlights the county’s initiatives, impact, and progress on its strategic plan. To view the report, visit https://co.lucas.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/92805/Commissioners-Report-2025

• Also on Tuesday, the public sculpture “Art Tatum’s Celebration Column” by Cork Marcheschi was reinstalled at the corner of Madison Avenue and North Superior Street. First installed in 2009, the sculpture was removed for restoration in October 24.

• On Wednesday, city officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil two new housing developments in South Toledo, The Glen and The Grand. Both apartment buildings cost $28 million to build and comprise a total 72 units.

• On Thursday, Mayor Kapszukiewicz and Toledo Police Chief Troendle held a press event announcing crime statistics for the first half of the year, covering January 1 through June 30. Compared to the same time frame in 2025, instances of auto theft increased 2.1% from 558 to 570; burglary increased 12.7% from 553 to 623; homicide decreased 25% from 16 to 12; robbery decreased 16.9% from 148 to 123; theft from a vehicle decreased 21% from 470 to 371; and persons shot increased 12% from 82 to 92.

• Also on Thursday, eight people were affected by an unknown substance at the Old West End Community Health Center on Collingwood Blvd, with three being transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Emergency crews have ruled out a gas leak.

• A new report by Policy Matters Ohio found that median workers for nine out of ten of the most common professions in the Toledo metropolitan area were paid less than the cost of living necessary to support a family of three in 2025. To view the report, visit https://policymattersohio.org/research/ohio-median-wages-fall-short/

• Toledo City Council is considering placing a 0.25% income tax increase levy dedicated to public safety on the November general election ballot. Council is also considering placing several charter amendments on the same ballot, including: reducing the number of signatures needed to run for Mayor from 750 to 250 and for Toledo City Council At-Large from 250 to 100; allowing for members of council who are appointed to fill a vacancy to serve three (instead of the current two) consecutive terms following the end of the term they are appointed to fill; allowing Toledo City Council to hire and manage its own employees; clarifying the charter amendment process; and create rules for write-in candidates.

• Toledo City Councilman for District 2 Adam Martinez plans to introduce an emergency measure next Tuesday (June 14) to install several Flock cameras pointed at schools in his district, including eight pan-tilt-zoom cameras, two intersection cameras, and one mobile license plate reader. Additionally, the measure would allow schools to link their private camera feeds into the Flock camera network. The measure would call for a five-year contract with Flock at a cost of $85,000/year, with the first year of funding coming from district improvement funds.

• Toledo City Council is no longer pursuing a moratorium on new gas stations and is instead conduct a study to obtain recommendations for potential zoning changes related to new gas station development.

• Toledo Police are undergoing new training, including cultural competency training and compassion fatigue training, as a response to public outcry over recent interactions between police and young people in the city went “viral” on social media.

• The Lucas County Treasurer’s office is mailing out real estate tax bills covering the second half of 2025. Over 1300 taxpayers have signed on to receive the bill electronically using the office’s new eBill program. For more information, visit https://www.lucascountytreasurer.org/

• Imagination Station is seeking a 0.17 mill renewal levy on the November general election ballot. If approved, property owners would pay $3.22 per $100,000 in home valuation each year. The nonprofit science museum says that public funding comprises 21% of its annual budget, down from a previous rate of 38%.

• The Zepf Center has been awarded a $6.25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for its Northwest Ohio Fatherhood Connection Program, covering $1.25 million/year for five years. Fathers looking to participate in the program can contact the Zepf Center at 419-841-7701.

• An outbreak of the intestinal disease cyclosporiasis continues to grow in Lucas County, with 252 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, July 7. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and dehydration. The source of the outbreak, which began June 21, is not yet known, but is suspected to come from contaminated water.

• This Saturday (July 11) beginning at 4 p.m., a concert benefiting victims of the Old West End Festival shooting will take place at the Ottawa Tavern (1815 Adams Street). Admission is $10 with those under 21 paying an additional $5 and all proceeds donated to survivors of the June 6 shooting.

• This Saturday (July 11) and Sunday (July 12) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Libbey House foundation will be hosting free house tours of the Libbey House (2008 Scottwood Ave.), which was the home of glass magnate Edward Drummond Libbey.

• This Sunday (July 12) at 3 p.m., American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Toledo Chapter will host a free screening of the award-winning docu-fiction film “The Voice of Hind Rijab” at the Al-Madinah Community Center (5424 Airport Hwy.).

• Next Tuesday (July 14) from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4) will hold an informational meeting in search of new rescue partners at their offices at 1301 Monroe Street. Organizations interested in partnering should email kardner@co.lucas.oh.us or tbundy01@co.lucas.oh.us.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

• On Monday, government officials announced that Ukrainian Defense Drones plans to create their first U.S.-based drone manufacturing facility in Holland, Ohio. The $18.4 million plant is expected to create 300 full-time jobs manufacturing unmanned aerial drones for Ukraine and other U.S. allies by December 2029.

• Also on Monday, 71-year-old Richard Scheich and 55-year-old James Delverne, former employees of Northwest Capital, were sentenced to four years in prison for investment fraud. The employees were found guilty of mismanaging $72 million from area investors between 2010 and 2021.

• On Tuesday, two more former employees of Northwest Capital were sentenced to prison for investment fraud. 63-year-old Doug Miller received a sentence of seven years in prison, while 74-year-old Nancy Rathbun received a sentence of 120 days in prison and 100 hours of community service.

• On Wednesday, Toledo set a record high of 99 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record high for July 1 in Toledo was 98 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1931.

• Also on Wednesday, Gray Media, owners of the local ABC affiliate 13ABC, announced that it had purchased six television stations from American Spirit Media, including local FOX affiliate WUPW. WUPW has shared services with local CBS affiliate WTOL, owned by Tegna, Inc. since 2012.

• In further Wednesday news, local filmmaker Mike Balonek of Three Pines Production Co. released a 45-minute documentary about corruption and reform within the United Auto Workers (UAW) through the lens of a job selling scheme discovered by Toledo workers in 2012. To view the film on YouTube, click here.

• Federal officials announced Wednesday that the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport would receive $2,836,854 from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for reconstructing a passenger boarding bridge and a passenger baggage handling belt. The Toledo Executive Airport also received $841,136 from the FAA for apron pavement and the reconstruction of taxi lanes.

• On Thursday, Owens Community College announced that it had received a $1 million loan from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to use toward demolition of Bicentennial Hall and the Health Technologies building.

• Also on Thursday, former employee of Perfecting Church Shenia Watson, also known as Shenia Brown, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for stealing $350,995.25 from the church between 2019 and 2023.

• Bowling Green State University will receive $750,000 from the Ohio Department of Higher Education for a structured literacy center - one of three universities, along with the University of Akron and Miami University, to receive a state grant for the centers.

• Superintendent of Ottawa Hills schools Adam Fineske has submitted his resignation to the district effective August 2. He has accepted a position as the next president and CEO of WGTE Public Media, a National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.

• Toledo City Council will vote on July 14 to place a 0.25% income tax dedicated to public safety before voters in the November general election. The measure, if approved by voters, would generate an estimated $25 million/year and last for four years, beginning January 1, 2027 and running through December 31, 2030.

• The City of Toledo will receive a $19.5 million grant for safety and mobility improvements on Front and Main Streets in East Toledo from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program. The city was previously approved to receive $28.5 million for the project from the U.S. Congress’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, but that was canceled by the passage of the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

• The City of Toledo continues work to repair the sinkhole that appeared on Arlington Avenue in October 2024, with sewer replacement estimated to be completed this fall and all street reconstruction estimated to be completed by 2028.

• A community group named “Harvard - Onward and Upward” has formed and is seeking to preserve and repurpose the recently closed Harvard Elementary School. Initial ideas include receiving a historic designation for the building and redeveloping the property into a combination of apartments, condominiums, and/or senior living.

• Lucas County Auditor Katie Moline has discovered that some postcards asking dog owners to renew their 2026 dog licenses were sent in error. The number of erroneous postcards has yet to be determined; approximately 11,000 were sent out.

• The Lucas County Child Protection task force, convened after the death of 13-year-old Kei’Mani Latigue in early 2025, has released a list of eight suggestions to strengthen the local child welfare system. They are: Expand community-based visitation, engagement and prevention spaces; Map services for child maltreatment prevention and improve family navigation and resource access; Implement coordinated prevention networks and post-reunification support; Deliver equity-centered workforce training and front-door practice reform; Embed lived experience leadership across governance, practice and accountability; Launch comprehensive equity-focused kinship and foster care recruitment; Increase coordination to reduce placement disruptions and promote stability of foster youth; and Reestablish a Lucas County ombudsman with public reporting authority.

• Perrysburg-based skate shop Just Skateboarding, open since 1996, announced that it would be moving to 617 Adams Street in downtown Toledo. The new location will double the shop’s footprint and will include an indoor ramp.

• This Sunday (July 5), Lucas County Canine Care & Control (LC4) will begin waiving dog adoption fees through July 26. All dogs available for adoption have passed a medical evaluation, received initial vaccinations, undergone deworming and microchipping, and have been spayed or neutered. A dog license must still be purchased.

• Next Wednesday (July 8) at 6 p.m., Decrim Nature Toledo, a grassroots group seeking to decriminalize possession and growing of psychedelic plants and fungi, will hold a free screening of the documentary “Music for Mushrooms” at Black Kite Coffee (2499 Collingwood Blvd.).

• Also next Wednesday (July 8) at 6 p.m., the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will hold a community reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.) for America250. Those interested in participating in the reading are encouraged to arrive by 5:45 p.m.

• Next Thursday (July 9) from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will host a free concert by Cristina Vane in the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.) atrium as part of its “Live at the Library” summer concert series. For more information, visit https://toledolibrary.org/music.

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC

• On Monday, the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library announced plans to close the Holland Branch location on September 25. The facility will be demolished and replaced with a new building set to open in 2028.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council voted 8-4 to approve a one-year contract renewal with Flock for mobile license plate-reading cameras, with Gadus, Jones, Komives, and Kramer opposing; voted 11-1 to deny a special use permit for a proposed gas station at 1322 Bernath Parkway with McPherson supporting; voted 9-3 to approve a special use permit for a Sheetz gas station at Monroe St. and Nantuckett Dr. with Gadus, Jones, and McPherson opposing.

• Also on Tuesday, the Toledo Public Schools board approved changing school start times beginning in 2027. Magnet high schools will hold classes from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.; magnet elementary schools from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; traditional elementary schools in the Rogers, Start, and Woodward districts from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; and traditional elementary schools in the Bowsher, Waite, and Scott districts, as well as LEAP and Crossgates Early Childhood Education, from 9:25 a.m. to 3:55 p.m.

• In further Tuesday news, Chief of Operations Megan Robson informed Toledo City Council’s finance and budget committee that 17 water disconnections have taken place since June 1 when the city resumed the practice paused in 2020. She also stated that of the approximately $61 million in unpaid bills accumulated since water shut-offs ceased, $15.87 million has been collected; $10.7 million from residential, $4.15 million from commercial, and $993,517 from industrial customers.

• O’Shea’s Bar (1851 W. Sylvania) closed permanently on Tuesday citing a lost of customers. In February, the City of Toledo declared the business a nuisance after receiving about 170 police calls in three years time. The owner, Sam Moussa, announced plans to open a restaurant called the Wild Horse on Laskey Road.

• On Wednesday, Metroparks Toledo officials announced that an estimated 30,000 people attended at least one event during the Watershed Weekend celebration last week.

• On Thursday, Governor DeWine announced that the Feilbach Building downtown would receive a $5,000,000 tax credit through the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program. Plans for the building, owned by IBC Properties, include three commercial spaces on the first floor and 40 apartments on the second through sixth floors.

• Also on Thursday, Mayor Kapszukiewicz announced that the city will be implementing a special safety zone for the 4th of July fireworks celebration downtown this year. In the designated zone, which runs along the river from Clayton Street to the Craig Street Bridge, no one under 18 may be present without being accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old; bags may be searched by law enforcement or security; no face coverings, masks, coolers, or backpacks will be permitted.

• In further Thursday news, local officials and activists held a rally opposing FirstEnergy’s proposed three-year electricity rate increases, citing the 2019 Ohio House Bill 6 corruption scandal that resulted in utility customers covering the costs of a $1.3 billion bailout of the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear power plants.

• ProMedica announced during an investor call on Thursday that their first quarter financials were good, with operating earnings of $84.9 million, up $5 million from the first quarter of 2025, and providing a margin of 11.2 percent. They also announced cash reserves of $1.3 billion, up from $745 million in the same period of 2023.

• On Friday, Dave “Klassik” Kwyer passed away from pancreatic cancer. Dave was known as a musician with the band Boogie Matrix Mechanism and as the founder of the food truck Naan Stop Kebap.

• Jefferson Street in downtown Toledo has reopened for the first time in over a month after the property owner of the former Hotel Lorraine repaired its crumbling façade and stabilized the building. The City of Toledo’s inspection department has stated that they will not be fining the owner of the property.

• NAI Harmon Group is developing the Monclova Health & Wellness District, which will include multi-family condos, medical offices, and health and wellness care facilities, on the site of the former St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee. Plans also include a pharmacy, a med spa, a coffee house, and small retail.

• Former deputy mayor Karen Poore has been named the new executive director of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District (DTID). Under the new structure, DTID will focus on day-to-day operations in downtown Toledo, such as cleanliness, safety, and activation while ConnecToledo will focus on long-term planning and projects.

• The State of Ohio recently approved the creation of a Mud Hens specialty license plate, available by order through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles effective late September. Each plate will cost $20 during purchase or renewal, with $10 going toward the Helping Hens nonprofit program.

• The Lucas County Engineer’s Office is holding free roundabout training at Ottawa Park (2201 Ottawa Parkway) on Monday, July 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. All who are intimidated by driving through roundabouts are encouraged to attend. To register, visit https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DA4AC28A3F5C07-64595674-copy#/

• The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is seeking vendors, musicians, and performers for their upcoming Main Music and Market event taking place at the Main Branch Library (325 M. Michigan St.) September 19. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.toledolibrary.org/music/. There is no cost to apply.

• This Saturday (June 27) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friends of the Library will be hosting a book sale featuring over 30,000 gently used books, CDs, DVDs, records, 8-track tapes, and board games at 1301 N. Reynolds Road. Each book is $1 or $8 for an entire bag.

• Also on Saturday (June 27) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Toledo Repair Café will host a free repair clinic at the Reynolds Corner Branch Library (4833 Dorr St.). Anyone can bring in items for repair at no cost, including appliances, bicycles, clothing, computers, jewelry, and lamps.

• This Saturday (June 27) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and this Sunday (June 28) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Toledo Festival of the Arts featuring work from over 175 artists will take place at the Toledo Botanical Garden (5403 Elmer Dr).

• This Sunday (June 28) at 5 p.m., the Media Decompression Collective will host a free screening of the Palestinian film “All Thats Left of You” at the Imagination Station (1 Discovery Way). For more information, visit https://www.cognitoforms.com/ImaginationStation1/AllThatsLeftOfYou

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

HOW DID THEY VOTE: O-286-26 Amending the existing agreement with Flock Group, Inc. for the Toledo Police Department's Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) for a one-year continuation of services for portable Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) (6/23/26)

• Summary & Background: "The Toledo Police Department currently utilizes portable ALPRs through Flock Group Inc. This authorizes the annual expenditure not to exceed $14,000 for one year. Flock Group Inc. is the vendor for the current ALPRs. This is a continuation of services for the portable ALPRs we currently have in service and would like to keep in service."

• Full text of proposed ordinance

• YES Votes: Driscoll, Hobbs, Martinez, Melden, Morris, McPherson, Sarantou, Williams ( 8 )

• NO Votes: Gadus, Jones, Komives, Kramer ( 4 )

• OUTCOME: Passed (8 - 4)

• The Blade: Council debates Flock contract renewal as public safety concerns persist - 6/22/26

Quotes: "Ms. Gadus also raised concerns about reports from other jurisdictions involving searches related to immigration and reproductive health."

"Councilman George Sarantou expressed support of the system, echoing that reported misuse cases represent a small fraction of its overall use.

'Only two dozen cases out of at least one billion,' he said."

• The Blade: Toledo City Council approves Flock camera contract extension in 8-4 vote - 6/23/26

Quotes: "'I am not in the mindset to take tools away from police that actually help our community,' Council President Vanice Williams said. 'I am all about giving police what they need to do good work.'"

"However, Ms. Kramer said she remained concerned about the privacy implications of the technology.

'I support TPD in all that they do, but we do need to listen to the residents and look at what is happening across our country,' she said."

• E-mails of council members:

john.hobbs@toledo.oh.gov

adam.martinez@toledo.oh.gov

theresa.gadus@toledo.oh.gov

vanice.williams@toledo.oh.gov

sam.melden@toledo.oh.gov

theresa.morris@toledo.oh.gov

mac.driscoll@toledo.oh.gov

brittany.jones@toledo.oh.gov

nick.komives@toledo.oh.gov

erin.kramer@toledo.oh.gov

cerssandra.mcpherson@toledo.oh.gov

george.sarantou@toledo.oh.gov

• On Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners voted 2-1 to table discussion of a proposal to determine the costs of implementing a direct supervision design for the Lucas County Jail, with Sobecki dissenting. The proposal came from Lucas County Sheriff Mike Navarre and was tabled citing a need for broader budget conversations.

• Also on Tuesday, the Lucas County Republican Party erroneously published an obituary for former Toledo mayor Donna Owens. It was retracted later when it was discovered to be false. Owens is alive and well and turns 90 years of age this August.

• On Wednesday, the University of Toledo (UT) Board of Trustees voted to approve a $1.2 billion budget as well as implementing a requirement that all undergraduates to complete a co-op or internship, regardless of major. The board also approved new degree programs including an associate of science in general science, a bachelor of business administration in financial technology, and a bachelor of business administration in business analytics and artificial intelligence.

• Also on Wednesday, Toledo City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee voted to recommend council approve a proposed Sheetz gas station at Monroe Street and Nantuckett Drive; the body also voted to recommend council vote against a special use permit for a 24-hour Speedway gas station at 1322 Bernath Parkway.

• In further Wednesday news, police arrested 20-year-old Ka Nye Taylor in Columbus, Ohio. Taylor is the second suspected shooter involved with the June 6 shooting at the Old West End Festival that injured twelve people and was extradited to the Lucas County Jail later in the week.

• On Thursday, local officials announced that the City of Toledo has received a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to support its Lead-Based Paint Program. The funds will be used to provide grants to landlords who need assistance complying with the lead-safe ordinance.

• Also on Thursday, city officials unveiled new access to public bathrooms at Ottawa Park’s skating rink in an effort to provide better service to park attendees. The project cost $110,000, with $90,000 coming from Toledo City Council’s District Improvement Program and $20,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

• In further Thursday news, the Toledo Board of Honor voted 3-2 to recommend that Toledo City Council remove the dedication to Msgr. Jerome Schmit Way on North St. Clair and Washington Streets based on allegations that he disrupted police investigations into the 1980 murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl by Father Gerald Robinson.

• On Friday, Toledo Police Chief Mike Troendle announced the findings of two recent internal investigations into two high-publicity officer interactions. The officer depicted using force to arrest a 15-year-old girl was exonerated, while two officers who traded barbs with teenagers during a stop received disciplinary action for violating department policies around discourteous treatment. Officer Zachary Cairl received a 15-day suspension without pay for conduct unbecoming an officer.

• Also on Friday, Stephen Taylor, founder of Taylor Automotive, announced that the company is now employee-owned using an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The company includes three Kia dealerships, three Hyuandai dealerships, Taylor Cadillac, and a collision center.

• The Ohio state capital budget will include $500,000 for updates and renovations to the Valentine Theatre and $300,000 for new roofing and windows at the Collingwood Arts Center. The Valentine will also receive $250,000 in reappropriated state funds.

• Following a survey on civic engagement conducted by Bowling Green State University’s Center for Regional Development, the City of Toledo has hired former human relations commissioner Caryn Maloney to deepen civic engagement from the public. Plans include modernizing the city’s boards and commissions with better standards, training, and processes and developing a municipal volunteer program.

• The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has allocated $600,000 to contract with Littoral Services for the development of a master plan for the city’s waterfront. The plan is expected to be completed in about 18 months.

• Neighbors report that three men dumped hundreds of used tires from a black pickup truck onto the yard of a vacant property on Dunloe Court. Neighbors have reported the activity using Engage Toledo and are awaiting a response from the city.

• On Sunday (June 21) at 5:30 p.m., Patrick Bronson from Metroparks Toledo will provide a free talk titled “The Battle of Fallen Timbers from the Indigenous Perspective” at Sweet Nate’s Café (27 Broadway St.)

• Next Wednesday (June 24), the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library will host “pop-up” listening sessions to collect neighborhood feedback for the new South Toledo branch library being built on Detroit Avenue near Glendale. The sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Area Office on Aging (2125 Arlington Ave.), from 12:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Kroger (2555 Glendale Ave.), and from 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. at Lickity Split (2021 Glendale Ave.)

• You can receive This Week in Toledo via e-mail by subscribing at https://toledo.substack.com/subscribe. You can also receive updates on Facebook by liking the official page at https://www.facebook.com/thisweekintoledo.

News sources: The Blade, 13ABC, WTOL

After failing to approve a renewal of the city's contract with Flock at their June 9 meeting, council is planning to conduct an emergency vote on the same measure this coming Tuesday, June 23.

This time, opponents of the Flock camera contract on council have gotten approval for a public hearing; however, it has been scheduled for Monday, June 22 at 4PM in city council chambers.

Public hearings are the only opportunity council affords for formal public comment on these measures, so its important to take advantage of that and speak up. If you are able to attend the hearing, please do so, and please sign up to speak and give a verbal statement if you can.