This Week in Toledo, Toledo, OH (2025)

12/20/2025

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council voted unanimously to approve allocating $80,000 from the city's general fund to the Code Blue Cold Weather Response Initiative, which operates overnight warming shelters in the city on nights when the temperature drops below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Also on Tuesday, Governor DeWine announced that the University of Toledo (UT) and Bowling Green State University (BGSU), along with eight other schools, were out of compliance with Ohio's science of reading law. UT has already fixed the issue, which dealt with the use of "three‑cueing" to identify word meanings.

• On Wednesday, the University of Toledo announced the creation of the Northwest Ohio Cancer Research Institute, which will bring together area experts to conduct cancer research. The University also purchased a $3.5 million DaVinci 5 surgical robot and voted to issue $40 million in bonds for capital projects.

• Also on Wednesday, interim finance director for the City of Toledo Melanie Campbell informed Toledo City Council's Finance, Debt, and Budget Oversight Committee that total tax collections through November 2025 were $202.6 million, up from $191.9 million during the same time period in 2024.

• In further Wednesday news, the Toledo Club received $1,658,500 in Ohio historic tax credits toward its Reimagining an Icon campaign. The campaign includes plans to replace the roof, conduct masonry and window repairs, and renovate the kitchen and mechanical systems in the private club.

• Moody's upgraded ProMedica's bond rating on Wednesday to Baa3, the lowest investment grade rating and a return from the "junk" bond rating it has held after facing financial crises in recent years.

• On Thursday, the Toledo Public School (TPS) board voted to make several cuts in order to meet state budget requirements. These included cutting 60 positions under the Toledo Federation of Teachers union, 40 positions under the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel union, 15 positions under the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, and one cabinet position. Also cut are the Internal Board of Review, Community Hubs, food service, contracted services, and a pause on the Scott Park project.

• Also on Thursday, the Cherry Street Mission discussed growing homelessness at a meeting of Toledo City Council's Housing and Community Development committee. The mission stated that it served 1,125 people in 2021, and has served 2,325 people in 2025. Additionally, the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board revealed that Lucas County stands to lose $3 million for homelessness from federal funding cuts, affecting 750 people including children.

• In further Thursday news, the Lucas County Economic Development Corp. (LCEDC) voted to approve a $500,000 loan to the managing partners of the Hilton hotel in downtown Toledo, which the LCEDC owns a 20% stake in. The body also approved $1 million to a maintenance fund for the property.

• The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) approved changes on Thursday to their bus routes effective January 25. Popular routes like the No. 3 Crosstown, No. 10 Rossford, No. 20 Central Avenue, and No. 31 Glendale Avenue will change from running every hour to every half hour, while little used routes on Holland-Sylvania, Hill, Berdan, and Oakdale will be discontinued. The use of letter suffixes on split routes will also end, citing rider confusion.

• The Ohio Traffic Safety Office awarded $313,000 to the Lucas County Sheriff's Office for its OVI Task Force, as well as awarding $102,252 to the Toledo Police Department for impaired driving/selective traffic enforcement and $93,500 to the Toledo Lucas County Health Department for its safe communities program.

• Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken stated his interest in potentially introducing a 90- to 120-day pause on large-scale data center development in order to facilitate meaningful conversations in the community about their potential impact.

• The Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen, flagship operation of the Center for Innovative Food Technologies, has received funding through March 2026 from the Agricultural Incubator Foundation and the Wood County Economic Development Commission following recent cuts in federal funding that have endangered the program.

• Residents at Madonna Homes are reporting the loss of hot water at their complex for the second time this month.

• Next Monday (December 22), naloxone (known by the brand name Narcan) and fentanyl testing strips will be available for free at the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.).

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/support

• 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

12/13/2025

• On Tuesday, the University of Toledo announced that it was ending its emergency medical services (EMS) program after 35 years due to low enrollment. The prevalence of similar training programs throughout the area was cited as a factor.

• On Wednesday, city officials formally terminated the lease of the Bay View Golf Course adjacent to the Bay View Water Treatment Plant, which is about to undergo a planned 15-year, $630 million upgrade. The city rejected a proposal from the golf course to use only 17 acres of the land, calling it not feasible.

• Lucas County Children's Services is taking $1.5 million from its reserves in order to meet the new foster care requirements demanded by the 2021 federal Family First Prevention Services Act. The terms of the law doubled the cost of area foster-care placement from ~$12 million in 2021 to $24.2 million today.

• The Center for Innovative Food Technologies announced plans to close December 15 after the sudden loss of federal funding. The business incubator, which operates the Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen, annually received about $900,000 in federal funds and $700,000 in state funds. The federal Department of Commerce states that it pulled funding after finding "various instances of material noncompliance" during an audit; state officials say they have not seen specific information yet.

• Toledo Public Schools is planning to cut $68 million from its budget in fiscal year 2026. $18 million is from planned reductions built into the 2024 levy; $26 million in salary and health benefit costs above forecasted amounts for 2026 and 2027; and $24 million in cuts by the state in 2026 and 2027. As part of "Transformation Plan 2.0", district officials will hold community meetings to solicit public input on the cuts with a formal plan developed by the spring.

• Finance director for the City of Toledo Melanie Campbell stated that the city has not budgeted to receive revenue from the two licensed ma*****na dispensaries in the city. The 2023 ma*****na legalization law stated that local communities should receive 36% of a 10% excise tax on ma*****na sales; however, no appropriation mechanism was defined. A new state law, SB56, may solve this, with around $100 million in back payments going to local communities if passed.

• Mayor Kapszukiewicz has stated his interest in having the City of Toledo involved in area data center developments, citing the likelihood of increased water demand that would need to be met by the city's infrastructure.

• The City of Toledo is altering the terms of bulk trash pickup with its contractor, Republic Services, based on community feedback collected at recent town hall meetings. Beginning January 5, residents will no longer have to call to schedule bulk pickups; simply place the bulk items out next to regular trash.

• Next Monday (December 15), several galleries in the Toledo Museum of Art will be closed through 2027. The closures will allow the museum to install a new heating and ventilation system, new power and data infrastructure, and to rearrange the placement of galleries into a more coherent flow.

• Next Monday (December 15) through January 9, fourth graders at Toledo Public Schools (TPS) and Washington Local Schools (WLS) can apply for the City of Toledo's Kid Mayor and Kid Council Member civic education programs. To apply, students can ask their teachers or principals for information.

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/support

• 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

12/06/2025

• On Sunday, the body of 61-year-old Richard Kwapich IV was found covered in snow in downtown Toledo. The Lucas County Coroner determined the death to be accidental and caused by hypothermia.

• On Monday, members of the Executive Towers Tenant Association announced that property managers Denizen Management have increased as other residents have left. A lawsuit has been filed seeking enforcement of the city's law requiring landlords to submeter and bill tenants only for the water that they use.

• Also on Monday, Toledo Public Schools (TPS) announced that it would reopen its early childhood education programs on Tuesday following confirmation that it would receive $13.4 million in allocated federal funding for the program.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council unanimously rejected a proposal to spend $960,000 on an outside contractor to oversee the 5,500 remaining "smart" meter installations. Council also unanimously approved a $95,000 contract with DGL Consulting Engineers for a safety study of Secor Road.

• Also on Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners approved a $70,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enhance border security in the county. The grant, part of Operation Stonegarden, will include intelligence sharing between local law enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.

• In further Tuesday news, a compliance examination issued by Auditor of State Keith Faber found that Toledo-based behavioral health services provider Empowered for Excellence owes the Ohio Department of Medicaid $1.87 million for improper Medicaid payments made between 2021 and 2023.

• Founder of The Lazarus Experience Thomas Ostrosky was sentenced Tuesday to 10 to 15 years in prison for stealing $200,000 from the organization and its donors. The Lazarus Experience was a Christian ministry nonprofit founded in 2017 to provide re-entry services to incarcerated men in northwest Ohio.

• On Wednesday, local diner Schmuckers re-opened for business after being closed for 103 days due to a fire that damaged the building in August.

• On Thursday, the Toledo Plan Commission recommended that Toledo City Council approve two historic downtown buildings as landmarks: the Feilbach Building at 25 S. Superior St. and the Stanwalt Building at 19 S. Superior St. Both are being developed into mixed-use residential and commercial properties.

• On Friday, it was revealed that Toledo Public Schools (TPS) is considering several changes to adjust to significant funding cuts from state and federal governments, including staff reductions, changing to a 4-day school week, increasing the number of magnet schools, and adjusting building configurations.

• Five downtown property owners have filed a lawsuit alleging that the City of Toledo improperly approved an expansion of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District, thus requiring their five properties to pay a total of $1.2 million more in assessments each year for the next five years beginning in January.

• The City of Toledo has narrowed its contract for waste management to two companies: Republic Services and Priority. Municipal leaders have asked both companies to provide weekly bulk pickups. Republic quoted $977,000/month while Priority quoted $1.1 million/month to continue existing services.

• A water leak on Arco Drive that has been running steadily since October has reduced water pressure in nearby buildings, including at nearby Chempace Corporation, which has had to ship water in to continue operations. City officials say the leak being on a brownfield site has complicated repair work.

• Overnight warming centers have opened to protect people from the cold weather. The City of Toledo keeps an up-to-date list of centers here: https://toledo.oh.gov/shelter

• The Ohio American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) over unfulfilled public record requests involving the Toledo Women's Center. The requests were filed May 8 in an effort to determine why a permit request by the abortion clinic took seven months.

• This Saturday (December 6) at 11 a.m., the East Toledo Holiday Parade will kick off from E. Broadway Street. A party with holiday-themed crafts and activities will take place at the Glass City Enrichment Center (815 Front St.) afterward.

• Beginning this Saturday (December 6) through December 14, Metroparks Toledo will host its annual "Holiday at the Manor House" every day between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Each room of the 30,000-square-foot Manor House at Wildwood Metropark (5100 Central Ave.) has been decorated festively for the holidays. Admission is free.

• Next Sunday (December 7) from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the City of Toledo's Youth Advisory Board is hosting a youth-led town hall on local transportation at the Glass City Enrichment Center (815 Front St.). All area youth are encouraged to attend.

• Next Monday (December 8) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at SIP Coffee (3160 Markway Rd.), the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will hold a coffee chat with its CEO, Laura Koprowski. The event will allow members of the public to hear about and discuss improvements to the system.

• Next Wednesday (December 10) from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the TARTA Transit Hub (612 N. Huron St.), the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will hold a coffee chat with its CEO, Laura Koprowski. The event will allow members of the public to hear about and discuss improvements to the system.

• Next Thursday (December 11) at 11:30 a.m. at the Friendship Park Senior Center (2930 131st St.), the Lucas County Auditor's office will be hosting an information session on the state's homestead exemption, which provides senior homeowners with savings on their property taxes.

• Next Thursday (December 11) from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the City of Toledo and the Ability Center will jointly host a community forum on housing for disabled residents at the Main Branch Library (325 N. Michigan St.).

• Next Friday (December 12) at 12:00 p.m., at both the J. Frank Troy Senior Center (545 Indiana Ave.) and the Mayores Senior Center (2 Aurora Gonzales Dr.) , the Lucas County Auditor's office will be hosting an information session on the state's homestead exemption, which provides senior homeowners with savings on their property taxes.

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/support

• 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

11/29/2025

• On Sunday, Perrysburg-based bookstore Gathering Volumes announced that they had purchased a building at 1320 Adams St. in Uptown Toledo with plans to open a second location there in 2026.

• On Monday, city officials met with supporters of the Bay View Golf Course, a volunteer-run senior golf club on city-owned property in Point Place. Supporters are pushing back on city plans to close the course in order to carry out upgrades to the Bay View Water Reclamation Plant.

• Also on Monday, it was announced that three local fatherhood programs would each receive $1.25 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The programs are Pathway Inc.'s Brothers United, Ridge Project's TYRO Fathers, and Zepf's Northwest Ohio Fatherhood Connection Program.

• On Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners approved a $208.8 million budget for 2026, which includes a $12.1 million shortfall to be mitigated with a one-time transfer from the general fund reserves currently at $45.44 million. The commissioners also selected Columbus-based DLZ Corporation to conduct a study on the renovation of the Lucas County Jail.

• Also on Tuesday, Toledo City Council heard a proposal to hire DGL Consulting Engineers for a new safety study of Secor Road at a cost of $95,000.

• The Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services board is asking county residents who has been affected by behavioral health issues to take a short confidential survey by December 9. To take the survey, visit https://www.lcmhrsb.oh.gov/publicnotice/

• The Lucas County Conviction Integrity Unit's work has resulted in a new trial incorporating DNA testimony for Joel Terry, a man convicted of the r**e of a child in 2019 and sentenced to 75 years to life in prison. Terry has been released pending the new trial in 2026.

• This Saturday (November 29) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Hoffman Road Landfill (3962 Hoffman Rd.) will allow Lucas County residents (verified by state ID) to drop off solid waste, including trash, furniture, carpeting, mattresses, wood, and scrap metal, for free. Tires will also be accepted for a fee.

• Next Tuesday (December 2) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Toledo Bar Association will hold a free clinic on the distinction between dissolution and divorce at the West Toledo Branch Library (1320 W. Sylvania Ave.) For more information or to register, visit https://toledobar.org/dissolutionclinic

• Next Thursday (December 4) at 5:30 p.m., a meeting of supporters of the Bay View Golf Course will take place at the Friendship Park Community Center (2822 131st St.). For more information, visit the "Save Bay View Retirees Golf Course!" group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/824115177174994

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/

• 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

11/22/2025

• On Monday, the last remaining residents of the Riverside Mobile Home were evacuated so that the City of Toledo could begin demolition of the property, which had become unsafe for occupancy due to several years of neglect by an absentee out-of-state landlord.

• Also on Monday, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) was awarded $122,468 to expand its TARTA Flex microtransit service to Westwinds Industrial Park in Holland as part of the State of Ohio's Workforce Mobility Partnership program.

• On Tuesday, Toledo City Council unanimously approved 15-year tax abatements on two Westgate area development projects: one at the former Sears site (3450 W. Central Ave.) and another at the former Elder-Beerman site (3311 Secor Rd.). Both properties will sign a payment-in-lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement totaling $8.5 million for the Washington Local Schools district.

• Also on Tuesday, the Lucas County Commissioners approved $200,000 for a study on renovations necessary for the Lucas County Jail. Commissioners also heard from the Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board that federal budget cuts totaling $3 million in Lucas County could displace up to 700 people.

• In further Tuesday news, it was announced that ConnecToledo had won a Levitt Music Series Grant, entitling the organization to receive $120,000 each year for the next three years. The funds will be used to put on 7-10 free music concerts at parks throughout Toledo.

• On Wednesday, striking workers at Libbey Glass organized by the United Steelworkers voted down a proposed contract offered by the company citing concerns about 12-hour shifts, no strike clauses, no lockout clauses, and the ability of the company to schedule overtime on an employee's day off.

• Also on Wednesday, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) announced that FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries (including Toledo Edison) would be required to pay $180 million in restitution to customers over three billing cycles as penalty for bribing state officials to pass HB6 (a nuclear plant bailout) in 2019.

• In further Wednesday news, city officials announced a pause on plans to reconstruct Secor Road between Central Avenue and Kenwood Boulevard pending the results of a new safety study for Secor Road between Central Avenue and Dorr St. Reconstruction is now expected to take place in 2030 and 2031.

• On Thursday, the American Numismatic Society announced plans to move from New York City to Toledo. The organization, which has 18 employees and owns nearly 800,000 monetary objects, will have a museum and gallery space in the four-story Professional Building (1828 Parkwood Ave.) next to the Toledo Museum of Art.

• Also on Thursday, the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority authorized $23 million in bond financing for a $43 million project by Toledo Heritage Village, L.P., to rehabilitate 191 income-based housing units in North Toledo and South Toledo operated by Vistula Management.

• In further Thursday news, the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport launched non-stop flights to Sarasota, Florida through Allegiant Air.

• Mayor Kapszukiewicz proposed a $1 billion municipal budget for 2026. Highlights include $11 million more for the road repair fund; $500,000 for youth programming; hiring 25 new police officers and 20 new firefighters; restoring the sidewalk rehabilitation program; raising the standard monthly garbage collection fee from $11.50 to $18.50; organizational restructuring that will save $375,000; eliminating 11 vacant positions for a saving of $1.4 million; reductions in supplies and services totaling $5 million; transferring $24 million from the capital improvement fund to the general fund; and transferring $28 million from the budget stabilization ("rainy day") fund, leaving $49 million. Per the municipal charter, Toledo City Council must approve a budget by March 31.

• Mayor Kapszukiewicz has publicly discussed the possibility of addressing budget shortfalls in the future through the introduction of an entertainment fee on tickets sold to events in Toledo. Cities like Canton and Sandusky have already introduced such fees.

• The international Electric Vehicle Innovation Summit will be held in Toledo next year. The event will take place November 3 through 5 at the Glass City Center and is expected to draw around 2,000 participants.

• Two new modular homes were installed in the Old South End at 434 South Ave. and 439 Maumee Ave., the first new housing built in that neighborhood in over 20 years. The houses, developed through the Historic South Initiative, will be on the market for an asking price of $160,000.

• Residents at Ashland Manor (2030 Ashland Ave.) report an overgrowth of trash due to management locking the trash compactor doors. Management has not responded to inquiries from tenants or reporters at 13 Action News.

• The state's Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program is accepting applications for income-eligible individuals to receive one-time assistance for their home energy bill this winter. Households must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. For more information, visit https://energyhelp.ohio.gov.

• Those interested in speaking, vending, or performing at this year's Kwanzaa celebration taking place at the Frederick Douglass Community Association (1001 Indiana Ave) December 26 through January 1 should contact Diane Gordon (419-410-8022), Rodney Gordon (567-218-3145), or Donald Lynn (419-509-0751).

• This Saturday (November 22) from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., the inaugural International Holiday Market will take place at Levis Square Park (435 N. St. Clair St.) in downtown Toledo. The event will feature handcrafted gifts, food, and cultural performances from several cultures and nations.

• Next Tuesday (November 25) from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., a tree walk will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery and Arboretum (1502 W. Central). Participants will explore three locations in the cemetery and learn how to diagnose common tree problems. To register or for more information, visit https://www.historic-woodlawn.com/events

• Next Thursday (November 27) is Thanksgiving. The following places are providing free meals to residents in need: Faith United Lutheran Church (4543 Douglas Rd.) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (carryout only); Pilgrim Church (1375 W. Sylvania Ave.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; St. Joan of Arc Church (5856 Heatherdowns Blvd.) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Mayores Senior Center (2 Aurora Gonzales Dr.) from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; Cherry Street Mission Life Revitalization Center (1501 Monroe St.) starting at 12 p.m.; and the Entrepreneurs Club (222 Fassett St.) from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m..

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/

• 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

11/15/2025

• On Monday, the Toledo/Lucas County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council stated that the county jail population fell 43.3% in the last nine years, from 838 in January 2016 to 475 in the second quarter of 2025. Recidivism rates (the rate at which released offenders return to jail) are 23% compared to 51% nationally.

• Also on Monday, the Arts Commission moved into their new offices in UpTown at 1000 Adams Street. Since 2000, the organization had been housed in the Professional Building on Parkwood, owned by the Toledo Museum of Art. Offices are closed to the public through November 24 except by appointment.

• On Tuesday, the City of Toledo demolished an abandoned house at 636 Colburn Street in South Toledo, although the city's Director of Code Compliance, Jim Molnar, signed an affidavit in December 2024 stating that the city had "...abated the nuisance by demolishing the property."

• On Wednesday, Toledo Public Schools (TPS) announced that it would temporarily suspend Head Start and Early Childhood Education programs effective December 1 as it has not received the $16.7 million in federal funding necessary to continue them. The suspension affects over 1,000 area children and 124 TPS employees.

• Also on Wednesday, developer Liz Holland and Director of Economic Development for the City of Toledo Brandon Selhorst stated that housing will not be part of the retail development being proposed at the former site of Sears and Elder-Beerman near Secor and Central due to an absence of willing apartment developers.

• In further Wednesday news, Thomas Ostrosky, former executive director for the Lazarus Experience, a nonprofit Christian ministry providing re-entry services for incarcerated men in northwest Ohio, pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the organization. He was indicted on four felony charges in April.

• The River East Gallery (601 Main St.) announced on social media Wednesday that the lease on their space will not be renewed when it ends on November 30 due to poor building conditions and a proposed increase in rent; as such, the gallery is seeking a new home. They can be contacted by calling 419-279-0162.

• On Thursday, Leading Families Home (formerly known as Beach House Family Shelter) announced that it has acquired another shelter, Family House, using $290,000 in funding provided by the City of Toledo. The move is made in an effort to strengthen housing stability for families in crisis.

• On Friday, ProMedica announced that it had finalized a multi-year deal with Medical Mutual to ensure that Paramount insurance holders would continue to be billed "in network" for services rendered at ProMedica facilities.

• Also on Friday, the Phoenix Earth Food Co-op (1447 W. Sylvania Ave.) re-opened after being closed since November 5 for renovations. The health food grocery got new flooring, a new produce rack, and new refrigeration equipment installed.

• Lucas County will begin prequalifying construction contractors in 2026 in an effort to streamline project bids in a fair manner. Once a company completes the online application, it remains on file for two years. For more information, visit https://co.lucas.oh.us/3740/Construction-Prequalification

• Education nonprofit HOPE Toledo has handed over its Promise program, which covers college tuition for nearly 70 high school graduates, to the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. HOPE Toledo is seeking private funding for its pre-K program as it is no longer receiving funds from the City of Toledo or Lucas County.

• The City of Toledo will demolish the Riverside Mobile Home next Monday, November 17, due to it being deemed unfit for habitation. The remaining tenants were informed of the move November 7. An out-of-state landlord allowed the proper to fall into severe disrepair and would not respond to city communications.

• The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is planning a $31.3 million project to update the Robert Craig Memorial Bridge between spring 2027 and fall 2028. To learn more or to leave a public comment through December 10, visit https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/117040

• One of Toledo's international "sister cities", Londrina in Brazil, is planning its own Jeep Fest this year between December 10 and December 13.

• Striking workers at Libbey Glass organized through United Steelworkers (USW) will vote next Wednesday (November 19) on a contract that would provide a wage increase of 24% over four years; an increase of either $12 or $18/week for health insurance over four years; double pay for certain holidays; and overtime for 12-hour shifts that go beyond 8 p.m. The workers have been on strike for a record 12 weeks.

• This Saturday (November 15) at 10 a.m., the Blade Holiday Parade in downtown Toledo will kick off at the corner of Summit and Jefferson Streets. For more information, visit https://theblade.com/holidayparade/

• This Saturday (November 15) from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., a benefit concert for community radio station WAKT 106.1FM will take place at the Golden Road (3560 Dorr St.) Eleven local acts will be performing for a $10 recommended donation. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/814939534784007/

• This Saturday (November 15), the ice skating ribbon at Glass City Metropark (1505 Front St.) will open for the season. The facility will operate daily and close in mid-March of 2026. Over the last three seasons, the ribbon has averaged 55,000 skaters each winter.

• Next Wednesday (November 19) at 8:30 a.m. at Rustbelt Coffee (119 N. Ontario St.), the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) will hold a coffee chat with its CEO, Laura Koprowski. The event will be the first of five and will allow members of the public to discuss improvements to the system with her.

• Next Thursday (November 20) at 11 a.m. at the Eleanor Kahle Senior Center (1315 Hillcrest Ave.), the Lucas County Auditor's office will be hosting an information session on the state's homestead exemption, which provides senior homeowners with savings on their property taxes.

• Next Friday (November 21) at 8:30 a.m. at the East Toledo Senior Center (1001 White St.), the Lucas County Auditor's office will be hosting an information session on the state's homestead exemption, which provides senior homeowners with savings on their property taxes.

• All individual donations up to $1000 made to the Toledo Free Press between now December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN) through their annual NewsMatch campaign. All donations are tax-deductible. To donate, visit https://www.toledofreepress.com/

• 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

This Week in Toledo

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