Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
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Let me start this week by wishing everyone a very happy and safe Independence Day. Our celebration downtown this year will eclipse previous years and I hope everyone has an amazing time.
As we finish up our first six months in office, I want to say how proud I am of the progress we are making. Yes, we have much more work to do, but we have accomplished a lot with all of our partners. They include city council, neighborhood groups, businesses, our suburban and county leaders, and too many more to list.
So far this year, we unanimously passed a balanced budget for the first time since 2013, transferred an additional $3 million into the city's capital improvement fund, created a human relations council that oversees initiatives to reduce violence and build tolerance and diversity, created a first-of-its-kind bike share program for Toledo, partnered with Metroparks Toledo to consolidate the operations of two parks, put more police officers on the streets, pushed our road resurfacing program to include more streets than previous years, the former Champion Spark Plug factory site is getting cleaned up, the time it takes to get a building permit is down nearly two weeks, and for the first time in 25 years, it is safe to swim in the lower eight miles of Ottawa River.
I don't want to diminish our challenges. All cities face the kind of problems we are facing. But I believe we are moving in the right direction.
Finally, I encourage everyone to pause this Independence Day weekend to remember Mayor D. Michael Collins. Mayor Collins served his nation first as a Marine, then he served our city as a police officer, a councilman, and finally, as mayor. He would have turned 74 this Saturday, June 30, and this is a good time to reflect on his service to us all.
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Toledo Waterways Initiative
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Work on the Toledo Waterways Initiative continues to progress.
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Toledo Police released its latest VLOG installment this week.
It follows Sgt. Sarah Dean in downtown Toledo during a recent shift. The “Sergeant Ride-Along” VLOG gives a behind-the-scenes look, including a visit to Fifth Third Field during the 2018 Ohio Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, a traffic stop to assist Vice/Narcotics, and a lights and siren response to a weapons call.
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Members of the part-time Toledo Police "Social Media Team" create the monthly VLOGs to increase community engagement through social media. The team was joined this month by University of Toledo student Max Minor, who assisted with video and editing.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week awarded $300,000 to the Metropolitan Park District of the Toledo Area to restore 32 acres of wet prairie within the Maumee River Area of Concern.
“EPA is proud to invest in a project that will restore important habitat – benefiting Toledo families and communities,” said Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Cathy Stepp. “Today’s grant illustrates the value of partnerships in restoring the Great Lakes.”
“Creating experiences that connect people to nature is an important part of the work we do as conservationists,” said Metroparks Toledo Executive Director Dave Zenk. “This acquisition and restoration project involves properties within the Oak Openings Corridor, one of the most diverse ecoregions in Ohio. The corridor connects five of our Metroparks as well as three state nature preserves, providing habitat for wildlife and access for people.”
Through this project, Metroparks Toledo will acquire property in the designated Irwin Wet Prairie Priority Conservation Area in the Oak Openings Region and implement habitat enhancement activities, including site cleanup and invasive species removal. The tracts will be permanently protected by Metroparks Toledo and managed to maintain high-quality oak openings, benefiting the species that rely on this habitat.
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Shots for Tots n Teens
– It is not too early to think about getting your children vaccinated for the 2018-19 school year. Vaccination clinics are held throughout each month at various locations. Check out the schedules for locations and times at the
Shots 4 Tots ‘n Teen Schedule
.
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Downtown Toledo will celebrate this year’s Independence Day through its Fourth In The 419 from June 29-July 4.
Fourth In The 419, which is presented by Taylor Automotive Group, will include six days worth of festivities throughout the week such as five Mud Hens games with four postgame fireworks, nine downtown concerts, and more events at Imagination Station, Metroparks Toledo and other areas.
The festivities start with a June 29 performance by George Thorogood at Promenade Park and end with a fireworks display from International Park above the Maumee River at 10 p.m. July 4 while the Toledo Symphony Orchestra performs live at Promenade Park as part of the ProMedica Summer Concert Series.
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Ottawa Park Concert Series
The Ottawa Park FREE Summer Concert Series starts 6 p.m.
July 14
with the first of six performances.
The city of Toledo supports the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact Joan Easler, ADA coordinator, at 419-245-1059 at least 72 hours before the start time.
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Toledo Lucas County Public Library Brown Bag Summer Concert
As always, the events are
Free
! Bring your lunch. They provide the music.
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Join us at the Main Library, North Lawn, 12:15 - 1:15 p.m.,
Wednesdays.
The remaining dates and bands are:
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By The Numbers
(
year-to-date
)
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47,150
potholes filled
242
water main breaks repaired
47,792
feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
4.1 million
pounds of debris removed with street sweepers.
1,287
trees trimmed
1,206
illegal signs removed
4,742
vehicles towed
2,992
fire runs
26,408
EMS runs
5,219
building inspections completed
2,620
contractor licenses issued
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2018 Grass Mowing Update:
921 properties were mowed June 21-28 by 56 partners.
6,882 properties have been mowed since the start of the program this year.
There are 3,566 pending work orders awaiting completion and an additional 1,492 need to be assigned.
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Text Alerts
Sign up for Toledo text alerts
here
.
We are now using text alerts for road work, in addition to news like leaf collection and boil water advisories.
The 2018 construction projects map can be viewed
here
.
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Congratulations to Sara Jane DeHoff, winner of the 2018 William R. Joseph Ohio Arts Advocacy Medal.
The annual award celebrates the life and legacy of the founder of Ohio Citizens for the Arts, William R. Joseph.
Ms. DeHoff is a leader in the arts in northwest Ohio, throughout the state, and nationally. She brings diverse experience with arts organizations to her work as an arts advocate, having served and continuing to serve on the boards of the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Symphony, the Arts Commission, the Valentine Theater, the Toledo Area Cultural Leaders' group, and the Toledo School for the Arts.
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Toledo In The News
Toledo Community Foundation awards $150,000 to local nonprofits
The Toledo Community Foundation recently awarded $150,000 in grants to six local nonprofit organizations for programming supporting mental health issues. Center of Hope Family Services, Imagination Station, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Greater Toledo, Family House, Toledo Lucas County Homelessness Board, and US Together received funding.
TPD looking to recruit future officers in a new way
As the investigations continue into the recent Toledo homicides, TPD is working to get more officers on the streets. This has already been in the works for a while. The Mayor has made it a priority to up the numbers in our police department.
TPD and firework stores reminding consumers of Ohio laws
Certain fireworks in Ohio are illegal to set off. If you're caught, you can get a ticket or end up in jail. Lt. Kevan Toney, with the Toledo Police Department, said it's nearly impossible for TPD to monitor every person using fireworks illegally. However, the department will respond to complaints.
Lucas County Land Bank officially accepts St. Anthony Church
The St. Anthony Church that towers over Toledo’s Junction neighborhood soon will be in the hands of the Lucas County Land Bank, marking the end of a whirlwind of back-and-forth between the nonprofit and the Diocese of Toledo about the historic building’s future.
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The next edition of Toledo Friday News will be July 27.
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