Message from Mayor Kapszukiewicz
I want to start this week by spending some time talking about a pledge I made to the community Tuesday. We will soon have a comprehensive plan to address Toledo's potholes and roads. We will never stop working toward a solution for roads, which is a challenge we face here in Toledo just like they face in Columbus, Akron, or any of the big cities in Ohio and beyond.

We conducted a pothole blitz this year that resulted in filling more than 125,000 potholes from May through September. That was a big step but we need, and will have, a sustainable solution that replaces roads rather than filling potholes. Toledo lost more than $100 million over a decade from state funding that would have been directed toward streets. I know this is an issue that bothers Toledoans. It bothers me.

Toledo spends less per capita on streets than any other big city in Ohio. This is a big problem and we will have to solve it with a big solution.
Also this week, I was to honored to take part in dedicating the most recent Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity home, and to hand the keys to Javana, the new homeowner. The city's Neighborhood and Business Development Department does a great job assisting the community by developing quality, affordable housing, and it collaborates with community partners like Habitat for Humanity to support really great quality of life initiatives and programs.

Habitat for Humanity has been a wonderful partner and organization for decades, and I am thankful for its work. I am also thankful for President Jimmy Carter's dedication to the group. I would like to wish him a happy 95th birthday, which he just celebrated, making him the oldest U.S. president. He is is still planing a trip to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville!
Finally this week, I want to say thank you to all of the city employees who generously give their time and money to support our annual Charitable Giving Campaign, which launched again this year on Oct. 1. Many of us as city employees have dedicated ourselves to serving the people of Toledo through a career in public service. Together, we are given an opportunity to recommit ourselves to our community by making a charitable donation to a cause or charity. City employees for years have generously donated a portion of their paychecks back into our community through the campaign. I again call on all Toledoans to donate to the United Way and Northwest Ohio Community Shares during the city campaign.
Fire Safety
Fire is fast! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can turn into a major fire. Smoke and toxic gases from a home fire kill more people than flames. Every home needs fire protection and a plan for escape.

Smoke Alarms - Working smoke alarms give you early warning if there is a fire. Make sure your home is protected. Do this today.

  • Install smoke alarms on every level of your home.
  • Place smoke alarms inside and outside of all the sleeping areas.
  • Make sure all of your smoke alarms work. Test them each month.
  • Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years old or older.

Children - Children under the age of four are at a higher risk of home fire injury and death than older children. Plan for this.

  • Teach all children what the smoke alarm sounds like.
  • Be aware that children may sleep through the sound of the smoke alarm.
  • Practice your escape plan with children.
  • Teach older children how to get outside if there is a fire.

Escape Plan - You may have less than three minutes to escape a home fire. Every second counts. Make a plan. Talk with your family about what to do if there is a fire. Practice your escape plan.

  • Know two ways out of every room.
  • A closed door can stop the spread of gas, heat and smoke.
  • Have a meeting place outside your home.
  • Know how to call 9-1-1 from outside to report a fire.
  • Practice your escape plan with everyone who lives in your home at least twice a year.
Join the Toledo Fire & Rescue Department for the Fire Prevention Week kickoff tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Toledo Firefighters Museum, 918 West Sylvania Ave.

Come and see old and new fire equipment and more. Learn more about fire safety from our fire prevention experts!
Economic Development
The city of Toledo has a new business navigator, Bill Brennan, who will assist with business development and expansion.

The business navigator’s responsibilities are to:

  • Investigate individual requests that may come in from applicants
  • Follow up on correction letters with the property owner
  • Coordinate pre-development meetings between city departments, property owners, and design professionals with the goal of identifying, discussing and mitigating challenges throughout the entitlement process.
  • Navigate the appropriate departments to get answers that they may need.
  • Act as a quarterback for city services.
  • Educate people on the city’s entitlement process and identify ways for us to become more efficient and customer oriented.

Mr. Brennan will fill a valuable role by escorting new businesses through the city development and inspection. With increasing numbers of building permits being filed with the city’s building inspection department, the city needs to help entrepreneurs.
Census 2020
Count Day for the 2020 Census is in less than six months. A local group called the Complete Count Committee has already been hard at work planning the communication, organization, and implementation of a complete count for Toledo and Lucas County. For more information, visit  censuscounts.org .
Mark Your Calendars
Health Department Walk-In Flu Clinics
Seasonal flu activity typically occurs between October and May. Annual walk-in flu shot clinics will start Saturday, Oct. 5. The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department is offering flu clinics to the public, throughout the season, starting on the following dates:
  • Saturday, Oct. 5 (8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.) at the Asian Resource Center, 1865 Finch St, Toledo, OH 43609
  • Sunday, Oct. 6 (8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) at Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 Central Ave, Toledo, OH 43615
  • Monday, Oct. 7 (1 p.m. - 3 p.m.) at the Sylvania Senior Center, 7140 W. Sylvania Ave, Sylvania, OH 43560
  • Saturday, Oct. 12 (8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.) at the Richfield Township Fire Hall, 11450 W. Sylvania Ave, Berkey, OH 43504
  • Sunday, Oct. 13 (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.) at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5373 Main St, Sylvania, OH 43560
  • Wednesday, Oct. 16 (7 a.m. - 11 a.m.) at the Toledo Lucas County Health Department, 635 N. Erie St, Toledo, OH 43604
  • Sunday, Oct. 20 (8 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.) at Little Flower Church, 5522 Dorr St, Toledo, OH 43615
  • Friday, Oct. 25 (9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.) at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 1201 Madison Ave, Toledo OH 43604
  • Sunday, Oct. 27 (8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) at Sylvania United Church of Christ, 7240 Erie St, Sylvania, OH 43560
  • Wednesday, Oct. 30 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) at the Toledo Lucas County Health Department, 635 N. Erie St, Toledo, OH 43604
All insurances may be billed, including Medicare Part B and Ohio Medicaid. If you do not have insurance, the cost for the seasonal flu vaccine is $30, payable by cash, check, or credit card.
City of Toledo Free Fall Festival
Join us for a fun-filled fall festival, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12 at Ottawa Park. The movie, Hocus Pocus, will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Photo booth available for pictures, children’s hay maze, buttery popcorn, delicious donuts, apple cider, trunk-or-treat, horse-drawn carriage rides, and the movie.

This event is weather dependent. The city of Toledo supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability to fully participate in this program/event, please contact ADA Administrator, Joan Easler, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, city of Toledo at 419-245-1059.
Family Forum on Gun Violence
Join Marcel McClinton as he leads a panel discussion with community leaders and their children on gun violence in our community, in our schools and in our families. It will be 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday Oct. 12 at 1430 West Bancroft St.

Marcel is an 18-year-old activist from Houston. He was a co-founder of March for Our Lives Houston. He has traveled across the country with student activists from Parkland, Chicago, St. Louis, and Milwaukee where the held town halls and rallies to register voters and connect communities nationwide.

For more information, please call 419-245-1518 or email HRCexec@toledo.oh.gov . More info at this link .
Old South End Fall Festival
The 2019 Old South End Fall Festival will be 4 p.m. to 11 p.m ., Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1411 Broadway.

The festival has several attractions for families, including trick-or-treat, games, food, music, face-painting, and a costume contest.

The event is a community-building activity for families, allowing them to play games together and enjoy the holiday in a safe environment.
By The Numbers
(year to date)
150,684 potholes filled
207 water main breaks repaired
1,418,634   feet of sanitary sewers cleaned
44,504  feet of storm sewers cleaned
2,795,480  pounds of debris cleared from streets with street sweepers
5,422,436   pounds of debris cleared from alleys
2,146 illegal signs removed
1,042  trees trimmed
7,553 building inspections
2,023 contractor licences
Toledo In The News
City of Toledo employees give back for 2019 Charitable Giving Campaign Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz announced the launch of the City of Toledo 2019 Charitable Giving Campaign Tuesday morning to support the United Way of Greater Toledo and Northwest Ohio Community Shares.

Toledo firefighters 'Fill the Boot' to raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy Association  Drivers may notice Toledo firefighters out on the streets asking residents to help them "Fill the Boot." The national campaign raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). It's a tradition that started back in 1954 and has expanded each year with firefighters out in the streets fighting to beat a disease that has no cure.

City agencies discuss solutions for non-emergency 911 calls United Way of Greater Toledo and the city officials are coming together to discuss the findings of a 911 task force that was created to address the overwhelming number of non-emergency 911 calls being made in Toledo.
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