News Briefs Week Of 10/17/2022

20 Under 40
recognitions
Honoring young leaders under the age of 40 for the 27th year, sponsors of the 20 Under 40 Leadership Recognition Program will host the in-person event Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. at The Valentine Theatre.
The Awards event is open to the public for $40 per person in advance and $45 after Oct. 17 and at the door. For reservations, visit 20under40toledo.com.
A networking reception will begin at 5:45 p.m. in the lobby of The Valentine. Buckeye Broadband will air the program this year on BCAN 109/609 at 7 p.m. Streaming information will be available on October 25 at 20under40toledo.com.
Special guests at this year’s event will be alumni representatives who will present the awards to this year’s honorees. The 2022 awardees will join the roster of alumni recognized over the past 26 years, bringing the total to 540 alumni. A complete list of candidates and alumni can be found at 20under40toledo.com.
For the 27th consecutive year, Chrys Peterson, former WTOL news anchor, will serve as master of ceremonies.
An independent panel selected 20 candidates for recognition from a field of 168. The 20 Under 40 program focuses on the accomplishments of individuals under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their career and/or as a volunteer in the community. Award recipients are not announced in advance of the program.
The sponsors of 20 Under 40 thank nominators and encourage others to help continue this tradition by nominating successful young people from throughout the area. Nominations for the 2023 program will open on Oct. 25 at 20under40toledo.com.

Genealogical meeting
The Ottawa County Genealogical Society will meet Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ida Rupp Public Library, 310 Madison St., Port Clinton.
Guest speakers Jeff and Heather Doctor with B.O.S.S., will discuss “Ghost Hunting, Haunted Places and Spirits.” The public is welcome to attend.

Johnson’s Island
expert to speak
Don Young, president of the Johnson’s Island Preservation Society, will speak Monday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Catawba Island Community Hall, 3307 NW Catawba Rd.
The one-hour presentation is part of the Catawba Island Historical Society’s Culture Lecture Series.
Young will address the island’s role during the American Civil War, as well as its subsequent tourist and other business pursuits. Admission is free.
Creation and administration of the Depot of Prisoners of War, Johnson’s Island, Sandusky Bay, is the most historically significant part of the island’s colorful past. During the prison’s 40 months of existence, approximately 10,000 men were processed into its stockade. Most were Confederate officers. Twenty-six were either generals or officers who became generals during or after their imprisonment.
A small number of others confined there included privates, bushwhackers, guerrillas, and citizens suspected of disloyalty to the Union. The maximum number of prisoners at any one time was about 3,225 in January, 1864.
After the Civil War, attempts were made to establish two resorts on the island at different times. In 1894, the Johnson’s Island Pleasure Resort Company leased 20 acres of land from Leonard B. Johnson. This first resort closed in 1897 due to an unfortunate accident and a fire that destroyed the large pavilion. The second resort opened in 1904, using the same name. Despite large crowds and many improvements, it closed in 1906.
Another aspect of the Johnson’s Island story pertains to a quarry that was enlarged in 1901 to produce limestone for breakwaters in Cleveland, Lorain, Cedar Point and other locations. During the quarry operation, a village for approximately 150 people was constructed. It included a school, tavern, and post office. Quarrying on a large scale ended in 1908.

Road work planned
Ottawa County has contracted with Pavement Technologies to treat three county roads, which will require traffic to be restricted to one lane during the work.
Crews will be working Oct. 17-21, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fostoria Road, from State Rt. 795 to Walbridge E. Road; Nissen Road, from State Rt. 2 to the county line, and Walbridge E. Road, from Fostoria Road to Genoa-Clay Center Rd.

Black Caucus refusal
Josh Williams, Republican candidate for Ohio’s 41st House District, issued the following statement regarding the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus’s refusal to screen Republican candidates for endorsement and their denial of Black Republican candidates to be involved in its voter information event in Toledo:
“I am disappointed, but sadly not surprised, that the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus only accepts members from one political party. That is the message they have sent by refusing to screen me for endorsement and by denying my involvement at OLBC’s upcoming voter information session in Toledo.
It is a message that has been heard for years by the Black citizens of the 41st District, who are told they only have one choice in how they vote, only to be taken for granted by politicians in pursuit of power rather than public service. Our potholes do not get filled, our gas and grocery bills are out of control, and if we dare even consider voting against the Democrat Party, we are silenced and erased.
Once elected, I hope to work with the legislature’s Black Caucus in order to better serve communities like the one I grew up in. I am not holding my breath; it seems that in the minds of Columbus politicians, the only Black voice worth a damn is that of a Black Democrat who does not ask questions. I will serve the citizens of the 41st District regardless of their skin color or political affiliation – because that is the job of a state representative.”
In The Press Circulation area, District 41 covers much of eastern Lucas County.

Early voting
Early voting for the November election continues until Monday, Nov. 7 with various hours. Starting today through Friday, October 28, early vote hours will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. On Saturday, October 29, and Saturday, November 5, early vote hours will be 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Beginning Monday, October 31 through Friday, November 4, early voting will take place from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. The final two days for early voting will be Sunday, November 6 from 1 – 5 p.m., and Monday, November 7 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. For more information voters may contact the Lucas County Board of Elections at 419-213-4001 or www.lucascountyohiovotes.gov.

Tree dedication
to be held
A dedication of a tree in memory of Robert Baker will be held Oct. 16 at noon at Friendship Park, State Rt. 795 and Cummings Road, in Lake Township.
Baker, of Walbridge, passed away in June at the age of 80.
He was a graduate of Lake High School and worked as a pipefitter and pneumatics instructor at the G.M. Powertrain plant, according to his obituary.
But to many he was known as a local historian who enjoyed genealogy and authored a chapter on Cummings, Ohio in a book about the township’s history.