Good morning Toledo,
Boy has it been cold! I hope you are all staying warm and maybe even enjoying a nice cup of hot cocoa every now and again, this weather definitely calls for it. Now for this weeks edition….
Property tax relief is on the way for some residents, while the art museum prepares for significant changes ahead. There's also a food truck making a real difference in our community, and city council continues working through parking meter decisions.
In today's edition:
• Lucas County ditch work bringing property tax savings
• Toledo Museum of Art's major renovation plans
• Second Helping Food Truck's community impact
Let's get to it.
News
Museum Gets Major Makeover
The Toledo Museum of Art is diving into its first major renovation in 40 years, completely reimagining how visitors experience art. Instead of the usual geographic groupings, they're organizing everything chronologically across cultures, so you'll see ancient Mediterranean pieces alongside ancient Chinese works for the first time.
The Green Building galleries close this fall with a grand reopening planned for 2027. The Glass Pavilion and other areas stay open throughout construction.
Ditch Work Saves Tax
Lucas County property owners with ditches in Swan Creek or Ten Mile Creek watersheds can cut their tax bills by doing their own maintenance work. Think brush clearing, mowing, and debris removal—but it needs to pass county inspection first.
Applications are due by May 1st, work must be done by late October, and you can grab forms at the engineer's office on McCord Road in Holland.
Community Spotlight
Second Helping Food Truck
You've probably seen Cherry Street Mission's bright food truck around town, serving free meals to anyone who needs one. Last year alone, they reached over 10,000 people at more than 100 events, plus started Warm-up Wednesdays at the Ebeid Center.
It's the kind of quiet community work that makes a real difference, one conversation and one meal at a time.
City Updates
Council Debates Meter Project
Toledo City Council got into a heated discussion about the ongoing digital meter installation project, with some members pushing for more accountability on the $100 million initiative. The debate centered around whether to cap spending at half the requested amount to force better oversight.
After plenty of back-and-forth, council voted to approve the amendment that limits funding and requires training local workers for future maintenance. The project has been running since 2021 with about 5,500 meters still to go.
Coming Up This Week
🎟️ Ongoing & Week-Long
The Ribbon Ice Skating Trail — Glide more than 1,000 ft on this unique winter skating trail at Glass City Metropark’s Riverwalk. Great for all ages and perfect for an outdoor winter outing any day this week.
📆 Monday, Jan 26
Toledo Rockets Basketball vs. Bowling Green — College basketball rivalry action at Savage Arena (often listed on local event calendars around this date).
🎭 Tuesday, Jan 27
Live at the Library with Chloe Kimes — Local music performance at the Main Library, 6:30 pm – 8 pm.
🎶 Wednesday, Jan 28
Sympatico Percussion in Concert — University of Toledo Center for Performing Arts hosts this contemporary ensemble performance, typically mid-week this week.
🎨 Thursday, Jan 29
Toledo Museum of Art Family Center & Glassblowing — Ongoing hands-on art experiences and demonstrations.
🎶 Friday, Jan 30
BLKBOK in Concert — Live music at the Toledo Center for Live Arts, 7 pm – 9 pm.
📅 Saturday, Jan 31
Jim Morrison Tribute Concert — Rock tribute at the Maumee Indoor Theatre, 7 pm – 10 pm.
The Ninth Annual Tie Event — Community empowerment event at the Glass Pavilion, 12 pm – 2 pm.
📅 Sunday, Feb 1
Toledo Center for Live Arts: BLKBOK — Another performance day at TCLA with shows in the afternoon/evening.
Thanks for reading The Toledo Dispatch. Talk soon!