StoryPoint Waterville Chef Earns Silver Medal at National Classic
StoryPoint Waterville Executive Chef Gary Lay earned a silver medal at the 10th Annual Roland E. Schaeffer Culinary Classic, the largest American Culinary Federation (ACF) competition in the country. Competing in the Contemporary Hot Food category, Chef Gary showcased a signature dish, pan-seared chicken with chicken sausage served alongside parsnip puree, a fondant-style potato and maple pecan-glazed carrots, against culinary professionals nationwide. StoryPoint Group was the only senior living organization represented at the national event, highlighting its commitment to culinary excellence, professional development and delivering exceptional dining experiences for residents.
Toledo Opera Receives National Endowment for the Arts Grant to Support Opera On Wheels
Toledo Opera has been awarded a $21,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its award-winning Opera On Wheels educational outreach program. The funding helped expand the program’s spring tour of The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish, bringing 40 live performances to 36 schools and community venues across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan with Toledo Opera reaching 14,000 students, 450 educators and hundreds of community members, furthering its mission to provide accessible arts education and inspiration the next through live opera.
Judge Myron Duhart to Receive Erie Shores Council Distinguished Alumnus Award
Judge Myron Duhart of the Sixth District Court of Appeals will receive the Boy Scouts’ Erie Shores Council Distinguished Alumnus Award at the Council’s 100th Annual Recognition Dinner. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professional achievement and community service while exemplifying the values of scouting. A Toledo native, Army veteran and longtime public servant, Judge Duhart has provided decades of service to Northwest Ohio.
Mercy Health Cardiologist Recognized as Rising Leader in Cardiovascular Care
Mercy Health St Vincent Medical Center interventional cardiologist Dr. Muhammad Zulqarnain has been named to the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) “30 in Their 30s” Class of 2026, an international recognition honoring early-career physicians advancing the future of cardiovascular care. The award recognizes excellence in patient care, innovation, leadership and academic achievement in interventional cardiology. Dr. Zulqarnain is expanding access to advanced, minimally invasive heart procedures while delivering innovative, patient-centered care.
BCSN Earns National Recognition at 2026 Cynopsis Sports Awards
Buckeye Cable’s BCSN received national recognition at the 2026 Cynopsis Sports Awards, earning the Local Sports Media Network of the Year (local) award with an honorable mention in the regional category. The awards recognize excellence in sports television, streaming and digital content, highlighting BCSN’s more than 700 annual broadcasts. The national honor underscores BCSN’s longstanding commitment to delivering high-quality local sports coverage as a trusted source for community-focused programming.
Cherry Street Mission Celebrates Workforce Development Graduates
Cherry Street Mission celebrated more than 35 graduates from its Workforce Development Division, recognizing individuals who have completed career-training programs in building trades, welding, culinary operations, robot operations and AI-infused project management. The programs equip participants with in-demand skills and industry-recognized credentials that prepare them for meaningful careers, supporting Cherry Street Mission’s commitment to helping individuals achieve long-term stability, self-sufficiency and economic opportunity.
EatWell Cafe Awarded $15,000 Grant to Expand Healthy Meal Access
EatWell Cafe has received a $15,000 Growth & Resilience Grant from the John Henry Eldred Jr. Foundation to expand access to healthy, locally sourced meals and to strengthen partnerships with area food producers. The funding will support the Cafe’s efforts to provide fresh, nutritious meals through its participation-based model, ensuring that everyone is welcomed and served with dignity, regardless of their ability to pay
Live Arts Toledo Elects New Board Leadership
Live Arts Toledo Board of Trustees has elected Richard Karcher as chair and Melissa Freeman as vice chair for two-year terms. Karcher, a local attorney, has served on the board for more than a decade and has played a key role in several of the organization’s major strategic initiatives. Freeman, the Chief Financial Officer of AntennaGear, a company providing enhanced connection solutions, brings extensive leadership experience and a strong background in both business and the performing arts. The leadership transition follows a transformative period during which Live Arts Toledo expanded its artistic divisions, opened the Toledo Center for Live Arts and completed its organizational rebrand.
Croswell Opera House Celebrates 160 Years of Live Theater
The Croswell Opera House is celebrating its 160th anniversary throughout 2026, marking its legacy as Michigan’s oldest continuously operating theater. The yearlong celebration featured a special Broadway season, signature events including a 160th Birthday Party in May, a “family reunion”… calling home performers, volunteers, audiences and families from across generations on Friday August 7, and a holiday concert and gala on December 12 and 13. croswell.org.
