It was like Saturday night living…in Toledo Ohio, emphasis on living. Streets were lined with parked cars. People bustled between bars, the Rep, and the Huntington Center. Erie street Market held a party, Toledo All Species Ball, operated by Toledo Grows organization, an appropriate name, under the circumstances. Toledo is growing.
It had to be obvious. A new order is taking Toledo by storm and its youngsters, aged 21-30, are propelling it All ages are taking notice.
That morning, there was a “plant seed swap’” attended by the biggest crowd ever. Toledo Grows, an organization creating gardens across the city, leader Mike Szuberla said, “There is no other choice.”
Their party, that night, was a diversified crowd in costume, some dressed up like rabbits, but they weren’t afraid. New living quarters, new writers, amazing singers and new ideas were everywhere.
“It’s a new guard,” said one attendee.
There was one difference in this “new guard.” They were an original, not a copy. Toledo was leading the way, not asking for ideas from some other city. Enthusiasm was in everyone’s eyes.
It’s citizens; its future was taking its place. The quality was as good as anywhere. Toledo was creating an identity: itself.
