Now the 419 with Gretchen DeBacker, Matt Killum, and And Kevin Mullen ahhh.

Welcome into the 419.

I'm Kevin Mullen, alongside Gretchen DeBacker.

Matt Killum.

it is our toledo.com community calendar Thursday driven by Tada!

And, our good friend John Eikost, is going to be back.

Yes, he's here for his monthly overview for the month of February.

So we're excited to talk to him about what's going on and what is going on a lot.

Don't bury the lead.

More importantly, Gretchen, I want you to look into this camera and talk about, classes you taken, with your friends.

Your word.

Well, last weekend, I took.

What?

Let me let me.

How this conversation started was, before Gretchen, came on the set because she realized she comes late every night.

I sit here and she prepares for the show as a limo drops her off at headquarters.

The driver was late this morning.

Undisclosed location.

Kevin, had brought something in to put our our Gretchen's wacky quiz cards in.

Right.

I'm not saying it.

And Kevin suggested to me that he came close to just making the holder himself.

That's when I. Yeah.

So I was like, I'll just make something for it.

I've never said that in my life.

Yeah.

And I was like, that's what I'm going to do.

Yeah.

And then, I decided, you know what?

I don't have time for that.

I'm just going to buy something.

So I bought some American.

But you had shared a story about, my parents divorce.

Me.

That's right.

Unrelated.

They know about, like, unrelated.

You said you had said Matt, like, without any thought behind it.

Well, you can make Marshall marshmallows, too, but you just.

Yeah, just buy them.

You're right.

And so you and I said, yeah, now I know how to make marshmallows.

What was this thing?

So I have a group of friends.

This is who I referred to as my lawyer friends.

It's all women.

And we the lawyers.

Yeah.

Okay.

I know.

Checking.

We like to do enrichment type things, together on occasion, a couple times a year.

And so this last weekend, we went to Zingerman's and did a cooking class at bakehouse, which was very fun.

And we learned how to make homemade graham crackers and homemade marshmallows.

Cool.

And we bought bread and had pie.

Yeah, sure.

I saw the I saw the video.

It's a way to jointly eat carbohydrates.

Basically what it is that's sort of the mission statement.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, the whole vibe.

Yeah.

I watched one of the videos you posted of making the marshmallows, and I'm watching this like, KitchenAid mixer or, like, spin around, and there's really nothing in there.

And I'm just like, I made the decision very quickly.

Like, I have no idea what's happening here.

And then you started pouring something in and then it.

Right.

It mushed.

Yeah.

It's gelatin.

Is that a verb?

Yes, it's gelatin and, vanilla.

And then you boil the corn sirup and sugar.

These are low calorie treats.

And then you pour that in and whip it.

Whip it with a wave, whip it really fast for, like, six minutes and it turns into a marshmallow.

Of all your friends who made the crappiest marshmallows, say their name.

Sara Scott.

Yeah.

All right, well, there you have it, kid.

Can you screw up?

I say that because she listens to the show, so I know for sure she will hear it.

Yeah.

Can you screw up?

Unless it's very sciencey, which is why it's hard for me.

It's.

So you have to have the exact measurements.

It's timing.

You have to get the point.

You have to boil the sugar to the right temperature to make sure it sets up.

And then.

But yes, it's very.

You can mess it up by not doing those steps correctly.

Okay, well, we got a couple of sweet people that will be on the show tonight and.

Good.

Kevin.

Yep.

There we go.

When we come back, John, I guess from Toledo.

Dot com will join us.

We'll take a look at our top five events for the weekend.

And then later in the show we'll be joined by Sam Boyle and Nicole Tuttle.

Sam's got a cool event, coming up.

Celebrating, Luke and Boyle and, his kindness campaign.

And then Nicole Tuttle with the village Players.

Yes.

So that's coming up this weekend.

All right.

That sounds great.

All right, that and more on a Thursday edition.

We'll take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tara.

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Introducing the Local Thread, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, the Sojourner Truth, Toledo Public Schools, and veteran journalist Jerry Anderson.

The Local Thread brings you stories and conversations that connect our community here at weeknights at seven on FM 91, with early access on podcast platforms.

Each morning, the local thread only on HGTV.

Welcome back into the 419 Thursday edition as we take a look at our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada!

We'll take a look at our top five events.

John Lucas joins us back on the program.

Well, thanks for being here.

Thank you.

Good to be back.

One of my favorite things on the internet, like the entirety of the internet.

Wow.

One of the best things is when John and a former teacher from Saint John's get going.

That typically I feel like Tom.

Mister Harms starts it, but he'll post some ridiculous something.

Something on Facebook.

These are like a pun.

It's a pun.

It's a pun challenged little pun battle.

It goes back and forth and.

Right.

You know, so that says a lot about your social life that that is the highlight.

It is.

But but here's the thing.

So like it is fun but you see also watch the marshmallow making video I don't know if this is the first second I that full night at the Mullen household.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know, like his wife drinks.

Oh, yeah.

Heavily.

So, no, no.

But like, you'll see the thing in that you'll instantly come up with like 1 or 2 puns that there is some, I don't know, photo of a lake or something.

And the doc.

Yeah.

The doc.

Right.

So they're like, oh, the doc chokes the doc right there.

I mean, I'm actually I folks at home is just full.

Yeah, yeah.

It's the top five events of the week.

Shall we start?

The first up is Avenue Q, which is Friday, February 6th, seventh, and then the 14th and 15th and the quick Google search.

Have you seen Avenue Q?

I have not.

It's it's supposed to be quite, clever.

It's a common it's an adult musical for an adults, even though it has puppets, puppetry and they have a warning in it there.

There might even be naked puppets in it.

Oh my gosh.

But it's basically a guy that graduates from college.

He's trying to find a job, and then somehow he enters in this magical world that includes puppets and real people and musical hilarity and Sesame Street.

There you go.

There's this show.

It's called, Avenue Q by Stone productions.

I believe it's a Collingwood art school.

Yeah.

All right.

Two weekends in a row starting this weekend.

Should be good.

And that sounds really cool.

Yeah, it's like an irreverent.

It's pretty irreverent is a perfect word to describe it based on you know, kind of what I know about it.

I think I know a few people from the improv community who are actually in it.

So, you know, you see the actors and it's kind of in the sense of a musical, but they have their, you know, puppet that they're working with.

So it's, you know, it's something different trying to if you could, operate any puppet ever, who would it be?

Because of a spotlight that I know you've got a I know you've got a lot of puppets in are your favorite, the Swedish chef.

So.

Good.

Nice.

Yeah, that's a good one.

Yeah.

Second up, this week in the top dotcom, top five picks is the up back on Friday, through Sunday.

This is a, the headline says bringing gaming to the masses.

Right.

So admittedly I know I don't know, this isn't my lane typically.

But like tabletop gaming, which is a big deal to a lot of people.

You know, in my mind, I think of like the Dungeons and Dragons players and stuff, but there are so many other games beyond that.

So I think it's heavily attended by students, UT students, but it's certainly open to the blind.

If you were manipulating, the Swedish chef, what board game do you think that you would want the Swedish chef to participate?

The Settlers of Catan.

How's it gonna say operation?

Yeah, that's.

Yeah.

There we go.

I want to see better operation.

I'm sure that that's going to be a operation.

Is going to be a big job.

This weekend.

Yeah.

My my brother is huge into tabletop games.

Like, there's, convention in Indianapolis every year.

It actually, when my little brother got married the weekend that they picked to get married, their first choice was the same weekend as this convention.

And my brother was like, that's fine, but I can only be there for the ceremony.

And so then they picked a do what a lucky gal, right?

Yeah, that's right.

They picked a different player.

But yeah.

So this is it was never this is a big this is a big deal.

And it's not just like settlers and yeah, Dungeons and Dragons, like, it's there's a lot of different styles of games.

I mean, obviously it's a three day event.

So and I think vendors to, you know, and and there are my understanding is that there's like a, there's gaming communities and stuff where people get together and play a lot and cool.

So fun thing to do in the winter.

Third event slate.com list is Science After Dark, a wine and chocolate event which is Saturday night, February 7th, obviously a fundraiser for Imagination Station.

That's right.

And we just had them on this week talking about their big new, Tutankhamen exhibit.

Yeah.

So so this will be supporting that.

Yeah.

And a great way to see that exhibition, you know.

But go and hang out.

It's a 21 win over event because it's a kind of a wine tasting chocolate tasting.

And then I think they typically have workshops that they do that night of like charcuterie board.

Yeah, you know, kind of stuff.

And that's kind of like an additional, cost.

But their parties are very fun.

Are they going to teach you how to bake marshmallows?

I mean, that's very that's actually maybe a table set up, I think.

What do you think the Swedish.

Wait, you're going to teach with what?

I can't pronounce it.

Yeah.

That's right.

Oh, yeah.

So you're not Swedish?

Yeah.

So fourth event.

And this is actually a show for kids.

This is going to be at the Stranahan Theater.

It's Dogman the musical, right.

A lot of people know, maybe you know the cartoon Captain Underpants for little kids.

This is the same.

This is the same creator.

Okay.

Yeah.

He's a, he's a half dog, half policeman.

And he goes on, crime solving.

Crime solving.

Yeah.

Right.

Yeah.

So that's this Saturday the seventh, and it's actually at 2:00 PM for kids.

Right.

At the Stranahan Theater, we're a big dog man household.

Thanks.

It is fantastic.

Kids love it.

We actually went up to, Royal Oak Theater.

Dave Pelkey spoke, and it was fantastic.

Like all the exhibits, the sweet spot age group wise, they all love it.

They all love it equally.

Yeah.

It's been around.

I mean, it's, you know, my daughter's 12.

And so when Juliet was younger, we would start reading some of the Captain Underpants stuff, and it's just a little irreverent and kind of silly.

Okay.

And then, but the boys are really into it, and Doug, man, is legitimately, the storyline.

Is that a police dog?

And a cop, got into an accident and the cop's head was dying, and the dog's body was dying.

So cutaway for kids.

So they so they literally swapped and so they put the dog's head on the cop's body.

Well, don't bury it.

Don't bury the dog.

Man is born, and hilarity ensues.

Ensues.

As we like to say it's great.

Final event.

The fifth event this week and the toledo.com calendar is one that I'm excited about.

It's being presented by the Toledo Symphony is called From Toledo to Broadway.

There's a young woman, who's from Toledo, a Whitmer grad.

Her name is Sarah Shephard.

Right.

I had the privilege of seeing he the musical, beautiful, which is the, the story, the musical about Carole King's life.

Right.

When it tore through Detroit.

She's absolutely amazing in that show.

She's a wonderful talent.

She's that on Broadway.

She's in a number of different shows, productions, for sure.

And so she's coming back, to Toledo this weekend to sing Broadway hits with the Toledo Symphony and this is at the peristyle.

Right.

On Saturday night?

Yeah.

No, I think it like you said, it's a it's probably, I'm assuming for her it's really great to come home to a hometown crowd and perform at the peristyle, I believe.

And it'll be, I think that the Live Arts Toledo and the symphony and the jazz orchestra and then ballet, that, collaborative, they just keep crushing it.

They just great production stuff.

Just keeps performance after performance of great talent.

This is a really unique and fun night accessible to everybody.

So.

And in the beautiful peristyle.

So excited about that.

Really unique is even more unique and just really unique.

Yeah.

Really unique.

Yeah.

That's great to bring to the show.

That's right.

I mean, you think about like growing up as a I mean, she was a theater kid, right?

So it was in the Christmas Carol at the wrap.

And we obviously do in school, you know, productions and things like that.

She's a Whitmer Panther.

Yeah.

Is that right?

Okay.

Yeah, yeah.

So I'm 90% certain she went away.

I know her sister.

Yeah.

Amelia, we did shows together at the wrap.

Okay.

Growing up and.

And I imagine Sarah was in them, and I just didn't.

I was friends with her sister.

But, like, crazy, talented family.

I was like, you know, growing up, you got to believe, like, the dream as a kid is to get a chance to perform with the symphony behind you.

Yeah, right.

Like, we're not talking about, like, no disrespect to, you know, the musicians in the symphony, right?

But you're not in the symphony.

The symphony is backing you up and.

Right.

Right.

Like that is what the dream of kids that are in high school musicals.

I was just just traveled to New York a couple weekends ago with my niece who, 16, who's dream, who loves musicals and whose dream is to be on Broadway.

So Sarah's done that and then to be able to come back and share it in Toledo, I just it's so fun.

So this has been a bit of a disappointment so far.

Your work.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah I know, I know, John, we're talking about events, you know, that are coming up.

But you know, talking about Live Arts Toledo.

I'm curious, kind of looking at an event we had we highlighted before, black box.

Black box.

Yeah, I went to that last weekend.

And that's in that new, newer space right next to the Stranahan.

I think they call it the Toledo Center for Live Arts.

And maybe if I had to guess, seats 300.

So a more intimate space for sure.

Really beautiful stage.

Black box happens to be a piano player.

They have a kind of, you know, one of the world class pianos actually in there.

So, it was all very, very cool, very intimate.

And, I guess he's he's an extraordinarily talented piano player, but brings maybe some hip hop sensibilities to his work.

He's worked with Rihanna and Justin Timberlake and a number of other kind of pop stars, but in his own right, his own music is just.

It was really stunning.

It was really great.

I would encourage anybody to kind of keep an eye on that programing that's happening in that space.

Just, it reminded me, I like to go to the Arc in Ann Arbor.

It's smaller venues, right?

It does.

And it just it just is a listening venue.

You know, you're there to listen to the music.

It's not a bar.

You're not.

It's not clinking beer bottles in the background and people chatting in the corner.

Everybody has their attention focused on, maybe a few weeks left.

John, I wanted to, talk a little bit about what's on your radar for the for the rest of February and into March.

Maybe people can get some planning done and, start thinking about what they're going to be doing.

Yeah.

So, I mean, I think we talked and we thought it was a good idea to maybe give people a little more runway on some things that they might want to put on their calendar.

I have a list of some things that just that I've highlighted.

Of course, this isn't everything in there.

There's more listed on toledo.com, but just do my taxes.

Your own list.

I think that's right.

Yeah.

Bought the just yet you know, go to dentist.

But a couple of things that, you know, maybe the general public would want to keep an eye out.

I know that United Way, they do a community breakfast fundraiser for their 211 day.

And this is a good way to kind of stay in touch with the United Way and the volunteering that people can do there.

That's something that's coming up.

You know, Ottawa Park Ice Rink is something they've doing, like a Valentine's Day skate in mid-February.

Handmade Toledo is doing a thing called Love Mart that you probably a lot of people are probably familiar with maker's Mark.

This is specific to Valentine's Day.

Scaled down, I think.

Less makers and, you know, artists, but still, you know, a chance to maybe buy some gifts from people winter or breaking the, as it breaking the winter blues.

I think it's called or wintering the blues.

It hannon's block.

This is, a music opportunity.

And the second floor above Hannon's block.

Yeah, literally, like a full day of music.

Dooley Wilson, for example, is blues guitarist.

One of the one of the best musicians in town, in my opinion.

He'll be at that, but it's just a whole lineup for hours.

And Hannon's block is a bar and restaurant, in downtown Toledo.

That's right.

And locally owned.

Yep.

Yep.

That guy's really talented.

We just we're talking about piano music.

So the Art Tatum, scholarship concert at the University of Toledo Center for Performing Arts, they, they typically bring in someone who's world class, world known, jazz in the spirit of Art Tatum.

You know, since he was born here and and lived here for a while.

So it's just kind of a way to honor that legacy that is on the 18th of February at the center for Performing Arts.

Perrysburg Winter Fest is a big deal.

You know, this is like a a weekend of all kinds of events, centering around ice carving, you know?

So in the past some years, it's been very warm and mild.

I think we're not worried about it.

This year.

It seems like it's going to be nice.

And I think more I think more often than not, the weekend they pick for Winterfest is, you know, 45 and sunny super Miles.

Yeah, it's.

Yeah, I've seen not if you're the event planner, right?

Yes.

Right.

But the sculptures are just dripping as opposed to kind of maintaining their, their they're Harrisburg is closer to the equator than Toledo is.

It is it is it is it is.

You right about that.

Probably part of it there.

So they hire you for geography.

The inside of.

Yeah, it's a tough role.

A couple of other things real quick.

Toledo Wrap has a production late in February of the 20th to the 22nd.

Lost in Yonkers.

A lot of a lot of productions in the theater seem to take place in the winter months, you know, rather than fight with other weekends and other events.

Marvel night at the, the Toledo Walleye, that's going to be happening on the 27th of February, the same night the Glass City Wranglers, which is a newer basketball team.

What's exciting about their season this year is they're playing in the Glass City Center as opposed to, I think in the past they maybe played at Rogers or Bowers.

And so this is kind of just they've taken their game, no pun intended.

Nailed it.

Well, Tom, as I said that, they've taken it to another level.

So that's that's exciting for them.

I know that they're that they're looking forward to that.

It's really a slam dunk there, John.

Hey see we're going to see how easy it is.

It's so entertaining Tom I mean it was practically it was the real game.

It's so easy was practically a layup.

So Josh Friedkin's the GM of the of the regular is going to be on the show the week before that.

Yeah.

That's great.

That big game.

Yeah, he's he's great.

And I'm looking forward to their season a few more really quick Toledo grows does a seed swap at the Scott High School.

Such a popular event.

That's a huge event.

It's gotten bigger and bigger every year, I think.

So that's kind of like everything gardening.

Related of course.

Toledo Grows is really focused on community gardening.

I would encourage you, if this is at all an interest to you, to kind of find out what they're doing with the community garden and their, space.

I think it's Oneida Street downtown, but they service and, kind of collaborate with more than 100 community gardens around the area.

So a three acre farm downtown on a nido, which is one of the side streets, is the cut off from Cherry Street.

But, the seed swap is at minimum 20 plus years running.

The outgrew their old places.

So now, they had to have a bigger venue for their workshops and things like that, getting people ready for or getting their gardens ready, experts in the field and other small organizations there.

It's really a great event.

I'm glad you mentioned that, Joe.

Yeah, thank you very much.

Yeah.

For sure.

Last you got we got time for one more quick event.

If you've got it, two things.

Acoustics for autism is March 1st in downtown Maumee.

Massive.

If you're a music fan, definitely don't miss that.

And then the very next day on Monday, Restaurant Week Toledo starts.

And everybody loves that because some dozens of local restaurants participate.

Great.

Awesome.

Love it.

John Ike is with toledo.com.

Thanks for helping us take a look at our top five events of this week, and also a little bit into the next 30 days as well.

Of course, our toledo.com community calendar, driven by Tada!

For more information or to find more events like this, you can visit toledo.com.

When we come back on the other side of the break, we are talking with Sam Boyle about the Luken Boyle Kindness campaign, and a, skate for kindness.

That's coming up, in a couple days.

Yeah.

All right.

We'll be right back on the 419.

To me, community means connecting to others.

I'm Danny Miller, and welcome to the point.

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The public media invites you to get out and play day Monday through Friday.

It's the 419 powered by W GTD with Matt Killam, Gretchen De Backer, I'm Kevin Mullen.

What can people expect on the show?

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Where you come to watch, listen and learn.

Welcome back into the 419.

We're joined now by Sam Boyle with the Lucan Boyle Campaign for kindness.

Sam, thanks for being here.

Yeah, thanks for having me.

Tell us, what is the Lucan Boyle campaign for kindness?

The campaign was started, in 2017.

My son Lucan was 14 years old.

He was, catfished online.

Exploited.

Really?

And, he ultimately committed suicide.

After this incident of cyberbullying, which obviously shook our world and turned our lives upside down.

And it was very unexpected.

But there was this huge outpouring of support and love and people, wanting to talk about these issues.

And I just couldn't fathom the idea of this happening to another young person, another family.

So, literally, while writing Lukins obituary, I just said something needs to be done.

And so the campaign for kindness was born.

I didn't know what it was going to be or what we were going to do, but ultimately it was about saving lives.

And I knew I needed to tell Lucan story because it happened so often, unfortunately.

And that's really where it began.

And we I go out and I speak to, young people, typically middle school through college.

I speak to families.

Parents just trying to get the word out on what we can do to be more proactive with kindness.

And we started putting kindness rooms in schools, which is amazing.

They're these creative, safe spaces that are kind of a gift from us to the school.

So it's at no cost.

And we're finding that the kids are doing amazing things, in these rooms, and they're working together, and, you know, we're really promoting kindness.

So, Sam, you've had the unfortunate distinction of knowing me, since high school.

But, new and I, have reconnected, about this.

Talk to me a little bit about Lucan.

What kind of kid?

He was.

I love talking about Lucan.

Yeah.

You should.

He was the epitome of what intentional kindness means.

He really went out of his way to make people feel good.

He had an old soul, and he really was.

He.

He had empathy on a level that was really kind of amazing for for a kid that age at, you know, nine, ten, 11 years old, he he just.

And he knew how to bring people together.

He loved to compliment people.

He just love spreading joy and light and love.

And I honestly don't think he had a mean bone in his body.

He was the first one.

If he saw somebody left out, you know, to make sure they were included or he would sit out with them.

Yeah.

He was just he was that kid.

And so many stories came out after he died.

And it really his, his legacy had to live on in a way that was going to help others.

So that's where at the time that this happened to your family, that this kind of thing existed, that this had happened to other families.

You know, we kind of lived in this bubble.

My kids or the third generation to go to the school they went to, we lived in the same neighborhood.

So a lot of the kids lived in that neighborhood.

So it was like bad things didn't happen.

And of course, we knew about bullying.

But Lucan was not bullied on a regular basis.

So it took, you know, this one cruel act to push him to the point of wanting to take his life.

And unfortunately, kids throw around the terminology associated with suicide, and they even tell each other, you know, just go kill yourself.

And they're so desensitized to it.

So my eyes were definitely open.

And now my experiences with going into the schools and working with, the students and the counselors, it's really, really.

I've had an education over the last eight years that has helped me help others.

I hope so there are about 10 million boils to Ohio.

Talk to me a little bit about, you you you're almost immediately as I know you to be in your family, wants to do something to the positive and greater.

So, the next steps.

How did this start?

And bring us all the way up into today and what we'll be doing, this next weekend.

So how did the event start of the campaign?

As a whole?

Everything.

Yeah.

Got the family together.

How did you how did you start spinning?

You know, the support from the family on both sides.

You know, the boils.

And the vocals was just incredible and amazing.

And that's what allowed me to.

To have the strength.

And my first speaking engagement was, two, three months after Luke had passed away.

And it was in front of about 120 high school students from different area schools.

And the opportunity was amazing.

And up until the second I stepped out there, I didn't know that I could do it, sure, but I shared Luke and story and what happened to him, and we really talked about the solution.

You know, the focus isn't on how Luke died, but how he lived his life.

And how can we keep that legacy going.

And the response was just overwhelming.

So I knew that I was on the right track and that this needed to be discussed and kids needed to hear this story.

So it started with me speaking, in front of any schools that would have me, any parent meetings that would go on.

And from there we started the Kindness Rooms.

It just was like the perfect storm of donations and volunteers from the family.

And so walk me through the first the first time room was where and what it was at Central Catholic.

Our alma mater and yes, are all know how to go Irish and and what is a kindness room?

It's really it's a creative, safe space we, we make over, a space or a classroom because a lot of the schools don't have the capability of giving us a whole room so we can do a corner or a wall, or we make it work for each school.

But essentially, we supply them with all kinds of art supplies, things to make cards.

You know, they've made blankets for children's hospitals.

Really?

The possibilities are endless.

But it's meant to be a space where the students come together and they're really thinking about, how can we spread kindness?

How can we reset for the day if there's something going on?

You know, the Kindness Room is meant to be that space where it's calming.

I know a lot of school counselors will bring the students into the room, like I said, just to kind of reset, maybe do some some conflict resolution.

Sure.

Because I always speak at the school before we open up the space, so the kids know, the faculty, the staff, the students, they all know the purpose, why we're there, and that ultimately, Lukin was the inspiration.

But the ultimate goal and why we keep going is to save lives.

Sure.

So we really believe by bringing these kids together and having them work together, that they're creating relationships and friendships that they might not otherwise.

What's your what's your most favorite project or outcome of one of these rooms that you've had so far that the kids have done?

That's a tough question because there's so many.

But I know one of the most touching stories was, they made Christmas cards and took them to a nursing home that was nearby.

One of our schools, and they didn't just deliver the cards.

I mean, it was face to face.

They stayed and they sang some Christmas carols, and we just the outpouring of gratitude and the community there was so touched.

And it's something they look forward to now.

You know, like I said, they've made blankets for the children's hospital and they they go in and they deliver and they spend time with the people.

So it's really about getting outside of themselves.

But most importantly, I've had numerous students who have said before they got involved in the Kindness Room that they felt like an outcast, or some of them have said they were suicidal.

And once they got involved with the kindness Rooms and they developed these relationships, that they no longer feel that way and they feel like they have a place where they belong and they have friends now becaus this.

And that's really what keeps me going, because that's why I said, if I can help one family or save one kid, then you know this.

This is all worth it.

What are you hearing from?

I'm sorry.

I can say, I mean, you're doing more than you're.

You're saving more than one kid.

That's right.

So you guys are doing great work.

You've got a big event coming up.

Yes.

Tell us about it.

Skate for kindness.

It's at the ribbon.

At Glass City Metro Park.

I can see you pretend to hurt yourself so you don't have to.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I will not be able to skate this year.

But we have, you know, we have raffles.

We have three sessions for skating, but we'll have the some Toledo Walleye, some bowling Green University, hockey players.

Ian Duncan, who is a Walleye Hall of Famer.

He comes out and they all skate with, everyone.

It's just it's food fun.

And it is overwhelming.

You know, I remember that we were together the first year, and, it was packed.

It was.

People love it.

Yes, they do.

And it's so fun to watch everybody get out there and really try and people helping each other.

And I know, when I get out there, I definitely need help or whatever.

A little kid who doesn't like the big ones.

The penguins are fantastic.

Yeah.

So the penguins, if you don't know, this is at, Glass City Metropark in the ice skating ribbon.

For those of you who don't skate, which I am one of.

If sounds like Sam, you may be, I know.

Okay, we are the non skating group.

They do offer penguins and polar bears, to assist you.

But it is more than just skating.

Like the kindness rooms themselves in the community that you've created.

With family and friends, too.

Right.

I know that there's a big team that works on this on a volunteer basis.

It's it's a community coming together.

And feeling better and turning a positive from something that I can only describe.

Not that I feel is an absolutely devastating travesty.

I mentioned to Matt, before the show that I actually accidentally attended last year's event.

Oh, yeah.

If we had a family, he owes you a ticket.

I do, I, you know, hey, I bought, I bought tickets, you can go online and raffle tickets and bid on some items.

So once we got there, I was like, okay, this is great.

But but I, it was such a cool event.

We had a family party sort of planned for the garden that day, and so we were like back in a corner and we walk in and the places jam, jam packed.

And instantly my kid's face light up because you've got, you know, professional hockey players and, you know, big hockey jerseys all over the place.

And so it was just a really cool event.

Certainly I think Matt, you I think you said it.

Well that it's it's basically the kindness room kind of on the road.

Right.

And I think that's a really cool thing that you guys are doing.

What other types of things are happening?

At this event?

We do have, the tent set up with an opportunity for, everyone to see what we do in the kindness rooms as far as creating, maybe a thank you card or birthday card or a token of appreciation.

We we bring out some of the supplies that we put in our rooms, and so people get to experience that and see firsthand.

What we do, the kind of the foundation, and then it's really just eating, meeting the players.

Getting out there and skating and or standing near it.

Or if people are just spectating.

Yes.

Encouraging.

That's encouraging.

Well, if a student or a parent is listening to this and wants one of these kindness rooms at their school, can they reach out to talk to you about that?

Yes.

Yes, they can go to they go they can go to our website lukan.

For that number for kindness.org.

Great.

So that's how you reach any of us.

Give me a day and time for the event.

It is this Sunday, February 8th.

11 to 430.

So we'll have three skating sessions and you can go on our website.

And all the information is there.

What?

What is your hope for the future of the campaign for kindness?

Sustainability?

Sure.

And I hope that we continue to put rooms and that people, you know, will still want to hear my message and that I can keep going into the schools, because that's really what I love, is going into the schools and connecting with the students.

And, you know, it's really informal.

What I do.

It's really a conversation between myself and the students, and it gives them an opportunity to ask questions and to really define some words that I think we take for granted, like, what does kindness really mean to you?

What's empathy?

So it's just gauging in on those things.

And like I said, focusing on the solution.

And, and our young people want to talk about that.

So I hope that I can continue to do that and that we can get into more schools in the area.

I'm going to get in trouble because we're running out of time.

But let's let's rapid fire.

Can we 4 or 9.

Can we do Gretchen's wacky quiz super quick?

Oh, gosh.

Ready?

Are you ready?

Let's do it.

Okay.

All right.

I'm asking for rapid fire questions.

Here we go.

Okay.

If you could have only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Cheeseburger.

Good.

What's the most important thing you learned from your parents?

Respect.

On a scale of 1 to 10.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how cool are you?

Oh, a ten.

That's my girl.

What's your dream job?

I think what I'm doing is.

What's your number?

What number?

One.

Most favorite or best thing about Toledo?

Or the region?

About Toledo?

Like the community, right?

Massive.

The community.

The support that when going through something like what my family did, the outpouring of love and support, not just from the immediate area we live, but the city as a whole, has just been behind us every step of the way.

The Metro, I mean, it's just been, amazing.

So well-deserved.

Sam.

Awesome.

All right.

Yeah.

You want to do that?

Nope.

This is great.

We nailed it.

All right.

Landed the plane.

Perfect.

Thank you so much for having so much.

Thank you.

I really appreciate more information on Luke and Boyle's campaign for kindness.

It is, Luke in Luke and for kindness, dawg.

Awesome.

All right, Sam, thank you so much.

Thank you.

When we come back, we will talk with Nicole Tuttle from The Village Players.

Stick with us.

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Welcome back into the 419.

We're taking a look at some cool events that are happening in the area.

It's all part of our toledo.com community calendar driven by Tada!

We're joined now by Nicole Tuttle from The Village Players.

Nicole, thanks for being driven by Tada!

Did you just get down to you just ridden?

Yeah, I did it.

All right.

Wow.

It's good.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Nicole, I've already like you.

Immediately were very supportive.

I'm.

Kevin.

Yeah.

I don't care.

Okay.

All right.

Nicole.

What?

What is the village players?

Yeah.

So the Village Players Theater is a small theater on Upton Avenue here in Toledo.

And we.

It's 165 seats only.

So it's a really small, intimate space.

And we do, five mainstage shows a year, and you're kidding me.

I know I can't wait until you hear this.

And then four director series shows.

So we do nine shows in total every year.

It's been around for 70 years.

And Toledo started as Gretchen.

And this month I'll be 70.

But very excited about Sense and Sensibility, which is, you're in Tech Week right now and is going to debut, this weekend.

Yes, Friday it is, Jane Austen classic, adapted by Kate Hamill.

And, it's it's a beast of a show and your favorite movie addition of Jane Eyre sensibility is.

Oh, yeah, it's the Alan Rickman one.

There's no, no, no, there's no other choice.

Hey, guys.

Just wanted to let the listeners know that, Kevin, I already had to sit through this conversation off camera, so just let us know when we can come back.

So go ahead.

Right?

Right.

Yes.

So you guys, do you, Kate Winslet, Winslet, you can't just keep people nice.

Yeah.

You're actually but you're actually in the performance I am.

And you.

What part are you playing?

I'm playing Eleanor.

Oh that's my favorite.

Right?

Yeah.

She's the killer.

She's she's nanny McPhee, which is Emma Thompson.

But, so, yeah, she's the one who has all the sense.

Yes.

And the sister's the one that has all the sensibility.

Oh, see how that works out?

Yes, absolutely.

It's never driven by.

Tada!

Yeah.

That's right.

Got it.

Emma Thompson.

We'll be driving.

Tired of busses.

How many performances of of the play will you all do.

Yeah.

So in the first weekend we have three performances Friday through Sunday.

And then the next weekend is Thursday through Sunday.

And do you do all the performances there at that often?

Location.

There's the theaters in there.

Yeah, that's so exciting.

So you have also directed you have a number of things that you do in service of village players, human rights.

Yeah.

You've also directed other shows and you're also served on the board.

Yes.

So what makes you so passionate about the Village Players?

I think the Village Players does a really great job of supporting community artists.

I think one of my favorite things that we do at The Village is our director series.

I mentioned it briefly, but in addition to the five main mainstage shows that we do every year, we have directors from all around the area submit shows that they would be interested in doing, shows that don't get a chance to be done often, cool shows that may have never seen a mainstage before and shows that some directors may not.

They may be looked over because they don't direct a lot, or they don't have as much experience.

But we look at these, we give them a chance to actually do them and give them all the support that a theater would give them.

I'm interested in a couple things I guess.

First of all, yourself, you are from Toledo.

Originally have been theater.

Your parents were theater buffs.

How did you get into this?

I'm from the Cleveland area originally, and my mother was a author, and she ran the drama club in high school for me.

And then my father was an English and drama teacher.

So this is wired in.

It's in my blood.

It's.

I was like, born singing tomorrow from Annie.

So what were the arguments in your home like a spirited.

Oh, I would imagine.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, mostly.

So like the heavy.

Who was the disciplinarian in the group?

Me.

Yeah, I believe.

Yeah, sure.

I love that that story.

Give me a little bit of a history.

70 years doesn't happen by accident.

And I did this.

Start the books.

The the history.

Opened up a shingle.

What what how did this begin?

So it was a bunch of people in Ottawa Hills that just decided in early 50s that they wanted to get together and make art and do something for fun and just create entertainment in that time.

And so for the first couple of years, they just did shows in a tent in Ottawa Hills.

Yeah, sure.

And that's kind of how it started.

Well, an impoverished neighborhood.

A lot of people do have to rely on tents and other stuff, but that's how it started.

And it was just a bunch of people from the community that wanted to make art together, which I think is the origin story of a lot of art.

And it was just on crummy, but I just want to just show the juxtaposition of a group of people have created something to make their lives better, because they realize that there's a gap there.

And Gretchen spends her time with her friends making marshmallows, which make your life better.

So, okay, there's the marshmallows.

Make my life.

And mine.

Yeah, yeah, really.

Keep doing on for others.

That's what Gretchen Moe is.

We had a sign in our house for.

I don't think it's still there.

For sale.

That's right.

They know that said, money can't buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows.

And that's pretty much the same thing.

Yeah, I love that.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So the show starts and you've been in probably countless amount of productions.

And I know, like children, you don't necessarily have a favorite, but was there an moment when you're a kid or a favorite theatrical performance, even your first one.

Oh yeah.

What was it?

Oh yeah.

So my very first show ever was to circle the musical.

You never heard of it and not me?

My niece has been in it.

Yes.

It's amazing.

So it's it's the story of, Horton Hears a Who?

Oh, some other Doctor Seuss ones thrown in.

But I was a who.

I was just like who?

Number four.

I have one so cutest thing in the world.

And I remember we went to Pizza Hut after the show ended, and I told my parents I was in third grade and I said, I'm going to do this forever.

And they went, okay, sure you are, honey.

Yeah.

And here you are.

You are.

Did you?

Yeah, yeah.

Did you go to, did you have any professional training?

Tell us about that.

Yeah.

So I actually have my master's in theater from BG, and I've worked professionally for a couple of years.

Out in Minnesota.

I was working, with crime theater out there.

So do you ever travel and do any of, like, the summer stock?

Circuit?

I never did summer stock.

I don't think I have.

I'm not built for summer stock.

But I did do, climb was like a touring theater.

So we did touring out in the, the cold states.

I them was it thrilling or exhausting or all of the sting?

Yeah.

But also the incredible.

Yeah.

Because the fact that I got to see, like thousands of different people you did.

That was amazing.

Yeah.

Well, we're quickly changing that in Minnesota.

I've talked to, about this on the show earlier, but I was in New York a couple of weekends ago and saw a bunch of shows.

And one of the things we talked about is how these performers must get do how do they not get bored?

How does it seem to us when they're doing eight shows a week, that this is the first time they've ever done it, and they've probably been in the run for for five months?

Oh yeah.

How how do they do it?

How do you do it?

It comes from the passion of it.

Like for me, whenever I get to go out on a stage, even if I'm even if I am getting paid for it, it is not a job to me ever.

When I get to perform or when I get to direct.

And so just having that passion behind it makes it so much easier to get out there and just make it fresh every time.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you are you going to have a show in this new Directors series at village?

I am not directing with the director series, but I am directing our spring summer musical, The Wedding Singer.

No, the Adam Sandler.

Yeah, it is, it is?

Yeah.

What's the music in it?

So the only music that is carried over are the two Adam Sandler songs that he wrote for the movie.

Okay, so those two will move over, but the other are all original songs written for the music that you should audition.

Yeah, you can audition.

Yeah.

I need so many people.

Tell me, what's the age range for that 18 plus?

Okay.

Yeah.

Tell me this is something that might be intuitive to most of our listeners.

But in the inventory of things that there are, you're able to perform, how do you find them?

How do you pick how frequently are you looking on X, Y, and Z?

So here's my first question is where did all these things live and how do you choose.

That's so we have a in the board.

We have a season selection committee, and all year people are welcome to submit shows that they're interested in.

And so people can say, hey, what about this one?

And we'll throw it on the list.

And our, our committee will research, read and then we meet to discuss and vote.

So it really is kind of like a community.

I would like to make two votes right now.

Yeah.

Tell me grease that's being done at Whitmer here.

So to grease two.

No.

Oh no one has been about that long.

And then the second one is Fiddler on the roof.

Fiddler on the roof.

No one is on for the on the roof.

And so long that is being done at the rep.

Actually, I think in a couple months here.

Done.

Yeah.

There you go.

I'm auditioning there goes by Gretchen's.

So I'm returning.

I'm shocked.

I know I live in that I it's they drive.

Yeah, yeah.

We got this show is so brilliant.

Is there a dream role.

Yeah.

Good question there.

I mean always this show right here.

I'm doing it.

Do you live in you check?

I think if I were to check off that some stuff.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

I have two big ones that I can never choose between.

Elphaba, I think is everybody's dream family.

And I would love to play that one day.

And then, rose from dogfight.

If you've ever heard, I don't know, dogfight, you know, you don't know it either.

That's the Michael Vick.

It's right.

That one.

Wow.

We will have protesters here.

Just a reminder that, Kevin lived at 1300 Pelham.

It's, it's the Passaic and Paul musical, which are the same people that did Greatest Showman.

So the music is amazing.

Yes.

Yeah, that is that would Greatest Showman, that woman, the main woman would be a great.

And then Chicago either of the women in Chicago would be.

Yeah.

That's if I could dance, which I cannot.

Yeah.

Me there I'm a mover.

Yeah, yeah, that would be a dream if you were going to cast the three of us, right, boy?

Yeah.

Show.

Right.

What show?

I'm the only one that has talent.

Keep that in mind.

That is debatable.

Yeah.

That's me.

Listen.

Okay, so I can see, like, one of our, like, the door slamming farces, like a noises off.

I can see while playing really well in that because it's just, it's just comedy and you've got that banter, which is what the music lives are, some kind of murder mystery.

That play that goes wrong.

Yes.

That's good.

Yeah.

Noises off, something like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

I like it.

We've got the quiz I am thrilled I'm excited to see how you doing it.

I think the call is going to kill it.

It's time for Gretchen's wacky quiz.

Oh, wow.

I don't know, we're just doing some good vibes, right?

Right.

Yeah.

I think you need to try the company's theme song.

We need a theme song for it.

All right, I'm going to give you four rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's gonna ask you for your favorite thing in the region, and then you got to give Matt nine words to describe.

It's a lot of what you have ten things for.

But don't touch my papers.

He was doing a mic check and just ready to die as well.

All right, here we go.

If you could ask Gretchen one question, what would it be?

Why?

Oh, what's your favorite restaurant in Toledo?

Oh.

All right.

Okay, you don't get to answer it.

What fear would you like to overcome?

Spiders.

I will run out of a room before I kill it.

I will leave the house.

Oh, great.

That's the only rational response.

What do you like to do when no one's around?

Sing karaoke tracks with YouTube and spiders.

And what was your first word as a child?

I have no idea.

I need to know.

That is probably something creative, though.

Yeah, yeah.

Something humble.

Yeah, yeah, I really like.

Yeah.

Why aren't you clapping?

Because, What is your number one most favorite or what were you considered to be the best thing about Toledo?

I think the arts, the community of artists here, there are so many theaters, and that's just amazing to me.

All right, nine words to describe the city and or region.

Yeah.

Let's do it together.

Yeah.

This part's always hard because you forget that words exist when people ask you for words.

That's lactic like.

Like good.

Interesting.

Interesting.

Yes.

Cold right now.

Cold.

Do it.

Passionate.

Passionate?

Yes.

Creative.

Yep.

Artistic.

Yep.

Historic.

Historic.

Two more.

Oh, no.

Oh.

Those two.

Yeah, yeah.

All right.

Brought us home.

If someone wants to audition for the wedding singer or otherwise get involved in the Village Players, where can they get more information?

You can go to our website or Facebook, the Village players.org or the Village Players on Facebook.

All of our information's right on there.

Like this with very verbose, just give me the kind of the trailer and why should somebody come and see the show?

Yes.

Sense and Sensibility is a classic Jane Austen show, but we kind of bring it to the new world like we have orchestral versions of Britney Spears songs.

So we we have that, that kind of modern twist to it.

So if you loved Bridgerton Part one and you're missing it and you're waiting for part to come see the show instead.

All right.

More information on Village Players is at Village players.org or on our Facebook.

Awesome, awesome.

Nicole, thank you so much.

I didn't know that this existed right out.

Like I'm it.

I know I'm a theater person and I'm learning about the great plays that my cousin is perform.

They're very great people and yeah, I love it.

All right, Nicole, thank you so much.

We appreciate it.

Get out and see Sense and Sensibility more information.

Village players.org.

All right.

We'll be right back to close out this Thursday edition of the 419.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by CTE presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We had a good time chatting about our toledo.com community calendar, and Matt learned why it's driven by Tata a lot of the month, a lot of unveiling today.

Yeah.

There you go.

This is the first time I've been, listening.

We should do a show.

Like, I would love to do a show again.

It's been.

I would love to teach since high school.

But I like I miss it.

I don't have the time for it.

Sure, but we should do a show together.

I would love we do do a show.

I would do it there on the roof.

Yeah.

You keep mentioning.

Is that your favorite?

I was I in my senior year of high school.

That was in high school.

You performed or you directed or I was Golda.

That's the that's the only reason I brought it up.

So that.

So we would actually tell the story.

Yeah.

No, but I just love it.

I've always loved it.

You were singing them?

No no no no.

Was there a number in that?

That was your favorite?

You perform?

Do you love me?

It's a song that she sings with you.

It's like a funny.

Okay.

All right.

Do you know how frequently do you sing it?

In the shower or car or.

We're never hung it up.

Delightful.

Delightful gal.

Yes.

Yeah.

This was great.

All the way.

Starting with John.

He brings such good information to us.

And, certainly Sam and Nicole just.

It's it's lovely to to have chats with us all.

Well, I mean, we're we're building the plane as we're flying it.

Right?

So I also liked, you know, kind of John's kind of look ahead to say, here's some big events you might want to put on your calendar.

Certainly, it's great to get a look at if you're not sure what to do this weekend, here's the top five things you can do.

But if you're really looking to to make some plans, here's some big things that are coming up.

And so I like that.

I like that look so well.

Well done on that one.

I'm giving you the credit for that.

Not just thank you.

You did the actual work, right.

And then Sam Boyle, I'm always fascinated by people that, when faced with unthinkable tragedy, flip to say, how can I help other people?

Yeah.

And.

Incredible.

I've known her family for a long time.

This is my first time, actually meeting her.

Okay.

But really, really incredible.

So, And then, of course, Nicole was village players was just fun.

Yeah.

So love it.

All right.

If you missed any part of the show, there's three opportunities every day for you to enjoy at 7 a.m.

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Thanks to Tata for supporting the toledo.com community calendar and helping get you to all of the great events that are happening around the region.

What, what are we?

Tomorrow's show is your surprise guest.

You want to give us a quick hint?

It's a woman.

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Nailed it.

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