And now the 419 with Gretchen.

De Bakker might kill them.

And Kevin.

Mullin.

All.

Welcome into the 419.

Powered by GT and presented by Rowe Wealth Management.

I'm Kevin.

Mullen Gretchen de Becker.

Matt Killin.

At what point in the show do we just stop introducing ourselves because we're so famou that everybody just knows, okay.

When we get our first listener?

Yeah.

All right.

Yeah.

All right.

Yeah.

You like that?

Yeah.

She can't commit.

Okay.

Yeah.

I've asked her.

It's a lot.

Every day.

It's a. Lot.

Every day is a lot.

But I did tell her about the app, and I was over there last night and put it on her iPad, so she's going to be on is.

On that iPad.

God knows.

Yeah.

Yeah.

She's just.

The FCC regulatio won't allow you to talk about.

The words of friends.

Yeah.

Whereas with friends, she play bridge online with her sisters.

Okay.

Is that what you.

You build a bridge?

No.

Like birds bridge.

The card game.

I still don't understand wh bridge.

Bridge is the best game.

Don't know.

I mean, you'd.

Say that people your age.

Yeah.

I go to the senior center to play with people in leagues.

Do you win?

No.

I'm mad.

At it.

It is a hard yam.

It is our game.

You have to be smart.

What is that?

Give me the basic concept of like.

So here's what is it compared to?

It's kind of compare.

It could be compared to spades I guess.

Kind of.

But you bid you its partner bridge.

So you're bidding with the perso that's sitting across from you and you're bidding.

There's all these clues here.

It's no trump or spades or hearts or whatever.

And then you, you play whatever.

The bid.

Is.

New to this.

But I can't imagine this is a good content.

And segment two, we'll talk about cricket, you know, and go through all the rules of that.

I think up.

Here is love.

I actually saw an explanation of cricket that made the most sense to that game.

So when we were kids and yo play, like pickle or run down.

Sure.

Like they said, like, basically that's cricket.

Yeah.

Is like, you'r just trying to get covers, many.

Bits of love.

Your clients have been involve and run down to set the scene.

It is the same.

But as far as I know, I used to like kick the can.

So I don't know what you guys are talking about.

Yeah.

You get in and pick a random yeah, that's.

Yeah I used to play villains, Dick.

You guys ever played that sort of fun stuff?

It was an awesome game.

Yeah.

The first intercom in Gretchen's house was really just soup cans and soup cans of string.

Yeah.

Yeah, but.

We had two, so we had dole lines.

Oh, good for your fancy.

Just tie a knot in the middle and see where it goes.

Goodness gracious.

All right, we got an exciting show here for a Tuesday.

You know, I bet.

Well, that's no pressure on.

The guest service doing it that great.

You know, so this is.

So.

Tuesdays are a da that we talk to folks that are, you know, making a difference in our community.

They are change makers, impact makers.

And our friends at Community Foundation are happy to support us i having conversations like this.

I'm excited.

We talked about this when we had somebody on that.

We know we get a chance to know them better in a different way than what we interact.

And so that's certainly going to be the case is one of our guests, Eric Strayer from Destination Toledo will be on at the tail end of the show.

But Todd Norris from Sadr Village will be on, and that is a I don't think it's fair to cal that a hidden gem, but that's a a spot that I don't think, people check out is often enough.

And I'm excited to hear about some of the new things they've got going on.

And what their work.

I think it's also a unique example of something that is part of almost everyone in our region's charters.

Right?

So we've all gone and had a great experience there, but there's a lot of other things that they offer that I don't think people are aware.

Of, but it yeah, but admittedly, when was the last time most of us went back.

Right.

So we've got a we've got a experience and a memory there.

When was the last time we went back to check on it?

So excited to hea about the stuff that's going on.

So we'll do that.

Here on a Tuesday edition of the 419.

Of course, the show is available three different ways, four different ways.

Now, with the new at 7 a.m.

on YouTube, 3 p.m.

on FM 91 in Toledo, Brian Defiance and Lima, and 6 p.m.

on connect channel 30.4.

We're excited to have you with us.

When we come back, we're joined by Buzzy Todd Slaughter, but I don't think he's part of the family.

Todd, the new owner.

This has a right to know where is the solder village?

We'll be right back on the 419.

Support for the 419 comes from which row?

Wealth management, where we understand that your financial path is personal advisory services are offered through Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC, securities offered through Capital Investment Group member Finra and SIPC.

More information at Retro advisors.com.

The 419, powered by GT is made possible in part by supporters like you.

Thank you.

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 School and Rethinking Jails Injustice.

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.

Welcome back into the 419 A Tuesday edition where our friends at Community Foundation, encourage us to talk to great people in the region that are making a difference.

And, we're pleased to be joined by Todd Norris from Sadr Village.

Todd, thanks for being with us.

Thank you for having me.

What so you are new to Sadr Village.

How long have you been there?

Oh, eight months.

And your official title, I think Matt called you the Emperor of Sadr Village.

He did.

So I'm going to get new business cards made.

But until that happens.

President CEO.

Awesome.

What's what were you doing before this?

What brought you to.

Some interesting story?

Yeah.

So I've kind of bounced back and forth between theater and museums most of my career.

And, before this, I was working, as an artistic director of education for a regional theater in Virginia.

But before that, I'd spent, you know, quite a long time in children's museum and living history museum worlds.

And, found an opportunity, sour village that was just too good to pass up and go on there.

Little Todd was in the theater, also in the museums.

Talk to me about, the path to even starting that career.

Yeah, I kind of fell into business by accident.

Until I landed my first gig at museums.

I was an advocate museum goer but I never really thought of it as a career.

But I had, worked as an actor and worked as a director and worked as a, as a, teaching at the university level.

And, was kind of lookin to kind of jumpstart my career.

Again an opportunity presented itself a Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia.

And, I went there as a, as a training specialist who my job was I had a team of colleagues that were incredibly smart, historians.

And I was brought in to sort of help teach presentation skills and theatrical skills really helping the interpreters present the material that they would learn.

And that's kind of when I discovered, museum theater and how, a lot of museums, borrow theatrical techniques for their interpreters, and they're there for staff to really kind of, enhance their, their performances and their interpretations to their audiences.

And from there, it just kind of moved into, managemen and started working with larger and larger groups of people that were doing, interpretation, both in kind of traditional third person museum format, but also first person character work.

And, after doing that for several years, moved to the Chosen Museum of Indianapolis and continued to do that work at a higher level.

And, then went and did the regional theater for a while, and, and now I'm here.

It really makes perfect sense.

I mean when people go to these places that are live and interactive, I mean, it's a show.

It's presenting these characters.

Right?

Tell us before we get too far for people.

If someone if I actually if I do you think within the political climate, they're going to stop calling it Colonial Williamsbur and just call it Williamsburg.

I just came from Frederick.

Yes.

And there's no.

But tell u what people see and experience and the the the time frame that of village is about good.

Yeah.

Sound village is really focusing on the five.

Only.

And some of the decor people in the Welcome Center have, it's, it's really the beginning of, Ohio.

From from the, the priesthoods, with the natives and the newcomers, settling Ohi and the great Black Swamp region all the way through to the 1920s.

This let me ask you potentially an unfair question.

It is not, generally speaking, those that are in theater can't always or don't always traditionally play an excellent role in the operations of things like those.

Are you conceptual thinkers?

Mathematical thinkers usually run the business.

What makes you able to bridge those teeth?

It's funn you ask, because I actually had at one of our staff members asked me when they found out I had a theater background.

They said, we got you're not going to enjoy this because it's not creative and it's not fun.

And I said, well, but.

I also made it.

So I've done right.

But great interview.

You're fired immediately I hope.

Oh no, this is not fun.

But when I when I told them, I said, well, you know, most of what I've done, the last part of m theatrical career was directing.

And as an artistic director you do a lot of administration, I said, but really directing is is solving puzzles and problem solving.

Yeah.

And that's the exact same thing that I'm doing every day with my job now, just in a different way.

But it's the same kind of excitemen when you solve a puzzle and you, find the answer to the solution to a problem that's been bothering you, it's, that same kind of thing.

So it's it's the same kind of energy.

It's just directed toward different products.

We think we have a problem is I want to dissolve right now, too.

But Grayson is going to be here for the rest of the show.

So Video with a. Problem solving skills.

So but we talked about, I mean, Gretchen and I had done for you know, growing up were involved in theater.

And, you know, when my kids were looking at a new school for my kids, that was one of the school we toured that doesn't do music.

They did performing arts.

And I was like, I actually don't need my kid to know how to play the recorder, but I do need them to know how to get up in front of a room and conduct themselves.

And so I think the translation of performing arts and theater to so many other careers is certainly there.

Were you in theater as a kid or where did that, where did that where did that start?

Yeah, my, my, I went I actually grew up in central Ohio, just outside of Columbus in a, in a rural school.

But we didn't have you know, I'm always fascinated that elementary schools today have these really robust performing art programs, theater and concerts and band and and we didn't have, you know, we had music class.

But I was very involve in every performing opportunity I could get through school.

I did my I didn't really participate in community theater or theater camps or anything like that.

Like, I know a lot of kids my age might have done, but, it was all through school and, yeah, as I got older, every, every opportunity I had to perform, I took.

And whether it was singing or playing an instrument or whether it was acting.

And, you have a favorite thing that you performed.

In school move.

About any.

Oh, yeah.

Other than Southern Village, which of course is the top of the roof we've seen right now, right?

Yeah.

Just take that off the board.

Is there something that you just crushed or when you're thinking about your favorite.

Moments, I'll, I'll tell you.

When I was in college, I actually went to University of Findlay and, for a couple of years, we had a barbershop quartet.

And hands down that was the most fun performing I ever got to do, because I was doing it with, my best friend in colleg and a couple other good friends, and we had a great director who was just a lot of fun.

And, that was we couldn't do a show without just, you know, laughing and just having a great time.

So voice part, are you?

Well, then I was tenor.

Now I would be baritone.

Okay, so I've lowered my.

Are you a shower or a car singer or both.

Mostly car.

All right.

But you sing.

Whatever.

Whatever I'm in the mood for so much.

I've.

I'm a huge fan of acapella like groups in the college.

Acapella groups?

Barbershop is great.

My favorite, like, barbershop moments are singing songs that don't belong as barbershop songs.

Is there was there one of those that was in your repertoire?

We never performed it, though.

Our director was working on an arrangement of, Drop it like it's hot now.

So not quite.

It was, it was also some.

It before that.

Yeah.

It was a Herb Alpert.

If the Herb Alpert song, about a little Spanish flea, the.

Da da da da da da da da da da da da da da.

Da da.

And she never got to the point where she was happy with it.

We rehearsed it a lot, but she never foun that she liked the arrangement.

But that was probably the least barbershop song we ever worked on.

Yeah, yeah That's great.

Mom.

Or dancing?

It was mom.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Cool.

What made, if you know, some of the history, what made the solder company, the solder corporation develop solder village?

Yeah.

And what is the relationship now between the.

That's such a great question because I think a lot of people aren't clear on that.

So it wasn't the, the, the business that created it.

It was the founder, Eri Souder.

And, we always try to help people understand we share a founder, but we're totally separate.

We don't get any kind of ongoing support from from solder, woodworkin or anything like that, you know?

So assemble your furniture one piece at a time.

Or we go out and just carve it from a from our colonel.

Right?

Yes.

Yeah.

Right.

But he, he was very concerned that and this is, you know, the mid 70s, he was very concerned that kids were not learning how things came to be made anymore.

And he was concerned that with all the automation that was even happening in the 70s, that kids thought you just push the button.

And then out came a product.

And so he really wanted to, help kids and families and everybody really kind of lear how things actually were created and how things were made.

And he had a great, love of, acquiring things that had, you know, significance in that respect.

So he would he would, he started off by just acquiring buildings.

Old buildings and bringing the to what became Center Village, and then having crafts an trades done in those buildings so that kids and families could come and actually see.

How do you actually make a broom from scratch?

How do you make, how you weave fabric from, from scratch?

How do you create, iron products from scratch?

And so that's kind of was the genesis.

And it was because I, he had a strong background i woodworking and creating things.

And so he really that was so important to him.

So that was the genesis of the, of our village.

And then it's just kind of grown and grown and grown over the 50 years.

We're celebrating our 50th birthday this year, all year long.

That's a big deal.

Awesome.

What what are some of the parts of the celebration?

What are you guys doing to celebrate?

Gosh, all year long, we just launched the brand new, totally revamped website.

So encourage people to check that out.

It's our village.org and you'll see on our events page there are just dozens and dozens and dozens.

One thing I encourage people to check out is, part of the 250th America celebration is America Goes to the movies.

And so, excuse me, Ohio goes to the movies.

And so every county in Ohio is, has sites that are showing films that have an Ohio connection.

And we're actually showing, the sound of Music because the actor who portrayed the Baroness, Captain von Trapp fianc in the early part of the film, she was from Ohio.

She was the evil person in that movie.

I love it.

And, so we're showing that movie, it's free of charge, and you can check out the date and time on our website.

But, that's one thing.

I'll have those to the movies, and then we, this the the weekend of June 13t and 14th is our actual official, anniversary date.

And so we've got big picnic plans and big, we're going to have fun.

Yeah, we've got a concert series, and it's all kinds of thing throughout the year.

50 years.

We were, talking a before we came on about this being part of our childhood.

Any idea how many kids have come through?

Oh, my gosh.

I mean it has to be tens of thousands.

Oh, I'd say probably over over 50 years.

Far more than that.

I'd say hundreds of thousands.

And even at two years, you didn't have to take a shot of me.

Hey, you know.

That's not you're.

You're getting as good as you can.

So I got I got here.

For somehow I appreciate that the balance there.

That is not the math expert on the.

Show or any actual.

Real.

Well.

Yeah, but I mean, did hundreds of thousands.

Yes.

Right.

That, and it has to feel good.

And, and probably to some degree pressure to, to be part of not only that heritage but carrying it into the next 5000 years.

I think about the celebration of this year is about getting it here but what's tomorrow look like?

It's not about.

You know, what tomorrow looks like getting the message out about what we have to as many people as possible.

We really want those day trippers and those regional people who are looking for things like this to do, to to know that we're here, you know, we w we use that phrase hidden gem.

And we're at a point now where we don't want to be hidden anymore, right We want to be front and center.

And, we're using the 50th, our 50th birthday celebration to kind of launch that idea and help people understand that we're not just a living history museum, although we certainly are.

We're, a destination.

You know, we've got a hotel and a restaurant, a bakery and a campground and a wetlands trail and a banquet facility, several banquet facilities.

So we really want people to understand the depth and breadt of everything we have to offer.

And help them understand wh they want to come and come back.

You know, we often get that.

Oh, yeah, I was there on my second grade field trip or my fourth grade field trip, and the other day, no sense.

Right?

So we really want people to understand there's a lot of great reasons to keep coming back.

I also think, of where is Cider Village located?

Archbold, Ohio.

You know, that it is actually a nice drive.

It's very nice.

I would rather drive to Cider Village back and forth seven time than driving to Columbus, Ohio.

One so they have a relativel new turnpike exit in Archibald.

That's that's also makes it easy.

Right.

And you an expert on the Turnpike?

I, Remember a different show.

Please, pleas take the reins back here at the.

At the risk of going backwards, one of the things that I, I just think always interests me is when you've go somebody who's not from the area that, you know, takes a job in the area, and is attracte to an opportunity in the area, it's just sort of a kind of a reminder to us about the great things we have.

And I think we take them for granted.

What what was it abou Cider Village that have you had?

You say, you know, I'm moving to Archbold, Ohio, and this is what I want to do.

What?

I mean, did you were you familiar with it before or.

You know, it's funny.

Like I said, I went to school at the University of Findlay, and I never had never heard of Souder Village until I was I was looking for my next opportunity.

And then as.

We bring on this racy barbershop quartet.

Exactly right.

Yes.

Right.

So when I was looking around and I discovered this opportunity, I thought, you know, I've, I've worked at living history sites, and I've, I've been to love living histor sites and traditional museums, but I'd never found a place that had this combination of opportunities, because it really is much more than just a living history.

It's it's overseeing a hotel.

It's overseeing a restaurant at a bakery and a campground.

We've got this amazing wetlands trail that a lot of people don't know about.

That's absolutely gorgeous.

It is.

And it was one of my favorite parts of the of our complex and just the opportunity to.

And once I started to meet people, everybody was so friendly and so welcoming and so committed to spreading the message.

And I thought, and these are people that I want to spend more time with.

So that's really, I think, what it was more than anything, it's just the, the enthusiasm, for the message and the, the, the, the opportunities.

This, I know closing out the first segment here, with Todd Norris, but, Todd, there's one thing, there has to be something that oversees the authenticity and accuracy o what you're executing on site.

Right.

It is a live, vibrant place, and yo bring a lot of excitement to it, but you want to make sure you're honoring the historical period.

Who is the overseer who's in charge of making sure that, like, that broom is an accurate?

There's that's important.

Is that those.

Key tennis shoes are not.

Yeah.

Right.

Right.

We have a director of historic operations.

Her name is Sherry and she is phenomenal.

Sure.

And as she generally unpleasant I mean, because somebody has to be the rule bearer.

She's not that it's actually kind of, she goes against against type in that respect.

She's very she's very fun.

But she's also very dedicate to making sure that, you know, things look right, things, are being shared correctly and all those sort of things.

And she, she runs a great team.

And, I really enjoy every opportunity I have to work with her and her team.

Yeah.

We're talking with Todd Norris, the president and CEO of Sadr Village celebrating 50 years this year.

When we come back, I want to talk about what the next 50 looks like.

And I'm also really interested in what innovation looks like in a historical, historical place.

You do that conversatio on the other side of the break, the 419, powered by ZTE.

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Welcome back into the 419 powered by GTE e. We're talking with Todd Norris, president and CEO of Sadr Village.

50 years this year.

I'm going to be celebrating the actual 50th anniversary in June of 2026.

Somebody, you know, again, we talked about, you know, they go and they do, you know, third grade, fourth grade field trip and probably haven't been back since.

If somebody walked in the doors today, what would they experience?

What would they see?

Yeah.

Well, they are going to well, as they walk in today, they're not going to experience a whole lot.

We open, May 22nd or, excuse me, April 29th of the season.

Okay.

That story, bill does.

But, when that happens, they're going to experience is they're they're going to experience a chance to, see a variety of crafts and trades, that were, you know, commonly done in the home, you know, brooms and, and weaving and tin smithing, the tin smithing.

Just it's fascinating to me.

And a lot of trades and crafts, they're going to have an opportunity to take a walk through time, starting our natives and newcomers and looking at early, early settlements.

Our pioneer settlement which looks at, you know, 1820s through, you know, 1880s or so and then getting into our rural and urban 1920s Main Street areas, they're really going to see everything from pre statehood all the way through up to about 1928, 1929.

But there's more than that.

There's also a museum that has incredible exhibits where they can learn a lot more in-depth about some of the things that we talk about out in the historic village.

There are, tradespeople working, glass blowers and pottery and, blacksmithing.

That is, modern, but, you know, advanced techniques that are historic.

And then they also have the opportunity we have a great, quilting tradition in northwest Ohio.

And so we've got an amazing quilt shop.

Yeah.

I've learned so much about quilting, just from casual conversations with not only the quilt store staff, but also we have volunteers that actually are in the Welcome Center lobby that are working on quilts for people to to engage in conversation with.

And, so.

Yeah, so interesting to me, the, the scheduling of employees, because you talk about the museum, you talk about the conference center, you talk about the catering and the restaurants.

I mean, if someone's like in the morning in their costume, that's accurate, doing tin working and then they're catering the dinner that night, or these ar these totally separate people.

How do you they.

Are usually.

The staff.

They are.

Yeah, they are usually separate.

But occasionall there is some overlap like that.

Yes.

So, you know, we have full time year round staff.

We have part time year round staff and the a part time seasonal staff.

And one of the things that we would love for people to understan is, you know, there's an idea, I think, understandably, that we closed down in the winter, which is not really accurate.

I would say more.

We just kind of shift our focus because although the village itself closes, after, after Halloween, we do special events all year round, including in the winter time.

So.

So even if the village is closed to the general public on a weekly basis, there are still opportunities for people to come ou and experience specific things.

But to the staffing.

So we have, we've go great managers that work really, really hard to schedul all these different components.

But, the folks that are in the historic village, May through October and November, you know, that a lot of them, not all of them, but a lot of them are, have retired from other careers or are home for the summe and from their college, studies.

And so we have a lot of of beginning career and late caree folks in the historic village.

We've got a farm team that, a farm staf that are just amazing, that work with the animals and the the, the crops.

And of course, they're yea round because your animals are, you know, you've got to take care of those no matter what.

But that's.

Debatable.

I mean, not to them.

If you if you want them to be there when you open.

That's right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And, you know, that's one of those things where it doesn't matter what the weather is, it doesn't matter how much serves on the roads.

Those are the the farms and those are we the farm staff have got to be there.

And they're incredibly dedicated and they're just fun people to talk with.

I love hanging out with them.

But then you've got, you know, the hotel staff and they're working on much more traditional hotel staffing model.

The people in the restaurant, same thing in the bakery.

You know, we've got bakers have comin in the middle of the night to, to get things ready for the day and.

Tell me what your favorite dish is.

You're welcome for saving it.

From Kevin's question, tell me your favorite dish in the restaurant is.

Oh, my gosh, there is, I have a. There is a one ton chicken taco.

There is a special and it's not on the buffet, but it's a special that they offer about once a week or so.

And it's really, really good that.

There is a tater tot dish that can be burned.

What's that mean.

Where you have to go and it is delicious and.

Right, right.

That's the.

Yeah, it is really good.

I mean, we're not sponsored by the heart administrator.

Heart health we have, bu it is delightful and delicious.

It's just as you're describing all the different things that are that are happening there and all the different businesse in and of themselves that have unique needs and challenges, like you're the presiden and CEO of all of them, right?

So you're running a hotel, you're running a restaurant, you're running a museum.

A farm.

Yeah.

Like that's that doesn't make any sense.

You like.

That?

Just like tactically.

Yeah Those are very separate things.

Oh.

How do you like, how do you, from a day to day manage those different hats and being ready for the challenges of, you know, I mean, even from a HR standpoint, hiring for those different roles?

I'll take all of it.

I have got an incredible team.

They've got a couple different titles.

Some of that sometimes we call it the core team, sometime we call them the leadership team or the executive team, but it's the same group o people and it's five directors, HR business operations, marketing development historic operations and finance.

And they are the ones who help m keep up to date on everything.

They're the ones that make sure I know everything that I need to know going on.

And they're the ones that do the, the they're the ones that are moving the piece around to make everything fit, and they're just phenomenal.

We're talking with Todd Norris, with Sutter Village.

Todd, what does innovation look like for for a historic village innovation looks like how do we continue to tell the same story that we tell in new ways that attract new audiences while still being, appealing to our existing audiences?

And that's utilizing technology in appropriate ways.

It's getting our marketin message out to, to, to larger, and farther away groups of people.

It is making sure that folks understand the depth and breadt of everything we have to offer.

You know it.

This isn't something that we we we're trying to to eliminate this.

But, you know, it's possible some people could come and stay with us for a weekend of the campsite and never even realize all the other things that we have to offer.

So we're trying to fix that and make sure that folks do understand the depth and breadth of everything we have.

But that's what innovation looks like for us, is, is getting that message out to more and more people.

If, have you ever thought about running for mayor of sort of village there?

No.

Like not being in charge of it.

I mean, once you've been the emperor, why would you go back to.

It's a step backwards.

Yeah, yeah.

No.

And that the work you do get your groove now is good, you know.

Now the budget's less.

Now the whole thing is.

A much like it is.

When you think about, I guess, how far the people travel to come to Sadr Village, it has to be quite a large that.

It can't be.

And we kno we get people from out of state.

We have, some incredible quilting retreats and road cookin retreats and woodcarving, shows.

And we know people will come from.

Oh, gosh, Minnesota, farther away, the East Coast.

And, so we're always we're always looking to encourage that.

And increase that, because the farther we get the message out, the better.

Why do you think it's important for people to know about handmade quilts and glassblowing and taking care of animals and farming?

Why?

Why is it important for for her people to know that, that is something.

Yeah.

You know I think it's important because and this is this is my personal opinion.

This is.

I'm not.

I'm speaking for myself now.

Not, not as a as a representative of our village, but I think that it helps ground us.

It helps us remember that we're part of something bigger.

It helps us remember how we got to where we are now, both in the positive and the challenging ways.

And I think that it is a chance for people to remember back that helps connect us to our own personal histories and our family histories and just our history as a as a state, as a region, as a, as a country.

And I think it's just a great chance for people to to take a breath and step away and just kind of pause and reflect.

And that can mean different things for different people.

But to me, I think that that's that's critical.

And in an age where I feel like we're more and more go, go, go, go, go, we need those chances to paus and reflect and take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

And I think that we'r really helpful in that respect.

When you when you hit a milestone like 50 years, I think it's it's hard not to start to envision like, well, where are we going to be 50 years from now?

Going back to, you know you've got the history of, hey, the early days look like this.

This is where we started, this is where we've come.

What what are the conversations that you and the core team are having about what the next 50 years look like for Sadr Village?

Well, it's great.

It's a great question.

And we have a lot of conversations right now about making sure that we are preserving and being great stewards of what we already have, because a lot of people and this is this is one of the things that, to me makes living history really fun and unique is our buildings.

Like any museum, a museum has artifacts and we got lots of little artifacts.

But our buildings are also our artifacts.

These buildings that were transporte from, Indiana and Pennsylvania and other parts of Ohio and relocated here, that are historic artifacts that require preservation and stabilization and log cabins were not built with the intention of them being permanent structures.

They were intended to last fo between 20 to 40 years, maybe, and now we're trying to keep them intact and in good shape for hundreds of years.

Right.

And that's really expensive.

And so finding the funding and the development and the fundraising opportunities to help us preserve and conserve what we already have so that we can keep them for that next 50 and next hundred years is really, really crucial.

And, you know, we can talk about expanding and trying to cover more territory in terms of of Ohio's development of the great black swamps development.

But I think my primary concer is to make sure that the things we have stick around for another 50, 200 years so that more and more audiences can come in and appreciate.

That is incredibly important and well-articulated.

May ask, outside of the fence line, all three of us have, you know, day jobs and we do benchmarking.

I don't know if that's with the appropriate to perio a busy want to work, Gretchen.

But, Todd, if you gone someplace else in the country or even, in whatever trade magazine is appropriate to ask that represents a bit of a benchmark to you or a place that, that you think is really doing something like this?

Well, I think that there are there are regional, there are other livin history sites regionally that, you know, we would put ourselves in the same category in and you know, every living histor site is a little bit different.

They have their own little focus.

But something like Conner Prairie in, just outside of Indianapolis, I think it's in Noblesville, and Greenfield Village and, things like that, you know, comparing it to, you know, my from my first museum gig at Colonial Williamsburg is a little bit, A little bit challenging just because Colonial Williamsburg is so large and there's so huge.

Yeah.

So it may not really be a fair comparison, but places like Higher Prairie, Greenfield Village, we might feel a little more, in comparison to.

Okay.

Yeah, we're talking abou Todd Norris from Sadr Village.

We're going to switch gears here in a minute, but I'm curious, somebod is going to visit Sadr Village for the first time in years.

You know, you've you've got the inside access.

You know, where you know all the hidden gems are located.

And what's the thing that they got to go see and they can't miss?

Gosh, they want to find out where our food wave programs are that day Our historic cooking programs.

Oh, neat.

Yeah, because there's going to be one of 3 or 4 houses where they're going to be cooking something, and there's nothing that creates a memory stronger than getting the sense of smell involved.

And once they smell what's cooking and they smell the fire going, they can have a great conversatio about about the how that, food connects to the history.

And that's a great conversation starter.

Awesome I love it.

All right, Todd, it's now tim to play Gretchen's wacky quiz.

I'm realizing that, like, in whatever prep we do with our guests, we never tell them that it's called Gretchen's.

Where we grade nine quiz.

And then there.

But it is Gretchen's wacky quiz.

I ask you for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen is going to ask you for your favorit or best thing about the region, and then that's going to work with you to describe the area in nine words.

Exactly nine words.

Not all right, not 11.

We'll get it is a number in between 30.

Not having nine.

Listeners All right.

Question number one.

What is your favorite word in another language for a. Remember FCC regulation?

Yeah, that' exactly what I'm thinking about.

Let's see, my favorite word in another language would probably be.

Poppy.

All right.

Okay, poppy, I want I want follow up questions but that's not part of the game.

What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up today, Was it.

Why?

Yeah, it was, it was, I did it.

I got up at this hour.

Yeah, it was a real accomplishment when I, when I, when I thre the covers off, I did it.

Yeah.

I'm not.

Late.

I'm awake.

Which animal best represents your personality?

Tortoise.

Okay.

Have you ever eaten a whole pizza by yourself?

Oh, yes.

This morning.

What was underneath the covers?

I. I did it, yeah.

Like, worry about getting up.

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

You know what?

I. And I say this with my, valued colleague next to me, the Toledo Metroparks.

Nice.

Okay.

How you've always been my favorite.

I don' care if you have Eric gone.

No.

Okay.

All right.

We're doing this together.

Nice words.

Describe the region.

Let's do it.

All right.

Friendly.

I'm in.

Good start.

Delicious.

Yes.

Scenic.

Scenic.

Freaking.

Yep.

Cold.

It's freaking cool.

That's cool.

Gonna love it.

Yeah.

So forgive me for my regrets.

Sadr village.

I' giving you two to.

For sort of.

Philip, you got two more?

There.

I said scenic, Beautiful.

Beautiful.

And becoming.

Becoming love become, Oh, yeah.

Great.

You have mentioned food on several occasions.

This has nothing to do with Sadr Village.

But tell me something that a snack or nosh or dining place that's your favorite in our area?

Oh, my gosh, is there.

A place that you go to or something.

That you, there is guilty.

Pleasure?

Actually, there is it there?

There's a couple of them, and one is, Charlie's, I think Charlie's.

It's the great Mediterranean Diner.

Yeah.

It's righ by consign it.

Yes.

On central.

Yeah.

This is.

Great.

What do you do in gem?

Oh, my gosh.

I get to meet different every single time because the food, they're good.

And the staff are so friendly.

Great.

Great place.

Madison.

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

If people want more information on Sadr Village, where can they find it?

Sadr village.org.

Awesome.

Thank you so much.

We come back, we're joined by Eric Strayer from Destination Toledo.

It's Restaurant Week Toledo this week.

And so he' going to give us some great ways to get out and enjoy Restaurant Week with the Restaurant Week Toledo Passport.

That and more on the 419.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to the 419.

The wheels have officially fallen off.

Eric please save us from ourselves.

We're joined now by Eric Strayer from Destination Toledo.

Eric.

Hey.

Thanks for having me.

Usually people say welcome, so I'll have that.

Welcome.

Perfect.

Thanks for being here.

Glad to be one of, a former one of Toledo's most eligible bachelors.

Is that true?

Yeah.

Actually, I wanted when I was, like, fun and in my 20s.

And then I happened to be single for a bit last year, and I was like to push.

Back on winning it then.

And I was like, well, let me be.

I'd be the go.

If I won it twice, I wouldn't be out of the first two time winner.

But I didn't win and I ended u with a great partner anyway, so always win.

I really did win.

I, I won the whole thin when it really came down to it.

But yes, I did win it in the when I was in my 20s.

I forget the year so long ago.

What was your strategy to win it?

You know, it.

Was desperate to stay.

Single, the entire counts.

And it was, I was I was running all that.

So I was like, skinny and looked a lot better than I do now.

And also show I was funny, I don't know, I was funny, none of the other guys were.

They were all like, very serious.

And I was fun in that.

It worked wonders in that moment.

So I've never found humor to help.

Like, let's just you were.

Just in Toledo What's your role at that stage?

So I am a marketing specialist there.

So I, I kind of touch a lot o different projects over there.

I'm more s our mission is kind of two lane.

We have people who really focus on that leisure side of like, hey, we have Sadr Village, we have the zoo, we have, you know, all these great things for people to come and enjoy.

But there's kind of the the secret thing that we that we try.

To get you to read his hair.

We'll get there, okay?

We'll get there.

You get shot at a lot.

You get so desperate.

I know he's so meaty.

Yeah, sorry.

Just working on your behalf, but.

There's, You know.

Half of our team also works on.

We have, like, a sales sid that works to bring conventions.

And, you know, sports events, things like that, that are.

Oh, you.

Ohio has like a tow truck association.

We'll bring in they do a you know they can okay.

Yeah.

Yeah There's an association for it.

We're signed it okay.

But yeah I think somebod who hears somebody on the show, they said there's an associate maybe Kelly said there's an association of associations.

So association.

Yes.

So there's all these kind o like kind of niche things that.

I do want to deposit.

Just for a second.

And Eric and I, follow schools are friends.

So.

We use the word lightly.

But you have what it is.

It is insincere, so you don't have to promote top of it.

Hey, did you say.

I was saying that your name.

Right.

It is pronounced Eric.

But I think a lot of people think that people just call and these conventions just come.

This is tireless work.

Yeah, it's a lot of relationship building.

There's a lot of things that when we have our team go out to these trade shows and these events that don't bear fruit for years, because, you know, when it comes to like 2026, we're not booking anything for this year because this stuff has already been booked in 22 23 people are doing the stuff.

Yeah.

Yes, that's a great point.

Oh how how long is you are truly three years ahead of time, if you will.

I mean you not you personally because I do know you, but I mean others on the team are.

Very honest years in advance.

Yeah, I gues it depends on the on the group.

But like a lot of these three i kind of a good average number.

Some, some kind of just do it maybe one year in advance, especially smaller things that don't have as many as many needs.

But yeah, we start with it.

These trade shows and things, they build a relationship with somebody and it's a constant churn of how can we help you?

What can we do to serve?

And.

Payola does, the Tow Truck Associatio need to come here for example, you know, what are you looking for?

I guess most of these place are really looking for comfort and service.

I mean, sometimes there is levels of sponsorship or or needs and wants of things they want.

Hey, can we get a break on on this?

But for the most part, they want to go where their business is wanted.

And, you know, and and we talked about shipbuilding.

You said it well and there's a lot of stuff too with bigger cities.

Is that some of something like, you know, this would just continue to use this tow truck.

They maybe it's only like 15 people somewhere like Columbus.

That might not mean a whole lot to them.

We're here.

We're like, yeah, let's get you into the Glass City center and roll out, you know, our best venue and really kind of roll out the red carpet for some of the stuff because we are, you know, being a mid-sized city, we want to we want to invite as many people as we can to come experience.

We're talking with Eric Strayer with Destination Toledo.

Eric, it is Restaurant Week this week and is, kicked off yesterday.

Yeah.

Talk to me about, you guys have got a Restaurant Week passport that you've been working on.

Is that so?

The digital passport.

If you go to, Restaurant Week toledo.com, it's right on the website to download.

And that's going to b your passport to get all them.

See who all the participating restaurants are.

Take a look at their menu.

So all the restaurants do some sort of prefix menu, whether it's a course dinner or doing specials.

So taking a peek at those menu, seeing what you want to eat, and then it's nice to any.

Restaurants again, it's staggering.

It's staggering.

And the fact that I didn't want you to remember the exact numbers speaks volumes about my preparation.

But this it's a lot.

It's more than 40.

Yeah.

So get around 50 this year.

It keeps growing getting more and more delicious.

And I feel like there' kind of a level of competition with the restaurants.

Like, everyone wants to kind of whether it was at the kickoff party with the bite that were presented, which was.

Great.

Or, you know, or the menus themselves, they want to showcase what they do best and what they offer.

And so there's a lot of delicious options.

And with the pass, you can digitally check in at these places.

As well as your favorite.

My favorite buddy, I look registry chef Erica always comes correct.

She had this wonderful past dish with asparagus and stuff.

Everything was great, but like there was just a level of elevation that Eric always brings.

So that was my favorite.

But everything I was not lef wanting, I was very, very full for getting out of there right now.

It keeps you in the restaurant vegan again.

You have a small but mighty team that does all these things.

What makes you uniquely good at talking about and serving our region?

It's easy to talk abou because our team is passionate about what we have here.

I know that sometimes people in our community are kind of our own worst enemies.

And, you know, we deal with so many people who come from out of town that are like, oh, wow, downtown.

So walkable, downtown, so clean.

Oh, wow.

This venue is great.

I didn't realize there was so much good food.

These metro parks are crazy.

The art museum is like one of the best museums I've ever been to.

So, you know, we kind of our, punching bag sometimes, but we get people who are literally, you know, courier travelers, some of these people who ar in these different industries, they're go into a lot of different cities over the course of a year.

And they're leaving Toledo and going, this was great.

I'm going to tell people this was great.

And so for us, it's like we we kind of know what we have.

And so, you know, it's easy to sell that stuff because we have a great convention center in the city center.

There's an adjoined hotel with the Hiltons.

That's wonderful.

We've got all these things close by.

So when these people come in from a conference, they can walk to multiple metro parks.

They can take a short bus ride or a long walk to the art museum.

It's easy to get to the the pillars that we want them to see.

And so and it all great partners too with you know, a group wants a special experience.

Hey, we want to do an offsite dinner is, you know, we take them to go fee the drafts at the Malawi Center.

And that is what is our that's a and maybe we don't slam this, home enough.

The one of the best things about a town the size is that if you have an opportunity or a need the group wants, we are one phone call away from each other.

All right so we talked about even running at the Lucas County, rec center to get, your jockey box out like you are one buddy or one call away from, hey, can you help this park situation?

And that is certainly something to celebrate.

I talk about access in Toledo all the time.

Right.

And so and proximity.

And so, you know, m my brother works up in Detroit.

He was telling me that, you know, when he's wants to entertain clients, they'll go to, you know, a Tigers game and they'll get a suite at the Tigers game.

And I joke with him, I'm like, dude, for what you pay to do that and the travel time and all that, you could literally have them come to your office, put him in a limo driving down to Toledo have them sitting on the field.

Honestly for the right amount of money, one of your guys could probably pitch the ninth inning.

Like an even when the best restaurants in our region, it was a half a block away at registry.

That's right.

Tiger Village, I don't know, I don't know all the pricing.

Are there another talking?

Well, the way you feed them.

They'd be really real cheap.

Yeah.

All right, so let's get back to the restaurant.

We are at passport.

Okay.

You were.

You were talking about The passport before we derailed.

But what?

Why?

So the passport gives people you know, access to the menus.

But why would somebody.

Why check in?

Why check in i because you have an opportunity to redeem those check ins With certain tiers of check ins.

You can redeem those for chances to enter, to win restaurant gift cards.

The purchasing.

Yeah.

The participating restaurants have donated gift cards for the restaurants.

And so it's kind of a thank you for supporting that, cause we have all sorts of giveaways that happen at the end of the week.

So it's important to know if you win, not if when you sign up for the passage that, that yo make sure at the end of the week to redeem those rewards, to get your chance to win.

But yeah.

So you'r you're supporting a great cause in leadership Toledo.

You're supporting local dining and you're giving a chance to get some free meals.

Like that's a prett that's a pretty good trifecta.

We had Anna Tony and Daniell Johnson from Leadership Trio on.

And they were terrible.

Last.

Night.

I don't believe that.

You know, they were they were great.

But my question for them and I'm curious for you, what does Restaurant Week look like for you?

A leisurely stroll for me.

Well, the hard part is done.

Now that the pass is on.

It's been audited and they don' seem to be any mistakes on it.

Now I get to just eat and that's I'm I'm very good at that.

So for now for this week I, this is this is gravy train for me.

I'm just out dining out and having fun and meeting my friends out for meals.

And, is it.

Gravy train, you favorite restaurant in the area?

The gravy.

Train.

Yeah.

That's so good.

It'd be such a good name for a food truck.

Yeah, yeah.

See?

Sorry.

Yeah, I've.

I've had to be very judicious.

It's like I want to eat every place, but that obviously isn't isn't practical.

But we're going to get Clint.

Nice to be an American.

4 to 6 restaurants is maybe a few too many.

You can do it.

I you're right, I can.

You can and you should.

Just while we've got you out for the first time.

I also know that you are a budding, comic as well.

Do you do some stand up comedy?

Yeah, I kind of off and on done comedy over the years and sort of the most recent incarnation is sort of a product of having a work position that's a little more public facing.

I used to be like a little bit more online and like, you know, in the blade forums and kind of like jabbering at people, and that's bad manners now.

So I'll be right.

Signage up if I want to, like, blow some steam off, I have some, you know, unpopular opinions that might not be, you know, for television for my under the jurisdiction of my destination Toled had I kind of have an avenue to.

I used to do it under the name Rob Siegel.

Yeah.

I just I actually want to know.

I want to know what he does now that the blade is turned off.

Comments I just felt like like.

He's it's like when somebody retires and they don't have a purpose.

He's probably withering away somewhere because he.

That is his only reason to let.

Ten years.

Ago, he's sending courie pigeons out with this.

Message.

I'm sure he's donating his time at a soup kitchen.

Some are doing good.

Is you say courier pigeons.

To send messages.

Isn't English a carrier pigeon?

Curry pigeon is the best dish.

And gravy train your restaurant like Eric.

An Irish is all right.

Food truck.

That's a reverse train.

Eric, let's have some fun.

It's now time to play origins.

Wacky quiz.

Not that wacky.

I hate you.

I'm asking for rapid fire questions.

Gretchen's asking you for your favorite thing in or about Toledo and then Matt's going to work.

You describe the region in exactly nine words.

Below the streamer.

All right.

All right, here we go for rapid fire questions.

What's the worst sound in the world to you?

Why is it Matt's voice.

That nailed it?

I know it's, like, cliche, but literally like, nails on a chalkboard that it make the hair on your arm stand up.

It's gross.

I hate.

That.

Okay.

What article of clothing do you now really regret wearing?

Oh, no regrets, man.

I'm trying to think here I everything I love, all my stuf I've got, like, Dale Earnhardt t shirts and, you know, all sorts of fun, funny gear.

So I'm always dressed for these, like a really casual look.

I know that's an easy way to brag.

Yeah.

He pulls.

Off, I happened.

There, I got some dealer.

Are you a NASCAR fan?

Yeah.

I was going.

Yeah.

Ironically, yeah.

Yeah.

You said he wasn't a bachelor.

Trump does a beard stop to her man.

What what what have you done that you most proud of?

Purchasing a Dale Earnhardt t shirt.

It's kind of it's not like, a specific thing, but I like on a macro level, I'm really proud of the work I do with with Destination Toledo is awesome.

Is being, being a good steward for our, our area, whether that's entertaining these groups that come in and showing them a good time and really like always being positive and finding the good in what we have going on here is something that I'm really proud of, and I'm glad to work for an organization that that that's the mission.

It makes it really easy to go to work every day.

When your mission i to celebrate something that you you know, it's not like I'm selling widgets or doing something that's really soulless.

Like, I really do love Toledo, and it's nice to be able to to share that with other people.

Who we're good at it.

Like if you had your own boat, what would you name it?

Oh boy.

Dale junior had to do it for Dale.

It's.

That's my lower back tattoo.

Yeah.

Raise hell praise Dale Lansing.

Carly are going to love that.

I spent, like, a quarte of my time with destination two.

They're talking about.

Dale.

Earnhardt Jr.

Was it just done this interview or is it actually in the office?

Two no, no, I keep it pretty copacetic at that.

We're at someone.

I mean.

What is your number one most favorite or what you consider to be the best thing about Toledo or the region?

I work downtown, I live downtown, I love downtown, I love I love when it's busy down there and there's a hustle and bustle.

I like.

When it's quiet down there.

I can walk to my favorite, you know, whether that's First Base lounge or mystery and go and like, see my favorite restaurant staff's and get a pizza and all that.

I just love being abl to kind of hoof it everywhere.

And, you know, it's funny, I live at the Commodore Perry and for me, it's not a big deal to like, walk to attic or something.

And we're so used to driving sometimes, you know, like you walked all the way to Attica.

It's like if you lived in Chicago or New York, it's like, yeah, we're going to to this place.

It's like 12 blocks away or whatever.

And so to me, like everything kind of in that footprint is fair game for me to walk to.

I love having a walkable downtown.

Very nice.

All right.

Nice things, brother.

Union Stewart.

Nine things.

All right.

No words or things.

Let's do it.

Number one, downtown.

Downtown.

Boom.

We'll make that two words.

Creative.

I really love everyone's got, like, a hobby of some kin or some creative thing they do, whether they write or they paint or they crochet or they play five ones that like a thing they do.

So I love that, let's see here.

Diverse.

I love the diversity.

You're halfway home.

Is, You like the weather a little bit?

I know you're like.

Yeah, of course it.

I say delicious.

We have so many.

I mean, we're here for Restaurant Week.

There's so many varieties of food.

Pretty much like any nationality you could want a lot is is.

A wide selection of food.

We're it to you for that.

You got to love.

Let's see here.

If somebody comes in for the weekend with the one thing you wan to make sure you take taken to.

I think Toledo Art Museum is.

Yeah that really moves me every time.

There's always something new to see.

I love it.

Okay.

One last brother.

Close, strong.

Last but not least, Pride Toledo.

Pride is.

I'm hopeful everyone can, you know, find things that they love about here and celebrate those because we have a lot to.

Celebrate the whole city Metroparks.

Thank you.

And thank you.

Eric Strayer with Destination Toledo.

Eric one of the things I love about you is, is you wear your heart on your sleeve and it is all Toledo, all the time and we appreciate the work that you're doing to promote our region.

And certainly, excited to, check out the Restaurant Week Toledo passport.

If people have not gotten that yet, where do they find the passport.

Restaurant or.

Well, leadership.

Toledo's website has link to.

But Restaurant Week toledo.com has and that's kind of all the information, all the menus, the digital passport sign up incredibly important.

And that runs through Saturday.

So so you have plenty of tim to enjoy a lot of restaurants.

Awesome, Eric.

Love it.

All right.

When we come back, we'll wrap up this Tuesday edition of the 419 every day when you laugh with us you learned with us a neighbor.

We made sure.

Your childhood with special.

Memories that could only be provided by PBS.

And for generations, we've given you programs that made a difference.

Programs that entertain.

Inform and inspire.

And today is no different.

This is public media in Toledo.

It's where you belong.

Introducing the Local Fred, a community news series uniting voices and storytellers from across the region in partnership with La Prensa, the Toledo Free Press, the Sojourner Truth, Toled Public Schools, and Rethinking Jails and Justice.

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 GTV.

Welcome back into the 419 to wrap up a Tuesday edition.

We had an exciting conversation today.

A chance to go back in time and, check in with the new presiden and CEO of Sadr Village, Norris.

We appreciate him being on Eric Strayer with Destination Toledo.

Yes.

Talking about the.

Restoration.

You okay?

Man 100% right to make sure.

You know the Restaurant Week Toledo passport to enjoy all of th great restaurants in the area.

Restaurant week toledo.com to get all of that is going to lose it.

It's the 419 powered by ZTE and presented by Retro Wealth Management.

We'll see you back tomorrow for Wellness Wednesday.

And the 419.

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