Perrysburg alumni honor former coach with a statue
Al Rava, former Perrysburg High School tennis coach and mentor, made a lasting impact in the community and has been honored with a statue that was unveiled in September at the tennis courts in the City of Perrysburg’s Municipal Park, 945 Elm St., Perrysburg. The statue was created by Perrysburg native and acclaimed sculptor and Rava student Jason Johnston.
Rava started teaching at Perrysburg in 1958. He had many roles in the community, including, as a physical education and math teacher, tennis coach, summer recreation director and as a volunteer at St. Rose Church. Rava passed away in 2022.
“It is because of this profound impact on our lives that this group of former players came forward to honor our coach,” said Chad Pike, Class of 1989. “But we also hope to inspire others to join us in this effort—not only through a permanent tribute at the Park, but through a fund managed by the Perrysburg Schools Foundation that supports the tennis program and other athletic needs. Coach believed in shaping young people into ‘Nice guys, not jerks!’—and we want to keep that spirit alive.”
TAPA rebrands as Live Arts Toledo
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) recently rebranded as Live Arts Toledo. The organization brings together Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Symphony School of Music and Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras.
“Our focus on the live arts represents a strategic direction for how we connect with our community,” explained Marna Ramnath, board chair of Live Arts Toledo, adding “It has sharpened our vision as a board, administration, faculty and as performers. The opening of the Toledo Center for Live Arts earlier this year at 4747 Heatherdowns Blvd, in the former Masonic Temple building, first introduced this concept publicly – not just as [the name of our new] home, but as a powerful commitment to advancing live art forms in that space. Now, by renaming the organization Live Arts Toledo, we are affirming that commitment in everything we do. The live arts will remain the lens through which we engage with our community, now and into the future.”
More information can be found at liveartstoledo.com/our-brand.
Zepf Center supports youth facing mental health crisis
Zepf Center has launched Our Haven, a Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit in
Toledo designed to support children and teens up to age 17 who are facing
a mental health crisis. Available through Zepf’s 24/7 Crisis Care intake, the
program offers short-term stabilization in a safe and supportive environment.
The new unit features individual bedrooms, a study area and calming low-stimulation rooms to promote comfort and recovery. “Our Haven fills a critical care gap in our community,” said Senior Director of Crisis Innovation Courtney
Burrow. “Too often, families and young people in crisis have nowhere to turn.
This program ensures youth get timely, compassionate care close to home,
without the necessity of hospitalization.”
OHVA educator recognized
Karen Bacon (inset), an educator with 15 years of classroom experience, was recently named Best K-12 Teacher in the 2025 Tech Edvocate Awards by the Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA). Bacon is a transition liaison at OHVA. She works with special education students and helps them to plan for their futures. She also created the school’s Cardinal Café—a virtual coffee shop which offers students experience in workforce training.
“The growth and excitement of my students is evident. Students are thriving in the café while learning,” said Bacon. “Additional online zones such as retail and community resources are currently in development, which will allow students to continue expanding their knowledge from the virtual environment to the real world.”
Perrysburg teen’s photo shown in Times Square
On Sept. 6, a photo taken of a Perrysburg teen was shared for all to see in New York City’s Times Square. Selected from over 2,600 entries, James-Thomas Kish, 13, was one of the over 500 photographs chosen for the annual National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) Times Square Video Presentation. The photo of James-Thomas in a superhero costume, was taken by his older brother, Andrew Kish, 21, as part of an art photography project at Bowling Green State University.
“I knew I needed to create a project about my brother when I saw him peering through the slats on our fence into a neighbor’s yard as children played with each other, but never with him,” said Andrew. “The project examines and breaks the stigma that so many in the world have about people with disabilities.”
