When “Behavior” Was Something More: A Mother’s Journey Through Autism and Catatonia

October 16, 2026

I am a nurse.

For more than three decades, I have cared for people in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I learned to recognize changes from a patient’s baseline and to speak up when something didn’t look right.

But when it was my son, I wasn’t standing at the bedside as a nurse.

I was standing there as his mom.

My son is autistic and has an intellectual disability. I know him the way only a mother can: his personality, his routines, the way he communicates. So when things began changing in the fall of 2025, I knew something was wrong.

Where did my son go?

At times, he would freeze, stare, become rigid or hold his body in unusual positions. At other times, the picture was completely different: extreme agitation, aggression and self-injury. His communication changed. Things he had always been able to do, he suddenly couldn’t.

There were moments when he seemed out of reach, as if a wall had gone up between us and I couldn’t find the door.

As a parent, I was frightened. As a nurse, I kept thinking about baseline.

This wasn’t my son’s baseline.

When behavior doesn’t tell the whole story

When a child has autism or an intellectual disability, it’s easy to explain every new change as part of the disability.

It’s his autism.

It’s behavior.

It’s a phase.

But sometimes behavior is a sign of something medical.

My son was eventually diagnosed with catatonia, a medical condition that affects movement, responsiveness, speech and behavior. Up to 1 in 10 autistic people may experience it at some point, often in the teen or young adult years. Yet it’s missed again and again, because the signs look like autism to people who don’t know the difference.

Catatonia wasn’t misconduct. It wasn’t my son deciding to be difficult. It was a medical condition taking away his ability to function, and it couldn’t be reasoned away, redirected away or disciplined away.

Finding the right team

He had several hospital stays during the fall of 2025. Each time, I hoped someone would have answers. But local medical professionals weren’t able to help, and I watched my son continue to struggle while we searched for someone who could.

Eventually, he was admitted to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, where he stayed from November 2025 into April 2026. For the first time, we were with a team who saw what I saw. They knew what catatonia was, and they knew how to treat it.

On December 10, 2025, my son began electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT.

I won’t pretend those three letters are easy to hear as a mother. ECT still carries decades of fear and stigma. But for severe catatonia, it is a well-established and often life-saving treatment, especially when medication alone isn’t enough.

His treatment didn’t end with one or two sessions. It continued after he left the hospital, and by August 2026 he had received about 43 ECT treatments.

That number still feels almost impossible to write. Behind every one of those treatments is a mother who hoped for more moments of the boy she knew.

To the parent awake at 2 a.m.

Somewhere tonight, a parent is watching their child change and can’t get anyone to listen. Maybe that’s you.

You don’t have to know the diagnosis to know something is wrong. You only have to say:

“This isn’t my child’s baseline.”

Watch for changes in movement, freezing or staring; speech and communication; sleep, eating or drinking; skills your child used to have; and new agitation or self-injury.

Write down what you see and when. Take short videos of your child walking, eating and going through daily routines, because doctors see a snapshot and you see the whole story. Ask directly: “Could this be catatonia?” And if help isn’t available close to home, keep looking. It may be worth the drive.

Get help right away if your child stops eating or drinking, has a fever or sudden changes in heart rate or breathing, or becomes severely agitated or self-injurious. Catatonia can become a medical emergency.

Where to find help

Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus: experienced in diagnosing and treating catatonia, including ECT for children and teens.
The Catatonia Foundation (thecatatoniafoundation.org, 248-579-8829): information for families and resources to share with your child’s doctor.
SPACES: a webinar series on catatonia in autism for families and caregivers.
Other parents: families who have walked this road will understand without you having to explain.

We are still walking this road

My son’s story isn’t over. There have been hospital stays, treatments, setbacks and progress.

But there have also been moments when I see him coming back through the illness: pieces of his personality, his expressions, the things that make him who he is.

Those moments keep me going.

Sometimes the most important thing a parent brings into a room full of professionals isn’t a degree or a perfect explanation. It’s knowing your child well enough to say, “This is not my child’s baseline. Please keep looking.”

I started this story by saying I am a nurse. That’s still true. But on this road, I am first and always his mom. And I will always fight for him to be seen and understood.

Jodi Peacock is a registered nurse and mother in Toledo.

Ohio will lose an estimated $38M to administer SNAP. Metro areas will be hardest hit

The Ohio Newsroom

October 12, 2026

Screenshot 2026-10-12 at 1.49.25 PM — Karen Kasler/ Statehouse News Bureau

By Kendall Crawford The Ohio Newsroom

(Published September 30, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT)

The federal government will pay less to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs run starting on Thursday.

Historically, SNAP administrative costs have been shared by the federal government and the state. But, under the Trump administration’s HR1, or “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the portion the federal government covers will go down.

On Oct. 1, the federal government will cover 25% of administrative costs, rather than 50%.

Around 1.4 million Ohioans are enrolled in the program that provides low-income people monthly funds for groceries.

Ohio is estimated to have an immediate loss of around $38 million. Those funds are distributed to county Jobs and Family Services departments, which manage SNAP locally.

Metro areas face largest gaps

To prepare for these losses, the Ohio legislature budgeted a bit more for administrative needs, allocating around $12.5 million in March to offset counties’ losses.

In the past, the state used the number of caseloads and county poverty levels to determine how much each county gets. This time around, the legislature decided to split the funds equally among counties. Each county will receive $226,486, or – if a county lost less than that – the amount it takes to fill their gap.

Under this system, 59 counties’ budgets will be made whole again. But many of the state’s metro counties, which have bigger SNAP caseloads, will have to replace millions of dollars.

Cuyahoga County will face the largest gap, losing an estimated $7 million.

Republican lawmakers argued that these metro counties have enough in their general funds to step in, while rural counties did not.

“The bill treats all counties equally,” Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said on the House floor in March. “These largest counties we are clutching pearls over have the money.”

Potential impact

In Lucas County, where Toledo is, administrators say they are grappling with around a $2.5 million loss.

JFS Director Breda Osburn said it won’t be easy to replace, since the county’s funding is siloed and inflexible. Osburn and her staff don’t have the ability to move funding from programs that may be utilized less and funnel it to SNAP, which has around 69,000 participants.

A graphic from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, published in February of 2026, shows the percent of households receiving SNAP benefits. — Health Policy Institute of Ohio

Lucas County commissioners have stepped up to fill the gap this year. But, with rising costs, Osburn said that likely won’t be sustainable in the long-term.

She said the only significant way to shrink the JFS budget would be to cut staff.

“That would create much longer turnaround times for eligibility processing. It would create much longer wait times on the phones,” Osburn said. “It would also very likely drive up errors in the determination of benefit amounts.”

More changes ahead

The administrative cost shift is just one of the changes to SNAP under HR1. There are also added work requirements and changes to eligibility based on immigration status.

Starting next year, the state will be evaluated on its error rate, which tracks when a household receives either an overpayment or an underpayment of $57 or more.

If Ohio has an error rate of 6% or higher, then the state will have to pay a portion of the SNAP benefits themselves, which have typically been completely covered by the federal government.

In 2024, the state’s error rate was around 9%. Last year, the state’s error rate was just over 6%. If it were to remain at that level next year, Ohio would have to pay for 5% of benefit costs, which could add up to around $161 million, according to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio.

Osburn said the state reviews only a small fraction of cases to calculate the error rate, which she believes it’s not representative of the accuracy of the program.

“It’s really luck of the draw,” she said.

The Ohio Newsroom is a nonprofit dedicated to serving Ohio’s news deserts. Learn more at ohionewsroom.org.

Anthony Guinn Jr. “Leads the Way” with Community-Centered Youth Program

Julie Hoeflinger

October 12, 2026

Anthony 1 (1) — Anthony Guinn Jr. started the Lead the Way Initiative in 2013.

There are programs defined by what they offer, and then there are programs shaped around the exceptional people who lead them. Anthony Guinn Jr.’s Lead the Way Initiative belongs to the latter.

Established in 2013, the Lead the Way initiative is a youth program focusing on giving young people a safe and supportive environment where they can build confidence, learn accountability, develop leadership skills and be exposed to opportunities beyond what they may encounter in their everyday lives. It’s a behavioral and mental health after-school and summer program that works predominantly with youth aged from 5 to 17 but extends up to age 21.

The program runs program runs Monday through Thursday from around 3:30-7pm.

“Lead the Way bridges the gap between families who might have a single mom or single dad because it’s take a village to raise to raise a kid,” shares Anthony Guinn Jr., the director of the program.

Guinn, 41, was born and raised in Toledo, so this mission is very near to him. “How I grew up in the urban community was basically just being a follower, just adapting to my environment,” Guinn explained. “There was a lot of gang violence and drug dealing, so, with my background, I just don’t like to see young men and young women going down that path.”

The program runs Monday through Thursday from around 3:30-7pm, but it doesn’t stop there. They provide one-on-one sessions seven days a week with kids in crisis, also offering support to the parents in that time, too. The programs provides other services such as transportation to and from school, feeding the families as needed, and teaching young people basic hygiene.

“I want to say 85% of our clients live in urban communities, so if I see an area over there that needs to be picked up, that’d be something that we do,” Guinn explained.

As far as engaging the larger community, Guinn and his staff have sponsored three football teams for the mid-city football league. Additionally, they feed the homeless once a month and carry out regular trash pick ups. “I also try to teach the kids during service work, I just let them see that [they could end up on the streets] at some point if they keep down the route they’re keep going and not caring and thinking life is a game.”

The Lead the Way Initiative doesn’t seem to have a definitive list of services offered; rather, Guinn and his team seem to constantly adapt their time and efforts to the needs of the community.

“My company is really just a support system, not only for the youth but also the parents the household. We have vouchers if there’s a hard time in life and the family needs some assistance, we can come up with a little money to help out,” shared Guinn. “That’s what Lead the Way is about. We’re not giving up, and my slogan is no child left behind.”

RELATED: Save The Music Partnership Expands Music Opportunities Across Toledo Public Schools

Guinn highlighted the importance of giving kids access to the one-on-one sessions every day of the week, explaining that some of the young people might be embarrassed or shy participating in group settings, especially the older teenagers. “This isn’t just a program; this is your granny’s house, you know, this is where you go to to feel the love and the warmth, and that’s why we do services seven days a week. We just want to be supportive. The only thing we’re doing is bridging the gap.”

When asked about the impact of the program on the kids, Guinn lit up discussing the privilege of seeing their growth over the past thirteen years.

“Basically, I’ve just seen the growth, and the growth in me, too, not having a school background, just personal experience,” Guinn shared. “So, I actually grew with the kids. I’ve just seen how much opportunity they don’t understand they have. With Lead the Way, we want to give the kids that option, that outlook that you don’t have to sell drugs or kill to get the lifestyle that you want, like the nice cars or the flashy stuff, you can get it the honest way and become a dream chaser.”

Guinn has three children himself—one 22 year-old and a set of twins about to turn twelve—who strongly influence his work.

“When you’ve got your own kids, it’s different. Having a background where my father was absent and now getting to be a great father, I can understand what these kids are going through when they come to the program. And they’re not chasing their dreams because of the lack of support. So, I had to grow and mature and see things differently.”

Guinn’s dream is for community groups to work together for the betterment of the next generation. “My vision has always been that we all come as one,” he shared. “We all come as one with different entities, we’re all under the same umbrella of basically community service mentorship…We all just need to link up and become that chain of change. I envision that, and I send my hands out to every program from TPS schools to private schools, I send my hand out so we all work together to save our future—because these kids are our future.”

Brittani Hamilton, who works alongside Guinn, expressed just how inspirational a leader Guinn has been. “Anthony has dedicated his time to creating positive opportunities for youth in the Toledo community through mentorship, fitness, life skills, career development, and hands-on activities,” she shared. “What makes Anthony’s work special is his ability to connect with young people while providing the structure, encouragement and positive male leadership that many families are looking for in our community.”

The Lead the Way Initiative accepts drop-off donations at 3170 Central Ave. They also accept donations at their main office, 338 North Erie, located on the second floor of the building. You can learn more about the program, its mission, and how to donate at lead-theway.org.

“All we are is we that uncle you don’t have, that you’ve been missing. We are your dad if you don’t have one, your mom if you don’t have one,” Guinn said. “The Lead the Way Youth Initiative is here to stay.”

Fall and Halloween Events in Toledo for Families

Shannon Merryman

October 12, 2026

Fall events

Saturday, Oct. 3

6th Annual Open House

An open house with local rock band 5th ACE, family activities like pumpkin launching and decorating, food trucks, a bounce house, and visits from the fire department and mascot Chipper.

Renewed Outdoors Perrysburg North Location, 11330 Avenue Rd., Perrysburg

Fall Craft Fun!

A fall craft program for kids ages 6-10, where young makers create a seasonal craft to celebrate the autumn season.

Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Rd., Maumee

Glass City Fall Festival

A metroparks fall festival with a community pumpkin patch, canoeing, pumpkin carving and painting, trolley tours, campfire s’mores and a kids’ zone.

Glass City Metropark, 1505 Front St., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 10

47th Annual Oak Harbor Apple Festival

A fall festival with a grand parade, classic car show, 5K run, kids zone, 120-plus vendors, and live entertainment. Free admission.

Downtown Oak Harbor, State Route 163, Oak Harbor

Stevens Gardens Fall Festival

A fall garden festival with hayrides, a corn maze, cow train, corn cannon, games, food trucks, and kids’ activities.

Fall Festival Honoring Our First Responders

A family-focused fall festival celebrating first responders, with trunk-or-treat, carnival games, food trucks, and a chance to meet police, K9 units, and firefighters.

Waterville United Methodist Church, 7115 Waterville Monclova Rd., Waterville

Annual Fall Festival

An indoor fall festival with Candy Bar Bingo, games, dancing, pumpkin pinatas, and a non-gory costume parade where every participant wins.

Maumee United Methodist Church, 405 Sackett St., Maumee

Fall Is for Pumpkins

A kids craft program for ages 6-10, making pumpkins to celebrate the season.

Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania

Sunday, Oct. 11

2026 Applebutter Fest

A beloved local tradition since 1977, the Applebutter Fest offers historical reenactments, artisan crafts, live music, food, and of course, apple butter.

Downtown Grand Rapids, Front St. Grand Rapids

Monday, Oct. 12

Fun Fall Mosaic with Molly Miller

Kids ages 6-10 can create a fall-themed mosaic picture by assembling colorful pieces into an autumn design.

King Road Branch Library, 3900 King Rd., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18

40th Annual Sylvania Fall Festival

The 40th annual community fall festival with a parade, local vendors, food trucks, family activities and entertainment.

Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Pathway Fall Festival

A fall festival and open house featuring food, a costume contest, and community resources.

Pathway, Inc., 505 Hamilton St., Toledo

Thursday, Oct. 22

Fall Fur All Family Night

An autumn evening at the zoo with giant pumpkins, silly magic shows, strolling performers, animal meet-and-greets, and seasonal food and drink.

The Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo

Halloween events around Toledo

Weekly

Ritter Planetarium: “Spooky Space”

A planetarium show connecting cosmic phenomena like black holes and nebulae to Halloween imagery, with spooky-themed visuals and science for ages 6 and up. Each Saturday through Oct. 31.

University of Toledo Ritter Planetarium, 2801 W. Bancroft St., Toledo

Spooky House

A family-friendly haunted-house experience inspired by classic spooky stories, open Friday nights in October at a historic home.

The Cooke/Kuhlman House, 5717 Main St., Sylvania

Haunted Waterville Tours

Guided walking tours exploring Waterville’s haunted history, with local legends, ghost stories, and paranormal tales. Ticketed.

Robbins House Museum, 114 S. River Rd., Waterville

Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3

Octobernight 2026

An evening exploring the historic roots of Halloween through interactive vignettes at an 1817 farmstead, with live music and light refreshments. Ticketed.

Territorial Park, 3815 N. Custer Rd., Monroe, MI

Monday, Oct. 5

Exploding Pumpkins

A Halloween craft session where kids turn pumpkins into erupting volcanoes, combining seasonal decor with a hands-on science twist. Designed for ages 6-10.

Oregon Branch Library, 3340 Dustin Rd., Oregon

Friday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 6

S.O.A.R. Haunted Trail at Maumee Bay State Park

An inclusive haunted trail experience with a half-mile walk through spooky scenes, a sensory-friendly hour, food, games, and a coat and diaper drive to support the community. Ticketed.

Maumee Bay StatePark, 1400 State Park Rd., Oregon

Saturday, Oct. 10

Boo Bash

An after-hours Halloween event at Indian Creek Zoo with 10-plus character meet-and-greets, trick-or-treating, animal visits, a costume contest, and raffle prizes. Ticketed.

Indian Creek Zoo, 2744 Consear Rd., Lambertville, MI

Collectique’s Monster Mash Halloween Spectacular Extravaganza

A family Halloween celebration with trunk-or-treat, a vendor marketplace, costume contests, live music, karaoke, and a chili cook-off. Includes autism awareness activities.

Shoreland Park Shelter House, 5470 Patriot Dr., Toledo

Norf End Trunk or Treat

A trunk-or-treat event open to all ages, with candy, food, and a festive atmosphere; costumes encouraged but not required.

Salem Lutheran Church, 1127 N. Huron St.., Toledo

Our Haunted Lock

Hear the story of Lock 43 North and the mysterious death of lock tender William Bellinger during an outdoor program at the historic lock. Registration is required.

Providence Metropark, 13200 S. River Rd., Grand Rapids

Saturday, Oct. 10 – Saturday, Oct. 31

YesterWays – Eerie Edition

A free drop-in craft session where participants make vintage-style paper Halloween decorations, from lanterns to articulated pieces, guided by museum staff.

Monroe County Museum System, 126 S. Monroe St., Monroe, MI

Sunday, Oct. 11

Spooky Boardwalk

A Halloween boardwalk event with trick-or-treating and an open barn, designed for all ages and abilities.

Sunshine Communities Main Campus, 7223 Maumee Western Rd., Maumee

Trunk Or Treat

A Halloween event for families with a swim session followed by trunk-or-treating in the parking lot.

Goldfish Swim School, 4959 N. Holland Sylvania Rd., Sylvania

CIW Presents – Haunted Havoc ’26

Championship International Wrestling brings Halloween-themed pro wrestling, with WWE and ECW original Tommy Dreamer on the card. Costumes welcome. Ticketed.

The Believe Center, 1 Aurora L. Gonzalez Dr., Toledo

Monday, Oct. 12

Family Pottery: Haunted Wall Hangings

A family pottery class where an adult and child work together to create a haunted house wall hanging with Halloween details, then decorate it with underglazes. Registration is required.

The 577 Foundation, 577 East Front St., Perrysburg

Wednesday, Oct. 14

Halloween Craft Party – Watercolor Spider Web

A spooky watercolor spider web craft party with all supplies provided. For kids ages 6 to 10.

West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave., Toledo

Thursday, Oct. 15

Try It! Spooky Night Climb (ages 8+)

A guided nighttime tree climbing experience in a park, with harness and equipment provided. Registration is required.

Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo

Frankenmonster Craft Party

A spooky craft party where kids and teens can design their own monster using craft supplies. Costumes encouraged.

Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave., Toledo

Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16

Little Boo

Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the Zoo along with additional Halloween activities. Ticketed.

Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo

Friday, Oct. 16 – Saturday, Oct. 24

Garrison Ghost Walk

A guided lantern-lit ghost walk through a historic fort, featuring eerie tales and a glimpse into its haunted past. Ticketed.

Fort Meigs, 29100 W. River Rd.,Perrysburg

Saturday, Oct. 17

Halloween Craft Party

A spooky craft party with all supplies provided. For kids ages 6 to 10.

Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Rd., Maumee

4th Anniversary/Halloween Party

A family Halloween party with a bounce house, crafts, games, costume contest with prizes, and special character guests. Ticketed.

Spin & Splat Art Studio, 2785 W. Central Ave., Toledo

Manahan Fall Festival

A community fall festival with live music, food trucks, family games and a trunk-or-treat path. Sensory resources and accessibility accommodations are part of the setup.

Manahan, 120 S. Holland Sylvania Rd., Toledo

Fox Agency Mayhem Halloween Bash & Trunk or Treat

A free community Halloween bash with decorated trunks, candy, and entertainment.

Northwood Community Recreation Center, 3700 Main St., Northwood

Pumpkin Palooza

A Halloween community event with face painting, carriage rides, a trick-or-treat lane, haunted trail, scarecrow contest, and games.

Ottawa Park, 2205 Kenwood Blvd., Toledo

UToledo Health 4th Annual Trunk or Treat

The fourth annual community trunk-or-treat hosted by UToledo Health, with decorated cars and candy for kids.

Ruppert Health Center (RHC), UToledo Health Medical Campus, 3125 Transverse Dr., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18

Pumpkin Path

Trick or treat around the zoo while enjoying additional fun activities. Ticketed.

The Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo

Sunday, Oct. 18

Oregon Community Candy Crawl

A drive-through Halloween trick-or-treat experience where kids collect candy from local businesses, organizations, churches, and schools.

Christ UMC, 5757 Starr Ave., Oregon

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Lucas DD Trunk or Treat

A free, inclusive trunk-or-treat for all ages, with decorated trunks, costumes, and a welcoming environment for the whole family. No registration needed for attendees.

Lucas County Board of DD Training Center, 1155 Larc Lane, Toledo

Build a Halloween Automaton – with Kool Kat Science

A free STEM class for grades 3 to 6 where kids build a Halloween-themed automaton and learn about cranks and cams. Registration is required.

Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Rd., Toledo

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Halloween Craft Party

A spooky craft party with all supplies provided. For kids ages 6 to 10.

Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Rd., Toledo

Trunk or Treat

A family-friendly trunk-or-treat event with decorated vehicles, candy for kids, and indoor backup in case of bad weather.

Maumee Eagles Aerie 2562, 708 Scott St., Maumee

Friday, Oct. 23

Trick or Treat for Tots

A Halloween event for ages 6 and under with a trick-or-treat parade through the mall, balloon art, a kids comedy show, games, and a costume contest.

Franklin Park Mall, 5001 Monroe St., Toledo

Friday, Oct 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Toledo Ballet presents The Legend of Sleepy Hollow through dance, with choreography by Eric Otto and a score by Jonathan Heck. Ticketed.

The Valentine Theatre, 410 Adams St., Toledo

Friday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 31

Eerie Manor

Family-friendly Halloween tours through 30-plus haunted spaces at the Wildwood Manor House. The first floor suits all ages, while upper floors add mild gore and jump scares. Costumes encouraged.

Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 24

Sundance Drive-In Trunk or Treat

Drive-in Halloween with trunk-or-treating, an inflatable obstacle course, a Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice double feature, and a paintball zombie hay ride. Ticketed.

Sundance Drive-In, 4500 Navarre Ave., Oregon

Free Community Halloween Party, hosted by Children’s Theatre Workshop

A free halloween party for families with costumes, trick-or-treating, crafts, carnival games, and a movie.

Children’s Theatre Workshop, 3106 Lagrange St., Toledo

Halloween Hike

Families can enjoy a Halloween hike at Olander Park, where children in costume collect candy at more than 20 stations throughout the park. Registration is required.

Olander Park, 6390 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania

Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25

Camp Miakonda Halloween Party

A Halloween party with haunted attractions, scare zones, games, a hayride, and trick-or-treating. Rain or shine. Ticketed.

Camp Miakonda, 5600 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo

Boook Bash

A Halloween-themed story celebration for kids 6-10, with games, crafts, and activities inspired by spooky picture books.

Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo

Trunk or Treat at MSC

Family-friendly trunk-or-treat at Midwest Shooting Center with activities, giveaways, and costumes.

Midwest Shooting Center, 7638 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania

Sunday, Oct. 25

UAW Local 12 Women’s Committee Trunk or Treat

A trunk-or-treat event offering Halloween fun for families, with decorated trunks and candy.

UAW Local 12, 2300 Ashland Ave., Toledo

Pumpkin Stomp & Chomp

Animals get Halloween-themed enrichment as they explore pumpkins and other spook-tacular items in their exhibits.

The Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, Toledo

Rossford Halloween Parade

A community Halloween parade through Rossford, offering a festive way to celebrate the season with costumes and local spirit.

Veterans Memorial Park, 300 Hannum Ave., Rossford

Trunk or Treat at Brandywine Country Club

A free trunk-or-treat with decorated car competition, prizes, and plenty of candy for families.

Brandywine Country Club, 6904 Salisbury Rd., Maumee

Impact Toledo’s 5th Annual Trunk Or Treat

A free trunk-or-treat event with decorated cars and treats, celebrating Halloween in a community setting.

Palmetto’s Gift Studios, 2615 W. Bancroft St., Toledo

Monday, Oct. 26

Creepy Crawlies Workshop with Imagination Station

A hands-on bug and worm workshop for kids 6-10, led by Imagination Station, with live observation and a closer look at the ecological value of crawlers. Registration required.

Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania

Watercolor Spiderwebs

Kids 6-10 can learn a little about spiders and paint their own colorful spiderweb in watercolor at this library craft session.

Oregon Branch Library, 3340 Dustin Rd., Oregon

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Uptown Maumee Trick-or-Treat

An annual Uptown trick-or-treat event where families can visit participating businesses in the historic district, with each stop offering a possible trick or treat.

Maumee Uptown Historic District, Conant St., Maumee

Halloween Craft Party

Kids 6-10 can make Halloween-themed crafts with supplies provided at this library party.

Locke Branch Library, 703 Miami St., Toledo

Three Meadows Post Acute Trunk or Treat

A Halloween trunk-or-treat with candy, games, cider, and decorated vehicles.

Three Meadows PA, 10540 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg

St. Paul’s Lutheran Trunk or Treat

A trunk-or-treat in the church parking lot following the Maumee Uptown Business Trick or Treat, with hot dog dinners by donation.

St. Paul’s Lutheran, 112 E. Wayne St., Maumee

Halloween Craft Party

Kids 6-10 can make Halloween-themed crafts with all supplies provided at this library program.

South Branch Library, 1736 Broadway St., Toledo

Trunk or Treat

Family-friendly trunk-or-treat with costumes and candy.

Maumee Bay Brewing Co., 27 Broadway St., Toledo

Wednesday, Oct. 28

Movie and Craft (Hocus Pocus Family/Comedy ‧ 1h 36m)

Kids 6-10 can watch Hocus Pocus and make a pretend mini witch’s broom at this Halloween movie-and-craft program.

West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave., Toledo

Halloween Craft Party

Kids 6-10 can make Halloween-themed crafts with supplies provided at this library program.

Kent Branch Library

3101 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo

Halloween Craft Party

Kids 6-10 can make Halloween-themed crafts with supplies provided at this library program.

Point Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St., Toledo

Inclusive Trunk or Treat

Wood County Board of DD invites families to put on their costumes and enjoy a fun, safe, and sensory-friendly evening of Trunk-or-Treating.

Wood County Board of DD, 1921 Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green

Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Friday, Oct. 30

Halloween Boo! Cruise on The Sandpiper

A family-friendly Halloween cruise with costumes, jokes, and festive fun on the water. Ticketed.

J&M Cruise Lines, 1 Jefferson Ave., Toledo

Thursday, Oct. 29

Exploding Pumpkins

Kids carve small pumpkins and trigger a fizzy, foamy eruption in this Halloween science-meets-craft program. Registration required.

King Road Branch Library, 3900 King Rd.,Toledo

Friday, Oct. 30

Scary Snacks & Scarier Stories! – Movie and Craft (Hocus Pocust Family/Comedy ‧ 1h 36m

A spooky story-writing session for kids and teens, with encouragement to add goosebump-inducing details, followed by a deliberately creepy snack.

Mott Branch Library, 1085 Dorr St., Toledo

A Frightful Delightful Halloween Event

A Halloween trick-or-treat event with costumes, music, and candy.

Walmart Holland – S Mccord Rd, 1355 S. McCord Rd., Holland

Glass City Bait and Tackle

4441 Summit St., #4, Toledo

Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday Oct. 31

Boo on the Boat

Halloween trick-or-treating aboard historic museum ships, with pre-portioned treats and non-food options via Teal Pumpkin Project. Costumes encouraged.

National Museum of the Great Lakes, 1701 Front St., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 31

Exploding Pumpkins

Kids turn pumpkins into volcanoes in this hands-on Halloween science program exploring chemical reactions. Registration required.

Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Rd., Maumee

Caramel Apples and a Movie

Teens ages 11-17 can dip and decorate their own caramel apples while watching a spooky movie in costume.

Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo

Spooky Scavenger Hunt!

A spooky scavenger hunt for kids ages 6-10, leading to candy and treats with Halloween fun along the way.

Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St., Toledo

Halloween Hoopla

The Halloween Hoopla is a FREE family friendly event in downtown Swanton, Ohio presented by Swanton Lions Club.

Downtown Swanton, Main St., Swanton

Nightmare on Front Street

A downtown Halloween street event with vendors, food trucks, local artisans, live music, and ghost stories.

Downtown Fremont, Front St., Fremont

Sunday, Nov. 8

Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Smash

A free fall family event at an animal sanctuary featuring trunk-or-treating, costumes, pumpkin smashing, and visits with rescued farm animals.

Furever Sunny Animal Sanctuary, 5900 N. River Rd., Pemberville

More Trunk-or-Treats

Wednessay, Oct. 14

Stonebridge Church Trunk-or-Treat

605 Glenwood Rd., Rossford

Thursday, Oct. 15

NeighborWorks Toledo

704 2nd St., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 17

The Believe Center Trunk-or-Treat

1 Aurora L Gonzalez Dr., Toledo

Wildwood Enviornmental Academy Trunk-or-Treat

1546 Dartford Rd., Maumee

Tuesday, Oct. 20

Springfield Township Hall Trunk-or-Treat

7617 Angola Rd. Holland

Thursday, Oct. 22

Scott High School Trunk-or-treat

2400 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo

Friday, Oct. 23

Educare Academy #9 Trunk or Treat

1940 W. Laskey Rd., Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 24

Timbers Town Center Trunk-or-Treat

3100 Main St., Maumee

St. Michael Lutheran Church Trunk-or-Treat

5790 W. Temperance Rd., Ottawa Lake

Faith Lutheran Church

2440 South Ave., Toledo

Monroe St. UMC

3613 Monroe St., Toledo

Sunday, Oct. 25

Center for Hope Family Services Trunk-or-Treat

4447 Talmadge Green Rd. H, Toledo

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor

St. Petri Lutheran Church

3120 S Byrne Rd, Toledo

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Bubba’s 33

3534 Secor Rd., Toledo

Friday, Oct. 30

Glass City Bait and Tackle

4441 Summit St., #4, Toledo

Saturday, Oct. 31

South on North Fulton St.

Wauseon

Jamaican Spice Trunk-or-Treat

1540 W. Sylvan

Disney Halloween Backpack Giveaway

Mary Genson

October 8, 2026

Safe Sleep Practices Save Lives

October 8, 2026

By Cailly Howell-McLean, MD, Pediatrician and Medical Director of Ambulatory Services at Nationwide Children’s – Toledo

Welcoming a new baby into the family is an exciting time for everyone, bringing countless special moments along with plenty of questions about how to keep their baby safe and healthy. While there are many decisions parents will make during their baby’s first months, creating a safe sleep environment is one of the most important. October is Safe Sleep Month, making it a great opportunity to learn or revisit the latest recommendations for preventing sleep-related infant deaths and creating the safest possible sleep environment for your baby.

The ABCs of Safe Sleep

One of the easiest ways to remember safe sleep recommendations is to follow the ABCs of safe sleep: Babies should sleep Alone, on their Back and in a Crib.

Alone: Babies should sleep by themselves in their own sleep space with no other people. Room-sharing is recommended but bedsharing is not. Keep pillows, blankets, toys, stuffed animals and all other soft items out of their sleep space. Babies can sleep with a pacifier in the crib, but it should not be attached to them, their clothing or any part of the crib.

Back: Place infants on their backs for sleep. As babies grow, they will eventually learn how to roll from their back to their tummy and back again on their own. Once they can confidently roll over both ways on their own, it’s OK to leave them like that, but always place them on their back initially.

Crib: Use a crib, bassinet or portable play pen with a firm mattress and fitted sheet. Keep the sleep area free of blankets, pillows, crib bumpers, stuffed animals and other loose items. Babies should sleep in a swaddle until they start showing signs of rolling over or attempting to roll over. This milestone can occur at different ages, so parents should begin transitioning out of a swaddle as soon as these signs appear, which may be as early as two months of age.

Following these simple recommendations can help create the safest possible sleep environment and prevent sleep-related infant injuries and deaths.

Understanding Common Safe Sleep Concerns

Many parents worry that babies sleeping on their backs could choke if they spit up. However, healthy babies naturally have reflexes that help protect their airway, making sleeping on their back the safest position.

Another common question is why babies should be placed on their back instead of their stomachs. Research shows that placing a baby on their back for every sleep, including both nighttime and nap time, helps reduce the risk of sudden unexplained infant deaths (SUIDS) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Parents also often wonder whether it’s OK for babies to sleep in swings, bouncers or car seats once they fall asleep. While these products may be useful during awake time or while traveling, they should only be used with appropriate parental supervision and are not indented for routine sleep. If a baby falls asleep in one of these devices, they should be moved to a firm, flat sleep surface, such as a crib or bassinet, as soon as it’s practical and safe to do so.

While becoming a parent comes with many questions, creating a safe sleep environment doesn’t have to be complicated. Following the ABCs of safe sleep and practicing these recommendations for every nap and every night can help create the safest possible sleep environment for your baby.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact your child’s pediatrician.

To schedule an appointment at Franklin Avenue Primary Care Center, call (419) 251-2415. Learn more at NationwideChildrens.org/Franklin-Avenue-Primary-Care.

Nationwide Children’s – Toledo Franklin Avenue Primary Care Center
2213 Franklin Ave. Toledo, OH 43620

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