The sun has set on 2024, but we can’t properly look ahead to 2025 without taking a few moments to look back at some of the most important, memorable or talked about local events and stories of the past year reported in the BG Independent News.
Bowling Green was caught up in the awe of the April 8 Total Eclipse as thousands of people took in the spectacle at Bowling Green State University’s Doyt Perry Stadium event and activities, while others enjoyed the magic of the nearly three-minute marvel from their backyards or nearby parks, such as Simpson Garden Park.
The Black Swamp Arts Festival continued its fantastic run in 2024. The 31st year of the festival offered the same quality of music, art and activities for all ages.
The fourth year for Porchfest welcomed about 800 people on its expanded footprint.
The BG 4×4 Fest, a new event through partnerships with Thayer Family Dealerships, Wood County Fairgrounds, VisitBG and Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers, treated thousands of visitors to truck pulls, food trucks, a giant mud pit, car show and Kids Zone.
Also new last year was the first Bowling Green Restaurant Week, initiated by local restaurant owners Ardy Gonyer and Tim Emmerich. In the first year, the event raised $6,500 for the Brown Bag Food Project.
Bowling Green welcomed home native son Scott Hamilton, who was honored when the Bowling Green Schools Foundation named the Distinguished Alumni Award after him.
Not all good news
Wood County got caught by a ransomware attack in December. After a $1.5 million payment to restore the county government’s computer network, the commissioners planned to beef up its cybersecurity in the 2025 budget.
Eighteen units of an apartment complex operated by Harbor Behavioral Health, were destroyed by fire in June, displacing the residents. The community rallied to support the residents, providing temporary housing and necessary items.
The Cooper Standard Automotive plant sustained damage and two firefighters suffered heat-related injuries in a ”tough to extinguish” fire in August.
The Bowling Green School Board was disappointed when a proposed income tax levy failed on the November ballot even after the provisional ballots were counted. In December, the board voted to place the levy on the ballot again in the spring.
From wildlife and dogs to wind turbines and neighborhoods
Bowling Green City Council left behind roundabout discussions in exchange for debates over wildlife in the city and dog parks. When the resident turkeys became a bit aggressive efforts were tried to trap and relocate them.
Council approved final legislation that restricts residents from feeding deer and turkeys, though the regulations don’t impact the feeding of other wild animals including squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, raccoons, skunks, opossums, muskrats, foxes and coyotes.
Discussions about a proposed dog park at the former Ridge Street School site got a bit ruff. Despite objections by some local residents, city council agreed to lease the land to the Friends of BG Dog Park.
BG loves its local businesses
BG Independent readers continued their interest in and support of local business news, especially when the news involved food.
At the top of the food chain this past year were stories about So and Amal Shaheen returning to carry on the strong tradition of quality food and customer service at South Side 6, and Katie Ladd taking on ownership of Kermit’s (see top 10 story list).
Readers were excited to learn about new owners Greg and Heather Shepherd’s renovations to Trotter’s Tavern and that Jack & Do’s Pizza was coming to town. The news of Dairy Queen Owner Manny Patel opening the Curry Lounge, featuring Indian cuisine next to the Dairy Queen, was met with lots of excitement and has not disappointed since its opening in August.
A hole was left in our collective sweet tooth when The Sweet Stop closed at the end of June. The July closure of the Bowling Green Rite Aid store also surprised regular customers as well as the staff. The future of the Woodland Mall was in the hands of an auction company in September/October, though nothing has been publicly announced since then.
New businesses that were established this year included Harbor Freight and Wildflower and Aesthetics.
Some existing businesses moved to bigger, more expansive locations in 2024. CycleWerks left its longtime downtown building and moved a little further south to the former Family Video store at 816 S. Main St.
Black Swamp Games found its dream storefront in downtown Bowling Green. In the new location, owner Dustin Shammo provides ample space for the gaming community.
Refresh Toys opened its doors at the Woodland Mall in February 2024, offering its kid-themed venue and lots and lots of Legos.
Fascination with historic buildings
Historic buildings are important in Bowling Green. Any time a story appears about historic buildings or homes in the city, readers react positively.
City Council recently established its first official historic district on North Maple Street.
Also, each month, the city’s Historic Preservation Committee recognizes one of the city’s historic buildings. Some of the top buildings cited in 2024 included the Canary House, St. Aloysius Catholic Church and School and a downtown bank building.
The Old Hospital at 416 W. Wooster St. was listed as the historic building of the month in February. It became part of a historic preservation debate in December that will spill over into 2025.
Plenty to be proud of in BG
Many local organizations, businesses and individuals made their city proud last year when they were recognized for significant accomplishments.
The city’s electric division was recognized for sending linemen to help after two hurricanes last year. The city was also named one of the safest college towns, and BGSU earned numerous accolades including the best online MBA program in Ohio, and accreditation of its graduate architecture program and doctor of physical therapy program.
The Wood County Dog Shelter was named the Agency of the Year by the Ohio Dog Warden Association.
At Bowling Green City Schools, the DECA program earned an Ohio Treasurer’s Award for creating a money management class; the middle school and Conneaut Elementary were recognized for progress and student growth; the Model UN team and its members won several awards; and a record amount of scholarships was awarded to seniors.
Sixteen organizations benefited from the BG Community Foundation’s grant program, and the foundation also was instrumental in working with the city to recognize 164 Hometown Heroes.
Dusty Pendleton received an award for being a successful female entrepreneur in a male-dominated industry, and two area women–Roberta Reiter and Pat Rollins–were recognized as Pemberville’s Outstanding Citizens for their efforts to elevate art in the village.
Some special anniversaries
The Bowling Green Country Club and Actress Eva Marie Saint, a BGSU alumna, had something in common this year: They both celebrated their 100th anniversaries.
Local lovebirds Patricia and Ralph Burnside shared their secrets to a successful marriage after 70 years, and in July, Gary Dible, owner of four Biggby Coffee locations in northwest Ohio, offered BG customers specials on iced or brewed coffee at his first BG store location to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
Local leaders, public servants left their legacies in 2024
There were many sad farewells in 2024 to friends and prominent community leaders who made a difference in our lives. Many of the announcements of their passing were acknowledged by hundreds and hundreds of our readers.
Among them were former state legislator and judge Charles Kurfess, March 1 at the age of 94; longtime community cheerleader and moral compass city council person Sandy Rowland, April 17 at the age of 77; Jack Whittaker, a pediatric dentist who was committed to the BG community and youth sports, Aug. 30 at 88 years old; Denise Niese, a longtime advocate for Wood County’s “mature” residents as executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging, Nov. 29 at the age of 63; and Marc Simon, chair of the BGSU political science department and coordinator for BGSU’s peace and conflict studies, who was often an expert voice on international conflicts.
More social media likes, loves, cares, angry face reactions in 2024
Reader engagement in BG Independent stories appeared to increase in 2024, at least according to our Facebook analytics.
Compared to the top 15 stories from 2023 that ranged from 334 likes (Barber Loring Todd’s retirement) to 847 thumbs-up emojis (Culver’s Bowling Green grand opening), the 2024 statistics indicated readers shared their thoughts on Facebook with all the possible reactions from thumbs up and hearts to tears and anger.
The top 10 stories from 2024 that elicited the most reactions on Facebook were:
10.) 315 likes (plus 27 comments and 50 shares): Ziggy Zooms & Call of the Canyon team up
9.) 351 likes (11 comments and 40 shares): Falcons Marching Band’s growth reflects success of BGSU
8.) 371 reactions (23 comments and 262 shares): Community rises to support Milligan family’s life changes
7.) 546 likes (87 comments and 88 shares): Esther Perez-Shroyer collects items for teens who are transitioning out of foster care
6.) 549 likes (56 comments and 50 shares): Amal and So Shaheen return as owners of renovated South Side 6
5.) 624 reactions (71 comments and 94 shares): GOAT Records is family dream
4.) 792 reactions (104 comments and 100 shares): Local Dairy Queen owner to open Curry Lounge
3.) 893 likes (125 comments and 94 shares): Kermit’s new owner Katie Ladd grew up in local restaurant
2.) 1.1k likes (57 comments and 155 shares): Falcons to field 2nd largest marching band in the land
1.) 2.1k likes (146 comments and 191 shares): Scott Hamilton wows fans back in BG
