FOSTORIA EVENT: In The Axe is turning up the heat this weekend with a community Chili Cook-Off on Saturday
In The Axe is turning up the heat this weekend with a community Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, January 24, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at their Fostoria venue.
Event details
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The Chili Cook-Off runs 3 p.m.–6 p.m. on January 24, with competitors asked to have their chili at In The Axe by 3 p.m. sharp.
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Entry is free for anyone who wants to compete, making it easy for home cooks and chili pros alike to get involved.
Cost for tasters
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For visitors who just want to sample the creations, it’s $5 for a bowl and access to unlimited chili from all contestants.
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That same $5 also lets attendees cast a vote for their favorite recipe in the People’s Choice portion of the contest.
How winners are chosen
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Two overall winners will split 100% of the prize money collected, with one winner chosen by In The Axe judges and one crowned People’s Choice winner.
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Additional prizes and bragging rights are on the line, giving local cooks extra incentive to bring their best recipes.
Why it’s a big community draw
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The event offers an affordable afternoon out with food, friendly competition, and a chance to support a local business that regularly hosts community activities.
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With free entry for cooks and low-cost tasting for visitors, the Chili Cook-Off is designed as an accessible gathering where neighbors can warm up in the middle of winter and celebrate Fostoria’s culinary creativity.
FOSTORIA | Spaghetti Dinner & Euchre Night to Keep Fostoria’s Free Meals Flowing
A Heaping Plate of Community: Spaghetti Dinner and Euchre Tournament to Support High Street UMC Free Meal Program
Fostoria residents are getting the chance to enjoy a hot meal, a friendly card game, and the satisfaction of helping neighbors in need—all in one evening. A Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser & Bid Euchre Tournament will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, with proceeds benefiting the free community drive‑through dinner ministry at High Street United Methodist Church.
Event details
The fundraiser will take place at the Fostoria Masonic Lodge, 113 E. Tiffin St., in downtown Fostoria.
Dinner will be served from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., with an all‑you‑can‑eat menu featuring spaghetti, garlic bread and dessert for $10 per person, with carry‑out available for those who prefer to take their meal home.
After dinner, the evening shifts into card‑playing mode with a Bid Euchre Tournament beginning at 7:00 p.m. The entry fee is $10 buy‑in per player for seven rounds of play, and organizers emphasize that both seasoned euchre players and newcomers are welcome.
Supporting a free‑meal lifeline
High Street United Methodist Church operates a free community dinner program, regularly offering hot meals at no cost to anyone who comes through the line.
As food costs and demand have risen in recent years, fundraisers like this one help the church cover ingredients, packaging and other expenses that keep the drive‑through dinners going for local families who rely on them.
The recent Review Times coverage highlighted how the congregation and volunteers have watched both need and costs climb since the pandemic, even as they work to maintain the frequency and quality of meals.
Money raised through the spaghetti dinner and euchre tournament will go directly toward sustaining that outreach, helping ensure the church can continue serving free meals well into 2026.
How the community can take part
Organizers are encouraging residents to support the effort in whatever way fits their schedule:
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Come for dinner only,
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Stay for both dinner and the euchre tournament, or
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Pick up carry‑out meals to share with family or shut‑in neighbors.
For many in Fostoria, it is an opportunity not only to eat and play cards, but also to reconnect with friends, support a long‑running local ministry, and reinforce the sense of community that underpins small‑town life.
FOSTORIA Redmen Take Home Another Win – FHS is home again on Friday vs Otsego. The JV game starts at 5:30pm.
FOSTORIA | A very good night on the basketball court for the Redmen JV and Varsity boys basketball teams. Both teams picked up victories over Toledo Waite at home.
Congratulations to FHS Head Coach Cody Johnson who picked up his first career varsity coaching victory.
FHS is home again on Friday vs Otsego. The JV game starts at 5:30pm.
Foster Block: Breathing New Life Into a Fostoria Landmark – Fostoria Free Press
FOSTORIA | In the heart of downtown Fostoria, the historic Foster Block has long been one of the city’s most recognizable commercial buildings, anchoring a key intersection and reflecting the community’s early growth as an industrial and rail hub.
Over the decades, the block has housed a revolving lineup of small businesses, offices, and storefronts, serving as a backdrop to everyday life for generations of local residents.
The vision behind the Foster Block project
Recently, the Foster Block received a major boost when Metzger Brecheisen Company (MBCO) was brought in to refresh the exterior and begin cleaning up the interior, the first step in a broader plan to stabilize and reuse the building.
The goal of the project is not just cosmetic; it is about preserving original character while making the space viable for modern tenants, helping downtown Fostoria remain active and attractive for new investment.
Metzger Brecheisen Company’s role
Metzger Brecheisen Company is a regional design–build and construction firm that specializes in commercial projects, adaptive reuse, and community‑focused renovations across northwest Ohio.
For the Foster Block, their team has focused on repairing and revitalizing historic façades, addressing long‑deferred maintenance, and cleaning out the interior so future build‑outs can be planned safely and efficiently.
Why projects like Foster Block matter
Reviving a building like Foster Block keeps an existing structure in service, which can be more sustainable than demolition and new construction while preserving the architectural details that give a downtown its identity.
These kinds of projects often serve as catalysts, encouraging nearby property owners to invest in their own storefronts and helping create the kind of walkable, visually appealing main street that attracts shops, residents, and visitors.
Looking ahead for downtown Fostoria
As Metzger Brecheisen Company’s build schedule fills up for the new year, the Foster Block stands out as a showcase of what careful restoration and local craftsmanship can do for a community landmark.
With the exterior renewed and the inside prepared for future use, the project lays the groundwork for new businesses and community activity in one of Fostoria’s most historic blocks, turning a once‑tired structure into a renewed asset for the city’s future.
