Christmas holiday festive lighting.

Why Urban Woody Brewery stopped organizing Christmas events in Fostoria – LETTER TO THE EDITOR

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Dear Editor,

With all the disappointment surrounding the city’s tree lighting, it’s worth remembering how these events were handled in previous years. From 2021–2023, the local brewery voluntarily took on the full responsibility of organizing the tree lighting so it would align with the Christmas card display they had launched in 2020 — with little to no assistance from the city.

That small business personally provided:

• The electric for the card display

• The supplies and manpower needed to set it up

• S’mores, fire rings, and fire extinguishers for the tree lighting

• And the ongoing time and effort required to coordinate the everything and maintain the month-long card display All of this was done with very few volunteers.

Despite limited help, the events were extremely well-attended because other local businesses were invited to participate. For example, the tree lightings: Java’s sat up a tent and donated hot cocoa and cider, Dunkin Donuts donated several dozen donuts and students from the high school choir or a local girl scout troop sang carols.

During the 2023 Christmas window display, there were numerous businesses who participated. All of the participants contributed their own time and resources simply to help make Fostoria shine. By the final year of the card display, over 100 businesses and organizations were involved. Once again, many stepped up—donating time, effort, and money to create something special for the community.

A fair question many people have asked is why the owners of The UrbanWoody Brewery eventually stopped organizing these events. From what is understood, their efforts to improve the community were met with negativity and a lack of appreciation, making it unsurprising that they stepped away. Running a small business, working full time jobs, and volunteering countless hours—only to be criticized—would discourage anyone.

It’s easy for people to share ideas about how things “should” be done, or events that should happen – but the follow-through is often lacking. Going forward, the city needs to make a stronger effort to include local businesses in community events, and the community needs to support the businesses and the people behind those businesses who dedicate their time and resources to make community events possible—before we reach a point where there are no events left at all, which is already happening.

Sincerely,

Anonymous

Letter From The Editor – June 22nd, 2025

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Good Evening Readers & Informants,

Over the last six months, several audits have been initiated into private businesses and government entities. To briefly highlight some of the most notable topics, I have been investigating Evergreen Poplar LLC, dba Poplar Village, for potential fair housing and ORC law violations. A large records request and a letter of intent to file for a writ of mandamus have been served to the Ohio Manufactured Housing Program (MHP), a division of the Ohio Department of Commerce. After covering this topic for over six months, WTOL News finally stepped in to interview residents.

I have also been examining the relationship and cash flow between the City of Fostoria and Win Waste Innovations/Sunny Farms Landfill. The most recent financial record shows $84,000 paid to the City of Fostoria for leachate processing.

Additionally, I have been investigating Tiffin West Apartments, managed by Millenia Housing Management, and Willow Creek Apartments. Both locations face ongoing issues with water damage, broken appliances, garbage overflow, high grass, and electrical problems. Willow Creek has a sinkhole in the middle of a walkway. Most recently, multiple community members have requested that I begin recording Village of Arcadia Council Meetings. I have received financial records from one of two public records requests. The second request, for communications, will be retracted, revised, reduced, and resubmitted, specifically targeting council-member, official, and employee email communications. It’s clear that village officials view me as a threat as I probe into the functions of this local government. The dynamics of this small town of over 500 residents differ significantly from Fostoria, with its population of 13,046.

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On a positive note, I recently interviewed the owner of Pop Pop’s Kettle Corn, a new and growing business in Fostoria. I also toured and collected video footage of Custom Glass Solutions, a company that has doubled its workforce in the last year. I am excited to soon launch “Made in Fostoria,” a video series showcasing the heart and backbone of Fostoria’s manufacturing employees. Any company interested in participating may contact us on Facebook or send an email.

Platform Growth:

Over the last two months, The Fostoria Free Press Facebook page has maintained an average of 2.7 million views month over month. The following has been growing at a rate of 100-150 new followers per day. The YouTube following currently stands at 3,650 subscribers, with all monetization criteria nearly met. Based on current trends, I anticipate full monetization of YouTube videos by July 1st.

Introducing ‘Tolento Media Group’

Over 10 years ago, I launched a Web 2 digital marketing agency in Phoenix, AZ, called “Tolento Group Consulting & Design LLC.” Since moving back to Ohio, I switched new client intake to invite or referral only to allow me to focus on my existing clients and manage my time wisely. Today, I am happy to announce the launch of Tolento Media Group, a Web 3 and strategic digital marketing company. My businesses have always been built on three pillars: honesty, trust, and dedication. I educate my clients on the unethical tricks that other companies often use, which frequently place their clients’ success as a low priority. Tolento Media Group offers search engine optimization, website development, social media marketing, Google pay-per-click, and video production services to communities including Fostoria, Findlay, and Tiffin.

Core Values:

  • Unwavering Dedication: Committing fully to delivering in-depth investigative pieces and thought-provoking commentaries.

  • Unyielding Independence: Maintaining autonomy to present the unvarnished truth without external influence.

  • Curiosity: Valuing an inquisitive approach as an essential asset to uncover overlooked or misrepresented stories.

  • Diversity of Perspectives: Embracing a range of viewpoints to foster a meaningful and inclusive community.

  • Engagement: Promoting lively exchanges of ideas, exclusive revelations, and live events to unite individuals across various perspectives.

Forward Looking:

The Fostoria Free Press has emerged as the dominant promotional figure for Fostoria, OH, based on metrics. With a growing following of 9,250, the Free Press holds the leading edge over other organizations such as the Fostoria Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) with a following of 1,900, the Fostoria Community Arts Council with a following of 1,500, and the Fostoria Chamber of Commerce with 2,700. Among these organizations, The Fostoria Free Press is currently the only one actively producing and publishing video content while marketing to outside communities.

As the #MadeInFostoria video series kicks off, I anticipate further growth in platform following. Stay tuned for future in depth coverage of local happenings!

Josh Tolento

Founder/Editor-in-Chief
The Fostoria Free Press
Tolento Media Group