Honoring Cassy Dornbusch on her Retirement

Text in the Record

(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Ms. Kaptur of Ohio was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.) Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, this evening, I have real pleasure to send positive messages forward on so many of the phenomenal citizens that I represent here and their life stories. I rise today to celebrate an extraordinary Ohio educator, Cassy Dornbusch, from Ottawa County, Ohio, Congressional District 9. She was honored by the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools as the Outstanding Elementary Teacher for the 2025-2026 School Year, this year. For 33 years, Cassy has been a reading specialist at Benton-Carroll- Salem and a builder of futures. With patience, compassion, and unwavering belief in every child who walks through her door, she has helped students discover how to read, yes, but more importantly, how to believe in themselves. In every word of encouragement, Cassy shapes the confidence, curiosity, and resilience of young minds. Her impact lives on in the voices, dreams, and successes of her students. As she starts her well-earned retirement, we thank Cassy for her dedication, her heart, and the lasting difference she has made in each and every life. Our rocket future is brighter because of her.

Honoring Life of Paul Hollenbeck

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Paul Hollenbeck, an architect, mentor, and rare lifelong community builder. His precious insights to build progress forward in every corner of our city of Toledo is unparalleled. Paul was an astounding, creative, humble citizen, and he embodied the community's hopes in every nook and cranny, and he rarely got attention. He was very, very humble. He didn't look for notoriety. He believed deeply that places matter because people matter. He spent his life proving that belief brick by brick, neighborhood by neighborhood, project by project. He was unrelenting. I knew Paul as a friend and as a doer. He didn't just talk about civic responsibility. He lived it, and he set an example for others to follow. Through his leadership in creating the Toledo Design Collective, his vision for downtown Toledo, or his quiet mentorship of young architects and community leaders, he reimagined the redevelopment of urban spaces and neighborhoods, literally rebuilding America in this new century. He breathed new life into every corner of our community. Paul always demonstrated a focus on the future, and that good design for people is about dignity, access, opportunity, and respect for our built environment. He understood that cities are living places, shaped by generosity and care, and he gave Toledo both.

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Paul brought people together, listened closely, and always asked how we could do better for the next generation. He leaves behind the Design Collective, The Collaborative building, and revitalized neighborhoods. More importantly, he leaves behind a grateful family, grateful friends, a grateful community, and a civic spirit we all can carry forward by innovating and caring for the precious legacy of our built environment in the largest fresh watershed in the entire Great Lakes. Paul Hollenbeck's legacy will live on in the voices, the dreams, and the successes that have happened across our region. I say to his family, to his friends, and to the architects with whom he spent so much of his life: Congratulations. Job well-done, Paul Hollenbeck.

Thanking Teacher Andre Cowell

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, our northwest Ohio region is lucky to have countless educators who guide our young people and help them grow into strong leaders of tomorrow. One of these educators is Andre Cowell. A retired Toledo detective now teaching criminal justice at Washington Local School District's Whitmer High School, he brings 25 years of field experience to the classroom. Mr. Cowell's deep compassion extends to every student he encounters. A former student at Whitmer, Alivia Garcia, who wasn't even a student of Mr. Cowell's, spoke so highly of the impact he made on her life, I thought it was worth sharing here in the Halls of Congress. There are such good people everywhere, and he showed her true kindness in the wake of a difficult time in her life following the passing of her boyfriend. Mr. Cowell welcomed her into his classroom when she needed an ear to listen. He let her know if you ever need anything, I am always here, and you know where to find me. He kept his word and stays in touch with Alivia to this day. Mr. Cowell is a shining example of someone worthy of congressional recognition. The Whitmer community in northwestern Ohio is blessed to have an educator like Andre Cowell. He is a model of a man for others, sharing empathy and integrity for the generations to come.

St. Ursula Academy Visit

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to return to my alma mater, St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio, earlier this year to join the students at a sports rally that featured student-athletes--a lot of them. The event recognized the senior young women for their achievements. Special recognition was lauded on the 22 members of the dance team who, once again, prevailed as State of Ohio champions this year. These Arrows well represented our State and the academy at the UDA National Dance Team Competition earning a silver placement in jazz and a bronze placement in pom. I was able to present a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to Coach Morgan Losby and her team of extraordinary dancers--boy, are they precision dancers--as our community honored their stellar performances this season. Mr. Speaker, please allow me to applaud all these disciplined student-athletes at St. Ursula Academy including those in--get ready-- basketball, gymnastics, swimming and diving, crew, lacrosse, tennis, track and field, soccer, softball, volleyball, and golf, in addition to the dance team. Congratulations to them all for their hard work and perseverance as they enjoy their hard-won plaudits and pursue their passions into the future. We know they will do well.

Canadian Wildfires

Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, a serious issue is facing our continent. Right now, wildfires are ravaging our neighbors in the Canadian Province of Ontario which Ohio adjoins through Lake Erie. Many First Nation communities have been forced to evacuate. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests have burned. However, our northern neighbors were not the only ones who suffered. Just last week, in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, hazardous air quality ranked among the highest levels in our Nation. As winds blew the smoke into northwestern Ohio, our community was at risk for the grave health concerns that accompany wildfire smoke: asthma attacks, heart attacks, and weakened immune systems. Burning forests remind us that environmental challenges like air pollution and wildfires, which will continue to be exacerbated by climate change, do not

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