The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is partnering with the Findlay Family YMCA to sponsor admission to Riverside Pool throughout closing weekend.

The event, dubbed “Last Weekend on Us,” will take place on Saturday, August 13th and Sunday, August 14th.

The cost of entry for anyone attending will be covered by The Community Foundation.

Attendance may be limited for safety reasons, depending on the turnout.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Findlay Family YMCA for this special closing weekend opportunity,” said Dr. Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.

“We often hear from community members that there is a shortage of affordable community activities. Partnering with the Y for Last Weekend On Us is a step toward bridging the gap.”

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, currently celebrating 30 years of community impact, has awarded over $70 million dollars in grants in the area since it was officially formed in 1992.

Along with the Findlay Family YMCA, the Foundation supports nonprofits of all types in Hancock County through grantmaking, organizational strengthening and more.

“We are incredibly thankful for the Community Foundation sponsoring Last Weekend On Us at Riverside,” YMCA CEO, Stephanie Parsons, said.

“This is what it is all about, two cause driven organizations coming together to build a stronger community.”

The Findlay Family YMCA has been in operation in Findlay since 1888.

While it does operate as a fitness center and childcare facility, the organization relies on funding from community partnerships and donors to provide opportunities for community members through the Open Doors program, Y on the Fly, and other valuable programs throughout the year.

In 2010, the Y joined the City of Findlay in the management and operations of Riverside Pool.

In honor of their exhibit, Findlay Rocks! 1960s Garage Bands, The Hancock Historical Museum will be spending an evening celebrating the decade.

The museum is inviting people to join them for a free outdoor movie in their parking lot at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay on Saturday, August 13th. (rain date August 27)

“Bring your lawn chairs and we’ll provide the popcorn. We’ll have cars and music from the era, too!”

The parking lot will closed to vehicles, and visitors are encouraged to park on Sandusky Street or in nearby public lots.

Guests should bring their own lawn chairs. Vintage cars from the era will be on site.

The museum will be showing “American Graffiti,” the 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by George Lucas, produced by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford and many more.

Set in Modesto, California, in 1962, the film is a study of the cruising and early rock ‘n’ roll cultures popular among Lucas’ age group at the time.

Through a series of vignettes, it tells the story of a group of teenagers and their adventures over the course of a night.

The movie will begin at 8:45.

Legislation named for an Ohio Army National Guard soldier has been signed into law by President Biden.

The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act provides medical care for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.

The law establishes that nearly two-dozen respiratory illnesses and cancers are traceable to smoke from military burn pits used for waste disposal.

The Pickerington, Ohio soldier served as a combat medic in Kosovo and Iraq before passing away from lung cancer in 2020.

Flag City BalloonFest is coming up this weekend in Findlay.

It will be held on August 12th, 13th and 14th at Emory Adams Park.

BalloonFest’s Kellie Bibler says there will be 50 balloons participating this year and there will be five special shapes.

As Kellie mentioned in the audio above, BalloonFest is a family-friendly event that features food vendors, live music, Glow Encounter, a kids zone with inflatables and games, a petting zoo and much more. See the full schedule by clicking  here.

There will also be balloon and helicopter rides, weather permitting.

Friday night is Veterans Night and Veterans can stop by the Veterans Tent for food and watch the event from a private viewing area.

There will also be fireworks on Friday night.

Click here for the Flag City BalloonFest website and click here for their Facebook page.

Below is video from a few years ago when WFIN’s Matt Demczyk went up on Friday morning.

You can safely get rid of expired or unused medications this weekend during a medication collection event at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The Center for Medication Management will be holding a Medication Take Back Day on Saturday, August 13th from 9 a.m. to noon.

The medication collection will take place as a drive-through drop-off at the Center for Diagnostic Studies building (CDS) at Blanchard Valley Hospital.

The CDS building is located on the corner of Pearl Street and South Main Street in Findlay.

This collection drive is in addition to the usual fall and spring collection drives.

All medications will be accepted.

Anyone with a question can call 419-429-7002.

The West Ohio Food Bank will be holding three food distributions in Hancock County this week.

One will be held on Wednesday from 11 to 1 (or until food is distributed) at the Church of Christ in McComb at 400 Ackerly Street.

The other two will be held on Saturday in Findlay.

One will be at the University of Findlay from 1:30 to 3 at 300 Davis Street, and the other will be at First Presbyterian Church at 2330 South Main Street in Findlay from 8:30 to 10.

After postponing in 2020, The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation will once again be hosting Community Conversations, a dialogue with members of the community.

The Foundation previously hosted Community Conversations in collaboration with United Way of Hancock County in 2017.

“In 2017, we heard from more than 1,000 Hancock County residents and we’re hoping to build off of that in 2022,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.

“The community identified five priority areas: housing, mental health/substance use, transportation, safety and workforce/financial stability. In this round of conversations, we want to confirm or add to those priorities and discuss what residents think can and should be done with each. These conversations are critical to our mission of improving the quality of life for all in the community, I look forward to hearing from as much of Hancock County as possible.”

Treece was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss Community Conversations.

Community Conversations is a listening effort made up of 60–90-minute group discussions. The same questions are asked at every conversation, the data is compiled and grouped to determine the highest-ranking responses. The results are reported back to the community, shared with local leaders and used to guide Foundation funding.

Conversations will take place August 9-15 and October 10-14, 2022. Community Organizers will assist the Foundation in scheduling conversations throughout Hancock County.

Facilitators will meet with small groups to ask pre-determined questions and record what is discussed.

People are invited to attend of the conversations in their home community in August, or join a different community based on their schedule.

Arcadia – Thursday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Arlington – Wednesday, August 10 at 6 p.m.
Findlay – Monday, August 15 at 5:30 p.m.
Jenera – Saturday, August 20 at 8:30 a.m.
Mt. Blanchard – Wednesday, August 10 at 6 p.m.
Mt. Cory – Tuesday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Rawson – Thursday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Van Buren – Thursday, August 18 at 5:30 p.m.
Vanlue – Thursday, August 18 at 5:30 p.m.

A second Findlay conversation, for Liberty-Benton and McComb will take place in October.

The Liberty Township Fire Department Association is inviting the community to its Fire Service Day celebration.

It will be held on Saturday, August 27th from 11 to 3 at the fire department at 7692 County Road 140 in Findlay.

The event will include food, games, fire safety demonstrations and more.

Events include free haircuts for kids, a bounce house and a petting zoo.

People are being asked to help “stuff the fire truck” with school supplies for Liberty-Benton Local Schools.

Get more details on the event below.

The Ohio House Republican Alliance is asking elections officials to review a local Democrat’s qualifications to determine if she’s eligible to run for office, given her criminal history.

Findlay’s Claire Osborne won the Democratic primary for the 83rd District seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in the second Ohio primary on August 2nd.

Osborne, if permitted to remain on the ballot, will go up against Republican State Representative Jon Cross in the fall, who ran unopposed in the primary.

Osborne says she was convicted of two drug felonies in 2014 and 2015.

She says she did not try to hide the convictions from voters and that people with a criminal record should be given a second chance.

The Ohio House Republican Alliance, citing state law, says the felony convictions disqualify her from office and is asking elections officials to review the situation.

Osborne, and Stephen Caraway, political director of the Ohio House Republican Campaign Committee, were on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the matter, and that audio can be heard below and by clicking here.

The Executive Director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio, based in Findlay, is joining the ongoing Red Cross disaster relief operation in Kentucky.

Todd James will be serving as the Public Affairs Manager, overseeing efforts to communicate vital information on services available to families and communities.

He says, over a week after tragic flooding ripped through Kentucky and upturned lives, the Red Cross continues to work around the clock with their partners to provide shelter, meals and critical support to help those in need.

Preliminary damage assessments indicate more than 900 homes were either destroyed or suffered major damage in the flooding.

The Red Cross is coordinating closely with other community and government partners to ensure people have the help they need as recovery slowly begins.

More than 380 trained Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground in Kentucky helping to provide a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support for those affected.

Volunteers are also helping to replace prescription medications, eyeglasses or critical medical equipment, like canes and wheelchairs, which were left behind in the rush to get to safety.

Ohio Task Force One – the state’s urban search and rescue team – has been in Kentucky for 11 days and has no plans to come home at this time.