On Friday, November 24, 2023, join us at 5pm for food, refreshments, and Christmas music. At 6pm, Mayor Christina Muryn will be joined by Santa Claus as they officially light the City of Findlay’s Christmas Tree in Dorney Plaza. False Chord Brewing Co., will have a refreshments booth set up at the back of their brewery and the entrance of Dorney Plaza with hot chocolate for the kiddos and craft beer available for adults, along with Ian’s Doughnuts and Not Your Mama’s Grilled Cheese food trucks set up in their beer garden.
After the tree lighting ceremony, Santa Claus will lead the children and their families over to the Findlay Kiwanis Santa’s House at St. Andrews United Methodist Church for a visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus. Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and a horse-drawn wagon ride through downtown Findlay.
False Chord will also be hosting an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party in their taproom after the tree lighting ceremony until 10pm.
Thank you to Brian, Amber, Easton and Hadley Sampsel for the generous donation of their beautiful 40 foot Blue Spruce and to the City of Findlay Public Works Department and Miller Rigging for assistance in getting the tree to Dorney Plaza.
Several Downtown establishments will be open past their normal hours for shopping and refreshments the evening of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Check out VisitFindlay.com for a list of these establishments and all seasonal happenings in Findlay and Hancock County.
Findlay City Schools on Monday morning wrapped up their Turkeys For Trojans initiative.
“An energetic and incredible team gathered this morning to assemble, package, load, and deliver 50 Thanksgiving meals for 50 Findlay High School families in need, thanks to the generosity of our Findlay community, Community Markets, and Taylor Kia of Findlay,” said High School Principal Meg Simon.
Meg says Findlay City Schools spends a lot of time hoping for some comfort and joy to their students and their families while they’re away on break.
“This week, because of your willingness to give, we’re more than just hoping; we’re delivering.”
Meg says they hope to expand the Turkeys For Trojans initiative in the future and help even more families in the school district.
“We just want to say thank you to the community for their support and for making Turkeys For Trojans such an incredible success.”
(ONN) – A Democrat State Representative from suburban Cleveland has been removed from committees and banned from contacting staff following an alleged pattern of ‘erratic and abusive behavior.’
Documents obtained by the Associated Press outline concerns from House Democratic leadership over Elliot Forhan of South Euclid.
They cite alleged repeated hostile interactions with legislators, staff and constituents.
That includes one over the Israel-Hamas war with a Muslim colleague that left her ‘visibly shaken.’
Forhan, who represents some heavily Jewish communities in the Cleveland area, calls the situation unfortunate and says he’s determined not to ‘back down from supporting Israel.’
Blanchard Valley Health System and the Mayo Clinic will host a “Live & Learn” educational presentation on Thursday, November 30, 2023, focusing on the science behind the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
The presenters will be Dr. Bill Kose, vice president of special projects for BVHS; Dr. Derek Thomas, a physician with The Armes Family Cancer Care Center; and Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, a physician with Mayo Clinic, discussing the science behind the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
As the first Ohio-based healthcare provider to become a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, Blanchard Valley Health System’s team of experts is working together with Mayo Clinic specialists on behalf of patients — sharing the latest lifesaving research, joining forces to resolve the most complex cases, and bringing the world’s most advanced medical knowledge here to Northwest Ohio.
BVHS doctors can use the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment recommendations from Mayo Clinic to develop the best treatment plan for their patients. BVHS physicians treating patients with cancer, for example, can consult with Mayo Clinic physicians and can submit cases for Mayo Clinic experts to evaluate.
The presentation will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom. It can be viewed by visiting bvhs.info/LiveandLearn
To submit questions prior to the livestream, please email community@bvhealthsystem.org. For further assistance, please call 419.423.5551.
On Wednesday, November 15th, 2023, the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association honored Deputy Daniel J Kin, with The Sheriff’s Star Award.
This is awarded posthumously to a Sheriff’s Office employee who has lost his/her life in the performance of his/her duty under honorable circumstances.
Wife Erin Kin was presented with his award during the BSSA annual conference.
Kin died after being involved in a crash in Pickaway County on December 14th, 2022 while transporting an inmate.
The Ohio Department of Transportation is expecting to begin construction on the new Interstate 75/County Road 99 interchange on the north end of Findlay in the spring of 2024.
The new interchange will be a Diverging Diamond interchange which shifts the eastbound and westbound traffic to the other side of the bridge at signalized crossovers which eliminates left turns across traffic and the traffic signals for left turns. (design below)
The benefit is that all traffic can enter the interstate in a free flow movement to the ramps which reduces the long start and stop times of trucks at signals.
A successful example of a DDI is located in Perrysburg at I-475 and State Route 25.
Construction Engineer Dan Niese says this is an ambitious project for ODOT District 1.
As Dan said, “funky” is one way to describe a diverging diamond and ODOT has a video below to educate drivers.
Transportation officials say the improvements will combat congestion at the important economic hub while reducing the risk of crashes and making travel in the area easier and safer.
“A DDI will ensure the sustainability of the economic opportunities in this corridor,” said Hancock County Engineer Doug Cade.
“With increased commuter and truck traffic comes the need to take steps to improve the efficient movement of our labor force and goods to and from this area so that we can continue to see prosperity and be ready for future opportunities,” he added.
The project will also include upgrading intersections along County Road 99 between North Main Street and Technology Drive.
“The diverging diamond will be a real game changer for our commercial and industrial community,” said Dan Sheaffer, Director, Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development.
He says the upgrade will result in an asset that will not only serve Findlay’s legacy companies but will also help attract new businesses.
ODOT explains how to navigate a diverging diamond interchange in the video below.
The sentencing hearing was held for former pastor Michael Zacharias, who was found guilty in a federal sex-trafficking trial in May.
Zacharias, the former pastor at St. Michael The Archangel Parish in Findlay, was arrested in August of 2020 and indicted in October of that year.
At the time of Zacharias’ arrest, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said,
“This defendant is accused of using his status and position as a religious and community leader to seek out troubled minors and exploit their personal challenges for his own satisfaction.”
Authorities say Zacharias first met the victims when they were young boys and he was at St. Catherine’s Catholic Parish in Toledo and began grooming the boys for sex acts.
In May, he was convicted of five counts of sex trafficking relating to the three victims, two of whom were trafficked as minors and as adults.
Zacharias was sentenced to life in prison on Friday in U.S. District Court in Toledo.
