Chamberlin Hill Elementary School in Findlay has a new outdoor memorial space to honor Veterans called Veterans Lane.

It’s located at the Land Lab, the outdoor educational space behind the school.

The area has been transformed to honor Veterans with stones inscribed with the branches of the Armed Forces.

“This memorial is our promise to you that the sacrifices you have made will never be forgotten,” said teacher Rhonda Hiatt.

 

 

She says the school’s mission is to honor the past experiences of our Veterans, with celebrations held in the present, and our promise that future generations will remember those who served.

“We invite the Findlay Community to purchase a paver to be placed in our Land Lab to honor a Veteran. Orders can be placed by mailing the form below to Chamberlin Hill, or by stopping in the office.”

Learn more about Veterans Lane in the post below from the school.

 

The City of Findlay’s Christmas Tree has arrived.

The tree arrived on Tuesday morning and was put in place at Dorney Plaza in front of the municipal building.

The tree is a blue spruce standing about 40 feet tall.

It was donated by the Sampsel Family.

The community is invited to attend the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, November 24^th with food and refreshments beginning at 5 p.m., and then Santa Claus himself will help with the countdown at 6 p.m.

Several downtown establishments will be open later than normal for shopping and refreshments the night of the tree lighting ceremony.

See video from last year below.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System is successfully encouraging traveling nurses to sign on as associates for the long term.

The ranks of traveling nurses nationwide increased after the COVID-19 pandemic, with more nurses wanting to take these temporary roles for financial and scheduling reasons.

One of those was Christina Frymyer, RN, a registered nurse on the sixth floor of Blanchard Valley Hospital in the medical/surgical unit. She said she had originally become a traveler because at the time, logistical issues like childcare were easier that way.

But Frymyer decided to stay at BVH as an associate in March 2023, after about a year and a half of working there as a traveler. A primary reason was the bonds she formed with colleagues. Most of the other nurses on the floor are younger than Frymyer.

“I quickly became sort of a ‘mom’ to the younger nurses,” Frymyer said. “They are close in age to my oldest child, who is 24. We bonded quickly, and I made a point of being there for them. They, for their part, were so gracious about helping me learn my way around the hospital and answering all my questions.”

Staying at BVHS also offers her benefits such as sick time and retirement. It also means she knows she won’t be moving every so often to a new hospital to work, where she must learn new processes and procedures – and will have to wonder how she will be treated.

“At BVH it’s clear that they care about their travelers,” Frymyer said. “But at some hospitals, travelers can feel like they’re just someone filling a spot. In addition to wanting the job security of staying in one place, I like knowing that I am in an environment where I am respected and valued, and where I’ve formed such close friendships.”

Jessica Moore, BSN, RN, director of inpatient nursing, said nursing leadership consciously works to treat travelers like any other associates. They attend staff meetings and participate in all the same activities, including celebrations.

Moore said traveling nurses are valued and appreciated, and they provide excellent care. But she’s pleased when they choose to stay, and she has seen associates staying with the organization become more invested.

Katelyn Richard, MSN, RN, orthopedics/neurology/post-op surgery clinical manager on the sixth floor of BVH, said she makes sure all her traveling nurses know they will be treated well, even when they are first interviewing.

Moore said they also try to offer as much scheduling flexibility as possible. BVHS has part-time as well as full-time positions available.

Richard has found the traveling nurses also appreciate the camaraderie they may find at BVHS.

“Some traveling nurses find that they make lifelong friends on this unit,” Richard said. “This outweighs the benefits they see in traveling.”

She added that the nurses who are BVH associates treat their traveling coworkers well, as do healthcare providers.

“They form close friendships,” she said. “Some of our long-term nurses have even been in travel nurses’ weddings.”

“Some of our traveling nurses have found they have really enjoyed the culture here, and they love the Northwest Ohio community,” Moore said. We want them to feel like they are part of the BVHS family, and everyone does their part to ensure that comes through.”

For more information on nursing opportunities at BVHS, please visit https://www.bvhealthsystem.org/careers

 

(From Putnam County Habitat for Humanity)

When you enter the holiday-decorated Schroeder Center for the Arts on December 1, you can sample a variety of soups, breads and desserts while supporting Putnam County Habitat for Humanity’s (PCHFH) mission for safe, decent, affordable housing throughout Putnam County. “Soup for Shelter” will take place at the Schroeder Center for the Arts at 162 W. Main St., Ottawa, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. This event will be an evening of hearty feasting that features soup bowls made by local school students, teachers and artists.

“Hand-made bowls are being created for us by students and faculty at Miller City-New Cleveland High School, Fort Jennings High School, the University of Findlay, Bluffton University and Ohio Northern University,” says Anne Coburn-Griffis, PCHFH’s Executive Director. “Several local artists, including Continental’s Brandon Knott, are also donating their work. Adults will have their choice of one of these beautiful bowls, although we’ll have disposable bowls on hand to sample all the soups.”

(Above, Elizabeth Freund, a senior at Fort Jennings High School, works on a hand-made bowl for Habitat’s Soup for Shelter fundraiser)

While ticketholders dine, they can vote for their favorite soup. The winner of the evening’s soup cook-off will take home a golden bowl created by mosaic artist Martha Erchenbrecher.

“Each soup chef has been invited to decorate their table to attract more votes,” says Coburn-Griffis, adding that there will be ingredient lists posted with each soup. “Maybe the cooks will share their recipes, too.”

“Soup for Shelter” tickets for adults are $25. Adult tickets include one handmade bowl, one soup cook-off vote, and all the samples they can eat until the crockpots are empty. Tickets are also available for $5 for children aged 4 to 12; children under 3 admitted free (does not include the hand-made bowl.) Tickets are available online at www.putnamohhabitat.org, at the PCHFH office at 150 N. Oak Street, Ottawa, Monday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and on December 1 at the door.

Since its inception in 2009, PCHFH has built 12 new homes and rebuilt an entire house. Homeowners purchase their homes through low- or zero-interest mortgages provided by PCHFH or through USDA direct loans. Critical home repair projects completed by Putnam County Habitat for Humanity include bathroom remodels, roof repairs and replacements, electrical repairs, window replacements, wheelchair ramp additions and replacements.

 

 

(From the Findlay Police Department)

The City of Findlay/Police Department was contacted by Columbia Gas concerning a complaint from a customer on the Southeast side of the City in regards to a male and female going door to door requesting access to gas meters.

These individuals did not have Columbia Gas credentials and were denied access to the residence.

Please use caution when answering the door for visitors.

Representatives of Columbia Gas (as well as most other reputable utilities) will be in marked vehicles, have proper attire and have proper credentials with them.

 

(ONN) – The state of Ohio is once again partnering with a group to support food banks with donated venison.

The Division of Wildlife says hunters who harvest a deer and would like to donate the venison to the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program can bring it to one of 26 certified deer processing shops in Ohio.

Each donated deer is provided to a verified charitable organization that offers food assistance and can provide around 200 meals.

During the 2022-23 hunting season, the program coordinated the processing of more than 1,100 deer donated by Ohio hunters.

 

(From Troop 308)

Hancock County’s first female Eagle Scout, Lydia Eckleberry, was recognized at Troop 308’s Court of Honor.

Lydia is a founding member of St. Mark’s Troop 308.

Earning the rank at 12 years old when passing her Board of Review on May 18th, making her one of the youngest Eagle Scouts ever.

We spoke with Lydia at the end of the Veterans Day Parade and service on Sunday.

After earning the rank, she went to National Youth Leadership Training. Then to Camp Berry’s 100th anniversary summer camp. And on to the 2023 National Jamboree.

For her Eagle project, she worked with American Legion Post 3 to retire 1,460 American Flags.

She collected flags from The American Legion, The Amvets, The VFW, The Scouts BSA office, and The City of Findlay.

Lydia is hoping her leadership and accomplishments will inspire even more girls to get involved.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay will be picking up leaves from November 13, 2023, through December 1, 2023. City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable PAPER bags at the curb. Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up. Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up. The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

Crews will start picking up leaves on November 13, 2023. Crews will make several rounds throughout the whole city through December 1.

Biodegradable bags are readily available at local hardware, building supply, and some grocery stores.

Raking leaves into the street has many negative aspects. Leaf piles in the street can be a dangerous temptation to children who like to play in the piles and in many areas reduce the traffic to one lane or cause drivers to drive around the piles into oncoming traffic. Piled leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential localized flooding during storm events. Residents who blow or rake leaves onto City streets are in violation of long standing City Codified Ordinance 311.01(d). Complaints should be forwarded to the Police Department.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge. The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 2pm-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 7, 2023, hours for the site will be Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 18, 2023, Saturday hours will be 8am-4pm. The green waste site will be closed on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in honor of Veterans Day and November 23, 2023, for Thanksgiving. It will be open on November 24, 2023, and November 25, 2023. The last day for the green waste site will be December 2, 2023.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only. No contractors are permitted to use this site. Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.

 

AAA, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Department of Insurance, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission want to remind motorists of the increase in deer-related traffic crashes this time of year.

Since 2018, statistics from the Ohio State Highway Patrol show there were 104,328 deer-related crashes on Ohio’s roadways. While 95% of deer-related crashes only resulted in property damage, 33 crashes resulted in fatal injuries to motorists, with a total 34 people being killed. Additionally, 47% of these crashes occurred in October, November and December.

“Ohio drivers should keep in mind that deer activity always increases during this time of year – especially at dawn and dusk,” said Governor Mike DeWine. “With Ohio’s strengthened distracted driving laws now in place, we anticipate that more drivers will stay alert to their surroundings, and as a result, we hope fewer deer-related crashes will take place this fall.”

At least 50 deer-related crashes happened in each county, with the highest taking place in Stark, Richland, Hancock and Defiance counties. The routes with the most deer-related crashes were U.S. Route 30, state Route 2, Interstate 71, Interstate 75 and Interstate 77.

“You’re more likely to spot deer when you practice safe driving habits and have your full attention on the roadway,” said Colonel Charles A. Jones, Patrol superintendent. “If you happen to strike a deer, if you’re able, move yourself to a safe place, turn on your hazards and report the crash.” According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, deer become visibly active in October, November and December. This is due in large part to the fall breeding season, which sometimes causes deer to dart into roadways with little caution.

Drivers who come across a deer in the roadway should break firmly but not swerve to avoid the deer, because doing so could cause an even worse crash.

 

(From the Hancock Park District)

Although there might be snow, much can still be seen in nature. Join us on our December bird watching hike as we travel through Aeraland Recreation Area searching for birds on Saturday, December 2nd. Possible bird sightings may include Northern Cardinals, Red-tailed Hawks, American Goldfinches, and many more. Dress appropriately for the weather. A few binoculars will be provided, or you are welcome to bring your own.

Aeraland Recreation Area, Shelter, 8-9:30 AM. Families with children ages 8 and up. Free; registration is not required.

Aeraland Recreation Area is located off State Route 12 or U.S. 224, between Findlay and Arcadia. Take Township Road 243 traveling northeast. The park is located on the east side, just north of Arcadia. 1141 Township Road 243, Fostoria. For complete information about upcoming programs and events, view the HPD Seasonal Program & Event Guide at www.HancockParks.com under the “Park News” section, visit our park “Calendar” or call the park office at 419-425-7275.