(From the Findlay Police Department and NAMI)

This fall NAMI Hancock County will be hosting a Suicide Prevention Vigil at their office on September 14th. As part of this event, NAMI of Hancock County also recognizes a Hancock County CIT trained officer who has shown exemplary service in de-escalating a crisis situation with their CIT Officer of the Year Award.

For those not familiar, Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) is a community partnership that trains officers in de-escalation techniques when responding to mental health crises. “CIT is a program that provides the foundation to necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals with a mental illness and/or addictions.” (citinternational.org)

If you would like to nominate an officer from Findlay/Hancock County, you can do so at the link below.

Also, you can find more information on the Suicide Prevention Vigil at NAMI of Hancock County’s website here: https://www.namihancockcounty.org/

(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

As a reading project this spring, Elliana organized a Dog Walkathon to benefit the Humane Society.

Participants logged the miles their dogs walked during a two-week window in May, and the dog who walked the most received a gift basket filled with treats and toys.

Congratulations to the Stripe family and to Elliana for raising over $135 for the Humane Society!

#WeAreLB

Findlay High School’s award-winning show choir, Findlay First Edition, is holding its annual Garage Sale fundraiser at the Findlay High School cafeteria.

FFE says the Garage Sale is the group’s biggest fundraiser of the year and proceeds go towards competition fees and the purchasing of costumes and other items needed throughout the season.

The Garage Sale begins on Thursday, July 11 with the Early Bird Sale in which people can pay $10 to be among the first to check out the items for sale.

The early bird hours on Thursday are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The garage sale will be open to the public on Friday, July 12 from 8 to 6 and Saturday, July 13, from 8 to noon.

The sale takes place at Findlay High School at 1200 Broad Avenue.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Community Foundation is seeking grant proposals for two community improvement opportunities.

“These grants are opportunities to come together as neighbors, coworkers, friends and residents of Hancock County to make it a better place to be,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation.

“Through these projects in public gathering spaces and neighborhood improvements, we can all invest in the community we call home.”

Community Gathering Spaces

To support critical community gathering spaces, this special grant opportunity focuses on investments in area parks, capital investments/improvements to community buildings and other public community gathering spaces. We seek proposals from Hancock County tax-exempt, private agencies classified as 501(c)(3) organizations and public charities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Grants may also be made to governmental agencies in Hancock County. Projects require a 1-to-1 match. Up to $25,000 may be requested per grantee.

Building Community Through Neighborhood Revitalization

This special grant opportunity focuses on engaging residents of all ages in making a difference in their communities through neighborhood revitalization projects. We seek proposals from Hancock County tax-exempt, private agencies classified as 501(c)(3) organizations and public charities as defined by the Internal Revenue Service. Grants may also be made to governmental agencies in Hancock County. Examples of projects could include but are not limited to service-learning projects with local youth and projects developed by residents of all ages focused on improving neighborhoods and benefiting area quality of life (ex. permanent tree/flower planting in public spaces – not private residents and no annual plants; neighborhood clean-ups; and beautification).

“We hope both of these grants offer the opportunity for residents throughout all of Hancock County to engage with one another,” said Kimberly Bash, Chief Community Engagement Officer at the Foundation. “The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all in the community, and this will help us toward that through various revitalization efforts.”

Applicants must discuss grant ideas and allowable expenses with Kimberly Bash, Chief Community Engagement Officer at the Foundation, prior to submitting a request. Both grant applications are due September 16, 2024, on the Foundation’s online grant platform. Grants will be awarded in October 2024.

The popular community event Flag City Night Out is coming up later in the summer.

Flag City Night Out will be held on Tuesday, August 6 at Riverside Park and will begin at 6 p.m.

The free, family-friendly community event is designed to bring community members and public safety professionals together in the same place.

Findlay Police Officer Brian White says the interactions they have with kids at events like Night Out are very important.

At Night Out, There will be free food and refreshments, live demonstrations, entertainment and other fun activities.

Also, the youngsters will enjoy the large assortment of emergency vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances and police cruisers.

Flag City Night Out will be held at Findlay’s Riverside Park on the west side of McManness Avenue on Tuesday, August 6 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The rain date will be the following Tuesday.

(From the Bluffton Historical Society)

The Bluffton Ohio Historical Society is the new owner of the popular Bluffton historical website BlufftonForever.com. The announcement was made by Ron Epp, society president, and Fred Steiner, creator of the website.

As a member of the society, Steiner said he sees it as a perfect fit; “I am really happy this new organization is interested in maintaining the website.” Steiner launched BlufftonForever.com in October 2021, shortly after he retired from the Bluffton Icon and Ada Icon. Today, BlufftonForever.com has nearly 600 Bluffton historical photos and stories posted and has experienced over 35,000 viewers from 30 countries.

Epp said that the society gladly accepted the invitation to become the website’s new owner. “It fits our purpose in highlighting Bluffton’s history,” he said. “We plan to retain the historical information already on the site and will continue to add to it,” said Epp.

The Bluffton Ohio HIstorical society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2023. All are welcome to member meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at Bluffton Town Hall. 

The society will make its programming debut on Saturday, August 10, when it will host the 2nd annual Bluffton History Day. The 2024 event will recreate a photo from 1897 when Bluffton firefighters first tested pressurized water from the Village water plant. The Bluffton Fire Department will demonstrate water power then and now. The singing group Four Guys and a Gal will provide entertainment and podcaster Sam Sprunger will be the event announcer.

Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs to the Bluffton Presbyterian Church lawn for activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. and an 11:00 a.m. presentation. There will be a display of vintage fire apparatus and a bucket brigade competition. Lunch by the Bluffton Presbyterian Church and food trucks will be available. Main Street will be closed from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Event sponsors include Bill Gable and GROB Systems.

For updated information on History Day and the Bluffton Ohio Historical Society, visit www.BlufftonForever.com and the society’s Facebook page.

(From the American Red Cross North Central Ohio Chapter)

The American Red Cross of North Central Ohio will hold a ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, July 18 to celebrate the recently completed renovations to the Findlay office.

Activities begin at 10:00am with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, followed by an open house with tours of the building and refreshments until 2:00pm. The office is located at 125 Fair St. in Findlay.

Renovations on the Findlay office are part of a nationwide initiative by the Red Cross to update office locations across the country. “We’re very excited to share the work that’s been done to update our office and facilities,” said executive director Todd James.

“Our goal is to provide our volunteers and staff, the families we serve and our community partners who utilize our office with an accessible, comfortable and secure environment.”

James invites community members to see the updates and find out more about joining the Red Cross team. Information on volunteer opportunities will be available during the open house and Red Cross team members will be on hand to answer questions and share their experiences.

(ONN) – Former Cleveland Browns player Bernie Kosar has revealed he is dealing with some serious health issues.

The now 60-year-old former quarterback and Cleveland sports icon says he needs a new liver and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

According to an article from Cleveland Magazine, Kosar was placed on the liver transplant list in late spring and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease back in February of this year.

The Ohio native led the Browns to three AFC championship game appearances.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) has released a new installment of the “Our Stories” video series, featuring Julie Cole, a successful and accomplished golf professional with a heart for giving back to her community.

BVHS Corporate PR & Marketing created the “Our Stories” series to remind one another of our shared humanity, to strengthen and build bridges between people, and to teach the value of listening, and to enhance our culture.

Julie Cole tells her story in the most recent installment. As a proud Findlay native, Julie developed a fundraiser for Bridge Hospice 35 years ago that supported the mission of Blanchard Valley Health System. This annual event has now raised over $3.2 million for its beneficiaries. Each year, Julie returns to her hometown, dedicating her time and passion to this very special event.

As well as Julie herself, the video features interviews with many past and present BVHS leaders as well as members of the community touched by Julie’s generosity. This year’s Julie Cole Charity Golf Classic, which occurred June 10, is projected to raise more than $200,000 for three beneficiaries, Bridge Home Health & Hospice, Blanchard Valley Health System Wellness Park, and the Julie Cole Youth Golf Fund.

BVHS Wellness Park will offer easy access to primary care along with specialists in fields including rheumatology, endocrinology and diabetes management, orthopedic surgery, physical medicine, and rehabilitation at a new campus on the north side of Findlay beginning in early 2025. Wellness Park will be the new location of Julie A. Cole Rehab & Sports Medicine, a division of BVHS now located on Medical Drive. To watch this latest video, please visit bvhealthsystem.org/ourstories.

If you are interested in donating to community healthcare projects, please call 419.423.5457.

(From the Bluffton Police Department)

On Saturday, July 13th at 3pm, the Beyond the Call of Duty “End of Watch Ride to Remember” will be arriving in Bluffton to honor fallen Bluffton Police Officer Dominic Francis (EOW March 31st, 2022).

Beyond the Call of Duty and their End of Watch Ride to Remember is an organization out of Spokane Valley, WA that travels the country with their rolling memorial every other summer to honor the officers that were killed in the line of duty in the previous two years.

The organization stops in each community across the United States that have had a line of duty death to pay tribute to the officer, their families, and departments. The purpose of Beyond the Call of Duty “is to ensure that no officer is forgotten, that their families know their loved one has not been forgotten; and that there is recognition, support and understanding to help them heal. We also support department safety and training to help lower the number of fallen officers we see each year.”

Founder Jagrut Shah, a former deputy sheriff, says they want to show departments and their families who have lost partners and friends they are not alone. “I wanted to bridge this gap that we have and give back to the departments and let the surviving officers and their families know that their loss has not been forgotten.”

• In 2024 EOW Ride will be honoring 259 fallen officers killed in the line of duty in 2022 and 2023 at 234 different departments, beginning June 1st, 2024, and travelling 22,500 miles in 73 days.
• Information on the organization and this year’s ride can be found at www.endofwatchride.com

The rolling memorial will be arriving at the Bluffton Dairy Freeze, 595 S Main St, around 3pm and leaving around 4:30pm with a police escort through downtown Bluffton. This event is open to the public and if there are any questions, please contact Lt. Matt Oglesbee at the Bluffton Police Department 419-358-2961 ext. 110 or oglesbeem@bluffton-ohio.com

Lt. Matt Oglesbee