Monthly Archives: November 2024

Students Honor Local Veterans With Patriotic Program

The students at Findlay’s Chamberlin Hill Elementary saluted local Veterans with their 27th Annual Veterans Day Program on Friday.

The Veterans were treated to a student program featuring patriotic songs and performances and then were served a nice lunch.

One of the videos below is the 5th graders performing the Armed Forces Medley, during which Veterans stood to be recognized when the song of their branch of the armed forces was performed.

Findlay’s Veterans Day Parade will be held on Sunday, November 10 beginning at 2 p.m. on Main Street. Get more details here.

Veterans Day is on Monday, November 11.

Holiday Memorial Wreath-Making Event Being Held

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Bridge Hospice Bereavement Services, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, will hold its Holiday Memorial Wreath-Making event in Findlay and Bowling Green in November and December.

The holidays can be a difficult time of year after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Community members attending these sessions will learn to create and display a wreath  in memory of their loved ones this holiday season. This activity is open to the entire family.

Bridge Bereavement Services will provide the materials needed to create a live evergreen wreath for participants to take home and decorate in a manner that reflects your loved one who cannot be physically with you this holiday season. Two sessions will be held for individuals and families, with bereavement staff and volunteers on hand to assist.

The Findlay sessions will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 at The Old Millstream Centre, Hancock County Fairgrounds, 1017 E. Sandusky St., Findlay.

Sessions in Bowling Green will take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, at the Bowling Green Community Center, Classroom B, 1245 W. Newton Road, Bowling Green.

Sessions will be scheduled in half-hour increments at both locations.

Pre-registration is required by November 22. Sessions are expected to fill quickly. Once spots are filled, registration will be closed. The event is free of charge.

To RSVP or learn more, please contact Bridge Hospice Bereavement Services by calling 419.423.5351.

State Program Helping Local Governments Save In Interest Costs

(From Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague)

The Ohio Market Access Program (OMAP) administered by Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has helped the Village of Carey (Wyandot County) enter the market and save an estimated $30,665 in interest costs.

“Through OMAP, our local governments have the power to leverage the state’s high credit rating to drive down borrowing costs and save money,” said Treasurer Sprague. “With this latest deal, the Village of Carey will bring its total savings through OMAP to more than $262,000 dollars since first partnering with our office in 2018.”

The original notes were issued to fund major electric system improvements, including a new substation, transformer, and distribution feeders to serve a new school and industrial park, as well as the replacement of wooden poles with iron or steel poles. This deal marks the seventh time the Village of Carey has leveraged OMAP, and the previous deals saved the village an estimated $232,219 in interest expenses.

OMAP is a credit enhancement program that leverages the state’s excess liquidity and high short-term credit rating to help improve market access and lower borrowing rates for local governments. Since its 2014 launch, OMAP has supported more than 330 deals, ranging from $365,000 to over $100 million. There have been no defaults, and to date, OMAP has generated more than $6.3 million in estimated savings for local governments.

Any government subdivision in good fiscal standing, including cities, villages, school districts, counties, townships, and special districts, issuing short-term debt is eligible to participate. For more information, visit https://omap.ohio.gov/.

Owens Seeking Nominations For Alumni Hall Of Fame

(From Owens Community College)

Owens Community College is seeking nominations for individuals to be inducted into the Owens Alumni Hall of Fame.

Members of the Hall of Fame are recognized for their excellence personally and professionally and for continuing to make significant differences in their community on a local, state, national and international level.

The nomination deadline is 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31. A maximum of five individuals, one for each academic college plus one community award, will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Nomination criteria and an online nomination form can be found at this link.

Please confirm the nominee is aware of and agrees to the information provided in this nomination form by emailing nominee’s resume, additional documentation, or letters of support to owensalumni@owens.edu following submission of the below form.

For questions or more information, contact owensalumni@owens.edu.

Police K9 Receives Gift Of Protective Vest

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

K9 Leo Receives A Gift!

The Tiffin Police Department is thrilled to announce that Brady’s K9 Fund in conjunction with the American Legion Brook Park post 610 has generously donated a ballistic vest for our department’s four-legged officer, K9 Leo.

Brady’s K9 is passionate about supporting our four-legged officers who work tirelessly to keep our community safe.

Their organization is dedicated to providing essential equipment and resources to these brave K9s, ensuring they are well-equipped and protected for their entire shift.

Brady’s K9 Fund was founded by an 8-year-old boy who felt K9 officers deserve body armor, just like their human partners.

Since 2018 Brady’s Fund has raised over $1.25M and vested 950+ K9s across all 50 states.

Their mission is ongoing! You can make a difference too! Join Brady’s mission by visiting his website and learning more about his cause.

Your support and donations go directly to providing essential lifesaving equipment for these incredible K9 officers.

Together, we can ensure our K9 officer and their partner come home safe together.

Visit www.Bradysk9fund.com to learn more and contribute to the cause. Every little bit counts!

Health Department Holding Car Seat Check Event

(From Hancock Public Health)

Buckle up for Safety! Join us at our Car Seat Check Extravaganza!

Hey awesome parents and guardians! Ready to turn your car into the safest ride on the block?

Swing by our Car Seat Check Event and let our certified experts make sure your little ones are riding in style and safety!

What to expect:

-FREE Car Seat Inspections

-Expert Tips & Tricks

-Fun Goodie Bags for the Kiddos

Let’s make sure your mini adventurers are snug as bugs in their car seats!

Save the date this Thursday November 14th and buckle up for a fantastic day of safety and smiles!

Walk -ins welcome or sign up here: https://forms.gle/Ba97k5WMDoiWyvCq7

FCS Superintendent Discusses Next Steps After Levy Fails

A majority of voters in the Findlay City School District rejected the school district’s bid to pass a 1 percent earned income tax levy on Election Day.

The levy failed by a vote of 9,451 to 8,660, or 52 to 47 percent.

The levy was for the purpose of paying current expenses and the board of education previously said if the levy were to fail a first phase of immediate reductions would need to be implemented with more to come in the 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Andy Hatton, on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks, said no cost-cutting decisions have been made yet.

Dr. Hatton said that the first round of potential or likely financial adjustments that would be taken up by the board of education would be around $5 million starting next year.

Listen to Chris’ full interview with Dr. Hatton by clicking the audio file below.

Hancock Park District November Programs

(From the Hancock Park District)

HANCOCK PARK DISTRICT NOVEMBER PROGRAMS –TO REGISTER YOU MAY GO TO WWW.HANCOCKPARKS.COM OR VISIT US AT 1424 E MAIN CROSS M-F 8:00AM – 4:30PM. FOR QUESTIONS CALL 419-425-7275.

1 Friday

Circles in Nature

It is National Looking for Circles Day and toddlers will learn about things in nature that have that shape. They will find things, such as a tree, a rock, or a hole in the ground. They will touch things that have a circle shape, such as the grapevine wreath, a wood cookie, and pictures of the ladybird beetle.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10 AM

Ages 3 and under with an adult.

Free; registration is not required.

Chris Allen callen@hancockparks.com

2 Saturday

Fall Cookie Decorating

Fall is a great time to decorate cookies. Kids will learn how the cookies are made and then they will decorate four cookies by glazing and painting them with food safe markers. Buttercream icing will be used. Cookies can either be taken home or eaten during the program.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10-11:30 AM for ages 9-11.

1-2:30 PM for ages 12 -14.

Register with $5 per person by 1 PM on Friday, November 1.

Minimum: 2/Maximum: 16 per time slot.

Chris Allen callen@hancockparks.com

4 Monday

Wee Ones: Woodpeckers

When taking a hike in the woods, the sound of a woodpecker can echo through the trees. Have you ever wondered why woodpeckers peck at trees or how they hold on to the tree trunk without falling? The answers will be provided during the reading of a fun book about woodpeckers. Afterward, we will look at real woodpeckers, create a craft, and color a coloring page.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10 AM

Ages 3 and under with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to attend.

Free; registration is not required.

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

4 Monday

Pioneers for Homeschoolers

Learn about pioneers and how they lived in Northwest Ohio by touring the 1847 McKinnis House, workshop, and barn, hiking the trails to get a sense of what they might have encountered and how they used the land, and playing games and playing with pioneer toys. This is a drop-off program.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods

McKinnis House

1-3 PM

Ages 5-14.

Free; but register by 4 PM on Friday, November 1.

Minimum: 6/Maximum: 30

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

6 Wednesday

The Art of Weaving

Weaving is the art of creating fabrics and other objects by interlacing threads. We will talk about the history of weaving, including tools, uses, and materials, and then we will create our own simple looms out of cardboard and use different colors of yarn to create a coaster.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

6 PM

Ages 10-12.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Wednesday, November 6.

Minimum: 3 /Maximum: 12

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

9 Saturday

Crunchy Fall Hike

It is the middle of autumn and most of the leaves should have fallen to the ground. Dry leaves make a crunching sound when stepped on. Join us as we hike through Riverbend Recreation Area, crunch the leaves, look for wildlife, and enjoy the scenery. We might see squirrels, birds, and deer.

Riverbend Recreation Area

Big Oaks Activity Area

Parking Lot by Shelter 3

1 PM

Ages 3 and under with an adult.

Free; registration is not required.

Maclain Teeple mteeple@hancockparks.com

11 Monday

Discovery Stories: No Hugs for Porcupine

This is a fun story about a porcupine who just wants a hug. How do you hug a porcupine? After the story, there will be a porcupine craft to make, and pictures and real porcupine quills to see.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10 AM

Ages 3 and up with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to attend.

Free; registration is not required.

Chris Allen callen@hancockparks.com

15 Friday

Environments in Sci-Fi: Dune

Science fiction can take us to worlds beyond our own. They are often filled with fantastical environments. Usually, these environments are based on the ones found on Earth. Join us as we look at the worlds of science fiction media and relate them to a similar environment found within our solar system. In this installment, we will look at the desert planet Arrakis from the popular Dune series written by Frank Herbert. We will examine the planet’s inhabitants, such as the prolific sand worms, observe topography and natural resources, and compare Arrakis’ environment to a similar one on Earth.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

6 PM

Ages 18 and up.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Friday, November 15.

Minimum: 2/Maximum: 15

Maclain Teeple mteeple@hancockparks.com

16 Saturday

A Walking Timeline of Earth’s History

Come along as we explore a scale timeline of Earth’s geological history in a thousand yards. We will discuss how Earth’s history is split into different time periods. As we walk our timeline, we will see how Earth has changed, such as the position of continents and oceans, how life on Earth has changed over time, and major geological events. Children who attend will receive a fossil during our geological journey.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center Porch

10 AM

Families with children 6 and up.

Free; registration is not required.

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

16 Saturday

Atlatl Throwing

Try your hand at one of the oldest hunting tools in the world, a spear thrower known as an atlatl. Atlatls have been the primary hunting tool of prehistoric people for thousands of years, and in some cultures, they are still being used today. Each participant will use an atlatl to throw long spear-like darts into our archery targets. As we use the atlatl, we will talk about the history of this ancient tool, how they were created, and how to use them safely.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Dold Lake

1 PM

Ages 18 and up.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Friday, November 15.

Maximum: 10

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

17 Sunday

Late Fall Day on the Farm: Open House

For most pioneers, mid-November meant gathering the last of the harvests and getting ready for winter. See how the McKinnis family is storing foods such as sweet potatoes, dried beans, and parsnips. Baked squash and pumpkin cookies will be available for tasting. Chores, like filling the wood box for the upcoming winter season, will also be taking place.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods

McKinnis House

1-4 PM

All ages are welcome.

Free; registration is not required.

Michelle Rumschlag mrumschlg@hancockparks.com

20 Wednesday

Paper Making

Learn about the art of paper making. We will discuss the history of paper and the modern-day industrial process. We will talk about the hobby of paper making, from the supplies that you need to the process of turning pulp to paper. Each participant will make one sheet of white paper and experiment with some other techniques, like making color paper and embedding pictures and leaves.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

2 PM

Ages 50 and up.

Free; but register by 4 PM on Tuesday, November 19.

Maximum: 20

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

22 Friday

Handprint Turkeys

Create a Thanksgiving craft by painting a turkey using your handprint. We will use tempera paint, crayons, and googly eyes to create our turkey craft. As we wait for the paint to dry, a fun story about a turkey will be read, and we will look at turkey displays and make turkey sounds. Please wear clothes that can get stained.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10 AM

Ages 3 and under with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to attend.

Free; registration is not required.

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

23 Saturday

Outdoor Play & Games

We will be in the Nature Play Area for outdoor play and yard games, such as bocce ball and cornhole, and there will be a shelter building contest. Fresh air and outdoor activities await.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Nature Play Area

10-11:30 AM

Ages 10 to 14.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Friday, November 22.

Minimum: 4/Maximum: 20

Michelle Rumschlag mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

23 Saturday

Pinecone Bird Feeders

Watching birds out your window can be a fun and relaxing activity. In this program, we will turn everyday pinecones into bird feeders. We will use pinecones, lard as a binder, and seeds as the source of food. Twine will be used to hang your bird feeder.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center porch

1 PM

Ages 6-9.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Friday, November 22.

Minimum: 2/Maximum: 15

Maclain Teeple mteeple@hancockparks.com

24 Sunday

Flight in Nature: Open House

Learn about the four groups of animals that rule the sky: insects, reptiles, dinosaurs and birds, and mammals. We will talk about how flight works, why these animals would want to fly, and how their flight differs from one another. Also, learn about the animals that pretend to fly by gliding, and how gliding and flying are different. Have fun comparing your arm span to the wingspan of some of the largest and smallest creatures to every fly. Children who attend can create a craft and coloring page.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

1-4 PM

All ages are welcome.

Free; registration is not required.

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

25 Monday

Leaf Silhouette Painting

In this program, we will make leaf silhouette paintings. This craft involves painting intricate patterns on a sheet of paper, cutting out a leaf shape on another piece of paper, and gluing the two papers together so the paint shows through the opening of the leaf design. We will use watercolor paint for this craft. All necessary materials will be provided.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

10 AM

Ages 10-12.

Free; but register by 1 PM on Friday, November 22.

Minimum: 2/Maximum: 10

Maclain Teeple mteeple@hancockparks.com

25 Monday

Fabric Teacup Bookmarks

Enjoy a hot spot of tea by the fireplace in the McKinnis House as we make our own teacup bookmark. You will get to choose from a variety of 1840s themed fabric. All supplies will be provided, but you may bring your own basic sewing kit if you prefer.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods

McKinnis House

2 PM

Ages 18 and up.

Register with $5 by 8 AM on Monday, November 25.

Minimum: 2/Maximum: 12

Michelle Rumschlag mrumschlag@hancockparks.com

26 Tuesday

Orienteering

Orienteering is a sport of navigation. The goal is to use a map and compass to locate control points that are scattered throughout an area. Orienteering can be done as a competitive race or an activity to explore a new area. We will work as a team to complete a standard type of course to find control points throughout the park. As we complete the course, you will learn about the basics of orienteering and how to use the map and compass together to figure out where you need to go.

Riverbend Recreation Area

Oxbow Bend Activity Area

Charles J. Younger Pavilion

10 AM

Ages 14-17.

Free; but register by 4 PM on Monday, November 25.

Minimum: 3/Maximum: 12

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

26 Tuesday

Fire Making

If you are camping or if you get lost in the woods, knowing how to start a fire properly and safely is important, especially if your comfort or survival depends on it. Learn the basic techniques of fire making and how to keep the fire burning, and try your hand at starting a fire without the use of a match or lighter.

Riverbend Recreation Area

Big Oaks Activity Area

Campground

2 PM

Ages 12-14.

Free; but register by 4 PM on Monday, November 25.

Minimum: 3/Maximum: 12

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

27 Wednesday

Pumpkin Bowling

Join us for a game of pumpkin bowling. Try knocking down the pins and getting a strike by using a pumpkin as the bowling ball. After you play a few rounds, learn about the life cycle of a pumpkin and what you can do with a pumpkin when you are finished with it, other than throwing it in the trash.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center Porch

10 AM

Ages 4-5 with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to attend.

Free; registration is not required.

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

27 Wednesday

Mars the Red Planet

Learn about one of Earth’s neighbors, Mars. A story will be read about the planet and why it is red. Afterward, we will go inside the portable planetarium to look at Mars and its two moons. We will also look at other planets and constellations. After the show, children can complete a Mars coloring page.

Oakwoods Nature Preserve

Discovery Center

2 PM

Ages 6-10 with an adult.

Free; but register by 4 PM on Tuesday, November 26. Adults do not need to register.

Maximum: 16

Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

Findlay Police Department Recertified By Ohio Collaborative Board

The Findlay Police Department recently received recertification from the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board.

The Collaborative was formed in 2015 to create uniform standards for law enforcement agencies in Ohio.

Agencies completing the recertification process adopted and implemented the initial two standards regarding use of force and hiring and recruitment.

Get more information on the certification process below.

Painted Violin Auction To Benefit Findlay City Schools Orchestra

(From Findlay City Schools)

Findlay City Schools Orchestra presents the most beautiful silent auction you’ve ever seen.

You can bid on these one-of-a-kind masterpieces, created by artists who love our town and love our orchestra program.

Join us for the FHS Pops Concert, November 21, 2024, where the winning bid for each violin will be announced!

Tickets for the concert can be purchased from any FHS Orchestra student, or at the door.

View each violin and bid here: https://e.givesmart.com/events/EQe/

Bidding closes at 7:30 on November 21.

Image Description: a floral-designed painted violin on a black backdrop, with the text “Findlay High School Orchestra’s Painted Violin Auction, November 1-21, 2024. Proceeds benefit FCS Orchestra.”