(From the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum)

Funday Sunday is back December 14th from 1:00–3:30 p.m.!

Enjoy hands-on winter fun, an interactive story time by author/illustrator Jane Smith, a visit from Santa, and a Children’s Museum of Findlay pop-up from 1:00–3:30 p.m.!

Registration is required. 

Get more details on the next Mazza Museum Funday Sunday below.

The Coats for Christmas distribution dates are coming up.

The used coats were collected in November and are being cleaned this week.

Distribution dates: Saturday, December 6th, distribution will be from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Coats will be available again on Sunday, December 7th from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Distribution will take place at the East Branch YMCA at 1400 Manor Hill Road in Findlay.

There are no financial restrictions for eligibility; therefore, anyone in need of a coat, hat, and mittens is welcome.

Learn more about Coats for Christmas by clicking here.

(From Van Buren Local Schools)

On Tuesday, December 2, Van Buren Local School District received a $20,000 STEM grant from Pilot Travel Centers at the grand opening of the new facility located at 11471 St. Rt. 613.

Superintendent Dr. Jason Inkrott, who attended the ceremony to receive the grant, said, “We appreciate the generosity of Pilot Travel Centers to our district. The $20,000 they are providing for STEM-related initiatives will help our students gain a wide variety of experiences as they participate in future projects the grant will fund. We are grateful for the partnership we are developing with Pilot and appreciate all of the support our local businesses provide to our district.”

We also appreciate Mrs. Cassie Schaffer, Director of Teaching and Learning, for writing the grant proposal, which included a student-led project to design the layout of the interior of our newly renovated greenhouse and student-led improvements to the medieval garden between the high school and elementary buildings.

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum is pleased to announce the December Brown Bag Lecture, featuring Dr. Charles “Chuck” Coletta of Bowling Green State University’s Department of Popular Culture. His presentation will explore the enduring legacy of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and the deeper intentions behind director Frank Capra’s beloved film.

Although widely embraced today as a quintessential holiday classic, Capra never meant the film to be viewed solely as a Christmas movie. As his first feature following his World War II service, Capra envisioned it as a tribute to the everyday Americans whose lives, dreams, and quiet determination shape their communities. Both Capra and James Stewart regarded It’s a Wonderful Life as their favorite work. Dr. Coletta’s lecture will trace the origins of Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story and its journey to the screen, highlighting how the film evolved into one of the most cherished seasonal traditions in American culture.

A Cleveland native, Dr. Coletta earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in literature from John Carroll University and his Ph.D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. Since 2000, he has taught courses on television and film studies, contemporary popular literature, and mass media.

The lecture will take place on Thursday, December 4, at noon, at the Hancock Historical Museum, 422 West Sandusky Street, Findlay. Presented by Eastman & Smith, the museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of each month and highlights topics connected to Hancock County and Ohio history. The program is free for museum members and included with regular admission for non-members. No registration is required. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy an engaging hour of history. For more information, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.

Make sure to mark your calendar for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 and return to the Museum for Classic Movie Night featuring It’s a Wonderful Life (1946).

(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

Congratulations to Employees Brooke Coulter and Allison Lentz on their graduation from the Corrections Academy on November 21, 2025!

We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and perseverance throughout the academy. This accomplishment reflects their commitment to professionalism, integrity, and public service.

Brooke and Allison will be tremendous assets to our team, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and make a positive impact within our facility and our community.

Please join us in congratulating them on this outstanding achievement!

(From the City of Findlay)

CSX will be closing Midland Avenue at the railroad tracks for rail crossing repairs.

Closure will begin on December 3, 2025, at 8am. This will be a 24 hour closure.

Motorists are advised to avoid these areas if possible.

The City of Findlay will provide updates on the project schedule and traffic conditions as new information becomes available.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $1,262,356.20 at the November board meeting. This total includes 26 responsive grants, four president’s discretionary grants and 89 donor advised fund grants.

“After every board meeting, I am reminded of the generosity of our community and the incredible partners we work with,” said Brian Treece, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “I’m grateful for all of these partners who received grant funding and will now be implementing these projects and programs, as well as the donors whose initial investment in the Foundation makes this important work possible.”

Responsive Grants

Responsive grants are awarded to organizations that meet community needs and match The Community Foundation’s goals and objectives. Grantseekers must submit a written grant proposal for consideration. Applications are reviewed four times per year.

Funding for responsive grants comes from our Community’s Endowment, which comprises Funds for the Common Good and Field of Interest Funds established by donors at The Community Foundation. The following responsive grants were approved by the Board of Trustees, made possible by our Community’s Endowment:

• 50 North was awarded $75,000 to support the green space expansion project.
• Blanchard River Watershed Partnership was awarded $20,116 for an urban prairie pilot project.
• Blanchard Valley Center was awarded $10,401 for changing tables in four Findlay City Schools buildings for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Bluffton Lions Club was awarded $50,000 to support an all-inclusive playground.
• Challenged Champions was awarded $1,000 to support their strategic planning process.
• CHOPIN Hall was awarded $15,000 for improvements to the Community Gardens at The Family Center.
• City of Findlay was awarded two grants:
  • $623 for ornament decoration at November’s ArtWalk.
  • $2,137 for lighting and decoration in downtown Findlay.
• Findlay Fresh Step was awarded $1,618 for hygiene kits.
• Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation was awarded $1,500 for community-wide mayors’ meetings and community focus groups.
• Hancock County Educational Service Center was awarded two grants:
  • $550 for Project Bridle Buddies.
  • $2,000 for Ready Bodies, Learning Minds program.
• Hancock Historical Museum was awarded $8,386 for an America 250 mural at Brucklacher Park.
• Hancock Properties Foundation was awarded two grants:
  • $13,094 for network infrastructure at The Family Center.
  • $242,052 for capital improvements at The Family Center.
• Mazza Museum was awarded $3,250 for the February Funday Sunday event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
• Northwest Ohio Railroad Preservation was awarded $4,000 for the Touch A Truck event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
• Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services was awarded $489 for a community strangulation training and resources.
• Toledo Opera was awarded $10,000 for several events throughout Hancock County as part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
• Toledo Zoo was awarded $2,009 for the February Funday Sunday event, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.
• Village of McComb was awarded $1,271 for community beautification projects and fishing equipment for residents to borrow.
• Village of Mt. Blanchard was awarded two grants:
  • $657 for trash receptacles for the Hurricane Park expansion project.
  • $3,043 for a synthetic ice rink for Christmas in the Village, part of the Foundation’s Fun for All series of free community events.

President’s Discretionary Grants

The President’s Discretionary Grants und urgent or special requests outside The Community Foundation’s various grant cycles. The President of The Community Foundation is allocated an amount each year. These grants typically do not individually exceed $5,000. The following discretionary grants were awarded:

This year, TCF staff dedicated the 2025 president’s discretionary funds to show appreciation for those who help others. These grants are dedicated to first responders and veterans. More information on these will be announced soon.

• Veteran and First Responder Appreciation for $20,000.

Donor Advised Grants

Individuals, families or corporations establish donor advised funds to recommend grants to nonprofits they’re passionate about. The Foundation vets the nonprofits, and grants are awarded.

• 89 grants to 72 organizations totaling $761,727.20.

Many schools called off classes on Tuesday due to the snow that fell Monday night and overnight into Tuesday morning.

Findlay City Schools is one of many districts in the area that closed for the day.

Hancock County was placed on a Level 1 Road Advisory. 

You can get the latest forecast and road alerts by clicking here, and school closings/delays by clicking here.

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reports 11 deaths in eight fatal crashes during the Thanksgiving holiday reporting period, which began at midnight on Wednesday, November 26, and concluded at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 30.

According to preliminary Patrol statistics, at least two of the eight fatal crashes recorded during the reporting period were OVI-related. In a continued effort to lower that number to zero, troopers made 281 arrests for impaired driving and 38 for drug-related charges.

In the fatalities where a safety belt was available, three were unbelted. Although Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation, troopers continue to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for a violation and found to not being wearing a safety belt. Throughout this five-day reporting period, troopers issued 462 safety belt citations.

Additionally, troopers responded to 766 crashes, issued 287 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,572 motorists.

Motorists are encouraged to contribute to a safer Ohio by safely calling #677 to report drug activity and dangerous or impaired driving on Ohio roadways.

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donors, and several opportunities to give are coming up in the area.

Below are a few of the upcoming blood drives, according to the Red Cross website.

-Blanchard Valley Hospital on Wednesday, December 3.

-McComb High School on Thursday, December 4.

-Findlay Family YMCA on Friday, December 5.

Look for more blood drives in the area by clicking here.