(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

In this “BVHS Minute,” meet the dedicated providers at Wellness Park Primary Care, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System: Angela Harden-Mack, MD; Amy Donnelly, APRN-CNP; Lindsay Hartman, APRN-CNP; and our newest team member, Ailing Chen, MD, a board-certified pediatrician.

With Dr. Chen’s expertise, our team is equipped to deliver exceptional care to patients of all ages. From pediatric visits to routine adult check-ups, Wellness Park Primary Care is here for your family at every stage of life.

Same-week appointments, onsite imaging, and lab services make quality care more convenient than ever.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 419.423.5344 or visit https://bvhs.info/4jN63Uk.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

New and prospective foster families will be connected to local resources, advocates and those with lived experience at an upcoming event called Open Hearts, Open Homes.

The event will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Hilton Garden Inn. It is being organized by Fostering Hancock County, comprised of representatives from Hancock County Job & Family Services, YWCA and United Way of Hancock County.

Job & Family Services Director Randall Galbraith said the state of Ohio and Hancock County in particular are experiencing a shortfall in the number of foster homes available to care for youth in the custody of children’s services agencies. This event was designed to address this shortfall by bridging new and potential foster families with essential resources to help them get started on their journey to foster care.

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of foster parents in Ohio has experienced a catastrophic decrease,” Galbraith said. “Locally, this has led Hancock County Job & Family Services to place children in our custody wherever we can find a willing home, often far outside of Hancock County, the child’s family, friends, and school. Our mission with this event is to educate and inspire families in Hancock County to open their homes to these youth.”

The evening’s presenters — both children and adults — have lived-experience in the foster system and will be available after the program to answer questions.

Attendance for those who are interested in becoming a foster family is complimentary, provided through community sponsorships.

Sponsorships are available for an individual seat ($35) or a table of six ($210). When making a sponsorship, individuals will have the option of choosing to attend the event themselves, or of simply sponsoring a seat or table for others.

To register as a potential foster family, click here.

To make a sponsorship, click here.

(From the Ohio State Board of Education)

Congratulations to the 11 outstanding Ohio educators who were named as the 2026 State Board District Teacher of the Year cohort!

From this cohort, four will be selected as finalists for the 2026 Ohio Teacher of the Year honor.

The District 1 Teacher of the Year is Chris Monsour of Tiffin City Schools. He is in the upper left in the picture above and his bio is below.

Chris Monsour earned his Bachelor of Science degree in May 1999 from Heidelberg University, originally planning to pursue a career in environmental biology. However, after graduation, he found himself without a job. At the same time, Tiffin City Schools was in desperate need of a high school science teacher. Chris began his teaching journey as a substitute for the first two years, during which he discovered his passion for teaching and the importance of obtaining a formal teaching license.  

Since then, Chris has pursued graduate work in biology, ecology, and inquiry, earning two master’s degrees: a Master of Arts in Education from Heidelberg University and a Master of Science from Montana State University. He has extensive experience developing course curricula and organizing field trips, laboratory exercises, service projects, and other hands-on activities that extend beyond traditional classroom instruction.  

Currently, Chris teaches a variety of advanced science courses, including College Credit Plus (CCP) Environment and Society, CCP Oceanus, CCP Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology. Over the years, he has taught six different CCP courses while serving as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Findlay, Heidelberg University, and Terra State Community College. With 26 years of teaching experience, he has taught a wide range of subjects before finding his true calling in advanced sciences.  

Chris’s teaching background also includes four years as a student study session consultant for AP Biology, ten summers of teaching at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, where he served as both an instructor and the Academic Dean for Science and Math, and two summers teaching English as a Second Language at Tianjin Normal University in the People’s Republic of China.  

In addition to his teaching experience, Chris has participated in numerous global expeditions, both on land and at sea, which enhances his ability to keep students engaged and excited about the sciences.

(From Hancock Public Health)

Hancock Public Health is hosting a **Car Seat Check Event** on July 10, 2025!

Join us to make sure your little ones are riding safely and securely.

Time:

– Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

– Afternoon Session: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Future events will be held on September 11 and November 13.

This free event is open to all! Bring your car seats, your questions, and let our certified technicians help you get everything adjusted just right. From infant seats to boosters, we’ll make sure your car seat is properly installed and tailored for safety.

Location: Hancock Public Health

No appointment necessary – just drop in! Whether you’re a new parent, a grandparent, or a caregiver, this is a great opportunity to make sure your family is as safe as possible on the road.

Share this post to help spread the word!

We can’t wait to see you there!

(ONN) – A new infrastructure report is out concerning the state of roadways and bridges in Ohio.

The report, from the American Society of Civil Engineers Ohio Council of Local Sections, lumps interstates, local, and rural roads together.

Ohio roads got a grade of D +, the same as national road grades.

Ohio bridges scored slightly above the national grade, receiving a C +.

The report shows 83 percent of Ohio Department of Transportation funding comes from federal and state fuel taxes which don’t go as far as they used to.

The governor’s office recently announced nearly $9 million in funding for the transportation improvement district to support 26 projects across the state.

(ONN) – Ohio lawmakers will return to the Ohio Statehouse in an effort to override some of Governor DeWine’s line-item budget vetoes.

Lawmakers will return to the Ohio Statehouse on Monday, July 21 to convene in the hopes of overriding three of the governor’s line-item vetoes from the state budget.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the House will need 60 votes and the Senate will need 20 votes to be successful.

On the agenda are the property tax vetoes including the elimination of school district and local governments to levy replacement property taxes, the calculations related to levies and school funding, and county commissioner authority to reduce voter-approved school levies.

(ONN ) – The Cleveland Browns are facing another legal challenge over their proposed new stadium in Brook Park.

A group of Ohio residents is suing to stop unclaimed funds from being used to fund the project.

The lawsuit says it is illegal for the state to take private property for private use without compensation.

$600 million in funding was approved in the new state budget signed into law by Governor DeWine.

The plaintiffs are asking a judge to block enforcement of that law.

(From Hancock County Sheriff Michael Cortez)

To the Hancock County Community,

Thank you for your continued trust, support, and partnership. As your Sheriff, I am profoundly grateful for your collaboration and confident in our shared commitment to transparency, accountability, excellence, and professionalism.

Below is a summary of our key activities and accomplishments for June 2025.

Operational Statistics – June 2025

• Total Incidents Closed: 2441
• Traffic Stops Conducted: 370
• OVI/Reckless Operation Investigations: 23
• Traffic Crashes Investigated: 71
• Court Documents Served: 199
• Arrest Warrants Executed: 54
• Detective Bureau/METRICH Operations: Search warrants and continued investigations.
• Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Program: Maintained full compliance with Ohio Collaborative standards, and we are awaiting the opening of the grant this fall.
• Policy and Procedure Review: Ongoing departmental roundtables held; several revisions implemented and released
• Emergency Communications: 855 calls received through 9-1-1 services
• Corrections Division:

– Average Daily Inmate Population: 76

– Total Book-ins: 125 (including both felony and misdemeanor classifications, male and female)

– Internal Incidents Managed: 118

– Meals Provided: 7,796

Thank you for the continued privilege to serve

Respectfully,

Sheriff Michael A. Cortez

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

The Blanchard Valley Health System Board of Trustees nominated new Board and Committee members at the recent annual meeting. As community leaders, BVHS Board and Committee members bring valuable insight and leadership that help ensure the organization continues to provide high-quality care, strategically plan for the future, and uphold its mission of “Caring for a lifetime.”

“Serving on the BVHS Board of Trustees is one of the most meaningful ways a person can contribute to the well-being of our community,” said Myron D. Lewis, MSW, MBA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer. “The decisions made by our trustees will shape the health and wellness of future generations. Their service ensures that individuals and families across our region continue to access high-quality, compassionate care. I am deeply grateful — as is our entire health system — for their commitment, leadership, and unwavering dedication to our mission.”

Joseph Longo, founder of Velosio, has been appointed as Board Chair. Longo previously served as Vice Chair and succeeds Ginger Jones, former chief financial officer of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company. Jones will remain on the Board as Immediate Past Chair.

Longo earned a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Villanova University’s School of Business in 1987. Before co-founding Velosio, a leading cloud applications services partner, he founded and led Plumbline Consulting as its president and CEO. The company offers software engineering and consulting services for Microsoft business applications. Additionally, he has served as president, board member, and coach of Findlay Amateur Hockey Association/Findlay High School and on the Board of Directors of The Findlay-Hancock County Alliance.

Longo has served in multiple capacities within BVHS for 20 years. During this time, he has been part of several committees, including the Insurance and Investment Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Executive Committee.

“I’m looking forward to being even more involved with BVHS as we navigate the current healthcare industry challenges,” said Joe Longo. “This is a time for focused unity — a time to come together with a clear purpose to ensure we weather today’s environment and emerge even stronger. I’m honored to serve alongside lifelong community leaders who are deeply committed to doing what’s best for our community. Our shared goal is to be BVHS’s responsible stewards and ensure continued access to high-quality, trusted health care for all.”

Jeff Shrader will assume the Vice Chair position. Shrader is currently the Senior Vice President at Farmers and Merchants State Bank.

A native of Findlay, Shrader earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University in 1985. He has extensive experience in finance and has held key leadership positions at banking and energy institutions.

Other Executive Committee members include Myron D. Lewis, president; Thomas Lause, treasurer; James PF Dowling, MD, secretary; Beth Kroetz, at-large member; and Frank A. Cosiano, MD, at-large member.

The Board has appointed Michael Denike, DO, a cardiologist with Heart & Vascular Specialists of Northwest Ohio, as its newest member.

Dr. Denike has served as BVHS Vice President of Medical Affairs, Medical Director of Cardiology, Chair of the Department of Medicine, and Vice President of the Medical Staff.

Dr. Denike received his D.O. degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999. He completed his internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Health System/Riverside Osteopathic Hospital (Trenton, Michigan) in 2002 and general cardiology fellowship at POH Medical Center (Pontiac, Michigan) in 2005. He is board-certified in General Cardiology, Adult Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Denike is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Osteopathic Internists.

John Quaid, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Marathon Petroleum Corporation, will serve as Board Chair of Blanchard Valley Health Foundation (BVHF). Quaid succeeds John Reineke, partner and wealth management advisor at Northwestern Mutual. As Chair of the BVHF Board, Quaid will also serve as an ex-officio member on the BVHS Board of Trustees.

Quaid earned a Bachelor of Science in business and economics from Lehigh University in 1994. Before serving as VP and CFO at Marathon, he was vice president of iron ore for U.S. Steel, overseeing all aspects of their iron ore mining operations.

Quaid began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he managed the firm’s audit and assurance practice. In this role, he served several major steel, oil, and gas companies. He has also worked for FastForward Inc., a startup enterprise marketing

software developer and service provider company. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors for MPLX GP LLC, which owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets.

Retiring from the BVHS Board of Trustees are William Hopkins, MD, Findlay Family Practice, Inc., and former BVHF Board Chair John Reineke.

“Dr. Hopkins and John Reineke have made meaningful and lasting contributions to the organization,” Lewis said. “We deeply appreciate their service and continued dedication to BVHS and the community. Their leadership, commitment, and passion have been invaluable to both BVHS and the Blanchard Valley Health Foundation. It is through generous and selfless contributions like theirs that we can grow and move forward as an organization.”

Additional committee appointments include Kelly Koenig, MD, to the BVHS Quality Committee and Matt Plotts to the BVHS Finance Committee.

To learn more about Blanchard Valley Health System and its connected care network, please visit bvhealthsystem.org.

(From the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts)

The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts (MCPA) is proud to present Bounce! A New Musical, the showcase performance of its Summer Performing Arts Camp, at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11.

Full of energy, humor, and heart, Bounce! tells the story of Reggie, a spirited 10-year-old who struggles to stay out of trouble at school. Through a series of laugh-out-loud moments and interactions with classmates—like Low, who’s tired of always being labeled “the smart kid,” and Hoops, whose main priority is what’s for lunch—Reggie begins to discover that having lots of energy isn’t a flaw, but a gift.

This vibrant new musical was created by Denver Casado and Dave Hudson and is presented through special arrangement with Beat by Beat Press.

The production features a cast of 60 talented local students in grades 1–8 who have spent the week honing their skills in MCPA’s immersive Summer Performing Arts Camp.

Tickets are $10 (general admission) and available at the MCPA Box Office or online at www.mcpa.org.

The box office is located at 200 W. Main Cross St. in Findlay and is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, laughter, and youthful talent as these young performers bring Bounce! to life on stage.