This is a press release from Raise The Bar Hancock County® announcing a new video series:

FINDLAY, OH [July 5, 2024]– Raise the Bar Hancock County® announces the release of a new video series spotlighting in-demand education and human service careers in Hancock County. This initiative continues Raise the Bar’s effort to enhance workforce development and support local talent in pursuing rewarding careers.

The video series provides a close-up look at the opportunities available within several people-oriented sectors. Each video aims to inspire and inform students, job seekers, and community members about the careers that are essential to the county’s growth and prosperity.

Area Employers and Professions Spotlighted:
1. Findlay Family YMCA Early Learning Professionals
2. Findlay City Schools K-12 Paraprofessionals
3. Millstream Career Center Instructors
4. Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Youth and Adult Learning Staff
5. Family Resource Center and Hancock County Job and Family Services Case Managers

“Our community’s best asset is our people,” says Tricia Valasek, Raise the Bar’s executive director. “Taking the time to develop people from infancy through adulthood is one of the best investments we can make. It’s imperative that we continue to create awareness and fill a pipeline of individuals who can take on this rewarding task. It is because of this demand that we focused our initial these five targeted careers.”

Each video in the series features local professionals in the field, offering viewers a glimpse into the daily responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of these careers. The videos also provide information on the education and skills required, potential career growth, and the impact these roles have on the community.

“Supporting our children is vital for the growth and prosperity of our community. Childcare workers are truly the workforce behind the workforce,” shares Kari Redman, the Findlay Family YMCA Childcare Development Center Director. Raise the Bar highlighted the YMCA’s childcare team in one of their videos because of the growing demand for early learning/childcare options in the community. Valasek points out that the YMCA, like other licensed facilities in Ohio, requires specific staff-to-child ratios depending on age. “Adding spots for infants, toddlers, and school-aged children requires our childcare facilities to hire more trained and qualified staff. We need to build this career sector quickly.”

The video series is available on Raise the Bar’s YouTube channel (@raisethebarhancockcounty7737). Raise the Bar also intends to release individual videos on its social media platforms and to the schools for use with their career programming.

Raise the Bar Hancock County® connects stakeholders to advance workforce excellence. Through collaboration with local businesses, educational institutions, and community partners, Raise the Bar® strives to evolve the paradigms of workplace opportunity to build a community where employment and career advancement are accessible and attainable.

Photo:  Sandra Velasquez, Preschool Teacher Mentor at the Findlay Family YMCA Childcare Development Center, shares her personal experience in one of Raise the Bar’s videos.

The City of Findlay has issued a press release regarding Door to Door Energy Companies not affiliated with the city possibly contacting local residents.

Findlay, Ohio – July 5, 2024: The City of Findlay recently issued solicitor licenses to several representatives of various energy companies pursuant to Section 767 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Findlay.

These energy companies are NOT affiliated with the City of Findlay in any way. They are NOT authorized to act on the City’s behalf. They are NOT authorized by the City to request to see residents’ utility bills. They are an outside, independent agency seeking your business.

Energy Harbor remains the City of Findlay’s only governmental electric aggregation utility through March 2026, and IGS Energy remains the City of Findlay’s only governmental gas aggregation utility through October 2024.

The City of Findlay does not send representatives of the governmental utility aggregation program to your door. Communication is made through the US Mail.

If you feel you are being harassed by representatives of these energy companies, please contact the Police Department at 419-424-7150.

You may also file a complaint about a utility service with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). You can reach the PUCO at 1-800-686-7826 or at https://puco.ohio.gov.

From City of Findlay Auditor, Jim Staschiak II

The City of Findlay’s published Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the Fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 was released at Findlay City Council’s meeting on 7/2/23.

The financial information has been taken from the 2023 City of Findlay’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The Annual Report consists of detailed financial statements, notes and schedules as well as very detailed statistical information.

More Ohio store closing locations have been announced in the latest bankruptcy court filings for Rite Aid, including a location in Findlay at the corner of North Main Street and East Trenton Avenue. Rite Aid has another Findlay location at 301 N. Main Street. Nothing has been reported regarding that location.

Other area stores closing include:  Bowling Green, Fremont, Kenton, Lima and Tiffin.

Rite Aid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2023.

This is a partial list of stores scheduled to close in Ohio:

From Findlay Rotary Club

Leah Brant was installed as president of the Findlay Rotary Club at the Club’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Brant holds a doctorate of education, Ed.D., from the University of Findlay. Her research was on the benefits of therapy dogs on college campuses to help students adjust and connect to the community. Maizy, a certified therapy dog, visits the UF campus on a regular basis to provide comfort and unconditional love to anyone that may need some Golden Retriever love attention. Brant sits on various teams and committees at UF and serves as the advisor for two student organizations. Prior to teaching at UF, she taught at Donnell Middle School as a 6th grade teacher. It was at this time, while Brant was at Donnell that she was introduced to Findlay Rotary Club as the Golden Apple finalist in the middle school division. As a result of being a finalist, she became a member of the Golden Apple Academy and worked alongside Findlay Rotarians to help support our community’s educators.

In addition to Rotary, Brant serves on the board for Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria. She has also volunteered for Hancock County Parkinson’s Network and Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice as a hospice volunteer.

Brant and her husband, Eric, live in Fostoria and have a grown daughter, Hope.
Other Rotary officers are: Chris Webb, president-elect; Robin Ridge, treasurer; John Harrington, secretary; Andy Ritz, sergeant-at-arms; and Scott Hohman, immediate past president.

Club board members include, Brant, Heather Clow, Angela DeBoskey, Jeff Fort, Tom Parke, Irvin Reinhart, Bill Reist, Chris Webb and Dick Zunkiewicz.

June 26 (Reuters) – German engineering group Robert Bosch is weighing a bid for U.S. appliances manufacturer Whirlpool (WHR.N), according to three people familiar with the matter, a move that would boost its position in the household appliances market.

Bosch has been talking to potential advisers about the possibility of making an offer for Whirlpool, which has a market capitalization of about $4.8 billion, one of the sources said.

The sources said it was not certain that an offer would be made, and asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential.

Spokespeople for Bosch and Whirlpool said the companies do not comment on “market rumours”. The U.S. company’s shares rose 12.7% in early trading after the Reuters report.
Buying one of the world’s biggest white-goods manufacturers would significantly beef up Bosch’s home appliance business at a time when competition with Asian rivals is growing.

Whirlpool would be a major deal for Bosch. Whirlpool’s brands include KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, and Consul.

Whirlpool, founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, produces a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, dryers and small kitchen appliances.

Whirlpool has a manufacturing facility in Findlay. For more than 50 years, its Findlay Operation has been producing dishwashers for a number of brands. The plant holds the honor of being the first one built by Whirlpool Corporation, as well as the first plant to utilize wind power. With more than 2,600 employees, it’s one of the top employers in Hancock County.

Due to the weather, the Ohio Department of Transportation will be extending the closure of I-75/CR99 Northbound exit ramp until Friday 6/28/24. It was originally scheduled to close Monday for three days.

Traffic for northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 remain restricted with the left lanes closed in both directions for bridge pier construction. 

Visit the project website for further details: I-75/CR 99 interchange improvements | Ohio Department of Transportation

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced the work on the Lima Avenue ramp to I-75 Northbound has been delayed due to weather. This work previously was scheduled for today, will now take place tomorrow, THURSDAY, JUNE 27!

The Lima Ave entrance ramp to I-75 northbound will close for one day for guardrail repair.

The suggested detour from ODOT is: U.S. 68 south to U.S. 68/SR 15 interchange, exit and reenter U.S. 68 north, back to I-75 north.

This past Saturday near McComb, amateur radio enthusiasts from around the region, and across the country, gathered for the annual Amateur Radio Field Day, a highly anticipated event that highlights the importance and utility of amateur radio in emergency communications. Among the participants was the Northwest Ohio VHF Amateur Radio Society (NOVARS), which set up their equipment near McComb for a day of intensive practice and community engagement.

Evan Hartman, a key member of the NOVARS club, took the time to speak about the event and its significance in an audio interview. Hartman explained that Field Day is not only a chance for amateur radio operators to showcase their skills but also a crucial exercise in preparing for real-world emergencies.

The NOVARS setup near McComb was impressive, featuring a range of antennas, transceivers, and portable power sources. Club members worked in shifts, ensuring continuous operation and communication with other Field Day participants across North America. The event serves as a friendly competition, with clubs earning points based on the number of successful contacts they make, the variety of methods used, and the difficulty of the setups.

Hartman also emphasized the importance in welcoming new people to the amateur radio community and talked about resources available to get that first “ham radio” license.

The camaraderie among the NOVARS members was palpable on Saturday as they worked together to solve technical challenges and improve their setup throughout the day. Despite the intense focus on the technical aspects, there was also a strong sense of community spirit, with operators sharing stories, tips, and encouragement.

Local residents were invited to visit the NOVARS site to learn more about amateur radio. Many took the opportunity to see the equipment in action and understand the critical role that these enthusiasts play in times of crisis.

Field Day 2024 proved to be a successful event for NOVARS and the broader amateur radio community. With numerous contacts made and valuable experience gained, the event reinforced the importance of amateur radio operators and their role in emergency preparedness.

For more insights from the event, including the full audio interview with Evan Hartman, visit the NOVARS website or follow their social media channels.

For more information, contact: Northwest Ohio VHF Amateur Radio Society (NOVARS) Website: https://www.novars.space/

The Gathering in Downtown Findlay has announced in a Facebook post that the restaurant has closed, as well as the Anvil Whiskey Bar, located upstairs. 

The Gathering Wine will remain open until July 31st, 2024, inviting anyone who has a gift card to any of The Gathering properties to visit and enjoy a bottle of their favorite wine.

The Gathering and upstairs Anvil Whiskey Bar.

Gathering Wine Patio