(From Bowling Green State University)

Following a highly competitive selection process, the Bowling Green State University Falcon Marching Band has been chosen to perform in the 2027 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, leading up to the internationally watched Rose Bowl Game.

As one of the nation’s largest college marching bands, the 475-member BGSU Falcon Marching Band will perform in the 2027 parade along with bands from the two universities that will compete in the Rose Bowl Game. Bands are selected based on various criteria, including musicianship, marching ability, uniqueness, entertainment value or special interest, according to organizers.

“We are so proud of our Falcon Marching Band for being selected to perform at the Rose Parade in 2027,” said BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers. “This is an extremely competitive application process, and being selected to perform by such a knowledgeable committee highlights not only the size, but the talent and caliber of the Falcon Marching Band, led by Professor Jon Waters. Professor Waters, members of our band – including both our current students and band alumni – as well as their families and the community have all played an important role in making this amazing opportunity a reality, and we are so grateful for their hard work and support.”

The Falcon Marching Band will join high school, military and other bands from around the world as it marches 5 ½ miles down Orange Grove and Colorado boulevards as part of the iconic parade, which last year drew an estimated 800,000 people to Pasadena and 10.5 million viewers nationwide.

“This is an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime honor for our students,” said Director of Marching and Athletic Bands professor Jon Waters. “The Rose Parade is one of the biggest and best parades in the world, with amazing color and pageantry, and being selected to perform is a pinnacle moment for some of the most distinguished marching bands in the world. We are honored that the Falcon Marching Band will represent Bowling Green State University on such a large stage, and we are so proud of our students for their hard work to get here.”

The selection of the BGSU Falcon Marching Band for the 2027 performance comes as Waters will lead the Band Director’s Marching Band in the 2026 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.

Underscoring the top-ranked BGSU experience, the Falcon Marching Band provides students with opportunities to travel beyond northwest Ohio for immersive learning and playing opportunities, most recently in Dublin, Ireland, where the band performed in the renowned St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

This fall, the band will travel to the University of Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 6, and Ohio University on Saturday, Sept. 27, to support the BGSU football team and represent the University at away games. The Falcon Marching Band will also perform during this year’s BGSU Homecoming celebration and in the Bowling Green Community Holiday Parade.

Serving as the largest student organization on campus and the biggest band in BGSU history, this season’s Falcon Marching Band comprises nearly 80% of non-music majors as more students choose to continue their marching band experience at the Division I level.

(picture courtesy of BGSU)

(From the City of Findlay)

City of Findlay officials are pleased to announce that they have established a 12-month fixed-rate of $0.597/Ccf for members of the natural gas aggregation program. The fixed rate will run through the October 2026 billing cycle. Residents and small commercial customers can expect a letter from IGS Energy to arrive shortly after September 5, 2025. The letter will explain the rate, terms and conditions of the offer. The natural gas aggregation program was approved by voters in 2002 and is available for residents and small businesses in the City.

The City of Findlay is pleased to make this rate available for its residents and small businesses. The fixed-rate will give residents price protection and budget stability for the next term. As before, the City of Findlay program has no early termination fee.

Eric Burns, Director of Aggregation of Independent Energy Consultants, said, “Residents and businesses should carefully read their letter from IGS Energy. Residents who are currently participating in the program will receive an “opt-out” letter, and do not need to take any action to remain in the program. Residents who have not chosen a supplier and receive their gas supply from Columbia Gas of Ohio will also receive an “opt-out” letter. If they wish to be added to the program, they should simply do nothing and they will automatically receive the new rate.”

The aggregation program is simply another option for residents to consider, and it is important that residents make themselves aware of the other options available to them, specifically:
• The Public Utility Commission of Ohio provides a list of other publicly available offers on their website, www.energychoice.ohio.gov. Anyone considering those supply offers should be aware of any early termination penalties, fixed monthly charges, or automatic renewal provisions that can quickly offset any perceived savings. The City of Findlay program includes none of the above.
• The utility’s supply rate the Standard Choice Offer (SCO) is a variable rate option. It follows monthly market conditions and trends up and down throughout the year.

Again, the City of Findlay would like to remind residents that the program is simply another option for City of Findlay residents and small businesses to consider in their efforts to manage their energy costs.

The City of Findlay is pleased to have made this program possible. Residents should contact IGS Energy at 877-353-0162 if they have any questions regarding their letter or status in the aggregation program.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)

Since 1999, the Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) Program has served as an investment in the future of Findlay and Hancock County.

By giving a select group of high school students the hands-on experience they need to develop their leadership and communications skills, HYL is the motivating force creating positive role models and future leaders committed to their civic responsibilities.

With student representatives from Arcadia, Arlington, Cory-Rawson, Findlay, Liberty-Benton, McComb, and Van Buren, we are looking forward to another great year of HYL!

Interested in supporting the Class of 2026? Check out sponsorship opportunities here!

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

The Friends of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library invite the public to a special two-day sale at The Book Cellar, the Friends’ used book shop in the lower level of the library, featuring deep discounts on audiovisual materials.

The sale will take place on Monday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 10 in the Younger Room from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days. Fill a bag of DVDs, music CDs or audiobook CDs for only $4.00.

Whether you’re expanding your music collection, searching for a new favorite film, or looking for your next audiobook adventure, this is a great opportunity to stock up while supporting your local library, as proceeds from the sale support library programs and services throughout the year.

For questions about the sale, please contact the Book Cellar at 419-434-1044.

The Hancock County Democratic Party will be holding an event with candidates including Dr. Amy Acton, who is running for governor.

“We’re thrilled to host a suite of determined candidates here in Hancock County who are thoroughly committed to making our city, counties, and Ohio a better place for all of us,” said Eve Gray, Chairwoman of the Hancock County Democratic Party.

The Hancock County Democratic Party’s Fall Gala will be held on September 7th beginning at 5 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1050 Interstate Drive in Findlay. 

Get more details by clicking here.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 2 invites the public to attend an open house for the South Town Street Railroad Grade Separation project in Fostoria, Ohio.

Meeting details:

• Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2025
• Time: 4:00-7:00 p.m.
• Location: Collaboration Studio at the Fostoria Learning Center

342 Perry Street, Fostoria, Ohio

ODOT is proposing this project to improve safety and mobility of the at-grade crossings of South Town Street and Columbus Avenue at the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads in Fostoria, Ohio.  The proposed project would provide a grade-separated crossing on South Town Street over the railroad tracks.  For maps and additional project details, visit the website: http://www.transportation.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odot/projects/projects/119654.

The public is invited to attend the open house meeting and provide feedback regarding the recommended preferred alternative.  Comments regarding the project may be submitted at the meeting, on the project website through the comment submittal form, or by direct contact at the methods listed below. Comments received by Friday, September 26, 2025, will be included in the official project documentation, but all comments will be accepted at any time.

Individuals who require meeting materials in an alternate format or to provide comments are asked to contact ODOT at the number below. Public participation in this project is solicited without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin or disability.

Questions or comments regarding the project may be directed to David Geckle, project manager, at 419-373-4377 or by email at David.Geckle@dot.ohio.gov.

(From the Hancock County Veterans Service Office)

Join the Hancock County Veterans Service Office at the Hancock County Fair. Wednesday, August 27th is Veterans Day at the Fair and your Veterans Service Office has a packed day to celebrate our local Veterans and Veteran Influencers.

The first 150 veterans to register with our booth in the Old Millstream building from 11am – noon receive a lunch food voucher good for select vendors that day. Dinner from Texas Roadhouse will be served at 5pm following a brief Veterans Recognition Ceremony. All of these will be in the Old Millstream Building on the Hancock County Fairgrounds.

Veterans can spend time in the air conditioned Old Millstream Building where members of our office will be on hand to answer your questions and discuss services our office provides to local veterans and their caregivers and most importantly, listen to their stories.

If you don’t already have a veteran ID, or Veterans We Want You T-Shirt, stop by our office with a recorded DD214 to get your card so you can get into the Fair for free on Veterans Day.

Also, we want to flood the fairgrounds on Veterans Day with a very special Veterans We Want you T-shirt, so veterans, spot by our office to get your free shirt.

We look forward to connecting with all of our veterans and those that influence and support our veterans at the 2025 Hancock County Fair. Stop by and chat with us. We want to hear from you.

For more information, visit www.hancockveterans.com or contact our office at 419-424-7036.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

Housing is a challenge facing many of our friends and neighbors in Hancock County.

We’ve committed $150,000 to help address this need, and we’re challenging our community to invest with us.

Learn more about our Community Housing and Interim Housing Program Funds at community-foundation.com/rooted.

(From the Findlay Police Department)

Are you looking for a career where you can effect change in your community?

Are you looking for a career where you get to help people?

We’re always looking for dedicated men and women to join on our team.

Check out our latest recruitment video to find out what we’re all about.

Interested? Follow our social media pages and website for future testing dates and announcements.

(From the Office of the State Fire Marshal)

As the state of Ohio continues to experience an alarming decline in the number of its volunteer firefighters, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal’s Ohio Fire Academy has launched an innovative new portal to more easily and directly connect Ohioans with available opportunities at their local fire houses so communities across the state continue to have access to the protection they deserve. 

Approximately 70% of Ohio’s nearly 1,200 fire departments rely on volunteers, but a significant decline in the volunteer fire service is jeopardizing its future viability. While the number of emergency calls is increasing across the state, the number of volunteer firefighters is decreasing. From 2018 to 2021, there was a 6.5% decrease in the number of volunteer firefighters; meanwhile, from 2018 to 2020, there was a 9% increase in calls.

The nation is experiencing a similar trend. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, approximately 65% of the country’s estimated 1,041,200 firefighters are volunteers, and 64% of 29,452 fire departments in the U.S. are all-volunteer. In 2020, the number of volunteer firefighters in the U.S. reached a low while call volume has more than tripled in the last 35 years.

The Division’s new state-of-the-art Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment Portal aims to address these challenges by streamlining the recruitment process and making it easier than ever for Ohioans who are interested in joining the volunteer fire service to connect with their local department. In a matter of just seconds, Ohioans can enter basic location and contact information into the portal and submit an inquiry that is sent directly to their nearest volunteer fire departments. Once submitted, the fire chiefs of those departments are notified so they can follow up with those interested individuals.

“Volunteer fire departments are the backbone of Ohio’s fire service, and our hope is that this new recruitment portal is a game-changer for them, especially in terms of their ability to engage with and recruit the next generation of brave hometown heroes,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “For anyone looking to serve their community, this is truly a one-stop shop to get connected with their local volunteer departments and make a potentially life-saving difference.”

The development of this portal expands upon recent efforts by the Division of State Fire Marshal to address the decline in volunteer firefighters. Following the 2023 Governor’s Volunteer Fire Service Task Force, over the past year, the Division has launched two media campaigns to highlight this dangerous trend and encourage Ohioans to consider becoming volunteer firefighters. These campaigns directed individuals to the National Volunteer Fire Council’s Make Me a Firefighter website at makemeafirefighter.org and resulted in a significant increase in inquiries about volunteer opportunities in the state. During the campaigns, Ohio-based visits to makemeafirefighter.org increased by over 1,000% from the preceding year, more than 14,000 zip code searches were conducted, and users initiated over 2,500 actions to contact a local fire department, such as completing an interest form or making a call. As a result of the success of this initiative, the Division’s campaign was recently named a finalist for a prestigious Ragan Communications PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Award.

The new Volunteer Recruitment Portal allows the Division to further enhance these efforts by focusing on local recruitment and providing additional support and resources to volunteer fire departments throughout Ohio. Whereas makemeafirefighter.org is a nationwide search database, this new portal is specific to Ohio and allows the Division to more directly engage with volunteers and notify department leadership of potential volunteer interest.

In addition to the awareness campaigns and development of this new portal, the Division of State Fire Marshal continues to support future volunteer firefighter recruitment efforts by providing training and classes for volunteer firefighters and volunteer departments at no cost to them.

“The future of Ohio’s volunteer fire service is critical to the future safety of our communities and those who call them home,” Reardon said. “While we are committed to doing everything possible to support the men and women of the volunteer fire service, we are calling on brave and selfless Ohioans in every corner of the state to consider how they might step up and become the heroes our communities so desperately need.”