(From Hancock Public Health)

This National Preparedness Month, we want to give a special shoutout to our incredible MRC Volunteers!

Your dedication plays a vital role in our public health preparedness and response efforts. We’re truly inspired by your commitment and appreciate all that you do!

Interested in volunteering your time in a meaningful way?

Opportunities for both medical and nonmedical personnel! Click here: https://conta.cc/47c3jeJ to complete an information request form to learn more about the MRC!

(From Oktoberfest Findlay!)

Grab your lederhosen or dirndl and head to downtown Findlay for the 10th annual Oktoberfest Findlay! German heritage festival presented by Premier Bank taking place from 2 – 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28. The family-friendly event celebrates German heritage in Hancock County with live music, polka dancing, children’s activities, German food, contests and an impressive selection of German and local craft beer, wine and more.

Kicking off the entertainment at 2 p.m. will be the Toledo-based polka band DynaBrass at the main stage sponsored by LaRiche Chevrolet Cadillac. In recent years, DynaBrass has become one of the most acclaimed Polish-American polka bands in America and has received or been nominated for 15 Polka Music Awards from the International Polka Association and the United States Polka Association since 2016. A fan favorite, Fred Ziwich and his International Sound Machine will return to the Oktoberfest Findlay! main stage at 6:30 p.m. Ziwich was inducted into the International Polka Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

From 2 – 7 p.m. children of all ages will enjoy German crafts and games in the Kinderplatz! Kids Zone, sponsored by Superior Trim. At 4 p.m., the opening ceremony and official tapping of the firkin will take place. Throughout the day, guests will enjoy a great selection of authentic and themed German cuisine from Findlay and Ohio local vendors including Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Saum’s Market. The festival will have over 50 different styles of German import, craft and domestic beers, in addition to wine and seltzers, with ten regional craft breweries in attendance.

The festival will feature a variety of adult contests from 5 – 9 p.m. at the south end of the festival sponsored by Findlay Brewing Company. Contests include stein holding, an obstacle relay course and a bratwurst eating competition. Attendees can sign up to participate near the Contest Stage located at the south end of the festival starting at 3 p.m. Oktoberfest Findlay! is a cash only event and several ATMs will be available outside of the festival site. Admission is $5 for 21 and over, and $3 for under 21. A complete schedule of events is available at www.OktoberfestFindlay.com.

(From the United Way of Hancock County)

Are you interested in becoming a foster family?

Or maybe you’re looking for an impactful way to support the foster care system in Hancock County.

Open Hearts, Open Home, scheduled from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, will bridge prospective foster families with essential resources and advocates to help them get started on their journey to foster care.

The event is being organized by Fostering Hancock County, comprised of representatives from Hancock County Job & Family Services, Findlay Family YMCA and United Way of Hancock County.

“The state of Ohio, and Hancock County in particular, is experiencing a shortfall in the number of foster homes available to care for children in the custody of public children’s services agencies,” said Randall Galbraith, director of Hancock County Job & Family Services. “This shortfall has led to a crisis in placing children into loving homes. All too often, children must wait in the lobbies of agencies or in temporary shelters until a foster home can be located. In addition, available foster homes are frequently located outside of Hancock County which disrupts kinship, school and friendship ties.

“This is added stress to a child who is already experiencing extreme levels of trauma,” Galbraith added.

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 6 ($210). When making a sponsorship, individuals will have the option of choosing to attend as well, 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.

The Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 Foundation was presented with a big check from the 12th annual WKXA / 106.3 The Fox Charity Golf Scramble presented by Ohio Logistics.

Development Director Teresa White was presented with the $4,300 check by Kahuna in the picture above.

She says the money will go a long way in helping them help youth in the community.

“Every dollar helps. We’re a very small foundation with limited resources and every single dollar helps us to be able to make a positive interaction between youth and law enforcement.”

The FOP Lodge 20’s biggest annual event is Cops and Kids Go Shopping and they also put on the Halloween Parade and other events.

Click here to learn more about Fort Findlay FOP Lodge 20 and its programming.

“Thank you to all the golfers and sponsors who made this year’s Charity Golf Scramble a huge success,” Kahuna said.

(in the picture above are Brittney from Ohio Logistics, Kahuna from The Fox, Teresa from the FOP Lodge Foundation, and Rex from WKXA)

The Marion Township Trustees and Hancock Public Health are partnering to offer their annual Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic.

It will be held on Tuesday, September 24 at the Marion Township House at 16003 State Route 568 from 3 to 6.

Flu shots and COVID boosters will be available.

Officials say the drive-thru clinic is especially beneficial for those who are bringing the elderly or disabled.

Remember to bring your photo ID and insurance card.

You may have seen ‘Do Unto Others’ signs popping up in yards around Findlay.

St. Mark’s UMC in Findlay has launched a ‘Do Unto Others’ campaign – encouraging each of us to share a little kindness to our neighbors and society in general. 

Pastor Dan Metzger was on with WFIN’s Chris Oaks to discuss the initiative.

“I’ve had the opportunity to interact with some of the folks in our Haitian community, and it’s given me an opportunity to know, oh, these are the things that are going on in your life,” Metzger said.

“And it’s given me a little bit more compassion, a little bit more understanding.”

If you would like one of the yard signs, they are available in the church office at 800 South Main Street in Findlay.

(ONN) – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is painting a different picture of Springfield than the one created by the Trump-Vance ticket.

The governor wrote an editorial in the New York Times describing his lifelong connection to Springfield.

In it, he talks about the city’s long history of immigrants from all backgrounds and the positive impact Haitian migrants are having on Springfield’s economy.

The governor also writing this: “as a supporter of former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, I am saddened by how they and others continue to repeat claims that lack evidence and disparage the legal migrants living in Springfield. This rhetoric hurts the city and its people, and it hurts those who have spent their lives there.”

In the editorial, the governor also criticized the Biden administration for its “failure to control the southern border” but said verbal attacks against legal Haitian migrants dilute arguments about the border issue.

(From the Tiffin Police Department)

Another GREAT event linking together the education community, law enforcement, and members of our community!

This educational program is designed for elementary students, particularly those in kindergarten through third grade, to learn essential safety rules.

Throughout the week, kids explored important topics like road safety, bicycle safety, pedestrian awareness, and fire safety.

Hosted by the amazing officers from the Tiffin Police Department and the dedicated crew from Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division – Safety City transforms the Lincoln Pre-K School gym into a miniature city, providing hands-on learning in a fun and interactive way. This year’s event ran from Monday, September 16th through Friday, September 20th.

A special shout out to Tiffin City Schools, Tiffin Calvert Schools, Tiffin Columbian High School Leadership Program, the Tiffin Police Citizens Academy Alumni, and all the other volunteers who make this event possible. Your support makes a real difference in teaching our kids how to stay safe!

Huge thanks to Sergeant Jared Watson and the Tiffin PD team along with everyone at Tiffin Fire/Rescue Division for putting together another successful Safety City!

Chief David Pauly

Two dozen volunteer teams participated in the United Way of Hancock County’s fall Days of Caring event.

WFIN stopped by Wilson Vance Intermediate School in Findlay where a group from Amazon was helping out.

Judy Wicinski, music teacher at Wilson Vance, says Days of Caring is a big help.

The biannual volunteer event matches employees of area corporations and small businesses with nonprofits and other service agencies in need of some extra help.

“Days of Caring is an exciting element of Campaign season, as it combines our commitment to promoting volunteerism with special events geared toward raising awareness,” said United Way of Hancock County CEO Kelley McClurkin.

“This event is a great reminder that anyone can be a Difference Maker — whether it be through their gift of time, advocacy for an important cause or financial support.”

With the value of a volunteer hour estimated at $33.49, Days of Caring provides important savings for organizations hosting projects. This is money these agencies can put directly toward their mission and services.

This was the United Way of Hancock County’s 40th year for Days of Caring.

Day of Caring is held in the spring and in the fall.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation)

A new designated fund was recently established at the Foundation to support Cory-Rawson Local Schools.

The Cory-Rawson School Foundation committee established the Cory-Rawson Green and Gold Foundation Fund with support from the school community.

To learn more or donate to the newly established fund visit: https://www.community-foundation.com/…/green-and-gold…