(From the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office)

Residents of Hancock County have reported receiving fraudulent text messages claiming to be from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on behalf of the Hancock County Treasurer’s Office.

These messages contain a link directing recipients to a fraudulent website that requests credit card information.

Hancock County Treasurer Welton has confirmed that his office does not send text messages requesting credit card details.

Residents are urged not to click on the link or provide any personal or financial information.

For verification of property tax information, please contact the Hancock County Treasurer’s Office directly.

Raise the Bar Hancock County is congratulating the members of its 11^th WorkAdvance cohort on their graduation from the program.

“Held at Owens Community College Findlay Campus, this special ceremony marked another group of graduates ready to take the next step in their careers with new skills, confidence, and connections,” said Raise the Bar Executive Director Tricia Valasek.

Hancock County’s WorkAdvance program requires eligible individuals to participate in a two-week training. The training covers job readiness skills; math refreshers; and technical training such as safety, robotics, machining, quality, troubleshooting, and assembly. Participants will interact with instructors to gain familiarity and comfort with the expectations of local manufacturing workplaces.

At the end of the training, partnering manufacturers will interview participants and potentially offer positions on their teams.

“A huge congratulations to each graduate! Your dedication and hard work have led you to this moment, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next.”

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce)

Applications are being accepted for the 2025-2026 Hancock Youth Leadership (HYL) program.

Affiliated with the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, HYL is an investment in the future of Findlay and Hancock County. Its purpose is to enhance knowledge and develop leadership skills in a select group of high school students, motivating them to become positive role models, active and committed to their civic responsibilities.

Students attend monthly sessions, beginning with a team-building retreat in August. Session topics include agriculture, health and human services, arts and media, diversity, business and economic development, justice and law, and volunteerism.

HYL is open to Hancock County and Findlay City Schools students, including those who are homeschooled, beginning their junior year in fall 2025. Applications are available online at www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL. Completed applications must be submitted by Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce at 419.422.3313, email djenkins@FindlayHancockChamber.com, or visit www.FindlayHancockChamber.com/HYL.https://findlayhancockchamber.com/HYL/

(From the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum)

The University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum will host an afternoon of creativity and whimsy with a presentation Sunday, March 2, by Thyra Heder, author/illustrator of picture books, storyboard and scenic artist for movies and TV.

The event is free and open to the public, beginning at 4:30 p.m., at the Mazza Museum, in the Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion on the UF campus.

Heder has created six picture books: Fraidyzoo, The Bear Report, Alfie, How Do You Dance?, Sal Boat, and most recently Nose to Nose.

Ben Sapp, director of the Mazza Museum, said book lovers and artists of all ages will enjoy Heder’s dynamic presentation.

“Thyra brings a blend of talent, enthusiasm, and approachability to her presentations, revealing the magic behind her illustrations,” he said.

A Massachusetts native, Heder graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in art semiotics with a focus on film and video. She currently lives in New York City and collaborates with many artists from her studio in Brooklyn.

Following her presentation, there will be book sales and autographing, and Heder’s books will be sold at a 15% discount.

Registration is requested at https://oilers.findlay.edu/pages/mazza-events/mazza-thyra-heder-illustrator. Visit the Mazza Museum’s website mazzamuseum.org for more information.

Findlay City Schools says it’s proud of its long-standing ‘Big Shake’ tradition. 

The program helps students learn how to make a good first impression, by making eye contact, having a good handshake, and being able to carry on a conversation.

After many years at just Bigelow Hill, the school district celebrated last year as the first year that every Findlay City Schools Intermediate building participated.

There are several rounds to the ‘Big Shake’.

The first round is a rapid-fire handshake and conversation, and each subsequent round becomes more difficult and involved.

The winning student at each building receives a $1000 scholarship from Chick-fil-A.

“We can’t complete this incredible challenge without the immense community support!  Hancock Leadership has spent a morning participating the last few years, many influential community members participate each year, and overall, this is an “all hands on deck” opportunity for our city,” the school district said.  

Round 1 of the ‘Big Shake’ begins the first week of March.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

Calling All Young Artists! Design Our Next Library Card! 

Your creativity could be part of library history!

We’re looking for Hancock County artists under 18 to design the new Youth Library Card, and we want YOUR artwork!

Winning design = Our next youth library card!

Submit entries by February 28, 2025

Drop off at the Children’s Desk, Arlington, or the Bookmobile

Pick up an entry form at the library or download it from our website.

The community will vote to choose the winner! 

(From the Kiwanis Club of Findlay)

The Kiwanis Club of Findlay is thrilled to share that the featured speaker for the February 19 meeting is Christie M. Weininger, the executive director of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums in Fremont, Ohio.

The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums opened in 1916 and is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system.

Almost immediately needing expansion the museum grew and today is comprised of the presidential library, the museum, the Hayes Home, the tomb of the president and first lady, and walking trails.

Executive Director Christie Weininger will be speaking to the club and guests about the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums and their work, as well as her personal path to her role.

The public is welcome to attend Wednesday’s presentation.

The meeting and presentation will begin at Noon at St. Mark’s DOCK, 800 S. Main St., Findlay, and take place over lunch.

Chartered in 1920, the Kiwanis Club of Findlay is open to those who want to make a difference in their community and world.

A snapshot of the community, with members from all walks of life and at every step of the career ladder, Kiwanians are unified in the belief that children and their communities benefit from the efforts of a proficient group of caring and involved volunteers.

Those wishing to learn more about Kiwanis are encouraged to reach out through social media, attend a meeting as a guest, or visit the club’s website at FindlayKiwanis.com.

(From the University of Findlay)

University of Findlay will host International Mother Language Day on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025. The event is free and open to the public and is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the atrium of the Center for Student Life and College of Business Building.

“The event will showcase the rich linguistic and cultural diversity on campus. UF students will present songs, poems, and dances representing various languages and traditions. Multilingualism and multiculturalism require effort to preserve,” said Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D., associate professor of Japanese and director of modern language at the University of Findlay. “Without a safe and welcoming community, people may feel compelled to hide their languages and cultures.”

International Mother Language Day was established in 1999 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) to recognize and honor the world’s linguistic and cultural diversity, and to emphasize that multilingualism is essential for sustainable development. The event is celebrated globally on February 20, and has been observed every year for the past 24 years. The broader initiative of International Mother Language Day is to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by people through the world.

For more information on the University of Findlay event, contact Hiroaki Kawamura, Ph.D., at kawamura@findlay.edu.

(From Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County)

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will recognize 15 years of ReStore serving the community with a celebration on Saturday, February 22 at 9 a.m. at the ReStore, 1200 Commerce Parkway, Findlay.

During the event Jerry Hawkins, considered the founder of ReStore in Findlay/Hancock County, will be honored posthumously with a special naming ceremony and gathering with family and friends. Hawkins served on the Habitat Board of Directors from 2008-2016 as the first ReStore Committee Chairman. He conducted extensive research to determine the viability of establishing a ReStore in the community and coordinated the funding and staffing that established ReStore’s first location on Tiffin Avenue in 2010. He then led the effort to expand into the first showroom for furniture sales in 2015.

“Jerry’s servant leadership was an example to all who worked with him,” explains Wendy McCormick, Habitat Executive Director. “He was a visionary for our ReStore and embodied loving your neighbor as yourself in all his community work and as a leader on our board. On Saturday we will be honoring his generosity, humble leadership and friendship.”

Following his service on the Board, Hawkins also served as a consultant to assist with the relocation of the Habitat offices and ReStore in 2019 to a Home of Our Own in the current location on Commerce Parkway. Habitat honored Hawkins for his transformative work with ReStore with its highest honor, the Paul Geyer Leadership Award, in 2016.

ReStore serves as an integral component for Habitat to serve its mission, with 40 percent of the affiliate’s income generated by ReStore revenue. ReStore’s inventory is provided by donations of used and new products from local individuals and businesses and sold to the public at discounted prices. ReStore offers free pick up for individual donations within Hancock County.

With the outpouring of community support of donated furniture, home goods and appliances, ReStore has grown exponentially during the past 15 years. Additionally, items donated and sold at ReStore have saved 3,895 tons of material from local landfills during the past 15 years.

For the past three years, ReStore has been named Findlay’s Best Thrift/Resell Store and in 2021 was named the Go Local Small Business Champion of the Year by the Findlay/Hancock County Chamber of Commerce.

This event is open to the public and is one of many scheduled events throughout the year celebrating Habitat for Humanity’s 25 years of impact in the Findlay/Hancock County community.

(From Findlay City Schools)

When the weekend of Findlay High School‘s spring musical coincides with Marathon Center for the Performing Arts‘ Youtheatre performances,

And when the Findlay High School Creative & Performing Arts has chosen to perform Hello, Dolly in Gavin’s honor,

And when various local business and restaurants have jumped at the chance to pay tribute to the life of this incredible incredible human,

There’s only one thing left to do: Dedicate the entire weekend in Findlay to Gavin Creel.

Mark your calendars for March 14-16: A weekend of arts, dedicated to one of our treasured stars, Gavin Creel.

More information coming soon!