All posts by Matt Demczyk

Black Swamp Area Council Scouting Golf Classic A Big Success

(From the Black Swamp Area Council)

The Black Swamp Area Council’s 26th Annual Scouting Golf Classic was a resounding success, raising over $90,000 to support local Scouting programs across Northwest and West Central Ohio. Held at the beautiful Findlay Country Club, the event brought together 27 foursomes and dozens of sponsors for a day of golf, fellowship, and community impact.

The winning team from National Lime & Stone of Hardy Hartzell, Tim Mayle, Jon Beach (not in the picture), Tim Federici took home top honors, celebrated in a photo with Marc Kogan, Scout Executive; Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, Council VP of Development; and Julian Piña, Assistant Golf Pro at the Findlay Country Club.

“This event is more than just a day on the green—it’s a powerful investment in the future of our youth,” said Marc Kogan. “We’re incredibly grateful to our sponsors, golfers, and volunteers who made this day possible.”

Top Sponsors Included:

  • Romick Wealth Strategies LLC – Presenting Sponsor
  • Marathon Petroleum Company
  • Doty Dental
  • Thrivent Financial
  • M&B Asphalt
  • Ohio Logistics
  • Garner Trucking

All proceeds from the outing stay 100% local, directly benefiting over 3,000 youth and adult volunteers served by the Black Swamp Area Council.

Save the Date!

The 27th Annual Scouting Golf Classic is already scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, once again at the Findlay Country Club.

‘The Submarine That Sank A Train’ Topic Of Museum Lecture

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum invites the public to its upcoming Brown Bag Lecture on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at noon. This month’s featured presentation, “The USS Barb: The Submarine That Sank a Train,” will be delivered by Eric Wilkins, veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the Ohio Army National Guard, and current fire inspector with the Findlay Fire Department.

A self-described “war nerd,” Wilkins spent his COVID lockdown immersed in the stories of submarine warfare—and emerged with one of the most astonishing tales of World War II. His presentation will explore the exploits of the USS Barb, one of the most successful American submarines of the war, under the bold command of Captain Eugene Fluckey.

Fluckey and the Barb’s crew changed the nature of submarine warfare in the Pacific. From launching the first submarine-based rocket attacks to employing audacious sabotage tactics ashore, the Barb pushed the limits of what submariners could accomplish. Among its many feats, one stands out for sheer ingenuity: the successful destruction of a Japanese train—making the USS Barb the only U.S. Navy vessel with a train kill to its name.

Wilkins will share how overlooked intelligence, daring leadership, and relentless innovation helped the Barb and its crew leave an indelible mark on the war effort—and why this extraordinary story continues to fascinate historians and military buffs today.

The lecture will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour, with time for questions and discussion. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lunches to enjoy during the program. Admission is free for museum members and $3 for non-members.

The Brown Bag Lecture Series takes place on the first Thursday of every month at the Hancock Historical Museum, located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay. Each lecture highlights topics of historical and cultural significance to Hancock County and beyond.

No registration is required. For more information, please contact the Hancock Historical Museum at (419) 423-4433 or visit www.hancockhistoricalmuseum.org.

Ohio Department Of Aging To Hold Town Hall In Findlay

(From the Ohio Department of Aging)

The Ohio Department of Aging (AGE) will host six town halls across Ohio in August and September. Older Ohioans, caregivers, providers, and others will have an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions aimed at helping Ohioans live longer, healthier lives with dignity and autonomy.

Combined with information AGE gathered at community listening sessions earlier in the summer, feedback from these new town halls will be used to develop Ohio’s 2027-2030 State Plan on Aging (SPOA).

The first town hall will be August 15 at 50 North in Findlay, followed by one more town hall in August and four in September.

“Listening to Ohioans and getting their feedback is an important part of guiding the Department of Aging,” said AGE Director Ursel J. McElroy. “With these town halls, Ohioans can be a part of planning the future of aging in this state. Together, we can accomplish our vision of making Ohio the best place to age in the nation.”

 Below is the full schedule of town halls. All Ohioans are eligible to attend these sessions, and they can register by completing this survey.

 

Findlay

Friday, August 15, 2025

2-4 p.m.

50 North Senior Center

339 East Melrose Avenue, Findlay, OH 45840

 

Cambridge

Thursday, August 21, 2025

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center

7033 Glenn Highway, Cambridge, OH 43725

 

Norwalk

Tuesday, September 2, 2025

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Enrichment Center of Norwalk County

325 Shady Lane Drive, Norwalk, OH 44857

 

Oxford

Friday, September 5, 2025

2-4 p.m.

Oxford Senior Center

922 Tollgate Drive, Oxford, OH 45056

 

Columbus

Monday, September 8, 2025

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

LifeCare Alliance

699 W. Mound St., Columbus, OH 43223

 

Uniontown

Thursday, September 11, 2025

10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Direction Home Akron-Canton

1949 Town Park Blvd., Uniontown, OH 44685

Parkinson’s Network Holding Annual Tulip Bulb Sale

(From The Hancock County Parkinson’s Network)

The Hancock County Parkinson’s Network (HCPN) is launching its annual Tulip Bulb Sale from August 1 to August 31, 2025. This year, the sale will feature a new addition – a garden flag with the HCPN logo and the quote “Grow Hope,” alongside the sale of tulip bulbs. The red tulip, which symbolizes Parkinson’s awareness, represents hope and solidarity in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. These tulips are expected to bloom in April 2026, coinciding with Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

The sale offers the following prices:

  • 25 bulbs for $20
  • 50 bulbs for $35
  • 100 bulbs for $65
  • Garden flag for $15

Orders of 100 or more bulbs qualify for delivery within the Findlay area. The pick-up date for the tulips and garden flags is Tuesday, October 7, 4:00 PM- 7:00PM at the College First Church of God located at 1100 North Main Street, Findlay, OH 45840.  Please use the main entrance by parking lot.

Orders can be placed online at hcparkinsonsnetwork.org or by contacting Linda DeArment, Event Chair at dearment4@aol.com. For more information, visit the Hancock County Parkinson’s Network website or reach out to Linda directly.

Proceeds from the Tulip Bulb Sale will support the mission of the Hancock County Parkinson’s Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization aims to empower individuals affected by Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers through education, programming, and community awareness.

Mall Demolition Reaches Main Entrance

The front portion and main entrance to the Findlay Mall has been demolished.

You can see some video of the demolition below. The video was taken on Wednesday. 

In June, demolition began on the portion of the mall where the new Target store will be located.

At that time, the demolition was not visible from Tiffin Avenue because it began on the back side of the mall.

188,000 square feet of the existing mall is being torn down to make way for a 131,809-square-foot Target store in what was the middle section of the mall. (see the picture below)

The demolition will create separation from Dunham’s, Michael’s, and Tokyo Steakhouse to the west, leaving room for a 24-foot drive and additional parking spots on the west side.

The newly open space in the front will allow to keep a consistent drive along the front of the Target, lining up with the Runnings store.

No timeline was given on how long the demolition of the mall or construction of the Target store will take.

In March it was announced that Target finalized a purchase-sale agreement with Findlay Mall owner and developer Rocky Companies.

Person Seriously Injured In Findlay Crash

The Findlay Police Department is investigating a crash that sent a person to the hospital in critical condition.

The crash happened at 10:38 Thursday morning in the 2800 block of South Main Street.

Police say Calend Wise, 24, of Findlay was driving from the Greenbrier Apartments parking lot towards the 2800 block of South Main Street and turned northbound onto South Main Street and a collision occurred with a vehicle that was southbound on South Main Street being driven by Christopher Vaughan, 46, of Findlay.

Police say Sandy Sanchez, 35, of Findlay, a front seat passenger in the first vehicle was taken to Blanchard Valley Hospital with serious injuries and was in critical but stable condition.

An 8-year-old in the first vehicle was also taken to the hospital for minor injuries.

Police say Wise was issued a citation for failure to yield and driving under suspension.

Active Shooter Training Held At Findlay High School

The Findlay Police Department put officers through active shooter drills at the high school ahead of the beginning of the new school year.

Lt. Andrew Welch said their training this year was bigger than ever and involved more actors with realistic-looking wounds that were treated by the fire department and HANCO personnel.

Lt. Welch says their officers are trained to enter the school immediately and become the focus of the shooter.

“If you can become the focus that means he’s not focused on hurting anybody in the school,” Welch said.

“Our safety becomes second to those in the school because we are prepared, we’re trained and we understand what we need to do.”

He says the SafeDefend active shooter protection system installed in Findlay schools a few years ago has been very beneficial because it provides emergency responders with instant information about the location and nature of the threat.

Lt. Welch says you’ll be seeing law enforcement refer to such threats as ‘active killer’ instead of ‘active shooter’ to reflect the fact that the threat can come from someone with a knife, an explosive, driving a car into a crowd, and other things.

Findlay-Hancock County Public Library Hosting Author Fest

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

The Findlay-Hancock County Public Library will host its 10th annual local author fair (“Author Fest“) on Friday, November 7, 2025 from 5:30pm-8pm in conjunction with Findlay’s Fall ArtWalk. The purpose of this fair is to give Northwest Ohio area authors (and/or illustrators) a chance to share their work with the community. Each author will be provided with one table (approximately 4ft x 2ft) for the presentation and sale of their books. Authors wishing to sell their books to the public must handle all aspects of sales as the library will not be able to provide change.

Application deadline: October 1st, 2025

Please note that application does not ensure acceptance. Books and authors will be accepted at the discretion of FHCPL staff. Authors will be notified of acceptance via email. If accepted, you will be asked to submit an author headshot for marketing purposes. Paper applications are also available at the FHCPL information desk. If you have further questions, you may contact Melody at mflick@findlaylibrary.org or 419-422-0576.

Sheriff’s Office Staff Attends Professional Training

(By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator)
 
On Monday, July 21 and Tuesday, July 22, members of the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office staff underwent training to keep them up to date on best law enforcement practices and to ensure they have the skills and knowledge to remain poised in emergency situations. The courses were offered to help staff meet continuing professional training requirements outlined by the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Peace officers must receive a minimum of 24 hours of training in 2025.
All courses must be approved by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (OPOTA). Peace officers must complete eight hours of training in the four following mandatory course topics: Use of Force, Ethics Law, Legal Updates, and Search & Seizure. Peace officers can choose from a list of other topics to complete the additional 16 hours of training.
On Monday, July 21st, 55 law enforcement personnel from Seneca County and other counties attended the “Legally Confident – Tactically Confident” training at North Central Ohio Educational Service Center in Tiffin.
“I want to thank North Central Ohio Educational Services for letting us use the facility on Monday,” Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens said.
On Tuesday, July 22nd,, 20 law enforcement leaders from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and nine people from towns outside the county – including Galion, Perkins Township, and Toledo – attended the “Legally Confident – Tactically Confident for Leaders” course at the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office. Both classes were offered by Objectively Reasonable instructors Chief Scott Hughes and Robert “Bob” Meader, Esq.
“Training is necessary. It’s all about making sure you get the best instructors,” Sheriff Stevens said. “These particular instructors have walked the walk.”
The courses helped train law enforcement to handle emergencies safely and ethically and addressed the importance of creating a culture of respect and clear expectations so everyone involved stays safe. The instructors discussed real-life law enforcement emergencies and utilized bodycam footage from legal cases to train attendees, helping them dissect the situation and better understand best practice responses to difficult calls.
“Training is crucial,” Sheriff Stevens said. “Departments can be deeply affected by negligent training and negligent supervision.”
Not only is training vital for public safety, but it is also an effective tool for employee retention. Deputies who are skilled and confident in the field are less likely to leave law enforcement. Sheriff Stevens said the Seneca County Commissioners have been generous about funding training and the equipment that is needed for deputies to serve the community competently. A consistent roster creates a stronger safety net for the county.
“The commissioners have been wonderful about providing us with the funds so we can retain people,” Sheriff Stevens said.
Sheriff Stevens commits much time and effort into supporting his staff’s professional growth and competence so they are prepared to face any call that comes in.
“Being tactically and technically proficient makes you more confident. It helps you stay grounded,” Sheriff Stevens said.
 
 

Local Entrepreneurs Learn To Build A More Resilient Business

(From the City of Findlay)

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn, DoorDash, and nine local entrepreneurs gathered at The Baker’s Café to celebrate the graduation of the 2025 DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses in Findlay and Hancock County.

Running a small business is challenging: 18% of small businesses fail within their first year and 65% by their tenth year in business. To help local Findlay and Hancock County entrepreneurs build more resilient businesses, the Accelerator for Local Businesses provided small business owners with dedicated mentorship, specialized programming, and grant funding to strengthen operations while fostering long-term growth through local government connections. The 2025 cohort marks the most robust iteration of DoorDash’s Accelerator yet, designed in partnership with City Hall to support the city’s thriving local business landscape.

Over the course of the program, participants engaged in hands-on learning, including:

  • One-on-one mentorship from seasoned DoorDash peer merchants;
  • Targeted business workshops focused on menu optimization, business operations, digital storefronts, and accessing local support resources;
  • A $5,000 grant to support business development efforts; and
  • $1,000 in DoorDash ad credits to expand customer reach.

The 2025 Findlay and Hancock County Accelerator cohort included:

  • The Baker’s Café • Bella Floral Design • Dante’s Rolling Food Joint • Doughtroit • Fern Cafe • Hurdwell • Jonny Burritos, LLC • Leggo my eggroll • Tokyo Steakhouse

“I’m proud of every graduate from the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses,” said Mayor Christina Muryn. “Your determination and creativity showcase Findlay’s entrepreneurial spirit. I’d like to thank DoorDash for investing in Findlay and to all of our local partners – from Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development & Chamber of Commerce to AR Marketing – for making the programming such a success.”

“I’m so proud of what we accomplished together in this year’s Accelerator in Findlay and Hancock County,” said Esther Ladipo Hill, Social Impact Manager at DoorDash. “We’re incredibly grateful for the support from City Hall — this work wouldn’t have been possible without Mayor Muryn and the leadership of Findlay-Hancock County Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce. And most importantly, thank you to this year’s cohort. The continued success of our Accelerators is driven by the dedication and grit of small business owners like you. We’re excited to watch your businesses continue to grow and make an impact in the community.”

“The Baker’s Cafe has been a fixture of downtown for eleven years,” said Lisa Allen, owner of The Baker’s Cafe, “we survived COVID and many other obstacles, and thanks to the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses, I feel confident that we are prepared for whatever challenge we face next. The program offered valuable insights and practical resources 3 that helped strengthen our business. We’re grateful for the support from DoorDash and the City of Findlay to help ensure that we remain a place for the community to gather for many more years to come.”

More Information on the DoorDash Accelerator for Local Businesses can be found HERE.