(From Awakening Minds Art)

Awakening Minds Art (AMA), a nonprofit dedicated to providing therapeutic and educational visual art programs to all ages and abilities, has announced the launch of The Forever Fund, a newly established endowment at the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation.

This summer, AMA is rallying community support to build a lasting financial foundation through its 2025 Summer Campaign for The Forever Fund. With a benchmark goal of $10,000, this initiative will ensure AMA’s mission lives on forever, supporting inclusive one-on-one and group programming for generations to come.

“An endowment is like a piggy bank that never stops giving,” said Emily Sullivan, Executive Director of AMA. “This fund will grow year after year, helping us provide confidence-building, sensory-friendly, and skill-developing art programs to individuals of all ages and abilities, no matter what the future brings.”

AMA invites community members to be among the first founding donors of The Forever Fund. Donations of $25 or more will be honored with unique recognitions. Top-tier donors, dubbed Masterpiece Makers, will receive prominent placement on a permanent recognition plaque at AMA’s headquarters.

Supporters Can Give Today at:

🔗 www.community-foundation.com/funds/awakening-minds-art-fund

Fundraising efforts this year will emphasize support for one-on-one programming, a key initiative for AMA during its inception in 2009. This program provides customized, therapeutic art instruction tailored to individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, aging-related challenges, and more.

“Art is how our students find their voice, grow their confidence, and build skills that serve them far beyond the classroom,” said Sullivan. “By contributing to The Forever Fund, you’re not just giving to AMA, you’re becoming part of its legacy.”

About Awakening Minds Art

Founded in Findlay, Ohio, Awakening Minds Art is a nonprofit organization offering inclusive, visual art programs that serve individuals of all ages and abilities. Whether in the classroom, at senior care facilities, or through one-on-one sessions, AMA’s mission is to empower people through creativity, confidence, and connection.

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Coordinator

Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens received a call from Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s office on Friday with the good news that the state will award $124,781 in non matching grant funds to the Seneca County Jail for some security upgrades. The governor and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith announced that the state will award $50 million in grants to support construction and renovation projects at a total of 19 local jails across the state.

The grants are distributed through the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program, which is administered through the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s Bureau of Adult Detention. The program is designed to fund construction/renovation projects or structural/security upgrades at “functionally obsolete and structurally failing jails,” according to information from the State.

Sheriff Stevens applied for the grant money with the assistance of Fostoria Economic Development Corporation President, Renee Smith. Smith provided invaluable counsel and processed the grant for the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Stevens is grateful for her expertise and help.

The Sheriff has applied for the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program grant funding every year since he took office in 2021, and this is the first time the jail was chosen as a grant recipient.

“I’m happy we’re getting some help,” he said. “All 88 counties fight for this money, so it’s nice to get some money back from the State after trying for 4 ½ years.”

Jail renovation was a top priority when Sheriff Stevens took office. His goal to improve living conditions for inmates and working conditions for staff aligns with the governor’s purpose behind the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program.

“This funding will not only support safer environments for those living and working in our local jails, but it will also help prepare inmates for release by creating improved spaces for workforce development, educational opportunities, and other programming,” Governor DeWine said.

Of the 19 jails receiving funding, seven will utilize the funds for new jail construction, expansion, or major renovation projects. Eleven counties received funding for structural upgrades, security enhancements, and small renovation projects, and one county will invest the funds in a needs assessment/feasibility study.

“This funding will provide more safety and security in facilities and more space for programming, which will improve conditions for both staff and incarcerated people,” said Director Annette Chambers-Smith. “We are helping these jails provide what they need to better meet the demands of the criminal justice system in their county and prepare the incarcerated population for release back into their communities.”

This year’s Ohio Jail Safety and Security Grant Program funding comes from the current capital budget. Since the program’s inception, over $228 million in state funding has been awarded to 50 jails serving over 50 counties.

Sheriff Stevens is very grateful that Governor DeWine’s office chose the Seneca County Jail as a recipient for this round of funding, but he has been advocating at the state level for a change in the current method of funding distribution. On May 7, the Sheriff traveled to the Ohio Statehouse to testify before the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee on House Bill 96, which determines state operating appropriations for fiscal year 2026-2027.

During his testimony, Sheriff Stevens expressed his gratitude for the millions of dollars that Gov. DeWine’s office has invested in jail construction and renovation, but Sheriff Stevens said the “current method of funding distribution creates few winners and many losers across the state.”

Rather than distribute the grants through a competitive process that leaves the majority of county jails without funds, Sheriff Stevens suggested that funding be allocated to all counties with jails.

“I would like to suggest a new method that would help all Ohio sheriffs better maintain their jails and, in some counties, prevent the need for new construction,” he said during his testimony. “Instead of dispersing the money as a competitive grant, I would like to suggest that the State simply disperse it equally among all the counties that have sheriff-run jails. Although this would not address new construction, it would allow for the bulk of the aging facilities to receive yearly funds that can be earmarked specifically for remodeling and renovation projects. There are far more aging facilities with renovation/remodel needs than new construction needs.”

Sheriff Stevens will continue his efforts to advocate for the change. For now, he is focusing on utilizing the Ohio Jail Safety and Security Program funds for security upgrades throughout the jail.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

Shovel-ready and full of promise!

On Friday, May 30, we broke ground on ODOT’s brand-new maintenance facility on State Route 109 in Ottawa!

We can’t wait to call this place home in about a year.

Stay tuned for progress updates!

For nearly 45 years, ODOT’s Putnam County maintenance operations have been based out of the facility at the intersection of 11th Street and Perry Street, built in 1979. For many years the outdated layout has posed significant challenges, including limited space for larger equipment and the lack of a dedicated wash bay.

According to District 1 Deputy Director Chris Hughes, “Our facilities are the backbone of our operations, ensuring Ohio’s highways remain well-maintained and safe. The new facility will provide the necessary space and resources to efficiently house and maintain equipment and materials, benefiting not just Putnam County, but the entire region.”

The new facility aims to address these issues and support the garage’s role as a regional hub for district operations, including snow plowing, pavement repairs, and drainage work.

In 2017, ODOT acquired a 22.3-acre property on the village’s north edge, with plans to build pending available funding. Once built, the new full-service garage, designed by Buehrer Group Architecture of Maumee, will feature a significantly larger footprint. The combined garage and office space will span 30,900 square feet, nearly doubling the size of the current facility.

The new garage boasts several key upgrades, including a substantial increase in salt and fuel storage capacity. Salt storage will expand from 2,800 tons to 4,000 tons, while fuel storage will grow from 8,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons.

(From Garner Trucking)

Garner Trucking is thrilled to welcome back the NASCAR haulers for Spire Motorsports on Thursday, June 5th, and we’re inviting the public to join us for this exciting event!

Come out to Garner Trucking (9291 County Road 313, Findlay, OH 45840) between 11AM and 1PM to get an up-close look at the #7 and #71 Spire Motorsports Haulers before they head to Michigan International Speedway for this weekend’s FireKeepers Casino 400.

This is a great opportunity to meet the hauler drivers, snap some photos, and tour these impressive NASCAR rigs before they hit the road to the track.

As the official Transportation Partner of Spire Motorsports, Garner Trucking is proud to sponsor the #7 Chevrolet driven by Justin Haley, which will feature the Garner Trucking premiere car this weekend.

Tune in to Prime Video on Sunday to catch all the action and cheer on the Garner car as it races around MIS!

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

The Hancock Historical Museum invites the public to its upcoming Brown Bag Lecture presented by Eastman & Smith LTD. at 12 p.m. Thursday, June 5, 2025. The featured presentation, “Frenemies: A History of U.S.-China Relations from Nixon to Now,” will be delivered by Melvin Barnes.

Provided by the presenter: In recent years, China and the United States have seen each other as intense political rivals. The two countries have sparred over foreign policy, human rights, and increasingly, trade. That said, China and the United States have not always seen each other in such a bad light. Historically, the two countries have played integral roles in the success of one another. But what accounts for the challenges between the two largest global economies?

During the lecture, Barnes will explain how the similarities between China and the United States, not differences, often set the two countries at odds.

Melvin Barnes, a graduate of the University of Toledo, earned his Ph.D. in East Asian history from The Ohio State University. He has spent roughly two years studying in China and has written numerous articles on China’s engagement with the United States. Barnes is currently a program officer with Ohio Humanities and will soon join the history faculty at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The lecture will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour, with ample 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, Ohio and beyond.

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

(From the Findlay Police Department)

An Officer was doing surveillance at 141 Lotze St. on 6-2-2025 at 1308 hours watching for two residents of that address that had active bench warrants for their arrest.

Resident, Charles Cooper III, had two misdemeanor bench warrants for his arrest through the Findlay Municipal Court as well as a felony bench warrant for his arrest through the Hancock County Common Pleas Court.

Resident, Madison Fenbert, had two misdemeanor bench warrants for her arrest through the Findlay Municipal Court.

During surveillance the officer observed Charles inside the residence.

Contact was attempted at the door.

Charles barricaded himself in the residence and refused to answer the door.

A tactical team compromising of on duty Findlay Police Department Officers and on duty Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Deputies was formed.

Charles was given multiple verbal commands and ample time to exit the residence on his own.

Charles ultimately refused to exit the residence.

The tactical team breached the door on the residence and entered.

Charles was found hiding on a bed on the second floor.

He was taken into custody on his warrants.

Madison was found hiding in a closet in the same room Charles was found in.

She was arrested on her warrants.

Charles and Madison were taken to the Hancock County Jail and incarcerated.

(From the Findlay Fire Department)

Why is it important to have working smoke detectors? To practice an escape plan?

To sleep with the bedroom doors closed?

Because the amount of time we have to escape a house fire has been greatly reduced.

Fire Inspector Eric Wilkins on the importance of working smoke detectors.

(From the City of Findlay)

CONSTRUCTION 6/2-6/6:

-Broad Ave. will be reduced to one lane in each direction from W. Trenton Ave. to W. Melrose Ave. for resurfacing.

-W. Melrose Ave. will be closed to through traffic from N. Main St. to Broad Ave. for resurfacing.

-East St. will be closed to through traffic from E. Lincoln St. to E. Lima St. for curb replacement.

-Carnahan Ave. will be closed to through traffic from Tiffin Ave. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-Scott Court will be closed to through traffic from Main St. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-Allen Ave. will be closed to through traffic from Main St. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-Midland Ave. will be closed to through traffic from Main St. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-Garfield Ave. will be closed to through traffic from Main St. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-George St. will be closed to through traffic from Main St. to the Railroad for curb replacement.

-Twp. Road 80 (Baseline Rd.) will be closed to all traffic from Springlake Dr. (E.) to Springlake Dr. (W.) for a sanitary sewer project.

-Morrical Blvd. will be closed to through traffic from Logan Ave. to the North Dead End for waterline installation.

-The Westbound lane of Howard St. will be closed to all traffic from 7am-7pm from Broad Ave. to the Walmart entrance for construction of the Interstate Trail.

-Broad Ave. will be reduced to one lane in the Southbound direction from Howard St. to Trenton Ave. for construction of the FHS Trail.

Please call the Engineering Department with any questions (419) 424-7121.

(From Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County)

Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County will officially finish construction of three homes during a Home Dedication ceremony for all three homes on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. in the 1700 block of Bishop Lane, Findlay, Ohio. The event is open to the public.

The program for the dedication will include a blessing, words from Dream Builder Society members as well as the new homeowners, comments from Wendy McCormick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County and Kelly Croy, Habitat’s Board President. Following the ceremony, homeowners will cut ribbons and enter their new homes for the first time. Guests are welcome to then tour the homes.

These are the first three of six homes to be built by Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County in 2025. They are the third, fourth and fifth of 20 homes Habitat will build in the Krystal Ridge Addition neighborhood by the end of 2027. The first two homes were built in the fall of 2024.

“This year we are celebrating 25 years of building community in Findlay and Hancock County, and we can’t be more excited,” says Wendy McCormick, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County. “We can’t wait to celebrate the completion of the first three homes of our biggest build year yet to close the gap on the affordable housing shortage in our community.”

Kara Summers and her two daughters will reside in Home #62. For them, the idea of “home” once felt more like a wish than a certainty. Kara works as a State Tested Nursing Assistant (STNA), caring for others even as she dreams of becoming a nurse herself. Despite her determination, life has thrown its share of obstacles in her way. Housing in Findlay was either way too expensive or simply unavailable. One afternoon, Kara came across a newspaper article about Habitat for Humanity’s Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). Something about the program resonated with her. Kara became the very first FOC coaching client in 2021. After paying down debts and stabilizing her employment, Kara and her girls were selected as a Habitat Partner Family. For the Summers family, their new home represents security, stability, and a place to grow.

Amanda Gault and her 12-year-old daughter will reside in Home #63. For the past seven years they have called the basement of Amanda’s parents’ home. The space was full of love, but it wasn’t their own. The houses Amanda could afford to purchase needed significant repairs – more than she could take on. The stress of not having their own home weighed heavily on her. Amanda’s mom had been urging her to look into Habitat for quite some time. Finally, in January 2024, Amanda took a leap of faith. From that first meeting with Habitat, Amanda began to feel hope again. She learned how to manage her spending with guidance from the Financial Opportunity Center (FOC). Amanda began to feel more in control of their future. Amanda knows this home will be more than a place to live. It’s a fresh start, a foundation for their future, and a space where they can create new memories together. It will be “a place to call home.”

Chris Greiner will reside in Home #64. Her journey is one of unwavering resilience, love, and the quiet strength of a mother who never gave up. Born and raised in Findlay, her life has been anything but easy, but her heart has always been full of hope, determination, and an unbreakable drive to create a better life for her family. She raised her twin children as a single parent, always working full-time – sometimes even holding down two jobs just to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, Chris made sure that her kids had everything they needed: food, shelter, and love. Even though she worked tirelessly, the dream of owning her own home always felt out of reach, a distant star just beyond her grasp. She spent years working so hard, and now, after so many setbacks, she finally has a home of her own, a place where her children, her grandchildren, and even her cat can thrive in a space that is hers and hers alone.

During the past 10 weeks the three new homeowners have worked alongside more than 600 volunteers to build their homes. The Summers, Gault and Greiner families qualified as a low-income family unable to qualify for a conventional loan, who are willing to partner with Habitat and complete at least 400 sweat equity hours and purchase their home from Habitat through a 30-year low-interest mortgage.

Two of the spring homes are Signature Homes, which were financed by the donors who bought a “piece of the house” during Habitat’s 2024 Signature Fundraiser. Through donations of money and materials and volunteer labor, Habitat is able to build a Habitat Home and sell it at an affordable price. Major sponsors for the spring build include ADP, the City of Findlay, GSW, Kershner Excavating, Kreate, Marathon, McNaughton-McKay, National Lime & Stone, Ohio Logistics, The Reinhart Foundation, The Shelly Company, State Farm – Dan Maciejewski, Van Horn Hoover & Associates and Whirlpool.

The most recent housing study released last year indicated the Findlay community needs 150 single-family homes, costing less than $200,000, constructed during the next five years. Families seeking to become homeowners in the Krystal Ridge Addition can apply with Habitat for Humanity by visiting habitatfindlay.org or calling 419-429-1400.

(From the Office of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine)

Governor Mike DeWine is encouraging Ohioans to take advantage of this year’s Sales Tax Holiday, which is designed to provide meaningful savings for families across the state.

The 2025 Sales Tax Holiday will run for two full weeks, beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Friday, August 1, and ending at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 14.

In 2024, Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly expanded the Sales Tax Holiday to include more items and run for a longer period. Instead of the usual three days, it lasted ten days and was expanded to include a wide range of items up to $500, rather than limited to school supplies.

“The timing of this year’s sales tax holiday not only supports families preparing for back-to-school, but also provides relief on other important household needs,” said Governor DeWine.

“Ohio’s sales tax holiday is a practical way we can help working families keep more of their hard-earned dollars,” said Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Matt Huffman. “Whether it’s back-to-school shopping or everyday essentials, this is an opportunity for Ohioans to get more value for their money.”

“The hardworking taxpayers deserve this well-earned break,” said Senate President Rob McColley. “It is the people’s money first, and they know how best to spend it. I strongly support any opportunity to boost the ability of Ohioans to provide for their families.”

During the holiday, shoppers will be able to make qualifying purchases both in-store and online without paying state sales tax. The tax exemption does not apply to services or to purchases motor vehicles, watercraft, outboard motors, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products, or any item containing marijuana.

For full details, including eligible items and frequently asked questions, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation’s Sales Tax Holiday page. You can also contact the Department by email or by calling 1-888-405-4039.