The Hancock Historical Museum is searching for its next Executive Director to lead the nonprofit organization tasked with preserving the rich heritage of Findlay and Hancock County.

In October, The Museum’s Board of Trustees announced that longtime director Sarah Sisser would be stepping down effective November 22^nd as she begins her new position as Executive Director and CEO of CreativeOhio.

Board Chair Susan Harms is heading up the search committee for the new director and we spoke with her about what kind of leader they’re looking for.

“We are really looking for somebody who has an appreciation for history, especially the history of Findlay and Hancock County.”

Susan points out that the museum is 100 percent privately funded so they are looking for someone who has a passion for fundraising and public speaking.

“There is a lot of support and interest in the museum and in our mission to preserve the history of Hancock County and we are hoping that there is somebody out there who is interested in taking this organization to the next level.”

Click here to read the full job description and here to learn more about the Hancock Historical Museum, which is located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay.

Drivers are being reminded that nearly half of all deer-related traffic crashes in Ohio happen this time of year.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says deer become very active from late October through November due in large part to the fall breeding season.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 47 percent of deer-related crashes happen in October, November, and December.

Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution and slow down, especially at dawn or dusk when deer are more active.

If a collision with a deer is unavoidable, drivers should brake firmly and avoid swerving, because that could cause an even worse crash.

(From the City of Findlay)

Officer Bradley Fuller was sworn in this morning by Mayor Christina Muryn.

Fuller, 36, is a graduate of New Riegel High School and he also attended the Police Academy program at Owens Community College in 2016-2017; earning his OPOTA certification.

Fuller previously served at the Carey Police Department as a Police Officer for three and a half years, and most recently with the Upper Sandusky Police Department as a Police Officer for the past one and half years. Fuller will be assigned to the department’s Patrol Division.

(From the City of Findlay)

The City of Findlay will be picking up leaves from November 13, 2023, through December 1, 2023. City employees will collect leaves that have been placed in biodegradable PAPER bags at the curb. Plastic bags and loose leaves will not be picked up. Bagged leaves are to be placed by the curb.

Limbs that are placed beside the bagged leaves will also be picked up. The limbs will be picked up separately from the leaves.

Crews will start picking up leaves on November 13, 2023. Crews will make several rounds throughout the whole city through December 1.

Biodegradable bags are readily available at local hardware, building supply, and some grocery stores.

Raking leaves into the street has many negative aspects. Leaf piles in the street can be a dangerous temptation to children who like to play in the piles and in many areas reduce the traffic to one lane or cause drivers to drive around the piles into oncoming traffic. Piled leaves tend to wash into and clog storm sewers, causing maintenance issues and potential localized flooding during storm events. Residents who blow or rake leaves onto City streets are in violation of long standing City Codified Ordinance 311.01(d). Complaints should be forwarded to the Police Department.

City residents may continue to drop leaves at the green waste site located at 330 North Cory Street at no charge. The current hours for the site are Tuesday through Friday 2pm-7pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 7, 2023, hours for the site will be Tuesday through Friday 1pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-1pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Beginning November 18, 2023, Saturday hours will be 8am-4pm. The green waste site will be closed on Saturday, November 11, 2023, in honor of Veterans Day and November 23, 2023, for Thanksgiving. It will be open on November 24, 2023, and November 25, 2023. The last day for the green waste site will be December 2, 2023.

The green waste site is intended for residential use only. No contractors are permitted to use this site. Only tree trimmings, brush, leaves, and grass clippings can be dumped in designated areas at the site.

People are encouraged to come out for the Veterans Day Parade in Findlay.

The parade will be held on Sunday, November 12^th beginning at 2 p.m. on Main Street.

The parade will begin at the intersection of South Main and Lincoln Street and proceed north to the Hancock County War Memorial at North Main Street and Center Street where a ceremony will be held.

See some video from last year’s parade below.

The Hancock Historical Museum will host a Veterans’ Reception from 1 to 4 on Sunday.

Veterans get in free and Ron Ammons will speak about Findlay’s connection to the Monuments Men.

The Hancock Historical Museum is located at 422 West Sandusky Street in Findlay.

Chamberlin Hill Elementary will hold its annual salute to Veterans on Friday.

Veterans Day is on Saturday.

(From the Cleveland Guardians)

The Guardians announced on Monday that former catcher Stephen Vogt has been named the 45th manager in franchise history.

Throughout a rigorous interview process that also included candidates like Brewers manager Craig Counsell, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza and Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough, the Guardians were looking for a person who shared the same values that the organization has already established, while also bringing in a new perspective that challenges this group to think about things a little differently.

Despite the list of more than 40 names that the Guardians believed could fill these desires, it was Vogt who stood out among the rest.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Stephen and his family to Northeast Ohio and to name him the next manager of the Cleveland Guardians,” said Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti. “Stephen earned a reputation as one of the best teammates in the game across his 16-year career as a player, and we’ve greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him over the past several weeks.

“Stephen has thought critically about the type of leader and manager he wants to be. His deep care for others, his ability to build meaningful relationships with those around him, and his open-mindedness and curiosity make him an ideal fit to lead our club moving forward. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Stephen.”

Former manager Terry Francona left with big shoes to fill. He won the most games by a skipper in franchise history (921) and was the team’s longest-tenured manager. After 11 seasons with someone like Francona, who came to Cleveland with eight years of big league managerial experience and two World Series rings under his belt, the Guardians are now turning to someone in a much different position.

(From the Red Cross of North Central Ohio)

The American Red Cross North Central Ohio Chapter currently has an urgent need for volunteers in several critical roles. The organization will host a recruitment event in Ottawa for attendees to learn about volunteer opportunities in Putnam County and hear from current volunteers about their experiences.

The Putnam County Fall into Service volunteer recruitment program will take place on Thursday, November 9th from 5:30-6:30 PM. The event will be held in-person at Henry’s Restaurant at 810 Locust Street, Ottawa, OH 45875. All attendees will receive a free slice of Henry’s homemade pie!

For more information or to register for a Fall volunteer recruitment event, click here or call 216-431-2238.

As more people rely on the Red Cross for help, the need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. From helping people affected by disasters, like home fires and floods, to supporting the collection of lifesaving blood, there are many ways to help neighbors in need through our most-needed positions:

Blood Donor Ambassador: Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. The need for blood is constant and so is the need for volunteers at our blood drives to help save lives. Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience.

Disaster Action Team: While big hurricanes and wildfires get the most news coverage, smaller disasters are no less devasting to the families affected. Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are smaller disasters like home fires. Disaster Action Team volunteers help comfort and support people by meeting any immediate needs such as food, shelter, clothing or supplies and connecting them to long term recovery services.

Recovery Care Caseworker: From a single-family fire to large-scale hurricane or flood, caseworkers help meet the disaster-caused needs of individuals and families with recovery planning by matching Red Cross resources and assistance to these needs.

Shelter Service Associate: During large disasters, shelter workers support the day-to-day activities within a shelter which may include working in reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information or other areas within a shelter. Free online training will be provided.

Disaster Health Services Team: During large disasters, volunteers use their professional skills as a licensed healthcare provider to deliver hands on care and education to shelter residents.

Free online training will be provided and can count towards nursing continuing education units. Qualified licenses include RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP, APRN.

(From Findlay Brewing Company)

Beards and mustaches of all shapes and sizes, even handmade, will come together for an important cause at Findlay Brewing Company’s fourth annual Beard and Mustache Competition sponsored by Dan Maciejewski State Farm Agency. The friendly competition will take place at the Findlay Brewing taproom in downtown Findlay from 2 – 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. All proceeds benefit local organization Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services.

Attendees can be the first to taste Findlay Brewing’s new brew, The Bearded Lager, an American amber lager brewed with orange peel, ginger, fig and black currant, aged on cinnamon sticks. This holiday-inspired brew will be enjoyed alongside the comradery of the competition led by emcee Rich Fowler and live music by James Adkins and Dean Maag.

Anyone ages 21 and up may register to compete in one of the following categories: Mustache, Partial Beard, Full Beard and Mustache, Styled Beard and Mustache and Whiskerina Handcrafted Beard.

A panel of judges will award points based on length, personal fit, craftmanship and creativity. The highest-scored contestants of each category will go home with a trophy handmade by TimberFork Studio, Findlay Brewing prizes, Mad Cat Beard Care products and bragging rights. The contestant with the highest overall score will be named the 2023 Beard & Mustache Competition Grand Champion and be invited to sit on the panel of judges next year.

Contestants are encouraged to pre-register at Findlaybrewing.com by Monday, Nov. 13. Registration includes one pint of Findlay Brewing draft beer, an exclusive event t-shirt and hat. Thank you to sponsors Dan Maciejewski State Farm Agency, Shade Headwear, Jupmode and Mad Cat Beard Care.

This fun-filled afternoon maintains a meaningful purpose raising awareness and funds for Open Arms a local organization serving individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual assault through crisis intervention, emergency shelter, outreach, advocacy, prevention and education.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says a Findlay man was one of two people killed in a plane crash in Marion County.

The Highway Patrol said the plane crashed on October 31^st in a field about nine miles southwest of Marion Municipal Airport.

The single-engine Piper Cherokee Six sustained major damage and the two occupants suffered fatal injuries.

The Highway Patrol says the left front seat occupant was Hal E. Durbin, 71, Findlay, and the right front seat occupant was William J. David, 70, Bowling Green.

The crash remains under investigation.

(From Findlay City Schools)

Millstream Career Center has been awarded a grant under the Career Technical Construction Program through the state of Ohio. The grant includes the 7,550 square-foot construction of two additions for Manufacturing Operations and Engineering, with a total award of $3,498,090.00.

The Career Technical Construction Program grant is part of Ohio’s House Bill 33, which devoted $200 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for career technical expansion.

“We are thrilled to be a recipient of the expansion dollars,” said Pam Hamlin, Director of Millstream Career Center. “This will help provide career tech education in manufacturing and expand our engineering and robotics lab. Both fields are begging for more workforce and we will have opportunities for more students to be exposed and trained in these fields. We are looking forward to collaborating with the businesses and industries in our region to build the next generation of workforce.”

The grant funds used at Millstream will allow for a greater number of students to enroll in Millstream’s career technical programs. Currently, Millstream serves students from fifteen school districts in Hancock, Putnam, and Wyandot counties.

According to the Career Technical Construction Program Guidelines, the purpose of this program is to “assist with facilities construction projects that support establishing or expanding career-technical education programs in eligible Career Technical Planning Districts. The program aims to address waiting lists to career-technical education programs and meet the demand for education and training programs for critically needed occupations.”

The goal for project completion will be September of 2026.