From Findlay Rotary Club

Leah Brant was installed as president of the Findlay Rotary Club at the Club’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Brant holds a doctorate of education, Ed.D., from the University of Findlay. Her research was on the benefits of therapy dogs on college campuses to help students adjust and connect to the community. Maizy, a certified therapy dog, visits the UF campus on a regular basis to provide comfort and unconditional love to anyone that may need some Golden Retriever love attention. Brant sits on various teams and committees at UF and serves as the advisor for two student organizations. Prior to teaching at UF, she taught at Donnell Middle School as a 6th grade teacher. It was at this time, while Brant was at Donnell that she was introduced to Findlay Rotary Club as the Golden Apple finalist in the middle school division. As a result of being a finalist, she became a member of the Golden Apple Academy and worked alongside Findlay Rotarians to help support our community’s educators.

In addition to Rotary, Brant serves on the board for Good Shepherd Home in Fostoria. She has also volunteered for Hancock County Parkinson’s Network and Ohio Living Home Health and Hospice as a hospice volunteer.

Brant and her husband, Eric, live in Fostoria and have a grown daughter, Hope.
Other Rotary officers are: Chris Webb, president-elect; Robin Ridge, treasurer; John Harrington, secretary; Andy Ritz, sergeant-at-arms; and Scott Hohman, immediate past president.

Club board members include, Brant, Heather Clow, Angela DeBoskey, Jeff Fort, Tom Parke, Irvin Reinhart, Bill Reist, Chris Webb and Dick Zunkiewicz.

June 26 (Reuters) – German engineering group Robert Bosch is weighing a bid for U.S. appliances manufacturer Whirlpool (WHR.N), according to three people familiar with the matter, a move that would boost its position in the household appliances market.

Bosch has been talking to potential advisers about the possibility of making an offer for Whirlpool, which has a market capitalization of about $4.8 billion, one of the sources said.

The sources said it was not certain that an offer would be made, and asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential.

Spokespeople for Bosch and Whirlpool said the companies do not comment on “market rumours”. The U.S. company’s shares rose 12.7% in early trading after the Reuters report.
Buying one of the world’s biggest white-goods manufacturers would significantly beef up Bosch’s home appliance business at a time when competition with Asian rivals is growing.

Whirlpool would be a major deal for Bosch. Whirlpool’s brands include KitchenAid, Maytag, Amana, Jenn-Air, and Consul.

Whirlpool, founded in 1911 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, produces a wide range of home appliances, including refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, dryers and small kitchen appliances.

Whirlpool has a manufacturing facility in Findlay. For more than 50 years, its Findlay Operation has been producing dishwashers for a number of brands. The plant holds the honor of being the first one built by Whirlpool Corporation, as well as the first plant to utilize wind power. With more than 2,600 employees, it’s one of the top employers in Hancock County.

Due to the weather, the Ohio Department of Transportation will be extending the closure of I-75/CR99 Northbound exit ramp until Friday 6/28/24. It was originally scheduled to close Monday for three days.

Traffic for northbound and southbound lanes of I-75 remain restricted with the left lanes closed in both directions for bridge pier construction. 

Visit the project website for further details: I-75/CR 99 interchange improvements | Ohio Department of Transportation

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced the work on the Lima Avenue ramp to I-75 Northbound has been delayed due to weather. This work previously was scheduled for today, will now take place tomorrow, THURSDAY, JUNE 27!

The Lima Ave entrance ramp to I-75 northbound will close for one day for guardrail repair.

The suggested detour from ODOT is: U.S. 68 south to U.S. 68/SR 15 interchange, exit and reenter U.S. 68 north, back to I-75 north.

This past Saturday near McComb, amateur radio enthusiasts from around the region, and across the country, gathered for the annual Amateur Radio Field Day, a highly anticipated event that highlights the importance and utility of amateur radio in emergency communications. Among the participants was the Northwest Ohio VHF Amateur Radio Society (NOVARS), which set up their equipment near McComb for a day of intensive practice and community engagement.

Evan Hartman, a key member of the NOVARS club, took the time to speak about the event and its significance in an audio interview. Hartman explained that Field Day is not only a chance for amateur radio operators to showcase their skills but also a crucial exercise in preparing for real-world emergencies.

The NOVARS setup near McComb was impressive, featuring a range of antennas, transceivers, and portable power sources. Club members worked in shifts, ensuring continuous operation and communication with other Field Day participants across North America. The event serves as a friendly competition, with clubs earning points based on the number of successful contacts they make, the variety of methods used, and the difficulty of the setups.

Hartman also emphasized the importance in welcoming new people to the amateur radio community and talked about resources available to get that first “ham radio” license.

The camaraderie among the NOVARS members was palpable on Saturday as they worked together to solve technical challenges and improve their setup throughout the day. Despite the intense focus on the technical aspects, there was also a strong sense of community spirit, with operators sharing stories, tips, and encouragement.

Local residents were invited to visit the NOVARS site to learn more about amateur radio. Many took the opportunity to see the equipment in action and understand the critical role that these enthusiasts play in times of crisis.

Field Day 2024 proved to be a successful event for NOVARS and the broader amateur radio community. With numerous contacts made and valuable experience gained, the event reinforced the importance of amateur radio operators and their role in emergency preparedness.

For more insights from the event, including the full audio interview with Evan Hartman, visit the NOVARS website or follow their social media channels.

For more information, contact: Northwest Ohio VHF Amateur Radio Society (NOVARS) Website: https://www.novars.space/

The Gathering in Downtown Findlay has announced in a Facebook post that the restaurant has closed, as well as the Anvil Whiskey Bar, located upstairs. 

The Gathering Wine will remain open until July 31st, 2024, inviting anyone who has a gift card to any of The Gathering properties to visit and enjoy a bottle of their favorite wine.

The Gathering and upstairs Anvil Whiskey Bar.

Gathering Wine Patio

(From the Mazza Museum)

University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum will showcase a selection of the world’s finest fantasy artists in its 10th annual Enchanted Brush exhibit, open now through August 30.

This year’s exhibit, free and open to the public in the Lea Gallery of the Gardner Fine Arts Pavilion, has a theme of “Heroes Welcome.”

“Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Ask an artist to interpret this theme and you can all but guarantee there will be more than a few surprises, which is precisely what inspired this exhibition,” explained Dan Chudzinski, director of curation and exhibitions at Mazza and founder of the Enchanted Brush exhibition.

There are 25 works of art, representing 22 international fantasy artists, in the display. Chudzinski is proud this is the 10th year of the exhibit, which features both debut artists and some “old favorites.”

The theme emphasizes the connection between fantasy artwork and literature, and the artwork highlights real and fictional heroes from a variety of historical and cultural backgrounds.

“Every great story has a hero,” the curator said. “Although this archetype is familiar and occasionally overused, the characteristics that embody this persona are often quite rare.”

Among the featured pieces is “Off With Their Heads,” acrylic and watercolor on watercolor paper, by Tran Nguyen. It originally was created as a cover for Zoe Hana Mikuta’s book of the same name, which is a Korean-inspired re-imagining of “Alice in Wonderland” filled with magic, unearthly monsters, and betrayals. The painting features the two protagonists from the story surrounded by hints of what the world entails.

Another piece is “Sylvester Roper and His Self-Propeller,” a mixed media sculpture by Chris Sickles that pays tribute to the inventor of the motorcycle. Chudzinski himself has a mixed media sculpture on display, “The Reliquary of St. George,” depicting a life-sized dragon skull.

Other participating artists are Kaysha Siemens, Mark Poole, Allen Douglas, C.F. Payne, Colin Nitta, Armand Baltazar, Colin Poole, Kristine Poole, Vanessa Lemen, Kelley Hensing, Serena Malyon, Don Maitz, Janny Wurts, Bud Cook, Jason Mowry, Reiko Murakami, Scott Gustafson, Melissa Sue Stanley, and Ed Binkley.

Many of the pieces of artwork on display are available for purchase, with all of the proceeds going to the artists.

A reception will take place Monday, July 15, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., with a gallery tour and some of the artists attending to discuss their work.

For more information on the exhibit, visit mazzamuseum.org.

The Ohio Department of Transportation is letting drivers know of a one-day ramp closure in Findlay.

ODOT says the ramp from Lima Avenue to Interstate 75 northbound will be closed on Wednesday, June 26 for one day for guardrail repair.

The suggested detour from ODOT is: U.S. 68 south to U.S. 68/SR 15 interchange, exit and reenter U.S. 68 north, back to I-75 north.

Get more Hancock County road construction updates from ODOT by clicking here.

Tickets to individual shows in the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts 2024-25 Mainstage Series went on sale to members on Friday, June 21.

“Become a member of MPCA with a donation of $150 or more for early access to the best seats in the house. Benefits extend to all members of your immediate household all season long!”

Individual show tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 28.

The Marathon Center for the Performing Arts recently announced its 2024-25 Mainstage Series which includes Jo Dee Messina, Hadestown, Mandy Patinkin In Concert, and much more. 

Click here for the full schedule.

(From the Hancock County Democratic Party)

On Wednesday, June 26th from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, the Hancock County Democratic Party will be hosting a Democrats in the Park social event at Riverbend Park shelter house #5 in Findlay. This will be an opportunity to meet the Hancock County Democratic Party’s new leadership team including the newly elected Chairwoman, Eve Gray, and Vice Chairman, Shaun Mason. 

This is a family-friendly event with special guest Sheila Coressel, the Democratic candidate for Ohio House in the 83rd District. Food will be available as well as a friendship bracelet making station sponsored by the Hancock County Young Democrats.

The Hancock County Democrats will be offering a brief presentation on mindfulness, self-care, and politics as well as an optional training at the end for interested prospective volunteers. 

“Events like this help individuals find belonging with each other. As we lead into election season, there will be plenty of volunteer opportunities and ways to help. But let’s first spend some time together primarily for fun and to spread joy so we can reflect on what is really important,” Chairwoman Gray noted. 

For more information on this event please visit the webpage: www.facebook.com/share/p/qkF3X6Y34cHMVVYB/