(From the OHSAA)

The Ohio High School Athletic Association will honor six Ohio greats during the finals of the 2025 Boys State Basketball Tournament Saturday, March 22, as part of its Circle of Champions recognition program.

Among those being saluted is Dr. Aaron Craft, a two-sport high school star at Liberty-Benton High School near Findlay who holds Ohio State University basketball records for career assists and steals and is 2024 spring graduate from Ohio State’s medical school.

Craft was a football and basketball standout at Liberty-Benton High School near Findlay who went on to a tremendous basketball career at Ohio State. He led the Buckeyes to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, was a three-time Academic All-American and holds the school records for assists and steals. Additionally, he was twice selected the Big Ten Defensive Player-of-the-Year and was the named Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 Big Ten Tournament. Following graduation from Ohio State’s medical school in May, Dr. Craft is currently doing his residency at Ohio State with the goal of specializing in surgical and medical management of head and neck conditions.

(pics courtesy of Liberty-Benton High School)

Arlington High School’s boys basketball coach will be among the award winners recognized at the OHSAA Boys Basketball State Finals.

Jason Vermillion is the recipient of the 2025 OHSAA Coaches Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Award for boys basketball.

Vermillion has been head coach at Arlington High School for 27 years and his teams have won more than 400 games, numerous conference championships and this year’s team reached the Division VII state semifinals.    

The Red Devils finished the season with a record of 24-4.     

Vermillion is in his 27^th year as a sixth-grade teacher in the Arlington district.

(pics taken by AHS Yearbook students)

(From Gliding Stars of Findlay)

The Gliding Stars of Findlay’s 22nd ice show is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2025, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Cube, located at 3430 North Main Street in Findlay. Doors open at 1:30pm. The theme for this year’s show is “Gliding Stars Really Big Rock Show.”

The show will feature rock music from the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s. The Stars will be wearing costumes reflecting the different decades and the show’s custom-made set will be enhanced with two video boards. The Stars and their volunteers have been practicing weekly since September to prepare a show for the community.

Gliding Stars of Findlay is a non-profit, adaptive ice-skating program for youth and adult individuals with disabilities. The program uses adaptive equipment such as walkers and modified skates to help provide the Stars the chance to skate. During the past 23 years, the program has provided opportunities for over 500 young people from throughout the region to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as develop physical strength, make new friends, and enjoy a sense of belonging. Forty-seven skaters from Hancock County and the surrounding area are a part of this year’s show.

Nearly 70 volunteers, under the direction of skating coaches, assist the participants during the weekly practices and show rehearsals. Volunteers include students from the University of Findlay and area middle and high schools, area corporations and businesses, and family members and friends.

Ticket prices for this family-friendly event are $10.00 and are available at the door the day of the show.

Eight raffle items each valued from $300 up to $750, will be raffled off during the show. Tickets for the raffle are four for $5.00 and can be purchased in advance from a Gliding Stars parent or board member or the day of the show. Ticket holders do not need to be present at the show to win.

Major show sponsors include Marathon Petroleum Company LP, Hancock-Wood Electric Community Trust Fund, and The Findlay-Hancock Community Foundation.

For additional information, visit www.glidingstarsoffindlay.org or www.facebook.com/GlidingStarsofFindlay

(From the Hancock Historical Museum)

Limited tickets remain for the Hancock Historical Museum’s Beatrix Potter Tea sponsored by Zonta Club of Findlay. The museum will present a proper Victorian tea party designed for children ages 5-12 with an accompanying adult from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29.

Highlighting the period of English writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter, guests will learn the history of The Tale of Peter Rabbit! and proper Victorian tea party etiquette while enjoying tea, treats and activities. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite doll and come dressed for the occasion.

The tea will include themed gifts, crafts and refreshments curated by the Victorian Ladies, a group of volunteers dedicated to the Hancock Historical Museum’s enriching opportunities and educational experiences.

The Children’s Victorian Tea is $30 for Hancock Historical Museum members and $35 for non-members. One ticket grants admission for one child and an accompanying adult.

Space is limited. Reservations and payment are required no later than Wednesday, March 26.

To make a reservation, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433

(From the Mazza Museum)

Area children in grades 5 to 8 are invited to participate in the STEAM CLUB at University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum.

The six-week afterschool program, with a theme of “Pump up the STEAM,” is designed for “the innovators of tomorrow,” said Amanda Davidson-Johnston, education manager at the Mazza Museum.

Each session will cover a different topic in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math and will be led by field experts.

“If students are interested in science or how the earth works, this would be a perfect after-school activity for them,” she explained. “STEAM Club is great because it allows students to explore their passions outside of the classroom and have fun.”

Students who attend all six sessions will earn a lab coat and be invited to attend a special Lab Coat Ceremony.

Sessions take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday, from March 25 to April 29, at the Joseph & Judith Conda STEAM Education Center on the UF campus. The cost is $175 per student.

Registration is required by March 24 and can be completed at mazzamuseum.org/steam-club.

For more information, contact Davidson-Johnston at 419-434-4777 or send an email to amanda.davidson-johnston@findlay.edu.

(From Findlay City Schools)

Mark your calendars for a Findlay City Schools Town Hall on April 9, 2025 at Donnell Middle School!

We are sticking with the same topic for this Town Hall (district finances) to be sure we get all your questions answered!

Join us to hear accurate information straight from our Superintendent, Treasurer, and members of the FCS Board of Education.

A link will be provided one week ahead of Town Hall for those wishing to submit questions ahead of time.

Watch the livestream here: youtube.com/live/69klF7k4rsY

WFIN – Findlay City Schools in February held a Town Hall at Glenwood Middle School on the district’s finances and financial challenges following the failed levy last November which resulted in a $6.1 million budget reduction. 

The Findlay City Schools Board of Education recently shared a second phase of potential budget reductions should the district’s 1 percent earned income tax levy on the May 6 ballot not pass.

(From Blanchard Valley Center)

The Celebrity Basketball Game, hosted by Blanchard Valley Center at Findlay High School will tip off at 7 p.m. on March 25, 2025.  

Hancock County Special Olympics athletes and local celebrities come together for an evening of friendly competition. 

Nadine Weininger says the event is free and open to the public and hopes to see you there.  

There will be items for purchase such as concessions, a 50/50 raffle, half-court shot contest, and new this year, ‘Fling the Fidget.’  

We’re looking forward to seeing new and familiar faces come together for an evening to celebrate inclusion in Findlay and Hancock County.

(ONN) – Ohio Republican lawmakers are seeking to solve a growing state labor shortage issue by adjusting underage work limitations.

An Ohio Senate committee approved two bills to allow more legal work hours for 14 and 15 year olds.

Current law prohibits them from working past 7 p.m. during the school year.

Ohio Senate Bill 50 would change that to 9 p.m. with written permission from the employee’s parent or guardian.

In addition, the bills want to add hours and days to the work week cap that currently stands at three days and eighteen hours.

(ONN) – Immunization rates among Ohio kindergarteners has fallen again and ranks well below the national average.

That’s according to the annual report from the Ohio Department of Health.

Currently, the vaccination rate in Ohio is 85.4 percent compared to the national average of 92.7 percent.

This comes amid an ongoing measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico.

Measles can be potentially deadly for children under the age of five.

Doctors are urging parents to get their kids the MMR vaccine if they haven’t already, and to talk to their pediatrician about any possible concerns.

Findlay City Council has approved an ordinance creating the zoning code to allow for the retail sale of cannabis in the city for recreational or medical use.

A Cannabis Overlay District allowing for adult-use cannabis dispensaries has been added to the Findlay Zoning code.

The city says the purpose of the Cannabis Overlay District allows for up to two dispensaries to operate in the city.

The district regulations are designed to encourage compatibility with adjacent or nearby land uses, the city said.

The overlay district consists of four areas:

Tiffin Avenue

I-75 exit 161 / CR 99

Trenton Avenue (west of I-75)

West Main Cross Street / I-75

The city previously placed a 12 month moratorium on the establishment of dispensaries.

Ohio voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November of 2023.