(From the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce)

Bluffton businesses are gearing up for the Second Annual Jingle Bell Stroll, an all-day holiday event on November 14, from Noon to 7:00 PM, where 18+ local businesses will open their doors to spread cheer and celebrate the season with the community.

Ticket holders will kick off the stroll at either Samuel W. Diller Co., 101 N. Main St., or Fortman Insurance, 138 N Main St,  where they will receive a commemorative gift bag to collect keepsakes and treats from each participating business. Each stop will offer something unique—whether it’s an ornament, special candy or cookies, product samples, or other surprises to mark the season.

The event wraps up at Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, where participants can enter a drawing to win Bluffton Chamber Gift Certificates valued at $100, $50, and $25.

Tickets are available in advance at Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn, Roots by Strattons, Polished/Boutique 415, and The Black Lab. They’re limited to 225 and priced at $10 each.

Join us for a fun and festive day in Bluffton. For details, visit explorebluffton.com/jingle-bell-stroll or contact Jim Enneking at the Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce (director@explorebluffton.com, 419-369-2985).

(From Liberty-Benton Local Schools)

Liberty-Benton hosted its National Honor Society Ceremony on November 4!

Congratulations to all the new Junior High and High School inductees on this incredible achievement!

To see the full list of inductees, visit: https://bit.ly/3YSrlsF.

The Findlay High School Ice Hockey team will kick off the regular season by hosting Newark Friday night November, 15 at The Cube.

It will be Military Night and admission will be free for all Veterans and active service members.

JV will begin at 5 p.m. and Varsity at 7 p.m.

We asked Head Coach Ben Patey how the team is looking after some of their scrimmages.

Coach Patey said they’re looking to avenge the loss to Bowling Green in the playoffs last season.

Their regular season opener is Friday, November 15 at The Cube against Newark.

The Ohio Department of Transportation has announced some upcoming road closures as part of their project to reconstruct the Interstate 75/County Road 99 interchange and upgrade the County Road 99 corridor between Technology Drive and North Main Street.

ODOT says from Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. – Monday, Nov. 18 at 6 a.m. County Road 99 between North Main Street and the Ball Metal entrance will close to install a drainage pipe.

Detour: Main St. to Bigelow Ave. to Bright Rd to CR 215, back to CR 99 (see map)

Also, Main Street on the north side of the County Road 99 intersection will close to repair the concrete.

Detour: Main St. to Bigelow Ave. to Bright Rd to CR 212, back to CR 99 (see map).

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

On November 10, 2024, at approximately 8:37 P.M., the Lima Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a report of an injury crash involving a single vehicle on Interstate 75 North at the State Route 696 overpass in Allen County.

Investigation determined a white 2012 Chevrolet Impala, operated by 20-year-old Cole M. Kennedy of Cincinnati, was traveling north on Interstate 75.

While negotiating a left curve, Kennedy drove off the right side of the road and struck the concrete support for the State Route 696 overpass.

Kennedy sustained life threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by The Ohio Department of Transportation, Beaverdam-Richland Fire & Rescue, Allen County Coroner’s Office and Blake’s Garage.

The crash remains under investigation.

(From the Leipsic Local School District)

The Leipsic Vikings football team will compete in the Regional Semi-final game versus Delphos St. John on Friday, November 15 at Ottawa Glandorf High School.

Kickoff will be at 7:00 pm.

Tickets are available online through the OHSAA website, Region 26.

Adults $11

Students $5

We do have another donor of student tickets.

Village Hardware has donated another 20 student tickets.

Please contact Christa (419-943-3184) to reserve your student tickets.

Just text her the name of the student who needs the ticket.

Thank you Village Hardware.

Go Vikes!!!!!

Broadway theatres will be honoring Findlay native and Tony-winning actor Gavin Creel who died in September.

According to Playbill, each Broadway theatre will dim their lights in Creel’s honor on December 3^rd at 6:45 p.m.

Playbill is reporting that Creel was originally set to receive a partial dimming ceremony but after an immense outcry online, the Broadway League decided that Creel would receive a full dimming.

A public memorial will be held for Creel on December 2^nd at Broadway’s St. James Theatre at 4 p.m.

Creel was a 1994 graduate of Findlay High School and a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

According to his website, Creel made his Broadway debut in the role of Jimmy Smith in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination, and then went on to star in the Broadway productions of HAIR, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, SHE LOVES ME, THE BOOK OF MORMON, and WAITRESS.

Creel then received a Tony Award for his performance as Cornelius Hackl in HELLO, DOLLY! starring Bette Midler.

Creel passed away on September 30^th after a battle with cancer. He was 48-years-old.

(above picture courtesy of gavincreel.com, photographers Matthew Murphy and Mark Willshire)

The students at Findlay’s Chamberlin Hill Elementary saluted local Veterans with their 27th Annual Veterans Day Program on Friday.

The Veterans were treated to a student program featuring patriotic songs and performances and then were served a nice lunch.

One of the videos below is the 5^th graders performing the Armed Forces Medley, during which Veterans stood to be recognized when the song of their branch of the armed forces was performed.

Findlay’s Veterans Day Parade will be held on Sunday, November 10 beginning at 2 p.m. on Main Street. Get more details here.

Veterans Day is on Monday, November 11.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Bridge Hospice Bereavement Services, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, will hold its Holiday Memorial Wreath-Making event in Findlay and Bowling Green in November and December.

The holidays can be a difficult time of year after experiencing the loss of a loved one. Community members attending these sessions will learn to create and display a wreath  in memory of their loved ones this holiday season. This activity is open to the entire family.

Bridge Bereavement Services will provide the materials needed to create a live evergreen wreath for participants to take home and decorate in a manner that reflects your loved one who cannot be physically with you this holiday season. Two sessions will be held for individuals and families, with bereavement staff and volunteers on hand to assist.

The Findlay sessions will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27 at The Old Millstream Centre, Hancock County Fairgrounds, 1017 E. Sandusky St., Findlay.

Sessions in Bowling Green will take place from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, at the Bowling Green Community Center, Classroom B, 1245 W. Newton Road, Bowling Green.

Sessions will be scheduled in half-hour increments at both locations.

Pre-registration is required by November 22. Sessions are expected to fill quickly. Once spots are filled, registration will be closed. The event is free of charge.

To RSVP or learn more, please contact Bridge Hospice Bereavement Services by calling 419.423.5351.

(From Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague)

The Ohio Market Access Program (OMAP) administered by Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague has helped the Village of Carey (Wyandot County) enter the market and save an estimated $30,665 in interest costs.

“Through OMAP, our local governments have the power to leverage the state’s high credit rating to drive down borrowing costs and save money,” said Treasurer Sprague. “With this latest deal, the Village of Carey will bring its total savings through OMAP to more than $262,000 dollars since first partnering with our office in 2018.”

The original notes were issued to fund major electric system improvements, including a new substation, transformer, and distribution feeders to serve a new school and industrial park, as well as the replacement of wooden poles with iron or steel poles. This deal marks the seventh time the Village of Carey has leveraged OMAP, and the previous deals saved the village an estimated $232,219 in interest expenses.

OMAP is a credit enhancement program that leverages the state’s excess liquidity and high short-term credit rating to help improve market access and lower borrowing rates for local governments. Since its 2014 launch, OMAP has supported more than 330 deals, ranging from $365,000 to over $100 million. There have been no defaults, and to date, OMAP has generated more than $6.3 million in estimated savings for local governments.

Any government subdivision in good fiscal standing, including cities, villages, school districts, counties, townships, and special districts, issuing short-term debt is eligible to participate. For more information, visit https://omap.ohio.gov/.