(From Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Ohio)

Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine announced a new statewide initiative designed to enroll more Ohio children immediately after birth in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio. Studies have shown that books in the home, such as the books the Imagination Library provides to children from birth to age five, and more reading can increase Kindergarten Readiness Assessment scores.

First Lady DeWine made the announcement that signing up for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is now part of the Ohio birth certificate paperwork process today during the 2025 First Lady’s Luncheon. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also participated in the program, along with country music legend Zac Brown. 

“Research has shown that 80 percent of a child’s brain is developed by age three, so we want to get books into the home as early as possible in order to have the most impact,” said First Lady DeWine. “I am thrilled to announce that now, as part of the Ohio birth certificate process, moms and dads will learn about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio and have the chance to sign up at the hospital before they head home with their newborn. One simple checkmark will give Ohio’s little ones a great start in life.”

Imagination Library books have been available to newborns, but through this new enrollment initiative, more families will know that this program is available to them in the very first few days that their child is eligible to sign up. Enrollment at birth will result in more young children receiving the complete collection – all 60 books – that the Imagination Library offers. Opting into the program results in one age-appropriate book mailed to the child’s home every month until he or she turns five years old.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio is a book gifting program available to all Ohio children between birth and age 5. Families can sign up for free books at OhioImaginationLibrary.org.

WFIN – Currently, more than 2,400 children in Hancock County are in the program, and more than 5,500 participated in the program and aged out of it.

Above is a picture of Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine reading a book to kids in Findlay to promote Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

(From the Ohio Department of Transportation)

Winter, already?

ODOT is hiring seasonal CDL drivers to assist with our winter operations.

What You Will Do:

Perform snow & ice operations, operate heavy equipment, maintenance of traffic & flagging, and highway maintenance & repair work.

Apply online: https://dasstateoh.taleo.net/care…/oh_ext/jobdetail.ftl…

(From the Ohio State Highway Patrol)

Do you think a career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol is the right fit for you? We are pleased to emphasize an ongoing opportunity for individuals considering a career as an Ohio state trooper to participate in our ride-along program.

The Patrol’s ride-along program is an immersive experience that offers potential recruits a firsthand look into the daily duties and responsibilities of our troopers. Participants will ride in a cruiser alongside a trooper for a day, afternoon or night shift. They will observe troopers responding to calls for service, conducting traffic stops and engaging with the public.   

“We understand that choosing a career with the Patrol is a significant decision,” said Major Michael D. Kemmer, Office of Training, Recruitment and Professional Operations Commander. “Our ride-along program is designed to give prospective applicants an authentic glimpse into the challenging yet rewarding work our troopers do every day to keep Ohio safe.”

The ride-along program is specifically geared towards individuals who are genuinely interested in pursuing a career with the Patrol. To be eligible for a ride-along, applicants must:

• Hold a valid driver’s license
• Be age 18-39
• Participate in a brief interview with the post commander before the ride-along

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is committed to recruiting and training highly motivated individuals who wish to serve their state and community by joining the next generation of state troopers.

Anyone interested in participating in a ride-along is encouraged to contact their local Ohio State Highway Patrol post. Contact information for all posts can be found here. More information regarding our ride-along program can be found here.

(From Blanchard Valley Health System)

Birchaven Village, a division of Blanchard Valley Health System, has been recognized as one of “America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026” by Newsweek.

One of the challenges of aging is finding the proper care from trusted sources. Families want to know that their loved ones are in good hands during a new phase of life. Nursing homes play a vital role in providing essential services, whether for general care or medical assistance in day-to-day living. Newsweek and Statista are partnering again to rank America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 to assist seniors and their loved ones in evaluating long-term care options.

This year’s list recognizes nursing homes across the 25 states with the highest number of facilities, based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The top nursing homes in each state were assessed and ranked according to four key pillars: performance data, recommendations from medical professionals, accreditations, and resident satisfaction.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026,” said Judith A. Bishop-Pierce, LNHA, Director of Residential Care at Birchaven. “Birchaven has long been known for providing the highest quality senior services to our community, and this recognition exemplifies our organization’s commitment to serving generations of families with compassion, dignity, and excellence.”

Birchaven Village is not just a retirement community but a home away from home. Residents enjoy all the benefits of small-town living without the demands of upkeep.

The community’s beautiful “Main Street” includes a bank, beauty salon, chapel, restaurant, and more, creating a welcoming environment for residents and their families.

Birchaven provides a continuum of care to seniors in Hancock County and surrounding counties. Individuals wishing to downsize may select from assisted and independent living apartments. Residents recovering from falls, illnesses, or surgeries benefit from Birchaven’s reputation as Findlay’s premier rehabilitation destination. Birchaven also offers long-term and specialized memory care services and adult day services to individuals needing ongoing assistance.

Call 419.425.3850 to schedule a tour of Birchaven Village. Additional information about the senior living and care options at Birchaven can be found at birchaven.org.

(From the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library)

The Arlington Branch of the Findlay-Hancock County Public Library, located at 232 North Main Street in Arlington, will implement new operating hours, beginning earlier in the morning to better accommodate the schedules of local residents.

Beginning October 6, 2025, the new hours of operation will be:

Tuesday & Thursday: 11 AM- 7 PM

Wednesday & Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM

Saturday: 9 AM – 1 PM

Sunday & Monday: Closed

Sarah Clevidence, Library Director says, “after careful consideration of the usage patterns at the Arlington Branch, we are excited to offer morning hours three days a week, while also making efficient use of the library’s operating budget. Based on community comments, we know our patrons will appreciate the opportunity to visit the library a bit earlier in the day.”

The library’s mission is to foster a love of reading, viewing, and listening in our community, and to empower individuals of all ages and backgrounds to build a more informed, engaged, and connected community.

The Findlay Police Department is requesting help from the public in identifying some theft suspects.

Police say the people in the surveillance pictures are believed to be responsible for recent thefts at Menards involving electronics.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Findlay Police Department at 419-424-7150, message them on Facebook, or call Crime Stoppers at 419-425-TIPS.

Tipsters may be eligible for a reward.

(From Findlay City Schools)

Student Council at Findlay High School is thriving, thanks to a grant offered by The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation and written by our very own FHS students, Brooklyn Davis, Gabbie Smith, Greta Zaciewski, Anika Helms, and Cole Hull.

The funds secured through this grant will go directly toward Student Council initiatives that have been advocated for by their classmates.

One of these initiatives? A new tradition allowing seniors to personalize their parking spots (with grant-funded supplies!). Senior students (and many of their family members) got creative this past Sunday to make these spots beautiful, and they look amazing.

Well done, Student Council!

(From the Findlay Police Department)

The City of Findlay Police Department has partnered with CivicPlus to implement its NextRequest solution, a webbased platform designed to simplify and modernize public records management. The platform enables residents to easily submit public records requests, track their status, and access records – ultimately promoting greater transparency and government accountability. By automating workflows and streamlining request processing, NextRequest makes it faster and easier for staff to respond to requests and honor FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and state-specific public records laws.

All records requests for the Findlay Police Department will be directed to our on-line request portal at findlaypoliceoh.nextrequest.com/requests/new. This link can also be found on the Findlay Police Department Records Request page at findlayohio.gov/government/city-departments/police/records.

“The Findlay Police Department is committed to transparency and accountability. By implementing CivicPlus’ NextRequest platform, we are giving our community a modern and efficient way to access public records. This system will help us streamline workflows, strengthen compliance, and ensure requests are handled quickly and accurately— building greater trust between the department and the residents we serve.” Chief James Mathias

With CivicPlus’ public records request software, NextRequest, the Findlay Police Department will be able to:

• Simplify request management and increase efficiency, ensuring residents can quickly and easily access the information they need.
• Automate tasks to save time with advanced workflow automation, allowing staff to focus on delivering timely, high-quality responses to public records requests.
• Enhance collaboration across departments to provide more accurate and complete records for residents.
• Maximize resources and improve time management, ensuring records requests are handled efficiently, even during high-demand periods.

About CivicPlus Thousands of high-performing civic leaders rely on CivicPlus® as their trusted partner for impact-led government. With CivicPlus, leaders can finally overcome the perpetual tradeoff between the demand for better services and the realities of operational resources, leveraging the unique Civic Impact Platform to deliver both unmatched end-to-end automated efficiency and truly unified, delightful resident experiences.

Backed by over 25 years of experience and leveraging the insights of more than 900 team members, our solutions are chosen by over 10,000 organizations and are used daily by over 340 million people in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit civicplus.com.

(From the Humane Society and SPCA of Hancock County)

Tickets for this year’s Tricks, Treats & Tails, dog trick-or-treat event in downtown Findlay to support the pets at the shelter, are on sale! Pre-registration tickets are $30 per dog and can be purchased here: https://hancockhumanesociety.com/…/tricks-treats-tails…/

Findlay Young Professionals are once again having a dog costume contest in Findlay Brewing Company’s beer garden. Bring a wishlist item to enter the contest. Prizes include a Raising Cane’s gift basket and Humane Society logo blankets (they are soooo soft!)

Come trick-or-treat at your favorite downtown Findlay businesses, support the pets at the shelter and even get a pet blessing outside Coffee Amici.

We hope to see you there!

(From the City of Findlay)

Findlay Mayor Christina Muryn has been selected for the Class of 2026 Rodel Fellowship. The Rodel Fellowship is the nation’s premier leadership development program for elected leaders. Each year, the program selects 24 outstanding state and local leaders, divided between the political parties, to come together for a series of three multi-day seminars held over a two-year period. Working with leading scholars as moderators, the fellows read and discuss classic texts dealing with ethical values, democratic principles, and wise and effective leadership. Those texts include the Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the United States Constitution, and writings by Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, Jr., among many others.

“I am honored to be selected as a Rodel Fellow and to join such an esteemed group of leaders from across the country. I look forward to the opportunity to reflect on the principles of democracy and strengthen my ability to serve Findlay with wisdom and integrity. At a time when collaboration and civility are more important than ever, the bipartisan nature of this fellowship provides a unique space to build relationships across political divides and work together toward better understanding and solutions that benefit all of our communities.”- Christina Muryn, Mayor

Since its founding in 2005, the Rodel Fellowship has helped 425 state and local elected officials reach their full potential as public servants. These fellows have gone on to serve as United States senators, governors, mayors, party leaders, Cabinet secretaries, members of Congress, and Vice President of the United States.

Previous participants from the State of Ohio include Robert Sprague, Jon Husted, Haraz Ghanbari, Cindy Abrams, Larry Obhof, John Cranley, Amy Murray, and Steve Demetriou.

For more information, please visit https://www.rodelinstitute.org/programs/rodel-fellowship/.

The Rodel Institute seeks to strengthen democracy and public leadership in the United States. A nonpartisan center for leadership and intellectual growth, we help America’s most promising leaders deepen their commitment to democracy and the rule of law and work together to address some of our nation’s most important domestic and international challenges. The Institute’s programs convene diverse leaders from across the country and the political and legal spectrum in an effort to find common ground, build enduring relationships, and encourage the understanding and cooperation needed to move our nation forward. For more information, visit www.rodelinstitute.org.