News Briefs

Magruder lab screenings
Magruder Hospital’s next monthly community lab screening will be held Thursday, Nov. 9 between 8 and 11:30 a.m. at the Magruder Community Clinic, 730 Jefferson St., Port Clinton.
The main lab test is a CBC, CMP and lipid profile, which includes liver and kidney function, fasting blood sugar, cholesterol, HDL/LDL, triglycerides and a complete blood count (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the blood) for $50.
Additional add-on tests are available and include:
• Lipid profile: $20.
• Hemoglobin A1C: $20.
• PSA (prostate specific antigen): $30.
• TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone): $25.
• Vitamin D: $35.
Lab screenings are offered on the second Thursday each month. Appointments are required and may be made by calling 419-301-4304. Participants are asked to fast for 12 hours prior to their appointment time but can have water. No insurance is accepted – payment may be made by cash, check or credit card (no American Express).

Board & Volunteer Fair
A Sandusky County nonprofit resource group will present a Board & Volunteer Fair Thursday, Nov. 9 from 3-6 p.m. at the YMCA of Sandusky County, 1000 North St., Fremont. Attendees will have the chance to explore various nonprofit booths, learn about their missions and discover volunteer and board member openings.
Key event highlights include:
• Networking: Connect with representatives from a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, from education and healthcare to environmental and social services.
• Volunteer opportunities: Explore volunteer positions that align with one’s interests, skills, and availability, providing a chance to give back to the community.
• Board membership: Learn about openings for board positions within these nonprofits, and the chance to play a role in shaping their future.
• Workshops: Engage in informative workshops on effective nonprofit governance, volunteering best practices, and more.
• Community engagement: Foster a sense of community and togetherness by joining a network of like-minded individuals dedicated to making a difference.
In August, the Sandusky County Communities Foundation (SCCF) held a nonprofit roundtable discussion with leaders from Habitat for Humanity, Our Lady of the Pines, YMCA of Sandusky County, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Heartbeat Hope Medical, SJCC, Terra State Community College, and the Chamber of Commerce. The collaborative group quickly realized that most of their organizations struggled with the same issues.
“Our goal of this collaborative is to produce some ideas of how we can work together on these issues and continue to create a stronger community. We believe that strong communities are built on the foundation of active, engaged volunteers and board members,” said Andrea Gibson, executive director at the Sandusky

Free community
Thanksgiving dinner
A free Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 23 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Woodmore High School, 633 Fremont St., Elmore.
The dinner is available to all, particularly Ottawa and Sandusky County residents.
The menu will include turkey or ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, vegetable, and dinner roll provided by Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, as well as desserts donated from local churches.-
This is the 15th year for the Free Thanksgiving Dinner, which remains the only one in the area held on Thanksgiving Day. It is put on and sponsored by local churches, businesses, community organizations and many volunteers who help make it a success each year. Last year, 600 meals were served and organizers are expecting the same number this year.
This is the first year since the pandemic that the dinner will be served dine-in (it was switched to drive-thru in 2020 due to COVID).
Anyone who would like to donate their time for this event may contact Bob Daniel at: bdaniel808@yahoo.com. To make a donation to help support the dinner, send contributions to Elmore Church of God, c/o Thanksgiving Dinner, 310 Congress St., Elmore, OH 43416.

Heating assistance
The Ohio Department of Development and Pathway Inc. want to ensure Ohioans stay warm and comfortable this winter by helping alleviate the burden of costly energy bills.
From Nov. 1 through March 31, 2024, income-eligible Ohioans can receive one-time assistance with their home energy bill through the Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program.
The Winter Crisis Program assists Ohioans facing service disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, have a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) default, need to make their first PIPP payment or have 25 percent or less supply of bulk fuel in their tank to maintain service. Qualifying households must have a gross annual income of at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is up to $52,500.
Last year, the Winter Crisis Program assisted more than 67,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $19 million in benefits.
“A warm and comfortable home should not be a luxury only some people can afford,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “This program does more than just provide financial assistance; it shows some of our most-vulnerable residents that we’re here to lend a helping hand when they need it most.”
Households serviced by a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)-regulated utility must sign up for PIPP or another payment plan if there is still an outstanding balance on the utility bill after receiving assistance.
Ohioans can start their application online but will need to schedule an appointment with their local energy assistance provider to complete the application. Depending on the agency, the appointment may be in person, on the phone or virtually. The application and list of providers can be found online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Ohioans can also call 800-282-0880 to find their local provider. Hearing impaired customers may dial 711 for assistance.
Clients need to bring copies of the following documents to their appointment:
• Copies of their most-recent energy bills.
• A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
• Proof of disability, if applicable.
Pathway Inc., Community Action Agency, offers Winter Crisis Program services at 505 Hamilton St., Toledo.
All appointment methods will be conducted via phone interview. Schedule an appointment using the 24/7 automated phone line – 567-803-0010. Schedule a same-day appointment – Wednesdays and Thursdays at 567-803-0017.
Visit Pathway Inc.’s website, PathwayToledo.org, for detailed program information.
HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after Jan. 1. Those who need immediate assistance with energy bills should contact their local energy assistance provider. A list of providers can be found at energyhelp.ohio.gov.
Applications for the HEAP Winter Crisis program must be received by March 31, 2024. The last day to apply for the regular HEAP benefit is May 31, 2024. For more information on the programs, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov or call their local energy assistance provider.

Quilters to meet
The Maumee Bay Country Quilters' Guild will meet Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 6:45 p.m. at Northwood Church of God, 3375 Curtice Rd., Northwood.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. The program will feature demos of unique Christmas gift ideas from "wonky" ruler evergreens to serger-made jewelry.
The visitor's fee is $10; yearly membership is $35.

Sewer project to
be discussed
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District will hold a public meeting to discuss the Dunbridge Road and State Route 582 sewer and water main improvement project. The project will also address the Ohio EPA findings and orders to construct sanitary sewers in Dunbridge.
The meeting will be held Nov. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Northwestern Water and Sewer District, 12560 Middleton Pike, Bowling Green.
The District is currently completing the design phase of the project.
The informational meeting is for residents and affected property owners near the proposed project along Rt. 582, from Midstar Drive to Walnut Street, residents of Dunbridge, and property owners along Dunbridge Road, Rt. 582 to Poe Road. The meeting will begin with a presentation with an overview of the project, followed by an open house.

Commission to hear
zoning amendments
The Wood County Planning Commission is scheduled to hear two proposed amendments to the current Troy Township zoning resolution at its Nov. 7 meeting, which will start at 5:30 p.m. at the county office building in Bowling Green.
The amendments pertain to fencing and barndominiums.
Other items are on the meeting agenda, including subdivision issues in Perrysburg Township, Washington Township, and Middleton Township.

Pickleball courts
in village plans
Pickleball courts may be constructed in the Village of Genoa if funding is available.
Village council has approved a motion authorizing the village administrator to pursue grant funds through the Ottawa County Park District for the proposed courts.
Village administrator Thomas Bergman last week said the village parks committee has decided to convert one of two tennis courts into two pickleball courts.
Voters will decide a 0.75-mill, 5-year renewal levy for parks and recreation on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Bergman said the levy, in conjunction with the village securing a grant from the park district, would determine whether or not the pickleball courts get built.
“Unless, I’m mistaken, there are no public pickleball courts in western Ottawa County, and these would be accessible by the North Coast Inland Trail,” he said.

Cover crop deadline extended
Due to a late harvest and adverse weather conditions, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is extending the 2023 H2Ohio program deadline for planting overwintering cover crops.
Growers enrolled in the program in the 24 counties of the Western Lake Erie Basin will have until Nov. 15 to plant overwintering cover crops.
For more information about the program or the extended deadline to plant cover crops, growers should contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District office.
H2Ohio focuses on encouraging agricultural best management practices, restoring wetlands, and replacing home septic systems to reduce nutrients that contribute to harmful algal blooms.