News Briefs Dec. 7, 2020

Humane Society board openings
        The Wood County Humane Society is seeking applicants to fill at least two vacant seats on its board of directors.  Board terms will begin in late January 2021 and are two years in length, with the possibility of renewal for up to four, two-year terms.
        Board members are expected to attend one two-hour meeting each month and fulfill other committee-related responsibilities as determined by individual interests and organizational needs.
        Meetings are being held virtually via Zoom for the foreseeable future.
        For additional information, contact Board President Heath A. Diehl at williad@bgsu.edu.
        An application to the board can be accessed online at https://tinyurl.com/WCHSBoardApp.
        Located in Bowling Green, the Wood County Humane Society is a private, non-profit, managed admission shelter providing care for homeless and abused or neglected pets. The organization receives no funding from national humane organizations for daily operations, instead relying on earned revenue and individual donors and businesses to fund programs such as Humane Investigations, Safe Pets, food assistance programs, low-cost spay/neuter opportunities, and educational presentations.
        The WCHS provides care for more than a thousand animals each year, from dogs and cats, to the occasional pocket pet or farm animal. All animals admitted into the adoption program are housed and cared for as long as it takes to find their adoptive home.
 
Patrol Toledo Post opens on Dorr St.
        The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Toledo Post opened at its new location at 3333 Dorr St. on Nov. 30. The phone number for the post, formerly located in Swanton, remains the same at 419-865-5544.
        According to a press release announcing the opening, the new location will allow the Patrol to “more efficiently and effectively serve the high concentration of the motoring public in the Toledo metro area and Lucas County.” The post also serves Fulton County.
        Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at a later date.
 
Toy drive under way
        “SkipperBud’s, Marblehead, and The Salvation Army, in collaboration with U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots are teaming up to support local families this holiday season.
        SkipperBud’s, 6801 East Harbor Rd., Marblehead is conducting a “Fill A Boat Toy Drive” through Dec. 14. All collected toys will be given to local families through the Ottawa County Salvation Army program, which is seeing a higher need than ever this year.
        For more info, call The Salvation Army at 419-732-2769.
 
Lake Police holding holiday food drive
        Lake Township police officers are heading up a holiday project that will benefit Lake Local Schools students who may need nutritional assistance on weekends and during extended breaks from school.
        “Each year, our officers pick a project to help township and area residents for the holidays,” said Police Chief Mark Hummer. “In past years, we’ve coordinated assistance for the Wood County Humane Society, but issues surrounding COVID-19 made us take another look at what we could do for the kids.”
        The officers are seeking donations of non-perishable food items, such as canned goods, to give to the school district’s “Glider Pack Program,” which provides supplemental food free of charge to the students when they are not in session for multiple days.
        “Other items we are accepting include packaged protein items, juice boxes, non-glass bottled nutritional drinks such as Gatorade, and granola snack bars,” Chief Hummer said.
        Patrolmen Kelly Clark and Rachel Caputo are heading up the project for the police department. Donations will be accepted through Wednesday, Dec. 23.
        “We have even worked out a Wish List through Amazon in which people can purchase eligible items on their website and have them shipped directly to our department at 27975 Cummings Rd., Millbury OH, 43447,” Chief Hummer said.
        Call 419-481-6354 or email caputo@laketwp.com or clark@laketwp.com by Dec. 20 for more details.
 
Pay it forward
        The Northwestern Water and Sewer District is accepting donations for its Pay It Forward Program.
        The program accepts donations from District customers and others, which are directed to the Salvation Army to underwrite payment of past-due utility bills for customers in financial distress. To date, approximately 40 local households have benefited from the program.
        Donate or learn more at nwwsd.org.
Pay it forward
        The Northwestern Water and Sewer District is accepting donations for its Pay It Forward Program.
        The program accepts donations from District customers and others, which are directed to the Salvation Army to underwrite payment of past-due utility bills for customers in financial distress. To date, approximately 40 local households have benefited from the program.
        Donate or learn more at nwwsd.org.
 
Renter assistance Funds depleted
        New applications for the City of Toledo’s federally funded COVID-19 Emergency Renter Assistance Fund (ERAF) program are not being accepted by NeighborWorks Toledo Region, effective Dec. 2. Previously submitted incomplete applications will not be processed due to depletion of funding of the grant at NeighborWorks.
        Five hundred seventy-eight Toledo residents who experienced COVID-19-related job and income loss have received emergency rental assistance through the City of Toledo’s partnership with NeighborWorks and Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio.
        Toledo residents experiencing COVID-19-related job and income loss, who are in need of emergency rental assistance, may still contact Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio at www.lssnwo.org for City of Toledo ERAF assistance, or Pathway Toledo at www.pathwaytoledo.org regarding the Home Relief Emergency Services Program that it operates.
        The Emergency Renter Assistance Fund program was launched earlier this year by the Kapszukiewicz administration, along with the Emergency Microenterprise Recovery Grant to aid in the economic recovery of microenterprises negatively impacted by COVID-19 and the Home at Last program to assist qualified homebuyers.
        The City of Toledo Department of Neighborhoods allocates federal funds for a number of programs to assist residents. Information on the Home Loan Rehab Program can be found at toledo.oh.gov/residents/homeowners/home-rehab. Information on the Lead Paint Remediation Program can be found at toledo.oh.gov/residents/homeowners/lead-paint-remediation.
 
CARES Act funding
        The Lake Township Trustees have allotted $18,265.52 of CARES Act funding to directly benefit 501(c)(3) charitable organizations that operate in, and directly benefit Lake Township residents. The funds will be distributed this year.
        Interested and eligible organizations will need to file a letter of purpose for the funds, funds requested and a statement regarding the COVID-19 impact on their ability to provide assistance to those in need. All applications for funding will be reviewed and funds will be granted based on need and the ability to have the most positive impact. Filing an application does not guarantee funding for the proposal.
        All requests for funding should be sent to the fiscal officer no later than Friday, Dec. 11 at 4:30 p.m. Direct questions to Buddy Ritson, fiscal officer, at 419-838-6536.
 
Offices close
        The City of Oregon’s administrative hallways and counter service will be closed to the public due to the pandemic. The decision was made in response to Gov. Mike DeWine’s office, the Toledo Lucas County Health Department’s recommendations and the city’s response dealing with the increase in positive cases of the virus by limiting contact and reducing public interaction, according to Mayor Mike Seferian. The city will revisit the decision as it continues to monitor the situation and take the advisement from the governor’s office and the Toledo Lucas County Health Department. The offices will remain staffed and open to serve the public by phone, email, on-line or by appointment, if necessary.
 
Health Dept. clinics
        The Ottawa County Health Department has released the clinic schedule for Dec. 7-11. Unless otherwise stated, all clinics are held at the health department, 1856 E. Perry St., Port Clinton.
        Dec. 7: Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Clinic, 7:45 a.m.-noon.
        Dec. 8: Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Clinic, 7:45 a.m.-noon.
        Dec. 9: Family Planning Clinic, 8-9 a.m.; Immunization Clinic, 12:45-4:30 p.m.; Tuberculosis Clinic (no appointment necessary), 3-4 p.m.
        Dec. 10: No clinics scheduled.
        Dec. 11: Immunization Clinic, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Tuberculosis Clinic, 3-4 p.m.
        For home health services, call 419-734-6800.