News Briefs Week of 2/3/20

Holocaust
Remembrance
On Jan. 27, Congressman Bob Latta, a member of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, provided the following statement commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day:
“Today marks 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the most notorious concentration camp where 1.3 million people were sent after being ripped away from their homes and more than 1 million people were murdered between 1940 and 1945. No matter how many years go by, we must never forget how hatred and anti-Semitism resulted in the brutal genocide of 6 million Jews and millions of others during World War II.
“Mass killings of all kind, especially those targeting specific religions or races, are beyond human comprehension and humanity should never let them be forgotten. Even still, we continue to see hate and violence through anti-Semitic acts in our communities. I hope today we can all pledge to remember the brutal realities of what anti-Semitism looks like, the severe impact these realities had on our country and our world, and how we can work to ensure this never happens again.”
Congressman Latta has cosponsored a number of pieces of legislation this Congress combating anti-Semitism, including:
• H.R. 943, the Never Again Education Act: This bill would make it easier for all Americans to learn about the Holocaust and the impact of anti-Semitism because it authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs about the Holocaust.
• H.R. 221, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act: This bill passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly last year. It would upgrade the Special Envoy position within the State Department, raising it to the rank of ambassador and making it the primary advisor to the U.S. government on combating anti-Semitism.

Boating course
Toledo Sail & Power Squadron will offer “America’s Boating Course” in February and March.
The course, taught by certified instructors, will cover rules for boating (navigation rules) as well as anchoring, docking, safe fueling practices, life jackets and other topics.
The February session will be held Feb. 3, 5, 10 and 12. The March session will run March 10, 12 17 and 19. Classes will meet from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Toledo Port Authority Building on Water Street across from WTOL-TV. Free parking is available. The course fee is $10 plus $30 for a textbook (optional, but recommended), payable by cash or check.
Ohio Law requires any person, born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to be able to show proof that of successful completion an approved boating safety education course if operating any watercraft powered by a motor greater than 10 horsepower.
To register, call 419-261-9060.

Quilters to meet
The Maumee Bay Country Quilters' Guild will meet Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6:45 p.m. at Northwood Church of God, 3375 Curtice Rd.

Drug court offering
police officer training
Lucas County Adult Drug Court to Offer Law Enforcement Training by the National Drug Court Institute
Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Ian English and Sheriff John Tharp will be hosting a one-day law enforcement training designed to provide law enforcement officers with key tools to build an agency-wide understanding of treatment courts and other diversion programs, develop standard engagement protocols, and improve public safety outcomes for this jurisdiction.
This court will enable law enforcement officers to identify standard operating procedures and recognize the importance of both the multidisciplinary approach and the implementation of community policing, in addition to the impact of vicarious trauma within the law enforcement community.
Training will be held Feb. 11 from 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Lucas County Emergency Services Training Center, 2127 Jefferson Ave., Toledo. Law enforcement officers interested in attending may register online at www.cvent.com/d/mhqbjx.
The drug court program is a highly specialized team process within the existing Lucas County Court structure in which criminal justice officials and drug treatment professionals work together to effectively reduce addiction, crime and recidivism while saving taxpayer dollars.
There are more than 3,000 treatment courts in the United States annually serving 150,000 people. Since, 1989, treatment courts have served 1.5 million people and saved billions of tax dollars.

Habitat volunteers sought

Habitat for Humanity will hold an orientation meeting for those interested in becoming a volunteer on Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, 11 a.m. at the Wood County District Public Library, 2nd floor meeting room, Main Street, Bowling Green.
The non-profit group will talk about how people can learn more about volunteering and join its mission to provide families with decent and affordable housing. By volunteering and applying skills, families can achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life.
Volunteers are the backbone to Habitat for Humanity of Wood County’s mission. Builds are slated for spring and fall. Projects this year include two home builds (Weston and Bowling Green) and a major repair project in Northwood.
You can volunteer as a core crew on projects, join a committee or fill a need as an individual volunteer. Many skills will be needed and every hand makes a difference.
Core crew members have more experience with tools and will help guide fellow volunteers on the build site. Habitat safety training will be provided.
Individual or committee volunteers will gain new experiences in meeting others who believe in giving a hand up and not a hand out. Specific opportunities include checking-in volunteers at the construction site, assisting in administrative offices, coordinating lunches and/or provide lunch for volunteers at build sites, helping to select or support families in the program and helping at Habitat Wood County events.
Details on how to become a volunteer will be provided at the session.
If you are unable to attend the orientation, but are interested in volunteering, or would like additional information, please call the Habitat for Humanity of Wood County office at 419 353-5430 or email mohashi@wchabitat.org.

Volunteers sought
The Stony Ridge Civic Association is seeking volunteers for the 2020 Stony Ridge Festival, being planned for July 24-26.
More than 20 volunteers are needed in order for the festival to be held. To sign up or for more details, call or text 419-779-7534 or email contact@stonyridgepark.com. Respond no later than Feb. 15.

Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend the “Happy Valentine’s Day” luncheon and program sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Bayside, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon luncheon.
Betty Metz, of Oregon, will portray Bess Truman, wife of the 33rd President of the United States. Miranda Casey, also of Oregon, will provide special music. Lynn Kampfer, of Toledo, will speak on “Betrayal: A Journey from Bitter to Better.”
The price is $12.50 for the luncheon and program. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 or Donna at 419-836-8990 by Sunday, Feb. 9.

Minimum wage
petition certified
The Ohio Attorney General's Office last week certified a summary of a petition for a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would increase the state minimum wage rate.
On Jan. 17, the attorney general’s office received a written petition to amend the Ohio Constitution, entitled "Raise the Wage Ohio Amendment" from legal counsel for the petitioning committee. The petition was certified as containing both the necessary 1,000 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters and a "fair and truthful" summary of the proposed amendment.
"Without passing on the advisability of the approval or rejection of the measure … I hereby certify that the summary is a fair and truthful statement of the proposed amendment," Attorney General Dave Yost said in the letter certifying the petition.
Once the summary language is certified by the attorney general's office and the initial signatures are verified by the county boards of elections, the Ohio Ballot Board must determine if the amendment contains a single issue or multiple issues. The petitioners must then collect signatures for each issue from registered voters in 44 of Ohio's 88 counties, equal to 5 percent of the total vote cast in the county for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.
Statewide signatures collected must also equal 10 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor at the last gubernatorial election.
The letter to petitioners and the amendment petition can be found at www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/Petitions.

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