News Briefs Week of 3/02/20

Hearing on housing
Oregon City Council, at a meeting to be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 23, in council chambers at 5330 Seaman Road, will conduct a public hearing for a Special Use Exception (SUE) for a proposed 217-unit housing complex.
The application is for an SUE in a C-5 Zoned District for the purpose of erecting multi-family housing at 4050 Navarre Avenue and 900 S. Lallendorf Rd. The applicant is Harry Glitz, owner of Val V LLC.
The Oregon Planning Commission heard the matter at a meeting on Jan. 21. Due to concerns from area residents, the hearing was extended to Feb. 18.

Free band concert
The public is invited to a free combined Owens Community College and Toledo Polish-American Concert Band at the Owens Community College Theater at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 8.
This side-by-side concert will feature marches, including “Aces High” and “Kentucky Sunrise.” Also, hits from the Golden Age of Broadway, such as “Autumn Leaves.” Other music that will be featured include Andrew Lloyd Webbers’ “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Don’t cry for me Argentina,” and “Cats.” There will also be Irish music for St. Patrick’s Day, and much more. Free refreshments will be served in the theater lobby following the program.

Candidates & Issues
Night set in Oregon
The Oregon Republican Club will present a Candidates and Issues Night Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Oregon Senior Center, 4350 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
Oregon City Schools Superintendent Hal Gregory will discuss the school levy.
Candidates scheduled to be on include commissioner candidates Ron Murphy and Tom Names; sheriff candidate Brett Warner; treasurer candidate John Rozic; recorder candidate Pam Haynam; Rob Weber, Republican candidate for Congress (9th District); Lucas County Common Pleas Court Judge Alfonso Gonzalez; and Charles Sulek, who is seeking election to the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals.
For more info, call Lynn Gibbs at 419-481-2442.

B-C-S senior luncheon
The Benton-Carroll-Salem Senior Citizen Spring Luncheon will be held Thursday, March 12 in the Oak Harbor High School auditorium and cafeteria.
The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. with entertainment by the high school mixed choir and band. Luncheon, served by students and cafeteria staff, will follow at approximately 12:15 p.m.
The cost is $2 per person. Call the Board of Education office at 419-898-6210 by Friday, March 6 for reservations.

Seed Swap
Join 900 gardeners at the Toledo GROWs Seed Swap Saturday, Feb. 29 at Scott High School, 2400 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo.
The free event is open to the public from noon-3 p.m. Attendees will receive gardening information including watering tips, planting schedules, composting tips and more.
Each attendee may choose five free packets of vegetable seeds. Participants are encouraged to bring vegetable seeds to trade for additional packets. Anyone bringing seeds to swap should be sure they are in individual envelopes, labeled with the type of seed, and dated 2018 or later. Additionally, extra packets of seeds are available for a donation of just 50 cents each.
Additional features of this family-friendly event include food and drink, children’s activities, hands-on demonstrations, Ohio State University Extension’s Blender Bike, and raffle items from Toledo GROWs.
A popular feature is the workshop offered at 1 p.m. during the event. This year’s workshop is entitled “Tried and True Methods for a Productive Vegetable Garden.” Cindy Bench, co-owner of Bench Farms in Curtice, will share methods she has learned in more than 45 years of gardening and farming.
For more information, visit toledogrows.org or call 419-720-8714.

Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend the “Traffic Tips for Today’s Driver” luncheon and program sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection on Thursday, March 12 at Bayside, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon program.
Jamie Blazevich, M.S. Ed., the Lucas County Traffic Safety Program Coordinator, will give tips on safe driving. Harpist Kathy Alter, from Elmore, will provide special music. Singer Carol Duebber, from West Chester, Ohio, former lead singer of a band, will share “A New Adventure.”
The price is $12.50 for the lunch and program. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 or Donna at 419-836-8990 by Sunday, March 8.

Board appointment
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District’s Board of Trustees has accepted the appointment of Tim Phillips, who was recently appointed to board by the Henry County commissioners.
Phillips served 30 years on the Board of Trustees at the Henry County Regional Water and Sewer District. He also spent 42 years as the water and sewer Superintendent in the Village of Hamler.
“I am pleased to represent Henry County and feel my knowledge of the area and its water and wastewater systems will be an asset to the district’s board of trustees,” said Phillips.
He fills a new board seat at the district. A merger between the Henry County Regional Water and Sewer District and The Northwestern Water and Sewer District became official in December 2019. The merger allowed a 10th board seat to be appointed by the Henry County commissioners.
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District’s board members are appointed three each by the townships, municipalities and Wood County Commissioners, and one board member appointed by the Henry County commissioners.
The district provides water and sewer service for more than 20,000 customers in Wood, Hancock Henry and Sandusky counties.

Senior apartment
complex opening
A ribbon-cutting and open house at the new Oregon Senior Lofts, 4436 Navarre Ave., will be held March 5.
The ribbon-cutting will be held at 10 a.m. and the open house will follow until 1 p.m.
The complex features one and two-bedroom apartments designed for residents 55 and over.
For information call 419-725-0850 or email Oregon.senior@mvahpartners, com.

Bill protects
religious rights
for athletes

State Senator Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, has introduced a bill which would protect freedom of religious expression for athletes.
Sen. Gavarone said Senate Bill 288 was inspired by Noor Alexandria Abukaram, a Sylvania Northview High School athlete, who was disqualified from a high school cross-country race because she wore her hijab during the competition.
"Freedom of religion is a fundamental right and civil liberty in this country," said Gavarone. "My hope is that through this legislation and Noor's story we will be able to ensure that no one, regardless of religious affiliation, has to choose between playing a sport or their religious beliefs."
Citing Ohio High School Athletic Association rules, Gavarone said participants are banned from wearing head coverings unless the athlete has been granted special permission by the official prior to the event.
SB 288 eliminates the requirement for special permission from the OHSAA, allowing athletes to participate in events while wearing items that reflect their religious beliefs.
“The whole idea from the start is to inspire real change so that this never happens to anyone ever again," said Abukaram. "Working with Senator Gavarone to draft this bill is another step towards real change.”
The bill will now be referred to a Senate committee for further consideration.

Rail closings
Norfolk Southern is planning the repair a double track line in Ottawa County and will be dropping new rail in preparation for the project this week, the county engineer’s office said.
Crossings will be closed March 2 and 3 for two to three hours each day.
Scheduled for closing are:
-Fostoria Road, between State Rt. 795 and State Rt. 51
-Billman Road, between Moline Martin and Trowbridge roads
-Reiman Road, between Moline Martin and Trowbridge roads
As the schedule is confirmed, the engineer’s office will contact the dispatch office of the sheriff’s department with exact closing times.
Questions about the closures may be directed to Andrea Janka, of Norfork Southern, at 419-453-3166 or 419-615-9923.