News Briefs Week of 7/26/2021

BBB seeking most
ethical businesses
Every year the Better Business Bureau salutes ethical companies with the BBB Torch Awards. Consumers and employees of ethical companies are encouraged to nominate their businesses for this amazing award.
Companies can be from anywhere in the BBB 18-county service area, including Findlay, Defiance, Monroe, Sandusky, Fremont, Fostoria, Adrian, Bowling Green and all Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
Companies do not have to be BBB-Accredited firms. Judging is done by independent outside ethical community leaders.
The nomination period ends July 30. The 19th Annual Torch Awards luncheon will be held Wednesday, Sept. 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg.
To nominate a highly ethical business, visit bbbethics.org.
For more details on the BBB Torch Awards, email Diana Lengle at diana@toledobbb.org or call 419-578-6000, ext. 109.

United Way 2-1-1
year-end data
From July 2020 to June 2021, United Way 2-1-1 experienced a 22 percent communication increase from Lucas, Ottawa and Wood County residents, totaling 94,000 contacts offered for various health and human service needs.
“This contact increase, in comparison to the year prior, is predominately deriving from all the resources folks were seeking during the pandemic,” said Sandra De Steno, director of United Way 2-1-1.
“People were in really tough situations over the last year and are still struggling today. Despite this, I am proud to say that 2-1-1 was and is still here to direct individuals to the programs that address their specific circumstances,” she said.
Additionally, United Way 2-1-1 had more than 15,000 visits to its website and online database, located at www.211nwo.org. Community resource advisors, who answer 2-1-1 phone calls, also replied to 454 text messages and 284 instant messages via 2-1-1’s online chat feature.
The top three categories referred to community members, based on their needs and requests, were health care/COVID-19 supports, housing assistance and utility assistance. The top five most searched resources on 2-1-1’s online database were food pantries, Thanksgiving meals, rent payment assistance, electric payment assistance and clothing.
“From March 2020 to March 2021 – at the height of the pandemic – our community resource advisors received over 100,000 contacts. They also made more than 12,000 vaccine appointments for our most-vulnerable residents,” said De Steno.
All information collected by United Way 2-1-1 is publicly housed on “2-1-1 Counts,” where requests can be viewed at a ZIP code level in Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties. Data is displayed in the aggregate, meaning that all personal details of the client are kept private.
United Way 2-1-1 is a free, 24/7, 365-day health and human services referral resource available to all community members. To contact 2-1-1, dial two, one, one by phone; text your ZIP code to 898-211 or instant message at www.211nwo.org and click “chat now.”

Gas cap testing
Motorists can get a no-cost test of their vehicle’s gas cap, and a free replacement cap, if a leak is found, at an event offered by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), Thursday, July 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Woodland Mall, 1234 N. Main St., Bowling Green.
Leaky gas caps are a preventable cause of ozone pollution. A broken or missing gas cap can also reduce fuel efficiency by 1-2 percent and cost vehicle owners up to a full tank of gas each year.
Drive up to a TMACOG testing site, and the staff will do a quick compression test to make sure the cap is sealed. If it’s leaking, motorists will get a replacement.
Older vehicles are more likely to have a poorly sealed cap, but any vehicle could be leaking. A loose gas cap may trigger the check engine light.
For more information about TMACOG, visit to www.tmacog.org.

CedarCreek band
to perform at Zoo
CedarCreek Church’s band will perform a free Christmas in July concert in the Toledo Zoo Amphitheatre on Sunday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m., as part of the ongoing Music Under the Stars concert series.
The Amphitheatre will open at 6:30 p.m., and concertgoers are invited to stay and enjoy the Zoo’s limited Christmas lights display until 10 p.m. Zoo admission rates do not apply, since the concert will take place after Zoo hours; however, parking rates and policies will apply.
The Zoo, generally open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., will have special hours for their light display July 23-25 from 7-10 p.m.

Helping Hands
Annual Shoe Fest
Helping Hands of St. Louis’ 8th Annual Shoe Fest will be held Saturday, July 24 from 9 a.m.-noon in the side parking lot, next to the Helping Hands of St. Louis campus, 443 Sixth St., Toledo. Parking is available across the street.
Upwards of 50 volunteers will spend the morning at Helping Hands of St. Louis washing children’s feet and fitting them with new shoes and socks to get their school year off on the right foot.
Helping Hands Clothing Center will also host a Sidewalk Clothing Give-Away.
“Each year, we’ve provided new shoes and school supplies to hundreds of school-age children,” says Sue Shrewsbery, director of Helping Hands of St. Louis.
Children must be present to be fitted for shoes, as shoes cannot be exchanged. Face painting, balloons, games and children’s activities will keep the youngsters occupied as they wait their turn. Shoes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Right now, we have 400 pairs of new shoes to give away – toddler sizes 10 up to youth sizes 8, and we pray more donations will come in,” Shrewsbery said. “We focus on East Toledo families, but no child will be turned away, if we have their shoe size.”

Pemberville
Garden Party
Pemberville’s July Garden Party will be held Tuesday, July 27 from 5-8 p.m.
A number of vendors will be on hand providing plants, treats and more. The Gathering Place, 222 East Front St., will have Ohio-made noodles and sauces. Other downtown shops will be open for shopping, including Country Cupboard Ohio and Riverbank Antique Market.
Dan Cadaret will provide live music for the event.
Vendors interested in selling fresh vegetables, plants and flowers, garden art, antiques, and fresh baked goods may call Beeker’s General Store at 419-287-3274 for more information. A small participation fee is required in advance to hold a space.
The next Garden Party will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24.

Comment period
extended to Aug. 9
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period until Aug 9 on data in the first two portions of the process for developing the Total Maximum Daily Load levels for the Maumee Watershed.
A TMDL plan establishes a limit to the amount of pollutants each contributor is allowed to emit into waterways.
The Ohio EPA’s outreach module on the first steps of the TMDL project is available for viewing at the EPA website. It provides details on the steps in the TMDL development process and is the second module in a series of three modules the Ohio EPA is developing for the watershed project.
The water quality staff of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments has submitted comments using recommendations in the Agenda for Lake Erie, a policy document that covers funding, practices and other measures.
The TMACOG is offering the agenda as a reference for anyone wanting to comment on the TMDL plan.
Comments may be submitted to EPATMDL@epa.ohio.gov.

Bridge project
Ottawa County has contracted with Miller Brothers Construction to replace the bridge on Stange Road over Turtle Creek.
The project will require the full closure of Stange Road between Walbridge East Road and Trowbridge Road.
Construction is scheduled to start July 23 and continue through Sept. 23.
Project updates will be posted on the website of the county engineer’s office.