News Briefs Week Of 8/29/2022
Freighter Golf
The National Museum of the Great Lakes invites visitors to take a swing (or two) on its custom-built putting greens aboard the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship.
Freighter Golf, created to celebrate the sport of golf and to coincide with the Dana Open Presented by Marathon taking place in Sylvania, boasts two putting greens.
Visitors are being challenged to sink a hole-in-one to take home a special prize and be entered in a drawing for a free museum membership.
“Spanning nearly 30 feet across the museum ship’s deck and overlooking the ‘Mighty Maumee’ and Downtown Toledo, the Freighter Golf putting greens feature maritime-themed obstacles and aim to challenge and provide fun for any age or skill level,” said Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s Director of Education and Visitor Experience.
Freighter Golf will open during regular museum hours through Sunday, Sept. 11. Access to the green is included with Museum Ship admission.
The National Museum of the Great Lakes is located at 1701 Front St., Toledo. For hours and more information, visit nmgl.org or call 419-214-5000.
United Way receives
Gift from Dana Trust
United Way of Greater Toledo (UWGT) has received a gift of $660,000 from the Charles H. Dana Charitable Trust.
Dana passed away at the age of 82 on Dec. 30, 2021. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he joined Owens Corning, headquartered in Toledo, in 1961. Dana’s 37-year career at Owens Corning took him as far as Sao Paul, Brazil, where he worked and became chairman of the Association of American Schools.
Dana moved to Perrysburg, in 1981 and held many titles through his tenure before retiring in 1998 as executive vice president.
Dana and his wife of 59 years, Ann, who passed away in 2019, were longtime supporters of UWGT. Their son, Jeffrey C. Dana, of Dayton, notified the organization regarding the donation in early 2022. Funds were received in late July.
“Charles and Ann demonstrated visionary community spirit by making this gift to serve our most vulnerable neighbors,” said UWGT president and CEO, Wendy Pestrue, “We share our condolences with the Dana family and look forward to carrying their legacy of compassion and service for many years to come.”
The gift will allow UWGT to meet community and organizational needs through such programs as 211, a free referral service connecting residents to shelter, food, employment, volunteer opportunities, and much more, and the organization’s Collective Impact Model, which connects and innovates services in education, financial stability, health, and housing.
ODNR awards grants
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has awarded more than $400,000 in Coastal Management Assistance Grants to be used to improve and protect Ohio’s Lake Erie shores. The $424,730 in funding will be used for coastal planning and public access.
Metroparks Toledo was among five grant recipients for Fiscal Year 2023, receiving $150,000 to be used for Glass City Riverwalk planning. The project includes maximizing habitat benefits for native plant and animal species and improved public access for recreation on the Maumee River.
“We’re excited to see how these projects develop and allow even more people to enjoy the scenic areas northern Ohio has to offer,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “We are proud to partner with organizations that make protecting our coastal shores a top priority.”
The Coastal Management Assistance Grant program is a competitive annual grant opportunity offered through the Ohio Coastal Management Program.
Grants can be issued to eligible entities for water quality improvement, coastal planning, education programs, land acquisition, research, public access, habitat restoration, and other purposes. More than $6.5 million in Coastal Management Assistance Grants have been awarded in Ohio since the program began in 1998.
GLCAP offering
cooling assistance
Along with its Summer Crisis Program serving utility customers this season, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) is now offering utility payment plan services to more households in Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties.
The GLCAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP) helps residents receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities, such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance can be applied to residents’ utility bills, used to purchase an air conditioning unit or fan, or used to pay for central air conditioning repairs.
Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. Additionally, GLCAP’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus program has recently expanded eligibility guidelines from 150% to 175% of federal poverty guidelines. The program helps utility customers set up affordable monthly payment plans based on income. A household of four making $48,563 per year would be eligible for both SCP and PIPP Plus services.
“Raising the guidelines for PIPP Plus will allow us to help a greater range of people in our four-county service area,” said GLCAP Energy Assistance Manager Joyce McCauley-Benner. “PIPP Plus makes paying utility bills more affordable and more predictable for working families.”
To receive SCP assistance, appointments must be scheduled by calling GLCAP’s scheduling hotline at 567-432-5046 or by visiting glcap.org/summercooling and scheduling an appointment online.
Details on PIPP Plus are also available at glcap.org/pipp.
Food pantry
St Paul’s Food for Thought Food Pantry is moving to Northwood Church of God at the corner of Coy and Curtice Rd. (3375 Curtice Rd.) for September, October and November due to the road construction on SR 2, where St Paul’s is located.
“We are so grateful to Pastor Brent Smalley and his church family for their gracious invitation to relocate at their church for a few months,” said St. Paul’s Pastor Julie Beitelschees. “With the construction, one of the entrances at St Paul’s is not going to be accessible, making it almost impossible to serve the community.”
Pastor Brent and Pastor Julie got to know one another through East Region Churches United, an organization consisting of lay and pastoral leaders from about 15 churches on the east side of the river.
Each month, more than 100 families receive supplemental groceries, toilet paper, toiletries, cat/dog food and hygiene products through the pantry.
The pantry is held on the second Tuesday of each month from 3-5 p.m. At Northwood Church of God, the plan is for the pantry to be conducted as a drive-in, as it has been at St Paul’s. Volunteers will be on hand to direct traffic to make things run smoothly.
“Be a Horse Hero”
The Healing Barn, a 501(c)3 non-profit horse rescue facility, will hold its “Be A Horse Hero” fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 10 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Carranor Hunt & Polo Club, 502 E. 2nd St., Perrysburg.
13abc’s Lissa Guyton will emcee the event. Toledo-area band DC Taylor will provide entertainment. The event will also include horse-themed wines paired with specially selected grazing stations, as well as raffles, door prizes and live and silent auctions.
Among auction items are a Golf Lovers basket; a Manly Man Grillmaster basket; a Bourbon Lover’s basket; a Fish Lover’s basket, which includes a gift certificate for a walk-on fishing charter on Lake Erie and a Ladies’ Spa basket. which includes medical-grade skincare products and a visit to one of Toledo’s premier spas.
Tickets are limited, and only available to purchase until Thursday, Sept. 1. Get tickets at eventbrite.com/e/be-a-horse-hero-tickets-383044826387.
All proceeds raised will go directly toward rescuing abused horses.
Live In The House
The Lisa Biales Trio will take the stage at the Historic Pemberville Opera House Saturday, Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The performance is the kickoff of the 14th Live In The House Concert Series, presented by the Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, at the door or by contacting Carol at 419-287-4848.
Singer-songwriter Lisa Biales sings from the heart and writes playful music about simple things in life. She is joined by Doug Hamilton, a classically trained improvising violinist who, over his 40-year career, has shared the stage with artists as diverse as Barbara Mandrell, Tricia Yearwood, Jo El Sonnier and Victor Wooten. Rounding out the trio is Michael Gilbert Ronstadt, who is primarily known for his versatility on cello, but also as a songwriter, singer, guitarist and composer/arrange.
9/11 Remembrance
The Village of Gibsonburg will hold a Remembrance Ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 12 p.m. at the Public Safety Service Memorial at Williams Park.
The Memorial stands to honor and remember the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 and pay tribute to the public safety service personnel who sacrifice on a daily basis for their communities.
Quilters’ Guild to meet
The Maumee Bay Country Quilters' Guild will hold their first meeting of the year Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 6:45 p.m. at Northwood Church of God, 3375 Curtice Rd.
Special guest will be Catherine Lewis, discussing “Embellishing Quilts and Garments.” Doors open at 6 p.m. Visitors and new members are welcome. The visitors’ fee is $10; yearly membership is $35.
OSWCD annual
meeting and banquet
The Ottawa Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its 70th Annual Meeting and Banquet Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds.
Tickets are $10, which includes a choice of BBQ chicken or beef brisket, baked potato, rolls, green beans and a variety of pies.
Attendees will be invited to reminisce about the last 70 years of agriculture and conservation in Ottawa County. Master of ceremonies will be Dave Grimm, son of the late Fred Grimm, who was instrumental in establishing the Ottawa SWCD in 1952, who will have a conversation with a cast of past supervisors, educators, employees and community members.
Balloting for election of two supervisors will be conducted between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m.
The “Cooperator of the Year” will also be awarded to an individual/business/agency that has shown outstanding support to conservation efforts either past or present.
For tickets or more information, contact the district office at 419-898-1595.
Back to the Wild
The Wood County Committee on Aging, Inc. (WCCOA) will hold a “Back to the Wild” event Thursday, Sept. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Wooster Green (the green space/gazebo located across South Grove Street from the Wood County Senior Center).
Attendees are invited to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the special presentation. Parking is available in the senior center parking lot.
Back to the Wild is a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Castalia, Ohio. Their primary mission is to rehabilitate and ultimately release into their natural habitat injured, orphaned and displaced wildlife. Through this work, Back to the Wild aims to educate and foster in children and adults an awareness, appreciation and respect of our natural world.
Back to the Wild will bring a wide variety of animals for the presentation. Presenters will also discuss fun facts and information about reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mammals, as well as habitats, life histories, and more.
CHI Living Communities St. Clare Commons is sponsoring the event. In case of rain, the presentation will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 126 S. Church St.
For more information call the WCCOA Programs Department at 419-353-5661.
Farmers market,
Block Party planned
Downtown Fremont Inc. will host the Croghan Colonial Bank Farmers Market & The Garrison Restaurant Downtown Block Party Event Saturday, Sept. 3 from 4-8 p.m. on Front Street in downtown Fremont, from Croghan Street to the alley at the Fremont Municipal Building.
In addition to 70+ vendors showcasing produce and unique items for sale, The Garrison Restaurant will be hosting an evening Hog Roast on Garrison Street, and Abby Ray Music will provide entertainment. There will also be street activity games on Front Street for the whole family.
Front Street will be closed Saturday from 2-9 p.m. from Croghan Street to the alley at the Fremont Municipal Building and Garrison Street from Arch to Bidwell for the event.
For more information, call 419-332-8696, visit DowntownFremontOhio.org.