Family briefs - Lake Twp. Police to repeat holiday package delivery project

        Lake Township Police Chief Mark Hummer has announced his department will again offer a holiday package delivery project for township residents in which packages can be delivered to the police department and picked up later at the police station.
        “In the past, we’ve had some reports of packages being taken from in front of residences, which can happen anytime, but is more prevalent during the holiday season,” Chief Hummer said. “Many people are away from home during the daytime, when packages are usually delivered and these packages can be prime targets for thieves.”
        Some people also have the option to have packages shipped to their workplace or to have a neighbor get packages and take them to his or her house until the recipient arrives home later in the day,” Chief Hummer said. “Those measures may not be options for some people. For example, if someone works in a factory, that business may not be open to having employees’ packages delivered there. And, some people may not know their neighbors well enough to be comfortable asking them to retrieve packages.”
        The project, which will run through Dec. 20, will require residents to notify the police department in advance of package acceptance. Packages will need to be delivered to the police department during normal business hours. Participants will need to pick up packages prior to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and show proper identification. Package weight limit is 25 pounds.
        “We want everyone to have a happy holiday season, and we are trying to do our part to avoid any disappointments,” the chief noted.
        For more information or to sign up for the project, township residents may call 419-481-6354.
 
Gift drive, shredding event
        Wood County Commissioners, Wood County Solid Waste District and Wood County Children Services are sponsoring a shredding for toys event Saturday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Wood County Job and Family Services employee parking Lot (west side), 1928 E. Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green. (Enter off Gypsy Lane Road.)
        With a donation of an unwrapped toy or cash to the Wood County Children Services Holiday Gift Drive, the public can securely shred up to five bags or boxes of paper items. Allshred Services will shred all the items on site, and the paper will be repurposed into tissue products.
        Wood County Children Services welcomes gifts from newborn through teenagers.
        For more info, contact Maricarol Torsok-Hrabovsky at maricarol.torsok-hrabovsky@jfs.ohio.gov.
 
First Family program
        Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society will present a First Family Program, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Society’s Museum Complex, 1133 Grasser St.
        Attendees will hear the history of early settlers in Oregon/Jerusalem Township as presented by their descendants who have researched their genealogy. Speakers will be Claudette Allred on the Phillips Family Tree and Carolyn Jones on the Coy/Rideout/Joehlin families. Light refreshments will be served.
        The program is free and open to the public.
 
Care package donations
        In late August, Corey Crowell, a firefighter with the Portage Fire District, began a deployment with the military. After a brief training at a stateside base, Crowell’s unit was deployed to Kuwait.
        Portage Fire District is preparing a care package drive to send a package to Crowell and his unit. The Oak Harbor Police Department has agreed to be the drop-off location for people who would like to donate items for the drive.
        Recommended items include:
        • Toiletries (floss picks, deodorant, toothpaste, foot powder, toothbrushes, razors, shaving soap, etc.)
        • Snacks (beef jerky, cracker packs, nuts, trail mix packs and other non-perishable snacks that can be grabbed and thrown in a pack for a quick bite on the run).
        • DVDs.
        • Card games.
        • Activity books (crossword puzzle books, Sudoku, etc.).
        Those who don’t wish to donate any of the above are invited to write a brief letter or greeting for a servicemember. Donations will be included through Dec. 12; the package will be shipped Dec. 13.
        For more details, call 419-707-2659.
 
Volunteers sought for Bikes and Badges
        Volunteer firefighters and their families will host a community bike-build at a Bikes and Badges event Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Jerusalem Township Fire Hall, 9501 Jerusalem Rd.
        The Toledo Police Patrolman's Association (TPPA) and Firefighters Local #92 Charities recently joined forces to donate $4,200 to the nonprofit Friends of Lucas County Children Services for the purchase of 50 bikes to be assembled and given to children from Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) during the holiday gift campaign.
        The bikes will be assembled by community volunteer teams from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Dec. 1 event, Jerusalem Township firefighters are assembling teams to get involved, but the public also is invited to assist in the effort. Firefighters, police officers, and other first responders and their families are particularly encouraged to take part in the Bikes and Badges building event.
        Volunteers must be at least middle school age. Teens will be paired with adults on bike-building teams. Adults are asked to bring basic household tools with them to the bike build if possible.
        Volunteers are asked to pre-register. To volunteer or learn more, email LCCS Public Information Specialist Kevin Milliken at kevin.milliken@jfs.ohio.gov.
 
Wine by the Glass Pavilion
        “A Taste for Turkey: Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner” will be the theme of Wine by the Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art on Friday, Nov. 22.
        Tickets are $25 for Museum members, $40 for nonmembers, plus tax. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tickets.toledomuseum.org or call 419-255-8000 during Museum hours.
 
Oak Harbor Chamber offering gift wrapping
        The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce will be offering gift wrapping services for the upcoming holiday season.
        Prizes will range from $1-$5, depending on the size of the gift. All proceeds will benefit the Olde Fashioned Christmas Celebration in downtown Oak Harbor.
        Customers can drop off gifts to be wrapped to the Chamber Office at 161 W. Water St., Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Nov. 25-Dec. 19.
        Call 419-898-0479 or visit the Chamber of Commerce office for more details.
 
Christmas Parade
        The 47th annual East Toledo Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 beginning at 11 a.m. This year’s theme will be “Up on the House Top.”
        Business, organizations, marching bands, school groups, churches and anyone else interested in participating in this year’s parade can contact Denny Fairchild at 419-693-9517.
 
Holly Jolly events
        Downtown Fremont Inc. will host Holly Jolly events to kick off the holiday season.
        A Tree Lighting will be held Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. downtown at the corner of Front and State streets by the Santa House.
        Prior to the Tree Lighting, from 5-7 p.m., Santa will be in his house for children to visit and tell him what they want for Christmas. He will also welcome young visitors from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30.
        To kick off the Tree Lighting, there will be carolers and a hot cocoa wagon with cookies to get everyone in the spirit of the holiday season.
        A Small Business Saturday Shop Hop will be held Saturday, Nov. 30. From Nov. 29-Dec. 16, for every $10 shoppers spend at a participating downtown retail business, their name will be added into two drawings being held on Monday, Dec. 16. The first name pulled will receive 250 Downtown Fremont Dollars, which are redeemable at many participating downtown Fremont stores. The second name pulled will receive 100 Downtown Fremont Dollars.
        For more details, call 419-332-8696 or visit www.DowntownFremontOhio.org.
 
Zoo lights in running in USA Today contest
        The Toledo Zoo has again been nominated in USA Today’s 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest as a contender for Best Zoo Lights.
        The Zoo is asking for the community’s help to again show the nation what this area has known for more than 30 years… Toledo Zoo’s Lights Before Christmas presented by KeyBank display truly is the best in the US!
        Voting takes place at https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-zoo-lights/lights-before-chris.... Voters can cast their votes once daily on all their devices.
        The online contest ends Monday, Dec. 2.
        “We are confident our extremely dedicated, passionate and vocal global fan base can help us shine the brightest again,” said Toledo Zoo’s Senior VP and Chief of Staff, Shayla Bell Moriarty.
 
Presidents & the economy
        Does a U.S. president really have an effect on the economy while in office?
        Mark Zachary Taylor, Ph.D., an associate professor at Georgia Tech University’s School of Public Policy, is researching a book to find out. Taylor is studying the role of the U.S. presidency in short-run economic performance.      He will present what he has learned so far during a talk on Monday, Nov. 25, at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
        The talk, “The President and the Economy: Explaining Economic Success and Failure in the Modern White House,” will begin at 4 p.m. Admission is free.
        Part of Taylor’s talk will focus on President Rutherford B. Hayes and other presidents during the Gilded Age. His research indicates that Hayes’ presidency was good for the economy.
        Taylor’s research has been published in several academic journals. He has a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is the author of “The Politics of Innovation,” which examines why some countries are better than others at science and technology.
        The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is located at Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues.
        For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org.
 
TMA to host cartoonist
        Local graphic designer and cartoonist Imani Lateef will share his experiences as a visual artist during the Visiting Artist series at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) Family Center Friday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The free recurring event, held the last Friday of the month, offers families the opportunity to hear directly from local artists and musicians.
        Lateef is the creator of JoonBugsWorld.com, an online magazine for creative kids that helps imaginative children tell their original stories through comic book art.
        The Visiting Artist series offers an opportunity for both children and their adult caregivers to see the importance of art at a young age and how they can nurture the talent of their young children.
        The Family Center is a free drop-in, hands-on art studio and play space for families with young children. Families work together to create works of art using a wide variety of mediums. It  is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., Fridays from 3:30 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon-5 p.m.
        The Family Center is supported in part by The Andersons, Mercy Health and the TMA Ambassadors.