Family briefs: Toledo Swiss Singers to present Valentine Tea Feb. 4

        The Toledo Swiss Singers – one of America’s oldest singing groups – will host a Valentine Tea Sunday, Feb. 4 from 3-5 p.m. at The Chalet at Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd., Oregon. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m.
        Area residents are invited to bring their sweethearts or Valentines to the traditional high tea, which will feature finger sandwiches, sweets, scones with cream and jam and a selection of teas. Mimosas and Valentine cocktails will be available at the cash bar. Renowned jazz pianist Gene Parker will entertain.
        The dress code for the event is smart casual.
        Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for attendees under 13 and are available at toledoswiss.simpletix.com. RSVP required by Monday, Jan. 29.
        For more information, call or text Elaine at 419-206-0975 or visit YodelToledo.com.
 
Night of the Arts Auction
        Oak Harbor Art Clubs created art pieces to be auctioned to community members at an event to be held Thursday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium lobby. Proceeds raised will go to the Ottawa County Humane Society.             Overmyer Auction Services LLC will be providing their services for the event, which will include pizza and performances by the OHHS Music Performance Group.
        Spaces are limited. Tickets are $15 and are available by contacting Elly Gilbert at egilbert@bcssd.com.
 
Beeker’s to host vintage sled display
        Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St., Pemberville, will host a display of old and vintage sleds from Feb. 10-March 10.
        For the display, Beeker’s is asking area residents to lend the store sleds they may have hiding in a barn or ones that just have special meaning.
        To learn more or to add a sled to the display, email beekersgeneralstore.com or stop in the store to fill out an entry form. Include a photo or photos, and, if know, the sled’s history or a story that makes the sled unique or special. Requests to participate will be accepted through Tuesday, Feb. 6. Sleds may be dropped off at Beeker’s Feb. 1-6.
        “This will be a great opportunity for younger patrons to learn the evolution of sleds over the years and the wintertime fun associated with them,” said Beeker’s owner Todd Sheets.
        One of Ohio’s oldest general stores, Beeker’s is celebrating 148 years in 2024. The red building is part of Pemberville’s original Brick Block and has house a general store since being built. For more information, call 419-287-3274.
 
Election workshop for Teens set for Jan. 18
        Teens preparing to vote in their first primary and first presidential election can get some help with registering and knowing the voting process during a free workshop to be held Thursday, Jan. 18 from 6-8 p.m., at the Sandusky County Board of Elections.
        The board of elections is located at 2020 Countryside Drive, Fremont.
        The workshop is being offering through a partnership between the board of elections and the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
        Attendees can participate in person or virtually. There are 35 in-person spots.
        Registration for in-person and virtual attendance is required and can be made at rbhayes.org/news/2023/12/14/general/teens-can-learn-about-registering-to-vote-elections-during-workshop-jan.-18/. Virtual attendees will be emailed a Zoom link to join the program.
        The workshop will cover a range of election information, including:
        • Seventeen-year-old voters being allowed to vote in the March primary election.
        • How to register to vote and check registration status.
        • What to bring when voting.
        • Basic election laws and etiquette.
        “Voting is important and it’s seen as something you should be doing, but we never really tell new voters what they should bring, how to do it or what the process is like,” said Makennah Rettig, Hayes Presidential digital media and design specialist and organizer of the program. “With this program, I hope to empower teens who are interested in voting but might not know exactly what they need to be doing.”
        For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like HPLM on Facebook at @rbhayespres and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres for updates.
 
Imagination Station open on MLK Day
        Start the New Year off right with Imagination Station. There are new activities to try in the Tinkering Space, fascinating movies to watch in the KeyBank Discovery Theater, and of course, more science to learn.
        Imagination Station is open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 15. Visit imaginationstationtoledo.org for more information.
 
Library program to
explore Earth’s most
precious resource
        Area families are invited to join the Wood County District Public Library and the Wood County Soil and Water Conservation District to explore Earth’s most precious resource – water on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 1 p.m. in the Meeting Room at the Walbridge Library, 108 N. Main St.
        Families attending this program will take home a Learning Lunchbox Water Science Kit, which includes the complete materials for several hands-on experiments and activities, made available by a partnership with the State of Ohio Library and COSI. Limit one kit per family, and kits are limited.
        No registration is required. To learn more, call 419-352-8253 or email woodkids@wcdpl.org.
 
Homebuyer Savings Program launched
        State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) announced the launch of the new Ohio Homebuyer Plus Program, which will allow Ohioans to create special savings accounts to assist them on their home-buying journeys.               “I’ve diligently worked to create an opportunity like this one in Ohio,” Gavarone said. “Today’s housing market is challenging for prospective homebuyers. This new program will give Ohioans a better way to save for this major purchase and put them on the path to prosperous futures here in the Buckeye State.”
        The Ohio Homebuyer Plus Program gives interested homebuyers the option to open savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions throughout the state. Money can be paid into the account from the homebuyer, family, and others, which may be tax deductible from the contributor’s Ohio income tax. The accounts will also have above-market interest rates.
        Learn more about the program at https://tos.ohio.gov/homebuyerplus.