News Briefs

Ukrainian refugees arrive in Toledo after eight-month wait
Toledo Helps Ukraine (4UA.org) welcomed the Melnyk family from Ukraine to Ohio on Oct. 16 at Detroit Metro Airport.
The family of four reached out to THU in February, searching for a sponsor. After eight months, the family of four, originally from the Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine, is coming to the America through the sponsorship of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pemberville. The church agreed to serve as the sponsors of two Ukrainian families. The Melnyk family includes father Volodymyr, his wife Olena and children Artem, 13, and Karina, 1.
“The Melnyk family showed great patience and persistent in their wait to leave war-torn Ukraine,” said Alona Matchenko, co-founder of Toledo Helps Ukraine/4UA.org.
To date, 4UA.org has assisted 18 Ukrainian refugee families with relocation to the U.S., including soliciting sponsor families and helping with paperwork. All refugees who apply for sponsorship are vetted and must agree to find employment and enroll their children in school.
THU works to bring refugees desperately waiting to come to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine, a streamlined process that allows for Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by Russia’s aggression, to apply for humanitarian parole in the United States.
Under Uniting for Ukraine, the U.S. government allows people fleeing the war in Ukraine to seek refuge in the United States on a temporary basis known as humanitarian parole, with the support of a sponsor in the United States. The sponsor, or group of sponsors, provide financial support to meet the basic needs of someone fleeing Ukraine. They may also provide additional support, such as assistance as enrolling in educational or training programs or securing employment.
To donate time or services, visit 4ua.org.

Magruder VIP trips
informational meeting
Magruder VIP group will hold informational meetings about upcoming trips Thursday, Oct. 26 in the Magruder Conference Center, located at 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton.
At 1:30 p.m., details about a late-September 2024 Scandinavian tripwill be discussed. Information about an early-2024 trip to South Dakota will be presented at 3 p.m.
RSVP by calling Mary Ann at 419-656-3947 or Kim at kpalmer@magruderhospital.com.
These and all Magruder VIP trips are not limited to just VIP members; family, friends, and the general public may participate.

PERI chapter to meet
PERI Chapter #93, Lucas County District 1 will meet Thursday, Oct. 26 from 1-2:15 p.m. at The Hungarian Club of Toledo, 224 Paine Ave.
Additional parking is available at the Birmingham Branch Library, 203 Paine Ave. (use spaces farthest away from the library entrance.
The agenda includes a short business meeting, followed by guest speaker Scott Judd, from AMBA regarding medical and pharmacy insurance. PERI members, guests and new OPERS and PERI retirees from throughout the area are welcome.
Masks welcome for those who desire to wear them. Refreshments will be available during the break.

Pumpkin-painting fun
Get into the spooky spirit with pumpkin painting Friday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. at the Walbridge Library, 108 N. Main St.
Families and kids aged 2 and older are invited to paint pumpkins donated by the Pumpkin Peddler.
Registration is not required. To learn more, call 419-352-8253 or email woodkids@wcdpl.org.

Trunk or Treat
The Wood County Sheriff's Office will present the 5th Annual Trunk or Treat event Oct. 23 at the sheriff’s office, 1960 E. Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green.
Area families are invited to join local law enforcement agencies for a free, fun and safe event where kids may wear their costumes and collect candy while visiting each decorated trunk.

No tricks, safe treats
Kids are invited to enjoy no tricks and safe treats as they trick-or-treat at downtown Oak Harbor businesses on Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.
The celebration will include Halloween music with DJ Love at the pop up plaza; a Posh Puppies Pet Costume Contest on Pioneer Way; free hot dogs at Off the Hook and more.
Special event guests include the Oak Harbor fire and police departments; Magnificent Crab Queens; a Decorated Wandering Trail; Whidbey Island Pirates, Roller Derby and Playhouse; Oak Harbor Chamber WOW Wagon and Fanbulance.

NMGL lecture to focus
on Ford Motor Co.
For its second installment in a series of three lectures, the National Museum of the Great Lakes will feature Ford Motor Company’s influence as a manufacturer in the Great Lakes region.
“Ford Motor Company—A Great Lakes Manufacturer: Manufacturing Men and Machines in the Pursuit of the First Universal Car” will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. The lecture will explore the history of the Ford Motor Company, a Great Lakes cornerstone industry with historian and American Queen Voyage’s Senior Lakelorian Ian Ross.
The event will be hybrid, allowing for both in-person and Zoom attendance. Registration is free but required. Donations are encouraged and may be given upon registration. For more information, or to register to join the event, visit nmgl.org/event.
The fall series will conclude on Nov.15 with “Dugout Canoes of Wisconsin,” a presentation by Sissel Schroeder, professor of archaeology in the Anthropology Department at UW-Madison.
The museum is located at 1701 Front St., Toledo.

Oregon candidate forum
The Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce will hold a nonpartisan forum for Oregon City Council candidates on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Clay High School Auditorium. The event is to inform and engage community members in the upcoming local elections in November and foster an informed democratic process.
The public will have the chance to gain insight into the candidates’ plans, hear their vision for the future and raise questions about pertinent local issues.
Richard L. Johnson, of Eastman & Smith law firm, will be the moderator of the forum.

Indictment issued
An Oak Harbor man has been indicted on six sex-related counts in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court.
Robert Darr, 63, was arraigned Oct. 19 before Judge Bruce Winters on two counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, and one count of attempted rape.
The alleged attempted rape occurred between July 4, 2022 and July 3, 2023, according to the indictment, and the alleged victim was less than 10 years old. The charge is a first degree felony.
The sexual impositions allegedly occurred during the same time and are third degree felony charges.
One disseminating count is a fourth degree charge and the other is a fifth degree. They allege Darr disseminated obscene material to a juvenile under 13 years old or to a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile.
A pre-trial hearing by phone is scheduled for Nov. 15.