News Briefs

New storytime
The Wood County District Public Library is adding a new storytime at the Walbridge Library, located at 108 N. Main St.
Family Storytime will still take place every Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. and an additional evening Thursday storytime at 6 p.m. has been added for select dates.
Thursday storytime dates include Nov. 30, Dec. 28, Jan. 25, Feb. 22, March 28 and April 25.
No registration is required for library storytimes. For more information, call 419-666-9900 or visit wcdpl.org/events.

Holiday Open House
A Holiday Open House will be held Sunday, Dec. 3 from noon-4 p.m. at Magee Marsh Visitor Center, 13229 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor.
The community is invited for an afternoon of music, food and vendors. The event will also feature a raffle, kids’ activities and cookies available for purchase.
Admission is free.

Yang and Olivia
to perform Dec. 2
The Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society will present the classical violin and piano duo, Yang and Olivia, Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St.
The husband and wife duo are virtuosic talents who create storytelling events on the violin and piano. Their programs feature combinations of Chinese music and Western classical. In recent years, they have traveled to more than 30 cities in the U.S. and have been performing and teaching in China, Portugal, Brazil and Taiwan. A grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency partially supports Yang and Olivia’s program.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store 226 E. Front St., Pemberville, at the door or by calling Carol at 419-287-4848.
Visit pembervilleoperahouse.org for more details about the concert series.

GTCF anniversary
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Greater Toledo Community Foundation (GTCF) will be lighting the Anthony Wayne Trail Gateway to the city for the holidays.
At this time, it will also be kicking off the Toledo Giving Tree Project. Community members can visit ToledoGivingTree.com and find a list of nonprofit organizations to which they can donate this holiday season. The listed nonprofits cover many areas of concern for our community, including animal welfare, arts and culture, education, environmental/conservation, health & human services and others.
The commercial grade LED holiday lights will be donated to the City of Toledo so that they can be used again next year.
Over the past year, GTCF has been celebrating its 50th anniversary by distributing an additional $600,000 in funding to local nonprofit organizations. This is in addition to an annual average grant distribution of approximately $18 million. The Giving Tree event will end a 12-month campaign called, “Fifty Years of Funding Futures,” along with a yearlong calendar of community events and programs centered on honoring the past, celebrating the present and equipping future generations for continued community impact.
For more information, visit https://50yearsfortoledo.com.

Cancer support group
A Cancer Support Group will meet Wednesday, Nov. 29 from 1-2 p.m. at Magruder Conference Center, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton.
A representative from Cancer Services will be talking about resources, programs and assistance. The group is free and open to anyone impacted by cancer including patients, caregivers and family members. Attendees do not have to be a patient of Magruder Oncology to attend.
RSVP, if possible, to Taffy Armstrong at 419-734-3131, ext. 3729 or tarmstrong@magruderhospital.com.

Wildlife park
ends 55th season
African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton is planning to close the gates on its 55th season. The Park’s final day of operation in 2023 will be Nov. 26. The family attraction will reopen in March 2024.
“Although we’re always sad about closing for the winter, it presents an opportunity to reflect on yet another successful year of incredible animal encounters and unforgettable family memories,” said Kelsey Keller, director of the park. “We look forward to seeing everyone at the Park again in 2024 for more animal adventures.”

’24 flood insurance
rate maps coming
New flood insurance rate maps are coming in 2024 for certain property owners in Lucas County.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency notified the Lucas County Engineer’s Office of the new flood hazard determinations in September.
The new determinations will affect about 2,000 parcels in Washington and Jerusalem townships, village of Harbor View, and the cities of Toledo and Oregon, which are enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program.
The NFIP provides flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses and encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. Having the coverage helps residents recover faster when floodwaters recede.
Flood insurance is available to anyone living in one of the almost 23,000 participating NFIP communities. Homes and businesses in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from government-backed lenders are required to have flood insurance.
The new flood insurance study report and flood insurance rate map will take effect February 22, 2024.
The county engineer’s office will be updating the regulation to include the new map updates, which are available on the website at LucasCountyEngineer.org/floodplain.
Click on the Floodplain GIS map and under Layers, select the Floodplain filter. FEMA will not be contacting property owners directly. Property owners should consult their insurance agent or call the floodplain manager at 419-213-2860 to discuss any concerns.
Citizens in Toledo 419-245-1220 and Oregon 419-698-7071 should contact them directly.

Site plan on
meeting agenda
Approval of the final site plan for The Bridges of Northwood, phases three and four, in The Enclave is on the agenda of the Northwood Planning Commission Dec. 11 meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and will be held in city council chambers, 6000 Wales Rd.
The commission is also scheduled to review a site plan application for G.M. Whetsel Transport to be located at 259 E. Andrus Rd. The company is planning to construct a 45-foot by 100-foot storage building and parking and outdoor storage areas.
The board of zoning appeals meeting scheduled for Dec. 12 has been cancelled.

OCTID board
to meet
The board of the Ottawa County Transportation Improvement District will meet Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. at the county engineer’s office, 8247 W. State Rt. 163, Oak Harbor.