News Briefs

Knight Preserve
closure Jan. 6
Beginning Monday, Jan. 6, through Friday, Jan. 10, large sections of the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve will be closed to allow for management of natural areas. Specifically, on Monday, Jan. 6, the park entrance, parking lot and adjacent trails will be closed to the public.
Throughout the week, staff from the Stewardship Department will be using a forestry mulcher to mow prairie areas. A primary purpose of this work is to remove invasive tree species – Buckthorn and Callery pear – which have been encroaching into these areas.
As the forestry mulcher works, woody debris may be thrown, necessitating park closures to keep people a safe distance from the work. Barricades and signs will be posted and strictly enforced.
Over the winter and early spring months, the areas mowed by the forestry mulcher will look significantly different. As the warm weather progresses into summer, the well-established prairie plants will return without the encumbrance of invasive trees.
“This work is important to the long-term health of the natural areas at the W.W. Knight Nature Preserve,” said Chris Smalley, director. “As weather permits throughout 2025, similar work will be completed at other Wood County Parks.”
For additional information, please contact Smalley, at 419-353-1897 or csmalley@wcparks.org.

Elections board meeting
The Ottawa County Board of Elections will meet Monday, Jan. 6 at 10:30 a.m. for a regular board meeting and to address any other business that comes before the board.
The meeting will be held at the Board of Elections office located at 8444 W. SR 163, Oak Harbor, in the Veterans Memorial Building.

‘Wreaths’ donations
accepted, matched
Donations are being accepted through Friday, Jan. 17 for Wreaths Across America.
Donations may be sent to Wreaths Across America Ottawa County, 8444 W. SR 163, Oak Harbor, OH, 43449. Lake Township residents may send donations to Wreaths Across America, 109 N. Main St., Walbridge, OH 43465.
Wreaths across America is currently matching donations until Jan. 17. The cost to subsidize a wreath is $17; three wreaths cost $34. Checks must be dated no later than Jan. 17.

Holiday recycling
drop-off events
The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and unfortunately, a significant increase in waste. Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful and Lott Industries will host two Holiday Recycling Drop-Off events in January to provide residents with an easy and responsible way to dispose of holiday-related items that cannot be recycled curbside.
Event dates will be held Jan 9 and 21 from 5-7 p.m. at Lott Industries, 3350 Hill Ave, Toledo. Drop-off will be on the west side of the building.
Accepted items include:
• Artificial Christmas trees
• String lights
• Packaging Styrofoam (#6 only).
Please note: Packing peanuts, food containers and foam will not be accepted.
For more information, visit ktlcb.org/special-recycling-collections.

Quilters to meet
Maumee Bay Country Quilters’ Guild will meet Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 6:45 p.m., at Northwood Church of God, 1838 S. Coy Rd., Northwood.
The program will be a trunk show of a variety of quilts by one of the guild’s members.
Visitors are welcome. The $10 visitor fee can be applied to membership.

Lucas County 4-H
hosting open house

The educators at Ohio State University Extension in Lucas County are hosting an open house featuring 4-H membership activities on Feb. 2, from 2-4 p.m. at the Toledo Botanical Garden’s Crosby Conference Center at 5403 Elmer Drive, Toledo.
“4-H memberships are open to youth ages 5 to18,” said Jess Burns, 4-H Educator for Extension in Lucas County. “People may know about 4-H from summer camp or fair activities, but 4-H Youth Development has a variety of project areas such as cooking, leadership, plants, livestock, horses, STEM, robotics, poultry, sewing, photography, woodworking, shooting sports and so much more.”
Included within Extension is 4-H—an informal educational youth development program offered to individuals ages 5 to 18. 4-H Youth Development has additional opportunities for in-school and afterschool programming in Lucas County.
The programming is designed to help educate and embody positive activities and habits for youth in Lucas County.
“We will encourage youth attending the open house to experience winter seed sowing, singing along with camp counselors, learning a line dance, discovering 4-H projects and activities, riding a blender bike to make smoothies, and meeting 4-H members to join a club,” said Ms. Burns. “Walk-ins are welcome as no registration is needed.”
For information, contact Jess Burns at Soffee.1@osu.edu or 419-574-0976.

Park district
specialist hired
The Wood County Park District has hired Jessie Walton-Summers to be the Community & Communications Specialist.
The specialist handles the promotion of all park district programs and events, development of publications, recruitment of volunteers, and media relations.