News Briefs Week of 9/27/2021
Housing needs rising
During June, July and August, United Way 2-1-1 handled 12,915 contacts from community members, with the top needs being housing/shelter, utility assistance and health care/COVID-19 resources.
Recently, 2-1-1 Community Resource Advisors noted a dramatic rise in individuals being unhoused. Through 2-1-1, United Way runs a program called “Coordinated Access,” which tracks active open bed counts at four Toledo-area shelters. Specialists help directly place individuals and families experiencing homelessness in one of these locations as quickly as possible.
“In June, 2-1-1 made 462 referrals to Coordinated Access for our network shelters. Those referrals increased by 47 percent over the course of the summer, after 681 people were referred in August,” said Jill Bunge, vice president of impact and outreach at United Way.
Rent payment assistance was also a leading inquiry, with more than 1,500 requests made from June to August for residents seeking financial help to remain housed.
“In addition to maintaining bed counts, Coordinated Access keeps differing placement lists for those who identify as male, female or a family unit,” Bunge said. “In June, this list contained 69 individuals and singular family units, and in three months, we saw a 400 percent increase. At the close of August, nearly 350 persons and singular family units were on these three lists.”
When a community member contacts 2-1-1 and is seeking shelter, the Community Resource Advisor will gain further insight on their current situation, asking where they last stayed. Numbers show that, from June to August, 165 individuals said they slept in a place that was not meant for habitation, while 103 had stayed with a friend and 78 with a family member.
“If we are seeing troubling numbers like this over the summer months, our community should be prepared for the winter, when shelter requests historically rise given the cold weather,” said Bunge.
United Way representatives state that, despite homelessness being an ongoing, deep-rooted issue in the community – current statistics are ripple effects of the pandemic, and continued financial hardships being faced by Lucas, Ottawa and Wood County families.
United Way 2-1-1 is a free, 24/7, 365-day health and human service resource available by phone, text or instant message. Dial two, one, one; text your ZIP code to 898-211 or visit www.211nwo.org to get assistance.
BBB Weekly Minute
Caller to BBB: “I saw an ad on Craigslist from a company in England that needed a U.S. managing partner. They said that if I am hired, they have a number of U.S. customers who can ship their merchandise to me. I will repackage it and ship it to England. They will reimburse me for the postage and pay me $600 a week. I have been struggling to get a good job and this would be perfect for me. What do you think, BBB?”
BBB says don’t do it. Reshipping jobs sound very attractive, but here is why they are scams. Mail order companies like Amazon usually refuse to ship overseas because there are so many scams.
In this case, the crooks in England (or Ukraine, or Nigeria, or wherever) go on the “dark net” and buy stolen credit card numbers. They then order expensive merchandise like laptops, cell phones and other electronics and have them shipped to your address. You innocently repackage the stuff and ship it overseas, paying the expensive postage which you were promised they would reimburse.
In a short time, the “company” disappears – and you get a visit from the police. Because the merchandise was purchased with stolen credit card numbers, everything was actually “stolen.” You didn’t know, but you were receiving stolen property, and you could be prosecuted for fraud.
Reshipping jobs look perfect for work-at-home folks, but don’t fall for the promises. They are dangerous scams.
Quilters’ meeting
The Maumee Bay Country Quilters’ Guild will hold their monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 6:45 p.m.
Meetings are held at Northwood Church of God, 3375 Curtice Rd. Doors open at 6 p.m. Visitors and new members are welcome. The visitors’ fee is $10. Annual membership is $35.
Lighting project
funding approved
The state controlling board has approved the release of $270,685.00 for the Camp Perry Historical Lighting Renovation Project,” State Rep. DJ Swearengin (R-Huron) announced.
The funding will complete the replacement of the 1940s lighting with current, energy-efficient lighting while also fixing some structural issues on the historic site.
“This will help to preserve the historic site for people to enjoy all it has to offer for years to come,” said Swearengin.
The new construction will be architecturally consistent with the existing fixtures. The Camp Perry Training Center was constructed in 1942.
Flu shot clinics
The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department is offering appointment-only flu clinics Oct. 5, 7, 12, 14 and 19 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Health Department, 635 N. Erie St., Toledo.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older who is able to be vaccinated receive the vaccine each year. TLCHD has the high-dose flu vaccine available to those 65 and older.
To schedule a flu shot appointment, call 419-213-2013.
Psychic/holistic
gathering set
Sunday, Sept. 26 will mark the 19th “Celebrate the Senses, Psychic/Holistic,” which will be held at The Maumee Pinnacle, 1772 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee.
Readings and healings may be scheduled from 9:30-4:30 p.m. In addition, there will be local merchants, coffee and pastries and more. Masks are mandatory.
All ages are welcome; minors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Admission is $5 cash-only: no charge for children under 9.
Readers and many vendors accept multiple forms of payment, however, cash is preferred.
Janet Amid, nationally recognized astrologer, columnist and media personality with roots in the Toledo area, is hosting the event. For more information, visit janetamid.com or call 419-882-5510.
Film & Literary Festival
An award-winning political cartoonist will be the keynote speaker at the third annual American Presidents Film & Literary Festival, which will take place Sept. 25 and Oct. 1-3 at various locations in Fremont.
The festival will include original films, a play based on the life of a White House butler, a red-carpet event that includes dinner and craft beer tasting, lantern tours of Spiegel Grove with living history presenters and more.
Arthur “Chip” Bok, a syndicated political cartoonist through Los Angeles-based Creators Syndicate, will speak during the red-carpet event on Saturday, Oct. 2, at The Strand Concert Theater. The event is from 5 to 7:15 p.m.
His talk will focus on the role that the press, specifically political cartoonists, play during a presidential administration. Using a variety of cartoons created by himself, as well as other cartoonists, Bok intends to discuss the political nuances displayed in the artwork. He will also emphasize the 2020 election and the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Bok’s talk is made possible through a grant from Ohio Humanities as part of the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums’ special exhibit, “The Press & The Presidency” exhibit. Hayes Presidential is one of the festival organizers.
Another feature of the festival is the play “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder,” on Saturday, Sept. 25, at The Little Theater at Fremont Ross High School. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the play begins at 7 p.m. The play is based on the life of Alonzo Fields, White House chief butler who served four U.S. presidents and their families: Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower.
Culled from Fields’ private papers, diaries and interviews, “Looking Over the President’s Shoulder” has played at major theaters across the country. The play, written by James Still, stars Tyre’k Hyde as Fields.
The annual wreath-laying ceremony at President Rutherford B. Hayes’ tomb at Spiegel Grove also will take place this year as part of the festival. Military representatives sent by President Joe Biden will lay the wreath and speak during the ceremony, which will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3, in honor of President Hayes’ birthday, which is Oct. 4. Admission is free.
Tickets for all paid events are available online at americanpresidentsfilmfestival.org. Tickets also may be purchased with cash only at the door of each venue subject to availability.
The American Presidents Film & Literary Festival is organized by the Liberty and Learning Foundation, Fremont City Schools, Birchard Public Library and Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
Habitec gives back
In honor of National Dog Day, recognized on Aug. 26, Habitec wanted to show gratitude to local animal shelters.
As part of the Habitec Cares Program, the company donated $500 to local animal shelters, chosen randomly from more than 40 nominations from the community.
The following animal shelters will receive a $500 donation:
• Planned Pethood, located in Toledo.
• Wood County Humane Society, 801 Van Camp Rd., Bowling Green.
• Island Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, 3620 E. State Rd., Port Clinton, Ohio.
OJHS to present
Apple Butter Stir
The Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society (OJHS) is sponsoring an Apple Butter Stir Saturday, Oct. 2 and Sunday, Oct. 3 at Maumee Bay Bed and Breakfast, 9855 Jerusalem Rd., Curtice.
Participants can choose to be involved in the apple peeling (using mechanical apple peelers), cooking, stirring and/or canning process. Volunteers giving one hour of their time or more will receive a freshly canned jar of apple butter.
Saturday will be peeling and cooking day, using large outdoor kettles. Activities will begin at 1 p.m.
Sunday will be stirring and canning day. Stirring will run from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., after which the apple butter will be jarred. Families with children may want to come out from 1-3 p.m. activities including croquet, marbles, old-fashioned butter making and wagon rides.
Volunteers interested in participating may call the OJHS at 419-693-7252 and leave a message or email ojhs1963@gmail.com to register.
The two-day event is free and open to the public. Ample free parking will be available. Apple butter can be purchased at Brandville Museum Complex, 1133 Grasser St., Oregon once the two-day event is over.
Live! In the House
Singer Kathy Johnson will perform Saturday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St. The opera house is handicap accessible.
The concert is being presented as part of the Live! In the House Concert Series.
Johnson’s music ranges from heartfelt to hilarious – an entertaining mix of her own originals, folk, vintage country and cowboy songs, old rock and roll and more.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St.,. Pemberville, at the door and by calling Carol at 419-287-4848.
For more information, visit pembervilleoperahouse.org.