News Briefs Week of 9/6/2021
Outstanding alumni
nominations sought
Penta Career Center is seeking nominations for its annual Outstanding Alumni Awards.
Since its inception in 1993, the prestigious awards have been presented to 168 Penta alumni. The 2021 Outstanding Alumni will be honored at a banquet at Penta on Nov. 18.
Eligible nominees include individuals who have completed a career-technical program at Penta Career Center (formerly known as Penta County Vocational School) and who are currently working in a successful career. Potential candidates should demonstrate excellence in their careers with evidence of professional accomplishments and community involvement. Nominees must have completed a high school or adult education program at Penta prior to 2011.
Applications for the Penta 2021 Outstanding Alumni Awards are available by calling 419-661-6351, or online at
pentacareercenter.org (click on “Alumni”). Completed applications must be postmarked by Sept. 24.
Some of the past recipients of the award include Jennifer (Byington) Wilkins (Oak Harbor High School), a 1991 alumnus of the Word Processing program; Edward Stribrny (Lake High School), a 1973 alumnus of the Carpentry program; Jarrad Egert (Woodmore High School), a 1995 alumnus of the Automotive Technology program; William Hammer (Woodmore High School), a 1982 alumnus of the Drafting program; and Diana (Escobar) Rodriguez (Genoa High School), a 1999 alumnus of the Administrative Assistant program.
Kiwanis banquet
The East Toledo-Oregon Kiwanis will present a 70th Anniversary Banquet Wednesday, Sept. 22 in the Oregon Room at Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital, 2600 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
Appetizers will be served at 6 p.m. Dinner will follow at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per person, mailed to The Kiwanis Club of East Toledo-Oregon, P.O. Box 167645, Oregon, OH 43616. RSVP by Sept. 15 to Rhonda at 419-467-4857 or rhonda@martinandmartinins.com.
House of Meats
issues recall
Lee Williams House of Meats has issued a voluntary recall of various sausage products due to an undeclared milk allergen.
• The recall includes:
• Homemade beer cheddar fresh bratwurst
• Bacon cheddar pork brats
• Homemade spinach & feta cheese chicken sausage
• Homemade chicken jalapeno cheddar bratwurst
• Homemade cheddar brat
• Homemade coney dogs
• Homemade jalapeno cheddar bratwurst
• Taco brat
The recall has been initiated due to the ingredient label not stating the products contained milk. Products were packaged on Styrofoam trays with a cellophane overwrap and weighed approximately 1 to 1.5 pounds per package. The labels have the House of Meats logo.
Products were available for sale at Lee Williams House of Meats stores at 3002 131st St., Toledo and 2521 Starr Ave., Oregon.
The issue was discovered during a routine inspection conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illness involving products addressed in this recall, however, people who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Individuals exhibiting signs or symptoms of food-borne illness or allergies should contact a physician immediately.
Customers with a milk allergy or sensitivity who have purchased the affected product should throw it out or return it to Lee Williams House of Meats for a replacement.
Consumers with questions regarding the recall can call Lee Williams House of Meats at 419-729-3893.
Landfill expansion
Ohio EPA will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8 to discuss a draft permit for a proposed lateral and vertical expansion of the Wood County Landfill in Bowling Green.
The meeting will be held in the Simpson Meeting Room, Simpson Building, 1291 Conneaut Ave., Bowling Green. EPA staff will give a short presentation about the permitting process and draft permit and will answer questions from the public. A hearing will immediately follow, during which the public may submit written comments on the record about the draft expansion permit.
Attendees are expected to follow the rules of the building which may have mask/distancing requirements. Participants may request an electronic copy of handouts by emailing Paula.Payne@epa.ohio.gov.
Wood County owns the municipal solid waste landfill located on the east side of Tontogany Road just north of U.S. Route 6 and is the applicant for the expansion. The proposed horizontal expansion would be 59.1 acres for a total of 101.1 acres. The horizontal and vertical expansions, if approved, would add about 8.9 million cubic yards of space and give the landfill approximately 111 years of capacity, based on current waste intake.
Anyone may submit comments and/or request to be on a mailing list to receive notice regarding further action on the expansion application by writing to Ohio EPA, Division of Materials and Waste Management, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, attention Brian Dearth, or email epa.dmwmcomments@epa.ohio.gov. The public comment period ends Sept. 16.
Tools for School
serves 356 students
Every year since 2002, the Salvation Army-Port Clinton Service Unit has offered a school supply assistance program (Tools for School) in August.
This year, the program served 356 Ottawa County students, providing school supplies and a new backpack. “Since this program was funded by donations, the success was due to our local residents, businesses and organizations that donated funds,”
“Thank you for all who have contributed funds, supplies and volunteer hours to this program,” Salvation Army Director Maureen Saponari said. “We could not continue to help our children without your support.”
For more info, call 419-732-2769.
Family Center gala
The East Toledo Family Center’s 120th Anniversary Celebration, “An Evening Under the Stars,” will be held Saturday, Sept. 11 from 5:30-11 p.m. at Sunrise Park & Banquet Center, 1460 Woodville Rd., Millbury.
Business professional attire is requested for the event, which will feature dinner, served at 6:30 p.m., silent and blind auctions, raffles and entertainment by Late Show Band.
For more info or to purchase tickets, visit etfc.org or call Tracy at 419-691-1429.
GRANDlove
celebration set
GRANDlove, a support program of the Ottawa County Advocacy Center for grandparents and others who are raising grandchildren, is holding a GRAND Celebration Sunday, Sept. 12 from 3-5 p.m. at Hopfinger Zimmerman Memorial Park in Port Clinton.
The celebration is to honor these grandparents and others who serve a critical role in our community by providing stable, loving and supportive environments for children whose parents are absent or unable to raise them.
The event will include food, entertainment and prizes.
For more information, visit ocfamilyadvocacy.org/grandlove/.
Build a bed…
change a life
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Martin, and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Curtice, are partnering with the nonprofit Let’s Build Beds for an event Saturday, Sept. 11 from 9 a.m.-noon at St. Peter, 17877 W. SR 579 (Blackberry Corners, SR 579 and Elliston-Trowbridge Road).
Volunteers are invited to help build beds for children in Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Monetary donations, as well as donations of twin-size bedding are welcome ($200 buys lumber, mattresses and bedding for one bed).
Sign up at http://tinyurl.com/letsbuildbeds or call 419-836-8903 or 567-483-0056.
Labor Day Parade
The Toledo Labor Day Parade will go forward Monday, Sept. 6 on its regular route.
Several labor unions have decided to pause their involvement this year, but the Toledo Port Council, Northwest Ohio Building Trades, AFL-CIO affiliates, Teamsters, the United Labor Committee, and affiliated organizations will be represented.
“The pandemic has shown the importance of solidarity and our connection as brothers and sisters in the organized labor movement,” said Kevin Dalton, president of Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250 and executive secretary of the Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO “Trades workers are reporting to jobsites, teachers are in classrooms, and grocery workers are stocking shelves. An outdoor parade is a safe event and all attendees and those watching will be asked to comply with current health and safety directives.”
“Our people are going to work every day and they deserve this recognition and day of brotherhood,” added Robert Mapes, business agent for Iron Workers Local 55 and President of the Greater Northwest Ohio AFL-CIO, “We have gotten through because of the hard work and bravery of working men and women, and that is what Labor Day commemorates.”