Pemberville to hold ‘Lights Around Town’ in lieu of parade

        Due to COVID-19 concerns, Pemberville Independent Merchants Association (PIMA) will host “Lights Around Town” in lieu of a traditional parade as part of the annual Christmas in the Village celebration, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 29.
        Participants of the 2019 parade, businesses and individuals are invited to take part in Lights Around Town, which will feature lighted units staged around town for visitors to drive by and enjoy on Sunday evening from 6:30-8 p.m.          “The goal is to keep folks moving, and not congregating in one specific area,” said PIMA Chairperson Todd Sheets. “While we understand this is a bit different, we would be delighted to have everyone join us.”
        Other holiday happenings planned for Sunday evening include Lights at Mason Park, a Festival of Trees at the Pemberville Opera House, the Historical Society’s Annual Bake Shoppe, free tours at the Pember-Furry House, carriage rides (ticket purchase required), a Pop-Up Crafters Market, business holiday open houses, shopping, food vendors, a hot cocoa/coffee station, a Holiday Book Fair and musical selections by the Eastwood Band.
        Of course, Santa will also be on hand.
        Social distancing guidelines will be observed and face masks will be required throughout the event.
        Advance registration for lighted units is required by Tuesday, Nov. 24 at noon. Register by emailing info@beekersgeneralstore.com or in person at Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St., Pemberville.
        Participants will receive an email confirmation staging locations on Wednesday, Nov. 25. A map of participating units and locations will be published on the PIMA Facebook page.
        For more info, call Sheets at 419-287-3274.
 
Oregon plans holiday events
        The City of Oregon will present its annual Tree Lighting Event Saturday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m., 5330 Seaman Rd. To keep the holidays safe and bright, this year’s tree lighting will be drive-thru event. Attendees are invited to bring snacks and drinks.
        Santa, Mrs. Claus and DJ Jason Kelley will be on hand before and after the tree lighting. Those who aren’t able to attend may watch live on the City of Oregon Facebook Page.
        Winter Wonder Lights
        The City of Oregon’s 2nd Annual Winter Wonder Lights Home Decorating Contest is under way.
        Oregon residents are encouraged to show off their exterior decorating flair this holiday season. Register your home or nominate a neighbor by calling 419-698-716 or online at winterwonderlightsoregonohio@gmail.com. The deadline to register is Friday, Dec. 11. Judging will be conducted on Tuesday, Dec. 15. The top two winners will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 17.
        Post photos of your favorites on the Winter Wonder Lights – Oregon Ohio Facebook page.
        Santa Dash
        Oregon Rec and the Clay High School Athletic Boosters will resent Santa Dash 2020 Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Clay High School Football Stadium, 5665 Seaman Rd.
        The event will be an official Toys for Tots event as well as a fundraiser for the Boosters. Get a team of five together (Santa, two reindeer and two elves) for the challenge to bag presents, load the sleigh, deliver the presents, eat the carrots and cookies and return Santa safely to the North Pole. Teams are also encouraged to bring a new toy and to ask all their fans that are coming to support them to bring a toy as well. The USMC may have a few Marines on site to help with collection of toys.
        The cost to enter is $50 per team.
        Call 419-698-7147 for details or visit oregonrec.recdesk.com to register. Payment, cash or a check payable to Clay HS Athletic Boosters must be brought to the event.
 
Northwood tree lighting
        The City of Northwood’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the city municipal building, 6000 Wales Rd.
        Come visit Santa and drop off your Christmas list. Masks and social distancing are mandatory.
 
Holiday Drive-thru Christmas event
        Area residents are invited to come say hello to Santa at a Holiday Drive-thru Christmas event Sunday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. in downtown Genoa.
        Visit enoachamber.org/news-gallery for more details.
       
Rotary Club plans
Drive-thru Breakfast
with Santa Dec. 5
        Oregon-Northwood Rotary Club will present a COVID-friendly Breakfast with Santa Drive-thru Event Saturday, Dec. 5 from 8-10 a.m. in the Clay High School parking lot, 5665 Seaman Rd., Oregon.
        Due to concerns over COVID-19, Rotary Club members have opted to modify the annual Breakfast with Santa, which the organization has been hosting for about 30 years.
        Families can enter the parking lot near the football field and stop at several stations:
        Station 1. Receive paper and pencil to write a letter to Santa while you wait, and receive a donut in a sealed bag.
        Station 2. Receive materials to make a Christmas craft at home.
        Station 3. Receive a toy and wave to Santa.
        Station 4. Mail the letter to Santa in the special mailbox, which will be processed by Santa's Rotary elves.
        The Rotary normally charges $3 for the annual event, with proceeds going to help local food banks, however, this year, the event will be free, with the goal of brightening the holidays for local families.
        Sponsors are welcome to help support the event.
        More details are available www.facebook.com/OregonNorthwoodRotaryClub.
 
Socially distanced Santa visits planned
        In a “normal year, the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce would be putting the finishing touches on plans for the annual Olde Fashioned Christmas event, held annually on the first Saturday in December.
        Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chamber Executive Director Valerie Winterfield knew they would not be able to have their usual event, but wanted to find a way to still bring Christmas cheer to the children and community. She reached out to the financial institutions in town to partner with the Chamber to offer socially distanced visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. “They were excited and willing to help in any way they could,” Winterfield said.
        Santa will still arrive in Oak Harbor at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, and will be escorted by Portage Fire District through the streets of town. Santa and Mrs. Claus will then be available for social distanced visiting on the following days and times:
        • Saturday, Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m. at the Croghan Colonial Bank drive-thru.
        • Fridays, Dec. 11 and Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m. at Commodore Perry Federal Credit Union drive-thru.
        Children are encouraged to bring their letters for Santa, as all letters will be answered by Santa and his elves. After sharing their letter and wish list for Christmas, Santa will send the children a special treat through the drive thru tube.
 
Great American Smoke
Out Cold Turkey Event
        Sandusky County Public Health is hosting a Great American Smoke Out Cold Turkey Event on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m.2- p.m. at the health department, 2000 Countryside Dr., Fremont.
        The Cold Turkey Event is a tobacco take-back event where a people can drop off their tobacco products (cigarettes, ash trays, lighters, vapes, etc.).
        The first three people to turn in their tobacco products with the intent to quit will automatically receive a turkey gift certificate. All others will be entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate.
        According to the 2019-2020 Sandusky County Community Health Assessment, 60% of Sandusky County tobacco users have attempted to quit in the last year.
        Although this is called the Cold Turkey Event, there is no pressure for a person to quit tobacco “cold turkey.” Free tobacco cessation resources will be available for those interested including information on the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line, a free cessation resource for all Ohioans.
        Sign up by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visiting www.ohio.quitlogix.org.
 
Virtual Alzheimer’s programs
        The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter will present several virtual educational programs to help the community and families impacted by the disease.
        These presentations will cover a variety of topics and occur at different times during the day and evening via videoconferencing. Topics include an overview of Alzheimer’s and dementia, common warning signs of the disease, and how to better communicate and have difficult conversations.
        The programs are designed to be helpful for anyone experiencing signs of memory loss, their family members who may be concerned, and community members looking for more education.
        All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required and may be completed by calling 800-272-3900.
        The schedule includes:
        • Nov. 16: Effective Communication Strategies, 5 p.m.
        • Nov. 17: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 2 p.m.
        • Nov. 18: Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
        • Nov. 19: Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers – Late Stage Part 2, 3:30 p.m.
        • Nov. 23: 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s, 2 p.m.
        • Nov. 24: Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 2 p.m.
        • Nov. 24: Effective Communication Strategies, 6:30 p.m.
        Visit alz.org for more details.
 
Caps to Benches
        Gibsonburg Cub Scout Pack 408 is collecting plastic caps and lids, which will be upcycled into park benches for the community.
        The Scouts are asking community members to save clean caps and lids, which may then be dropped off in collection boxes at Gibsonburg Town Hall, 526 N. Webster St., and at Kirwen’s Super Market, 104 W. Madison St.            Among the list of acceptable items are caps from medicine bottles; water, juice and sport drinks; detergents; hair spray; spray paints; toothpaste; deodorant; shampoo and conditioner; ketchup and mustard bottles and more. Lids from cottage cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, soft butter, mayo, peanut butter, spice jars and ice cream (under 8”) will also be accepted.
        Metal, trash, food containers, bottles, medication bottles, trigger sprays, fast food lids, caps of lids with the recycle numbers (1), (3), (6) or (7) or any plastic that’s not a cap or lid will not be accepted.
 
2019 Overdose Death Report
        The Ohio Department of Health has released the Calendar Year 2019 Overdose Death Report, the most recent data provided by the Ohio Department of Health.
        In the Board’s district, 29 individuals died by unintentional drug overdose. Overall, unintentional drug overdose deaths declined compared with the previous year. These statistics refer to the county of residence based on the decedent’s residence address at the time of death, not where the death occurred.
        It is projected that calendar year 2020 numbers will be much higher than 2019 in the district, Director Mircea Handru said.
        The Board will be working on a full report that will be released in the coming weeks, which will include local demographic information.
        Across Ohio, from 2018 to 2019, black, non-Hispanic males had the largest increase in overdose deaths rates. Among black, non-Hispanic males, 55-64-year-olds had the highest rate.
        Fentanyl was involved in 76.2% of all unintentional drug overdose deaths in Ohio. In 2019, deaths involving psychostimulants surpassed those involving heroin.
        Scioto County had the highest rate of drug overdoses than any other county in Ohio.
        “Overdose and suicide deaths are preventable, and behind every single death is a grieving family. There are many people and agencies in our communities fighting daily to stop these numbers from claiming even more. Please reach out to our office for help by calling 419-448-0640,” Handru said.