Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Jake & Cooper’s Bark Park has announced the third year of “Tough Topics in a Safe Space” – an ongoing series of informal discussions.
The next discussion will be, ““Spirituality and Grief,” presented by guest speaker Pastor Jeremiah Diegel, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church, Oregon, Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 7-8 p.m. in Suite D at the Eastern Community YMCA, 2960 Pickle Rd., Oregon.
Members and nonmembers are welcome. YMCA nonmembers are asked to bring a state photo ID.
Direct questions to JakeandCoopersBarkPark.com.
Sensory Friendly Morning at NMGL
The National Museum of the Great Lakes will offer a Sensory Friendly Morning on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9-10 a.m.
Visitors are invited to explore the museum in a calm and accommodating setting tailored to individuals with sensory sensitivities.
At Sensory Friendly Mornings:
• Crowds are limited, ensuring a peaceful and relaxed environment.
• Lights are dimmed to create a calming ambience.
• Exhibit sounds are lowered or eliminated, reducing auditory stimulation.
As a Certified Autism Center, NMGL is dedicated to providing inclusive and supportive experiences for all visitors.
Regular admission rates apply; admission is included for members.
Call 419-214-5000 or visit nmgl.org for more information. The National Museum of the Great Lakes is located at 1701 Front St., Toledo.
Sensory Friendly Mornings at the Museum are offered the second Saturday of every month.
Super Valentine Basket Raffle
Tiki Warriors Relay for Life Team will hold their Super Valentine Basket Raffle Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Miller’s New Market, Genoa.
The raffle will include drawings for eight prizes – seven which are Valentine-related and the eighth featuring a Super Bowl theme.
Raffle tickets are six for $5 or 15 for $10. Drawings will take place at 2 p.m. Proceeds raised benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit facebook.com/TikiWarriors.
Mercy Health Mobile Mammography Van
Mercy Health’s mobile mammography unit has several visits scheduled throughout the region.
The mobile mammography unit delivers mammograms to women age 40 and older. It is equipped with the newest 3D technology and offers the option of self-compression, meaning the patient will have the ability to control the compression once she is in position.
Among scheduled stops are:
• Monday, Feb. 17, Mercy Health – Perrysburg Primary Care, 1103 Village Square Dr., Perrysburg.
• Tuesday, Feb. 25, Mercy Health – Starbright Primary Care, 28555 Starbright Blvd., Perrysburg,
To view the full list of dates and locations, visit mercy.com/toledomobilemamm.
While mammogram screenings may be covered by insurance, for best coverage, patients should verify if Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital is an in-network provider with their insurance carrier. Financial need-based assistance programs are available to help those who are uninsured or underinsured (have high deductibles). Call 1-800-929-6626 for more information.
Screenings at the Mercy Health Mobile Mammography unit are by appointment only - call 833-MAMM- VAN to schedule a screening on the mobile unit.
Local dementia expert to present lecture
Registration is now open for the first event of Hospice of Northwest Ohio’s 2025. Dr. Sharon Erel Lecture Series. Diana Waugh, RN, BSN, Certified Dementia Practitioner, will present “I’m Still in Here - Come Find Me: My Todays are a Blur, but My Yesterdays are My Strength,” on Tuesday, Feb. 25, from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West, 2275 Collingwood Blvd., Toledo.
The program is being offered at no charge to attendees and includes continuing education credits for nurses and social workers/counselors. Community members who are not seeking continuing education are also encouraged to attend.
Doors will open at 8 a.m. for check-in. Light refreshments will be provided.
About the program
At the completion of this program, attendees will have had the opportunity to identify strategies in having rewarding conversations with people suffering from short-term memory loss. They will be able to describe what information needs to be captured and relayed to various caregivers in order to facilitate successful interactions.
About the speaker
Waugh applies her out-of-the-box approach to care of individuals suffering from memory loss. She strives to share simple, practical techniques that can make both family caregivers and professionals experts in memory care. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, her goal is to “open the gates” of the learners’ minds to different approaches for everyday challenges facing family caregivers and professionals when dealing with individuals suffering from short-term memory loss.
To register for the event, email Mary Davis at mdavis@hospicenwo.org. The deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 21.
Wood County Hospital enhances MRI services
Wood County Hospital welcomed a significant upgrade to its MRI technology, offering the ability to deliver faster, more accurate and more comfortable scans for patients.
With the integration of AI-powered advancements, scan times are up to 73% faster. One of the highlights of the new technology is the Deep Resolve protocol, which significantly improves resolution while reducing scan time for certain procedures. For example, knee scans now take as little as 4 minutes and 45 seconds, compared to traditional methods that require much longer sessions.
For more details, visit woodcountyhospital.org or call 419-354-8960 to schedule an appointment.
Mobile Health Unit to visit library
Need convenient medical care? UToledo's Mobile Health Unit visits various Toledo Lucas County Library branches throughout each month to provide the community with convenient access to health care.
The mobile unit features a waiting room, two exam rooms, and a restroom, ensuring a comfortable and private experience for all patients.
ID and insurance will be collected from patients if they have it, but it is not required, and all services are free of charge with no co-pays. No appointment needed, care is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Locally, the Mobile Health Unit visits Locke Branch Library, 703 Miami St., Toledo, on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For complete details, visit toledolibrary.org/healthcare or email mobilehealthunit@utoledo.edu.
Agreement terminated
Elmwood Assisted Living & Skilled Nursing of Fremont, 1545 Fangboner Rd., Fremont, will terminate its Medicare provider agreement on or about April 28.
For more information, contact the facility at 419-332-3378.
Magruder MS support, Marketplace Navigator
The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets on the second Tuesday each month from 5-7:30 p.m. in the Magruder Conference Center, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton. The next meeting will be Feb. 11. For more information, call 419-607-6021.
Marketplace Navigator available
The Toledo/Lucas County CareNet will have a navigator available in the Magruder Conference Center every other Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for the foreseeable future.
Navigators provide free help to anyone in Northwest Ohio enrolling in Marketplace or Medicaid health plans.
For more information, email ariel@nwocarenet.org or call 419-770-4269.
Move Over, Slow Down
The Ohio State Highway Patrol reminds all motorists to do their part in keeping roadway workers safe by moving over a lane and slowing down when you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.
Over the last four years, 55 Patrol cruisers were involved in crashes while stopped on the side of the road due to drivers failing to move over and slow down. These crashes resulted in two deaths and 29 injuries to the public, as well as 16 injured troopers. Alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in 27% of “move over” crashes. Most of these types of crashes took place on interstates, unlit roadways and surfaces covered in snow, ice or slush.
Ohio’s Move Over Law requires all drivers to move over to an adjacent lane when approaching any vehicle with flashing or rotating lights parked on the roadside. If moving over is not possible due to traffic, weather conditions or a second lane not being available, motorists should slow down and proceed with caution.
When driving in work zones, moving over and slowing down is also important. Find out more information on Ohio’s work zones and what troopers do to make them safer by visiting workzonedashboard.ohio.gov.
DeWine takes stand against Big Tobacco
Gov. Mike DeWine on Feb. 3 announced additional funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs and increasing taxes on tobacco products in his proposed budget.
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Government Relations Director Leo Almeida said:
“Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Ohio, including 33.5% of cancer deaths. Today, Gov. Mike DeWine introduced his budget recommendations, which included an increase in funding to $10 million per year for the Ohio Department of Health's Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program. Additionally, the governor proposed increasing the state's cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack.
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network applauds the governor for standing up for public health and looks forward to working with the legislature to ensure that taxes on other tobacco products are also adequately increased.”
