Week of 9/3/12

“Helping Hens” is administered through the Toledo Community Foundation. Keith Burwell, president of the foundation and Cheri Pastula, manager of community relations for the Mud Hens, presented checks to the grant winners before the Hens game Aug. 26.

“These organizations do exceptional work and the Mud Hens are thrilled to support local children in their efforts to stay active and healthy,” Pastula said.

Grant winners include:
• Ability Center of Greater Toledo received funds to implement a bicycle education program for individuals with disabilities.

• Children’s Resource Center received funds to provide a one-year membership to the Bowling Green Community Center, where children can engage in safe indoor recreation activities including soccer, volleyball and basketball. • City of Fremont Parks and Recreation Department received funds to support the Flash Youth Running Program, which allows children to participate in cross country and track and field.

• East Toledo Family Center received funds to purchase equipment for baseball, soccer and basketball programming.

• Girls on the Run of Northwest Ohio received a grant to provide scholarships for girls who cannot afford program participation fees.

• Kids Unlimited, Inc. received funding to purchase playground equipment to be used by children participating in its afterschool and summer programming.

• Salvation Army, NW Ohio Area Services received a grant to purchase sports equipment that will be used during the physical education module of the Bridging the Gap Program and in conjunction with activities that are sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo.

• Toledo Ballet Association, Inc. received a grant to support the Musical Theater Camp that is conducted in partnership with the Catholic Club.

• Toledo School for the Arts received funding to provide 50 underserved youth with the opportunity to participate in the Urban Dance Program.

Those interested in future Helping Hens grant opportunities may contact the Toledo Community Foundation at 419-241-5049 or www.toledocf.org.

Basic computer help
Basic computer classes are available Thursdays at 2 p.m. and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. by appointment at the Oregon Branch Library, 3340 Dustin Rd.

Training includes how to use the library catalog, basic Internet use, email set up and basic Microsoft Word 2007. Call 419-259-5250 for information or to make an appointment.

Indicted
After a recent session of the Ottawa County Grand Jury, an indictment has been returned against Austin M. Benadum, 21, who is currently being held in the Ottawa County Detention Facility.

Benadum was charged with two counts of Theft after he allegedly took several thousand dollars worth of property from a Clay Township residence last August. One of the counts is a felony of the fourth degree, alleging that the victim was an elderly person.

Women’s Connection
All area men and women are invited to attend the annual guest night dinner and program sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection Sept. 13 at the Bayside Boardwalk, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for the dinner buffet and program, which will include speaker Ron Rightnowar, of Oregon; a presentation on Outdoor Adventures from Theresa Cleland from Cleland’s Outdoor World and music by Skip Jacobs, of Oregon.

The price is $10.50, all inclusive. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 Marilyn at 419-666-1633.

Crash fatality
Raycheal M. Hoak, 78, of Toledo, was killed in a three-car accident Aug. 26 at the intersection of SR 579 and Fostoria Road.

The Ottawa County Sherriff’s office reports that Hoak was a rear-seat passenger in a vehicle being driven by 80-year-old Bettie J. Naugle of Toledo. Naugle and her front-seat passenger, 82-year-old Clyde R. Naugle, Jr. of Toledo, were transported to Mercy St. Vincent. Hoak, who was ejected from the vehicle during the crash, was transported by Life Flight to Mercy St. Vincent, where she later died.

The driver of the second vehicle, 20-year-old Devin Brubaker of Perrysburg, and Brubaker's passenger, a 1-year-old baby, were taken to ProMedica Bay Park Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the third vehicle, 45-year-old Richard Mains of Oregon refused treatment at the scene. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending.
 

Clean Your Streams
The 16th Annual Clean Your Streams will be held Sept. 15.

Everyone is invited to participate in the international event, which is dedicated to improving our communities and streambanks.

Last year, more than 725 volunteers spent three hours cleaning up to 25 miles of streams and rivers in the metro-Toledo area. In total, 15,315 pounds of trash were pulled from the Maumee and Ottawa rivers, Swan, Duck and Otter creeks.

Event check-in begins at 8 a.m. at Friendship Park in Lake Township. All volunteers are required to attend the 8:30 a.m. orientation in order to receive a cleanup location assignment. After the cleanup, an Appreciation Picnic will be held for volunteers.
 

War of 1812 program
This year the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 is being celebrated. Have you ever wondered why this War occurred?

Of course, if you have Internet access, you could “Google it,” but the Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society is offering a more interesting way to get the answer.

The OJHS will hold a public meeting on the War of 1812 Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Brandville School, 1133 Grasser St., Oregon. The school, c. 1882, was the first brick two-story school in the area and is the anchor for the Historical Society museum complex.

Jeff Helmer, of the Put-in-Bay National Parks Service, will present the program on the Battle of Lake Erie, which had a prominent part in the war. Helmer will discuss the three main reasons for the war; how Lake Erie played an important role during this war; and who emerged victorious in the war.

The program is free and light refreshments will be served.

Anniversary celebration
Perrysburg Commons Retirement Center, 10542 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg, will celebrate 35 years of providing senior living solutions Sunday, Sept. 9 from noon to 3 p.m.

A special birthday celebration planned for their residents, families, and the community will include an open house, tours and complimentary brunch buffet from noon to 1:45 p.m. Perrysburg Township Trustees will make a proclamation at 1:55 p.m., followed by a concert by the Johnny Knorr Big Band from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call 419-874-1931 or email 4115admin@hcr-manorcare.com.

Groove in the Grove
Clay High Alumni and Friends Association will present the 15th Annual Groove in the Groove and the Hall of Fame Induction Saturday, Sept. 29 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd., Oregon.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees include Marge Brown (class of `55) and Larry Morgan. The casual outdoor event is open to adults 21 and over. Admission is $15, which includes unlimited beer, wine, pop, snacks and dancing.

Tickets are available at the gate or by calling Clay High School at 419-693-0665, ext. 2044.

Dinner with Jodi
A “Dinner with Jodi” will be hosted by the committee to elect JoEllen Regal, candidate for Ottawa County Commissioner, on Thursday, Sept 20. from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bay Township Hall, 4471 Fremont Rd., Port Clinton.

The public is cordially invited to attend.

A number of “Celebrity Servers” will be on hand to wait on tables, including Bob Bratton, Ron Giesler, Bob Hille, Steve Levorchick, Mark Mulligan, Darrell Opfer, Dave Regal and Jim Sass.

To register, call JoAn Monnett at 419-734-3986 or Susan Mulligan at 419-410-5245. The suggested donation is $25 per meal.

Regal has served as Ottawa County Auditor since 2002. For information about her election campaign she may be reached at 419-276-9124 or by email at JREGAL1@roadrunner.com.

Following “Dinner with Jodi” the Democratic Central Committee will convene its regular monthly meeting at 7:30 at the same location. Democratic Party Chair Dan Laity will preside. All interested persons may attend.

Fatherhood classes
Dads throughout the area are invited to find the tools to become better fathers at once-a-week classes being offered at the Sutton Center, 1854 E. Perry Street, Port Clinton.

The sessions, which run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., begin Monday, Sept. 10 and run through Oct. 22.

Father-centered, free, and available to all fathers, the VIP (Very Important Padre) 24/7 Dads program aims to help men develop healthy, lasting relationships with their children and give them the tools to maintain those relationships. “I really did not know what to expect when we started,” said Gary Davis, a past participant of the program. “I appreciate everything I learned. I learned about myself, and how to find help and handle problems. It was really helpful.”

LuAnn Berry, the family advocate for the program, said that all information shared in the sessions is confidential. “What’s said in the room stays in the room,” she said.

The program is aimed at all fathers – custodial and non-custodial, stepfathers, fathers-to-be and others. For information on how to participate in this program, call 419-333-4006.

Wall shirts in demand
Elmore American Legion Community Post 279 is taking orders until Sept. 10 for Vietnam Combat Veterans Moving Wall t-shirts due to an overwhelming amount of requests for the shirts.

Originally, 900 shirts were sold during the Moving Wall visit in August but the legion has received  more requests since they were sold out. The shirts can be ordered for $10 by calling Jeanie Giesler ,419-862-2766, or by emailing  jgiesler@divinsurance.com. Only shirts that are ordered will be sold.

Law bans texting
A law to ban texting while driving began with a sixth-month warning period Aug. 31.

Signed by Gov. John Kasich June 1, House Bill 99 makes texting behind the wheel illegal for motorists of all ages on a secondary enforcement basis. The offense can be cited only if another moving violation has occurred.

The bill also makes it illegal for drivers under age 18 to use an electronic wireless communications device in any manner. For novice drivers this means they can be ticketed for texting while driving and for talking on a cell phone. No ticket may be issued for a violation of either prohibition until after the six-month warning period.

“Texting while driving is the most dangerous of all distractions behind the wheel,” said April Cochran, vice president of Marketing and Public Affairs for AAA Northwest Ohio. “The teen driving portion of the bill is very strong and AAA supports it 100 percent. AAA would like to see a primary enforcement ban for all drivers in the future but this is a great start.”

Motorists violating the law after the six-month warning period would be subject to a fine of no more than $150. Teen drivers would be subject to having their license suspended for 60 days for a first offense.

A recent survey of the motoring public by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 35 percent of motorists of all ages admitted to text messaging while driving. Nearly half of drivers ages 18 to 24 admitted to text messaging while driving.