Family Briefs - Kids invited to celebrate Earth Day at Hayes Presidential

        Kids will learn about nature observation and national parks during Kids Days @ Hayes Earth Day event on Saturday, April 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont.
        Activities will begin in the museum auditorium.
        Admission is $5 for Hayes Presidential members at the major level and higher and $7 for non-members. There is no cost for adults who bring kids to this program.
        Tickets are available at www.rbhayes.org/events/2021/04/24/events/kids-days-hayes-earth-day/. The RSVP deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 21.
        This event is for kids in fourth through sixth grades, however, kids of all ages are welcome. Kids will explore Spiegel Grove, the grounds of Hayes Presidential, and look for wildlife, trees, wildflowers and other plants. They will also learn about the formation of U.S. national parks and the importance of preserving natural spaces.
        The Paul M. & Lucy J. Gillmor Charitable Foundation is the sponsor for this event.
        For information, contact Education Coordinator Joan Eardly at 419-332-2081 or jeardly@rbhayes.org.
        Updates on other programs and events are available at rbhayes.org or Hayes Presidential Library & Museums on social media.
 
Toledo Toy Show
        Total Sports, in Rossford, will host the Toledo Toy Show Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
        More than 200 vendor tables will feature NASCAR, Hot Wheels, Star Wars, Matchbox cars, Tonka, PEZ, dolls, trains, tractors, sports cards, slot cars, models, comics, tin toys, action figures, diecast trucks, cartoon characters and more.
        Total Sports is located directly behind Meijer on SR 20. Admission is $5 per person, with kids under 12 admitted free.
        Jerry Dorer and his wife began hosting and promoting toy shows 16 years ago with their first show at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. They expanded their efforts in Michigan to include the Grand Rapids Toy Show and took over the Jackson Antique & Flea Market Show, growing to a total of seven shows a year.
        The Dorers came to the toy show business naturally, having sold diecast cars as a vendor. “Our first show here last fall was a great success,” said Mr. Dorer, who noted that the toy shows have grown over the years and become sell-out events every time.
        Social distancing and masks will be required, except for those with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a face covering. Vendors will be spaced out, and hand sanitizer will be available.
        Ample free parking is available at Total Sports. Food trucks will be set up in the parking lot near the entrance to the building.
        For more info, like “The New Toledo Toy Show” on Facebook or visit www.midmichigansupershow.com.
       
Party for the Planet
        The Toledo Zoo will celebrate Mother Earth and exemplify its mission of advocating for wildlife and conserving the natural world during a Party for the Planet on Saturday, April 24.
        The Zoo invites all families to spend a “green” day in celebration of Earth Day by dropping off recyclable items and learning about environmentally-friendly initiatives through conservation talks, animal demonstrations and activities.
        Drop off recyclable goods – including hard-to-recycle items – between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s Anthony Wayne Trail parking lot. Admission/parking charges do not apply to this special recycling project.
        The NW Ohio Damage Prevention Council and Columbia Gas of Ohio are partnering with the Zoo for this year’s event.
        Party for the Planet highlights include:
        • 10:30 a.m.: Kwisha's Earth Day birthday celebration, Gorilla Meadow, Great Apes.
        • 11 a.m.: Learn about Zoo conservation programs, ProMedica Museum of Natural History;
        • 11:30 a.m.: Learn about Zoo's Wild Toledo initiatives, outside ProMedica Museum of Natural History;
        • Noon: Meet an endangered species and play a game, Nature's Neighborhood;
        • 1 p.m.: Meet an endangered species and play a game, Arctic Encounter;
        • 1:30 p.m.: Elephant training demo, Tembo Trail;
        • 2 p.m.: Primate enrichment, Primate Forest.
        Learn more and see a list of recyclable items at www.toledozoo.org/planet.
 
Virtual genealogy presentation planned
        The Harris-Elmore Public Library and Genoa Branch Library will host an online webinar on “Finding Records to Aid in Your Genealogy Research” on Monday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m.
        The one-hour presentation, led by Eric Migdal, of “It’s All Relative Genealogy LLC,” will cover some of the best places to find information and records for a family search. Migdal will go over census, birth, death and marriage records, and will highlight searches on Heritage Quest, Family Search, Fold 3 and Newspapers.com. He will also cover some of the most popular DNA testing companies and sources to find more information using those resources.
        Access the presentation via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81249705516 or go to Zoom and input the meeting ID, 812 4970 5516.
        Call the Harris-Elmore Library at 419-862-2482 for more details.
 
Trapped in History;
Can You Escape?
        Imagine you’ve gotten trapped in the Wood County District Public Library’s Local History Archive. Can you escape?
        Find out by taking part in “Trapped in WCDPL’s History: A Virtual Genealogy Escape Room” on Monday, May 10 through Monday, May 17 on WCDPL’s social media pages.
        To escape WCDPL’s archive, participants will have to solve a series of genealogy puzzles. The event takes the popular escape room concept and adapts it to a virtual format through Google Forms and the library’s online genealogy resources.
        “Escape rooms and genealogy research are both all about figuring out puzzles, so they seem a natural fit to combine,” said Marine Pratt, WCDPL Local History Librarian. “I also think the escape room format provides a fun way to learn about all the online digital resources we have for doing genealogy research.”
        To participate, visit the library’s social media pages at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 10 when the Google Form will go live. Participants will have until the following Monday, May 17 at 9 a.m. to find all the answers and escape the WCDPL Local History Archives.
        No registration is required. For more information, visit wcdpl.org.
 
Vaccination clinics
        Wood County Health Department is holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics for individuals who are 16 years of age and older.
        All clinics will offer the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments can be scheduled in advance using the ArmorVax app, at www.ArmorVax.com, or by calling 419-823-9512; however, appointments do not need to be scheduled in advance – walk-ins are welcome at all clinics.
        A clinic will be held at Penta Career Center, Saturday, April 17 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
        Beginning April 19, walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinics will be held every Monday from noon to 6 p.m. at Wood County Health Department, 1840 E. Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green. Appointment times may be assigned upon arrival as needed to maintain social distancing protocols.
        Children who are age 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to be vaccinated.
        For the most recent information on vaccine availability or to schedule an appointment, visit Vaccine.WoodCountyHealth.org or call 419-823-9512.

Behind-the-scenes 
museum tours
        The Wood County Museum, located at 13660 County Home Rd., Bowling Green, will be hosting guided, behind-the-scenes tours on Wednesday, April 21, starting at 6 p.m.
        Tours will take place every 30 minutes and last about an hour. They will be led by Museum Director Kelli Kling and Education Coordinator Mike McMaster. Guests will get to explore areas that are not typically open to the public, including the basement, attic and all floors of the museum.
        Each tour group will be limited to 12 people to allow for social distancing. Due to state and county COVID-19 restrictions, masks are required inside the museum buildings at all times.
        Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Tours must be reserved in advance by calling 419-352-0967 or by stopping into the Museum to purchase a ticket.
        The museum’s normal hours for self-guided tours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and weekends from 1-4 p.m. (closed on government holidays and weekends in January).
        The Museum is handicap accessible and ample parking is available.
        All events are detailed at woodcountyhistory.org or by following the Wood County Historical Museum on social media.
 
United Way COVID-19
Response Report
        After a year of fighting the devastating effects of the pandemic, United Way of Greater Toledo has published a comprehensive response report, outlining how the organization rerouted its day-to-day operations to assist community members in need.
        The full report is available online at UnitedWayToledo.org/covid-response-report.
        Wendy Pestrue, president and CEO of UWGT, said “With 10 pages of content and data from March 2020 to March 2021, this is a snapshot of how our staff, donors, advocates and volunteers came together to serve those who needed help during this difficult time.”
        The report details that, through UWGT’s Emergency Response Fund, more than 27,000 individuals were supported via funds given to 28 local programs. “That is in addition to the more than 60 programs UWGT allocates funding to in a traditional year,” Pestrue said.
        United Way 2-1-1 took 104,398 calls since March 2020, while also handling various projects that provided assistance to working families.
        UWGT’s volunteer efforts were estimated to be valued at $600,000, with more than 22,000 hours donated.
        “This report truly displays the power of community when we work as one,” Pestrue said. “Of course, we do not want this piece to give the impression that the pandemic is over. As we have said before, folks in Lucas, Ottawa and Wood counties will be feeling the economic impact of this disaster for years to come, which is why local nonprofits, like United Way, need your support.”
 
LMH receives grant
        The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded Lucas Metropolitan Housing $423,352 under the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) grant program.
        ROSS grant funds will help the agency hire and/or retain service coordinators to assist public housing families with their professional, financial, health and educational goals.
        Service coordinators provide case management, assess residents’ needs and work in partnership with local service providers to remove barriers so that residents can become self-sufficient.
        “Self-sufficiency” is defined as a household’s ability to maintain financial, housing and personal/family stability. LMH assists families with employment, training, post-secondary education, financial literacy and more.
        The program allows for two service coordinators to work directly with families by providing daily assessments, case management, information, referrals for workforce development, resume building, training opportunities and job seeking/retention skills. Residents are also referred to educational opportunities, GED preparation and access to colleges in various locations of their choice.
        In addition, to help strengthen their financial stability, participating residents are referred to the Financial Opportunity Centers for assistance with budgeting, credit repair and homeownership education.
        “Lucas Metropolitan Housing keeps building momentum as we continue to receive the support of the Department of Housing and Urban Development,” said, Joaquin Cintron Vega, LMH President and CEO. “Our agency is a trusted partner in managing the funds that are made available through grants such as these. The awarded grant funds will help us keep working with our residents to assist them in achieving self-sufficiency. Our goal is to maximize the available resources to provide more families with a viable opportunity toward independence.”
        The total number of families that will be serviced under the grant is 1,303 for a three-year period.