News Briefs Week of 7/22/19

Candidacy announced
Buddy Ritson, of Lake Township, has filed petitions and will seek election as Lake Township Fiscal Officer.
Ritson was raised in Walbridge and is a graduate of Lake High School. He received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Toledo and a master’s degree in Financial Economics from Bowling Green State University. He is a pricing analyst supervisor at Hub Group, a transportation logistics company in Toledo.
In announcing his candidacy, Ritson stated, “I want to put my background to good use by ensuring our tax dollars are spent properly, so we can continue to be a fiscally sound, family centered community.”
Ritson said he looks forward to meeting Lake Township voters, and he welcomes suggestions on how to make the township government more efficient and effective. Contact him via email at buddy.ritson@gmail.com.

Summer Lunch & Fun
Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center started a summer lunch and fun program in Genoa this summer. The center, which has been averaging 30-35 kids two days per week, also sends home weekend food bags. The program will run through Aug. 22.
Lunch is held at Genoa Veterans Park Shelter house each Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. After lunch, the youths participate in a fun activity.
Lunches are prepared at the Genoa Christian Church and supported by the Genoa Food Pantry. The program has received financial, volunteer and food donations from sponsors including the Genoa Chamber of Commerce, GenoaBank, First Federal Bank, Subway – Millbury location, Miller’s New Market, Ignite, Drs. Bunkers and Phelan, Riverside Machinery and Dr. Kegerize.
Monetary and food donations are still needed to continue the program throughout the summer. Contact Melissa Antry at 419-704-8892 for more info or to make a donation.

Swingsters to perform
The Swingsters will perform Big Band and Dixieland music at the Oak Harbor Log Cabin on Sunday, July 28, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The Log Cabin is located in Kraemer Park across from the Post Office on Church Street.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and come early to visit the Oak Harbor Street Fair from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The fair will feature vendors, fruit and vegetables, food and drink.
The performance is part of the ongoing Summer Concert Series, made possible by a grant from the Ottawa County Community Foundation. For more info, visit www.ottawaccf.org.

Zoo Brew
Join the Toledo Zoo for Zoo Brew, the first-ever Christmas in July-themed event on Friday, July 26, as part of the Zoo’s new Christmas in July weekend event.
The adults-only evening will feature samples from local microbreweries and distributors, live entertainment from Organized K-Os, adult milk and cookies, food trucks and holiday decorations from 8-11 p.m. on the historic side of the Zoo.
Tickets are $50 for Zoo members and $55 for non-members. Complimentary parking will be provided for Zoo Brew attendees in the Anthony Wayne Trail lot. Each Zoo Brew participant receives 15 samples. Additional samples or full beers may be purchased.
Space is limited. Reserve a spot by visiting toledozoo.org/zoobrew or calling 419-385-5721, ext. 2091.
For more info, visit toledozoo.org/christmasinjuly.

Walk.Bike.Ohio
Recent trends in safety, demographics and demand have spurred the Ohio Department of Transportation to develop its first-ever policy plan for walking and biking.
The agency is seeking stakeholder and public engagement to help ensure that policies and investments meet the needs of people walking and biking.
The Walk.Bike.Ohio plan will guide Ohio’s bike and pedestrian transportation policies and investments in infrastructure and programs. It is looking at current and potential programs and policies, not at specific projects.
“We encourage Ohioans to use active transportation, so we want to make sure those modes of travel are as safe as possible,” said ODOT Director Dr. Jack Marchbanks. “We hope to get feedback from Ohioans living in all parts of our great state to help us do that.”
Between 2009-2018, Ohio saw a 60 percent increase in pedestrian-related fatalities. Bicycle fatalities are up 22 percent over the same time frame. In 2018, 135 pedestrians and 22 bicyclists were killed in Ohio.
Ohio has more than 1,800 miles of off-road, shared use paths. Ohio’s state parks offer more than 250 miles of bike trails. There are also 3,000 miles of proposed State and U.S. Bike Routes in Ohio.
Work on the plan is expected to be complete by the end of 2020. The final report will include policy recommendations as well as an implementation plan as to how to achieve the recommendations.
Visit www.dot.state.oh.us/walkbike for more info.