Week of 10/31/2011

The four counties are among the 63 counties in Ohio with a final Federal Crop Insurance Corp. planting deadline of Oct. 20 for fall wheat.

Prevented planting is defined by the Department of Agriculture as the inability to plant an intended acreage with the proper equipment during the established planting period for the crop type due to a natural disaster.

Appointments to file prevented planting aren’t required, said W. Todd Warner, executive director of the Sandusky County Farm Service Agency, but he advised growers to call the office prior to visiting so files and maps can be pulled.

For more information visit the Farm Service Agency website: fsa.usda.gov/pas/.

Choose Local
Toledo Choose Local will hold a Holiday Bazaar Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Davis Building Common Space, 118 10th St. between Monroe and Jefferson.

For more information, call Pam at 419-243-2081 or visit the Toledo Choose Local Facebook page. A portion of the proceeds raised from admission fee will be donated to the Bethany House.

Start Eating Healthy
The American Heart Association’s Northwest Ohio office is joining with local businesses to encourage employees to make healthy eating choices Nov. 2, which is Start Eating Healthy Day.

“The American Heart Association is committed to encouraging more Americans to get healthier,” said Christine Colvin, Heart Walk director of the American Heart Association, Northwest Ohio Division. “

Materials to help companies and their employees celebrate this day and start on a path to healthy eating year-round, are available by contacting the American Heart Association at 419-740-6172 or by logging on to www.heart.org/starteatinghealthyday.

Adoption celebration
Eight children will get “forever families,” and dozens of others will commemorate their recent adoptions as Lucas County Children Services (LCCS) holds an “Adoption Celebration” Nov. 5 at Imagination Station in downtown Toledo.

LCCS Executive Director Dean Sparks will lead a brief ceremony at 11 a.m. Afterward, families who have already completed their adoptions will be free to enjoy the fun and learning at Imagination Station, while the families finalizing their adoptions that day will take their turns sitting with Judge Jack Puffenberger of the Lucas County Probate Court to make their commitments permanent.

The groups will gather again around 2 p.m. to enjoy refreshments together.

Over the past five years, LCCS has found adoptive homes for more than 630 children from foster care. They are the lucky ones; nationwide, more than 107,000 children and youth in foster care are awaiting adoptive families. Right now, LCCS is seeking adoptive homes for approximately 30 children, most of whom are pre-teens, teens, or part of groups of brothers and sisters.

Ash tree removal help
Assistance to remove ash trees from private property is now available for residents in Erie, Wood, and Lucas counties.

Funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Forestry and operated by WSOS Community Action Commission, Inc., the program provides assistance to help stem the widespread infestation of the ash trees in Northwest Ohio.

The Western Lake Erie Basin Residential Ash Tree Removal Program, provided through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, will assist in the removal of up to two trees per property owner who has property in these counties.

Approval of applications and removal pre-requisites must be completed before any tree removal will take place. One of the requirements is that the homeowner must provide up to three estimates of the tree removal cost from companies employing ISA certified arborists. A list of these arborists is provided along with the application form.

Applications are available at public libraries; all township, village and city offices; county offices of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Ohio State University Extension offices. They are also available online at the WSOS and Sandusky River Watershed Coalition websites.

There is no income requirement and the program will pay 40 percent of the cost of the tree removal.

Applications and more information are available by calling Cindy Brookes at 419-334-5016 or by visiting the www.wsos.org and www.sanduskyriver.org.

Cell phones for soldiers
The Toledo Walleye will collect old cell phones at home games Nov. 11 and 12. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Fans are encouraged to bring their old cell phones to the Huntington Center and place them in collection bins that will be set up near each entrance.

The cell phone drive is part of Military Appreciation Night presented by Stautzenberger College. On Friday, the team will wear special patriotic themed jerseys that will be auctioned off for Heroes in Action, a military support group.

Cell Phones for Soldiers has a goal of collecting 50,000 cell phones each month through a network of 3,000 collection sites across the country. The phones will be sent to ReCellular, which pays for donated phones. The funds will be used to purchase 12 million minutes of pre-paid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas.

Single-game tickets for the 2011-12 season are also available now by phone 419-725-WALL or online at www.toledowalleye.com.

Live in the House
Pemberville Opera House will welcome Mark Lincoln Braun, the nationally known boogie-woogie and blues piano man Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. as part of the “Live in the House” concert series.

Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store or by calling Carol at 419-287-4848. More information is available at www.pembervilleoperahouse.org.

Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend a “Touch of Jewels” luncheon and program being presented by the Toledo East Women’s Connection Nov. 10 at the Bayside Boardwalk, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon luncheon and program.

Nancy Williams, from New Breman, Ohio, will share her handmade jewelry. She’ll also present “You are Priceless” and entertain with vocal music.

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

Holiday Bureau
Food on the table every day, mittens and hats for our kids, fresh fruits and vegetables - what many of us take for granted isn’t what every household experiences.

In Ottawa County, many things contribute to a family’s or an individual’s personal circumstances that put them in the unfortunate position of needing help during the holiday season, and the Holiday Bureau is here to help those who qualify for assistance.

In mid-December, because of heartfelt giving by Ottawa County residents, schools and businesses, individuals and families in need are given food, daily living items and toys, mittens and hats. In partnership with the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots, in 2010, the Holiday Bureau brightened the lives of nearly 2,629 people – 843 families and 1193 kids under 18 years of age – right here in Ottawa County.

Hundreds of volunteers sort and pack the thousands of food and other essential items that are donated to the Holiday Bureau. The all-volunteer operated Ottawa County Holiday Bureau provides direct assistance to people in need.

There are many ways to help. Cash donations are essential. Most local churches participate in Giving Sundays, during which church attendees are asked to donate canned goods and/or cash donations, as well as mittens and hats, which are in urgent need. This year Giving Sundays will be held Nov. 20 and 27 and Dec. 4.

A basic box of items includes meat, potatoes, noodles, rice or stuffing, canned and fresh vegetables and fruit, soup, boxed foods, condiments, coffee or tea and juice. Also included are laundry and dish detergent, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and paste, and paper products.

To help or to request assistance, contact one of the following Bureau representatives: Benton/Carroll/Salem/Oak Harbor – Larry Coats, 419-862-2545; Allen/Clay/Genoa –  Kathy Mapes, 419-654-6273; Harris/Elmore – Esteban Reyes, 491-862-2968.

For more information, call Judy Just, Ottawa County Holiday Bureau Chairperson at 419-798-4163.

A frightening fact
On Halloween nights, ghosts, goblins and ghouls fill the streets to celebrate. And if that’s not scary enough, AAA uncovered some frightening statistics.

Oct. 31 is the deadliest night of the year for pedestrians, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Therefore, the auto club urges motorists and pedestrians to take extra precautions to avoid a traffic nightmare.

“On Halloween night, it’s imperative for adults to be especially vigilant during nighttime hours, when pedestrians are most vulnerable,” said April Cochran, Marketing Operations Manager of AAA Northwest Ohio. “Whether walking or driving, AAA urges all road users to utilize extra caution, be mindful of their surroundings and celebrate responsibly.”

To help make the roadways safer this Halloween, AAA urges motorists to take the following precautions:

• Avoid neighborhood shortcuts. If possible, avoid cutting through residential streets where trick-or-treaters are likely to be walking. Watch for pedestrians who may not see you and avoid distractions. If providing directions to a party, try not to route guests through neighborhoods unnecessarily.

• Watch for children in the street. Watch for children walking on streets, driveways, medians and curbs. Excited trick-or-treaters, often in dark costumes, may have reduced visibility, and may not pay attention to traffic and cross mid-block or between parked cars.

• Slow down. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a pedestrian is more than twice as likely to be killed if they’re hit by a car traveling at 35 mph compared to 25 mph. What seems like a small difference—just 10 mph—can be the difference between life and death.

• Get home safe. If you plan to drink or are hosting a party where alcohol will be consumed, ensure that you and/or your guests have a designated driver or another safe route home.

AAA offers the following tips for parents to help keep their trick-or-treaters safe:
• Trick-or-Treat together. AAA recommends that parents accompany young trick-or-treaters.

• Make a plan. Review trick-or-treating safety precautions and plan the route ahead of time. Remind children to stop at the end of driveways to check for cars, and never to cross the street mid-block or between parked cars.

• Check costumes. Choose disguises that don't obstruct vision, and opt for non-toxic face paint instead of masks. Check and adjust the length of costumes to avoid tripping, and add reflective material or tape to keep kids visible. Trick-or-treaters should also carry a flashlight with fresh batteries to help them see and be seen.

• Buckle up. If driving trick-or-treaters between neighborhoods, always use appropriate car seats and have children exit and enter on the passenger side of the vehicle.