The Ottawa County Republican Party will open its “Take Back Ohio” headquarters Oct. 1 at 148 W. Water St., Oak Harbor.

Office hours will be noon to 6 p.m. most days, except Sundays, when the office will be closed. For more information, call 419-898-6874.

Nature Photo Contest
The National Center for Nature Photography in Secor Metropark will be accepting entries for the Celebrating Nature through Photography Contest throughout the month of October.

Entries may be dropped off at the center from noon to 5 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. The contest exhibit will begin Nov. 6 and continue through Dec. 18.

For a copy of a brochure with categories, rules and other details, visit www.NaturePhotoCenter.com.

Black Swamp Festival
Storytelling, music and a ghostly walk in the night woods are planned as part of the Black Swamp Festival being held at Pearson Metropark Sunday, Oct. 3.

Food and most of the activities will be located at the Packer-Hammersmith Center from 2 to 6 p.m. The pedal boat concession, normally closed this time of year, will be open that afternoon.

At 2 p.m., a one-hour Black Swamp walk will help those participating in the Metroparks Autumn Adventure fall walking program complete one of the required trails.

At 3 p.m., authentic 19th century music will begin on the porch of the Johlin Cabin at Pearson North. While there, visitors will see the improvements under way at the new addition to the park, including a 1.7-mile trail, picnic sites and an observation deck.

That evening, Pearson will take on a slightly scarier appearance during the Ghost of the Black Swamp Lantern Tour. You never know who or what will emerge from the shadows during the family-friendly program that combines nature, history and Halloween. There is a $5 per person fee for the Lantern Tour, and reservations can be made for one of the evening time slots between 7 and 8:15 p.m. by calling 419-407-9700. Online reservations can be made at MetroparksToledo.com.

The event is sponsored by Metroparks and Friends of Pearson.

More receive assistance
By Aug. 31, the Summer Crisis Cooling Program had provided 666 residents in the WSOS four-county service area with air conditioners and/or assistance with their electric bills to keep them cool during July and August. The figures represent the highest number of households that this program has served since its inception about 10 years ago.

Last year, the program provided assistance to 516 households for the same time frame in the same area.

Residents had until Aug. 31 to submit an application for assistance. Those applications are still being processed and will be added to the totals of the previous two months.

The Summer Cooling Program, operated by WSOS Community Action Commission, is available to income-eligible households in Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca counties in July and August each year.  

In addition, the Emergency Services program continues to certify residents for enrollment in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) for customers of Columbia Gas, the American Electric Power Company, Toledo Edison, Ohio Edison, and Suburban Gas. For more information, contact WSOS Emergency Services at 1-888-441-4327.

WSOS grant proposals
WSOS Community Action is seeking $476,000 from the Ohio Department of Development for Homeless Assistance, which would allow 20 more households at or below 35 percent of the median income of Wood, Sandusky, Ottawa and Seneca counties to receive rental assistance and supportive services for the next two years.

The WSOS Board of Directors granted approval to submit the proposal, along with six other new proposals and eight requests for the renewal of current grants.

A proposal for $361,900 will be submitted to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency for funds from the Hardest Hit Fund. This one-year grant will assist 517 households in 14 counties, including Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood. Aid would come in the form of payment assistance, partial mortgage payment assistance, mortgage modification with principal reduction, and transition assistance.

A proposal for $75,000 will focus on providing employment or higher education for women and minorities in the Northwest Ohio area. The funding will come from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Strengthening and Retaining Ohio’s Construction Sector Workforce. This program will work in partnership with the Great Lakes Organized Labor Management Council and will also target those participants of the current Constructing Futures program that WSOS operates in partnership with the Northwest Ohio Construction Education Center (NOCEC).  One of the seven proposals receiving approval from the board includes a $225,000 request of funds from the American Recovery and Re-investment Act (ARRA), Early Learning Mentor Coaches fund. This grant will provide WSOS early learning programs staff with mentor/coaches who will help them with on-the-job coaching and mentoring as well as technical assistance.

Two smaller proposals will be submitted on behalf of the Summer/After School Program (ASP) and Early Childhood programs. ASP is seeking $6,441 from the Ohio Attorney General’s Community Small Grant to be used to buy recycled compost bins, waste receptacles, planters, benches and cooking experiences for the students participating in the program. Early Childhood is seeking $4,897 to be used to develop an outdoor play area for children enrolled at the new Pemberville center’s location.

A $1,524,700 grant request to the Corps Network Enhanced Civic Justice Corps (CJC) program will be submitted in partnership with the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency. The program will seek to re-engage 100 formerly incarcerated youth from inner city Toledo and Detroit. The program aims to provide the youth with employment assistance and post-secondary achievement.

For more information on any of WSOS’ services, call 1-800-775-9767, visit www.wsos.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Auditions set
Oregon Community Theatre will hold auditions for “The War of the Worlds” Sept. 26 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Challenger Learning Center, 4955 Seaman Rd., Oregon.

The cast will consist of 20 men and women of all ages. Shows dates are Oct. 29 and 30. For more information, call 419-490-4221.

Flu shots available
The Ottawa County Health Department is now scheduling flu shot appointments.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all persons 6 months of age and older should receive the vaccine. The 2010-11 vaccine will protect against three different viruses – an H3N2 virus, influenza B and the H1N1 virus.

The cost is $20. The health department will bill Medicare and Medicaid for individuals who bring current cards to their appointment.

To schedule an appointment, call 419-734-6800 or 800-788-8803. For more information about the vaccine, call Sandy Walton, director of nursing at 419-734-6800.

Hospice seeks volunteers
Stein Hospice, a not-for-profit agency that offers care and support to terminally ill patients, is looking for volunteers to provide companionship, relieve caregivers, supply transportation and run errands.

Volunteers must first complete LifeCourse, a six-week program (three hours per week).  The course will be offered Mondays Oct. 4 through Nov. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Magruder Hospital, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton; and Thursdays Oct. 7 through Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon at Fremont Recreation Center, 600 St. Joseph St., Fremont.

There is no cost for the course, however, registration is required.

For more information or to register, contact the hospice volunteer office at 419-625-5269 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Live in the House
The General Guinness Band will take the stage at the historic Pemberville Opera House Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m., as part of the Pemberville-Freedom Area Historical Society’s “Live in the House” series.

The Columbus-based band, which has been performing together since 1980, combines Irish ballads and dance music, played on a wide variety of instruments including the fiddle, tin whistles, the Irish flute, guitar, bodhran (Irish drum) and Irish bouzouki.

Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, by calling Carol at 419-287-4848 or e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ohio Solar Tour
Green Energy Ohio (GEO) will sponsor the annual Ohio Solar Tour Oct. 2 and 3.

The free event offers the opportunity to visit open house sites statewide and talk with owners living and working with clean energy technologies.

Locally, sites in Toledo, Maumee, Bowling Green and Port Clinton are on the tour. Visit GreenEnergyOhio.org for a complete listing of locations and times. Those who wish to attend may design their own tours, visiting the technology and areas they would like to tour.

In addition to the open house locations, a guided tour will be available Oct. 2 starting at noon at Owens Community College. Those attending should meet at the base of the large wind turbine located near the Industrial Engineering Building at 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg Township.

The tour will begin with a look at wind and solar equipment used in training students at the college, then an Owens bus will provide free transportation to area renewable energy sites. The tour plans to return to Owens at 4:30 p.m.

For more information about the tour, visit the GEO website or contact Joe Peschel at Owens Community College at 567-661-7163 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Owens site will also be open Oct. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m., with representatives available to answer questions about renewable energy equipment.

Rummage/Bake Sale
The ladies of the Northwood Church of God at 1838 S. Coy Road will be having a rummage/bake sale on Sept. 30th and Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A light lunch will be available.

Incredible Years
To help area moms and dads navigate through the challenges and joys of parenthood, The Children’s Resource Center in Bowling Green is offering its popular “Incredible Years” parent education program.

A new group begins Monday, Sept. 27 at Tender Age Day Care Center, 1249 Ridgewood Drive, Bowling Green from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Those interested can call the CRC at 1-888-466-KIDS to register for the 12-week class, designed for parents of children ages 3 to 8 years old. Childcare and a light meal are provided during each weekly session.

The cost for the course is between $8 and $50, depending on the family’s ability to pay.

Another “Incredible Years” course will begin in the Perrysburg area in early October. Call for more information on location and time. The CRC will schedule four more of the parenting courses in various Wood County locations throughout the year. For more information, call Angie Patchen at 1-888-466-KIDS.

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