Letters to the Editor Week of 3/09/20

By: 
Press readers

Committee extends
gratitude for support
To the editor: We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to our panelists of “Down the Rabbit Hole of Unmet Mental Health Needs in Ottawa County” that occurred on Feb. 11.
Our panelists, Judge Bruce Winters, Connie Cornett, Katlyn Sheppard, Trevor Johnson and Pat Adkins, imparted sincere knowledge about the mental health issues that have gripped our county. Please know that the time given to serve on this panel sparked great conversations and highlighted areas that can be improved upon.
We would also like to thank the countless agencies that took time to present in the morning session of the Local Resource Exchange 2-1-1 Day that came to fruition from one of the Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) on Mental Health subcommittees. We know that each agency is very important to the all-encompassing services that Ottawa County has to offer.
Finally, a sincerest thank you to United Way in Ottawa County for working with the SIM subcommittee in making 2-1-1 a true entry point for any community member in need of mental health assistance or any other need that may arise.
It is extremely humbling to see the support systems that our county has in place, and it takes each and every agency to strengthen our community.
SIM Coordinated Point of Service Entry Committee
Jaimee Prieur, Mental Health Court Coordinator
Shanna Strouse, Joyful Connections
Kristen Gerwin, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership
Stacy Maple, Lakeside Chautauqua (formerly United Way in Ottawa County)
April Schalk and Alison Lanza Falls, United Way in Ottawa County

Support seniors
To the editor: I am writing to ask readers of The Press to support the Ottawa County Senior Resources renewal levy on the March 17 ballot.
The home delivered meals serve more than 250 seniors. My dad is one of those people. He is 97 years old and has been declining from the effects of Alzheimer's disease. I have been his caregiver for 4 1/2 years and serve the meals that senior resources delivers.
I do not know what I would do without it.
Please support senior resources.
Sandra Toth
Elmore

Critical levy
To the editor: Voters in the Oregon City School District will be asked to approve an issue on the March 17 primary election ballot that is critical to the district’s day-to-day operations.
Passage of a 4.95-mill operating levy would support transportation, utilities, textbooks, technology, and salaries and benefits for staff and maintain all current programs and services.
Oregon City Schools has the lowest voted millage in Lucas County. The district has done more with less, but funds from the levy are critical because the district began operating in deficit spending this year.
Before making a decision, remember that strong schools make a community a great place to live, raise a family or start a business.
Rick Lewis
Chief Executive Officer
Ohio School Boards Association

Be wary of
the dippers
To the editor: With the primary election coming March 17, I ask all voters to be aware of candidates who engage in double-dipping in public retirement systems.
Larry Erard
Walbridge

Support Issue 3
To the editor: I write this letter as a former Ottawa County commissioner, a lifelong resident of Ottawa County, and the son of a former home delivered meal recipient. I ask you to join me in voting for Issue 3, in Ottawa County, which is a 0.5-mill renewal tax levy for the Ottawa County Senior Resources Program. As stated, Issue 3 is a renewal, which means no new taxes.
The dollars generated as a result of this levy are used for various services for the senior population within the county.
About 250 home delivered meals are served daily. Home care services allow seniors to stay in their own home longer and daybreak services helped 24 clients in 2019. There are also six senior center sites throughout Ottawa County.
Having ridden with the delivered meal drivers numerous times, I saw firsthand the positive impact this service offers. In many cases this is the only person these folks may see during the day. More than once, the drivers have found a client to be in a medical emergency and you can only imagine what potentially the outcome would have been had that driver not been there.
Also, senior resources serves as a “one stop shop” for seniors and their families to access information about medical insurance, transportation, and senior service referrals.
There are other services available to seniors as a result of the Senior Resources Program. The population that is being served will continue to grow, right now Ottawa County has the second highest per capita population of those 60 years or older in Ohio. Today’s seniors are more active and they all want to stay in their own home as long as they can.
The resources program, through the proceeds from the renewal of Issue 3, will allow those in Ottawa County to continue to be served. Vote yes on Issue 3.
James M Sass
Port Clinton

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