News Briefs - Feb. 10, 2025

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
The Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is offering a Blue Goose scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors who are planning on pursuing a career in natural resources or a conservation-related field.
 
Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded to outstanding high school seniors who:
 
Plan to pursue a degree in environmental science, natural resources or a conservation-related field at an accredited college or university.
 
Reside in or attend school in Ottawa County or Lucas County.
 
Achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average in high school.
 
Scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, books, personal protective equipment, tools, instruments, field equipment, etc.
 
Applications must be submitted by Feb. 15 and are available online at https://www.friendsofottawanwr.org/scholarship.html or in person at the Refuge Visitor Center, 14000 W. State Route 2, Oak Harbor, OH 43449. Scholarship recipients willbe notified by May 1.
 
For more information, please call Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge at 419-707-7756. 
  
P.E.R.I #93 TO MEET
P.E.R.I. Chapter #93, Lucas County District 1 will meet Thursday, March 27 from 1-2:15 p.m. at the Hungarian Club of Toledo, 224 Paine Ave. Additional parking is available at the Birmingham Branch Library, 203 Paine Ave. (Use the spaces farthest from the library).
 
Guest Speaker will be Christ Thompson, District 1 representative. Bring questions regarding O.P.E.R.S. benefits, medical insurance, Medicare denials and the latest state legislative information.
 
All chapter and P.E.R.I. members, guests and any new O.P.E.R.S., P.E.R.I. and retirees are welcome, including those from nearby communities. Refreshments will be available during the break.
 
District 1 meeting will be April 28. Lunch will be available for $17.50. The registration deadline is April 14. Sign up at the March meeting or call 419-691-1082 to register.
 
BLOCK WATCH MEETING
Northwood Neighborhood Block Watch will meet Wednesday, Feb 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the new Northwood Community Center, 3700 Main St., Northwood.
 
This month’s meeting is “Come Meet The People Who Are Your Voice In Our City.” The mayor, city administrator, and all seven council members have been invited to be guest speakers, Community members are invited to bring questions and concerns and meet their representatives. The event is open to the public.
 
LUCAS CO. AUDITOR OFFERS SCAM WARNING
On Friday, Jan. 31, Lucas County Auditor Katie Moline became aware of an attempted scam call referencing the Board of Revision process.
 
At this time, only one person is known to have received this call, but out of an abundance of caution, Moline wanted to make the public aware of the potential scam. She noted that her office would never call and threaten to have staffers show up at a filer’s house, nor would it request payment of any sort over the phone.
 
Any calls from the auditor’s office would only be a reminder of information that the property owner has already received by mail and/or email. Any information that the office shares would also be verifiable public information, available on AREIS Online.
 
Anyone concerned they may have received a fake call from a scammer pretending to be the Lucas County Auditor's Office is encouraged to call the Lucas County Auditor's Office at 419-213-4406 before taking any action or making any payments.
 
If you believe that you may be a victim of a scam call or a crime, contact local police authorities.
 
TRANSFORMING LIVES PLANS FUNDRAISER
The Transformation Center will hold a Valentine’s Day FUNdraiser on Friday, Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. at Westgate Chapel, 2500 Wilford Drive, Toledo.
 
The evening will include dinner, a show and a celebration of community impact. Mike Walker, a master impressionist and musician, will entertain.
 
The Transformation Center provides weekly community dinners and spiritual support for the Five Points Neighborhood of Toledo. For more information on the ministry and to purchase tickets, visit tctoledo.org.
 
CHORALE TO PRESENT ‘THE FOUR SEASONS’
The Perrysburg Chorale will present the world premiere of “The Four Seasons: A Cycle of Northwest Ohio Reflections,” by Toledo composer Luke D. Rosen, March 8 at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Maumee and March 9 at 3 p.m. at all Saints Catholic Church in Rossford.
 
Rosen also serves as artistic director and conductor for the organization.
 
The concerts are free; freewill offerings will be accepted.
 
Instead of a simple narration about what happens during each season, the composer has used local images of the seasons as a starting point for reflections about life and life events. Some of these local images include the Lake Erie marshes, seiches, migratory birds, summer storms, harvest time, autumn walks and a variety of other wild creatures. The piece includes 17 movements, four for each season, and an epilogue.
 
Direct questions to director.perrysburgchorale@gmail.com.
 
TRAVEL CIRCLE SERIES
Join Maumee Valley Adventurers for a “trip around the globe as local presenters share their experiences traveling to far away destinations as the annual Travel Circle Series continues in February and March in the Ward Pavilion at Wildwood Preserve. Metroparks Toledo is cosponsoring the program, which includes a different presentation each Saturday in February and March. The Ward Pavilion is located at 4830 W. Central Ave., Toledo.
 
Reservations are not required for the free program. Come early for an optional hike from 1-2 p.m.
 
The Travel Circle Series schedule includes:
Feb. 8: Traveling to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands as a Solo Traveler,” by Jane Ringlein
Feb. 15: “A Natural History Tour of Israel,” by Elliot Tramer.
Feb. 22: “Beautiful Italy - Mountain Hikes & Historic Cities,” by Anthony DiVitto and Cara Douglas,
March 1: “Japan - Endless Discovery,” by Barbara Laird.
March 8: “Egypt - From Cairo to Abu Simbel,” by Carol Greenberg.
March 15: “The Baltics and Poland,” by Judy Pfaffenberger.
March 22: “Wonders of Iceland and Norway,” by Vince Walsh.
March 29: “Rocketing Through Greece,” by Keith Riley.
 
Visit metroparkstoledo.com for more details.
 
ART CLASS ENROLLING
The Greater Port Clinton Area Arts Council will present a class featuring Mary Jane Erard Thursday, Feb. 20 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa St., Oak Harbor. The Arts Garage in Port Clinton is closed during February and March.
 
Erard is an award-winning artist and educator in the Toledo area, painting mostly in soft pastel and mixed media with acrylic. Her artwork is owned by many private collectors and included in several corporate collections. She is a juried member of the Pastel Society of America and has at least five paintings on display at the Toledo Museum of Art at any given time.
 
She will be offering a class on Impressionistic Landscape Painting with a hybrid of pastels and watercolor or acrylic on canvas. Students will learn how to manipulate soft pastels or acrylic to create an impressionistic 9 x 12 painting. The class isdesigned for mature teens and older.
 
The cost is $55 and includes all supplies. Register at gpcaac.org/classes.
 
PRESIDENTS’ DAY 5K
Don your favorite patriotic and presidential garb and run or walk the Presidents’ Day 5K on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Spiegel Grove, Fremont.
 
The Fremont Elite Runners Club is organizing the second annual Presidents’ Day 5K, which begins at 10 a.m. Registration will be held from 8:30-9:45 a.m. in the museum auditorium.
 
Pre-registration is available online at Runsignup.com or fremonteliterunnersclub.com. Pre-registration costs $25, and day-of registration costs $30. Those who pre-register will receive a race T-shirt (additional fee for XXL sizing).
 
Runners and walkers are welcome.
 
The race, which is 5 kilometers or 3.1 miles, begins at the entrance to the museum and will follow a course in the area. Prizes will be awarded for first-place finishers in the men’s and women’s category and for the best costume.
 
The first 100 registered participants will receive a participation gift. Refreshments will be served in the auditorium.
 
On the morning of the run, the main entrance to Spiegel Grove will be closed from 9:45-11:30 a.m. The Jefferson Gate off Hayes Avenue will instead be used for vehicle traffic during that time.
 
For information, call 419-332-2081 or visit rbhayes.org.
 
HAYES LIBRARY OFFERS GENEALOGY CLASSES
Learn how to trace your family history using various resources with public genealogy classes offered this winter at the Hayes Presidential Library, Spiegel Grove, Fremont.
 
“Seventeen Decades of Information to Enhance Your Family Tree Through Census Records,” will be offered Monday, Feb. 17, at 10 a.m. and “Beginning Genealogy” will be offered Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m.
 
Although the library is closed to the public those days, HPLM librarians will welcome attendees who preregister for the class.
 
Admission for each class is $15 per person for nonmembers and $12 per person for HPLM members. Tickets are available online at rbhayes.org/news/2025/01/16/general/trace-your-family-history-with-public-genealogy-classes-at-hayes-presidential-library/. Advance tickets are required.
 
CEDAR POINT HIRING FOR UPCOMING SEASON
Cedar Point is set to hire 7,000 seasonal associates as it prepares to open for the 2025 season in May.
 
The park will start filling those roles during a week-long hiring event to be held Feb. 15-22 as part of a large recruiting campaign by Cedar Point’s parent company, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation.
 
The park will be hiring for a wide variety of seasonal positions, including: food and beverage, ride operators, lifeguards and aquatics, security, hotels, maintenance, behind-the-scene roles and more.
 
Hourly pay ranges from $13-$17 for those who are 16 years of age or older based on experience, prior service and position. Cedar Point also offers employee perks including discounts on park food and merchandise, reward and recognition programs, exclusive park events for associates, ride nights, a cafeteria with discounted meals, on-site housing for those who qualify and free admission to any Six Flags park.
 
In-person hiring will be conducted during open house hours at the Cedar Point Hiring & Training Center, 2206 Cleveland Rd. West in Sandusky, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. all week. Interested candidates will have the ability to apply and get hired the same day. For more details or to apply online, candidates can visit cedarpoint.com.
 
FREE CONCERT SET AT OWENS
Owens Community College Music Business Technology Students will present the third concert of the 9th Annual 2024-25 Accent on the Arts concert series on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the Owens Community College Toledo Campus, 7270 Biniker Rd., Perrysburg.
 
Noah Budin and the Promised Band will present an evening of bluegrass, folk and old-time American music featuring fiddle, mandolin, guitar, string bass, banjo, and vocals. Learn more about the band at NoahBudin.com.                Concertgoers can enjoy Passages Juried High School Art Show before the concert, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Walter E. Terhune Art Gallery.
 
Accent on the Arts is a free concert series designed, booked, promoted, and presented by Music Business Technology students.
 
Visit facebook.com/Accent.on.the.Arts for more details.