News Briefs Week Of 11/8/2021

Winter heating
assistance signup
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) is offering heating assistance for those facing a utility shutoff or fuel shortage this winter.
The GLCAP Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP) can assist residents of Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties who have received a gas or electric disconnect notice or have already had utilities disconnected.
The program can also assist those who are facing a shortage of bulk fuel such as wood, propane, or fuel oil, or who need new or transferred service with a utility company. Residents must be at or below 175 percent of federal poverty guidelines (e.g., $22,540 annual income/household of one; $46,375 annual income/family of four) in order to be eligible for assistance.
Those interested must schedule an appointment with GLCAP for assistance by calling 567-432-5046 or schedule online at glcap.org/winterheating. Appointments will be conducted in person. Masks are required at appointments, and only the primary applicant may attend.
Applicants must provide a list of all household members, along with their Social Security numbers and birth dates; proof of citizenship for all household members; proof of income for all household members for the previous 30 days or 12 months; and copies of recent utility bills.
Those who have less than 20 percent bulk fuel or whose utility services are already off should call GLCAP’s customer service team at 419-333-6054 to be scheduled as an emergency phone intake.
Emergency winter heating assistance through EHEAP is available through March 31, 2022.

Auditions set
Oregon Community Theatre is looking for actors, singers, and dancers to audition for their upcoming production of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.”
The theatre is welcoming actors as young as those in kindergarten to audition for the chorus. Lead and supporting roles will be cast by adults.
Auditions will be held Nov. 17 and 18 at Fassett Auditorium, 3025 Starr Ave., Oregon. The tryouts will start at 6 p.m.; sign-ups will be accepted until 8:45 p.m. For information on what to prepare for auditions, visit octshows.org.
The show’s production team includes producer Mary Brucker, director Victoria Monhollen-Bandeen, music director Elizabeth Gibson and choreographer Bridget Drew.
Performances will be held Feb. 18, 19, 25 and 26, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. at Fassett Auditorium. Tickets are $17 for adults and $14 for seniors 60 and over and students 18 and younger. To purchase tickets, visit octshows.org or call 419-691-1398.
OCT’s 2021-2022 season also includes “Murder on the Orient Express,” April 29-May 1 and May 6-7, 2022, and “Willy Wonka, Jr.” July 7-10, 2022.

Shredding event
Wood County’s 4th Annual Personal Shredding Event will be held Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m.-noon, or until the truck is full, at the Wood County Job and Family Services employee parking lot (west side), 1982 E. Gypsy Lane Rd., Bowling Green (enter off Gypsy Lane Road).
Wood County residents may bring up to five bags or boxes of paper items to be shredded, on site, while they watch, in return for a toy, gift card or cash donation. Donations will be given to children who are involved with Wood County JFS programs have a brighter holiday.
Those attending must wear a mask if they get out of their vehicles. Social distancing guidelines will be enforced.

Museum to host
author meet & greet
The Wood County Museum will host a meet and greet and book signing event with Dr. Robert Kroeger, author of “Historic Barns of Ohio,” Friday, Nov. 12 from noon-2 p.m. This event is free for Wood County Historical Society members and $5 for non-members.
“Historic Barns of Ohio” features old barns in paintings and essays of each of Ohio’s 88 counties. Kroeger will offer a free painting demonstration, followed by a presentation of stories behind old barns, and a book signing. In addition, a raffle drawing will take place for a couple of Kroeger’s barn paintings. Raffle tickets are: $5 each and $20 for five tickets.
The book is available for sale in the museum gift shop. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wood County Historical Society.
Dr. Kroeger paints in oil with palette knives, producing a thick texture, called impasto. The paintings are framed in old barn siding, sometimes from the barn painted, which adds a touch of nostalgia. The rustic frames, often oak, yellow poplar, beech, or walnut, are made by the artist. There will also be various paintings of historic barns from Ohio, Idaho, and other states on display during the event.
To make reservations, visit woodcountyhistory.org or call 419-352-0967. Seating is limited.

Road restrictions
Work is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 12 on the reconstruction of Catawba Ave. on Put-in-Bay South Bass Island. Traffic will remain restricted to one lane during the work.
Emergency vehicles, buses and local traffic will be permitted access but are advised to expect delays.
Ottawa County has contracted with Geo. Gradel Co. for the project.

Wales waterline
to be replaced
A waterline project along Wales Road is one of three projects to be awarded a loan through the Ohio Water Development Authority’s recent round of funding.
The OWDA awarded $1.7 million through low interest loans to Ohio communities to improve wastewater and drinking water infrastructure and make water quality improvements.
For the month of October, the authority funded three projects that will provide improvements and replace aging infrastructure.
The Northwestern Water & Sewer District is receiving $552,736 at 1.51 percent for 20 years for the construction of 1,600 feet of waterline along Wales Road in Wood County to replace aging waterlines.
The City of London in Madison County is receiving $827,888.00 at 1.73 percent for five years for the design of 20,000 feet of sanitary sewer, a new lift station, and upgrades to the Sharp Avenue lift station to facilitate further development and growth within the northeast corner of the city.
The City of Rittman in Wayne County is receiving $375,049 at 1.70 percent for 30 years for the construction of 2,000 feet of waterline along Grant, Seneca, and South State streets to replace aging waterlines.
The state created the OWDA to provide funding for construction of public water and wastewater infrastructure in Ohio.