News Briefs Week of 12/9/19

By: 
Staff Writer

Ugly Christmas
Sweater run & walk
A Gibsonburg holiday tradition – the Ugly Christmas Sweater Run & Walk – will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 at 9 a.m.
The 5K (3.1 mile) run and walk will start and finish at Hilfiker Elementary School on Sunset Avenue in the village.
As in years past, the entry fee for the event is a new and unwrapped toy or non-perishable food items. Toys are distributed to children in the community by the Gibsonburg Ministerial Association and Gibsonburg School District, and food items are given to the Gibsonburg Food Pantry.
Limited edition event shirts are on sale by pre-order and while they last on race day for $15 each with all proceeds benefitting the Gibsonburg Food Pantry.
For more info or to obtain an entry form, call 419-637-2634 or email m.glotzbecker@gibsonburgohio.org.

Donations sought
For more than three decades, a busload of Notre Dame Academy (NDA) students and faculty has gone to Harlan, Kentucky to celebrate Christmas by serving meals and giving gifts.
NDA is asking the community to donate gifts to take to this Appalachia community. Gifts should be new, unwrapped items valued at around $10. Name brands not necessary. Please avoid large items because they are hard to pack.
Drop donations at Notre Dame Academy, 3535 W. Sylvania Ave., Toledo by Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Harlan County, wedged in a valley between two tree-lined ridge mountains in the Appalachian region of Kentucky, is a beautiful place. However, it is also one of the poorest communities in the United States, as poverty and unemployment rates more than double the national average.
The party put on by NDA currently has more than 500 guests scheduled to attend. It includes a talent show and sing-along performed by students as well as a special visit from Santa.
Thanks to the generosity of families, community members and local businesses who donate gifts, food, services and equipment, each child and adult typically receives two gifts.
One of the biggest changes in this mission trip is that it has spurned another party for those in need right here in Toledo. The student interest to go on this mission trip is so high that NDA decided to hold an “Appalachia At Home” Christmas Party at Queen of Apostles School and Parish in Toledo.

Waterkeepers’ meeting
Scott Butterworth, district manager of Ohio Department of Natural Resources Wildlife District 2, will discuss how the agency plans to spend $46.2 million on Northwest Ohio wetlands at the Lake Erie Waterkeeper’s monthly meeting Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at Manos Restaurant, 1701 Adams St., Toledo.
Butterworth has been with ODNR for 22 years and oversees a staff of 85 from his Findlay office. His talk, which is open to the public, will be followed by a roundtable discussion of the health of the lake. For more info, visit lakeeriewaterkeeper.org.
Northwest Ohio will have more wetlands in the coming year: 24 will be newly constructed or reconnected to ditches, creeks, and rivers in an effort to deliver cleaner water to Lake Erie, thereby helping to reduce the annual summer scourge of harmful algae.
The wetlands’ aquatic plants will absorb nutrients such as phosphorus, and allow sediment such as soil, to settle out before reaching Lake Erie.
Projects will range in size from a few acres to several hundred acres, and will be located on both public and private land, said Butterworth. Some will be reconnected to flowing water; some will be on the coast. Both the Maumee and Sandusky bay areas are included in the project, part of Gov. Mike DeWine's H2OHIO effort, using funds from the state’s budget surplus.

Road repairs
scheduled
Scheduled road repairs at Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area in Lucas County will temporarily close Metzger Marsh Road, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
Repairs will begin on Monday, Dec. 9 and are estimated to continue through mid-February 2020. During this time, Metzger Marsh Road from the main boat ramp to the fishing pier on Lake Erie will be closed weekly Monday through Thursday. The road will reopen for public access Friday to Sunday. Access to the main boat ramp will not be affected. Visitors are urged to use caution while in the area during the construction as heavy equipment and trucks hauling stone will be in use.
The construction project was initiated after high water caused damage to the area. The project includes repairing and rebuilding the shoulder of the road on the canal side. The shoulder will be reshaped, and a protective fabric and riprap will be added to prevent future damage from high water.
Questions about the project can be directed to the Wildlife District Two office at 419-424-5000.
For more information on Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area and other local recreational access locations, visit wildohio.gov.

“The Elf on the Shelf”
“The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical,” will play at the Stranahan Theater for the first time ever Saturday, Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Stranahan Theater Box Office, 4645 Heatherdowns Boulevard, Toledo; online at BroadwayInToledo.com or by calling 419-381-8851.
Ticket prices start at $30. Group orders of 10 or more may be placed by calling 866-314-7687.
The musical opens with a friendly Elf on the Shelf named Tater Tot speaking directly to the audience. When Tater Tot, top Scout Elf of his graduating class is sent to a disconnected, multi-generational family struggling to rediscover Christmas spirit, he’s got to find a way off the shelf and into their hearts.

“Alyse in Wonderland”
Eastwood High School will present, “Alyse in Wonderland” adapted by Jo Strom Lane, Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are available at the door, or in advance at the high school office.
All tickets are general admission and cost $7.

Christmas open house
Harbor View Historical Society will hold a Christmas Open House Saturday, Dec. 14 from 1-5 p.m. at the museum, located in the historic neighborhood of Harbor View, off Bayshore Road, at 2083 Autokee St.
The event is open to the public and has crafts and surprises for the kids along with snacks and food provided by local charitable organizations including Vito's Pizza of Oregon. A special visit from Santa is also planned.
For more info, call 419-691-1517

Handbell choir
returns to TMA
The Rejoice Handbell Choir of Olivet Lutheran Church in Sylvania will perform at the Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) in the Peristyle Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Admission is free.
“For more than a decade the handbell choir has performed its crowd-pleasing holiday concert at the Toledo Museum of Art,” said Scott Boberg, manager of programs and audience engagement. “The Peristyle is the perfect setting for this community group’s big and bright holiday sound.”
Great Performances is supported in part by the Dorothy MacKenzie Price Fund, the Victoria Majure Souder Program Fund, Hartmann & Associates, Joseph and Judith Conda, Shaun Coughlan, Carlos A. de Carvalho, Geraldine Mowery, Nancy K. Phlegar, and an anonymous donor.

Holiday performances
Fremont Community Theatre and Floyd Collins will present “Charlie Brown Christmas” and Disney’s “Frozen, Jr.” Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15 at the theatre, 1515 Dickinson St.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” will feature our adult members, while Disney’s “Frozen, Jr.” will feature youth and teen members. Both shows will be performed on each date with an intermission in between.
Regular tickets have been sold out for all performances, but get added to the waitlist by calling the Box Office hotline at 419-332-0695.
Fremont Community Theatre is currently hosting a giveaway for a pair of free tickets for Opening Night on their Facebook group.

Downtown open house
Downtown Fremont Inc. will host a Downtown Open House Saturday, Dec. 7.
Downtown businesses will offer extended hours and holiday savings.
At 3 p.m., Paramount Cinema will show “The Lion King,” “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” and “A Dog’s Journey.” Doors open at 2:30 p.m. Bring a non-perishable food item for free admission. Free popcorn will also be available. Downtown Fremont, Inc., Sandusky County Food Bank and the Paramount Cinema are sponsoring the event.
The Pottery Perfection Done Your Way! Holly Jolly Parade will start at 6 p.m., stepping off at Roger Young Park and proceeding north on Front Street, ending on the north side of State Street by Fremont Floor Covering.
Santa will be in the House on the corner of Front Street and Croghan Street Fridays in December from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m.
A mailbox to Santa is located outside the Santa House. Through Dec. 18, children who
mail a letter to Santa will receive a letter back from the North Pole.

Collecting for
dog shelter
The Lake Township Police Officers Association is collecting donations that will be forwarded to the Wood County Dog Shelter.
Association members are asking area residents to donate new or used blankets, food, toys, leashes and collars, and treats. Any cash donations will be used to buy new dog beds for the animals at the shelter.
Donations may be dropped off at the Lake Township Police Department, 27975 Cummings Road, Millbury.

State funds
released for
local projects

Several local projects have been approved for funding by the state controlling board.
The board approved the release of funds for projects in Erie and Ottawa counties through the Ohio NatureWorks grant program, including $84,031 for a walking/fitness path in the Village of Oak Harbor.
Mayor Quinton Babcock said the path is included in a master plan for the village designed by the Oak Harbor Development Group.
He said the plan is a collaboration between the village and development group to indentify projects that “maintain the charm of Oak Harbor by creating unique venues for people to gather and interact as a community and identify opportunities that will attract future investment in the village.”
The controlling board also approved the release of $27,959 for improvements at Abernathy Park in Perkins Township and $56,060 to improve access to the Sportsmen’s Migratory Bird Center at the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area.
The center, which highlights the history and vegetation of the area, is accessed by a 50-foot bridge that crosses a fishing pond. The original wooden piles of the bridge are deteriorating, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
A new steel bridge will be installed. Work is expected to be complete by March 6, 2020.

Hometown Holiday
Celebrate a Hometown Holiday Saturday, Dec. 14 in Elmore.
The schedule includes:
• 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.: Storytime with Santa at the Harris Elmore Library.
• Noon-2 p.m.: Pictures with Santa at Commodore Perry FCU.
• 1 p.m.: Tree-topping ceremony at the corner of Rice and Toledo streets.
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. - Christy's Corner - Kindred Harps music and hot cocoa.
In addition, there will be a Pack a Sleigh Food Drive at Harris Elmore Library from 10 a.m. -5 p.m., free carriage rides in downtown Elmore provided by the Elmore Historical Society and possible Santa sightings throughout the village.

Tree planting
at courthouse
The Wood County Commissioners have announced the planting of a new Heritage Oak tree on the east lawn of the county courthouse.
Expenses for the new tree were paid by a donor. North Branch Nursery in Pemberville worked with Steve Blausey, county facilities director, to complete the planting.
In April of this year, two prominent oak trees that had grown in the location for nearly 100 years, were removed due to declining health as a precautionary measure.
Viable sections of the tree trunks were salvaged, sawn into lumber, and are currently being dried.
The commissioners said there is no immediate plan for use of this lumber and it will be saved for future projects.

Wild turkey
season ends
Ohio hunters checked 1,054 wild turkeys during the 2019 fall hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.
The season was open in 70 counties from Oct. 12-Dec.1. Ohio hunters took 1,131 wild turkeys during the 2018 fall season.
The totals for each county were (2018 totals in parentheses):
Adams: 11 (11); Allen: 10 (8); Ashland: 15 (14); Ashtabula: 27 (39); Athens: 9 (20); Belmont: 19 (29); Brown: 11 (11); Butler: 16 (7); Carroll: 31 (22); Champaign: 7 (2); Clermont: 35 (13); Columbiana: 42 (17); Coshocton: 44 (52); Crawford: 7 (2); Cuyahoga: 0 (6); Defiance: 15 (14); Delaware: 11 (9); Erie: 8 (6); Fairfield: 7 (12); Franklin: 1 (4); Fulton: 10 (10); Gallia: 17 (32); Geauga: 24 (34); Guernsey: 31 (42); Hamilton: 9 (11); Hancock: 6 (4); Hardin: 7 (2); Harrison: 16 (35); Henry: 2 (3); Highland: 24 (26); Hocking: 15 (20); Holmes: 24 (32); Huron: 9 (12); Jackson: 14 (21); Jefferson: 24 (8); Knox: 26 (18); Lake: 7 (9); Lawrence: 6 (19); Licking: 22 (25); Logan: 7 (11); Lorain: 13 (5); Lucas: 11 (12); Mahoning: 17 (11); Medina: 13 (13); Meigs: 20 (19); Monroe: 15 (29); Morgan: 18 (28); Morrow: 9 (6); Muskingum: 16 (25); Noble: 22 (30); Paulding: 8 (3); Perry: 16 (18); Pike: 6 (18); Portage: 12 (18); Preble: 6 (9); Putnam: 3 (5); Richland: 21 (19); Ross: 17 (17); Scioto: 18 (25); Seneca: 8 (2); Stark: 19 (16); Summit: 13 (9); Trumbull: 26 (21); Tuscarawas: 40 (40); Vinton: 13 (11); Warren: 5 (4); Washington: 14 (19); Wayne: 6 (9); Williams: 21 (14); Wyandot: 2 (4).

Petitions filed
State Representative Haraz N. Ghanbari, R – Perrysburg, said his election petitions have been filed and verified to run to retain the position of representative for the 3rd District.
The district encompasses all of Wood County. Rep, Ghanbari is currently in his first term.
State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) has also filed petitions for election to a full, four-year term in the Ohio Senate.
Her candidacy follows her appointment to the senate in February, filling the vacancy created by former Senator Randy Gardner, who became chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Senate’s Committee on Higher Education as well as holding seats on the Senate’s Education Committee; Government Oversight and Reform Committee; Health, Human Services & Medicaid Committee; and Judiciary Committee.
The 2nd Senate District includes Erie, Ottawa, Wood and parts of Fulton and Lucas counties.

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