News Briefs Week of 2/1/2021

Vaccine assistance available
Assistance is available to Lake Township residents who have been having difficulty in setting appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Police Chief Mark Hummer said his department’s community policing officer has been in contact with the Wood County Health Department after several township residents, particularly Neighborhood Watch members, voiced concerns to that officer regarding difficulties in setting such appointments.
“Residents have told us they were able to get registered for the vaccine online but have not been able to successfully schedule the shots,” Chief Hummer noted.
The chief pointed out residents must follow age and health condition guidelines to get those appointments scheduled.
“If you have not reached the minimum age and/or met the health condition requirements, we cannot help you ‘get in line’ before you would otherwise be eligible,” he said. “We have confirmed through our local health department that our community policing officer can assist residents with making vaccine appointments using information provided by those township residents.”
Chief Hummer noted some local residents, particularly seniors, may not have access to computers or be able to properly use the internet.
Residents who wish to request this assistance may contact Ron Craig, Lake Township Police Department’s community policing officer, at 419-481-6354.

NDA Winter Mingle
Notre Dame Academy is presenting “Winter Mingles!” – custom, small-in-number, virtual experiences designed for girls. The second event in the series, set for Wednesday, Feb. 10 from 6-7 p.m., will offer the opportunity to meet a local author.
“I Wrote a Book! You Can Too,” will feature local children’s Author Katie Maskey and illustrator Ashley Thoreen.
Maskey will introduce participants to her cat Ferdinand, the inspiration for “Ferdinand with the Extra Toes.” Thoreen will explain the process of illustrating the book, and both will share the true message of Ferdinand’s gift and why they wanted to tell his story.
This virtual experience is for girls in grades 7-8. The registration fee is $10, which includes a welcome package featuring a signed copy of “Ferdinand with the Extra Toes,” a welcome card and NDA swag. Register by Monday Feb. 1 at http://bit.ly/NDAwintermingle.

Alzheimer’s programs
The Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter will present a series of virtual programs in February designed to help families impacted by the disease.
All programs are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Call 800-272-3900 to sign up.
The February schedule includes:
• Feb 1 – Healthy Living for Brain and Body, 3 p.m.
• Feb 1 – Living with Alzheimer’s – Younger Onset, 6 p.m.
• Feb 2 – Dementia Conversations, 2:30 p.m.
• Feb 3 – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 11 a.m.
• Feb 4 – Effective Communication Strategies. 3 p.m.
• Feb 4 – Living with Alzheimer’s for Caregivers, Late Stage - Part 1, 6:30 p.m.
• Feb 8 – Dementia Conversations, 11 a.m.
• Feb 8 – Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia, 3 p.m.
Visit alz.org or call 800-272-3900 for more details.

Care Compass
The Care Compass Project, a quarterly network gathering for caregivers and those who may be caregivers in the future, will meet virtually via Zoom Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 11 a.m.
The session will focus on isolation and its impact on health.
Participation is free and open to all caregivers but requires pre-registration by calling the Wood County Committee on Aging at 1-800-367-4935 or 419-353-5661 or by emailing programs@wccoa.net
Zoom login information will be given upon registration. Lunch, sponsored by Brookdale of Bowling Green, will be delivered by WCCOA to the first 20 Wood County residents registered for the session.
The agenda includes:
• 11 a.m. – “Combating Isolation Through Technology: Critical Signal Technologies.” Learn how designed technology strives to meet human care with compassion and support.
• 11:45 a.m. – Panel Discussion on “Community Resources to Create Connections and Support While Being Isolated.” A discussion of the various resources available to help individuals remain in their homes safely, healthily and happily. Long-term care information will also be provided. Speakers include Jessica Ricker, LSW, WCCOA and Ali Longmore, LSW, Ohio Living Home Health.
The Care Compass Project is sponsored and brought to the community by Brookdale of Bowling Green, WCCOA, Golden Care Partners, Ohio Living Home Health and Wood County Hospital. Programs offer a place to gather information and obtain resources to make the journey of caregiving less stressful.

Vanguard sets
virtual open house
Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers (VSCTC), located in Fremont, will present a virtual experience as an alternative to the annual public open house Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 5-7 p.m.
The e-Experience will take place on the district website at www.vsctc.org. This event will offer students and their families an opportunity to virtually explore the benefits of career-tech education.
“COVID-19 has truly impacted our recruitment efforts, as we have not been able to host our popular campus visits for students at our partner schools” Superintendent Greg Edinger said. “We are excited about this creative platform where people can still get an in-depth view of our programs and learn about the benefits of choosing Career Tech Education, while remaining safe and following safety guidelines.”
The e-Experience is an interactive platform that uses many different tools where visitors can move at their own pace and explore programs that are of interest to them. Current students will walk participants through different options that include:
• Question-and-answer opportunities with instructors via Zoom calls.
• Exploring programs through short videos that feature students from that program.
• Taking a virtual tour of the lab and learning space for each program. Interactive buttons in the virtual tour feature more videos, photos, and information.
• Learning about course topics and available industry credentials.
• Applying for a program through the online application.
Additional informational sessions will be available Feb. 3 from 12-1 p.m.; Feb. 10 from 3-4 p.m.; Feb. 17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and Feb. 24 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Enrollment for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. The priority deadline is Friday, March 5.

Sobecki files bill
State Rep. Lisa Sobecki has filed a bill to permit public bodies to continue to conduct business remotely beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Last March, I filed a bill to help our cities, school boards and counties conduct public business during a time of crisis,” she said. “Over the past year, I have heard from countless elected officials across different levels of government about this critical permissive tool, and it is clear to me our local governments should have the ability to have virtual meetings on a permanent basis.”
Although Rep. Sobecki’s bill last General Assembly, House Bill (HB) 557, never had a hearing, a similar proposal was included in House Bill (HB) 197, a broader coronavirus relief package passed by both chambers and signed into law. Rep. Sobecki’s bill this GA has not yet been assigned a number or assigned to a committee. The bill has bipartisan support and is jointly sponsored by Rep. Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon).

Walgreens to
offer vaccines
Following Ohio guidance regarding the availability of additional vaccine supply, select Walgreens pharmacies in the state will now offer COVID-19 vaccines to patients age 75 and older who are eligible as part of Phase 1B of the national vaccine rollout plan.
While COVID-19 vaccines are not yet available to everyone, eligible Ohio residents will be able to schedule their appointments online at COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduler at www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19 or by calling their local Walgreens. Appointments will be required in order to receive a vaccine, and walk-ins are not accepted.
In accordance with Ohio guidance, those eligible must live in the state.
For more info on Walgreens COVID-19 efforts and latest information, visit https://news.walgreens.com/covid-19/covid-19-faq.htm.

Volunteers sought
The East Toledo Senior Center is seeking volunteers to help deliver meals to local senior citizens.
Throughout the pandemic, the center has continued to provide lunches Monday-Friday, offered through Grab `n Go or home delivery. The center is averaging about 100 meals a day, with the delivery list growing daily, according to Mary Wolff, director.
Volunteers typically arrive at the center, located at 1001 White St., between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. Deliveries typically take no more than an hour.
“We would love to have people that can do it on a regular basis, such as one day a week or more, if available,” Wolff said.
For more information or to volunteer, call 419-691-2254.

Jail project
to proceed
The Wood County commissioners are proceeding with plans to renovate booking and medical areas of the county jail and expand housing for female inmates.
Last year, the commissioners and Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn completed interviews for architectural and design work and retained Wachtel & McAnally, Newark, O.
The estimated cost of the project is $18 million, Andrew Kalmar, county administrator, said.
The project and others were put on hold when the pandemic hit.
During a Jan. 12 project update to the commissioners, Sheriff Wasylyshyn said the jail population declined significantly during the first months of the pandemic but has since rebounded.
Renovating the booking and medical areas has become vital, he said, due to a rise in drug use and mental health issues. Also, increased jail space is needed to meet court rulings covering separation of prisoners and address behavioral and health related concerns.
The jail opened in 1989 with a maximum capacity of 149 inmates. In 2015, a 60-bed minimum security housing dorm was added with renovations that added 15 more beds, giving the facility a capacity of 224 inmates.
The commissioners anticipate the design phase to take about one year to complete and construction to start later in 2022.