News Briefs Week Of 2/28/2022

GeezeCats set to
perform March 5
The Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society will present the GeezeCats in concert Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the historic Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St.
Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St., Pemberville, at the door or by calling Carol at 419-287-4848.
The GeezeCats, a doo-wop band from Cleveland, offers a delightful mixture of rock `n roll, doo-wop and improv comedy. Audiences will hear classic songs that everyone knows and loves, performed with authenticity, perfection and full range four-part harmony.
These cats genuinely like each other and get a hoot out of performing together – which comes across on stage. Learn more about them at thegeezecats.com.

Preservation Ohio
seeking nominations
Preservation Ohio is seeking nominations for the 2022 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites.
The list highlights important pieces of Ohio history that face an uncertain future, and which deserve the attention of Ohioans as remnants of the past that merit preservation.
Each year, Ohio’s original statewide preservation organization searches for houses, commercial buildings, governmental structures, bridges, historic roadways, landscapes, downtowns, neighborhoods and other important pieces of Ohio history that face a potentially risky future.
The list serves to highlight those properties which are both historically significant and endangered — whether it be by threats of demolition, long-term disinvestment or neglect, insensitive governmental action, uncertainty or indifference.
Nominations have come from individuals, preservation organizations, downtown and neighborhood revitalization organizations, historical societies, historic road associations, local governments and other entities.
Preservation Ohio made several site visits in 2021 and worked with local advocates to advance preservation efforts.
Links to previous years’ lists are on this nomination page, at preserveohio.com. Nominations must be received by March 31 to be considered.
Visit the website or social media (@preservationohio on Facebook and Instagram, @preservationoh on Twitter) for more information.

Conservancy
reaccreditation
The Black Swamp Conservancy has renewed its land trust accreditation - demonstrating again that, as part of a network of over 450 accredited land trusts across the nation, its commitment to professional excellence and to maintaining the public’s trust in its conservation work.
“Renewing our accreditation demonstrates Black Swamp Conservancy’s ongoing commitment to permanent land conservation in Northwest Ohio,” said Rob Krain, executive director. “We are a stronger organization than ever for having gone through the rigorous accreditation renewal process. Our strength means that the many special places across our region the Conservancy protects - such as Nehls Memorial Preserve on Catawba Island; Wintergarden Woods in Bowling Green and Forrest Woods Nature Preserve, in Paulding County – will be protected forever, making our Northwest Ohio an even greater place now and for future generations.”
Black Swamp Conservancy provided extensive documentation and was subject to a comprehensive third-party evaluation prior to achieving the distinction. The Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded renewed accreditation with no expectations for improvement, signifying its confidence that the Conservancy’s lands are protected forever.
The Conservancy has preserved more than 165 properties totaling over 21,000 acres in 14 counties. These lands include public parks, nature preserves and dedicated private lands.

United Way grants
The United Way of Greater Toledo (UWGT) granted $30,000 to three Wood County organizations to assist residents with rent and mortgage payments, homelessness services, and emergency shelter support.
The allocation stems from troubling statistics via Wood County Continuum of Care Coalition, which collects local homelessness and housing needs data. In 2021, more than 2,112 individuals reached out for help with rent, mortgage, shelter, hotel stays or other information about available services, an alarming increase in need.
“In October of last year, United Way moved quickly to allocate $100,000 to five Lucas County agencies after our 2-1-1 service saw a 400 percent increase in single persons and families being placed on homeless shelter waiting lists,” said Wendy Pestrue, president and CEO of UWGT.
“This new $30,000 investment in Wood County is yet another pull from our Emergency Response Fund – something we established at the start of the pandemic,” she said. “Our communities, in big cities and small towns, are deeply financially hurting from the economic implications of this virus and we need quick, data-informed actions to best serve residents.”
The three Wood County agencies receiving funds include:
• The Cocoon, receiving $10,000 for expanded shelter support and hotel placement.
• Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, receiving $15,000 for rent/mortgage assistance.
• Wood County Area Ministries, receiving $5,000 for rent/mortgage assistance.
“It is important for our community to understand that Wood County has no homeless shelter and just one domestic violence and sexual violence shelter,” said Erin Hachtel, area director for United Way in Wood County. “As a community, we must do everything we can to keep residents housed and bolster support services for those displaced by domestic violence.”
“We are grateful for the support of United Way, as The Cocoon continues to work to provide healing opportunities, increased safety, long-term stability and accessible opportunities for survivors of sexual and domestic violence,” said Kathy Mull, executive director of The Cocoon.

Health assessment
to be discussed

A meeting to discuss the 2021 Wood County Community Health Assessment report will be held March 3 at Wood County Hospital meeting rooms, 950 W. Wooster St., Bowling Green.
The Community Health Assessment is a data-driven examination of the health of adults, youth and children who live in Wood County. It compares new data to information from previous assessments and from the state and country as a whole to give a snapshot of the health of the community.
Organizers of the assessment said that releasing of the report is a crucial step in raising awareness of key health issues the county is facing.
The assessment will serve as the basis for the Community Health Improvement Plan, which defines the priorities and outlines actions the county health department will take over the next three years.
For more information, visit woodcountyhealth.org.

Training grants
awarded to fire
departments
Several area fire departments are among the recipients of grants to be used for training.
The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal announced last week that 208 fire departments in 70 counties will share $456,743 in what are training reimbursement grants.
“We’re committed to providing next-level training to any current and prospective firefighter so all are equipped to go home safely at the end of their shift,” said State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. “Through training reimbursement and other grant programs, our office strives to get financial support into communities served by those first responders.”
While all firefighters, career or volunteer, are required to have the same level of basic training for state certification, he said this grant helps fire departments go beyond the basics to complete more advanced, nationally recognized training.
Local departments receiving funding include:
-Lake Twp., $6,250
-Northwood, $5,655
-Bloomdale, $900
-Perrysburg, $2,700
-Risingsun, $900
-Harris-Elmore, $900
-Erie Twp., $450
-Port Clinton, $5,400