News Briefs Week of 6/7/2021

District office
open to customers
With the expiration of state and local health orders, the Northwestern Water and Sewer District (The District) opened its doors to customers effective June 2.
Hours at The District office, located at 12560 Middleton Pike, Bowling Green, are weekdays 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
“We are excited to welcome our customers back to our office and look forward to assisting them in person,” said District President Jerry Greiner.
The District is still requiring all visitors and employees wear masks while in the building. Envelopes will continue to be available outside of the building for customers who prefer to pay using the drop box. Customers can also pay bills online, use automatic bill payment, or pay through The District’s e-billing system.
To report an after-hours water or sewer emergency, call your county sheriff’s office, which will dispatch a water and sewer operator.
Visit nwwsd.org or call 877-354-9090 for more details.

Donations sought
The Humane Society of Ottawa County is in need of donated items for its upcoming yard sale, which will be held Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the shelter, 2424 East Sand Rd., Port Clinton.
Donations may be dropped off at the shelter Tuesday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. No televisions or books, please.
Volunteers are needed to setup the yard sale. To volunteer or for more info, contact the shelter at 419-734-5191 or email HSOCpets@gmail.com.

LMH to purchase
United Way building
Lucas Metropolitan Housing Board of Commissioners voted on June 1 to authorize the execution of a purchase agreement for 424 Jackson St., Toledo. The building is currently occupied by United Way of Greater Toledo.
With this acquisition, LMH will consolidate its offices at 211 South Byrne, 201 Belmont and 435 Nebraska into a single office space. Approximately 80 employees are expected to be affected by this move.
“Consolidating staff into one location has been a goal of LMH for many years,” said Joaquin Cintron Vega, president and CEO of LMH. “By acquiring this building, it will bring the entire administrative team under one roof. In addition to operational cost savings, it will allow for greater collaboration and teamwork among the staff.
“Additionally, this downtown location allows for better access to LMH by guests and clients, with the availability of close transit access and free parking in the adjacent parking garage,” Cintron Vega said. “Because many of our partners are located in the central business district, the proximity to their operations will strengthen our existing relationships and allow for new relationships to be formed.”
Design work is being completed by the local architect and planning firm, The Collaborative. A construction manager at risk will be named at a later date. Closing is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2021, with occupancy expected in the first quarter of 2022.
“Without housing, families lack the foundation on which to build a solid future,” Cintron Vega said. “Our housing programs and the active partnerships we maintain with dozens of nonprofit and government agencies address basic human needs, mental and physical health, education, financial self-sufficiency, and workforce and community development to create the platform for individuals and families seeking a better quality of life. We are thrilled for the opportunity to carry forth transformative, mission-driven work at 424 Jackson Street now and into the future.”

Oak Harbor senior
center to open
Beginning Monday, June 7, Ottawa County Senior Resources will once again open the doors of its six senior centers across the county.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Nursing Facility section of Riverview Healthcare Campus, the Oak Harbor Senior Center will be unable to host the senior center activities.
Thanks to Riverview administrator Kendra German and her View Crew Staff, the Oak Harbor Senior Center will have a home in the new Hartford on the River Assisted Living. The senior center will meet in the assisted living’s Activities Room. Hours will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Lunch will be available grab `n go-style only at 11:30 a.m.
Call 419-898-2800 to make a meal reservation or to participate in Oak Harbor Senior Center activities. Screenings and reservations, masks and social distancing will be required while inside the building.

Libraries lift
restrictions
The Harris-Elmore Public Library and the Genoa Branch Library lifted COVID-19 restrictions as of June 2, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and Gov. Mike DeWine’s lifting of all health orders on June 2.
Facial coverings are still encouraged but are not required within the library. Social distancing is still encouraged, but will not be enforced.
Meeting rooms and public areas have reopened and the restriction for unattended children will go back to pre-pandemic policy.
The Summer Reading Programs will have virtual and outdoor offerings, but there will be some in-person programming as well. Full in-person programming will be evaluated for the fall. The libraries will continue to offer curbside services for those that wish to use it.
Reduced hours will be in place through Labor Day. Direct questions to the Harris-Elmore Public Library at 419- 862-2482 or the Genoa Branch Library at 419-855-3380.

Robocall/spoofing
bill passes Senate
The Ohio Senate on May 26 passed Senate Bill 54, sponsored by State Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green), to include both robocalling and spoofing as violations of Ohio’s telecommunications fraud laws.
The legislation prohibits any person, entity or merchant from engaging in a violation of the federal Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act.
“Rarely does a day go by when I don’t hear from a constituent who has experienced a robocall designed to manipulate and trick them out of their precious time and hard-earned money,” Gavarone said. “This legislation is a big step forward in our fight to better safeguard Ohioans from phone scams and ensure Ohio is the toughest state in the country to conduct a robocall scheme.”
The bill would stop criminals from using or repeating a telephone number, exchange or misleading caller identification information that is not assigned to the person, with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.
S.B. 54 will be sent to the Ohio House for consideration.

Kiwanis golf outing
The East Toledo-Oregon Kiwanis will present the 22nd Annual Thomas E. Lorenz Scholarship Golf Outing on Friday, July 30 at Eagle’s Landing Golf Course in Oregon.
The four-person scramble will begin with a noon shotgun start. Registration will begin at 11 a.m.
The entry fee is $85 per person and $320 per foursome, which includes greens fees and a cart, 50/50 raffle, a putting contest, a hot dog lunch and a hamburger dinner.
Reservations are required by Friday, July 16.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Proceeds raised from the event will go to provide scholarships to area youths, and to fund other youth-related activities.
This year, the Kiwanis awarded scholarships to Nik Lesle-Pilner (Cardinal Stritch), Gracyn LaPlante (Clay), Nat Vayavong (Northwood) and Denasia Stuart (Waite).
In the past two years, the club has also supported “Connecting Kids to Meals” both financially and by volunteering. This organization provides nutritious meals to children at no cost during the summer months at summer locations, and in partnership with after school programming.
For information, call John Eisenhart at 419-346-0231. The deadline to register for the golf outing is Friday, July 16.

Beach cleanup
Friends of Magee Marsh are seeking volunteers for a beach cleanup Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m.-noon.
Volunteers should meet at the Wildlife Beach. Bring gloves; trash bags will be provided. Pizza will be served for lunch at noon.
Visit friendsofmageemarsh.org for more details.

Fatal accident
A Millbury man working on a motor home has died from injuries he suffered when the vehicle fell off support jacks while he was working on it, according to Lake Township police.
Brian Collins, 33, of Woodlake Boulevard, was working on the vehicle June 2 at a residence on East Broadway when the accident occurred.
Police and Emergency Medical Service units responded to the scene at about 1:41 p.m.

Injured eagle
recovered
Recently, State Wildlife Officer Chad Grote, assigned to Marion County, received a call from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. A concerned citizen had reported an injured bald eagle on their property that appeared to have trouble flying.
Officer Grote and State Wildlife Officer Maurice Irish, assigned to Delaware County, responded and located the eagle in the woods. Armed with thick leather gloves and nets, the officers worked quickly and captured the eagle. To their surprise the eagle was banded with two very worn metal bands.
They assessed the eagle for injuries and found that both wings were uninjured, but one toe and one eye were injured. The eagle was transported to Crows Hollow Wildlife Care in Richwood where rehabilitators determined the eagle should be able to recover from its injuries and would likely be released to the wild.
Officer Grote reported the band and found that the eagle was banded on June 10, 1993 in Lucas County along Lake Erie, making the bird 27 years old.

Sewer repairs
The Northwestern Water and Sewer District has scheduled sewer repairs for June 8, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. along Pemberville Road, between Walbridge and Frey roads in Lake Township.
The road will be closed but local access will be maintained. All work is weather permitting