FALL HAYRIDES OFFERED AT RIVERBEND
Group reservations for antique tractor drawn hayrides at Riverbend Recreation Area are now being taken on a first come, first serve basis at the Hancock Park District office. Hour-long rides will be conducted September 17 through October 31.  A Hancock Park District Wagon Master will conduct all hayrides through the natural areas of Riverbend located off State Route 568, east of Findlay.   Hayrides explore the park's natural areas along the Blanchard River in the forest and fields. Fall color, wildlife and after dark night life can be viewed safely from the hay wagon. Late autumn rides also provide an alternative to "scary" Halloween activities.
Rides for groups of approximately 25 people will be given by advance reservation only. All reservations are confirmed with a fee of $60, with check or exact cash, payable at the time the reservation is taken at the Hancock Park District office located at 1424 East Main Cross, Findlay. Interested persons may call the HPD office during open hours Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm, to check availability of times and dates.
 Hayrides can be topped off with a campfire to enjoy refreshments in the primitive campground area of the park or reservations for outdoor shelters can also be made at the HPD office. 

In the event of bad weather, cancellations may be required if conditions are not safe. Decisions to cancel are made by park district staff. If a reservation is cancelled, every attempt will be made to reschedule the outing or a full refund will be granted. However, cancellations by the group will only be granted if another group can be rescheduled in their spot. 

 A complete listing of hayride rules and information are available upon request at the park district office or can be downloaded at www.HancockParks.com.   Interested groups are reminded that no alcohol or illegal substances are permitted in the park and adult supervision is required for youth under 18 years of age.
Further information available by calling HPD Headquarters at 419-425-PARK/7275.

 

Mayor's Teen Advisory Council Seeks New Members
FINDLAY, OHIO-Applications are currently being accepted from students in grades 9-12 who live in the city of Findlay and are interested in participating on the Mayor's Teen Advisory Council (TAC).  TAC serves to help the mayor as well as other city officials and community leaders understand what is important to the young people in the community.
 
In the past, TAC has addressed City Council and the Findlay City School Board with their ideas on the curfew law and cell phones at school.  TAC members have worked with other youth and adults to address the issue of "smoker's corner" across from Findlay High School and have held a book drive in order to provide much needed reading materials to local youth. Each year, TAC holds two Teen Town Meetings - where all area teens can voice their ideas and opinions.
 
Teens interested in applying for TAC can pick up an application at The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation office, 101 W. Sandusky Street, Suite 207.  An application can be emailed to you by contacting Kimberly Bash at kbash@community-foundation.com or (419) 425-1100.  Completed applications are due to The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation office by September 17, 2010 by 4:00 p.m.

 
Full Sturgeon Moon Hike
Join us for the last full moon hike of the summer on Tuesday, August 24 at 8pm. Meet at the gatehouse at Litzenberg Memorial Woods.  See what forest and the meadow look and sound like at night.  We'll keep our eyes open for bats and owls as we hit the trails.

The McKinnis Homestead is located at Litzenberg Memorial Woods at 6100 U.S. Route 224, west of Findlay.  For more information about other upcoming programs, view the HPD Seasonal Guide at www.HancockParks.com under the "What's New" section or call the HPD office at 419-425-PARK and "Discover Your Hancock Parks". 
 
NEW OAKWOODS PARKING LOT CLOSED FOR IMPROVEMENTS
A newly constructed stone parking lot and service drive at Oakwoods Nature Preserve, located in Oakwoods Nature Preserve at 1400 Oakwoods Drive, will be closed to the general public beginning Wednesday, August 18 until late September.  The area will reopen after the enhancement project has been completed. 
The project will include new asphalt and concrete work at the site; which will allow better access to the "Doc" Phillips Discovery Center during visitation to the facility, nature preserve or Shake Lake.
Hancock Park District apologizes for any inconvenience. Any additional information regarding the improvement project or the nature preserve can be obtained by contacting the HPD office, located at 1424 East Main Cross St., Findlay, or by calling 419-425-PARK/7275.

Whirlpool Findlay Donates Lots and Employees To Build A Home In Seven Days
The 2010 Whirlpool® Building Blocks program with Habitat for Humanity is underway and coming to Findlay in September. In partnership with Findlay/Hancock County Habitat for Humanity - which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary - and Habitat for Humanity International, Whirlpool Corporation's Findlay Division continues its commitment to the community by helping a local family achieve their dream of homeownership this year. The home will be built on land donated by the appliance manufacturer.   Located at the corner of County Road 220 and McKinley, the donated lots have been reconfigured to allow for three homes, the first of which will be built during the 2010 Whirlpool® Building Blocks program. Volunteers from Whirlpool Corporation will help homeowner Keri Barajaz and her two sons, Michael and James, build their home in a week's time. Keri is employed at Century Health. Her son Michael will start his sophomore year at Ohio Northern University, while James will begin second grade at Heritage Christian.   Now in its fifth year, the Whirlpool® Building Blocks program is expanding to build more capacity for Habitat's mission to create affordable housing and increase opportunities for volunteer engagement. In place of the one-city blitz build format from previous years, builds will take place in communities in which Whirlpool Corporation has manufacturing, customer service and administrative offices, including Findlay, as well as on two college campuses. Whirlpool Corporation is the only Habitat partner to organize and fund a building blitz of this size and magnitude.  The Findlay blitz build kicks off on September 25 and will wrap on October 2. 
 
United Way Breakfast Fundraiser Planned by Birchaven Village Chef
Birchaven Village Chef Tim Cooper will serve breakfast to benefit the United Way of Hancock County August 24, September 7 and September 21 from 7 to 10 a.m. at Birchaven Village.
The menu will vary for each breakfast, but will include some combination of made-to-order omelets, Belgian waffles, potato casserole, cider smoked bacon, homemade pecan rolls, fresh fruit and more.
Cost of the breakfast is $6.50 per person, which is payable by cash or check at the door. Both carry out and dine in meals are available. No reservation is needed. All proceeds will be donated to the United Way of Hancock County. 
 
BVH Offers Test to Determine Genetic Probability of Breast Cancer
Blanchard Valley Hospital's Woman Wise mammography department has partnered with Myriad Genetics to offer a test to determine risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. This new test is called the BRACAnalysis®.

"Individuals who carry a defective gene, called the BRCA (BReastCAncer) 1 or 2 gene, have a very high lifetime risk for developing both breast and ovarian cancer," said Dr. Katherine Cyran, BVHS breast imaging specialist. "In fact, people testing positive for these genes have a lifetime risk for breast cancer as high as 85 percent, and a risk of nearly 50 percent for ovarian cancer compared to 7 percent and 1 percent, respectively, for the general population."

BRCA genes can be passed from the mother's or father's side of the family, and children have a 50 percent chance of carrying the gene if their parent is affected. Likewise, parents and siblings of affected individuals have a 50 percent chance of also being affected.

The first step in determining if a person is a candidate for the test is by filling out a questionnaire at Woman Wise. Those with suggestive histories of breast and ovarian cancer will be offered a genetic risk discussion and testing. Testing consists of either a cheek swab or blood sample that is sent to the Myriad laboratory for analysis.

Knowing this risk can help patients and their doctors make more informed decisions before cancer develops. "For example, a woman who knows she carries a BRCA mutation can start cancer screening at an earlier age," said Cyran. "She also has both medical and surgical interventions that can either prevent or reduce the risk of both cancers."

Not everyone is a candidate for genetic testing, and the BRACAnalysis® is not appropriate for most people. Individuals at risk for carrying the BRCA gene tend to have personal or family histories which include the following:

Breast cancer occurring at or below the age of 45
Ovarian cancer at any age
Male breast cancer
Bilateral breast cancer (two separate breast cancers)
Multiple affected family members (mother's or father's side)
First or second degree relatives with the above criteria
The Myriad laboratory is the only lab in the nation that is able to perform that BRACAnalysis®. This test is covered by most insurances. 
 

Handbags That Help Membership Deadline September 15
Handbags That Help women's giving circle is accepting renewal and new memberships through September 15, 2010. The first meeting for the 2010-2011 membership year will be Wednesday, September 15 from 9:30-11:30 AM at First Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall.
Handbags That Help (HTH) is a women's giving circle committed to dramatically improving lives throughout Hancock County by collectively funding significant grants to charitable projects and programs. Every membership dollar donated by HTH Giving Circle members is passed directly on to the community through grants voted on by the members.

In the last three years, HTH has granted $146,455 to eight local nonprofit organizations. These grants helped ensure that Riverside Pool was open this summer; funded a Bridges Out of Poverty program; provided low-income pregnant women with prenatal care and postnatal support; helped residents in financial crisis become more self-sufficient; and provided a supervised visitation and exchange program for families who have experienced divorce, separation, violence or abuse. HTH funds also helped build a house for a single mother and her son; helped reduce the trauma experienced by young victims of abuse; and sent at-risk kids to science camp.

Grant application information for the 2010-2011 membership year will be available on the Community Foundation website in mid September, with proposals due December 15.

The giving circle is open to all area women. Members are invited, but not required, to attend four meetings (September, December, March and April). The only requirement for membership is a $500 annual contribution. That donation gives each member a single vote as to how the pooled funds will be awarded that year. As an alternative to the $500 Individual Voting Membership, women can share a Joint Membership. With a Joint Membership, 2-5 women split the cost of a membership and share a single vote. Each member is also required to pay a $30 administrative fee to support the expenses of organization.
Handbags That Help was formed in 2007 by a group of women committed to dramatically improving lives throughout the Greater Hancock County community by collectively funding significant grants to charitable projects. In only three years, Handbags that Help has granted $146,455 to support the following eight local nonprofit organizations: Hancock Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Habitat for Humanity, Camp Fire, Open Arms Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Services, Hancock Christian Clearing House, Caughman Health Center, Hope House, and Findlay YMCA.

The Handbags That Help women's giving circle is supported by the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. To join or for more information regarding Handbags That Help please contact the Community Foundation at 419-425-1100 or visit their website at www.community-foundation.com.  

 
SHRM Learning System® Course at Owens Community College
The Essentials of Human Resource Management Certificate Program
Get an overview of human resource functions and how they affect today's real-life workplace issues. This is the perfect course for supervisors and line managers, along with entry-level HR professionals and support staff.
Selected topics include:
* Human resource management
* Employment law
* Effective recruitment and selection
* Basics of compensation and benefits
* Employee development
* Ensuring quality performance
Thurs. · 6 - 8 p.m. · Sept. 23 - Nov. 11 · $445 · Findlay Campus 
 
Preparing for your Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) or Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®) certification? This course, targeting mid-level to experienced HR professionals, will help you get ready. Your instructor will focus on the Human Resource
Certification Institute (HRCI) 2010 exam content, which includes:
* Strategic management
* Workforce planning and employment
* Human resource development
* Total rewards
* Employee and labor relations
* Risk management
Tues. · 6 - 9 p.m. · Sept. 21 - Dec. 7 · $945 · Findlay Campus

Human Resource functions are more challenging and more vital than ever to your organization's success.  Owens Community College provides two courses for HR professionals, supervisors and small business managers - both approved by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and taught by top-notch HR professionals and instructors with real-world experience.

Call Now To Register, (567) 661-7357 or visit www.OwensWorks.com.

 

Flag City Morning Rotary Holding Bicentennial Logo Contest
Flag City Morning Rotary, which is overseeing Findlay's Bicentennial celebration in 2012, is holding a logo design competition.  The contest is being held early so that local organizations and companies can incorporate it into promotional materials a full year before the bicentennial year.
The logo will be used online, in print, and on all branded merchandise. The logo must incorporate the heritage of Findlay which was settled in 1812. The competition is open to local artists who reside in Hancock County. All ages are eligible to enter. The contest is open only to individuals, not open to companies, clubs, or organizations. Contest committee members, judges and their immediate family are not eligible to enter the contest. 

The logo must include the text "Findlay", "Ohio" and "1812-2012". The logo must be simple enough to be reproduced clearly in a small size, such as a lapel pin. The artwork must be original with no plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringements. Paper entries must be submitted on 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of white paper and can be mailed to Red Tornado Art Gallery, 111 E. Crawford St.  Electronic entries can be created as .JPG, .TIFF, .AI, .PDF, .EPS, .PSD, but must be less than 2MB. All entries must include the entry form found at the Web site http://findlay200.com. Entry forms are also available in various locations in Findlay, including The Courier, Coffee Amici and the Findlay Hancock County Public Library.

The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2010. More information and the entry form can be found at http://findlay200.com  or by contacting Tamera Rooney, Bicentennial Committee Co-chair, at 419-722-7810.
The designer of the winning logo will receive $100, a certificate and notoriety for the design. The winner will be notified via email/phone no later than October 31st, 2010. The prize money sponsor is Red Tornado Art Productions, a local arts organization whose mission is to promote artists.

Flag City Morning Rotary which meets at 7:30 a.m. each Wednesday at the Findlay Country Club, is accepting new members. Anyone interested in learning more about the club can visit www.flagcitymorningrotary.org for contact information or call 419-722-7810.

 

The Hancock County Red Cross B*A*S*H
The Hancock County Red Cross B*A*S*H (Barbeque And Service members Homecoming) is a fundraising event celebrating Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and Military Families. The theme of the event is based on the popular TV show M*A*S*H.