Foundation Scholarships Available Online

For the first time, the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation has gone paperless and all scholarships are available online. Scholarships are now available via the Foundation's website at www.community-foundation.com until April 1, 2011.

The Foundation currently has 86 scholarship funds that are available to current graduating seniors and current college students. Information about each scholarship and the standards for determining eligibility of students can be found through the Foundation's website. Students have the opportunity to start an application, save it and finish it at a later time but the application must be completed by April 1. The student will only need to submit one application to be considered for all scholarships at the Community Foundation. No paper applications will be accepted.

Visit www.community-foundation.com to apply or learn more about the scholarships available at the Foundation. For more information or questions, contact Marie Swaisgood at the Community Foundation at 419-425-1100.

Overcoming the 5 Most Common Business Risks         

(Bring a Friend for Free)                  Fee:   $125

When:  Starts: 2/21/11  Ends: 3/21/11, five consecutive weeks, 6pm - 8pm

Where:  Millstream Career & Technology Center, 1200 Commerce Pkwy, Findlay

How:  Register by calling 419-427-5422 or online at www.millstreamadulted.org

Attention Entrepreneurs and Business Owners!  "Overcoming the 5 Most Common Business Risks", a five week course is being offered by Millstream Adult Workforce Education in Findlay.

Learn what puts most small businesses at risk and what you can do to protect yours. Whether you're an entrepreneur with a dream, just starting a company, wanting to increase your profitability, needing to improve your systems, or wishing to expand your operations, this interactive business coaching workshop can help you reach your goals.  The holistic approach of Certified Business Coach, Patrick Good, and the AdviCoach™ system, starting with the business owner's Income, Lifestyle, Wealth and Equity goals, is "feedstock" for the Strategic Plan which enables success and growth. 

Class Cost Includes 4 Books    *    Bring a friend for free and share your materials

DorAnne's Gifts and Gourmet and The Baker's Café Presents It's Storytime!

It's Story time!

Shhh...don't tell the kids but story time is more than just a fun activity.  Story time is a wonderful way for your child to acquire the six early literacy skills researchers identify as laying important groundwork for learning to read.

Each month brings new themes.  Story time includes stories, songs, a craft, and other exciting activities each week.

Monday's Time is 6pm & Saturday's Time is 10am

Monday, February 7th & Saturday, February 12th:  Hearts

Monday, March 7th & Saturday, March 12th:  St. Patrick's Day

Monday, April 4th & Saturday, April 9th:  April Showers

Monday, May 2nd & Saturday, May 7th:  Quack & Honk

Monday, June 6th & Saturday, June 11th:  A Parade of Pets

Notes for the Parents/Caregivers -

**We ask that children that attend be able to sit quietly without disturbing others in the group and should be able to follow simple directions for the craft.

**During Story time, parents/caregivers are asked not to leave the store and to make sure their child has used the bathroom before Story time begins.

RED CROSS ROLLING OUT RED CARPET ON OSCAR NIGHT
Hollywood Director Named Honorary Chair

The American Red Cross Hancock County Chapter will host the 2nd Annual 'A Night at the Oscars' Presented by KeyBank at 6:00 p.m. Sunday, February 27, at the Findlay Elks Lodge on South Main Street. The event will feature food provided by the top restaurants and chefs in Hancock County, a silent auction of celebrity autographed items and the live broadcast of the Academy Awards. 

Tickets for the event are $35 each and are available at the Red Cross office at 125 Fair Street in Findlay at the Key Bank office on Tiffin Avenue, at the Arts Partnership box office and online at www.hancockredcross.org. Dress for the event is formal with black tie optional. The Hancock County Red Cross 'A Night at the Oscars' Presented by Key Bank is sponsored by Blanchard Valley Health System, MIX 96.7, the Findlay-Hancock County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, The Courier, Taylor Kia, Huntington Bank, The Right Thing, Baker Media Productions, Millstream Area Credit Union, Nichole Renae Portraits LaRiche Chevrolet Cadillac and Angel Hands.

American Red Cross

Severe winter weather throughout much of the eastern half of the United States in recent weeks has caused the cancellation of more than 14,000 blood and platelet donations through the American Red Cross, 1,500 of which were in Ohio. The severity of the impact has stressed even the Red Cross' robust national inventory management system, which can move blood products to where they're needed most, such as when severe weather hits. 

"We have not seen the January supply drop this dramatically in a decade and we need to reverse this now. You don't wait to refuel once you've run out of gas. Donating blood or platelets now helps ensure immediate and future patient needs will be met."

The Red Cross urges all eligible donors in unaffected areas to make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the coming days, and those in affected areas to donate as soon as travel is deemed safe, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or by visiting redcrossblood.org. Donations will help replenish the Red Cross blood supply to ensure that blood products are readily available for patients with serious medical needs.

Blanchard Valley Hospital's HeartCare Center Receives 5-Star Rating for Coronary Interventional Procedures

The HeartCare Center at Blanchard Valley Hospital (BVH) has received a 5-star rating for coronary interventional procedures from independent national ratings agency HealthGrades. A 5-star quality rating indicates that the HeartCare Center at Blanchard Valley Hospital has clinical performance that is better than expected when opening blocked arteries in the heart.

The recognition is based on the Thirteenth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America study, which analyzes patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation's hospitals. The HealthGrades study, the largest annual report of its kind, analyzed patient outcomes in nearly 40 million Medicare hospitalization records from 5,000 hospitals over the years 2007, 2008 and 2009. HealthGrades' hospital ratings are the most widely used objective, actionable quality measures readily available to the public and are based solely on clinical performance.

For more information on the HealthGrades study, including the complete methodology, visit www.healthgrades.com.

Findlay's 3rd Annual - Walk A Mile in Her Shoes Event

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10:30am-3:00pm at Riverside Park, Findlay

A walk-a-thon with a twist!

The headliners of this event are our own local men and boys willing to walk one mile in high heeled shoes to speak out against domestic violence! Kids Area: Bounce House and Games

Food Vendors/Prizes/Awards

Walk A Mile with Mayor Sehnert

Show the community that you are taking a united stand against domestic violence!

Sign up individually or as a team!

For more information or to register, visit openarmsfindlay.org,

email jdevore@openarmsfindlay.org Or call 419-420-9261

Bridge Home Health & Hospice Offers Volunteer Training Courses

Bridge Home Health & Hospice will offer training courses for prospective volunteers beginning on Tuesday, February 15.

The training will be held in the Wenner Conference Room at Birchaven Village, located at 15100 Birchaven Lane in Findlay, and will take place for seven consecutive Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

Courses will cover the basic principles of hospice, understanding the needs of patients and their families, effective communication, patient care, pain and symptom management, spiritual care giving and understanding grief and loss.

No previous hospice experience is necessary; however, volunteers must be at least 18 years old.

Following training, volunteers can choose their area of involvement, such as caregiver relief, bereavement, care center, nursing home visitors, speaker's bureau, gift of dreams or clerical work.

Pre-registration is required. For more information or to request an application packet, contact Julie Tiell, Bridge Hospice volunteer services coordinator, by phone at 419.423.5351 or by e-mail at jtiell@bvhealthsystem.org.

BVHS to Host Third Annual Day of Dance

Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS) will host Findlay's third annual Day of Dance on Saturday, February 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The University of Findlay Alumni Memorial Union.

The event will combine the fun of different styles of dance, such as ballroom, line dancing, clogging and Zumba with health screenings and education on heart disease and women's health issues. Other features will include free product samples, shopping and a fashion show.

More than 67 communities throughout the United States will host this nation-wide Day of Dance celebration on February 26. The celebration is part of the Spirit of Women program, a national network of leading hospitals dedicated to improving women's lives with innovative health and community programs.

For more information, visit  www.bvhealthsystem.org or www.dayofdance.org.

AdviCoaches® Help Maumee Businesses Find the Opportunities for Growth

While U.S. entrepreneurs continue to shoulder the slow rise of a struggling economy,

there are opportunities for growth in three areas that AdviCoach Patrick

Good of Maumee believes will continue to strengthen the bottom line for

business owners.  While some companies choose to cut budgets, Good is

steering small to mid-size businesses to recruit top talent, increase cash

flow and invest in long-term expansion as the best way to survive and

prosper.

Business owners derive great benefits from a trustworthy relationship with

an AdviCoach trained to assess business performance in 21 critical best

practice areas.  Armed with this knowledge, AdviCoaches like Good then

coach their clients through the implementation of the appropriate Rapid

Impact Strategies to address gaps and drive immediate results.

As the country continues to slowly recover from the economic downturn and

unemployment remains high, many skilled and talented business people are

choosing entrepreneurship as a career alternative in today's New Career

Economy®.  Good and other AdviCoaches work collaboratively with clients to

provide customized education and strategic business solutions applicable

under any set of economic circumstances.  Unlike traditional consultants

that specialize in a particular business discipline or industry,

AdviCoaches deliver a variety of services to enhance the performance of

small to mid-size businesses in any industry.

To learn more about AdviCoach services in your area, please contact

AdviCoach Patrick Good at (567) 686-7565 or pgood@advicoach.com.

FINDLAY NATIVE, BOOK AUTHOR & NATURALIST TIM SNYDER

SPEAKS AT DISCOVERY CENTER

Findlay native, author and former Ohio State Park naturalist Tim Snyder will be providing a public speaking engagement on Sunday, February 13, at the Oakwoods Discovery Center at 2pm.  His presentation will highlight his new book entitled, "Rainbows of Rock, Tales of Stone: The Natural Arches & Pillars of Ohio." The program is free and open to general public. 

Snyder spent 26 years surveying the state of Ohio and resulted in an ambitious undertaking and comprehensive illustrated guide to Ohio's natural arches and stone pillars. The book identifies, describes and interprets 86 arches and 18 pillars know to occur around the state of Ohio, and also provide detailed explanations in which these limestone and sandstone oddities have formed and will eventual decay. 

In the event that weather conditions are inclement, a decision to cancel the program will be made by Friday, February 11 at 4:30pm.  The program will be rescheduled for the following Sunday, February 20, same time and locations. Please call the HPD office during open hours, 8am - 4:30pm, for program confirmation if conditions are questionable. 

Oakwoods Nature Preserve, "Doc" Phillips Discovery Center is located at 1400 Oakwoods Lane, off West Sandusky Street and CR 144 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 HPDoffice at 419-425-PARK and "Discover Your Hancock Parks".

7th Annual Ray Heverling Charity Ice Bowl Tournament Scheduled at Riverbend Disc Golf Course

The Disc Golf Community Association will be hosting the 7th Annual Ray Heverling Charity Ice Bowl at Riverbend Recreation Area on Saturday, February 5th. Proceeds go to the Family Center of Findlay-Hancock County. New and experienced players are invited to play one round of disc golf. Check-in begins at Noon in Shelter #3, with the Ice Bowl beginning at 1pm. Exclusive Ice Bowl prizes will be awarded. Think you'll throw a hole-in-one, add $5 to the Ace Pool for a chance to win a cash prize. If no one wins the Ace Pool, the balance of the pool will carry over to the next tournament. Afterwards, enjoy a warm fire and hot drinks. For more information, contact Nathan Buck at p_nate@thecatalystcc.com or 419-306-7405. Entry fee is $20, additional donations welcome. First  registrants receive an Ice Bowl Logo Disc.

This event is provided in cooperation with the Hancock Park District. For upcoming park district programs, view the HPD Seasonal Guide at www.HancockParks.com or call the HPD office at 419-425-PARK and "Discover Your Hancock Parks".

The Hancock County Coordinating Council (HCCC)

The Hancock County Coordinating Council (HCCC) is an organization comprised of concerned individuals and professionals representing local nonprofit agencies and businesses. The group provides information sharing and networking opportunities to its members to help them keep abreast of current concerns and needs in the community.  HCCC would like to extend a membership invitation to any organization or individual who would like to be a part of this exciting group. Annual membership dues are $10.00 per individual or agency representative or $25.00 per agency if multiple members from your agency are attending.    

HCCC encourages any interested individual to join the group for its quarterly luncheon meeting. Meetings are held the fourth Monday in February, May, August and November, from 11:00AM - 1:00PM.  All meetings are held in The Family Center conference room.   

The 2011 kickoff meeting is scheduled for February 28, 2011 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at The Family Center. Pizza will be provided; please bring your own beverage.  For more information, please contact HCCC president, Julie Brown, at JBrown@community-foundation.com.

The Findlay Service League Spirit of Volunteerism Scholarship Application

The Findlay Service League is once again offering a scholarship this year.  With your cooperation, we'd like to recognize a Hancock County graduating senior who has not only been academically successful, but has also shared their talents and time through volunteering!  

GUIDELINES

1. Student must be a graduating high school senior residing in Hancock County.

2. One scholarship application form should be completed per applicant. Applications may be duplicated, as needed.

3. Scholarship committee will consider the following:

 Community service, demonstrated spirit of volunteerism

 Application and essay - completeness, neatness

 Academic achievement - min. GPA of 3.0

4. Financial need is not a consideration. The scholarship is for one year and is not renewable.

5. The application must include a one-page, typed, double-spaced essay describing the applicant's volunteer experience.

6. Students who receive full scholarship support from other organizations or institutions will not be awarded this scholarship.

7. The selection and announcement of the recipient will be in May, 2011.

8. The scholarship check will be sent directly to the college or university that the applicant will attend.

9. Finalists may be interviewed by the selection committee.

RETURN THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS (in a standard, letter-sized #10 envelope) BY MARCH 10, 2011 TO:

Findlay Service League

Attn: Scholarship Committee

1113 Hurd Avenue

Findlay, OH 45840

RED CROSS PET FIRST AID TRAINING SCHEDULED

The American Red Cross Hancock County Chapter office will be holding a Pet First Aid class on Wednesday, February 16, 6:00pm at the Red Cross office, 125 Fair St. in Findlay.

Dr. Tony Fuller, DVM, will be leading the course and will be covering basic First Aid procedures for Pets.  Upon completion of this course participants will be able to:

Know how to check a Pet that appears to be having a first aid emergency.

Check an unconscious Pet for breathing and cardiac emergencies.

Provide basic wound care and control bleeding for a Pet.

Care for a Pet involved in a car accident.

Cost for the course is $30 and includes a Red Cross Cat or Dog First Aid manual to provide quick answers to questions about caring for family pets. The manuals come with a 30-minute DVD that features step-by-step instructions on safety procedures, disaster preparedness and dealing with medical emergencies.  Participants can also purchase a Red Cross Pet First Aid kit stocked with the necessary supplies to treat emergencies for dogs and cats for $20.  Pre-registration and payment are required.  For registration and information visit www.hancockredcross.org and click on the Take A Class tab or call (419) 422-9322 ext 225.

RED CROSS SETS FEBRUARY CLASS SCHEDULE

The American Red Cross Hancock County Chapter will be offering the following Health and Safety trainings in February;

First Aid with Adult CPR and AED will be held on Saturday, February 12, 9:00am - 3:00pm. Cost for the class is $55

Pet First Aid is being held on Wednesday, February 16, 6:00-9:00pm.  Cost for the class is $30 and an optional Pet First Aid kit is available for $25.

Babysitter Training for youth ages 11-15 will be held on Monday, February 21, 9:00am - 4:00pm.  Cost is $30. Students should bring a lunch and a doll to practice with. This class is being held at Lincoln Elementary School in Findlay.

CPR and AED for Adults will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 6:00 - 10:00pm.  Cost is $45.

Registration and payment are due prior to all classes.  All classes will be held at the Red Cross office, 125 Fair St. in Findlay.  To register for a class, visit www.hancockredcross.org and click on Take A Class, call (419) 422-9322 or at the Red Cross office.

The American Red Cross is the most trusted training provider of health and safety training that meets OSHA guidelines and many other professional and regulatory standards. Red Cross First Aid, CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automatic external defibrillator) training meets the needs of workplace responders, schools, professional responders and healthcare providers, as well as the general public. We offer both certified and non-certified training options, including Sports, Wilderness and Pet First Aid training.

Full Snow Moon Hike

We'll see if anyone is daring to venture out on a winter's night at Litzenberg at the Full Snow Moon Hike on Thursday, February 17.  We'll look for tracks and listen for owls.  Dress appropriately for the weather. If it's a clear night we'll admire the moon and look for some winter constellations.  Meet at the gatehouse at 7pm.

Litzenberg Memorial Woods is located 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".

Hancock Park District Seeks Applicants for Seasonal Positions

The Hancock Park District is seeking individuals for seasonal employment.  A total of seven positions are now being advertised to be filled for 2011 summer season. All interested applicants must apply at JOBsolutions located at 7746 CR 140, Suite B, Findlay, Ohio. 

Seasonal jobs provide 25 cents per hour bonus for employees who complete the season as agreed. These summer jobs are geared for high school and college students, and the seasonal employment schedule can be based on summer break dates.  Students may also qualify for course credit during employment as pre-arranged for class requirements.

One (1) waterfront manager for the Zonta Landing Boat Rentals concession to be hired will also have general park maintenance duties for 40 hours a week at a rate of $9.00 per hour. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age or older and be available the entire season May 28 thru September 5.   The manager must work weekends and holidays along with other days assigned during the week as scheduled with HPD's horticulturalist.

Three (3) waterfront aides for the Zonta Landing Boat Rentals concession will also be hired at $7.40 per hour working weekends and holidays, May 28 through September 5, along with other required weekday tasks as assigned. These applicants must be at least 14 years of age or older.

Three (3) parks service persons will provide seasonal parks maintenance, 40 hours a week at $8.25 per hour.  Their schedule may include some weekends and holiday hours.  Applicants must be at least 18 years old or older.

Complete job descriptions and Seasonal Employment Applications are available on-line at www.HancockParks.com . See "What's New" or "Get Connected - Job Opportunities" sections and view or download job descriptions and employment applications.