“Allure & Illusion: A Rose-Colored Romance” showcasing Wood County weddings and the American Dream closing in December

Saturday, December 7, 2024 will be the last day to take a tour of the popular exhibit, Allure & Illusion: A Rose-Colored Romance. The exhibit showcases over 40 beautiful wedding dresses from 1855-2001, once worn by local community members. Within five custom-created life-size dioramas, the exhibit addresses the foundation of marriage culture and how modern ideology is changing what it means to get married and strive for the American Dream. Special gallery spaces feature the Frank Kalan Harlequin Romance cover art collection from the BGSU Browne Popular Culture Library.

This exhibit was sponsored by Ohio Humanities and made possible with support from: BGSU Brown Popular Culture Library, American Frame, Your Perfect Day, Waddington Jewelers, Downtown Deco, BGSU Music Library & Bill Schurk Sound Archives, Edwin & Irma Wolf, The Children of LaVerne (Snyder) & Harold Patten, The Wood County Historical Society, and other contributors.

The Wood County Museum is open for self-guided tours Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM and Saturday from 12 PM – 4 PM (closed on Sundays & government holidays). Admission is $7 for adults and $3 for children, with discounts for seniors, students, and military. Historical Society members receive free admission as well as a gift shop discount. The Museum is handicap accessible and group tours are welcome.

All events detailed at woodcountyhistory.org or by following the Wood County Museum on social media. The museum is located at 13660 County Home Road in Bowling Green.

Able Body Fitness announces that from 11/23/24 to 12/7/24, entry to the gym will be free of charge. No contracts will be necessary, but attendees will need to sign a day pass waiver to gain entry.

Hours of Staffing are:

Monday - Friday 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Saturday - Sunday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

USA Curling is pleased to announce host locations for the U21 Junior Men’s & Women’s National Championships through 2028.

In 2025, the Bowling Green Curling Club (BGCC) in Bowling Green, OH, will welcome the nation’s best junior curlers from April 1st through April 6th. In 2026, the Junior Nationals will head to Bismarck, ND, and the Capital Curling Club, while the 2027 Junior Nationals will return to the Broomstones Curling Club in Wayland, MA. In 2028, the event will be held in northern Michigan at the Traverse City Curling Club.

A change in the dates of the World Junior Championships forced USA Curling to adjust the timing of the 2025 Junior Nationals, and prompted a search for a new host this coming season. Numerous clubs expressed interested before the decision was made to move ahead with BGCC.

"We are so excited to showcase the talents of junior curlers in this country,” said Lauren Whitmer, Bowling Green Board Secretary and the 2025 Event Chair. “I am confident this club and community will make it a memorable experience for competitors, family, and fans.”

At the 2024 Junior Nationals in Eau Claire, WI, Team Giroux (Allie Giroux, Tessa Thurlow, Ella Fleming, Brooke Giroux, Savannah Koch) captured the Women’s title, while Team Wendling (Wesley Wendling, Nicholas Cenzalli, Daniel Laufer, Shaheen Bassiri, Dylan Ciapka) won the Men’s Championship. In the upcoming season, Team Giroux will travel to the World Junior B Championships to earn a spot in the World Junior Women’s Championship, while Team Wendling will have a direct berth into the 2025 World Junior Men’s Championship based on the results of Team USA in 2024.

“Delivering great events is a key part of our mission, and securing championship sites far in advance let’s us plan effectively and be better partners to the Member Clubs that take on hosting responsibilities,” add USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “I’m thrilled that we have a schedule for Junior Nationals through 2028, and we are grateful that Bowling Green was able to put the event into their schedule in this upcoming season.”

In addition to the national championship announcements, USA Curling has also selected the five bonspiels that will serve as Junior Nationals qualifiers in 2024-25. USA Curling aims to provide reasonable opportunities to curlers in all parts of the country, and the organization is excited to announce that recently opened CurlVegas in Las Vegas, NV, will host a Junior Qualifier bonspiel in 2024-25. Other qualifiers will be held it at the Madison Curling Club (McFarland, WI), the Broomstones Curling Club (Wayland, MA), the Fargo-Moorhead Curling Club (Fargo, ND), and Four Seasons Curling (Blaine, MN). Dates and contact information for all the Qualifier bonspiels are below.

The City of Bowling Green is warning residents and businesses about a concerning rise in utility impostor scams impacting surrounding communities.  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has reported receiving numerous complaints regarding these scams, which target consumers and businesses alike.

While utility bill and power shutoff scams are unfortunately not new, these latest tactics are particularly bold, aggressive, and alarming. What sets them apart is the involvement of individuals impersonating service technicians who physically enter properties and demand immediate payment.

City officials are concerned about the coordinated nature of these scams, which seem to follow a pattern and are disproportionately affecting our region at present. It's not uncommon for scams perpetrated by organized groups to target specific areas heavily before moving on to others, and these "utility impostor" scams appear to be following this trend.

Residents and businesses are urged to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves from falling victim to these scams. If approached by someone claiming to be a utility worker demanding immediate payment:

• Do not allow these individuals into your home, and do not provide them with your utility bill or other personal information.
• Do not leave your home unattended to accompany an individual who shows up without an appointment.
• Report them to the Bowling Green Police Division by calling 419-352-1131.

City employees are happy to provide identification to residents.  If you’re ever unsure about someone’s identity, call the Utilities Business Office at 419-354-6252.  City employees will never come to your home to demand payment, will never request to meet you somewhere for payment, and will never demand immediate payment or payments made with gift cards or prepaid credit cards.

The Utilities Business Office is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM to assist residents with bill payment, budget payment plans, payment assistance resources and more.  They can be reached by phone at 419-354-6252 or by email at bgutil@bgohio.org.

For options how to pay your Utility Bill, please visit https://www.bgohio.org/650/Pay-My-Bill.

See the press release from the Better Business Bureau below:

Dear BBB Businesses:

BBB has received several complaints about electric power shutoff scams currently targeting consumers AND businesses in both the Toledo and Lima areas.  Utility bill and power shutoff phone and email scams have been around for years but these latest tactics are bold, aggressive and, for some, scary because they involve actual people entering the property in-person, dressed as service technicians, and demanding immediate payment. In one recent case, an impostor dressed like a technician entered a local insurance agency in Oregon and walked directly past the front desk, looking for the meter and service panel, and claiming payment was needed immediately. This agent-owner might be willing to appear with BBB on air for a story.

The problem appears coordinated because it follows a pattern and is hitting our areas hard right now. Often, scams perpetuated by organizations instead of individuals are widespread and target a region heavily before moving on to other areas. These current “utility impostor” scams seem to follow that pattern. Both FirstEnergy (for Toledo) and AEP (for Lima) have warnings on their websites about these bold scams.

FirstEnergy’s website says, in part:

“Power Shut Off Scams 

Caller or visitor demands immediate payment 
AKA: Pre-Paid Debit Card Payment Scam, Green Dot, Money Gram or Western Union scam

In this widespread scam, which frequently targets small businesses, a telephone caller poses as an electric utility company employee. The caller threatens to shut off the customer’s power unless an immediate payment is made. In many cases, the customer is told to use a pre-paid debit card, such as a Green Dot/MoneyPak card, or a money transfer service like Money Gram or Western Union.

The facts:

• If your account is past due, you will receive a written notice of your account status, with instructions on how to avoid disconnection of service.
• While our representative may call a customer whose bill is in arrears in order to remind them that a payment is due, the representative would explain how a payment can be made using our established payment options. They will not demand payment over the phone, in person, or at a particular physical location.
• Our utilities do not accept prepaid debit cards or wire transfers as payment, and our representatives will not demand your bank information or credit card number over the phone.

What should you do:

• If you receive a suspicious call, hang up immediately.
• Be aware that scammers often use Caller ID spoofing software to misrepresent the source of a phone call, or provide you with a fake "verification" phone number. These call-back numbers may even include exact replicas of company greetings and hold messaging. If you would like to verify your account status, always call our Customer Service department using the numbers on our website, or log in to your account on our website.
• If a person appears at your door demanding payment, do not allow them into your home, and do not provide them any personal information.
• If you believe you have been a victim of this scam, please contact your local police department or your state attorney general’s office, and report telephone scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov.

Utility Imposters

Criminals posing as sales or service people

In this scam, individuals appear at the door, claiming to be affiliated with one of FirstEnergy’s utility companies. The scam artists often work in pairs, are very persistent, and use a variety of excuses to gain personal information or access to your home. In some cases, once access is gained and/or the victim is distracted outside, the home has been robbed.

These criminals may try to distract victims by requesting a copy of the resident's utility bill, allegedly to "see if you're getting the lowest rate." Another tactic reported to police involves a pair of people claiming to be tree trimmers contracted by the utility. One individual walked the property with the homeowner, while the other took items from the home.

The facts:

• These individuals do not represent FirstEnergy, our utilities, or subsidiaries. Our utility employees do not solicit door-to-door, and they would not ask you to provide a copy of your electric bill.
• While some third-party generation suppliers may use door-to-door sales tactics, they should represent themselves as such; not as affiliates of our company.
• If a utility employee or authorized contractor needs access to your home or needs to review an issue with you, an appointment will be scheduled in advance, and proper identification will be provided for your review.

What you should do:

• Do not allow these individuals into your home, and do not provide them with your utility bill or other personal information.
• Do not leave your home unattended to accompany an individual who shows up without an appointment.
• Report them to your local law enforcement authorities.”

AEP also provides this online warning:

“Criminals will do anything to steal money from unsuspecting victims. With the COVID-19 pandemic and holidays right around the corner, this is a particularly high-risk time for many people including senior citizens, low-income residents and understaffed small businesses.

It’s important to be alert and know how to spot the signs of a scammer. Scammers posing as AEP Ohio employees often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens, low-income residents and small business owners. Have a conversation with your older loved ones about the importance of recognizing scams so that they’re not victims of fraud and putting their financial safety at risk.

Whether they approach by phone, email or at your front door, scammers typically claim to be an AEP Ohio employee. These imposters will threaten to shut your power off if you don’t make an immediate payment.
We’ve also recently learned of scammers targeting our customers with automated calls, threatening disconnection. Please know, we don’t make automated phone calls with important information about your account status.

You’re probably talking to a scammer if they:

• Demand immediate payment
• Insist a payment be made with a prepaid credit card
• Ask to meet at another location to make a payment

Here are some key ways to recognize scams and stay safe:

• If you’re told your account is past due, you should check your account status online.
• Only make payments online at AEPOhio.com or through mail, online, by phone or at authorized payment locations.
• AEP Ohio employees are always willing to show their company IDs. Just ask.
• If you’re ever unsure about someone’s identity, call AEP Ohio at (800) 672-2231."

Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs Survey is now OPEN! This survey allows Ohio businesses to provide feedback on the state’s Top Jobs List, which guides workforce training priorities and federal funding.

The survey helps the state collect feedback based on what Ohio businesses need, creating a portal for Ohioans to learn what jobs will be important now and in the future, so they can better plan their pathway to a successful career. The survey is open to any registered business in Ohio, allowing businesses of all sizes and in all areas of the state to share their needs.

The Top Jobs List is a customizable portal for Ohioans to research what pathways are right for them and how they can take advantage of employment opportunities in their field of interest. Ohioans can easily access the Top Jobs List and search for job titles in the state based on region, education required, experience required, and more.

Ohio is required to maintain an up-to-date In-Demand Jobs List, part of Ohio’s Top Jobs List, that directs the spending of 85 percent of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training funds. Although not required, Ohio has previously chosen to survey employers to ensure that state programs meet business needs.

To take the survey, visit TopJobs.Ohio.gov/Survey.