You can view Ben's annual Holiday Playbook catalog online.

Bowling Green's 2021 Farmers Market will be held indoors every Wednesday until November 17 at WLI at 991 S. Main St.  Hours of operation are 4:30pm-6:00pm. Beginning December 1 it will be held every other Wednesday.

Vendors:

• Zach's mushrooms
• Dirty Feet selling brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, etc.
• M & J Craft Bakery selling their popular macarons
• Dolores Ann's Alterations selling fresh eggs, bread, dog treats, cookies, quilts, jewelry, etc.
• Andrea selling handmade wreaths & crafts
• Whole Heart Fragrance selling coconut wax candles and cocosoy wax melts
• Paige Scott selling handmade jewelry

The list is growing!  Get some early holiday shopping done along with fresh produce!

The City of Bowling Green is accepting scholarship applications in the memory of Lyle B. Wright and Richard H. Gorsuch for their exemplary leadership in public power.  The nominee will be reviewed by the American Municipal Power Selection Committee.

Two $3,000 one-time scholarships are available to graduating seniors based on academic performance, good score on the public power test and participation in a variety of extracurricular activities/programs.

Lyle B. Wright Scholarship – Applicant must be a graduating senior living in a household that receives electricity from Bowling Green Municipal Utilities.  This scholarship is not available to those who qualify for the Richard H. Gorsuch Scholarship.

Richard H. Gorsuch Scholarship – Applicant must be a graduating senior who has a parent or guardian that is employed by the Bowling Green Municipal Electric System.

High School transcript showing the cumulative grade-point average is required.

Applications are available on the City website at www.bgohio.org or can be obtained in the Utility Director’s Office by calling 419.354.6246 or by emailing mmazey@bgohio.org

Applications are due in the Utility Director’s Office, 304 North Church Street, or by email at bgutildir@bgohio.org by 4:00 p.m. on December 15, 2021.

Downtown Bowling Green SID has a page on their website dedicated to commercial space that is available for rent/sale. If you have commercial space located in the Special Improvement District that you would like showcased, you can contact them at info@downtownbgohio.org.

For a limited time, Efficiency Smart will reward small businesses with an increased incentive for purchasing qualifying LED bulbs or fixtures from a designated local supplier or contractor. Standard incentives still apply for all other qualifying purchases. Contact Efficiency Smart at 877-889-3777 to get started.

Free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available in a variety of locations across Wood County, including schools, public libraries, senior centers and Wood County Health Department. Working with Ohio Department of Health, Wood County Health Department has increased the number of free tests available for residents ages four and older who wish to use them before getting together with family and friends to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Rapid testing prior to attending an event or gathering is an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID,” said Benjamin Robison, Wood County Health Commissioner. “In addition to staying home when sick, taking a rapid test shortly before your Thanksgiving celebrations can help to keep your loved ones healthy.”

Anyone who tests positive or has symptoms of COVID should take precautions to isolate from others. “If you have symptoms of COVID, stay home even if you get a negative result on an at-home test,” said Robison. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID and tests negative using an at-home test should get a PCR test and stay home until they receive the results. PCR tests remain the gold standard for detecting an active COVID-19 infection.

Rapid at-home tests should not be used to shorten isolation or quarantine periods. Anyone who has previously tested positive and is still in the isolation period, or who is under quarantine due to exposure, should remain in isolation or quarantine.

Some rapid tests may require the use of an online service that guides the user through the testing process. Check the information on your test packet to confirm. A list of locations distributing free COVID tests is available on the Wood County Health Department website. Click the link below or go to woodcountyhealth.org and click on “Information on COVID-19” for details. Rapid tests can also be purchased at a number of pharmacies and supermarkets in the county.

Locations offering free at-home rapid tests for COVID-19.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Wood County is a leading self-help organization offering free events, educational classes, support groups, and other programs that address mental health for the Wood County community. NAMI Wood County has a variety of programming throughout the year! This programming is FREE and available to all Wood County residents.

• The Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Workshop is free of charge, a self-designed, course on identifying your personal wellness tools. WRAP was developed by Mary Ann Copeland. Your WRAP program is designed by you in practical, day-to-day terms, and holds the key to getting and staying well. It does not necessarily replace traditional treatments, but can be used as a complement to any other treatment options you have chosen. NAMI Wood County’s WRAP Workshop will be held Thursday, November 18th and Friday, November 19th from 10-4p.m. both days. The class will be hybrid via Zoom and held in-person at NAMI Wood County. Visit namiwoodcounty.org/wrap to register.

If you are interested in becoming a NAMI Wood County member, visit their website for more details. There are many benefits included in a NAMI Wood County member including: discounts on programs, newsletter subscriptions and more. Membership levels range from $5 to $60.

NAMI Wood County is continuing online support groups as well including Family Support Group, NAMI Connections, Parent & Caregiver, and others! Visit www.namiwodocounty.org for more information and to register for their programming. Email info@namiwoodcounty.org or call 419-352-0626 for more information, and be sure to follow NAMI Wood County on social media: @NAMIWoodCounty for additional resources and updates.

The American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio will recognize and pay tribute to ordinary members of the community who have shown extraordinary courage, compassion, character or humanity by saving or improving the lives of others at the 2022 Red Cross of Northwest Ohio Hero Awards.

Residents of Lucas, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Sandusky, Wood, and Monroe County, Michigan are invited to nominate a hero or heroes who have responded to life’s challenges with a true humanitarian spirit, mirroring the values that motivate and inspire the work of the Red Cross.

A hero could be someone who entered a burning home to alert a family, a neighbor who performed CPR on a total stranger, or a passerby who pulled a drowning child to safety.
Visit redcross.org/nohheroes to nominate a hero. All nominations will be reviewed by a selection committee. Nominations must be submitted by January 30, 2022. Those chosen as Northwest Ohio Heroes will be honored during a ceremony to be held in May, 2022.

Ohio Small Business Development Center at Terra State Community College is providing free seminars for anyone wanting to start, buy or expand a small business and focuses on business planning and development. The seminars last three hours and include learning the basics of: Name Registration, Licensing, Taxes, Advisors, Business Entities, Employees, Insurance, Financing, Business Planning, and more. To register, contact Bill Auxter at 419-559-2210 or bauxter@terra.edu.

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers as well as local and state-level partners to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities, and build community resiliency. MRC units prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks.

Once you've registered or if you have any questions, you can reach out to Julie Kauffman at the Wood County Health Department.

The Wood County Museum has teamed up with Ortinau Art (Pemberville, OH) to create new shirts & sweatshirts to show off your Wood County Museum pride! As an added bonus, a portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated back to the Museum! Sale runs through December 5 & Estimated delivery December 20

Visit the online store: https://store.ortinauart.com/wood_county_museum/shop/home