Levis Commons will be bringing back their Adopt-A-Tree Exhibit for 2021. Early Bird Special will be available until September 30th; adoption will be available October 1-31 or until sold out (50 trees to adopt). If you adopted a tree in 2020 you will receive a 50% discount on the 2021 fee.

Bowling Green's 2021 Farmers Market will run every Wednesday from May 12th-October 20th from 4pm-7pm. It is hosted by Work Leads to Independence, a non-profit agency, located right here in Bowling Green! If you are interested in becoming a vendor contact Lori Hines at lhines@wlijobs.com. They will be having Christmas in July with The Salvation Army ringing their bells

Vendors for the Market on September 1 (Fresh picked sweet corn and red raspberries are here!):

• Clearly Weird - NEW selling tye dye apparel and accessories
• Aronia Berries - NEW (great for good heart health and other conditions)
• Creek Valley Farms - NEW selling red raspberries
• Eden Rose Inspirations - Selling flowers and bouquets (will do weddings, etc).
• Deep Roots Cafe -back again(school project) selling lemonade, etc., and jewelry
• Black Swamp Hollow Farms - Selling produce, handmade bags
• Paige Jewelry - Selling handmade jewelry
• Kessler Farms
• Angry Irishman, LLC
• Dirty Feet Gardens
• 7th Heaven Creations
• Riehm Produce Farm
• Stevens Gardens
• Clay Hill, LTD
• Anderson's Farm Products
• Calico Sage & Thyme
• Sobee Honey, LLC
• Joseph's Greenhouse
• Great Lakes Custom Sharpening
• Bella Cuisine
• Gary's Kettle Corn
• wli Cookies

Live music will be performed by Tim Tegge & Black Swamp Boys, Original Folk. Community Tents will be hosted by City of Bowling Green Fire Division and Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The Wood County Health Department will be administering vaccinations during the Market. No appointment necessary.

Food Trucks:

• Joe's Juice Bus
• Lyle's Crepes
• Outlaw Smokehouse

Farmers' Market Sponsors

• Newlove Realty
• First Insurance Group
• Huntington Bank
• Stone's Throw Grill and Tavern
• Anderson's
• Hartung Brothers
• The Copy Shop

As a reminder, East Clough will be closed to vehicles from South Prospect to South Main from 3:30pm until 7pm.

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.

Families who participate in the Women, Infants and Children program through Wood County Health Department are eligible to receive $20 in coupons to shop for produce at local farmers markets.

This is the fifth year for the Farmers Market Nutrition Program offered by Wood County WIC. Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women and children 6 months or older who participate in WIC are eligible to receive the one-time, $20 benefit to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs from authorized farmers until Oct. 31. Coupons will be given to WIC participants on a first-come, first-served basis.

WIC staff will be at the downtown farmers market in Bowling Green on July 7 and in Perrysburg on July 15 to share program information. For the first time on the above dates, WIC will be able to issue farmers market coupons on-site to be used that day. Staff will be present to introduce shoppers to vendors who accept WIC.

Recipe ideas using fresh produce are available at Wood County WIC, located at Wood County Health Department, 1840 E. Gypsy Lane Road, Bowling Green.

WIC participation improves the length of pregnancy and birth weight, improves the diets of women and children and reduces late fetal deaths. WIC children are better immunized, have better vocabulary and are more likely to have a regular source of health care. Children ages 2-4 who participate in WIC are also less likely to be obese.

If you want to learn more about the program or are interested becoming a vendor that can accept WIC coupons, call Wood County WIC at 419-354-9661.

The Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition is a community of citizens from diverse backgrounds who are united in their resolve to save lives. The coalition is committed to increasing public understanding of depression, mental illness, alcohol, and drug abuse as treatable health conditions, and not as signs of personal weakness. As part of their mission, the Wood County Suicide Prevention Coalition promotes different support groups available for those who may have lost a loved one to suicide or are struggling with mental health concerns or suicidal ideation. Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group is for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide and is held the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of the month at 6:00p.m. at Unison Health in Perrysburg. Contact 419-352-4624 to learn more. S.I.R.S. Group (Suicidal Ideation Recognizing Self) is a clinician-led group for individuals who have attempted suicide in the past and is held every Thursday from 5:00-7:00p.m. at Unison Health in Bowling Green. Contact 419-352-4624 to learn more. Lastly, NAMI Connection recovery support group is available for adults living with mental illness and is held every Wednesday at 12:00p.m. on Zoom. Visit www.namiwoodcounty.org for more information. Please visit www.woodcountysuicideprevention.org/support-groups/ for more details on these and other support groups in the Wood County community.

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 starting this fall! This programming is FREE and available to all Wood County residents.

• NAMI Wood County will be hosting their NAMI Education Series on Wednesday, September 15^th from 6:00-8:00p.m. In their fall Education Series, there will be information provided on both public and private insurance coverage for behavioral health, and resources available to navigate specific questions.
• Day Out with NAMI will be on Thursday, September 16^th during the day from 10:00-5:00p.m. This event will be at the Toledo Zoo.
• The Demolition Fight Team will be hosting a Jiu-Jitsu Fundraising Event benefitting NAMI Wood County on Saturday, September 18^th from 6-8p.m. at Venue 18 in Fostoria. Learn more about NAMI Wood County’s website!
• NAMI Peer-to-Peer is a recovery-focused educational program for adults who wish to establish and maintain wellness in response to mental health challenges. NAMI Wood County will be hosting the next class starting on Monday, September 27^th from 2:00-4:00p.m. and will be a hybrid class located at the Connection Center in Bowling Green.
• NAMI Family-to-Family is an educational course for family, caregivers, and friends of individuals living with a mental illness. NAMI Wood County will be hosting their next class starting on Monday, September 27^th from 6:00-8:30p.m. and will be a hybrid class at the NAMI Wood County office.
• Save the date! On Friday, October 1, 2021, NAMI Wood County will be hosting their annual AfterBurn fall event at the Wood County Fairgrounds. This event includes a 5k/1 mile run, “Lights in Memory” ceremony, and activities for the whole family! Stay tuned on NAMI Wood County’s website for more details: www.namiwoodcounty.org/afterburn.

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.

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.

Earn a free week of Sylvan when you tell a friend and their family enrolls; they will also earn a free week of Sylvan. You'll earn these perks each time another friend enrolls. For more information call 419-353-7608.

• The Delta variant of COVID-19 is the most contagious variant, more than the virus that caused most cases in the fall.  Unvaccinated people have a real risk of being infected by this variant. The best defense is vaccination. Those who are not yet vaccinated are encouraged to continue wearing a mask and practice social distancing as much as possible.

• They are working with local school districts to get eligible students vaccinated before school starts. Pfizer is approved for children ages 12 and up. It takes five weeks to be fully vaccinated (two doses three weeks apart, plus two weeks after the 2nd dose). They have upcoming clinics available for students to be vaccinated:

• • Monday, July 26 at Elmwood Schools from 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Tuesday, July 27 at Bowling Green Middle School from 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, July 28 at Otsego Schools from 4 to 8 p.m.

• Vaccination will protect students from the Delta variant and protect others in the school from the spread of COVID-19. Also, vaccinated students do not need to miss time in class or from extracurricular activities if they’re exposed to a positive case – unless they themselves have symptoms.
• Wood County Health Department will continue to make vaccine clinics available this summer to anyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated for COVID-19. Several options will be available on a recurring basis, and other times and locations will be scheduled on a weekly basis.

• • Recurring clinics are planned at the following times and locations:

• • • Mondays from 12-6 p.m. at Wood County Health Department, 1840 E. Gypsy Lane Road, Bowling Green.
    • Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. at the Bowling Green Farmers Market in downtown Bowling Green.
    • Thursdays from 3-8 p.m. at the Perrysburg Farmers Market in downtown Perrysburg.

• • Additional events will be added on a rotating basis each week. An updated schedule of vaccine clinics will be released regularly and can always be found at www.Vaccine.WoodCountyHealth.org.

All Wood County Health Department vaccine clinics are free, and no appointment is needed. Both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available at all events. Youth ages 12-17 are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine with a parent or guardian present.

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.

Wood County Park District stewardship department is planning to conduct prescribed fires in several park properties this fall. The locations of these burns may be in Bradner Preserve, Rudolph Savanna Area, and Cricket Frog Cove. The exact timing of the fires will be determined by weather factors to ensure the most effective and safe conditions, including smoke mitigation.

All of their prescribed fire practices are conducted under waiver through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, notification of the Ohio EPA, as well as, direct supervision by an Ohio Certified Prescribed Fire Manager. Local fire departments for each site are aware of these plans and will be directly notified at least 24 hours before the fire and also on the day of the fire by our fire manager.

The purpose of the fires is for the benefit of the natural areas and native ecosystems. All fire management is completed with best management practices. The public is advised to stay clear away active burn sites.

Please call 419-575-7339, or email alowien@wcparks.org,  with any questions directly involving wcparks prescribed fire practices. For general Wood County Park District questions, 419-353-1897 wcparks.org