DOG BITE PREVENTION WEEK IS MAY 20-26 – LUCAS COUNTY DOG WARDEN TO PARTICIPATE WITH ITS “BE A TREE” EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM!

The Lucas County Dog Warden will participate with Doggone Safe in the International Dog Bite Prevention Challenge. It challenges its presenters to visit schools and educate 50,000 children about dog safety in a single month.  The challenge will occur during Dog Bite Prevention Week, May 20-26.  So far, 57 presenters have pledged to educate over 18,000 kids in eight countries, five Canadian provinces and 24 U.S. states. John Brown, Behavior Technician at the Lucas County Dog Warden, is a presenter of the “Be a Tree” dog bite prevention program for school children.  For more information about the challenge, visit the Doggone Safe website at www.doggonesafe.com.  The Lucas County Dog Warden offers these classes free of charge to any interested school or group.  To schedule a class or to learn more, contact John Brown at the Lucas County Dog Warden at 419.213.2800.

FAMILY FUN DAY AND FOOD DRIVE AT SPORTWAY IS WEDNESDAY!

Sportway, located at 5950 Angola Rd., is hosting its FREE Family Fun Day and Food Drive on Wednesday, May 22, from noon – 10 p.m. For the admission price of three cans of food, guests will receive three tickets, one each for go-karts, mini-golf and batting cages. All the food will be donated to the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank.  There is no limit to the amount of canned food items – for every three donated cans, receive three tickets. Tickets are good for the entire 2013 season.

FULLWOOD FAMILY MEDICAL BENEFIT IS FRIDAY!

The Fullwood Family Medical Benefit will be held on Friday, May 24, at The Venue in Northwood. Darryl Fullwood, a husband and father of three, has suffered three strokes and has been hospitalized since his latest stroke in January. The event starts at 5 p.m. and will feature several comedians, a DJ and live music. There will be a silent auction, and donated items are needed. For more information or to donate an auction item, call Angela at 567.218.4408 or check out www.caringbridge.org/visit/darrylfullwood/journal.

CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW VETERANS’ MEMORIAL WEEKEND SERVICE IS SATURDAY!

In conjunction with the coming Memorial Day, the Church of St. Andrew will conduct a special service to recognize and thank all veterans – past and present – for their service to our country on Saturday, May 25, at 6 p.m. There will be patriotic music and guest speakers. The pastor’s message will follow the patriotic theme. All veterans and their families are welcome. The service will be followed by an ice cream social, where all veterans will be our guests. Others will be asked to make a free-will offering to cover the cost of food and materials.

SWANTON MEMORIAL DAY ACTIVITIES SET FOR MAY 27!

“Never Forget” is the name of the Swanton Memorial Day Celebration on Monday, May 27. The Swanton American Legion, Swanton VFW and Swanton Elks invite you to enjoy a complementary continental breakfast at the VFW from 8:30 – 10 a.m. A parade from Crestwood School to Swanton Memorial Park starts at 10:30. The Grand Marshall will be Robert Weinberg III, a member of Society of the Honor Guard. A complimentary lunch will follow at the American Legion.

WOOD COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY’S WINE & CHEESE BENEFIT IS MAY 31!

The Wood County Humane Society’s annual Wine & Cheese Benefit will be held on Friday, May 31, from 6 – 10:30 p.m. in Olscamp Hall on the campus of Bowling Green State University. Proceeds from the event support homeless and abused animals in Wood County, providing care for hundreds of animals each year – from dogs and cats to horses, goats, guinea pigs and lizards. Help them by joining in this festive evening. Guests will enjoy a relaxing, elegant evening with a full dinner, dessert, fine wines from Heidelberg Distributing Company and Gallo Wines, decorations from Glendale Flowers and Gifts, and music by Estar Cohen & Company. The event will also include a silent auction and a live auction with auctioneer Jerry Anderson from WTOL! Tickets are $45 each. To order tickets and to preview the list of auction items, visit www.woodcountyhumanesociety.org  or follow WCHS on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wchsohio.

MEDICAL BENEFIT FUND FOR SHERYL WITFOTH ESTABLISHED!

Sheryl Witfoth, a single mom of three, was critically injured in an auto accident the day before Thanksgiving 2012. She has been hospitalized with serious injuries, including a brain injury, since the accident. She is slowly improving but continues to struggle with her injuries. This has caused great hardship for her and her family. Sheryl was employed as a rehab aide. Her job was helping injured people recover, and now she needs your help. A fund has been set up at Key Bank for the “Benefit of Sheryl Witfoth” to collect donations to help with the mounting medical bills. Donations can also be dropped off or sent to Toledo Door and Window, 5153 Secor Rd., Toledo.

HUMANE OHIO’S “DID YOU KNOW?” CAMPAIGN TO LAUNCH IN JUNE!

Did you know kittens can go into heat and get pregnant as early as four months old and puppies at five months old? To reduce these accidental births, Humane Ohio, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, is introducing the “Did You Know?” Campaign, featuring a special $20 spay or neuter surgery for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month of June. Spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Pet parents who wish to take advantage of this offer must mention the “Did You Know?” promotion when they call to schedule their appointment, and availability is limited. Thanks to the PetSmart Charities grant, Humane Ohio will spay/neuter 200 puppies/kittens for $20 during June. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 419.266.5607 or visit www.humaneohio.org. (Humane Ohio is located at 3131 Tremainsville, Toledo.)

RELAY FOR LIFE GOLF OUTING JUNE 9 – REGISTRATION DEADLINE MAY 31!

A golf outing to benefit Relay for Life of Oregon will be held on Sunday, June 9, at Eagle’s Landing Golf Club. It’s a 10am shotgun start with registration from 8:45 – 9:45 a.m. This four-person scramble has a max of 144 golfers. Entry fee is $75, which includes a car, 18 holes of golf, lunch and dinner, and prizes, plus a chance to win a cruise for two. Registration deadline is Friday, May 31. For more information, contact Allyson at 419.261.2559 or email teamtscherneRFL@yahoo.com.

ALZHEIMER’S BENEFIT IS JUNE 2!

The first annual Alzheimer’s Benefit will be Sunday, June 2, at 103 W. Andrus Rd., Northwood.  Between 3 – 7 p.m., enjoy music by Ruby and Southern Heritage, plus a spaghetti dinner, silent auction and 50/50 raffle. Cost is $10 at the door.

TYLER JAMES PALMER MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING IS JUNE 8!

The fifth annual Tyler Palmer Memorial Golf Outing will be Saturday, June 8, at Heatherdowns Country Club. The event raises money for a scholarship at Start High School in Tyler’s name. Tyler passed away at the age of 14 after a tragic accident. He was able to give the gift of life to seven people with organ donation, the gift of sight to two and helped numerous others with the gift of tissue donation. An additional cause for the golf outing is to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. Registration is at 7 a.m., the event begins at 8 a.m., and lunch and awards will follow. For more information, call 419.740.2059. 

NIKKI MITCHELL BENEFIT IS JUNE 8!

A medical benefit for Nikki Mitchell will be Saturday, June 8, at Travelers Motorcycle Club, 8950 Dorr St. The all-day event includes a poker run from 12 – 3:30 p.m., which is $10 per bike with lunch available. A BBQ chicken dinner is from 4 – 8 p.m. for $7 with a cash bar followed by entertainment from “Fifth Ace.” There will also be a silent auction, 50/50 raffles, vendors, a bake sale and more. Nikki, who is battling a rare form of lung cancer, is a Toledo native and an art teacher at the Knight Academy. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. 100% of the benefit proceeds will be given to Nikki and her family. Donations can also be made at any Key Bank to the “Nikki Mitchell’s Fight Against Cancer Benefit.” For more information, contact Jillian at 419.480.9297 or jillandianl@gmail.com.

ECHOES OF POLAND SPRING CONCERT IS JUNE 9!

The Echoes of Poland Folk Song and Dance Ensemble will present its 45th annual Spring Concert on Sunday, June 9, at 3 p.m. at Notre Dame Academy on W. Sylvania Ave. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $3 for children. For tickets, call 419.531.8658. Tickets will also be available at the door.

WALK FOR WISHES IS JUNE 15!

K100 welcomes the seventh annual Medical Mutual Toledo Walk for Wishes on Saturday, June 15, at GM/UAW Powertrain Park! Spend the day with family and friends for a 1-mile or 3-mile scenic walk through UAW/GM Powertrain Park, and after the walk, join in the finish line celebration filled with music, food and fun. You will have the opportunity to meet current and past Wish Families and experience the magic of a wish come true! Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. Visit www.wishwalkers.org to register as an individual or team up with co-workers, friends and family. Every participant who raises $100 or more will receive an official Walk for Wishes T-shirt.

KEY BANK KEY TO SAFE DRIVING PROGRAM IS JUNE 18 AT OWENS COLLEGE!

Key Bank and the Mid-Ohio School present Key to Safe Driving for drivers 15 ½ to 20.  This program teaches skills not taught in regular driver’s education programs. The three-hour course will include classroom instruction, wet braking practice (in own vehicle), emergency lane change (in own vehicle) and skid car instruction (in Mid-Ohio skid car).  The Toledo class will be June 18 at Owens Community College. For more information or to register, visit www.keytosafedriving.com.

BENEFIT RIDE FOR TRICIA APPLEHANS IS JUNE 22!

The Tricia Appplehans Benefit Ride will be on Saturday, June 22. Tricia is battling a recurrence of cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy for a year, which has left her unable to work. The ride will help with her mounting medical bills. Registration at Signature Harley Davidson in Perrysburg is from 10 – 11:30 a.m., and the ride escorted by Toledo Mayor Mike Bell and members of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Department leaves at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $20 per rider and $5 per passenger. The ride will end at Hill St. Pub at 6240 Hill Ave., Toledo, with a silent auction, food, drinks and more. For more information, call Katina at 419.514.4603.

RELAY FOR LIFE OTTAWA COUNTY GOLF OUTING IS JULY 6!

The 2013 Relay for Life of Ottawa County Golf Outing will be Saturday, July 6, at Oak Harbor Golf Club. Registration is at 7 a.m., and the shotgun start is at 8 a.m. Entry fee is $240 per team, which includes golf, a cart, lunch, drink tickets, prizes and more. The scramble is limited to the first 36 teams. For more information, contact Mike at 419.707.2902 or mikewinn308@yahoo.com.

KEITH DRESSEL MEMORIAL RIDE IS JULY 13!

The seventh annual Detective Keith Dressel Memorial Ride will be Saturday, July 13, starting at 11 a.m. at Oscar Bunch Powertrain Park on Jackman near Alexis. Registration/check-in starts at 9 a.m. Cost is $25 single rider and $35 with passenger. (Shirt sizes guaranteed when registered by June 28.) The entry fee includes a t-shirt for all riders and passengers, as well as lunch after the ride. Early registration is encouraged at www.rideforkeith.com. Proceeds will go to the Officer William Miscannon Scholarship Fund at Owens Community College in memory of Detective Dressel. For more information, call 419.351.0072.

NATHAN FOUGHT MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING IS JULY 15!

Nathan Fought dedicated his life to the love of his family, friends and community. He served on the Lindsey and Fremont Fire Departments and was loved and respected throughout Sandusky County. In August 2012, Nathan lost his life in a tragic accident, leaving behind his wife and four young boys. In conjunction with the Lindsey Fire Department, the Fremont Firefighters’ Association is sponsoring the Nathan Fought Memorial Golf Outing. 100% of the proceeds will be used to establish an education fund for his sons. The Nathan Fought Memorial Golf Outing will be held at The Fremont Country Club on Monday, July 15. Registration is open to individuals or teams of four. The $75 per person fee includes 18 holes of golf, a cart, lunch at the turn and a special BBQ chicken dinner prepared by volunteers from the Lindsey Fire Department. Check-in for the four-person scramble opens at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. The event wraps up with an awards ceremony to announce the winners of the many contests and fun events throughout the day. Registration also enters golfers into a par-3 hole-in-one contest, where they’ll have a chance to win a car sponsored by the Al Baumann Auto Group. Area businesses can also provide support and promote their business with a variety of affordable sponsorship opportunities. For more information about sponsorships, prize donations or to receive a players’ registration form, contact Ben Fitzpatrick at 419.355.2917 or fitz@glitz.cc. Registration forms can also be found at www.LindseyFire.org. Player registration can be mailed to: Fremont Firefighters’ Association, c/o Mike Mezinger, 506 Pine St., Fremont, OH 43420. Please make checks payable to the Fremont Firefighters’ Association (note Nathan Fought Memorial Golf Outing in the memo area).

PARKER’S PURPOSE DINNER AND AUCTION IS JULY 19!

The annual Parker’s Purpose Dinner, Chinese and Grand Auction Fundraiser will be held Friday, July 19, at Ol’ Zim’s Wagon Shed just off Rt. 20 near Fremont. This year’s speaker will be former OSU football coach Jim Tressel. Doors open at 5 p.m., and dinner is at 6 p.m. Tickets are presale only for $65, or $450 for a table of eight. Only 400 tickets will be sold. Parker’s Purpose gives assistance to children who are ill or disabled whose family is in immediate financial crisis. Parker Ink, now an eighth grade student at St. Joseph Elementary in Fremont, was diagnosed at six months old with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. Parker is mobile with the aid of a wheelchair, and he is an inspiration. For more information or tickets, contact Todd at 419.334.7275 or parkerspurpose@gmail.com or check out www.parkerspurpose.net.

COWBOY UP FOR VETS BENEFIT HORSESHOW IS JULY 20-21!

The annual “Cowboy Up for Vets Horseshow” will be held July 20-21 at the Harry Hughes Youth Equestrian Center (5563 Waterville-Swanton Rd. – Rt. 64 – Swanton). The show will benefit a local military family chosen by the Navy Operations Support Center of Toledo. Opening ceremony will be at 9 a.m. Saturday followed by the Black Swamp Bandits Mounted Shooters. The Harry Hughes Circuit Show will start at 8:30 Sunday. (Check out www.harryhughes.org.) They welcome back “The Virginian,” James Drury, both days from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Donations to support this show are accepted at Key Bank of Waterville. For more information, contact Judy at 419.745.5146 or shaferjudy@windstream.net, or check out the “Cowboy Up for Vets” Facebook page.

SGT. CHRISTOPHER P. MESSER MEMORIAL RUN IS AUGUST 3!

The Sgt. Christopher P. Messer Memorial Run will be Saturday, August 3, starting and ending at the Dundee Veteran’s Memorial Hall (418 Dunham St.). Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the ride starts at 1 p.m. It’s $20 per bike and $10 per rider. They will also have 50/50 drawings, raffle prizes, ride patches, food after the run and more. All proceeds will benefit the fallen and wounded solder’s fund.  For more information, contact Bubba at 734.581-2129 or rickm4him@yahoo.com.

SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME RIDE IS AUGUST 10!

“Ride for a Reason,” the fourth annual Shaken Baby Syndrome of Ohio Awareness Ride and Poker Run, will be Saturday, August 10, starting at Thayer Ford/Nissan, just north of Bowling Green. It will end at the Central Joint Fire District station house at 12179 Mermill Rd., Portage. Sign-in begins at 10 a.m. with first bike out at noon.  It’s $20 per rider or $25 with passenger. That includes a T-shirt, BBQ dinner after the ride and entertainment by the band H2M2. Non-riders can participate in the raffles, music, 50/50s and more after the ride. Proceeds will benefit Shaken Baby Syndrome of Ohio families.

BIRDIE DOG GOLF SCRAMBLE TO BENEFIT TOLEDO AREA HUMANE SOCIETY IS AUGUST 12!

The fourth annual “Birdie Dog Golf Scramble” to benefit the Toledo Area Humane Society will be held Monday, August 12, at Stone Oak Golf Club. This four-person team golfer scramble offers 18 holes of golf at Stone Oak’s 160-acre private 18 hole, par-71 championship golf course, cart rental, driving range usage and locker room access. A lunch buffet will be served to all golfers before their tee time, and the evening will finish with heavy grazing appetizers in the main dining room. Golfers can sign up as individuals and be placed in a group or register as a four-person team. Individual registration is $125 per golfer or $500 per team of four. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place finish, closest to the pin, a hole-in-one contest, “skins” and “in the circle.” For more information, visit  https://www.toledoareahumanesociety.org/index.php?option=com_chronoforms&chronoform=GolfRegistration.

LAURA A. HOWARD MEMORIAL GOLF SCRAMBLE IS AUGUST 17!

The third annual Laura A. Howard Memorial Golf Scramble will be Saturday, August 17, at Giant Oak Golf Course in Temperance. Registration is at 7 a.m., and a shot gun start at 8 a.m. It’s $70 per person, including 18 holes and a cart, hot dog at turn, steak or chicken dinner, prizes including a $3,000 hole-in-one, 50/50s and more. Proceeds will benefit the Washington Local Laura Howard Memorial Scholarship Fund. For more information, call Caroline at 734.854.6322.

HELP THE FAMILY OF BRANDON ROGERS WITH TRANSPLANT-RELATED EXPENSES!
18-year-old Brandon Rogers, of Tecumseh, is suffering from end-stage renal disease and is in need of a life-saving kidney transplant at the University of Michigan. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is assisting the family with transplant-related expenses. An estimated $40,000 is being raised by Tecumseh volunteers. Individuals and groups interested in helping Brandon’s family can contact COTA’s community coordinator at 417.442.9600. Donations can also be mailed to COTA at 2501 W. COTA Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA with “In honor of Brandon K. R.” in the memo line. Secure credit card donations will be accepted online at http://cota.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforBrandonKR/.

SIGHT FOR KONNOR FUND ESTABLISHED!
4-year-old Konnor Opp was diagnosed with a rare condition known as Septo-Optic-Dysplasia. This condition has left him completely blind due to small optic nerves. Until recently, there was no hope for Konnor to ever have vision. China is now performing umbilical cord stem cell infusions, which is helping thousands of children just like Konnor gain their sight. However, cost for the treatment is over $18,000. Any contributions to Konnor and his family will be greatly appreciated. There is an account at Fifth Third Bank under “Konnor Opp Benefit.” For more information, visit www.sightforkonnor.org.

TOLEDO'S PET BULL PROJECT!
Toledo’s PET Bull Project stands for Prevent, Educate and Train. They offer FREE training in the inner city parks all summer to help people build better relationships with and become better advocates for their dogs. They also offer pet safety classes and work with juvenile detention to educate our youth. For more information, check out their Facebook page or their website, www.toledospetbullproject.com.

CELL PHONES FOR SOLDIERS!
Donate your old phone to Cell Phones for Soldiers. They hope to collect over 50,000 unused cell phones this year. Proceeds will be used to purchase calling cards for our troops so they can stay connected with their families. There is a drop box available from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday at the main entrance at Coyle Funeral Home on South Reynolds Road and also at Great Smiles Dentistry, located at 4646 Nantucket Drive, Toledo, just off Monroe Street. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.

MOBILE MEALS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!
Can you spare an hour or two a month for Mobile Meals of Toledo Inc.? We’re looking for 12 new regularly scheduled volunteers and six “spares,” folks that will substitute when needed, at each of our six pickup sites by the end of the year. You live near one of them, so contact us about becoming a volunteer! It only takes an hour to deliver meals to 14 people. You can make a big difference in their day and make a difference in your day, too! Our delivery system is designed around the lunch hour, so businesses, as well as individuals can participate. Contact us for information about on-site training classes. If you’ve been thinking about volunteering but haven’t decided where, Mobile Meals is a great place to start. For more information, call the Mobile Meals office at 419.255.7806, or contact our volunteer programs director at cbush@mobilemeals.org.

FIND A CURE FOR KINSER!

Kinser was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis on August 6, 2010, shortly after celebrating his fourth birthday. His parents are hoping to raise awareness of this disease and help raise money for a cure! To learn more, visit   http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/kinser/kinsersfundraisingpage.

BENEFIT FUND ESTABLISHED FOR HOLLY GILL AND FAMILY!
A benefit fund has been established to help Holly Gill and her family, who lost their home in a fire in Delta, on September 26. She has four children who are in need of the basics, including clothing. The fund has been established at Huntington Bank under the name Holly Gill. They are also asking businesses to donate items for a possible benefit. For more information, email Holly at hollygill33@gmail.com.