March 1 is the start of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Allen County Board of Development Disabilities has announced:
We will be celebrating all month long. Our theme this year is "Step by Step: From Vision to Reality," which is a continuation of 2024's theme that focused on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant, accessibility and inclusion. Look for the billboards, connect on social media or find other ways to learn more about developmental disabilities during March.
On the morning of March 5, 2025, Allen County EMA will be conducting its annual exercise. Due to the exercise, there will be an increased amount of vehicles, to include some first responder vehicles at the Allen County EMA facility. The exercise is expected to last the majority of the morning.
LIMA — The Lima-Allen County Regional Planning Commission (LACRPC) has announced that Rebecca Phillips is its new executive director. The vote was made official in a special board meeting with the organization’s executive committee on Feb. 20. Phillips’ new role became effective immediately following the vote.
LACRPC is also the administrator for the newly designated West Central Ohio Rural Planning Organization (WORPO), which came to fruition in December 2024. “With our service area expanding from Allen County to now include seven additional counties because of WORPO, I want to ensure we continue to meet the needs of all of our stakeholders,” Phillips explained. “We have a lot of projects coming up, so I’m looking forward to sharing and discussing them with the community.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio– The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is urging Ohioans to follow the state’s outdoor burning regulations and to take precautions if they plan to burn debris this spring. Ohio law dictates that most outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. March through May.
“Each spring, wildfires ignite in Ohio due to careless trash and debris burning,” said ODNR Division of Forestry Chief Dan Balser. “If Ohioans follow safe burning practices and obey regulations, they can help prevent wildfires.”
FINDLAY, OH—The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved grants totaling $770,654.84 at the February board meeting. This total includes seven responsive grants and 164 donor advised fund grants.
Among grants of special interest to the Bluffton area, the West Ohio Land Conservancy was awarded $56,600 to support hiring a part-time executive director.
The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District has issued the attached 12-page Spring 2025 newsletter which is also available as a print mailer. Content includes:
Director's Corner "Core Focus" by Tyler Black
2025 Summer Day Camps
Naturalist Notebook by Dan Hodges, "It Starts at Home!
Spring programs for March, April and May
Ottawa Metro Park Campground season opening in April
Donations
Cooperative Park Improvement Grant awards for 2025
Volunteer training in March and May
Volunteer opportunities
Pulling of invasive weeds at Motter Metro Park is scheduled for May 5. Volunteers can sign up via the Volunteer Portal, VicNet.
