Virtual Flea Market planned for Saturday
The Hamilton Flea will be held virtually from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Local artisans will go live online to talk about their products.
A virtual yoga session will be held at 9 a.m.
To attend, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/844062959398796/?active_tab=discussion. STAFF REPORT
WEST CHESTER TWP.
New Pen Pal Connection invites community to correspond
Chesterwood Village in West Chester has teamed with Home Instead Senior Care to create the Pen Pal Connection. The new program links interested youth and adults with active seniors who have been isolated due to the Covid-19 crisis.
“This is a terrific opportunity to glean some of the wisdom and history that ‘the Greatest Generation’ has to offer,” says Jane Gegner, marketing director for Chesterwood Village, part of the Hillandale Family of Companies.
“We are very excited to partner with Chesterwood Village for this program,” says Suzanne Bryan, community relations liaison for Home Instead Senior Care. “Having a pen pal will create a great sense of care and connection for those participating. Writing and receiving a hand-written letter is a true gift for several reasons, including physical and mental benefits for seniors such as improved memory and reduced anxiety.”
Those who sign up for the free program in May will receive a Pen Pal Connection Kit consisting of writing paper, pen and other useful items. Once assigned to a senior, the duo can work out the length of the relationship and how often writing will occur.
“Now, more than ever, many seniors are struggling with isolation and feelings of loneliness,” explains Bryan. “Having the opportunity to cultivate a new friendship will help provide social interaction and serves as a meaningful purpose of belonging.”
To join the program and receive a kit and correspondence information, contact Jane Gegner at 513-326-4000. CONTRIBUTED
BUTLER COUNTY
Humane society food pantry available
The Animal Friends Humane Society food pantry is available on a first come, first serve. If a family is in need of dog or cat food, contact the outreach coordinator at 513-877-3530 to set up a time to pick up food. No ID needed and no contact is advised.
The society can not guarantee brands for anyone. STAFF REPORT
WARREN COUNTY
Board expands hotline services to help residents feeling isolated
Residents of Warren and Clinton Counties who have concerns about their mental health in connection with the COVID-19 crisis can now call the established hotline to ask questions and get advice free of charge.
“We’re excited to expand the hotline services to include ‘warmline’ services,” said Jeff Rhein, deputy director of Outpatient, Substance Use Disorder and Criminal Justice Services at Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren & Clinton Counties (MHRB). “With upticks in mental health concerns around COVID-19, people living in our two counties can get answers to many of their mental health questions. And, if they’d like to talk further with a therapist, they can ask to do that, too.”
Julie Payton, deputy director of Special Projects for MHRB, said the opportunity to expand is timely. “With COVID-19 keeping people indoors more, many folks might be feeling isolated. We want them to know that even though they may be by themselves or seeing fewer people for the time being, they are not alone.”
The service is free to all residents of Warren and Clinton Counties.
Any resident with questions about mental health and COVID-19 can call 877-695-6333 any time of day, seven days a week. Trained staff will talk with callers to answer questions about mental health and substance use, and offer some strategies and tips as needed. Callers who wish to talk with a therapist will be transferred or will quickly receive a call back.
CONTRIBUTED
HAMILTON
DAR donated homemade masks
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) has launched its National Service to America Project to provide homemade face masks to those in need. As of May 2, more than 250,000 masks have been sewn by members for military personnel, Native Americans, health care workers, essential workers, immunocompromised individuals and others.
Members of the John Reily Chapter, DAR of Hamilton, are participating in the National Society’s Project and to date have produced over 500 masks. These masks have been distributed to friends, neighbors, relatives, health care workers, postal workers and the Salvation Army.
For more information about the John Reily Chapter, email Vastinemj@yahoo.com. CONTRIBUTED
HAMILTON
Food pantry sees demand double
The Open Door Food Pantry has been feeding many new clients since the beginning of the COVID-19 shut-downs. For instance, on April 24, volunteers distributed 43 boxes of food in a two-hour period, during which they would normally serve no more than 20 people. Each box of food feeds a family of five for 3-5 days.
Before the pandemic, hungry clients came in once a month to get an emergency supply of groceries and frozen items for their families. Each client presented an ID with proof of residence in Butler County or a membership card and selected the food their family needed. Now, with the current Covid19 crisis, any hungry person is welcome to come for a box of food with no need to register. The boxes of food, which will be available at least until June 1, can be picked up inside the Pantry or loaded directly into client’s cars for those needing assistance. New procedures were instituted to protect the health and safety of the clients and volunteers. Staff are wearing masks, surfaces are regularly sanitized, and contact between clients and staff is minimized.
The pantry welcomes donations on line at www.opendoorfoodpantry.org or by mail at The Open Door Food Pantry, 800 S. Front St., Hamilton, Ohio 45011. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and noon to 2 p.m. on Fridays.
For more information, call the Pantry Director, Michael Reardon, at 513-330-2423. CONTRIBUTED
REGION
Film Cincinnati Cares for Crew effort expanding
Because of the tremendous initial response to the Film Cincinnati Cares for Crew program launched April 13 to support out-of-work area production crew members, the program is being expanded to help even more workers affected by the movie industry shutdown.
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the McLane and Haile foundations along with Kroger are making $30,000 available to fund $100 gift cards that are being given away via random drawing to qualified crew members. The gift cards will support area film production freelancers who are currently unemployed because of the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to shop for essentials during this time. In addition, Randall Emmett, who has produced a number of Bruce Willis movies in Cincinnati, has donated $1,000 to the crew fund.
For more information, visit www.filmcincinnati.com. CONTRIBUTED
HAMILTON
Sculpture park reopened for members
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum has reopened for members only. Memberships may be purchased at the park or prior on the web site.
Pyramid Hill will reopen in phases to ensure that the park is able to provide the safest experience for all. Park hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members check in at the gatehouse and have their membership card or proof of purchase visible.
All indoor facilities are closed. All park restrooms and water fountains will be turned off and closed. Guests need to keep social distancing practices.
For more information, go to www.pyramidhill.org. STAFF REPORT
REGION
UC Health resumes some health care services
UC Health resumed limited surgeries and procedures in accordance with Responsible RestartOhio.
A task force of leaders from across the health system is working together to plan a Responsible Return that prioritizes the needs and safety of patients, families, and employees. UC Health is partnering with Greater Cincinnati health care organizations and state leaders to ensure we have the right resources needed to reopen services.
UC Health providers will work with patients to reschedule surgeries and procedures that were previously postponed or canceled. Procedures will be determined by the clinical judgment of physicians and with the safety and well-being of patients and employees top-of-mind.
During the coming weeks, patients will be contacted by their providers to discuss their needs. Each case will be considered individually to ensure the proper safety precautions are in place, including pre-procedure COVID-19 testing if deemed necessary. CONTRIBUTED
CLEARCREEK TWP.
Return to regular office hours at government center
Clearcreek Twp. started regular office hours Monday, however, in light of the precautions mandated by the governor’s office, the township will practice modified operations until further notice.
The staff will be accessible by telephone and email as they have been the past month-and-a-half, and encourage citizens and those having business with the township to utilize those means of communication, but the township will also begin to receive the public in our lobby by appointment only. This is necessary for a variety of reasons.
The township wants to make certain to manage the number of people in the lobby at any given time, in light of the size of the room. With more than three or four people present at any time, social distancing becomes difficult in the lobby.
Any person coming to the Government Center is asked to make certain to have on a mask - N-95, surgical, or bandana - or they will not be served in person at that time by the staff.
For more information, call 937-748-1267, or info@clearcreektownship.com. CONTRIBUTED
MONROE
Chapter supports local community during health crisis
The Nathaniel Sackett Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is helping the Monroe Food Pantry by donating to their food bank, ensuring support for Monroe’s residents during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Chapter members Donna Idle and her sister Sue Griffey, both of Middletown, made a hand-sewn mask for each Daughter. Due to Ohio’s sheltering in place, a mask was mailed to each member’s home by Sue.
Nationwide, DAR chapters from all 50 states have been participating in the organization’s Service to America From Home initiative by supporting a variety of efforts in local communities, including creating care packages for essential workers, food to those with diminished resources, and responding to the medical mask shortage by hand-sewing masks to donate to medical facilities in need. More than 140,000 masks have been homemade and sewn by DAR members across the country and thousands more are produced every day to be distributed in local communities.
For DAR membership inquiries and other questions about the Nathaniel Sackett Chapter, contact Lana Elliott at dar1776_4july@outlook.com. CONTRIBUTED
BUTLER COUNTY
Culvert replacement scheduled for U.S. 27
Crews from Ohio Dept. of Transportation’s (ODOT) Butler County Highway Maintenance Facility will undertake a culvert replacement project on U.S. Route 27, requiring a five-day closure of the route.
U.S. 27 will be closed just north of Millville at approximately 8 a.m., and the closure will remain in effect until 3 p.m. Friday, or until all work is completed.
The project site is located between Minton and Woodbine roads, and while the route is closed, traffic will be detoured by way of Ohio 130, Boyle Road and Ohio 129.
For more information, visit www.OHGO.com. CONTRIBUTED
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