14 things to know today about coronavirus changes in Butler, Warren counties

Veterans Memorial Scholarship golf outing canceled

In order to decrease the possibility of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the 12th Annual Veterans Memorial Scholarship Golf Outing has been cancelled for Aug. 15.

If a person would like to continue to support the Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund, they can still do that by sending sponsorships to Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 853, Middletown, Ohio 45042-0853.

A golf outing will be planned for 2021. STAFF REPORT

OXFORD TWP.

Trustees to hold special meeting

The April 13 regular meeting of the Oxford Twp. Trustees has been cancelled. A special meeting is scheduled for April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Township Hall.

Although the public is welcome, the only business will be approval of financial reports and payment of bills. No other items will be introduced and no public comment will be taken.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 18. CONTRIBUTED

REILY TWP.

Annual program canceled

The Reily Twp. Historical Society’s annual “Show and Tell” program scheduled for Tuesday, at the Reily Twp. Community Center, has been cancelled, due to Covid-19.

For more information call Mike Condo, President, 513-376-1340. CONTRIBUTED

REGION

Kroger sales surge 30 percent in March during coronavirus stockpiling

Kroger announced April 1 that shopper stockpiling throughout much of March drove caused sales to sharply accelerate to the tune of approximately 30 percent, excluding fuel.

“This was driven by dramatically heightened demand in the middle of the month as customers were stockpiling, which then tapered, but remained higher than normal in the final week, as customers adjusted to the new dining, work and travel restrictions,” the company said in a release. “The demand has been broad based across grocery and fresh departments.

The Cincinnati-based supermarket operator, the nation’s largest, said sales were already strong in February as shoppers started stocking up. The COVID-19 pandemic “triggered a significantly greater lift in sales across both physical retail stores and digital channels in March,” a surger that tapered but remained higher than normal in the final week, as customers adjusted to the new dining, work and travel restrictions.

Kroger said demand has been broad based across grocery and fresh departments, but it is too early to speculate what will emerge as the “new normal” in food consumption at home or what the impact on sales will be in future periods. ERIC SCHWARTZBERG

MASON

City to hold committee meetings

The Finance Committee of Council is scheduled to meet at 11 a.m. today. The Economic Development Committee of Council is scheduled to meet at 11:45 a.m. today.

In accordance with Governor’s orders and new public meeting guidelines in effect until Dec. 31, those interested in viewing the meeting can do so by visiting the City of Mason’s website at www.imaginemason.org. CONTRIBUTED

CARLISLE

Community blood drive planned

Hillcrest Baptist church will host the Carlisle and Franklin community blood drive from 3 to 7 p.m. April 13. The Community Blood Center (CBC) Bloodmobile will be at 820 Central Ave. CBC is strongly advising donors to make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com or call 937-461-3220 to allow for orderly and safe social distancing at blood drives and efficient blood collection.

Community Blood Center is relying on donors to maintain the blood supply as the community acts to halt the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. CBC is emphasizing it is safe to donate. Blood drives are exempt from the Ohio Department of Health Stay at Home Order and eligible donors are free to leave their homes to donate.

CBC is enforcing social distancing at blood drives to protect donors and staff and is taking measures to avoid over-collecting. CBC must continue to supply red cells, platelets and plasma to its regional hospitals. Red cells are frequently needed in surgeries and emergencies. Automated donations of platelets and plasma are critical for the treatment of cancer, trauma, transplant, and burn patients. CONTRIBUTED

HAMILTON

80 Acres Farm introduces curbside produce pickup

Hamilton’s 80 Acres Farms will offer direct-to-customer curbside pickup from two of its local farms as the COVID-19 pandemic affects the availability of produce.

“We have had many loyal customers over the years request a direct from farm pick-up service,” said Rebecca Haders, vice president of marketing and creative for the vertical farming business, which opened two new locations in Hamilton in 2019 and relocated its headquarters there.

“With the current situation, we felt that it was a great time to give it a try. We want to support our community with local, fresh and nutritious foods in this time of need.”

Customers may order from 80 Acres Farms online at https://shop.80acresfarms.com/ and select from two bundle options with favorite products, with each bundle a mix of current retail products. Each week the selection may vary based on availability, Haders said.

The bundles will be available for touchless curbside pickups from 4 to 6 p.m. on Fridays and from noon to 2 p.m. Sundays at the downtown Hamilton location at 319 S. Second St and Cincinnati’s Spring Grove Village location at 4535 Este Ave. Customers will text a confirmation number for an order to be brought curbside. ERIC SCHWARTZBERG

FAIRFIELD

Update on city events during health crisis

All Fairfield City Parks and Recreation classes, programs, and events are cancelled or postponed through the month of April.

Priority registration for All-day Fun Camp and Adventure Camp is delayed. Summer registration for programs and events is delayed.

The Fairfield Community Arts Center, basketball courts, golf courses, Marsh Lake, and FurField Dog Park will also remain closed to the public.

The city plans to resume operations May 4, pending future directives from city or government officials.

The city has staff available to answer any questions via phone. Call from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 513-867-5348. CONTRIBUTED

WEST CHESTER TWP.

Food pantry in need of items

As citizens are dealing with schools being closed and people not being able to go to work, Reach Out Lakota is seeing a jump in demand for food requests. Items that the pantry needs and run out of first include the following:

Additionally, the pantry is in need of the following items in the Supplements section of the Food Pantry:

People can donate items in the sheds behind the buildings 24 hours a day. People can also place an order with Amazon and have the food items shipped to Reach Out Lakota, 6561 Station Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069.

For more information, go to www.reachoutlakota.org. STAFF REPORT

BUTLER COUNTY

New service will reduce risk while meeting community need for care

A few months ago Primary Health Solutions (PHS), made the very timely decision to begin ramping up a process to provide virtual visits for their patients.

PHS operates as a federally qualified health center, and as such is a public health safety-net provider of primary care medicine including family practice, OB/GYN, and pediatrics, vision and dental care services. Recently, PHS greatly expanded their behavioral health practice to include medically assisted treatment for addiction, substance abuse counseling, adult and pediatric psychiatry and counseling services.

In the past two weeks the practice has pivoted in response to the Federal and State mandates to cease routine dental and vision care services in an effort to preserve personal protection equipment (PPE) for the coming demands. The organization has moved from the traditional model of scheduling in-person, in-office visits for medical and behavioral health to a low risk, highly efficient virtual model of care that still offers office visits for patients who are the most ill, or in need of specialized care such as OB care or emergency dental procedures.

The organization has been working closely with both Butler County and Montgomery County Health Commissioners to be a resource for those who need care, and has set up a virtual care process for Butler County Homeless Coalition in order to assist clients residing in area shelters.

Here’s how the process works:

• Patients call 513-454-1111 or 937-535-5060

• Schedulers have an intake process for new patients

• Existing patients are scheduled for either a virtual visit or nurse consult to prepare for an in-office visit (when appropriate)

• Patients who need emergency dental procedures are scheduled at either the 210 S. 2nd St., Hamilton or 1036 S. Verity Parkway, Middletown locations

• Express Care locations are open for walk-ins from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 days per week. Locations are 903 NW Washington Blvd., Hamilton; 1036 S. Verity Pkwy., Middletown; and 300 Forest Ave., Dayton.

Primary Health Solutions is accepting new patients, accepts most insurance plans and offers a sliding fee scale for uninsured individuals. CONTRIBUTED

MIDDLETOWN

Baby pantry open for pickups

Following federal CDC guidelines, the Robert “Sonny” Hill Jr. Community Center will remain closed to the public until April 30. Although the Community Center is closed, the Community-Building Institute (CBI) Middletown is committed to providing needed services in a way that is safe to the public and to the staff.

The Robert Sonny Hill has resumed serving free meals and snacks to local youth on a pick up basis only. This takes place from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Fridays, three meals are available to cover the weekend.

CBI’s Parent Resource Center Baby Pantry (PRC) will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for anyone need diapers, formula or wipes. To receive these items, call 513-217-4982 by noon for pickup that day. A person will need to leave their name, diaper size, formula type and pick up time. A person may pick up supplies without making a reservation. Come to the PRC door, ring the doorbell, have your name, diaper size, formula type written on a piece of paper, large print as the person will hold this paper up to the glass window for the attendant to see and wait for the order to be filled.

Should there be a line, PRC encourages all clients to practice social distancing while waiting. CONTRIBUTED

MIDDLETOWN

Art center to host virtual exhibition

The Middletown Arts Center will host a virtual exhibition of the Congressional Art Competition with the support of Cincinnati State Middletown Campus. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Congressional Arts Caucus coordinates an annual art competition for high school students. This competition provides a unique opportunity to recognize the rich artistic talents of high school students throughout the nation. U.S. Representative Warren Davidson invited students who reside in Ohio’s 8th Congressional District to participate in “An Artistic Discovery’” – the 2020 competition and national exhibit.

This prestigious competition features three categories: Photography, All Other Permissible Media, and Scenes from Ohio’s 8th.

Grand prize piece is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, winner gets tickets for two to fly with Southwest for the national reception in Washington, DC, scholarships offered.

First Place winner is displayed for one year in the Washington, DC, office of Rep. Warren Davidson. Six OH-08 winners will be displayed in the offices of Rep. Warren Davidson for one year.

Ohio District 8’s Competition exhibit will be displayed virtually via the Middletown Arts Center’s website, www.middletownartscenter.com, and social media platforms, revealing the winners, on April 4. This exhibit runs through April 14. CONTRIBUTED

FAIRFIELD

Pantry to hold drive-thru

Shared Harvest Foodbank will hold a Drive-Thru Food Pantry from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at 5901 Dixie Highway.

Attendees must bring a photo ID to be served. Recipients must be residents of Butler County.

The food will vary based on availability, but may include meat, produce, dry/boxed foods, frozen foods, breads, etc.

People can also text @foodbutler to 810-10 to receive updates via text message on future distributions. CONTRIBUTED

SPRINGBORO

School fundraiser planned for COVID-19 situation

Just before the COVID-19 situation set in locally, the Five Points Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) was in the process of finalizing their spirit-wear fundraiser with Image Mark-It, a local printing/embroidering company located in downtown Springboro.

A few days into the quarantine, the Five Points Elementary PTO made the decision to shift the focus of their fundraising efforts. In light of the current situation affecting those all around, it didn’t feel right to have a spirit-wear fundraiser when so many people in the community and surrounding areas are hurting.

After some discussions as a board, along with the partners at Image Mark-It, the Five Points Elementary PTO came to the conclusion that this fundraiser still needed to happen, but with a new twist. Instead of Five Points Elementary benefiting from the sales, the Springboro Community Assistance Center (SCAC) will receive all of the proceeds from this fundraiser.

For more information or to order, go to https://borofeedthecommunity.itemorder.com/sale.

The proceeds from every item on this online store will go to benefit the SCAC in Springboro, which is currently providing food for more than 450 individuals on free/reduced lunch within the Springboro Schools’ district. Normally, the SCAC will provide meals to families only twice per month. However, given the statewide quarantine, the SCAC is now providing meals to families three days per week.

At checkout, people may choose to pick up their order curbside at Image Mark-It (305 S. Main St. Springboro), or have your item shipped. If an order totals $50 or more, people will receive free shipping. Deadline for this fundraiser is April 12. CONTRIBUTED

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