Special to 1812Blockhouse
On Thursday, the Richland County Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Several representatives from Richland Newhope/Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities and RNI, Inc. were in attendance for the proclamation, which took place before the Commissioner’s regular Thursday meeting. Richland Newhope values and truly appreciates the on-going support received from the Richland County Commissioners.
Statewide and across the nation, organizations devoted to serving individuals with developmental disabilities are holding special events to raise public awareness of the many abilities people have, regardless of their disability. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The talk Friday centered on Downtown Shelby during the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development’s second “Fri-Yay” presented on Facebook Live. These half hour noontime discussions focus providing insight into happenings and projects in the Richland County area.
Chamber CEO and President Jodie Perry introduced two members of the Shelby Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), who shared details of a three phase downtown revitalization project taking place along Main Street over the next two to three years.
CIC representatives Jake Penwell and Cody Albert first reviewed where the CIC has been in recent years and the re-orienting that has led to the current effort. As an entity focused on collaboration between public and private sectors, the group now has three main focal points — serving as a catalyst for economic growth, rebuilding the core of the city pursuant to the Revitalization and Placemaking Plan, and solidifying its own organization . More…
Downtown Shelby, Featured, Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development, Shelby
Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Renaissance Theatre is excited to announce the latest streaming production of their new film division, Ren Studios. Heartaches: The Music of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn will premiere April 1 and be available for viewing through the end of that month.
These two legendary and unforgettable performers would go on to change the face of American music. Patsy Cline, with her plaintive, heartbreaking vocal style, set the charts ablaze with hits like Crazy, I Fall to Pieces and Walking After Midnight. Loretta Lynn, the coal miner’s daughter from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, turned country music on its ear with heartfelt and sometimes controversial songs about marital infidelity, poverty, and birth control. Heartaches: The Music of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn is not a biographical portrait of two immortal entertainers, but rather a collection of their music that mirrors the struggle of all women. More…
By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Outdoor and indoor sports and entertainment facilities can reopen with limited attendance under rules announced Thursday by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. He also said guidance for proms, banquets, wedding receptions, fairs, festivals, and parades is coming soon.
The attendance limits could be further eased depending on the progress of the coronavirus pandemic this spring and summer, but could also be restricted if things worsen because of the coronavirus variant, the governor said.
DeWine said outdoor venues can reopen with a maximum 30% capacity and indoor venues with 25% capacity. Social distancing and continued mask wearing are key to making these limits work, the governor said. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
What’s hundreds of miles in length, takes place on four days in March, and can best be done this time of year?
It’s the 2021 Ohio Maple Madness Driving Tour, brought to you by the Ohio Maple Producers Association.
The event takes place on March 6 & 7 and 13 & 14 at venues all across the Buckeye State. Many of the locations are in the counties of central Ohio and neighboring areas, although some will take place in all four corners of Ohio. More…
Special to 1812Blockhouse
The nasally bugles of a flock of sandhill cranes passing overhead is a sound and experience not soon forgotten. Thanks to monitoring and conservation work by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife and partnering organizations, cranes can be sighted at Ohio’s wetlands and are once again breeding in the state – including in Richland County.
In 1987, the first pair of sandhill cranes returned to breed in Ohio after they were extirpated from the Buckeye State. In 2020, biologists estimated 58 breeding pairs and confirmed 25, producing upwards of 28 offspring. The slowly expanding breeding population indicates the success of ongoing conservation work, but sandhills are still listed as a threatened species in Ohio. Much work remains until their awe-inducing calls are heard with regularity. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
There is still an opportunity to catch the first Mansfield Art Center exhibition in its 2021 Calendar, a calendar which begins with an exhibition showcasing local artists and ends with the 52nd Annual Holiday Fair this November.
On view through this weekend, the initial exhibition, In Between Everywhere, sets out to highlight the work of 42 central Ohio artists in multiple mediums and styles. Each was chosen for consistency of vision and quality of work.
Curator for the exhibition is Adam Brouillette of Blockfort Gallery. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Bob Weaver, Deputy Director of the ODOT District Three office in Ashland, is featured in the newest Community Pulse! Podcast on Spotify.
Community Pulse is presented by the engineering and design firm Environmental Design Group. Each week the host is joined by an expert in these fields to, in the words of the podcast home page, “uncover the hard-hitting insights that drive our economy, organizations, and communities forward. If you want to hear about visions for the future, resilient leadership and lessons learned, you’ve come to the right place.”
In his position, Weaver provides oversight duties for a team of 374 employees. During the last major snowfall, some 110 crews were out plowing the snow and treating the roads. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The Ohio Department of Transporation (ODOT) has been talking what it calls “active modes of transportation” as of late — walking and biking in particular.
To that end, the Department has taken research into these areas and input from meetings with stakeholders and created a plan of action. You are now invited to join in that process.
ODOT has released Walk.Bike.Ohio, Ohio’s first statewide plan for active modes of transportation. The themes, strategies and action steps contained in Walk.Bike.Ohio will address the plan’s goals of safety, equity, network connectivity, network utilization, preservation and quality of life. So many of our residents depend on walking or bicycling to remain mobile and connected; and so many also are choosing and prioritizing healthy, sustainable lifestyles. More…
Coming off of the momentum of the 2019 United Way of Richland County campaign, Mansfield City Schools was excited to engage with staff again on behalf of students and families. The district raised over $14,000 through January. This is an increase from the 2019 amount of $9,754, far surpassing the 2020 goal of $10,000.
“I can’t thank the staff and the leadership enough for their support of our organization,” said Dan Varn, Executive Director of United Way of Richland County. “The strength of the United Way is when we come together,” he added, noting that over 100 MCS staff members participated.
Each year, the staff at MCS are asked to contribute to the campaign to support programs and services that directly enhance life for MCS students and families. Staff can choose from various areas of giving including health services, youth development and family engagement. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
Snow Trails has one ongoing and two upcoming events over the next two weeks that include races and a special slalom course.
Click on any of the following for additional information:
Special to 1812Blockhouse
The Ohio State University at Mansfield awards scholarships each year to new and returning students. Applications for scholarships are open until March 1, 2021. Students who are interested in applying for a scholarship should review the qualification information here.
Students finance their college education in a number of ways including a part-time job, financial aid or loans. Scholarships also play a key role in helping many students lower the cost of their total investment in earning a degree.
Linda Cho, a freshman biology student at The Ohio State University at Mansfield, has received scholarships from The Ohio State University Alumni Club of Richland County and the Ohio State Mansfield Scholarship Endowment Fund. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
The Renaissance Performing Arts Association has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
According to a press release, “The National Endowment for the Arts is pleased to announce the first round of recommended awards for fiscal year 2021 totaling $27,562,040. Supported projects span 14 artistic disciplines in communities throughout the United States. Also included in this announcement are the recipients of NEA Literature Fellowships in creative writing and translation and support for arts research projects.
“The creativity and resilience of artists and arts organizations across the country have inspired Americans during this challenging year,” said Arts Endowment Acting Chairman Ann Eilers. More…
By 1812Blockhouse
You’ve undoubtedly read about or heard news that the rates of COVID-19 infections have been going down nationally and across Ohio.
To see where things lie in that regard, we’re taking another snapshot using figures from Richland Public Health and the Ohio Department of Health, comparing numbers released on Monday with those shared three weeks earlier, on February 1.
According to the latest figures today from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 821,016 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, to date — 977 more than reported Sunday, including 84 new cases in the Mahoning Valley.
Of the state’s total cases, about 48,545 are presumed to be active infections.
The weekly volume of virus testing statewide has steadily decreased since late November. The average percent of positive tests continues a downward trend that began in early January.
So far this month, agencies statewide have administered an average 9,004 fewer tests per day than in January.
As a result of a data error at ODH, up to 4,000 COVID-19 deaths were not counted since October. The department has been adding the deaths to the state toll since last week.
Richland Public Health shared the following statistics on Monday (number in parenthesis is the same figure from February 1).
Last Friday, we reported on a dramatic decrease in infection among Richland County school students and staff. That post can be read here.
Reposted in part with permission from MahoningMatters.com – original post can be read here. Local information added from Richland Public Health; Image by Jeyaratnam Caniceus from Pixabay
Coronavirus, Featured, Public Health, Richland Public Health
By 1812Blockhouse
This was the first post in our series which looks at the ways in which Mansfielders, past and present, have been involved with books, poetry, music, and other written works. We’ve been calling this series, “Literary Mansfield.”
Our first subject back in 2017 was a resident of Mansfield for some, but not all, of his long life. The saga of Salathiel Coffinberry began in Lancaster, Ohio in 1809; he was the son of that city’s first newspaper editor. More…
