News from BG: September 15, 2021
Bowling Green Remembers the 20th 9/11 Anniversary with Ceremony

Community members joined the City of Bowling Green on Saturday, September 11th to honor and remember those who lost their lives 20 years ago as a result of the attacks on September 11, 2001. The ceremony, organized by City Employee, Les Southwick, included members of the Police & Fire Honor Guard and words from Mayor Mike Aspacher, Fire Chief Bill Moorman, Police Sergeant Adam Skaff, and Imam Ahmad Deeb, Islamic Center of Greater Toledo.

"It’s hard to believe 20 years have passed since the attacks on September 11th. Most of us remember that day like it was yesterday," Mayor Aspacher said. As we continue to mourn and heal as a nation, there’s great opportunity to recognize and honor our differences while working to combat the hatred that threatens to divide us."
Hot Weather + Your Utility Bill

This month's Utility Bill a little higher than expected? First, look closely at the utility bill to determine where the increase has occurred. The utility bill contains the amount owed for electric, water, sewer, and the refuse/recycling fee. In most cases, the increase in charges is a result of a higher usage in electricity or water. During extremely hot periods in the summer months, air conditioning, poor insulation, and pool filters/heaters can result in higher electric usage. Watering lawns and landscaping during dry periods will also increase the amount of water used.

The Utility Insight program can help determine which utility is causing the excess usage and when. The Efficiency Smart program and a Home Energy Audit are great resources for increasing efficiency and save money!
Celebrate Pollinators with BioBlitz & Pollinator Palooza

The Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Department is hosting a BioBlitz event as part of the national Parks for Pollinators campaign, which is aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of pollinators and positioning parks as national leaders in advancing pollinator health. Organized by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz event is held during September.

Work at your leisure to advance the health of local pollinators, which are essential to our ecosystem. Participants are asked to download an app called iNaturalist and then take pictures of plants and pollinators present at Wintergarden Preserve/St. Johns Woods and Simpson Garden Park on September 11 – September 26, contributing to a scientific inventory of pollinator species within these parks...continue reading pollinators

BG Police Division to Provide LNEET

The Bowling Green Police Division will be providing Late Night Establishment Employee Training, or LNEET (formerly Liquor Establish Employee Training or LEET) on Wednesday, September 29, 2021. The training will run from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM and will focus on civil liability, state and local liquor laws, and fake ID recognition.

Education on the prevention and mitigation of discriminatory conduct will be provided as well. Employees and management staff of local businesses (bars and retail outlets) that sell alcoholic beverages as well as businesses open to the public during overnight hours are encouraged to attend.

This training will take place at the Bowling Green Police Division’s Training Room at 175 W. Wooster St.

Registration is required via the Bowling Green Police Division website. Registration closes at 8 AM on September 29, 2021.

Please contact Detective Matt Robinson at 419-352-1131 or at mbrobinson@bgohio.org with any questions.

The session is free and certificates will be presented to attendees.
Black Swamp Glow Roll September 25th

In partnership with the Wood County Park District, the City of Bowling Green will be hosting a nocturnal, family-friendly, bright bike ride along the Slippery Elm Trail. The ride will meet at the Black Swamp Preserve on Saturday, September 25th at 7:00 PM. Riders will learn important safety tips for riding at night and Bike Safety Commission members will install free bike lights for those who need them.

Show off your creativity by bringing glow sticks and glow-in-the dark bike decorations to light up the trail. Provided decorations and glow sticks are limited at the program venue. Decorating is from 7:00 – 7:45, and the ride begins at 8:00 PM. Stops will feature nocturnal facts and features along the trail as we ride.

This ride will cover roughly 5 miles down the Slippery Elm Trail and back. Rides are free, family-friendly, and open to everyone. Each rider is required to wear a properly-fitted helmet and ride a correctly-sized bicycle in safe, working mechanical order. It is highly recommended that young riders, who are still learning to ride, participate via a tow behind trailer or child bike seat. These rides are meant to be more recreational in nature and will travel at a speed comfortable for all riders.
S. Church St. Update

Thank you for your patience as work continues on S. Church St. The next phase of the project is street milling which will start on Thursday, September 16. Therefore, until further notice, on street parking on S. Church St. (Pearl to Sand Ridge) is prohibited and will be posted with NO PARKING TEMPORARY POLICE ORDER signs.

Bike Helmets = Ice Cream!

The Bowling Green Police Division will be passing out coupons for a free ice cream cone to children seen wearing helmets while riding their bikes.

This is being done in partnership with Wood County Hospital and the Sundae Station to promote bicycle safety.
Join our Parks & Recreation Department!
Part-time Programmer/Program Supervisor Sports Programs
The Parks and Recreation Department is seeking individuals to join the programming staff and work with youth girls and boys ages 3 ½ through 14.  Flexible hours averaging 6-25 hours per week.

Part-time Special Programmer-Front Desk
Parks & Recreation is seeking friendly and helpful part-time customer service staff to work the front desk at the Community Center.
Splash Pad to Remain Open for Longer
The Bowling Green Parks & Recreation Department is pleased to announce that even though BG City Pool has closed for the season, the Splash Pad at Bowling Green City Pool will remain open and free for use to everyone beginning Tuesday September 7th, from Noon - 5:00 PM.

This opportunity will be free of charge to the community on a first come, first serve basis and will continue while chlorine supplies last.
WOOD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Weekly Talking Points (Release Date: 9/10)
COVID transmission in Wood County is high.
  • Over the past week we’ve seen an average of approximately 63 new cases per day.
  • From our lowest point this year (May 30), it took 33 days to reach a total of 63 cases. 
  • By comparison, Wood County had a total of 48 cases in June, 94 cases in July, 739 in August and 556 in just the first nine days of September.
  • Based on the current case rate, it is possible that up to one out of every 100 people in our county could be contagious with COVID.

Nationally, COVID-related hospitalization rates among children age 0-17 are on the rise.
  • According to data from the CDC, COVID-related hospitalizations among children and teens rose nearly five-fold from late June to mid-August.
  • This coincides with increased circulation of the highly transmissible Delta variant. 
  • Hospitalization rates were 10 times higher among unvaccinated than among fully vaccinated adolescents age 12 to 17.
  • Nationally, ER visits and hospitalizations in children are 3-4 times higher in communities with low vaccination rates than high vaccination rates.
  • Preventive measures to reduce transmission and severe outcomes in children and adolescents are critical, including vaccination, masks, maximizing distance, limiting gatherings and continuing good sanitation and hygiene practices. 

Vaccines continue to be effective in preventing serious illness from COVID-19.
  • Vaccination provides high levels of protection from severe disease.
  • Most fully vaccinated people who do test positive have very mild symptoms or are asymptomatic.
  • Fully-vaccinated people currently account for approximately one in every five cases of COVID in Wood County.

As cases rise, the probability of encountering someone with the disease increases. Preventative measures are vital.
  • Get vaccinated. Vaccines are available from several local providers. An updated list is available on WoodCountyHealth.org. Click on “Information on COVID-19 Vaccines.”
  • Maintain distance from those who don’t live in your household. 
  • Stay home when sick and test for COVID if you may have it. 
  • Free at-home tests are available at several local libraries, including Walbridge, Bowling Green, Weston, Wayne, Perrysburg and Rossford.
  • Stay away from others for as long as you could spread illness.  
  • Regularly wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes and maximize ventilation.