Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce E-Newsletter
Inflation and Supply Chain Issues Jeopardize Oak Harbor’s Fireworks Celebration
Expecting a 30% increase in the cost of fireworks and aiming to avert a fizzle, Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce seeks community support to overcome nearly $5,000 in estimated, additional expenses for its 2022 July 4th Independence Day Celebration.
 
“Oak Harbor has a history of providing quality, family-friendly community events,” said Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Valerie Winterfield. “The Chamber is committed to continuing our annual tradition of having the area’s best fireworks. Amid inflation and supply chain issues, we really need everyone’s help.”
 
Winterfield noted the Village’s “locally famous” fireworks show, a product of American Fireworks of Hudson, Ohio, is considered one of the finest displays in the area. Thousands of spectators from all over Northwest Ohio attend the free, half-day community event, which includes food vendors, local entertainment, the Apple Festival Royalty Duck Race on the river, inflatables for the children and, to quote Winterfield, “old-fashioned fun with family and friends hanging out and celebrating our nation’s independence.”

According to American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) Executive Director Julie Heckman, backyard consumer fireworks have “more than doubled in sales, since 2020” due, in part, to public shows being cancelled. That trend has continued. Approximately 16,000 Independence Day fireworks displays typically occurred, nationwide, pre-Covid. Despite lighter Covid protocols and restrictions, significantly fewer public shows are expected to return across the United States, in 2022.
 
Predominately a product of China, fireworks compete for space on cargo ships. Staffing shortages in the shipping and trucking industries, as well as factory shutdowns, have contributed to product delays and cost increases for both fireworks production companies and backyard consumers.
Each year the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce raises funds for its Independence Day event, asking for help from businesses and individuals alike. This year’s inflation and supply chain issues push Oak Harbor to require additional support to maintain the same quality of show.
 
Bill Howey, owner of Howey’s House of Brews on Water Street, feels it is “important for people to get behind this.” Howey supports the Independence Day activities because they bring people to the community and provide a tangible boom to the Oak Harbor economy. “Whenever you can get foot traffic, it’s a positive,” Howey said. “July 4th is one of my two biggest days of the year.”
 
Oak Harbor’s Fireworks Fund Reverse Raffle will take place May 14, 2022, at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds. Tickets are $50 and include dinner and a chance to win more than $5,000 in cash and prizes, with a grand prize of $2,500. Tickets may be purchased from Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce or any board member.
 
“Supporter Stars” may be purchased at local businesses and the Chamber office, Memorial Day through June. All proceeds go directly to the fireworks fund. The Chamber is also working with the High School Student Council to facilitate a school fundraiser.
 
“A majority of the funding for the event has always come from businesses and annual sponsors,” added Winterfield, “but with requests for donations coming in daily, it is not fair to rely on the businesses alone. We need support from the community members to help keep this event great.”
 
Donations may be made directly to the fireworks fund through the QR Code below or by dropping off or mailing a donation to the Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce at 161 W. Water Street, Oak Harbor, OH 43449.
Business Retention & Expansion Program
The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ottawa County Improvement Corporation are working together to better understand the local business climate and to assist existing businesses with their expansion efforts within Ottawa County communities by launching a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Program. Business Retention and Expansion is an economic development program that serves existing businesses in a community. Surveying businesses in the community is the first step in implementing a BR&E Program. This first phase of Ottawa County’s BR&E Program is part of an on-going economic development plan.
 
We are asking that you to please complete this 7-8 minute survey below:
(or using your smart phone, scan the QR Code provided)
 
The survey will remain LIVE until May 20, 2022. We will continue to share this information with you until the May 20 deadline.
 
New Prescription Member Benefit!
The Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce has a new partner benefit available. The Prescription Drug Discount card can save you up to 80% on prescriptions and is accepted at over 68,000 pharmacies nationwide. You can receive discounts on brand & generic drugs, with no restrictions & the program is HIPAA compliant. Click here for more information and to download your free card!
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
Free Webinar Designed For Safety & Human Resource Professionals
Join safety council members across the state to learn how leaders can more effectively handle the unprecedented levels of stress and pressures in today's workplaces. 
In her keynote presentation Now What? How to Lead by Bringing Your Human to Work, bestselling author and workplace strategist Erica Keswin will explore five ways to help your company thrive.
Prepare to bring your human to work, be confident you can manage the chaos and be ready to rock the hybrid revolution! Additional details for this webinar, which is open to the public, are found in the flyer below. With special appearance by BWC Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud. No registration required.

Wednesday, April 13
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. EST
Watch Out for Spam Emails That Capitalize on Current Events
Receive a Message Urging Immediate Action? Proceed With Caution...

Cybersecurity experts report a recent rise in phishing emails—particularly those that capitalize on current events and recommend “immediate action.” Specific examples of this include urgent alerts that play on fears about global instability, stating that unknown users have logged into an account from an IP address in Moscow or Kyiv.

Many Twitter users report a social media-specific version of this, posting screenshots of fake user notifications they have received about attempted logins from Russia or Ukraine. Large universities have also revealed password reset alerts that purport to come from an IT department and ask a user to log in immediately to check the security of their password.

What these diverse phishing attempts all have in common is what happens after unsuspecting users click a link or reply to a message: they are asked to share private information to confirm account security. Sometimes, this occurs on an illicit site that surreptitiously steals credentials or personal data; sometimes, a user will see a fresh email open that includes a pre-filled message meant to lure them deeper into a scam.

No matter the avenue of attack, users across the globe are at risk right now, especially during a period of heightened cybersecurity awareness. Given current world events, anything that mentions unusual activity from Russia or Ukraine is sure to make anyone do a double-take, serving as particularly enticing bait for hackers who are always looking to change their tactics.

How can you protect yourself, your business, and your colleagues from these new phishing attempts?

1) Use caution with any email urging immediate action. Every unsolicited email should raise a red flag. But how can you recognize one when it looks like a real notification from a legitimate platform or application? First, look for any typos, inaccuracies, or awkward phrases in the subject line and body copy, along with unusual sender names or addresses. Remember that email domains can be easily spoofed; just because the sender name says twitter.com doesn’t mean that’s actually who sent the email. Hover over the email address or click for more details to look for straightforward senders like info@company.com, not long strings of nonsensical characters or unfamiliar dot.net domains.

2) Never open unfamiliar attachments or click suspicious links in an email. These are far more common than many people think—if someone sends a shipping update or monthly invoice that looks like it comes from a legitimate sender, human nature means we’re curious to see whether it’s real or not. Unless you’re expecting a specific file from a trusted colleague, be wary of any attachments—especially if the email urges you to open it now or tries to deploy personal information to trick you with so-called social engineering. In addition, don’t just click a link because you’re encouraged to do so; hover your mouse over the URL first to see whether the displayed website matches what’s in the email. Beware of long strings of nonsensical characters or any major differences between the link in the email copy and the preview link that shows up when you hover over it.

3) Use multi-factor authentication or a two-step process to log in to any account. If you do visit a website you’re not sure about or respond to an email asking for information, all hope is not lost yet. It’s the next step that’s often most important: if you’re being asked to confirm a username or password, look for an option to send yourself a unique code via text message or receive a unique link via email to log in. Nearly all major providers and platforms urge their users to use this step, so it should be prominent on any login page. If you don’t see it, take another moment to question the legitimacy of the source and proceed with caution.

4) Invest in security awareness training for your staff. Many people laugh when they hear about cybersecurity education that includes phishing simulations. But seeing examples of the most common scam attempts can actually empower employees to better scrutinize suspicious emails and websites. This can provide a big shift from not caring about digital security to being inherently vigilant—in many cases or blocking phishing attempts before any information is stolen or any data is compromised.

5) Partner with a trusted IT provider to enhance cybersecurity. Even the best anti-spam filters and the most robust digital defenses will occasionally let a stray scam or two through. The key is to build multiple layers of proactive security around your entire IT ecosystem, your devices, and your accounts. Working with a reliable IT provider, you can enhance password security, add multi-factor authentication to all accounts, better protect mobile devices, and encrypt data. This comprehensive approach means that, if even one layer of protection falters, another will be waiting to prevent vulnerabilities and protect your business.

Given today’s hyperactive digital landscape, where breaking news and trending topics often dominate the conversation, hackers will continue to evolve to try and trick even the savviest computer user. These tactics always increase alongside instability, with bad actors trying anything to steal data and compromise private information.
If you have any news to share or any questions, please reach out via email or telephone. Please share this newsletter with other colleagues and let us know if there are others in your business/organization that need to be added to our email list.

Have a great day!

Valerie Winterfield
Executive Director
Oak Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce