Today is the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday.  It is the government’s effort to help Ohio consumers to save a little money on back-to-school shopping.  The holiday goes on through Sunday.  Clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies at $20 or less and school instructional material at $20 or less will be exempt from sales and use tax.  As long as the price of each item is under the indicated price threshold, shoppers can purchase as many items as they want in a transaction.  Both in store and on-line purchases qualify, but, you cannot use any coupons.

The Findlay Hancock County Community Foundation has announced a special grant opportunity highlighting nine field of interest funds.  The new funds included will assist developmentally disabled persons, heath related causes, such as heart disease, cancer, lupus and mental illness, domestic violence, medical needs and youth recreation.  Local non-profits have until October 2 to submit letters of intent.

Hancock County’s commissioners have begun to make plans to raze their former office building to make way for a parking lot.  The building, located at 222 Broadway, is next to the Findlay-Hancock County Library.  The commissioners were forced to move their offices to that location after the 2007 flood destroyed their former office building.  The Broadway offices were closed in 2013, when the commissioners moved to their offices to 514 S. Main St.  The project is expected to go to bid later this month, with the demolition to be done in November.  The lot could be ready for use by early December.

If you see smoke coming from the University of Findlay’s Lovett Residence Hall at 3 p.m. today, don’t panic; what you’ll be seeing is fire training for the university’s residence life staff.  The university will be simulating a fire in the residence hall, located near the intersection of North Cory and Frazer streets, and will be working with the Findlay Fire Department, university security staff, and other first responders.

Marathon Petroleum has agreed to a three year contribution and support agreement with the University of Findlay’s Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health program.  The agreement will fund scholarships, facility and equipment upgrades and a faculty internship program.  Many of the key elements of the agreement will be immediately implemented through 2017.

The 16^th annual Flag City BalloonFest begins tonight at Findlay’s Emory Adams Park.  Attendees will be able to see balloons take off and fly in every morning and evening through Sunday.  The highly popular “glow” can be seen both nights with fireworks taking place tonight following the show.  Other activities, such as, the annual 5K, balloon rides and an autograph session with Miss Ohio will take place.

United Way of Hancock County is producing a music video in honor of its 60th anniversary.  The organization is inviting the entire community to participate in the video from 5pm to 9pm this coming Monday at the Findlay High School gymnasium.  The video will be a parody of the video Waatch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) by the group Silento.   The words of the video will be changed to celebrate United Way’s anniversary.  To register to participate, send an e-mail to tamera.rooney@uwhancock.org.

The University of Findlay will offer the class Political Science 110 at no cost to anyone interested.  The class will begin on August 17 and run through December 3 and will cover topics such as the US Constitution, Congress, civil liberties and elections.  No enrollment or prep work is required from the public who can either just listen or actively participate.  If interested, contact the University to enroll.