LOCAL MILITARY VETERANS POSTPONE PORT CLINTON’S MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions placed on mass gatherings in Ohio, the organizing committee of Port Clinton’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony have decided to postpone the Monday, May 25 event until a proper ceremony can be conducted, said Bert N. Fall of Port Clinton.

“We would, however, ask that you all continue to make Memorial Day a special day of remembrance to those who have sacrificed their lives all around the world in service to our country,” said Fall. “Fly your flags at half-staff, teach your children about the sacrifices made by our fallen heroes, and continue to pray for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines who are currently in harms way around the world.

OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF READY TO STEP IN AND HELP

With Congress approving an addition aid package for disaster loads and the PaycheckProtection Program, and President Donald Trump poised to sign it, the Office of Small Business Relief and Development’s business assistance centers around Ohio will be ready to help small businesses apply for the help they need.

Small Business Development Centers are located atTerra State community College in Fremont and the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce in Toledo.

A Minority Business Assistance Center, which supports the growth and sustainability of small, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses in Ohio, is located at the University of Toledo.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM

The Small Business Administration announces resumption of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Health Care Enhancement Act, which provides additional funding for American workers and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Small Business Administration will resume accepting PPP loan applications on Monday, April 27 at 10:30 AM EDT from approved lenders on behalf of any eligible borrower. This will ensure that SBA has properly coded the system to account for changes made by the legislation.

The PPP has supported more than 1.66 million small businesses and protected over 30 million jobs for hardworking Americans. With the additional funds appropriated by Congress, tens of millions of additional workers will benefit from this critical relief.

Approved lenders have been ordered to process loan applications previously submitted by eligible borrowers and disburse funds expeditiously. All eligible borrowers who need these funds should work with an approved lender to apply. Borrowers should carefully review PPP regulations and guidance and the certifications required to obtain a loan.

Visit www.sba.gov/funding-programs for more information.

PRE-REGISTRATION FOR NEW UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BEGINS

Unemployed Ohioans who do not meet the criteria to regular jobless benefits can start pre-registering for a new federal program this week, according to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The new federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program will provide benefits for many individuals ineligible for state unemployment benefits, including self-employed workers and 1099 tax filers.

Visit: unemploymenthelp.ohio.gov

LOCAL ARBOR DAY CELEBRATIONS MOVED TO OCT. 30

The towns of Oak Harbor, Put-in-Bay and Port Clinton were all ready to celebrate their Tree City USA status for Arbor Day last Friday, April 24. Now they’ll have to wait and hope the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t a problem when this year’s replacement Arbor Day rolls around on Friday, Oct. 30.

The three Ottawa County towns are among the 242 Tree City USA communities in Ohio. The Ohio Tree City USA, Tree Line and Tree Campus programs are administered by Ohio Urban Forestry on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation.

GOV. DeWINE PRAISED, IMMORTALIZED WITH BOBBLEHEAD

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisc., unveiled a brand new bobblehead of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine last week, sort of immortalizing the Buckeye State boss for his handling off the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum will donate $5 from every Gov. DeWine bobblehead sold to the Protect the Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge. The Hall of Fame and Museum has already raised more than $160,000 through sales of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx bobbleheads.

OHIO TO PAY FOR CONTINUED FOSTER CARE SAFETY NET

Gov. Mike DeWine announced today Ohio will cover the costs to keep more than 200 youth who are aging out of foster care in the foster care system until the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

“For many of these young people, their future looks uncertain because of COVID-19, whether their plan was to start a career or pursue higher education,” said Governor DeWine. “This program will provide these youth with a safety net during these unprecedented times and will ensure that no child leaves foster care during this pandemic without a safe place to call home.”

This option is also available for young people enrolled in the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ Bridges program, Ohio’s foster care to age 21 program, to help maintain their housing, jobs, and education.

WHO SAYS ONE-TIME INFECTION PROVIDES IMMUNITY YET TO BE PROVEN

The World Health Organization has pushed back against the theory that individuals can only catch the coronavirus once, as well as proposals for reopening society based on the supposed immunity.

In a scientific brief on Friday, the United Nations agency said the idea that one-time infection can lead to immunity remains unproven and is thus unreliable as a foundation for the next phase of the world’s response to the pandemic.

“Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an ‘immunity passport’ or ‘risk-free certificate’ that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection,” the WHO wrote. “There is currently no evidence people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.”