People Helping People Help Themselves The WSOS Press WSOS Community Action Commission Inc.   February/March 2005

Honors heaped posthumously on WSOS's late CEO Don Stricker

Housing development earns Best Practice honorable mention award

WSOS has been awarded an honorable mention award in the Best Practices contest for its partnership that led to the development of the Laurelhurst Senior Housing Complex. Best Practices is an award conferred on Ohio's community action agencies by the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy. The institute is part of The Ohio State Univerity. The Laurelhurst project, located in Clyde, was a partnership between WSOS Community Action Commission Inc. and the Woda Group. It provides affordable housing for senior citizens as well as space to house the WSOS Senior Center and a kitchen for the center. "Laurelhurst Senior Housing project is a creative approach to multi-use development," the reviewers said. Reviewers also recognized WSOS for working with community partners. The award was made Feb. 11 at the winter conference of Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA). WSOS has won three Best Practices and three honorable mention awards.

Housing Developments ready for occupancy

Two housing developments established by the Woda Group in partnership with WSOS are ready for tenants. The 40-unit Laurel Greene family housing development in Clyde still has one-bedroom, two-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments available. Rents range from $425 for a one-bedroom to $582 for a four-bedroom apartment. Two- bedrooom units range from $490 to $550. Two of the one-bedrooms available are handicap accessible. Three-bedroom units are no longer available Tremont Greene, located on the picturesque Daughters of America property in Tiffin, is in the process of reviewing applications for its 40 units. Tremont Greene consists of four one-bedroom, 20 two-bedroom, and four each of three- and four-bedroom apartments. Applications are currently available for income-eligible tenants. Income eligibility is based on a resident's annual income, which must be no more than 60 percent of the county's median income. In Seneca County, the median income ranges from $35,438 for a single-person household to $66,813 for an eight-person household. Residents interested in information on renting the Clyde units should call Stacy Potter 419-547-3700. Those interested in the Tiffin units should call Juanita at 419-448-7114.

WSOS to celebrate Child Abuse Prevention month

Children from the Early Childhood programs at WSOS Community Action Commission Inc., students enrolled in the New Directions After School Program, and the After School Unicycle Stunt Kids will lead a parade on Tuesday, April 26, as part of the Annual Light of Hope event conducted by Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month in Sandusky County.

Everyone in the community is invited to join in the march to show support for the fight against child abuse. The parade will leave the Fremont Municipal Building at 323 S. Front St. at 11:30 a.m. and march through South Front Street to Croghan Street then to Park Street where they will gather in front of the Sandusky County Courthouse for a brief ceremony.

Participating in the event is the St. Joseph Central Catholic High School choir, which will sing the song entitled "You are Worthwhile; You are full of Promise." In preparation of the event, Bellevue grade school students are creating art work, one of which will be used to put onto T-shirts, which will be distributed at the ceremony. A Sandusky County Commissioner and Sandusky County Juvenile Court Judge Brad Culbert will address the audience. In addition, a former victim of child abuse will share her experience with the audience.

Members of the Fremont Exchange Club will help Fremont preschoolers at WSOS to make paper candles. The paper candles symbolize the Light of Hope. During April, hundreds of communities across the United States will come together at candle-lighting ceremonies to honor the promise of remembering the plight of America's abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

The community organizations of CASA of Seneca, Sandusky, and Wyandot counties; WSOS CAC Inc.; Fremont City Schools Title 1 program; and the Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services, Children Services department have collaborated to conduct this local event. This is the fourth year WSOS has participated in this event.

Also planned in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month is a movie event in April at Paramount Cinema, South Front St., Fremont for families of students in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs, the New Directions After School Program, the Fremont City Schools Title 1 program, Help Me Grow program of Family and Children First Council of Sandusky County, and the Children Services Department of the Sandusky County Department of Job and Family Services.

For more information on Child Abuse Prevention Month activities, call Carol at CASA at 419-355-1442, or Joan at WSOS at 419-334-8511.

Senior Citizens Hall of Fame seeking nominations

The first inductees of the Sandusky County Hall of Fame are picture above.

Senior Programs have set the dates for its annual Senior Day. Sandusky County will celebrate Senior Day on Tuesday, May 10, in Fremont at the American Legion hall. Ottawa County has scheduled its celebration for Tuesday, May 17, at the Camp Perry Recreation hall in Port Clinton.

One of the main features of Senior Day is inducting area seniors into the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. This is the third class of the Hall of Fame, and Senior Programs are seeking nominations. Each county has its own Hall of Fame and each inducts up to 12 honorees each year. Nominees are selected based on the person's volunteer efforts in the community as well as any talents or skill he/she may possess and how that person uses their talents/skills and volunteer efforts to improve the lives of others. Deadline for nominations is Thursday, March 31.

To request a nomination form and/or to make a reservation for Senior Day, call 419-334-8181 in Fremont and 419-734-1481 in Port Clinton.

Briefs

The Board of Directors of WSOS has decided to hire a firm to search for candidates to fill the President/CEO position. At the board's January meeting, Executive Committee member Carl Koebel said that he felt it was necessary to do a public search since the board receives public funds.

In other board news, Board member Neil McCabe resigned from the board effective Jan. 11.

Family Development continued efforts to refine the merge of Family Services and Child Development and has restructured three management positions. New positions that emerged as a result of the refining process are Budget/MIS Specialist, Communication/Training Specialist, and Family Partnership Coordinator.

The Great Lakes Consortium will host a delegation of Afghan women beginning March 2. The women will spend one month in NW Ohio learning about small business practices.

A familiar face Interaction with clients and co-workers makes it worthwhile for Pridemore

CHAD PRIDEMORE

Full name: Chad Pridemore

Address: Clyde

Family: Parents Bob and Sharon Young; and family pet Pugsy, a 16-month-old Pug.

Occupation:Chad is the Lead Van Driver at TRIPS. He joined WSOS three years ago as a van driver. He is also trained as a firefighter and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).

Favorite part of the job: He enjoys the various training opportunities that allows him to learn and grow in his job. He also enjoys the interaction with his co-workers and the participants he meets in his job as van driver.

Goals: Chad said he wants to continue his education in the medical field or public safety area. He enjoys any education he can get for his volunteer EMT job.

Interests/Hobbies: Chad loves his volunteer job as a Big Brother in the BigBrother/Big Sister organization. When he's not busy with his "Little," he enjoys his volunteer time as an EMT.