Winter 2015 - Portage Township, Ottawa County, Ohio

Winter 2016
Volume 15, Issue 7
Winter Edition
Portage Township News
Ottawa County, Ohio
www.portagetownship.net
Township Hall Office/Garage
2501 E. State Road
419-732-3543
A long time coming.
Elected Officials
Fiscal Officer:
Judy Johannsen
[email protected]
419-732-3543
Trustees:
Sam Conte
[email protected]
419-734-2828
(Chairman)
Zoning Office Hours:
Mon.: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Sat.: 8:30am – 10:00am
419-734-7296
Zoning Inspector:
Mary Gardner
[email protected]
Fulton Street speed limit is now 45 mph.
would like to wish all residents
The speed limit on Fulton Street WAS 55mph.
A speed warrant traffic saftey study was done by
MASTERMIND Systems, Inc. The study is required by the
Ohio Revised Code to change an existing speed limit.
The safety speed study results calculated the speed limit to be 45
mph. Portage Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution at the
Township meeting, 12/7/15, putting the 45mph speed limit into
effect on Fulton Street.
Keith Heileman
[email protected]
419-656-2767
Molly Sass
[email protected]
419-734-3081
Maintenance Supervisor
Matthew Seamon
[email protected]
Township Meetings
Regularly scheduled township
meetings are held on the 1st and
3rd Mondays of each month at
7:00 p.m. at the Township Office.
Think about it…
Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies
like a banana!
Holiday Bureau
What’s Behind these Christmas Wrapped Windows?
It’s the Salvation Army/Ottawa County Holiday Toyland. The annual
toy drive will distribute thousands of toys to children in the area. The
whole process comes together due to many devoted volunteers and
the hard work of Maureen Saponari, Salvation Army Director. Families
were asked to fill out an Ottawa County Holiday Bureau Christmas
Application explaining their needs. Letters are then sent to the
families explaining when and where to go to select Christmas gifts.
The toy distribution is at Harbor Light Landing. Rooms for stocking
stuffers and clothing, blankets, coats, misc. are also at ‘Toyland’.
“Keep the Pot Boiling!”
Here is Portage Township Fiscal Officer,
Judy Johannsen and Molly Sass, Trustee
ringing the bell for the Salvation Army
Red Kettle Campaign!
Holiday Kindness is ALL Around!
Portage Township News
Page 2
It’s Time to Mail those Holiday Cards!!
In 1865, a large segment of
American’s were heading west to
make a living. Charles Peet, of New
York heard about the prosperous
Ottawa County in Ohio. He arrived at
Gypsum station and became the first
postmaster of the area. By 1866, Mr.
Peet built himself a store with the idea
“what a better place for a post office
than in a general merchandize store.”
“When they come to mail a letter, sell
‘em a loaf of bread.” The store was
located just across the street from the
railroad depot.
Mr. Peet died unexpectedly
and the journey of Richard
Hagel began. Mr. Hagel took
ownership of the store in 1885,
and became Postmaster. He
was Postmaster for over 50
years. The Gypsum Post
Office was inside the store in
the center of the store, with
glass around it. Mail was
placed in little boxlike
containers and given to the
receivers by Mr. Hagel or the
person in charge.
The fast mail train from
Sandusky!!
1913
In the 1920’s
The old Fellrath Store, served
as Gypsum’s post office for
many years.
Mr. Miller, of Port Clinton delivered and
picked up mail in a 46 Hudson pickup truck.
Postmistress, Bess Williams, arranged to have the
Gypsum Post Office moved to a small cottage at the rear
of the late Mabel Mackey apartments. The building was
enlarged and a small parking lot was secured. We thank
the many Gypsum post office employees over the
years! Presently, Karen Stinson is our
Township Postal Support Employee.
Source: Gypsum Revisited,
The History of Gypsum 1987,
Smokin Back to Gyps and
Paris London Gypsum Rome
Volume 15, Issue 7
Winter 2016
What did children ask for 100 years ago?
Children have written to Santa Claus since the
implementation of the modern postal system
in the late 1800’s.
A letter from “Reggie” dated 1915 from Elyria:
Dear Father Christmas,
This is my first Christmas in America.
I would like you to send me a sled.
(Cheaper version of the Flexible Flyer sold for 40 cents at that time.)
Today’s list may look like this according to Good
Housekeeping magazine.
Dear Santa,
These are the toys I want for Christmas –
1. Dino Dominator Ultra T-Rex ($100.00) This
toy dinosaur walks and chomps, and fires
projectiles from his mouth and boulders from
his hip.
2. Star Lily, My Magical Unicorn (119.00),
Sensors allow Star Lily to flutter her eyes and
wings in response to voice, touch and hand
motions. She lights up and works with an app
to play games.
3. Wonder Workshop Dash and Dot Wonder
Pack ($279.00) A robot that teaches
programming to children.
4. Mega Blocks Minions Castle Adventure
($75.00) Bob, Kevin and Stuart zip-line their
way around the changeable castle, finding
hidden passageways and more. The Minions
come with interchangeable parts.
Recycling During the Holiday Season
Taken from the OSS SOLID WORDS 2015 Fall Issue
The holiday season is a time of parties and
celebrations that can generate a lot of waste. But, did
you know there is a naughty and nice list to know
before you toss them into the Aim to be Green
recycle container? Remember not everything this
holiday season is recyclable.
NAUGHTY LIST: ribbons and bows, tissue paper, foil
wrapping paper, plastic bags, packaging materials
such as plastic air bags, bubble wrap, Styrofoam
blocks or packaging peanuts, plastic toys, aluminum
pie or roasting pans and VHS tapes
NICE LIST: wrapping paper (not foil), gift boxes, gift
bags (not foil),cardboard wrapping rolls, cardboard
boxes, greeting cards and envelopes, newspapers and
sales ads, junk mail, clean pizza boxes, paperboard
(like cereal boxes), plastic bottles and jugs, aluminum
and steel food cans, glass bottles and jars.
For questions, call the District office at 419-334-7222
or toll free at 1-888-850-7224
Community Room Closed
Until New Flooring is Complete.
Pictured is Amy Drummer, Assistant Director of OSS
Solid Waste District presenting a check to
Portage Township, in the amount of $5015.00.
Portage Township was a recipient of the District
Competitive Grant Funds for new recycled flooring
in the Community Room.
Another one of the top picks for 2015 is called Mattel
View-Master. Pop a Smartphone into the next-level ViewMaster, download one of the View-Master VR apps and
take “field trips” to distant places. This device will
surround you with 360-degree environments so you feel as
if you are really there!
View Master has come a long way from my childhood!
Do you remember these…?
Also in the picture is Maintenance Supervisor,
Matt Seamon, and Molly Sass, Portage Township
Trustee. All the work will be done by the Portage
Township maintenance workers.
This offer is for all residential account
• 4 – 60 watt
equivalent
CFLs
Portage
Township
Trustees
• 3 – 100 watt equivalent CFLs
2501
East
State
Road CFLs
• 2 – 75
watt
equivalent
Port
Clinton,
Ohio
43452
• 2 LED ni vendor, Power
Direct
Portage Township
Winter Meetings
December 2015
7
Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
8
Brush Pick-Up
21 Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
25 Christmas Day
January 2016
4
Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
5
Brush Pick-Up
18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
18 Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
February 2016
1
Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
2
Brush Pick-Up
15
President’s Day
15 Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
March 2016
1
Brush Pick-Up
7
Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
19 – 24 Cemetery Clean-Up
21 Trustee Meeting – 7:00pm
Christmas Tree Collection
LIVE Christmas trees will be collected at the
curb until January 15, 2016. Remember to
remove all decorations and
tinsel from the trees.
Snow and Mailboxes Don’t Mix
Please make sure your mailbox is securely in place
for the upcoming winter snow. A mailbox road
survey was conducted Wednesday, December 9th.
Pictures were taken of many mailboxes in question
of surviving the winter snow plowing. It is much
easier to fix before it’s too late…and the frigid
weather is upon us!
Emails Wanted!
If you would like your newsletter and updates delivered
by computer, please send your email address to:
[email protected]
There are township email updates throughout the
months, between newsletters. Because of the periodic
updates, sending through email allows for the most
current township news arriving to your home!
Where’s the fire hydrant?
Please assist the fire department in keeping the fire
hydrant on or near your property clear of snow. Do not
push snow up to the fire hydrant when cleaning snow
away from your driveway.
NEEDED: ZONING BOARD ALTERNATES
 BZA Board of Zoning Appeals
 Zoning Commission
If interested email/contact Sam Conte, [email protected]