Lincoln Smith recently completed the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. The Dorcas Carey Public Library offers the 1,000 Before Kindergarten reading program for newborns up to school age.

TIFFIN — The Franciscan Earth Literacy Center welcomed AmeriCorps’s “Maple 9 Team” based out of Vinton, Iowa. The FELC has been awarded an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps federal grant, which will provide a team of seven young adults to assist with conservation education work for Seneca County for the next seven weeks.

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but every year millions of people get the flu, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes.

BUCYRUS — Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in teens, ahead of all types of injury, disease or violence. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, teens whose parents impose driving restrictions and set good examples typically engage in less risky driving and are involved in fewer crashes.

The following report was prepared and submitted by the Wyandot County Humane Society on Monday and is correct as of that date. Pets reported as missing since the last report that have not been found include a spayed female blue Persian cat, a white and tiger spotted male cat, three 10-week-old pit bull puppies, an older white cat with a spot on one eye, a female tiger kitten, a brown and white male cat, a neutered male Siamese cat and a black and white neutered male Shih Tzu mix.

The Kappa chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International met Sept. 22 at White Shutter Brewery and Winery near Nevada. The vineyard is fairly new with grapevines brought from New York and planted in May 2009 by the parents of the current owners, Jake and Kerri Thiel, who bought the business in January 2018.

FOREST — Forest United Methodist Church will be celebrating homecoming Sunday with the worship service beginning at 10 a.m. and a luncheon following. The afternoon program will begin at 12:30 p.m. Worship will be led by Pastor Doug Pummell and will include Holy Communion. Soup and salad, along with favorite fall desserts, will be the menu for the luncheon.

BUCYRUS — Ohio State University wrestling coach Tom Ryan will be the guest speaker for the men’s community breakfast at 7 a.m. Oct. 10 in the Bucyrus Community Hospital cafeteria. Women are welcome to attend.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Ohio Traffic Safety Office has awarded the Wyandot County Public Health Department $24,997 in federal traffic safety funding to conduct Safe Communities Grant Activities. Funding from the Safe Communities Grant will be used to conduct education and awareness campaigns related to motorcycle safety, drinking and driving, seat belt usage and distracted driving.

The pantry is full of fall favorites like squash, onions and potatoes, but busy schedules may have people finding a few things growing in the back of your cupboard. With little effort and a pinch of creativity you can grow these into a very imaginative indoor garden.