City of Toledo Mayor Mike Bell recently was guest speaker at the Perrysburg Rotary Club luncheon meeting.
From left, are Jim Euting, Perrysburg Rotary Club president; Wood County Commissioner Tim Brown; Mayor Bell; Perrysburg Mayor Nelson Evans; Rossford Mayor Bill Verbosky, and Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn.

'To turn around northwest Ohio, we have to do it together'
Toledo Mayor Mike Bell speaks to Perrysburg Rotary Club
By Deb Buker
Since the beginning of his first term as mayor of the City of Toledo, Mike Bell has advocated for cooperation and regionalism. It is not just about Toledo, it is about all of northwest Ohio-his mantra.
"With the City of Toledo and the things we have to do here in northwest Ohio, we are in focus of some things that are extremely tough in some ways and not as tough if we do it together," Mayor Bell told more than 100 Rotarians and guests at a recent luncheon meeting of the Perrysburg Rotary Club. "In order for us to be able to turn around northwest Ohio, we have to do it together. It means we all have to be in sync in the things we are going to be requesting when it comes to governmental issues that we are prepared to help our region with, and we need to be able to sit down and to talk to each other. Be able to sit in a room and say, 'this is an important thing for our region.'"
Currently, said the mayor, area officials and administrators are in the discussion process of how to utilize water resources. What would a regional water plan look like? How does the area situate itself to use the Great Lakes water to create energy that is necessary to make northwest Ohio strong?

Four variables predict differences in behavior and drug use
Board of education hears results on youth alcohol and drug survey
By Deb Buker
Four variables predict differences in behavior regarding tobacco and other drug use, said Dr. Bill Ivoska, Owens Community College vice president of student services, at a recent meeting of the Perrysburg Board of Education.
The predictors of changeÐthe four variables are:
• Perceived fear of harm;
• Perceived peer disapproval;
• Access to substances, and
• Research based prevention programming.
Presenting the results of his 2010 Youth Survey of Alcohol and Other Drug Use, Dr. Ivoska explained that the survey has been conducted for 20 years in Lucas County and seven years in Wood County. It is administered to students in grades six through 12 and the questions are taken from the University of Michigan's "Monitoring for the Future" survey-a national survey.
2010 Survey
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'You bring the family, we bring the fun'
Downtown Perrysburg to host "First Friday" this week, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Downtown Perrysburg, Inc. (DPI) will host ÒFirst FridayÓ this Friday, September 3, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., in downtown historic Perrysburg.
The event, sponsored by DPI and Brown Automotive Group will present an evening of live entertainment on the Huntington Bank Stage, art activities sponsored by Perrysburg Area Arts Council, YMCA Fun Bus and healthy kids activities, and the Perrysburg Fire Division.
Also featured will be unique artisans, vendors, horse and carriage rides along with clowns, jugglers, magicians and art exhibits.
The community is invited to this family-friendly, free event.
DPI and Brown Automotive Group also will present its last First Friday of the season on October 1.

Labor Day closings
By Deb Buker
In observance of Labor Day, the following offices and businesses will be closed Monday, September 6, unless noted otherwise.
• City offices and Municipal Court
• Perrysburg Messenger Journal
• Downtown Perrysburg, Inc.
• Post Office
• Wood County Commissioners office
• Wood County Health Department
• Way Public Library, closed September 5-6
• Perrysburg Township offices
• Owens Community College, closed September 4-6
• These banks will be closed: Genoa Bank, 9920 Old U.S. 20; First Federal Bank, 1077 Louisiana Avenue; Charter One Bank, 144 East Front Street; Huntington Banks, 131 Louisiana Avenue, 690 West South Boundary Street and 1001 Sandusky Street; Fifth Third Banks and Bank-Mart branches, 26521 North Dixie Highway and 10105 Fremont Pike; Farmers and Merchants Bank, 7001 Lighthouse Way; The State Bank and Trust Company, 610 East South Boundary Street; Directions Credit Union (formerly Erie Shores Credit Union), 27427 Crossroads Parkway and 4150 Brockway Drive; PNC, formerly National City Bank, 100 West South Boundary; and Key Bank, 1088 Louisiana Avenue.

GARBAGE COLLECTION
Garbage, recycling and yard waste will be delayed one day the week of September 5.
The Street Division and Office of Litter Prevention and Recycling will be closed on September 6, in observance of Labor Day.