By Staci Hiler • 4-H Program assistant

PAULDING – Paulding County livestock exhibitors are beginning to prepare for the 2013 fair season with Paulding County being the first fair in Ohio. This year, the fair runs June 10-15 at the Paulding County Fairgrounds.

This week, all livestock exhibitors will be completing the Quality Assurance Training Program required for all livestock exhibitors in the State of Ohio. Paulding County’s Quality Assurance dates are March 21 from 6-8 p.m. and March 23 from 9-11 a.m. in the Extension Building.

By AMBER GEBERS • Correspondent

HAVILAND – The Wayne Trace School Board met on Monday, March 11 and approved multiple consent items.

Approved was the proposal from Poling Excavating & Waterways for the amount of $13,750 for labor and materials to effect repairs and water diversion for the sewage treatment plant. The cost of the project are to be split between the Ohio School Facilities Commission (81%) and the Wayne Trace School District (19%).

The state has recently released the 2011-2012 Local Report Cards for school districts and individual buildings.

Plan your garage sale now!

MAY

May 3-4 – Woodburn Town Garage Sales

May 17-18 – Paulding Community Garage Sale; contact 419-399-2466.

May 31-June 1 – Payne Community Garage Sale. Contact Nancy Speice at 419-263-2863.

JUNE

June 7-8 – Antwerp Community Garage Sale. Contact Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, 419-258-1722.

AUGUST

Aug. 1-4 – Highway 127 Corridor Sale, also called the “World’s Longest Yardsale,” covering Michigan to Alabama along U.S. 127. Visit www.127sale.com.

ARCHBOLD – Do you wish you knew more about seed saving, pruning your bushes or how to decorate a spring wreath? Would you like to learn about quilting, coopering, blacksmithing, glassblowing and other heritage crafts? To learn all of this and more, register today for one of the many classes designed to educate and inspire this spring and summer at Sauder Village.

“We are thrilled to be offering such a wide variety of classes again this season at Sauder Village,” shared Kim Krieger, PR/media relations specialist at Sauder Village. “Education is an important part of our mission and we look forward to sharing information and inspiring people from throughout the region.”

A variety of gardening classes are on the class schedule for this year. Gardening classes include “Pruning 101,” and “Seed Saving Basics.” Sign-up for these classes today to learn how to prune your shrubs and bushes and how to save seeds from this year’s garden to use next year!

Traditional crafts are an important part of the Sauder Village experience. A variety of heritage arts classes are being offered including blacksmithing, tinsmithing, wreath-making, broom making, weaving, quilting, rug hooking and coopering.

Back by popular demand, students will again be offered an opportunity to work with internationally acclaimed glass artist Mark Matthews to create an ornament or flower. This hands-on glass blowing opportunity lasts about 60 minutes and is open to anyone ages 10 and up.

A Kid’s Felted Soap class and The Virtues and Pleasure of Tea are two other unique classes on the schedule. The popular “Taste of History” Cooking Classes are also available with classes focusing on bread baking, casseroles and jellies. Custom cooking classes are also available – providing a fun and memorable customized class for groups of four or more.

Take time to learn something new this year! Gather your friends and sign-up for one of the many classes being offered at Sauder Village. Dates, rates and registration information for all Sauder Village classes are available online at www.saudervillage.org or by calling 800-590-9755.

Historic Sauder Village will open for the 2013 season on Tuesday, April 30. Hours this spring are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4:00 p.m.  The Historic Village is closed on Mondays, except holidays and summer hours will begin after Memorial Day. Admission is $15.00 for adults, $8.00 for students (6-16) and free for members and children 5 and under. Again this year, children 16 and under are free every Sunday this season!

For more details, visit the website, or like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @SauderVillage.

VAN WERT – In 2013, the nation will be observing the Lincoln Highway's 100th birthday. Van Wert will be no exception.

There will be hundreds of classic cars in three tours traveling through Van Wert County on the Lincoln Highway (old highway 30 and Van Wert's Main Street) in May, June and July. The Van Wert Convention and Visitors Bureau is coordinating local activities in association with regional and national highway events. One of the unique, local projects is creation of a history booklet of the highway in Van Wert County.

The Van Wert County Lincoln Highway Centennial Committee will be hosting an open house for the public on Sunday, March 17 at the Historical Society Museum, Annex Building at 2 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to gather photographs, documents, memorabilia and stories related to the local history of the Lincoln Highway. This is an opportunity to share your family's history related to the Lincoln Highway.

There will be a short presentation at 2:30 pm by museum staff on the Lincoln Highway items and documents maintained by the historical society. The museum is open from 2–4:30 pm on this day offering an opportunity to tour the museum and other buildings on the society's grounds.

Questions in advance of the meeting may be directed to the offices of the CVB and Main Street Van Wert located at 136 E. Main Street, Van Wert. You can call the CVB at (419) 238-3978 or (419) 238-6911.

If you would like to lend material and photographs to the committee, all items will be returned to you. You may also donate items to the Van Wert County Historical Society.