News roundup for Sept. 21, 2020

Wadsworth Schools offers free lunch to all students Wadsworth Schools is being allowed to temporarily change its breakfast and lunch programs. The district was recently notified that the U.S Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services published nationwide waiver extensions that allow all students to receive a free breakfast and/or lunch on school days while funding last through 2020. As a result of Wadsworth's waiver, all students are now eligible to eat both breakfast and lunch for free. This only applies towards full meals. A full meal must contain a fruit or a vegetable option, and two other items, such as milk, protein or grain item. All five options can come with the meal. A la carte items are still charged at full price. Milk only is still charged at 50 cents when a full meal is not selected. Adult prices still apply. This applies to students in the Wadsworth Wired program as well. Students in Wadsworth Wired are asked to continue to sign up for meals weekly. Pick-up is now available at the high school from 2-3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The waiver extensions are allowed to be applied retroactively to Aug. 31 and credits will be applied to accounts as needed. County's mental health board starts thank you campaign With the message of "Bringing Hope. Bringing Help. Thank You", communities across Medina County will hold appreciation events this week for frontline workers that are fighting to help individuals recover and succeed. ADAMH Board Executive Director Phillip Tittering said with the help of the Human Services levy funding, "the ADAMH Board has initiated projects to help combat opiate and other substance use, and has also worked to increase resources for mental health and crisis services in Medina County." With the "Bringing Hope. Bringing Help. Thank You." message, the ADAMH Board is expressing thanks and gratitude to the countless number of individuals who spend their days working to help save lives. Representatives from the ADAMH Board-contracted agencies; Alternative Paths, Catholic Charities, Hope Recovery Community and OhioGuidestone will receive a gift bag with coffee mugs, stress balls and other small items, as well as a thank you note from the ADAMH Board. Local senior and activity centers remain closed Per the state of Ohio Department of Health Orders, all senior centers are permitted to open in a limited capacity, effective today. The Medina County Office for Older Adults has been working to prepare to open its doors to senior small groups. On Sept. 11, clarifications were made to the state's order that included the requirement of COVID-19 testing for all employees prior to the center opening and every two weeks thereafter as well as a plan for 'strategic testing' of senior participants. At this time, the Office for Older Adults continues to work on plans, if feasible, to meet state testing requirements and will remain closed until plans can be made that are not only safe, but efficient and economical. "It was disappointing to issue a delay in our reopening plans," Laura Toth, executive director, said in a statement. "Our utmost concern is for the health and well-being of every senior who will come to the centers. Until we can open safely and in compliance with all state health orders, all senior activities at the Medina Center and the Brunswick Recreation Center continue to be on hold." Services in the county including Meals on Wheels, transportation subsidies, benefit services and referrals will continue in the meantime. "The isolation of seniors within their homes is a rising concern during the ongoing pandemic. We hope that seniors will take the opportunity to participate in the online offerings provided by MCOOA as well as the Soprema Senior Center in Wadsworth and other senior service providers," Toth said. Local student's poetry selected for national publication Granger Township's Gracelin Gorman has had her poetry entry in the National High School Poetry Contest accepted for publication. The poem entitled "18 Sonnet" appeared in a recent edition of the American High School Poets "Of Love and Dedication" anthology. "Of Love and Dedication" is a meaningful study of love and loyalty based poetry written by teenagers from all over the country. It explores how today's teens approach various types of love and loyalty issues. It is a quarterly publication and is published by the Live Poets Society of New Jersey in conjunction with JUST POETRY!!!, the National High School Poetry Quarterly Magazine. Gorman is the daughter of Jeff and Jen Gorman and is a homeschooled student. She plans to study either business or music business, along with linguistics. — from staff reports