Briefs: April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
Tie blue ribbons for child abuse prevention
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. To help spread awareness for child abuse prevention, Richland County Children Services is inviting individuals, churches, organizations, businesses, and schools to tie a blue ribbon on their door, mailbox, or car antenna during the month of April.
The blue ribbon is the international symbol for child abuse prevention. It serves as a reminder that all of us have a responsibility in helping protect children.
In support of this effort, downtown Mansfield is going “blue” in April. The city is tying blue ribbons around lamp posts, and the downtown gazebo in Central Park will be lit with blue lights in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This year, Richland County Children Services is collaborating with Mankind Murals and the RCDG: Mansfield Arts & Culture Sector on the “Through the Eyes of a Child: Painting for Prevention and Adoption,” mural project to raise awareness about child abuse prevention. The murals will be featured outside the Renaissance Theatre and the Buckeye Imagination Museum.
Richland County Seed and Crop Swap to begin Saturday
The North End Community Improvement Collaborative Urban Farm at 311 Bowman Street will be the site of Mansfield's first crop swap where local gardeners can trade seeds and sprouts and share ideas for producing local food. It will take place from 4-6 p.m. Saturday.
Organizers say they will have plenty of seeds and dirt to get people started with plants to take home. Those attending can bring something to trade; there's no money exchanged. The event will be hands-on and educational.
Each month the crop swap will be at a new location. For more information, email Jody Johnson at jjohnson@ncstatecollege.edu.
Volunteers needed for Ohio sandhill crane survey
COLUMBUS — A volunteer-driven sandhill crane survey to locate breeding birds in Ohio is seeking observers to help with the count on April 15. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife is coordinating this project as part of the Midwest Crane Count with the International Crane Foundation and Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative.
The sandhill crane is listed as threatened in Ohio, but their population has increased in recent years. Sandhills can be secretive during their nesting season, and the count is an effort to better track Ohio’s breeding crane population.
The survey will be conducted in 29 Ohio counties, including Richland, Ashland and Morrow counties. The time commitment includes the time it takes to scout an area, a virtual training and the morning count. Birders of all abilities who can identify a sandhill crane can participate.
To volunteer, contact Matthew Shumar at obcicoordinator@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: April means Child Abuse Prevention Month, start of local crop swap
