Community Roundup: African Safari Wildlife Park donates $2,000 on Earth Day

News-Messenger/News Herald
·4 min read
African Safari Wildlife Park noted Earth Day with $2,000 in donations to 10 organizations dedicated to conserving wildlife and the environment.
African Safari Wildlife Park noted Earth Day with $2,000 in donations to 10 organizations dedicated to conserving wildlife and the environment.

African Safari Wildlife Park donates $2,000 on Earth Day

PORT CLINTON - African Safari Wildlife Park celebrated Earth Day on April 22 by making a $2,000 contribution to 10 organizations dedicated to conserving wildlife and the environment.

The following organizations, which were selected by park employees, will receive $200 each:

  • Back to the Wild, Castalia, Ohio – dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation and release;

  • The Bee Conservancy, New York, New York – dedicated to protecting bees around the world;

  • Black Swamp Conservancy, Pemberville, Ohio – dedicated to preserving natural habitats and family farms in northwest Ohio;

  • Central Coast Bats, Paso Robles, California – dedicated to conserving bats along the central California coast through research and community outreach;

  • Gibbon Conservation Center, Santa Clarita, California – dedicated to conserving, studying and caring for gibbons;

  • Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Orlando, FL – dedicated to protecting giraffe throughout Africa;

  • Lake Erie Foundation, Lakeside, Ohio – dedicated to sustaining and protecting the waters of Lake Erie;

  • Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy Mawingu Mountain Bongo Sanctuary, Nanyuki, Kenya – dedicated to reintroducing the critically endangered mountain bongo to the wild;

  • North American Invasive Species Management Association, Monona, Wisconsin – dedicated to implementing management programs that prevent the detrimental environmental impacts of nonnative species;

  • WildAid, San Francisco, California – dedicated to combating the illegal wildlife trade.

The contributions came from Guardian of Wildlife, the Park’s 501(c)(3) organization that exists to promote and support wildlife conservation and has donated more than $26,000 to nonprofit organizations around the world since 2016. Donations to Guardians of Wildlife can be made at africansafariwildlifepark.com/donate.

Bellevue Society for the Arts to present 'The Secret Garden'

BELLEVUE - The Bellevue Society for the Arts will present The Secret Garden.

Performances will be held May 12, 13, 14, 19, and 20, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. in The Hirt Theater, 205 Maple St.

Tickets go are on sale by calling 419-484-2787 or visiting bellevuearts.net. Admission is $15 for adults 18 and older, $10 for adults 60 and older, and $5 for ages 17 and under.

The cast includes Amy Cumberledge as Lily, Annika Campbell as Mary Lennox, Gage Hill as Fakir, Ivy McElfresh as Ayah, Adaleine Jackson as Mary’s mother Rose, Floyd Collins as Mary’s father Capt. Albert Lennox, Wayne Biggert as Lt. Peter Wright, Timothy Button as Lt. Ian Shaw, Jodi Salyer as Claire, Sarah Christophel as Rose’s friend Alice, Jared Bradley as Mary’s uncle Archibald Craven, Jeff Buchanan as Archibald’s brother Dr. Neville Craven, Heidi Sarvis-Sapp as housekeeper Mrs. Medlock, Laura Horn as chambermaid Martha, Jacob Studebaker-Ellis as Martha’s brother Dickon, Ethan Mandeville as gardener Ben, Sam Kinney as Colin, Darla Brown as headmistress Mrs. Winthrop, Blake Armentrout as Major Shelley, Jillian Bradley as Mrs. Shelley, and Grace Biggert, Toni Biggert, Ahri Hamernik, Paris Salyer, Marty Siegel, and Anya Stuart as the Dreamers.

The Secret Garden is directed by Christine Turner. The assistant director is Caitlin Hamernik. Music Direction is by Adaleine Jackson. Cathy Schaffer and Jenny Oney will stage manage.

The Secret Garden features a book and lyrics by Marsha Norman, with music by Lucy Simon. It is based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Visit bellevuearts.net.

Sandusky County Positive People to hold scholarship breakfast

FREMONT – Sandusky County Positive People (SCPP) will hold its 12th Annual Scholarship Awards Breakfast on May 11 at Terra State Community College’s Neeley Conference Center, 2830 Napoleon Road.  The breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

During the breakfast, 12 area graduating seniors who have overcome major challenges will be honored.  Students will receive scholarships ranging from $2,500 to $7,500.

“The Awards Breakfast is a celebration of what these students have overcome.  It’s also our way of patting them on the back and giving them some tools to help them succeed at the next chapter of their lives,” stated SCPP President Tom Hoffman.  “Besides receiving scholarships, each student is paired with a mentor who helps them with the transition to higher education.”

The cost of the Awards Breakfast is $20 per person.  Reservations can be made at scppohio.org.  Tickets can be purchased online or by completing a reservation form found on the website.  Deadline to make a reservation is Friday, May 5.  Call Carla at 567-201-3807 with questions.

Since its inception in 2012, Sandusky County Positive People has provided 96 scholarships to Sandusky County youth totaling $257,650.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: African Safari Wildlife Park donates $2,000 on Earth Day