Nord Center CEO testifies on budget bill

tions in February 2022.

Nord Center President and CEO Don Schiffbauer testified March 22 before the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, advocating for a $7 million funding increase for behavioral health urgent care centers.

Appearing on a panel along with The Centers CEO Eric Morse and Zepf Center CEO Deb Flores, Schiffbauer testified in support of Gov. Mike DeWine’s budget requests for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, and Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS), but asked for a one-time increase of $7 million in support of seven behavioral health urgent care locations as Nord Center and other agencies work to make the model sustainable.

“At our organizations, we are often reminded of the disparity between physical health services and mental health services.

“In an effort to resolve that disparity, each of our agencies, along with several others across the state, have opened some of the state’s first behavioral health urgent care clinics,” Schiffbauer said.

The model, Schiffbauer said, capitalizes on the need and courage of community members to seek services when they want them, providing an alternative to a traditional ER or outpatient services.

The Nord Center operates one urgent care center in Sheffield. In two months, the agency has had 189 encounters, providing care to 150 individuals.

The Centers in Cleveland had more than 1,500 people across 3,500 visits since opening two loca-

“While this care delivery model is innovative, high quality and high value, it is still subject to the same billing codes that agencies would submit if they were performing traditional outpatient services.

“Unlike outpatient services, where staffing is designed to meet the demands of the community, behavioral health and urgent care requires a static amount of staffing in order to effectively manage the ebbs and flows of volume throughout the day,” Schiffbauer said.

An enhanced reimbursement structure to service providers for urgent care would enable operations of these centers to provide the comprehensive levels of care throughout the day.

DeWine’s proposed budget, Schiffbauer said, includes Medicaid rate increases that will assist providers keep pace with the rising costs of health care and mitigate a historic workforce shortage in the field.

Also, it calls for additional investments in OhioMHAS that will strengthen the behavioral health workforce and invest in crisis services infrastructure and additional programming for children and adults.

According to figures from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, as written, House Bill 33 would give OhioMHAS a 20 percent increase in funding in fiscal year 2024 with an additional $106 million, and another increase 4.79 percent in 2025, accounting for $29.8 million.

For Ohio Medicaid, current budget request figures show a 3.26 percent bump in 2024 for an additional $642 million, and an 8.1 percent increase in 2025 for $1.6 billion.

Tax preparation

Oberlin Community Services will offer free federal tax help from 12-4 p.m. April 4 at Oberlin Community Services, 85 S. Professor St. Families and individuals making less than $60,000 per year can file for free through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Those with higher income may qualify for AARP’s Tax-Aide.

This clinic is open to Lorain County residents by appointment only — appointments last about 30 minutes and can be made by calling (440) 774-6579 during OCS business hours.

Amherst VFW Post 1662

165 Cleveland Ave. Amherst, OH 44001 (440) 988-8823

Fish Fry Fridays through April 7

Open to the public. Serving 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Cash only, carry-outs available. Call ahead to order.

Rotary Club of Oberlin

The Rotary Club of Oberlin will host its pancake breakfast 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Oberlin Elementary School, 210 North Park St., Oberlin.

Proceeds support Oberlin Safety Town.

Tickets are two for $14, one for $8 and children 5 and under eat free. To purchase tickets in advance, Venmo @OberlinRotaryClub.

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Brownhelm Historical Association

The Brownhelm Historical Association’s membership meeting and historical program is April 5 at the Historic Brownhelm School and Museum, 1950 N. Ridge Rd., Vermilion. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The historical program begins at 7:30 p.m.

The program is “Before they were famous,” and includes information on celebrities who served in World War II. The program is open to the public.

Easter Egg Hunts

● The Amherst Historical Society’s Eggstravaganza is 1-4 p.m. Saturday at two locations:

The Easter Bunny, raffle baskets, food for sale, and more will be at the Amherst Historical Society, 113 S. Lake St.

A balloon artist, face painter, two petting zoos, crafting stations, trivia and egg scavenger hunt in the Historic buildings with prizes, and more will be at The Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Avenue, Amherst, Ohio 44001.

● The Amherst Lions club and Amherst Steele Leo Clubs will host its Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m. April 8. The two clubs have been hosting the event since 1996.

The Easter Bunny will arrive at 10:30 a.m., courtesy of the Amherst Fire Department. There will be three separate hunt areas marked by age level: toddlers to 3-year-olds; 4-to-6-year-olds; and 7-to-

Bulletin Board

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10-year-olds.

In addition to the candyfilled eggs, there will be specially marked eggs children can redeem for prizes at the end of the hung.

Parents are requested to not enter the designated areas when the hunt first begins, but to join the children a few minutes into the hunt. For those too young to walk on their own, the Easter Bunny will have plenty of eggs to hand out, Lions Club President Lori Elswick said in a news release.

Parents of children with special needs can ask a Lion or Leo Club member for assistance.

The event is free, but donations support Amherst Lions vision care and other community projects. The Amherst Lions will also be collecting unwanted, used eye glasses to be recycled and distributed to those in need. Collection boxes will be set up.

For more information, visit Amherst Lions Club on Facebook or email AmherstOhioLions@gmail. com.

● The Rotary Club of Oberlin’s Easter Egg Hunt is 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 8 on the West College side of Tappan Square. It is for children ages 2-to-12years-old and will feature the Easter Bunny, face painting, games and other activities.

Amherst Historical Society

● Afternoon Tea is 1-3 p.m. May 21 at The Grange Hall in Sandstone Village. Please join us for tea and refreshments, enjoy beautiful wedding dresses on display, and tour the Village gardens maintained by the Amherst Garden Club. Tickets are $20 per person, $15 for members. Please RSVP by May 15 to (440) 988-7255 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety. org. Payments can be made by cash, check or card. You can also register and pay by card using https://form.jotform. com/230463915767161

● The Sandstone Village Car and Bike Show will be June 4 with registration from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and the Car Show from 12-4 p.m. There will be a photo area, Village building tours, garage sales, a blessing of the cars and bikes, raffles, DJ, food court, and more! Spectator parking will be at Amherst Junior High School with shuttle service to Sandstone Village.

● The Taste of History Military Living History event is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 17 at The Sandstone Village, 763 Milan Ave. The event will have samples of military food and rations, displays, kids’ activities and more.

North Pointe Ballet

North Pointe Ballet will preent a screening of “Because of You” in honor of World Autism Awareness Day at the Lorain County Community College Stocker Arts Center cinema hall at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Each of the two, 45-minute showings will include a screening of the 20 minute dance piece which explores a family’s journey with their child’s Autism diagnosis, a live dance performance except, a demonstration of a virtual reality component simulation the experience of a dancer with Autism, an explaination of educator resources and a question-and-answer session with the artists.

The event is free, but registration is strongly encouraged at northpointeballet. org/waad/.

Pittsfield Community Church

● The Pittsfield Community Church’s “Springspiration Day” is April 18.

Registration is at 10 a.m., concert at 10:30 a.m., salad lunch at noon.

For reservations, call Margaret at (440) 9655773 or Phyllis at (440) 647-347.

The special guest is Cheryl Wellert, CEO of DAT Travel and Christian Treasure Seekers, which plans family-friendly and faith-based vacations.

● The church’s Fish Fry Dinner is 5-7 p.m. april 14. Dine-in or carry-out available. Meals are $15 and all are welcome. The church is located at the corner of state Routes 58 and 303.

Amherst Library

● The C.S. Lewis and Friends book group will meet at the Amherst Library at 7 p.m. April 11 in the DeLloyd Room on the second floor. The group will finish its discussion of the sermon “A Slip of the Tongue” and then discuss the essay “The Inner Ring.” A copy of either item is available by emailing Marcia Geary at mgeary@gearylawllc.com or calling (440) 988-9803.

● Canine reading buddies is 11 a.m. April 1, 6:30 p.m. April 18 Celebrate spring with a short story contest. Youth of all ages are invited to enter the Amherst Public Library’s short story con- test now through April 29. Winners will be chosen by May 5.

● Unicorn week is April 1-8. Unicorn-themed crafts, activities and a photo backdrop will be available during regular library hours.

● Adults are invited to create two small pendant necklaces with glass cabochon gems at 6:30 p.m. April 3 or 2:30 p.m. April 6. Registration is required, please only register for one session per person.

● A STEM workshop for children ages 5-12 is at 4 p.m. April 4.

● The Easter Bunny will visit the library from 1-2 p.m. April 8 for photos.

● A watercolor pencil workshop is at 12:30 p.m. April 10. All skill levels are welcome. Students will need a set of watercolor pencils, pink erasers, a No. 8 round Taklon brush, a natural sponge, a half-inch foam bruce and an ultrafine Sharpie or .02 Micron pen and 140-pound watercolor paper. Classes are for adults and registration is required.

● The Tabletop Game Time group will meet at 5:30 p.m. April 11. The club is for teens and adults. To register for events, or for more information, call the library at (440) 9884230 or visit amherstpubliclibrary.org.

Ohio Genealogical Society

The Lorain County chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society will have a virtual program on finding ancestors in Census records at 7 p.m. April 10. The program is free and open to the public. Contact meetings@loraincoogs. org to receive a link to the meeting.

Black River Audubon Society

The Black River Audubon Society will meet at 7 p.m. April 4 at the Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange. Author Will McLean Greeley will present “A Connecticut Yankee goes to Washington, Birdman of the Senate,” a biography of Sen. George McClean, sponsor of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.blackriveraudubon. org power 72. Banned insecticide, acr. 73. German surrealist Max

DOWN 1. “General Hospital” network 2. Crop of a bird

3. Zeus’ sister and wife 4. Two under par on a golf hole 5. Meat-cooking contraption 6. Winglike 7. *Predominant color of Mars 8. Type of membranophone

9. Like never-losing Steven

10. Town

11. *Primary color

12. ___ Juan, Puerto Rico

15. 7th planet from the sun

20. Chosen few

22. Nicki Minaj’s genre

24. Not womenfolk

25. *Number of colors in a rain- bow

26. Of service

27. Colorful parrot

29. *The Lumière brothers’ colorful creation

31. “Cheers” actress Perlman

32. Jeopardy

33. Sergio of Spaghetti Westerns fame

34. Follow as a consequence

36. Email folder

38. Cone-shaped quarters

42. Naiad or maenad

45. Motherless calves

49. Old horse

51. Long John Silver, e.g.

54. Modified “will”

56. Bottom-ranking employee

57. Opposite of “out of”

58. Hall of Fame Steelers’ coach

59. June 6, 1944

60. “____ Buy Me Love”

61. Between dawn and noon

62. Yours and mine

63. Expression of pleasure

65. Melancholy

67. Latissimus dorsi, for short

SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE A2