Columns

Today’s column will focus on the makeup of the Board of Elections and how election results are tabulated and released. We are often asked about the structure of the Board of Elections and how people are appointed to their positions. The Board of Elections is made up of four members, two who are affiliated with the Democratic party and two who are affiliated with the Republican party. The four board members are county electors who are recommended by their county central committees and appointed by the Ohio Secretary of State, the chief election official in the state. The board members serve for a term of four years, and are appointed in March of odd numbered years. The current board members are Chair Dave Fisher, Rob Long, Audrey Gillespie, and Jim Oda.

Nature occasionally rewards us with seasonally perfect days. Quintessential days achingly sweet and beautiful, with weather that’s equally ideal. Days to forever treasure. Days you’d give anything to be able to away somewhere and relive again in the future.

DAYTON — The Alzheimer’s Association is offering a webinar outlining ways for caregivers to take care of themselves as part of its free ALZ Talks program series.

Last week we were walking through a day at our house. Come in and join us as we pick up where we left off.

Early October is a very busy time here at the Board of Elections office, as staff is managing several different tasks to prepare for Election Day. All voting equipment, including precinct based and early voting ballot scanners, ballot marking devices for voters with disabilities, and high-speed ballot scanners for mailed in ballots were thoroughly tested to verify that all ballots are being tabulated accurately. A test deck of marked ballots is run through each scanner and the results are uploaded into the tabulation software to ensure the votes are counted as marked. Later in October, the Board will conduct apublic test of voting equipment in three randomly chosen precincts, which will be repeated before each stage of the ballot counting process, another step in making sure the equipment is working properly. The public is invited to observe that test, which will take place during the board meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Since we’ve all pretty much decided to forget about COVID these days, we’re all feeling pretty safe when we step out the door.

October is in-your-face autumn!

Isn’t grief like a thunderstorm? There are those times the thunder rumbles until you stop your ears, and you are sure it’ll send everything else crashing in a split second. You have no vision of life with clear blue skies and what was once a haven of rest and dreams is only blackness with dark tornado clouds as far as you can see. When lightning strikes, there are only more dark rolling clouds that give you glimpses of the sky beyond.

This fall promises many things: the weather will get cooler and the days will get shorter, fall sports will be a hot topic for conversation, and politics will be on many people’s minds as the midterm election draws near.

We are back with another ‘Calling around Covington’ column, once again in ink on paper here in the pages of the Miami Valley Today. This Friday, Sept. 16, the ladies of the Covington Christian Church are hosting another monthly salad luncheon drive-thru. This is the second-to-last opportunity in 2022, and will take place from 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m., or until everything is gone. Enjoy their signature hot chicken salad with water chestnuts, along with a container of other various salads, and a third container brimming with delicious desserts.