In an effort to promote the planting of more windbreaks, especially in areas of northwest Ohio known for flat lands and windy days, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is offering a special incentive to landowners who establish windbreaks this spring. Property owners who purchase a minimum of 300 arborvitae from ODNR will receive a copy of the Ohio Windbreak Guide, a 44-page booklet on how to establish windbreaks. The seedlings are available on a first come, first served basis only at the reduced Windbreak Program special price of 55 cents each (minimum purchase: 100). "We are glad to offer quality arborvitae seedlings while supplies last to landowners under this program," said John Dorka, chief of the ODNR Division of Forestry.

Busy Needles The club held its first meeting 2 p.m. March 18 at the West Hartland United Methodist Church.

Douglas R. Will of Berlin Heights has received the Kiwanis Club of Sandusky Bay Scholarship to attend Bowling Green State University Firelands College. He received $634 toward his tuition for the 2006-2007 academic year. This endowed award is available to full-time sophomores who are graduates of Sandusky, Saint Mary's Central Catholic, Perkins, Huron or Margaretta high schools. Two awards were made available for the BGSU Firelands 2005-2006 academic year.

Consultants hired by Consumer Reports to investigate how it botched a story about infant car seats concluded this month that a major misunderstanding between the magazine and the lab that conducted the test resulted in the error. The findings of the test that most seats "failed disastrously" were withdrawn two weeks after their Jan. 4 publication when the magazine learned its side-impact tests had simulated speeds twice as fast as it reported. The error prompted criticism from the manufacturers involved and confusion among readers, especially parents of young children. The results of the magazine's investigation were released March 17 and will be published in the May issue, among reports on Teflon and lawn-care products. The issue also includes a pledge from Jim Guest, president of parent company Consumers Union, that in the future he will have to sign off on "any report that calls a product Not Acceptable or raises questions about an entire group of products." According to the report, Consumer Reports wanted to test the effect of a 38 mph side impact on children in car seats. The magazine chose that speed because that is how cars themselves are tested by federal regulators.

OAK HARBOR The 15th annual Lake Erie Wing Watch Weekend returns to Ottawa county on April 14 to 15. This weekend of educational and entertaining activities is for anyone interested in birds and birding. It is a cooperative effort sponsored by Erie and Ottawa county visitors bureaus, and county, state, and federal conservation organizations and private individuals. Things get started with a Breakfast with the Birds at Magee Marsh. This will include a walk and a breakfast served by the Friends of Magee Marsh. Then head over to Oak Harbor High School where the rest of the days events take place. Concurrent sessions on a variety of topics will be going on all morning and afternoon. Participants can choose from beginning birding, birding by ear, identifying warblers, shorebirds, and waterfowl. Other topics include osprey, sandhill cranes, birding hot spots, wind power, live raptors, native plants and a panel discussion with expert birders, digital photography and more. Also all day Saturday there will be exhibitors and vendors set up, a silent auction, and lunch will be available.

Carriers recalled

Unless something drastic happens, there'll be no more ice fishing this year in area farm ponds. Anglers are putting their ice gear away and turning their thoughts to late April when several species begin to turn active. No more piles of ice cold bluegill fillets, the year's tastiest, no more fun in brisk cold weather, no more action in an off-time when little else is happening.

BULLETIN BOARD Business expo BELLEVUE Local retailers, businesses and tradesmen will be spotlighted at an expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Bellevue Senior High School. Admission is free. Door prize winners have a chance of items such as dog food and a day spa. More than $1,000 worth of prizes will be given away.

GREENWICH A Greenwich man was involved in a tragic accident Friday morning. Nelson Leid, 38, of 4470 Edwards Road, was backing up the piece of farm equipment he was operating when he noticed one of his three children was not standing nearby, Huron County Sheriff's Major Greg Englund said.