LOCAL FOCUS HIGHLIGHTS AREA NEWS, EVENTS

Legal assistance

Have legal questions? The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Help Center staff has answers, and they are as handy as your nearest branch library. Clerk of Courts representatives will be on hand at several branches of the Dayton Metro Library system as part of their community outreach days.

Montgomery County Clerk of Courts representatives can help residents navigate issues such as debt reduction, bankruptcy, housing, divorce, protection orders, sealing/expunging records, and more. Their goal is to provide needed education, information, and access to services.

The sessions are free and registration is not required; assistance is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

All sessions are Thursdays from 10 a.m. to Noon:

March 11: Main Library, 215 E. Third St.

March 25: Burkhardt Branch, 4680 Burkhardt Ave.

April 8: Southeast Branch, 21 Watervliet Ave.

April 22: Northwest Branch, 2410 Philadelphia Dr.

For more information call the Library’s Ask Me Line at 937-4632665. The Montgomery County Clerk of Courts website is http:// www.mcclerkofcourts.org/.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, recognizes National Women & Girls HIV/ AIDS Awareness Day on Wednesday, March 10. The day is a nationwide event to highlight the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls and encourages them to make the best choices when it comes to sexual health.

In 2018, of the 38,739 new HIV diagnosis in the U.S., 7.401 or 19% were among women. Most of the diagnosis were attributed to heterosexual contact (88%) and small portion (15%) injection drug use. In Montgomery County, of the new HIV cases in 2019, females represented 18% with African American women making up half of those numbers.

What is more concerning, 1 in 9 women with HIV are unaware they have it. People who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may pass HIV to others and not know it.

The 2021 theme “HIV Prevention Starts with Me”, reminds us that everyone, regardless of their HIV status, can make an impact in preventing new HIV infections in women and their partners. It also encourages women to take charge of their health by educating themselves, using condoms and taking medicine called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) if they are at high risk of getting HIV. To get a free confidential HIV test contact Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County at 937-225-4550.

WASHINGTON TWP. Blood drive upcoming

The March 11 Washington Twp. Blood Drive will take place 3 to 7 p.m. at the Fire Department Headquarters training room on McEwen Road. Please park at either the Government Center or behind the fire station. Signs will point you to the correct entrance. Blood center staff will take extra precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Measures include following social distancing protocol and aseptic technique such as cleaning every step of the way and using proper personal protective equipment.

Donors may schedule an appointment using sponsor code 533.

For more information and to see when the next blood drive is, visit the website or contact kate.trangenstein.