ETC: First meeting of 2024 Great Lakes Book Club set

 
        The first 2024 Great Lakes Book Club will take place virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at noon.
        The featured title and topic of the guided discussion is “The Toledo War: The First Michigan-Ohio Rivalry,” by Don Faber. The presentation will feature local history author and holytoledohistory.com curator Tedd Long, who will co-facilitate and provide insight during the discussion.
        Registration is free but required. Participation is open to both museum members and non-members. Participants may choose to purchase the book(s) for the ongoing book club series at the NMGL museum store by visiting the museum in person or by shopping online at nmglstore.org.
        The additional featured books for the 2024 Great Lakes Book Club include “The Great Lakes Water Wars,” by Peter Annin (March 5) and “Firekeeper’s Daughter,” by Angeline Boulley (April 2).
        For more information on book club events or to register to participate, visit nmgl.org/events.
 
Benefit bake sale
        A benefit bake sale featuring Valentine's Day-themed items, such as cookies, cupcakes, and candies, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Gladieux Home Center, 5120 Navarre Ave., Oregon.
        Proceeds raised will benefit Andy’s Army Canine Cancer Awareness Project. Learn more at facebook.com/AndysArmyCanineCancerAwarenessProject.
           
Live! In the House
        The Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society will present blues and boogie-woogie pianist Mark Lincoln Braun in concert Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St.
        “Mr. B” has become one of the premiere purveyors of a vanishing art. Having learned his craft firsthand from the early masters, he is a rare and living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists.
        Tickets are $12 and are available in advance at Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St., Pemberville or by calling Carol at 419-287-4848, as well as at the door.
        The concert is presented as part of the ongoing Live! In the House Series. Learn more at pembervilleoperahouse.org.
 
Slow Brew at the Zoo
        Sample and celebrate all things coffee at Slow Brew at the Toledo Zoo Sunday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Zoo is located at 2 Hippo Way, Toledo.
        Visit the sloth from 9-10 a.m. at Malawi Event Center and enjoy unlimited samples from local roasters and coffee exhibitors while listening to live music at the Malawi Center and the Museum. Tickets to the coffee for conservation event are $18 for members and $30 for nonmembers and include live animal demos, a collectible coffee mug, Orchid Show admission, Zoo admission, parking and more.
        For the perfect blend, check out these same-day additional activities:
        • Yoga in the Aquarium, 8-9 a.m. Break from the daily grind in this instructor-led relaxation session by Diana Spiess, of Essence Mind Body Studio. Additional fee of $20 per person. Limited to 40 guests.
        • BREWtiful Desktop Terrariums Program, 9:30 and 11 a.m. in the Museum Relic Room. Create an easy-to-care for terrarium that’s the perfect small space pick-me-up. Additional fee of $25 per person. Limited to 30 guests.
        • College Coffee Talk, a Zoo Career Panel, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. in Malawi Event Center. This exclusive opportunity is for college students only. Students will have a chance to learn about a variety of career paths from Toledo Zoo professionals including animal care, conservation, education, events, photography, and more. After a panel discussion and open question forum, students can spend a few minutes talking one-on-one with these professionals.
        Limited tickets available. The event will be held rain, snow, or shine. Additional fee of $7/person. Limited to 50 guests.
        Visit toledozoo.org/events/slow-brew fort tickets and more information.
 
“Love Letters”
        Warm your hearts this Valentine’s day with “Love Letters” at The Village Players, Feb. 9-18 at the Village Players Theatre, 2740 Upton Ave., Toledo.
        Curtain times are:
        • Fridays, Feb. 9 and 16, 8 p.m.
        • Saturdays, Feb. 10 and 17,  8 p.m.
        • Sundays, Feb. 11 and 18, 2 p.m.
        • Thursday, Feb, 15, 7 p.m.
        Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students presenting a valid student ID and are available at thevillageplayers.org.
        A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” is a funny and emotional portrait about the powerful connection of love. Two friends, one rebellious, one straight-arrowed, have exchanged notes, cards and letters with each other for over 50 years – from second grade, through summer vacations, to college and well into adulthood. They have spent a lifetime discussing their hopes and dreams, victories and defeats. But long after the letters are done, the real question remains. Have they made the right choices or is the love of their life only a letter away?
 
TMA poetry contest: “Discover, Inspire, Create”
        The Toledo Museum of Art (TMA) is accepting entries for its annual poetry contest which invites youth and adults to draw inspiration from 12 objects in the museum’s rich collection of artworks. The contest closes Friday, March 22.
        “‘Discover, Inspire, Create: TMA Poetry Prize’ aims to foster a connection between visual art and the written word, encouraging participants to explore their creativity and express emotions through poetry,” said Doreen Cutway, senior public relations manager, Toledo Museum of Art.
        Middle and high school teachers can request docent-guided tours that include a poetry writing activity for their classes and encourage their students to submit their resulting poems to the contest. Adults can register for a writing workshop with Lucas County Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire on March 16.
        Contest categories include Youth 11-17 Years Old and Adults 18 Years and Older.
        Winners in the youth and adult categories will receive:
        • First prize: $200 and one-year TMA membership.
        • Second prize: $100.
        • Third prize: $75.
        • Honorable mention: $25
        A panel of three poets will review and rank each entry based on originality, form, language, grammatical skill and the creative interpretation or reflection of the writing. Judges include Ryan Bunch, Hedyeh Elahinia and Dustin Pearson.
        Winners will be notified on Wednesday, April 17 and an awards ceremony and reception will be held on Saturday, April 27.
        For complete details about contest requirements, submission guidelines, list of eligible artworks and adult workshops with Poet Laureate McIntire, visit toledomuseum.org/learn/poetry-competition.
 
Recycling effort planned for eclipse-viewing glasses
        The excitement surrounding Toledo’s total solar eclipse is mounting. On April 8, all eyes will be skyward taking in this amazing phenomenon. Whether watching from your backyard or at a viewing party, solar glasses will need to be worn.
        Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful is asking people not to throw these glasses away after the eclipse ends. Instead, recycle them in special eclipse glasses recycling boxes.
        In the true spirit of community collaboration, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Destination Toledo, Imagination Station, and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library are uniting to celebrate this celestial event and champion a sustainable approach to watching the eclipse.
        The collective initiative centers around the collection of eclipse-viewing glasses for both reuse and recycling. From April 8-18, specially designated collection boxes will be placed at all Toledo-Lucas County Libraries and at Imagination Station, allowing individuals to drop off their glasses. Organizations hosting larger watch parties can also request these boxes for their specific events at ktlcb.org.
        All returned glasses will be vetted by volunteers during a sorting event that will be held at Imagination Station on Earth Day, April 22. Those in good quality will be donated to Astronomers Without Borders, supporting their mission and fostering global collaboration in appreciating the wonders of the cosmos. Those glasses that are a bit more beat up will be recycled locally.
        Beyond the celestial spectacle, the partners aim to extend the enthusiasm surrounding the total solar eclipse, emphasizing the broader impact of sustainability.
        “As we prepare to witness the total solar eclipse, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful is thrilled by this partnership, and I want to thank our great partners in this endeavor. I also want to encourage everyone, while enjoying this celestial event, to not forget about our home here on Earth and how important it is to be environmentally friendly in everything that we do,” says Adam Cassi, executive director of Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful.