Family briefs: Single tickets going on sale for four Stranahan Theater shows

        The American Theatre Guild announced that single tickets to “Stomp,” “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” and “Clue” will go on sale to the public on Monday, Nov. 18 at 10 a.m. These engagements are part of the 24–25 Broadway in Toledo Series and will be held at the Stranahan Theater.
        Tickets will be available at BroadwayInToledo.com and StranahanTheater.com. Group ticket savings for 10+ are available by contacting Groups@ATGuild.org.
        Dates include:
        • “Stomp,” a season add-on, March 22–23, 2025.
        • “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” April 3–6.
        • “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.” – April 15.
        • “Clue,”  May 6–11.
        Become a fan of Broadway in Toledo on Facebook: @BroadwayInToledo and on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) at @BwayToledo.
 
Coats for Kids
        United Steelworkers Local 1-346's Women of Steel (WOS) will have a Coats 4 Kids giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the USW 1-346 Union Hall, 2910 Consaul St., Toledo
        Children must be present to receive a coat.
 
Daisy Scouts pet supply drive
        Daisy Troop 1626 from Genoa will hold a Pet Supply Donation Drive to benefit the Nickens Family Rescue and Sanctuary.
        The troop is collecting dry/canned dog and cat food, treats, toys, collars (all sizes), leashes, food and water bowls, litter and blankets. Drop-off boxes will be available at Premier Bank, 22020 W. SR 51, and Miller’s New Market, 22361 W. Holt Harrigan Rd. in Genoa through Sunday, Nov. 24.
        For more information, call Mallory at 419-215-9812.
 
“Ask the Expert”
        Mercy Health’s “Ask the Expert” series continues Thursday, Nov. 21, with Jeannie Wagner, clinical coordinator of Mercy Health Diabetes Education Services, speaking about how to enjoy the holidays and all that tempting food, even when dealing with diabetes.
        The one-hour, monthly sessions are held the third Thursday of every month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. via Zoom. To join, participants can call 646-931-3860 or Zoom meeting ID: 975 5220 8436. The program is free and there is no need to pre-register.
 
‘Where Christmas Comes Alive’
        Downtown Fremont Inc. will host the GenoaBank Holiday Events Season, when the city’s downtown will be transformed into “Where the Christmas Season Comes Alive!”
        Downtown businesses will be decorating their storefronts for the season starting on Pink Friday, Nov. 22. The community is being asked to vote on the Downtown Fremont Inc. Facebook Page for their favorite decorated storefronts until Sunday, Dec. 8. The business with the most “likes” will be the winner of a free one-year membership to Downtown Fremont Inc.
        Holiday festivities begin on Friday, Nov.29, with the annual Tree Lighting at 7 p.m. at the corner of Front and Croghan Streets. Trackless train rides will be available through the Downtown Historic District from 4-9 p.m. Rides are free. Treats, as well as Jimmy G’s Food Truck, will also be available onsite to enjoy while listening to caroling and watching dance performances.
        Santa will be in his house at the corner of Front and Croghan starting Nov. 29 from 5-7 p.m. before the Tree Lighting, and Santa visits will continue Fridays from 5-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. until Christmas. Those who can’t visit are invited to drop off letters in Santa’s mailbox anytime through Dec. 18. Since Santa plans to write back, make sure there’s a return address on the envelope.
        For more information, visit DowntownFremontOhio.org.
 
Book drive/donation event
        Northwood Jewelers and local author Laurence St. John are conducting their Annual Book Drive/Donation Event through Saturday Dec. 7.
        Individuals and businesses are invited to donate funds and/or new or gently used children’s books, which will be given to local charities, schools and churches. Monetary donations and books may be dropped off at Northwood Jewelers at 4612 Woodville Rd. through Dec. 7. (Checks should be made payable to Laurence St. John).
        Each book donation will earn an entry to win a necklace and a signed copy of St. John’s newest book.
        St. John will hold a book signing Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Northwood Jewelers.
        “We look forward to working with the community to beat our goal from 2021 of 162 books purchased/donated,” St. John said. “In 2022, we donated 37 books and in 2023 we donated 59 books.”
        For more information, email stjohn@yahoo.com
 
Free holiday concert
        A free Holiday Concert featuring the Toledo Symphony will be presented Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Clay High School auditorium. Attendees should enter through Door 17.
        Cenovus Energy is sponsoring the event.
 
Tree lighting set
        Mercy Health – St. Charles Hospital, 2600 Navarre Ave, Oregon, will hold its annual tree lighting and visit from Santa Thursday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. in the hospital main lobby.
        The community is invited to come share in this holiday tradition, which will include holiday refreshments and Christmas carols.
 
Holiday Trunk Show
        The Arts Commission will present the “Local Artists Holiday Trunk Show,” in conjunction with the Libbey House Foundation, Nov. 22 and 23 at the Edward D. Libbey House, 2008 Scottwood Ave., Toledo, in the Old West End neighborhood.
        The event will feature glass, metal, fabric, acrylic and ceramic artwork from local artists for sale, with a portion of proceeds benefiting The Arts Commission’s programs.
        The Friday-night preview, which will be held from 5-8 p.m., will feature early-bird shopping, live art demonstration by Aaron Bivens, silent auction, meet the artists, appetizers and a cash bar. Shopping hours on Saturday will be 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
        The event is presented by Libbey House Foundation and The Arts Commission with additional sponsorship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Ohio Arts Council.
        Admission is $25 for the Friday Preview Night and $10 for Saturday. To buy tickets online visit theartscommission.org/events/holiday-trunk-show.
 
OJHS Community Christmas
        Children will have a chance to win Christmas trees and can take selfies with Santa, Mrs. Claus and Old St. Nick at the Oregon Jerusalem Historical Society Community Christmas event on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Brandville School Museum Complex, at 1133 Grasser St.
        Attendees can walk through the “Parade of Trees,” featuring more than 30 Christmas trees for sale or raffle.
        Children will receive hot chocolate, cookies, an entry ticket to win a Christmas tree and to win a week at  OJHS Children's History Camp. 
        Adults can purchase Christmas décor, wreaths and trees, baked goods and Christmas gift items. 
        Everyone can enter to win Christmas trees and raffle baskets.
        The City of Oregon is co-sponsoring the event.
 
Toledo Helps Ukraine Cookie Walk Fundraiser
        Toledo Helps Ukraine/4ua.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is hosting a Cookie Walk on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.-noon or until sold out at the Rossford Recreation Center, 400 Dixie Highway.
        All proceeds raised will go to assist Toledo Helps Ukraine in its work for Ukrainians impacted by the war in their country.
        Visitors can select from hundreds of cookies, including traditional Christmas cookies and Eastern European favorites like kolachy, along with nut and poppy seed rolls, and sweet raisin bread. Cookies will be available for $10 a dozen.
        Cookie donations are also greatly appreciated for the Cookie Walk. Donations of homemade cookies may be dropped off at the Rossford Recreation Center on Friday, Dec. 6, from 3-6 p.m. Please package the cookies in disposable containers. There will also be handmade Christmas items for sale.
        “As long as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, we will continue to raise funds to assist Ukrainians who desperately need humanitarian help,” said Alona Matchenko, president, Toledo Helps Ukraine. “Ukrainians are known for their delicious baked goods and we are selling these as a reminder of the culture that Ukraine is trying hard to preserve.”
        “Currently over 14 million Ukrainians need humanitarian help, particularly now as they face their third winter of war. In the first half of 2024, three times as many Ukrainians died as were born,” ” Matchenko said.
        Toledo Helps Ukraine, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has mobilized volunteers both locally and in Ukraine, collected and shipped over $300,000 in medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and coordinated all documents and paperwork for 18 Ukrainian refugee families (67 individuals total) to come to the United States, and assisted refugees in settling in Northwest Ohio and nearby communities.
 
Holiday Bake-Off
        Bowling Green’s biggest holiday cookie bake-and-taste will be held at the Wood County District Public Library on Monday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Bowling Green Library Atrium.
        There is no entry fee for bakers. Bakers should arrive at the Bowling Green Library at 6:45 p.m. and bring at least two dozen cookies. Bakers can enter more than one recipe in the contest.
        Tasters just need to come prepared to taste all of the cookies. Every taster will receive five tickets to vote for their favorite cookies of the evening. There is no fee for tasting. After all the votes are cast, the top two bakers will receive a prize.
        Music will be provided by Hoehner Piano Studio by Vicki Hoehner & Bethany Slembarski, and Mrs.Claus will make a guest appearance.
        No registration is required. For more information, call 419-352-5050 or email woodref@wcdpl.org.
 
Museum offering new micro exhibit
        The National Museum of the Great Lakes unveiled a new micro exhibit, “Gifts from the Great Lakes: New Additions to Our Collection,” on display through Dec. 2.
        This special exhibit showcases an array of artifacts donated by community members and supporters over the past year. The display includes a 1930s flare gun, a brass steam gauge from Toledo’s historic American Shipbuilding yard, and personal artifacts of Horace Harrison, who served on Lake Michigan with the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII.              Additionally, visitors will see the company house flag of the Reiss Steamship Company, a symbol of the storied shipping heritage on the Great Lakes.
        NMGL is located at 1701 Front St., Toledo. For more information, call 419-214-5000 or visit nmgl.org.
 
‘Polar Express’ Pajama Party
        Kids can put on their favorite pajamas for train-themed fun at the Hayes Museum in Fremont on Sunday, Dec. 1.
        A special guest will read “The Polar Express,” and kids will see and interact with the “Hayes Train Special” model train display. Refreshments also will be provided.
        The event will be held at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Attendees can pick one session.
        Tickets are required and are available at  rbhayes.org/news/2024/11/06/general/polar-express-pajama-party-offers-family-fun-for-the-holidays/. Tickets are $7 for non-members and $5 for Hayes Presidential members. These prices apply to all ages.
        This event is part of  “A Presidential Christmas,” a series of holiday events at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums sponsored by GEM, Inc. Partial funding for A Presidential Christmas is by Wright Leather Works.
        Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues. For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org.
 
United for the Holidays
        United Way of Greater Toledo announced the United for the Holidays program for the 2024 holiday season. For the third year in a row, United Way is partnering with the Islamic Food Bank and Grace Community Center, and for the first time, with Brown Bag Food Project in Bowling Green and BCS Food Pantry in Oak Harbor. This annual program brings together corporate sponsors, over 200 volunteers, and community partners to assemble over 500 holiday boxes filled with two weeks’ worth of food for a family of four.
        In United Way of Greater Toledo’s service area of Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties, 40% of families live at or below the ALICE threshold (asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed). The food boxes sponsored by United Way partners and packed by volunteers will provide supplemental support to families for a happier holiday season.  “United Way of Greater Toledo embraces its role as a vital community resource that utilizes data, human capital, and financial support to address social challenges that cannot be resolved by any single donor, nonprofit, or government agency alone. Our mission extends beyond merely distributing holiday food boxes; it’s about linking individuals to the essential resources they need to thrive, and fostering connections between our corporate and community partners to effectively deliver those resources. This holiday food box initiative serves as a powerful opportunity to unite all segments of our community. We adopt a holistic perspective – providing families with access to groceries enables them to fulfill their financial obligations, including rent or mortgage payments, childcare, and healthcare expenses,” said Wendy Pestrue, CEO of United Way of Greater Toledo.
        Food box packing events will continue through Nov. 25, and boxes will be distributed to local partners that serve families in need throughout the region, including Helping Hands of St Louis, Ashland Baptist Church in Oregon, Sunshine Communities, Nuestra Gente Food Pantry, Perrysburg Heights Community Center and families in Toledo’s Urban Core.
        For anyone in need of a connection to food, shelter, educational support, or a myriad of other local resources, United Way’s 211 information and referral line is available as a 24/7 call center, staffed by local, trained professionals who help address emergent needs as well as root causes of needs for assistance. Call 211, visit 211nwo.org, or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
 
JFS receives grant
        Ottawa County Department of Job and Family Services has received $65,866 in grant funding to support efforts in helping fight addiction by delivering needed job training and career development services to those in recovery, agency Director, Stephanie Kowal said.
        The grant from the OneOhio Recovery Foundation will go toward job training and supportive services, along with job placement assistance, to individuals in recovery, Kowal said.
        “Often individuals in recovery have a difficult time entering or re-entering the workforce, due to their employment patterns while actively using drugs or alcohol. This project pairs with existing job training resources and expands services like training and job placement in high demand or critical occupations for those in recovery,” Kowal added.     The grant is part of an inaugural round of approximately $51 million in funding made available by the Foundation as part of its mission to combat the opioid epidemic by supporting prevention, treatment and recovery programs and services in our communities. The grant money was funded by 55 percent of settlement funds that Ohio is receiving from the pharmaceutical industry as a consequence of its role in the national opioid epidemic.
        The grant received by Ottawa County Department of Job and Family Services reflects the Foundation’s commitment to supporting organizations on the frontlines of the addiction epidemic by advancing efforts that foster more resilient, healthier communities across Ohio.
        The recipients announced as part of the Foundation’s first grant cycle were chosen after a robust review process that included evaluation by the local OneOhio Regional Board, the OneOhio Expert Panel and the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
        Grant recipients have demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing the opioid crisis. The funded initiatives are evidenced-based and align with Ohio’s approved abatement strategies, including prevention, recovery supports, services for impacted families and children, and many more. 
        A complete list of recipients can be found at OneOhioFoundation.com/GrantAwards.