Family briefs: Toledo Swiss Singers to present ‘A Musical Eclipse’ on April 7

 
        The Toledo Swiss Singers, one of the area’s oldest singing groups, will close their 155th season at their spring concert Sunday, April 7 at The Chalet at Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Rd., Oregon.
        The concert, titled “A Musical Eclipse,” will feature songs themed for the upcoming solar eclipse, along with traditional Swiss songs (including yodeling).
        The special Sunday-afternoon concert will begin at 3 p.m. with desserts and snacks sold a la carte before and after the performance. Doors will open at 2 p.m.
        Concert tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for children under 13. Buy tickets online at toledoswiss.simpletix.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
        For more details, call or text Elaine at 419-206-0975.
        About the Singers
        Currently under the direction of Micah Graber, the choir has been a cultural staple in the Toledo area since 1869. The chorus in its current form has been around since 1924. Its aim is to retain and preserve the culture and songs of Switzerland, to live up to the singers’ ancestors’ tenets of faith and behavior, help others, and to be good citizens.
        The Swiss Singers practice Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m., September through May, at Oak Shade Grove.
        The group is part of the North American Swiss Singing Alliance (NASSA), made up of 14 choirs from Canada and the U.S. Singers compete internationally every three years. The most recent competition was held in Toledo in 2018. The next competition will be held June 20-23 in Pittsburgh.
        The nonprofit organization is also part of the larger German American Festival (GAF) Society, which most people associate with the festival held annually in August. The society consists of seven German-speaking societies. During the festival, the Singers set up and operate the Swiss Cheese Haus, along with the Stein Stossen contest.
        The GAF Festival draws more than 30,000 people on an average weekend and is the largest ethnic festival in this part of the country.
 
Art exhibit to celebrate DD Awareness Month
        The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is partnering with Franklin Park Mall for a unique art exhibit featuring works made exclusively by individuals with developmental disabilities.
        The exhibit, on display March 18-23 in the Macy's wing of the mall, is part of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month celebrations by the Board.
        A Meet the Artists event, set for 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on March 23, will cap off the event.
       
Singles Dance Party
        Glass City Singles will present a St Patrick’s Party Saturday, March 16 from 6:45-10 p.m. at The Ballroom Company, 2558 Parkway Plaza, Maumee (in the Parkway Plaza).
        A free dance lesson will be offered at 6 p.m. Attendees are invited to dress in green.   BYOB. The event will also include prizes and cash drawings.
        Admission is $12, which includes the dance lesson and snacks.   
        Visit GlassCityDanceParty.com, or email ToledoDJTom@gmail.com or follow ToledoDJ Tom on Facebook.
 
Cancer information section
        Magruder Hospital’s next Cancer Information Session will be held Wednesday, March 27 from 1-2 p.m. in the hospitals’ conference center, 615 Fulton St., Port Clinton.
        The session will include information about the Magruder Community Health Worker program. The group is free and open to anyone impacted by cancer including patients, caregivers and family members. Attendees need not be patients of Magruder Oncology to attend.
        Refreshments will be served. RSVP, if possible, to Taffy Armstrong at 419-734-3131, ext. 3729 or tarmstrong@magruderhospital.com.
 
New library resource
        The Wood County District Public Library is offering a new resource, NewsBank – a source for news from across the county and across the nation.
        NewsBank offers access to community newspapers like the Sentinel-Tribune, Akron Beacon Journal, The Blade, Cincinnati Examiner, Columbus Dispatch, The Courier, Dayton Daily News, Lima Examiner, Plain Dealer, Repository and Sandusky Register. It also includes national papers like Chicago Examiner, Chicago Sun Times, Detroit Examiner and Detroit News.
        To access and start browsing NewsBank, visit wcdpl.org/newspapers. For more information, call 419-352-5050 or email woodref@wcdpl.org.
 
Eastern Y offering healthy weight program for children
        The Eastern YMCA will present “Healthy Weight and Your Child,” an eight-week nutrition and activity course for children with a BMI in the 95th percentile.
        Children and parent/caregivers attend together. Qualifying kids and their families can enjoy a YMCA limited program membership for $15 per month. The program cost is $25.
        The course will begin Monday, April 15 from 5:30-7 p.m.
        Call 419-725-7844 to register.
       
Prepare for Totality
        As many people know, on April 8, a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. On this date, people within a 124-mile-wide band in the state of Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse. The Village of Walbridge, and surrounding county, is within this band.
        In anticipation of the total solar eclipse happening on April 8, community members are encouraged to attend a presentation given by Jeff Klein, director of the Wood County Emergency Management Agency, set for Thursday, March 21, at 2 p.m. at the Walbridge Library, 108 N. Main St.
        Klein will discuss how the eclipse may impact the community, offer tips on how to prepare for this rare event, and answer attendees’ questions.
        Limited quantities of solar eclipse glasses will be available for attendees. Registration is not required.
        The Wood County Emergency Management team, along with several community partners, have been planning for the eclipse under the recommendations and guidance from the Ohio Emergency Management team.
        Bowling Green and surrounding areas are expecting travelers from around Ohio and other states to visit the areas of totality. Challenges that eclipse viewers and residents may expect include:
        • Heavy to gridlocked traffic conditions before and after the eclipse.
        • Travelers stopped on roadways.
        • Limited cell phone service due to heightened network use.
        • Potentially limited food and gasoline availability on the routes due to an influx of travelers.
 
Red Cross blood drives
        The American Red Cross continues to urge donors to make and keep blood and platelet donation appointments, especially before busy spring break and Easter holiday plans ramp up.
        Donors who give by March 24 will get a $10 egift card to a pet supply merchant of choice, plus a chance to win one of five $3,000 gift cards.
        Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Pets for details. Additionally, those who come to give March 25-April 7 will get an exclusive “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
        Upcoming blood donation opportunities through March 31 include:
        • American Red Cross Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
        • Curtice – March 19, 12-5 p.m., Jerusalem Township Fire Department, 9501 Jerusalem Rd.
        • Oak Harbor – March 18, 1-6 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 122 W. Ottawa.
        • Fremont – March 28, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Terra State Community College, 2830 Napoleon Rd.
        • Lindsey – March 18, 12 p.m.-6 p.m., Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, 1375 S. SR 590.
        • Bowling Green – March 23, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., First Christian Church, 875 Haskins Rd.
        • Pemberville – March 28, 12-6 p.m., Pemberville American Legion, 405 East Front St.
        How to donate
        Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.
        Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
 
Hayes genealogy class
        Learn how to get started on tracing a family history during a genealogy class offered Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. in the research library at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
        Head librarian John Ransom and librarian Sharon Barnett, who regularly help patrons with their genealogy questions and research, will lead the class.
        The cost of the class is $15 per person, and reservations may be made online at rbhayes.org. Advance reservations and payment are required. Class size is limited to 25 people.
        Ransom and Barnett will show participants the basics of getting started on genealogy and what resources are available to them at the Hayes Presidential Library.
        Hayes Presidential is located at Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio. For updates, visit the website, call 419-332-2081, like Hayes Presidential on Facebook at @rbhayespres and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres.
 
Vendors sought for Wildlife Stop and Shop
        Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge will host local artists and craftsmen during the Wildlife Stop and Shop at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge May 11-12.
        The Wildlife Stop and Shop will be held during the Biggest Week in American Birding on World Migratory Bird Day weekend.
        Vendors who sell unique nature-themed products and crafts, artwork, and upcycled/recycled items following the theme of birds, wildlife and nature are invited to apply for a spot.
        The Wildlife Stop and Shop will be located on the Visitor Center grounds from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Vendors may apply online at friendsofottawanwr.org/vendor-opportunities.html.
        Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 1997 to promote the preservation of the natural and historical resources of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, the only National Wildlife Refuge in the state, located at 14000 W. SR 2, Oak Harbor.
 
Boy Scouts to hold eclipse viewing event
        The Erie Shores Council, Boy Scouts of America will host an eclipse viewing party at the historic Camp Miakonda Monday, April 8, from noon-5 p.m.
        Registration for this event is $5, which includes viewing glasses and a patch. The event is open to the public. Registration will be open until April 5 at erieshorescouncil.org/eclipse. All youth must have a paid adult in attendance with them.
        In addition to the eclipse viewing, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in activities such as target and range sports, fishing, hiking, crafts and rocket launching and more.
        The organization has also developed a special T-shirt to commemorate the event, which is available for purchase through the same link, even for those who can’t attend the event. Shirt costs range from $15-$18. Size options include youth small through large and adult small through 3X. Shirt orders must be received by March 24.