Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The printing firm Currier and Ives made some of the most famous and memorable images of 19th century America.
Many are familiar with Currier and Ives pictures of Christmas sleigh rides and ice skating in calendars or country scenes on cookie tins and dishware.
The firm’s lithographs were the among the first “cheap” pictures available to the burgeoning middle class in the United States, and Currier and Ives sold millions of prints during its 72-year existence. But how accurate a reflection were these images of the U.S. at the time?
Josh Dubbert, Hayes Presidential Library & Museums historian, will explore the work and legacy of Currier and Ives, the “Printmakers to the American People,” during a talk on Sunday, March 30, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Hayes museum auditorium. Admission is free.
Dubbert will examine lithographs that span the firm’s years of operation – 1835-1907. Attendees will learn how Currier and Ives and its scores of artists created an idealized vision of the young nation for an expanding, industrializing populace – one that highlighted prosperity and progress, but also utilized controversial and racist depictions of minorities, immigrants and Indigenous people to tell its stories.
Hayes Presidential is located in Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont.
For information, call 419-332-2081 or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook and follow on Instagram and X at rbhayespres and on Bluesky at rbhayespres.bsky.social for updates.
Sauder Village Bridal Show
Spend an afternoon filled with elegance and romance at the Sauder Village Bridal Show on Sunday, March 23, from noon-3:30 p.m.
Wedding professionals from throughout the region will join the Sauder Village Banquets Teams in the 1920s Theatre and Speakeasy to showcase a wide variety of wedding planning resources, from flowers to cakes to videography and beyond.
“Whether your style is sophisticated and modern or cottagecore, Sauder Village can help make your special day a dream come true,” said Tara Tedrow, Sauder Village Banquet and Conference Manager. “We invite you to chat with our vendors offering services to complement your wedding. From venues for showers, lodging for out-of-town family and friends, rehearsal dinners, and the wedding and reception, Sauder Village has you covered!”
Admission is free. Brides that pre-register will be entered for a chance to win a giveaway. Couples that book Sauder Village for their big day at the Bridal Show will receive 10% off their venue rental.
Learn more about weddings at Sauder Village and register for the Bridal Show at saudervillage.org.
Author to speak
Award winning author Daniel A. Masters will visit the Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society on Saturday, March 22, at 1 p.m. to speak about the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
The infantry’s flags currently hang at the Brandville School Museum, 1133 Grasser St., Oregon, where the talk will take place.
Masters, a graduate of the University of Toledo, is perhaps best known for his popular blog, “Dan Masters' Civil War Chronicles.” His work focuses on the war in the Western Theater from the perspective of the men in the ranks. He is the author of many articles published in various journals and magazines and has written 10 books on the Civil War. The program is free and open to the public. Seating reservations are appreciated but not necessary and may be made by calling 419-902-5149. Refreshments will be served. A selection of Masters’ books will be available for purchase.
‘The 39 Steps’
The Village Players will present the comedy, “The 39 Steps,” at the Village Players Theatre, 2740 Upton Ave., Toledo.
Curtain times are 7 p.m. March 28-29 and April 3-5 and 2 p.m. March 30 and April 6.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and are available at thevillageplayers.org.
Synopsis: “The 39 Steps” is a mix of a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, with a dash of Monty Python added. This two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning comedy is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a cast of four), an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers, and some good old-fashioned romance.
Great Lakes Book Club
The National Museum of the Great Lakes invites readers, history buffs, and Great Lakes enthusiasts to join the final discussion of the museum’s 2025 Great Lakes Book Club on Tuesday, April 1.
Grab a lunch and log in for an engaging, virtual conversation about “The Salmon Capital of Michigan: The Rise and Fall of a Great Lakes Fishery,” by Carson Prichard. The discussion, which will begin at noon via Zoom, will explore the personal and ecological impact of a once-thriving salmon fishery in Michigan’s Lake Huron communities.
The Great Lakes Book Club is free to attend and open to all. Books can be purchased through the NMGL museum store and can also be found at local libraries.
To register and learn more about upcoming events, visit nmgl.org/events.
Teddy Bear Care Fair
It will be a bear-y special event Saturday, March 22, when the Toledo Zoo presents its annual Teddy Bear Care Fair.
Zoo volunteers and staff will be on hand to fix any “boo-boos” that visitors’ favorite stuffies might have.
The day’s schedule of events includes:
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Stuffed Animal Check-up and Repair Station, Nature’s Neighborhood.
• 10:30 a.m.: Gorilla Enrichment, Kingdom of the Apes; Brown Bear Enrichment, Komminsk Family Kodiak Ridge; Takin Enrichment, Tembo Trail.
• 11 a.m.: Tiger Enrichment, Tiger Terrace; Elephant Enrichment, Tembo Trail; Wolf Enrichment, Arctic Encounter.
• 11:30 a.m.: Pied Tamarin enrichment, Nature’s Neighborhood; Sea Lion Training Demo, Arctic Encounter, Komodo Eragon Enrichment, ProMedica Museum of Natural History.
• 11:45 a.m.: Meet the Zoo Veterinarian, Nature’s Neighborhood.
• Noon: Meet the Zoo’s Burmese Python, Nature’s Neighborhood.
• Noon-1:30 p.m.: Meet and Greet with Bluey & Bingo, Great Hall, ProMedica Museum of Natural History, featuring Laurel’s Characters & Co.
• 12:30 p.m.: Meet an Animal, Nature’s Neighborhood.
• 1 p.m.: Barnyard Enrichment, Nancy L. & Martin Davidson Barnyard; Vulture Enrichment, Vulture Exhibit; Otter Enrichment, Tembo Trail.
• 1:30 p.m.: Brown Bear Keeper Talk, Komminsk Family Kodiak Ridge; Primate Enrichment, Primate Forest. • 2 p.m.: Orangutan Enrichment, Kingdom of the Apes; Elephant Training Demo, Tembo Trail; Emperor Tamarin Enrichment, Aviary.
• 2:30 p.m.: Sea Lion Training Demo, Arctic Encounter; Penguin Enrichment, Penguin Beach Red Panda Training Demo, Primate Forest.
• 3 p.m.: Meet an Animal, Nature’s Neighborhood; Tasmanian Devil Enrichment, Tembo Trail; Giraffe Keeper Talk, Africa!
For more information, visit toledozoo.org/events/teddy-bear.
Pysanky Workshop and Bake Sale Fundraiser
Toledo Helps Ukraine will host a Pysanky (Ukrainian Easter egg) Workshop and sale of traditional European baked goods on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Rossford Recreation Center, 400 Dixie Highway.
“Toledo Helps Ukraine seeks any possible way to raise funds to support Ukrainians impacted by Russia’s invasion,” said Alona Matchenko, president of Toledo Helps Ukraine. “This is an opportunity for Americans to connect in a meaningful way, making a real impact while also gaining something valuable—whether it’s cultural, educational, or personally fulfilling.
“We will teach participants the ancient art of Ukrainian egg decorating while supporting those who need it most,” Matchenko said. “Every decorated egg represents not just a tradition, but a stand for Ukrainian freedom, resilience, and hope.
“While space for registration of the pysanky workshop is limited, the opportunity to help is not,” she said. “If people cannot attend the pysanky workshop, we ask them to please consider donating, purchasing our lovingly baked goods, or contributing to our shipping costs to ensure aid reaches those in need.”
The bake sale will include homemade kolachy, nut and poppy seed rolls, and sweet raisin bread.
The Toledo Women’s Bar Association is sponsoring the Pysanky Workshop. All proceeds will be used for the humanitarian work of Toledo Helps Ukraine, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit.
To register for the pysanky workshop, visit https://form.jotform.com/250594078182159.
