ETC: Downtown Fremont, Inc. to host auto show & farmers market

        Downtown Fremont Inc. will host the Fremont Federal Credit Union Auto Show Friday, Sept. 6 from 5-8 p.m. and the Croghan Colonial Bank Farmers Market with Root’s Poultry & Welly’s Sauces Block Party BBQ & Sauce Competition on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
        Both events will be on Front Street in Downtown Fremont, with the Auto Show extending from Croghan Street to City Hall, 323 S. Front St. and the Farmers Market between Croghan Street and Birchard Avenue.
        Admission to the auto show and market will be free to the public.
        The Auto Show is open to semi tractors, cars, low riders, trucks, motorcycles and more. Check-in for contestants will be on the sidewalk on the northwest corner of Garrison Street and Front Street. Judging will take place at 6:30 p.m. with trophies awarded shortly thereafter. Dash plaques will be given to the first 100 participants to check in and there will also be a 50/50 raffle.
        Wild Side! the Monster Truck, will be in the parking lot by Home Instead Senior Care, 226 S. Front St., on the corner of Front Street and Birchard Avenue. Spectators will have the opportunity to get pictures in the truck and meet the drivers. Century Die will be hosting a Mini Derby Race at 6:30 p.m. at High and Croghan streets.
        The BBQ competition for chicken, pork, beef and sauce will take place during the farmers market in the City/Brady Parking Lot at 219 S. Front St. Set up can be Friday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. or Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6 a.m. The cost is $25 for each category. All meat is to be supplied by the competitor and will need to be cooked on site. Sauces do not need to be cooked on site. A “mystery meat” will be supplied as an added bonus. Judging starts at 9 a.m. and awards will be presented at 2 p.m.
        A “Who Wants to be a Dessert Boss Contest” will take place at the intersection of Front and Garrison at 11 a.m. Desserts are to be made at home and brought to the market for judging. Kid and adult categories will be judged and prizes will be awarded. Registration is free.
        During both the Auto Show and Farmers Market, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile will be parked in the Brady Lot. The Wienermobile appearance is the kickoff to Fremont’s Kraft Heinz’s 150 anniversary.
        Front Street will be closed from Croghan Street to Birchard Avenue Friday 3-9 p.m. and Saturday 6 a.m.-2 p.m. for these events.
        For more details further on the Auto Show and/or Farmers Market and Block Party Events, call 419-332-8696.
 
Genoa to host HarvestFest
        The Genoa Chamber of Commerce is making preparations to usher in the fall season with a day of community fun and entertainment.
        The group has organized the inaugural HarvestFest for Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Main Street in the village’s downtown.
        The fall festival will feature a variety of events including a parade, hog roast, antique tractor show, farmers market, kids’ activities, a horse-drawn wagon, square dancing, a chili cook-off and more.
        Organizers are seeking sponsors and entertainment for the event. For more details, call Brian Huston at 419-341-3043 or visit the Genoa First Annual Harvest Fest Facebook page.
 
Grandparents first responders to be honored
        Sunday, Sept. 8 will be an extra special day at the Toledo Zoo – a day to honor two very important groups of people – first responders and grandparents.
        It has often been said that America is the land of the free, because of the brave. The Zoo’s Day of Honor sponsored by Medical Mutual and Marathon Petroleum Company will celebrate the first responders who help keep us safe. All military members, police, firefighters and EMTs will receive free admission by showing their professional ID or badge.
        Zoo visitors are invited to show their gratitude for the bravery of first responders, by signing giant thank-you cards in the Main Plaza. These cards will be presented to local safety organizations at 1:30 p.m. in a short ceremony.
        In honor of National Grandparents Day, the Zoo will offer free admission to grandparents accompanied by at least one grandchild on Sept. 8.
        Visit toledozoo.org for more info.
 
Antique Construction Equipment Show set
        The Historical Construction Equipment Association (HCEA) will hold its 31st Annual International Convention and Old Equipment Exposition Sept. 13-15 at the HCEA’s National Construction Equipment Museum, 16623 Liberty Hi Rd., Bowling Green.
        The show will feature live demonstrations of antique construction machinery powered by horses or mules, steam, electricity, gas and diesel. Equipment and vehicles built or powered by International Harvester are being featured, along with the National Construction Equipment Museum’s unique collection of over 60 machines. Many of the machines being shown were built in Ohio communities, including Marion, Galion, Lorain, Euclid, Cleveland and Columbus.
        Members of the Black Swamp Chapter of the American Truck Historical Society will be showing their vintage trucks on Saturday, and they’ll be joined by members from other chapters in the area. The show will also include an exhibit of antique farming machinery owned by members of Power of Yesteryear. Other attractions include hit and miss engines, historical displays, memorabilia vendors, and a huge sandpile for the kids to play in.
        All owners of antique construction equipment, trucks and engines are encouraged to bring their machines for display; past shows have had equipment from as far away as California. The last HCEA show in Bowling Green had more than 330 exhibits.
        Show hours are Friday, 9 a.m.-dark, Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is $10 daily for those 16 and older or $20 for a weekend pass. Youths under 16 will be admitted free. All proceeds go to the museum’s operating fund, to help fulfill its mission of preserving for public education the history of the construction, surface mining and dredging equipment industries.
        For more information, visit the HCEA’s website at www.hcea.net, call 419-352-5616 or e-mail tberry@hcea.net.
       
Lunch at Levis concerts
        The popular daytime concert series, Lunch at Levis, has just five remaining concerts for the year.
        Concerts are held in the heart of downtown at the corner of St. Clair Street and Madison Avenue 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 26.
        The public is invited to enjoy live entertainment, food trucks, games and other activities. On Sept. 12, the park will turn Midnight Blue and Gold in celebration of the University of Toledo.
        This year’s remaining lineup includes:
        Sept. 5 – Extra Stout
        Sept. 12 – Grizzly Grits, Rocket Week celebration
        Sept. 19 – Sweet Tea Unplugged
        Sept. 26 – Katie’s Randy Cat
        Lunch at Levis is sponsored by Explore 419, The Blade NewSlide, TARTA, The Sandpiper, HCR ManorCare and ProMedica Federal Credit Union.
 
Summer Concert Series
        The ProMedica Summer Concert Series Presented by Coors Light and Hollywood Casino Toledo continues with a performance by Frankie Ballard Friday, Sept. 13 at 6:15 p.m. in Promenade Park, 400 Water St., Toledo.
        Tickets are $15 presale or $20 the day of the show. Super fans may purchase VIP tickets for entry closer to the stage for $45. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and www.promenadeconcerts.com.
        Chaka Khan will wrap up the concert series Sept. 20 at 6:15 p.m.
 
Community Fun Day
        Ottawa County Conservation League will present a Community Fun Day Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 20998 W. Moline-Martin Rd., Martin.
        Members of the community are invited to come out and experience what Ottawa County Conservation League has to offer and engage in some fun activities for kids and adults.
        Opportunities to experience:
        • Basic gun safety review
        • Trap and wobble trap
        • 20-100-yard outdoor range
        • Outdoor archery range
        • Youth shooting team opportunities
        • Yearly hunters’ education training (next course set for Sept. 21-22)
        • Fishing ponds
        Food and drinks will be provided to all who come out and visit.
        Bring your own shotgun and ammo, or try out guns provided by fellow conservation members.
        For more details, email ottawacountyconservationleague@gmail.com or visit the Ottawa County Conservation League on Facebook.
           
Balloon Race seeking volunteers
        Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of tasks at the 2019 Glass City Balloon Race on Sept. 27 and 28 in Rossford Crossroads near the Total Sports Complex.
        More than 20,000 visitors are expected at this year’s event.
        Glass City Balloon Volunteer Ambassadors can sign up for two-hour shifts to assist with set up, clean up, the beer garden, to work at the Rossford Convention and Visitors Bureau Table, and serve as floaters.
        Interested persons should go to the Rossford Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.visitrossfordohio.com and click on the link at the top of the home page that says: “Volunteer NOW for the 2019 Glass City Balloon Race.”
        After completing the online form, volunteers they will be contacted by email with more information and details for the event.
        All Volunteer Ambassadors will receive a t-shirt commemorating the event and be invited to the Rossford CVB’s Volunteer Appreciation celebration at the end of the year. Volunteers must be 16 years of age or older.
 
Festival seeking volunteers
        The Black Swamp Arts Festival, which will run Friday, Sept. 6, through Sunday, Sept. 8, has issued a call to fill the many volunteer spots still available.
        The Black Swamp Arts Festival is a three-day, free live music and arts festival committed to providing quality art and music experiences. Held in downtown Bowling Green, Ohio the first full weekend after Labor Day, there are three stages of music, two art shows, Youth Arts, Artists at Work, Chalk Walk, and more.
        Volunteers are needed from set up on Friday morning through tear down on Sunday late afternoon. Gate monitors, who check those entering and exiting the beer garden area, and volunteers in the Youth Art area are in particular demand.
        It takes about 1,000 volunteers to make the Festival run smoothly. Volunteers can sign up by visiting the festival’s website at www.blackswampfest.org and click on the Volunteer link at the top of the page. Most shifts are two to three hours long.
        For more info, visit www.blackswampfest.org.
 
Mewvement & Subwoofers
        The Wood County Humane Society (WCHS) is gearing up to host the fourth of five concerts of a series. The Mewvement & Subwoofers: WCHS fundraising concert series began in March, with concerts held every other month.
        The next show will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at Howard’s Club H, 210 N. Main St., Bowling Green. Doors open at 7 p.m. and bands will start at 8 p.m. The cover charge is $5 at the door.
        The concert will feature live entertainment from local bands including concussive rock from Highbinder, cover tunes from Hollywood Casino’s 2nd place Battle of the Bands winner Red-eye To Vegas, the Progressive music of Monstrosadus, long standing Metalcore group The Black Order, and unique Blues Metal of Mujaw Creek.
        The event will also have drink specials, raffles, and a showcase of the Wood County Humane Society’s current adoptable animals.
        Visit wchumane.org for more info.
 
Stone Lab open house
        Stone Lab, The Ohio State University’s island campus on Lake Erie, is opening its doors to the public during its annual Friends of Stone Lab (FOSL) Open House from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.
        Guests will be able to take a look behind the scenes at the important Lake Erie science going on at the lab, situated just across the harbor from Put-in-Bay. Free island tours give visitors a chance to peer down from Perry’s Lookout, where the British fleet was first spotted during the Battle of Lake Erie, an important fight during the War of 1812.
        Open House activities will also include talks and laboratory sessions, summer class information and tours of the South Bass Island Lighthouse (transportation not provided).
        Free transportation will be available from the Stone Lab Research Building on South Bass Island to Gibraltar Island. The last boat to Gibraltar Island leaves at 3:30 p.m., the last boat off Gibraltar Island leaves at 4 p.m.
        “Our annual Open House is a great opportunity for visitors to learn about our research on Lake Erie issues of concern, such as harmful algal blooms and invasive species,” said Dr. Chris Winslow, Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory director. “Visitors also get the chance to step back in time to learn about the history of the region.”
        For more info, visit go.osu.edu/SLopenhouse, or call 419-285-1800.
 
Auditions planned
        The Black Swamp Players will hold open auditions for the first production of its 52nd season, Lisa Rowe’s “Psych,” Sunday, Sept. 22 and Monday, Sept. 23 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church on East Wooster Street in Bowling Green.
        The cast includes four males, two females, and one either male or female. Auditions are open to adults of all ages, races/ethnicities, orientations, sexes, and abilities. Those who want to audition should be prepared to cold read from the script. Visit blackswampplayers.org for more details.
        Performance dates are Nov. 15-17 and Nov. 22-24 at First United Methodist Church.