Week of 2/28/2011

Lane closures
Beginning Feb. 28 and continuing through November, Miami Street between Tadmore Drive and Oakdale Avenue in East Toledo will be reduced to one lane in both directions for bridge deck replacement, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Lane widths will be restricted to 10 feet in the work zone during construction. All work is weather permitting.

Mardi Gras
No matter what you call it – Karneval, Fasching or Mardi Gras, a gala costume party will be held March 5 at Oak Shade Hall, 3624 Seaman Rd., Oregon.

Mardi Gras, sometimes called the season of fools, is a long-standing German and Swiss tradition of merriment and fun celebrated before Lent begins. German-style Mardi Gras has been celebrated in Toledo for the last 46 years. Presented by the G.A.F. Society and hosted by Prinz Dave Hoffman and Prinzessin Nancy Pinketure, the festivities will begin at 7 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Cincinnati-based band Alpen Echoes. There will also be a “royal” procession featuring the royal court, as well as a masquerade costume parade with prizes for the best costumes. A Fasching Frühstuck breakfast will be served in the Clubhouse at 12:01 a.m.

New Orleans-style, German and American food will be available for purchase and a cash bar will be open. Admission is $10 at the door and $8 if purchased in advance. Children 14 and under will be admitted free. Costumes encouraged but not required.

For more information, call Sue Bigelow at 419-691-6468. For advance tickets, call Ernie Perry at 419-279-9312.

Volunteers sought
Riders Unlimited, Inc., a therapeutic horseback riding program located outside of Gibsonburg is in need of volunteers to assist as horse leaders and sidewalkers during lessons for individuals with disabilities.

Training will be provided March 7 and 9 at 6 p.m. Call Rebekah at 419-307-0222 to register or obtain more information.

Sunshine Law training
Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) has organized a free training session on Ohio’s Open Records and Open Meetings laws, collectively known as the Sunshine Laws, March 11 from 9 a.m. to noon in Audio/Visual Classroom Center, rooms 125-128 at Owens Community College in Perrysburg Township.

The session is open to anyone but is particularly directed at public officials. All public officers and/or their appropriate designees are required to attend one three-hour certified public records training session approved by the Ohio Attorney General once per elected term. Attendees will receive an overview of the public record act including definitions, obligations, liabilities and exemptions.

Registration is being accepted through the Ohio Attorney General’s office at www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov. Search for “Sunshine Laws” to find the registration page. For help or more information, call Jennifer Allen at TMACOG at 419-241-9155, ext. 107.

Garden design lecture
The Country Garden Club of Perrysburg will present author and garden designer Gordon Hayward for a special lecture on “Fine Paintings as Inspiration for Garden Design” March 14 at 10 a.m. at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club, 502 East Second St., Perrysburg.

The lecture will be followed by a book signing and luncheon. At 1:30 p.m., Hayward will offer a workshop, “Your House, Your Garden…A Foolproof Approach to Good Garden Design.”

The cost is $30 per person for the morning presentation and lunch; $10 for the afternoon workshop and $40 for all the day’s activities. Checks made payable to Country Garden Club may be mailed to CGC Event, P.O. Box 652, Perrysburg, OH 43552. Seating is limited. For more information, visit www.cgcperrysburg.com or call 419-873-0703. For more information about Hayward, visit www.haywardgardens.com.

Health, Beauty & Fitness Fair
A Health, Beauty & Fitness Fair will be held March 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Woodville Community Center, 200 S. Elm St., Woodville.

The fair, sponsored by the Woodville Business & Community Association, will include speakers, demonstrations, vendors and door prizes. Admission is free and open to the community.

The schedule includes:
9:15 and 9:30 a.m.: Taylor’s Tae Kwon Do & Tumbling will present child safety awareness programs.

9:45 a.m.: Encompass Therapies.

10 and 10:15 a.m.: Peak Physical Therapy presentations on spinal decompression and aquatic therapy,

10:30 and 10:45 a.m.: Pills `n Packages presentations on prescription drug abuse and prescriptions.

11 a.m.:  Yoga workout presented by Hatha Yoga with Kim.

11:15 and 11:30 a.m.: Natural Health Center presentations on eating right.

11:45 a.m.: Senior living presentation by Otterbein Portage Valley.

For more information, contact Jim Taylor at 419-714-4407 or mastertaylortkd@aol.com.
 

Babysitter training
The American Red Cross will offer Babysitter Training in Oak Harbor March 19 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 360 E. Ottawa St. Those attending should use the north door entrance.

Participants should be 11 to 13 years old. Space is limited to 15. The fee is $30, however a limited number of partial scholarships is available through a grant from the Ottawa County Community Foundation. Those attending are asked to bring a sack lunch.

To register, call 419-734-1100 or e-mail redcross@thirdplanet.net.

Beer Fest 2011
The Arc of Lucas County and the NW Ohio Hemophilia Foundation will present the 5th Annual Glass City Beer Fest March 4 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Erie Street Market Civic Center Promenade.

The event will feature more than 27 craft breweries showcasing more than 100 beers, along with food and live music by 56 DAZE.

Tickets are available at the customer service desks at Toledo-area Andersons stores. For more information, call 419-724-BREW (2739).

Proceeds from the event support the programs and services of the Arc of Lucas County, which  serves individuals in the community with developmental disabilities and NW Ohio Hemophilia Foundation, which serves those afflicted with bleeding disorders.

Women’s Connection
All area women are invited to attend a “Ties to the Past” luncheon and program being sponsored by the Toledo East Women’s Connection March 10 at the Bayside Boardwalk, 2759 Seaman St., Oregon.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon program, which will include vocal music by Liz Walbom, of Perrysburg; and Robin Reese, of Brighton, Mich., discussing “How to be Secure in an Unsecured World.” In addition, apron collector Betty Metz will share her collection and the story behind them.

The cost is $10.50, all inclusive. For reservations, call Dorothy at 419-691-9611 or Marilyn at 419-666-1633.

Bird event signups
Registration is now open for the Biggest Week in American Birding event, which will be held May 5 through May 15 in the Crane Creek - Magee Marsh - Ottawa National Wildlife Reserve region of northwest Ohio.

Register or see a complete schedule of events at biggestweekinamericanbirding.com.