ETC: African Safari Wildlife Park opening March 18 for 2022 season

        African Safari Wildlife Park will officially be opening for their 54th Season on Friday, March 18 for Drive-Thru Safaris only.
        Visitors will find many projects completed at the end of 2021, including the addition of more than 100 trees planted across the park, including the Drive-Thru Safari; the largest area of African Safari where guests drive their own car through and interact with hundreds of exotic animals.
        African Safari's Walk-Thru Safari, the park's traditional zoo setting, has also seen an addition of new animal exhibits. The new Giraffe Encounter allows guests to get up close and personal and to feed the giraffe. A new playground was installed at the beginning of 2022. The Walk-Thru Safari is scheduled to open around Mother's Day weekend, weather permitting.
        “We are beyond excited to welcome new and familiar faces to the park for African Safari's 54th Season,” said Kelsey Keller, park director. “Everyone can enjoy the new park amenities and continue to make memories here for seasons to come.
        “We have so much more in store and we encourage everyone to stay tuned for more zoo news and updates...coming soon,” she said.
        When it opens March 18, the park will be open daily, rain or shine, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the last car admitted at 4 p.m. for the spring season. Summer Season, with extended hours, begins May 27.
        The Midwest's Original Drive-Thru Safari Park, African Safari Wildlife Park is located at 267 S. Lightner Rd. in Port Clinton. Call 1-800-521-2660 or visit AfricanSafariWildlifePark.com for more details.
 
Sauder Village Bridal Show
        Enjoy an afternoon of wedding information and inspiration at the Sauder Village Bridal Show on Sunday, March 6 in Founder’s Hall.
        Wedding professionals from throughout the region will be on-hand from noon- 3:30 p.m. to share information about food, photography, gifts, invitations, decorations and much more.
        The afternoon event will also include a variety of special offers, food samples, entertainment and valuable giveaways.
        Admission is $7, but guests can preregister online to receive a coupon for a $2 discount. Registered guests will also be entered into a grand prize drawing. Bouquets will be tossed out throughout the afternoon – providing brides a chance to win a variety of prizes and gift certificates from participating vendors and Sauder Village.
        For more information call 800-590-9755 or to register for the show visit saudervillage.org/classes-events/special-events/bridal-show.
 
GeezeCats set to perform March 5
        The Pemberville Freedom Area Historical Society will present the GeezeCats in concert Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the historic Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St.
        Tickets are $12 and are available at Beeker’s General Store, 226 E. Front St., Pemberville, at the door or by calling Carol at 419-287-4848.
        The GeezeCats, a doo-wop band from Cleveland, offers a delightful mixture of rock `n roll, doo-wop and improv comedy. Audiences will hear classic songs that everyone knows and loves, performed with authenticity, perfection and full range four-part harmony.
        These cats genuinely like each other and get a hoot out of performing together – which comes across on stage. Learn more about them at thegeezecats.com.
 
36th Fremont Toy Show
        The 36th Annual Fremont Toy Show will be held March 19-20 at the Sandusky County Fairgrounds, 901 Rawson Ave. Show hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
        The show will feature more than 230 tables of collectible toys, including die-cast racing collectibles, dolls, farm toys, pedal tractors, books and more.
        Admission is $3. Food will be available.
        For more information, call Sandy Overmyer at 419-307-5026 or Bob Siefke at 419-637-7067.
 
Young Artists at Work
        The Arts Commission is accepting applications for Young Artists at Work (YAAW) – a six-week paid summer employment opportunity for youth ages 14-18 in Toledo and the surrounding areas.
        The apprenticeship teaches professionalism and introduces participants to careers in creative industries.
        The 2022 program runs for six weeks from June 27 – Aug. 5. Applications are due Friday, March 18.
        For more information, visit theartscommission.org/programs/young-artists-at-work.
 
Volunteers needed at
Magee Marsh Gift Shop
        Do you enjoy helping people and learning about birds and Ohio wildlife? Then consider volunteering a few hours a month at the Friends of Magee Marsh Gift Shop, located inside the Bird Center at Magee Marsh.
        Volunteers are needed March through May for this year as the Bird Center will be closed June 1 until March 2023 for a complete makeover.
        A training session for all those interested in volunteering will be held Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m. A pizza lunch will be served.
        Magee Marsh is located at 13229 SR 2, Oak Harbor. To sign up or learn more, Mary at windbird@bex.net
 
Myrtle Beach trip
        The East Toledo Senior Center, with the help of Diamond Tours, will host a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Sept. 18-24.
        The cost is $759 per person, based on double occupancy. The price includes transportation via luxury motorcoach, six nights lodging, six breakfasts and four dinners, five shows, a visit to Barefoot Landing, a popular shopping, dining and entertainment experience, and more.
        A deposit of $75 per person is due by Wednesday, May 11. For more information, call 419-691-2254.
 
“Soirees and Serenades”
        On Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 p.m., the Toledo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will present “Soirees and Serenades” at Sauder Village as part of their 2022 Neighborhood Concert Series. Tickets may be purchased online at saudervillage.org, by calling 800-590-9755 or by visiting the Welcome Center Office at Sauder Villager.
        This is the 19th year for the Black Swamp Arts Council to co-host this popular event with non-profit Sauder Village. The 2022 concert is also underwritten by the Farmers & Merchants State Bank, Archbold Furniture Co., and is supported by a gift from the Maynard & Carolyn Sauder Endowment Fund for the Toledo Symphony.
        General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door. The Toledo Symphony Patron Package is available for $60 per ticket. The Patron Package includes the best seats in Founder’s Hall for the concert, a buffet dinner at the Barn Restaurant and the donation of a general admission student ticket to be given to a community student. For more information about the Patron Package contact Deb Ridgway at deb.ridgway@saudervillage.org
            There will be no intermission for this evening concert and the TSO recommends guests wear masks during the performance.
        To learn more about all the special events planned for the 2022 Sauder Village season visit the website, like Sauder Village on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
       
Call for artists
        The Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places program has announced the third phase of the artist-designed Signal Box Wrap Project.
        “Flora and Fauna”-themed artwork is being sought to aesthetically enhance the Adams Street corridor in Toledo, from 17th Street to N. Summit Street. Signal box cabinets are found at every intersection that includes a traffic signal. These innocuous metal boxes provide a great opportunity to implement moments of artistic discovery.
        This call is open to all 2-D artists, including graphic designers, illustrators, painters and photographers within 50 miles of the city of Toledo. Submitted designs must be original artwork and can be created in any medium, so long as it can be represented in, and is submitted as, a high-resolution digital image without loss of integrity or quality.
        A Design Review Board (DRB) that consists of area stakeholders, arts advocates and members of the Art in Public Places Committee will judge the submissions. A total of 11 designs will be selected for the first round. Selected designs will receive a $500 honorarium.
        The Arts Commission will be responsible for fabrication and installation of winning designs.
        The submission deadline is April 6. Selected artists will be announced April 25. Installation will take place in May.
        Artists may submit up to two designs using one submission form. Learn more at theartscommission.org or contact The Arts Commission at 419-254-2787 or info@theartscommission.org.
 
Life on Lake Erie
Photo Contest
        The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (OLEC) is celebrating its 30-year anniversary throughout 2022.
        To kick-off this year-round recognition, the Commission is seeking submissions for the 30th Annual “Life on Lake Erie” photo contest.
        The contest is an opportunity for amateur photographers to showcase their talent for photographing one of Ohio’s most valuable natural resources – Lake Erie.
        “This annual photo contest continues to be an amazing opportunity to showcase the beauty of the lake for everyone to see and enjoy, as well as to share the talents of amateur photographers,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “I look forward to seeing the submissions for this year’s special 30-year celebration.”
        The Life on Lake Erie photo contest has been a signature outreach opportunity since 1992, with more than 4,100 participants representing 90 communities in Ohio and beyond, and 328 photo awards. Amateur photographers who are at least 18 years of age are invited to submit their favorite photos of Lake Erie and the surrounding landscapes, people, wildlife, and events that take place on and around the lake.
        This year’s contest is open to original photos taken of Ohio’s Lake Erie watershed between Aug. 1, 2021-July 31, 2022. Entry forms and official contest rules can be found at the Commission’s website, lakeerie.ohio.gov.
        To recognize 30 years of “Life on Lake Erie” photos and Lake Erie images captured by the amateur photographers participating in the contest, a video is available highlighting the winning photos of every year since 1992.
         Winning photographs may be displayed on the OLEC website and social media platforms and may be used in Commission publications to promote Lake Erie. Photos will also be part of a statewide gallery tour. Winning photographs and photographers will be featured at the Commission’s fall meeting.
        OLEC was established to preserve Lake Erie’s natural resources, to protect the quality of its waters and ecosystem, and to promote economic development of the region. The director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency serves as the Commission's chairman. Additional OLEC members include the directors of the state departments of Transportation, Health, Development Services, Agriculture, and Natural Resources. There are also seven public members appointed by the governor.