NMGL Lecture Series continues with “Historic Age of Diving”

        The National Museum of the Great Lake’s Spring Lecture Series continues Wednesday, March 17 with a discussion of “The Heroic Age of Diving.”
        The lecture, which will be presented virtually from 7-8:30 p.m., will feature researcher and writer Jerry Kuntz, author of “The Historic Age of Diving – America’s Underwater Pioneers and The Great Wrecks of Lake Erie.”              During the 1840s and 1850s, during the infancy of the development of underwater breathing apparatus, Lake Erie became the proving ground for this new technology. The salvage of three infamous passenger steamer wrecks – the Erie, the G. P. Griffth, and the Atlantic – became the incentive for divers and engineers to test the limits of their new devices. Foremost among them was John Green, a man who kept secret the story of his own tragic shipwreck.
        Kuntz, who resides in New York’s Hudson River Valley, has written biographies of exceptional, but little-known 19th Century Americans, including Wild West Show sharpshooters, pioneer aviators, baseball league promoters, dance hall denizens, a teenage Amazon plant hunter, and early apparatus divers. He is currently researching the balloon-parachuting craze of the 1890s.
        The lecture is free; donations are welcome.  When you register with Eventbrite, there is an option to purchase Kuntz’s book, “The Heroic Age of Diving,” which will be shipped after the lecture is over.
        Sign up online by visiting /nmgl.org/ or call 419-214-5000, ext. 200.
 
Ongoing
        Tuesdays and Wednesdays through March 10: Metroparks After Dark: Hiking Trails, various locations. Every Tuesday and Wednesday through March 10, sunset-8 p.m. (different park each night). Enjoy an invigorating evening hike through your parks at a time when the parks are usually closed. No registration required; just show up. For a complete schedule, visit www.visittoledo.org/events/metroparks-after-dark/.
        Saturdays through March: Travel Circle (Online): Maumee Valley Adventurers and Metroparks Toledo presenting the annual Travel Circle series online via Zoom this year. Local residents share their world travel experiences each week. Tune in at 2 p.m. to watch the live webinar, or watch videos from previous weeks. In lieu of the usual weekly hikes, Metroparks is suggesting trails you can hike on your own. metroparkstoledo.com/discover/blog/posts/travel-circle-online-series-brings-the-world-to-you/.
        Through April. 4: Luminous Visions: Phillip K. Smith III and Light Across the Collection, Gallery 18, Toledo Museum of Art. California-based artist Phillip K. Smith III creates light-based installations that explore the relationships between light, color, space, and form. toledomuseum.org.
        Through May 2: Wayne Thiebaud 100: Paintings, Prints and Drawings, Levis Gallery and Gallery 29A, Toledo Museum of Art. Long affiliated with Pop art, the exhibition shows the expansive depth of Thiebaud’s full body of work. toledomuseum.org.
        Through Oct. 31: Special exhibit, “Ohio: An Unnatural History,” Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont. Myths and legends are how people have tried to understand the unknown. This exhibit profiles legendary creatures and spooky tales from across Ohio and looks at the role of folklore in our culture. Included with regular admission. Members are admitted free. 419-332-2081, www.rbhayes.org.
        Friday and Saturdays: Virtual Public Glassblowing Demonstrations presented virtually by Toledo Museum of Art, 2-3 p.m. Streamed live on the TMA YouTube Channel from the Glass Pavilion Hot Shop. youtube.com/ToledoMuseum.
 
March events
March 6: All Wheels Swap (formerly Fremont Racers’ Swap), Sandusky County Fairgrounds, Fremont, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. $5 admission. Swap/trade anything with wheels, including new and used racing parts and equipment, snowmobiles, boats, trailers and more. 419-332-5604, www.sanduskycountyfair.com.
March 8: International Women’s Day Virtual Forum, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Women of Toledo (WOT) and Welcome TLC present a virtual Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Power Hour to help improve participants’ capacity to bring about economic change for themselves and others by overcoming poverty, discrimination or exploitation. womenoftoledo.org.
March 12: Wine Tasting at Malawi Event Center, Toledo Zoo, 7-9 p.m. Delight in a delectable mix of wines from around the world, hors d’oeuvres, live music and more. All participants must be 21 or older. 419-385-5721, toledozoo.org/wine.
March 13: Second Saturdays R 4 Kids: Around the World with Col. Webb Hayes, Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Kids can participate in a craft or activity inspired by Col. Webb Hayes’ adventure (Webb Hayes was the son of President Rutherford and First Lady Lucy Hayes). The event is open house-style, so drop in any time between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Focused on kids in K-3, but kids of any age are welcome. Free. rbhayes.org.
March 13-14: Fremont Flea Market, Sandusky County Fairgrounds, Fremont, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Free admission. 419-332-5604, www.sanduskycountyfair.com.
March 14-21: “Girl Power,” presented virtually by Imagination Station to inspire girls to become the next generation of engineers, doctors and researchers. Co-sponsored by Toledo Edison and FirstEnergy Foundation. Free. Visit www.imaginationstationtoledo.org/girl-power/ for details.
March 17: Virtual Spring Lecture Series, presented by National Museum of the Great Lakes, 7 p.m. “Heroic Age of Diving” presented by Jerry Kuntz, a researcher and writer living in New York’s Hudson Valley, who will discuss how, during the 1840s and 1850s, during the infancy of the development of underwater breathing apparatus, Lake Erie became the proving ground for this new technology. Free; donations welcome. nmgl.org/event/spring-lecture-series-2021-3/
March 20: Teddy Bear Care Fair, Toledo Zoo, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring your favorite stuffed pal and Zoo volunteers will make sure it’s fixed up and ready for many more snuggles. Visitors and their stuffies can also enjoy keeper talks, animal feeding demonstrations and more fun activities. This bear-y fun event is included with Zoo admission. www.toledozoo.org/teddybear.
March 20: March Monthly Match – Air Rifle & Air Pistol, Camp Perry Training Site, Port Clinton. The Civilian Marksmanship Program presents monthly competitions featuring a Junior Air Rifle 3x20 and 3x10, a 60 Shots Air Rifle and Air Pistol match. Rental equipment is available for the monthly matches for a small fee. 419-635-2141, ext. 707.
March 21: Presidential History Book Club presented by Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, Fremont, noon. Free. A discussion of the book, “One Man Against the World,” by Tim Weiner. 419-332-2081, www.rbhayes.org.
March 27: Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Adolphus Kraemer Park and Downtown Oak Harbor, Church Street. An Easter egg hunt at the Log Cabin at the park, followed by a candy hunt through downtown and an opportunity to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. 419-898-0479, oakharborohio.net.
March 27: Annual Golden Bear 10K Run, Gibsonburg High School, 9 a.m. start time. Runners start and finish at Gibsonburg High School. Fast, flat and accurate 10K road race. Awards to the overall male and female finishers and top three in various age groups. gibsonburgohio.org.
March 28: BRM Exotics EXPO Events, Terra State Community College, Fremont, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monthly reptile and exotics event. $5 admission; 12 and under get in free. Large venue space permits social distancing. Masks must be worn. BRMEXPO.com, 419-619-3598.
March 31: Authors! Sister Souljah, a virtual event hosted by Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 7 p.m. Participate for free on the library’s Facebook page or purchase a copy of the book to be picked up at your local branch for $17 plus Eventbrite fees and watch through a secure Zoom link. https://www.toledolibrary.org/authors.
        Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please verity that events are still ongoing. For more events, be sure to visit presspublications.com, visittoleddo.org, shoresandislands.com or sanduskycounty.org. Submit event information to twalro@presspublications.com.