For Richard Young, guitarist and vocalist for the Kentucky Headhunters, music and family are inseparable.

The band began when he, his brother Fred Young and their cousins Anthony Kenney and Greg Martin began playing music together in an old house on the family farm that their grandmother let them use.
“I guess it was kind of foresight on her part to keep us out of trouble,” Richard said.
When each of the boys got their driver’s licenses, their first drive was always to that farmhouse, which most people called a shack.

They covered it with posters and album covers of their favorite rock groups, including Led Zeppelin.
“The posters on the wall are worth more than the house is,” Richard said.
His father, a teacher, always supported his son’s dream of being a musician.
“He never said, ‘Cut your hair, get a job,’” Richard said.
They called the group Itchy Brother.
During the next few decades, the band morphed into the Kentucky Headhunters, lost and gained members, won a Grammy, played more than 1,000 shows and sold more than 6 million albums.
The members married women they had known since high school. They have stayed married to the same women for their whole lives. Richard will celebrate his 30th anniversary in August.
In 1989, the group released “Pickin’ On Nashville,” which sold more than 2 million copies.
The band members developed close relationships by making music together for so long.
“These people are almost like spouses,” Richard said.
They make music part of their lifestyle.
“We get up every morning, drink coffee and listen to music,” he said.
Richard’s family still owns the farm where he grew up and began playing music. He said one evening a few years ago, the band played in Times Square; 24 hours later, he was back in Kentucky, beating hay on a tractor.
“We’ve lived a charmed life,” he said. “Don’t guess we’d change anything about it, really.”
Young’s son started a band, Black Stone Cherry, that practiced in the same old house and has a large following in Europe.
“It’s just a big family thing,” Richard said.
His son once told him, “Dad, the funniest thing is when we play in, like, London and places like Berlin; you see ’em coming up after the show at the back door with the bus, these old guys with gray hair and Headhunters shirts on.”
Richard said the Headhunters’ live shows present a heavier side of the band than their records. He described the group as a party band and said they have a huge following of bikers.
“If you want to see a good Headhunters show, sit in a lawn chair and relax,” he said. “And if you want to see a great Headhunters show, get up and get involved.”
The band — Greg Martin, Doug Phelps, Fred Young and Richard Young — will perform Aug. 1 at Smoke on the Water.

The Aug. 1 electronic edition of Toledo Free Press is now available.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Responding to a question July 29 at the 2010 Ohio State Fair on a contracting miscue that sent jobs funded by federal stimulus money to Central America, Ohio Gov. Strickland said he was disappointed to hear about the misuse of funds intended to administer the state’s Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, and vowed it would never happen again.

Read the full story here.

Events are subject to change.

MUSIC

Basin St. Grille: This Toledo standby has been revived with more than 20 different flavors of martinis and live, local music. 5201 Monroe St. (419) 843-5660.

> Jeff Stewart: July 28.

> Open jam with Jason Hudson: July 29.

> Distant Cousinz, Scott Fish: July 30.

> Earregulars: July 31.

> Scott Fish: Aug. 4.

> Open jam with Andrew Ellis: Aug. 5.

> John Barile: Aug. 6.

> The Turners: Aug. 7.

Bitter End Restaurant & Bar: If you like your entertainment with a lake view, this may be your spot. 900 Anchor Pointe Road, Curtice. (419) 836-7044 or www.bitterendbar.com.

> Razz: July 30.

> Razz & Sonzz: July 31.

> John Barile and Bobby May: Aug. 1.

> Haywire: Aug. 6.

> MaxxBand: Aug. 7.

> Kyle White: Aug. 8.

The Blarney Irish Pub: Catch local acts while taking in the pub’s modern Irish and American fare. 601 Monroe St. (419) 418-2339 or www.theblarneyirishpub.com.

> Ad Astra: July 29.

> Dave Pfenning: July 30.

> The Bloody Tinth: July 31.

> Rick Whited: Aug. 5.

> Jeff Stewart & the 25s: Aug. 6.

> Kentucky Chrome: Aug. 7.

Bronze Boar: Be sure to check out this Warehouse District tavern’s namesake, overhead near the entrance. 20 S. Huron St. (419) 244-2627 or www.bronzeboar.com.

> Open mic night with Chris Knopp: Mondays.

> Joe Woods Band: Tuesdays and July 29.

> Brandon Duke: Wednesdays through Sept. 1.

> Noisy Neighbors: July 30.

> See Alice: July 31.

> Dread Lions: Aug. 5.

> Stone House: Aug. 6.

> Swamp Kings: Aug. 7.

Brooklyn’s Daily Grind: Coffee and music, what more can one want? If a snack is the answer, this is your spot. 723 Airport Hwy., Holland. (419) 724-1433 or www.brooklynscafe.com.

> Tom Galvin: 8-11 p.m. July 30.

> Tom Harms: 8-11 p.m. July 31.

> Argentinean tango: 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 5.

> Bianca Naves art exhibition: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 6.

> Tom Harms: 8-11 p.m. Aug. 7.

Caesars Windsor: If you have your passport, consider hopping the Detroit River for this casino’s entertainment offerings. Ticket prices, in Canadian dollars, are for the cheapest seats; attendees must be 19 or older. Caesars Windsor Colosseum, 377 Riverside Dr. East, Windsor, Ontario. (800) 991-7777 or www.caesarswindsor.com.

> Al Green: 9 p.m. July 30, $35.

> Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard: 8 p.m. Aug. 5, $29.

> Divas Las Vegas: 9 p.m. Aug. 7, $15.

> Tony Bennett: 8 p.m. Aug. 8, $49.

Centennial Terrace: This venue next to a quarry hosts dance parties, swing bands and rockers. 5773 Centennial Road, Sylvania. (419) 882-1500, www.playsylvania.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

> The Johnny Knorr Orchestra: 7-10:30 p.m. July 28, $8.

> Up for Grabs: 8 p.m. Aug. 6, $7.

> Eddie & the Edsels’ ’50s and ’60s dance party: 7 p.m.-midnight Aug. 7, $10.

> Rick Springfield: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, $23-$37.50.

Degage Jazz Cafe: Signature drinks, such as pumpkin martinis, plus live local jazz performers. 301 River Road, Maumee. $5 Tuesdays-Thursdays. (419) 794-8205 or www.degagejazzcafe.com.

> Kelly Broadway: July 30-31.

The Distillery: Karaoke is offered Tuesdays, but paid entertainers rock out Wednesdays-Saturdays. 4311 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 382-1444 or www.thedistilleryonline.com.

> Nathan Cogan: July 28.

> Ben Barefoot & Frankie May: July 29.

> Velvet Jones: July 30-31.

> Kyle White: Aug. 3.

> Tony & Lyle: Aug. 4.

> The Bridges: Aug. 5-7.

Doc Watson’s: Named in honor of the owners’ forefather, this bar and restaurant serves a variety of dishes and entertainment. 1515 S. Byrne Road. (419) 389-6003 or docwatsonstoledo.com.

> John Barile and Bobby May: 10 p.m. July 30.

> Joe Woods: 10 p.m. July 31.

Frankie’s: Toledo’s venue for rock. 308 Main St. Tickets vary between $5 and $15, unless noted. (419) 693-5300 or www.FrankiesInnerCity.com.

> After the Burial, Measure the Redshift, Mortuary, In the Hands of a Nihilist: 6 p.m. July 28.

> Hamell on Trial, WEe: 9 p.m. July 29.

> Passion Nouveau, Shaft: 9 p.m. July 30.

> Downtown Brown, Dr. Manhattan, Sinker, Larry Love, the Red Scare, the Faux Paus, the Infernal Names, Lame-o, the Fight Within, Kids in the Making, Doc Ellis, Mike Breland: 7 p.m. July 31.

> Mark Rose, Gold Motel, Cameras Can’t Lie, a Lull, My Fighting Chance: 6 p.m. Aug. 3.

> Vanna, Kid Liberty, the Greenery, the Unwritten: 6 p.m. Aug. 4.

> The Creepshow, Al & the Black Cats, Larry Love & the Revolvers: 9 p.m. Aug. 6.

> Sorcen, Frank & Jesse, Dooley Wilson & Todd, the Infernal Names: 9 p.m. Aug. 7.

Ground Level Coffeehouse: Mix your beans with some music for an eclectic brew. Open mic on Monday nights. 2636 W. Central Ave. (419) 671-6272 or www.groundleveltoledo.com.

> Risa, Story time drama class: 2-3 p.m. July 28.

> The E-Zone with Azucar Morena: 7-9 p.m. July 29, $3.

> Melvin: July 31.

Headliners: All ages, all genres are welcome. 4500 N. Detroit Ave. Ticket prices vary between $5 and $15, unless noted otherwise. (419) 269-4500 or www.headlinerstoledo.com.

> Drop Dead, Gorgeous; Sleeping With Sirens; Attila; Abandon All Ships; For All Those Sleeping; Woe Is Me; Scarlett O’Hara: 5 p.m. Aug. 7.

Ice Restaurant & Bar: This local, family-owned enterprise offers food, drinks and music in a sleek atmosphere. 405 Madison Ave. (419) 246-3339 or icerestaurantandbar.com.

> Postmodern Blues Band: 8 p.m. July 30.

> Zac Shaffer: July 31.

> The Nutones: 8 p.m. Aug. 6.

> DeZire: 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

J. Patrick’s Restaurant & Pub: Live entertainment after 9:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays. Holiday Inn French Quarter, 10630 Fremont Pike, Perrysburg. (419) 874-3111 or www.hifq.com.

> Double Dare: July 30-31.

> Billy Dean and Dawn: Aug. 6-7.

Manhattan’s: This “slice of the Big Apple” in the Glass City puts on a show for the weekends. 1516 Adams St. (419) 243-6675 or www.manhattanstoledo.com.

> Quickness: July 30.

> Vytas & His Electric Outfit: July 31.

> Toledo School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble: 6 p.m. Aug. 3.

> Kelly Broadway: Aug. 6.

> Stonehouse: Aug. 7.

Mickey Finn’s: A variety of genres to wash your drinks down with. Open mic nights, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, no cover; $5-$7 cover other nights. 602 Lagrange St. (419) 246-3466 or www.mickeyfinnspub.com.

> Glass artist showcases, 9 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays: Gideon Rockwood, July 28; Drew Cupps or Jessie Knots, Aug. 4.

> Echo Hill: 9 p.m. July 29.

> All Dinosaurs: 9 p.m. July 30.

> Miracle Vitamins: 9 p.m. July 31.

Murphy’s Place: Jazz @@ straight, smooth, bebop or traditional @@ all kinds are played here. 151 Water St. (419) 241-7732 or www.murphysplacejazz.com.

> Clifford Murphy and Claude Black: 8 p.m. July 28.

> Ellie Martin: 9 p.m. July 30, $6.

> Glenda McFarlin: 9 p.m. July 31.

Ottawa Tavern: Casual meals with weekend entertainment. 1815 Adams St. (419) 725-5483 or www.otavern.com.

> Boogaloosa Prayer, Matt Truman Ego Trip: July 30.

> Lollipop Factory: Aug. 5.

> Marco Polio and the New Vaccine, Creatures: Aug. 6.

Pizza Papalis: Get slices with a topping of entertainment. 519 Monroe St. (419) 244-7722 or www.pizzapapalis.com.

> DJ Terry: 7 p.m. July 29.

> Gin Bunny: 8 p.m. July 30-31.

> Just Jerry: 7 p.m. Aug. 5.

> Jeremy Wheeler: 8 p.m. Aug. 6.

> Chris Shutters: 8 p.m. Aug. 7.

Tequila Sheila’s Downtown: 702 Monroe St. (419) 241-1118.

> Devious: 10 p.m. Thursdays.

> Johnny Reed & the House Rockers: 10 p.m. Fridays.

The Village Idiot: Tunes combined with pizza and booze, some would say it’s a perfect combination. 309 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 893-7281 or www.villageidiotmaumee.com.

> 5 Neat Guys, Wilburshaw: Wednesdays.

> Mark Mikel: Friday afternoons and Tuesday nights.

> The Bob Rex Band: Sunday afternoons.

> Frankie May, Barefoot Ben: Mondays.

> Wilburshaw: July 28-29.

> Polka Floyd: July 30.

> Mojo Flow: July 31.

> Bobby May & Dry Bone Revival: Aug. 6.

Wesley’s Bar & Grill: A huge variety of beers helps wash down the entertainment. Boccie ball is a bonus! 1201 Adams St. (419) 255-3333.

> DJs Folks, Mattimoe and Perrine: Fridays.

> Kentucky Chrome: July 31.

Woodchucks: The place to go for an eclectic mix of people and music. 224 S. Erie St. (419) 241-3045.

> Karaoke with The Georgia Peach: Wednesdays.

Lunch at Levis Square concert series: Downtown Toledo Improvement District conspires to set lunch to music. Noon-1:30 Thursdays through Aug. 26, Levis Square, North St. Clair Street and Madison Avenue. (419) 249-5494.

> Jeff Stewart: July 29.

> Kyle White: Aug. 5.

Brown Bag Summer Concert Series: Grab your ham (or veggie) samiches and listen to some tunes while you digest. Vendors will be on hand for those who forget to pack! 12:15-1:15 p.m. Wednesdays, north lawn of Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

> Glinda’s Bubble: July 28.

Music at the Market: Weekly concerts will pierce the summer heat. 7 p.m. Thursdays, Commodore Park, Louisiana and Indiana. (419) 873-2787 or www.perrysburgarts.org.

> Common Creed: July 29.

> Quartet Bernadette: Aug. 5.

Jazz in the Garden: Take in some swing and smooth tunes among the swaying flowers. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 9, Toledo Botanical Garden, 5403 Elmer Dr. $6-$7. (419) 536-5566 or toledogarden.org.

> Ramona Collins: July 29.

> Damon Cook: Aug. 5.

Club Friday: Some of the city’s most talented performers entertain museum-goers during TMA’s It’s Friday events. 6:30-9:30 p.m., 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> Beatles acoustic night with Elixer: July 30, Peristyle Terrace.

> Groovy Band: Aug. 6, Peristyle Terrace.

Rally in the Alley: Adults can celebrate the end of the workweek with live music, food and drinks. 5-8 p.m., Latham Courtyard, Findlay. www.findlayhancockchamber.com.

> Fossils: July 30.

Summer Concert Series: Open air shows on Saturday nights @@ sounds like summer to me. 6 p.m. Saturdays, Glyn Smith Amphitheater, Ottawa Park, Kenwood Boulevard.

> Night Sessions Big Band: July 31.

> DeZire: Aug. 7.

Music Under the Stars: Toledo Symphony members play for the people and the polar bears at this Toledo tradition. Toledo Zoo amphitheater, 2700 Broadway.

> “Lovely and Involved: Andrew Lloyd Webber.” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1.

Courtyard Concerts: Rock while you eat rolls at this series of lunchtime concerts. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Latham Courtyard, downtown Findlay. (419) 422-4624 or www.artspartnership.com.

> Pantasia: Aug. 3.

Jeff McDonald’s Big Band Revival Party: 8 p.m. Thursdays, South Briar Restaurant, 5147 S. Main St., Sylvania. (419) 517-1111 or (419) 708-0265.

Jeff McDonald’s Big Band All Stars: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Trotter’s Tavern, 5131 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419) 381-2079 or (419) 708-0265.

MAS FiNA: July 30, Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar & Grill, 3150 Navarre Ave., (419) 691-8880; July 31, South End Bar & Grille, 5105 Glendale Ave., (419) 382-7776.

Jackyl: Hard rockers can find out what happens “When Moonshine and Dynamite Collide” at this concert. 6 p.m. July 30, Toledo Harley-Davidson, 7960 W. Central Ave. $10. (419) 843-7892, www.signaturehd.com or ticketmaster.com.

Mount Ararat Gospel Festival: In addition to praise-worthy songs, free food, clothing and bicycle giveaways, games and activities for children are planned. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. July 31, Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, 918 Coburn St. (419) 472-8747.

Acoustic Rock: Mr. Seley will present a concert of kooky lyrics and lively music for summer reading club participants. 7 p.m. Aug. 2, Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road, Maumee. Registration: (419) 259-5360 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Wilson Lake and the Rock Bass: Fish and turtles splash and groove in the water while squirrels, raccoons and toads begin to boogie! Listen as the music rumbles across the waves and into the woods that surround the lake. 1:30 p.m. Aug. 4, McMaster Center, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

Verandah concert: Ottawa County Bluegrass Band. The porch of the Hayes home becomes a stage for this free series of seasonal performances, preceded by ice cream socials. Bring your own seats! 6:45-8 p.m. Aug. 4, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

Sunset Serenades: Night Sessions Big Band. Music will waft over the lake as the sun sets. 7 p.m.-dusk Aug. 4, Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. $3 parking for nondistrict residents. (419) 882-8313 or www.olanderpark.com.

Rock & Roll Rally: Warrant will headline, with support from Saturnine Hello, Rizzo and FIRE. 5 p.m. Aug. 6, Promenade Park, Water Street, downtown, west bank of the river. $15-$20. (419) 283-7299, (419) 824-3999 or rallybytheriver.com.

Red: This Christian rock band with the colorful name will bring its Grammy-nominated album and its latest effort, inspired by Dante’s “Inferno,” to life. Toledo-area group Kids in the Making with its punk-y, poppy, rock-y sound will open. 6 p.m. Aug. 7, Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. $30-$37. (419) 381-8851 or www.stranahantheater.com.

ART & EXHIBITIONS

The Bead Goes On: The TMA hopes to collect 10,000 hand-made beads made by the public in various media to create a curtain to be displayed at the museum. Entries will be accepted through October. 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or www.toledomuseum.org/events/community.

Toledo Museum of Art exhibitions: As part of the Blue Star Museums program of the National Endowment for the Arts, TMA will offer free parking to active duty military personnel, with identification, and their families through Labor Day. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 Sundays, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> AIM: This exhibition highlights works based on “art integrated math” by budding artists in underserved populations. Through Aug. 8, Community Galleries.

> TMA High School Art Council: Students from 15 area schools organize this exhibition by choosing a theme and soliciting work from their peers. Through Aug. 15, Community Galleries.

> “Arts Gone Wild”: Regional nonprofit arts and cultural institutions will create installations representing their organizations. Through Aug. 15, Community Galleries.

> 92nd Annual Toledo Area Artists exhibition: This show celebrates Northwest Ohio’s artistic community. Through Aug. 22, Works on Paper Galleries.

> “Out of Sight: Backs, Bottoms and Bases.” Visitors can see what’s behind the closed cabinet doors and on the backs of paintings in this exhibition featuring details usually hidden from view or that were designed to be deliberately hard to find. Through Aug. 29, Gallery 18.

> “The Psychedelic ’60s: Posters From the Rock Era.” Posters produced San Francisco area concerts are known for their innovative text, vibrant colors and coded messages and left an impression on ensuing graphic design. Through Sept. 12, Canaday Gallery.

Detroit Institute of Art exhibitions: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Regular admission: $4-$8; special exhibition prices include general admission. (313) 833-7900 or www.dia.org.

> “Through African Eyes: The European in African Art, 1500 to Present.” “This exhibition explores the artistic consequences of the variations and dynamics of cultural exchanges between Africans and Europeans over 500 years.” Through Aug. 8.

“Toledo Emerges”: Fresh work from fresh faces in a variety of media including graffiti, printmaking, painting, metals and ceramics. Through July 29, Walter E. Terhune Gallery, Owens Community College, 30335 Oregon Road, Perrysburg. (567) 661-2721 or www.owens.edu.

“The Journey”: Sandra Jane Heard will display her works in mixed media. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through July 30, River House Arts, 115 W. Front St., Perrysburg. (419) 874-8900 or river-house-arts.com.

“Group of 9”: This nonet local artistic voices, the gallery’s third such exhibition, will display works in a variety of media. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays through July 31, Hudson Gallery, 5645 N. Main St., Sylvania. (419) 885-8381 or www.hudsongallery.net.

Georgette’s Art Showcase: Prizm Art Group will display their creative endeavors through July. 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, Georgette’s Grounds & Gifts, 311 Conant St., Maumee. (419) 891-8886 or www.georgettes.org.

“Crafting a Response: The Artists of Bittersweet Farms.” Artwork by residents and friends of this autism-focused farm will be on display. Noon-4 Wednesdays-Fridays and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays through July 31, 20 North Gallery, 18 N. Clair St. (419) 241-2400 (419) 875-6986, www.bittersweetfarms.org or www.20northgallery.net.

“Summer Garden Reflections”: Nearly 60 works by 23 Athena Art Society members, in media ranging from gouache to acrylics. Reception: 2-4 p.m. Aug. 1; exhibit: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-4 Sundays through Aug. 1, Trellis Gallery, Schedel Arboretum and Gardens, 19255 Portage River Road, Elmore. $8 adults, $7 seniors and $6 children. (419) 862-3182 or www.schedel-gardens.org.

“Croquet: A Sport Story.” The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center claims to have the most comprehensive collection of hoops-and-mallet materials in the world. Visitors can check out the clubs and pegs during this exhibit. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays through Aug. 1, Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

“At the Speed of Art: A Celebration of Motor Vehicles.” The automotive creativity that surrounds this American industry will be highlighted in a multimedia exhibition. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 15, Flatlanders Art Galleries, 11993 E. U.S. 223, Blissfield, Mich. (517) 486-4591 or www.flatlandersculpture.com.

“Reclamation”: Four artists’ work exploring the cycle of urban sprawl, decline and the subsequent reclamation by nature will be displayed. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and noon-4 Saturdays through Aug. 20, Space 237, 237 N. Michigan St. (419) 255-5117 or www.space237.com.

Salon des Refuses: The second string for the TMA Toledo Area Artists exhibition will be displayed. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 20, Parkwood Gallery, 1838 Parkwood Ave., Suite 120. (419) 254-2787 or www.acgt.org.

Julie Draeger’s “Point of View”: This art teacher will exhibit her own work, known for the way its “color and shapes bring a fantastic reality to her landscapes and botanicals.” 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (until 7 Wednesdays) and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 28, Inside Angles Custom Framing Gallery, 909 S. McCord Road, Holland. (419) 867-3533 or www.insideangles.com.

“Last Stand: America’s Virgin Lands.” Works drawn from a National Geographic book of the same name by photographer Annie Griffiths Belt and author Barbara Kingsolver “document and capture the essence of endangered wilderness areas.” Noon-5 p.m. weekends and during special events through Aug. 29, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9757 or metroparkstoledo.com.

“All that Glitters: The Fabulous Fakery of Costume Jewelry.” Companies such as Park Lane, Bakelite, Avon and Murano will be represented in the form of necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pins spanning several decades. Noon-8:30 Mondays-Tuesdays and 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through Aug. 31, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

“Life’s Journey”: This exhibition of Michael Provenza’s landscape and seascape oil paintings encompass the subject of Earth’s “natural beauty and glory.” 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays through Aug. 31, Perrysburg Municipal Building, 201 W. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 873-2787 or www.perrysburgarts.org.

“The Original Toy Story: The ‘Live Dolls’ Children’s Book Series.” Written by Josephine Scribner Gates, who was raised in Toledo, the collection is about dolls that come to life. Noon-8:30 Mondays-Tuesdays and 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through Aug. 31, Rare Book Room, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

“Mood and Mode: The Art of Jim Brower.” This exhibit features 53 watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings, along with various commercial art illustrations, of this award-winning artist. Noon-8:30 Mondays-Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays through Aug. 31, Toledo Lucas County Main Library gallery, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

“The Elegance of the Edwardian Era”: The period 1890 to 1910 was an unparalleled era of extravagance and opulence in lifestyle and in fashion. Examples of lavish gowns and accessories, including a selection of romantic, gauzy, embroidered white dresses. Guided tours available 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays; museum open noon-4:30 through Dec. 20, Wolcott House Museum, 1031 River Road, Maumee. $2.50-$5. (419) 893-9602 or www.wolcotthouse.org.

“Art de Concrete”: Masonry master Kuhlman Corp. will host this creative showcase for the super-strong building material. 5-8 p.m. weekdays through Dec. 31, Arrowhead Business Park, 1845 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee. (419) 897-6000 or www.kuhlman-corp.com.

TMA tours: Get the inside scoop on what’s new, interesting and artful during docent-led tours. Most start from Libbey Court, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> Family Time tour: 1:30 p.m. July 29; 2 p.m. Aug. 1 and 8.

> Inside Stories: 6 and 6:30 p.m. July 30.

> The Studio Glass Movement: 2 and 3 p.m. July 31.

> Greatest Hits of the Collection: 3 p.m. Aug. 1.

> “Out of Sight”: 6 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

> Glass Pavilion architecture and design: 2 and 3 p.m. Aug. 7.

Art Hours: Would-be glass artists now can reserve spots in the TMA’s hour-long studio sessions. Glass Pavilion hot shop, 2445 Monroe St. $25. Reservations start the Tuesday before the class: (419) 254-5771, ext. 7448. toledomuseum.org.

> Flowers: 4 and 5 p.m. July 31 and Aug. 7; 6, 7 and 8 p.m. July 30 and Aug. 6.

> Beads: 6 and 7 p.m. Aug. 6.

TMA hands-on activities: These free, drop-in crafts give children and adults a more tangible grasp on elements of the museum’s exhibits and events. Libbey Court (unless noted), 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> What’s Inside Your Amphora? 7 p.m. July 30.

> Feelin’ Groovy: 7 p.m. Aug. 6.

For the Love of Art summer workshops: Kids can try on a variety of art techniques and media. Students in third grade and younger meet at 10 a.m.; grades four-six classes will start at 11:30 a.m., with no classes on Wednesdays. 4027 N. Holland-Sylvania Road. $36 each. (419) 882-2060 or www.forloveart.com.

> Animal Planet: Aug. 2-6.

Move Over, Monet: Young artists will create masterpieces with watercolors. 4 p.m. July 28, Birmingham Branch Library, 203 Paine Ave. (419) 259-5210 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Hummingbirds Nature Shoots: Swift and jewel-like, these birds are fascinating. Photographers will snap them from blinds. 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. July 29, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. $25 a session. Registration: (419) 407-9757 or reservations.metroparkstoledo.com.

What Can’t You See? TMA officials will discuss the clues that help determine an object’s authenticity. 7:30 p.m. July 30, TMA’s Little Theater, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

Erika Herzig: The artist’s charcoal drawings and paintings will be accompanied by music from Jordan Schwartz and Shaun Neal. 6 p.m. July 31, Easy Street Cafe patio, 822 Washington St. (419) 255-0010.

Meet Me at TMA: “The Psychedelic 60s.” The museum and Alzheimer’s Association Northwest Ohio Chapter offer this pilot program, giving gallery peeks to those with mild memory loss and their companions. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Aug. 7, from the museum’s Classic Court, 2445 Monroe St. Registration: (419) 537-1999.

Michigan Trek: Jim Hagan will talk about his travels in the Wolverine State for this Naturalists Camera Club of Toledo program. 2-4 p.m. Aug. 8, National Center for Nature Photography, Secor Metropark, 10000 W. Central Ave., Berkey. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

MOSTLY FOR ADULTS

Parents should determine appropriateness for children

Wildwood Manor House tours: Built in the 1930s in the Georgian Colonial style, the Manor House was the estate of the Stranahans, the patriarch of which co-founded the Champion Spark Plug Co. Tours at quarter after and quarter till the hour noon-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Kayak and canoe practice: Members of the Toledo River Gang will help paddlers with skills, kayak rolling, safety and more. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 31, Three Meadows Pond, 700 Three Meadows Dr., Perrysburg. toledorivergang.homestead.com.

Blood drives: The Western Lake Erie Region of the American Red Cross will hold several drives this month. Starred drives indicate appointments are preferred. For more information or opportunities to donate, call (800) 448-3543 or visit www.givebloodtoday.org.

> 2-7 p.m. July 29, Washington Township Fire Department, 2496 Shoreland Ave.

> 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. July 30, St. Luke’s Hospital, 5901 Monclova Road, Maumee.

> 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. July 30, Stadium View Apartments, 1700 Juniper Dr., Bowling Green.

> 1-7 p.m. July 30, St. Jerome Catholic School, 300 Earl St., Walbridge.

> 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 31, Rossford Community Recreation Center, 400 Dixie Hwy., Rossford.

> 9 a.m.-2 p.m. July 31, Luckey American Legion, 335 Park Dr., Luckey.

> Noon-6 Aug. 2, Delta Church of Christ, 500 Providence, Delta.

> 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 4, Flower Hospital, 5200 Harroun Road, Sylvania.

> 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 7, First Christian Church, 875 Haskins, Bowling Green.

Toledo Farmers’ Market: Find it fresh and local at this outdoor station, which has been around for 178 years. July 24, Corn Crazy cooking demonstration hosted by Toledo Choose Local; Aug. 7, jazz brunch. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, 525 Market St. Satellite location: 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays at Westgate on Secor Road (by Elder-Beerman). (419) 255-6765 or www.toledofarmersmarket.org.

Other markets:

> The Shops at Fallen Timbers Farmers Market, Noon-4 Sundays through Sept. 26, Main Street in front of Dillard’s, Maumee. (419) 878-6255 or www.theshopsatfallentimbers.com.

> Perrysburg Farmers Market: 3-8 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 14, Louisiana Ave.

> Bowling Green: Food, flowers, handicrafts, entertainment and more. 3-8 p.m. Wednesdays through Oct. 27, Sam B’s parking lot, Main and Clough streets. (419) 354-4332.

> Perennials, flowers, vegetables, jams, jellies and baked goods. 3-7 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 26, Augsburg Lutheran Church, 1342 Sylvania Ave.

> Shoppes of Mayberry Square: Perennials, veggies, fruit and more from local growers. 3-7 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 28, Erie Street and Centennial Road, Sylvania.

Andersons wine tastings: In the mood for something a little grape? See what’s new and tasty. 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, 3725 Williston Road, Northwood, (419) 698-8400; 6-8 p.m. Thursdays, 4701 Talmadge Road, (419) 473-3232; 5-7 p.m. Thursdays, 530 Illinois Ave., Maumee, (419) 891-2700. Nominal fees apply.

Downtown walking tours: Get a peek at the Glass City’s past with these mostly free lunchtime rambles. Noon-1 Thursdays through Sept. 2. (419) 530-3591.

> July 29: “Extreme Restoration @@ The Casey Pomeroy House.” 802 Huron St.

> Aug. 5: “The City Beautiful @@ Civic Center Mall.” Spielbusch Avenue and Jackson Street, behind the Safety Building.

Twylite Thursdays: Music and dancing, mini meals (6-8 p.m.) and a cash bar will benefit a variety of rotating charities. 5 p.m., Pinnacle, 1772 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee. $10. (419) 891-7325 or www.pinnaclecpwevents.com.

> Boys & Girls Clubs, July 29.

> Alzheimer’s Association, Aug. 5.

Woodcraft: This home for all things grainy and tree-derived offers a variety of classes and demonstrations for those inclined to plane, sand and carve. 5311 Airport Hwy. (419) 389-0560 or www.woodcraft.com.

> Finishing @@ The Final Challenge: Visitors will discuss selecting, applying and tips on the perfect “icing” for their nearly complete projects. 1-2 p.m. July 31.

> Multiaxis turning: An expert will demonstrate the basics of box making. 1-2:30 p.m. Aug. 7.

Outdoor yoga: Integration Yoga Studio instructor Jenn McCullough will lead yogis through their sun salutations and namastes in natural settings. (419) 266-9642 or www.integrationyogastudio.com.

> Overlooking the Maumee River, on the deck where Harvard, Broadway and River Rd. meet. 6-7:15 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 30, during good weather. $15 a day.

> 10-10:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 16; 10:45-11:45 a.m. July 31, Aug. 14, 21 and 28, Greater Close Park, Bellevue Road. $10 walk-in; $24 for three classes.

Wine by the Glass Pavilion: Visitors can try four wines and appetizers and check out the TMA hot shop. 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays, 2445 Monroe St. $20. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> Everyday Reds: July 30.

> Aug. 6.

Harry Dolan: The author of “Bad Things Happen,” about an affair that goes wrong, will read from and sign his work. 7 p.m. July 28, Borders, 5001 Monroe St. (Sylvania Avenue side of Westfield Franklin Park), (419) 474-3704; 7 p.m. Aug. 5, Borders, 612 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Mich., (734) 668-7652.

Maumee Bay Ride: Cyclists will ride 30 miles from International Park to Maumee Bay. 8:30 a.m. July 29, from International’s first parking lot. (419) 243-7680, (419) 215-0627 or www.hitoledo.org.

A Literary Bash … Up on the Roof: Watch the sun set, the stars rise and the Glass City glow with some of the area’s best authors, cool jazz and appetizers. 7:30 p.m. July 31, Civic Plaza rooftop, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. $75. Reservations: (419) 259-5123 or toledolibrary.org.

Firefly Walk: Nature’s fireworks could spark personal ones during this couples event, including a lantern-lit stroll and locally grown, all-natural refreshments. Departures at 8:30, 8:45, 9, 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. July 31, farmhouse, Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 4830 W. Central Ave. $15. Reservations: (419) 407-9700 or reservations.metroparkstoledo.com.

Sylvania-Mayberry Car show: Antiques, hot rods, muscle cars and more will strut their shocks and spark plugs. A cruise will take place afterward, weather permitting. 5 p.m. Aug. 2, Mayberry Square, Erie Street and Centennial Road, Sylvania.

Ice Cream Ride: Cyclists will pedal 15 miles with a stop for scoops. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 3 from the Fallen Timbers Monument, near the Stitt/Jerome roads exit from US-24, just west of I-475, Perrysburg. (419) 878-6440 or www.hitoledo.org.

Creating Photo Gifts: Participants will turn their digital photos into intriguing presents and discover websites that offer more ideas. 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 3, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance, Mich. Registration: (734) 847-6747 or monroe.lib.mi.us.

Mystery Ride: Cyclists will bike 30 miles with a stop to dine at a mystery restaurant. 8:30 a.m. Aug. 5, from Lane’s End Farm, 8602 Pilliod Road. (419) 865-5795 or www.hitoledo.org.

Swan Creek Potters’ annual lawn sale: Seven local potters will sell handmade pottery from their private studios. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 7, 5737 Weckerly Road, Whitehouse. (419) 877-0372 or www.swancreekpotters.com.

AAA Classic Car & Truck Show: More than 200 spiffy sportsters, top-notch trucks and antique autos will be on display, with music, food and prizes as the accessories. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 8, AAA Northwest Ohio, 7150 W. Central Ave. $5 to participate. (419) 843-1287 or www.aaanwohio.com.

FAIRS & FESTIVALS

County fairs: Celebrating rural life and life on the farm, these annual events reconnect people to our food sources and the land. Admission included if determined; call/check websites for prices if not listed.

> Seneca County: Through Aug. 1, 100 Hopewell Ave., Tiffin. $6. (419) 447-7888 or www.senecacountyfair.org.

> Lucas County: Through Aug. 1, Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee. (419) 893-2127 or www.lucascountyfair.com.

> Monroe County, Mich.: Aug. 1-7, 3775 S. Custer Road, Monroe, Mich. $2-$5. (734) 241-5775 or www.monroecountyfair.com.

> Wood County: Aug. 3-9, 13800 W. Poe Road, Bowling Green. $6. Kenny Rogers concert, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 7, $20-$25. (419) 352-0441 or www.woodcounty-fair.com.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church Festival: Homemade Polish food, music, Monte Carlo, kids’ games and rides and a Sunday polka mass are planned. 6-10:30 p.m. July 29, 6:30-midnight July 30, 3 p.m.-midnight July 31, 1:30-6 p.m. Aug. 1, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 6149 Hill Ave. (419) 865-2345 or www.olltoledo.com.

Smoke on the Water: This annual Red Cross event offers ribs with a side of rock and country. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. July 30-31; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Aug. 1, Promenade Park, Water Street, west bank of the Maumee River. $5. (419) 329-2619 or www.ribs4redcross.com.

> Mini Kiss, Polka Floyd: July 30.

> Gin Blossoms, Kentucky Chrome: July 31.

> Kentucky Headhunters, Melanie May: Aug. 1.

Maker Faire: This event celebrates arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology projects and the do-it-yourself mindset. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 31-Aug. 1, Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich. $16-$25; $5 parking. (313) 982-6001, (800) 835-5237 or www.thehenryford.org.

Frogtown Fair: This free community event provides “homeowners and families with doable ideas and local resources for green living” via exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, recycling and more. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 7, Erie Street Market, 237 S. Erie St. (419) 724-6292 or www.thinkgreenfirst.net.

McComb Cookie Festival: Sure to bring out the monster in everyone, this festival features a contest for the best chips, sandies, sugar, shortbreads and more, plus entertainment, games, activities and tournaments. 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Aug. 7 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 8, McComb Park, Route 186, McComb. (419) 293-3521 or www.mccomboh.com.

FAMILY TIME

Fort Meigs: Historical interpreters, dressed in period attire, answer questions, offer weapon demonstrations and discuss the history of the fort and its role in the War of 1812. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, 29100 W. River Road, Perrysburg. $4-$8. (419) 874-4121, (800) 283-8916 or www.fortmeigs.org.

The Canal Experience: Take an authentic 1876 canal boat cruise, then see how waterpower is used to saw logs and grind grain. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays in July and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays in August, Kimble’s Landing, Providence Metropark, 13827 Route 24 West (at Route 578), Grand Rapids. Boat tickets: $4-$6. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Frogtown Froggy Museum: More than 300 amphibians are on display, as well as a “ribbit-ticklin’” activity room. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays, 136 N. Summit St., Suite 1A. Donations. (419) 944-8806 or www.frogtownfroggymuseum.webs.com.

Oak Grove School: A restored, one-room schoolhouse helps visitors learn what it was like to attend school in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Open seasonally, by reservation only; Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 4830 W. Central Ave. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Imagination Station: This children’s science museum handles some hefty topics in a manner appealing to the entire family. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, Summit and Adams streets. $6.50-$8.50. (419) 244-2674 or imaginationstationtoledo.org.

Upcoming and ongoing programming

> “Re-surgence: Arena Sculpture Construction.” A trio of local and regional artists will construct a sculpture this summer using thousands of recycled blue, green and purple items. The community is invited to help create it, the third work of public art to be permanently installed at the Huntington Center. Through August.

> The Big Dig: Footprints to Fossils. Excavate and assemble bones; challenge your dinosaur knowledge in our interactive maze; and dig through shale in search of fossils. Through Sept. 6.

> Science Story Times: Trained team members will read an interactive story to children in the Little KIDSPACE Science Studio and help them make a related project to take home. Upcoming books: “Pigs in the Mud (in the Middle of the Rud)” by Lynn Plourde, July 27-Aug. 1; “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr., Aug. 3-8.

Toledo Zoo: A Northwest Ohio gem, the zoo offers something for just about everyone @@ specialized habitats for polar bears, hippos, elephants and African animals, an aquarium and aviary; a playground and the recently opened Nature’s Neighborhood for kids to explore, as well as train and carousel rides; beautiful botanicals throughout; and seasonal events ranging from Lights at the Zoo to summer concerts. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 1-Labor Day; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Labor Day-April 30, 2700 Broadway. $8-$11. (419) 385-4040 or toledozoo.org.

> Rock ’n’ Roar: East River Drive, Johnny Rocker and the Hitmen and the Rayz provide favorite hits from different eras and styles, and the Africa! overlook will serve as a dance floor with a DJ. 7 p.m.-midnight Aug. 6, $25. Reservations: (419) 385-5721, ext. 2091.

> Fisher-Price Play Weekend: The toy maker will bring its giant play space, characters and the coolest new playthings to the zoo. Plus, kids can dine with Dora (11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Aug. 1, $16-$20.25; reservations: (419) 385-5721, ext. 3092). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 31-Aug.1.

Saturday Chess Players: Players 12 and younger of any skill level can practice basic moves and learn advanced strategy. 9-11 a.m. through Aug. 28, children’s library, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 Michigan St. (419) 259-5207.

PLAY: Visitors could find themselves behind the eight ball @@ literally! Larger-than-life, interactive versions of games like bowling, dice, foosball and dominoes make up this exhibit. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sept. 19, Henry Ford Museum, 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich. $11-$15; $5 parking. (313) 982-6001, (800) 835-5237 or www.thehenryford.org.

Northwest Ohio Railroad: Quarter-scale train rides are offered using either a diesel or steam engine, and model trains are laid out in the museum. 5-8 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 5, 11600 County Road 99, Findlay. $1 train rides. (419) 423-2995 or www.nworrp.org.

> Caboose Tours: 1-4 p.m. Aug. 1, $1.

Butterfly House: The home to hundreds of flittery, fluttery creatures that capture hearts and imaginations is open. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays through Sept. 30, 11455 Obee Road, Whitehouse. $5.50-$7. (419) 877-2733 or www.butterfly-house.com.

Sandpiper: This Toledo tradition offers cruises up and down the river, offering vantage points for scenery not usually observed in our land-based lives. Departing from the Jefferson Street dock in Promenade Park. Reservations: (419) 537-1212 or www.sandpiperboat.com.

> Picnic lunch cruises: Noon-2 Thursdays through Sept. 30, $14-$22.

> Discover the River: 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays through Sept. 25, $7-$15.

> Sunset & City Lights cruises: 8-10 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 8, $20.

> Friday night family cruises: 6-8 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 27, $7-$15.

TMA Family Center programs: Hands-on art activities for children. Story time tours are offered so young visitors and their adult partners can see art related to the week’s theme (2 p.m. Sundays). Noon-5:30 p.m. Sundays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or www.toledomuseum.org.

> Kings, Queens & Castles: July 29.

> Sunny Day Prints: Aug. 1, 3 and 5.

> Love Beads: Aug. 8, 10 and 12.

Sunday Sampler: Visitors can try a different experience each week. 2 p.m., Wildwood Preserve Metropark, 5100 W. Central Ave., unless noted. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

> Estate tour: Aug. 1, manor house.

> Prehistoric Parkland: Aug. 8, Blue Creek Conservation Area, 7790 Schadel Rd., Whitehouse.

Gross Grub: Kids can find out that although food is disgusting it also can be edible. 2 p.m. July 28, Holland Branch Library, 1032 S. McCord Road, Holland. Registration: (419) 259-5240 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Recycled Regatta: Kids will make boats from recycled materials and then float them. 2 p.m. July 28, Point Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St. Registration: (419) 259-5390 or www.toledolibrary.org. Grades K-5

Splash into Green: Youngsters can do some crafty recycling. 2 p.m. July 28, Toledo Heights Branch Library, 423 Shasta Dr. (419) 259-5220 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Kempo Martial Arts: Learn basic martial arts moves and focus, along with tools to maintain self-control, self-discipline, confidence and achieve goals. 2 p.m. July 28, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania. Registration: (419) 882-2089 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Take a Bite Out of Shark Week: Games, crafts and treats will get participants in the swim. 10:30 a.m. July 28, auditorium, West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave. (419) 259-5290 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Doodlebug Art Camps: Kids can get their art on at summer sessions. 2-3 p.m. July 28, Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. $3 a session with in-person registration. (419) 874-3135 or www.waylibrary.info.

Enchanting Entertainers: Big smelly bear is coming for a visit with songs, skits and stories to share. Will he make a big splash in the pond? 1:30 p.m. July 28, McMaster Center, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. (419) 259-5207 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Make a Splash with Joyce Davis: The “Puppet Lady” and her friends will tackle “The Case of the Missing Pearl.” www.toledolibrary.org.

> 10 a.m. July 28, Hope Nursery, 10610 Waterville Road, Whitehouse.

> 2 p.m. July 28, Locke Branch Library, 703 Miami St. (419) 259-5310.

> 7 p.m. Aug. 2, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2089.

Flip Flop craft: Teens will flip over papier-mache boxes, styled any way they like. 2 p.m. July 29, Toledo Heights Branch Library, 423 Shasta Dr. (419) 259-5220 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Bubbles and More: Celebrate all things bubbly @@ paintings, food and more. 3 p.m. July 29, South Branch Library, 1736 Broadway. (419) 259-5395 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Ming the Magnificent: This magician incorporates ancient Chinese music and storytelling into his performances.

> 3 p.m. July 29, Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane. (419) 259-5330 or www.toledolibrary.org.

> 2 p.m. Aug. 4, Holland Branch Library, 1032 S. McCord Road, Holland. Registration: (419) 259-5240 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Splish Splash Magic: Gordon the Magician will captain a mysterious high seas adventure. www.toledolibrary.org.

> 10:30 a.m. July 29, Reynolds Corners Branch Library, 4833 Dorr St. (419) 259-5303.

> 4 p.m. July 29, Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Road. (419) 259-5270.

Summer Skies over Toledo: Look at the stars, constellations and planets visible from the Glass City, learn about star mythologies and the latest astronomical discoveries. 8:30 p.m. July 30, UT’s Ritter Planetarium, 2801 W. Bancroft St. $5-$6. (419) 530-4037, (419) 530-2650 or www.rpbo.utoledo.edu.

Over Under Water Competition: Teens, prepare to get wet in these water games. 2 p.m. July 30, Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 874-3135 or www.waylibrary.info.

Leopold’s Legacy: The Sandusky County Park District offers a series of explorations based on ecologist Aldo Leopold’s book “A Sand County Almanac.” Registration: (419) 334-4495. www.scpd-parks.org.

> Great Possessions: Find out who those “early birds” really are. 6:30-8 a.m. July 30, Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area, County Road 74 and Route 600, east of Gibsonburg.

Babysitting clinics: Potential au pairs and kiddie watchdogs 11 and older will learn how to handle emergencies, first aid and the unruliest of youngsters in this six-hour American Red Cross course. $30; registration required. www.toledolibrary.org.

> 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. July 30, West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave. (419) 259-5290.

> 9 a.m.-noon July 30-31, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania. (419) 882-2089.

> 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 6, Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane. (419) 259-5330.

Civil War Day: With the 150th anniversary of the Civil War approaching, the metroparks is offering the opportunity to mingle with members of Ohio’s 14th Volunteer Infantry and examine camp life, let mules pull visitors along in a canal boat ($4-$6) and tour a mill. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 31, Providence Metropark’s historic area parking lot, 13827 Route 24 West at Route 578, Grand Rapids. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Sunrise Walk: Binoculars are welcome on this trail walk to look for birds and other animals. 7:30 a.m. July 31, Shelter 3, Riverbend Recreation Area, 16618 Township Rd. 208, Findlay. (419) 425-7275 or www.hancockparks.com.

Scuba diving: A member of Diver’s Paradise scuba diving shop will share stories and slides. 10 a.m. July 31, Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. (419) 259-5370 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Journey to a Healthier You retreat: Health and wellness workers will offer their ideas for improving visitors’ lives. 2-10 p.m. July 31 and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 1, Belamere Suites, 12200 Williams Road, Perrysburg. $1-$3. (419) 874-2233, (419) 260-7589 or www.wellnessretreatinfo.com.

In the Road Again: Visitors will get a peek at early travel through the Great Black Swamp, including packing a Conestoga wagon and building a corduroy road. 3-5 p.m. Aug. 1, Johlin Cabin, Pearson Metropark, 4600 Starr Ave., Oregon. (419) 407-9700 or metroparkstoledo.com.

Madden Madness Mini-Tournament: The 10th edition of this football video game will be played on both Xbox and Playstation consoles to determine the top players. Noon-4 Aug. 2, Toledo Lucas County Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St. Registration: (419) 259-5207 or toledolibrary.org.

Kowabunga! Beach Party: Ice cream, beach blanket volleyball, a hula hoop contest, lei making and Chia Pets are planned. 2-3:30 p.m. Aug. 2, Sylvania Branch Library, 6749 Monroe St., Sylvania. Registration: (419) 882-2089 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Sit! Stay! Read! Children can register for a 15-minute session reading with a therapy dog. 7-8 p.m. Aug. 2, 9, 16 and 23, Sanger Branch Library, 3030 W. Central Ave. Registration: (419) 259-5370 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Model Landfill: Teens will make a sample dump using pudding and pie crust. 3 p.m. Aug. 3, Kent Branch Library, 3101 Collingwood Blvd. (419) 259-5283 or www.toledolibrary.org.

The Final Wave: Participants will bid farewell to summer reading club … with dance. 2 p.m. Aug. 3, Heatherdowns Branch Library, 3265 Glanzman Road. (419) 259-5270 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Creating Photo Gifts: Participants will use templates to create photo cubes/ornaments and check websites for more ideas and resources. 10 a.m.-noon Aug. 3, Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Road, Temperance, Mich. Registration: (734) 847-6747 or apps.monroe.lib.mi.us/patronclassregistration/.

Little Harvest Gardens: Accompanied kids 5 and older can learn about growing edible plants, organic methods and basic nutrition. 7 p.m. Aug. 3, Litzenberg Memorial Woods, 6100 Route 224, Findlay. $2. Registration: (419) 425-7275 or www.hancockparks.com.

Side Cut Explorer: A 12-passenger tram ride along the Maumee River and canal towpath. 6 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31; 10 and 11 a.m. Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, Side Cut Metropark, Riverview parking lot, 1025 River Road, Maumee. $2. Reservations: (419) 407-9700 or reservations.metroparkstoledo.com.

Wii Game Days: Players can try their hands at Nintendo titles; snacks will be provided. 3 p.m. Aug. 4, Lagrange Branch Library, 3422 Lagrange St. (419) 259-5280 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Just Add Water: Teens and tweens will create, experiment or play by adding moisture. 3 p.m. Aug. 4, Kent Branch Library, 3101 Collingwood Blvd. (419) 259-5283 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Splish Splash Blast: Celebrate the end of the summer reading club with pizza and games. 2 p.m. Aug. 4, Locke Branch Library, 703 Miami St. Registration: (419) 259-5310 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Wild and Wacky Water Carnival: Kids should come prepared to get wet. 2 p.m. Aug. 4, Point Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St. Registration: (419) 259-5390 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Happy 75th Birthday: Everyone is invited to celebrate the library’s birthday with cake, magic and the opening of a time capsule. 2 p.m. Aug. 4, Toledo Heights Branch Library, 423 Shasta Dr. (419) 259-5220 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Drip, Drop, Dunk … a Librarian: Patrons can vote during July to select the branch librarian they’d most like to see sopping wet; water balloon volleyball, bubble activities and treats are planned, too. 2:30 p.m. Aug. 4 (Aug. 5 if raining), outside West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave. (419) 259-5290 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Reading Club Party: Club participants and “volunteens” will end the season with games, food and fun. 3 p.m. Aug. 4, Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane. (419) 259-5330 or www.toledolibrary.org.

A Splash of Magic: Jim Kleefeld will amaze with live fish appearing out of thin air, a girl morphs into a mermaid and more beachy magic. 4 p.m. Aug. 4, Waterville Branch Library, 800 Michigan Ave., Waterville. Registration: (419) 878-3055 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Garbage Sundaes in the Sun: Ice cream will be provided so teens can bring their favorite toppings to share to mark the end of the summer reading club. www.toledolibrary.org.

> 2 p.m. Aug. 5, Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Road, Maumee. Registration: (419) 259-5360.

> 2 p.m. Aug. 5, Waterville Branch Library, 800 Michigan Ave., Waterville. Registration: (419) 878-3055.

“Guitar Hero” tournament: Teens can test their licks in this game. 2-4 p.m. Aug. 5, Point Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St. Registration: (419) 259-5390 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Just Add Water: The Sylvania Branch Library will celebrate the end of the summer reading club with a swim party, including games, prizes, pizza, paddle boats and rowboats. 3-6 p.m. Aug. 6, Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. Registration: (419) 882-2089 or www.toledolibrary.org.

Rib-Off on Broadway: Ribs prepared by eight area establishments will be sampled; tasters can vote for their favorites and while taking in music by Mid Life Crisis Band and the Rock ‘N Roll Outlaws. 6 p.m.-midnight Aug. 6, Broadway Street, downtown Findlay. $2-$5. (419) 422-4624 or www.artspartnership.com.

Tea in the Solarium: Tea, sandwiches and desserts will be served with a view of Wildwood’s Shipman garden. Noon-3 Aug. 6, Wildwood Preserve Metropark’s manor house, 5100 W. Central Ave. $7. Prepaid reservations available, but not required: (419) 490-1302. metroparkstoledo.com.

First Friday: Children’s art and science activities, music, art exhibits, street performers and horse carriage rides. 5:30-9 p.m. Aug. 6, Louisiana Avenue, Perrysburg. www.downtownperrysburg.org.

The Stargazer: This program explores how imagination, curiosity and science have led to the understanding of some of the universe’s mysteries. 8:30 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 6-27, UT’s Ritter Planetarium, 2801 W. Bancroft St. $5-$6. (419) 530-4037, (419) 530-2650 or www.rpbo.utoledo.edu.

Doll & Teddy Bear Show & Sale: Collectors will find antiques, originals and modern toys, as well as accessories, reproductions and books, as well as workshops, lectures and other activities. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 7 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 8, Sauder Village, 22611 Route 2, Archbold. $7.50-$14.50. (800) 590-9755 or www.saudervillage.org.

Blue Creek open house: See one of the metroparks’ newest properties before it is open for general use and meet our partners, Nature’s Nursery and Lucas Soil & Water Conservation District. 1-4 p.m. Aug. 8, Blue Creek Conservation Area, 7790 Schadel Rd., Whitehouse. Reservations: (419) 407-9700 or reservations.metroparkstoledo.com.

MOVIES

The Met summer encores: Replays of broadcasts of Metropolitan Opera productions from the previous season. Rave Maumee 18, 1360 Conant St., Maumee. $12.50. (419) 891-5039.

> “Carmen”: 6:30 p.m. July 28.

Family Free Film Festival: Family-friendly flicks will be screened. 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through July, Rave Franklin Park 16, 5001 Monroe St., second floor, Sylvania Avenue side. (419) 891-5039.

> “Shorts”: July 27-28.

Movies at the library: www.toledolibrary.org.

> “A Wrinkle in Time”: 2-4 p.m. July 29, Point Place Branch Library, 2727 117th St. (419) 259-5390.

Summer of Love Film Series: See the movies that inspired or were inspired by the art of “The Psychedelic ’60s” poster exhibition. 8 p.m., TMA’s Little Theater, 2445 Monroe St. (419) 255-8000 or toledomuseum.org.

> “Psych Out”: Aug. 6.

Kidtoons: Youngsters and their parents can watch Sesame Workshop’s “Summer Beach Party.” Noon July 31, Rave Franklin Park 16, 5001 Monroe St., second floor, Sylvania Avenue side. $3.50. (419) 891-5039.

SPORTS

Harness horse racing: Sundays feature dollar deals for admission, programs, hot dogs and sodas. Post times are 6 p.m. on Saturdays, 5 on Sundays through Oct. 24. Raceway Park, 5700 Telegraph Road. $2.50. (419) 476-7751 or www.racewayparktoledo.com.

> Parties at the Park, featuring live music, will be held Saturdays through Aug. 28. Announced performers are Noisy Neighbors: July 31; Hoozier Daddy: Aug. 7, 21 and 28; East River Drive: Aug. 14.

Toledo Mud Hens home games: Major-league baseball skills at minor league prices. Fireworks will be launched after games with asterisks (*). On Sundays, players sign autographs before the game and kids can run the bases afterward. Tickets from $7. Fifth Third Field, 406 Washington St. (419) 725-4367 or www.mudhens.com.

> Pawtucket Red Sox: 7 p.m. July 27 (Moustache Mania Night), July 28, July 29* (Salvation Army Night, free haircuts for charity), July 30* (Susan G. Komen for the Cure night, Hilarious Hat Night, Ballreich’s Chips giveaway, Boy Scout sleepover).

ARCA racing: Toledo Speedway, 5639 Benore Road. $3-$18. (419) 727-1100 or www.toledospeedway.com.

> Sportsman 50 laps, figure eights, factory stocks: July 30, kids 14 and younger admitted free.

> Sportsman, figure eights, factory stocks: Aug. 6.

Great Black Swamp Frogs vintage baseball: Sylvania’s boys of summers past play 1800s-style. www.sev.org/GBSFrogs/index.htm.

> Vs. New York Mutuals: 1 p.m. Aug. 7, Damaschke Field, Oneonta, N.Y.

Spiegel Grove Squires vintage baseball: This team, based at Fremont’s Hayes Presidential Center, plays the national pastime using 1860s rules, historically accurate equipment and uniforms. Spiegel Grove, Hayes and Buckland avenues, Fremont. (419) 332-2081, (800) 998-7737 or www.rbhayes.org.

> Vs. Rochester Grangers: 1 p.m. Aug. 1, Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, 1005 Van Hoosen Road, Rochester Hills, Mich.

Northwest Ohio Restaurant Association charity golf outing: Duffers can tee off and support the American Red Cross. 11 a.m. Aug. 2, Belmont Country Club, 29601 Bates Road, Perrysburg. $125; dinner only, $40. (419) 666-0440, (419) 754-7386 or www.nwora.org.

Harbor Night Golf: Players are invited to swing away for this nonprofit mental health service provider’s fund-raiser. 5 p.m. Aug. 6, Bedford Hills Golf Club, 6400 Jackman Road, Temperance, Mich. $90. (419) 475-4449. Registration: (419) 479-3233, ext. 2020, or harbornightgolf2010.eventbrite.com

STAGE

Murder Mystery Dinner Train: The Cheatum brothers are offering investors the chance to get a piece of the extreme sports phenomenon by supporting their extreme Putt Putt venture. Of course, the dangerous links has lead to lawsuits and lots of angry backers … 7-10 p.m. Saturdays, Blissfield Old Road Dinner Train’s depot, 301 E. Adrian St., Blissfield, Mich. $70. (888) 467-2451 or www.murdermysterytrain.com.

Connxtions Comedy Club: Comedians bring their best yuks for your amusement. 5319 Heatherdowns Blvd. $8-$15 (unless noted otherwise). (419) 867-9041 or www.connxtionscomedyclub.com.

> James Ervin Berry, Geoff Lafleur: 8 p.m. July 29; 8 and 10 p.m. July 30-31.

> Sinbad: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6-7 and 7 p.m. Aug. 8, $25.

Funny Bone: Some of the nation’s best comics offer their best shtick on this local stage. 6140 Levis Commons Blvd., Perrysburg. (419) 931-3474 or www.funnybonefatfishtoledo.com.

> Vince Morris: 7 p.m. July 29 and Aug. 1, 8 and 10:30 p.m. July 30, 7 and 10 p.m. July 31, $12-$14.

> Will Power: 7 p.m. Aug. 5 and 8; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6; 7 and 10 p.m. Aug. 7, $12-$14.

“Tick, Tick … Boom”: A young composer deals with the stresses of a friend’s success, girlfriend’s demands and trying to create the great American musical while waiting tables. 8 p.m. July 30-31; and 3 p.m. Aug. 1, Croswell Opera House, 129 E. Maumee St., Adrian, Mich. $22-$25. (517) 264-7469 or www.croswell.org.

“Beauty and the Beast”: Steven’s Puppets will use marionettes to bring this story to life. 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. July 29, Way Public Library, 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. (419) 874-3135 or www.waylibrary.info.

“Once Upon a Mattress”: The tale of the princess and the pea comes to life in this musical. 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7, 12-14 and 19-21 and 2 p.m. Aug. 8 and 15, Fort Findlay Playhouse, 300 W. Sandusky St., Findlay. $15. (419) 422-4624 or www.fortfindlayplayhouse.org.

“Leading Ladies”: Two unfortunate Shakespearean actors try to claim a large inheritance due to a pair of women. 8 p.m. Aug. 6-7 and 13-14; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Toledo Repertoire Theatre, 16 10th St. $5-$18. (419) 243-9277 or www.toledorep.org.

BOWLING GREEN and surrounding area

Cla-Zel Theater: This venue has been rocking BGSU students (and others) for years. 127 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (419) 353-5000 or www.clazel.net.

> Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones: 8 p.m. July 30, $10-$12.

Howard’s Club H: Bowling Green comes alive at this venue for rock and more. 210 N. Main St., Bowling Green. (419) 352-3195 or www.howardsclubh.com.

> Analog Revolution, Black Swamp Rats, Mark Hutchins and the Exploding Stars: July 30.

Infirmary Inmates Vintage Base Ball: Based at the Wood County Historical Center & Museum, this team calls Bowling Green’s Wintergarden Park, South Wintergarden Road, its home field. (419) 352-0967 or www.woodcountyhistory.org.

> Vs. (Detroit) Early Risers: 1 p.m. Aug. 1, Wintergarden Park.

Wood County Historical Center & Museum: Check out this rural jewel’s new exhibits and tour the museum and buildings to see blacksmith forge demonstrations and historic equipment. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 1-4 p.m. weekends (closed holidays), Wood County Historical Center & Museum, 13360 County Home Road, Bowling Green. $1-$4. (419) 352-0967 or www.woodcountyhistory.org.

> “Between Fences” Smithsonian exhibit: The exhibit looks at fences, both physical and figurative, and its representation as a division of race, culture or class.

Picnic Trolley: Visitors can pack picnic lunches and hop aboard for transport to the Cricket Frog Cove Area. Dessert will be provided. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. or 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 29, from the Rudolph depot on the Slippery Elm Trail. Register: (419) 661-1697 or reservations.woodcountyparkdistrict.org.

Pemberville downtown car shows: Stroll the streets of this small town while taking in the whitewalls and chrome, music and food. 5-8 p.m. Aug. 5. (419) 287-3274 or beekersgeneralstore.com.

“There’s a Monster in My Closet”: When a girl discovers a surprise in her room, she invites her friends over for sleepover to capture the scary thing … but he’s not as frightening as she thinks. The production will be preceded by a chicken barbecue. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6-7 and 2 p.m. Aug. 8, Pemberville Opera House, 115 Main St., Pemberville. $5-$8. (419) 287-3274, (877) 287-4848 or www.pembervilleoperahouse.org.

ANN ARBOR and surrounding area

Ann Arbor Comedy Showcase: Humor, wit and the funny arts are practiced here. 314 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, Mich. $8-$14, unless noted. (734) 996-9080 or www.aacomedy.com.

> Maggie Faris: 8 and 10:30 p.m. July 30-31.

> Danny Browning: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 6-7.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum: Inspiring the discovery of wonder of science, math and technology. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, 220 E. Ann St. between Fourth Ave. and Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $9. (734) 995-5439 or www.aahom.org.

> The Block Party: Kids can use the hundreds of foam bricks to create their imaginings in this 1,600-square-foot exhibit. Through Sept. 30.

The Ark: This small venue offers a showcase for lesser-known acts, as well as folk, bluegrass and acoustic acts. 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 761-1451, (734) 761-1800 or www.theark.org.

> Punch Brothers with Chris Thile: 8 p.m. July 28, $20.

> Tift Merritt, Dawn Landes and the Hounds: 8 p.m. July 29, $16.

> Finvarra’s Wren: 8 p.m. July 30, $15.

> Harry Manx: 8 p.m. July 31, $20.

> Billy Dean; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1, $25.

> Trevor Hall: 8 p.m. Aug. 5, $15.

> Chulrua: 8 p.m. Aug. 6, $15.

> J.D. Souther: 8 p.m. Aug. 7, $20.

> The Goldmine Pickers: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8, $15.

Blind Pig: A variety of rock, soul, pop and alternative acts perform at this bar. 208 S. First St., Ann Arbor, Mich. $3-$20 unless noted. (734) 996-8555 or blindpigmusic.com.

> One.Be.Lo: 9:30 p.m. July 28.

> Life Size Ghost, Bearinger Boys, Thick as Thieves: 9:30 p.m. July 29.

> Johnny Timbers, Something Strange, Alotta Nakedness: 9:30 p.m. July 30.

> The Bang: 9:30 p.m. July 31.

> Algernon, Seraphim, Silent Drive, Who’s This We? 9:30 p.m. Aug. 4.

> Maps & Atlases, Cults, Laura Stevenson & the Cans: 9 p.m. Aug. 5.

> Ann Arbor Soul Club, Robert Wells, Brad Hales: 9:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

> Joe Strummer tribute with Duppy A Jamba, Arrogant Bastards, Bootknife, Taking on the World, Against the Grain, Pancho Villa’s Skull, Alpha + Omega Soundsystems: 9 p.m. Aug. 7.

Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library exhibitions and events: The University of Michigan’s primary research collection for the humanities and social sciences hosts a variety of artwork, speeches and displays. 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and 1-7 p.m. Sundays, 913 S. University St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 615-5783 or www.lib.umich.edu.

> “Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family.” Photos and text from families whose lives were affected by brain disorders. Through July 30, north lobby.

> “Tour de France: Travel & Topography in France 1700-1900.” Maps, atlases and books related to cartography, travel and the geography of France will be displayed through Sept. 20.

Hollander’s cooking classes: Traditionally thought of as a paper source, the owners have recently started making culinary offerings as well. Kerrytown Shops, 410 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $15, unless otherwise noted. (734) 741-7531 or www.hollanders.com.

> Three “wood burn” dishes: Noon-1 July 28.

> Avocado soup & yucca fritters: 1-2 p.m. Aug. 1.

> Cooking with summer herbs: Noon-1 Aug. 4.

> Healthy dishes with raw foods: 1-2 p.m. Aug. 8.

Kerrytown Concert House: This venue focuses on classical, jazz and opera artists and music. 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $5-$25. (734) 769-2999 or www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

> “From Up Here”: 8 p.m. July 28.

> Ann Arbor Festival of Song: 8 p.m. July 29, free; 8 p.m. July 30, $5-$25.

> Ben Jansson Quartet: 8 p.m. July 31.

> Brass Tacks: “We Broadcast This Interruption.” 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7.

> Caleb Curtis Quartet: 4 p.m. Aug. 8.

Michigan Theater: This Ann Arbor cinematic epicenter shows arthouse fare, mainstream movies and special attractions, as well as hosts concerts and other performances. 603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor, Mich. $7-$12.50, unless noted otherwise. (734) 768-8397, (734) 668-8463 or www.michtheater.org.

> Summer classics series: “The Apartment,” 1:30 p.m. Aug. 1 and 7 p.m. Aug. 3; “On the Waterfront,” 1:30 p.m. Aug. 8 and 7 p.m. Aug. 10.

> Summer documentary film series: “Tyson,” 7 p.m. Aug. 2.

> “The Blank Generation”: 7 p.m. July 29, with live appearance by director Ivan Kral and fund-raising reception (5:30-6:30 p.m., $50).

> Why Public Art Matters, a discussion by Marc Folk, executive director of the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo: 5 p.m. Aug. 5, free; register: concentratemedia.com.

University of Michigan Museum of Art: This museum has the largest collection of Asian art in Michigan. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, 525 S. State St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 763-8662 or www.umma.umich.edu.

> “Turning Point: Japanese Studio Ceramics in the Mid-20th Century.” The museum’s collection by leading figures, such as Hamada Shoji, Kawai Kanjiro and Yagi Kazuo, offers a focused look at the creativity and influence of the movement. Through Aug. 8.

> “Sister Corita: The Joyous Revolutionary.” This exhibit of works by a Catholic nun, comprises 44 prints that illustrate her signature work, which “broke free from the more traditionally religious or Biblical imagery to works that encompassed a wider concept of spirituality.” Through Aug. 15.

> UMMA Projects: Jakob Kolding. The artist’s collages, drawings, posters and mixed-media sculptures revolve around the relationship and contradiction between how architectural spaces are planned and how they’re used. July 31-Oct. 24.

Zingerman’s Creamery: Tours are offered regularly and classes cover a variety of dairy topics. 3723 Plaza Dr., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 929-0500 or www.zingermanscreamery.com.

> Tours: Cheesemaker and managing partner John Loomis explains how the creamery makes artisan cheeses and old-fashioned Italian ice cream. 2 p.m. Sundays, $5 (attendees will receive $5 coupons to spend in the Cheese Shop).

Michelle A. Hegyi art exhibit: Reception, 7-10 p.m. Aug. 6; exhibition, noon-6 Tuesdays-Wednesdays, noon-10 Thursdays-Saturdays and noon-5 Sundays, July 27-Sept. 5, WSG Gallery, 306 S. Main St., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 761-2287 or www.wsg-art.com/.

“Faux Real” art exhibit: Reception July 30; exhibit noon-6 Tuesdays-Thursdays, noon-9 Fridays-Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays, July 28-Sept. 9, Gallery Project, 215 S. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 997-7012 or www.thegalleryproject.com.

“Remembering the Days”: This exhibition of Martha Rock Keller’s work will include nearly 60 pieces from various periods in her life, inspired by nature, the body, and the movements of yoga and tai chi. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-5:30 Sundays through Aug. 8, Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 994-8004 or annarborartcenter.org.

“Slow Convergence”: Paul Hickman’s digital prints combine elements of his past as a painter, furniture designer and graphics director. Through Aug. 26, Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 769-2999 or www.kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

“Fabulous Flamingos”: Topiary creatures, whirligigs and gnomes provide the backdrop for dozens of the pink lawn ornaments imaginatively decorated by University of Michigan and Ann Arbor Public School students and community members. Gardens and trails are open sunrise-sunset through Sept. 30, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, 1800 N. Dixboro Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. (734) 647-7600 or www.mbgna.umich.edu.

“Boeing-Boeing”: A man juggles three fiancees, beautiful flight attendants with frequent layovers in Paris, but his life crashes when layovers are delayed and the three women visit him at the same time. 3 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Fridays; 2 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 28, Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St., Chelsea, Mich. $20-$38. (734) 433-7673 or www.purplerosetheatre.org.

Ann Arbor Summer Festival: This summer celebration will conclude with a concert by Chris Isaak, with guest Marc Broussard. 8 p.m. July 30, Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University Ave., Ann Arbor, Mich. $25-$65. (734) 764-2538 or annarborsummerfestival.org.

“The Sound of Music”: The life of an Austrian naval captain accustomed to order is turned upside down by the young woman caring for his family in this World War II-era musical. Cabaret night with wine and appetizers: 8 p.m. Aug. 21, $32-$38; 7 p.m. Aug. 5, 12 and 19; 8 p.m. Aug. 6, 13 and 20; 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 7, 14 and 21; and 3 p.m. Aug. 8, 15, 19 and 22, Encore Musical Theatre Company, 3126 Broad St., Dexter, Mich. $22-$28. (734) 268-6200 or www.theencoretheatre.org.

“Woman Before a Glass”: An outspoken heiress collects modern art … and the people who created it. 8 p.m. Aug. 5-7, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, Sept. 2-3; 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 14, 21, 28, Sept. 4; 2 p.m. Aug. 8, 15, 22, 29, Sept. 5, Performance Network, 120 E. Huron St., Ann Arbor, Mich. $10-$41. (734) 663-0681 or www.performancenetwork.org.

As a current board member and former chairman of the board of the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, I have repeatedly witnessed the impact of the organization and the dedication of its employees. It is with great pride that Toledo Free Press is in its third year serving as one of the media sponsors for Smoke on the Water — Ribs for the Red Cross, presented by Columbia Gas of Ohio.
When you think of summer in Downtown Toledo, your mind may wander to boats on the river or hot nights at the Docks. But for those with a taste for hot ribs, cool music and philanthropy, Smoke on the Water rules the riverfront as the summer’s sweetest weekend.
July 30 through Aug. 1, the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will benefit from a terrific line-up of local rib vendors and national concert acts such as Gin Blossoms, MiniKiss and Kentucky Headhunters.
With tickets at just $5, there is no better bargain to be found, especially as the event sends funds to the local Red Cross.
In the aftermath of this spring’s devastating storms and tornadoes, we are proud to support the local Red Cross and our local businesses, especially the rib vendors who make the riverfront smell so wonderful throughout the weekend.
The annual Famous Dave’s Pulled Pork Eating Contest will take place July 31, and the Judges’ and People’s Choice Awards for Best Ribs will be presented Aug. 1.
Music includes Toledo School for the Arts (TSA) Steel Drum Band, Chris Shutters Band, Polka Floyd, MiniKiss, Jason LaPorte, Faux Paus, More Than Me, Kentucky Chrome, Gin Blossoms, TSA Urban Jazz Collective, 9 Lives, Melanie May and Kentucky Headhunters.
Tempting festival food will include ribs, roasted nuts, grilled corn, elephant ears, blooming onions, fries, smoothies, steaks, hamburgers and hot dogs. Aug. 1 is Family Day and Military Appreciation Day. Aug. 1’s bands will be closer to country music than hard rock music.
If you have been watching the aftermath of the June 5 tornadoes that ravaged our area, you should be familiar with how quickly and efficiently the local Red Cross is when responding to a challenge.
On Page A4, Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross Regional Director Tim Yenrick write about some of the organization’s most recent efforts.
Take time this weekend to enjoy some great food and music and support a good cause.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. E-mail him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

It is said that the songs and pop culture moments one experiences between the ages of 12 and 20 are the ones that become the benchmarks for one’s life. I find that to be more accurate as I age further away from The Police and The Clash and through the era of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, but I am currently immersed in an era that predates even my teen years.
Playing around on the wonderful and free Pandora Internet Radio recently, I created a “Bobby Bare Radio” station designed to cycle through some of the laid-back singer’s ’60s and ’70s work. Pandora uses the results from its Music Genome Project to study “melody, harmony, instrumentation, rhythm, vocals and lyrics,” to find other artists and songs that align with one’s stated tastes. This produces a flow of comfortable, familiar music, even with songs one is hearing songs for the first time. I would readily accept an argument that this result is as limiting as it is comforting.
Within an hour, my Bobby Bare Radio station resurrected a hit parade of singers and songs I love but have not heard since I discovered rock ‘n’ roll via a basement AM transistor radio in 1977.
“Wolverton Mountain” by Claude King. “Saginaw, Michigan” by Lefty Frizzell. “Skip a Rope” by Henson Cargill. “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean. “Waterloo” by Stonewall Jackson. Plus a string of favorites by cherished artists like Johnny Cash, Tom T. Hall, Buck Owens, Roger Miller, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Marty Robbins, Charley Pride and Johnny Horton.
Pandora can certainly produce some treasures. Two Horton songs caught my attention (and, as they were intended to do, drove me to a music site to purchase the tracks). One was “Go North,” an acoustic version on “North to Alaska” with none of that record’s production but twice its emotional impact. I grew up with Horton’s “Battle of New Orleans” constantly in the background, but in addition to that classic, Pandora offered “Battle of New Orleans (British Version),” which tells the story from the redcoat point of view. Learning new versions of songs that have floated in my head for 40 years is an invigorating and exciting venture.
Robbins’ best-known song, “El Paso,” is about a cowboy’s ill-fated love for Faleena, a maiden in Rosa’s cantina. At the end of the song, the cowboy, who murdered a man in a fight over Faleena, is shot and killed by a posse. Several songs after playing “El Paso,” Pandora played “Faleena (from El Paso),” a sequel of sorts in which, during the course of eight minutes(!), Robbins sings of Faleena’s life from birth to the moment her cowboy lover dies in her arms, when she takes his gun and shoots herself. Not a happy ending, but it underscores one of the reasons I love this music; name a current song on the charts that contains enough story and theme to warrant a sequel. I refuse to fall into the trap of “the music these kids listen to just isn’t as good as my music,” but I am not apologizing for the nostalgia trip.
One of the artists who continually pops up on my “Bobby Bare Radio” station is Merle Haggard. The Hag may not be as well-known as Cash or Jennings to the wider pop music audience, but his body of work is as uniquely American as anything by Cash or American innovators such as Louis Armstrong, Jimmie Rodgers and Chuck Berry. In addition to “Mama Tried” and “The Fighting Side of Me,” Pandora played Hag’s 1982 song “Are the Good Times Really Over? (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)” The record, which one that year’s Academy of Country Music award for song of the year, is a downbeat rumination on the state of the union that remains so relevant it could have been written this morning.
The song slowly cruises through a litany of worry; the stability of U.S. currency, the impact of war, gender roles, problems with the automotive industry, drug abuse, lying politicians and the fight for liberty. The chorus is at first desperate and sad — “Are we rollin’ downhill like a snowball headed for hell?/With no kind of chance for the flag or the Liberty Bell?/I wish a Ford or a Chevy would still last 10 years like they should./Is the best of the free life behind us now and are the good times really over for good?” The song ends on a note of hope that looks naked on the page, but issued from Hag’s weathered, timeless voice, is as inspiring as any cinematic vista: “Stand up for the flag, and let’s all ring the Liberty Bell./The best of the free life is still yet to come and the good times ain’t really over for good.”
If “Are the Good Times Really Over” were released today, it would be Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity’s new theme song by tomorrow. And I have no doubt that as events and history cycle through their unstoppable paces, there will be a day decades from now when “Are the Good Times Really Over” will retain its relevancy and will again speak for the times.
Intellectually, I know there are people who will be as attached to Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber as I am to my Sting and Joe Strummer compositions. But on a heart and soul level, where music has its greatest impact, I’d rather be dying in Faleena’s eternal embrace than caught in one less lonely girl’s bad romance.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. E-mail him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A recent report that local government job losses in the current and next fiscal years will approach 500,000, with public safety, public works, public health, social services and parks and recreation hardest hit by the cutbacks, prompted Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to say that the next Governor and General Assembly will have to “choose from a list of priorities of those things that are of greatest importance” and that “some worthy programs and activities would be at least temporarily curtailed.”

Read the full story here.

Gary Anderson used to bring his daughter to Cullen Park almost every week. They’d get ice cream and she’d fall asleep in the car.
Now he brings his granddaughter, Olivia, who just turned 3.
“With Olivia, the tradition has continued,” Anderson said.
Anderson is president of Point Place Business Association (PPBA), and like many local residents, he is concerned about the future of the park.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently proposed creating wetlands stretching across Maumee Bay from Cullen Park past the Summit Street lighthouse, totaling about 65 acres.

“There’s no reason in the world why they should take a beautiful place like the bay by Summit Street and totally obliterate it with wetlands,” said Bob Kneisley, past president of PPBA and member of Visions for Cullen Park.
About 200 Point Place residents attended a June 29 meeting where Craig Forgette, Corps project manager, explained the proposals.
Howard Pinkley, unofficially dubbed “Mayor of Point Place,” summarized the attendees’ responses to the wetlands proposal.
“We had a big meeting here the other day. Three of them said they were for it and the rest of them said, ‘Hell, no, get lost’,” he said.
“Nobody is against wetlands,” said Vee Stader, founder of Visions for Cullen Park. “We just don’t want it here.”
Kneisley said he has been attending dredging meetings for about five years. Sometime between June 8 and 15, he and Anderson saw a map depicting the Army Corps’ proposal to turn the water by Cullen Park into wetlands using dredged materials.
Kneisley brought the wetlands proposals to PPBA, then called Forgette, asking the project team to come to Point Place and have a meeting with residents.
“I called as soon as I got wind of the fact that they were going to put dredged material into the bay. I called and said I would like to have an urgent meeting with them,” Kneisley said.
Forgette suggested coming in the fall. Kneisley asked for an earlier meeting, and they agreed on June 29.
The project would create wetlands using sediment dredged from the Toledo Harbor shipping channel. Part of the causeway would be removed and stone dikes would rise about 8 feet out of the water, reducing the strength of incoming waves and providing a habitat for fish.
Many Point Place residents said the dikes would block the view of the bay.
“To have that type of view, where else can you go?” Anderson said. “And we have it right in our backyard. It’s a beautiful, beautiful sight,” he said.
Forgette said the dikes wouldn’t block the view.
“The wall will look like a line in the water, and you’ll be able to see over it, and you’ll be able to see in front of it,” he said.
Rich Ruby, a biologist for the Corps, said the top of the dikes would be lower than the existing shoreline and might improve the view. Trees and other plants could grow on the dikes, blocking the sight of smokestacks across the bay.
Point Place residents also expressed concern that the wetlands would threaten eagles nesting near the bay and encourage growth of tall invasive plants that would block part of the view of the bay.
These plants, common in the Great Lakes, have become a problem near Cullen Park in the past few years.
Forgette said the Corps recognizes this problem.
“We will develop an invasive species control plan that will help us control these plants as part of the project,” he said.
Ruby said the project wouldn’t harm eagles.
“We’re as concerned as anybody else would be,” Ruby said. “We don’t have to impact our national bird.”
Many Point Place residents remain unconvinced.
“The beauty of the view would be compromised,” Stader said.
“They have not come out and said why they want to do this so bad,” said Gene Kidd, chairman of Visions for Cullen Park.
Visions for Cullen Park, which consists of approximately 30 Point Place residents, has been discussing repairing the boat launch and adding benches, a pavilion, signs, restrooms, a beach and a memorial.
The committee plans to meet again in three weeks, and Stader said it hopes to have its proposal ready to take before Toledo City Council by then.
“We’re forging ahead,” Stader said. “They don’t have the funding for it anyway.”
In the past five years, the Corps has been considering about a dozen locations around Lake Erie as possible sites for the wetlands construction using dredged sediment, Forgette said. It began looking at Cullen Park about six months ago, he said.
Federal money could fund 65 percent of the project, but the Corps cannot pursue it without a nonfederal sponsor to provide the remaining 35 percent. Forgette said the greatest challenge would be finding a nonfederal sponsor.
The Corps project team will meet with a small group, probably Anderson, Kneisley and Stader, in late August, Kneisley said.
Stader said she hopes the Corps does not pursue the Cullen Park proposal.
“If this goes in, we’re sunk,” she said.

Point Place residents face controversy over dike renovations

A push to improve the dike in Point Place might pit residents against each other with what City Councilwoman Lindsay Webb described as an “us versus them” attitude.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers examined the dike in 2009 and concluded that it does not sufficiently protect the area, placing the dike in inactive status. As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) began a 24-month de-accreditation process. If the dike loses its accreditation, homeowners in the area that it protects will have to buy flood insurance, which would cost about $1,000 a year, said Dale Rupert, a project engineer for the City of Toledo. Because the Corps declared the dike inactive, residents may not receive federal disaster assistance if a dike failure occurs.
As part of the process of gaining FEMA and the Corps’ approval of the dike, the Point Place residents who live next to it — about 200 of them — must remove the plants, fence posts, pavilions, swimming pools, decks and other encroachments they put on it.
Many of them would rather have the whole group pay for flood insurance than remove what they or their homes’ previous owners put on the dike, Webb said.

At a meeting in Point Place on July 26, many of these homeowners expressed displeasure and called for a vote on whether to bring the dike up to standard.
Webb said this issue will not be decided by a vote.
About 1,200 homeowners live in the area protected by the dike, but do not live directly next to it. They would not have to go to any extra trouble to bring the dike up to standard.
City Council committed $900,000 to help pay to improve the dike. Webb said she hopes Council will commit another $400,000 next year, totaling $1.3 million. If the project costs more than that, homeowners will be appraised based on the square footage of their houses. Webb said this amount should not exceed an annual bill of $100 per home for 10 years. Webb said if homeowners have to buy flood insurance, the values of their homes will go down, decreasing homeownership in Point Place and increasing the number of renters.
“When homeownership rates decline, neighborhoods decline,” she said.
Howard Pinkley, known as the “Mayor of Point Place,” said he thinks the dike’s improvement is unnecessary for the protection of the area.
“The Corps of Engineers think they’re God, that nobody can touch them,” he said.

Dredging creates ‘open lake disposal’ problem

Ohio’s leaders face a daunting decision: jeopardize the region’s economy, spend hundreds of millions of dollars to preserve an environmental resource or risk significantly damaging Lake Erie.
This problem exists because the Toledo Harbor shipping channel must be dredged annually. Without dredging, the channel would fill with sediment and become impassable, and the port would close.
If the port closed, longshoremen, shipyard workers, truck drivers and rail yard workers who deliver and pick up goods from seaport terminals would lose their jobs.
Many others would be hurt as well.
“It would be farmers that grow crops that ship through Toledo’s grain terminal,” said Joe Cappel, director of cargo development at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. “It would be steel workers that rely on the iron ore that comes through Toledo to make their goods. It would be consumers of electricity that rely on coal delivered to the port.”
If the port closed, the impact would be global, Cappel said.
All the industries that rely on the port for shipping, including the automotive industry, construction, refineries, grain traders, steel companies, manufacturers and electric utility companies would suffer.
“That would impact thousands of jobs, and the economic impact of that is multimillion dollars,” Cappel said.
Because the region’s economy relies on the shipping channel, Ohio’s leaders must risk the environmental stability of Lake Erie or spend huge sums of money to preserve it.
‘It’s just dirt, you know’
The problem is rooted in rich Midwestern farmland. Every year between 1.2 and 1.5 million cubic yards of dirt  — much from Ohio and Indiana corn and soybean farms — washes into the Maumee River. Between 800,000 and 1 million cubic yards settle in the shipping channel, said John Watkins, the chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resource’s (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management.
That annual amount of sediment could fill the Downtown Toledo Fifth Third building twice, then a third time up to the seventh floor.
More sediment enters the Great Lakes from the Maumee River than from any other tributary, said Craig Forgette, the Great Lakes Regional sediment program manager with the Army Corps of Engineers.

To keep the shipping channel navigable, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dredged it annually for about 100 years, Forgette said.
Nearly all the dredged sediment gets dumped in the Western Basin of Lake Erie, a practice called open lake disposal.
That’s where the controversy begins. Local environmental groups, Toledo City Council, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ODNR believe that open lake disposal must stop. They cite environmental concerns and the increased cost of cleaning Toledo’s drinking water among their reasons for opposing the practice.
Finding an alternative to open lake disposal presents an expensive, time-consuming challenge.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers does not believe open lake disposal of sediment dredged from the shipping channel significantly hurts Lake Erie. An Army Corps study, published in 2009, concluded that dumping dredged sediment in the lake does not significantly impact the environment.
“It’s just dirt, you know, but it can get very complicated,” Cappel said.
‘This is not a natural phenomenon’
The Ohio EPA and ODNR oppose open lake disposal in part because they believe it contributes to Lake Erie’s algae problem.
Lake Erie has had algae problems for decades. In unnaturally large quantities, blue-green algae can make the water toxic, cause rashes on some people and raise the cost of purifying the water for drinking. Dead algae sink to the bottom of the lake and decay, using oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive.
Jeff Reutter, director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program and Stone Laboratory at The Ohio State University, said the blue-green algae releases a toxin called microcystin. The levels of this toxin in Lake Erie are 60 times what the World Health Organization recommends, he said.
Another species of algae grows in mats on the bottom of Lake Erie. These mats can break free and float to shore, clogging swimming areas, marinas and shorelines.
Algae growth in Lake Erie peaked in the 1970s. Measures were taken to control the problem and algae levels decreased. In the mid-’90s, however, the algae problem began to worsen and is almost as bad as in the ’70s, said Thomas Bridgeman, UT associate professor of ecology. He said the past two years have been especially bad and scientists are not sure why.
Bridgeman said runoff from farms probably causes the increased growth in algae. Natural and chemical fertilizers contain high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which encourage growth of crops — and algae.
“Right now, there’s not a really strong scientific connection between dredged sediment and the algae,” Bridgeman said. “There might be, but we just don’t know for sure.”
There are differing opinions on whether putting sediment in Lake Erie is increasing the algae problem. The ODNR believes open lake disposal is making the algae problem worse, said Mike Shelton, chief of external affairs.
“I don’t think we have hard data indicating that the sedimentation is causing those impacts, but certainly dumping sedimentation into the lake is not natural and it’s going to have some kind of adverse impact,” he said.
Increased algae growth is not the only problem open lake disposal causes, Shelton said. Sediment takes a long time to settle, making the water cloudy. This makes it difficult for fish to find food.
Scott Pickard, an ecologist for the Army Corps of Engineers, said the Corps does not think this is a problem. The majority of the sediment settles in minutes, and the rest of it settles within two hours, he said.
Some of Toledo’s leaders disagree.
“Studies have shown that 25 percent of dredged material placed in the open lake can remain suspended in the water column for up to 24 hours,” according to a Jan. 29 letter to the Ohio EPA from Mayor Michael Bell and Tom Crothers, director of Toledo’s Department of Public Utilities.
The Ohio EPA agrees with the ODNR, said Dina Pierce, EPA spokeswoman.
“What we want to see is an end to open lake disposal,” she said. “We’ve been on the record for quite a while saying that.”
In an April 15 news release, Ohio EPA director Chris Korleski said, “While I certainly feel compelled to keep the port functioning, I cannot overstate my concerns about the environmental impacts likely resulting from the annual disposal of large amounts of sediment in the shallow western basin of Lake Erie.”
When the Army Corps applied for a permit to dispose of sediment in Lake Erie this year, as it does every year, it requested certification to put up to 1.25 million cubic yards of sediment from the Toledo Harbor into Lake Erie every year for the next three years. Instead, the Ohio EPA allowed the Army Corps to deposit up to 800,000 cubic yards next year. After that, the Army Corps will have to apply again for certification.
Pierce said the Ohio EPA did this to pressure the Corps to find a practical alternative to open lake disposal.

In an April 15 letter to Lt. Col. Daniel B. Snead, the district commander of the Buffalo District of the Army Corps of Engineers, the directors of the Ohio EPA and ODNR said they are convinced open lake disposal of such a “huge” amount of sediment damages Lake Erie.
“This has been our position for many years now,” they wrote, “and despite innumerable meetings, discussions, plans, Memorandums of Understanding, etc., no real progress on this issue has been achieved … We cannot state our belief any more clearly: Open lake disposal of these huge quantities of dredged sediment in the Western Basin of Lake Erie is not environmentally acceptable to the State of Ohio and needs to be discontinued.”
Several groups, including the Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper Association, are so opposed to the Corps’ disposal of dredged sediment in Lake Erie that they have appealed the Ohio EPA’s decision to allow any open lake disposal this year. The Environmental Review Appeals Commission will hear the appeal in August, Watkins said.
Toledo City Council also opposes open lake disposal. It unanimously adopted a Jan. 19 resolution calling to “minimize open lake dumping to the greatest extent possible.”
The resolution stated, “Open lake dumping by its nature degrades water quality and impacts the raw water that enters the City of Toledo and Oregon water intakes by increasing turbidity and other sediment nutrients.”
Tim Murphy, Toledo’s commissioner of the division of environmental services, said the council has passed a similar resolution annually for several years.
The hunt for alternatives
Murphy said finding a permanent solution to the problem of sediment disposal will be difficult.
The Corps is considering several projects that would use dredged sediment to build wildlife habitats and wetlands. Among the proposed projects is a roughly 65-acre wetlands area in Maumee Bay, bordering Cullen Park in Point Place. The Corps met nearly unanimous disapproval at a public meeting June 29 in Point Place. About 200 people attended the meeting.
Members of the Army Corps of Engineers project team said the proposed Cullen Park project is not intended as an alternative to open lake disposal. The project would use about half of one year’s worth of sediment.
“While we pursue small ecosystem restoration projects for the short term, we continue to look for larger scale projects that can use between 10 and 20 years of dredged material and provide large-scale ecosystem restoration benefits,” Forgette said in a July 16 e-mail to Toledo Free Press.
The Corps is considering another project in Toledo that would use 15 years’ worth of sediment. It would cost about $300 million, roughly $20 million per year. Murphy said he does not think this is an adequate solution.
“Fifteen years go by, we’re having the same discussion again. It’s probably going to be a lot more expensive then. Fifteen years isn’t that long, really,” Murphy said.
He said there should be limits on how much sediment enters the Maumee River.
“Right now, you’re asking the Point Place community, the Toledo community, to deal with the sediment that didn’t come from an urban community like Toledo,” Murphy said. “The majority of Toledo is pavement; our 80 square acres of land is not contributing a significant amount of sediment to the Maumee River, yet we’re being asked to address it down here just because we happen to be where the port is, we’re at the mouth. It’s kind of unfair.”

BGSU will welcome its second-largest freshman class on record this fall with $200 million worth of construction projects.
“It was no secret that we went through an enrollment dip for the past two to three years,” said Steve Krakoff, associate vice president for capital planning and design at BGSU.
“Students visit campus and see construction and hear about all the buildings for the future, and conclude appropriately that this is a university that’s really doing progressive things,” Krakoff said, mentioning that freshman class enrollment for this fall is up 550 students from 2009.
BGSU is actively constructing its first two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings. The $36 million Stroh Center, a basketball arena and convocation space, is located on Wooster Street and is the most visible project as you enter Bowling Green from I-75. The Wolfe Center for the Collaborative Arts, the newest academic building, will house classrooms, performance spaces, practice rooms and gathering space. The Wolfe Center is already gaining national recognition for its signature design, Krakoff said.
“The design architect Snohetta out of Norway teamed with a collaborative out of Toledo on the Wolfe Center,” Krakoff said.
According to Krakoff, the university is investing $82 million to add two residence halls and two dining halls. They are scheduled for completion August 2011.
One of the new residence halls, located on the south central portion of campus, is strictly orientated for freshmen. Designed intentionally to create informal discussion space, the 660-resident building is divided into living spaces for groups of 40 students.
Residence Life Director Michael Griffel explained the divisions were deliberate so freshmen students could make connections with each other.
“There’s enough people to create a diverse sense of community so people aren’t so insular,” Griffel said.
The freshmen residence hall’s first floor is a multipurpose space that can be used for group study, project meetings, academic events and social functions, Griffel said. The second residence hall under construction on the northwest part of campus will have a similar first floor. Intended for sophomores and upper class students, the hall will feature four-person suite-style rooms.

“Students, as they mature and grow through their college years, need a little more independence and space,” Griffel said.

Construction has just begun on the 30,000-square-foot McDonald Dining Center that will include dining, food preparation and retail food space. Plans for replacing the Commons Dining Hall are in design phases.
The new dining halls are focused on integrating food and education in a “Cooking Channel” type atmosphere, according to Griffel. A significant portion of the kitchen will be in plain sight and menus will emphasize quality, fresh ingredients.
“Should we be successful in getting certification, we believe those two dining facilities will be the first two freestanding LEED-certified dining facilities on a U.S. campus,” Krakoff said.
Several current BGSU students have commented on how parking has become an issue with the multitude of current projects. Krakoff said that both pedestrian and car traffic will be interrupted, but that it’s a sign of progress.
“I think they’ll experience a university that is far more responsive to their needs,” Krakoff said. “What you’re really seeing is the first phase of renovations to campus that will continue on over the next decade.”
Financing for the university’s construction comes from a variety of sources, from state funds for basic renovations to student-fee funded projects like the Stroh Center. The two residence halls are supported through an outside funding structure, Krakoff said.
In addition to the large scale construction projects, BGSU is investing $4 million in renovating its ice center and $14 million in minor energy conservation procedures including lighting and automated building systems; $15 million has been allocated to improving infrastructure, utility tunnels, a central water chiller plant and extending IT capability to the easternmost parts of campus.
“The university is so committed to student success and being contemporary,” Griffel said.

Local retailers are stocking their shelves for the upcoming school year with hopes of making a profit before the opening bell marks the first day of classes.
Department stores and supercenters are slashing prices, breaking out the latest trends and even holding special events to attract parents and schoolchildren to their doorsteps as continued economic hardships have led to more frugal spending habits.
“Consumers are looking for a deal and are a lot more choosy,” said Allen Snowden, store manager of the Kohl’s in west Toledo. “Do children really need a new pair of shoes or can they use the ones from last year?”
Kohl’s is among the department stores that began promoting back-to-school specials in July. Others will begin advertising for school apparel in early August.
“[Sales] heat up the second week of August,” said Dave Stockwell, store manager of Dillard’s at Westfield Franklin Park. Stockwell added that he is using “different strategies” for marketing his products than he has in past years.
In 2009, he aimed to steady the ship by making large price cuts to keep customers. This year, the focus is back on profitability.
“It’s better than it was last year,” Stockwell said. “Maybe our markdowns aren’t quite as steep as they used to be.
“Some people will spend a couple extra bucks to get better service. Some people will drive a couple extra miles to get better service. That’s what we strive for.”
Kohl’s takes a different approach by slashing prices on many clothing options for students. Snowden said the store’s size allows for a wide selection.
“The economy’s really not taken off all that much,” he said. “I think we’re offering some really good deals to attract customers in.”
Style is another aspect of back-to-school shopping. While many districts now require uniforms, some stores still stock their shelves with the latest fashions.
Dillard’s recently picked up Jessica Simpson’s new clothing line, while Meijer keeps up on the evolving trends for backpacks. Meijer also provides many items necessary for college students.
“We are tying a lot of promotions with Facebook and Twitter this year, which makes a lot of sense when talking about [going] back to college,” said Frank Guglielmi, Meijer spokesman.
Two stores are hosting back-to-school events to attract customers. Dillard’s has Kid’s Day, which will take place Aug. 14 and features price markdowns, as well as fun events for children.
Meijer sponsors an annual back-to-college event at its Bowling Green store Aug. 20. The event features food, a Guitar Hero contest and discounted items for students. The event runs from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.
“Retail has become about being innovative,” Guglielmi said. “Being privately held, we can be very nimble and react very quickly to ideas.”
Stores, such as Macy’s, Target and Walmart, also have back-to-school selections. With a variety of shopping choices, parents and students have options when it comes to preparing for another year of classes.