(Happenings are compiled from press releases and placed in order of occurring dates)
NEWS SHORTS BRIEFS ARE UPDATED DAILY
HAPPENINGS
Times, Crimes, and the Tenderloin: In Pre-Pohibition book signing
TOLEDO – The author of Times, Crimes, and the Tenderloin: In Pre-Pohibition is holding a free book signing at the Toledo Police Museum.
This new book by Doug Tracy reveals forgotten stories of Toledo’s vice zone through the eyes of a compassionate detective. The book brings to life the gritty history of Toledo’s notorious Tenderloin District, a seedy neighborhood populated by brothels, saloons, gambling dens and street criminals.
This true-crime collection of stories, inspired by the personal memoirs of Tracy, the captain of detectives, provides an intimate look at life in the heart of one of Toledo’s most infamous neighborhoods during the early 1900s.
Today, as the buildings of the Tenderloin have been replaced by shops, condos and restaurants, the past remains alive through the stories of Tracy’s courage, empathy and steadfast commitment to justice. It’s a must-read for history enthusiasts, true-crime fans, and those intrigued by the untold stories of America’s early 20th century.
Saturday, April 19 at 5 p.m. at the Toledo Police Museum. There will be light refreshments available.
Inaugural Firecracker 5K Run/Walk honors Sterling “Butch” Rahe
Springfield Township’s SUMMER SERIES 2025 will kick off this year on June 28 with the inaugural FIRECRACKER 5K Run/Walk to honor the memory of Pvt. Sterling “Butch” Rahe.
On April 22, township trustees, representatives from the Springfield Township and Toledo fire departments, members of Butch’s family, and event sponsors will gather to honor Butch’s memory by offering complete details about the event and announce the opening of registration for the 5K Run/Walk.
Tuesday, April 22 at 1:15 in Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park > Press Conference
June 28: 5K > Run/Walk
TARTA connects runners, fans to Glass City Marathon
The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA)’s special event transportation to
the Mercy Health Glass City Marathon is back, putting competitors, their families
and fans in touch with one of the Toledo’s biggest events.
As thousands of runners get ready to compete in Toledo, they’ll be able to take
advantage of free transportation to and from the race from area hotels. TARTA will
provide direct transportation to near the starting line at the University of Toledo on
race day, Sunday, April 27.
Buses will depart from:
Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel (444 N. Summit Street, Toledo) at 5 a.m.
and 5:50 a.m.
Hilton Garden Inn Toledo Downtown (101 N. Summit Street, Toledo) at 5 a.m.
and 5:50 a.m.
Secor Road (stop in front of Fusian at 3504 Secor Road, Toledo) at 4:50 a.m.,
5:20 a.m. and 5:50 a.m.
Courtyard by Marriott Toledo Airport Holland (1435 E. Mall Drive, Holland) at 5
a.m. and 5:50 a.m.
Return rides to each of the hotels from the University of Toledo Transit Center on S.
Towerview Blvd. will leave at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
While runners can access the service for free, trips at the same time will be available
for $1.50 to those not competing in the Marathon.
Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art comes to TMA
Toledo, OH– Rachel Ruysch: Nature into Art, the first major exhibition of Ruysch’s art, will be on view beginning in April. Featuring over 100 works—including paintings, botanical books and drawings, and plant and animal specimens, the exhibition explores Ruysch’s extraordinary career and the intersection of art, science, and natural history.
The visitor’s experience with the exhibition is enhanced with interactive and educational elements including an audio guide, an audio description tour, a digital species map, tactile and scent features, a printed exhibition guide, and a fully illustrated catalogue available for purchase.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Several important Ruysch paintings from major international collections that have rarely or never been on public view.
- A reunion of Flower Still Life (c.1716–1720), TMA’s Ruysch masterpiece, and its long-separated pendant, Still Life with Fruit, Bird’s Nest and Insects (1716), from Dudmaston Hall in England.
- Three portraits of Ruysch, including a family portrait with her husband and youngest son and a recently discovered portrait of the artist in her studio.
- Works by Ruysch’s sister Anna, also a talented flower painter who experienced a far shorter career than Ruysch. (04/09)
April 12-July 27 in the Levis Gallery in the Edward B Green Beaux-Arts Building on the campus of TMA. Tickets to the exhibition are $10 per visitor and free for TMA members. General admission to the museum and parking are free to all visitors.
Northwest Ohio gears up for Glass Recycling Blitz
NORTHWEST OHIO – The Northwest Ohio Innovation Consortium (NOIC) announced the Northwest Ohio Glass Recycling Blitz, a week-long event dedicated to raising awareness and increasing participation in glass recycling.
Throughout the week, designated collection sites will be set up across Lucas and
Wood Counties to make recycling more accessible for residents. Additional site details will
be announced soon.
The Glass Recycling Blitz aims to educate the community on the benefits of keeping glass out of landfills and encourage residents to adopt more sustainable waste management habits. Participants are invited to bring glass bottles only (excluding non-recyclable glass materials such as windows, Pyrex, and fiberglass).
April 16-22, with a kickoff event on April 16 at 1 p.m. to officially launch the
initiative, which takes place at the OI Perrysburg Levis Commons Campus Plaza 3 Parking Lot, an established public glass recycling drop-off location.
ProMedica community event highlights recovering from aphasia
April 24 – Stroke Support Group – The ProMedica Stroke Support Group will discuss recovering with aphasia with the University of Michigan Aphasia Program. The support group will take place at the ProMedica Flower Hospital Conference Center (5200 Harroun Rd., Sylvania, OH 43560) beginning at 4:30 p.m. Stroke survivors, caregivers and supporters are all encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
Local TEDx event features 10 Toledo-area high school students
TOLEDO – A TEDx event featuring 10 local high school student speakers is just around the corner. The event is free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided.
This year’s co-organizers of TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchool are junior Layan Ridi and senior Daivik Patel.
“This event has become a large, impactful event where students and adults all come together to engage in discussions in a night of entertainment and education,” said Ridi
This year’s speakers will each give up to a 15-minute talk. All talks take place on the main stage of the school’s Millennium Theatre. The speakers, schools and topics are:
● Marah Ariss, Perrysburg High School, 11th grade: “Special Needs Awareness”
● Alex Ban, Perrysburg High School, 10th grade: “The Troubled Teen Industry”
● Andy Caillaux, Maumee Valley Country Day School, 11th grade: “Lifting More than
Weights”
● Adhya Duggal, William Mason High School, 11th grade: “Octopus: What We Can Learn
from the Deep Sea Creature”
● Arsalan Failsal, St. John’s Jesuit, 11th grade: “How Stories Shape our Perception of
Morality”
● David Liu, Sylvania Southview, 12th grade: “Seven Deadly Frames”
● Baraah Mansour, Maumee High School, 12th grade: “Surviving Life; Independence vs.
Self Reliance”
Friday, April 25 from 5-8 p.m. on the campus of Maumee Valley Country Day School.
Maumee Valley’s Afro-Am Club presents Annual Afro-Am Dinner
TOLEDO – Maumee Valley Country Day School’s Afro-Am Club announced the return of its annual event, the Afro-Am Dinner. This celebration delivers an evening of cultural enrichment and community engagement.
Aligned with the spirit of Black History Month, the Afro-Am Dinner serves as a platform to honor and celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of the African American community. This year, the event’s theme mirrors that of the national theme: “African Americans and Labor.” The 2025 theme highlights the transformative impact of Black workers—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled—on U.S. history, culture, and social progress.
The Afro-Am Dinner is open to the public.
Thursday, May 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the school’s Dining Hall.
Tickets are $10 per person and all proceeds benefit the Afro-Am Club. Additional donations will be accepted at the door. Register HERE or visit the website for more details.
Imagination Station summer camps are on sale
TOLEDO – Where can you be a Hollywood director one week, a magician the next and a time traveler the week after? The only correct answer: Imagination Station’s Summer Camps —now on sale.
With two new camp experiences this year, there’s an adventure for every explorer. Plus, Imagination Station is bringing back fan favorites, making them bigger and better than ever.
Imagination Station’s camps keep kids engaged in learning all summer long with interactive and immersive experiences. From launching rockets to engineering original inventions, every week is packed with hands-on STEAM learning that sparks creativity and is full of fun.
June - August at the Imagination Station. To register, CLICK HERE.
More information about camp including registration, pricing and scholarships can be found HERE.
Lucas SWCD offers fish fingerling sale for spring pond stocking
LUCAS COUNTY – The Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District (Lucas SWCD) has partnered with Fender’s Fish Hatchery (Baltic, OH) to offer new and established pond owners the opportunity to stock their ponds conveniently and at a low cost.
Five different types of fish fingerlings, ranging 1” to 6” in size depending on species, are available through the sale for $1.40 or less per fish. The species include Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish, Bluegill, and Fathead Minnows. Also available through the sale is Nature’s Pond Conditioner, an all-natural solution to reduce pond muck and improve overall water quality in a pond. It is available in a 1-gallon and 5-gallon size.
The deadline to place an order is May 6. The pick-up date is Tuesday, May 13 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Lucas County Fairgrounds. To place an order, visit the website (www.LucasSWCD.org/fishsale) or stop by the office in Toledo. This sale requires pre-ordering — cash, check, or credit card is accepted.
Contact office at (419) 893-1966 or visit the Lucas SWCD website.
