Le Petit Macaron owner Maareya Hejazi waits on customers during the Toledo Night Market on Saturday night.
The Toledo Night Market is ‘the magic of Toledo after dark’
The Toledo Night Market packs in a crowd. The last night market of the season is Sept. 18. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
TOLEDO – The Toledo Night Market neared its end of the season as it turned off the lights Saturday night for the second-to-last time.
Jen Tighe and Jill Barnett, of Erie Cotton Candy Co., sell their wares. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
It was a large turnout as people shopped at many food and artisan booths at the Toledo Farmers’ Market.
Jen Tighe and Jill Barnett, of Erie Cotton Candy Co., said they were both sad to see the night market closing next month.
Susan Imes, owner of Susie Lynn’s Lemonade, said she will close up the shop in October but is looking forward to the upcoming season in 2025.
The Skittle Bots, a local award-winning Toledo band that plays top hits from the 90’s, also rocked the crowd, who sang and danced on a mini dance floor.
The final open-air night market is Sept. 14 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. There is a $5 admission, and features more than 85 artisans and small businesses, food trucks and crafted drinks.
The Skittle Bots, a local Toledo band, performs at the Toledo Night Market. (TFP Photo by Brittany Barker)
Phil Barone of Phil Barone and the Cruisers interact with fans during Springfield’s Night on the Township final summer series event at Springfield Township's Homecoming Park on Friday. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
Phil Barone & the Cruisers closes Night on the Township
HOLLAND – Phil Barone and the Cruisers rocked the gazebo at Springfield’s Summer Series 2024 at Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park on Friday.
More than 225 guests gathered to listen to the band and its energetic sets that pumped up the crowd with their tribute to Jim Morrison and the Doors.
Several food trucks catered to guests and residents at Springfield’s Night on the Township final summer series event at Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park on Friday. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
Guests lingered at the Springfield’s Night on the Township final summer series event at Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park on Friday. The event included the Phil Barone and the Cruisers band, several food trucks and gaming tables. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
The local band recently performed their Jim Morrison tribute in February for the Dyslexia Education Center, a local non-profit organization. Lead singer Phil Barone serenaded the crowd with high energy and his captivating vocals, and the Cruisers followed with a set of live instruments and back-up singing.
The event, sponsored by the Springfield Township trustees, included several food trucks, gaming tables provided by Full House Entertainment, and an adult beverage garden.
Trustee chairman Andy Glenn reminded guests that this was the 20th event coordinated by the township in 2024.
“We began in January with a variety of activities related to the Total Eclipse of the Sun – from educational programs to glassblowing. Our fire department even offered free CPR training,” he said.
“After April 8, we shifted to our new Summer Series, which included the annual Freedom Celebration/fireworks, the addition of the Wicked Wheels Car Fest and finally Night on the Township,” he went on to say.
Tonight was the final gathering of Summer Series 2024.
Phil Barone and the Cruisers perform during Springfield’s Night on the Township final summer series event at Springfield Township’s Homecoming Park on Friday. (TFP Photo/Brittany Barker)
Red flags, tips for anxiety, depression in children
In my pediatric mental health practice, this is the time of year I see an increase in anxiety and depression in my patients. For many children, and for parents, as well, back to school can be a stressful time – full of anxiety and depression.
It is important parents recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as know what to do if they suspect their child is experiencing anxiety and depression.
The first step, which is key, is recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression that should raise red flags. This is when it’s time to investigate a conversation with your child.
Some of the more common red flags are:
Isolating – spending a lot of time alone in the room
Not enjoying things that they have enjoyed in the past
Decrease in motivation
Drop in school grades
Irritability/anger, easily upset and frustrated
Continuous worrying
Continuous complaints of stomachaches, headaches, body aches and fatigue
Hard time concentrating and focusing
Restlessness
Difficulty with sleeping or eating
Or any change in behavior that is not typical of your child
If your child exhibits some of these red flags and you suspect they have anxiety or depression, you should talk with your child, be honest about your concerns and listen to their concerns. Here are a few tips to help ease anxiety and depression.
MOST important: Talk with your child and listen, validate their thoughts and feelings, saying “don’t worry” or “it will be ok” may cause them to shut down and stop talking with you
Limit screen time to no more than two hours a day and not two hours prior to bedtime
Limit and monitor social media – this is a huge source of anxiety and depression in children/teens
Make sure your child is getting enough quality sleep
Make sure they are getting proper nutrition and eating regularly
Keep schedules as routine and predictable as possible
Do a form of activity or exercise daily – at least 30 minutes
If you continue to have concerns, reach out to their primary care provider to discuss your concerns. Mental health is just as import, if not more important as physical health. If you really think about it, the brain is responsible for everything you do and say, so why do we hesitate to take care of it?
Bruce Springsteen covered by the Homewrecker in smoky, dank little bars
Steven J Athanas and The Homewreckers belt out Bruce Springsteen’s Rosalita. (Video courtesy of Steven J Athanas)
In November 1973, Bruce Springsteen released The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle.
Springsteen was signed to Columbia Records (label to Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, amongst other greats) and had released one previous LP, the underperforming Welcome to Asbury Park.
Initially, the second album didn’t perform much better than its predecessor. FM radio, although better than it is today, was beginning to undergo its transformation into an over-analyzed, money-making, staid enterprise. Springsteen’s second output was not rife with the Journey/Kansas/Styx drech to warrant any sort of staying power on the FM bandwidth (isn’t that ironic?). But fate was not done with this Jersey kid.
Sometime in January 1974, at approximately 2:30 in the morning, I was driving home after a gig at The Zodiac Lounge on Sylvania Avenue in Toledo. My band at the time was The Raisin Band. I wish to state that this is not to be confused with the current conglomerate known as The Raisins, based in Cincinnati, yet containing two of the members (Rob Fetters and Bob Nyswonger, both musicians extraordinaire) that I played with. Confused yet?
Anyway, I was living in the Old West End, on Rockingham, with a glass blower for a roommate. After getting off I-475, I flipped on WIOT, the powerhouse album rock station of Toledo. Expecting to hear The Doors, Led Zep or the aforementioned dismal offerings (my opinion) that commandeered the FM airwaves in those days, there was instead a fresh, wonderfully alluring sound emanating from the radio of my Toyota Corolla! How DARE this DJ pop the unexpected into my tired auditory canal in the wee hours!
This song, totally new to me, woke me from my driving stupor, excited me and even put a smile on my face. Even the structure of the song was different – not the typical “verse-chorus-verse.” No, this slice of rock’n’roll bravely rambled all over the airwaves, going verse-chorus-verse, then – wait, what was that?? winding up (never down) in a huge “HEY! HEY! HEY! HEY!” group chorus, and ending in an insane runaway guitar loop on an echo chamber. Something like this hadn’t happened to my ears in a long time! And all over a shitty car speaker!
I quickly parked my car, ran up the stairs to my second-floor home, and grabbed the phone – landline, y’know. I must’ve called information to get the number of the station first, then dialed it.
An aside: DJs in those days (maybe still?) were infamous for not picking up the phone. Sure, there were whackos out there who would taunt the DJ or request “In-A-Gada-Da-Vida” 90,000 times per shift, but couldn’t the DJ tell by the sincere tone of my ring that I was DESPERATE to find out who did this magnificent song?
After approximately 15 minutes of ringing, the on-air personality finally picked up. He was confronted with a maniac.
YEAH, I WAS JUST DRIVING IN MY CAR AND YOU PLAYED A SONG. IT WAS GUITAR DRIVEN, SAXOPHONE, GRAVELLY VOICED SINGER, SINGIN’ ABOUT SOME GIRL!! . . .
Steven J Athanas
Screenshot lifted from a video of Steven J Athanas singing “Rosalita” with The Other Half, a local band, on in 1981 at one of Kips’ joints. Guitarist is Garnet McGladdery and the drummer is Dennis Gorsuch. (Courtesy Photo/Steven J Athanas)
Calmly, the DJ responded. “Umm, yeah, that was Bruce Springsteen.”
”WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT SONG???” I demanded to know.
The band at Boogie Records, where Steven used to work.
A pause. “Rosalita,” he said, “then (Come Out Tonight) in parentheses.” This DJ was nothing if not thorough.
The next day I drove to Boogie Records, when it was still on Central at Douglas, and ran into the store. I worked there as a cashier and music aficionado (ha ha!), so I greeted the person there and quickly went to the S’s in the rock’n’roll section. Thumbing through the section: Steppenwolf, Steeleye Span, Sam & Dave, Santana.
And then, there it was – a portrait of a scraggly-bearded guy looking off to the side, rubbing his mustache with his right hand. And for $3.99 (a red dot at Boogie), I owned a copy of a record that would shape my musical persona for a good many years to come. I know I wore out at least four copies of that LP. Then, technology graced me with a CD that stood up much better.
At the very next Raisin Band rehearsal, I told the fellas about this New Jersey punk, and shortly thereafter we were doing our version of “Rosy,” as it affectionately became known. And for four to five decades my bands invariably added the tune to our roster. Crowds loved it, demanded it! From The Raisin Band to The Homewreckers, we would most assuredly end the night with it. Now that’s staying power!
According to Forbes Magazine, Bruce Springsteen, at 74, just achieved the status of becoming a billionaire – yeah, with a “b”. Although I don’t follow him as heavily as I used to, he’s still out there, putting on three-to-four-hour performances, pleasing the masses.
After the release of The Wild, The Innocent . . ., he got hip to Woody Guthrie, and became the rocker with a message, a musical representative of the people. Whereas, that second album was all over the musical map: rock’n’roll, jazz, funk, folk – FUN! He’s settled to me. Nevertheless, he deserves it.
But, y’know what? You’re welcome, Bruce, for all the copies of The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle purchased by those inebriated Toledoans and BG-ans (?) who had spent the night before in some smoky, dank little bar listening to this guy’s band covering the soon to be crowned Boss’ music.
Black-crowned night heron spotted at Howard Marsh Metropark in Curtice, Ohio. (FTP Photo/Art Weber)
Black-Crowned Night Heron’s nocturnal habits and nesting patterns
CURTICE – Long necks and long legs are the hallmarks of the great blue herons and great egrets we’re used to seeing in our marshes and river rapids.
Shorter and lacking both the long neck and legs, black-crowned night herons are also shy and not seen as often. It starts with their nocturnal habits that keep them in the shadows during daylight, revealing themselves only as dusk settles onto our wetlands.
While they nest in colonies like their heron cousins, the party is over for the night herons when the young fledge and they all go their own way.
You’re most likely to see them one or two at a time, their sturdy bodies hunched and virtually frozen on a low hanging perch, waiting for a meal to come into range. While the adult night herons may have been shorted on neck and legs, they weren’t shorted on looks. They’re simply elegant with a deep black back and cap over pale gray wings that fade underneath to paler gray and white. The heavy darkish bill leads to a dark line that ends dramatically in the adult’s bright red eyes. It’s a deep and menacing red that bodes ill for its prey.
This image was captured late in the afternoon earlier this week at Howard Marsh Metropark in Curtice, Ohio. Its distinctive call, which has been described as a barking squawk, gave away its location before it appeared, crashing through a dense stand of cattails.
