What’s happening in our community (updated May 24)

The Memorial Day Service will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery starting at 10:30 a.m., following the Memorial Day Parade through Bowling Green. The parade steps off at 10 a.m. The service at Wood County Memory Gardens Cemetery on Liberty Hi Road will be at 1 p.m.

Kasiisi Project focus of joint Kiwanis-Rotary meeting, May 29

The Bowling Green Kiwanis Club and the Bowling Green Rotary Club will hold a special joint meeting on Thursday, May 29, to highlight a shared international service initiative: the Kasiisi Project.

The meeting will be held at noon in the Slater Family Ice Arena Lounge on the Bowling Green State University campus. Guests are welcome, with lunch available from 11:30 a.m. for $15.

The program will feature a presentation on the Kasiisi Project Grants, which both clubs have supported through joint funding and collaboration. The Kasiisi Project, based in rural Uganda, focuses on education, conservation, and health initiatives for schoolchildren in the Kibale National Park area. The project aims to improve access to education while promoting long-term environmental and public health outcomes.

 The Bowling Green Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs have been collaborating on meaningful service projects both locally and globally. This joint meeting is a celebration of shared values, community partnership, and the importance of working together to create lasting impact. 

For more information about the Bowling Green Kiwanis Club, visit www.kiwanisbg.org. For more information about the Bowling Green Rotary Club, visit www.bgrotary.org.

Cleveland Celtic Ensemble to perform at Oak Street venue, May 24

The Black Swamp Players will present two shows by the Cleveland Celtic Ensemble on Saturday, May 24 at 2 and 6 p.m. at the theater at 115 E. Oak St., in downtown Bowling Green.

Tickets are $25 general admission. Click to purchase.

The ensemble features: Brian Bigley on uilleann pipes, flute, dance. Kristen Bigley on violin. Ian Crane on Scottish small pipes, vocals and whistle. Tiffany Schaefer on Celtic harp, vocals.

Born of a desire to marry the best of both Celtic and chamber music in exciting and creative ways, the Cleveland Celtic Ensemble blends Scottish and Irish bagpipes, whistle, flute, fiddle, harp, and dance to create a Celtic style all their own. Revel in blazing bagpipe duets, sublime harp airs, soaring songs, and sweet fiddle tunes — all in an intimate and ethereal chamber music ensemble setting.

American Legion poppy drive set for May 24

American Legion will host its annual poppy drive at Bob Evans, 1726 E. Wooster, Bowling Green, Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a drive thru set up in the parking lot.

TAPA hosting Beethoven, Brews, & BBQ, Saturday, May 24

The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts will celebrate the arrival of summer and its new, the Toledo Center for Live Arts at 4747 Heatherdowns Blvd. in Toledo with Beethoven, Brews, & BBQ, Saturday, May 24 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The event will feature performances of all 16 of Beethoven’s string quartets by  members of the Toledo Symphony. There will be family-friendly activities, beer and food pairings, and an immersive musical journey exploring the full range of Beethoven’s musical mastery that spans his entire compositional career and showcases his groundbreaking contributions to the genre of chamber music.  groundbreaking contributions to the genre of chamber music.  

Full day passes are $75 with tickets for two-hour, two quartet intervals are $15. Click for tickets or call  419-246-8000.

‘Princess & The Pea’ gets dance treatment, May 31

Black Swamp Fine Arts School presents its original production of “The Princess & The Pea” two shows Saturday, May 31, at  1 and 4:30 p.m. at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, 200 W Main Cross St., Findlay.

[RELATED: Black Swamp Fine Arts presenting dance production of ‘The Princess & The Pea’]

For tickets call the box office at 419-423-2787 ext. 100 Monday–Friday, 11  a.m. to 4 p.m. Click to purchase online. If tickets remain, they will be sold at the box office one hour prior to each show. Availability is not guaranteed.

Outdoor Family Playtime on Wooster Green on Thursdays, June 5 to July 24

The Wood County District Public Library will present Outdoor Family Playtime this summer. These interactive events will be held Thursdays in June and July from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Wooster Green. 

Play group games, enjoy activities with a different community partner every week, dance, listen to music, read books and more.

Community partners include:

  • June 5 – Bowling Green Parks and Recreation
  • June 12 – Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities
  • June 26 – WBGU-PBS
  • July 3 – Children’s Resource Center
  • July 10 – Family and Children First Council
  • July 24 – Ohio Children’s Alliance

No registration is required. For more information, call (419) 352-8253 or email woodkids@wcdpl.org.

Outdoor Family Playtime is presented in partnership with the City of Bowling Green’s Food Truck Thursdays.  These weekly events offer the perfect lunch break with a variety of food trucks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wooster Green.

 For more information about Food Truck Thursdays, visit bgohio.org.

Horizon Youth Theatre staging ‘Children of Eden,’ June 6-8

Horizon Youth Theatre will present the musical  “Children of Eden” Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7  at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2 p.m. in the Grand Rapids Town Hall theater, 24282 Front St., Grand Rapids. Click for tickets.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by John Caird. “Children of Eden” uses familiar Bible stories to bring new life to the age-old conflict of parents and children through the generations, first Father (God) with Adam and Eve, then Adam and Eve with their sons Cain and Abel, and finally Noah and his family. 

Adam, Eve, Noah and the Father who created them deal with the headstrong, cataclysmic actions of their respective children. The show ultimately delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message that “the hardest part of love… is letting go.”

ACT presents ‘Blood of the Lamb,’ June 5-8

Actors Collaborative Toledo (ACT) will present Arlene Hutton’s  “Blood of the Lamb” by an urgent and riveting new play exploring the collision of personal autonomy and state control in a post-Roe America.  

[RELATED: Actors Collaborative Toledo’s ‘Blood of the Lamb’ offers riveting look at post-Roe America]

“Blood of the Lamb” will be staged Thursday, June 5, Friday June 6, and Saturday, June7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. in Trinity Episcopal Church, 316 Adams Street, Toledo.

Memphis in the fifties comes to life in Toledo Rep musical, June 6-22

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre will present the musical “Memphis” weekends June 6 through June 22 at the Tenth Street stage, 16 Tenth St., Toledo.

Showtimes are: Friday, June 6, and Saturday June 7 at 8 p.m. continuing, with shows June 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21 at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees on June 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. Click for tickets
From the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, comes the award-winning musical that bursts off the stage with explosive dancing, irresistible songs and a thrilling tale of fame and forbidden love.

Inspired by actual events, “Memphis” is about a white radio DJ who wants to change the world and a black club singer who is ready for her big break. Come along on their incredible journey to the ends of the airwaves – filled with laughter, soaring emotion and roof-raising rock ‘n’ roll. 

Winner of four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical and two 2015 Olivier Awards, “Memphis” features a Tony-winning book by Joe DiPietro and a Tony-winning original score with music by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan.

Young readers to discuss graphic novels for kids

Students aged 5 through 11 and up are invited to a book discussion about some favorite early graphic novels at WCDPL. 

Book discussions are Mondays: May 19, June 23, July 21 and Aug. 25 at 6 p.m. in The Children’s Place.

Copies of the graphic novel for each month are available for checkout from the Bowling Green Library Children’s Place Desk. Read the book and come to discuss them and other graphic novel favorites.

Books to be discussed are:

  • May 19 – “Cat Kid Comic Club” by Dav Pilkey
  • June 23 – “Pawcasso” by Remy Lai
  • July 21 – “InvestiGATORS: Heist and Seek” by John Patrick Green
  • August 25 – “Doodleville” by Chad Sell

Just Baby ‘N Me storytimes at library on Tuesdays

Just Baby ‘N Me is a lap-sit storytime ideal for babies. This unique storytime will be on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.in The Children’s Place at the Bowling Green Library.

This lap-sit storytime is great for babies from birth through early walkers (12 months). The focus during storytime is on rhymes, songs, finger plays, and exploring short books together, and is meant to facilitate interaction between you and your baby to develop their language and early literacy skills.

Library hosting Fiber Friends Creative Circle on Tuesdays

The Wood County District Public Library is hosting Fiber Friends Creative Circle on Tuesdays at 10  beginning in the 2nd Floor meeting room.

Fiber Friends is a fun and social program that meets to chat and create. People of all skill levels are welcome. Even if ysomeone  has never picked up knitting needles or a crochet hook, this group can teach the basic skills to get started on your newest hobby.

Refreshments will be provided. No registration is required. For more information, call (419) 352-

5050 or email woodref@wcdpl.org.