Toys for Tots

Senior Erica Lee has organized an effort at TECHS to collect new and gently-used toys for Toys for Tots.

Thank you.

Food Drive

TECHS is once again participating in a campus-wide food drive.

We collected around 200 pounds with the Ohio State/Michigan contest.

The next event will be a contest to see which advisory can collect the most canned and non-perishable food goods (per capita).

The good people at Vito's have agreed to treat the wining advisory to a pizza lunch.

The food is going to The MLK Kitchen for the Poor

Some TECHS students and I also have an ongoing relationship with the Seagate Food Bank and may be volunteering there over break.

Spreading Smiles Contest

TECHS Blood Drive

1Matters Homeless Project

Please check here for activities related to a nationally recognized Toledo-based homelessness awareness project. 

UT Homecoming Parade

UT Homecoming Parade

Saturday, 6 October 2012

Parents and Students are Welcome
(siblings too!)

• The parade will step off at 11 AM
• Please arrive by 10:15
• You will be done around 12:30

Students: 

We need some new parade chants to promote TECHS.

Win a TECHS shirt if you come up with a good one.

Get service hours.

Parents:

Get service hours by marching and/or contributing bags of candy or cash contributions to buy candy.

Meet in the parking lot shown below.

Last Year's Parade

Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Walk

Dr. Wheatley has pledge forms.
Service hours for students and parents.

Meet at Ottawa Park at 9 AM
The walk starts at 10 AM

I'm not sure where the route goes through Ottawa Park but you might also be able to make the UT Homecoming Parade which starts very close to the southwest corner of Ottawa Park.

Erase the Hate

Clean Your Streams Update

The Clean Your Streams event is 15 September 2012, 
one week from Saturday.

Sign-up Here

Please Note:
You will be cleaning the stream bank, not the stream itself.

The original blog post is here with information.

I rang up the organizers and learned some new things:

Registration at Sites: 8:00 - 8:30

(lots of TECHS people will be at the UT Law School site)

Orientation: 8:30 - 9:00

Clean-up: 9:00 - 11:30

Bus to Lucas County Rec Center for food, T-shirts, etc. 11:30

Bus back to clean-up site: ~ 1:30

Of course you can travel to the rec center on your own, or get picked up there, or not go at all.

This event is open to students, parents, siblings, etc.

Any participants under age 18 must have a signed release form.

Do you can download this form at my website directly under the sign-up form.

Map to The Lucas County Rec Center in Maumee.

24 Hour Plays at UT, 2 September 2012

Detroit Jazz Festival

Here is a premier FREE cultural event for you.

Detroit Jazz Festival

The Detroit Jazz Festival is four days of the best jazz you will find anywhere in this country and it is free (you might get nicked for $8-10 for parking). I go every year.

This year I am going on Friday night to see Terrence Blanchard at 7 PM and the great jazz legend Sonny Rollins at 8:45. A warning though, it will be crowded because those are big names and there is only one stage performing on Friday. 

Wynton Marsalis will be there Saturday and on Sunday you can see Wayne Shorter and Joe Lovano. Plus dozens of other acts.

Schedule pdf

Sonny Rollins is 82 but he is still a master.

Here is Sonny Rollins when he was younger.

League of Women Voters Forum

From the Press Release

The Toledo Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW/Toledo), along with the League of Women Voters of Toledo Lucas County (LWV-TLC) will hold a Candidates’ Forum, Tuesday, September 18, 2012, from 7-9 p.m. at the Scott Park Campus of the University of Toledo, Nebraska at Parkside, Toledo. The event is free and open to the public.

Featured legislative candidates include Marcy Kaptur, Angela Zimmann, and Barbara Sears.   The event will be moderated by Kristian Brown of WTVG.  Both AAUW and LWV are non-partisan organizations pursuing  equity –A Voice for ALL Citizens—thus many of the issues discussed will be “women’s issues.” Co- sponsors of the Candidates’ Forum  include the ACLU, YWCA, and the University of Toledo Women’s Center who will set up display tables at the event.  Light refreshments will be served.

Because  the AAUW and LWV hope to get-out-the-vote as well as to educate, they are inviting inactive as well as active women voters, members of women’s organizations, and of course the general public to the Candidates’ Forum.  Attendees can register to vote, and legislators can socialize with their constituents. Questions?  Phone Chairwoman Michelle Radtkin at 419-787-8258.

Authors! Authors!

authors! authors! Series at the Stranahan Theater.

These are often quite good.

Note that Stan Lee the creator of Spiderman is on 27 September 2012 (which is also a TECHS parent conference evening so plan accordingly when you schedule your time if you want to see him).

All talks are at 7 pm. 

$10 (discounted student tickets, not sure how much)

Tickets at all Toledo Lucas County Public Library branches

(Stan Lee may sell out, act now if you want to go)

More Info

International Festival, 15-16 September 2012

International Festival, 15-16 September 2012
(maybe do the stream clean-up on Saturday and this on Sunday)

This is a fun event. 
You will learn a lot and eat some
GREAT FOOD!

Clean Your Streams

Here is a great Service Opportunity!

Students and Parents Welcome.

Please Note: We will cleaning the banks of streams (in this case most likely the Ottawa River)

Where and When:
You can go to any of the sites on the flyer.
I'll be at the University of Toledo Law School parking lot. 
Check in starts at 8 AM. 
Orientation at 8:30.
Free picnic afterward

We will register the TECHS group with the organizers but you can register here so that we can tell them how many are coming.

More information.

Sacred Steel

Sacred Steel

One of the goals of Rocket Stages is to get kids to experience new things outside of their normal day-to-day lives. 

Here is an opportunity to do just that. Two years ago I chanced upon an event that celebrated a religious musical tradition that I knew nothing about called Sacred Steel.

I saw a flyer and decided to attend an event. It turned out to be a remarkable musical experience. A handful of our students also attended and were gladly welcomed.

Please note that this event is sponsored by a religious group and is being held in a church but we are not promoting it as a religious event, but simply as a fascinating look at a subculture and to enjoy some great music.

Here is a piece of video I shot two years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgHizfXtRY0

The Friday event is usually the younger up-and-coming bands and then the superstars play on Saturday. 

Navy Week

Navy Week

There are a number of activities related to Navy Week and the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 going on in Toledo this week, including a visit Thursday by the USS Niagara, a replica of Oliver Hazard Perry's ship in the Battle of Lake Erie. The ship is very cool and I have sailed on it.

The Blade has run a few pieces on the upcoming events.

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/08/16/Navy-vessels-converge-on-Glass-City-for-week-of-festivities.html

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/08/16/Navy-musicians-to-perform-throughout-week.html

Austin Morrin is in this production.
Support his efforts please.

Some April Cultural Events

Arabic Workshop to celebrate diversity, share culture

April 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Memorial Field House Room 2420.

http://utnews.utoledo.edu/index.php/04_13_2012/arabic-workshop-to-celebrate-diversity-share-culture

Jewish-Christian-Muslim Dialogue to address religious perspectives on environment

Wednesday, April 18, at 7 p.m. in the Student Union Ingman Room

http://utnews.utoledo.edu/index.php/04_16_2012/jewish-christian-muslim-dialogue-to-address-religious-perspectives-on-environment

Harry Potter Lecture

“A Draught of Mandrake: Wizard’s Herbal Cures”, Thursday, April 19, at 5 p.m.  
Mulford Library Room 405
Note: The Mulford Library is on the Health Science Campus

Andrew Phelps Lecture on Video Games and Education

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Maumee Valley Country Day School

7:30 PM

Poetry Reading

Monday, April 23  4 PM 

Canaday Center (5th Floor Carlson Library)

Andrew Phelps Talk - Computer Games

Help the Litterbugz clean up Toledo

Blues Against Child Abuse

Blues Against Child Abuse
Thursday, 29 March 2012


http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/03/22/concert-to-raise-awareness-of-child-abuse-prevention/

Taste of Diversity

Taste of Diversity

Deaf Entertainers Documentary

DST See What Im Saying

Parent Night on Bullying & Harry Potter's World

Here are three upcoming cultural events at UT:


Parent Night on Bullying
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Rocket Hall 1520
7:00-8:30 PM
Info here


Harry Potter's World Exhibit
Exhibit through April at the Carlson Library


Harry Potter Lecture Series
“Harry Potter as Monomyth” Thursday, March 22, at 5 p.m. 
(Carlson Library Room 1025)
“Harry Potter and the Law” Thursday, March 29, at 5 p.m. 
(Carlson Library Room 1025)

“Harry Potter: Monsters, Myths & Medicine” Thursday, April 12, at 5 p.m. (Mulford Library Room 405)
“A Draught of Mandrake: Wizard’s Herbal Cures”, Thursday, April 19, at 5 p.m.  (Mulford Library Room 405)
Note: The Mulford Library is on the Health Science Campus


Read all about the Harry Potter Events Here.
Please notice that this fine article was written by 
Feliza Casano (TECHS c/o 2009)

Global Youth Service Day, 21 April 2012

2012-02-15 Global Youth Service Day Flyer

Litterbugz Event, 14 April 2012

Untitled 7

Symposium on Suburban Space

Some TECHS Spring 2012 Service Projects

Some Spring Service and Volunteer Hour Opportunities for 

TECHS Students and Parents

Saturday, 24 March 2014

UT "Big Event"

We did this last year and dug a community garden in North Toledo.

We were done by about 2 PM.

Please note this project is the same day as the POL contest in Columbus.

Saturday, 14 April 2014

City-wide Litter Clean-up

• We are trying to get 100 kids and parents to sign up for this one
• 2-5 PM
• Free t-shirt and wrist band (local businesses are offering discounts if you wear this shirt)
• Bags and gloves provided
• Free food afterward (Vito's)
• Email me or sign-up in Nissen's Room

Check out their website.

Saturday, 21 April 2014

Global Youth Service Day

Last year we cleaned up and mulched Highland Park.

There was a big picnic at the Toledo Zoo afterward.

I don't have any details yet.

Seed Swap, Saturday, 25 February 2012

Charles Dickens and Authors!Authors!

Charles Dickens Lecture

In observance of the Bicentennial Birthday of the late Charles Dickens (1812-2012), please join scholar Dr. Melissa Valiska Gregory for an informative talk which focuses on the enduring popularity of Dickens’ famous novels, while exploring his journalism and literary collaborations from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Monday, February 20 in the McMaster Center at Main Library, 325 Michigan St.

In observance of the Bice

Dr. Gregory , Ph.D, is an Associate Professor as well as the Honors Advisor for the University of Toledo’s English Language and Literature Department. She specializes in 19th century British literature and has published articles on both Victorian poetry and the novel. Dr. Gregory has edited and introduced three of Charles Dickens’ collaboratively written Christmas stories for Hesperus Press—The Wreck of the Golden Mary (2006), Somebody’s Luggage (2006), and Dr. Marigold’s Prescriptions (2007)—and has also coauthored an original brief biography of Dickens (2008).

Also, enjoy a special exhibit in Main Library’s Humanities department titled 200 Years of Dickens: Author of Social Reform . This display, on view now through March 31 , focuses on “Dickens’ London” and the author’s history as a reformer and social activist.

This program is FREE and open to the public.  Be sure to check out materials on Dickens at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.

Authors! Authors!

This year's series is really strong. Check it out here.

UT College of Visual and Performing Arts - February

authors! authors! at the Toledo Library

Check out the line-up (including Stan Lee, the creator off Spiderman).
authors! authors!

Monroe, MI Black History Blues Series 2012

Monroe Public Library 
Black History Blues Series

These are really good events. I have been attending for years.

Events are free and open to the public.

Transportation for students available to some of these.

Full 2012 Performance Schedule:

“Tuesdays are Bluesdays” throughout the series as each Tuesday evening features a free concert at a Monroe County Library System facility.

Tuesday, January 31: 

Detroit multi-instrumentalist, educator and storyteller Rev. Robert B. Jones, Ann Arbor harmonica legend Peter Madcat Ruth and series creator Tim McGorey reveal “The True Facts,” as insider stories, rare video clips and plenty of acoustic roots music relates the unique and unlikely story of 25 years of Black History Month Blues in Monroe County.
7:00 pm, Ellis Library & Reference Center.

Videos
Rev. Robert Jones from last year
Peter Madcat Ruth

Map

Tuesday, February 7: 

Samuel James, one of the roots music world’s hottest young artists, has been called “part Bill Withers, part Tom Waits, part James Brown, part Leo Kottke, and part P.T. Barnum.”  He refers to himself as a troubadour, mixing impeccable, dynamic musicianship with compelling storytelling and songwriting.  (He’s even been known to show off his dance moves.)
7:00 pm, Carleton Branch Library.


Video
Samuel Jones

Map

Tuesday, February 14: 

Mark Valentine’s Day at “LOVEFEST 2012,” starring a pair of Michigan’s most highly acclaimed musical (and life) partners.  Ann Arbor-based blues guitarists/vocalists Shari Kane & Big Dave Steele and Lansing-area singer/songwriters Rachael Davis &Dominic John will team up for an evening of songs and stories of love, heartbreak and all the bittersweet places in between.   7:00 pm, Dorsch Memorial Branch Library.

Map

Wednesday, February 15:

 It’s MOOZAPALOOZA! when Nashville-based Farmer Jason makes his triumphant return to the Ellis Library.  “Twin brother” of Americana music legend Jason Ringenberg, Farmer Jason’s performances are rocket-fueled tractor rides for “kids of all ages” with plenty of audience participation.  Celebrating the release of his third CD, Nature Jams, Farmer Jason writes songs inspired by life on his farm (“Doggie Dance,” “Guitar-Pickin’ Chicken”) and his hikes in the forest (“Punk Rock Skunk,” “Moose on the Loose”).
7:00 pm, Ellis Library & Reference Center.

Video
Farmer Jason

Map

Thursday, February 16: 

Guitarist Johnnie Bassett and vocalist Alberta Adams, the King and Queen of Detroit Blues, return to Monroe for a special intimate performance at the MCLS branch library where the Blues Series began in 1988.   Over the course of his 60+ year career, Bassett has performed with artists from Big Joe Turner and John Lee Hooker to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and Tina Turner.  As a solo artist, he’s recorded several critically acclaimed discs and received the Detroit Blues Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.  Alberta Adams, 94 years young, has been performing since the 1930s, tap-dancing and singing with the likes of Duke Ellington, Louis Jordan and Lionel Hampton and recording for Chess and Cannonball Records.  Bassett and Adams will be joined by Detroit’s R.J. Spangler & the Rhythm Rockers.  This concert is sponsored by The Jazz Foundation.
7:00 pm, Navarre Branch Library.

Videos
Alberta Adams
Johnnie Bassett
RJ Spangler and the Rhythm Rockers (with Alberta Adams)

Map

Tuesday, February 21: 

Blues and boogie-woogie piano with Mark “Mr. B” Braun, a rare living link to the first generation of blues and boogie pianists, like Little Brother Montgomery and Boogie Woogie Red, he sought out and received lessons from before their deaths.  Collaborations with acts like John Hammond, Marcus Belgrave and Duke Robillard and appearances on “Mountain Stage” and NPR’s “All Things Considered” have only expanded the audience for this Michigan treasure. 
7:00 pm, Bedford Branch Library.

Video
Mr. B

Map

Saturday, February 25:  

“THE BIG GIG!” is Monroe County’s 25th Annual Black History Month Blues Concert, a star-studded evening featuring a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of Blues Series alumni.  Rev. Robert B. Joneswill (for the 25th year) host and kick things off, and in 2012 he’ll be joined by the likes of Peter Madcat Ruth, legendary Muddy Waters Band guitarist Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin, the “Music Makin’ Mama” herself, pianist/guitarist Ann Rabson, mandolin virtuoso Rich DelGrosso, boogie-woogie piano powerhouse Daryl Davis, Detroit blues divaThornetta Davis, roots rock power trio George Bedard & the Kingpins, and drummer Mike Shimmin and bassist Dominic John.  (And, it’s more than likely, a surprise guest or three before the final bows are taken.)  
7:00 pm, Monroe County Community College, Meyer Theater


Videos
Bob Margolin
Ann Rabson
Rich DelGrosso
Daryl Davis
Thornetta Davis (my video at the Detroit Library)
Thornetta Davis (my video from UT MusicFest 2010
George Bedard




Map

The Big Gig! is an extremely popular event—no ticket is required, seating is general admission, first-come, first-served until venue capacity is reached.  Doors open at 6:00 pm.

Tuesday, February 28: 

The silver anniversary festivities conclude with a fond remembrance of one of the most entertaining and intriguing artists in Blues Series history, Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong, who was the last surviving African American string band musician when he passed away in 2003.  Howard’s music, life and legacy will be celebrated by his son, bassist Ralphe Armstrong, guitarist Ray Kamalay and multi-instrumentalist John Reynolds, with special guest Rich DelGrosso, all of whom played with Howard and have tons of anecdotes to share.  7:00 pm, Ellis Library & Reference Center.

Videos

Archival Video of Louie Bluie

Ralphe Armstrong

Ray Kamalay

John Reynolds

Map

For more information on the Black History Month Blues Series, phone (734) 241-5277.