You say there’s nothing to do in this county? Well, sit right down, kiddos, and let us point out some of the best things happening in Crawford County this month.
Galion High School musical
“They’re creepy and they’re kooky / Mysterious and spooky / They’re altogether ooky,” the . . . Galion High School performing arts department? Okay, it’s a little long to fit with the song, but we just know Galion students are going to bring out the right amount of kooky and spooky to play the Addams Family. There will be three nights of The Addams Family Musical, which features the delightfully dark daughter of the Addams family, Wednesday, falling in love with a normal boy and inviting him to a family dinner. Show dates are April 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. and a matinee show on April 3 at 2 p.m. All shows will be performed at the Galion Community Theatre, 127 Harding Way West. Tickets are $8 each and can be reserved by calling Amy at 419-563-5805.
Snap, snap. (We couldn’t resist.)
Tellin’ Tales: Crawford County Baseball Teams and Heroes
Gather ‘round, chitlins, and let the Crawford Park District tell you about the time we had semi-pro baseball 
teams in Crawford County. Baseball is America’s pastime and that love has been pretty solid in Crawford County’s history. Cities, villages, industries, fraternal organizations, and more had baseball teams – but did you know that there were even semi-pro teams in our little county? Seriously. And there have even been Crawford Countians who made it into the professional ranks (cough*J.B.Shuck*cough). Leesville History will also be combined with this session and will feature the Leesville Reds. If you share a passion for the ole ball game, make sure to stop by Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center between 2 and 4 p.m. on April 2.
Anti-bullying Speaker John Halligan
Bullying is no joking matter. Which may be why the Galion City School District has invited nationally renowned anti-bullying speaker John Halligan to share his family’s story with Galion students on April 7. Halligan lost his thirteen-year-old son to suicide in 2003. After his son’s death, it was revealed that he was ridiculed and humiliated by his peers at school and online. Halligan has since spearheaded the Vermont Bully Prevention bill, which was signed into law a few months after his son’s death, and helped to pass a law pertaining to mandatory suicide prevention education in public schools in 2006. Parents and the community will also be able to hear a presentation by Halligan at 7 p.m. in the Galion Middle School cafetorium. This speaker comes at a prime time for county residents after three teens were charged with felonious assault stemming from a backyard fight.
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Arrowhead Hunt
Yes! It’s finally that time of year when we get to go clomping around in fields, digging through dirt, and finding arrowheads! Or . . . maybe it’s a rock? Let’s just brush a little more dirt off, it has to be something good, we just know it.
Join members of the Johnny Appleseed Chapter 19 of the Archaeological Society of Ohio to walk nearby farm fields for flint and stone remnants of prehistoric cultures who inhabited Crawford County. Imagine – you could be the first human to touch an arrowhead since it was used thousands of years ago! Make sure to dress for the weather – we suggest some old boots and jeans that you don’t mind getting muddy and a walking stick (sometimes the fields are a little hard to traverse, trust us). And don’t forget some small digging tools and a bucket to put all your goodies in – this is most important! Meet up at Lowe-Volk Park at 10 a.m. on April 9.
RELATED CONTENT: 2014 Arrowhead Hunt Photos | Look what I found!
Bucyrus Model Railroad Association’s 30th Annual Train Show and Swap Meet
It’s the pearl anniversary for the local train show so we’re hoping the community will show up big for this event. Every year collectors, dealers, and newcomers show up at the Crawford County Fairgrounds to share their passion for model railroading. This is an all gauge show with Railaoma, models, model supplies, scenery, books, movies, and items that will enhance this hobby. Stop by the Youth Building or the Bucyrus Model Railroad Building starting at 10 a.m. on April 9.
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BORN Craft Show
It’s definitely that time of year. No, we don’t mean March Madness – we’re talking about craft shows! BORN is kicking off the season with its second annual craft show on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bucyrus Nazarene Church. Last year BORN raised over $1,200 to help house over 10 homeless people. They are looking to double that amount this year. Vendor registration can be completed by visiting www.bucyrusborn.com, emailing bucyrusborn@gmail.com, or calling Eliza Cole at 419-689-0226.
Earth Day Fair
It may be nearly a week early for the official Earth Day, but the Crawford Park District doesn’t pass up any chance to celebrate and inform on the wonderful world around us. The focus of this year’s event – show up between 9 a.m. and noon on April 16 at Lowe-Volk Park – will get people thinking about the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Not only that, but they will also focus on sustainability and creating backyard habitats. Local organizations – think the Crawford County Solid Waste District and its recycling trailers, the Sandusky River Watershed Coalition, and the Crawford County Soil and Water Conservation District – will have displays and other information available. Did we forget to give a shout out to Lisa Smith’s fourth grade class? Yeah, those Colonel Crawford kids will also be displaying their recycled projects. Some other interesting things going on: a native plant sale, a recycled nature craft, and a natural pesticides display.
Oh, and the first 100 visitors will get a tree. Yay, (early) Earth Day!
Crawford County track meet
Hurdles? Check. Long jump pit smoothed out? Check. Pole vault ready to go? Yep. All we’re waiting on 
is the county teams! The county track meet is always a fun event (and we’re not just saying that because we love all things centered on Crawford County). Wherever the event is held, it’s always packed – plus, winners get to stand on the podium at the end and the top schools get a giant trophy. Who doesn’t love a giant trophy? The county track meet has an event for everyone and always brings out a great competitive spirit in the student-athletes. Though it was originally set to take place at Galion this year, the meet has been moved to Bucyrus. Start time is 4:30 p.m. on April 22.
PAST PHOTO GALLERIES: 2015 County Track Meet | 2014 County Track Meet
Mohican Wildlife Weekend
The Crawford Park District is going all in for this year’s 15th annual Mohican Wildlife Weekend. Numerous parks across our area of Ohio will be celebrating the three-day event that celebrates wildlife, habitat, heritage, and natural history, but our own park district is pulling out the stops just for us. The Park District will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 
23 and 24 with a full schedule of events. On Saturday, park naturalists will focus on snapping turtles (9 a.m.), wetlands (11 a.m.), and the diverse diets of amphibians and reptiles (1 p.m.). On Sunday, stop by at 8:30 a.m. for a morning stroll along the banks of the Sandusky River. There will be another program on wetlands at 11 a.m. followed by a focus on movements of reptiles and amphibians at 1 p.m. And, as always, the Park District will be open from sunrise to sunset for hiking and nature observation – something we highly suggest if you’ve never been to Lowe-Volk Park.
There’s a lot going on those two days so here’s the program schedule with all the details:
Saturday, April 23
9 a.m. – Happy Snappy: Secrets of the Snapping Turtle: Snapping Turtles may be one of the most misunderstood animals out there. Prehistoric in appearance, Snapping Turtles lead fascinating lives: they sojourn across large expanses of cropland, they spend winters under the ice yet remain “active”, their hatchlings can “freeze” and still come to life. However, little is known of their population dynamics and the how’s and why’s of their behaviors. Come to learn about the secretive “Moss Back”, and you’ll even get an up close view of our most ancient looking animal, the Common Snapping Turtle.
11 a.m. – Diverse Depressions: Exploring Wetlands: Below the surface of a wetland is a dynamic and diverse world. Food chains, life cycles, and more await the nature explorer. With dip nets in hand, we’ll meet dragonflies, damselflies, scuds, mollusks, diving beetles, and more. Nets will be provided. We will not get in the water, but shoes may get slightly muddy. Fun for the whole family!
1 p.m. – Diverse Diets: Feeding Time! It’s lunchtime and our resident amphibians and reptiles need to eat, too! Watch a toad flick out its tongue, a salamander shake a worm, and maybe a snake wrap up its prey. Program participants will get to touch some of the animals as well.
Sunday, April 24
8:30 a.m. – Birds, Botany, & Bedrock: Viewing early spring wildflowers with the songs of migrating birds in the background is a great gift from nature. Sandstone outcroppings adorn the trails at Lowe-Volk Park and are festooned with mosses, lichens, and ferns. This morning stroll will also follow the banks of the Sandusky River to its beginnings. Binoculars and hand lenses will be provided.
11 a.m. – Diverse Depressions: Exploring Wetlands: Below the surface of a wetland is a dynamic and diverse world. Food chains, life cycles, and more await the nature explorer. With dip nets in hand, we’ll meet dragonflies, damselflies, scuds, mollusks, diving beetles, and more. Nets will be provided. We will not get in the water, but shoes may get slightly muddy. Fun for the whole family!
1 p.m. – Race to the Finish Line with Animals: This fun-filled program will look at how reptiles and amphibians get around. You’ll see frogs leap, toads hop, worms wriggle and wiggle, salamanders crawl, and much more. There may even be some races to see who is the fastest! Come ready to cheer for your favorite!
For more about Mohican Wildlife Weekend check out this website: www.mohicanwildlifeweekend.com.
Kiwanis Community Garage Sale
This one is for all you garage sale fanatics out there. The Kiwanis Community Garage Sale and Flea Market is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 23 at the Crawford County Fairgrounds. The Bucyrus Kiwanis Club revived the event in 2014 and proceeds from the event are used to support the club’s various charities, such as Buckeye Girls State, Bucyrus Little League, the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, and the Santa Parade.
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