A dedication of a plaque honoring the late Shawnee High School coach, teacher and driver’s education teacher Dale McDonald will be held at 6 p.m. today at the school’s athletic facility just prior to the season’s first home football game.
There will be a short presentation and formal unveiling of the plaque. Before kickoff, the athletic director will introduce the McDonald family and acknowledge the generous donors who supported the project.
Lights of Hope
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) will host its Lights of Hope display from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight as part of First Fridays.
Lights of Hope bags will be lit at the Clark County Heritage Center to celebrate and remember those who have faced cancer, whether as survivors, fighters or in memorial.
This special evening will provide an opportunity for reflection, support, and unity as personalized Lights of Hope bags will illuminate the night. Each Light of Hope symbolizes the strength, hope, and memories of those touched by cancer. Attendees are encouraged to donate and decorate a Lights of Hope bag with names, messages or artwork to honor their loved ones.
This is free and open to the public.
Fish and Shrimp Festival
The 22nd annual Ohio Fish & Shrimp Festival will be held Saturday at Freshwater Farms of Ohio, 2624 North U.S. 68, north of Urbana.
The event includes live music from 12 bands, food and drinks, games, the farm’s petting zoo, fish and critter displays, bounce houses, art and craft vendors, a kids’ play zone and more.
Admission at the gate is $10 for general admission and $5 for ages 3-12. Admission is free for ages 2 and under.
The admission gate will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking is free, with golf cart shuttles available.
For more information, visit fwfarms.com/festival or the Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival Facebook page.
Soko Fest
The third annual Soko Place Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Covenant United Methodist Church, 529 W. Johnny Lytle Ave.
The Soko Place Festival is a free annual event designed to uplift cooperative economics, strengthen arts and culture, and to celebrate and patronize local and regional Black businesses.
The event features live music, food, African drumming and dance, a speaker on cooperative economics, a children’s village and over 30 vendors showcasing their products and services.
For more information go to https://www.sokoplacefestival.org.
Car show in Medway
The first annual car show at Restoration will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at 55 Restoration Park Drive in Medway.
There will be classic cars and live music.
Admission is free to the public, but you can register for $10 to show off your car, bike or truck.
For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/first-annual-car-show-at-restoration-tickets-923926026617.
U-pick flowers
A “U-pick Flowers” event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Petals on the Pike, 6730 New Carlisle Pike in Springfield.
When you arrive, check-in, sign the guest book, pick up a jar and clippers under the white tent, and u-pick over 75 varieties of flowers. Before leaving, your flowers will be transferred from the large glass jar to a cup that will fit in your car’s cup holder.
The cost is $20 for large, quart-sized jars or $75 for a bucket.
For more information, visit https://petalsonthepike.com/ or contact Dawn & Brian at petalsonthepike@gmail.com or 937-470-6174.
Church fundraiser
Northside Church of God, 3705 Middle Urbana Road, will hold a chicken and noodle dinner (carry-out only) and bake sale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Dinners will be packaged to go, and bags of homemade, dry noodles will be available for purchase along with assorted homemade baked goods.
Proceeds will go to help fund a church trip to the Ark Encounter.
Call the church office, 937-390-7700, with questions and for directions.
Pollinators and solar energy
The Aviation Energy Center and Ohio State Parks Foundation will host an event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at John Bryan State Park.
The event will focus on the critical role pollinators play in ecosystems and the importance of solar energy in promoting and protecting their habitats.
The event will include a keynote address by Doug Tallamy, a leading expert in the fields of entomology, ecology, and conservation; educational booths and activities such as a make-your-own-pollinator mix station, face painting, interactive craft stations and yard games; live displays; a BUGMobile; discussions; guided nature walks and ConServe.
Smoking cessation classes
Mercy Health REACH Services – Springfield is offering a free, six-week series of smoking cessation classes starting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Mondays starting Sept. 9, at 30 W. McCreight Ave.
The classes, led by a certified tobacco treatment specialist, are limited to 10 people for group interaction and are for only Clark and Champaign County residents.
Mercy Health provides nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches, gum and lozenges that are provided at no cost while supplies last, as well as carbon monoxide testing. They can also help with scheduling lunch cancer screenings for eligible participants.
The instructor suggests each attendee sign up for the Ohio Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for additional support while quitting.
A free $10 gas card will be offered to participants for each session attended. To register or for more information, contact Marcy Ivory at REACH at 937-390-5333.
American Idol auditions
Virtual auditions for the 23rd season of “American Idol” will take place in Ohio on Monday.
Open call auditions will be conducted through Zoom. Auditioners will be able to sing face-to-face in front of producers and receive real-time feedback. “American Idol’ alums Jayna Elise and Mia Matthews will join hopefuls in the waiting room for Q&A, audition tips and more.
“American Idol,” the search for America’s next superstar, will return for its eighth season on ABC in spring 2025. Season Four winner Carrie Underwood” will join Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on the judging panel.
For more information on “Idol Across America” including specific audition details, locations and full eligibility requirements, visit americanidol.com/auditions.
For more events, visit www.springfieldnewssun.com/events or www.champaignohio.com/community-calendar.html.
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