The Glass City is creating an unlikely pairing of two of the worlds greatest pleasures: the high of doing something good and beer. During the 12th annual Glass City Beer Festival, 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to charities, including Camp Courageous, The Arc and the Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation.

Sample from wineries and vendors galore at this tasteful event. Try regional wines, gourmet cheese and fare from local restaurants while you shop with a myriad of local, craft businesses.

Help raise funds for the Children’s Theatre Workshop, an all-inclusive organization introducing young children to the performing arts, at its 7th Annual Cupcake Showdown.

Women looking to advance in leadership should consider joining E. Michelle Mickens, CEO of Live 4 Change, LLC, during Women’s Leadership Development Workshop.

Toledo voters established Democracy Day on March 5, 2016, which functions as an annual, mandatory hearing between the public, the mayor, and city council members concerning the influence of money on local politics and the impact of political contributions from corporations, unions, PACS and Super-PACS. Following Democracy Day, the mayor is required by law to send a letter to our congressional representatives urging them to support a constitutional amendment that says corporations are not people.

The 83-year-old feminist icon Gloria Steinem and the 61-year-old democratic Ohio House Representative have more than a few things in common: they are both Toledo natives, fierce advocates for a women’s right to choose, and supporters of Toledo’s Capitol Care Network, which was set to close until ProMedica agreed to sign a long awaited transfer agreement earlier in February.

Some folks accuse of us being too negative, of always finding the gray cloud for every silver lining. But, in the spirit of the good and the great, and the theme of this special issue, we bring you our own paean to the pols of Frogtown USA. This is our Best of City Politics, Hildo-style.

Five years into a bold 20 year plan, Toledo Metroparks is providing the community with greater access to the Parks System by creating more public parks, corridors, greenways, restored wetlands, and natural spaces.