Springtime Family Events in Toledo

April 23, 2022

Changes for Mercy Health Children’s Hospital
Nationwide Children’s Hospital has officially assumed ownership of the Mercy Health Children’s Hospital in Toledo. Nationwide and Mercy Health became affiliated in January, 2020. Since then, they have worked together to advance pediatric physician recruitment, continue medical education and to coordinate improved healthcare for families in Northwest Ohio. Nationwide Children’s Hospital continues the Mercy Health mission of providing compassionate and quality care close to home. Patients will be able to keep their current health providers during the transition, and the Children’s Hospital will operate on the St. Vincent Medical Center campus. The primary goal will be a smooth transition for patients, families, and staff, while maintaining a high-quality level of care for those in the Toledo area. -EI

Toledo’s First Kid Mayor Shows Leadership skills after tragedy
Kid Mayor Evenlyn Bush honored her classmate Damia Ezell with a moment of silence after Ezell was killed in a drive-by shooting on February 12. Bush, a fourth-grader at Glenwood Elementary School, is part of the year-long Kid Council Program created by Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s administration to introduce kids to their local government. 13 finalists were chosen from over 100 applicants, and Evelyn was selected to be the first Kid Mayor for the city. The other 12 finalists serve on the Kid Council. The kid mayor and kid council members meet quarterly for educational sessions and excursions. To learn more, visit toledo.oh.gov. -EI

Toledo Opera On Wheels brings programming for kids

One of the most popular comic operas of all time, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville has charmed audiences the world over with its story of star-crossed lovers and the witty hairstylist who helps bring them together. A new adaptation of the classic tale, entitled The Stylist of Seville, hit the road in April as part of the Toledo Opera on Wheels program. Adapted by Jennifer Cresswell and directed by James M. Norman, the production is designed for audiences from kindergarten through 8th grade. A part of the Opera’s yearly programs since the late 1980s, Opera on Wheels performs in dozens of schools throughout Ohio and Michigan every year. The Stylist of Seville will be on tour through May 27. Visit toledoopera.org for more details. -JM

Local author hopes to Tangle young readers

Area native and Springfield teacher Merrill Wyatt recently released her latest book aimed at preteens, titled Tangled Up in Luck. Set in her hometown of Wauseon, the book follows a pair of middle-school students who look into a long-dormant mystery about missing jewels that involves a creepy mansion. Both funny and engaging, Tangled Up in Luck relates adventure that takes more than a bit of inspiration from area landmarks. A technology teacher at Springfield, Wyatt lives in Toledo. The second book in the Tangled Up series, Tangled Up in Nonsense, is currently scheduled for release this November. $17.99. 256p. Available at Gathering Volumes and various online retailers. -JM

JA Inspire Connects Area Companies to Future Workforce

Laurie Bertke

April 22, 2022

JA Inspire 2 — At JA Inspire, middle and high school students can learn about a variety of industries.

As many businesses struggle to fill open positions, Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio is rolling out a new event this spring to help young people connect with the diverse industries that drive the region’s economy.

On May 11, JA Inspire will bring thousands of middle and high school students to downtown Toledo to participate in a day of career exploration and discovery. More than 50 companies are expected to participate in the event, which is presented by Mercy Health.

“This is an opportunity for us to help connect kids to the needs of the community and to help them find their pathway to success for the future,” said Bob Baxter, president of Mercy Health, in a video previewing the event.

JA Inspire will bring thousands of middle and high school students to downtown Toledo to participate in a day of hands-on career exploration.

“We are creating an event that will provide experiential, hands-on learning opportunities for students to engage with business partners in our community so they can see and better understand all of the opportunities that are available in our region and be able to connect with those companies that have those future opportunities,” added Jim Pollock, president of JA of Northwest Ohio.

JA Inspire will present a broad spectrum of careers, from skilled trades to those that require college degrees.

Creating a vision of future success

JA is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. The organization is perhaps best known for its youth educational programs in financial literacy, work and career readiness and entrepreneurship.

JA Inspire will present a broad spectrum of careers, from skilled trades to those that require college degrees. Vendors are divided into eight categories:

Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering & Logistics
Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Architecture, Engineering & Construction
Business & Finance
Government, Law & Public Service
Hospitality & Tourism
Technology
Healthcare

“We see a lot of students graduating from high school without a defined career path and without a vision of future success, and we’re trying to change that,” explained Julia Simon, learning experience and event coordinator for Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio. “We really want students to have the opportunity to make decisions earlier about what they want to do.”

While this event is new to Northwest Ohio, Simon said other JA offices around the country have seen success hosting similar events. With many companies struggling to hire enough workers in recent years, “we thought this would be a great opportunity to expose students to the opportunities right here in northwest Ohio, to stay in the area and continue to build that economic pipeline,” said Simon.

Building industry awareness

For businesses, participation includes both immediate and long-term benefits, Simon added. They have the opportunity to recruit high school juniors and seniors for shadowing experiences, internships or entry level positions, while also building awareness of their industries among younger students to help develop their talent pipeline.

Simon said companies can still sign up to participate through May 1.

The event at Seagate Center is free to attend for students in grades 8-12, but schools planning to visit are asked to register ahead of time by April 22. School groups from across northwest Ohio will participate in JA Inspire from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Youth who do not attend with a school group, college students or anyone else looking for a career may also attend from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Advance registration is requested.

For more event information, visit www.jainspirenwo.org.

Comics, Pop Culture, Pro Wrestling Comes Alive in Livonia at Astronomicon 5

Digital Media

April 20, 2022

Toledo-based comic book creator Dirk Manning has never missed an Astronomicon since it began five years ago.

“I have the great privilege of working with (hip hop duo) Twiztid to write the Haunted High-Ons comic series, and through this relationship I’ve been able to meet and connect with many of their most dedicated fans, who in turn have gotten to know my other work. Attending Astronomicon every year is a way fans attending the con can pick up new books from me while we catch up face-to-face!” said Manning.

An Amazon bestselling and Ringo Award-nominated writer, Manning has penned the supernatural noir Tales of Mr. Rhee, the horror anthology Nightmare World, and the biographical Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story. He is also the special projects manager for Source Point Press.

This year, Astronomicon will set up shop at Burton Manor in Livonia during the weekend of April 22-24. Throughout the weekend, there will be comics, horror and pop culture memorabilia for sale, as well as an artist alley, panels, photo ops, cosplay contests, trivia contests, tattoo contests, concerts, and movie night.

In addition to Twiztid and Manning, this year’s guest list includes comic book artists, wrestlers, and actors known in the horror genre, such as: Judge Reinhold (the Beverly Hills Cops franchise, Gremlins), Nick Castle (the original Michael Myers, alias the Shape, from 1978’s Halloween), Danielle Harris (the Halloween franchise, The Last Boy Scout), Tyler Mane (X-Men, the Halloween franchise), WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash, former Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarthy, Scout Taylor-Compton (the Halloween franchise), Holly Marie Combs (Charmed), and Brian Krause (Charmed), et al. Here is a complete list of guests.

“Astronomicon 5 is going to have the best line-up yet, with everything from comics to professional wrestling to pop culture to music being represented in equal measure,” said Manning. “Anyone who wants to see the full spectrum of what a comic con can provide at a local venue and reasonable cost would do well to check out this fantastic show!”

Astronomicon will set up shop at Burton Manor, located at 27777 Schoolcraft in Livonia on the following days and times:

Friday, April 22, from 5 to 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets vary between $30 to $200.
Children ages 6-12 are $15 (ages five and under are FREE).

Parking is free. Admission to Astronomicon does not cover the cost of celebrity autographs and photo ops.

For questions or more information, contact [email protected].

Dogs for Difference

Andrew Kersten

April 17, 2022

A local nonprofit organization is using man’s best friend to improve the lives of local kids. Perrysburg-based Dogs For Difference, founded in 2018, brings canines to schools to assist children with disabilities, to nursing facilities and residential homes to reduce stress, encourage exercise, and to provide an enriching environment.

Working with children with disabilities

Five years ago, both Aaron Witt, president, and Travis Harmon, executive president, were undergraduate students at the University of Toledo, where they were involved in an organization that helped children with disabilities. After graduating, the two expanded the idea of Dogs for Difference into a nonprofit organization that caters to various Toledo area groups, including special education classrooms. Volunteers bring two to four dogs and spend 15-30 minutes in each classroom, depending on the size of the class. Volunteers select the dogs to provide the best experience possible — some dogs may be best for petting, while other dogs may do best sitting on laps.

“We try to be hands-on and match the different personalities of the kids with the different personalities of the dogs,” explains Witt. “If somebody just wants to sit and pet the dogs, that’s perfect for some dogs, and if somebody wants a high energy dog that wants to play fetch or go for walks, we have that too.” The dogs and volunteers begin their visits in stations and bring in students to meet the dogs and to allow for a “feeling out period.”

Prior to visiting each school, Dogs For Difference requires that each student that comes in contact with the dogs has a signed permission slip, obtainable through the school or through the organization. There will always be at least one volunteer per dog during visits.

“I think when you walk into a classroom with the dogs, you immediately see the change on the children’s faces — the big smiles they get and how they react,” says Aaron.

Dogs For Difference has visited at least 15 schools in two years. Prior to the pandemic, volunteers would visit schools two to three times per week. Those number of visits dropped off over the past couple of years, but Aaron hopes to get back to the pre-COVID numbers.

Dog training

Dogs For Difference currently has 20-30 volunteers and 15-20 dogs with various breeds. Each dog goes through temperament training to make sure they will be comfortable around large groups and to ensure they remain calm around children.

Every volunteer is required to have an up-to-date BCI background check and every dog is required to be up-to-date on their vaccines. Records for both volunteers and dogs are on file and available upon request.

Learn about each dog at dogsfordifference.com.

Schedule a visit

Those interested in the program can reach out to Aaron directly through email at [email protected], by visiting the group’s Facebook page, or by visiting dogsfordifference.com.

“It doesn’t really feel like work of any sort,” adds Witt. “For me and Travis, when you have the stress of the week, then you see the dogs and kids interact, it’s such a wholesome and positive experience. It just helps focus on the positive.”

Clara J’s Tea Room

Laurie Bertke

April 16, 2022

Clara J’s Tea Room
219 West Wayne Street | Maumee
419-897-0219
www.clarajsat219.com | www.facebook.com/ClaraJsTeaRoom
Lunch and Carryout: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-3 pm
Proper Tea: Wednesday-Saturday, 11am or 1:30pm by reservation

The Short Course:

Kids Menu? Yes.
Carryout? Yes .
Online Ordering? No.
Delivery? No.
High Chairs Available? Yes.
Changing Table? Yes.
Outdoor Dining? Yes, in the summer.

Online Reviews:

Facebook: 4.8 out of 5 with 136 reviews
Google: 4.8 out of 5 with 144 reviews
Yelp: 4.5 out of 5 with 12 reviews

The kids enjoyed the hot chocolate with marshmallow bits at Clara J’s.

When it comes to eating out, there is rarely much overlap between fine dining and family dining. Yet Clara J’s Tea Room manages to check both boxes, providing inviting fare for guests of all ages in a classy historic building in uptown Maumee. This is not a restaurant for adults where a child occasionally tags along; rather, it’s a spot that regularly welcomes multi-generational groups and embraces the presence of young children.

As you walk up the path to enter, don’t be surprised if children in your party take their time to stop and admire the fairy village constructed of tea cups and saucers in the landscaping. Most little ones go quiet when they enter the tea room, according to owner Gretchen Fayerweather. “The kids just sort of get it when they walk in the door, that this is a special place,” she said.

Made from scratch

Clara J’s recently celebrated 17 years in business. Fayerweather, a longtime culinary arts professor at Owens Community College, bought the business from its founder, Rebecca Jaessing, in 2018, and maintains her ties to Owens by staffing her kitchen with graduates of its program. Fayerweather is also a Certified Executive Chef through the American Culinary Federation. Clara J’s team of skilled culinary arts professionals introduces a new menu five times a year, and Fayerweather says almost everything served at the Tea Room is made from scratch.

Quality over quantity

Clara J’s seats a maximum of 50 guests at a time, and reservations are strongly encouraged. Fayerweather says her mantra is “quality over quantity,” so she doesn’t like to overbook.

My group arrived ten minutes prior to our reservation time on a Saturday afternoon and we were promptly seated at a table set with linens and vintage china in the main dining room of the converted house. Nearly every other table in the place was occupied by adult women accompanied by little girls, all dressed up, some even sporting fashionable hats.

Just minutes after we were seated, a gentleman sat down at a piano in the room and began playing a beautiful medley of live music that we enjoyed throughout our meal.

Lunch or ‘Proper Tea’

Guests at Clara J’s can order off the lunch menu or opt for “Proper Tea,” a four-course meal served in the British tradition with nine different types of scones, sandwiches, sweets and savories beautifully arranged on a three-tiered tray. This is accompanied, naturally, by a freshly brewed pot of one of the 30 varieties of loose-leaf tea that Clara J’s features each month.

Clara J’s offers a child-friendly version of this spread — known as the Princess or Prince Proper Tea — as well as a children’s lunch menu.

Be aware that you will not find soft drinks, juice or coffee on the menu at Clara J’s. Children can choose between pink lemonade, hot chocolate or raspberry tea, all of which are served in a teapot so each child can enjoy pouring their own beverage into a fancy teacup.

The hot chocolate was accompanied by a dish of colorful marshmallow bits which quickly disappeared among the three kids at our table. They had so much fun repeatedly refilling their teacups that I had to remind them to slow down so they didn’t drink it all before we ordered.

We also shared a medium pot of Irish breakfast tea and a small pot of cherry marzipan tea at our table, and both varieties were smooth and delicious.

Something for everyone

My group opted to order from the lunch menu, which offers a variety of soups, sandwiches and salads. Kids lunches are $10 and include a choice of a sandwich, cheese turnover or macaroni and cheese. All come with fresh fruit, goldfish crackers, jello cutouts and a mini cupcake.

Two of my kids went for the peanut butter and jam, and one tried the turkey and cheese sandwich. All three plates arrived beautifully arranged, with crustless sandwiches cut into decorative shapes. The kids devoured the food. The only complaint from my 11-year-old was that the sandwich was a bit small. The food portions would likely be just right for a toddler or preschooler, while older kids with bigger appetites might prefer to order off the adult menu.

My mother gave high praise for the quiche with cauliflower and white cheddar, which was accompanied by fresh fruit, tea bread and a pearl couscous salad, chock full of peas, asparagus and shredded carrots. I enjoyed the varied flavors of the tea room sampler, which provided a taste of all Clara J’s signature fare: a bite of quiche, half of a ribbon sandwich, half of a cucumber sandwich, a mini scone with Devonshire cream and fresh fruit.

This variety is one of the things that sets Clara J’s apart, according to its owner. “If I order a sandwich, usually the first bite tastes like the last bite,” says Fayerweather. “But with this, you get so many different flavors and it’s definitely an experience versus just coming to eat.”

Bottom Line:

If you are looking for a unique dining experience for Mother’s Day or another special occasion, Clara J’s delivers. While it is pricier than your standard family fare, the tea room offers delicious food in a beautiful and relaxed environment. Reservations at least a week in advance are strongly recommended as the place frequently is full, especially on weekends.

Gardening with Kids

Kimberly Blaker

April 15, 2022

Playing in the dirt is near the top of the fun list for little kids despite the reluctance and protests of well-intended parents. If you happen to be one of those worried parents, put your fears aside.

As it turns out, dirt is actually beneficial to the long-term health of kids, according to a Northwestern University article by Clare Milliken, “Germs at Four, Less Inflammation at Forty.” Studies have found that early exposure to certain germs, like those found in dirt, actually helps kids’ immune systems learn to regulate inflammation better. In turn, this exposure reduces kids’ risk for many diseases throughout their lives.

Gardening build immunity

For that reason, a family garden is a perfect opportunity to build your kids’ immune systems, but it also offers lots of other benefits to kids and families. Through gardening, kids learn to be responsible by caring for plants, developing an appreciation for science and feeling encouraged to eat healthier. Also, the family bonding that comes with garden maintenance validates the effort.

So gather up your kids and gardening supplies, head outdoors, and get ready for some dirt-filled fun.

Getting started

First, decide where to plant your garden, allowing a small space for your child to have his or her own garden as well. This will help build your child’s enthusiasm for the garden and encourage them to take ownership and responsibility for it. Having their own garden can be exciting and rewarding for kids because they know that they alone (or with minimal help), grew those little seeds into a marvelous plant.
Next, decide what to plant. For young children, consider fast-growing plants they are familiar with. Little kids also love plants that are colorful or have strong scents.
If your kids are older, let them choose what they want to grow. But keep in mind your child’s personality. If he tends to be impatient, suggest plants that are easy to care for and grow quickly.
As you proceed in planning and preparation, include your child in it as much as possible. Remember, this stage is as much fun for kids as it is for parents, and it helps build enthusiasm for the process. Also, let your kids help you draw up the garden plan. If they’re old enough, they can also create their own shopping list.
When you go shopping for the supplies, take your kids along and let them pick out their own seeds and gardening tools. For the safety of young children, look for kids’ gardening tools made of durable plastic.

Planting your garden

When you begin planting, show your child how to plant the seeds and how to space them apart correctly. Then have your child water the seeds as directed. To help your child take responsibility for his or her own garden, put a daily gardening task list on the refrigerator.

Keep a garden log as an additional educational tool. Kids enjoy recording the date of plantings, each day’s gardening activities, when each plant sprouts, the amount of growth of the plants, and the harvesting.

Finally, after harvesting, have your child help you prepare the vegetables. Try different ways of preparing them to help your kid develop a life-long love for fresh, healthy veggies.

SIDEBAR:

Books on Gardening with Kids

To get your family’s gardening project off on the right foot, consider an age-appropriate book, like these suggestions below.

The Little Gardener by Jan Gerardi (ages 3-4)

The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes (ages 3-7)

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner (ages 5-8)

Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children by Sharon Lovejoy (ages 4-10)

Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden by Renata Brown (ages 8-12)

The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids: 101 Ways to Get Kids Outside, Dirty, and Having Fun by Whitney Cohen (for parents)

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