Beginning in August, registration will open for the 2022 Elevate the Stage gymnastics competition. The event will take place in two locations next year, one of which is in Toledo’s Huntington Center & SeaGate Centre on February 18 through February 20. Tickets are available online ranging from $10 to $15. Honored as a Nastia Cup Qualifier, Elevate the Stage Toledo will have over 2,400 gymnasts attending the fourth year of this event in Toledo. This competition is for youth gymnasts competing along NCAA participants, Levels 3-10 and Xcel, and features the podium, a rare opportunity used in championships and the Olympics. Entry fee for athletes of all levels is $145. Huntington Center. 500 Jefferson Ave. Seagate Centre. 401 Jefferson Ave. 419-255-3300. Elevatethestage.com
Lined with Memories
Stay-at-home mom Emily Jones was folding her infant son’s clothes when a business idea popped in her head. As her kids grew out of baby clothes she wanted to preserve the memories associated with each clothing item. Then the idea came to her. Why not carry those memories with you, as part of your daily life?
Rooted Leather is Jones’ local business that lines pre-owned fabrics into leather handbags. Customers send in pieces of fabric and Jones uses the materials as interior liners for the bags.
Preserving memories
Jones’ brother sparked her initial interest in entrepreneurship after he started a successful carpentry business with a partner on Instagram. “I was watching them build their business and build a following and create beautiful products and I thought — I could do something like that,” explains Jones. “It was important that I didn’t feel like I was reinventing or taking someone else’s idea. I’m proud of the original idea behind Rooted Leather.”
The Rooted Leather process is straightforward: Customers send in a fabric with sentimental meaning for them, and Jones transforms it. She’s received fabrics ranging from dance leotards, to baby blankets, military uniforms, jeans, quilts, hats and ties. “I do not take it lightly that people trust me with their fabric to make those bags,” said Jones.
Each bag liner is unique; some fabrics aren’t large enough to line the entire bag or the material is difficult to sew. “If I’m not really confident, I will not take scissors to it,” Jones said. Jones has two rules— nothing knitted and she will not cut apart a whole wedding dress. “There’s a lot of interaction between me and my customers— I want them to feel involved in the process,” said Jones. “I want customers to receive their item and have it feel like a warm, big hug from the person who wore the fabric.”
Family matters
Although Rooted Leather is family oriented, Jones says it’s not what might be called a “family business”. Jones’ family helps out from time to time. Her mother helps with the front end and back end of the business.
Jones is currently considering ideas for expansion and doing limited edition bags and she wants to begin to personalize other leather items, not just for women. She plans to add a men’s line to include wallets and overnight bags. She also plans on participating in two local art shows this summer— Art on the Mall at the University of Toledo and Sylvania’s Maple & Main Art and Music Festival.
As her business continues to grow, Jones sees Toledo as a great opportunity for her to network and promote Rooted Leather. “Toledo has a really great art scene. There’s a lot of inspiration here,” Jones said. “What I have is a cool idea and I hope to continue to expand and grow what I’m doing.”
rootedleather.com
Instagram: @rooted_leather
Facebook: Rooted Leather
Refuge Through Dance: Toledo Ballet classes, performances renewed
The past year has been one of pauses, cancellations and closings for many entities which provide entertainment and enrichment. As the pandemic moved beyond the one-year mark, many cherished cultural and entertainment options are still closed or curtailed. Except one. “We never went away,” said Vanessa Gardner, Toledo Ballet director of marketing and communications. “We’ve been pretty much in full swing, performing virtually and in the studio throughout the last year.”
Established in 1939, the Toledo Ballet hosts the longest consecutive running production of “The Nutcracker” in the nation, continuing a beloved tradition that has become synonymous with the holidays in Toledo. And in 2020, the Toledo Ballet continued that streak, the only ballet company to do so. Originally scheduled for in-person and virtual performance (an uptick in COVID-19 cases required performances to be virtual only), but the show continued.
Carrying On Performances and Classes
“We’ve been able to continue with our regular schedule by using distanced in-person or virtual presentations,” Gardner said. In-person performances have been held at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Peristyle or in the Ballet’s studio, and most in-person performances have also been available virtually. In addition, the Ballet’s summer dance intensives program last year was held outdoors, weather permitting, in cooperation with Metroparks Toledo.
The Ballet offered in-person performances until November of last year, and then began again in March. The most recent in-person performances were April’s “Moving Soliloquies,” an original production from Michael Lang, Toledo Ballet resident Director / Choreographer, and May’s “Dancing Fairy Tales,” featuring the stories of Hans Christian Andersen and others.
Ballet classes have continued on a regular schedule, offered in person and virtually. According to Zac Vasser, Ballet President and CEO, maintaining the schedule has been critical. “Continuing our classes reinforces the values that matter to us: hard work, creativity and instilling a sense of confidence in our students,” he said.
This summer, the schedule for the Toledo Ballet is devoted to camps and intensives.
Summer Intensives:
The Broadway DANCE Experience with the Toledo Ballet’s Artistic Director Lisa Mayer-Lang and Director / Choreographer Michael Lang – June 28 – July 2
Summer Ballet Intensives
Melissa Gelfin DePoli, Principal Dancer of the Cincinnati Ballet – June 21-25
Renato Penteado, Former Principal Dancer of the Miami City Ballet – July 26-30
Lauren Fadeley, Principal Soloist of the Miami City Ballet – August 2-6
Summer Camps:
Alice in Wonderland & Other Fairy Tales Camp (ages 4-5) – June 21-25
Jungle Book & Animals of the Wild Camp (ages 4-5) – July 12-16
Dance Exploration Camp (ages 6-8) – June 21-25 and July 12-16
The Nutcracker Camp (ages 7-12) – July 19-23
Toledo Ballet looks forward to, and is preparing for, another season this fall. And note on your calendar now, the 81st annual performance of “The Nutcracker” will take place on December 10-12.
AMAYsing Kids Hosts Broadcasting Camp
Online registration recently began for aMAYsing Kids Broadcasting Camp and Media Mentorship. This organization is a nonprofit, and they hope that through the camp kids in grades 4-8 will be able to become proficient readers. The camp is designed for those interested in broadcasting, with a focus on the fundamentals of television, radio, and podcasting. “This is an unique approach to get kids excited about reading, while sparking an interest in broadcasting,” aMAYsing’s executive director, Tisha Lee, stated. The camp is free and runs from June 28th-August 13th at either 9:30 a.m.-12:p.m. or 1:30 p.m.-4:30p.m. Space is limited, so sign up is recommended as soon as possible. To register for the camp or learn more about the organization go to amaysingkids.org.
New Siberian Tiger Cubs at Toledo Zoo
In a recent announcement by the Toledo Zoo, two new Siberian tigers were welcomed in, one female and one male. The two of them were both born at the facility this year on March 19, an addition that greatly helped their endangered species. In a press release, Jeff Sailer, president and CEO of the Zoo, stated, “I am so proud of the Zoo’s animal caretakers and veterinary staff for their hard work in making the birth of these two cubs possible.” The baby tigers made their public debut on June 12. The Zoo has yet to name the two cubs, but the public is encouraged to cast their votes here from now until June 30. Toledo Zoo. 2 Hippo Way. (419) 385-4040. toledozoo.org
Build A Trust Bowl-A-Thon at The New Glass Bowl Lanes
A local group is hoping to build trust between those in uniform and the community, all through a shared love of bowling.
The 8th Build A Trust Bowl-A-Thon will be held Saturday, June 26 from noon until 3 p.m. at The New Glass Bowl Lanes, 5133 Telegraph Road.
George W. Hayes Jr. founded the Bowl-A-Thon in 2015 with the goal of establishing trust between police officers and the citizens they serve. His mission was to, “realize that we are just people regardless of who you are or what you are, just people!”
Saturday’s event will bring police officers, firefighters and some members of the military together with the community to bowl, mingle and have fun.
Harris said that the event aims to encourage law enforcement and citizens, “not to be afraid of each other.”
The Bowl-A-Thon is sponsored by the University of Toledo Police Department and Jon Harris of McDonald’s. There will also be music and door prizes.
Harris will be covering the price so all kids ages 17 years old and younger can bowl for free. The price is $5 for adults which includes three games of bowling and shoe rental. All proceeds from the event will be invested back into the program.
To request more information email George W. Hayes Jr., [email protected].