Following the recent debut of the Imagination Station’s H20 Cafe, changes to the science center continued today with the groundbreaking of the forthcoming Key Bank Theater.
“This theater will change the way the science center will deliver science education,” Imagination Station Chief Executive Lori Hauser said. “It will be a wonderful impact on our building itself. It will change the whole look and feel of how we are perceived in the community and how we deliver some of our programming.”
Lori Hauser
The theater, which will boast a 58-feet wide screen and 3D features, was made possible by support from local businesses and the citizens of Toledo, plus Key Bank’s $2 million contribution.
“This gift we are making is designed to not only build the theater, but to also provide programming to Toledo Public Schools,” said Key Bank Regional President Jim Hoffman.
JIm Hoffman
According to Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz, the Imagination Station’s new theater is a step in the right direction for Toledo and its community.
“This is another step in the direction we all want to go,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “That is a city where people want to be, people want to raise their families, people want to enjoy their families.”
Mayor Kapszukiewicz
The learning center is a year-long never-ending source of opportunity for everyone. To keep the learning going, the science center will be open during the construction of the Theater.
“I’m going to pull out a Henry Ford quote, Kapszukiewicz said. “It says, ‘you only become old when you stop learning.’ This is a place where people can stay young by continuing to learn and to challenge themselves and to grow.”
The construction for the Key Bank Theater is predicted to be finished June 2020.
Chief Scientist Carl Nelson and colleagues conduct colorful experiments inside and outside Imagination Station
We’re giving two lucky readers the ultimate must-haves in baby gear this month. Register for your chance to win prizes which could include a Beanko changing pad for parents on the go, a BB LUV Ultra Complete Diaper Bag, a soft Snugglebumpkinz swaddle blanket, a Wicked crib sheet, Baby Brezza baby bottles, Miracle Ware muslin washcloths and more.
A new business has just opened its doors in Temperance, Michigan to help students avoid the summer learning slump and to offer a little extra help when school is in session. Tutors and Beyond offers one-on-one and small group tutoring for basic K-12 curriculums, homework help and special tutoring tailored to the needs of any learner. Tutoring and Beyond also offers summer day camps, math learning camps, and ELA learning workshops. Tutoring sessions will be available for a semester or for the full year, beginning in September.
Learn more at tutorsandbeyond.com Tutors and Beyond, 9030 Secor Rd., Temperance, MI | 734-731-5149
Kathy McKnight Pietrowski is pictured with her three stylish children sporting her very own designs.
The success of sewing
Kathy McKnight Pietrowski never thought she could accomplish the unthinkable. The mother of three daughters, not fond of the fashions that were available to those girls on the market, she took matters into her own hands. What started as an interest in making a difference for her children turned into a successful business endeavor.
“I started making children’s clothing and I sold the very first thing I ever made,” said Pietrowski. After realizing that people wanted to buy everything she made, Pietrowski liked the idea of having her own business and learned to sew in order to make that dream happen.
For the girls
Wanting little girls to feel special, the first of the KPea Originals started with a lot of dresses and leggings that were brightly colored. “Clothes are designed to make young girls grow up a little too quickly. We just want them to be little girls a little longer,” explains Pietrowski. She also wanted clothes that were comfortable since she knew kids would be more likely to wear them. “Our dresses have cotton spandex so they are like wearing t-shirts,” said Pietrowski.
This is Pietrowski’s eleventh year in business and she admits it is her life. “I have zero hobbies; I sew, run my business and have four kids so I am busy with a staff and taking packages of completed clothing to the post office to be mailed,” said Pietrowski.
Her storefront in Elmore is also the workshop. “It is cool because people can come in and shop but also see us cutting, sewing and shipping which is fun.” Pietrowski prides herself on offering a different experience, where people can see things being made in America.
While there are many local clients that shop the brick and mortar store, there is also a sizeable KPea Original online inventory. “I think that buying stuff that is made and sewn here is great. It is good for everyone because it keeps money in the local economy and the people that sew for me sew from home with high quality fabric, making good products,” said Pietrowski. All drafting and patterns are original. “I did not study this in school, we just learned how to do it as we went along,” said Pietrowski.
Easy does it
Operations are quite simple. “I like the business model where I sew a dress, take a picture of it and sell it,” said Pietrowski. Social media has been an asset for marketing, reaching clients as far away as Japan. The styles change constantly. “We loaded an animal themed line last night and they were all sold in about an hour,” said Pietrowski. Her oldest daughter is 12 and although she is still young, she is interested in the business and Pietrowski believes she will likely take over one day. “They sew a little, just not necessarily in a straight line yet,” she comments.
To learn more about this stylish and unique clothing line for girls, visit kpea.co.
Kpea Originals are as cute as they are comfortable. NICOLE SLOVAK PHOTOGRAPHY
Q&A
What’s your favorite activity to do with your family/kids?
We love going to the Zoo together!
What’s your go-to activity when you finally have a few minutes to yourself?
Honestly, when I have time to myself, I go for a walk. We have a great walking trail in Elmore. I love to walk, clear my mind and pray.
What’s your favorite Toledo hangout?
We love eating at Registry Bistro. We often go with friends for a night out.
Describe your life in five words.
My life is crazy, fun, fast-paced and full of color.
The sound of kids running, laughing and playing is often music to a parent’s ear. A simple joy of childhood, playtime creates educational opportunities as children interact with their environment and other people. However, for children with disabilities or sensory impairments, playtime is not quite as simple.
Children with sensory disorders, such as autism, may face hyper-sensitivities or hypo-sensitivities — over-responsiveness and under-responsiveness to sensory stimulants. Certain lights, sounds, or textures can cause the child to become uncomfortable and that can make playing difficult.
A safe space for play
The Toledo Sensory Room is a safe space for all children, but specifically those with sensory impairments, to engage in play. Nicole Danz, the volunteer coordinator for The Toledo Sensory Room, said, “We are providing a multi-sensory environment where sensory stimulation can be monitored and the kids can actively or passively interact with this environment, ultimately getting the chance to play in a way that meets his/her individualized needs.”
Equipped for fun
The room opened in 2012 when The University of Toledo and ProMedica, working together, received a grant to help provide the funds for the room’s equipment. They then collaborated with Special Kids Therapy, which hosts its own sensory room in Findlay, to determine what equipment would be most beneficial for The Toledo Sensory Room.
The facility is an open space located in the ProMedica Finnegan Family Autism Center. Children can interact with toys like the ball pit, a small climbing wall, bubble machines, and a chair that vibrates and pulses to the beat of music. There are also various texture toys and a sensory wall with varying textures, toys that make different sounds, and toys that move. “Some kids enjoy lights, some enjoy sounds, some enjoy the touch and feel of different textures. So we have all that in one room,” said Danz. During the warmer months, an outdoor enclosed playground space is open to the children as well.
Details about visiting
Run by volunteers from the University of Toledo Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, the volunteers help to guide the children with their interactions in the room and facilitate play. Parents and guardians are asked to stay to interact with their children and the environment as well.
The ProMedica Finnegan Family Autism Center, 2040 W. Central Avenue. Open three times a month; two Tuesdays from 5-7pm and one Saturday from 10am-12pm. Specific days are posted on The Toledo Sensory Room’s Facebook, facebook.com/toledosensoryroom. Admission into the room is free.
You’ve got the basics of food, clothing and shelter covered for your family, but what about financial
security? Do you have an emergency fund set up? How much should you be saving for college? Is it
necessary for kids to still know how to write a check? Here a local expert answers some of your money
questions.
1. How much money should I put away each month to fund college education?
I don’t think you can put a specific dollar amount on it. On average, tuition costs rise 8% annually, so it’s important to try and keep pace with it. However, that’s not always realistic for many people. I always tell clients that something is better than nothing; $25 a month will be worth it 18 years from now.
2. Are there different college funds that pertain to Ohio / Michigan and/or are there college funds that can be used at any college in any state?
Most states in the U.S. do have a specific state sponsored plan. The significance with the state sponsored plans is that you have to use the state’s plan that you live in to receive an annual state income tax credit. For example, in Michigan you can receive up to $10,000 a year state tax deduction per beneficiary per year. In Ohio, the state income tax deduction is $4,000 per year per beneficiary. The state specific plans have no effect on what state you can use the funds for school. You will be eligible to use the fund any state in the country.
3. What amount of money should we have set aside for an emergency fund?
This may vary from person to person. Our general thought is, if you have two income earners in your home, you should have three months’ worth of expenses as a cash reserve. If you have one income earner, you should have six months’ worth of expenses as a cash reserve.
4. If you had to choose just one, would you put money in a 401k or a savings account first?
If I had to choose one, I would choose a savings account. It is important to make sure you have a cash reserve on hand in case of an emergency, before worrying about retirement.
5. At what age should you be talking to kids about the value of $1?
It is important that kids understand the value of a dollar, but I’m not sure you can place an exact age on when to teach them. Kids are a lot smarter than they are given credit for and catch on to things at a very young age. I think when teaching any important lesson, it’s best to start young, and explain it in a way that they will understand.
6. Any tips for getting kids to save at a young age?
One rule I recently heard that I like a lot is to have your child put 50% of their birthday, Christmas, etc. money into a savings account, and keep the other 50% for their own personal use. That way, the process is ingrained in them early.
7. So much banking is digital anymore (think PayPal, Venmo and more). Is it important to make sure kids still know how to write checks and count change?
While technology is seemingly taking over banking (among other things), it’s still important to make sure kids know how to write checks and count change. Anything could happen that could result in technology not being right at our fingertips, yet we would still need to pay our bills.
