Harvey House: A Welcoming Place for LGBTQ+ Youth

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March 24, 2017

Four in 10 LGBT youth say their community is not accepting of LGBT people, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Two years ago, Harvey House founders, Angela Boday and Kristen Angelo, looking for resources for LGBTQ+ youth, found no local resources with that emphasis. Angela and Kristen brainstormed ways to fill that gap as many LGBTQ+ youth are in need of support. Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are often at risk for bullying and feeling ashamed, perhaps leading to physical harm and homelessness.

The Harvey House, a drop in community center focused on LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-19 years old, provides a safe environment, support system, food, clothing closet, hygiene kits, homework help, art classes and job training. Will Strayer, Harvey House Vice President, says, “I grew up in a small town in Georgia and I know what it’s like to spend your life struggling and hiding who you are. I really appreciate that I get to help kids not have to go through that.”

The Harvey House will be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-8pm
and Saturdays from 12-7pm.
1415 West Sylvania Ave | harveyhousewo.org

Notre Dame Academy Speech Coach Earns His First Diamond

By

TiAnna Anderson

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March 24, 2017

Dave DeChristoper, teacher and speech coach at Notre Dame Academy and Creative Director at the Toledo Repertoire Theater, earned his first diamond from the National Speech and Debate Association this year. DeChristopher, excited as a theater, drama, and speech enthusiast since his high school years, is also very humbled. “As a speech coach, I get to nudge the girls in a certain direction, however (their performance selection) is their own and they have total ownership over it. It’s exciting to see where they take it.”

Dave has served as the assistant coach for the Notre Dame speech and debate club for the last eight years, after his long-time friend and head coach, Trish Sanders, asked for his help. Some years they have as many as 100 students on the team.

The last week of February marked the end of the season with 26 young ladies competing in the state championship. Under Trish and Dave’s leadership, the students reached 7th overall out of 100 competing schools.

Maddie Vesoulis: finished 4th out of 75 in Original Oratory
Ada Ogbonna: reached the semifinals in Declamation
Sadie Kaplan: reached the semifinals in United States Extemporaneous Speaking

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria opens in Toledo

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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March 24, 2017

1000 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, a fast-casual restaurant franchise that serves hand-tossed pizza, is moving into the plaza at 5380 Monroe St., which houses Verizon Wireless and The Shed. The pizzeria opened at the end of March. 1000degreespizza.com

Make new mom friends with the Peanut app

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Kimberly Feldkamp

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March 24, 2017

Looking to find some new mom friends? There’s now an app for that. Peanut is a social media app for mothers to meet and connect with other women. Login with your Facebook account to create a profile, then wait for the friendship recommendations (based on proximity and common interest) to roll in! The app provides recommendations to connect moms based on certain commonalities like age and gender of children, hobbies, educational background and more. Show your interest in another mom by swiping upward on a profile picture. Peanut is free but currently only available for iOS, and can be downloaded through the app store.

Cinnamon Stick Bakery offers more than just homemade pie

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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March 24, 2017

There’s another option in town to pick up a homemade pie, grab some cookies and other sweet treats or to enjoy a dessert cocktail. Cinnamon Stick Bakery just celebrated its grand opening on North Holland-Sylvania Road. The bakery, specializing in fruit and cream pies, also has a tasty selection of cookies, brownies and coffees.

3535 N. Holland Sylvania Road.

Another fast-casual pizza concept is coming to town

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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March 24, 2017

Pizza lovers rejoice. Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza, another fast-casual, artisanal pizza concept, is coming to town, opening this spring on Central Avenue near Wing Stop and Piada. Blaze Pizza features an interactive open-kitchen format where guests customize one of the menu’s signature pizzas or create their own from a wide selection of ingredients for around $8. The personal pizzas are then sent to a blazing hot open-flame oven — the centerpiece of the restaurant — and fast fire’d in about 180 seconds. Blaze also offers freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s’mores pies. This will be the eatery’s third Ohio location.