Achieve Center Opens New Doors

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October 1, 2016

Achieve Career Preparatory Academy started the school year at a new campus on Martha Avenue in Toledo. The renovated facility has extensive technology, including a 3-D computer lab, a huge gym, full kitchen and plenty of green space. Achieve is a tuition-free community high school educating grades 8-12. Students create a career or college plan and can work in their area of interest while gaining valuable experience and job training, with the ability to graduate in two years.

Achieve Career Preparatory Academy
3891 Martha Ave | Toledo | Ohio

The Arts Commission is Creating Colorful Murals in the Old West End

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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October 1, 2016

There’s new art in the neighborhood, thanks to a project collaboration between the Old West End Neighborhood Initiatives (OWENI) and The Arts Commission. The project was planned with input from OWENI leadership and residents to beautify the community through resident engagement. Under the direction of local artist Natalie Lanese, youth volunteers from the Kent Library Branch helped to create a mural for installation on Detroit Avenue. Lanese designed imagery for local youth to paint, which took about 100 hours and one month to complete. This project created partnerships within the neighborhood, provided artistic opportunities and brightened up a gateway into the central city.

You can find the mural at 3333 N Detroit Avenue.

Kristian Brown: Working TV Mom Gives Advice

By

Christine A. Holliday

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October 1, 2016

Kiristian-Brown_ParentProfile — Kristian Brown and her husband Tirrell are parents to 11-year-old Isaiah and 8-year-old twins Laila (near her mom) and Lauren.

Moms know the drill. They have to keep on top of it all: school schedules, health appointments, sports activities, and local events.

Kristian Brown is one of those moms. With three children, she is busy keeping tabs on her brood’s homework, sports matches, and visits to friends. At the same time, she works as a news reporter and anchor at 13abc WTVG-TV, keeping the rest of us
informed with the news we need.

Lights, Camera, Action

Brown got her first taste of broadcasting at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, as a member of the class of 1996. She recalls her excitement at being asked to do the morning announcements, saying she was hooked on broadcasting from that moment. With the help of her late father, Pastor Richard Brown, she learned and developed time management skills and study habits. Then she took her enthusiasm and abilities to the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University to earn a degree in broadcast journalism. Following her first job was as a reporter at KTVE in Monroe, LA, she returned to work at WTOL TV 11 in Toledo before joining 13abc.

She has a long list of awards and honors for her work on television, including Toledo’s coveted 20 Under 40 Award in 2007, the Northwest Ohio Black Media Association Media Achievement Award in 2008, and a Telly Award and Associated Press award for her story entitled “Hip Hop Math.”

Finding Balance

Keeping us all informed forces her to work long days, learning to balance the fluctuating schedules of a broadcaster with that of a wife and mom. “I absolutely believe that being a mom made me a better journalist. I believe I am tapped into what moms want to know to keep their families safe, because I feel the same way. But, at the same time, I don’t have it all together; it’s a constant effort,” Brown said.

She credits her mom and her husband Terrill with keeping things going on the home front. “I am blessed that my mother is retired. She has been the true force in allowing me to keep a balance. It is tough working 9:30am to 6:30pm. My kids have after-school activities, they have homework, we have to keep up with the laundry and make sure dinner is made. My mom plays the role of tutor, and my husband is the after-school ‘Uber’ for the kids and their activities. It is not always seamless, but we make it work.”

Breathe, Believe, Receive

Brown has some good advice for other working moms. “Breathe. Find time to do something you love for an hour a day. I enjoy going to the gym. It makes me feel accomplished and it also make my health a priority.”

She continues, “Believe. You must believe that you are making an impact in your home. Sometimes it feels like the work will never end, but all your hard work will pay off. One day, your kids will be appreciative, compassionate and positive contributors to the community.”

“Receive,” she insists. “We all like to think we can do it all…but sometimes we cannot. If someone offers a hand, let them. Use the extra time to breathe!”

“I’ve learned to do what I can,” this busy working mom explains, “and not cry over what I cannot. I surrender the rest in prayer.” Good advice!

Toledo Lucas County Library Welcomes the new King Branch

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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October 1, 2016

With cooler days and longer nights upon us, fall is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book. When Toledo Lucas County Public Library opens its 20th branch location this month, it’ll be even easier to pick up some great reading material. The King Road Branch Library in Sylvania will officially open its doors on October 10. You’ll still find traditional library services like storytime and book checkout, but this new branch will offer state-of-the-art technology and convenient amenities like a drive-thru to pick up and drop off materials.

For more details on the grand opening, visit toledolibrary.org.
3986 King Road | Toledo

Including Your Kids in the Conversation: Nourishing Bodies and Mind

By

Sam Melden

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October 1, 2016

I love my kitchen table. A few friends of mine made it out of wood left over from the repairs the front porch of our old house. It’s one of those “trendy” farm-style tables, but it was also quite cheap because it was repurposed from an intense building project. It seats 8-10 people and will be in our house for a long, long time. Recently, my wife and I have been thinking about the role this table plays in our kids lives.

Heart of the home

We have three daughters and they eat and draw and read and write at that table. They also laugh and scream and argue and spill and smear food at that table. It holds a significant place in their life and whether they know it or not, it fills an important role in their development. How to clean up and how to have fun with your family.

And while they are learning manners and listening skills they are also learning how Mommy and Daddy interact with each other. Learning about conflict and resolution and sustenance and contentment and lack and want. It is the place our children are filled. We have some really great moments around this table. But what else our little ones be learning at this table?

A few nights a week, after the kids go to bed, this table transforms into the space where my wife, Lindsey, and I discuss all different issues. Sometimes we’re talking about what homeschooling might look like in upcoming weeks. Sometimes we are talking about family and friends or what’s happening in the neighborhood or what bills we need to pay. Sometimes we are talking about current events and headlines and political candidates and campaigns. And while the subjects may change, around this table everything is in someway connected. Yet, we have found that sometimes there can be a hefty, and not so healthy, distance between the kitchen table experience our kids have and the kitchen table experience we have.

We want to merge the two. How can we talk about the issues that really matter to us with our kids? And especially in this election season, how can we talk to our girls about the political issues that matter to our family? How can we begin to merge those two conversations when appropriate and formative to our young children?

I think the best way to form some of the most central habits and perspectives in our children is to begin with those topics and issues that are most central to them. Want to talk about poverty? Talk about hunger at the dinner table and see what conversation emerges. Sure, it may be easy to talk to my three daughters about the possibility of the first woman president in US history, but what about crumbling infrastructure and pothole-ridden roads and tap water with microcystin? Go to the lake and ask them what color the water should be. Then start to explore how the water became that shade of neon green. The next time you are on a bike ride together ask them who should take care of the roads? All of these conversations, bit by bit, add up to something.

As we have started to explore these discussions, we found we need our children in this dialogue. They are the most creative, intuitive and imaginative people on the planet. Why not give them a shot at thinking about these things?

When we teach our kids, we force ourselves to become more informed. We gain perspective. By talking to our children we discover the issues that really matter. It is an active practice that forces us to be involved. It forces us to research and dig for answers to those questions your kids ask that leave you stumped.

“Kitchen table politics” is a common term in political circles referring to issues that immediately affect our lives. What is more immediate than our kids? What has a deeper effect than their well-being? What if kitchen table politics referred to the issues that mattered to you so much, that you had to talk to your children about it? What would that list look like for you? I encourage you to explore it.

Sam Meldon is committed to furthering the common good in Toledo
through politics, leadership and community involvement
while including three daughters with his wife Lindsey.

Halloween Guide: A go-to Resource to Guarantee a Spooktacular October

By

Kimberly Feldkamp

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October 1, 2016

There’s so much to love about fall – the crisp air, the beauty of the changing leaves and the fun of pumpkin patches, hayrides, haunted houses, and trick-or-treating. We’ve rounded up a boo-tiful list of Halloween happenings.

Happy Haunting!

Pick a Pumpkin Patch

Fleitz Pumpkin Farm

Daily 10am-7pm through October 31
7133 Seaman Rd. | Oregon
419-836-7613 | Fleitzpumpkinfarm.com

It’s not fall without a trip to the pumpkin patch. Head to Fleitz Pumpkin Farm to find your perfect pumpkin, wander through mini corn mazes and feed goats and chickens.You can hop on a hayride for $1 before hitting the snack shack with homemade apple doughnuts and apple cider.

Country Tree Lane Farms

Fall Festival | Panic in the Pines*
Haunted Hayride and Trail*
11am-4pm Saturday and Sundays all October
3523 Balander Rd. | Genoa
419-461-1298 | countrylanetreefarm.com

You’ll find something fun for everyone here! There’s cow-milking, farm animal feeding, a petting zoo, pony rides, a playground and a corn maze. All of that before you hit the area’s largest pumpkin patch. Admission is $5 for adults, $10 for kids ages 3-10; under 2 are free. If you dare for a scare, stick around for the Panic in the Pines Haunted Hayride and Trail *October 15, 22 & 29. Tickets are $20. Panic in the Pines is not recommended for small children.

Johnson Fruit Farm

8am-7pm daily
2790 US-20 ALT | Swanton
419-826-1453 | johnsonfruitfarms.com

Interested in apple or pumpkin picking? This is the place to go to pick out your own produce or find the perfect gourd. There’s also apple cider, homemade donuts and a petting zoo.

Fall Festivals Apple Stir Festival

10am-6pm | October 1-2
MacQueen Orchards
7605 Garden Rd. | Holland
419-865-2916 | macqueenorchards.com

For more than 30 years this festival has been a great way to kickstart the autumn season. Join in on family festivities with apple picking, touring the Giant Apple Cider Press, and riding in wagons. Live performances, an apple pie baking contest, pony rides and bounce houses will keep everyone entertained.

Sylvania Fall Festival

11am-4pm | October 16
Downtown Sylvania | Sylvaniafallfest.com

Don’t miss this annual tradition in its 31st year. Enjoy food and craft vendors, kids’ activities and games and a fun parade through the streets of downtown Sylvania. Kids of all ages are welcome and your four-legged friends are, too!

Northwood Fall Festival

11am-10pm | October 8
Central Park (corner of Wales and Oram) | Northwood

Spend your Saturday outside at Central Park! This festival kicks off with a parade at 11am, followed by games, a cornhole tournament, a car show, a beer garden and ends with live entertainment.

Grand Rapids Applebutter Fest

10am-5pm | October 9
Downtown Grand Rapids | Grand Rapids | Ohio
419-748-8238 | applebutterfest.org

A traditional fall event that’s fun for the whole family. Enjoy making apple butter and experiencing farm exhibits, pioneer demonstrations, military and colonial life reenactments, and feast on fall foods such as bratwurst, steel-kettle bean soup and apple creations.

Fall on the Farm

10am-5pm | October 8
Sauder Village
22611 State Route 2 | Archbold | Ohio
419-446-2541 | saudervillage.org

Take a step back in time and help prepare the farm for the winter ahead! Roll up your sleeves and get ready to shell corn, pick apples and make apple cider. At Fall on the Farm, children get a sense of farm life with hands-on activities such as digging potatoes, making pumpkin leather, drying apples and churning butter.

Halloween safety tips

By Randi Petrello

Keep anything too frightening from happening to your little ghosts and goblins by following a few simple safety tips:

Choose the right costume: A bright, light-colored costume is easier to see at night, and one that fits well will prevent trips and falls. Add glow sticks or reflective tape to increase visibility.
Inspect your children’s candy: Look through the candy and toss any that appear to be open. If in doubt, throw it away.
Be street safe: Cross at street corners and crosswalks. Do not cut between parked cars.
Visit: only well lit homes in familiar neighborhoods.
Older kids: trick or treating without adults should stick to a group.

Amazing (corn) Mazes

Kackleberry Farm

It’s a great corn maze, Charlie Brown! Kackleberry Farm is one of 90 farms across the country to feature a unique, one-of-a-kind corn maze that pays tribute to the beloved Halloween classic It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! You won’t want to miss this maze, open until November 6. A regular farm pass is $12.

Leaders Farm

Fri 6-10pm | Sat 2-10pm,
Sunday 2-9pm until October 30
0064 Co. Rd. 16 | Napoleon
419-599-1570 | leadersfarm.com

Another local location to feature a unique corn maze that pays tribute to the Halloween classic It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown! If this amazing maze isn’t enough, there’s also a barnyard, hayrides, jumping pillow and more to keep the family entertained. Prices start at $9 for ages five and up and increase depending on activities.

Haunted Happenings

Garrison Ghostwalk

7-9:30pm | October 21 & 28
Fort Meigs: Ohio War of 1812 Battlefield
29100 W. River Rd. | Perrysburg
419 -874-4121 | fortmeigs.org

Make your reservation now for this spirited stroll through Fort Meigs. An 1812 tour guide will lead your family through the historic place, sharing tales from the past. A frightfully fun event for the whole family.

Family Haunted Bike Ride

10:30am-3pm | October 22
Oak Openings Preserve | Whitehouse
register.mvadventures.org

Exercise combines with fall fun in this family bike event that covers three to five miles of haunted trail, all within Oak Openings Metropark. The Maumee Valley Adventurers haunted ride is designed for families with children ages 12 and under. Put on your costume and bike helmet and hit the park for a memorable fall day.

ScreamAcres Haunted Cornfield

Dark to 10pm Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
through October 30
Leaders Farm 0064 Co. Rd. 16 | Napoleon
419-599-1570 | screamacres.com

If your teens are looking for a real fright, Scream Acres is sure to deliver! It’s a night full of terror as you as you make your way through a haunted cornfield, monster-infested laboratories, wild warzones and more.
Not recommended for young children.

Frightfully Fun Stuff Boo on the Boat

10am-2pm
Museum of the Great Lakes
1701 Front St. | Toledo
419-214-5000 | inlandseas.org

Your ghouls and goblins will have loads of Halloween fun aboard one of Toledo’s most historic haunts, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker Museum Ship. Come in costume to trick-or-treat from the pilot house to the galley and everywhere in between. Museum admission required.

Sky Zone Black Light Trunk or Treat

7-9pm | October 30
1600 Albon Rd. | Holland
419-491-1194 | skyzone.com/toledo

Sky Zone indoor trampoline park will go dark for a special black-light trick-or-treating event. Youngsters can walk through Sky Zone collecting candy before hitting the back lot where cars will be decorated for a trunk or treat. Cost is $10 per child.

Halloween Boo Cruise

October 26-29
Departure times: Weekdays: 5:30, 6:15 and 7pm
Saturday: noon, 12:45, 1:30 and 2:15pm
Sandpiper Boat | Jefferson Ave. Docks
Jefferson Ave. & Summit St | Toledo
419-537-1212 | sandpiperboat.com

By land or by sea, trick or treat is a guarantee. This Halloween, leave dry land and check out a Boo Cruise with your little ones. A non-scary experience for kids of all ages, this 30-minute boat ride delivers plenty of treats and little tricks. Be sure to bring your costume on board!

Fall Family Fun Nights

6-9pm | October 21-22
Sauder Village
22611 State Route 2 | Archbold | Ohio
419-446-2541 | saudervillage.org

The tricks begin once the sun goes down during Fall Family Fun Nights at Sauder Village. Treat your family to some Halloween fun with hayrides, pumpkin painting, evening train rides and more! Pre-registration is required.

Boo at the Toledo Zoo

10am-3pm | October 20-21
2 Hippo Way | Toledo
419-385-5721 | toledozoo.org/boo

A chance for toddlers and preschoolers to delight without the fright! The little ones come in costume to trick-or-treat throughout the zoo, play games and make Halloween crafts. Separate fee.

Pumpkin Path

10am-4pm | October 22-23
2 Hippo Way | Toledo
419-385-5721 | toledozoo.org/pumpkins

Pumpkin Path is when the Halloween fun really comes alive! In addition to trick-or-treating for all ages, there will also be games, artistic pumpkin carving demonstrations, bounce houses and magic shows to entertain all the ghosts and goblins. Separate fee.

Jumping Pumpkins

10am-3pm | October 29
2 Hipp Way | Toledo
419-385-5721 | toledozoo.org/jumpingpumpkins

Zoo animals get to share in the Halloween fun when they find pumpkins in their exhibits. Some of will make a meal and others will make a mess, but all of them will be using their natural instincts and displaying natural behaviors.

Trunk or Treat Fun Festival

3-6pm | October 13
First Baptist Church of Greater Toledo
6520 Pilliod Rd. | Holland
419-865-9174 | fbcogt.com

Grab your costumes and head to this free festival. In addition to trick or treating, kids can enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting and more. Don’t miss it!

Trunk or Treat

6-8pm | October 26
Crossroads Community Church
6960 Sylvania Petersburg Rd. | Ottawa Lake | MI
734-854-130 | crossroadson23.com

Enjoy safe, family-friendly trick or treating where kids can visit more than 75 decorated car trunks at Crossroads Community Church parking lot. There’s also inflatables, live music, hayrides, stage performances, a photo booth, bonfire and more! This is a free event, except for food available for purchase.

Spooky Science

12-5pm | October 22-23 | 29-30
Imagination Station | 1 Discovery Way
419-244-2674 | imaginationstationtoledo.org

You’ve never seen science this scary- or fun! Explore the hair-raising, bone-chilling, spine-tingling myths of Halloween while learning chemistry, physics and biology with fun, spooky activities.

Trick or Treat Times

Toledo
October 31 | 6 – 8pm

Sylvania/ Sylvania Township
October 31 | 6 – 7:30pm

Ottawa Hills
October 31 | 6 – 7:30pm

Waterville
October 31 | 6 – 8pm

Whitehouse
October 31 | 6 – 8pm

Bowling Green
October 31 | 6 – 8pm