Run 4 Love with Toledo Children's Hospital at Hensville

July 1, 2016

Saturday, 7.9 / Hensville

There are many ways to show support for children battling cancer. Thanks to the inspiration of local nine year olds, Jacey Warner and MacKenna Gibson, the community will come together for Run 4 Love. This special event, made possible by ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital, helps support children with cancer through contributions, both monetary and personal, like hair donation. The Run 4 Love includes a 5K race and stations to cut hair to be donated children in need. Proceeds benefit Debbie Brass Cancer Center at ProMedica Toledo Children’s Hospital, Children With Hair Loss, and the St. Baldrick Foundation. Register by July 7. Saturday, July 9, 7:30/sign in, 8:30-noon/haircutting station, 9am/5K walk/run begins. $35/run rate, $30/walk rate, free/spectators. Donations accepted.

Hensville | 9 N. Clair St.
therunforlove.com

There’s Excitement in the Air with the Return of the Toledo Air Show

Digital Media

July 1, 2016

Saturday, 7.16 & Sunday, 7.17 / Toledo Express Airport

There’s excitement in the air with the return of the Toledo Air Show, with some of the best flying maneuvers and stunts from around the country. The show features the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, including F-16 Fighting Falcons’ death-defying tricks no more than 18 inches apart at 700 miles per hour. Other acts include the Ohio Air National Guard F-16 Vipers and the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Whether by air or by land, the air show will keep you on the edge of your seat. 9am-5pm. Advance tickets: $20/adults, $14/ages 5-12, $10/seniors, military, first responders, free/ages 4 and under and military in uniform; At the gate: $30/adulats, $23/ages 5-12, $14/seniors, military, first responders.

Toledo Express Airport | 11013 Airport Hwy. | Swanton
419-243-8251 | toledoairshow.com

Top 5 One Tank Getaways

Athena Cocoves

July 1, 2016

Want to experience the fun of a long summer vacation during a short weekend, or day trip? There are plenty of destinations perfect for family fun near Toledo that only take a tank (or less) of gas. We’re counting down our top five:

5. Geneva-on-the-Lake

Since the early 1900s, families have flocked to this Lake Erie shore-side town in Ashtabula County (near Cleveland) for summertime fun. Enjoy old school diners, the beach, Wild WaterWorks Waterslides, a Victorian farmhouse-turned-museum, and Adventure Zone, a center with carnival-style entertainment.

4. Sandusky

We all know Sandusky as the home to Cedar Point and Kalahari resorts— but there’s more. Use the ferry to island hop to Put-In-Bay, and other islands, and visit other family friendly attractions, like the Sandusky Maritime Museum and the Pipe Creek Wildlife Area.

3. Findlay and Fremont

The Children’s Museum of Findlay offers activities for all ages and The Mazza Museum celebrates artwork from children’s books. Nearby, visit Fremont’s Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, an expansive complex featuring the 19th president’s 31-room mansion, a museum, and the beautiful Spiegel Grove grounds. Find more at findlayfamily.com.

2. Ann Arbor

Another great day trip, Ann Arbor offers plenty of family fun. Visit the creative and curious Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, explore the 69-acres of Gallup Park, which includes playgrounds and canoe rentals, and see plants from all around the world at the 123-acre Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum. Find more at annarborfamily.com.

1. Fort Wayne, Indiana

In the summer, downtown Fort Wayne’s Headwater Park comes alive with music, food and fun every weekend. Families will also enjoy The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, a children’s museum with Science on a Sphere, trails with rentable bikes, segways and kayaks, the Fort Wayne TinCaps baseball stadium— where seats are only $5— and dozens of water play areas called splash pads.

Kyoto Ka Prepares the Freshest Sushi you can find in T-Town

Karen L. Zickes

July 1, 2016

Kyoto Ka Sushi Bar & More

6801 W. Central Ave. | Toledo 43617
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-2:30pm & 4:30pm-9:30pm
Sat: 12pm-10:30pm | Sun: 5pm-9pm
kyotoka.com

Growing up, I thought I knew about sushi. It was raw fish rolled up, right? I recall my college years when a friend spoke about going out for sushi and my first reaction was “eeewww” and “Wow that seems kind of fancy.” Turns out, I was quite mistaken. Fast forward to 2016, Toledo now boasts many sushi restaurants. Though hesitant, my children decided to be adventurous and have dinner at Kyoto Ka Sushi Bar.

Sushi 101

First things first. Sushi does NOT mean raw fish. It translates directly to “it is sour”. Sushi is a food preparation originating in Japan using cooked vinegared rice and then adding any additional ingredients such as vegetables, cream cheese, fruit, and yes, sometimes raw or cooked fish. Sashimi, on the other hand, is raw meat or fish thinly sliced and NOT served with rice. News flash: those of you who don’t consider the California rolls filled with avocado and cream cheese etc. to be ”sushi”, you are mistaken.

Kyoto is the name of an old capital city of Japan and Ka is a Korean word for family. Kyoto Ka prepares the freshest sushi you can find in T-Town, while also offering a full menu to please most everyone. Tempted to try one of the many varieties of sushi rolls prepared to order with care for each customer. Go ahead, I dare you to try something new.

Kyoto Ka’s loyal following

A close friend was in absolute disbelief when I told her I had never been to Kyoto Ka. She told me she goes there at least three times a month! Since opening more than eight years ago, they have developed a following of regulars. Owner Joe Cho greeted us with a smile from behind the sushi bar. With a friendly staff and excellent food, I know why they have a loyal following. You can identify Chef Joe as the one wearing blue behind the sushi bar.

According to Joe Cho’s son, Sung Cho, who was in 10th grade when they moved here from South Korea, “We serve our customers with the best quality of sushi. We love to serve our customers with a warm heart.”

Think outside the roll

Chef Joe and family do an amazing job with their sushi rolls which are truly works of art. However, beyond delectable rolls, patrons can find much more on the menu. Not everyone is a fan of sushi. Rest assured, the menu offers soups, salads, noodles, traditional favorites like orange chicken and more. They don’t offer a kids menu, but you can find alternatives for the younger set. Sung Cho recommends the teriyaki chicken or the chicken katsu which is a breaded and deep fried boneless chicken (with their special sauce, served on the side if you request). Sung Cho also explained that items can be made in lunch portions for the little ones. If that still doesn’t suit the younger set, you can rarely go wrong with plain noodles or fried rice.

My boys shared the chicken yaki udon/soba (noodles) with vegetables. I devoured the beef bulgogi with vegetables and rice. The charbroiled thinly sliced beef with the Kyoto Ka sauce was done perfectly. We all sampled my daughter’s California roll and shrimp tempura roll, but only after we admired how beautiful they looked on the plate. For the sushi novice, those are great dishes to start with. I was just glad my children tried something new, and learned a thing or two as well.

The Short Course

Kid-friendly: Somewhat
To avoid wait: Anytime
Noise level: Moderate
Bathroom amenities: No changing station
High chairs: Yes
Got milk? No, but lemonade and Japanese kid sodas are available
Kids’ menu? No, but options can be prepared in lunch portions
Allergies? Always speak to the server when ordering. They may suggest ordering something prepared up front, such as sushi. Extra caution will be taken when preparing your meal if you order from the kitchen.

Bottom Line: At Kyoto Ka you will be treated like family. The food is fresh and prepared perfectly. A kids’ menu isn’t offered but smaller portions of entrees are available. However, if your little one will only eat mac-n-cheese and fries, you might have to make this a date night sans kids.

Karen Zickes is a mom of three active children and freelance writer who resides
in Holland, OH. She can be reached in c/o [email protected].

Fireworks Safety 101

Heidi Borst

July 1, 2016

4th of July festivities are anticipated events, but activities involving fire and fireworks can be dangerous. How can parents keep their kiddos safe? Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld, Public Information Officer of Toledo Fire and Rescue, and Dr. Daniel Neumeyer, DO, of Mercy Emergency Facilities, suggested some great guidelines for keeping summer celebrations safe.

Fire Preparedness Steps

Nothing puts an end to a child’s fun faster than a trip to the ER. According to Dr. Neumeyer, burn injuries in children are most common in the summer, so “Teaching your children about appropriate care and use of outdoor fires is important. ”

Parents should not leave a child unattended near a fire, grill or fireworks. Store flammables out of reach, keep water nearby and teach older kids to shovel dirt on a fire to put it out.

Are Home Fireworks: Worth the Risk?

Lt. Hertzfeld advises, “We don’t recommend that people buy or use home fireworks. Even with legal devices, injury can occur; sparklers while legal, can be very dangerous, and should be used under adult supervision. The best way to protect your children is not to use home fireworks.”

Have an Emergency Action Plan

Even when care is taken, accidents do occur, so be prepared with an action plan. “Stop the burning as quickly as you can. Don’t run around. Stop, drop and roll if clothes catch on fire. Call 911,” Lt. Hertzfeld guides.

Proper treatment is essential. “If the burn is minor, usually a non-adherent bandage is appropriate with bacitracin ointment. Seeking medical attention is a good idea. Burns to the face and hands should generally be evaluated by a medical professional,” Dr. Neumeyer recommends. He suggests parents have a fire extinguisher and cool compresses on hand, as well as a cell phone and a car to get help if necessary.

Being prepared and playing it safe will go a long way to keeping your family’s summer care-free and fun-filled.

Fireworks Roundup

Friday, 7.1
Holland: Community Homecoming Park (7807 Angola Rd.)
10pm/fireworks

Saturday, 7.2
Swanton: Swanton High School
Football Field (601 N. Main St.)

Waterville: Waterville Primary School (457 Sycamore Ln.)

Woodville: Trail Marker Park (Cherry St.) 10pm/fireworks

Sunday, 7.3
Sylvania: Centennial Terrace (5773 Centennial Rd.)
7pm/celebration, dusk/fireworks. $5.

Maumee: 100 E. Wayne
5pm/celebration, 10pm/fireworks

Perrysburg: Fort Meigs State Memorial (29100 W. River Rd.),
3pm/celebrations begin.10pm/fireworks. Free

Monroe: River Raisin Independence Day Festival at Sterling State Park. (2800 State Park Rd.)
9:45pm/fireworks

Bowling Green: BGSU Intramural Fields.
10pm/fireworks.

Monday, 7.4
Downtown Toledo: Marina District Riverside Drive.
2-11pm/celebrations, 10pm/fireworks.

Wauseon: Biddle Park
(1000 Biddle Park Dr.)

Tuesday, 7.5
Whitehouse: Founder’s Day Celebration at Village Hall (6925 Providence St.).
Celebrate Independence Day with a bang! All fireworks shows start at dusk, but get there early for the best viewing spots.

Books 4 Buddies Cures Summer Blues with Cool Reads

Digital Media

July 1, 2016

School’s out and the boredom of summer vacation is beginning to take hold. Books 4 Buddies, Toledo’s unique and impactful youth literacy program can help.

Since 2012, Books 4 Buddies has collected and donated books for boys in Toledo’s low socioeconomic status neighborhoods.

Loneta Goings, President of the organization, says they want boys to realize that “It’s cool to read. It’s not a girl thing, it’s a gender friendly kind of thing to do. You can actually learn from opening a book.”

Prologue

“The initial inspiration was conceived by my grandson who is now 18,” says Goings. “We were driving down the highway near subsidized housing, looking at the kids. I asked my grandson ‘how can you help people? What would you like your legacy to be?’ He said that if you could give a child a book it could lead to unlimited possibilities.”

Touré, her grandson, came to this conclusion based on his own difficulties with reading comprehension— he knew the words, but didn’t always know their meaning. This specific struggle is frequently a trigger with a lot of kids, especially boys, says Goings.

Chapter 1

“I retired from The Blade and I brought some great organizations to the table, like The Blade and Buckeye Cable Systems,” said Goings, “We even have partners now in two public schools. I was able to meet with Clyde Scoles, the Director of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, who decided that the panel was a marvelous idea.” This set the events in motion which made everything possible.

“Books 4 Buddies and their Ambassadors encourage literacy by embodying the ideals and virtues that build strong and positively minded communities,” says the library’s Ben Malczewski. “The Toledo Lucas County Public Library is grateful to have a strong community partner in Books 4 Buddies, similarly committed to growing futures, creating opportunity, and transforming lives.”

Story Arc

What sets Books 4 Buddies apart from other literacy programs?

“What makes us different and unique are our ambassadors,” explains Goings. “They’re young men—black, white, latino— that go to public and private high schools to collect and give books to kids. They’re the public face of our program. Many of the kids we help don’t have access to books, and that can really begin to tug at your heartstrings.”

Books 4 Buddies doesn’t just go to schools. Ambassadors often meet with kids in their communities to distribute books and to encourage reading. “It has had such a profound impact on the kids.” said Goings.

This experience gives the ambassadors valuable experience for the future. “The ambassadors now truly understand the meaning of community service,” says Goings.

Check out Books 4 Buddies online at
Books4Buddies.com and find out how you can help.

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