Gross!

June 27, 2013

Sylvia Branzei visited Toledo bringing her knowledge of snot, pee, zits, gaseous moments and other matters of "grossness" to the Imagination Station. The author of five Grossology books certainly didn't seem smelly or disgusting. It is difficult to believe she is an expert in all the unpleasant "goings on" regarding bodily functions. "I was clipping my toenails and one thing led to another,"says the author.

Imagination Station was thrilled to host the former science teacher who received her B.S. degree from the University of Michigan and her M.A degree in Science Education from California Polytechnic University. Ms. Branzei, who travels throughout the year taking her "gross" science to museums, universities and classrooms, has visited numerous cities throughout the USA and other countries including Canada, Germany, Trinidad, and England.

Imagination Station guests were treated to learning how to make fake snot, fake blood and one highly impressive fake wound. The parents in the audience were THRILLED to know that all the fun lab experiments —yes even the fake vomit—could be concocted at home.

Ms. Branzie is currently working on a Grossology movie that can be shown on planetarium ceilings that is certain to be as disgusting as her previous endeavors. The author hopes to continue enlightening us on constipation, warts and earwax for years to come.

Want to know how much snot your body produces daily along with other gross facts? Visit www.grossology.org.

Ohio Chautauqua 2013: When Ohio Was the Western Frontier

Julian Garcia

June 27, 2013

It’s hard to believe that Ohio was once the wild Western frontier of the infant United States of America. And it was the pioneering spirit of the early Ohioans and the historical figures who passed through “the heart of it all” that helped to define the great state and nation to come. To commemorate the state’s rich history the Ohio Humanities Council will present the 15th annual tour of Ohio Chautauqua. Chautauquas were popular gatherings of speakers, musicians and educators that were popular in rural America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Teddy Roosevelt once proclaimed that Chautauquas were “the most American thing in America.” To keep the tradition going the Ohio Chautauqua 2013 explores “When Ohio Was the Western Frontier” and will highlight Johnny Appleseed, frontier aristocrat Margaret Blennerhassett, Iroquois Chief John Logan, Lewis & Clark expedition member York, and the Commodore Oliver “Hazard” Perry. Each day will feature a different workshops for children and adults, live music and one of the educational reinactors. All workshops will be at the Rossford Public Library, 720 Dixie Hwy., Rossford. 10am, children; 2pm, adults. All performances will be at Veteran’s Memorial Park, 300 Hannum Ave., Rossford. 6:30pm, music; 7:30pm, scholar. www.ohiohumanities.org—JG

Fireworks Schedule

Digital Media

June 27, 2013

Celebrate Independence Day with a bang! Because nothing is more patriotic then lighting up the night sky with thunderous fireworks! All fireworks shows start at dusk, but of course, get there early for the best viewing spots.

6/29
Swanton – Swanton High School Football Field
Toledo Country Club

6/30
Oregon Boomfest – Oakshade Grove

7/3
Sylvania’s Star Spangled Celebration – Centennial Terrace
Perrysburg/Maumee Star Spangled Banner Celebration &
Fireworks – Ft. Meigs

7/4
Toledo Red White and Kaboom – Promenade Park, Festival Park, and International Park
Bowling Green – Doyt L. Perry Stadium
Findlay – Hancock County Fairgrounds
Sandusky – Cedar Point
Put in Bay
Fostoria – Meadowlark Park
Fremont – Rodger Young Park

7/5
Village of Whitehouse Founders Day
Celebration – Whitehouse Village Hall

Small Restaurant Has Big Taste

Karen L. Zickes

June 27, 2013

I never sampled true barbecue until I moved to Alabama many years ago. Local barbecue joints were everywhere, so I quickly adopted the mantra “when in Rome”, and barbecue became another food group at our house. My neighbors had even become barbecue judges and traveled the barbecue competition circuit. Though I haven’t lived there for many years, I get the hankering for authentic barbecue every so often. Always on the quest for the best, when I had my recent craving, my family and I thought we’d give Deet’s BBQ a try.

They’re serious about barbecue
Deet’s is located in a small plaza in front of Meijer on Conant St. in Maumee. Opened in September 2010, Lisa and Bob Deeter, along with their son Trevor Deeter, own and run the business. “Bob had many years of restaurant experience and always wanted to open his own restaurant,” said Ms. Deeter. From past barbecue experience in Florida, you could say he knew a thing or two prior to opening Deet’s. “Barbecue can’t be rushed. It has to be done low and slow,” said Ms. Deeter. And because of that, you will find a sign hanging that thanks customers for understanding if they temporarily run out of something. If they do, another batch is probably in the smoker!
Deet’s looked small from the outside, but I was surprised at just how small it really was inside. When the five of us walked through the door I felt like we had taken over the place. Thankfully the only table that could accommodate us was available. I seated the kids out of the way of traffic as we stood in line to order. While waiting at the counter, others were trying to get through to fill their drinks, grab napkins, etc. Many of the people who came in while we were there placed their orders for carry out, and many appeared to be repeat customers. Most seats were taken by the time we were done eating our meal.

Though small, Deet’s had the same feel as many of the barbecue joints in Alabama. The great blues music over the speakers had me feeling like I was down south once again. As I worked my way closer to the front counter, I couldn’t miss the huge trophies and the phrase above the kitchen doorway; “We’re serious about BBQ!” The smell wafting through the air made me hungrier by the second.
Deet’s has bragging rights to Best Overall & Local Ribber from the NW Ohio Rib-Off for 2011 and 2012. Readers at our sister publication, the Toledo City Paper, also voted them best BBQ in 2012. I couldn’t place my order fast enough to get feasting!

Keepin’ it simple
Deet’s simple menu allows them to make just a few things, and make them very well. Even though I crave barbecue, my children can be hot and cold. I was fortunate they temporarily had some hot dogs on hand that had been from a catering event. They were the obvious choice for my sons that day. My daughter enjoyed the grilled barbecue chicken sandwich, and I suppose the boys could have split one as well had they not had the hot dogs available. They definitely were not in the mood for pork, brisket, ribs or smoked chicken salad. However, Deet’s has some very tasty, homemade curly mac & cheese. That can always be an option if your children don’t share your enthusiasm for barbecue.

They don’t have a kids’ menu, per se, but they offer “mini combos” and for $5 and $5.50 they include a smaller size sandwich, one side, and a fountain drink. Or the mac & cheese is $3 for a small portion and $5 for a large. I wanted to try several things, so I was excited they offered the mini combos. The pork was done perfectly. The creamy mac-n-cheese, the baked beans and red skin potato salad delivered big taste as well. We absolutely loved the addictive rustic corn muffins complemented with honey butter. I could have polished off two more if I hadn’t practiced self-control.

Bottom Line: Without a doubt Bob Deeter and family know how to do barbecue. Deet’s in Maumee will have you feeling as if you might be south of the Mason-Dixon. The interior may be quite small, but the food is big on taste. The mini combos are a great deal for kids or those who just can’t tackle the big sandwiches and ribs.

Kid-friendly: Yes
To avoid wait: Anytime
Noise level: Moderate to loud
Bathroom amenities: No changing stations
High chairs: Yes
Got milk? No, but lemonade is available as well as soft drinks
Kids’ menu? Yes, though advertised as a “mini combo”

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] .

Extreme couponing, for a cause

Digital Media

June 27, 2013

The kitchen of a local food bank looked like a scene from TLC’s “Extreme Couponing.” Eight people gathered around a counter on a recent Wednesday evening, surrounded by thousands of cost-cutting slips of paper in neatly organized piles, cheerfully working together to benefit Toledo-area cancer patients and their families.

“I do not buy [groceries] unless I have a coupon,” said Lisa Kronbach-Eisenbach, founder and director of Nightingale’s Harvest, proudly displaying a grocery receipt from March. “So far this year we’ve saved more than $9,000!”

Within minutes of being greeted with Kronbach-Eisenbach’s warm hug, visitors to the Nightingale’s Harvest kitchen can see how the not-for-profit’s success over the past 2 years is a reflection of her vivacious energy and can-do perspective.

The Inspiration
The licensed practical nurse of 27 years and mother of two speaks in exclamation points whenever she shares the story of how she started the food bank, named in honor of the nursing profession she and her husband share, in May 2011 after watching her best friend fight colon cancer.

While working in a physician’s office, Kronbach-Eisenbach saw patients in various stages of cancer on a daily basis, but said it hit her like a ton of bricks on a November day in 2010 when she received the call from Kim Mardini-Channer that she had been diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. That day, Kronbach-Eisenbach left her job, created an 18-month plan with her husband, and began the full-time role as Mardini-Channer’s caretaker.

During the next 18 months, Kronbach-Eisenbach experienced the emotional and financial struggle many cancer families endure when their primary bread-winner is not working while undergoing expensive medical treatment, and the resources at hand can only stretch far enough to pay for a portion of the family’s expenses.

“I started couponing like an old crazy lady,” Kronbach-Eisenbach said with a laugh, adding that Mardini-Channer soon encouraged her to use her tenacious spirit to help other families.

In the span of three months, she had taken 18 families under her wing. Once they became a government-recognized not-for-profit, Nightingale’s Harvest took up residence in office space provided by Savage & Associates. They soon outgrew that space and moved to what now is their home at St. James Lutheran Church, 4727 Sylvania Ave.

“I promised Kim that I would get the community to understand that without these tools they just can’t do it,” Kronbach-Eisenbach said. “The amount of stress just from the overwhelming diagnosis and shock, then going through treatment — I don’t care how much money you have, you need help.”

Lending a hand
Nightingale’s Harvest provides food, toiletries, hygiene items and other needs that are not covered by Medicaid and other government programs. At this time, they are funded strictly by donations — both monetary and in-kind physical goods — and have received approximately $33,000 in local and national grants.

Students from the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Iowa have participated in different service projects, and other members of the community continue to surprise Kronbach-Eisenbach and her board with their generosity and support.

Since its inception, Nightingale’s Harvest has served more than 450 families, and patients of all ages, affected by all types of cancer. Families must be referred to the food bank by a health care provider to receive assistance.

“I feel like the community has taken on the role of what the mission is all about,” Kronbach-Eisenbach said. “This has been amazing and all I can tell you is it’s been a God thing.”

Her goal over the next five years is to become a template so other communities can get help in creating their own version of Nightingale’s Harvest.
The Toledo native and 1980 Notre Dame Academy graduate is so humble she seamlessly avoids answering any questions about herself, but the other founding members of Nightingale’s Harvest are quick to extol their spunky leader.

“[Lisa] doesn’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” said Wava Smedlund, Mardini-Channer’s older sister. “She’s got big ideas and she doesn’t stop at anything until she hits her goal.”

Kim Mardini-Channer died on May 29, 2012, leaving her children Sam, 27, Andrea, 25, Abby, 12, and Logan, 10, and her husband Brennan to help Kronbach-Eisenbach fulfill the soul sisters’ mission.

As a mother herself — to Matthew, 24, and Jessy-Lynn, 22— Kronbach-Eisenbach said she is especially horrified by statistics released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture after the 2010 census that show one in three children are at risk of hunger due to poverty.

“You can’t let a cancer family go hungry, go without tools,” Kronbach-Eisenbach said. “Our biggest goal is to encourage and inspire cancer families to accept the assistance and not feel like they are getting a hand out.”

for more information, visit nightingales-harvest.org or call 419-725-1190.

Critter girl

Mary Helen Darah

June 27, 2013

I had the exhilarating experience of being the “Critter Girl” for an animal shelter. I have been an advocate for the humane treatment of all creatures since I was a child. Of course, my family has had a few mishaps along the way. My grandparents would give their hyperactive dog a sedative to calm him down going across the border into Canada. They neglected to check who was responsible for the task and both ended up giving Spike the meds. After getting through customs they stopped at the nearest park so he could relieve himself and the poor little guy tried to lift his leg and fell over. It wasn’t until I was 30 that I discovered that my pet rat (I got to keep the class's experimental rodent for scoring the highest on a science test) did not die of natural causes as I was told. I overheard my Mom relating how my dachshund got a hold of him and took him under my bed. Apparently, my Dad had to keep from getting sick as he swept up rat bits. I guess I shouldn’t judge, especially after roasting my hermit crabs by keeping the heat lamp on too long. The next generation had a few issues too. My girls lost their slugs from Zoo camp in the back of our Chrysler minivan. Gee, I wonder if the people who bought that van ever found them. We even had a gold fish jump to its untimely death after seeing one of his buddies get sucked up the filter and the other float sideways on top of the water after my mom thought the tank needed a good spiffing up … with bleach.

Through it all, our pets have been a wonderful part of our lives. Being “Critter” girl seemed like it would be, as my friend from India would say, “a walk in the cake park." It proved to be more challenging than I expected. My first assignment was to plan and execute a pet photo session with Santa. Other than a few random “humpings” (I am referring to the dogs of course) everything was going fine until a woman, dressed in Chanel and heels, arrived with her two felines. She placed them on Santa’s lap. “Desiree, Prada, look at Mommy!” she chirped. A wand with a feather somehow materialized from her skin tight outfit. She then proceeded to “flit” around the room in her stilettoes in hopes of getting their attention. It got ours. The poor cameraman was shaking so severely from trying to contain his laughter he looked like he was having a seizure.

As part of my responsibilities I had to appear on live TV weekly with animals from the shelter. I made the mistake of bringing a cat named “Pretty Pretty Princess” onto the show. To say I am near-sighted would be a gross understatement. Therefore, I did not see the “on-air light” when the weatherman said, “Today we have Pretty Pretty Princess with us,” to which I responded, “Dave, you really shouldn’t call me that in public.”

They say if you don’t want to be upstaged do not work with kids or animals. I have done both on a regular basis. A shepherd mix canine accompanied me to a speaking engagement. “What to do with unwanted amorous attention from large mammals” is nowhere to be found in my “Public Speaking for Dummies” manual.

I must say, being “Critter Girl” was very similar to my role as a mom. You get slimed, you have to clean up messes (BTW you don’t know MESS until a Bull Mastiff drools on your annual budget report) and it seems you are in one constant state of feeding hungry mouths. Occasionally your heart breaks. As with my children, my “critters” keep a constant residence in my heart. Maybe seeing my “fur balls” go off to their newly adopted homes prepared me in some way with having to deal with watching my kids head out of my “shelter” and into the big world. MAYBE.

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