a toledo staple

By

-

January 29, 2013

Al Smith’s Place has been dishing up generous portions of homemade comfort food for over 20 years. The locally owned restaurant moved from its Lewis Ave. location about 10 years ago to its current home in the plaza on Executive Pkwy. and Secor Rd. Though nothing fancy, it’s clean and bright with green and white décor, making me feel as though we were relaxing in someone’s kitchen.
Tables and bench seating fill every available space. There’s a breakfast bar as well. Locals stop in regularly to find good food at an affordable price, friendly service, and out-of-this-world pies. Oooh, those pies!
Keeping up with the times
Current owner Pete Hui has kept things much the same since purchasing the restaurant six years ago. “We get a lot of regulars here”, said Hui. He appreciates his loyal customers who have come to love the chili mac, meatloaf dinners, roasted chicken, liver and onions, among other favorites. He continues to reach out, however, to younger families and UT students with the types of food they enjoy.
In doing so, he’s enhancing the menu. “I try to run specials on the board periodically”, Hui said. If people really like something, he works it into the main menu. “It’s all about what customers want.”
Affordable options for everyone
Al Smith’s is open seven days a week, and serves breakfast all day long. Their large menu definitely makes it hard to decide. Add to that about another 13 specials on the board. I personally LOVE homemade comfort food, so I was all about the Mama’s Down Home Cookin’ portion of the menu. Dinners included rolls, veggie of the day, potato of choice, and a salad. Most meals were in the $7-$9 range—talk about a lot of bang for the buck on a family budget!
The kids’ menu ranged from $2.09 to $3.99 and included the basics like chicken tenders and burgers, but also chicken and dumplings and spaghetti. Drinks were $1.09 extra. The portions on the main menu were generous; my older two may split a meal from the main menu next time.
I loved the chicken and dumplings and my husband tried one of the daily specials—a Reuben sandwich with a twist. He started his meal with a bowl of homemade great Northern bean soup and cornbread. I never dreamed my kids would like it, but there was little left for dad by the time they were through. It was all good.
Al’s was a pleasant break from the usual noise and commotion in many restaurants. People were actually conversing, paying attention to the people they were with. What a concept! I was floored when my boisterous eight-year-old said, “It’s peaceful here.” This, coming from the child who provides 50 percent of the noise in
our home.
I would be remiss not to mention their mouthwatering, sensational pie selection. I have had them many times over the years, and they are every bit as good today as they have always been, if not better. The evening we had dinner, there were 17 to choose from! We of course couldn’t agree on which flavors, so we ordered three slices to share. My personal favorite is the coconut cream. But maybe blueberry, pecan, or butterscotch is what tempts your taste buds. At the very least, get a slice to go.

Bottom Line: Al Smith’s has been around over 20 years because of its friendly service and affordable,
generously portioned, homemade entrees. Stop in for a quick bite, or a
leisurely meal.

meeting mishaps

By

Mary Helen Darah

-

January 29, 2013

St. Ursula Academy students FOCUS

By

Christy Penka

-

January 29, 2013

Many artists have the honor of juried art shows selecting their work, but often it comes later in their careers. Seven students from
St. Ursula Academy had their art pieces selected for the juried FOCUS 2010 Show. The event showcases the artwork of high
school students from northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The SUA student pieces were featured in an exhibition this past November
at The Center for Visual Arts at the University of Toledo. 275 pieces
were selected by the jury from 48 art teachers throughout the region.
23 Jurors’ Awards were given out, one to SUA student and Holland resident Jessica Marchiniak for her photography. The students’ art
was chosen from a pool of over 1200 submitted works. The selection process was based on skill, craftsmanship, originality and creative interpretation.

tween the lines

By

Digital Media

-

January 29, 2013

The heartbreak of substance abuse can tear at the foundations of a family, and no one is immune.
Regardless of age or background, drug and alcohol problems can strike—and when it’s a teen who’s
affected, parents are often at a loss. Ann Arbor counselor Ronald E. Harrison has made a career of helping teens and families through struggles with addiction. Now he offers a free, two-part lecture series, Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What to Do, at St.
Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center in Ypsilanti.
Part 1, What to Know, is presented on the first Tuesday of each month through June 2011, giving parents the background they need to recognize the signs of adolescent substance-abuse problems. Part 2, What to Do, is presented on the second Tuesday of each month, also through June. The lectures are targeted primarily to parents and caretakers, but teens and other family members are also welcome. 7:30-9pm. Part 1, Tuesday, January 4. Part 2, Tuesday, January 11. 5305 Elliott Dr., Ypsilanti. 734-973-7892. www.teensusingdrugs.org.

Exceptional Families

By

Digital Media

-

January 28, 2013

Ann Heckler and the Toledo Ballet host their ongoing movement class for kids with Down syndrome three times per week. Heckler was inspired after a trip to visit the Boston Ballet. “I had always wanted to do a program like this, but never knew how to implement it,” says Heckler. “I called the Boston Ballet and visited them on my trip. We watched DVDs, saw performances and when it was all over their director handed me his curriculum.” The class focuses on improving strength, coordination, and socialization, and lets the kids get a bit of exercise too. Classes are held on Thursday nights from 6:45 to 7:45 for youth 15 and up, and on Saturdays from 12:15 to 1pm for children ages seven to ten and from 1 to 2pm for 11 to 14 year olds. The programs are in mid-session; however, openings remain in the 11 to 14 year old and the 15 and up classes. Toledo Ballet is located at 5001 Monroe St.
419-471-0049.
www.toledoballet.net.

Healthy Kids

By

Matt Desmond

-

January 28, 2013

Dr. Stephen Branam knows what children need. The Oregon-based pediatric dentist, and founder of Branam Oral Health Technologies, inc., has staked his new business on it. Branam’s company is selling a new line of oral health products for the very young, hoping to fill a crucial gap in the marketplace.
Dr. Branam knew from the beginning what kind of patients he wanted to work with. Branam assisted with a pediatric dental practice while still a student, and the experience opened his eyes.
“I found out how much fun kids were to treat,” Branam says. “They look forward to it; they don’t dislike the dentist.”
“I only have 3000 patients,” he says. “I can’t make a big change by talking to 4000 parents a year. It’s got to be done at a commercial level.” In 2007, Branam joined forces with Detroit-area entrepreneur Mick Janness, and Branam Oral Health Technologies was born.
The company’s first foray into the market was the Ortho-Gibby, a new, scientifically-designed pacifier. The Ortho-Gibby has a shorter nipple than conventional pacifiers, and “wings” that support the gums. “It’s like a mini mouth-guard,” Branam says.
Now, Branam sells a range of dental care products for families, including tooth gels, chewing gums, and vitamin supplements.
The key ingredient is xylitol, a naturally-occurring sweetening agent which decades of research have shown to be effective in reducing tooth decay. According to Branam, using xylitol products in the first two years of life can potentially reduce future tooth decay by 70 percent.
“It’s really pretty simple,” Branam says. “We’re making healthy products that will do no harm.”
“We’re starting in the right place,” Branam says. “We’re right on the cusp of taking off.”
Branam Oral Health Technologies products are currently available through the website, and at Walt Churchill’s Market and Health Yourself in Perrysburg with hopes to expand shortly into other local retail outlets. 1-877-327-2626. https://branamsmile.com.