We've all got great stories to share, but families with children with special needs have especially inspirational tales to tell. What if you could connect with other families across the country? Recently, The National Down Syndrome Society began its My Great Story campaign where families can "share" their stories by submitting entries to be posted on the NDSS' website. (The NDSS hopes to receive 400,000 entries.) A story from Toledo's own Cindy Rhinevault is posted, celebrating her son Keegan. Born in 2008, Keegan has battled health issues including open heart surgery and unilateral hearing loss. But this has not slowed down Keegan, who is encouraged every day by his parents to reach his fullest potential. To share your story or to read Keegan's visit www.ndss.org.
A new generation
Whatever your beliefs, there’s nothing more sacred than the welfare of your children — so in a way it’s appropriate that Toledo’s Little Generation Day Care has found its home in a former church. “We looked and looked,” says co-owner Gladys Green, who founded the original Little Generation (on Bancroft Street) with her husband, Benjamin, 12 years ago. “It needed a lot of love and work,” she says of the new space, but the work has paid off. The colorful, welcoming classrooms, full kitchen and gym of the new daycare already hosts some 60 children, many more than the original location (still in operation) and has the space for many more to come. It’s one of only eight area preschools to receive the coveted three-star rating from the Ohio Department Job and Family Services’ Step Up 2 Quality program, and the only one of those to accept Head Start students. Children learn to count to 50 in English, Spanish and sign language, and graduate ready to enter kindergarten at the top of their class. 700 Eleanor St. 419-724-7920.
No small “feet”
Is it ever a good thing to have something stuck to your shoes? It can be now! Stikii, a fun and unique Toledo-based venture, is looking to give kids something new to wear — and to get stuck on.
Stikiis are shoes — boring, right? That’s what Stikii founder Joe Chew (of Toledo’s Computer Discount) thought, when he took his two children to Target one afternoon. The kids were more than happy to look at toys for as long as Chew would let them. “But when I said ‘Let’s go buy shoes?’” he remembers, “No excitement! I wondered if we couldn’t bring the toy-buying experience to shoes.” Chew was already looking for a way to branch out from the computer business (“I thought ‘If I don’t do something I believe in, I’ll regret it,” he remembers,) and he saw an opportunity. Teaming up with friends Steve Reamey (aka “Gay Steve” of Andrew Z’s Morning Show) and Tony Martinez, Stikii was born.
The idea was simple — shoes that young kids would be excited about — but the project took a couple of years to develop, looking for designers and suppliers. Finally, a Chinese manufacturer (which has worked with Skecher, among other companies) was happy to do business with the group. And the finished product is every bit as fun as the partners hoped.
Make it your own
But what’s so special about Stikiis? Ask a seven-year-old. At first glance, they’re just simple, funky, brightly-colored shoes — maybe a more kid-friendly version of Crocs (everyone’s favorite guilty-pleasure footwear). But the joy is in making them your own. The microfiber upper is covered with a hook-and-loop surface (Velcro-style), and young wearers can add as many “Stik-ems” as they want — little cloth or plush icons depicting everything from animals to flowers to robots, that can be moved around, customized, traded with friends — whatever kids like. (Light-up Stik-ems are coming soon!) As Chew envisioned, they make kids’ shoes into something to play with. (The shoes retail at $29.99, with stik-ems prices at $1-2.)
The Stikii gang debuted their product at a kiosk at Westfield Franklin Park over the holidays, and hope to get their funky footwear into chain and big box stores soon. Currently, they’re making the rounds of trade shows (with a giant, eye-catching inflatable shoe!) The three founders are confident that they’ve hit on the next big pre-teen fad. So step aside, Silly Bandz — there’s a new Toledo trend that might just stick around.
Stikii’s showroom is at 5844 W. Central, next to Radio Shack.
See what they’ve got at www.stikii.com. 419-720-8322.
No worries! You’re Among Friends!
Among Friends, LLC, is the brainchild of two friends, Suzie Miller of Toledo and Lizann Anderson of Ann Arbor. The two friends met while pregnant with their first children, after their fathers, who are lifelong friends, introduced the pair.
Miller an avid baker, would bring her creations over to Anderson’s home to enjoy with coffee and conversation. The next time the friends got together,
Anderson brought the baked goods and proclaimed, “I made your cookies!”
“I looked at the cookies she made and told her they did not look like mine,” Miller says. “She told me that she had made them ‘nutritionally nice’ by adding whole grains and flax seeds. I took her cookies and fine tuned them. We kept going back and forth until we had a mouthwatering cookie.” They began selling the mix in unlabeled bags. Today the women not only have labels and a logo — they have a licensed workroom slightly bigger than a walk-in closet, which they lovingly refer to as “our world headquarters.”
“The perils of healthy cookies are that many taste like the cardboard they’re packaged in,” Anderson explains. “I was blessed with three boys and the middle one is a bloodhound who sniffs everything before he eats it. I knew if I made a cookie that passed the tyranny of Shane’s taste buds, I would have accomplished something. However, we’re keeping the benefits of flax and whole grains a well guarded secret from our kids.”
Cookie mixes and crisps available are CJ’s Chocokrinkles, Evan’s Heavenly, Suzie Q’s Chocolate Chip and Trish the Dish. Among Friends cookie and crisp mixes are available at the Andersons (www.andersonsstore.com), Sautter’s Markets (www.sauttersmarkets.com) and Kazmaier’s (www.kazmaiermarkets.com) or at www.amongfriendsbakingmixes.com.
At your fingertips
Do you love our Library? There’s an app for that! The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library is now one of the first library systems in the state to have its own mobile device app. The new “Week at a Glance” app, developed by the Library’s own staff, lets loyal patrons get up to the moment news on Library events, from book signings and discussions to childrens’ programming to films. The app is available at the iTunes store, for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch — just type in “Toledo-Lucas County Public Library.” 419-259-5200. www.toledolibrary.org.
A flair for the dramatic
Children have a tendency to be a bit dramatic, but what if the drama could be honed? For the sixth year, the Sylvania Community Arts Commission (SCAC) will offer 10-week drama classes for beginning (5:30-6:45pm) to advanced students (4-5:15pm) in fourth through eighth grades starting on Tuesday, March 7. Hosted in Northview High School's cafeteria, Irina Zaurov will lead students for an hour and 15 minutes with instruction in improvisation, audition preparation and other creative techniques. In addition to classes for youth, teen drama class will also be offered beginning on Tuesday, March 6 (also at Northview), from 4-5:15pm. Classes cost $70 for residents living within the City of Sylvania; $85 for Sylvania Township residents and $90 for non-Sylvania residents. For more info or to register visit www.sylvaniaarts.org or call 419-517-0118. 5403 Silica Dr., Sylvania.