northeast ohio parent magazine, may 2014

MAY 2014

FREE

Caring ForYour Aging

Loved Ones

PLUS

PATHWAYS TO

FAMILY FUN

Bike Trips, Safetyand More

PLAN YOURPARTY

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32 Multiples To LoveDon’t let the shock and excitement over having twins,

triplets or more overwhelm you. Moms of

Multiples provide helpful advice and insight.

By Shelley Polewchak

Contents

62

Features18 Camp Counselors: Part Teacher, Part Coach, Part FriendCounselors enhance your child’s camp experience while keeping homesickness

at bay.

By Marie Elium

38 Pathways To FunThe Benitez family from Solon enjoy biking throughout the Northeast Ohio

region. Also find new areas recommended by area experts.

By Kristen Gough

42 Community FocusThe Beachwood area may be small in size, but a lot of charm is built into that

small square that lends to the city’s unique landscape.

By Emma Kanagaki

62 Summer CelebrationsFrom graduations to birthdays, we’ve got great ideas that will pack some punch

in your next celebration.

By Amanda Lloyd

MAYVol. 1 No. 3 2014

4 Northeast Ohio Parent May 2014

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32

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8 Editor’s Note:A Salute to Moms

10 Worth Noting:Something for everyone

12 Family Health: AllergiesClearing the Air

14 Ages & Stages:Finding Shoes That Fit

16 Education:College Planning & Saving

36 The Family Fortress:Keeping Your Home Safe

51 Compassion Corner:National Foster Care Month

54 May Calendar:What to do around town

58 Mother’s Day Activities

70 Fearless Dad:Stay-At-Home Tangles

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Dep

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10On the cover and page 4: The Benitez siblings,Karla,14, Daniela, 6, and Isaac, 16.Bike rentals courtesy of Century Cycles inPeninsula, centurycycles.comPhotos by Love Bug Photography,lovebugbycourtney.com

COMMUNITYFOCUS

&Surrounding Communities

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May Contents

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8 Northeast Ohio Parent May 2014 Family Living At Its Best

No one said raising two boys (Noel, 7, and Anton, 5) would be easy. When I get home from work, the wonderful sounds of “Mom, can I

have...?” or “Mommy, can you do...?” often greet me at the doorway. However, some day, there won’t be any kids running through the

house or begging me to have one more granola bar. That’s why mostdays I try to cherish what I have, rather than what I don’t.

Parenting doesn’t stop when they’re on their own, just as it hasn’t formy own mother. In fact, my mom still worries about me. She is alwaysthere when I need her for advice or simple words of encouragementlike “I am so proud of you.”

In this issue, we give a salute to moms, including those who areblessed with multiples, starting on page 32.

We also applaud those kids moving on to the next age or to a new educational venture by helping parents plan the perfect party for them.Find out some great ways to have fun at your summertime bash onpage 62.

This month, I celebrate my birthday and so does my mom, however,there is one person who will be missed during this special time — mygrandmother. While it has been almost two years since she passedaway, we still think of the happy times as well as her struggles as shewent in and out of the hospital.

Thankfully, she was surrounded by a strong support system, mostlydue to my grandfather’s commitment, love and patience. For care-givers, the goal is to enrich the life of their loved ones as much as possible and, if difficult illnesses arise, find options for the best care. Inour “Aging Answers” supplement, we seek to provide a remedy and alittle hope for the future.

Finally, to my mother, my grandmother, my sisters and all types ofmoms or mothers-to-be, we rejoice along with you this comingMother’s Day.

By Angela Gartner

Photo by Prelude Photography

preludephoto.net

Editor’s Note

Northeast Ohio Parent is a property of Blue BugMedia, a division of Babcox Media, Inc.3550 Embassy Parkway, Fairlawn, OH 44333 • 330-670-1234

24500 Chagrin Blvd., Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44122 • 440-842-8600

NortheastOhioParent.com

PublisherBrad [email protected]

EditorialAngela Gartner, [email protected]

Jennifer Clements, Managing [email protected]

Emma Kanagaki, Associate/Digital [email protected]

Contributors: Mary Ellen Bramwell, Marie Elium,Vincent O’Keefe, Shelley Polewchak, Amanda Lloyd, Kristen J. Gough.

Art & ProductionTammy House, Art Director | [email protected]

Kelly Gifford, Designer | [email protected]

Advertising ServicesCindy Ott, Ad Services Director | [email protected]

Advertising SalesChris Geer, 330-670-1234 ext. [email protected]

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Coordinator | [email protected]

Audience Development Brandi Gangel, Audience Development Manager | [email protected]

eMediaJeff Philip, eMedia Development Manager |[email protected]

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Emily Bobb, Digital Ad Specialist | [email protected]

CorporateBill Babcox, President Greg Cira, Vice President/Chief Financial OfficerJeff Stankard, Vice President/Group PublisherBeth Scheetz, Controller

[email protected]

A Salute to Moms

Parent Bloggers!Do you have a story to tell? Do you have a blog about being a

parent, fashionista or yoga guru that you’d like to share withother local parents? If so, we want to hear from you. We may

include you on our soon-to-launch blogger page onNortheastOhioParent.com. Just email me [email protected]

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Worth Noting

Cozy up in your favorite place and explore the wonders ofbooks with your child. From infants to teenagers, here area few suggestions to purchase or pick up at your locallibrary.

The Fly Flew In by David CatrowDavid Catrow, an author and illustrator from Springfield,Ohio, writes about a fly that goes into a concert hall wreakinghavoc in this easy-to-read picture book. Available in hardcoveror paperback.

Recommendation courtesy of Westlake Porter Public Library,westlakelibrary.org.

Reading Room

A Bed for Fredby Lori Zoss, illustrated byCheri PolkLocal author LoriZoss writes aboutFred, a young Bas-set hound that finds hiscomfy, red bed missingand travels on a journey tosearch for it. Available inhardcover.

Visit abedforfred.com.

Wonder by R.J. PalacioAuggie Pullman was homeschooled his whole life, butthe summer before fifth grade, his parents drop a bomb-shell: from now on, he’s going to be attending BeecherPrep — a real school filled with real students. Thatwould be scary news for any kid, but it’s especially terri-fying for Auggie, who has what doctors call “cranio-fa-cial anomalies.” Also available in audio and digital formats.

Recommendation courtesy of Akron-SummitCounty Library, akronlibrary.org.

ClubTwinsburg

While many children are using game controllers to battle each other, there’s another wayto go on a quest — Dungeons and Dragons. Chris Beason of Twinsburg took this fantasy table game to help his son Shayne Beason, 23, who was diagnosed on theAutism spectrum, become more comfortable talking to others.

Chris Beason was looking for something different to do with his sons,Shayne, Cameron, 18, and Cole, 13, other than video games. He stumbledacross a podcast about Dungeons and Dragons in which players use char-acters to go on adventures by using small figures, pen and paper, androlling the dice.

“Most other games, you are playing against each other,” Beason says.“This game you are playing with each other. It (also) forces the players tocommunicate.”

Thinking other teens with developmental disabilities in the communitywould benefit, he set up a monthly game at the Twinsburg Public Library in January. Currently, six players, ages 13-23, most with developmental disabili-ties, across Northeast Ohio, have joined in on the fun. “I developed it with thesekids in mind, but it’s open to anyone,” Beason says.

For his son, he does think the interactive game is helping Shayne become more vocalin groups. In fact, he says he hopes his son will soon take the role of Dungeon Master,the one who leads the group’s adventure.

If anyone is interested in learning more about the game, email Chris Beasonat [email protected].

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It’s finally time for your kids to soak upthe sun and fresh air. While playing out-side and taking part in spring activitiescan be great fun, all of that fun canincrease chances of outdoor in-juries or asthma attacks, whichcould lead to an unexpected trip tothe emergency department.

“When children understandwhat is happening to them, theycope better and experience lesstrauma and anxiety,” says Jes-sica Timms, MS, certified childlife specialist at Fairview Hospital.

She offers the following tips tohelp make a trip to the emergencydepartment less stressful:

• Be honest with your child.

Honesty will help a child trust the adultthroughout the entire process and helpthem to feel open enough to ask ques-

tions about things they fear when theyarrive at the hospital.

• Don’t make promises you can’t

keep. For instance, do not promise yourchild that nothing will hurt or they willnot get any shots in order to get them to

cooperate or calm down.• Keep calm. Children react to par-

ents’ reactions. As stressful as an emer-gency visit can be to a child andparent, try to remain as calm aspossible in order to help thechild cope.

• Focus on them. If it’s an option, Timms recommendsparents take their children to apediatric emergency depart-ment. The staff is specificallytrained to work with pediatricpatients from a medical perspective as well as with theappropriate developmental approaches.

Jessica Timms, works as a certified child life specialist at

Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric Emergency Department at Fairview Hospital, visit fairviewhospital.org/pedsED.

Family Living At Its Best Northeast Ohio Parent May 2014 11

Tips to Help Your Child Feel Comfortable During a Trip to the Emergency Department

Comic Book Day

Saturday, May 4You and your kids can come away with

free comic books on one day only. The

goal is to reach out to those individuals

unfamiliar with the comic book spe-

cialty market, not to mention comic

book shops. This national event hap-

pens each year on the first Saturday in

May. Many local libraries in the area will

be taking part in the event such as

Cuyahoga Falls, South Euclid-Lynd-

hurst, Brooklyn, Berea, Olmsted Falls

and Bay Village branches. See if your

local library or comic

book store is partic-

ipating in this

event! Visit

freecomic

bookday.com

for more

information.

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“Ah-Choo” may be commonly heardaround town this time of year as manychildren — and adults — fight with thedifferent elements in the spring air.With pollen counts soon becoming astaple on local newsfeeds, along withthe rebirth of buzzing sounds from insects in the area, here is some information to better prepare you forthis allergy-filled season.

Is It A Cold Or An Allergy? So, that runny nose must be a sign ofseasonal allergies, right? Not so fast,it could just be a cold.

Seasonal allergies and colds sharecommon symptoms but have differentcauses.

Dr. Sandra Hong, a Cleveland ClinicRespiratory Institute allergist, deter-mines whether your child has a cold orallergies by asking the following ques-tions:

1. Did the symptoms present them-selves all at one time? Likely, youhave allergies.

2. Did the child first experiencesneezing, then a runny nose andlater nasal congestion? Cold, it is.

3. How long have the symptomslasted? If your child’s symptomslast no longer than 10 days, she orhe had a cold. Seasonal allergysymptoms typically last months ata time, or as long as the patient isexposed to the allergen.

4. What does the mucus look like?Nasal discharge that’s yellow iscaused by a cold, and suggestsan infection. Clear, thin, waterymucus results from allergies.

5. How often does your childsneeze? Sneezing is far morecommon with allergies — es-

pecially sneezing multiple times ina row.

6. Does your child have a fever? Aller-gies are not usually accompaniedby a fever, but colds are.

7. Is your child experiencing itching?Itchy eyes, nose, throat and earsare common with allergies. Theydon’t usually associate with colds.

‘Bee’ Prepared Or Other InsectAllergies Summer will be here beforeyou know it, and if you oryour child is allergic to in-

sect stings, you need to be pre-pared in the event of an

anaphylactic reaction.

About 2 million people in the U.S.suffer from severe bee, wasp or hornetallergies. Immediate treatment is im-portant, as approximately 40 people inthe country die each year as a result ofsevere reactions to insect stings.

“Your face swells, your lips swell, youfeel like you’re going to vomit,” Hongsays of insect allergy symptoms.

Others include hives all over the bodywith severe itching and swelling, tight-ness in the chest, difficulty breathing,swelling of the tongue or throat, dizzi-ness, fainting, stomach cramps, nau-sea, diarrhea, a drop in blood pressureand cardiac arrest.

These symptoms typically occurwithin minutes of the sting.

“If you get stung in one spot, but havea reaction somewhere else on yourbody, you need to call 9-1-1 to getemergency care,” Hong says.

People who know they have severeallergies should always carry anEpiPen, and make those around themaware of their allergy. That way, if theydo get stung, someone with them canadminister an injection of symptom-re-lieving epinephrine if they are unable to.

Hong suggests skin-testing for thosewith severe insect allergies in order toexplore the most effective therapies andreduce symptoms.

New Treatment For Allergies? Currently, allergy shots are themost effective treatment avail-

able to reduce allergy symp-toms of any sort — seasonal,pet dander, among others.However, the U.S. Food andDrug Administration is ex-ploring new, less-invasive

Helping to About Allergies


Family Health

Reducing reactions from seasonal allergies — from hay fever to bee stings.

Clear the Air

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forms of allergy immunotherapy. Sublingual oral immunotherapy, or SLIT, is expected to be ap-

proved by the FDA later this year for grass and ragweed aller-gies. The oral drugs will likely be used to treat both adults andchildren. A daily dose will effectively eliminate symptoms forspecific seasonal allergies.

“The new therapy will be a convenient treatment for adultsand children, and will allow a unique and comfortable alternativeto traditional immunotherapy shots,” says Dr. Michael Ben-ninger, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Cleveland Clinic’sHead & Neck Institute.

Keep an eye out for FDA approval of these drugs later thisyear, and be sure to ask your doctor about it being a feasibletreatment option for allergies.

Article courtesy of Cleveland Clinic News Wire. For more infor-mation, please visit my.clevelandclinic.org

Do you remember howmany of your school-day friends had foodallergies? Likely, nextto none. Now thinkabout how many of yourkids’ friends have some sortof food allergy — maybe it’seven your child who’s allergicto peanuts. The fact is, foodallergies are on the risein the U.S. and they af-fect more than 6 mil-lion children, accordingto the American Collegeof Allergy, Asthma & Im-munology.

There’s good news, though.Theories based on researchmay show how you canhelp avoid food aller-gies when it comes toyour child.

One recent studyshowed that childrenwhose parents lick theirpacifier to clean it have lowerincidences of allergies, indi-cating that childhood expo-sure to certain germshelps develop the im-mune system and pro-vides protectionagainst allergies and

asthma. Additional re-search indicates thatearly exposure tocertain foods, likeeggs and peanuts,

may help a child toler-ate certain foods.Dr. Sandra Hong, a Cleve-

land Clinic Respiratory Insti-tute allergist, notes that

while there haven’tbeen any recentchanges in recom-mendations to pro-

tect kids against foodallergies, she’s increas-

ingly using a desensitizationmethod for those who havealready developed certain in-

tolerances. “Eighty percent of

children can tolerateparticular foodsbaked into products,”

she says. “Those arethe kids who are more

likely to grow out of their al-lergies and develop a toler-

ance.”However, it’s impor-

tant to consult withyour child’s allergistbefore you begin

using this method.

Protect Kids AgainstFood Allergies

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Ages & Stages

As adults, we’ve probably figured out howto find shoes that fit our feet, but how doyou buy shoes for your children? Theydon’t always communicate effectively,not to mention their feet are growing —and often rapidly.

Young ChildrenDr. Richard So, a pediatrician at theCleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital Independence Family Health Center,says that infants and crawlers “only needsocks to keep their feet warm.” Oncethey are toddlers, he advises buyingshoes that are inexpensive and breath-able because children are going to out-grow them in two to three months.

With children ages 16 months andyounger, their feet grow a half foot sizeevery two months. From 17 months to 24months, that growth slows to a half foot

size every three months. A 2-year-old’sfeet will grow every four months, while a3-year-old’s foot size changes only everyfour to six months.

What To Look For In ShoesThe most important feature for your childmight be the color, the cartoon characteron the front or the latest fad, however,

proper fit should rank first. Dr. Erin Dean, orthopaedic foot and

ankle surgeon at Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center in Hudson, refersher patients to good shoe stores “(to) get[their] feet measured appropriately.”

She notes it’s “most important tomake sure you don’t get shoes that aretoo small.” Shoes that are too tight, es-pecially in the toes, can lead to hammertoes, claw toes or bunions.

So also advocates for a wide toe box.He often sees children with ingrown toe-nails because the toe box is too narrow.

Getting The Right FitSo how do you get a proper fit? BrianDunphy at Lucky Shoes in FairlawnTown Centre has been fitting shoes for12 years.

According to Dunphy, sizing for children should allow forthe “right amount ofgrowth,” for a solid four tosix months, “but not hinderthe gait cycle (heel to toewalking).” He uses thethumb test to check forextra room in the toes. Theconsensus is that it shouldbe “one-fourth to one-halfof an inch.”

Take the time to lace upor fasten both shoes. Thenwatch your child walk backand forth to make sure it isa comfortable walk and that

the shoes are not slipping off his or herfeet. This is especially true with sneak-ers, Dean adds.While younger children might be lackingknowledge about shoes, it’s important tolisten to what they have to say.

Dunphy says, “It’s all about feel” and“children don’t have a reason to fabri-cate” if it doesn’t feel good.

Dr. So recommends trying a light-weight shoe for little walkers so theydon’t get tired or get blisters from alltheir activity.

Also, consider the ease of Velcro whenchildren are younger compared to shoeswith laces, as the Velcro closure mightjust make life a little easier. When a child has flat feet, a stiffer shoeis better. Simply, “something that doesn’tbend in half when you pick it up,” Deansays.

So notes the popularity of flip-flopswith older kids, but cautions that they“offer the worst support.”

Dunphy the best time to shop for yourchild’s shoes is “whenever you think yourchild has the best temperament.”

Feet IssuesShoes may get the blame for kids’ feetproblems, however, that is not often thecase. Bunions and hammer toes canalso be caused by injury or simply aregenetic.

Other common concerns include ath-lete’s foot, flat feet and heel pain. Withathlete’s foot, watch for itching or red-ness between the toes. The best preven-tion is keeping feet dry and changingsocks regularly. Usually an over-the-counter medicine can be used to treat it.

If flat feet are not painful, there isnothing to worry about. Heel pain is an-other matter. It indicates something dif-ferent in children than adults. Sever’sdisease is common in children and iscaused by the inflammation of thegrowth plate at the heel.

It is related to overuse or may occurafter a growth spurt.

“It’s reasonable to try the easy thingsfirst, such as activity modification for heelpain or arch supports for flat feet,” Deansays, “but if the pain continues, I’d rec-ommend seeing a doctor.”


By Mary Ellen Bramwell

Find out how children can get the best fitfor their feet.

Growth Can Be a Running Issue

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Whether it’s years away or just around thecorner, college is an expense most fami-lies worry about. No matter what the cir-cumstance, there are several ways to helpfund your child’s higher education whenthe time comes.

For Northeast Ohio residents, the OhioTuition Trust Authority is a way to savemoney for your kids by offering a variety ofsavings plans that provide tax advantages.

The College Advantage 529 SavingsPlan consists of two plans: the

direct plan and the advisorplan.

Paul Paeglis,executive

director of theOhio Tuition Trust

Authority says “Thedirect plan is onewhere the con-

sumer directly invests inthe plan with us and not through

a financial advi-sor. Our directplan has 23 dif-ferent investment

options, whichinclude several tax benefits.

“The advisor plan is very similar

in structure, it has 21 investment optionsavailable, but the difference is that is ad-ministered by Black Rock for us and it issold through financial advisors.”

The 529 Savings Plan is unique with taxbenefits from the state of Ohio. Paeglissays, “It’s an upfront tax benefit from thestate of Ohio of up to $2,000 off of yourtaxable income to the state or each bene-ficiary whose account you would con-tribute to. And then you get long-term,tax-free growth of those dollars free fromnot only state taxes, but from federaltaxes as well. That’s a powerful tax bene-fit to not have the growth taxed as youearn it, as it would in a mutual fund orbank account.”

Starting EarlyWhile it may seem far away for an infant,it’s never too early for a family to startsaving money for a college fund, accord-ing to Patty Saddle from The CollegePlanning Center.

“[Parents should save] as early as pos-sible — even once you bring your childhome,” says Saddle. “Saying that is not aseasy as doing it in this economy, but thesooner parents can start saving, even ifit’s $25 a month, the better.”

Darren Rose from The Daily Scholar-

Exploring saving and scholarship options.


& SavingCollege Planning

By Emma Kanagaki

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ship, a local organization that helpsget local businesses to provide schol-arships for the community, agrees, andadvises to start saving on “day one.”

“As soon as the kid is born,” he says.“We see families unprepared so it isalways better to start early.”

While college tuition amounts areever-changing and fluctuating withinthis economy, it’s always a good ideato put away a reasonable amount. Ifthat means $20 or $200 a month, everybit helps.

“The reality is that every dollar yousave toward that goal will be that muchless that you then have to find a way topay for out of current income or out ofstudent loans in the future.” Paeglissays, “It’s pretty rare for someone toregret saving too much for college —that doesn’t happen very often.”

Scholarship SourcesIf your child is already well into his orher high school years and time is shortto save, scholarship opportunities maybe the way to go.

There are thousands of scholarshipfunds and programs, so be sure to re-search ones that are unique to the col-lege or university your child might beattending, as well as federal and statescholarships or those from privatedonors.

“Try everything and be diligent,” saysRose.

Saddle also advises a few ways forstudents to get ahead with scholarshipopportunities.

“The absolute best way for studentsto receive merit aid/scholarships is towork at achieving a high GPA and testscores on their ACT or SAT.” she says.“When a student applies to a collegewhere they are above the average stu-dent who attends that college (top 25percent), the student will usually beable to receive scholarships from thatcollege or university.”

Saddle recommends first looking atthe college your student plans orwould like to attend and check its web-site information under financial aidand scholarships.

“Then check with the high schoolguidance counselor to see what schol-arships are offered, along with if any

are available in their community. Lastplace are the national scholarships,because there is a large amount ofcompetition, therefore, making thesetypes of scholarships more difficult toreceive.”

Students can also contribute to theircollege fund by holding a part-time jobor completing tasks around the neigh-borhood like babysitting, lawn mowingor other household work.

No matter what the circumstance,

the best way tosave for yourchild’s edu-cation is simply tostart.

Each contribu-tion will make a difference that putsa college opportu-nity on the map.

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Camp Leaders 101When hiring counselors and aides,camps look for individuals who can relateto children and be strong leaders whilebringing a sense of fun to the job.

“A good camp counselor is someonewho is attentive to their campers, but isalso strong enough to keep control andkeep everyone safe and to have a goodtime,” said Ken Fortuna, who has the jobof hiring the 32 camp counselors whowork alongside the regular camp staff atHiram House Camp in Chagrin Falls. Thecamp runs day and overnight camps formore than 1,200 students each summer.

“They have to be comfortable beingsilly and goofy for camp songs anddressing up,” Fortuna said. “We (also) tryto convey that when it comes to anythingunexpected, it’s important to stay calm.We really (focus) on that during stafftraining.”

Fortuna points out that the counselors,who are generally between the ages

of 18 and 22, primarily are col-lege students. Many are study-

ing education or psychologyand are looking for ways to

expand their knowledgeby working at a camp.

“When I interview, I ask them (howthey would handle) situations such as ifa child is being picked on or if a parentcomplains about something,” Fortunasays. “The biggest thing is gauging howwell they relate to campers (and) do youhave experience working with kids?”

Leah Lambert-Dustin owns FitGirlCamp, a mobile fitness camp that servesgirls throughout Northeast Ohio, amongother areas. Her staff includes femalecollege students as counselors.

“They are very kid-centric, girl-centricand active, and they want to make a dif-ference in a young girl’s life,” Lambert-Dustin said. The ideal counselor isorganized, has had experience workingwith children and is “captivating, authen-tic, enthusiastic and comfortable in theirown skin. They have a presence,” she ex-plained. In other words, the ideal coun-selor at FitGirl Camp is someone whocan be a mentor to the campers, all ofwhom are between ages 5-12.

“I think what makes a good counseloris great energy, and if the counselor canrelate to students at all levels,” saysDiane Kanney, vice president of enroll-ment and marketing for St. Joseph Acad-emy in Cleveland. She overseescounselor hiring for the school’s summercamps. Golf, rugby, cross country, vol-

leyball, theater, world lan-guages, service and art are

just some of the many daycamps for boys and girls

that the schoolwill be

spon-

soring this summer.Kanney says for St. Joseph Academy,

many of the students are paid, but somewill use the camp counselor hours to ful-fill the school’s required communityservice hours, which total 20 per year.Students often exceed the requirementthrough the camp or outside volunteerwork.

“The counselors who work under(academy staff members, who undergobackground checks, along with eachcamp director or person who oversees aspecific area of interest) primarily arestudents who attend the academy,” shesays. “For example, the basketball campcounselors are members of the schoolbasketball team.”

To be hired as a counselor, somemight have to have specialized training,especially if it’s a camp with athletics or ifit serves children with learning differ-ences.

Carole Richards is director of Un-School Camp, which is held at LakelandCommunity College, but is not affiliatedwith the school. The camp is geared to-ward children ages 6-18 with learningdifferences such as dyslexia, Asperger’s,ADD and other issues. With its special-ized nature, all of the counselors havecollege degrees and experience workingwith children who have learning differ-ences. In addition to adult counselors,Richards hires aides who have at least

By Marie Elium

Think of them as the front line warriors in the world ofsummer camp. From leading songs to encouraging newactivities, camp counselors are the ones who work themost closely with your child throughout their stay.

There’s never a dull moment in a camp counselor’s summer.


Camp CounselorsPart Teacher, Part Coach, Part Friend

18-19 camp_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:03 PM


two years of college.

Un-SchoolCamp splits itsday between academics in themorning, and theater, science, artsand sports in the afternoon. Because the campershave a variety of learning issues, aides must be “sensitive, flexibleand creative,” Richards says. “Our goal is success for everyone whocomes to camp. Kids have unique challenges that you need to understand. Training is specific to the campers’ needs.”

A Counselor’s View Counselors are trained to handle everything from minor injuries tomajor cases. Many have to deal with homesick campers. AmandaPoropat, 25, who has worked as a camp counselor at Hiram HouseCamp since 2011, says she has seen all types of situations. That’swhy being a counselor requires creativity.

“I had a lot of girls who were scared of thunderstorms so I madesure to have string to make friendship bracelets, (along with)crayons and paper,” she says. “We (also) pass the time playing newgames. It’s hard to keep them all calm and distracted, but luckilythe storms usually rolled out just as quickly as they rolled in.”

Poropat said it’s also rewarding to see her campers master anoutdoor camp-out, complete with bumps in the night (raccoons),bug bites, homesickness and plenty of giggles. “When we woke upin the morning, they were so happy and proud to have slept outsideall night.”

During the academic year, Poropat is a Head Start pre-schoolteacher, but she found that camp counseling was a natural fit. Infact, this summer she will be the day camp director at Hiram.

“I love kids and being outside,” she says. “I had enjoyed being acounselor at another camp the summer prior to starting at HiramHouse Camp and I had wonderful experiences at Girl Scout campas a child. Ultimately, I thought what a better way to spend mysummer than at camp again? Plus, I did not want to spend anothersummer inside.”

So, what does Poropat think makes a good counselor? “Singingcamp songs,” she said. “Some of my strongest memories as acamper include singing camp songs (and) playing with the kids. Youcan be a role model and still have fun and participate. Camp is theplace where kids can really be kids, without any pressure.”

And she says, “the kids, of course” are the best part of the job.“It is so much fun to see them grow throughout the summer,”

Poropat says. “So many special friendships and memories aremade with both campers and other counselors in the three shortmonths of summer. As a counselor, I have made many lastingfriendships, too.”

She added a challenge is watching the campers try somethingnew or scary for them. “I just wanted to help them, but the thrill ofseeing them climbing to the top of rock wall or seeing their fearsgo away as they paddled around the pond was a wonderful sight,”she said. Another goal is to get through the day without a camperlosing something — a water bottle, a pair of goggles, a towel or anarticle of clothing. “Being a counselor you have to keep track ofeverything.”

Poropat said the final challenge of being a camp counselor is themost bittersweet: “Saying goodbye until next summer.”

18-19 camp_Layout 1 4/23/14 3:47 PM

Academic Fun & Fitness CampThe Academic Fun & Fitness Camp serves the unique needs of childrenwith learning differences. This camp will give your child a new perspectiveon learning, while developing the self-esteem and social skills needed tobe successful. It is held at Lakeland Community College from June 16through July 25 (half-day or full-day options).31300 Solon Road, Suite 1, Solon,440-914-0200, unschoolcamp.org

Achievement Centers for Children’s Camp Cheerful Offering day, overnight and weekend respite camps for chil-dren and adults with and without disabilities, includingautism. Campers enjoy activities such as: hiking and naturestudy; swimming, canoeing, horsemanship activities; fullyaccessible high ropes activities; arts and crafts; and sports.Campers participate in a variety of recreational activities thatencourage confidence and independence, and create oppor-tunities for lifelong friendships while having fun and improv-ing their quality of life.

15000 Cheerful Lane, Strongsville, 440-238-6200, achievementcenters.org/campcheerful

Akron RacersFastpitch Softball Clinics, June 18 and July 8, 10a.m.-noon or 1:30-3:30 p.m.The Akron Racers, thewomen’s professional fastpitch team, will conduct two

clinics for players ages 8-16 years old at Firestone Stadium. The Racerswill guide the young players through stations designed to work on the fivetools of the game. The stations will include bunting, slapping, hitting, field-ing, running and throwing. Register at akronracers.org. 1575 Firestone Pkwy., Akron, 330-376-8188

Akron Rotary CampAkron Rotary Camp for Children with Special Needsruns June through August for ages 6 to adulthood,Sunday-Friday (overnight camps) and Monday-Friday10 a.m.-4 p.m. (day camps). Activities include: tradi-tional camp activities adapted to meet the needs of

each camper. Cost is $290 (day camp), $575 (overnight camp). Financialassistance will be provided to qualifying individuals. Visit an open houseMay 10, 2-4 p.m.4460 Rex Lake Drive, Akron, 330-644-4512, [email protected], rotarycamp.org.

Bricks 4 KidzEngineering with LEGO Bricks. Boys and girls ages5-12. Week-long, full day and half day. Exciting newthemes each week: Architecture, Robotics, Stop Mo-tion, NXT, Comic Creator. Bricks 4 Kidz camps are ahigh-energy, fast-paced setting where kids build,discover and test the limits of their imagination

while creating cities, minecraft worlds, robots, moon rovers, ninjas, superheroes, movies and comic books. Early bird pricing and online registration.bricks4kidz.com

Burning River LacrosseBR Lax is Northern Ohio’s largest lacrosse providerwith more than 3,000 boys and girls participating inour camps, clinics, leagues and travel teams. Ourfocus is on providing opportunities at all levels (intro-ductory camps, leagues, skills development, nationaltournaments, college recruiting) to Northern Ohio’s

lacrosse community. This is why our parents have consistently stated,“The Best Coaches, The Best Competition, The Best Experience!” Comesee for yourself at brlax.net.

2014 Summer Camp Guide

Northeast Ohio Parent brings you the rundown ofthe area’s top summer camps!


20-30 camplist_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:10 PM


Camp GloboDid you know bilingual children score higher onstandardized tests and have better math and logicskills than their monolingual peers? Camp Globo isan adventure day camp combined with an immer-sion language camp. By using the proven immer-sion method, children learn Spanish, French orGerman organically by experiencing it all day whilethey enjoy the outdoors engaged in games, crafts,music, water play, field trips and so much more.Have an enriching summer experience.4540 Stow Road (Inside Hickey Karate Center),Stow, 330-203-1514, CampGlobo.comfacebook.com/CampGloboTwitter @CampGlobo

Cuyahoga Community CollegeTri-C Summer Camps: Grades K-12, June-August, Half-day andfull-day camps: STEM, RaspberryPi, Tech Ventures,

Cinematography, Performing Arts, Music, Tri-C JazzFest Camp, Sports, and Culinary. Visit tri-c.edu/summercamps for more information. 700 Carnegie Ave. Cleveland 800-954-8742, tri-c.edu

Classroom AnticsClassroom Antics TechCamps offer summer daycamps for ages 7-13 in video

game design, LEGO robotics, computer program-ming and stop-motion animation in Brunswick,Middleburg Heights, Medina, Green (Uniontown),Fairlawn, Westlake, Beachwood, Solon andBrecksville. Camps available in morning, afternoonor full-day sessions. Only 12 kids in eachclass/camp, so sign-up early at ClassroomAntics.com.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Summer Day CampThe zoo’s Summer Day Camp runs from June 9through August 15 in different weeklong sessions,each focusing on a unique theme. The sessions areavailable in half-day (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) and full-



day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) increments. The zoo’sSummer Day Camp is geared for children ages5-14, with a special new half-day Nature PlayCamp for kids ages 3-4. Each camp is filled withgames, arts and crafts, and unique opportunitiesto see zoo animals and exhibits up close.3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 216-661-6500,clevelandmetroparks.com

Cuyahoga Valley Christian

Academy CampsCVCA offers several day campprograms during the summer tohelp kids learn and enhance theirskills. From basketball to hockey to

drama, there are several options to challengeyour unique student to learn and grow. 4687 Wyoga Lake Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-929-0575, cvcaroyals.org

Dance Beatz — formerly Sharon Rae DanceSchoolSummer Dance Adventure Camp — for boysand girls ages 5-11, June 23-26. Children willhave a day full of coordination and rhythm activ-ities, music, dancing, tumbling, crafts, outdoorgames and so much more. Summer Dance Classes — for boys and girlsages 3-11, July 7-16. Students attend classtwice per week and will receive an introductionto many types of dance. Shoes are provided.727 Canton Road, Akron, 330-784-3822,dancebeatzakron.com

Falcon CampWidely recognized as Ohio’s premier summercamp since 1959, Falcon offers a beautifullakefront setting, talented staff and wide rangeof activities. “Fun for Now, Skills for Life” is notjust a catchy phrase but truly defines what Fal-



23 lawerence 4/16/14 3:11 PM

con is about. Boys and girls choose their ownschedule within a general framework, separateactivities with planned coed events. 1:4staff/camper ratio allows individual instructionand attention. Most of all, it’s a great time. ACA accredited, references available.Carrollton, 800-837-CAMP, falconcamp.com

Girl Scouts of Northeast OhioAll girls are invited to have fun, make newfriends and try new things at themed campsunder the guidance of trained adults. Girl ScoutsCamps offer archery, swimming, horseback rid-ing, arts and crafts, canoeing, astronomy and

more. Come to the Open House at CampLedgewood in Peninsula on April 13, 2-5 p.m.or Camp Timberlane in Wakeman on April 6, 2-5 p.m. For more information, e-mail [email protected]. All girls are welcome. Register today.One Girl Scout Way, Macedonia, 330-864-9933, gsneo.org

Geauga Park District CampsGeauga Park District announcesits second annual week-long out-door adventure camps for youthentering grades 5-7 during the

weeks of June 23, July 7, 14, 28 and August 4.A week-long adventure experience will also beoffered the week of July 21 for teens enteringgrades 8-10. New this year for the older kidsare single-day X Treme Adventures held June30, July 1, 2 and 3. Details at bit.ly/gpdcamps.9160 Robinson Road, Chardon, 440-286-9516, geaugaparkdistrict.org

Gelfand STEM Center Engage your child in authentic STEM learning experiences at CWRU this summer. Ignite yourchild’s interest in exploration, science and tech-nology while having fun. Take a look at the pos-sibilities this summer for elementary, middle andhigh school-age students. Develop a website.Learn computer programming. Search for Shipwrecks. Build an ROV. Monitor reptiles and amphibians.Guilford House, Suite 412, Case Western Reserve University, 11112 Bellflower Road,Cleveland, 216-368-5075, gelfand.case.edu

Great Lakes Theater Since 2010, Great Lakes Theater(GLT) has partnered with Berea-

Midpark High School to offer two week-longsummer camps concentrating on interactive andeducational theater-based activities. This sum-mer, GLT is offering expanded half-day and full-day workshops. The program is designed forstudents of all levels of experience and ability.Classes will be divided by students’ ages. Thedrama camp features classes in acting, Shake-speare, movement, improvisation, stage com-bat, mask making and much more. Visitgreatlakestheater.org/education for complete information and registration materials.2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland,216-453-4453, greatlakestheater.org






For a complete directory of

regional camps, visitnortheastohioparent.com.




Great Lakes Science CenterMake science come alive with week-long summercamps from Great Lakes Science Center. Youngscientists in preschool through high school willenjoy a week of scientific exploration, hands-onlearning, new friendships and fun. The ScienceCenter’s camp programs have been accredited bythe American Camp Association. Camps run June9-August 15. Featuring more than 70 campthemes and 10 locations around Northeast Ohio.Get details at GreatScience.com.601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland,216-694-2000, glsc.org

Hathaway Brown School Summer CampsLocated in Shaker Heights, Hathaway BrownSchool provides an inclusive environment thatchallenges girls in grades K-12 and boys and girlsin the Early Childhood Program. Founded in 1876,Hathaway Brown is committed to a fusion of aca-demic and experiential learning. Hathaway Brownoffers several unique summer programs including

For a complete directory of regionalcamps, visit

northeastohioparent.com.



athletic camps, for-credit classes and theatre. See website for a completelisting and information. 19600 North Park Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-932-4214, hb.edu

John Carroll University Summer CampsJoin us at John Carroll University for summer sports camps. John CarrollUniversity’s Department of Athletics is proud to offer a variety of 2014summer sports camps and clinics for students of all ages. We provide asafe, fun, learning environment on our beautiful campus in UniversityHeights. Respected head coaches for John Carroll’s varsity and clubsports teams lead our summer athletic programs.For details, visit go.jcu.edu/sportscamps. Sign up early. Spaces are limited.1 John Carroll Blvd., University Heights, 216-397-1886, jcu.edu

Lake County YMCAAt the Y, we value the unique personalities and potential of every child andteen. Summer camp creates an environment where kids are encouraged toexplore and discover exciting new things, cultivate friendships and makememories that last a lifetime. The Lake County Y Central, East End, WestEnd, Perry Child Care and Outdoor Y offer a variety of summer day camp experiences for preschools and children ages 4-14, as well as overnightcamp experiences for teens.440-354-5656, lakecountyymca.org

Lawrence School Summer ProgramsGet ready to learn, grow and play at Lawrence School this summer. Pro-

grams for students entering Kindergarten through 8th grade make learn-ing more fun and playtime more rewarding. Themes include kindergartenreadiness, academic review, technology exploration, organizational skill-building and study “tips and tricks.” Our afternoon programs are full of ex-citing summer fun activities and field trips. Enhance skills, have fun,explore, create, make new friends and build confidence. Broadview Heights and Sagamore Hills, 440-526-0717lawrenceschool.org/summer




Magical Theatre CompanyActing Out(side): June 15-20 at Cuyahoga Val-ley National Park. Classes in acting and stagecombat, end with a roving performance ofscenes from plays, films and books, using the

natural environment as a stage.K.I.D. Camp: July 7-18 develops performingskills through age-appropriate classes insinging, dancing and acting, culminating in arousing musical performance. Camps arestaffed by professional directors, actors andchoreographers, all devoted to young people. 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., Barberton, 330-848-3708, magicaltheatre.org/drama-camps

Old Trail School’s SummerCamp — S’camp Old Trail School’s S’Camp is re-turning (June 9 through August 8)for another great summer filled

with sun, fun, friends and non-stop activities.This popular summer camp has 150-plus op-tions in technology, art, crafts, history, sportsand much more for campers ages 3 to 17. Half and full-day camps are offered with extended day options for working parents.Transportation available from Brecksville and




Hudson. Early Bird Discount through March 21.oldtrail.org/[email protected] Ira Road, Akron, 330-666-1118, oldtrail.org

Pembroke KidsPembroke Kids’ summer program is a fun, butcarefully structured camp experience that is anextension of our regular programming. To add abit of fun to our daily schedule, we’ve developedspecial weekly themes that capture the essenceof summertime. Our program is designed forpreschool children ages 3 to 4, pre-kindergarten(age 5) or school age children entering grades1-6. Explore new ideas, develop new skills, andmake new friends in a safe, supportive and fun-filled environment. June 16 - August 8. Formore information, visit pembrokekids.com.

Romp n Stomp InflatablesRomp n Stomp is voted #1 for our kids camps.We blend creativity, activity and learning into afun filled day for children ages 4-11. Flexibleschedule. Mad Science Monday's, Around theWorld Wednesday's, Art Filled Friday's are heldfrom 9:30-2:30 p.m. for $45 per child/ lunchincluded! Preschool Play Camp on Tues/Thurs-day 9:30-11:30 a.m. for $20 per child/snackincluded. Paint n Play Camp Tues/Thursday 1-3p.m. for $25 per child. Call to reserve your spot!900 Medina Road, Medina234-248-4405, rompnstompcenter.net

Saint Joseph Academy Summer CampsLearning is an adventure at Saint Joseph Acad-emy’s Summer Enrichment Camps 2014! Thetwo-week Summer Enrichment camp enhances

English, math, science and social studies withhands-on work and field trips. Other camp op-portunities include science, rugby, golf, soccer,crew, volleyball, cross country, World Languages,art, music, basketball, dancing, service and lead-ership camps. Take the first step to summer funand order a brochure at sja1890.org/summer-camps.3470 Rocky River Dr., Cleveland,216-251-6788, sja1890.org




YMCA Camp Y-NoahJune through August for ages 6-16, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Activities include swimming, canoeing,climbing, horseback riding, arts and crafts, hiking, sports, science camp, CheernasticsCamp, SCUBA, robotics and paintball. Day

camp cost is $155-$390 a week depending on programs. Overnightcamp cost $455 a week depending on programs. Contact Michael Landryat [email protected], 330-896-1964. Visit a YMCA Camp Y-NoahOpen House 2-4 p.m. on May 18. 815 Mt. Pleasant Road, Clinton, 330-896-1964, GotCamp.org

Young Chefs AcademyDoes your child or grandchild LOVE to cook? If so, they’ll be sure to enjoyour great summer camps with popular themes such as Chocolate Camp,Italian Lovers, Cupcake Palooza, Celebrity Chefs camp, Fondue Fun andmore! Our mini-camps are flexible to allow you to choose convenient datesand appealing themes. Each camp is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Times: either morning (9 a.m.-noon) or afternoon (1-4 p.m.) and are pricedaffordably at $115 for 9 hours of camp! Various locations, 440-572-2855, youngchefsacademy.com



31 SCCS 4/16/14 3:12 PM

Keeping A ScheduleParents learn quickly to expect the unexpected, to realize they have zerocontrol, and to accept help when bring-ing home their little bundles of joy.

“Ask for help and let go of the guilt ofnot feeling like you can do it all yourself,”says Jennifer Harvey, mom of 11-month-old twins Oliver and Madeline inWilloughby. “The babies will benefitwhen you are relaxed and able to focuson them, rather than thinking about allthe other things you need to do simulta-neously.”

Schedules are key to life withmultiples. EmilyHonsa-Hicks, momto 19-month-oldtwins Gaby andRomy says, “A greatsleep-training bookconvinced us thatscheduling naps andbedtime was not childabuse, and our girlsbegan sleeping at thesame time and throughthe night very quickly.”

It also helps parents

manage time andarrange carpools toshuttle older twinsand siblings withdifferent interests.

Cathy Bellone,mom to 12-year-old twins Blakeand Brittany and10-year-oldDylan in West-lake, says, “Ihave boy/girl twins, so they have

different friends anddifferent activities,which means a lotof running around.Fortunately, manyof their friendsparticipate in thesame activities,so I am in a fewdifferent carpools. Thisis the ideal

situation; otherwise, they

couldn’t be as involved.”Parents also have a support group,

Northeast OhioMothers of Multi-ples, which providesa variety of helpfulresources to all fam-ilies of multiples —twins, triplets, quadsand beyond.

Making It WorkMultiples in, typicallymeans money is out.

With the increased costs, familieshave to make decisions that are best forthem. Some moms return to work, whileothers don’t because of the high cost ofdaycare for two (or more) babies. Parentsmay become consultants for home-basedcompanies or start their own businessesto augment income.

“Going from a two-income householdwith two people to instantly going to aone-income household with four peoplewas quite the shock to our wallet,” saidJodi Davies, mom to 5-year-old twinsOlivia and Aubrey and 2-year-old Willow, in the Akron area. “I had to be alittle more creative, so I started tocoupon and stockpile. I’ve also opened


By Shelley Polewchak

Parents raising sets of twins, triplets or

quadruplets help us understand ‘more’

can be better.

“Twins! Triplets! Quadruplets!” says your doctor. Afterward,the thought — or shock — of having multiples begins to settlein, however, so might the panic. “Will we need two ofeverything?” “How will we afford them?” “How can wepossibly care for two babies (or more!) at once?” Whileparents will discover they are outnumbered on a daily basis— there is also plenty of joy in raising multiples.

Multiples

Dylan,10, Brittany and Blake, 12

Gaby and Romy at about age 1

32-35 Multiples_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:14 PM

my own home-based business.The money that Ibring in from thisbusiness allowsme to pay for mytwins’ danceclasses.”

Parents often jug-gle the morning andnight routines so oneof the parents can bewith the kids each time. Honsa-Hickssays she leaves work first and thenheads home for the evening routine,while her husband, who goes intowork later, handles the morningswith their daughters.

“Usually, my husband makes ithome for the final goodnights,” shesays.

If both parents work, they rely onothers to keep them apprised oftheir children’s development andneeds. To make it all work, commu-nication is key.

“My husband Matt and I have reg-ular ‘state of the union’ discussionswhere we address areas of concern

or focus to ensure thatwe are working togethertoward mutual goals,”Honsa-Hicks says.

Multiple ChallengesWhile multiples have anamazing bond, parents mustremember they need to betreated as individuals. Whenmultiples reach school age,

sometimes they are inseparate classes andbegin to develop their owngroups of friends.

Tracey Miller, mom to 6-year-old twins Samantha andMarissa and 9-year-oldJonathan in Brookpark, says,“The hardest thing is to re-member that they are indeedtwo separate people. It’s veryeasy to compare and want

them to be more alike (as ifthat would make a parent’slife easier). It’s also difficultto keep others from notcomparing them as well.We don’t ever want themto hear the comparison orthink they are any moreor less than the otherone!”

She described a situ-ation when one twinwas invited to a class-

mate’s birthday party andthe other, in a different class, was not.

“This is a fact of life that they willboth have to learn to deal with,” Millersays.

As multiples age, new challengesarise, such as driving and college costsfor teens. It’s about compromise and ashared lifestyle, which helps when twokids want to take one car to different


to Love

Olivia and Aubrey, 5

Samantha and Marissa, 6



destinations. Nancy Nagle, mom toidentical 19-year-old twin boys andtwo other sons in Mentor, said herboys worked it out.

“One drops the other off and pickshim up later, they borrow one of theparents’ cars, or they hitch a ride witha friend,” she says. “It’s sometimes ajuggling act, but it has worked.”

Donna Haviland, mom to 24-year-old boy/girl twins and two otherdaughters in Madison — and a twinherself — says, “Negotiation andcompromise skills were definitelylearned. My twin sister and I had onecar to share from age 16 through thefirst two years at college. We had anoff-campus apartment. The one whohad to go in the earliest or stay thelatest got first dibs on the car forsafety reasons.”

Managing multiple college tuitions simultaneously can be daunting. Parents may need to be creative.

“[My boys] attended Lakeland

What Not To Say to MoMs (Mothers of Multiples)

“Double Trouble.” Double the love is more like it. “Oh, you poor thing.” It’s the exact opposite.

Our lives are richer for having multiples andall the joys they bring.

“Did you do invitro?” “Are they natural?” Yes,they are natural. They are babies, not robots.

Some people are open about their choices, but itreally is a very personal matter.

“2 for 1 — BOGO!” Nope. We still have to pay for two ofeverything.

“One of each? Now you are done!” Don’t assume that someonehas boy/girl twins that their family is complete. “Too bad it wasn’t one of each!” Having twins of the same sex doesn’t make yourfamily any less complete than having one of each. “My kids are 13 months apart, which is basically the same thing as having twins.”

No, no it is not. Only carrying them at the same time makes it “just like havingtwins.” “Better you than me. “ We enjoy being doubly blessed and getting to see thosemoments of magic, not once, but twice. It is awesome to parent multiples.“How can you afford them?” Just the way any other parents do.

What you can do is offer a helping hand Hold doors if the parent is carrying two infant carriers. Always take a moment to acknowledge that I understand the situation and offer to help. Or, just a smile as you pass, which might help tobrighten the day. (You should do that to everyone anyway.)



Community College during their junior and senior high school yearsthrough the Post Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) program,”Nagle says. “They earned their associate’s degree at the same timethey earned their high school diploma. Through PSEO, all tuitionand books are covered; thus, we saved two years of college costs foreach twin.”

While raising multiples can be stressful and financially taxing — therewards and successes are multiplied.

Shelley Polewchak is a home-schooling mom to 7-year-oldgirl/boy twins, Reagan andNolan. Many parents in-terviewed for this storyare members ofNortheast Ohio Moth-ers of Multiples (NEO-MoM), which servesLake County, easternCuyahoga County andGeauga County. Visitneomom.org for moreinfo.

Running errands, cleaning the house and taking careof children and loved ones is how many womenspend their day. However, as the day winds down,they may think, “What did I do for myself today?”The answer is usually, “Nothing.” Women shouldtake time out for their own health, which benefits notonly them but also their families.

“I think in many families today, the women are thedirector of the ship,” says Rebecca Fredrick, DO, afamily medicine physician on the Medical Staff atSouthwest General. “They play the part of schedulekeeper, transporter, caregiver, nurturer and more—sothe ability to multitask many different roles is veryimportant. In order to function, and care for their ownfamily, they need to take care of themselves.”

Dr. Fredrick recommends that women start by re-ceiving a yearly physical exam. A physical examconsists of reviewing the patient’s medical history,including chronic medical illnesses, medicines andallergies. Also, Dr. Fredrick may review lifestyle be-haviors, such as smoking or caffeine use.

As part of the yearly physical exam, health main-tenance and prevention is an important focus. Thephysician will discuss if a patient is due for routinetesting such as a bone density screening, mammo-gram or colonoscopy. Additionally, a review of rec-ommended immunizations is conducted at this visit.Based on the patient’s age, the physician may recom-

mend vaccines such as a flu shot, tetanus or pneu-monia vaccine.

Dr. Fredrick is part of the Southwest General Med-ical Group, Inc. Strongsville Family Practice. She,along her with her colleagues, Dr. Kelly Becker andDr. Olga Kovacevic, also may recommend routinebloodwork, to help screen for conditions such ashigh cholesterol. They will review risk factors forcoronary artery disease, stroke and diabetes as well.

While many women may go to their gynecologistfor an annual visit, it is still advised that they see aprimary care physician, such as a family medicinephysician, who will perform additional health main-tenance checks. However, many family medicinephysicians, such as Dr. Fredrick, can perform testssuch as a Pap smear if a patient prefers.

Taking Control of Your HealthDr. Fredrick advises that women should take controlof their health not only with regular doctor visits butalso by maintaining good daily health practices.

“I think it’s important to do a regular exercise pro-gram,” Dr. Fredrick says. “Yoga provides a goodmental health and physical outlet. Also, it is vital toyour well-being to get enough sleep (eight hours is agoal), eat balanced meals with five servings of fruitsand vegetables daily, drink plenty of water and try notto live on coffee and protein bars.”

Dr. Fredrick adds, “Women are pretty in tune totheir bodies. It’s almost a sixth sense, so they shouldtrust their instincts. If they feel that something is notright, they should discuss it with their physician.”

Unsure Where to Start?If you haven’t seen a physician in several years, youmight find yourself feeling nervous about going tothe doctor or even wondering how to choose a newhealth provider.

Southwest General’s Health Connection, a FREEphysician referral and health information service, isstaffed by registered nurses who can provide an-swers to health care questions or refer callers tocommunity resources as appropriate. To contactHealth Connection, call 440-816-5050. Additionally,to help find a physician, you may visit www.swgeneral.com and choose the “Find a Physician” tab on the homepage.

Self Care: An Important Reminder to a Caregiver

Rebecca Fredrick, DO


Parents are all too aware of thedangers that children may encounter beyond the walls of

their own home. Yet the real dangers exist much closer. A

walk down any aisle that displays baby and child safety

devices illustrates that point —latches and covers and screens and allsorts of items can help protect themost vulnerable household members.

From infancy through adolescence,childhood seems like a minefield of ac-cidents waiting to happen. With somesimple safety precautions, parents canprevent many injuries and poisonings.

Keeping Kids SafeEach year, more than half of 2.4 millionchildren ages 6 or younger swallow or

have contact with a poisonous sub-stance, according to the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics. Approximately 9million children from newborn to age19 go to the emergency room becauseof injuries — many of which happen athome, and of those, 9,000 die. The rea-sons range from drowning to suffoca-tion to burns or falls. The ways thatchildren are injured vary, but nonethe-less, all can be frightening.

However, that’s the scary news. Thegood news is that many of these in-juries can be avoided with watchfulmonitoring of your child, along with afew safety devices.

Home Safe Home Inc. is a Cleveland-based company that specializes inhome childproofing and swimmingpool safety. Owner Pat Kinyon says he

does home safety evaluations and cus-tom installs childproofing items suchas gates and locks to make sure they fitsecurely.

If you’re a gadget person, the Inter-net and retail stores offer all types ofhigh-tech baby safety equipment. Sev-eral companies sell baby monitors thatcan be connected to an iPad or a smartphone for easy watchfulness.

Tom Zilt of the Safety Store at Uni-versity Hospital’s Rainbow Babies &Children’s Hospital, says the store,which is located just within the hospitallobby on the first floor, has a display ofsafety products such as wall straps,locks, latches, bike helmets, car seatsand other items that visitors can buy atthe same price the hospital pays forthem.

The Family Fortress:


Simple tips to keep your child and By Marie Elium

36-37 safehome_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:16 PM


Child’s-Eye ViewAlthough flashy, high-tech baby moni-tors with videos and other safety equip-ment offer various ways to protect yourchild, one of the best ways to childproofyour home is also one of the most basic.

“Get down on your hands and kneesand take a child’s-eye view of yourhome,” Zilt says. “Look at the homefrom that aspect.” He adds sharp tableedges, bookshelves that can be easilyclimbed (and toppled), stove knobs thatcan be turned on, a loose screen — theyall can prove hazardous to a child.

“Many child safety tips are basic: keepmedicines and cleaning supplies inlocked cabinets, have TVs and shelves

securely attached to a wall so a childcan’t pull them over,” Zilt continues.

While a visit from family members andfriends is a good thing, it can also be un-intentionally harmful, depending onwhat else they are bringing into thehome.

“Make sure visitors’ bags — thinkgrandparents — are put in an inaccessi-ble place so any medicines don’t get inthe wrong hands,” Zilt says.

In the end, home safety for your chil-dren and for yourself is generally a mat-ter of watchfulness and common sense.

“Safety products are a deterrent butthey aren’t 100-percent (guaranteed),” Ziltsays. “A watchful eye is always best.”

Child safety tips:

� Make sure older or hand-me-down cribs meet cur-rent safety regulations.

� Install a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs. � Install cabinet latches so children can’t climb drawers

to reach countertops or other areas with hazards.� Use toilet lid locks. A baby can drown in just 2 inches

of water. � Never leave a child alone in the bathtub. � Use hearth guards and edge bumpers to help prevent head injuries. � Install cordless window blinds to prevent strangulation.� Keep electrical appliances away from water. Install GFI outlets in rooms where water or moisture is present. � Lower the temperature of your hot water heater. Temperatures above 120 degrees are a scalding hazard. � Safeguard windows and railings. Balusters that are more than 3 inches apart are a danger for small children. � Don’t warm baby bottles in the microwave. Pockets of scalding liquid can form. � Install smoke detectors, and check them monthly. Change batteries once a year.

Courtesy of Pat Kinyon of Home Safe Home Inc.

36-37 safehome_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:16 PM

By Kristen Gough

If ever there was a time to dig out your family’s bikes and head out

on the trails, it’s now. Not only is May Cleveland Bike Month, but

after a long winter, winding your way through Northeast Ohio on

two wheels is a great way to get to know the area while enjoying

the sites and sounds of spring.

When Raul Benitez’s job brought him and his

family to Northeast Ohio nearly three years ago,

his youngest daughter, Daniela, was just learning

how to ride a bike. Benitez would walk patiently

behind his daughter’s bike, adorned with training

wheels, around their neighborhood.

Today, Daniela is a confident rider, and the

family of five has expanded

their bike

outings to locales throughout the

area. Among the many locations

the family has visited, Chagrin Reservation

and the Bedford Reservation have become

favorites.

“This area is so beautiful to explore,” says

Benitez about his first trip to the popular Ohio &

Erie Canal Towpath recently.


Julie Brainard andher son Cruz of Bath enjoyed a springwalk in the parks.

Top photo, the Benitez family, left to right: Miriam (mother), and

Karla, 14, Daniela, 6, Raul (father) and Isaac, 16.

Bike rentals courtesy of Century Cycles in Peninsula.

Photos by Love Bug Photography, lovebugbycourtney.com

38-41 bike story_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:21 PM


Of the countless bike paths in our

area, several frequent riders named a

few family-friendly favorites. Here,

Diane Stresing, author of “60 Hikes

Within 60 Miles: Cleveland: Including

Akron and Canton” and Jason Kunz, mar-

keting manager of Eddy’s Bike Shop, along

with Joe Yachanin, a spokesperson for Cleve-

land Metroparks, share their suggestions.

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath

Location: 48 trailheads, starting in

Cleveland heading south.

330-657-2752

Trail Style: Includes both paved, crushed

limestone and hard-packed earth, depending

on the section.

What You’ll Find: Of all the bike-

ways in Northeast Ohio, the Towpath

is by far the most popular — and for

good reason. The multi-purpose,

flat path follows 85 miles along

the scenic, historic canal, which

includes the Cuyahoga Valley

National Park. Each year 2.5

million people venture on the Towpath,

also making it one of the busiest.

Learn More: ohioanderiecanalway.com

Beaver Marsh Boardwalk

(Cuyahoga Valley National Park)

Location: Ira Trailhead, 3801 Riverview

Road, Peninsula

330-657-2752

Trail Style: Limestone and board-

walk made out of treated wood.

What You’ll Find: Once a junkyard,

Family Bike Paths Near You

Learn more about what’s happening on two wheels this

month by visitingbikecleveland.org/bikemonth.


this section of theTowpath deservesits own entry.Beavers moved into thearea and created a wetland suit-able for a variety of wildlife, includingherons, muskrats, turtles, otters andmore.

Learn More: nps.gov/cuva/naturescience/Beaver-Marsh.htm

Bike and Hike Trail,

Summit Metro Parks

Location: Multiple trail-heads throughout the path; down-

load park map at website for parking.330-867-5511Trail Style: Paved asphaltWhat You’ll Find: This 34-mile path

parallels the Towpath in sections nearthe Cuyahoga River but tends to bemuch less busy. Following an old rail-road that connected Akron, Bedford andCleveland, the trail passes through

picturesque areas like BrandywineFalls.

Learn More: summitmetroparks.org

Orchard Hills Park,

Geauga Park District

Location: 11340 Caves Road, ChesterTownship

440-286-9516Trail Style: Paved with some inclines,

multi-use.What You’ll Find: This former golf

course has been transformed into abike haven. The trails are smoothedwith some rolling hills that are perfectfor younger riders. There are severaltrails to choose from, the longest isabout a mile and a half.

Learn More: geaugaparkdistrict.org

Hinckley Lake Reservation

Location: 1 West Drive, Hinckley

330-278-2160Trail Style: PavedWhat You’ll Find: In the southern

section of the Cleveland Metroparks,this 3-mile loop is easy enough for newriders, but you can go around a fewextra times for more of a workout. Findpicnic tables for a leisurely meal or

Bike the Trail & Ride the Rail:Cuyahoga Valley NationalPark’s Bike Aboard! ProgramBeginning on Saturday, May 3, yourfamily can take your bikes aboardthe train in the Cuyahoga NationalPark. Take the train one way for a $3fare and ride your bike back on thetrail. The schedule runs on Fridays,Saturdays and Sundays through May,then adds Wednesdays and Thurs-days in June. For complete details,go to cvsr.com/bike-aboard. Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroadruns this program.

Remember Helmets — For the Whole Family!

“You wouldn’t put your kid in a car without a car seat or in a seatbelt, thesame goes for putting them on a bike,” says Diane Stresing, author of “60Hikes Within 60 Miles: Cleveland: Including Akron and Canton.”

Stresing, who was seriously injured when she was struck by a car whileriding 10 years ago, credits her helmet for saving her life. “I feel reallystrongly that parents should be wearing helmets, too, not just kids.I wouldn’t be here to parent my kids if I hadn’t been wearing my helmet.”

Bike Trail Etiquette Don’t get caught blocking the trails forother cyclists. Review the rules of theroad — trail — with your kids to be courteous and safe.

Jason Kunz, marketing manager ofEddy’s Bike Shop, with locations in Stow,Montrose, North Olmsted and WilloughbyHills, and a veteran cyclist with 20 yearson the trail, shares the basics.b Go single file on the trail;b Follow the same directions you

would in a car on the trail, don’t ride inthe middle;b Bookend the kids — have one parent

bike in front and one in back of your kids;b Make sure the person at the head of

your group has a bell — when you areabout to pass other riders or pedestrians,ring the bell to let them know you’rethere; b When stopping to see something

along the way, move your bikes off thetrail; andb Enjoy yourself.

Bike Tours inClevelandCleveland Bike Tours

330-532-8687

clevelandbiketours.com

Choose from three tours in the city.Prices start at $30 for the 2 to 2-1/2-hour ride; bike carriages are availablefor younger children.

Bob’s Bike Tours

440-681-8262

bobsbiketours.com

Tours cost $27 and include a bikerental, helmet and water for the 2-1/2-hour journey. You can also rent bikesand head out on your own.

Cleveland Cycle Tours

440-532-9995

bikecct.com

Fifteen riders fit on this fun bike mobilethat makes for a unique birthday partyor other get-together. Cost is $300 for15 people for a two-hour ride.




paddleboats, pontoon boats, stand-uppaddle boards, motorized rowboats andcanoes to rent at the boathouse.

Learn More:

clevelandmetroparks.com

Greenway Corridor, Lake Metroparks

Location: Painesville (Rt. 84 and Liberty St.); Concord Township (OldStone School at 7125 Ravenna Road)

440-358-7275 Trail Style: PavedWhat You’ll Find: Connecting

Painesville, Painesville Township andConcord Township with 4.8 miles ofwinding paths, this trail goes over a

bridge. You’ll also want to save sometime to see the Chair Factory Falls waterfall — you’ll have to park your bikeand take the walking trail to reach it.

Learn More: lakemetroparks.com

Sunny Lake Park, Aurora

Location: 885 East Mennonite Road(South End); 625 Page Road (NorthEnd), Aurora

330-562-4333Trail Style: PavedWhat You’ll Find: Making its way

around a 68-acre fishing lake, this 1.75-mile trail is smooth and ready for be-ginning cyclists. Bring your fishing pole

for after your ride. There’s also boating,volleyball, baseball, horseshoe pits andtwo playgrounds available.

Learn More: oh-aurora.civicplus.com

Bike at the Zoo During the WildRide, Friday, May 9Ride your way into the night — andtravel past the lions, tigers and all theCleveland Zoo’s other exhibits on yourbike. The zoo opens its doors to cyclistsafter regular hours, 5:30-8:30 p.m.

There are three different loops totake that are marked for beginner, intermediate and experienced riders.Last year, approximately 900 peopleparticipated. The cost is $12 perperson. Bike rentals are available,although they’re limited. Call 216-661-6500 or visit clevelandmetroparks.com.

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The city of Beachwood may only be 5.2square miles in size, but a lot is packed intothat small square that lends to the city’sunique charm. Home to only 12,000residents, the city and businesses welcome adaytime population of 100,000 people(commuters and shoppers).

More than 2,500 businesses call Beachwood home and thecity serves as world headquarters for many great companiessuch as Eaton Corporation, Aleris and later this year, OMNOVA Solutions.

Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Dillard’s,Beachwood Place Mall offers abundant retail shopping withsuch stores as GapKids, The LEGO Store, Buckle, Lacoste,Hanna Andersson, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, The Chil-dren’s Place, Pandora, the Microsoft Retail Store and manymore.

Beachwood is known for its fine dining and world-classrestaurants. Whether it’s a candlelight dinner date for twoor a family affair, there is something for every palate.

The Beachwood Chamber of Commerce works veryclosely with the City of Beachwood, the Beachwood CitySchools and the Beachwood Convention and Visitors Bureau to bring new businesses, shopping, dining and conventions to the city of Beachwood.

COMMUNITYFOCUS

Beachw


Above: Upscale metropolitan apartment homes will be available this fall atThe Vue in Beachwood. Left: Dining and nightlife abound at Eton ChagrinBoulevard shopping center.

Surrounding cities: Pepper Pike, Shaker Heights, Mayfield Heights,Woodmere, Lyndhurst, University Heights

Distance From: Cleveland 10.4 miles, 20 minutes on OH-8NAkron 29.9 miles, 32 minutes on I-271S and OH-8SMedina 36.5 miles, 39 minutes on I-271SWestlake 28 miles, 34 minutes on I-271S and I-480W

42-50 beachwood_Layout 1 4/23/14 4:08 PM


May 2 – Entrovation, an Expo ofInnovative Entrepreneurs,entrovation.com

June 13 – Beachwood Chamber GolfOuting at HawthorneCountry Club

June 23-27 – Beachwood JuniorLeadership Academy

August 14 – Beachwood ChamberCharity Auction

Oct. 12-26 – Food, Fun and FashionWeek,visitbeachwoodohio.com

Nov. 6 – Taste of Beachwood

Events&SurroundingCommunities

Parks & Outdoors

Beachwood City Park West provides familiesand tourists a way to enjoy all that nature hasto offer. The park features nearly 2 miles ofwalking trails for biking, walking, running orskating, and six gravel trails for hiking. Incold weather, the sledding hill is a perfect

spot for some winter fun. An open-air shel-tered structure provides room for large gather-

ings as well as a drinking fountain and facilities. Thepark is located at Richmond Road with entry points at SulgraveRoad on East and West Shaker Boulevard.

Beachwood City Park East boasts a mile of paved trails,plenty of outdoor seating and parking. Beachwood City ParkEast is located on Shaker Boulevard.

Neighboring Pepper Pike offers the Orange Community Edu-cation and Recreation, 32000 Chagrin Blvd., with a variety ofrecreational, leisure or educational classes for parents, kids orfamilies to enjoy.

Gilmour Academy Ice Arena, 2045 SOM Center Road, hosts300,000 visitors a year who participate in hockey, figure skatingand open skating hours. The John Carroll University Hockeyteam calls this ice arena home, as well as do several area highschools and community-affiliated programs.

Warrensville Heights’ Goldfish Swim School, 4670 RichmondRoad, Suite 100, offers an indoor location forswim classes and programming for chil-dren four months old and older. Classsizes are small, pools are heated andthere is a gallery section for parents towatch their little ones learn to swim.

Shopping & Dining

Beachwood and surrounding areas offer oneof the most robust shopping locations in North-east Ohio. Beachwood Place Mall, 26300 Cedar Road, is hometo The Children’s Place, Nordstrom, Dillard’s, See’s Candies andmore.

Eton Chagrin Boulevard Shopping Center in Woodmerehosts a wide variety of shopping destinations with everythingfrom Barnes & Noble to Sur La Table. Dining options include BSpot, the well-known burger and beer joint of Cleveland’s ownMichael Symon, at 28699 Chagrin Blvd., and Mitchell’s FishMarket that offers fresh seafood options at 28601 ChagrinBlvd., Suite 700. For those who have special dietary

Calendar

hwood



restrictions, Vegan Sweet Tooth at28699 Chagrin Blvd. creates vegan,kosher, diabetic-friendly and gluten-free desserts and treats for an after-noon post-shopping pick-me-up.

Legacy Village, 25333 Cedar Road,Suite 303, in Lyndhurst allows families orparents to indulge in several shops andestablishments such as Janie & Jack,Nordstrom Rack, Crate & Barrel andEthan Allen. Visitors can enjoy specialtypizzas from California Pizza Kitchen, fon-due at The Melting Pot or a little taste ofeverything at The Cheesecake Factory.

Giovanni’s Ristorante, 25550 ChagrinBlvd., Suite 44122, features classic Italiancuisine with a twist. In 2012, Zagat ratedit one of the top 120 restau-rants in the country. For an el-egant meal with generousportions, Giovanni’s is theplace to be.

A Place to Live

Beachwood Schools have beenrated excellent or better by theOhio Department of Education.The academic experience ofstudents in Beachwood allows uniqueopportunities in and out of the class-room. Small classroom sizes, extensiveprogramming and dedicated staff lend to

the environment of the Beachwood edu-cation community.

In Beachwood and surrounding areasthere are many private schooling op-tions. Hathaway Brown, in ShakerHeights, provides education for girls ingrades K-12, and boys and girls in itsEarly Education Program. The schooldates back to 1876, and remains com-mitted to an inclusive educational envi-ronment where students can succeed.University School has two campuses, inShaker Heights and Hunting Valley,which provide educational opportunitiesfor boys in grades K-12. St. DominicSchool, located in Shaker Heights, pro-vides coeducational opportunities for

grades K-8 and is a fully accreditedCatholic school.

Located nearby are severalhigher education institu-

tions including, NotreDame College, Cuya-

hoga Community College, JohnCarroll University, UrsulineCollege and Baldwin Wallace.

University Hospitals haveseveral facilities in the Beachwood

area. University Hospitals Ahuja MedicalCenter is a state-of-the-art facility withemergency services, general surgery, or-thopedics and neurology departments,

among others. University Hospitals and Beachwood

City Schools recently partnered to createthe UH-Beachwood High School MedicalAcademy. The academy allows studentsthe opportunity to participate in intern-ships, flexible credit studies, summercourses and programming within thehospital system’s structure.

The Gathering Place is a nonprofit,community-based cancer support groupthat provides programs and services tothe community. With two education cen-ters, a variety of support groups andmovement and nutrition classes, TheGathering Place is a unique resource notonly for Beachwood and surroundingcommunities, but also for all of North-east Ohio.

The Maltz Museum of Jewish Her-itage, 2929 Richmond Road, opened itsdoors in 2005 as a place to showcase anunderstanding of Jewish religion, historyand culture. The museum offers films,stories of immigrant families, interactiveexhibits, histories, photographs andother significant artifacts for people of allages and stages of life to appreciate. Themuseum includes the renowned Tem-ple-Tifereth Israel Gallery and a specialexhibition gallery that houses importantnational and international exhibits.

COMMUNITYFOCUSBeachwood




The City of Beachwood Family Aquatic Center providesfamily-friendly water activities for residents of the area.Families will find plenty of entertainment inside with acurrent channel, in-water features, waterslides, a watervortex, a bathhouse and a separate infant-tots pool area.

Across from the aquatic center areeight tournament-sized tennis courtswhere residents can serve up their inner Maria Sharapova or Andy Roddick.

In nearby Lyndhurst, the swimming pool and Spray Park at 1840Brainard Road provide locals with a place to play and cool downduring the hot summer months. With 600 square feet of room toplay, the outdoor spray park has seven features kids and familiescan enjoy.

Mandel JCC’s indoor pool is newly renovated and provides manyservices to the community. Everything from open lap times, daily

swim, water exercise classes, personal training, swim lessons and Red Cross lifeguard train-ing are available. The water temperature is always kept a nice 84 to 86 degrees and there aretwo indoor whirlpools for use.

If aquatics aren’t your thing, then visit Beachwood’s own incredible outdoor play structure,Preston’s H.O.P.E. Playground at 26001 S. Woodland Road. It is a fully accessible 60,000-square-foot playground with two-story structures including houses and stores for kids andfamilies to play in and use their imagination. The playground is equipped to allow playtime forthose with physical disabilities, including Braille labels and auditory aides for those with visionrestrictions.

Preston’s H.O.P.E. playground was built with donations from The Mandel JCC. The park isbased on the vision of Jackie and Ken Fisher, parents of Preston, who was born with a geneticdisorder that required a wheelchair. Their goal was to have a place for their son, and kids likehim, to play and enjoy the outdoors. After many years and nearly $3 million donated, the parkis a wonderful place for families of all needs to play and be outside. Donations to keep thepark open are welcome and help keep the memory of Preston, and all he has inspired, going.

For kids who like to build and create, the LEGO Store is the perfect place to visit. Locatedin Beachwood Place at 26300 Cedar Road, the LEGO Store provides in-store events for fami-

lies, interactive building displays and play areas that will entertain children. With hundreds ofoptions to choose from, there is a LEGO creation out there for everyone.

Family-Friendly Summer Fun


Mayor Merle S. Gorden shares thelatest on the City of Beachwood andwhy it garners 100,000 visitors per day.

What makes the Beachwood area so appealing?The City of Beachwood is appealing for its many unique attrib-utes, including a superior transportation infrastructure withclose proximity to major highways, including I-271 and I-480,an educated workforce, a top-rated school district and qualityhousing stock that continues to attract residences and busi-nesses.

Beachwood attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors daily andis home to nearly 12,000 residents and nearly 3,000 busi-nesses. We offer high-quality municipal services, includingmany programs for young children and families. Our safetyforces have been recognized for their outstanding service.

Why should families visit the area? How does thecity work to create an environment that is familyfriendly?Our neighborhoods are safe and well maintained. BeachwoodCity Schools benefit from excellent, experienced staff and


COMMUNITYFOCUS

Beachwood

Meeting with theMayor

Continued on page 50


47 CCbeachwood 4/16/14 3:26 PM


COMMUNITYFOCUS

The morning of date night arrives and I have neither asitter nor a plan. Luckily, while I’m at work, the starsstart to align. A coworker’s daughter can babysit and shedoesn’t need a ride.

“So what are we doing tonight?” my husband Michael asks as he walks inthe door.

“I don’t know. Let’s just drive and stop when something looks interesting.Maybe dinner then a walk in the park.”

Along the way hubby says, “Hey, Saffron Patch (on Chagrin Boulevard).”Indian food sounds good, so I say, “Cool, let’s try it! Where is this place? I

don’t see a sign on the building or the door. Oh, wait, there’s a lighted ele-phant in the window. This must be it.”

By Anne Dalby

Tips for an Evening Out on the Town: The Saffron Patch is located at 20600 Chagrin Blvd. in Shaker Heights. Park inthe lower level and go in the door closest to the glowing elephant. Go for thelunch buffet or check out the menu at thesaffronpatch.com. After dinner, makeyour way over to Mitchell’s Ice Cream on the backside of LaPlace, 2101 Richmond Road. Their menu has

something for everyone — I’m always impressed with their vegan offeringsfor my dairy-sensitive son. mitchellshomemade.com

If you plan ahead, check out theogallery.net to sign up for the next Uncorked Adult Painting class; visit The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage,maltzmuseum.org; indulge in a meal at Moxie The Restaurant, moxietherestaurant.com.

Beachwood & S



It turns out to be the best Indianfood I’ve had in the Cleveland area. Wewere immediately seated, and thewait staff was friendly and gave per-fect service. The menu had manydrool-worthy options, including a variety of meat and vegetariandishes, appetizers and desserts.

I chose the Chicken Tikka Masalaat level-two spiciness; Michael

chose a vegetarian curry with cauliflower and potato atlevel-five spiciness and a side of naan. The food came in cutelittle family-style dishes, making it easy to share. We enjoyedsampling each other’s food as we eased into adult conversa-tion. That transition from mommy mode to grown-up mode al-ways feels strange, like getting laughinggas at the dentist. I was no longer viewingmy surroundings through the eyes of my7-year-old for potential mischief. Instead,I noticed the twinkling candlelight, thequiet, open space of the room and twonew gray hairs in my husband’s side-burns — this was exactly what thisbusy, brain-fried couple needed.

For me, spicy Indian food must befollowed by ice cream. We stopped atMitchell’s Homemade ice cream shop inBeachwood. My husband couldn’t resist a scoop of the Wild-berry Crumble ice cream and I chose a more soothing scoopof Banana Cream Pie. We enjoyed the happy sounds of otherpeople’s children around us as we ate unhurriedly and withoutthe assumption that half of it would be shared with our littlegirl who never likes her own chosen flavor. This happy,bustling ice cream shop made me miss my kids … just a little

bit. They love sitting at the little kid’s table and coloring a pic-ture to pin on the wall, along with watching the train make itsway around the room.

We might have ended the evening playing around in the minifirehouse at Preston’s H.O.P.E. playground. Unfortunately, itwas raining. Maybe next time, honey.

A Last-Minute Evening

& Surrounding Communities



COMMUNITYFOCUSBeachwood


teachers. With more than two miles ofpaved park trails, the city supplies dog-gie bags and restrooms that are openfrom sunrise to sunset. Beautiful play-grounds offer picnic tables, large shadetrees and restrooms, and during thesummer, a concession stand is open.

Preston’s H.O.P.E. park and the Fam-ily Aquatic Center provide outdoor re-sources for families of all kinds.

Youth sports programs include base-ball, basketball, soccer, flag football,wrestling and basketball. If sportsaren’t for you, we have an amazingcommunity theatre program that al-lows children the opportunity to get onstage or behind it with stage produc-tion. The city operates five-day campsfor residents and non-residents from

kindergarten to the eighth grade. Addi-tionally, before or after camp childcareis provided.

The Beachwood Police Departmentand the City of Beachwood are in theprocess of building a city-owned andoperated wireless infrastructure sys-tem that will provide its safety forceswith some of the fastest communica-tions the region has ever seen. The newfiber/wireless network will result inbetter safety for Beachwood officers,residents and city visitors. In anotherstep toward regional cooperation,Beachwood in 2012 began performingpolice and fire dispatching services forthe City of Pepper Pike.

Are there any plans to grow orexpand areas of the city?We have a solid foundation of eco-nomic success in the City of Beach-wood and we are continuing ourcommitment to serving, improving andgrowing our community by looking for-ward. We recognize that our ability toprovide excellent municipal servicesdepends upon keeping our vibrantbusiness community healthy. We workhard with our businesses to encouragejob retention and job growth in Beach-wood.

One area of focus for economic de-velopment growth is Commerce Park,

a 190-acre industrial/business center.With recent zoning changes, Com-merce Park is now being transformedinto an updated, thriving business andresidential center attracting young pro-fessionals, high-tech startups andmedical companies. Construction iscurrently underway for a fourth luxuryapartment complex in CommercePark.

How does economic develop-ment and growth happen in theBeachwood area?Growth in the City of Beachwood hap-pens through communication, knowl-edge and accessibility. Beachwood’swell-earned reputation for its thrivingbusiness community is built upon afoundation locally referred to as “thegolden triangle”; a collaborative part-nership between the BeachwoodChamber of Commerce, City Hall andBeachwood City Schools. Maintainingconsistent communication and workingtogether allows these three entities togrow in a productive atmosphere of co-operation and progress. The City andChamber recently launched Beach-wood’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureauto attract and better assist businessesand visitors.


National Foster Care month brings twothings to remember — honoring fosterparents and recognizing there is still aneed for kids to find homes in the com-munity.

“We are always in need of foster parents who are willing to open theirhearts and homes to children in needof stability and love,” says Brent Hite,the home-finding recruiter for SummitCounty Children Services. “By becom-ing a foster parent, you are able tomake a difference and be a positive impact in the lives of children placed inyour care. Our foster parents provideunconditional love, compassion, guid-ance and support in order to empowera child’s life to grow. Foster care helpschildren, families and our community.”

The parents also provide stabilityand balance to the child’s life.

“Foster parents can help the childreturn home or move toward anotherpermanency option,” according to theU.S. Department of Health and HumanServices. “(They) keep children connected, and promote a sense ofnormalcy for youth while they’re infoster care.”

Local organizations celebrate fosterparents during this awareness monthby hosting a special event, specificallyfor these parents. Groups such asLake County Department of Job andFamily Services that is headquarted inPainesville, along with Ohio Guide-stone, a non-profit organization inBerea, which serves children and fam-ilies community- based services, in-cluding mental health, foster care andresidential care.

“We honor our parents,” says Teresa

Palm, children and adult services administrator at Lake County Job andFamily Services. “They (foster parents)are very important. They take in chil-dren and help them at the time whenthey need it most.”

Ways to HelpThe most obvious way to get involved isto become a foster parent.

“Every day, more and more childrencome to the attention of ChildrenServices because of abuse and neglectconcerns,” Hite says. “It is critical thatwe have enough foster and foster-to-adopt families to temporarily and per-manently care for children.”

OhioGuidestone.org states, “Askyourself these questions when consid-

ering becoming foster parents: Are youtolerant of the differences in people? Areyou able to accept a child with differ-ences? How do you handle anger orfrustration? Are you open to learningand implementing new strategies? Isyour family, partner or friends com-fortable with the idea and is your rela-tionship stable enough to withstandchanges that adding a foster child maybring? How would you feel about thebirth families and would you have theability to work with them, along withthe issues they might have?”

Foster parents or those interested inbecoming foster parents can find sup-port through services and resourcesacross the Northeast Ohio area.

“After reviewing the information on

May Is National Foster Care Month


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ompa

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our website at summitkids.org, you are encouraged tosign-up to attend one of our monthly information meetings,” Hite says. “At the meeting, you will learn moreabout the foster care and adoption process, the kinds ofsupportive services available to families and about the chil-

dren in our care.At SummitCounty ChildrenServices, thereis a multi-stepprocess to become a li-censed foster or foster-to-adoptparent. The length of time it takes to completeis six to 12 months.”

Lake County Job and Family Services (lakecountyohio.gov/lcojfs) also hosts open houses for fostering andadoption during an informal session to provide informationand answer questions about becoming a foster or adoptiveparent in Lake County. The next session will be held June 5,5:30-7 p.m. on at the Perry Township Community Center at2800 Perry Park Road.

There are also many ways friends and family can supportfoster parents they know by providing a little relief.

Ohio Guidestone offers a “Share the Care Parent”, whichis an out-of-home respite program that provides relief forparents in stressful situations by providing reliable andqualified care for their children.

According to its website, for this part-time, temporarysupport position, a “Share the Care Parent” will be trainedand licensed as a foster parent. The comprehensive train-ing includes six weeks of pre-service training, a homestudyand a background check, prior to licensing. Also, as arespite provider, they can receive an additional 30 hours ofcontinuing education each year.

Artwork and slogansubmitted by the Pattonfamily, a foster familyworking with SummitCounty Children Services.Artwork drawn by Jenna,age 8.

51-52 compassion_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:32 PM


The Northeast Ohio Parent team hasbeen out and about the past few months— at photo shoots with Kim Ponsky Pho-tography, Prelude Photography and LoveBug Photography. We have been at kids’reading events at Great Lakes Mall inMentor and Summit Mall.Also,you might have seen us at home andgarden shows around the area and more! Don’t forget to listen for us each monthon 95.5 The Fish Morning Show with Len Howser and Brooke Taylor.

53 instagram_Layout 1 4/16/14 3:33 PM

MAYThrough May 26Spring Art Show, The Alchemy ofArt. Local artist Giovanni Bocchieritakes you on a creative journey “inthe shadow of Leonardo” in thisone-man show featuring leafalchemy, paintings, jewelry and

more, 9 a.m.-5p.m. daily.Penitentiary Glen Reservation,8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road,Kirtland, 440-256-1404,lakemetroparks.com

May 1Writers Live Author Luncheon,noon. Featuring Shelley ShepardGray, author of Amish, historical,western and harlequin romances.Tickets, $25 (includes lunch).Weymouth Country Club, 3946Weymouth Road, Medina, 330-725-6297, weymouthcc.com

Spring Career Days, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Do you want to learn moreabout careers in animal care, education or veterinary medicinewithin a zoo setting? Then plan onattending Cleveland MetroparksZoo’s Career Day events for stu-dents in middle and high school.Must pre-register. ClevelandMetroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way,Cleveland, 216-661-6500, clevelandmetroparks.com

Spring Morning Movers,10-10:30 a.m. Children ages 1-3years and a caregiver are invited toshare stories, rhymes, songs andfun. Bay Village Branch Library, 502Cahoon Road, Bay Village, 440-871-6392, cuyahogalibrary.org

Pop Culture Club, 3:15-4:30 p.m.Interested in gaming, anime,manga, movies, music and TV? Ifso, then join us and explore thesetopics through activities, gamesand technology. Mayfield BranchLibrary, 500 SOM Center Road,Mayfield, 440-473-0350, cuyahogalibrary.org

Whooo’s Ready For School?Kindergarten Readiness –Alphabet, 6:30-7:30 p.m.Help your preschooler make thetransition into their first year ofschool. Explore hands-on activitystations together. Registrationrequired. Ages 4-5 with a care-giver. Warrensville Heights BranchLibrary, 4415 Northfield Road,Warrensville Heights, 216-464-5280, cuyahogalibrary.org

May 2Happy Trails Hiking Club, 10 a.m.The Happy Trails Hiking Club meetsevery other Friday of each month fora leisurely one- or two-mile hikeeither in Medina County parks orother interesting natural areas.Come dressed for the weather. Call330-722-4558. Ages 10 to adult. Noregistration required. Hubbard ValleyPark, 8600 Hubbard Valley Road,Seville, medinacountyparks.com

Overnight at the Zoo — NightTracks, 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Must pre-register for this program in order tosecure your spot. Walk ups will notbe admitted. Must be at least 6.$38 per person. ClevelandMetroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way,Cleveland, 216-661-6500, clevelandmetroparks.com

May 2-10Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat,”for families ages 4 and up. Publicperformances are Fridays, 7:30p.m., Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m.,

and Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m. Ticketsare $9 and $11 per person.Opening Night (May 2) tickets are$11 and $13 per person andinclude a post-performance recep-tion. Magical Theatre Company,565 W. Tuscarawas Ave.,Barberton, 330-848-3708, magicaltheatre.org

May 2-18“Wizard of Oz,” show times vary.After a tornado whisks awayDorothy to the magical land of Oz,she starts her quest to find themighty Wizard of Oz, who has thepower to send her home. Along theway she meets a Scarecrow, a TinWoodsman and a Cowardly Lion,who help her on her journey.Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, 101Water St., Chardon, 440-285-7701, geaugatheater.org

“Sunday in the Park withGeorge,” show times vary. Looselybased on the life of Seurat, the firstact follows the life of the artist ashe creates his famous painting.The second act takes place 100years later as Seurat’s Americandescendant struggles with his owncareer and path as an artist.TrueNorth Theatre, 4530 ColoradoAve., Sheffield Village, 440-933-7747, metroparks.cc

May 3 Youth Fishing Derby, 8 a.m. Kids15 or younger can participate inthe annual River Styx Youth FishingDerby. Enjoy catching fish and win-ning prizes. A limited number ofpoles will be available to borrow,and a limited amount of bait will besupplied. Prizes will be awarded.Free. Registration begins at 8 a.m.Derby is 8:30-10:30 a.m. RiverStyx Park, 8200 River Styx Road,Wadsworth, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com


May 2-3Breitenbach’sDandelion FestivalFriday, noon-7 p.m. andSaturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Activities for the entire family— from dandelion wine sampling, cellar tours and liveentertainment to a dandelion-picking contest. Children caneven make their own dandelion jelly. Then attendeescan feast on dandelionsausage, bread, gravy,lasagna, ice cream and san-gria. Arts and craft vendors willdot the hillside.

Breitenbach Winery, 5934 OldRoute 39 Northwest, Dover,330-343-3603, breitenbachwine.com

What’s Goin’ On?Calendar of Events

Get more info onthese events on your

smart device.

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Super Science Saturday. Mixyour own non-Newtonian sub-stance — Oobleck! Monthly SuperScience Saturday events are avail-able on a first-come/first-servedbasis with general admission whenyou arrive at the Science Center.$5 per adult/child pair. Great LakesScience Center, 601 Erieside Ave.,Cleveland, 216-694-2000,greatscience.com

The 7th Annual Blue Pike FarmOpen House, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thisevent will feature a vegetable plantsale, horse and carriage rides,tours of the farm, beekeepinginformation, seed starting, maybechicken races and more. Blue Pike Farm, 900 E. 72nd St.,Cleveland, bluepikefarm.com

Chili Con Comedy ImprovTroupe, 8 p.m. Studio Stage in theMain Gallery. Audiences will laughand be amazed at the wit andhumor of the young actors as theyincorporate suggestions andchance into live performance.Never the same show twice. PG-13. The Fine Arts Association,38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby,440-951-7500, fineartsassociation.org

May 4The Olmsted Spirit 5K Race/Walk Race Day. Registration andcheck-in will be at Olmsted FallsHigh School, 26939 Bagley Road,in Olmsted Falls, 7-8:30 a.m. forthe 5K race and 2-mile walk. Freerefreshments and breakfast buffetwill be available. All pre-registeredparticipants will receive a T-shirtand raffle ticket for a chance towin free prizes from area busi-nesses. Visit, spectralight.com.

Vintage Base Ball: Akron BlackStockings v. Canal Fulton Mules,11 a.m.-1 p.m. Included in theprice of grounds admission. StanHywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N.Portage Path, Akron, 330-836-5533, stanhywet.org

May 5Kindermusik Babies, 11-11:45a.m. Enjoy a fun time of music and

movement with Kindermusik ofCleveland. Babies from birth to 17months. Mayfield Branch Library,500 SOM Center Road, Mayfield,440-473-0350,cuyahogalibrary.org

Booktalk, 7-8 p.m. Girls and guysin grades 5-8 with an adult:Discuss great books, enjoy funactivities, snacks and some timewith a favorite family member.Books available at the teen deskone month in advance. Registrationrequired. Bay Village BranchLibrary, 502 Cahoon Road, BayVillage, 440-871-6392, cuyahogalibrary.org

May 6Creative Concoctions forPreschoolers, 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.Younger park friends are invited tocreate mysterious mixtures andmake marvelous messes in thisfun, hands-on discovery program.Experiment with combinations ofordinary ingredients to createsomething fun. Supplies are pro-vided; come dressed for mess!Ages 3-6. Register through May 5.Free. Krabill Shelter, 7597 BallashRoad, Medina, 330-722-9364,medinacountyparks.com

Read With Your Heroes, 10:30-11:30 a.m. At this annual event,preschoolers will have a chance toenjoy a special storytime withmembers of the Maple Heights FireDepartment, then explore a realfire truck. Maple Heights BranchLibrary, 5225 Library Lane, MapleHeights, 216-475-5000, cuyahogalibrary.org

May 6-7“Mamma Mia!” 7:30 p.m. EJThomas Hall, The University ofAkron, 198 Hill St., Akron 330-972-7570, uaevents.com

May 6-16“The Legend of the GoldDoubloons,” 10 a.m. Is theresunken treasure buried in the Ohioand Erie Canal? The intrepidexplorers — a botanist, a pirateand his first mate, and a JuniorNightingale scout — look for cluesto find out. Geared to pre-schooland early-elementary audiences,this interactive show will haveaudience members find clues, pre-tend to be a canal lock and helpsolve the mystery. WeathervanePlayhouse, 1301 WeathervaneLane, Akron, 330-836-2626,weathervaneplayhouse.com

May 7Workout Wednesday, 3:15-4:15p.m. Stop by the storytime roomfor some moving, grooving andburning off pent-up school-dayenergy through exercise anddance. Garfield Heights BranchLibrary, 5409 Turney Road, GarfieldHeights, 216-475-8178, cuyahogalibrary.org

May 8Homeschool Art Explorers,10 a.m.-noon. Homeschoolers areinvited to get a little messy whilelearning something new. Eachmonth’s focus is on an artist, theirlife and creative style. The groupwill create works of art based offof what has been learned. For chil-dren in grades 1-6. This is a three-month series. Beachwood BranchLibrary, 25501 Shaker Boulevard,Beachwood, 216-831-6868, cuyahogalibrary.org

ACT Prep Workshop, 7-8 p.m.The Huntington Learning Centerwill be reviewing the test that wastaken at the April 26 practice testsession. Parents and students whodid not take the test are also wel-come to attend. North RoyaltonBranch Library, 5071 WallingsRoad, North Royalton, 440-237-3800, cuyahogalibrary.org

May 3-4 Ballet Theatre of Ohio presents “The Wizard of Oz,” 2 p.m. Follow the yellow brick road tothe Akron Civic Theatre. Artistic Director Christine Meneer is BTO’s resident choreographer andcostume designer. The costumes are delightful and her creative vision is sure to measure up tothe high quality for which BTO is famous. Munchkinland and Emerald City will be a glimmeringfantasy of color, designed by Jack Ballance. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 S. Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, ballettheatreohio.org


What’s Goin’ On?


Dream Days Present The CherryBlossom Ball, 7 p.m. Come for anevening of live musical and danceperformances, a gourmet menu,silent auction and much more. Allproceeds will benefit Dream Days.Visit dreamdaysohio.org. AkronCivic Theatre, 182 S. Main St.,Akron, 330-253-2488,akroncivic.com

May 9Friday Family Fun: Pet Parade,1:30-2:30 p.m. Celebrate NationalPet Month. Come and hear storiesand rhymes and make crafts cele-brating our favorite furry, featheredand finned friends. For ages 2-5with a caregiver. BeachwoodBranch Library, 25501 Shaker

Boulevard, Beachwood, 216-831-6868, cuyahogalibrary.org

Tremont ArtWalk, 6-10 p.m. Thesecond Friday of each month. Morethan 20 venues participate such asrestaurants, pubs, galleries, muse-ums, churches, social clubs, bou-tiques and specialty merchants.The public can walk around thisfree event to see all the differenthappenings in the Tremont district.Visit tremontartwalk.com ortremontwest.org.

May 9-10“Pinocchio,” part of the Children’sTheater Series. Friday, May 9, 7:30p.m., Saturday, May 10, 11 a.m.and 2 p.m. Ohio Theatre, 1501

Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

Bleu! The Mediterranean Sea, avirtual voyage involving both theactors and the audience. Where dothe stars go when they fall fromthe sky on summer nights?Perhaps to an island far, far away?Friday, May 9, 6 p.m., Saturday,May 10, 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and4:30 p.m. Westfield InsuranceStudio Theatre, 1375 Euclid Ave.,Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org

May 108th Annual Hope Walk, a 2.3-milewalk and family event that raisesmoney to make it possible for

Stewart’s Caring Place to offerservices free of charge to thosewho have been touched by cancer.Registration starts at 8 a.m., walkstarts at 9:15 a.m. FairlawnCommunity Center, 3486 S. SmithRoad, Fairlawn, stewartscaringplace.org

Cedar Point’s Opening Day,10 a.m.-10 p.m. Cedar PointAmusement Park, 1 Cedar PointDr., Sandusky, 419-627-2350,cedarpoint.com

The Hooley, noon-8 p.m. It’s WestPark’s Homecoming Celebration,featuring great food, live music,children’s shows and activities,Irish dancers, pipes and drums,

MAY Calendar of Events

May 23-26

Berea’s National Rib Cook-OffFrom inflatables, to a rock climbing wall,Berea’s National Rib Cook-Off is a familyfriendly event, with fun activities for kids.Free parking, free admission for childrenunder 12, and free admission for all onFriday night ($5 for other days). Friday: noon-11 p.m. Saturdayand Sunday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and Monday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland Rd, Berea,berearib.com

Great American Rib Cook-OffFriday (Dollar Day admission), Saturday andSunday, noon-11 p.m., Monday noon-8 p.m.Admission Saturday and Sunday, noon-3p.m. is free; kids 12 and under are freeevery day, all hours.Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, on the West Bankof the Flats, fox8.com/rib



and more. Kamm’s Corners, (Lorain Ave. andRocky River Dr.), kammscorners.com

Kids Studio Classes: Me, My “Selfie” and I,1-3 p.m. Studio classes at the museum venturefar beyond your standard classroom offerings.Students will get creative with unique materials,outlandish techniques and imaginative ideas asthey create new projects. Cost per class is$10/member child, $15/nonmember child.Parents are welcome but not required to stay.Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

Hall & Oates at Cleveland Rock and Roll Hallof Fame, 8 p.m. 2014 Rock and Roll Hall ofFame Inductees Daryl Hall and John Oates willperform live for the 11th annual It’s Only Rockand Roll Spring Benefit. Show begins at 9 p.m.at the Public Hall at the Cleveland ConventionCenter. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1100 Rockand Roll Blvd., Cleveland, 216-781-7625, rockhall.com

May 12The Rocky River Chamber Music SocietyConcert, 7:30 p.m. This free concert event isthe last of the society’s 55th season. It featuresan exciting program with Mozart’s monumentalSerenade in B-flat major, K.361 “Gran Partita,”and the world premiere of a work by Clevelandcomposer Jeffrey Rathbun titled Rocky RiverMusic for Wind Octet. West Shore UnitarianUniversalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., RockyRiver, rrcms.org

May 15Story Time in the Galleries, 11:15 a.m. Startwith a book, then take a look. Grown-ups andchildren will see beautiful picture books, hearfantastic stories, sing silly songs and playwacky games, all while surrounded by amazingartwork. Free. No registration required. ThirdThursdays of each month. Akron Art Museum, 1S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

May 16Ice Cream Social, 7:30 p.m. Come to this oldfashion Ice Cream Social to kick off the sum-mer. A few Barbershop Quartets from SolonHigh School will also be in attendance to enter-tain the crowd at this free event. Reservationsare required. Solon Center for the Arts, 6315SOM Center Road, Solon, 440-337-1400,solonohio.org

Connecting for Kids Parent DiscussionGroup, 11:30 p.m. Parents will participate in aparent discussion group led by a local pediatricexpert. Childcare is offered but space is limited.You must RSVP by calling 440-250-5563.Children do not need a formal diagnosis toattend, however Connecting for Kids programsare geared toward families with concerns aboutchildhood development. Westlake Porter PublicLibrary, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake,connectingforkids.org


Saturday, May 3Massages for Mom, noon. Bring Mom in for a 15-minute chair massageand a beautiful treat in honor of Mother’s Day. Craft provided for kids.Buckeye Branch Library, 6625 Wolff Road, Medina, 330-725-4415, medina.lib.oh.us

Mother’s Day Tea, 2:30-4 p.m. Celebrate Mother’s Day early at an After-noon Tea Party. Mothers, daughters, aunts, sisters and grandmothers are allwelcome to attend this special celebration.Maple Heights Branch Library, 5225 Library Lane, Maple Heights, 216-475-5000, cuyahogalibrary.org

Saturday, May 1032nd Annual Plant Sale at the Nature Center, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Welcomespring with this plant sale featuring a wide variety of annuals, perennials,herbs, vegetables and natives. Vendors, refreshments and a specialMother’s Day kid’s activity make this a fun family outing. Nature Center At Shaker Lakes, 2600 S. Park Blvd., Cleveland, 216-321-5935, [email protected]

Sunday, May 113rd Annual Mother’s Day 5K, 8 a.m. Run with or in celebration of Momduring the third-annual Mother’s Day 5K, a fundraiser to benefit the MetroParks Foundation. Advanced registration is required, call 330-865-8065. Summit County Metro Parks, Munroe Falls, Lake Area, 521 S. River Road,Munroe Falls, summitmetroparks.org

Mother’s Day Breakfast at the Akron Zoo, 9-10 a.m. Treat Mom andGrandma to a yummy Mother’s Day breakfast buffet. Each will receive aspecial gift for attending. Enjoy live music by Walt Wise. This event includesadmission to the zoo for the day. Reservations are required.Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org

Mother’s Day Brunch Along the Cuyahoga 2014, 10 a.m. Enjoy a five-course brunch while traveling through Cuyahoga Valley National Park in oneof CVSR’s deluxe dining cars — the Lone Star. Catered by CreeksideRestaurant of Brecksville, brunch is offered during the continuous roundtrip. You will return to Rockside Station at 1:10 p.m.Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, Rockside Station, Independence 800-468-4070, cvsr.com

Annual Mother’s Day Brunch at the Cleveland Botanical Garden,10 a.m.-3 p.m. Treat Mom or Grandma to an unforgettable feast in thebeautiful setting of the Garden, where she’ll be surrounded by thousands ofspring blooms. Reservations are required by calling 216-721-1600 ext. 100and mention preferred seating time.Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600,cbgarden.org

Mother’s Day Garden Party at the Akron Zoo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a relaxing day including a tea party in the Lehner Family Zoo Gardens andcrafts to take home. Enjoy live music and be entertained by a magician andjuggler. All moms receive 50 percent off admission.Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org

Mother’s Day at the Cleveland Zoo, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Treat Mom to a wildtime! Want to create a memorable day for your mom this Mother’s Day? Allmoms receive free zoo admission. Mother’s Day at the Zoo spotlights resi-dent animal moms, their youngsters and some unique parenting behaviors.Throughout the day, educational interpreters will answer questions forguests. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, 216-661-6500,clevelandmetroparks.com

Mother’s Day: Brunch, Scenes and Mama-logues, 11 a.m. Celebrateyour mom at the Maltz Museum with brunch and a dessert of three shortmother-and-child-themed performances co-produced by Interplay JewishTheatre and the Maltz Museum. A Kosher brunch will be served. Advancedregistration required by May 7.Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood,216-593-0575, maltzmuseum.org

Heron Watch, 1-3 p.m. Join Metro Parks naturalists to celebrate Mother’sDay by observing herons and their young through our binoculars and spot-ting scopes. Meet at the Bath Road Heronry on Bath Road, betweenRiverview and Akron-Peninsula roads in Akron. Summit Metro Parks, Akron, summitmetroparks.org

Natural Discoveries Hiking Series: Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk,3-4 p.m. Ages 7 to adult. No registration required. Free.Medina County Park District, Allardale Open Air Shelter, 401 Remsen Road,Medina, 330-722-9364, medinacountyparks.com

Free Admission for All Moms at Stan Hywet. Self-guided tours only. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-836-5533,stanhywet.org

Moms Play Free at Black Brook Golf Course. All moms play for free,when accompanied by a paying player. Black Brook Golf Course & Practice Center, 8900 Lake Shore Boulevard,Mentor, cityofmentor.com

Events


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May 17-18Cleveland Asian Festival, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Celebrate Cleveland’s richAsian heritage. The festival willfeature authentic Asian foods andmerchandise, local and nationalperforming artists, a children’sactivity area, games, competitions,

and a health pavilion with freescreenings and health education.Free admission and parking. AsiaPlaza, AsiaTown, Payne Ave. and E.30th St., asiatowncleveland.com

46th Annual Cleveland AreaJewelry Arts & Gem Show,

10 a.m.-5p.m. Join the ParmaLapidary Club hosts it 46th AnnualCleveland Area Jewelry Arts andGem Show. Gems, minerals, jew-elry, fossils, beads and exhibits.Visit the new Kids Korner to takechildren on a treasure hunt. SoccerSports Plex, 31515 Lorain Road,North Olmstead,parmalapidary.com

May 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25Day Out With Thomas — TheThrill of the Ride Tour 2014. Afamily event that offers aspiringengineers and their families theunique opportunity to take a ridewith the classic storybook engine,Thomas the Tank Engine atregional heritage railroads acrossthe country. Train departures are9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.,12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.,3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Free park-ing at the ski resort, with shuttleservice to the entry tent all daylong. Boston Mills Ski Resort, 7100Riverview Road, Peninsula 800-468-4070

May 18Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon,Half-Marathon and 10K, 7 a.m.The 37th annual Rite Aid ClevelandMarathon features one of the flat-test and fastest courses in thecountry. Enjoy a scenic “tour” ofCleveland and all the amenities ofa world-class event. (Saturday,May 17, 5K at 8 a.m. and Kids’ Runat 11a.m., Edgewater Park,Cleveland), Downtown Cleveland,clevelandmarathon.com

May 22-25 St. Anselm Church Festival,Thursday and Friday, 5-11 p.m.,Saturday and Sunday, noon-11p.m. This four-day festival includesfood, rides, games, Monte Carlo, acash raffle, as well as free enter-tainment nightly from regionalbands. Monte Carlo nightly 7-mid-night. St. Anselm Church, 13013Chillicothe Road, Chesterland. 440-729-9575, stanselm.org/festival

May 23-26Tremont Greek Fest. You don’thave to be Greek to enjoy this fes-tival, but you will need an appetiteto experience delicious Greek food,drinks, dancing and shopping allwithin Cleveland’s historicalTremont neighborhood. Kicks off atlunch time, Friday.

Annunciation Greek OrthodoxChurch, Tremont Neighborhood,tremontgreekfest.com

May 24Family Day: Project Snapshot,noon-4 p.m. From art makingactivities to interactive music,films, tours and performances,Family Days are a blast for babes,teens, grown-ups and everyone inbetween. Free activities for fami-lies; gallery admission is free forchildren. Akron Art Museum, 1 S.High St., Akron, 330-376-9185,akronartmuseum.org

May 24 through Sept. 7LEGO Travel Adventure, hereyou’re not just along for the ride.Choose an amazing destinationand build the perfect means oftransportation. Inspired by LEGOmodels of famous vehicles, youcan build your dream machine. Great Lakes Science Center, 601Erieside Ave., Cleveland, 216-694-2000, greatscience.com

May 29Just Kids Stuff Garage Sale, 9a.m.-12 p.m. The biggest and bestsale of gently used kids itemsaround. Registration for city-ownedtable spaces begins April 7. City ofMentor, Garfield Pavilion 7967Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-974-5720, cityofmentor.com/play/facilityrental/garfieldbuilding/

May 30-June 17 Fashion Week Cleveland. Fromeducational programs at museumsto runway shows and a black-tiereception, make an evening outwith your girlfriends for these fash-ion-fun events. Times and venuesvary. Check fashionweekcleve-land.com for information aboutschedule and tickets prices.

May 17-18Horsefest, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Meet more than 20 breeds of horses fromthe very small to the very tall, including Farmpark’s own Percheronand Belgian draft teams. Experience the splendor and grace of thehorse, and discover how they have been used by man throughout history for work and pleasure. Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic RidingCenter’s annual tack sale is moving to Lake Metroparks Farmpark.Admission: ages 2-11, $4; ages 12 and older, $6; ages 60 and older,$5. Free to Farmpark members and 4-H discount. Lake MetroparksFarmpark, 8800 Euclid-Chardon Road, Kirtland, 440-256-2122,lakemetroparks.com/programs/horsefest

What’s GMAY Calendar of Events

LEGO Travel Adventure



May 30-June 8“Charlotte’s Web,” show timesvary. E.B. White’s classic children’snovel springs to the stage in thisexciting musical. Charlotte is a spi-der and Wilbur is a pig. They liveon the Zuckerman farm withdozens of other talking farm ani-mals. Charlotte becomes a barn-yard hero when it comes out thatshe can not only talk, but she canalso write. TrueNorth Theatre, 4530Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village,440-933-7747, metroparks.cc

May 30-Sept. 19 Mentor FarmersMarket & FinalFridays Shop forfresh, local pro-duce, beddingplants, flowers,cheese, honey,olive oil, jams, jel-lies and bakedgoods from 3 to 7p.m. (No Market

July 4 or August 22.) Plus on June27, July 25 and August 29, dozensof artisans will join the market,along with live music and enter-tainment for the kids for Mentor’sFinal Fridays. Civic Center Park,8500 Munson Road, Mentor, 440-974-5735, cityofmentor.com/visit/mentormarket.

June 8Slide into Summer — Celebrate the beginning of summer by makingpaper picnic baskets, or create a sailboat to launch in the museum’slagoon. Cleveland Museum of Art, 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org

June 18-19Milestones Annual Autism Conference — For parents and professionalsfor best practices in education, behavior and communication strategies. 8 a.m to 5 p.m. I-X Center, 1 I-X Center Dr, Cleveland, To register or formore information call 216-464-7600 or visit milestones.org.

June 27-28FreedomFest & Taste of Green — Join City of Green on Friday at 6 p.m.for the Taste of Green kick off. Entertainment includes comedian MattJernigan and band Karri Fedore & Kerosene. Saturday is family fun:bungee jump noon-11 p.m., inflatables, rock wall, Euro-bungee, mechani-cal bull, simulators, skydivers, contests and more. Fireworks show at10:15 p.m. Boettler Park, 5300 Massillon Road, Canton,cityofgreen.org/freedomfest

SAVE THEDATE!

Get the Northeast Ohio Parent Calendar of Events on your smart deviceGoin’ On?


Here are some ways to have fun throughout this season.

Moving On Up — Celebrate Your GraduateInfuse your graduation party with a flavor of fun thateveryone can enjoy. From pre-school to post-secondary,celebrate your child’s educational milestones with theseunique party ideas.

Have your guests enjoy a dinner-and-movie experience.Cater the event with a summertime picnic from Ivan’s Dinerand Deli in Fairlawn, which has a wide selection of sand-wiches, or try a gourmet food truck like Fired Up Taco Truckor Sweet! The Mobile Cupcakery to enjoy favorite foods onwheels.

Then, rent an inflatable big screen from FunFlicks andyou’ve got your own backyard movie theater. Let the guest ofhonor choose his/her favorite movie to watch outside withfriends and family.

Enhance the entire movie theater experience by renting a pop-corn machine and provide individual bags of popcorn and boxesof candy like Junior Mints and Twizzlers. Top it off with movieticket-inspired invitations and a red carpet entry for the graduateand guests.

For your artistically inclined student, consider renting out a coffee shop or gallery like 78th Street Studios in Cleveland wheregraduates can display their artwork or school projects, which theyprobably pulled a few all-nighters to finish.

If you’re looking for an action-packed party, venues such asthe Federated Family Life Center in Chagrin Falls offer plenty ofspace for your guests. Enjoy the large gym for basketball, volleyball, games and crafts. Additional rooms are availablefor serving food, cake and celebrating.

A Birthday Blast to RememberIf you don’t have the time or budget to make it look like Pinterest exploded in yourbackyard, here are some unique ideas for your child’s next birthday celebration thatwill be sure to delight the guest of honor.


We are all rejoicing that the sunnyskies are back in Northeast Ohio,and this summer will bring manymore reasons to throw a party —like birthdays and graduations.

By Amanda Lloyd

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One theme resonating across thebirthday party circuit is Disney’s movie“Frozen,” according to Cleveland partyplanner Laura Broyles, co-owner ofTiaras and Treasures Parties.

“Everyone seems very excited aboutall things ‘Frozen,’” she said. “It has

been so popular

that we have added a new ‘Frozen’ TeaParty that includes a ‘Frozen’-themedcraft, ‘Frozen’ games and activities,and a coronation ceremony.”

For something on the warmer side,your little hero will love C Town FireTruck Adventures when they roll up tothe party in an authentic fire engine. Therefurbished 1983 fire engine served the

City of Lakewood for 30 years and isnow a favorite for birthday parties andevent transportation.

For the sports fan, Northeast Ohiohas plenty of sports facilities thatoffer birthday parties for your littleathlete. The Akron RubberDucks, LakeCounty Captains (Eastlake) and theLake Erie Crushers (Avon) offer partyspaces, along with special treats andsurprises such as mascot appear-ances and having the crowd sing“Happy Birthday!” to them.

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Memory MakersHere are a few ideas to implement early on in your child’s academic

career that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Plant a Tree. Plant a tree with your child on the day of his/her

pre-school/kindergarten graduation. Take a photo of him/her standingnext to it, and then every year thereafter until high school and/or college

graduation day. Frame the photos for display at his/her graduation celebrationto show how they, and the tree, have grown.

Write a Letter. Write a letter to your child at the end of every school year. Insert asmall amount of money into each envelope, or $1 for first grade to $12 their senior

year, and present it to them at their graduation party. They will end up withmore than $250, plus 12 letters to get them through any homesick

moments once they are on campus.

Look for us:May 3March for Babies - Lock 3/Akron

May 25Akron RubberDucks game

May 31Medina Farmer’s Market - Medina square 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Elaborate EyesElaborate Eyes Face Paintingis Northeast Ohio’s premierface painter, specializing in

family and corporate party entertainment. Paintingon smiles, one party at a time! Contact Amanda [email protected] or find us on Facebook at Elaborate Eyes Face Painting. 216-990-5929, ElaborateEyes.com

GymboreeHaving a party for a newborn through 5-year-old?If so, our fun parties start as low as $150 for 1-1/2hours of fun! Beachwood and Mentor locations, 216-291-9969,gymboreeclasses.com

Ivan’s CateringIvan’s Cateringbrings more than 30years of experience

to the table with full-service catering and mealpreparation. Available for corporate events, familycelebrations and everything in between, Ivan’s willaccommodate any need or budget. 2927 W. Market St., Fairlawn330-836-3553, ivansdiner.com

Magic Al Fun family entertainment throughout the year specializing in children’s birthday parties, corpo-rate events/trade shows, luncheons, school assemblies, fundraisers, libraries, assisted livingcenters, restaurants and much more. Magic Alalso entertains as Peter Rabbit for the Easter season, Santa Claus for the Christmas season andthe Phantom Magic Al for Halloween. Make yourreservations now! 440-734-8220

Nancy FanciesNancy’s Fancies Cupcakes & Cake Pops special-

izes in custom-baked orders for your celebrations.Small, beautiful, handmade treats that taste wonderful are Nancy’s specialty.Strongsville, 440-238-1051, NancysFanciesCupcakes.com

Nicky NicoleHost the BestBirthday Party

ever and let the magic unfold at Nicky Nicole. Wecover every detail, from invitations, birthday partyfavors and even a treat. Choose from FashionShow Party, Webkinz Party, Shopping Spree Party,Pillow Parties and Girl Scout Workshop. See website for more details. Hudson – First & Main, 99 First Street, Hudson330-656-5200 Ext. 1Woodmere – 28601 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere330-656-5200 Ext. 2nickynicole.com

Party CaricaturesAward-winning caricaturist forall occasions. Frameable momento. Corporate, familyevents, pet shows. Depend-

able, experienced, fast, affordable, fun. 24451 Lake Shore Blvd. #1608, Euclid216-322-1028, theastralartist.com

Party CoutureParty Couture specializes in creatingonce-in-a-lifetimeevents for children

and families while working with any budget. Wework with you to plan the perfect experience forcelebrating any occasion.805 Village Trail, Gates Mills440-785-0249, partycouture.com

Nancy’s FanciesCupcakes & Cake Pops

Party Planning directory

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Romeo’s PizzaRomeo’s Pizza has 25 locations throughout NortheastOhio serving Akron/Cantonand Cleveland areas. Visit

romeospizza.com to find one near you. Treat yourfriends and family to our award-winning pizza.

Romp n Stomp InflatablesRomp n Stomp special-izes in Private Stress FreeParties, Kids Camps,Parents Night Out and In-

flatable Rentals. Let us "Get your Party Jumpin'" Call866-655-JUMP(5867)900 Medina Road, Medina234-248-4405, rompnstompcenter.net

Speed Sketcher Art entertainment for all ages!Strolling speed caricaturesand specialty novelties. Groupcolor-by-numbers activities.Live music, art and comedy.Studio illustrations and gifts.

14327 Montrose Ave., Cleveland

Young Chefs AcademyDoes your child or grandchild LOVE to cook? If so,

they’ll be sure to enjoy our great Birthday partieswhere they are the chef!Mentor, Solon and Strongsville440-572-2855, youngchefsacademy.com

Party Planning directory

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MarketPlaceTo advertise in Northeast Ohio Parent’s MarketPlace, contactsales consultant Andie Martin at 330-670-1234 ext. 207 oremail her at [email protected].

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As I shove grapes into Tupperware for my two daughters’lunches, these words drift down from the upstairs bathroom:“He’s right here.”

I had a smile, all the while cursing the crumbs at the bot-tom of their recyclable lunch bags.

The “he” that they’re referring to is actually a hair productcalled “Mist-er Right,” and a part of me laments that mydaughters, ages 13 and 10, now spend less time eatingbreakfast with me and more time on hair issues with theirmother upstairs.

Hair has always been a big deal in our family — literally —both daughters inherited voluminous hair from theirmother.

As an at-home dad I have tried hard to learn how to man-age the girls’ hair.

Unlike my own father, I know my way aroundterms like “high bun” and “sidepony,” and it’s possible thatwas me you saw browsinghair extensions at Ulta (andlater at Sally).

However, when it comes toactually styling hair, you mightcall me Mr. Wrong. I’ve triedmany products over the years,including shampoos with slo-gans like “No More Tangles,” butthat became false advertisingunder my comb.

As toddlers, their hair was sooutrageously curly that women would stop me at the park,compliment their hair, and ask earnestly, “Do you curl it?”In more extreme cases, they actually asked, “Is that a wig?”In my head, I would ask “What about my bloodshot eyes,unshaven face and baseball-capped head could possiblymake you think I have any beautician skills?”

In reality, I would just say, “No, but thanks for believing I

could curl hair!” I should clarify that hair has always been a big deal in our

family for everyone except me. My hair loss has only accel-erated since parenthood.

As the girls grew older, I swear they were somehowtransplanting my mutinous hair to their growing heads, per-haps while I slept.Fortunately, my wife has a knack forstyling hair, so the girls learned long ago how to avoid a“Dad hair day.”

To help the girls (and me) practice how to style hair, a fewyears ago we purchased “Mei Mei,” a mannequin doll headwith full black hair. “Her” neck contains a vice that securesher to the tabletop.

My daughters use Mei Mei to practice hair-braiding; I tendto use her on Halloween to scare trick-or-treaters.

Every morning as I finish packing lunches, I feelsatisfied that I’ve been able to fill many unconven-tional gender roles, though hairstylist remains elu-sive.

Regarding my daughters, I’m thankful that so farMr. Right still only refers to a curl revitalizer.


DADFearless

Stay-at-Home TanglesTaking care of girls can be a

hair-raising experience. By Vincent O’Keefe

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