July/August 2020 - Toledo Area Parent

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Baby and Maternity Guide Paving a unique path to parenthood

22

Has COVID Killed 9 Women’s Rights?

Moms deal with the brunt of the workload.

This is Toledo

18 Toledoans share their experiences growing up Black.

Lexi Hayman-Staples 27

Local her-o, on love, family, and the origins of Toledo Pride.

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RESULTS INSIDE

HOW DOES HIS FUTURE LOOK?

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EDUCATION PLANNING Your little ones are growing up fast and college is right around the corner. Our advisors create plans that help you save for their future without sacrificing your lifestyle today.

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• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

Toledo’s Award-Winning Parent Newspaper Volume 28 • Issue 9 JULY/AUGUST 2020

ONLINE FOLLOW US: toledoparent.com

Find, like and follow us /toledoparent

Summer Fun Giveaway

We’re celebrating kids and family #toledoparent on Instagram!

Then follow what we like! /toledoparent

The Front Porch Project

By Dina Sobhan

Local photographers take to their bikes to photograph Old Orchard families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Where to Buy Face Masks Locally

By Erin Schoen Marsh

Buying local while supporting fellow Toledoans is more important now than ever. Check our online round-up of individuals and businesses selling face masks!

Outside is Open for Exploration

By Kelly Milewski

With many family-friendly places still closed, outside is still open! Check out these outside-of-the-box ideas for turning a hike into an adventure.

Ideas to Help Beat Boredom

Jenna Spetz Sylvania, Ohio

most read online 1.Where to Buy Face Masks Locally in Toledo Area 2.This is Toledo: A Frank Discussion of Race 3. The Front Porch Project

By Kimberly Feldkamp

Even though school has been out for months, summer has technically just started. Check out this list for fun ideas for when your children inevitably utter, “I’m bored!”

Summer fun giveaway! Toledoans are taking more outdoor walks these days with limitations on activities. Now you can take a stroll with Delta Children Little Folks Classic Tour Stroller ($59.99)! Protect your little one from harmful UV rays with My First UV Skinz rash guard (size 12/24 months), TrustyTrunks— a leak proof diaper cover whose patented design keeps accidents in and pool water, dirt, and sand out (21-29lbs) — and the iconic look of WeeFarers sunglasses, reimagined to protect young eyes (ages 0-2 years). Then give your little one toys for outdoor fun, including a new pail and shovel and the Splish Splash Catapult by HABA, as well as iPlay iLearn Golf Training Set, a golf training set so kids can practice their gross motor skills in the backyard!

COUNTING 27 YEARS AND

M E CO ET N OU T R ES T CO W VE IN R N KID ER

FREE APRIL 2020

What families need to know

guide 11

Find the perfect fit for your kids!

guide

COVID 19

5

Resources and updates for Toledo families

? VOTE NOW WHO ARE YOUR FAMILY FAVORITES

Which Child Will Be Toledo Famous?

Vote for your favorite photo of the cutest kid to be featured on the cover of an upcoming Toledo Area Parent! Winner also receives a FREE photo session from our sponsor, local newborn and family photographer Tiana Lashae! Vote now through August 5 at toledoparent.com, and check out our sponsor at tlashaephoto.com.

Congratulations to our last month’s winners Dan Weiss (portable high chair) and Kellie Shirey (Mother’s Day Giveaway Package)!

Visit toledoparent.com to enter.

30th Through April

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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Adams Street Publishing Co. What’s something you do that others consider “weird?”

Letter from the EDITOR My White Response to Black Lives Matter

By Erin Schoen Marsh

LEO

Sometimes it’s wise to remain silent; other times it’s important to speak up. For me, this is a time to raise my voice in support of Black lives and to amplify Black voices whenever I can.

The senseless recent killings of Black Americans, regrettably, are nothing new. From young Emmett Till’s murder and mutilation in 1955 to the more recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, David McAtee, Eric Garner, Ahmoud Arbery, Michael Brown, Laquan McDonald, Tamir Rice, and countless others, I have learned that racism is not growing worse...it is now simply being filmed.

In my own life, these are the steps I am taking to #dobetter:

Listen with a humble heart and

Co-publisher/Chief Financial Officer

Mark I. Jacobs (mjacobs@toledoparent.com) I EAT THE ENIRE APPLE, CORE AND ALL. EVERY TIME.

Editorial

Kids Astrology

By Kimmie Rose

Cancer:

June 21 - July 22

Erin’s daughter Camille (4), her son Dexter (7), and her husband Alex at a recent rally.

open ears to what my Black friends, coworkers and acquaintances have to say...even when it makes me uncomfortable.

Learn as much as I can by reading books, listening to podcasts, watching documentaries and observing my surroundings. I need to educate myself and, as Community Solidarity Response Network leader Ruth Leonard quipped at a recent rally, “Google is free.”

Actively participate in protests and rallies, bringing my children when appropriate.

Support Black businesses and organizations by liking/following them on

social media, frequenting their businesses, sharing my positive experiences and lifting up their voices as much as possible.

I realize that those actions, alone, may not be too impactful, but I have to start somewhere. While I began this journey years ago, my progress has been slow. These recent events have urged me to know better and to do better...and to do it faster.

In solidarity, Erin Schoen Marsh Toledo Parent Editor

Space is limited sign up today!

University of Findlay PHARMACY SUMMER CAMP 2020 July 26-30

This five day long event lets incoming high school juniors and seniors meet current pharmacy students, pharmacy professors and pharmacists. They’ll get a first-hand experience of what it takes to become a successful pharmacist. Must be graduating in the class of 2021 or 2022.

Cancer children are smart, independent homebodies. They have amazing imaginations and tend to be hoarders. These next two months will ignite your Cancer’s natural curiosity. . .which will mean more mess than normal indoors! To avoid frustrations with cleaning up one creative endeavor after another, spend as much time outdoors as possible. Plan an outdoor treasure hunt to satisfy their adventurous minds! Check out “Outside is Open” at metroparkstoledo.com for a list of outdoor opportunities and scavenger hunts. Provide your little Cancer with a container to store little treasures s/he finds around the house or in the yard. Let your child decorate it to make it his/her very own treasure chest!

Leo:

Assignment Editor Erin Marsh

(toledoparenteditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I MUST SIT FACING AN ENTRANCE AND SLEEP FARTHEST AWAY FROM THE DOOR. Associate Editor Athena Cocoves (athena@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I SCREAM WHEN I RECEIVE A PHONE CALL— I AM VERY EASILY STARTLED! Web Guru Courtney Probert

(digitalmedia@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’M ALWAYS ON ZILLOW LOOKING AT HOUSES EVEN THOUGH I’M NOT LOOKING TO BUY A NEW ONE ANYTIME SOON. Contributing Writers Erin Marsh, Lindsey Melden, Kimmie Rose, Dina Sobhan

Advertising

Sales Coordinator/Classifieds Jenny Leach (sales@adamsstreetpublishing.com) EATING PICKLES & PEANUT BUTTER .

Sales Bonnie Hunter (bhunter@adamsstreetpublishing.com) DRINK MY SCOTCH NEAT. Suzanne Bell (sbell@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I PREFER TURKEY BURGERS.

Art/Production

Production Manager Imani Lateef (imani@adamsstreetpublishing.com) I’VE LOVE WATCHING FRASIER RERUNS. Senior Designer Leah Foley (leah@adamsstreetpublishing.com) WON’T CROSS THE PATH OF A BLACK CAT. EVER. Graphic Design Kelli Miller (kmiller@adamsstreetpublishing.com)

July 23 - August 22

Playful and full of enthusiasm, your little Leo loves to be the center of attention. Your little lion will be feeling the need to make everyone happy, which is the perfect time to teach him/her to help others for the sake of spreading joy, versus doing good deeds for attention and praise. Point out for them how their kindness helps others.

To reiterate the importance of good deeds, choose a person who could use some extra kindness and let your little lion feel the joy of secretly performing good deeds, without reward, which will encourage him/her to feel the strength of community. This will enhance your lion’s natural leadership ability, instill compassion and teach that everyone can play a significant role in making the world a better place.

Those feelings are needed now more than ever!

Follow us on facebook.

www.findlay.edu/pharmacy 4

Publisher/Editor in Chief

Collette Jacobs (cjacobs@toledoparent.com) I DON’T GO BAREFOOT. EVER.

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

HAVE YOU MET ME?

Administration Accounting Robin Armstrong (rarmstrong@toledoparent.com) I WEAR SUNGLASSES INDOORS. Distribution/Assistant Coordinator Shannon Meyer (smeyer@adamsstreetpublishing.com) SAY “LIGHT” BEFORE TURNING ON A LIGHT.

Advertising/General Info

For advertising and general information, call 419-244-9859 or fax 419-244-9871. E-mail ads to adsin@ adamsstreetpublishing.com. Deadline for advertising copy 2 p.m. Friday before publication. Toledo Area Parent subscriptions are available by mail for $30 per year at Adams Street Publishing, 1120 Adams St., Toledo, Ohio 43604. One copy free per person per week; extra copies $1 each. Persons taking copies for any reason other than personal use are subject to prosecution.

Letters to the editor must be limited to 300 words, are subject to editing, and should include the writer’s full name and phone number. Any letter submitted to the editor or publisher may be printed at the publisher’s discretion in issues subsequent to its receipt. Entire contents © 2020 by Adams Street Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written permission of the publisher.

Also publishers of:

Audited by

Visit toledoparent.com to view more feel-good photos. Have a family photo from around T-town that you want to share? Email toledoparenteditor@adamsstreetpublishing.com for consideration.

Check out some of our favorite submissions from the

Father’s Day Photo Contest!

Winner!

Marquis Smith with daughter Myla (3)

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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Compiled by Erin Schoen Marsh and Erin Holden

The Arts Commission Announces High School Award Winners

CE

PLA 1ST

The Arts Commission and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur announced the award winners from the 37th Annual Ninth Congressional District Invitational Art Exhibition.

The first place winner was “Blue Moon”

by Collette Jarrell, second place was awarded to “Just A Thought” by Mikayla “Blue Moon” by Collette Jarrell Alvarez and third place went to “Search for Implication at Dusk” by Caiden Lambert-Lyons. Jarrell’s artwork will be displayed in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. for one year while the artwork by Alvarez and Lambert-Lyons will hang in Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s local offices in Toledo and Cleveland.

Ottawa Hills High School No. 1 in Ohio Ottawa Hills High School is now the No. 1 high school in Ohio, according to the recently released annual U.S. News & World Report rankings. The survey places the school as the 92nd best high school in the United States, out of nearly 18,000 ranked, up from last year when Ottawa Hills High School was ranked No. 5 in Ohio and 136th nationally. Ottawa Hills High School has 322 students in grades 9-12.

Child welfare agencies call for emergency relief The Children’s Defense Fund (Ohio) has joined other child advocacy organizations nationwide, requesting that Congress provide extra assistance in the next COVID-19 relief package.

The CDFO and other groups drafted a letter that points out a likely increase in child welfare referrals due to abuse and neglect as states begin to reopen. The surge is predicted as families continue to be affected by coronavirus-related job losses, school closures, loss of childcare and other challenges. The 31 percent increase in calls to the parent helpline 1-800-4-A-CHILD is an indicator that agencies may experience significant increases with such cases.

Ohio’s recent budget cuts, totaling $775 million for state agencies and programs, is a major factor in CDFO’s need for extra funding. Angela Sausser, Executive Director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio explained, “We need to ensure that our county agencies can meet the demand for services for these vulnerable children and families.” For more information, visit cdfohio.org

NAMI Family & Friends is a free seminar that informs people who have loved ones with a mental health condition how to best support them. It’s also an opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and gain community support. The following topics will be discussed: • • • • •

CREATIVE KIDS

Understanding diagnoses, treatment and recovery Effective communication strategies The importance of self-care Crisis preparation strategies NAMI and community resources Virtual Zoom Seminar!

Registration Required

NAMI Creative Kids is a FREE art workshop for kids 6-17 years old!

Creative Kids provides an opportunity for Contact NAMI for Upcoming children/adolescents to express themselves creatively Virtual Sessions!

4:00 - 5:15pm through art and identify positive coping skills.

Call NAMI for more information at 419-243-1119 or visit our website www.namitoledo.org 6

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

Sylvania Schools Selects New Superintendent After an extensive months-long search, Sylvania Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. Veronica Motley to lead the district as its next superintendent. The former Assistant Superintendent of South Euclid Lyndhurst Schools, Motley brings three decades of educational experience to the job.

Starting as a math teacher with Akron Public Schools, Motley has experience as an elementary school teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, elementary school principal, Director of Student Services supporting students with special needs, Director of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent. Motley also served as an adjunct professor in Ashland University’s graduate program.

Sylvania Schools Board of Education President Vicki Donovan-Lyle stated, “I want to welcome Dr. Motley to our district and to our community. This was an interesting time to be searching for new leadership, to say the least, but we were fortunate in that both the candidates and our community were flexible and made it work. We are anxious to get back to school and excited to have our new superintendent at the helm.”

FoolProof: Free Online Program Teaches Children Financial Responsibility Toledo Zoo Introduces New Baby Orangutan!

The Toledo Zoo is celebrating a baby orangutan, Fajar, who arrived on October 12, 2019. It has been a long road for the baby, whose name (appropriately) means “start of a new day.” He was diagnosed shortly after birth with umbilicus when zoo staff members noticed his placenta was still attached. In order to treat the infection, Fajar had to be cared for and held 24/7 for six months, all while allowing monitored, distant bonding with Fajar’s mother, Leela. On April 6, mother and baby were finally allowed to spend a night alone together, and they are continuing to bond and build a healthy relationship.

FoolProof, sponsored by Directions Credit Union, provides children and young people with a completely free curriculum that is geared toward strengthening financial responsibility. The program is seeing increased use in Ohio, as well as across the country, while families spend more time together at home. FoolProof can even be used by adults and their children together to maintain productivity.

Young people preparing to join the workforce after graduation are able to use FoolProof courses to learn about financial obligations that may come in their near futures, like renting or buying a home, investing and the dangers of credit cards. To begin free FoolProof courses, students and parents alike can start by visiting http://foolproof.directionscu. org/academy. For more details, see our longer article on the Toledo Parent website.

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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tween the lines

advice for parents with children 10-16

EXCEPTIONAL FAMILIES

College Scholarships Awarded to Seven Local Caddies

for parents of children with special needs

Child & Parent Empowerment Teaching families safety, survival skills

By Kimberly Feldkamp

Brandon Burks (Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School, Toledo)

Caroline Jarrell (Notre Dame Academy, Ottawa Hills)

Abigail Firsdon (Notre Dame Academy, Lambertville, MI)

Mom Ashley Glinka, a local mom, founded The Child & Parent Empowerment Program to teach families situational awareness skills and how to use an empowerment mindset to protect themselves.

Enrique Morales-Ayala (Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg)

Gabriel Regalado (Bedford Senior High School, Lambertville, MI)

Jackson Seibert (St. John’s Jesuit, Toledo)

A part-time job can lead to full college tuition

By Erin Schoen Marsh

Parents have no shortage of worries these days, including how to pay for the ever-increasing cost of college. Even if you started squirreling away money when your child was an infant, you may not have enough saved for the yearly costs to attend a college or university.

The Western Golf Association’s (WGA) Chick Evans Scholarship, a full, fouryear housing and tuition scholarship and the nation’s largest privately funded scholarship program, offers hope to many families.

Twenty-six students who caddied in the state of Ohio have been awarded 2020 full tuition to college, and seven of those 26 are local Toledo area students, all of whom will be attending The Ohio State University.

Each student caddie has a unique story to tell, to satisfy the scholarships’ four selection criteria: a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The full tuition and housing college scholarship is valued at an estimated $120,000 over four years.

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Kelcy Blanchong (Wauseon High School, Wauseon) “Each of these deserving Evans Scholars epitomizes what our program has been about since its creation in 1930,” said WGA Chairman Kevin Buggy.

“Their dedication, hard work and sacrifice is humbling, and we are honored to be able to help them pursue their dreams.”

Currently, a record 1,010 caddies are enrolled at 18 universities across the nation as Evans Scholars, and more than 11,050 caddies have graduated as Evans Scholars since the program was founded by Charles “Chick” Evans, Jr., famed Chicago amateur golfer, 90 years ago.

To learn more about the WGA and ESF, visit www.wgaesf.org.

Ashley Glinka is a pretty cool mom to twins and a 6-year-old, but she also is a former Federal Air Marshall who flew overseas anti-terrorism missions. Those experiences led her to create The Child & Parent Empowerment Program.

The details The Program is a two-hour class for parents, teachers and coaches that includes both the parent and child so they can learn to work together. “The classes cover situational awareness skills, mindset, and how to teach kids to use that empowerment mindset to protect themselves,” Glinka explained. “Our additional classes also work with selfdefense for families and different techniques for younger children.”

The idea Before she earned the title “mom,” Glinka was a federal agent traveling internationally, working covertly as a Federal Air Marshal. She explains that role made her confident in her ability to protect herself and others. When she became a mom, however, she realized how vulnerable parents are with their most precious assets.

“I was an avid babywearer, and soon our family was blessed with twins, so I had 3 under three! My hands were literally full, and as I went about my day-today life, I would constantly be running through “what if” scenarios and how I could incorporate the years of training and experience (in self defense that) I had to be most effective for my family,”

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

Glinka explained.

As her children grew, Glinka and her husband began to teach them about safety, including awareness of their surroundings, basic self-defense and empowerment skills.

“Through all of this I’ve been talking with other moms and giving them advice on how they could teach their children and suddenly, The Child & Parent Empowerment Program was born.”

The benefits “We all want to think that our family will never find themselves in a situation that could endanger them, but the truth is, the majority of us have already been in that situation,” Glinka said. “As a mother of young children, I want my daughters and my son to grow up being aware of what’s happening around them. I want them to be aware but not afraid. I want them to have confidence to raise their voice and yell “stop,” to know it’s okay to leave a situation and to be empowered by that knowledge and not fearful of the unknown.”

The classes teach parents to have ageappropriate conversations with children about safety. They also help families create safety plans while giving families tools to help navigate potential dangers in the world.

Interested in learning more?

Email ashley@luxelifewith3.com or visit luxelifewith3.com.

Has COVID Killed Women’s Rights?

Moms take on brunt of work

By Erin Schoen Marsh A recent article from The New York Times highlighted the discrepancy between the amount of homeschooling, childcare and household duties that mothers are taking on versus their male counterparts.

While nearly half of the men interviewed claim that they are doing most of the homeschooling; 3% of women agree. The fact that 80% of the women say they are doing the majority of homeschooling, combined with past research that reveals men consistently overestimate the amount of work they do in the home, points to the likely conclusion that women are taking on the lion’s share of the work.

Doctor’s orders Megan Lutz, an OB/GYN in the Toledo area, relates that a medical journal article she read notes that a majority “of male physicians have someone else taking care of most home tasks: bills, yard, laundry, groceries, kids. [A small percentage] of female physicians have [those same forms] of support.”

In a study of married physicians with children, men reported that 82% of “all or most” household duties were performed by their spouses, as opposed to only 5% by the spouses of women physicians. The majority of child rearing and household responsibilities still fall on women, even if they are physicians, and research shows that 40% of women go part-time or leave medicine completely within 6 years of completing their residency.

Women, with the majority of child-rearing and household duties, subsequently look for jobs with flexibility that allow them to work from home or call in when there is a snow day, a sick day...or a coronavirus pandemic.

The “shecession” Combining the statistics above with the fact that 55% of the 20.5 million jobs lost in April were jobs held by women, earning this recession the nickname the “shecession,” it’s clear that women (especially nonwhite women) are taking

The Adams-Brewer family. Photo by Brenna Adams. ine, we do dishes 2-3 times per day.”

Jen Linehan, who owns Beautiful Blooms by Jen in Sylvania, explains that her husband, who is a high school teacher, “does 100% while I’m at work!”

The percentage of men taking over all household duties plus homeschooling may be small, but they are out there.

So help out the women in your life.

Women have fought for equal rights for centuries, and just as we reached equal employment levels with men (although benefits and salary numbers are still lagging), COVID-19 hit and many women across the country lost their jobs.

Tonia Davies wrangling her three little ones. the brunt of coronavirus job losses.

While more women have lost their jobs, female doctors have less household and childcare help than their male counterparts and most women — even when still working full-time from home — are taking on the job of teacher, it’s no surprise that moms everywhere are burnt out and overwhelmed.

Sylvania mom Tonia Davies and Toledo mom Kelly Flenner, both took on the majority of homeschooling duties,but are able to laugh instead of complaining, joking that the “definition of ‘doing’ and ‘done’ are completely different depending on [which parent] you talk to.”

Bridget Adams-Brewer takes the same stance, using humor to lighten the situation, saying, “[My husband] does the dishes one time a week but talks about it three times. As you can imag-

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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Kid-friendly Museum

PLACES AND SPACES Overnight Trip with the Kids

Frankenmuth

Runner-up: Kalahari Resorts

s e t i r vo a F y Fa mil

201 9

s r e n n i W

Runner-up: Toledo Museum of Art

Sporting Event for Families

Toledo Mud Hens

Runner-up: Toledo Walleye

Place to Volunteer

Toledo Area Humane Society

Country Lane Tree Farm

Country Lane Tree Farm

Family Activity

Runner-up: Metroparks Toledo

Runner-up: The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium

Animal Encounters

Family Day Trip

Runner-up: The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium

Runner-up: The Toledo Zoo and Aquarium

Garden/Nature Center 577 Foundation Runner-up: Toledo Botanical Garden Metropark

Country Lane Tree Farm

Indoor Playspace

Imagination Station Runner-up: Sylvania Playland

Family Favorites is one of our most read features every year -- and for good reason. Thousands of Toledo area parents weigh in annually on the businesses, places, and people they love, which benefits both local families and businesses. Parents rely on our list to help them choose pediatricians, find the perfect birthday venue, and grab the most delicious meal.

Thank you, Toledo area families, for making this another memorable year of Family Favorites! Supporting local means more now than ever.

Imagination Station

Cont’d on p12

Favorite Library Branch

Way Public

Runner-up: King Road (TLCPL)

Place to Worship

Christ the King Church, Toledo Runner-up: CedarCreek Church

From our family to yours, Thank You for voting us #1 Orthodontist MAUMEE

4413 Keystone Dr. Maumee, OH 43537 419.887.1247

L A M B E RT V I L L E

7928 Secor Rd. • P.O. Box 860 Lambertville, MI 48144 734.854.6221

S Y LVA N I A

6407 Monroe St. Sylvania, OH 43560 419.882.1017

www.perfectbraces.com

ORTHODONTICS HAERIAN LUDWIG HANSEN SI MON 10

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

e r a Weexci ted!!! so You Y k n a h T s r e d a e R ! g n i t o for V

SIGN UP TODAY!

WHAT WE OFFER... n Warm

water n Small class sizes n Convenient scheduling n Knowledgeable/ Educated instructors n Proven/successful curriculum n State of the art/ modern facility n Fun environment n Healthy/chemically balanced pool water

419.370.2801 | 1510 Spring Meadows Drive #D-100 | Holland

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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TIME TO PARTY Party Entertainment Laurel’s Princess Parties

Place for an outdoor birthday bash Country Lane Tree Farm

Cupcakes/Bakery So Many Somethings Desserterie Runner-up: Cake in a Cup

Runner-up: Glass City Moonwalk Rentals

Place to buy a birthday cake So Many Sweet Somethings Desserterie Runner-up: Crowned Cakes by Jess

Locally owned place to buy a gift Fiddlestix Boutique Runner-up: Learning Express Toys

Place for an indoor birthday bash Ohio Skate

Candy Shop Boyd’s Retro Candy

Runner-up: Maumee Valley Chocolate and Candy

Family-Friendly Restaurant Schmucker’s Restaurant Runner-up: Mayberry Diner

Healthy Family Restaurant Balance Pan-Asian Grille Runner-up: Fowl & Fodder

Kid-friendly coffee shop Maddie & Bella Coffee Roasters Runner-up: SIP Coffee

Frozen Treats Shop Mr. Freeze

Runner-up: Sylvania Playland

Place for an outdoor birthday bash Country Lane Tree Farm

DELICIOUS EATS

Runner-up: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream & Yogurt

Runner-up: Wildwood Park (Metroparks Toledo)

Local Pizza Place Original Gino’s Runner-up: Pizza Cat

Party-goers receive quite the memorable experience when celebrating at Country Lane Tree Farm, which explains why they won first place as the best place for an outdoor birthday bash yet again this year! Guests can tour the farm and get up close with animals, feeding cows, riding the ponies, and holding baby chicks, ducks and bunnies. Country Lane Tree Farm offers a birthday experience kids won’t forget. Parents love the ease of the party package options -- one option even allows you to bring in your own food and cake -and party packages allow for up to 10 kids (or you can add on more for a small fee), and promise a party to remember...all while reducing COVID risk by staying outdoors.countrylanetreefarm.com

Place Where Kids Eat Free Fricker’s Runner-up: El Vaquero

SHOP LOCAL Locally owned place to buy kids’ clothing Once Upon a Child

Runner-up: Makers on Main by Joys of the Heart Christian Boutique

Baby boutique shop Bowinkles

Runner-up: Piper Jean Bowtique

Mom-owned business Courtney Lee Photography Runner-up: Finn Photography

Family Photographer Rikki Renee Photography Runner-up: Lindsey Brown Photography

Bike Shop Wersell’s Bike and Ski Shop Runner-up: Cyclewerks

Place to buy children’s books Gathering Volumes Runner-up: Learning Express

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• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

DIGITAL AGE Local Parent Facebook Group Toledo Moms: Community + Conversations Runner-up: Toledo Thrifty Moms

Local Online Influencer Toledo Moms: Community + Conversations Runner-up: Mom on the Go in Holy Toledo

LOOKING FOR

FUN THIS SUMMER?

TAKE MUSIC LESSONS!

Healthy Family Restaurant Balance Pan-Asian Grille Runner-up: Fowl & Fodder For a healthy family meal on the go, Toledo parents voted Balance Pan-Asian Grille for the win. With kids options (that you can keep separated for picky eaters), tacos, and bowls, everyone in the family is sure to find something. Balance also offers speedy and efficient curbside pickup. Order through the app to simplify the process even more! balancegrille.com.

Thank you again Toledo!

Voted“Favorite Music Lessons” Sign up for Music Lessons and receive a

FREE $25

Registration Expires: 8/15/2020

WATCH ME SOAR

Preschool Elizabeth Wayne Preschool

Runner-up: Saint Joseph Parish Preschool

Teacher Jeny Mazza - Elizabeth Wayne Preschool Runner-up: Julie Hite - Saint Joseph Sylvania

School Principal Cristy Seely - Elizabeth Wayne Preschool Runner-up: Steve Urbanski - Christ the King

Parochial School Saint Joseph Parish School Runner-up: Christ the King

Gift Certificates Available

Private School West Side Montessori

Runner-up: Maumee Valley Country Day School

After-School Program YMCA

Runner-up: Girls on the Run Northwest Ohio

Tutoring Center Sylvan Learning

Elementary School Saint Joseph Parish School

Runner-up: Kumon Math and Reading Center

Middle School Saint Joseph Parish School

Capable Kids Runner-up: Brain Bright Therapy

Runner-up: Christ the King

Runner-up: Christ the King

Charter School Toledo School for the Arts Runner-up: Autism Model School

Lessons available online and in person.

Special Needs Service

Daycare Maria Early Learning Center

Runner-up: Children’s Discovery Center

Why Choose The Forté Music School?

419-540-0070

Toledo’s BEST music school: • More instructors • More studios • More opportunities!

Cont’d on p14

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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arners

LANGUAG

Developing a Community of Learners

E

Place to buy children’s books Gathering Volumes

TEACHING FRENCH, SIGN LANGUAGE & BAKING!

Runner-up: Learning Express Books became one of the few forms of entertainment still available once COVID hit, and locally-owned Gathering Volumes went above and beyond to stay connected to the community, offering curbside pickup, listing staff picks, and recommending books for all ages. It’s no wonder you chose them as your favorite place to buy children’s books! gatheringvolumes.com

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Adhering to strict cleanliness guidelines to assure the safety of our children and staff!

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• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Acting and theatre classes Children’s Theater Workshop Runner-up: The Liz Baldwin Studio

Dance studio Toledo Ballet Runner-up: Dance Expressions

Kids Art Class Toledo Museum of Art

Runner-up: Create: Art Studio and Workshop

Gymnastics Class YMCA

Runner-up: Toledo Gymnastics Academy

Music Lessons Forte School of Music

DOCTORS’ ORDERS

Pediatric Practice Franklin Park Pediatrics

Runner-up: Sylvania Playland

Runner-up: Promedica Physicians Perrysburg Pediatrics

Urgent Care Promedica Urgent Care

Runner-up: Mercy Urgent Care

Place to Give Birth Promedica Toledo Hospital Runner-up: St. Luke’s Hospital

OB/GYN Dr. Sarah Puckett - ProMedica Physicians Obstetrics I Gynecology - Sylvania

Runner-up: The Liz Baldwin Studio

Runner-up: Dr. Kristel Ward - ProMedica Physicians Obstetrics | Gynecology Maumee

Runner-up: Toledo Tae Kwan Do

Runner-up: Erin Marten

Runner-up: YMCA

Runner-up: Dr. Donald Vogel, Promedica Physicians Family Practice of Toledo

Martial Arts Program Jon Penny’s Black Belt Academy

Midwife Mercy Midwives

Swim Lessons SafeSplash + SwimLabs Swim School

Family doctor Dr. Travis Rasor - Fallen Timbers Family Physicians

Horseback Lessons Country Lane Tree Farm

Indoor Playspace Imagination Station While COVID-19 may have limited the learning fun at Imagination Station the last few months, Toledo’s love for the local science museum still runs strong! Imagination Station remained connected to the community with Stay at Home Science--doable science projects using everyday home materials--and parents and kids alike look forward to handson, interactive experiments that combine learning with fun!

ENT Doctor Runner-up: Oxford Farm - Equestrian Center Dr. Vincent Toma - Promedica Physicians

Runner-up: Dr. Stephanie Cole - Promedica Physicians Cont’d on p16

CELEBRATE YOUR BIRTHDAY WITH US! 1ST PLACE WINS:

Family Activity Family Day Trip Animal Encounters Place for Outdoor Birthday Bash Horseback Lessons

THANK YOU

Visit our website for more info

FOR YOUR VOTES FOR COUNTRY LANE TREE FARM!!

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Join us for our fall activities at the farm...

Pumpkin Patch, Animal Tours, & our Corn Maze!!

3525 N. Bolander Rd. Genoa OH • CountryLaneTreeFarm.com • 419.461.1298

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

15

Optometrist / Ophthalmologist Dr. Robert Rhee - Pediatric Ophthalmology Consultants

Family Mental Health & Counseling Services Harbor Runner-up: A Renewed Mind

Runner-up: Dr. Joseph Marra - Dr. Marra & Associates

Chiropractor Innate Health Chiropractic

Natural Homeopathic Health Health Foods by Claudia Runner-up: Bassett’s Health Food

Runner-up: Turning Point Chiropractic

Allergist Dr. Razi Rafeeq - Promedica Physicians

Veterinarian Brannan Veterinary Clinic Runner-up: VCA SylvaniaVET

Runner-up: Dr. Ghassan Safadi - Allergy Clinic Ohio

Dentist Dr. Jon Frankel

Runner-up: Dr. Erin Knierim

Orthodontist HLS Orthodontics

Runner-up: Kay & Paulus

Speech/language therapy Brain Bright Therapy Runner-up: Promedica Total Rehab

We have the BEST selection of children’s frames!

THANK YOU VOTERS! Dr. Rhee was voted Best Opthamologist!

WE MOVED! 16

Pediatric Ophthalmology Consultants & POCShop Eye Gear 6544 W. Central Avenue | Toledo, OH 43617 | 419.517.5500

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

GET ACTIVE

Place to Go Ice Skating Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter Runner-up: Ottawa Park

Place to Play Mini Golf Perry Falls Mini Golf Runner-up: Par 2 Golf

Park or Playground Wildwood Park

Runner-up: Oak Openings Preserve Metropark

Waterpark Kalahari Resorts

Runner-up: Great Wolf Lodge

Family-Friendly Gym / Fitness Club YMCA

Runner-up: Promedica Wildwood Athletic Club

Soccer Program Springfield Parks & Rec Runner-up: Soccer Shots

Youth Sports League CYO

Runner-up: Anthony Wayne Youth Foundation

Sports Camp YMCA Summer Camp

Runner-up: St. John’s Summer Sports Camp

Summer Day Camp Country Lane Tree Farm

Runner-up: Imagination Station

Kids Fitness Class Toledo Parkour Runner-up: YMCA

ME TIME Date Night Restaurant J. Alexander’s Runner-up: Te’kela Mexican Cocina

Girls Night Out The Heights

Runner-up: Board & Brush Creative Studio

Workout for Mom YMCA

Runner-up: Fit Body Boot Camp

Spa Day for Mom Serenity Health & Wellness Center Runner-up: Spoil Me Royal

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

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This Is Toledo

PHILLIP THOMAS

A Frank Discussion of Race

C

By Erin Schoen Marsh

hildren learn in school that the Civil Rights Movement wiped out segregation and eliminated racism.

The recent killings of Black men and women by white police officers tell a different story: racism was never eliminated. While perhaps more subtle, feelings of superiority remain powerful, pervasive, and systematic.

Well-meaning white Americans latched onto the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Progressive white people claim they “do not see color,” yet that is a privilege afforded to those who are white.

Black Americans live every day reminded of, and judged by, the color of their skin.

Open listening The first step toward creating a just and equal world is to openly listen to the voices of all people— particularly those in the Black community— to educate ourselves about racism in America, and to then reflect on ways to help and support our Black community.

Four Toledo residents share their stories here of how racism affects their lives, in both big and small ways. The current protests in Toledo have taught our community that racism and injustice are not issues relegated to “other” cities.

As actor Will Smith said back in 2016, “Racism is not getting worse; it’s getting filmed.”

LEARN MORE Want to be involved in the #BlackLivesMatter movement locally? Check out the Community Solidarity Response Network of Toledo, or you can donate here.

Ready to learn more? Read White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo or I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Toledo-native Austin Channing Brown.

Already read those? ABCNews listed other book resources here, and this website lists books for white readers.

Want to be a white ally but overwhelmed on where to start? This working document lists resources for just about every stage and thinking pattern.

Not sure how to address racism with your kids? National Geographic compiled suggestions for parents and NPR interviewed Jennifer Harvey, author of Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, about how to talk with white kids about raciallycharged events.

Quality Manager for a local food manufacturer, is originally from Ashtabula, Ohio (about 50 miles east of Cleveland) but has lived in Toledo for years. He is married with 5 kids: Jayden (18), Simon (17), Elijah (15), Sophie (14), and Kingston (10).

What is one of your earliest race-related memories? It's pretty ironic... think I learned about racism through the eyes of those in my community when I was 7 or 8. Not that I wasn’t experiencing it...I just didn’t know what it was. My family, specifically my grandmother, never taught us to treat others any differently or never taught us that we were any different, although she lived through an era in the South where they were still oppressed and blatantly limited in access to basic human rights. As a 7- or 8-year-old, I began to first notice how differently people of color, people who looked like me, people I knew and loved, were treated and talked to differently by Caucasian-Americans. It was a feeling of unease…it was a feeling like we had done something wrong. When we would go into a store...the looks we would get. The way we would be addressed. The places we could go and not go.

As I look back [to that time] as a child, I now can put a name to what I was feeling.

How has your life been shaped/influenced by race? Race has been very influential in my life, for better and worse. Not having the same access to all the opportunities -- luxuries, financial literacy, generational wealth, positive social-economical outlook -- was not fair. It was not fair that I was judged based on the color of my skin and not the content of my character. It was frustrating that I felt that I had to be two times better than a Caucasian to gain a “seat at the table” and experience some of the same freedoms and opportunities that are freely given to others.

What those obstacles ultimately did was make me develop into a better version of myself….It made we work harder, develop an attitude of excellence, become resourceful, think outside the box, and it pushed me to strive to always be the best. Now it allows me to use my experiences to prepare my children to develop these same characteristics and to also be there to help them push through those same barriers. The problem I see here is that I have to STILL use my experiences and knowledge to prepare them for how the world will treat them as persons of color in America.

For the full responses from Alisa Gafeney, John Robinson II, Molly Klima, and Phillip Thomas, read our extended version online.

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• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

Favorite movie? Lion King Favorite comfort meal? Spaghetti Favorite Toledo restaurant? Mancy’s Italian Favorite spot in Toledo? Toledo Zoo When you get some alone time, what’s your go-to activity? Working out Describe Toledo in a sentence? A place of promise.

Describe your life in 5 words or less. Journey of Self Reflection.

A book everyone should read? Bible Who is someone you admire? Barack Obama

How is what you say to and/or teach your children different than what a white parent may say to and/or teach his/her white children? I think conversations, teachings, and understandings are very much different for Black parents with their children than white parents. Why do I say this? Because I should know...I have both. The worldview I present to my children is consistent and the same: we want them to be happy, treat others with love, and give back more on this Earth than they have taken. Although we give them the same worldview, we talk differently on how the world will view them.

Where I worry about what time my stepchildren who are white will be home when they go out, I worry if my Black sons will come home at all. When I started preparing the older ones to drive, I told my stepson, who is white, about the laws of the road. I told my son, who is Black, what to do if you are pulled over by a cop.

While we encourage our children who are white to express their freedoms and be individuals, I encourage my Black sons to know their rights, know their freedoms, be an individual but know when to express yourself and where. Although all children face many pressures today because of the age of social media, my Black sons will face all of those same things but also that the color of their skin may blind people to who they are and what pain, suffering, needs, and desires they may have.

JOHN ROBINSON II

ALISA GAFENEY

Assistant Manager at T-Mobile, personal trainer, and former Navy petty officer, grew up in Toledo for the bulk of his life.

What is one of your earliest memories of race?

There are many memories of race embedded in my head, but one of the earliest and most memorable moments happened while I was [at Springfield High School]. We had an AfricanAmerican woman as our principle (Rhonda Jemison Kimmons), who really cared about us and our future, and she orchestrated an assembly that pulled all the minority males out of class to help educate, motivate, and get us focused on our futures. She even gave us shirts that said “FOCUSED.” So some of the white kids came to school the next day with shirts made saying “unfocused” on them, and some of the parents even showed up to a board meeting in all white suits to protest having another minority assembly in the future. That just shows you how they like to embrace our culture but not embrace us.

Editor’s note: Rhonda Jemison Kimmons, along with Nathaniel Floure (fondly referred to as “Officer Nate” by students), are both no longer at Springfield High School (SHS) as of this upcoming school year. Officer Nate worked at SHS for 26 years; Kimmons was assistant principal and then principal for over 10 years, with 25 years working in education overall.

How has your life been shaped/ influenced by race? [W]e have to work twice, sometimes three times, as hard in life for everything we want just because of the racial barriers we have to overcome. Although it may be tough and tiresome at times, I wouldn’t change my skin color for anything in the world because I am Black and proud.

What is your response to the recent killings of Black men by white police officers? These killings aren’t police protecting themselves; they are murders from people who abuse their power and use their badge as a shield. Time and time again, we see these killings and cops just getting paid leave, or if they get fired, they can easily find the same job in a different county using the same behaviors. So you tell me: what type of example does that set? It’s sad to see that America has a bigger problem with Colin Kaepernick kneeling for these exact reasons than a police officer killing a Black man by kneeling on his neck. Ask yourself: how can white mass shooters be taken into custody peacefully, but unarmed Black men can get shot just for looking suspicious? Why do they always want us to forgive and forget but not want justice

School Nurse, Nursing Professor, and Owner of Avocado and Cheese, LLC, is also mother to 18-year-old Nasyah (Nuh-sy-uh), who is studying Music Therapy at Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington D.C. Favorite movie? Shottas...an old Jamaican gangster movie.

Favorite comfort meal? Really any soul food.

A book everyone should read? The Secret to Success: When You Want to Succeed as Bad as You Want to Breathe by Eric Thomas.

Who is someone you admire? Nipsey Hussle A Toledo business you love to support?

J’maes Home Cooking When you get some alone time, what’s your go-to activity? Workout.

Describe your life in 5 words or less?

Hustle and motivate.

for us? I don’t agree with the rioting, but the same sadness and anger that non-Black people have felt this past couple of days is the same sadness and anger that Black people have felt all their lives, so I understand.

Do you think there are things your parents taught you as a Black man that white parents may not have taught their white children? Yes, there are things that I suspect my parents told me that white parents didn’t have to teach their kids.

For instance, because you are Black, know the law, don’t let the law know you. Because you’re Black, when you get pulled over, keep your hands on the wheel, do not talk back, and let them know when you are reaching for your ID and where you are reaching.

Because your skin is a different shade, people are not going to like you just because of that.

What is one of your earliest race-related memories? My earliest memory of race was around 7 or 8. One of my friend’s parents made a “weird” comment to me. I didn’t understand it then, but I did as I grew older.

Do you remember the comment? She called me “Lisa dog.”

And how at such a young age were you able to read between the lines? I felt her. Even going into some establishments, you can just feel the atmosphere… it will just change. It’s so subtle.

Favorite movie? Imitation of Life… tearjerker, I cry every time.

Favorite comfort meal? Mediterranean: grape leaves, hummus, pita, fatoush.

Favorite Toledo restaurant? Poco Piatti A Toledo business you love to support?

Yogaja Yoga When you get some alone time, what’s your go-to activity? Listening to music.

Describe Toledo in a sentence? Home is where the heart is.

Describe your life in 5 words or less.

Blessed. Awesome. Adventure.

A book everyone should read? The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Who is someone you admire? My parents.

How has your life been shaped/influenced by race? I have been subject to blatant racism several times throughout my life and career. From a coworker making a joke comparing my skin to a wheat bagel to an older patient telling me, “Hey! Guess what I have for you? A rope and a tree!” Up to the point where I have lost my job, which was the worst time of my life.

Do you mind sharing what happened with your job? I was a nursing supervisor at a local hospital and had been in the position for 5 years. I wanted to move up to manager. I applied; I didn’t get it.

When the new manager was in position, a week or two into it, she started to harass me: calling me into the office, giving me assignments, then calling me back, saying things like, “No, that’s not what I told you to do.” I had never had any discipline at this point [in my career], and she wrote me up for things like parking in the wrong spot in the garage. She also said I was bullying employees.

It was terrible...I hated going to work. As soon as I got there, she would call me into the office. I would go to HR and tell them what was going on, and they would go back and tell her. Eventually, they told me, “Well, you can either leave or get fired.” [The new manager] didn’t have any credentials: she was never a supervisor, no master’s degree...yet she got the job. I had experience as a supervisor and my Master’s Degree. So I quit before they could fire me.

Were you able to find a job quickly after that? I did a lot of [temp] agency work after that. Coming from a supervisor position to working at an agency was a big cut financially. It was really bad. My salary was down, I lost my house, my car. I got a lawyer and sued and got a little bit of change. Even that whole thing was…(sighs).

www.toledoparent.com • JULY/AUGUST 2020 •

Cont’d on p20

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MOLLY KLIMA A hospice Social Worker, grew up in Petersburg, MI “down on the farm.”

She and her husband, Kerry, have three Black sons, aged 7, 8, and 9.

How is your view of racism different now than it was growing up? I knew it was a “thing” growing up, but I never saw it until I went to college and took a trip to the Southside of Chicago. It was then I realized that racism is not just a few people in our country; it’s systemic and has purposefully marginalized minorities in our country.

When I spent 5 years in an organization where I was the minority on the staff, it was a great time to listen to and learn from my co-workers about how life was different for them.

How do you think your life has been shaped by being white?

I think it’s been easy. I’m used to being the majority in almost every scenario and being given the benefit of the doubt everywhere I go. With little effort, I can be comfortable by staying in all-white places where I don’t stand out.

Have you talked to the boys about these killings? We had to start addressing racism when they were in a preschool because a classmate told one of our sons, “All Black people are bad. We shouldn’t be nice to them.” I went to peaceful protests for George

Floyd, and we had the conversation about what is happening right now, but we have also discussed past murders of Black men/boys by police. This may be the hardest part of raising young men of color so far: to be a responsible parent, we have to let them know that some people will make assumptions about them before they know them, based on their skin tone. That is very difficult to do when you are trying to raise your kids to be confident in who they are.

How is what you say to and/or teach your children different than what another parent may say to and/or teach his/her white children? My parents never had much conversation with my brothers and I about how to interact with police other than to be respectful. We weren’t coached to keep our hands on the wheel or to tell the officer every move [we are going to] make. My nephews and sons’ friends don’t need to be taught this either. Key word is “need.” We are already making sure our boys take their hoods down in stores; no one ever taught me that. We have had to address issues like slavery before it’s...a discussed topic in school so that they can be prepared, and that will

hopefully minimize or avoid any shame or embarrassment they might associate with that. I want people to realize how young these conversations have to start with my kids...yet for white families, they are almost completely optional.

What do you wish the white parents of your boys’ friends knew? How can they be allies?

It’s necessary for you to talk to your kids about race. We don’t know how kids are interpreting race if we don’t ask. It’s important to talk about it and have boundaries, so kids understand [things like] it’s not okay to touch their hair (my one son HATES this). And don’t use Black vernacular like “dog” with my boys.

Educate. Educate. Educate. Depending on your life experience and education, it’s easy to view racism as a few isolated incidents. It’s imperative that everyone understands the history of our country and how this has contributed to where we are today. There are a ton of resources all over right now to learn more about what has happened, what’s happening and how we move forward. Listen. Do not try to rationalize or explain away people’s experiences. Listen with an open mind, listen to the people of color around you. Don’t expect people of color to provide all the education. Do some of the research and work yourself.

CHECK ON YOUR PEOPLE. We, as a

Favorite movie? Dead Poets Society Favorite comfort meal? Shrimp or fish tacos.

Favorite Toledo restaurant? Carlos Que Pasa and Grape Leaf Express Favorite spot in Toledo? The Metroparks!

When you get some alone time, what’s your go-to activity? Reading or exercising.

A book everyone should read?

Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff and White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay by Star Parker Who is someone you admire? My grandma, Mary Lou.

nation, are not okay right now. If you have Black friends in your life that you have genuine relationships with, reach out. If you have white friends raising [children of color], reach out. We don’t get to turn a blind eye -- not if we are willing to acknowledge the reality of raising our children. We are not okay.

Editor’s note: Molly shared a blog that could be helpful for white parents: Dear White Parents of My Black Child’s Friends: I Need Your Help.

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Maternity

hopes that their circumstances might change in the future. With the advent of IVF, freezing embryos for future use has created options for many women. It is also now common for older women to undergo fertility treatments, allowing them to become pregnant long after it would have been possible in prior generations.

&Baby GU I DE

Pregnancy After 40!

Are we crazy?

By Dina Sobhan

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that while the birth rates for women under 40 had been declining for years, those for women in their early 40s were increasing — by 3 percent every year since 1982. The average age of first-time mothers in the United States is now 26, up from 23 in 1994. In certain parts of the US, like New York City, it is even higher.

Shifting trends In the past few decades, more women have focused on higher education and establishing their careers before starting a family. But for a large number of women, the decision to have children later in life is simply a matter of relationship circumstances. More and more women find themselves without a suitable partner and they are less likely to continue in a relationship that does not

fulfill them. Accordingly, divorce rates have been on the rise for several decades. Also, with the advent of online dating, more people, particularly men, are not committing to marriage, given the seemingly endless choices and availability of partners.

So many options As well, women have many more options, and some are foregoing motherhood altogether. Others, like Roxanne, 36, are opting to freeze their eggs in

Rewards Naturally, there are huge positives to becoming a mother later in life. One mother, Heather Meyer (Toledo), says, “I’m glad we were not parents when we were younger. I think it is probably harder in some respects, but ultimately we are hopefully better parents because we had time to get to know ourselves as individuals and as a couple first.”

Another mother, Brooke Padgett (Perrysburg), states, “I am so much more laid back at this age and things just don’t get to me like they once did. I also didn’t get caught up in the cutesy nursery, the best stroller, or boutique clothing. Whatever a friend was willing to share or lend me, I took it!”

It seems the majority of 40-something moms would agree that while exhausting, the maturity and patience that comes with age is a huge benefit when dealing with rambunctious toddlers.

Couples who choose to have children later in life are thankful for the solid relationship base that is a benefit to parenthood, while single mothers are more financially and emotionally confident in their ability to raise a child.

Emily Bedwell (Toledo) explains further, “I had the chance to live my life fully and can concentrate on raising my kids now without feeling as though I’m missing out.”

But also, risks In discussing ‘geriatric’ pregnancies (as they were referred to until very recently) it is important to discuss the risks.

The chances of infertility, birth defects and miscarriage increase with age. According to The American College to Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women’s fertility decreases with age, with only 1 in 10 women above the age of 40 achieving pregnancy per menstrual cycle.

Down Syndrome, the most common chromosomal problem in late childbearing, occurs in 1 out of 35 pregnancies at age 45. The percentage chance of a miscarriage at 25 is 15% compared to 35-40% at 40. The risk of developing preeclampsia increases about 1.5-2 fold, and the chance of developing gestational diabetes rises from 3% to those under 35 to 8% for those over 40.

Moreover, pregnancy is more taxing on the body and can be accompanied by more pain, increased chance of complications, and difficult deliveries, especially for those who had C-sections before.

Women 35 or older who had C-sections after they went into labor were four times more likely to have complications than mothers over 35 who had vaginal births.

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Mother Painful latching Mastitis Thrush Reduction in milk supply Plugged ducts Premature weaning

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Shared experiences of ‘older’ mothers In talking to some mothers about the pros and cons of late pregnancy, a few similarities were identified.

Physical - Motherhood is tiring! Women over 40, however fit and healthy they may be, just don’t have the same level of energy and stamina as their younger selves. Coupled with sleepless nights and the hormonal changes associated with the onset of middle age, and you’ve got a recipe for serious fatigue.

Mental - For those parents who already have kids, there is a sense of starting all over again, and giving up the independence that comes with having older children. Two women cited the fact they would be in their 50s or early 60s when their kids graduate from high school, along with the annoyance of being mistaken for the child’s grandmother. One mother voiced her frustration at not being able to find commonality with the other mothers in her son’s class, who are all much younger and share different interests.

Financial - While most of the mothers mentioned that they are more financially stable now than they were in their 20s and 30s, they also mentioned the need to be more ‘disciplined’ with their spending in order to be able to retire when their kids go to college.

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Photo credit: EmilyWesterfield

A Big Heart and a Healthy Body Ohio surrogate helps families feel complete

By Phoebe Samuel Rapp

The decision to have and raise children allows many families to truly feel complete. For couples who need the compassion and aid of another to hold the next member of their family in their arms, a surrogate provides a means to that end. Thirty-three year old Emily Westerfeld is an Ohio mother of three who helped found the agency to provide this needed service to parents who may struggle with various fertility challenges.

Westerfield lives with her husband Max and their children: Mckenna (9), Jack (7), and Charlie (6). As a high schooler, Westerfield was a three-sport athlete who regularly babysat for family and friends, finding she had an intrinsic nurturing nature described by her mother as having a “million-dollar heart and a two-cent budget.”

The joy and pain of family In helping her sister care for a newborn, Westfield experienced joy from holding her niece. Feeling the tug of motherhood, Westfield entered pregnancy with enthusiasm, an “awesome experience, complete with an actual pregnancy glow!”

But, Westfield recalls her painful encounters with women who struggled with successful gestation. When a family member shared her painful attempts and losses, Westfield became interested in surrogacy, researching options and discussing pros and cons with her husband. She convinced him that, “God put me on the planet to help, so I should do that.”

The Westerfield family— Jack (7),husband Max (38), Mckenna (8), Charlie (6), Emily (33).

From independent to a community resource Acknowledging that she had completed her own family, Westerfield made herself available as a surrogate, creating an online profile and, starting out on her own rather than through an agency, carried four healthy surrogate children.

Dr. Shamma, a leading reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialist in Michigan and Ohio, worked with Westerfield through her surrogacy process. She was subsequently inspired to provide a resource here in the Toledo area with Dr. Shamma, who founded Gift of Life Surrogacy, a Sylvania surrogacy agency that has helped families across the country.

What’s your favorite activity to do with your family? Play sports.

We’re a very athletic family, so being outside throwing a ball around and being competitive with one another is second nature for us and so much fun!

What’s your go-to activity when you have time to yourself? Netflix and a glass of wine!

When I’m not pregnant, of course!

Describe your life in five words or less. Busy, fun, successful, growing and lovable.

Best advice you’ve ever gotten: Trust your gut. When you know, you know.

What lesson do you wish you had learned sooner? It’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes you can’t do it all by yourself and having a great support system is crucial to being successful.

What are your thoughts on the future of surrogacy? That it will be legalized everywhere and not carry such a stigma.

YOU DON’T NEED TO SUFFER WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT. IT’S NOT OK. The few medications you can take often don’t help. But pain is not part of being pregnant. The way you move changes during pregnancy and your painful joints need attention. You don’t need more stress. You need relief.

Chiropractic care is an effective and SAFE treatment for pain in the back, neck, hips, hands and shoulders. Dr. Bryan D. Royer helps restore proper motion to restricted joints and has been helping pregnant women in Toledo for over 15 years. Add chiropractic care as part of your comprehensive prenatal support team.

Call us today for an appointment and get on your path to relief!

419-517-5055 • BestToledoChiropractor.com/Pregnancy 24

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

5800 Monroe St A11 Sylvania, OH 43560

Now, as the Director of Surrogacy Engagement and Matching at The Gift of Life agency, Westfield oversees the logistics of surrogacy. As a “carrier” herself, she empathizes with the complexity of the process. Families seeking surrogates are often at the end of a painful and complex journey, finding themselves with few other options.

Westerfield explains that “a surrogate’s job is to complete families, not just start them.” Potential parents are paired with a carrier through a thorough vetting process.

The Gift of Life agency begins with a complete medical screening of carriers, before a match, to avoid potential health issues and they select carriers that have completed their own family with successful births. The process involves a comprehensive legal contract, which includes compensation for the time and pain of pregnancy but is explicit that there is no payment for a child.

Answering the “what if” questions In response to the question “what if the carrier becomes attached?”, Westerfield patiently explains that as a carrier, her experience was that of joy at helping the other family become whole.

Seeing families united with their newest member is the completion of the process for her. She explains that as a surrogate, one has a clear understanding that this is not her child, which preclude the feelings of attachment that she felt with her own biological children.

“D-day” (delivery day) is an exciting and emotional experience. The families frequently become friends with the carrier and feel great joy and relief when able to hold their child. For Westfield, this process— her life’s work— is about helping people and educating them.

27 YEARS AND COUNTING

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Vote for your favorite photo of the cutest kid to be featured on the cover of an upcoming Toledo Area Parent! Winner also receives a FREE photo session from our sponsor, local newborn and family photographer Tiana Lashae! Vote now through August 5 at toledoparent. com, and check out our sponsor at tlashaephoto.com.

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The Origin Story of a Local HER-O Visionary mom shares her odyssey

By Phoebe Samuel Rapp

Toledo mom Lexi HaymanStaples has contributed to the area arts scene and LGBTQIA+ community with contributions to a thriving art center and a robust Toledo Pride celebration. Lexi, the Artistic Director for the Collingwood Art Center and Toledo Pride founder/ organizer, also works and designs for longtime local art and jewelry mavens, Harold Jaffe Jewelers.

Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Lexi’s family moved to the Old West End in the heart of Toledo. When she was in the fourth grade, Lexi and her family moved to Bedford, Michigan. She shares, “Toledo always felt like home.”

Quick Quips: Most valuable life lesson: Value relationships and always try to respect others, especially when you don’t agree with them.

Words to live by: Be nice.

Proudest accomplishment: Toledo Pride (my original baby) and Francis June (my other baby).

Who’s your mentor? There are too many to list. I am constantly inspired by someone new and I love to learn. Also, my Dad was amazing, so that’s an easy pick if I had to pick.

Creative souls do wander Inspiration comes from: Art, nature, A passion for creating art drove family and friends Lexi to study art in college and to work as a tattoo artist. With a Best advice ever: “If you’re not getting happier as you get older, then your [messdesire to start a business, Lexi parting] up.” nered with her mother, Johanna Staples, to open Outskirts bar (on Worst advice: Don’t worry, it’ll all work Laskey Rd.) in 2008. itself out. But...I love to worry.

In 2009 Lexi decided to create a Toledo celebration of pride with What lesson do you wish you had the city’s own parade. With $500 learned sooner? Math is hard and you from her mother, another $400 will have a calculator in your pocket. from an anonymous donor, and some craft store implements, Lexi went to work. the Collingwood Art Center, Lexi was The first-ever Toledo Pride Parade was ready to make her life with Nicole “ofheld in August, 2009 at the Erie Street ficial.” Taking her original engagement Market. Lexi used poster boards and markring design to Harold Jaffe Jewelers, ers for the decor and colorful plastic table she impressed the owners and they had cloths for the backdrop. Optimistically hired her for sales and design. With the expecting 1000 attendees, she was thrilled security of a great career, the couple that 2500 showed up. In 2019, over 20,000 was married on January 16, 2016.

Toledo Pride participants gathered to celebrate community, inclusion and love.

Personal baby fever The makings of a family When Lexi met Nicole Hayman in 2007, she realized she wanted to expand her life and family. Several years later, with Toledo Pride’s success and great progress at

Nicole, holding Francis, with Lexi Hayman-Staples. ing career, the couple decided that Lexi would carry their baby, a boy, Francis June Hayman-Staples.

No really, it takes a village Nicole works long hours at the Toledo Hospital Cardiovascular intensive care unit and has a second career as a hairstylist, while Lexi works at Harold Jaffe Jewelers plus the Collingwood Arts Center. Lexi explains that with the help of aunties, friends and an indispensable grandma (Johanna Staples), they are able to manage careers and a happy home life.

Busy as she may be, Lexi confides that her heart is at home. Little Francis

PHOTO BY JAMIE WARD PHOTOGRAPHY

leads the dance party with three cats and a dog in the mix. Nicole shares, “My absolute favorite thing about being a mom is watching him grow, learn and experience new things. I never thought I would understand the amount of love you can have for a child...it’s confusing and almost too much.”

With extra time at home these days, the family enjoys cooking creative vegan meals, Facetiming with friends and family, and all kinds of art projects.

Lexi concludes, “Nicole and I wanted to be parents for a long time. We are both so incredibly happy to have a great family and we are enjoying it every step of the way!”

Lexi describes the feeling she had when she held a friends’ baby as “personal baby fever.” She explains, “As I held their little baby, I thought for the first time that maybe I can have a baby.” With Nicole pursuing a nurs-

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Stop. Drop. And Roll on in to Fire Station Maumee’s HOT new spot is family friendly

FIRE STATION BAR AND GRILL

By Karen L. Zickes

6040 Knights Inn Place, Maumee, OH 43537 419-491-9911 Sun-Thur: 11AM-11PM (kitchen closes at 9PM)

Fri-Sat: 11AM-12AM (kitchen closes at 11PM) www.firestationbarandgrill.com We always choose a locally-owned restaurant with great food over a national chain, any day of the week. One of the area’s newest unique restaurants, Fire Station Bar and Grill, opened in October, and it’s already a “hot” place to be.

A tribute to firefighters and a feast for the senses You can’t miss the three retired fire

trucks parked in front of the new Bar and Grill, visible along Airport Highway near Holland-Sylvania. The trucks provide a hint of what you will find on the interior of the restaurant, with an atmosphere and unique décor that will be a delight to children and adults alike. Your senses will be on overload.

I took the virtual tour, that reviews the memorabilia collection, online after our visit and I couldn’t believe how many things I had missed when I was there.

The restaurant is decorated with fire trucks, photos, murals and other types of firefighter memorabilia. Owner Jamie Wietrzyrkowski, who did an amazing job with the décor of his two Mail Pouch Saloon restaurants (one in Swanton and one in Haskins, Ohio), excelled once again with Fire Station.

A Fam ily Tra Since 1 dition 946!

COME DOWN TO THE FARM & VISIT THE COWS! Come watch the ‘girls’ being milked at 4:00 pm every day. Our Viewing Room has recently been renovated! You can even milk a cow by hand if you book a farm tour!

Tours are available for groups of 15 or more Visit our country farm store. We have ice cream cones, milk shakes, sundaes, farm made fudge, local honey, maple syrup, locally grown popcorn and more!

Bring a picnic and eat next to the pond. We have a large covered pavilion near the pond area, where you can enjoy your lunch. The pavilion is also available to decorate for birthday parties hosted at the farm.

CALL 734-654-2622 TO MAKE YOUR BOOKING! 9334 Finzel Rd., Carlton, MI 48117 | calderdairy.com

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The restaurant boasts three full bars, a seasonal patio, and a second floor that overlooks the main dining area.

There is even a fire truck with fully operating lights and sirens in the center of the second floor. All table tops have pictures from local fire stations. The murals and over 500 pictures are of current and historical engine companies and historical fires in NW Ohio. Adding to the atmosphere, they offer live music weekly as well.

Mouthwatering menu and generous portions The large menu consists of flatbreads, chicken chunks served several ways, whole smoked wings, pasta skillets, tacos, and an array of burgers, sandwiches and entrees. As “ordinary” as those items may sound, their menu items are anything but ordinary. Every item has a unique twist or flavor combination, or perhaps a special sauce. For instance, the Nut Wagon burger has pepper jack cheese and peanut butter, and the chicken tenders can be ordered hand-breaded in Cap’n Crunch cereal!

For rookie firefighters (10 and under), they have a place mat menu (Little Dalmatians Kids Meals). If the little ones can stop “oohing” and “ahhing” while ogling the decor long enough, they can color the themed menu while they wait. They offer seven kid-approved choices on the menu, and each is served with the choice of a side and a drink for about $5.99. The menu also teaches fire safety tips for the kids.

We had the deep-fried asparagus for our “fire starter.” Always hesitant to order asparagus, I thought it might be thick and woody, but it was delicious.

The Fire Ax Skillet, with bourbonsoaked bacon and macaroni noodles tossed in beer cheese, was very good.

Although, on my next visit I may get what my youngest ordered: Fire House Chunks. The chicken tenderloins are cut fresh daily and either grilled or hand-breaded and fried. The white mac and cheese was topped with the

• JULY/AUGUST 2020 • www.toledoparent.com

chicken chunks, coleslaw, onion straws and brisket, then drizzled with their homemade BBQ sauce. Oh my...that was incredibly tasty. My daughter, a vegetarian, has tried a plethora of restaurant veggie burgers and she gave Fire Station’s a thumbs up.

Bottom Line: One of the area’s newest restaurants honors our past and present firefighters, first responders and police officers.

Fire Station takes the theme to another level and, I assure you that, neither you nor your kids have ever been to a place quite like this. Enjoy a mouth-watering menu, maybe some live music and a feast for the senses.

The Short Course Kid-friendly: VERY! To avoid wait: Arriving early is probably best on weekends.

Noise level: Moderate to loud.

Bathroom amenities: Changing Station.

High Chairs? Yes. Kids’ Menu? Yes. Allergies? Alert your server about allergies at time of ordering; gluten-free bread is available, as well as cauliflower crust for flatbreads.

CALENDAR JULY FRIDAY, 7.17

SATURDAY, 7.4

Light Up The Point fireworks spectacular - Watch from your car as the night sky above Cedar Point explodes in a palette of colors, flashes, booms and sparkles. A patriotic soundtrack will accompany the display, broadcast live on Sandusky’s 102.7 FM (WCPZ). All ticket proceeds benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio, OH Go and the Sandusky State Theatre. 8pm, parking lot opens. 10pm, fireworks. $20 per car.

Cedar Point - main parking lot, 1 Cedar Point Dr., Sandusky.

Cedarpoint.com

THURSDAY, 7.9

The Toledo Repertoire Theatre Young Rep presents The Crucible See one of Arthur Miller’s dramatization of the Salem witch trials during this production, which will be performed outdoors and viewed by audiences via livestream.

July 9-12. 7pm, Thursday-Saturday.

2:30pm, Sunday. $12 livestream access pass. Toledorep.org

SATURDAY, 7.11

Toledo Zoo Garden Tour Series: Stop and Smell the Roses - Explore the Toledo Zoo’s beautiful gardens and learn about gardening from a Zoo horticulture staff member during this 90-minute educational tour. Reservations required, space is limited. 9:30am. $10, members. $15, nonmembers. Meet in front of Ziems Conservatory 15 minutes prior to start time. Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, 419-385-5721. toledozoo.org/gardens

TUESDAY, 7.14

Meet and Greet Pet Show - Bring your pet to the virtual library and share your funny animal stories at our Meet and Greet pet parade. All types of pets are welcome. Hosted via Zoom.

Register in advance. 4-5pm. Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 419-259-5200.

Toledolibrary.org Free

10th Annual Pizza Palooza - The by Sylvania Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual celebration of all things cheesy is still planned to take place, and organizers are working with the Ohio Department of Health, the Toledo Lucas County Health Department, and State & Local Officials to develop a plan to keep everyone safe. Stay tuned for more information.

5pm, Friday. 4pm, Saturday, July 18.

Centennial Terrace, 5773 Centennial Rd., Sylvania. sylvaniachamber.org LAST DAY Community Rain Barrel & Compost Bin Sale Pre-order a rain barrel and compost bin online by July 17 to pick it up from 10am-2pm, on July 25 in the parking lot of the Ottawa Hills Elementary School (3602 Indian Rd.). Hosted by The Village of Ottawa Hills, in partnership with the Lucas Soil & Water Conservation District and Partners for Clean Streams. enviroworld.us/ottawa

SATURDAY, 7.18

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Children’s Theater Workshop provides a “drive-in theater” style experience with live theatrical performances. Families can choose to stay in their cars and listen to the audio via a transmitter to their car radio or step outside to enjoy from afar on a blanket. 11am-1pm. Smith Park, 998 Dorr St., 419-936-2020. facebook.com/cityoftoledo. ctwtoledo.org. Free

TUESDAY, 7.21

So You Want to be a Teen Fiction Author? - Want to be an author? Not sure how to get started? Elissa Peterson, published author of the teen fantasy Ransom’s Ruin will share tips and tricks about the writing process. Hosted via Zoom. Register in advance. 4-5pm.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 419-259-5200. Toledolibrary.org Free Toledo Zoo Garden Tour Series: Stop and Smell the Roses - Explore the Toledo Zoo’s beautiful gardens and learn about gardening from a Zoo horticulture staff member during this 90-minute educational tour. Reservations required, space is limited. 9:30am. $10, members. $15, nonmembers. Meet in front of Ziems Conservatory 15 minutes prior to start time. Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, 419385-5721. toledozoo.org/gardens

WEDNESDAY, 7.22

Sunset Serenades Summer Concert Series - The 22nd season of this popular concert series will be back on the Nederhouser Community Hall deck every Wednesday from July 22 to August 26. Each concert event begins around 6:30pm and ends at 9pm. FREE for Sylvania School District residents; $3 per car admission for non-residents.

Olander Park, 6930 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. olanderpark.com

TUESDAY, 7.28

Teen Virtual Escape Room - An escape room is a series of riddles and puzzles that an individual or group solves in order to meet a goal or receive a prize.

Do you have what it takes to win? Hosted via Zoom. Register in advance. 4-5pm.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 419-259-5200. Toledolibrary.org Free

THURSDAY, 7.23

The Wiz - Bring a blanket and enjoy a free screening of this iconic 1978 film.

As part of the City of Toledo’s free Movie in the Park series. 7:30pm. Joe E. Brown Park, off of E. Manhattan Blvd., facebook.com/cityoftoledo. Free

AUG WEDNESDAY, 8.5

Fun Fitness at Wilson Park Stretch your legs and get moving during this free fitness program for kids, hosted by the City of Toledo and Athletes Global Free Youth Summer Park Programming. 10-11am. Wilson Park, 3251 Otto Rd., 419-936-2020. facebook.com/cityoftoledo Free

SATURDAY, 8.8

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Children’s Theater Workshop provides a “drive-in theater” style experience with live theatrical performances. Families can choose to stay in their cars and listen to the audio via a transmitter to their car radio or step outside to enjoy from afar on a blanket. 11am-1pm. Highland Park, 1690 South Ave., 419-936-2020. facebook.com/cityoftoledo. ctwtoledo.org. Free

TUESDAY, 8.18

Toledo Zoo Garden Tour Series: Flowering Perennial Care - Explore the Toledo Zoo’s beautiful gardens and learn about gardening from a Zoo horticulture staff member during this 90-minute educational tour. Reservations required, space is limited. 10:30am. $10, members. $15, nonmembers. Meet in front of Ziems Conservatory 15 minutes prior to start time. Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, 419-385-5721. toledozoo.org/gardens

THURSDAY, 8.20

Space Jam - Bugs Money, Michael Jordan and more favorites take the screen in the 1996 live-action/animated sports comedy. Come on and jam! Bring a blanket. 7:30pm. Woodsdale Park, 1226 Woodsdale Park Dr., facebook.com/cityoftoledo. Free

SATURDAY, 8.22

Toledo Zoo’s Dart Frog Dash - A competitive USTAF (USA Track and Field) certified 5k race with prizes, a noncompetitive 5k walk and Kids’ Fun Run. The 5k course takes participants through the neighborhood to the west of the Zoo, through Tembo Trail and ends in Main Plaza. The Kids’ Fun Run is contained within Zoo grounds. Fitness fun for the whole family! 8:30am, 5K race/walk. 9:45am, Kids’ Fun Run. $11-$28. Toledo Zoo, 2 Hippo Way, 419-385-5721. toledozoo.org/dartfrog

LOOKING FOR A SUMMER CAMP? Keep your kid curious all summer long. Imagination Station, Country Lane Tree Farm, Metroparks Toledo, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Ballet, Mini-Motions, and more all have virtual and in-person options. See the details, and more camps, in our guide online at toledoparent.com.

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Mondays & Thursdays Yark Food Trucks Head to Yark Automotive Group on Mondays and Thursdays, from 11:30am-1:30pm, to taste some of the best grub area food trucks have to offer. For the full list, visit facebook.com/YarkAutomotiveGroup.

Yark Automotive Group, 6019 W. Central Ave., 419-841-7771. yarkauto.com

Tuesdays Sylvania Farmers’ Market This year’s market has relocated to Sylvania First UMC at 7000 Erie St. to provide more space for social distancing while enforcing a oneway route for shoppers to visit vendors while maintaining safety.

3-7pm. 7000 Erie St,., downtown Sylvania. facebook.com/ sylvaniafarmersmarket

Wednesdays Music at the Fountain Enjoy local musicians performing fountain-side at Levis Commons.

Virtual tip jars will be available for the musicians. 11:30am-1:30pm.

The Town Center at Levis Commons, 3201 Levis Commons Blvd., shopleviscommons.com. Free Stroll the Street 2.0 Food Truck Fiesta Taste fare from up to a dozen NW Ohio vendors as the food trucks line Dixie Highway, State Route 65, into Downtown Rossford. Food trucks

EVENTS MINDFUL YOGA – All levels welcome. Thurs. Oct 1st, 4:30 – 5:30. 1415 Miller Ave. (Calvary Church) 1st class is FREE! $10.00 each session

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will be spaced out from Ford Memorial Park to the Rossford Recreation Center with signage for safe distancing as patrons wait in line. 4:30-7:30pm.

Visitrossfordohio.com Bowling Green Farmers’ Market Shop local produce, homemade jams and jellies, honey, fresh-roasted coffee, and more, during the weekly market.

4-7pm. 201 S. Main St., Bowling Green. 419-352-5059. facebook.com/BGFarmersMarket Toledo Farmers’ Market: Westgate Fresh produce from area farmers along with great coffee from Flying Rhino, Olde Tyme Kettle Korn and Gertie’s delicious barbeque sauce. Keep the weather in mind, as this is an uncovered, outdoor market. 3-7pm.

3301 Secor Rd., across from Costco. 419-531-2451. toledofarmersmarket.com

Thursdays Perrysburg Farmers’ Market The weekly market offers a bounty of fruits, veggies, flowers and more.

4-7pm. Louisiana Ave., downtown Perrysburg. perrysburg-farmers-market.com

Saturdays & Sundays Toledo Farmers’ Market The year-round tradition of the Market lives on with fresh produce from area farms, food and drink and homemade crafts. 8am-2pm, Saturdays. 9am-1pm, Sundays. 525 Market St., 419-255-6765. toledofarmersmarket.com

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