Northeast Ohio Parent, August 2014 by Babcox Media

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AUGUST 2014

Get Kids Ready To Learn Begins on pg.19

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DRESS UP WITH FALL FASHION PREPARING FOR THE “EXTRAS” IN COLLEGE

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AUGUST Contents Vol. 1 No. 6 2014

Features Back-to-School Issue! 19 The ABCs of Entering Kindergarten Is your special-needs child transitioning from pre-school to kindergarten? Be ready for these next educational steps with these easy tips. By Kristina Ambrosia-Conn

22 Food for Thought A healthy, balanced school lunch will sustain your child’s energy and concentration throughout the afternoon. By Denise Koeth

24 Ways to Help Your Child Survive Tryouts

Whether your child wants to become the star of the stage or the football field, these tips can help you guide him or her toward feeling more confident about tryouts. By Kristen Gough

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28 Making a Change: A School for Your Learner Parents can decide on whether public or private school is the best educational fit for their child. We provide some resources to help navigate the decision. By Marjorie Preston

34 Student Safety is Priority 1

Parents, advocates and educators come together on how to protect kids in 21st century schools. By Jesse Weinberger

40 Preparing for the “Extras” in College Sending your teen off to school is a big expense; help them learn how to save for the unexpected. By Jennifer Clements August 2014

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Columns & Departments

August Contents 8 10 16 18 36 42 52 54 63 64 66

Editor’s Note: Sending Kids Off to School Worth Noting: Something for Everyone

Family Health: Check on Immunizations Ages and Stages: Teach Different Languages Fashion: Get Ready for Fall Events Community Focus: Fun in Strongsville Parents Night Out: Mini Vacation for Couple August Calendar What to Do Around Town Compassion Corner: Donate School Supplies Aging Answers Caring for Loved Ones

Women’s Health Breastfeeding Basics

52 66 On the cover and Contents, pg. 4: AJ Peterlin,16, Allie Peterlin,14, Anna Peterlin, 5, Ava Peterlin, 13, and Ace Peterlin, 7, at Mayfield Library Branch, 500 SOM Center Road. Visit cuyahogalibrary.org. The Peterlin family is from Willowick. Photos by Prelude Photography at Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, preludephoto.net.

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August 2014

“Luckily for my wife and I, our work schedules allow us to both chip in during the morning rush to get our kids ready for the day together. This cannot be under-valued. Playing zone defense and having both parents completing delegated tasks during mornings can make for a less stressful environment.” – Mason Goodman, Zone Defense Blog (For an in-depth look at Mason’s tips for a stress-free morning, visit ZoneDefenseBlog.wordpress.com.)

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Photo by Prelude Photography preludephoto.net

Editor’s Note Northeast Ohio Parent is a property of Blue Bug Media, 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

We’ll Get Your Family Ready to Go Back To School

Editorial Angela Gartner, Editor angela@northeastohioparent.com

By Angela Gartner When a milestone approaches for your child, as a parent, you start to reflect. My thoughts immediately go to the moment when my younger son Anton was born. Next, they jump to him walking into preschool with his backpack dragging behind him and then fast forward to this summer as he plays catcher in his big-kid baseball game. This is when it hit me — he’s really growing up. This month, he’ll be walking away from me and onto the big yellow bus for the first time. Back-to-school is a time of new beginnings and many changes to our lives — new schools, hectic mornings, homework, etc. In this issue, we’ve got back-to-school covered — from preschool to college. We help parents find better ways to get kids to empty their lunch bags as well as how to prepare for competitive afterschool activities. Look for those stories starting on page 19. New moms or those parents who are expecting another child might have questions whether breastfeeding is the best choice for baby. We review infant feeding basics on page 66. And much more. While I am looking forward to getting both kids off to school, I am also learning that the school years go by fast — and I don’t want to miss one second.

Angela angela@northeastohioparent.com PS: While back-to-school is just ahead of us, remember that summer isn’t over just yet. Look for great events in our calendar — and throughout this issue — for ways to still enjoy the nice weather.

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 with other local parents? If so, we want to hear from you. We may include you on our soon-to-launch blogger page on NortheastOhioParent.com. Email emma@northeastohioparent.com to learn how you can join!

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Publisher Brad Mitchell brad@northeastohioparent.com

August 2014

Jennifer Clements, Managing Editor jennifer@northeastohioparent.com Emma Kanagaki, Associate/Digital Editor emma@northeastohioparent.com Bridget Babcox, Editorial Intern bridget@babcox.com Contributors: Kristen Gough, Denise Koeth, Kristina Ambrosia, Donna Robinson, Marjorie Preston, Jesse Weinberger Art & Production Melinda Kiba, Designer | mkiba@babcox.com Advertising Services Amanda Wingerter, Ad Services Coordinator | awingerter@babcox.com 330-670-1234 ext. 223 Advertising Sales Chris Geer, 330-670-1234 ext. 246 chris@northeastohioparent.com Janyse Heidy, 330-670-1234 ext. 250 janyse@northeastohioparent.com Tarah King, 330-670-1234 ext. 245 tarah@northeastohioparent.com Andie Martin, 330-670-1234 ext. 207 andie@northeastohioparent.com Erica Bennett, Sales Intern, 330-670-1234 ext. 251 erica@northeastohioparent.com David Parker, Sales Intern, 330-670-1234 ext. 254 david@northeastohioparent.com Subscription Services Hallie Brown, Marketing Coordinator | hallie@northeastohioparent.com Audience Development Brandi Gangel, Audience Development Manager | bgangel@babcox.com eMedia Jeff Philip, eMedia Development Manager | jphilip@babcox.com Cecilia Locke, eMedia Developer | clocke@babcox.com Emily Bobb, Digital Ad Specialist | ebobb@babcox.com Corporate Bill Babcox, President Greg Cira, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Beth Scheetz, Controller

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Worth Noting

Reading Room Cozy up in your favorite place and explore the wonders of books with your child. From infants to teenagers, here are a few suggestions to purchase or pick up at your local library.

Winger by Andrew Smith Two years younger than his classmates at a prestigious boarding school, Ryan grapples with living in a dorm for troublemakers, falling for his female best friend (who thinks of him as just a kid) and playing wing on the varsity rugby team. He manages to survive life’s complications with the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies and his penchant for doodling comics. Recommendation courtesy of the Akron-Summit County Public Library

R is for Robot: A Noisy Alphabet by Adam Watkins Silly robots introduce the alphabet’s letters and their sounds in this hilarious story.

The Grudge Keeper by Mara Rockliff In the town of Bonnyripple no one ever holds a grudge, except for Cornelius, the town’s official Grudge Keeper. Cornelius keeps all of the grudges safe in his home and the townspeople are free to focus on more important matters. However, one night a strong wind scatters the grudges around town and the citizens are forced to deal with their disputes. Ages 4-7. Recommendation courtesy of the Mentor Public Library

Recommendation courtesy of the Westlake Porter Public Library

LIBRARY SHOP OFFERS AFFORDABLE KIDS’ BOOKS AND MORE The Library Shop on Main (LSOM) at Akron’s downtown library offers gently used books for all age groups, from pre-schoolers to teens to adults. LSOM is owned and operated by Friends of the Main Library, a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. The gently used books are donated by patrons of the Akron-Summit County Public Library and by its main and branch locations. Children’s book prices start as low as 50 cents for paperback and $1 for hardcover. A half-price sale on selected books is held during the first week of each month. The Shop’s shelves contain thousands of books with categories including most genres of fiction and nonfiction, reference books, manuals and multiple-copy children’s books. In addition to that vast selection of books, the Shop offers arrays of gently used magazines, audiobooks, movies on DVD and VHS, music CDs and sheet music, most items ranging from $1 to $3. Brand-new books, creative gift items, greeting cards and Akron postcards are also available at regular retail prices. The Shop is also a headquarters for Akron First Night buttons and other Downtown Akron Partnership offerings. While LSOM shoppers get a great deal, they also help a great cause. The Shop is staffed by volunteers, and proceeds of its sales support the Main Library’s programs

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for the community, including guest speakers, free movies and reading programs. The Library Shop on Main is located in Akron-Summit County Public Library, 60 S. High St., Akron, 330-643-9070 or visit lsom.org.

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Fun Bubbles Up at Stan Hywet’s

NEW PLAYGARDEN Have you been looking for a scenic outdoor spot where the kids can have fun and will learn a little history and at the same time? Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron recently opened its Playgarden for children — and parents — to enjoy. The 5,000-square-foot space contains six interactive areas that mimic parts of the Seiberling estate and draw inspiration from family stories, according to Donna Spiegler, communications manager.

the carriage house, allows kids to enjoy a slide, rock climbing wall, marble chase and footbridge.

The Motion Garden’s centerpiece is a fully restored 1929 Model A Ford truck. The truck’s bed contains seasonal plants and flowers, and the nearby vintage bicycle and tricycle, when peddled, will play vintage radio music. Visitors also can take part in a kidfriendly version of the bowling lawn on the estate. Another feature of the Playgarden is

the doghouse that honors Joe, the Seiberling family dog, and is covered in flowers and foliage with a sandy area so kids can experience their own archeological dig. “They’re making history fun for children by marrying the two together,” Caroline Hritz of Akron says. The Playgarden is now open for the season and is presented by the Robert O. & Annamae Orr Family Foundation. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens is located at 714 N. Portage Path in Akron. Visit stanhywet.org.

The gate into the Playgarden replicates the arched ceiling of the Great Hall in the Manor House and includes sounds inspired by the Aeolian organ in the house’s Music Room. Children can press buttons to play the sounds of an organ or to release an overflowing bubble stream into the air.

“My kids love the bubbles,” says Julie Johnson of Medina. “They like how they can press the different buttons and hear history and play music.” The splash fountain emulates the floor of the Round Room and is a place for kids to cool off and have some fun. The playhouse, which was inspired by Family Living At Its Best

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Worth Noting

Lake Health’s Four-Season Wellness Walk at TriPoint Medical Center

At a recent grand opening celebration, Lake Health and philanthropic affiliate, Lake Health Foundation, unveiled the new four-season Wellness Walk that encircles the wooded campus of TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Township. The $325,000 Wellness Walk is designed and developed from evidence-based research, which has shown that integrating nature with the body, mind and spirit maximizes wellness. Designed for walkers, the barrier-free path provides members of the community with opportunities for physical activity, a leisurely stroll or tranquil rest-all while

surrounded by the beauty of nature. Exercise stations, meditation areas, a children’s play area, a viewing platform, a musical garden and a boardwalk over scenic wetlands dot the 0.7-mile trail. “We’re grateful for the generous support from all the donors who helped make this project a reality,” says Cynthia Moore-Hardy, FACHE, president and CEO of Lake Health. “Evidence shows that regular doses of ‘vitamin G,’ or green space, have profound, positive effects on wellbeing.” Construction began in early spring for the Wellness Walk, which was funded solely through community support. The Sherwick Fund supported planning and design by Cawrse & Associates in Chagrin Falls. Kevin Farrell of Tri-County Ambulance provided a $50,000 gift for construction of the viewing platform. Lake County residents Bill and Beth Cassella were major contributors toward construction of the Lake Health Foundation Footsteps Trailhead, while Lake Health team members purchased pavers. Concord-based Johnnycake Financial Services Inc. provided a gift to support creation of the musical garden. Captains Charities, the charitable arm of the Lake County Captains, donated $10,000 to the overall project. Many other local individuals, businesses and organizations provided additional financial support. The trail is open year-round from dawn to dusk. No bikes or pets are permitted. For more information, call the Lake Health Foundation at 440-354-1900.

Parent App of the Month Bob Books Reading Magic #1 Autism Speaks provides a helpful list of apps that are useful for children with special needs and typical kids. Bob Books, a great read in print, also has an app. According to the Autism Speaks website, the “Bob Books Reading Magic #1 app “helps your child learn to read with this phonics-based interactive game. The simple drag-anddrop interface shows your child how to make connections with letters and sounds, and sound out simple words, along with spell the words they’ve read.” The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and Android. There is also a second version, “Reading Magic 2.” You can read your favorite Bob Books series on Kindle or in print. Visit bobbooks.com for more information on the apps and books. See Autism Speaks’ favorite apps at autismspeaks.org/autism-apps

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Leading-Edge Services Expanded at Hillcrest Hospital’s Maternity Center Cleveland Clinic’s Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights has a newly renovated Family Maternity Center. The revamped 58,300-square-foot project, which began in 2011, offers enhanced maternal care services and amenities. The renovation includes all private rooms comprising of labor, delivery and recovery (LDR) suites with a brand-new labor tub, private antepartum suites (high risk unit) and private postpartum rooms. “The new amenities will now offer completely private rooms for all of our moms and babies, as well as leadingedge services,” says Dr. Elliot Philipson, medical director for the department of obstetrics and

Family Living At Its Best

gynecology at Hillcrest Hospital. The renovation also includes: comfortable patient rooms with large windows, work areas and sleeper sofas for overnight guests; an expanded nursery; a new family waiting area; and centralized and expanded nursing stations. A focus on rooming in where moms and babies are kept together allows families to enjoy their postpartum stay while they get to know their baby. The hospital also supports birth plans and alternative birthing options for low-risk birthing, including a specially designed suite with a labor tub for use. “Our main objective is to provide quality care to patients, and having

new and comfortable facilities goes a long way in ensuring that every patient will be happy with the care that they receive,” says Mary Bartos, registered nurse and director, women’s and children’s services at Hillcrest Hospital. “Now, not only will the mothers and their babies continue to receive excellent care, they’ll also be in a private setting.” The former Family Maternity Center, built in 1968, had the capacity for just 2,000 births. Last year, Hillcrest Hospital delivered more than 4,600 babies and the newly renovated unit now has the flexibility for the increased need. For more information, visit my.clevelandclinic.org.

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Worth Noting

Cuyahoga County Libraries Are Branching Out and Going Green

When entering a library, you expect to find the typical resources such as books, CDs, magazines, computers and programs and activities. A system-wide makeover of the Cuyahoga County Public Library branches has been improving upon these standards over the past three years. Out of 27 branches, 18 have plans to or have already been renovated or replaced. Hallie Rich, marketing and communications director at the Cuyahoga County Public Library, says

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that since 2012, the system has replaced seven branches including Warrensville Heights, Olmsted Falls, Mayfield, North Royalton, Garfield Heights, Parma and Parma-Snow. “The replacement of our Orange Branch will be complete near the end of 2014, and the South EuclidLyndhurst Branch project will be complete in 2015,” she says. “Eight renovation projects (Solon, Fairview Park, Beachwood, Chagrin Falls, Independence, Southeast, Maple Heights and Brook

Park) will be complete by the end of 2014.” The project — which was part of the system’s Facilities Master Plan and

funded through capital funds, private donations and a sale of $75 million in notes — helped bring the library system up-to-date. The project didn’t require any additional taxpayer funding. “The new and renovated buildings across the Cuyahoga County Public Library system reflect the changing needs of library customers in the 21st

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century,” Rich says. “ We recognize that libraries also serve as a place where Parma the community comes together, so our branches are designed with more flexible meeting room space. We have included drive-up windows in many of our building projects to make it as easy as possible for our customers to pick up and return material.”

Branch’s train theme,” Rich says. “The renovation projects vary in scope, although many include new/updated children’s Play, Learn & Grow areas, expanded computer access, more browsing-friendly layouts and enhanced meeting room space,” she adds.

Technology Advances With the upgrades to the branches, the library was able to beef up their technology. “We have doubled the number of public access computers in many of our new buildings,” Rich says. “Our buildings are better equipped to meet demand for computers and highspeed broadband access. All Cuyahoga County Public Library branches greater than 15,000 square feet also now offer a full gigabit Internet connection.” There were also options to go “green” during many of the library projects. “All of the replacement building projects are designed and built to LEED standards,” Rich says. “This means we incorporated energy efficiency strategies, recycled material, efficient water systems and more into each of our projects. Our Parma-Snow Branch features an accessible green roof that offers customers a place to sit, read or even enjoy an outdoor program. “All of the new replacement buildings have seen an increase in both circulation and visits since opening,” she adds. “In fact, we had 1,000-3,000 people at every grand opening event. Each community has expressed excitement and enthusiasm over the new features in their branch.” Spaces for Children Not only did the technology advance, so did the areas where children can explore, read and play. The systems created spaces that feature exhibits and activity stations specifically designed to build early literacy skills. “Some spaces include large murals and designs from picture books (Rosemary Wells’ ‘Mother Goose,’ Ashley Bryan’s ‘Let It Shine,’ Keith Baker’s ‘LMNO Peas’) while others involve themes, such as Fairview Park Branch’s travel-themed children’s area, Garfield Heights Branch’s manufacturing theme or Olmsted Falls

Garfield Heights

Family Living At Its Best

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Family Health

With kids going back to school or college, vaccinations might be on some parents’ minds. Remembering to check your child’s immunization records is important when scheduling wellness checkups as the school year begins. Health professionals suggest some vaccinations to keep in mind. Vaccines Needed For College Dr. Ellen Rome, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, says there are several vaccinations parents should consider for their college-bound kids. While the meningitis shot is given to youngsters, Rome recommends teens “get a booster dose before they head off to college because that will raise the immunity from about 85 percent to 98-99 percent.” She adds meningitis is very contagious and can spread quickly in close quarters, like a college dorm. She also suggests the tetanus booster, which is known as “Tdap.” This one covers tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough. Rome says all college-aged kids should get the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, if they haven’t already. “If they have not received the series of three (HPV vaccines) by age 11 or 12 — that’s girls and guys — then they ought to do the catch-up shots and get the three, starting with their pre-college physical,” she says. “They can get the second one two months later, either at college or when they come home. And the third one four months after that.”

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HPV Recommendations The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP, recommends both boys and girls be vaccinated for HPV. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses in the U.S. and causes a large number of cancers of the mouth and throat, the cervix and genitals. “The biggest reason for wanting to eradicate HPV is because it’s the number one cause of cervical cancer in women. In addition, it causes thousands of cases of cancer in men,” says Dr. Deb Lonzer, pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. “And the scariest part of it is (that it’s) now the number one cause of head and neck cancer and that means it surpassed cigarettes. It’s actually more dangerous than cigarettes for causing head and neck cancers.” The AAP recommends routine HPV vaccination of boys and girls ages 11-12. The vaccine is most effective if administered before the onset of sexual activity, and antibody responses to the vaccine are highest at ages 9-15. AAP researchers say immunizing children against HPV infection will help prevent cancers and genital warts caused by HPV. Lonzer agrees, and says the vaccine is considered safe. “It was tested in 60,000 people,” she says. “There is about one adverse effect in about 15,000 doses, and that’s usually a little soreness in your arm or maybe a little nausea or dizziness. No major side effects at all have been shown to be caused by this vaccine.”

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Don’t Forget the Flu The AAP also urges parents to have their children 6 months and older immunized against the flu as soon as the vaccine is available. “The season can last anywhere from October to March, but because of international travel and just because of the influenza virus itself, (the flu) can strike at any time in the year, so we really want to make sure that once the vaccine is available, we get kids in right away,” says Dr. Emma Raizman, a pediatrician at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. There are two vaccines available: the trivalent vaccine, which protects against three strains of the virus, or the new quadrivalent vaccine that protects against four strains. Despite the added protection, the AAP does not give preference for one type of flu vaccine over another. “(However, the AAP) is recommending NOT to wait for one or the other,” Raizman says. The latest research shows people who have an egg allergy can receive the inactivated flu vaccine, but the AAP recommends pediatricians talk to an allergist before vaccinating any child with a history of a severe reaction. Article courtesy of Cleveland Clinic News Service. For more consumer health news, visit health.clevelandclinic.org.

Family Living At Its Best

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Ages & Stages

Do Your Kids Hablan Español? Bilingualism not only helps a child have a better understanding of English, it also improves his or her social and emotional skills. By Kristina Ambrosia-Conn According to research done at the University of Tennessee at Martin, “children in foreign language programs have tended to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity and divergent thinking than monolingual children.” Generally, they also have a better understanding and show proper usage of their native tongue because they have had to distinguish differences in construction from early on. “More than half of our world is bilingual,” says Lisa Canterbury, director of Camp Globo, an immersion language camp in Hudson for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. “Other countries make it a priority for their children to learn a second or even third language.” Canterbury says. “On top of the benefits of travel, culture and overall connectedness to the world we live in, knowing a second language also improves a child's social, emotional and cognitive abilities. I believe it also positively impacts their self-esteem as they are able to conquer something that at first seems so unachievable.” Why Start Young? Research shows that the younger a child is immersed in a foreign language the easier it is to learn. Sara Incera, a Ph.D. student with a focus on language development and a teacher at Camp Globo, points out, “[t]he brain is like a muscle, the more you train it, the more efficient it gets. Juggling two languages at the same time is a great workout for the brain.” An additional benefit to early learning is sounding more like an indigenous speaker. Gladys Benitez-Reilly, president of Viva Spanish, which offers customized language programs, says the “ease in which a young child can develop native-like pronunciation is amazing.” Parents Can Help Unfortunately, limited opportunities seem to be available in the region. However, some schools or daycare centers such as the Teaching & Learning Center at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland have recently begun making strides by including a foreign language into the curriculum. Westlake City Schools, as a result of a summit on continuous improvement attended by administrators, parents, community members and teachers, recently instituted Spanish and French into their elementary schools. Pam Griebel, director of Academic Services, says, it “came

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up as an area of interest in our community“ and because of that, the schools now offer 30 minutes of instruction twice a week. “We cover vocabulary, communication and culture,” Griebel says. “Most importantly, we’re building pathways in the brain and opening opportunities [for our students] to learn [even] more languages.” Maria Elena Pauer, director of the Cleveland Spanish Academy in Lakewood, says,“probably the best way for children to pick up another language is to be around other children speaking that language [because] children have strong intrinsic motivation to communicate with other children.” You can learn about opportunities that do exist by connecting with people whose native language you want your child to learn. You can also reach out to local meetup groups via meetup.com. If all else fails, you can spearhead your own effort to get language lessons incorporated into your child’s day by reaching out to school directors, parent committees, etc. The following is a list of ideas and resources to get started: — Read books that incorporate different languages such as “Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos” by Susan Middleton Elya. The book, about a fire rescue, has both parents and children learning Spanish words; — Have your child view cartoons in the desired language or watch TV shows and cartoons that introduce different languages to children; — Connect with places that teach different languages such area recreation centers, private tutors, Viva Spanish (vivaspanish.com), Camp Globo (campglobo.com) or the Cleveland Spanish Academy (clevelandspanishacademy.com); — Search for different apps for kids (Feed Me Spanish is an Apple app available for $2.99); — Look for websites that offer free learning games (i.e. 123teachme.com/learn_spanish/spanish_for_children; — Set aside specific blocks of time to study with your child. Lastly, don’t be discouraged. It’s definitely possible to raise bilingual children without parents being bilingual themselves. “You start small and you start with what you know,” Canterbury says. “I don't speak Spanish and we are all trying to learn together. So we substitute words as we learn them. We have a list of basic words/phrases that we continue to add to and use regularly. We listen to Spanish CDs and watch shows in Spanish when possible. It brings us together as a family to learn something together.”

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Preschool

The ABCs of Entering

Kindergarten Helping parents who have children with special needs prepare for their next educational steps. By Kristina Ambrosia-Conn

Children transitioning from pre-school to kindergarten will trade in crafts, coloring and circle time for phonics, writing and independent reading. For parents whose children have disabilities, concerns about independence, academic preparedness and social skills become paramount. Here are some tips to help both parent and child get ready for this new adventure.

Family Living At Its Best

A for Anxious As indicated by teary-eyed parents at bus stops everywhere, this “graduation” to kindergarten can be emotional; feelings of happiness and pride are quelled by fear and anxiety. “Share the excitement of, ‘This is your new school,’” says Janis Gallagher, special education supervisor for Mentor schools. “As parents, I think we forget that our anxiety — as much as we think we are hiding it — is evident to our children. So, if you are anxious, they will be too.” She encourages parents to visit the school playgrounds with their children to help them assimilate to a new environment.

B for Brave Be brave parents — resources exist to help you and your little one move from naps to number lines. Sheryl Kline, director of Children’s Services at Broadmoor School, points out the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is highly focused on seamless transition from preschool to kindergarten, ensuring that all students entering kindergarten are ready to learn. One way is through preschool assessments used to identify disabilities early on. A diagnosis may result in an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that specifies the accommodations

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Preschool available to students such as additional time on tasks and changes in presentation modes. Laurie Engel of Solon has two sons, 8-year-old Cameron, who is on the autism spectrum, and 5-1/2-year-old Jake, who has severe anxiety. For Engel, that includes having a child whose fears can be paralyzing. Engel says her biggest fear is “that after Jake’s first day [of school] he is going to be so nervous he’s not going to want to go back even though he is going to have to.” Jake recently moved from an IEP to a 504 plan. Engel says 504 plans are for children who have “a diagnosis that staff needs to be aware of, but that doesn’t require direct service.” “I know he’ll push through,” Engel says about Jake. “[The school] has a well-seasoned staff, and they just ‘get it,’ so that is helpful.” Gallagher says not all children with disabilities need specially designed instruction, “they may just need some accommodations to be able to access

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the education.” Like with any preschooler, they might be nervous about the transition to the “big kid school.” Gallagher suggests books may help. During your next library visit, pick up reading resources such as “The Night Before Kindergarten” by Natasha Wing. Or, try using visual media as an aide. Utilizing free library programs can also help combat everything from shyness to practicing listening skills and following directions. This can be done via preschool story times (i.e. Young & the Restless Storytime: Middlefield-Geauga County), interactive theatrical performances (Mentor Public Library’s Kids Love Musicals) and many libraries offer Paws for Reading programs (such as the Nordonia Hills Branch Library). Engel says her family watches YouTube with Jake to help introduce him to new social situations (such as a video about meeting a magician at a peer’s birthday party) and to answer general questions (such as how airplane seats are organized before he boards). Another resource is the W.A.G.S. For Kids program, (Working Animals Giving Service), whose mission is to “empower children with disabilities in Northeast Ohio by placing mobility

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assistance, service and skilled companion animals.” C for Collaborate Collaboration with local non-profits, past and future teachers/principals, and various community programs is also important.

Family Living At Its Best

“Ask as many questions as [you] can,” Kline says. “Express concern genuinely. Advocate for what is best for your child. Develop a strong parent and school partnership.” “When you get married, you don’t expect to have a child with special needs,” Engel says. “So your dreams

change and you have to adapt to that — and it doesn’t go away — there are days we think everything is great and days we are reminded just how many challenges we have in front of us. As a parent, you have to change your way of thinking, change your way of parenting [and] be able to seek out support.”

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Elementary

Food for Thought Packing a perfect school lunch that’s both healthy and fun. By Denise Koeth

While breakfast is touted as the most important meal of the day, when it comes to the health of young children, you can’t overlook lunch. A healthy, balanced school lunch will sustain your child’s energy and concentration throughout the afternoon.

“Any time you have a big gap of time between meals, your blood sugar drops and your concentration is compromised,” says Erin Schenkenberger, a dietitian for the Summa Health System. For a well-balanced lunch, she recommends including these basics: something whole grain, a fruit, a vegetable, a form of protein and some dairy. Knowing what to include is one thing, but finding the time to pack a healthy lunch can be difficult — not to mention the challenge of getting your kids to actually eat what you’ve packed. Luckily, several dieticians and experienced moms have offered their input for making elementary school lunches nutritious and fun. Lunch Packing Strategies Being able to whip up a great school lunch requires some planning. Think about your budget and time constraints during the week, then shop and prepare accordingly. “Plan before you

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go grocery shopping so you have everything on hand,” says Sally Phillips, a clinical dietician for Akron Children’s Hospital. “Buy pre-cut vegetables and fruit cups, or cut vegetables and wash fruit in advance.” Schenkenberger says she packs her daughters’ lunches right after dinner the night before, often enlisting their help. “If they can do things like put carrots in a bag or wash an apple, that’s a way to get them involved and save myself some time.” “Our daughters only eat half of a sandwich,” says Shannon Goss, a mom of two from Hudson. “So we always make a sandwich, cut it in half and save half for the next day’s lunch.” While she buys some convenience foods, Goss opts for healthier choices like granola bars and fruit cups. “They’ll get bored with the same things every day, so I buy a couple different brands or flavors of something and mix up the variety throughout the week.” “With two lunches to pack, we stick to an assembly line,” said Mindy Wahl, a mother of three (two of whom are school-aged) from Strongsville. “I have the boys get out their lunch boxes, Thermoses and give me their ‘order’

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for the kind of fruit, crunchy snack and sandwich or entree for the day.” Achieving Healthy and Fun Even an ultra-healthy lunch isn’t beneficial if your child won’t eat it. Try adding an element of fun so your kids look forward to their meals. “Get into the habit of having kids bring home what they are not eating — and teach them it is wasteful to throw food away,” says Laura Jeffers, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic. “If they are eating their classmate’s snacks, find out what foods those are and attempt to incorporate them or something similar.” “If you teach them the importance of healthy food and eating treats in moderation, they’ll understand why they can’t have junk food in their lunch every day,” Schenkenberger says, adding there are other ways to make lunch exciting besides putting in sweets — fun straws, bento boxes and shiny packaging, for example. Tara Weigner, mom of three from Akron, regularly searches Pinterest for ideas to make her kids’ lunches more fun. “Instead of regular fruit, I’ll cut a skewer in half so it’s shorter and put fruit on the skewer. I cut things into shapes to make them more enticing to eat. I also do things like pinch the middle of a bag with a clothespin to make it look like a butterfly.” “Our kids get really tickled when we put leftovers in their lunch,” Wahl says. “So every once in a while we add heated leftovers in a Thermos or even cold pizza.” Goss includes non-food items, like a pencil, bookmark, stickers or a personalized note, to spice up her daughters’ lunches. If you’ve been stuck in a lunchpacking rut or are on a quest to improve your child’s nutrition, the start of the school year is a great time to revisit your strategy. With a little planning and creativity, lunch just may become the best part of your child’s day. For more lunch box ideas, visit Northeast Ohio Parent’s “Lunch Box” Pinterest board. Family Living At Its Best

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Middle

Ways to Help Your Child

SURVIVE TRYOUTS Whether your child wants to become the star of the stage or the star quarterback, the tryout comes first. By Kristen Gough

Preparing your child for an audition or sports tryout can be challenging, especially if you don’t know the process or you don’t have experience with the particular activity. These tips can help you guide your child toward feeling more confident about tryouts and, even more importantly, about trying again next time if he or she doesn’t land the part or make the team. Do Your Research Many organizations list detailed information on their websites for both parents and children to see what happens and what skills are needed to participate. For example, “The AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] has information on its website devoted to questions and answers about tryouts,” says Reginald Floyd, who serves on the sport committee for the Lake Erie Ohio AAU. “There are drills on the site kids can work on to improve their skills.” Encourage Your Child To Talk To Someone Besides going online, you might want to call the organization and ask what advice they might have for auditions or tryouts. Some groups have workshops where organizers offer tips and give individualized guidance. Your child may be more at ease during auditions if he or she has a good idea on what’s coming — from how long the audition lasts

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to what kinds of questions the director or coach may ask. “If you’ve never auditioned before it can be really helpful to have your child talk to another child who has gone through the process,” says Michelle Regelbrugge, mom of three, who’s also on the board of trustees for the Aurora Community Theatre and co-produces its children’s summer workshop. Avoid The Rush “The best advice I could offer is not to wait until the last minute to prepare,” says Joan Katz, the director of education and community for the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. For example, many children start a year in advance practicing the pieces that are required for performances during auditions for the Youth Orchestra. Katz notes there are other practical ways to be ready, too, such as making sure your child gets plenty of sleep the night before. Also, as a parent, know exactly what time you need to get your child to the tryout — down to where you’ll need to park, if the area is unfamiliar. Leave plenty of travel time so that your child isn’t stressed about getting to the tryout on time.

goes for parents too. “If your child is 15 and really tall, no matter how fabulous she is during tryouts, she’s just not going to get the part of Annie,” Regelbrugge says. “You never can tell what position coaches are looking for,” says Floyd about AAU tryouts. “Your child may be a great guard, but the team doesn’t need another guard — you just don’t know.”

“At young ages I try to tell children, ‘the most important thing is you’re going to go and audition, that’s the reward — being able to get up there and do it,” Regelbrugge says. She recalls her own daughter had a shaky audition for her first production. “She sang this song that was completely not appropriate for musical

Understand The Reward Your child may be nervous, but it’s also a good lesson. Dealing with nerves and testing skills is part of trying out, however, it can be a rewarding experience for your child too.

Be Realistic Explain to your child that he or she needs to set reasonable expectations about his or her chances of getting certain parts or positions on a team — this

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Middle theater,” Regelbrugge says. “It just wasn’t right.” However, her daughter, Eve, then age 8, got the part. There also have been plenty of other times Eve, now 13, hasn’t made it into the show. Yet, Regelbrugge’s noticed as her daughter has become comfortable auditioning, she’s developed more confidence. “(Eve) is not afraid of that process anymore,” she says. Model Good Behavior It’s understandable that children are sad if they don’t get on the team. Go ahead and let them express their feelings, but follow up with some reassurance versus blaming others. “It was really tough to see someone else get the role that my daughter wanted and there were times when I wanted to call the director and give him a piece of my mind, but I never did,” Regelbrugge says. She also encourages her daughter to congratulate friends who do get parts. Don’t Give Up on Trying Out Sounds cliché, but the old adage holds true when it comes to tryouts. In the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, more than 1,200 young musicians have participated since its inception in 1986. Each year only about 100 children make the cut.

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“You can’t make the stage any bigger; there are only so many young people we can take,” Katz says. “Many young people don’t make it on their first tryout. Nobody should feel awful if they don’t make it. There’s always another time to try again.” Floyd adds to Katz’s sentiments when it comes to sports tryouts. “The reality is that not everyone can make a team, but everyone can learn from the experience.” Both noted when children don’t make the team, or the orchestra, often the coach or director will point out other organizations in the area where the kids may be a good fit.

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Making a Change:

A School for Your Learner Finding the best educational environment for your child. By Marjorie Preston

Students and their parents need to find the “just-right” fit when selecting a school. Whether it’s a private or public school, think of the choice as finding the right “culture of learning,” a “personalized environment” or the “ideal learning environment” for the student. “Comparing public schools and private (‘independent’) schools, it’s not an either/or or better/worse,” says Christie Stover, head of school at Hudson Montessori, “It’s about the best fit for the particular learner.” Sometimes the right school fit means switching children from public to private school or vice versa. 28

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Making the decision to go to public or private school isn’t easy. Each school is different and has a variety of opportunities, which might be suited for one child, but not another. There are many factors parents have to weigh when choosing which option is

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best for their children, especially when the students have already had a private or public school experience. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) suggests if parents are making a change to “first, talk with your principal and superintendent and ask for a solution that keeps your child in the school or the district.” However, if all parties agree that another school situation might be better or if parents need to make a school change for various reasons, there are plenty of choices in the region. Going To Private School Sue Sadler, associate head of school and director of the upper school at Hathaway Brown in Shaker Heights, says that parents switch children to private school for, among other things, creativity in curriculum and autonomy in the environment. “People know our students in a way that they can’t get away with not doing their best. We make sure students leave prepared to succeed in college with time management and juggling projects.” Nationally, the biggest reason people switch their kids from public to private school has to do with safety concerns, according to Larry Goodman, Ph.D., head of school at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby. “However in this area, the biggest reason is academic opportunity and a desire for a better overall product,” he says. “This market is incredibly competitive. In the Chicago area, you have 12 million students choosing between four schools with a national reputation, and in the Cleveland area, you have 2 million students comparing eight or nine schools, each with a national reputation.” Cost is often a factor in the private school decision, and most schools have financing

opportunities, along with scholarships. The ODE provides options as well. According to ODE, “School Choice Ohio provides vouchers to private schools for students attending lowperforming public schools. There are also scholarships available for families who are considered low income, and students with learning disabilities to schools or programs to meet the student’s needs.”

Deciding on Public Education Public education is often the most convenient option for parents as their children can attend school right in their community. Marlene Pierce, mom of two boys in Mentor, says with public schools her kids are in school with other children from the neighborhood. “In private schools, the kids could be from anywhere,” she says.

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She also likes the school environment and she feels her kids will be prepared for the real world. While many people enjoy their school district, like Pierce, others might want to have their children attend public school in a different district by using open

enrollment. “Open Enrollment allows a student to attend school tuition free in a district other than the district where his or her parents reside,” according to the ODE. In Ohio, out of the 663 districts, 124 do not have

open enrollment, 71 have open enrollment to adjacent districts and 468 are open to any district, according to the ODE’s “Open Enrollment Report for the 2014/2015 School Year.” If your child is interested in open enrollment, the state suggests checking with the district in which the student is interested. However, they might not be able to begin until the next school year. According to the ODE, “the open enrollment application periods generally begin each spring for the next fall’s enrollment. Each district

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selects (its) own specific application process, schedule and students in accordance with state law.” Parents whose children were attending private schools might make a change back to public. Some of the reasons might be the following: – The child might have aged out of their previous school and the parents have decided not to continue private school in the next educational level. – Parents move, a job change or change in financial status by 20 percent or more. – The student may not

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feel he or she matches the culture of the school or isn’t thriving in that environment.

“It taps into the child’s natural potential. We do it with a curriculum that is individualized. Each child works

at their own level, we don’t place them in groups or blocks, they’re doing exactly what they’re ready to learn,”

Montessori Options Montessori schools, which are abundant in the Northeast Ohio region, offer another schooling opportunity. The Montessori concept was founded on the basis that children will flourish and embrace their potential in the right setting and the educational structure provides a place for kids to grow. In fact, the Montessori system allows each child to work at an independent level. The educational and learning method was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori more than 100 years ago. “She was a psychologist and sociologist and did research on child development at a time when child development wasn’t really studied,” says Melissa Kiringoda at Akron Montessori School.

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Kiringoda continues. “Children learn by actively engaging their hands and their senses,” says Kathy Beech, director of admissions, Hershey Montessori School in Concord Township. “Students in a Montessori community progress at an individualized pace, but as a collaborative community of learners.

Providing a hands-on learning environment in a multi-age setting that values choice, concentration, curiosity and skills to apply a student’s knowledge in the real world, allows the child to view ‘work’ as something interesting and joyful. This is why Dr. Montessori’s philosophy, often referred to as ‘Education for Life,’ has been embraced worldwide.” Children in Montessori programs generally demonstrate self-discipline and independence, as well as being motivated learners on their own. Becca Ucker, Montessori preprimary director from The Lillian and Betty Ratner School in Pepper Pike, says, “Traditionally, it includes multiage groupings in a methodically prepared environment that sets each individual child up for eagerness to learn and the opportunity to be successful. The environment contains beautiful, natural materials that draw the child in and allow the child to learn while utilizing all of their senses.” “The benefit of a Montessori education is that it develops students for the future in which they will enter,” Hudson Montessori’s Stover says. “They’re learning how to learn and developing a passion that will support their lifelong success. They also develop significant emotional intelligence and they learn how to work as a member of a community. Students also begin to look at information from a global perspective, which allows them to observe patterns and trends and become problem solvers.” For more information, it’s important to look at the schools in your area to see if they will best suit your family’s needs.

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Making a Decision There are other options to consider such as online school, homeschooling, charter and magnet schools. While there are more opportunities for learning, parents don’t have to worry about finding resources to help decide. The best way to find out about a school is by meeting the prospective school’s administrators and teachers, talk to students and parents, and go on a tour of the school facility. For public schools, parents can look to the ODE for schools offering open enrollment. Each school district also has a report card every year in which the state evaluates data and rates the district based on school-provided information. The following are websites to visit for information about some of these different school choice topics: Ohio Dept. of Education: education.ohio.gov/Topics/SchoolChoice/Open-Enrollment Public and private schools reviews: greatschools.org or privateschoolreview.com School Choice Ohio: scohio.org National Association of Independent Schools: nais.org Cleveland Council of Independent Schools: ccis-ohio.org Ohio Association of Independent Schools: oais.org How To Help Kids Change Schools Once you and your child have decided on a school, it’s good to make a friend before the first day. “Just knowing one or two people at the new school can make a difference,” says Goodman, “I’d advise students to connect with a family at the new school in advance of the first day.” Sadler agrees, “Take advantage of all the programming for new families and get involved in volunteering and being an ally with your child’s teachers.” Stover adds, “Make sure there is enthusiasm among all the members of the family and check for transition programs — and look forward to this marvelous adventure with joy.”

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Student Safety is Priority 1 Parents, advocates and educators come together on how to protect kids in 21st century schools. By Jesse Weinberger In the 1950s, American school children were taught to “duck and cover” under their desks in anticipation of a bomb raid. Much like today’s “active shooter drills,” these exercises became a part of school children’s everyday life. The U.S. school building is in some ways expected to act as a literal as well as emotional fortress of security. As a result, the business of protecting children against internal and external threats has become far more sophisticated. The new concept of school safety has been forced to evolve and change along with new threats. Schools and parents can be vigilant about the many issues of school safety. Building Safety In the wake of too many heartbreaking school shootings, districts are training staff members for the possibility of an “active shooter” scenario. Many local school districts have been trained in ALICE (Alert-Lockdown-Inform-CounterEvacuate), which trains school staff in multiple methods of addressing an active shooter. Robert Hunt, superintendent of Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools, agrees with this multifaceted approach and says, “The safety and security of students and staff has to be a top priority for school districts. Being proactive includes: education, identification and intervention. In addition, districts need be prepared to react to dangerous situations. We implemented the ALICE protocol to train our staff and students to be prepared to react appropriately in the event of a crisis. Thoughtful, periodic training in conjunction with local law enforcement is a critical component of a district safety program.” After these district-wide staff training sessions, schools then engage students in new-and-improved lockdown drills. Students have been receptive to the training. “It didn’t scare me at all,” says Madeline Scott, a sixthgrader at Chagrin Falls Intermediate School. “It made me feel a lot safer because our teachers taught us exactly what to do if something bad happens. I’m glad we were trained.” In addition to training, new proactive digital technologies are being developed in an effort to avoid future tragedies. Mace Security International, the Cleveland company that developed pepper spray, has an extensive line of technology including motion- and heat-sensitive cameras. Once the camera detects heat or motion, the camera is activated and an alert is sent to law enforcement. The recording is then kept on an SD card for law enforcement.

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“Mace has developed smart technology and equipment that allows police and first responders to be more efficient. Combining hardware and smart software is a critical element in reducing crime and tragedies in the future,” says John McCann, CEO and president of Mace Security International. Mental Health At first glance, the question of mental health might not seem directly related to school safety. However, news stories of school shootings and other school-based violence often have some connection to depression, suicide risks and other mental health issues. Cleveland-based Suicide Prevention Educational Alliance (SPEA) has presented to more than 140 area schools and organizations including over 100,000 students. As schools and parents begin to understand the critical need for proactive education in the areas of depression and suicide, the demand for their programming consistently grows. “Mental health issues can affect anyone, from the struggling freshman to the captain of the varsity football team,” says Jack Binder, executive director of SPEA. “The demand for our proactive, proven program is strong — and we are committed to continuing to serve students in our community by teaching them face-to-face the lifesaving skills they need, and the courage to reach out for help.” The Parent’s Role As parents, you have the greatest opportunity to help with school safety. By supervising and monitoring your child’s life, you have the opportunity to affect the largest positive outcome on your school’s safety. Parental engagement will always be the best defense a school has against any type of security threat. The greatest safety success is measured by silence. In the language of safety, every uneventful day is a tick in the win column. Here’s to an academic year full of silence. Jesse Weinberger is a Northeast Ohio resident and author of “The Boogeyman Exists: And He’s In Your Child’s Back Pocket.”

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It’s time to redo your family’s closet with the latest gear for these classic activities. By Emma Kanagaki

The back-to-school time of year brings mixed emotions to kids and parents alike. New school supplies, new outfits and school year events are all on the horizon. We’ve got the whole family covered with outfit ideas appropriate for upcoming Friday night football games or the Homecoming dance. Dressing for Friday Night Lights For the big Friday night football game, school-age kids should bundle up for cooler temperatures once the sun goes down. Dress your young kids in easy-to-wear jeans or khakis paired nicely with T-shirts in school colors and hoodies or sweaters. Stores like Old Navy, H&M and Target offer hundreds of ontrend options at price points that fit the budgets of families with constantly growing children, so you won’t feel guilty if you’ve got to buy them another shirt in three months’ time. Andy Selesnik, marketing director of SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, suggests a classic trend for all ages. “The denim jacket. It’s back and better than ever. Just about every retailer in every age demographic offers a denim jacket.” Renee Sanden, director of marketing and

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business development for Great Lakes Mall in Mentor, explains some of the trends and colors to shop. “Emerald was the official Pantone Color of the Year in 2013, and it’s carrying over to Fall 2014. Look for the hue to adorn anything from jackets and dresses, to shoes and accessories.” Teen boys can show off their school spirit and pride by pairing school logowear or sports jerseys with jeans or athletic pants. Teenage girls can still take advantage of moderate temperatures with a floral skirt that’s matched with a lightweight knit sweater in a neutral color. Top off the look with a denim or leather jacket and short booties with a thick heel. Sanden says, “Trends for teens seem to be fleeting, but Fall 2014 will feature a few popular looks from past seasons, including distressed skinny jeans and their favorite shoe, the ankle boot. Emerging trends for teens, which can be found at Charlotte Russe in Great Lakes Mall, are flowy ruffled blouses and chambray shirts. Mary Jane platform shoes, a nod to the fashion of the 1990s, will also hit shelves this fall.” Moms will feel most stylish and comfortable at the game or tailgate party in easy separates like dark denim or fitted ankle-length trousers and a neutral knit. Athleticinspired gear is still very popular for fall, so even a lightweight hoodie and denim vest will look seamless and event appropriate from the bleachers. Moms can give a sign of relief about one of the hottest shoe trends this fall. Sanden adds, “Flat shoes are hot this fall and

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our feet are thanking us. Oversized knit sweaters will be another fashionable find — bonus points if you can find one in your child’s school colors.” Dress to Impress for Homecoming Homecoming brings all kinds of events for your family to participate in whether it’s a big football game, a dance or returning to an alma mater. Homecoming carnivals or fairs are the perfect place to bring the whole family. For young ones, patterns aren’t as sweet as they were for spring. Edgy and darker hues will be in all the stores this fall. Sanden explains, “This year it’s all about the edgier pirates, skull and crossbones and monsters. Pair these funky findings with jeans and casual shoes for a fun alternative to the usual back-to-school outfit.” If your teen has a dance to attend, it is the perfect occasion for them to dress up but still show off their personality. At Great Lakes Mall, Sanden suggests, “Teens looking for the perfect dress for the Homecoming dance will want to check out Windsor, which features casual to semiformal dresses that won’t break the bank. This season’s dresses will feature shoulder cutouts, lace or the ever-popular high-low hem.” Selesnik suggests, “full and fluffy skirts with sequin bodices, long dresses with lots of sparkle and lots of color — the bolder the better.” Young men can look for nice slacks and dress shirts at stores like Macy’s, Jos. A Bank, Men’s Warehouse and Kohl’s. Stick to classic colors such as black, white or grey spicing up the look with a tie or vest that matches their date’s dress. Moms will want to look sharp but casual while photographing every Homecoming event. They can do so by sticking to easy silhouettes like colored jeans and a T or an A-line dress. “Go for bold, brightly colored blazers, colorful scarves and floral dresses,” Sanden says. “Spruce up the standard black-andwhite wardrobe already hanging in your closet with new chunky, colorful accessories.” Whether you’re planning a fun activity with your entire family or helping your teen dress for a special occasion, follow these tips and your family is sure to look fashionable all season long. Family Living At Its Best

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for the Wallet as Well as the Environment By Leslie Royce Resnik

Call it what you will: second-hand, vintage or resale, pawn shops or used, consignment or gently worn, estate or garage sales. It all adds up to an explosion of extra-special shopping for discerning buyers who have a knack for knowing how to get in-style and find savings — all while going green and helping the planet.

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A look at the online Yellow Pages shows more than 100 resale/consignment shops in the Cleveland area. One local family’s ventures into vintage and reusable items go back generations — likely way before sustainability became the world’s buzzword. Sara Dvorak claims the only new things in her Shaker Heights fourbedroom home are the mattresses and bed frames. Her closet, packed with pants, sweaters, dresses and skirts, has not one item purchased at retail price. She boasts that her Halogen cashmere sweaters cost $4 a piece at Thriftique Showroom, the Bedford Heights thrift store operated by the National Council of Jewish Women/ Cleveland’s (NCJW/Cleveland). The revenue generated from Thriftique sales goes into programming for needy Clevelanders. “I discovered Thriftique a few years ago as I dropped my son off at WhirlyBall for a birthday party,” she says. “The Showroom was just next door. Now, whenever my children have a party there, I know I’m in for a shopping spree.” Thriftique Showroom’s inventory of furniture, artwork, clothing (men’s

women’s and children’s), housewares, linens, bric-a-brac, electronics, shoes, purses, jewelry and seasonal merchandise consists mostly of donations from the nearly 2,000 members of NCJW/Cleveland. The contributions come primarily from house sales, household redecorating or family deaths. “It’s a shame, but today’s families aren’t interested in keeping family heirlooms when parents or grandparents pass away,” says Julianne (Julie) Dvorak, Sara’s mother, who does resale shopping throughout Northeast Ohio and Sarasota, Fla. Julie, a retired librarian in Orange, said that her mom dragged the family to these kinds of stores as she was growing up. “At Nearly New Shop in University Circle, Planned Parenthood’s store, we found ice skates, snow pants, boots and whatever else she thought we needed,” she says. “She schlepped us to Sokol Hall, garage sales, estate sales, rummage sales and all manner of resale experiences, so buying old was nothing new to her.” Sara has found Heisey glass candelabra, which comes in seven colors, and other glassware at Thriftique, along with jeans for her

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children, Sophia, 11, and Henry, 8. “I paid $3 for well-known-brand (Joe’s) jeans,” she says. Sara and her mom also frequent a shop located in a Victorian house in Burton for antiques; Consignment Connection in Sarasota, Fla., for great clothes; Refurnishings next to the Hospice of the Western Reserve’s store on Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst; and Revolve Fashion, also on Mayfield, where many of the resale stores, old and new, are located. “We have also bought clothes at Designer Dress Days, NCJW’s yearly October sale of designer clothing, accessories and furs,” Julie says. The Dvoraks are passing on their buying habits to the

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next generation. Sophie buys $1 sweaters and other used clothing items so she can tear them apart and use the fibers, patches or other pieces to make purses and accessories. And, Henry found cleats for a small price at Value World, which has three stores in the region. A trending tendency to reuse bodes well for the new and not-so-new stores springing up or those expanding their inventory. The buyers can sit back on their expanded wallets knowing their bargains beautified their homes and made their lives greener. For more info on Thriftique Showroom, visit ncjwcleveland.org/thriftique/shop/.

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Preparing for the

“Extras” in College Sending your teen off to school is a big expense; help them learn how to save for the unexpected. By Jennifer Clements

As parents, you have saved for college tuition or your teens received scholarships, student loans or graduation gifts for the expense of college. However, you might be now beginning to realize how much “extra” there is still to pay. Working for College Books, pizza and specialty coffees add up quickly by the end of the semester. Area moms say saving during the summer seems to be the crucial key for students to have the cash for extra expenses and social excursions, while work/study programs offer an option to earn money during the semester. Students who work part-time during summer or while in school tend to adjust quickly to college life and learn valuable communication and time-management skills, while possibly gaining references for the future. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that students who worked between one and 20 hours a week get better grades then students who do not work. Caroline Boyd, 19, of Fairlawn, makes her extra spending money by working two jobs in the summer and one while she is in school at The University of Akron. “She is a manager at Aladdin’s and has made the dean’s list both semesters so far,” says her mom, Lisa Martino-Cugini. Your student may also look for a parttime job or paid internship in their field of interest or major. What may seem like

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just a temporary job, could lead to a connection or experience, which helps a student down a future career path. Nancy Babak of Bath, with two daughters currently in college and another heading to college soon, says, “My middle daughter is going to work in a hospital as a nurse technician. She’ll be working in her field (nursing) getting experience and it will give her a foot in the door for when she becomes an RN.” Parents can check the college or university’s website for direction. Look for the Financial Aid/Student Employment pages to help get your child started. Making a Plan Whether or not you choose to help your child with some of the extra expenses, it’s good to have a plan in place before they head off to school to minimize any confusion. “Our advice is that it’s best to have open discussions about money issues, before college starts and then on a regular basis through the college years,” say Jeffrey Jensen Arnett and Elizabeth Fishel in book “Getting to 30, a Parent’s

Family Living At Its Best

Guide to the 20-Something Years.” The book recommends parents and the student “sit down together the summer before college and work out a budget for the first semester. Figure out how much the expenses are going to be, and then decide who is going to pay for how much.” “Ali works in the summer to save for spending money at college,” says Amy Nageotte, from Westlake, of her daughter who will be heading to University of Wisconsin this fall. “Being a scholarship athlete (for golf) we’ve decided that she will not have time for a job at college. So she has to budget her funds to last for the school year for going out, pizza, Panera, Starbucks, etc.” Ways to Save on Books If books aren’t covered by scholarships, there are a variety of ways to save for this expensive expenditure. Students can ask their professors which books are going to be used first and possibly space out the purchases. Depending on the edition of the textbook, the library can be a terrific resource,

while thousands of titles are available on Amazon.com and Textbooks.com, some of which can be bought or rented. Campus Cuisine One of the top priorities in a college student’s life is food, but eating can become a major expense if a plan or budget isn’t put in place before they head to campus. Start with finding the right meal plan for your child’s tastes. Universities offer a range of plans to fit every appetite. Then encourage your child to use it to its full potential. Another mom suggested students find out which campus-area eateries will accept your child’s university meal plan card. For example, Kent State’s FLASHcard is accepted at places such as Robeks, Panini’s and Penn Station East Coast Subs. This information is often found on the university’s website. And tell them to always look for or ask about student discounts. With a little research and creativity, those extra expenses can be cut down without your student missing out.

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By Emma Kanagaki

Strongsville Gazebo

In 1816, John Stoughton Strong purchased a sizeable amount of land in Northeastern Ohio from the Ellsworth family. Led by Strong, a group of settlers built shelter and took care of the land to either live on or sell on behalf of the Ellsworth family. Strong moved his family to the property and, in 1818, it officially became a township named Strongsville.

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Police Station

STRONGSVILLE DEMOGRAPHICS Population is approximately 44,750.

Distance From: Cleveland — 22 miles, 29 minutes on I-71N Akron — 34 miles, 40 minutes on I-77S and I-71S Medina — 15 miles, 24 minutes via Marks Road Canton — 54 miles, 59 minutes on I-77S Westlake — 15 miles, 28 minutes via OH-252N/ Columbia Road Beachwood — 31 miles, 38 minutes on I-480E

Nearby Cities: North Royalton, North Olmsted, Brunswick, Parma, Berea

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Aug. 7 through Sept. 25 — Strongsville Farmer’s Market, Thursdays, 2-6 p.m. Pat Catan Stadium Aug. 19 — Women in Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m.

Strongsville grew rapidly and is now a thriving city, with a population of approximately 44,750, that boasts attractions and many places to shop and

Aug. 28 — Chamber Corn Hole Tournament, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 — Strongsville City Club 29th Annual Breakfast on the Covered Bridge, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Dec. 7 — Special Olympics Holiday Breakfast, 10 a.m.

dine for the community and visitors alike.

Family Living At Its Best

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Bonnie Park

Parks & Outdoors Strongsville is home to the Freedom Trail, which is one of the largest veteran memorials in Ohio. The trail is one mile long with a paved path that leads through a lush garden. The Freedom Trail serves as a connection between the City Commons and the Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center. Behind the Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center resides the Backyard Preserve. The preserve offers the community a place to enjoy the beauty and quiet of nature. Filled with plenty of greenery and wildlife, a scenic walking trail and an outdoor amphitheater, the preserve is a great spot for a brisk morning walk or a picnic.

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Shopping & Dining Strongsville offers residents and guests several places to enjoy shopping and dining. SouthPark Mall, 500 SouthPark Center, is home to retailers such as Banana Republic, Build-A-BearWorkshop, Crazy 8, Gymboree, H&M, Pandora, Macy’s and JCPenney. SouthPark also offers dining options like Buca di Beppo, Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream, Panera Bread and more. Family favorites like Target, Kohl’s, Best Buy and Costco can also be found in the area. Markets like Heinen’s Fine Foods and Giant Eagle provide for all grocery needs. Dining options are abundant around the city to fit every taste or whim.

Rosewood Grill, 16740 Royalton Road, offers everything from crispy calamari to French dip sandwiches and fish tacos. Michael Symon’s B Spot, 18066 Royalton Road, known for its unique selection of burgers, has options like the Gobbler (a turkey burger), the Atomic burger with ghost chili and jalepenos, and the Yo! Burger with fried salami, capicola, hot peppers and provolone cheese. Don’s Pomeroy House, 13664 Pearl Road, overlooks the Town Square in Strongsville. The building is a restored mid-19th century mansion and provides lunch, dinner and patio/pub dining choices. The restaurant includes selections of fresh seafood, steak,

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signature salads, pasta and more. A Place to Play Strongsville has many options for community members to get fit and play in the city. The Ehrnfelt Recreation and Senior Center has an aquatic facility, basketball courts, an indoor running track, a “tot” room for young kids to play, strength training, cardio and an area for games like foosball and air hockey. Also provided are aerobics and fitness classes in two wood floor studios with independent sound systems for residents to try out the latest fitness trends to happy tunes. The rec center also offers services for childcare and extensive programming for aging adults. Also, the community can check out day camps for teenagers, adult jazzercise and Zumba. Strongsville City Club’s Breakfast on the Covered Bridge has been a tradition of Strongsville for more than 30 years.

Family Living At Its Best

One Sunday morning, before summer turns into fall, residents can find themselves camped out on the covered bridge to enjoy a nice hot breakfast and the comfort of tradition. A Place to Live From city schools to private education, Strongsville has an option for each family’s educational wants and needs. Strongsville City Schools educate approximately 5,900 students with programs in science, math, economics, performing arts and athletics. Strongsville is home to several academic buildings including a specialneeds preschool, seven elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school. For private school options, parents can find St. Joseph and St. John School, which was founded in 1950. The school offers programs to teach students in preschool through eighth grade. The curriculum includes Spanish, art, music, social studies,

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computer skills, reading, physical education, handwriting and religion. Le Chaperon Rouge provides curriculum for preschool-age children with programs that expose them to arts, phonics, dancing, music, geography, science, social studies and more. Programming is also offered for babies and toddlers for parents who want to start their child’s education

young. For the community’s healthcare needs, the city boasts Southwest General’s Strongsville Medical Center and Urgicare, located at 18181 Pearl Road. The medical centers provide care for all needs, from cardiology to pediatrics to family medicine.

Clocktower

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By Logan Sherman

McGinnis Amusements Nothing says summer like a trip to the carnival with the sweet smells of cotton candy and caramel apples, and the hooting and hollering of children. McGinnis Amusements is a carnival business that was founded shortly after World War II and has been around for more than six decades. McGinnis Amusements, based in Strongsville, is a family-owned company that has been serving many events year after year.

Family Living At Its Best

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We provide carnival equipment to events in Northeast Ohio for everything from county fairs to church picnics,â&#x20AC;? manager Nick Blois says. McGinnis Amusements owns over 15 rides, including big rides such as the Hurricane and the Scrambler, and kidfriendly rides like the Merry-Go-Round and Ferris wheel. Try your luck or indulge your sweet tooth at one of the food and game concession stands. Operating April through October,

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McGinnis Amusements prides itself on well-maintained rides and a high commitment to safety and service. In the past, the carnival company has provided equipment for the Lodi Grape Festival, St. Anthony of Padua in Parma and the Maple Festival. Visit McGinnis Amusements on Facebook or at mcginnisamusements.com.

values such as education, wellness and fun. All families are welcome — you don’t need to be a Strongsville resident. SECPTA members enjoy activities such as local children’s outings, play groups, educational events, theme parties, and social events for moms, dads and couples as well as national PTA membership benefits. In addition to socializing, parents are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents. They can earn “Appreciation Coupons” to use toward SECPTA events. From September to April, general meetings are held between 7 and 9 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the Strongsville High School Media Center. Meeting participants can expect a speaker or other special activity and refreshments. Young children are welcome to attend with their parents. Annual membership dues are $25 a

year. The annual New Member Social will take place at J Bella Italian Restaurant (12201 Pearl Road) on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Visit secpta.org or contact president@secpta.org for more information. The Mill Stream & Chalet Toboggan Chutes When the weather gets cold, take the family to The Mill Stream & Chalet Toboggan Chutes. The Chalet offers two ice-covered chutes with an initial 70-foot drop that allows riders to reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. Riders, four to a toboggan, climb 100 steps to the loading area as their toboggan is taken up an automated lift.

Strongsville Early Childhood PTA If you’re a parent of young children and looking for a supportive community, look no further. The Strongsville Early Childhood PTA (SECPTA) brings together parents of children ages birth through kindergarten while promoting After your ride, warm up at the indoor or outdoor fireplaces and re-energize at the snack bar. Riders must be 42 inches tall. Children ages 12 and younger must be accompanied by a parent. The Toboggan Chutes open the day after Thanksgiving and remain open through mid-March. Unlimited daily rides are $8 for adults and $6 for children under 12, or one-time tickets can be purchased for $3. The Chalet also offers season passes and group rates for groups of 20 or more. Tobogganing hours are Fridays, 6-10:30 p.m., Saturdays, noon-10:30 p.m., and Sundays, noon-5 p.m. Thursdays are at 6-10:30 p.m. in

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January and February only. While snow isn’t required, the Toboggan Chutes are open weather permitting. For more information or seasonal updates call 440-573-9990 or visit clevelandmetroparks.com. Strongsville Community Youth Theatre Honk if you love kids. That’s what Strongsville Community Youth Theatre did when it presented “Honk,” an all-youth production. Formed in 2008, the theatre is the youthand young-adult-oriented arm of Strongsville Community Theatre. It provides kids with the opportunity to act in productions with their peers as well as perform alongside adults in shows such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The theatre also stages family fare, including “A Year with Frog and Toad.” Beyond its main stage, the Strongsville Community Youth Theatre also sponsors a summer theatre camp. The intensive threeweek camp trains kids in theatrical skills of all types. Youth will go through instruction to improve their acting, singing, dancing and technical theatre skills. At the end of the summer camp, all of their hard work pays off in a complete performance of a full-length production, open to family, friends and the public. “Our vision is simple — to showcase and promote local talent in diverse seasons of high-quality entertainment, ” says Elaine Gritti, Strongsville Community Youth Theatre director and Strongsville Community Theatre board member. Call 440-954-4634 or visit strongsvillecommunitytheatre.com or info@strongsvillecommunitytheatre.com.

Family Living At Its Best

August 2-5th, Annual summit for Kids, John S. Knight Center, 10a-4p August 3, The Fest, Center for Pastoral Leadership (Wickliffe, OH), 12p-10p August 16, Kidgits Back to School Bash, Great Lakes Mall, 11a-1p August 31- Sept. 1, Taste of Hudson, Hudson First & Main area, Sun 11-8 Mon 11-6

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MEETING WITH THE

MAYOR

THOMAS PERCIAK

What makes the city of Strongsville so uniquely appealing? Strongsville is a thriving community with a growing residential population, diverse business base and first-class safety forces. The most important service any community offers is safety, and the city of Strongsville is dedicated to providing a safe environment for both residents and visitors alike. Over 50 percent of Strongsville’s general fund is dedicated to police and fire, equipping Strongsville’s safety forces with the best technology available. Within safe cities, the sense of community thrives. Strongsville is home to the largest Rotary Club in Northeast Ohio, as well as a chamber of commerce of more than 600 members. Area churches and groups like the Strongsville City Club, Education Foundation and Kiwanis all provide valuable service to the residents of Strongsville. Through these civic organizations and generous donations from the area’s business community, thousands of families enjoy annual events such as the Strongsville Rib Burn-off, the Rotary Kids Fest and Duck Race, Fourth of July fireworks, homecoming, the historical society’s Harvest Festival, Strongsville Winter Wonderland Celebration and much more. Why should families visit the area? Strongsville is a great destination for families. The city is home to over 2,170 acres of the Cleveland Metroparks. Area residents can hike, fish, picnic or enjoy Metropark facilities such as the Chalet or Bonnie Park. The city also maintains over 500 acres of recreational fields, playgrounds and city parks. The Strongsville Recreation Center is a 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility with an indoor aquatic center, basketball courts, game area and event center.

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Strongsville is also home to the educational Historical Village and is a large shopping center in Ohio, headlined by SouthPark Mall. Are there any plans to grow or expand areas of the city? The city of Strongsville is focused on smart growth that continues to expand the community’s tax base while maintaining green space and a sense of community. Strongsville is home to four successful business parks that provide employment opportunities for residents across Northeast Ohio and supplement city revenues used to maintain Strongsville’s first-class safety forces. Business attraction efforts from our economic development department are focused on the further expansion of our business parks. How does economic development and growth happen in the city of Strongsville? The city of Strongsville takes a proactive approach to business retention, expansion and attraction. The city has been a model in business retention and expansion surveys through our partnership with The Ohio State University. In addition, the city maintains quarterly business network breakfasts, an annual business expo and is currently developing an official city of Strongsville smartphone app. This is all intended to support our business community and promote economic development. The city of Strongsville is financially stable. It is one of only 16 Ohio communities and one of only 170 communities across the U.S. to maintain an Aaa Moody’s Bond rating.

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Feels Like Mini-Vacation To Busy Parents By Hallie Brown

All week long, I had been thinking about “date night.” It’s difficult trying to plan all the details that go into a night out. We have to worry about the timing between my husband and I getting home from work, getting our 3-1/2-year-old son to a sitter, having time to get ready while still making it to our reservations on time. However, as many parents quickly learn, these special nights become few and far between. I joke with my husband about how even at age 26, we often get excited about a night out alone just to get groceries at Walmart. And maybe, if we’re lucky, a quick stop at Applebee’s for half-off appetizers before we have to pick up our little guy at

Grandma’s. (I’m sure my son doesn’t mind being spoiled for a few hours while Mommy and Daddy are gone though.) Hitting the Town I thought that it was finally time for us to get away from the same old thing and pamper ourselves with some fine dining. We headed to Strongsville (one of our favorite cities to venture to when looking to do some excessive shopping), where we had made reservations at the historic Don Pomeroy House, 13664 Pearl Road. Our mouths were already watering from looking at the menu on the website the night before.

My husband, a huge steak fan, already knew what he was going to order — the Angus New York Strip. I, on the other hand, had a difficult time deciding — at seven months pregnant, I wanted to try everything on the menu. The gorgeous restaurant was tucked away off the main road behind a few large trees, which seemed just enough to give it a quiet feel. Upon entrance, we were directed to the special “couples room” on the second floor, overlooking the front of the property. It was exactly what we needed — a quiet, candlelit dinner, with soothing music playing in the background. I told my husband I felt like we were at a spa. After indulging myself with an abundance of “chips and dip” (a lobster, crab, spinach and artichoke casserole served with pita chips), the Pomeroy house salad, pasta primavera for my entree, a bite of my husband’s steak and a chocolate éclair, we decided we were officially full. I was so relaxed

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that I did not want to leave. After a couple hours at the Pomeroy House, where we enjoyed every minute of the food, service and atmosphere, we decided we weren’t going to let our night end just yet. My husband and I love sweets and chocolate, which led us to visit Olympia Sweet Treats and Grill, down the street from the Pomeroy House at 11606 Pearl Road. We stopped by and picked up some homemade chocolates to take back home. Of course, this wasn’t a quick trip either. We were like two kids in a candy store — or more like a pregnant woman and her chocolate-lover sidekick — that we kept adding more and more to our chocolate box. We also loved checking out all of the other goodies and trinkets located throughout the store. It was nice to be able to laugh and joke around like we were just dating again. We’ll definitely be making another visit to try some of their 40 flavors of ice cream and more chocolates with our son, very soon. Our plan to continue the night in Strongsville with a nice walk on the towpath was cut short due to a change in weather. However, the rain did come at the right time as good food and fun can quickly drain your energy. We still had a rambunctious boy to pick up and get in the bath before bed. We decided to end our perfect night with a good movie at home and begin planning for our next night away.

Family Living At Its Best

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August CALENDAR OF EVENTS Through August 17

August 1

Shakespeare: Henry IV, Part 1, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Enjoy a Shakespeare performance under the stars at the Stan Hywet openair lagoon theater. For all ticketing information, contact the Ohio Shakespeare Festival: 330-6738761 or ohioshakespeare.com. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, 330-836-5533, stanhywet.org

Wiggleworms, 11-11:30 a.m. Ages 2-5 can enjoy 30 minutes of stories, songs and dancing. Space is limited and registration is required. Parma Branch Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., Parma, 440885-5362, cuyahogalibrary.org

Through August 3 Ribs on the River – National and local rib vendors will be on hand to tempt you with the unbeatable flavors of BBQ. Craft vendors and other vendors will be available along with children’s games and bounce houses. Live entertainment throughout the event. Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain, lorainportauthority.com

Tuesdays Through Sept. 16 Take a Hike, 6 p.m. This free, guided walking tour of the PlayhouseSquare District highlights the historical significance of the district and features actors portraying important historic Clevelanders from the neighborhood. Tours begin in the State Theatre lobby and last approximately 90 minutes. State Theatre, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216241-6000, playhousesquare.org

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Read & Rap, 11 a.m.-noon – Bring a lunch and read & rap about some amazing books. August 1 will discuss “The Giver” and August 15 is “Wonder.” Parma Heights Branch Library, 6206 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, 440-884-2313, cuyahogalibrary.org

store. Tickets may be purchased in advance. Call 1-800-227-6972. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland, lakemetroparks.com

August 1-2 and Aug. 2-3 Theatre Arts Camp 2014 Performance – August 1-2, 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 2-3, 2 p.m. Corning Auditorium at The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Ave.,

Willoughby, 440-951-7500, fineartsassociation.org

August 2 United Way 5th Annual Summit for Kids, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Parents and children are invited to this annual family expo to enjoy fun and educational activities, free back-to-school items and more. John S. Knight Center, 77 E. Mill

One World, One Sky, 11:30 a.m. Follow Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from Zhima Jie, the Chinese coproduction of Sesame Street. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the moon. Cleveland Museum of Natural History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, 216-231-4600, cmnh.org

August 1-3

August 1-2

Twins Day Festival in Twinsburg

Vintage Ohio, 1-10 p.m. More than 20 wineries offer samples at this festival of wine. Event also features arts and crafts, demonstrations, music, food, children’s entertainment/play area and a carryout

The largest annual gathering of twins (and other multiples) in the world. This event has entertainment, speakers, contests and activities including a golf outing, cornhole tournament, DJs, dancing, karaoke, a 5K and more. For more information, visit twinsday.org.

August 2014

Photo courtesy of John Robinson.

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St., Akron, 330-374-8900, summitforkids.net Tween Tech: Making Art Out of Words, 10-11:30 a.m. Kids ages 9-12 will learn how to create word pictures using Tagxedo. Parents welcome. Spaces are limited. Garfield Heights Branch Library, 5409 Turney Road, Garfield Heights, 216-475-8178, cuyahogalibrary.org ACT Practice Test, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Huntington Learning Center offers practice ACTs. Arrive at 9:45 a.m., as the test will begin promptly at 10 a.m. North Royalton Branch Library, 5071 Wallings Road, North Royalton, 440-2373800, cuyahogalibrary.org Blues & Brews Event, noon-6 p.m. More than 75 breweries feature 175 styles of craft-made beers. Admission is charged for the “Brewer’s Circle,” noon-2 p.m., and the public beer tasting, 2-6 p.m. Sponsored by Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. and Winking Lizard Tavern. Lock 3, Main Street, Downtown Akron, 330-375-2877, lock3live.com, bluesnbrews.org

Madden NFL 25 Tournament, 2-4 p.m. Kick off football preseason at the Garfield Branch’s 1st annual Madden NFL 25 tournament on XBOX 360. Play for bragging rights and prizes. Teens (11+) and adults welcome. Registration required. Garfield Heights Branch Library, 5409 Turney Road, Garfield Heights, 216-475-8178, cuyahogalibrary.org Downtown Akron Artwalk, 5-10 p.m. On the first Saturday of each month the Artwalk features nearly two dozen destinations for art, shopping, dining and entertainment. The city of Akron’s free trolley service runs the entire routes, 5-10 p.m. with destinations opening their doors between 5 and 6 p.m. 18 N. High St., Akron, 330374-7676, downtownakron.com

August 3 Autism All-Stars, A Family Event with Lake County Captains, 12:30 p.m. Benefits local organizations. Cost is $10, includes reserve section, pre-game parade, autograph session, post-game run of bases at Classic Park in Eastlake, Volunteers and assistance will be provided. For tickets, 440-975-8085 ext 13. Visit milestones.org for details.

August 5 Investigate It! Super Sleuth, 78:30 p.m. Kids in grades 4-8 can use their powers of observation and code-cracking skills to become a super spy. Create a spy gadget and play the lie detector game. Registration required. Middleburg Heights Branch Library, 15600 East Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, 440-2343600, cuyahogalibrary.org What It Takes To Write A Book, 2-4 p.m. This three-week class will get you ready to write a book, from proposal to finished manuscript, whether it’s fiction, memoir or nonfiction. You just need a concrete book idea. Teaching artist Deanna Adams is a freelance writer, award-winning essayist and author of four books. Parma-Snow Branch Library, 2121 Snow Road, Parma, 216-661-4240, cuyahogalibrary.org

Family Living At Its Best

Once Upon A Time: Music Americana, 7-8 p.m. Experience music from the roots of America with the Note-oriety Showchoir in this musical extravaganza. Performing tunes that celebrate time and tell a story, from Broadway and swing to pop and country, you’ll be singing and dancing along. Orange Branch Library, 31300 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike, 216-831-4282, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 4-10 Cuyahoga County Fair Enjoy a day at the fair with rides, performances, games, music, exhibits, 4-H, animals, arts & crafts and plenty of food. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 East Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, 440-243-0090, cuyfair.com

Young Actors Ensemble Showcase, 7:30 p.m., free admission to this performance showcase for young actors. Corning Auditorium at The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, 440-951-7500, fineartsassociation.org

August 6 Summer Lunch At The Library, 11:30 a.m.-noon – Those 18 or younger looking for a place to have lunch can join the library for a brown bag lunch provided by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. While supplies last. Maple Heights Branch Library, 5225 Library Lane, Maple Heights, 216-475-5000, cuyahogalibrary.org To Dye For: Simple Silk Screening, 2-3:30 p.m. In this hands-on workshop you will learn basic silk screening techniques as you create and transfer your design onto fabric. All supplies provided. Parma Heights Branch Library, 6206 Pearl Road, Parma Heights, 440-884-2313, cuyahogalibrary.org Pet Pals, 7:40-8 p.m. Children in second through fifth grades who

struggle with reading skills will have the opportunity to improve their skills by reading aloud to very special dogs. Each reader will be paired with a certified therapy dog. Registration suggested. Strongsville Branch Library, 18700 Westwood Dr., Strongsville, 440238-5530, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 6, 13, 20 Mid-Summer Night Salsa Series, 5-6 p.m. Free salsa dancing lessons. Following the lessons, salsa dancing on U.S. Bank Plaza will be available 6-8 p.m. U.S. Bank Plaza, 14th St. and Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org

August 7 Stop Motion Animation, 11 a.m.1 p.m. Kids in grades 6-12 can create their own animations using stop-motion technology on an iPad, and using Play-Doh and other crafts for your creation. Registration required. Parma Branch Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., Parma, 440-885-5362, cuyahogalibrary.org High Five Fitness, 1-4 p.m. Explore the five pillars of good fitness in this high-energy dance

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AUGUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS class that demonstrates the joy that comes from being healthy and fit. Students learn basic elements of dance, choreography and music, and master them while learning how dance can be both a vehicle for artistic expression and wellness. Grades K-3. Southeast Branch Library, 70 Columbus Road, Bedford, 440-439-4997, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 7 Creative Playdate Firefly Tea Party

August 7, 14, 21, 28 Nature Tales Story Time, 11 a.m. Every Thursday, youngest Garden guests with an accompanying adult enjoy nature stories, songs and finger plays followed by a hands-on activity in the Hershey Children’s Garden (or Eleanor Squire Library in inclement weather). Free with garden admission. Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd., Cleveland, 216-721-1600, cbgarden.org

August 8 Summer Safari at Akron Zoo, 7-10 p.m. Join the zoo for the largest fundraiser of the year. Spend an elegant evening at the zoo and help raise funds for the care of the animals. Guests will enjoy live animal encounters, live music, drinks and fine food provided by several area restaurants and caterers. The evening will also include a silent auction and raffle. Visit website for ticket information. For 21 and older only. Akron Zoo, 500 Edgewood Ave., Akron, 330-375-2550, akronzoo.org

August 9 Mentor Cruise-In, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. See hundreds of vintage vehicles and enjoy entertainment, music and activities. Vehicles may set up beginning at 8 a.m. Both vehicle entry and spectator admission are free. Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Road, Mentor, 440-974-5720, cityofmentor.com Builders’ Club, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Club members will construct with LEGO bricks once a month. Students will complete a challenge and build whatever inspires them. Berea Branch Library, 7 Berea Commons, Berea, 440-234-5475, cuyahogalibrary.org

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11:15 a.m. Creative Playdates encourage little ones 0-5 years to learn through play. Relish the last days of summer by sitting down for tea with nature’s smallest artists and engineers: bees, butterflies, spiders and fireflies. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

times are selected at registration. Pre-registration required and fee applies. Penitentiary Glen Reservation, 8668 Kirtland Chardon Road, Willoughby, 440256-1404, lakemetroparks.com

August 9-10 National Hamburger Festival – Family fun, entertainment and assortments of hamburgers. Tickets cost $5. Saturday, noon-11 p.m. and Sunday, noon-7 p.m. Lock 3, Akron, hamburgerfestival.com

August 10 Mother Goose on the Loose, 10:30 a.m. Mother Goose is on the loose in this interactive storytime featuring simple books, rhymes, songs and movement. For ages birth-3 years old with adult caregiver. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-871-2600, westlakelibrary.org Pen 2 Page Writing Crew, 3-4 p.m. Ink it up in this creative writing club for teens. Writing prompts and exercises will be provided to help improve skills and provide a welcome place to share your work and practice your craft. Southeast Branch Library, 70 Columbus Road, Bedford, 440-439-4997, cuyahogalibrary.org Fine Arts Outdoor Coffeehouse, 6:30-8:30 p.m. “Jazzy Soul” featuring the jazz, funk and gospel music of Cats Crew. Join in for music under the summer sky and java, munchies and good vibes. Marous Brothers Outdoor Stage at The Fine Arts Association, 38660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, 440-9517500, fineartsassociation.org Super Star Party, 8 p.m.-midnight – Have fun with astronomy while looking up into the sky. Stargazers of all ages can catch a good view of the Perseid Meteor Shower. Also, see the moon, planets, stars and solar system with telescopes and expert guidance provided by the Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society (weather

August 2014

permitting). Also take a ride on a miniature steam engine as you take the “Red Light Express Train Ride.” Trains are provided by the Lake Shore Live Steamers and ride

Music Under the Stars, 7:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket to watch the sunset and get ready for an evening of music under the stars. Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, metroparks.cc

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August 11 Mixed Media Collage, 1-4 p.m. Explore the many ways artists use collage to create original pieces of art. Participants will use a variety of materials from photos to fabric to words to recycled objects and more to create mixed media collage pieces. Registration required. Chagrin Falls Branch Library, 100 E. Orange St., Chagrin Falls, 440247-3556, cuyahogalibrary.org Old-Fashioned Family Game Night, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Beat the summer heat, grab your family and friends for an old-fashioned game night. There’ll be a wide variety of board games for all ages, as well as snacks. Beachwood Branch Library, 25501 Shaker Blvd., Beachwood, 216-831-6868, cuyahogalibrary.org Take A Dip, 6:30-8 p.m. Bring a washed, 50/50 cotton/polyester

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blend T-shirt to tie-dye for this annual end of the summer funfest for the whole family. Brecksville Branch Library, 9089 Brecksville Road, 440-526-1102, cuyahogalibrary.org Career Planning For College, 78:30 p.m. Making plans for college but still uncertain about your major? This workshop will show you how to explore career possibilities. A career counselor will be on hand to help. Registration required. Mayfield Branch Library, 500 SOM Center Road, Mayfield, 440-4730350, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 12 Chalk Art Contest, 9:30-11 a.m. Create a one-of-a-kind work of art at this fun contest open to kids living within the Mentor school district, ages 5-16. Free. Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Road, Mentor, 440-974-5720, cityofmentor.com

Jumping, Jumping, Jumping, 11 a.m. Learn everything you always wanted to know about jumping rope. Make your own jump ropes, use a Chinese jump rope and learn some jump rope games. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-8712600, westlakelibrary.org

August 14 Kids Studio Class: Pixilated Paintings, 1-3 p.m. If you play video games, you’re familiar with the world of pixels. It takes a steady hand to pixilate a work of art and mix varying shades of paint on a gridded canvas of 2-inch squares to create your own “pixilpiece.” Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org Katy Perry — The Prismatic World Tour, 7 p.m. Special guest Kacey Musgraves. Quicken Loans

Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, 888-894-9424, theqarena.com

August 15 Preschool Nature Kids, 10 a.m.Preschoolers, accompanied by an adult, will learn about nature through activities and hiking. Avon Lake Library, 32649 Electric Blvd, 440-933-8128, alpl.org

August 16 Practice SAT Test, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Take a practice SAT test. Solon Branch Library, 34125 Portz Parkway, Solon, 440-248-8777, cuyahogalibrary.org Professional Bull Riders Blue Def Velocity Tour, 7 p.m. Ohio bull riding fans will get the opportunity to experience the toughest sport on dirt. Quicken Loans Arena, 1 Center Court, Cleveland, 888-894-9424, theqarena.com

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AUGUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS History, 1 Wade Oval Dr., Cleveland, 216-231-4600, cmnh.org

August 18 Doggie Dip, 5:30-7 p.m. Civic Center Pool will officially be going to the dogs. Bring your favorite fourlegged pal for a dip and enjoy some good family fun. Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated, leashed when not in the pool, and owners must be prepared for clean-up duty (we’ll have extra bags). You’re welcome to bring dog toys. The cost is $3 per dog. Civic Center Pool, 8500 Munson Road, Mentor, 440-9745720, cityofmentor.com

August 19 Teens Summer Express Yourself Series, 4-5 p.m. Meet at the library to explore and create. Maple Heights Branch Library, 5225 Library Lane, Maple Heights, 216-475-5000, cuyahogalibrary.org

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August 21 Story Time in the Galleries, 11:15 a.m. All ages are invited to hear beautiful picture books read aloud, sing silly songs and play wacky games — all while surrounded by amazing artwork. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

August 20 Planets Galore, 2:30 p.m. Astronomers have discovered an astonishing number of planets orbiting other stars in recent years — and the number keeps going up. It now looks like there are more planets than stars in the universe. Cleveland Museum of Natural

August 2014

Trick Your Locker, 2 p.m. Teens and tweens will have the coolest locker in school when they trick it out with these fun and useful crafts. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, 440-871-2600, westlakelibrary.org

August 22-23 Mentor CityFest, noon-11 p.m. Live music, a zip line, rock wall, inflatables, food, wine, carnivalstyle games, a BMX bike show, indoor lasertag and more. mentorcityfest.com

August 23 Great Lakes Mall Kidgits Back to School Bash, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Get ready to take on the new school year at the Kidgits Back to School event. Summer might be ending soon, but the fun is just beginning as we say hello to another great school year. Great Lakes Mall, 7850 Mentor Ave., Mentor, 440-255-6900, simon.com Summer Reading Wrap Party, 2-3 p.m. All you have to do is read in the library’s Summer Reading

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Program for a chance to win a ticket to its end-of-summer party. Chagrin Falls Branch Library, 100 E. Orange St., Chagrin Falls, 440247-3556, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 24 The Taste of Legacy Village, noon5 p.m. This tasty event features samples from your favorite Legacy Village restaurants and specialty food retailers. Ticket packs are $10 each and include Taste Dollars, redeemable for food samples from your favorite Legacy Village eateries. Legacy Village, 25333 Cedar Road, Lyndhurst, 216-382-3871, legacy-village.com

August 26 Roll Out The Duct Tape, 3:30-5 p.m. Registration required. Ages 10-18. Make fun projects, like locker design with duct tape. Bay Village Branch Library, 502 Cahoon Road, Bay Village, 440-871-6392, cuyahogalibrary.org

August 28 Book Club: “Just My Type,” 6 p.m. This book of stories about fonts examines how Helvetica and Comic Sans took over the world. It explains why we are still influenced by type choices made more than 500 years ago. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330376-9185, akronartmuseum.org College Planning 101: Finding The Perfect College Fit, 7-8 p.m. Join Patty Saddle, president of the College Planning Center LLC, to learn what factors to consider in determining your best college fit. Topics will include researching your options, private vs. public

colleges, navigating college visits and admission interviews, weighing standard vs. early admission, and how to make your college application standout. Solon Branch Library, 34125 Portz Parkway, Solon, 440-248-8777, cuyahogalibrary.org

Healing, healthful plants are all around us, along with some that can hurt us, learn more on a hike with Naturalist Kathy Schmidt. Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted, 440-734-6660, clevelandmetroparks.com

overlook. Stay for the entire “nighthawk watch” or stop by any time between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Rocky River Reservation, Stinchcomb-Groth Memorial Scenic Overlook, 24000 Valley Parkway, North Olmsted, 440-7346660, clevelandmetroparks.com

Brand U., 7-8:30 p.m. Fitting in is out. Stand out from the crowd and share your unique talents, interests and experiences with the world as we help you develop your own personal portfolio through vlogs and YouTube. Market your skills the 21st century way and build your own brand today. North Royalton Branch Library, 5071 Wallings Road, North Royalton, 440-2373800, cuyahogalibrary.org

Akron Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show, 3-8 p.m. Come check out unique cars, trucks and bikes while supporting the Ronald McDonald House of Akron at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot. The Spaghetti Warehouse, 510 S. Main St., Building 33, Akron, 330-374-0025

Aug. 31- Sept. 1

August 29 Final Fridays at Civic Center, 3-7 p.m. The last Final Friday of the season. Farm-fresh produce, baked goods, cheese and olive oils, plus dozens of artisans, live music, food and activities for the kids. Free admission and parking. Civic Center Park, 8600 Munson Road, Mentor, 440-974-5720, cityofmentor.com

August 31 Nighthawks, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Join Naturalist Jen Brumfield on an evening quest to see Common Nighthawks migrating over the dramatic Rocky River Valley, from the scenic Stinchcomb Memorial

Taste of Hudson, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Celebrating the 10th year in 2014, this festival will indulge in food, music and fun. Taste of Hudson is one of the largest free music events in Ohio. This year, more than 60 bands will appear on six stages throughout the festival. Admission to all Taste of Hudson attractions is free but attendees may purchase pre-loaded dining cards on site to enjoy delicious, unique taste-sized portions from restaurants throughout the festival. Hudson, tasteofhudson.com

August 29 through Sept. 1 Cleveland’s Oktoberfest – Join the celebration for four exciting days at one of the country’s fastest growing and most authentic German festivals. Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E. Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights, 440-348-0960, clevelandoktoberfest.com

August 30 Plants That Hurt or Heal, 1-3 p.m.

SAVE THE September 4

DATE!

Slide Jam: Focus on Akron Arts Prize, 6:30 p.m. Slide Jam deconstructs the traditional yawn-inducing lecture format, creating something that’s fun, unexpected and accessible. Hear quick, informal talks from a crop of local artists participating in the Akron Area Arts prize guest curated by Rob Leher of Summit Artspace. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron, 330-376-9185, akronartmuseum.org

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August 2014

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MarketPlace

To advertise in Northeast Ohio Parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MarketPlace, contact sales consultant Andie Martin at 330-670-1234 ext. 207 or email her at andie@northeastohioparent.com.

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Get Social! Be sure to like us on Facebook, MarketPlace

and also follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more fun, family-friendly ideas, events and info!

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MarketPlace

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Keep in touch with us on social media! Be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more fun, family-friendly ideas, events and info!

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Compassion Corner

Donate School Supplies to Local Drives

This month, several organizations are holding school supply drives and other events to help needy children get off to a good start this school year. Here are a few opportunities to help:

Get Ready for School Angels For Kids, a non-profit group dedicated to helping children in their time of need, is looking for donations for their back-to-school event. “We take children that need a boost in self esteem and whose parents don’t have the monetary means to provide them with haircuts and new clothes to a salon before school starts,” says Shanyn McCourt, founder and president of Angels For Kids. The new outfits are bought specifically for them from a store of their choosing. In addition, the kids receive swag bags filled with shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, nail polish, hair accessories, perfume, cologne and much more. For more information or to make a donation, visit angelsforkidsfoundation.com. Stuff the Bus KinderCare is collaborating with other local groups to “Stuff

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the Bus” the week of August 11-15 at all of its 26 Northeast Ohio locations. “We are partnering with NewsChannel5 and we are collecting school supplies,” says Amber Bowling, district manager at KinderCare Learning Center. “Each of our centers will donate the school supplies that are collected to their local school system.” For more information about the event, visit kindercare.com or contact Amber Bowling at 330-322-0026. Donate Supplies & Backpacks Families can help donate school supplies and backpacks to local organizations hosting drives. – The City Mission will be collecting donations until August 10 and also throughout the year. Visit thecitymission.org for collection sites and needed school supply lists or contact 216-431-3510 for any questions. – To donate supplies to the Salvation Army in Painesville, visit use.salvationarmy.org or call 440-354-3774. – Geauga County Job and Family Services is looking for donations of school supplies for its Help Me Learn Day(s) in August, call 440-285-9141, ext. 1263 for info. – The program Operation Backpack runs until August 12. Visit operationbackpackGO.org for more information.

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Looking Out for the Needs of Aging Loved Ones By Donna Robinson

Living life and staying independent is very important to older adults. It takes being mobile and active to even deal with the basics such as finances or healthcare needs, shopping for groceries or going to social events. As caregivers, you can help your aging loved one stay independent.

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August 2014

Healthcare 101 Due to health concerns and symptoms, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not uncommon for seniors to make many doctor visits and to be supplied with various medications to maintain their health and/or prevent further diseases that can accompany the aging process. At age 65, many adults will transition their health care costs to Medicare. While they will likely receive a book explaining how Medicare works, the choices they have (such as Part A, Part B, Part D), the costs and what is covered, it can still be a confusing process. There are many ways to find answers

to questions such as through local senior centers that provide programs, classes and consultations. For example, Solon Senior Center has a social worker who offers consultations on health insurance options to residents. Also, your area library might offer programming during the year, which provides healthcare and Medicare information and resources. For questions about Medicare, call 800-633-4227 or contact your local Department of Aging. Find locations at aging.ohio.gov. Help with Basic Tasks Some communities, retirement homes

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or senior centers offer transportation via buses or shuttles, which will pick up a senior to take them to various doctor appointments or to the grocery store. Services are available through local communities, along with area transit systems such as Laketran, which serves the Lake County area. If the senior isn’t able to get to the grocery store, the “Meals on Wheels” program can provide them a nutritious meal every day. Each community has its own schedule and services. Visiting Angels, based in Cleveland offers companion services. Its caregivers will run errands, prepare a light meal, do small household chores and shop for groceries for a homebound senior. Some grocery stores, like Heinen’s, will provide a service called “Speedy Shoppers” where a senior (or family member) can call the grocery store with a list of needed items, and for a

$25 fee for the call-in order, a store clerk will shop for and deliver the items. One must make note that this is a limited service per day, meaning it’s on a first-come/first-served basis, depending on the time of day of the callin order. The Heinen’s stores that offer the service are the Rocky River store (440-331-3830) and the Pepper Pike store (216-831-4654). Cities outside of those areas may be covered; community members interested would have to call for availability. Another way to shop from home is PrestoFresh Grocery Delivery, an online shopping experience based out of Cleveland Heights. The business, which partners with Zagara's Marketplace, presently delivers in Cuyahoga County, as well Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville, Mentor, Eastlake, Wickliffe and Willoughby, according to PrestoFresh’s website. You browse the items online, submit your order and the groceries (includ-

ing perishable items) will be delivered to you. While there are many resources in addition to these, this will help get you started on keeping your aging loved one staying happy and vital. Resource Information: – Contact Laketran at 888-525-3872 – To find out a local Meals on Wheels, call 888-998-6325, or Cuyahoga County Senior and Adult Services at: 216-420-6750, or for the Lake County Council on Aging, call 440-2058111. Akron-based Mobile Meals Inc. is a Meals on Wheels-affiliated organization operating in Northeast Ohio, call 330-376-7717 or visit mowaa.org. – Call Visiting Angels at 800-365-4189. – For more information about PrestoFresh Grocery Delivery, visit prestofreshgrocery.com. Donna Robinson is a freelance journalist and resides in Wickliffe.

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Women’s Health

Breastfeeding Basics A few tips to help guide you through baby’s first year. There are many myths, tips, tricks and even ambiguities about breastfeeding, whether you’re a new mom or already have a few little ones. You may even have an entirely different experience from child to child. Dr. Lydia Cook, associate medical director for HealthSpan, talks about the questions, concerns and anxieties she hears from her patients.

Breastfeeding Fears “There is a big fear of being unable to nurse. Many women have a hard time breastfeeding, producing adequate amounts of milk or getting the baby to latch. It’s important not to give up too easily or get down on yourself,” Cook says. She offers the following tips to keep in mind: Breastfeeding doesn’t have to mean “all or nothing.” You can combine breast and formula feeding, and your baby will still get the benefits of your breast milk. It’s important to work with your doctor to explore all options that might make breastfeeding possible, such as the use of breast pumps. Give yourself a break. Try not to beat yourself up if breastfeeding is harder than you thought. Take the time to feel sad or frustrated, but don’t give up easily. Consult your doctor for different solutions to address the problems you are having. If you’re still unable to breastfeed, you can still bond with your baby by holding him close to your chest, skin to skin, during feedings. Common Questions “Most women are unsure of how many months they should breastfeed,” Cook says. While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least the first 12 months, this may not be a realistic goal for all mothers. “Other common questions pertain to breast pumps, milk storage and how long the milk will keep. Working moms are particularly concerned about pumping and being able to store safely and privately in their workplace.” Here are some things to consider when it comes to storing and handling breast milk: Breast milk keeps differently depending on how you store it. Freshly expressed breast milk can be kept at

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August 2014

room temperature for up to six hours, in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to one day, in the back of the refrigerator for five to eight days and in the freezer for three to six months.

Did you know an entire week out of the year is dedicated to breastfeeding awareness? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services designated August 1-7 as National Breastfeeding Week. Store breast milk in a clean, capped glass, hard plastic container or special plastic breast milk bags. Place containers in the back of the refrigerator or freezer, where the temperature is the coolest. If you don't have access to a refrigerator or freezer, store in a cooler or insulated bag until you can transfer it. Don't store breast milk in disposable bottle liners or plastic bags for general household use. If you pump at work, store in a durable, solid bag in the refrigerator to ensure privacy. Label each container with the date you expressed the milk and add your baby’s name if storing at a childcare facility. Article courtesy of HealthSpan. For more information, visit HealthSpan.org or follow on twitter.com/myhealthspan and facebook.com/myhealthspan.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding parents might already know or never thought about. Dr. Lydia Cook from HealthSpan provides 13 reasons to consider. Look for this information on NortheastOhioParent.com.

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