We’re thankful for YOU, Medina County!
In this season of giving thanks, we often find ourselves reflecting on the many blessings in our lives. The true spirit of Thanksgiving encourages the conscious expression of gratitude. Its focus is spending time with those that you love and encourages giving back in a meaningful way.
While ambition, competition and slaying goals can be very healthy, forgetting to place importance on being present, enjoying the ride and appreciating those around us can leave us missing out on what truly matters. We’ll never be content if we look outside ourselves and at our possessions or titles to determine if we are fulfilled. True contentment comes from within and from fulfilling who we were made to be.
As such, we are honored to feature so many heart-warming stories of gratefulness for our community and ways local businesses give back in this issue. We are so thankful for the residents and businesses in our community who support so many wonderful organizations and help make Medina County the vibrant community that it is.
We are also thankful for our advertising partners who help bring this magazine to your doorsteps each month. They are part of our vision and purpose of bringing inspiring stories and the good news of the community directly to you.
Until next month,
EMILY SHEA-OWEN, EDITOR @MEDINACOUNTYLIFESTYLE
November 2024
PUBLISHER
Joe Violi | joe.violi@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Emily Shea-Owen | emily.shea@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Martha Doyle | martha.doyle@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tina Sabol, Emily Shea-Owen
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
2PiFit, Medina County District Library, Budget Lightscapes
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Branden Cooper
LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley
Grateful for health and wellness? So are we! This Thanksgiving, at New Horizon Chiropractic, we're here to keep you moving and pain-free through the holidays
Whether you're prepping for a big family meal or recovering from travel, let us help you maintain peak wellness Don't let back pain spoil your holiday fun book your appointment today and give thanks for a healthier, happier you!
Call us at (330)952-2255 or visit www newhorizonmedina com to schedule
ARTICLE BY EMILY SHEA-OWEN
A NEW PROGRAM OFFERED FREE FOR THOSE IMPACTED BY PARKINSON’S DISEASE
THERAPY DANCING AND DRUMMING
Allow us to introduce you to Dance d’Elegance, Medina’s own adult dance studio that offers a plethora of social classes and workshops, ranging from ballroom to bachata. But there’s one offering at Dance d’Elegance that you won’t commonly find at other adult studios, and it’s ballroom dancing and drumming classes for individ uals impacted by Parkinson’s disease.
Each 90-minute class, offered twice a week, aims to slow the progression of Parkinson’s through the combination of mental and physical exercise that triggers blood flow to areas of the brain most affected by the disease. Movements of dancing and drumming are a mainstay of each class, as they help to ease rigidity and brain fog and improve motor skills.
Why 90 minutes? Studies show that continual movement for this amount of time, twice a week, offers optimal results. Consistency is also key, as it helps individuals maintain balance, muscle tone and posture.
In addition to the physical benefits, the class provides potential mental and emotional benefits from increased socialization. Further, activities like dancing are proven to trigger the release of dopamine, which aids in mood improvement.
Those impacted by Parkinson’s (and their caretakers) can attend the class for free after paying a $5 enrollment fee. The class is taught by expert dance and drumming instructors Cami Ludlow and Laura Palmer; the duo has over 50 years of dance experience combined. To learn more, visit DanceDElegance.com or contact Linda Baddely, the studio’s administrator of the Parkinson’s program, at 330.990.1451. Don’t wait — the class size is limited and spots will fill up.
Dance d’Elegance is located at 750 E. Washington St. F1 in Medina. Further, it’s co-owned by a name (and face) you’ve likely seen many times before in our magazine, Andrea Reedy. You likely already know her as the co-owner and president of The Place, as the local business is a longtime partner of Medina County Lifestyle.
Showroom
4856 Richmond Rd, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128
Showroom
4770 Ridge Rd, Brooklyn, OH 44144
LIBRARY SERVES THANKFUL COMMUNITY
Medina County District Library Offers Resources and Services to Foreign-Born Patrons Starting a New Life
ARTICLE BY TINA SABOL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEDINA COUNTY DISTRICT LIBRARY
There have always been people who need to leave their homeland due to political or social unrest, for a better life or to pursue education. The war in Ukraine brought refugees to Medina County and to the front of our minds. For their children to thrive in our public schools, for their parents to find work and for the entire family to meld with our culture,
“ I am treated as a human here. My children are safe. I am so grateful.”
these English learners seek ways to improve their language and cultural skills; and they are doing so at Medina County District Library (MCDL).
WORLD LANGUAGE COLLECTION
Imagine living in a country where you cannot read the headlines on the grocery store magazine rack. You would crave something familiar in your new environment. Medina and Brunswick Libraries created a World Language Collection complete with popular books and magazines in languages such as Russian, Ukrainian, Spanish and Chinese.
“We have a Japanese mother who checks out all the items we bring in. She waits for her daughter at gymnastics and gets an escape to her culture through the pages,” says Jenna Garrity, the Brunswick Library Associate in charge of the World Language Collection.
Forty languages and varying items are available through this partnership with Cleveland Public Library.
BILINGUAL BOOKS FOR KIDS
Brunswick and Medina Libraries were getting requests from teachers wanting books for their English-learning students. “We have Ukrainian children reading their native language and English side by side to help them learn the language,” says Jenna.
Bilingual fiction, picture and board books are available at all MCDL locations.
ESOL CLASSES AND CONVERSATION
MCDL partners with Project: LEARN, an adult education organization, to bring English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) classes to Brunswick, Lodi and Medina Libraries. A lively Conversation Group is also hosted at Brunswick
Library. Jenna says, “The students come ready to talk. We discuss current events and cultural themes that help them understand the phrases Americans use.”
NEXT STEP: CITIZENSHIP
Brunswick Library debuted a Citizenship Corner in early 2024. The space has study kits which include flash cards, practice tests, books, naturalization forms and access to online resources. It was inspired by Conversation Group attendee, Sammy Sabra, who emigrated to the U.S. from Jordan. Sabra earned her U.S. Citizenship in 2023 and says, “I am grateful to everyone at the library for teaching me and encouraging me to speak English. I’m also thankful for teaching me American history and helping me study for citizenship exam.”
Citizenship Exam Prep courses are offered at Brunswick Library throughout this fall.
SUPPORT
Quality of life opportunities are another way the library can help. Tara Azin was a refugee from Afghanistan granted asylum in the U.S. “I never attended school in my life until we moved to Medina and I began classes at the library.”
She also just earned her Citizenship: “The day I became a citizen, I bowed down and kissed the ground. I am treated as a human here. My children are safe. I am so grateful.”
Go to MCDL.info/WorldLanguage to register for courses and learn more about any of these resources.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JK GIFTS
Gratitude This Fall Gathering With
The holiday season is a time for gratitude and reflection. At JK Gifts, we believe that gathering around the table is a wonderful way to bring people together. With beautifully crafted platters, every meal becomes an opportunity to elevate those moments and create deeper connections with those we cherish.
Our top serving dishes from Nora Fleming take the guesswork out of setting the table for seasonal gatherings. The bread tray can be embellished with a mini pilgrim so that it’s the perfect complement to your table décor. You can even add festive flair to salt and pepper shakers with a cornucopia mini.
Fall is also a wonderful time to light up those fire pits and spend time making memories, not a mess.
The Nora Fleming and Coton Colors charcuterie wood serving boards (pictured above) are both durable and convenient for outdoor fall gatherings. Pair a Nora mini with a serving board to style your tasty hors d’oeuvres for your theme. These platters let you share everyone’s favorite foods.
Locally owned and operated by sisters Julie McNabb and Katie Heinz, JK Gifts is a stylish boutique that offers a wide selection of unique and personalized gifts. With two convenient locations in Historic Downtown Wooster and Medina, as well as an online store, it’s the perfect spot to find thoughtful, unforgettable gifts. Let JK Gifts help you share your gratitude this season. Visit our website for more information ShopJKGifts.com .
Charcuterie wood serving board
Nora Fleming bread tray, salt and pepper shakers, and utensil crock.
Thankful for Good Health
2PiFit Members Are Thankful for the Business’s Positive Impact on Their Lives
ARTICLE BY EMILY SHEA-OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2PIFIT
Celena Koerber, owner of 2PiFit located in Wadsworth, began her journey toward wellness in 2013 after being diagnosed with a chronic illness. The years following resulted in a complete life change for Celena, one that drove her to make a career change and open 2PiFit in 2017.
After changing her relationship with fitness and nutrition, Celena felt compelled to help others do the same. She completed several wellness certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and, as a former industrial engineer, she translated her drive and passion for improving complex systems and machinery to improving (an arguably more complex system) the human body.
Now, 2PiFit is a thriving local business with an assemblage of members that are thankful for the positive impact Celena and her business has on their lives. One of 2PiFit’s members, Marsha C. wrote a testimony that says: “I’m pleased to share my success story with you about 2PiFit. I had some serious injuries that prevented me from fully moving correctly. They included
three spine fractures, hip displacement, a sciatica nerve issue, knee pain, baker’s cyst and a bad rotator cuff. After going to different personal trainers and physical therapists for over three years, Celena successfully helped me move again with no pain in just two and a half months!”
Celena’s wellness offerings include private training, semi-private training and nutrition coaching — all of which can be completely customized. Working out with 2PiFit isn’t your run-of-the-mill exercise session; it’s all encompassing and includes exercise programming, science-backed lifestyle coaching and motivational support.
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I TAKE T H E TIME TO UNDERST EACH C L IENT’S INDIVIDUAL GO CHALLE N GES
Celena says, “I believe that everyone is unique and that a one-size-fits-all approach to health and fitness simply doesn’t work. That’s why I take the time to understand each client’s individual goals, challenges and preferences before developing a personalized plan that addresses their specific needs. Whether it’s through exercise, nutrition, stress management or other lifestyle factors, I work with clients to help them achieve optimal health and wellness in all areas of their lives. I believe that by treating the whole person, I can help clients achieve long-term, sustainable results and live their best lives.”
AND PREFERENC
In addition to a highly personalized wellness plan, members receive benefits from 2PiFit’s partners. These include:
• Marigold Wellness Collective offers services that are included in various 2PiFit’s programs. These include epsom salt floats, cold plunges and infrared sauna sessions.
• Practical Healing offers services that are also part of the 2PiFit programs. These include a biomarker evaluation with one of their functional medicine practitioners and custom meal planning with a functional medicine dietitian.
• 24 Karrot Kitchen is a farm-to-table cafe owned by a culinary medicine professional. 2PiFit’s partnership with 24 Karrot provides members with customized macro meals that are crafted with nutrient dense whole foods.
“We are thankful to have such amazing partners in the local community to create a holistic approach for helping our clients achieve lasting results,” says Celena.
Another way that Celena aims to show how thankful she is for the 2PiFit community is through a special wellness challenge that she offers every January. The Drop 2 Sizes in 8 Weeks program includes four workouts a week, nutrition coaching and accountability meetings. Connie H., former participant in the challenge said, “[2PiFit’s] programs are aimed at holistic health, not just working out, and is a great way to get strong and healthy.”
Learn more online at 2PiFit.com or call Celena for information at 440.591.8668.
C OLOR your holidays
ARTICLE BY EMILY SHEA-OWEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BUDGET LIGHTSCAPES
In July, we introduced you to Budget Lightscapes, your Northeast Ohio nightscape experts specializing in professional low-voltage LED landscape lighting design, installation and repair services. Before we dive into some of their stellar fall and winter services, here’s a recap of what we shared this past summer about the importance of lightscaping your property.
If you had the chance to read our July issue article already, feel free to skip ahead to the paragraph below the bullet points. Lightscaping — also known as landscape lighting — is a system of outdoor lighting that provides increased security, safety and a beautiful ambiance to your property’s exterior. It’s available for both residential and commercial properties.
When it comes to lightscape design, the options are endless and highly customizable. Some of the types of lighting that could be used to enhance your property include:
• Grazing: This involves positioning beams of light so that they project against a surface.
• Shadowing: This type of lighting is placed in front of a focal point to cast shadows onto the surface behind it.
• Silhouetting: To create silhouettes, the light will be placed beneath a tree, shrub or bush so that the shape can be seen against a dark background.
• Pool and fountain lighting: Water features have a lot of potential when it comes to creating dramatic lighting effects. Placing lighting under the water can illuminate the feature and create a striking focal point.
• Downlighting and uplighting: Placing lighting at the top or the base of the home or feature can illuminate it without being too overwhelming. When it comes to landscape lighting, experts recommend not to overdo it.
Now, let’s get into the fun stuff — lightscaping your property for the holidays! Budget Lightscapes has many high-quality, affordable and customizable options to beautifully showcase your property and home this season.
If you’re dreaming of a timeless winterscape look and feel, the warm white light produced by LED 2700K low voltage lighting is always a classic choice to provide an inviting glow, and warmly welcome your family and friends for your special holiday gatherings. Or, maybe you would like to opt for something a little more colorful to enhance your holiday fun and festivities! Budget Lightscapes has many color spectrum choices, including the popular holiday colors of red and green. RGBW LED color changing lighting gives you endless options at your fingertips for vibrant color selections year round.
What are RGBW LED lights? They’re an advanced version of RGB lights that create more colors and effects by combining red, green and blue lights with 2700K warm white light to enhance color spectrum display. This innovation in LED lightscape technology gives you the creative options of diverse colors and modes or the classic warm white lighting — both integrated into one fixture for truly an ideal value combination!
Speaking of value, Budget Lightscapes’ RGBW LED color changing lights are made of solid cast brass for optimal durability, feature enhanced surge protection, are dimmable and backed by a hassle-free lifetime warranty. True-to-color LEDs produce powerful and vibrant colors, adding new dimension to your landscaping designs. Customers rave about their positive experiences with Budget Lightscapes. One happy customer says, “Chris did a wonderful job designing and installing our RGBW lightscaping. He exceeded our expectations, doing it quickly and at a reasonable price. Love all the fun we’ll have setting the colors for the holidays and general whimsy.”
Now’s the best time to creatively upgrade your outdoor spaces to reflect the beauty of this festive season! COLOR your holidays with Budget Lightscapes’ high-quality, affordable RGBW LED lighting when you call them at 216.406.1900 to schedule your free design consultation. Visit budgetlightscapes.com/gallery to view design option photos.
NOVEMBER 2024
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
NOVEMBER 2ND
Explore MCDL Archives: Civil War Letters
Medina County District Library | 2:00 PM
Learn about the experiences and perspectives of a family during the Civil War through a collection of personal letters in the MCDL Archives. Register to attend at MCDL.info
NOVEMBER 10TH
Gruca White Ensemble: Expanding the Boundaries of the Classical Experience
Wadsworth Public Library | 2:00 PM
Ohio Regional Music Arts and Cultural Outreach (ORMACO) and the Wadsworth Public Library continue their Live at the Library concert series with a show that will engage the audience with creative programming and an energetic performance. Tickets are free, but registration is required. Visit ORAMCO.org to secure your seat.
NOVEMBER 13TH
ORMACO Annual Dinner
Cambria’s Bistro, 132 Main St., Wadsworth | 6:00 PM
Join ORMACO for an evening of delicious wine, food and celebration with a live music performance by the talented Canton-based guitarist and vocalist Patrick Masalko. Tickets are $50 and seating is extremely limited. Visit ORMACO.org for more information and to purchase your ticket.
NOVEMBER 13TH
Author Visit with John Scalzi
Medina County District Library | 6:30 PM
Join Hugo Award-winning author John Scalzi for a discussion of his latest novel, “Starter Villain,” and all things books and writing. John is a former President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and a Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. CONTINUED >
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NOVEMBER 20TH
Ricardo Morales
Vivero and Grace Blackford: An Afternoon of Hispanic Music
Medina County District Library | 6:30 PM
This program presented by ORMACO will feature jazzy Hispanic melodies with a varied repertoire including classic boleros, Latin American rock and originals. The show is free to attend. Visit ORMACO.org to learn more about the musicians and to reserve your seat.
NOVEMBER 22ND – 24TH 40th Annual Medina Candlelight Walk
Medina Public Square
Head to this classic holiday event for three days of festive happenings. Expect a community Christmas tree lighting, a holiday market, a selfie station, photos with Santa and so much more! Visit MainStreetMedina.com for more information.
