aroundKent Magazine Vol 6 2015

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Kent Natural Foods Co-Op Western Reserve Public Media

Thank You, Northeast Ohioans!

Meals in Motion

Providing Meals to Seniors

Equine Therapy

Where the Magic Happens

Increasing Awareness of Organic Food Health Benefits



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www.aroundkent.net publisher/photographer Matt Keffer 330.221.1274 info@aroundkent.net

art director Susan Mackle

advertising/design services Matt Keffer 330.221.1274 info@aroundkent.net

copy editor Mori Clark

contributing writers

Dominic Caruso Adam Crislip Rebecca Cross Michelle Culley M.Ed. Trina Cutter Jeff Ingram Katherine Jackson, Ph.D. Mark Keffer Joni Koneval Anne Marie Noble Dr. Patrick O’Connor Gail Rule-Hoffman, M.Ed. Megan Seaman, Ph.D. Melanie Steele, MBA Dan Stroble Ron Wolf Karen Wolf Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content of any manner is prohibited without written permission. aroundkent accepts no responsibility for solicited materials.

content volume 6 2015 6 Western Reserve Public Media 12 The Road Less Traveled

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16 Inside|Out 24 Meals in Motion

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28 Equine Therapy

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31 Visual Art Showcase 40 Art and Healing 50 On Local Art and Music

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52 Terri Kent 54 Kent Natural Foods Co-Op

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56 The Strength of the Wolf Pack

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58 Pedaling to Freedom

58 On the Cover: Jeff Ingram from Kent Natural Foods Co-Op Photo by Brad Bolton

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Trina Cutter

F

ictitious CEOs of a commercial broadcast channel, cable operation and nonprofit public television station compared stories about their operations:

The commercial broadcast CEO said, “The Great Recession hit us pretty hard but thankfully, advertising sales have bounced back and we are really looking forward to the local advertising money the 2016 presidential election campaign will generate.” The cable station operator CEO lamented, “You might hear a lot about cord-cutting and people canceling their subscriptions for our television services, but we’ve managed to diversify our offerings with wireless telephone and Internet services and we believe diversification will keep us solidly in the game well into the future.” The CEO of a nonprofit public television station replied, “Our business model depends on the kindness and generosity of viewers, local businesses and foundations to donate membership dollars and underwriting support.” “What’s that?” asked the others. “Based on kindness and generosity — how’s that working for you?!”

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“So far, so good,” replied the CEO of the nonprofit public television station. “So far, so good.” Western Reserve Public Media (Channels WNEO 45 and WEAO 49) has been in existence for over 40 years, thanks to the kindness and generosity of the residents of northeast Ohio. What began as a single public television service broadcasting six hours a day has grown to four public television channels — Western Reserve PBS, Fusion, V-Me and MHz Worldview — broadcasting 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During its 40-year existence, Western Reserve Public Media has had two building locations, five general managers, five logo changes, two rebranding initiatives and a transition to digital transmission. It has persevered through seven U.S. presidents, four world military conflicts, a government shutdown, a recession and Great Recession, a global financial crisis and the most recent U.S. federal government creditrating downgrade. Throughout all of this, the kindness and generosity of the residents of northeast Ohio has persisted.

A New Public Television Station The Western Reserve Public Media story starts in 1971 when The University of Akron, Kent State University and Youngstown State University each wanted their own public television station. The state of Ohio was committed to the idea that every citizen should be able to receive a public television station, but determined that the three universities


were geographically too close to have separate stations. It was strongly suggested that they form a consortium and jointly create a separate 501(c)(3) corporation to own and operate WNEO Channel 45. A couple of years later, WEAO Channel 49 was added. The corporation was named Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio, Inc., and WNEO and WEAO were branded together as PBS 45 & 49. Thirty-three years later, PBS 45 & 49 was rebranded to Western Reserve Public Media. The governance of Western Reserve Public Media comes from its history. The three consortium universities’ presidents serve as ex-officio members of the board of directors and are responsible for appointing people from their geographic areas to serve as community members. In 2005 the number of people each of the university presidents could appoint increased from one to four in an effort to obtain more community engagement. Currently there are 15 total board positions.

Production Facilities Originally, all three universities supplied production facilities, but Youngstown State closed down its facility in the mid-1980s and the University of Akron shuttered its studio in the mid-1990s. While Kent State University’s production studio still exists, it has not been transitioned to digital, so the analog production facility is inadequate for Western Reserve Public Media’s digital broadcasting. Western Reserve Public Media subleases the old United Bank Building in downtown Akron from WKYC television in Cleveland and also has retrofitted its multipurpose room at its master control and administrative offices in Kent to be used as production studios. From those two sites, the station produces local pledge breaks, interview-based talk shows, panel discussions, local follow-up programs to national shows, onair inserts and the occasional request for a state or national video feed. In addition to the two

production facilities, Western Reserve Public Media has two transmitter facilities, one of which is located in Copley and the other in Salem. Aside from the production services the universities provided during the early years, the universities did not and still do not provide any financial support. Western Reserve Public Media operates just like any other nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, in that it is solely responsible for all its accounts payable and receivables, payroll, personnel and human resources, utilities, buildings and grounds and capital equipment purchases. When Continued on page 8

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Center Drive in Kent to build the public television station’s administrative offices. The lease was for $1 a year for 25 years, which Western Reserve Public Media paid in full the first year! In 2002 the station moved its master control facilities located in Salem to the Kent administrative building so that the entire operation would be housed under one roof.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Continued from page 7 Western Reserve Public Media has a leaky roof or a parking lot full of potholes, it has nowhere to go except its own operating budget to get it fixed. In 1990 Kent State University leased Western Reserve Public Media land at 1750 Campus

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The largest source of income for Western Reserve Public Media is individual membership support — once again, the kindness and generosity of its viewers. The remaining funding sources are derived from a combination of tower rental income; local business and foundation support; federal and state grant funding; K-12 education professional development workshops; and service purchase agreements.

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Western Reserve Public Media’s largest expense by far is its programming costs, with most of its programming coming from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). For most public television stations across the country, the federal funding they receive from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) covers the cost of the PBS programming. This is not the case for Western Reserve Public Media. This year, the station will have to raise an additional $300,000 to its federal grant to pay for the PBS programming. The reason for this is because the population served is one of two factors in the PBS programming costs, and Western Reserve Public Media serves a very large northeast Ohio population. In fact, it is the largest PBS service in the state of Ohio. To put this in perspective, the second largest station — WVIZ in Cleveland — reaches more than 1 million fewer people. With such a large broadcast coverage reach and such a small operating budget, you might ask, “How does Western Reserve Public Media do it all?” There is just one answer to that question: It’s all thanks to the kindness and generosity of Northeast Ohioans! Trina Cutter is President and CEO of Western Reserve Public Media.





I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost Dr. Patrick O’Connor

Most creative, successful people have traveled very interesting paths to get to where they are … usually zig-zagging a lot, shifting gears, retracing steps, exploring new passions, revisiting previous experiences, maybe reinventing themselves and generally bouncing back often. All these experiences are part of their creative profile and serve to motivate and inspire them. This feature, The Road Less Traveled, tells that story. It answers the question; how did they get to where they are now? This version of The Road Less Traveled, describes the path of Ann Kent, Vice President, Nonprofit Engagement, BVU (Business Volunteers Unlimited): The Center for Non-Profit Excellence.

natural. She joined her dad, a forester, in many outdoor activities and came to appreciate the beauty and serenity of nature. She shared her dad’s love of the outdoors including hiking, kayaking, biking, camping, canoeing and sailing. Ann’s mom was a good bit ahead of her time in a variety of ways. She was, for example, one of few mothers at the time who worked outside the home. She also earned bachelor and master degrees at a time when it was rare for women to do so. At the same time, she worked in the early days of Head Start in rural communities in Alabama to establish child care centers.

Early Steps Ann Kent grew up as a shy child in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She was surrounded by music as a child at home, church and community, learning to play and love the piano and violin early in life. She excelled to the point she was actually performing with the University of Alabama orchestra while still in high school. Ann grew in confidence and became more outgoing both through her music experiences, and the need to change school several times as a teen due to school desegregation. She also developed a sense of adventure as a child partly due to her love of everything

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Career Paths After completing high school, Ann decided to attend college and had to think long and hard about her college major. As much as she loved music she felt the time and effort required to become a professional musician was more than she wanted to commit. She wanted to build on her love, success and extensive


experience with music so she searched out professions related to it. She explored the area of music therapy and eventually decided to attend Florida State where she could major in it. Her attraction to it was rooted in the notion that music reaches people unlike anything else. Music therapy would enable her to continue her passion for both music and supporting people.

“Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.” — Alphonse de Lamartine

Upon graduation from FSU, Ann moved into the work world of music therapy. It may come as a surprise to some people but music therapy is a very wide and deep profession with many applications. Her initial work was as a music therapist with children and adults in a psychiatric hospital. From there, she moved on to work with adolescents at New Directions, a drug and alcohol center. It was at New Directions where she met and worked with an excellent mentor, Nikki Babbit. Her experiences there and with Dr. Babbit became the motivation to move from working directly with clients, to seeking management and leadership roles. She realized she would need to broaden her education and skill set to reach her new goals. This led her to Cleveland State University and an executive MBA degree. Eventually, all this resulted in her becoming the executive director of what is now known as the Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center. It was also around this time that BVU was created.

Leadership Roles Ann has had numerous leadership roles in many organizations and community groups throughout her life. Her work has centered on advocating for those who have been silenced for one reason or another. For example, she serves on the board of directors for the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National MS Society and the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning. Her mother’s activist spirit is a common thread in her work, her current work at BVU serving as a perfect example. BVU: The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is an organization that strengthens nonprofits by involving thousands of volunteers from the community. BVU originated from the business community in Northeast Ohio. Businesses wanted a resource to assist in connecting managers and executives to non-profit organizations. As such, BVU has an entrepreneurial spirit, incorporating funding streams from businesses and foundations as well as earned income. It was and is the first of its type in the country.

Making a Difference Non-profits, especially smaller, less visible ones, often have difficulty locating board members and businesses who can partner with them. BVU helps to fill this void by connecting hundreds of business executives and professionals to serve on nonprofit boards of directors.

volunteer referral, consulting and training. The emphasis is on supporting non-profit organizations in arts/culture, education, community and economic development, environment and animal advocacy. Ann has been at the center of much of this activity. Her work with BVU is meeting and working with people who are striving to make the world a better place. Many people she works with are leaders themselves with strong visions. She helps them launch their visions further. For more information on BVU, check out the website www.bvuvolunteers.org. One great example of many is the association with Jo-Ann Fabrics and Craft Stores. With guidance from BVU, the Hudson facility started doing Done-in-a-Day (DIAD) in 2012, where as many as 550 employees have volunteered each year at nearly 40 area nonprofits for two weeks in May. Jennifer Frantz, Manager of Community Marketing for the Hudson location, comments “we take a lot of pride in supporting our communities. Jo-Ann team members always look forward to the spring volunteer opportunities.” Jo-Ann has also nominated numerous Continued on page 14

The Akron-based Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) and Cleveland-based Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) merged in September 2011, and has offices in both downtown Akron and Cleveland. The organization, led by Brian Broadbent, offers services to businesses and nonprofits throughout the region and provides one-stop shopping for

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Continued from page 13 employees to participate in the BVU board matching program. In recent years, employees have joined boards of non-profits in Stark, Summit and Cuyahoga counties.

Lessons Learned Another major defining moment for Ann occurred on one of many hiking trips with her son Bryan. She began to notice some physical changes such as difficulty walking and problems with vertigo. After numerous tests it was determined she had Multiple Sclerosis. After the initial shock, she decided to confront the disease with the same tenacity she has done in everything. She was determined she would continue to enjoy her lifestyle and do the work she loved. She worked her way through treatments, and she made a number of adjustments so she could continue her work on behalf of others. Ann continues to be as active in the outdoors as possible. She has also embraced Yoga as a source for buoyancy and balance in the physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions of her life. Even with MS she continues to take annual outdoor adventures with her son and friends. Music has also played an important role in her own adjustments to life with MS. Ann is the first person to tell you that she is totally surprised to be where she is today and what she’s been doing for the last 19 years at BVU. The creativity associated with music therapy and the decision to be more outgoing

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are the anchors of her life and what she brings to her work. It seems there is something about personal empowerment that has led her to encourage and inspire others to do the same. In some ways, those who need empowerment the most … those who have been silenced are the subjects of her passion. She wants to shine a light on those in the shadows. Music is a tool to help her to do that. Music opens people up.

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“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” — Maria von Trapp


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Brings Art from the Akron Art Museum’s Collection into the Community

The Akron Art Museum is taking art to the streets and outdoor spaces of Akron with Inside|Out, a community activated art project that takes high quality reproductions of art from the museum’s collection and installs them in unexpected places in town. The first phase of Inside|Out — a two year project funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation — has been launched in North Hill, downtown Akron, along the Ohio and Erie Canalway Towpath Trail and in the Summit Metro Parks. The spring phase, which is on view now through mid-July, features 30 art reproductions. The second phase, which runs from August through October 2015, will re-install the artworks in three new communities: Cuyahoga Falls, The

University of Akron and University Park, and in West Hill/Highland Square. In spring, summer and fall 2016, the museum will add ten new works, installing 40 reproductions in eight new communities. A number of the works are mounted at eye level on the sides of buildings, while others are installed on free standing posts. The framed reproductions are one-to-one scale and range in size. Some are relatively small, making for a delightful surprise when discovered — such as Frank Duveneck’s portrait Miss Molly Duveneck, measuring just 17 x 12 inches — while others are impressively large, such as Larry Zox’s geometric abstract piece, Untitled from the Scissors Jack Series, which measures six and a half feet tall, by 11 feet wide. Visitors to the Inside|Out artworks in the community are invited to the art museum to see the original works on view in the galleries. “We believe that everyone deserves a quality art experience. We’re thrilled to share our art collection with the community,” says Akron Art Museum Executive Director and CEO, Mark Masuoka. Inside|Out project coordinator Roza Maille said, “We’ve created a number of items to help people locate the art works in the communities — including travel posters with a map to all

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Dominic Caruso

the Inside|Out installations, brochures, and the Inside|Out Tour App. The app is great because you can access all kinds of rich background information about each artwork, in addition to using it to locate the pieces around town.” The museum has viewed Inside|Out as a

community development catalyst and a means to collaborate with community partners, as much as it is a way to give everyone a high quality art experience. Maille said, “One of the most exciting facets of Inside|Out is that it promotes exploration around Akron. It’s a chance to visit neighborhoods and outdoor spaces you normally don’t get to spend a lot of time in.” Masuoka added, “Inside|Out helps us to have a much deeper conversation about the value of the arts and culture in our community. The


impromptu English lesson to their clients. In downtown Akron, the museum partnered with the Downtown Akron Partnership and the Akron-Summit County Public Library. And the Ohio and Erie Canalway and Summit Metro Parks were instrumental as partners in helping to bring Inside|Out to Akron’s beautiful outdoor spaces.

project also allows us to deepen the conversation between the museum and the community by offering numerous opportunities to build strong partnerships and friendships across Akron’s diverse communities. Civic engagement is the focus of our vision and Inside|Out is the perfect project to demonstrate our mission to enrich lives through modern and contemporary art.”

A number of events and programs are in the process of being scheduled around the Inside|Out installations, including bike tours, walking tours, and street festivals. Maille said, “It really is a community activated art project. The community partners and people from the neighborhoods will be creating events and programs around the artwork. They are driving engagement and meaningful interactions with the art. The Akron Art Museum is here to help,

The art museum is working with a number of community partners to make Inside|Out a reality. In North Hill, a partnership with the International Institute of Akron and Akron Better Block helped the museum to bring the artwork to the neighborhood. In fact, on the first day of installation, educators from the International Institute used the artwork installed on the side of their building to teach an

but we want people in the community to make the work their own.” Travel Posters/Inside|Out Maps and Brochures are available at the Akron Art Museum and • The International Institute of Akron • Downtown Akron Partnership • Akron-Summit County Public Library • Ohio and Erie Canalway • Summit Metro Parks Follow the Akron Art Museum on social media for Inside|Out updates: www.AkronArtMuseum.org Facebook.com/AkronArtMuseumOfficial Twitter: @AkronArtMuseum Instagram.com/akronartmuseum

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215 South Depeyster Street • Kent, Ohio 44240 855-353-4031 • 330-346-0100 www.kentstatehotel.com




MEALS IN MOTION Remarkable advances in medicine have extended our average life expectancy to a record high of 78.7 years. Living longer means more years spent in maintaining independence and facing challenges that come with the aging process. In addition, more families than ever live a great distance from their aging parents, leaving millions of seniors behind, hungry and socially isolated. It is a fact that 10,000 Baby Boomers reach the age of 65 every single day, with one quarter of today’s 65 year olds living past the age of 90. facing those challenges that come with the aging process. These seniors currently represent the fastest growing population group in the United States. According to a study done by Meals on Wheels America, seniors as a percentage of the population will grow from 18% in 2010 to 26% by 2050.

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The Cost of Living Longer

their own families to take care of. Meals in Motion provides the families of those seniors with the comfort of knowing their loved one can remain independent in their own homes and receive one hot meal a day. It costs less to provide senior meals from Meals in Motion for an entire year than it costs to spend one day in the hospital or six days in a nursing facility. This program saves us all in Portage County thousands of dollars in unnecessary Medicaid and Medicare costs.

As a senior myself, I celebrate the thought of living longer and maintaining good health, but I know that aging comes with a price. We all hope that our children will “take care of us” as we grow old with grace. Many of our seniors today do not have that luxury. Their families are scattered across the United States and have

Meals in Motion provides both congregate and home delivered meals to seniors throughout Portage County. Both options provide hot, nutritious meals from a menu formulated by a registered dietician from Direction Home Area Agency on Aging. Home delivery provides individual meals and a wellness check to

Anne Marie Noble

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home-bound seniors who may not have family in the area, while congregate meals provide a chance for social interaction in addition to cafeteria-style meals for ambulatory seniors. Our staff arrives in the kitchen at 5am to start preparing the meals for the day. They prepare, portion, and pack meals (all of which include an entrée, vegetables, fruit, a starch, and 2% milk) for each of our clients before the drivers take them out to be delivered. The kitchen staff prepares the same meal for our congregate clients and drivers deliver pans of food to each of our congregate sites to be served cafeteria-style.

Making a Difference — Program Need Elderly households are much less likely to receive help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP — formerly called Food Stamp Program) than non-elderly households, even when expected benefits are roughly the same. Seniors require greater consideration towards their health and medical needs, and these become compromised when there is not enough food to eat. A study examined the health and nutritional status of seniors found that food insecure seniors had significantly lower intakes of vital nutrients in their diets when compared to their food secure counterparts. In addition, food insecure seniors were more than twice as likely to report only fair or poor health status and higher nutritional risk.

that food insecure seniors sometimes had enough money to purchase food but did not have the resources to access or prepare food, due to lack of transportation, functional limitations, or health problems. Older adults are the most at-risk of losing their independence. There are 29,847 people sixty years of age and older throughout Portage County; this is 14% of the total county population. 4.5% or 1,343 of those seniors live below the poverty line; a projected 535 of those seniors in poverty will have severe physical or cognitive disabilities. According to the Scripps Gerontology Center, “[t]he combination of lower income, living alone, and higher prevalence of disability among older women are all contributors to the need for long-term services and supports.” In addition, older adults can be vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation by others or themselves.

How the Program is Funded Before Medicaid waiver programs, older adults who needed any degree of long-term care typically entered nursing homes. Ohio’s PASSPORT Medicaid waiver program helps Medicaid-eligible older Ohioans get the long-term services and supports they need to remain in their homes. PASSPORT is a two-pronged program. The first part is a pre-admission screening, during which interested consumers are screened by telephone to determine preliminary Medicaid eligibility and care needs. They are also provided information about the variety of long-term care options available. The second part of PASSPORT is home care. Once a consumer is determined eligible, a case manager works with him or her to develop a Continued on page 26

For seniors, protecting oneself from food insecurity and hunger is more difficult than it is for the general population. For example, a study that focused on the experience of food insecurity among the elderly population found

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went for my bone scan and the doctor told me that I have a 7% improvement in bone strength since my last scan 4 years ago. I attribute it to this food program. Thank you. I have been coming here for 5 or 6 years.” This truly illustrates the purpose of our program: improved health and quality of life for our seniors.

Continued from page 25 package of in-home services to be provided by local service providers. For those seniors who may not qualify for the PASSPORT assistance program, a donation for the home delivered meal is welcomed — but not required. Meals in Motion is also supported through United Way of Portage County, which assists those individuals who are unable to pay.

Our Newest Adventure and Partnership It has been reported that many seniors throughout the United States were “sharing,” if not giving, their entire home delivered meal to their pets, whom they could not afford to feed. The Madonio Family Welfare Trust, a specialized fund of the Portage Foundation, approached Meals in Motion thus creating a partnership where the Madonio Family Welfare Trust would provide pet food to seniors who are currently receiving hot meals from Meals in Motion; our drivers would deliver the pet food on a regularly monthly schedule. This program is due to kick off in early May. A very special thank you to Chas Madonio and his family for making a difference in the lives of our seniors and their companions!

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Success stories Very recently, upon arriving at the home of a client, one of our drivers heard the client yelling for help. She immediately called 911; the client had fallen out of bed and although he had a lifeline call button, he was unable to reach it. His door was locked and the driver was unable to get in. The fire department advised the client’s family to install a rapid entry system for access to his home during emergencies. One regular congregate client, aged 75, submitted a letter to us which reads “I recently

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For over 224 home delivered seniors in Portage County, Meals in Motion is literally the difference between remaining independent in their own homes and needing to go to a nursing facility. Meals in Motion provides a nutritious meal, friendly visit and safety check which assists with seniors coping with the three greatest threats of aging: hunger, social isolation and loss of independence. Research data proves that when seniors have a good support system, they have a better quality of life, fewer hospital stays, and live longer. For more information on the Meals in Motion program, please call Erin McPherson, Administrative Assistant at 330-296-9211 or email emcpherson@fcsohio.org.


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Equine Therapy

Where the Magic Happens

Michelle Culley M.Ed., LPC

My favorite part of the drive to the barn is the last stretch where I turn off the main road onto a narrow, gravel road. That’s when I roll down the window of my car to get my first soothing smell of the horses. The popping of the gravel from my tires briefly gets the horses’ attention. They look my way before lazily dropping their heads back down to continue munching on the grass. Some of those same horses will be asked to do a very special job today. They will be asked (and I do ask them) to be part of an Equine Therapy team. Simply put, Equine Therapy is experiential animal assisted mental health therapy.

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The ideal equine therapeutic team consists of a licensed professional counselor, such as me, an equine specialist, a willing and able horse and the client or clients. Why use this type of therapy? As horses communicate in a sophisticated non-verbal language, they are ideal for work in the mental health field where clients are often unable to put their own voice to their struggles. Through the observable behavior of the horses, clients can gain insight into their own issues. Today I will be co-facilitating an Equine Therapy group at a barn in Portage County. The clients are teen boys who are in the juvenile justice system in another county. I always meet with my co-facilitator long before the groups arrive so we can go over our plan for the afternoon. We have both facilitated groups of adults and teens before, so we know that not everything

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will go as planned; besides we have to leave a little room for The Magic to happen. My co-facilitator and I have a number of activities planned for the teen boys for the afternoon. One involves inviting the boys to build a horse obstacle course out of the various items we brought to the arena. The boys are told that they will be asked to move a horse of their choice through the obstacle course they build without actually touching the horse or using equipment of some sort to pull the horse. They must communicate what they are asking the horse to do in a way that the horse will understand. They are invited to think of the obstacles they invent as the real obstacles in their own lives. One boy bravely offers that the small jump he created for the horse represents his addiction to cigarettes. He said he has a real desire to “get over” his addiction, but doesn’t know how to do that.


It wasn’t long ago that when I told people that I did Equine Therapy, I would get puzzled looks and maybe a few jokes about the horse needing therapy. (Does a horse fit in your office?) To add to the confusion, there are many different ways to work with horses and humans. Maybe the most common example of using the horse/human relationship in a therapeutic way is called hippotherapy — the word hippo comes from the Greek word for horse — which includes very mild tempered horses who wear adaptive equipment for children and adults with physical limitations. It includes learning how to ride and care for the horses. Children and adults with mobility challenges benefit from being on a horse due to the unique gait of the horse which closely imitates an average human gait. The riding activities boost confidence and help to build coordination skills. We are lucky enough to have two amazing facilities nearby. Fieldstone Therapeutic Riding Center is one of the largest in the nation and is located in Chagrin Falls; Pegasus Therapeutic Riding Center is equally impressive and is in Hartville. Both offer individual and group services. Another distinct way of working with the horse/human relationship is Leadership Training. This skills-based learning also involves direct interaction with the horses. Sue Thomas, MSODA, PCC, President of LeadershipEAD, LLC is based in Portage County. She has worked with horses and corporations big and small, here and abroad, to improve their understanding of leadership and management. She brings her knowledge of the horses and her training as a Professionally Certified Coach and Master’s Degree in Organizational Development and Analysis to bring corporate training out of hotel conference rooms and into the horse pastures. “Working with the horses in this way becomes an experiential workshop,” said Thomas. She

added, “Participants are not sitting and trying to absorb the theories explained in a classroom. They get to have the experience of interacting with the horses using their existing skills to gain awareness of how effective they are. They then get to try out their new way of leading and gain immediate feedback of their effectiveness from the horses. Horses respond honestly and will not follow someone who is unclear or synchronistic in their actions, thoughts and emotions.” But today’s work with the teen boys will look different than either of those two examples. In preparation for the boys arrival, my cofacilitator and I gather the odd assortment of items we will need. Hoola hoops, swimming pool noodles, horse jump blocks and PVC pipes are the tools we need for our Equine Therapy activities. But, of course, we won’t be using those until later in the day. Some of these teens have never been in the close company of a 1,200 pound horse and may feel a bit intimidated, so introductions are in order. A friendly “hello” goes a long way toward building an interspecies relationship. Usually after going over the safety rules with the clients, we release horses into the enclosed arena. The horses are free to walk around as they wish within the arena. We then invite a few of our teen clients to join the horses and meet them one on one. Some horses stand still and accept the friendly pat on the neck from the teens. Others, of course, walk away from the teens as if they are not at all interested. My co-facilitator and I use this time to evaluate each participant’s level of comfort with the horses. We also begin to gather information from the client’s non-verbal actions that will help us tailor the afternoon’s work with the horses. We notice how the boys approach the horse. Do they run toward the horse? Do they sneak up

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on the horse and move in for a stealthy little pet? Do they offer hay as a bribe to the horse? The gathering of information doesn’t stop with the human participants. We note the messages the horses are giving us through their observable behavior. If a horse consistently walks away from a client, we may guess that the client is bringing a lot of high energy to the experience and the horse would prefer calm and predictable interactions. If one horse seems to be really enjoying the interactions we can guess that that horse is keyed into the movements of the clients. There are two major international associations which offer certification for this work. I have received professional training from the Equine Continued on page 30

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Continued from page 29 Facilitated Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA.com). There are many smaller organizations throughout the United States which also include a process for training and certification. Unlike most who are attracted to the training, I did not grow up around horses; I discovered horses and my love of them while in my thirties, when I began to take lessons and started to hang out at the barn more and more. I remember that the teens (mostly girls) who rode horses seemed so confident, so sure of themselves. I clearly remember seeing a rather introverted girl with long hair that she used as a curtain to avoid too much eye contact. I watched her get her horse from the stall and groom him in a knowing way. She tacked up her horse, gathered her hair inside her helmet and was on her horse in moments. That’s when I first saw The Magic. She was no longer a shy teen, but was a tall and proud princess riding the high plains. There was a glow about the girl as she guided her horse around the outside arena and I thought, “I want that. I don’t know what that is yet, but I want to bring that to other teens.” So, I started to call it The Magic. It is the special energy horses have which allows people to grow and stretch in their understanding of themselves while they are working with them.

Clinical Counseling from Kent State University and became a licensed clinical counselor. I now work for Healing Strides Counseling Services, LLC in Acorn Alley in Kent. The majority of my time is spent in a traditional office setting with an occasional trip to the barn. Through my training and experience I have come to understand that the purpose of horse therapy is to help the client build a relationship with the horse which opens up a compassionate heart in the client. It includes supporting the client as they gain skills to guide the horse with fair, kind and consistent communication so that horse and client can move in tandem. The activities and games we play with the horses are purposeful and are designed to elicit emotional response from the human participant. It is my hope that the emotional response will lead to better insight for the client. It is also my hope that the client will have a deeper understanding of their personal boundaries and the importance for clear and consistent communication of their needs through their interactions with the horses.

After being properly trained, I began working with rescue horses and teens, but soon discovered that my work began to resemble psychotherapy. The teens and adults I worked with would discover places of terrible sadness or grief in their hearts while working with the horses, or they would begin to tap into their own power and need for living their truth. I felt I owed it to my clients and to the work to get a better grasp on the psychotherapy part of the equation. I got my Masters Degree in

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At the end of the day, we realize how much personal growth has taken place in a relatively short time frame and we know that it was made possible through this mysterious work with the horses. These noble creatures offer opportunities to really see how we present ourselves in the world. They offer a heart to heart communication that is so rare in everyday life. Most of the time we will like what we discover about ourselves. We discover a strength that we didn’t know we had. But, sometimes we will not like what we learn about ourselves. Maybe we will learn that we send mixed messages and have really poor boundary management skills. But growth, real and lasting growth, requires an acceptance of our shortcomings and the knowledge of how to do things better. The horse does not judge, he just leads us to our better selves. I call that Magic! Michelle Culley M.Ed., LPC listens2horses@gmail.com 330.835.7477


Visual Art

S H O W C A S E

Approaches to representational art (art that depicts forms from the observable world) can vary wildly. Two artists here exemplify this disparity. Non-representational art can be seen as work that speaks directly through the forms of the medium and does not refer specifically to visually perceived sources. Guest writer Rebecca Cross (an artist featured in our previous issue) covers the work of Jessica Pinsky, who works in both approaches. Here we’ve focused on her

Mark Keffer KSU Class of ‘88

non-representational fiber sculptures.

B I L L Y

R I T T E R

The work of Billy Ritter covers a wide range of sensibilities. Primarily a ceramic artist, he also makes psychologically and esthetically engaging drawings and paintings. His images provide a deep well of stream-of-consciousness derived fragments with open-ended connotative meanings.

Originally from Ellwood City, PA, Ritter now lives and works in Cleveland. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from Slippery Rock University, during which he also studied at the Academy of Fine Art & Design in Bratislava, Slovakia, and in 2010 received an

Ink on Paper 2012

Ink on Paper 2012

MFA from Kent State. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Ceramics at Cuyahoga Community College. www.billyritter.weebly.com

Studio Shot 2014

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Visual Art

S H O W C A S E

D A R I C E Of particular note in the work of Darice Polo is the way in which she utilizes seemingly known forms — common photographic snapshots and home movies — to explore various personal and artistic directions that are unexpectedly varied. She mines her sources with an extreme degree of feeling and thinking.

Passages from her artist bio elaborate: Her drawings and paintings are a translation and formal meditation on the inherent nature of abstraction in photography. Over the past decade her drawings have primarily explored the history of the Puerto Rican diaspora in New

Liberty Island 1958 (4) 2009, graphite, 6 5/8" x 10"

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P O L O

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York. She refers to vintage photographs of her ancestors to mimic the darks and lights of the photographs by meticulously adding layers of graphite on paper. When the viewer identifies the replication of the photograph as a drawing and focuses in on its formal qualities, an alternative


depiction of an often-stigmatized Latino culture comes to light. The Liberty Island drawings refer to 8mm film stills of a family outing to the Statue of Liberty in 1958. The translation of these images into drawings depicts a transitory past and an extended narrative in time. In this work the artist examines her cultural heritage through the filter of American society and asks us to re-examine the Statue of Liberty as an icon of the 21st century. In addition to drawing and painting, Polo is also working in video, currently producing A Wise Latina Woman, which focuses on Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and addresses issues surrounding U.S. involvement in Latin America and the Caribbean. Included in this are “portrayals of pastoral landscapes and a longing for the warm embrace of the Puerto Rican people and culture of her youth.”

Liberty Island 1958 (3) 2009, graphite, 6 5/8" x 10"

Darice Polo is an Associate Professor in drawing and painting at Kent State University, where she has taught since 2004. Born in New York City, she received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York and an MFA from the State University of New York at Albany. She has exhibited her work in major cities across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. Her work is currently included in Fluid 2015 at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art in NYC. www.daricepolo.com Liberty Island 1958 (5) 2009, graphite, 6 5/8” x 10”

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Visual Art

S H O W C A S E

J E S S I C A

Rebecca Cross

(wall) In Memoriam: “of every person I have ever known, that I can remember, without looking on Facebook or asking my Mother” linen remnants and thread, 2013

Drawing by Schuyler Coleman 2014

(floor) Saving the Color Wheel 8’ in diameter, oil on canvas with thread, 2009

Textiles bear a special relationship to everyday human experience. As one travels through various life cycles, the interweaving of moments range from what is created to what is destroyed. Textiles, by virtue of their tactility and hapticity, and through their capacity for layering and rich texture, provide an apt metaphor for the complexity and intensity of human transformation. Artist Jessica Pinsky came to weaving through her training as a painter. The Akron, Ohio native (who currently teaches at CIA and Baldwin Wallace) earned her BFA at NYU’s Steinhardt School and her MFA at Boston University. When one of her painting teachers brought her a sewing machine (after witnessing her cut apart and reassemble a slew of paintings), her transition toward textile art began. Fascinated by color, Pinsky finds the processes of dyeing and weaving singular in their ability to integrate design into the structures of her work. Pinsky self-describes as a weaver who thinks through the language of painting. Her dyed and painted weavings and sewn

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P I N S K Y

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am: nI n, mber, on ing n

e n anvas 9

assemblages are typically large. She makes huge circles and rectangles of activated surfaces, suffused with a wide array of information, in color, texts, and strata of variously constructed and dyed fabrics. One of Pinsky’s central concerns is the inexorable nature of life cycles; the large scale of much of her work conveys this idea of immensity. Her palette is wide-ranging, and conceptually driven from piece to piece: subtle values of whites in a piece about holding memory, to express what the “shadow of a shadow” might look like; a streak of yellow between columns of blues, creating a vertical horizon; an exuberant chaos of pinks, yellows and blacks from which emerges a long trail of red coffin fabric, communicating a kind of visual life passage, or an entryway into another realm. An irrepressible personality helps explain both the prolific creativity of Pinsky, and the risks she takes as an artist. Her latest enterprise, as the founding director of a new non-profit art center in the burgeoning Waterloo Arts District in east Cleveland, is the result of her extraordinary vision, ambition, charisma and hard work. Praxis Fiber Workshop, which will provide access to a cross-section of the regional community, opens on June 5 from 6 — 8 p.m. with a Textile Arts Alliance member show. www.jessicapinsky.com

“It was horribly unbalanced,” he said. I said, “I understand.” mostly wool and acid dyes, 2013 9’ x 4’

“I still believe in a miracle.” She said, “I think the miracle already happened” dye paint on silk, acid dye on wool, assorted fabric, thread and yarn, dyed coffin lining, 2013 4’ x 7’ x 40’

www.praxisfiberworkshop.com

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Just a hop, skip, and a jump up the road is a place of art and healing.

Art and Healing Just Up the Road … and Across the World

Gail Rule-Hoffman, M.Ed., LPC-S, ATR-BC, LICDC-S

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ollow Interstate 480-West to Interstate 271-North, and skip onto Lander Road, and you will “land” at Ursuline College, a small women’s focused educational institution. It is the home of a unique program to Northeast Ohio — the Master of Arts in Counseling and Art Therapy Program. It is particularly remarkable because of its dual identity. Not only does it educate trainees in the science of mental health, but it also schools students in the creative field of art therapy. Students combine their interests in art and mental health in a unique professional program that prepares graduates to be eligible for both credentialing as art therapists and licensed as professional clinical counselors. Ursuline also has an undergraduate major in art therapy that prepares students for graduate programs. To many, understanding the link between counseling and art therapy may be mystifying. Counseling as defined by the American Counseling Association (ACA) is a relationship with a professional who works with individuals, groups, and families to empower them in their goals for emotional and mental wellness, as well as their educational- and career-related aspirations (ACA, 2014). However, what makes the program distinctive is its specific focus on the healing qualities of art therapy. According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), art therapy engages clients in using art media, creative techniques, and resulting artwork to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem (AATA, 2015). A goal in counseling and art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal wellbeing. Art therapy practice also requires knowledge of art media (e.g., drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as knowledge of human development, counseling theories, and techniques. Continued on page 42

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Continued from page 41 Counseling and art therapy touch a wide variety of populations. Because of the diversity of clients, Ursuline students are able to pursue their practicum and internship placements in over 125 different settings in the greater Cleveland, Akron, and Toledo areas. Students learn various theories, skills, and media and techniques to use with clients as well as how to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders. Students work in settings such as inpatient and community mental health

centers, residential treatment centers, mainstream alternative school programs, nursing homes, hospice and bereavement centers, addictions treatment centers, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and programs for veterans and military families. Populations served include those suffering from problems related to adjustment issues, grief and loss, anxiety and depression, trauma and abuse, academic and developmental delays, addictions and substance abuse disorders, dual diagnoses, personality disorders, and severe psychotic symptoms. Ursuline students come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are artists who want to share the value of creativity and help others in their healing journeys. Others are from social science backgrounds and see how expressive arts

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enhance the therapeutic process and promote growth. Others may be pursuing a profession change or embarking upon a career after having raised their families. The curriculum incorporates a broad range of theoretical approaches, and emphasizes the development of individual students’ professional identity. Faculty members model diverse perspectives in their professional philosophies and expertise. Clinically, they have worked in community mental health, residential treatment, inpatient, outpatient, addictions, domestic violence, and in centers for those with disabilities, dialysis care, and medical settings. Some faculty members have integrated mindfulness and yoga into their practice. Academically, they have backgrounds in counselor education, art therapy, marriage and family therapy, and psychology. In addition to classroom instruction and onsite experiences, students may participate in a variety of service learning trips. Service learning allows students to open their learning, awareness, and creative hearts to individuals and groups of diverse culture, ethnicity, and race. The purpose is to “see and be seen”, which creates an open sharing of experience and multicultural sensitivity. Recently, students, alumni, and faculty have gone to El Salvador, Ecuador, and Africa. This summer they will travel to a Native American Indian reservation in South Dakota, and in spring 2016 they will journey to Nepal. Below, Dr. Katherine Jackson, professor in the Counseling and Art Therapy Program at Ursuline College, gives a glimpse of the great work students, alumni, and faculty have engaged in during the service learning trips: “The term service learning has become synonymous with the millennial generation. Studies

42

have shown that millennial’s are humanitarian at heart and always open to social action causes. It is no wonder that after we started providing service learning trips to developing countries that it soon became a popular and sought-after program experience with many of our millennial generation students. In 2013, the Ursuline College Counseling and Art Therapy service learning group took its inaugural trip to El Salvador, where group members worked with youth and families who were impoverished and in need of mental health and wellness care. Thirteen students and three faculty members worked in Santa Domingo School and Parish to help support approximately 150 children and their families. Service learning group members provided counseling, art therapy, played games, and spent quality time with the people of small town Chiltiupan, El Salvador. Group members were in awe of the warm welcome that was bestowed. They also learned


in professional activities in the community, including the annual Ursuline/Tri-C Arts and Healing Arts Exhibit and Lecture, various creative and clinical workshops, and in state and national professional organizations. The curriculum is rigorous and challenging, and students are well prepared and highly sought after.

that art, emotions, and games translated across language barriers and differences. At the end of the day, the service learning team felt little separation or difference from the El Salvadoran people, and realized that human connection was universal. After a successful trip to El Salvador, Ursuline students and faculty set sight on service learning trips to Ecuador and Zimbabwe. The service learning group went to Ecuador in March 2014 to work with street children and school children that were in need due to poor socioeconomic standards and lack of care. In January 2015, the group journeyed to Zimbabwe to work with HIV/ AIDS orphans. During both trips, focus was on

counseling, using art therapy to help children express feelings/thoughts, game playing, and loving kindness to support children’s emotional and mental wellness and care. Even with the great distance, as well as social, economic, and political differences, between Ecuador and Zimbabwe, the service learning team expressed similar feelings of interconnectedness and kinship from the people they helped. Relationships were built from spending quality time and being together. Even when language was different, human authenticity and

kindness seemed to build a bridge of communication. Team members reported that they felt renewed and inspired with a sense of peace and purpose that went beyond their in-class studies and experience of western society. To date, the number of children and families that our service learning projects have reached is more than 1000 individuals. This number may be small in some domains, but is large when considering that only 40 Ursuline students, faculty and alumni provided care for all of these people. On average, this means that each service learning team member connected with at least 25 people. To deeply and powerfully connect with others and to know the positive impact of the Ursuline group is amazing and humbling. In today’s culture of global citizenship and interconnectedness, service learning is not a choice or an adventurous vacation. Rather, it is a needed resource, and a product of an ever-expanding global community. If someone across the world suffers, someone in the United States does too. This is what it means to do and be of service to others.”

The Counseling and Art Therapy Program at Ursuline College is located on a beautiful, spacious campus 13 miles east of Cleveland in Pepper Pike. Ursuline’s overall student body size is approximately 1300, and students represent a variety of racial, cultural, and religious groups. We would love to share more information about the program at Ursuline College, and to learn more and schedule your visit, go to www.ursuline.edu/visit. We’re just up the road, and we’ll see you soon! Other article contributors: Katherine Jackson, Ph.D., ATR Megan Seaman, Ph.D., NCC Melanie Steele, MBA

Service learning trips are among the many activities and experiences that students engage in as they bring together art and healing into a unique process of understanding human emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Along with didactic experiences in the classroom, and internship placements throughout Northeast Ohio, students are encouraged to participate

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Music

Shivering Timbers

Hey Mavis

The Numbers Band

Jon Mosey

Mo Mojo

Acid Cats

Peggy & Brad

The TwistOffs

Jessica Lea Mayfield Rachel & The Beatnik Playboys Rio Neon

Austin Walkin’ Cane

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Xtra Crispy

Roger Hoover

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Smokin Fez Monkeys

David Mayfield


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'Hot Daughters' photographed by Dawn Lu.

Local Music Scene 2 Pager

on local art and music W

hen considering what makes a successful music scene in a college town like Kent, we tend to look to the venues; bars or basements that foster these celebrations of art and friends. An important aspect, no doubt, though the transient nature of Kent implies fleeting moments that an ever-changing lineup of people and places occupy. Those who were present during the 1980s in Kent could share this sentiment with memories of seeing

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Adam Crislip legendary bands come through JB’s Down on Water Street. Some belonging to the next generation might tell you about catching a band from Akron called The Black Keys play a house party somewhere in town. These moments in time appear and are replaced sometimes before we can fully realize they existed at all. At current, one downtown establishment that furnishes live performance on nearly every

50

night of the week exists. Catch a comedy show on Monday and be back Tuesday to hear a punk band from Wisconsin play for an empty room at the Stone Tavern at 110 Main Street. The staff may take a night off here or there from hosting eccentric local or out-of-town acts, but come back next weekend and you might see the owner, Lou, serving pints from an ever-changing, high-quality draft list before getting on stage himself to play drums. He


will let you know that “as long as we are doing what we’re supposed to, the Gods will look out for us,” in reference to the multi-faceted venue he has established among a rapidly changing downtown business landscape. Whether you come to flip through crates of vinyl that rival your favorite web-store’s discography or simply for a dark place to enjoy a drink, there is something for everybody here, granted they aren’t turned off by the liberal burning of incense or steady whirring of a needle in the adjacent tattoo shop. Raw appreciation for the creative process is rampant throughout the Tavern, from the local art which adorns its walls to the crass and poetic bathroom graffiti. It is not surprising to figure that nearly half of those frequently inside watching are also sharing it’s stage at some point. When we try to define what makes a music scene thrive, the environments that provide this cadre of citizens the opportunity to both brandish their own passions and celebrate the work of others come as close as it gets. While the Stone and other downtown venues can some nights provide you with live music and entertainment, the do-it-yourself spirit is still alive here and supporting the people doing what they love the way it always has.

show. Bands, speakers and of course poets come out for the monthly “Espresso Bomb” show which has continued to gather a local audience. Look to Scribbles’ windows to see flyers for upcoming shows and events. Stop in at any given time and see multiple artists collaborating on the next project or working out a new show. Nearly half of the workers play music as well as produce much of the art and drawings decorating the store. This marriage of visual art and music is the binding element for creative efforts in Kent, Ohio. Across the Fairchild bridge at 425 Gougler Avenue sits a beat up building that appears to have survived the revitalization effort of Downtown by a few decades. Nailing down information about the property is shaky at best, but a Kent Wired article from 2008 explains that a then-senior art student Ken Carter is responsible for most of the modern renovations to the gallery. Privately owned, there are currently five studios off of the main room occupied by a rotating cast of sometimes twice as many local artists and students; an ode to this sense of community. On the night of a show at 425, all are welcome to walk through its gallery which hosts installations by Kent State art students

At Scribbles Coffee, directly across from where the likes of Husker Du and local sweethearts Devo played at JB’s years ago, a collective of creative individuals are forging their own music and art scene. The walls of this fair-trade coffee shop feature a new local artist every month, and more than once hosts the work of its own employees. Even the paper place mats and crayons on each table beckon the customer to tap into their inner creativity. Recently a monthly poetry night taking place in Scribbles back room — a sanctuary for anybody seeking a quiet place to work among bookshelves and couches — has evolved into a free form variety

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and low-brow spray paint exhibits, sometimes side-by-side. Continue through the studio to the marvel of plywood at rear which acts as a stage for local skateboarders and bands alike; the skate ramp. Rebuilt just a few years ago, the ramp gets maybe more attention than any art hanging at 425 due to the focus on music at the space in recent years. Bands play in the middle of the ramp while kids crowd its walls and jockey for position along the crowded hallway. Hip-hop, rock and roll, electronic music and noise shows have repeatedly drawn kids to this space that looks little more than abandoned from the outside. Free from the restraints of a traditional venue, shows at 425 are consistently free and every so often skateboarding will manifest itself on the ramp along with the music being played. Those present for such an experience can attest to no greater joy than seeing a group of people celebrate creativity on their own terms in this warehouse that, at times, begs comparison to a temple. It seems obvious that this form of community would exist in a town like ours. A city synonymous with it’s liberal arts school, multiple generations of free-thinkers and artists as well as a history full of important acts of expression make Kent an ideal starting point for anybody interested in creative work. As time goes on, places change, names and people grow up, but the kids will always make the best rock and roll.

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Kent

Terri

The Hear t of Por thouse Theatre

Joni Koneval

Porthouse Theatre holds a special place in the heart of its Producing Artistic Director Terri Kent. Having begun her professional acting career on the Porthouse stage in 1983, Kent was elated when she had the opportunity to return to the theatre as its artistic director in 2000. Fifteen years later, Kent is celebrating a milestone anniversary as Porthouse’s chief creative officer — an achievement of which the theatre’s patrons, and Kent herself, could not be more proud. Seriously committed to providing quality theatre to patrons and meaningful education to young theatre professionals, Kent sees her position at Porthouse as a privilege. “Rarely does one have the opportunity to return to the place that changed their life,” Kent describes. “I am so fortunate that my family supports my work and that my patrons and colleagues are so much a part of my family. Our lives and summers have become entwined into the beautiful magic of Porthouse.” A native of Zanesville, Kent has directed at Porthouse more than a dozen times, including 2014’s productions of My Fair Lady and Oliver! She also performed as Dolly Levi in the

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Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University’s summer professional theatre, presents three productions each summer at its location on the grounds of Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. This summer Porthouse Theatre will present:

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC June 11 — 27, 2015 • Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim • Book by Hugh Wheeler • Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick • Suggested by a Film by Ingmar Bergman • Originally Produced and Directed on Broadway by Harold Prince

theatre’s 2011 production of Hello, Dolly! To the delight of Porthouse audiences, Kent will return to the stage this June, playing Desiree Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece A Little Night Music. When asked how she felt about returning to the Porthouse stage, Kent describes the upcoming experience as “exciting, exhilarating, and a little scary. The patrons have asked me to return to the stage and I only hope that I’m worthy of the honor.” To Kent, Porthouse Theatre is an ongoing legacy of the values passed down from the Porthouse family, whose initial challenge gift made the construction of the theatre possible. After 15 year as artistic director, Porthouse’s legacy has benefitted immensely from Kent’s leadership as well. Since 2000, Porthouse’s annual audiences and reputation as an entertainment and educational facility have grown substantially. Subscriptions have increased more than 300% and Porthouse’s patrons trust Kent’s creative vision and flock back to the theatre each summer to embrace the unrivaled Porthouse experience. The theatre is also quickly approaching its 50th anniversary season in 2018 and is in the middle of a major capital

VIOLET July 9 — 25, 2015 • Music by Jeanine Tesori • Lyrics and Book by Brian Crawley • Based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim” by Doris Betts

HAIRSPRAY

campaign jumpstarted by the generosity of the Gregory Hackett Family Foundation. Reflecting on her milestone anniversary, Kent is immensely proud “of the journey we have taken together. I love what I do and am honored to share Porthouse’s work with Northeast Ohio.” To Kent, the last 15 years “don’t seem possible, and yet [it] seems like it’s ‘always been this way.’ When I pull onto the Porthouse grounds for the first performance of the season and see the parking lot overflowing and the rainbow umbrellas over the picnic tables, my heart is full.”

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July 30 — August 16, 2015 •B ook by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan • Music by Marc Shaiman • L yrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman ased on the New Line Cinema Film •B Written and Directed by John Waters A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, VIOLET, and HAIRSPRAY are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone: 212-541-4684. Fax: 212-397-4684. www.MTIshows.com

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Jeff Ingram

Main Street, replacing a jewelry store. Co-op workers knocked out a wall, and combined two store spaces to form the current store. KNFC has been actively pursuing an expansion project for the past 2 years and hope these plans come to fruition by the end of summer 2015. We expect to add an additional 800 square feet off the rear of the building. Once that portion of the expansion is completed, our parking lot will be reconfigured so that rainwater will flow away from the building instead of toward it. The new parking lot will also eliminate the rear steps and provide an ADA, handicap accessible entrance.

The mission of Kent Natural Foods Cooperative (KNFC) is to provide healthy food at affordable prices to our community. We are a community centered business, member owned, that seeks out local and organic products whenever available to fill our store shelves. We have been located at 151 E. Main Street in Downtown Kent since 1981. Currently, a one year membership costs $25 for the general public and $15 for students. A lifetime membership can be purchased for $250. Members automatically receive a 5% discount on all purchases and have voting rights at our annual meeting among other benefits.

The interior expansion plans will include improved check-out lanes, a new larger walk-in cooler, a new produce cooler, a new freezer, and an expanded line of products. We also plan on installing a rooftop garden that will provide herbs and produce for the store.

Our vision is to increase community awareness of the health benefits of organic food, both to individuals and the planet. We strive to provide an outlet for more locally grown and organic food in our community. In the future, we plan to take member-ownership to the next level, with opportunities for input, volunteering and events that celebrate our community ownership.

Our final phase of the expansion will include creating a new front entrance to the store, which will be funded by utilizing City of Kent’s Facade Improvement Program. Kent Natural Foods Co-op is doing well and is happy at our current location. We are excited about the expansion and we greatly appreciate the continued support from our community.

Kent Natural Foods has experienced many incarnations over its forty year history. Formed as a buying club in the early seventies, members picked up their special orders at locations including the Unitarian Universalist church on Gougler Street. Kent Natural Foods joined the downtown Kent Community Project, which included a coop record store and clothing recyclery, eventually moving into the old Kent hotel. After a fire, the store was forced to shrink its inventory and move to North Water Street. Eventually in the early eighties, the store moved to

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A good description of KNFC comes from one of our newest staff members, Carys Bobbit, who started out as a volunteer and became staff in 2014.

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“The first time I walked into Kent Natural Foods Cooperative I knew that I had found something special! I had been living vegan for a few months and after giving up meat, milk, butter and eggs, I found wondrous substitutes for the first time at KNF Co-op. KNF Co-op is not vegetarian-exclusive by


customers, volunteers, and staff members. Here at KNF Co-op, we are united by an underlying desire to do the best we can for our planet, each other and ourselves. This is what connects us, and is what continues to motivate all my work here at Kent Natural Foods Cooperative.”

far; we carry a variety of organic, local meat and dairy. I could sing praises of the items that we carry all day, but to be honest, my favorite thing about KNF co-op is not the Tofurkey, nor the Coconut Bliss ice cream. My favorite thing about the co-op is the people who work and shop here. There is almost always a definitive positive air that accompanies our

— Carys Bobbitt/Staff Photograph by Brad Bolton

Pictured are employees of KNF; Hannah Knapp (left) and Amy Myers.

Kent Natural Foods Co-op Anyone wishing to learn more about the store or becoming a member can visit www.kentnaturalfoods.org or visit our physical store at 151 E. Main St., Downtown Kent. 330-673-2878. Open 7 days a week, 9am — 8pm.

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THE

STRENGTH

OF THE

IS

THE

WOLF

PACK

The Wolf Family’s Story of Survival, Life & Love ceremony before breaking the news — that very afternoon he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. That was the moment I hyperventilated … the fear literally took my breath away.

Karen’s Story: Have you ever hyperventilated before? If you have then you know it can be a scary experience. I’ve only hyperventilated one time in my life. The date was January 27, 2005; it was my husband’s birthday and we were thrilled to be expecting our first baby in five months. It was a hectic work day for both of us, and I tried to plan the perfect, at-home, private celebration for just the two of us. I failed miserably. On my

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rushed drive home from work I stopped at the local restaurant, picked up some roast chicken, and passed it off as home cooked by throwing it in a casserole dish. I didn’t even bake a cake. Thankfully he is partial to Dairy Queen’s ice cream cake, but you would think I could at least get his name iced onto it. Nevertheless, he ate my meal, opened a few gifts, and was grateful for every moment of it. He waited patiently and graciously through the entire birthday

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Ron and I met in 1991 while working summer jobs at Shooters Restaurant in the Flats, and our whirlwind romance lasted a solid 7 years before we finally married. It never occurred to me to mind that we dated that long before he asked me for my hand. We were having fun. Ron brought energy and adventure and music into my life. Since the age of 9 he played in his family band, The Wolf Band. Our first date was at his Uncle Lud’s retirement party where I was introduced to his Slovenian Polka family. My all-American upbringing barely prepared me for this live, backyard performance with accordions, banjos and polka dancing in celebration of Uncle Lud. During those dating years, I watched Ron play his banjo, bass guitar, and sing in festivals, weddings, and bars. When he wasn’t playing, we were out enjoying local bands like Armstrong Bearcat, Disco Inferno, and Alan Green. Life was easy. And fun. And, well, musical.


Fast forward to 2005 and R.J. was born just as Ron finished his final chemotherapy treatment. Since then we had triplets added to the family: Olivia, Addison, and Dylan were born in 2009. We have a dental practice that together we have worked to become successful. We built a house, began facing the aging of our own parents, and we started living life, with all of it’s ups and downs. No longer carefree, but challenging, joyous, heartfelt, and rewarding. This year, on Ron’s 10-year anniversary of survival from Lymphoma, he was honored to be nominated as Man of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The nomination reminded us of how thankful we are for the medical advances and research that saved his life. So our family, including the kids, are in the middle of our own campaign to raise $100,000 to help find cures for others with blood cancers.

Ron’s Story: I knew something was not right when I felt a lump on my neck on Christmas Eve, 2004. The lump seemed to grow exponentially every day. I saw the first doctor, who told me it was nothing. Unconvinced, I saw a second doctor, who told me it was nothing. Unconvinced, I saw a third doctor, who did a needle biopsy, and who told me it was cancer. I was only 37 years old, I had a successful dental practice, and my wife was pregnant with our first child. It was one of those moments that came to define me, that made priorities suddenly crystal clear. I am the type of personality who never makes a decision lightly. I research, and take my time, and make certain it is the best decision before I take that leap. It is probably why I dated my wife for 7 years before we were married. It is probably why we waited another 6 years before starting a family. So when faced with a decision about how to treat my Burkitt Lymphoma, a fast-growing and deadly blood cancer, I

considered every approach: holistic, nutritional, spirit based, and medical. In the end I decided on using all of them. However, being a dentist, nothing assured me more than my medical team at the Cleveland Clinic telling me, “We will cure you. You will be there when your child is born.”

We have a picture of Karen, myself, and our son R.J. taken on the day R.J. was born. Karen is tired from being in labor all night, R.J. has that newborn wrinkly look, and I am bald and still a little worn from chemo. We all look terrible in that picture and the lighting is bad, but it is one of our best family photos. I look at that picture and it makes me think of survival and life and love. Ten years later, four children later, I was nominated by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for Man of the Year. This nomination reminded me that donors, researchers, and doctors helped develop the Magrath Regimin, the chemotherapy protocol that cures Burkitt Lymphoma and that in turn saved my life. It inspired me to celebrate my 10 years of survival by raising money to continue to fund research so that more cures can be discovered. We took on this campaign in honor of two children, Ryan (age 7) and Molly (age 5), who are in the midst of their battles with Leukemia. To know

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the pain of going through treatment and seeing these two children have to face the same battle, is all the motivation we need to reach our goal to raise $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We are new to running large campaigns, but my family and I are doing everything we can think of to raise money. We enlisted the help of friends and family that we call Team Wolf. We have had events that are family focused so we can involve our kids and their friends. We have raised money in poker tournaments, in restaurants and at bars. My wife even had the idea to reunite The Wolf Band to play an event for potential donors. Even though it would require a dedication of time and effort to practice, my bandmates Bill and Tim (my brothers) and Eric and Dave (long — time friends) never hesitated in agreeing to dust off their instruments, donate their time and talents, and make that fundraiser a ton of fun and a huge success. They are a great bunch of guys. So far we have raised $70,000 and I am extremely proud. Written on the back of our team’s custom made t-shirts is our campaign motto, “The Strength of the Wolf is the Pack. And the Strength of the Pack is the Wolf.” We chose these words because, whether it is surviving cancer or raising money to save lives, most things in life you cannot do without the support and love from others. If you would like to contribute to the Wolf Family’s campaign, go to www.mwoy.org/pages/noh/cle15/dwolfm

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Kent resident Peter Zeidner has cerebral palsy, but don’t expect that to stop him from helping millions of people affected by the disorder. As the founder of Pedal-with-Pete Foundation, he has led the cause to raise more than $880,000 for research grants.

Local Man & Foundation Help People with Cerebral Palsy

“I’m very excited that I’ve raised so much money and am getting so close to my goal of 1 million dollars,” he says.

PEDALING TO FREEDOM Dan Stroble

Founded in 1993, the foundation’s primary fundraisers are yearly bike and hike events in Kent, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, and Emmetsburg, Iowa. Pedal-with-Pete is all volunteer-based, so more than 85% of the money donated has gone directly to fund cerebral palsy research. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements, therefore the research can lead to life-improving treatments. Because Pedal-with-Pete is a 501(c)3 organization, all donations are fully tax-deductible.

Pete says he started Pedal-with-Pete because there was not much research on cerebral palsy. Last year, the funding for cerebral palsy research received by the National Institutes of Health added up to less than one-quarter of a percent of the total amount across all health categories. Dr. Leland Albright, a neurosurgeon, has received numerous research grants from Pedal-with-Pete. His studies have revealed that the medication baclofen is much more effective when inserted into the spinal fluid inside the brain. According to Albright, this was a “night and day difference” from other methods. In addition to providing funds for research grants, Pedal-with-Pete has started a separate fund for giving away adaptable bikes for children with cerebral palsy. Albright commends Pete for his “extraordinary qualities” and his constant willingness to help others, despite his own challenges. Pete has been a fighter since day one. He was born to German immigrant parents in Hinckley, Ohio on September 8, 1958. Because he was

Kent Lions Club volunteers from the 2014 ride include, from left, Tracy McNeil, Jane Gwinn, Steve Hardesty, Peter Zeidner, John Ferlito, Madelyne Williams, John McNeil, Jerry Fiala, Fran Hardesty and Lela Irving.

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Kent Mayor Jerry Fiala, right, presents a proclamation in 2014 to Peter Zeidner stating that June 7 is Peter Zeidner Day.

born with cerebral palsy and the doctors did not expect him to live, he was baptized that same day. Pete’s father and the family au pair, Haide (pronounced like “Heidi”), raised him for most of his child life because his mother was tragically killed in a car accident when he was four years old. Pete recalls when he would grow frustrated during his challenging childhood. When this happened, he would ride his tricycle and “everything would become all right.” For Pete’s first years of school, he attended The Society for Crippled Children in Lakewood. While in his “special needs” classroom, he was forced to use buses, bathrooms, and a lunchroom separate from the non-disabled. He learned to type on a typewriter using a pencil eraser and practiced typing during the summer months. In seventh grade, Pete was “mainstreamed” into a regular classroom at St. Mark Lutheran School in Cleveland, where he was the only disabled person in a school of 150 students. He felt like an “ordinary Joe” and made numerous good friends. He attended a parochial high school. He was not granted any scholastic exceptions and was required to maintain “acceptable grades.” His sheer determination and sense of humor aided him in graduating from the parochial school. Upon graduation, the entire student body gifted a class ring to him.

A resident of The Tree City since 1980, Pete earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kent State University. He made many friends as a former member of the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, who purchased his first recumbent bike. Another person close to Pete is Christine Hudecek, who has been Pete’s companion and aide for 15 years. “Pete has been a real inspiration to me with his positive attitude and has taught me how to get through the difficult times in my life,” she says. “He has a wonderful sense of humor and is fun to be around. He is the kindest, most giving person I know.” Pete is a longtime member of the Kent Lions Club and volunteers his time to selling carnations and pancake breakfast tickets. The Lions Club volunteers at the Pedal-with-Pete bike and hike event. In 1991, to jumpstart interest in his founda­tion and with help from the Ohio Elks Association, Pete rode his recumbent bike 1,000 miles throughout the state. The excursion lasted 23 days and raised $10,000. This achievement garnered him the Elk of the Year Award from the Ohio Elks Association.

Kent Bike & Hike Event to Benefit Cerebral Palsy Research Seeking riders, volunteers, and door prize donations What: Choose a bike ride (10, 25, 50, or 100kilometer) or family-friendly hike (2 or 5-kilometer) at your own pace. Rides and hikes are fully supported with directions and roving support volunteers. Light refreshments and water will be available at rest stops along the bike routes. Enjoy complimentary lunch, music, massages, and door prizes at the completion of your journey. A bike tune-up station and raffle to win a 2015 Raleigh Detour 4.5 bicycle, both sponsored by Portage Cyclery in Ravenna, will be located at the start/finish. When: Saturday, June 6, 2015. Register from 7 — 9:30 a.m. the day of the event. Plan to finish ride or hike by 1 p.m. Where: The start/finish is at Theodore Roosevelt High School, 1400 N. Mantua St. (State Route 43), in Kent. The routes will travel through Kent and neighboring communities. More Information: Save by pre-registering at www.pedal-with-pete.org or by mail at P.O. Box 274, Kent, Ohio 44240. Visit website or contact ride co-chair Jim Stroble at strobes@neo.rr.com for more information.

as “caring,” adding “he has worked incredibly to make the best of his limitations.”

Pete enjoys sharing his powerful story with the world, so he is finishing an autobiography. He and the foundation are working to start additional events around the country. They are seeking riders, volunteers, and door prize donations for their bike and hike events. Kent’s ride is on June 6. If you want to h elp Pete reach his goal of $1 Pedal-with-Pete founder Peter Zeidner begins a ride on his tandem bike with his brother, Chris, around the neighboring streets at the 2014 Kent ride. million, mail your donation to P.O. Box 274, Kent, Ohio 44240. To register for the Kent ride or walk, visit www.pedal-with-pete.org. Contact ride co-chair Jim Stroble at strobes@neo.rr.com to volunteer or donate door prizes. Pedal-with-Pete thanks you! Pete has been a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Kent since 1981. The church’s former pastor, the Rev. George Gaiser, is one of Pete’s closest friends and a former president of the Pedal-with-Pete board. Gaiser describes Pete

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