And inside the castle, the bedroom is the sanctuary.

But, for children battling cancer, the bedroom is even more than a sanctuary: It is a place of rest, of healing, of recuperation and of reflection.

It’s a space where the very power of positivity can truly make all the difference in the world.

For one amazing local nonprofit called Special Spaces, creating a dream bedroom for a child with cancer is its sole mission. The group recently completed its 55th such bedroom for a local child.

Headed by director Shari Caruso, Special Spaces provides a dream bedroom makeover and design for children fighting cancer who live in Lorain County or Cuyahoga County and are between the ages of 2 to 19.

Anyone wishing to nominate a child easily can do so on the nonprofit’s website at www.SpecialSpaces.org.

Special Spaces origin

Special Spaces was founded in 2004 in Knoxville, Tenn., by Jennifer Swain, who, at the time had no intention of the nonprofit becoming a nationwide organization, Caruso said.

However, the concept took off and now there are 12 chapters in 10 states.

Fate took a turn when Caruso was interviewing a prospective member at a Rotary meeting to discuss the prospects’ community service record.

“And they shared this story about work they were doing in Wisconsin with Special Spaces, and I jumped all over that and said I need to get a chapter in Greater Cleveland,” Caruso beamed. “So, in 2006 or so, we brought it here, but still so many folks have not really heard of the organization.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it can change their world. The activities that they used to enjoy may look and feel different. They may not be able to do the things they really love.

“They don’t play soccer, ride bikes, go to prom or attend school. And, they spend a lot of time away from others — time in the hospital, visiting different doctors, receiving painful treatments, feeling tired and nauseous, and often times being isolated.

“So, our goal is to provide these children with a special space where they can not only sleep, relax and recover, but also play and enjoy just being a kid. A custom bedroom designed just for them.

“Whether they are dreaming of a princess castle, a butterfly bedroom, a pirate ship or a sports theme, we transform the child’s existing bedroom into a place that only they can imagine. A place for them just to be a kid.”

Caruso’s heart

Caruso is a former high school home economics teacher at Rocky River High School.

When she became director of the Greater Cleveland Special Spaces, she admits to having more heart than helping hands or funds.

She did what any good teacher would do, and that was to reach out to former students and colleagues to help her get started.

During her tenure as an educator, there was a class called service learning, so many of her students were familiar, not only with her passion for helping, but also the nuts and bolts, quite literally in this case, of successfully managing a nonprofit organization.

“I had absolutely no funding, but my husband smiled and told me that I’d figure it all out,” Caruso said. “I reached out to my friends and colleagues and said that I needed this or I needed that, or I need help building this or do you have a television?

“Special Spaces just smacked in the face when I heard about it and I knew that was going to be my mission. It really has changed my life and I’m so happy to hear and share the stories about the kids and the families we’ve been able to help.

“There was one teen boy that we recently did a room for who has just been to hell and back. We got a call from his mom recently that he would be in his room with his friends laughing and playing video games and that it was the first time she heard her son laugh in years. It’s incredibly touching, and just the best feeling you could possibly hope to get.”

The work is done by teams of dedicated volunteers and Caruso said they still need volunteers, particularly those who are handy with carpentry and other skilled trades that could be applied to interior design.

All furniture, fixtures, custom decor and other bedroom items have to be new and of course, donations of cash always are welcome.

The average cost of a bedroom makeover is about $8,000.

Caruso points with pride at Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams that provides her team “all the paint they could ever need,” and also the local Lowe’s franchise which has sponsored rooms and provided helping hands and materials.

She said she actively is looking for more corporate sponsors and partners, businesses that would like to make Special Spaces their corporate philanthropy, and folks that want to support the kids through their Amazon “Wish List.”

The application process is fairly straightforward and can be done online.

Once an applicant is approved the team meets with the child and parent to determine exactly what they need and exactly what they want.

Tickets are $50 and are available online at www.mainstreetwellington.org or in person at Wellington Music, 117 W. Herrick Ave., and available through Feb. 3.

The event is on Feb. 10 at building 19 in the Lorain County Fairgrounds, 2300 Fairgrounds Road.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event includes a hot meal catered by Bread-N-Brew, dessert, three drink tickets for pop, beer, seltzer or Matus Wine.

Tickets also include a chance to win one of more than 20 prize baskets, including designer purses from Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade or Dooney and Bourke, with additional raffles and games available to play.

According to director of Main Street Wellington Jenny Arntz, the value of the purses up for raffle range from $100 up to $400.

There also will be a 50/50 raffle, pull tabs and several games of luck and chance, including a wine ring toss and a poker chip game.

“There is just a ton of activity at the event,” Arntz said. “There are great prizes to be won, even if you don’t carry a purse.

“We expect the event to mirror last year with high energy, but double down on the fun. It is a great way to get out of the house this winter and help two great organizations raise funds.”

Last year, nearly 250 folks attended the event which raised nearly $10,000 for the group, a number Arntz says she hopes to surpass because of some unexpected expenses arising in the Main Street Wellington offices.

“Our roof is leaking,” she said. “We have some infrastructure improvements that we really need to invest in, as well as operating expenses.

“We try do so much to promote the Wellington community, and obviously, we always want to do more and more. With this event, folks can not only have a wonderful time and win some great prizes, but know that they’re really helping us out at a time when we really need it.”

And that is exactly what a new small business in Lorain County aims to do within the local nonprofit community through outcome-based executive coaching and strategic planning.

Songbird Leadership in Avon Lake is led by nonprofit veteran and entrepreneur Jill Fowler, who is its founder and owner.

For 30 years, she managed a variety of aspects of nonprofit operations, focusing on strategic initiatives, general management, program development and assessment, and all things people-related.

Fowler has an extensive educational background with advanced degrees from Case Western Reserve University, and this past August, decided it finally was time to hang her own shingle.

Fowler began her nonprofit journey when she started volunteering in college.

“It was eye opening; completely life changing,” she said. “It truly lit a fire in me, having that passion for service and community.

“I’ve worked in the nonprofit community for years, focusing mainly in the natural resources arena, and I’m still volunteering to this day.”

Fowler, as even her last name may suggest, is an avid ornithophile and is in fact a licensed bird bander.

And thus, the name of her business, Songbird, was hatched.

“I’ve had such wonderful experiences in the nonprofit world, and I was on track to stay in that community,” Fowler said. “But along the way, I made a career change into the legal profession focusing on elder law and special needs, and it was transformative.

“But, I continue to volunteer, I continued to serve on boards and help with strategic planning. I always had one foot staying rooted in that passion and was finally able to launch my business.”

The business focuses on helping and inspiring nonprofit visionaries through executive coaching, strategic planning and operational consulting.

Fowler says that the stresses of juggling multiple time demands, resolving constant conflicts and coping with competing priorities, make it difficult for nonprofit leaders to feel in control.

This, combined with attending to the day-to-day needs of the nonprofit while working toward a sustainable future, had caused many to feel overwhelmed, she said.

Rough going

Many nonprofits continue to have it tough right now, Fowler said.

Funding is down for a consecutive year, and nearly three out of four small nonprofits report funding as a challenge affecting recruitment and retention, she said.

“Leading a nonprofit organization is both fulfilling and challenging,” Fowler said. “These leaders have a lot on their plate, from fundraising, community relations, board development and programming.

“But sometimes, the operational aspects of running an organization can be a little overwhelming. Are your policies up to date and in compliance? Are your team members’ goals meaningful. Is your organizational culture welcoming, inclusive and motivating to your team? It’s a lot to balance.

“You have assembled a talented team of staff and volunteers who are passionate about your organization’s mission. Sometimes, though, it seems like the group is stuck in a rut or just not completely aligned, which impacts their ability to best serve your community.

“Our coaching methodology brings back control, focus and peace of mind to your work, creating greater productivity, performance and organizational results. It can also help you get your life back, allowing for more family time, significant health improvements and better sleep.

“We’ll help you put key habits and behaviors in place to regain control of your time and be a more effective leader.”

Fowler explains that each organization has unique operational demands to which she is able to tailor services, which includes assessing volunteers, setting key performance indicators, setting goals, creating better board engagement and developing organizational culture.

She adds that she works with most any type of nonprofit from well established to organizations just getting off the ground.

“The type of people who work in nonprofit organizations are motivated by a conviction of helping, of creating an impact for good and positive change,” Fowler said. “These are things that I’m excited about and I want to help them make their organization even more effective and able to do more and serve more.”

Fowler also has a program called Wingspan where area nonprofits that have been in operation for at least three years, are a 501(c)(3) organization and have operating revenue of less than $1 million, can apply for pro bono services from Songbird Leadership.

More information can be accessed at www.SongbirdLeadership.com or by calling 440-207-0739.

Sadly, according to a local pet re-homing business, by February, many of those same pets will be in a kennel or homeless altogether.

Stephanie Ouhadi, founder of Storm’s Angels, stressed that getting a pet — whether a dog, cat, bird or other — is a commitment of time, money and love over the next decade.

“They’re not a toy; they’re not there to be something that you open and then forget after the novelty wears off,” Ouhadi said. “These are new members of the family that will require your time — a lot of your time. And if you’re not able to give an absolute commitment to that, don’t get a pet.

“What I see can be absolutely heartbreaking at times. These pets come in to someone’s home and for some reason, they need to be re-homed, many after only a few months. It can be because of the death of the owner, or maybe an unforeseen allergy.

“But more often than not, what I see is that folks take on a pet without the understanding of the commitment of time and effort and yes, money, that is necessary. And, often failing to understand a given breed and their needs, causes the owner to want to give up their pet. They’re not a fashion accessory.”

Ouhadi alluded to the “doodle craze” of a few years ago, as well as the very popular German shepherd as currently dominating breeds in need of rescue.

She said she is seeing a large increase in cats being turned in, pointing to cat allergies as the main reason.

The origin

Ouhadi founded Storm’s Angels in honor of her first dog “Queen Night Storm,” which was rescued from a puppy mill.

She ended up becoming diabetic and then slowly lost her eyesight and hearing as she aged.

Storm lived seven years as a diabetic and was managed at home.

She developed degenerative myelopathy around 11 years old and was in a wheelchair until she died from bladder cancer at nearly 14 years of age.

Storm’s Angels rescue saves companion animals in Storm’s honor, and puts an emphasis on animals that may not be considered adoptable.

The group works to rehabilitate these animals and place them into forever homes.

But Storm’s Angels isn’t your typical pet shelter, in fact, it’s not a shelter at all as there is no physical facility for the nonprofit rescue.

Instead, Storm’s Angels is a confederation of volunteers who foster the pets until a permanent home can be found.

The group is 100 percent volunteer-based and desperately is in need of foster families and donations of money, food, litter, blankets, toys and other pet items.

There is a donation bin at Pet Supplies Plus, 4326 N. Leavitt Road in Lorain, or folks can mail donations to P.O. Box 259, Lorain, Ohio, 44052.

Ouhadi said donations have been down for the past couple years, but the group plans to ramp up fundraising efforts in 2024.

And while donations are down, the need continues to increase, she said.

Ouhadi pointed to the practice of TNR, or trap neuter return, which has become a vital part of the rescue work.

Lorain, alone, is estimated to have more than 9,000 free-roaming community cats, with many feral and some are strays that are lost or have been abandoned, she said.

Those cats that are not sterilized reproduce at an alarming rate, therefore worsening the problem, Ouhadi said.

“You have probably seen them in your neighborhood,” she said. “This life is a difficult one for cats, so stopping population growth is vital.

“We are seeing so many pets that have not been to the vet. They haven’t gotten their vaccines or been fixed, and that’s what we try to say to any new pet owner — get your pet to the vet.

“It’s so important to establish that relationship with a good veterinarian. Get your pets vaccinated and please, please have them spayed or neutered.”

Adoption

Ouhadi said that if someone is wanting to adopt, foster or surrender a pet, the best thing to do is to go to their website at StormsAngelsRescue.org.

Unfortunately, she said, the waiting list is “huge” for surrenders right now and will take time before they can get them into a foster situation.

Ouhadi said she only uses kennels or boarding short term as a last resort because of funding and that boarding “is not a life” for any pet.

Storm’s Angels Rescue provides all the needed supplies and pays for all veterinarian costs up until adoption day.

For fosters and potential adoptees, a meet-and-greet with the pets are available at events and by appointment.

More than 500 pets are adopted through Storm’s Angels each year.

And, while Ouhadi had a maximum of more than 300 pets at the same time recently in rescue, she points with pride that now only 82 currently are in need.

“Which is still more than zero, and that’s our goal,” she smiled. “It is such a rewarding thing to be a part of, and it helps make me feel complete, and that I’m doing what I can to help these wonderful pets and make a connection with a loving family.”

Private outings to the beautiful Lorain County Metro Parks and area academic establishments.

Performances by fine musicians and readings by noted authors.

Access to all the movers and shakers and leaders throughout Lorain County, and of course, parties galore.

Some private club with secret handshakes and sacred rituals?

Nope.

It’s the Monday Morning Senior Coffee group in Sheffield Lake, where the only requirement is a bit more life experience than most and the desire to enjoy fellowship, friends and fun with fellow seniors.

The group meets at 9 a.m. Mondays. at the Joyce E. Hanks Community Center, 4575 E. Lake Road in Sheffield Lake.

The men and women began meeting in August 2018 with a mere 12 seniors, and has ballooned into more than 50 seniors who attend a variety of events, hear guest speakers and play the very popular Bingo.

The group came about as a result of local politicians doing something many may find truly astounding — actually listening to their local constituents.

Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring, Service Director Pat Hastings and Council Member Rosa Gee held a round table discussion to get public input on how best to use the Joyce Hanks Community Center.

“The center was just not really being used as a community center,” Gee said. “It had ceased being part of the community, and we wanted to hear from everyone as to what they would like it to be.

“We invited all the folks to attend a public meeting just to get as much input as we could about what our constituents wanted to see. And, frankly, there just were not many young people that bothered to show up.”

But the older folks did, Gee said.

“And they shared loudly with us what they want,” she said with a  smile. “They wanted events.

“They wanted to get together for coffee and play bingo. They cared enough to come and voice to us what they wanted and we all stepped up to make that a reality.”

Gee explained that the group enjoys a variety of events and activities.

Recently, the members made holiday decorations for outdoor displays, put together Christmas cards and held a holiday celebration with gifts, goodies and glee.

Often, the group hosts area guest speakers including local and state politicians, public servants such as police, fire and emergency management technicians, and area business leaders.

“But we had a rule; there was to be no campaigning,” Gee laughed. “We certainly didn’t want to subject them to that type of abuse.

“We enjoyed hosting these folks because everyone had an opportunity to learn about what was going on in the community and how they could be affected by certain legislation.

They could voice concerns and share ideas or things they needed help with.

“What it did was break down barriers, because so many are afraid to ask questions, particularly from some politicians,” Gee said. “But now, they realize how many of them are just nice people who are there to help and explain things.

“Now, they’re on a first name basis with so many of these folks. They’re happy when a police officer comes in or a commissioner is there to speak. They especially love (state representative) Joe Miller who calls Bingo games regularly, and (Lorain County Prosecutor J.D.) Tomlinson who brings in doughnuts.”

The group also has a team that competes in the Northern Ohio Mind Challenge, a trivia competition.

Members had a recent visit from the Brookside High School choir, the band and even a class that was learning about robotics.

The group beamed when talking about their bocci ball league and the tour of the Lorain County Community College culinary school, complete with gourmet lunch.

“It’s a blast,” Gee said as she smiled. “It’s just so fun.

“We have some folks that are widows or widowers, and maybe have family out of town, so this this offers a wonderful opportunity to get together and spend time with friends and make new friends. They need this.

“Our seniors need this and it’s so important for them and important that we keep this going for our senior community.”

Group members

Jane Ambers, 78, of Sheffield Lake, says she’s been coming to the Monday coffee club for three years.

“Rosa is just so wonderful; everyone is just so wonderful,” Ambers said as she smiled. “The speakers are great, and boy, do we get to eat some great food.

“You can see all the smiles and hear the laughter. Folks really enjoy this.”

Diane Wuhesz, 67, of Sheffield Lake, agreed that the fellowship and friendship means a lot to her and the regulars in the group.

What she said she particularly enjoys are the speakers discussing some scams seniors should be aware of.

And, Wuhesz said she’s been excited to hear about the April 8 solar eclipse.

Fred Markoski, 82, of Sheffield Lake, is a Vietnam veteran.

“It’s wonderful to get together with peers from your age group,” Markoski said. “The camaraderie is wonderful and it’s something fun to do, get out of the house and learn about things around town to go see and go do.”

Gee said there is no cost to join or to attend the Monday gatherings.

Even many of the outings are at no cost to the seniors, although folks do donate money, food, time and services.

Gee said if anyone is interested in coming, to just show up at the community center at 9 a.m. Mondays or call 440-949-4883.

For the 14th consecutive year, Lorain Skate World, 4953 W. Erie Ave. in Lorain, presented its Holiday on Wheels spectacular.

According to coach Mary Nendza, there were 22 acts featuring 42 performers in the show.

The youngest performer was aged 4, while the eldest performer was 77.

The show featured several USA Roller Sports gold medalists and the current gold medal winning team from the Pan-American USARS competition.

“It all started when we wanted to do something a little different for the competitors,” Nendza explained. “With all the competitions and competitiveness and regimented practices, this was an opportunity for all the competitors to just have some fun and put on a great show.

“And, they really do love it. You can see all their hard work they’ve put in, and it’s really a fun, amazing show to watch.”

Nendez said the show was planned several months in advance, putting together choreography and a variety of dance numbers, soloists, pairs, kids and, of course, stunts.

“It takes a lot of coordination to put the show together,” she said. “We make all the costumes and the props and the scenery, so a lot really goes into putting on a fantastic show.

“And, it’s all holiday-themed with snowmen and angels and Christmas songs and carols, so it’s a wonderful experience for the audience. The music is great; the dancing and the stunts are great. If you like figure skating or the ice follies, it’s pretty much the same thing – just with roller skates.”

Such is the case of an inspiring and deeply talented artist whose canvas is glass and whose paint brush is a soldering iron.

Located at 11 S. Main St. in Oberlin, sits Verite Glass owned by artist and instructor Sheree Ferrata.

Ferrata’s business specializes not only in creating beautiful works of stained glass art and functional panels, but also in the restoration of those pieces as well.

Her work hangs throughout the country in private homes, but also hospitals, churches, schools and museums.

Ferrata has been working with stained glass for more than 40 years and says she has no plans to retire any time soon.

“I just absolutely love what I do,” she beamed. “I’ve been doing this for so long and yet I still have the same passion for it today as I did yesterday.

“I so look forward to doing the work and creating these pieces. Seeing people’s faces when you finish something they’ve always wanted or fixing something that is breathtakingly beautiful and restoring it back to its original glory is just so gratifying.

“I enjoy each project and each day.”

And, not only is her work on display in schools throughout the country, she is a well known and sought after instructor – one of the foremost in her field.

Ferrata provides instruction to various public schools, universities and now is working locally with the Lorain County Joint Vocational School as part of its art program and expects to provide several internships and apprenticeship opportunities to the next generation of stained glass masters.

Instructional classes

Verite Glass offers a number of instructional classes for the average jane or joe that would like to put their creativity to work.

She offers instruction in stained glass or glass fusion, which includes all the instruction, tools and supplies a crafter would need to create their masterpiece.

For only $30, Ferrata also offers a glass fusion pendant class which introduces novices to the art of glass fusion and students learn to create a dichroic glass pendant to be worn like a necklace, keychain, earrings or bracelet, for example.

Verite Glass also offers what Ferrata calls a “fusion party” for $50, plus $30 per object made where attendees over the course of three hours, learn to create pieces through the glass fusion process.

Ferrata said this course, designed for a minimum of seven people, is perfect for birthdays, team building, bachelorette parties and more.

“I so enjoy teaching and sharing the craft with others,” she said. “I’ve taught probably thousands of people over the years. I began teaching when I was working with companies like Ford and Kobe Steel and LTV, where they would do employee outings and we’d create stained glass pieces.

“It can be intimidating at first to some people, but once they get the hang of it, it’s just a lot of fun. I teach a seven-year-old girl here in Oberlin and it’s just an incredible feeling watching her at such a young age start to pick up the craft. And, she’s really getting good at it.

“All of the colors coming together and you just see her eyes light up. I think that’s what I enjoy so much about the teaching process is watching the students when everything starts to come together and they start to really see the finished product and what they’ve created.”

Love for glass

Ferrata herself started off wanting to be a professional photographer.

But, she began working with stained glass masters and fell in love with the process.

She apprenticed under world famous stained glass master Narcissus Quagliata, whose work can be seen in museums and private collections worldwide.

Quagliata defined new pathways for glass art and is considered one of the most significant artists in this medium.

He is best known for his spectacular artworks in public spaces which have drawn worldwide attention, including The Dome of Light: Wind, Fire, and Time, which is the largest illuminated glass art dome in the world.

It is situated in the Central Station of the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit metro system and is a landmark that has now become a tourist destination in Taiwan.

“I apprenticed with him for four years while in San Francisco,” Ferrato shared.

Vérité Glass opened its location in Oberlin in 2015, and Ferrata works in the studio with her apprentice Joseph Toothman.

She joked that sometimes the pair will be so “in the zone” when working on a piece that they won’t even speak all day.

The company specializes in commission work and restorations, but also will create prospective pieces that Ferrata will market to various curators for their collections.

A current piece, a three-foot-wide arched nightscape, is two years in the making and nearly ready to be marketed.

But, Ferrata explains that the vast majority of the studio work is based on a commission from someone needing her creativity and expertise.

“We hand draw our own designs to client specifications while working with them on color and motif,” she said. “We pride ourselves in the use of quality glass and refined technique.

“We can determine the use of lead channel or fine jewelry technique of copper foiling to properly finish a custom made stained glass piece. We have rebuilt antique windows as old as 200-plus years old. We refurbish the material to keep the antiquity of the window, maintaining its value.”

And, Ferrata stressed that do it yourselfers should not DIY their stained glass windows.

“Over time, the leading becomes oxidized so old windows don’t have the same integrity as they used to, and just taking them out could cause them to completely fall apart,” she explained.

Her shop also carries handmade creations from 15 fellow artists including jewelry, jewelry boxes, woodwork, artwork and more.

More information is available at www.VeriteGlass.com or by calling 440-774-4881.

It’s a common situation more and more folks find themselves in these days.

Be it living longer, more active lives or age 50-something men thinking they’re still in their 20s, physical therapy is becoming a much more common treatment for the young and the young at heart.

And, Wellington’s P.T. Services is making sure that more people are able to keep moving, keep active, and keep mentally fit.

P.T. Services began in Tiffin, Ohio, in 1972 with a small group of physical therapists and has grown to more than 250 employees all across Ohio with eight certified rehabilitation agencies in Ohio, including at 805 Patriot Drive in Wellington.

P.T. Services provides a variety of rehabilitation services including physical and occupational therapy, and provide in clinic care currently at its Patriot Drive location.

They work with local physicians and providers to ensure the best rehabilitation outcomes, and encourage local businesses, schools and other organizations to contact them for their rehabilitation needs at their sites.

Local regional supervisor Shannon Reardon explains that services currently are provided in their clinic setting, care also could be provided within the patient’s homes, assisted living facilities and county associations.

“We serve patients with physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology, providing care at the patient’s place of residence,” Reardon said. “With our workforce solutions, we provide such things as preventative training to rehabilitation programs that enable a safe return to work.

“To help employees stay healthy and injury free, we offer educational programs on topics such as ergonomics, posture, body mechanics, safe back and even flexibility and strengthening. So, it’s not always about getting someone back to being able to move better or perform better, but also to work with them to stay that way.

“Our wellness programs, our fitness programs we have found really help out our employers and local businesses immensely. Safe, healthy employees is a goal every business should have.”

The Wellington location has at least two physical therapists on staff each day, along with various support team members.

And while currently only offering in clinic visits, P.T. Services is looking to expand its network of clients to the local business and academic communities.

“Many programs focus on community need, from pediatric to geriatric care and all possible rehabilitation services in between,” Reardon said. “Typically, our patients will come about because of a referral from their doctor who says they need physical therapy.

“But, they absolutely can call us directly and don’t need a doctor referral. And all of our treatments are individualized and customized to the patient and what they need.

“We ask what’s going on, and what are your goals, what is important to them and so on. What do they need to be able to do, and we take it from there in putting together their plan. How often they come in, what kind of shape are you in to start with, age and what do we need to do to achieve their specific goals.

“What can we pull out from our big bag of tricks to get them back to where they want to be.”

Specialty skills

Reardon explained that her and her team, and the entire network of P.T. Services have very specific specialty skills to offer patients and make sure to use those skills when working directly with the patients.

Which comes with another directive.

Homework.

“Ideally, the time a patient spends with a physical therapist is time spent to make you feel better — to go through stretches or range of motion and using our techniques on whatever issue they may have to get them to their goal,” Reardon said. “The patient has to cooperate by making sure they’re doing their homework.

“We’re a team — the patient and the therapist — and there is definitely ongoing homework they need to be doing so the time we spend together can be specific to using our skills.”

Reardon says she is seeing the demand for physical therapists continue to increase and that more programs are becoming more readily and widely available for patients.

She added that if anyone is seeking a good career, physical therapy is in high demand although oftentimes the red tape and administrative work that comes along with the therapy part continues to be a challenge in the industry.

“It’s such a rewarding career,” the 32-year industry veteran said. “The people, my co-workers, the staff and the patients and their families — it’s just a delight.

“And Wellington is such a wonderful place to be and it’s certainly one of the nicest clinics we have. It’s second to none. But, when you see someone that is hurt or is going through a difficult situation and you’re able to help them move or even help someone walk again, wow is that powerful and we just love making a positive difference in people’s lives.”

In 2011, P.T. Services made an innovative change from being a privately held company to operating as an ESOP, or Employee Stock Ownership Plan, corporation which gives employees the ability and capability to basically own their own business.

For more information, call 440-647-0107 or visit www.ptsrehab.com.

Gyms, hotels, spas, rehabilitation centers and schools spend tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars on their workout equipment.

And, unlike being an inconvenience for the casual user, for a gym or rehabilitation facility, equipment not working means their customers aren’t being served.

But, it’s not like there’s some magical person that makes house calls like a gym equipment doctor, right?

Wrong.

Meet Kevin Bracy, owner of Fitness Machine Technicians based in Avon.

While Bracy’s not magical, his customers think he and his team of 11 technicians work miracles on their fitness equipment, keeping casual exercisers and professional gyms alike moving smoothly.

Serving throughout Lorain County and virtually all of Ohio, Bracy opened the franchise in November 2019.

He is one of 53 franchise owners across 115 territories in the United States and Canada.

His company provides repair services and general preventative maintenance on virtually every brand and type of fitness equipment.

It also provides assembly and disassembly, as Bracy explained equipment is getting more and more complicated.

“It’s not quite as simple as a nut or bolt these days,” he said. “Moving in general is a daunting task, particularly if you have quite a bit of fitness equipment that is too large to move and has to be disassembled and reassembled.

“Our technicians are expertly trained. Think about it — each technician is working on 20 or more machines a week. You probably have never worked on one or maybe once every five years or longer maybe when you first put it together.

“It’s just easier, faster and safer for us to do it. And, generic moving companies are not equipped to do that.”

Understanding the equipment

Exercise machines are composed of various distinctive components such as consoles, cabling and belts, Bracy said.

And, understanding how to correctly manage them, is essential in order to guarantee that the gear functions at its peak performance at all times.

He likens it to having a mechanic do routine updates to your car, such as an oil change or tune up, or going to the doctor for a check up yourself.

“That’s where we see most of the issues with the equipment is that it’s just not properly maintained or on a maintenance schedule,” Bracy said. “Once most folks set it up, they use it until it breaks.

“A little prevention goes a long way. And, with the newer equipment becoming more and more technology and software based, maintenance and repair is going far beyond belts and motors and bolts.”

Bracy explained that most equipment has a warranty of between one and three years.

Most brands and individual machines have a parts inventory of up to 10 years.

The problem that arises is that most machines, and even most brands, don’t have standard or interchangeable parts, and each requires
some very specific parts if they need replaced that you can’t simply find at the local hardware store.

He added that in his travels, he’s seen many simple repairs like the user forgetting to turn the machine on, to far more complex repairs that exceed the cost of the machine in the first place.

“That’s when we explain to them that it may just be better to invest in a new machine,” Bracy said. “I’ve seen machines that only a few months go bad, and others that have lasted 25-plus years.

“I’ve seen folks walk a mile or so on a treadmill once in a while to folks training for marathons. It just rums the gamut of how folks use things and the wear and tear on the machine.

“Plus, you have hundreds of different brands, so it’s a lot to keep up on to fix a broken machine, and we can’t keep all the parts in the back of the van. As of now, there are more than 400,000 different individual parts needed to repair and maintain all of these different pieces of equipment.”

And, it’s that commitment to training and customer service Bracy liked about the franchise, when considering to start one, calling himself a “start up and entrepreneurial kind of guy.”

The company provides several days on nonstop video training about the fitness machines themselves, allowing technicians to garner a deep understanding of the errors, safety needs and quirks of the machines.

Then, each technician works with an experienced technician almost as an apprentice learning more skills such as customer service, solution options and highly technical maintenance.

The franchise

Bracy has worked with another local franchise called FrafNet.

He began with a list of 80 franchise options and whittled it down to four before selecting Fitness Machine Technicians.

Bracy said he really enjoyed the type of franchise it was, providing a beneficial service to its customers that also is recession resistant.

“When times are good, people are buying new machines,” he smiled. “When times are tough, people are repairing what they have.

“But regardless if times or good or bad, folks need to keep moving. Exercise is so important and such a valuable part of our everyday life. I like that I work in an industry that is helping to get people to be more active, to be more healthy.”

A standard maintenance call is $139.

The technician will come out and diagnose the issue then write the prescription for the cure, which would include all parts and labor necessary to correct the issue.

In Lorain County, Bracy said it only takes a couple days upon contacting his company that a technician is likely to be available for the call.

Fitness Machine Technicians can be reached at 440-252-0164 or online at www.fitnessmachinetechnicians.com.

Well, turns out, for some that location is a small boutique old-time barber shop in Sheffield Lake called Barber in Black.

Owned by local barber Mike Palmer, Barber in Black, 5386 E. Lake Road, can be an experience for men and boys ready for a fine cut, a shave and some conversation.

It’s obvious from the moment a person walks in that they have two choices — a haircut or a deluxe cut and shave. However, each is loaded with perks of indulgence that are a delight to the senses, from the pore scrub to the face moisturizer.

“This is a place where I try to genuinely get to know all of my customers,” Palmer smiled. “I have guys that have been coming in for years and you really get to them.

“We talk about what’s going on, how’s work, how’s the family — you know,” he added. I’m sometimes one part barber one part therapist. And guys need a place where they can go, relax and hey, there’s nothing wrong with being pampered for a little bit.

“And when you look good, you feel good. You come out of here feeling refreshed and looking smart, which makes for a great day. It makes me happy. I just love cutting hair.”

The beginning

When Palmer embarked on his roundabout journey to becoming a full-time barber in 2020, he sat down and did some quick math.

He realized that to do the job full time and provide for his family, he needed to have about 300 clients on an ongoing basis.

Palmer has 1,200 regulars and too many walk-ins to count each day.

The whole thing began when the U.S. Army veteran started cutting hair during his time in service.

Palmer served in the Army throughout the 1980s and even was stationed at the border of the former East Germany. It was here he caught the hair cutting bug.

Barbering was something Palmer enjoyed.

After his stint in the service, in addition to a variety of odd jobs, he enrolled in barber school and graduated in 2014.

But, barbering was not to be his full-time calling at that point, instead he put his skills to work as a truck driver pulling a route from Lorain County to Buffalo, N.Y.

During that time, though, he volunteered his scissor skills to the Samuel L. Felton Valor House for homeless male veterans in Lorain which kept his skills sharp and put his barber license to work.

It was on one of many of the long hauls to Buffalo and back that Palmer decided he would put in a motion a career change and reached out to a local salon and asked if he could “work one of their chairs.”

“The salon was in this very spot and it was a ladies’ salon – you know, all the fancy haircuts and colors and perms and whatever,” Palmer said. “And I asked if I could work a chair and try to start building up my clientele.

““I would drive a truck four days a week, then the other three, come in to the salon and take care of the men’s haircuts and shaves,” he said. “I’m a wizard with the straight razor, you know.

“Well, it worked out pretty well, and slowly but surely, I built up a good following, mostly through referrals and word of mouth, and had a successful little practice going,” he added. “Then, I guess fate stepped in because my route that I had been doing for years was just all of a sudden cut.

“And, the lady with the salon decided it was time for her to close shop and step away,” he added. “So, I took my unexpected situation and turned it into a career move that I’ve always been wanting to do anyway. I took my little unemployment check and took over the lease, bought a couple chairs, did a little remodel and opened up my shop.”

With a laugh, Palmer said he didn’t tell his wife, Alice, of 33 years.

“But, when I did, she couldn’t have been any more supportive,” he said. “We were all confident we could make a go of it.

“Our kids are all adults now and it seemed like everything all lined up. And then Covid,” he said.” I opened my shop right when Covid and the lockdowns hit — that was a little scary, but we were able to make a good go of it despite that and here we are, celebrating three years and we’re about to add our third chair.”

Palmer, along with his crew of Al Gordon and Brian Coy, cut hair five days a week — Tuesdays through Saturdays.

“Sunday is for my family, and Monday is for me to catch up on this,” Palmer explained.

Currently, the shop is undergoing some remodeling, adding a third chair and getting some new fixtures and work spaces to accommodate the growing customer base.

Palmer said now is the busy season for him and his team.

“Everyone wants to look their best for the holidays,” he explained. “It’s also school pictures, family pictures and gatherings, so now all the guys want to look sharp.

“Friday’s right after work are my busiest times, guys getting ready for the weekend.”

The basic cut still favored by most men, according to Palmer is the “Princeton” cut, but he’s happy to provide any style the client wants.

His colleague Coy also provides his services to men’s hairpieces and men needing that service can call in advance to schedule a time to come in.

Palmer said about 30 percent of his customers are boys, and that many dads make a day out of it and bring in their son to enjoy the cut and camaraderie.

“Boy’s day out,” he smiled.

Grooming

The barber shop uses and carries some exceptional men’s hair grooming products, including Clubman, Cantu and the Clubman original osage alcohol rub for the face and scalp.

Along with his hot face towel experience and the Clubman treatment, the deluxe haircut and shave is a heavenly experience not to be missed and makes a great gift as well, he said.

Palmer added that he continues to provide his services to the Valor Home and also is asking everyone to drop by his shop with men’s grooming supplies that he can take to the men at the Valor Home.

“I do what I can to give as much back to my community as possible,” Palmer smiled. “I’m not worried about making a lot of money; I just love what I do, and for the last three years, I haven’t worked a day in my life.

“I truly enjoy, and it’s great to meet all these wonderful folks and get to know them. I share their businesses with my other colleagues and we’ve become almost an informal chamber of commerce, guys sharing their business cards on my walls and getting referrals from each other.

“Community is what you make of it, and I’m just doing my part, and I thank God for that blessing every day.”

For more information on Barber in Black, call 440-714-7137.