EHS debuts dress code at fashion show Saturday

Taking to the runway Saturday will be more than 60 Elyria Schools students who will show off examples of next school year’s new dress code in a fashion show at Midway Mall.

The idea for the fashion show started with a simple request from Amy Higgins, district spokeswoman, who wanted to photograph children in outfits that depict the look the district wants to see when school resumes in the fall. However, mall officials had a better idea. They rallied their stores to dress the kids for a “Back to School Fashion Show,” to started at 1 p.m. in the Macy’s wing of the mall.

The Elyria High School Pioneer Marching Band will perform before the show and during intermission.

“While the fashion show is sure to be a good time for all involved, it’s also an...

Read more

Early sign-ups for kindergarten are down in Elyria

Lisa Roberson, The Chronicle-Telegram

ELYRIA — Kindergarten registration is down in Elyria Schools, leaving school officials wondering how many classes will be needed for the upcoming school year.

School officials said early registration gives parents time to prepare their youngsters for school and the district time to prepare for the students.

Kindergarten is often the first full-day school experience for children, which can be scary if not approached with care, said Rita Tomsic, principal of Kindergarten Village.

“The first day of school is a milestone in a child’s life, and establishing a positive experience is important for continued success,” Tomsic said. “Liking to go to school and liking to learn are very closely...

Read more

Teaching valuable lessons

My children will tell you that I’m not just a reporter for eight hours a day, five days a week.

When I am not physically at work, I am trying to figure out ways I can use my job to teach them new things – things that will change their lives.

Last week’s unfortunate death of Elyria police Officer James “Jimmy” Kerstetter was no different.

For five days, nearly everything I wrote was about the 43-year-old officer who was killed in the line of duty. He died on Monday, March 15, while answering a call about a neighbor disturbance on the city’s south side.

His death immediately catapulted his family and the city into a state of mourning.

By Wednesday, I was honored with a sit-down interview with his family. It was an...

Read more

Mother and daughter find gold while shopping

It started with her birthday.

Two $50 gift cards from her favorite store, Justice for Girls, were found tucked inside two birthday cards.

She nearly jumped for joy and her eyes glazed over at the thought of buying her own clothes. Not the clothes I pick out and pay for, but ones she can decide on all her own.

So naturally I knew what was coming next as she turned to face to...

Read more

Swimming toward a safer summer

[gallery]

With water still dripping from his little frame, my 4-year-old son ran from one end of the pool at our local recreation center to the other Saturday afternoon and flung his wet body into my arms.

“Mommy,” he said half excited and half exhausted after his first swim lesson. “This was amazing. I’m like a million times happy and I’m going to swim everyday.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at my youngest child. Where in the world would he find the time to swim everyday in mid-February in...

Read more

Toddler and church? They just don’t mix

I have a confession to make.

I rarely take my children to church.

I’m not an atheist or agnostic or anything of the sort. Actually, I would say I have a very solid relationship with God and rely heavily on my Christian faith to get me through each day.

I love going to church and lately have done so with increasing regularity. Each Sunday, I wake up with plenty of time to shower, dress and drive the 30 minutes to the church I frequent in time for the 11 a.m. service.

However, along the way I usually drop my son (and daughter, if I have both) at my mother’s house because — like I said before — I don’t take my children to...

Read more

Turning work into a life lesson

I’ve been cringing a lot lately.

And, here’s the reason why: Two beautiful children died what I can only imagine was a horrible death after they were thrown from a moving vehicle on the Ohio Turnpike after their 29-year-old mother sideswiped a PT Cruiser shortly after 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, causing the family’s mini-van to spin out of control and flip over.

Before the vehicle — later seen in photos with a flatten top and busted windows — came to rest on the side of the road, a 5-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister were dead.

They, along with their 5-month-old brother who is in the hospital with serious injuries, were not wearing seat belts...

Read more

The corner of the couch

I don’t consider myself a lovey-dovey person.

I like my space. I don’t like to be touched too much or smothered. I think the beauty of living room sets comes in the fact that there is ample seating (or at least there should be) for everyone. There is no need for everyone to sit in the same chair.

And, I tell my kids this often.

Read more

Staycation not so successful so far

It was supposed to be the week of my children’s dreams.

They would have Mommy all to themselves for seven straight days and enjoy nothing but fun, games and sunshine. No work, no school and definitely, no daycare. And, bedtimes would be negotiable.

Well, let me be the first one to say this staycation has not been a dream come true. I won’t go as far as to say it is a nightmare, but pretty close.

First, Monday’s trip to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo was canceled after my 3-year-old lost my car/house keys in the apartment and it took all of two hours to find them hidden under a pile of clean clothes I had days earlier told my 10-year-old to hang up. I was so ticked off, I told them ‘no, monkeys...

Read more

We awoke to a different world Wednesday

Each morning in my household, like in most households, when my children get up the normal script of that first conversation is so routine I can almost recite it from memory.

It starts with me saying good morning and asking them if they slept well. They always respond yes and immediately go into a long list of wants: juice, cereal, and Pop Tarts or help finding clothes or a particular cartoon on television.

But on Wednesday, the day after I joined millions in watching Sen. Barack Obama become President-elect Obama after winning an overwhelming number of electoral votes, I knew we couldn’t just get by with the routine.

The usual wouldn’t do because there was nothing usual about what happened...

Read more