I Love Olander Day 2020

I Love Olander Day is going virtual for 2020!

Over the last three years, ILOD has become one of TOPS’ most popular annual events. Every year we gather together on a Sunday in September at Olander Park to celebrate Lake Olander, TOPS parks, and the Sylvania community at this fun, family event. While we can’t gather together this year, we don’t want this pandemic to keep us from celebrating and showcasing all that Sylvania and the surrounding community has to offer.

Join us as we celebrate all month long with virtual events for everyone! 

 

The ILOD Art Market has expanded every year due to the talented individuals who live, work, and create in Sylvania and the surrounding communities. While we can’t showcase their talents in the park this year, check out their work here. Click on their links to learn more about their art and find out where you can purchase their work.

Virtual Art Market - Featured Artists

Featured Artist – October 6

Melany Gladieux ​of Kids Yoga Toledo​

“So many people have inspired me throughout my life. There have been teachers, pastors, friends, family, but mostly my children. Each day I wake up, move, and breathe for them. They are my breath.” -Melany G

Melany was born and raised in Toledo where she met her high school crush in 1998. They got married and started their family of four. Ten years later, she pursued a career in early childhood education when she discovered her love for yoga. She was drawn to the playfulness and many benefits of the practice. She decided that combining her passion for working with children and yoga made so much sense, so she started Kids Yoga Toledo in 2014. Teaching kids yoga continues to fulfill and inspire Melany along her journey as a wife, mother, and teacher.

Melany offers yoga to adults and children throughout Toledo. She teaches at Toledo Yoga, various schools, libraries, private classes, events, and yoga retreats around the world. She wrote a children’s yoga book as a fun project that included her kids, nieces, and nephews so they may have these memories always.

Books can be purchased by messaging Kids Yoga Toledo on social media or email.

Featured Artist – October 3

Kamakshi Sridhar

Kamakshi is an artist who loves to tell stories with brushes and colors. Colors fascinate her and she believes the stories they weave are so powerful. She loves to express emotions through art. She makes customized artworks as well as sells prints of her works.

 

To view her artwork and place an order, check her work out on her Instagram page at www.instagram.com/kamakshi_13

Featured Artist – October 1

Martha Quiroga of The Shaman and the Bear, Medicinal Herbal Products  

The Shaman and the Bear is a company that sells organic and wildcrafted herbal teas and products. They are in their second year and she believes she has developed nine medicinal herbal teas that bring your body back to health and enhance your body’s balance.

How did her business begin? As a physical therapist, Martha was performing one on one manual therapy in a close space and was always getting sick. She started blending and drinking teas and offering them to her patients. The teas helped her stay healthier and her patients enjoyed the health benefits and tastes. They convinced her to start producing and selling the teas and she is thoroughly enjoying her new challenge.

Martha has a unique combination of skills including an art degree, physical therapy degree, and deeply studied herbs for decades as a hobby. This combination of experiences has helped her develop her company. She says the art degree has helped with attractive packaging. The physical therapy degree has helped with the knowledge of how the body works the best for health, and her herbal background allowed her to blend flavorful AND medicinal mixtures to advance health as a lifestyle.

Interested in learning more about The Shaman and the Bear and trying out her teas, check out her webpage at www.shamanandbear.com, or visit her at the Sylvania & Toledo Farmer’s Markets.

 

You can also find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/theshamanandthebear and Instagram at www.instagram.com/shamanandbear

Featured Artist – September 29

Elizabeth Lane of 365 Days in Toledo

365 Days in Toledo is a project Elizabeth started a few years ago. Her rules were simple, one picture every day, of Toledo proper, only local. The goals were to get outside her comfort zone, learn new things, meet new people, and explore all of the amazing opportunities the 419 has to offer!

Elizabeth has an account on Instagram and still regularly posts pictures of all the amazing things she sees in the 419 (just not every day). She sells her photographs at Makers Mart and Momentum during the year. She also sells photographs through direct message on Instagram.

To ​view or purchase Elizabeth’s photos of 365 Days in Toledo, visit her Instagram page at  ​https://www.instagram.com/365.days.in.toledo or her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/365daysintoledo

 

Featured Artist – September 24

Sumana Sharmin of Neelopal

Sumana is a mother of two and currently stay​s​ at home to take care of her family. She is very crafty volunteering to make costume designs and stage decorations for local theaters and schools. She started making jewelry as a hobby. Her friends loved her jewelry so much she decided to try converting it ​into ​a business​,​ and Neelopal was born.

Neelopal is mostly a handmade jewelry business. She offers handmade jewelry featuring gemstones and pearls. She also offers the following custom-made items: photo frames for all occasions, backdrops, and diaper cakes. Neelopal is a favorite at I Love Olander Day with a booth at both the 2018 and 2019 events. We look forward to having ​her​ back in 2021!

To learn more about Neelopal and to view her beautiful items, visit her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Neelopal-154146787985916/ 

Featured Artist – September 21

Lynda Hoffman of Face Masks for a Cause

Today we are featuring someone very special to TOPS and the Sylvania community. Lynda Hoffman was one of the organizers of the very first I Love Olander Day in 2017. She, her husband Ed, and their neighbors came together to plan a special event that could showcase everything Olander had to offer the community. Through their hard work and the generous donations of local businesses, they executed an amazing day filled with music, dance, crafts, and community. It was so well received it became an event we knew we had to bring back each year. We look forward to bring it back in 2021.
Lynda and Ed’s generosity continued this spring when they saw a need for PPE for healthcare workers. Lynda used all of her saved material to make masks for any nurse in the area. When they asked for surgical caps and headbands, she found a pattern online. Soon more people in her life started asking for items and offering money in return. She knew she wanted to pass that generosity along, so Lynda and Ed took the money and bought food for Sylvania Area Family Service’s food pantry. People heard about this generosity and contacted her to donate fabric so she could keep going. Once they hit $1,000 in donations, they wanted to see if they could raise $2,000. When they did that, Lynda knew she had to keep going as long as necessary.
Since the beginning of March, they have donated over $8,000 in groceries plus $4,500 in checks for a total of $12,500. Lynda has made a total of 12 surgical caps, 177 headbands for heroes, and 3280 masks! Ed is a great support and helps buy and deliver the food. They make a great team! What keeps them going? She said helping others of course, but she also loves seeing pictures of the kids wearing the masks and enjoying the fun material!
​Lynda custom makes each mask. She can size them to fit from a 3yr old to a large man with a beard. All masks are 100% cotton and have a slot for a filter.​ The recommended donation is $5 and all masks are available for pickup via non-contact porch pickup. To look at her fabric choices and to purchase a mask, visit her at www.facebook.com/lynda.hoffman.5 or email her at lyndahoffman78@gmail.com

Featured Artist – September 17

Cindy Carnicom & Robin Parker of Poppin Up Natives

Committed to bringing nature home, one plant at a time

Cindy and Robin are passionate about native plants in the landscape. They both have spent many years working in restoration and conservation in NW Ohio. When the local native plant nursery moved away, they knew that a replacement was needed.  Robin’s home greenhouse was brought back to life and the birth of Poppin Up Natives began.​ They say they are still a work in progress but ​their native species count continues to grow each year!​  ​Why they think you should go native :

  • Ecological Benefits: Establishes an oasis for native birds, butterflies, wildlife, and humans
  • Low Maintenance: Natives conserve water and soil, plus they are winter hardy and drought tolerant
  • Non-Polluting: Less need for you to use fertilizers or pesticides, great filtering benefits
​We love that Poppin Up Natives is so passionate about native plants. They help tiny seeds grow into beautiful native plants. We have welcomed them the past two years at I Love Olander Day, and we look forward to ​having them back at the park in 2021!

To learn more about Poppin Up Natives and how they can help you create the native garden of your dreams, visit their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/poppinupnatives

Ready to purchase plants? Give them a call at 567-277-0751 or email poppinupnatives@gmail.com

Featured Artist – September 15

​Lindsay Haynes

Lindsay is a 22-year-old artist based in Toledo, Ohio. She will receive her Bachelor of Art in Visual Arts with a Minor in Art History from the University of Toledo in December 2020. Lindsay mainly works hands-on, creating large sculptural pieces using a variety of mixed media including pom-poms, tinsel, and polyurethane foam. Lindsay draws most of her inspiration from her childhood, and what it means to be a kid. She utilizes bright colors and interesting textures to create nostalgic feelings in her art. With her work, she hopes to inspire others to be curious, be messy, be playful, and above all…have fun.

​​See more of her work via her website at lindsaymhaynesart.com, or follow her on Instagram at instagram.com/lindsaymhaynes

Interested in purchasing her work? Email Lindsay at lindsaymhaynes@bex.net

Featured Artist – September 14

​Stephanie Pilgrim and ​Jane Wurth of Bowinkles

​Bringing children’s fashion from all over the world to Sylvania

Bowinkles ​was founded in February 2016 by mother-daughter duo Jane Wurth and Stephanie Pilgrim. Both Sylvania natives, they decided it was time to add a children’s clothing boutique to the heart of downtown Sylvania.​ ​They​ have a talent for finding comfortable yet stylish clothing for Girls, Boys, and infants and carry newborn to size 8. ​They also curate wonderful accessories that make great gifts. ​Bonus: monogramming is available on most items​!​ ​Bowinkles was a vendor in our 2019 I Love Olander Day event and we look forward to seeing them in the park again in 2021.​

Bowinkles would love for you to visit in-person at 5627 Main Street, Sylvania OH 43560. However, if you are more comfortable shopping virtually you can purchase from the links below and they even have curbside pickup as an option! Bowinkles is open M-F 10am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm. They are closed on Sunday.
Website: http://www.bowinklesboutique.com

Featured Artist – September 11

Haileigh Schmidt

​Hand-drawn and ​A​bstract ​N​ail ​A​rt

Haileigh says she has always been an artistic person but it wasn’t until a few years ago that she figured out where to direct it. Creating tiny works of art and seeing her clients so happy is her passion now.

Haileigh creates her little works of art at Crowned Salon and Spa on King Rd. To book an appointment with her, visit her website at https://hailthenail.glossgenius.com

To see more of her tiny works of art, follow her on Instagram at – https://www.instagram.com/Hailthenail101/

Featured Artist – September 10

​Mary Vogel of​ An Embellished Sloth

​An Embellished Sloth is an embroidery/sewing biz offering a little of this, a little of that and a whole lot of cute!

​Mary has always had a love of crafting and has dabbled in just about everything. She learned to sew at a very young age from her grandmother and is now re-experiencing that enjoyment once again – and to the delight of her growing customer base. Mary has been a crafter all her life and is excited to be now back to her roots – Sewing! ​

 

See more of her​ work and shop ​An Embellished Sloth via her​ website at her Etsy shop at ​www.etsy.com/shop/anembellishedsloth​, and her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/anembellishedsloth/​​

Featured Artist – September 9

​Garrett Wheeler of GarrettWheelerGlass

​Hand​ Blown Glass​, made​ in ​the ​Glass City

​Garrett was a featured artist in last year’s I Love Olander Day event. When asked how he got started in the glass business, he replied “No one better to work for than yourself. ” Garrett is the oldest of five siblings born in 1981 to the loving parents of Bob and Linda Wheeler. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, he was surrounded by glass history, both artistic and industrial. His introductions to hot glass were annual school field trips to Libby Glass Factory and Sauder’s Farms. He watched these skilled gaffers in amazement as they effortlessly transformed the hot molten material into beautiful objects. Seeing those fascinating demonstrations stuck with him and he started seeking out more glass studios. Cedar Point, Greenfield Village, and the Toledo Botanical Gardens were the studios that he started visiting to learn more about the medium.

His first time touching hot glass was in the spring of 2000 when he enrolled in an introductory class at the Toledo Museum of Art. After that first dip in the furnace, he was hooked and wanting more. From that point on, he knew that studying and working with glass was going to be one wild journey that he never wanted to end. That following fall he enrolled at Bowling Green State University to pursue his bachelor of fine arts degree, focusing on glass art. Unknowingly he was in the presence of the best mentor that he ever had the opportunity to study under. Robert “Bud” Hurlstone created a nurturing learning environment that promoted the lifelong study of glass, teaching his students,, including Garrett, that glass is more than a hobby, it’s a way of life.

See more of his work and shop GarrettWheeler Glass via his website at www.garrettwheelerglass.com, or his Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/shop/garrettwheelerglass

Featured Artist – September 8

Co.Curated by Colleen Yappueying

Handcrafted Polymer Clay Earrings

Co.Curated was founded in 2014 by Colleen (Co) Yappueying, arts professional with a background in executive arts and product design management. In 2019, She relocated back to her hometown and beloved Toledo, Ohio, and began revamping the brand. She started making polymer clay earrings as a way to further explore her passion for art and design and reignite her own practice as an artist. She currently focuses on shape, abstraction, and blurring the line between art and craft.

See more examples of her beautiful work and contact Colleen for purchase at:

 

Step Up & Park It this September at TOPS! Are you ready to step up to the challenge?

Your Step Up & Park It Challenge is:

  1. Run, Walk, Roll – 30 miles in September
  2. Visit 4 of 5 TOPS parks 
  3. Try 5 healthy lifestyle tips & tricks

Complete the challenge and win a prize!

Click the link below to download your copy of the log. Forms will also be available in the Callahan Administrative Office and in the Info Box outside of the Nederhouser Community Hall. Don’t forget to register at OLANDER.RECDESK.COM.

Register by September 20 to be eligible for a prize. You MUST be registered to be eligible for the prize. Turn in your log by October 31 at the Callahan Administrative Office. 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR LOG!

The Game is on! Click HERE for all the details on solving this mystery!

Spread a little kindness & connect with the community!

The TOPS letter-writing campaign continues this fall! We will continue collecting cards, letters, and pictures throughout the month and distributing them to seniors & residents living in Sylvania nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, and senior centers. Each month we will offer a topic, but your letters, pictures, and cards can be about anything.

September Theme – Love Your Parks! Share a story about your favorite park. Write it in a letter or card, or draw a picture.

Items will be collected throughout the month of September. Please follow the helpful tips on our website when making your contribution.

Where to drop off your items? Letters can be dropped off at the Olander Park Front Gate when there is an attendant present. If there is no attendant present, please drop off your item(s) in the dropbox at the Callahan Administrative Office on the east side of Olander Park.

Coloring pages are available for download here. For those without a printer, copies are available outside of the Nederhouser Community Hall front doors.

If you are interested in becoming a pen pal with one individual and receiving items in return, please email programs@olanderpark.com for more information.

We know physical distancing is important for public health right now, but our elders and those living in assisted living facilities need to feel supported. We all need a way to connect and fight the loneliness we may be feeling. We’re not all Shakespeare, but we can all make something beautiful for ourselves and others by putting pen to paper.

Check out all the information at www.olanderpark.com/virtualprograms/heart2heart