Welcome, everyone, to Midday Magazine for this June 26th, 2024.
Have your host, James J. Maitloff here.
And we are welcoming in our great friends from the ODC.
We have Anne Lee Peck with us and good to see you.
Good morning.
We have Ashley, Nicole with us.
Ashley, always good to see you.
Hi.
Hey, Ashley.
And Brooke Porter with us.
Brooke, how you doing?
I'm James. I'm good. How are you?
Doing good. Good to see you. Brooke, you too.
Appreciate all of you being here.
I want to start out right away,
thanking all of you for what you do for our community,
what you do for the clientele over there.
We appreciate you.
Thank you so much for everything you do at the ODC.
We appreciate every one of you.
I want to get into some of the fun things that you have going on.
And there is some really cool stuff
that you guys have lined up here.
We'll get into a couple of other things,
like account or raffle and some other stuff later.
But if you don't mind, I wanted to start with Ashley
in the Sensory Friendly Skating event at Skate City
on Friday, June 28th.
Ashley, I want to talk about this a little bit with you.
And I do want to journalistically let people know
that I love Skate City.
I love having events over there.
I love that we have Skate City.
So I'm really going to be a big fan of this, Ashley.
I'll tell you right now.
What can we tell people about this event?
Yeah, it's on Friday.
It's from 10.30 to 1.30 p.m.
It's going to be 80s theme.
And it's sensory friendly.
So the music will be quieter.
And most of the arcade games will be turned off.
And the lights will be dimmed.
And we also want to let people know
that if they don't want to do the skating,
then we also are going to have some fun sensory games
that people can do.
And the event will be $6.99 per person.
All you can eat pizza and soda.
And it's open to the public and the community.
So definitely please consider joining us
for our first sensory friendly roller skating event.
And I like that you said first.
I love the idea of this becoming a regular event
and being able to have not only this event back,
but have more of these kind of events in our community.
The sensory friendly events that is.
Certainly wouldn't mind more events at Skate City either.
But it is, it is, and I do want to send a shout out
to them for hosting this and having an event like this.
It's a fun idea.
It's a fun event.
But it's also necessary.
More and more as we go forward here,
having these sensory friendly events.
And if you don't mind, I'm curious how this came about a bit.
And Ashley, you can touch on this too, please.
Because this seems like a unique idea
that we don't really have in this community.
Did somebody have the idea?
Where did that kind of springboard from?
Yeah, so actually, it actually is Ashley's idea
was recognizing that there just aren't a lot of sensory
friendly activities for folks in our community.
And so she's really passionate about making
that happen for people.
And so again, just real excited to have this
and to see where it goes and to expand
to potentially other communities if this goes well.
And just in general, adding some additional sensory friendly
events for people to participate in.
If you don't mind, and for the audience out there
that doesn't know the necessity of something like this,
who are the people that could be really benefited
from a sensory friendly event?
Because there might be people out there that
could benefit from it that don't even know.
Yeah, so I think there's just a lot of folks
that have some sensory sensitivities
with loud music and lights and things like that.
And so we really want to make it an inclusive event
for people.
So if you have any type of sensitivities
or just loud music is hard, but you like music.
So we want to just make it kind of a more relaxing, soothing
kind of event.
And there's folks sometimes that because the music's
too loud or the lights are too bright or flashing,
they just either don't attend or don't really
have a great time when they attend,
because it's really difficult to manage
the sensitivity to the senses.
There are certainly people out there listening to this
that are going to be very excited about that
and appreciate the opportunity for it.
And I think there are people that may just
just not enjoy loud music, just in general.
So being able to attend the event as well for that
is a key factor.
Actually, it is so cool that you really springboarded this.
It's really got this going and really proud of you.
Really nice work on this.
And again, I think that we're going to have other future events
like this, whether it's at Skate City or other places.
So way to get the ball rolling on this nice work.
I do have to ask one last question.
It's maybe the harder question,
because there is no way you grew up in the 80s.
There's no way.
Where did the 80s theme come from?
Because I love that.
I am a kid of the 80s.
So I just, I love 80s music.
Areos Feedwagon is my favorite band.
Right on, right on.
Oh, you made my dad very happy right there.
That's cool.
That's cool.
It's a great idea.
A lot of fun fashion in the 80s.
And certainly it even comes back a little bit
in pop culture and stuff.
So it's a nice idea.
And people love themes, love a good 80s theme.
It's going to be a fun event.
Let's give people the details of it one more time.
When is the event and where is it taking place?
Yep, it's a sensory friendly roller skating event.
It'll be at Skate City this Friday from 1030 AM to 130 PM.
699 per person.
All you can eat pizza and so on that.
Nice job, Ashley.
Nice job.
Very good work.
And we'll be talking about this on our morning shows.
We'll make sure that you guys got a great crowd.
A lot of fun going to be this Friday over at Skate City.
It's going to be good.
Thank you, Ashley.
Thank you for the time.
And again, great idea.
Brooke, Brooke is not only a great worker over at the ODC.
She is also the one that keeps me laughing when Don is tattooing me.
I appreciate that, Brooke.
So if anybody ever needs that, that's another thing on your resume.
I think that you can put on that.
I think you have a chair there.
You do.
I want to talk about creating with purpose
the Summer Series at San La Park with you.
Where do you want to start with this?
It's a fun series.
It's a fun idea.
It's the last Thursday of each month.
So it is tomorrow.
It's a patriotic theme this month.
Got some cool stars coming for it.
And it's for anyone just to pop in and do the project with us
and just interact with people from the community.
And of course, we will have some groups there from ODC as well.
And it's just a great chance to meet some new people
in the paint a cool project.
Especially this time of year, any time
to show our patriotism or do something patriotic.
We're all taking a jump on that.
We love the idea of that.
So a really nice theme and a good purpose there.
But there's also a lot more of this I'm seeing in the community
where people just want to do art and just have some fun with it.
And maybe they're good at art.
They're not good at art.
It doesn't really matter.
Just get out there in paint or just get out there
and have some fun.
The community activities are always a hit.
We went to the library yesterday for their bubble party.
That was awesome.
Cool.
Very cool, very good to hear.
And I do want to hit that point about a series like this.
And when we're talking about art projects and things,
you can be a great artist or you could be me.
Or you could be me, in between you.
Are you?
I can't draw a stick figure.
I'm sorry.
I apologize.
I got a mean stick man.
Yeah, you're really good.
When it comes to this series, are there other things
that you're looking forward to doing as well?
Well, when we get back, so for the summer,
we're doing the Sandler Park.
And then when we get back in the fall,
we'll be back in Milkweed Market featuring an artist, which,
of course, you know some of the artists that we've had in the past.
And then we'll get some of them again and hoping
to get some new ones, of course.
If anyone's interested, feel free to reach out to me.
We'll get that information up before we let you go.
Again, creating with purpose, the summer series
is coming up just this Thursday.
And it's every Thursday.
It's tomorrow.
Yeah, and it's every Thursday.
12, 30 to 1, 30.
It's not every Thursday.
Not every Thursday.
It's the last Thursday of the month.
Thank you.
This is why you have people in to talk to you.
So I don't mess it up.
In Sandler Park, it's a great area for us too.
Well, I just like that, you know, if we get,
it's been quite rainy lately.
If we get a little bit of rain, we're covered.
We got it.
Yeah, that's a smart move.
And I appreciate all of our nonprofits out there
really aligning with those things and figuring out places
to host these events where there is a rain or something
that where you can go if there is cover for a rain or anything.
Another thing I wanted to talk with you about Brooke
is the Create and Connect and Milkweed Market.
That is Wednesdays from 10 to 2.
This is another fun event that you guys host over there.
It's pretty great.
Yeah.
We just started with that.
And actually, it's going on right now
until 2, because it's Wednesday.
Stop in, pick out a project, bring your kids,
bring your grandkids, paint your project,
take it home that day.
With something like this, or even the sensory friendly
roller skating event that we're talking about,
we do want to let everybody know.
This is open to the public.
These events are open to the public.
We want everybody to attend that is intrigued
or wants to or just looking for a good time.
It's not only a great opportunity for you
to get out there to have something fun to do,
and maybe even meet some of the clientele from the ODC
and get more familiar with the work
that they're doing over there.
But keep in mind, this is another great way
to support the ODC and to invest in the ODC
and put back into the ODC.
Absolutely.
So with this one, with the Create and Connect,
there is a small cost to it.
So you go in, you pick out your project,
nothing is over, well, no, I take that back.
There are projects over $5, because we really do have
a wide range to pick from.
But most of the projects are under $4, to be honest.
So it's a very inexpensive project to go do on a Wednesday.
Especially if you're looking for things to do.
And you don't have a huge time.
You don't have a lot of time in your hands or anything.
This is another one of those funds.
It's not a huge time commitment.
And a great way to get that creativity out of your system.
And they have some fun with it, too.
Looking forward to this one.
And the idea of picking your project
is a great idea, too, as well.
Absolutely.
This is taking place with Milkweed.
We have always like to shout out Milkweed Market
and appreciate everything that they have over there.
I did want to mention Milkweed Market is open Wednesday
and Friday, 10 to 3, and Thursdays 10 to 5.
Stop on over there and pick up some of the great items
that they have and support our local artists.
And if you don't mind, nice work, bro.
I appreciate you.
I want to talk a little bit about Milkweed Market.
Milkweed Market by the river.
This is interesting.
This is a great idea.
Yeah, so we had been approached by the hospital
to reopen the gift shop.
And so the gift shop is now open in the hospital again.
They had closed during COVID and took some time
to kind of re-determine what was needed.
And so we wanted to share that our open at Milkweed Market
by the river, it's called.
And it's at this virus review hospital gift shop.
And it's open Monday through Thursday from 10 to 230.
Primarily, we want folks that maybe have someone
in the hospital finding a gift for a loved one.
I think it's real important to also
share both Milkweed Market and Milkweed by the river.
Our run by the individuals with disabilities that we support.
So it's a training for people.
And it's great.
I work with our clients in Milkweed Market part of the time.
So it's awesome.
Just being able to work with them, have them work on.
Our items for the stores is a lot of what it is, too,
is that our clients actually make a lot of our products
and paint a lot of our products that go into the stores.
Yeah.
It's a good no-per.
Oh, sorry.
And the other cool thing at the hospital
is that if somebody orders a gift basket
or an item to be delivered, that our folks will also
deliver those to patient rooms.
So it's just a real neat synergy and connection
with the community.
And you know.
Yeah, the word that I was thinking of, the connection.
That's exactly where I was going.
I wanted to touch on.
I think that's such a great connection for our community.
I have to be honest.
I remember it being at Aspirus.
I didn't realize that it wasn't still over there.
I haven't been to Aspirus in quite some time.
I haven't had to.
Should knock on wood about that.
But that's great to hear.
That is wonderful to hear.
And I have to say, I love the name.
Milkweed Marker by the River.
I see what you did there.
That's very cool.
I like that.
That's very nice.
This is also not only are there some amazing products
at Milkweed Market and some fun, unique things
that you're not going to be able to find anywhere else.
But again, this is another way to support the ODC
and the great work that they're doing there.
Yeah.
Is there a percentage or is it all of the proceeds
from these items that we buy that goes into the ODC?
It's something along those lines.
Whatever it is, it's going to help the ODC.
So keep that in mind, everybody.
When you're buying these products, it helps the ODC
and puts back into the work that they're doing over there.
Yeah.
Let's mention the baked goods by the cookie jar
on a weekly basis.
And I have to touch on this.
I'm sorry if you guys didn't want to,
but when cookies are coming up,
I got to talk about cookies.
And the cookie jar do some really good ones over there.
Yeah, so we're real excited.
You know, previously we had done some baked goods
through ODC kind of over the holidays.
And so we really were hearing that people really
wanted an opportunity for baked goods kind of year round.
And so we've partnered with the cookie jar
that makes cookies and cupcakes weekly.
And so if you check out our Facebook pages,
we share on there every week like what
the flavors of the week are.
You can also pre-order for the following week.
And so, and we have the cookies and cupcakes
at both Milkweed Market and Milkweed Market
by the River.
I smell the lemonade once this morning
when I stopped in there.
Yeah, I'm kind of thinking about going back
and grabbing one for lunch.
Yeah, you and me both.
I would like to, you guys can handle
the rest of the interview, right?
I just gotta, you answered pre-orders.
And that's all I heard.
I gotta get that.
I gotta get on that.
They're really good.
And again, one of these things where
you're buying local supporting local,
helping a local business out as well
and getting some great stuff.
Yeah, absolutely.
Looking forward to more on this
and encourage you as well to follow the ODC on Facebook.
It's not only a great way to keep up to date
on all the things that they are doing over there
to find out about great things like the cookie jar
and Milkweed Market and ink splash
and some of the other cool stuff that goes on at the ODC.
We're speaking with Anne Ashley and Brooke from the ODC.
And I wanted to talk about your calendar raffle.
And make sure that we got to Anne
and before we wrap up and everything.
How's that going?
It's going very, very well.
So that was through the entire month of June.
So this is our last week.
We're wrapping up.
But again, just want to shout out to all of the sponsors
who provided the cash prizes for our calendar raffle
and just everybody who purchased raffle tickets.
I know we sold over 1700 raffle tickets.
And so it's been just a great, it's always a great time
in great support and it gets a lot of people involved
knowing about ODC.
We do the drawing at 11 o'clock on Facebook live every day.
So someone's filling in for Ashley and I today at a sort.
But yeah, it's really been awesome.
And we always have one of the clients help us with the drawing
and pick the winner.
So they haven't picked any of our names yet.
No, of course not.
I gotta get on that too.
But we're just so thankful because the community
is just so supportive of us and it's really been awesome.
We don't live in Beverly Hills.
We don't live in a necessarily rich, rich community.
And yet it never seems to, as long as I've been doing this job,
I continually surprised and encouraged
and honestly inspired by our community.
Because it doesn't matter what the event people show up
with these things and able to do.
And we know for a fact, just statistically,
that there are people out there giving and putting into these
that don't necessarily have the funds
to be able to do that.
So I'm with you, it's a big credit to the community.
Yeah, it's great.
And the calendar raffle really made it very reasonable
and affordable for everybody really with the price of tickets.
And I like that we have a lot of people come in when events
are just being created or just starting.
And I like to mention that every one of them have a raffle.
Have a raffle.
People love raffles around here.
If you have a raffle, it's gonna do well.
I'm almost be shocked if it doesn't.
We love a raffle, so that's a great one.
And it's great to hear the support that went behind that.
Yeah, awesome.
If you don't mind, I do want to give people
a little bit of a preview and a bit of a tease
of run, walk, rock and roll.
This is one of your bigger events that's coming up
and it's right around the corner.
Yeah, well, it's actually 24th.
Yeah, which is just feels like it's tomorrow.
It feels like it is to be honest with you.
Yeah, so we're real excited because this is our fifth annual.
It was run, walk and roll, run, walk and roll.
Yeah, yeah.
And now it's run, walk, rock and roll.
So it's gonna be out at Rooted and Red this year.
It's gonna be on a Saturday afternoon.
The run, walk and roll will be at three o'clock around the marsh.
There also will be wagon rides.
We also want to mention that there will be
three different routes and one that will be graded
for people that use wheelchairs.
And so it should be a very nice event, very inclusive.
And then after the run, walk and roll,
then we're gonna rock and roll into the evening
with the Antennaz and then also Southbound.
And we're gonna have raffles.
There you go.
Raffles, raffles, raffles.
I love the raffles.
We'll have a 50-50 raffle.
We're gonna have a wine liquor poll.
There's gonna be food trucks.
It's gonna be just a great, great event.
Again, open to the public.
We want people to come out and join us and learn about us
and information on our web page and get your t-shirt.
Join us.
Yes.
So this is a signature event for our community.
And certainly with the ODC, we love this event.
It's a little more fun with this roll part,
with this rock and roll part, that's pretty unique.
We love supporting the arts, love supporting our local bands
and artists out there.
Antennaz, Southbound, a couple of our favorites.
Love both of those bands.
The members of them have joined us
on the year here many times and big fans of those guys.
And we're a big fan of an event like this
where you give such versatility to it.
We've got people out there that love to get a good run in
and love the time themselves in these runs.
Is there preparing for marathons and stuff?
We've got families out there that want to bring the kids
and maybe a stroller.
You're not moving very fast with that stroller.
You want to take your time and pace yourself.
It really does give an opportunity for anybody
to be able to attend and enjoy this.
Yep, absolutely.
It's going to be great.
And wagon rides are available.
It seems like too.
That's going to be a fun part of this too.
Oh, nice.
I'll think I've ever ridden a wagon before.
It's going to be great.
So we'll see you there.
Yeah, see you there.
It's going to be great.
Again, keep in mind that this event coming up in August.
We'll be talking more about this as we get closer to it.
But I did want to not only thank you guys for these events,
but remind you and our audience, we'll
be hitting on these events as we get closer to them
on our morning shows and any opportunity
we get quite honestly.
And wrapping up, just want to mention one more time.
The sensory friendly skating event at Skate City
is this Friday, 1030 to 1 1 30 699 a person.
We'll get you all you can eat pizza and soda.
This is open to the public.
We want everybody to attend.
Ashley, do you have your outfit kind of already in mind?
Do you have an 80s outfit in mind already?
Because I'm thinking in my head of what I'm going to wear.
And I don't think I have any of those leg warmers.
I don't think I got any of those.
I don't think I can find you.
I just said.
We'll find me a set.
Thank you, Brooke.
Thank you, Brooke.
But you all sit and ready to go for it, Ashley?
Yeah, absolutely.
I have hot pink leg warmers.
All perfect.
Perfect.
And now I won't wear them.
Thank you for letting me know.
Thank you.
And thank all of you for joining us.
I really appreciate what you put into this community.
We thank you.
We appreciate you.
And thank you.
We'll be making sure to show how much we appreciate you attending these events.
Thanks for the time, ladies.
Thank you so much, James.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Find out more at odcinc.com, odcinc.com, be sure to bookmark that page.
Follow the odc on Facebook as well.
It's not only a great way to keep up to date and everything they are doing, but find out
more about the flavors of the week with the cookie jar and some of these other events
that they have going on.
Again, odcinc.com.
We'll have more midday magazine for you coming up on the morning show on WFHR locally
grown radio.
